diff --git a/scripts/dev-runner.test.ts b/scripts/dev-runner.test.ts
index 432e3ee65..5f17c057f 100644
--- a/scripts/dev-runner.test.ts
+++ b/scripts/dev-runner.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   createSerialQueue,
   dataDirFor,
   findBuildablePlugins,
+  isPluginEdit,
   isPluginSourceChange,
   needsDocker,
   parseDevArgs,
@@ -46,6 +47,34 @@ describe("isPluginSourceChange", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("isPluginEdit", () => {
+  function repo() {
+    const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "termix-edit-"));
+    cleanups.push(() => fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true }));
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(dir, "src", "frontend"), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(dir, "src", "frontend", "index.ts"), "");
+    return dir;
+  }
+
+  it("ignores a folder being read", () => {
+    expect(isPluginEdit(repo(), "src/frontend", () => true)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("rebuilds an edited file only while the build is out of date", () => {
+    const dir = repo();
+    expect(isPluginEdit(dir, "src/frontend/index.ts", () => true)).toBe(true);
+    expect(isPluginEdit(dir, "src/frontend/index.ts", () => false)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("rebuilds after a source file is deleted", () => {
+    expect(isPluginEdit(repo(), "src/gone.ts", () => false)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("skips paths that do not feed the build", () => {
+    expect(isPluginEdit(repo(), "dist/index.js", () => true)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("findBuildablePlugins", () => {
   it("lists repos with a manifest and installed dependencies", () => {
     const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "termix-dev-"));
diff --git a/scripts/dev.mjs b/scripts/dev.mjs
index 37fa96cbd..6d8ba5a8d 100644
--- a/scripts/dev.mjs
+++ b/scripts/dev.mjs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import {
   createSerialQueue,
   dataDirFor,
   findBuildablePlugins,
-  isPluginSourceChange,
+  isPluginEdit,
   needsDocker,
   parseDevArgs,
   parseTscStatus,
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ function watchPlugins(dir) {
   );
   for (const plugin of plugins) {
     watch(plugin.repo, true, (_event, filename) => {
-      if (isPluginSourceChange(filename)) changed(plugin.id);
+      if (isPluginEdit(plugin.repo, filename)) changed(plugin.id);
     });
   }
   log(`watching ${plugins.length} plugin(s) in ${dir}`);
diff --git a/scripts/lib/dev-runner.mjs b/scripts/lib/dev-runner.mjs
index a2b6362dd..20128c757 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/dev-runner.mjs
+++ b/scripts/lib/dev-runner.mjs
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import path from "node:path";
+import { createRequire } from "node:module";
+
+const { isLocalBuildStale } = createRequire(import.meta.url)(
+  "./bundled-plugins.cjs",
+);
 
 const ID = /^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]*$/;
 const SOURCE_DIRS = new Set(["src", "locales", "migrations"]);
@@ -19,6 +24,27 @@ export function isPluginSourceChange(filename) {
   return SOURCE_DIRS.has(parts[0]);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Whether a watcher event in a plugin repo is an edit worth a rebuild.
+ *
+ * On Windows, fs.watch also reports a folder or file being read (its last
+ * access time changing, which NTFS writes lazily), so reading a repo looks
+ * like editing it. Folder events are ignored, and a file event only counts
+ * while its sources are newer than the last build. A path that no longer
+ * exists was deleted, which always counts.
