diff --git a/.jules/bolt.md b/.jules/bolt.md
index b08b203a..57c56625 100644
--- a/.jules/bolt.md
+++ b/.jules/bolt.md
@@ -4,3 +4,6 @@
 ## 2026-07-12 - Optimize renderTaskRow DOM allocations
 **Learning:** Caching unattached template nodes and instantiating them via `.cloneNode(false)` reduces DOM instantiation overhead in O(N) render loops significantly.
 **Action:** Apply this optimization to other hot-path rendering elements such as rows, cells, and stack containers.
+## 2026-08-05 - Optimize DOM allocations in text/badge cell rendering
+**Learning:** Repeatedly calling document.createElement() in hot O(N) render paths for small elements like text wrappers, owner badges, and status badges causes high JS-to-C++ bridge overhead and GC pressure.
+**Action:** Cache these small structural DOM elements as unattached templates on first use, and instantiate them via .cloneNode(false) to significantly reduce allocation costs.
diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index a04aae71..93c56cbe 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -919,6 +919,10 @@ function createTreeCellContent(value, depth) {
   return treeValue;
 }
 
+// ⚡ Bolt: Cache text cell DOM structures as templates to avoid repetitive document.createElement() overhead
+let textCellWrapperTemplate = null;
+let textCellValidationTemplate = null;
+
 function createTextCellContent(value, warning = '') {
   if (!value) {
     return warning ? createWarningBadge(warning) : createEmptyCell();
@@ -926,10 +930,16 @@ function createTextCellContent(value, warning = '') {
   if (!warning) {
     return document.createTextNode(value);
   }
-  const wrapper = document.createElement('div');
+
+  if (!textCellWrapperTemplate) {
+    textCellWrapperTemplate = document.createElement('div');
+    textCellValidationTemplate = document.createElement('div');
+    textCellValidationTemplate.className = 'validation-message';
+  }
+
+  const wrapper = textCellWrapperTemplate.cloneNode(false);
   wrapper.appendChild(document.createTextNode(value));
-  const validation = document.createElement('div');
-  validation.className = 'validation-message';
+  const validation = textCellValidationTemplate.cloneNode(false);
   validation.textContent = warning;
   wrapper.appendChild(validation);
   return wrapper;
@@ -972,6 +982,7 @@ function createWarningBadge(warning) {
 }
 
 const persistentOwnerColorMap = new Map();
+let ownerBadgeTemplate = null;
 
 function createOwnerCellContent(owner) {
   if (!owner) {
@@ -982,18 +993,27 @@ function createOwnerCellContent(owner) {
     persistentOwnerColorMap.set(owner, OWNER_COLORS[persistentOwnerColorMap.size % OWNER_COLORS.length]);
   }
 
-  const badge = document.createElement('span');
-  badge.className = 'owner-badge';
+  if (!ownerBadgeTemplate) {
+    ownerBadgeTemplate = document.createElement('span');
+    ownerBadgeTemplate.className = 'owner-badge';
+  }
+
+  const badge = ownerBadgeTemplate.cloneNode(false);
   badge.style.background = persistentOwnerColorMap.get(owner);
   badge.textContent = owner;
   return badge;
 }
 
+let statusBadgeTemplate = null;
+
 function createStatusCellContent(progressState) {
   if (!progressState.label) {
     return createEmptyCell();
   }
-  const badge = document.createElement('span');
+  if (!statusBadgeTemplate) {
+    statusBadgeTemplate = document.createElement('span');
+  }
+  const badge = statusBadgeTemplate.cloneNode(false);
   badge.className = `status-badge ${progressState.className}`;
   badge.textContent = progressState.label;
   if (progressState.description) {
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index a1c5e22b..079e2031 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@hono/node-server": "^2.0.12",
-        "hono": "^4.13.1"
+        "hono": "^4.12.32"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@playwright/test": "1.61.1",
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@hono/node-server": {
-      "version": "2.1.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@hono/node-server/-/node-server-2.1.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-XovyyCCnBzW+zKu+z/zq8hwNs4KOR5rEMAOxo2f40Q5xoOI37IMm6MIg2COOUtUApo0i6850MTBKH2u4QLGIqg==",
+      "version": "2.0.12",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@hono/node-server/-/node-server-2.0.12.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-eWpQYr67tqJLeaSUl0Q+TquuYfUdTibpOJlUMV2FfUP7+KqCC5TufnwnlXL6mobZBJbGAYRd7ZvEBDCbLInjhg==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=20"
@@ -382,9 +382,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/hono": {
-      "version": "4.13.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/hono/-/hono-4.13.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-kdJoFVv2xmayw6cY09H7AbMJMt8Jn5jdlEdXsP7AGBdF2DIptVlKlOLKXP41yPip4/a3yQPv9gVcJYI8YY04dw==",
+      "version": "4.12.32",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/hono/-/hono-4.12.32.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-XcuyW9qE2kJn07PkecMOBd5Vq/hMy7mmGw+idz1yblbg9N17ijJODrvPkn7/dwL3Kulj8LcRJ69DLOWf91dRUg==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=16.9.0"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 65735b6f..7790e678 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@hono/node-server": "^2.0.12",
-    "hono": "^4.13.1"
+    "hono": "^4.12.32"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@playwright/test": "1.61.1",