diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fb736cd..ea243a6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -307,6 +307,15 @@ The Viewer applies ST syntax highlighting (cyan keywords, magenta types, gray co
 
 Approve mode is opt-in for the MCP server's modifying tools — start the server with `--approve-edits` to wire it in. The v0.2 followup gates **all 9 modifying tools**: `create_pou`, `create_property`, `create_method`, `create_dut`, `create_gvl`, `create_folder`, `delete_object`, `rename_object`, `add_library` — plus the original `set_pou_code`. Each operation pops a y/n diff prompt; create/delete render as all-green/all-red one-sided diffs, rename as a del+add of the leaf name, and `set_pou_code` as a real diff against the existing mirror file. Off by default.
 
+### Inline live values (`--live-values`)
+
+When the server is started with `--live-values` and the runtime is online, the Viewer overlays each declared variable's live value next to its declaration:
+
+    3      counter  : INT := 0;       ◀ live: 47
+    4      bRunning : BOOL;           ◀ live: TRUE
+
+The server writes a 500 ms snapshot to `tui-live-values.json` (next to `tui-state.json`); the TUI polls that file and renders an overlay only when the snapshot's `pou_name` matches the user's current selection and the file is fresh (≤ 5 s). v0.3 covers top-level vars on the displayed POU; sub-property paths and ARRAY/STRUCT pretty-printing are deferred. Off by default.
+
 ## MCP Tools
 
 41 tools across the categories below. Tools marked **NEW** were added in this fork; tools marked **FIXED** existed upstream but were broken before this fork.
diff --git a/src/bin.ts b/src/bin.ts
index 5381934..a71bdf1 100644
--- a/src/bin.ts
+++ b/src/bin.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ program
   .option('--keep-alive', 'Keep CODESYS running after server stops', false)
   .option('--auto-mirror', 'Re-run mirror_export after every modifying tool so an external editor watching <projectDir>/mcp-mirror/ sees changes live', false)
   .option('--approve-edits', 'Gate modifying MCP tools behind a phobiCS-tui y/n diff prompt', false)
+  .option('--live-values', 'Pump runtime values for the selected POU into tui-live-values.json so phobiCS-tui can overlay them inline (500ms poll). Requires the runtime to be online; failures are silent.', false)
   .option('--timeout <ms>', 'Default command timeout in ms', '60000')
   .option('--verbose', 'Enable verbose logging')
   .option('--debug', 'Enable debug logging (more verbose)')
@@ -199,6 +200,7 @@ if (opts.sshVersion) {
     mode: (opts.mode === 'headless' ? 'headless' : 'persistent') as ExecutionMode,
     autoMirror: opts.autoMirror || false,
     approveEdits: opts.approveEdits || false,
+    liveValues: opts.liveValues || false,
   };
 
   process.stderr.write(`Starting CODESYS MCP Server v${version}\n`);
@@ -212,6 +214,9 @@ if (opts.sshVersion) {
   if (config.approveEdits) {
     process.stderr.write(`  Approve edits: ENABLED (modifying tools will prompt via phobiCS-tui)\n`);
   }
+  if (config.liveValues) {
+    process.stderr.write(`  Live values: ENABLED (poll 500ms; writes tui-live-values.json)\n`);
+  }
 
   startMcpServer(config).catch((err) => {
     process.stderr.write(`FATAL: ${err.message}\n`);
diff --git a/src/live-values-pump.ts b/src/live-values-pump.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..437eb23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/live-values-pump.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+import { writeLiveValues, LiveValueSnapshotIn } from './live-values-write';
+import { readSelection } from './state-read';
+
+const VAR_OPEN_RE = /^\s*(?:VAR(?:_INPUT|_OUTPUT|_IN_OUT|_GLOBAL|_TEMP|_CONFIG|_EXTERNAL|_STAT)?)\b/i;
+const VAR_CLOSE_RE = /^\s*END_VAR\b/i;
+const VAR_DECL_RE = /^\s*([A-Za-z_]\w*)\b/;
+
+/**
+ * Parse all variable names declared in any VAR / VAR_INPUT / VAR_OUTPUT /
+ * VAR_GLOBAL / etc. block. One name per declaration line; skips lines that
+ * are entirely inside (* ... *) blocks (joined across lines) or are
+ * `// ...` comments.
+ *
+ * Recognises the IEC declaration grammar enough for typical PLC code:
+ * `name [AT %loc] : type [:= init];`. Doesn't try to parse multi-name
+ * shorthand (`a, b : INT;`) — that's vanishingly rare in practice and
+ * the cost of getting it wrong is just a missing overlay.
+ */
+export function parseVarNames(text: string): string[] {
+  const names: string[] = [];
+  const lines = text.split(/\r?\n/);
+  let inVarBlock = false;
+  let inMultilineComment = false;
+
+  for (let raw of lines) {
+    // Strip block comments first, threading the open-state across lines.
