Refresh docs for finalized cleanup architecture

Complete cleanup sweep and align internal artifact docs
Reduce config test setup duplication with option builders
2026-05-24 15:11:11 +00:00 · 2026-05-24 15:08:03 +00:00 · 2026-05-24 15:06:35 +00:00 · 2026-05-24 15:04:33 +00:00 · 2026-05-24 15:03:15 +00:00 · 2026-05-24 15:01:33 +00:00
69 changed files with 8948 additions and 1104 deletions
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 # ---> Codex
 .codex
 AGENTS.md
 # ---> Go
 # If you prefer the allow list template instead of the deny list, see community template:
 # https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/community/Golang/Go.AllowList.gitignore
--- a/.woodpecker/release.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker/release.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ steps:
      - |
        set -eu
-        version="${CI_COMMIT_TAG}"
+        version="$CI_COMMIT_TAG"
        dist="dist"
        pkg="gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/cmd/seriatim"
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@ steps:
          goos="$1"
          goarch="$2"
          suffix="$3"
-          output="$dist/seriatim_${version}_${goos}_${goarch}${suffix}"
+          output="$dist/seriatim-$version-$goos-$goarch$suffix"
          CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS="$goos" GOARCH="$goarch" \
-            go build -trimpath -ldflags "-s -w -X gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/buildinfo.Version=${version}" \
+            go build -trimpath -ldflags "-s -w -X gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/buildinfo.Version=$version" \
            -o "$output" "$pkg"
        }
@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@ steps:
        build_binary windows amd64 ".exe"
        build_binary windows arm64 ".exe"
        (
          cd "$dist"
          sha256sum seriatim_* > SHA256SUMS
        )
  - name: publish-release
    image: woodpeckerci/plugin-release
    depends_on:
@@ -46,8 +41,10 @@ steps:
      api_key:
        from_secret: GITEA_RELEASE_TOKEN
      files:
-        - dist/seriatim_*
+        - dist/seriatim-*
-        - dist/SHA256SUMS
+      checksum: sha256
      checksum-file: SHA256SUMS
      checksum-flatten: true
      file-exists: skip
      overwrite: false
      prerelease: false
--- a/2
+++ b/2
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Copyright (c) 2026 eric. 
+Copyright (c) 2026 Eric Rakestraw. 
 Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,400 +1,45 @@
 # seriatim
-`seriatim` merges per-speaker WhisperX-style JSON transcripts into a single JSON transcript that preserves speaker identity and chronological order.
+`seriatim` is a Go CLI for transcript artifact processing.
-The current implementation supports the `merge` command. It reads one or more input JSON files, optionally maps each input file to a canonical speaker using `speakers.yml`, sorts all segments by timestamp, detects and resolves overlaps when word-level timing is available, assigns consecutive numeric `id` values, and writes a merged JSON artifact.
+It merges per-speaker WhisperX-style JSON into one deterministic transcript, trims existing seriatim artifacts by segment ID, and normalizes transcript-like JSON into standard seriatim output schemas.
-## Usage
+## Quickstart
-Run from source:
+Shortest useful merge command:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
-  --input-file samples/raw/2026-04-19-Eric_Rakestraw.json \
+  --input-file speaker-a.json \
-  --input-file samples/raw/2026-04-19-Mike_Brown.json \
+  --input-file speaker-b.json \
  --output-file merged.json
 ```
-Optional report output:
+## Commands
-
+
-```sh
+- `merge`: merge one or more input transcript JSON files.
-go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
+- `trim`: keep/remove segment IDs from an existing seriatim artifact.
-  --input-file eric.json \
+- `normalize`: canonicalize transcript-like JSON into a seriatim artifact.
-  --input-file mike.json \
+
-  --output-file merged.json \
+## Documentation
-  --report-file report.json
+
-```
+- CLI reference: [docs/cli.md](docs/cli.md)
-
+- Configuration reference: [docs/config.md](docs/config.md)
-## CLI
+- Operations guide: [docs/operations.md](docs/operations.md)
-
+- Troubleshooting: [docs/troubleshooting.md](docs/troubleshooting.md)
-```text
+- Integration references:
-seriatim merge [flags]
+  - [docs/integrations/whisperx-json.md](docs/integrations/whisperx-json.md)
-```
+  - [docs/integrations/output-schemas.md](docs/integrations/output-schemas.md)
-
+- Development policies:
-Global flags:
+  - [docs/policy/architecture.md](docs/policy/architecture.md)
-
+  - [docs/policy/development.md](docs/policy/development.md)
-| Flag | Description |
+  - [docs/policy/documentation.md](docs/policy/documentation.md)
-| --- | --- |
+- Internal implementation references:
-| `--help` | Show command help. |
+  - [docs/internal/pipeline.md](docs/internal/pipeline.md)
-| `--version` | Show application version. Local builds default to `dev`; release builds inject the release version. |
+  - [docs/internal/artifacts.md](docs/internal/artifacts.md)
-
+  - [docs/internal/modules.md](docs/internal/modules.md)
-`merge` flags:
+- Public JSON schema files:
-
+  - [schema/minimal-output.schema.json](schema/minimal-output.schema.json)
-| Flag | Required | Default | Description |
+  - [schema/intermediate-output.schema.json](schema/intermediate-output.schema.json)
-| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+  - [schema/full-output.schema.json](schema/full-output.schema.json)
-| `--input-file` | Yes | none | Input transcript JSON file. Repeat once per speaker/input file. |
+- Synthetic examples: [examples/README.md](examples/README.md)
 | `--output-file` | Yes | none | Merged transcript JSON output path. |
 | `--report-file` | No | none | Optional report JSON output path. |
 | `--speakers` | No | none | Speaker map YAML file. When omitted, input file basenames are used as speaker labels. |
 | `--autocorrect` | No | none | Autocorrect rules YAML file. When omitted, the default `autocorrect` module leaves text unchanged. |
 | `--input-reader` | No | `json-files` | Input reader module. |
 | `--output-modules` | No | `json` | Comma-separated output modules. |
 | `--output-schema` | No | `default` | JSON output contract. Allowed values are `default`, `minimal`, and `seriatim`. |
 | `--preprocessing-modules` | No | `validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text` | Comma-separated preprocessing modules, evaluated in order. |
 | `--postprocessing-modules` | No | `detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output` | Comma-separated postprocessing modules, evaluated in order. |
 | `--coalesce-gap` | No | `3.0` | Maximum same-speaker gap in seconds for `coalesce`; also used as the `resolve-overlaps` context window. Must be a non-negative float. |
 Environment variables:
 | Environment Variable | Default | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_GAP` | `0.75` | Maximum gap in seconds between adjacent timed words when `resolve-overlaps` builds word-run replacement segments. Must be a positive float. |
 | `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_REORDER_WINDOW` | `1.0` | Near-start window in seconds for ordering replacement word runs shortest-first. Must be a positive float. |
 | `SERIATIM_BACKCHANNEL_MAX_DURATION` | `2.0` | Maximum duration in seconds for `backchannel` classification. Must be a positive float. |
 | `SERIATIM_FILLER_MAX_DURATION` | `1.25` | Maximum duration in seconds for `filler` classification. Must be a positive float. |
 ## Input JSON Format
 Each input file must be valid JSON with a top-level `segments` array. The current parser accepts the WhisperX segment subset needed for merging:
 ```json
 {
  "segments": [
    {
      "start": 1.25,
      "end": 3.5,
      "text": "Hello there.",
      "words": [
        {"word": "Hello", "start": 1.25, "end": 1.55, "score": 0.98},
        {"word": "there.", "start": 1.7, "end": 2.0}
      ]
    }
  ]
 }
 ```
 Required segment fields:
 - `start`: number, must be `>= 0`.
 - `end`: number, must be `>= start`.
 - `text`: string.
