Prepare documentation for the v0.8.0 release

README.md

@@ -31,4 +31,32 @@ Contributors should start with the [development guide](docs/development.md).
 The [architecture policy](docs/policy/architecture.md) defines the library
 boundary and constraints that framework work must preserve.
 
+## Release Guidance
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.7.0` to `v0.8.0` should read 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
+[v0.4.0 changelog and adoption guide](docs/releases/v0.4.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.2.0` to `v0.3.0` should read the
+[v0.3.0 changelog](docs/releases/v0.3.0.md).
+
+Consumers moving from `v0.1.0` to `v0.2.0` should read the
+[v0.2.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.2.0.md).
+
+## Related Project
+
+[Scriptorium](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/scriptorium) is the CLI and
+HTTP application built on Promptkit.
+
 Promptkit is licensed under the [GNU General Public License version 3](LICENSE).

backends.go

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import (
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+// BackendOpenRouter is the reserved ID of Promptkit's built-in OpenRouter
+// backend.
+const BackendOpenRouter = backend.OpenRouterID
+
+// BackendRakestrawHome is the reserved ID of Promptkit's built-in
+// Rakestrawhome backend.
+const BackendRakestrawHome = backend.RakestrawHomeID
+
+// BackendLocal is the case-sensitive conventional ID used by [LocalBackend].
+// It is not a built-in or reserved backend and must be registered with
+// [WithBackend].
+const BackendLocal = "local"
+
+// Backend configures one engine-scoped OpenAI-compatible backend.
+//
+// Backend has no stable JSON representation. Use keyed literals so additions
+// to this configuration value do not break source compatibility.
+type Backend struct {
+	// ID is the stable, case-sensitive registry key. NewEngine trims it and
+	// requires a non-blank value. Built-in backend IDs are reserved.
+	ID string
+	// Endpoint is the OpenAI-compatible base endpoint. NewEngine trims it and
+	// requires an absolute HTTP or HTTPS URL with a host and without user
+	// information, a query string, or a fragment. Paths are allowed.
+	Endpoint string
+	// APIKeyEnv optionally names an environment lookup source for an API key.
+	// NewEngine trims it and requires the portable form [A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*.
+	// A direct RunRequest.APIKey takes precedence. When no usable credential is
+	// available, the built-in client omits Authorization; injected clients own
+	// their own credential-resolution behavior. Store only the name, never a
+	// credential value.
+	APIKeyEnv string
+	// ExtraParams contains backend-wide request defaults. Values must be
+	// JSON-compatible, finite, acyclic, and keyed by non-empty strings. Keys
+	// must not be model, session_id, messages, temperature, max_tokens, top_p,
+	// service_tier, reasoning_effort, or response_format. An empty map supplies
+	// no defaults. NewEngine deeply copies the map and rejects excessively deep
+	// or large values for safety.
+	ExtraParams map[string]any
+	// ConcurrencyLimit is the maximum number of simultaneous model-generation
+	// calls allowed for this backend within one Engine. Zero leaves the backend
+	// unlimited. A negative value makes NewEngine fail with ErrInvalidConfig.
+	ConcurrencyLimit int
+	// QueueCapacity controls how many additional Run or RunPrepared calls may
+	// be admitted beyond ConcurrencyLimit. Nil uses 1024 when ConcurrencyLimit
+	// is positive; a pointer uses its exact value, including zero. The pointed-to
+	// value must be non-negative, and QueueCapacity must be nil when
+	// ConcurrencyLimit is zero. Their sum must fit in an int. WithBackend copies
+	// the value and does not retain the pointer.
+	QueueCapacity *int
+}
+
+// LocalBackend returns a caller-owned Backend for a conventional local
+// OpenAI-compatible endpoint. It sets ID to BackendLocal and copies endpoint
+// and concurrencyLimit into Endpoint and ConcurrencyLimit without
+// normalization or validation. APIKeyEnv, ExtraParams, and QueueCapacity keep
+// their zero values.
+//
+// LocalBackend does not read environment variables, register the value, or
+// mutate engine or package state. Supply the returned value through
+// [WithBackend]; [NewEngine] then applies the ordinary backend validation and
+// concurrency semantics, including default queue capacity for a positive
+// limit, unlimited behavior for zero, and ErrInvalidConfig for a negative
+// limit.
+func LocalBackend(endpoint string, concurrencyLimit int) Backend {
+	return Backend{
+		ID:               BackendLocal,
+		Endpoint:         endpoint,
+		ConcurrencyLimit: concurrencyLimit,
+	}
+}
+
+// WithBackend adds one Backend registration to the constructed Engine.
+//
+// Registrations accumulate in option order. Every normalized ID must be unique
+// across consumer registrations and built-ins; a duplicate or invalid
+// definition makes NewEngine fail with ErrInvalidConfig. Built-in IDs,
+// including [BackendOpenRouter] and [BackendRakestrawHome], cannot be
+// replaced. The immutable registration is scoped to the resulting Engine and
+// cannot be enumerated, replaced, removed, or mutated after construction.
+// WithBackend does not install package-global state.
+func WithBackend(backend Backend) Option {
+	queueCapacity := 0
+	queueCapacitySet := backend.QueueCapacity != nil
+	if queueCapacitySet {
+		queueCapacity = *backend.QueueCapacity
+	}
+	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
+		options.backends = append(options.backends, domain.Backend{
+			ID:               backend.ID,
+			Endpoint:         backend.Endpoint,
+			APIKeyEnv:        backend.APIKeyEnv,
+			ExtraParams:      backend.ExtraParams,
+			ConcurrencyLimit: backend.ConcurrencyLimit,
+			QueueCapacity:    queueCapacity,
+			QueueCapacitySet: queueCapacitySet,
+		})
+		return nil
+	})
+}

capacity_contract_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,409 @@
+package promptkit_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit"
+)
+
+func TestEngineLimitsInjectedClientConcurrency(t *testing.T) {
+	release := make(chan struct{})
+	client := newCapacityGateClient(release, 8)
+	engine := newBackendCapacityEngine(t, client, 2, capacityInt(4), nil)
+
+	results := make(chan capacityRunResult, 6)
+	for i := 0; i < 6; i++ {
+		go runCapacityRequest(engine, context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+			PromptID: "prompt",
+			Execution: &promptkit.ExecutionTargetOverride{
+				Endpoint: "http://request.example/v1",
+			},
+		}, results)
+	}
+
+	first := awaitCapacityRequest(t, client.started)
+	second := awaitCapacityRequest(t, client.started)
+	if first.Target.BackendID != "limited" || second.Target.BackendID != "limited" {
+		t.Fatalf("endpoint override changed backend pool: first=%q second=%q",
+			first.Target.BackendID, second.Target.BackendID)
+	}
+	if active, peak, _ := client.snapshot(); active != 2 || peak != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("client concurrency before release=(active=%d peak=%d), want 2", active, peak)
+	}
+
+	close(release)
+	for i := 0; i < 6; i++ {
+		outcome := awaitCapacityRun(t, results)
+		if outcome.err != nil || outcome.result == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("run outcome=(%+v, %v), want success", outcome.result, outcome.err)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, peak, calls := client.snapshot(); peak > 2 || calls != 6 {
+		t.Fatalf("client observations=(peak=%d calls=%d), want peak <= 2 and 6 calls", peak, calls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEngineRejectsRunBeforeCompletionWhenAdmissionIsFull(t *testing.T) {
+	artifactRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	reader := &capacityArtifactReader{
+		entered: make(chan struct{}, 2),
+		release: artifactRelease,
+	}
+	client := newCapacityGateClient(closedCapacityChannel(), 2)
+	engine := newBackendCapacityEngine(t, client, 1, capacityInt(0), reader)
+	firstResult := make(chan capacityRunResult, 1)
+	go runCapacityRequest(engine, context.Background(), capacityInputRequest("http://first.example/v1"), firstResult)
+
+	awaitCapacitySignal(t, reader.entered, "first artifact read")
+
+	canceledContext, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+	result, err := engine.Run(canceledContext, capacityInputRequest("http://canceled.example/v1"))
+	if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("canceled capacity admission=(%+v, %v), want context cancellation", result, err)
+	}
+	var canceledCapacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	if errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) || errors.As(err, &canceledCapacityErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("canceled admission exposed capacity rejection: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	result, err = engine.Run(context.Background(), capacityInputRequest("http://second.example/v1"))
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("capacity rejection returned partial result: %+v", result)
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+		t.Fatalf("capacity rejection=%v, want ErrCapacityExceeded", err)
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest) || errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrLLMGenerate) {
+		t.Fatalf("capacity rejection had an unrelated category: %v", err)
+	}
+	var capacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	if !errors.As(err, &capacityErr) || capacityErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("capacity rejection=%v, want CapacityError", err)
+	}
+	if capacityErr.BackendID != "limited" {
+		t.Fatalf("capacity backend ID=%q, want limited", capacityErr.BackendID)
+	}
+	capacityErr.BackendID = "changed"
+
+	result, err = engine.Run(context.Background(), capacityInputRequest("http://third.example/v1"))
+	var subsequentCapacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	if result != nil || !errors.As(err, &subsequentCapacityErr) ||
+		subsequentCapacityErr == nil || subsequentCapacityErr.BackendID != "limited" {
+		t.Fatalf("subsequent capacity rejection=(%+v, %v), want independent limited CapacityError", result, err)
+	}
+	if calls := reader.callCount(); calls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("artifact calls=%d, want only the admitted run", calls)
+	}
+	if _, _, calls := client.snapshot(); calls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("client calls=%d before admitted run was released, want 0", calls)
+	}
+
+	close(artifactRelease)
+	outcome := awaitCapacityRun(t, firstResult)
+	if outcome.err != nil || outcome.result == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first run outcome=(%+v, %v), want success", outcome.result, outcome.err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBackendCapacityIsIndependentBetweenEngines(t *testing.T) {
+	firstRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	firstClient := newCapacityGateClient(firstRelease, 1)
+	firstEngine := newBackendCapacityEngine(t, firstClient, 1, capacityInt(0), nil)
+	secondClient := newCapacityGateClient(closedCapacityChannel(), 1)
+	secondEngine := newBackendCapacityEngine(t, secondClient, 1, capacityInt(0), nil)
+
+	firstResult := make(chan capacityRunResult, 1)
+	go runCapacityRequest(firstEngine, context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt"}, firstResult)
+	awaitCapacityRequest(t, firstClient.started)
+
+	result, err := secondEngine.Run(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt"})
+	if err != nil || result == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second engine run=(%+v, %v), want independent success", result, err)
+	}
+	if _, _, calls := secondClient.snapshot(); calls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("second engine client calls=%d, want 1", calls)
+	}
+
+	close(firstRelease)
+	outcome := awaitCapacityRun(t, firstResult)
+	if outcome.err != nil || outcome.result == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first engine run=(%+v, %v), want success", outcome.result, outcome.err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnlimitedBackendsRetainInjectedClientConcurrency(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		configure func(*testing.T, promptkit.LLMClient) *promptkit.Engine
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "custom backend",
+			configure: func(t *testing.T, client promptkit.LLMClient) *promptkit.Engine {
+				return newBackendCapacityEngine(t, client, 0, nil, nil)
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "endpoint-only profile",
+			configure: func(t *testing.T, client promptkit.LLMClient) *promptkit.Engine {
+				engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{},
+					promptkit.WithPromptFS(contractPromptFS("prompt", "profile", "message"), "."),
+					promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+						ID: "profile", Endpoint: "http://endpoint.example/v1", Model: "model",
+					}),
+					promptkit.WithLLMClient(client),
+				)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("construct endpoint-only engine: %v", err)
+				}
+				return engine
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			release := make(chan struct{})
+			client := newCapacityGateClient(release, 2)
+			engine := tc.configure(t, client)
+			results := make(chan capacityRunResult, 2)
+			for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
+				go runCapacityRequest(
+					engine,
+					context.Background(),
+					promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID: "prompt"},
+					results,
+				)
+			}
+
+			awaitCapacityRequest(t, client.started)
+			awaitCapacityRequest(t, client.started)
+			if active, peak, _ := client.snapshot(); active != 2 || peak != 2 {
+				t.Fatalf("unlimited concurrency=(active=%d peak=%d), want 2", active, peak)
+			}
+			close(release)
+			for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
+				outcome := awaitCapacityRun(t, results)
+				if outcome.err != nil || outcome.result == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("run outcome=(%+v, %v), want success", outcome.result, outcome.err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCapacityExceededSentinelContract(t *testing.T) {
+	if promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded == nil {
+		t.Fatal("ErrCapacityExceeded is nil")
+	}
+	var nilCapacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	zeroCapacityErr := &promptkit.CapacityError{}
+	populatedCapacityErr := &promptkit.CapacityError{BackendID: "limited"}
+	for _, capacityErr := range []error{nilCapacityErr, zeroCapacityErr} {
+		if !errors.Is(capacityErr, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+			t.Fatalf("capacity error=%v, want ErrCapacityExceeded", capacityErr)
+		}
+	}
+	var discoveredCapacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	if !errors.As(populatedCapacityErr, &discoveredCapacityErr) || discoveredCapacityErr != populatedCapacityErr {
+		t.Fatalf("populated capacity error is not discoverable: %v", populatedCapacityErr)
+	}
+
+	for _, unrelated := range []error{
+		promptkit.ErrInvalidConfig,
+		promptkit.ErrInvalidRequest,
+		promptkit.ErrLLMGenerate,
+		promptkit.ErrValidation,
+	} {
+		if errors.Is(promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded, unrelated) ||
+			errors.Is(unrelated, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) ||
+			errors.Is(populatedCapacityErr, unrelated) {
+			t.Fatalf("ErrCapacityExceeded aliases unrelated sentinel %v", unrelated)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+type capacityRunResult struct {
+	result *promptkit.RunResult
+	err    error
+}
+
+func runCapacityRequest(
+	engine *promptkit.Engine,
+	ctx context.Context,
+	request promptkit.RunRequest,
+	results chan<- capacityRunResult,
+) {
+	result, err := engine.Run(ctx, request)
+	results <- capacityRunResult{result: result, err: err}
+}
+
+func newBackendCapacityEngine(
+	t *testing.T,
+	client promptkit.LLMClient,
+	limit int,
+	queueCapacity *int,
+	reader promptkit.ArtifactReader,
+) *promptkit.Engine {
+	t.Helper()
+	promptFS := contractPromptFS("prompt", "profile", "message")
+	if reader != nil {
+		promptFS = contractInputPromptFS()
+	}
+	options := []promptkit.Option{
+		promptkit.WithPromptFS(promptFS, "."),
+		promptkit.WithBackend(promptkit.Backend{
+			ID:               "limited",
+			Endpoint:         "http://backend.example/v1",
+			ConcurrencyLimit: limit,
+			QueueCapacity:    queueCapacity,
+		}),
+		promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+			ID: "profile", BackendID: "limited", Model: "model",
+		}),
+		promptkit.WithLLMClient(client),
+	}
+	if reader != nil {
+		options = append(options, promptkit.WithArtifactReader(reader))
+	}
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{}, options...)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct capacity engine: %v", err)
+	}
+	return engine
+}
+
+func capacityInputRequest(endpoint string) promptkit.RunRequest {
+	return promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID: "input-prompt",
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"input": promptkit.Inline("input"),
+		},
+		Execution: &promptkit.ExecutionTargetOverride{Endpoint: endpoint},
+	}
+}
+
+type capacityGateClient struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	active  int
+	peak    int
+	calls   int
+	started chan promptkit.GenerateRequest
+	release <-chan struct{}
+}
+
+func newCapacityGateClient(release <-chan struct{}, buffer int) *capacityGateClient {
+	return &capacityGateClient{
+		started: make(chan promptkit.GenerateRequest, buffer),
+		release: release,
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *capacityGateClient) Generate(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	request promptkit.GenerateRequest,
+) (*promptkit.GenerateResponse, error) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	c.calls++
+	c.active++
+	if c.active > c.peak {
+		c.peak = c.active
+	}
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	defer func() {
+		c.mu.Lock()
+		c.active--
+		c.mu.Unlock()
+	}()
+
+	c.started <- request
+	select {
+	case <-c.release:
+		return &promptkit.GenerateResponse{Content: "ok"}, nil
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *capacityGateClient) snapshot() (active, peak, calls int) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.active, c.peak, c.calls
+}
+
+type capacityArtifactReader struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	calls   int
+	entered chan struct{}
+	release <-chan struct{}
+}
+
+func (r *capacityArtifactReader) Read(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	_ promptkit.ArtifactRef,
+) (*promptkit.Artifact, error) {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	r.calls++
+	r.mu.Unlock()
+	r.entered <- struct{}{}
+	select {
+	case <-r.release:
+		return &promptkit.Artifact{Body: []byte("input")}, nil
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *capacityArtifactReader) callCount() int {
+	r.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.mu.Unlock()
+	return r.calls
+}
+
+func awaitCapacityRequest(
+	t *testing.T,
+	requests <-chan promptkit.GenerateRequest,
+) promptkit.GenerateRequest {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case request := <-requests:
+		return request
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for client invocation")
+		return promptkit.GenerateRequest{}
+	}
+}
+
+func awaitCapacityRun(t *testing.T, results <-chan capacityRunResult) capacityRunResult {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case result := <-results:
+		return result
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for Run")
+		return capacityRunResult{}
+	}
+}
+
+func awaitCapacitySignal(t *testing.T, signal <-chan struct{}, name string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case <-signal:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for %s", name)
+	}
+}
+
+func capacityInt(value int) *int {
+	return &value
+}
+
+func closedCapacityChannel() <-chan struct{} {
+	channel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(channel)
+	return channel
+}

capacity_error.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// CapacityError reports bounded admission rejected for a selected backend.
+//
+// Engine-produced values identify only rejection at Promptkit's bounded
+// [Engine.Run] or [Engine.RunPrepared] admission boundary. BackendID is the
+// normalized registered backend ID used for routing and capacity; endpoint
+// overrides do not change it. Every engine-produced value is nonnil and has a
+// nonblank BackendID. Provider errors, active-generation waiting, and caller
+// cancellation are not represented by this type.
+//
+// Callers own returned values and may mutate BackendID without affecting engine
+// state or another error. CapacityError and its default Go encoding have no
+// stable JSON contract. Consumer-constructed values do not establish that an
+// engine rejected work.
+type CapacityError struct {
+	// BackendID is the normalized registered backend ID whose admission was
+	// rejected.
+	BackendID string
+}
+
+// Error returns diagnostic wording that is not a parsing contract. It is safe
+// to call on a nil receiver or a value with a blank BackendID.
+func (e *CapacityError) Error() string {
+	if e == nil || strings.TrimSpace(e.BackendID) == "" {
+		return ErrCapacityExceeded.Error()
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("backend %q admission: %v", e.BackendID, ErrCapacityExceeded)
+}
+
+// Unwrap returns ErrCapacityExceeded so errors.Is and errors.As can be used
+// together. It is safe to call on a nil receiver or a zero value.
+func (e *CapacityError) Unwrap() error {
+	return ErrCapacityExceeded
+}

convert.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
 )
 
 func toDomainRunRequest(req RunRequest) (domain.RunRequest, error) {
@@ -15,12 +16,12 @@ func toDomainRunRequest(req RunRequest) (domain.RunRequest, error) {
 		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),
-		Metadata:      copyStringMap(req.Metadata),
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ func fromDomainPreparedRun(prepared *domain.PreparedRun) *PreparedRun {
 		PromptVersion:        prepared.PromptVersion,
 		PromptHash:           prepared.PromptHash,
 		SelectedProfileID:    prepared.SelectedProfileID,
+		SelectedBackendID:    prepared.SelectedBackendID,
 		EffectiveModelParams: fromDomainExecutionTarget(prepared.EffectiveModelParams),
 		OutputContract:       fromDomainOutputContract(prepared.OutputContract),
 		StructuredOutput:     fromDomainStructuredOutputSpec(prepared.StructuredOutput),
@@ -58,8 +60,10 @@ func fromDomainRunResult(result *domain.RunResult) *RunResult {
 		PromptID:             result.PromptID,
 		PromptVersion:        result.PromptVersion,
 		PromptHash:           result.PromptHash,
+		SessionID:            result.SessionID,
 		RenderedPromptHash:   result.RenderedPromptHash,
 		SelectedProfileID:    result.SelectedProfileID,
+		SelectedBackendID:    result.SelectedBackendID,
 		ModelName:            result.ModelName,
 		Endpoint:             result.Endpoint,
 		EffectiveModelParams: fromDomainExecutionTarget(result.EffectiveModelParams),
@@ -132,7 +136,7 @@ func toDomainExecutionTargetOverride(override *ExecutionTargetOverride) (*domain
 	if override == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	extraParams, err := copyPublicJSONMap(override.ExtraParams)
+	extraParams, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(override.ExtraParams)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -144,7 +148,7 @@ func toDomainExecutionTargetOverride(override *ExecutionTargetOverride) (*domain
 		TopP:            copyFloat64Ptr(override.TopP),
 		TimeoutSeconds:  copyIntPtr(override.TimeoutSeconds),
 		ServiceTier:     override.ServiceTier,
-		ReasoningEffort: override.ReasoningEffort,
+		ReasoningEffort: copyStringPtr(override.ReasoningEffort),
 		APIKeyEnv:       override.APIKeyEnv,
 		ExtraParams:     extraParams,
 	}, nil
@@ -152,6 +156,7 @@ func toDomainExecutionTargetOverride(override *ExecutionTargetOverride) (*domain
 
 func fromDomainExecutionTarget(target domain.ExecutionTarget) ExecutionTarget {
 	return ExecutionTarget{
+		BackendID:       target.BackendID,
 		Endpoint:        target.Endpoint,
 		Model:           target.Model,
 		Temperature:     target.Temperature,
@@ -165,6 +170,40 @@ func fromDomainExecutionTarget(target domain.ExecutionTarget) ExecutionTarget {
 	}
 }
 
+func fromDomainProfileInspection(inspection *domain.ProfileInspection) *ProfileInspection {
+	if inspection == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &ProfileInspection{
+		ProfileID:            inspection.ProfileID,
+		EffectiveModelParams: fromDomainExecutionTarget(inspection.EffectiveModelParams),
+		APIKeyRequired:       inspection.APIKeyRequired,
+	}
+}
+
+func fromDomainPromptInspection(inspection *domain.PromptInspection) *PromptInspection {
+	if inspection == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	inputs := make([]PromptInputDefinition, len(inspection.Inputs))
+	for i, input := range inspection.Inputs {
+		inputs[i] = PromptInputDefinition{
+			Name:        input.Name,
+			Required:    input.Required,
+			ContentType: input.ContentType,
+			Description: input.Description,
+		}
+	}
+	return &PromptInspection{
+		PromptID:         inspection.PromptID,
+		PromptVersion:    inspection.PromptVersion,
+		PromptHash:       inspection.PromptHash,
+		DefaultProfileID: inspection.DefaultProfileID,
+		Inputs:           inputs,
+		OutputContract:   fromDomainOutputContract(inspection.OutputContract),
+	}
+}
+
 func fromDomainExecutionTargetPresence(presence domain.ExecutionTargetPresence) ExecutionTargetPresence {
 	return ExecutionTargetPresence{
 		Temperature:    presence.Temperature,
@@ -397,6 +436,14 @@ func copyFloat64Ptr(src *float64) *float64 {
 	return &v
 }
 
+func copyStringPtr(src *string) *string {
+	if src == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	v := *src
+	return &v
+}
+
 func copyIntPtr(src *int) *int {
 	if src == nil {
 		return nil

doc.go

@@ -1,8 +1,70 @@
 // Package promptkit provides an embeddable engine for preparing and executing
 // prompt-defined LLM workflows.
 //
-// Applications construct an Engine with NewEngine, select filesystem or
-// in-memory definition sources with options, and use Prepare or Run to execute
-// requests. Concrete repositories, validators, and outbound clients remain
-// internal implementation details.
+// Applications construct an [Engine] with [NewEngine], select filesystem or
+// in-memory sources and optional engine-scoped [Backend] registrations, and
+// call [Engine.InspectPrompt], [Engine.InspectProfile], [Engine.Prepare],
+// [Engine.PrepareExecution], [Engine.Run], or [Engine.RunPrepared]. Concrete
+// registries, repositories, validators, and the built-in OpenAI-compatible
+// client remain internal implementation details.
+//
+// # Concurrency and ownership
+//
+// An Engine supports concurrent InspectPrompt, InspectProfile, Prepare,
+// PrepareExecution, Run, and RunPrepared calls. Engine-local backend policies
+// bound admitted Run and RunPrepared calls and model generations where
+// configured, while different backend pools and unlimited backends continue
+// independently. An injected [LLMClient] or [ArtifactReader] can therefore
+// still receive concurrent calls and must be safe for that use.
+//
+// NewEngine copies in-memory profiles and backend definitions. Prepare,
+// PrepareExecution, and Run copy request maps, slices, pointer values, and
+// JSON-compatible extra parameters before using them. InspectPrompt and
+// InspectProfile return copied inspection values. Returned values and values
+// passed to extension interfaces are likewise isolated from engine state.
+// Callers own those copies and may mutate them after the call that supplied or
+// returned them. [CapacityError] values are caller-owned and may be mutated
+// without affecting engine state or another error. Immutable [GenerationError]
+// values are also caller-owned and do not retain shared engine state.
+//
+// # Security and sensitive data
+//
+// The default artifact reader treats [File] paths as caller-selected operating
+// system paths. It does not restrict them to an application root or impose an
+// inbound request-size policy. Promptkit is not an inbound request or
+// untrusted-input security boundary. Applications must validate and restrict
+// untrusted input before constructing a request, or install an [ArtifactReader]
+// that enforces their filesystem, authorization, and size policies.
+//
+// Rendered messages, input and output [Artifact] bodies, [RunResult.RawOutput],
+// and [ValidationResult.Errors] may contain sensitive data. Credential
+// exclusion and redaction do not sanitize those values. Applications and
+// injected collaborators are responsible for access control, retention,
+// logging, and secret handling appropriate to their data.
+//
+// # JSON
+//
+// Stable JSON representations are provided for [PreparedRun], [RunResult],
+// [Artifact], [ExecutionTarget], [OutputContract], [ValidationResult],
+// [TokenUsage], [RenderedPrompt], [RenderedMessage], [CacheControl],
+// [StructuredOutputSpec], [StructuredOutputJSONSpec], [GenerateRequest],
+// [GenerateResponse], [ExecutionTargetPresence], and the string value types
+// used by those values.
+//
+// Construction, inspection, handle, and error values, including [Config],
+// [Backend], [RunRequest], [ArtifactRef], [ExecutionTargetOverride], [Profile],
+// [OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig], [ProfileInspection],
+// [PromptInputDefinition], [PromptInspection], [PreparedExecution],
+// [CapacityError], and [GenerationError], do not have stable JSON
+// representations. Direct API keys are nevertheless excluded from JSON for
+// every public value.
+
+// Provider-derived [GenerationError] accessor values are untrusted and can
+// contain sensitive request or schema fragments. Applications must apply their
+// own disclosure policy before logging, displaying, or returning them.
+//
+// JSON timestamps use time.Time's RFC 3339 encoding and are omitted when zero.
+// PreparedRun and RunResult durations are encoded as integer milliseconds in
+// duration_ms and omitted when zero. Run IDs and all exposed hashes are opaque:
+// their spelling, length, character set, and algorithm are not API contracts.
 package promptkit

docs/consumers/pkg-promptkit.md

@@ -1,151 +1,521 @@
 # Package `promptkit`
 
-Import path:
+## Purpose
+
+This guide helps Go consumers assemble Promptkit and choose the main
+preparation or execution workflow. The declarations and GoDoc in the
+[root package](../../doc.go) own exact field, option, serialization,
+concurrency, ownership, failure, and cancellation semantics. The
+[framework format reference](../formats.md) owns prompt, profile, and schema
+file contracts.
+
+Import the package as:
 
 ```go
 import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit"
 ```
 
-Package `promptkit` is the supported Go contract for in-process prompt
-preparation and execution. The declarations and their GoDoc in the
-[root package](../../doc.go) own the exact API; this guide explains how the
-pieces are used together. The [framework format reference](../formats.md) owns
-prompt, profile, and schema file contracts.
+The following Go fragments are illustrative and omit surrounding package,
+import, and error-handling code. Use the maintained examples for complete
+programs.
 
-## Engine Construction And Sources
+## Construct An Engine
 
-Construct an engine with [`NewEngine`, `Config`, and
-`Option`](../../engine.go). `PromptDir` is required unless a prompt source
-option is supplied. `ProfileDir` optionally overlays built-in profiles, and an
-empty `SchemaDir` uses the current directory. `Timeout` is the transport-wide
-safety cap for the built-in OpenAI-compatible client. An optional `HTTPClient`
-is cloned; its positive timeout takes precedence.
+Create an engine with
+[`NewEngine`](../../engine.go). A directory-backed setup supplies a prompt
+directory and may supply profile and schema directories:
 
-Nil options are ignored. Invalid construction, including a nil injected client
-or artifact reader, returns an error matching `ErrInvalidConfig`.
+```go
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+	PromptDir:  "prompts",
+	ProfileDir: "profiles",
+	SchemaDir:  "schemas",
+})
+```
 
-The [source options](../../engine.go) replace their matching directory source:
-
-- `WithPromptFS` and `WithPromptFile` select prompt definitions;
-- `WithProfileFS` and `WithProfileFile` overlay built-in profiles;
-- `WithProfiles` adds in-memory profiles ahead of file and built-in profiles;
-- `WithSchemaFS` and `WithSchemaFile` select JSON Schema documents;
-- `WithLLMClient` replaces the built-in model client; and
-- `WithArtifactReader` replaces the default reader for every input.
-
-Source selection, path resolution, strict decoding, profile overlays, and
-file-to-request precedence are defined in the
+Options support single-file or `fs.FS` sources, in-memory profiles,
+engine-scoped backends, and injected artifact or model clients. Consult the
+[constructor and option GoDoc](../../engine.go) for composition, precedence,
+validation, and default transport behavior. Source discovery, format
+validation, and profile precedence are defined by the
 [framework format reference](../formats.md).
 
-Per-generation timeout values from profiles or requests are independent of
-the transport cap and caller context. An explicit request value of zero
-disables only the per-generation deadline. The
-[outbound integration contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#timeout-and-cancellation)
-defines the complete timeout layering.
+## Supply Embedded Application Defaults
 
-## Preparation And Execution
+Use `WithFallbackProfileFS` when an application packages profile definitions
+that should apply unless an operator provides an ordinary configured profile
+with the same ID. For example, an application can embed its defaults while
+continuing to use `ProfileDir` for operator overrides:
 
-[`Engine.Prepare` and `Engine.Run`](../../engine.go) accept the public
-[`RunRequest`](../../types.go). `Prepare` resolves the prompt, profile, input
-artifacts, validation contract, and rendered messages without calling an LLM.
-`Run` performs the same preparation, calls the configured client, and validates
-the generated content. The maintained
+```go
+//go:embed profiles/*.yaml
+var applicationProfiles embed.FS
+
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+	PromptDir:  "prompts",
+	ProfileDir: operatorProfileDir,
+},
+	promptkit.WithFallbackProfileFS(applicationProfiles, "profiles"),
+)
+```
+
+Keep application-owned profile IDs and definitions in the embedded source.
+Use the ordinary configured profile source for operator overrides. Leave
+`operatorProfileDir` empty when the operator did not configure an override
+directory; a non-empty path names an authoritative higher-precedence source,
+so an unavailable or unreadable directory is an error rather than a reason to
+fall back. The
+[framework format reference](../formats.md#source-and-profile-precedence)
+owns the exact profile format and lookup order; the
+[`WithFallbackProfileFS` GoDoc](../../engine.go) owns its option contract and
+validation rules.
+
+## Inspect A Prompt Before Preparation
+
+Use [`Engine.InspectPrompt`](../../engine.go) to check one configured prompt's
+declared inputs and output workflow without creating placeholder inputs or
+resolving a profile:
+
+```go
+inspection, err := engine.InspectPrompt(ctx, "meeting.summary", "")
+if err != nil {
+	return err
+}
+
+for _, input := range inspection.Inputs {
+	// Compare the declared input with application configuration.
+}
+```
+
+Use this configuration-time boundary when the application needs only the
+declared prompt interface. Use `InspectProfile` separately when it must also
+check a configured profile. Use `Prepare` when it needs inputs, schemas, or
+rendered messages, and use prepared execution when that work must remain tied
+to later execution. The method's [GoDoc](../../engine.go) owns exact fields,
+hash, ownership, and error semantics.
+
+## Prepare Without Model Execution
+
+[`Engine.Prepare`](../../engine.go) resolves the selected prompt and profile,
+loads inputs and any structured-output schema, and renders messages without
+calling a model client. Choose it when the prepared value is the final
+inspection or persistence result and no later execution must be tied to that
+exact snapshot:
+
+```go
+prepared, err := engine.Prepare(ctx, promptkit.RunRequest{
+	PromptID: "meeting.summary",
+	Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+		"note": promptkit.Inline("Synthetic meeting notes"),
+	},
+})
+```
+
+The maintained
 [offline preparation example](../../examples/go-library/prepare/main.go)
-provides a complete runnable workflow using a prompt file, in-memory profile,
-and inline input.
+shows a complete runnable setup with a prompt file, in-memory profile, and
+inline input. Exact request requirements and prepared-result fields belong to
+the [`RunRequest` and `PreparedRun` GoDoc](../../types.go).
 
-[`PreparedRun` and `RunResult`](../../types.go) expose copied public values.
-Preparation returns effective settings, hashes, rendered messages, selected
-profile, structured-output information, and timing without resolved secrets or
-model output. Execution adds the generated artifact and raw output, validation
-state, model metadata, usage, run ID, and duration.
+## Prepare Now And Execute The Same Snapshot Later
 
-A generated-content validation failure returns a result with
-`Validation.Status == ValidationFailed`. An inability to perform validation
-returns an error matching `ErrValidation`.
+Use [`Engine.PrepareExecution`](../../engine.go) when an application must
+inspect or persist preflight details before deciding whether to start model
+work, while ensuring that later execution uses those exact rendered messages,
+inputs, target settings, and validation resources:
 
-## Requests, Inputs, And Overrides
+```go
+preparedExecution, err := engine.PrepareExecution(ctx, promptkit.RunRequest{
+	PromptID: "meeting.summary",
+	Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+		"note": promptkit.Inline("Synthetic meeting notes"),
+	},
+})
+if err != nil {
+	return err
+}
+defer preparedExecution.Discard()
 
-The [request and value declarations](../../types.go) own the available fields,
-serialized constants, and result shapes. Use `File`, `Inline`, or
-`InlineWithURI` to construct artifact references. The
-[framework format reference](../formats.md) defines declared inputs, template
-references, output contracts, and the relationship between file values and
-request overrides.
+details := preparedExecution.Details()
+// Inspect or persist an application-selected safe subset of details.
 
-`ExecutionTargetOverride` uses pointers for numeric settings so an explicit
-zero remains distinct from no override. `ExtraParams` accepts JSON-compatible
-strings, booleans, finite numbers, string-keyed objects, arrays or slices, and
-nil. Unsupported values, non-string map keys, non-finite numbers, and cycles
-match `ErrInvalidConfig` in profiles or `ErrInvalidRequest` in request
-overrides.
+result, err := engine.RunPrepared(ctx, preparedExecution)
+```
 
-Returned requests, profiles, prepared values, results, artifacts, maps, and
-slices are isolated from internal engine state. Consumers and injected
-extensions should not retain or mutate values owned by another caller.
+Preparation does not call the model or reserve backend capacity.
+`RunPrepared` executes from the retained snapshot rather than reloading
+consumer sources. The handle is opaque in-process state, while `Details`
+contains rendered content and remains subject to the application's data
+handling policy. The
+[`PreparedExecution` and method GoDoc](../../prepared_execution.go) and
+[engine operation GoDoc](../../engine.go) own exact lifecycle, engine-binding,
+credential, cancellation, timing, and error semantics.
 
-## Profiles And Credentials
+## Execute And Validate
 
-[`OpenAICompatibleProfile`](../../profiles.go) constructs an ordinary
-in-memory profile for an OpenAI-compatible chat-completions endpoint.
-`WithProfiles` rejects duplicate IDs in one call and gives in-memory profiles
-precedence over explicit file sources and built-ins.
+[`Engine.Run`](../../engine.go) performs the same preparation, invokes the
+configured model client, classifies the generated artifact, and validates the
+content in one call. Choose it when the application does not need a preflight
+boundary tied to the eventual execution. A completed content check may return
+`ValidationFailed` in the result; an operational inability to validate returns
+an error.
 
-Raw API keys do not belong in profiles. File-backed profiles may name an
-environment variable, while an in-memory profile can require a request key.
-A direct `RunRequest.APIKey` is request-scoped and takes precedence over an
-environment lookup for the built-in client. Profile fields, ranges, built-ins,
-precedence, and credential rules are owned by the
-[framework format reference](../formats.md).
+The maintained
+[offline execution example](../../examples/go-library/run/main.go) injects a
+deterministic model client and exercises `Run` without credentials, network
+access, or paid calls. It is intentionally separate from the preparation
+example so each workflow and its small prompt fixture can be copied and run on
+its own.
 
-API keys are excluded from JSON, prepared values, and results. The public
-`String` and `GoString` methods report only whether a direct key is present.
-Avoid reflection-based dumps of request structs, which can bypass that
-redaction.
+Use the [`RunResult` and `ValidationResult` GoDoc](../../types.go) for the
+returned data and the `Engine.Run` GoDoc for failure and cancellation
+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.
+
+## Inputs, Profiles, And Overrides
+
+Use `File`, `Inline`, or `InlineWithURI` to construct request inputs. A request
+can select a profile explicitly or use the prompt's default profile, and can
+replace execution settings or the complete output contract.
+
+The [public value GoDoc](../../types.go) defines nil, empty, zero, replacement,
+copy, and credential behavior. The
+[framework format reference](../formats.md) defines how those request values
+interact with prompt definitions, file-backed and application fallback
+profiles, built-ins, schemas, and framework defaults.
+
+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
+select `rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b` as an ordinary profile ID. For example, a
+prepared result identifies the selected built-in through
+`BackendRakestrawHome`:
+
+```go
+prepared, err := engine.Prepare(ctx, promptkit.RunRequest{
+	PromptID:  "meeting.summary",
+	ProfileID: "rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b",
+	Inputs:    inputs,
+})
+if err != nil {
+	return err
+}
+if prepared.SelectedBackendID != promptkit.BackendRakestrawHome {
+	return fmt.Errorf("unexpected backend %q", prepared.SelectedBackendID)
+}
+```
+
+Do not register `rakestrawhome` manually. When adopting this built-in, remove
+an existing `WithBackend` registration with that exact ID; retaining it causes
+the intentional duplicate-ID configuration error. Direct request credentials
+and runtime endpoint overrides remain supported under their ordinary GoDoc and
+format contracts.
+
+### Inspect A Profile Before Prompt Work
+
+Use [`Engine.InspectProfile`](../../engine.go) to validate one configured
+profile without constructing a synthetic prompt or placeholder inputs. It
+resolves the profile's effective target but does not prepare or execute a
+prompt:
+
+```go
+inspection, err := engine.InspectProfile(ctx, profileID)
+if err != nil {
+	return err
+}
+
+target := inspection.EffectiveModelParams
+if target.APIKeyEnv != "" {
+	// This is a configured optional environment lookup source.
+} else if inspection.APIKeyRequired {
+	// Arrange a direct credential before later execution.
+}
+```
+
+Use this configuration-time boundary when only the profile and its target need
+checking. Use `Prepare` when the application also needs prompt, input, schema,
+or rendering work; use prepared execution when that work must remain tied to a
+later execution. A reported `APIKeyEnv` is a configured optional source, while
+`APIKeyRequired` is the explicit local requirement. The
+[credential format reference](../formats.md#credentials) and the method's
+[GoDoc](../../engine.go) own the exact precedence, timing, result, and error
+contracts.
+
+### Set A Per-Run Session And Reasoning
+
+Supply a direct session ID when one prompt should be correlated with a
+consumer-managed conversation or workflow without changing prompt variables:
+
+```go
+reasoning := "high"
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, promptkit.RunRequest{
+	PromptID: "meeting.summary",
+	SessionID: "conversation-42",
+	Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+		"note": promptkit.Inline("Synthetic meeting notes"),
+	},
+	Execution: &promptkit.ExecutionTargetOverride{
+		ReasoningEffort: &reasoning,
+	},
+})
+```
+
+A nil reasoning pointer inherits the selected profile, a pointer to a
+nonblank string replaces it, and a pointer to a blank string disables
+reasoning for that run. Session IDs are correlation metadata, not credentials;
+use stable, non-secret values that are safe to expose to collaborators and
+providers. The
+[`RunRequest` and `ExecutionTargetOverride` GoDoc](../../types.go) owns the
+exact normalization, precedence, error, copying, and exposure contract.
+
+### Configure A Local OpenAI-Compatible Endpoint
+
+Choose the smallest configuration that fits how the endpoint will be reused.
+
+#### Use An Endpoint-Only Profile
+
+Put the endpoint directly on an in-memory profile when only that profile needs
+it and shared backend identity or capacity policy is unnecessary:
+
+```go
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+	PromptDir: "prompts",
+},
+	promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+		ID:       "local-summary",
+		Endpoint: "http://localhost:8000/v1",
+		Model:    "example-model",
+	}),
+)
+```
+
+Endpoint-only profiles have an empty backend ID and remain unrestricted by
+backend capacity policy.
+
+#### Use The Conventional Local Backend
+
+Use `LocalBackend` when profiles should share the conventional `local`
+identity, endpoint, and concurrency limit:
+
+```go
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+	PromptDir: "prompts",
+},
+	promptkit.WithBackend(
+		promptkit.LocalBackend("http://localhost:8000/v1", 2),
+	),
+	promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+		ID:        "local-summary",
+		BackendID: promptkit.BackendLocal,
+		Model:     "example-model",
+	}),
+)
+```
+
+The helper is explicit: it does not pre-register a backend or read environment
+variables. Supplying a positive limit leaves queue capacity omitted, so normal
+backend registration selects the existing default waiting capacity of 1024.
+The returned value still enters the engine through `WithBackend`.
+
+#### Configure A Complete Backend
+
+Use a keyed `Backend` value for authentication, extra request parameters, an
+explicit queue capacity, a custom ID, or multiple local endpoints:
+
+```go
+noWaiting := 0
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+	PromptDir: "prompts",
+},
+	promptkit.WithBackend(promptkit.Backend{
+		ID:               "local-gpu",
+		Endpoint:         "http://gpu-host:8000/v1",
+		APIKeyEnv:        "LOCAL_GPU_API_KEY",
+		ExtraParams:      map[string]any{"provider_option": "enabled"},
+		ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+		QueueCapacity:    &noWaiting,
+	}),
+	promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+		ID:        "gpu-summary",
+		BackendID: "local-gpu",
+		Model:     "example-model",
+	}),
+)
+```
+
+Use distinct custom IDs when registering multiple local endpoints.
+Registrations belong to one engine and custom IDs cannot replace built-ins.
+The [`Backend`, `LocalBackend`, and `WithBackend` GoDoc](../../backends.go)
+defines exact construction, validation, copying, uniqueness, concurrency, and
+request-default behavior.
+
+Both file-backed and in-memory profiles select a registration through
+`backend` or `Profile.BackendID`. Profile and request endpoint overrides retain
+that routing and capacity identity. `PreparedRun.SelectedBackendID`,
+`RunResult.SelectedBackendID`, and the effective `ExecutionTarget.BackendID`
+expose it to consumers and injected model clients. Endpoint-only profiles
+remain supported and expose an empty backend ID.
+
+### Limit Backend Concurrency
+
+Set `Backend.ConcurrencyLimit` when a backend needs protection from too many
+simultaneous model calls. Leaving `QueueCapacity` nil, as in the local-backend
+example above, selects the default waiting capacity of 1024.
+
+To accept no waiting backlog beyond the active calls, provide an explicit
+zero:
+
+```go
+noWaiting := 0
+backend := promptkit.Backend{
+	ID:               "local-gpu",
+	Endpoint:         "http://gpu-host:8000/v1",
+	ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+	QueueCapacity:    &noWaiting,
+}
+```
+
+The pointer distinguishes an explicit zero from omission. Keep using keyed
+`Backend` literals so additive configuration fields remain source-compatible.
+Capacity belongs to one engine and the selected backend ID; endpoint-only
+profiles and custom backends without a configured limit remain unrestricted.
+Exact validation, defaulting, ownership, and concurrency semantics belong to
+the [`Backend` GoDoc](../../backends.go).
+
+## Credentials
+
+File-backed profiles name an environment variable; in-memory profiles can
+require a direct request key. Direct keys are request-scoped and are excluded
+from supported JSON values and the package's `String` and `GoString`
+summaries. The exact precedence and redaction guarantees belong to
+[`RunRequest`, `GenerateRequest`, and the profile GoDoc](../../types.go).
+
+## Protect Files And Generated Data
+
+The default artifact reader opens a `File` reference as a caller-selected
+operating-system path. It does not constrain paths to an application root,
+impose an inbound request-size policy, or establish an untrusted-input security
+boundary. Applications must validate and restrict untrusted paths and payloads
+before constructing a request, or inject an artifact reader that enforces
+their filesystem, authorization, and size policies.
+
+Rendered messages, input and output artifact bodies, raw model output, and
+validation diagnostics can contain sensitive data. API-key redaction does not
+sanitize those values. Treat prepared values, results, collaborator requests,
+errors, and logs according to the application's data-access, retention, and
+secret-handling policies.
 
