diff --git a/.github/workflows/workstation-lampstand.yml b/.github/workflows/workstation-lampstand.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f86cd3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/workstation-lampstand.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+name: workstation-lampstand
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - 'profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh'
+      - 'profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos-search.sh'
+      - 'profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/manifest.yaml'
+      - '.github/workflows/workstation-lampstand.yml'
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - 'profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh'
+      - 'profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos-search.sh'
+      - 'profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/manifest.yaml'
+      - '.github/workflows/workstation-lampstand.yml'
+
+jobs:
+  lampstand-installer-smoke:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Syntax check installer
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          bash -n profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh
+          bash -n profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos-search.sh
+
+      - name: Smoke: installer writes user service with stub pipx
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          tmp_home=$(mktemp -d)
+          tmp_bin=$(mktemp -d)
+          tmp_src=$(mktemp -d)
+          printf '[project]\nname = "lampstand"\n' > "$tmp_src/pyproject.toml"
+
+          cat > "$tmp_bin/pipx" <<'EOF'
+          #!/usr/bin/env bash
+          set -euo pipefail
+          test "${1:-}" = install
+          mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
+          cat > "$HOME/.local/bin/lampstandd" <<'EOS'
+          #!/usr/bin/env bash
+          exit 0
+          EOS
+          chmod +x "$HOME/.local/bin/lampstandd"
+          EOF
+          chmod +x "$tmp_bin/pipx"
+
+          HOME="$tmp_home" \
+          XDG_CONFIG_HOME="$tmp_home/.config" \
+          SOURCEOS_LAMPSTAND_SRC="$tmp_src" \
+          PATH="$tmp_bin:$PATH" \
+            bash profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh
+
+          svc="$tmp_home/.config/systemd/user/sourceos-lampstand.service"
+          test -f "$svc"
+          grep -F 'lampstandd --root %h --rpc unixjson' "$svc" >/dev/null
diff --git a/docs/workstation/README.md b/docs/workstation/README.md
index 7ac5691..4cf4afa 100644
--- a/docs/workstation/README.md
+++ b/docs/workstation/README.md
@@ -21,18 +21,25 @@ Workstation scripts are guarded by the `workstation-scripts` GitHub Actions work
 - bash -n
 - a small `sourceos status --json` smoke parse
 
+The Lampstand provisioning/search lane is guarded by the `workstation-lampstand` workflow:
+- installer syntax checks
+- `sourceos-search.sh` syntax checks
+- stubbed `pipx` smoke proving the installer writes the user service
+
 It triggers on PRs and main pushes touching:
 - `profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/**`
 - `docs/workstation/**`
 
-Workflow file:
+Workflow files:
 - `.github/workflows/workstation-scripts.yml`
+- `.github/workflows/workstation-lampstand.yml`
 
 ## Workstation v0 goals
 
 - CLI-first developer experience with keyboard-first navigation.
 - GNOME baseline customization via GSettings and pinned extensions (no GNOME core forks).
 - Open-source launcher palette (Wayland-first): `sourceos palette` uses fuzzel (primary) with wofi/rofi fallbacks.
+- Lampstand-backed local search surface via `sourceos search`, with the launcher treated as an action bus rather than a second filesystem index.
 - Primary keyboard remap lane: `input-remapper` on Fedora/GNOME.
 - Compatibility remap lanes: `xremap` and `kinto` (explicit compatibility path, not default).
 - Touchpad gesture lane: `fusuma`.
@@ -45,6 +52,16 @@ From the repo:
 
   ./profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/install.sh
 
+The profile installer provisions Lampstand best-effort through:
+
+  ./profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh
+
+Lampstand install behavior:
+- `pipx` is the user-space installer.
+- local checkout is preferred from `$SOURCEOS_LAMPSTAND_SRC` or `~/dev/lampstand` when present.
+- otherwise the installer falls back to `git+https://github.com/SocioProphet/lampstand.git`.
+- when `lampstandd` is available, the installer writes `sourceos-lampstand.service` under the user systemd directory.
+
 ## Validate
 
   ./profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/doctor.sh
@@ -53,6 +70,7 @@ Or via the installed helper:
 
   sourceos doctor
   sourceos status --json
+  sourceos search 'report OR invoice' --snippet
 
 ## Nix-first support
 
@@ -60,7 +78,12 @@ This repository is Nix-native. A dev shell is provided:
 
   nix develop .#workstation-v0
 
+Lampstand is also exposed as a Nix package:
+
+  nix build .#lampstand
+
 Notes:
+- The workstation devShell includes the repo-local Lampstand package in addition to best-effort nixpkgs CLI tools.
 - The workstation devShell is best-effort; missing nixpkgs attrs will be reported on entry.
 - The profile installers still support non-Nix systems using dnf/rpm-ostree and brew where applicable.
 