 Optional word fields:
 - `words`: array of word timing objects.
 - `words[].word`: string.
 - `words[].start`: optional number, must be `>= 0` when present.
 - `words[].end`: optional number, must be `>= start` when present with `start`.
 - `words[].score`: optional number.
 - `words[].speaker`: optional raw speaker label string.
 Word-level timing is preserved internally for overlap resolution. If a word is missing `start` or `end`, seriatim keeps the word text, emits a warning in the optional report, and does not use that word as a timing anchor. Word timing is not emitted in the final JSON artifact.
 ## Speaker Map Format
 `speakers.yml` maps input files to canonical speaker names using ordered substring rules:
 This file is optional. If `--speakers` is omitted, `seriatim` uses each input file basename as the segment speaker label.
 ```yaml
 match:
  - speaker: "Eric Rakestraw"
    match:
      - "Eric_Rakestraw"
      - "Eric"
  - speaker: "Mike Brown"
    match:
      - "Mike_Brown"
      - "mb"
 ```
 For each `--input-file`, `seriatim` takes the file basename and evaluates the rules in order. The first rule with a matching substring wins, and no later rules are evaluated.
 For example, this input:
 ```text
 samples/raw/2026-04-19-Eric_Rakestraw.json
 ```
 matches this rule because the basename contains `Eric_Rakestraw`:
 ```yaml
 - speaker: "Eric Rakestraw"
  match:
    - "Eric_Rakestraw"
 ```
 Important details:
 - Matching is against the input file basename, not the full path.
 - Matching is case-insensitive.
 - Rules are evaluated from first to last.
 - Each rule must have a non-empty `speaker`.
 - Each rule must have at least one non-empty `match` string.
 - Duplicate speaker names are invalid.
 - Every input file must match at least one rule or the command fails.
 Deprecated old format:
 ```yaml
 inputs:
  eric.json:
    speaker: "Eric Rakestraw"
 ```
 The old `inputs:` direct mapping format is no longer supported.
 ## Output JSON Format
 `--output-modules json` controls the writer. `--output-schema` controls the JSON contract that writer serializes.
 The `default` schema is the default output contract. It stays close to `minimal`, but adds optional `categories` on each segment:
 ```json
 {
  "metadata": {
    "application": "seriatim",
    "version": "dev",
    "output_schema": "default"
  },
  "segments": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "start": 1.25,
      "end": 3.5,
      "speaker": "Eric Rakestraw",
      "text": "Hello there.",
      "categories": ["backchannel"]
    }
  ]
 }
 ```
 The explicit `seriatim` schema uses the full seriatim envelope:
 ```json
 {
  "metadata": {
    "application": "seriatim",
    "version": "dev",
    "input_reader": "json-files",
    "input_files": ["eric.json", "mike.json"],
    "preprocessing_modules": ["validate-raw", "normalize-speakers", "trim-text"],
    "postprocessing_modules": ["detect-overlaps", "resolve-overlaps", "backchannel", "filler", "coalesce", "resolve-danglers", "detect-overlaps", "autocorrect", "assign-ids", "validate-output"],
    "output_modules": ["json"]
  },
  "segments": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "source": "eric.json",
      "source_segment_index": 0,
      "speaker": "Eric Rakestraw",
      "start": 1.25,
      "end": 3.5,
      "text": "Hello there.",
      "overlap_group_id": 1
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "source": "eric.json",
      "source_ref": "word-run:1:1:1",
      "derived_from": ["eric.json#0"],
      "speaker": "Eric Rakestraw",
      "start": 2.0,
      "end": 2.5,
      "text": "Resolved word run",
      "categories": ["backchannel"]
    }
  ],
  "overlap_groups": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "start": 1.25,
      "end": 4.0,
      "segments": ["eric.json#0", "mike.json#0"],
      "speakers": ["Eric Rakestraw", "Mike Brown"],
      "class": "unknown",
      "resolution": "unresolved"
    }
  ]
 }
 ```
 The `minimal` schema emits minimal metadata and compact ordered segments:
 ```json
 {
  "metadata": {
    "application": "seriatim",
    "version": "dev",
    "output_schema": "minimal"
  },
  "segments": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "start": 1.25,
      "end": 3.5,
      "speaker": "Eric Rakestraw",
      "text": "Hello there."
    }
  ]
 }
 ```
 Minimal output intentionally omits categories, overlap groups, source/provenance fields, and pipeline configuration metadata.
 Default output intentionally omits overlap groups and source/provenance fields, but keeps optional `categories` and minimal metadata.
 Segments are sorted deterministically by:
 ```text
 (start, end, source, source_segment_index/source_ref, speaker)
 ```
 Final segment IDs are assigned after sorting and start at `1`.
 The public Go output contract is available from:
 ```go
 import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 ```
 The same package embeds machine-readable JSON Schemas in `schema/output.schema.json`, `schema/default-output.schema.json`, and `schema/minimal-output.schema.json`. The default `validate-output` postprocessor validates the selected output shape and verifies final segment IDs are present, sequential, and start at `1`.
 ## Overlap Detection
 The default postprocessing pipeline detects overlapping segment groups.
 Overlap behavior:
 - A strict timing overlap is required: `next.start < current_group_end`.
 - Segments that only touch at a boundary are not grouped.
 - Groups require at least two distinct speakers.
 - Transitive overlaps are grouped together.
 - Segments in detected groups receive `overlap_group_id`.
 - `overlap_groups[].segments` contains stable references in `source#source_segment_index` format.
 - `class` is currently `unknown`.
 - `resolution` is `unresolved` until `resolve-overlaps` replaces the group.
 ## Overlap Resolution
 The default postprocessing pipeline runs `detect-overlaps`, then `resolve-overlaps`, then `backchannel`, then `filler`, then `resolve-danglers`, then `coalesce`, then a second `detect-overlaps` pass.
 For each detected overlap group, `resolve-overlaps` uses preserved WhisperX word timing to build smaller word-run replacement segments:
 - The resolution window expands the detected overlap group by `--coalesce-gap` seconds on both sides.
 - Nearby same-speaker context segments are included when they intersect the expanded window and their start or end is within `--coalesce-gap` of the original overlap boundary.
 - Words are included when their interval intersects the expanded resolution window.
 - Context segments that are part of another detected overlap group are not pulled into the current group.
 - Untimed words are included in replacement text in original word order when nearby timed words create a replacement run.
 - Untimed words do not affect replacement segment start/end times or word-run gap splitting.
 - Words for the same speaker are merged into one run when the gap between adjacent words is no greater than `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_GAP`.
 - The default word-run gap is `0.75` seconds.
 - Set `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_GAP` to a positive number of seconds to override the default.
 - Near-start replacement word runs are reordered so shorter segments come first when adjacent starts are within `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_REORDER_WINDOW`.
 - The default word-run reorder window is `1.0` seconds.
 - Set `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_REORDER_WINDOW` to a positive number of seconds to override the default.
 - Replacement segment text is built by joining word text with single spaces.
 - Replacement segments include `source_ref` and `derived_from`.
 - Replacement segments omit `source_segment_index` because they are derived from one or more original segments.
 - Resolved overlap groups are removed before the second detection pass.
 - Replacement segments are left without `overlap_group_id` until the second detection pass annotates any remaining overlap.
 - If a speaker has no usable word timing in a group, that speaker's original segment is kept.
 - If no speakers in a group have usable word timing, the original group and annotations remain unchanged.
 ## Backchannels
 The default pipeline runs `backchannel` before `coalesce`. It tags short acknowledgement segments with:
 ```json
 "categories": ["backchannel"]
 ```
 Backchannel matching is case-insensitive, ignores punctuation for matching and word-count purposes, trims surrounding whitespace, and requires a matching acknowledgement phrase, no more than three whitespace-delimited words, and duration no greater than `SERIATIM_BACKCHANNEL_MAX_DURATION` seconds. The default maximum duration is `2.0` seconds.
