diff --git a/cmd/root/run.go b/cmd/root/run.go
index b5efa8bd5d..89112e1f21 100644
--- a/cmd/root/run.go
+++ b/cmd/root/run.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/telemetry"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tour"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui"
+	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/sidebar"
 	tuiimage "github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/image"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/recorder"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/styles"
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ type runExecFlags struct {
 	lean            bool
 	leanChanged     bool
 	appName         string
+	sidebarSections []string
 	sidebar         bool
 	listenAddr      string
 	// sessionWorkingDirRoot confines the working_dir of sessions created
@@ -211,6 +213,7 @@ func addRunOrExecFlags(cmd *cobra.Command, flags *runExecFlags) {
 	_ = cmd.PersistentFlags().MarkHidden("tour")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&flags.lean, "lean", false, "Use a simplified TUI with minimal chrome")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&flags.appName, "app-name", "", "Application name shown in the TUI in place of \"docker agent\"")
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringArrayVar(&flags.sidebarSections, "sidebar-section", nil, "Add a sidebar section that shows a shell command's output, refreshed every few seconds: \"Title=command\" (repeatable)")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringSliceVar(&flags.disabledCommands, "disable-commands", nil, "Comma-separated list of slash commands to hide and disable in the TUI (e.g. /cost,/eval,/model)")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&flags.sidebar, "sidebar", true, "Show the sidebar in the TUI (set --sidebar=false to hide it)")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&flags.theme, "theme", "", "Preselect a TUI theme by name, or \"auto\" to match the terminal's light/dark background (overrides the theme from user config; ignored outside the interactive TUI)")
@@ -591,6 +594,17 @@ func (f *runExecFlags) runOrExec(ctx context.Context, out *cli.Printer, args []s
 
 	var rec *recorder.Recorder
 	tuiOptions := f.tuiOpts(args)
+	if len(f.sidebarSections) > 0 {
+		sections := make([]sidebar.CommandSection, 0, len(f.sidebarSections))
+		for _, spec := range f.sidebarSections {
+			section, err := sidebar.ParseCommandSection(spec)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("--sidebar-section %q: %w", spec, err)
+			}
+			sections = append(sections, section)
+		}
+		tuiOptions = append(tuiOptions, tui.WithSidebarSections(sections))
+	}
 	if dir := f.explicitDefaultWorkingDir(sess); dir != "" {
 		tuiOptions = append(tuiOptions, tui.WithDefaultWorkingDir(dir))
 	}
diff --git a/docs/features/cli/index.md b/docs/features/cli/index.md
index a41b354f6e..9778cd64e4 100644
--- a/docs/features/cli/index.md
+++ b/docs/features/cli/index.md
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ $ docker agent run [config] [message...] [flags]
 | `--session-workingdir-root <path>`      | Confine the `working_dir` of sessions created through the `--listen` control plane to this directory and its descendants (default: no restriction — any clean host directory is accepted, though raw values containing `..` are rejected). Recommended when the control plane is reachable by other users. Hidden from `--help`, like `--listen`. |
 | `--lean`                                | Use a simplified, non-alternate-screen TUI. Unlike the default full-screen TUI, this renders inline in the normal terminal buffer — useful in environments where an alternate screen is unwanted (e.g. inside tmux panes, CI with a tty, or log-friendly pipelines). Like the full TUI, displays an ASCII art banner on startup when the chat is empty (configurable via `show_banner` in [user settings](../../configuration/user-settings/index.md)). |
 | `--app-name <name>`                     | Override the application name label shown in the TUI (status bar, window title, "/exit" notifications).                                   |
+| `--sidebar-section "Title=cmd"`         | Add a sidebar section that shows a shell command's output, refreshed every few seconds. Repeatable.                                       |
 | `--sidebar`                             | Control sidebar visibility. Set to `--sidebar=false` to hide the sidebar and disable the Ctrl+B toggle (default: `true`).                 |
 | `--disable-commands <list>`             | Hide and disable specific slash commands in the TUI. Accepts a comma-separated list of command names (leading slash optional, case-insensitive). E.g. `--disable-commands="/cost,/eval,/model"`. |
 | `--theme <name>`                        | Preselect a TUI theme by name, or `auto` to follow the terminal's light/dark background (overrides the theme from user config; ignored outside the interactive TUI) |
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ $ docker agent run agent.yaml "question 1" "question 2" "question 3"
 
 # Customize TUI display
 $ docker agent run agent.yaml --app-name "My Project"
+$ docker agent run agent.yaml --sidebar-section "Services=docker compose ps --format '{{.Name}} {{.State}}'"
 $ docker agent run agent.yaml --sidebar=false
 $ docker agent run agent.yaml --disable-commands="/cost,/eval,/model"
 
diff --git a/docs/features/tui/index.md b/docs/features/tui/index.md
index 831f91aed6..41b66d3dae 100644
--- a/docs/features/tui/index.md
+++ b/docs/features/tui/index.md
@@ -147,6 +147,14 @@ Plans are shared documents from the same store used by `/plans`, the [plan tools
 
 Editing changes only the plan document. It does not approve a plan, execute its steps, or authorize tool writes.
 
