diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ab7bd3a..1afdd42 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     "onCommand:nostr.publishEventFile",
     "onCommand:nostr.validateEventFile",
     "onCommand:nostr.publishLongForm",
+    "onCommand:nostr.publishTextNote",
     "onCommand:nostr.validateFrontMatter",
     "onCommand:nostr.fetchRelays",
     "onCommand:nostr.selectBackend",
@@ -82,6 +83,12 @@
         "category": "Nostr",
         "enablement": "editorLangId == markdown"
       },
+      {
+        "command": "nostr.publishTextNote",
+        "title": "Nostr: Publish Current File as Text Note",
+        "category": "Nostr",
+        "enablement": "resourceScheme == file || resourceScheme == untitled"
+      },
       {
         "command": "nostr.validateFrontMatter",
         "title": "Nostr: Validate Front-Matter",
@@ -132,6 +139,11 @@
           "when": "editorLangId == markdown",
           "group": "nostr@2"
         },
+        {
+          "command": "nostr.publishTextNote",
+          "when": "resourceScheme == file || resourceScheme == untitled",
+          "group": "nostr@3"
+        },
         {
           "command": "nostr.insertNoteHeader",
           "when": "editorLangId == markdown",
diff --git a/plans/sidebar-aesthetics.md b/plans/sidebar-aesthetics.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d56af0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plans/sidebar-aesthetics.md
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+# Sidebar Aesthetics Plan
+
+Apply the design rules from `~/lt/aesthetics/WEB.md` to the Nostr sidebar webview in [`src/ui/sidebar.ts`](../src/ui/sidebar.ts:1).
+
+## Context
+
+`WEB.md` defines a minimalist web aesthetic:
+
+- **Monochrome first**: black, white, one red accent, plus one muted grey. No other hues.
+- **Monospaced by default**: one fixed-width family for body, buttons, inputs, labels.
+- **Minimal CSS surface**: few variables, few classes, reuse shell styles.
+- **Readable over clever**: 1px borders, single radius token, no gradients/shadows as decoration.
+- **Grayscale media**: images desaturated at rest, color returns on hover.
+- **Dark mode = swapped variables**, not swapped styles.
+- **Spacing ladder**: 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 px only.
+- **Transitions**: 0.2s for interactive feedback; 0.5s max for slide-outs.
+- **Accessibility**: tab-reachable, accent focus ring, alt text, reduced-motion respected.
+
+The current sidebar is a VS Code webview that leans on `--vscode-*` theme variables with a generic VS Code look: mixed monospace/sans, blue-ish buttons, 2px radii, ad-hoc spacing (6px, 8px, 12px, 16px), no grayscale on avatars, no transitions.
+
+## Reconciliation: WEB.md tokens vs VS Code theme
+
+The sidebar lives inside VS Code, so it must respect the user's light/dark theme. We map the WEB.md four-token palette onto VS Code theme variables so the monochrome+accent system still tracks the active theme:
+
+| WEB.md token        | Sidebar value                                              |
+|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `--primary-color`   | `var(--vscode-foreground)`                                 |
+| `--secondary-color` | `var(--vscode-sideBar-background)`                         |
+| `--accent-color`    | `var(--vscode-statusBarItem-errorBackground, #ff0000)` — red, used only for hover/active/focus/destructive |
+| `--muted-color`     | `var(--vscode-descriptionForeground)`                      |
+| `--border-color`    | `var(--vscode-panel-border, var(--muted-color))`           |
+
+This keeps the "monochrome + one red scalpel" intent while remaining theme-aware. The accent resolves to red in most themes; where a theme overrides the error background we still get a single semantic accent.
+
+## Changes
+
+All changes are confined to the inline `<style>` and HTML structure inside [`NostrSidebarProvider.getHtml()`](../src/ui/sidebar.ts:196). No host-side TypeScript logic changes are required.
+
+### 1. Variable block (`:root`)
+
+Replace the current ad-hoc `:root` with the reconciled token set plus the WEB.md minimums:
+
+- `--font-family: var(--vscode-editor-font-family), "Courier", monospace;` (monospace everywhere)
+- `--primary-color`, `--secondary-color`, `--accent-color`, `--muted-color`, `--border-color` as in the table above.
