diff --git a/crates/attractor/Cargo.toml b/crates/attractor/Cargo.toml
index cb49a0fe4..543b6c067 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/attractor/Cargo.toml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ name = "attractor"
 path = "src/main.rs"
 
 [features]
-default = []
+default = ["server"]
 server = ["axum", "tower", "tokio-stream"]
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/crates/attractor/src/cli/backend.rs b/crates/attractor/src/cli/backend.rs
index 8ff96dc1a..66812c610 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/src/cli/backend.rs
+++ b/crates/attractor/src/cli/backend.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 
 use agent::{
-    AnthropicProfile, GeminiProfile, LocalExecutionEnvironment, OpenAiProfile, ProviderProfile,
-    Session, SessionConfig, Turn,
+    AnthropicProfile, EventData, EventKind, GeminiProfile, LocalExecutionEnvironment,
+    OpenAiProfile, ProviderProfile, Session, SessionConfig, Turn,
 };
 use llm::client::Client;
+use terminal::Styles;
 
 use crate::context::Context;
 use crate::error::AttractorError;
@@ -18,12 +19,24 @@ use crate::handler::codergen::{CodergenBackend, CodergenResult};
 pub struct AgentBackend {
     model: String,
     provider: Option<String>,
+    verbose: u8,
+    styles: &'static Styles,
 }
 
 impl AgentBackend {
     #[must_use]
-    pub const fn new(model: String, provider: Option<String>) -> Self {
-        Self { model, provider }
+    pub const fn new(
+        model: String,
+        provider: Option<String>,
+        verbose: u8,
+        styles: &'static Styles,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            model,
+            provider,
+            verbose,
+            styles,
+        }
     }
 
     fn build_profile(&self) -> Arc<dyn ProviderProfile> {
@@ -59,11 +72,96 @@ impl CodergenBackend for AgentBackend {
         };
 
         let mut session = Session::new(client, profile, exec_env, config);
+
+        // Subscribe to session events for real-time tool status on stderr.
+        let verbose = self.verbose;
+        if verbose >= 1 {
+            let node_id = node.id.clone();
+            let styles = self.styles;
+            let mut rx = session.subscribe();
+            tokio::spawn(async move {
+                while let Ok(event) = rx.recv().await {
+                    match (&event.kind, &event.data) {
+                        (
+                            EventKind::ToolCallStart,
+                            EventData::ToolCall {
+                                tool_name,
+                                arguments,
+                                ..
+                            },
+                        ) => {
+                            eprintln!(
+                                "{dim}[{node_id}]{reset}   {dim}\u{25cf}{reset} {bold}{cyan}{tool_name}{reset}{dim}({args}){reset}",
+                                dim = styles.dim,
+                                reset = styles.reset,
+                                bold = styles.bold,
+                                cyan = styles.cyan,
+                                args = format_tool_args(arguments),
+                            );
+                        }
+                        (
+                            EventKind::ToolCallEnd,
+                            EventData::ToolCallEnd {
+                                tool_name,
+                                output,
+                                is_error,
+                                ..
+                            },
+                        ) if verbose >= 2 => {
+                            let label = if *is_error { "error" } else { "result" };
+                            eprintln!(
+                                "{dim}[{node_id}]   [{label}] {tool_name}:{reset}\n{}",
+                                serde_json::to_string_pretty(output)
+                                    .unwrap_or_else(|_| output.to_string()),
+                                dim = styles.dim,
+                                reset = styles.reset,
+                            );
+                        }
+                        (EventKind::Error, EventData::Error { error }) => {
+                            eprintln!(
+                                "{dim}[{node_id}]{reset}   {red}\u{2717} {error}{reset}",
+                                dim = styles.dim,
+                                red = styles.red,
+                                reset = styles.reset,
+                            );
+                        }
+                        _ => {}
+                    }
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
         session.initialize().await;
         session.process_input(prompt).await.map_err(|e| {
             AttractorError::Handler(format!("Agent session failed: {e}"))
         })?;
 
