diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0e6b19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+import {
+  createGardenAudioConfig,
+  DEFAULT_AUDIO_VOLUME,
+} from './audio/garden-audio-config';
+import { defaultSettings } from './config/default-settings';
+import { runtimeControls } from './config/runtime-controls';
+import type { GardenAppConfig } from './config/types';
+import { defaultVibeId, vibePresets } from './config/vibe-presets';
+
+export {
+  normalizeNumberControlValue,
+  normalizeRuntimeSettings,
+} from './config/normalize-runtime-settings';
+
+export type {
+  GardenAppConfig,
+  GardenRuntimeSettings,
+  NumberControlConfig,
+} from './config/types';
+
+export const appConfig = {
+  audio: createGardenAudioConfig(),
+  analytics: {
+    autoCapturePageviews: true,
+    domain: 'fleeting.garden',
+    endpoint: 'https://stats.schmelczer.dev/status',
+    logging: import.meta.env.DEV,
+  },
+  deltaTime: {
+    maxDeltaTimeSeconds: 1 / 30,
+    minDeltaTimeSeconds: 1 / 240,
+  },
+  exportSnapshot: {
+    bytesPerPixel: 4,
+    filenameExtension: 'png',
+    filenamePrefix: 'fleeting-garden',
+    filenameSuffix: '-snapshot',
+    mimeType: 'image/png',
+    rowAlignmentBytes: 256,
+  },
+  menuHider: {
+    bottomRevealDistancePx: 96,
+    desktopMediaQuery: '(min-width: 600px) and (hover: hover) and (pointer: fine)',
+    hideDelayMs: 3000,
+  },
+  pipelines: {
+    common: {
+      noiseChannelSeeds: [0, 1, 2, 3],
+      noiseClearValue: { r: 1, g: 1, b: 1, a: 1 },
+      noiseDrawInstanceCount: 1,
+      noiseDrawVertexCount: 3,
+      noiseHashMultiplier: 43758.5453123,
+      noiseHashX: 12.9898,
+      noiseHashY: 78.233,
+      noiseTextureFormat: 'r8unorm',
+      noiseTextureSize: 2048,
+    },
+    brush: {
+      maxLineCount: 240,
+    },
+    diffusion: {
+      minDiffusionRate: 0.000001,
+    },
+    eraser: {
+      maxTextureLineCount: 384,
+    },
+  },
+  defaultSettings,
+  runtimeSettings: {
+    controls: runtimeControls,
+  },
+  simulation: {
+    brushEffectFramesPerSecond: 60,
+    clearColor: { r: 0, g: 0, b: 0, a: 0 },
+    initialAgentCount: 180_000,
+    // How long the source map continues to be diffused after a brush stroke ends.
+    // 600 frames at ~60 FPS ≈ 10 seconds.
+    sourceActiveFramesAfterWrite: 600,
+    intro: {
+      angleJitterRadians: Math.PI * 0.08,
+      angleEaseEnd: 1,
+      angleEaseStart: 0.6,
+      circleMaxSideRatio: 0.46,
+      circleMinSideRatio: 0.32,
+      drawHintDelayMs: 3000,
+      durationSeconds: 4,
+      entryJitterSideRatio: 0.035,
+      fontScaleDown: 0.94,
+      fontFamily: '"Open Sans", sans-serif',
+      initialFontHeightRatio: 0.28,
+      initialFontWidthRatio: 0.19,
+      letterSpacingEm: 0.07,
+      maskAlphaThreshold: 32,
+      maskGradientThreshold: 8,
+      maskMaxPixels: 1_000_000,
+      maskSampleDensity: 540,
+      maxHeightRatio: 0.25,
+      maxWidthRatio: 0.76,
+      minEntryJitterPx: 6,
+      minFontSizePx: 18,
+      minTargetJitterPx: 1,
+      pathEasing: 'easeOutQuad',
+      pathProgressEpsilon: 0.001,
+      radialJitterRatio: 0.35,
+      radialStartEpsilon: 0.001,
+      resizeMinimumRemainingSeconds: 1.4,
+      resizeSettleMs: 120,
+      targetDelayDistanceMultiplier: 0.12,
+      targetDelayMax: 0.22,
+      targetDelayRandomMultiplier: 0.06,
+      targetJitterSideRatio: 0.0035,
+      title: 'Fleeting',
+      titleColorCutLetters: [2, 5],
+      titleRadiusMultiplier: 1.55,
+      titleStrokeWidthMinPx: 6,
+      titleStrokeWidthRatio: 0.11,
+      verticalAnchor: 0.47,
+    },
+    introMoveSpeed: 280,
+    stroke: {
+      densityMultiplier: 110,
+      maxAgentCount: 2_400,
+    },
+  },
+  storage: {
+    audioMutedKey: 'fleeting-garden:audio-muted',
+    audioVolumeKey: 'fleeting-garden:audio-volume',
+    vibeKey: 'fleeting-garden:vibe',
+  },
+  toolbar: {
+    eraser: {
+      controlScaleMax: 1.34,
+      controlScaleMin: 0.74,
+      default: 96,
+      max: 480,
+      min: 24,
+      step: 1,
+    },
+    mirror: {
+      default: 8,
+      fallbackSegmentName: 'slices',
+      max: 12,
+      min: 1,
+      names: {
+        2: 'halves',
+        3: 'thirds',
+        4: 'quarters',
+        5: 'fifths',
+        6: 'sixths',
+        7: 'sevenths',
+        8: 'eighths',
+        9: 'ninths',
+        10: 'tenths',
+        11: 'elevenths',
+        12: 'twelfths',
+      },
+      offLabel: 'Mirror off',
+      step: 1,
+    },
+    contrast: {
+      backgroundOpacityMax: 0.82,
+      brightLuminanceThreshold: 0.32,
+      brightWeight: 0.65,
+      bytesPerSample: 4,
+      contrastOffset: 0.05,
+      linearChannelBreakpoint: 0.03928,
+      linearChannelDivisor: 12.92,
+      linearChannelGamma: 2.4,
+      linearChannelOffset: 0.055,
+      linearChannelScale: 1.055,
+      lowContrastThreshold: 3,
+      lowContrastWeight: 1.8,
+      luminanceBase: 0.11,
+      luminanceBlueWeight: 0.0722,
+      luminanceGreenWeight: 0.7152,
+      luminanceRange: 0.28,
+      luminanceRedWeight: 0.2126,
+      sampleColumns: 13,
+      sampleIntervalMs: 300,
+      sampleRows: 7,
+      whiteContrastNumerator: 1.05,
+    },
+    volume: {
+      default: DEFAULT_AUDIO_VOLUME,
+      max: 1,
+      min: 0,
+      step: 0.01,
+    },
+  },
+  tuningPane: {
+    showFpsOverlay: import.meta.env.DEV,
+    startHidden: true,
+    title: 'Garden Settings',
+  },
+  vibes: {
+    defaultVibeId,
+    presets: vibePresets,
+  },
+} satisfies GardenAppConfig;
diff --git a/src/config/brush-size.test.ts b/src/config/brush-size.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9039e62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/brush-size.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import {
+  BRUSH_SIZE_BASELINE_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXELS,
+  getBrushRenderQualityScale,
+  getRenderQualityBrushSize,
+} from './brush-size';
+
+describe('render-quality brush sizing', () => {
+  it('keeps brush sizes unchanged at the 7.3 MP baseline', () => {
+    expect(
+      getRenderQualityBrushSize(21, BRUSH_SIZE_BASELINE_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXELS)
+    ).toBe(21);
+  });
+
+  it('scales linear brush size with the square root of render area', () => {
+    const doubledLinearQuality = BRUSH_SIZE_BASELINE_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXELS * 4;
+
+    expect(getBrushRenderQualityScale(doubledLinearQuality)).toBe(2);
+    expect(getRenderQualityBrushSize(9.75, doubledLinearQuality)).toBe(19.5);
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to baseline scaling for invalid render areas', () => {
+    expect(getBrushRenderQualityScale(0)).toBe(1);
+    expect(getRenderQualityBrushSize(6.5, Number.NaN)).toBe(6.5);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/config/brush-size.ts b/src/config/brush-size.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc77697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/brush-size.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+export const BRUSH_SIZE_BASELINE_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXELS = 7.3;
+
+const getSafeRenderAreaMegapixels = (renderAreaMegapixels: number): number =>
+  Number.isFinite(renderAreaMegapixels) && renderAreaMegapixels > 0
+    ? renderAreaMegapixels
+    : BRUSH_SIZE_BASELINE_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXELS;
+
+export const getBrushRenderQualityScale = (renderAreaMegapixels: number): number =>
+  Math.sqrt(
+    getSafeRenderAreaMegapixels(renderAreaMegapixels) /
+      BRUSH_SIZE_BASELINE_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXELS
+  );
+
+export const getRenderQualityBrushSize = (
+  brushSize: number,
+  renderAreaMegapixels: number
+): number =>
+  Math.max(0, Number.isFinite(brushSize) ? brushSize : 0) *
+  getBrushRenderQualityScale(renderAreaMegapixels);
diff --git a/src/config/color-interactions.ts b/src/config/color-interactions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c84e61d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/color-interactions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import type { NumberControlConfig } from './types';
+
+export const colorInteractionControl = (label: string): NumberControlConfig => ({
+  folder: 'Color Reactions',
+  label,
+  min: -1,
+  max: 1,
+  step: 1,
+  options: {
+    'Move Toward': 1,
+    Ignore: 0,
+    'Move Away': -1,
+  },
+});
diff --git a/src/config/default-settings.ts b/src/config/default-settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37ce510
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/default-settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import { INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS } from './runtime-setting-bounds';
+import type { GardenAppConfig } from './types';
+
+// Mirrors the historical render-scale cap so the default render area stays
+// roughly equivalent to native rendering on high-DPR phones without the
+// pipeline applying its own clamp. The slider can override freely.
