diff --git a/.github/workflows/quality.yml b/.github/workflows/quality.yml
index 97b7786..8b6432f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/quality.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/quality.yml
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ jobs:
               - '.luarc.json'
               - '*.toml'
             python:
-              - 'scrapers/**'
-              - 'tests/scrapers/**'
+              - 'scripts/**/.py'
+              - 'scrapers/**/*.py'
+              - 'tests/**/*.py'
               - 'pyproject.toml'
               - 'uv.lock'
             markdown:
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install ruff
         run: uv tool install ruff
       - name: Lint Python files with ruff
-        run: ruff check scrapers/ tests/scrapers/
+        run: ruff check scripts/ scrapers/ tests/scrapers/
 
   python-typecheck:
     name: Python Type Check
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies with mypy
         run: uv sync --dev
       - name: Type check Python files with mypy
-        run: uv run mypy scrapers/ tests/scrapers/
+        run: uv run mypy scripts/ scrapers/ tests/scrapers/
 
   markdown-format:
     name: Markdown Format Check
diff --git a/doc/cp.nvim.txt b/doc/cp.nvim.txt
index 5fb4cf2..61d8388 100644
--- a/doc/cp.nvim.txt
+++ b/doc/cp.nvim.txt
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ COMMANDS                                                        *cp-commands*
             :CP pick            Launch configured picker for interactive
                                 platform/contest selection.
 
+            :CP interact [script]
+                                Open an interactive terminal for the current problem.
+                                If an executable interactor is provided, runs the compiled
+                                binary against the source file (see
+                                *cp-interact*). Otherwise, runs the source
+                                file. Only valid for interactive problems.
+
         Navigation Commands ~
             :CP next            Navigate to next problem in current contest.
                                 Stops at last problem (no wrapping).
@@ -78,7 +85,7 @@ COMMANDS                                                        *cp-commands*
 
 Template Variables ~
                                                         *cp-template-vars*
-    Command templates support variable substitution using `{variable}` syntax:
+    Command templates support variable substitution using {variable} syntax:
 
     • {source}      Source file path (e.g. "abc324a.cpp")
     • {binary}      Output binary path (e.g. "build/abc324a.run")
@@ -155,8 +162,8 @@ Here's an example configuration with lazy.nvim:
 <
 
 By default, C++ (g++ with ISO C++17) and Python are preconfigured under
-`languages`. Platforms select which languages are enabled and which one is
-the default; per-platform overrides can tweak `extension` or `commands`.
+'languages'. Platforms select which languages are enabled and which one is
+the default; per-platform overrides can tweak 'extension' or 'commands'.
 
 For example, to run CodeForces contests with Python by default:
 >lua
@@ -398,6 +405,37 @@ Test cases use competitive programming terminology with color highlighting:
     NA      Any other state
 <
 
+==============================================================================
+INTERACTIVE MODE                                                  *cp-interact*
+
+Run interactive problems manually or with an orchestrator. :CP interact is
+available for interactive problems. Test cases are ignored in interactive mode
+(no run panel, no diffs).
+
+When using :CP interact {interactor}, the interactor must be executable
+(chmod +x). Completion after :CP interact suggests executables in CWD.
+
+1) Terminal-only ~
+    :CP interact
+        Execute the current program and open an interactive terminal running
+        it directly. Use this for manual testing.
+
+2) Orchestrated ~
+    :CP interact {interactor}
+        Execute the current program and open an interactive terminal that runs
+        your interactor script against it.
+        {interactor} is an executable file relative to the CWD.
+        Example:
+            :CP interact my-executable-interactor.py
+
+
+Keymaps ~
+    <c-q>   Close the terminal and restore the previous layout.
+
+==============================================================================
+COMMANDS (update)                                             *cp-commands*
+
+
 ==============================================================================
 ANSI COLORS AND HIGHLIGHTING                                    *cp-ansi*
 
