feat(tests): improve coverage to 56%, add benchmark regression tests

- Add EffectPlugin ABC with @abstractmethod decorators for interface enforcement
- Add runtime interface checking in discover_plugins() with issubclass()
- Add EffectContext factory with sensible defaults
- Standardize Display __init__ (remove redundant init in TerminalDisplay)
- Document effect behavior when ticker_height=0
- Evaluate legacy effects: document coexistence, no deprecation needed
- Research plugin patterns (VST, Python entry points)
- Fix pysixel dependency (removed broken dependency)

Test coverage improvements:
- Add DisplayRegistry tests
- Add MultiDisplay tests
- Add SixelDisplay tests
- Add controller._get_display tests
- Add effects controller command handling tests
- Add benchmark regression tests (@pytest.mark.benchmark)
- Add pytest marker for benchmark tests in pyproject.toml

Documentation updates:
- Update AGENTS.md with 56% coverage stats and effect plugin docs
- Update README.md with Sixel display mode and benchmark commands
- Add new modules to architecture section

engine/effects/__init__.py

@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ from engine.effects.legacy import (
 )
 from engine.effects.performance import PerformanceMonitor, get_monitor, set_monitor
 from engine.effects.registry import EffectRegistry, get_registry, set_registry
-from engine.effects.types import EffectConfig, EffectContext, PipelineConfig
+from engine.effects.types import (
+    EffectConfig,
+    EffectContext,
+    PipelineConfig,
+    create_effect_context,
+)
 
 
 def get_effect_chain():
@@ -25,6 +30,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "EffectConfig",
     "EffectContext",
     "PipelineConfig",
+    "create_effect_context",
     "get_registry",
     "set_registry",
     "get_effect_chain",

engine/effects/legacy.py

@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 """
 Visual effects: noise, glitch, fade, ANSI-aware truncation, firehose, headline pool.
 Depends on: config, terminal, sources.
+
+These are low-level functional implementations of visual effects. They are used
+internally by the EffectPlugin system (effects_plugins/*.py) and also directly
+by layers.py and scroll.py for rendering.
+
+The plugin system provides a higher-level OOP interface with configuration
+support, while these legacy functions provide direct functional access.
+Both systems coexist - there are no current plans to deprecate the legacy functions.
 """
 
 import random

engine/effects/types.py

@@ -1,3 +1,24 @@
+"""
+Visual effects type definitions and base classes.
+
+EffectPlugin Architecture:
+- Uses ABC (Abstract Base Class) for interface enforcement
+- Runtime discovery via directory scanning (effects_plugins/)
+- Configuration via EffectConfig dataclass
+- Context passed through EffectContext dataclass
+
+Plugin System Research (see AGENTS.md for references):
+- VST: Standardized audio interfaces, chaining, presets (FXP/FXB)
+- Python Entry Points: Namespace packages, importlib.metadata discovery
+- Shadertoy: Shader-based with uniforms as context
+
+Current gaps vs industry patterns:
+- No preset save/load system
+- No external plugin distribution via entry points
+- No plugin metadata (version, author, description)
+"""
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -22,15 +43,76 @@ class EffectConfig:
     params: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
 
 
-class EffectPlugin:
+class EffectPlugin(ABC):
+    """Abstract base class for effect plugins.
+
+    Subclasses must define:
+    - name: str - unique identifier for the effect
+    - config: EffectConfig - current configuration
+
+    And implement:
+    - process(buf, ctx) -> list[str]
+    - configure(config) -> None
+
+    Effect Behavior with ticker_height=0:
+    - NoiseEffect: Returns buffer unchanged (no ticker to apply noise to)
+    - FadeEffect: Returns buffer unchanged (no ticker to fade)
+    - GlitchEffect: Processes normally (doesn't depend on ticker_height)
+    - FirehoseEffect: Returns buffer unchanged if no items in context
+
+    Effects should handle missing or zero context values gracefully by
+    returning the input buffer unchanged rather than raising errors.
+    """
+
     name: str
     config: EffectConfig
 
+    @abstractmethod
     def process(self, buf: list[str], ctx: EffectContext) -> list[str]:
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        """Process the buffer with this effect applied.
 
+        Args:
+            buf: List of lines to process
+            ctx: Effect context with terminal state
+
+        Returns:
+            Processed buffer (may be same object or new list)
+        """
+        ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
     def configure(self, config: EffectConfig) -> None:
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        """Configure the effect with new settings.
+
+        Args:
+            config: New configuration to apply
+        """
+        ...
+
+
+def create_effect_context(
+    terminal_width: int = 80,
+    terminal_height: int = 24,
+    scroll_cam: int = 0,
+    ticker_height: int = 0,
+    mic_excess: float = 0.0,
+    grad_offset: float = 0.0,
+    frame_number: int = 0,
+    has_message: bool = False,
+    items: list | None = None,
+) -> EffectContext:
+    """Factory function to create EffectContext with sensible defaults."""
+    return EffectContext(
+        terminal_width=terminal_width,
+        terminal_height=terminal_height,
+        scroll_cam=scroll_cam,
+        ticker_height=ticker_height,
+        mic_excess=mic_excess,
+        grad_offset=grad_offset,
+        frame_number=frame_number,
+        has_message=has_message,
+        items=items or [],
+    )
 
 
 @dataclass