+const DEFAULT_DEVICE_PIXEL_RATIO_CAP = 2;
+
+const computeDefaultInternalRenderAreaMegapixels = (): number => {
+  const rawDpr =
+    typeof window !== 'undefined' && Number.isFinite(window.devicePixelRatio)
+      ? window.devicePixelRatio
+      : 1;
+  const dpr = Math.min(Math.max(rawDpr, 1), DEFAULT_DEVICE_PIXEL_RATIO_CAP);
+  const cssWidth = typeof window !== 'undefined' ? window.innerWidth : 1920;
+  const cssHeight = typeof window !== 'undefined' ? window.innerHeight : 1080;
+  const cssMegapixels = (Math.max(cssWidth, 1) * Math.max(cssHeight, 1)) / 1_000_000;
+  return Math.min(
+    INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS.max,
+    Math.max(INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS.min, dpr * dpr * cssMegapixels)
+  );
+};
+
+export const defaultSettings: GardenAppConfig['defaultSettings'] = {
+  selectedColorIndex: 0,
+
+  introNearDistanceMin: 28,
+  introNearDistanceInner: 4,
+  introNearSensorOffsetMultiplier: 0.75,
+  introTargetAngleBlend: 0.2,
+  introProgressCutoff: 0.999,
+  introTurnRateMultiplier: 3.4,
+  introRandomTurnMultiplier: 0.18,
+  introStepStopDistance: 0.5,
+  randomTimeScale: 0.34816,
+
+  diffusionRateTrails: 0.22,
+  decayRateBrush: 18,
+  diffusionDecayRateDivisor: 1000,
+  diffusionNeighborDivisor: 8,
+  brushDecayAlphaOffset: 1.001,
+  brushEffectDuration: 8,
+
+  brushCurveResolution: 12,
+  brushCurveMinBrushRadius: 1,
+  brushCurveMinSegmentSpacing: 4,
+  brushCurveMirrorResolutionExponent: 0.5,
+  brushCurveSegmentBrushRadiusRatio: 0.65,
+  brushSmoothingMinSampleDistance: 0.5,
+
+  brushAlpha: 1,
+  brushDiscardThreshold: 0.02,
+  brushGrainNoiseScale: 22,
+  brushGrainNoiseOffsetX: 0.31,
+  brushGrainNoiseOffsetY: 0.67,
+  brushGrainMinStrength: 0.45,
+  brushGrainMaxStrength: 1,
+
+  eraserClearAlpha: 0,
+  eraserClearBlue: 0,
+  eraserClearGreen: 0,
+  eraserClearRed: 0,
+  eraserLineDistanceEpsilon: 0.0001,
+  eraserMaskAlphaThreshold: 0.5,
+
+  adaptiveCapInitial: 1_000_000,
+  adaptiveCapMin: 50_000,
+  internalRenderAreaMegapixels: computeDefaultInternalRenderAreaMegapixels(),
+  maxAgentCount: 1_500_000,
+
+  renderTraceNormalizationFloor: 1,
+  renderBrushColorBase: 1.2,
+  renderBrushColorStrengthMultiplier: 1.6,
+};
diff --git a/src/config/normalize-runtime-settings.test.ts b/src/config/normalize-runtime-settings.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..259ff17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/normalize-runtime-settings.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import {
+  normalizeNumberControlValue,
+  normalizeRuntimeSettings,
+} from './normalize-runtime-settings';
+import type { GardenRuntimeSettings } from './types';
+
+describe('normalizeNumberControlValue', () => {
+  it('clamps and rounds numeric controls', () => {
+    expect(
+      normalizeNumberControlValue(12.6, {
+        folder: 'Test',
+        integer: true,
+        max: 10,
+        min: 0,
+      })
+    ).toBe(10);
+
+    expect(
+      normalizeNumberControlValue(Number.NaN, {
+        folder: 'Test',
+        min: 3,
+      })
+    ).toBe(3);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps only declared option values', () => {
+    expect(
+      normalizeNumberControlValue(2, {
+        folder: 'Test',
+        options: { off: 0, on: 2 },
+      })
+    ).toBe(2);
+
+    expect(
+      normalizeNumberControlValue(3, {
+        folder: 'Test',
+        options: { off: 0, on: 2 },
+      })
+    ).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('normalizeRuntimeSettings', () => {
+  it('normalizes configured runtime keys and leaves hidden keys alone', () => {
+    const settings = {
+      brushSize: 99,
+      selectedColorIndex: 7,
+    } as GardenRuntimeSettings;
+
+    expect(
+      normalizeRuntimeSettings(settings, {
+        brushSize: {
+          folder: 'Brush',
+          max: 12,
+          min: 1,
+        },
+      })
+    ).toMatchObject({
+      brushSize: 12,
+      selectedColorIndex: 7,
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/config/normalize-runtime-settings.ts b/src/config/normalize-runtime-settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec4dcf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/normalize-runtime-settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import type {
+  GardenAppConfig,
+  GardenRuntimeSettings,
+  NumberControlConfig,
+} from './types';
+
+type RuntimeSettingControls = GardenAppConfig['runtimeSettings']['controls'];
+
+export const normalizeNumberControlValue = (
+  value: number,
+  config: NumberControlConfig
+): number => {
+  if (config.options) {
+    const optionValues = Object.values(config.options);
+    if (optionValues.includes(value)) {
+      return value;
+    }
+    return optionValues.includes(0) ? 0 : (optionValues[0] ?? config.min ?? 0);
+  }
+
+  const min = config.min ?? Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
+  const max = config.max ?? Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+  const fallbackValue = config.min ?? 0;
+  const finiteValue = Number.isFinite(value) ? value : fallbackValue;
+  const clampedValue = Math.min(max, Math.max(min, finiteValue));
+  return config.integer ? Math.round(clampedValue) : clampedValue;
+};
+
+export const normalizeRuntimeSettings = (
+  settings: GardenRuntimeSettings,
+  controls: RuntimeSettingControls
+): GardenRuntimeSettings => {
+  const normalized = { ...settings };
+
+  (
+    Object.entries(controls) as Array<
+      [keyof GardenRuntimeSettings, NumberControlConfig | undefined]
+    >
+  ).forEach(([key, config]) => {
+    if (config) {
+      normalized[key] = normalizeNumberControlValue(normalized[key], config);
+    }
+  });
+
+  return normalized;
+};
diff --git a/src/config/runtime-controls.ts b/src/config/runtime-controls.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e07a259
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/runtime-controls.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+import { colorInteractionControl } from './color-interactions';
+import { INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS } from './runtime-setting-bounds';
+import type { GardenAppConfig } from './types';
+
+const formatPercent = (value: number): string => `${Math.round(value * 100)}%`;
+const formatRadiansAsDegrees = (value: number): string =>
+  `${Math.round((value * 180) / Math.PI)} deg`;
+const formatCompactNumber = (value: number): string => {
+  if (value >= 1_000_000) {
+    const millions = value / 1_000_000;
+    return `${Number.isInteger(millions) ? millions : millions.toFixed(1)}M`;
+  }
+  if (value >= 1_000) {
+    return `${Math.round(value / 1_000)}k`;
+  }
+  return `${value}`;
+};
+
+export const runtimeControls: GardenAppConfig['runtimeSettings']['controls'] = {
+  color1ToColor1: colorInteractionControl('Color 1 Follows Color 1'),
+  color1ToColor2: colorInteractionControl('Color 1 Follows Color 2'),
+  color1ToColor3: colorInteractionControl('Color 1 Follows Color 3'),
+  color2ToColor1: colorInteractionControl('Color 2 Follows Color 1'),
+  color2ToColor2: colorInteractionControl('Color 2 Follows Color 2'),
+  color2ToColor3: colorInteractionControl('Color 2 Follows Color 3'),
+  color3ToColor1: colorInteractionControl('Color 3 Follows Color 1'),
+  color3ToColor2: colorInteractionControl('Color 3 Follows Color 2'),
+  color3ToColor3: colorInteractionControl('Color 3 Follows Color 3'),
+
+  brushSize: {
+    folder: 'Brush',
+    label: 'Brush Size',
+    min: 1,
+    max: 36,
+    step: 0.25,
+  },
+  spawnPerPixel: {
+    folder: 'Brush',
+    label: 'Density',
+    min: 0.01,
+    max: 0.38,
+    step: 0.001,
+  },
+  strokeAngleJitterRadians: {
+    folder: 'Brush',
+    format: formatRadiansAsDegrees,
+    label: 'Spawn Spread',
+    min: 0,
+    max: Math.PI,
+    step: 0.01,
+  },
+  sensorOffsetDistance: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Sensor Reach',
+    min: 0,
+    max: 200,
+    step: 1,
+  },
+  sensorOffsetAngle: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Sensor Angle',
+    min: 0,
+    max: 180,
+    step: 1,
+  },
+  moveSpeed: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Travel Speed',
+    min: 10,
+    max: 500,
+    step: 1,
+  },
+  turnSpeed: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Turning Speed',
+    min: 1,
+    max: 200,
+    step: 1,