 ## Extension Interfaces
 
-The [`LLMClient`, `GenerateRequest`, and
-`GenerateResponse`](../../types.go) boundary lets a consumer replace model
-generation. Injected clients receive copied rendered messages, effective
-settings, explicit numeric-setting presence, structured-output constraints,
-and the request-scoped key. They return generated content and token usage.
+Inject an [`LLMClient` or `ArtifactReader`](../../types.go) when the built-in
+behavior does not fit the application. Their GoDoc defines concurrent use,
+context handling, ownership of copied values, nil responses, and preservation
+of collaborator errors. Implementations must honor cancellation, safely manage
+copies they retain, avoid unsafe logging of content or credentials, and enforce
+the application policy that motivated the injection.
 
-The [`ArtifactReader`](../../types.go) boundary replaces the default inline and
-file reader for every input. Readers provide artifact content and metadata; the
-engine fills an empty artifact name from the input-map key. A reader error
-matches `ErrArtifactLoad` while preserving the original identity for
-`errors.Is`. A nil artifact with a nil error is also an artifact-load failure.
+## Handle Errors
 
-Extensions should honor context cancellation and avoid logging raw prompts,
-artifacts, or credentials.
+Use `errors.Is` with the
+[public error sentinels and operation GoDoc](../../engine.go). The declarations
+distinguish invalid construction, invalid requests, absent sources,
+source-loading failures, collaborator failures, and operational validation
+failures. Specific request conditions may also match the broader
+`ErrInvalidRequest`, and injected collaborator identities are preserved where
+documented. Invalid or duplicate backend registrations match
+`ErrInvalidConfig`; selecting an unknown backend matches `ErrProfileLoad`.
 
-## Errors
+When a limited backend has admitted all active and waiting calls, handle
+`ErrCapacityExceeded` separately from request errors and provider failures:
 
-The [public error declarations](../../engine.go) and
-[mapping](../../errors.go) preserve these sentinel checks through `errors.Is`:
+```go
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, request)
+if errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+	var capacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	if errors.As(err, &capacityErr) {
+		// Record capacityErr.BackendID using application-owned diagnostics.
+	}
 
-- `ErrInvalidConfig`
-- `ErrInvalidRequest`
-- `ErrPromptNotFound`
-- `ErrProfileNotFound`
-- `ErrProfileRequired`
-- `ErrPromptLoad`
-- `ErrProfileLoad`
-- `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing`
-- `ErrArtifactLoad`
-- `ErrPromptRender`
-- `ErrLLMGenerate`
-- `ErrValidation`
+	// Apply application policy: shed work, report overload, or retry later.
+}
+```
 
-`ErrProfileRequired` and `ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing` also match
-`ErrInvalidRequest`, allowing either broad request handling or a specific
-condition. Wrapped collaborator errors retain their identity where the public
-contract promises it.
+A rejected call returns no partial result and does not invoke the model
+client. Promptkit does not prescribe retries or map this error to an HTTP
+status; those choices remain with the consuming application. The
+[`CapacityError` GoDoc](../../capacity_error.go) owns the exact typed-error
+contract, while the [`Engine.Run` and error GoDoc](../../engine.go) owns broad
+error and cancellation identities.
 
-## Consumer Boundary
+For a non-2xx response from the built-in OpenAI-compatible client, inspect the
+status and deliberately selected provider diagnostic when useful:
+
+```go
+var generationErr *promptkit.GenerationError
+if errors.As(err, &generationErr) {
+	status := generationErr.StatusCode()
+	message := generationErr.ProviderMessage()
+	_, _ = status, message // Apply application retry and presentation policy.
+}
+```
+
+All provider fields are untrusted and can contain sensitive request or schema
+fragments. Do not log, display, or return them without an application-specific
+disclosure policy. Promptkit does not assign retry or presentation behavior.
+The [`GenerationError` GoDoc](../../generation_error.go) owns the exact typed
+error contract.
+
+## Application Boundary
 
 Promptkit is an importable library. It does not own a command, inbound HTTP
-API, process configuration, or deployment policy. Scriptorium is one
-downstream application that maps this root package contract into those
-application concerns.
+API, process configuration, or deployment policy. Applications map the root
+package's results and errors into those concerns, including inbound size and
+trust policy.

docs/development.md

@@ -45,11 +45,17 @@ For cross-cutting changes, follow every applicable row. Do not create
 placeholder documents for packages, APIs, or integrations that do not yet
 exist.
 
-## Maintainer-Run Validation
+## Maintainer Validation
 
-Promptkit does not currently use hosted CI. Maintainers are responsible for
-running the documented checks before accepting changes. Run the default Go
-validation from the Promptkit repository root:
+This section is the canonical local validation workflow for Promptkit. Run
+every command from the repository root before accepting a change. The test
+suite and maintained examples are deterministic, offline, and require no real
+provider credentials.
+
+### Tests, Analysis, Build, And Examples
+
+Run the ordinary and race-enabled suites, static analysis, the build, and both
+maintained consumer examples:
 
 ```sh
 go test ./...
@@ -57,85 +63,171 @@ go test -race ./...
 go vet ./...
 go build ./...
 go run ./examples/go-library/prepare
+go run ./examples/go-library/run
 ```
 
-Check formatting across every tracked Go file:
+Both examples must exit successfully. Review their JSON output: preparation
+must report the selected offline prompt, profile, model, and message count;
+execution must report the deterministic generated output, successful
+validation, selected offline model, and usage. Neither command may contact a
+provider or require credentials.
+
+### Go Formatting
+
+Check every tracked Go file. The final command must succeed and the captured
+list must be empty:
 
 ```sh
-gofmt -l $(git ls-files '*.go')
+unformatted=$(
+    git ls-files '*.go' |
+        while IFS= read -r go_file
+        do
+            gofmt -l "$go_file"
+        done
+)
+test -z "$unformatted"
 ```
 
-The formatting command must produce no paths. Follow every added or changed
-Markdown link and confirm its target exists. Finally, check whitespace:
+### Local Markdown Links
+
+Use the Python standard library to verify every repository-relative Markdown
+target and local heading fragment. The check is offline and prints nothing on
+success:
+
+```sh
+python3 - <<'PY'
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from urllib.parse import unquote
+
+root = Path.cwd().resolve()
+markdown_files = [
+    root / name
+    for name in subprocess.check_output(
+        ["git", "ls-files", "*.md"], text=True
+    ).splitlines()
+]
+link_pattern = re.compile(r"!?\[[^]]*\]\(([^)]+)\)")
+heading_pattern = re.compile(r"^#{1,6}\s+(.+?)\s*#*\s*$")
+scheme_pattern = re.compile(r"^[a-z][a-z0-9+.-]*:", re.IGNORECASE)
+
+
+def markdown_lines(path):
+    in_fence = False
+    fence = ""
+    for line in path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines():
+        stripped = line.lstrip()
+        marker = stripped[:3]
+        if marker in {"```", "~~~"}:
+            if not in_fence:
+                in_fence = True
+                fence = marker
+            elif marker == fence:
+                in_fence = False
+                fence = ""
+            continue
+        if not in_fence:
+            yield line
+
+
+anchor_cache = {}
+
+
+def anchors(path):
+    if path in anchor_cache:
+        return anchor_cache[path]
+    found = set()
+    counts = {}
+    for line in markdown_lines(path):
+        match = heading_pattern.match(line)
+        if not match:
+            continue
+        heading = re.sub(r"<[^>]+>", "", match.group(1)).replace("`", "")
+        base = re.sub(r"[^\w\- ]", "", heading.lower()).replace(" ", "-")
+        count = counts.get(base, 0)
+        counts[base] = count + 1
+        found.add(base if count == 0 else f"{base}-{count}")
+    anchor_cache[path] = found
+    return found
+
+
+failures = []
+for source in markdown_files:
+    text = "\n".join(markdown_lines(source))
+    for match in link_pattern.finditer(text):
+        target = match.group(1).strip()
+        if target.startswith("<") and target.endswith(">"):
+            target = target[1:-1]
+        if scheme_pattern.match(target) or target.startswith("//"):
+            continue
+        path_text, separator, fragment = target.partition("#")
+        destination = source if not path_text else source.parent / unquote(path_text)
+        try:
+            destination = destination.resolve()
+            destination.relative_to(root)
+        except ValueError:
+            failures.append(f"{source.relative_to(root)}: escapes repository: {target}")
+            continue
+        if not destination.exists():
+            failures.append(f"{source.relative_to(root)}: missing target: {target}")
+            continue
+        if separator and destination.suffix.lower() == ".md":
+            fragment = unquote(fragment).lower()
+            if fragment not in anchors(destination):
+                failures.append(f"{source.relative_to(root)}: missing anchor: {target}")
+
+if failures:
+    print("\n".join(failures), file=sys.stderr)
+    raise SystemExit(1)
+PY
+```
+
+### Repository Hygiene And Review
+
+Reject an active Go workspace, tracked workspace files, a vendor tree, or a
+module replacement:
+
+```sh
+case "$(go env GOWORK)" in
+    ''|off) ;;
+    *) printf '%s\n' 'an active Go workspace is not allowed' >&2; exit 1 ;;
+esac
+test -z "$(git ls-files go.work go.work.sum)"
+test ! -e vendor
+if grep -Eq '^[[:space:]]*replace([[:space:]]|\()' go.mod
+then
+    printf '%s\n' 'go.mod contains a replacement' >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+```
+
+Check whitespace in both unstaged and staged changes. List ignored files and
+scan tracked content for common credential forms:
 
 ```sh
 git diff --check
+git diff --cached --check
+test -z "$(git ls-files --others --ignored --exclude-standard)"
+credential_pattern='-----BEGIN ([A-Z0-9]+ )?PRIV''ATE KEY-----|AKI''A[0-9A-Z]{16}|gh[pousr]_[A-Za-z0-9]{36,}|sk-[A-Za-z0-9]{32,}'
+if git grep -nEI -e "$credential_pattern" -- .
+then
+    printf '%s\n' 'possible credential found' >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
 ```
 
-Documentation-only work does not require unrelated new tests, but it still
-requires link validation and `git diff --check`. Run the Go validation whenever
-documentation changes commands, examples, generated output, or another
-behavior checked by the module.
+Inspect `git status --short --untracked-files=all` and the complete diff before
+accepting a change. The status may contain only the intended source changes
+during development. Reject credentials, private keys, environment files,
+generated binaries, test or coverage output, downloaded assets, template
+residue, and any other artifact that does not belong in source control. The
+credential scan catches common forms but does not replace inspection of the
+actual change.
 
-## Focused Validation
-
-Use focused checks while iterating, then run the complete validation sequence
-before accepting the change. The root package supports:
+After committing the accepted change, require a clean candidate:
 
 ```sh
-go test .
-go vet .
-go build .
+test -z "$(git status --porcelain)"
 ```
-
-Filter tests by name without assuming a fixed internal package layout:
-
-```sh
-go test ./... -run 'TestName'
-```
-
-Replace `TestName` with a useful regular expression. Target only paths that
-exist, and consult the internal component overview for their owning
-documentation. A filtered or package-specific run does not replace the
-complete repository validation.
-
-## Coordinated Work With Scriptorium
-
-Promptkit and Scriptorium must remain independently valid. For temporary local
-integration, use either a Go workspace outside both repositories or an
-uncommitted replacement in the consuming module.
-
-If the repositories are sibling directories, run the workspace commands from
-their parent directory:
-
-```sh
-go work init ./promptkit ./scriptorium
-go work sync
-```
-
-Use the workspace only for coordinated local checks. From the same parent
-directory, remove it when finished:
-
-```sh
-rm -f go.work go.work.sum
-```
-
-Alternatively, from the Scriptorium repository root, temporarily point its
-Promptkit dependency at the sibling checkout:
-
-```sh
-go mod edit -replace gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit=../promptkit
-```
-
-After coordinated checks, remove the replacement and reconcile module
-metadata:
-
-```sh
-go mod edit -dropreplace gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit
-go mod tidy
-```
-
-Never commit `go.work`, `go.work.sum`, or a local filesystem `replace`
-directive. Before committing in either repository, inspect its module files and
-working tree independently. Published consumer versions must depend on a tagged
-Promptkit version, not a workspace, local replacement, or unpublished commit.

docs/formats.md

@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ explains how to select these sources and invoke the engine. The
 owns the resulting outbound wire behavior.
 
 Prompt and profile sources recursively discover files ending in `.yaml` or
-`.yml`. YAML decoding is strict: unknown fields are errors for the selected
-definition. Definitions are selected by their YAML `id`, not their file name
-or directory.
+`.yml`. Each prompt-definition and profile file contains exactly one YAML
+document; comments and trailing whitespace are allowed. YAML decoding is
+strict: unknown fields are errors for the selected definition. Definitions are
+selected by their YAML `id`, not their file name or directory.
 
 ## Prompt Definitions
 
@@ -58,6 +59,11 @@ When a request omits a version, the selected prompt ID must identify exactly
 one definition. When it supplies a version, the ID and version pair must be
 unique.
 
+Exact prompt inspection uses this same configured source, strict decoding,
+referenced content-file resolution, and ID/version selection. It reports the
+selected definition's declared metadata without changing the prompt format or
+executing the definition.
+
 ### Inputs
 
 Each `inputs` item has these fields:
@@ -81,9 +87,16 @@ Each message has a non-empty `role` and exactly one of:
 - `content`, containing an inline Go template; or
 - `content_file`, naming a file whose contents are the Go template.
 
-For directory and `fs.FS` prompt sources, `content_file` resolves relative to
-the prompt file and remains within the source root. `WithPromptFile` also
-resolves it relative to that file.
+`content_file` must be a relative path. It resolves from the directory that
+contains the prompt file and must remain within the configured prompt source
+root; parent components are allowed only when the resolved target remains
+inside that root. Absolute paths and paths that escape the root are rejected.
+Operating-system directory and single-file sources also reject symlink targets
+outside the root, while injected `fs.FS` sources apply containment in that
+filesystem's relative path namespace. For `WithPromptFile`, the source root is
+the directory containing the selected prompt file. Promptkit uses the parsed
+path text exactly after checking separately that it is not blank, so leading
+and trailing whitespace can name real filesystem entries.
 
 Request variables are the template data, so a variable named `audience` is
 referenced as `{{.audience}}`. The `{{input "note"}}` helper renders the body
@@ -91,7 +104,8 @@ of a named input. Missing variables and input references are errors.
 
 The optional `session_id` uses the same template data and input helper. Its
 rendered value is trimmed, omitted when empty, and limited to 256 Unicode code
-points.
+points. A nonblank direct request session ID bypasses this template completely;
+a blank direct value leaves the template behavior unchanged.
 
 ### Cache Control
 
@@ -112,7 +126,7 @@ 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:
 
@@ -122,21 +136,38 @@ 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
 `text`.
 
+## Built-In Backends
+
+Every engine provides these reserved OpenAI-compatible backend IDs. Consumers
+must not register either ID with `WithBackend`; exact registration and
+reservation behavior belongs to the [`Backend` GoDoc](../backends.go).
+
+| ID | Base endpoint | API-key environment variable | Active generation limit | Default queue capacity |
+| --- | --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
+| `openrouter` | `https://openrouter.ai/api/v1` | `OPENROUTER_API_KEY` | 16 | 1024 |
+| `rakestrawhome` | `https://inference.ai.rakestrawhome.com/v1` | `RAKESTRAWHOME_INFERENCE_API_KEY` | 4 | 1024 |
+
 ## Profile Definitions
 
 A profile supplies model execution settings:
 
 ```yaml
 id: local-summary
-endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: example-model
 temperature: 0.2
 max_tokens: 500
@@ -144,15 +175,25 @@ top_p: 0.95
 timeout_seconds: 90
 service_tier: flex
 reasoning_effort: medium
-api_key_env: EXAMPLE_API_KEY
 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 | Non-empty profile identifier. IDs must be unique within one source. |
-| `endpoint` | yes | Non-empty OpenAI-compatible base URL, including an API version path when required. |
+| `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. |
 | `temperature` | no | Number from 0 through 2. |
 | `max_tokens` | no | Integer zero or greater. |
@@ -160,93 +201,152 @@ extra_params:
 | `timeout_seconds` | no | Per-generation deadline in whole seconds; integer zero or greater. |
 | `service_tier` | no | Provider-specific request tier. |
 | `reasoning_effort` | no | Provider-specific reasoning setting. |
-| `api_key_env` | no | Name of an environment variable containing the API key. |
+| `api_key_env` | no | Optional environment-variable lookup source for an API key. |
 | `extra_params` | no | JSON-compatible provider-specific outbound fields. |
 
 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.
+Consumers can add engine-scoped IDs with
+[`WithBackend`](../backends.go); exact registration validation belongs to its
+GoDoc.
+
 `extra_params` accepts null, booleans, finite numbers, strings, arrays, and
 objects with string keys. Keys must be non-empty. With the built-in client,
 they also cannot collide with the standard fields listed in the
 [outbound request contract](integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#request-body).
+Excessively deep or large JSON-shaped values are rejected for safety.
 
 ### Defaults And Overrides
 
 Execution settings resolve in this order:
 
-1. framework defaults;
-2. the selected profile; and
-3. request `ExecutionTargetOverride` values.
+1. the framework timeout baseline;
+2. the selected backend, when the profile names one;
+3. the selected profile; and
+4. request `ExecutionTargetOverride` values.
 
-The framework defaults are:
+The framework baseline is:
 
 | Setting | Default |
 | --- | --- |
-| `temperature` | `0` |
-| `max_tokens` | `0` |
-| `top_p` | `1` |
+| `temperature` | Unspecified and omitted from compatible provider requests unless a profile or runtime override selects it. |
+| `max_tokens` | Unspecified and omitted from compatible provider requests unless a profile or runtime override selects it. |
+| `top_p` | Unspecified and omitted from compatible provider requests unless a profile or runtime override selects it. |
 | `timeout_seconds` | `600` |
 
-Numeric zero in a file or in-memory profile means that the profile does not
-replace the framework default. Numeric request overrides use pointers, so an
-explicit zero is preserved. In particular, an explicit request
-`timeout_seconds` of zero disables the per-generation deadline while leaving
-the caller context and transport timeout intact.
+Numeric zero in a file or in-memory profile does not select a numeric value.
+For `temperature`, `max_tokens`, and `top_p`, it leaves the provider control
+unspecified. For `timeout_seconds`, it retains the framework deadline. Numeric
+request overrides use pointers, so an explicit zero is retained and sent to
+compatible providers. In particular, an explicit request `timeout_seconds` of
+zero disables the per-generation deadline while leaving the caller context and
+transport timeout intact.
 
-Non-empty request strings replace profile strings. A non-empty request
-`ExtraParams` map replaces the profile map rather than merging keys.
+Non-empty profile strings replace backend defaults, and non-empty request
+strings replace both. Request reasoning is the exception: a nil
+`ReasoningEffort` pointer inherits the profile, a pointer to a nonblank string
+trims and replaces it, and a pointer to a blank string clears it. Backend
+identity is retained when either layer overrides the endpoint, so the override
+also retains any engine-local capacity policy configured for that backend.
+Capacity configuration belongs to the Go
+[`Backend` API](../backends.go), not prompt or profile YAML. A non-empty
+`extra_params` map at each layer replaces the entire lower-precedence map
+rather than merging keys.
 The [outbound integration contract](integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md)
 defines how the effective settings are serialized.
 
 ### Source And Profile Precedence
 
 An explicit request profile ID takes precedence over the prompt's
-`default_profile`. If neither is present, preparation fails.
+`default_profile`. If neither is present, preparation fails. Exact profile
+inspection instead takes one explicit profile ID and does not use a prompt
+default.
 
 Profile sources resolve matching IDs in this order:
 
 1. in-memory profiles supplied with `WithProfiles`;
-2. a profile file, `fs.FS`, or configured profile directory; and
-3. embedded built-in profiles.
+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.
 
-A higher-precedence source falls back only when the profile is absent. An
-invalid matching profile is an error and does not fall back. In-memory
-`Profile` values follow the same ranges as YAML profiles. They use
-`APIKeyRequired` for request-scoped credentials instead of `api_key_env`.
+A profile source supplies a complete definition; definitions and their fields
+are not merged across sources. A higher-precedence source falls back only when
+the requested profile ID is absent. An invalid matching profile is an error and
+does not fall back. In-memory `Profile` values follow the same ranges as YAML
+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
 
-Built-ins use the OpenRouter-compatible endpoint and
-`OPENROUTER_API_KEY`. A custom or in-memory profile with the same ID takes
-precedence.
+Every built-in profile selects one maintained built-in backend and inherits
+that backend's connection and credential metadata. Profile files do not repeat
+those values. A configured, application fallback, or in-memory profile with
+the same profile ID takes precedence.
 
-| Provider | ID | Model |
-| --- | --- | --- |
-| aion-labs | `aion-2` | `aion-labs/aion-2.0` |
-| anthropic | `claude-fable-latest` | `~anthropic/claude-fable-latest` |
-| anthropic | `claude-haiku-latest` | `~anthropic/claude-haiku-latest` |
-| anthropic | `claude-opus-latest` | `~anthropic/claude-opus-latest` |
-| anthropic | `claude-sonnet-latest` | `~anthropic/claude-sonnet-latest` |
-| deepseek | `deepseek-3-2` | `deepseek/deepseek-v3.2` |
-| deepseek | `deepseek-4-flash` | `deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash` |
-| deepseek | `deepseek-4-pro` | `deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro` |
-| google | `gemini-2-flash` | `google/gemini-2.5-flash` |
-| google | `gemini-2-flash-lite` | `google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite` |
-| google | `gemini-2-pro` | `google/gemini-2.5-pro` |
-| google | `gemini-3-flash-lite` | `google/gemini-3.1-flash-lite` |
-| google | `gemini-flash-latest` | `~google/gemini-flash-latest` |
-| google | `gemini-pro-latest` | `~google/gemini-pro-latest` |
-| google | `gemma-4-31b` | `google/gemma-4-31b-it:exacto` |
-| minimax | `minimax-m2` | `minimax/minimax-m2.5` |
-| minimax | `minimax-m3` | `minimax/minimax-m3` |
-| mistral | `mistral-large-2512` | `mistralai/mistral-large-2512` |
-| mistral | `mistral-medium-3-5` | `mistralai/mistral-medium-3-5` |
-| mistral | `mistral-small-3` | `mistralai/mistral-small-3.2-24b-instruct` |
-| mistral | `mistral-small-4` | `mistralai/mistral-small-2603` |
-| nvidia | `nemotron-3-ultra` | `nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b` |
-| openai | `gpt-5-mini` | `openai/gpt-5.4-mini` |
-| openai | `gpt-5-nano` | `openai/gpt-5.4-nano` |
+| Provider | ID | Backend | Model |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| aion-labs | `aion-2` | `openrouter` | `aion-labs/aion-2.0` |
+| anthropic | `claude-fable-latest` | `openrouter` | `~anthropic/claude-fable-latest` |
+| anthropic | `claude-haiku-latest` | `openrouter` | `~anthropic/claude-haiku-latest` |
+| anthropic | `claude-opus-latest` | `openrouter` | `~anthropic/claude-opus-latest` |
+| anthropic | `claude-sonnet-latest` | `openrouter` | `~anthropic/claude-sonnet-latest` |
+| deepseek | `deepseek-3-2` | `openrouter` | `deepseek/deepseek-v3.2` |
+| deepseek | `deepseek-4-flash` | `openrouter` | `deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash` |
+| deepseek | `deepseek-4-pro` | `openrouter` | `deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro` |
+| google | `gemini-2-flash` | `openrouter` | `google/gemini-2.5-flash` |
+| google | `gemini-2-flash-lite` | `openrouter` | `google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite` |
+| google | `gemini-2-pro` | `openrouter` | `google/gemini-2.5-pro` |
+| google | `gemini-3-flash-lite` | `openrouter` | `google/gemini-3.1-flash-lite` |
+| google | `gemini-flash-latest` | `openrouter` | `~google/gemini-flash-latest` |
+| google | `gemini-pro-latest` | `openrouter` | `~google/gemini-pro-latest` |
+| google | `gemma-4-31b` | `openrouter` | `google/gemma-4-31b-it:exacto` |
+| google | `rakestrawhome-gemma-4-31b` | `rakestrawhome` | `google/gemma-4-31b-it` |
+| minimax | `minimax-m2` | `openrouter` | `minimax/minimax-m2.5` |
+| minimax | `minimax-m3` | `openrouter` | `minimax/minimax-m3` |
+| mistral | `mistral-large-2512` | `openrouter` | `mistralai/mistral-large-2512` |
+| mistral | `mistral-medium-3-5` | `openrouter` | `mistralai/mistral-medium-3-5` |
+| mistral | `mistral-small-3` | `openrouter` | `mistralai/mistral-small-3.2-24b-instruct` |
+| mistral | `mistral-small-4` | `openrouter` | `mistralai/mistral-small-2603` |
+| nvidia | `nemotron-3-ultra` | `openrouter` | `nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b` |
+| openai | `gpt-5-mini` | `openrouter` | `openai/gpt-5.4-mini` |
+| openai | `gpt-5-nano` | `openrouter` | `openai/gpt-5.4-nano` |
 
 ## Schemas
 
@@ -265,12 +365,25 @@ schema produces a failed validation result.
 Credential values belong at the request or environment boundary, never in
 prompt, profile, schema, or example files:
 
-- a file profile names an environment variable with `api_key_env`;
-- an in-memory profile may set `APIKeyRequired`;
-- a request can provide a direct `APIKey` or override `APIKeyEnv`; and
+- a backend or file profile can name an optional environment lookup source
+  with `APIKeyEnv` or `api_key_env`;
+- an in-memory profile may set `APIKeyRequired` as an explicit local
+  requirement;
+- a request can provide a direct `APIKey` or override the optional `APIKeyEnv`
+  source; and
 - a direct request key takes precedence over environment lookup.
 
-Promptkit validates required credential availability during preparation.
+After a direct request key, the credential-source precedence is request
+`APIKeyEnv`, profile `api_key_env`, then the backend default. An in-memory
+profile with `APIKeyRequired` clears an inherited backend environment name and
+requires a direct key unless the request explicitly supplies `APIKeyEnv`.
+Named environment sources are optional: when the selected source is absent,
+empty, or whitespace-only, the built-in client omits the `Authorization`
+header and handles the provider response normally. `APIKeyRequired` is the
+only explicit local availability requirement. Promptkit validates required
+credential availability during preparation and rechecks it when a prepared
+execution runs. Injected clients receive resolved source metadata but define
+their own credential-resolution behavior.
 Direct keys are excluded from JSON results and redacted by public string
 formatters. Environment-variable names may appear in prepared metadata, but
 their values do not.

docs/integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md

@@ -13,18 +13,37 @@ that produce these outbound settings.
 ## Endpoint And Method
 
 Generation sends an HTTP `POST` with `Content-Type: application/json`.
-A non-empty endpoint from the execution target overrides the client's
-configured base URL. After trailing slashes are removed,
-`/chat/completions` is appended. Generation fails before sending when neither
-source supplies an endpoint.
+Before the client is called, the engine resolves framework, backend, profile,
+and request values into one execution target. Endpoint configuration is trimmed
+and must be an absolute HTTP or HTTPS URL with a host and without user
+information, a query, or a fragment. A non-empty endpoint from the target
+overrides the client's configured base URL. The final selected endpoint is
+validated again before transport.
+
+The completion URL is composed through parsed URL path operations. Nested base
+paths are retained, repeated trailing slashes are normalized, and the result
+has exactly one appended `/chat/completions` suffix. Generation fails before
+sending when neither source supplies a valid endpoint.
+
+The target's backend ID is routing metadata for prepared values, results, and
+injected clients. The built-in client does not derive the URL from that ID and
+does not serialize it in the provider request.
 
 ## Authentication
 
-A non-empty API key supplied directly on the execution target takes
-precedence. Otherwise, when an API-key environment-variable name is supplied,
-the client reads that variable and requires a non-empty value. The selected
-key is sent as `Authorization: Bearer <key>`. No authorization header is sent
-when neither mechanism is configured.
+A usable API key supplied directly on the execution target takes precedence.
+Otherwise, when an API-key environment-variable name is supplied, the client
+reads and trims that variable. A bearer header is sent only when the resolved
+direct or environment credential is non-empty. When neither source is usable,
+the client omits `Authorization` and handles the provider response normally.
+An explicitly required target with no usable source is rejected before
+transport.
+
+The target contains the already resolved environment-variable name: an
+explicit request override takes precedence over profile metadata, which takes
+precedence over the backend default. Only the name reaches prepared metadata;
+the environment value is read just before the provider call and is never added
+to the JSON body.
 
 ## Request Body
 
@@ -36,20 +55,26 @@ 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.
 
-A non-empty session ID is trimmed, checked against the internal domain limit,
-and sent as top-level `session_id`. It is not sent as a session header.
+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.
 
 The client conditionally includes:
 
-- `temperature`, `max_tokens`, and `top_p` when non-zero or explicitly
-  present;
-- non-empty `service_tier` and `reasoning_effort`; and
+- `temperature`, `max_tokens`, and `top_p` only when selected by a profile or
+  runtime override, including an explicit runtime zero; they are absent when
+  unspecified;
+- 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.
 
-Extra parameters are merged directly into the top-level body after JSON
-serialization is verified. Empty keys and collisions with these reserved
-fields are rejected before any provider call:
+The engine resolves backend, profile, and request extra-parameter maps by
+whole-map replacement rather than key merging. The resulting effective map is
+then merged directly into the top-level body after JSON serialization is
+verified. Empty keys and collisions with these reserved fields are rejected
+before any provider call:
 
 - `model`
 - `session_id`
@@ -61,15 +86,52 @@ fields are rejected before any provider call:
 - `reasoning_effort`
 - `response_format`
 
+`backend_id`, `api_key_env`, and resolved credential values are not provider
+request fields.
+
 ## Response Handling
 
-Any 2xx response is decoded as an OpenAI-compatible chat response. The client
-returns the first choice's non-empty message content and maps prompt,
-completion, total, cached, and cache-write token counts.
+Any 2xx response body is limited to 16 MiB (16,777,216 bytes). A larger
+declared `Content-Length` is rejected before the body is read, and streamed,
+chunked, or underreported bodies are read through the same bound with at most
+one additional byte used to detect overflow. A body exactly at the limit is
+allowed. The body is closed on every outcome and an oversized stream is not
+drained.
 
-Invalid JSON, absent choices, and empty first-choice content are malformed
-responses. For a non-2xx status, the error includes the status code but never
-the provider response body.
+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 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
+strings, and `code` may be a string or JSON number. Valid supported fields are
+handled independently, numeric codes retain their JSON number text, and
+unknown fields are ignored. Missing, invalid, malformed, or multiply framed
+envelopes contribute no provider detail.
+
+Non-success bodies have a 65,536-byte limit. A larger declared
+`Content-Length` is not read; otherwise the client reads at most one additional
+byte to detect streamed or underreported overflow. Empty, unreadable,
+oversized, malformed, and unrecognized bodies retain only the received status.
+The body is always closed and no oversized stream is drained beyond that probe.
+
+Extracted strings are made valid UTF-8, trimmed, and converted to one line by
+collapsing Unicode whitespace, control, and format-character runs. Blank
+values are omitted. Codes and types longer than 256 Unicode code points are
+omitted; messages longer than 4,096 code points are truncated at a code-point
+boundary with an ellipsis inside the limit. Promptkit never exposes raw bodies,
+headers, endpoints, credentials, request data, schemas, generated content, or
+unsupported provider metadata through this handling.
+
+An outbound `http.Client.Do` failure retains both Promptkit's request-failure
+identity and the exact transport error for `errors.Is` and `errors.As` checks.
+The rendered error does not include the selected endpoint, request headers,
+request content, credentials, or provider body.
 
 ## Timeout And Cancellation
 
@@ -84,5 +146,7 @@ Timeouts are layered:
   timeout when the supplied value is not positive.
 
 The earliest applicable caller, generation, or transport deadline controls the
-request. Constructing the internal client does not mutate a supplied
-`http.Client`.
+request. Caller cancellation retains `context.Canceled`; caller, generation,
+and whole-request timeout failures retain `context.DeadlineExceeded`, together
+with the request-failure identity. Constructing the internal client does not
+mutate a supplied `http.Client`.

docs/internal/capacity.md

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# Internal Capacity Management
+
+## Purpose
+
+This document describes the implemented engine-local capacity coordination in
+`internal/capacity`. The [architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) owns
+component boundaries, the [backend GoDoc](../../backends.go) owns exact public
+configuration semantics, and the
+[internal runner document](runner.md) owns orchestration around admission.
+
+Capacity scheduling is outside the provider wire contract. It does not add
+fields to execution targets, generated requests, prompt or profile YAML, or
+stable JSON values.
+
+## Construction And Pool Lifecycle
+
+Each root `NewEngine` call obtains a normalized capacity-policy snapshot from
+its immutable backend registry and constructs a new `Manager`. The manager
+creates one pool for each limited backend ID. It has no package-global mutable
+state, background workers, shutdown protocol, or persistence, so engines with
+the same registrations still have independent capacity.
+
+Unlimited registered backends and endpoint-only profiles have no pool. Their
+admission and generation calls take the unrestricted fast path. An endpoint
+override does not change the selected backend ID and therefore does not change
+the pool.
+
+One pool owns immutable active and total limits plus mutex-protected admission
+count, active count, and ordered waiter list. Pool state exists only for the
+lifetime of its engine.
+
+## Bounded Execution Admission
+
+For ordinary `Run`, the runner asks the manager to admit after resolving the
+prompt, profile, selected backend, effective execution target, credentials, and
+output contract, but before schema loading, artifact loading, or rendering.
+`PrepareExecution` performs no admission. `RunPrepared` claims its handle,
+rechecks credential availability, and then asks the manager to admit the
+frozen backend before generation.
+
+Admission is immediate: a limited pool either reserves a slot or returns only
+the internal `ErrCapacityExceeded` identity. The runner attaches the selected
+backend identity at its use-case boundary, and the root facade translates that
+typed value without treating it as an invalid request or generation failure.
+
+The total admitted bound is the active-generation limit plus its configured
+waiting capacity. The returned release function is idempotent. The runner
+defers it as soon as admission succeeds. An ordinary run holds the lease across
+remaining preparation, initial generation, validation, every repair attempt,
+and all failure or cancellation exits. Prepared execution holds the normal
+lease across generation, validation, every internal repair attempt, and all
+execution exits. A repair is part of its original admission and does not
+reserve another bounded slot.
+
+## FIFO Generation Permits
+
+`NewClient` wraps the engine's selected internal model client after public
+client adaptation or built-in client construction. Initial generation and the
+default repairer receive the same wrapper. Their requests retain the same
+effective backend, credential, numeric-presence metadata, and structured-output
+settings, so scheduling does not change provider omission semantics between
+calls.
+
+For each `Generate` call, the wrapper selects a pool from the request's
+effective backend ID. An unlimited call passes directly to the next client. A
+limited call acquires an active permit, invokes the next client, and defers
+permit release so ordinary returns and panic unwinding both restore capacity.
+Preparation and validation never hold an active permit.
+
+When all active permits are occupied, calls join a mutex-protected FIFO waiter
+list. Releasing a permit transfers it directly to the oldest remaining waiter
+before making it generally available. Pools do not order work relative to
+other backend IDs.
+
+The wrapper passes generation requests, responses, and collaborator errors
+through unchanged. It owns scheduling only; the concrete model client remains
+responsible for provider transport behavior. The runner, rather than the
+capacity layer, sums all five usage fields from the initial response and every
+completed repair response into the successful run result.
+
+## Cancellation And Release
+
+Admission checks the caller context before reserving a slot. A call canceled
+while waiting for an active permit removes its waiter under the same pool lock
+used to grant permits. If cancellation removes the waiter first, the wrapped
+client is not invoked. If a concurrent grant wins first, the call owns the
+permit and invokes the client with the original context, allowing the client
+to observe cancellation normally.
+
+This grant-or-cancel decision prevents lost and double-released permits.
+Admission leases and active permits are released after success, collaborator
+errors, validation failures, cancellation, and panic unwinding. Canceled
+waiters are unlinked so their contexts and requests are not retained by the
+pool.
+
+## Test Ownership
+
+The [manager tests](../../internal/capacity/manager_test.go) own policy
+validation, bounded admission, idempotent release, context handling, and
+unlimited admission. The
+[client tests](../../internal/capacity/client_test.go) own peak enforcement,
+FIFO transfer, canceled-waiter removal, grant/cancel races, independent pools,
+unlimited calls, passthrough behavior, and panic release.
+
+The [runner tests](../../internal/usecase/runner_test.go) own ordinary early
+admission, lease lifetime, failure release, and shared initial/repair
+scheduling. The
+[prepared-execution use-case tests](../../internal/usecase/prepared_execution_test.go)
+own deferred admission, credential ordering, and prepared-execution lease
+release. The
+[external package capacity tests](../../capacity_contract_test.go) own the
+assembled public-engine behavior for configured limits, capacity errors,
+endpoint identity, engine independence, and injected clients. The
+[prepared-execution contract tests](../../prepared_execution_contract_test.go)
+own the public prepared-capacity boundary. The
+[root error-boundary tests](../../errors_internal_test.go) own preservation of
+the public generation category and context identity when generation is
+canceled.

docs/internal/llm.md

@@ -20,30 +20,97 @@ orchestration. `OpenAICompatibleClient` is the built-in implementation. It
 uses internal domain values for rendered prompts, execution targets,
 structured output, responses, and token usage.
 
-Construction validates the configured base URL and clones any supplied
-`http.Client` so Promptkit can apply its timeout default without mutating the
-caller's client. Generation then:
+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
+for the generation boundary and is not mapped into the provider payload.
 
-1. validates request-level timeout and endpoint requirements;
+Construction trims and validates a nonempty configured base URL and clones any
+supplied `http.Client` so Promptkit can apply its timeout default without
+mutating the caller's client. An empty configured base remains valid because a
+resolved request target may supply the endpoint. Generation then:
+
+1. validates shared execution-setting invariants and the final selected base
+   endpoint;
 2. maps the internal request into the OpenAI-compatible chat payload;
 3. validates and merges extra parameters;
-4. resolves authentication;
-5. performs the outbound request under the applicable deadlines; and
-6. decodes the first response choice and token usage.
+4. composes `/chat/completions` through parsed URL path operations;
+5. resolves authentication;
+6. performs the outbound request under the applicable deadlines; and
+7. decodes one strictly framed, size-bounded successful response object and
+   maps its first choice and token usage, or decodes bounded structured
+   non-success detail.
+
+`internal/llm` owns the set of reserved OpenAI-compatible request fields used
+when validating extra parameters. Backend registration consumes the same rule
+without making the model client depend on registry configuration.
 
 The implementation has no retry loop, tool-call support, provider catalog,
 inbound HTTP behavior, or durable session store.
 
+## Prepared Generation
+
+For [`RunPrepared`](../../engine.go), the runner supplies the model client with
+the target, rendered messages, and structured-output constraint retained by
+executable preparation. Execution does not reopen or rerender consumer
+sources.
+
+Before backend admission, the runner rechecks a frozen credential
+environment-variable name only when the target explicitly requires a
+credential. The handle does not retain the environment value; the model client
+resolves the value visible when generation begins. For optional sources with no
+usable value, the built-in client omits `Authorization` and continues to the
+provider. A direct request key remains in private execution state only until
+the claimed execution finishes or an unclaimed handle is discarded. Exact
+public ownership and redaction semantics belong to the
+[`PreparedExecution` GoDoc](../../prepared_execution.go).
+
 ## Failure Categories
 
 The package preserves distinct error identities for invalid client
 configuration, invalid generation requests, request execution failures,
 non-success provider statuses, and malformed successful responses. Provider
-response bodies are not included in non-success errors.
+response bodies are never exposed in raw form through non-success errors.
 
-Caller cancellation and deadline failures during the outbound request are
-reported as request execution failures. The runner classifies these identities
-without depending on HTTP status mapping.
+Invalid nonempty configured endpoints are configuration failures. A missing or
+invalid final selected endpoint is an invalid generation request and is
+rejected before transport.
+
+Authentication resolves a trimmed direct key before a trimmed configured
+environment value. Optional missing, empty, or whitespace-only sources do not
+block transport and produce no `Authorization` header. An explicitly required
+target with no usable source is rejected before transport with the existing
+invalid-request diagnostics.
+
+Successful response bodies have a fixed 16 MiB limit enforced by declared
+length and by reading at most one byte beyond the boundary. The decoder accepts
+exactly one JSON object plus trailing whitespace and EOF. Size overflow,
+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;
+its bounded reader and parser never close or drain a body themselves. The root
+facade converts this concrete internal error into the public
+[`GenerationError`](../../generation_error.go), while arbitrary injected-client
+errors continue through the ordinary generation-error mapping unchanged.
+
+An `http.Client.Do` failure is represented by a redacting multi-cause error:
+the package request-failure sentinel and the exact returned transport error are
+both available through `errors.Is` and `errors.As`, while the rendered text
+does not expose the endpoint, headers, request content, credential, transport
+detail, or provider body. Caller cancellation retains `context.Canceled`;
+caller deadlines, generation deadlines, and whole-request client timeouts
+retain `context.DeadlineExceeded`. The runner adds its generation category
+without discarding those identities or depending on HTTP status mapping.
 
 ## Test Ownership
 
@@ -51,5 +118,15 @@ The
 [OpenAI-compatible client tests](../../internal/llm/openai_compatible_client_test.go)
 own configuration, client cloning, deterministic deadline precedence,
 authentication, request and response mapping, malformed data, error identity,
-cancellation, and response-body suppression. They use local test servers and
-test transports; the default suite makes no live or paid provider requests.
+cancellation, endpoint selection and composition, pre-transport rejection, and
+bounded single-document successful-response framing, closure, and
+response-body suppression. The focused
+[provider HTTP error tests](../../internal/llm/provider_http_error_test.go)
+own envelope parsing, normalization, and bounded-reader cases; their
+[transport tests](../../internal/llm/provider_http_error_transport_test.go)
+own non-success response closure and integration. Root transport contract tests
+own public `GenerationError` conversion, while also verifying that resolved
+backend settings reach this client without serializing backend identity and
+that ordinary-run cancellation retains its public generation and context
+identities. All use local test servers or controlled test transports; the
+default suite makes no live or paid provider requests.

docs/internal/overview.md

@@ -11,19 +11,23 @@ contributor workflow and validation.
 
 | Component | Implemented responsibility | References |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| Root `promptkit` package | Provides the supported engine facade, source and injection options, public request and result values, built-in profile construction, extension interfaces, value conversion, redacted formatting, and public error mapping. | [Package GoDoc](../../doc.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) |
-| `internal/domain` | Defines internal framework values for requests, artifacts, prompt definitions, profiles, execution targets, rendering, generation, and validation. | [Domain declarations](../../internal/domain/domain.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/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 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 execution profile catalog and combines it with an optional primary repository. | [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/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/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. | [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, response decoding, authentication, and deadline handling. | [Internal model client](llm.md) |
-| `internal/usecase` | Coordinates preparation and execution across internal sources, rendering, artifact loading, generation, validation, and optional repair. | [Internal runner](runner.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 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

@@ -17,51 +17,164 @@ and override semantics consumed by the runner.
 ## Collaborators
 
 `Runner` coordinates narrow internal interfaces for prompt definitions,
-profiles, artifacts, rendering, model generation, and validation. Schema
-documents are loaded through the validator's optional schema-loader interface.
-An output repairer can be injected internally, but the ordinary runner
-constructor does not enable one.
+profiles, backend resolution, artifacts, rendering, model generation, and
+validation. The root engine supplies one immutable registry containing the
+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.
+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.
 
-## Preparation Flow
+## Shared Prompt Selection
 
-`Prepare` performs the reusable pre-generation workflow:
+The runner uses one prompt-selection and hashing boundary for ordinary
+preparation and exact prompt inspection. Preparation retains its early
+request-ID check before direct-session normalization; both operations then use
+the configured prompt repository to select one definition, load referenced
+message content, and calculate the same prompt hash.
 
-1. validate the prompt selection and load the prompt definition;
-2. hash the loaded definition;
+Inspection stops after that structural lookup. It does not parse templates or
+touch profile, artifact, schema, renderer, validator, admission, or model
+collaborators. The root [`Engine.InspectPrompt`](../../engine.go) GoDoc owns
+the public operation's exact contract.
+
+## Shared Profile Selection
+
+The runner uses one profile-selection and target-resolution boundary for
+ordinary preparation and exact profile inspection. Preparation first selects a
+request profile or a prompt default; inspection begins with its required
+explicit profile ID. Both then apply the ordinary source precedence, resolve a
+named backend, and construct the effective target from framework, backend, and
+profile values.
+
+Inspection stops after the resulting endpoint and model are structurally
+validated. It does not check credential availability or perform prompt,
+artifact, schema, rendering, admission, or model-client work. The root
+[`Engine.InspectProfile`](../../engine.go) GoDoc owns the public operation's
+exact contract.
+
+## Shared Preparation Pipeline
+
+`Prepare` and `Run` share one private preparation pipeline split at the point
+where a run can be assigned to its selected backend pool. The resolution phase
+performs only the work needed to validate routing and admission:
+
+1. validate the required prompt selection and normalize any direct session ID;
+2. load the prompt definition and hash the original definition;
 3. select the request profile or the prompt's default profile;
-4. resolve application-neutral defaults, profile values, and explicit request
-   overrides in that order;
-5. validate endpoint, model, numeric overrides, and credential requirements;
-6. resolve the output contract and load a structured-output schema when
-   required;
-7. load and hash input artifacts;
-8. render and hash the prompt; and
-9. return the effective settings, source identities, messages, hashes, and
-   preparation timing.
+4. resolve the profile's backend ID, when present;
+5. resolve application-neutral defaults, backend defaults, profile values,
+   and explicit request overrides in that order;
+6. validate endpoint, model, numeric overrides, and credential requirements;
+7. resolve and validate the effective output contract without loading its
+   schema; and
+8. retain the definition, source identities, effective settings, output
+   contract, and preparation start time in invocation-local state.
+
+The completion phase consumes that state without reloading the prompt,
+profile, or backend:
+
+1. create one operation-local validation plan and derive structured-output
+   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;
+5. hash the effective rendered prompt; and
+6. construct the prepared value and preparation timing.
+
+`Prepare` runs both phases consecutively and never performs capacity admission.
+`Run` performs backend admission between the phases. This structure preserves
+one execution-precedence and error-ordering implementation while allowing a
+full backend pool to reject work before expensive schema, artifact, and
+rendering operations. `Prepare` discards the plan after returning its public
+metadata. `Run` retains the plan through initial and repaired-output validation
+and discards it when the operation ends. Prepared execution stores the same
+kind of plan only in its private payload.
 
 Pointer-based numeric overrides preserve an explicit zero. Invalid negative or
-out-of-range values fail as invalid requests. A direct API key takes
-precedence over environment lookup for execution; secret values remain
-excluded from serialized metadata.
+out-of-range values fail as invalid requests. Endpoint overrides do not change
+the selected backend identity. Non-empty extra-parameter maps replace whole
+lower-precedence maps. A direct API key takes precedence over environment
+lookup; otherwise request, profile, and backend environment-variable names
+apply in that order. A profile requiring a direct key clears an inherited
+backend environment name unless the request supplies its own name. Secret
+values remain excluded from serialized metadata.
+
+Reasoning overrides are tri-state: nil inherits the profile, a pointer to a
+nonblank string trims and replaces it, and a pointer to a blank string clears
+it. A nonblank direct session is normalized before source loading, bypasses
+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.
+
+The registry is read-only after engine construction. Concurrent `Prepare` and
+`Run` calls resolve independent defensive backend values and keep all
+invocation state local.
 
 ## Run Flow
 
-`Run` calls `Prepare` rather than maintaining a second preparation path. It
-performs one initial generation call, builds the named output artifact, and
-validates that artifact. Invalid generated content remains a validation result;
-an inability to perform validation is an operational error.
+`Run` records its start time, performs the shared resolution phase, and asks
+its `RunAdmitter` to reserve capacity for the effective backend ID. A nil
+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 generate or
+perform validation is an operational error.
 
-When an internal repairer is present, a JSON or JSON Schema content failure can
-trigger bounded repair attempts. Repair receives the effective execution
-target, validation errors, prior output, and structured-output specification.
-This capability remains internal and is not a public option.
+Validation preparation and execution honor cancellation at every
+Promptkit-controlled boundary and do not publish a partial plan or result.
+Schema reads are bounded and context-checked between chunks; JSON decoding,
+schema compilation, and schema execution are checked immediately before and
+after their synchronous calls. Promptkit does not move arbitrary filesystem or
+JSON Schema work to background goroutines, so an already-blocked dependency
+method must return before cancellation can take precedence over its outcome.
+
+The admission lease covers completion-phase preparation, initial generation,
+validation, every repair, and every exit. It bounds accepted work without
+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.
+
+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 original rendered messages, 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, prompt and rendered-prompt hashes, selected profile, effective settings,
-input hashes, token usage, a generated run identifier, and UTC timing.
+state, effective session ID, prompt and rendered-prompt hashes, selected
+profile and backend, effective settings, input hashes, token usage, a generated
+run identifier, and UTC timing. The same effective session reaches initial
+generation and any repair attempt through the rendered prompt. The same
+effective target and presence metadata, including backend identity and direct
+credential during execution, reaches generation and every repair attempt.
+Result usage is the field-wise sum of all five usage values from the initial
+response and every completed repair response. Final raw output, artifact, and
+validation state still come from the last candidate. A repair error returns no
+partial run result or partial usage.
 
 ## Failure Categories
 
@@ -69,17 +182,42 @@ Package errors distinguish invalid requests, required profile selection,
 credential failures, and prompt, profile, artifact, rendering, generation, and
 validation failures. Wrapping preserves the package identities mapped by the
 public facade and retains collaborator identities where they are part of the
-internal contract. Context cancellation propagates through the invoked
-collaborator and is classified by the owning operation.
+internal contract.
+
+Admission capacity exhaustion retains the internal capacity identity. At the
+use-case boundary, the runner attaches the selected backend ID in an internal
+typed error, and the root facade copies that value into the public
+[`CapacityError`](../../capacity_error.go) without parsing diagnostic text. It
+is not recategorized as an invalid request or generation failure, and no
+partial result is returned. A context already done at admission retains its
+context identity directly. Cancellation while waiting for an active generation
+permit prevents client invocation when it wins the grant race; the model-client
+boundary then preserves the context error through the generation-failure
+category. Deferred release restores the admission lease on preparation,
+generation, validation, repair, and cancellation failures.
+
+Other context cancellation propagates through the invoked collaborator and is
+classified by the owning operation. In particular, cancellation observed by
+validation retains the context identity through the validation error category.
+An overlong direct session is an invalid request before source loading, while
+an invalid or overlong prompt session template remains a prompt-render failure.
+An unknown selected backend, or a selected backend with no configured resolver,
+is classified as a profile-load failure.
 
 ## Test Ownership And Changes
 
 The [runner tests](../../internal/usecase/runner_test.go) own preparation order,
-selection and override precedence, schema-before-generation behavior, hashing,
-generation and validation outcomes, bounded repair, credentials and redaction,
-error categories, artifact metadata, usage, and timing.
+selection and override precedence, the two-phase boundary, early admission,
+lease lifetime and release, direct-session resolution, schema-before-generation
+behavior, hashing, generation and validation outcomes, backend propagation,
+bounded repair progression, initial/repair request parity, cumulative usage,
+shared initial/repair capacity, credentials and redaction, error categories,
+artifact metadata, and timing. The
+[capacity subsystem document](capacity.md) identifies the focused pool,
+waiter, and wrapped-client tests.
 
 Changes to orchestration should continue to use the existing package
-interfaces, keep request state local to an invocation, and preserve `Run`'s use
-of `Prepare`. Source, renderer, validator, or model-client contract changes
-belong first in their owning package and document.
+interfaces, keep request state local to an invocation, and preserve the shared
+resolution and completion pipeline. Source, renderer, validator, or
+model-client contract changes belong first in their owning package and
+document.

docs/internal/sources.md

@@ -12,9 +12,26 @@ validation modes, built-in catalog, and source precedence.
 
 ## Prompt Definitions
 
-`internal/promptdef` discovers YAML deterministically, decodes and validates
-definitions, selects an ID and optional version, and resolves file-backed
-message content within the selected operating-system or `fs.FS` source.
+`internal/promptdef` uses one source-neutral flow for prompt selection and
+normalization. That flow scans normalized YAML ID and version metadata,
+requires one strictly decoded document per file, classifies errors for the
+selected definition, detects duplicates, and normalizes the exact match.
+Small operating-system and `fs.FS` adapters own discovery, byte reads, display
+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.
+
+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
+prompt file's containing directory as its root. Every content path must be
+relative and is opened from its exact parsed text after a separate blank check;
+contained parent components and whitespace-bearing names remain valid.
+
+Exact prompt inspection performs one point-in-time lookup through that same
+repository and validates referenced message content before returning declared
+metadata. It does not parse templates or read profile, input, or schema
+sources, and it does not retain the definition for a later execution.
 
 Its package tests own prompt selection, strict decoding, definition validation,
 duplicate detection, and source containment:
@@ -22,23 +39,69 @@ 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`. It supports a primary repository
-with fallback only when the primary reports that a profile is absent.
+`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.
 
-`internal/profile/builtin` embeds the maintained built-in profile catalog and
-can place a caller-selected repository ahead of that catalog. Profile behavior
-is owned by the
+The overlay repository consults the next repository only when the
+higher-precedence repository reports that a profile is absent. A reliably
+selected malformed profile stops fallback, while an unrelated malformed file
+does not become authoritative through its filename. Loading does not check
+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 one raw composite catalog 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. One outer resolving repository wraps that complete raw catalog, so
+each base lookup observes the same precedence and shadowing rules.
+
+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
 [profile repository tests](../../internal/profile/repository_test.go), while
-catalog completeness, duplicate IDs, and overlay behavior are owned by the
+catalog completeness, the backend-selection invariant, and duplicate IDs are
+owned by the
 [built-in repository tests](../../internal/profile/builtin/repository_test.go).
 
 ## Ordinary Artifacts
 
-`internal/artifact` resolves inline references and unrestricted,
-caller-selected file paths. It copies content into an artifact, records
-metadata and a content hash, applies a content-type fallback, and honors
-context cancellation.
+`internal/artifact` accepts explicitly typed inline references even when their
+body is empty. It also resolves unrestricted, caller-selected paths only when
+they identify regular operating-system files, checking that condition before
+and after opening the file. It copies content into an artifact, records
+metadata and an opaque content-equality value, and applies a content-type
+fallback.
+
+Regular files are read synchronously in bounded chunks. Cancellation is
+checked before opening, before and after every read, and before publishing the
+artifact, so a canceled read never publishes partial content. The ordinary
+reader does not detach file reads into background goroutines.
 
 This ordinary reader does not implement an inbound HTTP security boundary. In
 particular, it does not constrain files to an application root or impose an
@@ -50,8 +113,17 @@ implemented reader behavior and failures.
 ## Rendering
 
 `internal/prompt` renders definition messages as Go templates using named
-artifacts and variables. It carries message roles, session IDs, and cache
-control into the rendered prompt. The
+artifacts and variables. Within one render, each referenced artifact body is
+converted to text lazily and cached by input name for reuse across the session
+and every message; the cache is not shared across renders. Conversion uses
+bounded chunks and preserves the artifact bytes exactly.
+
+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
 [renderer tests](../../internal/prompt/renderer_test.go) own rendering behavior.
 
 ## Schemas And Output Validation
@@ -61,6 +133,35 @@ filesystem or an `fs.FS`. Invalid generated content is returned as a validation
 result; inability to load, register, or compile a schema is an operational
 error.
 
+Every preparation operation creates one operation-local validation plan. None,
+basic, and JSON modes retain the effective output contract without source
+access. JSON Schema mode loads the root document once, resolves and compiles
+each transitive reference, and retains the compiled validator. Schema compiler
+resources use canonical escaped file or private-scheme URLs; loaders decode
+their paths once and enforce the configured source boundary. The
+provider-facing structured-output metadata uses the root document captured by
+the same plan.
+
+Schema preparation and execution remain synchronous. Promptkit checks
+cancellation before and after source resolution, JSON decoding, compilation,
+and validation, and between bounded schema-read chunks. Once cancellation is
+observed it returns the context error without publishing a partial plan or
+validation result, even when a compiler or validator has just returned a
+different error or a successful result. An `fs.FS` method or JSON Schema
+dependency call already in progress cannot be preempted; Promptkit waits for
+that call to return and then gives cancellation precedence. Validation does
+not detach dependency work into background goroutines.
+
+`Prepare` discards its validation plan after returning metadata. `Run` retains
+its plan for initial and repaired-output validation, then discards it with the
+operation. `PrepareExecution` retains the plan in its private frozen payload;
+`RunPrepared` uses that plan without reopening prompt, profile, input, or
+schema sources or rerendering the request. A later ordinary `Run` always
+performs fresh source resolution and preparation.
+
 The [validator tests](../../internal/validate/standard_validator_test.go) own
-basic, JSON, JSON Schema, source resolution, schema loading, compilation, and
-content-failure behavior.
+basic, JSON, JSON Schema, source resolution, schema loading, compilation,
+frozen-reference behavior, content-failure behavior, and the synchronous
+cancellation boundary. Prepared execution
+orchestration is owned by the
+[use-case tests](../../internal/usecase/prepared_execution_test.go).

docs/policy/architecture.md

@@ -19,12 +19,18 @@ results, public values, extension interfaces, profiles, and error sentinels.
 
 The implemented internal components consist of:
 
-- `internal/domain`, which owns framework data values shared by later internal
-  components;
+- `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;
+- `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/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
@@ -41,21 +47,25 @@ The implemented internal components consist of:
 - `internal/usecase`, which coordinates preparation and execution across the
   internal framework components.
 
-The `examples/go-library/prepare` package is a maintained downstream consumer
-of the root facade. It does not expose a library package or participate in
-internal assembly.
+The `examples/go-library/prepare` and `examples/go-library/run` packages are
+maintained downstream consumers of the root facade. They do not expose library
+packages or participate in internal assembly.
 
-The root facade assembles the internal repositories, renderer, validator,
-outbound client, and use-case runner while translating public values and
-errors at the library boundary. 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
-and application-neutral defaults. Validation uses the domain model, file
+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.
+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 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
 client. The use-case runner depends on the narrow interfaces owned by each
-internal component.
+internal component, including backend lookup and run admission.
 
 The current implementation follows this dependency direction:
 
@@ -72,9 +82,22 @@ downstream consumers, including Scriptorium
         narrow injected abstractions
 ```
 
