Prepare the v0.9.0 release

README.md

@@ -33,10 +33,19 @@ boundary and constraints that framework work must preserve.
 
 ## Release Guidance
 
-Consumers upgrading from `v0.5.0` to `v0.6.0` should read the
-[v0.6.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.6.0.md).
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.8.0` to `v0.9.0` should read the
+[v0.9.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.9.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.7.0` to `v0.8.0` can consult the
+[v0.8.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.8.0.md).
 
 Earlier adopters can consult the
+[v0.7.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.7.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.5.0` to `v0.6.0` can consult the
+[v0.6.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.6.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.4.0` to `v0.5.0` can consult the
 [v0.5.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.5.0.md).
 
 Consumers upgrading from `v0.3.0` to `v0.4.0` should read the

appended_messages_contract_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package promptkit_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"reflect"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit"
+)
+
+func TestAppendedMessageRoleConstantsAreStrings(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		developer string = promptkit.RoleDeveloper
+		system    string = promptkit.RoleSystem
+		user      string = promptkit.RoleUser
+		assistant string = promptkit.RoleAssistant
+	)
+	if developer != "developer" || system != "system" || user != "user" || assistant != "assistant" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected role constants: %q %q %q %q", developer, system, user, assistant)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAppendedMessagesComposeFrozenEffectivePrompt(t *testing.T) {
+	cacheControl := &promptkit.CacheControl{Type: promptkit.CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}
+	appended := []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: " \tAsSiStAnT\n", Content: "previous response"},
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "corrective request", CacheControl: cacheControl},
+	}
+	client := &fakeLLMClient{response: &promptkit.GenerateResponse{Content: "output"}}
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(
+		promptkit.Config{},
+		promptkit.WithPromptFS(contractPromptFS("prompt", "profile", "configured prompt"), "."),
+		promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{ID: "profile", Endpoint: "http://example.test/v1", Model: "model"}),
+		promptkit.WithLLMClient(client),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct engine: %v", err)
+	}
+	request := promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt", AppendedMessages: appended}
+
+	plain, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare plain request: %v", err)
+	}
+	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare appended request: %v", err)
+	}
+	expected := []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "configured prompt"},
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: "previous response"},
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "corrective request", CacheControl: &promptkit.CacheControl{Type: promptkit.CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(prepared.Messages, expected) || prepared.PromptHash != plain.PromptHash || prepared.RenderedPromptHash == plain.RenderedPromptHash {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared effective prompt = %#v, plain = %#v", prepared, plain)
+	}
+
+	equivalent, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt", AppendedMessages: []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: "previous response"},
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "corrective request", CacheControl: &promptkit.CacheControl{Type: promptkit.CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}},
+	}})
+	if err != nil || equivalent.RenderedPromptHash != prepared.RenderedPromptHash {
+		t.Fatalf("normalized-equivalent request = (%#v, %v), want matching rendered hash %q", equivalent, err, prepared.RenderedPromptHash)
+	}
+
+	for _, variant := range []promptkit.RunRequest{
+		{PromptID: "prompt", AppendedMessages: []promptkit.RenderedMessage{{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: "changed"}, expected[2]}},
+		{PromptID: "prompt", AppendedMessages: []promptkit.RenderedMessage{expected[2], expected[1]}},
+		{PromptID: "prompt", AppendedMessages: []promptkit.RenderedMessage{{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: "previous response"}, {Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "corrective request"}}},
+	} {
+		variantPrepared, prepareErr := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), variant)
+		if prepareErr != nil || variantPrepared.RenderedPromptHash == prepared.RenderedPromptHash || variantPrepared.PromptHash != prepared.PromptHash {
+			t.Fatalf("variant preparation = (%#v, %v)", variantPrepared, prepareErr)
+		}
+	}
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), request)
+	if err != nil || result.RenderedPromptHash != prepared.RenderedPromptHash || !reflect.DeepEqual(client.requests[0].Prompt.Messages, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("run result = (%#v, %v), request = %#v", result, err, client.requests)
+	}
+
+	execution, err := engine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare execution: %v", err)
+	}
+	appended[0].Content = "changed caller content"
+	cacheControl.TTL = ""
+	firstDetails := execution.Details()
+	firstDetails.Messages[1].Content = "changed details content"
+	firstDetails.Messages[2].CacheControl.Type = "changed details cache"
+	secondDetails := execution.Details()
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(secondDetails.Messages, expected) || secondDetails.RenderedPromptHash != prepared.RenderedPromptHash {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared execution details = %#v, want frozen %#v", secondDetails, expected)
+	}
+
+	result, err = engine.RunPrepared(context.Background(), execution)
+	if err != nil || result.RenderedPromptHash != prepared.RenderedPromptHash || !reflect.DeepEqual(client.requests[1].Prompt.Messages, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared result = (%#v, %v), requests = %#v", result, err, client.requests)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInvalidAppendedMessagesFailBeforeSourceOrModelWork(t *testing.T) {
+	promptSource := &inspectionCountingFS{}
+	var modelCalls atomic.Int64
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(
+		promptkit.Config{},
+		promptkit.WithPromptFS(promptSource, "."),
+		promptkit.WithLLMClient(countingLLMClient{calls: &modelCalls}),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct engine: %v", err)
+	}
+	request := promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID: "unreached",
+		AppendedMessages: []promptkit.RenderedMessage{{
+			Role:    "unsupported-role",
+			Content: "sensitive appended content",
+		}},
+	}
+
+	operations := []struct {
+		name string
+		run  func() error
+	}{
+		{name: "Prepare", run: func() error { _, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), request); return err }},
+		{name: "PrepareExecution", run: func() error { _, err := engine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), request); return err }},
+		{name: "Run", run: func() error { _, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), request); return err }},
+	}
+	for _, operation := range operations {
+		t.Run(operation.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := operation.run()
+			if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want ErrInvalidRequest", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	if promptSource.opens.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid appended message opened prompt sources %d times", promptSource.opens.Load())
+	}
+	if modelCalls.Load() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid appended message invoked the model %d times", modelCalls.Load())
+	}
+}

convert.go

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package promptkit
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
+	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
@@ -12,19 +14,52 @@ func toDomainRunRequest(req RunRequest) (domain.RunRequest, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return domain.RunRequest{}, err
 	}
+	appendedMessages, err := toDomainAppendedMessages(req.AppendedMessages)
+	if err != nil {
+		return domain.RunRequest{}, err
+	}
 	return domain.RunRequest{
-		PromptID:      req.PromptID,
-		PromptVersion: req.PromptVersion,
-		ProfileID:     req.ProfileID,
-		SessionID:     req.SessionID,
-		APIKey:        req.APIKey,
-		Inputs:        toDomainArtifactRefMap(req.Inputs),
-		Vars:          copyStringMap(req.Vars),
-		Execution:     execution,
-		Validation:    toDomainOutputContractPtr(req.Validation),
+		PromptID:         req.PromptID,
+		PromptVersion:    req.PromptVersion,
+		ProfileID:        req.ProfileID,
+		SessionID:        req.SessionID,
+		APIKey:           req.APIKey,
+		Inputs:           toDomainArtifactRefMap(req.Inputs),
+		Vars:             copyStringMap(req.Vars),
+		Execution:        execution,
+		Validation:       toDomainOutputContractPtr(req.Validation),
+		AppendedMessages: appendedMessages,
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func toDomainAppendedMessages(messages []RenderedMessage) ([]domain.RenderedMessage, error) {
+	if messages == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	converted := make([]domain.RenderedMessage, len(messages))
+	for index, message := range messages {
+		if !utf8.ValidString(message.Content) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("appended message %d content must be valid UTF-8", index)
+		}
+		role, err := domain.NormalizeMessageRole(message.Role)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("appended message %d role: %w", index, err)
+		}
+
+		cacheControl, err := domain.NormalizeCacheControl(toDomainCacheControl(message.CacheControl))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("appended message %d cache_control: %w", index, err)
+		}
+		converted[index] = domain.RenderedMessage{
+			Role:         role,
+			Content:      message.Content,
+			CacheControl: cacheControl,
+		}
+	}
+	return converted, nil
+}
+
 func fromDomainPreparedRun(prepared *domain.PreparedRun) *PreparedRun {
 	if prepared == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -285,6 +320,16 @@ func fromDomainRenderedMessages(messages []domain.RenderedMessage) []RenderedMes
 	return out
 }
 
+func toDomainCacheControl(cacheControl *CacheControl) *domain.CacheControl {
+	if cacheControl == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &domain.CacheControl{
+		Type: domain.CacheControlType(cacheControl.Type),
+		TTL:  cacheControl.TTL,
+	}
+}
+
 func fromDomainCacheControl(cacheControl *domain.CacheControl) *CacheControl {
 	if cacheControl == nil {
 		return nil

convert_appended_messages_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+func TestToDomainAppendedMessages(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		messages    []RenderedMessage
+		want        []domain.RenderedMessage
+		wantErr     string
+		privateRole string
+		privateText string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "normalizes supported roles",
+			messages: []RenderedMessage{
+				{Role: " DeVeLoPeR ", Content: "developer"},
+				{Role: "SyStEm", Content: "system"},
+				{Role: "\tUsEr\n", Content: "user"},
+				{Role: "assistant", Content: "assistant"},
+			},
+			want: []domain.RenderedMessage{
+				{Role: domain.RoleDeveloper, Content: "developer"},
+				{Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "system"},
+				{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "user"},
+				{Role: domain.RoleAssistant, Content: "assistant"},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "invalid role UTF-8",
+			messages: []RenderedMessage{{Role: string([]byte{0xff}), Content: "private-content"}},
+			wantErr:  "appended message 0 role",
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "invalid content UTF-8",
+			messages: []RenderedMessage{{Role: "private-role", Content: string([]byte{0xff})}},
+			wantErr:  "appended message 0 content",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "unsupported role",
+			messages:    []RenderedMessage{{Role: "private-role", Content: "private-content"}},
+			wantErr:     "appended message 0 role",
+			privateRole: "private-role",
+			privateText: "private-content",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "invalid cache control",
+			messages:    []RenderedMessage{{Role: RoleUser, Content: "private-content", CacheControl: &CacheControl{Type: "private-cache"}}},
+			wantErr:     "appended message 0 cache_control",
+			privateText: "private-content",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "empty and whitespace content",
+			messages: []RenderedMessage{
+				{Role: RoleUser, Content: ""},
+				{Role: RoleAssistant, Content: " \t\n "},
+			},
+			want: []domain.RenderedMessage{
+				{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: ""},
+				{Role: domain.RoleAssistant, Content: " \t\n "},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := toDomainAppendedMessages(test.messages)
+			if test.wantErr != "" {
+				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), test.wantErr) {
+					t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %q", err, test.wantErr)
+				}
+				for _, privateValue := range []string{test.privateRole, test.privateText} {
+					if privateValue != "" && strings.Contains(err.Error(), privateValue) {
+						t.Fatalf("error exposed appended message data %q: %v", privateValue, err)
+					}
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("toDomainAppendedMessages() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, test.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("toDomainAppendedMessages() = %#v, want %#v", got, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestToDomainAppendedMessagesCopiesCacheControl(t *testing.T) {
+	cacheControl := &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}
+	messages := []RenderedMessage{{Role: RoleUser, Content: "content", CacheControl: cacheControl}}
+	request, err := toDomainRunRequest(RunRequest{AppendedMessages: messages})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("toDomainRunRequest() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	messages[0].Content = "changed"
+	cacheControl.TTL = ""
+	if request.AppendedMessages[0].Content != "content" || request.AppendedMessages[0].CacheControl.TTL != "1h" {
+		t.Fatalf("domain request did not retain an independent appended-message copy: %#v", request.AppendedMessages)
+	}
+}

docs/consumers/pkg-promptkit.md

@@ -173,6 +173,49 @@ semantics. The
 [OpenAI-compatible integration contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md)
 owns the built-in client's outbound HTTP behavior.
 
+### Repair A Structured Result
+
+Set a small additional-call budget when a structurally invalid result can be
+corrected automatically:
+
+```go
+request.Validation = &promptkit.OutputContract{
+	Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
+	ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSONSchema,
+	SchemaPath:     "events.schema.json",
+	RepairAttempts: 1,
+}
+```
+
+Each repair attempt is another model call, so it can increase latency and
+usage; `RunResult.Usage` is cumulative and `Validation.RepairAttempts` reports
+calls actually started. Exhaustion still returns the final failed validation
+result. `basic` validation can also repair an empty candidate, but structural
+validity is not evidence of factual or domain correctness. See the
+[output-contract format reference](../formats.md#output-contract) and
+[`OutputContract` GoDoc](../../types.go) for the exact budget and eligibility
+rules.
+
+### Append Already-Rendered Messages
+
+An application can include an earlier assistant response and its own corrective
+instruction in a fresh request without changing the configured prompt:
+
+```go
+request.AppendedMessages = []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+	{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: previousResponse},
+	{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: correction},
+}
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, request)
+```
+
+These messages are already rendered: Promptkit does not template or resolve
+files in them, and they can contain sensitive model output or application
+feedback. Promptkit remains stateless; every `Run` call re-resolves its current
+sources and the application owns any semantic retry budget. When a
+pre-execution equality check is required, use `PrepareExecution` and compare
+its opaque rendered-prompt hash before invoking `RunPrepared`.
+
 ## Inputs, Profiles, And Overrides
 
 Use `File`, `Inline`, or `InlineWithURI` to construct request inputs. A request
@@ -189,6 +232,26 @@ For programmatic profiles,
 [`OpenAICompatibleProfile`](../../profiles.go) converts ordinary
 OpenAI-compatible settings into a value accepted by `WithProfiles`.
 
+### Alias A Built-In Profile
+
+Give an application-owned profile ID a built-in base when prompts should select
+the application ID while inheriting the built-in target. The child can override
+only the setting it owns:
+
+```go
+promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+	ID:              "weather-light",
+	BaseProfileID:   "deepseek-4-flash",
+	ReasoningEffort: "high",
+})
+```
+
+Select `weather-light` in a prompt or `RunRequest.ProfileID`; it remains the
+reported selected profile. See the [profile inheritance format
+reference](../formats.md#profile-inheritance) and the
+[`Profile` GoDoc](../../types.go) for exact lookup, merging, and validation
+behavior.
+
 ### Use The Rakestrawhome Built-In Profile
 
 Set `RAKESTRAWHOME_INFERENCE_API_KEY` in the application environment, then

docs/development.md

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Start with:
 | Root public API | The [architecture policy](policy/architecture.md), [consumer guide](consumers/pkg-promptkit.md), [testing policy](policy/testing.md), and existing GoDoc. |
 | Prompt, profile, or schema formats | The [framework format reference](formats.md), owning parser or validator package, and [documentation policy](policy/documentation.md). |
 | Source loading or validation | The [framework format reference](formats.md), [internal source document](internal/sources.md), and owning package tests. |
+| Maintained external catalogs or built-ins | The [internal source document](internal/sources.md), [framework format reference](formats.md), [testing policy](policy/testing.md), both catalog module repositories, and each catalog's release procedure. |
 | Model-client behavior | The [OpenAI-compatible integration contract](integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md), [internal model-client document](internal/llm.md), and owning package tests. |
 | Internal package implementation | The [architecture policy](policy/architecture.md), [internal component overview](internal/overview.md), and focused internal document listed for that package. |
 | Tests or test fixtures | The [testing policy](policy/testing.md), owning package, and focused internal document listed by the component overview. |

docs/formats.md

@@ -82,7 +82,13 @@ allowed.
 
 ### Messages And Templates
 
-Each message has a non-empty `role` and exactly one of:
+Each message has a `role` that Promptkit trims and lowercases. It must then be
+exactly one of `developer`, `system`, `user`, or `assistant`; blank, custom,
+`tool`, and `function` roles are invalid. This intentionally tightens the
+previous nonblank-string rule. Consumers migrating to the next minor release
+must update any nonstandard prompt-definition roles before upgrading.
+
+Each message also has exactly one of:
 
 - `content`, containing an inline Go template; or
 - `content_file`, naming a file whose contents are the Go template.
@@ -126,7 +132,7 @@ outbound integration determines its wire representation.
 | `format` | yes | `text`, `markdown`, or `json`. |
 | `validation_mode` | yes | `none`, `basic`, `json`, or `json_schema`. |
 | `schema_path` | for `json_schema` | Path to a schema in the configured schema source. |
-| `repair_attempts` | no | Integer zero or greater; omitted means zero. |
+| `repair_attempts` | no | Integer from zero through three; omitted means zero. A positive value requires `basic`, `json`, or `json_schema` validation. |
 
 The validation modes behave as follows:
 
@@ -136,9 +142,15 @@ The validation modes behave as follows:
 - `json_schema` requires valid JSON that satisfies the selected schema.
 
 `format` controls output artifact metadata. JSON Schema mode also supplies the
-schema to compatible model clients as structured-output metadata. The public
-engine does not install an output repairer, so its validation is single-pass
-even when a positive `repair_attempts` value is present.
+schema to compatible model clients as structured-output metadata. Plain `json`
+validation accepts every valid JSON value and does not request a provider-native
+JSON-object constraint.
+
+`repair_attempts` counts additional generation calls after a failed validation.
+Zero is single-pass. With a positive eligible budget, Promptkit stops at the
+first valid candidate. If the budget is exhausted, it returns the final
+candidate and its complete failed validation result; generation and operational
+validation failures remain errors. `none` never permits repair.
 
