diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index d2617d82..a4e82b52 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -51,6 +51,20 @@ ensure_path() {
   esac
 }
 
+pnpm_cmd() {
+  if command -v pnpm &>/dev/null; then
+    pnpm "$@"
+    return
+  fi
+  if command -v corepack &>/dev/null && corepack pnpm --version &>/dev/null; then
+    corepack pnpm "$@"
+    return
+  fi
+  red "pnpm is not available in this shell."
+  red "Try opening a new shell, or install pnpm manually: https://pnpm.io/installation"
+  exit 1
+}
+
 ensure_env_key() {
   local file="$1"
   local key="$2"
@@ -104,9 +118,15 @@ green "  curl ✓"
 
 if ! command -v pnpm &>/dev/null; then
   yellow "  pnpm not found — installing via corepack…"
-  corepack enable 2>/dev/null || npm install -g pnpm
+  if command -v corepack &>/dev/null; then
+    corepack enable 2>/dev/null || true
+    corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
+  if ! command -v pnpm &>/dev/null && ! (command -v corepack &>/dev/null && corepack pnpm --version &>/dev/null); then
+    npm install -g pnpm
+  fi
 fi
-green "  pnpm $(pnpm --version) ✓"
+green "  pnpm $(pnpm_cmd --version) ✓"
 
 # ─── install hermes-agent (delegate to Nous upstream installer) ──────────
 # hermes-agent is NOT on PyPI. It installs from source via Nous's own
@@ -193,7 +213,7 @@ if [[ -f "$HERMES_ENV_PATH" ]]; then
 fi
 
 cyan "→ Installing npm deps (pnpm install)…"
-pnpm install --silent
+pnpm_cmd install --silent
 green "  deps installed ✓"
 
 # ─── seed Hermes skills (Conductor needs workspace-dispatch) ─────────────
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e5f1a7db..bde03140 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "main": "electron/main.cjs",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "NODE_OPTIONS=\"--max-old-space-size=2048\" vite dev",
-    "build": "vite build",
+    "build": "NODE_OPTIONS=\"--max-old-space-size=${NODE_MAX_OLD_SPACE_SIZE:-2048}\" vite build",
     "start:all": "concurrently \"hermes gateway run\" \"pnpm dev\"",
     "start": "NODE_OPTIONS=\"--max-old-space-size=2048\" node server-entry.js",
     "start:dev": "NODE_OPTIONS=\"--max-old-space-size=2048\" vite dev",
diff --git a/src/screens/chat/components/chat-sidebar.tsx b/src/screens/chat/components/chat-sidebar.tsx
index 69424ab2..89bf4a0f 100644
--- a/src/screens/chat/components/chat-sidebar.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/chat/components/chat-sidebar.tsx
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ function ChatSidebarComponent({
       kind: 'link',
       to: '/tasks',
       icon: CheckListIcon,
-      label: 'Kanban',
+      label: 'Tasks',
       active: isTasksActive,
     },
     {
diff --git a/src/screens/tasks/tasks-screen.tsx b/src/screens/tasks/tasks-screen.tsx
index 9fc655b3..f180311e 100644
--- a/src/screens/tasks/tasks-screen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/tasks/tasks-screen.tsx
@@ -8,30 +8,30 @@ import { HugeiconsIcon } from '@hugeicons/react'
 import { Add01Icon, CheckListIcon, RefreshIcon } from '@hugeicons/core-free-icons'
 import { TaskCard } from './task-card'
 import { TaskDialog } from './task-dialog'
+import type { ClaudeTask, CreateTaskInput, TaskAssignee, TaskColumn } from '@/lib/tasks-api'
 import { toast } from '@/components/ui/toast'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import {
-  fetchTasks,
-  fetchAssignees,
-  createTask,
-  updateTask,
-  deleteTask,
-  moveTask,
-  launchSession,
-  linkSession,
+  COLUMN_COLORS,
   COLUMN_LABELS,
   COLUMN_ORDER,
-  COLUMN_COLORS,
+  createTask,
+  deleteTask,
+  fetchAssignees,
+  fetchTasks,
   isOverdue,
+  launchSession,
+  linkSession,
+  moveTask,
+  updateTask,
 } from '@/lib/tasks-api'
 import { stashPendingSend } from '@/screens/chat/pending-send'
-import type { ClaudeTask, TaskColumn, CreateTaskInput, TaskAssignee } from '@/lib/tasks-api'
 
 const QUERY_KEY = ['claude', 'tasks'] as const
 const ASSIGNEES_KEY = ['claude', 'tasks', 'assignees'] as const
 
 export const TASKS_BOARD_HELP_TEXT =
-  'Drag cards to change status. Open a card to set assignee and due date.'
+  'Workspace Tasks is a lightweight task board. Drag cards to change status. Use Dashboard Kanban for native multi-board controls.'
 
 function SkeletonCard() {
   return (
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export function TasksScreen() {
     }
     for (const t of tasks) {
       if (assigneeFilter && t.assignee !== assigneeFilter) continue
-      if (map[t.column]) map[t.column].push(t)
+      map[t.column].push(t)
     }
     for (const col of COLUMN_ORDER) {
       map[col].sort((a, b) => a.position - b.position)
diff --git a/src/screens/tasks/tasks-ux.test.ts b/src/screens/tasks/tasks-ux.test.ts
index c02f735c..ed675a08 100644
--- a/src/screens/tasks/tasks-ux.test.ts
+++ b/src/screens/tasks/tasks-ux.test.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { TASKS_BOARD_HELP_TEXT } from './tasks-screen'
 describe('tasks UX copy', () => {
   it('exposes helper copy that explains drag and assignment behavior', () => {
     expect(TASKS_BOARD_HELP_TEXT).toBe(
-      'Drag cards to change status. Open a card to set assignee and due date.',
+      'Workspace Tasks is a lightweight task board. Drag cards to change status. Use Dashboard Kanban for native multi-board controls.',
     )
   })