diff --git a/pylings/cli.py b/pylings/cli.py
index 817bafe..2233c4e 100644
--- a/pylings/cli.py
+++ b/pylings/cli.py
@@ -290,14 +290,21 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             return _cmd_reset(args.root, args.name, args.yes)
 
         if args.command in (None, "watch", "start", "topics"):
+            from pylings.core.curriculum import ensure_workspace
+            root, created = ensure_workspace(args.root)
+            if root != args.root.expanduser().resolve():
+                if created:
+                    print(f"No pylings workspace found here; created one at {root}")
+                else:
+                    print(f"Using existing pylings workspace at {root}")
             start_topic = getattr(args, "topic", None)
             if start_topic is not None:
                 from pylings.core.manifest import load as load_manifest
-                if _resolve_topic(load_manifest(args.root), start_topic) is None:
+                if _resolve_topic(load_manifest(root), start_topic) is None:
                     return 2
             from pylings.app import run_tui  # lazy: Textual is heavy
             return run_tui(
-                args.root,
+                root,
                 start_topic,
                 force_picker=args.command == "topics",
                 watch_files=getattr(args, "watch_files", False),
diff --git a/pylings/core/curriculum.py b/pylings/core/curriculum.py
index d59e493..809f718 100644
--- a/pylings/core/curriculum.py
+++ b/pylings/core/curriculum.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class WorkspaceError(RuntimeError):
 
 
 CURRICULUM_DIRS = ("exercises", "checks", "solutions")
+DEFAULT_WORKSPACE_DIRNAME = "pylings-workspace"
 GITIGNORE_LINES = [
     ".pylings/state.json",
     ".pylings_debug.log",
@@ -79,6 +80,26 @@ def init_workspace(path: Path, *, force: bool = False) -> Path:
     return path
 
 
+def ensure_workspace(root: Path) -> tuple[Path, bool]:
+    """Return a usable workspace for `root`, creating one if needed.
+
+    - If `root` is already a workspace (has `info.toml`), use it as-is.
+    - Else if a previously auto-created `root/pylings-workspace` exists, reuse it.
+    - Otherwise initialize a fresh workspace at `root/pylings-workspace`.
+
+    Returns `(workspace_path, created_new)`.
+    """
+    root = root.expanduser().resolve()
+    if (root / "info.toml").exists():
+        return root, False
+
+    default = root / DEFAULT_WORKSPACE_DIRNAME
+    if (default / "info.toml").exists():
+        return default.resolve(), False
+
+    return init_workspace(default), True
+
+
 def update_workspace(path: Path) -> Path:
     path = path.expanduser().resolve()
     if not (path / "info.toml").exists():
diff --git a/pylings/screens/track.py b/pylings/screens/track.py
index ac66dc8..76efeef 100644
--- a/pylings/screens/track.py
+++ b/pylings/screens/track.py
@@ -19,6 +19,17 @@
 _DEBOUNCE_SECONDS = 0.6
 
 
+def celebration_message(total: int) -> str:
+    """Message shown when every exercise in the curriculum is complete."""
+    return (
+        f"🎉  You finished all {total} pylings exercises! 🎉\n\n"
+        "That's the whole curriculum — nicely done.\n"
+        f"Share it: \"I just completed all {total} pylings Python exercises 🎉\"\n"
+        "If pylings helped, a ⭐ on GitHub or a contribution is hugely appreciated.\n\n"
+        "Press Ctrl+Q to quit, or F4 to revisit topics."
+    )
+
+
 class TrackScreen(Screen[None]):
     """One topic's linear track: editor + output + auto-save loop."""
 
@@ -82,7 +93,11 @@ def _initial_exercise(self) -> str | None:
     def _render_state(self) -> None:
         exs = self._exercises()
         done = sum(1 for ex in exs if ex.name in self.app.state.completed)
-        self.query_one(ProgressBar).update_progress(done, len(exs))
+        overall_total = len(self.app.manifest.exercises)
+        overall_done = len(self.app.state.completed)
+        self.query_one(ProgressBar).update_progress(
+            done, len(exs), overall_done, overall_total
+        )
         self.query_one(ExerciseTree).render_topic(
             self.topic, exs, self.app.state.completed, self.current
         )
@@ -175,9 +190,15 @@ def _apply_result(self, exercise: Exercise, result: RunResult) -> None:
         self._render_state()
         if self.current is None:
             self._record_resume(None)
-            self.query_one(OutputPanel).show_final(
-                f"Topic '{self.topic}' complete — press F4 for topics."
-            )
+            all_exercises = self.app.manifest.exercises
+            if next_pending(all_exercises, self.app.state.completed) is None:
+                self.query_one(OutputPanel).show_final(
+                    celebration_message(len(all_exercises))
+                )
+            else:
+                self.query_one(OutputPanel).show_final(
+                    f"Topic '{self.topic}' complete — press F4 for topics."
+                )
             return
         self._load_current()
         self._run_current()
diff --git a/pylings/widgets/progress.py b/pylings/widgets/progress.py
index 76d2a8e..7c44c2e 100644
--- a/pylings/widgets/progress.py
+++ b/pylings/widgets/progress.py
@@ -3,13 +3,37 @@
 
