diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/call.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/call.js
index d71f812e..88ea4588 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/call.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/call.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 // registers once via `initCall`.
 
 import { $, el, form, Panel, appendLinkified } from './common.js';
+import { themedToast } from './modal.js';
 import { fmtAgo } from './util.js';
 import { questionsState, QUESTION_HISTORY_LIMIT } from './state.js';
 
@@ -575,7 +576,7 @@ function buildQuestionLi(q) {
     const existing = f.querySelector('input[name="answer"]');
     if (existing) existing.remove();
     f.append(el('input', { type: 'hidden', name: 'answer', value: merged }));
-    if (!merged) { ev.preventDefault(); alert('pick an option or type an answer'); }
+    if (!merged) { ev.preventDefault(); themedToast('pick an option or type an answer', { type: 'error' }); }
   }, true);
   if (hasOptions) f.append(optionGroup);
   const buttons = el('div', { class: 'q-buttons' });
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/common.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/common.js
index ba351a83..370517e5 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/common.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/common.js
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 // infrastructure for the side panel.
 
 import { linkify as termLinkify } from '@hive/shared/terminal.js';
+// Themed dialog/toast helpers (modal.js imports `el` back from here — a safe
+// deferred cycle: neither side uses the other at module-init time, only inside
+// runtime handlers).
+import { themedConfirm, themedPrompt, themedToast } from './modal.js';
 
 // ─── helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 export const $ = (id) => document.getElementById(id);
@@ -58,9 +62,9 @@ export function bindAsyncForms(onSuccess) {
     const f = e.target;
     if (!(f instanceof HTMLFormElement) || !f.hasAttribute('data-async')) return;
     e.preventDefault();
-    if (f.dataset.confirm && !confirm(f.dataset.confirm)) return;
+    if (f.dataset.confirm && !(await themedConfirm({ message: f.dataset.confirm }))) return;
     if (f.dataset.prompt) {
-      const ans = prompt(f.dataset.prompt, '');
+      const ans = await themedPrompt({ message: f.dataset.prompt });
       if (ans === null) return; // operator hit Cancel
       // Drop into a hidden input named after `data-prompt-field` (or
       // 'note' by default) so the value rides along on the POST.
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ export function bindAsyncForms(onSuccess) {
         || (resp.status >= 200 && resp.status < 400);
       if (!ok) {
         const text = await resp.text().catch(() => '');
-        alert('action failed: ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''));
+        themedToast('action failed: ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''), { type: 'error' });
         if (btn) { btn.disabled = false; btn.innerHTML = original; }
         return;
       }
@@ -101,7 +105,7 @@ export function bindAsyncForms(onSuccess) {
         onSuccess();
       }
     } catch (err) {
-      alert('action failed: ' + err);
+      themedToast('action failed: ' + err, { type: 'error' });
       if (btn) { btn.disabled = false; btn.innerHTML = original; }
     }
   });
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/dashboard.css b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/dashboard.css
index 08f637f7..bf8fcd7f 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/dashboard.css
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/dashboard.css
@@ -467,6 +467,52 @@ body.dashboard-shell {
 .tc-confirm { color: var(--green); }
 .tc-confirm.tc-danger { color: var(--red); }
 
