diff --git a/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/terminal/color.rs b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/terminal/color.rs
index 75a1e14b77..a543b357e7 100644
--- a/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/terminal/color.rs
+++ b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/terminal/color.rs
@@ -346,6 +346,66 @@ pub struct Theme {
 }
 
 impl Theme {
+    /// Drop-shadow colour for popups and dialogs.
+    ///
+    /// Always black or near-black — the shadow should be darker than
+    /// any panel background.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn shadow(&self) -> Color {
+        match self.background {
+            Color::Rgb(r, g, b) if r + g + b < 100 => Color::Rgb(0, 0, 0),
+            _ => Color::Rgb(0, 0, 0),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Background colour for the editor's current-line highlight.
+    ///
+    /// Derived by lightening the panel background by ~8 %.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn current_line_bg(&self) -> Color {
+        match self.background {
+            Color::Rgb(r, g, b) => {
+                Color::Rgb(r.saturating_add(12), g.saturating_add(12), b.saturating_add(12))
+            }
+            _ => self.cursor_bg,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Background colour for alternating (even-indexed) rows in the file
+    /// list.  Derived by lightening the panel background by ~4 %.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn alt_row_bg(&self) -> Color {
+        match self.background {
+            Color::Rgb(r, g, b) => {
+                Color::Rgb(r.saturating_add(6), g.saturating_add(6), b.saturating_add(6))
+            }
+            _ => self.background,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Top-edge highlight colour for 3-D buttons (the `▔` row).
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn button_highlight(&self) -> Color {
+        match self.cursor_bg {
+            Color::Rgb(r, g, b) => {
+                Color::Rgb(r.saturating_add(40), g.saturating_add(40), b.saturating_add(40))
+            }
+            _ => self.info,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Bottom-edge shadow colour for 3-D buttons (the `▁` row).
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn button_shadow(&self) -> Color {
+        self.shadow()
+    }
+
+    /// Spinner foreground colour.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn spinner_fg(&self) -> Color {
+        self.info
+    }
+
     /// Look up a theme by name.
     ///
     /// Recognised built-in names are:
diff --git a/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/mod.rs b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/mod.rs
index 2ff3767398..4194d96e77 100644
--- a/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/mod.rs
+++ b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/mod.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ pub mod dialog;
 pub mod gauge;
 pub mod input;
 pub mod radio;
+pub mod spinner;
+pub mod toast;
 
 use bitflags::bitflags;
 use ratatui::layout::Rect;
@@ -147,3 +149,5 @@ pub use dialog::{Dialog, DialogButton, DialogResult};
 pub use gauge::ProgressGauge;
 pub use input::Input;
 pub use radio::{RadioButton, RadioGroup};
+pub use spinner::Spinner;
+pub use toast::{Toast, ToastLevel, ToastManager};
diff --git a/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/spinner.rs b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/spinner.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..318ed178d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/spinner.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+//! Braille spinner widget for loading and background-job indicators.
+
+use ratatui::layout::Rect;
+use ratatui::style::{Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::text::Span;
+use ratatui::widgets::Paragraph;
+use ratatui::Frame;
+
+use crate::terminal::color::Theme;
+
+const SPINNER_FRAMES: &[char] = &['⠋', '⠙', '⠹', '⠸', '⠼', '⠴', '⠦', '⠧', '⠇', '⠏'];
+
+/// A Unicode braille spinner that cycles through 10 frames.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
+pub struct Spinner {
+    frame: u64,
+    active: bool,
+}
+
+impl Spinner {
+    /// Create a new inactive spinner.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::default()
+    }
+
+    /// Start the spinner (it will begin cycling on the next tick).
+    pub fn start(&mut self) {
+        self.active = true;
+    }
+
+    /// Stop the spinner and reset the frame counter.
+    pub fn stop(&mut self) {
+        self.active = false;
+        self.frame = 0;
+    }
+
+    /// Returns `true` if the spinner is actively cycling.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn is_active(&self) -> bool {
+        self.active
+    }
+
+    /// Advance the animation by one frame. Should be called on every
+    /// event-loop tick (~100 ms).
+    pub fn tick(&mut self) {
+        if self.active {
+            self.frame = self.frame.wrapping_add(1);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Current spinner character.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn current_char(&self) -> char {
+        if !self.active {
+            return ' ';
+        }
+        let idx = ((self.frame / 3) % SPINNER_FRAMES.len() as u64) as usize;
+        SPINNER_FRAMES[idx]
+    }
+
+    /// Render the spinner as a single-character span.
