diff --git a/crates/zclaw-kernel/src/lib.rs b/crates/zclaw-kernel/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cb067d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/zclaw-kernel/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+//! ZCLAW Kernel
+//!
+//! Central coordinator for all ZCLAW subsystems.
+
+mod kernel;
+mod registry;
+mod capabilities;
+mod events;
+pub mod config;
+
+pub use kernel::*;
+pub use registry::*;
+pub use capabilities::*;
+pub use events::*;
+pub use config::*;
diff --git a/crates/zclaw-kernel/src/registry.rs b/crates/zclaw-kernel/src/registry.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f78394f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/zclaw-kernel/src/registry.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+//! Agent registry
+
+use dashmap::DashMap;
+use zclaw_types::{AgentConfig, AgentId, AgentInfo, AgentState};
+use chrono::Utc;
+
+/// In-memory registry of active agents
+pub struct AgentRegistry {
+    agents: DashMap<AgentId, AgentConfig>,
+    states: DashMap<AgentId, AgentState>,
+    created_at: DashMap<AgentId, chrono::DateTime<Utc>>,
+}
+
+impl AgentRegistry {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            agents: DashMap::new(),
+            states: DashMap::new(),
+            created_at: DashMap::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Register an agent
+    pub fn register(&self, config: AgentConfig) {
+        let id = config.id;
+        self.agents.insert(id, config);
+        self.states.insert(id, AgentState::Running);
+        self.created_at.insert(id, Utc::now());
+    }
+
+    /// Unregister an agent
+    pub fn unregister(&self, id: &AgentId) {
+        self.agents.remove(id);
+        self.states.remove(id);
+        self.created_at.remove(id);
+    }
+
+    /// Get an agent by ID
+    pub fn get(&self, id: &AgentId) -> Option<AgentConfig> {
+        self.agents.get(id).map(|r| r.clone())
+    }
+
+    /// Get agent info
+    pub fn get_info(&self, id: &AgentId) -> Option<AgentInfo> {
+        let config = self.agents.get(id)?;
+        let state = self.states.get(id).map(|s| *s).unwrap_or(AgentState::Terminated);
+        let created_at = self.created_at.get(id).map(|t| *t).unwrap_or_else(Utc::now);
+
+        Some(AgentInfo {
+            id: *id,
+            name: config.name.clone(),
+            description: config.description.clone(),
+            model: config.model.model.clone(),
+            provider: config.model.provider.clone(),
+            state,
+            message_count: 0, // TODO: Track this
+            created_at,
+            updated_at: Utc::now(),
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// List all agents
+    pub fn list(&self) -> Vec<AgentInfo> {
+        self.agents.iter()
+            .filter_map(|entry| {
+                let id = entry.key();
+                self.get_info(id)
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    /// Update agent state
+    pub fn set_state(&self, id: &AgentId, state: AgentState) {
+        self.states.insert(*id, state);
+    }
+
+    /// Get agent state
+    pub fn get_state(&self, id: &AgentId) -> AgentState {
+        self.states.get(id).map(|s| *s).unwrap_or(AgentState::Terminated)
+    }
+
+    /// Count active agents
+    pub fn count(&self) -> usize {
+        self.agents.len()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for AgentRegistry {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/zclaw-types/src/config.rs b/crates/zclaw-types/src/config.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f3d9a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/zclaw-types/src/config.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+//! Configuration types
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+/// Kernel configuration
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct KernelConfig {
+    /// Database URL (SQLite or PostgreSQL)
+    pub database_url: String,
+
+    /// Default LLM provider
+    pub default_provider: String,
+
+    /// Default model
+    pub default_model: String,
+
+    /// Maximum tokens per response
+    #[serde(default = "default_max_tokens")]
+    pub max_tokens: u32,
+
+    /// Default temperature
+    #[serde(default = "default_temperature")]
+    pub temperature: f32,
+
+    /// Enable debug logging
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub debug: bool,
+}
+
+fn default_max_tokens() -> u32 {
+    4096
+}
+
+fn default_temperature() -> f32 {
+    0.7
+}
+
+impl Default for KernelConfig {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            database_url: "sqlite::memory:".to_string(),
+            default_provider: "anthropic".to_string(),
+            default_model: "claude-sonnet-4-20250514".to_string(),
+            max_tokens: default_max_tokens(),
+            temperature: default_temperature(),
+            debug: false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Model configuration for an agent
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ModelConfig {
+    /// Provider name (anthropic, openai, gemini, ollama, etc.)
