diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7ce04a48e..cc8d3dbf7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 - Plugins can build pages of tiles you drag and resize, and add many copies of one dashboard card, each with its own settings
 - A plugin a newer release ships is downloaded on its own when your image does not have it, and tried again on the next start when offline
 - Plugins can decide who may connect to a host, so a host can need approved access before an SSH or remote desktop session opens
+- When more than one plugin flags a host, its row shows one status dot with every reason in its tooltip
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@
 - The Linux Flatpak now installs from flatpak.termix.site on x86_64 and arm64, and `flatpak update` keeps it current
 - Dropdowns and text areas are the same size as the text fields next to them
 - A page's own tabs sit above its search bar
+- A plugin view that is still starting shows the same loading spinner as the rest of Termix
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -43,6 +45,9 @@
 - The hint at the bottom of Browse and the stored data footer on plugin pages have the same padding as the rest of the page
 - Sign in methods on the Security page have a line between them
 - Chart axis labels with long units, like KiB/s, are no longer cut off
+- Filters, view toggles and small buttons in a toolbar are the same height as the search box next to them
+- Save and Cancel at the bottom of a form are the same height as other buttons
+- State badges in tables no longer stretch across the whole column
 
 ## 26.11.0
 
diff --git a/packages/plugin-sdk/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/plugin-sdk/CHANGELOG.md
index 391d3b1c6..af9a7c6b1 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-sdk/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/plugin-sdk/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,28 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.1.2
+
+Plugin API 1.15.0.
+
+### Added
+
+- `/ui` exports `ToolbarBand` (a toolbar row outside the PanelShell toolbar), `ToolbarSelect` (a small select for those rows) and `TOOLBAR_FIT` (the classes that make every control in a row 32px)
+- `PANEL.section`, the one inner layout for a SectionCard body
+- `TextAreaField` takes `fill`, so a config or log editor uses the rest of the height
+- `registerHostBadge` takes `useDot`. Every plugin's dots merge into one dot on the host row, with the worst tone and each reason in its tooltip. `/ui` exports `HostDotGroup` for layouts that draw host rows
+
+### Changed
+
+- Controls in the PanelShell toolbar, tab band and footer are all 32px, so small buttons line up with search boxes and selects
+- `Segmented` and `ViewToggle` match the height of inputs and buttons, and `Segmented` keeps its natural width
+- `FormFooter` buttons are full height
+- `PANEL.body` is `p-3`, the same padding `InlineView` gives a form
+- A body with a pinned footer no longer draws a closing line just above the footer's own line
+- The placeholder for a plugin view that is still starting uses `LoadingState`
+- `termix-plugin validate` warns about UI drift: raw loading spinners, small back buttons, native selects, stretched filters, filled headers, capped log views and footers that scroll away
+- A `ToolbarBand` right inside a `TileStack` leaves the line under it to the stack
+- `ListBadge` and `StatusBadge` keep their own width in a table cell instead of filling it
+
 ## 1.1.1
 
 Plugin API 1.15.0.
diff --git a/packages/plugin-sdk/PLUGIN-GUIDE.md b/packages/plugin-sdk/PLUGIN-GUIDE.md
index 707a9979d..ca1c2186c 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-sdk/PLUGIN-GUIDE.md
+++ b/packages/plugin-sdk/PLUGIN-GUIDE.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Termix plugin guide
 
-SDK 1.1.1 | Plugin API 1.15.0
+SDK 1.1.2 | Plugin API 1.15.0
 
 This guide is for anyone, person or AI coding tool, building a Termix plugin. It ships inside
 `@termix-ssh/plugin-sdk`, so the copy in your `node_modules` always matches the SDK you have installed.
@@ -782,9 +782,27 @@ exports with props is `ui.api.txt` in the Termix repo
   `StatTile` or `MetricCard`, and use `TileFrame` for a titled section. Cards drop their own box inside
   these. Forms keep `PANEL.body` padding inside their section. An `InlineView` form made of `SectionCard`s
   takes `stacked`.
-- Page views go in `PanelShell`'s `tabs` band as a `TabStrip`. `Segmented` is for filters and view modes.
-  A page with many sections uses `SideNav` on the left. Put the refresh button in the header with
-  `RefreshButton`, and the docs link with the `docs` prop.
+- Page views go in `PanelShell`'s `tabs` band as a `TabStrip`. `Segmented` is for filters and view modes and
+  keeps its natural width, never stretched across the pane. A page with many sections uses `SideNav` on the
+  left. Put the refresh button in the header with `RefreshButton`, and the docs link with the `docs` prop.
+- Toolbars: search, filters and buttons go in `PanelShell`'s `toolbar` slot, or in a `ToolbarBand` for a second
+  row. Both make every control in the row 32px, so a `size="sm"` button lines up with a search box. Use
+  `ToolbarSelect` for a small select there, never a native `<select>`. Don't build your own row with its own
+  padding.
+- Padding: loose content in a page body (a hint, a single field) takes `PANEL.body`. A `SectionCard` body uses
+  `PANEL.section` for its fields.
+- Headers have no background. Label a group with `GroupHeading`, never a row with `bg-muted`.
+- Sub views: a detail or edit view opens as an `InlineView`, which has the one back button. Anywhere else use
+  `BackButton` in `PanelShell`'s `leading` slot. Never make a smaller back button.
+- Save and Add always sit pinned at the bottom: pass `FormFooter` to `InlineView` or `PanelShell` as `footer`.
+  Inside a tab body, wrap the form in `<PanelShell chrome={false} footer={...}>`.
+- Loading: `LoadingState` for anything still loading (`compact` in cards and rows). A spinner on its own is
+  only for a button or an activity like "working".
+- Config and log editors fill the rest of the view: `TextAreaField fill`, or `min-h-0 flex-1` on a log, never a
+  fixed number of rows or a `max-h-[60vh]`.
+- Host row dots: report a problem with `registerHostBadge({ useDot })` instead of drawing a dot. The layout
+  merges every plugin's dots into one.
+- `termix-plugin validate` lists drift from these rules under `ui`. They are warnings, so fix what applies.
 - States and data: `StatusBadge` and `StatusDot` (pass a state like "running" and the color follows),
   `InfoGrid` for label and value pairs, `DataTable` for a plain table, `Pager` and `usePaged` under long lists.
 - Tile pages use `TileGrid` with `TileFrame` around each tile and `TilePicker` beside it while editing. Slots are
diff --git a/packages/plugin-sdk/cli/commands/validate.mjs b/packages/plugin-sdk/cli/commands/validate.mjs
index b1ae38ea9..15a3df8f2 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-sdk/cli/commands/validate.mjs
+++ b/packages/plugin-sdk/cli/commands/validate.mjs
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ export async function validate({ cwd }) {
   for (const warning of docsWarnings(cwd, raw)) {
     console.warn(`  warn  ${warning}`);
   }
+  for (const warning of uiWarnings(cwd)) {
+    console.warn(`  ui    ${warning}`);
+  }
 