 A request-level `OutputContract` replaces the complete prompt output contract.
 It does not merge individual fields. If its format is empty, Promptkit uses
@@ -173,9 +185,19 @@ extra_params:
   provider_option: enabled
 ```
 
+A derived profile can use a named base and override only the settings it owns:
+
+```yaml
+id: local-summary-fast
+base_profile: local-summary
+timeout_seconds: 30
+reasoning_effort: low
+```
+
 | Field | Required | Meaning |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `id` | yes | Profile identifier, trimmed before selection and publication. It must be non-empty after trimming and unique within one source after normalization. |
+| `base_profile` | no | One optional parent profile ID. A derived profile may inherit target fields from it. |
 | `backend` | unless `endpoint` is present | Backend registry ID. It is trimmed and registry membership is checked when the profile is prepared or inspected. |
 | `endpoint` | unless `backend` is present | OpenAI-compatible base URL, including an API version path when required. A nonempty value is trimmed and must be absolute HTTP or HTTPS with a host and without user information, a query, or a fragment. When both connection fields are present, this overrides the backend endpoint without changing backend identity. |
 | `model` | yes | Non-empty provider model name. |
@@ -191,6 +213,11 @@ extra_params:
 Raw `api_key` is prohibited in profile YAML. Store only an environment
 variable name in `api_key_env`.
 
+A standalone profile must provide a model and at least one of `backend` or
+`endpoint`. A derived profile may omit those target fields because its selected
+base chain can provide them. Local parsing still validates a derived profile's
+own ID, supplied endpoint, execution-setting bounds, and `extra_params`.
+
 Promptkit does not infer a backend from a model or endpoint. Endpoint-only
 profiles remain supported and have no effective backend ID.
 The engine always provides the built-in `openrouter` and `rakestrawhome` IDs.
@@ -256,7 +283,7 @@ Profile sources resolve matching IDs in this order:
 2. the ordinary configured source selected by a profile file, `fs.FS`, or
    configured profile directory;
 3. application fallback profiles supplied with `WithFallbackProfileFS`; and
-4. embedded built-in profiles.
+4. maintained external catalog profiles.
 
 A profile source supplies a complete definition; definitions and their fields
 are not merged across sources. A higher-precedence source falls back only when
@@ -266,6 +293,32 @@ profiles. They use `APIKeyRequired` for request-scoped credentials instead of
 `api_key_env`. Preparation and exact profile inspection use this same source
 precedence.
 
+When a selected definition names `base_profile`, every profile ID in that
+chain is looked up through this same precedence order. A higher-precedence
+definition therefore shadows a lower-precedence definition of the same base
+ID, including a built-in. References are not source-qualified.
+
+### Profile Inheritance
+
+Promptkit resolves one linear base chain of at most 32 profiles, including the
+selected profile. It merges settings from the root base to the selected leaf.
+The leaf's `id` remains the selected profile identity. Nonblank string fields
+(`backend`, `endpoint`, `model`, `service_tier`, `reasoning_effort`, and
+`api_key_env`) and nonzero numeric fields replace inherited values. A nonempty
+`extra_params` map replaces the complete inherited map rather than merging
+keys, and `APIKeyRequired: true` remains true through the chain. Backend and
+endpoint are independent: replacing one does not clear the other.
+
+There is no profile-level clearing syntax. Blank strings, zero numbers, false,
+and empty maps remain unspecified and inherit from a base. Use existing
+presence-aware request overrides where an execution needs an explicit zero or
+empty reasoning setting.
+
+An absent directly selected profile reports the ordinary not-found error. Once
+the selected profile exists, a missing base, cycle, overlong chain, or
+incomplete resolved target is a profile-load failure. Ordinary operations
+resolve chains afresh; prepared execution retains the fully resolved target.
+
 ## Built-In Profile Catalog
 
 Every built-in profile selects one maintained built-in backend and inherits

docs/integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md

@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ Each ordinary message contains its `role` and string `content`. A
 cache-controlled message instead uses a text content block containing `type`,
 `text`, and `cache_control`; an empty cache-control TTL is omitted.
 
+Promptkit sends only `developer`, `system`, `user`, and `assistant` roles and
+does so without provider-specific translation. Tool and deprecated function
+payloads are outside this text-message contract. A backend or model that
+rejects an otherwise supported role or context returns its ordinary provider
+error, which follows the normal generation-error path.
+
 The effective direct or prompt-rendered session ID is trimmed, limited to 256
 Unicode code points, and sent when nonempty as top-level `session_id`. It is
 never also sent as a session header.
@@ -67,7 +73,8 @@ The client conditionally includes:
 - non-empty `service_tier` and effective `reasoning_effort`; an explicitly
   disabled reasoning setting is empty and therefore omitted; and
 - `response_format` for JSON Schema structured output, including its name,
-  strict flag, and schema document.
+  strict flag, and schema document. Plain JSON validation does not add an
+  object-only response constraint.
 
 The engine resolves backend, profile, and request extra-parameter maps by
 whole-map replacement rather than key merging. The resulting effective map is
@@ -99,10 +106,12 @@ drained.
 
 The bounded body must contain exactly one OpenAI-compatible JSON response
 object followed only by JSON whitespace and EOF. The client returns the first
-choice's non-empty message content and maps prompt, completion, total, cached,
-and cache-write token counts. Invalid or truncated JSON, trailing non-whitespace
-data, a second JSON value, absent choices, empty first-choice content, and size
-overflow are malformed responses and return no partial result.
+choice's explicitly present string message content, including an empty or
+whitespace-only string, and maps prompt, completion, total, cached, and
+cache-write token counts. Invalid or truncated JSON, trailing non-whitespace
+data, a second JSON value, absent choices, missing content, `null` content,
+non-string content, and size overflow are malformed responses and return no
+partial result.
 
 For a non-2xx status, Promptkit recognizes one JSON document with a top-level
 object-valued `error` member. Its optional `message` and `type` fields must be

docs/internal/llm.md

@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ uses internal domain values for rendered prompts, execution targets,
 structured output, responses, and token usage.
 
 The runner supplies a fully resolved target after applying backend, profile,
-and request precedence. The client uses its endpoint, credential metadata,
-generation fields, and extra parameters. `BackendID` remains routing metadata
+and request precedence, plus canonical provider-bound text messages. The
+client uses its endpoint, credential metadata, generation fields, and extra
+parameters. `BackendID` remains routing metadata
 for the generation boundary and is not mapped into the provider payload.
 
 Construction trims and validates a nonempty configured base URL and clones any
@@ -89,6 +90,12 @@ truncation, malformed JSON, trailing data, and a second value are malformed
 responses with no partial result or provider content in the error. Every body
 is closed, and an unbounded oversized stream is not drained.
 
+After framing succeeds, the first choice must contain an explicitly present
+string `message.content`. The string is returned exactly, including empty or
+whitespace-only content. Missing choices, missing or `null` content, and
+non-string content are malformed responses. Output validation and correction
+eligibility remain outside this package.
+
 For a non-success response, `ProviderHTTPError` retains the HTTP status and
 only normalized detail from the bounded recognized envelope. It retains
 `ErrUnexpectedStatus` through unwrapping. The client owns response closure;

docs/internal/overview.md

@@ -11,23 +11,23 @@ contributor workflow and validation.
 
 | Component | Implemented responsibility | References |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| Root `promptkit` package | Provides the supported engine facade, source, backend-registration, and injection options, public request, result, prompt-inspection, and profile-inspection values, opaque prepared-execution handles, profile construction, extension interfaces, value conversion, redacted formatting, typed capacity and generation error mapping, and engine-local profile-source assembly including application fallbacks. | [Package GoDoc](../../doc.go), [prepared execution](../../prepared_execution.go), [backend API](../../backends.go), [engine assembly](../../engine.go) |
+| Root `promptkit` package | Provides the supported engine facade, source, backend-registration, and injection options, public request, result, prompt-inspection, and profile-inspection values, opaque prepared-execution handles, profile construction, extension interfaces, value conversion, redacted formatting, typed capacity and generation error mapping, engine-local profile-source assembly including application fallbacks, and bounded output-repair assembly. | [Package GoDoc](../../doc.go), [prepared execution](../../prepared_execution.go), [backend API](../../backends.go), [engine assembly](../../engine.go) |
 | `examples/go-library/prepare` | Demonstrates an offline downstream consumer using a prompt file, in-memory profile, inline input, and `Prepare`. It is not a public library package. | [Example program](../../examples/go-library/prepare/main.go) |
 | `examples/go-library/run` | Demonstrates an offline downstream consumer using a prompt file, in-memory profile, inline input, an injected deterministic model client, and `Run`. It is not a public library package. | [Example program](../../examples/go-library/run/main.go) |
-| `internal/backend` | Constructs each engine's immutable registry from the maintained built-in definitions and consumer additions, validates and defensively copies definitions through the shared JSON-value package, and consumes the LLM-owned OpenAI-compatible reserved request-field rule. | [Backend registry](../../internal/backend/registry.go) |
+| `internal/backend` | Constructs each engine's immutable registry from maintained definitions and consumer additions, validates and defensively copies definitions through the shared JSON-value package, and consumes the LLM-owned OpenAI-compatible reserved request-field rule. | [Backend registry](../../internal/backend/registry.go) |
+| `internal/catalog` | Strictly validates imported immutable maintained backend and profile catalog assets before engine assembly uses them. | [Catalog adapter](../../internal/catalog/catalog.go), [internal sources](sources.md#profiles-and-built-ins) |
 | `internal/capacity` | Owns engine-local bounded execution admission and FIFO model-generation permits for limited backend IDs, including cancellation-safe waiter removal and client wrapping. | [Internal capacity management](capacity.md) |
 | `internal/domain` | Defines internal framework values for requests, artifacts, prompt definitions, profiles, execution targets, rendering, generation, and validation, and owns source-neutral invariants for shared execution settings, OpenAI-compatible base endpoints, session identifiers, and output contracts. Source parsing, required fields, other source-specific normalization, defaulting, and boundary-specific error classification remain with their callers. | [Domain declarations](../../internal/domain/domain.go), [endpoint invariant](../../internal/domain/endpoint.go) |
 | `internal/defaults` | Defines application-neutral framework constants and constructs the default execution target. It contains no CLI, server, or inbound HTTP limits. | [Framework defaults](../../internal/defaults/defaults.go) |
 | `internal/filecatalog` | Provides deterministic YAML discovery and path helpers for operating-system filesystems and `fs.FS` sources. | [File catalog](../../internal/filecatalog/catalog.go) |
 | `internal/jsonvalue` | Validates and deeply copies bounded JSON-compatible extra-parameter and prepared-schema trees while preserving supported concrete value types and rejecting cycles or excessive depth and work. | [JSON values](../../internal/jsonvalue/jsonvalue.go) |
 | `internal/promptdef` | Loads strictly decoded, validated prompt definitions from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources, including version selection and contained file-backed message content. | [Framework formats](../formats.md), [prompt-definition repository](../../internal/promptdef/filesystem_repository.go) |
-| `internal/profile` | Loads strictly decoded, validated execution profiles, including backend selection, from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources and composes repositories with error-preserving fallback. | [Framework formats](../formats.md), [profile repositories](../../internal/profile/filesystem_repository.go) |
-| `internal/profile/builtin` | Embeds the built-in profile catalog, whose entries select maintained built-in backends. | [Built-in catalog](../formats.md#built-in-profile-catalog), [repository](../../internal/profile/builtin/repository.go) |
+| `internal/profile` | Loads strictly decoded, locally validated execution profiles from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources, overlays raw sources with error-preserving fallback, and resolves inherited profiles. | [Framework formats](../formats.md), [profile repositories](../../internal/profile/filesystem_repository.go), [internal sources](sources.md#profiles-and-built-ins) |
 | `internal/prompt` | Renders prompt messages from Go templates with artifact, variable, session, and cache-control data. | [Go-template renderer](../../internal/prompt/go_renderer.go) |
 | `internal/artifact` | Resolves ordinary inline and unrestricted caller-selected file references into copied artifacts with metadata and hashes. | [Internal sources and validation](sources.md) |
 | `internal/validate` | Validates basic, JSON, and JSON Schema output using operating-system filesystem or `fs.FS` schema sources and creates operation-local validation plans with canonical contained schema resources. | [Framework formats](../formats.md#schemas), [internal sources and validation](sources.md) |
 | `internal/llm` | Defines the internal generation boundary and implements outbound OpenAI-compatible chat requests from resolved execution targets, including bounded structured non-success response decoding, successful-response decoding, authentication, deadline handling, and ownership of the OpenAI-compatible reserved request-field policy. | [Internal model client](llm.md) |
-| `internal/usecase` | Resolves prompt definitions and hashes, profiles, backends, and targets for exact inspection and request settings for preparation, and coordinates ordinary execution and one-attempt prepared execution across internal sources, rendering, artifact loading, operation-local validation plans, generation, capacity, and optional repair. | [Internal runner](runner.md), [prepared-execution implementation](../../internal/usecase/prepared_execution.go) |
+| `internal/usecase` | Resolves prompt definitions and hashes, profiles, backends, and targets for exact inspection and request settings for preparation, and coordinates ordinary execution and one-attempt prepared execution across internal sources, rendering, artifact loading, operation-local validation plans, generation, capacity, and bounded repair. | [Internal runner](runner.md), [prepared-execution implementation](../../internal/usecase/prepared_execution.go) |
 
 The root package assembles these internal components without exposing their
 representations. Consumers depend only on the root facade.

docs/internal/runner.md

@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ built-in backend and validated consumer additions, one engine-local run
 admitter, and a model client wrapped by the same capacity manager. Validation
 plans and provider-facing schema metadata come from the validator's preparation
 interface.
-An output repairer can be injected internally, but the ordinary runner
-constructor does not enable one.
+The root engine supplies one default output repairer through the explicit
+runner constructor, using the same capacity-wrapped client as initial
+generation. The no-repair runner constructor remains available for focused
+internal callers and tests.
 
 Each invocation carries its state in request, prepared-run, and result values.
 The runner has no durable run or session store.
@@ -82,7 +84,8 @@ profile, or backend:
    schema metadata from it when required;
 2. load and hash input artifacts;
 3. render messages and the prompt-defined session;
-4. apply any direct session ID;
+4. apply any direct session ID, then append already-normalized request messages
+   after the rendered definition messages;
 5. hash the effective rendered prompt; and
 6. construct the prepared value and preparation timing.
 
@@ -111,7 +114,10 @@ the prompt session template, and is applied after ordinary message rendering.
 A blank direct value retains prompt-template behavior. The runner clears the
 template only on a value copy of the definition, so the definition hash always
 describes the original source while the rendered-prompt hash includes the
-effective direct or rendered session.
+effective direct or rendered session and the complete effective message
+sequence. The rendered-prompt hash uses a versioned, length-framed SHA-256
+encoding of that session, every role and content value, and cache-control
+presence and values; its hexadecimal value is opaque.
 
 The registry is read-only after engine construction. Concurrent `Prepare` and
 `Run` calls resolve independent defensive backend values and keep all
@@ -125,8 +131,8 @@ admitter is an internal unlimited fallback. After successful admission, `Run`
 immediately defers the returned release function, performs the completion
 phase, makes one initial generation call, builds the named output artifact,
 and validates that artifact with the plan compiled during completion. Invalid
-generated content remains a validation result; an inability to perform
-validation is an operational error.
+generated content remains a validation result; an inability to generate or
+perform validation is an operational error.
 
 Validation preparation and execution honor cancellation at every
 Promptkit-controlled boundary and do not publish a partial plan or result.
@@ -142,17 +148,26 @@ serializing preparation or validation behind the active-generation limit.
 The wrapped model client separately acquires a FIFO active permit only around
 each actual generation call.
 
-When an internal repairer is present, a JSON or JSON Schema content failure can
-trigger bounded repair attempts. Repair receives the effective execution
-target, explicit numeric-presence bits, credential, backend identity, session
-ID, validation errors, prior output, and structured-output specification. One
-request constructor supplies those common fields to initial and repair
-generation while their rendered prompts remain intentionally distinct. The
-default repairer uses the same wrapped client as initial generation, so each
-repair reacquires the selected backend's active permit while remaining inside
-its original admission lease. Repair never performs a second bounded
-admission, and repaired outputs use the operation's existing validation plan.
-This capability remains internal and is not a public option.
+After a failed `basic`, JSON, or JSON Schema validation with a positive frozen
+budget, the installed repairer can make a bounded corrective call. Each request
+starts with a fresh copy of the complete effective message sequence (the
+configured prefix followed by the request suffix), includes only the latest
+nonempty candidate as an assistant message, and appends one corrective user
+message. Empty candidates omit that assistant message. The
+correction carries validation diagnostics as JSON data bounded to 64 KiB; the
+full diagnostics remain in the validation result.
+
+Repair receives the effective execution target, explicit numeric-presence bits,
+credential, backend identity, session ID, and structured-output specification.
+The same request constructor supplies those common fields to initial and repair
+generation. The default repairer uses the same wrapped client as initial
+generation, so each repair reacquires the selected backend's active permit
+while remaining inside its original admission lease. Repair never performs a
+second bounded admission, and repaired outputs use the operation's existing
+validation plan. The runner stops at the first valid candidate, sums completed
+generation usage, reports calls actually started, and returns the final failed
+validation result on exhaustion. A repair generation failure follows the
+ordinary generation-error category rather than becoming a validation error.
 
 A successful result includes the output artifact and raw output, validation
 state, effective session ID, prompt and rendered-prompt hashes, selected

docs/internal/sources.md

@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ paths, content opening, and root containment. Each lookup remains a
 point-in-time scan: definitions and catalogs are not cached, and file-backed
 message content is opened only for the exact selected candidate.
 
+Message roles are normalized through the shared domain owner by trimming
+Unicode whitespace and lowercasing. Only `developer`, `system`, `user`, and
+`assistant` are published; invalid roles remain selected prompt-definition
+failures rather than becoming request errors. Cache-control metadata uses the
+same shared domain normalization and defensive-copy rule.
+
 Operating-system sources enforce containment against canonical roots and
 targets so symlinks cannot escape. Injected `fs.FS` sources enforce containment
 in their clean relative path namespace. A single-file source uses the selected
@@ -39,17 +45,30 @@ duplicate detection, and source containment:
 
 ## Profiles And Built-Ins
 
-`internal/profile` loads and validates execution profiles from an
-operating-system filesystem or an `fs.FS`. A file contains exactly one YAML
-document and its trimmed YAML `id` is its only selection identity; filenames do
-not confer authority. Each point lookup reads discovered files once for their
-metadata and reuses the selected file's bytes for strict decoding; unrelated
-profiles are not fully decoded. Strict selected decoding recognizes the
-optional `backend` field, trims its value, and requires a model plus at least
-one non-blank backend or endpoint. File-backed `extra_params` values are
-validated and defensively copied through the shared bounded JSON-value owner
-before a profile is published. OpenAI-compatible reserved-field policy remains
-with the model-client and backend-registry owners.
+`internal/profile` loads, locally validates, overlays, and resolves execution
+profiles from an operating-system filesystem or an `fs.FS`. A file contains
+exactly one YAML document and its trimmed YAML `id` is its only selection
+identity; filenames do not confer authority. Each point lookup reads discovered
+files once for their metadata and reuses the selected file's bytes for strict
+decoding; unrelated profiles are not fully decoded. Strict selected decoding
+recognizes `base_profile` and the optional `backend` field, trims their values,
+and permits inherited target fields only when a base is named. File-backed
+`extra_params` values are validated and defensively copied through the shared
+bounded JSON-value owner before a profile is published. OpenAI-compatible
+reserved-field policy remains with the model-client and backend-registry owners.
+
+`LoadFSRepository` is the eager immutable loading boundary for internal
+catalog consumers. It discovers and strictly validates every raw profile once,
+preserves safe source metadata including explicitly present YAML fields, and
+publishes independently copied values from memory. It does not resolve profile
+inheritance. Configured consumer sources continue to use the lazy point lookup
+repositories described above.
+
+`internal/catalog` validates the imported immutable OpenRouter and
+Rakestrawhome asset modules as one private adapter boundary. It enforces their
+manifest, layout, profile ownership, inheritance, and secret-safety rules
+before returning raw catalog sources. Root assembly uses those validated
+catalogs as the maintained lowest-precedence profile source.
 
 The overlay repository consults the next repository only when the
 higher-precedence repository reports that a profile is absent. A reliably
@@ -59,24 +78,31 @@ backend registry membership because the available registry belongs to the
 assembled engine; the runner checks membership during preparation and exact
 profile inspection.
 
-The root engine assembles profile repositories in precedence order: in-memory
-profiles, one ordinary configured source, an application fallback source, then
-the embedded built-in catalog. An explicit file or `fs.FS` profile source
-replaces `Config.ProfileDir` within the ordinary configured-source category.
+The root engine assembles one raw composite catalog in precedence order:
+in-memory profiles, one ordinary configured source, an application fallback
+source, then the maintained external catalog. An explicit file or `fs.FS` profile
+source replaces `Config.ProfileDir` within the ordinary configured-source
+category. One outer resolving repository wraps that complete raw catalog, so
+each base lookup observes the same precedence and shadowing rules.
 
-Exact profile inspection performs one point-in-time lookup through those
-profile sources and checks the resolved target without reading prompt, input,
+The resolving repository traverses every selected chain afresh, retains no
+cache, detects cycles, limits a chain to 32 profiles, merges root-to-leaf into a
+new caller-owned value, and validates the final target before publishing it. It
+does not check backend registry membership. Exact `base_profile` syntax, merge
+rules, and consumer-visible failure behavior belong to the [framework format
+reference](../formats.md#profile-inheritance).
+
+Exact profile inspection performs one point-in-time resolved lookup through
+those profile sources and checks the final target without reading prompt, input,
 or schema sources. It does not retain that lookup for a later execution.
+Prepared execution instead freezes the fully resolved target; a later ordinary
+operation performs a fresh traversal.
 
-`internal/profile/builtin` embeds the maintained built-in profile catalog.
-Every embedded profile selects a maintained built-in backend and inherits that
-backend's endpoint and credential environment-variable name from the built-in
-backend registry rather than repeating those values. Profile loading and
-overlay behavior are owned by the
+The maintained external catalog provides every built-in profile and its
+matching backend definition. Profile loading and overlay behavior are owned by the
 [profile repository tests](../../internal/profile/repository_test.go), while
-catalog completeness, the backend-selection invariant, and duplicate IDs are
-owned by the
-[built-in repository tests](../../internal/profile/builtin/repository_test.go).
+catalog completeness, backend selection, and duplicate IDs are owned by the
+[catalog adapter tests](../../internal/catalog/catalog_test.go).
 
 ## Ordinary Artifacts
 
@@ -111,8 +137,9 @@ Session and message parsing and execution remain synchronous. The renderer
 checks cancellation before and after each parse and execution boundary,
 between artifact conversion chunks, around each message, and before publishing
 the complete prompt. It cannot interrupt template work already in progress and
-never publishes a partial prompt after observing cancellation. It carries
-message roles, session IDs, and cache control into the rendered prompt. The
+never publishes a partial prompt after observing cancellation. It validates and
+canonicalizes message roles before carrying roles, session IDs, and cache
+control into the rendered prompt. The
 [renderer tests](../../internal/prompt/renderer_test.go) own rendering behavior.
 
 ## Schemas And Output Validation

docs/policy/architecture.md

@@ -22,21 +22,21 @@ The implemented internal components consist of:
 - `internal/domain`, which owns framework data values and source-neutral
   invariants shared by later internal components;
 - `internal/backend`, which owns validated immutable OpenAI-compatible backend
-  definitions and the maintained built-in definitions;
+  definitions;
 - `internal/capacity`, which owns engine-local bounded run admission and
   model-generation scheduling for limited backends;
 - `internal/defaults`, which owns application-neutral framework defaults and
   constructs the default execution target;
 - `internal/filecatalog`, which discovers YAML files and provides source-path
   helpers for filesystem and `fs.FS` consumers;
+- `internal/catalog`, which validates immutable external maintained-catalog
+  assets before they are eligible for engine assembly;
 - `internal/jsonvalue`, which validates and defensively copies JSON-compatible
   extra-parameter trees;
 - `internal/promptdef`, which loads and validates prompt definitions from
   filesystem and `fs.FS` sources;
 - `internal/profile`, which loads, validates, and overlays execution profiles
   from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources;
-- `internal/profile/builtin`, which embeds the built-in execution profile
-  catalog;
 - `internal/prompt`, which renders prompt messages from Go templates;
 - `internal/artifact`, which resolves ordinary inline and unrestricted
   caller-selected file references;
@@ -54,13 +54,15 @@ packages or participate in internal assembly.
 The root facade assembles one immutable backend registry, one capacity manager,
 the internal repositories, renderer, validator, outbound client, and use-case
 runner while translating public values and errors at the library boundary. The
-registry contains built-ins plus validated engine-scoped consumer additions.
+registry contains validated maintained definitions plus engine-scoped consumer
+additions.
 The facade constructs the capacity manager from the registry's immutable
 policy snapshot, wraps the selected built-in or injected model client, and
 supplies bounded admission to the runner. The defaults and renderer depend on
 the domain model. Prompt-definition and profile repositories use the domain
-model, file catalog, and YAML decoder. The built-in profile repository supplies
-an embedded `fs.FS` to the profile package. Artifact reading uses the domain
+model, file catalog, and YAML decoder. The catalog adapter validates imported
+immutable maintained data before root assembly supplies it to the profile
+package. Artifact reading uses the domain
 model and application-neutral defaults. Validation uses the domain model, file
 catalog, and JSON Schema implementation. The model client uses the domain
 model, application-neutral defaults, and an injected or standard-library HTTP

docs/release.md

@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ grep -F 'Consumer action:' "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
 Inspect the complete message and confirm that it accurately records the
 compatibility impact, public API changes, and required consumer action.
 
+When a release introduces or updates the maintained external catalogs, state
+that it selects two independently versioned data dependencies, preserves the
+public API and configuration, requires no consumer migration, and guarantees
+only the catalog versions selected and tested by that Promptkit release. Link
+to the current architecture and format documentation rather than duplicating
+catalog contracts in the release note.
+
 ## Create And Inspect The Tag
 
 Run the candidate guard again immediately before tag creation. This ensures

docs/releases/v0.7.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+# Promptkit v0.7.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and migration guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.6.0` to `v0.7.0`. The annotated `v0.7.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.7.0` expands provider integration and profile composition while making
+credential and generation-failure handling more flexible:
+
+- Promptkit now includes the `rakestrawhome` backend and its Gemma profile;
+- built-in generation failures expose bounded structured provider details;
+- an unavailable optional API-key environment source no longer prevents a
+  request from reaching an upstream that permits unauthenticated access; and
+- profiles can inherit from and selectively refine another profile.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+This release adds public declarations and fields but removes none. Existing
+keyed configuration literals and ordinary `errors.Is` handling continue to
+work.
+
+Adding `BaseProfileID` to `Profile` and `OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig` changes
+their struct shape. Consumers using positional composite literals for either
+type must convert them to keyed literals. Existing keyed literals require no
+change.
+
+The `rakestrawhome` backend ID is now built in and reserved. A consumer that
+previously registered that exact ID with `WithBackend` must remove its manual
+registration before upgrading. Other custom backend registrations are
+unchanged.
+
+When an optional backend, profile, or request `APIKeyEnv` is unset, empty, or
+whitespace-only, the built-in client now omits `Authorization` and sends the
+request. Previously this condition could fail before transport. Set
+`Profile.APIKeyRequired` when missing credentials must remain a local
+preflight error.
+
+Provider non-success responses continue to match `ErrLLMGenerate`. Their
+rendered wording is not a compatibility contract; consumers can now use
+`errors.As` with `*GenerationError` when structured status information is
+needed.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.7.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Remove any manual `rakestrawhome` backend registration, convert positional
+profile literals to keyed literals, and run the consuming project's ordinary
+and race-enabled tests.
+
+## Rakestrawhome Built-In Backend And Profile
+
+Every engine now includes the reserved `rakestrawhome` backend, identified by
+`BackendRakestrawHome`. The built-in `rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b` profile
+selects that backend. Consumers can use the maintained endpoint, credential,
+capacity, and model defaults without registering either definition themselves.
+
+See the [built-in backend and profile catalogs](../formats.md#built-in-backends)
+and the [consumer adoption example](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#use-the-rakestrawhome-built-in-profile)
+for the current contracts.
+
+## Structured Generation Errors
+
+Non-2xx responses from the built-in OpenAI-compatible client now return an
+immutable `*GenerationError`. Consumers can inspect the HTTP status and any
+safely extracted provider code, type, or message while retaining the ordinary
+generation-error category:
+
+```go
+var generationErr *promptkit.GenerationError
+if errors.As(err, &generationErr) {
+	status := generationErr.StatusCode()
+	_ = status
+}
+```
+
+Provider fields are bounded and normalized but remain untrusted and may
+contain sensitive request or schema details. Default and Go-syntax formatting
+omit those fields. Applications must apply their own disclosure policy before
+logging or presenting accessor values.
+
+See the [`GenerationError` GoDoc](../../generation_error.go), the
+[consumer error-handling guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#handle-errors),
+and the [OpenAI-compatible response contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#response-handling).
+
+## Optional Credential Sources
+
+`APIKeyEnv` names an optional environment lookup source unless the selected
+profile explicitly sets `APIKeyRequired`. When neither a direct request key nor
+a usable environment value exists, the built-in client omits the bearer header
+and handles the upstream response normally. This supports local and other
+OpenAI-compatible providers that permit unauthenticated requests without
+hiding an authentication error returned by a provider that requires one.
+
+The [credential format reference](../formats.md#credentials), the
+[`Backend` GoDoc](../../backends.go), the
+[`ExecutionTargetOverride` GoDoc](../../types.go), and the
+[authentication integration contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#authentication)
+define the current precedence and availability rules.
+
+## Profile Inheritance
+
+YAML profiles can name one parent with `base_profile`; in-memory profiles use
+`Profile.BaseProfileID`, and `OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig` forwards the same
+field. A profile can act as an application-owned alias of a built-in or refine
+selected inherited settings:
+
+```go
+promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+	ID:              "weather-light",
+	BaseProfileID:   "deepseek-4-flash",
+	ReasoningEffort: "high",
+})
+```
+
+Base lookup observes the existing source precedence. Chains are linear,
+cycle-safe, and resolved afresh for ordinary operations. Prepared execution
+freezes the fully resolved target. The selected leaf ID remains public while
+effective execution settings reflect the resolved chain.
+
+See the [profile inheritance format reference](../formats.md#profile-inheritance),
+the [consumer alias example](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#alias-a-built-in-profile),
+and the [`Profile` GoDoc](../../types.go) for exact merge and validation
+behavior.
+
+## Public API Changes
+
+The release adds:
+
+- `BackendRakestrawHome`;
+- `GenerationError`, including `StatusCode`, `ProviderCode`, `ProviderType`,
+  `ProviderMessage`, `Error`, `GoString`, and `Unwrap`;
+- `Profile.BaseProfileID`; and
+- `OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig.BaseProfileID`.
+
+No public declaration was removed.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+- Remove a manual backend registration whose ID is exactly `rakestrawhome`.
+- Convert positional `Profile` or `OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig` literals to
+  keyed literals.
+- Set `Profile.APIKeyRequired` where a missing credential must fail locally
+  instead of reaching the provider unauthenticated.
+- Treat `GenerationError` provider fields as untrusted and potentially
+  sensitive when adopting the new accessors.
+- Run consumer ordinary and race-enabled tests after updating the module.

docs/releases/v0.8.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+# Promptkit v0.8.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and migration guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.7.0` to `v0.8.0`. The annotated `v0.8.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.8.0` activates Promptkit's bounded output-repair workflow:
+
+- failed nonempty-text, JSON, and JSON Schema validation can make a limited
+  number of corrective model calls;
+- corrective calls preserve the original rendered conversation, effective
+  target, session, structured-output contract, and backend capacity policy;
+- results report cumulative usage and the number of corrective calls actually
+  made; and
+- explicitly empty OpenAI-compatible response content now reaches output
+  validation instead of being classified as a malformed provider envelope.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+This release adds no public declarations or fields and removes none. Existing
+source code remains source-compatible.
+
+The behavior of the existing `OutputContract.RepairAttempts` field and prompt
+YAML `repair_attempts` field has changed. A positive value now authorizes real
+additional model calls after eligible validation failures; earlier releases
+accepted the field but the public engine remained single-pass. Consumers that
+set a positive value should expect additional latency, token usage, and
+provider cost when repair is needed.
+
+Repair budgets must now be between zero and three. A positive budget requires
+`basic`, `json`, or `json_schema` validation. Values above three and a positive
+budget paired with `none` are invalid contracts rather than ignored settings.
+
+An explicitly present empty or whitespace-only string returned by the built-in
+OpenAI-compatible client is now a completed generation candidate. `none`
+validation permits it, while `basic`, `json`, and `json_schema` classify it
+under their ordinary validation rules and may repair it when configured.
+Missing, `null`, or non-string content remains a malformed provider response.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.8.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Review every prompt definition and request override that sets a positive repair
+budget. Use zero or omit the field to retain single-pass execution. Ensure each
+positive budget is no greater than three and uses an eligible validation mode,
+then run the consuming project's ordinary and race-enabled tests.
+
+## Bounded Output Repair
+
+`repair_attempts` counts corrective calls in addition to the initial model
