diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/desktop.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/desktop.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c6d9f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/desktop.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# Tauri desktop (Linux) build — SEPARATE from ci.yml on purpose: this is a heavy
+# Rust + AppImage build (~20-40 min) that should NOT run on backend/frontend-only
+# pushes. Scoped to desktop/** (+ this file). Produces the .deb and .AppImage.
+#
+# Toolchain comes from the ci-tauri image (Rust + Node + WebKitGTK 4.1 + tauri-cli);
+# runs-on is just a registered scheduling label (Label Model B), not a per-purpose
+# runner. The frontend is built here because tauri's generate_context! embeds it.
+name: Desktop (Tauri)
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [dev, main]
+    tags: ["v*"]
+    paths:
+      - "desktop/**"
+      - ".forgejo/workflows/desktop.yml"
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: desktop-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') }}
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    name: Tauri desktop (Linux)
+    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/dev' || github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' || startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+    runs-on: python-ci
+    container:
+      image: git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/ci-tauri:1.97
+    env:
+      # AppImage tooling (linuxdeploy) FUSE-mounts itself by default; CI containers
+      # have no /dev/fuse, so tell it to extract-and-run instead. Without this the
+      # AppImage bundle step fails with a FUSE error.
+      APPIMAGE_EXTRACT_AND_RUN: "1"
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+      # tauri's generate_context! embeds the built frontend at compile time, so the
+      # frontend must exist before any cargo compile (clippy/test/build), not just
+      # at bundle time.
+      - name: Build the shared frontend
+        run: npm ci && npm run build
+        working-directory: frontend
+
+      # Generate the platform icon set from the committed 1024px source PNG.
+      - name: Generate app icons
+        run: cargo tauri icon app-icon.png
+        working-directory: desktop/src-tauri
+
+      - name: Rust format check
+        run: cargo fmt --check
+        working-directory: desktop/src-tauri
+
+      - name: Clippy
+        run: cargo clippy --all-targets -- -D warnings
+        working-directory: desktop/src-tauri
+
+      - name: Test
+        run: cargo test
+        working-directory: desktop/src-tauri
+
+      # Frontend already built above; skip the beforeBuildCommand rebuild.
+      - name: Tauri build (deb + AppImage)
+        run: cargo tauri build --config '{"build":{"beforeBuildCommand":""}}'
+        working-directory: desktop/src-tauri
diff --git a/ci-requirements.md b/ci-requirements.md
index cdc4a94..641d06d 100644
--- a/ci-requirements.md
+++ b/ci-requirements.md
@@ -45,3 +45,22 @@ entirely on `ci-python:3.14`.
   (family rule 46).
 - The production runtime `Dockerfile` tracks python:3.12 so test results stay
   representative of the deployed image.
+
+## Desktop (Tauri) lane — separate workflow
+
+The Tauri desktop client (`desktop/`) builds in its own workflow,
+`.forgejo/workflows/desktop.yml`, NOT in `ci.yml` — it's a heavy Rust + AppImage
+build (~20–40 min) that should only run on `desktop/**` changes, not on every
+backend/frontend push.
+
+- **Image:** `git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/ci-tauri:1.97` (Rust + Node +
+  WebKitGTK 4.1 + Tauri v2 Linux deps + `tauri-cli`). Selected via
+  `container.image`; `runs-on: python-ci` is only a scheduling label.
+- **Steps:** build the shared frontend (embedded by `generate_context!`) →
+  `cargo tauri icon app-icon.png` (platform icon set from the committed 1024px
+  source) → `cargo fmt --check` → `cargo clippy -D warnings` → `cargo test` →
+  `cargo tauri build` (produces `.deb` + `.AppImage`).
+- **`APPIMAGE_EXTRACT_AND_RUN=1`** is set: AppImage tooling FUSE-mounts by default
+  and CI containers have no `/dev/fuse`.
+- No Postgres lane (unchanged): the desktop app's local store + sync behavior is
+  verified on the operator's machine, not in CI.
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/app-icon.png b/desktop/src-tauri/app-icon.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d62b0a8
Binary files /dev/null and b/desktop/src-tauri/app-icon.png differ