   if (problems.length > 0) {
     for (const problem of problems) console.error(`  ${problem}`);
@@ -152,6 +155,92 @@ function walkSources(dir, out = []) {
   return out;
 }
 
+/** Whether line i sits inside a still open Button within the lines before it. */
+function insideButton(lines, i, reach = 12) {
+  const before = lines.slice(Math.max(0, i - reach), i + 1).join("\n");
+  const open = before.lastIndexOf("<Button");
+  const openLower = before.lastIndexOf("<button");
+  const start = Math.max(open, openLower);
+  if (start < 0) return false;
+  return !/<\/(Button|button)>/.test(before.slice(start));
+}
+
+const UI_RULES = [
+  {
+    test: (line) => /animate-spin|<Loader2\b/.test(line),
+    // Spinners inside a button, and activity spinners like "working", are fine.
+    skip: (lines, i) =>
+      insideButton(lines, i) ||
+      !/loading|Loading/.test(lines.slice(Math.max(0, i - 4), i + 4).join(" ")),
+    message: "raw spinner while loading, use LoadingState",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) => /<(ArrowLeft|ChevronLeft)\b/.test(line),
+    // Only real back buttons, not previous page or month arrows.
+    skip: (lines, i) =>
+      !insideButton(lines, i, 6) ||
+      !/back|onBack|close\b/i.test(
+        lines.slice(Math.max(0, i - 6), i + 4).join(" "),
+      ),
+    message:
+      "hand made back button, use BackButton in PanelShell leading or InlineView",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) => /<select\b/.test(line),
+    message: "native select, use Select or SelectField",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) => /\[&>button\]:flex-1/.test(line),
+    message: "stretched Segmented, keep filters at their natural width",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) =>
+      /(^|[\s"'`])bg-(muted|card|accent)(\/\d+)?(?=[\s"'`]|$)/.test(line) &&
+      /\bborder-b\b/.test(line) &&
+      /(uppercase|GroupHeading|py-1\.5)/.test(line),
+    message: "filled section header, headers have no background",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) => /max-h-\[\d+vh\]/.test(line),
+    message: "viewer capped by screen height, let it fill the view",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) => /<FormFooter\b/.test(line),
+    skip: (lines, i) =>
+      /footer\s*=/i.test(lines.slice(Math.max(0, i - 4), i + 1).join(" ")),
+    message:
+      "FormFooter in the body, pass it to an InlineView or PanelShell footer (PanelShell chrome={false} inside a tab) so it stays pinned",
+  },
+  {
+    test: (line) =>
+      /\{t\(["'][\w.]*[Ll]oading["']\)\}/.test(line) && !/label=/.test(line),
+    message: "plain loading text, use LoadingState",
+  },
+];
+
+/**
+ * Drift from the shared UI kit in src/frontend: raw spinners, hand made back
+ * buttons, native selects, stretched filters, filled headers and footers that
+ * scroll away. Warnings only, since some cases are on purpose.
+ */
+export function uiWarnings(cwd) {
+  const warnings = [];
+  for (const file of walkSources(path.join(cwd, "src", "frontend"))) {
+    if (!file.endsWith(".tsx")) continue;
+    const lines = fs.readFileSync(file, "utf8").split(/\r?\n/);
+    const rel = path.relative(cwd, file).replace(/\\/g, "/");
+    lines.forEach((line, i) => {
+      if (/^\s*(\/\/|\*|import\b)/.test(line)) return;
+      for (const rule of UI_RULES) {
+        if (rule.test(line) && !(rule.skip && rule.skip(lines, i))) {
+          warnings.push(`${rel}:${i + 1} ${rule.message}`);
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+  return warnings;
+}
+
 /**
  * Docs gaps that do not block a release: no docs/index.md, or a process.env
  * read the manifest does not list in env.
diff --git a/packages/plugin-sdk/package.json b/packages/plugin-sdk/package.json
index d795fe4df..eba7409ed 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-sdk/package.json
+++ b/packages/plugin-sdk/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@termix-ssh/plugin-sdk",
-  "version": "1.1.1",
+  "version": "1.1.2",
   "description": "The contract between Termix core and a plugin: types, the capability catalog and the manifest schema.",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/packages/plugin-sdk/src/frontend.ts b/packages/plugin-sdk/src/frontend.ts
index 1fe6f52db..94b2d0dde 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-sdk/src/frontend.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-sdk/src/frontend.ts
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ export interface HostProtocolContribution {
   quickConnect?: { showDomain?: boolean };
 }
 
