diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/__init__.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/app.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/app.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a1d94050
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/app.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from druks.apps import App
+
+
+class Chat(App):
+    name = "chat"
+    icon = "message-square"
+    description = "Operator conversations this appliance owns — several threads, one account each."
+    # Every table this app owns carries the ``chat_`` prefix, so the thread's
+    # schema can never collide with core's or another app's.
+    prefix_tables = True
diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/enums.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/enums.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4b7898c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/enums.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from enum import StrEnum
+
+
+class Autonomy(StrEnum):
+    """How far a conversation's next agent call may go. The setting is the
+    conversation's, not the turn's, so a mode change applies to the next call."""
+
+    PROPOSE = "propose"
+    CONFIRM = "confirm"
+    FULL = "full"
+
+
+class Role(StrEnum):
+    """Who wrote a line on the thread. Closed: a column can never hold a speaker
+    no screen knows how to render."""
+
+    USER = "user"
+    ASSISTANT = "assistant"
+    SYSTEM = "system"
diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/__init__.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/versions/__init__.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/versions/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/versions/chat_0001_conversations_messages.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/versions/chat_0001_conversations_messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..562e1258
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/migrations/versions/chat_0001_conversations_messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+"""chat: conversations and messages
+
+Revision ID: chat_0001
+Revises:
+Create Date: 2026-09-04 00:00:00.000000
+
+"""
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+# This app owns an independent migration history — its own
+# alembic_version_chat table, never linked to core's revisions.
+revision = "chat_0001"
+down_revision = None
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.create_table(
+        "chat_conversations",
+        # Integer subject key (StoredSubject.id) — serial, matching create_all.
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("account_id", sa.String(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("title", sa.String(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("autonomy", sa.String(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("created_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["account_id"], ["accounts.id"], ondelete="RESTRICT"),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "chat_messages",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), autoincrement=True, nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("conversation_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("role", sa.String(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("body", sa.String(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("created_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["conversation_id"], ["chat_conversations.id"]),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_table("chat_messages")
+    op.drop_table("chat_conversations")
diff --git a/backend/druks/contrib/chat/models.py b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/models.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d1cda2cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/druks/contrib/chat/models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+
+from sqlalchemy import ForeignKey, select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column
+
+from druks.contrib.chat.enums import Autonomy, Role
+from druks.db import Base, StoredSubject, db_session
+
+
+class Conversation(StoredSubject):
+    __tablename__ = "chat_conversations"
+
+    # id: the integer subject key inherited from StoredSubject; the class name
+    # derives subject_type "conversation".
+    account_id: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(ForeignKey("accounts.id", ondelete="RESTRICT"))
+    title: Mapped[str]
+    # Autonomy is a String column driven by this app's closed StrEnum, not a
+    # native PG enum: the modes stay in code and a rename never needs ALTER TYPE.
+    autonomy: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(default=Autonomy.PROPOSE)
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(default=Base.utc_now)
+
+    @classmethod
+    async def create(
+        cls,
+        *,
+        account_id: str,
+        title: str,
+        autonomy: Autonomy = Autonomy.PROPOSE,
+    ) -> "Conversation":
+        session = db_session()
+        conversation = cls(account_id=account_id, title=title, autonomy=autonomy)
+        session.add(conversation)
+        await session.flush()
+        return conversation
+
+    @classmethod
+    async def get(cls, conversation_id: int) -> "Conversation | None":
+        return await db_session().get(cls, conversation_id)
+
+    @classmethod
+    async def list_for_account(cls, account_id: str) -> list["Conversation"]:
+        """This account's threads, newest first. A conversation belongs to one
+        operator; another account's list never includes it."""
