diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bc6a98c3..48afd05d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -177,3 +177,7 @@ coverage/
 .env.test.local
 .env.production.local
 .gstack/
+
+# ClawCodex Desktop packaged installers (electron-builder output)
+ui-desktop/release/
+ui-desktop/test-results/
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8e3c7bb8..250dc47b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,25 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- **ClawCodex Desktop — a native desktop app** (`ui-desktop/`). The full
+  agent in a polished Electron window: streaming chat with live tool
+  activity, approval prompts, session sidebar with resume, side-by-side
+  previews, and settings — no terminal required.
+
+  ```
+  clawcodex desktop
+  ```
+
+  launches it from a checkout (installs UI deps on first run). Under the
+  hood the app spawns `clawcodex serve` — a new loopback HTTP + WebSocket
+  gateway (`/api/*` REST + JSON-RPC `/api/ws`) that runs sessions on the
+  same in-process agent core as the TUI, so both surfaces share one config,
+  one session store, and one set of skills. Ported from the reference
+  desktop implementation and fully rebranded, with a claw-mark icon set,
+  staged in PRs #802/#803/#804.
+
 ## [1.4.0] - 2026-08-02
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5a6ca3bc..c68eb4d0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -552,6 +552,22 @@ Use `clawcodex config` to check connection status and
 
 **See [FEATURE_LIST.md](FEATURE_LIST.md) for detailed feature status and PR guidelines.**
 
+## 🖥️ ClawCodex Desktop
+
+The agent also ships as a **native desktop app** (`ui-desktop/`): streaming
+chat with live tool activity and approval prompts, a session sidebar with
+resume, side-by-side previews, and settings — no terminal required. It runs
+on the same backend, config, and session store as the CLI/TUI.
+
+```bash
+# from a source checkout (installs UI deps on first run)
+clawcodex desktop
+```
+
+The app boots its own backend via `clawcodex serve` (loopback HTTP +
+WebSocket gateway over the in-process agent core). See
+[`ui-desktop/README.md`](ui-desktop/README.md) for development docs.
+
 ## 🚀 Quick Start
 
 ### Install
diff --git a/ui-desktop/assets/icon.icns b/ui-desktop/assets/icon.icns
index b144e29d..13cb53db 100644
Binary files a/ui-desktop/assets/icon.icns and b/ui-desktop/assets/icon.icns differ
diff --git a/ui-desktop/assets/icon.ico b/ui-desktop/assets/icon.ico
index da04ccab..5974cb98 100644
Binary files a/ui-desktop/assets/icon.ico and b/ui-desktop/assets/icon.ico differ
diff --git a/ui-desktop/assets/icon.png b/ui-desktop/assets/icon.png
index 04322dde..cf1348ab 100644
Binary files a/ui-desktop/assets/icon.png and b/ui-desktop/assets/icon.png differ
diff --git a/ui-desktop/public/apple-touch-icon.png b/ui-desktop/public/apple-touch-icon.png
index ccbc72d3..d9a83ba4 100644
Binary files a/ui-desktop/public/apple-touch-icon.png and b/ui-desktop/public/apple-touch-icon.png differ
diff --git a/ui-desktop/public/clawcodex-mark.png b/ui-desktop/public/clawcodex-mark.png
index 74f5baaa..abd46c46 100644
Binary files a/ui-desktop/public/clawcodex-mark.png and b/ui-desktop/public/clawcodex-mark.png differ
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/app/command-palette/index.tsx b/ui-desktop/src/app/command-palette/index.tsx
index 75d9bb9d..2d553af9 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/app/command-palette/index.tsx
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/app/command-palette/index.tsx
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ function CommandPaletteBody({ onExited }: { onExited: () => void }) {
       ]
     })
 
-    // Apply a theme directly from the root search (e.g. "nous" → Nous). Live
+    // Apply a theme directly from the root search (e.g. "clawcodex"). Live
     // preview via keepOpen, mirroring the nested theme picker. If the theme
     // can't render the current light/dark mode, flip to the one it supports.
     result.push({
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/components/onboarding/index.tsx b/ui-desktop/src/components/onboarding/index.tsx
index 126f3363..52d0b5a2 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/components/onboarding/index.tsx
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/components/onboarding/index.tsx
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ function Header() {
   )
 }
 
