Release 1.7.0

- Event-driven background sync, replacing the hourly launchd StartInterval
  poll (only fired if the Mac happened to be awake at that instant, and got
  throttled/coalesced by macOS). Once saved routes exist: registers as a
  login item (SMAppService.mainApp), removes any old launchd schedule, and
  reacts to EKEventStoreChanged (debounced ~3s), NSWorkspace.didWakeNotification,
  plus a 30-min fallback timer as a safety net. Auto-sync always writes,
  matching what the old scheduled runs did.
- This lives in BusyMirrorAppController (app-lifetime), not ContentView —
  ContentView's own EKEventStoreChanged observer is torn down when the main
  window closes, which would make auto-sync a no-op exactly when it needs to
  keep working (window closed, menu-bar-only). Confirmed via MenuBarSupport's
  existing "Sync Now" handler, which already has to reopen the window before
  it can run anything.

All 47 unit tests pass.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

AGENTS.md

@@ -127,7 +127,9 @@ BusyMirror.app/Contents/MacOS/BusyMirror --run-saved-routes --write 1 --exit
 BusyMirror.app/Contents/MacOS/BusyMirror --routes "1->2,3" --write 1 --exit
 ```
 
-Relevant flags: `--privacy`, `--copy-notes`, `--all-day`, `--days-forward`, `--days-back`, `--merge-gap-hours`, `--mode`, `--exclude-titles`, `--exclude-organizers`, `--cleanup-only`, `--exit`.
+Relevant flags: `--privacy`, `--copy-notes`, `--sync-reminders`, `--all-day`, `--days-forward`, `--days-back`, `--merge-gap-hours`, `--mode`, `--exclude-titles`, `--exclude-organizers`, `--cleanup-only`, `--exit`.
+
+Diagnostic/query flags (no calendar write, exit immediately): `--help`/`-h`, `--list-calendars [--json]`, `--status [--json]`. `--status` reads `lastRunAtISO`/`lastRunOK`/`lastRunSummary` in `UserDefaults`, written by `recordRunResult(ok:summary:)` at the end of every `--routes`/`--run-saved-routes` invocation. Exit codes: `2` = no calendar access, `3` = `--run-saved-routes` with no saved routes.
 
 Scheduled runs are implemented by generating a `launchd` plist in `~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.cqrenet.BusyMirror.saved-routes.plist` and bootstrapping it with `launchctl`. The app removes and re-bootstraps the agent on every "Install Schedule" click.
 

BusyMirror.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj

@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 				"CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY[sdk=macosx*]" = "-";
 				CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
 				COMBINE_HIDPI_IMAGES = YES;
-				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 20;
+				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 23;
 				ENABLE_PREVIEWS = YES;
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = BusyMirror/Info.plist;
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@
 					"$(inherited)",
 					"@executable_path/../Frameworks",
 				);
-                MARKETING_VERSION = 1.5.1;
+                MARKETING_VERSION = 1.7.0;
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.cqrenet.BusyMirror;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = "$(TARGET_NAME)";
 				REGISTER_APP_GROUPS = YES;
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@
 				"CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY[sdk=macosx*]" = "-";
 				CODE_SIGN_STYLE = Automatic;
 				COMBINE_HIDPI_IMAGES = YES;
-				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 20;
+				CURRENT_PROJECT_VERSION = 23;
 				ENABLE_PREVIEWS = YES;
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = BusyMirror/Info.plist;
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@
 					"$(inherited)",
 					"@executable_path/../Frameworks",
 				);
-                MARKETING_VERSION = 1.5.1;
+                MARKETING_VERSION = 1.7.0;
 				PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER = com.cqrenet.BusyMirror;
 				PRODUCT_NAME = "$(TARGET_NAME)";
 				REGISTER_APP_GROUPS = YES;

BusyMirror/BlockMath.swift

@@ -7,10 +7,31 @@ struct Block: Hashable {
     let label: String?        // source title (for dry-run / non-private)
     let notes: String?        // source notes (for optional copy)
     let occurrence: Date?     // occurrenceDate for recurring instances
+    let alarmOffsets: [TimeInterval]?  // relative alarm offsets copied from source event
 
     /// Convenience factory for time-only blocks (used internally for occupancy tracking).
     static func span(start: Date, end: Date) -> Block {
-        Block(start: start, end: end, srcStableID: nil, label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: nil)
+        Block(start: start, end: end, srcStableID: nil, label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: nil, alarmOffsets: nil)
+    }
+
+    // Alarms are carried along for mirroring but do not affect time-based
+    // deduplication, merging, or overlap calculations.
+    static func == (lhs: Block, rhs: Block) -> Bool {
+        lhs.start == rhs.start &&
+        lhs.end == rhs.end &&
+        lhs.srcStableID == rhs.srcStableID &&
+        lhs.label == rhs.label &&
+        lhs.notes == rhs.notes &&
+        lhs.occurrence == rhs.occurrence
+    }
+
+    func hash(into hasher: inout Hasher) {
+        hasher.combine(start)
+        hasher.combine(end)
+        hasher.combine(srcStableID)
+        hasher.combine(label)
+        hasher.combine(notes)
+        hasher.combine(occurrence)
     }
 }
 
@@ -36,16 +57,18 @@ func mergeBlocks(_ blocks: [Block], gapMinutes: Int) -> [Block] {
     let sorted = blocks.sorted { $0.start < $1.start }
     var out: [Block] = []
     var cur = Block.span(start: sorted[0].start, end: sorted[0].end)
+    var curAlarms = sorted[0].alarmOffsets
     for b in sorted.dropFirst() {
         let gap = b.start.timeIntervalSince(cur.end) / 60.0
         if gap <= Double(gapMinutes) {
             if b.end > cur.end { cur = Block.span(start: cur.start, end: b.end) }
         } else {
-            out.append(cur)
+            out.append(Block(start: cur.start, end: cur.end, srcStableID: nil, label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: nil, alarmOffsets: curAlarms))
             cur = Block.span(start: b.start, end: b.end)
+            curAlarms = b.alarmOffsets
         }
     }
-    out.append(cur)
+    out.append(Block(start: cur.start, end: cur.end, srcStableID: nil, label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: nil, alarmOffsets: curAlarms))
     return out
 }
 

BusyMirror/ContentView.swift

@@ -44,16 +44,18 @@ struct Route: Identifiable, Hashable, Codable {
     var targetIDs: Set<String>
     var privacy: Bool              // true = hide details for this source
     var copyNotes: Bool            // copy description when privacy is OFF
+    var syncReminders: Bool        // copy source event alarms into placeholder
     var mergeGapHours: Int         // per-route merge gap (hours)
     var overlap: OverlapMode       // per-route overlap behavior
     var allDay: Bool               // per-route mirror all-day
-    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case sourceID, targetIDs, privacy, copyNotes, mergeGapHours, overlap, allDay }
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case sourceID, targetIDs, privacy, copyNotes, syncReminders, mergeGapHours, overlap, allDay }
 
-    init(sourceID: String, targetIDs: Set<String>, privacy: Bool, copyNotes: Bool, mergeGapHours: Int, overlap: OverlapMode, allDay: Bool) {
