diff --git a/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py b/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py
index c1c63635..c62bf52d 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py
@@ -82,6 +82,15 @@ from .decky import (
     ServiceConfigFieldDTO,
     ServiceSchemaResponse,
 )
+from .decky_lifecycle import (
+    DeckyLifecycle,
+    DeckyLifecycleListResponse,
+    DeckyLifecycleView,
+    LifecycleAcceptedResponse,
+    LifecycleDelta,
+    LifecycleOperation,
+    LifecycleStatus,
+)
 from .fleet import (
     LOCAL_HOST_SENTINEL,
     FleetDecky,
@@ -278,6 +287,14 @@ __all__ = [
     "FleetDecky",
     "ServiceConfigFieldDTO",
     "ServiceSchemaResponse",
+    # decky_lifecycle
+    "DeckyLifecycle",
+    "DeckyLifecycleListResponse",
+    "DeckyLifecycleView",
+    "LifecycleAcceptedResponse",
+    "LifecycleDelta",
+    "LifecycleOperation",
+    "LifecycleStatus",
     # health
     "ComponentHealth",
     "HealthResponse",
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/models/decky_lifecycle.py b/decnet/web/db/models/decky_lifecycle.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..23572ffc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/web/db/models/decky_lifecycle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"""DeckyLifecycle table + DTOs.
+
+Tracks one row per (decky, operation) attempt — `deploy` or `mutate` —
+so the API can return 202 Accepted immediately and the wizard can poll
+state instead of holding an open HTTP request open for minutes.
+
+State machine: ``pending`` (row created, runner not yet started) →
+``running`` (runner picked it up) → terminal ``succeeded`` | ``failed``
+(+ ``error`` text).  Rows are immutable after terminal status; a retry
+writes a new row.
+
+Sibling of DeckyShard rather than a rework — DeckyShard tracks runtime
+container state observed via heartbeat, this tracks operation lifecycle.
+Per ``feedback_uuid_over_natural_keys``: new use case, new table, UUID PK.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import uuid
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Literal, Optional
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field as PydanticField
+from sqlalchemy import Column, Text
+from sqlmodel import Field, SQLModel
+
+LifecycleOperation = Literal["deploy", "mutate"]
+LifecycleStatus = Literal["pending", "running", "succeeded", "failed"]
+
+
+def _now_utc() -> datetime:
+    return datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+
+
+class DeckyLifecycle(SQLModel, table=True):
+    """One row per (decky, operation) attempt."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "decky_lifecycle"
+
+    id: str = Field(
+        primary_key=True,
+        default_factory=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()),
+    )
+    decky_name: str = Field(index=True)
+    # None for unihost / master-resident deckies.
+    host_uuid: Optional[str] = Field(default=None, index=True)
+    operation: str = Field(index=True)  # LifecycleOperation
+    status: str = Field(default="pending", index=True)  # LifecycleStatus
+    error: Optional[str] = Field(
+        default=None, sa_column=Column("error", Text, nullable=True),
+    )
+    started_at: datetime = Field(default_factory=_now_utc)
+    updated_at: datetime = Field(default_factory=_now_utc)
+    completed_at: Optional[datetime] = Field(default=None)
+
+
+# --- HTTP DTOs ---
+
+class DeckyLifecycleView(BaseModel):
+    """One lifecycle row, serialised for the wizard polling loop."""
+    id: str
+    decky_name: str
+    host_uuid: Optional[str] = None
+    operation: str
+    status: str
+    error: Optional[str] = None
+    started_at: datetime
+    updated_at: datetime
+    completed_at: Optional[datetime] = None
+
+
+class DeckyLifecycleListResponse(BaseModel):
+    rows: list[DeckyLifecycleView] = PydanticField(default_factory=list)
+
+
+class LifecycleAcceptedResponse(BaseModel):
+    """Returned by 202 deploy/mutate endpoints — lets the client subscribe
+    to the matching DeckyLifecycle rows via the polling endpoint."""
+    lifecycle_ids: list[str]
+
+
+class LifecycleDelta(BaseModel):
+    """One per-decky completion record in a worker → master heartbeat."""
