diff --git a/packages/cli/src/__tests__/workflow.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/workflow.test.ts
index 1fbd3cd..0c0d582 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/__tests__/workflow.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/__tests__/workflow.test.ts
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ describe("buildListOutput", () => {
     // header + 2 run lines
     expect(lines).toHaveLength(3);
     expect(paginationHint).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(paginationHint).toContain("nerve workflow runs");
     expect(paginationHint).toContain("--offset 2");
     expect(paginationHint).toContain("3 more");
   });
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ describe("buildInspectOutput", () => {
 // Integration: getAllWorkflowRuns + buildListOutput end-to-end with real store
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-describe("workflow list — integration with real store", () => {
+describe("workflow runs list — integration with real store", () => {
   it("lists active runs from the store", () => {
     upsertRun("r1", "cleanup", "started", 1000);
     upsertRun("r2", "cleanup", "queued", 2000);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/dev.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/dev.ts
index abf1bca..cafcbdd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/dev.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/dev.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import { defineCommand } from "citty";
 
-import { runForegroundKernelSession } from "../run-foreground-kernel.js";
+import {
+  type ForegroundSessionOptions,
+  runForegroundKernelSession,
+} from "../run-foreground-kernel.js";
 import { loadDaemonModule } from "../workspace-daemon.js";
 import { getNerveRoot } from "../workspace.js";
 
@@ -9,9 +12,25 @@ export const devCommand = defineCommand({
     name: "dev",
     description: "Run the nerve kernel in the foreground (development mode)",
   },
-  async run() {
+  args: {
+    port: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "HTTP API port (overrides nerve.yaml api.port). Omit to use YAML / env only.",
+      default: "",
+    },
+  },
+  async run({ args }) {
     const nerveRoot = getNerveRoot();
     const { createKernel } = await loadDaemonModule(nerveRoot);
-    await runForegroundKernelSession(nerveRoot, createKernel);
+    let sessionOpts: ForegroundSessionOptions = {};
+    if (args.port.length > 0) {
+      const n = Number.parseInt(args.port, 10);
+      if (Number.isNaN(n) || n < 1 || n > 65_535) {
+        process.stderr.write(`❌ Invalid --port: ${args.port}\n`);
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+      sessionOpts = { httpApiPortOverride: n };
+    }
+    await runForegroundKernelSession(nerveRoot, createKernel, sessionOpts);
   },
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
index baaee9c..7c369f9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/start.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { spawn } from "node:child_process";
-import { createWriteStream, existsSync } from "node:fs";
+import { createWriteStream, existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { mkdir } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 
+import { parseNerveConfig } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { defineCommand } from "citty";
 
 import {
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ function daemonBootstrapScript(): string {
   );
 }
 
-async function runDaemon(nerveRoot: string): Promise<void> {
+async function runDaemon(nerveRoot: string, cliHttpPort: number | null): Promise<void> {
   if (isRunning()) {
     const pid = readPidFile();
     process.stderr.write(`⚠️ Nerve daemon is already running (pid ${pid}).\n`);
@@ -74,12 +75,27 @@ async function runDaemon(nerveRoot: string): Promise<void> {
 
   const bootstrapPath = daemonBootstrapScript();
 
+  const configPath = join(nerveRoot, "nerve.yaml");
+  let yamlApiPort: number | null = null;
+  try {
+    const raw = readFileSync(configPath, "utf8");
+    const parsed = parseNerveConfig(raw);
+    if (parsed.ok) yamlApiPort = parsed.value.api.port;
+  } catch {
+    // kernel bootstrap will surface a clearer error if config is missing
+  }
+  const resolvedHttpPort = cliHttpPort ?? yamlApiPort;
+  const env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = { ...process.env, NERVE_ROOT: nerveRoot };
+  if (resolvedHttpPort !== null && resolvedHttpPort > 0) {
+    env.NERVE_API_PORT = String(resolvedHttpPort);
+  }
+
   // After `open`, file-backed WriteStream has a numeric OS fd for spawn stdio; `@types/node` omits `fd` on this WriteStream alias.
   const logFd = (logStream as unknown as { fd: number }).fd;
   const child = spawn(process.execPath, [bootstrapPath], {
     detached: true,
     stdio: ["ignore", logFd, logFd],
-    env: { ...process.env, NERVE_ROOT: nerveRoot },
+    env,
     cwd: nerveRoot,
   });
 
@@ -109,8 +125,8 @@ async function runDaemon(nerveRoot: string): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 /** Background daemon only — use `nerve dev` for foreground mode. */
-export async function runDaemonStartCommand(): Promise<void> {
-  await runDaemon(getNerveRoot());
+export async function runDaemonStartCommand(cliHttpPort: number | null = null): Promise<void> {
+  await runDaemon(getNerveRoot(), cliHttpPort);
 }
 
 export const daemonStartCommand = defineCommand({
@@ -118,7 +134,23 @@ export const daemonStartCommand = defineCommand({
     name: "start",
     description: "Start the nerve daemon in the background",
   },
-  async run() {
-    await runDaemonStartCommand();
+  args: {
+    port: {
+      type: "string",
+      description: "HTTP API port (overrides nerve.yaml api.port). Omit to use YAML / env only.",
+      default: "",
+    },
+  },
+  async run({ args }) {
+    let cliHttpPort: number | null = null;
+    if (args.port.length > 0) {
+      const n = Number.parseInt(args.port, 10);
+      if (Number.isNaN(n) || n < 1 || n > 65_535) {
+        process.stderr.write(`❌ Invalid --port: ${args.port}\n`);
+        process.exit(1);
+      }
+      cliHttpPort = n;
+    }
+    await runDaemonStartCommand(cliHttpPort);
   },
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts
index 2662f60..5813d15 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/workflow.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,12 @@ import { defineCommand } from "citty";
 import { stringify } from "yaml";
 
 import type { LogStore, ThreadRoundRow, WorkflowRun } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
-import { killWorkflowViaDaemon, triggerWorkflowViaDaemon } from "../daemon-client.js";
+import {
+  killWorkflowViaDaemon,
+  listWorkflowsViaDaemon,
+  triggerWorkflowViaDaemon,
+} from "../daemon-client.js";
+import { formatRowsAsAlignedTable } from "../sense-sqlite.js";
 import { loadDaemonModule } from "../workspace-daemon.js";
 import { getNerveRoot, getSocketPath, isRunning } from "../workspace.js";
 