+    let scrubbed = '';
+    let i = 0;
+    while (i < raw.length) {
+      if (inMultilineComment) {
+        const end = raw.indexOf('*)', i);
+        if (end < 0) {
+          i = raw.length;
+        } else {
+          inMultilineComment = false;
+          i = end + 2;
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (raw[i] === '(' && raw[i + 1] === '*') {
+        const end = raw.indexOf('*)', i + 2);
+        if (end < 0) {
+          inMultilineComment = true;
+          i = raw.length;
+        } else {
+          i = end + 2;
+        }
+        continue;
+      }
+      scrubbed += raw[i];
+      i++;
+    }
+    // Strip line comments.
+    const slash = scrubbed.indexOf('//');
+    if (slash >= 0) scrubbed = scrubbed.slice(0, slash);
+
+    if (!inVarBlock) {
+      if (VAR_OPEN_RE.test(scrubbed)) inVarBlock = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (VAR_CLOSE_RE.test(scrubbed)) {
+      inVarBlock = false;
+      continue;
+    }
+    const m = VAR_DECL_RE.exec(scrubbed);
+    if (m) names.push(m[1]);
+  }
+  return names;
+}
+
+// ─── Pump ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+//
+// The full pump (interval + per-var read_variable round-trips) is wired
+// up by Task 7 once the server-side plumbing is in place. parseVarNames
+// is the only piece we can unit-test in isolation; the rest needs an
+// executor + state-read + write integration.
+
+export interface PumpDeps {
+  /** Read the TUI selection state file. Defaults to readSelection. */
+  readSelection?: typeof readSelection;
+  /** Read the POU's mirror file from disk. */
+  readPouFile?: (absPath: string) => Promise<string>;
+  /** Read a single PLC variable. Returns its current value as a string. */
+  readVariable?: (projectFilePath: string, variablePath: string) => Promise<string>;
+  /** Write the live-values snapshot. Defaults to writeLiveValues. */
+  writeLiveValues?: typeof writeLiveValues;
+}
+
+export interface PumpConfig {
+  /** Path to tui-state.json. */
+  stateFilePath: string;
+  /** Path to tui-live-values.json. */
+  liveValuesFilePath: string;
+  /** Poll interval in ms. */
+  intervalMs: number;
+}
+
+export class LiveValuesPump {
+  private timer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+  private busy = false;
+
+  constructor(private cfg: PumpConfig, private deps: Required<PumpDeps>) {}
+
+  start(): void {
+    if (this.timer) return;
+    this.timer = setInterval(() => {
+      void this.tick();
+    }, this.cfg.intervalMs);
+  }
+
+  stop(): void {
+    if (this.timer) {
+      clearInterval(this.timer);
+      this.timer = null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async tick(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.busy) return;
+    this.busy = true;
+    try {
+      const sel = await this.deps.readSelection(this.cfg.stateFilePath);
+      if (sel.status !== 'ok') return;
+      const pou = sel.payload.selection;
+      const text = await this.deps.readPouFile(pou.abs_path);
+      const names = parseVarNames(text);
+      if (names.length === 0) return;
+      const values: Record<string, LiveValueSnapshotIn> = {};
+      const ts = Date.now();
+      for (const name of names) {
+        try {
+          const v = await this.deps.readVariable(
+            sel.payload.project_dir,
+            `${pou.name}.${name}`
+          );
+          values[name] = { value: v, ts };
+        } catch {
+          // single-var failure: skip silently, others may succeed
+        }
+      }
+      await this.deps.writeLiveValues(this.cfg.liveValuesFilePath, sel.payload.project_dir, {
+        device: sel.payload.device,
+        pou_name: pou.name,
+        values,
+      });
+    } catch {
+      // Pump must never crash; swallow.
+    } finally {
+      this.busy = false;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/live-values-write.ts b/src/live-values-write.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ce23d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/live-values-write.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+import * as path from 'path';
+
+export interface LiveValueSnapshotIn {
+  value: string;
+  type?: string;
+  ts: number;
+}
+
+export interface LiveValuesPayloadIn {
+  device: string;
+  pou_name: string;
+  values: Record<string, LiveValueSnapshotIn>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Server-side counterpart to the TUI's readLiveValues.
+ *
+ * Wraps the caller's payload in the v1 envelope, writes atomically via
+ * `<file>.<pid>.tmp` + rename, and creates parent dirs as needed. Mirrors
+ * src/tui/shared/state-write.ts (the selection writer); kept separate
+ * because that one's ESM and the server is CJS.