+    decky_name: str
+    operation: str
+    status: str  # one of LifecycleStatus, typically "succeeded" | "failed"
+    error: Optional[str] = None
+    completed_at: Optional[datetime] = None
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/repository.py b/decnet/web/db/repository.py
index fc8d7c04..fbe9a703 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/repository.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/repository.py
@@ -872,6 +872,71 @@ class BaseRepository(ABC):
     async def delete_decky_shard(self, decky_name: str) -> bool:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    # ----------------------------------------------------------- lifecycle
+    # Per-(decky, operation) attempt tracking for the async deploy/mutate
+    # state machine.  Rows are append-only after terminal status; retries
+    # write new rows.
+
+    async def create_lifecycle(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+        """Insert a new lifecycle row in ``pending`` status.
+
+        ``data`` must include ``decky_name``, ``operation``; ``host_uuid``
+        and ``id`` are optional.  Returns the row's ``id``.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    async def update_lifecycle(
+        self,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        fields: dict[str, Any],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Partial update of an open row (status / error / timestamps).
+
+        Callers must bump ``updated_at`` themselves, or rely on the impl
+        to stamp it.  Terminal rows are not protected at this layer — the
+        runner / heartbeat handler must enforce the immutability rule.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    async def get_lifecycle_by_ids(
+        self, lifecycle_ids: list[str],
+    ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Fetch lifecycle rows by id, in undefined order.
+
+        Used by the wizard polling endpoint; missing ids are silently
+        omitted from the result rather than raising.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    async def find_open_lifecycle(
+        self,
+        decky_name: str,
+        operation: str,
+        host_uuid: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Optional[dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return the most-recently-started row whose status is
+        ``pending`` or ``running`` for (decky_name, operation,
+        host_uuid).  ``None`` if none open.
+
+        The worker-heartbeat path uses this to match deltas to the
+        master's view of an in-flight operation.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    async def sweep_stale_lifecycle(
+        self,
+        older_than: datetime,
+        reason: str,
+    ) -> int:
+        """Mark every non-terminal row started before ``older_than`` as
+        ``failed`` with ``error=reason``.  Returns the row count.
+
+        Called on master boot to flush orphans from a previous crash.
+        Pre-v1 substitute for a durable queue per
+        ``feedback_prev1_no_user_problems``.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     # ----------------------------------------------------------- mazenet
     # MazeNET topology persistence.  Default no-op / NotImplementedError so
     # non-default backends stay functional; SQLModelRepository provides the
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/__init__.py b/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/__init__.py
index 9585df36..68b6af01 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/__init__.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/__init__.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.campaigns import CampaignsMixin
 from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.canary import CanaryMixin
 from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.credentials import CredentialsMixin
 from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.deckies import DeckiesMixin
+from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.decky_lifecycle import LifecycleMixin
 from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.fleet import FleetMixin
 from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.identities import IdentitiesMixin
 from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo.logs import LogsMixin
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ class SQLModelRepository(
     CanaryMixin,
     CredentialsMixin,
     DeckiesMixin,
+    LifecycleMixin,
     FleetMixin,
     IdentitiesMixin,
     LogsMixin,
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/decky_lifecycle.py b/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/decky_lifecycle.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..377534a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo/decky_lifecycle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+"""DeckyLifecycle CRUD + sweep.
+
+One row per (decky, operation) attempt.  States: pending → running →
+succeeded | failed.  Mixed into ``SQLModelRepository`` for both SQLite
+and MySQL via MRO composition.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import uuid as _uuid
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any, Optional
+
+from sqlalchemy import asc, select, update
+
+from decnet.web.db.models import DeckyLifecycle
+from decnet.web.db.sqlmodel_repo._helpers import _MixinBase
+
+
+_TERMINAL = ("succeeded", "failed")
+
+
+class LifecycleMixin(_MixinBase):
+    """Mixin: composed onto ``SQLModelRepository``."""