@@ -125,7 +130,7 @@ export function buildListOutput(
     const allFlagStr = allFlag ? " --all" : "";
     paginationHint =
       `\n⏩ ${remaining} more run(s) not shown. Fetch next page:\n` +
-      `   nerve workflow list --offset ${offset + limit}${allFlagStr}${wfFlag}\n`;
+      `   nerve workflow runs --offset ${offset + limit}${allFlagStr}${wfFlag}\n`;
   }
 
   return { lines, paginationHint };
@@ -298,13 +303,61 @@ export function buildThreadCommandOutput(
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// nerve workflow list
+// nerve workflow list (daemon — registered workflows + queue depth)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-const workflowListCommand = defineCommand({
+const workflowDaemonListCommand = defineCommand({
   meta: {
     name: "list",
-    description: "List active (queued/started) workflow runs",
+    description: "List workflows from the running daemon (concurrency, active, queued)",
+  },
+  async run() {
+    if (!isRunning()) {
+      process.stderr.write("❌ Nerve daemon is not running. Start it with `nerve start`.\n");
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    const socketPath = getSocketPath();
+    let response: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof listWorkflowsViaDaemon>>;
+    try {
+      response = await listWorkflowsViaDaemon(socketPath);
+    } catch (e) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e);
+      process.stderr.write(`❌ Failed to contact daemon: ${msg}\n`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      process.stderr.write(`❌ Daemon error: ${response.error}\n`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    const rows = response.workflows.map((w) => ({
+      name: w.name,
+      active: w.activeThreads,
+      queued: w.queuedThreads,
+      concurrency: w.config.concurrency,
+      overflow: w.config.overflow,
+    }));
+
+    if (rows.length === 0) {
+      process.stdout.write("📭 No workflows in nerve.yaml (or empty registry).\n");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    process.stdout.write(`📋 Workflows (${String(rows.length)}):\n\n`);
+    process.stdout.write(formatRowsAsAlignedTable(rows));
+  },
+});
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// nerve workflow runs
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const workflowRunsCommand = defineCommand({
+  meta: {
+    name: "runs",
+    description: "List active (queued/started) workflow runs from logs",
   },
   args: {
     all: {
@@ -562,7 +615,7 @@ const workflowTriggerCommand = defineCommand({
     }
 
     process.stdout.write(`✅ Triggered workflow "${args.name}" via daemon.\n`);
-    process.stdout.write("\n💡 Inspect active runs with: nerve workflow list\n");
+    process.stdout.write("\n💡 Inspect active runs with: nerve workflow runs\n");
   },
 });
 
@@ -616,7 +669,8 @@ export const workflowCommand = defineCommand({
     description: "Manage and inspect workflow runs",
   },
   subCommands: {
-    list: workflowListCommand,
+    list: workflowDaemonListCommand,
+    runs: workflowRunsCommand,
     inspect: workflowInspectCommand,
     thread: workflowThreadCommand,
     trigger: workflowTriggerCommand,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/daemon-client.ts b/packages/cli/src/daemon-client.ts
index d4fc8ee..224b90e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/daemon-client.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/daemon-client.ts
@@ -10,11 +10,16 @@ import type { Socket } from "node:net";
 
 import type {
   DaemonIpcListSensesResponse,
+  DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse,
   DaemonIpcRequest,
   DaemonIpcTriggerResponse,
+  DaemonTransport,
+  DaemonTransportTriggerResult,
+  HealthInfo,
   SenseInfo,
+  WorkflowStatus,
 } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
-import { isPlainRecord } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import { DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS, isPlainRecord } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
 const CONNECT_TIMEOUT_MS = 3_000;
 const RESPONSE_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000;
@@ -32,6 +37,19 @@ function isSenseInfo(value: unknown): value is SenseInfo {
   );
 }
 
+function isWorkflowStatus(value: unknown): value is WorkflowStatus {
+  if (!isPlainRecord(value)) return false;
+  const cfg = value.config;
+  if (!isPlainRecord(cfg)) return false;
+  return (
+    typeof value.name === "string" &&
+    typeof value.activeThreads === "number" &&
+    typeof value.queuedThreads === "number" &&
+    typeof cfg.concurrency === "number" &&
+    typeof cfg.overflow === "string"
+  );
+}
+
 function parseDaemonResponse(line: string): DaemonIpcTriggerResponse {
   try {
     const obj: unknown = JSON.parse(line);
@@ -62,6 +80,51 @@ function parseListSensesResponse(line: string): DaemonIpcListSensesResponse {
   return { ok: false, error: `Unexpected daemon response: ${line}` };
 }
 
+function parseListWorkflowsResponse(line: string): DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse {
+  try {
+    const obj: unknown = JSON.parse(line);
+    if (isPlainRecord(obj)) {
+      const r = obj;
+      if (r.ok === false && typeof r.error === "string") return { ok: false, error: r.error };
+      if (r.ok === true && Array.isArray(r.workflows) && r.workflows.every(isWorkflowStatus)) {
+        return { ok: true, workflows: r.workflows };
+      }
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // fall through
+  }
+  return { ok: false, error: `Unexpected daemon response: ${line}` };
+}
+
+function parseHealthResponse(line: string): HealthInfo | null {
+  try {
+    const obj: unknown = JSON.parse(line);
+    if (!isPlainRecord(obj)) return null;
+    const r = obj;
+    if (r.ok === true && isPlainRecord(r.health)) {
+      const h = r.health;
+      if (
+        typeof h.ok === "boolean" &&
+        typeof h.version === "string" &&
+        typeof h.uptime === "number" &&
+        typeof h.startedAt === "string" &&
+        typeof h.hostname === "string"
+      ) {
+        return {
+          ok: h.ok,
+          version: h.version,
+          uptime: h.uptime,
+          startedAt: h.startedAt,
+          hostname: h.hostname,
+        };
+      }
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // fall through
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 /**
  * Connect to the daemon socket, send one JSON request (newline-terminated),
  * and resolve with the first non-empty line parsed by `parseFirstLine`.
@@ -126,6 +189,72 @@ function sendAndReceive<T>(
   });
 }
 
+/** Unix-socket implementation of {@link DaemonTransport} (local daemon). */
+export class UnixTransport implements DaemonTransport {
+  readonly socketPath: string;
+  constructor(socketPath: string) {
+    this.socketPath = socketPath;
+  }
+
+  async health(): Promise<HealthInfo> {
+    const parsed = await sendAndReceive(this.socketPath, { type: "health" }, (line) =>
+      parseHealthResponse(line),
+    );
+    if (parsed === null) {
+      throw new Error("Unexpected daemon response for health");
+    }
+    return parsed;
+  }
+
+  async listSenses(): Promise<SenseInfo[]> {
+    const r = await sendAndReceive(
+      this.socketPath,
+      { type: "list-senses" },
+      parseListSensesResponse,
+    );
+    if (!r.ok) {
+      throw new Error(r.error);
+    }
+    return r.senses;
+  }
+
+  async listWorkflows(): Promise<WorkflowStatus[]> {
+    const r = await sendAndReceive(
+      this.socketPath,
+      { type: "list-workflows" },
+      parseListWorkflowsResponse,
+    );
+    if (!r.ok) {
+      throw new Error(r.error);
+    }
+    return r.workflows;
+  }
+
+  async triggerSense(name: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult> {
+    return sendAndReceive(
+      this.socketPath,
+      { type: "trigger-sense", sense: name },
+      parseDaemonResponse,
+    );
+  }
+
+  async triggerWorkflow(name: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult> {
+    const message: DaemonIpcRequest = {
+      type: "trigger-workflow",
+      workflow: name,
+      prompt: "",
+      maxRounds: DEFAULT_ENGINE_MAX_ROUNDS,
+      dryRun: false,
+    };
+    return sendAndReceive(this.socketPath, message, parseDaemonResponse);
+  }
+
+  async killWorkflow(runId: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult> {
+    const message: DaemonIpcRequest = { type: "kill-workflow", runId };
+    return sendAndReceive(this.socketPath, message, parseDaemonResponse);
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Send a trigger-workflow message to the running daemon via its Unix socket.
  * Resolves with the daemon's response or rejects on connection/timeout errors.
@@ -168,6 +297,16 @@ export function listSensesViaDaemon(socketPath: string): Promise<DaemonIpcListSe
   return sendAndReceive(socketPath, message, parseListSensesResponse);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Send a list-workflows message to the running daemon via its Unix socket.
+ */
+export function listWorkflowsViaDaemon(
+  socketPath: string,
+): Promise<DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse> {
+  const message: DaemonIpcRequest = { type: "list-workflows" };
+  return sendAndReceive(socketPath, message, parseListWorkflowsResponse);
+}
+
 /**
  * Send a kill-workflow message to the running daemon via its Unix socket.
  * Resolves with the daemon's response or rejects on connection/timeout errors.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/run-foreground-kernel.ts b/packages/cli/src/run-foreground-kernel.ts
index c05a1d7..009f917 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/run-foreground-kernel.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/run-foreground-kernel.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ import { getSocketPath } from "./workspace.js";
 export type CreateKernelFn = (
   config: NerveConfig,
   nerveRoot: string,
-  opts: { enableFileWatcher: boolean; ipcSocketPath: string },
+  opts: {
+    enableFileWatcher: boolean;
+    ipcSocketPath: string;
+    httpApiPortOverride?: number | null;
+  },
 ) => {
   groups: Set<string>;
   ready: Promise<void>;
@@ -28,9 +32,23 @@ function readConfig(nerveRoot: string): ReturnType<typeof parseNerveConfig> {
   return parseNerveConfig(raw);
 }
 
