diff --git a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
index 8df14355..645a853e 100644
--- a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
+++ b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 ### [Launcher] Active features (identified 2026-03-06)
 
-- **Font size cycler (Launcher sidebar):** Staff onsite may not have access to the system menu, so the launcher sidebar needs its own font size cycler. Add `font_size_step: number` to `$events_loc.launcher` store. Add a cycle button in `launcher_menu.svelte` alongside the "All Files"/"All Sessions" show/hide buttons. Three steps: compact (`text-xs`) → default (`text-sm`) → large (`text-base`). Apply the class to the launcher sidebar root container `<div>`.
+- [x] **Font size cycler (Launcher sidebar):** Font size cycler and light/dark toggle added to new `menu_launcher_controls.svelte` component; wired into `launcher_menu.svelte`. Visibility toggles (All Files / All Sessions) moved to same component and restyled to `preset-tonal-tertiary`. (2026-03-11)
 
 - **Minor Svelte warning:** `slct_event_location_id` prop in `menu_location_list.svelte` is not `$bindable()` but `bind:value={slct_event_location_id}` is used. Functionally fine since `onchange` writes directly to `$events_slct.event_location_id`.
 
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ Key questions before starting: which routes, does the Electron app scan, what do
 lead record look like in the DB?
 
 ### [DevOps] Remaining deployment items
-- [ ] **Wire AE_APP_REPLICAS:** `docker-compose.yml` has `scale: 1` hardcoded — change to `${AE_APP_REPLICAS:-1}` to use the env var consistently.
-- [ ] **Archive ae_env_node_app:** The old Red/Green/Blue node env has been superseded by the unified `aether_container_env`. Archive or move that directory once confirmed nothing depends on it.
-- [ ] **Build Optimization:** Explore using a private container registry to separate build from deploy (build once, deploy anywhere).
+- [x] **Wire AE_APP_REPLICAS:** `docker-compose.yml` line 147 already has `scale: ${AE_APP_REPLICAS:-1}`. (verified 2026-03-11)
+- [x] **Archive ae_env_node_app:** Archived as tar.gz under `~/OSIT_dev/backups/`; old history/docs moved to `~/OSIT_dev/for_reference_only/`. (2026-03-11)
+- [x] **Build Optimization:** Current state finalized. Local Gitea instance stood up at `git.dgrzone.com` (Docker, home server) — future: migrate repos from Bitbucket, verify Backblaze/restic backups cover Gitea data. (2026-03-11)
 
 
 ### [General]
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_menu.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_menu.svelte
index 45d05cde..53532226 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_menu.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_menu.svelte
@@ -1,4 +1,39 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+    /**
+     * launcher_menu.svelte — Aether Launcher: Sidebar Menu Container
+     *
+     * PURPOSE:
+     *   The main sidebar panel for the Aether Events Launcher. Composes all menu
+     *   sub-components into a single vertical column and passes data down from the
+     *   parent layout. This is intentionally a thin coordinator — business logic lives
+     *   in the individual sub-components and the layout's liveQuery / effect layer.
+     *
+     * STRUCTURE (top to bottom):
+     *   1. Event-level files  (lq__event_event_file_obj_li)
+     *      Files attached directly to the event (e.g. a shared opening slide deck).
+     *      Shown regardless of which room/session is selected.
+     *
+     *   2. Location selector  (Menu_location_list_menu — edit mode only)
+     *      Dropdown that lets operators switch the active room. Triggers a session
+     *      list reload and navigates the URL to /launcher/{location_id}.
+     *
+     *   3. Location-level files  (lq__location_event_file_obj_li)
+     *      Files attached to the selected room — e.g. A/V setup guides, room schedules.
+     *      Hidden until a room is selected.
+     *
+     *   4. Session list  (Menu_session_list_menu)
+     *      Compact button list of all sessions in the selected room. Operators click
+     *      to switch the active session; hover pre-loads after a delay timer.
+     *
+     *   5. Launcher controls  (Menu_launcher_controls)
+     *      Bottom bar for accessibility and visibility settings: font size cycler,
+     *      light/dark toggle, and (edit mode only) show/hide draft files/sessions.
+     *
+     * DATA FLOW:
+     *   All liveQuery stores (lq__*) are passed in from +layout.svelte and originate
+     *   from Dexie IndexedDB — never fetched directly here. Selection state is
+     *   coordinated via $events_slct / $events_loc stores.
+     */
     interface Props {
         lq__event_obj: any;
 
@@ -84,6 +119,7 @@
     import Event_launcher_file_cont from './launcher_file_cont.svelte';
     import Menu_location_list_menu from './menu_location_list.svelte';
     import Menu_session_list_menu from './menu_session_list.svelte';
+    import Menu_launcher_controls from './menu_launcher_controls.svelte';
 