-export interface HostBadgeContribution {
+export interface HostRowContribution {
   id: string;
   when: (host: PluginHostRecord) => boolean;
   component: ComponentType<{ host: PluginHostRecord }>;
@@ -664,11 +664,32 @@ export interface HostBadgeContribution {
   order?: number;
 }
 
+/** A problem shown as the host row's status dot. */
+export interface HostDot {
+  tone: "bad" | "warn";
+  label: string;
+}
+
+export interface HostBadgeContribution {
+  id: string;
+  when: (host: PluginHostRecord) => boolean;
+  /** Drawn as is on the row. Leave out for a badge that is only a dot. */
+  component?: ComponentType<{ host: PluginHostRecord }>;
+  /**
+   * A hook that returns a problem or null. Every plugin's dots merge into one
+   * dot on the row, with the worst tone and each label in its tooltip, so two
+   * plugins reporting the same host never draw two dots. Core 26.11.1+.
+   */
+  useDot?: (host: PluginHostRecord) => HostDot | null;
+  /** Lower comes first. Ties sort by id. */
+  order?: number;
+}
+
 /** The dot or stripe that shows a host's status on its row. */
-export type HostStatusIndicatorContribution = HostBadgeContribution;
+export type HostStatusIndicatorContribution = HostRowContribution;
 
 /** A control in the host editor's toolbar. */
-export type HostEditorToolbarItemContribution = HostBadgeContribution;
+export type HostEditorToolbarItemContribution = HostRowContribution;
 
 export interface HostSectionProps {
   host: PluginHostRecord;
diff --git a/packages/plugin-sdk/ui.api.txt b/packages/plugin-sdk/ui.api.txt
index 2d483d8e3..8326a0c2e 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-sdk/ui.api.txt
+++ b/packages/plugin-sdk/ui.api.txt
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ HostDefaultsContextValue (type): HostDefaultsContextValue
 HostDefaultsLevel (type): HostDefaultsLevel
 HostDefaultsTarget (type): HostDefaultsTarget
 HostDensity (type): HostDensity
+HostDotGroup (value): ({ host, badges, className, }: { host: Host; badges: HostBadgeDef[]; className?: string; }) => Element
 HostFeatureFields (value): ({ form, updateForm, }: HostFeatureFieldsProps) => Element
 HostFeatureFieldsProps (type): HostFeatureFieldsProps
 HostFolder (type): HostFolder
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ NoticePanel (value): ({ icon: Icon, title, children, action, tone, className, }:
 NumberField (value): ({ label, value, onChange, placeholder, hint, error, min, max, disabled, className, }: { label: string; value: number; onChange: (value: number) => void; placeholder?: string; hint?: ReactNode; error?: string; min?: number; max?: number; disabled?: boolean; className?: string; }) => Element
 OPEN_PLUGINS_EVENT (value): "termix:open-plugins"
 OpenTabRecord (type): OpenTabRecord
-PANEL (value): { readonly body: "p-2.5"; readonly gap: "gap-2"; readonly band: "px-3 py-2"; readonly cardHead: "px-3 py-2.5"; readonly header: "h-12.5"; }
+PANEL (value): { readonly body: "p-3"; readonly section: "flex flex-col gap-3 py-3"; readonly gap: "gap-2"; readonly band: "px-3 py-2"; readonly cardHead: "px-3 py-2.5"; readonly header: "h-12.5"; }
 PRESETS (value): Record<"simple" | "balanced" | "advanced", UiAreaPreferences>
 PROMPT_BUTTON (value): "inline-flex h-7 items-center justify-center gap-1.5 border border-border px-3 text-xs text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50"
 PROMPT_DESTRUCTIVE_BUTTON (value): "inline-flex h-7 items-center justify-center gap-1.5 bg-destructive px-3 text-xs font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-destructive/90 focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50"
@@ -309,6 +310,7 @@ SurfaceScope (value): ({ kind, onEditingChange, onClose, className, children, }:
 Switch (value): ({ className, ...props }: SwitchProps & RefAttributes<HTMLButtonElement>) => Element
 SwitchRow (value): ({ label, description, badge, checked, onChange, disabled, defaultKey, rowId, }: { label: string; description?: ReactNode; badge?: string; checked: boolean; onChange: (value: boolean) => void; disabled?: boolean; defaultKey?: string; rowId?: string; }) => Element
 TILE_COLUMNS (value): 12
+TOOLBAR_FIT (value): "[&_[data-slot=button][data-size=sm]]:h-8 [&_[data-slot=button][data-size=xs]]:h-8 [&_[data-slot=button][data-size=icon-sm]]:size-8 [&_[data-slot=button][data-size=icon-xs]]:size-8 [&_[data-slot=input]]:h-8 [&_[data-slot=select-trigger]]:h-8"
 TOTPDialog (value): ({ isOpen, prompt, mode, waiting, onSubmit, onCancel, backgroundColor, }: TOTPDialogProps) => Element
 Tab (type): Tab
 TabShellCallbacks (type): TabShellCallbacks
@@ -318,7 +320,7 @@ TabStrip (value): ({ tabs, activeTab, onTabChange, isActive, variant, trailing,
 TabStripItem (type): TabStripItem
 TabType (type): TabType
 TagInput (value): ({ tags, input, placeholder, onTagsChange, onInputChange, }: { tags: string[]; input: string; placeholder: string; onTagsChange: (tags: string[]) => void; onInputChange: (value: string) => void; }) => Element
-TextAreaField (value): ({ label, value, onChange, placeholder, rows, hint, error, aside, mono, disabled, className, }: { label: string; value: string; onChange: (value: string) => void; placeholder?: string; rows?: number; hint?: ReactNode; error?: string; aside?: ReactNode; mono?: boolean; disabled?: boolean; className?: string; }) => Element
+TextAreaField (value): ({ label, value, onChange, placeholder, rows, hint, error, aside, mono, disabled, fill, className, }: { label: string; value: string; onChange: (value: string) => void; placeholder?: string; rows?: number; hint?: ReactNode; error?: string; aside?: ReactNode; mono?: boolean; disabled?: boolean; fill?: boolean; className?: string; }) => Element
 TextField (value): ({ label, value, onChange, placeholder, hint, error, aside, disabled, mono, className, }: { label: string; value: string; onChange: (value: string) => void; placeholder?: string; hint?: ReactNode; error?: string; aside?: ReactNode; disabled?: boolean; mono?: boolean; className?: string; }) => Element
 Textarea (value): ForwardRefExoticComponent<TextareaProps & RefAttributes<HTMLTextAreaElement>>
 TextareaProps (type): TextareaProps
@@ -335,6 +337,8 @@ TileSlot (type): TileSlot
 TileStack (value): ({ className, children, }: { className?: string; children: ReactNode; }) => Element
 TileWall (value): ({ size, minWidth, gridClassName, className, children, }: { size?: GridSize; minWidth?: number; gridClassName?: string; className?: string; children: ReactNode; }) => Element
 TlsStatus (type): TlsStatus
+ToolbarBand (value): ({ className, children, }: { className?: string; children: ReactNode; }) => Element
+ToolbarSelect (value): <T extends string>({ value, onChange, options, label, disabled, className, }: { value: T; onChange: (value: NoInfer<T>) => void; options: { value: NoInfer<T>; label: string; }[]; label: string; disabled?: boolean; className?: string; }) => Element
 ToolsTab (type): ToolsTab
 Tooltip (value): ({ ...props }: TooltipProps) => Element
 TooltipContent (value): ({ className, sideOffset, children, ...props }: TooltipContentProps & RefAttributes<HTMLDivElement>) => Element
diff --git a/scripts/check-sdk-ui-exports.cjs b/scripts/check-sdk-ui-exports.cjs
index ffb4de9e6..a59ed1142 100644
--- a/scripts/check-sdk-ui-exports.cjs
+++ b/scripts/check-sdk-ui-exports.cjs
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ const TSCONFIG = path.join(ROOT, "tsconfig.app.json");
 