 from textual.widgets import Static
 
+_BAR_WIDTH = 20
+
+
+def _bar(completed: int, total: int) -> tuple[str, float]:
+    pct = (completed / total * 100) if total else 0
+    filled = int(_BAR_WIDTH * pct / 100)
+    return "█" * filled + "░" * (_BAR_WIDTH - filled), pct
+
+
+def format_progress(
+    completed: int, total: int, overall_completed: int, overall_total: int
+) -> str:
+    """Render a one-line progress display showing topic and overall progress."""
+    topic_bar, topic_pct = _bar(completed, total)
+    overall_bar, overall_pct = _bar(overall_completed, overall_total)
+    return (
+        f"Topic: {topic_bar} {completed}/{total} ({topic_pct:.0f}%)"
+        f"   Overall: {overall_bar} {overall_completed}/{overall_total} ({overall_pct:.0f}%)"
+    )
+
 
 class ProgressBar(Static):
     DEFAULT_CSS = ""
 
-    def update_progress(self, completed: int, total: int) -> None:
-        pct = (completed / total * 100) if total else 0
-        bar_width = 20
-        filled = int(bar_width * pct / 100)
-        bar = "█" * filled + "░" * (bar_width - filled)
-        self.update(f"Progress: {bar}  {completed}/{total}  ({pct:.0f}%)")
+    def update_progress(
+        self,
+        completed: int,
+        total: int,
+        overall_completed: int,
+        overall_total: int,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.update(
+            format_progress(completed, total, overall_completed, overall_total)
+        )
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_cli_autoinit.py b/tests/integration/test_cli_autoinit.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f37edc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/test_cli_autoinit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def _run(*args: str) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess[str]:
+    return subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, "-m", "pylings", *args],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+    )
+
+
+def test_launch_in_empty_dir_autoinits_workspace(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    # `start` with a non-existent topic returns before launching the TUI, so we
+    # can assert the auto-init side effect without needing a terminal.
+    _run("--root", str(tmp_path), "start", "__no_such_topic__")
+
+    assert (tmp_path / "pylings-workspace" / "info.toml").exists()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_celebration.py b/tests/unit/test_celebration.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76b25fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_celebration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pylings.screens.track import celebration_message
+
+
+def test_celebration_message_includes_count_and_is_celebratory() -> None:
+    msg = celebration_message(292)
+
+    assert "292" in msg
+    assert "🎉" in msg
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_progress.py b/tests/unit/test_progress.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..721a588
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_progress.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pylings.widgets.progress import format_progress
+
+
+def test_format_progress_shows_topic_and_overall() -> None:
+    line = format_progress(2, 5, 10, 100)
+
+    # topic portion: 2/5 == 40%
+    assert "2/5" in line
+    assert "40%" in line
+    # overall portion: 10/100 == 10%
+    assert "10/100" in line
+    assert "10%" in line
+    assert "Overall" in line
+
+
+def test_format_progress_handles_zero_totals() -> None:
+    line = format_progress(0, 0, 0, 0)
+
+    assert "0/0" in line
+    assert "0%" in line
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_workspace_autoinit.py b/tests/unit/test_workspace_autoinit.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7a31a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_workspace_autoinit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from pylings.core.curriculum import ensure_workspace, init_workspace
+
+
+def test_autoinits_workspace_in_empty_dir(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    work, created = ensure_workspace(tmp_path)
+
+    assert created is True
+    assert work == (tmp_path / "pylings-workspace").resolve()
+    assert (work / "info.toml").exists()
+
+
+def test_returns_root_unchanged_when_already_a_workspace(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    init_workspace(tmp_path)
+
+    work, created = ensure_workspace(tmp_path)
+
+    assert created is False
+    assert work == tmp_path.resolve()
+
+
+def test_reuses_previously_autoinited_workspace(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    first, first_created = ensure_workspace(tmp_path)
+    second, second_created = ensure_workspace(tmp_path)
+
+    assert first_created is True
+    assert second_created is False
+    assert second == first