+ */
+export async function writeLiveValues(
+  filePath: string,
+  projectDir: string,
+  payload: LiveValuesPayloadIn
+): Promise<void> {
+  await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(filePath), { recursive: true });
+  const envelope = {
+    version: 1,
+    updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    project_dir: projectDir,
+    device: payload.device,
+    pou_name: payload.pou_name,
+    values: payload.values,
+  };
+  const tmp = `${filePath}.${process.pid}.tmp`;
+  await fs.writeFile(tmp, JSON.stringify(envelope, null, 2), 'utf8');
+  await fs.rename(tmp, filePath);
+}
diff --git a/src/server.ts b/src/server.ts
index 6f60249..79a37e2 100644
--- a/src/server.ts
+++ b/src/server.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import { inspectProjectFile } from './inspect';
 import { parseProfileName } from './detect';
 import { decideOpenProjectPreflight } from './preflight';
 import { readSelection } from './state-read';
+import { writeLiveValues } from './live-values-write';
+import { LiveValuesPump } from './live-values-pump';
 import { runApproveGate, gateOpForTool } from './approve-gate';
 
 /**
@@ -707,17 +709,25 @@ export async function buildGetUserSelectionResponse(stateFilePath: string) {
   };
 }
 
-function defaultStateFilePath(): string {
+function defaultStateDir(): string {
   if (process.platform === 'win32') {
     const localAppData = process.env.LOCALAPPDATA;
     if (!localAppData) {
-      return path.join(os.homedir(), 'AppData', 'Local', 'codesys-mcp', 'tui-state.json');
+      return path.join(os.homedir(), 'AppData', 'Local', 'codesys-mcp');
     }
-    return path.join(localAppData, 'codesys-mcp', 'tui-state.json');
+    return path.join(localAppData, 'codesys-mcp');
   }
   const xdg = process.env.XDG_STATE_HOME;
   const base = xdg ?? path.join(os.homedir(), '.local', 'state');
-  return path.join(base, 'codesys-mcp', 'tui-state.json');
+  return path.join(base, 'codesys-mcp');
+}
+
+function defaultStateFilePath(): string {
+  return path.join(defaultStateDir(), 'tui-state.json');
+}
+
+function defaultLiveValuesFilePath(): string {
+  return path.join(defaultStateDir(), 'tui-live-values.json');
 }
 
 export async function startMcpServer(config: ServerConfig): Promise<void> {
@@ -728,6 +738,7 @@ export async function startMcpServer(config: ServerConfig): Promise<void> {
   serverLog.info(`Starting CODESYS Persistent MCP Server v0.1.0`);
   serverLog.info(`Mode: ${config.mode}`);
   serverLog.info(`Approve edits: ${config.approveEdits ? 'ON' : 'off'}`);
+  serverLog.info(`Live values: ${config.liveValues ? 'ON' : 'off'}`);
   serverLog.info(`CODESYS Path: ${config.codesysPath}`);
   serverLog.info(`Profile: ${config.profileName}`);
   serverLog.info(`Workspace: ${config.workspaceDir}`);
@@ -3140,10 +3151,49 @@ export async function startMcpServer(config: ServerConfig): Promise<void> {
   server.connect(transport);
   serverLog.info('MCP Server connected and listening.');
 
+  // ─── Live values pump (opt-in) ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+  let liveValuesPump: LiveValuesPump | null = null;
+  if (config.liveValues) {
+    liveValuesPump = new LiveValuesPump(
+      {
+        stateFilePath: defaultStateFilePath(),
+        liveValuesFilePath: defaultLiveValuesFilePath(),
+        intervalMs: 500,
+      },
+      {
+        readSelection,
+        readPouFile: (absPath) => fs.promises.readFile(absPath, 'utf8'),
+        readVariable: async (projectFilePath, variablePath) => {
+          // Reuse the existing read_variable script. Returns the value as
+          // a string captured from script stdout. Errors throw.
+          const script = scriptManager.prepareScriptWithHelpers(
+            'read_variable',
+            { PROJECT_FILE_PATH: projectFilePath, VARIABLE_PATH: variablePath },
+            ['ensure_project_open', 'ensure_online_connection']
+          );
+          const result = await executor.executeScript(script);
+          if (!result.success || !result.output.includes('SCRIPT_SUCCESS')) {
+            throw new Error(result.error || 'read_variable failed');
+          }
+          // The script prints `Value: <value>` on the success line.
+          const m = /Value:\s*(.*)$/m.exec(result.output);
+          return m ? m[1].trim() : '';
+        },
+        writeLiveValues,
+      }
+    );
+    liveValuesPump.start();
+    serverLog.info('Live-values pump started (500ms)');
+  }
+
   // ─── Graceful Shutdown ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   const shutdown = async () => {
     serverLog.info('Shutdown signal received');
+    if (liveValuesPump) {
+      liveValuesPump.stop();
+    }
     if (launcher) {
       try {
         await launcher.shutdown();
diff --git a/src/tui/browser/Viewer.tsx b/src/tui/browser/Viewer.tsx
index 91c837c..8857a63 100644
--- a/src/tui/browser/Viewer.tsx
+++ b/src/tui/browser/Viewer.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
 import { POU } from '../shared/types.js';
 import { Token, tokenizeLines, TokenKind } from './highlight.js';
+import { LiveValueSnapshot } from '../shared/live-values.js';
 
 const COLORS: Record<TokenKind, string | undefined> = {
   keyword: 'cyan',
@@ -23,14 +24,38 @@ function HighlightedTokens({ tokens }: { tokens: Token[] }): React.ReactElement
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Find the first var name on the line that has a live value.