-The facade coordinates internal components and adapts the supported public
-extension interfaces to narrow internal abstractions. Internal components must
-not depend on consumers or on Scriptorium.
+The backend registry depends on the domain model and shared JSON-value
+validation, has no mutation API after construction, and consumes the
+OpenAI-compatible reserved request-field rule owned by the model client. The
+capacity component depends on the domain model and the narrow internal
+model-client boundary, not on provider transport implementation. The model
+client does not depend on registry or capacity configuration. The facade
+coordinates internal components and adapts the supported public extension
+interfaces to narrow internal abstractions. Internal components must not depend
+on consumers or on Scriptorium.
+
+`internal/domain` owns source-neutral invariants for values shared across
+multiple input and execution boundaries, including execution-setting bounds,
+OpenAI-compatible base endpoints, session identifiers, and output-contract
+legality. Callers retain source parsing, required-field rules, other
+source-specific normalization, defaulting, error classification, and policy
+specific to their own boundary.
 
 ## Repository And Consumer Boundary
 

docs/policy/documentation.md

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ mechanisms, not secret values.
 | Framework file formats | `docs/formats.md` | Prompt-definition and profile YAML fields, schema references, defaults, validation modes, built-in profiles, credentials, and file-to-request precedence. | Exported Go declarations, outbound wire behavior, internal parsing mechanics, and application configuration. |
 | Consumer guidance | `docs/consumers/`, when consumer workflows require dedicated guidance | Task-oriented use of implemented public APIs, minimal examples, and consumer responsibilities. | Exact exported declarations and internal mechanics. |
 | Durable integration contracts | `docs/integrations/`, when integrations exist | External formats and protocols, compatibility behavior, and upstream or downstream responsibilities. | Internal transformations and public Go declarations. |
+| Supplemental release guidance | None. `docs/releases/` may be used when a release benefits from a changelog or migration guide. | No canonical content. These files may briefly summarize release-specific changes, compatibility, and consumer migration paths, and may be corrected, consolidated, archived, or removed when no longer useful. | Public API and behavior contracts, formats, integrations, architecture, release procedure, and the authoritative annotated-tag release record. |
 | Implemented component inventory | `docs/internal/overview.md` | Current packages and components, their implemented responsibilities, and links to focused internal documents. | Normative architecture, contributor workflow, external contracts, and proposed components. |
 | Internal subsystem behavior | Other files under `docs/internal/`, when a subsystem needs durable detail | Implementation flow, internal collaborators and state transitions, package-local guarantees and failures, and relevant tests. | Global architecture invariants, public API definitions, and future package plans. |
 | Architectural decision history | `docs/adr/`, when repository-local decisions require records | Significant decisions, context, alternatives, rationale, consequences, and supersession history. | Current behavior reference, implementation status, and task sequencing. |
@@ -85,9 +86,9 @@ mechanisms, not secret values.
 | Complete copyable artifacts | `examples/` | Valid inputs, Go programs, and other files intended to be copied or run. | Field-by-field reference, exact API declarations, and prose explanation. |
 
 Conditional owners do not require placeholder files or directories. Create a
-consumer, integration, subsystem, ADR, roadmap, or example document only when
-the corresponding implemented interface, decision, planned effort, or
-maintained artifact exists.
+consumer, integration, release, subsystem, ADR, roadmap, or example document
+only when the corresponding implemented interface, release, decision, planned
+effort, or maintained artifact exists.
 
 ## Boundary Rules
 
@@ -109,6 +110,23 @@ but must link to its canonical definition rather than restate it.
 The [framework format reference](../formats.md) owns exact prompt, profile, and
 schema-file contracts. Integration documents own external wire formats.
 
+### Supplemental Release Guidance
+
+Files under `docs/releases/` may provide changelog-style summaries and
+migration guidance for a particular release. They are navigation and
+orientation aids, not canonical owners of public APIs, behavior, formats,
+integrations, architecture, release procedure, or other durable facts. When a
+reader needs detail beyond a short release-specific note, the release document
+must link to the applicable canonical documentation rather than reproduce its
+contract.
+
+The annotated tag message required by the
+[release procedure](../release.md#write-the-release-note) remains the
+authoritative release record. Supplemental release documents may be corrected,
+consolidated, archived, or removed at any time when they are no longer useful,
+provided maintained documentation does not depend on them and the annotated
+tag record remains intact.
+
 ### Security Topics
 
 This policy owns what documentation and examples may contain. Architecture owns
@@ -160,6 +178,10 @@ durable owners, update incoming links, and archive or remove the roadmap
 according to repository practice. Do not preserve completed roadmaps as a
 second current-state reference.
 
+Supplemental release documents may likewise be removed without preserving a
+replacement. Before removal, update maintained incoming links so current
+documentation does not depend on an optional historical guide.
+
 Before completing documentation work:
 
 - verify affected behavior and examples;

docs/policy/testing.md

@@ -50,19 +50,18 @@ Examples of appropriate seams include clocks, randomness, subprocesses, remote A
 ## Test execution requirements
 
 Promptkit currently uses maintainer-run validation rather than hosted CI.
-Maintainers run the repository-documented test, vet, build, formatting,
-documentation-link, and repository-hygiene checks before accepting changes.
+Maintainers run the complete local workflow in the
+[development guide](../development.md#maintainer-validation) before accepting
+changes. That guide is the canonical owner of exact commands, formatting,
+documentation-link validation, and repository-hygiene checks.
 Introducing hosted CI later would supplement, not silently redefine, this
 documented validation model.
 
-The complete test sequence includes ordinary and race-enabled package tests.
-The maintained offline consumer workflow is also run from the repository root:
-
-```sh
-go test ./...
-go test -race ./...
-go run ./examples/go-library/prepare
-```
+Maintainer validation must include ordinary and race-enabled package tests,
+static analysis, a complete build, and execution of both maintained offline
+consumer examples. The preparation example protects assembled preparation and
+inspection behavior. The execution example separately protects assembled
+`Run`, injected-client, validation, usage, and result behavior.
 
 Tests in the default suite must be deterministic, offline, and independent of
 real credentials. They must not invoke paid APIs, use live network
@@ -88,8 +87,9 @@ Use each test type where it protects a distinct risk:
   interaction, while replacing live or nondeterministic external boundaries.
 - External-package root tests exercise the public facade as a Go consumer,
   while internal package tests own focused implementation behavior.
-- The maintained offline preparation example protects one representative
-  assembled consumer workflow without contacting a model provider.
+- The maintained offline preparation and execution examples protect distinct
+  representative assembled consumer workflows without contacting a model
+  provider.
 - Fixtures should be minimal, synthetic, versioned with the behavior they
   exercise, and free of credentials or private data.
 - Golden files are appropriate only when the complete output is intentionally

docs/release.md

@@ -7,27 +7,91 @@ tags. It does not publish runnable binaries or binary packages and does not
 currently use hosted CI. The release maintainer performs and records the
 required validation.
 
-The first planned release is `v0.1.0`. Do not create that tag until the
-framework has been extracted and the resulting public library has passed this
-procedure. Later tags use the `vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` form. While Promptkit remains
-pre-`v1`, release notes must identify intentional public API changes and any
-consumer migration required by them.
+`v0.1.0` is the initial published release. Later releases use semantic
+`vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` tags. Before `v1`, minor releases may change the public
+API and patch releases preserve compatibility within their minor line. Every
+pre-`v1` release note must summarize compatibility, identify public API
+changes, and state any action required of consumers.
 
-## Prepare The Release
+Promptkit releases are source-only. The annotated tag message is the release
+note; there is no separate hosted release or binary packaging step.
 
-Work from a clean checkout of the intended release commit, outside any Go
-workspace and without a local module replacement. Confirm the source commit is
-already published through the normal branch workflow.
+## Establish The Candidate
 
-From the Promptkit repository root, verify the checkout:
+Choose a version that has not been published and export it as
+`RELEASE_VERSION`. Run every command in this procedure from the Promptkit
+repository root in the same POSIX shell. Do not reuse `v0.1.0` or another
+existing version.
+
+The following guard derives the release commit from `HEAD` and stops on a
+missing or malformed version, a checkout other than synchronized `main`,
+uncommitted changes, an active Go workspace, a module replacement, a vendor
+tree, or an existing local or remote tag:
 
 ```sh
-gowork=$(go env GOWORK)
-test -z "$gowork" || test "$gowork" = off
-test -z "$(git status --short)"
-git fetch --tags origin
+set -eu
+
+: "${RELEASE_VERSION:?export an unpublished vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH version}"
+if ! printf '%s\n' "$RELEASE_VERSION" |
+    grep -Eq '^v(0|[1-9][0-9]*)\.(0|[1-9][0-9]*)\.(0|[1-9][0-9]*)$'
+then
+    printf '%s\n' "invalid release version: $RELEASE_VERSION" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+RELEASE_COMMIT=$(git rev-parse --verify 'HEAD^{commit}')
+export RELEASE_COMMIT
+
+check_release_candidate() {
+    test "$(git branch --show-current)" = main
+    test -z "$(git status --porcelain)"
+
+    gowork_value=$(go env GOWORK)
+    case "$gowork_value" in
+        ''|off) ;;
+        *)
+            printf '%s\n' "active Go workspace: $gowork_value" >&2
+            return 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+
+    test -z "$(git ls-files go.work go.work.sum)"
+    test ! -e vendor
+    if grep -Eq '^[[:space:]]*replace([[:space:]]|\()' go.mod
+    then
+        printf '%s\n' 'go.mod contains a replacement' >&2
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    git fetch origin main --tags
+    test "$RELEASE_COMMIT" = \
+        "$(git rev-parse --verify 'refs/remotes/origin/main^{commit}')"
+
+    if git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION"
+    then
+        printf '%s\n' "local tag already exists: $RELEASE_VERSION" >&2
+        return 1
+    fi
+    if test -n "$(
+        git ls-remote --tags origin \
+            "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION" \
+            "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION^{}"
+    )"
+    then
+        printf '%s\n' "remote tag already exists: $RELEASE_VERSION" >&2
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+check_release_candidate
 ```
 
+Do not continue unless the guard completes successfully. In particular, push
+the intended commit through the normal `main` branch workflow before release;
+the tag procedure is not a substitute for publishing the source commit.
+
+## Validate The Candidate
+
 Confirm the module and root package metadata:
 
 ```sh
@@ -42,95 +106,133 @@ gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit 1.25.5
 promptkit gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit
 ```
 
-Run the same default Go validation required by the
-[development guide](development.md):
+As a release prerequisite, run the complete
+[maintainer validation workflow](development.md#maintainer-validation) against
+the clean candidate. Do not substitute a partial command list: the development
+guide owns the tests, race checks, analysis, build, both offline examples,
+formatting, Markdown links, generated-output and credential review, and
+repository hygiene. Record the successful workflow result with the candidate.
 
-```sh
-go test ./...
-go test -race ./...
-go vet ./...
-go build ./...
-go run ./examples/go-library/prepare
+## Write The Release Note
+
+Prepare a plain-text annotated-tag message outside the repository and export
+its path as `RELEASE_NOTES_FILE`. Use this form, replacing each summary with
+release-specific text; write `None.` when there are no public API changes or
+consumer actions:
+
+```text
+Promptkit vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
+
+Validated commit: full commit ID
+Compatibility: compatibility summary
+Public API changes: changes or None.
+Consumer action: required action or None.
 ```
 
-Check every tracked Go file and repository whitespace:
+After writing it, require all release-note fields, the selected version, and
+the validated commit to be present:
 
 ```sh
-gofmt -l $(git ls-files '*.go')
-git diff --check
+: "${RELEASE_NOTES_FILE:?export the path to the release-note file}"
+test -f "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
+test -s "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
+grep -F "Promptkit $RELEASE_VERSION" "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
+grep -F "Validated commit: $RELEASE_COMMIT" "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
+grep -F 'Compatibility:' "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
+grep -F 'Public API changes:' "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
+grep -F 'Consumer action:' "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
 ```
 
-The formatting command must produce no paths. Follow every maintained Markdown
-link and confirm its target exists. Review the repository for generated
-binaries, test or coverage output, credentials, template residue, and other
-files that do not belong in source control.
+Inspect the complete message and confirm that it accurately records the
+compatibility impact, public API changes, and required consumer action.
 
-Confirm that no workspace override is tracked and that `go.mod` contains no
-`replace` directive:
+## Create And Inspect The Tag
+
+Run the candidate guard again immediately before tag creation. This ensures
+that validation or release-note preparation did not change the checkout and
+that the commit is still published and untagged:
 
 ```sh
-git ls-files go.work go.work.sum
-rg -n '^replace\b' go.mod
+check_release_candidate
 ```
 
-Both commands must produce no output. Re-run `git status --short` and require a
-clean result after every validation and review check.
-
-## Create And Publish The Tag
-
-Choose the semantic version from the intended compatibility change. Record the
-release commit before tagging:
+Create the annotated tag from the prepared release note and bind it explicitly
+to the validated commit:
 
 ```sh
-release_version=v0.1.0
-release_commit=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
+git tag --annotate "$RELEASE_VERSION" \
+    --file "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE" \
+    "$RELEASE_COMMIT"
 ```
 
-Replace the example version for later releases and keep both values in the same
-shell for the remaining commands. Confirm the tag does not already exist
-locally or remotely:
+Inspect both the tag message and its source commit before publication:
 
 ```sh
-test -z "$(git tag --list "$release_version")"
-test -z "$(git ls-remote --tags origin "refs/tags/$release_version")"
+test "$(git cat-file -t "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION")" = tag
+git show --no-patch --decorate "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION"
+test "$(
+    git rev-parse --verify "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION^{commit}"
+)" = "$RELEASE_COMMIT"
 ```
 
-Create an annotated tag whose message identifies the release and records that
-the documented validation passed for the tagged commit:
+If inspection finds an error, delete the unpublished local tag, correct the
+release note or candidate, and repeat the guards. Never move or recreate a tag
+that has been published.
+
+## Publish The Selected Tag
+
+Push only the selected tag ref. Do not use `git push --tags`:
 
 ```sh
-git tag --annotate "$release_version" \
-  --message "Promptkit $release_version; documented validation passed for $release_commit"
-```
-
-Inspect the tag before publication:
-
-```sh
-git show --no-patch --decorate "$release_version"
-test "$(git rev-list -n 1 "$release_version")" = "$release_commit"
-```
-
-Publish the tag without relying on a hosting-provider-specific release
-interface:
-
-```sh
-git push origin "refs/tags/$release_version"
+git push origin \
+    "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION:refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION"
 ```
 
 ## Verify Publication
 
-Confirm that the remote tag object matches the local annotated tag and still
-resolves to the intended source commit:
+Compare the remote annotated-tag object with the local object, then compare the
+remote peeled source commit with the validated commit:
 