+    init(sourceID: String, targetIDs: Set<String>, privacy: Bool, copyNotes: Bool, syncReminders: Bool, mergeGapHours: Int, overlap: OverlapMode, allDay: Bool) {
         self.sourceID = sourceID
         self.targetIDs = targetIDs
         self.privacy = privacy
         self.copyNotes = copyNotes
+        self.syncReminders = syncReminders
         self.mergeGapHours = mergeGapHours
         self.overlap = overlap
         self.allDay = allDay
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ struct Route: Identifiable, Hashable, Codable {
         self.targetIDs = try c.decode(Set<String>.self, forKey: .targetIDs)
         self.privacy = try c.decode(Bool.self, forKey: .privacy)
         self.copyNotes = try c.decode(Bool.self, forKey: .copyNotes)
+        self.syncReminders = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .syncReminders) ?? false
         self.mergeGapHours = try c.decode(Int.self, forKey: .mergeGapHours)
         self.overlap = try c.decode(OverlapMode.self, forKey: .overlap)
         self.allDay = try c.decode(Bool.self, forKey: .allDay)
@@ -89,6 +92,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     private var mergeGapMin: Int { max(0, mergeGapHours * 60) }
     @AppStorage("hideDetails") private var hideDetails: Bool = true        // Privacy ON by default -> use "Busy"
     @AppStorage("copyDescription") private var copyDescription: Bool = false   // Only applies when hideDetails == false
+    @AppStorage("syncReminders") private var syncReminders: Bool = false       // Copy source alarms into mirrored placeholders
     @AppStorage("mirrorAllDay") private var mirrorAllDay: Bool = false
     @AppStorage("overlapMode") private var overlapModeRaw: String = OverlapMode.allow.rawValue
     @AppStorage("filterByWorkHours") private var filterByWorkHours: Bool = false
@@ -110,6 +114,10 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     @State private var logText = "Ready."
     @State private var isRunning = false
     @State private var isCLIRun = false
+    @State private var cliRunErrorCount = 0
+    @AppStorage("lastRunAtISO") private var lastRunAtISO: String = ""
+    @AppStorage("lastRunOK") private var lastRunOK: Bool = true
+    @AppStorage("lastRunSummary") private var lastRunSummary: String = ""
     @State private var confirmCleanup = false
     @State private var mirrorTask: Task<Void, Never>? = nil
     @State private var progressText: String? = nil
@@ -542,6 +550,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                                   targetIDs: targetIDs,
                                   privacy: hideDetails,
                                   copyNotes: copyDescription,
+                                  syncReminders: syncReminders,
                                   mergeGapHours: mergeGapHours,
                                   overlap: overlapMode,
                                   allDay: mirrorAllDay)
@@ -587,6 +596,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             Toggle("Copy description", isOn: routeBinding.copyNotes)
                 .disabled(isRunning || route.privacy)
                 .help("If ON and Private is OFF, copy the source event’s notes/description into the placeholder.")
+            Toggle("Sync reminders", isOn: routeBinding.syncReminders)
+                .disabled(isRunning)
+                .help("If ON, copy the source event’s reminders/alarms into the placeholder.")
             Toggle("Mirror all-day events for this route", isOn: routeBinding.allDay)
                 .disabled(isRunning)
                 .help("Mirror all-day events for this source.")
@@ -732,7 +744,8 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                 excludedOrganizerFilterTerms: excludedOrganizerFilterTerms,
                 mirrorAcceptedOnly: mirrorAcceptedOnly,
                 autoDeleteMissing: autoDeleteMissing,
-                writeEnabled: writeEnabled
+                writeEnabled: writeEnabled,
+                syncReminders: r.syncReminders
             )
             let srcCal = calendars[sIdx]
             let targets = calendars.filter { validTargets.contains($0.calendarIdentifier) && $0.calendarIdentifier != srcCal.calendarIdentifier }
@@ -776,7 +789,8 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             excludedOrganizerFilterTerms: excludedOrganizerFilterTerms,
             mirrorAcceptedOnly: mirrorAcceptedOnly,
             autoDeleteMissing: autoDeleteMissing,
-            writeEnabled: writeEnabled
+            writeEnabled: writeEnabled,
+            syncReminders: syncReminders
         )
     }
 
@@ -904,6 +918,8 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                 .disabled(isRunning)
             Toggle("Copy description when mirroring", isOn: $copyDescription)
                 .disabled(isRunning || hideDetails)
+            Toggle("Sync reminders when mirroring", isOn: $syncReminders)
+                .disabled(isRunning)
             Toggle("Mirror all-day events", isOn: $mirrorAllDay)
                 .disabled(isRunning)
             Toggle("Mirror accepted events only", isOn: $mirrorAcceptedOnly)
@@ -1295,6 +1311,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             tryRunCLIIfPresent()
             enforceNoSourceInTargets()
             handlePendingMenuBarSyncIfNeeded()
+            if !isCLIRun {
+                appController.bootstrapBackgroundSync()
+            }
         }
         .onDisappear {
             appController.setMainWindowVisible(false)
@@ -1309,6 +1328,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         .onChange(of: mergeGapHours) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
         .onChange(of: hideDetails) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
         .onChange(of: copyDescription) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
+        .onChange(of: syncReminders) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
         .onChange(of: mirrorAllDay) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
         .onChange(of: mirrorAcceptedOnly) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
         .onChange(of: overlapModeRaw) { _ in saveSettingsToDefaults() }
@@ -1335,16 +1355,171 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         .onChange(of: routes) { _ in
             saveSettingsToDefaults()
             handlePendingMenuBarSyncIfNeeded()
+            appController.armAutoSyncIfPossible()
         }
     }
     
     // MARK: - CLI support
+    private static let cliHelpText = """
+    BusyMirror — mirror calendar events between EventKit calendars.
+
+    Usage:
+      BusyMirror --run-saved-routes [--write 1] [--exit]
+      BusyMirror --routes "1->2,3; 4->5" [--write 1] [--exit]
+      BusyMirror --list-calendars [--json]
+      BusyMirror --status [--json]
+      BusyMirror --help
+
+    Run modes:
+      --run-saved-routes     Run the routes configured in the app's saved settings.
+      --routes SPEC          Run ad-hoc routes by 1-based calendar index, e.g. "1->2,3".
+      --list-calendars       Print available calendars (index, id, title, source) and exit.
+      --status               Print last-run and schedule diagnostics and exit.
+      --help, -h             Print this help and exit.
+
+    Options:
+      --json                 Machine-readable JSON output for --list-calendars / --status.
+      --write 1              Actually create/update/delete events (default: dry-run).
