Prepare ConfigKit v0.7.1 release

README.md

@@ -5,18 +5,26 @@ An opinionated Go library for applications that use YAML configuration files.
 Linux is release-validated; macOS support is best-effort. See the
 [platform support policy](docs/policy/release.md#platform-support) for details.
 
-ConfigKit's initial loader accepts one strict YAML
+ConfigKit's simple `Load` accepts one strict YAML source (or explicit
-source (or explicit defaults-only input), optionally traverses explicit path and glob
+defaults-only input). `LoadLayered` additionally combines explicit lower-priority
-imports, strictly composes their disjoint definitions, applies typed defaults, and
+source groups with an independently selected main input. Sources can be host
-can overlay one selected fixed overlay and check an application schema version. It
+files, native `fs.FS` files, labeled bytes or readers, or snapshotted mappings.
-returns detached metadata and safe diagnostics.
+Enabled path and glob imports compose strictly within their group; precedence
+between groups combines mappings recursively. Both entry points return a complete,
+validated configuration with detached metadata and safe diagnostics.
 Applications may perform audited defaulting and normalization through a resolver,
 then report domain errors and warnings through read-only semantic validation. Secret
 tags and a path predicate drive deterministic redacted effective YAML. Typed secret
 references resolve environment names before validation, and explicit
 secrets-directory bootstrap is available as a separate startup operation. Explicit
 CLI override records apply above overlays. Value explanation is available through
-detached structured records and deterministic redacted output.
+detached structured records and deterministic redacted output. Built-in
+`extends` relationships let a mapping inherit from a named sibling during the
+same load, retaining explicit presence and source/derivation history. The root
+`Diff` API compares frozen effective values from two successful same-type loads;
+the [configuration contract](docs/config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) and
+[consumer guide](docs/consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs) describe
+its safe changed-region records and maintained workflows.
 
 ```go
 type Config struct {
@@ -33,11 +41,37 @@ func ReadConfig(path string) (Config, error) {
 }
 ```
 
+## Design philosophy
+
+ConfigKit favors one coherent, predictable configuration model over flexibility
+for reproducing each consumer's conventions. Its goal is to let applications
+load once, inspect where final values came from, and distinguish explicit values
+from omissions with minimal configuration bookkeeping. Applications retain their
+domain rules and execution responsibilities.
+
+Loading is synchronous and complete on return. Applications normally load once
+near startup and then use the final configuration and metadata; ConfigKit stays
+inactive until explicitly called again. Applications may initiate additional
+loads as needed. See the [loading lifecycle](docs/config.md#completion-and-resource-lifetime)
+for completion and ownership details.
+
+Within a configuration tier, independent contributions compose strictly: shared
+mappings combine, while overlapping non-mapping definitions are errors. Between
+precedence tiers, mappings combine recursively, retaining omitted lower-priority
+children; other values replace lower-priority values. The main document and its
+imports form one strictly composed tier. Explicit underlay groups sit below it
+and above typed defaults; a selected overlay and explicit CLI overrides sit
+above it. The [configuration contract](docs/config.md#strict-document-composition)
+owns the detailed combination rules and input-specific constraints.
+
+The [architecture goals](docs/policy/architecture.md#success-criteria) explain
+these priorities and how genuine new needs can justify extending the shared
+model. The [deferred scope](docs/roadmap/deferred.md) records deliberate exclusions.
+
 The [configuration contract](docs/config.md) describes implemented behavior. The
-[consumer adoption guide](docs/consumers/README.md) provides maintained Narratio-,
+[consumer adoption guide](docs/consumers/README.md) provides maintained simple
-Notarius-, WeatherReporter-, and Seriatim-shaped examples and migration guidance.
+native-filesystem, layered, and sibling-inheritance examples alongside the migration shapes.
-The [deferred scope](docs/roadmap/deferred.md) records deliberate exclusions. See the
+See the [development guide](docs/development.md) for repository orientation and the
-[development guide](docs/development.md) for repository orientation and the
 [release procedure](docs/release.md) for maintainer-only candidate and publication
 steps.
 

conversion.go

@@ -43,16 +43,36 @@ func toEngineLocations(values []Location) []engine.Location {
 	return result
 }
 func fromEngineSourceInfo(value engine.SourceInfo) SourceInfo {
-	return SourceInfo{ID: value.ID, Label: value.Label, Path: value.Path, Layer: Layer(value.Layer), ImportedFrom: fromEngineLocationPointer(value.ImportedFrom)}
+	return SourceInfo{ID: value.ID, Label: value.Label, Path: value.Path, Layer: Layer(value.Layer), Kind: SourceKind(value.Kind), UnderlayIndex: value.UnderlayIndex, ImportedFrom: fromEngineLocationPointer(value.ImportedFrom)}
 }
 func toEngineSourceInfo(value SourceInfo) engine.SourceInfo {
-	return engine.SourceInfo{ID: value.ID, Label: value.Label, Path: value.Path, Layer: engine.Layer(value.Layer), ImportedFrom: toEngineLocationPointer(value.ImportedFrom)}
+	return engine.SourceInfo{ID: value.ID, Label: value.Label, Path: value.Path, Layer: engine.Layer(value.Layer), Kind: engine.SourceKind(value.Kind), UnderlayIndex: value.UnderlayIndex, ImportedFrom: toEngineLocationPointer(value.ImportedFrom)}
 }
 func fromEngineOrigin(value engine.Origin) Origin {
-	return Origin{Layer: Layer(value.Layer), Locations: fromEngineLocations(value.Locations), Operation: ChangeKind(value.Operation)}
+	result := Origin{Layer: Layer(value.Layer), Locations: fromEngineLocations(value.Locations), Operation: ChangeKind(value.Operation)}
+	if value.Inheritance != nil {
+		result.Inheritance = make([]InheritanceStep, len(value.Inheritance))
+		for index, step := range value.Inheritance {
+			result.Inheritance[index] = InheritanceStep{
+				From: fromEnginePath(step.From), To: fromEnginePath(step.To), Reference: fromEnginePath(step.Reference),
+				Locations: fromEngineLocations(step.Locations),
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return result
 }
 func toEngineOrigin(value Origin) engine.Origin {
-	return engine.Origin{Layer: engine.Layer(value.Layer), Locations: toEngineLocations(value.Locations), Operation: engine.ChangeKind(value.Operation)}
+	result := engine.Origin{Layer: engine.Layer(value.Layer), Locations: toEngineLocations(value.Locations), Operation: engine.ChangeKind(value.Operation)}
+	if value.Inheritance != nil {
+		result.Inheritance = make([]engine.InheritanceStep, len(value.Inheritance))
+		for index, step := range value.Inheritance {
+			result.Inheritance[index] = engine.InheritanceStep{
+				From: toEnginePath(step.From), To: toEnginePath(step.To), Reference: toEnginePath(step.Reference),
+				Locations: toEngineLocations(step.Locations),
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return result
 }
 func fromEngineDiagnostic(value engine.Diagnostic) Diagnostic {
 	return Diagnostic{Code: Code(value.Code), Severity: Severity(value.Severity), Path: fromEnginePath(value.Path), Message: value.Message, Primary: fromEngineLocationPointer(value.Primary), Related: fromEngineLocations(value.Related)}

development_check_test.go

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func TestDevelopmentCheckHandlesFilenamesAndStopsOnFailure(t *testing.T) {
 						t.Fatal(err)
 					}
 					cmd := exec.Command("/bin/bash", filepath.Join(root, "scripts", scriptName))
-					cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "PATH="+bin+string(os.PathListSeparator)+os.Getenv("PATH"), "CONFIGKIT_BASELINE_TOOLCHAIN=test-baseline", "CONFIGKIT_NEWER_TOOLCHAIN=", "CONFIGKIT_TEST_FMT_LOG="+log, "CONFIGKIT_TEST_GO_LOG="+calls)
+					cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), "PATH="+bin+string(os.PathListSeparator)+os.Getenv("PATH"), "CONFIGKIT_TEST_FMT_LOG="+log, "CONFIGKIT_TEST_GO_LOG="+calls)
 					// Log only targets selected by the script, not inherited host settings.
 					cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "GOOS=", "GOARCH=")
 					if name == "failed-go-check" {
@@ -108,90 +108,3 @@ func TestDevelopmentCheckHandlesFilenamesAndStopsOnFailure(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
-
-func TestCheckScriptsReleaseGates(t *testing.T) {
-	script, err := os.ReadFile("scripts/release-check.sh")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	for _, scenario := range []string{"success", "failed-test", "missing-toolchain"} {
-		t.Run(scenario, func(t *testing.T) {
-			root := t.TempDir()
-			bin := t.TempDir()
-			for _, directory := range []string{"scripts", "nested"} {
-				if err := os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(root, directory), 0700); err != nil {
-					t.Fatal(err)
-				}
-			}
-			checker := filepath.Join(root, "scripts", "release-check.sh")
-			if err := os.WriteFile(checker, script, 0700); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			calls := filepath.Join(bin, "go.calls")
-			goStub := `#!/bin/sh
-printf '%s|%s|%s|%s|%s|%s\n' "$GOTOOLCHAIN" "$GOPROXY" "${CGO_ENABLED-}" "${GOOS-}" "${GOARCH-}" "$*" >> "$CONFIGKIT_TEST_GO_LOG"
-if [ "${CONFIGKIT_TEST_FAIL-}" = toolchain ] && [ "${1-}" = version ]; then exit 37; fi
-if [ "${CONFIGKIT_TEST_FAIL-}" = test ] && [ "${1-}" = test ]; then exit 37; fi
-`
-			if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(bin, "go"), []byte(goStub), 0700); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			cmd := exec.Command("/bin/bash", checker)
-			cmd.Dir = filepath.Join(root, "nested")
-			cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(),
-				"PATH="+bin+string(os.PathListSeparator)+os.Getenv("PATH"),
-				"CONFIGKIT_BASELINE_TOOLCHAIN=test-baseline",
-				"CONFIGKIT_TEST_GO_LOG="+calls,
-				"GOOS=", "GOARCH=", "CGO_ENABLED=",
-			)
-			switch scenario {
-			case "failed-test":
-				cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "CONFIGKIT_TEST_FAIL=test")
-			case "missing-toolchain":
-				cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "CONFIGKIT_TEST_FAIL=toolchain")
-			}
-			output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
-			if scenario == "success" && err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("checker: %v\n%s", err, output)
-			}
-			if scenario != "success" && err == nil {
-				t.Fatalf("checker accepted %s", scenario)
-			}
-			data, err := os.ReadFile(calls)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(string(data)), "\n")
-			for _, line := range lines {
-				if !strings.HasPrefix(line, "test-baseline|off|") {
-					t.Fatalf("toolchain or offline setting lost: %q", line)
-				}
-			}
-			if scenario == "missing-toolchain" {
-				if len(lines) != 1 || !strings.HasSuffix(lines[0], "|version") {
-					t.Fatalf("checker ran after unavailable toolchain: %q", lines)
-				}
-				return
-			}
-			if len(lines) < 2 || lines[1] != "test-baseline|off||||test -mod=readonly -vet=off -race -v ./..." {
-				t.Fatalf("release suite command changed: %q", lines)
-			}
-			if scenario == "failed-test" {
-				if len(lines) != 2 {
-					t.Fatalf("checker continued after failure: %q", lines)
-				}
-				return
-			}
-			want := []string{
-				"test-baseline|off||||version",
-				"test-baseline|off||||test -mod=readonly -vet=off -race -v ./...",
-				"test-baseline|off||||vet -mod=readonly ./...",
-				"test-baseline|off|0|linux|amd64|build -mod=readonly ./...",
-				"test-baseline|off|0|linux|arm64|build -mod=readonly ./...",
-			}
-			if strings.Join(lines, "\n") != strings.Join(want, "\n") {
-				t.Fatalf("unexpected release gates:\n%s", data)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}

diff.go

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package configkit
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/engine"
+
+// Difference describes one canonical changed region between two successful
+// loads. Left is the earlier value and Right is the later value. Each snapshot
+// is detached; Present distinguishes absence from an explicit null, and
+// Redacted reports whether combined sensitivity affected that side. Mappings
+// are compared recursively, while sequences are reported as atomic values.
+// Records are ordered by canonical JSON pointer. HiddenChanged indicates that
+// a value concealed by combined sensitivity changed, without revealing which
+// concealed member changed.
+type Difference struct {
+	Path          Path
+	Left          ValueSnapshot
+	Right         ValueSnapshot
+	HiddenChanged bool
+}
+
+// Diff compares the frozen effective values of two successful loads of the
+// same configuration type. It does not reread sources, environment variables,
+// or rerun defaults or resolvers. Equal values produce no records even when
+// their sources, defaults, or resolution histories differ. Credential contents
+// are not compared: typed secret references compare by reference name only.
+//
+// Both results must be non-nil successful loads with inspection state; nil or
+// zero results return an error and no records. Load errors are returned by
+// Load, so callers must handle those before calling Diff. Snapshots are safe
+// for presentation but are not a complete reloadable configuration.
+func Diff[T any](left, right *Result[T]) ([]Difference, error) {
+	var leftInspection, rightInspection *engine.Inspection
+	if left != nil {
+		leftInspection = left.inspection
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		rightInspection = right.inspection
+	}
+
+	values, err := engine.Diff(leftInspection, rightInspection)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	differences := make([]Difference, len(values))
+	for index, value := range values {
+		differences[index] = Difference{
+			Path:          fromEnginePath(value.Path),
+			Left:          fromEngineValueSnapshot(value.Left),
+			Right:         fromEngineValueSnapshot(value.Right),
+			HiddenChanged: value.HiddenChanged,
+		}
+	}
+	return differences, nil
+}

docs/adr/0007-source-backed-underlays.md

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# ADR 0007: Add Source-Backed Underlays with Consistent Recursive Precedence
+
+## Status
+
+Proposed draft for review. Completed planning and remediation records are
+preserved in Git history at `b604aa1` under `docs/roadmap/`; the
+[configuration contract](../config.md#layered-loading) owns current behavior.
+
+This extends [ADR 0001](0001-separate-composition-and-overlay.md) and preserves
+its distinction between strict composition and intentional overlay.
+
+## Date
+
+2026-09-29
+
+## Context
+
+Configuration-backed defaults provide lower-priority settings that applications
+can override. These sources carry imports, locations, and relative-resource
+contexts. Integrating them into ConfigKit's loading lifecycle gives their values
+the same presence tracking and inspectable provenance as other configuration
+inputs.
+
+The [architecture goals](../policy/architecture.md#success-criteria) prioritize
+one coherent, predictable configuration model with consistent rules across
+source representations and loading interfaces. Consumers should load once,
+receive a complete validated configuration, and inspect its final values' origins.
+Reducing integration code is important subject to those principles.
+
+## Decision
+
+### Add underlays to the existing precedence model
+
+Introduce explicitly supplied source-backed underlays between typed defaults
+and main configuration. The proposed precedence, from lowest to highest, is:
+
+**Typed application defaults < source underlays < strictly composed main
+configuration < selected overlay < explicit CLI overrides.**
+
+Typed defaults remain the Go-value baseline. Underlays supply lower-priority
+configuration with source provenance and, where applicable, imports and resource
+context. This ordering describes value precedence; typed defaults fill fields
+absent from the assembled input under the existing defaulting rules.
+
+Preserve strict composition of the main document and its imports before applying
+the resulting configuration over underlays. Independent contributions within an
+underlay tier also compose strictly. Explicitly ordered tiers express intentional
+precedence. Strict composition reports conflicting contributions within each tier.
+
+Across precedence tiers, reuse the existing recursive mapping-overlay semantics.
+Omitted children retain lower-priority input; existing scalar, sequence, null,
+and cross-kind replacement semantics remain unchanged. Reusing these operations
+keeps the combination rules consistent across the loading model.
+
+### Keep source representation separate from composition semantics
+
+Native `fs.FS` and programmatic inputs join the shared loading model.
+Equivalent inputs using the same
+operation have the same presence and precedence semantics regardless of medium.
+Programmatic values enter directly as labeled configuration sources.
+
+Retain the contributing source's identity and resource context through layering.
+A retained underlay value keeps its originating source's resource context.
+Consumers remain responsible for opening and interpreting their domain resources
+under the supplied filesystem's lifetime and access semantics. Exact
+context-access and input APIs remain roadmap decisions.
+
+### Deliver one final configuration and its inspection metadata
+
+Assemble effective input, then run the typed loading lifecycle once for the load.
+Preserve explicit zero,
+false, empty, and null input versus omission through configuration and metadata
+together.
+
+Extend existing provenance and history through underlays, defaults, and recorded
+application resolution. The returned result includes the completed combination,
+defaulting, and provenance work. Domain resolution and validation
+remain application-owned within the recorded lifecycle, consistent with
+[ADR 0003](0003-preserve-presence-and-resolution-history.md).
+
+Preserve the existing opt-in schema-version ownership, path protections, and
+check timing before precedence
+assembly and typed decoding. The roadmap owns how layered input identifies that
+owner when version checking is configured.
+
+Favor near-linear processing in input, retained history, and output size through
+incremental assembly of load-owned state. This is an engineering objective
+subordinate to clarity and semantic consistency. Preserve the root-owned facade and
+private implementation boundary established by [ADR 0006](0006-public-facade.md).
+
+## Alternatives considered
+
+- **Leave bundled defaults to consumers.** Avoids extending loading, but makes
+  consumers reproduce merging, presence tracking, and provenance reconciliation.
+  It does not meet the goal of obtaining a complete configuration in one load.
+- **Offer recursive or atomic combination per layer.** Makes both behaviors
+  explicit and could serve more consumers, but expands the semantic surface and
+  its interactions with presence and provenance without a demonstrated need that
+  outweighs a single consistent rule. A future concrete requirement may justify
+  reconsideration; this feature does not add the option.
+- **Flatten all documents into last-wins layers.** Simplifies ordering but turns
+  accidental main/import conflicts into overrides, weakening the intentional
+  distinction established by ADR 0001.
+
+## Consequences
+
+Consumers gain source-backed defaults within the shared loading lifecycle.
+Strict contributions and intentional precedence remain distinct, with consistent
+combination rules across source media. Presence and provenance remain
+part of the same loading lifecycle as the final values.
+
+Higher-priority mappings retain omitted lower-priority children, so application
+validation assesses the final combined configuration.
+
+Implementation must integrate source context and underlay history into the shared
+engine with attention to assembly and history-retention costs. Current behavior
+documentation will change when the feature lands. The roadmap retains ownership
+of the remaining API decisions.

docs/adr/0008-complete-on-return-loading.md

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# ADR 0008: Synchronous, Complete-on-Return Configuration Loading
+
+## Status
+
+Proposed draft for review. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#completion-and-resource-lifetime) describes
+the implemented loading lifecycle and
+[source resource contexts](../config.md#source-resource-contexts).
+
+## Date
+
+2026-09-29
+
+## Context
+
+Applications need a clear point at which configuration is ready for use.
+Completing configuration processing and inspection metadata together gives
+applications a coherent result whose values and origins agree. A bounded loading
+lifecycle also makes resource ownership and startup failures straightforward to
+reason about.
+
+ConfigKit's [architecture goals](../policy/architecture.md#success-criteria)
+emphasize complete configuration, inspectable provenance, predictable behavior,
+and minimal consumer bookkeeping. Applications own their execution lifecycle and
+the timing of configuration acquisition.
+
+## Decision
+
+Make loading a synchronous, complete-on-return operation. Within each load,
+ConfigKit completes input assembly, defaulting, typed decoding, configured
+application resolution, secret lookup, validation, and snapshotting before
+returning the final configuration and metadata. Reported failures return
+diagnostics and a nil result.
+
+Release all library-owned loading handles before returning on success or failure.
+The resulting configuration and metadata are independently usable, caller-owned
+data with a retained inspection snapshot. Caller-supplied readers and filesystems
+remain under caller ownership and lifetime control.
+
+After the call completes, ConfigKit remains inactive until explicitly invoked
+again. Applications normally load once at or near startup and may initiate
+additional loads when needed. Each load follows the same lifecycle and source
+reuse contracts. Inspection, rendering, and separately requested operations run
+in response to explicit application calls.
+
+For the planned resource-context capability, retain source context as passive
+information or a borrowed caller-supplied filesystem. Subsequent resource access
+acquires its own handles with explicit ownership. This preserves a clear boundary
+between configuration completion and application resource use.
+
+These choices give consumers one completion boundary for configuration and
+provenance, predictable resource lifetimes, and control over when ConfigKit runs.
+Application callbacks remain responsible for their own effects and resources.
+
+## Alternatives considered
+
+- **Background watching or refresh.** Can automate responses to source changes,
+  but adds scheduling, shutdown, publication, and resource-lifetime concerns to
+  the library. Explicit calls keep those responsibilities with the application.
+- **Lazy completion after return.** Can defer work until particular values are
+  used, but moves configuration failures into application execution and makes
+  the readiness of values and metadata harder to establish.
+- **Transactional atomic loading.** Could imply simultaneous observation of all
+  external inputs and rollback of callback effects. Filesystems, environment
+  variables, and application callbacks do not share a transaction mechanism.
+  Synchronous completion provides the required usable-result boundary without
+  promising those external guarantees.
+- **Retain loading handles in results.** Can preserve open filesystem access,
+  but gives configuration results an ongoing resource lifecycle and cleanup
+  obligation. Passive source context supports later explicit resource access
+  while keeping loading resources scoped to the load call.
+
+## Consequences
+
+Applications can treat successful return as the point at which the final
+configuration and its metadata are ready for use. Startup loading remains simple,
+and additional loads have an explicit application-owned trigger.
+
+Configuration inspection operates on retained data. Resource access observes the
+backing resource when explicitly requested and has its own failure and ownership
+boundary. Implementations of new source kinds and layering features preserve the
+same completion boundary, including cleanup on reported load failures.

docs/adr/0009-sibling-inheritance.md

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# ADR 0009: Resolve Sibling Inheritance After Source Assembly
+
+## Status
+
+Accepted and implemented. The [configuration contract](../config.md#sibling-inheritance)
+owns current behavior. The completed implementation plan is preserved in Git
+history at `83c59ea`.
+
+## Date
+
+2026-09-29
+
+## Context
+
+Named configuration mappings often share settings while retaining individual
+overrides. ConfigKit already distinguishes strict composition of independent
+source contributions from recursive overlay between explicit precedence tiers.
+Doing another untracked merge in applications would lose omission, source
+context, and historical explanation information. A shared structural operation
+must preserve the same presence and provenance model as the rest of loading.
+
+Inheritance also interacts with source precedence, nested namespaces, version
+ownership, and secrets. Resolving it before source assembly would validate
+superseded references and copy values that a later tier should replace. Fully
+resolving nested relationships inside a reusable parent would bind them to the
+wrong sibling scope when copied into a child.
+
+## Decision
+
+Reserve `extends` as a built-in input key on mappings. A string names one exact
+sibling mapping; null cancels the relationship. Complete source acquisition,
+strict composition, selected overlay, and CLI precedence first. Then resolve
+each effective relationship in the parser-independent document tree, before
+typed defaults and decoding. A child recursively overlays its own payload on
+its resolved parent using the existing mapping-combination rules. This creates
+neither a source tier nor a configurable merge strategy.
+
+Resolve enclosing sibling chains before nested relationships. Reuse memoized
+parent templates with unresolved nested instructions; evaluate those instructions
+at each destination. Preserve original source applications separately from
+structural transfer/control evidence. Effective origins carry concrete
+source-to-destination derivation, and inspection projects relevant inheritance
+events between source replay and typed reconciliation. Inherited input counts as
+explicit presence, while direct replacement retains its own effective origin.
+
+The existing main-input version check remains at its original point. Reject
+structural contributions or directive consumption affecting its protected path.
+Classify sensitivity at corresponding source and destination paths and retain
+historical redaction. Secret references remain unresolved input until the
+existing lookup point. Keep all machinery behind the root-owned public facade.
+
+## Alternatives considered
+
+- **Application-owned inheritance after `Load`.** Leaves every consumer to
+  recreate ordering, presence, provenance, error reporting, and redaction after
+  ConfigKit has already declared a result complete.
+- **Resolve each source before precedence assembly.** Makes superseded
+  references active and can copy a parent definition before higher-priority
+  input finishes changing it.
+- **Resolve nested relationships in a cached parent subtree.** Shares more
+  ready-made output but binds nested sibling lookups to the parent's scope,
+  giving incorrect values at a child destination.
+- **Registered collections, configurable keywords, or multiple-parent merge
+  modes.** Increase public setup and semantic branches without a requirement
+  that warrants diverging from one structural rule.
+
+## Consequences
+
+Consumers can load a configuration once and inspect direct, inherited,
+defaulted, and application-derived values through the existing result surfaces.
+`extends` is no longer an ordinary application field, so existing configurations
+using that key as data must migrate. Expanding many children can materialize
+substantially more output than the input contains; projection and retained-history
+budgets bound that work without charging copies as newly acquired sources.
+Applications still own domain validation, entry selection, and runtime resource
+use.

docs/adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+# ADR 0010: Compare Frozen Effective Configuration Snapshots
+
+## Status
+
+Accepted and implemented. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns current
+behavior. Completed planning and remediation records are preserved in Git
+history at `1c2610c` under `docs/roadmap/`.
+
+## Date
+
+2026-10-09
+
+## Context
+
+Applications need to inspect how two completed configurations differ, including
+the effective impact of an overlay after defaults and application resolution.
+ConfigKit already retains canonical typed inspection snapshots, semantic paths,
+presence information, and sensitivity classification for successful loads.
+
+Extending this inspection model lets applications share configuration comparison
+and safe disclosure while keeping their presentation and domain interpretation.
+The operation should follow ConfigKit's existing equality, ownership, and secret
+boundaries so consumers can reason about loading and inspection consistently.
+
+## Decision
+
+Provide structured effective-value comparison between successful results of the
+same configuration type. Compare their retained canonical inspection snapshots
+through the root-owned public facade. Each comparison uses the completed load
+state and returns detached records with a semantic path and safe left and right
+value snapshots.
+
+Use canonical value equality and the existing structural comparison rules.
+Mappings compare recursively, sequences report atomic changes, and scalar or
+kind replacements report the affected region. Presence distinguishes additions
+and removals from explicit null. Equal effective values produce an empty diff;
+source attribution, explicit-input status, and history remain separately
+inspectable through each result. Canonical pointer ordering makes reporting
+deterministic.
+
+Detect changes before masking values. Apply sensitivity from both loads to both
+returned sides, including historical and dependency-derived classification.
+Preserve public content where the shapes permit corresponding sensitive regions
+to be identified. When a structural replacement prevents safe correspondence,
+mask the complete reported replacement region on both present sides. Absence
+retains its own representation.
+
+Keep masking and hidden-change information distinct. Each record indicates
+whether an actual change is withheld by redaction, allowing applications to
+display a changed-sensitive-value indicator even when safe snapshots render
+identically. Public-only changes alongside unchanged masked content retain that
+distinction.
+
+Typed secret references participate through their configured environment names.
+Resolved credential bytes remain behind the existing explicit secret accessor.
+The comparison uses the same frozen inspection boundary as effective rendering
+and explanation.
+
+ConfigKit owns comparison and paired safe disclosure. Applications own labels,
+layout, and rendering of the returned changed regions. Reusing the existing
+snapshot representation and engine boundary keeps the extension consistent with
+the library's established inspection model.
+
+## Alternatives considered
+
+- **Compare input text or separately rendered YAML.** Supports familiar textual
+  displays, but input text precedes composition and resolution, and independently
+  redacted output can hide changes or apply different disclosure rules. Canonical
+  comparison with paired masking represents the completed configuration.
+- **Leave comparison to applications using returned Go values.** Offers direct
+  access to application types, but duplicates structural and redaction machinery
+  and observes caller mutation. Retained inspection snapshots preserve the
+  completed load's values and established ownership boundary.
+- **Align sequence elements and return context-rich rendering data.** Enables
+  finer-grained displays, but requires additional correspondence and disclosure
+  rules. Atomic sequence records and existing value snapshots satisfy the
+  selected changed-region workflows with a smaller public model.
+- **Compare resolved credentials or retain credential-derived tokens.** Could
+  detect rotation behind an unchanged reference, but expands retained sensitive
+  state and introduces a separate trusted comparison mechanism. Reference-name
+  comparison preserves the existing inspection boundary.
+
+## Consequences
+
+Applications can compare independently loaded configurations using ConfigKit's
+shared equality, presence, and disclosure rules. Existing composition and load
+semantics continue to determine the values being compared. Caller mutation of a
+returned configuration leaves its retained comparison snapshot unchanged.
+
+Paired redaction can conceal public content within a structurally incompatible
+replacement. The changed region and hidden-change indicator still communicate
+its effective impact. Credential rotation behind an unchanged environment name
+produces equal reference values for comparison.
+
+The implementation requires operation-local disclosure preparation and focused
+coverage for presence, shape changes, historical sensitivity, and detached
+results. Applications retain control of presentation; changed-region records
+supply the safe data needed for that responsibility.

docs/config.md

@@ -12,13 +12,21 @@ ConfigKit exposes opaque sources through these constructors:
 | Constructor | Current contract |
 | --- | --- |
 | `File(path)` | Requires a nonempty path, opens a regular file for each consumption, and closes only the library-owned file handle. Missing, inaccessible, unreadable, directory, and other nonregular inputs fail. |
+| `NewFilesystem(label, filesystem).File(name)` | Borrows a caller-owned `fs.FS` under a safe nonempty display label. `name` must be a non-root slash-relative `fs.ValidPath`. Each load reopens the selected regular file; copies of the `Filesystem` preserve namespace identity. Separate constructors create separate namespaces even for the same label or filesystem. |
 | `Bytes(label, data)` | Requires a nonempty, non-secret diagnostic label and snapshots bytes during construction. Later caller mutation cannot affect the source. |
 | `Reader(label, input)` | Requires a nonempty, non-secret label and non-nil reader. The reader is claimed once across all copies of the source, consumed but never closed, and cannot be reused. |
+| `Mapping(label, values)` | Requires a safe nonempty label and a non-nil root `map[string]any`. Snapshots supported built-in values into an owned mapping document at construction; `{}` is valid. Constructor conversion failures become safe deferred diagnostics. |
 | `NoSource()` | Selects defaults-only loading, creates no source record, and marks no paths explicit. |
 
 The zero `Source` is invalid. Constructor argument failures are retained inside the
 opaque source and become safe structured diagnostics when the source is consumed.
-File sources can observe file changes between consumptions; byte sources cannot.
+File and filesystem sources can observe changes between consumptions; byte and
+mapping sources cannot. Mapping accepts nil, built-in string, boolean, signed or
+unsigned integer, finite float, `[]any`, and `map[string]any` values recursively.
+Typed nil maps and slices represent explicit null; empty collections remain empty.
+Keys are sorted for stable provenance, integer decimal spelling stays exact, and
+cycles or unsupported types are rejected without exposing values. Mapping input
+uses the same directive and version rules as YAML, not CLI override restrictions.
 
 Each source is limited to 8 MiB. A load using imports or an active overlay is limited
 to 64 MiB across all accepted sources, 1,024 accepted sources, 64 active import
@@ -26,6 +34,8 @@ edges, and 1,000,000 input nodes in aggregate. Glob expansion separately permits
 1,000,000 visited directory entries, including nonmatches. Reads request at most the
 remaining allowance plus one byte so excess data is rejected rather than silently
 truncated. Data returned together with a read error is not accepted as partial input.
+For mapping sources, key and string bytes use the same accounting as programmatic
+overrides, and the converted tree uses the same node and depth bounds.
 
 ## Single-source loading
 
@@ -44,13 +54,14 @@ The current lifecycle is:
 ```text
 validate options → parse the selected source → traverse/compose enabled imports
   → build schema → check the optional application version → apply a selected overlay
-  → apply explicit CLI overrides → create and clone defaults → strictly decode
+  → apply explicit CLI overrides → expand sibling inheritance
+  → create and clone defaults → strictly decode
   → recorded application resolution
   → resolve typed secret references → semantic validation → classify secrets
   → snapshot configuration and metadata
 ```
 
-`File`, `Bytes`, and `Reader` each contribute the first base source with deterministic
+`File`, `Filesystem.File`, `Bytes`, `Reader`, and `Mapping` each contribute the first base source with deterministic
 ID `source-1`; enabled imports continue in depth-first order as `source-2` onward.
 `NoSource` skips parsing, supplies an absent version to a configured version checker,
 contributes no source, and continues through defaults, decode, and projection. A
@@ -66,11 +77,166 @@ disabled.
 
 Every source, options, schema, version, defaults, decode, resolution, or validation
 failure returns a nil result and a `*LoadError`. Successful results contain caller-owned `Config`, detached
-`Metadata`, a defensive source list, and defensive nonfatal diagnostics. Mutating
+`Metadata`, a defensive source list, and defensive nonfatal diagnostics. Each source
+record's `Kind` identifies file, filesystem, bytes, reader, mapping, or CLI acquisition
+independently of its precedence `Layer`. Host file paths remain canonical;
+filesystem paths are slash-relative within their namespace; synthetic inputs have
+no path. Mutating
 the returned configuration or inspection records cannot alter ConfigKit's private
 snapshot. ConfigKit performs no logging. `Result.WriteEffective` exposes only the
 frozen redacted projection.
 
+### Completion and resource lifetime
+
+`Load` is synchronous and complete on return. Success means input assembly,
+defaulting, typed decoding, configured application resolution, secret lookup,
+validation, and configuration/metadata snapshotting have completed. A reported
+load failure returns diagnostics and a nil result, as described above.
+
+Before returning on success or failure, ConfigKit closes the filesystem handles
+it opened for loading, including files and directory/root handles. Caller-owned
+filesystems are borrowed, never closed. The returned
+configuration and inspection metadata require no close operation and remain
+usable independently of the source files. A supplied `Reader` remains
+caller-owned and is never closed by ConfigKit.
+
+ConfigKit performs no background work after returning: it does not watch inputs,
+refresh secrets, or mutate published results. Inspection and rendering run only
+when explicitly called and use the retained snapshot. Applications normally load
+once near startup, but may explicitly load again using sources that satisfy their
+documented reuse rules. Additional loads produce independently owned results.
+
+Completion is not a transaction over external state. Files and environment
+variables are observed during processing rather than as one simultaneous external
+snapshot. ConfigKit does not roll back application callback effects or manage work
+or resources created by application callbacks. The explicit secrets-directory
+bootstrap remains a separate operation invoked by the application.
+
+## Layered loading
+
+`LoadLayered[T](main, options...)` accepts zero or one `LayeredOptions[T]` value.
+Its `main` is an `Input` containing a source, import opt-in, and optional
+filesystem context. A zero source is invalid; `Input{Source: NoSource()}` omits
+the main document. Each `Underlay` contains inputs that compose strictly as
+one tier, including each input's enabled imports. Empty groups contribute
+nothing. Underlay groups are listed from lowest to highest priority. Repeating
+a file within one group remains an import/repetition error; the same reusable
+source may be selected again in another tier.
+
+ConfigKit acquires and composes the main input first, constructs the schema,
+and checks the optional application version from the main tier only. Underlay
+roots cannot claim that version path (`underlay.version`); imported fragments
+retain `import.version` protection. It then acquires and composes underlay
+groups in order, recursively combines the groups, and applies the main tier,
+one selected overlay, and explicit CLI overrides. Scalar, sequence, and null
+definitions replace lower values between tiers; mappings combine recursively.
+Syntax and strict-composition errors inside a tier cannot be masked by a
+higher-priority tier. Defaults, typed decoding, resolution, secret lookup,
+validation, and publication run once on the final assembled input.
+
+An active layered overlay requires `LayeredOptions.OverlayFilesystem` explicitly,
+independent of the main source's namespace. Its name and root-relative lookup
+follow the selected-overlay rules below; inactive overlays ignore the context.
+The same path in a different filesystem namespace is not a repeated file.
+Ordinary `Load` continues to infer its selected-overlay context from its source.
+
+Source IDs follow acquisition order—main and its depth-first imports, then each
+underlay tier's inputs and depth-first imports, then overlay and CLI—even though
+history follows precedence order. Source `Layer` describes precedence while
+`Kind` describes acquisition. Underlay records use `LayerUnderlay` and a
+one-based `UnderlayIndex` giving their original tier position; all other records
+have index zero. Explicit empty groups and `NoSource` consume no source ID.
+Byte, source, node, and glob-entry budgets are shared across the load, while
+the existing per-source and import-depth bounds still apply.
+
+The maintained [layered consumer example](consumers/README.md#native-filesystem-and-layered-input)
+shows a main host file, two underlay tiers, embedded defaults, a mapping source,
+and explicit resource access without a second configuration pass.
+
+### Sibling inheritance
+
+Any input mapping may declare `extends: name` to inherit from the mapping named
+`name` among its immediate siblings. Names are exact keys, including the empty
+string; lookup does not search ancestor or unrelated scopes. The document root
+and a sequence-element mapping have no sibling namespace for their own string
+relationship, though mappings nested inside them can have one. An `extends`
+value of null cancels a relationship without looking up a parent. Other value
+types, missing or non-mapping parents, and cycles fail the load with value-free
+diagnostics.
+
+`extends` is reserved structural input across ordinary and layered loads, every
+source kind, imports, selected overlays, and explicit CLI overrides. It is
+consumed before typed decoding and need not appear in the application's Go
+types. Applications previously using `extends` as an ordinary YAML field must
+rename that key and its field. No collection registration or keyword setup is
+required.
+
+ConfigKit completes strict composition within tiers and precedence assembly
+between tiers before resolving relationships. An omitted `extends` retains a
+lower-priority relationship; `extends: null` cancels it while preserving the
+child's own settings. Superseded references are historical evidence, not active
+relationships to validate. Each child recursively overlays its own settings
+over its resolved parent: explicit zero, false, empty string, sequence, and
+null values replace inherited values, while mappings combine recursively.
+The child retains its key. All effective relationships resolve, including
+entries the application may never select for execution. Partial parent
+definitions undergo normal typed decoding and application-owned validation,
+not a special structural exemption.
+
+Enclosing relationships resolve first. Nested instructions carried by a parent
+are then resolved separately at each destination, so a child's nested sibling
+override can change an inherited nested relationship. Typed defaults and
+application-derived values do not start another inheritance pass. Inherited
+input counts as explicit presence for `Metadata.IsExplicit`,
+`Resolution.IsExplicit`, and absence-based resolver defaults, even for false,
+zero, empty, or null input. `Origin.Inheritance` distinguishes it from a direct
+declaration with concrete source, destination, and controlling directive paths.
+A direct child replacement has its own effective origin; displaced ancestry
+remains inspectable in history. An inherited relative resource keeps the
+declaring source's passive `SourceContext`, not the child's directory.
+
+The optional schema-version checker still runs once against the main input at
+its original point. Inheritance cannot add, replace, or consume the protected
+version path; an unrelated relationship inside an enclosing mapping does not
+invalidate an unchanged version. Expansion uses the decoded projection
+node/depth limits without charging copied values as acquired sources;
+retained evidence uses the existing history-node limit. See the
+[consumer example](consumers/README.md#named-sibling-inheritance) for one-load
+usage.
+
+### Source resource contexts
+
+`Result.SourceContext(id)` and callback-scoped `Resolution.SourceContext(id)`
+return a passive `ResourceContext` for a source with filesystem context, or
+false for unknown and contextless IDs. The result query is nil-safe; the
+resolution query follows the callback's lifetime guard. Queries perform no
+filesystem access. Obtain IDs from exact origin locations rather than guessing
+one context for a composite origin or an application-derived value.
+
+`ResourceContext.FS` is rooted at the source's configured root, and `BaseDir`
+is its slash-relative directory inside that root. This includes imported
+sources, selected overlays, host files even without enabled imports, native
+files, and byte, reader, or mapping inputs with an explicit context. CLI and
+contextless synthetic inputs have no resource context. To open a relative
+resource, join `BaseDir` with the application resource name using slash-path
+operations and open that path through `FS`.
+
+For a resource-valued field, query `result.Metadata().Lookup(fieldPath)`, inspect
+its origin locations, choose a source ID only when the application's policy can
+identify the intended contributor, then call `result.SourceContext(id)`. The
+context belongs to that source even when the field survived from a lower-priority
+underlay. A composite origin has no automatically selected resource base.
+
+Native contexts borrow the caller's filesystem within the configured root.
+Host contexts retain a canonical root path, not an open root handle; each
+resource `Open` checks containment and opens a fresh handle that the returned
+file's `Close` releases. Applications own and close the files they open.
+Resources are application data, not configuration input, and do not consume
+configuration byte or node budgets. The loaded configuration and metadata stay
+usable if source files later change or disappear. Later resource operations
+observe the backing filesystem then and may fail if files move, disappear, or
+a caller-owned filesystem closes. This is not a snapshot or universal sandbox.
+
 ### Application schema versions
 
 `VersionRule` declares a semantic path and non-nil checker. Before defaults or typed
@@ -108,8 +274,9 @@ successful result. Callback panics remain programming failures.
 `Result.Metadata` describes every final canonical path. Queries retain explicit
 key/index distinctions using actual effective and historical container shapes;
 only parsed numeric tokens are resolved contextually. A descendant that never
-existed is not historical merely because an atomic ancestor was replaced. Exact surviving input paths
+existed is not historical merely because an atomic ancestor was replaced. Exact
-are explicit and have a base or overlay origin; omitted paths have a default origin.
+surviving direct or inherited input paths are explicit and retain their source
+layer and derivation; omitted paths have a default origin.
 An explicit parent mapping does not make omitted children explicit. Null state and
 available source coordinates are retained. `History` records the Go-zero or application
 default baseline followed by exact base or overlay definitions, including
@@ -124,8 +291,9 @@ domain ownership rules remain application responsibilities. The method's Go
 documentation in [metadata.go](../metadata.go) defines enumeration and path-ordering
 details.
 
-History is chronological: a path can have a synthetic default record, its exact base
+History is chronological: a path can have a synthetic default record, its exact
-definition, an overlay replacement, and a recorded resolution operation. A descendant
+base definition, an overlay replacement, structural inheritance, and a recorded
+resolution operation. A descendant
 query uses the ancestor's path for a whole-container or whole-sequence replacement;
 the descendant can therefore retain history after `Lookup` stops reporting it as
 effective. Equal-valued input is still an explicit base definition, while a derived
@@ -141,6 +309,15 @@ operation. Reasons and dependency paths retain first occurrence order with dupli
 removed. Source records remain ordered as selected source, depth-first imports, the
 selected overlay, then synthetic CLI records in supplied order.
 
+Inheritance adds no acquired source or precedence layer. `Origin.Inheritance`
+lists concrete transfers from contributor paths through destinations, with
+each step's controlling `extends` path and location. `History` retains source
+applications at their original paths and projects parent contributions, child
+replacements, and consumed controls at destination paths after source assembly
+and before typed decoding. `HistoricalPaths` includes consumed directives and
+displaced inherited descendants. A control can have history even when `Lookup`
+reports it absent. Queries return detached records.
+
 ### Secret classification and effective rendering
 
 Secret classification combines `configkit:"secret"` field tags with the optional
@@ -156,6 +333,11 @@ Propagation reaches a fixed point, so record/map iteration order does not affect
 result and dependency cycles terminate. A dependency on a classified descendant or
 on a container that contains one is treated conservatively as sensitive. Applications
 must classify secret-producing transformations whose dependencies are not recorded.
+Inherited value and control paths link source and destination classifications
+through chains and nested copies; unrelated sibling fields are not classified
+merely because another field is secret. Displaced historical evidence remains
+redacted. Secret references are copied only as unresolved names; credential
+lookup stays after decoding and application resolution.
 
 `Result.WriteEffective` writes the frozen resolved snapshot as deterministic redacted
 YAML. Mappings sort by decoded key string, sequences retain order, indentation is two
@@ -190,7 +372,10 @@ parser values. `Present=false` with empty YAML means absence or deletion; explic
 null is present and renders as `null`. The history starts with the canonical typed
 application-default or Go-zero baseline, then includes only relevant base sources in
 traversal order, the selected overlay, supplied CLI records, and audited net
-resolution operations. Overlapping parent/child resolution records are rendered
+resolution operations. Structural inheritance events appear after source replay
+and before typed reconciliation, including consumed or canceled `extends` input
+and equal-valued child replacements. Overlapping parent/child resolution records
+are rendered
 as one net subtree event with combined reasons and dependencies, rather than
 pretending that the recorded assignments ran in lexical order. Explicit equal
 writes remain visible. When input replay
@@ -238,6 +423,46 @@ an explicit `LoadSecretsDir` bootstrap, then use `WriteDiagnostics`,
 ConfigKit does not infer bootstrap outcomes from a secret reference and does not
 bundle these independent reports into a command framework.
 
+## Effective configuration diffs
+
+`configkit.Diff(left, right)` compares two completed successful loads of the same
+configuration type. `left` is the earlier state and `right` is the later state.
+Applications load both sides with the sources and options they choose; to inspect
+an overlay's impact, load the same base once without the overlay and once with it
+selected. The [consumer guide](consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs)
+links to maintained examples. The public API returns safe changed-region records;
+applications own their presentation.
+
+Comparison uses the frozen canonical effective inspection values, not mutable
+`Result.Config`, source text, provenance, or history. It does not reopen sources,
+reread environment variables, or rerun defaults or callbacks. Equal effective
+values produce no records even when sources, explicit-input status, defaults, or
+resolution histories differ; for example, explicit zero and defaulted zero are
+equal. Mappings compare recursively, sequences compare atomically, and scalar,
+kind, or null/container replacements report their affected region. Records use
+the existing comparator's canonical pointer ordering. `Present=false` with empty
+YAML means absence; explicit null is present and renders as `null`.
+
+Before either side is returned, sensitivity from both loads is applied to both
+snapshots, including historical and dependency-derived classification. A
+classification on either side protects the corresponding values on both sides.
+`Redacted` reports masking, while `HiddenChanged` reports an actual concealed
+value or presence change; it is not implied merely by redaction. A structural
+replacement that prevents safe correspondence masks the complete reported
+region, and an absent side remains absent. Record membership establishes that a
+change occurred even when safe snapshots render identically. Literal
+marker-looking input is ordinary input; consumers use the record fields rather
+than interpreting marker text.
+
+Typed secret references contribute their configured environment names to the
+frozen comparison, never resolved credential bytes. Credential rotation behind
+an unchanged reference is therefore not detected. The records contain changed
+regions only, not paired full-document context; independently calling
+`WriteEffective` on each result does not create cross-protected context. Nil or
+uninitialized results return an error with no records. A failed `Load` retains
+its normal nil-result/`LoadError` behavior, which callers handle before invoking
+`Diff`.
+
 ## Typed secret references
 
 Credential-bearing fields use the opaque `Secret` type and store an environment
@@ -442,8 +667,8 @@ input document.
 `[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+`; they are not paths. The empty name and exact lowercase name
 `default` select no overlay, and `overlays/default.yml` is never loaded implicitly.
 Every other name resolves only to `<configuration-root>/overlays/<name>.yml`, with
-no extension fallback, case normalization, inheritance, or overlay stack. A selected
+no extension fallback, case normalization, inheritance between overlay files,
-missing overlay is an error.
+or overlay stack. A selected missing overlay is an error.
 
 The overlay is a separately policy-validated YAML mapping. It is loaded after the
 base import graph is composed and its schema version is checked, but before defaults
@@ -557,18 +782,25 @@ walk failures, matched directories, invalid documents, escapes, and repeated tar
 remain errors. Final candidates are bounded by the remaining source limit before
 their contents are accumulated.
 
-The configuration root defaults to a selected file's canonical directory. A file
+For host files, the configuration root defaults to the selected file's canonical
-source may supply `FilesystemContext.Root` to widen that root but may not supply
+directory. A host file may supply `FilesystemContext.Root` to widen that root but
-`BaseDir`. Whenever byte and reader sources supply filesystem context, they must
+may not supply `BaseDir` or a native `FS`. Byte, reader, and mapping inputs with host context
-provide both `BaseDir` and `Root` as absolute existing directories; their diagnostic
+must provide both `BaseDir` and `Root` as absolute existing directories.
-labels, including URI-looking labels, never imply filesystem paths. The base and
+For `Filesystem.File`, the default root is `.` in its namespace and the base is
-selected file must be inside the canonical root. Nonregular targets are rejected before opening to avoid blocking on FIFOs;
+the selected file's directory. An explicit context must use the same `Filesystem`
+namespace and may set `Root` to contain the file and its base; it may not supply
+`BaseDir`. Byte, reader, and mapping inputs with native context provide both `BaseDir` and
+`Root` as slash-relative `fs.ValidPath` directories in `FS` (`.` means its root),
+with the base inside the root. Context paths are checked even when imports and
+overlays are inactive. Diagnostic labels, including URI-looking labels, never
+imply filesystem paths. Nonregular targets are rejected before opening to avoid blocking on FIFOs;
 post-open regular-file checks remain in place under the stable-input assumption.
 ConfigKit canonicalizes symlinks,
 checks containment with relative paths, and opens the canonical root-relative target
 through a library-owned root handle. Contained relative or absolute symlink targets
 are accepted; escapes are rejected. Canonical paths define identity, so hard links at
-distinct paths remain distinct sources.
+distinct paths remain distinct sources. Native filesystems use slash-path operations
+and their own symlink behavior; imports stay in their selected namespace and root.
 
 An active-stack repeat is `import.cycle` and reports the complete cycle's import
 sites. A previously visited canonical path is `import.repeated` and reports both

docs/consumers/README.md

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ validation, schema-version policy, CLI parsing, runtime matching and conversion,
 resource checks, remote acquisition, and service initialization.
 
 The maintained [`examples/consumers`](../../examples/consumers) package demonstrates
-four sanitized shapes using only ConfigKit and the Go standard library:
+sanitized shapes using only ConfigKit and the Go standard library:
 
 | Shape | Demonstrated fit | Application code deliberately retained |
 | --- | --- | --- |
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ four sanitized shapes using only ConfigKit and the Go standard library:
 | Notarius-like | Canonical object bindings, a string-backed schema version accepting string or integer YAML, strict dynamic options, and `int64` dynamic integers | Catalog selection, allowed option keys, range-checked conversion to runtime `int` |
 | WeatherReporter-like | Defaults-only loading, report maps, canonical module objects, typed option unions, explicit CLI records, and typed secret startup | Report/module compatibility, rejection of explicitly empty domain lists, CLI parsing, and startup ordering |
 | Seriatim-like | Independent strict ordered speaker and autocorrect rule files | First-match and ordered replacement algorithms; no central application configuration file |
+| Bundled file | Simple native `fs.FS` source through ordinary `Load` | Selection and lifetime of the application-owned embedded filesystem |
+| Layered catalog | Embedded defaults with an import, a mapping underlay, an independent host main file, explicit false/zero input, and source-relative resource access | Domain validation and opening/interpreting the template resource |
+| Named presets | One-load sibling inheritance, explicit false, nested destination resolution, and source/derivation inspection | Choosing and executing a preset |
+| Effective configuration diff | Same-type frozen effective comparisons for two selected files or base-versus-overlay impact | Source/options selection and consumer-owned safe presentation |
 
 The YAML under [`testdata`](../../examples/consumers/testdata) is loaded by the
 executable examples and ordinary tests. It contains no private application data,
@@ -48,6 +52,62 @@ both without redefining their syntax. ConfigKit overlays are configuration overl
 they do not select or replace an application's LLM, model, pipeline, report, or
 execution profile concepts.
 
+## Effective configuration diffs
+
+[`CompareFiles`](../../examples/consumers/diff.go) loads two caller-selected files
+with one application definition, handles each load error, calls `configkit.Diff`,
+and presents the safe records through consumer-owned `FormatDifferences`.
+[`CompareRolloutOverlay`](../../examples/consumers/diff.go) loads the same base
+once without an overlay and once with the selected overlay, so omitted lower
+priority values remain present. Its resolver records a derived endpoint URL after
+overlay application, and its nested typed secret reference is classified before
+the resulting records are presented.
+
+The maintained [behavior tests and executable examples](../../examples/consumers/diff_test.go)
+use temporary files and disposable secret values. Presenters should use
+`ValueSnapshot.Present` for absence, record membership for change, and
+`HiddenChanged` for a withheld change indicator. Do not parse the redaction marker
+or add separately rendered full contexts that lack combined sensitivity. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns shared
+equality, granularity, and disclosure semantics.
+
+## Named sibling inheritance
+
+[`LoadPresets`](../../examples/consumers/inheritance.go) loads the maintained
+[`presets.yml`](../../examples/consumers/testdata/inheritance/presets.yml) in one
+call. `custom` inherits `enabled: false` from `base`, while its nested
+`settings.primary` changes the inherited `settings.secondary` result at the
+custom destination. The application struct has no `extends` field; ConfigKit
+consumes the relationship before strict typed decoding.
+
+The [executable example](../../examples/consumers/consumers_test.go) reads
+`Metadata.IsExplicit` for the inherited false value, then follows
+`Origin.Inheritance` back to the parent path while `Origin.Locations` identifies
+the declaring source. Applications still choose which preset to execute and
+validate domain meaning. The [configuration contract](../config.md#sibling-inheritance)
+owns exact lookup, precedence, cancellation, and migration rules.
+
+## Native filesystem and layered input
+
+[`LoadBundled`](../../examples/consumers/layered.go) keeps the simple `Load` shape:
+it selects a file in an application-owned embedded filesystem and needs no
+underlay setup. [`LoadCatalog`](../../examples/consumers/layered.go) uses
+`LoadLayered` with an imported embedded-defaults group, a separate
+`Mapping` group, and a host main file supplied by its caller. The groups
+compose strictly within themselves and recursively across precedence boundaries;
+the main file's explicit `false` and `0` replace lower values without being
+mistaken for omissions. Its validator owns allowed modes and resource-name policy.
+
+[`ReadWelcome`](../../examples/consumers/layered.go) follows the effective field's
+origin location to a source ID, queries `Result.SourceContext`, and opens the
+resource relative to that context's `BaseDir`. It does not assume the main file
+owns a retained underlay value. A composite origin needs an application choice;
+ConfigKit does not guess a directory. The context query is passive, while later
+resource reads observe the caller-owned filesystem or a freshly opened host root
+and may fail independently of the completed configuration load. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#source-resource-contexts) owns exact
+lifetime and precedence rules.
+
 Known module catalogs should use canonical object entries with a module identifier
 and typed options. A small union struct is sufficient when the available option
 fields are known; validation selects which fields apply to each module. Runtime-
@@ -126,6 +186,9 @@ focused behavioral owner:
 | Source/import/selected-overlay pipeline rules and artifact defaults | Narratio-shaped executable example and fixture |
 | Canonical module objects and dynamic option handling | WeatherReporter- and Notarius-shaped examples and migration tests |
 | `LoadSecretsDir`, bootstrap reporting, typed lookup, CLI explanation | `Example_weatherStartup` |
+| Native filesystem, grouped underlays, programmatic mapping, retained resource context | `Example_nativeFilesystem`, `Example_layeredCatalog`, and their focused consumer tests |
+| Named sibling inheritance, presence, and derivation | `Example_inheritedPresets` and `TestPresetCatalogOneLoadAndDerivation` |
+| Effective configuration diffs and consumer-owned presentation | `ExampleDiff`, `ExampleCompareFiles`, and `ExampleCompareRolloutOverlay` |
 | Results, metadata, diagnostics, effective output, and writer failures | Focused root-package load, provenance, rendering, and explanation tests |
 
 The package-level import-boundary test covers the consumer examples too: supported

docs/development.md

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ Accepted decisions:
 - [Secret references and explicit bootstrap](adr/0004-secret-references-and-explicit-bootstrap.md)
 - [Explicit overrides and safe explanation](adr/0005-explicit-overrides-and-safe-explanation.md)
 - [Keep the public facade root-owned](adr/0006-public-facade.md)
+- [Compare frozen effective configuration snapshots](adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md)
 
 For cross-cutting changes, follow every applicable row. Completed implementation
 and remediation plans are preserved in Git history at `cb5b435`; use current
@@ -64,8 +65,9 @@ git show cb5b435:docs/roadmap/remediation.md
 ```
 
 Release-candidate, publication, and verification work follows the operational
-[release procedure](release.md). Its single publication command validates the
+[release procedure](release.md). Its module-selected ReleaseKit `publish`
-committed candidate and publishes only the intended refs.
+invocation validates the committed candidate and publishes only the intended
+tag; those release checks remain distinct from the everyday development check.
 
 The completed string-and-integer schema-version implementation and remediation
 records are preserved in Git history at `244104f`. The
@@ -80,14 +82,40 @@ and current facade ownership belongs to the [component overview](internal/overvi
 
 ## Baseline validation
 
+The completed filesystem-source and underlay roadmap, original feature request,
+implementation plan, and resolved remediation record are preserved in Git history
+at `b604aa1` under `docs/roadmap/`. Current behavior belongs to the
+[configuration contract](config.md#layered-loading). Built-in sibling
+inheritance is now part of the [configuration contract](config.md#sibling-inheritance).
+The completed request, roadmap, plan, and resolved review findings are preserved
+in Git history at `83c59ea` under `docs/roadmap/`.
+
 The completed overlay rename plan and release-workflow simplification record are
 preserved in Git history at `73ce6e9` under `docs/roadmap/`. Current overlay
 behavior belongs to the [configuration contract](config.md#selected-overlays),
 and release operations belong to the [release procedure](release.md).
 
-Install Go 1.25.0 or a supported patched/newer Go toolchain. Acquire declared
+The completed ReleaseKit adoption, startup performance request and experiments,
-dependencies explicitly before entering an offline development or validation
+benchmark evidence, performance audit, implementation plan, and remediation
-environment:
+record are preserved in Git history at `8e91a2b` under `docs/roadmap/`. For example:
+
+```sh
+git show 8e91a2b:docs/roadmap/startup-benchmark.md
+```
+
+Remaining optimization candidates belong to
+[deferred scope](roadmap/deferred.md#deferred-performance-experiments).
+
+The completed effective-configuration diff roadmap, implementation plan, and
+resolved review findings are preserved in Git history at `1c2610c` under
+`docs/roadmap/`. The
+[configuration contract](config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns current
+comparison and disclosure behavior, and
+[ADR 0010](adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md) records the decision.
+
+Install the Go version required by `go.mod` or a compatible newer toolchain.
+Acquire declared dependencies explicitly before entering an offline
+development or validation environment:
 
 ```sh
 go mod download
@@ -117,11 +145,10 @@ Use focused checks while iterating, with validation proportionate to the change
 under the testing policy. Documentation-only work normally needs the local-link
 check below and whitespace review; behavior-bearing examples and commands also
 need execution. Use `go test -race ./...` for ownership or concurrency changes.
-The [publication command](release.md#4-publish-the-committed-candidate) invokes
+The [release procedure](release.md#4-publish-the-committed-candidate) performs
-the release checker once. It performs one minimum-toolchain offline race-suite
+its selected validation through one `publish` invocation. The everyday checker
-run, one full vet pass, and Linux cross-builds using readonly module mode.
+remains a development gate and is not a separate release prerequisite. CI never
-It already covers examples, links, and package boundaries; do not additionally
+gates a release.
-run the everyday checker just to repeat those checks. CI never gates a release.
 