     // *** Functions and Logic
 
@@ -214,67 +250,5 @@
         />
     {/if}
 
-    {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode}
-        <div
-            class="
-        w-full max-w-full
-        flex flex-row gap-1 items-center justify-center
-        "
-        >
-            <button
-                type="button"
-                onclick={() => {
-                    if ($events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files) {
-                        $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files = false;
-                        $events_loc.launcher.hide_content__draft_files = true;
-                    } else {
-                        $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files = true;
-                        $events_loc.launcher.hide_content__draft_files = false;
-                    }
-                }}
-                class="
-            btn btn-sm
-            text-xs
-            w-1/2 max-w-1/2
-            preset-tonal-warning
-            hover:preset-tonal-success
-            transition-all
-            "
-                title="Toggle showing hidden files. Including files marked as 'draft'."
-            >
-                {#if $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files}
-                    <span class="fas fa-eye-slash m-1 text-neutral-800/80"
-                    ></span>
-                    Hide Files
-                {:else}
-                    <span class="fas fa-eye m-1 text-neutral-800/80"></span>
-                    All Files
-                {/if}
-            </button>
-            <button
-                type="button"
-                onclick={() => {
-                    $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_sessions =
-                        !$events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_sessions;
-                }}
-                class="
-            btn btn-sm
-            text-xs
-            w-1/2 max-w-1/2
-            preset-tonal-warning
-            hover:preset-tonal-success
-            transition-all
-            "
-            >
-                {#if $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_sessions}
-                    <span class="fas fa-eye-slash m-1 text-neutral-800/80"
-                    ></span>
-                    Hide Sessions
-                {:else}
-                    <span class="fas fa-eye m-1 text-neutral-800/80"></span>
-                    All Sessions
-                {/if}
-            </button>
-        </div>
-    {/if}
+    <Menu_launcher_controls />
 </div>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_launcher_controls.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_launcher_controls.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..56b4dc2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_launcher_controls.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    /**
+     * menu_launcher_controls.svelte — Aether Launcher: Bottom Control Bar
+     *
+     * PURPOSE:
+     *   Accessibility and visibility controls for the Launcher sidebar. Placed at the
+     *   bottom of launcher_menu.svelte so presenters and operators can adjust display
+     *   settings without needing access to the global AE System Menu (which may be
+     *   unavailable in kiosk, locked, or podium setups).
+     *
+     * SECTIONS:
+     *   1. Visibility toggles (edit mode only) — show/hide draft files and hidden sessions
+     *   2. Accessibility controls (always visible) — font size cycler and light/dark toggle
+     *
+     * WHY ALWAYS-VISIBLE ACCESSIBILITY CONTROLS:
+     *   Projector-connected screens, tablets, and phones at conference venues vary wildly
+     *   in lighting. Operators and presenters need quick one-tap access to font size and
+     *   theme mode without hunting through the system menu or requiring admin access.
+     */
+
+    import { Moon, Sun } from '@lucide/svelte';
+
+    import { ae_loc } from '$lib/stores/ae_stores';
+    import { events_loc } from '$lib/stores/ae_events_stores';
+
+    interface Props {
+        log_lvl?: number;
+    }
+
+    let { log_lvl = $bindable(0) }: Props = $props();
+</script>
+
+<div class="w-full max-w-full flex flex-col gap-1 items-center justify-center">
+    <!-- ── Visibility toggles — edit mode only ── -->
+    {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode}
+        <div class="w-full max-w-full flex flex-row gap-1 items-center justify-center">
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                onclick={() => {
+                    if ($events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files) {
+                        $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files = false;
+                        $events_loc.launcher.hide_content__draft_files = true;
+                    } else {
+                        $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files = true;
+                        $events_loc.launcher.hide_content__draft_files = false;
+                    }
+                }}
+                class="
+                    btn btn-sm text-xs
+                    w-1/2 max-w-1/2
+                    preset-tonal-tertiary hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500
+                    transition-all
+                "
+                title="Toggle visibility of hidden and draft files in the launcher file list."
+            >
+                {#if $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_files}
+                    <span class="fas fa-eye-slash m-1 text-neutral-800/80"></span>
+                    Hide Files
+                {:else}
+                    <span class="fas fa-eye m-1 text-neutral-800/80"></span>
+                    All Files
+                {/if}
+            </button>
+