 ```sh
-remote_tag=$(git ls-remote --tags origin "refs/tags/$release_version" | awk '{print $1}')
-test "$remote_tag" = "$(git rev-parse "refs/tags/$release_version")"
-test "$(git rev-list -n 1 "refs/tags/$release_version")" = "$release_commit"
+remote_tag=$(
+    git ls-remote --tags origin "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION" |
+        awk 'NR == 1 { print $1 }'
+)
+remote_commit=$(
+    git ls-remote --tags origin "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION^{}" |
+        awk 'NR == 1 { print $1 }'
+)
+test -n "$remote_tag"
+test "$remote_tag" = \
+    "$(git rev-parse --verify "refs/tags/$RELEASE_VERSION")"
+test "$remote_commit" = "$RELEASE_COMMIT"
 ```
 
-Promptkit must publish the required tag before Scriptorium or another consumer
-publishes a release that depends on that version. Released consumer modules
-must not use a local replacement or unpublished Promptkit revision.
+Finally, resolve the version as an ordinary Go module in a temporary module
+outside this repository and without a workspace or replacement:
+
+```sh
+resolution_dir=$(mktemp -d)
+(
+    trap 'rm -rf "$resolution_dir"' 0 1 2 15
+    cd "$resolution_dir"
+    GOWORK=off go mod init example.com/promptkit-release-check
+    GOWORK=off go mod download \
+        "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@$RELEASE_VERSION"
+    resolved_version=$(
+        GOWORK=off go list -m -f '{{.Version}}' \
+            "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@$RELEASE_VERSION"
+    )
+    test "$resolved_version" = "$RELEASE_VERSION"
+)
+```
+
+Promptkit must publish and verify the required version before Scriptorium or
+another consumer publishes a release that depends on it. This ordering does
+not replace the consumer project's own release procedure. Released consumers
+must select the published Promptkit tag through ordinary module resolution,
+without a workspace, replacement, vendored Promptkit source, or unpublished
+revision.
 
 ## Policy Changes
 

docs/releases/v0.2.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+# Promptkit v0.2.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and migration guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.1.0` to `v0.2.0`. The annotated `v0.2.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.2.0` adds three major capabilities:
+
+- an engine-scoped registry for reusable OpenAI-compatible backend
+  definitions;
+- bounded, backend-specific run admission and model-generation concurrency;
+  and
+- direct per-run session IDs and tri-state reasoning-effort overrides.
+
+Existing endpoint-only profiles remain supported. Consumers can adopt backend
+registration and runtime overrides incrementally rather than rewriting all
+profiles during the upgrade.
+
+## Compatibility At A Glance
+
+Promptkit remains pre-`v1`, and this minor release includes source-level and
+behavioral changes that deserve review.
+
+| Area | `v0.1.0` consumer impact |
+| --- | --- |
+| Endpoint-only profiles | Continue to work without migration. |
+| Built-in profiles | Continue to use OpenRouter and `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`; they now select the built-in `openrouter` backend. |
+| Custom backends | Registration is optional. Existing profiles may keep their endpoint and credential configuration. |
+| Reasoning overrides | String assignments must migrate to the new pointer field. |
+| `RunRequest.Metadata` | Removed; delete assignments to this field. |
+| OpenRouter concurrency | Now limited to 16 active generations with waiting capacity of 1024 per engine. |
+| Public JSON | `v0.2.0` formalizes supported JSON representations; consumers relying on `v0.1.0` encodings should review the notes below. |
+| Unkeyed public struct literals | May require updates because fields were added. Keyed literals are recommended. |
+
+## Upgrade
+
+After the `v0.2.0` tag is published, update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.2.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Run the consuming project's ordinary tests and race-enabled tests after the
+upgrade, especially if it calls one engine concurrently or persists Promptkit
+JSON values.
+
+## Backend Registry
+
+Consumers may now register reusable OpenAI-compatible backend definitions with
+`WithBackend`, then select them by ID from file-backed or in-memory profiles.
+A backend can supply its endpoint, API-key environment-variable name,
+request-wide extra parameters, and optional capacity policy.
+
+Registrations are immutable and belong to one engine. Consumer registrations
+can add new IDs but cannot replace Promptkit's reserved `openrouter` backend.
+Profiles that select a backend may still override its endpoint without losing
+the backend's routing or capacity identity.
+
+An existing endpoint-only in-memory profile remains valid:
+
+```go
+promptkit.Profile{
+	ID:       "local",
+	Endpoint: "http://localhost:8000/v1",
+	Model:    "example-model",
+}
+```
+
+Adopting the registry is optional and can be done when several profiles should
+share connection or capacity settings:
+
+```go
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(
+	promptkit.Config{PromptDir: "prompts"},
+	promptkit.WithBackend(promptkit.Backend{
+		ID:        "local",
+		Endpoint:  "http://localhost:8000/v1",
+		APIKeyEnv: "LOCAL_LLM_API_KEY",
+	}),
+	promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+		ID:        "local-summary",
+		BackendID: "local",
+		Model:     "example-model",
+	}),
+)
+```
+
+See the
+[local-endpoint consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#configure-a-local-openai-compatible-endpoint)
+for task-oriented usage. The
+[`Backend` and `WithBackend` GoDoc](../../backends.go) owns exact registration,
+validation, copying, defaulting, and uniqueness semantics. The
+[framework format reference](../formats.md) owns the profile `backend` field
+and execution precedence.
+
+## Backend-Specific Concurrency
+
+Each registered backend may now define:
+
+- an active model-generation limit; and
+- a bounded number of additional admitted `Run` calls.
+
+Promptkit owns scheduling for both its built-in model client and an injected
+`LLMClient`. `Run` remains synchronous: an admitted caller waits for its
+ordinary result, while a call beyond the bounded admission capacity returns
+`ErrCapacityExceeded`. Capacity is engine-local and keyed by backend ID.
+Endpoint-only profiles and custom backends without a configured limit remain
+unlimited.
+
+The built-in OpenRouter backend now permits 16 active generations and 1024
+additional admitted calls per engine. Applications that can exceed this bound
+should handle capacity exhaustion separately from provider and request
+failures:
+
+```go
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, request)
+if errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+	// Apply application-specific overload or retry policy.
+}
+```
+
+Promptkit does not prescribe retries or map this error to an HTTP status. See
+the
+[concurrency consumer guidance](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#limit-backend-concurrency)
+and the [`Backend` GoDoc](../../backends.go) for the canonical configuration
+contract. Runtime behavior and public error identities belong to the
+[`Engine.Run` GoDoc](../../engine.go).
+
+## Per-Run Session IDs
+
+`RunRequest.SessionID` can now supply a consumer-managed correlation ID for one
+`Prepare` or `Run` invocation. A nonblank direct value overrides the prompt's
+session template and is exposed in prepared values, results, injected-client
+requests, and provider observability. Session IDs should therefore be stable,
+non-secret values.
+
+```go
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, promptkit.RunRequest{
+	PromptID: "meeting.summary",
+	SessionID: "conversation-42",
+})
+```
+
+The built-in OpenAI-compatible client sends a nonempty effective session as the
+top-level `session_id` request-body field, not as an `x-session-id` header. See
+the
+[session and reasoning consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#set-a-per-run-session-and-reasoning),
+the [`RunRequest` GoDoc](../../types.go), and the
+[OpenAI-compatible request contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#request-body)
+for exact normalization, length, exposure, and wire behavior.
+
+## Per-Run Reasoning Effort
+
+`ExecutionTargetOverride.ReasoningEffort` changed from `string` to `*string` so
+one request can distinguish inheritance, replacement, and explicit clearing.
+
+Update a `v0.1.0` override like this:
+
+```go
+// v0.1.0
+Execution: &promptkit.ExecutionTargetOverride{
+	ReasoningEffort: "high",
+}
+```
+
+to:
+
+```go
+// v0.2.0
+reasoning := "high"
+Execution: &promptkit.ExecutionTargetOverride{
+	ReasoningEffort: &reasoning,
+}
+```
+
+The three states are:
+
+- `nil` inherits the selected profile's value;
+- a pointer to a nonblank string replaces it for that invocation; and
+- a pointer to an empty or whitespace-only string clears it for that
+  invocation.
+
+This allows consumers to consolidate profiles that differed only by reasoning
+effort. The [`ExecutionTargetOverride` GoDoc](../../types.go) owns the exact
+override contract.
+
+## Other Migration Notes
+
+### Remove `RunRequest.Metadata`
+
+`RunRequest.Metadata` is no longer part of the public request. Remove any
+assignment to that field. Use application-owned state keyed by `RunResult.RunID`
+or a direct `SessionID` when correlation is needed; these identifiers have
+different purposes, so choose according to the application's lifecycle.
+
+### Review Persisted JSON
+
+`v0.2.0` defines stable JSON representations for the public result, artifact,
+execution, validation, and model-client values listed in the
+[package documentation](../../doc.go). Consumers that treated `v0.1.0`
+reflection-derived encodings as stable should update fixtures and stored-data
+adapters.
+
+In particular:
+
+- `RunResult` encodes elapsed time as integer milliseconds in `duration_ms`
+  instead of encoding `time.Duration` under `duration`;
+- result JSON can include the new `session_id` and `selected_backend_id`
+  fields;
+- execution-target JSON can include `backend_id`; and
+- artifact and target-presence fields now use their documented lower-case
+  names.
+
+The `v0.2.0` `RunResult` decoder reads `duration_ms`; it does not translate a
+persisted `v0.1.0` `duration` field. Transform old payloads before decoding
+when preserving their elapsed duration matters.
+
+### Prefer Keyed Struct Literals
+
+New fields were added to several public structs. Replace positional composite
+literals with keyed literals so future additive fields do not cause another
+source migration.
+
+## Migration Checklist
+
+- Update the module dependency and run the consumer's tests.
+- Change reasoning overrides from strings to pointers.
+- Remove uses of `RunRequest.Metadata`.
+- Review unkeyed Promptkit struct literals.
+- Decide whether shared endpoints should move into registered backends.
+- If using built-in OpenRouter profiles at high concurrency, handle
+  `ErrCapacityExceeded` and review the new engine-local bound.
+- Review stored JSON, fixtures, and downstream decoders.
+- Optionally replace profile-specific session or reasoning variants with
+  per-run overrides.
+
+For complete consumer workflows, use the
+[package consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md) and maintained
+[offline execution example](../../examples/go-library/run/main.go).

docs/releases/v0.3.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Promptkit v0.3.0
+
+This supplemental changelog summarizes the consumer-facing changes from
+`v0.2.0` to `v0.3.0`. The annotated `v0.3.0` tag is the authoritative release
+record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked GoDoc and durable
+documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.3.0` adds a concise way to register the common local OpenAI-compatible
+backend configuration:
+
+- `BackendLocal` provides the conventional, non-reserved backend ID `"local"`;
+  and
+- `LocalBackend` constructs an ordinary `Backend` from an endpoint and
+  concurrency limit.
+
+The helper is explicit and additive. It does not pre-register a backend, read
+environment variables, select a model, or replace the complete `Backend`
+configuration interface.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+Existing `v0.2.0` consumers require no migration. Endpoint-only profiles,
+complete custom `Backend` values, the built-in OpenRouter backend, and existing
+registrations using the literal ID `"local"` continue to work unchanged.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.3.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Run the consuming project's ordinary tests and race-enabled tests after the
+upgrade.
+
+## Configure A Local Backend
+
+Register the convenience value through the existing `WithBackend` option and
+select it from one or more profiles:
+
+```go
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(
+	promptkit.Config{PromptDir: "prompts"},
+	promptkit.WithBackend(
+		promptkit.LocalBackend("http://localhost:8000/v1", 2),
+	),
+	promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+		ID:        "local-summary",
+		BackendID: promptkit.BackendLocal,
+		Model:     "example-model",
+	}),
+)
+```
+
+Use an endpoint-only profile when shared backend identity and capacity policy
+are unnecessary. Continue to use a complete keyed `Backend` value for custom
+IDs, authentication, extra request parameters, explicit queue capacity, or
+multiple local endpoints.
+
+See the
+[local-endpoint consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#configure-a-local-openai-compatible-endpoint)
+for task-oriented configuration choices. The
+[`BackendLocal`, `LocalBackend`, and `WithBackend` GoDoc](../../backends.go)
+owns their exact construction, registration, validation, and concurrency
+semantics.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+None. Adopt the convenience constructor when it simplifies local endpoint
+configuration.

docs/releases/v0.4.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+# Promptkit v0.4.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and adoption guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.3.0` to `v0.4.0`. The annotated `v0.4.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.4.0` adds four complementary capabilities:
+
+- opaque prepared-execution handles for preparing once, inspecting safe
+  details, and executing the same frozen snapshot;
+- exact prompt-definition inspection without profile resolution or execution;
+- exact profile inspection without selecting a prompt or checking credential
+  availability; and
+- structured backend identity on engine admission-capacity rejection.
+
+These APIs let consumers perform more precise preflight work and retain useful
+operational context without reproducing Promptkit's internal resolution logic.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+The release is additive for `v0.3.0` consumers. Existing uses of `Prepare`,
+`Run`, backend registration, endpoint-only profiles, local-backend helpers,
+runtime overrides, public JSON values, and error sentinels continue to work
+without migration.
+
+Capacity rejection now returns a structured error while continuing to match
+`ErrCapacityExceeded` through `errors.Is`. Error-string wording and direct
+sentinel equality were not public contracts.
+
+The new inspection values, capacity error, and prepared-execution handle do not
+have stable JSON representations. `PreparedExecution.Details` returns the
+existing stable `PreparedRun` value.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.4.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Run the consuming project's ordinary and race-enabled tests after upgrading.
+No source migration is required.
+
+## Prepare Once And Execute The Same Snapshot
+
+Consumers that need to persist preparation details before generation can now
+prepare an opaque, engine-bound execution:
+
+```go
+prepared, err := engine.PrepareExecution(ctx, request)
+if err != nil {
+	// Handle preparation failure.
+}
+defer prepared.Discard()
+
+details := prepared.Details()
+// Persist a consumer-selected, appropriately protected preparation record.
+
+result, err := engine.RunPrepared(ctx, prepared)
+```
+
+Preparation freezes the selected sources, rendered messages, effective
+settings, input content, structured-output metadata, and validation resources
+needed by execution. `Details` returns a fresh, caller-owned,
+credential-redacted `PreparedRun`.
+
+A handle belongs to its creating engine and permits one execution attempt.
+`RunPrepared` consumes that attempt on success and on operational failure.
+`Discard` is idempotent and releases an unclaimed handle's execution-only
+state. Consumers should discard handles they will not execute, particularly
+when a direct request API key may be retained privately until claim or
+discard.
+
+Prepared execution does not reserve backend admission during preparation.
+Credential availability and backend admission are checked when execution
+begins. The execution context is independent of the preparation context.
+
+See the
+[prepared-execution consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#prepare-now-and-execute-the-same-snapshot-later),
+the [`PreparedExecution` GoDoc](../../prepared_execution.go), and the
+[`Engine.PrepareExecution` and `Engine.RunPrepared` GoDoc](../../engine.go)
+for the exact lifecycle, ownership, cancellation, capacity, timing, and
+failure contracts.
+
+## Inspect A Prompt
+
+`Engine.InspectPrompt` resolves one prompt ID and optional version through the
+engine's configured prompt source:
+
+```go
+inspection, err := engine.InspectPrompt(ctx, "report.summary", "")
+```
+
+The result includes prompt identity, the opaque prompt hash, declared default
+profile ID, declared input metadata, and normalized output contract. It
+structurally loads the selected definition and referenced message content but
+does not resolve a profile, load schemas or artifacts, render templates,
+reserve capacity, or contact a model.
+
+Use inspection for exact configuration checks and metadata discovery. Use
+`PrepareExecution` rather than relying on a prior inspection when later
+execution must freeze one exact source state, because filesystem-backed
+inspection is only a point-in-time lookup.
+
+See the
+[prompt-inspection consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#inspect-a-prompt-before-preparation)
+and [`Engine.InspectPrompt` GoDoc](../../engine.go) for exact selection,
+ownership, and error behavior.
+
+## Inspect A Profile
+
+`Engine.InspectProfile` resolves one explicit profile independently of a
+prompt:
+
+```go
+inspection, err := engine.InspectProfile(ctx, "report-production")
+```
+
+The result includes the resolved effective execution target and whether a
+later request must provide a direct credential. Environment-variable names may
+be reported, but inspection does not read credential values or require the
+named variable to be populated.
+
+Inspection applies the engine's profile source precedence and resolves any
+selected backend. It does not load a prompt, render content, reserve capacity,
+or contact a model.
+
+See the
+[profile-inspection consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#inspect-a-profile-before-prompt-work)
+and [`Engine.InspectProfile` GoDoc](../../engine.go) for the exact resolution,
+credential, ownership, and error contracts.
+
+## Identify Capacity-Rejected Backends
+
+Calls rejected at Promptkit's bounded engine admission boundary continue to
+match `ErrCapacityExceeded`. Consumers can additionally obtain the selected
+registered backend ID without parsing diagnostic text:
+
+```go
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, request)
+if errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+	var capacityErr *promptkit.CapacityError
+	if errors.As(err, &capacityErr) {
+		// Record capacityErr.BackendID using application-owned diagnostics.
+	}
+
+	// Apply application-owned overload or retry policy.
+}
+```
+
+The structured error applies to `Run` and `RunPrepared` admission rejection.
+It does not represent provider throttling, quota exhaustion, cancellation
+while waiting for generation capacity, or another model-client failure.
+Promptkit does not prescribe retry timing or transport status mapping.
+
+See the
+[error-handling consumer guide](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#handle-errors),
+the [`CapacityError` GoDoc](../../capacity_error.go), and the
+[`ErrCapacityExceeded` GoDoc](../../engine.go) for the canonical contracts.
+
+## Public API Additions
+
+The release adds:
+
+- `Engine.PrepareExecution`;
+- `Engine.RunPrepared`;
+- `PreparedExecution`, including `Details`, `Discard`, `String`, and
+  `GoString`;
+- `Engine.InspectPrompt`;
+- `PromptInspection`;
+- `PromptInputDefinition`;
+- `Engine.InspectProfile`;
+- `ProfileInspection`; and
+- `CapacityError`.
+
+No public API was removed.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+None. Existing `v0.3.0` workflows may upgrade without adopting the new APIs.
+
+Consumers that adopt prepared execution should discard unused handles.
+Consumers that need backend-specific capacity diagnostics may add an
+`errors.As` check while retaining their existing `errors.Is` classification.

docs/releases/v0.5.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+# Promptkit v0.5.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and migration guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.4.0` to `v0.5.0`. The annotated `v0.5.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.5.0` makes provider requests less prescriptive and adds an application
+fallback layer for profile definitions:
+
+- unset optional provider controls are omitted from OpenAI-compatible request
+  bodies instead of being populated with framework values; and
+- `WithFallbackProfileFS` lets an application package profile defaults that
+  operators can override through the existing ordinary profile sources.
+
+These changes let compatible providers apply their own model defaults while
+giving applications stable embedded profile IDs without weakening operator
+configuration precedence.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+The release adds one public function and removes no public declaration.
+Existing source code should continue to compile.
+
+There is one intentional behavior change: when no profile or runtime override
+selects `top_p`, Promptkit no longer sends the former framework value of `1`.
+It omits `top_p` and lets the provider choose its behavior. Unset
+`temperature` and `max_tokens` are likewise omitted. Explicit nonzero profile
+values and runtime values—including explicit runtime zero values—retain their
+precedence and wire effect.
+
+Consumers that relied on Promptkit always sending `top_p: 1` should add that
+value to the relevant profile or runtime override before upgrading. Consumers
+that did not rely on the implicit sampling value require no migration.
+
+Application fallback profiles are opt-in. Engines that do not call
+`WithFallbackProfileFS` retain the previous profile-source behavior.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.5.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Run the consuming project's ordinary and race-enabled tests after upgrading.
+If request payloads or model behavior are asserted in fixtures, review them for
+the optional-parameter omission described below.
+
+## Omitted Optional Provider Controls
+
+The built-in OpenAI-compatible client now includes `temperature`,
+`max_tokens`, and `top_p` only when a profile or runtime override selects the
+value. An explicit runtime zero remains present because runtime override
+pointers distinguish zero from an unspecified value.
+
+Promptkit's positive generation deadline remains a framework concern and is
+not a provider request-body default. Required request fields, session IDs,
+structured output, reasoning selection, credentials, and explicit extra
+parameters retain their existing behavior.
+
+See the [framework default and precedence reference](../formats.md#defaults-and-overrides),
+the [`ExecutionTargetOverride` GoDoc](../../types.go), and the
+[OpenAI-compatible request-body contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md#request-body)
+for current details.
+
+## Embedded Application Fallback Profiles
+
+Applications can package ordinary profile YAML in an `fs.FS` and register it
+as a fallback source:
+
+```go
+//go:embed profiles/*.yaml
+var applicationProfiles embed.FS
+
+engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(promptkit.Config{
+	PromptDir:  "prompts",
+	ProfileDir: operatorProfileDir,
+},
+	promptkit.WithFallbackProfileFS(applicationProfiles, "profiles"),
+)
+```
+
+Leave `operatorProfileDir` empty when no operator source is configured. A
+configured ordinary source is authoritative: a matching definition overrides
+the application fallback, while a read or validation failure remains an error
+instead of silently reaching a lower layer.
+
+Profile definitions resolve in this order:
+
+1. in-memory profiles supplied with `WithProfiles`;
+2. the ordinary configured source selected by `WithProfileFile`,
+   `WithProfileFS`, or `Config.ProfileDir`;
+3. the application source supplied with `WithFallbackProfileFS`; and
+4. Promptkit's embedded built-in profiles.
+
+Only an absent profile ID falls through. Sources provide complete profiles and
+do not merge fields. Loading remains lazy, and the new source uses the existing
+strict profile YAML and credential rules.
+
+See the
+[embedded-default consumer guidance](../consumers/pkg-promptkit.md#supply-embedded-application-defaults),
+the [`WithFallbackProfileFS` GoDoc](../../engine.go), and the
+[profile source reference](../formats.md#source-and-profile-precedence) for
+current details.
+
+## Public API Changes
+
+The release adds:
+
+- `WithFallbackProfileFS`.
+
+No public declaration was removed or changed.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+- Review any workflow that depended on Promptkit's implicit `top_p: 1` and
+  configure the value explicitly when required.
+- Optionally adopt `WithFallbackProfileFS` when an application should package
+  overridable profile defaults.
+- Run consumer tests after updating the module dependency.

docs/releases/v0.6.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+# Promptkit v0.6.0
+
+This supplemental changelog and migration guide summarizes the consumer-facing
+changes from `v0.5.0` to `v0.6.0`. The annotated `v0.6.0` tag is the
+authoritative release record. Exact current contracts belong to the linked
+GoDoc and durable documentation.
+
+## Summary
+
+`v0.6.0` is a broad correctness, safety, efficiency, and maintainability
+release. It does not add or remove public declarations. The release:
+
+- centralizes shared execution-setting, output-contract, endpoint, and
+  JSON-compatible-value rules;
+- unifies prompt repository behavior and avoids unnecessary prompt and profile
+  decoding;
+- bounds consumer-controlled JSON trees and successful provider responses;
+- hardens prompt content paths, artifact files, provider URLs, JSON framing,
+  and error propagation;
+- reuses compiled schema plans and rendered artifact text within an operation;
+  and
+- improves cancellation behavior, prepared-value ownership, deterministic
+  transport testing, and maintainer validation.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+No public declaration was added, removed, or changed. Ordinary valid `v0.5.0`
+configurations and requests should continue to compile and behave as before.
+
+The release intentionally rejects or reports several inputs that were
+previously accepted, altered, or misclassified:
+
+- execution settings must be finite, within their documented ranges, and safe
+  to convert to Go durations;
+- output formats, validation modes, repair counts, and JSON Schema dependencies
+  are validated consistently;
+- file-backed prompt and profile identity comes from normalized YAML metadata,
+  not filenames;
+- prompt `content_file` values must be exact relative paths contained by their
+  configured source root;
+- built-in file artifacts must resolve to regular files;
+- selected provider endpoints must be absolute HTTP or HTTPS URLs without user
+  information, query strings, or fragments;
+- JSON documents and successful provider responses must contain exactly one
+  value, and successful provider bodies are limited to 16 MiB; and
+- excessively deep or expansive JSON-compatible values fail with ordinary
+  validation errors.
+
+These are compatibility corrections and safety boundaries rather than new
+consumer configuration requirements. Consumers relying on an invalid or
+ambiguous input should correct that input before upgrading.
+
+## Upgrade
+
+Update the module dependency with:
+
+```sh
+go get gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit@v0.6.0
+go mod tidy
+```
+
+Run the consuming project's ordinary and race-enabled tests after upgrading.
+Applications with custom prompt/profile sources, local provider endpoints,
+unusual artifact paths, or assertions over provider error identities should
+pay particular attention to the compatibility notes below.
+
+## Source Loading And Identity
+
+Prompt definitions now share one source-neutral selection and normalization
+flow across operating-system and `fs.FS` sources. YAML `id` and `version`
+metadata are authoritative; filenames do not create a second identity system.
+Only selected content bodies are loaded, malformed unrelated definitions do
+not shadow valid exact matches, and per-file read failures are reported as
+prompt-load failures rather than false absence.
+
+File-backed profiles likewise use normalized YAML IDs, reuse their metadata
+read for selected strict decoding, and avoid fully decoding unrelated files.
+Selected malformed definitions remain authoritative and do not silently fall
+through to a lower-precedence source.
+
+Prompt `content_file` paths are opened exactly as declared after a separate
+blank check. They must remain relative to and contained by the configured
+prompt source root, including across operating-system symlinks.
+
+See the [framework source and identity reference](../formats.md) and
+[internal source overview](../internal/sources.md) for the current contracts.
+
+## Validation, Cancellation, And Efficiency
+
+JSON Schema documents preserve exact JSON-number representations. Schema
+resource URLs safely escape legal filesystem names, and each operation loads
+and compiles its schema graph once. `Run` and prepared execution reuse that
+operation-local plan; Promptkit does not introduce a cross-operation cache.
+
+Artifact reading, rendering, schema loading, compilation, and validation now
+check cancellation at the synchronous boundaries Promptkit controls. Rendering
+memoizes each artifact's text within one render operation, while plain JSON
+validation avoids materializing an unnecessary generic tree.
+
+The shared JSON-compatible-value owner now limits nesting and produced work so
+unsafe consumer-controlled structures return errors instead of risking
+unbounded recursion or allocation. See the
+[architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) for invariant ownership and
+the [format reference](../formats.md) for validation behavior.
+
+## Provider Transport Hardening
+
+OpenAI-compatible endpoints are parsed and composed structurally, including
+nested base paths. Underlying transport cancellation and deadline errors remain
+discoverable with `errors.Is` through Promptkit's generation error category.
+
+Successful provider bodies are read with a fixed 16 MiB bound and must contain
+exactly one JSON response object followed only by whitespace. Oversized,
+truncated, malformed, or multiply framed responses fail without returning a
+partial result. See the
+[OpenAI-compatible integration contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md)
+for the canonical request, endpoint, error, and response behavior.
+
+## Public API Changes
+
+None.
+
+## Consumer Action
+
+- Correct any configuration or request that depends on the formerly permissive
+  cases described under Compatibility.
+- Confirm custom local provider endpoints are absolute HTTP or HTTPS base URLs
+  without credentials, queries, or fragments.
+- Confirm prompt content paths remain within their configured source root and
+  file artifacts resolve to regular files.
+- Run ordinary and race-enabled consumer tests after updating the dependency.

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/roadmap/deferred.md

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# Deferred Feature Ideas
+
+## Purpose
+
+This document catalogs feature ideas that remain potentially useful but have
+been deliberately postponed. These ideas are not awaiting ordinary selection
+from the [future feature catalog](future.md); each has a stated reason to wait
+and should be reconsidered only when its trigger becomes relevant.
+
+Deferred entries are not commitments, schedules, active implementation plans,
+or descriptions of current behavior. When an entry is reactivated, move it to
+`future.md` for evaluation or directly into a focused roadmap after its open
+design dependencies have been resolved.
+
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+### Semantic Execution-Target Fingerprints
+
+**Reason for deferral:** A stable digest requires a deliberate semantic-
+equality and versioning design. Notarius can safely use conservative source
+hashes and a Promptkit release marker today, while Weatherreporter does not
+currently reuse LLM-dependent checkpoints.
+
+Promptkit could expose an opaque equality value for a resolved profile and its
+effective generation target. This would let checkpointing consumers detect
+generation-affecting configuration changes without hashing YAML presentation
+or depending on Promptkit's built-in catalog layout.
+
+The digest should change with semantically relevant state such as the resolved
+model, endpoint, backend routing identity, request defaults, extra parameters,
+profile generation settings, and selected built-in profile semantics. It
+should exclude credential values, concurrency and queue policy, source paths,
+comments, formatting, and other representation-only changes. Whether a
+credential environment-variable name affects equality must be decided
+explicitly. The encoding should remain opaque and internally versioned so
+Promptkit can deliberately invalidate earlier digests when its resolution
+semantics change.
+
+Reconsider this idea when a downstream consumer needs Promptkit-owned
+checkpoint equality or when a broader semantic identity design is selected.
+
+### Eager Source Validation
+
+**Reason for deferral:** Exact prompt and profile inspection may already
+provide a sufficiently small validation surface. Experience from downstream
+adoption should establish whether an engine-wide operation would add enough
+value to justify its broader contract.
+
+Promptkit could provide an explicit offline operation that discovers and
+structurally validates configured prompt, profile, and schema sources without
+model generation. The normal `NewEngine` path would remain lazy.
+
+An eager operation would need coherent handling for duplicate prompt IDs and
+versions, strict YAML decoding, referenced content files, profile/backend
+membership, schema syntax and transitive references, context cancellation,
+and source-specific public errors. Credential declarations must remain
+separate from credential values; checking current environment availability,
+if supported at all, should be an explicit option and must not expose secrets.
+
+Reconsider this idea after downstream use of `InspectPrompt`,
+`InspectProfile`, and fixture-based preparation demonstrates a concrete gap.

docs/roadmap/future.md

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# Future Feature Ideas
+
+## Purpose
+
+This document catalogs reasonably specific ideas that may be useful in future
+Promptkit development. It is an idea pool, not a commitment, schedule, or
+description of current behavior.
+
+Ideas belong here while they are worth retaining but have not been selected
+for active development. Keep each entry at the level of intended capability,
+consumer value, and important scope boundaries. Defer API design,
+implementation details, sequencing, and acceptance criteria until an idea is
+selected.
+
+Ideas that have been deliberately postponed rather than left available for
+ordinary selection belong in the [deferred catalog](deferred.md).
+
+## Using This Catalog
+
+- Add an idea when its purpose and likely value can be stated clearly.
+- Keep entries independent enough that maintainers can evaluate and select
+  them individually.
+- Note significant dependencies or boundary concerns, but do not turn entries
+  into implementation plans.
+- Treat inclusion as an invitation to evaluate, not as approval or priority.
+- When an idea is selected, move its active planning to a focused roadmap or,
+  when it requires a durable architectural decision, an ADR. Update
+  current-state documentation only when implementation lands.
+- Move an idea to `deferred.md` when maintainers decide to retain it but wait
+  for a stated design dependency, demand signal, or reconsideration trigger.
+- Remove ideas that are no longer relevant. Retain a rejected idea only when
+  its rationale is likely to prevent repeated reconsideration.
+
+Future capabilities must continue to respect the
+[architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md), particularly Promptkit's
+role as an application-neutral library and its boundary with downstream
+consumers.
+
+## Ideas
+
+No ideas are currently awaiting selection. Active feature work belongs in its
+focused roadmap rather than this catalog.
+
+## Entry Format
+
+Use a short heading followed by a concise summary. Add focused bullets when
+they help preserve important scope boundaries without becoming an
+implementation plan:
+
+```markdown
+### Idea name
+
+Describe the intended capability, who benefits, and the most important scope
+boundary or dependency.
+
+- Optionally record an important behavior or boundary.
+```

engine.go

@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	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/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"
@@ -22,42 +25,108 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/validate"
 )
 
-// ErrInvalidConfig indicates invalid public engine configuration.
+// ErrInvalidConfig identifies invalid engine construction, including missing
+// required configuration, invalid options or backend registrations, and a nil
+// Engine receiver.
 var ErrInvalidConfig = errors.New("invalid engine configuration")
 
 var (
-	ErrInvalidRequest   = errors.New("invalid run request")
-	ErrPromptNotFound   = errors.New("prompt not found")
-	ErrProfileNotFound  = errors.New("profile not found")
-	ErrProfileRequired  = errors.New("profile selection is required")
-	ErrPromptLoad       = errors.New("failed to load prompt definition")
-	ErrProfileLoad      = errors.New("failed to load execution profile")
+	// ErrInvalidRequest identifies a request whose required values, overrides,
+	// credentials, or effective settings are invalid.
+	ErrInvalidRequest = errors.New("invalid run request")
+	// ErrPromptNotFound identifies a requested prompt ID or version that is not
+	// present in the selected prompt source. It does not also match
+	// ErrPromptLoad.
+	ErrPromptNotFound = errors.New("prompt not found")
+	// ErrProfileNotFound identifies a selected profile ID that is absent from
+	// every configured profile source. It does not also match ErrProfileLoad.
+	ErrProfileNotFound = errors.New("profile not found")
+	// ErrProfileRequired identifies a request for which neither RunRequest.ProfileID
+	// nor the selected prompt's default profile is present. Such an error also
+	// matches ErrInvalidRequest.
+	ErrProfileRequired = errors.New("profile selection is required")
+	// ErrPromptLoad identifies a failure to read, decode, validate, select, or
+	// hash a prompt definition, except for the not-found case represented by
+	// ErrPromptNotFound.
+	ErrPromptLoad = errors.New("failed to load prompt definition")
+	// ErrProfileLoad identifies a failure to read, decode, validate, or select
+	// an execution profile or resolve its backend, except for the profile
+	// not-found case represented by ErrProfileNotFound.
+	ErrProfileLoad = errors.New("failed to load execution profile")
+	// ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing identifies an explicitly required APIKeyEnv whose
+	// environment variable is unset or empty after direct RunRequest.APIKey
+	// precedence is applied. Such an error also matches ErrInvalidRequest.
 	ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing = errors.New("api_key_env points to an unset environment variable")
-	ErrArtifactLoad     = errors.New("failed to load artifact")
-	ErrPromptRender     = errors.New("failed to render prompt")
-	ErrLLMGenerate      = errors.New("failed to generate output")
-	ErrValidation       = errors.New("failed to validate output")
+	// ErrArtifactLoad identifies a failure to resolve an input artifact. Errors
+	// returned by an injected ArtifactReader remain available through errors.Is.
+	ErrArtifactLoad = errors.New("failed to load artifact")
+	// ErrPromptRender identifies a failure to render prompt messages or the
+	// session ID from the resolved inputs and variables.
+	ErrPromptRender = errors.New("failed to render prompt")
+	// ErrCapacityExceeded identifies a Run or RunPrepared rejected because the
+	// selected backend already admitted ConcurrencyLimit + QueueCapacity calls.
+	// A [CapacityError] reports the selected backend ID. It is not an invalid
+	// request, an LLM or provider rate-limit response, or ErrLLMGenerate.
+	ErrCapacityExceeded = errors.New("backend capacity exceeded")
+	// ErrLLMGenerate identifies a model-client failure or a nil successful
+	// response. A built-in OpenAI-compatible non-2xx response is available as a
+	// [GenerationError]. Errors returned by an injected LLMClient remain
+	// available through errors.Is.
+	ErrLLMGenerate = errors.New("failed to generate output")
+	// ErrValidation identifies an operational failure to load or compile a
+	// schema or validate output. A completed validation whose Status is
+	// ValidationFailed is returned in RunResult without this error.
+	ErrValidation = errors.New("failed to validate output")
 )
 
-// Engine prepares and runs Promptkit prompt requests.
+// Engine inspects prompts and profiles and prepares and runs Promptkit prompt
+// requests.
+//
+// An Engine is safe for concurrent calls to [Engine.InspectPrompt],
+// [Engine.InspectProfile], [Engine.Prepare], [Engine.PrepareExecution],
+// [Engine.Run], and [Engine.RunPrepared]. Each Engine owns independent
+// backend-capacity pools that coordinate Run and RunPrepared admission and
+// model generation. Injected collaborators may still be invoked concurrently
+// across different backend pools or for unlimited backends.
 type Engine struct {
 	runner *usecase.Runner
 }
 
-// Config configures a public Promptkit engine.
+// Config selects the directory-backed sources and built-in model-client
+// transport used by [NewEngine]. Config has no stable JSON representation.
 type Config struct {
-	PromptDir  string
+	// PromptDir is the directory searched recursively for prompt definitions.
+	// It is required unless a WithPromptFS or WithPromptFile option supplies the
+	// prompt source.
+	PromptDir string
+	// ProfileDir is an optional ordinary configured source whose profiles take
+	// precedence over application fallback and embedded built-in profiles. An
+	// empty value selects the lower-precedence sources unless a profile-source
+	// option supplies the ordinary source.
 	ProfileDir string
-	SchemaDir  string
+	// SchemaDir is the root for JSON Schema files. An empty value uses the
+	// current directory. WithSchemaFS or WithSchemaFile replaces this source.
+	SchemaDir string
 	// Timeout is the transport-wide safety cap for the built-in LLM client
-	// when HTTPClient is absent or has a non-positive timeout.
+	// when HTTPClient is absent or has a non-positive timeout. A zero or negative
+	// value selects the 10-minute default.
 	Timeout time.Duration
 	// HTTPClient is cloned for the built-in LLM client. Its positive Timeout
-	// takes precedence over Config.Timeout as the transport-wide safety cap.
+	// takes precedence over Timeout. A zero or negative client Timeout inherits
+	// Timeout or the 10-minute default. The supplied client is not mutated. This
+	// field is ignored when WithLLMClient is used.
 	HTTPClient *http.Client
 }
 
 // Option customizes engine construction.
+//
+// NewEngine applies options in argument order and ignores nil options. Within
+// each prompt-source, ordinary-profile-source, fallback-profile-source,
+// in-memory-profile, schema-source, model-client, and artifact-reader
+// category, the last non-nil valid option replaces earlier options in that
+// category. WithBackend is the additive exception: unique registrations
+// accumulate, and a repeated backend ID is an error rather than a replacement.
+// An invalid option fails construction even if a later option would replace it.
 type Option interface {
 	apply(*engineOptions) error
 }
@@ -69,20 +138,30 @@ func (f optionFunc) apply(options *engineOptions) error {
 }
 
 type engineOptions struct {
-	llmClient       llm.Client
-	artifactReader  artifactadapter.Reader
-	promptDefs      promptdef.Repository
-	profiles        profile.Repository
-	memoryProfiles  profile.Repository
-	validator       validate.Validator
-	promptSource    bool
-	profileSource   bool
-	memorySource    bool
-	validatorSource bool
-	artifactSource  bool
+	llmClient             llm.Client
+	artifactReader        artifactadapter.Reader
+	promptDefs            promptdef.Repository
+	profiles              profile.Repository
+	fallbackProfiles      profile.Repository
+	memoryProfiles        profile.Repository
+	backends              []domain.Backend
+	validator             validate.Validator
+	promptSource          bool
+	profileSource         bool
+	fallbackProfileSource bool
+	memorySource          bool
+	validatorSource       bool
+	artifactSource        bool
 }
 
-// WithLLMClient injects a custom LLM client for execution.
+// WithLLMClient replaces the built-in model client used by [Engine.Run] and
+// [Engine.RunPrepared].
+//
+// A nil client makes NewEngine fail with ErrInvalidConfig. The Engine schedules
+// Generate calls according to the selected backend's capacity policy, but the
+// client may still be called concurrently across different backend pools or for
+// unlimited backends. The client is not used by [Engine.Prepare] or
+// [Engine.PrepareExecution].
 func WithLLMClient(client LLMClient) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		if client == nil {
@@ -93,7 +172,11 @@ func WithLLMClient(client LLMClient) Option {
 	})
 }
 
-// WithArtifactReader injects a reader for every input artifact reference.
+// WithArtifactReader replaces the default reader for every input artifact
+// reference, regardless of its ArtifactRef.Type.
+//
+// A nil reader makes NewEngine fail with ErrInvalidConfig. The reader may be
+// called concurrently.
 func WithArtifactReader(reader ArtifactReader) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		if reader == nil {
@@ -109,6 +192,9 @@ func WithArtifactReader(reader ArtifactReader) Option {
 //
 // The source uses the same strict prompt YAML rules as configured prompt
 // directories, and prompt content_file paths resolve within this source.
+// fsys must be non-nil and root must be non-empty; otherwise NewEngine fails
+// with ErrInvalidConfig. This option replaces Config.PromptDir and earlier
+// prompt-source options.
 func WithPromptFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		if fsys == nil {
@@ -125,14 +211,16 @@ func WithPromptFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 
 // WithPromptFile loads prompt definitions from the single prompt file at path.
 //
-// Relative prompt content_file paths resolve from the file's directory.
+// Relative prompt content_file paths resolve from the file's directory. path
+// must name an existing non-directory file when NewEngine applies the option.
+// This option replaces Config.PromptDir and earlier prompt-source options.
 func WithPromptFile(path string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		fsys, root, err := fileSource(path)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		options.promptDefs = promptdef.NewFSRepository(fsys, root)
+		options.promptDefs = promptdef.NewFileRepository(fsys, root, filepath.Dir(path))
 		options.promptSource = true
 		return nil
 	})
@@ -140,8 +228,12 @@ func WithPromptFile(path string) Option {
 
 // WithProfileFS loads execution profiles from fsys under root.
 //
-// Profiles from this source overlay built-in profiles. Profile YAML must use
-// api_key_env for environment-based credentials; raw API keys are rejected.
+// Profiles from this ordinary configured source take precedence over
+// application fallback and built-in profiles. Profile YAML must use api_key_env
+// for environment-based credentials; raw API keys are rejected. fsys must be
+// non-nil and root must be non-empty; otherwise NewEngine fails with
+// ErrInvalidConfig. This option replaces Config.ProfileDir and earlier file or
+// FS profile-source options, but remains below WithProfiles in precedence.
 func WithProfileFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		if fsys == nil {
@@ -158,8 +250,12 @@ func WithProfileFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 
 // WithProfileFile loads execution profiles from the single profile file at path.
 //
-// The profile overlays built-in profiles. Profile YAML must use api_key_env for
-// environment-based credentials; raw API keys are rejected.
+// The profile takes precedence over application fallback and built-in profiles.
+// Profile YAML must use api_key_env for environment-based credentials; raw API
+// keys are rejected. path must name an existing non-directory file when
+// NewEngine applies the option. This option replaces Config.ProfileDir and
+// earlier file or FS profile-source options, but remains below WithProfiles in
+// precedence.
 func WithProfileFile(path string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		fsys, root, err := fileSource(path)
@@ -172,8 +268,48 @@ func WithProfileFile(path string) Option {
 	})
 }
 
+// WithFallbackProfileFS supplies application-owned fallback profile
+// definitions from fsys under root.
+//
+// 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
+// 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
+// format failure stops resolution.
+//
+// Files use the ordinary strict profile YAML and api_key_env credential rules.
+// Loading and validation are lazy: NewEngine validates this option's arguments
+// but does not read profile files. fsys must be non-nil and root must be
+// nonblank; otherwise NewEngine returns an error matching ErrInvalidConfig.
+// Repeating this option replaces the earlier valid fallback source.
+//
+// This option controls profile-definition lookup, not provider or generation
+// failover.
+func WithFallbackProfileFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
+	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
+		if fsys == nil {
+			return ErrInvalidConfig
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(root) == "" {
+			return ErrInvalidConfig
+		}
+		options.fallbackProfiles = profile.NewFSRepository(fsys, root)
+		options.fallbackProfileSource = true
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
 // WithProfiles configures in-memory profiles that take precedence over
-// configured profile files and built-in profiles.
+// ordinary configured, application fallback, and built-in profiles.
+//
+// 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)
@@ -189,7 +325,9 @@ func WithProfiles(profiles ...Profile) Option {
 // WithSchemaFS loads JSON Schema documents from fsys under root.
 //
 // Prompt schema_path values resolve within this source when schema validation
-// or structured output is requested.
+// or structured output is requested. fsys must be non-nil and root must be
+// non-empty; otherwise NewEngine fails with ErrInvalidConfig. This option
+// replaces Config.SchemaDir and earlier schema-source options.
 func WithSchemaFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		if fsys == nil {
@@ -206,7 +344,9 @@ func WithSchemaFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 
 // WithSchemaFile loads JSON Schema documents from the single schema file at path.
 //