+ *
+ * Match rule: scan the raw line for identifiers, return the value of the
+ * first one that's a key in liveValues. Operates on the original line text
+ * (not on highlighter tokens) because the highlighter's uppercase-only
+ * identifier splitter shreds mixed-case names like `bRunning` into
+ * `b` + `R` + `unning`, which would never match a `bRunning` key.
+ */
+function findOverlayValue(
+  line: string,
+  liveValues: Record<string, LiveValueSnapshot>
+): string | null {
+  const re = /[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*/g;
+  let m: RegExpExecArray | null;
+  while ((m = re.exec(line)) !== null) {
+    const v = liveValues[m[0]];
+    if (v) return v.value;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 export interface ViewerProps {
   pou: POU | null;
   text: string | null;
   scrollTop: number;
   visibleRows: number;
+  /** Optional bare-name → live-value map. When set, lines with a matching var get an inline overlay. */
+  liveValues?: Record<string, LiveValueSnapshot>;
 }
 
-export function Viewer({ pou, text, scrollTop, visibleRows }: ViewerProps): React.ReactElement {
+export function Viewer({ pou, text, scrollTop, visibleRows, liveValues }: ViewerProps): React.ReactElement {
   if (!pou || text == null) {
     return (
       <Box flexDirection="column">
@@ -48,12 +73,17 @@ export function Viewer({ pou, text, scrollTop, visibleRows }: ViewerProps): Reac
       <Text bold>
         {pou.name}.st  ({pou.kind}, {pou.loc} L)
       </Text>
-      {sliceTokens.map((tokens, i) => (
-        <Text key={scrollTop + i}>
-          <Text dimColor>{String(scrollTop + i + 1).padStart(4, ' ')}  </Text>
-          <HighlightedTokens tokens={tokens} />
-        </Text>
-      ))}
+      {sliceTokens.map((tokens, i) => {
+        const lineNo = scrollTop + i;
+        const overlay = liveValues ? findOverlayValue(lines[lineNo] ?? '', liveValues) : null;
+        return (
+          <Text key={lineNo}>
+            <Text dimColor>{String(lineNo + 1).padStart(4, ' ')}  </Text>
+            <HighlightedTokens tokens={tokens} />
+            {overlay !== null && <Text color="green">  ◀ live: {overlay}</Text>}
+          </Text>
+        );
+      })}
     </Box>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/tui/browser/useLiveValues.tsx b/src/tui/browser/useLiveValues.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbe7d1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tui/browser/useLiveValues.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { LiveValueSnapshot } from '../shared/live-values.js';
+import { readLiveValues } from '../shared/live-values-read.js';
+
+/**
+ * Poll the live-values file every `intervalMs` and return the values map
+ * iff the snapshot's pou_name matches the requested `pouName`. Returns
+ * null when:
+ *   - pouName is null (cursor not on a POU)
+ *   - file is missing / stale / invalid
+ *   - snapshot's pou_name disagrees with the requested pouName
+ */
+export function useLiveValues(
+  filePath: string | null,
+  pouName: string | null,
+  intervalMs = 500
+): Record<string, LiveValueSnapshot> | null {
+  const [values, setValues] = React.useState<Record<string, LiveValueSnapshot> | null>(null);
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (!filePath || !pouName) {
+      setValues(null);
+      return;
+    }
+    let cancelled = false;
+    let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+
+    const tick = async () => {
+      const r = await readLiveValues(filePath);
+      if (cancelled) return;
+      if (r.status === 'ok' && r.payload.pou_name === pouName) {
+        setValues(r.payload.values);
+      } else {
+        setValues(null);
+      }
+      timer = setTimeout(tick, intervalMs);
+    };
+    tick();
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+      if (timer) clearTimeout(timer);
+    };
+  }, [filePath, pouName, intervalMs]);
+
+  return values;
+}
diff --git a/src/tui/shared/live-values-read.ts b/src/tui/shared/live-values-read.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..376e902
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tui/shared/live-values-read.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+import { LiveValuesPayload } from './live-values.js';
+
+/**
+ * Live values stop being interesting fast — tighter than the selection
+ * file's 60s window. If the pump dies or the runtime goes offline, we'd
+ * rather show no overlay than a frozen value.
+ */
+export const FRESHNESS_MS = 5_000;
+
+export type ReadResult =
+  | { status: 'ok'; payload: LiveValuesPayload }
+  | { status: 'missing' }
+  | { status: 'stale' }
+  | { status: 'invalid'; reason: string };
+
+export async function readLiveValues(filePath: string): Promise<ReadResult> {
+  let text: string;
+  try {
+    text = await fs.readFile(filePath, 'utf8');
+  } catch {
+    return { status: 'missing' };
+  }
+  let parsed: LiveValuesPayload;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(text);
+  } catch (err) {
+    return { status: 'invalid', reason: (err as Error).message };
+  }
+  if (parsed.version !== 1) {
+    return { status: 'invalid', reason: `unsupported version ${parsed.version}` };
+  }
+  const ageMs = Date.now() - new Date(parsed.updated_at).getTime();
+  if (Number.isNaN(ageMs) || ageMs > FRESHNESS_MS) {
+    return { status: 'stale' };
+  }
+  return { status: 'ok', payload: parsed };
+}
diff --git a/src/tui/shared/live-values.ts b/src/tui/shared/live-values.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d71813b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tui/shared/live-values.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/**
+ * Shape of `tui-live-values.json` written by the server's live-values pump.