+call. Promptkit validates each completed candidate, stops at the first valid
+one, and never exceeds the configured bound. If every candidate remains
+invalid, the run completes successfully with the final candidate and its
+failed validation result rather than returning an operational error.
+
+Each correction starts from the original rendered messages and includes only
+the latest invalid candidate and latest validation diagnostics. JSON Schema
+mode retains the provider-native structured-output request as its first line of
+defense. Promptkit performs only deterministic structural validation; a valid
+response is not necessarily factual or correct for an application's domain.
+
+Usage in the final result is cumulative across the initial response and every
+completed corrective response. `ValidationResult.RepairAttempts` reports the
+number of corrective calls actually made. Corrective generation failures use
+the same public generation-error categories and structured provider details as
+an initial generation failure.
+
+See the [output-contract format reference](../formats.md#output-contract), the
+[consumer repair example](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#repair-a-structured-result),
+and the [`OutputContract` and `ValidationResult` GoDoc](../../types.go) for the
+current contracts.
+
+## Explicit Empty Content
+
+The built-in OpenAI-compatible client now distinguishes an explicitly present
+empty string from a missing or malformed `content` field. This aligns built-in
+and injected clients by letting the selected output contract decide whether an
+empty candidate is acceptable, invalid, or eligible for repair.
+
+See the
+[OpenAI-compatible response contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#response-handling)
+for the exact envelope behavior.
+
+## Public API Changes
+
+None. This release activates and tightens the documented behavior of existing
+fields.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+- Remove or set `repair_attempts` to zero where execution must remain
+  single-pass.
+- Keep every positive repair budget at three or fewer and pair it with
+  `basic`, `json`, or `json_schema` validation.
+- Account for additional latency, usage, and provider cost when enabling
+  repair.
+- Continue checking the returned validation status because bounded repair can
+  exhaust without producing a valid candidate.
+- Review workflows that previously treated explicit empty provider content as
+  a generation error.

docs/releases/v0.9.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+# Promptkit v0.9.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and migration guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.8.0` to `v0.9.0`. The annotated `v0.9.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.9.0` adds stateless request-message composition and separates maintained
+provider data from Promptkit's core implementation:
+
+- callers can append already-rendered messages to a configured prompt for
+  application-owned conversations and semantic correction workflows;
+- the public package now publishes constants for the four supported text-chat
+  roles, and prompt definitions use the same normalized role vocabulary; and
+- the OpenRouter and Rakestrawhome backend/profile catalogs now come from two
+  independently versioned Go module dependencies.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+This release adds one field and four constants to the public API and removes no
+public declarations. Existing keyed `RunRequest` literals that omit
+`AppendedMessages` retain their behavior. Adding the field changes the struct
+shape, so consumers using positional `RunRequest` literals must convert them
+to keyed literals.
+
+Message roles in prompt definitions are now trimmed, lowercased, and required
+to be `developer`, `system`, `user`, or `assistant`. Definitions using another
+role that earlier releases accepted as an arbitrary nonblank string now fail
+prompt loading. In particular, the text-only message contract does not support
+`tool` or the deprecated `function` role. Otherwise valid roles with different
+case or surrounding whitespace are normalized rather than rejected.
+
+The catalog extraction preserves Promptkit's public API, built-in backend and
+profile IDs, configuration, precedence, credential handling, and capacity
+behavior. Consumers do not import or register either catalog themselves, and
+no configuration migration is required. Promptkit now selects two
+independently versioned data dependencies and guarantees only the catalog
+versions selected and tested by this Promptkit release.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.9.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Convert any positional `RunRequest` literals to keyed literals. Review prompt
+definitions for unsupported roles, then run the consuming project's ordinary
+and race-enabled tests.
+
+## Appended Request Messages
+
+`RunRequest.AppendedMessages` accepts caller-owned `RenderedMessage` values
+that Promptkit validates, copies, and appends after every rendered
+prompt-definition message in caller order. Promptkit does not template this
+content, retain conversation state between calls, impose a retry policy, or
+apply a message-count, byte-size, token, or context-window limit. Upstream
+rejections continue through the ordinary generation-error boundary.
+
+This primitive supports application-owned conversation continuations and
+domain-aware correction loops while preserving Promptkit's existing
+preparation, hashing, prepared-execution, structural repair, backend-capacity,
+credential, and cancellation behavior. Appended content can include sensitive
+model output or application feedback; prepared values expose the complete
+effective messages by design, while default request formatting reports only
+the appended-message count.
+
+See the
+[consumer appended-message example](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#append-already-rendered-messages),
+the [`RunRequest`, `RenderedMessage`, and `CacheControl` GoDoc](../../types.go),
+and the [OpenAI-compatible request contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#request-body)
+for current behavior.
+
+## Supported Message Roles
+
+The new `RoleDeveloper`, `RoleSystem`, `RoleUser`, and `RoleAssistant`
+constants identify the complete role vocabulary accepted by Promptkit's
+text-chat message model. The same validation and normalization now apply to
+prompt-definition messages and request-supplied appended messages. Promptkit
+does not translate between roles; provider- or model-specific rejection of an
+otherwise supported role remains an upstream generation error.
+
+See the [message format reference](../formats.md#messages-and-templates) for
+the canonical prompt-definition contract.
+
+## Independently Versioned Backend Catalogs
+
+Promptkit imports immutable catalog data for its maintained OpenRouter and
+Rakestrawhome backends and profiles. Engine construction validates and
+assembles both catalogs behind the existing built-in registry and profile
+precedence rules. Promptkit no longer keeps duplicate embedded profile assets
+or hard-coded definitions for those maintained backends.
+
+The module versions in Promptkit's `go.mod` identify the catalog releases
+tested with this release. The [built-in backend and profile format
+reference](../formats.md#built-in-backends) remains the canonical consumer
+contract, while the [internal source documentation](../internal/sources.md#profiles-and-built-ins)
+describes the dependency boundary.
+
+## Public API Changes
+
+The release adds:
+
+- `RunRequest.AppendedMessages`;
+- `RoleDeveloper`;
+- `RoleSystem`;
+- `RoleUser`; and
+- `RoleAssistant`.
+
+No public declaration was removed.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+- Convert positional `RunRequest` literals to keyed literals.
+- Replace unsupported prompt-definition roles with an appropriate supported
+  role, or keep richer tool-call protocols in an application-owned client.
+- Treat appended messages and prepared effective messages according to the
+  application's sensitive-data policy.
+- Do not add direct catalog imports or registration calls; existing Promptkit
+  construction and configuration remain correct.
+- Run consumer ordinary and race-enabled tests after updating the module.

docs/roadmap/future.md

@@ -38,33 +38,8 @@ consumers.
 
 ## Ideas
 
-### Public bounded output repair
-
-After the codebase-audit remediations are complete, Promptkit should make its
-bounded output-repair capability available through the public engine. A
-consumer should be able to request a limited number of corrective generation
-attempts when JSON or JSON Schema output fails content validation, without
-having to reproduce Promptkit's generation, validation, capacity, and result-
-accounting orchestration.
-
-- Repair is validation recovery, not a general provider retry, failover, or
-  backoff policy. Transport failures, cancellation, and operational schema or
-  validation errors must retain their ordinary error behavior.
-- Repair must stop after the first valid result or the configured attempt
-  bound. Exhausting the bound should preserve the final invalid result and its
-  validation diagnostics rather than inventing success.
-- Initial generation and every repair attempt must use the same resolved
-  backend, effective execution settings and presence semantics, session,
-  credential boundary, structured-output contract, and backend-capacity
-  policy.
-- Results should report the number of repair attempts and cumulative usage for
-  every model call made by the run.
-- Ordinary and prepared execution should expose coherent behavior, including
-  cancellation, frozen prepared state, error identity, and capacity lifetime.
-
-Select this work only after the accepted audit findings affecting shared
-execution invariants, validation, orchestration, transport, and repair
-internals have been remediated.
+No ideas are currently awaiting selection. Active feature work belongs in its
+focused roadmap rather than this catalog.
 
 ## Entry Format
 

docs/roadmap/implementation.md

@@ -1,332 +0,0 @@
-# Optional API-Key Environment Implementation Plan
-
-## Purpose
-
-Change Promptkit's credential handling so an effective `APIKeyEnv` names an
-optional credential source rather than implicitly requiring that environment
-variable to be populated. When neither a direct key nor a populated optional
-environment variable is available, the built-in OpenAI-compatible client must
-omit the `Authorization` header and let the upstream provider accept or reject
-the unauthenticated request.
-
-This document owns implementation sequencing for that change. Follow the
-architecture, documentation, and testing policies under [`docs/policy/`](../policy/)
-and the task-specific reading guide in [`docs/development.md`](../development.md)
-throughout the work.
-
-## Target Outcome
-
-For ordinary and prepared execution:
-
-1. a nonblank direct `RunRequest.APIKey` remains the highest-precedence
-   credential and produces `Authorization: Bearer <key>`;
-2. otherwise, a nonblank effective `APIKeyEnv` is read when generation begins;
-3. a nonblank trimmed environment value produces the bearer header;
-4. an absent, empty, or whitespace-only optional environment value produces no
-   `Authorization` header and does not prevent preparation or execution; and
-5. the provider response follows the normal success or error path, including
-   public `GenerationError` conversion for a non-2xx response.
-
-An explicitly required credential retains local validation. `APIKeyRequired`
-continues to require either a nonblank direct key or a populated environment
-variable explicitly selected by the request. Missing required credentials
-fail before provider transport.
-
-## Fixed Decisions
-
-- `APIKeyEnv` is a lookup location, not an assertion that authentication is
-  required. This applies whether the name comes from a built-in backend, a
-  consumer backend, a file profile, or a request override.
-- An environment value is usable only after `strings.TrimSpace`; unset, empty,
-  and whitespace-only values are equivalent and cause header omission when
-  optional.
-- Direct keys retain precedence. When a direct key is nonblank, Promptkit does
-  not need the environment value and must not let a missing environment value
-  block the request.
-- `APIKeyRequired` remains the only existing explicit local requirement flag.
-  Do not add a backend field, YAML field, request field, or new public API.
-- With `APIKeyRequired` true:
-  - a nonblank direct key satisfies the requirement;
-  - an explicitly selected nonblank `APIKeyEnv` satisfies it only when that
-    variable currently contains a nonblank value;
-  - no selected environment name retains the existing required-key failure;
-    and
-  - a selected but unset environment retains `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing` and
-    `ErrInvalidRequest` at the public boundary.
-- `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing` remains exported for compatibility but is narrowed to
-  a missing environment credential in an explicitly required flow. Optional
-  missing environment values do not return it.
-- Optional credential availability is not frozen during preparation. The
-  built-in client reads the selected environment variable for each generation,
-  including repair generation. Prepared execution therefore uses the value
-  visible when it runs.
-- Required prepared execution continues to recheck credential availability
-  before admission. Optional prepared execution proceeds even if the variable
-  becomes unset after preparation.
-- The built-in transport sets no `Authorization` header at all when no usable
-  credential exists. It must not send `Bearer ` with an empty value.
-- Injected `LLMClient` behavior is not redefined. Promptkit stops rejecting an
-  optional missing environment before the injected client is called and
-  continues to pass the effective target through the public adapter without
-  resolving or exposing a secret on the client's behalf.
-- Upstream authentication policy remains upstream. Promptkit adds no provider-
-  specific authentication rules, retry behavior, status mapping, or special
-  handling beyond the existing structured non-2xx error path.
-
-## Execution Rules
-
-- Complete the stages in numerical order. Each stage is scoped for one coding-
-  agent prompt and must finish its focused tests before the next stage begins.
-- Treat all stages as one behavior change. Intermediate stages intentionally
-  leave the use-case and transport policies temporarily different; do not tag,
-  release, or claim the change is complete until Stage 3 passes.
-- At the start of each stage, inspect the working tree and preserve all
-  unrelated changes. In particular, merge rather than overwrite any existing
-  edits in files touched by this plan.
-- Use controlled transports, local servers, and `t.Setenv`; never contact a
-  live provider or depend on the developer machine's credentials.
-- Update existing tests whose asserted policy is changing instead of retaining
-  contradictory tests or adding duplicate coverage under new names.
-- Do not add dependencies, commit, tag, push, or edit release documentation
-  unless separately instructed.
-- Current-state prose documentation changes only in Stage 3, after the runtime
-  behavior exists. GoDoc changes alongside the public contract in that stage.
-
-## Stage 1: Make Use-Case Credential Validation Requirement-Aware
-
-### Objective
-
-Stop preparation and execution orchestration from treating every named
-environment variable as required, while preserving the explicit
-`APIKeyRequired` and prepared-execution contracts.
-
-### Implementation
-
-1. Update `validateAPIKey` in `internal/usecase/runner.go` with this policy:
-   - return success immediately for a nonblank direct key;
-   - return success when `apiKeyRequired` is false, regardless of whether
-     `apiKeyEnv` is blank, populated, or missing;
-   - when `apiKeyRequired` is true and the trimmed environment name is blank,
-     return the existing `ErrAPIKeyRequired`;
-   - when `apiKeyRequired` is true and the selected environment variable is
-     unset, empty, or whitespace-only, return the existing wrapped
-     `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing` diagnostic naming the variable; and
-   - otherwise return success.
-2. Keep the calls from preparation and `RunPrepared` in place. Do not move
-   environment lookup into backend/profile resolution, admission, the domain
-   model, or the root facade.
-3. Do not clear `APIKeyEnv` from effective or prepared metadata merely because
-   its current value is absent. The name remains the configured lookup source;
-   the secret value remains excluded.
-4. Preserve credential-source precedence and `APIKeyRequired` merge behavior.
-   A request environment override remains capable of satisfying an in-memory
-   profile's explicit requirement when its value is populated.
-
-### Tests
-
-Update the narrow `internal/usecase` behavior owners rather than adding tests
-for the private helper itself:
-
-1. Replace `TestRunnerRunAPIKeyEnvMissingEnvironmentValueFailsClearly` with a
-   test proving an unset optional profile `APIKeyEnv` reaches the injected
-   model client and completes successfully. Explicitly set the named variable
-   to an empty value so the test is independent of the process environment.
-2. Preserve the existing populated-environment and direct-key-precedence tests.
-3. Preserve `TestRunnerPrepareAPIKeyRequiredFailsWithoutDirectKey` and the
-   existing direct-key success coverage.
-4. Revise the prepared credential test matrix to prove both distinct cases:
-   - an optional environment value that disappears after
-     `PrepareExecution` does not prevent admission and generation; and
-   - an `APIKeyRequired` profile using an explicit request `APIKeyEnv` override
-     still fails with `ErrInvalidRequest` and `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing` if that
-     value disappears before `RunPrepared`, before admission or generation.
-5. Keep prepared handles single-use in both outcomes and avoid duplicating
-   unrelated preparation, validation, or admission assertions.
-
-### Verification
-
-```sh
-go test ./internal/usecase -run 'APIKey|Credential|Prepared'
-go test ./internal/usecase
-go test ./...
-```
-
-Stage 1 is complete when optional missing environment values no longer block
-the use-case layer and explicit requirements retain their prior identities and
-timing.
-
-**Status:** Complete.
-
-## Stage 2: Omit Authentication in the Built-In Client When Optional Keys Are Missing
-
-### Objective
-
-Make the OpenAI-compatible transport implement the optional lookup contract at
-the boundary that owns the outbound `Authorization` header.
-
-### Implementation
-
-1. Refactor the authentication branch in
-   `internal/llm/openai_compatible_client.go` so it resolves one credential in
-   this order:
-   - trimmed `req.Target.APIKey`; then
-   - the trimmed value of the environment variable named by the trimmed
-     `req.Target.APIKeyEnv`.
-2. Set `Authorization` to `Bearer <credential>` only when the resolved value is
-   nonblank. If the direct key is blank and the optional environment lookup is
-   absent, empty, or whitespace-only, leave the header unset and continue to
-   `http.Client.Do`.
-3. Retain defensive enforcement for direct internal callers of the transport:
-   - if `req.Target.APIKeyRequired` is true and no usable source exists, return
-     `ErrInvalidRequest` before transport;
-   - use the existing missing-environment diagnostic when a nonblank
-     environment name was selected; and
-   - use a concise required-key diagnostic when no environment name exists.
-   Do not add an internal or public error type for this branch.
-4. Preserve request construction, endpoint validation, timeout behavior,
-   response-body ownership, and direct-key redaction. Never serialize
-   `APIKeyEnv`, `APIKeyRequired`, or a credential into the JSON request body.
-5. Allow an unauthenticated upstream non-2xx response to flow through the
-   existing `ProviderHTTPError` and public `GenerationError` machinery without
-   adding a credential-specific translation.
-
-### Tests
-
-Update `TestOpenAICompatibleClientAuthentication` in
-`internal/llm/openai_compatible_client_test.go` as the transport contract owner.
-Its table should cover only the meaningful credential states:
-
-- a direct key takes precedence over a populated environment value;
-- a populated environment value supplies the bearer header when no direct key
-  is present;
-- no configured source sends the request without `Authorization`;
-- a named but unset optional environment sends the request without
-  `Authorization`;
-- a named but unset required environment fails with `ErrInvalidRequest` before
-  transport; and
-- a required target with no source also fails before transport.
-
-Use exact header assertions because presence or absence of `Authorization` is
-the wire contract. Do not repeat endpoint, body, timeout, or response-error
-matrices in this test.
-
-### Verification
-
-```sh
-go test ./internal/llm -run TestOpenAICompatibleClientAuthentication
-go test ./internal/llm
-go test ./...
-```
-
-Stage 2 is complete when the built-in transport sends unauthenticated requests
-for optional missing sources, still enforces explicit requirements, and all
-existing provider-response behavior remains green.
-
-**Status:** Complete.
-
-## Stage 3: Align the Public Contract, Durable Documentation, and Full Validation
-
-### Objective
-
-Prove the assembled consumer workflow, update canonical contract owners, and
-complete repository-wide validation.
-
-### Public Contract And Tests
-
-1. Update the GoDoc for `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing` in `engine.go` so it applies only
-   when an explicitly required credential names an unset or empty environment
-   variable. Retain the exported value and its `ErrInvalidRequest` identity.
-2. Update credential GoDoc where the exact public semantics are exposed:
-   - `Backend.APIKeyEnv` in `backends.go`;
-   - `ExecutionTarget.APIKeyEnv` and
-     `ExecutionTargetOverride.APIKeyEnv` in `types.go`; and
-   - any nearby `APIKeyRequired` wording that would otherwise imply every
-     named environment source is mandatory.
-   State that optional missing values cause the built-in client to omit
-   `Authorization`; do not promise that injected clients resolve environment
-   variables identically.
-3. Replace `TestMissingCredentialsFailClearlyWhenProfileRequiresAuth` in
-   `engine_test.go`, whose old assertion is intentionally obsolete, with one
-   focused external-package contract test. Assemble a real engine with a
-   controlled HTTP client or local server, select a backend or file profile
-   whose `APIKeyEnv` is explicitly empty in the process environment, and have
-   the controlled upstream return a structured authentication failure. Assert:
-   - the request reaches upstream;
-   - `Authorization` is absent;
-   - the result is nil;
-   - the error does not match `ErrInvalidRequest` or
-     `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing`; and
-   - the error matches `ErrLLMGenerate` and is discoverable as a
-     `*GenerationError` with the upstream status and representative provider
-     detail.
-4. Keep this root test representative. The transport authentication table owns
-   the full credential matrix, and the existing generation-error tests own
-   envelope parsing, bounds, and formatting.
-
-### Documentation
-
-Update each canonical owner only for its topic:
-
-1. In `docs/formats.md`, define profile, backend, and request `api_key_env`
-   values as optional lookup sources. In the credentials section, distinguish
-   them from `APIKeyRequired`, document header omission for a missing optional
-   value, retain direct-key precedence, and state that required availability is
-   validated during preparation and rechecked for prepared execution.
-2. In `docs/integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md`, document the outbound
-   authentication wire behavior: a bearer header is sent only for a usable
-   direct or environment credential; otherwise the header is omitted and the
-   provider response is handled normally.
-3. In `docs/internal/llm.md`, update the internal flow and failure categories to
-   distinguish optional omission from explicit required-key rejection. Preserve
-   any unrelated edits already present in this file.
-4. In `docs/consumers/pkg-promptkit.md`, clarify near profile inspection or
-   credential guidance that a reported `APIKeyEnv` is a configured optional
-   source, while `APIKeyRequired` is the explicit local requirement. Link to
-   the exact public GoDoc or format reference rather than reproducing the full
-   precedence contract.
-5. Do not change architecture policy, backend IDs/default names, release notes,
-   the README, or examples unless implementation uncovers a concrete
-   inaccurate current-state statement in one of those owners.
-
-### Final Validation
-
-Run the complete maintainer workflow from
-[`docs/development.md#maintainer-validation`](../development.md#maintainer-validation):
-
-```sh
-go test ./...
-go test -race ./...
-go vet ./...
-go build ./...
-go run ./examples/go-library/prepare
-go run ./examples/go-library/run
-```
-
-Also run the documented tracked-Go formatting check, local Markdown-link
-validation, repository-hygiene checks, ignored-file check, credential scan, and
-`git diff --check`. Review the complete diff and confirm that:
-
-- optional absent, empty, and whitespace-only environment values omit
-  authentication and reach transport;
-- direct and populated environment credentials still produce the correct
-  bearer header;
-- explicit required flows still fail locally with the intended identities;
-- ordinary, prepared, built-in, injected-client, and repair paths follow their
-  stated ownership boundaries;
-- upstream non-2xx responses remain structured generation errors rather than
-  local credential errors;
-- no credential value is serialized, retained in public metadata, or exposed
-  by formatting; and
-- durable documentation describes only the now-implemented behavior with one
-  canonical owner per exact contract.
-
-Stage 3 is complete when the public workflow, documentation, and full
-maintainer validation all match the target outcome.
-
-**Status:** Complete.
-
-## Open Questions
-
-None. Optional environment lookup, explicit requirement behavior, precedence,
-prepared-execution timing, outbound header semantics, error compatibility,
-documentation ownership, and test boundaries are fixed by this plan.

docs/roadmap/structured-generation-errors.md

@@ -1,260 +0,0 @@
-# Structured Generation Errors
-
-## Purpose
-
-Promptkit should give downstream applications actionable, machine-readable
-details when the built-in OpenAI-compatible client receives a non-success HTTP
-response. Today the client reports only the status code and discards the
-provider response body. This makes ordinary configuration failures, such as an
-unsupported strict JSON Schema keyword, unnecessarily difficult to diagnose.
-
-This feature supplies bounded facts about the provider response. It does not
-make retry, presentation, or logging decisions for consumers.
-
-## Target End State
-
-Every non-2xx response received by Promptkit's built-in OpenAI-compatible
-client becomes a public typed generation error. A consumer can use
-`errors.As` to obtain the HTTP status and any safely extracted provider fields,
-and `errors.Is` continues to match `ErrLLMGenerate`.
-
-The typed contract is available from both `Run` and `RunPrepared`. It is not
-produced during preparation, which performs no model request. Successful
-responses, transport failures before a response is received, cancellation,
-capacity failures, validation failures, and nil responses from injected model
-clients retain their existing categories and behavior.
-
-An unusable response body never hides the known HTTP status. Empty, malformed,
-unrecognized, unreadable, or oversized bodies therefore produce the same typed
-error with status-only detail rather than falling back to an unstructured
-error or becoming a malformed-success response.
-
-## Public Contract
-
-The root package exposes an immutable `GenerationError` type with unexported
-state and these read-only accessors:
-
-- `StatusCode() int` returns the received HTTP status code;
-- `ProviderCode() string` returns a normalized provider code, when present;
-- `ProviderType() string` returns a normalized provider error type, when
-  present; and
-- `ProviderMessage() string` returns the bounded normalized diagnostic message,
-  when present.
-
-The engine returns a `*GenerationError`, so the idiomatic inspection form is:
-
-```go
-var generationErr *promptkit.GenerationError
-if errors.As(err, &generationErr) {
-	status := generationErr.StatusCode()
-	message := generationErr.ProviderMessage()
-	_, _ = status, message
-}
-```
-
-There is no public constructor or mutation API. The type implements `error`,
-unwraps to `ErrLLMGenerate`, and provides safe ordinary and Go-syntax
-formatting. `Error()` and `GoString()` include the HTTP status but no provider-
-controlled code, type, or message. Consumers must use the accessors
-deliberately when they want provider details and must not classify failures by
-matching error text.
-
-The zero value and a nil `*GenerationError` receiver are safe: accessors return
-zero or empty values, formatting returns a generic redacted generation-failure
-description, and unwrapping still identifies `ErrLLMGenerate`. Engine-produced
-values always have the non-2xx status received from the provider. The type has
-no stable JSON representation.
-
-All provider-derived strings remain untrusted even after normalization. GoDoc
-must warn consumers that provider fields can contain sensitive request or
-schema fragments and must not be logged, displayed, or returned to another
-caller without an application-appropriate disclosure policy.
-
-## Recognized Provider Envelope
-
-Promptkit recognizes only the conventional OpenAI-compatible top-level error
-object:
-
-```json
-{
-  "error": {
-    "message": "diagnostic text",
-    "type": "invalid_request_error",
-    "code": "unsupported_parameter"
-  }
-}
-```
-
-The envelope must be one JSON document followed only by JSON whitespace. The
-top-level `error` value must be an object. Unknown top-level and error-object
-fields are ignored. The optional supported fields are interpreted
-independently:
-
-- `message` and `type` must be JSON strings;
-- `code` may be a JSON string or number and is exposed as normalized text;
-  numeric codes retain their validated JSON number text without floating-point
-  coercion; and
-- `null`, booleans, arrays, objects, or otherwise invalid values are treated as
-  absent for that field.
-
-An invalid optional field does not discard other valid supported fields. An
-absent `error` object, malformed or multiply framed JSON, or an object with no
-usable supported fields simply leaves all provider accessors empty while
-preserving the typed status error.
-
-Promptkit does not expose `param`, metadata objects, nested causes, headers, or
-provider-specific extensions in this feature.
-
-## Bounded Reading And Normalization
-
-Non-success bodies have a separate fixed limit of 64 KiB (65,536 bytes). This
-is intentionally much smaller than the successful completion-body limit while
-remaining large enough for useful schema diagnostics.
-
-- A declared `Content-Length` above the limit is rejected without reading the
-  body for detail extraction.
-- Otherwise Promptkit reads at most one byte beyond the limit so streamed,
-  chunked, and underreported bodies are bounded.
-- A body over the limit contributes no provider fields; Promptkit does not
-  parse or retain a prefix as though it were a complete envelope.
-- Read failures likewise discard provider fields while preserving the status.
-- The response body is closed on every outcome and is not drained beyond the
-  bounded read.
-
-Extracted strings are converted to valid UTF-8, trimmed, and made single-line:
-invalid UTF-8 is replaced, and runs of Unicode whitespace, control characters,
-and formatting controls are replaced with one ASCII space. Empty normalized
-values are treated as absent.
-
-Normalized provider codes and types are retained only when they contain at
-most 256 Unicode code points. Longer values are omitted rather than truncated
-so consumers never classify on a fabricated partial identifier. A provider
-message is limited to 4,096 Unicode code points; a longer normalized message is
-truncated at a code-point boundary with a visible ellipsis inside that limit.
-The raw response body and pre-normalized strings are never exposed or retained
-in the public error.
-
-## Error Propagation And Compatibility
-
-- Every built-in-client non-2xx response matches `ErrLLMGenerate` and supports
-  `errors.As` to `*GenerationError`, including status-only cases.
-- The internal model client retains its non-success-status identity for its
-  own package tests. The use-case layer remains provider-neutral and continues
-  to add only its generation category.
-- The root error boundary converts only the built-in transport's structured
-  status error. It does not parse arbitrary error text, inspect consumer error
-  fields, or fabricate HTTP details for an injected `LLMClient`.
-- Errors returned by injected clients remain in the chain exactly as today.
-  If an injected client deliberately returns an existing `*GenerationError`,
-  its identity may pass through ordinary wrapping, but Promptkit does not
-  construct or enrich one on that client's behalf.
-- Existing cancellation and deadline identities, capacity errors, validation
-  behavior, repair behavior, and successful response decoding remain
-  unchanged.
-- This is an additive public API. Existing consumers that use
-  `errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate)` continue to work; consumers should not rely
-  on the previous rendered wording of non-success errors.
-
-## Architecture And Ownership
-
-The provider-envelope parser and bounded body reader belong in `internal/llm`,
-which owns the OpenAI-compatible transport. The internal transport error owns
-only normalized status facts and continues to match the package's existing
-non-success-status sentinel.
-
-The use-case package does not gain HTTP DTOs, status policy, or a provider-
-specific branch. Its existing wrapping carries the internal error to the root
-facade. The root error mapper recognizes the internal structured status error
-and constructs the public `GenerationError` without exposing an internal type
-or raw cause through public fields. No transport error is added to
-`internal/domain`.
-
-The public type and its exact Go semantics are owned by its declaration and
-GoDoc. The
-[OpenAI-compatible integration contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md)
-owns recognized wire shapes, limits, and observable response behavior. The
-[internal model-client document](../internal/llm.md) owns implementation flow,
-internal failure categories, and test ownership. Architecture policy does not
-need a new package or dependency rule for this feature.
-
-## Documentation End State
-
-Canonical documentation at the target state has these responsibilities:
-
-- the `GenerationError` declaration and GoDoc define the exact public methods,
-  formatting, unwrapping, zero-value behavior, and trust boundary;
-- `Engine.Run` and `Engine.RunPrepared` GoDoc identify the typed error without
-  duplicating its accessor contract;
-- the consumer guide includes one short `errors.As` example and links to the
-  public declaration;
-- the integration document replaces its status-only description with the
-  bounded envelope contract; and
-- the internal model-client document describes parsing, conversion ownership,
-  and narrow test owners.
-
-The architecture policy, framework format reference, and built-in backend
-catalog do not duplicate this API or wire contract.
-
-## Verification Expectations
-
-Verification protects each behavior at its narrowest stable owner:
-
-- internal model-client tests cover recognized string and numeric codes,
-  independent optional-field handling, unknown fields, empty and malformed
-  envelopes, single-document framing, read failures, declared and streamed
-  size boundaries, body closure, normalization, field limits, and absence of
-  raw provider content from rendered errors;
-- root error-boundary tests cover conversion to the immutable public type,
-  every accessor, `errors.Is`, `errors.As`, and safe `%v`, `%+v`, and `%#v`
-  formatting;
-- one representative ordinary run and one prepared run prove that the built-in
-  transport contract crosses the assembled engine boundary, without repeating
-  the complete parser matrix;
-- existing injected-client tests continue to prove preservation of consumer
-  error identity without fabricated provider details; and
-- all tests use controlled transports or local servers and never contact a
-  live or paid provider.
-
-Security limits and their exact boundaries are contractual enough to warrant
-literal boundary tests. Higher-level tests should remain representative and
-must not duplicate the internal transport matrix.
-
-## Acceptance Criteria
-
-- A consumer can distinguish an HTTP 400 from other generation failures and
-  deliberately obtain a bounded provider explanation when one is available.
-- The same typed error remains available through ordinary and prepared
-  execution and still satisfies `errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate)`.
-- Default and Go-syntax error formatting cannot disclose any provider-derived
-  string or raw response content.
-- Empty, malformed, unreadable, unrecognized, and oversized bodies preserve a
-  typed status-only error.
-- No read, retained field, or formatted representation can exceed its stated
-  bound, and the body is closed on every outcome.
-- Existing success, cancellation, capacity, validation, repair, and injected-
-  client contracts remain unchanged.
-- Current-state documentation changes only when the implementation exists and
-  follows the repository's canonical ownership policy.
-
-## Non-Goals
-
-This feature does not add:
-
-- retryability classification, retry loops, backoff, failover, or routing;
-- parsing of success bodies as errors or changes to successful-response limits;
-- provider-specific envelope variants beyond the conventional top-level
-  `error` object;
-- response headers such as `Retry-After`, raw bodies, request data, endpoints,
-  credentials, schema documents, generated content, or provider metadata;
-- logging, telemetry, redaction policy for downstream applications, HTTP status
-  mapping for consumer servers, or user-facing presentation;
-- translation or enrichment of arbitrary injected-client errors; or
-- a new public package, public constructor, mutable error value, or transport
-  type in the domain model.
-
-## Open Questions
-
-None. The public type direction, accessor surface, formatting and error-chain
-behavior, envelope scope, normalization, safety limits, fallback behavior,
-layer ownership, compatibility boundaries, documentation ownership, and test
-boundaries are fixed by this roadmap.

engine.go

@@ -11,14 +11,16 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	openrouter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-openrouter"
+	rakestrawhome "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-rakestrawhome"
 	artifactadapter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/artifact"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/capacity"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/catalog"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/defaults"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile/builtin"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/prompt"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/promptdef"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/usecase"
@@ -100,7 +102,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	// prompt source.
 	PromptDir string
 	// ProfileDir is an optional ordinary configured source whose profiles take
-	// precedence over application fallback and embedded built-in profiles. An
+	// precedence over application fallback and maintained catalog profiles. An
 	// empty value selects the lower-precedence sources unless a profile-source
 	// option supplies the ordinary source.
 	ProfileDir string
@@ -273,7 +275,7 @@ func WithProfileFile(path string) Option {
 //
 // Profile lookup checks, in order, profiles supplied by WithProfiles; the
 // ordinary configured source selected by WithProfileFile, WithProfileFS, or
-// Config.ProfileDir; this fallback source; and Promptkit's embedded built-in
+// Config.ProfileDir; this fallback source; and Promptkit's maintained catalog
 // profiles. Each source supplies a complete profile definition; profile fields
 // are not merged between sources. Only an absent profile ID proceeds to the
 // next source. A matching read, parse, duplicate, validation, or credential
@@ -304,10 +306,12 @@ func WithFallbackProfileFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 // WithProfiles configures in-memory profiles that take precedence over
 // ordinary configured, application fallback, and built-in profiles.
 //
-// NewEngine validates and copies every profile. IDs must be unique within one
-// call. An invalid profile, duplicate ID, or unsupported ExtraParams value
-// makes construction fail with ErrInvalidConfig. Repeating WithProfiles
-// replaces the complete earlier in-memory set rather than merging it.
