diff --git a/castle-api/src/castle_api/routes.py b/castle-api/src/castle_api/routes.py
index 66f5c5a..adabf2a 100644
--- a/castle-api/src/castle_api/routes.py
+++ b/castle-api/src/castle_api/routes.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException, status
 
 from castle_core.config import SPECS_DIR
 from castle_core.generators.caddyfile import generate_caddyfile_from_registry
-from castle_core.manifest import ProgramSpec, JobSpec, ServiceSpec
+from castle_core.manifest import ProgramSpec, JobSpec, ServiceSpec, manager_for
 from castle_core.stacks import available_actions
 
 from castle_api.config import get_castle_root, get_registry
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ def _summary_from_deployed(name: str, deployed: object) -> DeploymentSummary:
             timer=has_timer,
         )
 
-    # Check if tool is installed on PATH
+    # A PATH-managed deployment (a tool) is "installed" when it's on PATH.
     installed: bool | None = None
-    if deployed.behavior == "tool":
+    if manager_for(deployed.runner) == "path":
         installed = shutil.which(name) is not None
 
     category = "job" if deployed.schedule else "service"
diff --git a/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/create.py b/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/create.py
index be1828f..e5e69b0 100644
--- a/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/create.py
+++ b/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/create.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from castle_cli.manifest import (
     HttpInternal,
     ManageSpec,
     ProgramSpec,
+    RunPath,
     RunPython,
     RunStatic,
     ServiceSpec,
@@ -109,7 +110,12 @@ def run_create(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
         behavior=behavior,
         build=build,
     )
-    if behavior == "frontend":
+    if behavior == "tool":
+        # A PATH-managed deployment: installed via `uv tool install`, no unit/route.
+        config.services[name] = ServiceSpec(
+            id=name, program=name, run=RunPath(runner="path")
+        )
+    elif behavior == "frontend":
         # A caddy-managed static service: no systemd unit, served from the build dir.
         config.services[name] = ServiceSpec(
             id=name,
diff --git a/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/service.py b/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/service.py
index e3b5f10..fe7248a 100644
--- a/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/service.py
+++ b/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/service.py
@@ -133,20 +133,13 @@ def _path_lifecycle(config: CastleConfig, name: str, action: str) -> int:
     """A `path` (tool) deployment's lifecycle is install/uninstall on PATH."""
     import asyncio
 
-    from castle_core.stacks import run_action
+    from castle_core.lifecycle import activate, deactivate
 
-    program = config.services[name].program or name
-    comp = config.programs.get(program)
-    if comp is None:
-        print(f"Error: path service '{name}' references unknown program '{program}'.")
-        return 1
-    verb = {"start": "install", "stop": "uninstall", "restart": "install"}[action]
-    res = asyncio.run(run_action(verb, program, comp, config.root))
-    ok = res.status == "ok"
-    print(f"  {name}: {verb + 'ed' if ok else verb + ' FAILED'}")
-    if not ok and res.output:
-        print(res.output)
-    return 0 if ok else 1
+    # stop → uninstall; start/restart → ensure installed (activate skips if on PATH).
+    coro = deactivate if action == "stop" else activate
+    res = asyncio.run(coro(name, config, config.root))
+    print(f"  {res.output}")
+    return 0 if res.status == "ok" else 1
 
 
 def _services_restart(config: CastleConfig) -> int:
@@ -218,30 +211,23 @@ def _service_disable(config: CastleConfig, name: str) -> int:
 
 
 def _service_status(config: CastleConfig) -> int:
-    """Show status of all managed services and jobs."""
+    """Show status of all services and jobs, dispatched by manager."""
+    from castle_core.lifecycle import is_active
+
     print("\nCastle Services")
     print("=" * 50)
 
     for name, svc in config.services.items():
-        svc_unit = unit_name(name)
-        result = subprocess.run(
-            ["systemctl", "--user", "is-active", svc_unit],
-            capture_output=True,
-            text=True,
-        )
-        status = result.stdout.strip()
-        if status == "active":
-            color = "\033[92m"
-        elif status == "inactive":
-            color = "\033[90m"
-        else:
-            color = "\033[91m"
+        active = is_active(name, config)  # manager-aware (systemd/caddy/path/none)
+        manager = manager_for(svc.run.runner)
+        color = "\033[92m" if active else "\033[90m"
         reset = "\033[0m"
+        label = "active" if active else "inactive"
 
         port_str = ""
         if svc.expose and svc.expose.http:
             port_str = f":{svc.expose.http.internal.port}"
-        print(f"  {color}{status:10s}{reset}  {name}{port_str}")
+        print(f"  {color}{label:10s}{reset}  {name}{port_str}  \033[90m[{manager}]{reset}")
 
     if config.jobs:
         print(f"\n{'─' * 50}")
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_create.py b/cli/tests/test_create.py
index 3fea24f..1ecb86a 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_create.py
+++ b/cli/tests/test_create.py
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ class TestCreateCommand:
         assert "my-tool2" in config.programs
         comp = config.programs["my-tool2"]
         assert comp.behavior == "tool"
+        # A tool is a PATH deployment: a `runner: path` service.
+        assert config.services["my-tool2"].run.runner == "path"
 
     def test_create_supabase_app(self, castle_root: Path, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         """A supabase app scaffolds a Patch-shaped project registered as a static
diff --git a/core/src/castle_core/config.py b/core/src/castle_core/config.py
index 4b828aa..d272d0a 100644
--- a/core/src/castle_core/config.py
+++ b/core/src/castle_core/config.py
@@ -139,8 +139,12 @@ class CastleConfig:
 