+    pub provider: String,
+    /// Model identifier
+    pub model: String,
+    /// API key environment variable name
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub api_key_env: Option<String>,
+    /// Custom base URL (for OpenAI-compatible providers)
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub base_url: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl Default for ModelConfig {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            provider: "anthropic".to_string(),
+            model: "claude-sonnet-4-20250514".to_string(),
+            api_key_env: Some("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY".to_string()),
+            base_url: None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl ModelConfig {
+    pub fn anthropic(model: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            provider: "anthropic".to_string(),
+            model: model.into(),
+            api_key_env: Some("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY".to_string()),
+            base_url: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn openai(model: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            provider: "openai".to_string(),
+            model: model.into(),
+            api_key_env: Some("OPENAI_API_KEY".to_string()),
+            base_url: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn gemini(model: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            provider: "gemini".to_string(),
+            model: model.into(),
+            api_key_env: Some("GEMINI_API_KEY".to_string()),
+            base_url: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn ollama(model: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            provider: "ollama".to_string(),
+            model: model.into(),
+            api_key_env: None,
+            base_url: Some("http://localhost:11434".to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn openai_compatible(model: impl Into<String>, base_url: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            provider: "openai".to_string(),
+            model: model.into(),
+            api_key_env: None,
+            base_url: Some(base_url.into()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Check if this uses the same driver as another config
+    pub fn same_driver(&self, other: &ModelConfig) -> bool {
+        self.provider == other.provider
+            && self.api_key_env == other.api_key_env
+            && self.base_url == other.base_url
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/zclaw-types/src/tool.rs b/crates/zclaw-types/src/tool.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9cbc9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/zclaw-types/src/tool.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+//! Tool definition types
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+/// Tool definition for LLM function calling
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ToolDefinition {
+    /// Tool name (unique identifier)
+    pub name: String,
+    /// Human-readable description
+    pub description: String,
+    /// JSON Schema for input parameters
+    pub input_schema: Value,
+}
+
+impl ToolDefinition {
+    pub fn new(name: impl Into<String>, description: impl Into<String>, schema: Value) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name: name.into(),
+            description: description.into(),
+            input_schema: schema,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Create a simple tool with string parameters
+    pub fn simple(name: impl Into<String>, description: impl Into<String>, params: &[&str]) -> Self {
+        let properties: Value = params
+            .iter()
+            .map(|p| {
+                let s = p.to_string();
+                (s.clone(), serde_json::json!({"type": "string"}))
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        let required: Vec<&str> = params.to_vec();
+
+        Self {
+            name: name.into(),
+            description: description.into(),
+            input_schema: serde_json::json!({
+                "type": "object",
+                "properties": properties,
+                "required": required
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Tool execution result
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ToolResult {
+    /// Whether execution succeeded
+    pub success: bool,
+    /// Output data
+    pub output: Value,
+    /// Error message if failed
+    pub error: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl ToolResult {
+    pub fn success(output: Value) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            success: true,
+            output,
+            error: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn error(message: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            success: false,
+            output: Value::Null,
+            error: Some(message.into()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Built-in tool names
+pub mod builtin_tools {
+    pub const FILE_READ: &str = "file_read";
+    pub const FILE_WRITE: &str = "file_write";
+    pub const FILE_LIST: &str = "file_list";
+    pub const SHELL_EXEC: &str = "shell_exec";
+    pub const WEB_FETCH: &str = "web_fetch";
+    pub const WEB_SEARCH: &str = "web_search";
+    pub const MEMORY_STORE: &str = "memory_store";
+    pub const MEMORY_RECALL: &str = "memory_recall";
+    pub const MEMORY_SEARCH: &str = "memory_search";
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/kernel_commands.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/kernel_commands.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..767b87e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/kernel_commands.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+//! ZCLAW Kernel commands for Tauri
+//!