+  },
+  forwardRotationScale: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    format: formatPercent,
+    label: 'Forward Focus',
+    min: 0,
+    max: 1,
+    step: 0.01,
+  },
+  turnWhenLost: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Wander Turn',
+    min: 0,
+    max: Math.PI * 2,
+    step: 0.01,
+  },
+  individualTrailWeight: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Trail Strength',
+    min: 0,
+    max: 1,
+    step: 0.001,
+  },
+  diffusionRateTrails: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Diffusion Rate',
+    min: 0.01,
+    max: 1,
+    step: 0.01,
+  },
+  decayRateTrails: {
+    folder: 'Movement',
+    label: 'Trail Fade',
+    min: 800,
+    max: 1000,
+    step: 1,
+  },
+
+  clarity: {
+    folder: 'Look',
+    label: 'Sharpness',
+    min: 0.00001,
+    max: 1,
+    step: 0.001,
+  },
+  backgroundGrainStrength: {
+    folder: 'Look',
+    label: 'Background Grain',
+    min: 0,
+    max: 0.12,
+    step: 0.001,
+  },
+
+  maxAgentCount: {
+    folder: 'Performance',
+    format: formatCompactNumber,
+    integer: true,
+    label: 'Population Limit',
+    min: 0,
+    step: 10_000,
+  },
+  internalRenderAreaMegapixels: {
+    folder: 'Performance',
+    label: 'Render Quality (MP)',
+    min: INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS.min,
+    max: INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS.max,
+    step: 0.1,
+  },
+};
diff --git a/src/config/runtime-setting-bounds.ts b/src/config/runtime-setting-bounds.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5400912
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/runtime-setting-bounds.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+export const INTERNAL_RENDER_AREA_MEGAPIXEL_LIMITS = {
+  min: 0.5,
+  max: 16.6,
+} as const;
diff --git a/src/config/types.ts b/src/config/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..456dec8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+import type {
+  GardenAudioConfig,
+  GardenAudioVibeSettings,
+} from '../audio/garden-audio-config';
+import type { AgentSettings } from '../pipelines/agents/agent-pipeline';
+import type { BrushSettings } from '../pipelines/brush/brush-pipeline';
+import type { DiffusionSettings } from '../pipelines/diffusion/diffusion-pipeline';
+import type { RenderSettings } from '../pipelines/render/render-pipeline';
+import type { RgbColor } from '../utils/rgb-color';
+
+export interface NumberControlConfig {
+  format?: (value: number) => string;
+  folder: string;
+  integer?: boolean;
+  label?: string;
+  max?: number;
+  min?: number;
+  options?: Record<string, number>;
+  step?: number;
+}
+
+export type GardenRuntimeSettings = {
+  adaptiveCapInitial: number;
+  adaptiveCapMin: number;
+  backgroundGrainStrength: number;
+  brushCurveResolution: number;
+  brushCurveMinBrushRadius: number;
+  brushCurveMinSegmentSpacing: number;
+  brushCurveMirrorResolutionExponent: number;
+  brushCurveSegmentBrushRadiusRatio: number;
+  brushEffectDuration: number;
+  brushSmoothingMinSampleDistance: number;
+  eraserClearAlpha: number;
+  eraserClearBlue: number;
+  eraserClearGreen: number;
+  eraserClearRed: number;
+  eraserLineDistanceEpsilon: number;
+  eraserMaskAlphaThreshold: number;
+  eraserSize: number;
+  internalRenderAreaMegapixels: number;
+  mirrorSegmentCount: number;
+  maxAgentCount: number;
+  selectedColorIndex: number;
+  spawnPerPixel: number;
+  strokeAngleJitterRadians: number;
+} & AgentSettings &
+  BrushSettings &
+  DiffusionSettings &
+  RenderSettings;
+
+type RuntimeSettingControlConfig = Partial<
+  Record<keyof GardenRuntimeSettings, NumberControlConfig>
+>;
+
+export type GardenVibeSettings = Pick<
+  GardenRuntimeSettings,
+  | 'backgroundGrainStrength'
+  | 'brushSize'
+  | 'clarity'
+  | 'color1ToColor1'
+  | 'color1ToColor2'
+  | 'color1ToColor3'
+  | 'color2ToColor1'
+  | 'color2ToColor2'
+  | 'color2ToColor3'
+  | 'color3ToColor1'
+  | 'color3ToColor2'
+  | 'color3ToColor3'
+  | 'decayRateTrails'
+  | 'forwardRotationScale'
+  | 'individualTrailWeight'
+  | 'moveSpeed'
+  | 'sensorOffsetAngle'
+  | 'sensorOffsetDistance'
+  | 'spawnPerPixel'
+  | 'strokeAngleJitterRadians'
+  | 'turnSpeed'
+  | 'turnWhenLost'
+>;
+
+type GardenDefaultSettings = Omit<
+  GardenRuntimeSettings,
+  keyof GardenVibeSettings | 'eraserSize' | 'mirrorSegmentCount'
+>;
+
+export enum VibeId {
+  AuroraMycelium = 'aurora-mycelium',
+  VelvetObservatory = 'velvet-observatory',
+  LichenSignal = 'lichen-signal',
+  TidepoolLantern = 'tidepool-lantern',
+  PaperLanternFog = 'paper-lantern-fog',
+  ChromePollen = 'chrome-pollen',
+}
+
+export interface VibePreset {
+  id: VibeId;
+  name: string;
+  colors: [RgbColor, RgbColor, RgbColor];
+  backgroundColor: RgbColor;
+  settings: GardenVibeSettings;
+  audio: GardenAudioVibeSettings;
+}
+
+export interface GardenAppConfig {
+  audio: GardenAudioConfig;
+  analytics: {
+    autoCapturePageviews: boolean;
+    domain: string;
+    endpoint: string;
+    logging: boolean;
+  };
+  deltaTime: {
+    maxDeltaTimeSeconds: number;
+    minDeltaTimeSeconds: number;
+  };
+  exportSnapshot: {
+    bytesPerPixel: number;
+    filenameExtension: string;
+    filenamePrefix: string;
+    filenameSuffix: string;
+    mimeType: string;
+    rowAlignmentBytes: number;
+  };
+  menuHider: {
+    bottomRevealDistancePx: number;
+    desktopMediaQuery: string;
+    hideDelayMs: number;
+  };
+  pipelines: {
+    common: {
+      noiseChannelSeeds: [number, number, number, number];
+      noiseClearValue: GPUColor;
+      noiseDrawInstanceCount: number;
+      noiseDrawVertexCount: number;
+      noiseHashMultiplier: number;
+      noiseHashX: number;
+      noiseHashY: number;
+      noiseTextureFormat: GPUTextureFormat;
+      noiseTextureSize: number;
+    };
+    brush: {
+      maxLineCount: number;
+    };
+    diffusion: {
+      minDiffusionRate: number;
+    };
+    eraser: {
+      maxTextureLineCount: number;
+    };
+  };
+  defaultSettings: GardenDefaultSettings;
+  runtimeSettings: {
+    controls: RuntimeSettingControlConfig;
+  };
+  simulation: {
+    brushEffectFramesPerSecond: number;
+    clearColor: GPUColor;
+    initialAgentCount: number;
+    sourceActiveFramesAfterWrite: number;
+    intro: {
+      angleJitterRadians: number;
+      angleEaseEnd: number;
+      angleEaseStart: number;
+      circleMaxSideRatio: number;
+      circleMinSideRatio: number;
+      drawHintDelayMs: number;
+      durationSeconds: number;
+      entryJitterSideRatio: number;
+      fontScaleDown: number;
+      fontFamily: string;
+      initialFontHeightRatio: number;
+      initialFontWidthRatio: number;
+      letterSpacingEm: number;
+      maskAlphaThreshold: number;
+      maskGradientThreshold: number;
+      maskMaxPixels: number;
+      maskSampleDensity: number;
+      maxHeightRatio: number;
+      maxWidthRatio: number;
+      minEntryJitterPx: number;
+      minFontSizePx: number;
+      minTargetJitterPx: number;
+      pathEasing: 'easeOutQuad' | 'linear';
+      pathProgressEpsilon: number;
+      radialJitterRatio: number;
+      radialStartEpsilon: number;
+      resizeMinimumRemainingSeconds: number;
+      resizeSettleMs: number;
+      targetDelayDistanceMultiplier: number;
+      targetDelayMax: number;
+      targetDelayRandomMultiplier: number;
+      targetJitterSideRatio: number;
+      title: string;
+      titleColorCutLetters: [number, number];
+      titleRadiusMultiplier: number;
+      titleStrokeWidthMinPx: number;
+      titleStrokeWidthRatio: number;
+      verticalAnchor: number;
+    };
+    introMoveSpeed: number;
+    stroke: {
+      densityMultiplier: number;
+      maxAgentCount: number;
+    };
+  };
+  storage: {
+    audioMutedKey: string;
+    audioVolumeKey: string;
+    vibeKey: string;
+  };
+  toolbar: {
+    eraser: {
+      controlScaleMax: number;
+      controlScaleMin: number;
+      default: number;
+      max: number;
+      min: number;
+      step: number;
+    };
+    mirror: {
+      default: number;
+      fallbackSegmentName: string;
+      max: number;
+      min: number;
+      names: Record<number, string>;
+      offLabel: string;
+      step: number;
+    };
+    contrast: {
+      backgroundOpacityMax: number;
+      brightLuminanceThreshold: number;
+      brightWeight: number;