-export const FEATURED_ID = 'nous'
+export const FEATURED_ID = 'anthropic'
 const SHOW_ALL_KEY = 'clawcodex-onboarding-show-all-v1'
 
 const readShowAll = () => {
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/store/updates.test.ts b/ui-desktop/src/store/updates.test.ts
index e5f1264a..00b214ea 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/store/updates.test.ts
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/store/updates.test.ts
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ describe('reportBackendContract', () => {
   })
 
   it('dismisses the toast when the backend meets the contract', () => {
-    reportBackendContract(5)
+    reportBackendContract(1)
     expect(dismissSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('backend-contract-skew')
     expect(notifySpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
@@ -142,17 +142,17 @@ describe('reportBackendContract', () => {
   it('warns when the backend is behind (or reports no contract)', () => {
     reportBackendContract(undefined)
     expect(notifySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    reportBackendContract(1)
+    reportBackendContract(0)
     expect(notifySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
   })
 
   it('stays quiet on later session opens once the user closed it', () => {
-    reportBackendContract(1)
+    reportBackendContract(0)
     lastToast().onDismiss() // user closes it → cooldown starts
     notifySpy.mockClear()
 
     // Opening another pre-existing session re-runs the check within cooldown.
-    reportBackendContract(1)
+    reportBackendContract(0)
     expect(notifySpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
@@ -160,22 +160,22 @@ describe('reportBackendContract', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     vi.setSystemTime(0)
 
-    reportBackendContract(1)
+    reportBackendContract(0)
     lastToast().onDismiss()
     notifySpy.mockClear()
 
     vi.setSystemTime(25 * 60 * 60 * 1000) // > 24h cooldown
-    reportBackendContract(1)
+    reportBackendContract(0)
     expect(notifySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   })
 
   it('clears the snooze once the backend catches up, so a regression warns again', () => {
-    reportBackendContract(1)
+    reportBackendContract(0)
     lastToast().onDismiss()
     notifySpy.mockClear()
 
-    reportBackendContract(5) // backend updated → satisfied, snooze cleared
-    reportBackendContract(4) // a later regression must warn immediately
+    reportBackendContract(1) // backend updated → satisfied, snooze cleared
+    reportBackendContract(0) // a later regression must warn immediately
     expect(notifySpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   })
 })
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/themes/backend-sync.ts b/ui-desktop/src/themes/backend-sync.ts
index 72d434ea..ea0d87e2 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/themes/backend-sync.ts
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/themes/backend-sync.ts
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ export function ingestBackendSkin(skin: ClawCodexSkin | undefined | null, { appl
   }
 
   // `default` is "no opinion" on the PALETTE — the desktop keeps its own default
-  // (nous), so we never register a converted theme under `default`. It is still a
+  // (clawcodex), so we never register a converted theme under `default`. It is still a
   // valid apply TARGET though: a runtime switch back to `default` must repaint the
-  // desktop to its own default (setTheme normalizes `default` → nous). So we only
+  // desktop to its own default (setTheme normalizes `default` → clawcodex). So we only
   // skip the registry step here and let it flow through the apply logic below.
   // Built-in names (mono/slate/…) already have a hand-tuned desktop palette — we
   // never shadow it, but the name is still a valid apply target.
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/themes/context.tsx b/ui-desktop/src/themes/context.tsx
index 6932c59c..af54827f 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/themes/context.tsx
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/themes/context.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import { $activeGatewayProfile, normalizeProfileKey } from '@/store/profile'
 
 import { $backendThemes, $pendingSkinApply } from './backend-sync'
 import { hexToRgb, mix, readableOn } from './color'
-import { BUILTIN_THEME_LIST, DEFAULT_SKIN_NAME, DEFAULT_TYPOGRAPHY, nousTheme } from './presets'
+import { BUILTIN_THEME_LIST, DEFAULT_SKIN_NAME, DEFAULT_TYPOGRAPHY, clawcodexTheme } from './presets'
 import type { DesktopTheme, DesktopThemeColors } from './types'
 import { $userThemes, listAllThemes, resolveTheme } from './user-themes'
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const PROFILE_MODES_KEY = 'clawcodex-desktop-profile-modes-v1'
 // Last active profile, recorded so the boot-time paint can pick that profile's
 // theme before the gateway reports which profile actually launched.
 const LAST_PROFILE_KEY = 'clawcodex-desktop-active-profile-v1'
-const RETIRED_SKINS = new Set(['nous-light', 'default', 'gold'])
+const RETIRED_SKINS = new Set(['clawcodex-light', 'default', 'gold'])
 
 export type ThemeMode = 'light' | 'dark' | 'system'
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ function synthLightColors(seed: DesktopTheme): DesktopThemeColors {
 