     @property
     def tools(self) -> dict[str, ProgramSpec]:
-        """Return programs that are tools (behavior == 'tool')."""
-        return {k: v for k, v in self.programs.items() if v.behavior == "tool"}
+        """Programs deployed as a PATH tool (a `runner: path` service) — derived
+        from deployments, not the `behavior` label."""
+        tool_programs = {
+            s.program or n for n, s in self.services.items() if s.run.runner == "path"
+        }
+        return {k: v for k, v in self.programs.items() if k in tool_programs}
 
     @property
     def frontends(self) -> dict[str, ProgramSpec]:
diff --git a/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py b/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py
index 3f0d678..15b594f 100644
--- a/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py
+++ b/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py
@@ -614,6 +614,9 @@ def _build_run_cmd(
         case "static":
             # No process — the gateway file_servers this service's root.
             return []
+        case "path":
+            # No process — installed on PATH via `uv tool install` at enable time.
+            return []
         case _:
             raise ValueError(f"Unsupported runner: {run.runner}")  # type: ignore[union-attr]
 
diff --git a/core/src/castle_core/lifecycle.py b/core/src/castle_core/lifecycle.py
index 019000b..30656b8 100644
--- a/core/src/castle_core/lifecycle.py
+++ b/core/src/castle_core/lifecycle.py
@@ -198,6 +198,8 @@ async def activate(name: str, config: CastleConfig, root: Path) -> ActionResult:
         prog, comp = _program_for(name, config)
         if comp is None:
             return ActionResult(name, "activate", "error", f"unknown program '{prog}'")
+        if _on_path(prog):  # already installed — skip the (slow) editable reinstall
+            return ActionResult(name, "activate", "ok", f"{name}: on PATH")
         return await run_action("install", prog, comp, root)
 
     if manager == "none":
diff --git a/core/src/castle_core/manifest.py b/core/src/castle_core/manifest.py
index 9e93506..68c0cc6 100644
--- a/core/src/castle_core/manifest.py
+++ b/core/src/castle_core/manifest.py
@@ -89,9 +89,27 @@ class RunStatic(RunBase):
     root: str = "dist"  # served dir, relative to the program source
 
 
+class RunPath(RunBase):
+    """A CLI installed on the user's PATH via ``uv tool install`` — no process.
+
+    Like ``remote``/``static`` it has no systemd unit; its manager is **PATH**.
+    The referenced program is what gets installed; its lifecycle is
+    install/uninstall (which is what start/stop/enable/disable map to).
+    """
+
+    runner: Literal["path"]
+
+
 RunSpec = Annotated[
     Union[
-        RunCommand, RunPython, RunContainer, RunNode, RunCompose, RunRemote, RunStatic
+        RunCommand,
+        RunPython,
+        RunContainer,
+        RunNode,
+        RunCompose,
+        RunRemote,
+        RunStatic,
+        RunPath,
     ],
     Field(discriminator="runner"),
 ]
diff --git a/core/tests/conftest.py b/core/tests/conftest.py
index 009ed03..6e9e00c 100644
--- a/core/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/core/tests/conftest.py
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ def castle_root(tmp_path: Path) -> Generator[Path, None, None]:
             },
         },
         "services": {
+            "test-tool": {
+                "program": "test-tool",
+                "run": {"runner": "path"},
+            },
             "test-svc": {
                 "program": "test-svc-comp",
                 "description": "Test service",
diff --git a/core/tests/test_lifecycle.py b/core/tests/test_lifecycle.py
index 0b7fdc4..f203f4e 100644
--- a/core/tests/test_lifecycle.py
+++ b/core/tests/test_lifecycle.py
@@ -34,6 +34,28 @@ class TestIsActive:
         config = load_config(castle_root)
         assert lifecycle.is_active("does-not-exist", config) is False
 
+    def test_path_service_checks_path(self, castle_root: Path) -> None:
+        # A `runner: path` service (a tool) is active when on PATH.
+        from castle_core.manifest import ProgramSpec, RunPath, ServiceSpec, manager_for
+
+        assert manager_for("path") == "path"
+        config = load_config(castle_root)
+        config.programs["mytool"] = ProgramSpec(id="mytool", source="/tmp/mytool")
+        config.services["mytool"] = ServiceSpec(program="mytool", run=RunPath(runner="path"))
+        with patch.object(lifecycle, "_on_path", return_value=True) as mock:
+            assert lifecycle.is_active("mytool", config) is True
+        mock.assert_called_once_with("mytool")
+
+    def test_remote_service_is_active(self, castle_root: Path) -> None:
+        # A remote service has no local process; the manager is `none` → available.
+        from castle_core.manifest import RunRemote, ServiceSpec
+
+        config = load_config(castle_root)
+        config.services["ext"] = ServiceSpec(
+            program="ext", run=RunRemote(runner="remote", base_url="http://x")
+        )
+        assert lifecycle.is_active("ext", config) is True
+
     def test_static_service_active_when_dist_built(self, castle_root: Path, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         # A frontend is a `runner: static` service; active once its served dir exists.
         from castle_core.manifest import ProgramSpec, RunStatic, ServiceSpec