-// Prompt schema_path values refer to the file's base name.
+// Prompt schema_path values refer to the file's base name. path must name an
+// existing non-directory file when NewEngine applies the option. This option
+// replaces Config.SchemaDir and earlier schema-source options.
 func WithSchemaFile(path string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		fsys, root, err := fileSource(path)
@@ -220,6 +360,17 @@ func WithSchemaFile(path string) Option {
 }
 
 // NewEngine constructs an Engine from configuration and options.
+//
+// Options are applied in order according to [Option]. PromptDir is required
+// unless a prompt-source option is present. Construction validates option
+// arguments, in-memory profiles, and backend registrations but defers reading
+// and validating prompt, file-backed profile, and schema contents until Prepare
+// or Run needs them.
+//
+// NewEngine returns an error matching ErrInvalidConfig for invalid
+// configuration, options, or backend-capacity policies. Each constructed
+// Engine has independent backend-capacity pools. Construction does not perform
+// model requests or require credentials.
 func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 	var options engineOptions
 	for _, opt := range opts {
@@ -239,12 +390,16 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 		promptDefs = promptdef.NewFilesystemRepository(cfg.PromptDir)
 	}
 
-	profiles := builtin.NewRepositoryWithDirectory(cfg.ProfileDir)
-	if options.profileSource {
-		profiles = builtin.NewRepositoryWithPrimary(options.profiles)
+	profiles := newProfileRepository(cfg.ProfileDir, options)
+
+	backendRegistry, err := backend.NewRegistry(options.backends)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to construct backend registry: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 	}
-	if options.memorySource {
-		profiles = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.memoryProfiles, profiles)
+
+	capacityManager, err := capacity.NewManager(backendRegistry.CapacityPolicies())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to construct backend capacity manager: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 	}
 
 	validator := options.validator
@@ -267,6 +422,7 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 		}
 	}
+	llmClient = capacity.NewClient(capacityManager, llmClient)
 
 	artifacts := options.artifactReader
 	if !options.artifactSource {
@@ -274,38 +430,163 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &Engine{
-		runner: usecase.NewRunner(
+		runner: usecase.NewRunnerWithRepairer(
 			promptDefs,
 			profiles,
+			backendRegistry,
 			artifacts,
 			prompt.NewGoRenderer(),
 			llmClient,
 			validator,
+			usecase.NewDefaultOutputRepairer(llmClient),
+			capacityManager,
 		),
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions) profile.Repository {
+	repository := builtin.NewRepository()
+
+	if options.fallbackProfileSource {
+		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.fallbackProfiles, repository)
+	}
+
+	if options.profileSource {
+		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.profiles, repository)
+	} else if strings.TrimSpace(profileDir) != "" {
+		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(profile.NewFilesystemRepository(profileDir), repository)
+	}
+
+	if options.memorySource {
+		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.memoryProfiles, repository)
+	}
+
+	return profile.NewResolvingRepository(repository)
+}
+
 func fileSource(name string) (fs.FS, string, error) {
-	cleanName := strings.TrimSpace(name)
-	if cleanName == "" {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(name) == "" {
 		return nil, "", ErrInvalidConfig
 	}
-	dir := filepath.Dir(cleanName)
-	base := filepath.Base(cleanName)
-	if base == "." || base == string(filepath.Separator) || strings.TrimSpace(base) == "" {
+	dir := filepath.Dir(name)
+	base := filepath.Base(name)
+	if base == "." || base == string(filepath.Separator) {
 		return nil, "", ErrInvalidConfig
 	}
-	info, err := os.Stat(cleanName)
+	info, err := os.Stat(name)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to access source file %q: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, cleanName, err)
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to access source file %q: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, name, err)
 	}
 	if info.IsDir() {
-		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("%w: source path %q must be a file", ErrInvalidConfig, cleanName)
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("%w: source path %q must be a file", ErrInvalidConfig, name)
 	}
 	return os.DirFS(dir), filepath.ToSlash(base), nil
 }
 
-// Prepare resolves a prompt request without calling an LLM.
+// InspectPrompt resolves one explicit prompt definition without selecting a
+// profile or starting execution work.
+//
+// InspectPrompt requires a nonblank promptID. It passes nonblank promptID and
+// promptVersion values unchanged to the engine's ordinary, case-sensitive
+// prompt selection. An empty version succeeds only when that source has one
+// selected ID; a nonempty version selects one exact ID/version pair. The
+// configured prompt source is used without merging, fallback, or enumeration.
+//
+// A successful result proves that the selected definition and any referenced
+// message content files were structurally loaded. Inputs are returned in
+// definition order. DefaultProfileID is declared metadata only and is not
+// resolved. OutputContract is the normalized declared contract, with a JSON
+// Schema path when declared but without loading or compiling that schema.
+// PromptHash is the same opaque equality value as PreparedRun.PromptHash for
+// the selected definition and observed source state; its spelling, length,
+// encoding, algorithm, and security properties are not contracts.
+//
+// This method does not return prompt bodies, templates, source paths, schemas,
+// rendered messages, or execution settings. It does not resolve a profile or
+// credential, read artifacts or schemas, render, validate, admit capacity,
+// contact a provider, or generate model output. The returned PromptInspection
+// and its input slice are caller-owned. Filesystem-backed inspection is a
+// point-in-time lookup and does not freeze a definition for later execution.
+//
+// A nil Engine returns an error matching ErrInvalidConfig. A blank prompt ID
+// matches ErrInvalidRequest. An absent exact ID or version matches
+// ErrPromptNotFound and not ErrPromptLoad. Malformed, unreadable, duplicate,
+// ambiguous, referenced-content, or hashing failures match ErrPromptLoad.
+// Cancellation during lookup matches ErrPromptLoad while preserving the
+// context error. InspectPrompt returns no partial result on error.
+func (e *Engine) InspectPrompt(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	promptID string,
+	promptVersion string,
+) (*PromptInspection, error) {
+	if e == nil || e.runner == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: engine is nil", ErrInvalidConfig)
+	}
+
+	inspection, err := e.runner.InspectPrompt(ctx, promptID, promptVersion)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, mapPublicError(err)
+	}
+	return fromDomainPromptInspection(inspection), nil
+}
+
+// InspectProfile resolves one explicit profile without selecting a prompt or
+// starting execution work.
+//
+// InspectProfile trims surrounding whitespace from profileID and looks up the
+// resulting nonblank ID exactly and case-sensitively through the engine's
+// in-memory, ordinary configured-source, application fallback, and built-in
+// profile precedence. It applies the framework timeout baseline, selected
+// backend, and then selected profile to EffectiveModelParams without a request
+// override. BackendID is empty for an endpoint-only profile.
+//
+// APIKeyEnv in the returned target is an environment-variable name, never its
+// value. APIKeyRequired instead reports a direct credential requirement and is
+// mutually exclusive with a nonblank APIKeyEnv. InspectProfile neither derives
+// an ID from a prompt default_profile nor checks credential availability, so an
+// absent or blank named environment variable is not an error.
+//
+// The returned ProfileInspection and all nested mutable values are
+// caller-owned. Filesystem-backed inspection is a point-in-time lookup and
+// does not freeze the profile for a later execution. This method does not load
+// a prompt, render, read artifacts or schemas, admit backend capacity, contact
+// a provider, or generate model output.
+//
+// A nil Engine returns an error matching ErrInvalidConfig. A blank profile ID
+// matches ErrInvalidRequest. An absent exact ID matches ErrProfileNotFound and
+// not ErrProfileLoad. Malformed or unreadable profile data, an unknown backend,
+// or an invalid resolved target matches ErrProfileLoad. Cancellation during
+// profile loading matches ErrProfileLoad while preserving the context error.
+// InspectProfile returns no partial result on error.
+func (e *Engine) InspectProfile(ctx context.Context, profileID string) (*ProfileInspection, error) {
+	if e == nil || e.runner == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: engine is nil", ErrInvalidConfig)
+	}
+
+	inspection, err := e.runner.InspectProfile(ctx, profileID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, mapPublicError(err)
+	}
+	return fromDomainProfileInspection(inspection), nil
+}
+
+// Prepare resolves and renders a prompt request without calling an LLM.
+//
+// Prepare selects the prompt and profile, resolves any selected backend and
+// effective execution settings, resolves the output contract, loads and hashes
+// inputs, loads structured-output schema metadata when required, and renders
+// the session ID and messages. The returned PreparedRun is owned by the caller
+// and never contains a resolved API-key value, model output, or validation
+// result.
+//
+// A nil Engine returns an error matching ErrInvalidConfig. Request and
+// preparation failures may match ErrInvalidRequest, ErrPromptNotFound,
+// ErrPromptLoad, ErrProfileNotFound, ErrProfileLoad, ErrProfileRequired,
+// ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing, ErrArtifactLoad, ErrPromptRender, or ErrValidation as
+// applicable. Cancellation is passed to the active collaborator and is
+// reported in the applicable operation category; no general errors.Is
+// relationship to ctx.Err is promised. Prepare returns no partial result on
+// error.
 func (e *Engine) Prepare(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*PreparedRun, error) {
 	if e == nil || e.runner == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: engine is nil", ErrInvalidConfig)
@@ -323,7 +604,61 @@ func (e *Engine) Prepare(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*PreparedRun, err
 	return fromDomainPreparedRun(prepared), nil
 }
 
-// Run executes a prompt request and returns the generated artifact and metadata.
+// PrepareExecution completely prepares a prompt request without calling the
+// configured LLMClient or reserving backend admission capacity.
+//
+// The returned opaque handle is bound to this Engine and permits one
+// [Engine.RunPrepared] invocation. Preparation freezes the selected sources,
+// rendered messages, effective settings, inputs, provider structured-output
+// metadata, and validation resources needed by that invocation. The handle
+// retains a direct RunRequest.APIKey only in private execution state;
+// [PreparedExecution.Details] is credential-redacted.
+//
+// The context governs preparation only. Cancellation after this method
+// returns does not invalidate the handle or propagate to RunPrepared.
+// PrepareExecution returns the same error categories as [Engine.Prepare] and
+// returns no handle on error. A nil Engine returns an error matching
+// ErrInvalidConfig.
+func (e *Engine) PrepareExecution(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*PreparedExecution, error) {
+	if e == nil || e.runner == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: engine is nil", ErrInvalidConfig)
+	}
+
+	domainReq, err := toDomainRunRequest(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrInvalidRequest, err)
+	}
+
+	prepared, err := e.runner.PrepareExecution(ctx, domainReq)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, mapPublicError(err)
+	}
+	return &PreparedExecution{internal: prepared}, nil
+}
+
+// Run prepares a request, invokes the configured LLMClient, and validates the
+// generated output.
+//
+// A content-validation failure is a successful run whose
+// 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
+// discoverable as [CapacityError] and still matches ErrCapacityExceeded. It
+// occurs before artifacts, schemas, rendering, or model generation because the
+// selected backend's admission capacity is full; it does not match
+// ErrInvalidRequest or ErrLLMGenerate. A built-in OpenAI-compatible non-2xx
+// response is discoverable as [GenerationError]. Errors from injected clients
+// remain available through errors.Is. Cancellation while waiting for
+// model-generation capacity matches both ErrLLMGenerate and the context error.
+// Cancellation otherwise follows the active collaborator's documented
+// behavior. A nil Engine returns ErrInvalidConfig. Run returns no partial
+// result on error.
 func (e *Engine) Run(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*RunResult, error) {
 	if e == nil || e.runner == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: engine is nil", ErrInvalidConfig)
@@ -340,3 +675,43 @@ func (e *Engine) Run(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*RunResult, error) {
 	}
 	return fromDomainRunResult(result), nil
 }
+
+// RunPrepared atomically claims and executes a handle created by
+// [Engine.PrepareExecution].
+//
+// A valid owning-Engine invocation consumes the handle's one attempt before
+// credential revalidation, backend admission, generation, or validation.
+// Cancellation, capacity rejection, generation failure, operational
+// validation failure, and success all leave the handle unusable. A nil,
+// zero-value, foreign-Engine, discarded, claimed, or used handle returns an
+// error matching ErrInvalidRequest; a nil Engine returns ErrInvalidConfig and
+// does not claim the handle.
+//
+// The supplied context governs this execution attempt independently of the
+// preparation context. It covers credential revalidation, admission,
+// 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,
+// 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)
+	}
+
+	var internal *usecase.PreparedExecution
+	if prepared != nil {
+		internal = prepared.internal
+	}
+	result, err := e.runner.RunPrepared(ctx, internal)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, mapPublicError(err)
+	}
+	return fromDomainRunResult(result), nil
+}

errors.go

@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@ package promptkit
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/capacity"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/promptdef"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/usecase"
@@ -13,7 +16,25 @@ func mapPublicError(err error) error {
 	if err == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
+	var internalCapacityError *usecase.CapacityError
+	if errors.As(err, &internalCapacityError) && internalCapacityError != nil &&
+		strings.TrimSpace(internalCapacityError.BackendID) != "" {
+		return &CapacityError{BackendID: internalCapacityError.BackendID}
+	}
 	publicErr := publicErrorFor(err)
+	var providerHTTPError *llm.ProviderHTTPError
+	if errors.As(err, &providerHTTPError) && providerHTTPError != nil {
+		generationErr := newGenerationError(
+			providerHTTPError.StatusCode(),
+			providerHTTPError.ProviderCode(),
+			providerHTTPError.ProviderType(),
+			providerHTTPError.ProviderMessage(),
+		)
+		if publicErr != nil && !errors.Is(publicErr, ErrLLMGenerate) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", publicErr, generationErr)
+		}
+		return generationErr
+	}
 	if publicErr == nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -38,6 +59,8 @@ func publicErrorFor(err error) error {
 		return ErrProfileLoad
 	case errors.Is(err, usecase.ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing):
 		return errors.Join(ErrInvalidRequest, ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing)
+	case errors.Is(err, capacity.ErrCapacityExceeded):
+		return ErrCapacityExceeded
 	case errors.Is(err, usecase.ErrArtifactLoad):
 		return ErrArtifactLoad
 	case errors.Is(err, usecase.ErrPromptRender):

errors_internal_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/usecase"
+)
+
+func TestMapPublicErrorPreservesGenerationCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	internalErr := fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", usecase.ErrLLMGenerate, context.Canceled)
+
+	err := mapPublicError(internalErr)
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want ErrLLMGenerate", err)
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want context.Canceled", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMapPublicErrorTranslatesCapacityError(t *testing.T) {
+	internalErr := &usecase.CapacityError{BackendID: "limited"}
+
+	err := mapPublicError(internalErr)
+	var publicErr *CapacityError
+	if !errors.As(err, &publicErr) || publicErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want public CapacityError", err)
+	}
+	if publicErr.BackendID != "limited" {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped backend ID=%q, want limited", publicErr.BackendID)
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want ErrCapacityExceeded", err)
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidRequest) || errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped capacity error has an unrelated category: %v", err)
+	}
+	var leakedInternalErr *usecase.CapacityError
+	if errors.As(err, &leakedInternalErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error exposes internal CapacityError: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	internalErr.BackendID = "changed"
+	if publicErr.BackendID != "limited" {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped backend ID changed with source error: %q", publicErr.BackendID)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMapPublicErrorPreservesValidationAroundGenerationError(t *testing.T) {
+	internalErr := fmt.Errorf(
+		"%w: %w",
+		usecase.ErrValidation,
+		&llm.ProviderHTTPError{},
+	)
+
+	err := mapPublicError(internalErr)
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrValidation) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want ErrValidation", err)
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want ErrLLMGenerate", err)
+	}
+	var generationErr *GenerationError
+	if !errors.As(err, &generationErr) || generationErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error=%v, want GenerationError", err)
+	}
+	var leakedInternalErr *llm.ProviderHTTPError
+	if errors.As(err, &leakedInternalErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("mapped error exposes internal ProviderHTTPError: %v", err)
+	}
+}

examples/go-library/run/main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit"
+)
+
+type deterministicClient struct{}
+
+func (deterministicClient) Generate(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	_ promptkit.GenerateRequest,
+) (*promptkit.GenerateResponse, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &promptkit.GenerateResponse{
+		Content: "Ada finished the migration review.",
+		Usage: promptkit.TokenUsage{
+			PromptTokens:     12,
+			CompletionTokens: 6,
+			TotalTokens:      18,
+		},
+	}, nil
+}
+
+type summary struct {
+	Output           string                     `json:"output"`
+	ValidationStatus promptkit.ValidationStatus `json:"validation_status"`
+	IsValid          bool                       `json:"is_valid"`
+	Model            string                     `json:"model"`
+	TotalTokens      int                        `json:"total_tokens"`
+}
+
+func main() {
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(
+		promptkit.Config{},
+		promptkit.WithPromptFile("examples/go-library/run/prompt.yaml"),
+		promptkit.WithProfiles(promptkit.Profile{
+			ID:       "offline-example",
+			Endpoint: "https://example.invalid/v1",
+			Model:    "offline-model",
+		}),
+		promptkit.WithLLMClient(deterministicClient{}),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		exit(err)
+	}
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID: "example.run",
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"note": promptkit.Inline("Ada finished the migration review."),
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		exit(err)
+	}
+
+	encoder := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout)
+	encoder.SetIndent("", "  ")
+	if err := encoder.Encode(summary{
+		Output:           result.RawOutput,
+		ValidationStatus: result.Validation.Status,
+		IsValid:          result.Validation.IsValid,
+		Model:            result.ModelName,
+		TotalTokens:      result.Usage.TotalTokens,
+	}); err != nil {
+		exit(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func exit(err error) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+	os.Exit(1)
+}

examples/go-library/run/prompt.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+id: example.run
+version: "1.0.0"
+default_profile: offline-example
+description: Run a prompt with a deterministic injected model client.
+inputs:
+  - name: note
+    required: true
+    content_type: text/plain
+messages:
+  - role: system
+    content: Summarize the note in one sentence.
+  - role: user
+    content: '{{input "note"}}'
+output:
+  format: text
+  validation_mode: basic

formatting.go

@@ -2,19 +2,23 @@ package promptkit
 
 import "fmt"
 
-// String returns a concise request summary without exposing direct API keys.
+// String returns a concise request summary without exposing the direct API key
+// or input and variable contents. Reflection-based formatting does not carry
+// this guarantee.
 func (r RunRequest) String() string {
 	return r.redactedString()
 }
 
-// GoString returns a concise request summary without exposing direct API keys.
+// GoString returns a concise request summary without exposing the direct API
+// key or input and variable contents. Reflection-based formatting does not
+// carry this guarantee.
 func (r RunRequest) GoString() string {
 	return r.redactedString()
 }
 
 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 Metadata:%d}",
+		"promptkit.RunRequest{PromptID:%q PromptVersion:%q ProfileID:%q APIKeySet:%t Inputs:%d Vars:%d ExecutionSet:%t ValidationSet:%t}",
 		r.PromptID,
 		r.PromptVersion,
 		r.ProfileID,
@@ -23,18 +27,19 @@ func (r RunRequest) redactedString() string {
 		len(r.Vars),
 		r.Execution != nil,
 		r.Validation != nil,
-		len(r.Metadata),
 	)
 }
 
 // String returns a concise request summary without exposing direct API keys or
-// rendered prompt content.
+// rendered prompt content. Reflection-based formatting does not carry this
+// guarantee.
 func (r GenerateRequest) String() string {
 	return r.redactedString()
 }
 
 // GoString returns a concise request summary without exposing direct API keys or
-// rendered prompt content.
+// rendered prompt content. Reflection-based formatting does not carry this
+// guarantee.
 func (r GenerateRequest) GoString() string {
 	return r.redactedString()
 }

generation_error.go

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import "fmt"
+
+// GenerationError reports a non-2xx response from Promptkit's built-in
+// OpenAI-compatible client during [Engine.Run] or [Engine.RunPrepared].
+//
+// Engine-produced values are immutable, caller-owned values. Use errors.Is to
+// match [ErrLLMGenerate] and errors.As with a *GenerationError target to obtain
+// this type. The four provider accessors expose untrusted provider-controlled
+// values that can contain sensitive request or schema fragments. Applications
+// must apply their own disclosure policy before logging, displaying, or
+// returning them to another caller.
+//
+// Accessors, Error, GoString, and Unwrap are safe on a nil receiver and a zero
+// value. Default and Go-syntax formatting deliberately redact provider details.
+// GenerationError has no stable JSON representation.
+type GenerationError struct {
+	statusCode      int
+	providerCode    string
+	providerType    string
+	providerMessage string
+}
+
+func newGenerationError(statusCode int, providerCode, providerType, providerMessage string) *GenerationError {
+	return &GenerationError{
+		statusCode:      statusCode,
+		providerCode:    providerCode,
+		providerType:    providerType,
+		providerMessage: providerMessage,
+	}
+}
+
+// StatusCode returns the received provider HTTP status code, or zero for a nil
+// receiver or zero value.
+func (e *GenerationError) StatusCode() int {
+	if e == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return e.statusCode
+}
+
+// ProviderCode returns the normalized provider error code, if present. Its
+// value is untrusted and may contain sensitive data.
+func (e *GenerationError) ProviderCode() string {
+	if e == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return e.providerCode
+}
+
+// ProviderType returns the normalized provider error type, if present. Its
+// value is untrusted and may contain sensitive data.
+func (e *GenerationError) ProviderType() string {
+	if e == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return e.providerType
+}
+
+// ProviderMessage returns the bounded normalized provider diagnostic, if
+// present. Its value is untrusted and may contain sensitive data.
+func (e *GenerationError) ProviderMessage() string {
+	if e == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return e.providerMessage
+}
+
+// Error returns a redacted diagnostic that is not a parsing contract.
+func (e *GenerationError) Error() string {
+	if e == nil || e.statusCode == 0 {
+		return ErrLLMGenerate.Error()
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: provider returned HTTP status %d", ErrLLMGenerate, e.statusCode)
+}
+
+// GoString returns the same redacted diagnostic as Error.
+func (e *GenerationError) GoString() string {
+	return e.Error()
+}
+
+// Unwrap returns ErrLLMGenerate. It is safe to call on a nil receiver or zero
+// value.
+func (e *GenerationError) Unwrap() error {
+	return ErrLLMGenerate
+}

generation_error_contract_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+package promptkit_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit"
+)
+
+func TestBuiltInGenerationError(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		codeMarker    = "provider-code-marker"
+		typeMarker    = "provider-type-marker"
+		messageMarker = "provider-message-marker"
+	)
+	engine := newBuiltInGenerationErrorEngine(t, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity,
+		`{"error":{"code":"`+codeMarker+`","type":"`+typeMarker+`","message":"`+messageMarker+`"}}`)
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), generationErrorRunRequest())
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run result = %#v, want nil", result)
+	}
+	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, codeMarker, typeMarker, messageMarker)
+
+	preparedEngine := newBuiltInGenerationErrorEngine(t, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, `{"error":{}}`)
+	prepared, err := preparedEngine.PrepareExecution(context.Background(), generationErrorRunRequest())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PrepareExecution: %v", err)
+	}
+	result, err = preparedEngine.RunPrepared(context.Background(), prepared)
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RunPrepared result = %#v, want nil", result)
+	}
+	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "", "", "")
+}
+
+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()
+
+	if !errors.Is(err, promptkit.ErrLLMGenerate) {
+		t.Fatalf("errors.Is(%v, ErrLLMGenerate) = false", err)
+	}
+	var generationErr *promptkit.GenerationError
+	if !errors.As(err, &generationErr) || generationErr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %T, want *GenerationError", err)
+	}
+	if generationErr.StatusCode() != statusCode || generationErr.ProviderCode() != code || generationErr.ProviderType() != providerType || generationErr.ProviderMessage() != message {
+		t.Fatalf("GenerationError = %#v", generationErr)
+	}
+
+	wantFormatted := fmt.Sprintf("failed to generate output: provider returned HTTP status %d", statusCode)
+	for _, rendered := range []string{fmt.Sprintf("%v", generationErr), fmt.Sprintf("%+v", generationErr), fmt.Sprintf("%#v", generationErr)} {
+		if rendered != wantFormatted {
+			t.Fatalf("formatted error = %q, want %q", rendered, wantFormatted)
+		}
+		for _, marker := range []string{code, providerType, message} {
+			if marker != "" && strings.Contains(rendered, marker) {
+				t.Fatalf("formatted error exposed provider marker %q: %q", marker, rendered)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func newBuiltInGenerationErrorEngine(t *testing.T, statusCode int, body string) *promptkit.Engine {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	config := contractConfig(frameworkSchemaDir)
+	config.HTTPClient = &http.Client{Transport: roundTripFunc(func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		return &http.Response{
+			StatusCode:    statusCode,
+			ContentLength: int64(len(body)),
+			Body:          io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(body)),
+		}, nil
+	})}
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewEngine: %v", err)
+	}
+	return engine
+}
+
+func generationErrorRunRequest() promptkit.RunRequest {
+	return promptkit.RunRequest{
+		PromptID: frameworkMarkdownSummaryPromptID,
+		Inputs: map[string]promptkit.ArtifactRef{
+			"transcript": promptkit.Inline("Rin opens the gate."),
+			"glossary":   promptkit.Inline("gate: A guarded passage."),
+		},
+	}
+}

generation_error_internal_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package promptkit
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestGenerationErrorNilAndZeroValue(t *testing.T) {
+	var nilError *GenerationError
+	zeroError := &GenerationError{}
+
+	for name, err := range map[string]*GenerationError{
+		"nil":  nilError,
+		"zero": zeroError,
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if err.StatusCode() != 0 || err.ProviderCode() != "" || err.ProviderType() != "" || err.ProviderMessage() != "" {
+				t.Fatalf("accessors returned provider details: %#v", err)
+			}
+			if err.Error() != "failed to generate output" || err.GoString() != "failed to generate output" {
+				t.Fatalf("redacted formatting = (%q, %q)", err.Error(), err.GoString())
+			}
+			if fmt.Sprintf("%v", err) != "failed to generate output" || fmt.Sprintf("%#v", err) != "failed to generate output" {
+				t.Fatalf("formatted error = (%q, %q)", fmt.Sprintf("%v", err), fmt.Sprintf("%#v", err))
+			}
+			if !errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate) {
+				t.Fatalf("errors.Is(%v, ErrLLMGenerate) = false", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/artifact/reader.go

@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	ErrUnsupportedRefType = errors.New("unsupported artifact reference type")
-	ErrMissingInlineBody  = errors.New("missing body for inline artifact")
 	ErrMissingFilePath    = errors.New("missing file path for file artifact")
+	ErrUnsupportedFile    = errors.New("file artifact path is not a regular file")
 )
 
+const fileReadChunkSize = 64 * 1024
+
 // Reader resolves artifact references into actual artifacts.
 type Reader interface {
 	Read(ctx context.Context, ref domain.ArtifactRef) (*domain.Artifact, error)
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ type CompositeReader struct {
 func NewCompositeReader() Reader {
 	return &CompositeReader{
 		inlineReader: &inlineReader{},
-		fileReader:   &fileReader{},
+		fileReader:   &fileReader{open: openArtifactFile},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -64,10 +66,6 @@ func (r *inlineReader) Read(ctx context.Context, ref domain.ArtifactRef) (*domai
 	default:
 	}
 
-	if ref.Body == "" {
-		return nil, ErrMissingInlineBody
-	}
-
 	body := []byte(ref.Body)
 	return &domain.Artifact{
 		ContentType: defaults.ContentTypeTextPlain,
@@ -78,7 +76,15 @@ func (r *inlineReader) Read(ctx context.Context, ref domain.ArtifactRef) (*domai
 	}, nil
 }
 
-type fileReader struct{}
+type artifactFile interface {
+	Read([]byte) (int, error)
+	Stat() (os.FileInfo, error)
+	Close() error
+}
+
+type fileReader struct {
+	open func(string) (artifactFile, error)
+}
 
 func (r *fileReader) Read(ctx context.Context, ref domain.ArtifactRef) (*domain.Artifact, error) {
 	select {
@@ -91,25 +97,71 @@ func (r *fileReader) Read(ctx context.Context, ref domain.ArtifactRef) (*domain.
 		return nil, ErrMissingFilePath
 	}
 
-	return readFileArtifact(ref.URI)
+	return readFileArtifact(ctx, ref.URI, r.open)
 }
 
-func readFileArtifact(path string) (*domain.Artifact, error) {
-	file, err := os.Open(path)
+func openArtifactFile(path string) (artifactFile, error) {
+	return os.Open(path)
+}
+
+func readFileArtifact(ctx context.Context, path string, open func(string) (artifactFile, error)) (*domain.Artifact, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read file %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	if !info.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnsupportedFile, path)
+	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	file, err := open(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read file %s: %w", path, err)
 	}
 	defer file.Close()
 
-	data, err := io.ReadAll(file)
+	openedInfo, err := file.Stat()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read file %s: %w", path, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to inspect opened file %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	if !openedInfo.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnsupportedFile, path)
+	}
+
+	data := make([]byte, 0)
+	chunk := make([]byte, fileReadChunkSize)
+	for {
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		n, readErr := file.Read(chunk)
+		if n > 0 {
+			data = append(data, chunk[:n]...)
+		}
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if errors.Is(readErr, io.EOF) {
+			break
+		}
+		if readErr != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read file %s: %w", path, readErr)
+		}
 	}
 
 	contentType := mime.TypeByExtension(filepath.Ext(path))
 	if contentType == "" {
 		contentType = defaults.ContentTypeTextPlain
 	}
+	hash := fmt.Sprintf("%x", sha256.Sum256(data))
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	return &domain.Artifact{
 		Name:        filepath.Base(path),
@@ -117,6 +169,6 @@ func readFileArtifact(path string) (*domain.Artifact, error) {
 		Body:        data,
 		URI:         path,
 		Size:        int64(len(data)),
-		Hash:        fmt.Sprintf("%x", sha256.Sum256(data)),
+		Hash:        hash,
 	}, nil
 }

internal/artifact/reader_fifo_linux_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package artifact
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+func TestFileReaderRejectsFIFOBeforeOpen(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.fifo")
+	if err := syscall.Mkfifo(path, 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create fifo: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	type result struct {
+		artifact *domain.Artifact
+		err      error
+	}
+	done := make(chan result, 1)
+	go func() {
+		artifact, err := NewCompositeReader().Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{
+			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
+			URI:  path,
+		})
+		done <- result{artifact: artifact, err: err}
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case got := <-done:
+		if got.artifact != nil || !errors.Is(got.err, ErrUnsupportedFile) {
+			t.Fatalf("artifact=%#v err=%v, want nil/ErrUnsupportedFile", got.artifact, got.err)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("FIFO read blocked instead of rejecting the non-regular file")
+	}
+}

internal/artifact/reader_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package artifact
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"os"
@@ -11,54 +12,97 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 )
 
-func TestCompositeReader_Read(t *testing.T) {
+func TestCompositeReaderRejectsUnsupportedReferences(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := NewCompositeReader().Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{
+		Type: domain.ArtifactRefType("unsupported"),
+		URI:  "unsupported://bucket/key",
+	})
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrUnsupportedRefType) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected ErrUnsupportedRefType, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCompositeReaderSourceParityAndOpaqueHashes(t *testing.T) {
 	reader := NewCompositeReader()
-	ctx := context.Background()
+	hashes := make(map[string]string)
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		content string
+	}{
+		{name: "empty", content: ""},
+		{name: "ordinary", content: "same content"},
+		{name: "changed", content: "changed content"},
+	}
 
-	t.Run("inline artifact", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ref := domain.ArtifactRef{
-			Type: domain.ArtifactRefInline,
-			Body: "hello world",
-		}
-		art, err := reader.Read(ctx, ref)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
-		}
-		if string(art.Body) != "hello world" {
-			t.Errorf("expected 'hello world', got %s", string(art.Body))
-		}
-		if art.ContentType != "text/plain" {
-			t.Errorf("expected text/plain content type, got %q", art.ContentType)
-		}
-		if art.Hash != "b94d27b9934d3e08a52e52d7da7dabfac484efe37a5380ee9088f7ace2efcde9" {
-			t.Errorf("unexpected hash: %s", art.Hash)
-		}
-		if art.Size != int64(len(ref.Body)) {
-			t.Errorf("expected size %d, got %d", len(ref.Body), art.Size)
-		}
-	})
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			filePath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.txt")
+			if err := os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte(tc.content), 0o600); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
 
-	t.Run("inline artifact missing body", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ref := domain.ArtifactRef{
-			Type: domain.ArtifactRefInline,
-			Body: "",
-		}
-		_, err := reader.Read(ctx, ref)
-		if !errors.Is(err, ErrMissingInlineBody) {
-			t.Errorf("expected ErrMissingInlineBody, got %v", err)
-		}
-	})
+			sources := []struct {
+				name    string
+				ref     domain.ArtifactRef
+				wantURI string
+			}{
+				{
+					name: "inline",
+					ref:  domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefInline, Body: tc.content},
+				},
+				{
+					name:    "inline with uri",
+					ref:     domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefInline, URI: "memory://input", Body: tc.content},
+					wantURI: "memory://input",
+				},
+				{
+					name:    "file",
+					ref:     domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile, URI: filePath},
+					wantURI: filePath,
+				},
+			}
 
-	t.Run("unsupported ref type", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ref := domain.ArtifactRef{
-			Type: domain.ArtifactRefType("unsupported"),
-			URI:  "unsupported://bucket/key",
-		}
-		_, err := reader.Read(ctx, ref)
-		if !errors.Is(err, ErrUnsupportedRefType) {
-			t.Error("expected error for unsupported type")
-		}
-	})
+			var sourceHash string
+			for _, source := range sources {
+				t.Run(source.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+					first, err := reader.Read(context.Background(), source.ref)
+					if err != nil {
+						t.Fatalf("first read: %v", err)
+					}
+					second, err := reader.Read(context.Background(), source.ref)
+					if err != nil {
+						t.Fatalf("second read: %v", err)
+					}
+					if string(first.Body) != tc.content || first.Size != int64(len(tc.content)) {
+						t.Fatalf("body=%q size=%d, want %q/%d", first.Body, first.Size, tc.content, len(tc.content))
+					}
+					if first.URI != source.wantURI {
+						t.Fatalf("URI = %q, want %q", first.URI, source.wantURI)
+					}
+					if first.Hash == "" || first.Hash != second.Hash {
+						t.Fatalf("hashes are not non-empty and stable: %q/%q", first.Hash, second.Hash)
+					}
+					if sourceHash == "" {
+						sourceHash = first.Hash
+					} else if first.Hash != sourceHash {
+						t.Fatalf("equal content hashes differ: %q/%q", sourceHash, first.Hash)
+					}
+					if source.ref.Type == domain.ArtifactRefFile {
+						if first.Name != filepath.Base(filePath) || !strings.HasPrefix(first.ContentType, "text/plain") {
+							t.Fatalf("unexpected file metadata: %+v", first)
+						}
+					} else if first.ContentType != "text/plain" {
+						t.Fatalf("inline content type = %q", first.ContentType)
+					}
+				})
+			}
+			hashes[tc.name] = sourceHash
+		})
+	}
+
+	if hashes["empty"] == hashes["ordinary"] || hashes["ordinary"] == hashes["changed"] {
+		t.Fatalf("changed content did not change opaque hash: %#v", hashes)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestCompositeReaderCopiesInlineData(t *testing.T) {
@@ -87,94 +131,154 @@ func TestCompositeReaderCopiesInlineData(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestCompositeReaderHonorsCancellation(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	cancel()
+func TestCompositeReaderHonorsPreCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	filePath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte("ignored"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		ref  domain.ArtifactRef
+	}{
+		{name: "inline", ref: domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefInline, Body: "ignored"}},
+		{name: "file", ref: domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile, URI: filePath}},
+	}
 
-	_, err := NewCompositeReader().Read(ctx, domain.ArtifactRef{
-		Type: domain.ArtifactRefInline,
-		Body: "ignored",
-	})
-	if !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
-		t.Fatalf("expected context cancellation, got %v", err)
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			cancel()
+
+			artifact, err := NewCompositeReader().Read(ctx, tc.ref)
+			if artifact != nil || !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+				t.Fatalf("artifact=%#v err=%v, want nil/context.Canceled", artifact, err)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }
 
-func TestFileReader_Read(t *testing.T) {
-	content := []byte("test file content")
-	filePath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.txt")
-	if err := os.WriteFile(filePath, content, 0o600); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
+func TestFileReaderFailuresAndMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	reader := NewCompositeReader()
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
-	t.Run("file artifact loading", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ref := domain.ArtifactRef{
-			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
-			URI:  filePath,
-		}
-		art, err := reader.Read(ctx, ref)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
-		}
-		if string(art.Body) != string(content) {
-			t.Errorf("expected %s, got %s", string(content), string(art.Body))
-		}
-		if art.Name != filepath.Base(filePath) {
-			t.Errorf("expected name %q, got %q", filepath.Base(filePath), art.Name)
-		}
-		if !strings.HasPrefix(art.ContentType, "text/plain") {
-			t.Errorf("expected text content type, got %q", art.ContentType)
-		}
-		if art.URI != filePath {
-			t.Errorf("expected URI %q, got %q", filePath, art.URI)
-		}
-		if art.Size != int64(len(content)) {
-			t.Errorf("expected size %d, got %d", len(content), art.Size)
-		}
-		if art.Hash != "60f5237ed4049f0382661ef009d2bc42e48c3ceb3edb6600f7024e7ab3b838f3" {
-			t.Errorf("unexpected hash: %s", art.Hash)
-		}
-	})
 
 	t.Run("missing file path", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ref := domain.ArtifactRef{
-			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
-			URI:  "",
-		}
-		_, err := reader.Read(ctx, ref)
+		_, err := reader.Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile})
 		if !errors.Is(err, ErrMissingFilePath) {
-			t.Errorf("expected ErrMissingFilePath, got %v", err)
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrMissingFilePath, got %v", err)
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("missing file", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ref := domain.ArtifactRef{
+		_, err := reader.Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{
 			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
 			URI:  filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "missing.txt"),
-		}
-		if _, err := reader.Read(ctx, ref); err == nil {
+		})
+		if err == nil {
 			t.Fatal("expected missing file error")
 		}
 	})
 
+	t.Run("directory rejected before open", func(t *testing.T) {
+		artifact, err := reader.Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{
+			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
+			URI:  t.TempDir(),
+		})
+		if artifact != nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrUnsupportedFile) {
+			t.Fatalf("artifact=%#v err=%v, want nil/ErrUnsupportedFile", artifact, err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("non-regular opened target rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
+		filePath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.txt")
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte("content"), 0o600); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		directoryInfo, err := os.Stat(t.TempDir())
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		fileReader := &fileReader{open: func(path string) (artifactFile, error) {
+			file, err := os.Open(path)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return &reportedInfoFile{artifactFile: file, info: directoryInfo}, nil
+		}}
+
+		artifact, err := fileReader.Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{
+			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
+			URI:  filePath,
+		})
+		if artifact != nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrUnsupportedFile) {
+			t.Fatalf("artifact=%#v err=%v, want nil/ErrUnsupportedFile", artifact, err)
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("unknown extension uses text fallback", func(t *testing.T) {
-		path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.unknownextension")
-		if err := os.WriteFile(path, content, 0o600); err != nil {
+		filePath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.unknownextension")
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filePath, []byte("content"), 0o600); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		art, err := reader.Read(ctx, domain.ArtifactRef{
+		artifact, err := reader.Read(context.Background(), domain.ArtifactRef{
 			Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile,
-			URI:  path,
+			URI:  filePath,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+			t.Fatalf("read artifact: %v", err)
 		}
-		if art.ContentType != "text/plain" {
-			t.Errorf("expected text/plain fallback, got %q", art.ContentType)
+		if artifact.ContentType != "text/plain" {
+			t.Fatalf("content type = %q", artifact.ContentType)
 		}
 	})
 }
+
+func TestFileReaderCancelsAfterReadProgress(t *testing.T) {
+	filePath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "artifact.bin")
+	content := bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), fileReadChunkSize*2)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filePath, content, 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	var opened *cancelAfterProgressFile
+	reader := &fileReader{open: func(path string) (artifactFile, error) {
+		file, err := os.Open(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		opened = &cancelAfterProgressFile{artifactFile: file, cancel: cancel}
+		return opened, nil
+	}}
+
+	artifact, err := reader.Read(ctx, domain.ArtifactRef{Type: domain.ArtifactRefFile, URI: filePath})
+	if artifact != nil || !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("artifact=%#v err=%v, want nil/context.Canceled", artifact, err)
+	}
+	if opened == nil || opened.reads != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("read count = %v, want one progressing read", opened)
+	}
+}
+
+type reportedInfoFile struct {
+	artifactFile
+	info os.FileInfo
+}
+
+func (f *reportedInfoFile) Stat() (os.FileInfo, error) {
+	return f.info, nil
+}
+
+type cancelAfterProgressFile struct {
+	artifactFile
+	cancel context.CancelFunc
+	reads  int
+}
+
+func (f *cancelAfterProgressFile) Read(buffer []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := f.artifactFile.Read(buffer)
+	if n > 0 {
+		f.reads++
+		f.cancel()
+	}
+	return n, err
+}

internal/backend/registry.go

@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+// Package backend owns validated, immutable OpenAI-compatible backend
+// definitions.
+package backend
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
+)
+
+const (
+	// OpenRouterID is the reserved ID of Promptkit's built-in OpenRouter
+	// backend.
+	OpenRouterID = "openrouter"
+	// RakestrawHomeID is the reserved ID of Promptkit's built-in Rakestrawhome
+	// 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
+)
+
+// ErrBackendNotFound identifies a registry lookup for an unknown backend ID.
+var ErrBackendNotFound = errors.New("backend not found")
+
+var environmentVariableName = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*$`)
+
+// Registry is an immutable collection of validated backend definitions.
+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()
+	registry := &Registry{
+		backends: make(map[string]domain.Backend, len(builtIns)+len(additions)),
+	}
+
+	definitions := make([]domain.Backend, 0, len(builtIns)+len(additions))
+	definitions = append(definitions, builtIns...)
+	definitions = append(definitions, additions...)
+
+	for _, definition := range definitions {
+		definition.ID = strings.TrimSpace(definition.ID)
+		if definition.ID == "" {
+			return nil, errors.New("backend ID must not be blank")
+		}
+		if _, exists := registry.backends[definition.ID]; exists {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend ID %q is already registered", definition.ID)
+		}
+
+		normalized, err := normalizeBackend(definition)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		registry.backends[normalized.ID] = normalized
+	}
+
+	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 {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", ErrBackendNotFound, id)
+	}
+	definition, ok := r.backends[id]
+	if !ok {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", ErrBackendNotFound, id)
+	}
+	extraParams, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(definition.ExtraParams)
+	if err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("copy backend %q: %w", id, err)
+	}
+	definition.ExtraParams = extraParams
+	return definition, nil
+}
+
+// CapacityPolicies returns a copy of the normalized policies for limited
+// backends.
+func (r *Registry) CapacityPolicies() map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy {
+	policies := make(map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy)
+	if r == nil {
+		return policies
+	}
+	for id, definition := range r.backends {
+		if definition.ConcurrencyLimit == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		policies[id] = domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+			ConcurrencyLimit: definition.ConcurrencyLimit,
+			QueueCapacity:    definition.QueueCapacity,
+		}
+	}
+	return policies
+}
+
+func normalizeBackend(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)
+	}
+	definition.Endpoint = endpoint
+
+	definition.APIKeyEnv = strings.TrimSpace(definition.APIKeyEnv)
+	if definition.APIKeyEnv != "" && !environmentVariableName.MatchString(definition.APIKeyEnv) {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf(
+			"backend %q api key environment variable %q is invalid",
+			definition.ID,
+			definition.APIKeyEnv,
+		)
+	}
+
+	if definition.ConcurrencyLimit < 0 {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf(
+			"backend %q concurrency limit must not be negative",
+			definition.ID,
+		)
+	}
+	if definition.QueueCapacity < 0 {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf(
+			"backend %q queue capacity must not be negative",
+			definition.ID,
+		)
+	}
+	if definition.ConcurrencyLimit == 0 {
+		if definition.QueueCapacitySet {
+			return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf(
+				"backend %q queue capacity requires a positive concurrency limit",
+				definition.ID,
+			)
+		}
+		definition.QueueCapacity = 0
+	} else {
+		if !definition.QueueCapacitySet {
+			definition.QueueCapacity = defaultQueueCapacity
+			definition.QueueCapacitySet = true
+		}
+		maxInt := int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+		if definition.QueueCapacity > maxInt-definition.ConcurrencyLimit {