+ * The TUI Viewer reads this to overlay live runtime values inline next to
+ * declared variable names.
+ *
+ * One file per machine; keyed by which POU the user is currently looking at
+ * in `tui-state.json` so the TUI knows whether the values match its current
+ * view and can ignore stale snapshots from a previous selection.
+ */
+export interface LiveValuesPayload {
+  version: 1;
+  /** ISO 8601 timestamp of the moment the snapshot was written. */
+  updated_at: string;
+  /** Project root dir the runtime was queried for. Matches the project_dir field in tui-state.json. */
+  project_dir: string;
+  /** Device name the runtime belongs to. Matches the device field in tui-state.json. */
+  device: string;
+  /** POU the values were read from. Bare name (no path); matches tui-state.json's selection.name. */
+  pou_name: string;
+  /** Variable name -> value snapshot. Bare names (no `PLC_PRG.` prefix). */
+  values: Record<string, LiveValueSnapshot>;
+}
+
+export interface LiveValueSnapshot {
+  /** Live value as a string (whatever read_variable returned). */
+  value: string;
+  /** Optional declared type, populated when the pump can determine it. */
+  type?: string;
+  /** Per-value timestamp in ms since epoch. Useful when the snapshot was assembled across several reads. */
+  ts: number;
+}
diff --git a/src/tui/shared/state-paths.ts b/src/tui/shared/state-paths.ts
index e7e0e6c..fcdde6a 100644
--- a/src/tui/shared/state-paths.ts
+++ b/src/tui/shared/state-paths.ts
@@ -2,18 +2,31 @@ import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 
 const APP_DIR = 'codesys-mcp';
-const FILE_NAME = 'tui-state.json';
+const STATE_FILE = 'tui-state.json';
+const LIVE_VALUES_FILE = 'tui-live-values.json';
 
-export function stateFilePath(): string {
+function resolveStateDir(): string {
   if (process.platform === 'win32') {
     const localAppData = process.env.LOCALAPPDATA;
     if (!localAppData) {
       throw new Error('LOCALAPPDATA is not set; cannot resolve TUI state file path');
     }
-    return path.win32.join(localAppData, APP_DIR, FILE_NAME);
+    return path.win32.join(localAppData, APP_DIR);
   }
   const xdg = process.env.XDG_STATE_HOME;
   const home = process.env.HOME ?? os.homedir();
   const base = xdg ?? path.posix.join(home, '.local', 'state');
-  return path.posix.join(base, APP_DIR, FILE_NAME);
+  return path.posix.join(base, APP_DIR);
+}
+
+function joinForPlatform(dir: string, file: string): string {
+  return process.platform === 'win32' ? path.win32.join(dir, file) : path.posix.join(dir, file);
+}
+
+export function stateFilePath(): string {
+  return joinForPlatform(resolveStateDir(), STATE_FILE);
+}
+
+export function liveValuesFilePath(): string {
+  return joinForPlatform(resolveStateDir(), LIVE_VALUES_FILE);
 }
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index a7506b9..f7fec8a 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,13 @@ export interface ServerConfig extends LauncherConfig {
    * so existing scripted flows are not regressed.
    */
   approveEdits?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * If true, run a background pump that reads runtime values for the
+   * variables of the user's currently-selected POU and writes them to
+   * tui-live-values.json so the TUI Viewer can overlay them inline.
+   * Off by default. 500 ms interval (fixed in v0.3).
