diff --git a/clients/AGENTS.md b/clients/AGENTS.md
index 964faf7e1e3..36103a7d47b 100644
--- a/clients/AGENTS.md
+++ b/clients/AGENTS.md
@@ -198,7 +198,8 @@ Prefer migrating the parent to `@Observable` so the bridge becomes unnecessary (
 - **Keep modifier chains lean.** Every SwiftUI modifier wraps its content in a new view value. Long chains of redundant or duplicated modifiers deepen the view tree and increase diffing cost. Group related modifiers, remove redundant ones (e.g., don't set `.font` on every row when the parent already sets it), and extract heavily-modified subtrees into standalone `@ViewBuilder` methods.
 - **Scope observation narrowly.** Only observe the specific properties a view needs. Prefer granular `@Observable` properties or `withObservationTracking` over observing an entire store that publishes on unrelated changes. When a view reads `@Observable` properties from many different objects, extract logical sections (toolbar, overlays, content) into standalone child `View` structs — each child creates its own [observation tracking scope](https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10149/) so changes to one section's state don't re-evaluate the entire parent body. **Note:** private `@ViewBuilder` functions do NOT create separate observation scopes — they execute during the caller's `body` evaluation, so all their `@Observable` reads are tracked in the caller's scope. Use standalone `View` structs or [`ObservationBoundaryView`](https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10149/) (deferred `@escaping @ViewBuilder` closure) when extraction into a full `View` struct is impractical.
 - **Don't double-track scroll viewport geometry.** When an ancestor scroll container already publishes its visible height (e.g. via [`onScrollGeometryChange`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swiftui/view/onscrollgeometrychange(for:of:_:))), expose it to descendants through a file-local [`EnvironmentKey`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swiftui/environmentkey) instead of re-measuring with `containerRelativeFrame` + [`onGeometryChange`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swiftui/view/ongeometrychange(for:of:action:)) inside descendant views. Each independent `@State` viewport probe inside a large view hierarchy adds another layout pass that re-traverses the hierarchy on every viewport change.
-- **Coalesce N writes into one when mutating `@Observable` stored properties in a loop.** When a stored property's `didSet` runs derived work (e.g. `ConversationListStore.conversations` triggers `recomputeDerivedProperties`), build a local `var snapshot = property`, mutate elements in the snapshot, and write `property = snapshot` once after the loop. N independent writes fire N `didSet` invocations — each doing the full derived-property recompute — scaling as O(N × work) on the main actor. The snapshot pattern collapses this to a single `didSet`. See `markConversationsSeenImpl`, `restoreUnseen`, `appendConversations`, and `deleteGroup` in `ConversationListStore.swift` for the reference implementations. When a value-level helper exists (e.g. `applyAssistantAttention(from:into:)`), prefer it over the single-row convenience wrapper so the caller retains control over when the writeback fires.
+- **Coalesce N writes into one when mutating `@Observable` stored properties in a loop.** When a stored property's `didSet` runs derived work (e.g. `ConversationListStore.conversations` triggers `recomputeDerivedProperties`), build a local `var snapshot = property`, mutate elements in the snapshot, and write `property = snapshot` once after the loop. N independent writes fire N `didSet` invocations — each doing the full derived-property recompute — scaling as O(N × work) on the main actor. The snapshot pattern collapses this to a single `didSet`. See `markConversationsSeenImpl`, `restoreUnseen`, `appendConversations`, and `deleteGroup` in `ConversationListStore.swift` for the reference implementations. When a value-level helper exists (e.g. `applyAssistantAttention(from:into:)`, `applyLastInteracted(into:)`), prefer it over the single-row convenience wrapper so the caller retains control over when the writeback fires.
