1 files changed, 45 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/shell/src/lib.rs b/shell/src/lib.rs
index 6de056c..e500337 100644
--- a/shell/src/lib.rs
+++ b/shell/src/lib.rs
@@ -1253,9 +1253,53 @@ fn build_exports() -> rsapi::Exports {
 /// Run `cmd` as an external PE32+ binary from /bin/cli/.  Returns false
 /// when no external binary resolved (the caller falls back to built-ins).
 fn exec_external(p: &Parsed) -> bool {
-    let Some(h) = rsnix::exec::resolve("cli", &p.cmd) else {
+    // Try CLI first (blocking), then GUI (fire-and-forget).
+    let cli_h = rsnix::exec::resolve("cli", &p.cmd);
+    let gui_h = if cli_h.is_none() { rsnix::exec::resolve("gui", &p.cmd) } else { None };
+
+    if let Some(h) = cli_h {
+        exec_cli(p, h)
+    } else if let Some(h) = gui_h {
+        exec_gui(p, h)
+    } else {
         return false;
+    }
+}
+
+fn exec_gui(p: &Parsed, h: usize) -> bool {
+    // Fire-and-forget: spawn the GUI binary, return immediately.
+    let bytes = match rsnix::exec::read_file(h) {
+        Ok(b) => b,
+        Err(_) => {
+            term_err(&alloc::format!("{}: read failed", p.cmd));
+            return true;
+        }
+    };
+    let image = match rsnix::load::load_image(&bytes) {
+        Ok(img) => img,
+        Err(e) => {
+            term_err(&alloc::format!("{}: cannot load ({:?})", p.cmd, e));
+            return true;
+        }
     };
+    let mut argv: Vec<String> = Vec::with_capacity(p.args.len() + 1);
+    argv.push(p.cmd.clone());
+    argv.extend(p.args.iter().cloned());
+    let name = alloc::format!("{}", p.cmd);
+    let exports = Box::leak(Box::new(build_exports()));
+    match rsnix::exec::spawn(image, exports, &argv, &name) {
+        Ok(_id) => {
+            // Fire-and-forget: do NOT wait for completion.
+            // The binary runs its own event loop; when it exits,
+            // the task is cleaned up by the scheduler.
+            term_println(&alloc::format!("{}: started", p.cmd));
+        }
+        Err(_) => term_err(&alloc::format!("{}: cannot start", p.cmd)),
+    }
+    true
+}
+
+fn exec_cli(p: &Parsed, h: usize) -> bool {
     let bytes = match rsnix::exec::read_file(h) {
         Ok(b) => b,
         Err(_) => {