+   */
+  liveValues?: boolean;
 }
 
 /** Script template parameters */
diff --git a/tests/tui/Viewer.test.tsx b/tests/tui/Viewer.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a46f9e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tui/Viewer.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
+import { Viewer } from '../../src/tui/browser/Viewer.tsx';
+import { POU } from '../../src/tui/shared/types.ts';
+
+const pou: POU = {
+  name: 'PLC_PRG',
+  kind: 'PRG',
+  relPath: 'PLC_PRG.st',
+  absPath: '/abs/PLC_PRG.st',
+  loc: 4,
+  mtimeMs: 0,
+};
+
+const text = [
+  'PROGRAM PLC_PRG',
+  'VAR',
+  '  counter : INT := 0;',
+  '  bRunning : BOOL;',
+  'END_VAR',
+].join('\n');
+
+describe('<Viewer>', () => {
+  it('renders without overlay when liveValues is absent', () => {
+    const { lastFrame } = render(
+      <Viewer pou={pou} text={text} scrollTop={0} visibleRows={10} />
+    );
+    expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('live:');
+  });
+
+  it('overlays "◀ live: <val>" on the line whose token matches a key', () => {
+    const { lastFrame } = render(
+      <Viewer
+        pou={pou}
+        text={text}
+        scrollTop={0}
+        visibleRows={10}
+        liveValues={{
+          counter: { value: '47', type: 'INT', ts: Date.now() },
+          bRunning: { value: 'TRUE', type: 'BOOL', ts: Date.now() },
+        }}
+      />
+    );
+    const out = lastFrame()!;
+    expect(out).toMatch(/counter\b.*◀ live: 47/);
+    expect(out).toMatch(/bRunning\b.*◀ live: TRUE/);
+  });
+
+  it('does not overlay vars that are not in liveValues', () => {
+    const { lastFrame } = render(
+      <Viewer
+        pou={pou}
+        text={text}
+        scrollTop={0}
+        visibleRows={10}
+        liveValues={{ counter: { value: '47', ts: Date.now() } }}
+      />
+    );
+    const out = lastFrame()!;
+    expect(out).toMatch(/counter\b.*◀ live: 47/);
+    // bRunning line must not gain an overlay
+    const bRunningLine = out.split('\n').find((l) => l.includes('bRunning'))!;
+    expect(bRunningLine).not.toContain('live:');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/tui/live-values-read.test.ts b/tests/tui/live-values-read.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..154ed92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tui/live-values-read.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import * as os from 'os';
+import { readLiveValues, FRESHNESS_MS } from '../../src/tui/shared/live-values-read.ts';
+
+async function tmpFile(content: string): Promise<string> {
+  const dir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'phobics-lv-'));
+  const f = path.join(dir, 'tui-live-values.json');
+  await fs.writeFile(f, content, 'utf8');
+  return f;
+}
+
+const fresh = (overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) =>
+  JSON.stringify({
+    version: 1,
+    updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    project_dir: '/p',
+    device: 'D1',
+    pou_name: 'PLC_PRG',
+    values: {
+      counter: { value: '47', type: 'INT', ts: Date.now() },
+    },
+    ...overrides,
+  });
+
+describe('readLiveValues', () => {
+  it('returns ok with the parsed payload when fresh', async () => {
+    const f = await tmpFile(fresh());
+    const r = await readLiveValues(f);
+    expect(r.status).toBe('ok');
+    if (r.status === 'ok') {
+      expect(r.payload.pou_name).toBe('PLC_PRG');
+      expect(r.payload.values['counter'].value).toBe('47');
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('returns stale when older than FRESHNESS_MS', async () => {
+    const old = JSON.stringify({
+      ...JSON.parse(fresh()),
+      updated_at: new Date(Date.now() - FRESHNESS_MS - 1000).toISOString(),
+    });
+    const f = await tmpFile(old);
+    expect((await readLiveValues(f)).status).toBe('stale');
+  });
+
+  it('returns missing when file does not exist', async () => {
+    expect((await readLiveValues('/nonexistent.json')).status).toBe('missing');
+  });
+
+  it('returns invalid for malformed JSON', async () => {
+    const f = await tmpFile('not json');
+    expect((await readLiveValues(f)).status).toBe('invalid');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/tui/state-paths.test.ts b/tests/tui/state-paths.test.ts
index 4df3849..7b4c2f3 100644
--- a/tests/tui/state-paths.test.ts
+++ b/tests/tui/state-paths.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
 import * as path from 'path';
-import { stateFilePath } from '../../src/tui/shared/state-paths.ts';
+import { stateFilePath, liveValuesFilePath } from '../../src/tui/shared/state-paths.ts';
 
 const ORIG_PLATFORM = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, 'platform')!;
 const ORIG_ENV = { ...process.env };
@@ -49,3 +49,33 @@ describe('stateFilePath', () => {
     expect(() => stateFilePath()).toThrow(/LOCALAPPDATA/);
   });
 });
+
+describe('liveValuesFilePath', () => {
+  it('uses %LOCALAPPDATA%/codesys-mcp/tui-live-values.json on Windows', () => {
+    setPlatform('win32');
+    process.env.LOCALAPPDATA = 'C:\\\\Users\\\\u\\\\AppData\\\\Local';
+    const p = liveValuesFilePath();
+    expect(p).toBe(
+      path.join('C:\\\\Users\\\\u\\\\AppData\\\\Local', 'codesys-mcp', 'tui-live-values.json')
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('uses $XDG_STATE_HOME/codesys-mcp/tui-live-values.json when set', () => {
+    setPlatform('linux');