 ## Fillers
 The default pipeline runs `filler` after `backchannel` and before `coalesce`. It tags short filler utterances with:
 ```json
 "categories": ["filler"]
 ```
 Filler matching is case-insensitive, ignores punctuation for matching and word-count purposes, trims surrounding whitespace, and requires only filler tokens such as `um`, `uh`, `er`, `erm`, `ah`, `eh`, `hmm`, `mm`, or repeated combinations of those tokens. Matching segments must contain no more than three whitespace-delimited words and have duration no greater than `SERIATIM_FILLER_MAX_DURATION` seconds. The default maximum duration is `1.25` seconds.
 ## Dangler Resolution
 The default pipeline runs `resolve-danglers` before `coalesce` and before the second overlap detection pass. It repairs short derived fragments when they share provenance with a nearby segment:
 - Dangling-end fragments have no more than two words and end in punctuation.
 - Dangling-start fragments have no more than two words.
 - Matching uses any shared `derived_from` value.
 - Merged segments use `source_ref` values such as `resolve-danglers:1`, keep the target segment's transcript position, and union `derived_from`.
 ## Coalescing
 The default pipeline runs `coalesce` after `resolve-danglers` and the second overlap detection pass. It merges adjacent same-speaker segments in the transcript's current order when `next.start - current.end <= --coalesce-gap`.
 Coalesced segments use `source_ref` values such as `coalesce:1`, include `derived_from`, and omit `source_segment_index`.
 Different-speaker backchannel and filler segments do not block coalescing of surrounding same-speaker segments. Same-speaker backchannel and filler segments are merged normally when they are within `--coalesce-gap`. When same-speaker segments are coalesced, any `backchannel` or `filler` category from the merged inputs is dropped from the coalesced segment.
 ## Autocorrect
 Autocorrect is included in the default postprocessing pipeline. If `--autocorrect` is omitted, the module leaves transcript text unchanged and records a skip event in the optional report.
 Enable corrections by passing `--autocorrect`:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
  --input-file input.json \
  --autocorrect autocorrect.yml \
  --output-file merged.json
 ```
 `autocorrect.yml` format:
 ```yaml
 autocorrect:
  - target: "Hrank"
    match:
      - "hrank"
      - "Frank"
  - target: "Mike Brown"
    match:
      - "Mike Pat"
 ```
 Matching behavior:
 - Matching is case-sensitive.
 - Matches apply only to whole tokens, not substrings inside larger words.
 - Punctuation and whitespace can surround a match.
 - Multi-word and hyphenated matches are supported.
 - Duplicate match strings are invalid, including duplicates across separate rules.
 ## Current Limitations
 - Only JSON input is supported.
 - Overlap resolution depends on WhisperX word timing; groups without usable word timing remain unresolved.
 - Alternate output formats are not implemented yet.
 ## Release Builds
 Local builds record version metadata as `dev`. Release builds should inject the release version with `ldflags`:
 ```sh
 go build -ldflags "-X gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/buildinfo.Version=v1.0.0" ./cmd/seriatim
 ```
--- a/architecture.md
+++ b/architecture.md
@@ -1,445 +0,0 @@
 # seriatim Architecture
 `seriatim` is a deterministic transcript merge utility for combining multiple per-speaker transcript inputs into a single chronologically ordered diarized transcript.
 The initial use case is merging independently transcribed speaker audio tracks from the same recorded session, such as a weekly tabletop RPG session. The architecture should also support meetings, podcasts, interviews, and other multi-speaker events.
 `seriatim` is implemented in Go.
 ## Goals
 `seriatim` should:
 1. Validate runtime configuration before performing transcript processing.
 2. Support multiple input methods and formats through input readers.
 3. Normalize raw per-speaker transcripts into a canonical internal model.
 4. Apply deterministic preprocessing modules to canonical per-speaker transcripts.
 5. Merge all segments into a deterministic global chronological order.
 6. Apply deterministic postprocessing modules to the merged transcript.
 7. Preserve word-level timing data when available.
 8. Detect and annotate overlapping speech regions.
 9. Emit one or more output artifacts through output writers.
 10. Produce report data for validation findings, corrections, and transformations.
 ## Non-goals
 The 1.0 release does not attempt to:
 - Perform transcription.
 - Perform audio diarization.
 - Use an LLM.
 - Summarize transcript content.
 - Infer speaker identity from audio or text.
 - Fully resolve every crosstalk case.
 - Load arbitrary third-party code as dynamic plugins.
 The application supports runtime composition of built-in modules by canonical module name. Arbitrary external plugin loading can be considered later.
 ## Core Assumption
 The merge algorithm assumes that all input transcript timestamps are measured against the same session clock.
 This is expected when each speaker has a separate recording that preserves silence and starts at the same session recording time. If input files have independent local timelines, `seriatim` cannot safely merge them without a separate alignment step.
 ## Pipeline Overview
 The internal pipeline is:
 ```text
 configuration check
 -> input
 -> preprocessing
 -> merge
 -> postprocessing
 -> output
 ```
 Each stage has an explicit data contract. Input and output stages perform I/O. Processing stages should be deterministic transformations over in-memory models and should record report events for validation findings, corrections, and transformations.
 ## Stage Contracts
 ### 1. Configuration Check
 The configuration stage validates all CLI flags, environment variables, module names, input paths, output paths, and module-specific options before transcript data is processed.
 Configuration validation should fail fast for:
 - Missing required input.
 - Unknown module names.
 - Unknown input or output formats.
 - Ambiguous speaker mappings.
 - Invalid correction policies.
 - Invalid timing thresholds.
 - Invalid output paths.
 The configuration stage produces an application config value that is passed through the pipeline.
 ### 2. Input Stage
 The input stage converts external inputs into raw transcript documents with source metadata.
 The current input method is one or more JSON files passed with repeated `--input-file` flags:
 ```text
 seriatim merge --input-file eric.json --input-file mike.json --output-file merged.json
 ```
 Future input methods may include:
 - A `.tar.gz` bundle.
 - A URI.
 - A directory.
 Future input formats may include:
 - JSON.
 - SRT.
 - VTT.
 Input readers should be selected from an explicit registry. A reader is responsible for loading external data and returning raw transcript documents, not for canonical normalization.
 ### 3. Preprocessing Stage
 The preprocessing stage applies zero or more modules before global merge.
 Preprocessing starts with raw transcript documents from input readers and must end with canonical per-speaker transcripts. Some preprocessing modules operate on raw transcripts, some perform raw-to-canonical normalization, and some operate only on canonical transcripts.
 Preprocessing modules are selected at runtime with a comma-separated list of canonical module names:
 ```text
 --preprocessing-modules validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text
 ```
 Modules run in the exact order provided. Unknown module names are configuration errors.
 Potential preprocessing modules include:
 - Structural raw transcript validation.
 - Semantic transcript validation.
 - Raw-to-canonical transcript normalization.
 - Speaker name normalization based on input filename.
 - Timing validation and deterministic correction.
 - Text trimming.
 Preprocessing should not depend on global chronological ordering across speakers. Modules that need the globally merged transcript belong in postprocessing.
 Each preprocessing module must declare the model state it requires and the model state it produces. For example, `validate-raw` requires raw transcripts and produces raw transcripts, while `normalize-speakers` requires raw transcripts and produces canonical transcripts. Configuration validation should reject module orders that cannot type-check.
 ### 4. Merge Stage
 The merge stage extracts all canonical segments from the preprocessed per-speaker transcripts and sorts them into a single deterministic chronological sequence.
 The recommended sort key is:
 ```text
 (start, end, source, source_segment_index, speaker)
 ```
 The exact tie-breaker must be documented and stable across runs.