 const ALLOWED = [
   "SeamlessTileContext",
+  "ToolbarBand",
+  "ToolbarSelect",
+  "HostDotGroup",
+  "TOOLBAR_FIT",
   "TileEditBar",
   "TileStack",
   "TileColumn",
diff --git a/src/ui/components/form-fields.tsx b/src/ui/components/form-fields.tsx
index 2ff4a2d7e..cb2900678 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/form-fields.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/form-fields.tsx
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ export function TextAreaField({
   aside,
   mono,
   disabled,
+  fill,
   className,
 }: {
   label: string;
@@ -265,6 +266,8 @@ export function TextAreaField({
   aside?: ReactNode;
   mono?: boolean;
   disabled?: boolean;
+  /** Takes the rest of the height, for config and log editors. */
+  fill?: boolean;
   className?: string;
 }) {
   return (
@@ -273,7 +276,7 @@ export function TextAreaField({
       hint={hint}
       error={error}
       aside={aside}
-      className={className}
+      className={cn(fill && "min-h-0 flex-1", className)}
     >
       <textarea
         rows={rows}
@@ -284,6 +287,7 @@ export function TextAreaField({
         className={cn(
           "w-full resize-none border border-input bg-background px-3 py-2 text-xs text-foreground transition-colors placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring/50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50 dark:bg-input/30",
           mono && "font-mono text-[10px]",
+          fill && "min-h-40 flex-1",
         )}
       />
     </Field>
diff --git a/src/ui/components/list-kit.tsx b/src/ui/components/list-kit.tsx
index 9dd0c5e57..09d84281f 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/list-kit.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/list-kit.tsx
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ export function ListBadge({
   return (
     <span
       className={cn(
-        "flex shrink-0 items-center gap-0.5 border px-1 py-px text-[9px] uppercase leading-none tracking-wider [&_svg]:size-2.5",
+        "inline-flex w-fit shrink-0 items-center gap-0.5 border px-1 py-px text-[9px] uppercase leading-none tracking-wider [&_svg]:size-2.5",
         tone === "brand" &&
           "border-accent-brand/30 bg-accent-brand/10 text-accent-brand",
         tone === "warning" && "border-warning/30 bg-warning/10 text-warning",
@@ -428,7 +428,6 @@ export function FormFooter({
       {onDelete && (
         <Button
           variant="ghost"
-          size="sm"
           onClick={onDelete}
           disabled={saving}
           className="text-destructive hover:bg-destructive/10 hover:text-destructive dark:hover:bg-destructive/10"
@@ -444,7 +443,7 @@ export function FormFooter({
           ))}
       </div>
       {onCancel && (
-        <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onClick={onCancel} disabled={saving}>
+        <Button variant="ghost" onClick={onCancel} disabled={saving}>
           {cancelLabel ?? t("common.cancel")}
         </Button>
       )}
@@ -454,7 +453,6 @@ export function FormFooter({
           type={saveType}
           form={form}
           variant="outline"
-          size="sm"
           onClick={onSave}
           disabled={disabled || saving}
           className="border-accent-brand/40 px-6 text-accent-brand hover:bg-accent-brand/10 hover:text-accent-brand dark:border-accent-brand/40 dark:bg-transparent dark:hover:bg-accent-brand/10"
diff --git a/src/ui/components/loading-state.tsx b/src/ui/components/loading-state.tsx
index 25914e449..59719fdda 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/loading-state.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/loading-state.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export function LoadingState({
     return (
       <div
         role="status"
+        data-slot="loading-state"
         className={cn(
           "flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground",
           className,
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ export function LoadingState({
   return (
     <div
       role="status"
+      data-slot="loading-state"
       className={cn(
         "flex flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center gap-2 px-4 py-12 text-xs text-muted-foreground",
         className,
diff --git a/src/ui/components/manager-card.tsx b/src/ui/components/manager-card.tsx
index 137afc0fa..c74f0c01a 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/manager-card.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/manager-card.tsx
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export function ManagerSearch({
           value={value}
           onChange={(e) => onChange(e.target.value)}
           placeholder={placeholder ?? t("managerCard.filter")}
-          className="h-7 w-full border border-border bg-background pl-7 pr-2 text-xs outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-ring"
+          className="h-8 w-full border border-border bg-background pl-7 pr-2 text-xs outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-ring"
         />
       </div>
       {count != null && (
diff --git a/src/ui/components/panel-layout.tsx b/src/ui/components/panel-layout.tsx
index 003ea1466..1e2e0a57e 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/panel-layout.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/panel-layout.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/separator";
 import { DocsLink } from "@/components/docs-link";
 import { useInSeamlessTile } from "@/components/tile-grid/context";
+import { FooterClosed } from "@/components/tile-grid/edge";
 import {
   Select,
   SelectContent,
@@ -26,13 +27,81 @@ import {
 