+			return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf(
+				"backend %q total capacity overflows int",
+				definition.ID,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(definition.ExtraParams))
+	for key := range definition.ExtraParams {
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		if key == "" {
+			return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("backend %q extra parameter key must not be empty", definition.ID)
+		}
+		if llm.IsReservedOpenAIChatRequestField(key) {
+			return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf(
+				"backend %q extra parameter %q collides with a reserved request field",
+				definition.ID,
+				key,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	extraParams, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(definition.ExtraParams)
+	if err != nil {
+		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("backend %q extra parameters: %w", definition.ID, err)
+	}
+	definition.ExtraParams = extraParams
+	return definition, nil
+}

internal/backend/registry_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,406 @@
+package backend_test
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+const validEndpoint = "https://backend.example/v1"
+
+func TestRegistryIncludesExactBuiltInDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(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)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("look up built-in: %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)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
+	if len(policies) != 2 ||
+		policies[backend.OpenRouterID] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 16,
+			QueueCapacity:    1024,
+		}) ||
+		policies[backend.RakestrawHomeID] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 4,
+			QueueCapacity:    1024,
+		}) {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected built-in capacity policies: %#v", policies)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
+	nested := map[string]int{"limit": 2}
+	extraParams := map[string]any{
+		"count":  int64(7),
+		"nested": nested,
+	}
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{
+		{
+			ID:               " custom ",
+			Endpoint:         " https://custom.example/openai/v1 ",
+			APIKeyEnv:        " CUSTOM_API_KEY ",
+			ExtraParams:      extraParams,
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 3,
+			QueueCapacity:    2,
+			QueueCapacitySet: true,
+		},
+		{
+			ID:       "Custom",
+			Endpoint: validEndpoint,
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	nested["limit"] = 99
+	extraParams["added"] = true
+
+	got, err := registry.GetBackend("custom")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("look up custom backend: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.ID != "custom" ||
+		got.Endpoint != "https://custom.example/openai/v1" ||
+		got.APIKeyEnv != "CUSTOM_API_KEY" ||
+		got.ConcurrencyLimit != 3 ||
+		got.QueueCapacity != 2 ||
+		!got.QueueCapacitySet {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected normalized definition: %#v", got)
+	}
+	if count, ok := got.ExtraParams["count"].(int64); !ok || count != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("integer type or value changed: %#v", got.ExtraParams["count"])
+	}
+	gotNested, ok := got.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]int)
+	if !ok || gotNested["limit"] != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("container type or value changed: %#v", got.ExtraParams["nested"])
+	}
+	if _, exists := got.ExtraParams["added"]; exists {
+		t.Fatalf("registry retained caller map: %#v", got.ExtraParams)
+	}
+
+	gotNested["limit"] = 100
+	got.ExtraParams["added"] = true
+	again, err := registry.GetBackend("custom")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("look up custom backend again: %v", err)
+	}
+	if again.ExtraParams["nested"].(map[string]int)["limit"] != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("lookup exposed registry nested map: %#v", again.ExtraParams)
+	}
+	if _, exists := again.ExtraParams["added"]; exists {
+		t.Fatalf("lookup exposed registry map: %#v", again.ExtraParams)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := registry.GetBackend("Custom"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("backend IDs should be case-sensitive: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
+	if len(policies) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected capacity policy count: %#v", policies)
+	}
+	policies["custom"] = domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{}
+	delete(policies, backend.OpenRouterID)
+	delete(policies, backend.RakestrawHomeID)
+	againPolicies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
+	if againPolicies["custom"] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		ConcurrencyLimit: 3,
+		QueueCapacity:    2,
+	}) {
+		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) {
+	maxInt := int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		definition domain.Backend
+		want       domain.BackendCapacityPolicy
+		wantSet    bool
+		wantError  bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:       "unlimited when omitted",
+			definition: domain.Backend{},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "default queue",
+			definition: domain.Backend{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+			},
+			want: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+				QueueCapacity:    1024,
+			},
+			wantSet: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "explicit zero queue",
+			definition: domain.Backend{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+				QueueCapacitySet: true,
+			},
+			want: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+			},
+			wantSet: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "negative concurrency limit",
+			definition: domain.Backend{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: -1,
+			},
+			wantError: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "negative queue capacity",
+			definition: domain.Backend{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: 1,
+				QueueCapacity:    -1,
+				QueueCapacitySet: true,
+			},
+			wantError: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "queue without limit",
+			definition: domain.Backend{
+				QueueCapacitySet: true,
+			},
+			wantError: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "total overflow",
+			definition: domain.Backend{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: maxInt,
+				QueueCapacity:    1,
+				QueueCapacitySet: true,
+			},
+			wantError: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			tc.definition.ID = "custom"
+			tc.definition.Endpoint = validEndpoint
+			registry, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{tc.definition})
+			if tc.wantError {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected invalid capacity policy error")
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			definition, err := registry.GetBackend("custom")
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("look up custom backend: %v", err)
+			}
+			if definition.ConcurrencyLimit != tc.want.ConcurrencyLimit ||
+				definition.QueueCapacity != tc.want.QueueCapacity ||
+				definition.QueueCapacitySet != tc.wantSet {
+				t.Fatalf("normalized capacity=(%d, %d, %t), want (%d, %d, %t)",
+					definition.ConcurrencyLimit,
+					definition.QueueCapacity,
+					definition.QueueCapacitySet,
+					tc.want.ConcurrencyLimit,
+					tc.want.QueueCapacity,
+					tc.wantSet,
+				)
+			}
+			policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
+			got, ok := policies["custom"]
+			if ok != tc.wantSet || got != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("capacity policy=(%#v, %t), want (%#v, %t)", got, ok, tc.want, tc.wantSet)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewRegistryRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		additions []domain.Backend
+		wantID    string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:      "OpenRouter collision after normalization",
+			additions: []domain.Backend{{ID: " openrouter "}},
+			wantID:    backend.OpenRouterID,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "Rakestrawhome collision after normalization",
+			additions: []domain.Backend{{ID: " rakestrawhome "}},
+			wantID:    backend.RakestrawHomeID,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "consumer collision after normalization",
+			additions: []domain.Backend{
+				{ID: "custom", Endpoint: validEndpoint},
+				{ID: " custom ", Endpoint: "https://other.example/v1"},
+			},
+			wantID: "custom",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(tc.additions)
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected duplicate ID error")
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tc.wantID) {
+				t.Fatalf("expected error to identify %q, got %v", tc.wantID, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewRegistryValidatesIDs(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, id := range []string{"", " \t\n "} {
+		t.Run(id, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+				ID:       id,
+				Endpoint: validEndpoint,
+			}})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected blank ID error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewRegistryValidatesEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		endpoint string
+	}{
+		{name: "blank", endpoint: ""},
+		{name: "relative", endpoint: "/v1"},
+		{name: "missing host", endpoint: "https:///v1"},
+		{name: "unsupported scheme", endpoint: "ftp://backend.example/v1"},
+		{name: "user information", endpoint: "https://user@backend.example/v1"},
+		{name: "query", endpoint: "https://backend.example/v1?mode=chat"},
+		{name: "empty query", endpoint: "https://backend.example/v1?"},
+		{name: "fragment", endpoint: "https://backend.example/v1#chat"},
+		{name: "empty fragment", endpoint: "https://backend.example/v1#"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+				ID:       "custom",
+				Endpoint: tc.endpoint,
+			}})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid endpoint error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+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{{
+				ID:        "custom",
+				Endpoint:  validEndpoint,
+				APIKeyEnv: name,
+			}})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid environment-variable name error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewRegistryRejectsInvalidAndReservedExtraParameters(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		extraParams map[string]any
+	}{
+		{name: "unsupported value", extraParams: map[string]any{"value": make(chan int)}},
+		{name: "reserved key", extraParams: map[string]any{"model": "override"}},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+				ID:          "custom",
+				Endpoint:    validEndpoint,
+				ExtraParams: tc.extraParams,
+			}})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid extra parameters error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegistryLookupReportsNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = registry.GetBackend("missing")
+	if !errors.Is(err, backend.ErrBackendNotFound) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected ErrBackendNotFound, got %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "missing") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error to identify backend, got %v", err)
+	}
+}

internal/capacity/client.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package capacity
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
+)
+
+type client struct {
+	manager *Manager
+	next    llm.Client
+}
+
+// NewClient wraps next with configured active-generation limits. A nil manager
+// leaves next unchanged.
+func NewClient(manager *Manager, next llm.Client) llm.Client {
+	if manager == nil {
+		return next
+	}
+	return &client{
+		manager: manager,
+		next:    next,
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *client) Generate(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	req domain.GenerateRequest,
+) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+	pool := c.manager.getPool(req.Target.BackendID)
+	if pool == nil {
+		return c.next.Generate(ctx, req)
+	}
+	if err := pool.acquire(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer pool.releaseActive()
+	return c.next.Generate(ctx, req)
+}

internal/capacity/client_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,517 @@
+package capacity
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"reflect"
+	"runtime"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
+)
+
+type generateResult struct {
+	response *domain.GenerateResponse
+	err      error
+}
+
+type clientFunc func(
+	context.Context,
+	domain.GenerateRequest,
+) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error)
+
+func (f clientFunc) Generate(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	req domain.GenerateRequest,
+) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+	return f(ctx, req)
+}
+
+type blockingClient struct {
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	active   int
+	peak     int
+	calls    map[string]int
+	started  chan string
+	releases map[string]chan struct{}
+}
+
+func newBlockingClient(releases map[string]chan struct{}) *blockingClient {
+	return &blockingClient{
+		calls:    make(map[string]int),
+		started:  make(chan string, 64),
+		releases: releases,
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *blockingClient) Generate(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	req domain.GenerateRequest,
+) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+	id := req.Prompt.SessionID
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	c.active++
+	if c.active > c.peak {
+		c.peak = c.active
+	}
+	c.calls[id]++
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	defer func() {
+		c.mu.Lock()
+		c.active--
+		c.mu.Unlock()
+	}()
+
+	c.started <- id
+	if release := c.releases[id]; release != nil {
+		select {
+		case <-release:
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil, ctx.Err()
+		}
+	}
+	return &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: id}, nil
+}
+
+func (c *blockingClient) callCount(id string) int {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.calls[id]
+}
+
+func (c *blockingClient) peakConcurrency() int {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.peak
+}
+
+func generateAsync(
+	client llm.Client,
+	ctx context.Context,
+	backendID string,
+	id string,
+) <-chan generateResult {
+	result := make(chan generateResult, 1)
+	go func() {
+		response, err := client.Generate(ctx, domain.GenerateRequest{
+			Prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{SessionID: id},
+			Target: domain.ExecutionTarget{BackendID: backendID},
+		})
+		result <- generateResult{response: response, err: err}
+	}()
+	return result
+}
+
+func waitForWaiterCount(t *testing.T, manager *Manager, backendID string, want int) {
+	t.Helper()
+	pool := manager.pools[backendID]
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		pool.mu.Lock()
+		got := pool.waiters.Len()
+		pool.mu.Unlock()
+		if got == want {
+			return
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatalf("waiter count=%d, want %d", got, want)
+		}
+		runtime.Gosched()
+	}
+}
+
+func receiveStarted(t *testing.T, started <-chan string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case id := <-started:
+		return id
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for wrapped client invocation")
+		return ""
+	}
+}
+
+func receiveResult(t *testing.T, result <-chan generateResult) generateResult {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case got := <-result:
+		return got
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out waiting for generation result")
+		return generateResult{}
+	}
+}
+
+func newTestManager(t *testing.T, policies map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy) *Manager {
+	t.Helper()
+	manager, err := NewManager(policies)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct manager: %v", err)
+	}
+	return manager
+}
+
+func TestClientLimitsPeakConcurrencyAndServesWaitersFIFO(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+	})
+	firstRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	secondRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	thirdRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	next := newBlockingClient(map[string]chan struct{}{
+		"first":  firstRelease,
+		"second": secondRelease,
+		"third":  thirdRelease,
+	})
+	client := NewClient(manager, next)
+
+	first := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", "first")
+	if got := receiveStarted(t, next.started); got != "first" {
+		t.Fatalf("first invocation=%q, want first", got)
+	}
+	second := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", "second")
+	waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", 1)
+	third := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", "third")
+	waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", 2)
+
+	close(firstRelease)
+	if got := receiveResult(t, first); got.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first generation: %v", got.err)
+	}
+	if got := receiveStarted(t, next.started); got != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("second invocation=%q, want second", got)
+	}
+	close(secondRelease)
+	if got := receiveResult(t, second); got.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second generation: %v", got.err)
+	}
+	if got := receiveStarted(t, next.started); got != "third" {
+		t.Fatalf("third invocation=%q, want third", got)
+	}
+	close(thirdRelease)
+	if got := receiveResult(t, third); got.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("third generation: %v", got.err)
+	}
+	if peak := next.peakConcurrency(); peak != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("peak concurrency=%d, want 1", peak)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientPeakConcurrencyDoesNotExceedConfiguredLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	const limit = 2
+	manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: limit},
+	})
+	gate := make(chan struct{})
+	releases := make(map[string]chan struct{})
+	for i := range 5 {
+		releases[string(rune('a'+i))] = gate
+	}
+	next := newBlockingClient(releases)
+	client := NewClient(manager, next)
+
+	results := make([]<-chan generateResult, 0, len(releases))
+	for id := range releases {
+		results = append(results, generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", id))
+	}
+	for range limit {
+		receiveStarted(t, next.started)
+	}
+	waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", len(releases)-limit)
+
+	close(gate)
+	for _, result := range results {
+		if got := receiveResult(t, result); got.err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("generation: %v", got.err)
+		}
+	}
+	if peak := next.peakConcurrency(); peak != limit {
+		t.Fatalf("peak concurrency=%d, want %d", peak, limit)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientRemovesCanceledWaiters(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		cancelID  string
+		wantOrder []string
+	}{
+		{name: "first waiter", cancelID: "one", wantOrder: []string{"two", "three"}},
+		{name: "middle waiter", cancelID: "two", wantOrder: []string{"one", "three"}},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+				"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+			})
+			holderRelease := make(chan struct{})
+			releases := map[string]chan struct{}{
+				"holder": holderRelease,
+				"one":    make(chan struct{}),
+				"two":    make(chan struct{}),
+				"three":  make(chan struct{}),
+			}
+			next := newBlockingClient(releases)
+			client := NewClient(manager, next)
+
+			holder := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", "holder")
+			if got := receiveStarted(t, next.started); got != "holder" {
+				t.Fatalf("initial invocation=%q, want holder", got)
+			}
+
+			contexts := make(map[string]context.Context)
+			cancels := make(map[string]context.CancelFunc)
+			results := make(map[string]<-chan generateResult)
+			for _, id := range []string{"one", "two", "three"} {
+				contexts[id], cancels[id] = context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+				results[id] = generateAsync(client, contexts[id], "limited", id)
+				waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", len(results))
+			}
+
+			cancels[tc.cancelID]()
+			if got := receiveResult(t, results[tc.cancelID]); !errors.Is(got.err, context.Canceled) {
+				t.Fatalf("canceled waiter error=%v, want context.Canceled", got.err)
+			}
+			waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", 2)
+
+			close(holderRelease)
+			if got := receiveResult(t, holder); got.err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("holder generation: %v", got.err)
+			}
+			for _, id := range tc.wantOrder {
+				if got := receiveStarted(t, next.started); got != id {
+					t.Fatalf("next invocation=%q, want %q", got, id)
+				}
+				close(releases[id])
+				if got := receiveResult(t, results[id]); got.err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("%s generation: %v", id, got.err)
+				}
+			}
+			if calls := next.callCount(tc.cancelID); calls != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("canceled waiter invoked wrapped client %d times", calls)
+			}
+			for _, cancel := range cancels {
+				cancel()
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientGrantCancellationRaceDoesNotLeakPermit(t *testing.T) {
+	const iterations = 200
+	for i := range iterations {
+		manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+			"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+		})
+		holderRelease := make(chan struct{})
+		var waiterCalls atomic.Int64
+		next := clientFunc(func(
+			_ context.Context,
+			req domain.GenerateRequest,
+		) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+			if req.Prompt.SessionID == "holder" {
+				<-holderRelease
+			} else if req.Prompt.SessionID == "waiter" {
+				waiterCalls.Add(1)
+			}
+			return &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: req.Prompt.SessionID}, nil
+		})
+		client := NewClient(manager, next)
+
+		holder := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", "holder")
+		waitForActiveCount(t, manager, "limited", 1)
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		waiterResult := generateAsync(client, ctx, "limited", "waiter")
+		waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", 1)
+
+		start := make(chan struct{})
+		var race sync.WaitGroup
+		race.Add(2)
+		go func() {
+			defer race.Done()
+			<-start
+			cancel()
+		}()
+		go func() {
+			defer race.Done()
+			<-start
+			close(holderRelease)
+		}()
+		close(start)
+		race.Wait()
+
+		if got := receiveResult(t, holder); got.err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("iteration %d holder generation: %v", i, got.err)
+		}
+		got := receiveResult(t, waiterResult)
+		switch calls := waiterCalls.Load(); {
+		case calls == 0 && errors.Is(got.err, context.Canceled):
+		case calls == 1 && got.err == nil:
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("iteration %d waiter calls=%d error=%v", i, calls, got.err)
+		}
+
+		probe := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "limited", "probe")
+		if got := receiveResult(t, probe); got.err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("iteration %d probe generation: %v", i, got.err)
+		}
+		waitForActiveCount(t, manager, "limited", 0)
+		waitForWaiterCount(t, manager, "limited", 0)
+	}
+}
+
+func waitForActiveCount(t *testing.T, manager *Manager, backendID string, want int) {
+	t.Helper()
+	pool := manager.pools[backendID]
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		pool.mu.Lock()
+		got := pool.active
+		pool.mu.Unlock()
+		if got == want {
+			return
+		}
+		if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			t.Fatalf("active count=%d, want %d", got, want)
+		}
+		runtime.Gosched()
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientUsesIndependentPoolsAndUnlimitedFastPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"alpha": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+		"beta":  {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+	})
+	alphaRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	betaRelease := make(chan struct{})
+	next := newBlockingClient(map[string]chan struct{}{
+		"alpha": alphaRelease,
+		"beta":  betaRelease,
+	})
+	client := NewClient(manager, next)
+
+	alpha := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "alpha", "alpha")
+	beta := generateAsync(client, context.Background(), "beta", "beta")
+	started := map[string]bool{
+		receiveStarted(t, next.started): true,
+		receiveStarted(t, next.started): true,
+	}
+	if !started["alpha"] || !started["beta"] {
+		t.Fatalf("independent pools did not both start: %#v", started)
+	}
+	close(alphaRelease)
+	close(betaRelease)
+	if got := receiveResult(t, alpha); got.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("alpha generation: %v", got.err)
+	}
+	if got := receiveResult(t, beta); got.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("beta generation: %v", got.err)
+	}
+
+	for _, backendID := range []string{"", "unknown"} {
+		response, err := client.Generate(context.Background(), domain.GenerateRequest{
+			Prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{SessionID: backendID},
+			Target: domain.ExecutionTarget{BackendID: backendID},
+		})
+		if err != nil || response == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("unlimited backend %q response=(%#v, %v)", backendID, response, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if got := NewClient(nil, next); got != next {
+		t.Fatal("nil manager did not return the wrapped client unchanged")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientPreservesRequestsResponsesAndErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+	})
+	request := domain.GenerateRequest{
+		Prompt: domain.RenderedPrompt{
+			SessionID: "session",
+			Messages: []domain.RenderedMessage{
+				{Role: "user", Content: "content"},
+			},
+		},
+		Target: domain.ExecutionTarget{
+			BackendID:   "limited",
+			Model:       "model",
+			ExtraParams: map[string]any{"key": "value"},
+		},
+	}
+	response := &domain.GenerateResponse{
+		Content: "output",
+		Usage:   domain.TokenUsage{TotalTokens: 7},
+	}
+	collaboratorErr := errors.New("collaborator failure")
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		response *domain.GenerateResponse
+		err      error
+	}{
+		{name: "successful response", response: response},
+		{name: "nil response"},
+		{name: "collaborator error", response: response, err: collaboratorErr},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var captured domain.GenerateRequest
+			next := clientFunc(func(
+				_ context.Context,
+				req domain.GenerateRequest,
+			) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+				captured = req
+				return tc.response, tc.err
+			})
+			gotResponse, gotErr := NewClient(manager, next).Generate(context.Background(), request)
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(captured, request) {
+				t.Fatalf("request changed: %#v", captured)
+			}
+			if gotResponse != tc.response || gotErr != tc.err {
+				t.Fatalf("response=(%p, %v), want (%p, %v)",
+					gotResponse, gotErr, tc.response, tc.err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestClientReleasesPermitDuringPanicUnwinding(t *testing.T) {
+	manager := newTestManager(t, map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+	})
+	var calls atomic.Int64
+	next := clientFunc(func(
+		_ context.Context,
+		_ domain.GenerateRequest,
+	) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
+		if calls.Add(1) == 1 {
+			panic("test panic")
+		}
+		return &domain.GenerateResponse{Content: "recovered"}, nil
+	})
+	client := NewClient(manager, next)
+	request := domain.GenerateRequest{
+		Target: domain.ExecutionTarget{BackendID: "limited"},
+	}
+
+	func() {
+		defer func() {
+			if recover() == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected wrapped client panic")
+			}
+		}()
+		_, _ = client.Generate(context.Background(), request)
+	}()
+
+	response, err := client.Generate(context.Background(), request)
+	if err != nil || response == nil || response.Content != "recovered" {
+		t.Fatalf("generation after panic=(%#v, %v)", response, err)
+	}
+}

internal/capacity/manager.go

@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+// Package capacity coordinates engine-local run admission and model-generation
+// concurrency for configured backends.
+package capacity
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+// ErrCapacityExceeded identifies an admission rejected because a backend's
+// configured run capacity is full.
+var ErrCapacityExceeded = errors.New("backend capacity exceeded")
+
+// Manager owns independent backend capacity pools with immutable limits.
+type Manager struct {
+	pools map[string]*pool
+}
+
+type pool struct {
+	mu               sync.Mutex
+	concurrencyLimit int
+	totalCapacity    int
+	admitted         int
+	active           int
+	waiters          list.List
+}
+
+type waiter struct {
+	ready   chan struct{}
+	element *list.Element
+	granted bool
+}
+
+// NewManager constructs independent pools from normalized backend policies.
+func NewManager(policies map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy) (*Manager, error) {
+	manager := &Manager{
+		pools: make(map[string]*pool, len(policies)),
+	}
+	maxInt := int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+	for id, policy := range policies {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(id) == "" {
+			return nil, errors.New("backend capacity policy ID must not be blank")
+		}
+		if policy.ConcurrencyLimit <= 0 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+				"backend %q concurrency limit must be positive",
+				id,
+			)
+		}
+		if policy.QueueCapacity < 0 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+				"backend %q queue capacity must not be negative",
+				id,
+			)
+		}
+		if policy.QueueCapacity > maxInt-policy.ConcurrencyLimit {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend %q total capacity overflows int", id)
+		}
+		manager.pools[id] = &pool{
+			concurrencyLimit: policy.ConcurrencyLimit,
+			totalCapacity:    policy.ConcurrencyLimit + policy.QueueCapacity,
+		}
+	}
+	return manager, nil
+}
+
+// Admit immediately reserves one configured backend run slot. Backends without
+// a configured pool are unlimited.
+func (m *Manager) Admit(ctx context.Context, backendID string) (func(), error) {
+	pool := m.getPool(backendID)
+	if pool == nil {
+		return releaseNothing, nil
+	}
+
+	pool.mu.Lock()
+	defer pool.mu.Unlock()
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if pool.admitted >= pool.totalCapacity {
+		return nil, ErrCapacityExceeded
+	}
+	pool.admitted++
+
+	var once sync.Once
+	return func() {
+		once.Do(func() {
+			pool.mu.Lock()
+			pool.admitted--
+			pool.mu.Unlock()
+		})
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func releaseNothing() {}
+
+func (m *Manager) getPool(backendID string) *pool {
+	if m == nil || backendID == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return m.pools[backendID]
+}
+
+func (p *pool) acquire(ctx context.Context) error {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return err
+	}
+	if p.active < p.concurrencyLimit && p.waiters.Len() == 0 {
+		p.active++
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	waiter := &waiter{ready: make(chan struct{})}
+	waiter.element = p.waiters.PushBack(waiter)
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+
+	select {
+	case <-waiter.ready:
+		return nil
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		p.mu.Lock()
+		if !waiter.granted {
+			p.waiters.Remove(waiter.element)
+			waiter.element = nil
+			p.mu.Unlock()
+			return ctx.Err()
+		}
+		p.mu.Unlock()
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *pool) releaseActive() {
+	var ready chan struct{}
+
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	if element := p.waiters.Front(); element != nil {
+		waiter := element.Value.(*waiter)
+		p.waiters.Remove(element)
+		waiter.element = nil
+		waiter.granted = true
+		ready = waiter.ready
+	} else {
+		p.active--
+	}
+	p.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if ready != nil {
+		close(ready)
+	}
+}

internal/capacity/manager_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package capacity
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
+)
+
+func TestNewManagerRejectsInvalidPolicies(t *testing.T) {
+	maxInt := int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		id     string
+		policy domain.BackendCapacityPolicy
+	}{
+		{
+			name:   "blank ID",
+			id:     " \t ",
+			policy: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "zero concurrency",
+			id:     "backend",
+			policy: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{},
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "negative concurrency",
+			id:     "backend",
+			policy: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{ConcurrencyLimit: -1},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "negative queue",
+			id:   "backend",
+			policy: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: 1,
+				QueueCapacity:    -1,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "total overflow",
+			id:   "backend",
+			policy: domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+				ConcurrencyLimit: maxInt,
+				QueueCapacity:    1,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := NewManager(map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+				tc.id: tc.policy,
+			})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected invalid policy error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManagerAdmissionIsBoundedAndReleaseIsIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	policies := map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"limited": {
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+			QueueCapacity:    1,
+		},
+		"independent": {
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 1,
+		},
+	}
+	manager, err := NewManager(policies)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct manager: %v", err)
+	}
+	policies["limited"] = domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		ConcurrencyLimit: 100,
+		QueueCapacity:    100,
+	}
+
+	releases := make([]func(), 0, 3)
+	for range 3 {
+		release, err := manager.Admit(context.Background(), "limited")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("admit within configured capacity: %v", err)
+		}
+		releases = append(releases, release)
+	}
+	if release, err := manager.Admit(context.Background(), "limited"); release != nil ||
+		!errors.Is(err, ErrCapacityExceeded) {
+		t.Fatalf("admission beyond capacity=(release=%t, err=%v), want ErrCapacityExceeded",
+			release != nil, err)
+	}
+	independentRelease, err := manager.Admit(context.Background(), "independent")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("admit independent backend while first is full: %v", err)
+	}
+	independentRelease()
+
+	releases[0]()
+	releases[0]()
+	replacement, err := manager.Admit(context.Background(), "limited")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("admit after release: %v", err)
+	}
+	replacement()
+	releases[1]()
+	releases[2]()
+
+	pool := manager.pools["limited"]
+	pool.mu.Lock()
+	admitted := pool.admitted
+	pool.mu.Unlock()
+	if admitted != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("admitted runs after releases=%d, want 0", admitted)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestManagerAdmissionHonorsContextAndUnlimitedBackends(t *testing.T) {
+	manager, err := NewManager(map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+		"limited": {ConcurrencyLimit: 1},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct manager: %v", err)
+	}
+	release, err := manager.Admit(context.Background(), "limited")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fill limited pool: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer release()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+	if release, err := manager.Admit(ctx, "limited"); release != nil ||
+		!errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("canceled limited admission=(release=%t, err=%v), want context cancellation",
+			release != nil, err)
+	}
+
+	var nilManager *Manager
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name      string
+		manager   *Manager
+		backendID string
+	}{
+		{name: "nil manager", manager: nilManager, backendID: "limited"},
+		{name: "blank ID", manager: manager},
+		{name: "unknown ID", manager: manager, backendID: "unknown"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			release, err := tc.manager.Admit(ctx, tc.backendID)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unlimited admission: %v", err)
+			}
+			if release == nil {
+				t.Fatal("unlimited admission returned nil release")
+			}
+			release()
+			release()
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/defaults/defaults.go

@@ -14,21 +14,12 @@ const (
 	ContentTypeApplicationJSON = "application/json"
 	OpenAIChatCompletionsPath  = "/chat/completions"
 
-	ExecutionDefaultTemperature    = 0.0
-	ExecutionDefaultMaxTokens      = 0
-	ExecutionDefaultTopP           = 1.0
 	ExecutionDefaultTimeoutSeconds = 600
-)
-
-var (
-	LLMRequestTimeoutDefault = 10 * time.Minute
+	LLMRequestTimeoutDefault       = 10 * time.Minute
 )
 
 func ExecutionTargetDefault() domain.ExecutionTarget {
 	return domain.ExecutionTarget{
-		Temperature:    ExecutionDefaultTemperature,
-		MaxTokens:      ExecutionDefaultMaxTokens,
-		TopP:           ExecutionDefaultTopP,
 		TimeoutSeconds: ExecutionDefaultTimeoutSeconds,
 	}
 }

internal/domain/domain.go

@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ 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
-	Metadata      map[string]string
 }
 
 // RunResult represents the complete result of a prompt execution run.
@@ -80,8 +80,10 @@ type RunResult struct {
 	PromptID             string
 	PromptVersion        string
 	PromptHash           string
+	SessionID            string
 	RenderedPromptHash   string
 	SelectedProfileID    string
+	SelectedBackendID    string
 	ModelName            string
 	Endpoint             string
 	EffectiveModelParams ExecutionTarget
@@ -95,21 +97,22 @@ type RunResult struct {
 // PreparedRun contains pre-LLM execution state from the prepare/render phase.
 // It must never include resolved API key values, model output, or validation data.
 type PreparedRun struct {
-	PromptID             string                  `json:"prompt_id"`
-	PromptVersion        string                  `json:"prompt_version,omitempty"`
-	PromptHash           string                  `json:"prompt_hash,omitempty"`
-	SelectedProfileID    string                  `json:"selected_profile_id"`
-	EffectiveModelParams ExecutionTarget         `json:"effective_model_params"`
-	TargetPresence       ExecutionTargetPresence `json:"-"`
-	OutputContract       OutputContract          `json:"output_contract"`
-	StructuredOutput     *StructuredOutputSpec   `json:"structured_output,omitempty"`
-	InputHashes          map[string]string       `json:"input_hashes,omitempty"`
-	SessionID            string                  `json:"session_id,omitempty"`
-	RenderedPromptHash   string                  `json:"rendered_prompt_hash"`
-	Messages             []RenderedMessage       `json:"messages"`
-	StartTime            time.Time               `json:"start_time,omitempty"`
-	EndTime              time.Time               `json:"end_time,omitempty"`
-	DurationMS           int64                   `json:"duration_ms,omitempty"`
+	PromptID             string
+	PromptVersion        string
+	PromptHash           string
+	SelectedProfileID    string
+	SelectedBackendID    string
+	EffectiveModelParams ExecutionTarget
+	TargetPresence       ExecutionTargetPresence
+	OutputContract       OutputContract
+	StructuredOutput     *StructuredOutputSpec
+	InputHashes          map[string]string
+	SessionID            string
+	RenderedPromptHash   string
+	Messages             []RenderedMessage
+	StartTime            time.Time
+	EndTime              time.Time
+	DurationMS           int64
 }
 
 // ArtifactRef represents a reference to an input artifact.
@@ -142,6 +145,16 @@ type PromptDefinition struct {
 	Validation     OutputContract          `yaml:"validation"`
 }
 
+// PromptInspection is the resolved result of exact prompt inspection.
+type PromptInspection struct {
+	PromptID         string
+	PromptVersion    string
+	PromptHash       string
+	DefaultProfileID string
+	Inputs           []PromptInput
+	OutputContract   OutputContract
+}
+
 // PromptInput describes one named input expected by a prompt definition.
 type PromptInput struct {
 	Name        string `yaml:"name"`
@@ -158,9 +171,29 @@ type PromptMessageTemplate struct {
 	CacheControl *CacheControl `yaml:"cache_control,omitempty" json:"cache_control,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// Backend describes reusable OpenAI-compatible connection defaults.
+type Backend struct {
+	ID               string
+	Endpoint         string
+	APIKeyEnv        string
+	ExtraParams      map[string]any
+	ConcurrencyLimit int
+	QueueCapacity    int
+	QueueCapacitySet bool
+}
+
+// BackendCapacityPolicy describes normalized run and generation capacity for
+// one limited backend.
+type BackendCapacityPolicy struct {
+	ConcurrencyLimit int
+	QueueCapacity    int
+}
+
 // 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"`
 	Temperature     float64        `yaml:"temperature"`
@@ -183,7 +216,7 @@ type ExecutionTargetOverride struct {
 	TopP            *float64       `json:"top_p,omitempty"`
 	TimeoutSeconds  *int           `json:"timeout_seconds,omitempty"`
 	ServiceTier     string         `json:"service_tier,omitempty"`
-	ReasoningEffort string         `json:"reasoning_effort,omitempty"`
+	ReasoningEffort *string        `json:"reasoning_effort,omitempty"`
 	APIKeyEnv       string         `json:"api_key_env,omitempty"`
 	ExtraParams     map[string]any `json:"extra_params,omitempty"`
 }
@@ -199,6 +232,7 @@ type ExecutionTargetPresence struct {
 
 // ExecutionTarget represents effective model runtime settings for a run.
 type ExecutionTarget struct {
+	BackendID       string         `yaml:"backend" json:"backend_id,omitempty"`
 	Endpoint        string         `yaml:"endpoint" json:"endpoint"`
 	Model           string         `yaml:"model" json:"model"`
 	Temperature     float64        `yaml:"temperature" json:"temperature"`
@@ -213,6 +247,13 @@ type ExecutionTarget struct {
 	ExtraParams     map[string]any `yaml:"extra_params" json:"extra_params"`
 }
 
+// ProfileInspection is the resolved result of exact profile inspection.
+type ProfileInspection struct {
+	ProfileID            string
+	EffectiveModelParams ExecutionTarget
+	APIKeyRequired       bool
+}
+
 // OutputContract defines the requirements for the output artifact.
 type OutputContract struct {
 	Format         OutputFormat   `yaml:"format"`

internal/domain/endpoint.go

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint trims and validates a source-neutral
+// OpenAI-compatible provider base endpoint.
+func NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(endpoint string) (string, error) {
+	endpoint = strings.TrimSpace(endpoint)
+	if endpoint == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must not be blank")
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(endpoint, "#") {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must not contain a fragment")
+	}
+
+	parsed, err := url.Parse(endpoint)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must be a valid URL")
+	}
+	parsed.Scheme = strings.ToLower(parsed.Scheme)
+	if parsed.Scheme != "http" && parsed.Scheme != "https" {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must use http or https")
+	}
+	if !parsed.IsAbs() || parsed.Hostname() == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must be absolute and include a host")
+	}
+	if parsed.User != nil {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must not contain user information")
+	}
+	if parsed.RawQuery != "" || parsed.ForceQuery {
+		return "", errors.New("endpoint must not contain a query string")
+	}
+
+	return parsed.String(), nil
+}

internal/domain/endpoint_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package domain
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestNormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		endpoint string
+		want     string
+		wantErr  bool
+	}{
+		{name: "http host", endpoint: "http://provider.example", want: "http://provider.example"},
+		{name: "https nested path and whitespace", endpoint: "  HTTPS://provider.example/api/openai/v1  ", want: "https://provider.example/api/openai/v1"},
+		{name: "IPv4 host and port", endpoint: "http://127.0.0.1:8080/v1", want: "http://127.0.0.1:8080/v1"},
+		{name: "IPv6 host and port", endpoint: "https://[::1]:8443/v1", want: "https://[::1]:8443/v1"},
+		{name: "repeated trailing slashes", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1///", want: "https://provider.example/v1///"},
+		{name: "blank", endpoint: " \t\n ", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "relative path", endpoint: "/api/v1", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "scheme relative", endpoint: "//provider.example/v1", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "missing host", endpoint: "https:///v1", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "unsupported scheme", endpoint: "ftp://provider.example/v1", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "user information", endpoint: "https://user:secret@provider.example/v1", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "query", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1?mode=chat", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "empty query", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1?", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "fragment", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1#chat", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "empty fragment", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1#", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "malformed URL", endpoint: "https://provider.example/%zz", wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(tc.endpoint)
+			if tc.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatalf("expected endpoint error, got %q", got)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("normalize endpoint: %v", err)
+			}
+			if got != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("normalized endpoint = %q, want %q", got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/domain/execution_settings.go

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"math"
+	"time"
+)
+
+const maxExecutionTimeoutSeconds int64 = math.MaxInt64 / int64(time.Second)
+
+// ValidateExecutionTargetSettings validates source-neutral execution-setting
+// invariants on a resolved target.
+func ValidateExecutionTargetSettings(target ExecutionTarget) error {
+	if !isFinite(target.Temperature) || target.Temperature < 0 || target.Temperature > 2 {
+		return errors.New("temperature must be finite and between 0 and 2")
+	}
+	if target.MaxTokens < 0 {
+		return errors.New("max_tokens must be greater than or equal to 0")
+	}
+	if !isFinite(target.TopP) || target.TopP < 0 || target.TopP > 1 {
+		return errors.New("top_p must be finite and between 0 and 1")
+	}
+	if target.TimeoutSeconds < 0 {
+		return errors.New("timeout_seconds must be greater than or equal to 0")
+	}
+	if int64(target.TimeoutSeconds) > maxExecutionTimeoutSeconds {
+		return errors.New("timeout_seconds exceeds the maximum supported duration")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func isFinite(value float64) bool {
+	return !math.IsNaN(value) && !math.IsInf(value, 0)
+}

internal/domain/execution_settings_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"math"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestValidateExecutionTargetSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	valid := ExecutionTarget{
+		Temperature:    1,
+		MaxTokens:      1,
+		TopP:           0.5,
+		TimeoutSeconds: 1,
+	}
+
+	type testCase struct {
+		name    string
+		change  func(*ExecutionTarget)
+		wantErr string
+	}
+	tests := []testCase{
+		{name: "temperature lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = 0 }},
+		{name: "temperature finite lower neighbor", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.Nextafter(0, 1) }},
+		{name: "temperature finite upper neighbor", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.Nextafter(2, 0) }},
+		{name: "temperature upper boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = 2 }},
+		{name: "temperature below lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.Nextafter(0, math.Inf(-1)) }, wantErr: "temperature"},
+		{name: "temperature above upper boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.Nextafter(2, math.Inf(1)) }, wantErr: "temperature"},
+		{name: "temperature NaN", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.NaN() }, wantErr: "temperature"},
+		{name: "temperature positive infinity", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.Inf(1) }, wantErr: "temperature"},
+		{name: "temperature negative infinity", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.Temperature = math.Inf(-1) }, wantErr: "temperature"},
+		{name: "max tokens lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.MaxTokens = 0 }},
+		{name: "max tokens finite neighbor", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.MaxTokens = 1 }},
+		{name: "max tokens below lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.MaxTokens = -1 }, wantErr: "max_tokens"},
+		{name: "top p lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = 0 }},
+		{name: "top p finite lower neighbor", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.Nextafter(0, 1) }},
+		{name: "top p finite upper neighbor", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.Nextafter(1, 0) }},
+		{name: "top p upper boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = 1 }},
+		{name: "top p below lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.Nextafter(0, math.Inf(-1)) }, wantErr: "top_p"},
+		{name: "top p above upper boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.Nextafter(1, math.Inf(1)) }, wantErr: "top_p"},
+		{name: "top p NaN", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.NaN() }, wantErr: "top_p"},
+		{name: "top p positive infinity", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.Inf(1) }, wantErr: "top_p"},
+		{name: "top p negative infinity", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TopP = math.Inf(-1) }, wantErr: "top_p"},
+		{name: "timeout lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TimeoutSeconds = 0 }},
+		{name: "timeout finite neighbor", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TimeoutSeconds = 1 }},
+		{name: "timeout below lower boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TimeoutSeconds = -1 }, wantErr: "timeout_seconds"},
+	}
+	if strconv.IntSize == 64 {
+		durationLimit := maxExecutionTimeoutSeconds
+		tests = append(tests,
+			testCase{name: "timeout duration boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TimeoutSeconds = int(durationLimit) }},
+			testCase{name: "timeout above duration boundary", change: func(v *ExecutionTarget) { v.TimeoutSeconds = int(durationLimit) + 1 }, wantErr: "timeout_seconds"},
+		)
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			target := valid
+			tt.change(&target)
+			err := ValidateExecutionTargetSettings(target)
+			if tt.wantErr == "" {
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("validate execution settings: %v", err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want diagnostic containing %q", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/domain/output_contract.go

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+const maxOutputRepairAttempts = 3
+
+// ValidateOutputContract validates source-neutral output-contract invariants.
+func ValidateOutputContract(contract OutputContract) error {
+	switch contract.Format {
+	case FormatText, FormatMarkdown, FormatJSON:
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid output format: %q", contract.Format)
+	}
+
+	switch contract.ValidationMode {
+	case ValidationNone, ValidationBasic, ValidationJSON, ValidationJSONSchema:
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid validation mode: %q", contract.ValidationMode)
+	}
+
+	if contract.ValidationMode == ValidationJSONSchema && strings.TrimSpace(contract.SchemaPath) == "" {
+		return errors.New("schema_path is required when validation_mode is json_schema")
+	}
+	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

