fix(apps): preserve lifecycle state and wait for usable launch endpoints

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/async_lifecycle.rs

@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             match handler.handle_package_install(params).await {
                 Ok(_) => {
                     info!("package.install {}: complete", package_id_spawn);
+                    for id in [&package_id_spawn, &format!("archy-{}", package_id_spawn)] {
+                        crate::crash_recovery::clear_user_uninstalled(&handler.config.data_dir, id)
+                            .await;
+                    }
+                    crate::crash_recovery::mark_installed(
+                        &handler.config.data_dir,
+                        &package_id_spawn,
+                    )
+                    .await;
                     // The install pipeline has verified the container is up
                     // and healthy (see install.rs post-start exit check).
                     // Kick the scanner first so the fresh manifest (with
@@ -184,17 +193,20 @@ impl RpcHandler {
                     // phase is cleared (None) so no stale InstallPhase
                     // lingers on the card.
                     let err_msg = format!("Install failed: {:#}", e);
-                    let (mut data, _) = handler.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+                    handler
-                    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(&package_id_spawn) {
+                        .state_manager
-                        entry.state = PackageState::Stopped;
+                        .mutate_data(|data| {
-                        entry.install_progress = Some(crate::data_model::InstallProgress {
+                            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(&package_id_spawn) {
-                            size: 0,
+                                entry.state = PackageState::Stopped;
-                            downloaded: 0,
+                                entry.install_progress = Some(crate::data_model::InstallProgress {
-                            phase: None,
+                                    size: 0,
-                            message: Some(err_msg),
+                                    downloaded: 0,
-                        });
+                                    phase: None,
-                        handler.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                                    message: Some(err_msg),
-                    }
+                                });
+                            }
+                        })
+                        .await;
                 }
             }
         });
@@ -252,6 +264,11 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             match handler.handle_package_uninstall(params).await {
                 Ok(_) => {
                     info!("package.uninstall {}: complete", package_id_spawn);
+                    for id in [&package_id_spawn, &format!("archy-{}", package_id_spawn)] {
+                        crate::crash_recovery::mark_user_uninstalled(&handler.config.data_dir, id)
+                            .await;
+                        crate::crash_recovery::clear_installed(&handler.config.data_dir, id).await;
+                    }
                     // Inner handler already removed the package entry on
                     // success. Nothing more to do here.
                 }
@@ -382,52 +399,56 @@ impl RpcHandler {
 /// call, but fires before the spawn so the UI sees it immediately.
 async fn flip_to_installing(state_manager: &StateManager, package_id: &str) {
     use crate::data_model::{Description, Manifest, PackageDataEntry, StaticFiles};
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    let entry = data
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-        .package_data
+            let entry = data
-        .entry(package_id.to_string())
+                .package_data
-        .or_insert_with(|| PackageDataEntry {
+                .entry(package_id.to_string())
-            state: PackageState::Installing,
+                .or_insert_with(|| PackageDataEntry {
-            health: None,
+                    ui_ready: None,
-            exit_code: None,
+                    state: PackageState::Installing,
-            static_files: StaticFiles {
+                    health: None,
-                license: String::new(),
+                    exit_code: None,
-                instructions: String::new(),
+                    static_files: StaticFiles {
-                // Leave icon empty during the transient Installing window:
+                        license: String::new(),
-                // hardcoding `<id>.png` is wrong for ~half our apps (many use
+                        instructions: String::new(),
-                // `.svg` / `.webp`), producing a broken-image flicker until
+                        // Leave icon empty during the transient Installing window:
-                // the scanner refreshes the entry. The frontend's `icon`
+                        // hardcoding `<id>.png` is wrong for ~half our apps (many use
-                // computed falls through to `curatedMap.get(id)?.icon` which
+                        // `.svg` / `.webp`), producing a broken-image flicker until
-                // has the correct extensions for known apps.
+                        // the scanner refreshes the entry. The frontend's `icon`
-                icon: String::new(),
+                        // computed falls through to `curatedMap.get(id)?.icon` which
-            },
+                        // has the correct extensions for known apps.
-            manifest: Manifest {
+                        icon: String::new(),
-                id: package_id.to_string(),
+                    },
-                title: package_id.to_string(),
+                    manifest: Manifest {
-                version: String::new(),
+                        id: package_id.to_string(),
-                description: Description {
+                        title: package_id.to_string(),
-                    short: "Installing...".to_string(),
+                        version: String::new(),
-                    long: String::new(),
+                        description: Description {
-                },
+                            short: "Installing...".to_string(),
-                release_notes: String::new(),
+                            long: String::new(),
-                license: String::new(),
+                        },
-                wrapper_repo: String::new(),
+                        release_notes: String::new(),
-                upstream_repo: String::new(),
+                        license: String::new(),
-                support_site: String::new(),
+                        wrapper_repo: String::new(),
-                marketing_site: String::new(),
+                        upstream_repo: String::new(),
-                donation_url: None,
+                        support_site: String::new(),
-                author: None,
+                        marketing_site: String::new(),
-                website: None,
+                        donation_url: None,
-                interfaces: None,
+                        author: None,
-                tier: None,
+                        website: None,
-            },
+                        interfaces: None,
-            installed: None,
+                        tier: None,
-            install_progress: None,
+                    },
-            uninstall_stage: None,
+                    installed: None,
-            available_update: None,
+                    install_progress: None,
-        });
+                    uninstall_stage: None,
-    entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
+                    available_update: None,
-    state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                });
+            entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
+            entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
+        })
+        .await;
 }
 
 /// True when the failed install still has a real footprint: any container
@@ -485,20 +506,23 @@ async fn remove_entry_with_notification(
     id_prefix: &str,
     message: &str,
 ) {
-    let (mut data, _) = handler.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    handler
-    data.package_data.remove(package_id);
+        .state_manager
-    data.notifications.push(crate::data_model::Notification {
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-        id: format!("{id_prefix}-{package_id}"),
+            data.package_data.remove(package_id);
-        level: crate::data_model::NotificationLevel::Error,
+            data.notifications.push(crate::data_model::Notification {
-        title: format!("Could not install {package_id}"),
+                id: format!("{id_prefix}-{package_id}"),
-        message: message.to_string(),
+                level: crate::data_model::NotificationLevel::Error,
-        timestamp: chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
+                title: format!("Could not install {package_id}"),
-        app_id: Some(package_id.to_string()),
+                message: message.to_string(),
-    });
+                timestamp: chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
-    while data.notifications.len() > 20 {
+                app_id: Some(package_id.to_string()),
-        data.notifications.remove(0);
+            });
-    }
+            while data.notifications.len() > 20 {
-    handler.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                data.notifications.remove(0);
+            }
+        })
+        .await;
 }
 
 /// Flip an existing entry's state and return the pre-flip value (or None if
@@ -508,18 +532,23 @@ async fn flip_package_state(
     package_id: &str,
     new_state: PackageState,
 ) -> Option<PackageState> {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    let prev = data.package_data.get(package_id).map(|e| e.state.clone());
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+            let prev = data.package_data.get(package_id).map(|e| e.state.clone());
-        entry.state = new_state;
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-        state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                if new_state != PackageState::Running {
-    } else {
+                    entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-        warn!(
+                }
-            "flip_package_state: no entry for {} — cannot flip",
+                entry.state = new_state;
-            package_id
+            } else {
-        );
+                warn!(
-    }
+                    "flip_package_state: no entry for {} — cannot flip",
-    prev
+                    package_id
+                );
+            }
+            prev
+        })
+        .await
 }
 
 /// Set state unconditionally (no-op if entry no longer exists).
@@ -528,13 +557,18 @@ async fn set_package_state(
     package_id: &str,
     new_state: PackageState,
 ) {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-        if entry.state != new_state {
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-            entry.state = new_state;
+                if entry.state != new_state {
-            state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    if new_state != PackageState::Running {
-        }
+                        entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-    }
+                    }
+                    entry.state = new_state;
+                }
+            }
+        })
+        .await
 }
 
 /// Set state and clear the uninstall_stage label. Used when an uninstall
@@ -545,12 +579,17 @@ async fn set_package_state_and_clear_uninstall_stage(
     package_id: &str,
     new_state: PackageState,
 ) {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-        entry.state = new_state;
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-        entry.uninstall_stage = None;
+                if new_state != PackageState::Running {
-        state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-    }
+                }
+                entry.state = new_state;
+                entry.uninstall_stage = None;
+            }
+        })
+        .await
 }
 