+        statement = (
+            select(cls)
+            .where(cls.account_id == account_id)
+            .order_by(cls.created_at.desc(), cls.id.desc())
+        )
+        return list(await db_session().scalars(statement))
+
+    async def add_message(self, *, role: Role, body: str) -> "Message":
+        return await Message.create(conversation_id=self.id, role=role, body=body)
+
+    async def list_messages(self) -> list["Message"]:
+        return await Message.list_for_conversation(self.id)
+
+
+class Message(Base):
+    __tablename__ = "chat_messages"
+
+    # A row, not an event and not a StoredSubject: events stay facts about what
+    # happened, while a message is the thread the conversation reads back in
+    # order. Issues' ``Comment`` is the same shape.
+    id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(primary_key=True)
+    conversation_id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(ForeignKey("chat_conversations.id"))
+    role: Mapped[str]
+    body: Mapped[str]
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(default=Base.utc_now)
+
+    @classmethod
+    async def create(cls, *, conversation_id: int, role: Role, body: str) -> "Message":
+        session = db_session()
+        message = cls(conversation_id=conversation_id, role=role, body=body)
+        session.add(message)
+        await session.flush()
+        return message
+
+    @classmethod
+    async def list_for_conversation(cls, conversation_id: int) -> list["Message"]:
+        """The thread, oldest first — a conversation reads down. A conversation
+        nobody has spoken on is an empty list, never None."""
+        statement = (
+            select(cls)
+            .where(cls.conversation_id == conversation_id)
+            .order_by(cls.created_at, cls.id)
+        )
+        return list(await db_session().scalars(statement))
diff --git a/backend/tests/chat/__init__.py b/backend/tests/chat/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/backend/tests/chat/test_models.py b/backend/tests/chat/test_models.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..641b6fcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/chat/test_models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+from druks.accounts.models import Account
+from druks.apps.loader import get_app
+from druks.contrib.chat.enums import Autonomy, Role
+from druks.contrib.chat.models import Conversation, Message
+
+
+def test_chat_app_is_bundled_with_prefixed_tables():
+    app = get_app("chat")
+    assert app.name == "chat"
+    assert app.prefix_tables is True
+    assert app.table_prefix == "chat_"
+
+
+async def test_list_for_account_excludes_another_operators_threads():
+    owner = await Account.get_or_create("op@example.com")
+    other = await Account.get_or_create("dev@example.com")
+    mine = await Conversation.create(account_id=owner.id, title="mine")
+    await Conversation.create(account_id=other.id, title="theirs")
+
+    listed = await Conversation.list_for_account(owner.id)
+    assert [conversation.id for conversation in listed] == [mine.id]
+    assert listed[0].title == "mine"
+    assert listed[0].autonomy == Autonomy.PROPOSE
+    assert listed[0].account_id == owner.id
+
+
+async def test_conversations_list_newest_first():
+    account = await Account.get_or_create("op@example.com")
+    first = await Conversation.create(account_id=account.id, title="first")
+    second = await Conversation.create(
+        account_id=account.id, title="second", autonomy=Autonomy.FULL
+    )
+
+    listed = await Conversation.list_for_account(account.id)
+    assert [conversation.id for conversation in listed] == [second.id, first.id]
+    assert listed[0].autonomy == Autonomy.FULL
+
+
+async def test_messages_are_rows_and_empty_is_a_list():
+    account = await Account.get_or_create("op@example.com")
+    conversation = await Conversation.create(account_id=account.id, title="quiet")
+
+    assert await conversation.list_messages() == []
+
+    first = await conversation.add_message(role=Role.USER, body="hello")
+    second = await conversation.add_message(role=Role.ASSISTANT, body="hi")
+    listed = await conversation.list_messages()
+    assert [message.body for message in listed] == ["hello", "hi"]
+    assert [message.role for message in listed] == [Role.USER, Role.ASSISTANT]
+    assert listed[0].id == first.id
+    assert listed[1].id == second.id
+    assert all(isinstance(message, Message) for message in listed)
diff --git a/backend/tests/conftest.py b/backend/tests/conftest.py
index 5adc7309..58a34d30 100644
--- a/backend/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/backend/tests/conftest.py
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ def browser_session_declarations():
     "test_provider_subscription_persistence",
     "test_app_migrations",
     "test_proof_app_migration",
+    "test_chat_migration",
 }
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_app_loader.py b/backend/tests/test_app_loader.py
index d912b598..bde308c6 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_app_loader.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_app_loader.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ def test_import_app_models_registers_software_factory_via_generic_discovery():
     from druks.models import Base
 
     assert get_app("software_factory").prefix_tables is False
+    assert get_app("chat").prefix_tables is True
     import_app_models()  # idempotent; raises if the unprefixed tables aren't exempt
     assert {"projects", "work_items", "project_repos"} <= set(Base.metadata.tables)
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_app_roster.py b/backend/tests/test_app_roster.py
index e8229274..3ffdeb8e 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_app_roster.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_app_roster.py
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ def test_roster_lists_installed_apps_with_subject_types(tmp_path: Path):