+- `--border-radius: 5px;` (single token, replaces the current 2px)
+- `--border-width: 1px;` and `--border: var(--border-width) solid var(--border-color);`
+- `--avatar-size-md: 32px;` (identity avatar)
+- `--image-grayscale: 100%;` and `--image-grayscale-hover: 20%;`
+- Spacing ladder documented as a comment: `5, 10, 15, 20, 40`.
+
+### 2. Typography
+
+- `* { font-family: var(--font-family); box-sizing: border-box; }`
+- Body uses `var(--font-family)` and `var(--vscode-font-size)`.
+- Section headings (`h2`) keep `11px`, `font-weight: 600`, uppercase, `letter-spacing: 0.5px`, color `var(--muted-color)` — already close to WEB.md's "UI chrome 14px / compact 12px" guidance; we keep 11px for the uppercase label style.
+- Relay URLs and npub already use the editor font; ensure all inputs/buttons/selects also inherit `var(--font-family)`.
+
+### 3. Buttons
+
+Adopt the WEB.md `.btn` model adapted to the sidebar's full-width buttons:
+
+- Default: `color: var(--primary-color); background: var(--secondary-color); border: 1px solid var(--primary-color); border-radius: var(--border-radius); padding: 8px 10px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; transition: border-color 0.2s, background-color 0.2s, color 0.2s;`
+- `:hover` → `border-color: var(--accent-color);` (never fill red on hover).
+- `:active` → `background: var(--accent-color); color: var(--secondary-color); border-color: var(--accent-color);`
+- `:disabled` → `opacity: 0.5; cursor: not-allowed;` (no recolor).
+- `.secondary` → swap to muted border: `border-color: var(--muted-color); color: var(--muted-color);` hover still goes to accent border.
+- Remove the old `--btn-bg`/`--btn2-bg` blue button styling.
+
+### 4. Inputs / select
+
+- Share border, radius, padding with buttons so they line up.
+- `border: var(--border); border-radius: var(--border-radius); padding: 8px 10px; background: var(--vscode-inputBackground); color: var(--vscode-inputForeground);`
+- `:focus` → `outline: none; border-color: var(--accent-color);` (accent focus ring, per WEB.md §7 and §14).
+- Labels (`.field-label`) stay muted grey, above inputs, smaller than input text.
+
+### 5. Avatar / images
+
+- Global `img { filter: grayscale(var(--image-grayscale)); transition: filter 0.2s; }` and `img:hover { filter: grayscale(var(--image-grayscale-hover)); }`.
+- `.avatar` and `.avatar-placeholder` use `--avatar-size-md: 32px`, `border-radius: var(--border-radius)` by default (square-with-radius per WEB.md §8; round variant only if we later opt in via `999px`).
+- Avatar `alt` text set to the profile name or `"avatar"` (currently `alt="avatar"` — keep, but prefer name when available).
+
+### 6. Spacing normalization
+
+Migrate current values onto the ladder:
+
+| Current | New |
+|--------|-----|
+| `margin-bottom: 16px` (section) | `20px` |
+| `margin: 0 0 8px 0` (h2) | `0 0 10px 0` |
+| `padding: 6px 10px` (button) | `8px 10px` |
+| `margin-bottom: 6px` (button) | `10px` |
+| `padding: 4px 6px` (input) | `8px 10px` |
+| `margin: 4px 0 2px` (label) | `5px 0` |
+| `padding: 12px` (body) | `10px` (or `15px`) |
+| `gap: 6px` (relay row) | `10px` |
+| `gap: 8px` (identity row) | `10px` |
+
+### 7. Relay list and identity block
+
+- Relay rows: keep flex row, `gap: 10px`, `padding: 5px 0`, monospace URL with `text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;` (already present).
+- Identity block: treat as a single card — `border: var(--border); border-radius: var(--border-radius); padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 15px;` containing the avatar row, name, npub, backend label, and Sign Out button. This matches WEB.md §9 card conventions (1px border, 5–10px radius, 12px-ish padding, vertical flex).
+- Empty-state text stays italic muted grey (WEB.md allows italic for empty-state).
+
+### 8. Transitions and reduced motion
+
+- Add `transition: border-color 0.2s, background-color 0.2s, color 0.2s, filter 0.2s;` to buttons, inputs, checkboxes, and images.