 ## Task-to-test map
 
@@ -133,15 +160,22 @@ code changes. Use the component overview to find the corresponding implementatio
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | YAML syntax, diagnostics, parser limits | [Adapter tests](../internal/yaml/parse_test.go), [source translation](../internal/engine/parse_test.go) | `go test ./internal/yaml` and `go test ./internal/engine -run '^TestParseSource'` |
 | File/reader access, imports, globs, containment | [Sources](../internal/engine/source_test.go), [FIFO](../internal/engine/source_fifo_test.go), [imports](../internal/engine/imports_test.go), [globs](../internal/engine/glob_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Source\|Import\|Glob\|Filesystem\|Nonregular\|RegularFile'` |
+| Native filesystem and mapping sources | [Native acquisition](../internal/engine/native_filesystem_test.go), [filesystem facade](../facade_filesystem_test.go), [mapping facade](../facade_mapping_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'NativeFilesystem'` and `go test . -run 'TestFacade'` |
 | Composition, selected overlays, CLI precedence | [Composition](../internal/engine/compose_test.go), [overlay](../internal/engine/overlay_test.go), [selected overlays](../internal/engine/selected_overlay_test.go), [overrides](../internal/engine/override_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Compose\|Overlay\|Override'` |
+| Sibling inheritance, provenance, history, sensitivity | [Expansion](../internal/engine/inheritance_test.go), [destination scopes](../internal/engine/inheritance_walk_test.go), [origins](../internal/engine/inheritance_origin_test.go), [history](../internal/engine/inheritance_history_test.go), [secrets](../internal/engine/inheritance_secret_test.go), [public loading](../facade_inheritance_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Inheritance\|Inherited'` and `go test . -run '^TestFacadeInheritance\|^TestFacadeInheritedSecrets'` |
+| Layered loading and source equivalence | [Grouped lifecycle](../internal/engine/load_request_test.go), [layered facade](../facade_layered_test.go), [equivalence](../facade_equivalence_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run '^TestGrouped'`, `go test . -run '^TestFacadeLayered'`, and `go test . -run '^TestEquivalentSourceForms'` |
 | Schema, defaults, projection, cloning | [Schema](../internal/engine/schema_test.go), [decoding](../internal/engine/decode_test.go), [projection](../internal/engine/projection_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Schema\|Decode\|Projection\|Clone\|Inline\|CompareDocument'` |
 | Lifecycle, resolution, validation, callback ownership | [Loading](../internal/engine/load_test.go), [resolution](../internal/engine/resolution_test.go), [validation](../internal/engine/validation_test.go), [ownership](../internal/engine/callback_ownership_test.go), [independence](../internal/engine/independence_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Load\|Resolution\|Validation\|Validator\|Hook\|Callback\|Parallel'` |
 | Paths, metadata, provenance | [Paths](../internal/engine/path_test.go), [metadata](../internal/engine/metadata_test.go), [provenance](../internal/engine/provenance_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Path\|Metadata\|Provenance\|Queries'` |
+| Passive resource contexts | [Engine contexts](../internal/engine/resource_context_test.go), [public contexts](../facade_resource_context_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Resource'` and `go test . -run 'SourceContext'` |
 | Secrets, bootstrap, redaction, explanation | [References](../internal/engine/secret_reference_test.go), [bootstrap](../internal/engine/secrets_test.go), [rendering](../internal/engine/render_test.go), [explanation](../internal/engine/explain_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Secret\|Bootstrap\|Effective\|Explain\|Explanation\|History\|Sensitivity'` |
-| Consumer examples and migration fixtures | [Consumer tests](../examples/consumers/consumers_test.go), [API examples](../example_test.go) | `go test ./examples/consumers` and `go test . -run '^Example'` |
+| Effective configuration diff | [Engine comparison and masking tests](../internal/engine/diff_test.go), [engine operation tests](../internal/engine/diff_operation_test.go), [root facade tests](../facade_diff_test.go), and [consumer examples](../examples/consumers/diff_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run 'Diff|Explain|History|Secret|Independent'`, `go test . -run 'Diff|FacadeInspection|PublicFacadeBoundary|DependencyImportBoundary'`, `go test ./examples/consumers`, and `go test . -run '^ExampleDiff$'` |
+| Consumer examples and migration fixtures | [Consumer tests](../examples/consumers/consumers_test.go), [native and layered examples](../examples/consumers/layered_test.go), [API examples](../example_test.go) | `go test ./examples/consumers` and `go test . -run '^Example'` |
+| Assembly and layered scaling evidence | [Assembly benchmarks](../internal/engine/assembly_bench_test.go), [layered benchmarks](../internal/engine/underlay_bench_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run '^$' -bench '^BenchmarkUnderlay' -benchmem`; repeat with `^BenchmarkCompose` and `^BenchmarkOverlay` |
+| Inheritance scaling evidence | [Expansion benchmarks](../internal/engine/inheritance_bench_test.go) | `go test ./internal/engine -run '^$' -bench '^BenchmarkInheritance' -benchmem` |
 | Documentation links and dependency isolation | [Link checks](../documentation_test.go), [import boundary](../import_boundary_test.go), [public boundary](../public_boundary_test.go) | `go test . -run 'TestLocalDocumentationLinks\|TestDependencyImportBoundary\|TestPublicFacadeBoundary'` |
-| Development and release checker behavior | [Shell regression](../release_check_test.go) | `go test . -run 'TestCheckScripts\|TestDevelopmentCheck'` |
+| Development check behavior | [Development checker test](../development_check_test.go) | `go test . -run '^TestDevelopmentCheckHandlesFilenamesAndStopsOnFailure$'` |
-| Guarded release publication and recovery | [Publication regression](../release_publish_test.go) | `go test . -run '^TestReleasePublication'` |
+| Release profile wiring | [Release profile test](../releasekit_profile_test.go) | `go test . -run '^TestReleaseKitProfile$'` |
 
 ## Fuzz validation
 

docs/internal/overview.md

@@ -7,23 +7,32 @@ private state; public signatures and fields do not expose engine types.
 
 Implemented component owners:
 
-- `internal/engine` owns source acquisition, composition, schema inspection,
+- `internal/engine` owns host and native-filesystem source acquisition,
-  decoding, lifecycle coordination, callback auditing, provenance/history,
+  grouped strict composition, recursive precedence assembly, and destination-local
-  secret resolution and bootstrap, and safe inspection rendering. It never
+  sibling inheritance before typed decoding. It also owns schema
-  imports the root package.
+  inspection, lifecycle coordination, callback auditing,
-- Root `Source`, `Path`, `Secret`, records, lifecycle callbacks, results, and
+  provenance/history, passive source-context retention, secret resolution and
-  bootstrap reports are root-defined wrappers or records. Callback wrappers pass
+  bootstrap, safe inspection rendering, and effective-value comparison over
-  only live engine context during a callback; `Result.Config` is detached and its
+  frozen inspection snapshots. It never imports the root package.
-  private inspection remains frozen independently.
+- Root `Source`, `Filesystem`, `Input`, `Underlay`, `Path`, `Secret`, records,
+  lifecycle callbacks, results, and bootstrap reports are root-defined wrappers
+  or records. Callback wrappers pass only live engine context during a callback;
+  `Result.Config` is detached and its private inspection remains frozen
+  independently.
 - Root conversion files explicitly cross the path, record, callback, secret, and
   error boundaries. There are no public aliases, anonymous engine embeddings, or
   public engine bridge methods.
+- Root `Diff` and `Difference` provide the public comparison boundary and
+  convert detached engine records to root-owned paths and snapshots; consumer
+  examples own presentation of the safe changed regions.
 - `internal/document` owns the parser-independent ordered tree and cloning.
   `internal/yaml` is the sole upstream YAML adapter and parser/dumper boundary.
-- Engine mechanism tests own source, composition, decoding, callback, provenance,
+- Engine mechanism tests own source, composition, inheritance, decoding,
-  secret, history, rendering, and bootstrap behavior. Root tests own public API
+  callback, provenance,
-  compatibility, facade integration, documentation links, and dependency/public
+  source-context, secret, history, rendering, and bootstrap behavior. Root tests
-  boundary checks. Consumer examples remain under `examples/consumers`.
+  own public API compatibility, facade integration, documentation links, and
+  dependency/public boundary checks. Consumer examples remain under
+  `examples/consumers`.
 
 Dependency direction is root to engine to document/YAML support. The root may
 import only `internal/engine` among project internal production packages; engine
@@ -32,8 +41,12 @@ these constraints and rejects exported aliases, fields, or signatures involving
 internal types.
 
 The [configuration contract](../config.md) owns implemented YAML and lifecycle
-semantics. The [consumer adoption guide](../consumers/README.md) owns application
+semantics, including [effective configuration diffs](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs).
-guidance. The [architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) owns contributor
+The [consumer adoption guide](../consumers/README.md) owns application guidance.
-boundaries, and [ADR 0006](../adr/0006-public-facade.md) records the facade
+The [architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) owns contributor
+boundaries; [ADR 0006](../adr/0006-public-facade.md) records the facade decision
+and [ADR 0010](../adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md) records the diff
 decision. See the [development guide](../development.md) for validation commands
-and [release procedure](../release.md) for source-candidate gates.
+and [release procedure](../release.md) for source-candidate gates. [ADR
+0009](../adr/0009-sibling-inheritance.md) records why inheritance is a built-in
+post-assembly structural operation.

docs/oss/attribution.md

@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Standard Repository Policies
 
-Material: `docs/policy/meta.md`, `docs/policy/oss.md`,
+Material: `docs/policy/release.md`, adapted from
+`e833faddf120c789a9b45348edaf75720de16348`; `docs/policy/meta.md`, `docs/policy/oss.md`,
 `docs/policy/documentation.md`, `docs/policy/agents.md`,
-`docs/policy/architecture.md`, `docs/policy/testing.md`, and
+`docs/policy/architecture.md`, `docs/policy/testing.md`; root `AGENTS.md`; and the
-`docs/policy/release.md`; root `AGENTS.md`; and the Policy Reading Guide in
+Policy Reading Guide in `docs/development.md`, adapted from
-`docs/development.md`, adapted for this repository.
+`d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843` for this repository.
 
 Copyright (C) 2026 Eric Rakestraw
 
@@ -14,10 +15,14 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-SA-4.0
 
 License and notices: [CC BY-SA 4.0](licenses/CC-BY-SA-4.0.txt) |
 [COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843/COPYRIGHT) |
-[LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843/LICENSE).
+[LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843/LICENSE) |
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/e833faddf120c789a9b45348edaf75720de16348/COPYRIGHT) |
+[LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/e833faddf120c789a9b45348edaf75720de16348/LICENSE).
 
 [Source](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843).
 
+[Source](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/e833faddf120c789a9b45348edaf75720de16348).
+
 ## go-yaml v4
 
 Selected module: `go.yaml.in/yaml/v4` at `v4.0.0-rc.6`.

docs/policy/architecture.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 **Base Policy Version:** 1.3
 
-**Last Updated**: 2026-09-28
+**Last Updated**: 2026-09-29
 
 **Upstream Source:** [Standard Repository Policies](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843/docs/policy/architecture.md)
 
@@ -34,6 +34,23 @@ Do not promote incidental implementation choices into architectural invariants.
 
 ## Success Criteria
 
+ConfigKit prioritizes a coherent configuration model: consistency and
+predictability take precedence over flexibility for accommodating individual
+downstream conventions. Consumers should learn one set of rules, not different
+combination or presence semantics depending on the source format or consuming
+application. Distinct operations such as strict composition and intentional
+overlay express distinct purposes within that model.
+
+Consumers should be able to load once and receive a complete, validated
+configuration with inspectable provenance for its final values, including
+defaults and recorded application-derived values. Configuration and metadata
+together must distinguish explicit zero, false, empty, and null input from
+omission; ordinary Go values alone need not encode those distinctions.
+Application-owned resolution belongs within the recorded loading lifecycle, so
+consumers need no subsequent generic merging, defaulting, or provenance
+reconstruction. This does not transfer domain execution or runtime resource
+management into ConfigKit.
+
 1. **Reduce application infrastructure:** Can applications delete substantial
    configuration infrastructure while retaining clear ownership of their domain
    rules?
@@ -41,8 +58,11 @@ Do not promote incidental implementation choices into architectural invariants.
    configuration model, with only the flexibility needed to express genuine
    application requirements?
 
-Both criteria must hold. ConfigKit should not preserve divergent consumer
+Both criteria must hold. Minimize consumer loading and processing code subject
-conventions merely for compatibility, nor impose restrictions that prevent useful
+to the consistency, presence, and provenance principles above, rather than
+trading those principles for consumer-specific shortcuts. ConfigKit should not
+preserve divergent consumer conventions merely for compatibility, nor impose
+restrictions that prevent useful
 domain information from being expressed. Prefer a canonical representation using
 existing primitives before adding another mechanism. Extend the model when a
 concrete requirement cannot be accommodated cleanly, not simply because a
@@ -88,6 +108,22 @@ must never run implicitly as part of configuration loading.
 Remote data can enter through application-supplied input without introducing a
 network provider into the library.
 
+## Loading Lifecycle
+
+Configuration loading is a synchronous, complete-on-return operation. A successful
+load provides the final configuration and inspection metadata after the configured
+processing and validation phases complete. A failed load reports diagnostics and
+returns no usable partial result. The normal application pattern is one load near
+startup; applications may explicitly initiate additional loads.
+
+ConfigKit releases its library-owned loading handles before returning and remains
+inactive until the application explicitly invokes it again. It performs no
+background watching, refresh, or mutation of published results. Caller-owned
+resources and application callback effects remain the caller's responsibility.
+The [configuration contract](../config.md#completion-and-resource-lifetime) owns
+the precise completion and ownership behavior. The proposed decision record is
+[ADR 0008](../adr/0008-complete-on-return-loading.md).
+
 ## Public API And Dependency Direction
 
 Keep one small, coherent public surface for the supported lifecycle. Simple
@@ -116,18 +152,41 @@ framework on this library.
 
 ## Configuration Integrity
 
-Composition and intentional overlay are distinct operations. Composition must
+Within a configuration tier, independent contributions use strict composition:
-not silently become last-wins override through file ordering. The decision and
+shared mappings combine recursively, while overlapping non-mapping definitions
-alternatives are recorded in [ADR 0001](../adr/0001-separate-composition-and-overlay.md).
+are conflicts, including equal values. Between precedence tiers, intentional
+overlay combines mappings recursively, retains omitted lower-priority children,
+and replaces other present values according to the existing overlay rules.
+Tier precedence is explicit; traversal order within a tier establishes stable
+reporting, not permission to override. The distinction and its rationale are
+recorded in [ADR 0001](../adr/0001-separate-composition-and-overlay.md).
+
+The main document and its imports form a strictly composed tier. Explicit
+underlay groups compose strictly within each group, then combine recursively
+from lowest to highest beneath the main tier. Source acquisition kind does not
+determine its precedence role. Input-specific constraints, including CLI path
+rules and opt-in version ownership, remain part of the configuration contract. Consistent combination
+semantics do not require identical acquisition or lifetime behavior from every
+source kind.
+
+After source precedence is complete, built-in sibling `extends` relationships
+resolve structurally in the same parser-independent representation, using the
+existing recursive overlay rules. This adds neither an acquired source nor a
+consumer registration mechanism. Enclosing relationships precede nested
+destination-local resolution; typed defaults, application resolution, and
+secret lookup retain their existing lifecycle roles. The [configuration
+contract](../config.md#sibling-inheritance) owns the exact syntax and presence
+rules, and [ADR 0009](../adr/0009-sibling-inheritance.md) records the rationale.
 
 ConfigKit must define supported YAML semantics explicitly rather than inherit
 parser defaults. Processing order and diagnostics must be deterministic for the
 same inputs and options. Invalid input must not produce a successful usable
 configuration. Do not run application hooks on invalid typed configuration.
 
-User-controlled precedence is application defaults, composed base, selected
+User-controlled precedence is application defaults, ordered underlays, composed
-overlay, then explicitly supplied CLI overrides. Applications own flag parsing;
+main input, selected overlay, then explicitly supplied CLI overrides.
-ConfigKit owns overlay semantics and provenance. Domain resolution follows these
+Applications own flag parsing; ConfigKit owns overlay semantics and provenance.
+Domain resolution follows these
 inputs and must remain recorded, not become a hidden override channel.
 
 Preserve node-based composition until the effective input is ready for typed
@@ -142,6 +201,13 @@ See [ADR 0005](../adr/0005-explicit-overrides-and-safe-explanation.md).
 Detailed syntax and operation tables belong to the
 [current configuration contract](../config.md).
 
+The frozen inspection boundary also supports comparing completed same-type
+results without reopening sources or rerunning the load lifecycle. The
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs) owns
+comparison and disclosure behavior, the [component overview](../internal/overview.md)
+owns implementation responsibility, and [ADR 0010](../adr/0010-effective-configuration-diff.md)
+records the accepted decision.
+
 ## Ownership And Confidentiality
 
 Returned configuration and metadata must not share mutable state across loads.

docs/policy/release.md

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # Release Policy
 
-**Base Policy Version:** 1.4
+**Base Policy Version:** 1.6
 
-**Last Updated**: 2026-09-28
+**Last Updated**: 2026-10-09
 
-**Upstream Source:** [Standard Repository Policies](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843/docs/policy/release.md)
+**Upstream Source:** [Standard Repository Policies](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/e833faddf120c789a9b45348edaf75720de16348/docs/policy/release.md)
 
 ## Purpose
 
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ This policy defines a proportionate workflow for validating and publishing an
 intended source revision under a fresh version. Releases should require little
 routine intervention, avoid repeated work, and preserve published contents.
 
+Adopt stronger verification or reproducibility requirements through an explicit
+project-specific decision justified by the intended audience and support needs.
+
 The repository-specific commands belong in `docs/release.md`. Historical release
 summaries belong in `docs/releases/`. The procedure must agree with the adopted
 policy and link to it rather than introduce additional release requirements.
@@ -54,10 +57,11 @@ authoritative primary branch, completes the release. The source commit may be
 pushed before the tag or published together with it through an atomic push.
 The procedure must choose and document the supported approach.
 
-ConfigKit uses sequential explicit pushes: first the captured candidate to
+ConfigKit uses sequential publication: first push the committed candidate to
-authoritative `main`, then the annotated tag. Its
+authoritative `main`, then invoke ReleaseKit once to validate that candidate and
-[release procedure](../release.md) names `origin` and checks that its fetch and
+publish its annotated tag. The [release procedure](../release.md) names
-push destinations resolve to the authoritative URL.
+`origin`; ReleaseKit checks its exact effective push URL before validation and
+tag publication.
 
 Release commands must finish at successful publication. They must not wait for
 or poll CI, require successful CI status, inspect downloadable artifacts, or
@@ -76,8 +80,9 @@ the tagged source. The procedure must identify those deliverables and the
 responsibility of their automation. Published deliverables must be traceable
 to that source and identify the same version.
 
-ConfigKit currently declares no additional deliverables. Its source-tag push
+ConfigKit currently declares no additional deliverables. Confirmed publication
-is the completion point.
+of the intended source tag is the completion point. CI, macOS validation,
+hosted delivery, and consumer retrieval are outside the release gates.
 
 ## Versioning And Compatibility
 
@@ -96,7 +101,8 @@ requires a deliberate update to the policy and procedure where needed.
 For releases at or after `v1.0.0`:
 
 - a major release may make intentional incompatible changes;
-- a minor release may add backward-compatible behavior; and
+- a minor release may add backward-compatible behavior or raise the Go consumer
+  minimum as described below; and
 - a patch release may make backward-compatible fixes.
 
 Before `v1.0.0`, a minor release may change a documented public, operational,
@@ -108,13 +114,53 @@ Additional compatibility promises and deliberate exceptions belong in the
 adopted policy or canonical contract documentation. Release notes explain
 changes; they do not redefine current compatibility contracts.
 
+## Consumer Minimum And Release Toolchain
+
+Distinguish the minimum toolchain supported for consumers from the toolchain
+maintainers use to build and validate a release. Record the consumer minimum in
+the language's standard metadata and explain its support meaning in canonical
+documentation. Define the selected release toolchain and its setup commands in
+`docs/release.md`. Toolchain selection and upgrade cadence are repository-specific
+choices.
+
+For Go repositories, normally declare the initial stable release of the selected
+series as the consumer minimum, such as `go 1.26.0`. Use a higher patch minimum
+when a dependency or an identified correctness fix requires it, and document
+the reason.
+
+For release-policy purposes, successful build and release validation on the
+selected Go patch release are sufficient to presume support across that Go
+series, subject to the declared consumer minimum and concrete evidence of
+incompatibility. Investigate specific compatibility concerns as they arise.
+
+Use the selected release toolchain for candidate validation and release builds,
+including CI jobs performing those tasks. A newer validation patch version alone
+leaves the consumer minimum unchanged.
+
+A minor release may raise the Go consumer minimum, including from one Go series
+to the next, both before and after `v1.0.0`. This is an explicit exception to the
+backward-compatibility requirement for minor releases. Patch releases preserve
+the consumer minimum. Explain an increase's impact and required consumer action
+in the release note. Other incompatible changes remain subject to the versioning
+rules above.
+
+### ConfigKit Toolchain Selection
+
+For minor and major releases, select the newest stable Go series available in
+the development environment. For patch releases, retain the series recorded in
+`go.mod` and its consumer minimum. Use the latest locally available compatible
+patch in the selected series, with `GOTOOLCHAIN=local`, to build the
+module-selected ReleaseKit CLI and validate the candidate. The same Go
+executable builds the tool and runs its validation commands.
+
 ## Release Documentation And Preparation
 
 Every new release must include `docs/releases/<version>.md` in the tagged
 source tree. Use the complete version tag as the filename and begin with a
 title containing the product name and that exact version.
 
-ConfigKit requires the first line `# ConfigKit <version>`.
+ConfigKit requires the first line `# ConfigKit <version>`. ReleaseKit's
+publication guard checks the release-note H1 for the product and version.
 
 Include a short summary and any relevant compatibility impact or upgrade
 instructions. Choose sections suited to the release and keep the note
@@ -146,10 +192,9 @@ checks publication state, and publishes the intended refs. A validation-only
 mode or command may be provided for diagnosis, but must not be a required step
 before publication repeats the same checks.
 
-ConfigKit uses `./scripts/release.sh vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`. The separate
+ConfigKit uses the module-selected ReleaseKit CLI's `publish
-`scripts/release-check.sh` remains an optional diagnostic command; the
+vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` command. Its `check` command is optional for diagnosis; it
-publication command invokes it once and does not use a persistent candidate
+is not a required preliminary pass to publication.
-record.
 
 Run the complete deterministic, offline default test suite once for the final
 candidate, following the [testing policy](testing.md). For repositories that
@@ -157,13 +202,17 @@ publish builds, verify the required build targets. Select those targets for
 the application's actual support commitments; native testing on each platform
 and access to particular hardware are not default release prerequisites.
 
-ConfigKit's one maintained Go 1.25 baseline runs the full suite with the race
+Prepare dependencies and build the tool before offline validation; the
-detector and test-time vet disabled. This protects library behavior, ownership,
+publication command is the required validation run, with no separate successful
-and concurrent use; the suite already includes examples, consumer fixtures,
+test or CI run required before it.
-documentation links, and package boundaries. One full vet pass adds static
+
-checks beyond the test-time subset. CGO-disabled Linux amd64 and arm64 builds
+The selected profile runs the complete deterministic, offline default suite
-cover supported configurations distinct from native race compilation. macOS
+once with the race detector and test-time vet disabled. The suite already
-and newer-toolchain checks are optional.
+includes examples, consumer fixtures, documentation links, and package
+boundaries. One full vet pass adds static checks beyond the test-time subset.
+CGO-disabled Linux amd64 and arm64 package compilation covers supported
+configurations distinct from native race compilation. macOS and newer-toolchain
+checks are optional.
 
 Additional gates must address a concrete risk that the existing checks do not
 adequately cover. Do not automatically require linting, race testing, module
@@ -172,9 +221,10 @@ expanded platform matrices solely because they are possible. Retain such
 checks when their distinct protection justifies their cost. A one-time migration
 check must not silently become a permanent release requirement.
 
-The selected Go commands use readonly module mode with `GOPROXY=off`; acquire
+ReleaseKit runs its selected Go commands with readonly module mode and
-the baseline toolchain and dependencies before validation. Formatting and
+`GOPROXY=off`; acquire dependencies and build the tool before candidate
-whitespace remain ordinary development checks in `scripts/check.sh`.
+validation. Formatting and whitespace remain ordinary development checks in
+`scripts/check.sh`.
 Review module tidiness when dependencies change, not as a release gate.
 
 Release tests must not require real credentials, mutable application services,
@@ -206,16 +256,19 @@ Automate the checks needed to publish the intended source under a fresh version:
   authoritative remote;
 - the worktree and index are clean on the primary release branch;
 - the source being published is the exact candidate that passed validation,
-  including its matching release note;
+  including its matching release note H1;
 - the remote primary branch can be advanced to that candidate without
   discarding remote history, and is published before the tag; and
 - the tag identifies the validated candidate and only the intended refs are
   published.
 
-ConfigKit also checks that `origin` has exactly the authoritative fetch and
+ReleaseKit checks that `origin`'s effective push URL exactly matches the
-push destination, including configured push URLs. The command checks the
+authoritative URL before candidate validation. This does not assert the
-candidate and unused version again after validation, and checks local state
+configured fetch URL or require the release-note H1 to be the first line; the
-before creating the tag. Ignored local files do not block publication.
+required `# ConfigKit <version>` first-line format remains a content rule. The
+command checks the candidate and unused version again after validation, and
+checks local state before creating the tag. Ignored local files do not block
+publication.
 
 Fetch the authoritative branch and tag state as needed for these checks.
 Do not force branch or tag updates to bypass a failed guard. Publish explicit
@@ -248,10 +301,10 @@ release without replacing its contents or reusing its version.
 ## Repository Release Procedure
 
 Maintain `docs/release.md` as a short, executable maintainer runbook. It must
-identify prerequisites, the primary branch and authoritative remote, version
+identify prerequisites, the selected release toolchain, the primary branch and
-and note preparation, one publication command with local checks and guards,
+authoritative remote, version and note preparation, one publication command with
-source-only deliverables, the successful-tag-push completion point, and
+local checks and guards, source-only deliverables, the successful-tag-push
-partial or unknown-state recovery.
+completion point, and partial or unknown-state recovery.
 
 Use copyable commands where practical. Keep optional diagnostics and consumer
 verification clearly optional. The procedure must not turn preparation work,

docs/release.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # ConfigKit Release Procedure
 
 This is the maintainer runbook for ConfigKit's [release policy](policy/release.md).
-ConfigKit publishes one source-only Go module. The immutable annotated tag and
+ConfigKit publishes a source-only Go module. The immutable annotated tag and
 matching checked-in release note are the deliverables; there is no binary,
 container image, generated package, or separate registry publication.
 
@@ -9,183 +9,221 @@ container image, generated package, or separate registry publication.
 
 - Module: `gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit`
 - Primary branch: `main`
-- Authoritative remote: `origin`, with fetch and push destination
+- Authoritative remote: `origin`
-  `https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit.git`
+- Authoritative push URL: `https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit.git`
 - Tags: stable Semantic Versions such as `v0.5.0`; no prereleases
-- Minimum Go line: Go 1.25, validated with one maintained patch
+- Minimum Go version: the first stable patch of the selected Go series, or a
+  higher patch when required by a dependency or specific correctness fix, as
+  recorded in `go.mod`; see the
+  [consumer minimum policy](policy/release.md#consumer-minimum-and-release-toolchain)
 - Release-gated targets: Linux amd64 and arm64
 - Best-effort targets: macOS amd64 and arm64, under the
   [platform support policy](policy/release.md#platform-support)
 
-The checker runs one offline race suite, one full vet pass, and CGO-disabled
+Release validation runs one offline race-enabled Go suite, one full vet pass,
-builds for both Linux targets. It reports skipped filesystem cases. macOS checks
+and CGO-disabled package compilation for both Linux targets. macOS and CI are
-and newer-toolchain tests are optional. CI is never a readiness or completion
+not release gates; do not wait for or poll CI.
-gate; do not wait for or poll it.
 
-## 1. Prepare access and tools
+## 1. Select Go and prepare the tool
 
-Use a clean checkout with Git, Bash 3.2 or newer, a maintained Go 1.25 patch,
+Use a clean checkout with Git, Bash 3.2 or newer, and a native compiler for race
-and a native compiler for race tests. Configure private-host access through the
+tests. Choose the release type before selecting Go. For a minor or major release,
-normal credential manager. Keep credentials and environment dumps outside the
+select the newest stable Go series available in the development environment.
-repository and command transcript.
+For a patch release, retain the series recorded in `go.mod` and leave its consumer
+minimum unchanged. Follow the
+[toolchain selection policy](policy/release.md#configkit-toolchain-selection).
 
-Verify access without displaying credentials:
+Put the selected series' latest locally available compatible patch first on
+`PATH`, ensuring it meets `go.mod`'s minimum. The same `go` executable must build
+ReleaseKit and run its child validation commands. Set local toolchain selection
+and verify it:
 
 ```sh
-git remote get-url origin
+export GOTOOLCHAIN=local
-git ls-remote origin HEAD
+go version
+go env GOVERSION
+command -v go
 ```
 
-The fetch URL and all configured push destinations must resolve to the
+Only when a minor or major release advances the consumer minimum to a newer Go
-authoritative URL above. The publication command checks this again. Acquire the
+series, derive that series' initial stable release from the selected executable:
-selected toolchain and dependencies explicitly before offline validation:
 
 ```sh
-export CONFIGKIT_BASELINE_TOOLCHAIN=go1.25.14
+selected_go=$(GOTOOLCHAIN=local go env GOVERSION)
-GOTOOLCHAIN="$CONFIGKIT_BASELINE_TOOLCHAIN" go version
+selected_series=${selected_go#go}
-GOTOOLCHAIN="$CONFIGKIT_BASELINE_TOOLCHAIN" go mod download
+selected_series=${selected_series%.*}
+release_minimum="$selected_series.0"
+go mod edit -go="$release_minimum"
 ```
 
-A maintained patch may replace the example pin. No per-release latest-version
+If a dependency or identified correctness fix requires a higher patch minimum,
-survey is required. Dependencies must be cached; the checker sets `GOPROXY=off`.
+use that required version instead and document the reason. When the series is
-Publication requires user authorization. Standing authorization for local
+unchanged, leave the minimum unchanged unless a minor or major release
-commits does not authorize a push or release.
+deliberately changes it under the
+[consumer minimum policy](policy/release.md#consumer-minimum-and-release-toolchain).
+For example, validating with Go 1.26.8 leaves `go 1.26.0` unchanged. There is no
+separate requirement to validate with Go 1.26.0.
 
-## 2. Select the version and review compatibility
+Prepare dependencies whether or not the minimum changes:
 
-Choose an unused stable version. Compare the candidate with the previous tag.
+```sh
-Review exported Go signatures and ownership, YAML and scalar semantics,
+go mod download
-precedence, diagnostic codes, minimum Go version, and platform support. A
+```
-signature-preserving change may still affect consumers. Before `v1.0.0`,
-intentional incompatible minor-release changes need a note explaining impact
-and consumer action; patch releases remain compatible within their minor line.
-Review the maintained consumer examples and migration guide.
 
-When dependencies change, review parser behavior and migration impact as part
+Build the tool selected by `go.mod` into temporary storage outside the checkout.
-of that change. Module tidiness belongs to dependency-change review, not the
+Ensure `$TMPDIR` names a system temporary location, not the repository. These
-release checker. Do not repeat a dependency-version survey for every release.
+commands never install another ReleaseKit version:
 
-## 3. Write and commit the release note
+```sh
+releasekit_tmp=$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/configkit-releasekit.XXXXXX")
+releasekit_bin="$releasekit_tmp/releasekit"
+go build -o "$releasekit_bin" gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/cmd/releasekit
+go list -m gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit
+"$releasekit_bin" version
+```
 
-Create `docs/releases/<version>.md` for the selected version. Its first line
+The module-selected executable is ReleaseKit v0.4.1. Use the built executable
-must be `# ConfigKit <version>`. Give a meaningful summary and include
+for publication to preserve its exit status and publication-state diagnostics.
-compatibility impact or upgrade instructions when applicable. Link to current
+`go run` maps a nonzero child exit status to 1. ReleaseKit's child Go commands
-contracts for exact behavior. Review the note and affected canonical documents
+use the `go` found on `PATH` with `GOTOOLCHAIN=local`; keep the selected
-as ordinary preparation, then commit the complete candidate.
+executable first on `PATH` through the publication command.
 
-End every new note with these links, replacing `VERSION` with the complete tag:
+Verify access to the authoritative remote without displaying credentials:
+
+```sh
+git ls-remote https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit.git HEAD refs/heads/main
+```
+
+Publication requires explicit authorization. Local implementation commits do
+not authorize a push or release.
+
+## 2. Prepare and commit the candidate
+
+Choose an unused stable version locally and on the authoritative remote. Compare
+the candidate with the previous tag and review exported Go signatures and
+ownership, YAML and resolution semantics, diagnostic contracts, minimum Go
+version, and platform support. Review maintained consumer examples and the
+migration guidance. Explain any consumer-minimum increase and required consumer
+action under the
+[consumer minimum policy](policy/release.md#consumer-minimum-and-release-toolchain).
+
+Create `docs/releases/<version>.md`. Its first line must be exactly
+`# ConfigKit <version>`, and it must end with the license and attribution footer:
 
 ```markdown
 [COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/VERSION/COPYRIGHT) | [LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/VERSION/LICENSE) | [ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/VERSION/docs/oss/attribution.md)
 ```
 
-Confirm the three target files exist in the candidate and review the version in
+Replace `VERSION` with the full tag and confirm the three target files exist in
-the URLs. The future tag need not resolve remotely yet; this review adds no
+the candidate. Retire completed roadmaps, preserve unfinished and deferred
-network gate. ConfigKit uses checked-in notes without hosted release objects.
+work, and repair affected links. Review the complete candidate for unintended
-If a hosted page is used later, reuse the note and preserve its footer. Do not
+files and credentials, then commit it on `main`. These are ordinary preparation
-rewrite historical notes or add downloadable license assets.
+tasks, not separate approval gates. Any `go.mod` change belongs in this
+candidate.
+
+## 3. Push the candidate to `main`
+
+Push only that committed candidate to the literal authoritative URL. This does
+not follow local tags:
+
+```sh
+git push --no-follow-tags https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit.git HEAD:refs/heads/main
+```
+
+ReleaseKit requires authoritative `main` to equal this candidate before it
+validates. A failure before this push means ReleaseKit publication has not
+started. If the push result is uncertain, inspect authoritative `main` and
+continue only when it is confirmed at the candidate. If validation later fails,
+no release tag is published; correct the issue in a new commit, push the new
+candidate to `main`, and invoke validation again.
 
 ## 4. Publish the committed candidate
 
-Before publication, review compatibility, release-note accuracy, and the file
+With the authorized candidate already on authoritative `main`, invoke the
-list for unintended content or credentials. Retire completed roadmaps as part of
+module-selected native executable exactly once:
-release preparation, preserving unfinished and deferred work and repairing
-links. These are ordinary preparation tasks, not separate human sign-offs.
-
-With the release explicitly authorized, run the one publication command.
-The script resolves the repository root from its own path, so it may be invoked
-from another directory by using its path there. Replace the sample version with
-the selected version:
 
 ```sh
-./scripts/release.sh v0.5.0
+"$releasekit_bin" publish vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
 ```
 
-The command requires `main`, a clean index/worktree, an unused version locally
+Replace the placeholder with the selected version. ReleaseKit checks the
-and on the authoritative remote, and a matching note in the captured commit.
+effective push URL against `expected_push_url`, verifies the candidate on
-Ignored local files do not block it. It checks remote ancestry, runs
+`main`, and checks the release-note H1 for the product and version. It then
-[`release-check.sh`](../scripts/release-check.sh) once against that commit,
+runs the selected race-enabled standard suite once with test-time vet disabled,
-rechecks candidate and version state, pushes only that commit to `main`, then
+one full vet pass, and CGO-disabled package compilation for Linux amd64 and
-creates and pushes one annotated tag. The tag message is the checked-in note.
+arm64. It publishes only the annotated tag for that candidate. Confirmed
-It never commits or repairs the checkout.
+publication of the intended tag completes the release. The tag points to the
-
+captured commit and uses the complete checked-in note as its annotation message.
-A successful intended tag push completes publication. The command reports the
+The optional `check`
-version and commit immediately. No CI, module retrieval, remote read-back, or
+command is available for diagnosis but is not a separate required pass:
-hosted release object is required. The checker may be run separately for
-diagnosis, but it is not a prerequisite: a fresh publication invocation
-validates its candidate once.
-
-## 5. Recover from a failed or uncertain push
-
-The command performs one bounded authoritative-state check after a failed push.
-If the main push failed but authoritative main equals the candidate, it proceeds.
-If the tag push failed but its exact tag object reached the remote, it reports
-success. Otherwise it reports branch-only, conflicting, or unknown state and
-retains any local tag.
-
-Inspect exact refs before any retry. Set `release_version` to the attempted
-version and compare main with the candidate from the command's report:
 
 ```sh
-release_version=v0.5.0
+"$releasekit_bin" check vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
-authoritative=https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit.git
-if remote_main=$(git ls-remote --refs --exit-code "$authoritative" refs/heads/main); then
-  printf 'remote main: %s\n' "$remote_main"
-else
-  result=$?
-  if [ "$result" -eq 2 ]; then
-    printf 'authoritative main confirmed absent\n' >&2
-  else
-    printf 'remote main state unknown; inspect before retrying\n' >&2
-  fi
-fi
-ref="refs/tags/$release_version"
-if remote_tag=$(git ls-remote --refs --exit-code "$authoritative" "$ref"); then
-  printf 'remote tag: %s\n' "$remote_tag"
-else
-  result=$?
-  if [ "$result" -eq 2 ]; then
-    printf 'remote tag confirmed absent\n'
-  else
-    printf 'remote tag state unknown; do not reuse the version\n' >&2
-  fi
-fi
-if local_tag=$(git rev-parse --verify "refs/tags/$release_version" 2>/dev/null); then
-  printf 'local tag object: %s\n' "$local_tag"
-else
-  printf 'no local tag object\n'
-fi
 ```
 
-A query failure is not proof that the tag is absent. Compare the remote tag
+Status 0 confirms publication, status 1 reports a known publication failure or
-object ID with the local annotated tag object ID; its peeled commit alone is
+conflict, status 2 reports usage, profile, or version errors, and status 3 means
-insufficient to establish identical publication. A conflicting published tag
+the push outcome remains unknown. Preserve both the native exit status and its
-must not be moved or replaced. If remote main advanced but the tag was not
+diagnostics.
-published, report that partial progress. Only after confirming the local tag
+
-was never published or used by another channel may a maintainer remove it:
+The command does not push or repair `main`, wait for CI, or publish binaries or
+a hosted release page. A successful intended-tag publication does not require
+remote read-back or consumer retrieval; those checks remain optional.
+
+## 5. Recover from a failed or uncertain tag push
+
+The executable reports the publication state, phase, version, candidate commit,
+tag-object ID, effective endpoint, and error on standard error. It performs one
+bounded authoritative reconciliation after a failed tag push. Exit status 3
+means the tag outcome remains unknown; do not blindly retry or move a tag.
+
+For an uncertain result, use the exact endpoint, candidate commit, version, and
+tag-object ID from the report. Copy the captured endpoint into the variable
+below using normal shell quoting. Check that Git still resolves it to itself,
+then query the authoritative refs once:
+
+```sh
+authoritative='COPY_CAPTURED_ENDPOINT'
+release_version='vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH'
+test "$(git ls-remote --get-url -- "$authoritative")" = "$authoritative" &&
+  git ls-remote --refs -- "$authoritative" refs/heads/main "refs/tags/$release_version"
+```
+
+A failed URL-equality check or remote query leaves the outcome unresolved.
+Correct transport configuration before continuing; a rewritten destination
+cannot establish absence at the captured endpoint.
+
+Compare the `main` object ID with the reported candidate commit and the tag
+object ID with the reported tag-object ID. `--refs` returns the annotated tag
+object itself, not merely its peeled commit. If the tag object matches, the
+release is published. If the query fails, the result is conflicting, or the
+endpoint or candidate differs, stop and resolve the state before retrying. If
+the endpoint is reachable, the tag is confirmed absent, and `main` still equals
+the reported candidate, remove a retained local tag only after confirming it
+was not published or used by another channel; then rerun `publish`, which
+revalidates the candidate:
 
 ```sh
 git tag -d "$release_version"
+"$releasekit_bin" publish "$release_version"
 ```
 
-A subsequent invocation revalidates the candidate; a correctly published tag
+A validation failure after the candidate reached `main` leaves an untagged
-needs no rerun. Do not roll back main or automatically delete a tag. Transport
+candidate there. Correct it with a new commit rather than rewriting or rolling
-or authentication failure alone does not require a new version. A defect in
+back `main`. A conflicting published tag must never be moved or reused. A
-published source requires a corrected commit, a new semantically appropriate
+defect in published source requires a corrected commit, a new semantically
-version and note, and the release procedure again.
+appropriate version, and a matching release note.
 