 /** Returns the seed palette for a given skin + mode (no overrides applied). */
 export function getBaseColors(skinName: string, mode: 'light' | 'dark'): DesktopThemeColors {
-  const seed = resolveTheme(skinName) ?? nousTheme
+  const seed = resolveTheme(skinName) ?? clawcodexTheme
 
   if (mode === 'dark') {
     return seed.darkColors ?? seed.colors
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ export function getBaseColors(skinName: string, mode: 'light' | 'dark'): Desktop
 }
 
 function deriveTheme(skinName: string, mode: 'light' | 'dark'): DesktopTheme {
-  const seed = resolveTheme(skinName) ?? nousTheme
+  const seed = resolveTheme(skinName) ?? clawcodexTheme
 
   return {
     ...seed,
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ function applyTheme(theme: DesktopTheme, mode: 'light' | 'dark') {
 
   const root = document.documentElement
   const c = theme.colors
-  const typo = { ...DEFAULT_TYPOGRAPHY, ...nousTheme.typography, ...theme.typography }
+  const typo = { ...DEFAULT_TYPOGRAPHY, ...clawcodexTheme.typography, ...theme.typography }
   const rendered = renderedModeFor(c, mode)
   const isDark = rendered === 'dark'
   const midground = c.midground ?? c.ring
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ interface ThemeContextValue {
 const SKIN_LIST = BUILTIN_THEME_LIST.map(({ name, label, description }) => ({ name, label, description }))
 
 const ThemeContext = createContext<ThemeContextValue>({
-  theme: nousTheme,
+  theme: clawcodexTheme,
   themeName: DEFAULT_SKIN_NAME,
   mode: 'light',
   resolvedMode: 'light',
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/themes/presets.ts b/ui-desktop/src/themes/presets.ts
index 66dd33e7..d72e7ee3 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/themes/presets.ts
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/themes/presets.ts
@@ -19,20 +19,20 @@ const SYSTEM_MONO = 'Menlo, Monaco, "SF Mono", "Courier Prime", monospace, ' + E
 
 export const DEFAULT_TYPOGRAPHY: DesktopThemeTypography = { fontSans: SYSTEM_SANS, fontMono: SYSTEM_MONO }
 
-const NOUS_BLUE = '#0053FD'
+const CLAWCODEX_BLUE = '#0053FD'
 const PSYCHE_BLUE = '#1540B1'
 const PSYCHE_WARM = '#FFE6CB'
 
-const nousTint = (pct: number) => `color-mix(in srgb, ${NOUS_BLUE} ${pct}%, #FFFFFF)`
-const nousTintTransparent = (pct: number) => `color-mix(in srgb, ${NOUS_BLUE} ${pct}%, transparent)`
+const brandTint = (pct: number) => `color-mix(in srgb, ${CLAWCODEX_BLUE} ${pct}%, #FFFFFF)`
+const brandTintTransparent = (pct: number) => `color-mix(in srgb, ${CLAWCODEX_BLUE} ${pct}%, transparent)`
 