+      --exit                 Quit the app after the run completes.
+      --cleanup-only         Only delete stale mirrored placeholders; don't mirror.
+      --privacy 1|0          Hide event details behind a placeholder title.
+      --copy-notes 1|0       Copy the source event's notes into the mirror.
+      --sync-reminders 1|0   Copy source event alarms into the mirror.
+      --all-day 1|0          Mirror all-day events.
+      --mode allow|skipCovered|fillGaps
+      --days-back N / --days-forward N
+      --merge-gap-hours N
+      --exclude-titles "token1, token2"
+      --exclude-organizers "alice@example.com, Example Org"
+    """
+
+    private func recordRunResult(ok: Bool, summary: String) {
+        lastRunAtISO = ISO8601DateFormatter().string(from: Date())
+        lastRunOK = ok
+        lastRunSummary = summary
+    }
+
+    private struct CLICalendarInfo: Codable {
+        let index: Int
+        let id: String
+        let title: String
+        let source: String
+        let sourceType: String
+        let allowsModify: Bool
+    }
+
+    private struct CLIStatusInfo: Codable {
+        let lastRunAt: String?
+        let lastRunOK: Bool?
+        let lastRunSummary: String?
+        let scheduleInstalled: Bool
+        let scheduleSummary: String?
+        let routeCount: Int
+        let logFilePath: String
+    }
+
+    private func sourceTypeLabel(_ type: EKSourceType) -> String {
+        switch type {
+        case .local: return "local"
+        case .exchange: return "exchange"
+        case .calDAV: return "calDAV"
+        case .mobileMe: return "iCloud"
+        case .subscribed: return "subscribed"
+        case .birthdays: return "birthdays"
+        @unknown default: return "unknown"
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func printCalendars(json: Bool) {
+        let infos = calendars.enumerated().map { idx, cal in
+            CLICalendarInfo(
+                index: idx + 1,
+                id: cal.calendarIdentifier,
+                title: cal.title,
+                source: cal.source.title,
+                sourceType: sourceTypeLabel(cal.source.sourceType),
+                allowsModify: cal.allowsContentModifications
+            )
+        }
+        if json {
+            let encoder = JSONEncoder()
+            encoder.outputFormatting = [.prettyPrinted, .sortedKeys]
+            if let data = try? encoder.encode(infos), let s = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) {
+                print(s)
+            }
+        } else {
+            for info in infos {
+                print("\(info.index): \(info.title) [\(info.source), \(info.sourceType)]\(info.allowsModify ? "" : " (read-only)")  id=\(info.id)")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func printStatus(json: Bool) {
+        let info = CLIStatusInfo(
+            lastRunAt: lastRunAtISO.isEmpty ? nil : lastRunAtISO,
+            lastRunOK: lastRunAtISO.isEmpty ? nil : lastRunOK,
+            lastRunSummary: lastRunSummary.isEmpty ? nil : lastRunSummary,
+            scheduleInstalled: hasInstalledSchedule,
+            scheduleSummary: hasInstalledSchedule ? scheduleSummary : nil,
+            routeCount: routes.count,
+            logFilePath: AppLogStore.logFileURL.path
+        )
+        if json {
+            let encoder = JSONEncoder()
+            encoder.outputFormatting = [.prettyPrinted, .sortedKeys]
+            if let data = try? encoder.encode(info), let s = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) {
+                print(s)
+            }
+        } else {
+            print("Last run: \(info.lastRunAt ?? "never")\(info.lastRunAt != nil ? (info.lastRunOK == true ? " (ok)" : " (error)") : "")")
+            if let summary = info.lastRunSummary { print("  \(summary)") }
+            print("Schedule: \(info.scheduleInstalled ? (info.scheduleSummary ?? "installed") : "not installed")")
+            print("Saved routes: \(info.routeCount)")
+            print("Log file: \(info.logFilePath)")
+        }
+    }
+
     func tryRunCLIIfPresent() {
         let args = CommandLine.arguments
+        let jsonOutput = args.contains("--json")
+
+        if args.contains("--help") || args.contains("-h") {
+            isCLIRun = true
+            print(Self.cliHelpText)
+            NSApp.terminate(nil)
+            return
+        }
+
+        if args.contains("--status") {
+            isCLIRun = true
+            printStatus(json: jsonOutput)
+            NSApp.terminate(nil)
+            return
+        }
+
+        if args.contains("--list-calendars") {
+            isCLIRun = true
+            Task {
+                if hasAccess { await MainActor.run { reloadCalendars() } }
+                for _ in 0..<50 {
+                    if hasAccess && !calendars.isEmpty { break }
+                    try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 200_000_000)
+                }
+                guard hasAccess else {
+                    FileHandle.standardError.write("No calendar access.\n".data(using: .utf8)!)
+                    exit(2)
+                }
+                await MainActor.run { printCalendars(json: jsonOutput) }
+                NSApp.terminate(nil)
+            }
+            return
+        }
+
         let routesIdx = args.firstIndex(of: "--routes")
         let runSavedRoutes = args.contains("--run-saved-routes")
         guard routesIdx != nil || runSavedRoutes else { return }
         isCLIRun = true
+        cliRunErrorCount = 0
 
         func boolArg(_ name: String, default def: Bool) -> Bool {
             if let i = args.firstIndex(of: name), i+1 < args.count {
@@ -1365,6 +1540,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         // Configure options from CLI flags
         hideDetails = boolArg("--privacy", default: hideDetails)
         copyDescription = boolArg("--copy-notes", default: copyDescription)
+        syncReminders = boolArg("--sync-reminders", default: syncReminders)
         writeEnabled = boolArg("--write", default: writeEnabled)
         mirrorAllDay = boolArg("--all-day", default: mirrorAllDay)
         daysForward = intArg("--days-forward", default: daysForward)
@@ -1405,22 +1581,26 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             }
             guard hasAccess, !calendars.isEmpty else {
                 log("CLI: no calendar access; aborting")
-                NSApp.terminate(nil)
-                return
+                recordRunResult(ok: false, summary: "no calendar access")
+                exit(2)
             }
 
             let cliConfig = makeMirrorConfig()
             if runSavedRoutes {
                 if routes.isEmpty {
                     log("CLI: no saved routes; aborting")
+                    recordRunResult(ok: false, summary: "no saved routes")
+                    exit(3)
                 } else if boolArg("--cleanup-only", default: false) {
                     for r in routes {
                         log("CLI: cleanup saved route \(r.sourceID)")
                         await runCleanupForRoute(r)
                     }
+                    recordRunResult(ok: cliRunErrorCount == 0, summary: "cleaned up \(routes.count) saved route(s)")
                 } else {
                     var sessionGuard = Set<String>()
                     await runConfiguredRoutes(routes, sessionGuard: &sessionGuard)
+                    recordRunResult(ok: cliRunErrorCount == 0, summary: "ran \(routes.count) saved route(s)")
                 }
             } else {
                 for part in routeParts where !part.isEmpty {
@@ -1450,6 +1630,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                         await engine.runMirror(store: store, config: cliConfig, sourceCalendar: srcCal, targetCalendars: targets, sessionGuard: &sessionGuard, isMultiRouteRun: false)
                     }
                 }
+                recordRunResult(ok: cliRunErrorCount == 0, summary: "ran \(routeParts.count) route(s)")
             }
             // Exit only when --exit is explicitly passed.  isCLIRun alone does
             // not force termination so that advanced users can open the UI with
@@ -1542,12 +1723,13 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     }
     
     // MARK: - Export / Import Settings
-    private struct SettingsPayload: Codable {
+    struct SettingsPayload: Codable {
         var daysBack: Int
         var daysForward: Int
         var mergeGapHours: Int
         var hideDetails: Bool
         var copyDescription: Bool
+        var syncReminders: Bool = false
         var mirrorAllDay: Bool
         var filterByWorkHours: Bool = false
         var workHoursStart: Int = 9
@@ -1566,6 +1748,67 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         // optional metadata
         var appVersion: String?