+
+    async def create_lifecycle(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+        payload = dict(data)
+        payload.setdefault("id", str(_uuid.uuid4()))
+        payload.setdefault("status", "pending")
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+        payload.setdefault("started_at", now)
+        payload["updated_at"] = now
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            session.add(DeckyLifecycle(**payload))
+            await session.commit()
+        return str(payload["id"])
+
+    async def update_lifecycle(
+        self,
+        lifecycle_id: str,
+        fields: dict[str, Any],
+    ) -> None:
+        payload = dict(fields)
+        payload["updated_at"] = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+        if payload.get("status") in _TERMINAL and "completed_at" not in payload:
+            payload["completed_at"] = payload["updated_at"]
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            await session.execute(
+                update(DeckyLifecycle)
+                .where(DeckyLifecycle.id == lifecycle_id)
+                .values(**payload)
+            )
+            await session.commit()
+
+    async def get_lifecycle_by_ids(
+        self, lifecycle_ids: list[str],
+    ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        if not lifecycle_ids:
+            return []
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            result = await session.execute(
+                select(DeckyLifecycle)
+                .where(DeckyLifecycle.id.in_(lifecycle_ids))  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+                .order_by(asc(DeckyLifecycle.started_at))
+            )
+            return [r.model_dump(mode="json") for r in result.scalars().all()]
+
+    async def find_open_lifecycle(
+        self,
+        decky_name: str,
+        operation: str,
+        host_uuid: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Optional[dict[str, Any]]:
+        stmt = (
+            select(DeckyLifecycle)
+            .where(DeckyLifecycle.decky_name == decky_name)
+            .where(DeckyLifecycle.operation == operation)
+            .where(DeckyLifecycle.status.in_(("pending", "running")))  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+            .order_by(DeckyLifecycle.started_at.desc())  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        )
+        if host_uuid is not None:
+            stmt = stmt.where(DeckyLifecycle.host_uuid == host_uuid)
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            result = await session.execute(stmt)
+            row = result.scalars().first()
+            return row.model_dump(mode="json") if row else None
+
+    async def sweep_stale_lifecycle(
+        self,
+        older_than: datetime,
+        reason: str,
+    ) -> int:
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            result = await session.execute(
+                update(DeckyLifecycle)
+                .where(DeckyLifecycle.status.in_(("pending", "running")))  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+                .where(DeckyLifecycle.started_at < older_than)
+                .values(
+                    status="failed",
+                    error=reason,
+                    updated_at=now,
+                    completed_at=now,
+                )
+            )
+            await session.commit()
+            return result.rowcount or 0
diff --git a/tests/db/test_base_repo.py b/tests/db/test_base_repo.py
index d3e2fbcd..f0c586da 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_base_repo.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_base_repo.py
@@ -153,6 +153,17 @@ class DummyRepo(BaseRepository):
     async def iter_canary_triggers_since(self, since):
         return
         yield
+    # DeckyLifecycle surface
+    async def create_lifecycle(self, data):
+        await super().create_lifecycle(data); return ""
+    async def update_lifecycle(self, lifecycle_id, fields):
+        await super().update_lifecycle(lifecycle_id, fields)
+    async def get_lifecycle_by_ids(self, ids):
+        await super().get_lifecycle_by_ids(ids); return []
+    async def find_open_lifecycle(self, decky_name, operation, host_uuid=None):
+        await super().find_open_lifecycle(decky_name, operation, host_uuid); return None
+    async def sweep_stale_lifecycle(self, older_than, reason):
+        await super().sweep_stale_lifecycle(older_than, reason); return 0
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_base_repo_coverage():
@@ -319,6 +330,11 @@ async def test_base_repo_coverage():
         (dr.upsert_decky_shard, ({},)),
         (dr.list_decky_shards, ()),
         (dr.delete_decky_shards_for_host, ("u",)),
+        (dr.create_lifecycle, ({"decky_name": "d", "operation": "deploy"},)),
+        (dr.update_lifecycle, ("id", {})),
+        (dr.get_lifecycle_by_ids, (["id"],)),
+        (dr.find_open_lifecycle, ("d", "deploy")),
+        (dr.sweep_stale_lifecycle, (datetime.now(timezone.utc), "reason")),
         (dr.create_topology, ({},)),
         (dr.get_topology, ("t",)),
         (dr.list_topologies, ()),
diff --git a/tests/db/test_decky_lifecycle.py b/tests/db/test_decky_lifecycle.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..801b8cfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/db/test_decky_lifecycle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+"""DeckyLifecycle repo CRUD + sweep tests.