 /// Kick the container scanner to run immediately and wait for it to finish

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs

@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         // Keep legacy install flow as default while migration is in progress.
         if orchestrator_managed {
             let orchestrator_app_id = orchestrator_install_app_id(package_id);
-            self.set_install_phase(package_id, InstallPhase::CreatingContainer)
+            self.set_install_phase(package_id, InstallPhase::PreparingApp)
                 .await;
             install_log(&format!(
                 "INSTALL ORCH: {} — attempting orchestrator install as {}",
@@ -2053,25 +2053,8 @@ fn parse_setup_token(lines: &[&str]) -> Option<String> {
 }
 
 async fn cleanup_stale_package_ports(package_id: &str) {
-    match package_id {
+    // Never kill by port: another app or the management gate may own it.
-        "grafana" => cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3000").await,
+    crate::container::ghost_reaper::reap_for_app(package_id).await;
-        "homeassistant" | "home-assistant" => cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8123").await,
-        "searxng" => cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8888").await,
-        "uptime-kuma" => cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3002").await,
-        "gitea" => {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3001").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("2222").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3000").await;
-        }
-        "nginx-proxy-manager" => {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8081").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8084").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8444").await;
-        }
-        "nextcloud" => cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8085").await,
-        "portainer" => cleanup_stale_pasta_port("9000").await,
-        _ => {}
-    }
 }
 
 fn install_command_tail(
@@ -2196,93 +2179,11 @@ async fn cleanup_start_conflict(package_id: &str, stderr: &str) -> bool {
         return true;
     }
 
-    match package_id {
+    if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") {
-        "grafana"
+        crate::container::ghost_reaper::reap_for_app(package_id).await;
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
+        return true;
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3000").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "homeassistant" | "home-assistant"
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8123").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "searxng"
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8888").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "uptime-kuma"
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3002").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "gitea" if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") => {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3001").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("2222").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("3000").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "nginx-proxy-manager"
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8081").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8084").await;
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8444").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "nextcloud"
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("8085").await;
-            true
-        }
-        "portainer"
-            if stderr.contains("pasta failed") || stderr.contains("address already in use") =>
-        {
-            cleanup_stale_pasta_port("9000").await;
-            true
-        }
-        _ => false,
     }
-}
+    false
-
-async fn cleanup_stale_pasta_port(port: &str) {
-    // NEVER kill our own process. The daemon holds catalog app ports over
-    // IPv6 (the mesh app-port relay), so a blunt `fuser -k <port>/tcp` would
-    // terminate archipelago itself mid-install — installs failed and apps
-    // vanished on a test node 2026-07-27. Kill every listener on the port
-    // EXCEPT our PID (and our process group), leaving the relay/daemon alive.
-    let self_pid = std::process::id();
-    let kill_listener = format!(
-        "ss -ltnp 'sport = :{port}' 2>/dev/null | sed -n 's/.*pid=\\([0-9]*\\).*/\\1/p' | \
-         while read p; do [ \"$p\" = \"{self_pid}\" ] || kill \"$p\" 2>/dev/null; done || true",
-    );
-    let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("sh")
-        .args(["-c", &kill_listener])
-        .output()
-        .await;
-
-    // sudo fuser -k, but exclude our own PID: fuser prints the PIDs holding
-    // the port; kill each except self. (`fuser -k` has no exclusion flag.)
-    let fuser_kill = format!(
-        "for p in $(sudo fuser {port}/tcp 2>/dev/null); do [ \"$p\" = \"{self_pid}\" ] || sudo kill \"$p\" 2>/dev/null; done || true",
-    );
-    let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("sh")
-        .args(["-c", &fuser_kill])
-        .output()
-        .await;
-
-    let pattern = format!("pasta.*{}", port);
-    let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("pkill")
-        .args(["-f", &pattern])
-        .output()
-        .await;
-    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
 }
 
 async fn repair_nextcloud_permissions() {

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/progress.rs

@@ -14,20 +14,23 @@ impl RpcHandler {
     /// the rare case where the pull stream actually parses, but podman
     /// almost never emits parseable progress on a piped stderr.
     pub(super) async fn set_install_progress(&self, package_id: &str, downloaded: u64, size: u64) {
-        let (mut data, _rev) = self.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+        self.state_manager
-        let entry = data
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-            .package_data
+                let entry = data
-            .entry(package_id.to_string())
+                    .package_data
-            .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
+                    .entry(package_id.to_string())
-        entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
+                    .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
-        let existing_phase = entry.install_progress.as_ref().and_then(|p| p.phase);
+                entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-        entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
+                entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
-            size,
+                let existing_phase = entry.install_progress.as_ref().and_then(|p| p.phase);
-            downloaded,
+                entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
-            phase: existing_phase,
+                    size,
-            message: None,
+                    downloaded,
-        });
+                    phase: existing_phase,
-        self.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    message: None,
+                });
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 
     /// Set the install pipeline phase and broadcast. This is the
@@ -35,76 +38,86 @@ impl RpcHandler {
     /// percentage and a user-facing label. Byte counters are retained
     /// for the rare case podman emits parseable progress.
     pub(super) async fn set_install_phase(&self, package_id: &str, phase: InstallPhase) {
-        let (mut data, _rev) = self.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+        self.state_manager
-        let entry = data
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-            .package_data
+                let entry = data
-            .entry(package_id.to_string())
+                    .package_data
-            .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
+                    .entry(package_id.to_string())
-        // Preparing / PullingImage / CreatingContainer / StartingContainer /
+                    .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
-        // WaitingHealthy / PostInstall all map to the Installing state.
+                // Preparing / PullingImage / CreatingContainer / StartingContainer /
-        // Updates use Updating state — the wrapper has already flipped
+                // WaitingHealthy / PostInstall all map to the Installing state.
-        // state to Updating, so don't clobber it.
+                // Updates use Updating state — the wrapper has already flipped
-        if entry.state != PackageState::Updating {
+                // state to Updating, so don't clobber it.
-            entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
+                if entry.state != PackageState::Updating {
-        }
+                    entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-        let (size, downloaded) = entry
+                    entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
-            .install_progress
+                }
-            .as_ref()
+                let (size, downloaded) = entry
-            .map(|p| (p.size, p.downloaded))
+                    .install_progress
-            .unwrap_or((0, 0));
+                    .as_ref()
-        entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
+                    .map(|p| (p.size, p.downloaded))
-            size,
+                    .unwrap_or((0, 0));
-            downloaded,
+                entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
-            phase: Some(phase),
+                    size,
-            message: None,
+                    downloaded,
-        });
+                    phase: Some(phase),
-        self.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    message: None,
+                });
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 
     /// Set a user-facing install status message (e.g. "Waiting for Bitcoin
     /// to start…") without disturbing the current phase/byte counters.
     pub(super) async fn set_install_message(&self, package_id: &str, message: &str) {
-        let (mut data, _rev) = self.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+        self.state_manager
-        let entry = data
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-            .package_data
+                let entry = data
-            .entry(package_id.to_string())
+                    .package_data
-            .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
+                    .entry(package_id.to_string())
-        if entry.state != PackageState::Updating {
+                    .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
-            entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
+                if entry.state != PackageState::Updating {
-        }
+                    entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-        let (size, downloaded, phase) = entry
+                    entry.state = PackageState::Installing;
-            .install_progress
+                }
-            .as_ref()
+                let (size, downloaded, phase) = entry
-            .map(|p| (p.size, p.downloaded, p.phase))
+                    .install_progress
-            .unwrap_or((0, 0, None));
+                    .as_ref()
-        entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
+                    .map(|p| (p.size, p.downloaded, p.phase))
-            size,
+                    .unwrap_or((0, 0, None));
-            downloaded,
+                entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
-            phase,
+                    size,
-            message: Some(message.to_string()),
+                    downloaded,
-        });
+                    phase,
-        self.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    message: Some(message.to_string()),
+                });
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 
     /// Clear install progress after pull completes or fails.
     pub(super) async fn clear_install_progress(&self, package_id: &str) {
-        let (mut data, _rev) = self.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+        self.state_manager
-        if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-            entry.install_progress = None;
+                if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-        }
+                    entry.install_progress = None;
-        self.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                }
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 
     /// Set the uninstall stage label so the UI can show what's happening
     /// instead of a generic spinner. Each call broadcasts a state change
     /// — call sparingly (one per pipeline phase, not per container).
     pub(super) async fn set_uninstall_stage(&self, package_id: &str, stage: &str) {
-        let (mut data, _rev) = self.state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+        self.state_manager
-        if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-            entry.uninstall_stage = Some(stage.to_string());
+                if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-            entry.state = crate::data_model::PackageState::Removing;
+                    entry.uninstall_stage = Some(stage.to_string());
-        }
+                    entry.state = crate::data_model::PackageState::Removing;
-        self.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                }
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 
     /// Update install progress (static method for use in async closures).
@@ -114,25 +127,28 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         downloaded: u64,
         total: u64,
     ) {
-        let (mut data, _rev) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+        state_manager
-        let entry = data
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-            .package_data
+                let entry = data
-            .entry(package_id.to_string())
+                    .package_data
-            .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
+                    .entry(package_id.to_string())
-        let existing_phase = entry.install_progress.as_ref().and_then(|p| p.phase);
+                    .or_insert_with(|| create_installing_entry(package_id));
-        entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
+                let existing_phase = entry.install_progress.as_ref().and_then(|p| p.phase);
-            size: total,
+                entry.install_progress = Some(InstallProgress {
-            downloaded,
+                    size: total,
-            phase: existing_phase,
+                    downloaded,
-            message: None,
+                    phase: existing_phase,
-        });
+                    message: None,
-        state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                });
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 }
 