 ## 6. Optional consumer verification
 
-Only when useful or requested, read back the remote tag or retrieve the exact
+When useful or requested, read back the remote tag or retrieve the exact
-version into a new module without a local `replace` directive. These checks
+version into a new module without a local `replace` directive. These checks are
-are optional and non-gating. Do not poll CI or wait for module propagation.
+optional and non-gating. Do not poll CI or wait for module propagation. For
-Private-host credentials must already be configured. For direct-origin
+direct-origin verification, use the exact published version in a temporary
-verification, set the version to the release just published (replace the sample
+consumer module:
-below), then use a temporary consumer module and check the exact module path
-and version reported by `go list -m`:
 
 ```sh
-release_version=v0.5.0
+release_version=vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
 consumer_dir=$(mktemp -d)
 (
   cd "$consumer_dir"

docs/releases/v0.5.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# ConfigKit v0.5.0
+
+This minor release adds source-backed layered configuration and built-in sibling
+inheritance, so applications can load one complete configuration while retaining
+presence, source context, and explainable derivation.
+
+## Summary
+
+- `LoadLayered` combines ordered underlay groups beneath the main input, selected
+  overlay, and explicit CLI overrides. Inputs within a group still compose
+  strictly; precedence tiers combine mappings recursively. The main input
+  remains the owner of the optional schema-version check.
+- `NewFilesystem(...).File(...)` accepts caller-owned `fs.FS` sources, and
+  `Mapping(...)` snapshots supported built-in values as a labeled source.
+  `Result.SourceContext` and `Resolution.SourceContext` expose passive resource
+  contexts for values from file-backed sources.
+- `extends` now resolves a mapping against one named sibling after source
+  precedence and before typed decoding. Inherited values count as explicit
+  input. Origins, history, explanations, and redacted rendering retain the
+  source and the structural path by which a value reached its destination.
+  Review corrections preserve immutable nested-history evidence and bounded
+  expansion work.
+
+See the [configuration contract](../config.md#layered-loading),
+[inheritance rules](../config.md#sibling-inheritance), and
+[consumer examples](../consumers/README.md) for current behavior.
+
+## Compatibility and upgrade
+
+This is an intentional pre-v1 incompatible minor release for configurations
+that use `extends` as ordinary data. That key is now reserved wherever an input
+mapping occurs; it is consumed before decoding. Rename any such YAML key and
+corresponding Go field, then rebuild. No collection registration or opt-in flag
+is available. Configurations without `extends` retain their existing meaning.
+
+Applications adopting the new features may move source-backed defaults into
+explicit `Underlay` groups, use `SourceContext` for relative resources, or
+replace application-owned sibling merging with one `extends` relationship per
+mapping. Adoption is optional. The maintained
+[named-preset example](../consumers/README.md#named-sibling-inheritance)
+shows inherited `false` and destination-local nested resolution.
+
+Select the new module version:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit@v0.5.0
+```
+
+The minimum Go line remains 1.25. Linux amd64 and arm64 remain the
+release-validated targets; macOS remains best-effort. The YAML dependency is
+unchanged at `go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6`.
+
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.5.0/COPYRIGHT) | [LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.5.0/LICENSE) | [ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.5.0/docs/oss/attribution.md)

docs/releases/v0.6.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# ConfigKit v0.6.0
+
+This minor release reduces avoidable configuration-loading and inspection work,
+adopts ReleaseKit for source publication, and raises the consumer Go minimum to
+1.26.0. The public configuration model remains unchanged from v0.5.0.
+
+## Changes
+
+- Reduce temporary path allocations by sizing pointer-formatting buffers,
+  combining final metadata traversal, reusing parsed sensitivity paths, and
+  avoiding path construction when detecting inheritance. Effective and
+  historical metadata indexes retain independently owned paths.
+- Replace repeated resolution-coverage, metadata-update, CLI-overlap, and
+  sensitivity-propagation scans with private indexes and incremental processing.
+  Preserve diagnostic ordering, history, contextual path shapes, and redaction.
+- Make presence-only metadata queries avoid materializing provenance. Prepare
+  resolution replay descriptors and immutable mapping and inheritance-history
+  lookups for inspection, and use ordered membership indexes for provenance
+  collections. Returned records remain detached; explanations still replay
+  complete trees and render on demand.
+- Add a maintained public-API startup construction benchmark. The initial path
+  formatting and metadata traversal experiments reproduced allocation reductions
+  across local and downstream workloads. Later algorithmic improvements were
+  validated behaviorally without a new benchmark campaign. Busy-host timings
+  were inconclusive; no fixed speedup or allocation threshold is promised.
+- Replace ConfigKit-owned release scripts with a small profile and the
+  module-selected ReleaseKit v0.3.0 tool. The
+  [release procedure](../release.md) documents candidate preparation, tag-only
+  publication, and failed-push recovery. Existing release checks and the
+  successful-tag-push completion point remain unchanged; CI is not a gate.
+- Adopt release policy 1.6, distinguishing the consumer Go minimum from the
+  validation toolchain. Retire completed planning and measurement records into
+  Git history while preserving [deferred work](../roadmap/deferred.md).
+
+## Compatibility and upgrade
+
+The consumer minimum increases from Go 1.25.0 to **Go 1.26.0**. Install Go 1.26.0
+or newer before upgrading, and update application build and CI environments that
+still use Go 1.25. The `go.mod` directive records the consumer minimum; using a
+newer validation patch does not itself raise that minimum. See the
+[consumer minimum policy](../policy/release.md#consumer-minimum-and-release-toolchain).
+
+Select this version and rebuild:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit@v0.6.0
+```
+
+No application-code or configuration migration is required from v0.5.0. Public
+Go signatures, strict within-tier composition, recursive tier precedence,
+sibling inheritance, presence/null distinctions, provenance, secret handling,
+and synchronous completion retain their existing contracts. See the
+[configuration contract](../config.md) and
+[consumer guide](../consumers/README.md).
+
+The YAML dependency remains `go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6`. ReleaseKit is a
+declared Go tool dependency for maintainer commands, not a library runtime
+import; its requirements participate in ConfigKit's module graph. Linux amd64
+and arm64 remain release-validated targets, and macOS remains best-effort.
+Maintainers should use the current release procedure instead of the retired
+`scripts/release.sh` and `scripts/release-check.sh` commands.
+
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.6.0/COPYRIGHT) | [LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.6.0/LICENSE) | [ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.6.0/docs/oss/attribution.md)

docs/releases/v0.7.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# ConfigKit v0.7.0
+
+This minor release adds structured comparison of completed configurations.
+Applications can inspect changes between two configuration files or the
+effective impact of a selected overlay, with ConfigKit handling comparison and
+safe value disclosure while applications own presentation.
+
+## Changes
+
+- Add `Diff[T](left, right *Result[T]) ([]Difference, error)` through the public
+  facade. It compares frozen effective inspection values from successful loads,
+  including defaults and recorded application resolution, rather than source
+  text or later mutations of `Result.Config`.
+- Return detached changed-region records containing a semantic path, safe left
+  and right `ValueSnapshot` values, and `HiddenChanged`. Mappings compare
+  recursively, sequences report atomic changes, and records follow canonical
+  pointer order. Presence distinguishes additions and removals from explicit
+  null; equal effective values produce no records regardless of provenance or
+  loading history.
+- Protect both snapshots with sensitivity from both loads, including historical
+  and dependency-derived classification. Compatible regions retain public
+  siblings; incompatible structural replacements use complete-region masking
+  where required. `HiddenChanged` identifies actual changes withheld by masking,
+  rather than merely indicating that a snapshot contains redacted content.
+- Preserve visible public scalar changes when only historical sensitive
+  descendants remain, including additions and removals. Historical explanation
+  redaction and masking of incompatible present shapes remain intact.
+- Add maintained file-comparison and base-versus-overlay examples with
+  consumer-owned formatting, plus an executable public API example. See the
+  [consumer guide](../consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs) and
+  [configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs).
+
+## Compatibility and upgrade
+
+No application-code or configuration migration is required from v0.6.0.
+Adopting the new API is optional. Loading, composition, inheritance, provenance,
+existing inspection, and secret-handling contracts remain unchanged.
+
+Load both configurations successfully before calling `Diff`; nil or
+uninitialized results return an error with no records. Comparison does not
+reopen sources, rerun callbacks, or reread environment variables. Typed secret
+references compare by configured reference name, not resolved credential bytes,
+so credential rotation behind an unchanged name is not reported. Returned
+snapshots describe changed regions, not cross-protected full-document context.
+
+Select this version and rebuild:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit@v0.7.0
+```
+
+The consumer minimum remains Go 1.26.0. The YAML dependency remains
+`go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6`, and the maintainer tool dependency remains
+ReleaseKit v0.3.0. Linux amd64 and arm64 remain release-validated targets;
+macOS remains best-effort. Publication follows the existing
+[release procedure](../release.md).
+
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.0/COPYRIGHT) | [LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.0/LICENSE) | [ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.0/docs/oss/attribution.md)

docs/releases/v0.7.1.md

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# ConfigKit v0.7.1
+
+This patch updates the maintainer release tool to ReleaseKit v0.4.1. ConfigKit's
+runtime behavior and public API are unchanged.
+
+## Compatibility and upgrade
+
+No application-code or configuration migration is required from v0.7.0. The
+consumer minimum remains Go 1.26.0, and the YAML dependency is unchanged.
+
+Select this version and rebuild:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit@v0.7.1
+```
+
+ReleaseKit v0.4.1 is a maintainer tool dependency and does not change consumer
+configuration or runtime behavior. Linux amd64 and arm64 remain
+release-validated targets; macOS remains best-effort. Publication follows the
+existing [release procedure](../release.md).
+
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.1/COPYRIGHT) | [LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.1/LICENSE) | [ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/src/tag/v0.7.1/docs/oss/attribution.md)

docs/roadmap/deferred.md

@@ -11,18 +11,47 @@ General environment-variable configuration overlays are not supported. Typed sec
 references and explicit directory bootstrap are the environment convention. Literal
 credential configuration and implicit secret-directory discovery are unsupported.
 
-The initial release deliberately excludes:
+The following remain deliberately excluded:
 
 - automatic `conf.d` discovery;
 - remote imports, arbitrary providers, and additional configuration formats;
-- custom merge strategies, sequence merging, reset operators, and overlay inheritance;
+- custom merge strategies, sequence merging, reset operators, multiple-parent
+  inheritance, and cross-scope references;
+- named overlay inheritance;
 - parser-specific or custom structural-decoding extension APIs;
 - generic dynamic-subtree conversion and module-registry APIs;
 - automatic schema migrations;
 - hot reload, runtime resource replacement, and remote resource validation;
 - a bundled CLI framework or application commands; and
-- configuration diffs and fingerprints.
+- configuration fingerprints.
 
 Applications may build their own validate, effective-value, source, bootstrap, and
 explanation commands around the library. Broadening these boundaries requires
 concrete consumer evidence, compatibility review, and an explicit design change.
+
+Effective configuration diffs are implemented over frozen successful-load
+inspections; their current comparison and disclosure contract is in the
+[configuration contract](../config.md#effective-configuration-diffs), with
+consumer workflows in the [adoption guide](../consumers/README.md#effective-configuration-diffs).
+Fingerprints remain deferred.
+
+Built-in sibling inheritance using `extends` is implemented as described in the
+[configuration contract](../config.md#sibling-inheritance). It is distinct from
+inheritance between selected overlay files, which remains excluded above.
+
+## Deferred performance experiments
+
+The completed performance audit left these internal optimization candidates for
+separate investigation:
+
+- branch-local explanation replay instead of the current whole-tree replay;
+- redesigning the private metadata-copy handoff while preserving detached public
+  records;
+- caching schema descriptors across loads; and
+- indexing complex contributor-trace membership while preserving its equality
+  rules and compact linked traces.
+
+These are not committed implementation work. Reconsider them with evidence that
+the benefit justifies the ownership, retained-memory, or equivalence risks. The
+completed audit and implementation evidence are preserved in Git history at
+`8e91a2b` under `docs/roadmap/`.

example_test.go

@@ -30,6 +30,32 @@ func ExampleNoSource() {
 	// Output: 4 0 <nil>
 }
 
+func ExampleDiff() {
+	type Config struct {
+		Workers int `yaml:"workers"`
+	}
+	before, err := configkit.Load[Config](configkit.Mapping("before", map[string]any{"workers": 2}))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	after, err := configkit.Load[Config](configkit.Mapping("after", map[string]any{"workers": 4}))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(before, after)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	for _, difference := range differences {
+		fmt.Printf("%s: %s -> %s\n", difference.Path.String(),
+			strings.TrimSpace(difference.Left.YAML), strings.TrimSpace(difference.Right.YAML))
+	}
+	// Output: /workers: 2 -> 4
+}
+
 func ExampleValidation_Error() {
 	type Config struct {
 		First  string `yaml:"first"`

examples/consumers/consumers_test.go

@@ -52,6 +52,22 @@ func Example_seriatim() {
 	// Output: visitor true the event occurred <nil> <nil>
 }
 
+func Example_inheritedPresets() {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadPresets(configkit.File(fixture("inheritance", "presets.yml")))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	path := configkit.Keys("presets", "custom", "enabled")
+	info, _ := result.Metadata().Lookup(path)
+	custom := result.Config.Presets["custom"]
+	fmt.Println(custom.Enabled, result.Metadata().IsExplicit(path), custom.Settings["secondary"]["width"])
+	fmt.Println(info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID, info.Origin.Inheritance[0].From)
+	// Output:
+	// false true 20
+	// source-1 /presets/base/enabled
+}
+
 func Example_weatherStartup() {
 	const blockedName = "CONFIGKIT_WEATHER_EXAMPLE_BLOCKED"
 	const tokenName = "CONFIGKIT_WEATHER_EXAMPLE_TOKEN"

examples/consumers/diff.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package consumers
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+// FileComparisonConfig is a small application-owned shape for comparing
+// caller-selected configuration files.
+type FileComparisonConfig struct {
+	Name    string         `yaml:"name"`
+	Entries map[string]any `yaml:"entries"`
+}
+
+// CompareFiles loads two caller-selected files with the same application
+// definition, then formats only the safe records returned by configkit.Diff.
+func CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath string) (string, error) {
+	options := configkit.Options[FileComparisonConfig]{
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[FileComparisonConfig]{
+			Defaults: func() FileComparisonConfig {
+				return FileComparisonConfig{Entries: map[string]any{}}
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	left, err := configkit.Load(configkit.File(leftPath), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load left configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	right, err := configkit.Load(configkit.File(rightPath), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load right configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return FormatDifferences(differences), nil
+}
+
+// RolloutConfig models a service endpoint whose URL is derived by the
+// application resolver and whose credential reference is classified.
+type RolloutConfig struct {
+	Service RolloutService `yaml:"service"`
+}
+
+// RolloutService contains endpoint settings and a classified credential.
+type RolloutService struct {
+	Endpoint   RolloutEndpoint   `yaml:"endpoint"`
+	Credential RolloutCredential `yaml:"credential"`
+}
+
+// RolloutEndpoint is the effective destination used by the application.
+type RolloutEndpoint struct {
+	Host string `yaml:"host"`
+	Port int    `yaml:"port"`
+	URL  string `yaml:"url"`
+}
+
+// RolloutCredential holds only a typed secret reference in configuration.
+type RolloutCredential struct {
+	Token configkit.Secret `yaml:"token" configkit:"secret"`
+}
+
+// LoadRollout loads a base file, optionally with one selected configuration
+// overlay. Resolution derives the effective URL after the overlay is applied.
+func LoadRollout(basePath, overlayName string) (*configkit.Result[RolloutConfig], error) {
+	return configkit.Load(configkit.File(basePath), configkit.Options[RolloutConfig]{
+		Overlay: overlayName,
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[RolloutConfig]{
+			Resolve: resolveRollout,
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+// CompareRolloutOverlay compares the effective base configuration with that
+// same file plus one selected overlay. It presents only safe diff records.
+func CompareRolloutOverlay(basePath, overlayName string) (string, error) {
+	base, err := LoadRollout(basePath, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load base configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	withOverlay, err := LoadRollout(basePath, overlayName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("load overlay configuration: %w", err)
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(base, withOverlay)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return FormatDifferences(differences), nil
+}
+
+func resolveRollout(configuration *RolloutConfig, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+	endpoint := &configuration.Service.Endpoint
+	if endpoint.Host == "" || endpoint.Port <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("https://%s:%d", endpoint.Host, endpoint.Port)
+	if endpoint.URL != url {
+		endpoint.URL = url
+		resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "url"),
+			configkit.ChangeNormalization, "derived endpoint URL",
+			configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "host"),
+			configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "port"))
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// FormatDifferences is consumer-owned presentation. It distinguishes absence
+// through Present and reports withheld changes through HiddenChanged without
+// interpreting redaction marker text.
+func FormatDifferences(differences []configkit.Difference) string {
+	if len(differences) == 0 {
+		return "No effective changes.\n"
+	}
+	var output strings.Builder
+	for _, difference := range differences {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&output, "%s: left=%s right=%s", difference.Path.String(),
+			formatSnapshot(difference.Left), formatSnapshot(difference.Right))
+		if difference.HiddenChanged {
+			output.WriteString(" hidden-change")
+		}
+		output.WriteByte('\n')
+	}
+	return output.String()
+}
+
+func formatSnapshot(snapshot configkit.ValueSnapshot) string {
+	if !snapshot.Present {
+		return "<absent>"
+	}
+	return strconv.Quote(snapshot.YAML)
+}

examples/consumers/diff_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+package consumers_test
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/examples/consumers"
+)
+
+func ExampleCompareFiles() {
+	directory, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "configkit-diff-files-")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(directory)
+	leftPath := filepath.Join(directory, "before.yml")
+	rightPath := filepath.Join(directory, "after.yml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(leftPath, []byte("name: before\nentries: {}\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(rightPath, []byte("name: after\nentries:\n  added: null\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	output, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Print(output)
+	// Output:
+	// /entries/added: left=<absent> right="null\n"
+	// /name: left="before\n" right="after\n"
+}
+
+func ExampleCompareRolloutOverlay() {
+	const baseToken = "CONFIGKIT_DIFF_EXAMPLE_BASE_TOKEN"
+	const overlayToken = "CONFIGKIT_DIFF_EXAMPLE_OVERLAY_TOKEN"
+	defer preserveEnvironment(baseToken)()
+	defer preserveEnvironment(overlayToken)()
+	_ = os.Setenv(baseToken, "disposable-example-base-credential")
+	_ = os.Setenv(overlayToken, "disposable-example-overlay-credential")
+
+	directory, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "configkit-diff-overlay-")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(directory)
+	basePath := filepath.Join(directory, "config.yml")
+	overlayPath := filepath.Join(directory, "overlays", "canary.yml")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(overlayPath), 0o700); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	base := "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: base.example\n    port: 8443\n  credential:\n    token: " + baseToken + "\n"
+	overlay := "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: canary.example\n  credential:\n    token: " + overlayToken + "\n"
+	if err := os.WriteFile(basePath, []byte(base), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(overlayPath, []byte(overlay), 0o600); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	output, err := consumers.CompareRolloutOverlay(basePath, "canary")
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Print(output)
+	// Output:
+	// /service/credential/token: left="'[REDACTED]'\n" right="'[REDACTED]'\n" hidden-change
+	// /service/endpoint/host: left="base.example\n" right="canary.example\n"
+	// /service/endpoint/url: left="https://base.example:8443\n" right="https://canary.example:8443\n"
+}
+
+func TestCompareFilesUsesCallerSelectedSourcesAndSafePresence(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	leftPath := filepath.Join(directory, "before.yml")
+	rightPath := filepath.Join(directory, "after.yml")
+	writeConfiguration(t, leftPath, "name: before\nentries: {}\n")
+	writeConfiguration(t, rightPath, "name: after\nentries:\n  added: null\n")
+
+	output, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := "/entries/added: left=<absent> right=\"null\\n\"\n" +
+		"/name: left=\"before\\n\" right=\"after\\n\"\n"
+	if output != want {
+		t.Fatalf("comparison output = %q, want %q", output, want)
+	}
+	if again, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath); err != nil || again != output {
+		t.Fatalf("repeat output = %q, %v", again, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompareFilesReturnsEachLoadError(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	leftPath := filepath.Join(directory, "before.yml")
+	rightPath := filepath.Join(directory, "after.yml")
+	writeConfiguration(t, leftPath, "name: before\n")
+	writeConfiguration(t, rightPath, "unknown: invalid\n")
+
+	output, err := consumers.CompareFiles(leftPath, rightPath)
+	if err == nil || output != "" || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "load right configuration") {
+		t.Fatalf("right load failure = %q, %v", output, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := consumers.CompareFiles(filepath.Join(directory, "missing.yml"), rightPath); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "load left configuration") {
+		t.Fatalf("left load failure = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompareRolloutOverlayShowsResolvedSafeChangesAndRetainsSiblings(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_DIFF_BASE_TOKEN", "disposable-base-credential")
+	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_DIFF_OVERLAY_TOKEN", "disposable-overlay-credential")
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	basePath := filepath.Join(directory, "config.yml")
+	overlayPath := filepath.Join(directory, "overlays", "canary.yml")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(overlayPath), 0o700); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	writeConfiguration(t, basePath, "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: base.example\n    port: 8443\n  credential:\n    token: CONFIGKIT_DIFF_BASE_TOKEN\n")
+	writeConfiguration(t, overlayPath, "service:\n  endpoint:\n    host: canary.example\n  credential:\n    token: CONFIGKIT_DIFF_OVERLAY_TOKEN\n")
+
+	base, err := consumers.LoadRollout(basePath, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	withOverlay, err := consumers.LoadRollout(basePath, "canary")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if base.Config.Service.Endpoint.Port != 8443 || withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint.Port != 8443 {
+		t.Fatalf("lower-priority port was not retained: base=%#v overlay=%#v", base.Config.Service.Endpoint, withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint)
+	}
+	urlInfo, found := withOverlay.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("service", "endpoint", "url"))
+	if !found || urlInfo.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerResolution || withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint.URL != "https://canary.example:8443" {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved endpoint = %#v, metadata=%#v, %v", withOverlay.Config.Service.Endpoint, urlInfo, found)
+	}
+
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(base, withOverlay)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(differences) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("differences = %#v", differences)
+	}
+	wantPaths := []string{"/service/credential/token", "/service/endpoint/host", "/service/endpoint/url"}
+	for index, difference := range differences {
+		if got := difference.Path.String(); got != wantPaths[index] {
+			t.Errorf("path[%d] = %q, want %q", index, got, wantPaths[index])
+		}
+	}
+	secret := differences[0]
+	if !secret.Left.Redacted || !secret.Right.Redacted || !secret.HiddenChanged || secret.Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" || secret.Right.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("classified credential difference = %#v", secret)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(consumers.FormatDifferences(differences), "disposable-") {
+		t.Fatal("formatted differences exposed credential contents")
+	}
+
+	output, err := consumers.CompareRolloutOverlay(basePath, "canary")
+	if err != nil || output != consumers.FormatDifferences(differences) {
+		t.Fatalf("formatted base/overlay comparison = %q, %v", output, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatDifferencesUsesRecordMembershipForNoChange(t *testing.T) {
+	if got := consumers.FormatDifferences(nil); got != "No effective changes.\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("no-change output = %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func writeConfiguration(t *testing.T, filename, contents string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filename, []byte(contents), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}

examples/consumers/inheritance.go

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package consumers
+
+import configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+
+// PresetCatalog is ordinary application data; no inheritance fields or
+// registration hooks are required in the typed configuration.
+type PresetCatalog struct {
+	Presets map[string]Preset `yaml:"presets"`
+}
+
+type Preset struct {
+	Enabled  bool                      `yaml:"enabled"`
+	Settings map[string]map[string]int `yaml:"settings"`
+}
+
+// LoadPresets performs one load; callers may inspect inherited presence and
+// source origins on the returned result before choosing a preset to execute.
+func LoadPresets(source configkit.Source) (*configkit.Result[PresetCatalog], error) {
+	return configkit.Load[PresetCatalog](source)
+}

examples/consumers/inheritance_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package consumers_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/examples/consumers"
+)
+
+func TestPresetCatalogOneLoadAndDerivation(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadPresets(configkit.File(fixture("inheritance", "presets.yml")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if result.Config.Presets["base"].Settings["secondary"]["width"] != 10 ||
+		result.Config.Presets["custom"].Settings["secondary"]["width"] != 20 ||
+		result.Config.Presets["custom"].Enabled {
+		t.Fatalf("expanded presets = %#v", result.Config.Presets)
+	}
+	enabled := configkit.Keys("presets", "custom", "enabled")
+	if !result.Metadata().IsExplicit(enabled) {
+		t.Fatal("inherited false lost explicit presence")
+	}
+	info, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(enabled)
+	if !found || info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 1 || info.Origin.Inheritance[0].From.String() != "/presets/base/enabled" {
+		t.Fatalf("origin and derivation = %#v, %v", info, found)
+	}
+	nested := configkit.Keys("presets", "custom", "settings", "secondary", "width")
+	info, found = result.Metadata().Lookup(nested)
+	if !found || len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 1 ||
+		info.Origin.Inheritance[0].From.String() != "/presets/custom/settings/primary/width" {
+		t.Fatalf("destination-local derivation = %#v, %v", info, found)
+	}
+}

examples/consumers/layered.go

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+package consumers
+
+import (
+	"embed"
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"path"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+//go:embed testdata/native-source testdata/layered-bundle
+var bundledFiles embed.FS
+
+// BundledConfig is a small configuration loaded directly from an embedded file.
+type BundledConfig struct {
+	Name    string `yaml:"name"`
+	Enabled bool   `yaml:"enabled"`
+}
+
+// LoadBundled demonstrates a native filesystem source without layered options.
+func LoadBundled() (*configkit.Result[BundledConfig], error) {
+	files, err := fs.Sub(bundledFiles, "testdata/native-source")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return configkit.Load[BundledConfig](configkit.NewFilesystem("bundled", files).File("config.yml"))
+}
+
+// CatalogConfig keeps resource names and domain rules in the application.
+type CatalogConfig struct {
+	Mode      string            `yaml:"mode"`
+	Enabled   bool              `yaml:"enabled"`
+	Workers   int               `yaml:"workers"`
+	Templates map[string]string `yaml:"templates"`
+	Labels    map[string]string `yaml:"labels"`
+}
+
+// LoadCatalog combines two underlay tiers beneath an independently located
+// host main file. ConfigKit assembles and validates the complete result once.
+func LoadCatalog(mainPath string) (*configkit.Result[CatalogConfig], error) {
+	files, err := fs.Sub(bundledFiles, "testdata/layered-bundle")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	bundle := configkit.NewFilesystem("catalog bundle", files)
+	return configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.File(mainPath)},
+		configkit.LayeredOptions[CatalogConfig]{
+			Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{
+				{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: bundle.File("defaults/config.yml"), Imports: true}}},
+				{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("local policy", map[string]any{
+					"workers": 2,
+					"labels":  map[string]any{"tenant": "example"},
+				})}}},
+			},
+			Definition: configkit.Definition[CatalogConfig]{
+				Defaults: func() CatalogConfig { return CatalogConfig{Mode: "demo"} },
+				Validate: validateCatalog,
+			},
+		})
+}
+
+func validateCatalog(configuration *CatalogConfig, validation *configkit.Validation) {
+	if configuration.Mode != "demo" && configuration.Mode != "production" {
+		validation.Error(configkit.Keys("mode"), "must be demo or production")
+	}
+	if configuration.Workers < 0 {
+		validation.Error(configkit.Keys("workers"), "must be nonnegative")
+	}
+	if name := configuration.Templates["welcome"]; name == "." || !fs.ValidPath(name) {
+		validation.Error(configkit.Keys("templates", "welcome"), "must be a relative resource name")
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadWelcome follows the effective template field's one declaring source to
+// its retained resource context. Opening and interpreting the resource remain
+// application work; this does not reopen configuration or change metadata.
+func ReadWelcome(result *configkit.Result[CatalogConfig]) (string, error) {
+	if result == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("catalog result is nil")
+	}
+	info, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("templates", "welcome"))
+	if !found || len(info.Origin.Locations) != 1 {
+		return "", errors.New("welcome template has no single declaring source")
+	}
+	context, found := result.SourceContext(info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID)
+	if !found {
+		return "", errors.New("welcome template has no resource context")
+	}
+	data, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, path.Join(context.BaseDir, result.Config.Templates["welcome"]))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return string(data), nil
+}

examples/consumers/layered_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+package consumers_test
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/examples/consumers"
+)
+
+func Example_nativeFilesystem() {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadBundled()
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Println(result.Config.Name, result.Config.Enabled)
+	// Output: embedded false
+}
+
+func Example_layeredCatalog() {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadCatalog(fixture("layered-main", "config.yml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	welcome, err := consumers.ReadWelcome(result)
+	fmt.Println(result.Config.Mode, result.Config.Enabled, result.Config.Workers,
+		result.Config.Labels["origin"], result.Config.Labels["tenant"], strings.TrimSpace(welcome), err)
+	// Output: production false 0 bundle example Welcome from the bundle. <nil>
+}
+
+func TestCatalogRetainsPresenceAndSourceContext(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadCatalog(fixture("layered-main", "config.yml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, key := range []string{"enabled", "workers"} {
+		info, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys(key))
+		if !found || !info.Explicit || info.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerBase {
+			t.Fatalf("%s presence = %#v, %v", key, info, found)
+		}
+	}
+	info, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("templates", "welcome"))
+	if !found || info.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerUnderlay || len(info.Origin.Locations) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("welcome origin = %#v, %v", info, found)
+	}
+	context, found := result.SourceContext(info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID)
+	if !found || context.BaseDir != "defaults" {
+		t.Fatalf("welcome context = %#v, %v", context, found)
+	}
+	welcome, err := consumers.ReadWelcome(result)
+	if err != nil || strings.TrimSpace(welcome) != "Welcome from the bundle." {
+		t.Fatalf("welcome = %q, %v", welcome, err)
+	}
+	if result.Config.Labels["tenant"] != "example" || result.Config.Labels["origin"] != "bundle" {
+		t.Fatalf("recursive underlay labels = %#v", result.Config.Labels)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCatalogValidationRejectsInvalidMode(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := consumers.LoadCatalog(fixture("layered-main", "invalid.yml"))
+	var loadError *configkit.LoadError
+	if !errors.As(err, &loadError) || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 ||
+		loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != configkit.CodeValidateError ||
+		loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Path.String() != "/mode" {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid mode error = %v", err)
+	}
+}

examples/consumers/testdata/inheritance/presets.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+presets:
+  base:
+    enabled: false
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 10}
+      secondary: {extends: primary}
+  custom:
+    extends: base
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 20}

examples/consumers/testdata/layered-bundle/defaults/config.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: ../shared.yml
+enabled: true
+workers: 4
+templates:
+  welcome: messages/welcome.txt

examples/consumers/testdata/layered-bundle/defaults/messages/welcome.txt

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Welcome from the bundle.

examples/consumers/testdata/layered-bundle/shared.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+labels:
+  origin: bundle

examples/consumers/testdata/layered-main/config.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+mode: production
+enabled: false
+workers: 0

examples/consumers/testdata/layered-main/invalid.yml

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+mode: unsupported

examples/consumers/testdata/native-source/config.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+name: embedded
+enabled: false

facade_candidate_test.go

@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ func TestFacadeValuesRemainRootOwned(t *testing.T) {
 		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Resolution](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Validation](),
 		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Version](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.VersionRule](),
 		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.FilesystemContext](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Override](),
+		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Filesystem](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.ResourceContext](),
+		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Input](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Underlay](),
+		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.LayeredOptions[struct{}]](),
 		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Definition[struct{}]](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Options[struct{}]](),
 		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.Result[struct{}]](),
 		reflect.TypeFor[configkit.ValueSnapshot](), reflect.TypeFor[configkit.ValueChange](),

facade_context_test.go

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ func TestFacadeInactiveContextsPreserveClosedFailure(t *testing.T) {
 				{"IsExplicit", func() { state.resolution.IsExplicit(path) }},
 				{"InputInfo", func() { state.resolution.InputInfo(path) }},
 				{"Source", func() { state.resolution.Source("source") }},
+				{"SourceContext", func() { state.resolution.SourceContext("source") }},
 				{"Record", func() { state.resolution.Record(path, configkit.ChangeNormalization, "reason") }},
 				{"Resolution.Error", func() { state.resolution.Error(path, "message") }},
 				{"Resolution.Warning", func() { state.resolution.Warning(path, "message") }},

facade_diff_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,327 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type facadeDiffConfig struct {
+	Value   string         `yaml:"value"`
+	Count   int            `yaml:"count"`
+	Items   []string       `yaml:"items"`
+	Dynamic map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+}
+
+type facadeDiffSecretConfig struct {
+	Secret configkit.Secret `yaml:"secret"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffKeepsPublicSequenceChangesWithHistoricalDescendants(t *testing.T) {
+	type configuration struct {
+		Items []any `yaml:"items"`
+	}
+	load := func(public string) *configkit.Result[configuration] {
+		t.Helper()
+		result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("historical-sequence.yml", []byte("items: [{secret: disposable-canary}, "+public+"]\n")),
+			configkit.Options[configuration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[configuration]{
+				Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/items/0/secret" },
+				Resolve: func(current *configuration, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+					current.Items[0] = "public scalar"
+					resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("items"), configkit.ChangeNormalization, "normalize first item")
+					return nil
+				},
+			}})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return result
+	}
+	left, right := load("1"), load("2")
+	history, ok := left.Explain(configkit.Keys("items").Index(0).Key("secret"))
+	if !ok || history.Effective.Present || len(history.History) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("removed historical secret = %#v, known=%v", history, ok)
+	}
+	maskedHistory := false
+	for _, change := range history.History {
+		maskedHistory = maskedHistory || change.Before.Redacted || change.After.Redacted
+	}
+	if !maskedHistory {
+		t.Fatal("historical sensitivity was not retained")
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/items" {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	difference := differences[0]
+	if !difference.Left.Present || !difference.Right.Present || difference.Left.Redacted || difference.Right.Redacted || difference.HiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("public sequence change was concealed: %#v", difference)
+	}
+	if difference.Left.YAML != "- public scalar\n- 1\n" || difference.Right.YAML != "- public scalar\n- 2\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("public sequence snapshots = %#v", difference)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffKeepsPublicScalarAcrossHistoricalAbsence(t *testing.T) {
+	type configuration struct {
+		Dynamic map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+	}
+	options := configkit.Options[configuration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[configuration]{
+		Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/dynamic/entry/token" },
+		Resolve: func(current *configuration, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+			delete(current.Dynamic, "entry")
+			resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("dynamic", "entry"), configkit.ChangeNormalization, "remove entry")
+			return nil
+		},
+	}}
+	absent, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("removed-entry.yml", []byte("dynamic: {entry: {token: disposable-canary}}\n")), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	options.Definition.Resolve = nil
+	present, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("public-entry.yml", []byte("dynamic: {entry: public}\n")), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *configkit.Result[configuration]
+		leftPresent bool
+	}{
+		{name: "addition", left: absent, right: present},
+		{name: "removal", left: present, right: absent, leftPresent: true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			differences, err := configkit.Diff(test.left, test.right)
+			if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/dynamic/entry" {
+				t.Fatalf("entry difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+			}
+			difference := differences[0]
+			if difference.Left.Present != test.leftPresent || difference.Right.Present == test.leftPresent ||
+				difference.Left.Redacted || difference.Right.Redacted || difference.HiddenChanged {
+				t.Fatalf("public presence change was concealed: %#v", difference)
+			}
+			wantLeft, wantRight := "", "public\n"
+			if test.leftPresent {
+				wantLeft, wantRight = wantRight, wantLeft
+			}
+			if difference.Left.YAML != wantLeft || difference.Right.YAML != wantRight {
+				t.Fatalf("entry snapshots = %#v", difference)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffReturnsDetachedCanonicalRecords(t *testing.T) {
+	left, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffConfig](configkit.Bytes("left.yml", []byte("value: before\ncount: 0\nitems: [one, two]\ndynamic: {}\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load left: %v", err)
+	}
+	right, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffConfig](configkit.Bytes("right.yml", []byte("value: after\ncount: 0\nitems: [one, three]\ndynamic:\n  added: null\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	wantPaths := []string{"/dynamic/added", "/items", "/value"}
+	if len(differences) != len(wantPaths) {
+		t.Fatalf("differences = %#v", differences)
+	}
+	for index, difference := range differences {
+		if got := difference.Path.String(); got != wantPaths[index] {
+			t.Errorf("path[%d] = %q, want %q", index, got, wantPaths[index])
+		}
+	}
+	if differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || differences[0].Right.YAML != "null\n" {
+		t.Errorf("null/absence snapshots = %#v / %#v", differences[0].Left, differences[0].Right)
+	}
+	if differences[1].Left.YAML != "- one\n- two\n" || differences[1].Right.YAML != "- one\n- three\n" {
+		t.Errorf("sequence snapshots = %#v / %#v", differences[1].Left, differences[1].Right)
+	}
+
+	left.Config.Value = "caller mutation"
+	left.Config.Items[0] = "caller mutation"
+	right.Config.Dynamic["added"] = "caller mutation"
+	differences[2].Left.YAML = "record mutation"
+	differences[2].Path = configkit.Keys("rewritten")
+
+	again, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if again[2].Path.String() != "/value" || again[2].Left.YAML != "before\n" || again[1].Left.YAML != "- one\n- two\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("repeat diff changed = %#v", again)
+	}
+	explanation, ok := left.Explain(configkit.Keys("value"))
+	if !ok || explanation.Effective.YAML != "before\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("frozen explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffRejectsUnavailableResults(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	loaded, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("valid.yml", []byte("value: valid\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var nilResult *configkit.Result[config]
+	zeroResult := &configkit.Result[config]{Config: config{Value: "must not be inspected"}}
+	for name, left := range map[string]*configkit.Result[config]{"nil": nilResult, "zero": zeroResult} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if records, err := configkit.Diff(left, loaded); err == nil || records != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Diff = %#v, %v; want nil records and error", records, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	if records, err := configkit.Diff(loaded, nilResult); err == nil || records != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("right nil Diff = %#v, %v", records, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffIgnoresSourceAndResolutionHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Count int `yaml:"count"`
+	}
+	defaults := configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{
+		Defaults: func() config { return config{Count: 7} },
+	}}
+	defaulted, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.NoSource(), defaults)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	explicit, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("explicit.yml", []byte("count: 7\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(defaulted, explicit); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("default/source difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+
+	zeroDefault, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.NoSource(), configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Defaults: func() config { return config{} }}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	explicitZero, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("explicit-zero.yml", []byte("count: 0\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(zeroDefault, explicitZero); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit/defaulted zero difference = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+
+	resolve := func(value string) configkit.Options[config] {
+		return configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Resolve: func(current *config, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+			current.Count = len(value) + 8
+			resolution.Record(configkit.Keys("count"), configkit.ChangeNormalization, "set effective count")
+			return nil
+		}}}
+	}
+	resolvedA, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("a.yml", []byte("{}\n")), resolve("a"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resolvedB, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.Bytes("b.yml", []byte("{}\n")), resolve("b"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(resolvedA, resolvedB); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("equal resolved values = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffUsesFrozenFilesAndRunsCallbacksOnlyDuringLoad(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	calls := 0
+	options := configkit.Options[config]{Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Defaults: func() config {
+		calls++
+		return config{}
+	}}}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	paths := []string{filepath.Join(dir, "left.yml"), filepath.Join(dir, "right.yml")}
+	for index, contents := range []string{"value: left\n", "value: right\n"} {
+		if err := os.WriteFile(paths[index], []byte(contents), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	left, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.File(paths[0]), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	right, err := configkit.Load[config](configkit.File(paths[1]), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("defaults calls after loads = %d", calls)
+	}
+	for _, path := range paths {
+		if err := os.Remove(path); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/value" {
+		t.Fatalf("Diff after removing files = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("defaults reran during Diff: %d calls", calls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeDiffCombinesSecretSensitivityAndLoadErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("FACADE_DIFF_SECRET", "credential-one")
+	secretOptions := configkit.Options[facadeDiffSecretConfig]{Definition: configkit.Definition[facadeDiffSecretConfig]{Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool {
+		return path.String() == "/secret"
+	}}}
+	left, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("left.yml", []byte("secret: FACADE_DIFF_SECRET\n")), secretOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("FACADE_DIFF_SECRET", "credential-two")
+	right, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("right.yml", []byte("secret: FACADE_DIFF_SECRET\n")), secretOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, right); err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("credential rotation = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("OTHER_FACADE_DIFF_SECRET", "other-credential")
+	otherReference, err := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("other.yml", []byte("secret: OTHER_FACADE_DIFF_SECRET\n")), secretOptions)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	differences, err := configkit.Diff(left, otherReference)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || !differences[0].HiddenChanged || !differences[0].Left.Redacted || !differences[0].Right.Redacted {
+		t.Fatalf("reference change = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(differences[0].Left.YAML+differences[0].Right.YAML, "credential") {
+		t.Fatalf("credential leaked: %#v", differences)
+	}
+
+	invalidLeft, leftErr := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("invalid-left.yml", []byte("unknown: true\n")))
+	if invalidLeft != nil || leftErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid left load = %#v, %v", invalidLeft, leftErr)
+	}
+	var loadError *configkit.LoadError
+	if !errors.As(leftErr, &loadError) {
+		t.Fatalf("left load error = %T, want *configkit.LoadError", leftErr)
+	}
+	invalidRight, rightErr := configkit.Load[facadeDiffSecretConfig](configkit.Bytes("invalid-right.yml", []byte("unknown: true\n")))
+	if invalidRight != nil || rightErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid right load = %#v, %v", invalidRight, rightErr)
+	}
+	if !errors.As(rightErr, &loadError) {
+		t.Fatalf("right load error = %T, want *configkit.LoadError", rightErr)
+	}
+}

facade_equivalence_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type equivalentConfig struct {
+	Version  uint64   `yaml:"version"`
+	Name     string   `yaml:"name"`
+	Enabled  bool     `yaml:"enabled"`
+	Count    int      `yaml:"count"`
+	Items    []string `yaml:"items"`
+	Optional *string  `yaml:"optional"`
+}
+
+func TestEquivalentSourceFormsPreserveInputSemantics(t *testing.T) {
+	const yaml = "version: 1\nname: retained\nenabled: false\ncount: 0\nitems: []\noptional: null\n"
+	hostPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "main.yml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(hostPath, []byte(yaml), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{"main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(yaml)}})
+	context := &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: ".", BaseDir: ".", FS: &namespace}
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		source  configkit.Source
+		context *configkit.FilesystemContext
+		kind    configkit.SourceKind
+	}{
+		{"host", configkit.File(hostPath), nil, configkit.SourceKindFile},
+		{"native", namespace.File("main.yml"), nil, configkit.SourceKindFilesystem},
+		{"bytes", configkit.Bytes("memory", []byte(yaml)), context, configkit.SourceKindBytes},
+		{"reader", configkit.Reader("stream", strings.NewReader(yaml)), context, configkit.SourceKindReader},
+		{"mapping", configkit.Mapping("programmatic", map[string]any{
+			"version": uint64(1), "name": "retained", "enabled": false, "count": 0,
+			"items": []any{}, "optional": nil,
+		}), context, configkit.SourceKindMapping},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			checks := 0
+			result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: test.source, Filesystem: test.context}, configkit.LayeredOptions[equivalentConfig]{
+				Definition: configkit.Definition[equivalentConfig]{Version: &configkit.VersionRule{
+					Path: configkit.Keys("version"), Check: func(version configkit.Version, validation *configkit.Validation) error {
+						checks++
+						if !version.Present || version.Text != "1" {
+							t.Errorf("version = %#v", version)
+						}
+						return nil
+					},
+				}},
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			want := equivalentConfig{Version: 1, Name: "retained", Items: []string{}}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config, want) || checks != 1 {
+				t.Fatalf("config = %#v, checks %d", result.Config, checks)
+			}
+			for _, field := range []string{"version", "name", "enabled", "count", "items", "optional"} {
+				info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys(field))
+				if !ok || !info.Explicit || info.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerBase || info.Null != (field == "optional") {
+					t.Errorf("%s input info = %#v, %v", field, info, ok)
+				}
+			}
+			sources := result.Sources()
+			if len(sources) != 1 || sources[0].Kind != test.kind || sources[0].ID != "source-1" || sources[0].UnderlayIndex != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("sources = %#v", sources)
+			}
+			resource, ok := result.SourceContext("source-1")
+			if !ok || resource.BaseDir != "." || resource.FS == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("source context = %#v, %v", resource, ok)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRepeatedImportsAcrossTiersAndReaderConsumption(t *testing.T) {
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"left.yml":   &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: shared.yml}]}\n")},
+		"right.yml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: shared.yml}]}\n")},
+		"shared.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("name: retained\n")},
+	})
+	type config struct {
+		Name string `yaml:"name"`
+	}
+	left := configkit.Input{Source: namespace.File("left.yml"), Imports: true}
+	right := configkit.Input{Source: namespace.File("right.yml"), Imports: true}
+	_, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{left, right}}},
+	})
+	if got := layeredErrorCode(t, err); got != configkit.CodeImportRepeated {
+		t.Fatalf("same-tier repeated import = %s", got)
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{left}}, {Inputs: []configkit.Input{right}}},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Name != "retained" || len(result.Sources()) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("cross-tier repeated import = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	reader := configkit.Reader("single-use", strings.NewReader("name: retained\n"))
+	_, err = configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: reader}}}, {Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: reader}}}},
+	})
+	if got := layeredErrorCode(t, err); got != configkit.CodeSourceReaderUsed {
+		t.Fatalf("reader re-consumption = %s", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReplacedSecretRemainsAbsentFromSafeOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Secret string `yaml:"secret"`
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.Bytes("main", []byte("secret: new-secret-canary\n"))}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays:  []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("lower", map[string]any{"secret": "old-secret-canary"})}}}},
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/secret" }},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Secret != "new-secret-canary" {
+		t.Fatalf("secret load = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	var effective, history bytes.Buffer
+	if err := result.WriteEffective(&effective); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := result.WriteExplanation(&history, configkit.Keys("secret")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(effective.String()+history.String(), "old-secret-canary") || strings.Contains(effective.String()+history.String(), "new-secret-canary") {
+		t.Fatalf("secret output leaked: %q %q", effective.String(), history.String())
+	}
+	_, err = configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.Bytes("main", []byte("secret: new-secret-canary\n"))}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("lower", map[string]any{"secret": "old-secret-canary"})}}}},
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Validate: func(config *config, validation *configkit.Validation) {
+			validation.Error(configkit.Keys("secret"), "invalid secret")
+		}},
+	})
+	loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("validation error = %#v", err)
+	}
+	var diagnostics bytes.Buffer
+	if err := configkit.WriteDiagnostics(&diagnostics, loadError.Diagnostics()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(diagnostics.String(), "secret-canary") {
+		t.Fatalf("diagnostic leaked secret: %q", diagnostics.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func layeredErrorCode(t *testing.T, err error) configkit.Code {
+	t.Helper()
+	loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("load error = %#v", err)
+	}
+	return loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code
+}

facade_filesystem_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"embed"
+	"io/fs"
+	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+//go:embed testdata/filesystem
+var filesystemFixtures embed.FS
+
+type filesystemFacadeConfig struct {
+	Items map[string]string `yaml:"items"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeFilesystemSourceImportsOverlayAndReuse(t *testing.T) {
+	fixture, err := fs.Sub(filesystemFixtures, "testdata/filesystem")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("embedded", fixture)
+	copyOfNamespace := namespace
+	source := namespace.File("config/main.yml")
+	for range 2 {
+		result, err := configkit.Load(source, configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{
+			Imports: true, Overlay: "testing", Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{FS: &copyOfNamespace},
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if want := (map[string]string{"main": "selected", "shared": "default"}); !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config.Items, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("items = %#v, want %#v", result.Config.Items, want)
+		}
+		sources := result.Sources()
+		if len(sources) != 3 {
+			t.Fatalf("sources = %#v", sources)
+		}
+		for index, want := range []string{"config/main.yml", "shared.yml", "overlays/testing.yml"} {
+			if sources[index].ID != "source-"+strconv.Itoa(index+1) || sources[index].Path != want || sources[index].Kind != configkit.SourceKindFilesystem {
+				t.Errorf("source %d = %#v", index, sources[index])
+			}
+			if sources[index].Label != "embedded/"+want {
+				t.Errorf("source label = %q", sources[index].Label)
+			}
+		}
+		if sources[1].ImportedFrom == nil || sources[1].ImportedFrom.SourceID != sources[0].ID || sources[1].ImportedFrom.Line == 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("import location = %#v", sources[1].ImportedFrom)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeFilesystemContextsAndIdentity(t *testing.T) {
+	first := configkit.NewFilesystem("same", fstest.MapFS{
+		"root/config/main.yml":      &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: ../shared.yml}]}\n")},
+		"root/shared.yml":           &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {value: first}\n")},
+		"root/overlays/testing.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {overlay: first}\n")},
+	})
+	second := configkit.NewFilesystem("same", fstest.MapFS{
+		"root/config/main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {value: second}\n")},
+	})
+	context := &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "root", FS: &first}
+	result, err := configkit.Load(first.File("root/config/main.yml"), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{Imports: true, Overlay: "testing", Filesystem: context})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Items["value"] != "first" || result.Config.Items["overlay"] != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("contained load = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	result, err = configkit.Load[filesystemFacadeConfig](second.File("root/config/main.yml"))
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Items["value"] != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("same-label independent namespace = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	checkCode(t, second.File("root/config/main.yml"), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{Filesystem: context}, configkit.CodeOptionsInvalid)
+	checkCode(t, first.File("root/config/main.yml"), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "root/config", FS: &first}, Imports: true}, configkit.CodeImportOutsideRoot)
+	checkCode(t, configkit.File("testdata/filesystem/config/main.yml"), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{Filesystem: context}, configkit.CodeOptionsInvalid)
+
+	for _, input := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		source configkit.Source
+		kind   configkit.SourceKind
+	}{
+		{"bytes", configkit.Bytes("memory", []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: shared.yml}]}\n")), configkit.SourceKindBytes},
+		{"reader", configkit.Reader("stream", strings.NewReader("configkit: {imports: [{path: shared.yml}]}\n")), configkit.SourceKindReader},
+	} {
+		t.Run(input.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result, err := configkit.Load(input.source, configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{Imports: true, Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "root", BaseDir: "root", FS: &first}})
+			if err != nil || result.Config.Items["value"] != "first" {
+				t.Fatalf("synthetic import = %#v, %v", result, err)
+			}
+			if got := result.Sources(); len(got) != 2 || got[0].Kind != input.kind || got[0].Path != "" || got[1].Kind != configkit.SourceKindFilesystem {
+				t.Fatalf("sources = %#v", got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	checkCode(t, configkit.Bytes("memory", []byte("items: {}\n")), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "root", BaseDir: ".", FS: &first}}, configkit.CodeImportOutsideRoot)
+	result, err = configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("memory", []byte("items: {value: main}\n")), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{
+		Overlay: "testing", Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "root", BaseDir: "root", FS: &first},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Items["value"] != "main" || result.Config.Items["overlay"] != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("synthetic selected overlay = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeSourceKindsIncludeHostAndCLI(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.File("testdata/filesystem/shared.yml"), configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{
+		Overrides: []configkit.Override{{Path: configkit.Keys("items", "shared"), Value: "changed", Flag: "--shared"}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	sources := result.Sources()
+	if len(sources) != 2 || sources[0].Kind != configkit.SourceKindFile || sources[0].Path == "" || sources[1].Kind != configkit.SourceKindCLI || sources[1].Path != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("host and CLI sources = %#v", sources)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeFilesystemConstructorDiagnostics(t *testing.T) {
+	var nilFilesystem fs.FS
+	var zero configkit.Filesystem
+	for _, source := range []configkit.Source{
+		zero.File("main.yml"),
+		configkit.NewFilesystem("", fstest.MapFS{}).File("main.yml"),
+		configkit.NewFilesystem("bad\nlabel", fstest.MapFS{}).File("main.yml"),
+		configkit.NewFilesystem("good", nilFilesystem).File("main.yml"),
+		configkit.NewFilesystem("good", fstest.MapFS{}).File("."),
+		configkit.NewFilesystem("good", fstest.MapFS{}).File("../outside.yml"),
+	} {
+		checkCode(t, source, configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig]{}, configkit.CodeSourceInvalid)
+	}
+}
+
+func checkCode(t *testing.T, source configkit.Source, options configkit.Options[filesystemFacadeConfig], want configkit.Code) {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, err := configkit.Load(source, options)
+	loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != want {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %#v, want %s", err, want)
+	}
+}

facade_inheritance_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io/fs"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type inheritedEntry struct {
+	Enabled  bool                         `yaml:"enabled"`
+	Count    int                          `yaml:"count"`
+	Resource string                       `yaml:"resource"`
+	Settings map[string]map[string]string `yaml:"settings"`
+}
+
+type inheritedConfiguration struct {
+	Version string                    `yaml:"version"`
+	Entries map[string]inheritedEntry `yaml:"entries"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritancePreservesPresenceOriginsAndHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	input := []byte(`entries:
+  parent:
+    enabled: false
+    count: 0
+    settings:
+      primary: {value: original}
+      secondary: {extends: primary}
+  child:
+    extends: parent
+    settings:
+      primary: {value: custom}
+`)
+	defaultRan := false
+	result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("config.yml", input), configkit.Options[inheritedConfiguration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[inheritedConfiguration]{
+		Resolve: func(config *inheritedConfiguration, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+			if !resolution.IsExplicit(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "enabled")) {
+				t.Error("inherited false is not explicit")
+			}
+			info, found := resolution.InputInfo(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "enabled"))
+			if !found || len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 1 {
+				t.Errorf("resolver inherited origin = %#v, %v", info, found)
+			}
+			child := config.Entries["child"]
+			configkit.Default(resolution, configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "enabled"), &child.Enabled, true, "use fallback")
+			defaultRan = child.Enabled
+			config.Entries["child"] = child
+			return nil
+		},
+	}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	child := result.Config.Entries["child"]
+	if defaultRan || child.Enabled || child.Count != 0 || child.Settings["secondary"]["value"] != "custom" {
+		t.Fatalf("inherited values = %#v, default ran %v", child, defaultRan)
+	}
+	path := configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "settings", "secondary", "value")
+	info, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(path)
