Prepare the v0.9.0 release

README.md

@@ -33,7 +33,19 @@ boundary and constraints that framework work must preserve.
 
 ## Release Guidance
 
-Consumers upgrading from `v0.4.0` to `v0.5.0` should read the
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.8.0` to `v0.9.0` should read the
+[v0.9.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.9.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.7.0` to `v0.8.0` can consult the
+[v0.8.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.8.0.md).
+
+Earlier adopters can consult the
+[v0.7.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.7.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.5.0` to `v0.6.0` can consult the
+[v0.6.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.6.0.md).
+
+Consumers upgrading from `v0.4.0` to `v0.5.0` can consult the
 [v0.5.0 changelog and migration guide](docs/releases/v0.5.0.md).
 
 Consumers upgrading from `v0.3.0` to `v0.4.0` should read the

appended_messages_contract_test.go

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

backends.go

@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ import (
 // 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].
@@ -20,21 +24,25 @@ const BackendLocal = "local"
 // 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. BackendOpenRouter is reserved.
+	// 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 the environment variable containing the API
-	// key. NewEngine trims it and requires the portable form
-	// [A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*. Store only the name, never a credential value.
+	// 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.
+	// 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
@@ -73,11 +81,11 @@ func LocalBackend(endpoint string, concurrencyLimit int) Backend {
 //
 // 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. In particular,
-// BackendOpenRouter 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.
+// 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

convert.go

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

convert_appended_messages_test.go

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

doc.go

@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
 // 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. Returned structured errors are likewise caller-owned and may
-// be mutated without affecting engine state or another error.
+// 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
 //
@@ -53,9 +54,14 @@
 // Construction, inspection, handle, and error values, including [Config],
 // [Backend], [RunRequest], [ArtifactRef], [ExecutionTargetOverride], [Profile],
 // [OpenAICompatibleProfileConfig], [ProfileInspection],
-// [PromptInputDefinition], [PromptInspection], [PreparedExecution], and
-// [CapacityError], do not have stable JSON representations. Direct API keys
-// are nevertheless excluded from JSON for every public value.
+// [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

docs/consumers/pkg-promptkit.md

@@ -173,6 +173,49 @@ semantics. The
 [OpenAI-compatible integration contract](../integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md)
 owns the built-in client's outbound HTTP behavior.
 
+### Repair A Structured Result
+
+Set a small additional-call budget when a structurally invalid result can be
+corrected automatically:
+
+```go
+request.Validation = &promptkit.OutputContract{
+	Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
+	ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSONSchema,
+	SchemaPath:     "events.schema.json",
+	RepairAttempts: 1,
+}
+```
+
+Each repair attempt is another model call, so it can increase latency and
+usage; `RunResult.Usage` is cumulative and `Validation.RepairAttempts` reports
+calls actually started. Exhaustion still returns the final failed validation
+result. `basic` validation can also repair an empty candidate, but structural
+validity is not evidence of factual or domain correctness. See the
+[output-contract format reference](../formats.md#output-contract) and
+[`OutputContract` GoDoc](../../types.go) for the exact budget and eligibility
+rules.
+
+### Append Already-Rendered Messages
+
+An application can include an earlier assistant response and its own corrective
+instruction in a fresh request without changing the configured prompt:
+
+```go
+request.AppendedMessages = []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+	{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: previousResponse},
+	{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: correction},
+}
+result, err := engine.Run(ctx, request)
+```
+
+These messages are already rendered: Promptkit does not template or resolve
+files in them, and they can contain sensitive model output or application
+feedback. Promptkit remains stateless; every `Run` call re-resolves its current
+sources and the application owns any semantic retry budget. When a
+pre-execution equality check is required, use `PrepareExecution` and compare
+its opaque rendered-prompt hash before invoking `RunPrepared`.
+
 ## Inputs, Profiles, And Overrides
 
 Use `File`, `Inline`, or `InlineWithURI` to construct request inputs. A request
@@ -189,6 +232,53 @@ 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
@@ -204,7 +294,7 @@ if err != nil {
 
 target := inspection.EffectiveModelParams
 if target.APIKeyEnv != "" {
-	// Apply application policy for the named environment variable.
+	// This is a configured optional environment lookup source.
 } else if inspection.APIKeyRequired {
 	// Arrange a direct credential before later execution.
 }
@@ -213,9 +303,11 @@ if target.APIKeyEnv != "" {
 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. Inspection reports credential requirements but leaves the
-timing of credential enforcement to the application. The method's
-[GoDoc](../../engine.go) owns its exact result and error contract.
+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
 
@@ -423,6 +515,24 @@ status; those choices remain with the consuming application. The
 contract, while the [`Engine.Run` and error GoDoc](../../engine.go) owns broad
 error and cancellation identities.
 
+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

docs/development.md

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Start with:
 | Root public API | The [architecture policy](policy/architecture.md), [consumer guide](consumers/pkg-promptkit.md), [testing policy](policy/testing.md), and existing GoDoc. |
 | Prompt, profile, or schema formats | The [framework format reference](formats.md), owning parser or validator package, and [documentation policy](policy/documentation.md). |
 | Source loading or validation | The [framework format reference](formats.md), [internal source document](internal/sources.md), and owning package tests. |
+| Maintained external catalogs or built-ins | The [internal source document](internal/sources.md), [framework format reference](formats.md), [testing policy](policy/testing.md), both catalog module repositories, and each catalog's release procedure. |
 | Model-client behavior | The [OpenAI-compatible integration contract](integrations/openai-compatible-chat.md), [internal model-client document](internal/llm.md), and owning package tests. |
 | Internal package implementation | The [architecture policy](policy/architecture.md), [internal component overview](internal/overview.md), and focused internal document listed for that package. |
 | Tests or test fixtures | The [testing policy](policy/testing.md), owning package, and focused internal document listed by the component overview. |
@@ -44,3 +45,190 @@ Start with:
 For cross-cutting changes, follow every applicable row. Do not create
 placeholder documents for packages, APIs, or integrations that do not yet
 exist.
+
+## Maintainer Validation
+
+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 ./...
+go test -race ./...
+go vet ./...
+go build ./...
+go run ./examples/go-library/prepare
+go run ./examples/go-library/run
+```
+
+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
+unformatted=$(
+    git ls-files '*.go' |
+        while IFS= read -r go_file
+        do
+            gofmt -l "$go_file"
+        done
+)
+test -z "$unformatted"
+```
+
+### 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
+```
+
+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.
+
+After committing the accepted change, require a clean candidate:
+
+```sh
+test -z "$(git status --porcelain)"
+```

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
 
@@ -81,14 +82,27 @@ allowed.
 
 ### Messages And Templates
 
-Each message has a non-empty `role` and exactly one of:
+Each message has a `role` that Promptkit trims and lowercases. It must then be
+exactly one of `developer`, `system`, `user`, or `assistant`; blank, custom,
+`tool`, and `function` roles are invalid. This intentionally tightens the
+previous nonblank-string rule. Consumers migrating to the next minor release
+must update any nonstandard prompt-definition roles before upgrading.
+
+Each message also has exactly one of:
 
 - `content`, containing an inline Go template; or
 - `content_file`, naming a file whose contents are the Go template.
 
-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
@@ -118,7 +132,7 @@ outbound integration determines its wire representation.
 | `format` | yes | `text`, `markdown`, or `json`. |
 | `validation_mode` | yes | `none`, `basic`, `json`, or `json_schema`. |
 | `schema_path` | for `json_schema` | Path to a schema in the configured schema source. |
-| `repair_attempts` | no | Integer zero or greater; omitted means zero. |
+| `repair_attempts` | no | Integer from zero through three; omitted means zero. A positive value requires `basic`, `json`, or `json_schema` validation. |
 
 The validation modes behave as follows:
 
@@ -128,14 +142,31 @@ 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:
@@ -154,11 +185,21 @@ 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. |
+| `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 | Non-empty OpenAI-compatible base URL, including an API version path when required. When both connection fields are present, this overrides the backend endpoint without changing backend identity. |
+| `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. |
@@ -166,16 +207,21 @@ 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` ID. Consumers can add
-engine-scoped IDs with
+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.
 
@@ -183,6 +229,7 @@ GoDoc.
 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
 
@@ -236,7 +283,7 @@ Profile sources resolve matching IDs in this order:
 2. the ordinary configured source selected by a profile file, `fs.FS`, or
    configured profile directory;
 3. application fallback profiles supplied with `WithFallbackProfileFS`; and
-4. embedded built-in profiles.
+4. maintained external catalog profiles.
 
 A profile source supplies a complete definition; definitions and their fields
 are not merged across sources. A higher-precedence source falls back only when
@@ -246,41 +293,66 @@ profiles. They use `APIKeyRequired` for request-scoped credentials instead of
 `api_key_env`. Preparation and exact profile inspection use this same source
 precedence.
 
+When a selected definition names `base_profile`, every profile ID in that
+chain is looked up through this same precedence order. A higher-precedence
+definition therefore shadows a lower-precedence definition of the same base
+ID, including a built-in. References are not source-qualified.
+
+### Profile Inheritance
+
+Promptkit resolves one linear base chain of at most 32 profiles, including the
+selected profile. It merges settings from the root base to the selected leaf.
+The leaf's `id` remains the selected profile identity. Nonblank string fields
+(`backend`, `endpoint`, `model`, `service_tier`, `reasoning_effort`, and
+`api_key_env`) and nonzero numeric fields replace inherited values. A nonempty
+`extra_params` map replaces the complete inherited map rather than merging
+keys, and `APIKeyRequired: true` remains true through the chain. Backend and
+endpoint are independent: replacing one does not clear the other.
+
+There is no profile-level clearing syntax. Blank strings, zero numbers, false,
+and empty maps remain unspecified and inherit from a base. Use existing
+presence-aware request overrides where an execution needs an explicit zero or
+empty reasoning setting.
+
+An absent directly selected profile reports the ordinary not-found error. Once
+the selected profile exists, a missing base, cycle, overlong chain, or
+incomplete resolved target is a profile-load failure. Ordinary operations
+resolve chains afresh; prepared execution retains the fully resolved target.
+
 ## Built-In Profile Catalog
 
-Every built-in selects the `openrouter` backend. The engine's built-in backend
-registry supplies `https://openrouter.ai/api/v1` and the environment-variable
-name `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`, so individual profiles contain only model and
-generation settings. Built-in profile files do not repeat those connection
-values. A configured, application fallback, or in-memory profile with the same
-profile 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
 
@@ -299,16 +371,25 @@ 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.
 