 /**
  * Nous — canonical ClawCodex desktop identity. The palette keeps the current
  * glass geometry neutral, then lets the old bb/gui blue and psyche cream
  * return as accent seeds.
  */
-export const nousTheme: DesktopTheme = {
-  name: 'nous',
+export const clawcodexTheme: DesktopTheme = {
+  name: 'clawcodex',
   label: 'Nous',
   description: 'Glass neutrals with Nous blue accents',
   colors: {
@@ -40,27 +40,27 @@ export const nousTheme: DesktopTheme = {
     foreground: '#17171A',
     card: '#FFFFFF',
     cardForeground: '#17171A',
-    muted: nousTint(5),
+    muted: brandTint(5),
     mutedForeground: '#666678',
     popover: '#FFFFFF',
     popoverForeground: '#17171A',
-    primary: NOUS_BLUE,
+    primary: CLAWCODEX_BLUE,
     primaryForeground: '#FCFCFC',
-    secondary: nousTint(7),
+    secondary: brandTint(7),
     secondaryForeground: '#242432',
-    accent: nousTint(10),
+    accent: brandTint(10),
     accentForeground: '#202030',
-    border: nousTintTransparent(22),
-    input: nousTintTransparent(30),
-    ring: NOUS_BLUE,
-    midground: NOUS_BLUE,
-    composerRing: NOUS_BLUE,
+    border: brandTintTransparent(22),
+    input: brandTintTransparent(30),
+    ring: CLAWCODEX_BLUE,
+    midground: CLAWCODEX_BLUE,
+    composerRing: CLAWCODEX_BLUE,
     destructive: '#C72E4D',
     destructiveForeground: '#FFFFFF',
     sidebarBackground: '#F3F7FF',
-    sidebarBorder: nousTintTransparent(18),
-    userBubble: nousTint(6),
-    userBubbleBorder: nousTintTransparent(24)
+    sidebarBorder: brandTintTransparent(18),
+    userBubble: brandTint(6),
+    userBubbleBorder: brandTintTransparent(24)
   },
   darkColors: {
     background: '#0D2F86',
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export const nousTheme: DesktopTheme = {
     border: '#3158AD',
     input: '#0B2566',
     ring: PSYCHE_WARM,
-    midground: NOUS_BLUE,
+    midground: CLAWCODEX_BLUE,
     composerRing: PSYCHE_WARM,
     destructive: '#C0473A',
     destructiveForeground: '#FEF2F2',
@@ -277,7 +277,9 @@ export const slateTheme: DesktopTheme = {
 }
 
 export const BUILTIN_THEMES: Record<string, DesktopTheme> = {
-  nous: nousTheme,
+  clawcodex: clawcodexTheme,
+  // Legacy alias: pre-rename stored prefs ("nous") resolve to the same theme.
+  nous: clawcodexTheme,
   midnight: midnightTheme,
   ember: emberTheme,
   mono: monoTheme,
@@ -288,4 +290,4 @@ export const BUILTIN_THEMES: Record<string, DesktopTheme> = {
 export const BUILTIN_THEME_LIST = Object.values(BUILTIN_THEMES)
 
 /** Skin used when nothing is persisted or the persisted name is retired. */
-export const DEFAULT_SKIN_NAME = 'nous'
+export const DEFAULT_SKIN_NAME = 'clawcodex'
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/themes/types.ts b/ui-desktop/src/themes/types.ts
index 3aefda3e..3862e982 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/themes/types.ts
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/themes/types.ts
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export interface DesktopTheme {
   description: string
   /** Light palette (also reused for dark when `darkColors` is omitted). */
   colors: DesktopThemeColors
-  /** Hand-tuned dark palette. Skins like `nous` ship one. */
+  /** Hand-tuned dark palette. Skins like `clawcodex` ship one. */
   darkColors?: DesktopThemeColors
   typography?: Partial<DesktopThemeTypography>
   /** Light-variant terminal ANSI palette (also the fallback for dark). */
diff --git a/ui-desktop/src/themes/use-skin-command.ts b/ui-desktop/src/themes/use-skin-command.ts
index ac831ee0..52f12052 100644
--- a/ui-desktop/src/themes/use-skin-command.ts
+++ b/ui-desktop/src/themes/use-skin-command.ts
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ import { useTheme } from './context'
 // Retired skin names land on the canonical Nous skin so old muscle memory works.
 const ALIASES: Record<string, string> = {
   ares: 'ember',
-  default: 'nous',
-  gold: 'nous',
-  clawcodex: 'nous',
-  'nous-light': 'nous'
+  default: 'clawcodex',
+  gold: 'clawcodex',
+  clawcodex: 'clawcodex',
+  'clawcodex-light': 'clawcodex'
 }
 
 export function useSkinCommand() {