+	if !found || !info.Explicit || len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 1 ||
+		info.Origin.Inheritance[0].From.String() != "/entries/child/settings/primary/value" ||
+		info.Origin.Inheritance[0].To.String() != path.String() {
+		t.Fatalf("nested destination origin = %#v, %v", info, found)
+	}
+	info.Origin.Inheritance[0].Locations[0].SourceID = "mutated"
+	info, _ = result.Metadata().Lookup(path)
+	if info.Origin.Inheritance[0].Locations[0].SourceID == "mutated" {
+		t.Fatal("public inheritance record aliases inspection state")
+	}
+	if _, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "extends")); found {
+		t.Fatal("consumed directive remained effective")
+	}
+	control, found := result.Explain(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "extends"))
+	if !found || control.Effective.Present || len(control.History) < 2 ||
+		control.History[len(control.History)-1].Origin.Operation != configkit.ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("consumed directive = %#v, %v", control, found)
+	}
+	explanation, found := result.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "custom\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("nested explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == configkit.ChangeDecoding {
+			t.Fatalf("inherited value attributed to decoding: %#v", explanation.History)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritanceLayeredPrecedenceAndSourceContext(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"config/main.yml":          &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {child: {extends: parent}}\n")},
+		"shared/parent.yml":        &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {parent: {resource: icon.txt, count: 1}}\n")},
+		"shared/flags.yml":         &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {parent: {enabled: false}}\n")},
+		"shared/icon.txt":          &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("parent-resource")},
+		"config/overlays/test.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {parent: {count: 2}}\n")},
+	})
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: filesystem.File("config/main.yml")}, configkit.LayeredOptions[inheritedConfiguration]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{
+			{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: filesystem.File("shared/parent.yml")}}},
+			{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: filesystem.File("shared/flags.yml")}}},
+		},
+		Overlay: "test", OverlayFilesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "config", BaseDir: "config", FS: &filesystem},
+		Overrides: []configkit.Override{{Path: configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "count"), Value: 3, Flag: "--count"}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	child := result.Config.Entries["child"]
+	if child.Count != 3 || child.Resource != "icon.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("layered inheritance = %#v", child)
+	}
+	info, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "resource"))
+	if !found || len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 1 || len(info.Origin.Locations) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("resource origin = %#v, %v", info, found)
+	}
+	context, found := result.SourceContext(info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID)
+	if !found || context.BaseDir != "shared" || context.FS == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("source context = %#v, %v", context, found)
+	}
+	data, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, context.BaseDir+"/"+child.Resource)
+	if err != nil || string(data) != "parent-resource" {
+		t.Fatalf("source-relative resource = %q, %v", data, err)
+	}
+	count, found := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "count"))
+	if !found || count.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerCLI || len(count.Origin.Inheritance) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("CLI replacement origin = %#v, %v", count, found)
+	}
+	var rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := result.WriteEffective(&rendered); err != nil || strings.Contains(rendered.String(), "extends:") {
+		t.Fatalf("effective rendering = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritanceMappingMatchesBytes(t *testing.T) {
+	values := map[string]any{"entries": map[string]any{
+		"parent": map[string]any{"enabled": false, "count": 0},
+		"child":  map[string]any{"extends": "parent"},
+	}}
+	mapped, err := configkit.Load[inheritedConfiguration](configkit.Mapping("mapping", values))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	fromYAML, err := configkit.Load[inheritedConfiguration](configkit.Bytes("config.yml", []byte("entries: {parent: {enabled: false, count: 0}, child: {extends: parent}}\n")))
+	if err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(mapped.Config, fromYAML.Config) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapping and bytes differ: %#v, %#v, %v", mapped, fromYAML, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritanceProtectsVersionOwnership(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name, input string
+		path        configkit.Path
+		wantFailure bool
+	}{
+		{"inherited version", "entries: {parent: {count: 1}, child: {extends: parent}}\n", configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "count"), true},
+		{"overridden version", "entries: {parent: {count: 1}, child: {extends: parent, count: 1}}\n", configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "count"), true},
+		{"direct unchanged version", "entries: {parent: {enabled: false}, child: {extends: parent, count: 1}}\n", configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "count"), false},
+		{"consumed checked directive", "entries: {parent: {count: 1}, child: {extends: parent}}\n", configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "extends"), true},
+		{"independent top-level version", "version: v1\nentries: {parent: {count: 1}, child: {extends: parent}}\n", configkit.Keys("version"), false},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			checks := struct{ version, defaults, resolution, validation int }{}
+			result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("version.yml", []byte(test.input)), configkit.Options[inheritedConfiguration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[inheritedConfiguration]{
+				Version: &configkit.VersionRule{Path: test.path, Check: func(configkit.Version, *configkit.Validation) error {
+					checks.version++
+					return nil
+				}},
+				Defaults: func() inheritedConfiguration { checks.defaults++; return inheritedConfiguration{} },
+				Resolve:  func(*inheritedConfiguration, *configkit.Resolution) error { checks.resolution++; return nil },
+				Validate: func(*inheritedConfiguration, *configkit.Validation) { checks.validation++ },
+			}})
+			if test.wantFailure {
+				if result != nil || err == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("protected version = %#v, %v", result, err)
+				}
+				loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+				if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != configkit.CodeInheritanceVersion ||
+					checks != (struct{ version, defaults, resolution, validation int }{version: 1}) {
+					t.Fatalf("version failure = %v, callbacks %#v", err, checks)
+				}
+			} else if err != nil || result == nil || checks != (struct{ version, defaults, resolution, validation int }{1, 1, 1, 1}) {
+				t.Fatalf("unchanged version = %#v, %v, callbacks %#v", result, err, checks)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritanceFailureStopsLaterCallbacks(t *testing.T) {
+	checks := struct{ defaults, resolution, validation int }{}
+	result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("invalid.yml", []byte("entries: {child: {extends: PRIVATE-REFERENCE-CANARY}}\n")), configkit.Options[inheritedConfiguration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[inheritedConfiguration]{
+		Defaults: func() inheritedConfiguration { checks.defaults++; return inheritedConfiguration{} },
+		Resolve:  func(*inheritedConfiguration, *configkit.Resolution) error { checks.resolution++; return nil },
+		Validate: func(*inheritedConfiguration, *configkit.Validation) { checks.validation++ },
+	}})
+	if result != nil || err == nil || checks != (struct{ defaults, resolution, validation int }{}) || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "PRIVATE-REFERENCE-CANARY") {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid inheritance = %#v, %v, callbacks %#v", result, err, checks)
+	}
+	loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != configkit.CodeInheritanceMissing {
+		t.Fatalf("missing reference diagnostics = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritanceResolvesAfterImportsAndCLIReferenceChange(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":   &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: parent.yml}]}\nentries: {child: {extends: first}}\n")},
+		"parent.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {first: {count: 1}, second: {count: 2}}\n")},
+	})
+	result, err := configkit.Load(filesystem.File("main.yml"), configkit.Options[inheritedConfiguration]{
+		Imports: true, Overrides: []configkit.Override{{Path: configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "extends"), Value: "second", Flag: "--extends"}},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Entries["child"].Count != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("import and CLI reference = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	history := result.Metadata().History(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "extends"))
+	if len(history) < 3 || history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != configkit.ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("superseded reference history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	conflicting := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":   &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: parent.yml}]}\nentries: {child: {extends: first}, first: {count: 3}}\n")},
+		"parent.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {first: {count: 1}}\n")},
+	})
+	_, err = configkit.Load[inheritedConfiguration](conflicting.File("main.yml"), configkit.Options[inheritedConfiguration]{Imports: true})
+	loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != configkit.CodeComposeConflict {
+		t.Fatalf("strict conflict before expansion = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritanceSelectedOverlayCancelsRelationship(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":          &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {parent: {count: 7}, child: {extends: parent, enabled: false}}\n")},
+		"overlays/test.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("entries: {child: {extends: null}}\n")},
+	})
+	result, err := configkit.Load(filesystem.File("main.yml"), configkit.Options[inheritedConfiguration]{
+		Overlay: "test", Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: ".", FS: &filesystem},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Entries["child"].Count != 0 || result.Config.Entries["child"].Enabled {
+		if loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError); ok {
+			t.Fatalf("cancelled relationship = %#v, %v, diagnostics %#v", result, err, loadError.Diagnostics())
+		}
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled relationship = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	history := result.Metadata().History(configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "extends"))
+	if len(history) < 3 || history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != configkit.ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("cancellation history = %#v", history)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeInheritedSecretsStayRedactedAfterLookup(t *testing.T) {
+	const canary = "INHERITED-RELEASE-TEST-CREDENTIAL"
+	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_INHERITED_TEST_SECRET", canary)
+	type entry struct {
+		Credential configkit.Secret `yaml:"credential"`
+		Plain      string           `yaml:"plain"`
+	}
+	type configuration struct {
+		Entries map[string]entry `yaml:"entries"`
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.Load[configuration](configkit.Bytes("secret.yml", []byte("entries: {parent: {credential: CONFIGKIT_INHERITED_TEST_SECRET, plain: visible}, child: {extends: parent}}\n")), configkit.Options[configuration]{Definition: configkit.Definition[configuration]{
+		Secret: func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/entries/parent/credential" },
+	}})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Entries["child"].Credential.Value() != canary {
+		t.Fatalf("inherited credential = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	path := configkit.Keys("entries", "child", "credential")
+	explanation, found := result.Explain(path)
+	if !found || !explanation.Effective.Redacted || strings.Contains(explanation.Effective.YAML, canary) {
+		t.Fatalf("credential explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	var rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := result.WriteEffective(&rendered); err != nil || strings.Contains(rendered.String(), canary) || !strings.Contains(rendered.String(), "visible") {
+		t.Fatalf("effective secret rendering = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+	rendered.Reset()
+	if err := result.WriteExplanation(&rendered, path); err != nil || strings.Contains(rendered.String(), canary) {
+		t.Fatalf("historical secret rendering = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+}

facade_layered_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type layeredFacadeConfig struct {
+	Settings map[string]string `yaml:"settings"`
+	Count    int               `yaml:"count"`
+	Enabled  bool              `yaml:"enabled"`
+	List     []string          `yaml:"list"`
+	Optional *string           `yaml:"optional"`
+	Derived  string            `yaml:"derived"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeLayeredMixedSourcesAndInspection(t *testing.T) {
+	mainPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "main.yml")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(mainPath, []byte("settings: {shared: main, secret: new-canary}\ncount: 0\nenabled: false\nlist: []\noptional: null\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	lower := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":             &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: defaults.yml}]}\nsettings: {shared: lower, native: retained, secret: old-canary}\nlist: [lower]\n")},
+		"defaults.yml":         &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("settings: {imported: retained}\n")},
+		"overlays/testing.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("settings: {from_lower_namespace: retained}\n")},
+	})
+	selected := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"overlays/testing.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("settings: {shared: overlay}\n")},
+	})
+	checks := struct{ defaults, resolution, validation int }{}
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.File(mainPath)}, configkit.LayeredOptions[layeredFacadeConfig]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{
+			{Inputs: []configkit.Input{
+				{Source: lower.File("main.yml"), Imports: true},
+				{Source: configkit.Mapping("programmatic-low", map[string]any{"settings": map[string]any{"mapping": "retained"}, "count": 7, "enabled": true})},
+				{Source: lower.File("overlays/testing.yml")},
+			}},
+			{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("programmatic-high", map[string]any{
+				"settings": map[string]any{"shared": "middle", "second": "retained"}, "list": []any{"middle"},
+			})}}},
+		},
+		Overlay: "testing", OverlayFilesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: ".", BaseDir: ".", FS: &selected},
+		Overrides: []configkit.Override{{Path: configkit.Keys("settings", "shared"), Value: "cli", Flag: "--shared"}},
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[layeredFacadeConfig]{
+			Defaults: func() layeredFacadeConfig { checks.defaults++; return layeredFacadeConfig{} },
+			Resolve: func(config *layeredFacadeConfig, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+				checks.resolution++
+				if source, ok := resolution.Source("source-2"); !ok || source.Layer != configkit.LayerUnderlay || source.UnderlayIndex != 1 || source.Kind != configkit.SourceKindFilesystem {
+					t.Errorf("resolver source = %#v, %v", source, ok)
+				}
+				configkit.Default(resolution, configkit.Keys("derived"), &config.Derived, config.Settings["native"], "derive from native", configkit.Keys("settings", "native"))
+				return nil
+			},
+			Validate: func(config *layeredFacadeConfig, validation *configkit.Validation) { checks.validation++ },
+			Secret:   func(path configkit.Path) bool { return path.String() == "/settings/secret" },
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("layered load: %v, diagnostics %#v", err, err.(*configkit.LoadError).Diagnostics())
+	}
+	wantSettings := map[string]string{
+		"shared": "cli", "secret": "new-canary", "native": "retained", "imported": "retained",
+		"mapping": "retained", "from_lower_namespace": "retained", "second": "retained",
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config.Settings, wantSettings) || result.Config.Count != 0 || result.Config.Enabled || result.Config.List == nil || len(result.Config.List) != 0 || result.Config.Optional != nil || result.Config.Derived != "retained" {
+		t.Fatalf("configuration = %#v", result.Config)
+	}
+	if checks != (struct{ defaults, resolution, validation int }{1, 1, 1}) {
+		t.Fatalf("lifecycle calls = %#v", checks)
+	}
+	sources := result.Sources()
+	if len(sources) != 8 {
+		t.Fatalf("sources = %#v", sources)
+	}
+	wantLayers := []configkit.Layer{configkit.LayerBase, configkit.LayerUnderlay, configkit.LayerUnderlay, configkit.LayerUnderlay, configkit.LayerUnderlay, configkit.LayerUnderlay, configkit.LayerOverlay, configkit.LayerCLI}
+	wantIndexes := []int{0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0}
+	wantKinds := []configkit.SourceKind{configkit.SourceKindFile, configkit.SourceKindFilesystem, configkit.SourceKindFilesystem, configkit.SourceKindMapping, configkit.SourceKindFilesystem, configkit.SourceKindMapping, configkit.SourceKindFilesystem, configkit.SourceKindCLI}
+	for index, source := range sources {
+		if source.ID != "source-"+strconv.Itoa(index+1) || source.Layer != wantLayers[index] || source.UnderlayIndex != wantIndexes[index] || source.Kind != wantKinds[index] {
+			t.Errorf("source %d = %#v", index, source)
+		}
+	}
+	if sources[4].Path != sources[6].Path || sources[4].Label != sources[6].Label {
+		t.Fatalf("namespace-collision fixture changed: %#v, %#v", sources[4], sources[6])
+	}
+	sources[1].Label = "changed"
+	if result.Sources()[1].Label != "bundle/main.yml" {
+		t.Fatal("source records alias retained metadata")
+	}
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		path string
+		want configkit.Layer
+	}{
+		{"/settings/native", configkit.LayerUnderlay},
+		{"/settings/shared", configkit.LayerCLI},
+		{"/derived", configkit.LayerResolution},
+	} {
+		path, err := configkit.ParsePath(test.path)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(path)
+		if !ok || info.Origin.Layer != test.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s metadata = %#v, %v", test.path, info, ok)
+		}
+	}
+	container, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("settings"))
+	if !ok || len(container.Origin.Locations) < 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("composite mapping origin = %#v, %v", container, ok)
+	}
+	explanation, ok := result.Explain(configkit.Keys("settings", "shared"))
+	if !ok || len(explanation.History) < 5 || explanation.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerCLI {
+		t.Fatalf("shared history = %#v, %v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+	var effective, rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := result.WriteEffective(&effective); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := result.WriteExplanation(&rendered, configkit.Keys("settings", "secret")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(effective.String()+rendered.String(), "old-canary") || strings.Contains(effective.String()+rendered.String(), "new-canary") || !strings.Contains(rendered.String(), "redacted") {
+		t.Fatalf("secret rendering leaked: effective %q, explanation %q", effective.String(), rendered.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeLayeredDisplacedDescendantRemainsInspectable(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Choice string `yaml:"choice"`
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.Mapping("main", map[string]any{"choice": "flat"})}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("lower", map[string]any{
+			"choice": map[string]any{"nested": "historical"},
+		})}}}},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Choice != "flat" {
+		t.Fatalf("replacement load = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	path := configkit.Keys("choice", "nested")
+	explanation, ok := result.Explain(path)
+	if !ok || explanation.Effective.Present || len(explanation.History) == 0 || explanation.History[0].Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerUnderlay {
+		t.Fatalf("deleted descendant = %#v, %v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeLayeredZeroUnderlaysMatchesOrdinaryLoad(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"overlays/testing.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("value: selected\n")},
+	})
+	context := &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: ".", BaseDir: ".", FS: &filesystem}
+	source := configkit.Bytes("main", []byte("value: base\n"))
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	ordinary, err := configkit.Load(source, configkit.Options[config]{Overlay: "testing", Filesystem: context})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	layered, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: source}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{Overlay: "testing", OverlayFilesystem: context})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if ordinary.Config != layered.Config || !reflect.DeepEqual(ordinary.Sources(), layered.Sources()) {
+		t.Fatalf("ordinary = %#v, %#v; layered = %#v, %#v", ordinary.Config, ordinary.Sources(), layered.Config, layered.Sources())
+	}
+	var first, second bytes.Buffer
+	if err := ordinary.WriteEffective(&first); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := layered.WriteEffective(&second); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if first.String() != second.String() {
+		t.Fatalf("effective ordinary %q, layered %q", first.String(), second.String())
+	}
+	if ordinaryExplanation, ok := ordinary.Explain(configkit.Keys("value")); !ok {
+		t.Fatal("ordinary explanation missing")
+	} else if layeredExplanation, ok := layered.Explain(configkit.Keys("value")); !ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(ordinaryExplanation, layeredExplanation) {
+		t.Fatalf("explanations differ: %#v, %#v", ordinaryExplanation, layeredExplanation)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeLayeredOptionAndVersionFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Version string `yaml:"version"`
+	}
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"overlays/testing.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("{}\n")},
+	})
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		main    configkit.Input
+		options []configkit.LayeredOptions[config]
+		want    configkit.Code
+	}{
+		{"zero source", configkit.Input{}, nil, configkit.CodeSourceInvalid},
+		{"multiple options", configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, []configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{{}, {}}, configkit.CodeOptionsInvalid},
+		{"missing overlay context", configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, []configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{{Overlay: "testing"}}, configkit.CodeOptionsInvalid},
+		{"selected file already acquired", configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, []configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{{
+			Overlay: "testing", OverlayFilesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: ".", BaseDir: ".", FS: &namespace},
+			Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: namespace.File("overlays/testing.yml")}}}},
+		}}, configkit.CodeOverlayRepeated},
+		{"underlay version", configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, []configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{{
+			Definition: configkit.Definition[config]{Version: &configkit.VersionRule{Path: configkit.Keys("version"), Check: func(configkit.Version, *configkit.Validation) error { return nil }}},
+			Underlays:  []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("lower", map[string]any{"version": "forbidden"})}}}},
+		}}, configkit.CodeUnderlayVersion},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := configkit.LoadLayered(test.main, test.options...)
+			loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+			if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != test.want {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %#v, want %s", err, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeLayeredExplicitHostOverlayWithoutMain(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(root, "overlays"), 0o700); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(root, "overlays", "testing.yml"), []byte("value: selected\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, configkit.LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Overlay: "testing", OverlayFilesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: root, BaseDir: root},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Value != "selected" || len(result.Sources()) != 1 || result.Sources()[0].Kind != configkit.SourceKindFile {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit host overlay = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+}

facade_mapping_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"math"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type mappingFacadeConfig struct {
+	Enabled  bool     `yaml:"enabled"`
+	Count    uint64   `yaml:"count"`
+	Optional *string  `yaml:"optional"`
+	Items    []string `yaml:"items"`
+	Name     string   `yaml:"name"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeMappingSnapshotsAndMatchesYAML(t *testing.T) {
+	items := []any{"one", "two"}
+	values := map[string]any{
+		"name": "original", "enabled": false, "count": ^uint64(0),
+		"optional": nil, "items": items,
+	}
+	source := configkit.Mapping("programmatic", values)
+	values["name"] = "mutated"
+	items[0] = "mutated"
+	for range 2 {
+		result, err := configkit.Load[mappingFacadeConfig](source)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		want := mappingFacadeConfig{Count: ^uint64(0), Items: []string{"one", "two"}, Name: "original"}
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("mapping config = %#v, want %#v", result.Config, want)
+		}
+		if sources := result.Sources(); len(sources) != 1 || sources[0].ID != "source-1" || sources[0].Kind != configkit.SourceKindMapping || sources[0].Layer != configkit.LayerBase || sources[0].Path != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("mapping sources = %#v", sources)
+		}
+		info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("name"))
+		if !ok || len(info.Origin.Locations) != 1 || info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" || info.Origin.Locations[0].Line != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("mapping name origin = %#v, %v", info, ok)
+		}
+		fromYAML, err := configkit.Load[mappingFacadeConfig](configkit.Bytes("equivalent", []byte("enabled: false\ncount: 18446744073709551615\noptional: null\nitems: [one, two]\nname: original\n")))
+		if err != nil || !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config, fromYAML.Config) {
+			t.Fatalf("equivalent YAML = %#v, %v", fromYAML, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeMappingNullEmptyAndVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := configkit.Load[mappingFacadeConfig](configkit.Mapping("empty", map[string]any{}))
+	if err != nil || len(result.Sources()) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("empty mapping = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	var nilSequence []any
+	var nilMap map[string]any
+	var checked string
+	result, err = configkit.Load(configkit.Mapping("nullable", map[string]any{
+		"items": nilSequence, "optional": nilMap, "enabled": false, "count": uint64(0),
+	}), configkit.Options[mappingFacadeConfig]{Definition: configkit.Definition[mappingFacadeConfig]{
+		Version: &configkit.VersionRule{Path: configkit.Keys("count"), Check: func(version configkit.Version, validation *configkit.Validation) error {
+			checked = version.Text
+			return nil
+		}},
+	}})
+	if err != nil || checked != "0" || result.Config.Items != nil || result.Config.Optional != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("null and zero mapping = %#v, checked %q, %v", result, checked, err)
+	}
+	info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys("items"))
+	if !ok || !info.Null || !info.Explicit {
+		t.Fatalf("null metadata = %#v, %v", info, ok)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeMappingImportsUseExplicitContext(t *testing.T) {
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"root/shared.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("name: imported\n")},
+	})
+	source := configkit.Mapping("programmatic", map[string]any{
+		"configkit": map[string]any{"imports": []any{map[string]any{"path": "shared.yml"}}},
+		"enabled":   true,
+	})
+	result, err := configkit.Load(source, configkit.Options[mappingFacadeConfig]{
+		Imports: true, Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "root", BaseDir: "root", FS: &namespace},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Name != "imported" || !result.Config.Enabled {
+		t.Fatalf("mapping import = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	if sources := result.Sources(); len(sources) != 2 || sources[0].Kind != configkit.SourceKindMapping || sources[1].Kind != configkit.SourceKindFilesystem || sources[1].Layer != configkit.LayerBase {
+		t.Fatalf("mapping import sources = %#v", sources)
+	}
+	checkMappingCode(t, source, configkit.Options[mappingFacadeConfig]{Imports: true}, configkit.CodeOptionsInvalid)
+	checkMappingCode(t, source, configkit.Options[mappingFacadeConfig]{}, configkit.CodeImportDisabled)
+}
+
+func TestFacadeMappingDeferredValueDiagnostics(t *testing.T) {
+	cycle := map[string]any{}
+	cycle["secret"] = cycle
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		source configkit.Source
+		want   configkit.Code
+		path   string
+	}{
+		{"nil root", configkit.Mapping("nil", nil), configkit.CodeSourceInvalid, ""},
+		{"bad label", configkit.Mapping("bad\nlabel", map[string]any{}), configkit.CodeSourceInvalid, ""},
+		{"unsupported", configkit.Mapping("bad", map[string]any{"secret": struct{ Value string }{"canary-value"}}), configkit.CodeSourceInvalid, "/secret"},
+		{"nonfinite", configkit.Mapping("bad", map[string]any{"count": math.NaN()}), configkit.CodeSourceInvalid, "/count"},
+		{"cycle", configkit.Mapping("bad", cycle), configkit.CodeSourceInvalid, "/secret"},
+		{"too many bytes", configkit.Mapping("bad", map[string]any{"name": strings.Repeat("x", 8<<20+1)}), configkit.CodeSourceLimitExceeded, "/name"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			loadError := checkMappingCode(t, test.source, configkit.Options[mappingFacadeConfig]{}, test.want)
+			diagnostic := loadError.Diagnostics()[0]
+			if diagnostic.Path.String() != test.path || diagnostic.Primary == nil || diagnostic.Primary.SourceID != "source-1" || strings.Contains(diagnostic.Message, "canary-value") {
+				t.Fatalf("diagnostic = %#v", diagnostic)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func checkMappingCode(t *testing.T, source configkit.Source, options configkit.Options[mappingFacadeConfig], want configkit.Code) *configkit.LoadError {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, err := configkit.Load(source, options)
+	loadError, ok := err.(*configkit.LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != want {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %#v, want %s", err, want)
+	}
+	return loadError
+}

facade_resource_context_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+type observedResourceFS struct {
+	files  fstest.MapFS
+	opens  int
+	closed bool
+}
+
+func (f *observedResourceFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	f.opens++
+	if f.closed {
+		return nil, fs.ErrClosed
+	}
+	return f.files.Open(name)
+}
+
+type resourceFacadeConfig struct {
+	Native   string `yaml:"native"`
+	Shared   string `yaml:"shared"`
+	Host     string `yaml:"host"`
+	Selected string `yaml:"selected"`
+}
+
+func TestFacadeSourceContextsFollowOriginsWithoutQueryIO(t *testing.T) {
+	host := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(host, "main.yml"), []byte("host: host.txt\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(host, "host.txt"), []byte("host-v1"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	borrowed := &observedResourceFS{files: fstest.MapFS{
+		"bundle/config/defaults.yml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: ../shared.yml}]}\nnative: icon.txt\n")},
+		"bundle/shared.yml":           &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("shared: shared.txt\n")},
+		"bundle/overlays/test.yml":    &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("selected: overlay.txt\n")},
+		"bundle/config/icon.txt":      &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("icon-v1")},
+		"bundle/shared.txt":           &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("shared-v1")},
+		"bundle/overlays/overlay.txt": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("overlay-v1")},
+	}}
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", borrowed)
+	var resolverContext configkit.ResourceContext
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{Source: configkit.File(filepath.Join(host, "main.yml"))}, configkit.LayeredOptions[resourceFacadeConfig]{
+		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{
+			Source: namespace.File("bundle/config/defaults.yml"), Imports: true,
+			Filesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "bundle", FS: &namespace},
+		}}}},
+		Overlay: "test", OverlayFilesystem: &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "bundle", BaseDir: "bundle", FS: &namespace},
+		Definition: configkit.Definition[resourceFacadeConfig]{Resolve: func(config *resourceFacadeConfig, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+			before := borrowed.opens
+			var ok bool
+			resolverContext, ok = resolution.SourceContext("source-2")
+			if !ok || resolverContext.BaseDir != "config" || resolverContext.FS == nil {
+				t.Errorf("resolver context = %#v, %v", resolverContext, ok)
+			}
+			if _, ok := resolution.SourceContext("missing"); ok || borrowed.opens != before {
+				t.Error("resolution context query performed I/O or guessed an unknown source")
+			}
+			return nil
+		}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load: %v, diagnostics %#v", err, err.(*configkit.LoadError).Diagnostics())
+	}
+	queriesBefore := borrowed.opens
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		field, wantBase, wantData string
+	}{
+		{"native", "config", "icon-v1"},
+		{"shared", ".", "shared-v1"},
+		{"selected", "overlays", "overlay-v1"},
+		{"host", ".", "host-v1"},
+	} {
+		origin, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(configkit.Keys(test.field))
+		if !ok || len(origin.Origin.Locations) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("%s origin = %#v, %v", test.field, origin, ok)
+		}
+		context, ok := result.SourceContext(origin.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID)
+		if !ok || context.FS == nil || context.BaseDir != test.wantBase {
+			t.Fatalf("%s context = %#v, %v", test.field, context, ok)
+		}
+		if borrowed.opens != queriesBefore {
+			t.Fatal("result SourceContext query performed filesystem I/O")
+		}
+		resourceName := path.Join(context.BaseDir, map[string]string{
+			"native": result.Config.Native, "shared": result.Config.Shared,
+			"selected": result.Config.Selected, "host": result.Config.Host,
+		}[test.field])
+		data, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, resourceName)
+		if err != nil || string(data) != test.wantData {
+			t.Fatalf("%s resource = %q, %v", test.field, data, err)
+		}
+		queriesBefore = borrowed.opens
+	}
+	if _, ok := result.SourceContext(""); ok {
+		t.Fatal("empty source ID returned a context")
+	}
+	var nilResult *configkit.Result[resourceFacadeConfig]
+	if _, ok := nilResult.SourceContext("source-2"); ok {
+		t.Fatal("nil result returned a context")
+	}
+	if _, err := fs.ReadFile(resolverContext.FS, "../shared.txt"); !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrInvalid) {
+		t.Fatalf("native root escape = %v", err)
+	}
+	borrowed.files["bundle/config/icon.txt"].Data = []byte("icon-v2")
+	data, err := fs.ReadFile(resolverContext.FS, "config/icon.txt")
+	if err != nil || string(data) != "icon-v2" {
+		t.Fatalf("updated native resource = %q, %v", data, err)
+	}
+	borrowed.closed = true
+	if result.Config.Native != "icon.txt" {
+		t.Fatal("closing caller filesystem altered loaded configuration")
+	}
+	if _, err := fs.ReadFile(resolverContext.FS, "config/icon.txt"); !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrClosed) {
+		t.Fatalf("closed caller filesystem error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeHostContextSurvivesConfigurationDeletion(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	main := filepath.Join(root, "main.yml")
+	resource := filepath.Join(root, "asset.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(main, []byte("native: asset.txt\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(resource, []byte("first"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.Load[resourceFacadeConfig](configkit.File(main))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	context, ok := result.SourceContext("source-1")
+	if !ok || context.BaseDir != "." {
+		t.Fatalf("host context = %#v, %v", context, ok)
+	}
+	if err := os.Remove(main); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(resource, []byte("second"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	data, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, path.Join(context.BaseDir, result.Config.Native))
+	if err != nil || string(data) != "second" || result.Config.Native != "asset.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("resource after source deletion = %q, %v", data, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, "../asset.txt"); !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrInvalid) {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid host path = %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Remove(resource); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, "asset.txt"); !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+		t.Fatalf("missing later resource = %v", err)
+	}
+	outside := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "outside.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(outside, []byte("outside"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Symlink(outside, filepath.Join(root, "escape")); err == nil {
+		if _, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, "escape"); !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrPermission) {
+			t.Fatalf("host symlink escape = %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFacadeSyntheticSourceContextsAndContextlessSources(t *testing.T) {
+	namespace := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"bundle/config/icon.txt": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("icon")},
+	})
+	context := &configkit.FilesystemContext{Root: "bundle", BaseDir: "bundle/config", FS: &namespace}
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		source configkit.Source
+	}{
+		{"bytes", configkit.Bytes("memory", []byte("native: icon.txt\n"))},
+		{"reader", configkit.Reader("stream", strings.NewReader("native: icon.txt\n"))},
+		{"mapping", configkit.Mapping("values", map[string]any{"native": "icon.txt"})},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result, err := configkit.Load(test.source, configkit.Options[resourceFacadeConfig]{Filesystem: context})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			resource, ok := result.SourceContext("source-1")
+			if !ok || resource.BaseDir != "config" {
+				t.Fatalf("synthetic context = %#v, %v", resource, ok)
+			}
+			data, err := fs.ReadFile(resource.FS, path.Join(resource.BaseDir, result.Config.Native))
+			if err != nil || string(data) != "icon" {
+				t.Fatalf("synthetic resource = %q, %v", data, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.Load[resourceFacadeConfig](configkit.Bytes("plain", []byte("native: none\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := result.SourceContext("source-1"); ok {
+		t.Fatal("contextless byte source returned a context")
+	}
+	result, err = configkit.Load(configkit.NoSource(), configkit.Options[resourceFacadeConfig]{Overrides: []configkit.Override{{Path: configkit.Keys("native"), Value: "from-cli", Flag: "--native"}}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := result.SourceContext("source-1"); ok {
+		t.Fatal("CLI source returned a context")
+	}
+}

facade_underlay_origins_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package configkit_test
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+)
+
+func TestUnderlaySequenceDescendantOrigins(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, later := range []bool{false, true} {
+		name := "first tier"
+		if later {
+			name = "later tier"
+		}
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			bundle := configkit.NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+				"main.yml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: items.yml}]}\n")},
+				"items.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: [{name: first, nested: [false]}]\n")},
+			})
+			tiers := []configkit.Underlay{}
+			if later {
+				tiers = append(tiers, configkit.Underlay{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("lower", map[string]any{"other": true})}}})
+			}
+			tiers = append(tiers, configkit.Underlay{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: bundle.File("main.yml"), Imports: true}}})
+			paths := []string{"/items", "/items/0", "/items/0/name", "/items/0/nested", "/items/0/nested/0"}
+			entry := map[string]configkit.Origin{}
+			result, err := configkit.LoadLayered[map[string]any](configkit.Input{Source: configkit.Mapping("main", map[string]any{"main": true})}, configkit.LayeredOptions[map[string]any]{
+				Underlays: tiers,
+				Definition: configkit.Definition[map[string]any]{Resolve: func(_ *map[string]any, resolution *configkit.Resolution) error {
+					for _, pointer := range paths {
+						path, _ := configkit.ParsePath(pointer)
+						info, ok := resolution.InputInfo(path)
+						if !ok {
+							t.Errorf("missing resolver input %s", pointer)
+						}
+						entry[pointer] = info.Origin
+					}
+					return nil
+				}},
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			var sourceID string
+			for _, source := range result.Sources() {
+				if source.Path == "items.yml" {
+					sourceID = source.ID
+				}
+			}
+			if sourceID == "" {
+				t.Fatal("missing imported source")
+			}
+			for _, pointer := range paths {
+				path, _ := configkit.ParsePath(pointer)
+				info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(path)
+				if !ok || info.Origin.Layer != configkit.LayerUnderlay || len(info.Origin.Locations) != 1 || info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != sourceID {
+					t.Errorf("%s origin = %+v", pointer, info.Origin)
+				}
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(entry[pointer], info.Origin) {
+					t.Errorf("%s resolver origin differs", pointer)
+				}
+				explanation, ok := result.Explain(path)
+				if !ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(explanation.Origin, info.Origin) {
+					t.Errorf("%s explanation origin differs", pointer)
+				}
+				history := result.Metadata().History(path)
+				if len(history) == 0 || !reflect.DeepEqual(history[len(history)-1].Origin, info.Origin) {
+					t.Errorf("%s history = %+v", pointer, history)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnderlayHistoryRetainsLaterMappingContributors(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := configkit.LoadLayered[map[string]any](configkit.Input{Source: configkit.NoSource()}, configkit.LayeredOptions[map[string]any]{Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{
+		{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("one", map[string]any{"x": 1})}}},
+		{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("two", map[string]any{"x": map[string]any{}})}}},
+		{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{Source: configkit.Mapping("three", map[string]any{"x": map[string]any{"y": 2}})}}},
+	}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	path := configkit.Keys("x")
+	info, _ := result.Metadata().Lookup(path)
+	wantOrigin := configkit.Origin{Layer: configkit.LayerUnderlay, Locations: []configkit.Location{{SourceID: "source-2"}, {SourceID: "source-3"}}}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(info.Origin, wantOrigin) {
+		t.Fatalf("effective origin = %+v, want %+v", info.Origin, wantOrigin)
+	}
+	history := result.Metadata().History(path)
+	if len(history) != 3 || !reflect.DeepEqual(history[len(history)-1].Origin, info.Origin) {
+		t.Fatalf("history = %+v, effective origin = %+v", history, info.Origin)
+	}
+	explanation, ok := result.Explain(path)
+	if !ok || !reflect.DeepEqual(explanation.Origin, info.Origin) {
+		t.Fatal("explanation and metadata disagree")
+	}
+	if len(explanation.History) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("explanation history = %+v", explanation.History)
+	}
+	last := explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].Origin
+	if last.Layer != configkit.LayerUnderlay || len(last.Locations) != 1 || last.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-3" {
+		t.Fatalf("last explanation origin = %+v", last)
+	}
+}

go.mod

@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 module gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit
 
-go 1.25.0
+go 1.26.0
 
 require go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6
+
+require (
+	gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit v0.4.1 // indirect
+	github.com/yuin/goldmark/v2 v2.1.6 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/mod v0.40.0 // indirect
+)
+
+tool gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/cmd/releasekit

go.sum

@@ -1,2 +1,8 @@
+gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit v0.4.1 h1:Qn+mdebYOzCVCEXgCbuGSO/WHmJtItwaQ8e3XwY3qtI=
+gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit v0.4.1/go.mod h1:LVodqNQ3OIKv9NBq+fFeyMByd1lHY25YOmmpah/NaNI=
+github.com/yuin/goldmark/v2 v2.1.6 h1:igy0q9JcqovoFXFx/XjtU8sHVhcUHavPj2sA3EoKJUE=
+github.com/yuin/goldmark/v2 v2.1.6/go.mod h1:G6M4/qOFtfn01/o14BU1UR2Lo5N3S9Qo7xCuz/sHjGQ=
 go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6 h1:1h7H1ohdUh93/FyE4YaDa1Zh64K6VVbjF4K6WUxMtH4=
 go.yaml.in/yaml/v4 v4.0.0-rc.6/go.mod h1:aZqd9kCMsGL7AuUv/m/PvWLdg5sjJsZ4oHDEnfPPfY0=
+golang.org/x/mod v0.40.0 h1:hUv+3cXcdRHz08UmSiOob7sadHig73uo5bkXxQ/tvUs=
+golang.org/x/mod v0.40.0/go.mod h1:0/weTWkPWGBikyTWAX3dkjVztMmBA5hM0DH6BElSupE=

inspection.go

@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ type Explanation struct {
 }
 
 // Explain returns safe effective and chronological values for a known final or
-// historical path. Unknown and malformed paths return false.
+// historical path. Structural inheritance appears between source applications
+// and typed reconciliation. Unknown and malformed paths return false.
 func (r *Result[T]) Explain(path Path) (Explanation, bool) {
 	if r == nil {
 		return Explanation{}, false

internal/engine/assembly_bench_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkComposeWideMappings(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, width := range []int{128, 256, 512} {
+		b.Run(strconv.Itoa(width), func(b *testing.B) {
+			left := benchmarkCatalog("source-1", 0, width)
+			right := benchmarkCatalog("source-2", width, width)
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				if _, diagnostics := composeDocuments(left, right); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+					b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkOverlayRecursiveMappings(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, width := range []int{128, 256, 512} {
+		b.Run(strconv.Itoa(width), func(b *testing.B) {
+			base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(benchmarkCatalog("source-1", 0, width))
+			if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+			}
+			overlay := benchmarkCatalog("source-2", width/2, width)
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				if _, diagnostics := overlayDocuments(base, overlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+					b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkOverlayManyApplications(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, count := range []int{32, 64, 128} {
+		inputs := make([]*document.Node, count)
+		for index := range inputs {
+			inputs[index] = benchmarkCatalog("source-2", index, 1)
+		}
+		benchmarkOverlayApplications(b, count, inputs)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkOverlayRepeatedReplacement(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, count := range []int{32, 64, 128} {
+		inputs := make([]*document.Node, count)
+		for index := range inputs {
+			location := document.Location{SourceID: "source-2"}
+			value := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "replacement", Location: location}
+			if index%2 == 0 {
+				value = &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{{
+					Key: "enabled", Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Boolean, Text: "false", Location: location},
+				}}}
+			}
+			inputs[index] = &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{{
+				Key: "catalog", Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{{
+					Key: "item-0", Value: value,
+				}}},
+			}}}
+		}
+		benchmarkOverlayApplications(b, count, inputs)
+	}
+}
+
+func benchmarkOverlayApplications(b *testing.B, count int, inputs []*document.Node) {
+	base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(benchmarkCatalog("source-1", 0, 1))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	for _, mode := range []string{"owned", "copy-preserving"} {
+		b.Run(mode+"/"+strconv.Itoa(count), func(b *testing.B) {
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				if mode == "owned" {
+					assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(cloneComposedDocument(base))
+					for _, input := range inputs {
+						if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(input, nil, nil, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+							b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+						}
+					}
+					continue
+				}
+				current := base
+				for _, input := range inputs {
+					current, diagnostics = overlayDocuments(current, input)
+					if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+						b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func benchmarkCatalog(source string, first, width int) *document.Node {
+	location := document.Location{SourceID: source}
+	entries := make([]document.Entry, width)
+	for index := range entries {
+		entries[index] = document.Entry{
+			Key:   "item-" + strconv.Itoa(first+index),
+			Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{{Key: "enabled", Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Boolean, Text: "true", Location: location}}}},
+		}
+	}
+	return &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: []document.Entry{{
+		Key: "catalog", Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location, Mapping: entries},
+	}}}
+}

internal/engine/compose.go

@@ -15,6 +15,17 @@ type composedDocument struct {
 	inputNodes   int
 }
 
+// assemblyAccumulator owns one mutable working document. Acquired trees held by
+// history applications are separate from its root and remain unchanged.
+type assemblyAccumulator struct {
+	current *composedDocument
+	index   mappingIndex
+}
+
+func newAssemblyAccumulator(owned *composedDocument) *assemblyAccumulator {
+	return &assemblyAccumulator{current: owned}
+}
+
 // cloneComposedDocument detaches mutable composition and provenance state;
 // history application trees are immutable and retain their existing sharing.
 func cloneComposedDocument(base *composedDocument) *composedDocument {
@@ -58,8 +69,14 @@ func composeDocuments(inputs ...*document.Node) (*composedDocument, []Diagnostic
 		collected.append(input, Path{})
 	}
 
+	checked := make(map[string]struct{}, len(collected.byPath))
 	for _, claim := range collected.ordered {
-		claims := collected.byPath[claim.path.String()]
+		pointer := claim.path.String()
+		if _, seen := checked[pointer]; seen {
+			continue
+		}
+		checked[pointer] = struct{}{}
+		claims := collected.byPath[pointer]
 		if len(claims) < 2 || allMappingClaims(claims) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -67,21 +84,43 @@ func composeDocuments(inputs ...*document.Node) (*composedDocument, []Diagnostic
 	}
 
 	root := document.Clone(inputs[0])
+	index := new(mappingIndex)
 	for _, input := range inputs[1:] {
-		mergeDisjointMappings(root, input)
+		mergeDisjointMappings(root, input, index)
 	}
 	applications := make([]historyApplication, 0, len(inputs))
 	for _, input := range inputs {
 		applications = append(applications, historyApplication{layer: LayerBase, value: input})
 	}
+	origins := compositionOrigins(collected.ordered)
+	completeCompositionOrigins(root, Path{}, origins)
 	return &composedDocument{
 		root:         root,
 		claims:       cloneCompositionClaims(collected.ordered),
-		origins:      compositionOrigins(collected.ordered),
+		origins:      origins,
 		applications: applications,
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// Conflict claims treat sequences atomically, but inspection needs origins for
+// every descendant. Preserve composite mapping claims while filling those gaps.
+func completeCompositionOrigins(node *document.Node, path Path, origins map[string]Origin) {
+	pointer := path.String()
+	if _, present := origins[pointer]; !present {
+		origins[pointer] = Origin{Layer: LayerBase, Locations: []Location{publicLocation(node.Location)}}
+	}
+	switch node.Kind {
+	case document.Mapping:
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			completeCompositionOrigins(entry.Value, path.Key(entry.Key), origins)
+		}
+	case document.Sequence:
+		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
+			completeCompositionOrigins(child, path.Index(index), origins)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (c *compositionClaims) append(node *document.Node, path Path) {
 	claim := compositionClaim{
 		path:     path.clone(),
@@ -109,18 +148,18 @@ func allMappingClaims(claims []compositionClaim) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func mergeDisjointMappings(target, incoming *document.Node) {
+func mergeDisjointMappings(target, incoming *document.Node, index *mappingIndex) {
 	for _, incomingEntry := range incoming.Mapping {
-		index := documentEntryIndex(target.Mapping, incomingEntry.Key)
+		position := index.find(target, incomingEntry.Key)
-		if index < 0 {
+		if position < 0 {
 			cloned := incomingEntry
 			cloned.Value = document.Clone(incomingEntry.Value)
-			target.Mapping = append(target.Mapping, cloned)
+			index.append(target, cloned)
 			continue
 		}
 		// Claim validation guarantees that the only remaining overlap is a
 		// mapping pair. Empty mappings naturally contribute no child entries.
-		mergeDisjointMappings(target.Mapping[index].Value, incomingEntry.Value)
+		mergeDisjointMappings(target.Mapping[position].Value, incomingEntry.Value, index)
 	}
 }
 

internal/engine/compose_test.go

@@ -116,6 +116,31 @@ func TestComposeDocumentsReportsAllClaimantsAtExactLocations(t *testing.T) {
 	assertCompositionConflict(t, diagnostics, "/group", []string{"source-1", "source-2", "source-3"})
 }
 
+func TestComposeDocumentsKeepsFirstConflictAndAppendedEntryOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	first := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "catalog:\n  first: 1\n  shared: one\n  later: one\n")
+	second := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "catalog:\n  second: 2\n  shared: two\n  later: two\n")
+	third := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-3", "catalog:\n  third: 3\n  shared: three\n")
+	_, diagnostics := composeDocuments(first, second, third)
+	assertCompositionConflict(t, diagnostics, "/catalog/shared", []string{"source-1", "source-2", "source-3"})
+
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "catalog:\n  first: 1\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "catalog:\n  second: 2\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-3", "catalog:\n  third: 3\n"),
+	)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("composeDocuments() diagnostics = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+	entries := composed.root.Mapping[0].Value.Mapping
+	got := make([]string, len(entries))
+	for index, entry := range entries {
+		got[index] = entry.Key
+	}
+	if want := []string{"first", "second", "third"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("catalog keys = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestComposeDocumentsTreatsEmptyMappingsAsChildlessContributions(t *testing.T) {
 	empty, diagnostics := composeDocuments(
 		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "{}\n"),

internal/engine/diagnostic.go

@@ -85,15 +85,28 @@ func canonicalDiagnostics(diagnostics []Diagnostic) []Diagnostic {
 	for i := range canonical {
 		slices.SortFunc(canonical[i].Related, compareLocation)
 	}
-	slices.SortFunc(canonical, compareDiagnostic)
+	type orderedDiagnostic struct {
+		diagnostic Diagnostic
+		pointer    string
+	}
+	ordered := make([]orderedDiagnostic, len(canonical))
+	for i, diagnostic := range canonical {
+		ordered[i] = orderedDiagnostic{diagnostic: diagnostic, pointer: diagnostic.Path.String()}
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(ordered, func(left, right orderedDiagnostic) int {
+		return compareDiagnosticWithPaths(left.diagnostic, right.diagnostic, left.pointer, right.pointer)
+	})
+	for i, item := range ordered {
+		canonical[i] = item.diagnostic
+	}
 	return canonical
 }
 
-func compareDiagnostic(left, right Diagnostic) int {
+func compareDiagnosticWithPaths(left, right Diagnostic, leftPath, rightPath string) int {
 	if order := compareOptionalLocation(left.Primary, right.Primary); order != 0 {
 		return order
 	}
-	if order := cmp.Compare(left.Path.String(), right.Path.String()); order != 0 {
+	if order := cmp.Compare(leftPath, rightPath); order != 0 {
 		return order
 	}
 	if order := cmp.Compare(left.Code, right.Code); order != 0 {

internal/engine/diagnostic_test.go

@@ -90,6 +90,26 @@ func TestDiagnosticsAreCanonicalAndDetached(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCanonicalDiagnosticsSortEscapedPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	primary := &Location{SourceID: "source-1", Line: 1, Column: 1}
+	diagnostics := []Diagnostic{
+		{Code: "same", Severity: SeverityError, Path: Keys("a/b"), Message: "same", Primary: primary},
+		{Code: "same", Severity: SeverityError, Path: Keys("a~b"), Message: "same", Primary: primary},
+		{Code: "z", Severity: SeverityError, Path: Keys("same"), Message: "same", Primary: primary},
+		{Code: "a", Severity: SeverityError, Path: Keys("same"), Message: "same", Primary: primary},
+	}
+	canonical := canonicalDiagnostics(diagnostics)
+	want := []string{"/a~0b", "/a~1b", "/same", "/same"}
+	for i, diagnostic := range canonical {
+		if got := diagnostic.Path.String(); got != want[i] {
+			t.Fatalf("diagnostic[%d] path = %q, want %q", i, got, want[i])
+		}
+	}
+	if canonical[2].Code != "a" || canonical[3].Code != "z" {
+		t.Fatalf("same-path code order = %q, %q", canonical[2].Code, canonical[3].Code)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestWriteDiagnosticsEscapesControls(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/engine/diff.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+	yamladapter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/yaml"
+)
+
+var errDiffInspectionUnavailable = errors.New("configkit: diff inspection unavailable")
+var errDiffSnapshotUnavailable = errors.New("configkit: diff snapshot unavailable")
+
+// Difference describes one canonical changed region with safe snapshots.
+type Difference struct {
+	Path          Path
+	Left          ValueSnapshot
+	Right         ValueSnapshot
+	HiddenChanged bool
+}
+
+type diffRegion struct {
+	path  Path
+	left  *document.Node
+	right *document.Node
+}
+
+func prepareDiffRegions(left, right *Inspection) ([]diffRegion, error) {
+	if left == nil || left.final == nil || right == nil || right.final == nil {
+		return nil, errDiffInspectionUnavailable
+	}
+
+	deltas := compareConfigurationValues(left.final, right.final)
+	regions := make([]diffRegion, 0, len(deltas))
+	for _, delta := range deltas {
+		leftNode, leftPresent := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.final, delta.path, left.immutableLookup)
+		if !leftPresent {
+			leftNode = nil
+		}
+		rightNode, rightPresent := documentAtPathWithLookup(right.final, delta.path, right.immutableLookup)
+		if !rightPresent {
+			rightNode = nil
+		}
+		regions = append(regions, diffRegion{path: delta.path, left: leftNode, right: rightNode})
+	}
+	return regions, nil
+}
+
+// Diff compares the final frozen values retained by two successful inspections.
+// Values are serialized only after applying the combined sensitivity of both loads.
+func Diff(left, right *Inspection) ([]Difference, error) {
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(left, right)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(left.secrets, right.secrets)
+	differences := make([]Difference, 0, len(regions))
+	for _, region := range regions {
+		paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(region.left, region.right, region.path, sensitivity)
+		if !supported {
+			return nil, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+		}
+		leftSnapshot, err := serializeDiffSnapshot(paired.left, paired.leftRedacted)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+		}
+		rightSnapshot, err := serializeDiffSnapshot(paired.right, paired.rightRedacted)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+		}
+		differences = append(differences, Difference{
+			Path:          region.path,
+			Left:          leftSnapshot,
+			Right:         rightSnapshot,
+			HiddenChanged: paired.hiddenChanged,
+		})
+	}
+	return differences, nil
+}
+
+func serializeDiffSnapshot(node *document.Node, redacted bool) (ValueSnapshot, error) {
+	if node == nil {
+		return ValueSnapshot{}, nil
+	}
+	var output bytes.Buffer
+	if err := writeDiffDocument(&output, node); err != nil {
+		return ValueSnapshot{}, errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+	}
+	return ValueSnapshot{Present: true, Redacted: redacted, YAML: output.String()}, nil
+}
+
+func writeDiffDocument(output io.Writer, node *document.Node) error {
+	if err := yamladapter.Write(output, node); err != nil {
+		return errDiffSnapshotUnavailable
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/engine/diff_hidden_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotReportsWhollyMaskedChanges(t *testing.T) {
+	left := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "private-before"}
+	right := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "private-after"}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Keys("credential"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/credential": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("masked change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotDetectsRawChangesBehindIdenticalMarkers(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "token: old-canary\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "token: new-canary\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "token"), mappingValue(t, right, "token"), Keys("token"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/token": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || paired.left.Text != paired.right.Text {
+		t.Fatalf("identically rendered masked values lost raw change: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotCombinesPublicAndHiddenChanges(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "public: before\ntoken: old\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "public: after\ntoken: new\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Path{}, newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/token": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("mixed public and hidden change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "public"), "before")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "public"), "after")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotDoesNotFlagUnchangedMaskedValues(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "public: before\ntoken: unchanged\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "public: after\ntoken: unchanged\n")
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(left), diffTestInspection(right))
+	if err != nil || len(regions) != 1 || regions[0].path.String() != "/public" {
+		t.Fatalf("changed regions = %#v, err = %v; want only /public", regions, err)
+	}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Path{}, newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/token": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("unchanged masked values affected hidden-change state: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+
+	leftSequence := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left-sequence", "items: [unchanged, before]\n")
+	rightSequence := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right-sequence", "items: [unchanged, after]\n")
+	sequence, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, leftSequence, "items"), mappingValue(t, rightSequence, "items"), Keys("items"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/0": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !sequence.leftRedacted || !sequence.rightRedacted || sequence.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("unchanged masked sequence member affected hidden-change state: %#v, supported=%v", sequence, supported)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotReportsMaskedAdditionAndRemoval(t *testing.T) {
+	value := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "private"}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *document.Node
+		leftHidden  bool
+		rightHidden bool
+	}{
+		{name: "addition", right: value, rightHidden: true},
+		{name: "removal", left: value, leftHidden: true},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				test.left, test.right, Keys("token"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/token": true}),
+			)
+			if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || paired.leftRedacted != test.leftHidden || paired.rightRedacted != test.rightHidden {
+				t.Fatalf("masked presence change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+			}
+			if test.left == nil && paired.left != nil || test.right == nil && paired.right != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("absence became a value: %#v", paired)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotReportsHiddenSequenceLengthChange(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: [public]\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [public, private]\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "items"), mappingValue(t, right, "items"), Keys("items"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/1": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.hiddenChanged || paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("masked sequence length change = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	if len(paired.left.Sequence) != 1 || len(paired.right.Sequence) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("safe sequence lengths = %d, %d; want 1, 2", len(paired.left.Sequence), len(paired.right.Sequence))
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[1], "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotClassificationAloneDoesNotCreateHiddenChange(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "token: same\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "token: same\n")
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(left), diffTestInspection(right))
+	if err != nil || len(regions) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("classification-independent changed regions = %#v, err = %v", regions, err)
+	}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "token"), mappingValue(t, right, "token"), Keys("token"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/token": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("classification alone reported hidden change: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff_operation_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type diffIntegrationConfig struct {
+	Defaulted  string         `yaml:"defaulted"`
+	Dynamic    map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+	Credential Secret         `yaml:"credential" configkit:"secret"`
+	Derived    string         `yaml:"derived"`
+}
+
+type diffOptionalSecretConfig struct {
+	Optional *Secret `yaml:"optional" configkit:"secret"`
+}
+
+func TestDiffUsesFinalValuesAndDependencyDerivedSensitivity(t *testing.T) {
+	var resolveCalls int
+	options := Options[diffIntegrationConfig]{Definition: Definition[diffIntegrationConfig]{
+		Defaults: func() diffIntegrationConfig {
+			return diffIntegrationConfig{Defaulted: "from-default", Dynamic: map[string]any{"defaulted": "retained"}}
+		},
+		Resolve: func(configuration *diffIntegrationConfig, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			resolveCalls++
+			configuration.Derived = configuration.Dynamic["visible"].(string)
+			resolution.Record(Keys("derived"), ChangeNormalization, "derive from effective values", Keys("credential"))
+			return nil
+		},
+	}}
+	input := func(value string) Source {
+		return Bytes("effective.yml", []byte("dynamic: {visible: "+value+"}\ncredential: DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET\n"))
+	}
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET", "credential-left-canary")
