diff --git a/assets/systemd/furtka-catalog-sync.service b/assets/systemd/furtka-catalog-sync.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa0307c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/systemd/furtka-catalog-sync.service
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Furtka apps catalog sync
+Requires=network-online.target
+After=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/furtka catalog sync
+TimeoutStartSec=5min
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/assets/systemd/furtka-catalog-sync.timer b/assets/systemd/furtka-catalog-sync.timer
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3561350
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/systemd/furtka-catalog-sync.timer
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Furtka apps catalog daily sync
+
+[Timer]
+# First sync 10 min after boot, then once per day with up to 6 h jitter so
+# a fleet of boxes doesn't all hit Forgejo at the same second. Persistent
+# = catch up if the box was off when the timer should have fired.
+OnBootSec=10min
+OnUnitActiveSec=24h
+RandomizedDelaySec=6h
+Persistent=true
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=timers.target
diff --git a/assets/www/style.css b/assets/www/style.css
index 4aa1671..1fcedef 100644
--- a/assets/www/style.css
+++ b/assets/www/style.css
@@ -219,6 +219,23 @@ button.danger { background: var(--danger); color: #fff; }
 button:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: wait; }
 button:focus-visible { outline: none; box-shadow: var(--ring); }
 .empty { color: var(--muted); font-style: italic; padding: 0.5rem 0; }
+.catalog-row {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    align-items: center;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    gap: 0.75rem;
+    padding: 0.5rem 0 0.75rem;
+}
+.catalog-state {
+    margin: 0;
+    color: var(--muted);
+    font-size: 0.9rem;
+}
+.catalog-stage.pending {
+    color: var(--fg);
+    font-style: italic;
+}
 pre {
     background: var(--card);
     padding: 1rem;
diff --git a/furtka/_release_common.py b/furtka/_release_common.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..683f62d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/furtka/_release_common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+"""Shared primitives for release-tarball flows.
+
+Both ``furtka.updater`` (core self-update) and ``furtka.catalog`` (apps
+catalog sync) pull a tarball from a Forgejo Releases page, verify its
+SHA256 against the ``.sha256`` sidecar, and extract it with a path-
+traversal guard. The helpers here are the single implementation of
+that dance.
+
+Each error-raising helper accepts an ``error_cls`` kwarg so callers can
+keep their domain-specific exception type (``UpdateError``,
+``CatalogError``) at call sites — the helper itself defaults to a
+neutral ``ReleaseError`` for use in tests or standalone scripts.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import hashlib
+import json
+import shutil
+import tarfile
+import urllib.error
+import urllib.request
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+class ReleaseError(RuntimeError):
+    """Neutral failure for release-tarball operations."""
+
+
+def forgejo_api(host: str, repo: str, path: str, *, error_cls: type = ReleaseError) -> dict | list:
+    url = f"https://{host}/api/v1/repos/{repo}{path}"
+    req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"Accept": "application/json"})
+    try:
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=15) as resp:
+            return json.loads(resp.read())
+    except (urllib.error.URLError, json.JSONDecodeError) as e:
+        raise error_cls(f"forgejo api {url}: {e}") from e
+
+
+def download(url: str, dest: Path, *, error_cls: type = ReleaseError) -> None:
+    dest.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    req = urllib.request.Request(url)
+    try:
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=60) as resp, dest.open("wb") as f:
+            shutil.copyfileobj(resp, f)
+    except urllib.error.URLError as e:
+        raise error_cls(f"download {url}: {e}") from e
+
+
+def sha256_of(path: Path) -> str:
+    h = hashlib.sha256()
+    with path.open("rb") as f:
+        for chunk in iter(lambda: f.read(1024 * 1024), b""):
+            h.update(chunk)
+    return h.hexdigest()
+
+
+def verify_tarball(tarball: Path, expected_sha: str, *, error_cls: type = ReleaseError) -> None:
+    actual = sha256_of(tarball)
+    if actual != expected_sha:
+        raise error_cls(f"sha256 mismatch: expected {expected_sha}, got {actual}")
+
+
+def parse_sha256_sidecar(text: str, *, error_cls: type = ReleaseError) -> str:
+    """Extract the hash from a standard `sha256sum` sidecar line."""
+    line = text.strip().split("\n", 1)[0].strip()
+    if not line:
+        raise error_cls("empty sha256 sidecar")
+    return line.split()[0]
+
+
+def extract_tarball(tarball: Path, dest: Path, *, error_cls: type = ReleaseError) -> str:
+    """Extract the tarball and return the VERSION read from its root.
+
+    Refuses entries that could escape ``dest`` via absolute paths or ``..``
+    segments. On Python 3.12+ the stricter ``data`` filter is additionally
+    enabled to catch symlink-escape / device-node / setuid tricks that the
+    regex check can't see.
+    """
+    dest.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    with tarfile.open(tarball, "r:gz") as tf:
+        for member in tf.getmembers():
+            if member.name.startswith(("/", "..")) or ".." in Path(member.name).parts:
+                raise error_cls(f"refusing tarball entry {member.name!r}")
+        try:
+            tf.extractall(dest, filter="data")
+        except TypeError:
+            tf.extractall(dest)
+    version_file = dest / "VERSION"
+    if not version_file.is_file():
+        raise error_cls("tarball has no VERSION file at root")
+    return version_file.read_text().strip()
+
+
+def version_tuple(v: str) -> tuple:
+    """CalVer comparator: 26.1-alpha < 26.1-beta < 26.1-rc < 26.1 < 26.2-alpha.
+
+    Pre-release stages sort before the corresponding stable (no-suffix)
+    release. Unknown suffixes sort below everything except the malformed
+    fallback. Returns a tuple of (year, release, stage_rank, suffix).
+    """
+    stage_rank = {"alpha": 0, "beta": 1, "rc": 2}
+    head, _, suffix = v.partition("-")
+    try:
+        year_str, release_str = head.split(".", 1)
+        year = int(year_str)
+        release = int(release_str)
+    except (ValueError, IndexError):
+        return (-1, -1, -1, v)
+    if not suffix:
+        return (year, release, 3, "")
+    for name, rank in stage_rank.items():
+        if suffix.startswith(name):
+            return (year, release, rank, suffix)
+    return (year, release, -1, suffix)
diff --git a/furtka/api.py b/furtka/api.py
index f0249fa..71523df 100644
--- a/furtka/api.py
+++ b/furtka/api.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import json
 import re
 from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
 
-from furtka import dockerops, installer, reconciler
+from furtka import dockerops, installer, reconciler, sources
 from furtka.manifest import ManifestError, load_manifest
-from furtka.paths import apps_dir, bundled_apps_dir
+from furtka.paths import apps_dir
 from furtka.scanner import scan
 
 _ICON_MAX_BYTES = 16 * 1024
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ _HTML = """<!DOCTYPE html>
     <div id="installed"></div>
 
     <h2>Available to install</h2>
+    <div class="catalog-row">
+      <p class="catalog-state">Catalog version <span id="catalog-current">—</span> · last sync <span id="catalog-last-sync">never</span> <span id="catalog-stage" class="catalog-stage"></span></p>
+      <button type="button" class="secondary" id="catalog-sync-btn">Sync apps catalog</button>
+    </div>
     <div id="available"></div>
 
     <details class="log-details">
@@ -316,7 +320,56 @@ async function handleButton(op, name, btn) {
   await refresh();
 }
 
