diff --git a/src/application/BinarySession.ts b/src/application/BinarySession.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b0e0dab524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/application/BinarySession.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+import type { BinaryTarget } from "../domain/binaryTarget.js";
+import { parseBinaryTarget } from "../domain/binaryTarget.js";
+import {
+  HopperCancelledError,
+  NoBinaryOpenError,
+  type HopperError,
+} from "../domain/errors.js";
+import { err, ok, type Result } from "../domain/result.js";
+import type { JsonValue } from "../hopper/protocol.js";
+import type { HopperToolPort } from "./HopperToolPort.js";
+
+/** A closeable Hopper port created for exactly one parsed target. */
+export interface BinaryClient extends HopperToolPort {
+  close(): Promise<void>;
+}
+/** Production seam for creating a target-scoped Hopper client. */
+export type BinaryClientFactory = (target: BinaryTarget) => BinaryClient;
+
+/** Serializes target transitions while allowing calls within the active session. */
+export class BinarySession implements HopperToolPort {
+  #active:
+    | { readonly target: BinaryTarget; readonly client: BinaryClient }
+    | undefined;
+  #transition: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
+  readonly #calls = new Set<Promise<unknown>>();
+  constructor(readonly createClient: BinaryClientFactory) {}
+
+  /** Open or switch to a target, retaining the old session when the new one fails. */
+  open(
+    path: string,
+    options: { readonly signal?: AbortSignal } = {},
+  ): Promise<Result<BinaryTarget, HopperError>> {
+    return this.#serialize(async () => {
+      if (isAborted(options.signal)) return err(new HopperCancelledError());
+      const parsed = await parseBinaryTarget(path);
+      if (!parsed.ok) return parsed;
+      if (isAborted(options.signal)) return err(new HopperCancelledError());
+      if (this.#active?.target.path === parsed.value.path)
+        return ok(parsed.value);
+      await this.#drainCalls();
+      const previous = this.#active;
+      this.#active = undefined;
+      await previous?.client.close();
+      const client = this.createClient(parsed.value);
+      const started = await client.callTool("health", {}, options);
+      if (!started.ok) {
+        await client.close();
+        if (previous !== undefined) await this.#restore(previous.target);
+        return started;
+      }
+      if (isAborted(options.signal)) {
+        await client.close();
+        if (previous !== undefined) await this.#restore(previous.target);
+        return err(new HopperCancelledError());
+      }
+      this.#active = { target: parsed.value, client };
+      return ok(parsed.value);
+    });
+  }
+
+  /** Close the active target, if any. */
+  close(): Promise<Result<null, HopperError>> {
+    return this.#serialize(async () => {
+      const previous = this.#active;
+      this.#active = undefined;
+      await this.#drainCalls();
+      await previous?.client.close();
+      return ok(null);
+    });
+  }
+
+  /** Describe the active binary session. */
+  status(): JsonValue {
+    const target = this.#active?.target;
+    return target === undefined
+      ? { open: false }
+      : {
+          open: true,
+          path: target.path,
+          format: target.format,
+          kind: target.kind,
+        };
+  }
+
+  /** Invoke a Hopper tool against the active target. */
+  async callTool(
+    name: string,
+    arguments_: Readonly<Record<string, JsonValue>>,
+    options?: { readonly signal?: AbortSignal },
+  ): Promise<Result<JsonValue, HopperError>> {
+    const transitioned = await this.#waitForTransition(options?.signal);
+    if (!transitioned.ok) return transitioned;
+    const active = this.#active;
+    if (active === undefined) return err(new NoBinaryOpenError());
+    const call = active.client.callTool(name, arguments_, options);
+    this.#calls.add(call);
+    try {
+      return await call;
+    } finally {
+      this.#calls.delete(call);
+    }
+  }
+
+  #serialize<T>(operation: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+    const result = this.#transition.then(operation, operation);
+    this.#transition = result.then(
+      () => undefined,
+      () => undefined,
+    );
+    return result;
+  }
+
+  async #drainCalls(): Promise<void> {
+    await Promise.allSettled([...this.#calls]);
+  }
+
+  async #restore(target: BinaryTarget): Promise<void> {
+    const client = this.createClient(target);
+    const started = await client.callTool("health", {});
+    if (started.ok) this.#active = { target, client };
+    else await client.close();
+  }
+
+  async #waitForTransition(
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+  ): Promise<Result<undefined, HopperCancelledError>> {
+    if (signal?.aborted === true) return err(new HopperCancelledError());
+    if (signal === undefined) {
+      await this.#transition;
+      return ok(undefined);
+    }
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const onAbort = (): void => {
+        resolve(err(new HopperCancelledError()));
+      };
+      signal.addEventListener("abort", onAbort, { once: true });
+      this.#transition.then(
+        () => {
+          signal.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
+          resolve(
+            signal.aborted ? err(new HopperCancelledError()) : ok(undefined),
+          );
+        },
+        () => {
+          signal.removeEventListener("abort", onAbort);