 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`.
-Promptkit validates required credential availability during preparation.
+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

@@ -14,10 +14,16 @@ that produce these outbound settings.
 
 Generation sends an HTTP `POST` with `Content-Type: application/json`.
 Before the client is called, the engine resolves framework, backend, profile,
-and request values into one execution target. A non-empty endpoint from that
-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.
+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
@@ -25,11 +31,13 @@ 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
@@ -47,6 +55,12 @@ Each ordinary message contains its `role` and string `content`. A
 cache-controlled message instead uses a text content block containing `type`,
 `text`, and `cache_control`; an empty cache-control TTL is omitted.
 
+Promptkit sends only `developer`, `system`, `user`, and `assistant` roles and
+does so without provider-specific translation. Tool and deprecated function
+payloads are outside this text-message contract. A backend or model that
+rejects an otherwise supported role or context returns its ordinary provider
+error, which follows the normal generation-error path.
+
 The effective direct or prompt-rendered session ID is trimmed, limited to 256
 Unicode code points, and sent when nonempty as top-level `session_id`. It is
 never also sent as a session header.
@@ -59,7 +73,8 @@ The client conditionally includes:
 - non-empty `service_tier` and effective `reasoning_effort`; an explicitly
   disabled reasoning setting is empty and therefore omitted; and
 - `response_format` for JSON Schema structured output, including its name,
-  strict flag, and schema document.
+  strict flag, and schema document. Plain JSON validation does not add an
+  object-only response constraint.
 
 The engine resolves backend, profile, and request extra-parameter maps by
 whole-map replacement rather than key merging. The resulting effective map is
@@ -82,13 +97,47 @@ 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
 
@@ -103,5 +152,7 @@ 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

@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ reserve another bounded slot.
 
 `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.
+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
@@ -71,7 +74,9 @@ 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.
+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
 

docs/internal/llm.md

@@ -21,20 +21,26 @@ uses internal domain values for rendered prompts, execution targets,
 structured output, responses, and token usage.
 
 The runner supplies a fully resolved target after applying backend, profile,
-and request precedence. The client uses its endpoint, credential metadata,
-generation fields, and extra parameters. `BackendID` remains routing metadata
+and request precedence, plus canonical provider-bound text messages. The
+client uses its endpoint, credential metadata, generation fields, and extra
+parameters. `BackendID` remains routing metadata
 for the generation boundary and is not mapped into the provider payload.
 
-Construction 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:
+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 request-level timeout and endpoint requirements;
+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
@@ -50,12 +56,14 @@ 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 that the frozen credential
-environment-variable name is available. The handle does not retain the
-environment value; the model client resolves the value visible when generation
-begins. 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
+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
@@ -63,11 +71,47 @@ ownership and redaction semantics belong to the
 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
 
@@ -75,7 +119,15 @@ 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. The root transport contract test
-also verifies that resolved backend settings reach this client without
-serializing backend identity. All use local test servers or 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

@@ -11,23 +11,23 @@ contributor workflow and validation.
 
 | Component | Implemented responsibility | References |
 | --- | --- | --- |
-| Root `promptkit` package | Provides the supported engine facade, source, backend-registration, and injection options, public request, result, prompt-inspection, and profile-inspection values, opaque prepared-execution handles, profile construction, extension interfaces, value conversion, redacted formatting, typed capacity errors, public error mapping, and engine-local profile-source assembly including application fallbacks. | [Package GoDoc](../../doc.go), [prepared execution](../../prepared_execution.go), [backend API](../../backends.go), [engine assembly](../../engine.go) |
+| Root `promptkit` package | Provides the supported engine facade, source, backend-registration, and injection options, public request, result, prompt-inspection, and profile-inspection values, opaque prepared-execution handles, profile construction, extension interfaces, value conversion, redacted formatting, typed capacity and generation error mapping, engine-local profile-source assembly including application fallbacks, and bounded output-repair assembly. | [Package GoDoc](../../doc.go), [prepared execution](../../prepared_execution.go), [backend API](../../backends.go), [engine assembly](../../engine.go) |
 | `examples/go-library/prepare` | Demonstrates an offline downstream consumer using a prompt file, in-memory profile, inline input, and `Prepare`. It is not a public library package. | [Example program](../../examples/go-library/prepare/main.go) |
 | `examples/go-library/run` | Demonstrates an offline downstream consumer using a prompt file, in-memory profile, inline input, an injected deterministic model client, and `Run`. It is not a public library package. | [Example program](../../examples/go-library/run/main.go) |
-| `internal/backend` | Constructs each engine's immutable registry from the built-in OpenRouter definition and consumer additions, validates and defensively copies definitions through the shared JSON-value package, and consumes the LLM-owned OpenAI-compatible reserved request-field rule. | [Backend registry](../../internal/backend/registry.go) |
+| `internal/backend` | Constructs each engine's immutable registry from maintained definitions and consumer additions, validates and defensively copies definitions through the shared JSON-value package, and consumes the LLM-owned OpenAI-compatible reserved request-field rule. | [Backend registry](../../internal/backend/registry.go) |
+| `internal/catalog` | Strictly validates imported immutable maintained backend and profile catalog assets before engine assembly uses them. | [Catalog adapter](../../internal/catalog/catalog.go), [internal sources](sources.md#profiles-and-built-ins) |
 | `internal/capacity` | Owns engine-local bounded execution admission and FIFO model-generation permits for limited backend IDs, including cancellation-safe waiter removal and client wrapping. | [Internal capacity management](capacity.md) |
-| `internal/domain` | Defines internal framework values for requests, artifacts, prompt definitions, profiles, execution targets, rendering, generation, and validation. | [Domain declarations](../../internal/domain/domain.go) |
+| `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 JSON-compatible extra-parameter and prepared-schema trees while preserving supported concrete value types. | [JSON values](../../internal/jsonvalue/jsonvalue.go) |
+| `internal/jsonvalue` | Validates and deeply copies bounded JSON-compatible extra-parameter and prepared-schema trees while preserving supported concrete value types and rejecting cycles or excessive depth and work. | [JSON values](../../internal/jsonvalue/jsonvalue.go) |
 | `internal/promptdef` | Loads strictly decoded, validated prompt definitions from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources, including version selection and contained file-backed message content. | [Framework formats](../formats.md), [prompt-definition repository](../../internal/promptdef/filesystem_repository.go) |
-| `internal/profile` | Loads strictly decoded, validated execution profiles, including backend selection, from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources and composes repositories with error-preserving fallback. | [Framework formats](../formats.md), [profile repositories](../../internal/profile/filesystem_repository.go) |
-| `internal/profile/builtin` | Embeds the built-in profile catalog, whose entries select OpenRouter. | [Built-in catalog](../formats.md#built-in-profile-catalog), [repository](../../internal/profile/builtin/repository.go) |
+| `internal/profile` | Loads strictly decoded, locally validated execution profiles from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources, overlays raw sources with error-preserving fallback, and resolves inherited profiles. | [Framework formats](../formats.md), [profile repositories](../../internal/profile/filesystem_repository.go), [internal sources](sources.md#profiles-and-built-ins) |
 | `internal/prompt` | Renders prompt messages from Go templates with artifact, variable, session, and cache-control data. | [Go-template renderer](../../internal/prompt/go_renderer.go) |
 | `internal/artifact` | Resolves ordinary inline and unrestricted caller-selected file references into copied artifacts with metadata and hashes. | [Internal sources and validation](sources.md) |
-| `internal/validate` | Validates basic, JSON, and JSON Schema output using operating-system filesystem or `fs.FS` schema sources and creates frozen validation plans for prepared execution. | [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 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, generation, validation, capacity, and optional repair. | [Internal runner](runner.md), [prepared-execution implementation](../../internal/usecase/prepared_execution.go) |
+| `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

@@ -20,10 +20,13 @@ and override semantics consumed by the runner.
 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. 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.
+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.
@@ -69,17 +72,20 @@ performs only the work needed to validate routing and admission:
 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 the effective output contract without loading its schema; and
+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. load structured-output schema metadata when required;
+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;
+4. apply any direct session ID, then append already-normalized request messages
+   after the rendered definition messages;
 5. hash the effective rendered prompt; and
 6. construct the prepared value and preparation timing.
 
@@ -87,7 +93,10 @@ profile, or backend:
 `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.
+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. Endpoint overrides do not change
@@ -105,7 +114,10 @@ the prompt session template, and is applied after ordinary message rendering.
 A blank direct value retains prompt-template behavior. The runner clears the
 template only on a value copy of the definition, so the definition hash always
 describes the original source while the rendered-prompt hash includes the
-effective direct or rendered session.
+effective direct or rendered session and the complete effective message
+sequence. The rendered-prompt hash uses a versioned, length-framed SHA-256
+encoding of that session, every role and content value, and cache-control
+presence and values; its hexadecimal value is opaque.
 
 The registry is read-only after engine construction. Concurrent `Prepare` and
 `Run` calls resolve independent defensive backend values and keep all
@@ -118,8 +130,17 @@ 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. Invalid generated content remains a validation
-result; an inability to perform validation is an operational error.
+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.
+
+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
@@ -127,22 +148,38 @@ serializing preparation or validation behind the active-generation limit.
 The wrapped model client separately acquires a FIFO active permit only around
 each actual generation call.
 