         var exportedAt: Date = Date()
+
+        init(daysBack: Int, daysForward: Int, mergeGapHours: Int, hideDetails: Bool, copyDescription: Bool,
+             syncReminders: Bool = false, mirrorAllDay: Bool, filterByWorkHours: Bool, workHoursStart: Int,
+             workHoursEnd: Int, excludedTitleFilters: [String], excludedOrganizerFilters: [String],
+             mirrorAcceptedOnly: Bool, overlapMode: String, titlePrefix: String, placeholderTitle: String,
+             autoDeleteMissing: Bool, routes: [Route], selectedSourceID: String? = nil,
+             selectedTargetIDs: [String]? = nil, appVersion: String? = nil, exportedAt: Date = Date()) {
+            self.daysBack = daysBack
+            self.daysForward = daysForward
+            self.mergeGapHours = mergeGapHours
+            self.hideDetails = hideDetails
+            self.copyDescription = copyDescription
+            self.syncReminders = syncReminders
+            self.mirrorAllDay = mirrorAllDay
+            self.filterByWorkHours = filterByWorkHours
+            self.workHoursStart = workHoursStart
+            self.workHoursEnd = workHoursEnd
+            self.excludedTitleFilters = excludedTitleFilters
+            self.excludedOrganizerFilters = excludedOrganizerFilters
+            self.mirrorAcceptedOnly = mirrorAcceptedOnly
+            self.overlapMode = overlapMode
+            self.titlePrefix = titlePrefix
+            self.placeholderTitle = placeholderTitle
+            self.autoDeleteMissing = autoDeleteMissing
+            self.routes = routes
+            self.selectedSourceID = selectedSourceID
+            self.selectedTargetIDs = selectedTargetIDs
+            self.appVersion = appVersion
+            self.exportedAt = exportedAt
+        }
+
+        // Custom decode: every field added after the very first release must be
+        // read with decodeIfPresent so that a settings blob written by an older
+        // build (missing that key) doesn't fail the whole decode and silently
+        // wipe all saved routes/settings (see: settings.v2 losing data across
+        // the 1.5.1 -> 1.6.0 upgrade when `syncReminders` was added).
+        init(from decoder: Decoder) throws {
+            let c = try decoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)
+            daysBack = try c.decodeIfPresent(Int.self, forKey: .daysBack) ?? 1
+            daysForward = try c.decodeIfPresent(Int.self, forKey: .daysForward) ?? 7
+            mergeGapHours = try c.decodeIfPresent(Int.self, forKey: .mergeGapHours) ?? 0
+            hideDetails = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .hideDetails) ?? true
+            copyDescription = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .copyDescription) ?? false
+            syncReminders = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .syncReminders) ?? false
+            mirrorAllDay = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .mirrorAllDay) ?? false
+            filterByWorkHours = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .filterByWorkHours) ?? false
+            workHoursStart = try c.decodeIfPresent(Int.self, forKey: .workHoursStart) ?? 9
+            workHoursEnd = try c.decodeIfPresent(Int.self, forKey: .workHoursEnd) ?? 17
+            excludedTitleFilters = try c.decodeIfPresent([String].self, forKey: .excludedTitleFilters) ?? []
+            excludedOrganizerFilters = try c.decodeIfPresent([String].self, forKey: .excludedOrganizerFilters) ?? []
+            mirrorAcceptedOnly = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .mirrorAcceptedOnly) ?? false
+            overlapMode = try c.decodeIfPresent(String.self, forKey: .overlapMode) ?? OverlapMode.allow.rawValue
+            titlePrefix = try c.decodeIfPresent(String.self, forKey: .titlePrefix) ?? "🪞 "
+            placeholderTitle = try c.decodeIfPresent(String.self, forKey: .placeholderTitle) ?? "Busy"
+            autoDeleteMissing = try c.decodeIfPresent(Bool.self, forKey: .autoDeleteMissing) ?? true
+            routes = try c.decodeIfPresent([Route].self, forKey: .routes) ?? []
+            selectedSourceID = try c.decodeIfPresent(String.self, forKey: .selectedSourceID)
+            selectedTargetIDs = try c.decodeIfPresent([String].self, forKey: .selectedTargetIDs)
+            appVersion = try c.decodeIfPresent(String.self, forKey: .appVersion)
+            exportedAt = try c.decodeIfPresent(Date.self, forKey: .exportedAt) ?? Date()
+        }
     }
 
     private func makeSnapshot() -> SettingsPayload {
@@ -1600,6 +1843,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         mergeGapHours = s.mergeGapHours
         hideDetails = s.hideDetails
         copyDescription = s.copyDescription
+        syncReminders = s.syncReminders
         mirrorAllDay = s.mirrorAllDay
         filterByWorkHours = s.filterByWorkHours
         workHoursStart = s.workHoursStart
@@ -1703,6 +1947,18 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             do {
                 let snap = try JSONDecoder().decode(SettingsPayload.self, from: data)
                 applySnapshot(snap)
+                // A build affected by an earlier settings.v2 decode failure (fixed
+                // in 1.6.0 — a newly added field with no decode fallback threw and
+                // wiped routes in memory, which a later autosave then persisted
+                // back as empty) can still be running with `routes: []` in
+                // settings.v2 while the untouched legacy `routes.v1` key still
+                // holds the real routes. Recover them if so.
+                if routes.isEmpty, let legacyData = defaults.data(forKey: legacyRoutesDefaultsKey),
+                   let recovered = try? JSONDecoder().decode([Route].self, from: legacyData), !recovered.isEmpty {
+                    routes = recovered
+                    log("Recovered \(recovered.count) route(s) from legacy backup (routes.v1).")