+function parseEnvHttpPort(): number | null {
+  const envPort = process.env.NERVE_API_PORT;
+  if (envPort === undefined || envPort === "") return null;
+  const n = Number.parseInt(envPort, 10);
+  if (Number.isNaN(n) || n < 1 || n > 65_535) return null;
+  return n;
+}
+
+export type ForegroundSessionOptions = {
+  /** Positive integer overrides `nerve.yaml` `api.port` (same precedence as `NERVE_API_PORT`). */
+  httpApiPortOverride?: number | null;
+};
+
 export async function runForegroundKernelSession(
   nerveRoot: string,
   createKernel: CreateKernelFn,
+  sessionOpts: ForegroundSessionOptions = {},
 ): Promise<void> {
   const configResult = readConfig(nerveRoot);
   if (!configResult.ok) {
@@ -39,10 +57,23 @@ export async function runForegroundKernelSession(
   }
 
   const config = configResult.value;
-  const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
+  const envOverride = parseEnvHttpPort();
+  const cliOverride = sessionOpts.httpApiPortOverride ?? null;
+  const resolvedOverride =
+    cliOverride !== null && cliOverride > 0
+      ? cliOverride
+      : envOverride !== null && envOverride > 0
+        ? envOverride
+        : null;
+
+  const kernelBase = {
     enableFileWatcher: true,
     ipcSocketPath: getSocketPath(),
-  });
+  };
+  const kernel =
+    resolvedOverride !== null
+      ? createKernel(config, nerveRoot, { ...kernelBase, httpApiPortOverride: resolvedOverride })
+      : createKernel(config, nerveRoot, kernelBase);
 
   const senseNames = Object.keys(config.senses);
   const groups = [...kernel.groups];
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/workspace-daemon.ts b/packages/cli/src/workspace-daemon.ts
index cabd341..551fc64 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/workspace-daemon.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/workspace-daemon.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ export type DaemonModule = {
   createKernel: (
     config: NerveConfig,
     nerveRoot: string,
-    options: { enableFileWatcher: boolean; ipcSocketPath: string },
+    options: {
+      enableFileWatcher: boolean;
+      ipcSocketPath: string;
+      httpApiPortOverride?: number | null;
+    },
   ) => {
     groups: Set<string>;
     ready: Promise<void>;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/config.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/config.test.ts
index fc82c2c..540110c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/config.test.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ describe("parseNerveConfig", () => {
         overflow: "queue",
         maxQueue: 10,
       });
+      expect(result.value.api).toEqual({ port: null });
     });
 
     it("parses config with empty reflexes array", () => {
@@ -170,9 +171,39 @@ workflows:
         maxQueue: 100,
       });
     });
+
+    it("parses api.port when present", () => {
+      const yaml = `
+senses:
+  cpu:
+    group: system
+reflexes: []
+api:
+  port: 9800
+`;
+      const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
+      expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
+      if (!result.ok) return;
+      expect(result.value.api).toEqual({ port: 9800 });
+    });
   });
 
   describe("invalid configs", () => {
+    it("returns error when api.port is out of range", () => {
+      const yaml = `
+senses:
+  cpu:
+    group: system
+reflexes: []
+api:
+  port: 99999
+`;
+      const result = parseNerveConfig(yaml);
+      expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+      if (result.ok) return;
+      expect(result.error.message).toMatch(/api\.port/);
+    });
+
     it("returns error on bad YAML syntax", () => {
       const result = parseNerveConfig("senses: [\\nunclosed");
       expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc-protocol.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc-protocol.test.ts
index 5102465..401b9f1 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc-protocol.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc-protocol.test.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe("parseDaemonIpcRequest", () => {
     ).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("parses trigger-sense and list-senses", () => {
+  it("parses trigger-sense, list-senses, list-workflows, and health", () => {
     expect(parseDaemonIpcRequest(JSON.stringify({ type: "trigger-sense", sense: "x" }))).toEqual({
       type: "trigger-sense",
       sense: "x",
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ describe("parseDaemonIpcRequest", () => {
     expect(parseDaemonIpcRequest(JSON.stringify({ type: "list-senses" }))).toEqual({
       type: "list-senses",
     });
+    expect(parseDaemonIpcRequest(JSON.stringify({ type: "list-workflows" }))).toEqual({
+      type: "list-workflows",
+    });
+    expect(parseDaemonIpcRequest(JSON.stringify({ type: "health" }))).toEqual({
+      type: "health",
+    });
   });
 
   it("returns null for invalid JSON or unknown type", () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config.ts b/packages/core/src/config.ts
index c6c18b0..d1fb0b4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/config.ts
@@ -28,10 +28,16 @@ export type QueueOverflowConfig = {
 
 export type WorkflowConfig = DropOverflowConfig | QueueOverflowConfig;
 
+/** Optional HTTP control plane (Phase 1: no auth). When `port` is null, the HTTP server is not started. */
+export type NerveApiConfig = {
+  port: number | null;
+};
+
 export type NerveConfig = {
   /** Engine-wide default max moderator rounds (e.g. CLI workflow trigger when omitted). */
   maxRounds: number;
   senses: Record<string, SenseConfig>;
   reflexes: ReflexConfig[];
   workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig>;
+  api: NerveApiConfig;
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/daemon-ipc-protocol.ts b/packages/core/src/daemon-ipc-protocol.ts
index 2606456..b95f523 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/daemon-ipc-protocol.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/daemon-ipc-protocol.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,23 @@
 import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
 import type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
 
+/** Runtime status of a registered workflow (for listing / observability). */
+export type WorkflowStatus = {
+  name: string;
+  activeThreads: number;
+  queuedThreads: number;
+  config: { concurrency: number; overflow: string };
+};
+
+/** Public health payload for HTTP / IPC. */
+export type HealthInfo = {
+  ok: boolean;
+  version: string;
+  uptime: number;
+  startedAt: string;
+  hostname: string;
+};
+
 /** Client → daemon: start a workflow run. */
 export type DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest = {
   type: "trigger-workflow";
@@ -33,12 +50,24 @@ export type DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest = {
   runId: string;
 };
 
