diff --git a/lib/main.dart b/lib/main.dart
index 2c7e5bd..3d92a60 100644
--- a/lib/main.dart
+++ b/lib/main.dart
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import 'widgets/widgets.dart';
 /// Studio's own build version. Bump on every UI commit so the
 /// running app self-identifies — visible in the sidebar header
 /// and quick-glance proof that you're seeing the current build.
-const String kStudioVersion = '0.51.8';
+const String kStudioVersion = '0.51.9';
 
 Future<void> main() async {
   WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
diff --git a/linux/runner/my_application.cc b/linux/runner/my_application.cc
index f3bd58e..1ce191f 100644
--- a/linux/runner/my_application.cc
+++ b/linux/runner/my_application.cc
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ static void my_application_activate(GApplication* application) {
     gtk_window_set_title(window, "F\u2206I Studio");
   }
 
-  gtk_window_set_default_size(window, 1280, 720);
+  gtk_window_set_default_size(window, 1440, 900);
 
   g_autoptr(FlDartProject) project = fl_dart_project_new();
   fl_dart_project_set_dart_entrypoint_arguments(
diff --git a/macos/Runner/MainFlutterWindow.swift b/macos/Runner/MainFlutterWindow.swift
index 3d56843..d479ec9 100644
--- a/macos/Runner/MainFlutterWindow.swift
+++ b/macos/Runner/MainFlutterWindow.swift
@@ -4,15 +4,28 @@ import FlutterMacOS
 class MainFlutterWindow: NSWindow {
   override func awakeFromNib() {
     let flutterViewController = FlutterViewController()
-    let windowFrame = self.frame
     self.contentViewController = flutterViewController
-    self.setFrame(windowFrame, display: true)
 
     // Override the window title so the OS task switcher and
     // window chrome read "F∆I Studio" instead of the
     // pubspec-derived "fai_studio".
     self.title = "F∆I Studio"
 
+    // Pick a comfortable default window size. 1440x900 is the
+    // effective Retina resolution of a 13" MacBook (Stefan's
+    // dev machine) and the smallest "modern desktop" footprint
+    // that comfortably fits the sidebar, content area, and a
+    // tooling panel side-by-side. Clamp to the active screen's
+    // visibleFrame so we never open larger than the display —
+    // important for external monitors at non-Retina scales.
+    if let screen = NSScreen.main {
+      let visible = screen.visibleFrame
+      let targetWidth = min(CGFloat(1440), visible.width)
+      let targetHeight = min(CGFloat(900), visible.height)
+      self.setContentSize(NSSize(width: targetWidth, height: targetHeight))
+      self.center()
+    }
+
     RegisterGeneratedPlugins(registry: flutterViewController)
 
     super.awakeFromNib()
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 0fb50a8..24982bd 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: fai_studio
 description: "F∆I Studio — desktop GUI for the F∆I hub"
 publish_to: 'none'
-version: 0.51.8
+version: 0.51.9
 
 environment:
   sdk: ^3.11.0-200.1.beta
diff --git a/windows/runner/main.cpp b/windows/runner/main.cpp
index f7734db..a24729f 100644
--- a/windows/runner/main.cpp
+++ b/windows/runner/main.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ int APIENTRY wWinMain(_In_ HINSTANCE instance, _In_opt_ HINSTANCE prev,
 
   FlutterWindow window(project);
   Win32Window::Point origin(10, 10);
-  Win32Window::Size size(1280, 720);
+  Win32Window::Size size(1440, 900);
   if (!window.Create(L"F\u2206I Studio", origin, size)) {
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   }