+/* themedPrompt input field */
+.tc-promptfield { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 0.4em; }
+.tc-promptlabel { color: var(--subtext0); font-size: 0.9em; }
+.tc-input {
+  font-family: inherit;
+  font-size: 1em;
+  width: 100%;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  background: var(--crust);
+  color: var(--fg);
+  border: 1px solid var(--purple-dim);
+  padding: 0.4em 0.6em;
+}
+.tc-input:focus { outline: 1px solid var(--green); }
+
+/* themedToast — non-blocking transient notifications (errors/info/ok) */
+.tc-toasts {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 1em;
+  right: 1em;
+  z-index: 1100;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 0.5em;
+  max-width: min(28em, 92vw);
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+.tc-toast {
+  pointer-events: auto;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  background: var(--bg-elev);
+  border: 1px solid var(--purple-dim);
+  border-left-width: 3px;
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 20px -6px var(--crust);
+  padding: 0.6em 0.9em;
+  font-size: 0.9em;
+  color: var(--fg);
+  white-space: pre-wrap;
+  opacity: 1;
+  transition: opacity 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
+}
+.tc-toast-out { opacity: 0; transform: translateX(0.5em); }
+.tc-toast-error { border-left-color: var(--red); }
+.tc-toast-info { border-left-color: var(--purple-dim); }
+.tc-toast-ok { border-left-color: var(--green); }
+
 .agent-status {
   font-size: 0.82em;
   color: var(--subtext0);
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/modal.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/modal.js
index 01ff8f24..fe3d05f4 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/modal.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/modal.js
@@ -123,3 +123,60 @@ export function themedConfirm(opts = {}) {
     return out;
   });
 }
+
+// themedPrompt({ title, message, label, placeholder, value, confirmLabel, cancelLabel })
+//   → Promise<string | null>. Themed replacement for window.prompt(): an input
+//   dialog that resolves to the entered string on confirm, or null on cancel.
+export function themedPrompt(opts = {}) {
+  const {
+    title = '', message = '', label = '', placeholder = '', value = '',
+    confirmLabel = 'ok', cancelLabel = 'cancel',
+  } = opts;
+  const input = el('input', { type: 'text', class: 'tc-input', placeholder });
+  if (value) input.value = value;
+  const content = el('div', { class: 'tc-promptfield' },
+    label ? el('label', { class: 'tc-promptlabel' }, label) : null,
+    input);
+  const result = openDialog({
+    title,
+    message,
+    content,
+    buttons: [
+      { label: cancelLabel, value: '__cancel__', class: 'tc-cancel' },
+      { label: confirmLabel, value: '__ok__', class: 'tc-confirm', autofocus: true },
+    ],
+  }).then((v) => (v === '__ok__' ? input.value : null));
+  // Prefer focusing the field over the OK button once the dialog has mounted.
+  setTimeout(() => input.focus(), 0);
+  return result;
+}
+
+// themedToast(message, { type, duration }) — non-blocking transient
+//   notification; a lighter alternative to a modal for feedback that needs no
+//   decision (errors, validation, status). Stacks in a fixed top-right
+//   container, auto-dismisses after `duration` ms (errors linger longer), and
+//   can be clicked to dismiss early. `type` ∈ {'info','error','ok'}.
+export function themedToast(message, opts = {}) {
+  const { type = 'info', duration } = opts;
+  const ms = duration != null ? duration : (type === 'error' ? 8000 : 4000);
+  let container = document.getElementById('tc-toasts');
+  if (!container) {
+    container = el('div', { id: 'tc-toasts', class: 'tc-toasts' });
+    document.body.append(container);
+  }
+  const toast = el('div', {
+    class: 'tc-toast tc-toast-' + type,
+    role: type === 'error' ? 'alert' : 'status',
+  }, message);
+  let removed = false;
+  const remove = () => {
+    if (removed) return;
+    removed = true;
+    toast.classList.add('tc-toast-out');
+    setTimeout(() => toast.remove(), 200);
+  };
+  toast.addEventListener('click', remove);
+  container.append(toast);
+  if (ms > 0) setTimeout(remove, ms);
+  return toast;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/schedules.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/schedules.js
index b396f4d8..3ae45889 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/schedules.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/schedules.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 // target-chip pickers. Render + format helpers come from util.js.
 
 import { $, el } from './common.js';
+import { themedConfirm, themedToast } from './modal.js';
 import { paintAtomic, fmtAgo, fmtDuration } from './util.js';
 import { containersState } from './state.js';
 
@@ -530,14 +531,14 @@ async function submitNewScheduleInline(tr, submitBtn) {
   const firstFireStr = String(tr.querySelector('input[name="new_first_fire"]')?.value || '');
 
   if (!targets.length) {
-    alert('schedule must have at least one target — tick at least one agent column');
+    themedToast('schedule must have at least one target — tick at least one agent column', { type: 'error' });
     return;
   }
-  if (!body) { alert('prompt body must be non-empty'); return; }
-  if (!firstFireStr) { alert('first fire timestamp is required'); return; }
+  if (!body) { themedToast('prompt body must be non-empty', { type: 'error' }); return; }
+  if (!firstFireStr) { themedToast('first fire timestamp is required', { type: 'error' }); return; }
   const firstFireDate = new Date(firstFireStr);
   if (Number.isNaN(firstFireDate.getTime())) {
-    alert('first fire is not a valid datetime'); return;
+    themedToast('first fire is not a valid datetime', { type: 'error' }); return;
   }
   const first_fire_at_unix = Math.floor(firstFireDate.getTime() / 1000);
 