+- **Guard `didSet` and writebacks against no-op mutations.** Array subscript assignment (`array[i] = value`) and whole-array assignment both fire `didSet` even when the new value equals the old. For properties whose `didSet` triggers expensive derived work, add `guard property != oldValue else { return }` in the `didSet`. For copy-modify-writeback sites, add `guard modified != original` before writing back. This eliminates redundant recomputes during high-frequency callbacks (e.g. streaming activity snapshots) where most invocations don't actually change the model.
 - **Cache derived booleans from high-frequency collections.** Reading `.isEmpty`, `.count`, `.first`, or `.contains` on an `@Observable` stored property [tracks the property, not the value](https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10149/) — any mutation invalidates the view even when the derived value hasn't changed, including reads inside `.onChange(of:)`. For frequently-mutated collections, maintain a separate stored scalar / lookup updated in `didSet` behind a `!=` guard, and route view-body and `.onChange` reads through the cached form. To prevent regression, mark the underlying collection [`@ObservationIgnored`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/observation/observationignored()) so accidental view-body reads silently stop reacting (caught at code review) rather than working but expensive.
 - **Use `.task` + async sequences instead of `.onReceive` for `NotificationCenter`.** Each `.onReceive` modifier adds a generic wrapper layer to the view type and exists only for side effects — no rendering value. Use a single [`.task`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/swiftui/view/task(priority:_:)) with [`NotificationCenter.notifications(named:)`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/notificationcenter/notifications(named:object:)) async sequences instead. `.task` has identical lifecycle semantics (auto-cancelled on view disappear) without inflating the view type.
 - **Enable non-contiguous layout on TextKit 1 stacks in `NSViewRepresentable`.** When constructing an `NSLayoutManager` for an `NSTextView` hosted via `NSViewRepresentable`, set `layoutManager.allowsNonContiguousLayout = true`. The default (`false`) forces full-document glyph layout from character 0 on the main thread whenever a glyph range is queried — which happens the first time the text view is attached to its hosting view (`setDocumentView:` / `addSubview:` → `_setSuperview:` → `setNeedsDisplayInRect:` → `_glyphRangeForBoundingRect:`). Reference: [`NSLayoutManager.allowsNonContiguousLayout`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appkit/nslayoutmanager/allowsnoncontiguouslayout). **Exception — streaming text with a separate measurement stack:** when the representable measures height via a sibling TextKit stack that always fully lays out every glyph (e.g. `ensureLayout(for:)` + `usedRect(for:)`), the measured frame assumes the render stack will also lay out every glyph in that rect. Non-contiguous layout leaves glyphs pending until the view scrolls or draws them, which races with streaming updates — producing a gap (render paints a smaller laid-out region inside the correct frame) and then overlap (the next sibling is placed via the measured frame and the lazy glyphs later paint outside it). In that case set `allowsNonContiguousLayout = false` and document why. See `clients/shared/DesignSystem/Components/Display/SelectableTextView.swift` (lines 180–205) for the canonical example; `VCodeView` / `HighlightedTextView` still opt into non-contiguous layout independently because they do not share this measurement model.
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationListStore.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationListStore.swift
index 5f34bcb950f..b6e869e6467 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationListStore.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationListStore.swift
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ final class ConversationListStore {
     ///
     /// Reference: [`@ObservationIgnored`](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/observation/observationignored()).
     @ObservationIgnored var conversations: [ConversationModel] = [] {
-        didSet { recomputeDerivedProperties() }
+        didSet {
+            guard conversations != oldValue else { return }
+            recomputeDerivedProperties()
+        }
     }
     var groups: [ConversationGroup] = [] {
         didSet { recomputeDerivedProperties() }
@@ -531,11 +534,13 @@ final class ConversationListStore {
 