-When an internal repairer is present, a JSON or JSON Schema content failure can
-trigger bounded repair attempts. Repair receives the effective execution
-target and session ID, validation errors, prior output, and structured-output
-specification. The default repairer uses the same wrapped client as initial
+After a failed `basic`, JSON, or JSON Schema validation with a positive frozen
+budget, the installed repairer can make a bounded corrective call. Each request
+starts with a fresh copy of the complete effective message sequence (the
+configured prefix followed by the request suffix), includes only the latest
+nonempty candidate as an assistant message, and appends one corrective user
+message. Empty candidates omit that assistant message. The
+correction carries validation diagnostics as JSON data bounded to 64 KiB; the
+full diagnostics remain in the validation result.
+
+Repair receives the effective execution target, explicit numeric-presence bits,
+credential, backend identity, session ID, and structured-output specification.
+The same request constructor supplies those common fields to initial and repair
+generation. The default repairer uses the same wrapped client as initial
 generation, so each repair reacquires the selected backend's active permit
 while remaining inside its original admission lease. Repair never performs a
-second bounded admission. This capability remains internal and is not a public
-option.
+second bounded admission, and repaired outputs use the operation's existing
+validation plan. The runner stops at the first valid candidate, sums completed
+generation usage, reports calls actually started, and returns the final failed
+validation result on exhaustion. A repair generation failure follows the
+ordinary generation-error category rather than becoming a validation error.
 
 A successful result includes the output artifact and raw output, validation
 state, effective session ID, prompt and rendered-prompt hashes, selected
 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, including backend identity, reaches generation and any
-repair attempt.
+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
 
@@ -165,7 +202,8 @@ 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.
+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,
@@ -177,8 +215,9 @@ The [runner tests](../../internal/usecase/runner_test.go) own preparation order,
 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, shared initial/repair capacity, credentials and redaction,
-error categories, artifact metadata, usage, and timing. The
+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.
 

docs/internal/sources.md

@@ -12,9 +12,27 @@ 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.
+
+Message roles are normalized through the shared domain owner by trimming
+Unicode whitespace and lowercasing. Only `developer`, `system`, `user`, and
+`assistant` are published; invalid roles remain selected prompt-definition
+failures rather than becoming request errors. Cache-control metadata uses the
+same shared domain normalization and defensive-copy rule.
+
+Operating-system sources enforce containment against canonical roots and
+targets so symlinks cannot escape. Injected `fs.FS` sources enforce containment
+in their clean relative path namespace. A single-file source uses the selected
+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
@@ -27,39 +45,78 @@ 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`. Its overlay repository consults the
-next repository only when the higher-precedence repository reports that a
-profile is absent. Strict YAML decoding recognizes the optional `backend`
-field, trims its value, and requires a model plus at least one non-blank
-backend or endpoint. Loading does not check registry membership because the
-available registry belongs to the assembled engine; the runner checks
-membership during preparation and exact profile inspection.
+`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.
 
-The root engine assembles profile repositories in precedence order: in-memory
-profiles, one ordinary configured source, an application fallback source, then
-the embedded built-in catalog. An explicit file or `fs.FS` profile source
-replaces `Config.ProfileDir` within the ordinary configured-source category.
+`LoadFSRepository` is the eager immutable loading boundary for internal
+catalog consumers. It discovers and strictly validates every raw profile once,
+preserves safe source metadata including explicitly present YAML fields, and
+publishes independently copied values from memory. It does not resolve profile
+inheritance. Configured consumer sources continue to use the lazy point lookup
+repositories described above.
 
-Exact profile inspection performs one point-in-time lookup through those
-profile sources and checks the resolved target without reading prompt, input,
+`internal/catalog` validates the imported immutable OpenRouter and
+Rakestrawhome asset modules as one private adapter boundary. It enforces their
+manifest, layout, profile ownership, inheritance, and secret-safety rules
+before returning raw catalog sources. Root assembly uses those validated
+catalogs as the maintained lowest-precedence profile source.
+
+The overlay repository consults the next repository only when the
+higher-precedence repository reports that a profile is absent. A reliably
+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 maintained external catalog. An explicit file or `fs.FS` profile
+source replaces `Config.ProfileDir` within the ordinary configured-source
+category. One outer resolving repository wraps that complete raw catalog, so
+each base lookup observes the same precedence and shadowing rules.
+
+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 `openrouter` and inherits its 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, the backend-selection invariant, and duplicate IDs
-are owned by the
-[built-in repository tests](../../internal/profile/builtin/repository_test.go).
+The maintained external catalog provides every built-in profile and its
+matching backend definition. Profile loading and overlay behavior are owned by the
+[profile repository tests](../../internal/profile/repository_test.go), while
+catalog completeness, backend selection, and duplicate IDs are owned by the
+[catalog adapter tests](../../internal/catalog/catalog_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
@@ -71,7 +128,17 @@ 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
+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 validates and
+canonicalizes message roles before carrying roles, session IDs, and cache
 control into the rendered prompt. The
 [renderer tests](../../internal/prompt/renderer_test.go) own rendering behavior.
 
@@ -82,22 +149,35 @@ 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.
 
-For executable preparation, the built-in validators create a frozen validation
-plan. None, basic, and JSON modes retain the effective output contract without
-source access. JSON Schema mode loads the root document, resolves and compiles
-every transitive reference during preparation, and retains the compiled
-validator. The provider-facing structured-output metadata uses that same
-captured root document.
+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.
 
-`PrepareExecution` also completes prompt and profile selection, artifact
-loading and hashing, session and message rendering, and target resolution.
-`RunPrepared` uses the retained source-derived state and validation plan; it
-does not reopen prompt, profile, input, or schema sources and does not rerender
-the request. By contrast, ordinary `Prepare` produces a preparation value only:
-a later `Run` performs its own source resolution and preparation.
+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,
-frozen-reference behavior, and content-failure behavior. Prepared execution
+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

@@ -19,24 +19,24 @@ 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 built-in OpenRouter definition;
+  definitions;
 - `internal/capacity`, which owns engine-local bounded run admission and
   model-generation scheduling for limited backends;
 - `internal/defaults`, which owns application-neutral framework defaults and
   constructs the default execution target;
 - `internal/filecatalog`, which discovers YAML files and provides source-path
   helpers for filesystem and `fs.FS` consumers;
+- `internal/catalog`, which validates immutable external maintained-catalog
+  assets before they are eligible for engine assembly;
 - `internal/jsonvalue`, which validates and defensively copies JSON-compatible
   extra-parameter trees;
 - `internal/promptdef`, which loads and validates prompt definitions from
   filesystem and `fs.FS` sources;
 - `internal/profile`, which loads, validates, and overlays execution profiles
   from filesystem and `fs.FS` sources;
-- `internal/profile/builtin`, which embeds the built-in execution profile
-  catalog;
 - `internal/prompt`, which renders prompt messages from Go templates;
 - `internal/artifact`, which resolves ordinary inline and unrestricted
   caller-selected file references;
@@ -54,13 +54,15 @@ packages or participate in internal assembly.
 The root facade assembles one immutable backend registry, one capacity manager,
 the internal repositories, renderer, validator, outbound client, and use-case
 runner while translating public values and errors at the library boundary. The
-registry contains built-ins plus validated engine-scoped consumer additions.
+registry contains validated maintained definitions plus engine-scoped consumer
+additions.
 The facade constructs the capacity manager from the registry's immutable
 policy snapshot, wraps the selected built-in or injected model client, and
 supplies bounded admission to the runner. The defaults and renderer depend on
 the domain model. Prompt-definition and profile repositories use the domain
-model, file catalog, and YAML decoder. The built-in profile repository supplies
-an embedded `fs.FS` to the profile package. Artifact reading uses the domain
+model, file catalog, and YAML decoder. The catalog adapter validates imported
+immutable maintained data before root assembly supplies it to the profile
+package. Artifact reading uses the domain
 model and application-neutral defaults. Validation uses the domain model, file
 catalog, and JSON Schema implementation. The model client uses the domain
 model, application-neutral defaults, and an injected or standard-library HTTP
@@ -92,6 +94,13 @@ 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
 