     # Software Factory's pages are React, so its tabs live in its frontend.
     assert software_factory["navigation"] == []
     assert software_factory["icon"]
+    chat = roster["chat"]
+    assert chat["builtin"] is False
+    assert chat["hasFrontend"] is False
+    assert chat["icon"] == "message-square"
+    # No workflow yet — subjects follow from workflows, not from StoredSubject alone.
+    assert chat["subjectTypes"] == []
+
     field_notes = roster["field_notes"]
     assert field_notes["subjectTypes"] == ["note", "repository"]
     # Derived from the landing page the app declares, labelled by that page.
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_apps.py b/backend/tests/test_apps.py
index 4281be1e..e452f108 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_apps.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_apps.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def _subjects(cls) -> list[type[Subject]]:
 
 def test_iter_apps_discovers_the_bundled_apps():
     """The bundled apps resolve from the ``druks.apps`` entry points."""
-    assert {app.name for app in iter_apps()} >= {"core", "software_factory", "usage"}
+    assert {app.name for app in iter_apps()} >= {"core", "software_factory", "chat", "usage"}
 
 
 def test_platform_apps_are_builtin():
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_chat_migration.py b/backend/tests/test_chat_migration.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e312aa3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_chat_migration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from alembic import command
+from alembic.config import Config
+from druks.testing import TEST_DATABASE_URL, init_db
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+
+_ALEMBIC_INI = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "alembic.ini"
+_VERSIONS = (
+    Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+    / "druks"
+    / "contrib"
+    / "chat"
+    / "migrations"
+    / "versions"
+)
+_TABLES = "chat_messages, chat_conversations, alembic_version_chat"
+
+
+def _config() -> Config:
+    config = Config(str(_ALEMBIC_INI))
+    config.set_main_option("version_locations", str(_VERSIONS))
+    config.set_main_option("sqlalchemy.url", TEST_DATABASE_URL)
+    config.attributes["version_table"] = "alembic_version_chat"
+    return config
+
+
+def _drop(conn) -> None:
+    conn.exec_driver_sql(f"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS {_TABLES}")
+
+
+def test_chat_migration_applies_under_its_own_version_table(request):
+    engine = create_engine(TEST_DATABASE_URL, isolation_level="AUTOCOMMIT")
+    with engine.connect() as conn:
+        _drop(conn)
+    try:
+        command.upgrade(_config(), "head")
+        with engine.connect() as conn:
+            assert conn.exec_driver_sql("SELECT to_regclass('chat_conversations')").scalar()
+            assert conn.exec_driver_sql("SELECT to_regclass('chat_messages')").scalar()
+            head = conn.exec_driver_sql("SELECT version_num FROM alembic_version_chat").scalar()
+            assert head == "chat_0001"
+    finally:
+        with engine.connect() as conn:
+            _drop(conn)
+        init_db(engine)
+        engine.dispose()
+        request.getfixturevalue("_druks_engine").dispose()
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 0978e5d4..84820392 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ druks = "druks.testing"
 [project.entry-points."druks.apps"]
 core = "druks.core.app:Core"
 software_factory = "druks.contrib.software_factory.app:SoftwareFactory"
+chat = "druks.contrib.chat.app:Chat"
 usage = "druks.usage.app:Usage"
 
 [build-system]