+/** Client → daemon: list registered workflows and queue/active counts. */
+export type DaemonIpcListWorkflowsRequest = {
+  type: "list-workflows";
+};
+
+/** Client → daemon: public health snapshot. */
+export type DaemonIpcHealthRequest = {
+  type: "health";
+};
+
 /** Union of all JSON requests the daemon IPC server accepts. */
 export type DaemonIpcRequest =
   | DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest
   | DaemonIpcTriggerSenseRequest
   | DaemonIpcListSensesRequest
-  | DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest;
+  | DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest
+  | DaemonIpcListWorkflowsRequest
+  | DaemonIpcHealthRequest;
 
 /** Successful trigger / trigger-sense reply (no body). */
 export type DaemonIpcTriggerOkResponse = { ok: true };
@@ -53,11 +82,21 @@ export type DaemonIpcListSensesResponse =
   | { ok: true; senses: SenseInfo[] }
   | DaemonIpcErrorResponse;
 
+/** Reply for list-workflows. */
+export type DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse =
+  | { ok: true; workflows: WorkflowStatus[] }
+  | DaemonIpcErrorResponse;
+
+/** Reply for health. */
+export type DaemonIpcHealthResponse = { ok: true; health: HealthInfo } | DaemonIpcErrorResponse;
+
 /** Any JSON response the daemon may write on the IPC socket. */
 export type DaemonIpcResponse =
   | DaemonIpcTriggerOkResponse
   | DaemonIpcErrorResponse
-  | { ok: true; senses: SenseInfo[] };
+  | DaemonIpcListSensesResponse
+  | DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse
+  | DaemonIpcHealthResponse;
 
 function parseTriggerWorkflowFields(
   req: Record<string, unknown>,
@@ -98,6 +137,12 @@ export function parseDaemonIpcRequest(line: string): DaemonIpcRequest | null {
       if (typeof req.runId !== "string" || req.runId.length === 0) return null;
       return { type: "kill-workflow", runId: req.runId };
     }
+    if (req.type === "list-workflows") {
+      return { type: "list-workflows" };
+    }
+    if (req.type === "health") {
+      return { type: "health" };
+    }
     return null;
   } catch {
     return null;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/daemon-transport.ts b/packages/core/src/daemon-transport.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6360fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/daemon-transport.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import type { HealthInfo, WorkflowStatus } from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
+import type { SenseInfo } from "./sense.js";
+
+export type DaemonTransportTriggerResult = { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string };
+
+/**
+ * Abstraction over daemon control plane (Unix socket IPC today, HTTP in Phase 2).
+ * Implementations live in CLI / tools; the daemon kernel uses shared handler logic.
+ */
+export type DaemonTransport = {
+  health(): Promise<HealthInfo>;
+  listSenses(): Promise<SenseInfo[]>;
+  listWorkflows(): Promise<WorkflowStatus[]>;
+  triggerSense(name: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
+  triggerWorkflow(name: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
+  /** Kill a running or queued workflow thread by `runId` (same field as IPC `kill-workflow`). */
+  killWorkflow(runId: string): Promise<DaemonTransportTriggerResult>;
+};
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 818ed9c..efbc6e5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export type {
   DropOverflowConfig,
   QueueOverflowConfig,
   WorkflowConfig,
+  NerveApiConfig,
   NerveConfig,
 } from "./config.js";
 export type { Signal, SenseInfo, SenseResult } from "./sense.js";
@@ -35,15 +36,22 @@ export {
 } from "./sense-workflow-directive.js";
 
 export type {
+  WorkflowStatus,
+  HealthInfo,
   DaemonIpcTriggerWorkflowRequest,
   DaemonIpcTriggerSenseRequest,
   DaemonIpcListSensesRequest,
   DaemonIpcKillWorkflowRequest,
+  DaemonIpcListWorkflowsRequest,
+  DaemonIpcHealthRequest,
   DaemonIpcRequest,
   DaemonIpcTriggerOkResponse,
   DaemonIpcErrorResponse,
   DaemonIpcTriggerResponse,
   DaemonIpcListSensesResponse,
+  DaemonIpcListWorkflowsResponse,
+  DaemonIpcHealthResponse,
   DaemonIpcResponse,
 } from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
 export { parseDaemonIpcRequest } from "./daemon-ipc-protocol.js";
+export type { DaemonTransport, DaemonTransportTriggerResult } from "./daemon-transport.js";
diff --git a/packages/core/src/parse-nerve-config.ts b/packages/core/src/parse-nerve-config.ts
index 91b0639..5ac52eb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/parse-nerve-config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/parse-nerve-config.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import { parse } from "yaml";
 
-import type { NerveConfig, ReflexConfig, SenseConfig, WorkflowConfig } from "./config.js";
+import type {
+  NerveApiConfig,
+  NerveConfig,
+  ReflexConfig,
+  SenseConfig,
+  WorkflowConfig,
+} from "./config.js";
 import { isPlainRecord } from "./is-plain-record.js";
 import type { Result } from "./result.js";
 import { err, ok } from "./result.js";
@@ -245,6 +251,28 @@ function parseReflexes(
   return ok(reflexes);
 }
 
+function parseApiConfig(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<NerveApiConfig> {
+  if (obj.api === undefined || obj.api === null) {
+    return ok({ port: null });
+  }
+  if (!isPlainRecord(obj.api)) {
+    return err(new Error("api: must be an object if provided"));
+  }
+  const api = obj.api;
+  if (api.port === undefined || api.port === null) {
+    return ok({ port: null });
+  }
+  if (
+    typeof api.port !== "number" ||
+    !Number.isInteger(api.port) ||
+    api.port < 1 ||
+    api.port > 65_535
+  ) {
+    return err(new Error("api.port: must be an integer between 1 and 65535 if provided"));
+  }
+  return ok({ port: api.port });
+}
+
 function parseWorkflows(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Result<Record<string, WorkflowConfig>> {
   if (obj.workflows === undefined || obj.workflows === null) return ok({});
 
@@ -293,10 +321,14 @@ export function parseNerveConfig(raw: string): Result<NerveConfig> {
   const maxRoundsResult = parseEngineMaxRounds(obj);
   if (!maxRoundsResult.ok) return maxRoundsResult;
 
+  const apiResult = parseApiConfig(obj);
+  if (!apiResult.ok) return apiResult;
+
   return ok({
     maxRounds: maxRoundsResult.value,
     senses,
     reflexes: reflexesResult.value,
     workflows: workflowsResult.value,
+    api: apiResult.value,
   });
 }
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/crash-recovery.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/crash-recovery.test.ts
index ff2de1e..6e08300 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/crash-recovery.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/crash-recovery.test.ts
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ function makeConfig(workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig> = {}): NerveConfig
     reflexes: [],
     workflows,
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc.test.ts
index 8deb9cc..a12dbea 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/daemon-ipc.test.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { join } from "node:path";
 
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
+import { createDaemonHandlers } from "../daemon-handlers.js";
 import { createDaemonIpcServer } from "../daemon-ipc.js";
 import type { DaemonIpcServer } from "../daemon-ipc.js";
 
@@ -28,15 +29,42 @@ let server: DaemonIpcServer | null = null;
 function makeMockWorkflowManager() {
   return {
     startWorkflow: vi.fn(),
+    killThread: vi.fn(() => false),
     stop: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     totalActiveCount: vi.fn(() => 0),
     drainAndRespawn: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     drainWhenIdle: vi.fn(),
     updateConfig: vi.fn(),
-    getActiveWorkflowRuns: vi.fn(() => []),
+    listWorkflows: vi.fn(() => []),
+    activeCount: vi.fn(() => 0),
+    queueLength: vi.fn(() => 0),
   };
 }
 
