diff --git a/.githooks/pre-push b/.githooks/pre-push
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..416e1439
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-push
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Pre-push hook: runs the full CI-mirror suite before allowing a push.
+# Prevents broken builds from reaching GitHub.
+#
+# Auto-activated by `make install` via git core.hooksPath.
+
+set -e
+
+echo "Running pre-push gate (tox -e pre-push — mirrors CI exactly)..."
+tox -e pre-push
+
+exit_code=$?
+
+if [ "$exit_code" -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "BLOCKED: pre-push gate failed. Fix the issues above before pushing."
+    exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/deploy/com.timmy.tick.plist b/deploy/com.timmy.tick.plist
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f49a4836
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/com.timmy.tick.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
+  "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+<dict>
+    <key>Label</key>
+    <string>com.timmy.tick</string>
+
+    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
+    <array>
+        <string>__PROJECT_DIR__/deploy/timmy-tick-mac.sh</string>
+    </array>
+
+    <key>WorkingDirectory</key>
+    <string>__PROJECT_DIR__</string>
+
+    <key>StartInterval</key>
+    <integer>300</integer>
+
+    <key>StandardOutPath</key>
+    <string>__PROJECT_DIR__/data/tick.log</string>
+
+    <key>StandardErrorPath</key>
+    <string>__PROJECT_DIR__/data/tick-error.log</string>
+</dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/deploy/install-mac-timer.sh b/deploy/install-mac-timer.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..4cda3199
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/install-mac-timer.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Install the Timmy tick timer on macOS via launchd.
+# Usage: ./deploy/install-mac-timer.sh
+set -e
+
+PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+PLIST_SRC="$PROJECT_DIR/deploy/com.timmy.tick.plist"
+PLIST_DST="$HOME/Library/LaunchAgents/com.timmy.tick.plist"
+LABEL="com.timmy.tick"
+
+# Ensure data dir exists for logs
+mkdir -p "$PROJECT_DIR/data"
+
+# Make wrapper executable
+chmod +x "$PROJECT_DIR/deploy/timmy-tick-mac.sh"
+
+# Unload if already installed
+if launchctl list "$LABEL" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Unloading existing $LABEL..."
+    launchctl bootout "gui/$(id -u)/$LABEL" 2>/dev/null || true
+fi
+
+# Fill in project path and install
+sed "s|__PROJECT_DIR__|$PROJECT_DIR|g" "$PLIST_SRC" > "$PLIST_DST"
+
+# Load
+launchctl bootstrap "gui/$(id -u)" "$PLIST_DST"
+
+echo "Installed! Timmy will tick every 5 minutes."
+echo "  Logs: $PROJECT_DIR/data/tick.log"
+echo "  Check: launchctl list | grep timmy"
+echo "  Stop:  launchctl bootout gui/\$(id -u)/com.timmy.tick"
diff --git a/deploy/timmy-tick-mac.sh b/deploy/timmy-tick-mac.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..544bb089
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/timmy-tick-mac.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Wrapper script for the launchd tick timer on macOS.
+# Ensures PATH is set so tox/python can be found.
+export PATH="/usr/local/bin:/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH"
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." || exit 1
+exec tox -e dev -- timmy tick
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index acc4beba..4fffd6c9 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -145,6 +145,22 @@ commands =
         -p no:xdist \
         -m "not ollama and not docker and not selenium and not external_api"
 
+# ── Pre-commit (fast local gate) ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+[testenv:pre-commit]
+description = Fast pre-commit gate — format check + unit tests (30s budget)
+deps =
+    black
+    isort
+commands =
+    black --check --line-length 100 src/ tests/
+    isort --check-only --profile black --line-length 100 src/ tests/
+    pytest tests/ -q --tb=short \
+        --ignore=tests/e2e \
+        --ignore=tests/functional \
+        -m "not ollama and not docker and not selenium and not external_api and not skip_ci" \
+        -n auto --dist worksteal
+
 # ── Dev Server ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 [testenv:dev]