+	left, err := testLoad(input("before"), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET", "credential-right-canary")
+	right, err := testLoad(input("after"), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if left.Config.Defaulted != "from-default" || right.Config.Defaulted != "from-default" {
+		t.Fatalf("defaulted values = %q, %q", left.Config.Defaulted, right.Config.Defaulted)
+	}
+	if !left.Inspection.secrets["/credential"] || !left.Inspection.secrets["/derived"] ||
+		!right.Inspection.secrets["/credential"] || !right.Inspection.secrets["/derived"] {
+		t.Fatalf("typed or dependency-derived sensitivity was not retained: left=%#v right=%#v", left.Inspection.secrets, right.Inspection.secrets)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.Inspection.final, Keys("derived"), left.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Text != "before" {
+		t.Fatalf("left frozen derived value = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+
+	differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(differences) != 2 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/derived" || differences[1].Path.String() != "/dynamic/visible" {
+		t.Fatalf("differences = %#v", differences)
+	}
+	if !differences[0].Left.Redacted || !differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged ||
+		differences[0].Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" || differences[0].Right.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("dependency-derived difference = %#v", differences[0])
+	}
+	if differences[1].Left.Redacted || differences[1].Right.Redacted || differences[1].HiddenChanged ||
+		differences[1].Left.YAML != "before\n" || differences[1].Right.YAML != "after\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("public dynamic difference = %#v", differences[1])
+	}
+	for _, value := range differences {
+		if strings.Contains(value.Left.YAML+value.Right.YAML, "credential-") {
+			t.Fatal("diff snapshot exposed a resolved credential")
+		}
+	}
+
+	var effective bytes.Buffer
+	if err := left.Inspection.WriteEffective(&effective); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(effective.String(), "credential-left-canary") {
+		t.Fatal("standalone effective rendering exposed a credential after diff")
+	}
+	explanation, ok := left.Inspection.Explain(Keys("derived"))
+	if !ok || !explanation.Effective.Redacted || explanation.Effective.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("explanation changed after diff: %#v, ok=%v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+	if _, ok := left.Inspection.Metadata().Lookup(Keys("dynamic", "visible")); !ok {
+		t.Fatal("metadata lookup failed after diff")
+	}
+	if resolveCalls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("resolution callbacks ran during diff: %d calls", resolveCalls)
+	}
+
+	// Returned records can be modified without affecting a later comparison.
+	differences[0].Path.segments[0].key = "changed-by-caller"
+	differences[0].Left.YAML = "changed-by-caller"
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ENGINE_SECRET", "credential-after-load-canary")
+	repeated, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(repeated) != 2 || repeated[0].Path.String() != "/derived" || repeated[0].Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("repeated diff = %#v, err = %v", repeated, err)
+	}
+	if resolveCalls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("repeated diff reran resolution: %d calls", resolveCalls)
+	}
+
+	independent, err := testLoad(input("before"), options)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if resolveCalls != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("independent load did not retain normal resolution behavior: %d calls", resolveCalls)
+	}
+	if _, err := Diff(left.Inspection, independent.Inspection); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("independent load comparison = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffUsesReferenceNamesAndFrozenSecretState(t *testing.T) {
+	loadReference := func(name string) *testResult[diffOptionalSecretConfig] {
+		t.Helper()
+		result, err := testLoad[diffOptionalSecretConfig](Bytes("secret-reference.yml", []byte("optional: "+name+"\n")))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return result
+	}
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET", "first-credential-canary")
+	left := loadReference("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET")
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET", "second-credential-canary")
+	right := loadReference("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET")
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET", "changed-after-load-canary")
+	differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("credential rotation behind one reference = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.Inspection.final, Keys("optional"), left.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Text != "DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET" {
+		t.Fatalf("frozen reference = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(right.Inspection.final, Keys("optional"), right.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Text != "DIFF_ROTATING_SECRET" {
+		t.Fatalf("right frozen reference = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("DIFF_OTHER_SECRET", "other-credential-canary")
+	other := loadReference("DIFF_OTHER_SECRET")
+	differences, err = Diff(left.Inspection, other.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/optional" {
+		t.Fatalf("reference-name change = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if !differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Left.Redacted ||
+		!differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged ||
+		differences[0].Left.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" || differences[0].Right.YAML != "'[REDACTED]'\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("classified reference-name diff = %#v", differences[0])
+	}
+
+	absent, err := testLoad[diffOptionalSecretConfig](Bytes("absent-secret.yml", []byte("{}\n")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if absent.Config.Optional != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("missing optional reference decoded as %#v", absent.Config.Optional)
+	}
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(absent.Inspection.final, Keys("optional"), absent.Inspection.immutableLookup); !present || node.Kind != document.Null {
+		t.Fatalf("optional nil projection = %#v, present=%v", node, present)
+	}
+	differences, err = Diff(absent.Inspection, left.Inspection)
+	if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != "/optional" {
+		t.Fatalf("optional absence diff = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+	}
+	if !differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Left.Redacted ||
+		!differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("optional reference change snapshots = %#v", differences[0])
+	}
+	for _, value := range differences {
+		if strings.Contains(value.Left.YAML+value.Right.YAML, "credential-canary") {
+			t.Fatal("reference diff exposed a resolved credential")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffProtectsHistoricalSensitiveRemovalAndReplacement(t *testing.T) {
+	type configuration struct {
+		Dynamic map[string]any `yaml:"dynamic"`
+	}
+	secretPath := Keys("dynamic", "token")
+	secretSelector := func(path Path) bool { return path.String() == secretPath.String() }
+	load := func(input string, resolve func(*configuration, *Resolution) error) *testResult[configuration] {
+		t.Helper()
+		result, err := testLoad(Bytes("historical-secret.yml", []byte(input)), Options[configuration]{Definition: Definition[configuration]{
+			Secret:  secretSelector,
+			Resolve: resolve,
+		}})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return result
+	}
+
+	t.Run("removed historical value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		left := load("dynamic: {token: removed-canary}\n", func(configuration *configuration, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			delete(configuration.Dynamic, "token")
+			resolution.Record(secretPath, ChangeNormalization, "remove token")
+			return nil
+		})
+		right := load("dynamic: {token: current-canary}\n", nil)
+		if !left.Inspection.secrets[secretPath.String()] {
+			t.Fatal("removed historical selector was not retained")
+		}
+		if _, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(left.Inspection.final, secretPath, left.Inspection.immutableLookup); present {
+			t.Fatal("removed token remains in the effective left tree")
+		}
+		differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+		if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != secretPath.String() {
+			t.Fatalf("historical removal diff = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+		}
+		if differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged {
+			t.Fatalf("historical removal snapshots = %#v", differences[0])
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(differences[0].Left.YAML+differences[0].Right.YAML, "canary") {
+			t.Fatal("historical removal diff exposed a sensitive value")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("replaced historical value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		left := load("dynamic: {token: original-canary}\n", func(configuration *configuration, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			configuration.Dynamic["token"] = "replacement-canary"
+			resolution.Record(secretPath, ChangeNormalization, "replace token")
+			return nil
+		})
+		right := load("dynamic: {token: other-canary}\n", nil)
+		if !left.Inspection.secrets[secretPath.String()] {
+			t.Fatal("replaced historical selector was not retained")
+		}
+		differences, err := Diff(left.Inspection, right.Inspection)
+		if err != nil || len(differences) != 1 || differences[0].Path.String() != secretPath.String() {
+			t.Fatalf("historical replacement diff = %#v, err = %v", differences, err)
+		}
+		if !differences[0].Left.Present || !differences[0].Right.Present || !differences[0].Left.Redacted ||
+			!differences[0].Right.Redacted || !differences[0].HiddenChanged {
+			t.Fatalf("historical replacement snapshots = %#v", differences[0])
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(differences[0].Left.YAML+differences[0].Right.YAML, "canary") {
+			t.Fatal("historical replacement diff exposed a sensitive value")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestDiffReturnsSafeErrorsWithoutRecords(t *testing.T) {
+	valid := diffTestInspection(&document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "safe"})
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *Inspection
+	}{
+		{name: "nil left", right: valid},
+		{name: "nil right", left: valid},
+		{name: "missing final tree", left: &Inspection{}, right: valid},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			differences, err := Diff(test.left, test.right)
+			if differences != nil || err == nil || err != errDiffInspectionUnavailable || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "safe") {
+				t.Fatalf("differences, err = %#v, %v", differences, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffSerializationErrorDoesNotExposeWriterDetails(t *testing.T) {
+	err := writeDiffDocument(diffErrorWriter{}, &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "safe"})
+	if err != errDiffSnapshotUnavailable || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "CANARY") {
+		t.Fatalf("serialization error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+type diffErrorWriter struct{}
+
+func (diffErrorWriter) Write([]byte) (int, error) {
+	return 0, errors.New("CANARY_WRITER_ERROR")
+}

internal/engine/diff_sensitivity.go

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package engine
+
+type diffSensitivity struct {
+	prefixes pathPrefixIndex
+	pointers []string
+}
+
+func newDiffSensitivity(left, right map[string]bool) *diffSensitivity {
+	sensitivity := &diffSensitivity{}
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(left)+len(right))
+	for _, classifications := range []map[string]bool{left, right} {
+		for pointer, classified := range classifications {
+			if !classified {
+				continue
+			}
+			if _, found := seen[pointer]; found {
+				continue
+			}
+			seen[pointer] = struct{}{}
+			id := len(sensitivity.pointers)
+			sensitivity.pointers = append(sensitivity.pointers, pointer)
+			sensitivity.prefixes.insert(pointer, id)
+		}
+	}
+	return sensitivity
+}
+
+func (sensitivity *diffSensitivity) isSensitiveAtOrAbove(pointer string) bool {
+	if sensitivity == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	found := false
+	sensitivity.prefixes.visitAncestors(pointer, func(int) { found = true })
+	return found
+}
+
+func (sensitivity *diffSensitivity) hasStrictDescendant(pointer string) bool {
+	if sensitivity == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	found := false
+	sensitivity.prefixes.visitDescendants(pointer, func(id int) {
+		if sensitivity.pointers[id] != pointer {
+			found = true
+		}
+	})
+	return found
+}

internal/engine/diff_sensitivity_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"maps"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestDiffSensitivityCombinesClassificationsWithoutMutation(t *testing.T) {
+	left := map[string]bool{
+		"/a":                  true,
+		"/a/b":                true,
+		"/historical/removed": true,
+		"/cross~1key":         true,
+		"/literal~01slash":    true,
+		"/items/01":           true,
+		"/items/+1":           false,
+		"/false-left":         false,
+	}
+	right := map[string]bool{
+		"/a/b":         true,
+		"/right-only":  true,
+		"/false-right": false,
+	}
+	leftBefore, rightBefore := maps.Clone(left), maps.Clone(right)
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(left, right)
+
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		pointer string
+		want    bool
+	}{
+		{pointer: "/a", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a/b", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a/b/c", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/ab", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/ab/c", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/historical/removed", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/historical/removed/child", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/historical", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/right-only", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/false-left", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/false-right", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/cross~1key", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/cross/key", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/literal~01slash", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/literal~1slash", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/items/01", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/items/1", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/items/+1", want: false},
+	} {
+		if got := sensitivity.isSensitiveAtOrAbove(test.pointer); got != test.want {
+			t.Errorf("isSensitiveAtOrAbove(%q) = %v, want %v", test.pointer, got, test.want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		pointer string
+		want    bool
+	}{
+		{pointer: "", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/a/b", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/ab", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/historical", want: true},
+		{pointer: "/right-only", want: false},
+		{pointer: "/cross~1key", want: false},
+	} {
+		if got := sensitivity.hasStrictDescendant(test.pointer); got != test.want {
+			t.Errorf("hasStrictDescendant(%q) = %v, want %v", test.pointer, got, test.want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !maps.Equal(left, leftBefore) || !maps.Equal(right, rightBefore) {
+		t.Fatal("classification maps were modified")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDiffSensitivityDistinguishesRootAndEmptyKey(t *testing.T) {
+	root := newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"": true}, nil)
+	if !root.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("") || !root.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("/empty") ||
+		root.hasStrictDescendant("") {
+		t.Fatal("root classification did not remain distinct from strict descendants")
+	}
+
+	emptyKey := newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/": true}, nil)
+	if emptyKey.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("") || !emptyKey.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("/") ||
+		emptyKey.isSensitiveAtOrAbove("/other") || !emptyKey.hasStrictDescendant("") ||
+		emptyKey.hasStrictDescendant("/") {
+		t.Fatal("empty-key classification was treated as the root or an unrelated path")
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff_snapshot.go

@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type pairedDiffSnapshot struct {
+	left             *document.Node
+	right            *document.Node
+	leftRedacted     bool
+	rightRedacted    bool
+	requiresFallback bool
+	hiddenChanged    bool
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffSnapshot(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffNodes(left, right, path, sensitivity)
+	if !supported || !paired.requiresFallback {
+		return paired, supported
+	}
+	return pairedDiffSnapshot{
+		left:          redactedDiffNode(left),
+		right:         redactedDiffNode(right),
+		leftRedacted:  left != nil,
+		rightRedacted: right != nil,
+		hiddenChanged: true,
+	}, true
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffNodes(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	if left == nil && right == nil {
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{}, true
+	}
+	if sensitivity.isSensitiveAtOrAbove(path.String()) {
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{
+			left:          redactedDiffNode(left),
+			right:         redactedDiffNode(right),
+			leftRedacted:  left != nil,
+			rightRedacted: right != nil,
+			hiddenChanged: !configurationValuesEqual(left, right),
+		}, true
+	}
+	if left != nil && right != nil && left.Kind != right.Kind {
+		if sensitivity.hasStrictDescendant(path.String()) {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{requiresFallback: true}, true
+		}
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{left: left, right: right}, true
+	}
+
+	kind := document.Null
+	if left != nil {
+		kind = left.Kind
+	} else if right != nil {
+		kind = right.Kind
+	}
+	switch kind {
+	case document.Mapping:
+		return preparePairedDiffMapping(left, right, path, sensitivity)
+	case document.Sequence:
+		return preparePairedDiffSequence(left, right, path, sensitivity)
+	default:
+		return pairedDiffSnapshot{left: left, right: right}, true
+	}
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffMapping(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	leftEntries := diffMappingEntries(left)
+	rightEntries := diffMappingEntries(right)
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(leftEntries)+len(rightEntries))
+	seen := make(map[string]struct{}, len(leftEntries)+len(rightEntries))
+	for key := range leftEntries {
+		seen[key] = struct{}{}
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	for key := range rightEntries {
+		if _, found := seen[key]; found {
+			continue
+		}
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	var leftCopy, rightCopy *document.Node
+	if left != nil {
+		copy := *left
+		copy.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, 0, len(left.Mapping))
+		leftCopy = &copy
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		copy := *right
+		copy.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, 0, len(right.Mapping))
+		rightCopy = &copy
+	}
+	redacted := pairedDiffSnapshot{}
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		leftEntry, leftPresent := leftEntries[key]
+		rightEntry, rightPresent := rightEntries[key]
+		var leftChild, rightChild *document.Node
+		if leftPresent {
+			leftChild = leftEntry.Value
+		}
+		if rightPresent {
+			rightChild = rightEntry.Value
+		}
+		child, supported := preparePairedDiffNodes(leftChild, rightChild, path.Key(key), sensitivity)
+		if !supported {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{}, false
+		}
+		if child.requiresFallback {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{requiresFallback: true}, true
+		}
+		if leftPresent {
+			leftEntry.Value = child.left
+			leftCopy.Mapping = append(leftCopy.Mapping, leftEntry)
+		}
+		if rightPresent {
+			rightEntry.Value = child.right
+			rightCopy.Mapping = append(rightCopy.Mapping, rightEntry)
+		}
+		redacted.leftRedacted = redacted.leftRedacted || child.leftRedacted
+		redacted.rightRedacted = redacted.rightRedacted || child.rightRedacted
+		redacted.hiddenChanged = redacted.hiddenChanged || child.hiddenChanged
+	}
+	redacted.left = leftCopy
+	redacted.right = rightCopy
+	return redacted, true
+}
+
+func preparePairedDiffSequence(left, right *document.Node, path Path, sensitivity *diffSensitivity) (pairedDiffSnapshot, bool) {
+	var leftCopy, rightCopy *document.Node
+	if left != nil {
+		copy := *left
+		copy.Sequence = make([]*document.Node, len(left.Sequence))
+		leftCopy = &copy
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		copy := *right
+		copy.Sequence = make([]*document.Node, len(right.Sequence))
+		rightCopy = &copy
+	}
+	length := 0
+	if left != nil {
+		length = len(left.Sequence)
+	}
+	if right != nil && len(right.Sequence) > length {
+		length = len(right.Sequence)
+	}
+	result := pairedDiffSnapshot{left: leftCopy, right: rightCopy}
+	for index := 0; index < length; index++ {
+		var leftChild, rightChild *document.Node
+		if left != nil && index < len(left.Sequence) {
+			leftChild = left.Sequence[index]
+		}
+		if right != nil && index < len(right.Sequence) {
+			rightChild = right.Sequence[index]
+		}
+		child, supported := preparePairedDiffNodes(leftChild, rightChild, path.Index(index), sensitivity)
+		if !supported {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{}, false
+		}
+		if child.requiresFallback {
+			return pairedDiffSnapshot{requiresFallback: true}, true
+		}
+		if left != nil && index < len(left.Sequence) {
+			leftCopy.Sequence[index] = child.left
+		}
+		if right != nil && index < len(right.Sequence) {
+			rightCopy.Sequence[index] = child.right
+		}
+		result.leftRedacted = result.leftRedacted || child.leftRedacted
+		result.rightRedacted = result.rightRedacted || child.rightRedacted
+		result.hiddenChanged = result.hiddenChanged || child.hiddenChanged
+	}
+	return result, true
+}
+
+func diffMappingEntries(node *document.Node) map[string]document.Entry {
+	entries := make(map[string]document.Entry)
+	if node == nil {
+		return entries
+	}
+	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		entries[entry.Key] = entry
+	}
+	return entries
+}
+
+func redactedDiffNode(node *document.Node) *document.Node {
+	if node == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "[REDACTED]"}
+}

internal/engine/diff_snapshot_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,351 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotRedactsAlignedMappingFromEitherSide(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "credential: alpha\npublic: before\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "credential: bravo\npublic: after\n")
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/credential": true}, nil)
+
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(left, right, Path{}, sensitivity)
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("compatible mappings were not supported")
+	}
+	if !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want true on both sides", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "credential"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "credential"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "public"), "before")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "public"), "after")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, left, "credential"), "alpha")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, right, "credential"), "bravo")
+	if paired.left == left || paired.right == right || &paired.left.Mapping[0] == &left.Mapping[0] {
+		t.Fatal("safe mapping containers or entries share mutable storage with retained trees")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotPreservesSequencePositionsAndLengths(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: [left-public, hidden, old-tail]\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [right-public, hidden, old-tail, extra]\n")
+	sensitivity := newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/1": true})
+
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "items"), mappingValue(t, right, "items"), Keys("items"), sensitivity,
+	)
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("compatible sequences were not supported")
+	}
+	if !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want true on both sides", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+	}
+	if len(paired.left.Sequence) != 3 || len(paired.right.Sequence) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence lengths = %d, %d; want 3, 4", len(paired.left.Sequence), len(paired.right.Sequence))
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left.Sequence[0], "left-public")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[0], "right-public")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left.Sequence[1], "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[1], "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right.Sequence[3], "extra")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, left, "items").Sequence[1], "hidden")
+	if &paired.left.Sequence[0] == &mappingValue(t, left, "items").Sequence[0] {
+		t.Fatal("safe sequence shares mutable storage with retained tree")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksSensitiveDescendantsOfAbsentSubtrees(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right string
+		absentSide  string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "removed subtree",
+			left:       "removed: {token: old-secret, public: retained}\n",
+			right:      "other: value\n",
+			absentSide: "right",
+		},
+		{
+			name:       "added subtree",
+			left:       "other: value\n",
+			right:      "added: {token: new-secret, public: retained}\n",
+			absentSide: "left",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", test.left)
+			right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", test.right)
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				mappingValueIfPresent(left, "removed", "added"),
+				mappingValueIfPresent(right, "removed", "added"),
+				Keys("subtree"),
+				newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/subtree/token": true}, nil),
+			)
+			if !supported {
+				t.Fatal("compatible subtree and absence were not supported")
+			}
+			if test.absentSide == "left" {
+				if paired.left != nil || paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+					t.Fatalf("paired absence/redaction = %#v", paired)
+				}
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "public"), "retained")
+			} else {
+				if paired.right != nil || paired.rightRedacted || !paired.leftRedacted {
+					t.Fatalf("paired absence/redaction = %#v", paired)
+				}
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+				assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.left, "public"), "retained")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksSelectedRootAndContainer(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *document.Node
+		path        Path
+		selector    string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "root",
+			left:     parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "token: old\n"),
+			right:    parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "token: new\n"),
+			path:     Path{},
+			selector: "",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "container",
+			left:     parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "group: {public: old}\n"),
+			right:    parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "group: {public: new}\n"),
+			path:     Keys("group"),
+			selector: "/group",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				test.left, test.right, test.path,
+				newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{test.selector: true}, nil),
+			)
+			if !supported {
+				t.Fatal("selected nodes were not supported")
+			}
+			if !paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+				t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want true on both sides", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+			}
+			assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+			assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotDoesNotInterpretMarkerLookingInput(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "label: '[REDACTED]'\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "label: '[REDACTED]'\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "label"), mappingValue(t, right, "label"), Keys("label"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("ordinary scalar values were not supported")
+	}
+	if paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("redacted flags = %v, %v; want false", paired.leftRedacted, paired.rightRedacted)
+	}
+	if paired.left != mappingValue(t, left, "label") || paired.right != mappingValue(t, right, "label") {
+		t.Fatal("unselected scalar nodes should remain borrowed immutable nodes")
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksSensitiveStructuralReplacements(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right string
+		path        Path
+		selector    string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "mapping to scalar",
+			left:     "changed: {token: old-secret, public: old}\n",
+			right:    "changed: new-scalar\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mapping to scalar with historical-only descendant",
+			left:     "changed: {public: old}\n",
+			right:    "changed: new-scalar\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/removed/secret",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "scalar to mapping",
+			left:     "changed: old-scalar\n",
+			right:    "changed: {token: new-secret, public: new}\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "mapping to sequence with numeric paths",
+			left:     "changed: {'0': {token: old-secret}}\n",
+			right:    "changed: [{token: new-secret}]\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/0/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "sequence to mapping with numeric paths",
+			left:     "changed: [{token: old-secret}]\n",
+			right:    "changed: {'0': {token: new-secret}}\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/0/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "null to container",
+			left:     "changed: null\n",
+			right:    "changed: {token: new-secret}\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "container to null",
+			left:     "changed: {token: old-secret}\n",
+			right:    "changed: null\n",
+			path:     Keys("changed"),
+			selector: "/changed/token",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", test.left)
+			rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", test.right)
+			left := mappingValue(t, leftRoot, test.path.segments[0].key)
+			right := mappingValue(t, rightRoot, test.path.segments[0].key)
+			paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+				left, right, test.path, newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{test.selector: true}),
+			)
+			assertWholeRegionFallback(t, paired, supported, left, right)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotMasksOriginalRegionForNestedSequenceMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: [{branch: {token: old-secret, public: old}}]\n")
+	rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [{branch: new-scalar}]\n")
+	left := mappingValue(t, leftRoot, "items")
+	right := mappingValue(t, rightRoot, "items")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Keys("items"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/0/branch/token": true}),
+	)
+	assertWholeRegionFallback(t, paired, supported, left, right)
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotKeepsPublicScalarsWithHistoricalDescendants(t *testing.T) {
+	leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "changed: before\n")
+	rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "changed: after\n")
+	left := mappingValue(t, leftRoot, "changed")
+	right := mappingValue(t, rightRoot, "changed")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		left, right, Keys("changed"), newDiffSensitivity(map[string]bool{"/changed/removed/secret": true}, nil),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("public scalar replacement = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "before")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "after")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotKeepsPublicContentAcrossAbsence(t *testing.T) {
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "branch: scalar\n")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		nil, right, Keys("added"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/added/branch/secret": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.left != nil || paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted || paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatalf("public addition presence/redaction = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right, "branch"), "scalar")
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotPreservesPublicReplacementBesideSensitiveSibling(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "child: before\n")
+	right := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "after"}
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		mappingValue(t, left, "child"), right, Keys("public"),
+		newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/private/token": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.left != mappingValue(t, left, "child") || paired.right != right || paired.leftRedacted || paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("unrelated classification changed public replacement: %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPreparePairedDiffSnapshotTargetsRedactionAcrossAbsence(t *testing.T) {
+	left := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", "items: []\n")
+	right := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", "items: [{token: new-secret, public: visible}]\n")
+	leftItems := mappingValue(t, left, "items")
+	rightItems := mappingValue(t, right, "items")
+	paired, supported := preparePairedDiffSnapshot(
+		leftItems, rightItems, Keys("items"), newDiffSensitivity(nil, map[string]bool{"/items/0/token": true}),
+	)
+	if !supported || paired.left == nil || paired.right == nil || paired.leftRedacted || !paired.rightRedacted {
+		t.Fatalf("targeted sequence redaction = %#v, supported=%v", paired, supported)
+	}
+	if len(paired.left.Sequence) != 0 || len(paired.right.Sequence) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence lengths = %d, %d; want 0, 1", len(paired.left.Sequence), len(paired.right.Sequence))
+	}
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right.Sequence[0], "token"), "[REDACTED]")
+	assertDiffStringNode(t, mappingValue(t, paired.right.Sequence[0], "public"), "visible")
+}
+
+func assertWholeRegionFallback(t *testing.T, paired pairedDiffSnapshot, supported bool, left, right *document.Node) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if !supported {
+		t.Fatal("sensitive incompatible shape was not handled")
+	}
+	if !paired.hiddenChanged {
+		t.Fatal("fallback for a changed reported region did not mark hidden change")
+	}
+	if (left == nil) != (paired.left == nil) || (right == nil) != (paired.right == nil) {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback changed root presence: %#v", paired)
+	}
+	if left != nil {
+		assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.left, "[REDACTED]")
+		if !paired.leftRedacted {
+			t.Fatal("present left region was not marked redacted")
+		}
+	}
+	if right != nil {
+		assertDiffStringNode(t, paired.right, "[REDACTED]")
+		if !paired.rightRedacted {
+			t.Fatal("present right region was not marked redacted")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func mappingValueIfPresent(node *document.Node, keys ...string) *document.Node {
+	if node == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			if entry.Key == key {
+				return entry.Value
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func assertDiffStringNode(t *testing.T, node *document.Node, want string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if node == nil || node.Kind != document.String || node.Text != want {
+		t.Fatalf("node = %#v, want string %q", node, want)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/diff_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestPrepareDiffRegionsUsesCanonicalConfigurationComparison(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		left  string
+		right string
+		want  []expectedDiffRegion
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "mapping order is ignored for equal values",
+			left:  "first: 1\nsecond: true\n",
+			right: "second: true\nfirst: 1\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "addition removal null and empty values",
+			left:  "removed: null\n",
+			right: "added: null\nempty_map: {}\nempty_sequence: []\n",
+			want: []expectedDiffRegion{
+				{path: "/added", rightKind: document.Null, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/empty_map", rightKind: document.Mapping, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/empty_sequence", rightKind: document.Sequence, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/removed", leftKind: document.Null, leftPresent: true},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "scalar kinds and atomic sequences",
+			left:  "scalar: 1\nitems: [one, two]\n",
+			right: "scalar: '1'\nitems: [one, changed]\n",
+			want: []expectedDiffRegion{
+				{path: "/items", leftKind: document.Sequence, rightKind: document.Sequence, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/scalar", leftKind: document.Number, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "escaped empty and numeric mapping keys sort by pointer",
+			left:  `"": old` + "\n'0': old\n'01': old\n'a/b': old\n'a~b': old\n",
+			right: `"": new` + "\n'0': new\n'01': new\n'a/b': new\n'a~b': new\n",
+			want: []expectedDiffRegion{
+				{path: "/", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/0", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/01", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/a~0b", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+				{path: "/a~1b", leftKind: document.String, rightKind: document.String, leftPresent: true, rightPresent: true},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			leftRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "left", test.left)
+			rightRoot := parseCompositionDocument(t, "right", test.right)
+			regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(leftRoot), diffTestInspection(rightRoot))
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if len(regions) != len(test.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("regions = %#v, want %#v", regions, test.want)
+			}
+			for index, want := range test.want {
+				region := regions[index]
+				if region.path.String() != want.path {
+					t.Fatalf("region[%d].path = %q, want %q", index, region.path.String(), want.path)
+				}
+				assertDiffRegionNode(t, "left", region.left, want.leftPresent, want.leftKind)
+				assertDiffRegionNode(t, "right", region.right, want.rightPresent, want.rightKind)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrepareDiffRegionsHandlesRootReplacementAndBorrowsNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	leftRoot := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "before"}
+	rightRoot := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Mapping: []document.Entry{{
+		Key: "value", Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Number, Text: "1"},
+	}}}
+	regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(leftRoot), diffTestInspection(rightRoot))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(regions) != 1 || regions[0].path.String() != "" || regions[0].left != leftRoot || regions[0].right != rightRoot {
+		t.Fatalf("root region = %#v", regions)
+	}
+
+	leftRoot = parseCompositionDocument(t, "left-child", "value: before\n")
+	rightRoot = parseCompositionDocument(t, "right-child", "value: after\n")
+	regions, err = prepareDiffRegions(diffTestInspection(leftRoot), diffTestInspection(rightRoot))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(regions) != 1 || regions[0].left != mappingValue(t, leftRoot, "value") || regions[0].right != mappingValue(t, rightRoot, "value") {
+		t.Fatalf("child nodes were not borrowed from the frozen trees: %#v", regions)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPrepareDiffRegionsRejectsUnavailableInspections(t *testing.T) {
+	valid := diffTestInspection(&document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "safe"})
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		left, right *Inspection
+	}{
+		{name: "nil left", left: nil, right: valid},
+		{name: "nil right", left: valid, right: nil},
+		{name: "missing left tree", left: &Inspection{}, right: valid},
+		{name: "missing right tree", left: valid, right: &Inspection{}},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			regions, err := prepareDiffRegions(test.left, test.right)
+			if err == nil || regions != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("regions, err = %#v, %v", regions, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+type expectedDiffRegion struct {
+	path                      string
+	leftKind, rightKind       document.Kind
+	leftPresent, rightPresent bool
+}
+
+func diffTestInspection(root *document.Node) *Inspection {
+	return &Inspection{final: root, immutableLookup: buildDocumentLookup(root)}
+}
+
+func assertDiffRegionNode(t *testing.T, side string, node *document.Node, wantPresent bool, wantKind document.Kind) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if !wantPresent {
+		if node != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s node = %#v, want absence", side, node)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	if node == nil || node.Kind != wantKind {
+		t.Fatalf("%s node = %#v, want kind %v", side, node, wantKind)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/document_compare.go

@@ -24,12 +24,23 @@ type documentDelta struct {
 func compareConfigurationValues(before, after *document.Node) []documentDelta {
 	var deltas []documentDelta
 	compareConfigurationValue(before, after, Path{}, &deltas)
-	slices.SortFunc(deltas, func(left, right documentDelta) int {
+	type orderedDelta struct {
-		if order := cmp.Compare(left.path.String(), right.path.String()); order != 0 {
+		delta   documentDelta
+		pointer string
+	}
+	ordered := make([]orderedDelta, len(deltas))
+	for i, delta := range deltas {
+		ordered[i] = orderedDelta{delta: delta, pointer: delta.path.String()}
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(ordered, func(left, right orderedDelta) int {
+		if order := cmp.Compare(left.pointer, right.pointer); order != 0 {
 			return order
 		}
-		return int(left.kind) - int(right.kind)
+		return int(left.delta.kind) - int(right.delta.kind)
 	})
+	for i, item := range ordered {
+		deltas[i] = item.delta
+	}
 	return deltas
 }
 

internal/engine/document_lookup.go

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package engine
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+
+// documentLookup contains read-only mapping positions for a completed document.
+type documentLookup struct {
+	byNode map[*document.Node]map[string]int
+}
+
+func buildDocumentLookup(roots ...*document.Node) *documentLookup {
+	lookup := &documentLookup{byNode: make(map[*document.Node]map[string]int)}
+	visited := make(map[*document.Node]struct{})
+	var visit func(*document.Node)
+	visit = func(node *document.Node) {
+		if node == nil {
+			return
+		}
+		if _, ok := visited[node]; ok {
+			return
+		}
+		visited[node] = struct{}{}
+		switch node.Kind {
+		case document.Mapping:
+			entries := make(map[string]int, len(node.Mapping))
+			for index, entry := range node.Mapping {
+				if _, exists := entries[entry.Key]; !exists {
+					entries[entry.Key] = index
+				}
+				visit(entry.Value)
+			}
+			lookup.byNode[node] = entries
+		case document.Sequence:
+			for _, child := range node.Sequence {
+				visit(child)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	for _, root := range roots {
+		visit(root)
+	}
+	return lookup
+}
+
+func (lookup *documentLookup) find(node *document.Node, key string) int {
+	if lookup == nil {
+		return -1
+	}
+	if entries := lookup.byNode[node]; entries != nil {
+		if index, ok := entries[key]; ok {
+			return index
+		}
+	}
+	return -1
+}

internal/engine/document_walk.go

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ func indexDocument(node *document.Node, path Path, index map[string]*document.No
 }
 
 func documentAtPath(root *document.Node, path Path) (*document.Node, bool) {
+	return documentAtPathWithLookup(root, path, nil)
+}
+
+func documentAtPathWithLookup(root *document.Node, path Path, lookup *documentLookup) (*document.Node, bool) {
 	if root == nil || !path.valid() {
 		return nil, false
 	}
@@ -41,17 +45,21 @@ func documentAtPath(root *document.Node, path Path) (*document.Node, bool) {
 			if segment.kind == pathSegmentIndex {
 				return nil, false
 			}
-			found := false
+			entryIndex := -1
-			for _, entry := range current.Mapping {
+			if lookup != nil {
-				if entry.Key == segment.key {
+				entryIndex = lookup.find(current, segment.key)
-					current = entry.Value
+			} else {
-					found = true
+				for index, entry := range current.Mapping {
-					break
+					if entry.Key == segment.key {
+						entryIndex = index
+						break
+					}
 				}
 			}
-			if !found {
+			if entryIndex < 0 || entryIndex >= len(current.Mapping) {
 				return nil, false
 			}
+			current = current.Mapping[entryIndex].Value
 		case document.Sequence:
 			index, ok := schemaIndex(segment)
 			if !ok || index >= len(current.Sequence) {

internal/engine/explain.go

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func (r *Inspection) Explain(path Path) (Explanation, bool) {
 	if r == nil || r.final == nil || r.baseline == nil || !r.metadata.hasHistoricalPath(path) {
 		return Explanation{}, false
 	}
-	explanation := Explanation{Path: path.clone(), Effective: valueSnapshot(r.final, path, r.secrets)}
+	explanation := Explanation{Path: path.clone(), Effective: valueSnapshotWithLookup(r.final, path, r.secrets, r.immutableLookup)}
 	if info, ok := r.metadata.Lookup(path); ok {
 		explanation.Origin = cloneOrigin(info.Origin)
 	}
@@ -51,13 +51,14 @@ func (r *Inspection) Explain(path Path) (Explanation, bool) {
 			After: valueSnapshot(working, path, r.secrets), Origin: Origin{Layer: LayerDefault},
 		})
 	}
+	replayIndex := new(mappingIndex)
 	for _, application := range r.applications {
-		operationPath, relevant := applicationOperationPath(application, path)
+		operationPath, relevant := applicationOperationPath(application, path, r.immutableLookup)
 		var before ValueSnapshot
 		if relevant {
 			before = valueSnapshot(working, path, r.secrets)
 		}
-		applyHistoryApplication(&working, application)
+		applyHistoryApplication(&working, application, replayIndex)
 		if !relevant {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -68,28 +69,29 @@ func (r *Inspection) Explain(path Path) (Explanation, bool) {
 		explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
 			Before: before,
 			After:  after,
-			Origin: historyApplicationOrigin(application, operationPath),
+			Origin: historyApplicationOrigin(application, operationPath, r.immutableLookup),
 		})
 	}
+	appendInheritanceExplanation(&explanation, &working, path, r.inheritance, r.secrets)
 
 	// Intermediate input replacements do not permanently suppress defaults:
 	// decoding applies them to the final input tree. Show that reconciliation
 	// explicitly, including canonical scalar conversions, before domain changes.
 	replayed, _ := documentAtPath(working, path)
-	decoded, _ := documentAtPath(r.input, path)
+	decoded, _ := documentAtPathWithLookup(r.input, path, r.immutableLookup)
 	if !configurationValuesEqual(replayed, decoded) {
 		origin := cloneOrigin(r.inputOrigins[path.String()])
 		origin.Operation = ChangeDecoding
 		explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
 			Before:  valueSnapshot(working, path, r.secrets),
-			After:   valueSnapshot(r.input, path, r.secrets),
+			After:   valueSnapshotWithLookup(r.input, path, r.secrets, r.immutableLookup),
 			Origin:  origin,
 			Reasons: []string{"applied retained defaults and canonical typed decoding"},
 		})
 	}
 
 	working = document.Clone(r.input)
-	for _, snapshot := range coalescedResolutionSnapshots(r.resolution) {
+	for _, snapshot := range r.resolutionReplay {
 		relevant := pathsIntersect(snapshot.change.Path, path)
 		var before ValueSnapshot
 		if relevant {

internal/engine/explain_render.go

@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@ func (r *Inspection) WriteExplanation(output io.Writer, path Path) error {
 		return errExplanationUnknownPath
 	}
 	var rendered strings.Builder
+	labels := make(map[string]string, len(r.sources))
+	for _, source := range r.sources {
+		labels[source.ID] = source.Label
+	}
 	rendered.WriteString("path: ")
 	rendered.WriteString(strconv.Quote(explanation.Path.String()))
 	rendered.WriteByte('\n')
-	writeExplanationOrigin(&rendered, "effective source", explanation.Origin, r.sources)
+	writeExplanationOrigin(&rendered, "effective source", explanation.Origin, labels)
 	writeExplanationSnapshot(&rendered, "effective (canonical typed)", explanation.Effective, 0)
 	if explanation.SecretReference != nil {
 		rendered.WriteString("secret reference: ")
@@ -38,12 +42,14 @@ func (r *Inspection) WriteExplanation(output io.Writer, path Path) error {
 		rendered.WriteString("  - representation: ")
 		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeDecoding {
 			rendered.WriteString("input to canonical typed\n")
-		} else if change.Origin.Layer == LayerBase || change.Origin.Layer == LayerOverlay || change.Origin.Layer == LayerCLI {
+		} else if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			rendered.WriteString("structural inheritance\n")
+		} else if change.Origin.Layer == LayerBase || change.Origin.Layer == LayerUnderlay || change.Origin.Layer == LayerOverlay || change.Origin.Layer == LayerCLI {
 			rendered.WriteString("policy-validated input\n")
 		} else {
 			rendered.WriteString("canonical typed\n")
 		}
-		writeExplanationOrigin(&rendered, "    source", change.Origin, r.sources)
+		writeExplanationOrigin(&rendered, "    source", change.Origin, labels)
 		writeExplanationSnapshot(&rendered, "    before", change.Before, 4)
 		writeExplanationSnapshot(&rendered, "    after", change.After, 4)
 		for _, reason := range change.Reasons {
@@ -65,7 +71,7 @@ func (r *Inspection) WriteExplanation(output io.Writer, path Path) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-func writeExplanationOrigin(output *strings.Builder, label string, origin Origin, sources []SourceInfo) {
+func writeExplanationOrigin(output *strings.Builder, label string, origin Origin, labels map[string]string) {
 	output.WriteString(label)
 	output.WriteString(": layer=")
 	output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(string(origin.Layer)))
@@ -77,7 +83,7 @@ func writeExplanationOrigin(output *strings.Builder, label string, origin Origin
 	for _, location := range origin.Locations {
 		output.WriteString("      location: source=")
 		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(location.SourceID))
-		if label := sourceLabel(sources, location.SourceID); label != "" {
+		if label := labels[location.SourceID]; label != "" {
 			output.WriteString(" label=")
 			output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(label))
 		}
@@ -87,15 +93,15 @@ func writeExplanationOrigin(output *strings.Builder, label string, origin Origin
 		output.WriteString(strconv.Itoa(location.Column))
 		output.WriteByte('\n')
 	}
-}
+	for _, step := range origin.Inheritance {
-
+		output.WriteString("      inherited: from=")
-func sourceLabel(sources []SourceInfo, sourceID string) string {
+		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(step.From.String()))
-	for _, source := range sources {
+		output.WriteString(" to=")
-		if source.ID == sourceID {
+		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(step.To.String()))
-			return source.Label
+		output.WriteString(" reference=")
-		}
+		output.WriteString(strconv.Quote(step.Reference.String()))
+		output.WriteByte('\n')
 	}
-	return ""
 }
 
 func writeExplanationSnapshot(output *strings.Builder, label string, snapshot ValueSnapshot, indent int) {

internal/engine/explain_test.go

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
@@ -520,3 +521,95 @@ func TestExplanationReplaysResolutionAdditionsAndOverlappingIntent(t *testing.T)
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestExplanationReplayDescriptorsRemainDetachedAcrossQueries(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Count int `yaml:"count"`
+	}
+	result, err := testLoad(Bytes("resolution-explanation.yml", []byte("count: 1\n")), Options[config]{
+		Definition: Definition[config]{Resolve: func(value *config, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			value.Count = 2
+			resolution.Record(Keys("count"), ChangeNormalization, "normalized", Keys("count"))
+			return nil
+		}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	first, ok := result.Explain(Keys("count"))
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("missing explanation")
+	}
+	var firstResolution *ValueChange
+	for index := range first.History {
+		if first.History[index].Origin.Layer == LayerResolution {
+			firstResolution = &first.History[index]
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if firstResolution == nil || len(firstResolution.Reasons) != 1 || len(firstResolution.Dependencies) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("resolution history = %#v", first.History)
+	}
+	firstResolution.Reasons[0] = "mutated"
+	firstResolution.Dependencies[0].segments[0].key = "mutated"
+
+	second, ok := result.Explain(Keys("count"))
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("missing repeated explanation")
+	}
+	for _, change := range second.History {
+		if change.Origin.Layer == LayerResolution {
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(change.Reasons, []string{"normalized"}) || len(change.Dependencies) != 1 || change.Dependencies[0].String() != "/count" {
+				t.Fatalf("repeated explanation observed caller mutation: %#v", change)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	t.Fatalf("resolution change missing from repeated explanation: %#v", second.History)
+}
+
+func TestConcurrentReadOnlyInspectionQueries(t *testing.T) {
+	type config struct {
+		Group struct {
+			Value string `yaml:"value"`
+		} `yaml:"group"`
+	}
+	result, err := testLoad(Bytes("concurrent-inspection.yml", []byte("group: {value: input}\n")), Options[config]{
+		Definition: Definition[config]{Resolve: func(value *config, resolution *Resolution) error {
+			value.Group.Value = "resolved"
+			resolution.Record(Keys("group", "value"), ChangeNormalization, "normalized", Keys("group", "value"))
+			return nil
+		}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	paths := []Path{Keys("group"), Keys("group", "value")}
+	var wait sync.WaitGroup
+	errors := make(chan string, 8)
+	for worker := 0; worker < cap(errors); worker++ {
+		wait.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wait.Done()
+			for iteration := 0; iteration < 8; iteration++ {
+				for _, path := range paths {
+					explanation, found := result.Explain(path)
+					if !found || !explanation.Effective.Present {
+						errors <- "missing effective explanation for " + path.String()
+						return
+					}
+					metadata := result.Metadata()
+					if _, found := metadata.Lookup(path); !found || len(metadata.History(path)) == 0 {
+						errors <- "missing metadata for " + path.String()
+						return
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}()
+	}
+	wait.Wait()
+	close(errors)
+	for message := range errors {
+		t.Error(message)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/filesystem.go

@@ -1,12 +1,21 @@
 package engine
 
 import (
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
+	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 )
 
 func validateFilesystemContext(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource) *Diagnostic {
+	if nativeContext(source, context) {
+		access, basePath, mainPath, diagnostic := nativeFilesystemAccess(source, context)
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return diagnostic
+		}
+		return validateNativeDirectories(access, basePath, mainPath)
+	}
 	rootPath, _, _, diagnostic := importFilesystem(source, context, main)
 	if diagnostic != nil {
 		return diagnostic
@@ -29,20 +38,87 @@ func filesystemOptionDiagnostics(source Source, context *FilesystemContext) []Di
 	case sourceNone:
 		return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "NoSource cannot use filesystem context")}
 	case sourceFile:
+		if context.FS != nil {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "host file sources cannot use a native filesystem context")}
+		}
 		if context.BaseDir != "" {
 			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "file sources determine their own import base directory")}
 		}
-	case sourceBytes, sourceReader:
+	case sourceFilesystem:
+		if context.FS == nil || context.FS.namespace == nil || source.namespace == nil || context.FS.namespace.token != source.namespace.token {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "filesystem file context must use the source namespace")}
+		}
+		if context.BaseDir != "" {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "file sources determine their own import base directory")}
+		}
+		if context.Root != "" && !fs.ValidPath(context.Root) {
+			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "filesystem root must be a slash-relative valid path")}
+		}
+	case sourceBytes, sourceReader, sourceMapping:
 		if context.BaseDir == "" || context.Root == "" {
 			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader filesystem context requires base and root directories")}
 		}
-		if !filepath.IsAbs(context.BaseDir) || !filepath.IsAbs(context.Root) {
+		if context.FS != nil {
+			if context.FS.namespace == nil || !fs.ValidPath(context.BaseDir) || !fs.ValidPath(context.Root) {
+				return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "filesystem base and root must be slash-relative valid paths")}
+			}
+		} else if !filepath.IsAbs(context.BaseDir) || !filepath.IsAbs(context.Root) {
 			return []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader filesystem base and root directories must be absolute")}
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
+func nativeContext(source Source, context *FilesystemContext) bool {
+	return source.kind == sourceFilesystem || context != nil && context.FS != nil
+}
+
+// nativeFilesystemAccess resolves namespace context without opening caller
+// resources. File inputs always derive their base from the selected file.
+func nativeFilesystemAccess(source Source, context *FilesystemContext) (*filesystemAccess, string, string, *Diagnostic) {
+	var namespace *nativeNamespace
+	rootPath := "."
+	basePath := "."
+	mainPath := ""
+	if source.kind == sourceFilesystem {
+		namespace = source.namespace
+		mainPath = source.path
+		basePath = path.Dir(source.path)
+		if context != nil && context.Root != "" {
+			rootPath = context.Root
+		}
+	} else if context != nil && context.FS != nil {
+		namespace = context.FS.namespace
+		rootPath, basePath = context.Root, context.BaseDir
+	}
+	if namespace == nil || nilFilesystem(namespace.filesystem) || !fs.ValidPath(rootPath) || !fs.ValidPath(basePath) {
+		value := optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "filesystem context is invalid")
+		return nil, "", "", &value
+	}
+	access := newNativeAccess(namespace.filesystem, rootPath, namespace.token)
+	access.label = namespace.label
+	if !access.contains(basePath) || mainPath != "" && !access.contains(mainPath) {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "selected source and import base must stay inside the configuration root", nil)
+		return nil, "", "", &value
+	}
+	return access, basePath, mainPath, nil
+}
+
+func validateNativeDirectories(access *filesystemAccess, basePath, mainPath string) *Diagnostic {
+	if !access.contains(basePath) || mainPath != "" && !access.contains(mainPath) {
+		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "selected source and import base must stay inside the configuration root", nil)
+		return &value
+	}
+	for _, directory := range []string{access.rootPath, basePath} {
+		info, err := access.stat(directory)
+		if err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root and import base must be directories", nil)
+			return &value
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func importFilesystem(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource) (rootPath, basePath, mainPath string, diagnostic *Diagnostic) {
 	if main.source == nil || main.document == nil {
 		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "imports require a selected configuration source", nil)

internal/engine/filesystem_access.go

@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// namespaceToken identifies one caller-selected filesystem without comparing
+// arbitrary fs.FS values. A token can be shared by copies of a source wrapper.
+type namespaceToken struct{ marker byte }
+
+type nativeNamespace struct {
+	filesystem fs.FS
+	label      string
+	token      *namespaceToken
+}
+
+func newNativeNamespace(label string, filesystem fs.FS) *nativeNamespace {
+	return &nativeNamespace{filesystem: filesystem, label: label, token: &namespaceToken{}}
+}
+
+type resourceIdentity struct {
+	namespace  *namespaceToken
+	path       string
+	occurrence *namespaceToken
+}
+
+// filesystemAccess is a load-scoped view of either a contained host root or a
+// borrowed native filesystem. Names are canonical host paths or fs.FS paths.
+type filesystemAccess struct {
+	rootPath string
+	root     *os.Root
+	native   fs.FS
+	token    *namespaceToken
+	label    string
+}
+
+func openHostAccess(rootPath string) (*filesystemAccess, error) {
+	root, err := os.OpenRoot(rootPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &filesystemAccess{rootPath: rootPath, root: root, token: &namespaceToken{}}, nil
+}
+
+func newNativeAccess(filesystem fs.FS, root string, token *namespaceToken) *filesystemAccess {
+	return &filesystemAccess{rootPath: root, native: filesystem, token: token}
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) close() error {
+	if a.root != nil {
+		return a.root.Close()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) identity(name string) resourceIdentity {
+	return resourceIdentity{namespace: a.token, path: name}
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) syntheticIdentity() resourceIdentity {
+	return resourceIdentity{namespace: a.token, occurrence: &namespaceToken{}}
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) join(base, name string) string {
+	if a.native != nil {
+		return path.Join(base, name)
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(base, filepath.FromSlash(path.Clean(name)))
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) dir(name string) string {
+	if a.native != nil {
+		return path.Dir(name)
+	}
+	return filepath.Dir(name)
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) contains(name string) bool {
+	if a.native == nil {
+		return containedPath(a.rootPath, filepath.Clean(name))
+	}
+	if !fs.ValidPath(name) || !fs.ValidPath(a.rootPath) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return a.rootPath == "." || name == a.rootPath || strings.HasPrefix(name, a.rootPath+"/")
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) canonical(name string) (string, error) {
+	if a.native == nil {
+		return canonicalExistingPath(name)
+	}
+	if !fs.ValidPath(name) {
+		return "", fs.ErrInvalid
+	}
+	_, err := fs.Stat(a.native, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return name, nil
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) relative(name string) (string, error) {
+	if a.native != nil {
+		if !a.contains(name) {
+			return "", fs.ErrInvalid
+		}
+		return name, nil
+	}
+	relative, err := filepath.Rel(a.rootPath, name)
+	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) || relative == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
+		return "", fs.ErrInvalid
+	}
+	return relative, nil
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) stat(name string) (fs.FileInfo, error) {
+	if a.native != nil {
+		return fs.Stat(a.native, name)
+	}
+	relative, err := a.relative(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return a.root.Stat(relative)
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	if a.native != nil {
+		return a.native.Open(name)
+	}
+	relative, err := a.relative(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return a.root.Open(relative)
+}
+
+func (a *filesystemAccess) readDirectory(name string, visit func(fs.DirEntry) bool) error {
+	file, err := a.open(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if reader, ok := file.(fs.ReadDirFile); ok {
+		for {
+			entries, readErr := reader.ReadDir(globReadBatch)
+			for _, entry := range entries {
+				if !visit(entry) {
+					return file.Close()
+				}
+			}
+			if errors.Is(readErr, io.EOF) {
+				return file.Close()
+			}
+			if readErr != nil {
+				_ = file.Close()
+				return readErr
+			}
+			if len(entries) == 0 {
+				_ = file.Close()
+				return io.ErrNoProgress
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// fs.ReadDir provides the standard fallback for implementations whose opened
+	// files do not implement fs.ReadDirFile. It may allocate all entries itself.
+	entries, err := fs.ReadDir(a.native, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if !visit(entry) {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/engine/glob.go

@@ -2,11 +2,8 @@ package engine
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"io"
 	"io/fs"
-	"os"
 	"path"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
 )
@@ -42,29 +39,29 @@ func (s *importTraversal) expandImportGlob(basePath string, declaration importDe
 				names = []string{literal}
 			}
 			for _, name := range names {
-				absolute := filepath.Join(candidate.absolute, filepath.FromSlash(name))
+				absolute := s.access.join(candidate.absolute, name)
 				relative := path.Join(candidate.relative, name)
-				if !containedPath(s.rootPath, filepath.Clean(absolute)) {
+				if !s.access.contains(absolute) {
 					return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "glob traversal is outside the configuration root", &location)}
 				}
-				canonical, err := canonicalExistingPath(absolute)
+				canonical, err := s.access.canonical(absolute)
 				if err != nil {
 					if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) && !patterned {
 						continue
 					}
 					return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "glob match could not be canonicalized", location)}
 				}
-				if !containedPath(s.rootPath, canonical) {
+				if !s.access.contains(canonical) {
 					return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "glob traversal resolves outside the configuration root", &location)}
 				}
 				if last {
 					next = append(next, globCandidate{absolute: canonical, relative: relative})
-					if len(s.sources)+len(next) > s.limits.sources {
+					if s.accounting.sources+len(next) > s.limits.sources {
 						return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "glob matches exceed the remaining source-count limit", &location)}
 					}
 					continue
 				}
-				info, err := os.Stat(canonical)
+				info, err := s.access.stat(canonical)
 				if err != nil {
 					return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "glob traversal target could not be inspected", location)}
 				}
@@ -88,56 +85,47 @@ func (s *importTraversal) expandImportGlob(basePath string, declaration importDe
 }
 
 func (s *importTraversal) readGlobMatches(directory, pattern string, location Location) ([]string, []Diagnostic) {
-	canonical, err := canonicalExistingPath(directory)
+	canonical, err := s.access.canonical(directory)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
 			return nil, nil
 		}
 		return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "glob directory could not be canonicalized", location)}
 	}
-	if !containedPath(s.rootPath, canonical) {
+	if !s.access.contains(canonical) {
 		return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "glob directory resolves outside the configuration root", &location)}
 	}
-	relative, err := filepath.Rel(s.rootPath, canonical)
+	if _, err := s.access.relative(canonical); err != nil {
-	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) || relative == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
 		return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "glob directory could not be addressed inside the configuration root", &location)}
 	}
-	directoryFile, err := s.root.Open(relative)
-	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-			return nil, nil
-		}
-		return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "glob directory could not be opened", location)}
-	}
-
 	var matches []string
-	for {
+	var problem *Diagnostic
-		entries, readErr := directoryFile.ReadDir(globReadBatch)
+	err = s.access.readDirectory(canonical, func(entry fs.DirEntry) bool {
-		for _, entry := range entries {
+		s.accounting.entries++
-			s.usedEntries++
+		if s.accounting.entries > s.limits.entries {
-			if s.usedEntries > s.limits.entries {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "glob traversal exceeds the directory-entry visit limit", &location)
-				_ = directoryFile.Close()
+			problem = &value
-				return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "glob traversal exceeds the directory-entry visit limit", &location)}
+			return false
-			}
-			matched, matchErr := path.Match(pattern, entry.Name())
-			if matchErr != nil {
-				_ = directoryFile.Close()
-				return nil, []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "import glob pattern is invalid", &location)}
-			}
-			if matched {
-				matches = append(matches, entry.Name())
-			}
 		}
-		if errors.Is(readErr, io.EOF) {
+		matched, matchErr := path.Match(pattern, entry.Name())
-			break
+		if matchErr != nil {
+			value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "import glob pattern is invalid", &location)