+          resolve(
+            signal.aborted ? err(new HopperCancelledError()) : ok(undefined),
+          );
+        },
+      );
+    });
+  }
+}
+
+const isAborted = (signal: AbortSignal | undefined): boolean =>
+  signal?.aborted === true;
diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 769a349da5..48a4c2229c 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@ const DEFAULT_HOPPER_LAUNCHER_PATH =
 
 export interface AppConfig {
   readonly hopperLauncherPath: string;
-  readonly hopperTargetPath: string;
+  readonly hopperTargetPath: string | undefined;
   readonly hopperTargetKind: "executable" | "database";
   readonly hopperLoaderArgs: readonly string[];
 }
 
 const environmentSchema = z.object({
   HOPPER_LAUNCHER_PATH: z.string().min(1).optional(),
-  HOPPER_TARGET_PATH: z.string().min(1),
+  HOPPER_TARGET_PATH: z.string().min(1).optional(),
   HOPPER_TARGET_KIND: z.enum(["executable", "database"]).default("executable"),
   HOPPER_LOADER_ARGS_JSON: z.string().optional(),
 });
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const parseConfig = (
   const parsedEnvironment = environmentSchema.safeParse(environment);
   if (!parsedEnvironment.success) {
     return err(
-      new ConfigurationError("HOPPER_TARGET_PATH is required", {
+      new ConfigurationError("Invalid Hopper environment configuration", {
         cause: parsedEnvironment.error,
       }),
     );
diff --git a/src/contracts/toolContracts.ts b/src/contracts/toolContracts.ts
index b561e386be..e43bb09f04 100644
--- a/src/contracts/toolContracts.ts
+++ b/src/contracts/toolContracts.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const caseSensitive = z
   .describe("Whether to match case");
 
 /** The architectural owner of a tool implementation. */
-export type ToolKind = "official-proxy" | "enhanced";
+export type ToolKind = "official-proxy" | "enhanced" | "session";
 
 /** Stable caller-visible contract retained across the Python-to-TypeScript migration. */
 export interface ToolContract {
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ const enhanced = (
   inputSchema: z.ZodObject,
 ): ToolContract => ({ name, description, kind: "enhanced", inputSchema });
 
+const session = (
+  name: string,
+  description: string,
+  inputSchema: z.ZodObject,
+): ToolContract => ({ name, description, kind: "session", inputSchema });
+
 /** All 31 tools forwarded unchanged to Hopper's official MCP server. */
 export const OFFICIAL_TOOL_CONTRACTS = [
   official(
@@ -218,8 +224,20 @@ export const ENHANCED_TOOL_CONTRACTS = [
   ),
 ] as const satisfies readonly ToolContract[];
 
+/** Binary lifecycle tools available before Hopper is launched. */
+export const SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS = [
+  session(
+    "open_binary",
+    "Open or switch the active binary",
+    z.object({ path: z.string().min(1) }),
+  ),
+  session("close_binary", "Close the active binary", z.object({})),
+  session("binary_session", "Describe the active binary session", z.object({})),
+] as const satisfies readonly ToolContract[];
+
 /** Complete caller-visible tool inventory. */
 export const TOOL_CONTRACTS = [
   ...OFFICIAL_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
   ...ENHANCED_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+  ...SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
 ] as const;
diff --git a/src/domain/binaryTarget.ts b/src/domain/binaryTarget.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4361e344c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/binaryTarget.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+import { constants } from "node:fs";
+import { access, open, realpath } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { isAbsolute, resolve } from "node:path";
+
+import { BinaryTargetError } from "./errors.js";
+import { err, ok, type Result } from "./result.js";
+
+/** CPU families understood by the supported executable loaders. */
+export type BinaryArchitecture = "x86" | "x86_64" | "arm" | "arm64";
+/** A parsed binary target and the Hopper launcher arguments it requires. */
+export interface BinaryTarget {
+  readonly path: string;
+  readonly kind: "executable" | "database";
+  readonly format: "hopper" | "mach-o" | "elf" | "pe";
+  readonly architecture?: BinaryArchitecture;
+  readonly availableArchitectures?: readonly BinaryArchitecture[];
+  readonly loaderArgs: readonly string[];
+}
+
+/** Resolve, read, and classify a local binary path, including its architecture metadata. */
+export const parseBinaryTarget = async (
+  input: string,
+  cwd = process.cwd(),
+  hostArchitecture: NodeJS.Architecture = process.arch,
+): Promise<Result<BinaryTarget, BinaryTargetError>> => {
+  const candidate = isAbsolute(input) ? input : resolve(cwd, input);
+  try {
+    await access(candidate, constants.R_OK);
+    const path = await realpath(candidate);
+    if (path.toLowerCase().endsWith(".hop"))
+      return ok({ path, kind: "database", format: "hopper", loaderArgs: [] });
+    const handle = await open(path, "r");
+    let bytes: Buffer;
+    try {
+      bytes = Buffer.alloc(4096);
+      const read = await handle.read(bytes, 0, bytes.length, 0);
+      bytes = bytes.subarray(0, read.bytesRead);
+    } finally {
+      await handle.close();
+    }
+    const detected = parseExecutableHeader(bytes, hostArchitecture);
+    if (!detected.ok) return err(new BinaryTargetError(path, detected.error));
+    return ok({ path, kind: "executable", ...detected.value });