+- Add `@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { * { transition: none !important; } }`.
+
+### 9. Accessibility pass
+
+- Ensure every button/input/select has visible focus: accent border on inputs; for buttons add `:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid var(--accent-color); outline-offset: 1px; }`.
+- Relay checkboxes remain native (WEB.md §7: don't reinvent).
+- Confirm tab order: Actions → Relays → Fetch button → Identity fields → Sign In/Out.
+- Avatar `alt` text uses profile name when available, else `"avatar"`.
+
+### 10. CSP
+
+No CSP change needed. `style-src 'unsafe-inline'` already permits the inline styles; `img-src https: data:` already permits avatar loading. We are not adding any external resources.
+
+## Out of scope
+
+- No changes to host-side message handling, state shape, or commands.
+- No new files; everything stays in [`sidebar.ts`](../src/ui/sidebar.ts:1).
+- No layout shell refactor (the sidebar is a single pane, not the five-region web shell from WEB.md §4 — that section informs token choices, not structure).
+- No dark-mode class toggle: VS Code drives light/dark via theme variables, which our token mapping already honors.
+
+## Verification
+
+1. Build the extension (`npm run build` via [`esbuild.mjs`](../esbuild.mjs:1)) and load it in VS Code.
+2. Open the Nostr sidebar and confirm:
+   - All text is monospaced.
+   - Buttons are outlined monochrome; hover shows red border; click flashes red fill.
+   - Inputs show red border on focus.
+   - Avatar (when signed in with a profile picture) is grayscale until hover.
+   - Spacing feels even (no 6/8/12/16 oddities).
+   - Disabled buttons are dimmed, not recolored.
+3. Toggle a light and a dark VS Code theme; confirm the palette tracks correctly and the accent stays red.
+4. Tab through the sidebar; confirm visible focus rings and logical order.
+5. Enable OS reduced-motion; confirm no transitions animate.
+
+## Mermaid overview
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+  A[WEB.md rules] --> B[Token mapping]
+  B --> C[Typography: monospace]
+  B --> D[Buttons: outline + red hover/active]
+  B --> E[Inputs: accent focus]
+  B --> F[Avatar: grayscale + hover reveal]
+  B --> G[Spacing ladder 5/10/15/20/40]
+  B --> H[Transitions 0.2s + reduced-motion]
+  C --> I[sidebar.ts inline style + HTML]
+  D --> I
+  E --> I
+  F --> I
+  G --> I
+  H --> I
+  I --> J[Build + manual verify in VS Code]
+```
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index fdabbc2..ae3aa1f 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ export async function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): Promise<void>
       cmdPublishLongForm(state, config),
     ),
   );
+  context.subscriptions.push(
+    vscode.commands.registerCommand("nostr.publishTextNote", () =>
+      cmdPublishTextNote(state, config),
+    ),
+  );
   context.subscriptions.push(
     vscode.commands.registerCommand("nostr.validateFrontMatter", () =>
       cmdValidateFrontMatter(),
@@ -860,6 +865,188 @@ async function cmdPublishLongForm(state: StateService, config: ConfigService): P
   );
 }
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Publish current file as a kind 1 text note
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * Command: publish the active file as a kind 1 (short text) note.
+ *
+ * Smart content detection:
+ *  - If the file is JSON and parses to an object with a `content` string
+ *    (and optional `tags`), those are used as the note's content/tags. This
+ *    lets users author a note as `{"content": "...", "tags": [["t","nostr"]]}`
+ *    for full control over tags.
+ *  - Otherwise (plain text, markdown, or any non-JSON file), the raw file
+ *    text is used verbatim as the note content with no tags.
+ *
+ * The active editor's language id is not restricted — any text file works.
+ */
+async function cmdPublishTextNote(state: StateService, config: ConfigService): Promise<void> {
+  const editor = vscode.window.activeTextEditor;
+  if (!editor) {
+    vscode.window.showErrorMessage("No active editor.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Require sign-in.
+  let signer = getSigner(state, config);
+  if (!signer) {
+    const action = await vscode.window.showErrorMessage(
+      "Sign in to Nostr first before publishing.",
+      "Sign In",
+    );
+    if (action === "Sign In") {
+      await vscode.commands.executeCommand("nostr.signIn");
+    }
+    signer = getSigner(state, config);
+    if (!signer) {
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const text = editor.document.getText();
+
+  // Detect JSON vs plain text.