 Scriptorium is a downstream application that consumes Promptkit through

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

@@ -106,48 +106,12 @@ gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit 1.25.5
 promptkit gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit
 ```
 
-Run the complete maintainer validation required by the
-[development guide](development.md):
-
-```sh
-go test ./...
-go test -race ./...
-go vet ./...
-go build ./...
-go run ./examples/go-library/prepare
-```
-
-Check every tracked Go file. This command must produce no output:
-
-```sh
-unformatted=$(
-    git ls-files '*.go' |
-        while IFS= read -r go_file
-        do
-            gofmt -l "$go_file"
-        done
-)
-test -z "$unformatted"
-```
-
-Follow every maintained Markdown link and confirm that its local or published
-target exists. Review the repository for generated binaries, test or coverage
-output, credentials, template residue, downloaded assets, and other files that
-do not belong in source control.
-
-Recheck module and repository hygiene, whitespace, and the clean checkout:
-
-```sh
-test -z "$(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
-git diff --check
-test -z "$(git status --porcelain)"
-```
+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.
 
 ## Write The Release Note
 
@@ -182,6 +146,13 @@ grep -F 'Consumer action:' "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
 Inspect the complete message and confirm that it accurately records the
 compatibility impact, public API changes, and required consumer action.
 
+When a release introduces or updates the maintained external catalogs, state
+that it selects two independently versioned data dependencies, preserves the
+public API and configuration, requires no consumer migration, and guarantees
+only the catalog versions selected and tested by that Promptkit release. Link
+to the current architecture and format documentation rather than duplicating
+catalog contracts in the release note.
+
 ## Create And Inspect The Tag
 
 Run the candidate guard again immediately before tag creation. This ensures

docs/releases/v0.6.0.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/releases/v0.9.0.md

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

docs/roadmap/deferred.md

@@ -59,24 +59,3 @@ 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.
-
-### Structured Generation Errors
-
-**Reason for deferral:** Existing `ErrLLMGenerate` classification, preserved
-injected-client errors, and prepared execution details currently provide the
-necessary failure boundary. A typed error should wait for stronger downstream
-demand and a transport-neutral field design.
-
-Promptkit could expose safe structured generation context through
-`errors.As` while preserving `errors.Is(err, ErrLLMGenerate)`. Potential
-fields include the selected backend ID and model plus an optional HTTP status
-when the built-in OpenAI-compatible transport supplies one.
-
-The design must not expose provider response bodies, endpoints, credential
-environment names or values, request content, or generated content. It should
-not duplicate prompt and profile provenance already available from a prepared
-execution, and it must preserve the identity of errors returned by injected
-clients. Retry and backoff policy remains a consumer responsibility.
-
-Reconsider this idea when consumers need structured generation diagnostics
-beyond the existing sentinel, wrapped client error, and preparation record.

docs/roadmap/future.md

@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ consumers.
 
 ## Ideas
 
-No ideas currently await selection.
+No ideas are currently awaiting selection. Active feature work belongs in its
+focused roadmap rather than this catalog.
 
 ## Entry Format
 

engine.go

@@ -11,14 +11,16 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	openrouter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-openrouter"
+	rakestrawhome "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit-backend-rakestrawhome"
 	artifactadapter "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/artifact"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/capacity"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/catalog"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/defaults"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile"
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/profile/builtin"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/prompt"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/promptdef"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/usecase"
@@ -53,9 +55,9 @@ var (
 	// 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 APIKeyEnv whose environment variable is
-	// unset or empty when no direct RunRequest.APIKey takes precedence. Such an
-	// error also matches ErrInvalidRequest.
+	// 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 identifies a failure to resolve an input artifact. Errors
 	// returned by an injected ArtifactReader remain available through errors.Is.
@@ -69,8 +71,9 @@ var (
 	// 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. Errors returned by an injected LLMClient remain available
-	// through errors.Is.
+	// 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
@@ -99,7 +102,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	// prompt source.
 	PromptDir string
 	// ProfileDir is an optional ordinary configured source whose profiles take
-	// precedence over application fallback and embedded built-in profiles. An
+	// precedence over application fallback and maintained catalog profiles. An
 	// empty value selects the lower-precedence sources unless a profile-source
 	// option supplies the ordinary source.
 	ProfileDir string
@@ -219,7 +222,7 @@ func WithPromptFile(path string) Option {
 		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
 	})
@@ -272,7 +275,7 @@ func WithProfileFile(path string) Option {
 //
 // Profile lookup checks, in order, profiles supplied by WithProfiles; the
 // ordinary configured source selected by WithProfileFile, WithProfileFS, or
-// Config.ProfileDir; this fallback source; and Promptkit's embedded built-in
+// Config.ProfileDir; this fallback source; and Promptkit's maintained catalog
 // profiles. Each source supplies a complete profile definition; profile fields
 // are not merged between sources. Only an absent profile ID proceeds to the
 // next source. A matching read, parse, duplicate, validation, or credential
@@ -303,10 +306,12 @@ func WithFallbackProfileFS(fsys fs.FS, root string) Option {
 // WithProfiles configures in-memory profiles that take precedence over
 // ordinary configured, application fallback, and built-in profiles.
 //
-// NewEngine validates and copies every profile. IDs must be unique within one
-// call. An invalid profile, duplicate ID, or unsupported ExtraParams value
-// makes construction fail with ErrInvalidConfig. Repeating WithProfiles
-// replaces the complete earlier in-memory set rather than merging it.
+// NewEngine locally validates and copies every profile. IDs must be unique
+// within one call. An invalid local definition, duplicate ID, or unsupported
+// ExtraParams value makes construction fail with ErrInvalidConfig. A derived
+// profile's base reference and resolved target completeness are checked when it
+// is selected or inspected. Repeating WithProfiles replaces the complete
+// earlier in-memory set rather than merging it.
 func WithProfiles(profiles ...Profile) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(options *engineOptions) error {
 		repo, err := newMemoryProfileRepository(profiles)
@@ -387,9 +392,17 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 		promptDefs = promptdef.NewFilesystemRepository(cfg.PromptDir)
 	}
 
-	profiles := newProfileRepository(cfg.ProfileDir, options)
+	maintainedCatalogs, err := catalog.Load(
+		catalog.Source{Name: "OpenRouter", ExpectedBackendID: backend.OpenRouterID, FS: openrouter.FS(), Root: openrouter.Root},
+		catalog.Source{Name: "Rakestrawhome", ExpectedBackendID: backend.RakestrawHomeID, FS: rakestrawhome.FS(), Root: rakestrawhome.Root},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to load maintained catalogs: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
+	}
 
-	backendRegistry, err := backend.NewRegistry(options.backends)
+	profiles := newProfileRepository(cfg.ProfileDir, options, maintainedCatalogs.Profiles)
+
+	backendRegistry, err := backend.NewRegistry(maintainedCatalogs.Backends, options.backends)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to construct backend registry: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 	}
@@ -427,7 +440,7 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &Engine{
-		runner: usecase.NewRunner(
+		runner: usecase.NewRunnerWithRepairer(
 			promptDefs,
 			profiles,
 			backendRegistry,
@@ -435,13 +448,14 @@ func NewEngine(cfg Config, opts ...Option) (*Engine, error) {
 			prompt.NewGoRenderer(),
 			llmClient,
 			validator,
+			usecase.NewDefaultOutputRepairer(llmClient),
 			capacityManager,
 		),
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions) profile.Repository {
-	repository := builtin.NewRepository()
+func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions, maintained profile.Repository) profile.Repository {
+	repository := maintained
 
 	if options.fallbackProfileSource {
 		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.fallbackProfiles, repository)
@@ -457,25 +471,24 @@ func newProfileRepository(profileDir string, options engineOptions) profile.Repo
 		repository = profile.NewOverlayRepository(options.memoryProfiles, repository)
 	}
 
-	return repository
+	return profile.NewResolvingRepository(repository)
 }
 
 func fileSource(name string) (fs.FS, string, error) {
-	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
 }
@@ -568,6 +581,8 @@ func (e *Engine) InspectProfile(ctx context.Context, profileID string) (*Profile
 }
 
 // Prepare resolves and renders a prompt request without calling an LLM.
+// It appends any validated RunRequest.AppendedMessages after rendered
+// definition messages in the returned caller-owned snapshot.
 //
 // Prepare selects the prompt and profile, resolves any selected backend and
 // effective execution settings, resolves the output contract, loads and hashes
@@ -602,7 +617,8 @@ func (e *Engine) Prepare(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*PreparedRun, err
 }
 
 // PrepareExecution completely prepares a prompt request without calling the
-// configured LLMClient or reserving backend admission capacity.
+// configured LLMClient or reserving backend admission capacity. Validated
+// RunRequest.AppendedMessages are included in the frozen effective messages.
 //
 // The returned opaque handle is bound to this Engine and permits one
 // [Engine.RunPrepared] invocation. Preparation freezes the selected sources,
@@ -634,24 +650,29 @@ func (e *Engine) PrepareExecution(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*Prepare
 }
 
 // Run prepares a request, invokes the configured LLMClient, and validates the
-// generated output.
+// generated output. Each call resolves current sources and composes a fresh,
+// stateless effective prompt with any validated RunRequest.AppendedMessages.
 //
 // A content-validation failure is a successful run whose
-// RunResult.Validation has Status ValidationFailed. An inability to perform
-// validation returns an error matching ErrValidation and no partial result.
-// The public Engine does not perform output repair, so validation is
-// single-pass even when OutputContract.RepairAttempts is positive.
+// RunResult.Validation has Status ValidationFailed. When its output contract
+// has a positive repair budget, a failed eligible validation can make bounded
+// additional model calls and stops at the first valid candidate. Exhaustion
+// returns the final failed validation result with cumulative usage and actual
+// repair attempts. An inability to generate or validate returns an error and
+// no partial result.
 //
 // Run can return every error category documented by [Engine.Prepare], plus
 // ErrCapacityExceeded and ErrLLMGenerate. An engine admission rejection is
 // 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. 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.
+// 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)
@@ -682,16 +703,17 @@ func (e *Engine) Run(ctx context.Context, req RunRequest) (*RunResult, error) {
 //
 // The supplied context governs this execution attempt independently of the
 // preparation context. It covers credential revalidation, admission,
-// generation, validation, and any internal repair. Result timing begins after
-// the claim and excludes preparation and consumer-held delay.
+// generation, validation, and any bounded output repair. Result timing begins
+// after the claim and excludes preparation and consumer-held delay.
 //
 // RunPrepared can return ErrInvalidRequest, ErrAPIKeyEnvMissing,
 // ErrCapacityExceeded, ErrLLMGenerate, or ErrValidation as applicable while