+// NewEngine locally validates and copies every profile. IDs must be unique
+// within one call. An invalid local definition, duplicate ID, or unsupported
+// ExtraParams value makes construction fail with ErrInvalidConfig. A derived
+// profile's base reference and resolved target completeness are checked when it
+// is selected or inspected. Repeating WithProfiles replaces the complete
+// earlier in-memory set rather than merging it.
 func WithProfiles(profiles ...Profile) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		repo, err := newMemoryProfileRepository(profiles)
@@ -388,9 +392,17 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 		promptDefs = promptdef.NewFilesystemRepository(cfg.PromptDir)
 	}
 
-	profiles := newProfileRepository(cfg.ProfileDir, options)
+	maintainedCatalogs, err := catalog.Load(
+		catalog.Source{Name: "OpenRouter", ExpectedBackendID: backend.OpenRouterID, FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: openrouter.Root},
+		catalog.Source{Name: "Rakestrawhome", ExpectedBackendID: backend.RakestrawHomeID, FS: rakestrawhome.FS(), Root: rakestrawhome.Root},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to load maintained catalogs: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
+	}
 
-	backendRegistry, err := backend.NewRegistry(options.backends)
+	profiles := newProfileRepository(cfg.ProfileDir, options, maintainedCatalogs.Profiles)
+
+	backendRegistry, err := backend.NewRegistry(maintainedCatalogs.Backends, options.backends)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to construct backend registry: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 	}
@@ -428,7 +440,7 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &Engine{
-		runner: usecase.NewRunner(
+		runner: usecase.NewRunnerWithRepairer(
 			promptDefs,
 			profiles,
 			backendRegistry,
@@ -436,13 +448,14 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 			prompt.NewGoRenderer(),
 			llmClient,
 			validator,
+			usecase.NewDefaultOutputRepairer(llmClient),
 			capacityManager,
 		),
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions) profile.Repository {
-	repository := builtin.NewRepository()
+func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions, maintained profile.Repository) profile.Repository {
+	repository := maintained
 
 	if options.fallbackProfileSource {
 		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.fallbackProfiles, repository)
@@ -458,7 +471,7 @@ func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions) profile.Repo
 		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.memoryProfiles, repository)
 	}
 
-	return repository
+	return profile.NewResolvingRepository(repository)
 }
 
 func fileSource(name string) (fs.FS, string, error) {
@@ -568,6 +581,8 @@ func (e *Engine) InspectProfile(ctx context.Context, profileID string) (*Profile
 }
 
 // Prepare resolves and renders a prompt request without calling an LLM.
+// It appends any validated RunRequest.AppendedMessages after rendered
+// definition messages in the returned caller-owned snapshot.
 //
 // Prepare selects the prompt and profile, resolves any selected backend and
 // effective execution settings, resolves the output contract, loads and hashes
@@ -602,7 +617,8 @@ func (e *Engine) Prepare(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*PreparedRun, err
 }
 
 // PrepareExecution completely prepares a prompt request without calling the
-// configured LLMClient or reserving backend admission capacity.
+// configured LLMClient or reserving backend admission capacity. Validated
+// RunRequest.AppendedMessages are included in the frozen effective messages.
 //
 // The returned opaque handle is bound to this Engine and permits one
 // [Engine.RunPrepared] invocation. Preparation freezes the selected sources,
@@ -634,13 +650,16 @@ func (e *Engine) PrepareExecution(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*Prepare
 }
 
 // Run prepares a request, invokes the configured LLMClient, and validates the
-// generated output.
+// generated output. Each call resolves current sources and composes a fresh,
+// stateless effective prompt with any validated RunRequest.AppendedMessages.
 //
 // A content-validation failure is a successful run whose
-// RunResult.Validation has Status ValidationFailed. An inability to perform
-// validation returns an error matching ErrValidation and no partial result.
-// The public Engine does not perform output repair, so validation is
-// single-pass even when OutputContract.RepairAttempts is positive.
+// RunResult.Validation has Status ValidationFailed. When its output contract
+// has a positive repair budget, a failed eligible validation can make bounded
+// additional model calls and stops at the first valid candidate. Exhaustion
+// returns the final failed validation result with cumulative usage and actual
+// repair attempts. An inability to generate or validate returns an error and
+// no partial result.
 //
 // Run can return every error category documented by [Engine.Prepare], plus
 // ErrCapacityExceeded and ErrLLMGenerate. An engine admission rejection is
@@ -684,17 +703,17 @@ func (e *Engine) Run(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*RunResult, error) {
 //
 // The supplied context governs this execution attempt independently of the
 // preparation context. It covers credential revalidation, admission,
-// generation, validation, and any internal repair. Result timing begins after
-// the claim and excludes preparation and consumer-held delay.
+// generation, validation, and any bounded output repair. Result timing begins
+// after the claim and excludes preparation and consumer-held delay.
 //
 // RunPrepared can return ErrInvalidRequest, ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing,
 // ErrCapacityExceeded, ErrLLMGenerate, or ErrValidation as applicable while
 // preserving documented collaborator and context identities. An engine
 // admission rejection is discoverable as [CapacityError] and still matches
 // ErrCapacityExceeded. A built-in OpenAI-compatible non-2xx response is
-// discoverable as [GenerationError]. A completed content-validation rejection
-// is returned in RunResult, not as an operational error. An operational error
-// returns no partial RunResult.
+// discoverable as [GenerationError]. A completed content-validation rejection,
+// including repair exhaustion, is returned in RunResult, not as an operational
+// error. An operational error returns no partial RunResult.
 func (e *Engine) RunPrepared(ctx context.Context, prepared *PreparedExecution) (*RunResult, error) {
 	if e == nil || e.runner == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: engine is nil", ErrInvalidConfig)

engine_test.go

@@ -220,6 +220,14 @@ func TestRunRequestFormattingRedactsDirectAPIKey(t *testing.T) {
 			"transcript": promptkit.InlineWithURI(inputURI, inputBody),
 		},
 		Vars: map[string]string{"audience": variableValue},
+		AppendedMessages: []promptkit.RenderedMessage{{
+			Role:    "private-role-sentinel",
+			Content: "private-appended-content-sentinel",
+			CacheControl: &promptkit.CacheControl{
+				Type: "private-cache-sentinel",
+				TTL:  "private-ttl-sentinel",
+			},
+		}},
 	}
 
 	for _, formatted := range []string{
@@ -229,7 +237,7 @@ func TestRunRequestFormattingRedactsDirectAPIKey(t *testing.T) {
 		fmt.Sprintf("%+v", req),
 		fmt.Sprintf("%#v", req),
 	} {
-		for _, privateValue := range []string{secret, inputURI, inputBody, variableValue} {
+		for _, privateValue := range []string{secret, inputURI, inputBody, variableValue, "private-role-sentinel", "private-appended-content-sentinel", "private-cache-sentinel", "private-ttl-sentinel"} {
 			if strings.Contains(formatted, privateValue) {
 				t.Fatalf("formatted RunRequest leaked private value %q: %s", privateValue, formatted)
 			}
@@ -240,6 +248,7 @@ func TestRunRequestFormattingRedactsDirectAPIKey(t *testing.T) {
 			"APIKeySet:true",
 			"Inputs:1",
 			"Vars:1",
+			"AppendedMessages:1",
 		} {
 			if !strings.Contains(formatted, summary) {
 				t.Fatalf("formatted RunRequest omitted structural summary %q: %s", summary, formatted)
@@ -1536,31 +1545,21 @@ func TestPrepareUsesBuiltInProfileWithoutProfileDir(t *testing.T) {
 		name      string
 		profileID string
 		backendID string
-		endpoint  string
-		apiKeyEnv string
-		model     string
 	}{
 		{
 			name:      "OpenRouter",
 			profileID: "mistral-small-3",
 			backendID: promptkit.BackendOpenRouter,
-			endpoint:  "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-			apiKeyEnv: "OPENROUTER_API_KEY",
-			model:     "mistralai/mistral-small-3.2-24b-instruct",
 		},
 		{
 			name:      "Rakestrawhome",
 			profileID: "rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b",
 			backendID: promptkit.BackendRakestrawHome,
-			endpoint:  "https://inference.ai.rakestrawhome.com/v1",
-			apiKeyEnv: "RAKESTRAWHOME_INFERENCE_API_KEY",
-			model:     "google/gemma-4-31b-it",
 		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			t.Setenv(tc.apiKeyEnv, "test-key")
 			engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
 				PromptDir: frameworkPromptDir,
 				SchemaDir: frameworkSchemaDir,
@@ -1572,6 +1571,7 @@ func TestPrepareUsesBuiltInProfileWithoutProfileDir(t *testing.T) {
 			prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
 				PromptID:  frameworkMarkdownSummaryPromptID,
 				ProfileID: tc.profileID,
+				APIKey:    "test-key",
 				Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
 					"transcript": promptkit.Inline("Rin opens the gate."),
 					"glossary":   promptkit.Inline("gate: A guarded passage."),
@@ -1582,10 +1582,7 @@ func TestPrepareUsesBuiltInProfileWithoutProfileDir(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 			if prepared.SelectedProfileID != tc.profileID ||
 				prepared.SelectedBackendID != tc.backendID ||
-				prepared.EffectiveModelParams.BackendID != tc.backendID ||
-				prepared.EffectiveModelParams.Endpoint != tc.endpoint ||
-				prepared.EffectiveModelParams.APIKeyEnv != tc.apiKeyEnv ||
-				prepared.EffectiveModelParams.Model != tc.model {
+				prepared.EffectiveModelParams.BackendID != tc.backendID {
 				t.Fatalf("unexpected built-in preparation: %#v", prepared)
 			}
 		})
@@ -2018,6 +2015,25 @@ func TestWithProfilesRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestWithProfilesAcceptsDerivedDefinitionWithoutTargetFields(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{PromptDir: frameworkPromptDir},
+		promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+			ID:            " derived-profile ",
+			BaseProfileID: " base-profile ",
+		}),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("derived profile should be accepted during construction: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{PromptDir: frameworkPromptDir},
+		promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{ID: "standalone-profile"}),
+	)
+	if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidConfig) {
+		t.Fatalf("standalone incomplete profile error = %v, want ErrInvalidConfig", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestWithProfilesRejectsInvalidExecutionSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	type testCase struct {
 		name    string
@@ -2170,6 +2186,7 @@ func TestOpenAICompatibleProfileMapsEveryField(t *testing.T) {
 	extraParams := map[string]any{"provider_option": "distinct-extra-params"}
 	got := promptkit.OpenAICompatibleProfile(promptkit.OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig{
 		ID:              "distinct-id",
+		BaseProfileID:   "distinct-base",
 		BackendID:       "distinct-backend",
 		Endpoint:        "https://distinct.example/v1",
 		Model:           "distinct-model",
@@ -2184,6 +2201,7 @@ func TestOpenAICompatibleProfileMapsEveryField(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	want := promptkit.Profile{
 		ID:              "distinct-id",
+		BaseProfileID:   "distinct-base",
 		BackendID:       "distinct-backend",
 		Endpoint:        "https://distinct.example/v1",
 		Model:           "distinct-model",
@@ -3465,9 +3483,10 @@ extra_params:
 }
 
 type fakeLLMClient struct {
-	response *promptkit.GenerateResponse
-	err      error
-	requests []promptkit.GenerateRequest
+	response  *promptkit.GenerateResponse
+	responses []*promptkit.GenerateResponse
+	err       error
+	requests  []promptkit.GenerateRequest
 }
 
 type recordingArtifactReader struct {
@@ -3643,5 +3662,12 @@ func (f *fakeLLMClient) Generate(_ context.Context, req promptkit.GenerateReques
 	if f.err != nil {
 		return nil, f.err
 	}
+	if len(f.responses) > 0 {
+		index := len(f.requests) - 1
+		if index >= len(f.responses) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("no response configured for generation %d", index+1)
+		}
+		return f.responses[index], nil
+	}
 	return f.response, nil
 }

formatting.go

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func (r RunRequest) GoString() string {
 
 func (r RunRequest) redactedString() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf(
-		"promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID:%q PromptVersion:%q ProfileID:%q APIKeySet:%t Inputs:%d Vars:%d ExecutionSet:%t ValidationSet:%t}",
+		"promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID:%q PromptVersion:%q ProfileID:%q APIKeySet:%t Inputs:%d Vars:%d ExecutionSet:%t ValidationSet:%t AppendedMessages:%d}",
 		r.PromptID,
 		r.PromptVersion,
 		r.ProfileID,
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ func (r RunRequest) redactedString() string {
 		len(r.Vars),
 		r.Execution != nil,
 		r.Validation != nil,
+		len(r.AppendedMessages),
 	)
 }
 

generation_error_contract_test.go

@@ -39,6 +39,61 @@ func TestBuiltInGenerationError(t *testing.T) {
 	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "", "", "")
 }
 
+func TestBuiltInGenerationErrorWithAppendedMessages(t *testing.T) {
+	const messageMarker = "combined-request-provider-marker"
+	engine := newBuiltInGenerationErrorEngine(t, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity,
+		`{"error":{"message":"`+messageMarker+`"}}`)
+	request := generationErrorRunRequest()
+	request.AppendedMessages = []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: "previous response"},
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "consumer correction"},
+	}
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), request)
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run result = %#v, want nil", result)
+	}
+	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, "", "", messageMarker)
+}
+
+func TestBuiltInRepairGenerationError(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		codeMarker    = "repair-code-marker"
+		typeMarker    = "repair-type-marker"
+		messageMarker = "repair-message-marker"
+	)
+	calls := 0
+	config := contractConfig(frameworkSchemaDir)
+	config.HTTPClient = &http.Client{Transport: roundTripFunc(func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		calls++
+		if calls == 1 {
+			body := `{"choices":[{"message":{"content":"not-json"}}]}`
+			return &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusOK, ContentLength: int64(len(body)), Body: io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(body))}, nil
+		}
+		body := `{"error":{"code":"` + codeMarker + `","type":"` + typeMarker + `","message":"` + messageMarker + `"}}`
+		return &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, ContentLength: int64(len(body)), Body: io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(body))}, nil
+	})}
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewEngine: %v", err)
+	}
+	req := generationErrorRunRequest()
+	req.Validation = &promptkit.OutputContract{
+		Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
+		ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSON,
+		RepairAttempts: 1,
+	}
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), req)
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run result = %#v, want nil", result)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("provider calls = %d, want 2", calls)
+	}
+	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, codeMarker, typeMarker, messageMarker)
+}
+
 func assertGenerationError(t *testing.T, err error, statusCode int, code, providerType, message string) {
 	t.Helper()
 

go.mod

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ module gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit
 go 1.25.5
 
 require (
+	gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-openrouter v1.0.0
+	gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-rakestrawhome v1.0.0
 	github.com/santhosh-tekuri/jsonschema/v6 v6.0.2
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 )

go.sum

@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-openrouter v1.0.0 h1:lc062euk2qseO//D762i3JaFyulDNML3eQQX7DkYTho=
+gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-openrouter v1.0.0/go.mod h1:AIa7kAu2mfrRQgcspe4L+DW51WqgnALQT60lqkEywJI=
+gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-rakestrawhome v1.0.0 h1:j9YY7wsTVjzke2kHH4YAzpU0oUpM+x+nXwl1IeS+2eg=
+gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-rakestrawhome v1.0.0/go.mod h1:4RNS+LILDg4JbS4Ts9Lwy1C92wauXJIbeQaalps4Koo=
 github.com/dlclark/regexp2 v1.11.0 h1:G/nrcoOa7ZXlpoa/91N3X7mM3r8eIlMBBJZvsz/mxKI=
 github.com/dlclark/regexp2 v1.11.0/go.mod h1:DHkYz0B9wPfa6wondMfaivmHpzrQ3v9q8cnmRbL6yW8=
 github.com/santhosh-tekuri/jsonschema/v6 v6.0.2 h1:KRzFb2m7YtdldCEkzs6KqmJw4nqEVZGK7IN2kJkjTuQ=

internal/backend/registry.go

@@ -22,16 +22,7 @@ const (
 	// backend.
 	RakestrawHomeID = "rakestrawhome"
 
-	openRouterEndpoint  = "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
-	openRouterAPIKeyEnv = "OPENROUTER_API_KEY"
-
-	openRouterConcurrencyLimit = 16
-
-	rakestrawHomeEndpoint  = "https://inference.ai.rakestrawhome.com/v1"
-	rakestrawHomeAPIKeyEnv = "RAKESTRAWHOME_INFERENCE_API_KEY"
-
-	rakestrawHomeConcurrencyLimit = 4
-	defaultQueueCapacity          = 1024
+	defaultQueueCapacity = 1024
 )
 
 // ErrBackendNotFound identifies a registry lookup for an unknown backend ID.
@@ -44,16 +35,15 @@ type Registry struct {
 	backends map[string]domain.Backend
 }
 
-// NewRegistry constructs a registry containing the built-in definitions
-// followed by the supplied additions. Every ID must be unique.
-func NewRegistry(additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
-	builtIns := builtInBackends()
+// NewRegistry constructs a registry containing maintained definitions followed
+// by consumer additions. Every ID must be unique across both groups.
+func NewRegistry(maintained, additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
 	registry := &Registry{
-		backends: make(map[string]domain.Backend, len(builtIns)+len(additions)),
+		backends: make(map[string]domain.Backend, len(maintained)+len(additions)),
 	}
 
-	definitions := make([]domain.Backend, 0, len(builtIns)+len(additions))
-	definitions = append(definitions, builtIns...)
+	definitions := make([]domain.Backend, 0, len(maintained)+len(additions))
+	definitions = append(definitions, maintained...)
 	definitions = append(definitions, additions...)
 
 	for _, definition := range definitions {
@@ -65,7 +55,7 @@ func NewRegistry(additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend ID %q is already registered", definition.ID)
 		}
 
-		normalized, err := normalizeBackend(definition)
+		normalized, err := NormalizeDefinition(definition)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -75,23 +65,6 @@ func NewRegistry(additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
 	return registry, nil
 }
 
-func builtInBackends() []domain.Backend {
-	return []domain.Backend{
-		{
-			ID:               OpenRouterID,
-			Endpoint:         openRouterEndpoint,
-			APIKeyEnv:        openRouterAPIKeyEnv,
-			ConcurrencyLimit: openRouterConcurrencyLimit,
-		},
-		{
-			ID:               RakestrawHomeID,
-			Endpoint:         rakestrawHomeEndpoint,
-			APIKeyEnv:        rakestrawHomeAPIKeyEnv,
-			ConcurrencyLimit: rakestrawHomeConcurrencyLimit,
-		},
-	}
-}
-
 // GetBackend returns a defensive copy of the backend registered with id.
 func (r *Registry) GetBackend(id string) (domain.Backend, error) {
 	if r == nil {
@@ -128,7 +101,8 @@ func (r *Registry) CapacityPolicies() map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy {
 	return policies
 }
 
-func normalizeBackend(definition domain.Backend) (domain.Backend, error) {
+// NormalizeDefinition validates and defensively copies one backend definition.
+func NormalizeDefinition(definition domain.Backend) (domain.Backend, error) {
 	endpoint, err := domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(definition.Endpoint)
 	if err != nil {
 		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("backend %q endpoint: %w", definition.ID, err)

internal/backend/registry_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package backend_test
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -11,48 +12,24 @@ import (
 
 const validEndpoint = "https://backend.example/v1"
 
-func TestRegistryIncludesExactBuiltInDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
-	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil)
+func TestRegistryIncludesMaintainedDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
+	maintained := []domain.Backend{
+		{ID: backend.OpenRouterID, Endpoint: validEndpoint, ConcurrencyLimit: 2, QueueCapacity: 3, QueueCapacitySet: true},
+		{ID: backend.RakestrawHomeID, Endpoint: "https://second.example/v1", ConcurrencyLimit: 4, QueueCapacity: 5, QueueCapacitySet: true},
+	}
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(maintained, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	tests := []struct {
-		name       string
-		id         string
-		endpoint   string
-		apiKeyEnv  string
-		concurrent int
-	}{
-		{
-			name:       "OpenRouter",
-			id:         backend.OpenRouterID,
-			endpoint:   "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-			apiKeyEnv:  "OPENROUTER_API_KEY",
-			concurrent: 16,
-		},
-		{
-			name:       "Rakestrawhome",
-			id:         backend.RakestrawHomeID,
-			endpoint:   "https://inference.ai.rakestrawhome.com/v1",
-			apiKeyEnv:  "RAKESTRAWHOME_INFERENCE_API_KEY",
-			concurrent: 4,
-		},
-	}
-	for _, tc := range tests {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			definition, err := registry.GetBackend(tc.id)
+	for _, expected := range maintained {
+		t.Run(expected.ID, func(t *testing.T) {
+			definition, err := registry.GetBackend(expected.ID)
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("look up built-in: %v", err)
+				t.Fatalf("look up maintained definition: %v", err)
 			}
-			if definition.ID != tc.id ||
-				definition.Endpoint != tc.endpoint ||
-				definition.APIKeyEnv != tc.apiKeyEnv ||
-				definition.ConcurrencyLimit != tc.concurrent ||
-				definition.QueueCapacity != 1024 ||
-				!definition.QueueCapacitySet ||
-				definition.ExtraParams != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("unexpected built-in definition: %#v", definition)
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(definition, expected) {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected maintained definition: %#v", definition)
 			}
 		})
 	}
@@ -60,12 +37,12 @@ func TestRegistryIncludesExactBuiltInDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
 	policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
 	if len(policies) != 2 ||
 		policies[backend.OpenRouterID] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
-			ConcurrencyLimit: 16,
-			QueueCapacity:    1024,
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+			QueueCapacity:    3,
 		}) ||
 		policies[backend.RakestrawHomeID] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
 			ConcurrencyLimit: 4,
-			QueueCapacity:    1024,
+			QueueCapacity:    5,
 		}) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected built-in capacity policies: %#v", policies)
 	}
@@ -77,7 +54,7 @@ func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
 		"count":  int64(7),
 		"nested": nested,
 	}
-	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{
 		{
 			ID:               " custom ",
 			Endpoint:         " https://custom.example/openai/v1 ",
@@ -140,12 +117,11 @@ func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
-	if len(policies) != 3 {
+	if len(policies) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected capacity policy count: %#v", policies)
 	}
 	policies["custom"] = domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{}
-	delete(policies, backend.OpenRouterID)
-	delete(policies, backend.RakestrawHomeID)
+	delete(policies, "custom")
 	againPolicies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
 	if againPolicies["custom"] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
 		ConcurrencyLimit: 3,
@@ -153,12 +129,6 @@ func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
 	}) {
 		t.Fatalf("capacity policy map mutated registry state: %#v", againPolicies)
 	}
-	if _, ok := againPolicies[backend.OpenRouterID]; !ok {
-		t.Fatalf("OpenRouter capacity policy deletion mutated registry state: %#v", againPolicies)
-	}
-	if _, ok := againPolicies[backend.RakestrawHomeID]; !ok {
-		t.Fatalf("Rakestrawhome capacity policy deletion mutated registry state: %#v", againPolicies)
-	}
 }
 
 func TestNewRegistryNormalizesCapacityPolicy(t *testing.T) {
@@ -234,7 +204,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryNormalizesCapacityPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			tc.definition.ID = "custom"
 			tc.definition.Endpoint = validEndpoint
-			registry, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{tc.definition})
+			registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{tc.definition})
 			if tc.wantError {
 				if err == nil {
 					t.Fatal("expected invalid capacity policy error")
@@ -298,7 +268,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(tc.additions)
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, tc.additions)
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatal("expected duplicate ID error")
 			}
@@ -312,7 +282,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNewRegistryValidatesIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, id := range []string{"", " \t\n "} {
 		t.Run(id, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:       id,
 				Endpoint: validEndpoint,
 			}})
@@ -341,7 +311,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryValidatesEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:       "custom",
 				Endpoint: tc.endpoint,
 			}})
@@ -355,7 +325,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryValidatesEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNewRegistryValidatesEnvironmentVariableNames(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, name := range []string{"1API_KEY", "API-KEY", "API KEY", "ÅPI_KEY"} {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:        "custom",
 				Endpoint:  validEndpoint,
 				APIKeyEnv: name,
@@ -378,7 +348,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsInvalidAndReservedExtraParameters(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:          "custom",
 				Endpoint:    validEndpoint,
 				ExtraParams: tc.extraParams,
@@ -391,7 +361,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsInvalidAndReservedExtraParameters(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRegistryLookupReportsNotFound(t *testing.T) {
-	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil)
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
 	}

internal/catalog/catalog.go

@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
+// Package catalog validates immutable maintained backend catalog assets.
+package catalog
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"io/fs"
+	"path"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
+)
+
+// Source identifies one immutable backend catalog asset tree.
+type Source struct {
+	Name              string
+	ExpectedBackendID string
+	FS                fs.FS
+	Root              string
+}
+
+// Set is the validated maintained backend and raw profile catalog.
+type Set struct {
+	Backends   []domain.Backend
+	Profiles   profile.Repository
+	profileIDs []string
+}
+
+// Load validates and combines immutable catalog sources in source order.
+func Load(sources ...Source) (Set, error) {
+	if len(sources) == 0 {
+		return Set{}, errors.New("at least one catalog source is required")
+	}
+	loaded := Set{Backends: make([]domain.Backend, 0, len(sources))}
+	names := map[string]bool{}
+	backendIDs := map[string]bool{}
+	profileIDs := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, source := range sources {
+		if err := validateSource(source, names); err != nil {
+			return Set{}, err
+		}
+		names[source.Name] = true
+		definition, err := loadBackend(source)
+		if err != nil {
+			return Set{}, err
+		}
+		if backendIDs[definition.ID] {
+			return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend ID duplicates an earlier catalog", source.Name)
+		}
+		backendIDs[definition.ID] = true
+		repository, metadata, err := profile.LoadFSRepository(context.Background(), source.FS, path.Join(source.Root, "profiles"))
+		if err != nil {
+			return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %w", source.Name, err)
+		}
+		if len(metadata) == 0 {
+			return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: profiles must not be empty", source.Name)
+		}
+		resolvingRepository := profile.NewResolvingRepository(repository)
+		for _, entry := range metadata {
+			if profileIDs[entry.ID] {
+				return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %s duplicates an earlier profile ID", source.Name, entry.Path)
+			}
+			if containsField(entry.ExplicitFields, "endpoint") || containsField(entry.ExplicitFields, "api_key_env") {
+				return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %s contains connection metadata", source.Name, entry.Path)
+			}
+			value, err := repository.GetProfile(context.Background(), entry.ID)
+			if err != nil {
+				return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %s: %w", source.Name, entry.Path, err)
+			}
+			if err := rejectSecretKeys(value.ExtraParams); err != nil {
+				return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %s: prohibited extra parameter key", source.Name, entry.Path)
+			}
+			resolved, err := resolvingRepository.GetProfile(context.Background(), entry.ID)
+			if err != nil {
+				return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %s has invalid profile inheritance", source.Name, entry.Path)
+			}
+			if resolved.BackendID != definition.ID {
+				return Set{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: %s selects a different backend", source.Name, entry.Path)
+			}
+			profileIDs[entry.ID] = true
+			loaded.profileIDs = append(loaded.profileIDs, entry.ID)
+		}
+		if loaded.Profiles == nil {
+			loaded.Profiles = repository
+		} else {
+			loaded.Profiles = profile.NewOverlayRepository(loaded.Profiles, repository)
+		}
+		loaded.Backends = append(loaded.Backends, definition)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(loaded.profileIDs)
+	return loaded, nil
+}
+
+func validateSource(source Source, names map[string]bool) error {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(source.Name) == "" || source.Name != strings.TrimSpace(source.Name) {
+		return errors.New("catalog source name must not be blank")
+	}
+	if names[source.Name] {
+		return fmt.Errorf("duplicate catalog source name %q", source.Name)
+	}
+	if source.FS == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: filesystem is nil", source.Name)
+	}
+	if source.Root == "." || source.Root == "" || !fs.ValidPath(source.Root) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: asset root is invalid", source.Name)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(source.ExpectedBackendID) == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: expected backend ID is blank", source.Name)
+	}
+	return validateLayout(source)
+}
+
+func validateLayout(source Source) error {
+	manifestPath := path.Join(source.Root, "backend.json")
+	profilesRoot := path.Join(source.Root, "profiles")
+	return fs.WalkDir(source.FS, source.Root, func(assetPath string, entry fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if assetPath == source.Root {
+			if !entry.IsDir() {
+				return fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: invalid asset path %s", source.Name, assetPath)
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			if assetPath == profilesRoot || strings.HasPrefix(assetPath, profilesRoot+"/") {
+				return nil
+			}
+			return fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: invalid asset path %s", source.Name, assetPath)
+		}
+		if assetPath == manifestPath && entry.Type().IsRegular() {
+			return nil
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(assetPath, profilesRoot+"/") && entry.Type().IsRegular() && strings.HasSuffix(assetPath, ".yml") {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: invalid asset path %s", source.Name, assetPath)
+	})
+}
+
+func loadBackend(source Source) (domain.Backend, error) {
+	data, err := fs.ReadFile(source.FS, path.Join(source.Root, "backend.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: %w", source.Name, err)
+	}
+	type manifest struct {
+		SchemaVersion    *int            `json:"schema_version"`
+		ID               *string         `json:"id"`
+		Endpoint         *string         `json:"endpoint"`
+		APIKeyEnv        *string         `json:"api_key_env"`
+		ConcurrencyLimit *int            `json:"concurrency_limit"`
+		QueueCapacity    *int            `json:"queue_capacity"`
+		ExtraParams      json.RawMessage `json:"extra_params"`
+	}
+	decoder := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	decoder.DisallowUnknownFields()
+	var value manifest
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&value); err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: invalid manifest", source.Name)
+	}
+	var trailing any
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&trailing); !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: invalid manifest", source.Name)
+	}
+	if value.SchemaVersion == nil || *value.SchemaVersion != 1 || value.ID == nil || value.Endpoint == nil || value.APIKeyEnv == nil || value.ConcurrencyLimit == nil || value.QueueCapacity == nil || value.ExtraParams == nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: required field is missing or unsupported", source.Name)
+	}
+	if *value.ID != source.ExpectedBackendID {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend ID does not match expected ID", source.Name)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(*value.APIKeyEnv) == "" {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: api key environment variable must not be blank", source.Name)
+	}
+	extraParams, err := decodeExtraParams(value.ExtraParams)
+	if err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: invalid extra parameters", source.Name)
+	}
+	if err := rejectSecretKeys(extraParams); err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: prohibited extra parameter key", source.Name)
+	}
+	normalized, err := backend.NormalizeDefinition(domain.Backend{ID: *value.ID, Endpoint: *value.Endpoint, APIKeyEnv: *value.APIKeyEnv, ExtraParams: extraParams, ConcurrencyLimit: *value.ConcurrencyLimit, QueueCapacity: *value.QueueCapacity, QueueCapacitySet: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("catalog %s: backend.json: invalid backend definition", source.Name)
+	}
+	return normalized, nil
+}
+
+func decodeExtraParams(data []byte) (map[string]any, error) {
+	if bytes.Equal(bytes.TrimSpace(data), []byte("null")) {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	decoder := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	decoder.UseNumber()
+	var value map[string]any
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&value); err != nil || value == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("extra parameters must be an object or null")
+	}
+	var trailing any
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&trailing); !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		return nil, errors.New("extra parameters must contain exactly one JSON value")
+	}
+	return value, nil
+}
+
+func containsField(fields []string, target string) bool {
+	for _, field := range fields {
+		if field == target {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func rejectSecretKeys(value map[string]any) error {
+	return rejectSecretValue(value)
+}
+
+func rejectSecretValue(value any) error {
+	switch value := value.(type) {
+	case map[string]any:
+		for key, child := range value {
+			switch strings.ToLower(key) {
+			case "api_key", "apikey", "authorization", "credential", "credentials", "password", "secret", "token", "access_token":
+				return errors.New("prohibited key")
+			}
+			if err := rejectSecretValue(child); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	case []any:
+		for _, child := range value {
+			if err := rejectSecretValue(child); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/catalog/catalog_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,364 @@
+package catalog
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	openrouter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-openrouter"
+	rakestrawhome "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-rakestrawhome"
+)
+
+func TestLoadPublishedCatalogsMatchCompatibilityFixture(t *testing.T) {
+	loaded, err := Load(
+		Source{Name: "OpenRouter", ExpectedBackendID: "openrouter", FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: openrouter.Root},
+		Source{Name: "Rakestrawhome", ExpectedBackendID: "rakestrawhome", FS: rakestrawhome.FS(), Root: rakestrawhome.Root},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load published catalogs: %v", err)
+	}
+	expected := loadCompatibilityFixture(t)
+	expectedIDs := fixtureProfileIDs(t, expected)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(loaded.profileIDs, expectedIDs) {
+		t.Fatalf("published profile IDs differ from compatibility fixture: got %q, want %q", loaded.profileIDs, expectedIDs)
+	}
+	actual := catalogValue(t, loaded)
+	actualJSON, err := json.Marshal(actual)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("encode loaded catalogs: %v", err)
+	}
+	expectedJSON, err := json.Marshal(expected)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("encode compatibility fixture: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(actualJSON, expectedJSON) {
+		t.Fatalf("published catalogs differ from compatibility fixture: got %#v, want %#v", actual, expected)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsInvalidSources(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, sources := range map[string][]Source{
+		"none":       nil,
+		"blank name": {{Name: " ", ExpectedBackendID: "openrouter", FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: openrouter.Root}},
+		"duplicate name": {
+			{Name: "same", ExpectedBackendID: "openrouter", FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: openrouter.Root},
+			{Name: "same", ExpectedBackendID: "rakestrawhome", FS: rakestrawhome.FS(), Root: rakestrawhome.Root},
+		},
+		"nil filesystem":         {{Name: "missing", ExpectedBackendID: "openrouter", Root: openrouter.Root}},
+		"invalid root":           {{Name: "invalid-root", ExpectedBackendID: "openrouter", FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: "."}},
+		"blank expected backend": {{Name: "blank-backend", ExpectedBackendID: " ", FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: openrouter.Root}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if _, err := Load(sources...); err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsInvalidLayouts(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := map[string]func(fstest.MapFS){
+		"unexpected file": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/notes.txt"] = &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("unexpected")}
+		},
+		"unexpected directory": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/unexpected"] = &fstest.MapFile{Mode: fs.ModeDir}
+		},
+		"nonregular manifest": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/backend.json"].Mode = fs.ModeSymlink
+		},
+		"wrong profile extension": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/extra.yaml"] = &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(validProfile("extra", "one"))}
+		},
+		"nonregular profile": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Mode = fs.ModeSymlink
+		},
+	}
+	for name, mutate := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			fsys := validCatalogFS("one")
+			mutate(fsys)
+			if _, err := Load(testSource("one", fsys)); err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid layout error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsInvalidManifests(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := map[string]string{
+		"malformed":             `{`,
+		"trailing value":        validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", "null") + `{}`,
+		"missing fields":        `{"schema_version":1,"id":"one"}`,
+		"unsupported version":   strings.Replace(validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", "null"), `"schema_version":1`, `"schema_version":2`, 1),
+		"unknown field":         strings.Replace(validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", "null"), `"extra_params":null`, `"extra_params":null,"unknown":true`, 1),
+		"blank API key env":     validManifest("one", "   ", "null"),
+		"invalid API key env":   validManifest("one", "LEAK-MARKER", "null"),
+		"invalid endpoint":      strings.Replace(validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", "null"), `https://one.example/v1`, `ftp://leak-marker.invalid/v1`, 1),
+		"zero concurrency":      strings.Replace(validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", "null"), `"concurrency_limit":2`, `"concurrency_limit":0`, 1),