+function openIpcServer(
+  path: string,
+  wfManager: ReturnType<typeof makeMockWorkflowManager>,
+  opts: {
+    triggerSense: (senseName: string) => void;
+    listSenses: () => unknown[];
+  },
+): DaemonIpcServer {
+  const handlers = createDaemonHandlers({
+    workflowManager: wfManager as never,
+    triggerSense: opts.triggerSense,
+    listSenses: opts.listSenses as never,
+    getHealthInfo: () => ({
+      ok: true,
+      version: "0.0.0-test",
+      uptime: 0,
+      startedAt: "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+      hostname: "test-host",
+    }),
+    getDefaultMaxRounds: () => 10,
+  });
+  return createDaemonIpcServer(path, handlers);
+}
+
 function sendRaw(path: string, message: object): Promise<object> {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     const sock = connect(path, () => {
@@ -89,9 +117,10 @@ afterEach(async () => {
 describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
   it("responds ok:true when triggerSense succeeds", async () => {
     const triggerSense = vi.fn();
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense,
-      listSenses: vi.fn(() => []),
+      listSenses: () => [],
     });
 
     const resp = await sendRaw(sockPath, { type: "trigger-sense", sense: "cpu-usage" });
@@ -105,9 +134,10 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
     const triggerSense = vi.fn(() => {
       throw new Error('Unknown sense: "no-such-sense"');
     });
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense,
-      listSenses: vi.fn(() => []),
+      listSenses: () => [],
     });
 
     const resp = await sendRaw(sockPath, { type: "trigger-sense", sense: "no-such-sense" });
@@ -118,9 +148,10 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
 
   it("responds ok:false for trigger-sense with empty sense name", async () => {
     const triggerSense = vi.fn();
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense,
-      listSenses: vi.fn(() => []),
+      listSenses: () => [],
     });
 
     const resp = await sendRaw(sockPath, { type: "trigger-sense", sense: "" });
@@ -131,9 +162,10 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
 
   it("responds ok:false for trigger-sense missing sense field", async () => {
     const triggerSense = vi.fn();
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense,
-      listSenses: vi.fn(() => []),
+      listSenses: () => [],
     });
 
     const resp = await sendRaw(sockPath, { type: "trigger-sense" });
@@ -145,9 +177,9 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
   it("does NOT call triggerSense for trigger-workflow requests", async () => {
     const triggerSense = vi.fn();
     const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager as never, {
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense,
-      listSenses: vi.fn(() => []),
+      listSenses: () => [],
     });
 
     const resp = await sendRaw(sockPath, {
@@ -169,9 +201,10 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
 
   it("responds ok:false for completely unknown request type", async () => {
     const triggerSense = vi.fn();
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense,
-      listSenses: vi.fn(() => []),
+      listSenses: () => [],
     });
 
     const resp = await sendRaw(sockPath, { type: "unknown-type", data: "x" });
@@ -188,7 +221,8 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — trigger-sense", () => {
 describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
   it("responds ok:true with empty senses array when listSenses returns []", async () => {
     const listSenses = vi.fn(() => []);
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense: vi.fn(),
       listSenses,
     });
@@ -217,7 +251,8 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
       },
     ];
     const listSenses = vi.fn(() => sensesData);
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense: vi.fn(),
       listSenses,
     });
@@ -232,7 +267,8 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
     const listSenses = vi.fn(() => {
       throw new Error("internal error");
     });
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense: vi.fn(),
       listSenses,
     });
@@ -244,7 +280,8 @@ describe("daemon-ipc — list-senses", () => {
 
   it("does NOT call listSenses for trigger-sense requests", async () => {
     const listSenses = vi.fn(() => []);
-    server = createDaemonIpcServer(sockPath, makeMockWorkflowManager() as never, {
+    const wfManager = makeMockWorkflowManager();
+    server = openIpcServer(sockPath, wfManager, {
       triggerSense: vi.fn(),
       listSenses,
     });
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher-workflow.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher-workflow.test.ts
index dcf049e..a80196e 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher-workflow.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher-workflow.test.ts
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ describe("createFileWatcher — workflow file changes (Phase 3)", () => {
     watcher = createFileWatcher(root, (change) => changes.push(change), 50);
 
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 100));
+    // Isolate the nerve.yaml write from fs.watch startup / coalesced events on some platforms
+    changes.length = 0;
     writeFileSync(join(root, "nerve.yaml"), "senses: {}\nreflexes: []\n# changed\n");
 
     await waitFor(() => changes.some((c) => c.kind === "config"), 3000);
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher.test.ts
index ae7e836..b36c254 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/file-watcher.test.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ describe("createFileWatcher", () => {
     watcher = createFileWatcher(root, (change) => changes.push(change), 50);
 
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 100));
+    // Ignore fs.watch attachment noise on some platforms before asserting post-close silence
+    changes.length = 0;
     watcher.close();
     watcher = null;
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/hot-reload.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/hot-reload.test.ts
index f5dd4a7..2809a0a 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/hot-reload.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/hot-reload.test.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const { createWorkflowManager } = await import("../workflow-manager.js");
 const { createKernel } = await import("../kernel.js");
 
 function makeWfConfig(workflows: Record<string, WorkflowConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
-  return { senses: {}, reflexes: [], workflows, maxRounds: 10 };
+  return { senses: {}, reflexes: [], workflows, maxRounds: 10, api: { port: null } };
 }
 
 function makeLogStore() {
@@ -454,6 +454,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
 
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
@@ -489,6 +490,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "old-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
 
     const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, nerveRoot, {
@@ -510,6 +512,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
 
@@ -532,6 +535,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
 
     const kernel = createKernel(initialConfig, nerveRoot, {
@@ -548,6 +552,7 @@ describe("Kernel — workflow hot reload via file-watcher (Phase 3)", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: { "my-wf": { concurrency: 5, overflow: "queue", maxQueue: 50 } },
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-integration.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-integration.test.ts
index c916e12..1320f96 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-integration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-integration.test.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-phase6.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-phase6.test.ts
index 2dd285a..1e8a9fe 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-phase6.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-phase6.test.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     });
 
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(true);
@@ -214,6 +216,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
@@ -229,6 +232,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     });
 
     expect(kernel.groups.has("network")).toBe(false);
@@ -252,6 +256,7 @@ describe("kernel — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     });
 
     expect(kernel.getHealth().activeSenses).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-trigger-sense.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-trigger-sense.test.ts
index 9fad4be..43601f7 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-trigger-sense.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-trigger-sense.test.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-workflow-integration.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-workflow-integration.test.ts
index 9e1b646..e2e0289 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-workflow-integration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel-workflow-integration.test.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
@@ -322,6 +323,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         reflexes: [],
         workflows: { "new-workflow": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" } },
         maxRounds: 10,
+        api: { port: null },
       };
       kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
 
@@ -375,6 +377,7 @@ describe("kernel + workflowManager integration", () => {
         reflexes: [],
         workflows: {},
         maxRounds: 10,
+        api: { port: null },
       };
       kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel.test.ts
index 5b2b277..ec199e8 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/kernel.test.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@ describe("kernel — groupForSense mapping", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     const kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot);
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/log-store-integration.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/log-store-integration.test.ts
index 8323abb..ab35b37 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/log-store-integration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/log-store-integration.test.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] }],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     const triggered: string[] = [];
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: 1000, on: [] }],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     const ref: { scheduler: ReturnType<typeof createReflexScheduler> | null } = { scheduler: null };
@@ -90,6 +92,7 @@ describe("LogStore + ReflexScheduler integration", () => {
       reflexes: [{ kind: "sense", sense: "cpu-usage", interval: null, on: ["cpu-usage"] }],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     const triggered: string[] = [];
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/phase6-integration.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/phase6-integration.test.ts
index 6c9fd10..6b2be3d 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/phase6-integration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/phase6-integration.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
@@ -152,6 +153,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
 