 /** One spacing rhythm for every panel and tab. */
 export const PANEL = {
-  body: "p-2.5",
+  body: "p-3",
+  section: "flex flex-col gap-3 py-3",
   gap: "gap-2",
   band: "px-3 py-2",
   cardHead: "px-3 py-2.5",
   header: "h-12.5",
 } as const;
 
+/** Makes every control in a toolbar row the same 32px height. */
+export const TOOLBAR_FIT =
+  "[&_[data-slot=button][data-size=sm]]:h-8 [&_[data-slot=button][data-size=xs]]:h-8 [&_[data-slot=button][data-size=icon-sm]]:size-8 [&_[data-slot=button][data-size=icon-xs]]:size-8 [&_[data-slot=input]]:h-8 [&_[data-slot=select-trigger]]:h-8";
+
+/** A small unlabelled select for toolbar rows, as tall as the other controls. */
+export function ToolbarSelect<T extends string>({
+  value,
+  onChange,
+  options,
+  label,
+  disabled,
+  className,
+}: {
+  value: T;
+  onChange: (value: NoInfer<T>) => void;
+  options: { value: NoInfer<T>; label: string }[];
+  /** Read by screen readers, since the select has no visible label. */
+  label: string;
+  disabled?: boolean;
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <Select
+      value={value}
+      onValueChange={(next) => onChange(next as T)}
+      disabled={disabled}
+    >
+      <SelectTrigger
+        aria-label={label}
+        className={cn("h-8 w-auto text-xs", className)}
+      >
+        <SelectValue />
+      </SelectTrigger>
+      <SelectContent>
+        {options.map((option) => (
+          <SelectItem key={option.value} value={option.value}>
+            {option.label}
+          </SelectItem>
+        ))}
+      </SelectContent>
+    </Select>
+  );
+}
+
+/** A toolbar row for controls outside the PanelShell toolbar slot. */
+export function ToolbarBand({
+  className,
+  children,
+}: {
+  className?: string;
+  children: React.ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div
+      data-slot="toolbar-band"
+      className={cn(
+        "flex shrink-0 flex-wrap items-center gap-2 border-b border-border",
+        PANEL.band,
+        TOOLBAR_FIT,
+        className,
+      )}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 export type PanelViewMode = "grid" | "list";
 export type PanelDensity = "comfortable" | "compact";
 
@@ -112,18 +181,20 @@ export function PanelShell({
         className,
       )}
     >
-      {children}
+      <FooterClosed closed={!!footer}>{children}</FooterClosed>
     </div>
   );
 
   const bands = (
     <>
       {tabs && (
-        <div className="shrink-0 border-b border-border px-1">{tabs}</div>
+        <div className={`shrink-0 border-b border-border px-1 ${TOOLBAR_FIT}`}>
+          {tabs}
+        </div>
       )}
       {toolbar && (
         <div
-          className={`flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 border-b border-border ${PANEL.band}`}
+          className={`flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 border-b border-border ${PANEL.band} ${TOOLBAR_FIT}`}
         >
           {toolbar}
         </div>
@@ -132,7 +203,9 @@ export function PanelShell({
   );
 