+### Custom Sidebar Sections
+
+Pass `--sidebar-section "Title=command"` to add a section below Tools that shows a shell command's output. The command runs when the TUI starts and again every 5 seconds, with a 5 second timeout. Its output is shown as plain text: color sequences are stripped, long lines are cut to the sidebar's width, and at most 12 lines are kept. A section with no output is hidden. The flag is repeatable.
+
+```bash
+$ docker agent run agent.yaml --sidebar-section "Services=docker compose ps --format '{{.Name}} {{.State}}'"
+```
+
 ### Agents Panel
 
 The sidebar's **Agents** section lists every agent in the team and has two display modes selectable via **Sidebar info mode** in `/settings`:
diff --git a/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/command_sections.go b/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/command_sections.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1bd2cff668
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/command_sections.go
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package sidebar
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"os/exec"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/x/ansi"
+
+	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/shellpath"
+	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/styles"
+)
+
+const (
+	// commandSectionInterval is how long a command section waits between runs.
+	commandSectionInterval = 5 * time.Second
+	// commandSectionTimeout bounds one run, so a hung command cannot stall the next.
+	commandSectionTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+	// commandSectionMaxLines keeps a chatty command from pushing the other sections away.
+	commandSectionMaxLines = 12
+)
+
+// CommandSection is a sidebar section whose body is the output of a shell
+// command, run again every few seconds.
+type CommandSection struct {
+	Title   string
+	Command string
+}
+
+// ParseCommandSection reads a "Title=command" flag value.
+func ParseCommandSection(spec string) (CommandSection, error) {
+	title, command, ok := strings.Cut(spec, "=")
+	title, command = strings.TrimSpace(title), strings.TrimSpace(command)
+	if !ok || title == "" || command == "" {
+		return CommandSection{}, errors.New(`a sidebar section is written "Title=command"`)
+	}
+	return CommandSection{Title: title, Command: command}, nil
+}
+
+type commandSectionState struct {
+	CommandSection
+
+	lines []string
+}
+
+type commandSectionResultMsg struct {
+	index int
+	lines []string
+}
+
+type commandSectionDueMsg struct{ index int }
+
+func (m *model) SetCommandSections(sections []CommandSection) {
+	m.commandSections = make([]commandSectionState, len(sections))
+	for i, section := range sections {
+		m.commandSections[i].CommandSection = section
+	}
+	m.invalidateCache()
+}
+
+// pollCommandSections starts every command section's first run. Init runs
+// on every tab switch, so only the first call starts the chain.
+func (m *model) pollCommandSections() tea.Cmd {
+	if m.commandSectionsPolling || len(m.commandSections) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	m.commandSectionsPolling = true
+	cmds := make([]tea.Cmd, len(m.commandSections))
+	for i := range m.commandSections {
+		cmds[i] = m.runCommandSection(i)
+	}
+	return tea.Batch(cmds...)
+}
+
+func (m *model) runCommandSection(index int) tea.Cmd {
+	if index < 0 || index >= len(m.commandSections) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	command, parent := m.commandSections[index].Command, m.ctx()
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(parent, commandSectionTimeout)
+		defer cancel()
+		shell, args := shellpath.DetectShell()
+		// A failing command still reports what it printed; none means no section.
+		out, _ := exec.CommandContext(ctx, shell, append(args, command)...).Output()
+		return commandSectionResultMsg{index: index, lines: commandSectionLines(string(out))}
+	}
+}
+
+// commandSectionLines keeps the printable text of a command's output.
+func commandSectionLines(out string) []string {
+	var lines []string
+	for line := range strings.SplitSeq(strings.ReplaceAll(out, "\r\n", "\n"), "\n") {
+		line = strings.TrimRight(strings.ReplaceAll(ansi.Strip(line), "\t", " "), " ")
+		if line == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(lines) == commandSectionMaxLines {
+			lines[len(lines)-1] = "…"
+			break
+		}
+		lines = append(lines, line)
+	}
+	return lines
+}
+
+// handleCommandSection applies a finished run and schedules the next one.
+func (m *model) handleCommandSection(msg commandSectionResultMsg) tea.Cmd {
+	if msg.index < 0 || msg.index >= len(m.commandSections) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if state := &m.commandSections[msg.index]; !slices.Equal(state.lines, msg.lines) {
+		state.lines = msg.lines
+		m.invalidateCache()
+	}
+	index := msg.index
+	return tea.Tick(commandSectionInterval, func(time.Time) tea.Msg {