+			problem = &value
+			return false
 		}
-		if readErr != nil {
+		if matched {
-			_ = directoryFile.Close()
+			matches = append(matches, entry.Name())
-			return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(readErr, "glob directory could not be read", location)}
 		}
+		return true
+	})
+	if problem != nil {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{*problem}
 	}
-	if err := directoryFile.Close(); err != nil {
+	if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "glob directory could not be closed", location)}
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "glob directory could not be traversed", location)}
 	}
 	slices.Sort(matches)
 	return matches, nil

internal/engine/history.go

@@ -6,6 +6,40 @@ import (
 
 const historyNodeLimit = 4_000_000
 
+type retainedNodeCounter struct {
+	seen  map[*document.Node]bool
+	count int
+	limit int
+}
+
+func newRetainedNodeCounter(limit int) *retainedNodeCounter {
+	return &retainedNodeCounter{seen: make(map[*document.Node]bool), limit: limit}
+}
+
+func (c *retainedNodeCounter) add(root *document.Node) bool {
+	if c == nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	stack := []*document.Node{root}
+	for len(stack) != 0 {
+		node := stack[len(stack)-1]
+		stack = stack[:len(stack)-1]
+		if node == nil || c.seen[node] {
+			continue
+		}
+		c.seen[node] = true
+		c.count++
+		if c.limit >= 0 && c.count > c.limit {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			stack = append(stack, entry.Value)
+		}
+		stack = append(stack, node.Sequence...)
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 // History applications borrow immutable policy-validated input trees. Metadata
 // records answer presence and origin queries; replay reconstructs value changes.
 // Replay reconciles with canonical decoding before domain resolution so both
@@ -31,7 +65,7 @@ func cloneHistoryApplications(values []historyApplication) []historyApplication
 	return cloned
 }
 
-func applicationOperationPath(application historyApplication, query Path) (Path, bool) {
+func applicationOperationPath(application historyApplication, query Path, lookup *documentLookup) (Path, bool) {
 	if !application.path.valid() || application.value == nil {
 		return Path{}, false
 	}
@@ -46,7 +80,7 @@ func applicationOperationPath(application historyApplication, query Path) (Path,
 	}
 	for length := 1; length <= len(query.segments); length++ {
 		prefix := Path{segments: clonePathSegments(query.segments[:length], 0)}
-		node, present := documentAtPath(application.value, prefix)
+		node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(application.value, prefix, lookup)
 		if !present {
 			return Path{}, false
 		}
@@ -57,7 +91,7 @@ func applicationOperationPath(application historyApplication, query Path) (Path,
 	return Path{}, false
 }
 
-func historyApplicationOrigin(application historyApplication, operationPath Path) Origin {
+func historyApplicationOrigin(application historyApplication, operationPath Path, lookup *documentLookup) Origin {
 	if application.origin.Layer != "" {
 		return cloneOrigin(application.origin)
 	}
@@ -66,7 +100,7 @@ func historyApplicationOrigin(application historyApplication, operationPath Path
 	if !ok {
 		return origin
 	}
-	if node, present := documentAtPath(application.value, relative); present {
+	if node, present := documentAtPathWithLookup(application.value, relative, lookup); present {
 		origin.Locations = []Location{publicLocation(node.Location)}
 	}
 	return origin
@@ -83,15 +117,15 @@ func pathsIntersect(left, right Path) bool {
 	return pathContains(left, right) || pathContains(right, left)
 }
 
-func applyHistoryApplication(root **document.Node, application historyApplication) {
+func applyHistoryApplication(root **document.Node, application historyApplication, index *mappingIndex) {
 	if application.path.String() == "" {
-		mergeHistoryDocument(root, application.value)
+		mergeHistoryDocument(root, application.value, index)
 		return
 	}
-	mergeHistoryAtPath(root, application.path, application.value)
+	mergeHistoryAtPath(root, application.path, application.value, index)
 }
 
-func mergeHistoryDocument(target **document.Node, incoming *document.Node) {
+func mergeHistoryDocument(target **document.Node, incoming *document.Node, index *mappingIndex) {
 	if incoming == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -100,39 +134,39 @@ func mergeHistoryDocument(target **document.Node, incoming *document.Node) {
 		return
 	}
 	for _, entry := range incoming.Mapping {
-		position := documentEntryIndex((*target).Mapping, entry.Key)
+		position := index.find(*target, entry.Key)
 		if position < 0 {
 			cloned := entry
 			cloned.Value = document.Clone(entry.Value)
-			(*target).Mapping = append((*target).Mapping, cloned)
+			index.append(*target, cloned)
 			continue
 		}
-		mergeHistoryDocument(&(*target).Mapping[position].Value, entry.Value)
+		mergeHistoryDocument(&(*target).Mapping[position].Value, entry.Value, index)
 	}
 }
 
-func mergeHistoryAtPath(root **document.Node, path Path, incoming *document.Node) {
+func mergeHistoryAtPath(root **document.Node, path Path, incoming *document.Node, index *mappingIndex) {
 	if root == nil || *root == nil || len(path.segments) == 0 {
-		mergeHistoryDocument(root, incoming)
+		mergeHistoryDocument(root, incoming, index)
 		return
 	}
 	current := *root
-	for index, segment := range path.segments {
+	for segmentIndex, segment := range path.segments {
 		if current.Kind != document.Mapping || segment.kind == pathSegmentIndex {
 			return
 		}
-		position := documentEntryIndex(current.Mapping, segment.key)
+		position := index.find(current, segment.key)
-		if index == len(path.segments)-1 {
+		if segmentIndex == len(path.segments)-1 {
 			if position < 0 {
-				current.Mapping = append(current.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, Value: document.Clone(incoming)})
+				index.append(current, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, Value: document.Clone(incoming)})
 			} else {
-				mergeHistoryDocument(&current.Mapping[position].Value, incoming)
+				mergeHistoryDocument(&current.Mapping[position].Value, incoming, index)
 			}
 			return
 		}
 		if position < 0 {
 			child := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping}
-			current.Mapping = append(current.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, Value: child})
+			index.append(current, document.Entry{Key: segment.key, Value: child})
 			current = child
 		} else {
 			current = current.Mapping[position].Value
@@ -145,28 +179,50 @@ func mergeHistoryAtPath(root **document.Node, path Path, incoming *document.Node
 // intent into that event rather than replay a child assignment a second time.
 func coalescedResolutionSnapshots(snapshots []resolutionSnapshot) []resolutionSnapshot {
 	groups := make([]resolutionSnapshot, 0, len(snapshots))
+	reasons := make([]map[string]struct{}, 0, len(snapshots))
+	dependencies := make([]map[string]struct{}, 0, len(snapshots))
+	var coverage pathPrefixIndex
 	for _, snapshot := range snapshots {
-		merged := false
+		pointer := snapshot.change.Path.String()
-		for i := range groups {
+		groupIndex := -1
-			if !pathContains(groups[i].change.Path, snapshot.change.Path) {
+		coverage.visitAncestors(pointer, func(id int) {
-				continue
+			if groupIndex < 0 || id < groupIndex {
+				groupIndex = id
 			}
+		})
+		if groupIndex >= 0 {
+			group := &groups[groupIndex]
 			for _, reason := range snapshot.change.Reasons {
-				groups[i].change.Reasons = appendUniqueString(groups[i].change.Reasons, reason)
+				if _, found := reasons[groupIndex][reason]; !found {
+					reasons[groupIndex][reason] = struct{}{}
+					group.change.Reasons = append(group.change.Reasons, reason)
+				}
 			}
 			for _, dependency := range snapshot.change.Dependencies {
-				groups[i].change.Dependencies = appendUniquePath(groups[i].change.Dependencies, dependency)
+				dependencyPointer := dependency.String()
+				if _, found := dependencies[groupIndex][dependencyPointer]; !found {
+					dependencies[groupIndex][dependencyPointer] = struct{}{}
+					group.change.Dependencies = append(group.change.Dependencies, dependency.clone())
+				}
 			}
 			if snapshot.change.Origin.Operation == ChangeNormalization {
-				groups[i].change.Origin.Operation = ChangeNormalization
+				group.change.Origin.Operation = ChangeNormalization
 			}
-			merged = true
+			continue
-			break
 		}
-		if !merged {
+		snapshot.change = cloneChange(snapshot.change)
-			snapshot.change = cloneChange(snapshot.change)
+		groups = append(groups, snapshot)
-			groups = append(groups, snapshot)
+		reasonSet := make(map[string]struct{}, len(snapshot.change.Reasons))
+		for _, reason := range snapshot.change.Reasons {
+			reasonSet[reason] = struct{}{}
 		}
+		reasons = append(reasons, reasonSet)
+		dependencySet := make(map[string]struct{}, len(snapshot.change.Dependencies))
+		for _, dependency := range snapshot.change.Dependencies {
+			dependencySet[dependency.String()] = struct{}{}
+		}
+		dependencies = append(dependencies, dependencySet)
+		coverage.insert(pointer, len(groups)-1)
 	}
 	return groups
 }
@@ -230,11 +286,11 @@ func replaceHistoryPath(root **document.Node, path Path, replacement *document.N
 	}
 }
 
-func historyNodesWithinLimit(baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot) bool {
+func historyNodesWithinLimit(baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot, inherited ...*inheritanceScope) bool {
-	return historyNodesWithin(historyNodeLimit, baseline, input, final, applications, resolutions)
+	return historyNodesWithin(historyNodeLimit, baseline, input, final, applications, resolutions, inherited...)
 }
 
-func historyNodesWithin(limit int, baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot) bool {
+func historyNodesWithin(limit int, baseline, input, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, resolutions []resolutionSnapshot, inherited ...*inheritanceScope) bool {
 	seen := make(map[*document.Node]bool)
 	count := 0
 	var visit func(*document.Node) bool
@@ -272,5 +328,23 @@ func historyNodesWithin(limit int, baseline, input, final *document.Node, applic
 			return false
 		}
 	}
+	for _, expansion := range inherited {
+		if expansion == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if !visit(expansion.root) {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, operation := range expansion.operations {
+			if !visit(operation.parent) || !visit(operation.effective) {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+		for _, replacement := range expansion.replacements {
+			if !visit(replacement.before) || !visit(replacement.after) {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	return true
 }

internal/engine/imports.go

@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"io/fs"
-	"os"
-	"path"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -40,47 +37,96 @@ type importRoute struct {
 	locations []Location
 }
 
-type importTraversal struct {
+type importAccounting struct {
-	rootPath string
+	sources int
-	root     *os.Root
+	bytes   int64
-	limits   importLimits
+	nodes   int
-	rule     *VersionRule
+	entries int
+}
 
-	documents   []*document.Node
+type importTraversal struct {
-	sources     []SourceInfo
+	access     *filesystemAccess
-	active      map[string]int
+	accounting *importAccounting
-	visited     map[string]importRoute
+	limits     importLimits
-	stack       []importRoute
+	rule       *VersionRule
-	usedBytes   int64
+
-	usedNodes   int
+	documents []*document.Node
-	usedEntries int
+	sources   []SourceInfo
+	active    map[resourceIdentity]int
+	visited   map[resourceIdentity]importRoute
+	stack     []importRoute
 }
 
 func loadImportedDocuments(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	return loadImportedDocumentsTracked(source, context, main, rule, limits, &importAccounting{}, nil, nil)
+}
+
+func loadImportedDocumentsTracked(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, hostToken *namespaceToken) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	if nativeContext(source, context) {
+		access, basePath, mainPath, diagnostic := nativeFilesystemAccess(source, context)
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
+		return loadImportedWithAccessTracked(access, basePath, mainPath, main, rule, limits, accounting, visited)
+	}
 	rootPath, basePath, mainPath, diagnostic := importFilesystem(source, context, main)
 	if diagnostic != nil {
 		return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
-	root, err := os.OpenRoot(rootPath)
+	access, err := openHostAccess(rootPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		diagnostic := globFilesystemDiagnostic(err, "configuration root could not be opened", Location{})
 		diagnostic.Primary = nil
 		return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{diagnostic}
 	}
+	if hostToken != nil {
+		access.token = hostToken
+	}
+	return loadImportedWithAccessTracked(access, basePath, mainPath, main, rule, limits, accounting, visited)
+}
 
+func loadImportedWithAccess(access *filesystemAccess, basePath, mainPath string, main parsedSource, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	return loadImportedWithAccessTracked(access, basePath, mainPath, main, rule, limits, accounting, nil)
+}
+
+func loadImportedWithAccessTracked(access *filesystemAccess, basePath, mainPath string, main parsedSource, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	if !access.contains(basePath) || (mainPath != "" && !access.contains(mainPath)) {
+		_ = access.close()
+		return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "selected source and import base must stay inside the configuration root", nil)}
+	}
+	for _, directory := range []string{access.rootPath, basePath} {
+		info, err := access.stat(directory)
+		if err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
+			_ = access.close()
+			return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "configuration root and import base must be directories", nil)}
+		}
+	}
 	mainInfo := cloneSourceInfo(*main.source)
 	if mainPath != "" {
 		mainInfo.Path = mainPath
 	}
+	mainKey := access.identity(mainPath)
+	if mainPath == "" {
+		mainKey = access.syntheticIdentity()
+	}
+	if previous, repeated := visited[mainKey]; repeated {
+		_ = access.close()
+		return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{importRepeatedDiagnostic(Location{SourceID: main.source.ID}, previous, importRoute{})}
+	}
+	accounting.sources++
+	accounting.bytes += main.bytes
+	accounting.nodes += countInputNodes(main.document)
 	state := importTraversal{
-		rootPath: rootPath, root: root, limits: limits, rule: rule,
+		access: access, accounting: accounting, limits: limits, rule: rule,
 		documents: make([]*document.Node, 0, 1),
 		sources:   []SourceInfo{mainInfo},
-		active:    make(map[string]int), visited: make(map[string]importRoute),
+		active:    make(map[resourceIdentity]int), visited: visited,
-		usedBytes: main.bytes, usedNodes: countInputNodes(main.document),
+	}
+	if state.visited == nil {
+		state.visited = make(map[resourceIdentity]importRoute)
 	}
 	if diagnostic := state.checkInitialLimits(); diagnostic != nil {
-		_ = root.Close()
+		_ = access.close()
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
 
@@ -89,8 +135,8 @@ func loadImportedDocuments(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parse
 		mainIdentity = "<selected-source>"
 	}
 	mainRoute := importRoute{canonical: mainIdentity}
-	state.active[mainIdentity] = 0
+	state.active[mainKey] = 0
-	state.visited[mainIdentity] = mainRoute
+	state.visited[mainKey] = mainRoute
 	state.stack = append(state.stack, mainRoute)
 	body, declarations, diagnostics := splitImportDirectives(main.document)
 	if len(diagnostics) == 0 {
@@ -98,7 +144,7 @@ func loadImportedDocuments(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parse
 		diagnostics = state.walkDeclarations(basePath, declarations, 0)
 	}
 
-	closeErr := root.Close()
+	closeErr := access.close()
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), diagnostics
 	}
@@ -107,22 +153,22 @@ func loadImportedDocuments(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parse
 	}
 	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(state.documents...)
 	if composed != nil {
-		composed.inputBytes = state.usedBytes
+		composed.inputBytes = accounting.bytes
-		composed.inputNodes = state.usedNodes
+		composed.inputNodes = accounting.nodes
 	}
 	return composed, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), diagnostics
 }
 
 func (s *importTraversal) checkInitialLimits() *Diagnostic {
-	if s.limits.sources < 1 {
+	if s.accounting.sources > s.limits.sources {
 		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source-count limit", nil)
 		return &value
 	}
-	if s.usedBytes > s.limits.bytes {
+	if s.accounting.bytes > s.limits.bytes {
 		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate byte limit", nil)
 		return &value
 	}
-	if s.usedNodes > s.limits.nodes {
+	if s.accounting.nodes > s.limits.nodes {
 		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", nil)
 		return &value
 	}
@@ -169,11 +215,11 @@ func (s *importTraversal) visitPath(basePath string, declaration importDeclarati
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportInvalid, "import path must be a nonempty slash-relative path without a network scheme", &location)}
 	}
 
-	candidate := filepath.Join(basePath, filepath.FromSlash(path.Clean(declaration.path)))
+	candidate := s.access.join(basePath, declaration.path)
-	if !containedPath(s.rootPath, filepath.Clean(candidate)) {
+	if !s.access.contains(candidate) {
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "import target is outside the configuration root", &location)}
 	}
-	canonical, err := canonicalExistingPath(candidate)
+	canonical, err := s.access.canonical(candidate)
 	if err != nil {
 		if declaration.optional && errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
 			return nil
@@ -187,30 +233,39 @@ func (s *importTraversal) visitPath(basePath string, declaration importDeclarati
 		}
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(code, message, &location)}
 	}
-	if !containedPath(s.rootPath, canonical) {
+	if !s.access.contains(canonical) {
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "import target resolves outside the configuration root", &location)}
 	}
 
 	currentRoute := s.currentRoute(location)
-	if activeIndex, ok := s.active[canonical]; ok {
+	identity := s.access.identity(canonical)
+	if activeIndex, ok := s.active[identity]; ok {
 		cycle := append([]importRoute(nil), s.stack[activeIndex:]...)
 		return []Diagnostic{importCycleDiagnostic(canonical, location, cycle)}
 	}
-	if previous, ok := s.visited[canonical]; ok {
+	if previous, ok := s.visited[identity]; ok {
 		return []Diagnostic{importRepeatedDiagnostic(location, previous, currentRoute)}
 	}
-	if len(s.sources)+1 > s.limits.sources {
+	if s.accounting.sources+1 > s.limits.sources {
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source-count limit", &location)}
 	}
 
-	relative, err := filepath.Rel(s.rootPath, canonical)
+	if _, err := s.access.relative(canonical); err != nil {
-	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) || relative == ".." || strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator)) {
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "import target could not be addressed inside the configuration root", &location)}
 	}
-	sourceID := "source-" + strconv.Itoa(len(s.sources)+1)
+	sourceID := "source-" + strconv.Itoa(s.accounting.sources+1)
-	info := SourceInfo{ID: sourceID, Label: declaration.path, Path: canonical, Layer: LayerBase, ImportedFrom: &location}
+	kind := SourceKindFile
+	label := declaration.path
+	if s.access.native != nil {
+		kind = SourceKindFilesystem
+		label = s.access.label + "/" + canonical
+	}
+	info := SourceInfo{ID: sourceID, Label: label, Path: canonical, Layer: LayerBase, Kind: kind, ImportedFrom: &location}
+	if kind == SourceKindFilesystem {
+		info.namespace = s.access.token
+	}
 	s.sources = append(s.sources, info)
-	data, skipped, diagnostic := s.readImport(relative, sourceID, declaration.optional)
+	data, skipped, diagnostic := s.readImport(canonical, sourceID, declaration.optional)
 	if diagnostic != nil {
 		return []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 	}
@@ -218,6 +273,7 @@ func (s *importTraversal) visitPath(basePath string, declaration importDeclarati
 		s.sources = s.sources[:len(s.sources)-1]
 		return nil
 	}
+	s.accounting.sources++
 
 	root, issues := yamladapter.Parse(bytes.NewReader(data), sourceID, yamladapter.Limits{
 		Depth: maxDocumentDepth, Nodes: maxDocumentNodes,
@@ -226,10 +282,10 @@ func (s *importTraversal) visitPath(basePath string, declaration importDeclarati
 		return parserDiagnostics(sourceID, issues)
 	}
 	nodeCount := countInputNodes(root)
-	if s.usedNodes+nodeCount > s.limits.nodes {
+	if s.accounting.nodes+nodeCount > s.limits.nodes {
 		return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", &location)}
 	}
-	s.usedNodes += nodeCount
+	s.accounting.nodes += nodeCount
 
 	body, declarations, diagnostics := splitImportDirectives(root)
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
@@ -245,22 +301,22 @@ func (s *importTraversal) visitPath(basePath string, declaration importDeclarati
 
 	route := importRoute{canonical: canonical, locations: currentRoute.locations}
 	s.documents = append(s.documents, body)
-	s.active[canonical] = len(s.stack)
+	s.active[identity] = len(s.stack)
-	s.visited[canonical] = route
+	s.visited[identity] = route
 	s.stack = append(s.stack, route)
-	diagnostics = s.walkDeclarations(filepath.Dir(canonical), declarations, depth)
+	diagnostics = s.walkDeclarations(s.access.dir(canonical), declarations, depth)
-	delete(s.active, canonical)
+	delete(s.active, identity)
 	s.stack = s.stack[:len(s.stack)-1]
 	return diagnostics
 }
 
-func (s *importTraversal) readImport(relative, sourceID string, optional bool) ([]byte, bool, *Diagnostic) {
+func (s *importTraversal) readImport(name, sourceID string, optional bool) ([]byte, bool, *Diagnostic) {
-	remaining := s.limits.bytes - s.usedBytes
+	remaining := s.limits.bytes - s.accounting.bytes
 	limit := min(int64(maxSourceBytes), remaining)
 	if limit < 0 {
 		limit = 0
 	}
-	data, failure := readRegularFile(relative, s.root.Stat, s.root.Open, limit)
+	data, failure := readRegularFile(name, s.access.stat, s.access.open, limit)
 	if failure != nil {
 		if optional && failure.missingTarget {
 			return nil, true, nil
@@ -268,7 +324,7 @@ func (s *importTraversal) readImport(relative, sourceID string, optional bool) (
 		value := sourceReadDiagnostic(failure, sourceID, CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds a source or aggregate byte limit")
 		return nil, false, &value
 	}
-	s.usedBytes += int64(len(data))
+	s.accounting.bytes += int64(len(data))
 	return data, false, nil
 }
 

internal/engine/inheritance.go

@@ -0,0 +1,313 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+const inheritanceKey = "extends"
+
+// These private records keep structural evidence separate from acquired source
+// records. Later inspection can project a transfer onto individual descendants.
+type inheritanceTransfer struct {
+	from      Path
+	to        Path
+	reference Path
+	locations []Location
+}
+
+type inheritanceControl struct {
+	path      Path
+	locations []Location
+	cancelled bool
+}
+
+type inheritanceScope struct {
+	root         *document.Node
+	origins      map[string]Origin
+	transfers    []inheritanceTransfer
+	controls     []inheritanceControl
+	replacements []inheritanceReplacement
+	operations   []inheritanceOperation
+}
+
+type inheritanceOperation struct {
+	control          *inheritanceControl
+	transfer         *inheritanceTransfer
+	controlOrigin    Origin
+	parent           *document.Node
+	effective        *document.Node
+	parentOrigins    map[string]Origin
+	effectiveOrigins map[string]Origin
+}
+
+// A replacement retains the displaced source/derivation record while the
+// effective origin belongs to the child. Value trees are borrowed immutable
+// inputs or detached templates and are budgeted with retained history later.
+type inheritanceReplacement struct {
+	path      Path
+	before    *document.Node
+	after     *document.Node
+	previous  []displacedDefinition
+	effective Origin
+}
+
+// A link represents one shared relationship edge. Each contributor retains
+// its original semantic path independently of source line/column coordinates.
+type inheritanceTrace struct {
+	previous *inheritanceTrace
+	transfer *inheritanceTransfer
+}
+
+type inheritanceContributor struct {
+	source   Path
+	location Location
+	trace    *inheritanceTrace
+}
+
+type siblingFrame struct {
+	name      string
+	parent    string
+	hasParent bool
+	entered   bool
+}
+
+// expandSiblingDefinitions resolves only the mappings directly in scope.
+// Nested instructions remain in the returned templates for destination-local
+// resolution. This private entry point does not participate in public loading.
+func expandSiblingDefinitions(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	return expandSiblingDefinitionsWithLimits(scope, scopePath, defaultProjectionLimits())
+}
+
+func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithLimits(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, limits projectionLimits) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	return expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope, scopePath, limits, nil)
+}
+
+func expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(scope *document.Node, scopePath Path, limits projectionLimits, inputOrigins map[string]Origin, budget ...*retainedNodeCounter) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	if scope == nil || scope.Kind != document.Mapping {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{{
+			Code: CodeInheritanceInvalid, Severity: SeverityError, Path: scopePath,
+			Message: "inheritance scope must be a mapping",
+		}}
+	}
+
+	byName := make(map[string]document.Entry, len(scope.Mapping))
+	names := make([]string, 0, len(scope.Mapping))
+	for _, entry := range scope.Mapping {
+		byName[entry.Key] = entry
+		names = append(names, entry.Key)
+	}
+	slices.Sort(names)
+
+	resolved := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(byName))
+	resolvedOrigins := make(map[string]map[string]Origin, len(byName))
+	state := make(map[string]uint8, len(byName))
+	result := &inheritanceScope{}
+	counter := newRetainedNodeCounter(historyNodeLimit)
+	if len(budget) != 0 {
+		counter = budget[0]
+	}
+	retained := 1 // scope mapping node
+	for _, entry := range scope.Mapping {
+		if entry.Value.Kind == document.Mapping {
+			continue
+		}
+		remaining := limits.nodes - retained - 1
+		if limits.nodes >= 0 && remaining < 0 {
+			return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(scopePath.Key(entry.Key), entry.Value.Location)}
+		}
+		count, within := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(entry.Value, remaining)
+		if !within {
+			return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(scopePath.Key(entry.Key), entry.Value.Location)}
+		}
+		retained += 1 + count // key and value subtree
+	}
+	for _, name := range names {
+		if byName[name].Value.Kind != document.Mapping || state[name] == 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+		stack := []siblingFrame{{name: name}}
+		for len(stack) != 0 {
+			frame := &stack[len(stack)-1]
+			entry := byName[frame.name]
+			path := scopePath.Key(frame.name)
+			if !frame.entered {
+				state[frame.name] = 1
+				frame.entered = true
+				reference, found := inheritanceDirective(entry.Value)
+				if found {
+					referencePath := path.Key(inheritanceKey)
+					location := publicLocation(reference.Value.Location)
+					result.controls = append(result.controls, inheritanceControl{
+						path: referencePath, locations: []Location{location},
+						cancelled: reference.Value.Kind == document.Null,
+					})
+					switch reference.Value.Kind {
+					case document.Null:
+					case document.String:
+						frame.parent, frame.hasParent = reference.Value.Text, true
+						parent, exists := byName[frame.parent]
+						if !exists {
+							return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceDiagnostic(CodeInheritanceMissing, referencePath, location, nil,
+								"referenced sibling does not exist")}
+						}
+						if parent.Value.Kind != document.Mapping {
+							related := []Location{publicLocation(parent.Value.Location)}
+							return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceDiagnostic(CodeInheritanceInvalid, referencePath, location, related,
+								"referenced sibling is not a mapping")}
+						}
+						if state[frame.parent] == 1 {
+							related := []Location{publicLocation(parent.Value.Location)}
+							return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceDiagnostic(CodeInheritanceCycle, referencePath, location, related,
+								"sibling inheritance contains a cycle")}
+						}
+						if state[frame.parent] == 0 {
+							stack = append(stack, siblingFrame{name: frame.parent})
+							continue
+						}
+					default:
+						return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceDiagnostic(CodeInheritanceInvalid, referencePath, location, nil,
+							"inheritance reference must be a sibling name or null")}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+
+			payload := withoutInheritanceDirective(entry.Value)
+			operationStart, replacementStart := len(result.operations), len(result.replacements)
+			childOrigins := directInheritanceOrigins(payload, path, inputOrigins)
+			if reference, found := inheritanceDirective(entry.Value); found {
+				control := inheritanceControl{
+					path:      path.Key(inheritanceKey),
+					locations: []Location{publicLocation(reference.Value.Location)},
+					cancelled: reference.Value.Kind == document.Null,
+				}
+				controlOrigins := directInheritanceOrigins(reference.Value, control.path, inputOrigins)
+				result.operations = append(result.operations, inheritanceOperation{
+					control: &control, controlOrigin: controlOrigins[control.path.String()],
+				})
+			}
+			if limits.nodes >= 0 {
+				remaining := limits.nodes - retained - 1 // the sibling key
+				within := false
+				if frame.hasParent {
+					within = inheritanceOverlayLowerBoundWithin(resolved[frame.parent], payload, remaining)
+				} else {
+					within = inheritanceLowerBoundWithin(payload, remaining)
+				}
+				if !within {
+					return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(path, entry.Value.Location)}
+				}
+			}
+			if frame.hasParent {
+				parent := resolved[frame.parent]
+				merged := document.Clone(parent)
+				control := inheritanceDirectiveLocation(entry.Value)
+				transfer := inheritanceTransfer{
+					from: scopePath.Key(frame.parent), to: path,
+					reference: path.Key(inheritanceKey), locations: []Location{control},
+				}
+				mergedOrigins := transferredInheritanceOrigins(resolvedOrigins[frame.parent], transfer.from, path, transfer)
+				mergeInheritanceOrigin(mergedOrigins, path, childOrigins[path.String()])
+				mergeRecursiveMappings(merged, payload, path, new(mappingIndex), recursiveMergeHooks{
+					added: func(childPath Path, incoming *document.Node) {
+						copyInheritanceSubtree(mergedOrigins, childOrigins, incoming, childPath)
+					},
+					combined: func(childPath Path, _ *document.Node) {
+						mergeInheritanceOrigin(mergedOrigins, childPath, childOrigins[childPath.String()])
+					},
+					replaced: func(childPath Path, existing, incoming *document.Node) {
+						previous := displacedOrigins(existing, mergedOrigins, childPath)
+						result.replacements = append(result.replacements, inheritanceReplacement{
+							path: childPath.clone(), before: existing, after: incoming,
+							previous: previous, effective: cloneOrigin(childOrigins[childPath.String()]),
+						})
+						deleteOriginSubtree(mergedOrigins, childPath, existing)
+						copyInheritanceSubtree(mergedOrigins, childOrigins, incoming, childPath)
+					},
+				})
+				merged.Location = entry.Value.Location
+				resolved[frame.name] = merged
+				resolvedOrigins[frame.name] = mergedOrigins
+				result.transfers = append(result.transfers, transfer)
+				result.operations = append(result.operations, inheritanceOperation{
+					transfer: &transfer, parent: parent, effective: merged,
+					parentOrigins: resolvedOrigins[frame.parent], effectiveOrigins: mergedOrigins,
+				})
+			} else {
+				resolved[frame.name] = document.Clone(payload)
+				resolvedOrigins[frame.name] = childOrigins
+			}
+			count, _ := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(resolved[frame.name], limits.nodes)
+			retained += 1 + count
+			for _, operation := range result.operations[operationStart:] {
+				if !counter.add(operation.parent) || !counter.add(operation.effective) {
+					return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceHistoryBudgetDiagnostic(path, entry.Value.Location)}
+				}
+			}
+			for _, replacement := range result.replacements[replacementStart:] {
+				if !counter.add(replacement.before) || !counter.add(replacement.after) {
+					return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceHistoryBudgetDiagnostic(path, entry.Value.Location)}
+				}
+			}
+			state[frame.name] = 2
+			stack = stack[:len(stack)-1]
+		}
+	}
+
+	root := *scope
+	root.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, len(scope.Mapping))
+	rootOrigin := directInheritanceOrigins(&document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: scope.Location}, scopePath, inputOrigins)
+	result.origins = rootOrigin
+	for index, entry := range scope.Mapping {
+		root.Mapping[index] = entry
+		if resolved[entry.Key] != nil {
+			root.Mapping[index].Value = resolved[entry.Key]
+			for pointer, origin := range resolvedOrigins[entry.Key] {
+				result.origins[pointer] = origin
+			}
+		} else {
+			root.Mapping[index].Value = document.Clone(entry.Value)
+			for pointer, origin := range directInheritanceOrigins(entry.Value, scopePath.Key(entry.Key), inputOrigins) {
+				result.origins[pointer] = origin
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	result.root = &root
+	if !inheritanceLowerBoundWithin(result.root, limits.nodes) {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(scopePath, scope.Location)}
+	}
+	return result, nil
+}
+
+func inheritanceDirective(node *document.Node) (document.Entry, bool) {
+	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		if entry.Key == inheritanceKey {
+			return entry, true
+		}
+	}
+	return document.Entry{}, false
+}
+
+func inheritanceDirectiveLocation(node *document.Node) Location {
+	entry, _ := inheritanceDirective(node)
+	return publicLocation(entry.Value.Location)
+}
+
+func withoutInheritanceDirective(node *document.Node) *document.Node {
+	payload := *node
+	payload.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, 0, len(node.Mapping))
+	for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		if entry.Key != inheritanceKey {
+			payload.Mapping = append(payload.Mapping, entry)
+		}
+	}
+	return &payload
+}
+
+func inheritanceDiagnostic(code Code, path Path, primary Location, related []Location, message string) Diagnostic {
+	return Diagnostic{
+		Code: code, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path, Message: message,
+		Primary: &primary, Related: related,
+	}
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_bench_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkInheritanceExpansion(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, shape := range []string{"chain", "wide", "nested", "replacement"} {
+		for _, size := range []int{16, 32, 64} {
+			b.Run(shape+"/"+strconv.Itoa(size), func(b *testing.B) {
+				input := inheritanceBenchmarkInput(shape, size)
+				b.ReportAllocs()
+				b.ResetTimer()
+				for range b.N {
+					if _, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(input, nil, defaultProjectionLimits()); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+						b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+					}
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkInheritanceInspectedLoad(b *testing.B) {
+	type entry struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	type configuration struct {
+		Entries map[string]entry `yaml:"entries"`
+	}
+	for _, size := range []int{16, 32, 64} {
+		b.Run(strconv.Itoa(size), func(b *testing.B) {
+			var input strings.Builder
+			input.WriteString("entries:\n  item-0: {value: base}\n")
+			for index := 1; index <= size; index++ {
+				input.WriteString("  item-")
+				input.WriteString(strconv.Itoa(index))
+				input.WriteString(": {extends: item-0}\n")
+			}
+			source := Bytes("inheritance-benchmark", []byte(input.String()))
+			query := Keys("entries", "item-"+strconv.Itoa(size), "value")
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				loaded, err := Load[configuration](source, testSecretBinding())
+				if err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+				if _, found := loaded.Inspection.Explain(query); !found {
+					b.Fatal("inherited value is not explainable")
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// Each scope has constant-sized output and evidence. This distinguishes budget
+// accounting overhead from legitimate growth in expanded parent payloads.
+func BenchmarkInheritanceIndependentScopes(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, size := range []int{256, 512, 1024} {
+		b.Run(strconv.Itoa(size), func(b *testing.B) {
+			input := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping}
+			for index := 0; index < size; index++ {
+				input.Mapping = append(input.Mapping, document.Entry{
+					Key: strconv.Itoa(index), Value: inheritanceBenchmarkInput("wide", 1),
+				})
+			}
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for range b.N {
+				if _, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, defaultProjectionLimits()); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+					b.Fatal(diagnostics)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func inheritanceBenchmarkInput(shape string, size int) *document.Node {
+	value := func(text string) *document.Node { return &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: text} }
+	mapping := func(entries ...document.Entry) *document.Node {
+		return &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Mapping: entries}
+	}
+	entry := func(key string, node *document.Node) document.Entry { return document.Entry{Key: key, Value: node} }
+	base := mapping(entry("value", value("base")), entry("settings", mapping(entry("enabled", &document.Node{Kind: document.Boolean, Text: "false"}))))
+	if shape == "nested" {
+		base = mapping(entry("settings", mapping(entry("first", mapping(entry("value", value("base")))), entry("second", mapping(entry("extends", value("first")))))))
+	}
+	definitions := make([]document.Entry, 0, size+1)
+	definitions = append(definitions, entry("item-0", base))
+	for index := 1; index <= size; index++ {
+		parent := "item-0"
+		if shape == "chain" {
+			parent = "item-" + strconv.Itoa(index-1)
+		}
+		payload := []document.Entry{entry("extends", value(parent))}
+		if shape == "nested" {
+			payload = append(payload, entry("settings", mapping(entry("first", mapping(entry("value", value("custom")))))))
+		}
+		if shape == "replacement" {
+			payload = append(payload, entry("value", value("replacement")))
+		}
+		definitions = append(definitions, entry("item-"+strconv.Itoa(index), mapping(payload...)))
+	}
+	return mapping(entry("entries", mapping(definitions...)))
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_explain.go

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package engine
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+
+func appendInheritanceExplanation(explanation *Explanation, working **document.Node, query Path, operations []inheritanceOperation, secrets map[string]bool) {
+	for _, operation := range operations {
+		changes := projectedInheritanceChanges(query, operation)
+		if operation.control != nil {
+			if !pathsIntersect(operation.control.path, query) {
+				continue
+			}
+			before := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+			replaceHistoryPath(working, operation.control.path, nil)
+			after := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+			if len(changes) != 0 {
+				explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
+					Before: before, After: after, Origin: cloneOrigin(changes[0].Origin),
+					Dependencies: clonePaths(changes[0].Dependencies),
+				})
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if operation.transfer == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		before := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+		replaceHistoryPath(working, operation.transfer.to, operation.parent)
+		afterParent := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+		parent, parentPresent := transferredOperationOrigin(operation, operationPathForQuery(operation.transfer.to, query))
+		if pathsIntersect(operation.transfer.to, query) && parentPresent {
+			parent.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+			parent.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(parent)
+			explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
+				Before: before, After: afterParent, Origin: parent,
+				Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.from.clone(), operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+			})
+		}
+		replaceHistoryPath(working, operation.transfer.to, operation.effective)
+		if !pathsIntersect(operation.transfer.to, query) {
+			continue
+		}
+		afterChild := valueSnapshot(*working, query, secrets)
+		if len(changes) != 0 {
+			last := changes[len(changes)-1]
+			if !parentPresent || len(changes) > 1 {
+				explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
+					Before: afterParent, After: afterChild, Origin: cloneOrigin(last.Origin),
+					Dependencies: clonePaths(last.Dependencies),
+				})
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func operationPathForQuery(root, query Path) Path {
+	if pathContains(query, root) {
+		return root
+	}
+	return query
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_history.go

@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type inheritanceHistoryIndex struct {
+	paths pathPrefixIndex
+}
+
+func newInheritanceHistoryIndex(operations []inheritanceOperation) *inheritanceHistoryIndex {
+	if len(operations) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	index := &inheritanceHistoryIndex{}
+	for operationID, operation := range operations {
+		if operation.control != nil {
+			index.paths.insert(operation.control.path.String(), operationID)
+			continue
+		}
+		if operation.transfer != nil {
+			index.paths.insert(operation.transfer.to.String(), operationID)
+		}
+	}
+	return index
+}
+
+func (index *inheritanceHistoryIndex) matchingOperations(path Path, operations []inheritanceOperation) []inheritanceOperation {
+	if index == nil {
+		return operations
+	}
+	var ids []int
+	seen := make(map[int]struct{})
+	collect := func(id int) {
+		if _, found := seen[id]; found {
+			return
+		}
+		seen[id] = struct{}{}
+		ids = append(ids, id)
+	}
+	pointer := path.String()
+	index.paths.visitAncestors(pointer, collect)
+	index.paths.visitDescendants(pointer, collect)
+	sort.Ints(ids)
+	matching := make([]inheritanceOperation, 0, len(ids))
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		if id >= 0 && id < len(operations) {
+			matching = append(matching, operations[id])
+		}
+	}
+	return matching
+}
+
+// Retain source history at original paths. Structural operations are held once
+// per relationship and projected onto a requested destination path only when
+// History or Explain is queried.
+func applyInheritanceMetadata(metadata *Metadata, raw *document.Node, rawOrigins map[string]Origin, overlays []overlayRecord, expansion *inheritanceScope) {
+	if metadata == nil || expansion == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	sourceView := Metadata{
+		fields:  make(map[string]FieldInfo),
+		history: metadata.history,
+	}
+	walkDocument(raw, Path{}, func(path Path, node *document.Node) {
+		origin, found := rawOrigins[path.String()]
+		if !found {
+			origin = Origin{Layer: LayerBase, Locations: []Location{publicLocation(node.Location)}}
+		}
+		sourceView.fields[path.String()] = FieldInfo{Explicit: true, Null: node.Kind == document.Null, Origin: cloneOrigin(origin)}
+	})
+	applyOverlayMetadata(&sourceView, overlays)
+	metadata.history = sourceView.history
+	metadata.inheritance = append([]inheritanceOperation(nil), expansion.operations...)
+}
+
+func historyWithInheritance(path Path, stored []Change, operations []inheritanceOperation) []Change {
+	split := len(stored)
+	for index, change := range stored {
+		if change.Origin.Layer == LayerResolution {
+			split = index
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	history := cloneChanges(stored[:split])
+	for _, operation := range operations {
+		for _, change := range projectedInheritanceChanges(path, operation) {
+			if len(history) != 0 {
+				change.Previous = []Origin{cloneOrigin(history[len(history)-1].Origin)}
+			}
+			history = append(history, change)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, change := range stored[split:] {
+		cloned := cloneChange(change)
+		if len(history) != 0 {
+			cloned.Previous = []Origin{cloneOrigin(history[len(history)-1].Origin)}
+		}
+		history = append(history, cloned)
+	}
+	return history
+}
+
+func projectedInheritanceChanges(query Path, operation inheritanceOperation) []Change {
+	if operation.control != nil {
+		if !pathsIntersect(operation.control.path, query) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		origin := cloneOrigin(operation.controlOrigin)
+		origin.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+		origin.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(origin)
+		return []Change{{Path: operation.control.path.clone(), Origin: origin,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.control.path.clone()}}}
+	}
+	if operation.transfer == nil || !pathsIntersect(operation.transfer.to, query) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	path := query
+	if pathContains(query, operation.transfer.to) {
+		path = operation.transfer.to
+	}
+	var changes []Change
+	parent, parentFound := transferredOperationOrigin(operation, path)
+	if parentFound {
+		parent.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+		parent.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(parent)
+		changes = append(changes, Change{
+			Path: path.clone(), Origin: parent,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.from.clone(), operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+		})
+	}
+	effective, effectiveFound := operation.effectiveOrigins[path.String()]
+	if effectiveFound {
+		effective = cloneOrigin(effective)
+		effective.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+	}
+	if effectiveFound && (!parentFound || !originContainedBy(effective, parent)) {
+		effective.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(effective)
+		changes = append(changes, Change{
+			Path: path.clone(), Origin: effective,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+		})
+	} else if parentFound && !effectiveFound {
+		removed := cloneOrigin(operation.effectiveOrigins[operation.transfer.to.String()])
+		removed.Operation = ChangeInheritance
+		removed.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(removed)
+		changes = append(changes, Change{
+			Path: operation.transfer.to.clone(), Origin: removed,
+			Dependencies: []Path{operation.transfer.reference.clone()},
+		})
+	}
+	return changes
+}
+
+func transferredOperationOrigin(operation inheritanceOperation, destination Path) (Origin, bool) {
+	relative, ok := relativeHistoryPath(operation.transfer.to, destination)
+	if !ok {
+		return Origin{}, false
+	}
+	source := appendInheritancePath(operation.transfer.from, relative)
+	origin, found := operation.parentOrigins[source.String()]
+	if !found {
+		return Origin{}, false
+	}
+	transferred := transferredInheritanceOrigins(map[string]Origin{source.String(): origin},
+		operation.transfer.from, operation.transfer.to, *operation.transfer)
+	return transferred[destination.String()], true
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_history_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,410 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceHistoryRetainsUnresolvedTemplates(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `presets:
+  base:
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 10}
+      secondary: {extends: primary}
+  custom:
+    extends: base
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 20}
+  grandchild:
+    extends: custom
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 30}
+`
+	loaded, err := Load[map[string]any](Bytes("nested", []byte(input)), testSecretBinding())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for name, width := range map[string]string{"custom": "20", "grandchild": "30"} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			root := Keys("presets", name)
+			value, _ := loaded.Inspection.Explain(root.Key("settings").Key("secondary").Key("width"))
+			introduced := false
+			for _, change := range value.History {
+				if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance && !change.Before.Present && change.After.YAML == width+"\n" {
+					introduced = true
+				}
+			}
+			if !introduced || value.Effective.YAML != width+"\n" {
+				t.Fatalf("missing nested introduction: %#v", value)
+			}
+			controlPath := root.Key("settings").Key("secondary").Key("extends")
+			control, _ := loaded.Inspection.Explain(controlPath)
+			arrived, consumed := false, false
+			for _, change := range control.History {
+				arrived = arrived || change.After.YAML == "primary\n"
+				consumed = consumed || (change.Before.YAML == "primary\n" && !change.After.Present)
+			}
+			if !arrived || !consumed || control.Effective.Present {
+				t.Fatalf("missing control history: %#v", control)
+			}
+			container, _ := loaded.Inspection.Explain(root)
+			unresolved := false
+			for _, change := range container.History {
+				if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance && strings.Contains(change.After.YAML, "extends: primary") {
+					unresolved = true
+				}
+			}
+			if !unresolved || strings.Contains(container.Effective.YAML, "extends:") {
+				t.Fatalf("invalid enclosing snapshot: %#v", container)
+			}
+			if _, present := loaded.Inspection.Metadata().Lookup(controlPath); present {
+				t.Fatal("control is effective")
+			}
+			if len(loaded.Inspection.Metadata().History(controlPath)) != len(control.History) {
+				t.Fatal("metadata and explanation disagree")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceHistoryInsideSequence(t *testing.T) {
+	input := `base:
+  items:
+    - first: {value: inherited}
+      second: {extends: first}
+child: {extends: base}
+`
+	loaded, err := Load[map[string]any](Bytes("sequence", []byte(input)), testSecretBinding())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	path := Keys("child", "items").Index(0).Key("second")
+	control, _ := loaded.Inspection.Explain(path.Key("extends"))
+	consumed := false
+	for _, change := range control.History {
+		consumed = consumed || (change.Before.YAML == "first\n" && !change.After.Present)
+	}
+	if !consumed || control.Effective.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence control history = %#v", control)
+	}
+	value, _ := loaded.Inspection.Explain(path.Key("value"))
+	introduced := false
+	for _, change := range value.History {
+		introduced = introduced || (!change.Before.Present && change.After.YAML == "inherited\n")
+	}
+	if !introduced || value.Effective.YAML != "inherited\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence value history = %#v", value)
+	}
+}
+
+func inheritanceInspectionForTest(t *testing.T, sources ...*document.Node) (*Inspection, *inheritanceScope) {
+	t.Helper()
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(sources...)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	return inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, composed)
+}
+
+func inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t *testing.T, composed *composedDocument) (*Inspection, *inheritanceScope) {
+	t.Helper()
+	expanded, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(composed.root, composed.origins, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	baseline := &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping}
+	presence := make(map[string]inputPresence)
+	collectPresence(expanded.root, Path{}, presence)
+	decoded := decodedConfiguration{
+		baseline: baseline, final: expanded.root, presence: presence, origins: expanded.origins,
+	}
+	metadata := metadataFromDecoded(decoded)
+	applyInheritanceMetadata(&metadata, composed.root, composed.origins, composed.overlays, expanded)
+	finalizeMetadataPaths(&metadata, expanded.root, composed.applications, baseline, composed.root)
+	return &Inspection{
+		metadata: metadata, baseline: baseline, input: expanded.root,
+		inputOrigins: expanded.origins, final: expanded.root,
+		applications: composed.applications, inheritance: expanded.operations,
+	}, expanded
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryFollowsFinalParentAfterSourceOverlay(t *testing.T) {
+	base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: original}\nchild: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(base)
+	if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "parent: {value: latest}\n"), nil, nil, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, assembly.current)
+	path := Keys("child", "value")
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "latest\n" ||
+		len(explanation.History) == 0 || explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" {
+		t.Fatalf("overlaid parent contribution = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	parentHistory := inspection.Metadata().History(Keys("parent", "value"))
+	if len(parentHistory) < 2 || parentHistory[0].Origin.Layer != LayerBase ||
+		parentHistory[len(parentHistory)-1].Origin.Layer != LayerOverlay {
+		t.Fatalf("parent source history = %#v", parentHistory)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryPreservesCancellationAndSupersededDirective(t *testing.T) {
+	base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: one}\nchild: {extends: missing, value: own}\n"))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(base)
+	if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: null}\n"), nil, nil, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, assembly.current)
+	control := Keys("child", inheritanceKey)
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(control)
+	if len(history) < 3 || history[0].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		history[1].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" ||
+		history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("superseded and cancelled directive history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(control)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.Present || len(explanation.History) < 3 ||
+		explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].After.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled directive explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	value, found := inspection.Explain(Keys("child", "value"))
+	if !found || value.Effective.YAML != "own\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("cancelled relationship changed own value = %#v, %v", value, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryProjectsNestedDestinationValues(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t, parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `base:
+  settings:
+    primary: {value: old}
+    secondary: {extends: primary}
+custom:
+  extends: base
+  settings:
+    primary: {value: new}
+`))
+	path := Keys("custom", "settings", "secondary", "value")
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	structural := 0
+	for _, change := range history {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			structural++
+		}
+	}
+	if structural == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("nested destination history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "new\n" ||
+		len(explanation.Origin.Inheritance) == 0 ||
+		explanation.Origin.Inheritance[len(explanation.Origin.Inheritance)-1].To.String() != path.String() {
+		t.Fatalf("nested destination explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeDecoding {
+			t.Fatalf("nested inheritance was attributed to decoding: %#v", explanation.History)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryShowsParentAndEqualChildContribution(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: same}\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: parent, value: same}\n"))
+	path := Keys("child", "value")
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	var structural []Change
+	for _, change := range history {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			structural = append(structural, change)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(structural) != 2 || structural[0].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		structural[1].Origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" ||
+		len(structural[0].Dependencies) != 2 || structural[0].Dependencies[0].String() != "/parent" ||
+		len(structural[0].Origin.Inheritance) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("equal-valued structural history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "same\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	var equalEvents int
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeDecoding {
+			t.Fatalf("inheritance was attributed to decoding: %#v", explanation.History)
+		}
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance && change.Before.YAML == change.After.YAML {
+			equalEvents++
+		}
+	}
+	if equalEvents != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("equal parent and child operations = %#v", explanation.History)
+	}
+	parentHistory := inspection.Metadata().History(Keys("parent", "value"))
+	for _, change := range parentHistory {
+		if change.Origin.Operation == ChangeInheritance {
+			t.Fatalf("source definition acquired a destination operation: %#v", parentHistory)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryRetainsControlsAndDisplacedPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {branch: {detail: inherited}}\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: parent, branch: replaced}\n"))
+	control := Keys("child", inheritanceKey)
+	controlHistory := inspection.Metadata().History(control)
+	if len(controlHistory) < 2 || controlHistory[len(controlHistory)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("control history = %#v", controlHistory)
+	}
+	controlExplanation, found := inspection.Explain(control)
+	if !found || controlExplanation.Effective.Present ||
+		controlExplanation.History[len(controlExplanation.History)-1].After.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("consumed control = %#v, %v", controlExplanation, found)
+	}
+	path := Keys("child", "branch", "detail")
+	if _, found := inspection.Metadata().Lookup(path); found {
+		t.Fatal("displaced descendant remained effective")
+	}
+	listed := false
+	for _, historical := range inspection.Metadata().HistoricalPaths() {
+		if historical.String() == path.String() {
+			listed = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !listed {
+		t.Fatal("displaced inherited descendant was not enumerable")
+	}
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	if len(history) < 2 || history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced descendant history = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced descendant explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	var sawInherited, sawRemoval bool
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance {
+			continue
+		}
+		sawInherited = sawInherited || change.After.Present
+		sawRemoval = sawRemoval || (change.Before.Present && !change.After.Present)
+	}
+	if !sawInherited || !sawRemoval {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced value sequence = %#v", explanation.History)
+	}
+	var rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := inspection.WriteExplanation(&rendered, path); err != nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(rendered.String(), "structural inheritance") {
+		t.Fatalf("rendered structural explanation = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIndexedInheritanceHistoryMatchesOperationScan(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {branch: {detail: inherited, retained: present}}\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "child: {extends: parent, branch: replaced}\n"),
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-3", "sibling: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	metadata := inspection.Metadata()
+	if len(metadata.inheritance) < 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("inheritance operations = %d, want multiple control and transfer scopes", len(metadata.inheritance))
+	}
+	queries := []Path{
+		Keys("child"),
+		Keys("child", inheritanceKey),
+		Keys("child", "branch", "detail"),
+		Keys("child", "branch"),
+		Keys("sibling", "branch", "detail"),
+		Path{},
+	}
+	for _, path := range queries {
+		if !metadata.hasHistoricalPath(path) {
+			continue
+		}
+		stored := metadata.history[path.String()]
+		want := historyWithInheritance(path, stored, metadata.inheritance)
+		if got := metadata.History(path); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("indexed history for %s differs from operation scan:\n got: %#v\nwant: %#v", path, got, want)
+		}
+		unprepared := Metadata{history: metadata.history, historicalPaths: metadata.historicalPaths, inheritance: metadata.inheritance}
+		if got := unprepared.History(path); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("unprepared history for %s differs from operation scan:\n got: %#v\nwant: %#v", path, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	removed := Keys("child", "branch", "detail")
+	first := metadata.History(removed)
+	if len(first) == 0 || len(first[0].Path.segments) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("removed-path history = %#v", first)
+	}
+	first[0].Path.segments[0].key = "mutated"
+	second := cloneMetadata(metadata).History(removed)
+	want := historyWithInheritance(removed, metadata.history[removed.String()], metadata.inheritance)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(second, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("returned history mutation affected a repeated or cloned query:\n got: %#v\nwant: %#v", second, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceHistoryPrecedesApplicationResolution(t *testing.T) {
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t,
+		parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: original}\nchild: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	path := Keys("child", "value")
+	replacement := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "derived"}
+	snapshot := resolutionSnapshot{
+		change: Change{Path: path, Origin: Origin{Layer: LayerResolution, Operation: ChangeNormalization}},
+		after:  replacement,
+	}
+	final := document.Clone(inspection.final)
+	replaceHistoryPath(&final, path, replacement)
+	inspection.final = final
+	inspection.resolution = []resolutionSnapshot{snapshot}
+	inspection.resolutionReplay = coalescedResolutionSnapshots(inspection.resolution)
+	inspection.metadata.history[path.String()] = append(inspection.metadata.history[path.String()], snapshot.change)
+	inspection.metadata.fields[path.String()] = FieldInfo{Explicit: true, Origin: snapshot.change.Origin}
+	history := inspection.Metadata().History(path)
+	if len(history) < 2 || history[len(history)-2].Origin.Operation != ChangeInheritance ||
+		history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeNormalization {
+		t.Fatalf("resolution order = %#v", history)
+	}
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.YAML != "derived\n" ||
+		explanation.History[len(explanation.History)-1].Origin.Operation != ChangeNormalization {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHistoryNodeBudgetCountsSharedInheritanceEvidenceOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	shared := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "shared"}
+	extra := &document.Node{Kind: document.String, Text: "extra"}
+	expansion := &inheritanceScope{
+		root:         shared,
+		operations:   []inheritanceOperation{{parent: shared, effective: shared}},
+		replacements: []inheritanceReplacement{{before: shared, after: extra}},
+	}
+	if !historyNodesWithin(2, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, expansion) ||
+		historyNodesWithin(1, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, expansion) {
+		t.Fatal("shared evidence node accounting is incorrect")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceExpansionEnforcesRetainedHistoryBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {value: original}\nchild: {extends: parent, value: replacement}\n")
+	if _, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input, nil, defaultProjectionLimits(), 2); len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeExplainLimitExceeded {
+		t.Fatalf("retained history limit = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+	if _, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input, nil, defaultProjectionLimits(), 100); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("sufficient retained history budget = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_load.go

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package engine
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+
+func containsInheritanceDirective(root *document.Node) bool {
+	var visit func(*document.Node) bool
+	visit = func(node *document.Node) bool {
+		if node == nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		switch node.Kind {
+		case document.Mapping:
+			for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+				if entry.Key == inheritanceKey || visit(entry.Value) {
+					return true
+				}
+			}
+		case document.Sequence:
+			for _, child := range node.Sequence {
+				if visit(child) {
+					return true
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	return visit(root)
+}
+
+func inheritanceVersionDiagnostic(rule *VersionRule, expanded *inheritanceScope) *Diagnostic {
+	if rule == nil || expanded == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for _, operation := range expanded.operations {
+		var location Location
+		var affected bool
+		if operation.control != nil {
+			affected = pathsIntersect(operation.control.path, rule.Path)
+			if len(operation.control.locations) != 0 {
+				location = operation.control.locations[0]
+			}
+		} else if operation.transfer != nil {
+			if relative, within := relativeHistoryPath(operation.transfer.to, rule.Path); within {
+				_, affected = documentAtPath(operation.parent, relative)
+			} else if pathContains(rule.Path, operation.transfer.to) {
+				affected = true
+			}
+			if len(operation.transfer.locations) != 0 {
+				location = operation.transfer.locations[0]
+			}
+		}
+		if affected {
+			return &Diagnostic{
+				Code: CodeInheritanceVersion, Severity: SeverityError, Path: rule.Path.clone(),
+				Message: "inheritance cannot change the schema-version path", Primary: &location,
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func inheritanceOperations(expanded *inheritanceScope) []inheritanceOperation {
+	if expanded == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return expanded.operations
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_origin.go

@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func directInheritanceOrigins(node *document.Node, root Path, input map[string]Origin) map[string]Origin {
+	result := make(map[string]Origin)
+	walkDocument(node, root, func(path Path, value *document.Node) {
+		origin, found := input[path.String()]
+		if !found {
+			origin = Origin{Layer: LayerBase, Locations: []Location{publicLocation(value.Location)}}
+		}
+		origin = cloneOrigin(origin)
+		if len(origin.contributors) == 0 {
+			origin.contributors = make([]inheritanceContributor, len(origin.Locations))
+			for index, location := range origin.Locations {
+				origin.contributors[index] = inheritanceContributor{
+					source: path.clone(), location: location,
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		result[path.String()] = origin
+	})
+	return result
+}
+
+func transferredInheritanceOrigins(parent map[string]Origin, from, to Path, control inheritanceTransfer) map[string]Origin {
+	result := make(map[string]Origin, len(parent))
+	transfer := control // one immutable edge shared by every matching contributor
+	links := make(map[*inheritanceTrace]*inheritanceTrace)
+	for pointer, origin := range parent {
+		path, err := ParsePath(pointer)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		relative, ok := relativeHistoryPath(from, path)
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		destination := appendInheritancePath(to, relative)
+		origin = cloneOrigin(origin)
+		for index, contributor := range origin.contributors {
+			link, found := links[contributor.trace]
+			if !found {
+				link = &inheritanceTrace{previous: contributor.trace, transfer: &transfer}
+				links[contributor.trace] = link
+			}
+			origin.contributors[index].trace = link
+		}
+		result[destination.String()] = origin
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+func appendInheritancePath(root, relative Path) Path {
+	return Path{segments: append(clonePathSegments(root.segments, len(relative.segments)), relative.segments...)}
+}
+
+func mergeInheritanceOrigin(origins map[string]Origin, path Path, incoming Origin) {
+	pointer := path.String()
+	current := origins[pointer]
+	current.Layer = incoming.Layer
+	current.Locations = append(current.Locations, incoming.Locations...)
+	current.contributors = append(current.contributors, incoming.contributors...)
+	origins[pointer] = current
+}
+
+func copyInheritanceSubtree(target, incoming map[string]Origin, node *document.Node, root Path) {
+	walkDocument(node, root, func(path Path, _ *document.Node) {
+		target[path.String()] = cloneOrigin(incoming[path.String()])
+	})
+}
+
+type inheritanceStepKey struct {
+	from      string
+	to        string
+	reference string
+	locations string
+}
+
+func inheritanceStepKeyForPaths(from, to, reference Path, locations []Location) inheritanceStepKey {
+	return inheritanceStepKey{
+		from: from.String(), to: to.String(), reference: reference.String(),
+		locations: inheritanceLocationsKey(locations),
+	}
+}
+
+func inheritanceLocationsKey(locations []Location) string {
+	encoded := strconv.AppendInt(nil, int64(len(locations)), 10)
+	encoded = append(encoded, ';')
+	for _, location := range locations {
+		encoded = strconv.AppendInt(encoded, int64(len(location.SourceID)), 10)
+		encoded = append(encoded, ':')
+		encoded = append(encoded, location.SourceID...)
+		encoded = append(encoded, ';')