diff --git a/lua/cp/commands/cache.lua b/lua/cp/commands/cache.lua
index e7a2c1e..e85e7ea 100644
--- a/lua/cp/commands/cache.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/commands/cache.lua
@@ -43,18 +43,12 @@ function M.handle_cache_command(cmd)
       if vim.tbl_contains(platforms, cmd.platform) then
         cache.clear_platform(cmd.platform)
         logger.log(
-          ('Cache cleared for platform %s'):format(cmd.platform),
+          ("Cache cleared for platform '%s'"):format(constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[cmd.platform]),
           vim.log.levels.INFO,
           true
         )
       else
-        logger.log(
-          ("Unknown platform: '%s'. Available: %s"):format(
-            cmd.platform,
-            table.concat(platforms, ', ')
-          ),
-          vim.log.levels.ERROR
-        )
+        logger.log(("Unknown platform '%s'."):format(cmd.platform), vim.log.levels.ERROR)
       end
     else
       cache.clear_all()
diff --git a/lua/cp/commands/init.lua b/lua/cp/commands/init.lua
index 73f3338..ae07889 100644
--- a/lua/cp/commands/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/commands/init.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ local actions = constants.ACTIONS
 ---@field contest? string
 ---@field platform? string
 ---@field problem_id? string
+---@field interactor_cmd? string
 
 --- Turn raw args into normalized structure to later dispatch
 ---@param args string[] The raw command-line mode args
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ local function parse_command(args)
     if first == 'cache' then
       local subcommand = args[2]
       if not subcommand then
-        return { type = 'error', message = 'cache command requires subcommand: clear' }
+        return { type = 'error', message = 'cache command requires subcommand' }
       end
       if vim.tbl_contains({ 'clear', 'read' }, subcommand) then
         local platform = args[3]
@@ -44,6 +45,13 @@ local function parse_command(args)
       else
         return { type = 'error', message = 'unknown cache subcommand: ' .. subcommand }
       end
+    elseif first == 'interact' then
+      local inter = args[2]
+      if inter and inter ~= '' then
+        return { type = 'action', action = 'interact', interactor_cmd = inter }
+      else
+        return { type = 'action', action = 'interact' }
+      end
     else
       return { type = 'action', action = first }
     end
@@ -99,7 +107,7 @@ function M.handle_command(opts)
     local ui = require('cp.ui.panel')
 
     if cmd.action == 'interact' then
-      ui.toggle_interactive()
+      ui.toggle_interactive(cmd.interactor_cmd)
     elseif cmd.action == 'run' then
       ui.toggle_run_panel()
     elseif cmd.action == 'debug' then
@@ -128,7 +136,11 @@ function M.handle_command(opts)
 
     if not (contest_data and contest_data.index_map and contest_data.index_map[problem_id]) then
       logger.log(
-        ("%s contest '%s' has no problem '%s'."):format(platform, contest_id, problem_id),
+        ("%s contest '%s' has no problem '%s'."):format(
+          constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform],
+          contest_id,
+          problem_id
+        ),
         vim.log.levels.ERROR
       )
       return
diff --git a/lua/cp/pickers/fzf_lua.lua b/lua/cp/pickers/fzf_lua.lua
index da29d74..6735f54 100644
--- a/lua/cp/pickers/fzf_lua.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/pickers/fzf_lua.lua
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ local M = {}
 
 local function contest_picker(platform, refresh)
   local constants = require('cp.constants')
-  local platform_display_name = constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform] or platform
+  local platform_display_name = constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform]
   local fzf = require('fzf-lua')
   local contests = picker_utils.get_platform_contests(platform, refresh)
 
   if vim.tbl_isempty(contests) then
     vim.notify(
-      ('No contests found for platform: %s'):format(platform_display_name),
+      ("No contests found for platform '%s'"):format(platform_display_name),
       vim.log.levels.WARN
     )
     return
diff --git a/lua/cp/scraper.lua b/lua/cp/scraper.lua
index c877f9a..0c3494a 100644
--- a/lua/cp/scraper.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/scraper.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 local M = {}
+
+local constants = require('cp.log')
 local logger = require('cp.log')
 local utils = require('cp.utils')
 