 // preserving documented collaborator and context identities. An engine
 // admission rejection is discoverable as [CapacityError] and still matches
-// ErrCapacityExceeded. A completed content-validation rejection is returned
-// in RunResult, not as an operational error. An operational error returns no
-// partial RunResult.
+// 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)

errors.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"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"
@@ -21,6 +22,19 @@ func mapPublicError(err error) error {
 		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
 	}

errors_internal_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/llm"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/usecase"
 )
 
@@ -48,3 +49,27 @@ func TestMapPublicErrorTranslatesCapacityError(t *testing.T) {
 		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)
+	}
+}

formatting.go

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

generation_error.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 +1,150 @@
+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 TestBuiltInGenerationErrorWithAppendedMessages(t *testing.T) {
+	const messageMarker = "combined-request-provider-marker"
+	engine := newBuiltInGenerationErrorEngine(t, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity,
+		`{"error":{"message":"`+messageMarker+`"}}`)
+	request := generationErrorRunRequest()
+	request.AppendedMessages = []promptkit.RenderedMessage{
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleAssistant, Content: "previous response"},
+		{Role: promptkit.RoleUser, Content: "consumer correction"},
+	}
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), request)
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run result = %#v, want nil", result)
+	}
+	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, "", "", messageMarker)
+}
+
+func TestBuiltInRepairGenerationError(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		codeMarker    = "repair-code-marker"
+		typeMarker    = "repair-type-marker"
+		messageMarker = "repair-message-marker"
+	)
+	calls := 0
+	config := contractConfig(frameworkSchemaDir)
+	config.HTTPClient = &http.Client{Transport: roundTripFunc(func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		calls++
+		if calls == 1 {
+			body := `{"choices":[{"message":{"content":"not-json"}}]}`
+			return &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusOK, ContentLength: int64(len(body)), Body: io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(body))}, nil
+		}
+		body := `{"error":{"code":"` + codeMarker + `","type":"` + typeMarker + `","message":"` + messageMarker + `"}}`
+		return &http.Response{StatusCode: http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, ContentLength: int64(len(body)), Body: io.NopCloser(strings.NewReader(body))}, nil
+	})}
+	engine, err := promptkit.NewEngine(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewEngine: %v", err)
+	}
+	req := generationErrorRunRequest()
+	req.Validation = &promptkit.OutputContract{
+		Format:         promptkit.FormatJSON,
+		ValidationMode: promptkit.ValidationJSON,
+		RepairAttempts: 1,
+	}
+
+	result, err := engine.Run(context.Background(), req)
+	if result != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Run result = %#v, want nil", result)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("provider calls = %d, want 2", calls)
+	}
+	assertGenerationError(t, err, http.StatusUnprocessableEntity, codeMarker, typeMarker, messageMarker)
+}
+
+func assertGenerationError(t *testing.T, err error, statusCode int, code, providerType, message string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	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)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

go.mod

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

go.sum

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

internal/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

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ package backend
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"net/url"
 	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -19,12 +18,11 @@ 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
-	defaultQueueCapacity       = 1024
+	defaultQueueCapacity = 1024
 )
 
 // ErrBackendNotFound identifies a registry lookup for an unknown backend ID.
@@ -37,20 +35,15 @@ type Registry struct {
 	backends map[string]domain.Backend
 }
 
-// NewRegistry constructs a registry containing the built-in OpenRouter
-// definition followed by the supplied additions. Every ID must be unique.
-func NewRegistry(additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
+// NewRegistry constructs a registry containing maintained definitions followed
+// by consumer additions. Every ID must be unique across both groups.
+func NewRegistry(maintained, additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
 	registry := &Registry{
-		backends: make(map[string]domain.Backend, len(additions)+1),
+		backends: make(map[string]domain.Backend, len(maintained)+len(additions)),
 	}
 
-	definitions := make([]domain.Backend, 0, len(additions)+1)
-	definitions = append(definitions, domain.Backend{
-		ID:               OpenRouterID,
-		Endpoint:         openRouterEndpoint,
-		APIKeyEnv:        openRouterAPIKeyEnv,
-		ConcurrencyLimit: openRouterConcurrencyLimit,
-	})
+	definitions := make([]domain.Backend, 0, len(maintained)+len(additions))
+	definitions = append(definitions, maintained...)
 	definitions = append(definitions, additions...)
 
 	for _, definition := range definitions {
@@ -62,7 +55,7 @@ func NewRegistry(additions []domain.Backend) (*Registry, error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend ID %q is already registered", definition.ID)
 		}
 
-		normalized, err := normalizeBackend(definition)
+		normalized, err := NormalizeDefinition(definition)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -108,11 +101,13 @@ func (r *Registry) CapacityPolicies() map[string]domain.BackendCapacityPolicy {
 	return policies
 }
 
-func normalizeBackend(definition domain.Backend) (domain.Backend, error) {
-	definition.Endpoint = strings.TrimSpace(definition.Endpoint)
-	if err := validateEndpoint(definition.Endpoint); err != nil {
+// NormalizeDefinition validates and defensively copies one backend definition.
+func NormalizeDefinition(definition domain.Backend) (domain.Backend, error) {
+	endpoint, err := domain.NormalizeOpenAICompatibleBaseEndpoint(definition.Endpoint)
+	if err != nil {
 		return domain.Backend{}, fmt.Errorf("backend %q endpoint: %w", definition.ID, err)
 	}
+	definition.Endpoint = endpoint
 
 	definition.APIKeyEnv = strings.TrimSpace(definition.APIKeyEnv)
 	if definition.APIKeyEnv != "" && !environmentVariableName.MatchString(definition.APIKeyEnv) {
@@ -182,31 +177,3 @@ func normalizeBackend(definition domain.Backend) (domain.Backend, error) {
 	definition.ExtraParams = extraParams
 	return definition, nil
 }
-
-func validateEndpoint(endpoint string) error {
-	if endpoint == "" {
-		return errors.New("must not be blank")
-	}
-	if strings.Contains(endpoint, "#") {
-		return errors.New("must not contain a fragment")
-	}
-
-	parsed, err := url.Parse(endpoint)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("must be a valid URL: %w", err)
-	}
-	scheme := strings.ToLower(parsed.Scheme)
-	if scheme != "http" && scheme != "https" {
-		return errors.New("must use http or https")
-	}
-	if !parsed.IsAbs() || parsed.Hostname() == "" {
-		return errors.New("must be absolute and include a host")
-	}
-	if parsed.User != nil {
-		return errors.New("must not contain user information")
-	}
-	if parsed.RawQuery != "" || parsed.ForceQuery {
-		return errors.New("must not contain a query string")
-	}
-	return nil
-}

internal/backend/registry_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package backend_test
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -11,32 +12,39 @@ import (
 
 const validEndpoint = "https://backend.example/v1"
 
-func TestRegistryIncludesExactOpenRouterDefinition(t *testing.T) {
-	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil)
+func TestRegistryIncludesMaintainedDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
+	maintained := []domain.Backend{
+		{ID: backend.OpenRouterID, Endpoint: validEndpoint, ConcurrencyLimit: 2, QueueCapacity: 3, QueueCapacitySet: true},
+		{ID: backend.RakestrawHomeID, Endpoint: "https://second.example/v1", ConcurrencyLimit: 4, QueueCapacity: 5, QueueCapacitySet: true},
+	}
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(maintained, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	definition, err := registry.GetBackend(backend.OpenRouterID)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("look up OpenRouter: %v", err)
-	}
-	if definition.ID != "openrouter" ||
-		definition.Endpoint != "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1" ||
-		definition.APIKeyEnv != "OPENROUTER_API_KEY" ||
-		definition.ConcurrencyLimit != 16 ||
-		definition.QueueCapacity != 1024 ||
-		!definition.QueueCapacitySet ||
-		definition.ExtraParams != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected OpenRouter definition: %#v", definition)
+	for _, expected := range maintained {
+		t.Run(expected.ID, func(t *testing.T) {
+			definition, err := registry.GetBackend(expected.ID)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("look up maintained definition: %v", err)
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(definition, expected) {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected maintained definition: %#v", definition)
+			}
+		})
 	}
+
 	policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
-	if len(policies) != 1 ||
-		policies["openrouter"] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
-			ConcurrencyLimit: 16,
-			QueueCapacity:    1024,
+	if len(policies) != 2 ||
+		policies[backend.OpenRouterID] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 2,
+			QueueCapacity:    3,
+		}) ||
+		policies[backend.RakestrawHomeID] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
+			ConcurrencyLimit: 4,
+			QueueCapacity:    5,
 		}) {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected OpenRouter capacity policies: %#v", policies)
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected built-in capacity policies: %#v", policies)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +54,7 @@ func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
 		"count":  int64(7),
 		"nested": nested,
 	}
-	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{
 		{
 			ID:               " custom ",
 			Endpoint:         " https://custom.example/openai/v1 ",
@@ -109,11 +117,11 @@ func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	policies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
-	if len(policies) != 2 {
+	if len(policies) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected capacity policy count: %#v", policies)
 	}
 	policies["custom"] = domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{}
-	delete(policies, backend.OpenRouterID)
+	delete(policies, "custom")
 	againPolicies := registry.CapacityPolicies()
 	if againPolicies["custom"] != (domain.BackendCapacityPolicy{
 		ConcurrencyLimit: 3,
@@ -121,9 +129,6 @@ func TestRegistryNormalizesUniqueAdditionsAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
 	}) {
 		t.Fatalf("capacity policy map mutated registry state: %#v", againPolicies)
 	}
-	if _, ok := againPolicies[backend.OpenRouterID]; !ok {
-		t.Fatalf("capacity policy deletion mutated registry state: %#v", againPolicies)
-	}
 }
 
 func TestNewRegistryNormalizesCapacityPolicy(t *testing.T) {
@@ -199,7 +204,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryNormalizesCapacityPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			tc.definition.ID = "custom"
 			tc.definition.Endpoint = validEndpoint
-			registry, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{tc.definition})
+			registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{tc.definition})
 			if tc.wantError {
 				if err == nil {
 					t.Fatal("expected invalid capacity policy error")
@@ -242,11 +247,14 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
 		wantID    string
 	}{
 		{
-			name: "built-in collision after normalization",
-			additions: []domain.Backend{{
-				ID: " openrouter ",
-			}},
-			wantID: "openrouter",
+			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",
@@ -260,7 +268,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(tc.additions)
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, tc.additions)
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatal("expected duplicate ID error")
 			}
@@ -274,7 +282,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsDuplicateIDs(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNewRegistryValidatesIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, id := range []string{"", " \t\n "} {
 		t.Run(id, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:       id,
 				Endpoint: validEndpoint,
 			}})