+		encoded = strconv.AppendInt(encoded, int64(location.Line), 10)
+		encoded = append(encoded, ';')
+		encoded = strconv.AppendInt(encoded, int64(location.Column), 10)
+		encoded = append(encoded, ';')
+	}
+	return string(encoded)
+}
+
+// Materialize concrete steps only for an inspection record. The linked private
+// traces remain compact when one parent supplies many descendant values.
+func projectInheritanceSteps(origin Origin) []InheritanceStep {
+	steps := cloneInheritanceSteps(origin.Inheritance)
+	seen := make(map[inheritanceStepKey]struct{}, len(steps))
+	for _, step := range steps {
+		seen[inheritanceStepKeyForPaths(step.From, step.To, step.Reference, step.Locations)] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	for _, contributor := range origin.contributors {
+		var reverse []*inheritanceTrace
+		for link := contributor.trace; link != nil; link = link.previous {
+			reverse = append(reverse, link)
+		}
+		current := contributor.source
+		for index := len(reverse) - 1; index >= 0; index-- {
+			transfer := reverse[index].transfer
+			relative, ok := relativeHistoryPath(transfer.from, current)
+			if !ok {
+				continue
+			}
+			next := appendInheritancePath(transfer.to, relative)
+			key := inheritanceStepKeyForPaths(current, next, transfer.reference, transfer.locations)
+			if _, found := seen[key]; !found {
+				seen[key] = struct{}{}
+				steps = append(steps, InheritanceStep{
+					From: current.clone(), To: next.clone(), Reference: transfer.reference.clone(),
+					Locations: cloneLocations(transfer.locations),
+				})
+			}
+			current = next
+		}
+	}
+	return steps
+}
+
+func sameInheritanceTrace(left, right *inheritanceTrace) bool {
+	for left != nil && right != nil {
+		if left == right {
+			return true
+		}
+		l, r := left.transfer, right.transfer
+		if !slices.Equal(l.from.segments, r.from.segments) ||
+			!slices.Equal(l.to.segments, r.to.segments) ||
+			!slices.Equal(l.reference.segments, r.reference.segments) ||
+			!slices.Equal(l.locations, r.locations) {
+			return false
+		}
+		left, right = left.previous, right.previous
+	}
+	return left == nil && right == nil
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_origin_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,302 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"io/fs"
+	"reflect"
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestInheritedOriginsKeepSourcePathsPresenceAndIndependentReplacement(t *testing.T) {
+	parent := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `parent:
+  enabled: false
+  count: 0
+  optional: null
+  items: [{file: message.txt}]
+  settings: {shared: parent}
+`)
+	child := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", `child:
+  extends: parent
+  count: 3
+  settings: {own: child}
+`)
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(parent, child)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(composed.root, composed.origins, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	for _, key := range []string{"enabled", "optional"} {
+		path := Keys("child", key)
+		value, found := documentAtPath(result.root, path)
+		origin, hasOrigin := result.origins[path.String()]
+		if !found || !hasOrigin || value == nil || len(origin.Locations) != 1 || origin.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+			len(projectInheritanceSteps(origin)) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("inherited %s = %#v, %#v", key, value, origin)
+		}
+	}
+	count := result.origins["/child/count"]
+	if len(count.Locations) != 1 || count.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" || len(projectInheritanceSteps(count)) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("direct replacement origin = %#v", count)
+	}
+	if len(result.replacements) != 1 || result.replacements[0].path.String() != "/child/count" ||
+		result.replacements[0].before.Text != "0" || result.replacements[0].after.Text != "3" ||
+		len(result.replacements[0].previous) != 1 ||
+		len(projectInheritanceSteps(result.replacements[0].previous[0].origin)) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced inheritance = %#v", result.replacements)
+	}
+	settings := result.origins["/child/settings"]
+	if len(settings.Locations) != 2 || settings.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		settings.Locations[1].SourceID != "source-2" || len(projectInheritanceSteps(settings)) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("composite mapping origin = %#v", settings)
+	}
+	if originContainedBy(result.origins["/child/enabled"], result.origins["/parent/enabled"]) ||
+		originContainedBy(result.origins["/parent/enabled"], result.origins["/child/enabled"]) {
+		t.Fatal("direct and inherited evidence collapsed despite matching source coordinates")
+	}
+	original := result.origins["/child/enabled"]
+	detached := cloneOrigin(original)
+	detached.Locations[0].SourceID = "changed"
+	detached.contributors[0].source.segments[0].key = "changed"
+	stepsCopy := projectInheritanceSteps(original)
+	stepsCopy[0].Locations[0].SourceID = "changed"
+	if original.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" ||
+		original.contributors[0].source.String() != "/parent/enabled" ||
+		projectInheritanceSteps(original)[0].Locations[0].SourceID != "source-2" {
+		t.Fatal("cloned origin or projected steps changed retained evidence")
+	}
+	resource := result.origins["/child/items/0/file"]
+	steps := projectInheritanceSteps(resource)
+	if len(steps) != 1 || steps[0].From.String() != "/parent/items/0/file" ||
+		steps[0].To.String() != "/child/items/0/file" || steps[0].Reference.String() != "/child/extends" ||
+		len(resource.Locations) != 1 || resource.Locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" {
+		t.Fatalf("sequence resource origin = %#v, steps = %#v", resource, steps)
+	}
+	contexts := map[string]fs.FS{
+		"source-1": fstest.MapFS{"message.txt": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("from parent")}},
+		"source-2": fstest.MapFS{"message.txt": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("from child")}},
+	}
+	data, err := fs.ReadFile(contexts[resource.Locations[0].SourceID], "message.txt")
+	if err != nil || string(data) != "from parent" {
+		t.Fatalf("inherited resource = %q, %v", data, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOriginMembershipPreservesLocationAndSourceCoverageRules(t *testing.T) {
+	location := Location{SourceID: "source", Line: 4, Column: 2}
+	otherCoordinates := location
+	otherCoordinates.Line++
+
+	container := Origin{
+		Layer:     LayerOverlay,
+		Operation: ChangeNormalization,
+		Locations: []Location{location},
+	}
+	if !originContainedBy(container, container) {
+		t.Fatal("identical location evidence was not contained")
+	}
+	coordinateDifference := container
+	coordinateDifference.Locations = []Location{otherCoordinates}
+	if originContainedBy(coordinateDifference, container) {
+		t.Fatal("location containment ignored differing coordinates")
+	}
+
+	parent := Keys("parent")
+	child := parent.Key("child")
+	change := Change{Path: parent, Origin: container}
+	descendantOrigin := Origin{
+		Layer:     container.Layer,
+		Operation: container.Operation,
+		Locations: []Location{otherCoordinates},
+	}
+	if !originRepresentedByChange(child, descendantOrigin, change) {
+		t.Fatal("descendant source coverage rejected matching SourceID with different coordinates")
+	}
+	descendantOrigin.Locations[0].SourceID = "another-source"
+	if originRepresentedByChange(child, descendantOrigin, change) {
+		t.Fatal("descendant source coverage accepted an unrecorded SourceID")
+	}
+
+	withContributor := container
+	withContributor.contributors = []inheritanceContributor{{source: parent, location: location}}
+	if originContainedBy(withContributor, container) {
+		t.Fatal("exact location containment ignored the contributor-empty mismatch")
+	}
+	if !originRepresentedByChange(child, withContributor, change) {
+		t.Fatal("descendant source coverage was conflated with contributor containment")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProjectedInheritanceStepsMatchScanAndRetainOwnership(t *testing.T) {
+	sourcePath := Keys("source", "a/b", "01")
+	firstLocations := []Location{{SourceID: "first;:source", Line: -1, Column: 2}}
+	secondLocations := []Location{
+		{SourceID: "second:;source", Line: 3, Column: -4},
+		{SourceID: "", Line: -5, Column: 6},
+	}
+	firstTransfer := inheritanceTransfer{
+		from: Keys("source"), to: Keys("middle"), reference: Keys("middle", "extends"), locations: firstLocations,
+	}
+	secondTransfer := inheritanceTransfer{
+		from: Keys("middle"), to: Keys("target"), reference: Keys("target", "extends"), locations: secondLocations,
+	}
+	firstTrace := &inheritanceTrace{transfer: &firstTransfer}
+	chain := &inheritanceTrace{previous: firstTrace, transfer: &secondTransfer}
+	firstStep := InheritanceStep{
+		From: sourcePath, To: Keys("middle", "a/b", "01"), Reference: firstTransfer.reference, Locations: firstLocations,
+	}
+
+	duplicateFirstTransfer := firstTransfer
+	duplicateSecondTransfer := secondTransfer
+	duplicateChain := &inheritanceTrace{
+		previous: &inheritanceTrace{transfer: &duplicateFirstTransfer},
+		transfer: &duplicateSecondTransfer,
+	}
+	reversedLocations := []Location{secondLocations[1], secondLocations[0]}
+	reorderedSecondTransfer := secondTransfer
+	reorderedSecondTransfer.locations = reversedLocations
+	reorderedChain := &inheritanceTrace{
+		previous: &inheritanceTrace{transfer: &duplicateFirstTransfer},
+		transfer: &reorderedSecondTransfer,
+	}
+	origin := Origin{
+		Inheritance: []InheritanceStep{firstStep, firstStep},
+		contributors: []inheritanceContributor{
+			{source: sourcePath, trace: chain},
+			{source: sourcePath, trace: duplicateChain},
+			{source: sourcePath, trace: reorderedChain},
+			{source: sourcePath, trace: chain},
+		},
+	}
+
+	want := projectInheritanceStepsByScan(origin)
+	got := projectInheritanceSteps(origin)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("projected steps differ from ordered scan:\n got: %#v\nwant: %#v", got, want)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 4 || got[0].From.String() != "/source/a~1b/01" || got[0].To.String() != "/middle/a~1b/01" ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(got[0], got[1]) || got[2].To.String() != "/target/a~1b/01" ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(got[2].Locations, secondLocations) || !reflect.DeepEqual(got[3].Locations, reversedLocations) {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected duplicate/order/escape projection: %#v", got)
+	}
+
+	got[0].From.segments[0].key = "mutated"
+	got[2].Locations[0].SourceID = "mutated"
+	if repeated := projectInheritanceSteps(origin); !reflect.DeepEqual(repeated, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("returned steps mutated retained evidence:\n got: %#v\nwant: %#v", repeated, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceLocationsKeyEncodesOrderedLengthPrefixedValues(t *testing.T) {
+	if inheritanceLocationsKey(nil) != inheritanceLocationsKey([]Location{}) {
+		t.Fatal("nil and empty location lists should encode equally")
+	}
+	values := [][]Location{
+		{{SourceID: "a;1;-2;", Line: -3, Column: 4}},
+		{{SourceID: "a", Line: 1, Column: -2}, {SourceID: ";1;-2;", Line: -3, Column: 4}},
+		{{SourceID: ";1;-2;", Line: -3, Column: 4}, {SourceID: "a", Line: 1, Column: -2}},
+		{{SourceID: "é", Line: -3, Column: 4}},
+		{{SourceID: "e", Line: -3, Column: 4}},
+	}
+	keys := make(map[string]int, len(values))
+	for index, locations := range values {
+		key := inheritanceLocationsKey(locations)
+		if previous, found := keys[key]; found {
+			t.Fatalf("location lists %d and %d encoded identically", previous, index)
+		}
+		keys[key] = index
+	}
+}
+
+func projectInheritanceStepsByScan(origin Origin) []InheritanceStep {
+	steps := cloneInheritanceSteps(origin.Inheritance)
+	for _, contributor := range origin.contributors {
+		var reverse []*inheritanceTrace
+		for link := contributor.trace; link != nil; link = link.previous {
+			reverse = append(reverse, link)
+		}
+		current := contributor.source
+		for index := len(reverse) - 1; index >= 0; index-- {
+			transfer := reverse[index].transfer
+			relative, ok := relativeHistoryPath(transfer.from, current)
+			if !ok {
+				continue
+			}
+			next := appendInheritancePath(transfer.to, relative)
+			step := InheritanceStep{
+				From: current.clone(), To: next.clone(), Reference: transfer.reference.clone(),
+				Locations: cloneLocations(transfer.locations),
+			}
+			if !slices.ContainsFunc(steps, func(existing InheritanceStep) bool {
+				return existing.From.String() == step.From.String() &&
+					existing.To.String() == step.To.String() &&
+					existing.Reference.String() == step.Reference.String() &&
+					slices.Equal(existing.Locations, step.Locations)
+			}) {
+				steps = append(steps, step)
+			}
+			current = next
+		}
+	}
+	return steps
+}
+
+func TestInheritedOriginsRetainChainsAndNestedDestinations(t *testing.T) {
+	first := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `first:
+  enabled: false
+  settings:
+    primary: {value: original}
+    secondary: {extends: primary}
+`)
+	second := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", `first: {other: present}
+middle: {extends: first}
+last:
+  extends: middle
+  settings:
+    primary: {value: replaced}
+`)
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(first, second)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(composed.root, composed.origins, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	chain := projectInheritanceSteps(result.origins["/last/enabled"])
+	if len(chain) != 2 || chain[0].From.String() != "/first/enabled" ||
+		chain[0].To.String() != "/middle/enabled" || chain[1].From.String() != "/middle/enabled" ||
+		chain[1].To.String() != "/last/enabled" {
+		t.Fatalf("chain = %#v", chain)
+	}
+	composite := result.origins["/last"]
+	if len(composite.Locations) < 2 || len(composite.contributors) != len(composite.Locations) {
+		t.Fatalf("composite contributors = %#v", composite)
+	}
+	seenSources := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, contributor := range composite.contributors {
+		seenSources[contributor.location.SourceID] = true
+	}
+	if !seenSources["source-1"] || !seenSources["source-2"] {
+		t.Fatalf("same-layer source contributors = %#v", composite.contributors)
+	}
+	nested := projectInheritanceSteps(result.origins["/last/settings/secondary/value"])
+	if len(nested) != 1 || nested[0].From.String() != "/last/settings/primary/value" ||
+		nested[0].To.String() != "/last/settings/secondary/value" {
+		t.Fatalf("destination-specific nested transfer = %#v", nested)
+	}
+	if got := result.origins["/last/settings/secondary/value"].Locations[0].SourceID; got != "source-2" {
+		t.Fatalf("nested replacement source = %q", got)
+	}
+	if original, found := documentAtPath(first, Keys("first", "settings", "primary", "value")); !found || original.Text != "original" {
+		t.Fatal("expansion changed its input")
+	}
+	if inherited, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("last", "settings", "secondary", "value")); !found || inherited.Kind != document.String || inherited.Text != "replaced" {
+		t.Fatalf("nested inherited value = %#v, %v", inherited, found)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_secret_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestInheritanceSensitivityFollowsCopiesWithoutMaskingNeighbors(t *testing.T) {
+	const canary = "INHERITED-CANARY-CREDENTIAL"
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {token: "+canary+", plain: visible}\nchild: {extends: parent}\nnext: {extends: child}\nother: {extends: parent}\n")
+	for _, classified := range []Path{Keys("parent", "token"), Keys("next", "token")} {
+		t.Run(classified.String(), func(t *testing.T) {
+			inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t, input)
+			inspection.secrets = classifySecretPaths(nil, func(path Path) bool {
+				return path.String() == classified.String()
+			}, inspection.metadata, inspection.final, inspection.applications, inspection.input)
+			for _, path := range []Path{Keys("parent", "token"), Keys("child", "token"), Keys("next", "token"), Keys("other", "token")} {
+				explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+				if !found || !explanation.Effective.Redacted || strings.Contains(explanation.Effective.YAML, canary) {
+					t.Fatalf("sensitive copy %s = %#v, %v", path, explanation, found)
+				}
+				for _, change := range explanation.History {
+					if strings.Contains(change.Before.YAML, canary) || strings.Contains(change.After.YAML, canary) {
+						t.Fatalf("historical canary at %s: %#v", path, change)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			plain, found := inspection.Explain(Keys("other", "plain"))
+			if !found || plain.Effective.Redacted || plain.Effective.YAML != "visible\n" {
+				t.Fatalf("unrelated field = %#v, %v", plain, found)
+			}
+			var output bytes.Buffer
+			if err := inspection.WriteEffective(&output); err != nil || strings.Contains(output.String(), canary) || !strings.Contains(output.String(), "visible") {
+				t.Fatalf("effective rendering = %q, %v", output.String(), err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceSensitivityPreservesDisplacedHistoryAndControl(t *testing.T) {
+	const canary = "DISPLACED-CANARY-CREDENTIAL"
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t, parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {branch: {token: "+canary+"}}\nchild: {extends: parent, branch: public}\n"))
+	inspection.secrets = classifySecretPaths(nil, func(path Path) bool {
+		return path.String() == Keys("parent", "branch", "token").String() || path.String() == Keys("child", inheritanceKey).String()
+	}, inspection.metadata, inspection.final, inspection.applications, inspection.input)
+	path := Keys("child", "branch", "token")
+	explanation, found := inspection.Explain(path)
+	if !found || explanation.Effective.Present {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced sensitive path = %#v, %v", explanation, found)
+	}
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if strings.Contains(change.Before.YAML, canary) || strings.Contains(change.After.YAML, canary) ||
+			(change.After.Present && !change.After.Redacted) {
+			t.Fatalf("displaced secret leaked: %#v", explanation.History)
+		}
+	}
+	var rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := inspection.WriteExplanation(&rendered, path); err != nil || strings.Contains(rendered.String(), canary) {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced explanation rendering = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+	control, found := inspection.Explain(Keys("child", inheritanceKey))
+	if !found || control.Effective.Present || len(control.History) == 0 || !control.History[0].After.Redacted {
+		t.Fatalf("sensitive control history = %#v, %v", control, found)
+	}
+	info, found := inspection.Metadata().Lookup(Keys("child", "branch"))
+	if !found || len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("independent replacement provenance = %#v, %v", info, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceSensitivityIncludesSchemaTaggedSource(t *testing.T) {
+	type entry struct {
+		Token string `yaml:"token"`
+	}
+	type configuration struct {
+		Parent struct {
+			Token string `yaml:"token" configkit:"secret"`
+		} `yaml:"parent"`
+		Child entry `yaml:"child"`
+	}
+	schema, issue := buildSchema(reflect.TypeFor[configuration](), testSecretBinding())
+	if issue != nil {
+		t.Fatal(issue)
+	}
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionForTest(t, parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "parent: {token: TAGGED-CANARY}\nchild: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	inspection.secrets = classifySecretPaths(schema, nil, inspection.metadata, inspection.final, inspection.applications, inspection.input)
+	child, found := inspection.Explain(Keys("child", "token"))
+	if !found || !child.Effective.Redacted || strings.Contains(child.Effective.YAML, "TAGGED-CANARY") {
+		t.Fatalf("tagged source copy = %#v, %v", child, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritedSecretReferencesResolveOnlyAfterExpansion(t *testing.T) {
+	type entry struct {
+		Credential Secret `yaml:"credential"`
+	}
+	type configuration struct {
+		Entries map[string]entry `yaml:"entries"`
+	}
+	schema, issue := buildSchema(reflect.TypeFor[configuration](), testSecretBinding())
+	if issue != nil {
+		t.Fatal(issue)
+	}
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "entries:\n  parent: {credential: INHERITED_SECRET_NAME}\n  child: {extends: parent}\n"))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	expanded, diagnostics := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(composed.root, composed.origins, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	lookupCount := 0
+	decoded, issues := decodeConfiguration(schema, reflect.Zero(reflect.TypeFor[configuration]()), expanded.root)
+	if len(issues) != 0 || lookupCount != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("decoding and lookup order = %#v, %d", issues, lookupCount)
+	}
+	resolved := resolveSecretReferences(decoded.value, schema, expanded.root, func(name string) (string, bool) {
+		lookupCount++
+		if name != "INHERITED_SECRET_NAME" {
+			t.Fatalf("inherited reference name = %q", name)
+		}
+		return "RESOLVED-CREDENTIAL-CANARY", true
+	})
+	if len(resolved.diagnostics) != 0 || lookupCount != 1 ||
+		decoded.value.Interface().(configuration).Entries["child"].Credential.Value() != "RESOLVED-CREDENTIAL-CANARY" {
+		t.Fatalf("inherited reference resolution = %#v, %d", resolved.diagnostics, lookupCount)
+	}
+	inspection, _ := inheritanceInspectionFromComposition(t, composed)
+	inspection.secrets = classifySecretPaths(schema, nil, inspection.metadata, inspection.final, inspection.applications, inspection.input)
+	var rendered bytes.Buffer
+	if err := inspection.WriteEffective(&rendered); err != nil || strings.Contains(rendered.String(), "RESOLVED-CREDENTIAL-CANARY") {
+		t.Fatalf("reference rendering = %q, %v", rendered.String(), err)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestSiblingInheritanceResolvesReferencesAndKeepsInputs(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name, input string
+		path        Path
+		text        string
+		transfers   int
+		controls    int
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "forward reference", input: "child: {extends: parent, value: own}\nparent: {value: parent, kept: preserved}\n",
+			path: Keys("child", "kept"), text: "preserved", transfers: 1, controls: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "backward reference", input: "parent: {value: parent, kept: preserved}\nchild: {extends: parent, value: own}\n",
+			path: Keys("child", "value"), text: "own", transfers: 1, controls: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "chain and shared parent", input: "last: {extends: middle, enabled: false}\nfirst: {value: original}\nmiddle: {extends: first, extra: middle}\nother: {extends: first}\n",
+			path: Keys("last", "value"), text: "original", transfers: 3, controls: 3,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "exact empty sibling name", input: "child: {extends: \"\"}\n\"\": {value: empty}\n",
+			path: Keys("child", "value"), text: "empty", transfers: 1, controls: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "exact unusual sibling name", input: "child: {extends: \"a/b~c\"}\n\"a/b~c\": {value: unusual}\n",
+			path: Keys("child", "value"), text: "unusual", transfers: 1, controls: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "null cancellation", input: "child: {extends: null, value: own}\nparent: {value: parent}\n",
+			path: Keys("child", "value"), text: "own", controls: 1,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", test.input)
+			before := document.Clone(input)
+			result, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitions(input, Path{})
+			if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", diagnostics)
+			}
+			if len(result.transfers) != test.transfers || len(result.controls) != test.controls {
+				t.Fatalf("evidence = %#v, %#v", result.transfers, result.controls)
+			}
+			node, found := documentAtPath(result.root, test.path)
+			if !found || node.Text != test.text {
+				t.Fatalf("%s = %#v, %v", test.path.String(), node, found)
+			}
+			if _, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("child", inheritanceKey)); found {
+				t.Fatal("child directive remained in expanded payload")
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(input, before) {
+				t.Fatal("resolver changed input")
+			}
+			node.Text = "changed"
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(input, before) {
+				t.Fatal("expanded payload aliases input")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSiblingInheritanceTracksTransferAndIndependentChildren(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "first: {value: parent}\nsecond: {extends: first}\nthird: {extends: first}\n")
+	result, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitions(input, Keys("catalog"))
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	if len(result.transfers) != 2 || result.transfers[0].from.String() != "/catalog/first" ||
+		result.transfers[0].to.String() != "/catalog/second" ||
+		result.transfers[0].reference.String() != "/catalog/second/extends" ||
+		len(result.transfers[0].locations) != 1 || result.transfers[0].locations[0].SourceID != "source-1" {
+		t.Fatalf("transfers = %#v", result.transfers)
+	}
+	second, _ := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("second", "value"))
+	third, _ := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("third", "value"))
+	second.Text = "changed"
+	if third.Text != "parent" {
+		t.Fatal("siblings share mutable expanded values")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSiblingInheritanceRejectsInvalidRelationships(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name, input, path string
+		code              Code
+		related           bool
+	}{
+		{"missing", "child: {extends: private-reference-canary}\n", "/child/extends", CodeInheritanceMissing, false},
+		{"nonmapping parent", "child: {extends: parent}\nparent: null\n", "/child/extends", CodeInheritanceInvalid, true},
+		{"boolean reference", "child: {extends: true}\n", "/child/extends", CodeInheritanceInvalid, false},
+		{"sequence reference", "child: {extends: [parent]}\n", "/child/extends", CodeInheritanceInvalid, false},
+		{"self reference", "child: {extends: child}\n", "/child/extends", CodeInheritanceCycle, true},
+		{"longer cycle", "a: {extends: b}\nb: {extends: c}\nc: {extends: a}\n", "/c/extends", CodeInheritanceCycle, true},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", test.input)
+			result, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitions(input, Path{})
+			if result != nil || len(diagnostics) != 1 {
+				t.Fatalf("result and diagnostics = %#v, %#v", result, diagnostics)
+			}
+			problem := diagnostics[0]
+			if problem.Code != test.code || problem.Path.String() != test.path || problem.Primary == nil ||
+				problem.Primary.SourceID != "source-1" || problem.Primary.Line < 1 ||
+				(len(problem.Related) != 0) != test.related || strings.Contains(problem.Message, "private-reference-canary") {
+				t.Fatalf("diagnostic = %#v", problem)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadDetectsInvalidInheritanceInsideSequence(t *testing.T) {
+	input := []byte(`items:
+  - child: {extends: true}
+`)
+	result, err := testLoad[map[string]any](Bytes("nested-inheritance.yml", input), Options[map[string]any]{})
+	if result != nil || err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("result, err = %#v, %v; want invalid nested inheritance", result, err)
+	}
+	loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("error type = %T, want *LoadError", err)
+	}
+	diagnostics := loadError.Diagnostics()
+	if len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeInheritanceInvalid || diagnostics[0].Path.String() != "/items/0/child/extends" {
+		t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSiblingInheritanceDetectsDeepCycleWithoutRecursiveDependencyWalk(t *testing.T) {
+	const count = 2048
+	entries := make([]document.Entry, count)
+	for index := range entries {
+		location := document.Location{SourceID: "source-1", Line: index + 1, Column: 1}
+		parent := strconv.Itoa((index + 1) % count)
+		entries[index] = document.Entry{
+			Key: strconv.Itoa(index), Value: &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Location: location,
+				Mapping: []document.Entry{{Key: inheritanceKey, Value: &document.Node{
+					Kind: document.String, Text: parent, Location: location,
+				}}}},
+		}
+	}
+	result, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitions(&document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping, Mapping: entries}, Path{})
+	if result != nil || len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeInheritanceCycle {
+		t.Fatalf("deep cycle result = %#v, diagnostics = %#v", result, diagnostics)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_walk.go

@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"cmp"
+	"slices"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+type inheritanceWalker struct {
+	nodes        int // logical non-directive nodes in the entire working tree
+	origins      map[string]Origin
+	limits       projectionLimits
+	retained     *retainedNodeCounter
+	transfers    []inheritanceTransfer
+	controls     []inheritanceControl
+	replacements []inheritanceReplacement
+	operations   []inheritanceOperation
+}
+
+// expandInheritanceTree resolves each destination scope after its enclosing
+// relationships. The loading lifecycle uses the origin-aware entry point.
+func expandInheritanceTree(input *document.Node, limits projectionLimits) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	return expandInheritanceWithOrigins(input, nil, limits)
+}
+
+func expandInheritanceWithOrigins(input *document.Node, inputOrigins map[string]Origin, limits projectionLimits) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	return expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input, inputOrigins, limits, historyNodeLimit)
+}
+
+func expandInheritanceWithBudgets(input *document.Node, inputOrigins map[string]Origin, limits projectionLimits, historyLimit int) (*inheritanceScope, []Diagnostic) {
+	if input == nil || input.Kind != document.Mapping {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{{Code: CodeInheritanceInvalid, Severity: SeverityError,
+			Message: "inheritance requires a mapping document root"}}
+	}
+	root := document.Clone(input)
+	origins := cloneOriginIndex(inputOrigins)
+	if inputOrigins == nil {
+		origins = directInheritanceOrigins(input, Path{}, nil)
+	}
+	nodes, within := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(root, limits.nodes)
+	if !within {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(Path{}, root.Location)}
+	}
+	walker := inheritanceWalker{
+		nodes: nodes, limits: limits, origins: origins,
+		retained: newRetainedNodeCounter(historyLimit),
+	}
+	if problem := walker.visit(&root, Path{}, true); problem != nil {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{*problem}
+	}
+	if problem := inheritanceFinalBudget(root, limits); problem != nil {
+		return nil, []Diagnostic{*problem}
+	}
+	return &inheritanceScope{
+		root: root, origins: walker.origins, transfers: walker.transfers,
+		controls: walker.controls, replacements: walker.replacements, operations: walker.operations,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (w *inheritanceWalker) visit(node **document.Node, path Path, unscoped bool) *Diagnostic {
+	switch (*node).Kind {
+	case document.Mapping:
+		original := *node
+		if unscoped {
+			reference, found := inheritanceDirective(*node)
+			if found {
+				referencePath := path.Key(inheritanceKey)
+				location := publicLocation(reference.Value.Location)
+				if reference.Value.Kind != document.Null {
+					problem := inheritanceDiagnostic(CodeInheritanceInvalid, referencePath, location, nil,
+						"inheritance reference has no enclosing sibling scope")
+					return &problem
+				}
+				w.controls = append(w.controls, inheritanceControl{
+					path: referencePath, locations: []Location{location}, cancelled: true,
+				})
+				origin := directInheritanceOrigins(reference.Value, referencePath, w.origins)[referencePath.String()]
+				control := inheritanceControl{path: referencePath, locations: []Location{location}, cancelled: true}
+				w.operations = append(w.operations, inheritanceOperation{control: &control, controlOrigin: origin})
+				deleteOriginSubtree(w.origins, referencePath, reference.Value)
+				*node = withoutInheritanceDirective(*node)
+			}
+		}
+		if scopeHasInheritanceDefinitions(*node) {
+			// Only this scope can change the logical total. Reserve the nodes
+			// outside it so expansion checks the remaining budget before cloning.
+			before, _ := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(*node, -1)
+			limits := w.limits
+			if limits.nodes >= 0 {
+				limits.nodes -= w.nodes - before
+			}
+			resolved, diagnostics := expandSiblingDefinitionsWithOrigins(*node, path, limits, w.origins, w.retained)
+			if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+				return &diagnostics[0]
+			}
+			*node = resolved.root
+			deleteOriginSubtree(w.origins, path, original)
+			for pointer, origin := range resolved.origins {
+				w.origins[pointer] = origin
+			}
+			w.transfers = append(w.transfers, resolved.transfers...)
+			w.controls = append(w.controls, resolved.controls...)
+			w.replacements = append(w.replacements, resolved.replacements...)
+			w.operations = append(w.operations, resolved.operations...)
+			after, _ := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(*node, -1)
+			w.nodes += after - before
+		}
+		// Operations retain immutable enclosing templates. Detach just this
+		// container before replacing descendants during destination resolution;
+		// untouched subtrees remain shared with the retained evidence.
+		working := **node
+		working.Mapping = slices.Clone(working.Mapping)
+		*node = &working
+		indices := make([]int, len((*node).Mapping))
+		for index := range indices {
+			indices[index] = index
+		}
+		slices.SortFunc(indices, func(left, right int) int {
+			return cmp.Compare((*node).Mapping[left].Key, (*node).Mapping[right].Key)
+		})
+		for _, index := range indices {
+			entry := &(*node).Mapping[index]
+			if problem := w.visit(&entry.Value, path.Key(entry.Key), false); problem != nil {
+				return problem
+			}
+		}
+	case document.Sequence:
+		working := **node
+		working.Sequence = slices.Clone(working.Sequence)
+		*node = &working
+		for index := range (*node).Sequence {
+			child := &(*node).Sequence[index]
+			if problem := w.visit(child, path.Index(index), (*child).Kind == document.Mapping); problem != nil {
+				return problem
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func scopeHasInheritanceDefinitions(scope *document.Node) bool {
+	for _, entry := range scope.Mapping {
+		if entry.Value.Kind != document.Mapping {
+			continue
+		}
+		if _, found := inheritanceDirective(entry.Value); found {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// A directive may disappear during later destination resolution, so only
+// non-directive nodes form a safe early lower bound on final output size.
+func inheritanceLowerBoundWithin(root *document.Node, limit int) bool {
+	_, within := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(root, limit)
+	return within
+}
+
+func inheritanceLowerBoundCount(root *document.Node, limit int) (int, bool) {
+	if limit < 0 {
+		limit = int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+	}
+	stack := []*document.Node{root}
+	count := 0
+	for len(stack) != 0 {
+		node := stack[len(stack)-1]
+		stack = stack[:len(stack)-1]
+		if node == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		count++
+		if count > limit {
+			return count, false
+		}
+		switch node.Kind {
+		case document.Mapping:
+			for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+				if entry.Key == inheritanceKey {
+					continue
+				}
+				count++ // mapping key
+				stack = append(stack, entry.Value)
+			}
+		case document.Sequence:
+			stack = append(stack, node.Sequence...)
+		}
+		if count > limit {
+			return count, false
+		}
+	}
+	return count, true
+}
+
+// Count the materialized mapping shape before cloning a memoized parent.
+// Relationship fields are excluded because later destination resolution
+// consumes them; their omission makes this a safe lower bound.
+func inheritanceOverlayLowerBoundWithin(lower, upper *document.Node, limit int) bool {
+	if limit < 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	index := new(mappingIndex)
+	count := 0
+	var visit func(*document.Node, *document.Node) bool
+	visit = func(base, incoming *document.Node) bool {
+		if base.Kind != document.Mapping || incoming.Kind != document.Mapping {
+			added, within := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(incoming, limit-count)
+			count += added
+			return within
+		}
+		count++ // mapping node
+		if count > limit {
+			return false
+		}
+		for _, entry := range base.Mapping {
+			if entry.Key == inheritanceKey {
+				continue
+			}
+			count++ // mapping key
+			if count > limit {
+				return false
+			}
+			position := index.find(incoming, entry.Key)
+			if position >= 0 {
+				if !visit(entry.Value, incoming.Mapping[position].Value) {
+					return false
+				}
+			} else {
+				added, within := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(entry.Value, limit-count)
+				count += added
+				if !within {
+					return false
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		for _, entry := range incoming.Mapping {
+			if entry.Key == inheritanceKey || index.find(base, entry.Key) >= 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			count++ // mapping key
+			if count > limit {
+				return false
+			}
+			added, within := inheritanceLowerBoundCount(entry.Value, limit-count)
+			count += added
+			if !within || count > limit {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+		return true
+	}
+	return visit(lower, upper)
+}
+
+func inheritanceFinalBudget(root *document.Node, limits projectionLimits) *Diagnostic {
+	type pending struct {
+		node *document.Node
+		path Path
+	}
+	stack := []pending{{node: root}}
+	count := 0
+	for len(stack) != 0 {
+		item := stack[len(stack)-1]
+		stack = stack[:len(stack)-1]
+		if len(item.path.segments) > limits.depth {
+			problem := inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(item.path, item.node.Location)
+			return &problem
+		}
+		count++
+		if limits.nodes >= 0 && count > limits.nodes {
+			problem := inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(item.path, item.node.Location)
+			return &problem
+		}
+		switch item.node.Kind {
+		case document.Mapping:
+			count += len(item.node.Mapping) // mapping keys
+			for index := len(item.node.Mapping) - 1; index >= 0; index-- {
+				entry := item.node.Mapping[index]
+				stack = append(stack, pending{node: entry.Value, path: item.path.Key(entry.Key)})
+			}
+		case document.Sequence:
+			for index := len(item.node.Sequence) - 1; index >= 0; index-- {
+				stack = append(stack, pending{node: item.node.Sequence[index], path: item.path.Index(index)})
+			}
+		}
+		if limits.nodes >= 0 && count > limits.nodes {
+			problem := inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(item.path, item.node.Location)
+			return &problem
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func inheritanceBudgetDiagnostic(path Path, location document.Location) Diagnostic {
+	primary := publicLocation(location)
+	return Diagnostic{
+		Code: CodeSchemaProjectionLimit, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path,
+		Message: "expanded configuration exceeds the projection limit", Primary: &primary,
+	}
+}
+
+func inheritanceHistoryBudgetDiagnostic(path Path, location document.Location) Diagnostic {
+	primary := publicLocation(location)
+	return Diagnostic{
+		Code: CodeExplainLimitExceeded, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path,
+		Message: "retained inheritance history exceeds the node limit", Primary: &primary,
+	}
+}

internal/engine/inheritance_walk_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceUsesEachDestinationScope(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `presets:
+  base:
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 10}
+      secondary: {extends: primary}
+  custom:
+    extends: base
+    settings:
+      primary: {width: 20}
+`)
+	before := document.Clone(input)
+	result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	for path, want := range map[string]string{
+		"/presets/base/settings/secondary/width":   "10",
+		"/presets/custom/settings/secondary/width": "20",
+	} {
+		parsed, _ := ParsePath(path)
+		node, found := documentAtPath(result.root, parsed)
+		if !found || node.Text != want {
+			t.Errorf("%s = %#v, found %v", path, node, found)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(result.transfers) != 3 || !reflect.DeepEqual(input, before) {
+		t.Fatalf("transfers = %#v; input changed = %v", result.transfers, !reflect.DeepEqual(input, before))
+	}
+	if node, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("presets", "custom", "settings", "secondary", inheritanceKey)); found {
+		t.Fatalf("nested directive survived: %#v", node)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceSupportsChainsCancellationAndContainerReplacement(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `catalog:
+  alpha:
+    settings:
+      first: {value: one}
+      second: {extends: first}
+  beta:
+    extends: alpha
+    settings:
+      first: {value: two}
+  gamma:
+    extends: beta
+    settings:
+      first: {value: three}
+  cancelled:
+    extends: alpha
+    settings:
+      second: {extends: null, value: own}
+  replaced:
+    extends: alpha
+    settings: none
+`)
+	result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	checks := map[string]string{
+		"/catalog/alpha/settings/second/value":     "one",
+		"/catalog/beta/settings/second/value":      "two",
+		"/catalog/gamma/settings/second/value":     "three",
+		"/catalog/cancelled/settings/second/value": "own",
+		"/catalog/replaced/settings":               "none",
+	}
+	for pointer, want := range checks {
+		path, _ := ParsePath(pointer)
+		node, found := documentAtPath(result.root, path)
+		if !found || node.Text != want {
+			t.Errorf("%s = %#v, found %v", pointer, node, found)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("catalog", "replaced", "settings", "second")); found {
+		t.Fatal("replaced container retained an active child")
+	}
+	if _, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("catalog", "cancelled", "settings", "second", inheritanceKey)); found {
+		t.Fatal("cancelled nested directive survived")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceCanReplaceAnInheritedRelationship(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `base:
+  settings:
+    first: {value: old}
+    other: {value: new}
+    selected: {extends: first}
+custom:
+  extends: base
+  settings:
+    selected: {extends: other}
+`)
+	result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	base, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("base", "settings", "selected", "value"))
+	if !found || base.Text != "old" {
+		t.Fatalf("base relationship = %#v, %v", base, found)
+	}
+	custom, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("custom", "settings", "selected", "value"))
+	if !found || custom.Text != "new" {
+		t.Fatalf("replaced relationship = %#v, %v", custom, found)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceRejectsDestinationCycleAndInvalidPositions(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name, input, path string
+		code              Code
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "destination-only cycle", input: `base:
+  settings:
+    a: {value: one}
+    b: {extends: a}
+custom:
+  extends: base
+  settings:
+    a: {extends: b}
+`, path: "/custom/settings/b/extends", code: CodeInheritanceCycle,
+		},
+		{"root reference", "extends: anything\nentry: {value: one}\n", "/extends", CodeInheritanceInvalid},
+		{"list element reference", "items: [{extends: anything, value: one}]\n", "/items/0/extends", CodeInheritanceInvalid},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", test.input)
+			result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, defaultProjectionLimits())
+			if result != nil || len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != test.code ||
+				diagnostics[0].Path.String() != test.path || diagnostics[0].Primary == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("result = %#v, diagnostics = %#v", result, diagnostics)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNestedInheritanceResolvesScopesInsideSequences(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `items:
+  - primary: {value: first}
+    secondary: {extends: primary}
+  - extends: null
+    zeta: {extends: alpha}
+    alpha: {value: second}
+`)
+	result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, defaultProjectionLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	first, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("items").Index(0).Key("secondary").Key("value"))
+	if !found || first.Text != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("first sequence scope = %#v, %v", first, found)
+	}
+	second, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("items").Index(1).Key("zeta").Key("value"))
+	if !found || second.Text != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("second sequence scope = %#v, %v", second, found)
+	}
+	if _, found := documentAtPath(result.root, Keys("items").Index(1).Key(inheritanceKey)); found {
+		t.Fatal("sequence-element cancellation survived")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceExpansionHonorsOutputNodeAndDepthBudgets(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "base: {value: one}\nchild: {extends: base}\n")
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		limits projectionLimits
+		valid  bool
+	}{
+		{name: "at node boundary", limits: projectionLimits{nodes: 9, depth: 2}, valid: true},
+		{name: "beyond node boundary", limits: projectionLimits{nodes: 8, depth: 2}},
+		{name: "at depth boundary", limits: projectionLimits{nodes: 20, depth: 2}, valid: true},
+		{name: "beyond depth boundary", limits: projectionLimits{nodes: 20, depth: 1}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, test.limits)
+			if test.valid {
+				if result == nil || len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+					t.Fatalf("result = %#v, diagnostics = %#v", result, diagnostics)
+				}
+			} else if result != nil || len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeSchemaProjectionLimit {
+				t.Fatalf("result = %#v, diagnostics = %#v", result, diagnostics)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInheritanceBudgetIncludesOtherScopesAndSequenceItems(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `extends: null
+groups:
+  - a: {x: one}
+    b: {extends: a}
+  - a: {x: two}
+    b: {extends: a}
+unchanged: {x: three}
+`)
+	// Root (1), groups key/list (2), two expanded scopes (18), and
+	// unchanged key/mapping/key/value (4). Consumed controls cost nothing.
+	for _, limit := range []int{24, 25, 26} {
+		result, diagnostics := expandInheritanceTree(input, projectionLimits{nodes: limit, depth: 5})
+		if limit < 25 {
+			if result != nil || len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeSchemaProjectionLimit {
+				t.Fatalf("limit %d accepted or wrong error: %#v", limit, diagnostics)
+			}
+		} else if result == nil || len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("limit %d rejected: %#v", limit, diagnostics)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/engine/layered.go

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package engine
+
+import "os"
+
+// Input selects one source and its independent import policy.
+type Input struct {
+	Source     Source
+	Imports    bool
+	Filesystem *FilesystemContext
+}
+
+// Underlay contains strictly composed contributions at one precedence tier.
+type Underlay struct{ Inputs []Input }
+
+// LayeredOptions selects lower-priority tiers and final application rules.
+type LayeredOptions[T any] struct {
+	Definition        Definition[T]
+	Underlays         []Underlay
+	Overlay           string
+	OverlayFilesystem *FilesystemContext
+	Overrides         []Override
+}
+
+// LoadLayered loads a main input and lower-priority grouped inputs through one
+// final decode, resolution, and validation lifecycle.
+func LoadLayered[T any](main Input, secrets SecretBinding, supplied ...LayeredOptions[T]) (*Loaded[T], error) {
+	if len(supplied) > 1 {
+		return nil, (&diagnosticAccumulator{diagnostics: []Diagnostic{optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "LoadLayered accepts at most one options value")}}).loadError()
+	}
+	var options LayeredOptions[T]
+	if len(supplied) != 0 {
+		options = supplied[0]
+	}
+	request := loadRequest[T]{
+		main:       loadInput{source: main.Source, imports: main.Imports, filesystem: main.Filesystem},
+		definition: options.Definition, overlay: options.Overlay,
+		overlayFilesystem: options.OverlayFilesystem,
+		overrides:         append([]Override(nil), options.Overrides...),
+		underlays:         make([]loadGroup, len(options.Underlays)),
+	}
+	for index, underlay := range options.Underlays {
+		request.underlays[index].inputs = make([]loadInput, len(underlay.Inputs))
+		for inputIndex, input := range underlay.Inputs {
+			request.underlays[index].inputs[inputIndex] = loadInput{
+				source: input.Source, imports: input.Imports, filesystem: input.Filesystem,
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return loadGroupedWithSecretLookup(request, secrets, os.LookupEnv)
+}

internal/engine/load.go

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type Options[T any] struct {
 type FilesystemContext struct {
 	BaseDir string
 	Root    string
+	FS      *Filesystem
 }
 
 // Override describes one explicitly supplied application override. Value uses
@@ -77,13 +78,17 @@ type Loaded[T any] struct {
 type Inspection struct {
 	metadata         Metadata
 	sources          []SourceInfo
+	contexts         map[string]ResourceContext
 	diagnostics      []Diagnostic
 	baseline         *document.Node
 	input            *document.Node
 	inputOrigins     map[string]Origin
 	final            *document.Node
+	immutableLookup  *documentLookup
 	resolution       []resolutionSnapshot
+	resolutionReplay []resolutionSnapshot
 	applications     []historyApplication
+	inheritance      []inheritanceOperation
 	secrets          map[string]bool
 	secretReferences map[string]string
 }
@@ -104,6 +109,16 @@ func (r *Inspection) Sources() []SourceInfo {
 	return cloneSourceInfos(r.sources)
 }
 
+// SourceContext returns a passive filesystem view for an acquired source.
+// Unknown IDs and sources without a filesystem context return false.
+func (r *Inspection) SourceContext(id string) (ResourceContext, bool) {
+	if r == nil {
+		return ResourceContext{}, false
+	}
+	context, ok := r.contexts[id]
+	return context, ok
+}
+
 // Diagnostics returns detached nonfatal diagnostics from the load.
 func (r *Inspection) Diagnostics() []Diagnostic {
 	if r == nil {
@@ -120,14 +135,27 @@ func Load[T any](source Source, secrets SecretBinding, supplied ...Options[T]) (
 }
 
 func loadWithSecretLookup[T any](source Source, secrets SecretBinding, lookup secretLookup, supplied ...Options[T]) (*Loaded[T], error) {
-	accumulator := diagnosticAccumulator{}
 	options, diagnostics := selectOptions(source, supplied)
-	accumulator.add(diagnostics...)
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
+		return nil, (&diagnosticAccumulator{diagnostics: diagnostics}).loadError()
+	}
+	request := loadRequest[T]{
+		main:       loadInput{source: source, imports: options.Imports, filesystem: options.Filesystem},
+		definition: options.Definition, overlay: options.Overlay,
+		overrides: options.Overrides, ordinary: true,
+	}
+	return executeLoadRequest(request, secrets, lookup)
+}
+
+func executeLoadRequest[T any](request loadRequest[T], secrets SecretBinding, lookup secretLookup) (*Loaded[T], error) {
+	accumulator := diagnosticAccumulator{}
+	accounting := &importAccounting{}
+	mainOptions := Options[T]{Definition: request.definition, Imports: request.main.imports, Filesystem: request.main.filesystem}
+	if request.ordinary {
+		mainOptions.Overlay = request.overlay
 	}
 
-	input, diagnostics := assembleBaseInput(source, options)
+	input, diagnostics := assembleBaseInputTracked(request.main.source, mainOptions, accounting, nil, nil)
 	accumulator.sources = input.sources
 	accumulator.add(diagnostics...)
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
@@ -138,29 +166,68 @@ func loadWithSecretLookup[T any](source Source, secrets SecretBinding, lookup se
 		accumulator.add(diagnosticFromSchemaIssue(schemaIssue))
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
-	versionDiagnostics := checkVersion(options.Definition.Version, input.document)
+	versionDiagnostics := checkVersion(request.definition.Version, input.document)
 	accumulator.add(versionDiagnostics...)
 	if hasErrors(versionDiagnostics) {
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
-	input, diagnostics = applyInputLayers(source, options, input)
+	if request.ordinary {
+		input, diagnostics = applyInputLayers(request.main.source, Options[T]{Definition: request.definition, Overlay: request.overlay, Filesystem: request.main.filesystem, Overrides: request.overrides}, input)
+	} else {
+		input, diagnostics = assembleLayeredInput(request, input, accounting)
+	}
 	accumulator.sources = input.sources
 	accumulator.add(diagnostics...)
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
+	if request.ordinary && input.parsed.source != nil {
+		baseSources := make([]SourceInfo, 0, len(input.sources))
+		for _, source := range input.sources {
+			if source.Layer == LayerBase {
+				baseSources = append(baseSources, source)
+			}
+		}
+		if len(baseSources) != 0 && input.contexts[baseSources[0].ID].FS == nil {
+			contexts, diagnostic := contextsForAcquiredSources(request.main.source, request.main.filesystem, input.parsed.source, baseSources)
+			if diagnostic != nil {
+				accumulator.add(*diagnostic)
+				return nil, accumulator.loadError()
+			}
+			mergeResourceContexts(&input.contexts, contexts)
+		}
+	}
+	if input.document != nil && containsInheritanceDirective(input.document) {
+		composition, problems := compositionForInput(input)
+		if len(problems) != 0 {
+			accumulator.add(problems...)
+			return nil, accumulator.loadError()
+		}
+		expanded, problems := expandInheritanceWithOrigins(composition.root, composition.origins, defaultProjectionLimits())
+		if len(problems) != 0 {
+			accumulator.add(problems...)
+			return nil, accumulator.loadError()
+		}
+		if problem := inheritanceVersionDiagnostic(request.definition.Version, expanded); problem != nil {
+			accumulator.add(*problem)
+			return nil, accumulator.loadError()
+		}
+		input.composition = composition
+		input.inheritance = expanded
+		input.document = expanded.root
+	}
 
-	decoded, diagnostics := decodeLoadInput(schema, options.Definition, input)
+	decoded, diagnostics := decodeLoadInput(schema, request.definition, input)
 	accumulator.add(diagnostics...)
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
-	resolved, diagnostics := resolveLoadInput(schema, options.Definition, input, decoded)
+	resolved, diagnostics := resolveLoadInput(schema, request.definition, input, decoded)
 	accumulator.add(diagnostics...)
 	if hasErrors(diagnostics) {
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
-	if !historyNodesWithinLimit(decoded.baseline, decoded.final, resolved.final, resolved.applications, resolved.snapshots) {
+	if !historyNodesWithinLimit(decoded.baseline, decoded.final, resolved.final, resolved.applications, resolved.snapshots, input.inheritance) {
 		accumulator.add(Diagnostic{Code: CodeExplainLimitExceeded, Severity: SeverityError, Message: "retained configuration history exceeds the node limit"})
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
@@ -176,8 +243,8 @@ func loadWithSecretLookup[T any](source Source, secrets SecretBinding, lookup se
 	if hasErrors(secretResolution.diagnostics) {
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
 	}
-	if options.Definition.Validate != nil {
+	if request.definition.Validate != nil {
-		diagnostics = runValidation(&configuration, options.Definition.Validate, schema, resolved.final, input.document, secretResolution.lookups)
+		diagnostics = runValidation(&configuration, request.definition.Validate, schema, resolved.final, input.document, secretResolution.lookups)
 		accumulator.add(diagnostics...)
 		if hasErrors(diagnostics) {
 			return nil, accumulator.loadError()
@@ -186,5 +253,5 @@ func loadWithSecretLookup[T any](source Source, secrets SecretBinding, lookup se
 	resolved.configuration = configuration
 	// Publication detaches equal-valued validator replacements, preserving the
 	// validated secret state, then finalizes metadata and sensitivity.
-	return publishLoadResult(schema, options.Definition, resolved, secretResolution.references, &accumulator)
+	return publishLoadResult(schema, request.definition, resolved, secretResolution.references, &accumulator)
 }

internal/engine/load_input.go

@@ -1,24 +1,37 @@
 package engine
 
-import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+import (
+	"strconv"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
 
 // assembledInput is the source/document handoff across schema and version checks.
 type assembledInput struct {
 	parsed      parsedSource
 	document    *document.Node
 	composition *composedDocument
+	inheritance *inheritanceScope
 	sources     []SourceInfo
+	contexts    map[string]ResourceContext
 }
 
 func assembleBaseInput[T any](source Source, options Options[T]) (assembledInput, []Diagnostic) {
-	parsed, diagnostics := parseSource(source, "source-1", defaultParseLimits())
+	return assembleBaseInputTracked(source, options, &importAccounting{}, nil, nil)
+}
+
+func assembleBaseInputTracked[T any](source Source, options Options[T], accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, hostToken *namespaceToken) (assembledInput, []Diagnostic) {
+	limits := defaultImportLimits()
+	parseLimits := defaultParseLimits()
+	parseLimits.source.remaining = limits.bytes - accounting.bytes
+	parsed, diagnostics := parseSource(source, "source-"+strconv.Itoa(accounting.sources+1), parseLimits)
 	input := assembledInput{parsed: parsed, document: parsed.document}
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 		input.sources = sourceInfos(parsed.source)
 		return input, diagnostics
 	}
 	if options.Imports {
-		input.composition, input.sources, diagnostics = loadImportedDocuments(source, options.Filesystem, parsed, options.Definition.Version, defaultImportLimits())
+		input.composition, input.sources, diagnostics = loadImportedDocumentsTracked(source, options.Filesystem, parsed, options.Definition.Version, limits, accounting, visited, hostToken)
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return input, diagnostics
 		}
@@ -35,10 +48,44 @@ func assembleBaseInput[T any](source Source, options Options[T]) (assembledInput
 		if diagnostics := disabledDirectiveDiagnostics(input.document, Path{}); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return input, diagnostics
 		}
+		if accounting.sources+1 > limits.sources || accounting.bytes+parsed.bytes > limits.bytes || accounting.nodes+countInputNodes(input.document) > limits.nodes {
+			return input, []Diagnostic{sourceDiagnostic(CodeSourceLimitExceeded, parsed.source.ID, "configuration exceeds the aggregate input limit")}
+		}
+		if diagnostic := registerAcquiredSource(source, options.Filesystem, parsed.source, visited, hostToken); diagnostic != nil {
+			return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
+		accounting.sources++
+		accounting.bytes += parsed.bytes
+		accounting.nodes += countInputNodes(input.document)
+	}
+	if !activeOverlay(options.Overlay) || options.Imports {
+		contexts, diagnostic := contextsForAcquiredSources(source, options.Filesystem, parsed.source, input.sources)
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
+		input.contexts = contexts
 	}
 	return input, nil
 }
 
+func registerAcquiredSource(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, info *SourceInfo, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, hostToken *namespaceToken) *Diagnostic {
+	if visited == nil || info == nil || info.Path == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	identity := resourceIdentity{namespace: hostToken, path: info.Path}
+	if source.kind == sourceFilesystem {
+		identity.namespace = source.namespace.token
+	} else if context != nil && context.FS != nil {
+		identity.namespace = context.FS.namespace.token
+	}
+	if previous, repeated := visited[identity]; repeated {
+		value := importRepeatedDiagnostic(Location{SourceID: info.ID}, previous, importRoute{})
+		return &value
+	}
+	visited[identity] = importRoute{canonical: info.Path}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func applyInputLayers[T any](source Source, options Options[T], input assembledInput) (assembledInput, []Diagnostic) {
 	if !activeOverlay(options.Overlay) && len(options.Overrides) == 0 {
 		return input, nil
@@ -47,25 +94,31 @@ func applyInputLayers[T any](source Source, options Options[T], input assembledI
 	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 		return input, diagnostics
 	}
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(composition)
 	if activeOverlay(options.Overlay) {
-		composition, input.sources, diagnostics = loadSelectedOverlayDocument(
+		input.sources, diagnostics = loadSelectedOverlayInto(
-			source, options.Filesystem, input.parsed, composition, input.sources,
+			source, options.Filesystem, input.parsed, assembly, input.sources,
 			options.Overlay, options.Definition.Version, defaultImportLimits(),
 		)
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return input, diagnostics
 		}
+		contexts, diagnostic := contextsForAcquiredSources(source, options.Filesystem, input.parsed.source, input.sources[len(input.sources)-1:])
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
+		mergeResourceContexts(&input.contexts, contexts)
 	}
 	if len(options.Overrides) != 0 {
-		composition, input.sources, diagnostics = applyOverrides(
+		input.sources, diagnostics = assembly.applyOverrides(
-			composition, input.sources, options.Overrides, options.Definition.Version, defaultImportLimits(),
+			input.sources, options.Overrides, options.Definition.Version, defaultImportLimits(),
 		)
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return input, diagnostics
 		}
 	}
-	input.composition = composition
+	input.composition = assembly.current
-	input.document = composition.root
+	input.document = assembly.current.root
 	return input, nil
 }
 

internal/engine/load_metadata.go

@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ import (
 type resolutionInput struct {
 	metadata Metadata
 	sources  map[string]SourceInfo
+	contexts map[string]ResourceContext
 }
 
-func newResolutionInput(metadata Metadata, final *document.Node, sources []SourceInfo) resolutionInput {
+func newResolutionInput(metadata Metadata, final *document.Node, sources []SourceInfo, contexts ...map[string]ResourceContext) resolutionInput {
 	frozen := Metadata{
 		fields:         make(map[string]FieldInfo, len(metadata.fields)),
 		effectivePaths: effectivePathIndex(final),
@@ -32,7 +33,11 @@ func newResolutionInput(metadata Metadata, final *document.Node, sources []Sourc
 		}
 		indexed[source.ID] = cloneSourceInfo(source)
 	}
-	return resolutionInput{metadata: frozen, sources: indexed}
+	result := resolutionInput{metadata: frozen, sources: indexed}
+	if len(contexts) != 0 {
+		result.contexts = cloneResourceContexts(contexts[0])
+	}
+	return result
 }
 
 func (input resolutionInput) lookup(path Path) (FieldInfo, bool) {
@@ -47,6 +52,11 @@ func (input resolutionInput) source(id string) (SourceInfo, bool) {
 	return cloneSourceInfo(source), true
 }
 
+func (input resolutionInput) sourceContext(id string) (ResourceContext, bool) {
+	context, ok := input.contexts[id]
+	return context, ok
+}
+
 func metadataFromDecoded(decoded decodedConfiguration) Metadata {
 	metadata := Metadata{
 		fields:  make(map[string]FieldInfo),
@@ -115,9 +125,6 @@ func applyOverlayMetadata(metadata *Metadata, records []overlayRecord) {
 		if err != nil {
 			continue
 		}
-		if history := events[pointer]; len(history) != 0 && history[len(history)-1].Origin.Layer == info.Origin.Layer && history[len(history)-1].Origin.Operation == info.Origin.Operation {
-			continue
-		}
 		appendInputOriginEvent(events, baseline, pointer, path, info.Origin)
 	}
 	metadata.history = make(map[string][]Change, len(baseline)+len(events))
@@ -134,12 +141,34 @@ func appendInputOriginEvent(events map[string][]Change, baseline map[string][]Ch
 		return
 	}
 	history := events[pointer]
-	if len(history) != 0 && originContainedBy(history[len(history)-1].Origin, origin) {
+	if len(history) != 0 && originRepresentedByChange(path, origin, history[len(history)-1]) {
 		return
 	}
 	appendInputChangeEvent(events, baseline, pointer, Change{Path: path.clone(), Origin: cloneOrigin(origin)})
 }
 
+func originRepresentedByChange(path Path, origin Origin, change Change) bool {
+	if change.Path.String() == path.String() {
+		return originContainedBy(origin, change.Origin)
+	}
+	if !pathContains(change.Path, path) || origin.Layer != change.Origin.Layer || origin.Operation != change.Origin.Operation {
+		return false
+	}
+	// A subtree replacement already records its descendants' contributions.
+	// Their coordinates differ from the container's, but their sources must be
+	// covered by the operation; matching only the precedence role is insufficient.
+	recordedSources := make(map[string]struct{}, len(change.Origin.Locations))
+	for _, recorded := range change.Origin.Locations {
+		recordedSources[recorded.SourceID] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	for _, location := range origin.Locations {
+		if _, found := recordedSources[location.SourceID]; !found {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func appendInputChangeEvent(events map[string][]Change, baseline map[string][]Change, pointer string, value Change) {
 	change := cloneChange(value)
 	history := events[pointer]
@@ -157,10 +186,24 @@ func originContainedBy(candidate, container Origin) bool {
 	if candidate.Layer != container.Layer || candidate.Operation != container.Operation {
 		return false
 	}
+	availableLocations := make(map[Location]struct{}, len(container.Locations))
+	for _, location := range container.Locations {
+		availableLocations[location] = struct{}{}
+	}
 	for _, location := range candidate.Locations {
+		if _, found := availableLocations[location]; !found {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	if (len(candidate.contributors) == 0) != (len(container.contributors) == 0) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, contributor := range candidate.contributors {
 		found := false
-		for _, available := range container.Locations {
+		for _, available := range container.contributors {
-			if location == available {
+			if contributor.location == available.location &&
+				slices.Equal(contributor.source.segments, available.source.segments) &&
+				sameInheritanceTrace(contributor.trace, available.trace) {
 				found = true
 				break
 			}
@@ -205,8 +248,10 @@ func cloneMetadata(metadata Metadata) Metadata {
 		return Metadata{}
 	}
 	cloned := Metadata{
-		fields:  make(map[string]FieldInfo, len(metadata.fields)),
+		fields:           make(map[string]FieldInfo, len(metadata.fields)),
-		history: make(map[string][]Change, len(metadata.history)),
+		history:          make(map[string][]Change, len(metadata.history)),
+		inheritance:      append([]inheritanceOperation(nil), metadata.inheritance...),
+		inheritanceIndex: metadata.inheritanceIndex,
 	}
 	cloned.effectivePaths = make(map[string]Path, len(metadata.effectivePaths))
 	for pointer, path := range metadata.effectivePaths {
@@ -230,8 +275,23 @@ func cloneMetadata(metadata Metadata) Metadata {
 }
 
 func applyResolutionMetadata(metadata *Metadata, resolved resolutionResult) {
-	for _, snapshot := range resolved.snapshots {
+	finalPaths := make(map[string]*document.Node)
-		pointer := snapshot.change.Path.String()
+	indexDocument(resolved.final, Path{}, finalPaths)
+	snapshotCoverage, snapshotPointers := newResolutionCoverageIndexFromSnapshots(resolved.snapshots)
+	var deltaCoverage pathPrefixIndex
+	snapshotIDs := make([]int, len(resolved.deltas))
+	for id, delta := range resolved.deltas {
+		if delta.path.valid() {
+			deltaCoverage.insert(delta.path.String(), id)
+		}
+		snapshotIDs[id] = -1
+		if snapshotID, ok := snapshotCoverage.deepestCoveringID(delta.path); ok {
+			snapshotIDs[id] = snapshotID
+		}
+	}
+
+	for snapshotID, snapshot := range resolved.snapshots {
+		pointer := snapshotPointers[snapshotID]
 		change := cloneChange(snapshot.change)
 		if info, ok := metadata.fields[pointer]; ok {
 			change.Previous = []Origin{cloneOrigin(info.Origin)}
@@ -240,52 +300,40 @@ func applyResolutionMetadata(metadata *Metadata, resolved resolutionResult) {
 		}
 		metadata.history[pointer] = append(metadata.history[pointer], change)
 	}
-	appendResolutionDescendantHistory(metadata, resolved)
+
-	for _, delta := range resolved.deltas {
+	appendResolutionDescendantHistory(metadata, resolved.snapshots, snapshotPointers, finalPaths, &deltaCoverage, snapshotIDs)
-		record := coveringResolutionSnapshot(resolved.snapshots, delta.path)
+	applyResolutionFieldOrigins(metadata.fields, resolved.snapshots, &deltaCoverage, snapshotIDs)
-		if record == nil {
+	refreshResolutionFields(metadata.fields, finalPaths, resolved.snapshots, snapshotCoverage)
-			continue
-		}
-		for pointer, info := range metadata.fields {
-			path, err := ParsePath(pointer)
-			if err != nil || !pathContains(delta.path, path) {
-				continue
-			}
-			info.Origin = cloneOrigin(record.change.Origin)
-			metadata.fields[pointer] = info
-		}
-	}
-	refreshResolutionFields(metadata.fields, resolved.final, resolved.snapshots)
 }
 
-func appendResolutionDescendantHistory(metadata *Metadata, resolved resolutionResult) {
+func appendResolutionDescendantHistory(metadata *Metadata, snapshots []resolutionSnapshot, snapshotPointers []string, finalPaths map[string]*document.Node, deltaIndex *pathPrefixIndex, snapshotIDs []int) {
-	finalPaths := make(map[string]*document.Node)
+	allPointers := make(map[string]struct{}, len(metadata.history)+len(finalPaths))
-	indexDocument(resolved.final, Path{}, finalPaths)
+	for pointer := range metadata.history {
-	for _, delta := range resolved.deltas {
+		if _, err := ParsePath(pointer); err == nil {
-		record := coveringResolutionSnapshot(resolved.snapshots, delta.path)
+			allPointers[pointer] = struct{}{}
-		if record == nil {
+		}
+	}
+	for pointer := range finalPaths {
+		allPointers[pointer] = struct{}{}