@@ -113,7 +115,10 @@ function M.scrape_contest_metadata(platform, contest_id, callback)
     on_exit = function(result)
       if not result or not result.success then
         logger.log(
-          ("Failed to scrape metadata for %s contest '%s'."):format(platform, contest_id),
+          ("Failed to scrape metadata for %s contest '%s'."):format(
+            constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform],
+            contest_id
+          ),
           vim.log.levels.ERROR
         )
         return
@@ -121,7 +126,10 @@ function M.scrape_contest_metadata(platform, contest_id, callback)
       local data = result.data or {}
       if not data.problems or #data.problems == 0 then
         logger.log(
-          ("No problems returned for %s contest '%s'."):format(platform, contest_id),
+          ("No problems returned for %s contest '%s'."):format(
+            constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform],
+            contest_id
+          ),
           vim.log.levels.ERROR
         )
         return
diff --git a/lua/cp/setup.lua b/lua/cp/setup.lua
index 2ed1747..3406c27 100644
--- a/lua/cp/setup.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/setup.lua
@@ -11,10 +11,7 @@ local platforms = constants.PLATFORMS
 
 function M.set_platform(platform)
   if not vim.tbl_contains(platforms, platform) then
-    logger.log(
-      ('unknown platform: %s. supported: %s'):format(platform, table.concat(platforms, ', ')),
-      vim.log.levels.ERROR
-    )
+    logger.log(("Unknown platform '%s'"):format(platform), vim.log.levels.ERROR)
     return false
   end
   state.set_platform(platform)
@@ -57,7 +54,7 @@ function M.setup_contest(platform, contest_id, problem_id, language)
       logger.log(('Fetching test cases...'):format(cached_len, #problems))
       scraper.scrape_all_tests(platform, contest_id, function(ev)
         local cached_tests = {}
-        if vim.tbl_isempty(ev.tests) then
+        if not ev.interactive and vim.tbl_isempty(ev.tests) then
           logger.log(
             ("No tests found for problem '%s'."):format(ev.problem_id),
             vim.log.levels.WARN
diff --git a/lua/cp/ui/panel.lua b/lua/cp/ui/panel.lua
index 949d503..6cc1526 100644
--- a/lua/cp/ui/panel.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/ui/panel.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ local M = {}
 ---@field debug? boolean
 
 local config_module = require('cp.config')
+local constants = require('cp.constants')
 local layouts = require('cp.ui.layouts')
 local logger = require('cp.log')
 local state = require('cp.state')
@@ -28,7 +29,8 @@ function M.disable()
   end
 end
 
-function M.toggle_interactive()
+---@param interactor_cmd? string
+function M.toggle_interactive(interactor_cmd)
   if state.get_active_panel() == 'interactive' then
     if state.interactive_buf and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(state.interactive_buf) then
       local job = vim.b[state.interactive_buf].terminal_job_id
@@ -42,7 +44,6 @@ function M.toggle_interactive()
       state.saved_interactive_session = nil
     end
     state.set_active_panel(nil)
-    logger.log('Interactive panel closed.')
     return
   end
 
@@ -52,15 +53,16 @@ function M.toggle_interactive()
   end
 
   local platform, contest_id = state.get_platform(), state.get_contest_id()
-
   if not platform then
     logger.log('No platform configured.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
     return
   end
-
   if not contest_id then
     logger.log(
-      ('No contest %s configured for platform %s.'):format(contest_id, platform),
+      ("No contest %s configured for platform '%s'."):format(
+        contest_id,
+        constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform]
+      ),
       vim.log.levels.ERROR
     )
     return
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ function M.toggle_interactive()
 
   local problem_id = state.get_problem_id()
   if not problem_id then
-    logger.log(('No problem found for the current problem id %s'):format(problem_id))
+    logger.log('No problem is active.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
     return
   end
 