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
@@ -172,6 +174,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
       workerScript: MOCK_WORKER,
@@ -187,6 +190,7 @@ describe("phase6 — reloadConfig", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
 
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
@@ -224,6 +228,7 @@ describe("phase6 — error isolation", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
 
     kernel = createKernel(config, nerveRoot, {
@@ -334,6 +339,7 @@ describe("phase6 — getHealth", () => {
       reflexes: [],
       workflows: {},
       maxRounds: 10,
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     kernel.reloadConfig(newConfig);
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler-throttle-pending.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler-throttle-pending.test.ts
index cf18866..362f823 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler-throttle-pending.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler-throttle-pending.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler.test.ts
index cac2a6e..cb67b6e 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/reflex-scheduler.test.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig> = {}): NerveConfig {
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: {},
     maxRounds: 10,
+    api: { port: null },
     ...overrides,
   };
 }
@@ -299,6 +300,7 @@ describe("ReflexScheduler — workflow reflexes ignored", () => {
       workflows: {
         "my-workflow": { concurrency: 1, overflow: "drop" },
       },
+      api: { port: null },
     };
     const bus = createSignalBus();
     const scheduler = createReflexScheduler(config, bus, (name) => triggered.push(name));
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/workflow-manager.test.ts b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/workflow-manager.test.ts
index 3830c1e..48a85c2 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/workflow-manager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/__tests__/workflow-manager.test.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ function makeConfig(overrides: Partial<NerveConfig["workflows"]> = {}): NerveCon
     senses: {},
     reflexes: [],
     workflows: overrides as NerveConfig["workflows"],
+    api: { port: null },
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/daemon-handlers.ts b/packages/daemon/src/daemon-handlers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd97d5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/daemon-handlers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import type { HealthInfo, SenseInfo, WorkflowStatus } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import type { WorkflowManager } from "./workflow-manager.js";
+
+export type DaemonHandlerBundle = {
+  health: () => HealthInfo;
+  listSenses: () => SenseInfo[];
+  listWorkflows: () => WorkflowStatus[];
+  getDefaultMaxRounds: () => number;
+  triggerSense: (senseName: string) => { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string };
+  triggerWorkflow: (
+    workflowName: string,
+    launch: { prompt: string; maxRounds: number; dryRun: boolean },
+  ) => { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string };
+  killWorkflowByRunId: (runId: string) => { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string };
+};
+
+export type CreateDaemonHandlersInput = {
+  workflowManager: WorkflowManager;
+  triggerSense: (senseName: string) => void;
+  listSenses: () => SenseInfo[];
+  getHealthInfo: () => HealthInfo;
+  getDefaultMaxRounds: () => number;
+};
+
+export function createDaemonHandlers(input: CreateDaemonHandlersInput): DaemonHandlerBundle {
+  const {
+    workflowManager,
+    triggerSense: triggerSenseFn,
+    listSenses: listSensesFn,
+    getHealthInfo,
+    getDefaultMaxRounds,
+  } = input;
+
+  function triggerSense(senseName: string): { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string } {
+    try {
+      triggerSenseFn(senseName);
+      return { ok: true };
+    } catch (err) {
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      return { ok: false, error: msg };
+    }
+  }
+
+  function triggerWorkflow(
+    workflowName: string,
+    launch: { prompt: string; maxRounds: number; dryRun: boolean },
+  ): { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string } {
+    try {
+      workflowManager.startWorkflow(workflowName, launch);
+      return { ok: true };
+    } catch (err) {
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      return { ok: false, error: msg };
+    }
+  }
+
+  function killWorkflowByRunId(runId: string): { ok: true } | { ok: false; error: string } {
+    try {
+      const found = workflowManager.killThread(runId);
+      return found
+        ? { ok: true }
+        : { ok: false, error: `Run not found or already finished: ${runId}` };
+    } catch (err) {
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      return { ok: false, error: msg };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    health: () => getHealthInfo(),
+    listSenses: () => listSensesFn(),
+    listWorkflows: () => workflowManager.listWorkflows(),
+    getDefaultMaxRounds: () => getDefaultMaxRounds(),
+    triggerSense,
+    triggerWorkflow,
+    killWorkflowByRunId,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/daemon-ipc.ts b/packages/daemon/src/daemon-ipc.ts
index 5361bc4..6802945 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/daemon-ipc.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/daemon-ipc.ts
@@ -9,28 +9,18 @@
 import { rmSync } from "node:fs";
 import { type Server, type Socket, createServer } from "node:net";
 
-import type { DaemonIpcResponse, SenseInfo } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { DaemonIpcResponse } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { parseDaemonIpcRequest } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
-import type { WorkflowManager } from "./workflow-manager.js";
-
-export type { SenseInfo };
+import type { DaemonHandlerBundle } from "./daemon-handlers.js";
 
 export type DaemonIpcServer = {
   close: () => Promise<void>;
 };
 
-export type DaemonIpcServerOptions = {
-  /** Called when a trigger-sense request arrives. Should throw if the sense is unknown. */
-  triggerSense: (senseName: string) => void;
-  /** Called when a list-senses request arrives. Returns sense info for all registered senses. */
-  listSenses: () => SenseInfo[];
-};
-
 export function createDaemonIpcServer(
   socketPath: string,
-  workflowManager: WorkflowManager,
-  opts: DaemonIpcServerOptions,
+  handlers: DaemonHandlerBundle,
 ): DaemonIpcServer {
   // Remove stale socket file if it exists
   try {
@@ -52,26 +42,32 @@ export function createDaemonIpcServer(
 