+async function refreshCatalog() {
+  let status;
+  try {
+    status = await fetch('/api/catalog/status').then(r => r.json());
+  } catch (e) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const cur = status.current || 'never synced';
+  document.getElementById('catalog-current').textContent = cur;
+  const stage = (status.state || {}).stage || '';
+  const updatedAt = (status.state || {}).updated_at || '';
+  document.getElementById('catalog-last-sync').textContent = updatedAt || 'never';
+  const stageEl = document.getElementById('catalog-stage');
+  if (stage && stage !== 'done') {
+    stageEl.textContent = '· ' + stage + '…';
+    stageEl.classList.add('pending');
+  } else {
+    stageEl.textContent = '';
+    stageEl.classList.remove('pending');
+  }
+}
+
+const catalogBtn = document.getElementById('catalog-sync-btn');
+catalogBtn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+  catalogBtn.disabled = true;
+  const original = catalogBtn.textContent;
+  catalogBtn.textContent = 'Syncing…';
+  try {
+    const r = await fetch('/api/catalog/sync/apply', {method: 'POST'});
+    const data = await r.json();
+    document.getElementById('log').textContent = `[catalog sync] HTTP ${r.status}\\n` + JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
+    // Poll for completion — sync is fast (KB-range tarball) so 30 s is plenty.
+    const deadline = Date.now() + 30000;
+    while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+      await new Promise(res => setTimeout(res, 1500));
+      const s = await fetch('/api/catalog/status').then(r => r.json()).catch(() => null);
+      const stage = (s && s.state && s.state.stage) || '';
+      if (stage === 'done' || stage === 'error') break;
+    }
+    await refreshCatalog();
+    await refresh();
+  } catch (e) {
+    document.getElementById('log').textContent = `[catalog sync] network error: ${e.message}`;
+  }
+  catalogBtn.disabled = false;
+  catalogBtn.textContent = original;
+});
+
 refresh();
+refreshCatalog();
 </script>
 </body>
 </html>
@@ -349,28 +402,31 @@ def _list_installed():
     return out
 
 
-def _list_bundled():
+def _list_available():
+    """Apps available to install — catalog union bundled, catalog wins on collision.
+
+    Each entry carries a `"source"` field (`"catalog"` | `"bundled"`) so the
+    UI can visually differentiate later. Already-installed apps are filtered
+    out so the UI shows them only in the installed list.
+    """
     installed_names = {r.path.name for r in scan(apps_dir()) if r.ok}
-    bundled = bundled_apps_dir()
-    if not bundled.exists():
-        return []
     out = []
-    for entry in sorted(bundled.iterdir()):
-        if not entry.is_dir() or entry.name in installed_names:
-            continue
-        manifest_path = entry / "manifest.json"
-        if not manifest_path.exists():
+    for app_source in sources.list_available():
+        if app_source.path.name in installed_names:
             continue
+        manifest_path = app_source.path / "manifest.json"
         try:
             m = load_manifest(manifest_path)
         except ManifestError:
             continue
-        out.append(_manifest_summary(m, entry))
+        summary = _manifest_summary(m, app_source.path)
+        summary["source"] = app_source.origin
+        out.append(summary)
     return out
 
 
 def _load_manifest_for(name):
-    """Return (manifest, env_values, installed_bool) for an installed or bundled app.
+    """Return (manifest, env_values, installed_bool) for an installed or bundled/catalog app.
 
     Returns (None, None, False) if the name doesn't resolve anywhere.
     """
@@ -382,13 +438,13 @@ def _load_manifest_for(name):
             return None, None, False
         values = installer.read_env_values(target / ".env")
         return m, values, True
-    bundled = bundled_apps_dir() / name
-    if bundled.exists() and (bundled / "manifest.json").exists():
+    resolved = sources.resolve_app_name(name)
+    if resolved is not None:
         try:
-            m = load_manifest(bundled / "manifest.json")
+            m = load_manifest(resolved.path / "manifest.json")
         except ManifestError:
             return None, None, False
-        env_example = bundled / ".env.example"
+        env_example = resolved.path / ".env.example"
         values = installer.read_env_values(env_example) if env_example.exists() else {}
         return m, values, False
     return None, None, False
@@ -583,6 +639,82 @@ def _do_furtka_status():
     return 200, updater.read_state()
 
 
+def _do_catalog_check():
+    """Check Forgejo for a newer apps-catalog release.
+
+    Parallels _do_furtka_check: returns current/latest/update_available.
+    """
+    from furtka import catalog
+
+    try:
+        check = catalog.check_catalog()
+    except catalog.CatalogError as e:
+        return 502, {"error": str(e)}
+    return 200, {
+        "current": check.current,
+        "latest": check.latest,
+        "update_available": check.update_available,
+    }
+
+
+def _do_catalog_apply():
+    """Kick off a catalog sync detached from this process.
+
+    Catalog sync doesn't restart furtka-api, so the lifecycle constraint that
+    forces the Furtka self-update to detach doesn't strictly apply here — but
+    using the same systemd-run pattern keeps the two UI flows symmetric and
+    means a slow network can't tie up the API thread. Client polls
+    /api/catalog/status the same way it polls /update-state.json.
+    """
+    import subprocess
+
+    from furtka import catalog
+
+    try:
+        fh = catalog.acquire_lock()
+    except catalog.CatalogError as e:
+        return 409, {"error": str(e)}
+    fh.close()
+
+    try:
+        subprocess.run(
+            [
+                "systemd-run",
+                "--unit=furtka-catalog-sync-api",
+                "--no-block",
+                "--collect",
+                "/usr/local/bin/furtka",
+                "catalog",
+                "sync",
+            ],
+            check=True,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+        )
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return 502, {"error": "systemd-run not available"}
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        return 502, {
+            "error": f"systemd-run failed: {(e.stderr or e.stdout or '').strip()}",
+        }
+    return 202, {"status": "dispatched", "unit": "furtka-catalog-sync-api"}
+
+
+def _do_catalog_status():
+    """Return {current, state} for the apps catalog.
+
+    `current` is the catalog's on-disk VERSION; `state` is whatever was last
+    written by sync_catalog to catalog-state.json. UI uses both: show the
+    version next to a last-sync timestamp plus a stage indicator.
+    """
+    from furtka import catalog
+
+    return 200, {
+        "current": catalog.read_current_catalog_version(),
+        "state": catalog.read_state(),
+    }
+
+
 def _do_update(name):
     """Pull newer container images for an installed app; restart if any changed.
 
@@ -652,14 +784,19 @@ class _Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
             return self._html(200, _HTML)
         if self.path == "/api/apps":
             return self._json(200, _list_installed())
-        if self.path == "/api/bundled":
-            return self._json(200, _list_bundled())
+        # /api/bundled is the pre-26.6 name for this list; kept as an alias
+        # so any external tooling survives the rename to /api/apps/available.
+        if self.path in ("/api/bundled", "/api/apps/available"):
+            return self._json(200, _list_available())
         if self.path == "/api/furtka/update/status":
             status, body = _do_furtka_status()
             return self._json(status, body)
         if self.path == "/api/furtka/https/status":
             status, body = _do_https_status()
             return self._json(status, body)
+        if self.path == "/api/catalog/status":
+            status, body = _do_catalog_status()
+            return self._json(status, body)
         # /api/apps/<name>/settings
         if self.path.startswith("/api/apps/") and self.path.endswith("/settings"):
             name = self.path[len("/api/apps/") : -len("/settings")]
@@ -709,6 +846,14 @@ class _Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
             status, body = _do_https_force(payload)
             return self._json(status, body)
 