+		"non-object parameters": validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", `[]`),
+		"secret parameter":      validManifest("one", "TEST_API_KEY", `{"nested":{"token":"leak-marker"}}`),
+	}
+	for name, manifest := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			fsys := validCatalogFS("one")
+			fsys["catalog/backend.json"].Data = []byte(manifest)
+			_, err := Load(testSource("one", fsys))
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid manifest error")
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(err.Error()), "leak-marker") {
+				t.Fatalf("catalog error exposed manifest content: %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadPreservesManifestJSONNumbers(t *testing.T) {
+	fsys := validCatalogFS("one")
+	fsys["catalog/backend.json"].Data = []byte(validManifest(
+		"one",
+		"TEST_API_KEY",
+		`{"large":9007199254740993,"nested":[1.25]}`,
+	))
+	loaded, err := Load(testSource("one", fsys))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load catalog: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := loaded.Backends[0].ExtraParams["large"]; got != json.Number("9007199254740993") {
+		t.Fatalf("large JSON integer = %#v, want preserved json.Number", got)
+	}
+	nested := loaded.Backends[0].ExtraParams["nested"].([]any)
+	if nested[0] != json.Number("1.25") {
+		t.Fatalf("nested JSON number = %#v, want preserved json.Number", nested[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsInvalidCatalogProfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := map[string]func(fstest.MapFS){
+		"empty": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			delete(fsys, "catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml")
+			fsys["catalog/profiles"] = &fstest.MapFile{Mode: fs.ModeDir}
+		},
+		"malformed": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte("id: [")
+		},
+		"raw API key": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte(validProfile("one-profile", "one") + "api_key: leak-marker\n")
+		},
+		"endpoint field": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte(validProfile("one-profile", "one") + "endpoint: ''\n")
+		},
+		"API key environment field": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte(validProfile("one-profile", "one") + "api_key_env: ''\n")
+		},
+		"owner mismatch": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte(validProfile("one-profile", "other"))
+		},
+		"missing base": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte("id: one-profile\nbase_profile: leak-marker\n")
+		},
+		"cyclic base": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte("id: one-profile\nbase_profile: second\n")
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/second.yml"] = &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: second\nbase_profile: one-profile\n")}
+		},
+		"secret profile parameter": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte(validProfile("one-profile", "one") + "extra_params:\n  nested:\n    password: leak-marker\n")
+		},
+		"unknown field is redacted": func(fsys fstest.MapFS) {
+			fsys["catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml"].Data = []byte(validProfile("one-profile", "one") + "leak_marker: leak-marker\n")
+		},
+	}
+	for name, mutate := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			fsys := validCatalogFS("one")
+			mutate(fsys)
+			_, err := Load(testSource("one", fsys))
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid profile error")
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(err.Error()), "leak-marker") {
+				t.Fatalf("catalog error exposed profile content: %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadRejectsCrossCatalogConflicts(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("duplicate backend", func(t *testing.T) {
+		second := catalogFS("one", map[string]string{
+			"catalog/profiles/second.yml": validProfile("second", "one"),
+		}, "null")
+		_, err := Load(
+			Source{Name: "first", ExpectedBackendID: "one", FS: validCatalogFS("one"), Root: "catalog"},
+			Source{Name: "second", ExpectedBackendID: "one", FS: second, Root: "catalog"},
+		)
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected duplicate backend error")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("duplicate profile", func(t *testing.T) {
+		first := catalogFS("one", map[string]string{
+			"catalog/profiles/shared.yml": validProfile("shared", "one"),
+		}, "null")
+		second := catalogFS("two", map[string]string{
+			"catalog/profiles/shared.yml": validProfile("shared", "two"),
+		}, "null")
+		_, err := Load(testSource("one", first), testSource("two", second))
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected duplicate profile error")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("cross-catalog base", func(t *testing.T) {
+		first := catalogFS("one", map[string]string{
+			"catalog/profiles/base.yml": validProfile("base", "one"),
+		}, "null")
+		second := catalogFS("two", map[string]string{
+			"catalog/profiles/child.yml": "id: child\nbase_profile: base\n",
+		}, "null")
+		_, err := Load(testSource("one", first), testSource("two", second))
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("expected cross-catalog base error")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestLoadReturnsDefensiveCatalogValues(t *testing.T) {
+	fsys := catalogFS("one", map[string]string{
+		"catalog/profiles/one-profile.yml": validProfile("one-profile", "one") + "extra_params:\n  nested:\n    value: profile\n",
+	}, `{"nested":{"value":"backend"}}`)
+	loaded, err := Load(testSource("one", fsys))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load catalog: %v", err)
+	}
+	loaded.Backends[0].ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] = "changed"
+	profileValue, err := loaded.Profiles.GetProfile(context.Background(), "one-profile")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load profile: %v", err)
+	}
+	profileValue.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] = "changed"
+
+	again, err := Load(testSource("one", fsys))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reload catalog: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := again.Backends[0].ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"]; got != "backend" {
+		t.Fatalf("backend mutation escaped returned set: %#v", got)
+	}
+	againProfile, err := loaded.Profiles.GetProfile(context.Background(), "one-profile")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reload profile: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := againProfile.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"]; got != "profile" {
+		t.Fatalf("profile mutation escaped returned value: %#v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func loadCompatibilityFixture(t *testing.T) map[string]any {
+	t.Helper()
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join("..", "..", "testdata", "builtin-catalog-v1.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read fixture: %v", err)
+	}
+	var value map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &value); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("decode fixture: %v", err)
+	}
+	return value
+}
+
+func fixtureProfileIDs(t *testing.T, fixture map[string]any) []string {
+	t.Helper()
+	profiles, ok := fixture["profiles"].([]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("compatibility fixture profiles are malformed")
+	}
+	ids := make([]string, 0, len(profiles))
+	for _, entry := range profiles {
+		profileValue, ok := entry.(map[string]any)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("compatibility fixture profile is malformed")
+		}
+		id, ok := profileValue["id"].(string)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("compatibility fixture profile ID is malformed")
+		}
+		ids = append(ids, id)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(ids)
+	return ids
+}
+
+func catalogValue(t *testing.T, loaded Set) map[string]any {
+	t.Helper()
+	backends := make([]any, 0, len(loaded.Backends))
+	for _, backend := range loaded.Backends {
+		backends = append(backends, map[string]any{"id": backend.ID, "endpoint": backend.Endpoint, "api_key_env": backend.APIKeyEnv, "extra_params": interfaceValue(backend.ExtraParams), "concurrency_limit": backend.ConcurrencyLimit, "queue_capacity": backend.QueueCapacity, "queue_capacity_set": backend.QueueCapacitySet})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(backends, func(left, right int) bool {
+		return backends[left].(map[string]any)["id"].(string) < backends[right].(map[string]any)["id"].(string)
+	})
+	actualProfiles := make([]any, 0, len(loaded.profileIDs))
+	for _, id := range loaded.profileIDs {
+		profile, err := loaded.Profiles.GetProfile(context.Background(), id)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("load profile %q: %v", id, err)
+		}
+		actualProfiles = append(actualProfiles, map[string]any{"id": profile.ID, "base_profile": profile.BaseProfileID, "backend": profile.BackendID, "endpoint": profile.Endpoint, "model": profile.Model, "temperature": profile.Temperature, "max_tokens": profile.MaxTokens, "top_p": profile.TopP, "timeout_seconds": profile.TimeoutSeconds, "service_tier": profile.ServiceTier, "reasoning_effort": profile.ReasoningEffort, "api_key_env": profile.APIKeyEnv, "api_key_required": profile.APIKeyRequired, "extra_params": interfaceValue(profile.ExtraParams)})
+	}
+	return map[string]any{"backends": backends, "profiles": actualProfiles}
+}
+
+func interfaceValue(value map[string]any) any {
+	if value == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return value
+}
+
+func testSource(id string, fsys fs.FS) Source {
+	return Source{Name: id, ExpectedBackendID: id, FS: fsys, Root: "catalog"}
+}
+
+func validCatalogFS(id string) fstest.MapFS {
+	return catalogFS(id, map[string]string{
+		"catalog/profiles/" + id + "-profile.yml": validProfile(id+"-profile", id),
+	}, "null")
+}
+
+func catalogFS(id string, profiles map[string]string, extraParams string) fstest.MapFS {
+	fsys := fstest.MapFS{
+		"catalog/backend.json": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(validManifest(id, "TEST_API_KEY", extraParams))},
+	}
+	for name, content := range profiles {
+		fsys[name] = &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(content)}
+	}
+	return fsys
+}
+
+func validManifest(id, apiKeyEnv, extraParams string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf(
+		`{"schema_version":1,"id":%q,"endpoint":%q,"api_key_env":%q,"concurrency_limit":2,"queue_capacity":3,"extra_params":%s}`,
+		id,
+		"https://"+id+".example/v1",
+		apiKeyEnv,
+		extraParams,
+	)
+}
+
+func validProfile(id, backendID string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("id: %s\nbackend: %s\nmodel: test-model\n", id, backendID)
+}
+
+var _ fs.FS = openrouter.FS()

internal/domain/domain.go

@@ -60,15 +60,16 @@ type CacheControl struct {
 
 // RunRequest represents a request to generate a single artifact.
 type RunRequest struct {
-	PromptID      string
-	PromptVersion string
-	ProfileID     string
-	SessionID     string
-	APIKey        string `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
-	Inputs        map[string]ArtifactRef
-	Vars          map[string]string
-	Execution     *ExecutionTargetOverride
-	Validation    *OutputContract
+	PromptID         string
+	PromptVersion    string
+	ProfileID        string
+	SessionID        string
+	APIKey           string `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
+	Inputs           map[string]ArtifactRef
+	Vars             map[string]string
+	Execution        *ExecutionTargetOverride
+	Validation       *OutputContract
+	AppendedMessages []RenderedMessage
 }
 
 // RunResult represents the complete result of a prompt execution run.
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ type BackendCapacityPolicy struct {
 // ExecutionProfile describes how and where to execute a model.
 type ExecutionProfile struct {
 	ID              string         `yaml:"id"`
+	BaseProfileID   string         `yaml:"base_profile"`
 	BackendID       string         `yaml:"backend"`
 	Endpoint        string         `yaml:"endpoint"`
 	Model           string         `yaml:"model"`

internal/domain/message.go

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+)
+
+const (
+	RoleDeveloper = "developer"
+	RoleSystem    = "system"
+	RoleUser      = "user"
+	RoleAssistant = "assistant"
+)
+
+// NormalizeMessageRole validates and canonicalizes a provider-bound chat role.
+func NormalizeMessageRole(role string) (string, error) {
+	if !utf8.ValidString(role) {
+		return "", errors.New("message role must be valid UTF-8")
+	}
+
+	normalized := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(role))
+	switch normalized {
+	case RoleDeveloper, RoleSystem, RoleUser, RoleAssistant:
+		return normalized, nil
+	default:
+		return "", errors.New("message role must be developer, system, user, or assistant")
+	}
+}
+
+// NormalizeCacheControl validates, canonicalizes, and copies cache metadata.
+func NormalizeCacheControl(control *CacheControl) (*CacheControl, error) {
+	if control == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if !utf8.ValidString(string(control.Type)) {
+		return nil, errors.New("cache control type must be valid UTF-8")
+	}
+	if !utf8.ValidString(control.TTL) {
+		return nil, errors.New("cache control ttl must be valid UTF-8")
+	}
+
+	cacheType := strings.TrimSpace(string(control.Type))
+	if cacheType == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("cache control type is required")
+	}
+	if CacheControlType(cacheType) != CacheControlEphemeral {
+		return nil, errors.New("unsupported type")
+	}
+
+	ttl := strings.TrimSpace(control.TTL)
+	if ttl != "" && ttl != "1h" {
+		return nil, errors.New("unsupported ttl")
+	}
+
+	return &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlType(cacheType), TTL: ttl}, nil
+}
+
+// CloneRenderedMessages returns a deep copy of rendered messages.
+func CloneRenderedMessages(messages []RenderedMessage) []RenderedMessage {
+	cloned := make([]RenderedMessage, len(messages))
+	copyRenderedMessages(cloned, messages)
+	return cloned
+}
+
+// ConcatRenderedMessages returns an independently owned concatenation of messages.
+func ConcatRenderedMessages(prefix, suffix []RenderedMessage) []RenderedMessage {
+	messages := make([]RenderedMessage, len(prefix)+len(suffix))
+	copyRenderedMessages(messages, prefix)
+	copyRenderedMessages(messages[len(prefix):], suffix)
+	return messages
+}
+
+func copyRenderedMessages(destination, source []RenderedMessage) {
+	for index, message := range source {
+		destination[index] = message
+		if message.CacheControl != nil {
+			cacheControl := *message.CacheControl
+			destination[index].CacheControl = &cacheControl
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/domain/message_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestNormalizeMessageRole(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   string
+		want    string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{name: "developer", input: RoleDeveloper, want: RoleDeveloper},
+		{name: "system", input: RoleSystem, want: RoleSystem},
+		{name: "user", input: RoleUser, want: RoleUser},
+		{name: "assistant", input: RoleAssistant, want: RoleAssistant},
+		{name: "surrounding whitespace and mixed case", input: " \u2003UsEr\u2003 ", want: RoleUser},
+		{name: "blank", input: " \t\n ", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "tool", input: "tool", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "function", input: "function", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "custom", input: "custom-role", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "invalid UTF-8", input: string([]byte{0xff}), wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := NormalizeMessageRole(test.input)
+			if test.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected an error")
+				}
+				if strings.Contains(err.Error(), test.input) {
+					t.Fatalf("error exposed the input: %v", err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("NormalizeMessageRole() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			if got != test.want {
+				t.Fatalf("NormalizeMessageRole() = %q, want %q", got, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNormalizeCacheControl(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		input   *CacheControl
+		want    *CacheControl
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{name: "nil", input: nil, want: nil},
+		{
+			name:  "canonical values",
+			input: &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"},
+			want:  &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "trims values",
+			input: &CacheControl{Type: " ephemeral ", TTL: " 1h\t"},
+			want:  &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"},
+		},
+		{name: "empty type", input: &CacheControl{}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "unsupported type", input: &CacheControl{Type: "persistent"}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "unsupported ttl", input: &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "5m"}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "invalid type UTF-8", input: &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlType(string([]byte{0xff}))}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "invalid ttl UTF-8", input: &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: string([]byte{0xff})}, wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := NormalizeCacheControl(test.input)
+			if test.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected an error")
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("NormalizeCacheControl() error = %v", err)
+			}
+			if got == nil || test.want == nil {
+				if got != test.want {
+					t.Fatalf("NormalizeCacheControl() = %#v, want %#v", got, test.want)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if *got != *test.want {
+				t.Fatalf("NormalizeCacheControl() = %#v, want %#v", got, test.want)
+			}
+			if got == test.input {
+				t.Fatal("normalized cache control aliases its input")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderedMessageCloning(t *testing.T) {
+	prefix := []RenderedMessage{{Role: RoleSystem, Content: "prefix", CacheControl: &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}}}
+	suffix := []RenderedMessage{{Role: RoleUser, Content: " suffix "}, {Role: RoleAssistant, Content: "", CacheControl: &CacheControl{Type: CacheControlEphemeral}}}
+
+	cloned := CloneRenderedMessages(prefix)
+	combined := ConcatRenderedMessages(prefix, suffix)
+	if len(combined) != 3 || combined[0].Content != "prefix" || combined[1].Content != " suffix " || combined[2].Content != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected combined messages: %#v", combined)
+	}
+	if cloned[0].CacheControl == prefix[0].CacheControl || combined[0].CacheControl == prefix[0].CacheControl || combined[2].CacheControl == suffix[1].CacheControl {
+		t.Fatal("cloned cache controls alias their inputs")
+	}
+
+	prefix[0].Content = "changed"
+	prefix[0].CacheControl.TTL = ""
+	suffix[1].CacheControl.Type = "changed"
+	if cloned[0].Content != "prefix" || cloned[0].CacheControl.TTL != "1h" || combined[0].Content != "prefix" || combined[0].CacheControl.TTL != "1h" || combined[2].CacheControl.Type != CacheControlEphemeral {
+		t.Fatalf("cloned messages changed with their inputs: cloned=%#v combined=%#v", cloned, combined)
+	}
+}

internal/domain/output_contract.go

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
+const maxOutputRepairAttempts = 3
+
 // ValidateOutputContract validates source-neutral output-contract invariants.
 func ValidateOutputContract(contract OutputContract) error {
 	switch contract.Format {
@@ -26,5 +28,11 @@ func ValidateOutputContract(contract OutputContract) error {
 	if contract.RepairAttempts < 0 {
 		return errors.New("repair_attempts must be greater than or equal to 0")
 	}
+	if contract.RepairAttempts > maxOutputRepairAttempts {
+		return fmt.Errorf("repair_attempts must be less than or equal to %d", maxOutputRepairAttempts)
+	}
+	if contract.ValidationMode == ValidationNone && contract.RepairAttempts > 0 {
+		return errors.New("repair_attempts requires basic, json, or json_schema validation")
+	}
 	return nil
 }

internal/domain/output_contract_test.go

@@ -30,9 +30,28 @@ func TestValidateOutputContract(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 		{name: "empty validation mode", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.ValidationMode = "" }, wantErr: "validation mode"},
 		{name: "unsupported validation mode", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.ValidationMode = ValidationMode("unknown") }, wantErr: "validation mode"},
-		{name: "negative repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.RepairAttempts = -1 }, wantErr: "repair_attempts"},
+		{name: "negative repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationBasic
+			c.RepairAttempts = -1
+		}, wantErr: "repair_attempts"},
 		{name: "zero repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.RepairAttempts = 0 }},
-		{name: "positive repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.RepairAttempts = 1 }},
+		{name: "one repair attempt", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationBasic
+			c.RepairAttempts = 1
+		}},
+		{name: "maximum repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSON
+			c.RepairAttempts = 3
+		}},
+		{name: "too many repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSONSchema
+			c.SchemaPath = "schema.json"
+			c.RepairAttempts = 4
+		}, wantErr: "repair_attempts"},
+		{name: "none validation with repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationNone
+			c.RepairAttempts = 1
+		}, wantErr: "repair_attempts"},
 		{name: "json schema empty path", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
 			c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSONSchema
 			c.SchemaPath = ""

internal/llm/openai_compatible_client.go

@@ -179,12 +179,12 @@ func (c *OpenAICompatibleClient) Generate(ctx context.Context, req domain.Genera
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: no choices returned", ErrMalformedResponse)
 	}
 	content := wireResp.Choices[0].Message.Content
-	if content == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: first choice has empty message content", ErrMalformedResponse)
+	if content == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: first choice has missing message content", ErrMalformedResponse)
 	}
 
 	return &domain.GenerateResponse{
-		Content: content,
+		Content: *content,
 		Usage: domain.TokenUsage{
 			PromptTokens:     wireResp.Usage.PromptTokens,
 			CompletionTokens: wireResp.Usage.CompletionTokens,
@@ -379,8 +379,8 @@ type openAICacheControl struct {
 }
 
 type openAIChatResponseMessage struct {
-	Role    string `json:"role"`
-	Content string `json:"content"`
+	Role    string  `json:"role"`
+	Content *string `json:"content"`
 }
 
 type openAIChatResponse struct {

internal/llm/openai_compatible_client_test.go

@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ func TestOpenAICompatibleClientRequestMapping(t *testing.T) {
 		run  func(*testing.T)
 	}{
 		{name: "complete request and response mapping", run: checkCompleteRequestAndResponseMapping},
+		{name: "canonical role and exact content", run: checkCanonicalRoleAndExactContentMapping},
 		{name: "cache-controlled message", run: checkCacheControlledMessageMapping},
 		{name: "empty cache-control TTL", run: checkEmptyCacheControlTTLOmission},
 		{name: "session ID", run: checkSessionIDMapping},
@@ -377,6 +378,34 @@ func TestOpenAICompatibleClientRequestMapping(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func checkCanonicalRoleAndExactContentMapping(t *testing.T) {
+	provider := newRecordingProvider(t)
+	client := newProviderClient(t, provider, OpenAICompatibleConfig{})
+	const content = "  exact content\nwith whitespace  "
+	_, err := client.Generate(context.Background(), domain.GenerateRequest{
+		Prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{
+			Role:    domain.RoleDeveloper,
+			Content: content,
+		}}},
+		Target: domain.ExecutionTarget{Model: "model"},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Generate() error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	var messages []struct {
+		Role    string `json:"role"`
+		Content string `json:"content"`
+	}
+	request := provider.lastRequest(t)
+	if !request.decodeField(t, "messages", &messages) || len(messages) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("messages = %#v, want one message", messages)
+	}
+	if messages[0].Role != domain.RoleDeveloper || messages[0].Content != content {
+		t.Fatalf("message = %#v, want role %q and exact content %q", messages[0], domain.RoleDeveloper, content)
+	}
+}
+
 func checkCompleteRequestAndResponseMapping(t *testing.T) {
 	provider := newRecordingProvider(t)
 	provider.respond(http.StatusOK, `{
@@ -765,6 +794,7 @@ func TestOpenAICompatibleClientResponseFraming(t *testing.T) {
 		run  func(*testing.T)
 	}{
 		{name: "usage mapping", run: checkCacheUsageMapping},
+		{name: "content presence", run: checkContentPresence},
 		{name: "common response failures", run: checkCommonResponseFailures},
 		{name: "successful response byte boundary", run: checkSuccessfulResponseByteBoundary},
 		{name: "continuing oversized response", run: checkContinuingOversizedResponse},
@@ -776,6 +806,53 @@ func TestOpenAICompatibleClientResponseFraming(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func checkContentPresence(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+	}{
+		{name: "explicit empty string", content: ""},
+		{name: "whitespace string", content: " \n\t "},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			provider := newRecordingProvider(t)
+			provider.respond(http.StatusOK, `{
+  "choices": [{"message": {"content": `+strconv.Quote(tc.content)+`}}],
+  "usage": {
+    "prompt_tokens": 10,
+    "completion_tokens": 20,
+    "total_tokens": 30,
+    "prompt_tokens_details": {"cached_tokens": 4},
+    "cache_write_tokens": 5
+  }
+}`)
+			client := newProviderClient(t, provider, OpenAICompatibleConfig{Model: "model"})
+
+			response, err := client.Generate(context.Background(), ordinaryGenerateRequest())
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("generate: %v", err)
+			}
+			if response == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected response")
+			}
+			if response.Content != tc.content {
+				t.Fatalf("content = %q, want %q", response.Content, tc.content)
+			}
+			if response.Usage != (domain.TokenUsage{
+				PromptTokens:     10,
+				CompletionTokens: 20,
+				TotalTokens:      30,
+				CachedTokens:     4,
+				CacheWriteTokens: 5,
+			}) {
+				t.Fatalf("usage = %+v", response.Usage)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func checkCacheUsageMapping(t *testing.T) {
 	provider := newRecordingProvider(t)
 	provider.respond(http.StatusOK, `{
@@ -1129,6 +1206,9 @@ func checkCommonResponseFailures(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		{name: "invalid JSON", statusCode: http.StatusOK, body: `{not valid json`, wantErr: ErrMalformedResponse},
 		{name: "missing choices", statusCode: http.StatusOK, body: `{"choices": []}`, wantErr: ErrMalformedResponse},
+		{name: "missing content", statusCode: http.StatusOK, body: `{"choices": [{"message": {}}]}`, wantErr: ErrMalformedResponse},
+		{name: "null content", statusCode: http.StatusOK, body: `{"choices": [{"message": {"content": null}}]}`, wantErr: ErrMalformedResponse},
+		{name: "non-string content", statusCode: http.StatusOK, body: `{"choices": [{"message": {"content": 1}}]}`, wantErr: ErrMalformedResponse},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {

internal/profile/builtin/assets/aion-labs/aion-2.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: aion-2
-backend: openrouter
-model: aion-labs/aion-2.0
-temperature: 0.72
-reasoning_effort: high
-top_p: 0.95
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/anthropic/claude-fable-latest.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: claude-fable-latest
-backend: openrouter
-model: "~anthropic/claude-fable-latest"
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 600
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/anthropic/claude-haiku-latest.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: claude-haiku-latest
-backend: openrouter
-model: "~anthropic/claude-haiku-latest"
-reasoning_effort: medium
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/anthropic/claude-opus-latest.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: claude-opus-latest
-backend: openrouter
-model: "~anthropic/claude-opus-latest"
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/anthropic/claude-sonnet-latest.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: claude-sonnet-latest
-backend: openrouter
-model: "~anthropic/claude-sonnet-latest"
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/deepseek/deepseek-3-2.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: deepseek-3-2
-backend: openrouter
-model: deepseek/deepseek-v3.2
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/deepseek/deepseek-4-flash.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: deepseek-4-flash
-backend: openrouter
-model: deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash
-#reasoning_effort: medium
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/deepseek/deepseek-4-pro.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: deepseek-4-pro
-backend: openrouter
-model: deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemini-2-flash-lite.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemini-2-flash-lite
-backend: openrouter
-model: "google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite"
-#temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemini-2-flash.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemini-2-flash
-backend: openrouter
-model: "google/gemini-2.5-flash"
-#temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemini-2-pro.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemini-2-pro
-backend: openrouter
-model: "google/gemini-2.5-pro"
-#temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemini-3-flash-lite.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemini-3-flash-lite
-backend: openrouter
-model: "google/gemini-3.1-flash-lite"
-#temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemini-flash-latest.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemini-flash-latest
-backend: openrouter
-model: "~google/gemini-flash-latest"
-#temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemini-pro-latest.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemini-pro-latest
-backend: openrouter
-model: "~google/gemini-pro-latest"
-#temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/gemma-4-31b.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: gemma-4-31b
-backend: openrouter
-model: google/gemma-4-31b-it:exacto
-temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/google/rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b.yml

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-id: rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b
-backend: rakestrawhome
-model: google/gemma-4-31b-it

internal/profile/builtin/assets/minimax/minimax-m2.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: minimax-m2
-backend: openrouter
-model: minimax/minimax-m2.5
-temperature: 0.5
-reasoning_effort: high
-top_p: 0.95
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/minimax/minimax-m3.yml

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-id: minimax-m3
-backend: openrouter
-model: minimax/minimax-m3
-#temperature: 0.5
-reasoning_effort: high
-#top_p: 0.95
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/mistral/mistral-large-2512.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: mistral-large-2512
-backend: openrouter
-model: mistralai/mistral-large-2512
-temperature: 0.15
-top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 180

internal/profile/builtin/assets/mistral/mistral-medium-3-5.yml

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-id: mistral-medium-3-5
-backend: openrouter
-model: mistralai/mistral-medium-3-5
-temperature: 0.15
-reasoning_effort: high
-top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 180

internal/profile/builtin/assets/mistral/mistral-small-3.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: mistral-small-3
-backend: openrouter
-model: mistralai/mistral-small-3.2-24b-instruct
-temperature: 0.05
-top_p: 1.0
-timeout_seconds: 180

internal/profile/builtin/assets/mistral/mistral-small-4.yml

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-id: mistral-small-4
-backend: openrouter
-model: mistralai/mistral-small-2603
-temperature: 0.1
-reasoning_effort: high
-top_p: 0.98
-timeout_seconds: 180

internal/profile/builtin/assets/nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: nemotron-3-ultra
-backend: openrouter
-model: nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 180
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/openai/gpt-5-mini.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: gpt-5-mini
-backend: openrouter
-model: "openai/gpt-5.4-mini"
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/assets/openai/gpt-5-nano.yml

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-id: gpt-5-nano
-backend: openrouter
-model: "openai/gpt-5.4-nano"
-reasoning_effort: high
-timeout_seconds: 240
-service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/repository.go

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-package builtin
-
-import (
-	"embed"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
-)
-
-const assetRoot = "assets"
-
-//go:embed assets/**/*.yml
-var assets embed.FS
-
-func NewRepository() profile.Repository {
-	return profile.NewFSRepository(assets, assetRoot)
-}

internal/profile/builtin/repository_test.go

@@ -1,118 +0,0 @@
-package builtin
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"io/fs"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
-)
-
-func TestBuiltInProfilesValidateThroughRepository(t *testing.T) {
-	repo := NewRepository()
-	ids := loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t)
-	if len(ids) == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected built-in profiles")
-	}
-
-	for id := range ids {
-		t.Run(id, func(t *testing.T) {
-			p, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), id)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("expected built-in profile %q to load, got %v", id, err)
-			}
-			if p.ID != id {
-				t.Fatalf("expected profile id %q, got %q", id, p.ID)
-			}
-			if !builtInBackendIDs[p.BackendID] {
-				t.Fatalf("expected profile %q to select a maintained built-in, got %q", id, p.BackendID)
-			}
-			if p.Endpoint != "" || p.APIKeyEnv != "" {
-				t.Fatalf("expected profile %q to inherit backend connection settings, got endpoint=%q api_key_env=%q", id, p.Endpoint, p.APIKeyEnv)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestBuiltInProfilesDoNotContainDuplicateIDsOrRawAPIKeys(t *testing.T) {
-	loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t)
-}
-
-func TestRakestrawhomeGemmaProfileUsesNativeDefaults(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewRepository().GetProfile(context.Background(), "rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("load Rakestrawhome Gemma profile: %v", err)
-	}
-	if p.ID != "rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b" ||
-		p.BackendID != backend.RakestrawHomeID ||
-		p.Model != "google/gemma-4-31b-it" ||
-		p.Endpoint != "" ||
-		p.Temperature != 0 ||
-		p.MaxTokens != 0 ||
-		p.TopP != 0 ||
-		p.TimeoutSeconds != 0 ||
-		p.ServiceTier != "" ||
-		p.ReasoningEffort != "" ||
-		p.APIKeyEnv != "" ||
-		p.APIKeyRequired ||
-		p.ExtraParams != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected Rakestrawhome Gemma profile: %#v", p)
-	}
-}
-
-var builtInBackendIDs = map[string]bool{
-	backend.OpenRouterID:    true,
-	backend.RakestrawHomeID: true,
-}
-
-func loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t *testing.T) map[string]string {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	ids := map[string]string{}
-	err := fs.WalkDir(assets, assetRoot, func(name string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if d.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(name, ".yml") {
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		data, err := assets.ReadFile(name)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to read built-in profile %s: %v", name, err)
-		}
-
-		var raw map[string]any
-		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(data, &raw); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to decode built-in profile %s: %v", name, err)
-		}
-		if _, ok := raw["api_key"]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s contains raw api_key", name)
-		}
-		backendID, ok := raw["backend"].(string)
-		if !ok || !builtInBackendIDs[backendID] {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s does not select a maintained built-in: %#v", name, raw["backend"])
-		}
-		if _, ok := raw["endpoint"]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s repeats endpoint", name)
-		}
-		if _, ok := raw["api_key_env"]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s repeats api_key_env", name)
-		}
-		id, ok := raw["id"].(string)
-		if !ok || strings.TrimSpace(id) == "" {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s has missing id", name)
-		}
-		if previous, ok := ids[id]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("duplicate built-in profile id %q in %s and %s", id, previous, name)
-		}
-		ids[id] = name
-		return nil
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to walk built-in profiles: %v", err)
-	}
-	return ids
-}

internal/profile/definition.go

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package profile
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+// NormalizeAndValidateDefinition normalizes and validates one source-local
+// profile definition without resolving a base profile.
+func NormalizeAndValidateDefinition(profile *domain.ExecutionProfile) error {
+	if profile == nil {
+		return errors.New("profile is required")
+	}
+
+	profile.ID = strings.TrimSpace(profile.ID)
+	profile.BaseProfileID = strings.TrimSpace(profile.BaseProfileID)
+	profile.BackendID = strings.TrimSpace(profile.BackendID)
+	profile.Endpoint = strings.TrimSpace(profile.Endpoint)
+
+	if profile.ID == "" {
+		return errors.New("id is required")
+	}
+	if profile.Endpoint != "" {
+		endpoint, err := domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(profile.Endpoint)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		profile.Endpoint = endpoint
+	}
+	if profile.BaseProfileID == "" {
+		if profile.BackendID == "" && profile.Endpoint == "" {
+			return errors.New("backend or endpoint is required")
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(profile.Model) == "" {
+			return errors.New("model is required")
+		}
+	}
+
+	return domain.ValidateExecutionTargetSettings(domain.ExecutionTarget{
+		Temperature:    profile.Temperature,
+		MaxTokens:      profile.MaxTokens,
+		TopP:           profile.TopP,
+		TimeoutSeconds: profile.TimeoutSeconds,
+	})
+}

internal/profile/eager_repository.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package profile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/filecatalog"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
+)
+
+// LoadedProfileMetadata identifies one profile accepted by LoadFSRepository.
+type LoadedProfileMetadata struct {
+	// ID is the normalized profile ID.
+	ID string
+	// Path is the safe root-relative source path.
+	Path string
+	// ExplicitFields lists the sorted top-level YAML fields present in source.
+	ExplicitFields []string
+}
+
+// LoadFSRepository eagerly validates every profile under root and returns an
+// immutable raw repository and independently owned source metadata.
+func LoadFSRepository(ctx context.Context, fsys fs.FS, root string) (Repository, []LoadedProfileMetadata, error) {
+	if fsys == nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read profile directory: filesystem is nil")
+	}
+	paths, err := filecatalog.FindFSYAMLFiles(ctx, fsys, root)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read profile directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	repository := &loadedRepository{profiles: make(map[string]domain.ExecutionProfile, len(paths))}
+	metadata := make([]LoadedProfileMetadata, 0, len(paths))
+	for _, path := range paths {
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, err
+		}
+		data, err := fs.ReadFile(fsys, path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read profile file %s: %w", filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path), err)
+		}
+		fileMetadata, err := readProfileFileMetadata(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrInvalidYAML, filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path))
+		}
+		if fileMetadata.hasRawAPIKey {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed, filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path))
+		}
+		definition, err := decodeProfile(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrInvalidYAML, filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path))
+		}
+		definition.ExtraParams, err = jsonvalue.CopyMap(definition.ExtraParams)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrInvalidProfile, filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path))
+		}
+		if err := NormalizeAndValidateDefinition(definition); err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrInvalidProfile, filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path))
+		}
+		if _, exists := repository.profiles[definition.ID]; exists {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: duplicate profile ID", ErrInvalidProfile, filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path))