@@ -303,7 +311,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryValidatesEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:       "custom",
 				Endpoint: tc.endpoint,
 			}})
@@ -317,7 +325,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryValidatesEndpoints(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNewRegistryValidatesEnvironmentVariableNames(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, name := range []string{"1API_KEY", "API-KEY", "API KEY", "ÅPI_KEY"} {
 		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:        "custom",
 				Endpoint:  validEndpoint,
 				APIKeyEnv: name,
@@ -340,7 +348,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsInvalidAndReservedExtraParameters(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := backend.NewRegistry([]domain.Backend{{
+			_, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, []domain.Backend{{
 				ID:          "custom",
 				Endpoint:    validEndpoint,
 				ExtraParams: tc.extraParams,
@@ -353,7 +361,7 @@ func TestNewRegistryRejectsInvalidAndReservedExtraParameters(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRegistryLookupReportsNotFound(t *testing.T) {
-	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil)
+	registry, err := backend.NewRegistry(nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("construct registry: %v", err)
 	}

internal/catalog/catalog.go

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

internal/catalog/catalog_test.go

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

internal/defaults/defaults.go

@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@ const (
 	OpenAIChatCompletionsPath  = "/chat/completions"
 
 	ExecutionDefaultTimeoutSeconds = 600
-)
-
-var (
-	LLMRequestTimeoutDefault = 10 * time.Minute
+	LLMRequestTimeoutDefault       = 10 * time.Minute
 )
 
 func ExecutionTargetDefault() domain.ExecutionTarget {

internal/domain/domain.go

@@ -60,15 +60,16 @@ type CacheControl struct {
 
 // RunRequest represents a request to generate a single artifact.
 type RunRequest struct {
-	PromptID      string
-	PromptVersion string
-	ProfileID     string
-	SessionID     string
-	APIKey        string `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
-	Inputs        map[string]ArtifactRef
-	Vars          map[string]string
-	Execution     *ExecutionTargetOverride
-	Validation    *OutputContract
+	PromptID         string
+	PromptVersion    string
+	ProfileID        string
+	SessionID        string
+	APIKey           string `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
+	Inputs           map[string]ArtifactRef
+	Vars             map[string]string
+	Execution        *ExecutionTargetOverride
+	Validation       *OutputContract
+	AppendedMessages []RenderedMessage
 }
 
 // RunResult represents the complete result of a prompt execution run.
@@ -97,22 +98,22 @@ 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"`
-	SelectedBackendID    string                  `json:"selected_backend_id,omitempty"`
-	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.
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ type BackendCapacityPolicy struct {
 // ExecutionProfile describes how and where to execute a model.
 type ExecutionProfile struct {
 	ID              string         `yaml:"id"`
+	BaseProfileID   string         `yaml:"base_profile"`
 	BackendID       string         `yaml:"backend"`
 	Endpoint        string         `yaml:"endpoint"`
 	Model           string         `yaml:"model"`

internal/domain/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/message.go

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

internal/domain/message_test.go

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

internal/domain/output_contract.go

@@ -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

@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ import (
 
 // 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

internal/domain/session_test.go

@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ import (
 
 func TestNormalizeSessionID(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		name    string
-		raw     string
-		want    string
-		wantErr bool
+		name            string
+		raw             string
+		want            string
+		wantErrContains string
 	}{
 		{
 			name: "trims surrounding Unicode whitespace",
@@ -28,21 +28,24 @@ func TestNormalizeSessionID(t *testing.T) {
 			want: strings.Repeat("界", SessionIDMaxLength),
 		},
 		{
-			name:    "one Unicode code point over maximum is rejected",
-			raw:     strings.Repeat("界", SessionIDMaxLength+1),
-			wantErr: true,
+			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.wantErr {
+			if tt.wantErrContains != "" {
 				if err == nil {
 					t.Fatal("expected normalization error")
 				}
-				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exceeds maximum") {
-					t.Fatalf("expected useful length diagnostic, got %v", err)
+				if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErrContains) {
+					t.Fatalf("expected diagnostic containing %q, got %v", tt.wantErrContains, err)
 				}
 				return
 			}

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

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-// Package jsonvalue validates and defensively copies JSON-compatible value
-// trees used by configuration, request, and prepared-state boundaries.
+// Package jsonvalue validates and defensively copies bounded JSON-compatible
+// value trees used by configuration, request, and prepared-state boundaries.
 package jsonvalue
 
 import (
@@ -8,29 +8,39 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"reflect"
 	"sort"
-	"strconv"
 )
 
-const maxSafeJSONInteger = 1<<53 - 1
+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.
+// 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", make(map[visit]struct{}), true)
+	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.
+// 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", make(map[visit]struct{}), false)
+	copied, err := copyValue(reflect.ValueOf(src), "extra_params", newTraversalState(), false, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -44,71 +54,90 @@ func CopyMap(src map[string]any) (map[string]any, error) {
 func copyValue(
 	value reflect.Value,
 	path string,
-	seen map[visit]struct{},
+	state *traversalState,
 	allowEmptyMapKeys bool,
+	containerDepth int,
 ) (any, error) {
-	if !value.IsValid() {
+	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
 	}
-	if value.Kind() == reflect.Interface {
-		if value.IsNil() {
-			return nil, nil
-		}
-		return copyValue(value.Elem(), path, seen, allowEmptyMapKeys)
-	}
+	value = resolved
 	if !value.CanInterface() {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: value cannot be copied", path)
 	}
 	if number, ok := value.Interface().(json.Number); ok {
-		if _, err := json.Marshal(number); err != nil {
+		if !validJSONNumber(number) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: invalid JSON number", path)
 		}
-		f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(number.String(), 64)
-		if err != nil || math.IsNaN(f) || math.IsInf(f, 0) {
-			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 value.Int() < -maxSafeJSONInteger || value.Int() > maxSafeJSONInteger {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: integer is outside the JSON-safe range", path)
+		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 value.Uint() > maxSafeJSONInteger {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: integer is outside the JSON-safe range", path)
+		if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
 		return value.Interface(), nil
 	case reflect.Float32, reflect.Float64:
-		number := value.Convert(reflect.TypeOf(float64(0))).Float()
+		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.Pointer:
+	case reflect.Map:
 		if value.IsNil() {
+			if err := state.produceNode(path); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 			return nil, nil
 		}
-		current := visit{typ: value.Type(), ptr: value.Pointer()}
-		if _, ok := seen[current]; ok {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: cyclic value is not supported", path)
+		nextDepth, err := state.enterContainer(path, containerDepth)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
-		seen[current] = struct{}{}
-		defer delete(seen, current)
-		return copyValue(value.Elem(), path, seen, allowEmptyMapKeys)
-	case reflect.Map:
-		return copyMapValue(value, path, seen, allowEmptyMapKeys)
+		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
 		}
-		return copySequenceValue(value, path, seen, allowEmptyMapKeys)
+		nextDepth, err := state.enterContainer(path, containerDepth)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return copySequenceValue(value, path, state, allowEmptyMapKeys, nextDepth)
 	case reflect.Array:
-		return copySequenceValue(value, path, seen, allowEmptyMapKeys)
+		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())
 	}
@@ -117,22 +146,26 @@ func copyValue(
 func copyMapValue(
 	value reflect.Value,
 	path string,
-	seen map[visit]struct{},
+	state *traversalState,
 	allowEmptyMapKeys bool,
+	containerDepth int,
 ) (any, error) {
-	if value.IsNil() {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
 	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 := seen[current]; ok {
+	if _, ok := state.active[current]; ok {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: cyclic value is not supported", path)
 	}
-	seen[current] = struct{}{}
-	defer delete(seen, current)
+	state.active[current] = struct{}{}
+	defer delete(state.active, current)
 
 	keys := value.MapKeys()
 	sort.Slice(keys, func(i, j int) bool {
@@ -152,7 +185,13 @@ func copyMapValue(
 		if name == "" && !allowEmptyMapKeys {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: map key must not be empty", path)
 		}
-		copied, err := copyValue(value.MapIndex(key), path+"."+name, seen, allowEmptyMapKeys)
+		copied, err := copyValue(
+			value.MapIndex(key),
+			path+"."+name,
+			state,
+			allowEmptyMapKeys,
+			containerDepth,
+		)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -190,17 +229,25 @@ func copyMapValue(
 func copySequenceValue(
 	value reflect.Value,
 	path string,
-	seen map[visit]struct{},
+	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 := seen[current]; ok {
+		if _, ok := state.active[current]; ok {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: cyclic value is not supported", path)
 		}
-		seen[current] = struct{}{}
-		defer delete(seen, current)
+		state.active[current] = struct{}{}
+		defer delete(state.active, current)
 	}
 
 	values := make([]any, value.Len())
@@ -210,8 +257,9 @@ func copySequenceValue(
 		copied, err := copyValue(
 			value.Index(i),
 			fmt.Sprintf("%s[%d]", path, i),
-			seen,
+			state,
 			allowEmptyMapKeys,
+			containerDepth,
 		)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -248,6 +296,73 @@ func copySequenceValue(
 	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:

internal/jsonvalue/jsonvalue_test.go

@@ -1,112 +1,332 @@
-package jsonvalue_test
+package jsonvalue
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"math"
 	"reflect"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/jsonvalue"
 )
 
-func TestCopyMapPreservesTypesAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
-	nested := map[string]int{"limit": 2}
-	sequence := []string{"one", "two"}
-	input := map[string]any{
-		"count":    int64(7),
-		"number":   json.Number("-1.25e+2"),
-		"nested":   nested,
-		"sequence": sequence,
-	}
-
-	copied, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(input)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("copy map: %v", err)
-	}
-	nested["limit"] = 99
-	sequence[0] = "changed"
-	input["added"] = true
-
-	if got, ok := copied["count"].(int64); !ok || got != 7 {
-		t.Fatalf("integer type or value changed: %#v", copied["count"])
-	}
-	if got, ok := copied["number"].(json.Number); !ok || got != "-1.25e+2" {
-		t.Fatalf("JSON number type or value changed: %#v", copied["number"])
-	}
-	if got := copied["nested"].(map[string]int)["limit"]; got != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("nested map was not isolated: %d", got)
-	}
-	if got := copied["sequence"].([]string)[0]; got != "one" {
-		t.Fatalf("sequence was not isolated: %q", got)
-	}
-	if _, ok := copied["added"]; ok {
-		t.Fatalf("top-level map was not isolated: %#v", copied)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCopyAllowsEmptyObjectKeysAndIsolatesMutations(t *testing.T) {
-	nested := map[string]any{"": []any{"original"}}
-
-	copiedValue, err := jsonvalue.Copy(nested)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("copy value: %v", err)
-	}
-	nested[""].([]any)[0] = "changed"
-
-	copied := copiedValue.(map[string]any)
-	if got := copied[""].([]any)[0]; got != "original" {
-		t.Fatalf("copied value was not isolated: %v", got)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCopyMapRejectsInvalidValues(t *testing.T) {
-	cyclicMap := map[string]any{}
-	cyclicMap["self"] = cyclicMap
-	cyclicSlice := []any{nil}
-	cyclicSlice[0] = cyclicSlice
+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: "empty nested key", value: map[string]int{"": 1}},