+        # Apps catalog: check + apply (daily timer + manual UI button).
+        if self.path == "/api/catalog/sync/check":
+            status, body = _do_catalog_check()
+            return self._json(status, body)
+        if self.path == "/api/catalog/sync/apply":
+            status, body = _do_catalog_apply()
+            return self._json(status, body)
+
         name = payload.get("name")
         if not isinstance(name, str) or not name:
             return self._json(400, {"error": "missing or empty 'name' field"})
diff --git a/furtka/catalog.py b/furtka/catalog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5dd8b9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/furtka/catalog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+"""Furtka apps catalog sync.
+
+Mirrors the shape of ``furtka.updater`` but targets a separate Forgejo
+repo (``daniel/furtka-apps`` by default) whose releases carry a single
+``furtka-apps-<ver>.tar.gz`` with ``VERSION`` at the root and an
+``apps/<name>/`` tree underneath. Pulling the catalog keeps the on-box
+app ecosystem fresh without requiring a Furtka core release — core
+ships a seed ``apps/`` under ``/opt/furtka/current/apps/`` that the
+resolver falls back to when the catalog is empty or stale.
+
+Flow of ``sync_catalog()``:
+
+1. flock on ``/run/furtka/catalog.lock`` so two triggers (timer + manual
+   UI click) can't race.
+2. ``check_catalog()`` asks Forgejo for the latest release and picks out
+   the tarball + sidecar URLs.
+3. Download tarball + sidecar to ``/var/lib/furtka/catalog/_downloads/``.
+4. Verify the sha256 sidecar against the tarball.
+5. Extract into ``/var/lib/furtka/catalog/_staging/``.
+6. Validate every ``apps/<name>/manifest.json`` via ``furtka.manifest.
+   load_manifest``. A broken catalog release is refused here, not half-
+   applied.
+7. Atomic rename: existing live catalog → ``catalog.prev/``, staging →
+   ``catalog/``, then rmtree the prev. Any failure before this step
+   leaves the live catalog untouched.
+8. Write ``/var/lib/furtka/catalog-state.json`` for the UI.
+
+Paths can be overridden via env vars so tests can redirect everything to
+a tmp dir.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import fcntl
+import json
+import os
+import shutil
+import time
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from furtka import _release_common as _rc
+from furtka.manifest import ManifestError, load_manifest
+from furtka.paths import catalog_dir
+
+FORGEJO_HOST = os.environ.get("FURTKA_FORGEJO_HOST", "forgejo.sourcegate.online")
+CATALOG_REPO = os.environ.get("FURTKA_CATALOG_REPO", "daniel/furtka-apps")
+_CATALOG_STATE = Path(os.environ.get("FURTKA_CATALOG_STATE", "/var/lib/furtka/catalog-state.json"))
+_LOCK_PATH = Path(os.environ.get("FURTKA_CATALOG_LOCK", "/run/furtka/catalog.lock"))
+
+_STAGING_NAME = "_staging"
+_DOWNLOADS_NAME = "_downloads"
+_PREV_SUFFIX = ".prev"
+_VERSION_FILE = "VERSION"
+
+
+class CatalogError(RuntimeError):
+    """Any failure in the catalog sync flow that should surface to the caller."""
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class CatalogCheck:
+    current: str | None
+    latest: str
+    update_available: bool
+    tarball_url: str | None
+    sha256_url: str | None
+
+
+def state_path() -> Path:
+    return _CATALOG_STATE
+
+
+def lock_path() -> Path:
+    return _LOCK_PATH
+
+
+def read_current_catalog_version() -> str | None:
+    """Return the string in <catalog_dir>/VERSION, or None if absent / unreadable."""
+    try:
+        value = (catalog_dir() / _VERSION_FILE).read_text().strip()
+    except (FileNotFoundError, NotADirectoryError, OSError):
+        return None
+    return value or None
+
+
+def check_catalog() -> CatalogCheck:
+    """Query Forgejo for the latest catalog release.
+
+    Uses ``/releases?limit=1`` (not ``/releases/latest``) for the same
+    reason the core updater does — Forgejo's ``latest`` endpoint skips
+    pre-releases and 404s when every tag carries a suffix.
+    """
+    current = read_current_catalog_version()
+    releases = _rc.forgejo_api(
+        FORGEJO_HOST, CATALOG_REPO, "/releases?limit=1", error_cls=CatalogError
+    )
+    if not isinstance(releases, list) or not releases:
+        raise CatalogError("no catalog releases published yet")
+    release = releases[0]
+    latest = str(release.get("tag_name") or "").strip()
+    if not latest:
+        raise CatalogError("latest catalog release has empty tag_name")
+    tarball_url = None
+    sha256_url = None
+    for asset in release.get("assets") or []:
+        name = asset.get("name") or ""
+        url = asset.get("browser_download_url") or ""
+        if name.endswith(".tar.gz") and "furtka-apps-" in name:
+            tarball_url = url
+        elif name.endswith(".tar.gz.sha256"):
+            sha256_url = url
+    available = latest != current and (
+        current is None or _rc.version_tuple(latest) > _rc.version_tuple(current)
+    )
+    return CatalogCheck(
+        current=current,
+        latest=latest,
+        update_available=available,
+        tarball_url=tarball_url,
+        sha256_url=sha256_url,
+    )
+
+
+def write_state(stage: str, **extra) -> None:
+    """Atomic JSON state write — same shape as updater's update-state.json."""
+    state_path().parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    tmp = state_path().with_suffix(".tmp")
+    payload = {"stage": stage, "updated_at": time.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z"), **extra}
+    tmp.write_text(json.dumps(payload, indent=2))
+    tmp.replace(state_path())
+
+
+def read_state() -> dict:
+    try:
+        return json.loads(state_path().read_text())
+    except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+        return {}
+
+
+def acquire_lock():
+    path = lock_path()
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    fh = path.open("w")
+    try:
+        fcntl.flock(fh, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
+    except BlockingIOError as e:
+        fh.close()
+        raise CatalogError("another catalog sync is already in progress") from e
+    return fh
+
+
+def _validate_staging(staging: Path, expected_version: str) -> None:
+    """Fail hard if the staging tree isn't a well-formed catalog release."""
+    version_file = staging / _VERSION_FILE
+    if not version_file.is_file():
+        raise CatalogError("catalog tarball has no VERSION file at root")
+    actual = version_file.read_text().strip()
+    if actual != expected_version:
+        raise CatalogError(
+            f"catalog tarball VERSION ({actual!r}) doesn't match expected ({expected_version!r})"
+        )
+    apps_root = staging / "apps"
+    if not apps_root.is_dir():
+        raise CatalogError("catalog tarball has no apps/ directory")
+    for entry in sorted(apps_root.iterdir()):
+        if not entry.is_dir():
+            continue
+        manifest_path = entry / "manifest.json"
+        if not manifest_path.exists():
+            raise CatalogError(f"catalog app {entry.name!r} has no manifest.json")
+        try:
+            load_manifest(manifest_path, expected_name=entry.name)
+        except ManifestError as e:
+            raise CatalogError(f"catalog app {entry.name!r}: invalid manifest: {e}") from e
+
+
+def _atomic_swap(staging: Path) -> None:
+    """Move staging → live catalog, keeping the previous tree as .prev until
+    the rename succeeds so we never leave a half-written catalog on disk."""
+    live = catalog_dir()
+    live.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    prev = live.with_name(live.name + _PREV_SUFFIX)
+    if prev.exists():
+        shutil.rmtree(prev)
+    if live.exists():
+        live.rename(prev)
+    try:
+        staging.rename(live)
+    except OSError as e:
+        if prev.exists():
+            # try to restore the previous tree; if that also fails the box
+            # has no catalog at all until the next sync — still better than
+            # a partially-extracted tree.
+            try:
+                prev.rename(live)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+        raise CatalogError(f"atomic catalog swap failed: {e}") from e
+    if prev.exists():
+        shutil.rmtree(prev, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
+def sync_catalog() -> CatalogCheck:
+    """End-to-end sync. Acquires the lock, writes state at each stage, and
+    leaves the live catalog untouched on any failure before the rename step.
+    """
+    with acquire_lock():
+        write_state("checking")
+        check = check_catalog()
+        if not check.update_available:
+            write_state("done", version=check.current or check.latest, note="already up to date")
+            return check
+        if not check.tarball_url or not check.sha256_url:
+            raise CatalogError("catalog release is missing tarball or sha256 asset")
+
+        # Downloads land in a sibling of the live catalog so half-finished
+        # artefacts never pollute the live tree, and stay under /var/lib/
+        # furtka/ so a sync interrupted by reboot can resume instead of
+        # starting over from /tmp (which clears).
+        dl_dir = catalog_dir().with_name(catalog_dir().name + _DOWNLOADS_NAME)
+        dl_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        tarball = dl_dir / f"furtka-apps-{check.latest}.tar.gz"
+        sha_file = dl_dir / f"furtka-apps-{check.latest}.tar.gz.sha256"
+
+        write_state("downloading", latest=check.latest)
+        _rc.download(check.tarball_url, tarball, error_cls=CatalogError)
+        _rc.download(check.sha256_url, sha_file, error_cls=CatalogError)
+
+        write_state("verifying", latest=check.latest)
+        expected = _rc.parse_sha256_sidecar(sha_file.read_text(), error_cls=CatalogError)
+        _rc.verify_tarball(tarball, expected, error_cls=CatalogError)
+
+        write_state("extracting", latest=check.latest)
+        staging = catalog_dir().with_name(catalog_dir().name + _STAGING_NAME)
+        if staging.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(staging)
+        try:
+            _rc.extract_tarball(tarball, staging, error_cls=CatalogError)
+            _validate_staging(staging, check.latest)
+        except CatalogError:
+            shutil.rmtree(staging, ignore_errors=True)
+            raise
+
+        write_state("swapping", latest=check.latest)
+        try:
+            _atomic_swap(staging)
+        except CatalogError:
+            shutil.rmtree(staging, ignore_errors=True)
+            raise
+
+        write_state("done", version=check.latest, previous=check.current)
+        return check
diff --git a/furtka/cli.py b/furtka/cli.py
index 91dd41c..eb4452c 100644
--- a/furtka/cli.py
+++ b/furtka/cli.py
@@ -149,6 +149,60 @@ def _cmd_rollback(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     return 0
 