+  let content: string;
+  let tags: string[][] = [];
+  const trimmed = text.trim();
+  if (trimmed.startsWith("{") || trimmed.startsWith("[")) {
+    let parsed: unknown = undefined;
+    try {
+      parsed = JSON.parse(text);
+    } catch {
+      // Not valid JSON — fall through to plain-text handling.
+    }
+    if (parsed && typeof parsed === "object" && !Array.isArray(parsed)) {
+      const obj = parsed as Record<string, unknown>;
+      if (typeof obj.content === "string") {
+        content = obj.content;
+        if (Array.isArray(obj.tags)) {
+          tags = (obj.tags as unknown[]).filter(
+            (t): t is string[] => Array.isArray(t) && t.every((x) => typeof x === "string"),
+          );
+        }
+      } else {
+        // JSON object without a content field — use the raw text as content.
+        content = text;
+      }
+    } else if (parsed !== undefined) {
+      // Valid JSON but not an object (e.g. a string or array) — stringify it.
+      content = JSON.stringify(parsed);
+    } else {
+      // JSON.parse failed — treat as plain text.
+      content = text;
+    }
+  } else {
+    content = text;
+  }
+
+  if (content.length === 0) {
+    vscode.window.showErrorMessage("The active file is empty — nothing to publish.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const now = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+  const template: EventTemplate = {
+    kind: 1,
+    created_at: now,
+    tags,
+    content,
+  };
+
+  // Validate the built template.
+  const validation = validateEventTemplate(template);
+  if (!validation.valid) {
+    vscode.window.showErrorMessage(`Built event is invalid: ${validation.errors.join("; ")}`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Sign.
+  let signed: VerifiedEvent;
+  try {
+    signed = await signer.signEvent(template);
+  } catch (err) {
+    vscode.window.showErrorMessage(`Signing failed: ${(err as Error).message}`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Relays.
+  const relays = sidebarProvider ? sidebarProvider.getEnabledRelays() : config.relays;
+  if (relays.length === 0) {
+    vscode.window.showErrorMessage(
+      "No relays enabled. Toggle relays in the Nostr sidebar or set `nostr.relays` in settings.",
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Confirmation dialog.
+  const selectedRelays = config.publishConfirm
+    ? await confirmTextNotePublish(signed, relays, signer)
+    : relays;
+  if (selectedRelays.length === 0) {
+    vscode.window.showInformationMessage("Publish cancelled: no relays selected.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Publish.
+  await vscode.window.withProgress(
+    {
+      location: vscode.ProgressLocation.Notification,
+      title: "Publishing text note…",
+      cancellable: false,
+    },
+    async () => {
+      const results = await publishToRelays(signed, selectedRelays, config.publishTimeoutMs);
+      showPublishResults(signed, results);
+    },
+  );
+}
+
+/** Confirmation dialog for kind 1 text note publish. */
+async function confirmTextNotePublish(
+  signed: VerifiedEvent,
+  relays: string[],
+  signer: NostrSigner,
+): Promise<string[]> {
+  const npub = hexToNpub(signed.pubkey);
+  const preview = signed.content.length > 200
+    ? signed.content.slice(0, 200) + "…"
+    : signed.content;
+  const previewItems: vscode.QuickPickItem[] = [
+    { label: `kind:       ${signed.kind}` },
+    { label: `pubkey:     ${npub}` },
+    { label: `id:         ${signed.id}` },
+    { label: `tags:       ${signed.tags.length}` },
+    { label: `content:    ${signed.content.length} chars` },
+    { label: `preview:    ${preview.replace(/\n/g, " ")}` },
+    { label: `signer:     ${signer.describe()}` },
+    { label: `relays:     ${relays.join(", ")}` },
+    { label: "" },
+  ];
+
+  const relayItems: vscode.QuickPickItem[] = relays.map((r) => ({ label: r, picked: true }));
+
+  const pick = await vscode.window.showQuickPick([...previewItems, ...relayItems], {
+    canPickMany: true,
+    placeHolder: "Preview text note. Toggle relays, then confirm.",
+    ignoreFocusOut: true,
+    title: "Confirm Kind 1 Publish",
+  });
+  if (!pick) return [];
+
+  const selected = pick
+    .filter((item) => item.label.startsWith("wss://") || item.label.startsWith("ws://"))
+    .map((item) => item.label);