+		return commandSectionDueMsg{index: index}
+	})
+}
+
+// commandSection renders one command section, or "" while it has no output.
+func (m *model) commandSection(state commandSectionState, contentWidth int) string {
+	if len(state.lines) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	lines := make([]string, len(state.lines))
+	for i, line := range state.lines {
+		lines[i] = styles.BaseStyle.Render(ansi.Truncate(line, contentWidth, "…"))
+	}
+	return m.renderTab(state.Title, strings.Join(lines, "\n"), contentWidth)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/command_sections_test.go b/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/command_sections_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..55fca99b5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/command_sections_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package sidebar
+
+import (
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/x/ansi"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/animation"
+	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/service"
+)
+
+func newCommandSectionModel(t *testing.T, sections ...CommandSection) *model {
+	t.Helper()
+	m := New(animation.NewRuntime(), t.Context(), &service.SessionState{}).(*model)
+	m.SetCommandSections(sections)
+	return m
+}
+
+func sectionsText(m *model) string {
+	return ansi.Strip(strings.Join(m.renderSections(40), "\n"))
+}
+
+func TestParseCommandSection(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	section, err := ParseCommandSection(" Apps = status --short | grep a=b ")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, CommandSection{Title: "Apps", Command: "status --short | grep a=b"}, section)
+
+	for _, spec := range []string{"", "Apps", "=status", "Apps= "} {
+		_, err := ParseCommandSection(spec)
+		require.Error(t, err, spec)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCommandSectionShowsItsOutputAndHidesWhileEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	m := newCommandSectionModel(t, CommandSection{Title: "Apps", Command: "unused"})
+	assert.NotContains(t, sectionsText(m), "Apps")
+
+	next := m.handleCommandSection(commandSectionResultMsg{lines: []string{"relay running", strings.Repeat("x", 80)}})
+	require.NotNil(t, next, "a result schedules the next run")
+	text := sectionsText(m)
+	assert.Contains(t, text, "Apps")
+	assert.Contains(t, text, "relay running")
+	assert.NotContains(t, text, strings.Repeat("x", 41), "a long line is cut to the sidebar")
+
+	m.handleCommandSection(commandSectionResultMsg{})
+	assert.NotContains(t, sectionsText(m), "relay running")
+}
+
+func TestCommandSectionLinesKeepsPrintableTextAndBoundsIt(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"a b", "c"}, commandSectionLines("\x1b[31ma\tb\x1b[0m  \r\n\n\nc\n"))
+
+	lines := commandSectionLines(strings.Repeat("line\n", commandSectionMaxLines+5))
+	require.Len(t, lines, commandSectionMaxLines)
+	assert.Equal(t, "…", lines[len(lines)-1])
+}
+
+func TestCommandSectionRunsItsCommandOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("the command is written for a POSIX shell")
+	}
+
+	m := newCommandSectionModel(t, CommandSection{Title: "Apps", Command: "echo relay; echo whoami; exit 3"})
+	cmd := m.pollCommandSections()
+	require.NotNil(t, cmd)
+	assert.Nil(t, m.pollCommandSections(), "Init runs again on a tab switch and must not start a second chain")
+
+	msg := m.runCommandSection(0)().(commandSectionResultMsg)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"relay", "whoami"}, msg.lines, "a failing command still shows what it printed")
+	assert.Nil(t, m.runCommandSection(7))
+}
diff --git a/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/sidebar.go b/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/sidebar.go
index ec2e134129..0c246410b4 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/sidebar.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/components/sidebar/sidebar.go
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ type Model interface {
 	SetTokenUsage(event *runtime.TokenUsageEvent)
 	SetTodos(result *tools.ToolCallResult) error
 	SetMode(mode Mode)
+	// SetCommandSections adds sections that show a shell command's output.
+	SetCommandSections(sections []CommandSection)
 	// SetMirroredPadding swaps the horizontal edge padding so the sidebar hugs
 	// the terminal edge when rendered on the left of the chat.
 	SetMirroredPadding(mirrored bool)
@@ -418,8 +420,11 @@ type model struct {
 	// from blank-line heuristics.
 	agentLineOwners []string
 	planData        messages.PlanSidebarDataMsg
-	recentPlans     []plans.Plan
-	planClickZones  map[int]planClickZone
+	commandSections []commandSectionState
+	// commandSectionsPolling is set once the sections' refresh chain has started.
+	commandSectionsPolling bool
+	recentPlans            []plans.Plan
+	planClickZones         map[int]planClickZone
 }
 