@@ -76,10 +78,12 @@ function M.toggle_interactive()
   cache.load()
   local contest_data = cache.get_contest_data(platform, contest_id)
   if
-    contest_data
-    and not contest_data.problems[contest_data.index_map[state.get_problem_id()]].interactive
+    not contest_data
+    or not contest_data.index_map
+    or not contest_data.problems[contest_data.index_map[problem_id]]
+    or not contest_data.problems[contest_data.index_map[problem_id]].interactive
   then
-    logger.log('This is NOT an interactive problem. Use :CP run instead.', vim.log.levels.WARN)
+    logger.log('This problem is not interactive. Use :CP run.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
     return
   end
 
@@ -95,19 +99,104 @@ function M.toggle_interactive()
   end
 
   local binary = state.get_binary_file()
-  if not binary then
-    logger.log('no binary path found', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+  if not binary or binary == '' then
+    logger.log('No binary produced.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
     return
   end
 
-  vim.cmd('terminal')
+  local cmdline
+  if interactor_cmd and interactor_cmd ~= '' then
+    local interactor = interactor_cmd
+    if not interactor:find('/') then
+      interactor = './' .. interactor
+    end
+    if vim.fn.executable(interactor) ~= 1 then
+      logger.log(
+        ("Interactor '%s' is not executable."):format(interactor_cmd),
+        vim.log.levels.ERROR
+      )
+      if state.saved_interactive_session then
+        vim.cmd(('source %s'):format(state.saved_interactive_session))
+        vim.fn.delete(state.saved_interactive_session)
+        state.saved_interactive_session = nil
+      end
+      return
+    end
+    local orchestrator = vim.fn.fnamemodify(utils.get_plugin_path() .. '/scripts/interact.py', ':p')
+    cmdline = table.concat({
+      'uv',
+      'run',
+      vim.fn.shellescape(orchestrator),
+      vim.fn.shellescape(interactor),
+      vim.fn.shellescape(binary),
+    }, ' ')
+  else
+    cmdline = vim.fn.shellescape(binary)
+  end
+
+  vim.cmd('terminal ' .. cmdline)
   local term_buf = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
   local term_win = vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()
 
-  vim.fn.chansend(vim.b.terminal_job_id, binary .. '\n')
+  local cleaned = false
+  local function cleanup()
+    if cleaned then
+      return
+    end
+    cleaned = true
+    if term_buf and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(term_buf) then
+      local job = vim.b[term_buf] and vim.b[term_buf].terminal_job_id or nil
+      if job then
+        pcall(vim.fn.jobstop, job)
+      end
+    end
+    if state.saved_interactive_session then
+      vim.cmd(('source %s'):format(state.saved_interactive_session))
+      vim.fn.delete(state.saved_interactive_session)
+      state.saved_interactive_session = nil
+    end
+    state.interactive_buf = nil
+    state.interactive_win = nil
+    state.set_active_panel(nil)
+  end
+
+  vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd({ 'BufWipeout', 'BufUnload' }, {
+    buffer = term_buf,
+    callback = function()
+      cleanup()
+    end,
+  })
+
+  vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('WinClosed', {
+    callback = function()
+      if cleaned then
+        return
+      end
+      local any = false
+      for _, win in ipairs(vim.api.nvim_list_wins()) do
+        if vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win) and vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win) == term_buf then
+          any = true
+          break
+        end
+      end
+      if not any then
+        cleanup()
+      end
+    end,
+  })
+
+  vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('TermClose', {
+    buffer = term_buf,
+    callback = function()
+      vim.b[term_buf].cp_interactive_exited = true
+    end,
+  })
 
   vim.keymap.set('t', '<c-q>', function()
-    M.toggle_interactive()
+    cleanup()
+  end, { buffer = term_buf, silent = true })
+  vim.keymap.set('n', '<c-q>', function()
+    cleanup()
   end, { buffer = term_buf, silent = true })
 
   state.interactive_buf = term_buf
@@ -149,18 +238,15 @@ function M.toggle_run_panel(run_opts)
 
   if not contest_id then
     logger.log(
-      ('No contest %s configured for platform %s.'):format(contest_id, platform),
+      ("No contest '%s' configured for platform '%s'."):format(
+        contest_id,
+        constants.PLATFORM_DISPLAY_NAMES[platform]
+      ),
       vim.log.levels.ERROR
     )
     return
   end
 