   const foot = footer && (
-    <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 border-t border-border px-3 py-2">
+    <div
+      className={`flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 border-t border-border px-3 py-2 ${TOOLBAR_FIT}`}
+    >
       {footer}
     </div>
   );
@@ -375,7 +448,11 @@ export function Segmented<T extends string>({
   return (
     <div
       role="radiogroup"
-      className={cn("flex items-center border border-border", className)}
+      data-slot="segmented"
+      className={cn(
+        "flex w-fit shrink-0 items-center border border-border",
+        className,
+      )}
     >
       {options.map((option, i) => {
         const active = option.value === value;
@@ -388,7 +465,7 @@ export function Segmented<T extends string>({
             title={option.title ?? option.label}
             onClick={() => onChange(option.value)}
             className={cn(
-              "flex h-[30px] items-center justify-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 text-[11px] font-medium transition-colors focus-visible:relative focus-visible:z-10 focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring",
+              "flex h-[calc(2rem-2px)] items-center justify-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 text-[11px] font-medium transition-colors focus-visible:relative focus-visible:z-10 focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring",
               i > 0 && "border-l border-border",
               active
                 ? "bg-accent-brand/10 text-accent-brand"
@@ -428,7 +505,10 @@ export function ViewToggle({
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const toggle = (
-    <div className="flex items-center border border-border">
+    <div
+      data-slot="view-toggle"
+      className="flex items-center border border-border"
+    >
       <ToggleButton
         active={view === "grid"}
         onClick={() => onView("grid")}
@@ -513,7 +593,7 @@ function ToggleButton({
       aria-label={title}
       aria-pressed={active}
       className={cn(
-        "flex size-[30px] items-center justify-center transition-colors focus-visible:relative focus-visible:z-10 focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring",
+        "flex size-[calc(2rem-2px)] items-center justify-center transition-colors focus-visible:relative focus-visible:z-10 focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring",
         bordered && "border-l border-border",
         active
           ? "bg-accent-brand/10 text-accent-brand"
diff --git a/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileGrid.tsx b/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileGrid.tsx
index 0875dc98e..e6b4b6634 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileGrid.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileGrid.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ const SNAP = 8;
 const SCROLL_EDGE = 48;
 
 const styles = `
-.tg-grid { position: relative; }
+.tg-grid { position: relative; overflow-x: clip; }
 .tg-tile { position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; min-width: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; }
 .tg-grid[data-animate="true"] .tg-tile:not([data-active]) { transition: transform 160ms ease, width 160ms ease, height 160ms ease; }
 .tg-tile[data-active] { z-index: 40; }
diff --git a/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileStack.tsx b/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileStack.tsx
index 2a2c45e7c..cae0eadbf 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileStack.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/tile-grid/TileStack.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export function TileStack({
           {Children.toArray(children).map((section, index) => (
             <div
               key={keyOf(section, index)}
-              className="min-w-0 shrink-0 border-b border-border"
+              className="min-w-0 shrink-0 border-b border-border [&>[data-slot=toolbar-band]]:border-b-0"
             >
               {section}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/ui/components/tile-grid/edge.tsx b/src/ui/components/tile-grid/edge.tsx
index 5e2f18fac..8bc2d2f1f 100644
--- a/src/ui/components/tile-grid/edge.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/components/tile-grid/edge.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,23 @@ export function EdgeOwned({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   );
 }
 
+/** True in a body with a pinned footer, whose top line already closes it. */
+const FooterClosedContext = createContext(false);
+
+export function FooterClosed({
+  closed,
+  children,
+}: {
+  closed: boolean;
+  children: ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <FooterClosedContext.Provider value={closed}>
+      {children}
+    </FooterClosedContext.Provider>
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Whether the element's end reaches the bottom of the visible scroll area,
  * where a closing line would sit on the screen edge and only add noise.
@@ -65,7 +82,7 @@ function useReachesBottom(ref: React.RefObject<HTMLElement | null>) {
  * Wraps tiles whose last row draws a line under itself. The line stays when
  * there is room below and is clipped when the tiles reach the bottom of the
  * screen, the same rule the tile grid uses. Inside a stack section the
- * section owns the line, so it is always clipped.
+ * section owns the line, so it is always clipped, and so does a pinned footer.
  */
 export function BottomEdge({
   className,
@@ -77,11 +94,14 @@ export function BottomEdge({
   children: ReactNode;
 }) {
   const owned = useContext(EdgeOwnedContext);
+  const closed = useContext(FooterClosedContext);
   const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const reaches = useReachesBottom(ref);
   return (
     <div ref={ref} className={cn("min-w-0 overflow-clip", className)}>
-      <div className={cn((owned || reaches) && "-mb-px", innerClassName)}>
+      <div
+        className={cn((owned || closed || reaches) && "-mb-px", innerClassName)}
+      >
         {children}
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/ui/look/RepairView.tsx b/src/ui/look/RepairView.tsx
index e4487a91a..f7c80465b 100644
--- a/src/ui/look/RepairView.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/look/RepairView.tsx
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ export function RepairView({
           </div>
 
           <div className="flex flex-col border border-border">
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 border-b border-border bg-muted/30 px-3 py-2">
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 border-b border-border px-3 py-2">
               <span className="truncate text-xs text-foreground">
                 {name}
                 {status.pluginId && (
diff --git a/src/ui/plugin-host/PluginViewPlaceholder.tsx b/src/ui/plugin-host/PluginViewPlaceholder.tsx
index 2fb14ead2..2eee59fab 100644
--- a/src/ui/plugin-host/PluginViewPlaceholder.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/plugin-host/PluginViewPlaceholder.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { CircleSlash } from "lucide-react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Button } from "@/components/button";
+import { LoadingState } from "@/components/loading-state";
 import { usePermissions } from "@/hooks/use-permissions";
 import { pluginName } from "@/lib/plugin-i18n";
 import { OPEN_PLUGINS_EVENT } from "@/plugins/open-plugins";
@@ -32,12 +33,11 @@ export function PluginViewPlaceholder({
 