     try {
       if (req.type === "trigger-workflow") {
-        workflowManager.startWorkflow(req.workflow, {
+        const r = handlers.triggerWorkflow(req.workflow, {
           prompt: req.prompt,
           maxRounds: req.maxRounds,
           dryRun: req.dryRun,
         });
-        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true };
+        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = r.ok ? { ok: true } : { ok: false, error: r.error };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
       } else if (req.type === "trigger-sense") {
-        opts.triggerSense(req.sense);
-        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true };
+        const r = handlers.triggerSense(req.sense);
+        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = r.ok ? { ok: true } : { ok: false, error: r.error };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
       } else if (req.type === "list-senses") {
-        const senses = opts.listSenses();
+        const senses = handlers.listSenses();
         const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true, senses };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
       } else if (req.type === "kill-workflow") {
-        const found = workflowManager.killThread(req.runId);
-        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = found
-          ? { ok: true }
-          : { ok: false, error: `Run not found or already finished: ${req.runId}` };
+        const r = handlers.killWorkflowByRunId(req.runId);
+        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = r.ok ? { ok: true } : { ok: false, error: r.error };
+        socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
+      } else if (req.type === "list-workflows") {
+        const workflows = handlers.listWorkflows();
+        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true, workflows };
+        socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
+      } else if (req.type === "health") {
+        const health = handlers.health();
+        const resp: DaemonIpcResponse = { ok: true, health };
         socket.write(`${JSON.stringify(resp)}\n`);
       } else {
         const _exhaustive: never = req;
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/http-api.ts b/packages/daemon/src/http-api.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63871fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/http-api.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+/**
+ * Optional JSON HTTP control plane (Phase 1 — no auth).
+ * Uses only `node:http`; shares handler logic with Unix IPC via {@link createDaemonHandlers}.
+ */
+
+import { type IncomingMessage, type Server, type ServerResponse, createServer } from "node:http";
+
+import { isPlainRecord } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+
+import type { DaemonHandlerBundle } from "./daemon-handlers.js";
+
+/** Phase 1 HTTP API has no auth — bind loopback only unless explicitly configured later. */
+const HTTP_API_BIND_HOST = "127.0.0.1";
+
+const CORS_HEADERS: Record<string, string> = {
+  "Access-Control-Allow-Origin": "*",
+  "Access-Control-Allow-Methods": "GET, POST, OPTIONS",
+  "Access-Control-Allow-Headers": "Content-Type",
+};
+
+export type HttpApiServer = {
+  close: () => Promise<void>;
+};
+
+function setJsonHeaders(res: ServerResponse, status: number): void {
+  res.statusCode = status;
+  res.setHeader("Content-Type", "application/json; charset=utf-8");
+  for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(CORS_HEADERS)) {
+    res.setHeader(k, v);
+  }
+}
+
+function sendJson(res: ServerResponse, status: number, body: unknown): void {
+  setJsonHeaders(res, status);
+  res.end(`${JSON.stringify(body)}\n`);
+}
+
+function readRequestBody(req: IncomingMessage): Promise<string> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const chunks: Buffer[] = [];
+    req.on("data", (c: Buffer) => {
+      chunks.push(c);
+    });
+    req.on("end", () => {
+      resolve(Buffer.concat(chunks).toString("utf8"));
+    });
+    req.on("error", reject);
+  });
+}
+
+function parseJsonBody(raw: string): unknown | null {
+  if (raw.trim().length === 0) return null;
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(raw) as unknown;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+export function createHttpApiServer(port: number, handlers: DaemonHandlerBundle): HttpApiServer {
+  // biome-ignore lint/complexity/noExcessiveCognitiveComplexity: HTTP router dispatches multiple routes in one handler
+  const server: Server = createServer(async (req, res) => {
+    if (req.method === "OPTIONS") {
+      setJsonHeaders(res, 204);
+      res.end();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const url = req.url ?? "";
+    const path = url.split("?")[0] ?? "";
+
+    try {
+      if (req.method === "GET" && path === "/api/health") {
+        sendJson(res, 200, handlers.health());
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (req.method === "GET" && path === "/api/senses") {
+        sendJson(res, 200, { senses: handlers.listSenses() });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (req.method === "GET" && path === "/api/workflows") {
+        sendJson(res, 200, { workflows: handlers.listWorkflows() });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (req.method === "POST" && path === "/api/trigger-sense") {
+        const raw = await readRequestBody(req);
+        const body = parseJsonBody(raw);
+        if (!isPlainRecord(body) || typeof body.name !== "string" || body.name.length === 0) {
+          sendJson(res, 400, { ok: false, error: 'Expected JSON body: { "name": string }' });
+          return;
+        }
+        const result = handlers.triggerSense(body.name);
+        sendJson(res, result.ok ? 200 : 400, result);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (req.method === "POST" && path === "/api/trigger-workflow") {
+        const raw = await readRequestBody(req);
+        const body = parseJsonBody(raw);
+        if (!isPlainRecord(body) || typeof body.name !== "string" || body.name.length === 0) {
+          sendJson(res, 400, {
+            ok: false,
+            error:
+              'Expected JSON body: { "name": string, "prompt"?: string, "maxRounds"?: number, "dryRun"?: boolean }',
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+        let prompt = "";
+        if (body.prompt !== undefined && body.prompt !== null) {
+          if (typeof body.prompt !== "string") {
+            sendJson(res, 400, { ok: false, error: '"prompt" must be a string when provided' });
+            return;
+          }
+          prompt = body.prompt;
+        }
+        let maxRounds = handlers.getDefaultMaxRounds();
+        if (body.maxRounds !== undefined && body.maxRounds !== null) {
+          if (typeof body.maxRounds !== "number") {
+            sendJson(res, 400, { ok: false, error: '"maxRounds" must be a number when provided' });
+            return;
+          }
+          maxRounds = body.maxRounds;
+        }
+        let dryRun = false;
+        if (body.dryRun !== undefined && body.dryRun !== null) {
+          if (typeof body.dryRun !== "boolean") {
+            sendJson(res, 400, { ok: false, error: '"dryRun" must be a boolean when provided' });
+            return;
+          }
+          dryRun = body.dryRun;
+        }
+        const result = handlers.triggerWorkflow(body.name, { prompt, maxRounds, dryRun });
+        sendJson(res, result.ok ? 200 : 400, result);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (req.method === "POST" && path === "/api/kill-workflow") {
+        const raw = await readRequestBody(req);
+        const body = parseJsonBody(raw);
+        if (
+          !isPlainRecord(body) ||
+          typeof body.threadId !== "string" ||
+          body.threadId.length === 0
+        ) {
+          sendJson(res, 400, {
+            ok: false,
+            error: 'Expected JSON body: { "threadId": string, "name"?: string }',
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+        if (body.name !== undefined && body.name !== null && typeof body.name !== "string") {
+          sendJson(res, 400, { ok: false, error: '"name" must be a string when provided' });
+          return;
+        }
+        const nameForLog = typeof body.name === "string" && body.name.length > 0 ? body.name : null;
+        if (nameForLog !== null) {
+          process.stderr.write(
+            `[http-api] kill-workflow threadId=${body.threadId} workflowName=${nameForLog}\n`,
+          );
+        }
+        const result = handlers.killWorkflowByRunId(body.threadId);
+        sendJson(res, result.ok ? 200 : 400, result);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      sendJson(res, 404, { ok: false, error: "Not found" });
+    } catch (err) {
+      const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      sendJson(res, 500, { ok: false, error: msg });
+    }
+  });
+
+  server.listen(port, HTTP_API_BIND_HOST, () => {
+    process.stderr.write(`[http-api] listening on http://${HTTP_API_BIND_HOST}:${String(port)}\n`);
+  });
+
+  server.on("error", (err) => {
+    process.stderr.write(`[http-api] server error: ${err.message}\n`);
+  });
+
+  async function close(): Promise<void> {
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      server.close((e) => {
+        if (e !== undefined && e !== null) reject(e);
+        else resolve();
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
+  return { close };
+}
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts b/packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts
index d089e53..aade9f1 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/kernel.ts
@@ -3,17 +3,23 @@
  * optional file watcher, and daemon IPC.
  */
 