+    process.env.XDG_STATE_HOME = '/tmp/xdg-state';
+    expect(liveValuesFilePath()).toBe('/tmp/xdg-state/codesys-mcp/tui-live-values.json');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to ~/.local/state on Linux without XDG_STATE_HOME', () => {
+    setPlatform('linux');
+    delete process.env.XDG_STATE_HOME;
+    process.env.HOME = '/home/u';
+    expect(liveValuesFilePath()).toBe('/home/u/.local/state/codesys-mcp/tui-live-values.json');
+  });
+
+  it('throws on Windows when LOCALAPPDATA is unset', () => {
+    setPlatform('win32');
+    delete process.env.LOCALAPPDATA;
+    expect(() => liveValuesFilePath()).toThrow(/LOCALAPPDATA/);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/tui/useLiveValues.test.tsx b/tests/tui/useLiveValues.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c331b52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tui/useLiveValues.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
+import { Text } from 'ink';
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import * as os from 'os';
+import { useLiveValues } from '../../src/tui/browser/useLiveValues.tsx';
+
+async function tmpFile(content: string): Promise<string> {
+  const dir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'phobics-uv-'));
+  const f = path.join(dir, 'tui-live-values.json');
+  await fs.writeFile(f, content, 'utf8');
+  return f;
+}
+
+const fresh = (pouName = 'PLC_PRG') =>
+  JSON.stringify({
+    version: 1,
+    updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    project_dir: '/p',
+    device: 'D1',
+    pou_name: pouName,
+    values: { counter: { value: '47', ts: Date.now() } },
+  });
+
+function Probe({ filePath, pouName }: { filePath: string; pouName: string | null }) {
+  const lv = useLiveValues(filePath, pouName, 50);
+  return <Text>{lv ? `MATCH:${Object.keys(lv).join(',')}` : 'NULL'}</Text>;
+}
+
+const wait = (ms: number) => new Promise<void>((r) => setTimeout(r, ms));
+
+describe('useLiveValues', () => {
+  it('returns map when pou_name matches', async () => {
+    const f = await tmpFile(fresh('PLC_PRG'));
+    const { lastFrame, unmount } = render(<Probe filePath={f} pouName="PLC_PRG" />);
+    await wait(120);
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe('MATCH:counter');
+    unmount();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null when pou_name does not match', async () => {
+    const f = await tmpFile(fresh('FB_Other'));
+    const { lastFrame, unmount } = render(<Probe filePath={f} pouName="PLC_PRG" />);
+    await wait(120);
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe('NULL');
+    unmount();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null when pouName is null (cursor not on a POU)', async () => {
+    const f = await tmpFile(fresh('PLC_PRG'));
+    const { lastFrame, unmount } = render(<Probe filePath={f} pouName={null} />);
+    await wait(120);
+    expect(lastFrame()).toBe('NULL');
+    unmount();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/live-values-pump.test.ts b/tests/unit/live-values-pump.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d9b319
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/live-values-pump.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { LiveValuesPump } from '../../src/live-values-pump';
+
+const okSelection = (overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => ({
+  status: 'ok' as const,
+  payload: {
+    version: 1 as const,
+    updated_at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    project_dir: '/abs/proj',
+    device: 'D1',
+    selection: {
+      kind: 'PRG',
+      name: 'PLC_PRG',
+      path: 'PLC_PRG.st',
+      abs_path: '/abs/PLC_PRG.st',
+    },
+    viewer_line: 1,
+    ...overrides,
+  },
+});
+
+const sampleSt = [
+  'PROGRAM PLC_PRG',
+  'VAR',
+  '  counter : INT := 0;',
+  '  bRunning : BOOL;',
+  'END_VAR',
+].join('\n');
+
+describe('LiveValuesPump.tick', () => {
+  it('writes a snapshot containing every var read successfully', async () => {
+    const writeLiveValues = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    const readVariable = vi.fn(async (_proj: string, varPath: string) => {
+      if (varPath.endsWith('.counter')) return '47';
+      if (varPath.endsWith('.bRunning')) return 'TRUE';
+      throw new Error('not found');
+    });
+    const pump = new LiveValuesPump(
+      { stateFilePath: '/state.json', liveValuesFilePath: '/lv.json', intervalMs: 500 },
+      {
+        readSelection: vi.fn(async () => okSelection()),
+        readPouFile: vi.fn(async () => sampleSt),
+        readVariable,
+        writeLiveValues,
+      }
+    );
+    await pump.tick();
+    expect(writeLiveValues).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    const [, projectDir, payload] = writeLiveValues.mock.calls[0];
+    expect(projectDir).toBe('/abs/proj');
+    expect(payload.device).toBe('D1');
+    expect(payload.pou_name).toBe('PLC_PRG');
+    expect(payload.values.counter.value).toBe('47');
+    expect(payload.values.bRunning.value).toBe('TRUE');
+  });
+
+  it('skips writing when selection is missing/stale', async () => {
+    const writeLiveValues = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    const pump = new LiveValuesPump(
+      { stateFilePath: '/state.json', liveValuesFilePath: '/lv.json', intervalMs: 500 },
+      {
+        readSelection: vi.fn(async () => ({ status: 'missing' as const })),