 The merge stage should assign temporary internal references if needed, but it should not assign final output IDs until after all order-affecting postprocessing is complete.
 ### 5. Postprocessing Stage
 The postprocessing stage applies zero or more modules to the merged transcript.
 Postprocessing modules are selected at runtime with a comma-separated list of canonical module names:
 ```text
 --postprocessing-modules detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output
 ```
 Modules run in the exact order provided. Unknown module names are configuration errors.
 Potential postprocessing modules include:
 - Overlap group detection.
 - Overlap group refinement.
 - Same-speaker segment coalescing.
 - Deterministic grammar cleanup.
 - Word replacement from `autocorrect.yml`.
 - Final segment ID assignment.
 - Output model validation.
 Any module that can reorder, split, merge, drop, or create segments must run before final ID assignment.
 ### 6. Output Stage
 The output stage emits one or more artifacts from the final transcript and report model.
 The current output format is JSON, specified with:
 ```text
 --output-file merged.json
 ```
 Future output formats may include:
 - Markdown.
 - SRT.
 - VTT.
 - Validation reports.
 - Overlap reports.
 Output writers should be selected from an explicit registry and should consume the final transcript model read-only. Multiple output writers may run for a single invocation.
 ## Module Classification
 Modules should be classified by their contract and allowed effects.
 | Class | Input | Output | Allowed effects |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `InputReader` | External source spec | Raw transcript documents | Reads external data |
 | `Validator` | Raw, canonical, merged, or final model | Same model plus report events | Observes only |
 | `Normalizer` | Raw model | Canonical model | Converts representation |
 | `Corrector` | Canonical model | Canonical model plus report events | Deterministic mutation |
 | `Annotator` | Canonical or merged model | Same model plus annotations | Adds metadata |
 | `Transformer` | Canonical or merged model | Updated model plus report events | May reorder, split, merge, drop, or create segments |
 | `OutputWriter` | Final transcript and report | External artifact | Writes output |
 This classification should guide Go interfaces and package boundaries. It should also determine where a module is allowed to run.
 ## Runtime Module Composition
 The application supports runtime composition of built-in modules.
 Module names are canonical strings registered at startup. CLI flags refer to those names. The configuration stage resolves names into module instances before the pipeline runs.
 Example:
 ```text
 seriatim merge \
  --input-file eric.json \
  --input-file mike.json \
  --speakers speakers.yml \
  --autocorrect autocorrect.yml \
  --preprocessing-modules validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text \
  --postprocessing-modules detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output \
  --output-modules json \
  --output-schema default \
  --output-file merged.json \
  --report-file report.json
 ```
 Composition rules:
 - Module order is exactly the order specified by the user.
 - An empty module list is valid when the stage supports zero modules.
 - Unknown module names are fatal configuration errors.
 - Module-specific options are read from the validated application config.
 - A module must declare which pipeline stage and model type it supports.
 - Modules should be deterministic for the same inputs, config, and application version.
 - Modules should not perform I/O unless their class explicitly allows it.
 Some modules may be recommended defaults. Defaults should be explicit in documentation and should be equivalent to passing the corresponding module list.
 ## Go Interface Sketch
 The exact implementation may evolve, but the core interfaces should resemble:
 ```go
 type InputReader interface {
 	Name() string
 	Read(ctx context.Context, spec InputSpec, cfg Config) ([]RawTranscript, []ReportEvent, error)
 }
 type Preprocessor interface {
 	Name() string
 	Requires() ModelState
 	Produces() ModelState
 	Process(ctx context.Context, in PreprocessState, cfg Config) (PreprocessState, []ReportEvent, error)
 }
 type Merger interface {
 	Merge(ctx context.Context, in []CanonicalTranscript, cfg Config) (MergedTranscript, []ReportEvent, error)
 }
 type Postprocessor interface {
 	Name() string
 	Process(ctx context.Context, in MergedTranscript, cfg Config) (MergedTranscript, []ReportEvent, error)
 }
 type OutputWriter interface {
 	Name() string
 	Write(ctx context.Context, out any, report Report, cfg Config) ([]ReportEvent, error)
 }
 ```
 `PreprocessState` should carry either raw transcripts, canonical transcripts, or both during migration between representations. The pipeline should validate that the ordered preprocessing list transitions from raw input state to canonical output state exactly once before merge.
 The interfaces should favor value returns over hidden mutation. If pointer-based implementations are chosen for performance, mutation boundaries must still be clear and tested.
 ## Canonical Internal Model
 The canonical model should be richer than the final output schema.
 Canonical segment fields should include:
 - Temporary internal reference.
 - Source identifier.
 - Source segment index.
 - Canonical speaker.
 - Start time.
 - End time.
 - Text.
 - Word-level timing data, if available.
 - Raw diarization labels, if useful for reporting.
 - Validation and correction metadata, if needed internally.
 The final output model can omit internal-only fields, but the report should retain enough provenance to diagnose corrections and transformations.
 ## Validation Strategy
 Validation occurs at multiple boundaries:
 - Configuration validation before processing.
 - Raw input structural validation after input loading.
 - Raw input semantic validation before normalization or correction.
 - Canonical model validation after normalization and preprocessing.
 - Merged model validation after merge and postprocessing.
 - Final output schema validation before writing artifacts.
 Structural validation answers whether data has the required shape and types.
 Semantic validation answers whether the data is plausible and internally consistent.
 Correctable issues should be deterministic and reportable. Fatal issues should stop the run with a non-zero exit code.
 Examples of correctable issues:
 - Leading or trailing whitespace.
 - Segment `end < start`, when configured correction policy allows deterministic repair.
 - Missing word speaker labels when canonical speaker is known.
 - Raw diarization labels that should be replaced with the canonical speaker.
 Examples of fatal issues:
 - Input file is not valid JSON.
 - Required transcript fields are missing.
 - Speaker map does not identify a canonical speaker for an input.
 - Unknown module name.
 - Output fails final schema validation.
 ## Overlap Handling
 Overlap detection should create overlap groups rather than only pairwise annotations.
 Two adjacent sorted segments overlap when:
 ```text
 next.start < current_group_end
 ```
 This supports transitive overlap groups:
 ```text
 A: 10.0-14.0
 B: 12.0-13.0
 C: 13.5-15.0
 ```
 These belong to one overlap group spanning `10.0-15.0`.
 Overlap groups should record:
 - Overlap group ID.
 - Group start time.
 - Group end time.
 - Segment references.
 - Speakers involved.
 - Classification, if known.
 - Resolution status.
 Initial classifications may include:
 - `unknown`
 - `minor_overlap`
 - `handoff`
 - `backchannel`
 - `crosstalk`
 The `resolve-overlaps` module uses preserved word-level timing to replace detected overlap-group segments with smaller word-run segments when usable timing is available. Resolution expands each overlap window by the configured coalesce gap so nearby same-speaker context can be absorbed into the replacement runs. Groups without usable word timing remain unresolved for later passes or human review.
 Overlap resolution should be non-destructive. Original segment text, timing, and source metadata must remain recoverable.
 ## Final ID Assignment
 Final segment IDs should be assigned by an explicit postprocessing module after every transformation that can affect segment order.
 Final IDs should be sequential integers starting from `1`.
 Final IDs should reflect final chronological order.
 Before final ID assignment, modules should reference segments using stable internal references rather than final output IDs.
 ## Output Invariants
 A valid merged transcript should satisfy:
 - Every segment has a unique integer ID.
 - Segment IDs begin at `1`.
 - Segment IDs increase in final chronological order.
 - Every segment has a canonical speaker.
 - Every segment has a source.
 - Every segment has `start >= 0`.
 - Every segment has `end >= start`.
 - The segments array is sorted deterministically.
 - Any `overlap_group_id` on a segment refers to an existing overlap group.
 - Every overlap group references at least two segments.