+      bytesPerSample: number;
+      contrastOffset: number;
+      linearChannelBreakpoint: number;
+      linearChannelDivisor: number;
+      linearChannelGamma: number;
+      linearChannelOffset: number;
+      linearChannelScale: number;
+      lowContrastThreshold: number;
+      lowContrastWeight: number;
+      luminanceBase: number;
+      luminanceBlueWeight: number;
+      luminanceGreenWeight: number;
+      luminanceRange: number;
+      luminanceRedWeight: number;
+      sampleColumns: number;
+      sampleIntervalMs: number;
+      sampleRows: number;
+      whiteContrastNumerator: number;
+    };
+    volume: {
+      default: number;
+      max: number;
+      min: number;
+      step: number;
+    };
+  };
+  tuningPane: {
+    showFpsOverlay: boolean;
+    startHidden: boolean;
+    title: string;
+  };
+  vibes: {
+    defaultVibeId: VibeId;
+    presets: Array<VibePreset>;
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/config/vibe-presets.test.ts b/src/config/vibe-presets.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a69d524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/vibe-presets.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { runtimeControls } from './runtime-controls';
+import { vibePresets } from './vibe-presets';
+
+const FINAL_VIBE_NAMES = [
+  'Aurora Mycelium Copy',
+  'Velvet Observatory Copy',
+  'Lichen Signal',
+  'Tidepool Lantern',
+  'Paper Lantern Fog',
+  'Chrome Pollen',
+];
+
+const BLENDED_BRUSH_SIZE_MIN = 17;
+const BLENDED_CLARITY_MAX = 0.56;
+const SOFT_PARTICLE_BRUSH_SIZE_MAX = 5;
+const SOFT_PARTICLE_CLARITY_MAX = 0.2;
+
+// Performance guardrails — bumping any of these is an explicit perf trade-off.
+const MAX_SPAWN_PER_PIXEL = runtimeControls.spawnPerPixel?.max ?? 0.38;
+const MAX_BRUSH_SIZE = runtimeControls.brushSize?.max ?? 36;
+const HIGH_DENSITY_SPAWN_THRESHOLD = 0.28;
+const HIGH_DENSITY_DECAY_LIMIT = 940;
+const HIGH_DENSITY_BRUSH_SIZE_LIMIT = 14;
+const HIGH_DENSITY_TRAIL_WEIGHT_LIMIT = 0.055;
+
+describe('vibePresets', () => {
+  it('keeps the classic preset set distinct', () => {
+    expect(vibePresets.map((preset) => preset.name)).toEqual(FINAL_VIBE_NAMES);
+
+    const ids = vibePresets.map((preset) => preset.id);
+    expect(new Set(ids).size).toBe(vibePresets.length);
+  });
+
+  it('includes both blended and visibly particulate styles', () => {
+    const blendedNames = vibePresets
+      .filter(
+        (preset) =>
+          preset.settings.brushSize >= BLENDED_BRUSH_SIZE_MIN &&
+          preset.settings.clarity <= BLENDED_CLARITY_MAX
+      )
+      .map((preset) => preset.name);
+    const softParticleNames = vibePresets
+      .filter(
+        (preset) =>
+          preset.settings.brushSize <= SOFT_PARTICLE_BRUSH_SIZE_MAX &&
+          preset.settings.clarity <= SOFT_PARTICLE_CLARITY_MAX
+      )
+      .map((preset) => preset.name);
+
+    expect(blendedNames).toEqual(['Tidepool Lantern']);
+    expect(softParticleNames).toEqual(['Chrome Pollen']);
+  });
+
+  it('stays inside interactive performance guardrails', () => {
+    const violations = vibePresets.flatMap((preset) => {
+      const { name, settings } = preset;
+      const presetViolations: Array<string> = [];
+
+      if (settings.spawnPerPixel > MAX_SPAWN_PER_PIXEL) {
+        presetViolations.push(`${name} density exceeds ${MAX_SPAWN_PER_PIXEL}`);
+      }
+      if (settings.brushSize > MAX_BRUSH_SIZE) {
+        presetViolations.push(`${name} brush size exceeds ${MAX_BRUSH_SIZE}`);
+      }
+      if (
+        settings.spawnPerPixel >= HIGH_DENSITY_SPAWN_THRESHOLD &&
+        (settings.decayRateTrails > HIGH_DENSITY_DECAY_LIMIT ||
+          settings.brushSize > HIGH_DENSITY_BRUSH_SIZE_LIMIT ||
+          settings.individualTrailWeight > HIGH_DENSITY_TRAIL_WEIGHT_LIMIT)
+      ) {
+        presetViolations.push(`${name} combines high density with too much persistence`);
+      }
+
+      return presetViolations;
+    });
+
+    expect(violations).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/config/vibe-presets.ts b/src/config/vibe-presets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a30359
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/vibe-presets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+import {
+  defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+  type GardenAudioChord,
+} from '../audio/garden-audio-config';
+import { VibeId, type GardenVibeSettings, type VibePreset } from './types';
+
+type ColorReactionSettings = Pick<
+  GardenVibeSettings,
+  | 'color1ToColor1'
+  | 'color1ToColor2'
+  | 'color1ToColor3'
+  | 'color2ToColor1'
+  | 'color2ToColor2'
+  | 'color2ToColor3'
+  | 'color3ToColor1'
+  | 'color3ToColor2'
+  | 'color3ToColor3'
+>;
+
+const colorReactions = {
+  auroraMycelium: {
+    color1ToColor1: 1,
+    color1ToColor2: 0,
+    color1ToColor3: 0,
+    color2ToColor1: -1,
+    color2ToColor2: 1,
+    color2ToColor3: 0,
+    color3ToColor1: -1,
+    color3ToColor2: -1,
+    color3ToColor3: 1,
+  },
+  velvetObservatory: {
+    color1ToColor1: 1,
+    color1ToColor2: -1,
+    color1ToColor3: -1,
+    color2ToColor1: -1,
+    color2ToColor2: 1,
+    color2ToColor3: -1,
+    color3ToColor1: -1,
+    color3ToColor2: -1,
+    color3ToColor3: 1,
+  },
+  lichenSignal: {
+    color1ToColor1: 0,
+    color1ToColor2: -1,
+    color1ToColor3: 1,
+    color2ToColor1: -1,
+    color2ToColor2: 0,
+    color2ToColor3: -1,
+    color3ToColor1: 1,
+    color3ToColor2: -1,
+    color3ToColor3: 1,
+  },
+  tidepoolLantern: {
+    color1ToColor1: 0,
+    color1ToColor2: 1,
+    color1ToColor3: 0,
+    color2ToColor1: 0,
+    color2ToColor2: 0,
+    color2ToColor3: 1,
+    color3ToColor1: 1,
+    color3ToColor2: 0,
+    color3ToColor3: 0,
+  },
+  paperLanternFog: {
+    color1ToColor1: 1,
+    color1ToColor2: 1,
+    color1ToColor3: 1,
+    color2ToColor1: 1,
+    color2ToColor2: 1,
+    color2ToColor3: 1,
+    color3ToColor1: 1,
+    color3ToColor2: 1,
+    color3ToColor3: 1,
+  },
+  chromePollen: {
+    color1ToColor1: 1,
+    color1ToColor2: 0,
+    color1ToColor3: 1,
+    color2ToColor1: -1,
+    color2ToColor2: 1,
+    color2ToColor3: 0,
+    color3ToColor1: 1,
+    color3ToColor2: 0,
+    color3ToColor3: 1,
+  },
+} satisfies Record<string, ColorReactionSettings>;
+
+const musicScales = {
+  dorian: [0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10],
+  lydian: [0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11],
+  mixolydian: [0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10],
+  naturalMinor: [0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10],
+} satisfies Record<string, Array<number>>;
+
+const musicProgressions = {
+  aurora: [
+    { rootOffset: 0, quality: 'sus2' },
+    { rootOffset: 7, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 9, quality: 'minor' },
+    { rootOffset: 5, quality: 'sus4' },
+  ],
+  chrome: [
+    { rootOffset: 0, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 2, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 7, quality: 'sus2' },
+    { rootOffset: 9, quality: 'minor' },
+  ],
+  lichen: [
+    { rootOffset: 0, quality: 'minor' },
+    { rootOffset: 5, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 10, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 3, quality: 'major' },
+  ],
+  paperLantern: [
+    { rootOffset: 0, quality: 'minor' },
+    { rootOffset: 8, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 5, quality: 'minor' },
+    { rootOffset: 10, quality: 'sus4' },
+  ],
+  tidepool: [
+    { rootOffset: 0, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 10, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 5, quality: 'sus2' },
+    { rootOffset: 9, quality: 'minor' },
+  ],
+  velvet: [
+    { rootOffset: 0, quality: 'minor' },
+    { rootOffset: 8, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 3, quality: 'major' },
+    { rootOffset: 5, quality: 'sus4' },
+  ],
+} satisfies Record<string, Array<GardenAudioChord>>;
+
+export const defaultVibeId = VibeId.AuroraMycelium;
+
+export const vibePresets: Array<VibePreset> = [
+  {
+    id: VibeId.AuroraMycelium,
+    name: 'Aurora Mycelium Copy',
+    colors: [
+      [251, 210, 94],
+      [154, 99, 255],
+      [255, 31, 199],
+    ],
+    backgroundColor: [6, 13, 22],
+    settings: {
+      ...colorReactions.auroraMycelium,
+      backgroundGrainStrength: 0.003,
