diff --git a/extensions/remote-control/index.ts b/extensions/remote-control/index.ts
index afed32e..b4e074b 100644
--- a/extensions/remote-control/index.ts
+++ b/extensions/remote-control/index.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import {
 } from "./config.js";
 import { type RawMessage, serializeMessage } from "./messages.js";
 import { type RemoteServer, startServer } from "./server.js";
-import { registerSpikeCommand } from "./spike.js";
 
 // ── Extension entry point ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -34,9 +33,6 @@ const QRCode = _require("qrcode") as {
 };
 
 export default function remoteControl(pi: ExtensionAPI) {
-  // Register spike command for Phase 0 PoC
-  registerSpikeCommand(pi);
-  
   let server: RemoteServer | undefined;
   let pendingSyncTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
 
diff --git a/extensions/remote-control/spike.ts b/extensions/remote-control/spike.ts
index bed2661..8797c81 100644
--- a/extensions/remote-control/spike.ts
+++ b/extensions/remote-control/spike.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@
 import * as fs from "node:fs";
 import * as path from "node:path";
 import * as os from "node:os";
-import { spawn, execSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { execSync } from "node:child_process";
 import { WebSocketServer } from "ws";
-import type { ExtensionAPI, ExtensionContext } from "@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent";
 
 const SPIKE_SESSION = "pi-spike";
 const WS_PORT = 7799;
@@ -113,23 +112,24 @@ function startWebSocketServer(fifoPath: string): { wss: WebSocketServer, cleanup
 }
 
 /**
- * Attach to the tmux session in the current terminal
+ * Print instructions for connecting to the session
  */
-function attachToSession(sessionName: string): void {
-  console.log(`[spike] Attaching to tmux session: ${sessionName}`);
-  console.log(`[spike] To detach: Ctrl+B, then D`);
-  console.log(`[spike] WebSocket available at: ws://127.0.0.1:${WS_PORT}/spike`);
+function printInstructions(sessionName: string): void {
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("=== Spike Server Running ===");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("To attach to the tmux session (in another terminal):");
+  console.log(`  tmux attach -t ${sessionName}`);
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("WebSocket endpoint:");
+  console.log(`  ws://127.0.0.1:${WS_PORT}/spike`);
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("To test with the HTML client:");
+  const clientPath = path.join(path.dirname(new URL(import.meta.url).pathname), "spike-client.html");
+  console.log(`  open ${clientPath}`);
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("To stop: Ctrl+C in this terminal");
   console.log("");
-  
-  // Spawn tmux attach in the foreground
-  // This will take over the terminal until the user detaches
-  const attach = spawn("tmux", ["attach", "-t", sessionName], {
-    stdio: "inherit",
-  });
-  
-  attach.on("exit", (code) => {
-    console.log(`\n[spike] Detached from session (exit code: ${code})`);
-  });
 }
 
 /**
@@ -159,14 +159,15 @@ function cleanup(cleanupFn: (() => void) | null): void {
 /**
  * Main spike entry point
  */
-export async function runSpike(_ctx: ExtensionContext): Promise<void> {
+export async function runSpike(): Promise<void> {
   console.log("=== Phase 0 Spike: tmux Stream PoC ===\n");
   
   let cleanupFn: (() => void) | null = null;
   
   // Setup cleanup handlers
-  process.on("SIGINT", () => cleanup(cleanupFn));
-  process.on("SIGTERM", () => cleanup(cleanupFn));
+  const cleanupHandler = () => cleanup(cleanupFn);
+  process.on("SIGINT", cleanupHandler);
+  process.on("SIGTERM", cleanupHandler);
   
   try {
     // Step 1: Create or reuse tmux session
@@ -186,8 +187,12 @@ export async function runSpike(_ctx: ExtensionContext): Promise<void> {
     // Give the server a moment to start
     await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 500));
     
-    // Step 4: Attach to session
-    attachToSession(SPIKE_SESSION);
+    // Step 4: Print instructions
+    printInstructions(SPIKE_SESSION);
+    
+    // Keep the process alive
+    // User can Ctrl+C to stop
+    await new Promise(() => {}); // Never resolves
     
   } catch (err) {
     console.error("[spike] Error:", err);
@@ -195,14 +200,7 @@ export async function runSpike(_ctx: ExtensionContext): Promise<void> {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Register the spike command with pi
- */
-export function registerSpikeCommand(pi: ExtensionAPI): void {
-  pi.registerCommand("spike", {
-    description: "Phase 0 Spike: Start tmux stream PoC (ws://127.0.0.1:7799/spike)",
-    handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
-      await runSpike(ctx);
-    },
-  });
+// Run if invoked directly
+if (import.meta.url === `file://${process.argv[1]}`) {
+  runSpike();
 }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 480c749..114cfa3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     "@earendil-works/pi-tui": "*"
   },
   "scripts": {
+    "spike": "./run-spike.sh",
     "lint": "biome check --write .",
     "lint:check": "biome check .",
     "prepare": "node .husky/install.mjs"
diff --git a/run-spike.sh b/run-spike.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..b873a31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run-spike.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Phase 0 Spike runner
+# Transpiles and runs the spike PoC
+
+set -e
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")"
+
+echo "=== Building spike.ts ==="
+npx --yes tsx extensions/remote-control/spike.ts