@@ -69,6 +92,8 @@ Notes:
 - Workstation v0 avoids non-open launchers.
 - Launcher install is best-effort via distro packages (Fedora: fuzzel) and does not silently enable third-party repos.
 - Kinto is treated as an explicit compatibility lane rather than the default Wayland-first path.
+- File search should resolve through Lampstand when available; the launcher must not run a redundant second file-search pass.
+- Lampstand is installed in user space and exposed through a user service, not as a mandatory host-system package.
 
 ## Related docs
 
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 0122873..5603031 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -3,9 +3,13 @@
 
   inputs = {
     nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
+    lampstand-src = {
+      url = "github:SocioProphet/lampstand";
+      flake = false;
+    };
   };
 
-  outputs = { self, nixpkgs }:
+  outputs = { self, nixpkgs, lampstand-src }:
     let
       lib = nixpkgs.lib;
       systems = [ "x86_64-linux" "aarch64-linux" ];
@@ -19,6 +23,9 @@
           meshd = pkgs.callPackage ./packages/mesh/meshd.nix { };
           meshd-linkd = pkgs.callPackage ./packages/mesh/meshd-linkd.nix { };
           meshd-exitd = pkgs.callPackage ./packages/mesh/meshd-exitd.nix { };
+          lampstand = pkgs.callPackage ./packages/search/lampstand.nix {
+            inherit lampstand-src;
+          };
           default = meshd;
         });
 
@@ -74,7 +81,7 @@
           };
 
           workstation-v0 = pkgs.mkShell {
-            packages = presentPkgs;
+            packages = presentPkgs ++ [ self.packages.${system}.lampstand ];
             shellHook = ''
               echo "SourceOS Workstation v0 dev shell"
               echo "See docs/workstation/README.md"
@@ -151,6 +158,7 @@
           meshd-package = self.packages.${system}.meshd;
           meshd-linkd-package = self.packages.${system}.meshd-linkd;
           meshd-exitd-package = self.packages.${system}.meshd-exitd;
+          lampstand-package = self.packages.${system}.lampstand;
         });
 
       sourceos = {
diff --git a/packages/search/lampstand.nix b/packages/search/lampstand.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5266efa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/search/lampstand.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+{ lib, python3Packages, lampstand-src }:
+
+python3Packages.buildPythonApplication {
+  pname = "lampstand";
+  version = "0.0.0";
+  src = lampstand-src;
+
+  pyproject = true;
+  build-system = with python3Packages; [
+    setuptools
+    wheel
+  ];
+
+  pythonImportsCheck = [
+    "lampstand.cli"
+    "lampstand.lampstandd"
+  ];
+
+  doCheck = false;
+
+  meta = {
+    description = "SourceOS desktop file indexing and search service";
+    license = lib.licenses.mit;
+    mainProgram = "lampstand";
+  };
+}
diff --git a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aaab0a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/install-lampstand.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Install Lampstand for workstation-v0 and optionally enable a user service.
+# Strategy:
+# - prefer a local checkout at ~/dev/lampstand (or SOURCEOS_LAMPSTAND_SRC)
+# - otherwise install from the public git URL via pipx
+# - write a user systemd unit for lampstandd if the daemon entrypoint exists
+
+info(){ printf "INFO: %s\n" "$*" >&2; }
+warn(){ printf "WARN: %s\n" "$*" >&2; }
+err(){ printf "ERROR: %s\n" "$*" >&2; }
+
+have(){ command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1; }
+
+lampstand_src(){
+  local local_src="${SOURCEOS_LAMPSTAND_SRC:-$HOME/dev/lampstand}"
+  if [[ -f "$local_src/pyproject.toml" ]]; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$local_src"
+    return
+  fi
+  printf '%s\n' 'git+https://github.com/SocioProphet/lampstand.git'
+}
+
+ensure_pipx(){
+  if have pipx; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if have brew; then
+    info "Installing pipx via brew (best-effort)"
+    brew install pipx || true
+  fi
+  have pipx
+}
+
+install_lampstand(){
+  local src
+  src="$(lampstand_src)"
+  info "Installing Lampstand via pipx from: $src"
+  pipx install --force "$src"
+}
+
+write_user_service(){
+  local bin="$HOME/.local/bin/lampstandd"
+  if [[ ! -x "$bin" ]]; then
+    warn "lampstandd not found at $bin; skipping user service"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local svc_dir="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/systemd/user"
+  local svc="$svc_dir/sourceos-lampstand.service"
+  mkdir -p "$svc_dir"
+
+  cat > "$svc" <<'EOF'
+[Unit]
+Description=SourceOS Lampstand search daemon
+After=graphical-session.target
+PartOf=graphical-session.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+ExecStart=%h/.local/bin/lampstandd --root %h --rpc unixjson
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=2
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=default.target
+EOF
+
+  info "wrote user service: $svc"
+
+  if have systemctl; then
+    systemctl --user daemon-reload || true
+    systemctl --user enable sourceos-lampstand.service || true
+    systemctl --user restart sourceos-lampstand.service || true
+  fi
+}
+
+main(){
+  if ! ensure_pipx; then
+    warn "pipx is not available; skipping Lampstand install"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+
+  install_lampstand || {
+    warn "Lampstand install failed (non-fatal)"
+    exit 0
+  }
+
+  write_user_service || warn "Lampstand user service setup failed (non-fatal)"
+}
+
+main "$@"
diff --git a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos
index 16baa08..fbc4840 100644
--- a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos
+++ b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ Usage:
   sourceos fix fish [apply|dry-run|revert] [--json] [--open|--write <path>]
   sourceos doctor [--json|--open|--write <path>]
   sourceos status [--json|--open|--write <path>]
+  sourceos search [--limit N] [--snippet] [--prompt] [--open|--write <path>] [query...]
   sourceos profile apply
   sourceos profile path
 