-import { join } from "node:path";
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { hostname } from "node:os";
+import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 
-import type { NerveConfig, SenseInfo, Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type { HealthInfo, NerveConfig, SenseInfo, Signal } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { routeSenseComputeOutput } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
 import { createLogStore } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
 import type { LogStore } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
+import { createDaemonHandlers } from "./daemon-handlers.js";
 import { createDaemonIpcServer } from "./daemon-ipc.js";
 import type { DaemonIpcServer } from "./daemon-ipc.js";
 import { createFileWatcher } from "./file-watcher.js";
 import type { FileWatcher } from "./file-watcher.js";
+import { createHttpApiServer } from "./http-api.js";
+import type { HttpApiServer } from "./http-api.js";
 import { parseWorkerMessage } from "./ipc.js";
 import { createKernelFileWatchHandlers } from "./kernel-file-watch.js";
 import {
@@ -53,6 +59,8 @@ export type Kernel = {
   restartGroup: (group: string) => Promise<void>;
   reloadConfig: (newConfig: NerveConfig) => void;
   getHealth: () => KernelHealth;
+  /** HTTP/IPC-oriented health (version, uptime seconds, hostname). */
+  getDaemonHealth: () => HealthInfo;
 };
 
 export type KernelOptions = {
@@ -60,12 +68,37 @@ export type KernelOptions = {
   enableFileWatcher?: boolean;
   logStore?: LogStore;
   ipcSocketPath?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * When set to a positive integer, overrides `nerve.yaml` `api.port` for the HTTP API.
+   * When `null` or omitted, only `config.api.port` from YAML is used.
+   */
+  httpApiPortOverride?: number | null;
 };
 
 function defaultKernelOptions(): KernelOptions {
   return { workerScript: resolveWorkerScript(), enableFileWatcher: false };
 }
 
+function readDaemonPackageVersion(): string {
+  try {
+    const here = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
+    const pkgPath = join(dirname(here), "..", "package.json");
+    const raw = readFileSync(pkgPath, "utf8");
+    const o: unknown = JSON.parse(raw);
+    if (
+      typeof o === "object" &&
+      o !== null &&
+      "version" in o &&
+      typeof (o as { version: unknown }).version === "string"
+    ) {
+      return (o as { version: string }).version;
+    }
+    return "0.0.0";
+  } catch {
+    return "0.0.0";
+  }
+}
+
 export function createKernel(
   initialConfig: NerveConfig,
   nerveRoot: string,
@@ -74,6 +107,8 @@ export function createKernel(
   const bus: SignalBus = createSignalBus();
   const workerScript = options.workerScript ?? resolveWorkerScript();
   const startTime = Date.now();
+  const startedAtIso = new Date(startTime).toISOString();
+  const daemonVersion = readDaemonPackageVersion();
   const logStore: LogStore = options.logStore ?? createLogStore(join(nerveRoot, "data", "logs.db"));
 
   logStore.append({
@@ -292,6 +327,16 @@ export function createKernel(
     };
   }
 
+  function getDaemonHealth(): HealthInfo {
+    return {
+      ok: true,
+      version: daemonVersion,
+      uptime: Math.floor((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000),
+      startedAt: startedAtIso,
+      hostname: hostname(),
+    };
+  }
+
   const fileWatchHandlers = createKernelFileWatchHandlers({
     nerveRoot,
     getConfig: () => config,
@@ -310,28 +355,43 @@ export function createKernel(
     });
   }
 
+  const daemonHandlers = createDaemonHandlers({
+    workflowManager,
+    triggerSense,
+    listSenses(): SenseInfo[] {
+      return Object.entries(config.senses).map(([name, senseConfig]) => {
+        const entries = logStore.query({
+          source: "sense",
+          type: "signal",
+          refId: name,
+        });
+        const lastEntry = entries.length > 0 ? entries[entries.length - 1] : null;
+        return {
+          name,
+          group: senseConfig.group,
+          throttle: senseConfig.throttle,
+          timeout: senseConfig.timeout,
+          lastSignalTimestamp: lastEntry !== null ? lastEntry.timestamp : null,
+        };
+      });
+    },
+    getHealthInfo: getDaemonHealth,
+    getDefaultMaxRounds: () => config.maxRounds,
+  });
+
   let ipcServer: DaemonIpcServer | null = null;
   if (options.ipcSocketPath != null) {
-    ipcServer = createDaemonIpcServer(options.ipcSocketPath, workflowManager, {
-      triggerSense,
-      listSenses(): SenseInfo[] {
-        return Object.entries(config.senses).map(([name, senseConfig]) => {
-          const entries = logStore.query({
-            source: "sense",
-            type: "signal",
-            refId: name,
-          });
-          const lastEntry = entries.length > 0 ? entries[entries.length - 1] : null;
-          return {
-            name,
-            group: senseConfig.group,
-            throttle: senseConfig.throttle,
-            timeout: senseConfig.timeout,
-            lastSignalTimestamp: lastEntry !== null ? lastEntry.timestamp : null,
-          };
-        });
-      },
-    });
+    ipcServer = createDaemonIpcServer(options.ipcSocketPath, daemonHandlers);
+  }
+
+  let httpApiServer: HttpApiServer | null = null;
+  const httpPortOverride = options.httpApiPortOverride;
+  const effectiveHttpPort =
+    httpPortOverride !== undefined && httpPortOverride !== null && httpPortOverride > 0
+      ? httpPortOverride
+      : initialConfig.api.port;
+  if (effectiveHttpPort !== null && effectiveHttpPort > 0) {
+    httpApiServer = createHttpApiServer(effectiveHttpPort, daemonHandlers);
   }
 
   async function stop(): Promise<void> {
@@ -344,6 +404,10 @@ export function createKernel(
       await ipcServer.close();
       ipcServer = null;
     }
+    if (httpApiServer !== null) {
+      await httpApiServer.close();
+      httpApiServer = null;
+    }
     scheduler.stop();
     await workflowManager.stop();
     await senseWorkerPool.shutdownAll();
@@ -377,5 +441,6 @@ export function createKernel(
     restartGroup: (group) => senseWorkerPool.restartGroup(group),
     reloadConfig,
     getHealth,
+    getDaemonHealth,
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/workflow-manager.ts b/packages/daemon/src/workflow-manager.ts
index dce111e..b894346 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/workflow-manager.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/workflow-manager.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ import type { ChildProcess } from "node:child_process";
 import { dirname, join } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 
-import type { NerveConfig, WorkflowConfig, WorkflowMessage } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
+import type {
+  NerveConfig,
+  WorkflowConfig,
+  WorkflowMessage,
+  WorkflowStatus,
+} from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 import { START, isPlainRecord } from "@uncaged/nerve-core";
 
 import type { LogStore, WorkflowRunStatus } from "@uncaged/nerve-store";
@@ -49,6 +54,8 @@ export type WorkflowManager = {
   queueLength: (workflowName: string) => number;
   /** Total active workflow threads across all workflows. */
   totalActiveCount: () => number;
+  /** One row per workflow key in config (sorted by name), using current concurrency / overflow settings. */
+  listWorkflows: () => WorkflowStatus[];
   /** Update the config reference (e.g. after hot reload). Active workers are unaffected. */
   updateConfig: (newConfig: NerveConfig) => void;
   /**
@@ -676,6 +683,22 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     return total;
   }
 
+  function listWorkflows(): WorkflowStatus[] {
+    const names = Object.keys(config.workflows).sort();
+    const out: WorkflowStatus[] = [];
+    for (const name of names) {
+      const wf = config.workflows[name];
+      if (wf === undefined) continue;
+      out.push({
+        name,
+        activeThreads: activeCount(name),
+        queuedThreads: queueLength(name),
+        config: { concurrency: wf.concurrency, overflow: wf.overflow },
+      });
+    }
+    return out;
+  }
+
   function updateConfig(newConfig: NerveConfig): void {
     config = newConfig;
   }
@@ -756,6 +779,7 @@ export function createWorkflowManager(
     activeCount,
     queueLength,
     totalActiveCount,
+    listWorkflows,
     updateConfig,
     drainAndRespawn,
     drainWhenIdle,