+      brushSize: 8.75,
+      clarity: 1,
+      decayRateTrails: 973,
+      forwardRotationScale: 0.37,
+      individualTrailWeight: 0.053000000000000005,
+      moveSpeed: 144,
+      sensorOffsetAngle: 35,
+      sensorOffsetDistance: 52,
+      spawnPerPixel: 0.13999999999999999,
+      strokeAngleJitterRadians: 0.45,
+      turnSpeed: 13,
+      turnWhenLost: 0,
+    },
+    audio: {
+      ...defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+      idleIntensity: 0.12000000000000002,
+      bpm: 60,
+      rampUpIntensity: 0.7,
+      rampUpTime: 0.14,
+      noteLength: 0.8599999999999999,
+      notePitchOffset: -2,
+      brightness: 0.84,
+      scale: musicScales.lydian,
+      progression: musicProgressions.aurora,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: VibeId.VelvetObservatory,
+    name: 'Velvet Observatory Copy',
+    colors: [
+      [178, 76, 62],
+      [2, 174, 255],
+      [213, 193, 9],
+    ],
+    backgroundColor: [7, 4, 22],
+    settings: {
+      ...colorReactions.velvetObservatory,
+      backgroundGrainStrength: 0.005,
+      brushSize: 9.75,
+      clarity: 1,
+      decayRateTrails: 974,
+      forwardRotationScale: 0,
+      individualTrailWeight: 0.232,
+      moveSpeed: 121,
+      sensorOffsetAngle: 24,
+      sensorOffsetDistance: 17,
+      spawnPerPixel: 0.11499999999999999,
+      strokeAngleJitterRadians: 0.17,
+      turnSpeed: 33,
+      turnWhenLost: 0.42,
+    },
+    audio: {
+      ...defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+      idleIntensity: 0.24000000000000002,
+      bpm: 72,
+      rampUpIntensity: 1.42,
+      rampUpTime: 0.07,
+      noteLength: 0.7,
+      notePitchOffset: 0,
+      brightness: 0.94,
+      scale: musicScales.naturalMinor,
+      progression: musicProgressions.velvet,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: VibeId.LichenSignal,
+    name: 'Lichen Signal',
+    colors: [
+      [183, 216, 92],
+      [65, 166, 128],
+      [238, 120, 76],
+    ],
+    backgroundColor: [0, 0, 0],
+    settings: {
+      ...colorReactions.lichenSignal,
+      backgroundGrainStrength: 0.02,
+      brushSize: 6.5,
+      clarity: 0.74,
+      decayRateTrails: 962,
+      forwardRotationScale: 0.3,
+      individualTrailWeight: 0.052,
+      moveSpeed: 72,
+      sensorOffsetAngle: 42,
+      sensorOffsetDistance: 54,
+      spawnPerPixel: 0.16,
+      strokeAngleJitterRadians: 3.14,
+      turnSpeed: 44,
+      turnWhenLost: 0.92,
+    },
+    audio: {
+      ...defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+      idleIntensity: 0.13,
+      bpm: 68,
+      rampUpIntensity: 1.46,
+      rampUpTime: 0.1,
+      noteLength: 0.6,
+      notePitchOffset: -3,
+      brightness: 1.21,
+      scale: musicScales.dorian,
+      progression: musicProgressions.lichen,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: VibeId.TidepoolLantern,
+    name: 'Tidepool Lantern',
+    colors: [
+      [30, 219, 194],
+      [61, 118, 255],
+      [255, 191, 91],
+    ],
+    backgroundColor: [4, 18, 29],
+    settings: {
+      ...colorReactions.tidepoolLantern,
+      backgroundGrainStrength: 0.018,
+      brushSize: 17,
+      clarity: 0.56,
+      decayRateTrails: 968,
+      forwardRotationScale: 0.38,
+      individualTrailWeight: 0.06,
+      moveSpeed: 88,
+      sensorOffsetAngle: 64,
+      sensorOffsetDistance: 46,
+      spawnPerPixel: 0.22,
+      strokeAngleJitterRadians: 1.8,
+      turnSpeed: 66,
+      turnWhenLost: 1.05,
+    },
+    audio: {
+      ...defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+      idleIntensity: 0.08,
+      bpm: 84,
+      rampUpIntensity: 0.95,
+      rampUpTime: 0.08,
+      noteLength: 0.46,
+      notePitchOffset: 0,
+      brightness: 0.98,
+      scale: musicScales.mixolydian,
+      progression: musicProgressions.tidepool,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: VibeId.PaperLanternFog,
+    name: 'Paper Lantern Fog',
+    colors: [
+      [255, 176, 108],
+      [239, 90, 108],
+      [128, 213, 184],
+    ],
+    backgroundColor: [30, 23, 20],
+    settings: {
+      ...colorReactions.paperLanternFog,
+      backgroundGrainStrength: 0.038,
+      brushSize: 3.5,
+      clarity: 1,
+      decayRateTrails: 999,
+      forwardRotationScale: 0.24,
+      individualTrailWeight: 0.937,
+      moveSpeed: 28,
+      sensorOffsetAngle: 34,
+      sensorOffsetDistance: 66,
+      spawnPerPixel: 0.055,
+      strokeAngleJitterRadians: 0,
+      turnSpeed: 30,
+      turnWhenLost: 1.52,
+    },
+    audio: {
+      ...defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+      idleIntensity: 0.33,
+      bpm: 127,
+      rampUpIntensity: 0.66,
+      rampUpTime: 0.03,
+      noteLength: 0.92,
+      notePitchOffset: 10,
+      brightness: 1.42,
+      scale: musicScales.naturalMinor,
+      progression: musicProgressions.paperLantern,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: VibeId.ChromePollen,
+    name: 'Chrome Pollen',
+    colors: [
+      [178, 34, 34],
+      [255, 214, 48],
+      [77, 240, 157],
+    ],
+    backgroundColor: [7, 12, 11],
+    settings: {
+      ...colorReactions.chromePollen,
+      backgroundGrainStrength: 0.012,
+      brushSize: 4.5,
+      clarity: 0.1,
+      decayRateTrails: 922,
+      forwardRotationScale: 0.5,
+      individualTrailWeight: 0.026,
+      moveSpeed: 86,
+      sensorOffsetAngle: 46,
+      sensorOffsetDistance: 14,
+      spawnPerPixel: 0.36,
+      strokeAngleJitterRadians: 3,
+      turnSpeed: 34,
+      turnWhenLost: 1.35,
+    },
+    audio: {
+      ...defaultGardenAudioVibeSettings,
+      idleIntensity: 0.11,
+      bpm: 150,
+      rampUpIntensity: 2,
+      rampUpTime: 0.06,
+      noteLength: 1.8,
+      notePitchOffset: -12,
+      brightness: 0.5,
+      scale: musicScales.lydian,
+      progression: musicProgressions.chrome,
+    },
+  },
+];
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 24bf445..0000000
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-export const isProduction: boolean = import.meta.env.PROD;
diff --git a/src/settings.ts b/src/settings.ts
index 4715928..c91ac83 100644
--- a/src/settings.ts
+++ b/src/settings.ts
@@ -1,54 +1,77 @@
-import { GameLoopSettings } from './game-loop/game-loop-settings';
-import { AgentSettings } from './pipelines/agents/agent-settings';
-import { BrushSettings } from './pipelines/brush/brush-settings';
-import { DiffusionSettings } from './pipelines/diffusion/diffusion-settings';
-import { RenderSettings } from './pipelines/render/render-settings';
-import { persist } from './utils/persist';
+import {
+  appConfig,
+  normalizeRuntimeSettings,
+  type GardenRuntimeSettings,
+} from './config';
+import { writeBrowserStorage } from './utils/browser-storage';
+import { getInitialVibe, type VibePreset } from './vibes';
 
-const initialValues: GameLoopSettings &
-  AgentSettings &
-  BrushSettings &
-  DiffusionSettings &
-  RenderSettings = {
-  agentCount: 1_001_500,
+const preservedRuntimeSettingKeys = [
+  'eraserSize',
+  'adaptiveCapInitial',
+  'adaptiveCapMin',
+  'internalRenderAreaMegapixels',
+  'maxAgentCount',
+  'mirrorSegmentCount',
+] satisfies ReadonlyArray<keyof GardenRuntimeSettings>;
 
-  currentGenerationAggression: -5,
-  nextGenerationAggression: 0.2,
+const cloneRgbColor = <T extends [number, number, number]>(color: T): T =>
+  [...color] as T;
 
-  moveSpeed: 74,
-  turnSpeed: 45,
-  sensorOffsetAngle: 31,
-  sensorOffsetDistance: 43,
-  turnWhenLost: 0.01,
+const cloneVibeAudio = (audio: VibePreset['audio']): VibePreset['audio'] => ({
+  ...audio,
+  ...(audio.scale ? { scale: [...audio.scale] } : {}),
+  ...(audio.progression
+    ? { progression: audio.progression.map((chord) => ({ ...chord })) }
+    : {}),
+});
 
-  brushTrailWeight: 500,
-  individualTrailWeight: 0.05,
+const cloneVibePreset = (vibe: VibePreset): VibePreset => ({
+  ...vibe,
+  colors: vibe.colors.map(cloneRgbColor) as VibePreset['colors'],
+  backgroundColor: cloneRgbColor(vibe.backgroundColor),
+  settings: { ...vibe.settings },
+  audio: cloneVibeAudio(vibe.audio),
+});
 
-  diffusionRateTrails: 0,
-  decayRateTrails: 944,
-  diffusionRateBrush: 0.35,
-  decayRateBrush: 18,
+const buildSettings = (vibe: VibePreset): GardenRuntimeSettings =>
+  normalizeRuntimeSettings(
+    {
+      ...appConfig.defaultSettings,
+      eraserSize: appConfig.toolbar.eraser.default,