-  local problem_id = state.get_problem_id()
-  if not problem_id then
-    logger.log(('No problem found for the current problem id %s'):format(problem_id))
-    return
-  end
-
   local cache = require('cp.cache')
   cache.load()
   local contest_data = cache.get_contest_data(platform, contest_id)
@@ -172,14 +258,6 @@ function M.toggle_run_panel(run_opts)
     return
   end
 
-  logger.log(
-    ('Run panel: platform=%s, contest=%s, problem=%s'):format(
-      tostring(platform),
-      tostring(contest_id),
-      tostring(problem_id)
-    )
-  )
-
   local config = config_module.get_config()
   local run = require('cp.runner.run')
   local input_file = state.get_input_file()
diff --git a/lua/cp/utils.lua b/lua/cp/utils.lua
index 5fa7c73..e78b056 100644
--- a/lua/cp/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/cp/utils.lua
@@ -228,4 +228,27 @@ function M.timeout_capability()
   return { ok = path ~= nil, path = path, reason = reason }
 end
 
+function M.cwd_executables()
+  local uv = vim.uv or vim.loop
+  local req = uv.fs_scandir('.')
+  if not req then
+    return {}
+  end
+  local out = {}
+  while true do
+    local name, t = uv.fs_scandir_next(req)
+    if not name then
+      break
+    end
+    if t == 'file' or t == 'link' then
+      local path = './' .. name
+      if vim.fn.executable(path) == 1 then
+        out[#out + 1] = name
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  table.sort(out)
+  return out
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/plugin/cp.lua b/plugin/cp.lua
index 7081f15..5d4df32 100644
--- a/plugin/cp.lua
+++ b/plugin/cp.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ if vim.g.loaded_cp then
 end
 vim.g.loaded_cp = 1
 
+local utils = require('cp.utils')
+
 vim.api.nvim_create_user_command('CP', function(opts)
   local cp = require('cp')
   cp.handle_command(opts)
@@ -51,6 +53,11 @@ end, {
         return vim.tbl_filter(function(cmd)
           return cmd:find(ArgLead, 1, true) == 1
         end, { 'clear', 'read' })
+      elseif args[2] == 'interact' then
+        local cands = utils.cwd_executables()
+        return vim.tbl_filter(function(cmd)
+          return cmd:find(ArgLead, 1, true) == 1
+        end, cands)
       end
     elseif num_args == 4 then
       if args[2] == 'cache' and args[3] == 'clear' then
diff --git a/scripts/interact.py b/scripts/interact.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c24173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/interact.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import asyncio
+import shlex
+import sys
+from collections.abc import Sequence
+
+
+async def pump(
+    reader: asyncio.StreamReader, writer: asyncio.StreamWriter | None
+) -> None:
+    while True:
+        data = await reader.readline()
+        if not data:
+            break
+        sys.stdout.buffer.write(data)
+        sys.stdout.flush()
+        if writer:
+            writer.write(data)
+            await writer.drain()
+
+
+async def main(interactor_cmd: Sequence[str], interactee_cmd: Sequence[str]) -> None:
+    interactor = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+        *interactor_cmd,
+        stdin=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+        stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+    )
+    interactee = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+        *interactee_cmd,
+        stdin=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+        stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        interactor.stdout
+        and interactor.stdin
+        and interactee.stdout
+        and interactee.stdin
+    )
+
+    tasks = [
+        asyncio.create_task(pump(interactor.stdout, interactee.stdin)),
+        asyncio.create_task(pump(interactee.stdout, interactor.stdin)),
+    ]
+    await asyncio.wait(tasks, return_when=asyncio.ALL_COMPLETED)
+    await interactor.wait()
+    await interactee.wait()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if len(sys.argv) != 3:
+        print("Usage: interact.py <interactor> <interactee>", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    interactor_cmd = shlex.split(sys.argv[1])
+    interactee_cmd = shlex.split(sys.argv[2])
+
+    asyncio.run(main(interactor_cmd, interactee_cmd))