 // New creates a new sidebar bound to the given session state.
@@ -464,7 +469,7 @@ func New(ar *animation.Runtime, ctx context.Context, sessionState *service.Sessi
 }
 
 func (m *model) Init() tea.Cmd {
-	return waitForGitBranch(m.gitBranchWatcher)
+	return tea.Batch(waitForGitBranch(m.gitBranchWatcher), m.pollCommandSections())
 }
 
 // needsSpinner returns true if any spinner-driving state is active.
@@ -1234,6 +1239,12 @@ func (m *model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (layout.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case messages.PlanSidebarDataMsg:
 		m.setPlans(msg)
 		return m, nil
+	case commandSectionResultMsg:
+		cmd := m.handleCommandSection(msg)
+		return m, cmd
+	case commandSectionDueMsg:
+		cmd := m.runCommandSection(msg.index)
+		return m, cmd
 	case gitBranchChangedMsg:
 		m.gitBranchName = string(msg)
 		m.invalidateCache()
@@ -1821,6 +1832,9 @@ func (m *model) renderSections(contentWidth int) []string {
 	if !m.sectionVisibility.HideTools {
 		appendSection(m.toolsetInfo(contentWidth))
 	}
+	for _, section := range m.commandSections {
+		appendSection(m.commandSection(section, contentWidth))
+	}
 
 	if !m.sectionVisibility.HideTodos {
 		m.todoComp.SetSize(contentWidth)
diff --git a/pkg/tui/page/chat/chat.go b/pkg/tui/page/chat/chat.go
index 76683bd25a..12f9ccee96 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/page/chat/chat.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/page/chat/chat.go
@@ -470,6 +470,14 @@ func WithShowBanner(show bool) PageOption {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithSidebarSections adds sidebar sections that show a shell command's
+// output, refreshed every few seconds.
+func WithSidebarSections(sections []sidebar.CommandSection) PageOption {
+	return func(p *chatPage) {
+		p.sidebar.SetCommandSections(sections)
+	}
+}
+
 // WithCommandParser injects a command parser for handling slash commands in the editor.
 func WithCommandParser(p *commands.Parser) PageOption {
 	return func(cp *chatPage) {
diff --git a/pkg/tui/tui.go b/pkg/tui/tui.go
index 68e5f5c018..065b2fda91 100644
--- a/pkg/tui/tui.go
+++ b/pkg/tui/tui.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/editor"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/editor/completions"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/notification"
+	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/sidebar"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/spinner"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/statusbar"
 	"github.com/docker/docker-agent/pkg/tui/components/tabbar"
@@ -285,6 +286,8 @@ type appModel struct {
 	// showBanner displays the ASCII-art startup banner on an empty
 	// conversation. Shared by every tab and managed via /settings.
 	showBanner bool
+	// sidebarSections are extra sidebar sections fed by shell commands.
+	sidebarSections []sidebar.CommandSection
 
 	// buildCommandCategories is a function that returns the list of command categories.
 	buildCommandCategories func(context.Context, tea.Model) []commands.Category
@@ -390,6 +393,14 @@ func WithTourOffer(showTelemetryNotice bool) Option {
 	}
 }
 
+// WithSidebarSections adds sidebar sections that show a shell command's
+// output, refreshed every few seconds.
+func WithSidebarSections(sections []sidebar.CommandSection) Option {
+	return func(m *appModel) {
+		m.sidebarSections = sections
+	}
+}
+
 // WithAppName sets the application name.
 //
 // If not provided, defaults to "docker agent".
@@ -667,6 +678,7 @@ func (m *appModel) chatPageOpts() []chat.PageOption {
 		chat.WithSendMode(m.sendMode),
 		chat.WithInterruptMode(m.interruptMode),
 		chat.WithShowBanner(m.showBanner),
+		chat.WithSidebarSections(m.sidebarSections),
 	}
 
 	if m.leanMode {