+	}
+	buckets := make([][]string, len(snapshotIDs))
+	for pointer := range allPointers {
+		deltaIndex.visitAncestors(pointer, func(deltaID int) {
+			snapshotID := snapshotIDs[deltaID]
+			if snapshotID < 0 || pointer == snapshotPointers[snapshotID] {
+				return
+			}
+			buckets[deltaID] = append(buckets[deltaID], pointer)
+		})
+	}
+	for deltaID, pointers := range buckets {
+		snapshotID := snapshotIDs[deltaID]
+		if snapshotID < 0 {
 			continue
 		}
-		affected := make(map[string]bool)
-		for pointer := range metadata.history {
-			if path, err := ParsePath(pointer); err == nil && pathContains(delta.path, path) {
-				affected[pointer] = true
-			}
-		}
-		for pointer := range finalPaths {
-			if path, err := ParsePath(pointer); err == nil && pathContains(delta.path, path) {
-				affected[pointer] = true
-			}
-		}
-		pointers := make([]string, 0, len(affected))
-		for pointer := range affected {
-			if pointer != record.change.Path.String() {
-				pointers = append(pointers, pointer)
-			}
-		}
 		slices.Sort(pointers)
 		for _, pointer := range pointers {
-			change := cloneChange(record.change)
+			change := cloneChange(snapshots[snapshotID].change)
 			if info, ok := metadata.fields[pointer]; ok {
 				change.Previous = []Origin{cloneOrigin(info.Origin)}
 			}
@@ -294,20 +342,33 @@ func appendResolutionDescendantHistory(metadata *Metadata, resolved resolutionRe
 	}
 }
 
-func coveringResolutionSnapshot(snapshots []resolutionSnapshot, path Path) *resolutionSnapshot {
+func applyResolutionFieldOrigins(fields map[string]FieldInfo, snapshots []resolutionSnapshot, deltaIndex *pathPrefixIndex, snapshotIDs []int) {
-	var covering *resolutionSnapshot
+	buckets := make([][]string, len(snapshotIDs))
-	for index := range snapshots {
+	for pointer := range fields {
-		snapshot := &snapshots[index]
+		if _, err := ParsePath(pointer); err != nil {
-		if pathContains(snapshot.change.Path, path) && (covering == nil || len(snapshot.change.Path.segments) > len(covering.change.Path.segments)) {
+			continue
-			covering = snapshot
+		}
+		deltaIndex.visitAncestors(pointer, func(deltaID int) {
+			if snapshotIDs[deltaID] >= 0 {
+				buckets[deltaID] = append(buckets[deltaID], pointer)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	for deltaID, pointers := range buckets {
+		snapshotID := snapshotIDs[deltaID]
+		if snapshotID < 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		origin := snapshots[snapshotID].change.Origin
+		for _, pointer := range pointers {
+			info := fields[pointer]
+			info.Origin = cloneOrigin(origin)
+			fields[pointer] = info
 		}
 	}
-	return covering
 }
 
-func refreshResolutionFields(fields map[string]FieldInfo, final *document.Node, snapshots []resolutionSnapshot) {
+func refreshResolutionFields(fields map[string]FieldInfo, finalPaths map[string]*document.Node, snapshots []resolutionSnapshot, snapshotCoverage *resolutionCoverageIndex) {
-	finalPaths := make(map[string]*document.Node)
-	indexDocument(final, Path{}, finalPaths)
 	for pointer := range fields {
 		if _, ok := finalPaths[pointer]; !ok {
 			delete(fields, pointer)
@@ -320,10 +381,8 @@ func refreshResolutionFields(fields map[string]FieldInfo, final *document.Node,
 			continue
 		}
 		origin := Origin{Layer: LayerResolution}
-		if path, err := ParsePath(pointer); err == nil {
+		if snapshotID, ok := snapshotCoverage.deepestCoveringPointerID(pointer); ok {
-			if covering := coveringResolutionSnapshot(snapshots, path); covering != nil {
+			origin = cloneOrigin(snapshots[snapshotID].change.Origin)
-				origin = cloneOrigin(covering.change.Origin)
-			}
 		}
 		fields[pointer] = FieldInfo{Null: node.Kind == document.Null, Origin: origin}
 	}

internal/engine/load_request.go

@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+)
+
+// loadRequest keeps source acquisition separate from precedence assembly.
+// The ordinary entry point and grouped entry point share the final lifecycle.
+type loadRequest[T any] struct {
+	main              loadInput
+	underlays         []loadGroup
+	definition        Definition[T]
+	overlay           string
+	overlayFilesystem *FilesystemContext
+	overrides         []Override
+	ordinary          bool
+}
+
+type loadInput struct {
+	source     Source
+	imports    bool
+	filesystem *FilesystemContext
+}
+
+type loadGroup struct{ inputs []loadInput }
+
+func loadGroupedWithSecretLookup[T any](request loadRequest[T], secrets SecretBinding, lookup secretLookup) (*Loaded[T], error) {
+	request.ordinary = false
+	var diagnostics []Diagnostic
+	_, mainDiagnostics := selectOptions(request.main.source, []Options[T]{{
+		Definition: request.definition, Imports: request.main.imports, Filesystem: request.main.filesystem,
+	}})
+	diagnostics = append(diagnostics, mainDiagnostics...)
+	for _, group := range request.underlays {
+		for _, input := range group.inputs {
+			_, inputDiagnostics := selectOptions(input.source, []Options[T]{{Imports: input.imports, Filesystem: input.filesystem}})
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, inputDiagnostics...)
+		}
+	}
+	if !validOverlayName(request.overlay) {
+		diagnostics = append(diagnostics, optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "overlay name must contain only ASCII letters, digits, underscore, or hyphen"))
+	}
+	if activeOverlay(request.overlay) {
+		if request.overlayFilesystem == nil {
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "selected overlay requires explicit filesystem context"))
+		} else {
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, filesystemOptionDiagnostics(Source{kind: sourceBytes}, request.overlayFilesystem)...)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		return nil, (&diagnosticAccumulator{diagnostics: canonicalDiagnostics(diagnostics)}).loadError()
+	}
+	return executeLoadRequest(request, secrets, lookup)
+}
+
+func assembleLayeredInput[T any](request loadRequest[T], input assembledInput, accounting *importAccounting) (assembledInput, []Diagnostic) {
+	groups := make([]*composedDocument, 0, len(request.underlays))
+	for index, group := range request.underlays {
+		composition, sources, contexts, diagnostics := acquireUnderlayGroup(group, index+1, request.definition.Version, accounting)
+		input.sources = append(input.sources, sources...)
+		mergeResourceContexts(&input.contexts, contexts)
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return input, diagnostics
+		}
+		if composition != nil {
+			groups = append(groups, composition)
+		}
+	}
+
+	var assembly *assemblyAccumulator
+	for _, group := range groups {
+		if assembly == nil {
+			assembly = newAssemblyAccumulator(group)
+			continue
+		}
+		if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(group.root, group.origins, group.applications, LayerUnderlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return input, diagnostics
+		}
+	}
+	if input.document != nil {
+		mainComposition, diagnostics := compositionForInput(input)
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return input, diagnostics
+		}
+		if assembly == nil {
+			assembly = newAssemblyAccumulator(mainComposition)
+		} else if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(mainComposition.root, mainComposition.origins, mainComposition.applications, LayerBase); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return input, diagnostics
+		}
+	}
+	if assembly == nil && (activeOverlay(request.overlay) || len(request.overrides) != 0) {
+		composition, _ := compositionForInput(assembledInput{})
+		assembly = newAssemblyAccumulator(composition)
+	}
+	if assembly == nil {
+		return input, nil
+	}
+	assembly.current.inputBytes = accounting.bytes
+	assembly.current.inputNodes = accounting.nodes
+	if activeOverlay(request.overlay) {
+		// The selected overlay context is independent of the main input. This
+		// synthetic descriptor creates no source record or input contribution.
+		selection := Source{kind: sourceBytes}
+		selected := parsedSource{document: &document.Node{Kind: document.Mapping}, source: &SourceInfo{}}
+		var diagnostics []Diagnostic
+		input.sources, diagnostics = loadSelectedOverlayInto(selection, request.overlayFilesystem, selected, assembly, input.sources, request.overlay, request.definition.Version, defaultImportLimits())
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return input, diagnostics
+		}
+		contexts, diagnostic := contextsForAcquiredSources(selection, request.overlayFilesystem, selected.source, input.sources[len(input.sources)-1:])
+		if diagnostic != nil {
+			return input, []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
+		mergeResourceContexts(&input.contexts, contexts)
+	}
+	if len(request.overrides) != 0 {
+		var diagnostics []Diagnostic
+		input.sources, diagnostics = assembly.applyOverrides(input.sources, request.overrides, request.definition.Version, defaultImportLimits())
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return input, diagnostics
+		}
+	}
+	input.composition = assembly.current
+	input.document = assembly.current.root
+	return input, nil
+}
+
+func acquireUnderlayGroup(group loadGroup, index int, rule *VersionRule, accounting *importAccounting) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, map[string]ResourceContext, []Diagnostic) {
+	initialBytes, initialNodes := accounting.bytes, accounting.nodes
+	visited := make(map[resourceIdentity]importRoute)
+	hostToken := &namespaceToken{}
+	var documents []*document.Node
+	var sources []SourceInfo
+	var contexts map[string]ResourceContext
+	for _, contribution := range group.inputs {
+		options := Options[struct{}]{Imports: contribution.imports, Filesystem: contribution.filesystem, Definition: Definition[struct{}]{Version: rule}}
+		acquired, diagnostics := assembleBaseInputTracked(contribution.source, options, accounting, visited, hostToken)
+		for _, source := range acquired.sources {
+			source.Layer = LayerUnderlay
+			source.UnderlayIndex = index
+			sources = append(sources, source)
+		}
+		mergeResourceContexts(&contexts, acquired.contexts)
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			return nil, sources, contexts, diagnostics
+		}
+		if acquired.document == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if node := fragmentVersionClaim(acquired.document, rule); node != nil {
+			location := publicLocation(node.Location)
+			return nil, sources, contexts, []Diagnostic{{
+				Code: CodeUnderlayVersion, Severity: SeverityError, Path: rule.Path.clone(),
+				Message: "underlay inputs cannot contribute to the schema-version path", Primary: &location,
+			}}
+		}
+		if acquired.composition != nil {
+			for _, application := range acquired.composition.applications {
+				documents = append(documents, application.value)
+			}
+		} else {
+			documents = append(documents, acquired.document)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(documents) == 0 {
+		return nil, sources, contexts, nil
+	}
+	composition, diagnostics := composeDocuments(documents...)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		return nil, sources, contexts, diagnostics
+	}
+	composition.inputBytes = accounting.bytes - initialBytes
+	composition.inputNodes = accounting.nodes - initialNodes
+	for pointer, origin := range composition.origins {
+		origin.Layer = LayerUnderlay
+		composition.origins[pointer] = origin
+	}
+	for index := range composition.applications {
+		composition.applications[index].layer = LayerUnderlay
+	}
+	return composition, sources, contexts, nil
+}

internal/engine/load_request_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+)
+
+type groupedConfig struct {
+	Version  string            `yaml:"version"`
+	Settings map[string]string `yaml:"settings"`
+	Port     int               `yaml:"port"`
+	Derived  string            `yaml:"derived"`
+}
+
+func testGroupedLoad[T any](request loadRequest[T]) (*testResult[T], error) {
+	loaded, err := loadGroupedWithSecretLookup(request, testSecretBinding(), func(string) (string, bool) { return "", false })
+	return testLoaded(loaded), err
+}
+
+func TestGroupedLoadPrecedenceSourceOrderAndSingleLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":          &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: imported.yml}]}\nversion: v1\nport: 5\nsettings: {shared: main}\n")},
+		"imported.yml":      &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("settings: {imported: included}\n")},
+		"overlays/test.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("settings: {shared: overlay}\n")},
+	})
+	checks := struct{ version, defaults, resolution, validation int }{}
+	request := loadRequest[groupedConfig]{
+		main: loadInput{source: filesystem.File("main.yml"), imports: true},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{
+			{inputs: []loadInput{
+				{source: Mapping("low-a", map[string]any{"settings": map[string]any{"shared": "low", "a": "one"}, "port": "invalid until replaced"})},
+				{source: Bytes("low-b", []byte("settings: {b: two}\n"))},
+			}},
+			{inputs: []loadInput{{source: Mapping("middle", map[string]any{"settings": map[string]any{"shared": "middle", "c": "three"}})}}},
+		},
+		definition: Definition[groupedConfig]{
+			Version: &VersionRule{Path: Keys("version"), Check: func(version Version, validation *Validation) error {
+				checks.version++
+				if version.Text != "v1" {
+					t.Errorf("version = %#v", version)
+				}
+				return nil
+			}},
+			Defaults: func() groupedConfig { checks.defaults++; return groupedConfig{Derived: "initial"} },
+			Resolve: func(config *groupedConfig, resolution *Resolution) error {
+				checks.resolution++
+				Default(resolution, Keys("derived"), &config.Derived, "resolved", "set derived")
+				return nil
+			},
+			Validate: func(config *groupedConfig, validation *Validation) { checks.validation++ },
+		},
+		overlay: "test", overlayFilesystem: &FilesystemContext{Root: ".", BaseDir: ".", FS: &filesystem},
+		overrides: []Override{{Path: Keys("settings", "shared"), Value: "cli", Flag: "--shared"}},
+	}
+	result, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load: %v, diagnostics %#v", err, err.(*LoadError).Diagnostics())
+	}
+	wantSettings := map[string]string{"shared": "cli", "a": "one", "b": "two", "c": "three", "imported": "included"}
+	if result.Config.Port != 5 || !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config.Settings, wantSettings) {
+		t.Fatalf("config = %#v", result.Config)
+	}
+	if checks != (struct{ version, defaults, resolution, validation int }{1, 1, 1, 1}) {
+		t.Fatalf("lifecycle calls = %#v", checks)
+	}
+	sources := result.Sources()
+	if len(sources) != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("sources = %#v", sources)
+	}
+	wantLayers := []Layer{LayerBase, LayerBase, LayerUnderlay, LayerUnderlay, LayerUnderlay, LayerOverlay, LayerCLI}
+	wantIndexes := []int{0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 0, 0}
+	for index, source := range sources {
+		if source.ID != "source-"+string(rune('1'+index)) || source.Layer != wantLayers[index] || source.UnderlayIndex != wantIndexes[index] {
+			t.Errorf("source %d = %#v", index, source)
+		}
+	}
+	info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(Keys("settings", "shared"))
+	if !ok || info.Origin.Layer != LayerCLI {
+		t.Fatalf("effective shared metadata = %#v, %v", info, ok)
+	}
+	explanation, ok := result.Explain(Keys("settings", "shared"))
+	if !ok || len(explanation.History) < 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("shared explanation = %#v, %v", explanation, ok)
+	}
+	var layers []Layer
+	for _, change := range explanation.History {
+		if change.Origin.Layer != LayerDefault && (len(layers) == 0 || layers[len(layers)-1] != change.Origin.Layer) {
+			layers = append(layers, change.Origin.Layer)
+		}
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(layers, []Layer{LayerUnderlay, LayerBase, LayerOverlay, LayerCLI}) {
+		t.Fatalf("history layers = %#v", layers)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGroupedLoadAbsentMainAndVersionProtection(t *testing.T) {
+	var observed Version
+	request := loadRequest[groupedConfig]{
+		main:      loadInput{source: NoSource()},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{}, {inputs: []loadInput{{source: Bytes("underlay", []byte("port: 7\n"))}}}},
+		definition: Definition[groupedConfig]{Version: &VersionRule{Path: Keys("version"), Check: func(version Version, validation *Validation) error {
+			observed = version
+			return nil
+		}}},
+	}
+	result, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Port != 7 || observed.Present || len(result.Sources()) != 1 || result.Sources()[0].UnderlayIndex != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("underlay-only load = %#v, version %#v, %v", result, observed, err)
+	}
+	request.underlays[1].inputs[0].source = Bytes("underlay", []byte("version: forbidden\n"))
+	_, err = testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if got := groupedErrorCode(t, err); got != CodeUnderlayVersion {
+		t.Fatalf("underlay version code = %s", got)
+	}
+	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":     &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: fragment.yml}]}\n")},
+		"fragment.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("version: forbidden\n")},
+	})
+	request.underlays[1].inputs[0] = loadInput{source: filesystem.File("main.yml"), imports: true}
+	_, err = testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if got := groupedErrorCode(t, err); got != CodeImportVersion {
+		t.Fatalf("import version code = %s", got)
+	}
+	request.underlays = []loadGroup{{}}
+	request.definition.Defaults = func() groupedConfig { return groupedConfig{Port: 11} }
+	result, err = testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Port != 11 || len(result.Sources()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("defaults-only load = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGroupedLoadStrictConflictsRepetitionAndBudgets(t *testing.T) {
+	main := loadInput{source: Bytes("main", []byte("port: 5\n"))}
+	request := loadRequest[groupedConfig]{
+		main: main,
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{
+			{source: Bytes("left", []byte("port: 1\n"))},
+			{source: Bytes("right", []byte("port: 2\n"))},
+		}}},
+	}
+	_, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if got := groupedErrorCode(t, err); got != CodeComposeConflict {
+		t.Fatalf("strict conflict code = %s", got)
+	}
+	conflicting := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":     &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: fragment.yml}]}\nport: 1\n")},
+		"fragment.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("port: 2\n")},
+	})
+	request.main = loadInput{source: conflicting.File("main.yml"), imports: true}
+	request.underlays = []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{{source: Bytes("lower", []byte("port: 3\n"))}}}}
+	_, err = testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if got := groupedErrorCode(t, err); got != CodeComposeConflict {
+		t.Fatalf("main/import conflict code = %s", got)
+	}
+	request.main = main
+	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{"same.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("port: 1\n")}})
+	file := filesystem.File("same.yml")
+	request.underlays = []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{{source: file}, {source: file}}}}
+	_, err = testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if got := groupedErrorCode(t, err); got != CodeImportRepeated {
+		t.Fatalf("same-group repetition code = %s", got)
+	}
+	request.underlays = []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{{source: file}}}, {inputs: []loadInput{{source: file}}}}
+	if result, err := testGroupedLoad(request); err != nil || result.Config.Port != 5 || len(result.Sources()) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("cross-group reuse = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+
+	accounting := &importAccounting{sources: maxImportSources - 1}
+	group := loadGroup{inputs: []loadInput{{source: Mapping("first", map[string]any{})}, {source: Mapping("second", map[string]any{})}}}
+	_, _, _, diagnostics := acquireUnderlayGroup(group, 1, nil, accounting)
+	if len(diagnostics) == 0 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeSourceLimitExceeded {
+		t.Fatalf("shared source budget = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+	accounting = &importAccounting{bytes: maxTotalBytes - 2}
+	group.inputs = []loadInput{{source: Mapping("first", map[string]any{"port": "one"})}}
+	_, _, _, diagnostics = acquireUnderlayGroup(group, 1, nil, accounting)
+	if len(diagnostics) == 0 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeSourceLimitExceeded {
+		t.Fatalf("shared byte budget = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGroupedLoadInvalidIntermediateTypeCanBeReplaced(t *testing.T) {
+	request := loadRequest[groupedConfig]{
+		main:      loadInput{source: Bytes("main", []byte("port: 9\n"))},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{{source: Bytes("low", []byte("port: wrong\n"))}}}},
+	}
+	result, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if err != nil || result.Config.Port != 9 {
+		t.Fatalf("final typed decode = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+	request.main.source = Bytes("main", []byte("port: wrong\n"))
+	_, err = testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if got := groupedErrorCode(t, err); got != CodeDecodeType && got != CodeDecodeRange {
+		t.Fatalf("final invalid type code = %s", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func groupedErrorCode(t *testing.T, err error) Code {
+	t.Helper()
+	loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %#v", err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Message, "wrong") {
+		t.Fatal("raw value escaped diagnostics")
+	}
+	return loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code
+}
+
+func TestGroupedAccountingChargesMixedOccurrencesOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		one   = "configkit: {imports: [{path: child-one.yml}]}\nleft: first\n"
+		child = "extra: imported\n"
+		two   = "configkit: {imports: [{path: child-two.yml}]}\nright: second\n"
+	)
+	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"one.yml":       &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(one)},
+		"child-one.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(child)},
+		"two.yml":       &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(two)},
+		"child-two.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(child)},
+	})
+	accounting := &importAccounting{}
+	first, sources, _, diagnostics := acquireUnderlayGroup(loadGroup{inputs: []loadInput{{source: filesystem.File("one.yml"), imports: true}}}, 1, nil, accounting)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 || first == nil || len(sources) != 2 || accounting.sources != 2 || accounting.bytes != int64(len(one)+len(child)) {
+		t.Fatalf("first acquisition = %#v, %#v, %#v, accounting %#v", first, sources, diagnostics, accounting)
+	}
+	second, sources, _, diagnostics := acquireUnderlayGroup(loadGroup{inputs: []loadInput{{source: filesystem.File("two.yml"), imports: true}}}, 2, nil, accounting)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 || second == nil || len(sources) != 2 || sources[0].ID != "source-3" || sources[1].ID != "source-4" || accounting.sources != 4 || accounting.bytes != int64(len(one)+len(two)+2*len(child)) {
+		t.Fatalf("second acquisition = %#v, %#v, %#v, accounting %#v", second, sources, diagnostics, accounting)
+	}
+	var wantNodes int
+	for _, text := range []string{one, child, two, child} {
+		parsed, diagnostics := parseSource(Bytes("fixture", []byte(text)), "source-1", defaultParseLimits())
+		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+			t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+		}
+		wantNodes += countInputNodes(parsed.document)
+	}
+	if accounting.nodes != wantNodes {
+		t.Fatalf("charged nodes = %d, want %d", accounting.nodes, wantNodes)
+	}
+	if first.inputBytes != int64(len(one)+len(child)) || second.inputBytes != int64(len(two)+len(child)) {
+		t.Fatalf("composition costs = %d, %d, accounting %d", first.inputBytes, second.inputBytes, accounting.bytes)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGroupedGlobEntryBudgetIsShared(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
+		"main.yml":    &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{glob: 'parts/*.yml'}]}\n")},
+		"parts/a.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("left: one\n")},
+		"parts/b.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("right: two\n")},
+	})
+	accounting := &importAccounting{entries: maxGlobEntries - 1}
+	_, _, _, diagnostics := acquireUnderlayGroup(loadGroup{inputs: []loadInput{{source: filesystem.File("main.yml"), imports: true}}}, 1, nil, accounting)
+	if len(diagnostics) == 0 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeImportLimitExceeded || accounting.entries <= maxGlobEntries {
+		t.Fatalf("shared glob budget = %#v, accounting %#v", diagnostics, accounting)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGroupedMixedSourcesShareCLIRecordLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{"main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("value: base\n")}})
+	inputs := make([]Input, maxImportSources-1)
+	inputs[0] = Input{Source: Bytes("empty-bytes", []byte("{}\n"))}
+	for index := 1; index < len(inputs); index++ {
+		inputs[index] = Input{Source: Mapping("empty-map", map[string]any{})}
+	}
+	type config struct {
+		Value string `yaml:"value"`
+	}
+	_, err := LoadLayered(Input{Source: filesystem.File("main.yml")}, testSecretBinding(), LayeredOptions[config]{
+		Underlays: []Underlay{{Inputs: inputs}},
+		Overrides: []Override{{Path: Keys("value"), Value: "cli", Flag: "--value"}},
+	})
+	loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != CodeOverrideLimitExceeded || len(loadError.Sources()) != maxImportSources {
+		t.Fatalf("mixed source/CLI limit = %#v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/engine/load_result.go

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ type resolvedLoad[T any] struct {
 	final         *document.Node
 	snapshots     []resolutionSnapshot
 	applications  []historyApplication
+	inheritance   *inheritanceScope
+	contexts      map[string]ResourceContext
 }
 
 func decodeLoadInput[T any](schema *schemaDescriptor, definition Definition[T], input assembledInput) (decodedConfiguration, []Diagnostic) {
@@ -34,7 +36,9 @@ func decodeLoadInput[T any](schema *schemaDescriptor, definition Definition[T],
 		}
 		return decodedConfiguration{}, diagnostics
 	}
-	if input.composition != nil {
+	if input.inheritance != nil {
+		applyCompositionOrigins(&decoded, input.inheritance.origins)
+	} else if input.composition != nil {
 		applyCompositionOrigins(&decoded, input.composition.origins)
 	}
 
@@ -45,13 +49,15 @@ func resolveLoadInput[T any](schema *schemaDescriptor, definition Definition[T],
 	var diagnostics []Diagnostic
 	configuration := decoded.value.Interface().(T)
 	metadata := metadataFromDecoded(decoded)
-	if input.composition != nil {
+	if input.inheritance != nil {
+		applyInheritanceMetadata(&metadata, input.composition.root, input.composition.origins, input.composition.overlays, input.inheritance)
+	} else if input.composition != nil {
 		applyOverlayMetadata(&metadata, input.composition.overlays)
 	}
 	final := decoded.final
 	var resolutionSnapshots []resolutionSnapshot
 	if definition.Resolve != nil {
-		entry := newResolutionInput(metadata, decoded.final, input.sources)
+		entry := newResolutionInput(metadata, decoded.final, input.sources, input.contexts)
 		resolved := runResolution(&configuration, definition.Resolve, schema, decoded, input.document, entry)
 		diagnostics = append(diagnostics, resolved.diagnostics...)
 		if hasErrors(resolved.diagnostics) {
@@ -67,7 +73,7 @@ func resolveLoadInput[T any](schema *schemaDescriptor, definition Definition[T],
 	} else if input.document != nil {
 		applications = []historyApplication{{layer: LayerBase, value: input.document}}
 	}
-	return resolvedLoad[T]{configuration: configuration, decoded: decoded, metadata: metadata, final: final, snapshots: resolutionSnapshots, applications: applications}, diagnostics
+	return resolvedLoad[T]{configuration: configuration, decoded: decoded, metadata: metadata, final: final, snapshots: resolutionSnapshots, applications: applications, inheritance: input.inheritance, contexts: input.contexts}, diagnostics
 }
 
 func detachLoadConfiguration[T any](schema *schemaDescriptor, configuration T, mode secretCloneMode) (T, *Diagnostic) {
@@ -92,16 +98,25 @@ func publishLoadResult[T any](schema *schemaDescriptor, definition Definition[T]
 	final, applications, resolutionSnapshots := resolved.final, resolved.applications, resolved.snapshots
 	finalizeMetadataPaths(&metadata, final, applications, decoded.baseline, decoded.final)
 	secrets := classifySecretPaths(schema, definition.Secret, metadata, final, applications, decoded.baseline, decoded.final)
+	retainedTrees := make([]*document.Node, 0, len(applications)+2)
+	retainedTrees = append(retainedTrees, decoded.final, final)
+	for _, application := range applications {
+		retainedTrees = append(retainedTrees, application.value)
+	}
 	inspection := &Inspection{
 		metadata:         metadata,
 		sources:          cloneSourceInfos(accumulator.sources),
+		contexts:         cloneResourceContexts(resolved.contexts),
 		diagnostics:      canonicalDiagnostics(accumulator.diagnostics),
 		baseline:         decoded.baseline,
 		input:            decoded.final,
 		inputOrigins:     cloneOriginIndex(decoded.origins),
 		final:            final,
+		immutableLookup:  buildDocumentLookup(retainedTrees...),
 		resolution:       resolutionSnapshots,
+		resolutionReplay: coalescedResolutionSnapshots(resolutionSnapshots),
 		applications:     applications,
+		inheritance:      inheritanceOperations(resolved.inheritance),
 		secrets:          secrets,
 		secretReferences: cloneSecretReferences(references),
 	}

internal/engine/mapping_index.go

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package engine
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+
+// mappingIndex keeps ordered document entries and their lookup positions in
+// sync while one composition or overlay is assembled.
+type mappingIndex struct {
+	byNode map[*document.Node]map[string]int
+}
+
+func (m *mappingIndex) entries(node *document.Node) map[string]int {
+	if m.byNode == nil {
+		m.byNode = make(map[*document.Node]map[string]int)
+	}
+	if entries, ok := m.byNode[node]; ok {
+		return entries
+	}
+	entries := make(map[string]int, len(node.Mapping))
+	for index, entry := range node.Mapping {
+		entries[entry.Key] = index
+	}
+	m.byNode[node] = entries
+	return entries
+}
+
+func (m *mappingIndex) find(node *document.Node, key string) int {
+	if index, ok := m.entries(node)[key]; ok {
+		return index
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
+func (m *mappingIndex) append(node *document.Node, entry document.Entry) {
+	entries := m.entries(node)
+	entries[entry.Key] = len(node.Mapping)
+	node.Mapping = append(node.Mapping, entry)
+}

internal/engine/metadata.go

@@ -9,33 +9,47 @@ import (
 // Metadata provides detached effective presence/origin and chronological history
 // queries for a load. Its zero value contains no paths.
 type Metadata struct {
-	effectivePaths  map[string]Path
+	effectivePaths   map[string]Path
-	historicalPaths map[string][]Path
+	historicalPaths  map[string][]Path
-	fields          map[string]FieldInfo
+	fields           map[string]FieldInfo
-	history         map[string][]Change
+	history          map[string][]Change
+	inheritance      []inheritanceOperation
+	inheritanceIndex *inheritanceHistoryIndex
 }
 
 // Lookup returns information for an effective path. Unknown and invalid paths
 // return false.
 func (m Metadata) Lookup(path Path) (FieldInfo, bool) {
-	if !path.valid() || !matchesPathShape(path, m.effectivePaths[path.String()]) {
+	info, ok := m.effectiveField(path)
-		return FieldInfo{}, false
-	}
-	info, ok := m.fields[path.String()]
 	if !ok {
 		return FieldInfo{}, false
 	}
-	return cloneFieldInfo(info), true
+	detached := cloneFieldInfo(info)
+	detached.Origin.Inheritance = projectInheritanceSteps(detached.Origin)
+	return detached, true
 }
 
-// IsExplicit reports whether a surviving input contribution explicitly defined
+// IsExplicit reports whether a surviving input contribution, including one
-// path.
+// inherited from a sibling, explicitly defined path.
 func (m Metadata) IsExplicit(path Path) bool {
-	info, ok := m.Lookup(path)
+	info, ok := m.effectiveField(path)
 	return ok && info.Explicit
 }
 
-// History returns detached definition and resolution records for path. A record's
+func (m Metadata) effectiveField(path Path) (FieldInfo, bool) {
+	if !path.valid() {
+		return FieldInfo{}, false
+	}
+	pointer := path.String()
+	candidate, ok := m.effectivePaths[pointer]
+	if !ok || !matchesPathShape(path, candidate) {
+		return FieldInfo{}, false
+	}
+	info, ok := m.fields[pointer]
+	return info, ok
+}
+
+// History returns detached definition, inheritance, and resolution records for path. A record's
 // Path can be an ancestor when that container operation replaced or removed path.
 // Removed historical paths can have history even though Lookup returns false.
 // Unknown and invalid paths return nil.
@@ -43,19 +57,16 @@ func (m Metadata) History(path Path) []Change {
 	if !m.hasHistoricalPath(path) {
 		return nil
 	}
-	history, ok := m.history[path.String()]
+	history := m.history[path.String()]
-	if !ok {
+	operations := m.inheritance
-		return nil
+	if m.inheritanceIndex != nil {
+		operations = m.inheritanceIndex.matchingOperations(path, m.inheritance)
 	}
-	cloned := make([]Change, len(history))
+	return historyWithInheritance(path, history, operations)
-	for i, change := range history {
-		cloned[i] = cloneChange(change)
-	}
-	return cloned
 }
 
 // HistoricalPaths returns the paths observed during loading, including effective
-// paths and paths removed by overlays or recorded resolution. It includes default
+// paths and paths removed by overlays, inheritance, or recorded resolution. It includes default
 // paths and the root, but not paths that never existed. The zero Metadata returns
 // an empty slice.
 //
@@ -83,11 +94,14 @@ func (m Metadata) HistoricalPaths() []Path {
 // Textual pointers are lookup keys, but explicit key/index kinds remain part of
 // the query. Candidate paths are constructed from actual document containers.
 func matchesPathShape(query, candidate Path) bool {
-	if !query.valid() || query.String() != candidate.String() || len(query.segments) != len(candidate.segments) {
+	if !query.valid() || len(query.segments) != len(candidate.segments) {
 		return false
 	}
 	for i, segment := range query.segments {
 		actual := candidate.segments[i]
+		if !pathTokenSpellingEqual(segment, actual) {
+			return false
+		}
 		if actual.kind == pathSegmentIndex {
 			index, ok := schemaIndex(segment)
 			if !ok || index != actual.index {
@@ -113,10 +127,9 @@ func (m Metadata) hasHistoricalPath(path Path) bool {
 }
 
 func finalizeMetadataPaths(m *Metadata, final *document.Node, applications []historyApplication, earlier ...*document.Node) {
-	m.effectivePaths = effectivePathIndex(final)
+	m.effectivePaths = make(map[string]Path)
 	m.historicalPaths = make(map[string][]Path)
-	add := func(path Path, _ *document.Node) {
+	addHistorical := func(path Path, pointer string) {
-		pointer := path.String()
 		for _, prior := range m.historicalPaths[pointer] {
 			if matchesPathShape(path, prior) {
 				return
@@ -124,7 +137,14 @@ func finalizeMetadataPaths(m *Metadata, final *document.Node, applications []his
 		}
 		m.historicalPaths[pointer] = append(m.historicalPaths[pointer], path.clone())
 	}
-	walkDocument(final, Path{}, add)
+	walkDocument(final, Path{}, func(path Path, _ *document.Node) {
+		pointer := path.String()
+		m.effectivePaths[pointer] = path.clone()
+		addHistorical(path, pointer)
+	})
+	add := func(path Path, _ *document.Node) {
+		addHistorical(path, path.String())
+	}
 	for _, tree := range earlier {
 		walkDocument(tree, Path{}, add)
 	}
@@ -136,6 +156,17 @@ func finalizeMetadataPaths(m *Metadata, final *document.Node, applications []his
 		}
 		walkDocument(application.value, prefix, add)
 	}
+	for _, operation := range m.inheritance {
+		if operation.control != nil {
+			add(operation.control.path, nil)
+			continue
+		}
+		if operation.transfer != nil {
+			walkDocument(operation.parent, operation.transfer.to, add)
+			walkDocument(operation.effective, operation.transfer.to, add)
+		}
+	}
+	m.inheritanceIndex = newInheritanceHistoryIndex(m.inheritance)
 }
 
 // effectivePathIndex records document-derived paths with their contextual segment

internal/engine/metadata_test.go

@@ -47,6 +47,60 @@ func TestMetadataHistoricalPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMetadataPathIndexesOwnIndependentSegments(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	final := parseDocumentForDecode(t, "service: {workers: [1]}\n")
+	var metadata Metadata
+	finalizeMetadataPaths(&metadata, final, nil)
+	pointer := "/service/workers/0"
+	effective := metadata.effectivePaths[pointer]
+	historical := metadata.historicalPaths[pointer]
+	if effective.String() != pointer || len(historical) != 1 || historical[0].String() != pointer {
+		t.Fatalf("path indexes = %#v, %#v", effective, historical)
+	}
+
+	effective.segments[0].key = "effective"
+	if historical[0].String() != pointer {
+		t.Fatal("effective path mutation changed historical path")
+	}
+	historical[0].segments[2].index = 1
+	if effective.String() != "/effective/workers/0" {
+		t.Fatal("historical path mutation changed effective path")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetadataPathIndexesRetainDistinctHistoricalShapes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	final := parseDocumentForDecode(t, "shape: [replacement]\n")
+	earlier := parseDocumentForDecode(t, "shape: {'0': base}\n")
+	var metadata Metadata
+	// Repeated trees must not add duplicate shapes to the historical index.
+	finalizeMetadataPaths(&metadata, final, nil, earlier, earlier, final)
+	keyPath := Keys("shape", "0")
+	indexPath := Keys("shape").Index(0)
+	pointer := indexPath.String()
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(metadata.effectivePaths[pointer], indexPath) {
+		t.Fatal("effective index does not reflect the final sequence")
+	}
+	historical := metadata.historicalPaths[pointer]
+	if len(historical) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("historical shapes = %#v, want one key and one index", historical)
+	}
+	for _, want := range []Path{keyPath, indexPath} {
+		found := false
+		for _, path := range historical {
+			if reflect.DeepEqual(path, want) {
+				found = true
+			}
+		}
+		if !found || !metadata.hasHistoricalPath(want) {
+			t.Fatalf("historical index lost shape %#v", want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestHistoricalPathsExposeHiddenBaseOwnershipWithoutResolvingBaseSecrets(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_HISTORY_UNUSED_PROD_KEY", "")
 	t.Setenv("CONFIGKIT_HISTORY_TEST_KEY", "synthetic-test-key")
@@ -231,6 +285,75 @@ func TestResolutionInputKeepsDetachedEntryMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMetadataIsExplicitAgreesWithLookup(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	type entry struct {
+		Kept    string `yaml:"kept"`
+		Set     string `yaml:"set"`
+		Enabled bool   `yaml:"enabled"`
+		Count   int    `yaml:"count"`
+	}
+	type config struct {
+		Nested   entry            `yaml:"nested"`
+		Nullable *string          `yaml:"nullable"`
+		Nodes    map[string]entry `yaml:"nodes"`
+	}
+
+	input := []byte(`nested: {set: configured, enabled: false, count: 0}
+nullable: null
+nodes:
+  base: {enabled: false, count: 0}
+  copy: {extends: base}
+`)
+	result, err := testLoad(Bytes("metadata-presence.yml", input), Options[config]{Definition: Definition[config]{
+		Defaults: func() config {
+			return config{
+				Nested: entry{Kept: "default", Set: "default", Enabled: true, Count: 7},
+				Nodes:  map[string]entry{"copy": {Kept: "node default"}},
+			}
+		},
+	}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	metadata := result.Metadata()
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		path          Path
+		wantExplicit  bool
+		wantNull      bool
+		wantInherited bool
+	}{
+		{name: "default", path: Keys("nested", "kept")},
+		{name: "direct input", path: Keys("nested", "set"), wantExplicit: true},
+		{name: "explicit false", path: Keys("nested", "enabled"), wantExplicit: true},
+		{name: "explicit zero", path: Keys("nested", "count"), wantExplicit: true},
+		{name: "explicit null", path: Keys("nullable"), wantExplicit: true, wantNull: true},
+		{name: "inherited input", path: Keys("nodes", "copy", "enabled"), wantExplicit: true, wantInherited: true},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			info, found := metadata.Lookup(test.path)
+			if !found {
+				t.Fatalf("Lookup(%s) did not find an effective path", test.path)
+			}
+			if got := metadata.IsExplicit(test.path); got != info.Explicit || got != test.wantExplicit {
+				t.Fatalf("IsExplicit(%s) = %v, Lookup explicit = %v, want %v", test.path, got, info.Explicit, test.wantExplicit)
+			}
+			if info.Null != test.wantNull {
+				t.Fatalf("Lookup(%s).Null = %v, want %v", test.path, info.Null, test.wantNull)
+			}
+			if inherited := len(info.Origin.Inheritance) != 0; inherited != test.wantInherited {
+				t.Fatalf("Lookup(%s) inherited = %v, want %v", test.path, inherited, test.wantInherited)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	if result.Config.Nested.Enabled || result.Config.Nested.Count != 0 || result.Config.Nullable != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("explicit values changed during loading: %#v", result.Config)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestQueriesRespectActualHistoricalAndEffectiveContainers(t *testing.T) {
 	result, err := testLoad[map[string]any](Bytes("base", []byte("items: [1]\nm: {'0': 2}\nx: 3\nretired: {child: 4}\n")), Options[map[string]any]{Overrides: []Override{{Path: Keys("retired"), Value: "removed", Flag: "--retired"}}})
 	if err != nil {

internal/engine/native_filesystem_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+)
+
+func TestNativeFilesystemImportsAndOverlay(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := fstest.MapFS{
+		"config/main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(`configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: ../shared.yml
+    - glob: fragments/*.yml
+items: {main: main}
+`)},
+		"shared.yml":             &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {shared: shared}\n")},
+		"config/fragments/b.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {beta: beta}\n")},
+		"config/fragments/a.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {alpha: alpha}\n")},
+		"overlays/testing.yml":   &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {main: overlaid}\n")},
+	}
+	namespace := newNativeNamespace("bundle", filesystem)
+	result, err := testLoad[importTestConfig](filesystemFile(namespace, "config/main.yml"), Options[importTestConfig]{Imports: true, Overlay: "testing"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := map[string]string{"main": "overlaid", "shared": "shared", "alpha": "alpha", "beta": "beta"}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Config.Items, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("items = %#v, want %#v", result.Config.Items, want)
+	}
+	sources := result.Sources()
+	wantPaths := []string{"config/main.yml", "shared.yml", "config/fragments/a.yml", "config/fragments/b.yml", "overlays/testing.yml"}
+	gotPaths := make([]string, len(sources))
+	for index, source := range sources {
+		gotPaths[index] = source.Path
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(gotPaths, wantPaths) {
+		t.Fatalf("source paths = %#v, want %#v", gotPaths, wantPaths)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNativeFilesystemNamespaceAndPathFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	first := fstest.MapFS{"main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {name: first}\n")}}
+	second := fstest.MapFS{"main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {name: second}\n")}}
+	firstNamespace := newNativeNamespace("same", first)
+	secondNamespace := newNativeNamespace("same", second)
+	if reflect.TypeOf(first).Comparable() {
+		t.Fatal("test filesystem must have a non-comparable dynamic value")
+	}
+	if firstNamespace.token == secondNamespace.token {
+		t.Fatal("independent filesystem constructors shared identity")
+	}
+	if newNativeAccess(first, ".", firstNamespace.token).identity("main.yml") == newNativeAccess(second, ".", secondNamespace.token).identity("main.yml") {
+		t.Fatal("equal paths from separate filesystems have the same identity")
+	}
+	access := newNativeAccess(first, ".", firstNamespace.token)
+	if access.syntheticIdentity() == access.syntheticIdentity() || access.syntheticIdentity() == access.identity("<selected-source>") {
+		t.Fatal("independent synthetic sources shared a file identity")
+	}
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name      string
+		namespace *nativeNamespace
+		want      string
+	}{
+		{name: "first", namespace: firstNamespace, want: "first"},
+		{name: "second", namespace: secondNamespace, want: "second"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result, err := testLoad[importTestConfig](filesystemFile(test.namespace, "main.yml"))
+			if err != nil || result.Config.Items["name"] != test.want {
+				t.Fatalf("result = %#v, %v", result, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	for _, name := range []string{".", "../main.yml", "/main.yml", "missing.yml"} {
+		_, diagnostics := readSource(filesystemFile(firstNamespace, name), "source-1", defaultSourceLimits())
+		if len(diagnostics) != 1 {
+			t.Errorf("%q diagnostics = %#v", name, diagnostics)
+		}
+	}
+	missingImport := fstest.MapFS{"main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: host-only.yml}]}\n")}}
+	_, err := testLoad[importTestConfig](filesystemFile(newNativeNamespace("bundle", missingImport), "main.yml"), Options[importTestConfig]{Imports: true})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("missing virtual import fell back to the host filesystem")
+	}
+	loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+	if !ok || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != CodeImportMissing {
+		t.Fatalf("missing import error = %#v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNativeFilesystemClosesFilesOnSuccessAndFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, fallback := range []bool{false, true} {
+		t.Run(map[bool]string{false: "ReadDirFile", true: "ReadDir fallback"}[fallback], func(t *testing.T) {
+			filesystem := &observedFilesystem{files: fstest.MapFS{
+				"main.yml":      &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{glob: 'parts/*.yml'}]}\nitems: {main: main}\n")},
+				"parts/one.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {one: one}\n")},
+			}, fallback: fallback}
+			result, err := testLoad[importTestConfig](filesystemFile(newNativeNamespace("bundle", filesystem), "main.yml"), Options[importTestConfig]{Imports: true})
+			if err != nil || result.Config.Items["one"] != "one" {
+				t.Fatalf("result = %#v, %v", result, err)
+			}
+			filesystem.assertClosed(t)
+		})
+	}
+
+	for _, failure := range []struct {
+		name     string
+		file     string
+		failRead string
+		failStat string
+		failDir  string
+	}{
+		{name: "read", file: "items: {one: one}\n", failRead: "parts/one.yml"},
+		{name: "stat", file: "items: {one: one}\n", failStat: "parts/one.yml"},
+		{name: "parse", file: "items: [unterminated\n"},
+		{name: "directory", file: "items: {one: one}\n", failDir: "parts"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(failure.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			filesystem := &observedFilesystem{files: fstest.MapFS{
+				"main.yml":      &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{glob: 'parts/*.yml'}]}\n")},
+				"parts/one.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(failure.file)},
+			}, failRead: failure.failRead, failStat: failure.failStat, failDir: failure.failDir}
+			_, err := testLoad[importTestConfig](filesystemFile(newNativeNamespace("bundle", filesystem), "main.yml"), Options[importTestConfig]{Imports: true})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected a load failure")
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "tracking failure canary") {
+				t.Fatal("unsafe filesystem error escaped")
+			}
+			filesystem.assertClosed(t)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNativeFilesystemRootAndOptionalImports(t *testing.T) {
+	filesystem := fstest.MapFS{
+		"config/sub/main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(`configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: ../shared.yml
+    - path: absent.yml
+      optional: true
+    - glob: absent/*.yml
+      optional: true
+`)},
+		"config/shared.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {shared: retained}\n")},
+		"outside.yml":       &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {outside: blocked}\n")},
+	}
+	namespace := newNativeNamespace("bundle", filesystem)
+	source := filesystemFile(namespace, "config/sub/main.yml")
+	parsed, diagnostics := parseSource(source, "source-1", defaultParseLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	access := newNativeAccess(filesystem, "config", namespace.token)
+	composed, sources, diagnostics := loadImportedWithAccess(access, "config/sub", source.path, parsed, nil, defaultImportLimits(), &importAccounting{})
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 || composed == nil || len(sources) != 2 || sources[1].Path != "config/shared.yml" {
+		t.Fatalf("contained imports = (%#v, %#v, %#v)", composed, sources, diagnostics)
+	}
+
+	outside := fstest.MapFS{
+		"config/sub/main.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: ../../outside.yml}]}\n")},
+		"outside.yml":         &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {outside: blocked}\n")},
+	}
+	outsideNamespace := newNativeNamespace("bundle", outside)
+	parsed, diagnostics = parseSource(filesystemFile(outsideNamespace, "config/sub/main.yml"), "source-1", defaultParseLimits())
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	_, _, diagnostics = loadImportedWithAccess(newNativeAccess(outside, "config", outsideNamespace.token), "config/sub", "config/sub/main.yml", parsed, nil, defaultImportLimits(), &importAccounting{})
+	if len(diagnostics) != 1 || diagnostics[0].Code != CodeImportOutsideRoot {
+		t.Fatalf("escaping import diagnostics = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNativeFilesystemDetectsRepeatedAndCyclicImports(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name  string
+		files fstest.MapFS
+		code  Code
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "repeated",
+			files: fstest.MapFS{
+				"main.yml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: child.yml}, {path: child.yml}]}\n")},
+				"child.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: {child: child}\n")},
+			},
+			code: CodeImportRepeated,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "cycle",
+			files: fstest.MapFS{
+				"main.yml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: child.yml}]}\n")},
+				"child.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: main.yml}]}\n")},
+			},
+			code: CodeImportCycle,
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := testLoad[importTestConfig](filesystemFile(newNativeNamespace("bundle", test.files), "main.yml"), Options[importTestConfig]{Imports: true})
+			loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+			if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) == 0 || loadError.Diagnostics()[0].Code != test.code {
+				t.Fatalf("load error = %#v, want %q", err, test.code)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+type observedFilesystem struct {
+	files    fstest.MapFS
+	opened   int
+	closed   int
+	fallback bool
+	failRead string
+	failStat string
+	failDir  string
+}
+
+func (f *observedFilesystem) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	inner, err := f.files.Open(name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	f.opened++
+	file := &observedFile{File: inner, owner: f, name: name}
+	if directory, ok := inner.(fs.ReadDirFile); ok && !f.fallback {
+		return &observedDirectoryFile{observedFile: file, directory: directory}, nil
+	}
+	return file, nil
+}
+
+func (f *observedFilesystem) ReadDir(name string) ([]fs.DirEntry, error) {
+	if name == f.failDir {
+		return nil, errors.New("tracking failure canary")
+	}
+	return fs.ReadDir(f.files, name)
+}
+
+func (f *observedFilesystem) assertClosed(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if f.opened == 0 || f.opened != f.closed {
+		t.Fatalf("filesystem opens=%d closes=%d", f.opened, f.closed)
+	}
+}
+
+type observedFile struct {
+	fs.File
+	owner *observedFilesystem
+	name  string
+}
+
+func (f *observedFile) Read(data []byte) (int, error) {
+	if f.name == f.owner.failRead {
+		return 0, errors.New("tracking failure canary")
+	}
+	return f.File.Read(data)
+}
+
+func (f *observedFile) Stat() (fs.FileInfo, error) {
+	if f.name == f.owner.failStat {
+		return nil, errors.New("tracking failure canary")
+	}
+	return f.File.Stat()
+}
+
+func (f *observedFile) Close() error {
+	f.owner.closed++
+	return f.File.Close()
+}
+
+type observedDirectoryFile struct {
+	*observedFile
+	directory fs.ReadDirFile
+}
+
+func (f *observedDirectoryFile) ReadDir(count int) ([]fs.DirEntry, error) {
+	if f.name == f.owner.failDir {
+		return nil, errors.New("tracking failure canary")
+	}
+	return f.directory.ReadDir(count)
+}

internal/engine/options.go

@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ func selectOptions[T any](source Source, supplied []Options[T]) (Options[T], []D
 	if source.kind == sourceNone && options.Overlay != "" && options.Overlay != "default" {
 		diagnostics = append(diagnostics, optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "NoSource cannot select an active overlay"))
 	}
-	if options.Filesystem == nil && (source.kind == sourceBytes || source.kind == sourceReader) && (options.Imports || activeOverlay(options.Overlay)) {
+	if options.Filesystem == nil && (source.kind == sourceBytes || source.kind == sourceReader || source.kind == sourceMapping) && (options.Imports || activeOverlay(options.Overlay)) {
-		diagnostics = append(diagnostics, optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "byte and reader imports or overlays require filesystem context"))
+		diagnostics = append(diagnostics, optionDiagnostic(CodeOptionsInvalid, "synthetic-source imports or overlays require filesystem context"))
 	}
 	if definition.Version != nil {
 		if !definition.Version.Path.valid() {

internal/engine/overlay.go

@@ -18,78 +18,105 @@ type displacedDefinition struct {
 }
 
 func overlayDocuments(base *composedDocument, overlay *document.Node) (*composedDocument, []Diagnostic) {
-	if base == nil || base.root == nil || base.root.Kind != document.Mapping || overlay == nil || overlay.Kind != document.Mapping {
+	if base == nil {
-		return nil, []Diagnostic{{
+		return nil, invalidOverlayDocument()
-			Code: CodeOverlayInvalid, Severity: SeverityError,
-			Message: "overlay requires mapping document roots",
-		}}
 	}
-	result := cloneComposedDocument(base)
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(cloneComposedDocument(base))
-	mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, Path{}, overlay.Location, LayerOverlay)
+	if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(overlay, nil, nil, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
-	mergeOverlayMappings(result, result.root, overlay, Path{}, LayerOverlay, true)
+		return nil, diagnostics
-	result.applications = append(result.applications, historyApplication{layer: LayerOverlay, value: overlay})
+	}
-	return result, nil
+	return assembly.current, nil
 }
 
-func mergeOverlayMappings(result *composedDocument, target, overlay *document.Node, current Path, layer Layer, recordReplacements bool) {
+func invalidOverlayDocument() []Diagnostic {
-	for _, incoming := range overlay.Mapping {
+	return []Diagnostic{{
-		path := current.Key(incoming.Key)
+		Code: CodeOverlayInvalid, Severity: SeverityError,
-		index := documentEntryIndex(target.Mapping, incoming.Key)
+		Message: "overlay requires mapping document roots",
-		if index < 0 {
+	}}
-			cloned := incoming
+}
-			cloned.Value = document.Clone(incoming.Value)
-			target.Mapping = append(target.Mapping, cloned)
-			collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, incoming.Value, path, layer)
-			continue
-		}
 
-		existing := target.Mapping[index].Value
+func (a *assemblyAccumulator) applyOverlay(overlay *document.Node, incomingOrigins map[string]Origin, applications []historyApplication, layer Layer) []Diagnostic {
-		if existing.Kind == document.Mapping && incoming.Value.Kind == document.Mapping {
+	if a == nil || a.current == nil || a.current.root == nil || a.current.root.Kind != document.Mapping || overlay == nil || overlay.Kind != document.Mapping {
-			mergeOverlayOrigin(result.origins, path, incoming.Value.Location, layer)
+		return invalidOverlayDocument()
-			mergeOverlayMappings(result, existing, incoming.Value, path, layer, recordReplacements)
+	}
-			continue
+	mergeOriginContribution(a.current.origins, Path{}, incomingOrigin(incomingOrigins, Path{}, overlay, layer))
-		}
+	mergeOverlayMappings(a.current, a.current.root, overlay, Path{}, layer, true, incomingOrigins, &a.index)
-
+	if len(applications) == 0 {
-		displaced := displacedOrigins(existing, result.origins, path)
+		a.current.applications = append(a.current.applications, historyApplication{layer: layer, value: overlay})
-		previous := cloneOrigin(result.origins[path.String()])
+	} else {
-		deleteOriginSubtree(result.origins, path)
+		for _, application := range applications {
-		target.Mapping[index] = incoming
+			application.layer = layer
-		target.Mapping[index].Value = document.Clone(incoming.Value)
+			a.current.applications = append(a.current.applications, application)
-		collectOverlayOrigins(result.origins, incoming.Value, path, layer)
-		if recordReplacements {
-			result.overlays = append(result.overlays, overlayRecord{
-				change: Change{
-					Path: path.clone(), Origin: overlayOrigin(layer, incoming.Value.Location),
-					Previous: previousOrigins(previous),
-				},
-				displaced: displaced,
-			})
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func mergeOverlayMappings(result *composedDocument, target, overlay *document.Node, current Path, layer Layer, recordReplacements bool, incomingOrigins map[string]Origin, index *mappingIndex) {
+	mergeRecursiveMappings(target, overlay, current, index, recursiveMergeHooks{
+		added: func(path Path, incoming *document.Node) {
+			collectOverlayOriginsFrom(result.origins, incomingOrigins, incoming, path, layer)
+		},
+		combined: func(path Path, incoming *document.Node) {
+			mergeOriginContribution(result.origins, path, incomingOrigin(incomingOrigins, path, incoming, layer))
+		},
+		replaced: func(path Path, existing, incoming *document.Node) {
+			displaced := displacedOrigins(existing, result.origins, path)
+			previous := cloneOrigin(result.origins[path.String()])
+			deleteOriginSubtree(result.origins, path, existing)
+			collectOverlayOriginsFrom(result.origins, incomingOrigins, incoming, path, layer)
+			if recordReplacements {
+				result.overlays = append(result.overlays, overlayRecord{
+					change: Change{
+						Path: path.clone(), Origin: incomingOrigin(incomingOrigins, path, incoming, layer),
+						Previous: previousOrigins(previous),
+					},
+					displaced: displaced,
+				})
+			}
+		},
+	})
 }
 
 func collectOverlayOrigins(origins map[string]Origin, node *document.Node, path Path, layer Layer) {
-	origins[path.String()] = overlayOrigin(layer, node.Location)
+	collectOverlayOriginsFrom(origins, nil, node, path, layer)
+}
+
+func collectOverlayOriginsFrom(origins, incomingOrigins map[string]Origin, node *document.Node, path Path, layer Layer) {
+	origins[path.String()] = incomingOrigin(incomingOrigins, path, node, layer)
 	switch node.Kind {
 	case document.Mapping:
 		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
-			collectOverlayOrigins(origins, entry.Value, path.Key(entry.Key), layer)
+			collectOverlayOriginsFrom(origins, incomingOrigins, entry.Value, path.Key(entry.Key), layer)
 		}
 	case document.Sequence:
 		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
-			collectOverlayOrigins(origins, child, path.Index(index), layer)
+			collectOverlayOriginsFrom(origins, incomingOrigins, child, path.Index(index), layer)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 func mergeOverlayOrigin(origins map[string]Origin, path Path, location document.Location, layer Layer) {
+	mergeOriginContribution(origins, path, overlayOrigin(layer, location))
+}
+
+func mergeOriginContribution(origins map[string]Origin, path Path, incoming Origin) {
 	pointer := path.String()
-	origin := cloneOrigin(origins[pointer])
+	origin := origins[pointer]
-	origin.Layer = layer
+	origin.Layer = incoming.Layer
-	origin.Locations = append(origin.Locations, publicLocation(location))
+	origin.Locations = append(origin.Locations, incoming.Locations...)
 	origins[pointer] = origin
 }
 
+func incomingOrigin(origins map[string]Origin, path Path, node *document.Node, layer Layer) Origin {
+	if origin, ok := origins[path.String()]; ok {
+		origin = cloneOrigin(origin)
+		origin.Layer = layer
+		return origin
+	}
+	return overlayOrigin(layer, node.Location)
+}
+
 func overlayOrigin(layer Layer, location document.Location) Origin {
 	return Origin{Layer: layer, Locations: []Location{publicLocation(location)}}
 }
@@ -104,9 +131,24 @@ func previousOrigins(origin Origin) []Origin {
 func displacedOrigins(node *document.Node, origins map[string]Origin, path Path) []displacedDefinition {
 	var displaced []displacedDefinition
 	collectDisplacedOrigins(&displaced, node, origins, path, Origin{})
-	slices.SortFunc(displaced, func(left, right displacedDefinition) int {
+	return sortDisplacedDefinitions(displaced)
-		return strings.Compare(left.path.String(), right.path.String())
+}
+
+func sortDisplacedDefinitions(displaced []displacedDefinition) []displacedDefinition {
+	type orderedDefinition struct {
+		definition displacedDefinition
+		pointer    string
+	}
+	ordered := make([]orderedDefinition, len(displaced))
+	for i, definition := range displaced {
+		ordered[i] = orderedDefinition{definition: definition, pointer: definition.path.String()}
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(ordered, func(left, right orderedDefinition) int {
+		return strings.Compare(left.pointer, right.pointer)
 	})
+	for i, item := range ordered {
+		displaced[i] = item.definition
+	}
 	return displaced
 }
 
@@ -129,11 +171,16 @@ func collectDisplacedOrigins(displaced *[]displacedDefinition, node *document.No
 	}
 }
 
-func deleteOriginSubtree(origins map[string]Origin, path Path) {
+func deleteOriginSubtree(origins map[string]Origin, path Path, node *document.Node) {
-	prefix := path.String()
+	delete(origins, path.String())
-	for pointer := range origins {
+	switch node.Kind {
-		if pointer == prefix || strings.HasPrefix(pointer, prefix+"/") {
+	case document.Mapping:
-			delete(origins, pointer)
+		for _, entry := range node.Mapping {
+			deleteOriginSubtree(origins, path.Key(entry.Key), entry.Value)
+		}
+	case document.Sequence:
+		for index, child := range node.Sequence {
+			deleteOriginSubtree(origins, path.Index(index), child)
 		}
 	}
 }

internal/engine/overlay_test.go

@@ -76,3 +76,67 @@ to_scalar: scalar
 		t.Fatal("overlay result aliases an input document")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestOwnedOverlayKeepsCompositeContributorsAndAcquiredInputs(t *testing.T) {
+	baseInput := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", "catalog:\n  base: true\n")
+	base, diagnostics := composeDocuments(baseInput)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	first := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-2", "catalog:\n  first: true\n")
+	second := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-3", "catalog:\n  second: true\n")
+	firstBefore, secondBefore := document.Clone(first), document.Clone(second)
+	incoming, diagnostics := composeDocuments(first, second)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	assembly := newAssemblyAccumulator(base)
+	if diagnostics := assembly.applyOverlay(incoming.root, incoming.origins, incoming.applications, LayerOverlay); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	for _, key := range []string{"base", "first", "second"} {
+		if _, ok := documentAtPath(assembly.current.root, Keys("catalog", key)); !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("catalog is missing %q", key)
+		}
+	}
+	origin := assembly.current.origins[Keys("catalog").String()]
+	if got, want := origin.Locations, []Location{{SourceID: "source-1", Line: 2, Column: 3}, {SourceID: "source-2", Line: 2, Column: 3}, {SourceID: "source-3", Line: 2, Column: 3}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("catalog origin locations = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+	}
+	if len(assembly.current.applications) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("history applications = %d, want three source contributions", len(assembly.current.applications))
+	}
+	for _, application := range assembly.current.applications[1:] {
+		if application.layer != LayerOverlay {
+			t.Fatalf("incoming application layer = %q", application.layer)
+		}
+	}
+	assembly.current.root.Mapping[0].Value.Mapping[1].Value.Text = "false"
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(first, firstBefore) || !reflect.DeepEqual(second, secondBefore) ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(first, assembly.current.applications[1].value) || !reflect.DeepEqual(second, assembly.current.applications[2].value) {
+		t.Fatal("working tree mutation changed an acquired input")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDisplacedOriginsSortEscapedPointers(t *testing.T) {
+	input := parseCompositionDocument(t, "source-1", `values:
+  z: old
+  a/b: slash
+  a~b: tilde
+  nested: {x: old}
+`)
+	composed, diagnostics := composeDocuments(input)
+	if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal(diagnostics)
+	}
+	displaced := displacedOrigins(composed.root, composed.origins, Path{})
+	want := []string{"", "/values", "/values/a~0b", "/values/a~1b", "/values/nested", "/values/nested/x", "/values/z"}
+	if len(displaced) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("displaced definitions = %d, want %d", len(displaced), len(want))
+	}
+	for i, definition := range displaced {
+		if got := definition.path.String(); got != want[i] {
+			t.Fatalf("displaced[%d] path = %q, want %q", i, got, want[i])
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/engine/override.go

@@ -44,18 +44,22 @@ func prepareOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []
 	allSources := cloneSourceInfos(sources)
 	for index, override := range overrides {
 		sourceID := "source-" + strconv.Itoa(len(sources)+index+1)
-		info := SourceInfo{ID: sourceID, Label: override.Flag, Layer: LayerCLI}
+		info := SourceInfo{ID: sourceID, Label: override.Flag, Layer: LayerCLI, Kind: SourceKindCLI}
 		allSources = append(allSources, info)
 		prepared[index].source = info
 	}
 
 	seen := make(map[string]int, len(overrides))
-	pathAccepted := make([]bool, len(overrides))
+	var acceptedPaths pathPrefixIndex
+	var baseLookup *documentLookup
+	if len(overrides) != 0 {
+		baseLookup = buildDocumentLookup(base.root)
+	}
 	var usedBytes int64
 	usedNodes := 0
 	for index, override := range overrides {
 		location := &Location{SourceID: prepared[index].source.ID}
-		if issue := validateOverridePath(override.Path, base.root); issue != nil {
+		if issue := validateOverridePath(override.Path, base.root, baseLookup); issue != nil {
 			issue.Primary = location
 			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, *issue)
 			continue
@@ -70,7 +74,7 @@ func prepareOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []
 			continue
 		}
 		seen[pointer] = index
-		if conflicting := overlappingOverride(overrides[:index], pathAccepted[:index], override.Path); conflicting >= 0 {
+		if conflicting, overlaps := acceptedPaths.earliestIntersectingID(pointer); overlaps {
 			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, Diagnostic{
 				Code: CodeOverrideOverlap, Severity: SeverityError, Path: override.Path.clone(),
 				Message: "configuration override paths overlap", Primary: location,
@@ -92,13 +96,14 @@ func prepareOverrides(base *composedDocument, sources []SourceInfo, overrides []
 			})
 			continue
 		}
-		pathAccepted[index] = true
+		acceptedPaths.insert(pointer, index)
 
-		builder := overrideValueBuilder{sourceID: prepared[index].source.ID, active: make(map[valueVisit]bool)}
+		builder := valueBuilder{sourceID: prepared[index].source.ID, active: make(map[valueVisit]bool)}
 		value, issue := builder.build(override.Value, override.Path, len(override.Path.segments))
 		if issue != nil {
-			issue.Primary = location
+			diagnostic := issue.overrideDiagnostic()
-			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, *issue)
+			diagnostic.Primary = location
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, diagnostic)
 			continue
 		}
 		if relative, ok := overrideDirectivePath(value, Path{}); ok {
@@ -149,7 +154,7 @@ func validOverrideLabel(label string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func validateOverridePath(path Path, root *document.Node) *Diagnostic {
+func validateOverridePath(path Path, root *document.Node, lookup *documentLookup) *Diagnostic {
 	if !path.valid() || len(path.segments) == 0 {
 		return &Diagnostic{Code: CodeOverrideInvalidPath, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path.clone(), Message: "configuration override path must be a valid non-root mapping path"}
 	}
@@ -164,7 +169,7 @@ func validateOverridePath(path Path, root *document.Node) *Diagnostic {
 		if current.Kind != document.Mapping {
 			return &Diagnostic{Code: CodeOverrideInvalidPath, Severity: SeverityError, Path: path.clone(), Message: "configuration override path traverses a non-mapping value"}
 		}
-		position := documentEntryIndex(current.Mapping, segment.key)
+		position := lookup.find(current, segment.key)
 		if index == len(path.segments)-1 {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -177,15 +182,6 @@ func validateOverridePath(path Path, root *document.Node) *Diagnostic {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func overlappingOverride(previous []Override, valid []bool, path Path) int {
-	for index, override := range previous {
-		if valid[index] && (pathContains(override.Path, path) || pathContains(path, override.Path)) {
-			return index
-		}
-	}
-	return -1
-}
-
 func pathContainsDirective(path Path) bool {
 	for _, segment := range path.segments {
 		if segment.key == directiveKey {