diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 29fb620..8482eff 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -143,6 +143,46 @@ docker run --rm --env-file ~/.creds/discourse.env \
 - Clear WORKING.md (to "all done") before responding to the user.
 - **The human decides when the work is done and when to deploy.** Never declare "done" unilaterally.
 
+## Rolling HUD (session-scoped, NOT persisted)
+
+The rolling HUD is a **live status display** the agent maintains throughout
+the session to help the human follow along. It is NOT a system of record —
+Redmine, Discourse, and git are the durable systems. The HUD exists purely
+for the human's situational awareness during the session.
+
+- **Format:** a compact block shown at the end of each significant response
+  (after completing a step, hitting a blocker, or pivoting). Example:
+
+  ```
+  ┌─ SESSION HUD ────────────────────────────────────────
+  │ Active: #NNN (ticket subject)
+  │ Done:   ✓ first completed item this session
+  │         ✓ second completed item
+  │ Now:    what the agent is actively doing right now
+  │ Next:   → #NNN next queued ticket
+  │         → #NNN another queued item (BLOCKED: what's needed)
+  ├─ USER ACTION ITEMS ──────────────────────────────────
+  │ • Action only the user can take (unblocks #NNN)
+  │ • Another user action (unblocks #NNN)
+  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  ```
+
+- **Placement:** may be written to `.crush/hud.md` on disk to keep context
+  window smaller (re-read and update rather than hold in memory). Never
+  committed to git. Wiped at session end.
+- **Sections:**
+  - **Active:** current ticket number + one-line description
+  - **Done:** ✓ items completed this session (append as work progresses)
+  - **Now:** what the agent is actively doing
+  - **Next:** the queued items (per handoff priority or user direction)
+  - **User action items:** things ONLY the user can do (populate creds,
+    physical work, manual deploys) with the tickets they unblock
+- **When to show it:** after each logical unit of work, at blockers, and
+    when pivoting between tickets. Not every trivial response — use judgment.
+- **NOT a substitute for Redmine/Discourse/git.** The HUD is ephemeral. When
+    work completes, update the durable systems (ticket notes, Discourse wiki,
+    commits). The HUD just tracks the live narrative for the human.
+
 ## Questions
 
 - **NEVER use a harness "question"/"ask user" tool** (structured prompts,