diff --git a/examples/techdemo/README.md b/examples/techdemo/README.md
index b6a6ede..18b60ec 100644
--- a/examples/techdemo/README.md
+++ b/examples/techdemo/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ This is a polished Linear-style product demo for planning typed work across lane
 - root-scoped runtime lowering (`data-hid`, `data-sid`)
 - page-enhancer navigation with native link fallback
 - SSE server push into a generated slot
-- no user-authored browser JavaScript
+- one tiny launch glue function plus slhx runtime-driven interactions
 
 Verification:
 
diff --git a/examples/techdemo/src/main.rs b/examples/techdemo/src/main.rs
index 92bdb9d..0aad8e6 100644
--- a/examples/techdemo/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/techdemo/src/main.rs
@@ -292,18 +292,35 @@ fn shell(body: String) -> String {
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
   <title>slhx Techdemo</title>
   <script src="/slhx.js" defer></script>
+  <script>
+    function slhxTechdemoLaunch(button) {{
+      const form = button.closest('form');
+      const root = button.closest('[data-slhx-root]');
+      const data = new URLSearchParams(new FormData(form));
+      data.set('__h', button.getAttribute('data-hid'));
+      fetch('/', {{
+        method: 'POST',
+        headers: {{ 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded;charset=UTF-8', 'Accept': 'application/slhx' }},
+        body: data
+      }})
+      .then((response) => response.arrayBuffer())
+      .then((buffer) => window.slhx.applyBatch(buffer, root));
+      return false;
+    }}
+  </script>
   <style>
     :root {{ color-scheme: dark; --bg:#070814; --panel:rgba(255,255,255,.08); --line:rgba(255,255,255,.16); --text:#f7f7ff; --muted:#aeb3d8; --hot:#ff4fd8; --cyan:#44e7ff; --lime:#b8ff5a; --amber:#ffd166; }}
-    * {{ box-sizing:border-box; }}
-    body {{ margin:0; min-height:100vh; font-family:Inter, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, sans-serif; color:var(--text); background: radial-gradient(circle at top left, rgba(68,231,255,.24), transparent 32rem), radial-gradient(circle at 80% 10%, rgba(255,79,216,.2), transparent 26rem), linear-gradient(135deg, #070814 0%, #111534 55%, #080916 100%); }}
+    * {{ box-sizing:border-box; min-width:0; }}
+    html {{ font-feature-settings:"cv02","cv03","cv04","ss01"; text-rendering:geometricPrecision; }}
+    body {{ margin:0; min-height:100vh; font-family:Inter, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, sans-serif; color:var(--text); background: radial-gradient(circle at 12% 8%, rgba(68,231,255,.28), transparent 28rem), radial-gradient(circle at 82% 4%, rgba(255,79,216,.22), transparent 24rem), radial-gradient(circle at 70% 70%, rgba(184,255,90,.08), transparent 30rem), linear-gradient(135deg, #070814 0%, #111534 55%, #080916 100%); overflow-x:hidden; }}
     body::before {{ content:""; position:fixed; inset:0; pointer-events:none; background-image:linear-gradient(rgba(255,255,255,.035) 1px, transparent 1px),linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255,255,255,.035) 1px, transparent 1px); background-size:42px 42px; mask-image:linear-gradient(to bottom, black, transparent); }}
     main {{ width:min(1180px, calc(100vw - 32px)); margin:0 auto; padding:38px 0 56px; }}
     .hero-shell {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1.35fr .85fr; gap:22px; align-items:stretch; }}
-    .hero-copy, .hero-panel, .command-card, .board-card, .glass-card, .topology {{ border:1px solid var(--line); background:linear-gradient(145deg, rgba(255,255,255,.12), rgba(255,255,255,.05)); box-shadow:0 24px 90px rgba(0,0,0,.32); backdrop-filter: blur(18px); border-radius:28px; }}
+    .hero-copy, .hero-panel, .command-card, .board-card, .glass-card, .topology {{ border:1px solid var(--line); background:linear-gradient(145deg, rgba(255,255,255,.14), rgba(255,255,255,.055)); box-shadow:0 24px 90px rgba(0,0,0,.36), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.12); backdrop-filter: blur(22px) saturate(145%); border-radius:28px; }}
     .hero-copy {{ padding:34px; overflow:hidden; position:relative; }}
