diff --git a/pkg/coredeno/coredeno.go b/pkg/coredeno/coredeno.go
index 8055087..a45bbe5 100644
--- a/pkg/coredeno/coredeno.go
+++ b/pkg/coredeno/coredeno.go
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ type Sidecar struct {
 	cmd    *exec.Cmd
 	ctx    context.Context
 	cancel context.CancelFunc
+	done   chan struct{}
 }
 
 // NewSidecar creates a Sidecar with the given options.
diff --git a/pkg/coredeno/lifecycle.go b/pkg/coredeno/lifecycle.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61d5a7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/coredeno/lifecycle.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package coredeno
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+// Start launches the Deno sidecar process with the given entrypoint args.
+func (s *Sidecar) Start(ctx context.Context, args ...string) error {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if s.cmd != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("coredeno: already running")
+	}
+
+	// Ensure socket directory exists
+	sockDir := filepath.Dir(s.opts.SocketPath)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(sockDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("coredeno: mkdir %s: %w", sockDir, err)
+	}
+
+	// Remove stale socket
+	os.Remove(s.opts.SocketPath)
+
+	s.ctx, s.cancel = context.WithCancel(ctx)
+	s.cmd = exec.CommandContext(s.ctx, s.opts.DenoPath, args...)
+	s.done = make(chan struct{})
+	if err := s.cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+		s.cmd = nil
+		s.cancel()
+		return fmt.Errorf("coredeno: start: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Monitor in background — waits for exit, then signals done
+	go func() {
+		s.cmd.Wait()
+		s.mu.Lock()
+		s.cmd = nil
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+		close(s.done)
+	}()
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Stop cancels the context and waits for the process to exit.
+func (s *Sidecar) Stop() error {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	if s.cmd == nil {
+		s.mu.RUnlock()
+		return nil
+	}
+	done := s.done
+	s.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	s.cancel()
+	<-done
+	return nil
+}
+
+// IsRunning returns true if the sidecar process is alive.
+func (s *Sidecar) IsRunning() bool {
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
+	return s.cmd != nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/coredeno/lifecycle_test.go b/pkg/coredeno/lifecycle_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8ff90f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/coredeno/lifecycle_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package coredeno
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestStart_Good(t *testing.T) {
+	sockDir := t.TempDir()
+	sc := NewSidecar(Options{
+		DenoPath:   "sleep",
+		SocketPath: filepath.Join(sockDir, "test.sock"),
+	})
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	err := sc.Start(ctx, "10") // sleep 10 — will be killed by Stop
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, sc.IsRunning())
+
+	err = sc.Stop()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, sc.IsRunning())
+}
+
+func TestStop_Good_NotStarted(t *testing.T) {
+	sc := NewSidecar(Options{DenoPath: "sleep"})
+	err := sc.Stop()
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "stopping a not-started sidecar should be a no-op")
+}
+
+func TestSocketDirCreated_Good(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	sockPath := filepath.Join(dir, "sub", "deno.sock")
+	sc := NewSidecar(Options{
+		DenoPath:   "sleep",
+		SocketPath: sockPath,
+	})
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	err := sc.Start(ctx, "10")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer sc.Stop()
+
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "sub"))
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "socket directory should be created")
+}