+		}
+		repository.profiles[definition.ID] = *definition
+		fields := append([]string(nil), fileMetadata.explicitFields...)
+		sort.Strings(fields)
+		metadata = append(metadata, LoadedProfileMetadata{
+			ID:             definition.ID,
+			Path:           filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, path),
+			ExplicitFields: fields,
+		})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(metadata, func(left, right int) bool { return metadata[left].ID < metadata[right].ID })
+	return repository, metadata, nil
+}
+
+type loadedRepository struct {
+	profiles map[string]domain.ExecutionProfile
+}
+
+func (r *loadedRepository) GetProfile(ctx context.Context, id string) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	definition, found := r.profiles[strings.TrimSpace(id)]
+	if !found {
+		return nil, ErrProfileNotFound
+	}
+	extraParams, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(definition.ExtraParams)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("copy loaded profile %q: %w", definition.ID, err)
+	}
+	definition.ExtraParams = extraParams
+	return &definition, nil
+}

internal/profile/eager_repository_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package profile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+)
+
+func TestLoadFSRepositoryLoadsSortedIndependentProfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	fsys := fstest.MapFS{
+		"profiles/z.yml": {Data: []byte("id: z\nbackend: local\nmodel: z-model\nextra_params:\n  nested:\n    value: one\n")},
+		"profiles/a.yml": {Data: []byte("id: a\nbackend: local\nmodel: a-model\nendpoint: ''\n")},
+	}
+
+	repository, metadata, err := LoadFSRepository(context.Background(), fsys, "profiles")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load repository: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(metadata) != 2 || metadata[0].ID != "a" || metadata[1].ID != "z" || metadata[0].Path != "a.yml" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected metadata: %#v", metadata)
+	}
+	if len(metadata[0].ExplicitFields) != 4 || metadata[0].ExplicitFields[0] != "backend" || metadata[0].ExplicitFields[1] != "endpoint" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected explicitly empty endpoint metadata, got %#v", metadata[0].ExplicitFields)
+	}
+	metadata[1].ExplicitFields[0] = "changed"
+	first, err := repository.GetProfile(context.Background(), "z")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load profile: %v", err)
+	}
+	first.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] = "changed"
+	second, err := repository.GetProfile(context.Background(), "z")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reload profile: %v", err)
+	}
+	if second.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] != "one" {
+		t.Fatalf("profile value was not defensively copied: %#v", second)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadFSRepositoryRejectsInvalidProfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := map[string]fstest.MapFS{
+		"duplicate IDs": {
+			"profiles/one.yml": {Data: []byte("id: duplicate\nbackend: local\nmodel: one\n")},
+			"profiles/two.yml": {Data: []byte("id: duplicate\nbackend: local\nmodel: two\n")},
+		},
+		"raw API key": {
+			"profiles/one.yml": {Data: []byte("id: one\nbackend: local\nmodel: one\napi_key: forbidden\n")},
+		},
+		"multiple documents": {
+			"profiles/one.yml": {Data: []byte("id: one\nbackend: local\nmodel: one\n---\nid: two\n")},
+		},
+	}
+	for name, fsys := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, _, err := LoadFSRepository(context.Background(), fsys, "profiles")
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected load failure")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadedRepositoryHonorsCancellationAndMissingProfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	repository, _, err := LoadFSRepository(context.Background(), fstest.MapFS{
+		"profiles/one.yml": {Data: []byte("id: one\nbackend: local\nmodel: one\n")},
+	}, "profiles")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load repository: %v", err)
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+	if _, err := repository.GetProfile(ctx, "one"); !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected cancellation, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := repository.GetProfile(context.Background(), "missing"); !errors.Is(err, ErrProfileNotFound) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing profile, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadFSRepositoryMatchesPointLookupForRawProfiles(t *testing.T) {
+	fsys := fstest.MapFS{
+		"profiles/base.yml":    {Data: []byte("id: base\nbackend: local\nmodel: base-model\n")},
+		"profiles/derived.yml": {Data: []byte("id: derived\nbase_profile: base\nreasoning_effort: high\n")},
+	}
+	eager, _, err := LoadFSRepository(context.Background(), fsys, "profiles")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load eager repository: %v", err)
+	}
+	pointLookup := NewFSRepository(fsys, "profiles")
+	for _, id := range []string{"base", "derived"} {
+		t.Run(id, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := eager.GetProfile(context.Background(), id)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("load eager profile: %v", err)
+			}
+			want, err := pointLookup.GetProfile(context.Background(), id)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("load point-in-time profile: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+				t.Fatalf("raw profiles differ: got %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+var _ fs.FS = fstest.MapFS{}

internal/profile/filesystem_repository.go

@@ -127,12 +127,11 @@ func loadProfile(ctx context.Context, fsys fs.FS, root string, id string) (*doma
 		if prof.ID != id {
 			continue
 		}
-		prof.BackendID = strings.TrimSpace(prof.BackendID)
 		prof.ExtraParams, err = jsonvalue.CopyMap(prof.ExtraParams)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrInvalidProfile, relPath, err)
 		}
-		if err := normalizeAndValidateProfile(prof); err != nil {
+		if err := NormalizeAndValidateDefinition(prof); err != nil {
 			if errors.Is(err, ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed) {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", err, relPath)
 			}
@@ -165,8 +164,9 @@ type profileMatch struct {
 }
 
 type profileFileMetadata struct {
-	ids          []string
-	hasRawAPIKey bool
+	ids            []string
+	hasRawAPIKey   bool
+	explicitFields []string
 }
 
 func readProfileFileMetadata(data []byte) (profileFileMetadata, error) {
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ func profileMetadataFromNode(node *yaml.Node) profileFileMetadata {
 	for i := 0; i+1 < len(mapping.Content); i += 2 {
 		key := mapping.Content[i]
 		value := mapping.Content[i+1]
+		metadata.explicitFields = append(metadata.explicitFields, key.Value)
 		switch key.Value {
 		case "id":
 			metadata.ids = append(metadata.ids, strings.TrimSpace(value.Value))
@@ -229,6 +230,7 @@ func (m profileFileMetadata) matchesID(id string) bool {
 func (m *profileFileMetadata) merge(other profileFileMetadata) {
 	m.ids = append(m.ids, other.ids...)
 	m.hasRawAPIKey = m.hasRawAPIKey || other.hasRawAPIKey
+	m.explicitFields = append(m.explicitFields, other.explicitFields...)
 }
 
 func decodeProfile(data []byte) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
@@ -255,30 +257,3 @@ func requireYAMLStreamEnd(decoder *yaml.Decoder) error {
 	}
 	return errors.New("profile file must contain exactly one YAML document")
 }
-
-func normalizeAndValidateProfile(p *domain.ExecutionProfile) error {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.ID) == "" {
-		return errors.New("id is required")
-	}
-	p.Endpoint = strings.TrimSpace(p.Endpoint)
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.BackendID) == "" && p.Endpoint == "" {
-		return errors.New("backend or endpoint is required")
-	}
-	if p.Endpoint != "" {
-		endpoint, err := domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(p.Endpoint)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		p.Endpoint = endpoint
-	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.Model) == "" {
-		return errors.New("model is required")
-	}
-
-	return domain.ValidateExecutionTargetSettings(domain.ExecutionTarget{
-		Temperature:    p.Temperature,
-		MaxTokens:      p.MaxTokens,
-		TopP:           p.TopP,
-		TimeoutSeconds: p.TimeoutSeconds,
-	})
-}

internal/profile/repository_test.go

@@ -858,6 +858,107 @@ top_p: .inf
 	})
 }
 
+func TestProfileRepositoriesValidateDerivedDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		files       map[string]string
+		wantError   error
+		wantBaseID  string
+		wantProfile bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "alias is locally valid and normalizes base id",
+			files: map[string]string{"alias.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+base_profile: "  base-profile  "
+`},
+			wantBaseID:  "base-profile",
+			wantProfile: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "derived endpoint remains valid",
+			files: map[string]string{"invalid.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+base_profile: base-profile
+endpoint: /v1
+`},
+			wantError: ErrInvalidProfile,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "derived settings remain valid",
+			files: map[string]string{"invalid.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+base_profile: base-profile
+top_p: 1.1
+`},
+			wantError: ErrInvalidProfile,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "derived extra params remain valid",
+			files: map[string]string{"invalid.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+base_profile: base-profile
+extra_params:
+  timestamp: 2026-08-11T12:34:56Z
+`},
+			wantError: ErrInvalidProfile,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "derived raw key remains prohibited",
+			files: map[string]string{"invalid.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+base_profile: base-profile
+api_key: secret
+`},
+			wantError: ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "derived duplicate id remains invalid",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"first.yaml":  "id: selected-profile\nbase_profile: first-base\n",
+				"second.yaml": "id: selected-profile\nbase_profile: second-base\n",
+			},
+			wantError: ErrInvalidProfile,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "derived extra document remains invalid",
+			files: map[string]string{"invalid.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+base_profile: base-profile
+---
+id: other
+`},
+			wantError: ErrInvalidYAML,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "standalone profile remains complete",
+			files:     map[string]string{"invalid.yaml": "id: selected-profile\n"},
+			wantError: ErrInvalidProfile,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, source := range profileRepositorySources() {
+		for _, tc := range tests {
+			t.Run(source.name+"/"+tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				repo := source.newRepository(t, tc.files)
+				got, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "selected-profile")
+				if tc.wantError != nil {
+					if !errors.Is(err, tc.wantError) {
+						t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %v", err, tc.wantError)
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if err != nil || !tc.wantProfile {
+					t.Fatalf("profile = %+v, error = %v, want valid derived definition", got, err)
+				}
+				if got.BaseProfileID != tc.wantBaseID {
+					t.Fatalf("BaseProfileID = %q, want %q", got.BaseProfileID, tc.wantBaseID)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestOverlayRepository(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	primaryProfile := &domain.ExecutionProfile{ID: "shared", Endpoint: "http://primary", Model: "primary"}

internal/profile/resolving_repository.go

@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+package profile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
+)
+
+const maximumProfileChainLength = 32
+
+type resolvingRepository struct {
+	source Repository
+}
+
+// NewResolvingRepository resolves inherited profile definitions from source.
+func NewResolvingRepository(source Repository) Repository {
+	return &resolvingRepository{source: source}
+}
+
+func (r *resolvingRepository) GetProfile(ctx context.Context, id string) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
+	if r == nil || r.source == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: profile repository is required", ErrInvalidProfile)
+	}
+	requestedID := strings.TrimSpace(id)
+	if requestedID == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: profile id is required", ErrInvalidProfile)
+	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	profile, err := r.getRawProfile(ctx, requestedID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if profile == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: selected profile %q is nil", ErrInvalidProfile, requestedID)
+	}
+
+	chain := []*domain.ExecutionProfile{profile}
+	chainIDs := []string{requestedID}
+	visited := map[string]struct{}{requestedID: {}}
+	current := profile
+
+	for {
+		baseID := strings.TrimSpace(current.BaseProfileID)
+		if baseID == "" {
+			break
+		}
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if _, seen := visited[baseID]; seen {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: profile inheritance cycle %s", ErrInvalidProfile, joinProfileChain(chainIDs, baseID))
+		}
+		if len(chain) >= maximumProfileChainLength {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: profile inheritance chain exceeds %d profiles: %s", ErrInvalidProfile, maximumProfileChainLength, joinProfileChain(chainIDs, baseID))
+		}
+
+		base, err := r.getRawProfile(ctx, baseID)
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, ErrProfileNotFound) {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: base profile %q is missing in chain %s", ErrInvalidProfile, baseID, joinProfileChain(chainIDs, baseID))
+			}
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to load base profile %q in chain %s: %w", ErrInvalidProfile, baseID, joinProfileChain(chainIDs, baseID), err)
+		}
+		if base == nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: base profile %q is nil in chain %s", ErrInvalidProfile, baseID, joinProfileChain(chainIDs, baseID))
+		}
+
+		chain = append(chain, base)
+		chainIDs = append(chainIDs, baseID)
+		visited[baseID] = struct{}{}
+		current = base
+	}
+
+	resolved, err := mergeProfileChain(chain)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: resolved profile chain %s: %w", ErrInvalidProfile, strings.Join(chainIDs, " -> "), err)
+	}
+	if err := validateResolvedProfile(resolved); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: resolved profile chain %s: %w", ErrInvalidProfile, strings.Join(chainIDs, " -> "), err)
+	}
+	return resolved, nil
+}
+
+func (r *resolvingRepository) getRawProfile(ctx context.Context, id string) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
+	profile, err := r.source.GetProfile(ctx, id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return profile, nil
+}
+
+func joinProfileChain(chain []string, next string) string {
+	return strings.Join(append(append([]string(nil), chain...), next), " -> ")
+}
+
+func mergeProfileChain(chain []*domain.ExecutionProfile) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
+	resolved := &domain.ExecutionProfile{ID: chain[0].ID}
+	for index := len(chain) - 1; index >= 0; index-- {
+		definition := chain[index]
+		if strings.TrimSpace(definition.BackendID) != "" {
+			resolved.BackendID = definition.BackendID
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(definition.Endpoint) != "" {
+			resolved.Endpoint = definition.Endpoint
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(definition.Model) != "" {
+			resolved.Model = definition.Model
+		}
+		if definition.Temperature != 0 {
+			resolved.Temperature = definition.Temperature
+		}
+		if definition.MaxTokens != 0 {
+			resolved.MaxTokens = definition.MaxTokens
+		}
+		if definition.TopP != 0 {
+			resolved.TopP = definition.TopP
+		}
+		if definition.TimeoutSeconds != 0 {
+			resolved.TimeoutSeconds = definition.TimeoutSeconds
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(definition.ServiceTier) != "" {
+			resolved.ServiceTier = definition.ServiceTier
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(definition.ReasoningEffort) != "" {
+			resolved.ReasoningEffort = definition.ReasoningEffort
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(definition.APIKeyEnv) != "" {
+			resolved.APIKeyEnv = definition.APIKeyEnv
+		}
+		resolved.APIKeyRequired = resolved.APIKeyRequired || definition.APIKeyRequired
+		if len(definition.ExtraParams) != 0 {
+			extraParams, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(definition.ExtraParams)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			resolved.ExtraParams = extraParams
+		}
+	}
+	resolved.ID = chain[0].ID
+	resolved.BaseProfileID = ""
+	return resolved, nil
+}
+
+func validateResolvedProfile(profile *domain.ExecutionProfile) error {
+	if profile == nil {
+		return errors.New("resolved profile is required")
+	}
+	profile.BaseProfileID = ""
+	return NormalizeAndValidateDefinition(profile)
+}

internal/profile/resolving_repository_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,418 @@
+package profile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryMergesProfileChain(t *testing.T) {
+	repo := &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+		"leaf": {
+			ID:              "leaf",
+			BaseProfileID:   "middle",
+			BackendID:       "leaf-backend",
+			TopP:            0.8,
+			TimeoutSeconds:  45,
+			ReasoningEffort: "high",
+		},
+		"middle": {
+			ID:             "middle",
+			BaseProfileID:  "root",
+			Endpoint:       "https://middle.example/v1",
+			Model:          "middle-model",
+			MaxTokens:      256,
+			APIKeyEnv:      "MIDDLE_API_KEY",
+			APIKeyRequired: true,
+			ExtraParams:    map[string]any{"middle": map[string]any{"value": "middle"}},
+		},
+		"root": {
+			ID:          "root",
+			BackendID:   "root-backend",
+			Endpoint:    "https://root.example/v1",
+			Model:       "root-model",
+			Temperature: 0.3,
+			ServiceTier: "priority",
+			ExtraParams: map[string]any{"root": "value"},
+		},
+	}}
+
+	got, err := NewResolvingRepository(repo).GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve profile: %v", err)
+	}
+	want := &domain.ExecutionProfile{
+		ID:              "leaf",
+		BackendID:       "leaf-backend",
+		Endpoint:        "https://middle.example/v1",
+		Model:           "middle-model",
+		Temperature:     0.3,
+		MaxTokens:       256,
+		TopP:            0.8,
+		TimeoutSeconds:  45,
+		ServiceTier:     "priority",
+		ReasoningEffort: "high",
+		APIKeyEnv:       "MIDDLE_API_KEY",
+		APIKeyRequired:  true,
+		ExtraParams:     map[string]any{"middle": map[string]any{"value": "middle"}},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved profile:\n got %#v\nwant %#v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryRejectsMissingSourceAndProfileID(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := NewResolvingRepository(nil).GetProfile(context.Background(), "profile"); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+		t.Fatalf("nil source error = %v, want ErrInvalidProfile", err)
+	}
+
+	repo := &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{}}
+	if _, err := NewResolvingRepository(repo).GetProfile(context.Background(), " \t "); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+		t.Fatalf("blank id error = %v, want ErrInvalidProfile", err)
+	}
+	if got := repo.callCount(" "); got != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("blank id looked up source %d times", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryCopiesExtraParams(t *testing.T) {
+	baseParams := map[string]any{"nested": map[string]any{"value": "base"}}
+	repo := &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+		"child": {ID: "child", BaseProfileID: "base"},
+		"base": {
+			ID:          "base",
+			Endpoint:    "https://base.example/v1",
+			Model:       "model",
+			ExtraParams: baseParams,
+		},
+	}}
+	resolver := NewResolvingRepository(repo)
+
+	first, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "child")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve inherited map: %v", err)
+	}
+	first.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] = "mutated"
+	second, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "child")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve inherited map again: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := second.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"]; got != "base" {
+		t.Fatalf("later result retained mutation: %v", got)
+	}
+	if got := baseParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"]; got != "base" {
+		t.Fatalf("source map retained mutation: %v", got)
+	}
+
+	repo.set("child", &domain.ExecutionProfile{
+		ID:            "child",
+		BaseProfileID: "base",
+		ExtraParams:   map[string]any{"child": "replacement"},
+	})
+	replaced, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "child")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve replacement map: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(replaced.ExtraParams, map[string]any{"child": "replacement"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("extra params = %#v, want complete child replacement", replaced.ExtraParams)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryUsesRawOverlayForEachLookup(t *testing.T) {
+	leafSource := NewFSRepository(profileTestFS(map[string]string{
+		"leaf.yaml": "id: leaf\nbase_profile: base\n",
+	}), ".")
+	fallback := NewFSRepository(profileTestFS(map[string]string{
+		"base.yaml": "id: base\nendpoint: https://fallback.example/v1\nmodel: fallback-model\n",
+	}), ".")
+	overlay := NewOverlayRepository(leafSource, fallback)
+	resolver := NewResolvingRepository(overlay)
+
+	got, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve fallback base: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Model != "fallback-model" {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback base model = %q", got.Model)
+	}
+
+	shadowing := NewOverlayRepository(NewFSRepository(profileTestFS(map[string]string{
+		"leaf.yaml": "id: leaf\nbase_profile: base\n",
+		"base.yaml": "id: base\nendpoint: https://primary.example/v1\nmodel: primary-model\n",
+	}), "."), fallback)
+	got, err = NewResolvingRepository(shadowing).GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve shadowed base: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Model != "primary-model" || got.Endpoint != "https://primary.example/v1" {
+		t.Fatalf("shadowed base = %+v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryReportsSafetyAndSourceErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	sourceErr := errors.New("source failure")
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		repo     *resolvingTestRepository
+		id       string
+		want     []error
+		wantNot  error
+		contains []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "missing selected profile preserves not found",
+			repo:    &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{}},
+			id:      "missing",
+			want:    []error{ErrProfileNotFound},
+			wantNot: ErrInvalidProfile,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "missing base is invalid but not not found",
+			repo: &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+				"leaf": {ID: "leaf", BaseProfileID: "missing"},
+			}},
+			id:       "leaf",
+			want:     []error{ErrInvalidProfile},
+			wantNot:  ErrProfileNotFound,
+			contains: []string{"missing", "leaf -> missing"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "direct cycle",
+			repo: &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+				"a": {ID: "a", BaseProfileID: "a"},
+			}},
+			id:       "a",
+			want:     []error{ErrInvalidProfile},
+			contains: []string{"a -> a"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "indirect cycle",
+			repo: &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+				"a": {ID: "a", BaseProfileID: "b"},
+				"b": {ID: "b", BaseProfileID: "c"},
+				"c": {ID: "c", BaseProfileID: "a"},
+			}},
+			id:       "a",
+			want:     []error{ErrInvalidProfile},
+			contains: []string{"a -> b -> c -> a"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "nil result",
+			repo: &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+				"leaf": nil,
+			}},
+			id:   "leaf",
+			want: []error{ErrInvalidProfile},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "incomplete resolved profile",
+			repo: &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+				"leaf": {ID: "leaf", BaseProfileID: "base"},
+				"base": {ID: "base", Model: "model"},
+			}},
+			id:   "leaf",
+			want: []error{ErrInvalidProfile},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "base source error is retained",
+			repo: &resolvingTestRepository{
+				profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{"leaf": {ID: "leaf", BaseProfileID: "base"}},
+				errors:   map[string]error{"base": sourceErr},
+			},
+			id:   "leaf",
+			want: []error{ErrInvalidProfile, sourceErr},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := NewResolvingRepository(tc.repo).GetProfile(context.Background(), tc.id)
+			for _, want := range tc.want {
+				if !errors.Is(err, want) {
+					t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %v", err, want)
+				}
+			}
+			if tc.wantNot != nil && errors.Is(err, tc.wantNot) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, must not match %v", err, tc.wantNot)
+			}
+			for _, fragment := range tc.contains {
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), fragment) {
+					t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %q", err, fragment)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryEnforcesChainLength(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, count := range []int{maximumProfileChainLength, maximumProfileChainLength + 1} {
+		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%d profiles", count), func(t *testing.T) {
+			profiles := make(map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile, count)
+			for index := 1; index <= count; index++ {
+				id := fmt.Sprintf("profile-%d", index)
+				definition := &domain.ExecutionProfile{ID: id}
+				if index == count {
+					definition.Endpoint = "https://root.example/v1"
+					definition.Model = "model"
+				} else {
+					definition.BaseProfileID = fmt.Sprintf("profile-%d", index+1)
+				}
+				profiles[id] = definition
+			}
+
+			got, err := NewResolvingRepository(&resolvingTestRepository{profiles: profiles}).GetProfile(context.Background(), "profile-1")
+			if count == maximumProfileChainLength {
+				if err != nil || got == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("profile = %+v, error = %v, want accepted chain", got, err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want ErrInvalidProfile", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvingRepositoryIsFreshAndCancellationAware(t *testing.T) {
+	repo := &resolvingTestRepository{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+		"leaf": {ID: "leaf", BaseProfileID: "base"},
+		"base": {ID: "base", Endpoint: "https://base.example/v1", Model: "first", ExtraParams: map[string]any{"nested": map[string]any{"value": "first"}}},
+	}}
+	resolver := NewResolvingRepository(repo)
+
+	first, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+	if err != nil || first.Model != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("first result=(%+v, %v)", first, err)
+	}
+	repo.set("base", &domain.ExecutionProfile{ID: "base", Endpoint: "https://base.example/v1", Model: "second", ExtraParams: map[string]any{"nested": map[string]any{"value": "second"}}})
+	second, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+	if err != nil || second.Model != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("second result=(%+v, %v)", second, err)
+	}
+
+	canceled, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+	if _, err := resolver.GetProfile(canceled, "leaf"); !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("canceled lookup error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := repo.callCount("leaf"); got != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("calls after canceled lookup = %d, want 2", got)
+	}
+
+	duringTraversal, cancelDuringTraversal := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	repo.afterGet = func(id string) {
+		if id == "leaf" {
+			cancelDuringTraversal()
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := resolver.GetProfile(duringTraversal, "leaf"); !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("during traversal error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := repo.callCount("base"); got != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("base calls after cancellation = %d, want 2", got)
+	}
+
+	terminalLookup, cancelTerminalLookup := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	repo.afterGet = func(id string) {
+		if id == "base" {
+			cancelTerminalLookup()
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := resolver.GetProfile(terminalLookup, "leaf"); !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("terminal lookup cancellation error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := repo.callCount("base"); got != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("base calls after terminal cancellation = %d, want 3", got)
+	}
+
+	repo.afterGet = nil
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	errors := make(chan error, 8)
+	for index := 0; index < cap(errors); index++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			resolved, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+			if err != nil {
+				errors <- err
+				return
+			}
+			resolved.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] = "mutated"
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+	close(errors)
+	for err := range errors {
+		t.Errorf("concurrent resolution: %v", err)
+	}
+	latest, err := resolver.GetProfile(context.Background(), "leaf")
+	if err != nil || latest.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]any)["value"] != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("latest result=(%+v, %v)", latest, err)
+	}
+}
+
+type resolvingTestRepository struct {
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	profiles map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile
+	errors   map[string]error
+	calls    map[string]int
+	afterGet func(string)
+}
+
+func (r *resolvingTestRepository) GetProfile(ctx context.Context, id string) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	if r.calls == nil {
+		r.calls = make(map[string]int)
+	}
+	r.calls[id]++
+	err := r.errors[id]
+	profile := r.profiles[id]
+	afterGet := r.afterGet
+	r.mu.Unlock()
+	if afterGet != nil {
+		afterGet(id)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if profile == nil {
+		if _, exists := r.profiles[id]; exists {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		return nil, ErrProfileNotFound
+	}
+	copy := *profile
+	return &copy, nil
+}
+
+func (r *resolvingTestRepository) set(id string, profile *domain.ExecutionProfile) {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	r.profiles[id] = profile
+}
+
+func (r *resolvingTestRepository) callCount(id string) int {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	return r.calls[id]
+}
+
+func profileTestFS(files map[string]string) fs.FS {
+	fsys := make(fstest.MapFS, len(files))
+	for name, content := range files {
+		fsys[name] = profileMapFile(content)
+	}
+	return fsys
+}

internal/prompt/go_renderer.go

@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ func (r *goRenderer) Render(ctx context.Context, definition *domain.PromptDefini
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if tmplMsg.Role == "" {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d", ErrInvalidMessageRole, i)
+		role, err := domain.NormalizeMessageRole(tmplMsg.Role)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d: %v", ErrInvalidMessageRole, i, err)
 		}
 
 		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ func (r *goRenderer) Render(ctx context.Context, definition *domain.PromptDefini
 		}
 
 		renderedMessages = append(renderedMessages, domain.RenderedMessage{
-			Role:         tmplMsg.Role,
+			Role:         role,
 			Content:      buf.String(),
 			CacheControl: cloneCacheControl(tmplMsg.CacheControl),
 		})

internal/prompt/renderer_test.go

@@ -361,6 +361,35 @@ func TestGoRenderer_Render(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidMessageRole, got %v", err)
 		}
 	})
+
+	t.Run("canonicalizes directly supplied message roles", func(t *testing.T) {
+		def := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+				{Role: " \u2003DeVeLoPeR\u2003 ", Content: "Hello"},
+			},
+		}
+		res, err := renderer.Render(ctx, def, nil, vars)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got := res.Messages[0].Role; got != domain.RoleDeveloper {
+			t.Fatalf("rendered role = %q, want %q", got, domain.RoleDeveloper)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("rejects unsupported directly supplied message roles", func(t *testing.T) {
+		const unsupportedRole = "consumer-private-role"
+		def := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{{Role: unsupportedRole, Content: "Hello"}},
+		}
+		_, err := renderer.Render(ctx, def, nil, vars)
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidMessageRole) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidMessageRole, got %v", err)
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), unsupportedRole) {
+			t.Fatalf("renderer error exposed unsupported role: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 func TestGoRendererCancellation(t *testing.T) {

internal/promptdef/filesystem_repository.go

@@ -254,20 +254,27 @@ func normalizePromptDefinitionWithContent(raw *promptDefinitionFile, readContent
 
 	templates := make([]domain.PromptMessageTemplate, 0, len(raw.Messages))
 	for i, msg := range raw.Messages {
-		role := strings.TrimSpace(msg.Role)
-		if role == "" {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("message %d role is required", i)
+		role, err := domain.NormalizeMessageRole(msg.Role)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("message %d role: %w", i, err)
 		}
 
 		hasContent := strings.TrimSpace(msg.Content) != ""
 		hasContentFile := strings.TrimSpace(msg.ContentFile) != ""
 		if hasContent == hasContentFile {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("message %d (%s) must set exactly one of content or content_file", i, role)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("message %d must set exactly one of content or content_file", i)
 		}
 
-		cacheControl, err := normalizeCacheControl(msg.CacheControl)
+		var rawCacheControl *domain.CacheControl
+		if msg.CacheControl != nil {
+			rawCacheControl = &domain.CacheControl{
+				Type: domain.CacheControlType(msg.CacheControl.Type),
+				TTL:  msg.CacheControl.TTL,
+			}
+		}
+		cacheControl, err := domain.NormalizeCacheControl(rawCacheControl)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("message %d (%s) cache_control: %w", i, role, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("message %d cache_control: %w", i, err)
 		}
 
 		templateContent := msg.Content
@@ -275,7 +282,7 @@ func normalizePromptDefinitionWithContent(raw *promptDefinitionFile, readContent
 		if hasContentFile {
 			body, resolvedPath, err := readContentFile(msg.ContentFile)
 			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("prompt %q message %d (%s): failed to read content_file %q: %w", id, i, role, msg.ContentFile, err)
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("prompt %q message %d: failed to read content_file %q: %w", id, i, msg.ContentFile, err)
 			}
 			templateContent = body
 			resolvedContentFile = resolvedPath
@@ -319,27 +326,3 @@ func normalizePromptDefinitionWithContent(raw *promptDefinitionFile, readContent
 		Validation:     outputContract,
 	}, nil
 }
-
-func normalizeCacheControl(raw *cacheControlFile) (*domain.CacheControl, error) {
-	if raw == nil {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-
-	cacheType := strings.TrimSpace(raw.Type)
-	if cacheType == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("type is required")
-	}
-	if domain.CacheControlType(cacheType) != domain.CacheControlEphemeral {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported type %q", cacheType)
-	}
-
-	ttl := strings.TrimSpace(raw.TTL)
-	if ttl != "" && ttl != "1h" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported ttl %q", ttl)
-	}
-
-	return &domain.CacheControl{
-		Type: domain.CacheControlType(cacheType),
-		TTL:  ttl,
-	}, nil
-}

internal/promptdef/repository_test.go

@@ -892,6 +892,38 @@ output:
   format: text
   validation_mode: none
   repair_attempts: -1
+`,
+			wantErr:        true,
+			wantDiagnostic: "repair_attempts",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "repair attempts above maximum",
+			definition: `
+id: normalization-rule
+version: "1"
+messages:
+  - role: user
+    content: test
+output:
+  format: text
+  validation_mode: basic
+  repair_attempts: 4
+`,
+			wantErr:        true,
+			wantDiagnostic: "repair_attempts",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "none validation with repair attempts",
+			definition: `
+id: normalization-rule
+version: "1"
+messages:
+  - role: user
+    content: test
+output:
+  format: text
+  validation_mode: none
+  repair_attempts: 1
 `,
 			wantErr:        true,
 			wantDiagnostic: "repair_attempts",
@@ -1055,6 +1087,48 @@ output:
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPromptDefinitionMessageRoleNormalization(t *testing.T) {
+	const invalidRole = "consumer-private-role"
+	repo := NewFSRepository(fstest.MapFS{
+		"canonical.yaml": {Data: []byte(`
+id: canonical
+version: "1"
+messages:
+  - role: " \u2003SyStEm\u2003 "
+    content: test
+output:
+  format: text
+  validation_mode: none
+`)},
+		"invalid.yaml": {Data: []byte(`
+id: invalid-role
+version: "1"
+messages:
+  - role: consumer-private-role
+    content: test
+output:
+  format: text
+  validation_mode: none
+`)},
+	}, ".")
+
+	definition, err := repo.GetPromptDefinition(context.Background(), "canonical", "")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GetPromptDefinition() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := definition.Templates[0].Role; got != domain.RoleSystem {
+		t.Fatalf("normalized role = %q, want %q", got, domain.RoleSystem)
+	}
+
+	_, err = repo.GetPromptDefinition(context.Background(), "invalid-role", "")
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidPromptDefinition) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidPromptDefinition, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), invalidRole) {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid prompt error exposed the supplied role: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func assertCacheControl(t *testing.T, got *domain.CacheControl, wantType domain.CacheControlType, wantTTL string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if got == nil {

internal/usecase/output_contract_test.go

@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ func TestRunnerPreparationRejectsInvalidOutputContractsBeforeCompletion(t *testi
 		{name: "unsupported format", override: domain.OutputContract{Format: "binary", ValidationMode: domain.ValidationNone}},
 		{name: "empty validation mode", override: domain.OutputContract{Format: domain.FormatText}},
 		{name: "negative repair attempts", override: domain.OutputContract{Format: domain.FormatText, ValidationMode: domain.ValidationNone, RepairAttempts: -1}},
+		{name: "repair attempts above maximum", override: domain.OutputContract{Format: domain.FormatText, ValidationMode: domain.ValidationBasic, RepairAttempts: 4}},
+		{name: "none validation with repair attempts", override: domain.OutputContract{Format: domain.FormatText, ValidationMode: domain.ValidationNone, RepairAttempts: 1}},
 		{name: "json schema without path", override: domain.OutputContract{Format: domain.FormatJSON, ValidationMode: domain.ValidationJSONSchema}},
 	}
 

internal/usecase/prepared_execution.go

@@ -213,16 +213,7 @@ func clonePreparedRun(source *domain.PreparedRun) (*domain.PreparedRun, error) {
 			copied.InputHashes[name] = hash
 		}
 	}
-	if source.Messages != nil {
-		copied.Messages = make([]domain.RenderedMessage, len(source.Messages))
-		for i, message := range source.Messages {
-			copied.Messages[i] = message
-			if message.CacheControl != nil {
-				cacheControl := *message.CacheControl
-				copied.Messages[i].CacheControl = &cacheControl
-			}
-		}
-	}
+	copied.Messages = domain.CloneRenderedMessages(source.Messages)
 
 	if source.StructuredOutput != nil {
 		structuredOutput := *source.StructuredOutput

internal/usecase/prepared_execution_test.go

@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ package usecase
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/validate"
 )
 
@@ -385,19 +387,20 @@ func TestRunnerRunPreparedUsesFrozenValidationForInitialAndRepairOutputs(t *test
 	admitter := &fakeRunAdmitter{}
 	reader := defaultArtifactReader()
 	renderer := defaultRenderer()
+	client := &sequenceLLM{responses: []*domain.GenerateResponse{{
+		Content: `{"broken":true}`,
+		Usage: domain.TokenUsage{
+			PromptTokens: 13, CompletionTokens: 17, TotalTokens: 19,
+			CachedTokens: 23, CacheWriteTokens: 29,
+		},
+	}}}
 	runner := NewRunnerWithRepairer(
 		&fakePromptRepo{def: promptDef(domain.FormatJSON, domain.ValidationJSON, 1)},
 		&fakeExecutionProfileRepo{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{"exec": defaultExecutionProfile()}},
 		nil,
 		reader,
 		renderer,
-		&fakeLLM{resp: &domain.GenerateResponse{
-			Content: `{"broken":true}`,
-			Usage: domain.TokenUsage{