 
+def _cmd_catalog_sync(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
+    from furtka import catalog
+
+    if args.check:
+        try:
+            check = catalog.check_catalog()
+        except catalog.CatalogError as e:
+            print(f"error: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+            return 2
+        if args.json:
+            print(
+                json.dumps(
+                    {
+                        "current": check.current,
+                        "latest": check.latest,
+                        "update_available": check.update_available,
+                    },
+                    indent=2,
+                )
+            )
+        elif check.update_available:
+            print(f"Catalog update available: {check.current or '(none)'} → {check.latest}")
+        else:
+            print(f"Catalog already up to date ({check.current or check.latest})")
+        return 0
+
+    try:
+        check = catalog.sync_catalog()
+    except catalog.CatalogError as e:
+        print(f"error: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+    if not check.update_available:
+        print(f"Catalog already up to date ({check.current or check.latest})")
+    else:
+        print(f"Synced catalog {check.current or '(none)'} → {check.latest}")
+    return 0
+
+
+def _cmd_catalog_status(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
+    from furtka import catalog
+
+    current = catalog.read_current_catalog_version()
+    state = catalog.read_state()
+    if args.json:
+        print(json.dumps({"current": current, "state": state}, indent=2))
+        return 0
+    print(f"Catalog version: {current or '(none — run `furtka catalog sync`)'}")
+    if state:
+        print(f"Last sync stage: {state.get('stage', '?')} at {state.get('updated_at', '?')}")
+    else:
+        print("Last sync stage: (never)")
+    return 0
+
+
 def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     p = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog="furtka", description="Furtka resource manager")
     sub = p.add_subparsers(dest="command", required=True)
@@ -212,6 +266,36 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     )
     rollback.set_defaults(func=_cmd_rollback)
 
+    catalog = sub.add_parser("catalog", help="Manage the apps catalog (daniel/furtka-apps)")
+    catalog_sub = catalog.add_subparsers(dest="subcommand", required=True)
+
+    catalog_sync = catalog_sub.add_parser(
+        "sync",
+        help="Download and install the latest apps catalog from Forgejo",
+    )
+    catalog_sync.add_argument(
+        "--check",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Only check whether a catalog update is available; don't apply",
+    )
+    catalog_sync.add_argument(
+        "--json",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Emit machine-readable JSON (only honoured with --check)",
+    )
+    catalog_sync.set_defaults(func=_cmd_catalog_sync)
+
+    catalog_status = catalog_sub.add_parser(
+        "status",
+        help="Print the currently-installed catalog version and last-sync stage",
+    )
+    catalog_status.add_argument(
+        "--json",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Emit machine-readable JSON",
+    )
+    catalog_status.set_defaults(func=_cmd_catalog_status)
+
     return p
 
 
diff --git a/furtka/installer.py b/furtka/installer.py
index 87397cf..95b1157 100644
--- a/furtka/installer.py
+++ b/furtka/installer.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from furtka import sources
 from furtka.manifest import ManifestError, load_manifest
-from furtka.paths import apps_dir, bundled_apps_dir
+from furtka.paths import apps_dir
 
 # Values that an app's .env.example may use as obvious "fill me in" markers.
 # If any of these reach the live .env, install refuses — otherwise we'd ship
@@ -58,17 +59,18 @@ def resolve_source(source: str) -> Path:
     """Resolve a `furtka app install <source>` arg to a real source folder.
 
     If `source` looks like a path (or exists on disk), use it. Otherwise treat
-    it as a bundled app name and look up under /opt/furtka/apps/<name>.
+    it as an app name and look it up via `furtka.sources.resolve_app_name` —
+    which checks the synced catalog first and falls back to the bundled seed.
     """
     p = Path(source)
     if p.is_dir():
         return p
     if "/" in source or source.startswith("."):
         raise InstallError(f"{source!r} is not a directory")
-    bundled = bundled_apps_dir() / source
-    if bundled.is_dir():
-        return bundled
-    raise InstallError(f"{source!r} not found as a path or bundled app")
+    resolved = sources.resolve_app_name(source)
+    if resolved is None:
+        raise InstallError(f"{source!r} not found as a path, catalog app, or bundled app")
+    return resolved.path
 
 
 def install_from(src: Path, settings: dict[str, str] | None = None) -> Path:
diff --git a/furtka/paths.py b/furtka/paths.py
index 9b6166d..db741c3 100644
--- a/furtka/paths.py
+++ b/furtka/paths.py
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ DEFAULT_APPS_DIR = Path("/var/lib/furtka/apps")
 # symlink. A flat /opt/furtka/apps path would break the Phase-2 self-update
 # flow (symlink swap wouldn't move the bundled-app tree along with the code).
 DEFAULT_BUNDLED_APPS_DIR = Path("/opt/furtka/current/apps")
+# Catalog apps come from `furtka catalog sync` pulling the daniel/furtka-apps
+# release tarball. Lives under /var/lib/furtka/ so it survives core self-
+# updates — the resolver (furtka.sources) prefers it over the bundled seed.
+DEFAULT_CATALOG_DIR = Path("/var/lib/furtka/catalog")
 
 
 def apps_dir() -> Path:
@@ -15,3 +19,11 @@ def apps_dir() -> Path:
 