+ */
+export function isPluginEdit(repo, filename, isStale = isLocalBuildStale) {
+  if (!isPluginSourceChange(filename)) return false;
+  let stat;
+  try {
+    stat = fs.statSync(path.join(repo, String(filename)));
+  } catch {
+    return true;
+  }
+  if (stat.isDirectory()) return false;
+  return isStale(repo);
+}
+
 /** Plugin repos under dir that can be built (manifest.json and node_modules). */
 export function findBuildablePlugins(dir) {
   const plugins = [];
diff --git a/src/ui/onboarding/OnboardingDialog.tsx b/src/ui/onboarding/OnboardingDialog.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 25e47409a..000000000
--- a/src/ui/onboarding/OnboardingDialog.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,158 +0,0 @@
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
-import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { ArrowLeft, ArrowRight } from "lucide-react";
-import { Button } from "@/components/button";
-import {
-  Dialog,
-  DialogContent,
-  DialogDescription,
-  DialogHeader,
-  DialogTitle,
-} from "@/components/dialog";
-import { useUiPreferencesContext } from "@/contexts/UiPreferencesContext";
-import { useActionSlot } from "@/hooks/use-action-slot";
-import {
-  relevantSteps,
-  type OnboardingContext,
-  type OnboardingStep,
-} from "./onboarding-steps";
-
-/** Plugin steps go in before this one. */
-const PLUGIN_STEPS_BEFORE = "security";
-
-export function OnboardingDialog({
-  open,
-  context,
-  onClose,
-}: {
-  open: boolean;
-  context: OnboardingContext;
-  onClose: (skipped: boolean) => void;
-}) {
-  const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const ctx = useUiPreferencesContext();
-  const pluginSteps = useActionSlot("onboarding.steps");
-  const steps = useMemo(() => {
-    const core = relevantSteps(context);
-    const extra: OnboardingStep[] = pluginSteps
-      .filter((contribution) => contribution.component)
-      .map((contribution) => ({
-        id: contribution.actionId,
-        titleKey: contribution.titleKey,
-        Component:
-          contribution.component as unknown as OnboardingStep["Component"],
-      }));
-    const at = core.findIndex((step) => step.id === PLUGIN_STEPS_BEFORE);
-    return at < 0
-      ? [...core, ...extra]
-      : [...core.slice(0, at), ...extra, ...core.slice(at)];
-  }, [context, pluginSteps]);
-  const [index, setIndex] = useState(0);
-
-  // A reopened run always starts from the top.
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (open) setIndex(0);
-  }, [open]);
-
-  if (steps.length === 0) return null;
-
-  const clamped = Math.min(index, steps.length - 1);
-  const step = steps[clamped];
-  const isLast = clamped === steps.length - 1;
-  const StepComponent = step.Component;
-
-  function finish(skipped: boolean) {
-    ctx?.completeOnboarding(skipped);
-    onClose(skipped);
-  }
-
-  return (
-    <Dialog
-      open={open}
-      onOpenChange={(next) => {
-        if (!next) finish(true);
-      }}
-    >
-      <DialogContent
-        className="sm:max-w-xl max-h-[85vh] overflow-y-auto"
-        onInteractOutside={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
-      >
-        <DialogHeader>
-          <DialogTitle className="text-base font-bold">
-            {t(step.titleKey)}
-          </DialogTitle>
-          <DialogDescription className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            {t("onboarding.stepCounter", {
-              current: clamped + 1,
-              total: steps.length,
-            })}
-          </DialogDescription>
-        </DialogHeader>
-
-        <div className="h-0.5 w-full bg-muted-foreground/15">
-          <div
-            className="h-full bg-accent-brand transition-all duration-200"
-            style={{ width: `${((clamped + 1) / steps.length) * 100}%` }}
-          />
-        </div>
-
-        <div className="mt-1">
-          <StepComponent context={context} />
-        </div>
-
-        <div className="mt-3 flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-border pt-3">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-            {steps.map((s, i) => (
-              <button
-                key={s.id}
-                type="button"
-                title={t(s.titleKey)}
-                aria-label={t(s.titleKey)}
-                aria-current={i === clamped}
-                onClick={() => setIndex(i)}
-                className={`h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full transition-colors ${
-                  i === clamped
-                    ? "bg-accent-brand"
-                    : "bg-muted-foreground/25 hover:bg-muted-foreground/50"
-                }`}
-              />
-            ))}
-          </div>
-