@@ -554,7 +555,7 @@ async function submitNewScheduleInline(tr, submitBtn) {
   };
   const intervalTotal = part('d', 86400) + part('h', 3600) + part('m', 60) + part('s', 1);
   if (Number.isNaN(intervalTotal)) {
-    alert('interval fields must be non-negative integers (or blank for one-shot)');
+    themedToast('interval fields must be non-negative integers (or blank for one-shot)', { type: 'error' });
     return;
   }
   const interval_seconds = intervalTotal > 0 ? intervalTotal : null;
@@ -574,14 +575,14 @@ async function submitNewScheduleInline(tr, submitBtn) {
     });
     if (!resp.ok) {
       const text = await resp.text().catch(() => '');
-      alert('schedule submit failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''));
+      themedToast('schedule submit failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''), { type: 'error' });
       return;
     }
     // Reset carry so the next render shows an empty row.
     resetNewScheduleCarry();
     await refreshSchedules();
   } catch (err) {
-    alert('schedule submit failed: ' + err);
+    themedToast('schedule submit failed: ' + err, { type: 'error' });
   } finally {
     submitBtn.disabled = false;
     submitBtn.innerHTML = originalLabel;
@@ -899,11 +900,11 @@ async function submitEditSchedule(originalSchedule, form_) {
   const newDescription = String(fd.get('description') || '').trim();
   const newNextFireStr = String(fd.get('next_fire') || '');
 
-  if (!newBody) { alert('body must be non-empty'); return; }
-  if (!newNextFireStr) { alert('next-fire timestamp is required'); return; }
+  if (!newBody) { themedToast('body must be non-empty', { type: 'error' }); return; }
+  if (!newNextFireStr) { themedToast('next-fire timestamp is required', { type: 'error' }); return; }
   const newNextFireDate = new Date(newNextFireStr);
   if (Number.isNaN(newNextFireDate.getTime())) {
-    alert('next-fire is not a valid datetime'); return;
+    themedToast('next-fire is not a valid datetime', { type: 'error' }); return;
   }
   const newNextFireUnix = Math.floor(newNextFireDate.getTime() / 1000);
 