   if (status === "loading") {
     return (
-      <div
-        className="flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center"
-        aria-label={t("plugins.runtime.loading", { name })}
-      >
-        <div className="size-5 rounded-full border-2 border-muted-foreground/30 border-t-muted-foreground/70 animate-spin" />
-      </div>
+      <LoadingState
+        compact={compact}
+        label={t("plugins.runtime.loading", { name })}
+        className={compact ? undefined : "h-full w-full"}
+      />
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/plugin-host/app.ts b/src/ui/plugin-host/app.ts
index 8147a1301..b6c7a98a5 100644
--- a/src/ui/plugin-host/app.ts
+++ b/src/ui/plugin-host/app.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
 import {
   registerHostAction,
   registerHostBadge,
+  hostDotReporter,
   registerHostEditorToolbarItem,
   registerHostStatusIndicator,
   registerHostContextMenuItem,
@@ -398,7 +399,12 @@ export function createPluginApp(
           id: badge.id,
           pluginId,
           when: hostCallback(badge.when) as never,
-          component: scoped(badge.component) as never,
+          component: badge.component
+            ? (scoped(badge.component) as never)
+            : undefined,
+          dot: badge.useDot
+            ? (scoped(hostDotReporter(badge.useDot)) as never)
+            : undefined,
           order: badge.order,
         }),
       );
diff --git a/src/ui/plugin-host/sdk-ui.ts b/src/ui/plugin-host/sdk-ui.ts
index 6cee5ccd3..25716111f 100644
--- a/src/ui/plugin-host/sdk-ui.ts
+++ b/src/ui/plugin-host/sdk-ui.ts
@@ -323,6 +323,9 @@ export {
   PanelShell,
   RefreshButton,
   Segmented,
+  TOOLBAR_FIT,
+  ToolbarBand,
+  ToolbarSelect,
   ViewToggle,
   type GridSize,
   type PanelDensity,
@@ -834,6 +837,7 @@ export {
   useHostEditorToolbarItems,
   useHostStatusIndicators,
 } from "@/sidebar/host-contributions";
+export { HostDotGroup } from "@/sidebar/HostDotGroup";
 export { useEditorDefaultKeys } from "@/sidebar/host-defaults/catalog";
 export {
   enabledHostProtocols,
diff --git a/src/ui/shell/stage/TabStage.tsx b/src/ui/shell/stage/TabStage.tsx
index a0bbd0b5d..a72f30b6f 100644
--- a/src/ui/shell/stage/TabStage.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/shell/stage/TabStage.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ export function TabStage({ className }: { className?: string }) {
       elements) by TabPortals. Hidden while a split is active. */}
       <div
         ref={store.setNormalView}
+        data-slot="tab-stage"
         className="absolute inset-0"
         style={{ display: activeSplit ? "none" : undefined }}
       />
diff --git a/src/ui/sidebar/HostDotGroup.tsx b/src/ui/sidebar/HostDotGroup.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..00a98494c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/sidebar/HostDotGroup.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { StatusDot } from "@/components/status";
+import {
+  Tooltip,
+  TooltipContent,
+  TooltipProvider,
+  TooltipTrigger,
+} from "@/components/tooltip";
+import type { Host } from "@/types/ui-types";
+import type { HostBadgeDef, HostDot } from "./host-contributions";
+
+function DotSlot({
+  badge,
+  host,
+  onDot,
+}: {
+  badge: HostBadgeDef;
+  host: Host;
+  onDot: (id: string, dot: HostDot | null) => void;
+}) {
+  const Reporter = badge.dot!;
+  const report = useCallback(
+    (dot: HostDot | null) => onDot(badge.id, dot),
+    [badge.id, onDot],
+  );
+  return <Reporter host={host} report={report} />;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The one status dot on a host row. Every badge that reports a dot feeds it,
+ * so the worst tone wins and the tooltip lists each reason.
+ */
+export function HostDotGroup({
+  host,
+  badges,
+  className,
+}: {
+  host: Host;
+  badges: HostBadgeDef[];
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  const [dots, setDots] = useState<Record<string, HostDot | null>>({});
+  const onDot = useCallback((id: string, dot: HostDot | null) => {
+    setDots((current) => {
+      const before = current[id];
+      if (before?.tone === dot?.tone && before?.label === dot?.label)
+        return current;
+      return { ...current, [id]: dot };
+    });
+  }, []);
+  const sources = badges.filter((badge) => badge.dot);
+  const active = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      sources
+        .map((badge) => dots[badge.id])
+        .filter((dot): dot is HostDot => !!dot),
+    [sources, dots],
+  );
+  const tone = active.some((dot) => dot.tone === "bad") ? "bad" : "warn";
+  const lines = [
+    ...new Set(active.map((dot) => dot.label).filter(Boolean)),
+  ].join("\n");
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      {sources.map((badge) => (
+        <DotSlot key={badge.id} badge={badge} host={host} onDot={onDot} />
+      ))}
+      {active.length > 0 && (
+        <TooltipProvider delayDuration={300}>
+          <Tooltip>
+            <TooltipTrigger asChild>
+              <span
+                data-testid="host-dot"
+                className="flex shrink-0 items-center"
+              >
+                <StatusDot tone={tone} className={className} />
+              </span>
+            </TooltipTrigger>
+            {lines && (
+              <TooltipContent side="right" className="whitespace-pre-line">
+                {lines}
+              </TooltipContent>
+            )}
+          </Tooltip>
+        </TooltipProvider>
+      )}
+    </>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/sidebar/host-contributions.ts b/src/ui/sidebar/host-contributions.ts
index 39d58b8ca..6f492cab7 100644
--- a/src/ui/sidebar/host-contributions.ts
+++ b/src/ui/sidebar/host-contributions.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { ComponentType } from "react";
+import { useEffect, type ComponentType } from "react";
 import type { Host } from "@/types/ui-types";
 import { byOrderThenId, createRegistry } from "@/lib/registry";
 import type { TabShellCallbacks } from "@/shell/tab-registry";
@@ -37,11 +37,26 @@ export interface HostActionDef {
   }[];
 }
 