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestValidateOutputContract(t *testing.T) {
+	valid := OutputContract{
+		Format:         FormatText,
+		ValidationMode: ValidationNone,
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		change  func(*OutputContract)
+		wantErr string
+	}{
+		{name: "text format", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.Format = FormatText }},
+		{name: "markdown format", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.Format = FormatMarkdown }},
+		{name: "json format", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.Format = FormatJSON }},
+		{name: "empty format", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.Format = "" }, wantErr: "format"},
+		{name: "unsupported format", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.Format = OutputFormat("binary") }, wantErr: "format"},
+		{name: "none validation", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.ValidationMode = ValidationNone }},
+		{name: "basic validation", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.ValidationMode = ValidationBasic }},
+		{name: "json validation", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSON }},
+		{name: "json schema validation", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSONSchema
+			c.SchemaPath = "schema.json"
+		}},
+		{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.ValidationMode = ValidationBasic
+			c.RepairAttempts = -1
+		}, wantErr: "repair_attempts"},
+		{name: "zero repair attempts", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.RepairAttempts = 0 }},
+		{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 = ""
+		}, wantErr: "schema_path"},
+		{name: "json schema whitespace path", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSONSchema
+			c.SchemaPath = " \t "
+		}, wantErr: "schema_path"},
+		{name: "json schema nonblank path", change: func(c *OutputContract) {
+			c.ValidationMode = ValidationJSONSchema
+			c.SchemaPath = " schema.json "
+		}},
+		{name: "non-schema empty path", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.SchemaPath = "" }},
+		{name: "non-schema populated path", change: func(c *OutputContract) { c.SchemaPath = "ignored.json" }},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			contract := valid
+			tt.change(&contract)
+			err := ValidateOutputContract(contract)
+			if tt.wantErr == "" {
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("validate output contract: %v", err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want diagnostic containing %q", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/domain/prepared_run_test.go

@@ -1,141 +0,0 @@
-package domain
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-)
-
-func TestPreparedRunJSONDoesNotIncludeSecretValues(t *testing.T) {
-	const envName = "PROMPTKIT_TEST_API_KEY"
-	const secret = "super-secret-value"
-	t.Setenv(envName, secret)
-
-	prepared := PreparedRun{
-		PromptID:          "prompt.id",
-		PromptVersion:     "v1",
-		PromptHash:        "prompt-hash",
-		SelectedProfileID: "local-fast",
-		EffectiveModelParams: ExecutionTarget{
-			Endpoint:  "http://llm/v1",
-			Model:     "gpt-test",
-			APIKeyEnv: envName,
-			APIKey:    secret,
-		},
-		InputHashes:        map[string]string{"transcript": "hash-1"},
-		RenderedPromptHash: "rendered-hash",
-		Messages: []RenderedMessage{
-			{Role: "system", Content: "You are helpful."},
-			{Role: "user", Content: "Summarize this."},
-		},
-	}
-
-	b, err := json.Marshal(prepared)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("marshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	out := string(b)
-	if strings.Contains(out, secret) {
-		t.Fatalf("prepared run JSON unexpectedly contains secret value: %s", out)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(out, `"api_key_env":"`+envName+`"`) {
-		t.Fatalf("prepared run JSON should include api_key_env name: %s", out)
-	}
-
-	var top map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &top); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unmarshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	for _, forbidden := range []string{"raw_output", "validation", "artifact"} {
-		if _, ok := top[forbidden]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("prepared run JSON should not include %q", forbidden)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestPreparedRunJSONIncludesMessageCacheControlOnlyWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
-	prepared := PreparedRun{
-		PromptID:          "prompt.id",
-		SelectedProfileID: "local-fast",
-		EffectiveModelParams: ExecutionTarget{
-			Endpoint: "http://llm/v1",
-			Model:    "gpt-test",
-		},
-		RenderedPromptHash: "rendered-hash",
-		Messages: []RenderedMessage{
-			{
-				Role:    "system",
-				Content: "You are helpful.",
-				CacheControl: &CacheControl{
-					Type: CacheControlEphemeral,
-					TTL:  "1h",
-				},
-			},
-			{Role: "user", Content: "Summarize this."},
-		},
-	}
-
-	b, err := json.Marshal(prepared)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("marshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	var decoded struct {
-		Messages []map[string]any `json:"messages"`
-	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &decoded); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unmarshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-	if len(decoded.Messages) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 2 messages, got %d", len(decoded.Messages))
-	}
-
-	cacheControl, ok := decoded.Messages[0]["cache_control"].(map[string]any)
-	if !ok {
-		t.Fatalf("expected cache_control on first message, got %#v", decoded.Messages[0])
-	}
-	if cacheControl["type"] != string(CacheControlEphemeral) || cacheControl["ttl"] != "1h" {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected cache_control payload: %#v", cacheControl)
-	}
-	if _, ok := decoded.Messages[1]["cache_control"]; ok {
-		t.Fatalf("expected second message to omit cache_control, got %#v", decoded.Messages[1])
-	}
-}
-
-func TestPreparedRunJSONIncludesSessionIDOnlyWhenPresent(t *testing.T) {
-	prepared := PreparedRun{
-		PromptID:          "prompt.id",
-		SelectedProfileID: "local-fast",
-		EffectiveModelParams: ExecutionTarget{
-			Endpoint: "http://llm/v1",
-			Model:    "gpt-test",
-		},
-		SessionID:          "session-123",
-		RenderedPromptHash: "rendered-hash",
-		Messages:           []RenderedMessage{{Role: "user", Content: "Summarize this."}},
-	}
-
-	b, err := json.Marshal(prepared)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("marshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	var decoded map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &decoded); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unmarshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-	if decoded["session_id"] != "session-123" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected session_id in prepared run JSON, got %#v", decoded["session_id"])
-	}
-
-	prepared.SessionID = ""
-	b, err = json.Marshal(prepared)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("marshal failed: %v", err)
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(string(b), "session_id") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected empty session_id to be omitted, got %s", b)
-	}
-}

internal/domain/session.go

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+)
+
+// NormalizeSessionID applies the shared session identifier rule.
+func NormalizeSessionID(raw string) (string, error) {
+	if !utf8.ValidString(raw) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session_id must contain valid UTF-8")
+	}
+	normalized := strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if normalized == "" {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+	if length := utf8.RuneCountInString(normalized); length > SessionIDMaxLength {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("session_id length %d exceeds maximum %d", length, SessionIDMaxLength)
+	}
+	return normalized, nil
+}

internal/domain/session_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package domain
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestNormalizeSessionID(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name            string
+		raw             string
+		want            string
+		wantErrContains string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "trims surrounding Unicode whitespace",
+			raw:  "\u2003 session-123 \u2003",
+			want: "session-123",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "blank input is omitted",
+			raw:  " \t\u2003 ",
+			want: "",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "maximum Unicode length is accepted",
+			raw:  strings.Repeat("界", SessionIDMaxLength),
+			want: strings.Repeat("界", SessionIDMaxLength),
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "one Unicode code point over maximum is rejected",
+			raw:             strings.Repeat("界", SessionIDMaxLength+1),
+			wantErrContains: "exceeds maximum",
+		},
+		{name: "invalid UTF-8 before valid content", raw: string([]byte{0xff}) + "session", wantErrContains: "valid UTF-8"},
+		{name: "invalid UTF-8 within valid content", raw: "ses" + string([]byte{0xff}) + "sion", wantErrContains: "valid UTF-8"},
+		{name: "invalid UTF-8 after valid content", raw: "session" + string([]byte{0xff}), wantErrContains: "valid UTF-8"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := NormalizeSessionID(tt.raw)
+			if tt.wantErrContains != "" {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected normalization error")
+				}
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErrContains) {
+					t.Fatalf("expected diagnostic containing %q, got %v", tt.wantErrContains, err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("normalize session id: %v", err)
+			}
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("normalized session id = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/filecatalog/catalog.go

@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ func FindYAMLFiles(ctx context.Context, root string) ([]string, error) {
 	return files, err
 }
 
-// FindFSYAMLFiles returns sorted paths for .yaml and .yml files under root in fsys.
+// FindFSYAMLFiles returns root itself when it names a file. For a directory
+// root, it returns sorted paths for .yaml and .yml files beneath that root.
 func FindFSYAMLFiles(ctx context.Context, fsys fs.FS, root string) ([]string, error) {
 	cleanRoot := CleanFSRoot(root)
 	var files []string
@@ -52,6 +53,10 @@ func FindFSYAMLFiles(ctx context.Context, fsys fs.FS, root string) ([]string, er
 		if d.IsDir() {
 			return nil
 		}
+		if name == cleanRoot {
+			files = append(files, name)
+			return nil
+		}
 		if !IsYAMLFile(d.Name()) {
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -71,10 +76,10 @@ func RelativePath(root string, filePath string) string {
 	return filepath.Clean(rel)
 }
 
-// CleanFSRoot normalizes a root path for use with fs.FS.
+// CleanFSRoot normalizes a root path for use with fs.FS while preserving
+// nonblank leading and trailing whitespace.
 func CleanFSRoot(root string) string {
-	root = strings.TrimSpace(root)
-	if root == "" || root == "." {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(root) == "" || root == "." {
 		return "."
 	}
 	return path.Clean(root)
@@ -97,22 +102,21 @@ func DisplayPath(root string, name string) string {
 // ResolveFSPath resolves userPath from baseDir and keeps it inside root.
 func ResolveFSPath(root string, baseDir string, userPath string) (string, string, error) {
 	cleanRoot := CleanFSRoot(root)
-	cleanBase := path.Clean(strings.TrimSpace(baseDir))
-	if cleanBase == "" {
+	cleanBase := path.Clean(baseDir)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(baseDir) == "" {
 		cleanBase = cleanRoot
 	}
 	if !containsFSPath(cleanRoot, cleanBase) {
 		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("base path %q is outside source root %q", cleanBase, cleanRoot)
 	}
 
-	cleanUserPath := strings.TrimSpace(userPath)
-	if cleanUserPath == "" {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(userPath) == "" {
 		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("path is required")
 	}
-	cleanUserPath = path.Clean(cleanUserPath)
-	if path.IsAbs(cleanUserPath) {
+	if path.IsAbs(userPath) {
 		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("path %q must be relative", userPath)
 	}
+	cleanUserPath := path.Clean(userPath)
 
 	resolved := path.Clean(path.Join(cleanBase, cleanUserPath))
 	if !containsFSPath(cleanRoot, resolved) {
@@ -130,13 +134,6 @@ func containsFSPath(root string, name string) bool {
 	return name == root || strings.HasPrefix(name, strings.TrimSuffix(root, "/")+"/")
 }
 
-// Stem strips .yaml or .yml from a file name.
-func Stem(name string) string {
-	name = strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".yaml")
-	name = strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".yml")
-	return name
-}
-
 func IsYAMLFile(name string) bool {
 	return strings.HasSuffix(name, ".yaml") || strings.HasSuffix(name, ".yml")
 }

internal/filecatalog/catalog_test.go

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestFindFSYAMLFilesNestedSortedAndFiltered(t *testing.T) {
 		"other/ignored.yaml":        &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("id: ignored")},
 	}
 
-	got, err := FindFSYAMLFiles(context.Background(), fsys, " prompts ")
+	got, err := FindFSYAMLFiles(context.Background(), fsys, "prompts")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected no error, got %v", err)
 	}
@@ -98,8 +98,11 @@ func TestCleanFSRoot(t *testing.T) {
 		want string
 	}{
 		{name: "empty", root: "", want: "."},
+		{name: "whitespace only", root: " \t ", want: "."},
 		{name: "dot", root: ".", want: "."},
-		{name: "trimmed", root: " prompts/../profiles ", want: "profiles"},
+		{name: "cleaned", root: "prompts/../profiles", want: "profiles"},
+		{name: "leading whitespace preserved", root: " profiles", want: " profiles"},
+		{name: "trailing whitespace preserved", root: "profiles ", want: "profiles "},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
@@ -158,6 +161,22 @@ func TestResolveFSPath(t *testing.T) {
 			wantPath:    "prompts/shared/user.tmpl",
 			wantDisplay: "shared/user.tmpl",
 		},
+		{
+			name:        "leading whitespace preserved",
+			root:        "prompts",
+			baseDir:     "prompts/nested",
+			userPath:    " user.tmpl",
+			wantPath:    "prompts/nested/ user.tmpl",
+			wantDisplay: "nested/ user.tmpl",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "trailing whitespace preserved",
+			root:        "prompts",
+			baseDir:     "prompts/nested",
+			userPath:    "user.tmpl ",
+			wantPath:    "prompts/nested/user.tmpl ",
+			wantDisplay: "nested/user.tmpl ",
+		},
 		{
 			name:     "escape rejected",
 			root:     "prompts",
@@ -218,26 +237,6 @@ func TestResolveFSPath(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestStemStripsYAMLExtensions(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name string
-		in   string
-		want string
-	}{
-		{name: "yaml", in: "prompt.yaml", want: "prompt"},
-		{name: "yml", in: "profile.yml", want: "profile"},
-		{name: "other", in: "file.txt", want: "file.txt"},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range tests {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if got := Stem(tc.in); got != tc.want {
-				t.Fatalf("expected %q, got %q", tc.want, got)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func TestIsYAMLFile(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name string

internal/jsonvalue/jsonvalue.go

@@ -0,0 +1,373 @@
+// Package jsonvalue validates and defensively copies bounded JSON-compatible
+// value trees used by configuration, request, and prepared-state boundaries.
+package jsonvalue
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"reflect"
+	"sort"
+)
+
+const (
+	maxContainerDepth = 100
+	maxProducedNodes  = 100_000
+)
+
+type visit struct {
+	typ reflect.Type
+	ptr uintptr
+}
+
+type traversalState struct {
+	active        map[visit]struct{}
+	producedNodes int
+}
+
+// Copy validates and deeply copies a JSON-compatible value while preserving
+// compatible concrete map, slice, array, scalar, and number types. It rejects
+// cycles and values that exceed the package's traversal limits.
+func Copy(src any) (any, error) {
+	return copyValue(reflect.ValueOf(src), "value", newTraversalState(), true, 0)
+}
+
+// CopyMap validates and deeply copies an extra-parameter map while preserving
+// compatible concrete map, slice, array, scalar, and number types. It rejects
+// empty object keys, cycles, and values that exceed the package's traversal
+// limits.
+func CopyMap(src map[string]any) (map[string]any, error) {
+	if src == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	copied, err := copyValue(reflect.ValueOf(src), "extra_params", newTraversalState(), false, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	out, ok := copied.(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("extra_params: expected object")
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func copyValue(
+	value reflect.Value,
+	path string,
+	state *traversalState,
+	allowEmptyMapKeys bool,
+	containerDepth int,
+) (any, error) {
+	resolved, cleanup, isNull, err := state.resolveIndirection(value, path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer cleanup()
+	if isNull {
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	value = resolved
+	if !value.CanInterface() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: value cannot be copied", path)
+	}
+	if number, ok := value.Interface().(json.Number); ok {
+		if !validJSONNumber(number) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: invalid JSON number", path)
+		}
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return number, nil
+	}
+
+	switch value.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Bool, reflect.String:
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return value.Interface(), nil
+	case reflect.Int, reflect.Int8, reflect.Int16, reflect.Int32, reflect.Int64:
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return value.Interface(), nil
+	case reflect.Uint, reflect.Uint8, reflect.Uint16, reflect.Uint32, reflect.Uint64, reflect.Uintptr:
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return value.Interface(), nil
+	case reflect.Float32, reflect.Float64:
+		number := value.Float()
+		if math.IsNaN(number) || math.IsInf(number, 0) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: floating-point value must be finite", path)
+		}
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return value.Interface(), nil
+	case reflect.Map:
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		nextDepth, err := state.enterContainer(path, containerDepth)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return copyMapValue(value, path, state, allowEmptyMapKeys, nextDepth)
+	case reflect.Slice:
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		nextDepth, err := state.enterContainer(path, containerDepth)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return copySequenceValue(value, path, state, allowEmptyMapKeys, nextDepth)
+	case reflect.Array:
+		nextDepth, err := state.enterContainer(path, containerDepth)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return copySequenceValue(value, path, state, allowEmptyMapKeys, nextDepth)
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: unsupported JSON value type %s", path, value.Type())
+	}
+}
+
+func copyMapValue(
+	value reflect.Value,
+	path string,
+	state *traversalState,
+	allowEmptyMapKeys bool,
+	containerDepth int,
+) (any, error) {
+	if value.Type().Key().Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: map key type %s is not supported", path, value.Type().Key())
+	}
+	if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := state.ensureChildCapacity(path, value.Len()); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	current := visit{typ: value.Type(), ptr: value.Pointer()}
+	if _, ok := state.active[current]; ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: cyclic value is not supported", path)
+	}
+	state.active[current] = struct{}{}
+	defer delete(state.active, current)
+
+	keys := value.MapKeys()
+	sort.Slice(keys, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return keys[i].String() < keys[j].String()
+	})
+
+	type entry struct {
+		key   reflect.Value
+		name  string
+		value any
+	}
+	entries := make([]entry, 0, len(keys))
+	preserveType := true
+	elementType := value.Type().Elem()
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		name := key.String()
+		if name == "" && !allowEmptyMapKeys {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: map key must not be empty", path)
+		}
+		copied, err := copyValue(
+			value.MapIndex(key),
+			path+"."+name,
+			state,
+			allowEmptyMapKeys,
+			containerDepth,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		entries = append(entries, entry{key: key, name: name, value: copied})
+		if copied == nil {
+			if !canAssignNil(elementType) {
+				preserveType = false
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if !reflect.TypeOf(copied).AssignableTo(elementType) {
+			preserveType = false
+		}
+	}
+
+	if preserveType {
+		out := reflect.MakeMapWithSize(value.Type(), len(entries))
+		for _, entry := range entries {
+			if entry.value == nil {
+				out.SetMapIndex(entry.key, reflect.Zero(elementType))
+				continue
+			}
+			out.SetMapIndex(entry.key, reflect.ValueOf(entry.value))
+		}
+		return out.Interface(), nil
+	}
+
+	out := make(map[string]any, len(entries))
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		out[entry.name] = entry.value
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func copySequenceValue(
+	value reflect.Value,
+	path string,
+	state *traversalState,
+	allowEmptyMapKeys bool,
+	containerDepth int,
+) (any, error) {
+	if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := state.ensureChildCapacity(path, value.Len()); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var current visit
+	if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+		current = visit{typ: value.Type(), ptr: value.Pointer()}
+		if _, ok := state.active[current]; ok {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: cyclic value is not supported", path)
+		}
+		state.active[current] = struct{}{}
+		defer delete(state.active, current)
+	}
+
+	values := make([]any, value.Len())
+	preserveType := true
+	elementType := value.Type().Elem()
+	for i := 0; i < value.Len(); i++ {
+		copied, err := copyValue(
+			value.Index(i),
+			fmt.Sprintf("%s[%d]", path, i),
+			state,
+			allowEmptyMapKeys,
+			containerDepth,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		values[i] = copied
+		if copied == nil {
+			if !canAssignNil(elementType) {
+				preserveType = false
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if !reflect.TypeOf(copied).AssignableTo(elementType) {
+			preserveType = false
+		}
+	}
+
+	if preserveType {
+		out := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+			out = reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), value.Len(), value.Len())
+		}
+		for i, copied := range values {
+			if copied == nil {
+				out.Index(i).Set(reflect.Zero(elementType))
+				continue
+			}
+			out.Index(i).Set(reflect.ValueOf(copied))
+		}
+		return out.Interface(), nil
+	}
+
+	out := make([]any, len(values))
+	copy(out, values)
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func validJSONNumber(number json.Number) bool {
+	var parsed json.Number
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(number.String()), &parsed); err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return parsed.String() == number.String()
+}
+
+func newTraversalState() *traversalState {
+	return &traversalState{active: make(map[visit]struct{})}
+}
+
+func (state *traversalState) produceNode(path string) error {
+	if state.producedNodes >= maxProducedNodes {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s: JSON value work limit exceeded", path)
+	}
+	state.producedNodes++
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (state *traversalState) enterContainer(path string, depth int) (int, error) {
+	depth++
+	if depth > maxContainerDepth {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("%s: JSON container depth limit exceeded", path)
+	}
+	return depth, nil
+}
+
+func (state *traversalState) ensureChildCapacity(path string, count int) error {
+	if count > maxProducedNodes-state.producedNodes {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s: JSON value work limit exceeded", path)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (state *traversalState) resolveIndirection(
+	value reflect.Value,
+	path string,
+) (reflect.Value, func(), bool, error) {
+	var visits []visit
+	cleanup := func() {
+		for _, current := range visits {
+			delete(state.active, current)
+		}
+	}
+
+	for value.IsValid() && (value.Kind() == reflect.Interface || value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer) {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return reflect.Value{}, cleanup, true, nil
+		}
+		if value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+			current := visit{typ: value.Type(), ptr: value.Pointer()}
+			if _, ok := state.active[current]; ok {
+				cleanup()
+				return reflect.Value{}, nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%s: cyclic value is not supported", path)
+			}
+			state.active[current] = struct{}{}
+			visits = append(visits, current)
+		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if !value.IsValid() {
+		return reflect.Value{}, cleanup, true, nil
+	}
+	return value, cleanup, false, nil
+}
+
+func canAssignNil(typ reflect.Type) bool {
+	switch typ.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Chan, reflect.Func, reflect.Interface, reflect.Map, reflect.Pointer, reflect.Slice:
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}

internal/jsonvalue/jsonvalue_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,332 @@
+package jsonvalue
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"math"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+type (
+	namedBool    bool
+	namedString  string
+	namedInt64   int64
+	namedUint64  uint64
+	namedFloat32 float32
+	namedFloat64 float64
+	namedKey     string
+	namedMap     map[namedKey]namedInt64
+	namedSlice   []namedString
+	namedArray   [1]map[string]int
+)
+
+func TestCopyPreservesSupportedScalarAndNumberTypes(t *testing.T) {
+	maxInt := int(^uint(0) >> 1)
+	minInt := -maxInt - 1
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		value any
+	}{
+		{name: "bool", value: true},
+		{name: "named bool", value: namedBool(true)},
+		{name: "string", value: "value"},
+		{name: "named string", value: namedString("value")},
+		{name: "int", value: minInt},
+		{name: "int8", value: int8(-1 << 7)},
+		{name: "int16", value: int16(-1 << 15)},
+		{name: "int32", value: int32(-1 << 31)},
+		{name: "int64", value: int64(-1 << 63)},
+		{name: "named int64", value: namedInt64(1<<63 - 1)},
+		{name: "uint", value: ^uint(0)},
+		{name: "uint8", value: ^uint8(0)},
+		{name: "uint16", value: ^uint16(0)},
+		{name: "uint32", value: ^uint32(0)},
+		{name: "uint64", value: ^uint64(0)},
+		{name: "uintptr", value: ^uintptr(0)},
+		{name: "named uint64", value: namedUint64(^uint64(0))},
+		{name: "float32", value: float32(1.25)},
+		{name: "float64", value: float64(-2.5e100)},
+		{name: "named float32", value: namedFloat32(3.5)},
+		{name: "named float64", value: namedFloat64(-4.5e200)},
+		{name: "JSON number integer", value: json.Number("18446744073709551615")},
+		{name: "JSON number fraction", value: json.Number("-1.25e+2")},
+		{name: "JSON number beyond float64", value: json.Number("1e9999")},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := Copy(tc.value)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("copy value: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tc.value) {
+				t.Fatalf("value or concrete type changed: got %#v (%T), want %#v (%T)", got, got, tc.value, tc.value)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyRejectsInvalidNumbers(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		value any
+	}{
+		{name: "float32 NaN", value: float32(math.NaN())},
+		{name: "float64 NaN", value: math.NaN()},
+		{name: "named float NaN", value: namedFloat64(math.NaN())},
+		{name: "positive infinity", value: math.Inf(1)},
+		{name: "negative infinity", value: math.Inf(-1)},
+		{name: "empty JSON number", value: json.Number("")},
+		{name: "leading zero JSON number", value: json.Number("01")},
+		{name: "leading plus JSON number", value: json.Number("+1")},
+		{name: "trailing decimal JSON number", value: json.Number("1.")},
+		{name: "leading decimal JSON number", value: json.Number(".1")},
+		{name: "non-number JSON number", value: json.Number("NaN")},
+		{name: "spaced JSON number", value: json.Number(" 1")},
+		{name: "quoted JSON number", value: json.Number(`"1"`)},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if _, err := Copy(tc.value); err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected validation error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyPreservesCompatibleCollectionsAndNilEmptyDistinctions(t *testing.T) {
+	collections := []struct {
+		name  string
+		value any
+	}{
+		{name: "unnamed map", value: map[string]int{"limit": 2}},
+		{name: "named map", value: namedMap{"limit": 2}},
+		{name: "unnamed slice", value: []string{"one", "two"}},
+		{name: "named slice", value: namedSlice{"one", "two"}},
+		{name: "unnamed array", value: [2]int{1, 2}},
+		{name: "named array", value: namedArray{{"limit": 2}}},
+		{name: "empty map", value: map[string]int{}},
+		{name: "empty named map", value: namedMap{}},
+		{name: "empty slice", value: []string{}},
+		{name: "empty named slice", value: namedSlice{}},
+		{name: "empty array", value: [0]string{}},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range collections {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := Copy(tc.value)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("copy collection: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tc.value) || reflect.TypeOf(got) != reflect.TypeOf(tc.value) {
+				t.Fatalf("collection changed: got %#v (%T), want %#v (%T)", got, got, tc.value, tc.value)
+			}
+			kind := reflect.ValueOf(got).Kind()
+			if (kind == reflect.Map || kind == reflect.Slice) && reflect.ValueOf(got).IsNil() {
+				t.Fatal("non-nil collection became nil")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	var nilMap map[string]int
+	var nilSlice []string
+	var nilPointer *namedInt64
+	for _, value := range []any{nil, nilMap, nilSlice, nilPointer} {
+		got, err := Copy(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("copy null value: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("null value became %#v (%T)", got, got)
+		}
+	}
+
+	gotNil, err := CopyMap(nil)
+	if err != nil || gotNil != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("nil CopyMap result = %#v, %v", gotNil, err)
+	}
+	gotEmpty, err := CopyMap(map[string]any{})
+	if err != nil || gotEmpty == nil || len(gotEmpty) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("empty CopyMap result = %#v, %v", gotEmpty, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyHandlesIndirectionAndIsolatesNestedMutations(t *testing.T) {
+	integer := namedInt64(7)
+	nestedMap := namedMap{"limit": 2}
+	nestedSlice := namedSlice{"original"}
+	nestedArray := namedArray{{"limit": 3}}
+	shared := []any{map[string]int{"value": 4}}
+	input := map[string]any{
+		"integer": &integer,
+		"map":     nestedMap,
+		"slice":   nestedSlice,
+		"array":   nestedArray,
+		"first":   shared,
+		"second":  shared,
+	}
+
+	copiedValue, err := Copy(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("copy mixed tree: %v", err)
+	}
+	copied := copiedValue.(map[string]any)
+	nestedMap["limit"] = 20
+	nestedSlice[0] = "changed"
+	nestedArray[0]["limit"] = 30
+	shared[0].(map[string]int)["value"] = 40
+
+	if got, ok := copied["integer"].(namedInt64); !ok || got != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("pointer target changed: %#v", copied["integer"])
+	}
+	if got := copied["map"].(namedMap)["limit"]; got != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("nested map aliased input: %d", got)
+	}
+	if got := copied["slice"].(namedSlice)[0]; got != "original" {
+		t.Fatalf("nested slice aliased input: %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := copied["array"].(namedArray)[0]["limit"]; got != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("nested array aliased input: %d", got)
+	}
+	first := copied["first"].([]any)
+	second := copied["second"].([]any)
+	if got := first[0].(map[string]int)["value"]; got != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("shared child aliased input: %d", got)
+	}
+	first[0].(map[string]int)["value"] = 99
+	if got := second[0].(map[string]int)["value"]; got != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("repeated acyclic value shared copied output: %d", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyAndCopyMapApplyDistinctEmptyKeyRules(t *testing.T) {
+	nested := map[string]any{"": []any{"original"}}
+	copiedValue, err := Copy(nested)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Copy rejected empty schema key: %v", err)
+	}
+	nested[""].([]any)[0] = "changed"
+	if got := copiedValue.(map[string]any)[""].([]any)[0]; got != "original" {
+		t.Fatalf("copied schema value was not isolated: %v", got)
+	}
+
+	_, err = CopyMap(map[string]any{"nested": map[string]any{"": true}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "extra_params.nested") {
+		t.Fatalf("CopyMap empty-key error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyRejectsUnsupportedValuesAndActiveCycles(t *testing.T) {
+	cyclicMap := map[string]any{}
+	cyclicMap["self"] = cyclicMap
+	cyclicSlice := []any{nil}
+	cyclicSlice[0] = cyclicSlice
+	var cyclicPointer any
+	cyclicPointer = &cyclicPointer
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		value    any
+		wantPath string
+	}{
+		{name: "non-string map key", value: map[int]string{1: "one"}, wantPath: "value"},
+		{name: "unsupported channel", value: make(chan int), wantPath: "value"},
+		{name: "deterministic map path", value: map[string]any{"z": make(chan int), "a": make(chan int)}, wantPath: "value.a"},
+		{name: "cyclic map", value: cyclicMap, wantPath: "value.self"},
+		{name: "cyclic slice", value: cyclicSlice, wantPath: "value[0]"},
+		{name: "cyclic pointer", value: cyclicPointer, wantPath: "value"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := Copy(tc.value)
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tc.wantPath) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %v, want structural path %q", err, tc.wantPath)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyEnforcesContainerDepth(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		depth   int
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{name: "just below", depth: maxContainerDepth - 1},
+		{name: "at limit", depth: maxContainerDepth},
+		{name: "over limit", depth: maxContainerDepth + 1, wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := Copy(alternatingContainers(tc.depth))
+			if tc.wantErr {
+				if err == nil || !strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "value") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "container depth limit") {
+					t.Fatalf("depth error = %v", err)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("copy depth %d: %v", tc.depth, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCopyEnforcesProducedNodeBudgetForRepeatedAcyclicValues(t *testing.T) {
+	shared := []any{true}
+	sharedOccurrences := (maxProducedNodes - 2) / 2
+	justBelow := repeatedValues(shared, sharedOccurrences, 0)
+	atLimit := repeatedValues(shared, sharedOccurrences, 1)
+	overLimit := repeatedValues(shared, sharedOccurrences, 2)
+
+	for name, value := range map[string]any{
+		"just below": justBelow,
+		"at limit":   atLimit,
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if _, err := Copy(value); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("copy value within work budget: %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	_, err := Copy(overLimit)
+	if err == nil || !strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "value[") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "value work limit") {
+		t.Fatalf("work-budget error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = Copy(make([]any, maxProducedNodes))
+	if err == nil || !strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "value:") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "value work limit") {
+		t.Fatalf("flat work-budget error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func alternatingContainers(depth int) any {
+	var value any = true
+	for level := 0; level < depth; level++ {
+		switch level % 3 {
+		case 0:
+			value = map[string]any{"child": value}
+		case 1:
+			value = []any{value}
+		default:
+			value = [1]any{value}
+		}
+	}
+	return value
+}
+
+func repeatedValues(shared []any, occurrences, leadingScalars int) []any {
+	values := make([]any, 0, leadingScalars+occurrences)
+	for i := 0; i < leadingScalars; i++ {
+		values = append(values, false)
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < occurrences; i++ {
+		values = append(values, shared)
+	}
+	return values
+}

internal/llm/openai_compatible_client.go

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
-	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/defaults"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
@@ -26,6 +25,20 @@ var (
 	ErrMalformedResponse = errors.New("malformed llm response")
 )
 
+const maxOpenAIChatResponseBytes int64 = 16 << 20
+
+type requestFailedError struct {
+	cause error
+}
+
+func (e *requestFailedError) Error() string {
+	return ErrRequestFailed.Error()
+}
+
+func (e *requestFailedError) Unwrap() []error {
+	return []error{ErrRequestFailed, e.cause}
+}
+
 type OpenAICompatibleConfig struct {
 	BaseURL    string
 	Model      string
@@ -40,9 +53,11 @@ type OpenAICompatibleClient struct {
 }
 
 func NewOpenAICompatibleClient(cfg OpenAICompatibleConfig) (*OpenAICompatibleClient, error) {
-	baseURL := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.BaseURL)
-	if baseURL != "" {
-		if _, err := url.ParseRequestURI(baseURL); err != nil {
+	baseURL := ""
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.BaseURL) != "" {
+		var err error
+		baseURL, err = domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(cfg.BaseURL)
+		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid base URL: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -64,25 +79,29 @@ func NewOpenAICompatibleClient(cfg OpenAICompatibleConfig) (*OpenAICompatibleCli
 	}
 
 	return &OpenAICompatibleClient{
-		baseURL:      strings.TrimRight(baseURL, "/"),
+		baseURL:      baseURL,
 		defaultModel: cfg.Model,
 		httpClient:   client,
 	}, nil
 }
 
 func (c *OpenAICompatibleClient) Generate(ctx context.Context, req domain.GenerateRequest) (*domain.GenerateResponse, error) {
-	if req.Target.TimeoutSeconds < 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: timeout_seconds must be greater than or equal to 0", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	if err := domain.ValidateExecutionTargetSettings(req.Target); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrInvalidRequest, err)
 	}
 
-	endpoint := strings.TrimSpace(req.Target.Endpoint)
-	if endpoint == "" {
-		endpoint = c.baseURL
+	selectedEndpoint := req.Target.Endpoint
+	if strings.TrimSpace(selectedEndpoint) == "" {
+		selectedEndpoint = c.baseURL
 	}
-	if endpoint == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: endpoint is required", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	endpoint, err := domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(selectedEndpoint)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid endpoint: %v", ErrInvalidRequest, err)
+	}
+	endpoint, err = url.JoinPath(endpoint, defaults.OpenAIChatCompletionsPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid endpoint path: %v", ErrInvalidRequest, err)
 	}
-	endpoint = strings.TrimRight(endpoint, "/") + defaults.OpenAIChatCompletionsPath
 
 	wireReq, err := openAIChatRequestFromGenerateRequest(req, c.defaultModel)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -114,13 +133,18 @@ func (c *OpenAICompatibleClient) Generate(ctx context.Context, req domain.Genera
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to create request: %v", ErrRequestFailed, err)
 	}
 	httpReq.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-	if apiKey := strings.TrimSpace(req.Target.APIKey); apiKey != "" {
-		httpReq.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+apiKey)
-	} else if envName := strings.TrimSpace(req.Target.APIKeyEnv); envName != "" {
-		apiKey := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(envName))
-		if apiKey == "" {
+	apiKey := strings.TrimSpace(req.Target.APIKey)
+	envName := strings.TrimSpace(req.Target.APIKeyEnv)
+	if apiKey == "" && envName != "" {
+		apiKey = strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(envName))
+	}
+	if apiKey == "" && req.Target.APIKeyRequired {
+		if envName != "" {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: api key environment variable %q is not set", ErrInvalidRequest, envName)
 		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: api key is required", ErrInvalidRequest)
+	}
+	if apiKey != "" {
 		httpReq.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+apiKey)
 	}
 
@@ -131,30 +155,36 @@ func (c *OpenAICompatibleClient) Generate(ctx context.Context, req domain.Genera
 
 	httpResp, err := httpClient.Do(httpReq)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrRequestFailed, err)
+		return nil, &requestFailedError{cause: err}
 	}
 	defer httpResp.Body.Close()
 
 	if httpResp.StatusCode < 200 || httpResp.StatusCode >= 300 {
-		_, _ = io.Copy(io.Discard, io.LimitReader(httpResp.Body, 4096))
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: status=%d", ErrUnexpectedStatus, httpResp.StatusCode)
+		return nil, providerHTTPErrorFromBody(
+			httpResp.StatusCode,
+			httpResp.ContentLength,
+			httpResp.Body,
+		)
+	}
+	if httpResp.ContentLength > maxOpenAIChatResponseBytes {
+		return nil, openAIChatResponseTooLargeError()
 	}
 
-	var wireResp openAIChatResponse
-	if err := json.NewDecoder(httpResp.Body).Decode(&wireResp); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to decode response: %v", ErrMalformedResponse, err)
+	wireResp, err := decodeOpenAIChatResponse(httpResp.Body)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	if len(wireResp.Choices) == 0 {
 		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,
@@ -165,6 +195,46 @@ func (c *OpenAICompatibleClient) Generate(ctx context.Context, req domain.Genera
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func decodeOpenAIChatResponse(body io.Reader) (openAIChatResponse, error) {
+	limited := &io.LimitedReader{
+		R: body,
+		N: maxOpenAIChatResponseBytes + 1,
+	}
+	decoder := json.NewDecoder(limited)
+
+	var response openAIChatResponse
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&response); err != nil {
+		if limited.N == 0 {
+			return openAIChatResponse{}, openAIChatResponseTooLargeError()
+		}
+		return openAIChatResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to decode response", ErrMalformedResponse)
+	}
+	if limited.N == 0 {
+		return openAIChatResponse{}, openAIChatResponseTooLargeError()
+	}
+
+	var trailing any
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&trailing); !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		if limited.N == 0 {
+			return openAIChatResponse{}, openAIChatResponseTooLargeError()
+		}
+		return openAIChatResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: response contains trailing data", ErrMalformedResponse)
+	}
+	if limited.N == 0 {
+		return openAIChatResponse{}, openAIChatResponseTooLargeError()
+	}
+
+	return response, nil
+}
+
+func openAIChatResponseTooLargeError() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf(
+		"%w: response exceeds %d-byte limit",
+		ErrMalformedResponse,
+		maxOpenAIChatResponseBytes,
+	)
+}
+
 func openAIChatRequestFromGenerateRequest(req domain.GenerateRequest, defaultModel string) (openAIChatRequest, error) {
 	model := strings.TrimSpace(req.Target.Model)
 	if model == "" {
@@ -177,12 +247,11 @@ func openAIChatRequestFromGenerateRequest(req domain.GenerateRequest, defaultMod
 	wireReq := openAIChatRequest{
 		Model: model,
 	}
-	if sessionID := strings.TrimSpace(req.Prompt.SessionID); sessionID != "" {
-		if n := utf8.RuneCountInString(sessionID); n > domain.SessionIDMaxLength {
-			return openAIChatRequest{}, fmt.Errorf("session_id length %d exceeds maximum %d", n, domain.SessionIDMaxLength)
-		}
-		wireReq.SessionID = sessionID
+	sessionID, err := domain.NormalizeSessionID(req.Prompt.SessionID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return openAIChatRequest{}, err
 	}
+	wireReq.SessionID = sessionID
 
 	wireReq.Messages = make([]openAIChatRequestMessage, 0, len(req.Prompt.Messages))
 	for _, msg := range req.Prompt.Messages {
@@ -262,7 +331,7 @@ func openAIChatRequestPayload(req openAIChatRequest) (map[string]any, error) {
 		if key == "" {
 			return nil, errors.New("extra_params key must not be empty")
 		}
-		if _, reserved := reservedOpenAIChatRequestFields[key]; reserved {
+		if IsReservedOpenAIChatRequestField(key) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("extra_params key %q collides with reserved request field", key)
 		}
 		if _, err := json.Marshal(value); err != nil {
@@ -274,16 +343,23 @@ func openAIChatRequestPayload(req openAIChatRequest) (map[string]any, error) {
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-var reservedOpenAIChatRequestFields = map[string]struct{}{
-	"model":            {},
-	"session_id":       {},
-	"messages":         {},
-	"temperature":      {},
-	"max_tokens":       {},
-	"top_p":            {},
-	"service_tier":     {},
-	"reasoning_effort": {},
-	"response_format":  {},
+// IsReservedOpenAIChatRequestField reports whether name is owned by the
+// standard OpenAI-compatible chat request rather than extra parameters.
+func IsReservedOpenAIChatRequestField(name string) bool {
+	switch name {
+	case "model",
+		"session_id",
+		"messages",
+		"temperature",
+		"max_tokens",
+		"top_p",
+		"service_tier",
+		"reasoning_effort",
+		"response_format":
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
 }
 
 type openAIChatRequestMessage struct {
@@ -303,8 +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/provider_http_error.go

@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package llm
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode"
+)
+
+const (
+	maxProviderErrorResponseBytes   int64 = 64 << 10
+	maxProviderErrorIdentifierRunes       = 256
+	maxProviderErrorMessageRunes          = 4096
+)
+
+// ProviderHTTPError describes a non-success response from an LLM provider.
+type ProviderHTTPError struct {
+	statusCode      int
+	providerCode    string
+	providerType    string
+	providerMessage string
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) StatusCode() int {
+	if e == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return e.statusCode
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) ProviderCode() string {
+	if e == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return e.providerCode
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) ProviderType() string {
+	if e == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return e.providerType
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) ProviderMessage() string {
+	if e == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return e.providerMessage
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) Error() string {
+	if e == nil || e.statusCode == 0 {
+		return ErrUnexpectedStatus.Error()
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: status=%d", ErrUnexpectedStatus, e.statusCode)
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) GoString() string {
+	return e.Error()
+}
+
+func (e *ProviderHTTPError) Unwrap() error {
+	return ErrUnexpectedStatus
+}
+
+type providerErrorDetails struct {
+	providerCode    string
+	providerType    string
+	providerMessage string
+}
+
+func newProviderHTTPError(statusCode int, details providerErrorDetails) *ProviderHTTPError {
+	return &ProviderHTTPError{
+		statusCode:      statusCode,
+		providerCode:    details.providerCode,
+		providerType:    details.providerType,
+		providerMessage: details.providerMessage,
+	}
+}
+
+func providerHTTPErrorFromBody(statusCode int, contentLength int64, body io.Reader) *ProviderHTTPError {
+	if contentLength > maxProviderErrorResponseBytes {
+		return newProviderHTTPError(statusCode, providerErrorDetails{})
+	}
+
+	limited := &io.LimitedReader{
+		R: body,
+		N: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+	}
+	contents, err := io.ReadAll(limited)
+	if err != nil || limited.N == 0 {
+		return newProviderHTTPError(statusCode, providerErrorDetails{})
+	}
+	return newProviderHTTPError(statusCode, parseProviderErrorEnvelope(contents))
+}
+
+func parseProviderErrorEnvelope(body []byte) providerErrorDetails {
+	decoder := json.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(string(body)))
+	decoder.UseNumber()
+
+	var envelope map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&envelope); err != nil {
+		return providerErrorDetails{}
+	}
+	var trailing any
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&trailing); !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		return providerErrorDetails{}
+	}
+
+	rawError, ok := envelope["error"]
+	if !ok {
+		return providerErrorDetails{}
+	}
+	var providerError map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rawError, &providerError); err != nil || providerError == nil {
+		return providerErrorDetails{}
+	}
+
+	var details providerErrorDetails
+	if raw, ok := providerError["message"]; ok {
+		var value string
+		if json.Unmarshal(raw, &value) == nil {
+			details.providerMessage = normalizeProviderErrorMessage(value)
+		}
+	}
+	if raw, ok := providerError["type"]; ok {
+		var value string
+		if json.Unmarshal(raw, &value) == nil {
+			details.providerType = normalizeProviderErrorIdentifier(value)
+		}
+	}
+	if raw, ok := providerError["code"]; ok {
+		var value any
+		fieldDecoder := json.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(string(raw)))
+		fieldDecoder.UseNumber()
+		if fieldDecoder.Decode(&value) == nil {
+			switch value := value.(type) {
+			case string:
+				details.providerCode = normalizeProviderErrorIdentifier(value)
+			case json.Number:
+				details.providerCode = normalizeProviderErrorIdentifier(value.String())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return details
+}
+
+func normalizeProviderErrorIdentifier(value string) string {
+	normalized := normalizeProviderErrorText(value)
+	if len([]rune(normalized)) > maxProviderErrorIdentifierRunes {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return normalized
+}
+
+func normalizeProviderErrorMessage(value string) string {
+	normalized := normalizeProviderErrorText(value)
+	runes := []rune(normalized)
+	if len(runes) <= maxProviderErrorMessageRunes {
+		return normalized
+	}
+	return string(runes[:maxProviderErrorMessageRunes-1]) + "…"
+}
+
+func normalizeProviderErrorText(value string) string {
+	value = strings.ToValidUTF8(value, "<22>")
+
+	var result strings.Builder
+	result.Grow(len(value))
+	separatorPending := false
+	for _, r := range value {
+		if unicode.IsSpace(r) || unicode.IsControl(r) || unicode.In(r, unicode.Cf) {
+			if result.Len() > 0 {
+				separatorPending = true
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if separatorPending {
+			result.WriteByte(' ')
+			separatorPending = false
+		}
+		result.WriteRune(r)
+	}
+	return result.String()
+}

internal/llm/provider_http_error_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,255 @@
+package llm
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+)
+
+type guardedReader struct {
+	reader    io.Reader
+	remaining int64
+	bytes     int64
+	violated  bool
+}
+
+func (r *guardedReader) Read(buffer []byte) (int, error) {
+	if int64(len(buffer)) > r.remaining {
+		r.violated = true
+		return 0, errors.New("reader was read past its allowed boundary")
+	}
+	n, err := r.reader.Read(buffer)
+	r.bytes += int64(n)
+	r.remaining -= int64(n)
+	return n, err
+}
+
+type failingReader struct {
+	err error
+}
+
+func (r failingReader) Read([]byte) (int, error) {
+	return 0, r.err
+}
+
+func TestProviderHTTPErrorEnvelopeParsing(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		body string
+		want providerErrorDetails
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "all supported string fields",
+			body: `{"error":{"message":"diagnostic","type":"invalid_request_error","code":"unsupported_parameter"}}`,