     .hero-copy::after {{ content:"EffectBatch"; position:absolute; right:-18px; bottom:8px; font-size:86px; font-weight:900; color:rgba(255,255,255,.045); }}
     .eyebrow {{ color:var(--cyan); text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; font-weight:800; font-size:12px; }}
-    h1 {{ font-size:clamp(42px, 7vw, 82px); line-height:.91; letter-spacing:-.07em; margin:12px 0 18px; max-width:850px; }}
+    h1 {{ font-size:clamp(42px, 7vw, 84px); line-height:.88; letter-spacing:-.075em; margin:12px 0 18px; max-width:900px; text-wrap:balance; overflow-wrap:anywhere; }}
     h2 {{ margin:0 0 16px; letter-spacing:-.035em; }}
     .lede {{ color:var(--muted); font-size:19px; line-height:1.55; max-width:720px; }}
     .hero-panel {{ padding:24px; }}
@@ -316,29 +333,31 @@ fn shell(body: String) -> String {
     .workspace {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:360px 1fr; gap:18px; }}
     .command-card, .board-card, .glass-card {{ padding:22px; }}
     label {{ display:grid; gap:8px; color:var(--muted); font-size:13px; margin:12px 0; }}
-    input, select, button {{ width:100%; border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:16px; color:var(--text); background:rgba(0,0,0,.25); padding:13px 14px; font:inherit; }}
+    input, select, button {{ width:100%; border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:16px; color:var(--text); background:rgba(2,4,18,.55); padding:13px 14px; font:inherit; outline:none; transition:transform .16s ease, border-color .16s ease, background .16s ease, box-shadow .16s ease; }}
+    input:focus, select:focus {{ border-color:rgba(68,231,255,.75); box-shadow:0 0 0 4px rgba(68,231,255,.11); }}
     button {{ cursor:pointer; font-weight:800; background:linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(68,231,255,.25), rgba(255,79,216,.22)); }}
-    button:hover {{ border-color:rgba(68,231,255,.7); transform:translateY(-1px); }}
+    .primary-action {{ background:linear-gradient(135deg, var(--cyan), var(--hot)); color:#050610; border:0; box-shadow:0 16px 42px rgba(68,231,255,.24); }}
+    button:hover {{ border-color:rgba(68,231,255,.7); transform:translateY(-1px); box-shadow:0 14px 40px rgba(0,0,0,.24); }}
     .quick-actions {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr; gap:10px; margin-top:12px; }}
     .notice {{ color:var(--lime); min-height:1.4em; }}
     .section-heading {{ display:flex; justify-content:space-between; gap:12px; color:var(--muted); margin-bottom:14px; }}
     .section-heading strong {{ color:var(--cyan); }}
-    .lanes {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap:14px; }}
-    .lane {{ min-height:330px; border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:24px; padding:14px; background:rgba(0,0,0,.18); }}
+    .lanes {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(220px, 1fr)); gap:14px; align-items:start; }}
+    .lane {{ min-height:330px; border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:24px; padding:14px; background:linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0,0,0,.26), rgba(255,255,255,.035)); overflow:hidden; }}
     .lane h3 {{ margin:0 0 4px; }}
     .lane p {{ color:var(--muted); margin:0 0 12px; font-size:13px; }}
-    .work-card {{ border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.18); border-radius:20px; margin:12px 0; padding:14px; background:linear-gradient(145deg, rgba(255,255,255,.13), rgba(255,255,255,.05)); }}
+    .work-card {{ border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.18); border-radius:20px; margin:12px 0; padding:14px; background:linear-gradient(145deg, rgba(255,255,255,.15), rgba(255,255,255,.055)); box-shadow:0 14px 38px rgba(0,0,0,.22), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1); overflow:hidden; overflow-wrap:anywhere; }}
     .work-card header {{ display:flex; justify-content:space-between; gap:10px; align-items:start; }}
     .pill {{ display:inline-flex; border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:999px; padding:4px 9px; font-size:12px; color:var(--lime); }}
     .impact {{ height:7px; border-radius:999px; background:rgba(255,255,255,.12); overflow:hidden; margin:12px 0; }}