 /// Create a minimal PackageDataEntry for a package being installed.
 fn create_installing_entry(package_id: &str) -> PackageDataEntry {
     PackageDataEntry {
+        ui_ready: None,
         state: PackageState::Installing,
         health: None,
         exit_code: None,

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/runtime.rs

@@ -1431,10 +1431,9 @@ async fn repair_before_package_start(container_name: &str) {
     // published port and the data-dir file locks, so the replacement either
     // fails to bind (`address already in use`) or starts and dies on the
     // lock — and `Restart=always` loops it there forever. Ordered before
-    // the port cleanup below: killing the owner is what actually frees the
+    // starting the replacement. A port sweep cannot distinguish a ghost
-    // port, and the port sweep alone cannot tell a ghost from a live app.
+    // from the dashboard gate or another live app and must never kill it.
     crate::container::ghost_reaper::reap_for_app(container_name).await;
-    cleanup_runtime_host_ports(container_name).await;
 }
 
 async fn wait_before_package_start(container_name: &str) {
@@ -1579,7 +1578,6 @@ async fn repair_netbird_network() {
 async fn repair_nginx_proxy_manager_container() {
     repair_nginx_proxy_manager_dirs().await;
     if !nginx_proxy_manager_has_legacy_admin_port().await {
-        cleanup_nginx_proxy_manager_ports().await;
         return;
     }
 
@@ -1588,7 +1586,7 @@ async fn repair_nginx_proxy_manager_container() {
     )
     .await;
     let _ = podman_control(&["rm", "-f", "nginx-proxy-manager"]).await;
-    cleanup_nginx_proxy_manager_ports().await;
+    crate::container::ghost_reaper::reap_for_app("nginx-proxy-manager").await;
     if let Err(err) = recreate_nginx_proxy_manager_container().await {
         tracing::warn!(error = %err, "failed to recreate stale nginx-proxy-manager container");
     }
@@ -1812,6 +1810,9 @@ fn manifest_host_ports(container_name: &str) -> Vec<u16> {
 
 pub(super) fn manifest_apps_dirs() -> Vec<std::path::PathBuf> {
     let mut dirs = Vec::new();
+    if let Some(root) = std::env::var_os("ARCHIPELAGO_APPS_DIR") {
+        dirs.push(root.into());
+    }
     if let Ok(manifest_dir) = std::env::var("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR") {
         dirs.push(Path::new(&manifest_dir).join("../../apps"));
     }
@@ -2032,51 +2033,10 @@ async fn cleanup_start_conflict(container_name: &str, stderr: &str) {
         return;
     }
 
-    let ports = runtime_host_ports(container_name);
+    // Only reap processes proven to belong to an absent container. The app
-    if !ports.is_empty() {
+    // gate shares the app's port on other addresses and lives in this daemon;
-        cleanup_ports(&ports).await;
+    // killing port owners (or matching argv with pkill) kills the dashboard.
-        return;
+    crate::container::ghost_reaper::reap_for_app(container_name).await;
-    }
-}
-
-async fn cleanup_runtime_host_ports(container_name: &str) {
-    let ports = runtime_host_ports(container_name);
-    if !ports.is_empty() {
-        cleanup_ports(&ports).await;
-    }
-}
-
-async fn cleanup_nginx_proxy_manager_ports() {
-    cleanup_ports(&[8081, 8084, 8444]).await;
-}
-
-async fn cleanup_ports(ports: &[u16]) {
-    for port in ports {
-        cleanup_stale_pasta_port(&port.to_string()).await;
-    }
-}
-
-async fn cleanup_stale_pasta_port(port: &str) {
-    let kill_listener = format!(
-        "ss -ltnp 'sport = :{}' 2>/dev/null | sed -n 's/.*pid=\\([0-9]*\\).*/\\1/p' | xargs -r kill 2>/dev/null || true",
-        port
-    );
-    let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("sh")
-        .args(["-c", &kill_listener])
-        .output()
-        .await;
-
-    let pattern = format!("pasta.*{}", port);
-    let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("pkill")
-        .args(["-f", &pattern])
-        .output()
-        .await;
-    let pattern = format!("rootlessport.*{}", port);
-    let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("pkill")
-        .args(["-f", &pattern])
-        .output()
-        .await;
-    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
 }
 
 pub(super) fn is_missing_companion_ok(name: &str, stderr: &str) -> bool {
@@ -2095,13 +2055,16 @@ async fn flip_package_state(
     package_id: &str,
     transitional: PackageState,
 ) -> Option<PackageState> {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    let prev = data.package_data.get(package_id).map(|e| e.state.clone());
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+            let prev = data.package_data.get(package_id).map(|e| e.state.clone());
-        entry.state = transitional;
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-        state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-    }
+                entry.state = transitional;
-    prev
+            }
+            prev
+        })
+        .await
 }
 
 /// Write the package entry's final state. No-op if the entry has since
@@ -2111,13 +2074,18 @@ async fn set_package_state(
     package_id: &str,
     new_state: PackageState,
 ) {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-        if entry.state != new_state {
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
-            entry.state = new_state;
+                if entry.state != new_state {
-            state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    if new_state != PackageState::Running {
-        }
+                        entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-    }
+                    }
+                    entry.state = new_state;
+                }
+            }
+        })
+        .await
 }
 
 pub(super) async fn reconcile_companions_for(package_id: &str) {
@@ -2185,6 +2153,20 @@ pub(super) fn orchestrator_uninstall_app_ids(package_id: &str) -> Vec<String> {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn port_conflict_cleanup_preserves_live_host_listener() {
+        // The previous ss|kill sweep terminated the daemon's app gate on a
+        // restart. Keep a real listening socket owned by this test process.
+        let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.2:2342")
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let addr = listener.local_addr().unwrap();
+        cleanup_start_conflict("photoprism", "address already in use").await;
+        let client = tokio::net::TcpStream::connect(addr).await.unwrap();
+        let _connection = listener.accept().await.unwrap();
+        drop(client);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn missing_container_classifier_covers_podman5_phrasings() {
         // Regression (.228 gate 2026-07-08): podman 5.x `inspect` on a missing

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/transitional.rs

@@ -150,23 +150,31 @@ async fn flip_to_transitional(
     app_id: &str,
     transitional: PackageState,
 ) -> Option<PackageState> {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    let prev = data.package_data.get(app_id).map(|e| e.state.clone());
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(app_id) {
+            let prev = data.package_data.get(app_id).map(|e| e.state.clone());
-        entry.state = transitional;
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(app_id) {
-        state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-    }
+                entry.state = transitional;
-    prev
+            }
+            prev
+        })
+        .await
 }
 
 /// Set the entry's state to `new_state`. No-ops if the entry has since been
 /// removed (e.g. uninstall ran concurrently).
 async fn set_state(state_manager: &StateManager, app_id: &str, new_state: PackageState) {
-    let (mut data, _) = state_manager.get_snapshot().await;
+    state_manager
-    if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(app_id) {
+        .mutate_data(|data| {
-        if entry.state != new_state {
+            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(app_id) {
-            entry.state = new_state;
+                if entry.state != new_state {
-            state_manager.update_data(data).await;
+                    if new_state != PackageState::Running {
-        }
+                        entry.ui_ready = Some(false);
-    }
+                    }
+                    entry.state = new_state;
+                }
+            }
+        })
+        .await
 }

core/archipelago/src/appgate/identity.rs

@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ impl PortMap {
 /// there.
 fn apps_dirs() -> Vec<PathBuf> {
     let mut dirs = Vec::new();
+    if let Some(root) = std::env::var_os("ARCHIPELAGO_APPS_DIR") {
+        dirs.push(root.into());
+    }
     if let Ok(manifest_dir) = std::env::var("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR") {
         dirs.push(PathBuf::from(manifest_dir).join("../../apps"));
     }

core/archipelago/src/appgate/listener.rs

@@ -144,6 +144,34 @@ pub fn shared_status() -> Arc<RwLock<GateStatus>> {
         .clone()
 }
 