+//! These commands provide direct access to the internal ZCLAW Kernel,
+//! eliminating the need for external OpenFang process.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tauri::{AppHandle, Manager, State};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use tokio::sync::Mutex;
+use zclaw_kernel::Kernel;
+use zclaw_types::{AgentConfig, AgentId, AgentInfo, AgentState};
+
+/// Kernel state wrapper for Tauri
+pub type KernelState = Arc<Mutex<Option<Kernel>>>;
+
+/// Agent creation request
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct CreateAgentRequest {
+    /// Agent name
+    pub name: String,
+    /// Agent description
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub description: Option<String>,
+    /// System prompt
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub system_prompt: Option<String>,
+    /// Model provider
+    #[serde(default = "default_provider")]
+    pub provider: String,
+    /// Model identifier
+    #[serde(default = "default_model")]
+    pub model: String,
+    /// Max tokens
+    #[serde(default = "default_max_tokens")]
+    pub max_tokens: u32,
+    /// Temperature
+    #[serde(default = "default_temperature")]
+    pub temperature: f32,
+}
+
+fn default_provider() -> String { "anthropic".to_string() }
+fn default_model() -> String { "claude-sonnet-4-20250514".to_string() }
+fn default_max_tokens() -> u32 { 4096 }
+fn default_temperature() -> f32 { 0.7 }
+
+/// Agent creation response
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct CreateAgentResponse {
+    pub id: String,
+    pub name: String,
+    pub state: String,
+}
+
+/// Chat request
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct ChatRequest {
+    /// Agent ID
+    pub agent_id: String,
+    /// Message content
+    pub message: String,
+}
+
+/// Chat response
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct ChatResponse {
+    pub content: String,
+    pub input_tokens: u32,
+    pub output_tokens: u32,
+}
+
+/// Kernel status response
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct KernelStatusResponse {
+    pub initialized: bool,
+    pub agent_count: usize,
+    pub database_url: Option<String>,
+    pub default_provider: Option<String>,
+    pub default_model: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Initialize the internal ZCLAW Kernel
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn kernel_init(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+) -> Result<KernelStatusResponse, String> {
+    let mut kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    if kernel_lock.is_some() {
+        let kernel = kernel_lock.as_ref().unwrap();
+        return Ok(KernelStatusResponse {
+            initialized: true,
+            agent_count: kernel.list_agents().len(),
+            database_url: None,
+            default_provider: Some("anthropic".to_string()),
+            default_model: Some("claude-sonnet-4-20250514".to_string()),
+        });
+    }
+
+    // Load configuration
+    let config = zclaw_kernel::config::KernelConfig::default();
+
+    // Boot kernel
+    let kernel = Kernel::boot(config.clone())
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to initialize kernel: {}", e))?;
+
+    let agent_count = kernel.list_agents().len();
+
+    *kernel_lock = Some(kernel);
+
+    Ok(KernelStatusResponse {
+        initialized: true,
+        agent_count,
+        database_url: Some(config.database_url),
+        default_provider: Some(config.default_provider),
+        default_model: Some(config.default_model),
+    })
+}
+
+/// Get kernel status
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn kernel_status(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+) -> Result<KernelStatusResponse, String> {
+    let kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    match kernel_lock.as_ref() {
+        Some(kernel) => Ok(KernelStatusResponse {
+            initialized: true,
+            agent_count: kernel.list_agents().len(),
+            database_url: None,
+            default_provider: Some("anthropic".to_string()),
+            default_model: Some("claude-sonnet-4-20250514".to_string()),
+        }),
+        None => Ok(KernelStatusResponse {
+            initialized: false,
+            agent_count: 0,
+            database_url: None,
+            default_provider: None,
+            default_model: None,
+        }),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Shutdown the kernel
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn kernel_shutdown(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let mut kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    if let Some(kernel) = kernel_lock.take() {
+        kernel.shutdown().await.map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Create a new agent
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn agent_create(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+    request: CreateAgentRequest,
+) -> Result<CreateAgentResponse, String> {
