diff --git a/cmd/agent-watcher/main.go b/cmd/agent-watcher/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdca86e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/agent-watcher/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+// Command agent-watcher is the Collector daemon.
+//
+// It loads a YAML config, builds the configured sources, and runs them
+// concurrently. Each source converts external events (webhook POSTs, files
+// dropped into a folder) into JSONL writes against the configured inbox
+// directory. Output is bit-identical to the agent-ping CLI's writes, so the
+// existing UserPromptSubmit hook (and the future MCP Watcher) consume the
+// stream without distinguishing source.
+//
+// Default config path: ~/.config/agent-watcher/collector.yaml. Override with
+// --config or AGENT_WATCHER_CONFIG.
+//
+// Signals: SIGINT and SIGTERM trigger graceful shutdown. SIGHUP reload is a
+// v2 item — for now restart the unit to pick up config changes.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sync"
+	"syscall"
+
+	"git.botbought.ai/foreman/agent-watcher/internal/config"
+	"git.botbought.ai/foreman/agent-watcher/internal/inbox"
+	"git.botbought.ai/foreman/agent-watcher/internal/source"
+	"git.botbought.ai/foreman/agent-watcher/internal/source/dropfolder"
+	"git.botbought.ai/foreman/agent-watcher/internal/source/webhook"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	var (
+		configPath = flag.String("config", "", "path to collector.yaml (default: $AGENT_WATCHER_CONFIG or ~/.config/agent-watcher/collector.yaml)")
+		jsonLog    = flag.Bool("json-log", false, "emit logs as JSON (for journald structured fields)")
+	)
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	logger := newLogger(*jsonLog)
+
+	path := resolveConfigPath(*configPath)
+	cfg, err := config.Load(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Error("config", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(2)
+	}
+	logger = logger.With("agent", cfg.Agent)
+	logger.Info("config loaded", "path", path, "inbox_dir", cfg.InboxDir)
+
+	if err := run(cfg, logger); err != nil {
+		logger.Error("run", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+func run(cfg *config.Config, logger *slog.Logger) error {
+	w, err := inbox.NewWriter(cfg.InboxDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("inbox: %w", err)
+	}
+	emit := func(recipient string, ev *inbox.Event) error {
+		return w.Write(recipient, ev)
+	}
+
+	sources, err := buildSources(cfg, logger)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if len(sources) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no sources configured")
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := signalContext()
+	defer cancel()
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for _, src := range sources {
+		src := src
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			logger.Info("source starting", "name", src.Name())
+			if err := src.Run(ctx, emit); err != nil && err != context.Canceled {
+				logger.Error("source exited", "name", src.Name(), "err", err)
+			} else {
+				logger.Info("source stopped", "name", src.Name())
+			}
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+	return nil
+}
+
+func buildSources(cfg *config.Config, logger *slog.Logger) ([]source.Source, error) {
+	var out []source.Source
+	if w := cfg.Sources.Webhook; w != nil {
+		s, err := webhook.New(webhook.Config{
+			Listen: w.Listen,
+			Routes: w.ToWebhookRouteMap(),
+		}, logger)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("webhook: %w", err)
+		}
+		out = append(out, s)
+	}
+	if d := cfg.Sources.DropFolder; d != nil {
+		out = append(out, dropfolder.New(dropfolder.Config{
+			Path:                d.Path,
+			PollFallbackSeconds: d.PollFallbackSeconds,
+		}, logger))
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func signalContext() (context.Context, context.CancelFunc) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	sigCh := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	signal.Notify(sigCh, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
+	go func() {
+		<-sigCh
+		cancel()
+	}()
+	return ctx, cancel
+}
+
+func resolveConfigPath(flagPath string) string {
+	if flagPath != "" {
+		return flagPath
+	}
+	if env := os.Getenv("AGENT_WATCHER_CONFIG"); env != "" {
+		return env
+	}
+	home, _ := os.UserHomeDir()
+	return filepath.Join(home, ".config", "agent-watcher", "collector.yaml")
+}
+
+func newLogger(asJSON bool) *slog.Logger {
+	var h slog.Handler
+	if asJSON {
+		h = slog.NewJSONHandler(os.Stderr, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelInfo})
+	} else {
+		h = slog.NewTextHandler(os.Stderr, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelInfo})
+	}
+	return slog.New(h)
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index ccb4746..2bf7c53 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ go 1.22
 
 require github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0
 
-require golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0 // indirect
+require (
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
+)
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 9e90680..14be547 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -2,3 +2,6 @@ github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0 h1:8JEhPFa5W2WU7YfeZzPNqzMP6Lwt7L2715Ggo0nos
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0/go.mod h1:40Bi/Hjc2AVfZrqy+aj+yEI+/bRxZnMJyTJwOpGvigM=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0 h1:Af8nKPmuFypiUBjVoU9V20FiaFXOcuZI21p0ycVYYGE=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b54f80b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+// Package config loads the Collector's per-host YAML configuration.