+        readPouFile: vi.fn(async () => sampleSt),
+        readVariable: vi.fn(async () => '1'),
+        writeLiveValues,
+      }
+    );
+    await pump.tick();
+    expect(writeLiveValues).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('continues when one read_variable fails (partial write)', async () => {
+    const writeLiveValues = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    const pump = new LiveValuesPump(
+      { stateFilePath: '/state.json', liveValuesFilePath: '/lv.json', intervalMs: 500 },
+      {
+        readSelection: vi.fn(async () => okSelection()),
+        readPouFile: vi.fn(async () => sampleSt),
+        readVariable: vi.fn(async (_p, varPath) => {
+          if (varPath.endsWith('.counter')) return '47';
+          throw new Error('boom');
+        }),
+        writeLiveValues,
+      }
+    );
+    await pump.tick();
+    const payload = writeLiveValues.mock.calls[0][2];
+    expect(payload.values.counter.value).toBe('47');
+    expect(payload.values.bRunning).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('never throws when readPouFile throws', async () => {
+    const writeLiveValues = vi.fn(async () => {});
+    const pump = new LiveValuesPump(
+      { stateFilePath: '/state.json', liveValuesFilePath: '/lv.json', intervalMs: 500 },
+      {
+        readSelection: vi.fn(async () => okSelection()),
+        readPouFile: vi.fn(async () => { throw new Error('disk gone'); }),
+        readVariable: vi.fn(async () => '1'),
+        writeLiveValues,
+      }
+    );
+    await expect(pump.tick()).resolves.toBeUndefined();
+    expect(writeLiveValues).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/live-values-write.test.ts b/tests/unit/live-values-write.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db630f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/live-values-write.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import * as os from 'os';
+import { writeLiveValues } from '../../src/live-values-write';
+
+async function tmpDir(): Promise<string> {
+  return fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'phobics-lvw-'));
+}
+
+const sample = {
+  device: 'D1',
+  pou_name: 'PLC_PRG',
+  values: {
+    counter: { value: '47', type: 'INT', ts: Date.now() },
+  },
+};
+
+describe('writeLiveValues', () => {
+  it('writes the v1 envelope with required fields', async () => {
+    const dir = await tmpDir();
+    const target = path.join(dir, 'tui-live-values.json');
+    await writeLiveValues(target, '/abs/project', sample);
+
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(target, 'utf8'));
+    expect(parsed.version).toBe(1);
+    expect(parsed.project_dir).toBe('/abs/project');
+    expect(parsed.device).toBe('D1');
+    expect(parsed.pou_name).toBe('PLC_PRG');
+    expect(parsed.values.counter.value).toBe('47');
+    expect(typeof parsed.updated_at).toBe('string');
+  });
+
+  it('creates parent dirs as needed', async () => {
+    const dir = await tmpDir();
+    const target = path.join(dir, 'a', 'b', 'tui-live-values.json');
+    await writeLiveValues(target, '/abs/project', sample);
+    expect((await fs.stat(target)).isFile()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('does not leave .tmp residue on success', async () => {
+    const dir = await tmpDir();
+    const target = path.join(dir, 'tui-live-values.json');
+    await writeLiveValues(target, '/abs/project', sample);
+    const entries = await fs.readdir(dir);
+    expect(entries.filter((e) => e.endsWith('.tmp'))).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/var-block-parse.test.ts b/tests/unit/var-block-parse.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f59819
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/var-block-parse.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { parseVarNames } from '../../src/live-values-pump';
+
+describe('parseVarNames', () => {
+  it('extracts vars from a single VAR block', () => {
+    const text = [
+      'PROGRAM PLC_PRG',
+      'VAR',
+      '  counter : INT := 0;',
+      '  bRunning : BOOL;',
+      '  rTemperature : REAL;',
+      'END_VAR',
+    ].join('\n');
+    expect(parseVarNames(text)).toEqual(['counter', 'bRunning', 'rTemperature']);
+  });
+
+  it('handles VAR_INPUT / VAR_OUTPUT / VAR_GLOBAL too', () => {
+    const text = [
+      'FUNCTION_BLOCK FB_X',
+      'VAR_INPUT',
+      '  x : INT;',
+      'END_VAR',
+      'VAR_OUTPUT',
+      '  y : BOOL;',
+      'END_VAR',
+      'VAR',
+      '  internal : DINT;',
+      'END_VAR',
+    ].join('\n');
+    expect(parseVarNames(text).sort()).toEqual(['internal', 'x', 'y']);
+  });
+
+  it('ignores lines inside (* ... *) blocks and after //', () => {
+    const text = [
+      'VAR',
+      '  alpha : INT;',
+      '  (* commentedOut : BOOL; *)',
+      '  beta : INT; // tail comment',
+      'END_VAR',
+    ].join('\n');
+    expect(parseVarNames(text)).toEqual(['alpha', 'beta']);
+  });
+
+  it('returns [] when no VAR block is present', () => {
+    expect(parseVarNames('PROGRAM X\nEND_PROGRAM')).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('handles AT %X10.0 location prefix and := initializer', () => {
+    const text = [
+      'VAR',
+      '  bRelay AT %QX0.1 : BOOL := FALSE;',
+      '  iCount : INT := 42;',
+      'END_VAR',
+    ].join('\n');
+    expect(parseVarNames(text)).toEqual(['bRelay', 'iCount']);
+  });
+});