+  } catch (cause: unknown) {
+    return err(
+      new BinaryTargetError(candidate, "path is not readable", { cause }),
+    );
+  }
+};
+
+type ExecutableMetadata = Pick<
+  BinaryTarget,
+  "format" | "architecture" | "availableArchitectures" | "loaderArgs"
+>;
+
+/** Parse supported executable headers without performing I/O. */
+export const parseExecutableHeader = (
+  bytes: Buffer,
+  hostArchitecture: NodeJS.Architecture,
+): Result<ExecutableMetadata, string> => {
+  if (
+    bytes.length >= 4 &&
+    bytes.subarray(0, 4).equals(Buffer.from([0x7f, 0x45, 0x4c, 0x46]))
+  )
+    return parseElf(bytes);
+  if (bytes.length >= 2 && bytes[0] === 0x4d && bytes[1] === 0x5a)
+    return parsePe(bytes);
+  if (bytes.length < 8) return err("truncated or unsupported binary header");
+  const magic = bytes.readUInt32BE(0);
+  if ([0xfeedface, 0xfeedfacf, 0xcefaedfe, 0xcffaedfe].includes(magic))
+    return parseThinMachO(bytes, magic);
+  if ([0xcafebabe, 0xbebafeca, 0xcafebabf, 0xbfbafeca].includes(magic))
+    return parseFatMachO(bytes, magic, hostArchitecture);
+  return err("unsupported binary format");
+};
+
+const parseThinMachO = (
+  bytes: Buffer,
+  magic: number,
+): Result<ExecutableMetadata, string> => {
+  if (bytes.length < 8) return err("truncated Mach-O header");
+  const little = magic === 0xcefaedfe || magic === 0xcffaedfe;
+  const architecture = machArchitecture(
+    little ? bytes.readUInt32LE(4) : bytes.readUInt32BE(4),
+  );
+  if (architecture === undefined) return err("unsupported Mach-O architecture");
+  return ok({
+    format: "mach-o",
+    architecture,
+    availableArchitectures: [architecture],
+    loaderArgs: ["-l", "Mach-O"],
+  });
+};
+
+const parseFatMachO = (
+  bytes: Buffer,
+  magic: number,
+  host: NodeJS.Architecture,
+): Result<ExecutableMetadata, string> => {
+  const little = magic === 0xbebafeca || magic === 0xbfbafeca;
+  const is64 = magic === 0xcafebabf || magic === 0xbfbafeca;
+  if (bytes.length < 8) return err("truncated FAT header");
+  const read = (offset: number): number =>
+    little ? bytes.readUInt32LE(offset) : bytes.readUInt32BE(offset);
+  const count = read(4);
+  const entrySize = is64 ? 32 : 20;
+  if (count === 0 || count > 128 || bytes.length < 8 + count * entrySize)
+    return err("truncated or invalid FAT architecture table");
+  const architectures: BinaryArchitecture[] = [];
+  for (let index = 0; index < count; index += 1) {
+    const architecture = machArchitecture(read(8 + index * entrySize));
+    if (architecture !== undefined && !architectures.includes(architecture))
+      architectures.push(architecture);
+  }
+  const preferred =
+    host === "arm64"
+      ? "arm64"
+      : host === "x64"
+        ? "x86_64"
+        : host === "ia32"
+          ? "x86"
+          : host === "arm"
+            ? "arm"
+            : undefined;
+  if (preferred === undefined || !architectures.includes(preferred))
+    return err(`FAT binary has no host-compatible ${host} architecture`);
+  const flag =
+    preferred === "arm64"
+      ? "--aarch64"
+      : preferred === "x86_64"
+        ? "--x86_64"
+        : preferred === "arm"
+          ? "--arm"
+          : "--x86";
+  return ok({
+    format: "mach-o",
+    architecture: preferred,
+    availableArchitectures: architectures,
+    loaderArgs: ["-l", "FAT", flag, "-l", "Mach-O"],
+  });
+};
+
+const parseElf = (bytes: Buffer): Result<ExecutableMetadata, string> => {
+  if (bytes.length < 20) return err("truncated ELF header");
+  if (bytes[4] !== 1 && bytes[4] !== 2) return err("unsupported ELF class");
+  const little = bytes[5] === 1;
+  if (!little && bytes[5] !== 2) return err("unsupported ELF endianness");
+  const machine = little ? bytes.readUInt16LE(18) : bytes.readUInt16BE(18);
+  const architecture = elfArchitecture(machine);
+  if (architecture === undefined) return err("unsupported ELF architecture");
+  return ok({
+    format: "elf",
+    architecture,
+    availableArchitectures: [architecture],
+    loaderArgs: ["-l", "ELF"],
+  });
+};
+
+const parsePe = (bytes: Buffer): Result<ExecutableMetadata, string> => {
+  if (bytes.length < 64) return err("truncated PE DOS header");
+  const offset = bytes.readUInt32LE(0x3c);
+  if (
+    offset > bytes.length - 6 ||
+    bytes.toString("binary", offset, offset + 4) !== "PE\u0000\u0000"
+  )
+    return err("invalid or truncated PE header");
+  const architecture = peArchitecture(bytes.readUInt16LE(offset + 4));
+  if (architecture === undefined) return err("unsupported PE architecture");
+  return ok({
+    format: "pe",
+    architecture,
+    availableArchitectures: [architecture],
+    loaderArgs: ["-l", "PE"],
+  });
+};
+
+const machArchitecture = (cpu: number): BinaryArchitecture | undefined => {
+  switch (cpu) {
+    case 7:
+      return "x86";
+    case 0x01000007:
+      return "x86_64";
+    case 12:
+      return "arm";
+    case 0x0100000c:
+      return "arm64";
+  }
+  return undefined;
+};
+
+const elfArchitecture = (machine: number): BinaryArchitecture | undefined => {
+  switch (machine) {
+    case 3:
+      return "x86";
+    case 62:
+      return "x86_64";
+    case 40:
+      return "arm";
+    case 183:
+      return "arm64";
+  }
+  return undefined;
+};
+
+const peArchitecture = (machine: number): BinaryArchitecture | undefined => {
+  switch (machine) {
+    case 0x14c:
+      return "x86";
+    case 0x8664:
+      return "x86_64";
+    case 0x1c0:
+      return "arm";
+    case 0xaa64:
+      return "arm64";
+  }
+  return undefined;
+};
diff --git a/src/domain/errors.ts b/src/domain/errors.ts
index e65f61c09a..1ebe5dda65 100644
--- a/src/domain/errors.ts
+++ b/src/domain/errors.ts
@@ -71,3 +71,25 @@ export class HopperStartError extends HopperError {
 export class ConfigurationError extends HopperError {
   readonly _tag = "ConfigurationError";
 }
+
+/** No binary session exists for an analysis request. */
+export class NoBinaryOpenError extends HopperError {
+  readonly _tag = "NoBinaryOpenError";
+  constructor() {
+    super(
+      "No binary is open. Call open_binary with a readable local path first.",
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+/** A supplied target path could not be safely opened as a supported binary. */
+export class BinaryTargetError extends HopperError {
+  readonly _tag = "BinaryTargetError";
+  constructor(
+    readonly path: string,
+    reason: string,
+    options?: ErrorOptions,
+  ) {
+    super(`Cannot open binary: ${reason}: ${path}`, options);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/identity.ts b/src/identity.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..15881dfdad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/identity.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/** Provisional product identifiers kept together for release-time renaming. */
+export const PRODUCT_IDENTITY = {
+  displayName: "Better Binary",
+  packageName: "better-binary-mcp",
+  cliBinary: "better-binary",
+  mcpBinary: "better-binary-mcp",
+  mcpServerKey: "better-binary",
+  skillName: "better-binary-analysis",
+  configFileName: "better-binary.json",
+} as const;
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 9a58a8450d..c9b73111bb 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { realpathSync } from "node:fs";
 
 import {
   serveStdio,
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from "@modelcontextprotocol/server/stdio";
 
 import { parseConfig } from "./config.js";
+import { BinarySession } from "./application/BinarySession.js";
 import { HopperApplicationLauncher } from "./hopper/BridgeLauncher.js";
 import { HopperClient } from "./hopper/HopperClient.js";
 import { createServer } from "./server/createServer.js";
@@ -24,24 +26,37 @@ export const run = async (): Promise<number> => {
   const bridgeScriptPath = fileURLToPath(
     new URL("../bridge/hopper_bridge.py", import.meta.url),
   );
-  const hopper = new HopperClient({
-    launcher: new HopperApplicationLauncher({
-      launcherPath: config.value.hopperLauncherPath,
-      targetPath: config.value.hopperTargetPath,
-      targetKind: config.value.hopperTargetKind,
-      loaderArgs: config.value.hopperLoaderArgs,
-      bridgeScriptPath,
-    }),
-  });
+  const session = new BinarySession(
+    (target) =>
+      new HopperClient({
+        launcher: new HopperApplicationLauncher({
+          launcherPath: config.value.hopperLauncherPath,
+          targetPath: target.path,
+          targetKind: target.kind,
+          loaderArgs:
+            config.value.hopperLoaderArgs.length > 0
+              ? config.value.hopperLoaderArgs
+              : target.loaderArgs,
+          bridgeScriptPath,
+        }),
+      }),
+  );
+  if (config.value.hopperTargetPath !== undefined) {
+    const opened = await session.open(config.value.hopperTargetPath);
+    if (!opened.ok) {
+      process.stderr.write(`${opened.error._tag}: ${opened.error.message}\n`);
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
   let handle: StdioServerHandle;
   try {
-    handle = serveStdio(() => createServer(hopper), {
+    handle = serveStdio(() => createServer(session, session), {
       onerror: () => {
         process.stderr.write("MCP stdio transport error\n");
       },
     });
   } catch {
-    await hopper.close();
+    await session.close();
     process.stderr.write("Failed to start MCP stdio transport\n");
     return 1;
   }
@@ -50,7 +65,7 @@ export const run = async (): Promise<number> => {
   const shutdown = (): Promise<void> => {
     shutdownPromise ??= (async () => {
       await handle.close();
-      await hopper.close();
+      await session.close();
     })();
     return shutdownPromise;
   };
@@ -71,7 +86,7 @@ export const run = async (): Promise<number> => {
 const entryPath = process.argv[1];
 if (
   entryPath !== undefined &&
-  pathToFileURL(entryPath).href === import.meta.url
+  pathToFileURL(realpathSync(entryPath)).href === import.meta.url
 ) {
   run()
     .then((exitCode) => {
diff --git a/src/server/createServer.ts b/src/server/createServer.ts
index cba3e0bef0..2c08facb39 100644
--- a/src/server/createServer.ts
+++ b/src/server/createServer.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,27 @@
 import { McpServer } from "@modelcontextprotocol/server";
 
 import type { HopperToolPort } from "../application/HopperToolPort.js";
+import type { BinarySession } from "../application/BinarySession.js";
+import { PRODUCT_IDENTITY } from "../identity.js";
 import { registerEnhancedTools } from "./registerEnhancedTools.js";
 import { registerOfficialTools } from "./registerOfficialTools.js";
+import { registerSessionTools } from "./registerSessionTools.js";
 
 /** Construct one MCP server instance without acquiring subprocess resources. */
-export const createServer = (hopper: HopperToolPort): McpServer => {
+export const createServer = (
+  hopper: HopperToolPort,
+  session?: BinarySession,
+): McpServer => {
   const server = new McpServer(