+//
+// Config layout (spec §3.2):
+//
+//	agent: foreman               # this host's identity
+//	inbox_dir: ~/Nyx/workspace/pings   # optional; default shown
+//	sources:
+//	  webhook:
+//	    listen: 127.0.0.1:18790
+//	    routes:
+//	      /forgejo/push:
+//	        recipient: bob
+//	        type: INFO
+//	        priority: normal              # optional
+//	        payload_template: "..."
+//	  drop_folder:
+//	    path: ~/Nyx/workspace/incoming/
+//	    poll_fallback_seconds: 30
+//
+// Either source may be omitted; the Collector starts with whatever is
+// configured. Validation is strict — an unknown top-level field or a
+// malformed route returns an error.
+package config
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+
+	"git.botbought.ai/foreman/agent-watcher/internal/source/webhook"
+)
+
+// Config is the loaded, validated configuration.
+type Config struct {
+	Agent    string  `yaml:"agent"`
+	InboxDir string  `yaml:"inbox_dir,omitempty"`
+	Sources  Sources `yaml:"sources"`
+}
+
+// Sources groups per-source-type configuration.
+type Sources struct {
+	Webhook    *WebhookConfig    `yaml:"webhook,omitempty"`
+	DropFolder *DropFolderConfig `yaml:"drop_folder,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// WebhookConfig configures the HTTP webhook source.
+type WebhookConfig struct {
+	Listen string                  `yaml:"listen"`
+	Routes map[string]WebhookRoute `yaml:"routes"`
+}
+
+// WebhookRoute is one entry in the webhook routing table.
+type WebhookRoute struct {
+	Recipient       string `yaml:"recipient"`
+	Type            string `yaml:"type"`
+	Priority        string `yaml:"priority,omitempty"`
+	PayloadTemplate string `yaml:"payload_template"`
+}
+
+// DropFolderConfig configures the drop-folder source.
+type DropFolderConfig struct {
+	Path                string `yaml:"path"`
+	PollFallbackSeconds int    `yaml:"poll_fallback_seconds,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// Default values applied when fields are unset.
+const (
+	DefaultInboxDir            = "~/Nyx/workspace/pings"
+	DefaultDropPath            = "~/Nyx/workspace/incoming"
+	DefaultWebhookListen       = "127.0.0.1:18790"
+	DefaultPollFallbackSeconds = 30
+)
+
+// Load parses the YAML file at path, applies defaults, and validates.
+func Load(path string) (*Config, error) {
+	body, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config: read %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return parse(body)
+}
+
+func parse(body []byte) (*Config, error) {
+	var c Config
+	dec := yaml.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(string(body)))
+	dec.KnownFields(true)
+	if err := dec.Decode(&c); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("config: parse: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := c.applyDefaultsAndValidate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &c, nil
+}
+
+func (c *Config) applyDefaultsAndValidate() error {
+	if c.Agent == "" {
+		return errors.New("config: agent is required")
+	}
+	if c.InboxDir == "" {
+		c.InboxDir = DefaultInboxDir
+	}
+	c.InboxDir = expand(c.InboxDir)
+
+	if c.Sources.Webhook == nil && c.Sources.DropFolder == nil {
+		return errors.New("config: at least one source (webhook or drop_folder) must be configured")
+	}
+
+	if w := c.Sources.Webhook; w != nil {
+		if w.Listen == "" {
+			w.Listen = DefaultWebhookListen
+		}
+		if len(w.Routes) == 0 {
+			return errors.New("config: webhook configured but no routes defined")
+		}
+		for path, r := range w.Routes {
+			if !strings.HasPrefix(path, "/") {
+				return fmt.Errorf("config: webhook route %q must start with /", path)
+			}
+			if r.Recipient == "" {
+				return fmt.Errorf("config: webhook route %s: recipient required", path)
+			}
+			if r.Type == "" {
+				return fmt.Errorf("config: webhook route %s: type required", path)
+			}
+			if r.PayloadTemplate == "" {
+				return fmt.Errorf("config: webhook route %s: payload_template required", path)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if d := c.Sources.DropFolder; d != nil {
+		if d.Path == "" {
+			d.Path = DefaultDropPath
+		}
+		d.Path = expand(d.Path)
+		if d.PollFallbackSeconds == 0 {
+			d.PollFallbackSeconds = DefaultPollFallbackSeconds
+		}
+		if d.PollFallbackSeconds < 0 {
+			return errors.New("config: drop_folder.poll_fallback_seconds must be >= 0")
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// expand expands a leading ~/ to $HOME.