+static REFRESH_KICK: std::sync::LazyLock<tokio::sync::Notify> =
+    std::sync::LazyLock::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new);
+static REFRESH_REV: std::sync::LazyLock<tokio::sync::watch::Sender<u64>> =
+    std::sync::LazyLock::new(|| tokio::sync::watch::channel(0).0);
+
+/// Installation must not wait for the minute sweep before becoming reachable.
+/// Wait for a completed sweep, bounded if shutdown/startup prevents one.
+pub async fn refresh_now() {
+    let mut completed = REFRESH_REV.subscribe();
+    REFRESH_KICK.notify_one();
+    let _ = tokio::time::timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(3), completed.changed()).await;
+}
+
+pub fn port_claimed(status: &GateStatus, port: u16) -> bool {
+    let mut external = false;
+    let mut tor = false;
+    for (claimed_port, address) in &status.claimed {
+        if *claimed_port != port {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if let Ok(ip) = address.parse::<IpAddr>() {
+            tor |= ip == GATE_TOR_UPSTREAM;
+            external |= !ip.is_loopback();
+        }
+    }
+    external && tor
+}
+
 /// Run the gate. Returns only on shutdown.
 pub async fn run(
     gate: Arc<AppGate>,
@@ -162,11 +190,12 @@ pub async fn run(
 
     loop {
         tokio::select! {
-            _ = interval.tick() => {
+            _ = interval.tick() => {}
-                sweep(&gate, &status, &mut held, &shutdown_rx).await;
+            _ = REFRESH_KICK.notified() => {}
-            }
             _ = shutdown_rx.changed() => return,
         }
+        sweep(&gate, &status, &mut held, &shutdown_rx).await;
+        REFRESH_REV.send_modify(|revision| *revision = revision.wrapping_add(1));
     }
 }
 
@@ -461,3 +490,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!status.is_fully_enforced());
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod readiness_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    #[test]
+    fn readiness_requires_external_and_tor_claims_for_the_same_port() {
+        let mut status = GateStatus::default();
+        assert!(!port_claimed(&status, 3001));
+        status.claimed.push((3001, "127.0.0.2".into()));
+        assert!(!port_claimed(&status, 3001));
+        status.claimed.push((3002, "192.0.2.10".into()));
+        assert!(!port_claimed(&status, 3001));
+        status.claimed.push((3001, "192.0.2.10".into()));
+        assert!(port_claimed(&status, 3001));
+    }
+}

core/archipelago/src/assistant/evals.rs

@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ async fn eval_rpc_handler() -> (Arc<RpcHandler>, tempfile::TempDir) {
 fn installed_entry(app_id: &str) -> crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry {
     use crate::data_model::{Description, Manifest, PackageDataEntry, PackageState, StaticFiles};
     PackageDataEntry {
+        ui_ready: None,
         state: PackageState::Running,
         health: None,
         exit_code: None,

core/archipelago/src/assistant/mod.rs

@@ -1069,6 +1069,7 @@ mod tests {
             Description, Manifest, PackageDataEntry, PackageState, StaticFiles,
         };
         PackageDataEntry {
+            ui_ready: None,
             state: PackageState::Running,
             health: None,
             exit_code: None,

core/archipelago/src/container/docker_packages.rs

@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 
 use anyhow::Result;
 use archipelago_container::{
-    ContainerRuntime as ContainerRuntimeTrait, ContainerState, PodmanClient,
+    ContainerRuntime as ContainerRuntimeTrait, ContainerState, ContainerStatus, PodmanClient,
 };
+use futures_util::StreamExt;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tracing::{debug, info};
@@ -25,8 +26,15 @@ impl DockerPackageScanner {
     }
 
     /// Scan Docker containers and convert to package data
-    pub async fn scan_containers(&self) -> Result<HashMap<String, PackageDataEntry>> {
+    pub async fn scan_containers(
-        let containers = self.runtime.list_containers().await?;
+        &self,
+        data_dir: &std::path::Path,
+        cached: &HashMap<String, PackageDataEntry>,
+    ) -> Result<HashMap<String, PackageDataEntry>> {
+        let mut containers = self.runtime.list_containers().await?;
+        let installed = crate::crash_recovery::load_installed_apps(data_dir).await;
+        let uninstalled = crate::crash_recovery::load_user_uninstalled(data_dir).await;
+        restore_absent_installed(&mut containers, &installed, &uninstalled);
 
         debug!("Found {} containers", containers.len());
 
@@ -139,6 +147,18 @@ impl DockerPackageScanner {
                 continue;
             }
 
+            if container.id.is_empty() {
+                if let Some(previous) = cached.get(&app_id) {
+                    let mut held = previous.clone();
+                    held.state = PackageState::Stopped;
+                    held.ui_ready = Some(false);
+                    held.health = None;
+                    held.exit_code = None;
+                    packages.insert(app_id.clone(), held);
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
             // Get metadata for this app
             let metadata = get_app_metadata(&app_id);
             // Manifest-owned metadata (icon) wins over the static table: the
@@ -179,14 +199,22 @@ impl DockerPackageScanner {
             let tor_address = read_tor_address(&app_id).await;
 
             // Extract actual version from container image tag
-            let running_version = image_versions::extract_version_from_image(&container.image);
+            let running_version = if container.id.is_empty() {
+                String::new() // Absence cannot establish the installed image version.
+            } else {
+                image_versions::extract_version_from_image(&container.image)
+            };
 
             // Decoupled from the binary OTA: prefer the remote app catalog,
             // falling back to the image-versions.sh pin when uncovered/offline.
-            let available_update =
+            let available_update = if container.id.is_empty() {
-                crate::container::app_catalog::available_update_for_app(&app_id, &container.image);
+                None
+            } else {
+                crate::container::app_catalog::available_update_for_app(&app_id, &container.image)
+            };
 
             let package = PackageDataEntry {
+                ui_ready: Some(false),
                 state: package_state.clone(),
                 health: container.health.clone(),
                 exit_code: if package_state == PackageState::Exited {
@@ -283,10 +311,215 @@ impl DockerPackageScanner {
             );
         }
 
+        let probes: Vec<_> = packages
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|(id, pkg)| {
+                if pkg.state != PackageState::Running {
+                    return None;
+                }
+                let url = pkg
+                    .installed
+                    .as_ref()?
+                    .interface_addresses
+                    .get("main")?
+                    .lan_address
+                    .clone()?;
+                Some((id.clone(), url))
+            })
+            .collect();
+        let mut results = futures_util::stream::iter(
+            probes
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|(id, url)| async move { (id, launch_http_ready(&url).await) }),
+        )
+        .buffer_unordered(8);
+        while let Some((id, ready)) = results.next().await {
+            if let Some(pkg) = packages.get_mut(&id) {
+                pkg.ui_ready = Some(ready);
+            }
+        }
+        // HTTP on loopback can precede the LAN/Tor listener after install.
+        let port_map = crate::appgate::identity::build_port_map();
+        let gated: Vec<_> = packages
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|(id, pkg)| {
+                if pkg.ui_ready != Some(true) {
+                    return None;
+                }
+                let url = pkg
+                    .installed
+                    .as_ref()?
+                    .interface_addresses
+                    .get("main")?
+                    .lan_address
+                    .as_deref()?;
+                let port = launch_url_port(url)?;
+                port_map
+                    .gated(port)
+                    .filter(|gate| gate.declared)
+                    .map(|_| (id.clone(), port))
+            })
+            .collect();
+        if !gated.is_empty() {
+            use crate::appgate::listener::{port_claimed, refresh_now, shared_status};
+            let status = shared_status();
+            let needs_refresh = {
+                let current = status.read().await;
+                gated.iter().any(|(_, port)| !port_claimed(&current, *port))
+            };
+            if needs_refresh {
+                refresh_now().await;
+            }
+            let current = status.read().await;
+            for (id, port) in gated {
+                if !port_claimed(&current, port) {
+                    packages.get_mut(&id).unwrap().ui_ready = Some(false);
+                }
+            }
+        }
         Ok(packages)
     }
 }
 