+			want: providerErrorDetails{providerMessage: "diagnostic", providerType: "invalid_request_error", providerCode: "unsupported_parameter"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "integer code",
+			body: `{"error":{"code":17}}`,
+			want: providerErrorDetails{providerCode: "17"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fractional code",
+			body: `{"error":{"code":1.25}}`,
+			want: providerErrorDetails{providerCode: "1.25"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "exponent code",
+			body: `{"error":{"code":6.02e+23}}`,
+			want: providerErrorDetails{providerCode: "6.02e+23"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid fields do not discard valid fields",
+			body: `{"error":{"message":null,"type":"invalid_request_error","code":false}}`,
+			want: providerErrorDetails{providerType: "invalid_request_error"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unknown fields are ignored",
+			body: `{"trace":"do not retain","error":{"param":"temperature","metadata":{"secret":"x"}}}`,
+			want: providerErrorDetails{},
+		},
+		{name: "missing error", body: `{}`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "null error", body: `{"error":null}`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "scalar error", body: `{"error":"nope"}`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "empty error", body: `{"error":{}}`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "malformed", body: `{"error":`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "truncated", body: `{"error":{"message":"x"`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "trailing garbage", body: `{"error":{"message":"x"}} garbage`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+		{name: "second document", body: `{"error":{"message":"x"}} {}`, want: providerErrorDetails{}},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := parseProviderErrorEnvelope([]byte(tc.body)); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tc.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("parseProviderErrorEnvelope() = %#v, want %#v", got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProviderErrorTextNormalizationAndLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	validIdentifier := strings.Repeat("界", maxProviderErrorIdentifierRunes)
+	validMessage := strings.Repeat("界", maxProviderErrorMessageRunes)
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		got  string
+		want string
+	}{
+		{name: "multibyte text", got: "Grüße 世界", want: "Grüße 世界"},
+		{name: "invalid UTF-8", got: string([]byte{'a', 0xff, 'b'}), want: "a<>b"},
+		{name: "whitespace control and format runs", got: " \n\talpha\x00\u200b\u200bbeta \r ", want: "alpha beta"},
+		{name: "blank normalization", got: "\t\u200b\n", want: ""},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := normalizeProviderErrorText(tc.got); got != tc.want {
+				t.Fatalf("normalizeProviderErrorText() = %q, want %q", got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+	if got := normalizeProviderErrorIdentifier(validIdentifier); got != validIdentifier {
+		t.Fatalf("exact identifier boundary = %q, want retained value", got)
+	}
+	if got := normalizeProviderErrorIdentifier(validIdentifier + "界"); got != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("overlong identifier = %q, want empty", got)
+	}
+	if got := normalizeProviderErrorMessage(validMessage); got != validMessage {
+		t.Fatalf("exact message boundary = %q, want retained value", got)
+	}
+	wantTruncatedMessage := strings.Repeat("界", maxProviderErrorMessageRunes-1) + "…"
+	if got := normalizeProviderErrorMessage(validMessage + "界"); got != wantTruncatedMessage {
+		t.Fatalf("overlong message length = %d, want %d", utf8.RuneCountInString(got), maxProviderErrorMessageRunes)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProviderHTTPErrorIdentityAndFormatting(t *testing.T) {
+	const marker = "provider-secret-marker"
+	err := newProviderHTTPError(429, providerErrorDetails{
+		providerCode:    marker + "-code",
+		providerType:    marker + "-type",
+		providerMessage: marker + "-message",
+	})
+
+	if err.StatusCode() != 429 || err.ProviderCode() != marker+"-code" || err.ProviderType() != marker+"-type" || err.ProviderMessage() != marker+"-message" {
+		t.Fatalf("accessors returned unexpected values: %#v", err)
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrUnexpectedStatus) {
+		t.Fatalf("errors.Is(%v, ErrUnexpectedStatus) = false", err)
+	}
+	for _, rendered := range []string{fmt.Sprintf("%v", err), fmt.Sprintf("%+v", err), fmt.Sprintf("%#v", err)} {
+		if rendered != "llm returned non-success status: status=429" {
+			t.Fatalf("formatted error = %q", rendered)
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(rendered, marker) {
+			t.Fatalf("formatted error exposed provider marker: %q", rendered)
+		}
+	}
+
+	var nilError *ProviderHTTPError
+	if nilError.StatusCode() != 0 || nilError.ProviderCode() != "" || nilError.ProviderType() != "" || nilError.ProviderMessage() != "" {
+		t.Fatal("nil accessors returned provider values")
+	}
+	if nilError.Error() != "llm returned non-success status" || nilError.GoString() != "llm returned non-success status" || !errors.Is(nilError, ErrUnexpectedStatus) {
+		t.Fatalf("nil error behavior is not safe: %v", nilError)
+	}
+
+	zero := &ProviderHTTPError{}
+	if zero.Error() != "llm returned non-success status" || zero.GoString() != "llm returned non-success status" || !errors.Is(zero, ErrUnexpectedStatus) {
+		t.Fatalf("zero error behavior is not safe: %v", zero)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProviderHTTPErrorBodyBounds(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		statusCode = 502
+		marker     = "provider-body-marker"
+	)
+
+	ordinaryBody := `{"error":{"message":"` + marker + `"}}`
+	exactLimitBody := ordinaryBody + strings.Repeat(" ", int(maxProviderErrorResponseBytes)-len(ordinaryBody))
+	overLimitBody := ordinaryBody + strings.Repeat(" ", int(maxProviderErrorResponseBytes)+1-len(ordinaryBody))
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		contentLength int64
+		reader        io.Reader
+		wantRead      int64
+		wantMessage   string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:          "recognized envelope",
+			contentLength: int64(len(ordinaryBody)),
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(ordinaryBody),
+			wantRead:      int64(len(ordinaryBody)),
+			wantMessage:   marker,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "exact limit",
+			contentLength: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(exactLimitBody),
+			wantRead:      maxProviderErrorResponseBytes,
+			wantMessage:   marker,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "declared oversize does not read",
+			contentLength: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(ordinaryBody),
+			wantRead:      0,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "unknown length oversize",
+			contentLength: -1,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(overLimitBody),
+			wantRead:      maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "underreported oversize",
+			contentLength: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(overLimitBody),
+			wantRead:      maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "read failure",
+			contentLength: -1,
+			reader:        failingReader{err: errors.New("read failure")},
+			wantRead:      0,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "empty body",
+			contentLength: 0,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(""),
+			wantRead:      0,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			reader := &guardedReader{
+				reader:    tc.reader,
+				remaining: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+			}
+			err := providerHTTPErrorFromBody(statusCode, tc.contentLength, reader)
+			if err == nil || err.StatusCode() != statusCode {
+				t.Fatalf("error status = %v, want %d", err, statusCode)
+			}
+			if reader.bytes != tc.wantRead {
+				t.Fatalf("body bytes read = %d, want %d", reader.bytes, tc.wantRead)
+			}
+			if reader.violated {
+				t.Fatal("body reader was asked to read beyond the overflow probe")
+			}
+			if got := err.ProviderMessage(); got != tc.wantMessage {
+				t.Fatalf("provider message = %q, want %q", got, tc.wantMessage)
+			}
+			if tc.wantMessage == "" {
+				if err.ProviderCode() != "" || err.ProviderType() != "" || strings.Contains(err.Error(), marker) {
+					t.Fatalf("discarded details were retained: %#v", err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/llm/provider_http_error_transport_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package llm
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestOpenAICompatibleClientStructuredNonSuccessResponse(t *testing.T) {
+	body := `{"error":{"message":"  provider\nmessage\u200b","type":"invalid\ttype","code":1.5e+4}}`
+	responseBody := &countingReadCloser{reader: strings.NewReader(body)}
+	client := newNonSuccessResponseClient(t, http.StatusBadRequest, int64(len(body)), responseBody)
+
+	response, err := client.Generate(context.Background(), ordinaryGenerateRequest())
+	if response != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("response = %#v, want nil", response)
+	}
+	if !errors.Is(err, ErrUnexpectedStatus) {
+		t.Fatalf("errors.Is(%v, ErrUnexpectedStatus) = false", err)
+	}
+	var providerHTTPError *ProviderHTTPError
+	if !errors.As(err, &providerHTTPError) {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %T, want *ProviderHTTPError", err)
+	}
+	if providerHTTPError.StatusCode() != http.StatusBadRequest || providerHTTPError.ProviderCode() != "1.5e+4" || providerHTTPError.ProviderType() != "invalid type" || providerHTTPError.ProviderMessage() != "provider message" {
+		t.Fatalf("provider error = %#v", providerHTTPError)
+	}
+	if !responseBody.closed {
+		t.Fatal("non-success response body was not closed")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenAICompatibleClientNonSuccessBodyOwnership(t *testing.T) {
+	const marker = "provider-body-marker"
+	normalBody := `{"error":{"message":"` + marker + `"}}`
+	overLimitBody := normalBody + strings.Repeat(" ", int(maxProviderErrorResponseBytes)+1-len(normalBody))
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		contentLength int64
+		reader        io.Reader
+		wantRead      int64
+		wantMessage   string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:          "normal",
+			contentLength: int64(len(normalBody)),
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(normalBody),
+			wantRead:      int64(len(normalBody)),
+			wantMessage:   marker,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "declared oversize",
+			contentLength: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader(normalBody),
+			wantRead:      0,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "streamed oversize",
+			contentLength: -1,
+			reader: &guardedReader{
+				reader:    strings.NewReader(overLimitBody),
+				remaining: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+			},
+			wantRead: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "underreported oversize",
+			contentLength: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes,
+			reader: &guardedReader{
+				reader:    strings.NewReader(overLimitBody),
+				remaining: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+			},
+			wantRead: maxProviderErrorResponseBytes + 1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "malformed",
+			contentLength: 1,
+			reader:        strings.NewReader("{"),
+			wantRead:      1,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "read failure",
+			contentLength: -1,
+			reader:        failingReader{err: errors.New("response read failed")},
+			wantRead:      0,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			body := &countingReadCloser{reader: tc.reader}
+			client := newNonSuccessResponseClient(t, http.StatusBadGateway, tc.contentLength, body)
+
+			response, err := client.Generate(context.Background(), ordinaryGenerateRequest())
+			if response != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("response = %#v, want nil", response)
+			}
+			var providerHTTPError *ProviderHTTPError
+			if !errors.As(err, &providerHTTPError) {
+				t.Fatalf("error = %T, want *ProviderHTTPError", err)
+			}
+			if !body.closed {
+				t.Fatal("response body was not closed")
+			}
+			if body.bytesRead != tc.wantRead {
+				t.Fatalf("body bytes read = %d, want %d", body.bytesRead, tc.wantRead)
+			}
+			if body.bytesRead > maxProviderErrorResponseBytes+1 {
+				t.Fatalf("body bytes read = %d, exceeds overflow probe", body.bytesRead)
+			}
+			if guarded, ok := tc.reader.(*guardedReader); ok && guarded.violated {
+				t.Fatal("body reader was asked to read beyond the overflow probe")
+			}
+			if got := providerHTTPError.ProviderMessage(); got != tc.wantMessage {
+				t.Fatalf("provider message = %q, want %q", got, tc.wantMessage)
+			}
+			if tc.wantMessage == "" && (providerHTTPError.ProviderCode() != "" || providerHTTPError.ProviderType() != "" || strings.Contains(providerHTTPError.Error(), marker)) {
+				t.Fatalf("discarded details were retained: %#v", providerHTTPError)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func newNonSuccessResponseClient(t *testing.T, statusCode int, contentLength int64, body io.ReadCloser) *OpenAICompatibleClient {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	client, err := NewOpenAICompatibleClient(OpenAICompatibleConfig{
+		BaseURL: "https://provider.example/v1",
+		Model:   "m",
+		HTTPClient: &http.Client{Transport: roundTripFunc(func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+			return &http.Response{
+				StatusCode:    statusCode,
+				ContentLength: contentLength,
+				Body:          body,
+			}, nil
+		})},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("construct client: %v", err)
+	}
+	return client
+}

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: aion-2
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: aion-labs/aion-2.0
 temperature: 0.72
 reasoning_effort: high
 top_p: 0.95
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: claude-fable-latest
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "~anthropic/claude-fable-latest"
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 600
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: claude-haiku-latest
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "~anthropic/claude-haiku-latest"
 reasoning_effort: medium
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: claude-opus-latest
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "~anthropic/claude-opus-latest"
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: claude-sonnet-latest
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "~anthropic/claude-sonnet-latest"
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: deepseek-3-2
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: deepseek/deepseek-v3.2
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: deepseek-4-flash
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash
 #reasoning_effort: medium
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: deepseek-4-pro
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: deepseek/deepseek-v4-pro
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemini-2-flash-lite
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite"
 #temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemini-2-flash
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "google/gemini-2.5-flash"
 #temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemini-2-pro
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "google/gemini-2.5-pro"
 #temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemini-3-flash-lite
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "google/gemini-3.1-flash-lite"
 #temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemini-flash-latest
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "~google/gemini-flash-latest"
 #temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemini-pro-latest
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "~google/gemini-pro-latest"
 #temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: gemma-4-31b
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: google/gemma-4-31b-it:exacto
 temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

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

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: minimax-m2
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: minimax/minimax-m2.5
 temperature: 0.5
 reasoning_effort: high
 top_p: 0.95
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 id: minimax-m3
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: minimax/minimax-m3
 #temperature: 0.5
 reasoning_effort: high
 #top_p: 0.95
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: mistral-large-2512
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: mistralai/mistral-large-2512
 temperature: 0.15
 top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY

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

@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 id: mistral-medium-3-5
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: mistralai/mistral-medium-3-5
 temperature: 0.15
 reasoning_effort: high
 top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: mistral-small-3
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: mistralai/mistral-small-3.2-24b-instruct
 temperature: 0.05
 top_p: 1.0
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY

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

@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 id: mistral-small-4
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: mistralai/mistral-small-2603
 temperature: 0.1
 reasoning_effort: high
 top_p: 0.98
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: nemotron-3-ultra
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 180
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: gpt-5-mini
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "openai/gpt-5.4-mini"
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

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

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 id: gpt-5-nano
-endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+backend: openrouter
 model: "openai/gpt-5.4-nano"
 reasoning_effort: high
 timeout_seconds: 240
-api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 service_tier: flex

internal/profile/builtin/repository.go

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package builtin
 
 import (
 	"embed"
-	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
 )
@@ -15,17 +14,3 @@ var assets embed.FS
 func NewRepository() profile.Repository {
 	return profile.NewFSRepository(assets, assetRoot)
 }
-
-func NewRepositoryWithPrimary(primary profile.Repository) profile.Repository {
-	if primary == nil {
-		return NewRepository()
-	}
-	return profile.NewOverlayRepository(primary, NewRepository())
-}
-
-func NewRepositoryWithDirectory(dir string) profile.Repository {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(dir) == "" {
-		return NewRepository()
-	}
-	return NewRepositoryWithPrimary(profile.NewFilesystemRepository(dir))
-}

internal/profile/builtin/repository_test.go

@@ -2,13 +2,11 @@ package builtin
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"io/fs"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
@@ -28,6 +26,12 @@ func TestBuiltInProfilesValidateThroughRepository(t *testing.T) {
 			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)
+			}
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -36,6 +40,33 @@ 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()
 
@@ -60,6 +91,16 @@ func loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t *testing.T) map[string]string {
 		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)
@@ -75,53 +116,3 @@ func loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t *testing.T) map[string]string {
 	}
 	return ids
 }
-
-func TestRepositoryWithPrimaryUsesPrimaryBeforeBuiltIns(t *testing.T) {
-	repo := NewRepositoryWithPrimary(staticProfileRepo{
-		profiles: map[string]string{"mistral-small-3": "custom-model"},
-	})
-
-	p, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "mistral-small-3")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected profile to load, got %v", err)
-	}
-	if p.Model != "custom-model" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected primary profile to override built-in, got %+v", p)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestRepositoryWithPrimaryFallsBackToBuiltIns(t *testing.T) {
-	repo := NewRepositoryWithPrimary(staticProfileRepo{})
-
-	p, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "mistral-small-3")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected built-in profile to load, got %v", err)
-	}
-	if p.ID != "mistral-small-3" {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected profile: %+v", p)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestRepositoryWithPrimaryDoesNotFallBackAfterPrimaryError(t *testing.T) {
-	repo := NewRepositoryWithPrimary(staticProfileRepo{err: profile.ErrInvalidProfile})
-
-	_, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "mistral-small-3")
-	if !errors.Is(err, profile.ErrInvalidProfile) {
-		t.Fatalf("expected primary error, got %v", err)
-	}
-}
-
-type staticProfileRepo struct {
-	profiles map[string]string
-	err      error
-}
-
-func (r staticProfileRepo) GetProfile(_ context.Context, id string) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
-	if r.err != nil {
-		return nil, r.err
-	}
-	if model, ok := r.profiles[id]; ok {
-		return &domain.ExecutionProfile{ID: id, Endpoint: "http://primary/v1", Model: model}, nil
-	}
-	return nil, profile.ErrProfileNotFound
-}

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/filesystem_repository.go

@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
-	"path"
 	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/filecatalog"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
@@ -73,7 +74,8 @@ func (r *overlayRepository) GetProfile(ctx context.Context, id string) (*domain.
 }
 
 func loadProfile(ctx context.Context, fsys fs.FS, root string, id string) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(id) == "" {
+	id = strings.TrimSpace(id)
+	if id == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: profile id is required", ErrInvalidProfile)
 	}
 	if fsys == nil {
@@ -94,41 +96,49 @@ func loadProfile(ctx context.Context, fsys fs.FS, root string, id string) (*doma
 		}
 
 		relPath := filecatalog.DisplayPath(root, fullPath)
-		fileMatch := filecatalog.Stem(path.Base(fullPath)) == id
 		data, err := fs.ReadFile(fsys, fullPath)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read profile file %s: %w", relPath, err)
 		}
-		metadata := readProfileFileMetadata(data)
-		idMatch := fileMatch || metadata.id == id
+		metadata, metadataErr := readProfileFileMetadata(data)
+		idMatch := metadata.matchesID(id)
+		if metadataErr != nil {
+			if idMatch {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrInvalidYAML, relPath, metadataErr)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
 		if metadata.hasRawAPIKey {
 			if idMatch {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed, relPath)
 			}
 			continue
 		}
-
-		var prof domain.ExecutionProfile
-		decoder := yaml.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
-		decoder.KnownFields(true)
-		if err := decoder.Decode(&prof); err != nil {
-			if idMatch {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrInvalidYAML, relPath, err)
-			}
+		if !idMatch {
 			continue
 		}
 
+		prof, err := decodeProfile(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrInvalidYAML, relPath, err)
+		}
+
+		prof.ID = strings.TrimSpace(prof.ID)
 		if prof.ID != id {
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := validateProfile(&prof); err != nil {
+		prof.ExtraParams, err = jsonvalue.CopyMap(prof.ExtraParams)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrInvalidProfile, relPath, err)
+		}
+		if err := NormalizeAndValidateDefinition(prof); err != nil {
 			if errors.Is(err, ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed) {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", err, relPath)
 			}
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrInvalidProfile, relPath, err)
 		}
 		matches = append(matches, profileMatch{
-			profile: &prof,
+			profile: prof,
 			path:    relPath,
 		})
 	}
@@ -154,15 +164,36 @@ type profileMatch struct {
 }
 
 type profileFileMetadata struct {
-	id           string
+	ids          []string
 	hasRawAPIKey bool
 }
 
-func readProfileFileMetadata(data []byte) profileFileMetadata {
+func readProfileFileMetadata(data []byte) (profileFileMetadata, error) {
+	decoder := yaml.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
 	var node yaml.Node
-	if err := yaml.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data)).Decode(&node); err != nil {
-		return profileFileMetadata{}
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&node); err != nil {
+		return profileFileMetadata{}, err
 	}
+	metadata := profileMetadataFromNode(&node)
+	documentCount := 1
+	for {
+		var trailing yaml.Node
+		err := decoder.Decode(&trailing)
+		if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+			if documentCount == 1 {
+				return metadata, nil
+			}
+			return metadata, errors.New("profile file must contain exactly one YAML document")
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return metadata, err
+		}
+		documentCount++
+		metadata.merge(profileMetadataFromNode(&trailing))
+	}
+}
+
+func profileMetadataFromNode(node *yaml.Node) profileFileMetadata {
 	if node.Kind != yaml.DocumentNode || len(node.Content) == 0 {
 		return profileFileMetadata{}
 	}
@@ -177,7 +208,7 @@ func readProfileFileMetadata(data []byte) profileFileMetadata {
 		value := mapping.Content[i+1]
 		switch key.Value {
 		case "id":
-			metadata.id = strings.TrimSpace(value.Value)
+			metadata.ids = append(metadata.ids, strings.TrimSpace(value.Value))
 		case "api_key":
 			metadata.hasRawAPIKey = true
 		}
@@ -185,29 +216,41 @@ func readProfileFileMetadata(data []byte) profileFileMetadata {
 	return metadata
 }
 
-func validateProfile(p *domain.ExecutionProfile) error {
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.ID) == "" {
-		return errors.New("id is required")
+func (m profileFileMetadata) matchesID(id string) bool {
+	for _, candidate := range m.ids {
+		if candidate == id {
+			return true
+		}
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.Endpoint) == "" {
-		return errors.New("endpoint is required")
-	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(p.Model) == "" {
-		return errors.New("model is required")
-	}
-
-	if p.Temperature < 0 || p.Temperature > 2 {
-		return errors.New("temperature must be between 0 and 2")
-	}
-	if p.MaxTokens < 0 {
-		return errors.New("max_tokens must be greater than or equal to 0")
-	}
-	if p.TopP < 0 || p.TopP > 1 {
-		return errors.New("top_p must be between 0 and 1")
-	}
-	if p.TimeoutSeconds < 0 {
-		return errors.New("timeout_seconds must be greater than or equal to 0")
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return false
+}
+
+func (m *profileFileMetadata) merge(other profileFileMetadata) {
+	m.ids = append(m.ids, other.ids...)
+	m.hasRawAPIKey = m.hasRawAPIKey || other.hasRawAPIKey
+}
+
+func decodeProfile(data []byte) (*domain.ExecutionProfile, error) {
+	var prof domain.ExecutionProfile
+	decoder := yaml.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	decoder.KnownFields(true)
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&prof); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := requireYAMLStreamEnd(decoder); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &prof, nil
+}
+
+func requireYAMLStreamEnd(decoder *yaml.Decoder) error {
+	var trailing yaml.Node
+	err := decoder.Decode(&trailing)
+	if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return errors.New("profile file must contain exactly one YAML document")
 }

internal/profile/repository_benchmark_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+package profile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+	"testing/fstest"
+)
+
+func BenchmarkProfileRepositoryLookup(b *testing.B) {
+	for _, size := range []int{10, 1000} {
+		b.Run(fmt.Sprintf("catalog-%d", size), func(b *testing.B) {
+			files := fstest.MapFS{
+				"target.yaml": profileMapFile(`
+id: target
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: target-model
+extra_params:
+  selected: true
+`),
+			}
+			metadataNames := []string{"target.yaml"}
+			for i := 1; i < size; i++ {
+				name := fmt.Sprintf("profile-%04d.yaml", i)
+				files[name] = profileMapFile(fmt.Sprintf(`
+id: profile-%04d
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated-model
+temperature: 0.5
+max_tokens: 500
+extra_params:
+  provider:
+    order:
+      - first
+      - second
+`, i))
+				metadataNames = append(metadataNames, name)
+			}
+
+			fsys := &recordingProfileFS{FS: files}
+			repo := NewFSRepository(fsys, ".")
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+				if _, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "target"); err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+			b.StopTimer()
+
+			for _, name := range metadataNames {
+				if got := fsys.openCount(name); got != b.N {
+					b.Fatalf("metadata %q opens = %d, want %d", name, got, b.N)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/profile/repository_test.go

@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ package profile
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"testing/fstest"
 
@@ -52,6 +54,43 @@ func TestFilesystemRepository_GetProfile(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 
+	t.Run("backend and endpoint connection matrix", func(t *testing.T) {
+		tests := []struct {
+			name         string
+			connection   string
+			wantBackend  string
+			wantEndpoint string
+			wantErr      bool
+		}{
+			{name: "backend only", connection: "backend: '  openrouter  '", wantBackend: "openrouter"},
+			{name: "endpoint only", connection: "endpoint: '  https://localhost:8000/nested/v1  '", wantEndpoint: "https://localhost:8000/nested/v1"},
+			{name: "both", connection: "backend: openrouter\nendpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1", wantBackend: "openrouter", wantEndpoint: "http://localhost:8000/v1"},
+			{name: "neither", wantErr: true},
+			{name: "blank backend", connection: "backend: '   '", wantErr: true},
+		}
+
+		for _, tt := range tests {
+			t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				id := "connection-" + strings.ReplaceAll(tt.name, " ", "-")
+				writeProfileTestFile(t, filepath.Join(tmpDir, id+".yaml"), "id: "+id+"\nmodel: model\n"+tt.connection+"\n")
+
+				p, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, id)
+				if tt.wantErr {
+					if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+						t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidProfile, got %v", err)
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("expected profile to load, got %v", err)
+				}
+				if p.BackendID != tt.wantBackend || p.Endpoint != tt.wantEndpoint {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected connection values: backend=%q endpoint=%q", p.BackendID, p.Endpoint)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("valid profile with api_key_env", func(t *testing.T) {
 		p, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "local-secure")
 		if err != nil {
@@ -89,63 +128,6 @@ temperature: 0.1
 		}
 	})
 
-	t.Run("valid profile with JSON-compatible extra params", func(t *testing.T) {
-		writeProfileTestFile(t, filepath.Join(tmpDir, "json-extra-params.yaml"), `
-id: json-extra-params
-endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
-model: nested-model
-extra_params:
-  string_value: enabled
-  number_value: 42
-  boolean_value: true
-  object_value:
-    nested: value
-    count: 2
-  array_value:
-    - first
-    - 3
-    - false
-`)
-
-		p, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "json-extra-params")
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("expected no error, got %v", err)
-		}
-
-		var got map[string]any
-		encoded, err := json.Marshal(p.ExtraParams)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("expected extra_params to marshal as JSON, got %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(encoded, &got); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("expected extra_params JSON to decode, got %v", err)
-		}
-
-		if got["string_value"] != "enabled" {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected string extra param: %#v", got["string_value"])
-		}
-		if got["number_value"] != float64(42) {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected number extra param: %#v", got["number_value"])
-		}
-		if got["boolean_value"] != true {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected boolean extra param: %#v", got["boolean_value"])
-		}
-		objectValue, ok := got["object_value"].(map[string]any)
-		if !ok {
-			t.Fatalf("expected object extra param, got %#v", got["object_value"])
-		}
-		if objectValue["nested"] != "value" || objectValue["count"] != float64(2) {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected object extra param: %#v", objectValue)
-		}
-		arrayValue, ok := got["array_value"].([]any)
-		if !ok {
-			t.Fatalf("expected array extra param, got %#v", got["array_value"])
-		}
-		if len(arrayValue) != 3 || arrayValue[0] != "first" || arrayValue[1] != float64(3) || arrayValue[2] != false {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected array extra param: %#v", arrayValue)
-		}
-	})
-
 	t.Run("duplicate profile IDs fail as ambiguous", func(t *testing.T) {
 		writeProfileTestFile(t, filepath.Join(tmpDir, "duplicate-profile-a.yaml"), `
 id: duplicate-profile
@@ -208,10 +190,10 @@ api_key: secret
 		}
 	})
 
-	t.Run("invalid yaml", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("unidentifiable invalid yaml is unrelated", func(t *testing.T) {
 		_, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "invalid_yaml")
-		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidYAML) {
-			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidYAML, got %v", err)
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrProfileNotFound) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrProfileNotFound, got %v", err)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -237,14 +219,14 @@ api_key: secret
 	})
 
 	t.Run("unknown field", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "unknown_field")
+		_, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "unknown-field")
 		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidYAML) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidYAML for strict decode unknown field, got %v", err)
 		}
 	})
 
 	t.Run("raw api_key rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "raw_api_key")
+		_, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "raw-api-key")
 		if !errors.Is(err, ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed, got %v", err)
 		}
@@ -369,6 +351,614 @@ model: second
 	})
 }
 
+func TestProfileRepositoriesRejectInvalidEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		endpoint    string
+		withBackend bool
+	}{
+		{name: "relative", endpoint: "/v1"},
+		{name: "missing host", endpoint: "https:///v1"},
+		{name: "unsupported scheme", endpoint: "ftp://provider.example/v1"},
+		{name: "user information", endpoint: "https://user@provider.example/v1"},
+		{name: "query", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1?mode=chat"},
+		{name: "fragment", endpoint: "https://provider.example/v1#chat"},
+		{name: "backend with invalid override", endpoint: "/v1", withBackend: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			backend := ""
+			if tc.withBackend {
+				backend = "backend: openrouter\n"
+			}
+			repo := NewFSRepository(fstest.MapFS{
+				"profiles/invalid.yaml": profileMapFile(fmt.Sprintf(
+					"id: invalid-endpoint\nmodel: model\n%sendpoint: %q\n",
+					backend,
+					tc.endpoint,
+				)),
+			}, "profiles")
+
+			_, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "invalid-endpoint")
+			if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+				t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidProfile, got %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileRepositoriesValidateExtraParams(t *testing.T) {
+	const validProfile = `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+extra_params:
+  string_value: enabled
+  object_value:
+    nested: true
+  array_value:
+    - first
+    - 3
+`
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		definition  string
+		wantErr     bool
+		diagnostics []string
+	}{
+		{name: "valid nested values", definition: validProfile},
+		{
+			name: "empty key",
+			definition: `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+extra_params:
+  "": value
+`,
+			wantErr:     true,
+			diagnostics: []string{"extra_params", "key must not be empty"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "non-finite value",
+			definition: `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+extra_params:
+  invalid: .nan
+`,
+			wantErr:     true,
+			diagnostics: []string{"extra_params.invalid", "must be finite"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "nested non-finite value",
+			definition: `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+extra_params:
+  outer:
+    invalid: .inf
+`,
+			wantErr:     true,
+			diagnostics: []string{"extra_params.outer.invalid", "must be finite"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unsupported decoded value",
+			definition: `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+extra_params:
+  timestamp: 2026-08-11T12:34:56Z
+`,
+			wantErr:     true,
+			diagnostics: []string{"extra_params.timestamp", "unsupported JSON value type"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "excessive nesting",
+			definition:  deeplyNestedExtraParamsProfile(101),
+			wantErr:     true,
+			diagnostics: []string{"extra_params", "JSON container depth limit exceeded"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, source := range profileRepositorySources() {
+		for _, tc := range tests {
+			t.Run(source.name+"/"+tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				repo := source.newRepository(t, map[string]string{"selected.yaml": tc.definition})
+				got, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "selected-profile")
+				if tc.wantErr {
+					if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+						t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidProfile, got %v", err)
+					}
+					if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "selected.yaml") {
+						t.Fatalf("expected source path in error, got %v", err)
+					}
+					for _, diagnostic := range tc.diagnostics {
+						if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), diagnostic) {
+							t.Fatalf("expected error to contain %q, got %v", diagnostic, err)
+						}
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("load valid profile: %v", err)
+				}
+				if got.ExtraParams["string_value"] != "enabled" {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected copied extra params: %#v", got.ExtraParams)
+				}
+				objectValue, objectOK := got.ExtraParams["object_value"].(map[string]any)
+				arrayValue, arrayOK := got.ExtraParams["array_value"].([]any)
+				if !objectOK || objectValue["nested"] != true ||
+					!arrayOK || len(arrayValue) != 2 || arrayValue[0] != "first" || arrayValue[1] != 3 {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected copied nested extra params: %#v", got.ExtraParams)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileRepositoriesSelectCanonicalYAMLID(t *testing.T) {
+	const validProfile = `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected-model
+`
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		files       map[string]string
+		wantErr     error
+		diagnostics []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "same stem unknown field with different id is unrelated",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"selected-profile.yaml": `
+id: unrelated-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated
+unknown: true
+`,
+				"valid.yaml": validProfile,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "same stem unidentifiable yaml is unrelated",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"selected-profile.yaml": "id: [",
+				"valid.yaml":            validProfile,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "same stem raw key with different id is unrelated",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"selected-profile.yaml": `
+id: unrelated-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated
+api_key: secret
+`,
+				"valid.yaml": validProfile,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "leading and trailing whitespace is normalized",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"padded.yaml": `
+id: "  selected-profile  "
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected-model
+`,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "blank id is unrelated",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"selected-profile.yaml": `
+id: "   "
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated
+`,
+			},
+			wantErr: ErrProfileNotFound,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "normalized duplicates are ambiguous",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"first.yaml": validProfile,
+				"nested/second.yaml": `
+id: " selected-profile "
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: duplicate
+`,
+			},
+			wantErr:     ErrInvalidProfile,
+			diagnostics: []string{"duplicate execution profile id", "first.yaml", "nested/second.yaml"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "selected unknown field is authoritative",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"malformed.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected-model
+unknown: true
+`,
+			},
+			wantErr:     ErrInvalidYAML,
+			diagnostics: []string{"malformed.yaml"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "selected raw key is authoritative",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"insecure.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected-model
+api_key: secret
+`,
+			},
+			wantErr:     ErrRawAPIKeyNotAllowed,
+			diagnostics: []string{"insecure.yaml"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "selected identity in an additional document is authoritative",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"additional-document.yaml": `
+---
+---
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected-model
+`,
+			},
+			wantErr:     ErrInvalidYAML,
+			diagnostics: []string{"additional-document.yaml", "exactly one YAML document"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	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.wantErr != nil {
+					if !errors.Is(err, tc.wantErr) {
+						t.Fatalf("expected %v, got %v", tc.wantErr, err)
+					}
+					for _, diagnostic := range tc.diagnostics {
+						if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), diagnostic) {
+							t.Fatalf("expected error to contain %q, got %v", diagnostic, err)
+						}
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("load selected profile: %v", err)
+				}
+				if got.ID != "selected-profile" || got.Model != "selected-model" {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected selected profile: %+v", got)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileRepositoriesRequireOneYAMLDocument(t *testing.T) {
+	const profile = `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected-model
+`
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		suffix  string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{name: "comments and trailing whitespace", suffix: "\n# trailing comment\n\n"},
+		{name: "second populated document", suffix: "\n---\nid: another\n", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "second empty document", suffix: "\n---\n", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "malformed trailing yaml", suffix: "\n---\n[", wantErr: true},
+		{name: "raw key in trailing document", suffix: "\n---\napi_key: secret\n", wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, source := range profileRepositorySources() {
+		for _, tc := range tests {
+			t.Run(source.name+"/"+tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				repo := source.newRepository(t, map[string]string{"definition.yaml": profile + tc.suffix})
+				got, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "selected-profile")
+				if tc.wantErr {
+					if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidYAML) {
+						t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidYAML, got %v", err)
+					}
+					if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "definition.yaml") {
+						t.Fatalf("expected source path in error, got %v", err)
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("load one-document profile: %v", err)
+				}
+				if got.ID != "selected-profile" {
+					t.Fatalf("unexpected profile: %+v", got)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileRepositoriesPreserveOverlayFallbackRules(t *testing.T) {
+	fallback := staticProfileRepo{profiles: map[string]*domain.ExecutionProfile{
+		"selected-profile": {ID: "selected-profile", Endpoint: "http://fallback", Model: "fallback-model"},
+	}}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		files     map[string]string
+		wantModel string
+		wantErr   error
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "same stem malformed different id falls back",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"selected-profile.yaml": `
+id: unrelated-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated
+unknown: true
+`,
+			},
+			wantModel: "fallback-model",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "blank id falls back",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"selected-profile.yaml": `
+id: "   "
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated
+`,
+			},
+			wantModel: "fallback-model",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "selected malformed profile stops fallback",
+			files: map[string]string{
+				"other-name.yaml": `
+id: selected-profile
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: selected
+unknown: true
+`,
+			},
+			wantErr: ErrInvalidYAML,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, source := range profileRepositorySources() {
+		for _, tc := range tests {
+			t.Run(source.name+"/"+tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				primary := source.newRepository(t, tc.files)
+				got, err := NewOverlayRepository(primary, fallback).GetProfile(context.Background(), "selected-profile")
+				if tc.wantErr != nil {
+					if !errors.Is(err, tc.wantErr) {
+						t.Fatalf("expected %v, got %v", tc.wantErr, err)
+					}
+					return
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("load fallback profile: %v", err)
+				}
+				if got.Model != tc.wantModel {
+					t.Fatalf("model = %q, want %q", got.Model, tc.wantModel)
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProfileRepositoryReadsSourcesFreshOnEveryLookup(t *testing.T) {
+	newSource := func() (*recordingProfileFS, Repository) {
+		fsys := &recordingProfileFS{FS: fstest.MapFS{
+			"target.yaml": profileMapFile(`
+id: target
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: target-model
+`),
+			"unrelated.yaml": profileMapFile(`
+id: unrelated
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated-model
+`),
+		}}
+		return fsys, NewFSRepository(fsys, ".")
+	}
+
+	t.Run("selected source", func(t *testing.T) {
+		fsys, repo := newSource()
+		for lookup := 1; lookup <= 2; lookup++ {
+			got, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "target")
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("lookup %d: %v", lookup, err)
+			}
+			if got.Model != "target-model" {
+				t.Fatalf("lookup %d model = %q", lookup, got.Model)
+			}
+			for _, name := range []string{"target.yaml", "unrelated.yaml"} {
+				if count := fsys.openCount(name); count != lookup {
+					t.Fatalf("%s opens after lookup %d = %d, want %d", name, lookup, count, lookup)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("overlay fallthrough", func(t *testing.T) {
+		primaryFS := &recordingProfileFS{FS: fstest.MapFS{
+			"unrelated.yaml": profileMapFile(`
+id: unrelated
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: unrelated-model
+`),
+		}}
+		fallbackFS, fallback := newSource()
+		repo := NewOverlayRepository(NewFSRepository(primaryFS, "."), fallback)
+
+		for lookup := 1; lookup <= 2; lookup++ {
+			got, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), "target")
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("lookup %d: %v", lookup, err)
+			}
+			if got.Model != "target-model" {
+				t.Fatalf("lookup %d model = %q", lookup, got.Model)
+			}
+			if count := primaryFS.openCount("unrelated.yaml"); count != lookup {
+				t.Fatalf("primary opens after lookup %d = %d, want %d", lookup, count, lookup)
+			}
+			if count := fallbackFS.openCount("target.yaml"); count != lookup {
+				t.Fatalf("fallback opens after lookup %d = %d, want %d", lookup, count, lookup)
+			}
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestProfileRepositoriesRejectInvalidExecutionSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	t.Run("operating-system filesystem", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		writeProfileTestFile(t, filepath.Join(dir, "invalid.yaml"), `
+id: invalid
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+temperature: .nan
+`)
+
+		_, err := NewFilesystemRepository(dir).GetProfile(ctx, "invalid")
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidProfile, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("fs.FS", func(t *testing.T) {
+		repo := NewFSRepository(fstest.MapFS{
+			"profiles/invalid.yaml": profileMapFile(`
+id: invalid
+endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1
+model: model
+top_p: .inf
+`),
+		}, "profiles")
+
+		_, err := repo.GetProfile(ctx, "invalid")
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidProfile, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+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"}
@@ -458,6 +1048,77 @@ func TestOverlayRepository(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+type profileRepositorySource struct {
+	name          string
+	newRepository func(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) Repository
+}
+
+type recordingProfileFS struct {
+	fs.FS
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	opened []string
+}
+
+func (f *recordingProfileFS) Open(name string) (fs.File, error) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	f.opened = append(f.opened, name)
+	f.mu.Unlock()
+	return f.FS.Open(name)
+}
+
+func (f *recordingProfileFS) openCount(name string) int {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	count := 0
+	for _, opened := range f.opened {
+		if opened == name {
+			count++
+		}
+	}
+	return count
+}
+
+func profileRepositorySources() []profileRepositorySource {
+	return []profileRepositorySource{
+		{
+			name: "operating system",
+			newRepository: func(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) Repository {
+				t.Helper()
+				root := t.TempDir()
+				for name, content := range files {
+					filePath := filepath.Join(root, filepath.FromSlash(name))
+					if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(filePath), 0o755); err != nil {
+						t.Fatalf("create profile directory: %v", err)
+					}
+					writeProfileTestFile(t, filePath, content)
+				}
+				return NewFilesystemRepository(root)
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "filesystem",
+			newRepository: func(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) Repository {
+				t.Helper()
+				fsys := make(fstest.MapFS, len(files))
+				for name, content := range files {
+					fsys[name] = profileMapFile(content)
+				}
+				return NewFSRepository(fsys, ".")
+			},
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func deeplyNestedExtraParamsProfile(depth int) string {
+	var definition strings.Builder
+	definition.WriteString("id: selected-profile\nendpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1\nmodel: model\nextra_params:\n")
+	for level := 0; level < depth; level++ {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&definition, "%slevel_%d:\n", strings.Repeat("  ", level+1), level)
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(&definition, "%svalue: true\n", strings.Repeat("  ", depth+1))
+	return definition.String()
+}
+
 func profileMapFile(content string) *fstest.MapFile {
 	return &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte(strings.TrimLeft(content, "\n"))}
 }

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
+}