@@ -285,6 +286,24 @@ check_bin(){
   return 1
 }
 
+status_check_lampstand(){
+  local search_helper="$PROFILE_DIR/bin/sourceos-search.sh"
+
+  if [[ ! -f "$search_helper" ]]; then
+    WARNINGS+=("missing sourceos search helper: $search_helper")
+  fi
+
+  if check_bin lampstand; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if have python3 && python3 -c 'import lampstand.cli' >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  WARNINGS+=("lampstand backend unavailable")
+}
+
 status_collect(){
   REQUIRED_MISSING=()
   OPTIONAL_MISSING=()
@@ -310,6 +329,8 @@ status_collect(){
     OPTIONAL_MISSING+=("xclip")
   fi
 
+  status_check_lampstand
+
   if gnome_detect; then
     if ! check_bin gsettings; then
       WARNINGS+=("gsettings missing")
@@ -451,6 +472,7 @@ Palette: Fix fish config (apply)	sourceos fix fish apply
 Palette: Revert fish config patch	sourceos fix fish revert
 Status (open report)	sourceos status --open
 Doctor (open text report)	sourceos doctor --open
+Search files (Lampstand)	sourceos search --prompt --snippet --open
 Apply profile	sourceos profile apply
 Open sesh	sesh
 Open tmux	tmux
@@ -560,6 +582,13 @@ main(){
       esac
       ;;
 
+    search)
+      shift || true
+      local search_helper="$PROFILE_DIR/bin/sourceos-search.sh"
+      [[ -f "$search_helper" ]] || { err "search helper missing: $search_helper"; exit 2; }
+      exec bash "$search_helper" "$@"
+      ;;
+
     profile)
       shift || true
       local sub=${1:-}
diff --git a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos-search.sh b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos-search.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4b4b06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/bin/sourceos-search.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+err(){ printf "ERROR: %s\n" "$*" >&2; }
+info(){ printf "INFO: %s\n" "$*" >&2; }
+warn(){ printf "WARN: %s\n" "$*" >&2; }
+
+have(){ command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1; }
+
+cache_dir(){ echo "${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-$HOME/.cache}/sourceos"; }
+
+open_file(){
+  local p=$1
+  if have xdg-open; then xdg-open "$p" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  elif have open; then open "$p" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  else warn "no opener found; wrote: $p"
+  fi
+}
+
+run_lampstand(){
+  if have lampstand; then lampstand "$@"; return; fi
+  if have python3 && python3 -c 'import lampstand.cli' >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    python3 -m lampstand.cli "$@"; return
+  fi
+  err "Lampstand is not available on PATH and the Python module is not importable."
+  return 127
+}
+
+SEARCH_LIMIT=20
+SEARCH_SNIPPET=0
+SEARCH_PROMPT=0
+SEARCH_OPEN=0
+SEARCH_WRITE_PATH=""
+QUERY_PARTS=()
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --limit) shift; [[ $# -gt 0 ]] || { err "--limit requires a value"; exit 2; }; SEARCH_LIMIT="$1"; shift ;;
+    --snippet) SEARCH_SNIPPET=1; shift ;;
+    --prompt) SEARCH_PROMPT=1; shift ;;
+    --open) SEARCH_OPEN=1; shift ;;
+    --write) shift; [[ $# -gt 0 ]] || { err "--write requires a path"; exit 2; }; SEARCH_WRITE_PATH="$1"; shift ;;
+    -h|--help)
+      cat <<'EOF'
+Usage: sourceos-search.sh [--limit N] [--snippet] [--prompt] [--open|--write <path>] [query...]
+EOF
+      exit 0 ;;
+    *) QUERY_PARTS+=("$1"); shift ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+if [[ ${#QUERY_PARTS[@]} -eq 0 && "$SEARCH_PROMPT" == "1" ]]; then
+  if have fuzzel; then q="$(printf '\n' | fuzzel --dmenu --prompt 'search> ' || true)"
+  elif have wofi; then q="$(printf '\n' | wofi --dmenu --prompt 'search> ' || true)"
+  elif have rofi; then q="$(printf '\n' | rofi -dmenu -p 'search> ' || true)"
+  elif have fzf; then q="$(printf '\n' | fzf --print-query --prompt='search> ' | head -n1 || true)"
+  else err "no prompt-capable launcher found"; exit 2
+  fi
+  [[ -n "$q" ]] && QUERY_PARTS+=("$q")
+fi
+
+query="${QUERY_PARTS[*]:-}"
+[[ -n "$query" ]] || { err "search requires a query or --prompt"; exit 2; }
+
+args=(query "$query" --limit "$SEARCH_LIMIT")
+[[ "$SEARCH_SNIPPET" == "1" ]] && args+=(--snippet)
+
+if [[ "$SEARCH_OPEN" == "1" || -n "$SEARCH_WRITE_PATH" ]]; then
+  path="$SEARCH_WRITE_PATH"
+  if [[ -z "$path" ]]; then mkdir -p "$(cache_dir)"; path="$(cache_dir)/search.txt"; fi
+  out="$(run_lampstand "${args[@]}")"
+  mkdir -p "$(dirname "$path")"
+  printf '%s\n' "$out" > "$path"
+  info "wrote: $path"
+  [[ "$SEARCH_OPEN" == "1" ]] && open_file "$path"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+run_lampstand "${args[@]}"
diff --git a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/doctor.sh b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/doctor.sh
index e7e2c84..ad8fbb1 100644
--- a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/doctor.sh
+++ b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/doctor.sh
@@ -218,6 +218,33 @@ check_fusuma_lane(){
   fi
 }
 
