diff --git a/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tool_builder_page.py b/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tool_builder_page.py
index 02f1e04..8883b1c 100644
--- a/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tool_builder_page.py
+++ b/src/cmdforge/gui/pages/tool_builder_page.py
@@ -133,31 +133,31 @@ class ToolBuilderPage(QWidget):
 
         left_layout.addWidget(args_box)
 
-        # Dependencies group
+        # Dependencies group (compact - doesn't stretch)
         deps_box = QGroupBox()
         deps_layout = QVBoxLayout(deps_box)
+        deps_layout.setContentsMargins(9, 9, 9, 9)
+        deps_layout.setSpacing(8)
 
         deps_label = QLabel("Dependencies")
         deps_label.setObjectName("sectionHeading")
         deps_label.setToolTip(
-            "<p>Dependencies are other CmdForge tools this tool requires.</p>"
-            "<p>If your code steps call other tools via subprocess,<br>"
-            "declare them here so the dependency system knows about them.</p>"
-            "<p>Use this when you can't use a Tool step directly<br>"
-            "(e.g., calling tools in a loop or with complex logic).</p>"
+            "Declare tools called via subprocess in code steps. "
+            "Tool steps are automatically included when saved."
         )
         deps_layout.addWidget(deps_label)
 
         self.deps_list = QListWidget()
-        self.deps_list.setMaximumHeight(100)
+        self.deps_list.setMaximumHeight(80)
+        self.deps_list.setMinimumHeight(60)
         deps_layout.addWidget(self.deps_list)
 
         # Dependency add row: combo + add button
         deps_add_row = QHBoxLayout()
+        deps_add_row.setSpacing(6)
         self.deps_combo = QComboBox()
         self.deps_combo.setEditable(True)
         self.deps_combo.setPlaceholderText("Select or type tool name...")
-        self.deps_combo.setToolTip("Select an installed tool or type a tool reference (e.g., official/summarize)")
         self._populate_deps_combo()
         deps_add_row.addWidget(self.deps_combo, 1)
 
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ class ToolBuilderPage(QWidget):
         deps_layout.addLayout(deps_add_row)
 
         left_layout.addWidget(deps_box)
+        left_layout.addStretch()  # Push everything up, deps_box won't stretch
 
         splitter.addWidget(left)