     .impact i {{ display:block; height:100%; background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--cyan),var(--hot)); }}
-    .card-actions {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr 1fr; gap:8px; }}
-    .card-actions button {{ padding:9px 10px; font-size:12px; }}
+    .card-actions {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0,1fr)); gap:8px; }}
+    .card-actions button {{ padding:9px 10px; font-size:12px; white-space:nowrap; overflow:hidden; text-overflow:ellipsis; }}
     .insight-grid {{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr 1fr; gap:18px; margin-top:18px; }}
     .glass-card {{ min-height:220px; }}
     .glow {{ box-shadow:0 0 0 1px rgba(184,255,90,.12), 0 24px 90px rgba(184,255,90,.08); }}
     .activity {{ display:grid; gap:10px; padding:0; margin:0; list-style:none; }}
-    .activity li, .inspector-row, .live-row {{ border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:16px; padding:12px; background:rgba(0,0,0,.18); color:var(--muted); }}
+    .activity li, .inspector-row, .live-row {{ border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:16px; padding:12px; background:rgba(0,0,0,.18); color:var(--muted); overflow-wrap:anywhere; }}
     .inspector-row b {{ color:var(--text); }}
     .live-row strong {{ color:var(--lime); }}
     code {{ color:var(--cyan); }}
diff --git a/examples/techdemo/templates/control_center.heml b/examples/techdemo/templates/control_center.heml
index 4ac280c..9bd6214 100644
--- a/examples/techdemo/templates/control_center.heml
+++ b/examples/techdemo/templates/control_center.heml
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 <main data-slhx-root="techdemo" data-slhx-sse="/events">
   <section class="hero-shell">
     <div class="hero-copy">
-      <p class="eyebrow">Semantic, Laterally HX</p>
-      <h1>Rust owns the interaction graph. The browser executes tiny typed effects.</h1>
-      <p class="lede">This live demo shows symbolic templates lowered to numeric ids, native forms, multi-target EffectBatches, page swapping, and server push — no app JavaScript.</p>
+      <p class="eyebrow">slhx Control Plane</p>
+      <h1>A Linear-class work system without a frontend framework.</h1>
+      <p class="lede">Create, inspect, advance, and stream work through native HTML, generated typed resources, and compact EffectBatches. The UI feels app-grade; the model stays server-owned and boring.</p>
     </div>
     <div class="hero-panel" data-slhx-slot="hero_metrics">__HERO__</div>
   </section>
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 
   <section class="workspace">
     <aside class="command-card">
-      <h2>Launch typed work</h2>
-      <form data-slhx-handle="launch_work" data-slhx-form="launch_work" data-slhx-disable-while-pending>
+      <h2>Create an issue</h2>
+      <form data-slhx-form="launch_work" data-slhx-disable-while-pending>
         <label>Title <input name="title" required="required" value="Ship typed effects"></label>
         <label>Lane
           <select name="lane" required="required">
@@ -26,19 +26,20 @@
           </select>
         </label>
         <label>Impact <input name="impact" type="number" min="1" max="9" value="7"></label>
-        <button type="submit">Launch work</button>
+        <button class="primary-action" type="button" data-slhx-handle="launch_work" onclick="return slhxTechdemoLaunch(this)">Create issue</button>
       </form>
+      <form hidden="hidden" data-slhx-handle="launch_work" data-slhx-form="launch_work"></form>
       <div class="quick-actions">
         <button type="button" data-slhx-handle="simulate_push">Simulate server push</button>
         <button type="button" data-slhx-handle="reset_demo">Reset demo</button>
       </div>
-      <p data-slhx-slot="notice" class="notice">Every control posts a numeric handle id and receives an EffectBatch.</p>
+      <p data-slhx-slot="notice" class="notice">Every control posts a numeric handle id and receives typed effects.</p>
     </aside>
 
     <section class="board-card">
       <div class="section-heading">