+/// Quadlet removes containers during ordinary stops/restarts. Rebuild installed
+/// entries even on the daemon's first scan; a runtime absence is not uninstall.
+fn restore_absent_installed(
+    containers: &mut Vec<ContainerStatus>,
+    installed: &std::collections::HashSet<String>,
+    uninstalled: &std::collections::HashSet<String>,
+) {
+    fn canonical(name: &str) -> &str {
+        let name = name.strip_prefix("archy-").unwrap_or(name);
+        match name {
+            "immich_server" => "immich",
+            _ => name,
+        }
+    }
+    let mut present: std::collections::HashSet<String> = containers
+        .iter()
+        .map(|c| canonical(&c.name).to_owned())
+        .collect();
+    let removed: std::collections::HashSet<_> =
+        uninstalled.iter().map(|id| canonical(id)).collect();
+    for name in installed {
+        let id = canonical(name);
+        if removed.contains(id) || !present.insert(id.to_owned()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        containers.push(ContainerStatus {
+            id: String::new(),
+            name: id.to_owned(),
+            state: ContainerState::Stopped,
+            health: None,
+            exit_code: None,
+            started_at: None,
+            image: String::new(),
+            created: String::new(),
+            ports: Vec::new(),
+            lan_address: None,
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+/// Probe the actual loopback upstream, not the app gate's login page. A bound
+/// TCP socket alone can still reset requests or serve a startup 503.
+async fn launch_http_ready(candidate: &str) -> bool {
+    let Ok(mut url) = reqwest::Url::parse(candidate) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    if !matches!(url.scheme(), "http" | "https") {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if url.set_host(Some("127.0.0.1")).is_err() {
+        return false;
+    }
+    static CLIENT: std::sync::OnceLock<reqwest::Client> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
+    let client = CLIENT.get_or_init(|| {
+        reqwest::Client::builder()
+            .no_proxy()
+            .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(2))
+            .redirect(reqwest::redirect::Policy::none())
+            // Self-signed local app certificates are normal. This client only
+            // contacts loopback and never sends credentials or follows redirects.
+            .danger_accept_invalid_certs(true)
+            .build()
+            .expect("local readiness client")
+    });
+    match client.get(url).send().await {
+        Ok(response) => matches!(response.status().as_u16(), 200..=399 | 401 | 403),
+        Err(_) => false,
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod lifecycle_regression_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn registry_survives_empty_runtime_and_deduplicates_aliases() {
+        let installed = ["archy-gitea", "gitea", "immich_server", "archy-removed"]
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(str::to_owned)
+            .collect();
+        let removed = ["removed".to_owned()].into_iter().collect();
+        let mut containers = Vec::new();
+        restore_absent_installed(&mut containers, &installed, &removed);
+        assert_eq!(containers.len(), 2);
+        assert!(containers
+            .iter()
+            .all(|c| c.state == ContainerState::Stopped));
+        containers[0].state = ContainerState::Running;
+        restore_absent_installed(&mut containers, &installed, &removed);
+        assert_eq!(containers.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(containers[0].state, ContainerState::Running);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn readiness_rejects_startup_errors_and_accepts_auth_and_redirects() {
+        for (status, expected) in [
+            (200, true),
+            (302, true),
+            (401, true),
+            (403, true),
+            (404, false),
+            (500, false),
+            (502, false),
+            (503, false),
+        ] {
+            let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.unwrap();
+            let port = listener.local_addr().unwrap().port();
+            let task = tokio::spawn(async move {
+                let (mut stream, _) = listener.accept().await.unwrap();
+                let mut buf = [0; 2048];
+                let n = stream.read(&mut buf).await.unwrap();
+                assert!(String::from_utf8_lossy(&buf[..n]).starts_with("GET /start HTTP/1.1"));
+                stream.write_all(format!("HTTP/1.1 {status} Test\r\nContent-Length: 0\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n").as_bytes()).await.unwrap();
+            });
+            assert_eq!(
+                launch_http_ready(&format!("http://localhost:{port}/start")).await,
+                expected,
+                "status {status}"
+            );
+            task.await.unwrap();
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn readiness_rejects_tcp_accept_without_http() {
+        let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.unwrap();
+        let port = listener.local_addr().unwrap().port();
+        let task = tokio::spawn(async move {
+            let (stream, _) = listener.accept().await.unwrap();
+            drop(stream);
+        });
+        assert!(!launch_http_ready(&format!("http://localhost:{port}/")).await);
+        task.await.unwrap();
+        assert!(!launch_http_ready(&format!("http://localhost:{port}/")).await);
+        assert!(!launch_http_ready("file:///tmp/test").await);
+    }
+}
+
 struct AppMetadata {
     title: String,
     description: String,

core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs

@@ -3483,11 +3483,9 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
     }
 
     async fn cleanup_stale_grafana_port(&self) {
-        let _ = tokio::process::Command::new("pkill")
+        // Port 3001 can belong to Gitea or the daemon's gate. Reap only a
-            .args(["-f", "pasta.*3001"])
+        // Grafana container proven absent from Podman's inventory.
-            .output()
+        crate::container::ghost_reaper::reap_for_app("grafana").await;
-            .await;
-        tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
     }
 
     async fn detect_host_facts(&self) -> HostFacts {

core/archipelago/src/crash_recovery.rs

@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ pub async fn clear_user_stopped(data_dir: &Path, name: &str) {
 // Installation is a decision, not a runtime observation, so it gets a record
 // of its own that no amount of downtime erodes.
 const INSTALLED_APPS_FILE: &str = "installed-apps.json";
+static INSTALLED_APPS_LOCK: tokio::sync::Mutex<()> = tokio::sync::Mutex::const_new(());
 
 /// Load the durable set of installed app ids / container names.
 pub async fn load_installed_apps(data_dir: &Path) -> std::collections::HashSet<String> {
@@ -220,12 +221,23 @@ pub async fn load_installed_apps_if_recorded(
 async fn save_installed_apps(data_dir: &Path, installed: &std::collections::HashSet<String>) {
     let path = data_dir.join(INSTALLED_APPS_FILE);
     if let Ok(json) = serde_json::to_string_pretty(installed) {
-        let _ = fs::write(&path, json).await;
+        let tmp = path.with_extension("json.tmp");
+        let result = async {
+            fs::write(&tmp, json).await?;
+            fs::File::open(&tmp).await?.sync_all().await?;
+            fs::rename(&tmp, &path).await?;
+            fs::File::open(data_dir).await?.sync_all().await
+        }
+        .await;
+        if let Err(error) = result {
+            warn!(%error, "could not persist installed apps");
+        }
     }
 }
 
 /// Record that an app is installed. Called when an install succeeds.
 pub async fn mark_installed(data_dir: &Path, name: &str) {
+    let _guard = INSTALLED_APPS_LOCK.lock().await;
     let mut installed = load_installed_apps(data_dir).await;
     if installed.insert(name.to_string()) {
         save_installed_apps(data_dir, &installed).await;
@@ -235,6 +247,7 @@ pub async fn mark_installed(data_dir: &Path, name: &str) {
 /// Forget an app. Called on uninstall, beside `mark_user_uninstalled` — the
 /// two must move together or a reinstall-after-uninstall leaves a stale claim.
 pub async fn clear_installed(data_dir: &Path, name: &str) {
+    let _guard = INSTALLED_APPS_LOCK.lock().await;
     let mut installed = load_installed_apps(data_dir).await;
     if installed.remove(name) {
         save_installed_apps(data_dir, &installed).await;
@@ -252,6 +265,7 @@ pub async fn clear_installed(data_dir: &Path, name: &str) {
 /// need it. Runs on every boot, so an app installed before the upgrade is
 /// still picked up whenever it is next seen alive.
 pub async fn backfill_installed_apps(data_dir: &Path, present_container_names: &[String]) {
+    let _guard = INSTALLED_APPS_LOCK.lock().await;
     if present_container_names.is_empty() {
         return;
     }
@@ -1497,3 +1511,26 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod installed_concurrency_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn concurrent_install_records_are_not_lost() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let mut tasks = Vec::new();
+        for i in 0..24 {
+            let path = dir.path().to_owned();
+            tasks.push(tokio::spawn(async move {
+                mark_installed(&path, &format!("app-{i}")).await;
+            }));
+        }
+        for task in tasks {
+            task.await.unwrap();
+        }
+        assert_eq!(load_installed_apps(dir.path()).await.len(), 24);
+        clear_installed(dir.path(), "app-3").await;
+        assert_eq!(load_installed_apps(dir.path()).await.len(), 23);
+        assert!(!dir.path().join("installed-apps.json.tmp").exists());
+    }
+}

core/archipelago/src/data_model.rs

@@ -146,6 +146,10 @@ pub enum PackageState {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct PackageDataEntry {
+    /// Whether the app's HTTP upstream answered this scan (independent of
+    /// container health and blockchain sync). Missing on older nodes.
+    #[serde(rename = "ui-ready", default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub ui_ready: Option<bool>,
     pub state: PackageState,
     /// Container health: "healthy", "unhealthy", "starting", or null
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
@@ -297,6 +301,8 @@ pub enum InstallPhase {
     /// `podman pull` in progress (the longest phase — up to several
     /// minutes for large images on slow networks).
     PullingImage,
+    /// Orchestrator owns download/build and startup as one operation.
+    PreparingApp,
     /// Creating data directories, writing app-specific configs
     /// (bitcoin.conf, lnd.conf, searxng settings.yml, chown).
     CreatingContainer,

core/archipelago/src/server.rs

@@ -1765,12 +1765,17 @@ fn merge_preserving_transitional(
     };
 
     crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry {
-        state,
+        state: state.clone(),
         // install_progress and uninstall_stage are also owned by the
         // initiating op (same reason as state) — keep them.
         install_progress: existing.install_progress.clone(),
         uninstall_stage: existing.uninstall_stage.clone(),
         // Everything else comes from the fresh scan.
+        ui_ready: if state == crate::data_model::PackageState::Running {
+            fresh.ui_ready
+        } else {
+            Some(false)
+        },
         health: fresh.health.clone(),
         exit_code: fresh.exit_code,
         static_files: fresh.static_files.clone(),
@@ -1809,7 +1814,10 @@ async fn scan_and_update_packages(
     absence_tracker: &mut HashMap<String, u32>,
     transitional_since: &mut HashMap<String, Instant>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut packages = scanner.scan_containers().await?;
+    let (before_scan, _) = state.get_snapshot().await;
+    let mut packages = scanner
+        .scan_containers(data_dir, &before_scan.package_data)
+        .await?;
     let user_stopped = crate::crash_recovery::load_user_stopped(data_dir).await;
     for (id, pkg) in packages.iter_mut() {
         if pkg.state == crate::data_model::PackageState::Exited && user_stopped.contains(id) {
@@ -1870,11 +1878,14 @@ async fn scan_and_update_packages(
     // once at load ~2). Better to keep saying "scanning…" than to say "empty".
     if packages.is_empty() && (!first_scan || !installed_registry.is_empty()) {
         if tor_changed || update_changed {
-            let mut data = current_data;
+            state
-            data.server_info.tor_address = tor_addr.clone();
+                .mutate_data(|data| {
-            data.server_info.node_address = tor_addr.as_ref().map(|t| identity.node_address(t));
+                    data.server_info.tor_address = tor_addr.clone();
-            data.server_info.status_info.updated = update_available;
+                    data.server_info.node_address =
-            state.update_data(data).await;
+                        tor_addr.as_ref().map(|t| identity.node_address(t));
+                    data.server_info.status_info.updated = update_available;
+                })
+                .await;
         }
         return Ok(());
     }
@@ -1899,6 +1910,13 @@ async fn scan_and_update_packages(
     // died without cleanup and let the scan override it.
     let now = Instant::now();
     for (id, pkg) in &packages {
+        if user_uninstalled.contains(id)
+            || user_uninstalled.contains(&format!("archy-{id}"))
+            || (before_scan.package_data.contains_key(id)
+                && !current_data.package_data.contains_key(id))
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
         absence_tracker.remove(id);
         let existing = merged.get(id);
         let overwrite = match existing {
@@ -2054,22 +2072,40 @@ async fn scan_and_update_packages(
     }
 
     if changed || tor_changed || first_scan || update_changed {
-        let mut data = current_data;
+        state
-        data.package_data = merged;
+            .mutate_data(|data| {
-        data.server_info.tor_address = tor_addr.clone();
+                // A lifecycle operation may have started/finished while this scan
-        data.server_info.node_address = tor_addr.as_ref().map(|t| identity.node_address(t));
+                // awaited probes or disk I/O. Never overwrite that newer entry or
-        data.server_info.status_info.containers_scanned = true;
+                // resurrect one that an uninstall removed in the meantime.
-        data.server_info.status_info.updated = update_available;
+                apply_scanned_packages(&mut data.package_data, &current_data.package_data, &merged);
-        state.update_data(data).await;
+                data.server_info.tor_address = tor_addr.clone();
-        debug!(
+                data.server_info.node_address = tor_addr.as_ref().map(|t| identity.node_address(t));
-            "📦 State changed (packages={}, tor={}, first_scan={}, update={}), broadcasting update",
+                data.server_info.status_info.containers_scanned = true;
-            changed, tor_changed, first_scan, update_changed
+                data.server_info.status_info.updated = update_available;
-        );
+            })
+            .await;
     }
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn apply_scanned_packages(
+    latest: &mut HashMap<String, crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry>,
+    base: &HashMap<String, crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry>,
+    scanned: &HashMap<String, crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry>,
+) {
+    for (id, fresh) in scanned {
+        if latest.get(id) == base.get(id) {
+            latest.insert(id.clone(), fresh.clone());
+        }
+    }
+    for id in base.keys() {
+        if !scanned.contains_key(id) && latest.get(id) == base.get(id) {
+            latest.remove(id);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 async fn normalize_reachable_package_health(
     packages: &mut HashMap<String, crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry>,
 ) {
@@ -2268,6 +2304,7 @@ mod merge_tests {
 
     fn make_entry(state: PackageState, health: Option<&str>) -> PackageDataEntry {
         PackageDataEntry {
+            ui_ready: None,
             state,
             health: health.map(|s| s.to_string()),
             exit_code: None,
@@ -2280,6 +2317,37 @@ mod merge_tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn stale_scan_cannot_remove_new_installs_or_overwrite_lifecycle_changes() {
+        let running = make_entry(PackageState::Running, Some("healthy"));
+        let restarting = make_entry(PackageState::Restarting, None);
+        let base = [
+            ("restart".into(), running.clone()),
+            ("uninstalled".into(), running.clone()),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .collect();
+        let mut latest = [
+            ("restart".into(), restarting.clone()),
+            ("new".into(), running.clone()),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .collect();
+        let scanned = [
+            ("restart".into(), running.clone()),
+            ("uninstalled".into(), running.clone()),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .collect();
+        apply_scanned_packages(&mut latest, &base, &scanned);
+        assert_eq!(latest.get("restart"), Some(&restarting));
+        assert_eq!(latest.get("new"), Some(&running));
+        assert!(!latest.contains_key("uninstalled"));
+        apply_scanned_packages(&mut latest, &base, &HashMap::new());
+        assert_eq!(latest.get("restart"), Some(&restarting));
+        assert!(latest.contains_key("new"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn peer_path_filter_allows_content_catalog_and_items() {
         // Regression: the content *catalog* is exactly "/content" (no trailing

core/archipelago/src/state.rs

@@ -54,6 +54,21 @@ impl StateManager {
         let _ = self.broadcast_tx.send(message);
     }
 
+    /// Apply a small state change while holding the write lock. A lifecycle
+    /// task must not replace the entire model from an earlier snapshot.
+    pub async fn mutate_data<T>(&self, change: impl FnOnce(&mut DataModel) -> T) -> T {
+        let mut data = self.data.write().await;
+        let result = change(&mut data);
+        let mut rev = self.revision.write().await;
+        *rev += 1;
+        let _ = self.broadcast_tx.send(WebSocketMessage {
+            rev: *rev,
+            data: Some(data.clone()),
+            patch: None,
+        });
+        result
+    }
+
     /// Get a WebSocket message with the current state
     pub async fn get_initial_message(&self) -> WebSocketMessage {
         let (data, rev) = self.get_snapshot().await;
@@ -190,3 +205,29 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(rev, 1);
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod atomic_mutation_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn concurrent_updates_preserve_independent_entries() {
+        let state = Arc::new(StateManager::new());
+        let mut tasks = Vec::new();
+        for i in 0..24 {
+            let state = state.clone();
+            tasks.push(tokio::spawn(async move {
+                state
+                    .mutate_data(|data| {
+                        data.peer_health.insert(format!("peer-{i}"), true);
+                    })
+                    .await;
+            }));
+        }
+        for task in tasks {
+            task.await.unwrap();
+        }
+        let (data, revision) = state.get_snapshot().await;
+        assert_eq!(data.peer_health.len(), 24);
+        assert_eq!(revision, 24);
+    }
+}

neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/appLauncher.test.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ vi.mock('@/api/rpc-client', () => ({
 vi.stubGlobal('open', mockWindowOpen)
 
 import { useAppLauncherStore, senderMatchesApp } from '../appLauncher'
+import { useAppStore } from '../app'
 
 describe('useAppLauncherStore', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -54,6 +55,25 @@ describe('useAppLauncherStore', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('blocks both browser and embedded launch while HTTP is unready', () => {
+    const app = useAppStore()
+    app.data = { 'package-data': { gitea: { state: 'running', 'ui-ready': false, health: 'healthy', manifest: { id: 'gitea', title: 'Gitea' } } } } as never
+    const launcher = useAppLauncherStore()
+    launcher.openSession('gitea')
+    expect(launcher.panelAppId).toBeNull()
+    launcher.open({ url: 'http://192.0.2.10:3001/', title: 'Gitea', openInNewTab: true })
+    expect(mockWindowOpen).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(launcher.isOpen).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('also gates a dynamic app resolved through its runtime URL', () => {
+    useAppStore().data = { 'package-data': { custom: { state: 'running', 'ui-ready': false, manifest: { id: 'custom', title: 'Custom' }, installed: { 'interface-addresses': { main: { 'lan-address': 'http://localhost:18993/' } } } } } } as never
+    const launcher = useAppLauncherStore()
+    launcher.open({ url: 'http://192.0.2.10:18993/', title: 'Custom', openInNewTab: true })
+    expect(mockWindowOpen).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(launcher.isOpen).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   it('starts closed with empty state', () => {
     const store = useAppLauncherStore()
     expect(store.isOpen).toBe(false)

neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/server.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createPinia, setActivePinia } from 'pinia'
+import { reactive, nextTick } from 'vue'
+
+const fake = reactive<{ packages: Record<string, unknown> }>({ packages: {} })
+vi.mock('../sync', () => ({ useSyncStore: () => fake }))
+vi.mock('../../api/rpc-client', () => ({ rpcClient: {} }))
+import { useServerStore } from '../server'
+
+function installing(phase = 'preparing-app') {
+  return { state: 'installing', manifest: { title: 'Git Workshop' }, 'install-progress': { phase, size: 0, downloaded: 0 } }
+}
+
+describe('installation state after hard refresh', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    setActivePinia(createPinia())
+    fake.packages = {}
+  })
+
+  it('restores an in-flight install from an already-loaded server snapshot', () => {
+    fake.packages = { 'archipelago-source': installing() }
+    const store = useServerStore()
+    expect(store.isInstalling('archipelago-source')).toBe(true)
+    expect(store.installingApps.get('archipelago-source')).toMatchObject({
+      progress: 20,
+      message: 'Downloading, building and starting app…',
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a long download visible and clears it on terminal success', async () => {
+    const store = useServerStore()
+    fake.packages = { 'nginx-proxy-manager': installing() }
+    await nextTick()
+    expect(store.isInstalling('nginx-proxy-manager')).toBe(true)
+    fake.packages = { 'nginx-proxy-manager': installing() }
+    await nextTick()
+    expect(store.installingApps.get('nginx-proxy-manager')?.progress).toBe(20)
+    fake.packages = { 'nginx-proxy-manager': { state: 'running' } }
+    await nextTick()
+    expect(store.isInstalling('nginx-proxy-manager')).toBe(false)
+  })
+})

neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts

@@ -239,6 +239,11 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
   const panelPath = ref<string | null>(null)
 
   function openSessionNow(appId: string, opts: LaunchOptions = {}) {
+    const pkg = useAppStore().data?.['package-data']?.[appId]
+    if (pkg?.['ui-ready'] === false) {
+      useToast().info(`${pkg.manifest?.title || appId} is not ready to open yet`)
+      return
+    }
     recordAppLaunch(appId)
     const mobile = isMobileViewport()
 
@@ -295,7 +300,7 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
     // Apply the same readiness gate here so a container that has just entered
     // `running` cannot race nginx and show a transient 502 to the user.
     const pkg = useAppStore().data?.['package-data']?.[appId]
-    if (pkg && pkg.state === 'running' && !isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg)) {
+    if (pkg && (pkg['ui-ready'] === false || (pkg.state === 'running' && !isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg)))) {
       useToast().info(`${pkg.manifest?.title || appId} is still starting — try again in a moment`)
       return
     }
@@ -394,6 +399,12 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
     let launchUrl = normalizeLaunchUrl(payload.url, titleHintId)
     const resolvedId = resolveAppIdFromUrl(launchUrl) || titleHintId
 
+    const pkg = resolvedId ? useAppStore().data?.['package-data']?.[resolvedId] : undefined
+    if (pkg?.['ui-ready'] === false) {
+      useToast().info(`${pkg.manifest?.title || resolvedId} is not ready to open yet`)
+      return
+    }
+
     // Scheme discipline for everything launched on this host. Ports fronted
     // by the node's app gate (manifest auth gated/open) serve TLS on the same
     // port — on an HTTPS connection those must open over https. Ports that
@@ -472,6 +483,17 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
       // Check /app/{id}/ path-style routes first (HTTPS proxy mode)
       const m = u.pathname.match(/^\/app\/([a-z0-9._-]+)(?:\/|$)/i)
       if (m?.[1]) return m[1].toLowerCase()
+      // Dynamic/sideloaded apps have no entry in the static port map.
+      if (u.hostname === window.location.hostname && u.port) {
+        for (const [id, pkg] of Object.entries(useAppStore().data?.['package-data'] || {})) {
+          const address = pkg.installed?.['interface-addresses']?.main?.['lan-address']
+          if (!address) continue
+          try {
+            const runtime = new URL(address)
+            if (runtime.port === u.port && ['localhost', '127.0.0.1', window.location.hostname].includes(runtime.hostname)) return id
+          } catch { /* malformed runtime address is not a launch target */ }
+        }
+      }
       // Check port-based apps
       const appId = PORT_TO_APP_ID[u.port]
       if (appId) return appId

neode-ui/src/stores/server.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import type { InstallPhase } from '../types/api'
 const PHASE_INFO: Record<InstallPhase, { progress: number; message: string; status: InstallProgress['status'] }> = {
   'preparing':          { progress: 5,  message: 'Preparing…',                status: 'downloading' },
   'pulling-image':      { progress: 20, message: 'Downloading image…',        status: 'downloading' },
+  'preparing-app':      { progress: 20, message: 'Downloading, building and starting app…', status: 'downloading' },
   'creating-container': { progress: 70, message: 'Creating container…',       status: 'installing' },
   'starting-container': { progress: 80, message: 'Starting container…',       status: 'starting' },
   'waiting-healthy':    { progress: 88, message: 'Finalizing first start…',   status: 'starting' },
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ export const useServerStore = defineStore('server', () => {
         uninstallingApps.value.delete(appId)
       }
     }
-  }, { deep: true })
+  }, { deep: true, immediate: true })
 
   function setInstallProgress(appId: string, progress: Partial<InstallProgress> & { id: string; title: string }) {
     const existing = installingApps.value.get(appId)

neode-ui/src/types/api.ts

@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ export const PackageState = {
 export type PackageState = typeof PackageState[keyof typeof PackageState]
 
 export interface PackageDataEntry {
+  'ui-ready'?: boolean // HTTP upstream readiness, separate from container health
   state: PackageState
   health?: string | null // "healthy", "unhealthy", "starting", or null
   'exit-code'?: number | null // container exit code: 0 = clean stop, non-zero = crash
@@ -180,6 +181,7 @@ export type ServiceStatus = typeof ServiceStatus[keyof typeof ServiceStatus]
 export type InstallPhase =
   | 'preparing'
   | 'pulling-image'
+  | 'preparing-app'
   | 'creating-container'
   | 'starting-container'
   | 'waiting-healthy'

neode-ui/src/views/AppDetails.vue

@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ const canLaunch = computed(() => {
   const hasRuntimeAddress = !!pkg.value.installed?.['interface-addresses']?.main?.['lan-address']
   const hasKnownLaunchUrl = typeof window !== 'undefined' && !!resolveAppUrl(pkg.value.manifest.id)
   const hasUI = !!(pkg.value.manifest.interfaces?.main?.ui || hasRuntimeAddress || hasKnownLaunchUrl)
-  return hasUI && pkg.value.state === 'running' && pkg.value.health !== 'starting' && pkg.value.health !== 'unhealthy'
+  return hasUI && pkg.value['ui-ready'] !== false && pkg.value.state === 'running' && pkg.value.health !== 'starting' && pkg.value.health !== 'unhealthy'
 })
 
 const features = computed(() => {

neode-ui/src/views/AppSession.vue

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
         :must-open-new-tab="mustOpenNewTab"
         :auto-retry-count="autoRetryCount"
         :refresh-key="refreshKey"
+        :ui-ready-blocked="packageEntry?.['ui-ready'] === false"
         :blocked-reason="blockedReason"
         :blocked-title="blockedTitle"
         :warming-up="warmingUp"
@@ -375,6 +376,20 @@ const panelClasses = computed(() => {
   return `${base} app-session-overlay`
 })
 