 - Every referenced segment exists.
 - Output validates against the selected output schema.
 ## Determinism Requirements
 Given the same inputs, config, and application version, `seriatim` should produce byte-stable JSON output where practical.
 To support this:
 - Sort input specs deterministically unless explicit input order is meaningful.
 - Use stable sort keys.
 - Assign final IDs only after final ordering.
 - Avoid Go map iteration order affecting output.
 - Emit JSON through structs with stable field ordering.
 - Record application version in output metadata.
 - Record enabled module names and module order in output metadata or report data.
 ## Go Package Layout
 ```text
 cmd/seriatim/            CLI entrypoint
 internal/config/         CLI/env/config loading and validation
 internal/pipeline/       Pipeline orchestration and module registry
 internal/builtin/        Built-in pipeline modules
 internal/artifact/       Conversion from internal model to public output schema
 internal/buildinfo/      Build-time version metadata
 internal/speaker/        Speaker map parsing and lookup
 internal/model/          Canonical and merged transcript models
 internal/overlap/        Overlap detection and refinement helpers
 internal/autocorrect/    Word replacement rules
 internal/report/         Report model and event accumulation
 schema/                  Public output contract and JSON Schema validation
 ```
 Package boundaries should follow data ownership. Shared models belong in `internal/model`; stage-specific behavior belongs in the relevant stage package.
 ## Default Modules
 The default pipeline is equivalent to explicit module lists.
 Recommended default preprocessing modules:
 ```text
 validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text
 ```
 Recommended default postprocessing modules:
 ```text
 detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output
 ```
 The default output module is:
 ```text
 json
 ```
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
 # CLI Reference
 ## Shortest useful command
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
  --input-file speaker-a.json \
  --input-file speaker-b.json \
  --output-file merged.json
 ```
 ## Command overview
 | Command | Purpose |
 | --- | --- |
 | `merge` | Merge one or more raw transcript JSON inputs into one seriatim artifact. |
 | `trim` | Keep or remove segment IDs from an existing seriatim artifact. |
 | `normalize` | Canonicalize transcript-like JSON into a seriatim artifact. |
 Root usage:
 ```text
 seriatim [command]
 ```
 ## Global flags
 | Flag | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `-h, --help` | Show help. |
 | `-v, --version` | Show build version. |
 ## `merge`
 Usage:
 ```text
 seriatim merge [flags]
 ```
 Flags:
 | Flag | Required | Default | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `--input-file stringArray` | Yes, repeat at least once | none | Input transcript JSON file(s). |
 | `--output-file string` | Yes | none | Output transcript JSON file path. |
 | `--report-file string` | No | none | Optional report JSON path. |
 | `--speakers string` | No | none | Speaker-map YAML file. |
 | `--autocorrect string` | No | none | Autocorrect YAML file. |
 | `--input-reader string` | No | `json-files` | Input reader module name. |
 | `--output-modules string` | No | `json` | Comma-separated output module names. |
 | `--output-schema string` | No | `seriatim-intermediate` | Output schema name: `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, `seriatim-full`. |
 | `--preprocessing-modules string` | No | `validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text` | Comma-separated preprocessing module names, run in order. |
 | `--postprocessing-modules string` | No | `detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output` | Comma-separated postprocessing module names, run in order. |
 | `--coalesce-gap string` | No | `3.0` | Non-negative seconds for coalescing and overlap-resolution context. |
 `merge` behavior and validation:
 - Unknown input reader, preprocessing module, postprocessing module, or output module fails the command.
 - Preprocessing order must satisfy module state requirements (`raw` -> `canonical`); invalid order fails.
 - Input files are validated, deduplicated, normalized, then sorted for deterministic processing.
 - Optional report output is written only when `--report-file` is set.
 - When `--output-schema` is omitted, schema resolution is: `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA` -> default `seriatim-intermediate`.
 ## `trim`
 Usage:
 ```text
 seriatim trim [flags]
 ```
 Flags:
 | Flag | Required | Default | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `--input-file string` | Yes | none | Input seriatim artifact JSON file. |
 | `--output-file string` | Yes | none | Output transcript JSON file path. |
 | `--keep string` | Exactly one of `--keep` / `--remove` | none | Segment ID selector to keep. |
 | `--remove string` | Exactly one of `--keep` / `--remove` | none | Segment ID selector to remove. |
 | `--output-schema string` | No | preserve input artifact schema | Output schema override: `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, `seriatim-full`. |
 | `--report-file string` | No | none | Optional report JSON path. |
 | `--allow-empty` | No | `false` | Allow output with zero segments. |
 Selector rules:
 - IDs must be positive integers.
 - Single IDs and inclusive ranges are supported: `1`, `1-10`.
 - Comma-separated selectors are supported: `1-10,15,20-25`.
 - Whitespace around commas and hyphens is allowed.
 - Descending ranges (example `10-1`) are invalid.
 - Duplicates and overlapping ranges are normalized as a union.
 `trim` behavior:
 - Input must already be a valid seriatim artifact (not raw merge input JSON).
 - Output keeps transcript order from input and renumbers retained segment IDs sequentially.
 - If `--output-schema` is omitted, the input artifact schema is preserved.
 - `trim` never runs merge preprocessing/postprocessing modules.
 ## `normalize`
 Usage:
 ```text
 seriatim normalize [flags]
 ```
 Flags:
 | Flag | Required | Default | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `--input-file string` | Yes | none | Input transcript JSON file. |
 | `--output-file string` | Yes | none | Output transcript JSON file path. |
 | `--output-schema string` | No | `seriatim-intermediate` | Output schema name: `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, `seriatim-full`. |
 | `--output-modules string` | No | `json` | Comma-separated output module names (`json` only). |
 | `--report-file string` | No | none | Optional report JSON path. |
 `normalize` input shapes:
 - Object with top-level `segments` array.
 - Bare top-level segment array.
 `normalize` behavior:
 - Sorts deterministically and reassigns output IDs sequentially from `1`.
 - Fills missing/blank speakers with `Unknown_Speaker`.
 - Repairs/sanitizes timing fields deterministically; rejects invalid repaired timing.
 - Drops segments with missing or blank text.
 - Does not run merge modules.
 - When `--output-schema` is omitted, schema resolution is: `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA` -> default `seriatim-intermediate`.
 ## Common workflows
 Merge with a speaker map and report output:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
  --input-file examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json \
  --input-file examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json \
  --speakers examples/minimal-merge/speakers.yml \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-merge.json \
  --report-file /tmp/seriatim-example-merge-report.json
 ```
 Trim to a segment subset:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim \
  --input-file examples/trim/input-full.json \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-trim.json \
  --keep "1-2"
 ```
 Normalize an external transcript JSON file:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize \
  --input-file examples/normalize/object-with-segments.json \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-normalize-object.json
 ```
 ## Exit and errors
 - Commands return exit code `0` on success.
 - On error, the CLI prints one error line to stderr and exits with status `1`.
 - Cobra usage text is silenced on runtime errors; use `--help` for command usage.
 ## Related docs
 - Configuration reference: [config.md](config.md)
 - Operations guide: [operations.md](operations.md)
 - Troubleshooting: [troubleshooting.md](troubleshooting.md)
 - Integration notes:
  - [integrations/whisperx-json.md](integrations/whisperx-json.md)
  - [integrations/output-schemas.md](integrations/output-schemas.md)
 - Synthetic examples: [../examples/README.md](../examples/README.md)
 - Public output schemas:
  - [../schema/minimal-output.schema.json](../schema/minimal-output.schema.json)
  - [../schema/intermediate-output.schema.json](../schema/intermediate-output.schema.json)
  - [../schema/full-output.schema.json](../schema/full-output.schema.json)
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
 # Configuration Reference
 ## Configuration surfaces
 seriatim has no central JSON/TOML/YAML application config file.