-				PromptTokens: 13, CompletionTokens: 17, TotalTokens: 19,
-				CachedTokens: 23, CacheWriteTokens: 29,
-			},
-		}},
+		client,
 		validator,
 		repairer,
 		admitter,
@@ -421,6 +424,10 @@ func TestRunnerRunPreparedUsesFrozenValidationForInitialAndRepairOutputs(t *test
 	if validator.directValidateCalls != 0 || repairer.calls != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("validation/repair calls=(direct=%d repair=%d), want (0, 1)", validator.directValidateCalls, repairer.calls)
 	}
+	if len(client.requests) != 1 || len(repairer.reqs) != 1 ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(repairer.reqs[0].OriginalMessages, client.requests[0].Prompt.Messages) {
+		t.Fatalf("initial and repair messages = (%#v, %#v)", client.requests, repairer.reqs)
+	}
 	if result.Validation.Status != domain.ValidationPassed || result.Validation.RepairAttempts != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected repaired validation result: %+v", result.Validation)
 	}
@@ -443,6 +450,7 @@ func TestRunnerRunPreparedReleasesAdmissionAcrossExecutionErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	generationFailure := errors.New("generation failed")
 	validationFailure := errors.New("validation failed")
 	repairFailure := errors.New("repair failed")
+	repairInvalidRequest := fmt.Errorf("repair request: %w", llm.ErrInvalidRequest)
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name          string
@@ -450,6 +458,7 @@ func TestRunnerRunPreparedReleasesAdmissionAcrossExecutionErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		validation    *recordingPreparedValidation
 		repairer      *fakeRepairer
 		wantError     error
+		wantSource    error
 	}{
 		{
 			name:          "generation failure",
@@ -474,8 +483,51 @@ func TestRunnerRunPreparedReleasesAdmissionAcrossExecutionErrors(t *testing.T) {
 					IsValid: false,
 				}},
 			},
-			repairer:  &fakeRepairer{err: repairFailure},
-			wantError: ErrValidation,
+			repairer:   &fakeRepairer{err: repairFailure},
+			wantError:  ErrLLMGenerate,
+			wantSource: repairFailure,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "repair invalid request",
+			validation: &recordingPreparedValidation{
+				results: []domain.ValidationResult{{
+					Status:  domain.ValidationFailed,
+					Mode:    domain.ValidationJSON,
+					Errors:  []string{"invalid"},
+					IsValid: false,
+				}},
+			},
+			repairer:   &fakeRepairer{err: repairInvalidRequest},
+			wantError:  ErrInvalidRequest,
+			wantSource: repairInvalidRequest,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "repair cancellation",
+			validation: &recordingPreparedValidation{
+				results: []domain.ValidationResult{{
+					Status:  domain.ValidationFailed,
+					Mode:    domain.ValidationJSON,
+					Errors:  []string{"invalid"},
+					IsValid: false,
+				}},
+			},
+			repairer:   &fakeRepairer{err: context.Canceled},
+			wantError:  ErrLLMGenerate,
+			wantSource: context.Canceled,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "repair deadline",
+			validation: &recordingPreparedValidation{
+				results: []domain.ValidationResult{{
+					Status:  domain.ValidationFailed,
+					Mode:    domain.ValidationJSON,
+					Errors:  []string{"invalid"},
+					IsValid: false,
+				}},
+			},
+			repairer:   &fakeRepairer{err: context.DeadlineExceeded},
+			wantError:  ErrLLMGenerate,
+			wantSource: context.DeadlineExceeded,
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -514,6 +566,9 @@ func TestRunnerRunPreparedReleasesAdmissionAcrossExecutionErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, test.wantError) {
 				t.Fatalf("run prepared=(%+v, %v), want %v", result, err, test.wantError)
 			}
+			if test.wantSource != nil && !errors.Is(err, test.wantSource) {
+				t.Fatalf("run prepared error = %v, want source %v", err, test.wantSource)
+			}
 			if len(admitter.backendIDs) != 1 || admitter.releaseCalls != 1 {
 				t.Fatalf(
 					"admission calls=%#v releases=%d, want one each",

internal/usecase/repairer.go

@@ -2,19 +2,29 @@ package usecase
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
 )
 
+const (
+	maxRepairDiagnosticBytes = 64 * 1024
+	omittedRepairDiagnostics = "additional validation diagnostics were omitted"
+)
+
+// OutputRepairer generates a corrected candidate after validation fails.
 type OutputRepairer interface {
 	Repair(ctx context.Context, req RepairRequest) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error)
 }
 
+// RepairRequest contains the immutable execution state needed for one correction.
 type RepairRequest struct {
+	OriginalMessages []domain.RenderedMessage
 	PreviousOutput   string
 	ValidationErrors []string
 	SessionID        string
@@ -30,6 +40,7 @@ type defaultOutputRepairer struct {
 	llm llm.Client
 }
 
+// NewDefaultOutputRepairer constructs the standard internal output repairer.
 func NewDefaultOutputRepairer(llmClient llm.Client) OutputRepairer {
 	return &defaultOutputRepairer{llm: llmClient}
 }
@@ -39,33 +50,43 @@ func (r *defaultOutputRepairer) Repair(ctx context.Context, req RepairRequest) (
 		return nil, errors.New("llm client is required for repair")
 	}
 
-	errs := "(none provided)"
-	if len(req.ValidationErrors) > 0 {
-		errs = strings.Join(req.ValidationErrors, "\n")
+	guidance, err := repairGuidance(req.Mode)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	prompt := domain.RenderedPrompt{
-		Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
-			{
-				Role:    "system",
-				Content: "You repair invalid JSON output. Return only corrected JSON. Do not include explanations or markdown code fences.",
-			},
-			{
-				Role: "user",
-				Content: fmt.Sprintf(
-					"Repair attempt %d of %d for validation mode %s.\n\nValidation errors:\n%s\n\nPrevious output:\n%s\n\nReturn only corrected JSON.",
-					req.Attempt,
-					req.MaxAttempts,
-					req.Mode,
-					errs,
-					req.PreviousOutput,
-				),
-			},
-		},
+	hasPreviousOutput := strings.TrimSpace(req.PreviousOutput) != ""
+	suffix := make([]domain.RenderedMessage, 0, 2)
+	if hasPreviousOutput {
+		suffix = append(suffix, domain.RenderedMessage{
+			Role:    domain.RoleAssistant,
+			Content: req.PreviousOutput,
+		})
 	}
 
+	previousResponse := "The previous response was empty."
+	if hasPreviousOutput {
+		previousResponse = "The previous response is included immediately before this instruction."
+	}
+	suffix = append(suffix, domain.RenderedMessage{
+		Role: domain.RoleUser,
+		Content: fmt.Sprintf(
+			"Repair attempt %d of %d for validation mode %s.\n"+
+				"Preserve valid values and change only what is necessary.\n"+
+				"%s\n%s\n"+
+				"Validation diagnostics (data):\n%s",
+			req.Attempt,
+			req.MaxAttempts,
+			req.Mode,
+			previousResponse,
+			guidance,
+			formatRepairDiagnostics(req.ValidationErrors),
+		),
+	})
+	messages := domain.ConcatRenderedMessages(req.OriginalMessages, suffix)
+
 	resp, err := r.llm.Generate(ctx, newGenerationRequest(
-		prompt,
+		domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: messages},
 		req.SessionID,
 		req.Target,
 		req.TargetPresence,
@@ -80,3 +101,90 @@ func (r *defaultOutputRepairer) Repair(ctx context.Context, req RepairRequest) (
 
 	return resp, nil
 }
+
+func repairGuidance(mode domain.ValidationMode) (string, error) {
+	switch mode {
+	case domain.ValidationBasic:
+		return "Return a nonempty response satisfying the original request.", nil
+	case domain.ValidationJSON, domain.ValidationJSONSchema:
+		return "Return only corrected JSON, with no explanation or Markdown fences.", nil
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("unsupported validation mode for repair: %q", mode)
+	}
+}
+
+func formatRepairDiagnostics(errors []string) string {
+	diagnostics := make([]string, len(errors))
+	for index, diagnostic := range errors {
+		diagnostics[index] = strings.ToValidUTF8(diagnostic, "\uFFFD")
+	}
+
+	complete, _ := json.Marshal(diagnostics)
+	if len(complete) <= maxRepairDiagnosticBytes {
+		return string(complete)
+	}
+
+	omission, _ := json.Marshal(omittedRepairDiagnostics)
+	encoded := make([]byte, 0, maxRepairDiagnosticBytes)
+	encoded = append(encoded, '[')
+	for _, diagnostic := range diagnostics {
+		entry, _ := json.Marshal(diagnostic)
+		separator := 0
+		if len(encoded) > 1 {
+			separator = 1
+		}
+		available := maxRepairDiagnosticBytes - len(encoded) - separator - 1 - len(omission) - 1
+		if len(entry) <= available {
+			if separator != 0 {
+				encoded = append(encoded, ',')
+			}
+			encoded = append(encoded, entry...)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if available < len(`""`) {
+			break
+		}
+		if separator != 0 {
+			encoded = append(encoded, ',')
+		}
+		encoded = append(encoded, truncateDiagnosticJSONValue(diagnostic, available)...)
+		break
+	}
+	if len(encoded) > 1 {
+		encoded = append(encoded, ',')
+	}
+	encoded = append(encoded, omission...)
+	encoded = append(encoded, ']')
+	return string(encoded)
+}
+
+func truncateDiagnosticJSONValue(value string, maxBytes int) []byte {
+	if maxBytes < len(`""`) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	boundaries := []int{0}
+	for end := 0; end < len(value); {
+		_, size := utf8.DecodeRuneInString(value[end:])
+		end += size
+		if end+len(`""`) > maxBytes {
+			break
+		}
+		boundaries = append(boundaries, end)
+	}
+
+	low, high := 0, len(boundaries)-1
+	best := []byte(`""`)
+	for low <= high {
+		mid := low + (high-low)/2
+		candidate, _ := json.Marshal(value[:boundaries[mid]])
+		if len(candidate) <= maxBytes {
+			best = candidate
+			low = mid + 1
+			continue
+		}
+		high = mid - 1
+	}
+	return best
+}

internal/usecase/repairer_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,351 @@
+package usecase
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+type recordingRepairClient struct {
+	requests []domain.GenerateRequest
+	response *domain.GenerateResponse
+	err      error
+}
+
+func (c *recordingRepairClient) Generate(_ context.Context, req domain.GenerateRequest) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+	c.requests = append(c.requests, req)
+	return c.response, c.err
+}
+
+func TestDefaultOutputRepairerBuildsFullContextRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &recordingRepairClient{response: &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "corrected"}}
+	repairer := NewDefaultOutputRepairer(client)
+	original := []domain.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: "system", Content: "Follow the task.", CacheControl: &domain.CacheControl{Type: domain.CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}},
+		{Role: "user", Content: "Summarize the report."},
+		{Role: "assistant", Content: "Consumer-supplied previous response."},
+		{Role: "user", Content: "Consumer-supplied correction."},
+	}
+	before := append([]domain.RenderedMessage(nil), original...)
+	previous := strings.Repeat("candidate ", 12_000)
+	target := domain.ExecutionTarget{BackendID: "backend", Endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1", Model: "model"}
+	presence := domain.ExecutionTargetPresence{Temperature: true, TopP: true}
+	structured := &domain.StructuredOutputSpec{}
+
+	response, err := repairer.Repair(context.Background(), RepairRequest{
+		OriginalMessages: original,
+		PreviousOutput:   previous,
+		ValidationErrors: []string{"invalid JSON"},
+		SessionID:        "session",
+		Target:           target,
+		TargetPresence:   presence,
+		StructuredOutput: structured,
+		Attempt:          1,
+		MaxAttempts:      3,
+		Mode:             domain.ValidationJSONSchema,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("repair: %v", err)
+	}
+	if response == nil || response.Content != "corrected" {
+		t.Fatalf("response = %+v", response)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(original, before) {
+		t.Fatalf("original messages changed: got %#v, want %#v", original, before)
+	}
+	if len(client.requests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("generation requests = %d, want 1", len(client.requests))
+	}
+
+	request := client.requests[0]
+	if request.Prompt.SessionID != "session" || !reflect.DeepEqual(request.Target, target) || request.TargetPresence != presence || request.StructuredOutput != structured {
+		t.Fatalf("generation request fields = %+v", request)
+	}
+	if len(request.Prompt.Messages) != len(original)+2 {
+		t.Fatalf("message count = %d, want %d", len(request.Prompt.Messages), len(original)+2)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(request.Prompt.Messages[:len(original)], original) {
+		t.Fatalf("original messages = %#v, want %#v", request.Prompt.Messages[:len(original)], original)
+	}
+	assistant := request.Prompt.Messages[len(original)]
+	if assistant.Role != "assistant" || assistant.Content != previous {
+		t.Fatalf("assistant candidate = %+v", assistant)
+	}
+	correction := request.Prompt.Messages[len(original)+1]
+	if correction.Role != "user" || !strings.Contains(correction.Content, "Repair attempt 1 of 3") ||
+		!strings.Contains(correction.Content, "Preserve valid values") ||
+		!strings.Contains(correction.Content, "Return only corrected JSON") {
+		t.Fatalf("correction message = %q", correction.Content)
+	}
+	if diagnostics := repairDiagnosticsFromMessage(t, correction.Content); !reflect.DeepEqual(diagnostics, []string{"invalid JSON"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", diagnostics)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDefaultOutputRepairerDoesNotAccumulateCandidates(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &recordingRepairClient{response: &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "corrected"}}
+	repairer := NewDefaultOutputRepairer(client)
+	backing := make([]domain.RenderedMessage, 1, 4)
+	backing[0] = domain.RenderedMessage{Role: "user", Content: "Original task"}
+	before := append([]domain.RenderedMessage(nil), backing...)
+
+	for _, candidate := range []string{"first invalid", "second invalid"} {
+		_, err := repairer.Repair(context.Background(), RepairRequest{
+			OriginalMessages: backing,
+			PreviousOutput:   candidate,
+			Attempt:          1,
+			MaxAttempts:      3,
+			Mode:             domain.ValidationJSON,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("repair %q: %v", candidate, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(backing, before) {
+		t.Fatalf("caller messages changed: got %#v, want %#v", backing, before)
+	}
+	if len(client.requests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("generation requests = %d, want 2", len(client.requests))
+	}
+	for index, request := range client.requests {
+		messages := request.Prompt.Messages
+		if len(messages) != 3 || messages[0] != backing[0] || messages[1].Role != "assistant" || messages[1].Content != []string{"first invalid", "second invalid"}[index] {
+			t.Fatalf("request %d messages = %#v", index, messages)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDefaultOutputRepairerOmitsEmptyCandidateMessage(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name      string
+		candidate string
+	}{
+		{name: "empty", candidate: ""},
+		{name: "whitespace", candidate: " \n\t "},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			client := &recordingRepairClient{response: &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "corrected"}}
+			repairer := NewDefaultOutputRepairer(client)
+			_, err := repairer.Repair(context.Background(), RepairRequest{
+				OriginalMessages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{Role: "user", Content: "Original task"}},
+				PreviousOutput:   tc.candidate,
+				Attempt:          1,
+				MaxAttempts:      1,
+				Mode:             domain.ValidationBasic,
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("repair: %v", err)
+			}
+			messages := client.requests[0].Prompt.Messages
+			if len(messages) != 2 || messages[1].Role != "user" || !strings.Contains(messages[1].Content, "previous response was empty") {
+				t.Fatalf("messages = %#v", messages)
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(messages[1].Content, tc.candidate) && tc.candidate != "" {
+				t.Fatalf("correction message repeated whitespace candidate: %q", messages[1].Content)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDefaultOutputRepairerUsesModeSpecificGuidance(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		mode domain.ValidationMode
+		want string
+	}{
+		{mode: domain.ValidationBasic, want: "Return a nonempty response"},
+		{mode: domain.ValidationJSON, want: "Return only corrected JSON"},
+		{mode: domain.ValidationJSONSchema, want: "Return only corrected JSON"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(string(tc.mode), func(t *testing.T) {
+			client := &recordingRepairClient{response: &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "corrected"}}
+			_, err := NewDefaultOutputRepairer(client).Repair(context.Background(), RepairRequest{Mode: tc.mode, Attempt: 1, MaxAttempts: 1})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("repair: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(client.requests[0].Prompt.Messages[0].Content, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("correction message = %q", client.requests[0].Prompt.Messages[0].Content)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	client := &recordingRepairClient{response: &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "unexpected"}}
+	_, err := NewDefaultOutputRepairer(client).Repair(context.Background(), RepairRequest{Mode: domain.ValidationNone})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unsupported validation mode") {
+		t.Fatalf("unsupported mode error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(client.requests) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("generation requests = %d, want 0", len(client.requests))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatRepairDiagnosticsBoundsAndPreservesData(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		errors       []string
+		wantOmission bool
+		check        func(*testing.T, []string)
+	}{
+		{
+			name:   "below limit",
+			errors: []string{"first", "second"},
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, []string{"first", "second"}) {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "at limit",
+			errors: []string{strings.Repeat("x", maxRepairDiagnosticBytes-4)},
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if len(got) != 1 || len(got[0]) != maxRepairDiagnosticBytes-4 {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics lengths = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "multibyte truncation preserves prior entries",
+			errors:       []string{"first", strings.Repeat("界", maxRepairDiagnosticBytes)},
+			wantOmission: true,
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if len(got) != 3 || got[0] != "first" || !strings.HasPrefix(strings.Repeat("界", maxRepairDiagnosticBytes), got[1]) {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "many diagnostics",
+			errors:       manyRepairDiagnostics(),
+			wantOmission: true,
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if len(got) < 2 || got[0] != manyRepairDiagnostics()[0] {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no room for partial diagnostic",
+			errors: func() []string {
+				omission, _ := json.Marshal(omittedRepairDiagnostics)
+				return []string{
+					strings.Repeat("x", maxRepairDiagnosticBytes-len(omission)-5),
+					strings.Repeat("y", 128),
+				}
+			}(),
+			wantOmission: true,
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if len(got) != 2 || got[1] != omittedRepairDiagnostics {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "invalid UTF-8",
+			errors: []string{"broken\xffinput"},
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, []string{"broken\uFFFDinput"}) {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "one huge diagnostic",
+			errors:       []string{strings.Repeat("x", maxRepairDiagnosticBytes*2)},
+			wantOmission: true,
+			check: func(t *testing.T, got []string) {
+				t.Helper()
+				if len(got) != 2 || !strings.HasPrefix(strings.Repeat("x", maxRepairDiagnosticBytes*2), got[0]) {
+					t.Fatalf("diagnostics = %#v", got)
+				}
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			before := append([]string(nil), tc.errors...)
+			encoded := formatRepairDiagnostics(tc.errors)
+			if len(encoded) > maxRepairDiagnosticBytes || !utf8.ValidString(encoded) {
+				t.Fatalf("encoded diagnostic length/UTF-8 = (%d, %v)", len(encoded), utf8.ValidString(encoded))
+			}
+			var got []string
+			if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(encoded), &got); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("decode diagnostics: %v; encoded=%q", err, encoded)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(tc.errors, before) {
+				t.Fatalf("input diagnostics changed: got %#v, want %#v", tc.errors, before)
+			}
+			if hasOmission := len(got) > 0 && got[len(got)-1] == omittedRepairDiagnostics; hasOmission != tc.wantOmission {
+				t.Fatalf("omission = %v, want %v; diagnostics=%#v", hasOmission, tc.wantOmission, got)
+			}
+			tc.check(t, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func manyRepairDiagnostics() []string {
+	diagnostics := make([]string, 1_000)
+	for index := range diagnostics {
+		diagnostics[index] = fmt.Sprintf("diagnostic %04d %s", index, strings.Repeat("x", 128))
+	}
+	return diagnostics
+}
+
+func TestDefaultOutputRepairerPropagatesGenerationFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	expected := errors.New("generation failed")
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		client *recordingRepairClient
+		want   error
+	}{
+		{name: "nil client", want: nil},
+		{name: "generation error", client: &recordingRepairClient{err: expected}, want: expected},
+		{name: "nil response", client: &recordingRepairClient{}, want: nil},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var repairer OutputRepairer
+			if tc.client == nil {
+				repairer = NewDefaultOutputRepairer(nil)
+			} else {
+				repairer = NewDefaultOutputRepairer(tc.client)
+			}
+			response, err := repairer.Repair(context.Background(), RepairRequest{Mode: domain.ValidationJSON})
+			if response != nil || err == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("response/error = (%+v, %v)", response, err)
+			}
+			if tc.want != nil && !errors.Is(err, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %v", err, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func repairDiagnosticsFromMessage(t *testing.T, message string) []string {
+	t.Helper()
+	const marker = "Validation diagnostics (data):\n"
+	index := strings.Index(message, marker)
+	if index < 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("missing diagnostics marker in %q", message)
+	}
+	encoded := message[index+len(marker):]
+	var diagnostics []string
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(encoded), &diagnostics); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("decode diagnostics: %v", err)
+	}
+	return diagnostics
+}

internal/usecase/runner.go

@@ -4,10 +4,13 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/binary"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"hash"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -184,10 +187,10 @@ func (r *Runner) executePreparedRun(
 		prepared.StructuredOutput,
 	))
 	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, llm.ErrInvalidRequest) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrInvalidRequest, err)
-		}
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrLLMGenerate, err)
+		return nil, wrapGenerationError(err)
+	}
+	if genResp == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: model returned nil response", ErrLLMGenerate)
 	}
 	usage := genResp.Usage
 
@@ -203,6 +206,7 @@ func (r *Runner) executePreparedRun(
 			attemptsUsed++
 
 			repairResp, repairErr := r.repairer.Repair(ctx, RepairRequest{
+				OriginalMessages: prepared.Messages,
 				PreviousOutput:   genResp.Content,
 				ValidationErrors: validationResult.Errors,
 				SessionID:        prepared.SessionID,
@@ -214,10 +218,10 @@ func (r *Runner) executePreparedRun(
 				Mode:             prepared.OutputContract.ValidationMode,
 			})
 			if repairErr != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrValidation, repairErr)
+				return nil, wrapGenerationError(repairErr)
 			}
 			if repairResp == nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: repairer returned nil response", ErrValidation)
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: repairer returned nil response", ErrLLMGenerate)
 			}
 
 			genResp = repairResp
@@ -257,6 +261,13 @@ func (r *Runner) executePreparedRun(
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func wrapGenerationError(err error) error {
+	if errors.Is(err, llm.ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrInvalidRequest, err)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrLLMGenerate, err)
+}
+
 func addTokenUsage(total, next domain.TokenUsage) domain.TokenUsage {
 	return domain.TokenUsage{
 		PromptTokens:     total.PromptTokens + next.PromptTokens,
@@ -436,9 +447,11 @@ func (r *Runner) completePreparationWithStructuredOutput(
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrPromptRender, err)
 	}
+	effectivePrompt := *renderedPrompt
 	if state.directSessionID != "" {
-		renderedPrompt.SessionID = state.directSessionID
+		effectivePrompt.SessionID = state.directSessionID
 	}
+	effectivePrompt.Messages = domain.ConcatRenderedMessages(renderedPrompt.Messages, req.AppendedMessages)
 
 	end := time.Now().UTC()
 	effectiveModel := state.effectiveModel
@@ -454,9 +467,9 @@ func (r *Runner) completePreparationWithStructuredOutput(
 		OutputContract:       state.effectiveContract,
 		StructuredOutput:     structuredOutput,
 		InputHashes:          inputHashes,
-		SessionID:            renderedPrompt.SessionID,
-		RenderedPromptHash:   hashRenderedPrompt(*renderedPrompt),
-		Messages:             renderedPrompt.Messages,
+		SessionID:            effectivePrompt.SessionID,
+		RenderedPromptHash:   hashRenderedPrompt(effectivePrompt),
+		Messages:             effectivePrompt.Messages,
 		StartTime:            state.start,
 		EndTime:              end,
 		DurationMS:           end.Sub(state.start).Milliseconds(),
@@ -524,7 +537,12 @@ func (r *Runner) shouldAttemptRepair(contract domain.OutputContract, validationR
 	if validationResult.Status != domain.ValidationFailed {
 		return false
 	}
-	return contract.ValidationMode == domain.ValidationJSON || contract.ValidationMode == domain.ValidationJSONSchema
+	switch contract.ValidationMode {
+	case domain.ValidationBasic, domain.ValidationJSON, domain.ValidationJSONSchema:
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
 }
 
 func mergeExecutionTarget(base domain.ExecutionTarget, override domain.ExecutionTarget) domain.ExecutionTarget {
@@ -701,29 +719,38 @@ func resolveOutputContract(def *domain.PromptDefinition, override *domain.Output
 	return contract, nil
 }
 
+const renderedPromptHashVersion = "promptkit/rendered-prompt/v2\x00"
+
 func hashRenderedPrompt(p domain.RenderedPrompt) string {
-	var b strings.Builder
-	if p.SessionID != "" {
-		b.WriteString("session_id=")
-		b.WriteString(p.SessionID)
-		b.WriteString("\n---\n")
-	}
-	for _, msg := range p.Messages {
-		b.WriteString(msg.Role)
-		b.WriteByte('\n')
-		b.WriteString(msg.Content)
-		if msg.CacheControl != nil {
-			b.WriteString("\ncache_control.type=")
-			b.WriteString(string(msg.CacheControl.Type))
-			if msg.CacheControl.TTL != "" {
-				b.WriteString("\ncache_control.ttl=")
-				b.WriteString(msg.CacheControl.TTL)
-			}
+	hasher := sha256.New()
+	var lengthBuffer [8]byte
+	_, _ = io.WriteString(hasher, renderedPromptHashVersion)
+	writeRenderedPromptHashString(hasher, &lengthBuffer, p.SessionID)
+	writeRenderedPromptHashLength(hasher, &lengthBuffer, len(p.Messages))
+	for _, message := range p.Messages {
+		writeRenderedPromptHashString(hasher, &lengthBuffer, message.Role)
+		writeRenderedPromptHashString(hasher, &lengthBuffer, message.Content)
+		if message.CacheControl == nil {
+			lengthBuffer[0] = 0
+			_, _ = hasher.Write(lengthBuffer[:1])
+			continue
 		}
-		b.WriteString("\n---\n")
+		lengthBuffer[0] = 1
+		_, _ = hasher.Write(lengthBuffer[:1])
+		writeRenderedPromptHashString(hasher, &lengthBuffer, string(message.CacheControl.Type))
+		writeRenderedPromptHashString(hasher, &lengthBuffer, message.CacheControl.TTL)
 	}
-	h := sha256.Sum256([]byte(b.String()))
-	return hex.EncodeToString(h[:])
+	return hex.EncodeToString(hasher.Sum(nil))
+}
+
+func writeRenderedPromptHashLength(hasher hash.Hash, buffer *[8]byte, length int) {
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(buffer[:], uint64(length))
+	_, _ = hasher.Write(buffer[:])
+}
+
+func writeRenderedPromptHashString(hasher hash.Hash, buffer *[8]byte, value string) {
+	writeRenderedPromptHashLength(hasher, buffer, len(value))
+	_, _ = io.WriteString(hasher, value)
 }
 
 func buildOutputArtifact(content string, format domain.OutputFormat) domain.Artifact {

internal/usecase/runner_test.go

@@ -295,8 +295,10 @@ func (c *controlledRepairLLM) Generate(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	req domain.GenerateRequest,
 ) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
-	isRepair := len(req.Prompt.Messages) > 0 &&
-		strings.HasPrefix(req.Prompt.Messages[0].Content, "You repair invalid JSON")
+	messages := req.Prompt.Messages
+	isRepair := len(messages) >= 2 &&
+		messages[len(messages)-2].Role == "assistant" &&
+		messages[len(messages)-1].Role == "user"
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	c.calls++
 	c.active++
@@ -1108,14 +1110,18 @@ func TestDeriveStructuredSchemaName(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesCacheControlWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
-	uncached := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
-		{Role: "system", Content: "sys"},
-		{Role: "user", Content: "usr"},
+func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesEveryContractedField(t *testing.T) {
+	base := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "sys"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"},
 	}}
-	wantLegacyHash := hashString("system\nsys\n---\nuser\nusr\n---\n")
-	if got := hashRenderedPrompt(uncached); got != wantLegacyHash {
-		t.Fatalf("expected no-cache hash to preserve legacy input, got %q want %q", got, wantLegacyHash)
+	identical := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "sys"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"},
+	}}
+	baseHash := hashRenderedPrompt(base)
+	if baseHash != hashRenderedPrompt(identical) {
+		t.Fatal("identical rendered prompts must have the same hash")
 	}
 
 	withCache := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
@@ -1127,7 +1133,7 @@ func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesCacheControlWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
 				TTL:  "1h",
 			},
 		},
-		{Role: "user", Content: "usr"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"},
 	}}
 	alsoWithCache := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
 		{
@@ -1138,7 +1144,7 @@ func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesCacheControlWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
 				TTL:  "1h",
 			},
 		},
-		{Role: "user", Content: "usr"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"},
 	}}
 	withoutTTL := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
 		{
@@ -1148,11 +1154,11 @@ func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesCacheControlWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
 				Type: domain.CacheControlEphemeral,
 			},
 		},
-		{Role: "user", Content: "usr"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"},
 	}}
 
 	cachedHash := hashRenderedPrompt(withCache)
-	if cachedHash == hashRenderedPrompt(uncached) {
+	if cachedHash == baseHash {
 		t.Fatal("expected cache control to change rendered prompt hash")
 	}
 	if cachedHash != hashRenderedPrompt(alsoWithCache) {
@@ -1161,6 +1167,29 @@ func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesCacheControlWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
 	if cachedHash == hashRenderedPrompt(withoutTTL) {
 		t.Fatal("expected ttl changes to affect rendered prompt hash")
 	}
+
+	variants := []struct {
+		name   string
+		prompt domain.RenderedPrompt
+	}{
+		{name: "role", prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{Role: domain.RoleDeveloper, Content: "sys"}, {Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"}}}},
+		{name: "content", prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "changed"}, {Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"}}}},
+		{name: "order", prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "usr"}, {Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "sys"}}}},
+		{name: "session", prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{SessionID: "session", Messages: base.Messages}},
+	}
+	for _, variant := range variants {
+		t.Run(variant.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if hashRenderedPrompt(variant.prompt) == baseHash {
+				t.Fatalf("%s did not change the rendered-prompt hash", variant.name)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	oneMessage := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "x\n---\nassistant\ny"}}}
+	twoMessages := domain.RenderedPrompt{Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "x"}, {Role: domain.RoleAssistant, Content: "y"}}}
+	if hashRenderedPrompt(oneMessage) == hashRenderedPrompt(twoMessages) {
+		t.Fatal("length-framed hashing did not distinguish legacy separator collision")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesSessionIDWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
@@ -1202,6 +1231,75 @@ func TestHashRenderedPromptIncludesSessionIDWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRunnerComposesAppendedMessagesIntoEveryRenderedPrompt(t *testing.T) {
+	renderer := &fakeRenderer{rendered: &domain.RenderedPrompt{
+		SessionID: "rendered-session",
+		Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
+			{Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "ordinary prefix", CacheControl: &domain.CacheControl{Type: domain.CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}},
+			{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "ordinary request"},
+		},
+	}}
+	client := &fakeLLM{resp: &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "output"}}
+	runner := NewRunner(
+		&fakePromptRepo{def: promptDef(domain.FormatText, domain.ValidationNone, 0)},
+		&fakeExecutionProfileRepo{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{"exec": defaultExecutionProfile()}},
+		nil,
+		defaultArtifactReader(),
+		renderer,
+		client,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+	)
+	appended := []domain.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: domain.RoleAssistant, Content: "consumer response"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "consumer correction", CacheControl: &domain.CacheControl{Type: domain.CacheControlEphemeral}},
+	}
+	request := domain.RunRequest{PromptID: "p", ProfileID: "exec", Inputs: singleInputRef(), AppendedMessages: appended}
+
+	plain, err := runner.Prepare(context.Background(), domain.RunRequest{PromptID: "p", ProfileID: "exec", Inputs: singleInputRef()})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare without appended messages: %v", err)
+	}
+	empty, err := runner.Prepare(context.Background(), domain.RunRequest{PromptID: "p", ProfileID: "exec", Inputs: singleInputRef(), AppendedMessages: []domain.RenderedMessage{}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare with empty appended messages: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(empty.Messages, plain.Messages) || empty.RenderedPromptHash != plain.RenderedPromptHash {
+		t.Fatalf("empty appended messages changed preparation: empty=%#v plain=%#v", empty, plain)
+	}
+	prepared, err := runner.Prepare(context.Background(), request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare with appended messages: %v", err)
+	}
+	if prepared.PromptHash != plain.PromptHash || prepared.RenderedPromptHash == plain.RenderedPromptHash {
+		t.Fatalf("hashes with appended messages = (%q, %q), plain = (%q, %q)", prepared.PromptHash, prepared.RenderedPromptHash, plain.PromptHash, plain.RenderedPromptHash)
+	}
+
+	expected := []domain.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: domain.RoleSystem, Content: "ordinary prefix", CacheControl: &domain.CacheControl{Type: domain.CacheControlEphemeral, TTL: "1h"}},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "ordinary request"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleAssistant, Content: "consumer response"},
+		{Role: domain.RoleUser, Content: "consumer correction", CacheControl: &domain.CacheControl{Type: domain.CacheControlEphemeral}},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(prepared.Messages, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared messages = %#v, want %#v", prepared.Messages, expected)
+	}
+
+	result, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run with appended messages: %v", err)
+	}
+	if result.RenderedPromptHash != prepared.RenderedPromptHash || !reflect.DeepEqual(client.lastReq.Prompt.Messages, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("run did not use the prepared effective prompt: result=%#v request=%#v prepared=%#v", result, client.lastReq.Prompt.Messages, prepared)
+	}
+
+	renderer.rendered.Messages[0].Content = "changed source"
+	appended[1].CacheControl.Type = "changed caller value"
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(prepared.Messages, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared messages changed after source or caller mutation: %#v", prepared.Messages)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRunnerRunSuccessful(t *testing.T) {
 	promptRepo := &fakePromptRepo{def: promptDef(domain.FormatMarkdown, domain.ValidationBasic, 0)}
 	execRepo := &fakeExecutionProfileRepo{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{"exec": defaultExecutionProfile()}}
@@ -2143,6 +2241,8 @@ func TestRunnerRepairStateMachine(t *testing.T) {
 		TopP:           true,
 		TimeoutSeconds: true,
 	}
+	emptyThenValid := responses(2)
+	emptyThenValid[0].Content = " \t "
 
 	tests := []struct {
 		name              string
@@ -2165,12 +2265,13 @@ func TestRunnerRepairStateMachine(t *testing.T) {
 			wantStatus:        domain.ValidationPassed,
 		},
 		{
-			name:              "basic failure is ineligible despite budget",
+			name:              "empty basic output repairs successfully",
 			mode:              domain.ValidationBasic,
 			budget:            3,
-			validationResults: []domain.ValidationResult{failed(domain.ValidationBasic, "empty output")},
-			responses:         responses(1),
-			wantStatus:        domain.ValidationFailed,
+			validationResults: []domain.ValidationResult{failed(domain.ValidationBasic, "empty output"), passed(domain.ValidationBasic)},
+			responses:         emptyThenValid,
+			wantRepairs:       1,
+			wantStatus:        domain.ValidationPassed,
 		},
 		{
 			name:   "inherited numeric values remain absent",
@@ -2202,7 +2303,7 @@ func TestRunnerRepairStateMachine(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:   "successful repair stops below larger budget",
 			mode:   domain.ValidationJSON,
-			budget: 4,
+			budget: 3,
 			validationResults: []domain.ValidationResult{
 				failed(domain.ValidationJSON, "candidate zero"),
 				failed(domain.ValidationJSON, "candidate one"),
@@ -2305,6 +2406,9 @@ func TestRunnerRepairStateMachine(t *testing.T) {
 					!reflect.DeepEqual(req.ValidationErrors, tc.validationResults[index].Errors) {
 					t.Fatalf("repair request %d prior state = %+v", index, req)
 				}
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(req.OriginalMessages, initialRequest.Prompt.Messages) {
+					t.Fatalf("repair request %d original messages drifted: %#v", index, req.OriginalMessages)
+				}
 				if req.TargetPresence != tc.wantPresence || !reflect.DeepEqual(req.Target, initialRequest.Target) ||
 					req.SessionID != initialRequest.Prompt.SessionID ||
 					!reflect.DeepEqual(req.StructuredOutput, initialRequest.StructuredOutput) {
@@ -2318,8 +2422,19 @@ func TestRunnerRepairStateMachine(t *testing.T) {
 					!reflect.DeepEqual(generated.StructuredOutput, initialRequest.StructuredOutput) {
 					t.Fatalf("repair generation request %d common fields drifted: %+v", index, generated)
 				}
-				if reflect.DeepEqual(generated.Prompt.Messages, initialRequest.Prompt.Messages) {
-					t.Fatalf("repair generation request %d reused the initial prompt", index)
+				expectedMessages := len(initialRequest.Prompt.Messages) + 1
+				if strings.TrimSpace(tc.responses[index].Content) != "" {
+					expectedMessages++
+				}
+				if len(generated.Prompt.Messages) != expectedMessages ||
+					generated.Prompt.Messages[len(generated.Prompt.Messages)-1].Role != "user" {
+					t.Fatalf("repair generation request %d messages = %#v", index, generated.Prompt.Messages)
+				}
+				if strings.TrimSpace(tc.responses[index].Content) != "" {
+					assistant := generated.Prompt.Messages[len(generated.Prompt.Messages)-2]
+					if assistant.Role != "assistant" || assistant.Content != tc.responses[index].Content {
+						t.Fatalf("repair generation request %d candidate = %+v", index, assistant)
+					}
 				}
 			}
 

internal/validate/standard_validator.go

@@ -174,9 +174,8 @@ func validateArtifact(ctx context.Context, artifact *domain.Artifact, contract d
 	}
 
 	res := domain.ValidationResult{
-		Mode:           contract.ValidationMode,
-		SchemaPath:     contract.SchemaPath,
-		RepairAttempts: contract.RepairAttempts,
+		Mode:       contract.ValidationMode,
+		SchemaPath: contract.SchemaPath,
 	}
 
 	if artifact == nil {

internal/validate/standard_validator_test.go

@@ -64,6 +64,43 @@ func TestStandardValidatorBasicFailureEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestStandardValidatorReportsZeroRepairAttempts(t *testing.T) {