+      mirrorSegmentCount: appConfig.toolbar.mirror.default,
+      ...vibe.settings,
+    },
+    appConfig.runtimeSettings.controls
+  );
 
-  clarity: 0.7,
-  brushSize: 12,
+export let activeVibe = cloneVibePreset(getInitialVibe());
 
-  brushSizeVariation: 0.5, // hidden on the UI
-
-  startColorHue: 200,
-
-  maxAgentCountUpperLimit: Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY, // requires restart
-
-  // debug options
-  renderSpeed: 1,
-  simulatedDelayMs: 0,
+export const settings: GardenRuntimeSettings = {
+  ...buildSettings(activeVibe),
 };
 
-export const settings: { [key: string]: number } & GameLoopSettings &
-  AgentSettings &
-  BrushSettings &
-  DiffusionSettings &
-  RenderSettings = persist({ ...initialValues });
-
-export const resetSettings = () => {
-  Object.assign(settings, initialValues);
+export const rememberActiveVibeSelection = (): void => {
+  writeBrowserStorage(appConfig.storage.vibeKey, activeVibe.id);
+};
+
+export const applyVibeSettings = (vibe: VibePreset) => {
+  activeVibe = cloneVibePreset(vibe);
+  const nextSettings = buildSettings(activeVibe);
+  preservedRuntimeSettingKeys.forEach((key) => {
+    nextSettings[key] = settings[key];
+  });
+  nextSettings.selectedColorIndex = Math.min(
+    settings.selectedColorIndex,
+    activeVibe.colors.length - 1
+  );
+
+  Object.assign(
+    settings,
+    normalizeRuntimeSettings(nextSettings, appConfig.runtimeSettings.controls)
+  );
+
+  rememberActiveVibeSelection();
+
+  return activeVibe;
 };
diff --git a/src/utils/browser-storage.ts b/src/utils/browser-storage.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f91a3e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/browser-storage.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+export const readBrowserStorage = (key: string): string | null => {
+  try {
+    return localStorage.getItem(key);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+};
+
+export const writeBrowserStorage = (key: string, value: string): void => {
+  try {
+    localStorage.setItem(key, value);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn(
+      'Storage can be unavailable in private browsing or embedded contexts.',
+      error
+    );
+  }
+};
diff --git a/src/utils/clamp.ts b/src/utils/clamp.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 45da555..0000000
--- a/src/utils/clamp.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-export const clamp = (value: number, min: number, max: number): number =>
-  Math.min(max, Math.max(min, value));
-
-export const clamp01 = (value: number): number => Math.min(1, Math.max(0, value));
diff --git a/src/utils/exponential-decay.ts b/src/utils/exponential-decay.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 3f13b6a..0000000
--- a/src/utils/exponential-decay.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-export const exponentialDecay = ({
-  accumulator,
-  nextValue,
-  biasOfNextValue,
-}: {
-  accumulator: number;
-  nextValue: number;
-  biasOfNextValue: number;
-}) => accumulator * (1 - biasOfNextValue) + nextValue * biasOfNextValue;
diff --git a/src/utils/format-number.test.ts b/src/utils/format-number.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index c434967..0000000
--- a/src/utils/format-number.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-
-import { formatNumber } from './format-number';
-
-describe('formatNumber', () => {
-  it('renders integers without decimals', () => {
-    expect(formatNumber(42)).toBe('42 ');
-  });
-  it('renders fractional values with two decimals', () => {
-    expect(formatNumber(3.14159)).toBe('3.14 ');
-  });
-  it('renders thousands compactly', () => {
-    expect(formatNumber(2500)).toBe('2.5 thousand ');
-  });
-  it('renders millions compactly', () => {
-    expect(formatNumber(1_500_000)).toBe('1.5 million ');
-  });
-  it('appends the unit when provided', () => {
-    expect(formatNumber(5, 'agents')).toBe('5 agents');
-    expect(formatNumber(2_000_000, 'agents')).toBe('2.0 million agents');
-  });
-});
diff --git a/src/utils/format-number.ts b/src/utils/format-number.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index a57812e..0000000
--- a/src/utils/format-number.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-export const formatNumber = (value: number, unit = ''): string => {
-  if (value >= 1e6) {
-    return `${(value / 1e6).toFixed(1)} million ${unit}`;
-  }
-
-  if (value >= 1e3) {
-    return `${(value / 1e3).toFixed(1)} thousand ${unit}`;
-  }
-
-  return `${value === Math.floor(value) ? value : value.toFixed(2)} ${unit}`;
-};
diff --git a/src/utils/hsl.test.ts b/src/utils/hsl.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 458f758..0000000
--- a/src/utils/hsl.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-
-import { hsl } from './hsl';
-
-describe('hsl', () => {
-  it('produces pure red at hue 0', () => {
-    const [r, g, b] = hsl(0, 100, 50);
-    expect(r).toBeCloseTo(1);
-    expect(g).toBeCloseTo(0);
-    expect(b).toBeCloseTo(0);
-  });
-  it('produces pure green at hue 120', () => {
-    const [r, g, b] = hsl(120, 100, 50);
-    expect(r).toBeCloseTo(0);
-    expect(g).toBeCloseTo(1);
-    expect(b).toBeCloseTo(0);
-  });
-  it('produces pure blue at hue 240', () => {
-    const [r, g, b] = hsl(240, 100, 50);
-    expect(r).toBeCloseTo(0);
-    expect(g).toBeCloseTo(0);
-    expect(b).toBeCloseTo(1);
-  });
-  it('produces gray at saturation 0', () => {
-    const [r, g, b] = hsl(180, 0, 50);
-    expect(r).toBeCloseTo(0.5);
-    expect(g).toBeCloseTo(0.5);
-    expect(b).toBeCloseTo(0.5);
-  });
-  it('produces black at lightness 0', () => {
-    const [r, g, b] = hsl(0, 100, 0);
-    expect(r).toBe(0);
-    expect(g).toBe(0);
-    expect(b).toBe(0);
-  });
-  it('produces white at lightness 100', () => {
-    const [r, g, b] = hsl(0, 100, 100);
-    expect(r).toBeCloseTo(1);
-    expect(g).toBeCloseTo(1);
-    expect(b).toBeCloseTo(1);
-  });
-});
diff --git a/src/utils/hsl.ts b/src/utils/hsl.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 89c2d7c..0000000
--- a/src/utils/hsl.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-import { vec3 } from 'gl-matrix';
-
-import { rgb } from './rgb';
-
-export const hsl = (hue: number, saturation: number, lightness: number): vec3 => {
-  hue /= 360;
-  saturation /= 100;
-  lightness /= 100;
-  let r: number, g: number, b: number;
-
-  if (saturation == 0) {
-    r = g = b = lightness;
-  } else {
-    const hue2rgb = (p: number, q: number, t: number) => {
-      if (t < 0) t += 1;
-      if (t > 1) t -= 1;
-      if (t < 1 / 6) return p + (q - p) * 6 * t;
-      if (t < 1 / 2) return q;
-      if (t < 2 / 3) return p + (q - p) * (2 / 3 - t) * 6;
-      return p;
-    };
-
-    const q =
-      lightness < 0.5
-        ? lightness * (1 + saturation)
-        : lightness + saturation - lightness * saturation;
-    const p = 2 * lightness - q;
-
-    r = hue2rgb(p, q, hue + 1 / 3);
-    g = hue2rgb(p, q, hue);
-    b = hue2rgb(p, q, hue - 1 / 3);
-  }
-
-  return rgb(r, g, b);
-};
diff --git a/src/utils/math.test.ts b/src/utils/math.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 9b5eeab..0000000
--- a/src/utils/math.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,63 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-
-import { clamp, clamp01 } from './clamp';
-import { exponentialDecay } from './exponential-decay';
-import { mix } from './mix';
-
-describe('clamp', () => {
-  it('returns value when within bounds', () => {
-    expect(clamp(5, 0, 10)).toBe(5);
-  });
-  it('clamps below to lower bound', () => {
-    expect(clamp(-3, 0, 10)).toBe(0);
-  });
-  it('clamps above to upper bound', () => {
-    expect(clamp(42, 0, 10)).toBe(10);
-  });
-});
-
-describe('clamp01', () => {
-  it('passes through values in [0, 1]', () => {
-    expect(clamp01(0.25)).toBe(0.25);
-  });
-  it('clamps negatives to 0', () => {
-    expect(clamp01(-1)).toBe(0);
-  });
-  it('clamps above 1 to 1', () => {
-    expect(clamp01(2)).toBe(1);
-  });
-});
-
-describe('mix', () => {
-  it('returns from at q=0', () => {
-    expect(mix(10, 20, 0)).toBe(10);
-  });
-  it('returns to at q=1', () => {
-    expect(mix(10, 20, 1)).toBe(20);
-  });
-  it('interpolates at q=0.5', () => {
-    expect(mix(10, 20, 0.5)).toBe(15);
-  });
-  it('extrapolates outside [0, 1]', () => {