+/** A problem a plugin wants shown as the host row's one status dot. */
+export interface HostDot {
+  tone: "bad" | "warn";
+  label: string;
+}
+
+/** Calls a plugin's dot hook and passes the answer up to the dot group. */
+export type HostDotReporter = ComponentType<{
+  host: Host;
+  report: (dot: HostDot | null) => void;
+}>;
+
 export interface HostBadgeDef {
   id: string;
   pluginId?: string;
   when: (host: Host) => boolean;
-  component: ComponentType<{ host: Host }>;
+  /** Drawn as is. Leave out when the badge is only a dot. */
+  component?: ComponentType<{ host: Host }>;
+  /** Merged with every other dot into one dot on the row. */
+  dot?: HostDotReporter;
   order?: number;
 }
 
@@ -114,6 +129,22 @@ export function defaultConnectAction(
   )[0];
 }
 
+/** Turns a plugin's dot hook into a component the dot group can mount. */
+export function hostDotReporter(
+  useDot: (host: Host) => HostDot | null,
+): HostDotReporter {
+  return function HostDotReport({ host, report }) {
+    const dot = useDot(host);
+    const tone = dot?.tone;
+    const label = dot?.label ?? "";
+    useEffect(() => {
+      report(tone ? { tone, label } : null);
+    }, [tone, label, report]);
+    useEffect(() => () => report(null), [report]);
+    return null;
+  };
+}
+
 export function hostBadgesFor(all: HostBadgeDef[], host: Host): HostBadgeDef[] {
   return all.filter((badge) => safeWhen(badge.when, host));
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/tests/components/panel-layout.test.tsx b/src/ui/tests/components/panel-layout.test.tsx
index 039e156b1..bc003a200 100644
--- a/src/ui/tests/components/panel-layout.test.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/tests/components/panel-layout.test.tsx
@@ -10,9 +10,12 @@ import {
   PanelSearch,
   PanelShell,
   Segmented,
+  ToolbarBand,
   ViewToggle,
   gridSizeStyle,
 } from "@/components/panel-layout";
+import { TileColumn } from "@/components/tile-grid/TileColumn";
+import { TileStack } from "@/components/tile-grid/TileStack";
 
 afterEach(cleanup);
 
@@ -148,3 +151,61 @@ describe("PanelShell", () => {
     expect(screen.getByText("footer")).toBeTruthy();
   });
 });
+
+describe("toolbar sizing", () => {
+  it("fits small controls in the toolbar and in ToolbarBand", () => {
+    render(
+      <>
+        <PanelShell title="X" toolbar={<span>tools</span>}>
+          body
+        </PanelShell>
+        <ToolbarBand>band</ToolbarBand>
+      </>,
+    );
+    const band = screen.getByText("band");
+    expect(band.className).toContain(
+      "[&_[data-slot=button][data-size=sm]]:h-8",
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByText("tools").parentElement!.className).toContain(
+      "[&_[data-slot=input]]:h-8",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("keeps Segmented at its natural width", () => {
+    render(
+      <Segmented<"a" | "b">
+        value="a"
+        onChange={() => {}}
+        options={[
+          { value: "a", label: "A" },
+          { value: "b", label: "B" },
+        ]}
+      />,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole("radiogroup").className).toContain("w-fit");
+  });
+
+  it("clips the last tile line when a footer is pinned", () => {
+    const { container } = render(
+      <PanelShell title="Form" footer={<span>save</span>}>
+        <TileColumn>
+          <div>field</div>
+        </TileColumn>
+      </PanelShell>,
+    );
+    expect(container.querySelector(".-mb-px")).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("ToolbarBand in a tile stack", () => {
+  it("leaves the line under it to the stack", () => {
+    render(
+      <TileStack>
+        <ToolbarBand>inside</ToolbarBand>
+      </TileStack>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByText("inside").parentElement!.className).toContain(
+      "[&>[data-slot=toolbar-band]]:border-b-0",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/ui/tests/sidebar/HostDotGroup.test.tsx b/src/ui/tests/sidebar/HostDotGroup.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c754814d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/tests/sidebar/HostDotGroup.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { cleanup, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { HostDotGroup } from "@/sidebar/HostDotGroup";
+import {
+  hostDotReporter,
+  type HostBadgeDef,
+  type HostDot,
+} from "@/sidebar/host-contributions";
+import type { Host } from "@/types/ui-types";
+
+afterEach(cleanup);
+
+const host = { id: 1, name: "web" } as unknown as Host;
+
+function badge(id: string, dot: HostDot | null): HostBadgeDef {
+  return { id, when: () => true, dot: hostDotReporter(() => dot) };
+}
+
+describe("HostDotGroup", () => {
+  it("draws one dot with the worst tone for many reports", () => {
+    render(
+      <HostDotGroup
+        host={host}
+        badges={[
+          badge("uptime", { tone: "bad", label: "1 monitor down" }),
+          badge("ops", { tone: "warn", label: "Disk: 91%" }),
+        ]}
+      />,
+    );
+    const dots = screen.getAllByTestId("host-dot");
+    expect(dots).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(dots[0].firstElementChild!.className).toContain("bg-destructive");
+  });
+
+  it("draws nothing when no badge reports", () => {
+    render(<HostDotGroup host={host} badges={[badge("uptime", null)]} />);
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("host-dot")).toBeNull();
+  });
+});