-		{name: "non-string map key", value: map[int]string{1: "one"}},
-		{name: "unsupported value", value: make(chan int)},
-		{name: "cyclic map", value: cyclicMap},
-		{name: "cyclic slice", value: cyclicSlice},
-		{name: "NaN", value: math.NaN()},
-		{name: "positive infinity", value: math.Inf(1)},
-		{name: "unsafe signed integer", value: int64(1 << 53)},
-		{name: "unsafe unsigned integer", value: uint64(1 << 53)},
+		{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) {
-			if _, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(map[string]any{"value": tc.value}); err == nil {
+			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 TestCopyMapValidatesJSONNumberSyntaxAndRange(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, number := range []json.Number{"0", "-1", "1.25", "-1.25e+2"} {
-		t.Run("valid "+number.String(), func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(map[string]any{"value": number})
+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 valid JSON number: %v", err)
+				t.Fatalf("copy collection: %v", err)
 			}
-			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got["value"], number) {
-				t.Fatalf("JSON number changed: got %#v want %#v", got["value"], number)
+			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")
 			}
 		})
 	}
 
-	for _, number := range []json.Number{"", "01", "+1", "1.", ".1", "1e9999", "not-a-number"} {
-		t.Run("invalid "+number.String(), func(t *testing.T) {
-			if _, err := jsonvalue.CopyMap(map[string]any{"value": number}); err == nil {
-				t.Fatal("expected invalid JSON number error")
+	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

@@ -25,6 +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
@@ -39,9 +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)
 		}
 	}
@@ -63,25 +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 {
@@ -113,13 +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)
 	}
 
@@ -130,30 +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,
@@ -164,6 +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 == "" {
@@ -308,8 +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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

internal/profile/builtin/repository.go

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

internal/profile/builtin/repository_test.go

@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-package builtin
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"io/fs"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/backend"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
-)
-
-func TestBuiltInProfilesValidateThroughRepository(t *testing.T) {
-	repo := NewRepository()
-	ids := loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t)
-	if len(ids) == 0 {
-		t.Fatal("expected built-in profiles")
-	}
-
-	for id := range ids {
-		t.Run(id, func(t *testing.T) {
-			p, err := repo.GetProfile(context.Background(), id)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("expected built-in profile %q to load, got %v", id, err)
-			}
-			if p.ID != id {
-				t.Fatalf("expected profile id %q, got %q", id, p.ID)
-			}
-			if p.BackendID != backend.OpenRouterID {
-				t.Fatalf("expected profile %q to select %q, got %q", id, backend.OpenRouterID, p.BackendID)
-			}
-			if p.Endpoint != "" || p.APIKeyEnv != "" {
-				t.Fatalf("expected profile %q to inherit backend connection settings, got endpoint=%q api_key_env=%q", id, p.Endpoint, p.APIKeyEnv)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestBuiltInProfilesDoNotContainDuplicateIDsOrRawAPIKeys(t *testing.T) {
-	loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t)
-}
-
-func loadBuiltInProfileIDs(t *testing.T) map[string]string {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	ids := map[string]string{}
-	err := fs.WalkDir(assets, assetRoot, func(name string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if d.IsDir() || !strings.HasSuffix(name, ".yml") {
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		data, err := assets.ReadFile(name)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to read built-in profile %s: %v", name, err)
-		}
-
-		var raw map[string]any
-		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(data, &raw); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to decode built-in profile %s: %v", name, err)
-		}
-		if _, ok := raw["api_key"]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s contains raw api_key", name)
-		}
-		if raw["backend"] != backend.OpenRouterID {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s does not select %q", name, backend.OpenRouterID)
-		}
-		if _, ok := raw["endpoint"]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s repeats endpoint", name)
-		}
-		if _, ok := raw["api_key_env"]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s repeats api_key_env", name)
-		}
-		id, ok := raw["id"].(string)
-		if !ok || strings.TrimSpace(id) == "" {
-			t.Fatalf("built-in profile %s has missing id", name)
-		}
-		if previous, ok := ids[id]; ok {
-			t.Fatalf("duplicate built-in profile id %q in %s and %s", id, previous, name)
-		}
-		ids[id] = name
-		return nil
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to walk built-in profiles: %v", err)
-	}
-	return ids
-}

internal/profile/definition.go

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

internal/profile/eager_repository.go

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

internal/profile/eager_repository_test.go

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

internal/profile/filesystem_repository.go

@@ -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 {
@@ -94,42 +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
 		}
-		prof.BackendID = strings.TrimSpace(prof.BackendID)
-		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,
 		})
 	}
@@ -155,15 +164,37 @@ type profileMatch struct {
 }
 
 type profileFileMetadata struct {
-	id           string
-	hasRawAPIKey bool
+	ids            []string
+	hasRawAPIKey   bool
+	explicitFields []string
 }
 
-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{}
 	}
@@ -176,9 +207,10 @@ func readProfileFileMetadata(data []byte) profileFileMetadata {
 	for i := 0; i+1 < len(mapping.Content); i += 2 {
 		key := mapping.Content[i]
 		value := mapping.Content[i+1]
+		metadata.explicitFields = append(metadata.explicitFields, key.Value)
 		switch key.Value {
 		case "id":
-			metadata.id = strings.TrimSpace(value.Value)
+			metadata.ids = append(metadata.ids, strings.TrimSpace(value.Value))
 		case "api_key":
 			metadata.hasRawAPIKey = true
 		}
@@ -186,29 +218,42 @@ 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.BackendID) == "" && strings.TrimSpace(p.Endpoint) == "" {
-		return errors.New("backend or 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
+	m.explicitFields = append(m.explicitFields, other.explicitFields...)
+}
+
+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"
 
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ func TestFilesystemRepository_GetProfile(t *testing.T) {
 			wantErr      bool
 		}{
 			{name: "backend only", connection: "backend: '  openrouter  '", wantBackend: "openrouter"},
-			{name: "endpoint only", connection: "endpoint: http://localhost:8000/v1", wantEndpoint: "http://localhost:8000/v1"},
+			{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},
@@ -126,63 +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
@@ -245,10 +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)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -274,14 +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)
 		}
@@ -406,6 +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"}
@@ -495,6 +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
+}

internal/prompt/go_renderer.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"text/template"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/domain"
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@ var (
 	ErrInvalidMessageRole   = errors.New("invalid or empty message role")
 )
 
+const artifactTextChunkSize = 64 * 1024
+
 type goRenderer struct{}
 
 func NewGoRenderer() Renderer {
@@ -25,11 +28,13 @@ func NewGoRenderer() Renderer {
 }
 
 func (r *goRenderer) Render(ctx context.Context, definition *domain.PromptDefinition, inputs map[string]*domain.Artifact, vars map[string]string) (*domain.RenderedPrompt, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	if definition == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: nil prompt definition", ErrRenderFailure)
 	}
 
-	// 1. Verify required inputs
 	for _, in := range definition.Inputs {
 		if !in.Required {
 			continue
@@ -40,51 +45,69 @@ func (r *goRenderer) Render(ctx context.Context, definition *domain.PromptDefini
 		}
 	}
 
-	// 2. Setup template functions
+	resolver := newArtifactTextResolver(ctx, inputs)
 	funcs := template.FuncMap{
-		"input": func(name string) (string, error) {
-			art, ok := inputs[name]
-			if !ok || art == nil {
-				return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnknownInput, name)
-			}
-			return string(art.Body), nil
-		},
+		"input": resolver.resolve,
 	}
 
-	sessionID, err := renderSessionID(definition.SessionID, funcs, vars)
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	sessionID, err := renderSessionID(ctx, definition.SessionID, funcs, vars)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
-	var renderedMessages []domain.RenderedMessage
+	renderedMessages := make([]domain.RenderedMessage, 0, len(definition.Templates))
 
 	for i, tmplMsg := range definition.Templates {
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return nil, ctx.Err()
-		default:
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if tmplMsg.Role == "" {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d", ErrInvalidMessageRole, i)
-		}
-
-		// Parse and execute template
-		tmpl, err := template.New(fmt.Sprintf("msg_%d", i)).Funcs(funcs).Option("missingkey=error").Parse(tmplMsg.Content)
+		role, err := domain.NormalizeMessageRole(tmplMsg.Role)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d: %v", ErrInvalidTemplate, i, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d: %v", ErrInvalidMessageRole, i, err)
 		}
 
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		tmpl, parseErr := template.New(fmt.Sprintf("msg_%d", i)).Funcs(funcs).Option("missingkey=error").Parse(tmplMsg.Content)
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if parseErr != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d: %v", ErrInvalidTemplate, i, parseErr)
+		}
+
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		var buf bytes.Buffer
-		if err := tmpl.Execute(&buf, vars); err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d: %w", ErrRenderFailure, i, err)
+		executeErr := tmpl.Execute(&buf, vars)
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if executeErr != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: message %d: %w", ErrRenderFailure, i, executeErr)
 		}
 
 		renderedMessages = append(renderedMessages, domain.RenderedMessage{
-			Role:         tmplMsg.Role,
+			Role:         role,
 			Content:      buf.String(),
 			CacheControl: cloneCacheControl(tmplMsg.CacheControl),
 		})
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return &domain.RenderedPrompt{
@@ -93,15 +116,75 @@ func (r *goRenderer) Render(ctx context.Context, definition *domain.PromptDefini
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func renderSessionID(raw string, funcs template.FuncMap, vars map[string]string) (string, error) {
-	tmpl, err := template.New("session_id").Funcs(funcs).Option("missingkey=error").Parse(raw)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: session_id: %v", ErrInvalidTemplate, err)
+type artifactTextResolver struct {
+	ctx        context.Context
+	inputs     map[string]*domain.Artifact
+	textByName map[string]string
+}
+
+func newArtifactTextResolver(ctx context.Context, inputs map[string]*domain.Artifact) *artifactTextResolver {
+	return &artifactTextResolver{
+		ctx:        ctx,
+		inputs:     inputs,
+		textByName: make(map[string]string),
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *artifactTextResolver) resolve(name string) (string, error) {
+	if err := r.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	artifact, ok := r.inputs[name]
+	if !ok || artifact == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnknownInput, name)
+	}
+	if text, ok := r.textByName[name]; ok {
+		return text, nil
 	}
 
+	var builder strings.Builder
+	builder.Grow(len(artifact.Body))
+	for start := 0; start < len(artifact.Body); start += artifactTextChunkSize {
+		if err := r.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		end := min(start+artifactTextChunkSize, len(artifact.Body))
+		_, _ = builder.Write(artifact.Body[start:end])
+		if err := r.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+	if err := r.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	text := builder.String()
+	r.textByName[name] = text
+	return text, nil
+}
+