 Runtime configuration comes from:
 1. CLI flags
 2. Environment variables (`SERIATIM_*`)
 3. Optional YAML rule files referenced by CLI flags (`--speakers`, `--autocorrect`)
 ## Output schema precedence
 For `merge` and `normalize`:
 1. `--output-schema` flag (when explicitly set)
 2. `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA`
 3. default `seriatim-intermediate`
 For `trim`:
 - If `--output-schema` is omitted, output preserves the input artifact schema.
 - If `--output-schema` is set, it must be one of `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, `seriatim-full`.
 ## Merge module defaults
 Default merge module selections:
 - `--input-reader`: `json-files`
 - `--preprocessing-modules`: `validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text`
 - `--postprocessing-modules`: `detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output`
 - `--output-modules`: `json`
 Module-list notes:
 - Lists are comma-separated.
 - Empty module names are invalid.
 - Unknown module names fail the command.
 - Preprocessing order must satisfy state requirements.
 ## Environment variables
 | Variable | Default | Used by | Rules |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA` | `seriatim-intermediate` | `merge`, `normalize` | Must be `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, or `seriatim-full`. Ignored when `--output-schema` is explicitly set. |
 | `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_GAP` | `1.0` | `merge` | Positive float (`> 0`). |
 | `SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_REORDER_WINDOW` | `1.0` | `merge` | Positive float (`> 0`). |
 | `SERIATIM_BACKCHANNEL_MAX_DURATION` | `2.0` | `merge` | Positive float (`> 0`). |
 | `SERIATIM_FILLER_MAX_DURATION` | `1.25` | `merge` | Positive float (`> 0`). |
 Additional merge threshold flag:
 - `--coalesce-gap` defaults to `3.0` and must be a non-negative float (`>= 0`).
 ## `speakers.yml`
 Purpose:
 - Maps each merge input filename basename to a canonical speaker label.
 Top-level key:
 - `match` (array of ordered rules)
 Rule fields:
 - `speaker` (required, non-empty)
 - `match` (required, non-empty array of non-empty strings)
 Example:
 ```yaml
 match:
  - speaker: "Alice"
    match:
      - "alice_track"
      - "alice"
  - speaker: "Bob"
    match:
      - "bob_track"
 ```
 Behavior:
 - Matching is case-insensitive.
 - Matching is against basename only (not full path).
 - First matching rule wins.
 - Duplicate `speaker` values are invalid.
 - If any input file has no match, merge fails.
 ## `autocorrect.yml`
 Purpose:
 - Applies ordered token-level text replacements during merge `autocorrect` postprocessing.
 Top-level key:
 - `autocorrect` (array of rules)
 Rule fields:
 - `target` (required, non-empty)
 - `match` (required, non-empty array of non-empty strings)
 Example:
 ```yaml
 autocorrect:
  - target: "Godfrey"
    match:
      - "God-free"
  - target: "Mike Brown"
    match:
      - "Mike Pat"
 ```
 Behavior:
 - Match strings are case-sensitive.
 - Replacements are whole-token only (no substring replacement inside larger tokens).
 - Duplicate match strings within one rule are invalid.
 - Duplicate match strings across different rules are invalid.
 - If `--autocorrect` is not provided, the autocorrect module is skipped.
 ## Path and validation rules
 All commands:
 - `--input-file` paths must exist and must be files.
 - Output/report parent directories must already exist.
 - Paths are normalized before use.
 `merge`:
 - Requires at least one `--input-file`.
 - Rejects duplicate `--input-file` paths.
 - Sorts normalized input file paths for deterministic execution.
 - `--speakers` and `--autocorrect` are optional, but when set they must point to existing files.
 `trim`:
 - Requires exactly one of `--keep` or `--remove`.
 - `--keep` and `--remove` are mutually exclusive.
 - Validates optional `--output-schema` when provided.
 `normalize`:
 - Validates `--output-schema` through the same schema set as `merge`.
 - Currently accepts only `json` in `--output-modules`.
 ## Related docs
 - CLI reference: [cli.md](cli.md)
 - Operations guide: [operations.md](operations.md)
 - Troubleshooting: [troubleshooting.md](troubleshooting.md)
 - YAML example files:
  - [../examples/speakers.yml](../examples/speakers.yml)
  - [../examples/autocorrect.yml](../examples/autocorrect.yml)
 - Synthetic examples: [../examples/README.md](../examples/README.md)
 - Public output schemas:
  - [../schema/minimal-output.schema.json](../schema/minimal-output.schema.json)
  - [../schema/intermediate-output.schema.json](../schema/intermediate-output.schema.json)
  - [../schema/full-output.schema.json](../schema/full-output.schema.json)
--- a/docs/integrations/output-schemas.md
+++ b/docs/integrations/output-schemas.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
 # Output Schemas
 ## Scope
 seriatim emits one of three public JSON output contracts:
 - `seriatim-minimal`
 - `seriatim-intermediate`
 - `seriatim-full`
 These are used by `merge`, `trim`, and `normalize`.
 ## Schema roles
 `seriatim-minimal`:
 - compact metadata plus ordered transcript segments
 - no source/provenance fields
 - no overlap groups
 `seriatim-intermediate`:
 - compact metadata plus ordered segments
 - includes optional segment `categories`
 - no source/provenance fields
 - no overlap groups
 `seriatim-full`:
 - full metadata (`input_reader`, module lists, input files, output modules)
 - source/provenance fields on segments
 - overlap-group data
 - version metadata populated from build info (`internal/buildinfo`)
 ## Semantic invariants
 All schema outputs enforce:
 - segment IDs are sequential starting at `1`
 - segment timing uses `end >= start`
 Full schema also enforces overlap-group timing (`end >= start`).
 ## Validation APIs
 Go package: `gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema`
 Key validators:
 - `schema.ValidateMinimalTranscript`
 - `schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript`
 - `schema.ValidateTranscript`
 - `schema.ValidateMinimalJSON`
 - `schema.ValidateIntermediateJSON`
 - `schema.ValidateJSON`
 ## Machine-readable schema files
 - [../../schema/minimal-output.schema.json](../../schema/minimal-output.schema.json)
 - [../../schema/intermediate-output.schema.json](../../schema/intermediate-output.schema.json)
 - [../../schema/full-output.schema.json](../../schema/full-output.schema.json)
 ## Related docs and examples
 - CLI reference: [../cli.md](../cli.md)
 - Artifact internals: [../internal/artifacts.md](../internal/artifacts.md)
 - Trim example input artifact:
  - [../../examples/trim/input-full.json](../../examples/trim/input-full.json)
--- a/docs/integrations/whisperx-json.md
+++ b/docs/integrations/whisperx-json.md
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
 # WhisperX-Like JSON Input
 ## Scope
 This document covers the implemented JSON subset consumed by `seriatim merge`.
 It does not describe full WhisperX output.
 No explicit WhisperX version is encoded in the repository.
 ## Supported top-level shape
 Merge expects a JSON object with top-level `segments` array:
 ```json
 {
  "segments": [
    {
      "start": 0.0,
      "end": 1.2,
      "text": "hello"
    }
  ]
 }
 ```
 ## Supported segment fields
 Required per segment:
 - `start` (number, `>= 0`)
 - `end` (number, `>= start`)
 - `text` (string)
 Optional per segment:
 - `words` (array)
 ## Supported word fields
 Required when a word object is present:
 - `word` (string)
 Optional word timing fields:
 - `start` (number)
 - `end` (number)
 Timing rules:
 - if both `start` and `end` are present, they must be numeric and `end >= start`
 - if either timing field is missing, the word is accepted but not used as a
  timing anchor for overlap resolution
 Additional optional word fields:
 - `score` (number)
 - `speaker` (string)
 ## Validation and failure behavior
 Merge fails for:
 - malformed JSON
 - missing top-level `segments`
 - non-array `segments`
 - missing required segment fields
 - wrong field types
 - negative segment/word start times
 - segment/word end before start
 Word timing missing from a word does not fail merge; it emits a warning event
 in the optional report.