-    { name: "betterBinaryMCP", version: "0.1.0" },
+    { name: PRODUCT_IDENTITY.mcpServerKey, version: "0.1.0" },
     {
       capabilities: { tools: {} },
       instructions:
-        "Reverse-engineering tools for Hopper Disassembler. Start with binary_overview.",
+        "Reverse-engineering tools for Hopper Disassembler. Open a target with open_binary, then start with binary_overview.",
     },
   );
   registerOfficialTools(server, hopper);
   registerEnhancedTools(server, hopper);
+  if (session !== undefined) registerSessionTools(server, session);
   return server;
 };
diff --git a/src/server/registerSessionTools.ts b/src/server/registerSessionTools.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6e15d16a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/server/registerSessionTools.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import type { McpServer } from "@modelcontextprotocol/server";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+import type { BinarySession } from "../application/BinarySession.js";
+import { SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS } from "../contracts/toolContracts.js";
+import { toCallToolResult } from "./toolResult.js";
+
+/** Register binary lifecycle management tools. */
+export const registerSessionTools = (
+  server: McpServer,
+  session: BinarySession,
+): void => {
+  const [openContract, closeContract, statusContract] = SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS;
+  server.registerTool(
+    openContract.name,
+    {
+      description: openContract.description,
+      inputSchema: openContract.inputSchema,
+    },
+    async (input, context) => {
+      const parsed = z.object({ path: z.string().min(1) }).parse(input);
+      const opened = await session.open(parsed.path, {
+        signal: context.mcpReq.signal,
+      });
+      return opened.ok
+        ? toCallToolResult({
+            ok: true,
+            value: {
+              path: opened.value.path,
+              format: opened.value.format,
+              kind: opened.value.kind,
+              loaderArgs: [...opened.value.loaderArgs],
+            },
+          })
+        : toCallToolResult(opened);
+    },
+  );
+  server.registerTool(
+    closeContract.name,
+    {
+      description: closeContract.description,
+      inputSchema: closeContract.inputSchema,
+    },
+    async () => toCallToolResult(await session.close()),
+  );
+  server.registerTool(
+    statusContract.name,
+    {
+      description: statusContract.description,
+      inputSchema: statusContract.inputSchema,
+    },
+    () => toCallToolResult({ ok: true, value: session.status() }),
+  );
+};
diff --git a/tests/binarySession.test.ts b/tests/binarySession.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc63477c46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/binarySession.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+import { mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  BinarySession,
+  type BinaryClient,
+} from "../src/application/BinarySession.js";
+import { HopperStartError } from "../src/domain/errors.js";
+import { err, ok } from "../src/domain/result.js";
+
+let directory: string | undefined;
+afterEach(async () => {
+  if (directory !== undefined)
+    await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  directory = undefined;
+});
+
+describe("binary session", () => {
+  it("requires an open binary and closes idempotently", async () => {
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => client());
+    expect((await session.callTool("binary_overview", {})).ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(await session.close()).toEqual({ ok: true, value: null });
+  });
+
+  it("rolls back a failed switch", async () => {
+    directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "bb-session-"));
+    const first = join(directory, "first.hop");
+    const second = join(directory, "second.hop");
+    await writeFile(first, "one");
+    await writeFile(second, "two");
+    let created = 0;
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => client(created++ === 1));
+    expect((await session.open(first)).ok).toBe(true);
+    expect((await session.open(second)).ok).toBe(false);
+    expect(session.status()).toMatchObject({ open: true });
+    expect(JSON.stringify(session.status())).toContain("first.hop");
+    expect(created).toBe(3);
+  });
+
+  it("serializes concurrent opens and leaves the last target active", async () => {
+    const [first, second] = await targets();
+    const clients: TestClient[] = [];
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => {
+      const value = new TestClient();
+      clients.push(value);
+      return value;
+    });
+    const one = session.open(first);
+    const two = session.open(second);
+    expect((await one).ok).toBe(true);
+    expect((await two).ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(session.status()).toMatchObject({ open: true });
+    expect(JSON.stringify(session.status())).toContain("second.hop");
+    expect(clients[0]?.closed).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("waits for an active call before closing its client during a switch", async () => {
+    const [first, second] = await targets();
+    const active = deferred<ReturnType<typeof ok<null>>>();
+    const clients: TestClient[] = [];
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => {
+      const value = new TestClient(
+        undefined,
+        false,
