diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 11ee6b1..4777326 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ The repository owns the workflow. A committed project contract defines setup com
 - Repository-owned setup, check, Git, and deployment policy
 - Isolated local ports, process metadata, logs, and clean shutdown
 - Optional Vercel Development environment injection without persisted secret values
+- Agent-aware launch context for Codex, Claude Code, and OpenClaw
+- Portable instructions for app-based, remote, and unsupported agent clients
 - Machine-readable project and workspace state
 
 ## Install from source
@@ -41,10 +43,23 @@ pagent doctor
 pagent context
 pagent enter dashboard-feature --agent openclaw
 pagent enter dashboard-polish --agent codex
+pagent launch dashboard-polish
 pagent status
 ```
 
-`pagent enter` prints the isolated worktree path. Start the selected coding agent from that directory.
+`pagent launch` starts the selected coding agent in the isolated worktree and supplies the committed project workflow as its initial context. It does not create, replace, or modify `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, or other repository instruction files.
+
+Include the first task when launching an agent:
+
+```bash
+pagent launch dashboard-polish --prompt "Polish the dashboard navigation"
+```
+
+For ChatGPT, a remote OpenClaw agent, or another client that Parallel Agent CLI cannot launch directly, print a portable handoff and paste it into that client:
+
+```bash
+pagent instructions dashboard-polish --agent chatgpt
+```
 
 To register a worktree that already exists:
 
@@ -109,6 +124,8 @@ pagent stop dashboard-feature
 
 Parallel Agent CLI allocates a local port, records the process and log path, and checks the configured health URL. Running `pagent dev` from inside a registered worktree infers its workspace name.
 
+Agents started through `pagent launch` are explicitly instructed to use `pagent bootstrap`, `pagent dev`, `pagent logs`, and `pagent stop` rather than bypassing the managed runtime lifecycle. Codex and Claude Code run with the worktree as their current project. OpenClaw starts in local TUI mode with the worktree supplied through `OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE_DIR` and in the handoff instructions. An explicit OpenClaw workspace in the user's configuration can take precedence over that environment variable; use `pagent instructions` with an already configured OpenClaw agent in that case.
+
 For a Vercel-backed development environment:
 
 ```yaml
@@ -137,6 +154,8 @@ pagent doctor
 pagent bootstrap [--apply]
 pagent enter <name> --agent <agent> [--base <git-ref>]
 pagent adopt <path> --agent <agent> [--name <name>] [--base <git-ref>]
+pagent launch [name] [--agent <agent>] [--prompt <task>] [--dry-run]
+pagent instructions [name] [--agent <agent>] [--prompt <task>]
 pagent remove <name>
 pagent dev [name] [--port <port>] [--no-wait]
 pagent logs <name> [--lines <count>]
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 055c367..c98e823 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { doctorCommand } from "./commands/doctor.js";
 import { devCommand } from "./commands/dev.js";
 import { enterCommand } from "./commands/enter.js";
 import { initCommand } from "./commands/init.js";
+import { instructionsCommand, launchCommand } from "./commands/launch.js";
 import { logsCommand } from "./commands/logs.js";
 import { removeCommand } from "./commands/remove.js";
 import { statusCommand } from "./commands/status.js";
@@ -53,6 +54,28 @@ program
     devCommand(process.cwd(), name, options),
   );
 
+program
+  .command("launch")
+  .argument("[name]", "workspace name; inferred inside a registered workspace")
+  .description("Launch a coding agent with the workspace's operational context")
+  .option("--agent <agent>", "override the workspace's recorded agent launcher")
+  .option("--prompt <prompt>", "include an initial user task")
+  .option("--dry-run", "print the launch context without starting the agent")
+  .action(
+    (name: string | undefined, options: { agent?: string; prompt?: string; dryRun?: boolean }) =>
+      launchCommand(process.cwd(), name, options),
+  );
+
+program
+  .command("instructions")
+  .argument("[name]", "workspace name; inferred inside a registered workspace")
+  .description("Print portable workspace instructions for any coding agent")
+  .option("--agent <agent>", "name the receiving agent in the instructions")
+  .option("--prompt <prompt>", "include an initial user task")
+  .action((name: string | undefined, options: { agent?: string; prompt?: string }) =>
+    instructionsCommand(process.cwd(), name, options),
+  );
+
 program
   .command("stop")
   .argument("<name>", "workspace name")
diff --git a/src/commands/enter.ts b/src/commands/enter.ts
index 642be1b..d4dd067 100644
--- a/src/commands/enter.ts
+++ b/src/commands/enter.ts
@@ -83,5 +83,14 @@ export async function enterCommand(
     );
   }
   console.log(`Worktree: ${worktree}`);
-  console.log(`\nNext: cd ${JSON.stringify(worktree)} && ${agent}`);
+  console.log("\nNext:");
+  console.log(`  pagent launch ${name}`);
+  console.log(