 def bundled_apps_dir() -> Path:
     return Path(os.environ.get("FURTKA_BUNDLED_APPS_DIR", DEFAULT_BUNDLED_APPS_DIR))
+
+
+def catalog_dir() -> Path:
+    return Path(os.environ.get("FURTKA_CATALOG_DIR", DEFAULT_CATALOG_DIR))
+
+
+def catalog_apps_dir() -> Path:
+    return catalog_dir() / "apps"
diff --git a/furtka/sources.py b/furtka/sources.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..77a1f4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/furtka/sources.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+"""Single lookup layer for "where does app <name> live right now?".
+
+Three origins an app folder can come from:
+
+- ``catalog`` — the daily-synced ``/var/lib/furtka/catalog/apps/`` tree
+  that ``furtka.catalog.sync_catalog`` maintains.
+- ``bundled`` — the seed ``/opt/furtka/current/apps/`` tree shipped
+  inside the core release tarball. Used for first-boot before any
+  catalog sync has run, and as the fallback when the catalog is stale,
+  missing, or doesn't know about this app.
+- ``local`` — an explicit directory path passed to ``furtka app install
+  /path/to/src``; bypasses this module entirely.
+
+Catalog wins on collision. The precedence is deliberate — when the user
+pressed "Sync apps catalog" they want what they synced, not whatever the
+core tarball happened to carry.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from furtka.paths import bundled_apps_dir, catalog_apps_dir
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class AppSource:
+    path: Path
+    origin: str  # "catalog" | "bundled" | "local"
+
+
+def resolve_app_name(name: str) -> AppSource | None:
+    """Return the source folder for a bundled/catalog app name.
+
+    Checks catalog first, then bundled seed. Presence is tested by
+    ``manifest.json`` existing — an empty folder or a stray ``.env``
+    won't register. Returns ``None`` if the name isn't known anywhere.
+    """
+    cat = catalog_apps_dir() / name
+    if (cat / "manifest.json").is_file():
+        return AppSource(cat, "catalog")
+    bundled = bundled_apps_dir() / name
+    if (bundled / "manifest.json").is_file():
+        return AppSource(bundled, "bundled")
+    return None
+
+
+def list_available() -> list[AppSource]:
+    """Catalog ∪ bundled, catalog wins on name collision.
+
+    Each entry is a folder containing a manifest.json. Ordering is
+    alphabetical by folder name, which matches how the scanner sorts so
+    the UI list stays stable across sync/reboot.
+    """
+    seen: dict[str, AppSource] = {}
+    cat_root = catalog_apps_dir()
+    if cat_root.is_dir():
+        for entry in sorted(cat_root.iterdir()):
+            if not entry.is_dir():
+                continue
+            if not (entry / "manifest.json").is_file():
+                continue
+            seen[entry.name] = AppSource(entry, "catalog")
+    bundled_root = bundled_apps_dir()
+    if bundled_root.is_dir():
+        for entry in sorted(bundled_root.iterdir()):
+            if not entry.is_dir():
+                continue
+            if entry.name in seen:
+                continue
+            if not (entry / "manifest.json").is_file():
+                continue
+            seen[entry.name] = AppSource(entry, "bundled")
+    return [seen[name] for name in sorted(seen)]
diff --git a/furtka/updater.py b/furtka/updater.py
index e36e6e7..88e2088 100644
--- a/furtka/updater.py
+++ b/furtka/updater.py
@@ -29,18 +29,18 @@ the updater at a tmpdir.
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import fcntl
-import hashlib
 import json
 import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
-import tarfile
 import time
 import urllib.error
 import urllib.request
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from furtka import _release_common as _rc
+
 FORGEJO_HOST = os.environ.get("FURTKA_FORGEJO_HOST", "forgejo.sourcegate.online")
 FORGEJO_REPO = os.environ.get("FURTKA_FORGEJO_REPO", "daniel/furtka")
 _FURTKA_ROOT = Path(os.environ.get("FURTKA_ROOT", "/opt/furtka"))
@@ -95,37 +95,11 @@ def read_current_version() -> str:
         return "dev"
 
 
-def _forgejo_api(path: str) -> dict:
-    url = f"https://{FORGEJO_HOST}/api/v1/repos/{FORGEJO_REPO}{path}"
-    req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"Accept": "application/json"})
-    try:
-        with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=15) as resp:
-            return json.loads(resp.read())
-    except (urllib.error.URLError, json.JSONDecodeError) as e:
-        raise UpdateError(f"forgejo api {url}: {e}") from e
+def _forgejo_api(path: str) -> dict | list:
+    return _rc.forgejo_api(FORGEJO_HOST, FORGEJO_REPO, path, error_cls=UpdateError)
 
 
-def _version_tuple(v: str) -> tuple:
-    """Compare CalVer tags like 26.1-alpha < 26.1-beta < 26.1 < 26.2-alpha.
-
-    The "stable" release (no suffix) sorts after its own pre-releases. Uses a
-    tuple of (year, release, stage-rank, stage-tag). Stage rank: alpha=0,
-    beta=1, rc=2, stable=3, unknown=-1.
-    """
-    stage_rank = {"alpha": 0, "beta": 1, "rc": 2}
-    head, _, suffix = v.partition("-")
-    try:
-        year_str, release_str = head.split(".", 1)
-        year = int(year_str)
-        release = int(release_str)
-    except (ValueError, IndexError):
-        return (-1, -1, -1, v)
-    if not suffix:
-        return (year, release, 3, "")
-    for name, rank in stage_rank.items():
-        if suffix.startswith(name):
-            return (year, release, rank, suffix)
-    return (year, release, -1, suffix)
+_version_tuple = _rc.version_tuple
 
 
 def check_update() -> UpdateCheck:
@@ -165,57 +139,22 @@ def check_update() -> UpdateCheck:
 
 
 def _download(url: str, dest: Path) -> None:
-    dest.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    req = urllib.request.Request(url)
-    try:
-        with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=60) as resp, dest.open("wb") as f:
-            shutil.copyfileobj(resp, f)
-    except urllib.error.URLError as e:
-        raise UpdateError(f"download {url}: {e}") from e
+    _rc.download(url, dest, error_cls=UpdateError)
 
 
-def _sha256_of(path: Path) -> str:
-    h = hashlib.sha256()
-    with path.open("rb") as f:
-        for chunk in iter(lambda: f.read(1024 * 1024), b""):
-            h.update(chunk)
-    return h.hexdigest()
+_sha256_of = _rc.sha256_of
 
 
 def verify_tarball(tarball: Path, expected_sha: str) -> None:
-    actual = _sha256_of(tarball)
-    if actual != expected_sha:
-        raise UpdateError(f"sha256 mismatch: expected {expected_sha}, got {actual}")
+    _rc.verify_tarball(tarball, expected_sha, error_cls=UpdateError)
 
 
 def _parse_sha256_sidecar(text: str) -> str:
-    """Extract the hash from a standard `sha256sum` sidecar line."""
-    line = text.strip().split("\n", 1)[0].strip()
-    if not line:
-        raise UpdateError("empty sha256 sidecar")
-    return line.split()[0]
+    return _rc.parse_sha256_sidecar(text, error_cls=UpdateError)
 
 
 def _extract_tarball(tarball: Path, dest: Path) -> str:
-    """Extract the tarball and return the VERSION read from its root."""
-    dest.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    with tarfile.open(tarball, "r:gz") as tf:
-        # defensive: refuse entries that would escape dest
-        for member in tf.getmembers():
-            if member.name.startswith(("/", "..")) or ".." in Path(member.name).parts:
-                raise UpdateError(f"refusing tarball entry {member.name!r}")
-        # Python 3.12+ grew a stricter default filter; opt into it where
-        # available to catch symlink-escape / device-node / setuid tricks
-        # that our regex check can't see. Older Pythons fall back to the
-        # historical permissive behaviour.
-        try:
-            tf.extractall(dest, filter="data")
-        except TypeError:
-            tf.extractall(dest)
-    version_file = dest / "VERSION"
-    if not version_file.is_file():
-        raise UpdateError("tarball has no VERSION file at root")
-    return version_file.read_text().strip()
+    return _rc.extract_tarball(tarball, dest, error_cls=UpdateError)
 
 
 def _current_hostname() -> str:
@@ -255,7 +194,15 @@ def _refresh_caddyfile(source: Path) -> bool:
 
 def _link_new_units(unit_dir: Path) -> list[str]:
     """`systemctl link` any unit file in unit_dir that isn't already symlinked
-    into /etc/systemd/system/. Returns the list of newly-linked unit names."""
+    into /etc/systemd/system/. Returns the list of newly-linked unit names.
+
+    Newly-linked `.timer` units are additionally `systemctl enable`d so that
+    a self-update introducing a timer (e.g. 26.5 → 26.6 adding
+    furtka-catalog-sync.timer) activates it automatically — the installer's
+    enable list only applies to fresh installs. A linked-but-disabled timer
+    never fires on its own, so without this step catalog sync would never
+    happen on upgraded boxes.
+    """
     if not unit_dir.is_dir():
         return []
     linked = []
@@ -266,6 +213,8 @@ def _link_new_units(unit_dir: Path) -> list[str]:
         if target.exists() or target.is_symlink():
             continue
         _run(["systemctl", "link", str(unit_file)])
+        if unit_file.suffix == ".timer":
+            _run(["systemctl", "enable", unit_file.name])
         linked.append(unit_file.name)
     return linked
 