+    let kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    let kernel = kernel_lock.as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| "Kernel not initialized. Call kernel_init first.".to_string())?;
+
+    // Build agent config
+    let config = AgentConfig::new(&request.name)
+        .with_description(request.description.unwrap_or_default())
+        .with_system_prompt(request.system_prompt.unwrap_or_default())
+        .with_model(zclaw_types::ModelConfig {
+            provider: request.provider,
+            model: request.model,
+            api_key_env: None,
+            base_url: None,
+        })
+        .with_max_tokens(request.max_tokens)
+        .with_temperature(request.temperature);
+
+    let id = kernel.spawn_agent(config)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to create agent: {}", e))?;
+
+    Ok(CreateAgentResponse {
+        id: id.to_string(),
+        name: request.name,
+        state: "running".to_string(),
+    })
+}
+
+/// List all agents
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn agent_list(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+) -> Result<Vec<AgentInfo>, String> {
+    let kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    let kernel = kernel_lock.as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| "Kernel not initialized. Call kernel_init first.".to_string())?;
+
+    Ok(kernel.list_agents())
+}
+
+/// Get agent info
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn agent_get(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+    agent_id: String,
+) -> Result<Option<AgentInfo>, String> {
+    let kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    let kernel = kernel_lock.as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| "Kernel not initialized. Call kernel_init first.".to_string())?;
+
+    let id: AgentId = agent_id.parse()
+        .map_err(|_| "Invalid agent ID format".to_string())?;
+
+    Ok(kernel.get_agent(&id))
+}
+
+/// Delete an agent
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn agent_delete(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+    agent_id: String,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    let kernel = kernel_lock.as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| "Kernel not initialized. Call kernel_init first.".to_string())?;
+
+    let id: AgentId = agent_id.parse()
+        .map_err(|_| "Invalid agent ID format".to_string())?;
+
+    kernel.kill_agent(&id)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to delete agent: {}", e))
+}
+
+/// Send a message to an agent
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn agent_chat(
+    state: State<'_, KernelState>,
+    request: ChatRequest,
+) -> Result<ChatResponse, String> {
+    let kernel_lock = state.lock().await;
+
+    let kernel = kernel_lock.as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| "Kernel not initialized. Call kernel_init first.".to_string())?;
+
+    let id: AgentId = request.agent_id.parse()
+        .map_err(|_| "Invalid agent ID format".to_string())?;
+
+    let response = kernel.send_message(&id, request.message)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Chat failed: {}", e))?;
+
+    Ok(ChatResponse {
+        content: response.content,
+        input_tokens: response.input_tokens,
+        output_tokens: response.output_tokens,
+    })
+}
+
+/// Create the kernel state for Tauri
+pub fn create_kernel_state() -> KernelState {
+    Arc::new(Mutex::new(None))
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 276e433..ebadf44 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ mod memory_commands;
 // Intelligence Layer (migrated from frontend lib/)
 mod intelligence;
 
+// Internal ZCLAW Kernel commands (replaces external OpenFang process)
+mod kernel_commands;
+
 use serde::Serialize;
 use serde_json::{json, Value};
 use std::fs;
@@ -1308,6 +1311,9 @@ pub fn run() {
     let reflection_state: intelligence::ReflectionEngineState = std::sync::Arc::new(tokio::sync::Mutex::new(intelligence::ReflectionEngine::new(None)));
     let identity_state: intelligence::IdentityManagerState = std::sync::Arc::new(tokio::sync::Mutex::new(intelligence::AgentIdentityManager::new()));
 
+    // Initialize internal ZCLAW Kernel state
+    let kernel_state = kernel_commands::create_kernel_state();
+
     tauri::Builder::default()
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_opener::init())
         .manage(browser_state)
@@ -1315,7 +1321,17 @@ pub fn run() {
         .manage(heartbeat_state)
         .manage(reflection_state)
         .manage(identity_state)
+        .manage(kernel_state)
         .invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![
+            // Internal ZCLAW Kernel commands (preferred)
+            kernel_commands::kernel_init,
+            kernel_commands::kernel_status,
+            kernel_commands::kernel_shutdown,
+            kernel_commands::agent_create,
+            kernel_commands::agent_list,
+            kernel_commands::agent_get,
+            kernel_commands::agent_delete,
+            kernel_commands::agent_chat,
             // OpenFang commands (new naming)
             openfang_status,
             openfang_start,