+                    saveSettingsToDefaults()
+                }
             } catch {
                 log("✗ Failed to load settings: \(error.localizedDescription)")
             }
@@ -1737,6 +1993,12 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     // MARK: - Logging
     func log(_ s: String) {
         AppLogStore.append(s)
+        if isCLIRun {
+            let lower = s.lowercased()
+            if lower.contains("error") || lower.contains("fail") {
+                cliRunErrorCount += 1
+            }
+        }
         DispatchQueue.main.async {
             logText.append("\n" + s)
             let maxLines = 2000

BusyMirror/MenuBarSupport.swift

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import SwiftUI
 import AppKit
+import EventKit
+import ServiceManagement
 
 enum BusyMirrorSceneID {
     static let mainWindow = "main-window"
@@ -33,6 +35,187 @@ final class BusyMirrorAppController: ObservableObject {
         NSApp.activate(ignoringOtherApps: true)
         openWindow(id: BusyMirrorSceneID.mainWindow)
     }
+
+    // MARK: - Event-driven background sync
+    //
+    // Owned here (not by ContentView) because this controller lives for the
+    // whole process, independent of the main window's lifecycle. ContentView's
+    // own EKEventStoreChanged observer is torn down in .onDisappear when the
+    // window closes — fine for keeping the UI's calendar list fresh while
+    // open, but useless for background operation, which is the entire point
+    // of replacing the old hourly launchd poll. This runs regardless of
+    // whether the window is open, closed, or never opened this session.
+
+    private let backgroundStore = EKEventStore()
+    private var storeObserver: NSObjectProtocol?
+    private var wakeObserver: NSObjectProtocol?
+    private var debounceTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+    private var fallbackTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+    private var hasArmedAutoSync = false
+
+    private let settingsDefaultsKey = "settings.v2"
+    private let legacyRoutesDefaultsKey = "routes.v1"
+    private let launchAgentLabel = "com.cqrenet.BusyMirror.saved-routes"
+
+    private var launchAgentURL: URL {
+        let base = FileManager.default.urls(for: .libraryDirectory, in: .userDomainMask).first
+            ?? FileManager.default.homeDirectoryForCurrentUser.appendingPathComponent("Library", isDirectory: true)
+        return base.appendingPathComponent("LaunchAgents/\(launchAgentLabel).plist", isDirectory: false)
+    }
+
+    /// Call once at app launch. Only activates if calendar access has already
+    /// been granted in a prior session — never prompts on its own, since a
+    /// permission dialog with no window open would be confusing. First-run
+    /// consent stays ContentView's job.
+    func bootstrapBackgroundSync() {
+        let status = EKEventStore.authorizationStatus(for: .event)
+        let hasAccess: Bool
+        if #available(macOS 14.0, *) {
+            hasAccess = status == .fullAccess
+        } else {
+            hasAccess = status == .authorized
+        }
+        guard hasAccess else { return }
+        armAutoSyncIfPossible()
+    }
+
+    /// Re-check whether auto-sync should activate. Safe to call repeatedly
+    /// (e.g. from ContentView whenever the saved routes list changes) — it
+    /// only does anything the first time routes go from empty to non-empty.
+    func armAutoSyncIfPossible() {
+        guard !hasArmedAutoSync else { return }
+        guard !loadRoutesFromDefaults().isEmpty else { return }
+        hasArmedAutoSync = true
+
+        if SMAppService.mainApp.status != .enabled {
+            try? SMAppService.mainApp.register()
+            AppLogStore.append("[auto-sync] Registered as login item.")
+        }
+        if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: launchAgentURL.path) {
+            removeLegacyLaunchdSchedule()
+        }
+        if storeObserver == nil {
+            storeObserver = NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+                forName: .EKEventStoreChanged, object: backgroundStore, queue: .main
+            ) { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.scheduleAutoSync(reason: "calendar changed")
+            }
+        }
+        if wakeObserver == nil {
+            wakeObserver = NSWorkspace.shared.notificationCenter.addObserver(
+                forName: NSWorkspace.didWakeNotification, object: nil, queue: .main
+            ) { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.scheduleAutoSync(reason: "system woke from sleep")
+            }
+        }
+        if fallbackTask == nil {
+            fallbackTask = Task { [weak self] in
+                while !Task.isCancelled {
+                    try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 30 * 60 * 1_000_000_000)
+                    guard !Task.isCancelled else { break }
+                    self?.scheduleAutoSync(reason: "periodic fallback check")
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        AppLogStore.append("[auto-sync] Armed: watching for calendar changes.")
+    }
+
+    private func removeLegacyLaunchdSchedule() {
+        let domain = "gui/\(getuid())"
+        let proc = Process()
+        proc.executableURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/bin/launchctl")
+        proc.arguments = ["bootout", domain, launchAgentURL.path]
+        proc.standardOutput = Pipe()
+        proc.standardError = Pipe()
+        try? proc.run()
+        proc.waitUntilExit()
+        try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: launchAgentURL)
+        AppLogStore.append("[auto-sync] Removed launchd schedule (superseded by change-driven sync).")
+    }
+
+    /// Debounces bursts of EKEventStoreChanged notifications into one sync.
+    private func scheduleAutoSync(reason: String) {
+        debounceTask?.cancel()
+        debounceTask = Task { [weak self] in
+            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 3_000_000_000)
+            guard !Task.isCancelled else { return }
+            await self?.runAutoSync(reason: reason)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func loadRoutesFromDefaults() -> [Route] {
+        let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
+        if let data = defaults.data(forKey: settingsDefaultsKey),
+           let snap = try? JSONDecoder().decode(ContentView.SettingsPayload.self, from: data) {
+            return snap.routes
+        }
+        if let legacyData = defaults.data(forKey: legacyRoutesDefaultsKey),
+           let routes = try? JSONDecoder().decode([Route].self, from: legacyData) {
+            return routes
+        }
+        return []
+    }
+
+    private func runAutoSync(reason: String) async {
+        guard !isSyncing else { return }
+        let routes = loadRoutesFromDefaults()
+        guard !routes.isEmpty else { return }
+
+        guard let snap = UserDefaults.standard.data(forKey: settingsDefaultsKey),
+              let settings = try? JSONDecoder().decode(ContentView.SettingsPayload.self, from: snap) else {
+            return
+        }
+
+        setSyncing(true)
+        AppLogStore.append("[auto-sync] Triggered by \(reason).")