 ## Overlap-resolution impact
 - overlap resolution uses timed words when available
 - untimed words are kept in replacement text but do not provide timing anchors
 ## Related docs and examples
 - CLI reference: [../cli.md](../cli.md)
 - Configuration reference: [../config.md](../config.md)
 - Minimal merge example inputs:
  - [../../examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json](../../examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json)
  - [../../examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json](../../examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json)
--- a/docs/internal/artifacts.md
+++ b/docs/internal/artifacts.md
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
 # Artifact Internals
 ## Purpose
 Describes public artifact conversion and validation internals for merge output,
 trim, and normalize.
 ## Artifact contracts
 Public contracts live in `schema/`:
 - full: `schema.Transcript`
 - intermediate: `schema.IntermediateTranscript`
 - minimal: `schema.MinimalTranscript`
 Machine-readable schemas:
 - `schema/full-output.schema.json`
 - `schema/intermediate-output.schema.json`
 - `schema/minimal-output.schema.json`
 ## Schema selection
 Merge pipeline conversion uses `internal/artifact.SelectedFromMerged`:
 - `seriatim-full` -> `artifact.FromMerged`
 - `seriatim-intermediate` -> `artifact.IntermediateFromMerged`
 - `seriatim-minimal` -> `artifact.MinimalFromMerged`
 Unknown/empty selection falls back to intermediate conversion.
 ## Merge conversion behavior
 `internal/artifact` converts `model.MergedTranscript` to public contracts:
 - full schema preserves source/provenance, overlap groups, and metadata module
  lists.
 - intermediate schema emits segment timing/text/speaker with optional
  categories and compact metadata.
 - minimal schema emits compact segment timing/text/speaker and compact
  metadata.
 ## Validation behavior
 `schema/output.go` validates both structure and semantics:
 - embedded JSON Schema validation via `jsonschema/v6`
 - semantic checks for sequential segment IDs starting at `1`
 - semantic checks for non-inverted segment timing (`end >= start`)
 - full schema overlap-group timing checks (`group.end >= group.start`)
 ## Trim internals
 `internal/trim` handles artifact-level projection and does not execute merge
 pipeline modules.
 Run layer (`run.go`):
 1. Parse selector from validated config.
 2. Read and parse input artifact JSON.
 3. Apply trim projection through schema-aware artifact handling.
 4. Resolve output schema (preserve input schema unless overridden).
 5. Validate output artifact.
 6. Write output JSON.
 7. Optionally write report JSON with `trim-audit`.
 Apply layer (`apply.go`):
 - one shared projection policy for selector mode, input ID validation, selected
  ID existence checks, keep/remove filtering, removed IDs, and old-to-new ID
  mappings
 - schema-specific segment reconstruction for full/intermediate/minimal outputs
 - overlap-group recomputation only for full-schema outputs
 Artifact layer (`artifact.go`):
 - schema detection for full/intermediate/minimal artifacts
 - schema-preserving trim application
 - supported schema conversions:
  - full -> intermediate/minimal
  - intermediate -> minimal
  - minimal -> intermediate
 - rejected conversion:
  - intermediate/minimal -> full
 Trim invariants:
 - selected IDs must exist in input.
 - input IDs must be positive, unique, sequential.
 - retained segment order follows input transcript order.
 - output IDs are reassigned to `1..N`.
 ## Normalize internals
 `internal/normalize` canonicalizes transcript-like JSON input into a selected
 public schema.
 Parse layer (`parse.go`):
 - accepts object-with-`segments` or bare segment array
 - repairs missing timing deterministically
 - swaps inverted timing
 - fills missing/blank speaker with `Unknown_Speaker`
 - drops missing/blank text segments
 Build layer (`build.go`):
 - sorts deterministically by `(start, end, input_index, speaker)`
 - reassigns output IDs sequentially
 - builds minimal/intermediate/full output shape
 - validates selected output schema before write
 Run layer (`normalize.go`):
 - writes output JSON
 - optionally writes report with `normalize-audit`
 Normalize invariant:
 - report events do not embed transcript text.
 ## Boundaries
 - CLI flag semantics belong to `docs/cli.md`.
 - Runtime config/env surfaces belong to `docs/config.md`.
 - This doc describes internal conversion/validation behavior only.
 ## Failure behavior
 Representative failure classes:
 - malformed or unsupported input JSON shape
 - schema validation failure for parsed artifact or built output
 - unsupported schema conversion path (trim)
 - selector or input-ID consistency errors (trim)
 - output/report file write failures from command paths
 ## Tests to inspect before changes
 - `schema/output_test.go`
 - `internal/artifact/transcript_test.go`
 - `internal/trim/selector_test.go`
 - `internal/trim/artifact_test.go`
 - `internal/trim/apply_test.go`
 - `internal/normalize/parse_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/normalize_test.go`
 ## Invariants
 - Public artifacts are validated through `schema` before acceptance.
 - Segment IDs in emitted artifacts are sequential and deterministic.
 - Internal-only fields are not emitted in minimal/intermediate contracts.
 - Trim and normalize stay artifact-level and do not execute merge modules.
--- a/docs/internal/modules.md
+++ b/docs/internal/modules.md
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
 # Built-In Modules
 ## Purpose
 Describes implemented built-in module behavior and boundaries in
 `internal/builtin`.
 ## Implemented module set
 Input reader:
 - `json-files`
 Preprocessing:
 - `validate-raw`
 - `normalize-speakers`
 - `trim-text`
 Merger:
 - `chronological-merge`
 Postprocessing:
 - `detect-overlaps`
 - `resolve-overlaps`
 - `backchannel`
 - `filler`
 - `resolve-danglers`
 - `coalesce`
 - `autocorrect`
 - `assign-ids`
 - `validate-output`
 Output writer:
 - `json`
 ## Inputs, outputs, and side effects
 - `json-files`: reads JSON files from `cfg.InputFiles`, parses supported
  segment/word fields, emits warnings for untimed words.
 - `validate-raw`: validates raw source/timing invariants.
 - `normalize-speakers`: converts raw transcripts to canonical segments,
  optionally resolving speakers from `cfg.SpeakersFile`.
 - `trim-text`: trims canonical segment text whitespace.
 - `chronological-merge`: flattens canonical segments and applies deterministic
  sort (`model.SegmentLess`).
 - `detect-overlaps`: annotates overlap groups.
 - `resolve-overlaps`: rewrites overlap groups using timed words and thresholds.
 - `backchannel`/`filler`: classify short utterances using duration thresholds.
 - `resolve-danglers`: merges dangling derived fragments.
 - `coalesce`: merges adjacent same-speaker segments within configured gap.
 - `autocorrect`: applies YAML replacement rules when configured.
 - `assign-ids`: assigns final sequential IDs.
 - `validate-output`: validates selected public artifact shape.
 - `json`: writes artifact JSON to `cfg.OutputFile` through shared deterministic
  JSON file writing.
 Filesystem side effects are limited to:
 - reading configured input/YAML files
 - writing configured output artifact
 ## Config fields used
 Primary module inputs from `config.Config`:
 - file paths: `InputFiles`, `SpeakersFile`, `AutocorrectFile`, `OutputFile`
 - schema/modules: `OutputSchema`, `OutputModules`
 - overlap/coalesce thresholds: `OverlapWordRunGap`,
  `WordRunReorderWindow`, `CoalesceGap`
 - category thresholds: `BackchannelMaxDuration`, `FillerMaxDuration`
 ## Ordering constraints
 - Preprocessing must satisfy state contracts from `raw` to `canonical`.