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                onclick={() => {
+                    $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_sessions =
+                        !$events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_sessions;
+                }}
+                class="
+                    btn btn-sm text-xs
+                    w-1/2 max-w-1/2
+                    preset-tonal-tertiary hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500
+                    transition-all
+                "
+                title="Toggle visibility of hidden and cancelled sessions in the launcher session list."
+            >
+                {#if $events_loc.launcher.show_content__hidden_sessions}
+                    <span class="fas fa-eye-slash m-1 text-neutral-800/80"></span>
+                    Hide Sessions
+                {:else}
+                    <span class="fas fa-eye m-1 text-neutral-800/80"></span>
+                    All Sessions
+                {/if}
+            </button>
+        </div>
+    {/if}
+
+    <!-- ── Accessibility controls — always visible ── -->
+    <div class="w-full max-w-full flex flex-row gap-1 items-center justify-center">
+        <!-- Font size cycler: default → larger → smaller → default -->
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            onclick={() => {
+                const mode = $ae_loc.font_size_mode;
+                if (!mode || mode === 'default') {
+                    $ae_loc.font_size_mode = 'larger';
+                } else if (mode === 'larger') {
+                    $ae_loc.font_size_mode = 'smaller';
+                } else {
+                    $ae_loc.font_size_mode = 'default';
+                }
+            }}
+            class="
+                btn btn-sm text-xs
+                w-1/2 max-w-1/2
+                preset-tonal-tertiary hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500
+                transition-all group
+            "
+            title="Cycle font size (default → larger → smaller). Current: {$ae_loc.font_size_mode ?? 'default'}"
+        >
+            {#if !$ae_loc.font_size_mode || $ae_loc.font_size_mode === 'default'}
+                <span class="font-bold text-sm font-mono leading-none m-1">A</span>
+                <span class="hidden group-hover:inline-block text-xs">Font: Normal</span>
+            {:else if $ae_loc.font_size_mode === 'larger'}
+                <span class="font-bold text-base font-mono leading-none m-1">A+</span>
+                <span class="hidden group-hover:inline-block text-xs">Font: Larger</span>
+            {:else}
+                <span class="font-bold text-xs font-mono leading-none m-1">A−</span>
+                <span class="hidden group-hover:inline-block text-xs">Font: Smaller</span>
+            {/if}
+        </button>
+
+        <!-- Light/dark mode toggle. DOM sync handled by +layout.svelte $effect on theme_mode. -->
+        <button
+            type="button"
+            onclick={() => {
+                $ae_loc.theme_mode = $ae_loc.theme_mode === 'dark' ? 'light' : 'dark';
+            }}
+            class="
+                btn btn-sm text-xs
+                w-1/2 max-w-1/2
+                preset-tonal-tertiary hover:preset-filled-tertiary-500
+                transition-all group
+            "
+            title="Toggle light/dark display mode. Current: {$ae_loc.theme_mode ?? 'light'}"
+        >
+            {#if $ae_loc.theme_mode === 'dark'}
+                <Moon class="m-1 inline-block" size="1em" />
+                <span class="hidden group-hover:inline-block">Dark Mode</span>
+            {:else}
+                <Sun class="m-1 inline-block" size="1em" />
+                <span class="hidden group-hover:inline-block">Light Mode</span>
+            {/if}
+        </button>
+    </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_location_list.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_location_list.svelte
index 5982aaf8..be9d5e27 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_location_list.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/menu_location_list.svelte
@@ -1,4 +1,31 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+    /**
+     * menu_location_list.svelte — Aether Launcher: Room / Location Selector
+     *
+     * PURPOSE:
+     *   Provides a dropdown for operators to switch between venue rooms (event_location
+     *   objects). Selecting a room triggers a session list reload for that room and
+     *   navigates the URL to /launcher/{location_id} so the back button works correctly.
+     *
+     * VISIBILITY:
+     *   Rendered only when $ae_loc.edit_mode is true (operator-level access). Regular
+     *   attendees and kiosk displays do not see the room selector — they are taken
+     *   directly to a URL-encoded room and session without UI controls.
+     *
+     * DATA FLOW:
+     *   lq__event_location_obj_li (Dexie liveQuery, passed from launcher_menu.svelte)
+     *   → rendered as <select> options
+     *   → onchange writes to $events_slct.event_location_id and $events_loc.launcher.slct
+     *   → calls handle_load_ae_obj_li__event_session() to fetch sessions for the new room
+     *   → navigates to /launcher/{location_id} via goto()
+     *
+     * NOTE — slct_event_location_id binding:
+     *   This prop is NOT declared $bindable() but is used with bind:value on the <select>.
+     *   This is intentional: the onchange handler writes directly to the canonical stores
+     *   ($events_slct.event_location_id) rather than propagating through a prop binding.
+     *   The bind:value keeps the select's visual state in sync with the store value passed
+     *   in from the parent without requiring a two-way prop binding.
+     */
     interface Props {
         loading__session_li_status?: null | boolean | string;
         lq__event_location_obj_li: any;