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index c3dcd7f..8d9e805 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -22,10 +22,12 @@ VALID_MANIFEST = {
 def fake_dirs(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     apps = tmp_path / "apps"
     bundled = tmp_path / "bundled"
+    catalog = tmp_path / "catalog"
     apps.mkdir()
     bundled.mkdir()
     monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_APPS_DIR", str(apps))
     monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_BUNDLED_APPS_DIR", str(bundled))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_DIR", str(catalog))
     return apps, bundled
 
 
@@ -51,17 +53,19 @@ def test_list_installed_empty(fake_dirs):
     assert api._list_installed() == []
 
 
-def test_list_bundled_empty(fake_dirs):
-    assert api._list_bundled() == []
+def test_list_available_empty(fake_dirs):
+    assert api._list_available() == []
 
 
-def test_list_bundled_shows_uninstalled(fake_dirs):
+def test_list_available_shows_uninstalled(fake_dirs):
     _, bundled = fake_dirs
     _write_bundled(bundled, "fileshare")
-    out = api._list_bundled()
+    out = api._list_available()
     assert len(out) == 1
     assert out[0]["name"] == "fileshare"
     assert "display_name" in out[0]
+    # Source field lets the UI later distinguish catalog from bundled seed.
+    assert out[0]["source"] == "bundled"
 
 
 # --- Icon inlining ----------------------------------------------------------
@@ -119,11 +123,11 @@ def test_read_icon_svg_rejects_javascript_url(tmp_path):
     assert api._read_icon_svg(tmp_path, "icon.svg") is None
 
 
-def test_list_bundled_inlines_icon_svg(fake_dirs):
+def test_list_available_inlines_icon_svg(fake_dirs):
     _, bundled = fake_dirs
     app = _write_bundled(bundled, "fileshare")
     _write_icon(app, _SIMPLE_SVG)
-    [entry] = api._list_bundled()
+    [entry] = api._list_available()
     assert entry["icon_svg"] == _SIMPLE_SVG
 
 
@@ -136,18 +140,35 @@ def test_list_installed_inlines_icon_svg(fake_dirs, no_docker):
     assert entry["icon_svg"] == _SIMPLE_SVG
 
 
-def test_list_bundled_hides_already_installed(fake_dirs, no_docker):
+def test_list_available_hides_already_installed(fake_dirs, no_docker):
     apps, bundled = fake_dirs
     _write_bundled(bundled, "fileshare", env_example="A=real")
     status, _ = api._do_install("fileshare")
     assert status == 200
     # Now bundled should NOT include fileshare anymore.
-    assert api._list_bundled() == []
+    assert api._list_available() == []
     # But installed list should.
     installed = api._list_installed()
     assert len(installed) == 1 and installed[0]["name"] == "fileshare"
 