+        clients.length === 0 ? active.promise : undefined,
+      );
+      clients.push(value);
+      return value;
+    });
+    await session.open(first);
+    const call = session.callTool("long", {});
+    const switching = session.open(second);
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(clients[0]?.closed).toBe(0);
+    active.resolve(ok(null));
+    await call;
+    await switching;
+    expect(clients[0]?.closed).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("cancels an open queued behind another transition without creating a client", async () => {
+    const [first, second] = await targets();
+    const health = deferred<ReturnType<typeof ok<null>>>();
+    let created = 0;
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => {
+      created += 1;
+      return new TestClient(created === 1 ? health.promise : undefined);
+    });
+    const opening = session.open(first);
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const queued = session.open(second, { signal: controller.signal });
+    controller.abort();
+    health.resolve(ok(null));
+    await opening;
+    const result = await queued;
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error._tag).toBe("HopperCancelledError");
+    expect(created).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it("cancels a call while it waits for a transition", async () => {
+    const [first] = await targets();
+    const health = deferred<ReturnType<typeof ok<null>>>();
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => new TestClient(health.promise));
+    const opening = session.open(first);
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const call = session.callTool(
+      "overview",
+      {},
+      { signal: controller.signal },
+    );
+    controller.abort();
+    const result = await call;
+    expect(result.ok).toBe(false);
+    if (!result.ok) expect(result.error._tag).toBe("HopperCancelledError");
+    health.resolve(ok(null));
+    await opening;
+  });
+
+  it("closes a failed candidate and preserves the previous target", async () => {
+    const [first, second] = await targets();
+    const clients: TestClient[] = [];
+    const session = new BinarySession(() => {
+      const value = new TestClient(undefined, clients.length === 1);
+      clients.push(value);
+      return value;
+    });
+    await session.open(first);
+    await session.open(second);
+    expect(clients[1]?.closed).toBe(1);
+    expect(clients[0]?.closed).toBe(1);
+    expect(JSON.stringify(session.status())).toContain("first.hop");
+    await session.close();
+    await session.close();
+    expect(clients[2]?.closed).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
+
+const client = (fail = false): BinaryClient => ({
+  callTool: () =>
+    Promise.resolve(fail ? err(new HopperStartError()) : ok(null)),
+  close: () => Promise.resolve(),
+});
+
+class TestClient implements BinaryClient {
+  closed = 0;
+  constructor(
+    readonly pendingHealth?: Promise<ReturnType<typeof ok<null>>>,
+    readonly failHealth = false,
+    readonly pendingCall?: Promise<ReturnType<typeof ok<null>>>,
+  ) {}
+  callTool(name: string) {
+    if (name === "health")
+      return this.failHealth
+        ? Promise.resolve(err(new HopperStartError()))
+        : (this.pendingHealth ?? Promise.resolve(ok(null)));
+    return this.pendingCall ?? Promise.resolve(ok(null));
+  }
+  close(): Promise<void> {
+    this.closed += 1;
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  }
+}
+
+const targets = async (): Promise<readonly [string, string]> => {
+  directory ??= await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "bb-session-"));
+  const first = join(directory, "first.hop");
+  const second = join(directory, "second.hop");
+  await writeFile(first, "one");
+  await writeFile(second, "two");
+  return [first, second];
+};
+
+const deferred = <T>(): {
+  readonly promise: Promise<T>;
+  resolve(value: T): void;
+} => {
+  let resolvePromise: ((value: T) => void) | undefined;
+  const promise = new Promise<T>((resolve) => {
+    resolvePromise = resolve;
+  });
+  return {
+    promise,
+    resolve(value) {
+      resolvePromise?.(value);
+    },
+  };
+};
diff --git a/tests/binaryTarget.test.ts b/tests/binaryTarget.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ea4d34bd71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/binaryTarget.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import { mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  parseBinaryTarget,
+  parseExecutableHeader,
+} from "../src/domain/binaryTarget.js";
+
+let directory: string | undefined;
+afterEach(async () => {
+  if (directory !== undefined)
+    await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  directory = undefined;
+});
+
+describe("executable header parsing", () => {
+  it.each([
+    [elf(1, 1, 62), "elf", "x86_64"],
+    [elf(2, 2, 183), "elf", "arm64"],
+    [thinMach(0xfeedfacf, 0x0100000c), "mach-o", "arm64"],
+    [thinMach(0xcefaedfe, 0x01000007), "mach-o", "x86_64"],
+    [pe(0x8664), "pe", "x86_64"],
+    [pe(0xaa64), "pe", "arm64"],
+  ] as const)("parses metadata for %s", (bytes, format, architecture) => {
+    const result = parseExecutableHeader(bytes, "arm64");
+    expect(result.ok && result.value).toMatchObject({ format, architecture });
+  });
+
+  it("selects the host architecture from a FAT table", () => {
+    const bytes = fat([0x01000007, 0x0100000c]);
+    const arm = parseExecutableHeader(bytes, "arm64");