         <span>Generated slots + keyed cards</span>
-        <strong>no selectors, no VDOM</strong>
+        <strong>generated resources, no selectors</strong>
       </div>
       <div data-slhx-slot="board">__BOARD__</div>
     </section>
diff --git a/examples/techdemo/tests/browser_e2e.rs b/examples/techdemo/tests/browser_e2e.rs
index cdad027..e6ae064 100644
--- a/examples/techdemo/tests/browser_e2e.rs
+++ b/examples/techdemo/tests/browser_e2e.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ async fn browser_drives_typed_product_end_to_end() -> WebDriverResult<()> {
 
     let result = async {
         driver.goto(&format!("http://{APP_ADDR}/")).await?;
-        assert_text(&driver, "Rust owns the interaction graph").await?;
+        assert_text(&driver, "A Linear-class work system without a frontend framework").await?;
         assert_text(&driver, "Compile checked handles").await?;
         assert_text(&driver, "No selectors. Generated resources address every target.").await?;
         wait_for_runtime(&driver).await?;
@@ -70,25 +70,15 @@ async fn browser_drives_typed_product_end_to_end() -> WebDriverResult<()> {
             )
             .await?;
         driver
-            .execute(
-                &format!(
-                    r#"
-                    return fetch("/", {{
-                        method: "POST",
-                        headers: {{ "Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded" }},
-                        body: "__h={}&title=Browser+verified+issue&lane=product&impact=8"
-                    }})
-                    .then((response) => response.arrayBuffer())
-                    .then((buffer) => {{ window.slhx.applyBatch(buffer, document.querySelector("[data-slhx-root]")); return true; }});
-                    "#,
-                    ui::control_center::handles::launch_work.id().id
-                ),
-                Vec::new(),
-            )
+            .find(By::Css(&format!(
+                "button{}",
+                handle_selector(ui::control_center::handles::launch_work.id().id)
+            )))
+            .await?
+            .click()
             .await?;
 
-        wait_for_text(&driver, &slot_selector(ui::control_center::slots::notice.id().id), "Launch accepted").await?;
-        assert_text(&driver, "Browser verified issue").await?;
+        wait_for_text(&driver, "body", "Browser verified issue").await?;
         assert_text(&driver, "width:88%").await?;
 
         driver
diff --git a/examples/techdemo/tests/e2e.rs b/examples/techdemo/tests/e2e.rs
index 6154057..1d99ec0 100644
--- a/examples/techdemo/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/examples/techdemo/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use scraper::{Html, Selector};
 use slhx::{Effect, EffectBatch, Payload, EFFECT_BATCH_ABI_VERSION};
+use slhx_techdemo::ui;
 use std::io::{Read, Write};
 use std::net::TcpStream;
 use std::process::{Child, Command, Stdio};
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ fn product_is_e2e_working_over_http() {
     assert_eq!(home.status, 200);
     assert!(home.header("content-type").contains("text/html"));
     let document = Html::parse_document(home.text());
-    assert_text(&document, "Rust owns the interaction graph");
+    assert_text(&document, "A Linear-class work system without a frontend framework");
     assert_text(&document, "Compile checked handles");
     assert_text(&document, "Stream typed presence");
     assert_selector_count_at_least(&document, "[data-slhx-root=techdemo]", 1);
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ fn product_is_e2e_working_over_http() {
 fn assert_effect_response(response: &Response) {
     assert_eq!(response.status, 200);
     assert!(response.header("content-type").contains("application/slhx"));
-    assert_eq!(response.header("x-slhx-fingerprint"), "9481407110904740166");
+    assert_eq!(response.header("x-slhx-fingerprint"), ui::BUILD_FINGERPRINT.0.to_string());
     let batch = response.batch();
     assert_eq!(batch.abi_version, EFFECT_BATCH_ABI_VERSION);
     assert!(!batch.ops.is_empty());