     func updateConversationTitle(id: UUID, title: String) {
         guard let index = conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == id }) else { return }
+        guard conversations[index].title != title else { return }
         conversations[index].title = title
     }
 
     func updateConversationInferenceProfile(id: UUID, profile: String?) {
         guard let index = conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == id }) else { return }
+        guard conversations[index].inferenceProfile != profile else { return }
         conversations[index].inferenceProfile = profile
     }
 
@@ -546,6 +551,7 @@ final class ConversationListStore {
         let trimmed = title.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
         guard !trimmed.isEmpty else { return }
         guard let index = conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == id }) else { return }
+        guard conversations[index].title != trimmed else { return }
         conversations[index].title = trimmed
         if let conversationId = conversations[index].conversationId {
             Task { await conversationListClient.renameConversation(conversationId: conversationId, name: trimmed) }
@@ -556,20 +562,28 @@ final class ConversationListStore {
 
     // MARK: - Recency
 
-    func updateLastInteracted(conversationId: UUID) {
-        guard let index = conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == conversationId }) else { return }
-        var conversation = conversations[index]
+    /// Value-level helper: apply last-interacted timestamp to a local snapshot.
+    /// Returns `true` if a pin-change notification is needed (displayOrder was
+    /// cleared for a Recents conversation). Callers that process multiple
+    /// mutations can use this to coalesce writes into a single `conversations`
+    /// writeback — same pattern as `applyAssistantAttention(from:into:)`.
+    @discardableResult
+    func applyLastInteracted(into conversation: inout ConversationModel) -> Bool {
         conversation.lastInteractedAt = Date()
         if conversation.groupId == ConversationGroup.all.id {
-            // Clear explicit displayOrder so Recents conversations revert to recency-based sorting.
-            // Grouped conversations keep their manual ordering.
             let hadOrder = conversation.displayOrder != nil
             if hadOrder { conversation.displayOrder = nil }
-            conversations[index] = conversation
-            if hadOrder { sendPinChange(for: conversation) }
-        } else {
-            conversations[index] = conversation
+            return hadOrder
         }
+        return false
+    }
+
+    func updateLastInteracted(conversationId: UUID) {
+        guard let index = conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == conversationId }) else { return }
+        var conversation = conversations[index]
+        let needsPinChange = applyLastInteracted(into: &conversation)
+        conversations[index] = conversation
+        if needsPinChange { sendPinChange(for: conversation) }
     }
 
     // MARK: - Pinning & Ordering
@@ -1210,6 +1224,7 @@ final class ConversationListStore {
     ) {
         var conversation = conversations[index]
         applyAssistantAttention(from: item, into: &conversation)
+        guard conversation != conversations[index] else { return }
         conversations[index] = conversation
     }
 
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationManager.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationManager.swift
index ebbdcf00783..877b45de336 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationManager.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationManager.swift
@@ -1579,10 +1579,14 @@ final class ConversationManager: ConversationRestorerDelegate {
         }
         guard let index = listStore.conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == conversationId }) else { return }
         let isNewMessage = previousSnapshot?.messageId != currentSnapshot.messageId
-        if isNewMessage && !listStore.conversations[index].isBackgroundConversation {
-            listStore.updateLastInteracted(conversationId: conversationId)
-        }
+
+        // Snapshot-mutate-writeback: coalesce updateLastInteracted + attention
+        // mutations into a single conversations write to avoid 2× recompute.
         var conversation = listStore.conversations[index]
+        var needsPinChange = false
+        if isNewMessage && !conversation.isBackgroundConversation {
+            needsPinChange = listStore.applyLastInteracted(into: &conversation)
+        }
         if conversation.latestAssistantMessageAt == nil || isNewMessage {
             conversation.latestAssistantMessageAt = Date()
         }
@@ -1599,6 +1603,7 @@ final class ConversationManager: ConversationRestorerDelegate {
             conversation.hasUnseenLatestAssistantMessage = true
         }
         listStore.conversations[index] = conversation
+        if needsPinChange { listStore.sendPinChange(for: conversation) }
         if shouldEmitSeenSignal, let daemonId = conversation.conversationId {
             listStore.emitConversationSeenSignal(conversationId: daemonId)
         }
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationRestorer.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationRestorer.swift
index cc5c1f60a01..ff1be089e8e 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationRestorer.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/MainWindow/ConversationRestorer.swift
@@ -617,6 +617,7 @@ final class ConversationRestorer {
     func handleConversationTitleUpdated(_ response: ConversationTitleUpdatedMessage) {
         guard let delegate else { return }
         guard let index = delegate.conversations.firstIndex(where: { $0.conversationId == response.conversationId }) else { return }
+        guard delegate.conversations[index].title != response.title else { return }
         delegate.conversations[index].title = response.title
     }