+check_lampstand_lane(){
+  local search_helper="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)/bin/sourceos-search.sh"
+
+  if [[ -f "$search_helper" ]]; then
+    info "ok: sourceos search helper"
+    record_result ok sourceos-search-helper "$search_helper"
+  else
+    warn "sourceos search helper missing: $search_helper"
+    record_result warn sourceos-search-helper "missing"
+  fi
+
+  if have lampstand; then
+    info "ok: lampstand"
+    record_result ok lampstand "binary present"
+    return
+  fi
+
+  if have python3 && python3 -c 'import lampstand.cli' >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    info "ok: lampstand python module"
+    record_result ok lampstand "python module importable"
+    return
+  fi
+
+  warn "lampstand missing (search surface exists but backend is unavailable)"
+  record_result warn lampstand "missing backend"
+}
+
 check_gsettings_equals(){
   local schema=$1
   local key=$2
@@ -310,6 +337,7 @@ main(){
   check rclone
   check mc
   check rsync
+  check_lampstand_lane
 
   if gnome_detect; then
     record_result info gnome "detected"
diff --git a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/install.sh b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/install.sh
index deaee4e..e29c2b3 100644
--- a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/install.sh
+++ b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/install.sh
@@ -75,6 +75,16 @@ install_sourceos_cli(){
   fi
 }
 
+install_lampstand_backend(){
+  local script="$PROFILE_DIR/bin/install-lampstand.sh"
+  if [[ -x "$script" ]]; then
+    info "Installing Lampstand backend (best-effort)"
+    "$script" || warn "Lampstand install failed (non-fatal)"
+  else
+    warn "Lampstand installer not found: $script"
+  fi
+}
+
 patch_shell_rc_if_enabled(){
   if ! autopatch_enabled; then
     return 0
@@ -188,6 +198,7 @@ main(){
   install_user
   install_shell_spine
   install_sourceos_cli
+  install_lampstand_backend
   patch_shell_rc_if_enabled
   apply_gnome_baseline
   apply_gnome_extensions
diff --git a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/manifest.yaml b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/manifest.yaml
index 38e732e..6a1a89b 100644
--- a/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/manifest.yaml
+++ b/profiles/linux-dev/workstation-v0/manifest.yaml
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ spec:
         - kondo
         - glow
         - hyperfine
+        - pipx
         - rclone
         - minio-mc
         - rsync
@@ -90,3 +91,10 @@ spec:
         - rofi
       trigger: "<Super>space"
       command: "sourceos palette"
+    search:
+      file_backend: lampstand
+      invariant: no_redundant_file_search
+      authority: sourceos-search
+      notes:
+        - "Lampstand is the Linux-native file search backend."
+        - "The launcher remains an action bus and must not perform a second file-search pass."