+
+State machine: pending → running → succeeded | failed.  Rows are
+append-only after terminal; retries write a new row.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from decnet.web.db.factory import get_repository
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+async def repo(tmp_path: Path):
+    r = get_repository(db_path=str(tmp_path / "lifecycle.db"))
+    await r.initialize()
+    return r
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_create_lifecycle_returns_id_and_defaults_pending(repo) -> None:
+    lid = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "decky-01", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+    assert isinstance(lid, str) and lid
+    rows = await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([lid])
+    assert len(rows) == 1
+    row = rows[0]
+    assert row["decky_name"] == "decky-01"
+    assert row["operation"] == "deploy"
+    assert row["status"] == "pending"
+    assert row["error"] is None
+    assert row["completed_at"] is None
+    assert row["started_at"] is not None
+    assert row["updated_at"] is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_update_lifecycle_terminal_stamps_completed_at(repo) -> None:
+    lid = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "decky-01", "operation": "mutate"},
+    )
+    await repo.update_lifecycle(lid, {"status": "running"})
+    rows = await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([lid])
+    assert rows[0]["status"] == "running"
+    assert rows[0]["completed_at"] is None
+
+    await repo.update_lifecycle(
+        lid, {"status": "succeeded"},
+    )
+    rows = await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([lid])
+    assert rows[0]["status"] == "succeeded"
+    assert rows[0]["completed_at"] is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_update_lifecycle_failure_carries_error(repo) -> None:
+    lid = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "decky-01", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+    await repo.update_lifecycle(
+        lid, {"status": "failed", "error": "compose blew up"},
+    )
+    rows = await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([lid])
+    assert rows[0]["status"] == "failed"
+    assert rows[0]["error"] == "compose blew up"
+    assert rows[0]["completed_at"] is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_get_lifecycle_by_ids_empty_list_returns_empty(repo) -> None:
+    assert await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([]) == []
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_get_lifecycle_by_ids_unknown_id_silently_omitted(repo) -> None:
+    lid = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "d", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+    rows = await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([lid, "no-such-id"])
+    assert len(rows) == 1
+    assert rows[0]["id"] == lid
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_find_open_lifecycle_matches_pending_and_running(repo) -> None:
+    p = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "decky-01", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+    found = await repo.find_open_lifecycle("decky-01", "deploy")
+    assert found is not None
+    assert found["id"] == p
+
+    await repo.update_lifecycle(p, {"status": "running"})
+    found = await repo.find_open_lifecycle("decky-01", "deploy")
+    assert found is not None
+    assert found["status"] == "running"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_find_open_lifecycle_skips_terminal_rows(repo) -> None:
+    lid = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "decky-01", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+    await repo.update_lifecycle(lid, {"status": "succeeded"})
+    assert await repo.find_open_lifecycle("decky-01", "deploy") is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_find_open_lifecycle_host_uuid_filter(repo) -> None:
+    a = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "d", "operation": "deploy", "host_uuid": "h1"},
+    )
+    await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "d", "operation": "deploy", "host_uuid": "h2"},
+    )
+    found = await repo.find_open_lifecycle("d", "deploy", host_uuid="h1")
+    assert found is not None
+    assert found["id"] == a
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_sweep_marks_stale_rows_failed(repo) -> None:
+    # Stale: started_at well in the past, still pending.
+    stale_id = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "old", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+    # Force its started_at backwards via update (sweep relies on it).
+    long_ago = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(hours=2)
+    await repo.update_lifecycle(stale_id, {"started_at": long_ago})
+
+    # Fresh: just-created, must NOT be swept.
+    fresh_id = await repo.create_lifecycle(
+        {"decky_name": "new", "operation": "deploy"},
+    )
+
+    cutoff = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(hours=1)
+    swept = await repo.sweep_stale_lifecycle(
+        cutoff, reason="master restarted during operation",
+    )
+    assert swept == 1
+
+    rows = await repo.get_lifecycle_by_ids([stale_id, fresh_id])
+    by_id = {r["id"]: r for r in rows}
+    assert by_id[stale_id]["status"] == "failed"
+    assert by_id[stale_id]["error"] == "master restarted during operation"
+    assert by_id[stale_id]["completed_at"] is not None
+    assert by_id[fresh_id]["status"] == "pending"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.anyio
+async def test_sweep_no_op_when_no_stale_rows(repo) -> None:
+    await repo.create_lifecycle({"decky_name": "d", "operation": "deploy"})
+    cutoff = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(hours=1)
+    assert await repo.sweep_stale_lifecycle(cutoff, reason="x") == 0