 
+def test_list_available_prefers_catalog_over_bundled(fake_dirs):
+    _, bundled = fake_dirs
+    catalog_root = bundled.parent / "catalog" / "apps"
+    catalog_root.mkdir(parents=True)
+    _write_bundled(bundled, "fileshare")
+    # A fileshare in the catalog as well — manifest version 0.2.0 to tell apart.
+    catalog_manifest = dict(VALID_MANIFEST, version="0.2.0")
+    cat_app = catalog_root / "fileshare"
+    cat_app.mkdir()
+    (cat_app / "manifest.json").write_text(json.dumps(catalog_manifest))
+
+    out = api._list_available()
+    assert len(out) == 1
+    assert out[0]["source"] == "catalog"
+    assert out[0]["version"] == "0.2.0"
+
+
 def test_install_endpoint_rejects_placeholder(fake_dirs):
     _, bundled = fake_dirs
     _write_bundled(bundled, "fileshare", env_example="SMB_PASSWORD=changeme")
@@ -581,3 +602,40 @@ def test_http_post_install_with_settings(fake_dirs, no_docker):
     finally:
         server.shutdown()
         server.server_close()
+
+
+# --- Catalog endpoints ------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_catalog_status_reports_absent_catalog(fake_dirs, monkeypatch):
+    """With no /var/lib/furtka/catalog/ on disk, status reports current=None + empty state."""
+    # FURTKA_CATALOG_STATE is not touched by fake_dirs — point it at tmp so we
+    # don't hit the production path.
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_STATE", str(fake_dirs[0].parent / "catalog-state.json"))
+    import importlib
+
+    from furtka import catalog as c
+
+    importlib.reload(c)
+    status, body = api._do_catalog_status()
+    assert status == 200
+    assert body["current"] is None
+    assert body["state"] == {}
+
+
+def test_catalog_check_surfaces_forgejo_error(fake_dirs, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_STATE", str(fake_dirs[0].parent / "catalog-state.json"))
+    import importlib
+
+    from furtka import _release_common as _rc
+    from furtka import catalog as c
+
+    importlib.reload(c)
+
+    def boom(host, repo, path, *, error_cls=RuntimeError):
+        raise error_cls("forgejo api down")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_rc, "forgejo_api", boom)
+    status, body = api._do_catalog_check()
+    assert status == 502
+    assert "forgejo api down" in body["error"]
diff --git a/tests/test_catalog.py b/tests/test_catalog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1eccd2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_catalog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,333 @@
+"""Tests for the apps-catalog sync flow.
+
+Same shape as ``tests/test_updater.py``: fixture reloads the module with
+env-overridden paths, fake tarballs land in tmp_path, Forgejo API is
+stubbed via ``urllib.request.urlopen`` monkeypatching so nothing talks
+to the network.
+
+Asserts end-to-end atomicity: on any failure path — bad sha256, broken
+tarball, invalid manifest — the live catalog dir is either left
+untouched (if one existed) or absent (if it didn't).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import io
+import json
+import tarfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def catalog(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_DIR", str(tmp_path / "var_lib_furtka_catalog"))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_STATE", str(tmp_path / "var_lib_furtka_catalog-state.json"))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_LOCK", str(tmp_path / "catalog.lock"))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_FORGEJO_HOST", "forgejo.test.local")
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_REPO", "daniel/furtka-apps")
+
+    import importlib
+
+    from furtka import catalog as c
+    from furtka import paths as p
+
+    importlib.reload(p)
+    importlib.reload(c)
+    return c
+
+
+def _manifest(name: str = "fileshare") -> dict:
+    return {
+        "name": name,
+        "display_name": "Fileshare",
+        "version": "0.1.0",
+        "description": "Test fixture app",
+        "volumes": ["files"],
+        "ports": [445],
+        "icon": "icon.svg",
+    }
+
+
+def _make_catalog_tarball(
+    path: Path,
+    version: str,
+    *,
+    apps: list[tuple[str, dict]] | None = None,
+    extra_entries: list[tuple[str, bytes]] | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    """Build a minimal valid catalog tarball.
+
+    `apps` is a list of (folder_name, manifest_dict). Each app folder gets
+    a `manifest.json` + a stub `docker-compose.yaml` + `icon.svg`.
+    `extra_entries` lets tests inject malformed content (path-traversal,
+    missing VERSION, ...) without rebuilding the helper.
+    """
+    apps = apps if apps is not None else [("fileshare", _manifest())]
+    buf = io.BytesIO()
+    with tarfile.open(fileobj=buf, mode="w:gz") as tf:
+        entries: list[tuple[str, bytes]] = [("VERSION", f"{version}\n".encode())]
+        for folder, m in apps:
+            entries.append((f"apps/{folder}/manifest.json", json.dumps(m).encode()))
+            entries.append(
+                (f"apps/{folder}/docker-compose.yaml", b"services:\n  app:\n    image: scratch\n")
+            )
+            entries.append((f"apps/{folder}/icon.svg", b"<svg/>"))
+        if extra_entries:
+            entries.extend(extra_entries)
+        for name, data in entries:
+            info = tarfile.TarInfo(name=name)
+            info.size = len(data)
+            tf.addfile(info, io.BytesIO(data))
+    path.write_bytes(buf.getvalue())
+
+
+def _stub_forgejo_release(
+    monkeypatch,
+    catalog,
+    *,
+    tag: str,
+    tarball_url: str = "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz",
+    sha_url: str = "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz.sha256",
+    releases: list | None = None,
+):
+    """Patch ``_rc.forgejo_api`` so check_catalog sees a canned release list."""
+    if releases is None:
+        releases = [
+            {
+                "tag_name": tag,
+                "assets": [
+                    {"name": f"furtka-apps-{tag}.tar.gz", "browser_download_url": tarball_url},
+                    {
+                        "name": f"furtka-apps-{tag}.tar.gz.sha256",
+                        "browser_download_url": sha_url,
+                    },
+                ],
+            }
+        ]
+
+    def fake_api(host, repo, path, *, error_cls=RuntimeError):
+        return releases
+
+    from furtka import _release_common as _rc
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_rc, "forgejo_api", fake_api)
+
+
+def _stub_download(monkeypatch, catalog, mapping: dict[str, bytes]):
+    """Patch ``_rc.download`` so sync_catalog pulls from an in-memory map."""
+    from furtka import _release_common as _rc
+
+    def fake_download(url, dest, *, error_cls=RuntimeError):
+        if url not in mapping:
+            raise error_cls(f"test: no fake content for {url}")
+        dest.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        dest.write_bytes(mapping[url])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_rc, "download", fake_download)
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# check_catalog
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+
+
+def test_check_catalog_reports_update_when_versions_differ(catalog, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    # Pretend we already have catalog version 26.5 on disk; Forgejo reports 26.6.
+    catalog.catalog_dir().mkdir(parents=True)
+    (catalog.catalog_dir() / "VERSION").write_text("26.5\n")
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.6")
+
+    check = catalog.check_catalog()
+    assert check.current == "26.5"
+    assert check.latest == "26.6"
+    assert check.update_available is True
+    assert check.tarball_url.endswith(".tar.gz")
+    assert check.sha256_url.endswith(".sha256")
+
+
+def test_check_catalog_reports_up_to_date_when_same_version(catalog, monkeypatch):
+    catalog.catalog_dir().mkdir(parents=True)
+    (catalog.catalog_dir() / "VERSION").write_text("26.5\n")
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.5")
+
+    check = catalog.check_catalog()
+    assert check.current == "26.5"
+    assert check.latest == "26.5"
+    assert check.update_available is False
+
+
+def test_check_catalog_treats_missing_current_as_installable(catalog, monkeypatch):
+    # Fresh box, no catalog ever synced — any release is an update.
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.5")
+
+    check = catalog.check_catalog()
+    assert check.current is None
+    assert check.update_available is True
+
+
+def test_check_catalog_raises_when_no_releases_published(catalog, monkeypatch):
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="x", releases=[])
+    with pytest.raises(catalog.CatalogError, match="no catalog releases"):
+        catalog.check_catalog()
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# sync_catalog — happy + error paths
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+
+
+def test_sync_catalog_happy_path(catalog, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    import hashlib
+
+    tarball_path = tmp_path / "tarball.tar.gz"
+    _make_catalog_tarball(tarball_path, "26.6")
+    tarball_bytes = tarball_path.read_bytes()
+    sha = hashlib.sha256(tarball_bytes).hexdigest()
+
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.6")
+    _stub_download(
+        monkeypatch,
+        catalog,
+        {
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz": tarball_bytes,
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz.sha256": (
+                f"{sha}  furtka-apps-26.6.tar.gz\n".encode()
+            ),
+        },
+    )
+
+    check = catalog.sync_catalog()
+    assert check.latest == "26.6"
+    assert (catalog.catalog_dir() / "VERSION").read_text().strip() == "26.6"
+    assert (catalog.catalog_dir() / "apps" / "fileshare" / "manifest.json").is_file()
+    state = catalog.read_state()
+    assert state["stage"] == "done"
+    assert state["version"] == "26.6"
+
+
+def test_sync_catalog_noop_when_already_current(catalog, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    catalog.catalog_dir().mkdir(parents=True)
+    (catalog.catalog_dir() / "VERSION").write_text("26.5\n")
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.5")
+
+    check = catalog.sync_catalog()
+    assert check.update_available is False
+    assert catalog.read_state()["stage"] == "done"
+
+
+def test_sync_catalog_refuses_sha256_mismatch(catalog, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    tarball_path = tmp_path / "tarball.tar.gz"
+    _make_catalog_tarball(tarball_path, "26.6")
+
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.6")
+    _stub_download(
+        monkeypatch,
+        catalog,
+        {
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz": tarball_path.read_bytes(),
+            # Hash for some OTHER content — will mismatch.
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz.sha256": (b"0" * 64 + b"  wrong.tar.gz\n"),
+        },
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(catalog.CatalogError, match="sha256 mismatch"):
+        catalog.sync_catalog()
+    # Live catalog never existed, must still not exist after the failed sync.
+    assert not catalog.catalog_dir().exists()
+
+
+def test_sync_catalog_refuses_tarball_with_invalid_manifest(catalog, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    import hashlib
+
+    bad_manifest = {"name": "broken"}  # missing required fields
+
+    tarball_path = tmp_path / "tarball.tar.gz"
+    _make_catalog_tarball(tarball_path, "26.6", apps=[("broken", bad_manifest)])
+    tarball_bytes = tarball_path.read_bytes()
+    sha = hashlib.sha256(tarball_bytes).hexdigest()
+
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.6")
+    _stub_download(
+        monkeypatch,
+        catalog,
+        {
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz": tarball_bytes,
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz.sha256": (
+                f"{sha}  furtka-apps-26.6.tar.gz\n".encode()
+            ),
+        },
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(catalog.CatalogError, match="invalid manifest"):
+        catalog.sync_catalog()
+    # Staging was cleaned; live catalog never materialised.
+    assert not catalog.catalog_dir().exists()
+
+
+def test_sync_catalog_preserves_existing_catalog_on_failure(catalog, monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """A failed sync must leave the previous live catalog intact so boxes
+    keep working until the next successful sync."""
+    import hashlib
+
+    # Seed a live catalog that represents a previous successful sync.
+    live = catalog.catalog_dir()
+    live.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (live / "VERSION").write_text("26.5\n")
+    (live / "apps").mkdir()
+
+    bad_manifest = {"name": "broken"}  # invalid
+    tarball_path = tmp_path / "tarball.tar.gz"
+    _make_catalog_tarball(tarball_path, "26.6", apps=[("broken", bad_manifest)])
+    sha = hashlib.sha256(tarball_path.read_bytes()).hexdigest()
+
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.6")
+    _stub_download(
+        monkeypatch,
+        catalog,
+        {
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz": tarball_path.read_bytes(),
+            "https://forgejo.test.local/t.tar.gz.sha256": f"{sha}  x\n".encode(),
+        },
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(catalog.CatalogError):
+        catalog.sync_catalog()
+    # The 26.5 live catalog survives the failed 26.6 sync.
+    assert (live / "VERSION").read_text().strip() == "26.5"
+
+
+def test_sync_catalog_lock_contention(catalog, monkeypatch):
+    _stub_forgejo_release(monkeypatch, catalog, tag="26.6")
+
+    # Hold the lock from outside; the real sync_catalog call must refuse.
+    first = catalog.acquire_lock()
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(catalog.CatalogError, match="already in progress"):
+            catalog.sync_catalog()
+    finally:
+        first.close()
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+# state + current-version helpers
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+
+
+def test_read_current_catalog_version_absent(catalog):
+    assert catalog.read_current_catalog_version() is None
+
+
+def test_read_current_catalog_version_empty_file(catalog):
+    catalog.catalog_dir().mkdir(parents=True)
+    (catalog.catalog_dir() / "VERSION").write_text("\n")
+    assert catalog.read_current_catalog_version() is None
+
+
+def test_write_and_read_state_round_trip(catalog):
+    catalog.write_state("downloading", latest="26.6")
+    s = catalog.read_state()
+    assert s["stage"] == "downloading"
+    assert s["latest"] == "26.6"
+    assert "updated_at" in s
diff --git a/tests/test_sources.py b/tests/test_sources.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cab3265
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_sources.py
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+"""Tests for the catalog > bundled resolver."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def _manifest(name: str = "fileshare") -> dict:
+    return {
+        "name": name,
+        "display_name": "Fileshare",
+        "version": "0.1.0",
+        "description": "x",
+        "volumes": [],
+        "ports": [],
+        "icon": "icon.svg",
+    }
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def sources_mod(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_CATALOG_DIR", str(tmp_path / "catalog"))
+    monkeypatch.setenv("FURTKA_BUNDLED_APPS_DIR", str(tmp_path / "bundled"))
+
+    import importlib
+
+    from furtka import paths as p
+    from furtka import sources as s
+
+    importlib.reload(p)
+    importlib.reload(s)
+    return s
+
+
+def _seed_app(root: Path, name: str, manifest: dict | None = None) -> Path:
+    folder = root / name
+    folder.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (folder / "manifest.json").write_text(json.dumps(manifest or _manifest(name)))
+    return folder
+
+
+def test_resolve_app_name_returns_none_when_absent(sources_mod):
+    assert sources_mod.resolve_app_name("nope") is None
+
+
+def test_resolve_app_name_prefers_catalog_over_bundled(sources_mod, tmp_path):
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "catalog" / "apps", "fileshare")
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "bundled", "fileshare")
+
+    result = sources_mod.resolve_app_name("fileshare")
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.origin == "catalog"
+    assert result.path.parent.name == "apps"
+    assert result.path.parent.parent.name == "catalog"
+
+
+def test_resolve_app_name_falls_back_to_bundled(sources_mod, tmp_path):
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "bundled", "fileshare")
+
+    result = sources_mod.resolve_app_name("fileshare")
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.origin == "bundled"
+
+
+def test_resolve_app_name_ignores_folder_without_manifest(sources_mod, tmp_path):
+    # Empty folder is not a valid app even if the name matches.
+    (tmp_path / "catalog" / "apps" / "fileshare").mkdir(parents=True)
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "bundled", "fileshare")
+
+    result = sources_mod.resolve_app_name("fileshare")
+    # Catalog entry without manifest is skipped; bundled wins.
+    assert result.origin == "bundled"
+
+
+def test_list_available_unions_catalog_and_bundled(sources_mod, tmp_path):
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "catalog" / "apps", "fileshare")
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "bundled", "otherapp")
+
+    names = {s.path.name: s.origin for s in sources_mod.list_available()}
+    assert names == {"fileshare": "catalog", "otherapp": "bundled"}
+
+
+def test_list_available_catalog_wins_on_collision(sources_mod, tmp_path):
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "catalog" / "apps", "fileshare")
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "bundled", "fileshare")
+
+    entries = sources_mod.list_available()
+    assert len(entries) == 1
+    assert entries[0].origin == "catalog"
+
+
+def test_list_available_empty_when_neither_exists(sources_mod):
+    assert sources_mod.list_available() == []
+
+
+def test_list_available_skips_non_dirs_and_no_manifest(sources_mod, tmp_path):
+    # A plain file in catalog/apps and an empty dir in bundled — both ignored.
+    cat_root = tmp_path / "catalog" / "apps"
+    cat_root.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (cat_root / "not-a-dir.txt").write_text("x")
+    (tmp_path / "bundled" / "emptyapp").mkdir(parents=True)
+    _seed_app(tmp_path / "bundled", "realapp")
+
+    entries = sources_mod.list_available()
+    assert [e.path.name for e in entries] == ["realapp"]
diff --git a/tests/test_updater.py b/tests/test_updater.py
index 5813258..55ef155 100644
--- a/tests/test_updater.py
+++ b/tests/test_updater.py
@@ -246,17 +246,25 @@ def test_link_new_units_only_links_missing(updater, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
 