@@ -911,7 +912,7 @@ async function submitEditSchedule(originalSchedule, form_) {
   // `edit_interval_*` names in this form).
   const intervalTotal = intervalSecondsFromFormData(fd, 'edit_interval_');
   if (Number.isNaN(intervalTotal)) {
-    alert('interval fields must be non-negative integers');
+    themedToast('interval fields must be non-negative integers', { type: 'error' });
     return;
   }
   const newIntervalSeconds = intervalTotal > 0 ? intervalTotal : null;
@@ -929,7 +930,7 @@ async function submitEditSchedule(originalSchedule, form_) {
       .map((t) => t.target),
   );
   if (!newTargets.size) {
-    alert('schedule must have at least one target — uncheck submit, or use ✕ cancel all instead');
+    themedToast('schedule must have at least one target — uncheck submit, or use ✕ cancel all instead', { type: 'error' });
     return;
   }
   const targetsAdd = [...newTargets].filter((t) => !originalActive.has(t));
@@ -971,14 +972,14 @@ async function submitEditSchedule(originalSchedule, form_) {
     });
     if (!resp.ok) {
       const text = await resp.text().catch(() => '');
-      alert('edit failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''));
+      themedToast('edit failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''), { type: 'error' });
       return;
     }
     editingSchedules.delete(s.id);
     scheduleEditCarry.delete(s.id);
     await refreshSchedules();
   } catch (err) {
-    alert('edit failed: ' + err);
+    themedToast('edit failed: ' + err, { type: 'error' });
   } finally {
     if (submitBtn) { submitBtn.disabled = false; submitBtn.textContent = originalLabel; }
   }
@@ -992,7 +993,7 @@ async function fireScheduleNow(id, isOneShot, targets, btn) {
     : `fire schedule #${id} now to ${targetList}?\n\n`
       + 'this is RECURRING — sends an extra pulse out-of-band. '
       + 'the regular cadence keeps firing on schedule.';
-  if (!confirm(prompt)) return;
+  if (!(await themedConfirm({ message: prompt, danger: true }))) return;
   // Capture child nodes so we can restore on error, then replace
   // with DOM-built content (textContent + element children rather
   // than innerHTML — the format string only carries server-side
@@ -1017,7 +1018,7 @@ async function fireScheduleNow(id, isOneShot, targets, btn) {
     });
     if (!resp.ok) {
       const text = await resp.text().catch(() => '');
-      alert('fire-now failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''));
+      themedToast('fire-now failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''), { type: 'error' });
       restoreBtn();
       return;
     }
@@ -1041,16 +1042,16 @@ async function fireScheduleNow(id, isOneShot, targets, btn) {
     // refresh wipes the row in place.
     setTimeout(refreshSchedules, 1500);
   } catch (err) {
-    alert('fire-now failed: ' + err);
+    themedToast('fire-now failed: ' + err, { type: 'error' });
     restoreBtn();
   }
 }
 async function cancelScheduleAll(id) {
-  if (!confirm(`cancel schedule #${id}? this stops all future fires for every target.`)) return;
+  if (!(await themedConfirm({ message: `cancel schedule #${id}? this stops all future fires for every target.`, danger: true }))) return;
   await postScheduleCancel(id, null);
 }
 async function cancelScheduleTargets(id, targets) {
-  if (!confirm(`cancel schedule #${id} for ${targets.join(', ')}? other targets keep firing.`)) return;
+  if (!(await themedConfirm({ message: `cancel schedule #${id} for ${targets.join(', ')}? other targets keep firing.`, danger: true }))) return;
   await postScheduleCancel(id, targets);
 }
 async function postScheduleCancel(id, targets) {
@@ -1063,12 +1064,12 @@ async function postScheduleCancel(id, targets) {
     const resp = await fetch('/api/schedules/' + encodeURIComponent(id) + '/cancel', opts);
     if (!resp.ok) {
       const text = await resp.text().catch(() => '');
-      alert('cancel failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''));
+      themedToast('cancel failed: http ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''), { type: 'error' });
       return;
     }
     await refreshSchedules();
   } catch (err) {
-    alert('cancel failed: ' + err);
+    themedToast('cancel failed: ' + err, { type: 'error' });
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
index 4765815e..08f40813 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {
   makePathLink, appendText, appendLinkified,
   openStream, renderServerWarnings, bindAsyncForms,
 } from './common.js';
-import { themedConfirm } from './modal.js';
+import { themedConfirm, themedToast } from './modal.js';
 import { createTabStrip } from '@hive/shared/tabs.js';
 import {
   containersState, syncContainersFromSnapshot,
@@ -295,10 +295,10 @@ window.marked = marked;
         || (resp.status >= 200 && resp.status < 400);
       if (!ok) {
         const text = await resp.text().catch(() => '');
-        alert('action failed: ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''));
+        themedToast('action failed: ' + resp.status + (text ? '\n\n' + text : ''), { type: 'error' });
       }
     } catch (err) {
-      alert('action failed: ' + err);
+      themedToast('action failed: ' + err, { type: 'error' });
     }
   }
 
@@ -1056,7 +1056,7 @@ window.marked = marked;
       const promptMsg = names.length === 1
         ? `move ${names[0]} → ${newParentLabel}?`
         : `move ${names.length} agents (${names.join(', ')}) → ${newParentLabel}?`;
-      if (!confirm(promptMsg)) {
+      if (!(await themedConfirm({ message: promptMsg, danger: true }))) {
         sel.selectedIndex = 0;
         return;
       }
@@ -1105,7 +1105,7 @@ window.marked = marked;
       sel.disabled = false;
       sel.selectedIndex = 0;
       if (failures.length) {
-        alert(`M0V3 completed with ${failures.length} failure${failures.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}:\n\n` + failures.join('\n'));
+        themedToast(`M0V3 completed with ${failures.length} failure${failures.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}:\n\n` + failures.join('\n'), { type: 'error' });
       }
     });
     wrap.append(sel);
@@ -1216,7 +1216,7 @@ window.marked = marked;
       btn.disabled = false;
       btn.innerHTML = original;
       if (failures.length) {
-        alert(`${label} completed with ${failures.length} failure${failures.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}:\n\n` + failures.join('\n'));
+        themedToast(`${label} completed with ${failures.length} failure${failures.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}:\n\n` + failures.join('\n'), { type: 'error' });
       }
       // Container-lifecycle events (ContainerStateChanged /
       // ContainerRemoved / RebuildQueueChanged) flow over the existing