+    const intel = parseExecutableHeader(bytes, "x64");
+    expect(arm.ok && arm.value.loaderArgs).toContain("--aarch64");
+    expect(intel.ok && intel.value.loaderArgs).toContain("--x86_64");
+  });
+
+  it("rejects FAT files without a host-compatible slice", () => {
+    expect(parseExecutableHeader(fat([0x01000007]), "arm64")).toMatchObject({
+      ok: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    Buffer.alloc(0),
+    Buffer.from([0x7f, 0x45, 0x4c, 0x46]),
+    fat([], 2),
+    pe(0xffff),
+  ])("rejects malformed, truncated, or unsupported metadata", (bytes) => {
+    expect(parseExecutableHeader(bytes, "arm64").ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("binary target I/O", () => {
+  it("resolves relative Hopper databases and rejects unknown or unreadable paths", async () => {
+    directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "bb-target-"));
+    await writeFile(join(directory, "sample.hop"), "database");
+    await writeFile(join(directory, "text"), "hello");
+    expect((await parseBinaryTarget("sample.hop", directory)).ok).toBe(true);
+    expect((await parseBinaryTarget("text", directory)).ok).toBe(false);
+    expect((await parseBinaryTarget("missing", directory)).ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+const elf = (class_: number, endian: number, machine: number): Buffer => {
+  const bytes = Buffer.alloc(20);
+  bytes.set([0x7f, 0x45, 0x4c, 0x46, class_, endian]);
+  if (endian === 1) bytes.writeUInt16LE(machine, 18);
+  else bytes.writeUInt16BE(machine, 18);
+  return bytes;
+};
+const thinMach = (magic: number, cpu: number): Buffer => {
+  const bytes = Buffer.alloc(8);
+  bytes.writeUInt32BE(magic, 0);
+  if (magic === 0xcefaedfe || magic === 0xcffaedfe) bytes.writeUInt32LE(cpu, 4);
+  else bytes.writeUInt32BE(cpu, 4);
+  return bytes;
+};
+const fat = (cpus: readonly number[], declared = cpus.length): Buffer => {
+  const bytes = Buffer.alloc(8 + cpus.length * 20);
+  bytes.writeUInt32BE(0xcafebabe, 0);
+  bytes.writeUInt32BE(declared, 4);
+  cpus.forEach((cpu, index) => bytes.writeUInt32BE(cpu, 8 + index * 20));
+  return bytes;
+};
+const pe = (machine: number): Buffer => {
+  const bytes = Buffer.alloc(128);
+  bytes.write("MZ", 0, "ascii");
+  bytes.writeUInt32LE(64, 0x3c);
+  bytes.write("PE\0\0", 64, "binary");
+  bytes.writeUInt16LE(machine, 68);
+  return bytes;
+};
diff --git a/tests/config.test.ts b/tests/config.test.ts
index fb64dc75ba..1cbcbd2725 100644
--- a/tests/config.test.ts
+++ b/tests/config.test.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { parseConfig } from "../src/config.js";
 
 describe("runtime configuration", () => {
-  it("requires a target and defaults to Hopper's documented launcher", () => {
-    expect(parseConfig({}).ok).toBe(false);
+  it("allows target-free startup and defaults to Hopper's documented launcher", () => {
+    const empty = parseConfig({});
+    expect(empty.ok).toBe(true);
+    if (empty.ok) expect(empty.value.hopperTargetPath).toBeUndefined();
     const result = parseConfig({ HOPPER_TARGET_PATH: "/usr/bin/true" });
     expect(result.ok).toBe(true);
     if (result.ok) {
diff --git a/tests/contractSnapshot.test.ts b/tests/contractSnapshot.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..59cdbe5702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/contractSnapshot.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+import {
+  ENHANCED_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+  OFFICIAL_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+  SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+} from "../src/contracts/toolContracts.js";
+
+const ORIGINAL_39_SHA256 =
+  "43ffddd91b775a3e00fb736c6b1a644210e5917a1e1f02745d0283ac6ab99db4";
+
+describe("original tool contract snapshot", () => {
+  it("preserves every original name, description, kind, and complete JSON schema", () => {
+    const projection = [
+      ...OFFICIAL_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+      ...ENHANCED_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+    ].map((contract) => ({
+      name: contract.name,
+      description: contract.description,
+      kind: contract.kind,
+      inputSchema: z.toJSONSchema(contract.inputSchema, {
+        target: "draft-07",
+        unrepresentable: "any",
+      }),
+    }));
+    expect(projection).toHaveLength(39);
+    expect(
+      createHash("sha256").update(JSON.stringify(projection)).digest("hex"),
+    ).toBe(ORIGINAL_39_SHA256);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps exactly three additive session contracts", () => {
+    expect(
+      SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS.map(({ name, kind }) => ({ name, kind })),
+    ).toEqual([
+      { name: "open_binary", kind: "session" },
+      { name: "close_binary", kind: "session" },
+      { name: "binary_session", kind: "session" },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/runtime.test.ts b/tests/runtime.test.ts
index 5419b94d40..33af40ad1a 100644
--- a/tests/runtime.test.ts
+++ b/tests/runtime.test.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const fixturePath = fileURLToPath(
 );
 
 describe("production stdio runtime", () => {
-  it("starts the built entrypoint, lists 39 tools, calls one, and shuts down", async () => {
+  it("starts the built entrypoint, lists 42 tools, calls one, and shuts down", async () => {
     const transport = new StdioClientTransport({
       command: process.execPath,
       args: [mainPath],