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            {!isLast && (
-              <Button
-                variant="ghost"
-                size="sm"
-                className="h-7 text-[11px]"
-                onClick={() => finish(true)}
-              >
-                {t("onboarding.skip")}
-              </Button>
-            )}
-            {clamped > 0 && (
-              <Button
-                variant="outline"
-                size="sm"
-                className="h-7 text-[11px]"
-                onClick={() => setIndex(clamped - 1)}
-              >
-                <ArrowLeft size={12} />
-                {t("common.back")}
-              </Button>
-            )}
-            <Button
-              size="sm"
-              variant="outline"
-              className="h-7 text-[11px] border-accent-brand/40 text-accent-brand hover:bg-accent-brand/10 hover:text-accent-brand"
-              onClick={() => (isLast ? finish(false) : setIndex(clamped + 1))}
-            >
-              {isLast ? t("onboarding.finish") : t("onboarding.next")}
-              {!isLast && <ArrowRight size={12} />}
-            </Button>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-      </DialogContent>
-    </Dialog>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/DoneStep.tsx b/src/ui/onboarding/steps/DoneStep.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 51288146d..000000000
--- a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/DoneStep.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
-import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import {
-  BookOpen,
-  CheckCircle2,
-  Monitor,
-  RotateCcw,
-  Settings,
-  Smartphone,
-  Terminal,
-} from "lucide-react";
-
-const NEXT_STEPS = [
-  { icon: Settings, key: "settings" },
-  { icon: RotateCcw, key: "rerun" },
-  { icon: Monitor, key: "desktop", href: "https://docs.termix.site/install" },
-  { icon: Smartphone, key: "mobile", href: "https://docs.termix.site/install" },
-  { icon: BookOpen, key: "docs", href: "https://docs.termix.site" },
-  { icon: Terminal, key: "cli", href: "https://docs.termix.site/cli" },
-] as const;
-
-export function DoneStep() {
-  const { t } = useTranslation();
-
-  return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-2 py-2 text-center">
-        <CheckCircle2 size={26} className="text-accent-brand" />
-        <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
-          <span className="text-sm font-semibold">
-            {t("onboarding.doneHeading")}
-          </span>
-          <span className="max-w-sm text-[11px] leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-            {t("onboarding.doneDesc")}
-          </span>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-
-      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        {NEXT_STEPS.map((step) => {
-          const { icon: Icon, key } = step;
-          const href = "href" in step ? step.href : null;
-          return (
-            <div
-              key={key}
-              className="flex items-start gap-2.5 border border-border bg-card p-2.5"
-            >
-              <Icon size={14} className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-accent-brand" />
-              <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-                <span className="text-xs font-medium">
-                  {t(`onboarding.done_${key}`)}
-                </span>
-                <span className="text-[10px] leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-                  {t(`onboarding.done_${key}_desc`)}
-                </span>
-                {href && (
-                  <a
-                    href={href}
-                    target="_blank"
-                    rel="noreferrer"
-                    className="mt-0.5 w-fit text-[10px] font-medium text-accent-brand hover:underline"
-                  >
-                    {t(`onboarding.done_${key}_link`)}
-                  </a>
-                )}
-              </div>
-            </div>
-          );
-        })}
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/FeaturesStep.tsx b/src/ui/onboarding/steps/FeaturesStep.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index c9f4e70d6..000000000
--- a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/FeaturesStep.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import type { LucideIcon } from "lucide-react";
-import { useActionSlot } from "@/hooks/use-action-slot";
-
-/**
- * A tour of the things people miss because they live behind a rail icon.
- * Terminal and hosts are covered by the welcome step, so this is deliberately
- * the "there is more than SSH here" list. Every entry comes from a plugin,
- * through the "onboarding.features" slot.