+    "\nThe launched agent is instructed to use pagent bootstrap for dependencies and pagent dev for the development server.",
+  );
+  console.log(`\nFor an app, remote agent, or unsupported client:`);
+  console.log(`  pagent instructions ${name}`);
+  console.log(
+    "\nUse pagent dev instead of starting the development command directly so ports, environment variables, logs, and cleanup remain managed.",
+  );
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/launch.ts b/src/commands/launch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdc08f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/commands/launch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+import { access } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { loadConfig, type ProjectConfig } from "../config.js";
+import { CliError } from "../errors.js";
+import { gitRoot } from "../git.js";
+import { slugify } from "../format.js";
+import { commandExists, runInteractiveCommand } from "../process.js";
+import { readState, type WorkspaceRecord } from "../state.js";
+
+type SupportedAgent = "codex" | "claude" | "openclaw";
+
+export interface LaunchOptions {
+  agent?: string;
+  prompt?: string;
+  dryRun?: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface AgentLaunchSpec {
+  agent: SupportedAgent;
+  command: string;
+  args: string[];
+  environment: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+}
+
+const agentAliases: Record<string, SupportedAgent> = {
+  codex: "codex",
+  "codex-cli": "codex",
+  claude: "claude",
+  "claude-code": "claude",
+  openclaw: "openclaw",
+};
+
+export async function launchCommand(
+  cwd: string,
+  requestedName: string | undefined,
+  options: LaunchOptions,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const resolved = await resolveWorkspace(cwd, requestedName);
+  const agent = normalizeAgent(options.agent ?? resolved.workspace.agent);
+  const instructions = buildAgentInstructions(
+    resolved.config,
+    resolved.workspace,
+    agent,
+    options.prompt,
+  );
+  const specification = buildLaunchSpec(agent, resolved.workspace, instructions, process.env);
+
+  if (options.dryRun) {
+    printLaunchPreview(resolved.workspace, specification, instructions);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!(await commandExists(specification.command))) {
+    throw new CliError(
+      `Agent executable is not installed or not on PATH: ${specification.command}. ` +
+        `Run "pagent instructions ${resolved.workspace.name}" to hand the context to another client.`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Launching ${agent} in workspace ${resolved.workspace.name}`);
+  console.log(`Worktree: ${resolved.workspace.worktree}`);
+  console.log(
+    "Parallel Agent will provide the repository workflow as the agent's initial instructions.\n",
+  );
+  await runInteractiveCommand(
+    specification.command,
+    specification.args,
+    resolved.workspace.worktree,
+    specification.environment,
+  );
+}
+
+export async function instructionsCommand(
+  cwd: string,
+  requestedName: string | undefined,
+  options: Pick<LaunchOptions, "agent" | "prompt">,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const resolved = await resolveWorkspace(cwd, requestedName);
+  const agent = options.agent?.trim()
+    ? options.agent.trim()
+    : (agentAliases[slugify(resolved.workspace.agent)] ?? resolved.workspace.agent);
+  console.log(buildAgentInstructions(resolved.config, resolved.workspace, agent, options.prompt));
+}
+
+export function buildLaunchSpec(
+  agent: SupportedAgent,
+  workspace: WorkspaceRecord,
+  instructions: string,
+  baseEnvironment: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+): AgentLaunchSpec {
+  const environment: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = {
+    ...baseEnvironment,
+    PARALLEL_AGENT_WORKSPACE: workspace.name,
+    PARALLEL_AGENT_WORKTREE: workspace.worktree,
+  };
+
+  switch (agent) {
+    case "codex":
+      return {
+        agent,
+        command: "codex",
+        args: ["--cd", workspace.worktree, instructions],
+        environment,
+      };
+    case "claude":
+      return {
+        agent,
+        command: "claude",
+        args: [instructions],
+        environment,
+      };
+    case "openclaw":
+      return {
+        agent,
+        command: "openclaw",
+        args: [
+          "tui",
+          "--local",
+          "--session",
+          `pagent-${workspace.name}`,
+          "--message",
+          instructions,
+        ],
+        environment: {
+          ...environment,
+          OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE_DIR: workspace.worktree,
+        },
+      };
+  }
+}
+
+export function buildAgentInstructions(
+  config: ProjectConfig,
+  workspace: WorkspaceRecord,
+  agent: string,
+  prompt?: string,
+): string {
+  const install = config.runtime.install ?? "not configured";
+  const development = config.runtime.development ?? "not configured";
+  const checks = config.checks.length > 0 ? config.checks.join(", ") : "none configured";
+  const task = prompt?.trim();
+
+  return `Parallel Agent workspace instructions
+
+You are the ${agent} agent assigned to the isolated workspace "${workspace.name}" for project "${config.project.name}".