     linked = updater._link_new_units(unit_dir)
     assert linked == ["furtka-bar.timer"]
-    # Only one systemctl link call — for the new timer, not the existing service.
-    assert len(seen) == 1
+    # Two calls for the newly-linked timer: systemctl link + systemctl enable.
+    # The already-linked service is untouched. Timers need the follow-up
+    # `enable` so self-updates that introduce new timers don't leave them
+    # dormant — fresh installs get their enable via the webinstaller.
+    assert len(seen) == 2
     assert seen[0][:2] == ["systemctl", "link"]
     assert seen[0][2].endswith("furtka-bar.timer")
+    assert seen[1] == ["systemctl", "enable", "furtka-bar.timer"]
 
 
 def test_extract_tarball_uses_data_filter_when_available(tmp_path, updater, monkeypatch):
     # Confirm we pass filter='data' to extractall on Python 3.12+; fall back
-    # cleanly on older runtimes. Capture the kwarg via a stub.
+    # cleanly on older runtimes. Capture the kwarg via a stub. tarfile lives
+    # in furtka._release_common after the extraction refactor, so we patch
+    # that module — updater._extract_tarball delegates there.
+    from furtka import _release_common as _rc
+
     calls = []
-    real_open = updater.tarfile.open  # capture before monkeypatching
+    real_open = _rc.tarfile.open  # capture before monkeypatching
 
     class _Recorder:
         def __init__(self, tarball):
@@ -281,7 +289,7 @@ def test_extract_tarball_uses_data_filter_when_available(tmp_path, updater, monk
 
     tar = tmp_path / "t.tar.gz"
     _make_release_tarball(tar, "26.9-alpha")
-    monkeypatch.setattr(updater.tarfile, "open", lambda *a, **kw: _Recorder(tar))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_rc.tarfile, "open", lambda *a, **kw: _Recorder(tar))
 
     dest = tmp_path / "dest"
     updater._extract_tarball(tar, dest)
diff --git a/webinstaller/app.py b/webinstaller/app.py
index 0392192..96adf01 100644
--- a/webinstaller/app.py
+++ b/webinstaller/app.py
@@ -263,6 +263,10 @@ _FURTKA_UNITS = (
     "furtka-status.service",
     "furtka-status.timer",
     "furtka-welcome.service",
+    # Daily apps-catalog pull. Timer drives the service; the .service itself
+    # is oneshot and also callable ad-hoc via `furtka catalog sync`.
+    "furtka-catalog-sync.service",
+    "furtka-catalog-sync.timer",
 )