+func renderSessionID(ctx context.Context, raw string, funcs template.FuncMap, vars map[string]string) (string, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	tmpl, parseErr := template.New("session_id").Funcs(funcs).Option("missingkey=error").Parse(raw)
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if parseErr != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: session_id: %v", ErrInvalidTemplate, parseErr)
+	}
+
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	if err := tmpl.Execute(&buf, vars); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: session_id: %w", ErrRenderFailure, err)
+	executeErr := tmpl.Execute(&buf, vars)
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if executeErr != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: session_id: %w", ErrRenderFailure, executeErr)
 	}
 
 	sessionID, err := domain.NormalizeSessionID(buf.String())

internal/prompt/renderer_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package prompt
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"strings"
@@ -228,6 +229,24 @@ func TestGoRenderer_Render(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 
+	t.Run("malformed rendered session id fails rendering", func(t *testing.T) {
+		def := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			SessionID: "{{ .session_id }}",
+			Inputs:    []domain.PromptInput{{Name: "transcript", Required: true}},
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+				{Role: "system", Content: "Speak in a {{.tone}} tone."},
+			},
+		}
+
+		_, err := renderer.Render(ctx, def, inputs, map[string]string{
+			"tone":       "concise",
+			"session_id": "session" + string([]byte{0xff}),
+		})
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrRenderFailure) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrRenderFailure, got %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("inserting required input artifact", func(t *testing.T) {
 		def := &domain.PromptDefinition{
 			Inputs: []domain.PromptInput{{Name: "transcript", Required: true}},
@@ -342,4 +361,216 @@ func TestGoRenderer_Render(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidMessageRole, got %v", err)
 		}
 	})
+
+	t.Run("canonicalizes directly supplied message roles", func(t *testing.T) {
+		def := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+				{Role: " \u2003DeVeLoPeR\u2003 ", Content: "Hello"},
+			},
+		}
+		res, err := renderer.Render(ctx, def, nil, vars)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got := res.Messages[0].Role; got != domain.RoleDeveloper {
+			t.Fatalf("rendered role = %q, want %q", got, domain.RoleDeveloper)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("rejects unsupported directly supplied message roles", func(t *testing.T) {
+		const unsupportedRole = "consumer-private-role"
+		def := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{{Role: unsupportedRole, Content: "Hello"}},
+		}
+		_, err := renderer.Render(ctx, def, nil, vars)
+		if !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidMessageRole) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected ErrInvalidMessageRole, got %v", err)
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), unsupportedRole) {
+			t.Fatalf("renderer error exposed unsupported role: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestGoRendererCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("before session parsing", func(t *testing.T) {
+		definition := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			SessionID: "{{ malformed",
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+				{Role: "user", Content: "not rendered"},
+			},
+		}
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		cancel()
+
+		result, err := NewGoRenderer().Render(ctx, definition, nil, nil)
+		if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+			t.Fatalf("result=%#v err=%v, want nil/context.Canceled", result, err)
+		}
+		if errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidTemplate) {
+			t.Fatalf("pre-canceled render parsed the malformed session: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		result, err = NewGoRenderer().Render(context.Background(), definition, nil, nil)
+		if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidTemplate) {
+			t.Fatalf("active render result=%#v err=%v, want nil/ErrInvalidTemplate", result, err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("during artifact text conversion", func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx := newCancelOnCheckContext(3)
+		body := bytes.Repeat([]byte("x"), artifactTextChunkSize*2)
+		original := append([]byte(nil), body...)
+		resolver := newArtifactTextResolver(ctx, map[string]*domain.Artifact{
+			"document": {Body: body},
+		})
+
+		text, err := resolver.resolve("document")
+		if text != "" || !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+			t.Fatalf("text length=%d err=%v, want empty/context.Canceled", len(text), err)
+		}
+		if _, published := resolver.textByName["document"]; published {
+			t.Fatal("canceled conversion published partial artifact text")
+		}
+		if !bytes.Equal(body, original) {
+			t.Fatal("resolver mutated the artifact body")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("after final message execution", func(t *testing.T) {
+		definition := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+			Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+				{Role: "user", Content: "fully rendered"},
+			},
+		}
+		counter := &checkCountingContext{Context: context.Background()}
+		if _, err := NewGoRenderer().Render(counter, definition, nil, nil); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("count render checkpoints: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		// The final three checks occur after template execution, after the
+		// message is assembled, and immediately before publication.
+		ctx := newCancelOnCheckContext(counter.checks - 2)
+		result, err := NewGoRenderer().Render(ctx, definition, nil, nil)
+		if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+			t.Fatalf("result=%#v err=%v, want nil/context.Canceled", result, err)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestGoRendererArtifactTextLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte{'a', 0xff, 'b', 0xfe}
+	original := append([]byte(nil), body...)
+	artifact := &domain.Artifact{Body: body}
+	inputs := map[string]*domain.Artifact{"document": artifact}
+	definition := &domain.PromptDefinition{
+		Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+			{Role: "user", Content: "{{input \"document\"}}|{{input \"document\"}}"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	first, err := NewGoRenderer().Render(context.Background(), definition, inputs, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first render: %v", err)
+	}
+	wantFirst := append(append(append([]byte(nil), body...), '|'), body...)
+	if !bytes.Equal([]byte(first.Messages[0].Content), wantFirst) {
+		t.Fatalf("rendered bytes=%v, want %v", []byte(first.Messages[0].Content), wantFirst)
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(body, original) {
+		t.Fatalf("renderer mutated artifact body: got %v want %v", body, original)
+	}
+
+	body[0] = 'z'
+	if bytes.Equal([]byte(first.Messages[0].Content), append(append(append([]byte(nil), body...), '|'), body...)) {
+		t.Fatal("completed render aliases the artifact body")
+	}
+	second, err := NewGoRenderer().Render(context.Background(), definition, inputs, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second render: %v", err)
+	}
+	wantSecond := append(append(append([]byte(nil), body...), '|'), body...)
+	if !bytes.Equal([]byte(second.Messages[0].Content), wantSecond) {
+		t.Fatalf("second render reused text from another call: got %v want %v", []byte(second.Messages[0].Content), wantSecond)
+	}
+
+	nilInputs := map[string]*domain.Artifact{"document": nil}
+	result, err := NewGoRenderer().Render(context.Background(), definition, nilInputs, nil)
+	if result != nil || !errors.Is(err, ErrUnknownInput) || !errors.Is(err, ErrRenderFailure) {
+		t.Fatalf("nil input result=%#v err=%v, want ErrUnknownInput and ErrRenderFailure", result, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkGoRendererArtifactReferences(b *testing.B) {
+	body := bytes.Repeat([]byte("document content "), (artifactTextChunkSize*4)/len("document content "))
+	inputs := map[string]*domain.Artifact{
+		"document": {Body: body},
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name       string
+		definition *domain.PromptDefinition
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "one reference",
+			definition: &domain.PromptDefinition{
+				Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+					{Role: "user", Content: "{{input \"document\"}}"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "repeated across session and messages",
+			definition: &domain.PromptDefinition{
+				SessionID: "document-{{len (input \"document\")}}",
+				Templates: []domain.PromptMessageTemplate{
+					{Role: "system", Content: "{{input \"document\"}}"},
+					{Role: "user", Content: "{{input \"document\"}} {{input \"document\"}}"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		b.Run(tc.name, func(b *testing.B) {
+			renderer := NewGoRenderer()
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.SetBytes(int64(len(body)))
+			for range b.N {
+				if _, err := renderer.Render(context.Background(), tc.definition, inputs, nil); err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+type checkCountingContext struct {
+	context.Context
+	checks int
+}
+
+func (c *checkCountingContext) Err() error {
+	c.checks++
+	return c.Context.Err()
+}
+
+type cancelOnCheckContext struct {
+	context.Context
+	cancel    context.CancelFunc
+	remaining int
+}
+
+func newCancelOnCheckContext(checks int) *cancelOnCheckContext {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	return &cancelOnCheckContext{Context: ctx, cancel: cancel, remaining: checks}
+}
+
+func (c *cancelOnCheckContext) Err() error {
+	if c.Context.Err() == nil {
+		c.remaining--
+		if c.remaining == 0 {
+			c.cancel()
+		}
+	}
+	return c.Context.Err()
 }

internal/promptdef/content_source.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package promptdef
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/promptkit/internal/filecatalog"
+)
+
+type contentSourceRoot interface {
+	readContentFile(sourcePath string, contentFile string) (string, string, error)
+}
+
+type osContentSourceRoot struct {
+	root                string
+	sourcePathsRelative bool
+}
+
+func (r osContentSourceRoot) readContentFile(sourcePath string, contentFile string) (string, string, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(contentFile) == "" {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("path is required")
+	}
+	if filepath.IsAbs(contentFile) {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("path %q must be relative", contentFile)
+	}
+
+	root, err := filepath.Abs(r.root)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("resolve source root %q: %w", r.root, err)
+	}
+	canonicalRoot, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(root)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("resolve source root %q: %w", r.root, err)
+	}
+
+	promptPath := sourcePath
+	if r.sourcePathsRelative && !filepath.IsAbs(promptPath) {
+		promptPath = filepath.Join(root, filepath.FromSlash(promptPath))
+	} else {
+		promptPath, err = filepath.Abs(promptPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", "", fmt.Errorf("resolve prompt source %q: %w", sourcePath, err)
+		}
+	}
+	resolvedPath := filepath.Clean(filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(promptPath), contentFile))
+	if !containsOSPath(root, resolvedPath) {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("path %q escapes source root %q", contentFile, r.root)
+	}
+
+	canonicalPath, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(resolvedPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	if !containsOSPath(canonicalRoot, canonicalPath) {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("path %q escapes source root %q", contentFile, r.root)
+	}
+
+	body, err := os.ReadFile(canonicalPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	return string(body), resolvedPath, nil
+}
+
+type fsContentSourceRoot struct {
+	fsys fs.FS
+	root string
+}
+
+func (r fsContentSourceRoot) readContentFile(sourcePath string, contentFile string) (string, string, error) {
+	root := filecatalog.CleanFSRoot(r.root)
+	cleanSourcePath := path.Clean(sourcePath)
+	if cleanSourcePath == root {
+		root = path.Dir(root)
+	}
+
+	resolvedPath, _, err := filecatalog.ResolveFSPath(root, path.Dir(cleanSourcePath), contentFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	body, err := fs.ReadFile(r.fsys, resolvedPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	return string(body), resolvedPath, nil
+}
+
+func containsOSPath(root string, name string) bool {
+	relative, err := filepath.Rel(root, name)
+	if err != nil || filepath.IsAbs(relative) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return relative != ".." && !strings.HasPrefix(relative, ".."+string(filepath.Separator))
+}