+
+Workspace: ${workspace.worktree}
+Branch: ${workspace.branch}
+Recorded base: ${workspace.baseRef} (${workspace.baseSha})
+Install command in project contract: ${install}
+Development command in project contract: ${development}
+Required checks: ${checks}
+
+Operating rules:
+1. Work only in the workspace path above. Do not edit another checkout of this repository.
+2. Run "pagent context" before making changes so you have the current repository workflow and safety policy.
+3. When dependencies are missing, run "pagent bootstrap" first and then "pagent bootstrap --apply" if installation is needed. Do not bypass the configured bootstrap command with a package-manager install.
+4. Start the project with "pagent dev". Do not run the development command directly; Pagent must allocate the port, inject the configured environment, and track the process.
+5. Inspect the server with "pagent logs ${workspace.name}" and stop it with "pagent stop ${workspace.name}".
+6. Repository instructions such as AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md still apply to implementation work. The committed .parallel-agent/project.yaml contract is authoritative for workspace, runtime, Git, and deployment operations.
+7. Direct pushes to ${config.repository.default_branch} are ${config.git.direct_push_to_main ? "allowed by project policy" : "forbidden"}. Force pushes are ${config.git.force_push ? "allowed by project policy" : "forbidden"}.
+8. ${config.production.requires_approval ? "Do not deploy or promote to production without explicit user approval." : "Follow the project contract before any production operation."}
+
+${task ? `User task:\n${task}` : "Load the project context, then ask the user what they want to work on."}`;
+}
+
+function normalizeAgent(rawAgent: string): SupportedAgent {
+  const normalized = agentAliases[slugify(rawAgent)];
+  if (!normalized) {
+    throw new CliError(
+      `No interactive launcher is configured for agent "${rawAgent}". ` +
+        "Supported launchers: codex, claude, openclaw. Use pagent instructions for other clients.",
+    );
+  }
+  return normalized;
+}
+
+async function resolveWorkspace(cwd: string, requestedName: string | undefined) {
+  const { root, config } = await loadConfig(cwd);
+  const state = await readState(root);
+  let currentRoot: string | undefined;
+  if (!requestedName) {
+    try {
+      currentRoot = await gitRoot(cwd);
+    } catch {
+      currentRoot = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+  const workspace = requestedName
+    ? state.workspaces.find((candidate) => candidate.name === requestedName)
+    : state.workspaces.find((candidate) => candidate.worktree === currentRoot);
+  if (!workspace) {
+    throw new CliError(
+      requestedName
+        ? `Unknown workspace: ${requestedName}`
+        : "Could not infer a workspace from this directory. Pass a workspace name.",
+    );
+  }
+  try {
+    await access(workspace.worktree);
+  } catch {
+    throw new CliError(`Workspace worktree is missing: ${workspace.worktree}`);
+  }
+  return { config, workspace };
+}
+
+function printLaunchPreview(
+  workspace: WorkspaceRecord,
+  specification: AgentLaunchSpec,
+  instructions: string,
+): void {
+  console.log(`Agent: ${specification.agent}`);
+  console.log(`Workspace: ${workspace.name}`);
+  console.log(`Worktree: ${workspace.worktree}`);
+  console.log(`Executable: ${specification.command}`);
+  console.log("\nInitial instructions:\n");
+  console.log(instructions);
+}
diff --git a/src/process.ts b/src/process.ts
index 5c193ed..a527ad0 100644
--- a/src/process.ts
+++ b/src/process.ts
@@ -59,3 +59,35 @@ export async function runShellCommand(command: string, cwd: string): Promise<voi
     });
   });
 }
+
+export async function runInteractiveCommand(
+  command: string,
+  args: string[],
+  cwd: string,
+  environment: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env,
+): Promise<void> {
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+    const child = spawn(command, args, {
+      cwd,
+      env: environment,
+      stdio: "inherit",
+    });
+
+    child.on("error", (error: NodeJS.ErrnoException) => {
+      if (error.code === "ENOENT") {
+        reject(new CliError(`Agent executable is not installed or not on PATH: ${command}`));
+        return;
+      }
+      reject(error);
+    });
+    child.on("exit", (code, signal) => {
+      if (code === 0) {
+        resolve();
+      } else if (signal) {
+        reject(new CliError(`${command} exited after receiving ${signal}.`));