+        var errorCount = 0
+        let engine = MirrorEngine(log: { s in
+            AppLogStore.append("[auto-sync] \(s)")
+            let lower = s.lowercased()
+            if lower.contains("error") || lower.contains("fail") { errorCount += 1 }
+        })
+
+        let calendars = backgroundStore.calendars(for: .event)
+        func calendar(id: String) -> EKCalendar? { calendars.first { $0.calendarIdentifier == id } }
+
+        var ranAnyRoute = false
+        var sessionGuard = Set<String>()
+        for route in routes {
+            guard let sourceCal = calendar(id: route.sourceID) else { continue }
+            let validTargetIDs = route.targetIDs.filter { $0 != route.sourceID }
+            let targets = validTargetIDs.compactMap(calendar(id:))
+            guard !targets.isEmpty else { continue }
+            ranAnyRoute = true
+            let config = MirrorConfig(
+                daysBack: settings.daysBack,
+                daysForward: settings.daysForward,
+                mergeGapMin: max(0, route.mergeGapHours * 60),
+                hideDetails: route.privacy,
+                copyDescription: route.copyNotes,
+                mirrorAllDay: route.allDay,
+                overlapMode: route.overlap,
+                titlePrefix: settings.titlePrefix,
+                placeholderTitle: settings.placeholderTitle,
+                filterByWorkHours: settings.filterByWorkHours,
+                workHoursStart: settings.workHoursStart,
+                workHoursEnd: settings.workHoursEnd,
+                excludedTitleFilterTerms: settings.excludedTitleFilters.map { $0.lowercased() },
+                excludedOrganizerFilterTerms: settings.excludedOrganizerFilters.map { $0.lowercased() },
+                mirrorAcceptedOnly: settings.mirrorAcceptedOnly,
+                autoDeleteMissing: settings.autoDeleteMissing,
+                writeEnabled: true,
+                syncReminders: route.syncReminders
+            )
+            await engine.runMirror(store: backgroundStore, config: config, sourceCalendar: sourceCal, targetCalendars: targets, sessionGuard: &sessionGuard, isMultiRouteRun: true)
+        }
+
+        let summary = ranAnyRoute ? "auto-sync (\(reason)): ran \(routes.count) saved route(s)" : "auto-sync (\(reason)): no route had a valid source+target"
+        AppLogStore.append("[auto-sync] \(summary)")
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(ISO8601DateFormatter().string(from: Date()), forKey: "lastRunAtISO")
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(errorCount == 0, forKey: "lastRunOK")
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(summary, forKey: "lastRunSummary")
+        setSyncing(false)
+    }
 }
 
 struct BusyMirrorMenuBarView: View {

BusyMirror/MirrorConfig.swift

@@ -19,4 +19,5 @@ struct MirrorConfig {
     let mirrorAcceptedOnly: Bool
     let autoDeleteMissing: Bool
     let writeEnabled: Bool
+    let syncReminders: Bool
 }

BusyMirror/MirrorEngine.swift

@@ -3,6 +3,24 @@ import EventKit
 
 private let SAME_TIME_TOL_MIN: Double = 5
 
+private func alarmOffsets(for event: EKEvent) -> [TimeInterval]? {
+    guard let alarms = event.alarms, !alarms.isEmpty else { return nil }
+    let offsets = alarms.compactMap { alarm -> TimeInterval? in
+        if alarm.relativeOffset != 0 {
+            return alarm.relativeOffset
+        }
+        if let absoluteDate = alarm.absoluteDate, let start = event.startDate {
+            return absoluteDate.timeIntervalSince(start)
+        }
+        return nil
+    }
+    return offsets.isEmpty ? nil : offsets
+}
+
+private func alarmsFromOffsets(_ offsets: [TimeInterval]) -> [EKAlarm] {
+    offsets.map { EKAlarm(relativeOffset: $0) }
+}
+
 struct MirrorRecord: Hashable, Codable {
     var targetCalendarID: String
     var sourceCalendarID: String
@@ -160,7 +178,7 @@ final class MirrorEngine {
             guard let s = ev.startDate, let e = ev.endDate, e > s else { continue }
             guard ev.calendar.calendarIdentifier == srcCal.calendarIdentifier else { continue }
             let srcID = stableSourceIdentifier(for: ev)
-            srcBlocks.append(Block(start: s, end: e, srcStableID: srcID, label: ev.title, notes: ev.notes, occurrence: ev.occurrenceDate))
+            srcBlocks.append(Block(start: s, end: e, srcStableID: srcID, label: ev.title, notes: ev.notes, occurrence: ev.occurrenceDate, alarmOffsets: alarmOffsets(for: ev)))
         }
         if skippedMirrors > 0 {
             log("- SKIP mirrored-on-source: \(skippedMirrors) instance(s)")
@@ -324,6 +342,17 @@ final class MirrorEngine {
                 upsertMirrorRecord(for: blk, event: event)
             }
 
+            func desiredAlarms(for blk: Block) -> [EKAlarm] {
+                guard config.syncReminders, let offsets = blk.alarmOffsets else { return [] }
+                return alarmsFromOffsets(offsets)
+            }
+
+            func alarmsEqual(_ a: [EKAlarm], _ b: [EKAlarm]) -> Bool {
+                let offsetsA = a.compactMap { $0.relativeOffset }.sorted()
+                let offsetsB = b.compactMap { $0.relativeOffset }.sorted()
+                return offsetsA == offsetsB
+            }
+
             func needsUpdate(existing: EKEvent, blk: Block, displayTitle: String, desiredNotes: String?, desiredURL: URL?) -> Bool {
                 let curS = existing.startDate ?? blk.start
                 let curE = existing.endDate ?? blk.end
@@ -333,6 +362,9 @@ final class MirrorEngine {
                 if (existing.notes ?? "") != (desiredNotes ?? "") { return true }
                 if existing.isAllDay { return true }
                 if (existing.url?.absoluteString ?? "") != (desiredURL?.absoluteString ?? "") { return true }
+                let newAlarms = desiredAlarms(for: blk)
+                let existingAlarms = existing.alarms ?? []
+                if !alarmsEqual(newAlarms, existingAlarms) { return true }
                 return false
             }
 
@@ -382,6 +414,7 @@ final class MirrorEngine {
                     existing.isAllDay = false
                     existing.notes = notes
                     existing.url = desiredURL
+                    existing.alarms = desiredAlarms(for: blk)
                     do {
                         try store.save(existing, span: .thisEvent, commit: true)
                         log("✓ UPDATED [\(srcName) -> \(tgtName)]\(byTimeSuffix) \(blk.start) -> \(blk.end)")
@@ -433,6 +466,7 @@ final class MirrorEngine {
                 newEv.isAllDay = false
                 newEv.notes = notes
                 newEv.url = desiredURL
+                newEv.alarms = desiredAlarms(for: blk)
                 newEv.availability = .busy
                 do {
                     try store.save(newEv, span: .thisEvent, commit: true)

BusyMirrorTests/BlockMathTests.swift

@@ -5,14 +5,15 @@ final class BlockMathTests: XCTestCase {
 
     private let d = Date(timeIntervalSince1970: 0)
 
-    private func block(_ startMin: Int, _ endMin: Int, id: String? = nil) -> Block {
+    private func block(_ startMin: Int, _ endMin: Int, id: String? = nil, alarmOffsets: [TimeInterval]? = nil) -> Block {
         Block(
             start: d.addingTimeInterval(TimeInterval(startMin * 60)),