+	v := NewStandardValidator("")
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name     string
+		body     string
+		contract domain.OutputContract
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "passed basic validation",
+			body: "answer",
+			contract: domain.OutputContract{
+				ValidationMode: domain.ValidationBasic,
+				RepairAttempts: 3,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "failed JSON validation",
+			body: `{"answer":`,
+			contract: domain.OutputContract{
+				ValidationMode: domain.ValidationJSON,
+				RepairAttempts: 3,
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			res, err := v.Validate(context.Background(), &domain.Artifact{Body: []byte(tc.body)}, tc.contract)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("validate: %v", err)
+			}
+			if res.RepairAttempts != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("repair attempts = %d, want 0", res.RepairAttempts)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestStandardValidatorJSONSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	v := NewStandardValidator("")
 

message_roles.go

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+
+const (
+	// RoleDeveloper identifies a provider-bound developer instruction message.
+	RoleDeveloper = domain.RoleDeveloper
+	// RoleSystem identifies a provider-bound system instruction message.
+	RoleSystem = domain.RoleSystem
+	// RoleUser identifies a provider-bound user message.
+	RoleUser = domain.RoleUser
+	// RoleAssistant identifies a provider-bound assistant message.
+	RoleAssistant = domain.RoleAssistant
+)

output_contract_contract_test.go

@@ -22,27 +22,52 @@ func TestPreparationRejectsInvalidOutputContractWithPublicError(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("construct engine: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	req := promptkit.RunRequest{
-		PromptID: "prompt",
-		Validation: &promptkit.OutputContract{
-			Format:         promptkit.OutputFormat("binary"),
-			ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationNone,
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name     string
+		contract promptkit.OutputContract
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "unsupported format",
+			contract: promptkit.OutputContract{
+				Format:         promptkit.OutputFormat("binary"),
+				ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationNone,
+			},
 		},
-	}
+		{
+			name: "repair attempts above maximum",
+			contract: promptkit.OutputContract{
+				Format:         promptkit.FormatText,
+				ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationBasic,
+				RepairAttempts: 4,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "none validation with repair attempts",
+			contract: promptkit.OutputContract{
+				Format:         promptkit.FormatText,
+				ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationNone,
+				RepairAttempts: 1,
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			req := promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt", Validation: &tc.contract}
 
-	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), req)
-	if prepared != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected no partial prepared run, got %+v", prepared)
-	}
-	if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) {
-		t.Fatalf("prepare error = %v, want ErrInvalidRequest", err)
-	}
+			prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), req)
+			if prepared != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected no partial prepared run, got %+v", prepared)
+			}
+			if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) {
+				t.Fatalf("prepare error = %v, want ErrInvalidRequest", err)
+			}
 
-	preparedExecution, err := engine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), req)
-	if preparedExecution != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected no partial prepared execution, got %+v", preparedExecution)
-	}
-	if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) {
-		t.Fatalf("prepare execution error = %v, want ErrInvalidRequest", err)
+			preparedExecution, err := engine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), req)
+			if preparedExecution != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected no partial prepared execution, got %+v", preparedExecution)
+			}
+			if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) {
+				t.Fatalf("prepare execution error = %v, want ErrInvalidRequest", err)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }

prepared_execution.go

@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ type PreparedExecution struct {
 
 // Details returns a fresh caller-owned, credential-redacted copy of the
 // prepared request details. Mutating the result cannot affect execution or a
-// later Details call. Details remains available after execution or discard.
+// later Details call. Its complete effective message content, including any
+// appended request messages, remains subject to the caller's data-handling
+// policy. Details remains available after execution or discard.
 //
 // A nil receiver or zero-value PreparedExecution returns a zero [PreparedRun].
 func (p *PreparedExecution) Details() PreparedRun {

prepared_execution_contract_test.go

@@ -256,6 +256,50 @@ func TestPreparedExecutionLifecycleAndEngineBinding(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPreparedExecutionRepairsEmptyBasicOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &preparedRecordingClient{responses: []*promptkit.GenerateResponse{
+		{
+			Content: "",
+			Usage:   promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 3, CompletionTokens: 5, TotalTokens: 8},
+		},
+		{
+			Content: "Corrected summary.",
+			Usage:   promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 7, CompletionTokens: 11, TotalTokens: 18},
+		},
+	}}
+	engine := newPreparedContractEngine(t, client, "Summarize the source.")
+	prepared, err := engine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID: "prepared",
+		Validation: &promptkit.OutputContract{
+			Format:         promptkit.FormatMarkdown,
+			ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationBasic,
+			RepairAttempts: 1,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare execution: %v", err)
+	}
+	details := prepared.Details()
+
+	result, err := engine.RunPrepared(context.Background(), prepared)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run prepared: %v", err)
+	}
+	if result.RawOutput != "Corrected summary." || result.Validation.Status != promptkit.ValidationPassed ||
+		result.Validation.RepairAttempts != 1 || result.Usage != (promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 10, CompletionTokens: 16, TotalTokens: 26}) {
+		t.Fatalf("repaired result = %+v", result)
+	}
+	requests := client.snapshot()
+	if len(requests) != 2 || len(requests[1].Prompt.Messages) != len(details.Messages)+1 ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(requests[1].Prompt.Messages[:len(details.Messages)], details.Messages) ||
+		requests[1].Prompt.Messages[len(requests[1].Prompt.Messages)-1].Role != "user" {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared repair requests = %#v", requests)
+	}
+	if _, err := engine.RunPrepared(context.Background(), prepared); !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) {
+		t.Fatalf("second RunPrepared error = %v, want ErrInvalidRequest", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestPreparedExecutionConcurrentClaimAllowsOneGeneration(t *testing.T) {
 	release := make(chan struct{})
 	client := &preparedRecordingClient{
@@ -671,12 +715,13 @@ func (r *mutablePreparedArtifactReader) callCount() int {
 }
 
 type preparedRecordingClient struct {
-	mu       sync.Mutex
-	response *promptkit.GenerateResponse
-	err      error
-	requests []promptkit.GenerateRequest
-	started  chan struct{}
-	release  <-chan struct{}
+	mu        sync.Mutex
+	response  *promptkit.GenerateResponse
+	responses []*promptkit.GenerateResponse
+	err       error
+	requests  []promptkit.GenerateRequest
+	started   chan struct{}
+	release   <-chan struct{}
 }
 
 func (c *preparedRecordingClient) Generate(
@@ -700,6 +745,12 @@ func (c *preparedRecordingClient) Generate(
 	if c.err != nil {
 		return nil, c.err
 	}
+	if len(c.responses) > 0 {
+		if index := len(c.requests) - 1; index < len(c.responses) {
+			return c.responses[index], nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no response configured for generation %d", len(c.requests))
+	}
 	return c.response, nil
 }
 

profile_inheritance_contract_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+package promptkit_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io/fs"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit"
+)
+
+func TestProfileInheritanceBuiltInAliasWorkflow(t *testing.T) {
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+		PromptDir: frameworkPromptDir,
+		SchemaDir: frameworkSchemaDir,
+	}, promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+		ID:              "weather-light",
+		BaseProfileID:   "deepseek-4-flash",
+		ReasoningEffort: "high",
+		TimeoutSeconds:  120,
+	}))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct alias engine: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	base, err := engine.InspectProfile(context.Background(), "deepseek-4-flash")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("inspect base: %v", err)
+	}
+	child, err := engine.InspectProfile(context.Background(), "weather-light")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("inspect alias: %v", err)
+	}
+	if child.ProfileID != "weather-light" ||
+		child.EffectiveModelParams.BackendID != base.EffectiveModelParams.BackendID ||
+		child.EffectiveModelParams.Model != base.EffectiveModelParams.Model ||
+		child.EffectiveModelParams.ReasoningEffort != "high" ||
+		child.EffectiveModelParams.TimeoutSeconds != 120 {
+		t.Fatalf("alias inspection = %+v, base = %+v", child, base)
+	}
+
+	prepared, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID:  frameworkMarkdownSummaryPromptID,
+		ProfileID: "weather-light",
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"transcript": promptkit.Inline("Rin opens the gate."),
+			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline("gate: A guarded passage."),
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare alias: %v", err)
+	}
+	if prepared.SelectedProfileID != "weather-light" {
+		t.Fatalf("SelectedProfileID = %q", prepared.SelectedProfileID)
+	}
+
+	timeout := 15
+	reasoning := "low"
+	overridden, err := engine.Prepare(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID:  frameworkMarkdownSummaryPromptID,
+		ProfileID: "weather-light",
+		Execution: &promptkit.ExecutionTargetOverride{
+			TimeoutSeconds:  &timeout,
+			ReasoningEffort: &reasoning,
+		},
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"transcript": promptkit.Inline("Rin opens the gate."),
+			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline("gate: A guarded passage."),
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare override: %v", err)
+	}
+	if overridden.EffectiveModelParams.TimeoutSeconds != timeout ||
+		overridden.EffectiveModelParams.ReasoningEffort != reasoning {
+		t.Fatalf("runtime override target = %+v", overridden.EffectiveModelParams)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileInheritanceYAMLAliasOfBuiltIn(t *testing.T) {
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{},
+		promptkit.WithPromptFS(fstest.MapFS{}, "."),
+		promptkit.WithProfileFS(fstest.MapFS{
+			"alias.yaml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: yaml-alias\nbase_profile: deepseek-4-flash\n")},
+		}, "."),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct YAML alias engine: %v", err)
+	}
+	inspection, err := engine.InspectProfile(context.Background(), "yaml-alias")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("inspect YAML alias: %v", err)
+	}
+	if inspection.ProfileID != "yaml-alias" || inspection.EffectiveModelParams.Model == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("YAML alias inspection = %+v", inspection)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileInheritanceRetainsRequiredCredentialBehavior(t *testing.T) {
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{},
+		promptkit.WithPromptFS(fstest.MapFS{}, "."),
+		promptkit.WithBackend(promptkit.Backend{
+			ID:        "credential-backend",
+			Endpoint:  "https://credential.example/v1",
+			APIKeyEnv: "OPTIONAL_BACKEND_KEY",
+		}),
+		promptkit.WithProfiles(
+			promptkit.Profile{
+				ID:             "credential-base",
+				BackendID:      "credential-backend",
+				Model:          "model",
+				APIKeyRequired: true,
+			},
+			promptkit.Profile{ID: "credential-child", BaseProfileID: "credential-base"},
+		),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct credential inheritance engine: %v", err)
+	}
+	inspection, err := engine.InspectProfile(context.Background(), "credential-child")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("inspect credential child: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !inspection.APIKeyRequired || inspection.EffectiveModelParams.APIKeyEnv != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("credential inspection = %+v", inspection)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileInheritancePreservesPublicErrorIdentities(t *testing.T) {
+	newEngine := func(t *testing.T, profiles fs.FS) *promptkit.Engine {
+		t.Helper()
+		options := []promptkit.Option{promptkit.WithPromptFS(fstest.MapFS{}, ".")}
+		if profiles != nil {
+			options = append(options, promptkit.WithProfileFS(profiles, "."))
+		}
+		engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{}, options...)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("construct engine: %v", err)
+		}
+		return engine
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		profiles fs.FS
+		profile  string
+		contains []string
+		want     error
+		wantNot  error
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "missing selected profile",
+			profile: "missing",
+			want:    promptkit.ErrProfileNotFound,
+			wantNot: promptkit.ErrProfileLoad,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "missing base",
+			profiles: fstest.MapFS{
+				"child.yaml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: child\nbase_profile: missing\n")},
+			},
+			profile:  "child",
+			contains: []string{"child", "missing"},
+			want:     promptkit.ErrProfileLoad,
+			wantNot:  promptkit.ErrProfileNotFound,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "cycle",
+			profiles: fstest.MapFS{
+				"a.yaml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: a\nbase_profile: b\n")},
+				"b.yaml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: b\nbase_profile: a\n")},
+			},
+			profile:  "a",
+			contains: []string{"a", "b"},
+			want:     promptkit.ErrProfileLoad,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			result, err := newEngine(t, tc.profiles).InspectProfile(context.Background(), tc.profile)
+			if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, tc.want) || (tc.wantNot != nil && errors.Is(err, tc.wantNot)) {
+				t.Fatalf("inspection=(%+v, %v), want %v without %v", result, err, tc.want, tc.wantNot)
+			}
+			for _, fragment := range tc.contains {
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), fragment) {
+					t.Fatalf("error = %v, want %q", err, fragment)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileInheritanceFreezesPreparedExecution(t *testing.T) {
+	profiles := &mutableInheritanceProfileFS{files: fstest.MapFS{
+		"child.yaml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: child\nbase_profile: base\n")},
+		"base.yaml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: base\nendpoint: https://base.example/v1\nmodel: first-model\n")},
+	}}
+	client := &fakeLLMClient{response: &promptkit.GenerateResponse{Content: "ok"}}
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{},
+		promptkit.WithPromptFS(contractPromptFS("prepared", "child", "content"), "."),
+		promptkit.WithProfileFS(profiles, "."),
+		promptkit.WithLLMClient(client),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct engine: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	prepared, err := engine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prepared"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare execution: %v", err)
+	}
+	profiles.set("base.yaml", "id: base\nendpoint: https://base.example/v1\nmodel: second-model\n")
+
+	result, err := engine.RunPrepared(context.Background(), prepared)
+	if err != nil || result == nil || len(client.requests) != 1 || client.requests[0].Target.Model != "first-model" {
+		t.Fatalf("prepared execution=(%+v, %v), requests=%+v", result, err, client.requests)
+	}
+	inspection, err := engine.InspectProfile(context.Background(), "child")
+	if err != nil || inspection.EffectiveModelParams.Model != "second-model" {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh inspection=(%+v, %v)", inspection, err)
+	}
+}
+
+type mutableInheritanceProfileFS struct {
+	mu    sync.RWMutex
+	files fstest.MapFS
+}
+
+func (f *mutableInheritanceProfileFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	f.mu.RLock()
+	defer f.mu.RUnlock()
+	return f.files.Open(name)
+}
+
+func (f *mutableInheritanceProfileFS) set(name, content string) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	f.files[name] = &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(content)}
+}

profiles.go

@@ -2,17 +2,16 @@ package promptkit
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
 )
 
-// OpenAICompatibleProfile returns an ordinary in-memory Profile for an
-// OpenAI-compatible chat-completions endpoint.
+// OpenAICompatibleProfile returns an in-memory Profile for an OpenAI-compatible
+// chat-completions endpoint. A non-blank BaseProfileID permits its target
+// fields to be inherited when the profile is selected or inspected.
 //
 // It does not register global state, maintain a model catalog, or resolve
 // credentials. If APIKeyRequired is true, callers satisfy it with
@@ -25,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 func OpenAICompatibleProfile(cfg OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig) Profile {
 	return Profile{
 		ID:              cfg.ID,
+		BaseProfileID:   cfg.BaseProfileID,
 		BackendID:       cfg.BackendID,
 		Endpoint:        cfg.Endpoint,
 		Model:           cfg.Model,
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ func toDomainProfile(publicProfile Profile) (domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
 		return domain.ExecutionProfile{}, err
 	}
 	prof := domain.ExecutionProfile{
-		ID:              strings.TrimSpace(publicProfile.ID),
-		BackendID:       strings.TrimSpace(publicProfile.BackendID),
+		ID:              publicProfile.ID,
+		BaseProfileID:   publicProfile.BaseProfileID,
+		BackendID:       publicProfile.BackendID,
 		Endpoint:        publicProfile.Endpoint,
 		Model:           publicProfile.Model,
 		Temperature:     publicProfile.Temperature,
@@ -100,34 +101,8 @@ func toDomainProfile(publicProfile Profile) (domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
 		APIKeyRequired:  publicProfile.APIKeyRequired,
 		ExtraParams:     extraParams,
 	}
-	if err := normalizeAndValidatePublicProfile(&prof); err != nil {
+	if err := profile.NormalizeAndValidateDefinition(&prof); err != nil {
 		return domain.ExecutionProfile{}, err
 	}
 	return prof, nil
 }
-
-func normalizeAndValidatePublicProfile(prof *domain.ExecutionProfile) error {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(prof.ID) == "" {
-		return errors.New("id is required")
-	}
-	prof.Endpoint = strings.TrimSpace(prof.Endpoint)
-	if strings.TrimSpace(prof.BackendID) == "" && prof.Endpoint == "" {
-		return errors.New("backend or endpoint is required")
-	}
-	if prof.Endpoint != "" {
-		endpoint, err := domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(prof.Endpoint)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		prof.Endpoint = endpoint
-	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(prof.Model) == "" {
-		return errors.New("model is required")
-	}
-	return domain.ValidateExecutionTargetSettings(domain.ExecutionTarget{
-		Temperature:    prof.Temperature,
-		MaxTokens:      prof.MaxTokens,
-		TopP:           prof.TopP,
-		TimeoutSeconds: prof.TimeoutSeconds,
-	})
-}

public_contract_test.go

@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ func TestBackendExtraParamsAreDeeplyCopiedAtConstructionAndLookup(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestEngineValidationIsSinglePass(t *testing.T) {
+func TestEngineValidationWithZeroRepairBudgetIsSinglePass(t *testing.T) {
 	client := &fakeLLMClient{
 		response: &promptkit.GenerateResponse{Content: "not-json"},
 	}
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ func TestEngineValidationIsSinglePass(t *testing.T) {
 		Validation: &promptkit.OutputContract{
 			Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
 			ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSON,
-			RepairAttempts: 3,
+			RepairAttempts: 0,
 		},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -874,6 +874,87 @@ func TestEngineValidationIsSinglePass(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestEngineRunRepairsJSONSchemaOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &fakeLLMClient{responses: []*promptkit.GenerateResponse{
+		{
+			Content: "{}",
+			Usage:   promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 2, CompletionTokens: 3, TotalTokens: 5, CachedTokens: 7, CacheWriteTokens: 11},
+		},
+		{
+			Content: `{"events":[{"title":"Repaired event"}]}`,
+			Usage:   promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 13, CompletionTokens: 17, TotalTokens: 19, CachedTokens: 23, CacheWriteTokens: 29},
+		},
+	}}
+	engine := newContractEngineWithOptions(t, frameworkSchemaDir, promptkit.WithLLMClient(client))
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID:  frameworkStructuredEventsPromptID,
+		SessionID: " repair-session ",
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"transcript": promptkit.Inline("Rin opens the gate."),
+			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline("gate: A guarded passage."),
+		},
+		Validation: &promptkit.OutputContract{
+			Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
+			ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSONSchema,
+			SchemaPath:     "structured_events.schema.json",
+			RepairAttempts: 1,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run: %v", err)
+	}
+	if result.RawOutput != client.responses[1].Content || result.Validation.Status != promptkit.ValidationPassed ||
+		result.Validation.RepairAttempts != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("repaired result = %+v", result)
+	}
+	wantUsage := promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 15, CompletionTokens: 20, TotalTokens: 24, CachedTokens: 30, CacheWriteTokens: 40}
+	if result.Usage != wantUsage {
+		t.Fatalf("usage = %+v, want %+v", result.Usage, wantUsage)
+	}
+	if len(client.requests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("generation calls = %d, want 2", len(client.requests))
+	}
+	initial, repaired := client.requests[0], client.requests[1]
+	if initial.Prompt.SessionID != "repair-session" || repaired.Prompt.SessionID != initial.Prompt.SessionID ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(repaired.Target, initial.Target) || repaired.TargetPresence != initial.TargetPresence ||
+		!reflect.DeepEqual(repaired.StructuredOutput, initial.StructuredOutput) {
+		t.Fatalf("generation request state drifted: initial=%+v repaired=%+v", initial, repaired)
+	}
+	if initial.StructuredOutput == nil || initial.StructuredOutput.JSONSchema == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected structured output on initial request: %+v", initial)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEngineRunReturnsFinalResultAfterRepairExhaustion(t *testing.T) {
+	client := &fakeLLMClient{responses: []*promptkit.GenerateResponse{
+		{Content: "not-json", Usage: promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 2, CompletionTokens: 3, TotalTokens: 5}},
+		{Content: "still-not-json", Usage: promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 7, CompletionTokens: 11, TotalTokens: 18}},
+	}}
+	engine := newContractEngineWithOptions(t, frameworkSchemaDir, promptkit.WithLLMClient(client))
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID: frameworkMarkdownSummaryPromptID,
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"transcript": promptkit.Inline("Rin opens the gate."),
+			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline("gate: A guarded passage."),
+		},
+		Validation: &promptkit.OutputContract{
+			Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
+			ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSON,
+			RepairAttempts: 1,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil || result == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run = (%+v, %v), want exhausted result", result, err)
+	}
+	if result.RawOutput != "still-not-json" || result.Validation.Status != promptkit.ValidationFailed ||
+		result.Validation.RepairAttempts != 1 || len(result.Validation.Errors) == 0 ||
+		result.Usage != (promptkit.TokenUsage{PromptTokens: 9, CompletionTokens: 14, TotalTokens: 23}) {
+		t.Fatalf("exhausted result = %+v", result)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRepeatedOptionsUseLastValueInEachCategory(t *testing.T) {
 	profile := promptkit.Profile{ID: "profile", Endpoint: "http://example.test/v1", Model: "model"}
 

testdata/builtin-catalog-v1.json

@@ -0,0 +1,424 @@
+{
+    "backends": [
+        {
+            "id": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+            "api_key_env": "OPENROUTER_API_KEY",
+            "extra_params": null,
+            "concurrency_limit": 16,
+            "queue_capacity": 1024,
+            "queue_capacity_set": true
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "rakestrawhome",
+            "endpoint": "https://inference.ai.rakestrawhome.com/v1",
+            "api_key_env": "RAKESTRAWHOME_INFERENCE_API_KEY",
+            "extra_params": null,
+            "concurrency_limit": 4,
+            "queue_capacity": 1024,
+            "queue_capacity_set": true
+        }
+    ],
+    "profiles": [
+        {
+            "id": "aion-2",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "aion-labs/aion-2.0",
+            "temperature": 0.72,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0.95,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "claude-fable-latest",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "~anthropic/claude-fable-latest",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 600,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "claude-haiku-latest",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "~anthropic/claude-haiku-latest",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "medium",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "claude-opus-latest",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "~anthropic/claude-opus-latest",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "claude-sonnet-latest",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "~anthropic/claude-sonnet-latest",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "deepseek-3-2",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v3.2",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "deepseek-4-flash",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "deepseek-4-pro",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemini-2-flash",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemini-2-flash-lite",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemini-2-pro",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "google/gemini-2.5-pro",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemini-3-flash-lite",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "google/gemini-3.1-flash-lite",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemini-flash-latest",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "~google/gemini-flash-latest",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemini-pro-latest",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "~google/gemini-pro-latest",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gemma-4-31b",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "google/gemma-4-31b-it:exacto",
+            "temperature": 0.15,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0.98,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gpt-5-mini",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "openai/gpt-5.4-mini",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "gpt-5-nano",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "openai/gpt-5.4-nano",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 240,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "minimax-m2",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "minimax/minimax-m2.5",
+            "temperature": 0.5,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0.95,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "minimax-m3",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "minimax/minimax-m3",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "mistral-large-2512",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "mistralai/mistral-large-2512",
+            "temperature": 0.15,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0.98,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "",
+            "reasoning_effort": "",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "mistral-medium-3-5",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "mistralai/mistral-medium-3-5",
+            "temperature": 0.15,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0.98,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "mistral-small-3",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "mistralai/mistral-small-3.2-24b-instruct",
+            "temperature": 0.05,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 1,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "",
+            "reasoning_effort": "",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "mistral-small-4",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "mistralai/mistral-small-2603",
+            "temperature": 0.1,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0.98,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "nemotron-3-ultra",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "openrouter",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 180,
+            "service_tier": "flex",
+            "reasoning_effort": "high",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        },
+        {
+            "id": "rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b",
+            "base_profile": "",
+            "backend": "rakestrawhome",
+            "endpoint": "",
+            "model": "google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+            "temperature": 0,
+            "max_tokens": 0,
+            "top_p": 0,
+            "timeout_seconds": 0,
+            "service_tier": "",
+            "reasoning_effort": "",
+            "api_key_env": "",
+            "api_key_required": false,
+            "extra_params": null
+        }
+    ]
+}

types.go

@@ -123,6 +123,21 @@ type RunRequest struct {
 	// Validation optionally replaces the prompt's complete output contract. It
 	// does not merge individual fields. Nil uses the prompt contract.
 	Validation *OutputContract
+	// AppendedMessages are already-rendered messages appended in caller order
+	// after every prompt definition message. Promptkit neither templates nor
+	// resolves files in them. Content must be valid UTF-8 and is preserved
+	// exactly, including empty or whitespace-only content. Roles are trimmed and
+	// lowercased, then must be [RoleDeveloper], [RoleSystem], [RoleUser], or
+	// [RoleAssistant]. Any CacheControl is normalized as documented on that
+	// type.
+	//
+	// Nil and empty slices are equivalent. Promptkit imposes no message-count,
+	// byte-size, token, or context-window limit and does not truncate content;
+	// an upstream rejection follows the ordinary generation-error contract.
+	// Prepare, PrepareExecution, and Run validate and copy the messages before
+	// source or model work. Malformed values return an error matching
+	// ErrInvalidRequest.
+	AppendedMessages []RenderedMessage
 }
 
 // PreparedRun contains prepared prompt execution state returned by
@@ -162,8 +177,9 @@ type PreparedRun struct {
 	SessionID string `json:"session_id,omitempty"`
 	// RenderedPromptHash is an opaque equality value for SessionID and Messages.
 	RenderedPromptHash string `json:"rendered_prompt_hash"`
-	// Messages are the rendered messages that Run or RunPrepared passes to the
-	// LLM client.
+	// Messages are the complete effective messages that Run or RunPrepared passes
+	// to the LLM client: definition messages in rendered order followed by any
+	// RunRequest.AppendedMessages in caller order.
 	Messages []RenderedMessage `json:"messages"`
 	// StartTime is the UTC time at which preparation began.
 	StartTime time.Time `json:"start_time,omitempty"`
@@ -443,31 +459,43 @@ type ExecutionTargetOverride struct {
 
 // Profile is an in-memory execution profile for library consumers.
 //
-// It is equivalent to a loaded profile file after validation. Raw API keys do
-// not belong in profiles; use APIKeyRequired to require callers to provide a
-// RunRequest.APIKey or explicit request ExecutionTargetOverride.APIKeyEnv, or
-// use profile YAML api_key_env with file and FS profile sources. Profile has no
-// stable JSON representation.
+// A standalone Profile is equivalent to a loaded profile file after local
+// validation. A derived profile names BaseProfileID and can inherit target
+// fields when selected or inspected. Raw API keys do not belong in profiles;
+// use APIKeyRequired to require callers to provide a RunRequest.APIKey or
+// explicit request ExecutionTargetOverride.APIKeyEnv, or use profile YAML
+// api_key_env with file and FS profile sources. Profile has no stable JSON
+// representation.
 //
-// WithProfiles validates and copies Profile values during NewEngine. Zero
-// Temperature, MaxTokens, and TopP values and blank ServiceTier and
-// ReasoningEffort values leave those provider controls unspecified. A zero
-// TimeoutSeconds retains the framework deadline, while an empty ExtraParams map
-// inherits backend request defaults. Use ExecutionTargetOverride pointer fields
-// to request an explicit numeric zero.
+// WithProfiles locally validates and copies Profile values during NewEngine.
+// It checks base-reference existence and resolved target completeness when a
+// derived profile is selected or inspected. Zero Temperature, MaxTokens, and
+// TopP values and blank ServiceTier and ReasoningEffort values leave those
+// provider controls unspecified. A zero TimeoutSeconds retains the framework
+// deadline, while an empty ExtraParams map inherits backend request defaults.
+// Use ExecutionTargetOverride pointer fields to request an explicit numeric
+// zero.
 type Profile struct {
 	// ID is the required non-blank profile identifier. WithProfiles trims it.
 	ID string
+	// BaseProfileID optionally names one base profile. WithProfiles trims it. A
+	// non-blank value permits required target fields to be inherited when the
+	// profile is selected or inspected, which is also when reference existence
+	// and resolved completeness are checked. A blank value leaves this as a
+	// standalone profile.
+	BaseProfileID string
 	// BackendID optionally selects an engine backend. WithProfiles trims it.
 	// Backend membership is checked when a request selects the profile; an
 	// unknown ID makes preparation fail with ErrProfileLoad.
 	BackendID string
-	// Endpoint is the model-provider base URL. It is required only when
-	// BackendID is blank and otherwise overrides the backend endpoint when
+	// Endpoint is the model-provider base URL. A standalone Profile requires an
+	// endpoint when BackendID is blank; a derived Profile may inherit either
+	// field. A non-blank endpoint overrides the backend endpoint when
 	// non-blank. WithProfiles trims it and requires an absolute HTTP or HTTPS URL
 	// with a host and no user information, query, or fragment.
 	Endpoint string
-	// Model is the required non-blank provider model identifier.
+	// Model is the provider model identifier. It is required for a standalone
+	// Profile and may be inherited by a derived Profile.
 	Model string
 	// Temperature is from 0 through 2. Zero leaves the provider control
 	// unspecified.
@@ -499,13 +527,16 @@ type Profile struct {
 // profile.
 //
 // It contains ordinary profile fields for OpenAI-compatible chat-completions
-// endpoints. APIKeyRequired follows Profile.APIKeyRequired. Raw API keys do not
-// belong in this config. OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig has no stable JSON
+// endpoints. BaseProfileID and APIKeyRequired follow Profile. Raw API keys do
+// not belong in this config. OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig has no stable JSON
 // representation and is not validated until its resulting Profile is supplied
 // through WithProfiles to NewEngine.
 type OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig struct {
 	// ID becomes Profile.ID.
 	ID string
+	// BaseProfileID becomes Profile.BaseProfileID. A non-blank value permits the
+	// resulting Profile to inherit target fields when it is selected or inspected.
+	BaseProfileID string
 	// BackendID becomes Profile.BackendID.
 	BackendID string
 	// Endpoint becomes Profile.Endpoint.
@@ -550,8 +581,8 @@ type ExecutionTargetPresence struct {
 // JSON representation.
 //
 // A non-nil RunRequest.Validation replaces the complete prompt contract. It
-// does not merge fields. The public Engine validates generated output once and
-// does not install an output repairer.
+// does not merge fields. The public Engine performs bounded correction after a
+// failed eligible validation when RepairAttempts is positive.
 type OutputContract struct {
 	// Format selects generated artifact metadata. An empty value in a non-nil
 	// request replacement defaults to FormatText.
@@ -562,9 +593,9 @@ type OutputContract struct {
 	// SchemaPath is required when ValidationMode is ValidationJSONSchema and is
 	// ignored by other modes.
 	SchemaPath string `json:"schema_path"`
-	// RepairAttempts is a non-negative requested repair limit. Zero requests no
-	// repairs. The public Engine performs no repairs even when this value is
-	// positive, so its runs report zero attempts used.
+	// RepairAttempts is an additional generation-call budget from zero through
+	// three. Zero is single-pass. A positive value is valid only with basic,
+	// json, or json_schema validation.
 	RepairAttempts int `json:"repair_attempts"`
 }
 
@@ -580,8 +611,8 @@ type ValidationResult struct {
 	Errors []string `json:"errors,omitempty"`
 	// SchemaPath is the effective schema path for JSON Schema validation.
 	SchemaPath string `json:"schema_path,omitempty"`
-	// RepairAttempts is the number of repairs actually attempted. It is always
-	// zero for the public Engine.
+	// RepairAttempts is the number of corrective generation calls actually
+	// started for this result.
 	RepairAttempts int `json:"repair_attempts"`
 	// IsValid is true for ValidationPassed and ValidationSkipped and false for
 	// ValidationFailed.
@@ -610,23 +641,29 @@ type RenderedPrompt struct {
 	// SessionID is the optional effective direct or rendered session
 	// identifier supplied to the model client.
 	SessionID string `json:"session_id,omitempty"`
-	// Messages contains rendered messages in definition order.
+	// Messages contains the effective messages in provider order: definition
+	// messages in rendered order followed by any RunRequest.AppendedMessages.
 	Messages []RenderedMessage `json:"messages"`
 }
 
-// RenderedMessage is a rendered chat message and has a stable JSON
-// representation.
+// RenderedMessage is a prepared, provider-bound text chat message and has a
+// stable JSON representation. At a request boundary its role is trimmed and
+// lowercased, then must be one of [RoleDeveloper], [RoleSystem], [RoleUser],
+// or [RoleAssistant].
 type RenderedMessage struct {
-	// Role is the definition-supplied chat role.
+	// Role is the provider-bound chat role.
 	Role string `json:"role"`
-	// Content is the rendered message text.
+	// Content is the provider-bound message text. Request-supplied content must
+	// be valid UTF-8 and may be empty or whitespace-only.
 	Content string `json:"content"`
 	// CacheControl is optional provider cache metadata.
 	CacheControl *CacheControl `json:"cache_control,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // CacheControl describes provider cache metadata attached to prompt content
-// and has a stable JSON representation.
+// and has a stable JSON representation. At a request boundary Type and TTL
+// must be valid UTF-8 and are trimmed. Type must be [CacheControlEphemeral],
+// and TTL must be empty or "1h"; other values make the request invalid.
 type CacheControl struct {
 	// Type identifies the cache behavior.
 	Type CacheControlType `json:"type"`
@@ -699,9 +736,8 @@ type GenerateRequest struct {
 // GenerateResponse is returned by an injected LLM client and has a stable JSON
 // representation.
 type GenerateResponse struct {
-	// Content is the generated output. It must be non-empty when using the
-	// built-in client; injected clients may return empty content for Promptkit
-	// validation to classify.
+	// Content is the generated output. It may be explicitly empty; Promptkit
+	// applies the effective output contract to classify it.
 	Content string `json:"content"`
 	// Usage is the client's token accounting.
 	Usage TokenUsage `json:"usage"`