+      } else {
+        reject(new CliError(`${command} exited with code ${code ?? "unknown"}.`));
+      }
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/cli.test.ts b/test/cli.test.ts
index 82bd06f..51c4dc2 100644
--- a/test/cli.test.ts
+++ b/test/cli.test.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ describe("Parallel Agent CLI", () => {
       repository,
     );
     expect(entered.stdout).toContain("agent/codex/dashboard-polish");
+    expect(entered.stdout).toContain("pagent launch dashboard-polish");
+    expect(entered.stdout).toContain("Use pagent dev instead of starting");
 
     const status = await exec(process.execPath, [cli, "status", "--json"], repository);
     const workspaces = JSON.parse(status.stdout) as Array<{
@@ -308,4 +310,42 @@ describe("Parallel Agent CLI", () => {
     expect(context.repository.defaultBranch).toBe("main");
     expect(context.gitPolicy.direct_push_to_main).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("previews an agent launch with the managed runtime instructions", async () => {
+    const repository = await createRepository();
+    await exec(process.execPath, [cli, "init"], repository);
+    await exec("git", ["add", "."], repository);
+    await exec("git", ["commit", "-m", "Add project contract"], repository);
+    await exec(process.execPath, [cli, "enter", "launch-test", "--agent", "codex"], repository);
+
+    const preview = await exec(
+      process.execPath,
+      [cli, "launch", "launch-test", "--prompt", "Polish the dashboard navigation", "--dry-run"],
+      repository,
+    );
+
+    expect(preview.stdout).toContain("Agent: codex");
+    expect(preview.stdout).toContain("Executable: codex");
+    expect(preview.stdout).toContain('Start the project with "pagent dev"');
+    expect(preview.stdout).toContain("Polish the dashboard navigation");
+  });
+
+  it("prints portable instructions for clients it cannot launch", async () => {
+    const repository = await createRepository();
+    await exec(process.execPath, [cli, "init"], repository);
+    await exec("git", ["add", "."], repository);
+    await exec("git", ["commit", "-m", "Add project contract"], repository);
+    await exec(process.execPath, [cli, "enter", "remote-agent", "--agent", "openclaw"], repository);
+
+    const instructions = await exec(
+      process.execPath,
+      [cli, "instructions", "remote-agent", "--agent", "chatgpt"],
+      repository,
+    );
+
+    expect(instructions.stdout).toContain("You are the chatgpt agent");
+    expect(instructions.stdout).toContain("Work only in the workspace path above");
+    expect(instructions.stdout).toContain("pagent bootstrap --apply");
+    expect(instructions.stdout).toContain("pagent stop remote-agent");
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/launch.test.ts b/test/launch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0154b4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/launch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { buildLaunchSpec } from "../src/commands/launch.js";
+import type { WorkspaceRecord } from "../src/state.js";
+
+const workspace: WorkspaceRecord = {
+  id: "workspace-id",
+  name: "dashboard-polish",
+  agent: "codex",
+  branch: "agent/codex/dashboard-polish",
+  baseRef: "refs/remotes/origin/main",
+  baseSha: "0123456789abcdef",
+  worktree: "/tmp/parallel-agent/dashboard-polish",
+  managed: true,
+  createdAt: "2026-08-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+};
+
+describe("agent launch adapters", () => {
+  it("pins Codex to the managed worktree", () => {
+    const specification = buildLaunchSpec("codex", workspace, "instructions", {
+      PATH: "/test/bin",
+    });
+
+    expect(specification.command).toBe("codex");
+    expect(specification.args).toEqual(["--cd", workspace.worktree, "instructions"]);
+    expect(specification.environment.PARALLEL_AGENT_WORKSPACE).toBe(workspace.name);
+    expect(specification.environment.PARALLEL_AGENT_WORKTREE).toBe(workspace.worktree);
+  });
+
+  it("provides OpenClaw with an isolated session and workspace override", () => {
+    const specification = buildLaunchSpec("openclaw", workspace, "instructions", {});
+
+    expect(specification.command).toBe("openclaw");
+    expect(specification.args).toEqual([
+      "tui",
+      "--local",
+      "--session",
+      "pagent-dashboard-polish",
+      "--message",
+      "instructions",
+    ]);
+    expect(specification.environment.OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE_DIR).toBe(workspace.worktree);
+  });
+});