+    pub fn render(&self, frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, theme: &Theme) {
+        let ch = self.current_char();
+        let span = Span::styled(
+            ch.to_string(),
+            Style::default()
+                .fg(theme.spinner_fg())
+                .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        );
+        frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new(span), area);
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn inactive_spinner_returns_space() {
+        let s = Spinner::new();
+        assert_eq!(s.current_char(), ' ');
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn active_spinner_cycles_frames() {
+        let mut s = Spinner::new();
+        s.start();
+        let first = s.current_char();
+        s.tick();
+        s.tick();
+        s.tick();
+        let after_tick = s.current_char();
+        assert_ne!(first, ' ');
+        assert!(SPINNER_FRAMES.contains(&after_tick));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stop_resets_frame() {
+        let mut s = Spinner::new();
+        s.start();
+        for _ in 0..10 {
+            s.tick();
+        }
+        assert!(s.frame > 0);
+        s.stop();
+        assert!(!s.is_active());
+        assert_eq!(s.frame, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn start_sets_active() {
+        let mut s = Spinner::new();
+        assert!(!s.is_active());
+        s.start();
+        assert!(s.is_active());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/toast.rs b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/toast.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bfdc5a7d71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/local/recipes/tui/tlc/source/src/widget/toast.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+//! Toast notification system with slide-in animation.
+
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+use ratatui::layout::{Alignment, Rect};
+use ratatui::style::{Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::widgets::{Block, BorderType, Borders, Clear, Paragraph, Widget};
+use ratatui::Frame;
+
+use crate::terminal::color::Theme;
+
+const SLIDE_FRAMES: u8 = 4;
+const SLIDE_STEP: u8 = 100 / SLIDE_FRAMES;
+
+/// Severity level of a toast notification.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ToastLevel {
+    /// Informational message (cyan).
+    Info,
+    /// Success confirmation (green).
+    Success,
+    /// Warning message (yellow).
+    Warning,
+    /// Error message (red, bold).
+    Error,
+}
+
+impl ToastLevel {
+    fn icon(&self) -> &str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Info => "ℹ",
+            Self::Success => "✓",
+            Self::Warning => "⚠",
+            Self::Error => "✗",
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn style(&self, theme: &Theme) -> Style {
+        match self {
+            Self::Info => Style::default().fg(theme.info),
+            Self::Success => Style::default().fg(theme.executable),
+            Self::Warning => Style::default().fg(theme.warning),
+            Self::Error => Style::default().fg(theme.error).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A single toast notification with animation state.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Toast {
+    message: String,
+    level: ToastLevel,
+    spawned_at: Instant,
+    ttl: Duration,
+    slide_percent: u8,
+    closing: bool,
+}
+
+impl Toast {
+    /// Create a new info-level toast that lives for `ttl`.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new(message: impl Into<String>, level: ToastLevel, ttl: Duration) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            message: message.into(),
+            level,
+            spawned_at: Instant::now(),
+            ttl,
+            slide_percent: 0,
+            closing: false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Whether this toast has finished its lifecycle.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn is_done(&self) -> bool {
+        self.closing && self.slide_percent == 0 || self.spawned_at.elapsed() > self.ttl + Duration::from_millis(300)
+    }
+
+    /// Advance the animation by one frame.
+    pub fn tick(&mut self) {
+        if self.closing {
+            self.slide_percent = self.slide_percent.saturating_sub(SLIDE_STEP);
+        } else if self.slide_percent < 100 {
+            self.slide_percent = (self.slide_percent + SLIDE_STEP).min(100);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Begin the closing animation.
+    pub fn close(&mut self) {
+        self.closing = true;
+    }
+
+    /// Whether this toast is mid-animation (needs continued ticking).
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn is_animating(&self) -> bool {
+        (self.slide_percent > 0 && self.slide_percent < 100) || self.closing
+    }
+}
+
+/// Manages a queue of toast notifications.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
+pub struct ToastManager {
+    toasts: Vec<Toast>,
+    pending: Vec<(String, ToastLevel, Duration)>,
+}
+
+impl ToastManager {
+    /// Create an empty toast manager.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::default()
+    }
+
+    /// Queue a new toast for display.
+    pub fn push(&mut self, message: impl Into<String>, level: ToastLevel) {
+        self.pending.push((message.into(), level, Duration::from_secs(3)));
+    }
+
+    /// Queue a new toast with a custom TTL.