             end: d.addingTimeInterval(TimeInterval(endMin * 60)),
             srcStableID: id,
             label: nil,
             notes: nil,
-            occurrence: nil
+            occurrence: nil,
+            alarmOffsets: alarmOffsets
         )
     }
 
@@ -44,6 +45,21 @@ final class BlockMathTests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertTrue(mergeBlocks([], gapMinutes: 10).isEmpty)
     }
 
+    func testMergeBlocksPreservesFirstAlarms() {
+        let b1 = block(0, 10, alarmOffsets: [-900, -3600])
+        let b2 = block(10, 20, alarmOffsets: [-600])
+        let merged = mergeBlocks([b1, b2], gapMinutes: 0)
+        XCTAssertEqual(merged.count, 1)
+        XCTAssertEqual(merged[0].alarmOffsets, [-900, -3600])
+    }
+
+    func testBlockEqualityIgnoresAlarms() {
+        let b1 = block(0, 10, alarmOffsets: [-900])
+        let b2 = block(0, 10, alarmOffsets: [-1800])
+        XCTAssertEqual(b1, b2)
+        XCTAssertEqual(Set([b1, b2]).count, 1)
+    }
+
     func testMergeBlocksUnsortedInput() {
         let blocks = [block(30, 40), block(0, 10), block(10, 20)]
         let merged = mergeBlocks(blocks, gapMinutes: 0)
@@ -150,8 +166,8 @@ final class BlockMathTests: XCTestCase {
     }
 
     func testUniqueBlocksByIDDifferentOccurrence() {
-        let b1 = Block(start: d, end: d.addingTimeInterval(600), srcStableID: "a", label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: d)
-        let b2 = Block(start: d, end: d.addingTimeInterval(600), srcStableID: "a", label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: d.addingTimeInterval(3600))
+        let b1 = Block(start: d, end: d.addingTimeInterval(600), srcStableID: "a", label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: d, alarmOffsets: nil)
+        let b2 = Block(start: d, end: d.addingTimeInterval(600), srcStableID: "a", label: nil, notes: nil, occurrence: d.addingTimeInterval(3600), alarmOffsets: nil)
         let result = uniqueBlocks([b1, b2], trackByID: true)
         XCTAssertEqual(result.count, 2)
     }

BusyMirrorTests/SettingsPayloadTests.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import XCTest
+@testable import BusyMirror
+
+final class SettingsPayloadTests: XCTestCase {
+
+    // Only the fields present in the very first schema. Every key added since
+    // (syncReminders, filterByWorkHours, workHoursStart/End, excludedTitleFilters,
+    // excludedOrganizerFilters, mirrorAcceptedOnly, selectedSourceID/TargetIDs,
+    // appVersion, exportedAt) is deliberately missing here, simulating a
+    // settings.v2 blob written by an older build.
+    private let oldSchemaJSON = """
+    {
+        "daysBack": 3,
+        "daysForward": 10,
+        "mergeGapHours": 1,
+        "hideDetails": false,
+        "copyDescription": true,
+        "mirrorAllDay": true,
+        "overlapMode": "skipCovered",
+        "titlePrefix": "🪞 ",
+        "placeholderTitle": "Busy",
+        "autoDeleteMissing": true,
+        "routes": []
+    }
+    """
+
+    func testDecodeOldSchemaMissingNewerKeysDoesNotThrow() throws {
+        let data = oldSchemaJSON.data(using: .utf8)!
+        let payload = try JSONDecoder().decode(ContentView.SettingsPayload.self, from: data)
+
+        // Fields present in the old blob are preserved.
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.daysBack, 3)
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.daysForward, 10)
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.overlapMode, "skipCovered")
+
+        // Fields missing from the old blob fall back to their defaults instead
+        // of failing the whole decode.
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.syncReminders, false)
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.filterByWorkHours, false)
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.workHoursStart, 9)
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.workHoursEnd, 17)
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.excludedTitleFilters, [])
+        XCTAssertEqual(payload.mirrorAcceptedOnly, false)
+        XCTAssertNil(payload.selectedSourceID)
+        XCTAssertNil(payload.selectedTargetIDs)
+    }
+
+    func testEncodeDecodeRoundTrip() throws {
+        let route = Route(sourceID: "a", targetIDs: ["b"], privacy: true, copyNotes: false, syncReminders: true, mergeGapHours: 1, overlap: .allow, allDay: false)
+        let original = ContentView.SettingsPayload(
+            daysBack: 2, daysForward: 5, mergeGapHours: 0, hideDetails: true, copyDescription: false,
+            mirrorAllDay: false, filterByWorkHours: true, workHoursStart: 8, workHoursEnd: 18,
+            excludedTitleFilters: ["standup"], excludedOrganizerFilters: [], mirrorAcceptedOnly: true,
+            overlapMode: "allow", titlePrefix: "🪞 ", placeholderTitle: "Busy", autoDeleteMissing: true,
+            routes: [route]
+        )
+        let data = try JSONEncoder().encode(original)
+        let decoded = try JSONDecoder().decode(ContentView.SettingsPayload.self, from: data)
+        XCTAssertEqual(decoded.daysBack, original.daysBack)
+        XCTAssertEqual(decoded.excludedTitleFilters, original.excludedTitleFilters)
+        XCTAssertEqual(decoded.routes.count, 1)
+        XCTAssertEqual(decoded.routes[0].sourceID, "a")
+    }
+}

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,22 @@
 
 All notable changes to BusyMirror will be documented in this file.
 
+## [1.7.0] - 2026-08-26
+
+### Added
+- **Event-driven background sync**, replacing the hourly `launchd StartInterval` poll (which only fired if the Mac happened to be awake at that instant, and got throttled/coalesced by macOS). Once saved routes exist, the app registers as a login item (`SMAppService.mainApp`), removes any previously-installed `launchd` schedule, and reacts to `EKEventStoreChanged` (debounced ~3s), `NSWorkspace.didWakeNotification` (resync after sleep), and a 30-minute fallback timer as a safety net for a missed notification. Auto-sync always writes (`writeEnabled: true`) regardless of the interactive dry-run toggle, matching what the old scheduled `--write 1` runs did.
+- This logic lives in `BusyMirrorAppController`, not `ContentView` — the controller is owned by the `App` struct for the whole process lifetime, whereas `ContentView`'s own `EKEventStoreChanged` observer is torn down in `.onDisappear` when the main window closes (confirmed: `MenuBarSupport.swift`'s "Sync Now" already reopens the window before syncing, which only makes sense if the window's state is discarded on close). Auto-sync needs to work with the window closed, so it can't live there. ([MenuBarSupport.swift](BusyMirror/MenuBarSupport.swift))
+
+## [1.6.1] - 2026-08-26
+
+### Added
+- **Sync reminders**: new "Sync reminders when mirroring" option (global and per-route) copies source event alarms/relative offsets into mirrored placeholders. This lets calendars that are synced to a phone ring for mirrored events. When merging is enabled, only the first event's alarms are preserved for a merged block. ([ContentView.swift](BusyMirror/ContentView.swift), [MirrorEngine.swift](BusyMirror/MirrorEngine.swift), [BlockMath.swift](BusyMirror/BlockMath.swift))
+- CLI flag `--sync-reminders` to enable reminder syncing from scripted/headless runs.