-    expect(mix(0, 10, 2)).toBe(20);
-    expect(mix(0, 10, -1)).toBe(-10);
-  });
-});
-
-describe('exponentialDecay', () => {
-  it('returns nextValue when bias is 1', () => {
-    expect(exponentialDecay({ accumulator: 0, nextValue: 10, biasOfNextValue: 1 })).toBe(
-      10
-    );
-  });
-  it('returns accumulator when bias is 0', () => {
-    expect(exponentialDecay({ accumulator: 5, nextValue: 10, biasOfNextValue: 0 })).toBe(
-      5
-    );
-  });
-  it('blends with given bias', () => {
-    expect(
-      exponentialDecay({ accumulator: 0, nextValue: 10, biasOfNextValue: 0.25 })
-    ).toBe(2.5);
-  });
-});
diff --git a/src/utils/math.ts b/src/utils/math.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5937e8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/math.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+export const clamp = (value: number, min: number, max: number): number =>
+  Math.min(max, Math.max(min, value));
+
+export const clamp01 = (value: number): number => clamp(value, 0, 1);
+
+export const mix = (from: number, to: number, amount: number): number =>
+  from + (to - from) * amount;
+
+export const mixAngle = (from: number, to: number, amount: number): number => {
+  const delta = Math.atan2(Math.sin(to - from), Math.cos(to - from));
+  return from + delta * amount;
+};
+
+export const approach = (
+  current: number,
+  target: number,
+  elapsedSeconds: number,
+  timeConstantSeconds: number
+): number => {
+  const amount = 1 - Math.exp(-elapsedSeconds / Math.max(0.001, timeConstantSeconds));
+  return mix(current, target, amount);
+};
+
+export const smoothstep = (edge0: number, edge1: number, value: number): number => {
+  const amount = clamp01((value - edge0) / (edge1 - edge0));
+  return amount * amount * (3 - 2 * amount);
+};
+
+export const easeOutQuad = (value: number): number => value * (2 - value);
diff --git a/src/utils/mix.ts b/src/utils/mix.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 16a76ed..0000000
--- a/src/utils/mix.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-export const mix = (from: number, to: number, q: number) => from + (to - from) * q;
diff --git a/src/utils/persist.ts b/src/utils/persist.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 4489458..0000000
--- a/src/utils/persist.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-export const persist = <T extends Record<string, number>>(wrapee: T): T => {
-  const keys = Object.keys(wrapee);
-  keys.sort();
-
-  const keysToShortKeys = Object.fromEntries(keys.map((key) => [key, key]));
-
-  const params = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
-  const newParams = new URLSearchParams();
-  keys.forEach((key) => {
-    if (params.has(keysToShortKeys[key])) {
-      (wrapee as any)[key] = Number(params.get(keysToShortKeys[key]));
-      newParams.set(keysToShortKeys[key], params.get(keysToShortKeys[key])!);
-    }
-  });
-
-  window.history.replaceState(
-    {},
-    '',
-    `${window.location.pathname}?${newParams.toString()}`
-  );
-
-  return new Proxy(wrapee, {
-    set: (target, key: string, value: number) => {
-      const params = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
-
-      params.set(keysToShortKeys[key], value.toString());
-
-      (target as any)[key] = value;
-
-      window.history.replaceState(
-        {},
-        '',
-        `${window.location.pathname}?${params.toString()}`
-      );
-
-      return true;
-    },
-  });
-};
diff --git a/src/utils/random.test.ts b/src/utils/random.test.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 3d28634..0000000
--- a/src/utils/random.test.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-
-import { Random } from './random';
-
-describe('Random', () => {
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    Random.seed = 42;
-  });
-
-  it('produces values in [0, 1)', () => {
-    for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
-      const v = Random.getRandom();
-      expect(v).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
-      expect(v).toBeLessThan(1);
-    }
-  });
-
-  it('is deterministic for the same seed', () => {
-    Random.seed = 42;
-    const a = Array.from({ length: 8 }, () => Random.getRandom());
-    Random.seed = 42;
-    const b = Array.from({ length: 8 }, () => Random.getRandom());
-    expect(a).toEqual(b);
-  });
-
-  it('produces different sequences for different seeds', () => {
-    Random.seed = 1;
-    const a = Array.from({ length: 4 }, () => Random.getRandom());
-    Random.seed = 2;
-    const b = Array.from({ length: 4 }, () => Random.getRandom());
-    expect(a).not.toEqual(b);
-  });
-
-  it('randomBetween stays within [from, to)', () => {
-    for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
-      const v = Random.randomBetween(-10, 10);
-      expect(v).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(-10);
-      expect(v).toBeLessThan(10);
-    }
-  });
-});
diff --git a/src/utils/random.ts b/src/utils/random.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 2d7e258..0000000
--- a/src/utils/random.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-// https://stackoverflow.com/questions/521295/seeding-the-random-number-generator-in-javascript, Mulberry32
-export abstract class Random {
-  private static _seed = 42;
-
-  public static set seed(value: number) {
-    Random._seed = value;
-  }
-
-  public static getRandomInt(): number {
-    let t = (Random._seed += 0x6d2b79f5);
-    t = Math.imul(t ^ (t >>> 15), t | 1);
-    t ^= t + Math.imul(t ^ (t >>> 7), t | 61);
-    return (t ^ (t >>> 14)) >>> 0;
-  }
-
-  public static getRandom(): number {
-    return Random.getRandomInt() / 4294967296;
-  }
-
-  public static randomBetween(from: number, to: number): number {
-    return from + Random.getRandom() * (to - from);
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/utils/rgb-color.ts b/src/utils/rgb-color.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa9be3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/rgb-color.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+export type RgbColor = [red: number, green: number, blue: number];
+
+const RGB_CHANNEL_MAX = 255;
+
+const toFiniteRgbChannel = (value: number): number =>
+  Number.isFinite(value) ? value : 0;
+
+const clampRgbChannel = (value: number): number =>
+  Math.min(RGB_CHANNEL_MAX, Math.max(0, Math.round(toFiniteRgbChannel(value))));
+
+export const rgbColorToCss = ([red, green, blue]: RgbColor): string =>
+  `rgb(${clampRgbChannel(red)}, ${clampRgbChannel(green)}, ${clampRgbChannel(blue)})`;
+
+export const rgbColorToHex = ([red, green, blue]: RgbColor): string =>
+  `#${[red, green, blue]
+    .map((channel) => clampRgbChannel(channel).toString(16).padStart(2, '0'))
+    .join('')}`;
+
+export const hexColorToRgbColor = (value: string): RgbColor | null => {
+  const match = value.trim().match(/^#?([0-9a-f]{3}|[0-9a-f]{6})$/i);
+  if (!match) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const shorthandOrHex = match[1];
+  const hex =
+    shorthandOrHex.length === 3
+      ? shorthandOrHex
+          .split('')
+          .map((channel) => `${channel}${channel}`)
+          .join('')
+      : shorthandOrHex;
+
+  return [
+    Number.parseInt(hex.slice(0, 2), 16),
+    Number.parseInt(hex.slice(2, 4), 16),
+    Number.parseInt(hex.slice(4, 6), 16),
+  ];
+};
+
+export const rgbChannelToUnit = (value: number): number =>
+  Math.min(1, Math.max(0, toFiniteRgbChannel(value) / RGB_CHANNEL_MAX));
diff --git a/src/utils/rgb.ts b/src/utils/rgb.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index a6ef20a..0000000
--- a/src/utils/rgb.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-import { vec3 } from 'gl-matrix';
-
-export const rgb = (r: number, g: number, b: number): vec3 => vec3.fromValues(r, g, b);
diff --git a/src/utils/sleep.ts b/src/utils/sleep.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index b358bfa..0000000
--- a/src/utils/sleep.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-export const sleep = (ms: number): Promise<void> => {
-  return new Promise<void>((resolve, _) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
-};
diff --git a/src/vibe-registry.ts b/src/vibe-registry.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b0ae54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vibe-registry.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { appConfig } from './config';