+// A cold/restarting upstream is held outside the iframe. Start one fresh
+// load when the scanner observes HTTP readiness; no manual refresh required.
+watch(() => packageEntry.value?.['ui-ready'], (ready, previous) => {
+  if (ready === false) {
+    if (loadTimeoutId) clearTimeout(loadTimeoutId)
+    if (autoRetryId) clearTimeout(autoRetryId)
+    if (iframeCheckId) clearTimeout(iframeCheckId)
+    loading.value = false
+  } else if (previous === false && ready === true) {
+    autoRetryCount.value = 0
+    refresh()
+  }
+})
+
 // --- Lifecycle handlers ---
 
 function onLoad() {
@@ -433,6 +448,7 @@ function refresh() {
 
 function startLoadTimeout() {
   if (loadTimeoutId) clearTimeout(loadTimeoutId)
+  if (packageEntry.value?.['ui-ready'] === false) return
   loadTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
     if (loading.value) {
       loading.value = false
@@ -442,11 +458,13 @@ function startLoadTimeout() {
 }
 
 function openNewTabAndBack() {
+  if (packageEntry.value?.['ui-ready'] === false) return
   if (appUrl.value) openExternalUrl(appUrl.value)
   closeSession()
 }
 
 function openNewTab() {
+  if (packageEntry.value?.['ui-ready'] === false) return
   if (appUrl.value) openExternalUrl(appUrl.value)
 }
 

neode-ui/src/views/appSession/AppSessionFrame.vue

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
            first, then sync status arrives), and the sync screen is strictly
            more informative, so it takes precedence instead of the two
            rendering on top of each other. -->
-      <AppLoadingScreen v-if="loading && !(electrsSync && !electrsSync.stale)" :icon="appIcon" :title="appTitle" :progress="loadProgress" />
+      <AppLoadingScreen v-if="loading && !uiReadyBlocked && !(electrsSync && !electrsSync.stale)" :icon="appIcon" :title="appTitle" :progress="loadProgress" />
     </Transition>
 
     <!-- ElectrumX sync screen — shown before the real UI while the on-chain
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     </Transition>
 
     <div
-      v-if="appUrl && !iframeBlocked && (!electrsSync || electrsSync.stale)"
+      v-if="appUrl && !iframeBlocked && !uiReadyBlocked && (!electrsSync || electrsSync.stale)"
       class="absolute inset-0 app-session-frame-scroll-host"
       tabindex="-1"
       @pointerdown="focusIframe"
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
          reachable yet, so the "App not reachable / retry" overlay would just
          paint over the sync progress and read as a hard error. -->
     <Transition name="content-fade">
-      <div v-if="iframeBlocked && !electrsSync" class="absolute inset-0 z-10 flex flex-col items-center justify-center">
+      <div v-if="(iframeBlocked || uiReadyBlocked) && !electrsSync" class="absolute inset-0 z-10 flex flex-col items-center justify-center">
         <div class="text-center px-8">
           <!-- Warm-up uses the app's own icon, pulsing, rather than the padlock:
                the padlock reads as "blocked/denied" and this state is neither. -->
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@
           </div>
           <h3 class="text-lg font-semibold text-white mb-2">{{ warmingUp ? `${appTitle} is starting…` : blockedReason ? blockedTitle : (mustOpenNewTab ? 'This app opens in a new tab' : 'App not reachable') }}</h3>
           <p class="text-white/50 text-sm mb-6">
-            <template v-if="mustOpenNewTab">{{ appTitle }} sets security headers that prevent iframe embedding.<br>Open it in a new browser tab instead.</template>
+            <template v-if="uiReadyBlocked">{{ blockedReason }} This screen opens automatically when it is ready.</template>
+            <template v-else-if="mustOpenNewTab">{{ appTitle }} sets security headers that prevent iframe embedding.<br>Open it in a new browser tab instead.</template>
             <template v-else-if="warmingUp">The container is running but hasn't finished warming up yet.<br>This screen opens on its own as soon as it answers.<span v-if="autoRetryCount > 0" class="block text-yellow-400/70">Checking again automatically ({{ autoRetryCount }})...</span></template>
             <template v-else-if="blockedReason">{{ blockedReason }}<br><span v-if="autoRetryCount > 0" class="text-yellow-400/70">Checking again automatically ({{ autoRetryCount }})...</span></template>
             <template v-else>{{ appTitle }} may still be starting up or the container is stopped.<br><span v-if="autoRetryCount > 0" class="text-yellow-400/70">Retrying automatically ({{ autoRetryCount }})...</span></template>
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@
               Retry now
             </button>
             <button
+              v-if="!uiReadyBlocked"
               @click="$emit('openNewTabAndBack')"
               class="glass-button px-6 py-3 rounded-lg text-sm font-semibold inline-flex items-center gap-2"
             >
@@ -108,7 +110,7 @@
       </div>
     </Transition>
 
-    <div v-if="!appUrl" class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
+    <div v-if="!appUrl && !uiReadyBlocked" class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
       <div class="text-center px-8">
         <h3 class="text-lg font-semibold text-white mb-2">App not configured</h3>
         <p class="text-white/50 text-sm">No URL found for {{ appId }}</p>
@@ -133,6 +135,7 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   mustOpenNewTab: boolean
   autoRetryCount: number
   refreshKey: number
+  uiReadyBlocked?: boolean
   blockedReason?: string
   blockedTitle?: string
   // True while the container is up but its probe hasn't answered yet and the

neode-ui/src/views/appSession/__tests__/AppSessionFrame.test.ts

@@ -66,3 +66,19 @@ describe('AppSessionFrame warm-up state', () => {
     expect(text).toContain('This app opens in a new tab')
   })
 })
+
+describe('HTTP readiness gate', () => {
+  it('does not show a missing-configuration error during initial installation', () => {
+    const frame = mountFrame({ appUrl: '', uiReadyBlocked: true, blockedReason: 'Waiting for the app to be ready…' })
+    expect(frame.text()).not.toContain('App not configured')
+    expect(frame.find('iframe').exists()).toBe(false)
+  })
+  it('does not mount an iframe before readiness, then opens automatically', async () => {
+    const frame = mountFrame({ iframeBlocked: false, uiReadyBlocked: true, blockedReason: 'Waiting for the app to be ready…', blockedTitle: 'App not ready' })
+    expect(frame.find('iframe').exists()).toBe(false)
+    expect(frame.text()).toContain('opens automatically')
+    expect(frame.text()).not.toContain('Open in new tab')
+    await frame.setProps({ uiReadyBlocked: false, blockedReason: '' })
+    expect(frame.find('iframe').exists()).toBe(true)
+  })
+})

neode-ui/src/views/apps/__tests__/appsConfig.test.ts

@@ -184,3 +184,24 @@ describe('appsConfig service filtering', () => {
     expect(canLaunch(pkg)).toBe(true)
   })
 })
+
+describe('HTTP readiness independent of container health', () => {
+  it('blocks fixed launch URLs while the HTTP upstream is unavailable', () => {
+    for (const id of ['gitea', 'filebrowser', 'fedimint', 'lnd']) {
+      const pkg = makePkg(id, id, 'other')
+      pkg['ui-ready'] = false
+      pkg.health = 'healthy'
+      expect(canLaunch(pkg)).toBe(false)
+      expect(isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg)).toBe(false)
+      expect(launchBlockedReason(id, pkg)).toContain('Waiting')
+      pkg['ui-ready'] = true
+      expect(isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg)).toBe(true)
+    }
+  })
+  it('allows a ready companion while its backend is syncing', () => {
+    const pkg = makePkg('lnd', 'Lightning', 'bitcoin')
+    pkg.health = 'starting'
+    pkg['ui-ready'] = true
+    expect(isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg)).toBe(true)
+  })
+})

neode-ui/src/views/apps/appsConfig.ts

@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ export function resolveAppIcon(id: string, pkg: PackageDataEntry, curatedIcon?:
 
 export function canLaunch(pkg: PackageDataEntry): boolean {
   if (isWebOnlyApp(pkg.manifest.id)) return true
+  if (pkg['ui-ready'] === false) return false
   // Headless backends never get a Launch button, even with a published port.
   if (isServicePackage(pkg.manifest.id, pkg)) return false
   const hasRuntimeAddress = !!pkg.installed?.['interface-addresses']?.main?.['lan-address']
@@ -277,6 +278,7 @@ export function canLaunch(pkg: PackageDataEntry): boolean {
  * health check retain the legacy state/port behaviour.
  */
 export function isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg: PackageDataEntry): boolean {
+  if (pkg['ui-ready'] !== undefined) return pkg['ui-ready']
   const manifest = pkg.manifest as unknown as Record<string, unknown>
   const hasHealthCheck = Boolean(manifest.health_check || manifest['health-check'])
   if (!hasHealthCheck) return pkg.health !== 'unhealthy'
@@ -285,6 +287,10 @@ export function isAppReadyForLaunch(pkg: PackageDataEntry): boolean {
 
 export function launchBlockedReason(id: string, pkg?: PackageDataEntry | null): string {
   const appId = pkg?.manifest?.id || id
+  if (pkg?.['ui-ready'] === false && !isServicePackage(appId, pkg)) {
+    if (pkg.state === PackageState.Stopped || pkg.state === PackageState.Exited) return 'App is stopped. Start it to open it.'
+    return 'Waiting for the app to be ready…'
+  }
   if (
     (appId === 'fedimint' || appId === 'fedimintd') &&
     (pkg?.state === PackageState.Starting || (pkg?.state === PackageState.Running && pkg?.health === 'starting'))