+- CLI polish: `--help`/`-h`, `--list-calendars`, and `--status` (all support `--json` for machine-readable output). Scheduled/headless runs now record last-run time, success/failure, and a summary so `--status` can report real diagnostics instead of just log-file grepping. Failure paths (`no calendar access`, `no saved routes`) now exit with distinct nonzero codes instead of always exiting 0. ([ContentView.swift](BusyMirror/ContentView.swift))
+
+### Fixed
+- **Settings silently wiped on upgrade**: `SettingsPayload` used fully auto-synthesized `Codable`, so decoding a settings blob written by an older build (missing a field added since, e.g. `syncReminders`) threw `keyNotFound` and failed the *entire* decode — not just that one field. The app then ran with in-code defaults (empty routes, filters, etc.), and the next autosave persisted that empty state back over the real data. `SettingsPayload` now has a custom `init(from:)` that reads every field added after the first release with `decodeIfPresent` + its existing default, matching the pattern `Route` already used. `loadSettingsFromDefaults()` also now recovers routes from the legacy `routes.v1` backup key if `settings.v2` decodes successfully but with an empty `routes` array — repairing installs that already hit this bug before upgrading. ([ContentView.swift](BusyMirror/ContentView.swift), [SettingsPayloadTests.swift](BusyMirrorTests/SettingsPayloadTests.swift))
+
 ## [1.5.1] - 2026-05-27
 
 ### Fixed

README.md

@@ -45,11 +45,15 @@ See `CHANGELOG.md` for notable changes.
   - `BusyMirror.app/Contents/MacOS/BusyMirror --routes "1->2,3; 4->5" --write 1 --days-forward 7 --mode allow --exit`
 - Run the routes already saved in the app settings:
   - `BusyMirror.app/Contents/MacOS/BusyMirror --run-saved-routes --write 1 --exit`
+- `--help` prints full flag documentation.
+- `--list-calendars [--json]` prints available calendars (index, id, title, source/type) and exits.
+- `--status [--json]` prints last-run time/result, schedule state, and saved-route count and exits.
 - Flags exist for privacy, all-day, merge gap, days window, overlap mode, cleanup, and filters.
 - Filters:
   - `--exclude-titles "token1, token2"`
   - `--exclude-organizers "alice@example.com, Example Org"`
   - Tokens are comma or newline separated; matching is case-insensitive.
+- Exit codes: `0` success, `2` no calendar access, `3` no saved routes (with `--run-saved-routes`).
 
 ## Logs
 - BusyMirror now writes a persistent log file to `~/Library/Logs/BusyMirror/BusyMirror.log`.

ROADMAP.md

@@ -12,19 +12,24 @@
 - 1.3.6: in-app scheduling via `launchd` with hourly/daily/weekday modes
 - 1.3.6: generated macOS app icon set and packaged release assets
 - 1.4.0: unit-test suite (45 tests), Cancel button, progress indicator, sandbox LaunchAgent fix, mirror URL fix, engine refactor into `MirrorConfig`
+- CLI diagnostics: `--help`, `--list-calendars [--json]`, `--status [--json]`, real exit codes (2 = no access, 3 = no saved routes), last-run tracking (time/ok/summary)
+- 1.7.0: **Event-driven background sync**, replacing the hourly `launchd StartInterval` poll. Auto-sync logic lives in `BusyMirrorAppController` (an app-lifetime object, not tied to `ContentView`'s window lifecycle — closing the main window used to tear down the `EKEventStoreChanged` observer along with it, which would have made auto-sync a no-op whenever the window was closed). Once saved routes exist: registers as a login item (`SMAppService.mainApp`), removes any old `launchd` schedule, watches `EKEventStoreChanged` (debounced ~3s) and `NSWorkspace.didWakeNotification`, plus a 30-min fallback timer as a safety net. Auto-sync always writes (`writeEnabled: true`), independent of the interactive dry-run toggle.
 
 ## Next
-- Auto-refresh calendars on `EKEventStoreChanged` (live refresh button-less)
-- Better scheduled-run diagnostics in the UI (last run / last error / next run)
-- Better server-side privacy mapping (per-provider heuristics)
+1. **MCP server (thin external wrapper, not embedded in the app).** So agents driving BusyMirror don't have to shell out to the CLI and regex-parse log lines. A small standalone stdio-transport script (Node/Python) maps MCP tools 1:1 onto the CLI's `--json` output: `list_calendars`, `list_routes`, `run_route`, `run_saved_routes`, `get_status`. Deliberately kept out of the Swift app itself — no MCP SDK dependency in the signed binary (AGENTS.md's zero-external-packages rule stays intact), and MCP hosts spawn server processes on demand anyway, so there's no need for the app to run one persistently.
 
-## Then
-- Signed/notarized binaries and release pipeline
-- CLI quality: friendlier `--routes` parsing and help flag
-- “Dry-run by default” preference
+## Then — V2 UI polish
+- Finish the `ContentView.swift` split into per-section view models (Routes, Schedule, Privacy, Log) — 1.7.0 already pulled the calendar-access/auto-sync state out into `BusyMirrorAppController`; the rest (UI/settings/CLI) is still one ~1900-line file.
+- Real `Settings { }` scene instead of the main window doubling as preferences.
+- Menu bar icon reflects state (idle / syncing / error) instead of a static icon.
+- Surface last-sync-time / last-error / next-check in the menu bar UI — the data now exists (`--status`'s `lastRunAtISO`/`lastRunOK`/`lastRunSummary`), this is just wiring it into the menu.
+- Better server-side privacy mapping (per-provider heuristics).
 
 ## Later
-- Background monitoring (macOS)
-- Smarter cleanup & conflict resolution
-- iOS/iPadOS helper (Shortcuts integration)
-- Profiles & MDM/Managed Config support
+- Signed/notarized binaries and release pipeline.
+- Smarter cleanup & conflict resolution.
+- iOS/iPadOS helper (Shortcuts integration).
+- Profiles & MDM/Managed Config support.
+
+## Decided against
+- **Direct Google/CalDAV/Exchange API integration** (OAuth flows, token storage, per-provider clients so BusyMirror can mirror a non-local calendar without it being added to macOS). EventKit already surfaces any calendar added via System Settings → Internet Accounts — macOS does the sync, auth, and refresh. Building a parallel integration would duplicate the OS for the narrow case of an account that can't or won't be added system-wide (e.g. MDM-restricted work accounts). Not worth the OAuth/Keychain/per-provider-quirk surface for that.