+import type { VibeId, VibePreset } from './config/types';
+
+export const VIBE_PRESETS: Array<VibePreset> = appConfig.vibes.presets;
+
+export const getVibeById = (vibeId: VibeId): VibePreset | undefined =>
+  VIBE_PRESETS.find((vibe) => vibe.id === vibeId);
diff --git a/src/vibe-uri.test.ts b/src/vibe-uri.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe55d5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vibe-uri.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { VibeId } from './config/types';
+import { createVibeUri, getVibeIdFromUri } from './vibe-uri';
+
+describe('vibe URI handling', () => {
+  it('loads vibes from slug IDs and display names', () => {
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/?vibe=aurora-mycelium')).toBe(
+      VibeId.AuroraMycelium
+    );
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/?vibe=Aurora%20Mycelium')).toBe(
+      VibeId.AuroraMycelium
+    );
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/?vibe=Velvet%20Observatory%20Copy')).toBe(
+      VibeId.VelvetObservatory
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('uses query values before path or hash fallbacks', () => {
+    expect(
+      getVibeIdFromUri(
+        'https://example.test/chrome-pollen?vibe=lichen-signal#vibe=aurora-mycelium'
+      )
+    ).toBe(VibeId.LichenSignal);
+  });
+
+  it('accepts explicit path segments and hash fallbacks', () => {
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/vibes/tidepool-lantern')).toBe(
+      VibeId.TidepoolLantern
+    );
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/#paper-lantern-fog')).toBe(
+      VibeId.PaperLanternFog
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('ignores unknown or malformed vibe values', () => {
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/?vibe=missing')).toBeNull();
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('https://example.test/?vibe=%E0%A4%A')).toBeNull();
+    expect(getVibeIdFromUri('not a url')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('creates a canonical query URI without dropping other URL parts', () => {
+    expect(
+      createVibeUri('https://example.test/garden?debug=1#panel', VibeId.ChromePollen)
+    ).toBe('/garden?debug=1&vibe=chrome-pollen#panel');
+
+    expect(
+      createVibeUri(
+        'https://example.test/garden?vibe=aurora-mycelium&debug=1',
+        VibeId.LichenSignal
+      )
+    ).toBe('/garden?vibe=lichen-signal&debug=1');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/vibe-uri.ts b/src/vibe-uri.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a4024c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vibe-uri.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+import type { VibeId } from './config/types';
+import { getVibeById, VIBE_PRESETS } from './vibe-registry';
+
+const VIBE_URI_QUERY_PARAM = 'vibe';
+const FALLBACK_URL_ORIGIN = 'https://fleeting.garden';
+
+const slugifyVibeName = (value: string): string =>
+  value
+    .normalize('NFKD')
+    .replace(/[\u0300-\u036f]/g, '')
+    .trim()
+    .toLowerCase()
+    .replace(/&/g, ' and ')
+    .replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, '-')
+    .replace(/^-+|-+$/g, '');
+
+const safeDecodeURIComponent = (value: string): string => {
+  try {
+    return decodeURIComponent(value);
+  } catch {
+    return value;
+  }
+};
+
+const normalizeVibeIdentifier = (value: string): string =>
+  slugifyVibeName(safeDecodeURIComponent(value).replace(/^[#/\\?\s]+|[/\\?\s]+$/g, ''));
+
+const vibeIdByIdentifier = new Map<string, VibeId>();
+
+for (const vibe of VIBE_PRESETS) {
+  vibeIdByIdentifier.set(normalizeVibeIdentifier(vibe.id), vibe.id);
+  vibeIdByIdentifier.set(normalizeVibeIdentifier(vibe.name), vibe.id);
+}
+
+const toUrl = (url: string | URL): URL | null => {
+  try {
+    return new URL(url, FALLBACK_URL_ORIGIN);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+};
+
+const resolveVibeId = (value: string | null | undefined): VibeId | null => {
+  if (!value) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return vibeIdByIdentifier.get(normalizeVibeIdentifier(value)) ?? null;
+};
+
+const getHashSearchParam = (hash: string): string | null => {
+  const hashValue = hash.replace(/^#/, '');
+  if (!hashValue.includes('=')) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const searchText = hashValue.startsWith('?') ? hashValue.slice(1) : hashValue;
+  try {
+    return new URLSearchParams(searchText).get(VIBE_URI_QUERY_PARAM);
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+};
+
+const getPathVibeCandidates = (pathname: string): Array<string> => {
+  const segments = pathname.split('/').map(safeDecodeURIComponent).filter(Boolean);
+  const explicitVibeIndex = segments.findIndex((segment) =>
+    ['vibe', 'vibes'].includes(segment.toLowerCase())
+  );
+
+  return [
+    explicitVibeIndex >= 0 ? segments[explicitVibeIndex + 1] : undefined,
+    segments.at(-1),
+  ].filter((candidate): candidate is string => typeof candidate === 'string');
+};
+
+export const getVibeIdFromUri = (url: string | URL): VibeId | null => {
+  const parsedUrl = toUrl(url);
+  if (!parsedUrl) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const candidates = [
+    parsedUrl.searchParams.get(VIBE_URI_QUERY_PARAM),
+    getHashSearchParam(parsedUrl.hash),
+    ...getPathVibeCandidates(parsedUrl.pathname),
+    parsedUrl.hash.replace(/^#/, ''),
+  ];
+
+  for (const candidate of candidates) {
+    const vibeId = resolveVibeId(candidate);
+    if (vibeId) {
+      return vibeId;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return null;
+};
+
+export const getCurrentUriVibeId = (): VibeId | null => {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  return getVibeIdFromUri(window.location.href);
+};
+
+const getVibeSlug = (vibeId: VibeId): string => {
+  const vibe = getVibeById(vibeId);
+  return vibe ? vibe.id : vibeId;
+};
+
+export const createVibeUri = (url: string | URL, vibeId: VibeId): string => {
+  const parsedUrl = toUrl(url);
+  if (!parsedUrl) {
+    return `?${VIBE_URI_QUERY_PARAM}=${encodeURIComponent(getVibeSlug(vibeId))}`;
+  }
+
+  parsedUrl.searchParams.set(VIBE_URI_QUERY_PARAM, getVibeSlug(vibeId));
+  return `${parsedUrl.pathname}${parsedUrl.search}${parsedUrl.hash}`;
+};
+
+export const writeCurrentVibeUri = (
+  vibeId: VibeId,
+  mode: 'push' | 'replace' = 'replace'
+): void => {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const nextUri = createVibeUri(window.location.href, vibeId);
+  const currentUri = `${window.location.pathname}${window.location.search}${window.location.hash}`;
+  if (nextUri === currentUri) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const nextState =
+    typeof window.history.state === 'object' && window.history.state !== null
+      ? { ...window.history.state, vibeId }
+      : { vibeId };
+
+  if (mode === 'push') {
+    window.history.pushState(nextState, '', nextUri);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  window.history.replaceState(nextState, '', nextUri);
+};
diff --git a/src/vibes.ts b/src/vibes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95d1f7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vibes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { appConfig } from './config';
+import { VibeId, type VibePreset } from './config/types';
+import { readBrowserStorage } from './utils/browser-storage';
+import { getVibeById, VIBE_PRESETS } from './vibe-registry';
+import { getCurrentUriVibeId, getVibeIdFromUri } from './vibe-uri';
+
+export { VibeId };
+export { getVibeById, VIBE_PRESETS };
+export type { VibePreset };
+
+const VIBE_IDS = new Set<VibeId>(VIBE_PRESETS.map((vibe) => vibe.id));
+
+const isVibeId = (value: unknown): value is VibeId =>
+  typeof value === 'string' && VIBE_IDS.has(value as VibeId);
+
+export const getInitialVibe = (): VibePreset => {
+  const uriVibeId = getCurrentUriVibeId();
+  const storedVibeId = readBrowserStorage(appConfig.storage.vibeKey);
+  const storedOrLegacyVibeId = isVibeId(storedVibeId)
+    ? storedVibeId
+    : getVibeIdFromUri(`?vibe=${encodeURIComponent(storedVibeId ?? '')}`);
+  const initialVibeId =
+    uriVibeId ?? storedOrLegacyVibeId ?? appConfig.vibes.defaultVibeId;
+
+  return getVibeById(initialVibeId) ?? VIBE_PRESETS[0];
+};