+func expand(p string) string {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(p, "~/") && p != "~" {
+		return p
+	}
+	home, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+	if err != nil || home == "" {
+		return p
+	}
+	if p == "~" {
+		return home
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(home, p[2:])
+}
+
+// ToWebhookRouteMap converts validated routes to the source/webhook.Route
+// shape so main.go can hand them straight to webhook.New.
+func (w *WebhookConfig) ToWebhookRouteMap() map[string]webhook.Route {
+	out := make(map[string]webhook.Route, len(w.Routes))
+	for path, r := range w.Routes {
+		out[path] = webhook.Route{
+			Recipient:       r.Recipient,
+			Type:            r.Type,
+			Priority:        r.Priority,
+			PayloadTemplate: r.PayloadTemplate,
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ccae24f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestParse_FullValid(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`
+agent: foreman
+inbox_dir: /tmp/inbox
+sources:
+  webhook:
+    listen: 127.0.0.1:18790
+    routes:
+      /forgejo/push:
+        recipient: bob
+        type: INFO
+        payload_template: "push to {{ .repo }}"
+      /alert:
+        recipient: bob
+        type: NEEDS-RESPONSE
+        priority: urgent
+        payload_template: "alert"
+  drop_folder:
+    path: /tmp/incoming
+    poll_fallback_seconds: 60
+`)
+	c, err := parse(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if c.Agent != "foreman" {
+		t.Errorf("agent = %q", c.Agent)
+	}
+	if c.InboxDir != "/tmp/inbox" {
+		t.Errorf("inbox = %q", c.InboxDir)
+	}
+	if c.Sources.Webhook == nil || len(c.Sources.Webhook.Routes) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("webhook routes: %+v", c.Sources.Webhook)
+	}
+	if c.Sources.DropFolder == nil || c.Sources.DropFolder.Path != "/tmp/incoming" {
+		t.Errorf("dropfolder: %+v", c.Sources.DropFolder)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParse_AppliesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`
+agent: foreman
+sources:
+  drop_folder:
+    path: /tmp/x
+`)
+	c, err := parse(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if c.InboxDir == "" {
+		t.Error("inbox_dir default not applied")
+	}
+	if c.Sources.DropFolder.PollFallbackSeconds != DefaultPollFallbackSeconds {
+		t.Errorf("poll default = %d", c.Sources.DropFolder.PollFallbackSeconds)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParse_HomeExpansion(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`
+agent: foreman
+sources:
+  drop_folder:
+    path: ~/foo/bar
+`)
+	c, err := parse(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(c.Sources.DropFolder.Path, "~") {
+		t.Errorf("~ not expanded: %q", c.Sources.DropFolder.Path)
+	}
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(c.Sources.DropFolder.Path, "/foo/bar") {
+		t.Errorf("expansion lost suffix: %q", c.Sources.DropFolder.Path)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParse_RejectsInvalid(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := map[string]string{
+		"missing agent":      `sources:\n  webhook:\n    routes: {}`,
+		"no sources":         `agent: x`,
+		"empty webhook routes": `
+agent: x
+sources:
+  webhook:
+    listen: 127.0.0.1:18790
+    routes: {}
+`,
+		"route missing recipient": `
+agent: x
+sources:
+  webhook:
+    routes:
+      /x:
+        type: INFO
+        payload_template: y
+`,
+		"route missing type": `
+agent: x
+sources:
+  webhook:
+    routes:
+      /x:
+        recipient: r
+        payload_template: y
+`,
+		"route missing template": `
+agent: x
+sources:
+  webhook:
+    routes:
+      /x:
+        recipient: r
+        type: INFO
+`,
+		"route path no slash": `
+agent: x
+sources:
+  webhook:
+    routes:
+      bad:
+        recipient: r
+        type: INFO
+        payload_template: y
+`,
+		"unknown top-level field": `
+agent: x
+typo: oops
+sources:
+  drop_folder:
+    path: /x
+`,
+		"poll negative": `
+agent: x
+sources:
+  drop_folder:
+    path: /x
+    poll_fallback_seconds: -1
+`,
+	}
+	for name, body := range cases {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if _, err := parse([]byte(body)); err == nil {
+				t.Errorf("expected error for: %s", name)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToWebhookRouteMap(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &WebhookConfig{
+		Routes: map[string]WebhookRoute{
+			"/x": {Recipient: "r", Type: "INFO", Priority: "urgent", PayloadTemplate: "p"},
+		},
+	}
+	got := w.ToWebhookRouteMap()
+	r := got["/x"]
+	if r.Recipient != "r" || r.Type != "INFO" || r.Priority != "urgent" || r.PayloadTemplate != "p" {
+		t.Errorf("conversion lost data: %+v", r)
+	}
+}