+    pub fn push_with_ttl(&mut self, message: impl Into<String>, level: ToastLevel, ttl: Duration) {
+        self.pending.push((message.into(), level, ttl));
+    }
+
+    /// Whether any toasts are visible or animating.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn is_active(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.toasts.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    /// Advance all toast animations. Promotes pending toasts and
+    /// removes finished ones. Returns `true` if a redraw is needed.
+    pub fn tick(&mut self) -> bool {
+        while self.toasts.len() < 3 {
+            if let Some((msg, level, ttl)) = self.pending.pop() {
+                self.toasts.push(Toast::new(msg, level, ttl));
+            } else {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        let mut need_redraw = false;
+        for t in &mut self.toasts {
+            let was_animating = t.is_animating();
+            if t.spawned_at.elapsed() > t.ttl && !t.closing {
+                t.close();
+            }
+            t.tick();
+            if was_animating || t.is_animating() {
+                need_redraw = true;
+            }
+        }
+        self.toasts.retain(|t| !t.is_done());
+        need_redraw || !self.pending.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    /// Render all visible toasts in the bottom-right corner.
+    pub fn render(&self, frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, theme: &Theme) {
+        let visible = self.toasts.iter().rev().take(3).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        for (i, toast) in visible.iter().enumerate() {
+            let w = 38u16.min(area.width.saturating_sub(2));
+            let h = 3u16;
+            let base_x = area.right().saturating_sub(w + 1);
+            let base_y = area.bottom().saturating_sub(5 + (i as u16) * 4);
+
+            let slide_offset = ((100 - toast.slide_percent) as i32 * w as i32) / 100;
+            let toast_area = Rect {
+                x: base_x.saturating_add(slide_offset as u16),
+                y: base_y,
+                width: w,
+                height: h,
+            };
+            if toast_area.right() > area.right() || toast_area.x < area.x {
+                continue;
+            }
+            Clear.render(toast_area, frame.buffer_mut());
+            let block = Block::default()
+                .borders(Borders::ALL)
+                .border_type(BorderType::Rounded)
+                .border_style(toast.level.style(theme))
+                .style(Style::default().bg(theme.background));
+            let inner = block.inner(toast_area);
+            frame.render_widget(block, toast_area);
+            let text = format!("{} {}", toast.level.icon(), toast.message);
+            frame.render_widget(
+                Paragraph::new(text)
+                    .style(toast.level.style(theme))
+                    .alignment(Alignment::Left),
+                inner,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn toast_starts_at_zero_percent() {
+        let t = Toast::new("hello", ToastLevel::Info, Duration::from_secs(1));
+        assert_eq!(t.slide_percent, 0);
+        assert!(!t.closing);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn toast_slides_in_over_frames() {
+        let mut t = Toast::new("hi", ToastLevel::Success, Duration::from_secs(5));
+        for _ in 0..SLIDE_FRAMES {
+            t.tick();
+        }
+        assert_eq!(t.slide_percent, 100);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn toast_closes_and_slides_out() {
+        let mut t = Toast::new("err", ToastLevel::Error, Duration::from_secs(5));
+        for _ in 0..SLIDE_FRAMES {
+            t.tick();
+        }
+        assert_eq!(t.slide_percent, 100);
+        t.close();
+        assert!(t.closing);
+        for _ in 0..SLIDE_FRAMES {
+            t.tick();
+        }
+        assert_eq!(t.slide_percent, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn toast_manager_queues_and_promotes() {
+        let mut mgr = ToastManager::new();
+        mgr.push("one", ToastLevel::Info);
+        mgr.push("two", ToastLevel::Warning);
+        mgr.tick();
+        assert!(!mgr.toasts.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn toast_manager_caps_at_three_visible() {
+        let mut mgr = ToastManager::new();
+        mgr.push("a", ToastLevel::Info);
+        mgr.push("b", ToastLevel::Info);
+        mgr.push("c", ToastLevel::Info);
+        mgr.push("d", ToastLevel::Info);
+        mgr.tick();
+        assert!(mgr.toasts.len() <= 3);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn toast_level_icons_differ() {
+        assert_ne!(ToastLevel::Info.icon(), ToastLevel::Error.icon());
+        assert_ne!(ToastLevel::Success.icon(), ToastLevel::Warning.icon());
+    }
+}