- */
-
-export function FeaturesStep() {
-  const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const pluginFeatures = useActionSlot("onboarding.features");
-  const features = pluginFeatures.map((feature) => ({
-    id: feature.actionId,
-    icon: feature.icon as LucideIcon | undefined,
-    title: t(feature.titleKey),
-    description: feature.descriptionKey ? t(feature.descriptionKey) : "",
-  }));
-
-  return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-        {t("onboarding.featuresIntro")}
-      </p>
-
-      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 gap-1.5 sm:grid-cols-2">
-        {features.map(({ icon: Icon, id, title, description }) => (
-          <div
-            key={id}
-            className="flex items-start gap-2.5 border border-border bg-card p-2.5"
-          >
-            {Icon && (
-              <Icon size={14} className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-accent-brand" />
-            )}
-            <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-              <span className="text-xs font-medium">{title}</span>
-              <span className="text-[10px] leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-                {description}
-              </span>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-        ))}
-      </div>
-
-      <p className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/70">
-        {t("onboarding.featuresRailHint")}
-      </p>
-    </div>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/WelcomeStep.tsx b/src/ui/onboarding/steps/WelcomeStep.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e10ff0c0..000000000
--- a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/WelcomeStep.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { FolderTree, Server, TerminalSquare } from "lucide-react";
-
-const HIGHLIGHTS = [
-  {
-    icon: Server,
-    titleKey: "onboarding.welcome_hosts",
-    descKey: "onboarding.welcome_hosts_desc",
-  },
-  {
-    icon: TerminalSquare,
-    titleKey: "onboarding.welcome_terminal",
-    descKey: "onboarding.welcome_terminal_desc",
-  },
-  {
-    icon: FolderTree,
-    titleKey: "onboarding.welcome_files",
-    descKey: "onboarding.welcome_files_desc",
-  },
-] as const;
-
-export function WelcomeStep() {
-  const { t } = useTranslation();
-
-  return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-        {t("onboarding.welcomeIntro")}
-      </p>
-
-      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        {HIGHLIGHTS.map(({ icon: Icon, titleKey, descKey }) => (
-          <div
-            key={titleKey}
-            className="flex items-start gap-2.5 border border-border bg-card p-2.5"
-          >
-            <Icon size={14} className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-accent-brand" />
-            <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-              <span className="text-xs font-medium">{t(titleKey)}</span>
-              <span className="text-[10px] leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-                {t(descKey)}
-              </span>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-        ))}
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/WorkflowStep.tsx b/src/ui/onboarding/steps/WorkflowStep.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 66b3f34e3..000000000
--- a/src/ui/onboarding/steps/WorkflowStep.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { Columns2, PanelRight, Search, type LucideIcon } from "lucide-react";
-import { Kbd } from "@/components/kbd";
-import { useActionSlot } from "@/hooks/use-action-slot";
-
-/**
- * The handful of navigation habits that make the app feel fast. Each row shows
- * the actual gesture rather than describing it, so it reads as a cheat sheet
- * people can come back to via "Run setup again".
- */
-export function WorkflowStep() {
-  const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const pluginTips = useActionSlot("onboarding.workflow");
-  const tips = [
-    ...[
-      { icon: Columns2, key: "split" },
-      { icon: PanelRight, key: "dock" },
-    ].map(({ icon, key }) => ({
-      id: key,
-      icon: icon as LucideIcon | undefined,
-      title: t(`onboarding.workflow_${key}`),
-      description: t(`onboarding.workflow_${key}_desc`),
-    })),
-    ...pluginTips.map((tip) => ({
-      id: tip.actionId,
-      icon: tip.icon as LucideIcon | undefined,
-      title: t(tip.titleKey),
-      description: tip.descriptionKey ? t(tip.descriptionKey) : "",
-    })),
-  ];
-
-  return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-        {t("onboarding.workflowIntro")}
-      </p>
-
-      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-        <div className="flex items-start gap-2.5 border border-border bg-card p-2.5">
-          <Search size={14} className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-accent-brand" />
-          <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col gap-1">
-            <span className="text-xs font-medium">
-              {t("onboarding.workflow_palette")}
-            </span>
-            <span className="text-[10px] leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-              {t("onboarding.workflow_palette_desc")}
-            </span>
-            <span className="mt-0.5 flex items-center gap-1">
-              <Kbd className="h-5 rounded-none bg-background px-1.5">Shift</Kbd>
-              <Kbd className="h-5 rounded-none bg-background px-1.5">Shift</Kbd>
-            </span>
-          </div>
-        </div>
-
-        {tips.map(({ icon: Icon, id, title, description }) => (
-          <div
-            key={id}
-            className="flex items-start gap-2.5 border border-border bg-card p-2.5"
-          >
-            {Icon && (
-              <Icon size={14} className="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-accent-brand" />
-            )}
-            <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-              <span className="text-xs font-medium">{title}</span>
-              <span className="text-[10px] leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-                {description}
-              </span>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-        ))}
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  );
-}