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ describe("production stdio runtime", () => {
       env: {
         PATH: process.env.PATH ?? "",
         HOPPER_LAUNCHER_PATH: process.execPath,
-        HOPPER_TARGET_PATH: "/fixture/sample",
+        HOPPER_TARGET_PATH: process.execPath,
         HOPPER_LOADER_ARGS_JSON: JSON.stringify([fixturePath]),
       },
       stderr: "pipe",
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ describe("production stdio runtime", () => {
     try {
       await client.connect(transport);
       const tools = await client.listTools();
-      expect(tools.tools).toHaveLength(39);
+      expect(tools.tools).toHaveLength(42);
       const result = await client.callTool({
         name: "current_document",
         arguments: {},
diff --git a/tests/sessionMcp.test.ts b/tests/sessionMcp.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..87551ffb7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/sessionMcp.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { mkdtemp, rm, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { Client, InMemoryTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/client";
+import type { CallToolResult } from "@modelcontextprotocol/server";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  BinarySession,
+  type BinaryClient,
+} from "../src/application/BinarySession.js";
+import { ok } from "../src/domain/result.js";
+import { createServer } from "../src/server/createServer.js";
+
+const resources: Array<{ close(): Promise<unknown> }> = [];
+let directory: string | undefined;
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await Promise.all(resources.splice(0).map((resource) => resource.close()));
+  if (directory !== undefined)
+    await rm(directory, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  directory = undefined;
+});
+
+describe("target-free MCP lifecycle", () => {
+  it("reports no-target, opens, analyzes, switches, reports status, and closes", async () => {
+    directory = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "bb-mcp-session-"));
+    const first = join(directory, "first.hop");
+    const second = join(directory, "second.hop");
+    await writeFile(first, "one");
+    await writeFile(second, "two");
+    const closed: string[] = [];
+    const session = new BinarySession((target) => client(target.path, closed));
+    const server = createServer(session, session);
+    const mcp = new Client({ name: "session-test", version: "1.0.0" });
+    const [clientTransport, serverTransport] =
+      InMemoryTransport.createLinkedPair();
+    resources.push(mcp, server);
+    await server.connect(serverTransport);
+    await mcp.connect(clientTransport);
+
+    const before = await mcp.callTool({
+      name: "current_document",
+      arguments: {},
+    });
+    expect(before.isError).toBe(true);
+    expect(text(before)).toContain("NoBinaryOpenError");
+    expect((await mcp.listTools()).tools).toHaveLength(42);
+    expect(
+      (await mcp.callTool({ name: "open_binary", arguments: { path: first } }))
+        .isError,
+    ).not.toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      text(await mcp.callTool({ name: "current_document", arguments: {} })),
+    ).toContain("first.hop");
+    await mcp.callTool({ name: "open_binary", arguments: { path: second } });
+    expect(closed.some((path) => path.endsWith("first.hop"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      text(await mcp.callTool({ name: "binary_session", arguments: {} })),
+    ).toContain("second.hop");
+    await mcp.callTool({ name: "close_binary", arguments: {} });
+    expect(
+      text(await mcp.callTool({ name: "binary_session", arguments: {} })),
+    ).toContain('"open": false');
+  });
+});
+
+const client = (path: string, closed: string[]): BinaryClient => ({
+  callTool: (name) =>
+    Promise.resolve(ok(name === "health" ? null : { path, name })),
+  close: () => {
+    closed.push(path);
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  },
+});
+
+const text = (result: CallToolResult): string => {
+  const content = result.content.find((item) => item.type === "text");
+  if (content?.type !== "text") throw new Error("missing text result");
+  return content.text;
+};
diff --git a/tests/toolContracts.test.ts b/tests/toolContracts.test.ts
index e211f6dda5..d7bc2448b8 100644
--- a/tests/toolContracts.test.ts
+++ b/tests/toolContracts.test.ts
@@ -3,15 +3,21 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
   ENHANCED_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
   OFFICIAL_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
+  SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS,
   TOOL_CONTRACTS,
 } from "../src/contracts/toolContracts.js";
 
 describe("tool contract inventory", () => {
-  it("preserves the complete 31 plus 8 tool surface", () => {
+  it("preserves the original 39 contracts and adds three session tools", () => {
     expect(OFFICIAL_TOOL_CONTRACTS).toHaveLength(31);
     expect(ENHANCED_TOOL_CONTRACTS).toHaveLength(8);
-    expect(TOOL_CONTRACTS).toHaveLength(39);
-    expect(new Set(TOOL_CONTRACTS.map(({ name }) => name)).size).toBe(39);
+    expect(SESSION_TOOL_CONTRACTS.map(({ name }) => name)).toEqual([
+      "open_binary",
+      "close_binary",
+      "binary_session",
+    ]);
+    expect(TOOL_CONTRACTS).toHaveLength(42);
+    expect(new Set(TOOL_CONTRACTS.map(({ name }) => name)).size).toBe(42);
   });
 
   it("retains documented enhanced-tool limits at the input boundary", () => {