+        // Print session summary to stderr.
+        if self.verbose >= 1 {
+            let (mut turn_count, mut tool_call_count, mut total_tokens) = (0usize, 0usize, 0i64);
+            for turn in session.history().turns() {
+                if let Turn::Assistant {
+                    tool_calls, usage, ..
+                } = turn
+                {
+                    turn_count += 1;
+                    tool_call_count += tool_calls.len();
+                    total_tokens += usage.total_tokens;
+                }
+            }
+            let token_str = if total_tokens >= 1000 {
+                format!("{}k tokens", total_tokens / 1000)
+            } else {
+                format!("{total_tokens} tokens")
+            };
+            eprintln!(
+                "{dim}[{node_id}] Done ({turn_count} turns, {tool_call_count} tool calls, {token_str}){reset}",
+                node_id = node.id,
+                dim = self.styles.dim,
+                reset = self.styles.reset,
+            );
+        }
+
         // Extract last assistant response from the session history.
         let response = session
             .history()
@@ -83,3 +181,23 @@ impl CodergenBackend for AgentBackend {
         Ok(CodergenResult::Text(response))
     }
 }
+
+fn format_tool_args(args: &serde_json::Value) -> String {
+    let Some(obj) = args.as_object() else {
+        return args.to_string();
+    };
+    obj.iter()
+        .map(|(k, v)| match v {
+            serde_json::Value::String(s) => {
+                let display = if s.len() > 80 {
+                    format!("{}...", &s[..77])
+                } else {
+                    s.clone()
+                };
+                format!("{k}={display:?}")
+            }
+            other => format!("{k}={other}"),
+        })
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        .join(", ")
+}
diff --git a/crates/attractor/src/cli/mod.rs b/crates/attractor/src/cli/mod.rs
index a55b86046..2349071a3 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/src/cli/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/attractor/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 pub mod backend;
 pub mod run;
+#[cfg(feature = "server")]
+pub mod serve;
 pub mod validate;
 
 use std::path::Path;
@@ -24,6 +26,9 @@ pub enum Command {
     Run(RunArgs),
     /// Parse and validate a pipeline without executing
     Validate(ValidateArgs),
+    /// Start the HTTP API server
+    #[cfg(feature = "server")]
+    Serve(ServeArgs),
 }
 
 #[derive(Args)]
@@ -66,6 +71,30 @@ pub struct ValidateArgs {
     pub pipeline: PathBuf,
 }
 
+#[cfg(feature = "server")]
+#[derive(Args)]
+pub struct ServeArgs {
+    /// Port to listen on
+    #[arg(long, default_value = "3000")]
+    pub port: u16,
+
+    /// Host address to bind to
+    #[arg(long, default_value = "127.0.0.1")]
+    pub host: String,
+
+    /// Override default LLM model
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub model: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Override default LLM provider
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub provider: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Execute with simulated LLM backend
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub dry_run: bool,
+}
+
 /// Read a .dot file from disk.
 ///
 /// # Errors
diff --git a/crates/attractor/src/cli/run.rs b/crates/attractor/src/cli/run.rs
index 66664e52c..f37fba9c2 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/src/cli/run.rs
+++ b/crates/attractor/src/cli/run.rs
@@ -131,6 +131,8 @@ pub async fn run_command(args: RunArgs, styles: &'static Styles) -> anyhow::Resu
             Some(Box::new(AgentBackend::new(
                 model.clone(),
                 provider.clone(),
+                args.verbose,
+                styles,
             )))
         }
     });
diff --git a/crates/attractor/src/cli/serve.rs b/crates/attractor/src/cli/serve.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e21cdf47f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/attractor/src/cli/serve.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use terminal::Styles;
+use tokio::net::TcpListener;
+
+use crate::cli::backend::AgentBackend;
+use crate::handler::default_registry;
+use crate::interviewer::Interviewer;
+use crate::server::{build_router, create_app_state};
+
+use super::ServeArgs;
+
+/// Start the HTTP API server.
+///
+/// # Errors
+///
+/// Returns an error if the server fails to bind or encounters a fatal error.
+pub async fn serve_command(args: ServeArgs, styles: &'static Styles) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    // Resolve dry-run mode (same pattern as run.rs)
+    let dry_run_mode = if args.dry_run {
+        true
+    } else {
+        match llm::client::Client::from_env().await {
+            Ok(c) if c.provider_names().is_empty() => {
+                eprintln!(
+                    "{yellow}Warning:{reset} No LLM providers configured. Running in dry-run mode.",
+                    yellow = styles.yellow, reset = styles.reset,
+                );
+                true
+            }
+            Ok(_) => false,
+            Err(e) => {
+                eprintln!(
+                    "{yellow}Warning:{reset} Failed to initialize LLM client: {e}. Running in dry-run mode.",
+                    yellow = styles.yellow, reset = styles.reset,
+                );
+                true
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    // Resolve model/provider defaults
+    let provider = args.provider;
+    let model = args.model.unwrap_or_else(|| match provider.as_deref() {
+        Some("openai") => "gpt-5.2".to_string(),
+        Some("gemini") => "gemini-3-pro-preview".to_string(),
+        _ => "claude-sonnet-4-5".to_string(),
+    });
+
+    // Build registry factory
+    let factory = move |interviewer: Arc<dyn Interviewer>| {
+        let model = model.clone();
+        let provider = provider.clone();
+        default_registry(interviewer, move || {
+            if dry_run_mode {
+                None
+            } else {
+                Some(Box::new(AgentBackend::new(
+                    model.clone(),
+                    provider.clone(),
+                    0,
+                    styles,
+                )))
+            }
+        })
+    };
+
+    let state = create_app_state(factory);
+    let router = build_router(state);
+
+    let addr = format!("{}:{}", args.host, args.port);
+    let listener = TcpListener::bind(&addr).await?;
+
+    eprintln!(
+        "{bold}Attractor server listening on {green}{addr}{reset}",
+        bold = styles.bold,
+        green = styles.green,
+        reset = styles.reset,
+    );
+    if dry_run_mode {
+        eprintln!(
+            "{dim}(dry-run mode){reset}",
+            dim = styles.dim,
+            reset = styles.reset,
+        );
+    }
+
+    axum::serve(listener, router).await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/crates/attractor/src/main.rs b/crates/attractor/src/main.rs
index 7f648dce9..41c192071 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/attractor/src/main.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ async fn main() {
         attractor::cli::Command::Validate(args) => {
             attractor::cli::validate::validate_command(&args, styles)
         }
+        #[cfg(feature = "server")]
+        attractor::cli::Command::Serve(args) => {
+            attractor::cli::serve::serve_command(args, styles).await
+        }
     };
 