+  if (selected.length === 0) return [];
+
+  const confirm = await vscode.window.showQuickPick(["Publish", "Cancel"], {
+    placeHolder: `Publish to ${selected.length} relay(s)?`,
+    ignoreFocusOut: true,
+  });
+  return confirm === "Publish" ? selected : [];
+}
+
 /** Confirmation dialog for long-form publish with NIP-23 preview fields. */
 async function confirmLongFormPublish(
   signed: VerifiedEvent,
diff --git a/src/ui/sidebar.ts b/src/ui/sidebar.ts
index 1e90a12..8759b8b 100644
--- a/src/ui/sidebar.ts
+++ b/src/ui/sidebar.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ type WebviewMessage =
   | { type: "createEvent" }
   | { type: "publishCurrentFile" }
   | { type: "validateCurrentFile" }
+  | { type: "publishTextNote" }
   | { type: "publishLongForm" }
   | { type: "validateFrontMatter" }
   | { type: "insertNoteHeader" }
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ interface SidebarState {
   relays: { url: string; enabled: boolean }[];
   canPublish: boolean;
   canPublishLongForm: boolean;
+  canPublishTextNote: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -117,6 +119,9 @@ export class NostrSidebarProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
         case "publishCurrentFile":
           await vscode.commands.executeCommand("nostr.publishEventFile");
           break;
+        case "publishTextNote":
+          await vscode.commands.executeCommand("nostr.publishTextNote");
+          break;
         case "validateCurrentFile":
           await vscode.commands.executeCommand("nostr.validateEventFile");
           break;
@@ -162,6 +167,7 @@ export class NostrSidebarProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
     const editor = vscode.window.activeTextEditor;
     const canPublish = !!editor && editor.document.languageId === "json";
     const canPublishLongForm = !!editor && editor.document.languageId === "markdown";
+    const canPublishTextNote = !!editor && editor.document.uri.scheme !== "output";
     const pubkey = this.state.getPubkeyHex();
     let signerBackend = "local";
     if (this.config.signerBackend === "nsigner") {
@@ -182,6 +188,7 @@ export class NostrSidebarProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
       relays: relayList.map((url) => ({ url, enabled: this.enabledRelays.has(url) })),
       canPublish,
       canPublishLongForm,
+      canPublishTextNote,
     };
     this.view.webview.postMessage({ type: "state", state: snap });
   }
@@ -281,6 +288,7 @@ export class NostrSidebarProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
     <h2>Actions</h2>
     <button id="createBtn">+ New Event</button>
     <button id="insertNoteHeaderBtn" disabled>Insert Note Header</button>
+    <button id="publishTextNoteBtn" disabled>Publish Current File as Text Note</button>
     <button id="publishLongFormBtn" disabled>Publish Current File as Long-Form Note</button>
     <button id="validateFrontMatterBtn" class="secondary" disabled>Validate Front-Matter</button>
     <button id="publishBtn" disabled>Publish Current JSON File</button>
@@ -365,6 +373,7 @@ export class NostrSidebarProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
     $("createBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "createEvent" }));
     $("publishBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "publishCurrentFile" }));
     $("validateBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "validateCurrentFile" }));
+    $("publishTextNoteBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "publishTextNote" }));
     $("publishLongFormBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "publishLongForm" }));
     $("validateFrontMatterBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "validateFrontMatter" }));
     $("insertNoteHeaderBtn").addEventListener("click", () => vscode.postMessage({ type: "insertNoteHeader" }));
@@ -414,6 +423,7 @@ export class NostrSidebarProvider implements vscode.WebviewViewProvider {
       // Action button states
       $("publishBtn").disabled = !s.canPublish;
       $("validateBtn").disabled = !s.canPublish;
+      $("publishTextNoteBtn").disabled = !s.canPublishTextNote;
       $("publishLongFormBtn").disabled = !s.canPublishLongForm;
       $("validateFrontMatterBtn").disabled = !s.canPublishLongForm;
       $("insertNoteHeaderBtn").disabled = !s.canPublishLongForm;