     if let Err(e) = result {
diff --git a/crates/attractor/tests/cli.rs b/crates/attractor/tests/cli.rs
index a6144d4e9..4a964d686 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/tests/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/attractor/tests/cli.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,21 @@ fn validate_invalid() {
         .failure();
 }
 
+// -- serve -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[test]
+fn serve_help() {
+    attractor()
+        .args(["serve", "--help"])
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--port"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--host"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--dry-run"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--model"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--provider"));
+}
+
 // -- run --dry-run -----------------------------------------------------------
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/crates/attractor/tests/integration.rs b/crates/attractor/tests/integration.rs
index ae5257cf4..5361e8758 100644
--- a/crates/attractor/tests/integration.rs
+++ b/crates/attractor/tests/integration.rs
@@ -3229,6 +3229,99 @@ mod sse_events {
     }
 }
 
+// ===========================================================================
+// 18b. Serve command: dry-run registry factory builds a working router
+// ===========================================================================
+
+#[cfg(feature = "server")]
+mod serve_dry_run {
+    use std::sync::Arc;
+    use std::time::Duration;
+
+    use attractor::handler::default_registry;
+    use attractor::interviewer::Interviewer;
+    use attractor::server::{build_router, create_app_state};
+    use axum::body::Body;
+    use axum::http::{Request, StatusCode};
+    use tower::ServiceExt;
+
+    const MINIMAL_DOT: &str = r#"digraph Test {
+        graph [goal="Test"]
+        start [shape=Mdiamond]
+        exit  [shape=Msquare]
+        start -> exit
+    }"#;
+
+    /// Build the router exactly as `serve_command` does in dry-run mode.
+    fn dry_run_app() -> axum::Router {
+        let factory = |interviewer: Arc<dyn Interviewer>| {
+            default_registry(interviewer, || None)
+        };
+        let state = create_app_state(factory);
+        build_router(state)
+    }
+
+    async fn body_json(body: Body) -> serde_json::Value {
+        let bytes = axum::body::to_bytes(body, usize::MAX).await.unwrap();
+        serde_json::from_slice(&bytes).unwrap()
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn dry_run_serve_starts_and_runs_pipeline() {
+        let app = dry_run_app();
+
+        // POST /pipelines to start a pipeline
+        let req = Request::builder()
+            .method("POST")
+            .uri("/pipelines")
+            .header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .body(Body::from(
+                serde_json::to_string(&serde_json::json!({"dot_source": MINIMAL_DOT})).unwrap(),
+            ))
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let response = app.clone().oneshot(req).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::CREATED);
+
+        let body = body_json(response.into_body()).await;
+        let pipeline_id = body["id"].as_str().unwrap().to_string();
+        assert!(!pipeline_id.is_empty());
+
+        // Wait for pipeline to complete
+        tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
+
+        // GET /pipelines/{id} to verify completion
+        let req = Request::builder()
+            .method("GET")
+            .uri(format!("/pipelines/{pipeline_id}"))
+            .body(Body::empty())
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let response = app.oneshot(req).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+
+        let body = body_json(response.into_body()).await;
+        assert_eq!(body["status"].as_str().unwrap(), "completed");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn dry_run_serve_rejects_invalid_dot() {
+        let app = dry_run_app();
+
+        let req = Request::builder()
+            .method("POST")
+            .uri("/pipelines")
+            .header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .body(Body::from(
+                serde_json::to_string(&serde_json::json!({"dot_source": "not valid dot"})).unwrap(),
+            ))
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let response = app.oneshot(req).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST);
+    }
+}
+
 // ===========================================================================
 // 19a. Sub-pipeline E2E (TS Scenario 9)
 // ===========================================================================