 - Order-sensitive transforms should run before `assign-ids`.
 - `validate-output` should run after final ID assignment and output-shape
  mutations.
 - Default configuration includes a second `detect-overlaps` pass after
  transformations.
 ## Boundaries
 - Modules implement behavior; CLI/config parsing remains outside modules.
 - Modules communicate through explicit model contracts and report events.
 - Output modules operate on final artifacts and do not re-run transform logic.
 ## Failure behavior
 Representative failures:
 - invalid input JSON shape or typed field errors (`json-files`)
 - invalid YAML or unmatched speaker map entries
 - unknown module names during registry resolution
 - invalid ordering/state transitions in preprocessing chain
 - validation failure in `validate-output`
 - output write failure in `json` writer
 ## Tests to inspect before changes
 - `internal/builtin/preprocess_test.go`
 - `internal/builtin/postprocess_test.go`
 - `internal/overlap/resolve_test.go`
 - `internal/overlap/detect_test.go`
 - `internal/coalesce/coalesce_test.go`
 - `internal/danglers/danglers_test.go`
 - `internal/backchannel/backchannel_test.go`
 - `internal/filler/filler_test.go`
 - `internal/autocorrect/autocorrect_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/merge_test.go`
 ## Invariants
 - Modules are selected by canonical name through the registry.
 - Execution is sequential and deterministic for a fixed configuration.
 - `assign-ids` defines final public segment IDs.
 - `validate-output` enforces public artifact contracts through `schema`.
--- a/docs/internal/pipeline.md
+++ b/docs/internal/pipeline.md
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
 # Pipeline Internals
 ## Purpose
 Describes implemented merge pipeline orchestration in `internal/pipeline`.
 ## Inputs and outputs
 Input:
 - `config.Config`
 - registry-resolved modules from `internal/builtin`
 Output:
 - selected public artifact written by output writer modules
 - optional report JSON when `cfg.ReportFile` is set
 ## Stage contracts
 The runner executes these contracts in order:
 1. `InputReader`: external inputs -> `[]model.RawTranscript`
 2. `Preprocessor`: `PreprocessState` transformations (`raw` -> `canonical`)
 3. `Merger`: canonical transcripts -> `model.MergedTranscript`
 4. `Postprocessor`: merged transcript transformations
 5. `OutputWriter`: serialized artifact writes
 `PreprocessState` must end in `StateCanonical` before merge.
 ## Registry resolution
 `resolvePlan` maps configured names to modules:
 - input reader: `cfg.InputReader`
 - preprocessors: `cfg.PreprocessingModules`
 - postprocessors: `cfg.PostprocessingModules`
 - output writers: `cfg.OutputModules`
 - merger: single registered merger
 Unknown names fail fast with contextual errors.
 ## Execution order and reporting
 - Modules run sequentially in configured order.
 - Events returned by modules are appended in execution order.
 - Report metadata includes input reader, input files, and module lists.
 - Output writer events are appended before optional report write.
 ## Config fields used
 Runner-level fields:
 - `InputReader`
 - `InputFiles`
 - `PreprocessingModules`
 - `PostprocessingModules`
 - `OutputModules`
 - `OutputSchema` (via `artifact.SelectedFromMerged`)
 - `ReportFile`
 Module-specific settings are consumed inside builtin modules (for example
 coalesce gap and overlap thresholds).
 ## Adapters used
 - Input adapters: registered `InputReader` implementations (default `json-files`).
 - Output adapters: registered `OutputWriter` implementations (default `json`).
 - Report adapter: `report.WriteJSON` when `cfg.ReportFile` is provided.
 ## Boundaries
 - Pipeline does not parse CLI flags.
 - Pipeline does not normalize raw CLI strings.
 - Pipeline delegates conversion to public output contracts to `internal/artifact`.
 - Artifact-level commands `trim` and `normalize` are outside this pipeline.
 ## Failure behavior
 Pipeline returns errors from:
 - registry resolution (unknown modules, missing merger)
 - invalid preprocessing state transitions
 - module read/process/merge/write failures
 - optional report write failure
 No retry/resume state is stored.
 ## Tests to inspect before changes
 - `internal/pipeline/runner_test.go`
 - `internal/builtin/preprocess_test.go`
 - `internal/builtin/postprocess_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/merge_test.go`
 ## Invariants
 - Sequential deterministic execution order.
 - Preprocessing state must type-check from `raw` to `canonical`.
 - Module selection is explicit by canonical names.
 - Report event order reflects actual execution order.
 - Output artifact selection is schema-driven via `internal/artifact`.
--- a/docs/operations.md
+++ b/docs/operations.md
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
 # Operations Guide
 ## Scope
 This document covers runtime operation of the implemented CLI commands:
 - `merge`
 - `trim`
 - `normalize`
 ## Runtime model
 seriatim is a single-process, filesystem-only CLI.
 - Each invocation reads input files, processes in memory, and writes output files.
 - There is no daemon, queue, database, resume checkpoint, remote storage, or background worker.
 - On error, the command exits non-zero; there is no built-in retry/resume flow.
 ## Filesystem expectations
 All commands require accessible local files and existing parent directories for outputs.
 - Input paths must exist and must be files.
 - Output/report parent directories must already exist.
 - Output and report files are created with `os.Create`, so existing files at those paths are overwritten.
 Command-specific expectations:
 - `merge`: requires at least one `--input-file`; optional `--speakers` and `--autocorrect` paths must exist when provided.
 - `trim`: input must be an existing valid seriatim artifact JSON file.
 - `normalize`: input must be a JSON object with `segments` or a top-level segment array.
 ## Normal workflow
 ### Merge
 1. Provide one or more `--input-file` values.
 2. Optionally provide `--speakers`, `--autocorrect`, and `--report-file`.
 3. Provide `--output-file`.
 4. Run command.
 Example:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
  --input-file speaker-a.json \
  --input-file speaker-b.json \
  --output-file merged.json \
  --report-file merge-report.json
 ```
 ### Trim
 1. Provide existing artifact with `--input-file`.
 2. Select segments with exactly one of `--keep` or `--remove`.
 3. Provide `--output-file`.
 4. Optionally provide `--output-schema`, `--allow-empty`, and `--report-file`.
 Example:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim \
  --input-file merged.json \
  --output-file trimmed.json \
  --keep "1-20,25"
 ```
 ### Normalize
 1. Provide `--input-file` containing supported JSON shape.
 2. Provide `--output-file`.
 3. Optionally provide `--output-schema`, `--output-modules`, and `--report-file`.
 Example:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize \
  --input-file external.json \
  --output-file normalized.json \
  --report-file normalize-report.json
 ```
 ## Output and report artifacts
 Primary output:
 - `--output-file` writes JSON transcript artifact in selected schema.
 Optional report output:
 - `--report-file` writes deterministic JSON report events.
 - `merge` report metadata records reader/modules and event sequence.
 - `trim` report includes a `trim-audit` event with mode/selector/counts and old-to-new ID mapping.
 - `normalize` report includes a `normalize-audit` event with input shape, repair stats, and output selection details.
 ## Failure and retry behavior
 Failure behavior:
 - Errors are printed once to stderr by the root command and exit status is `1`.
 - There is no partial-state recovery mechanism.
 Retry guidance:
 1. Fix the reported input/config/path issue.
 2. Re-run the same command.
 3. If a prior run created a partial or unwanted output/report file, remove it and rerun.
 Operational note:
 - With identical inputs/config/version, merge behavior is deterministic and input files are sorted before processing.
 ## Cleanup
 seriatim does not manage retention.
 - Remove unneeded output/report artifacts manually.
 - No cache, state directory, or lock files are maintained by the application.
 ## Privacy considerations
 Transcript artifacts and reports are local files and may contain sensitive conversational data.
 - Store outputs in controlled directories with appropriate OS permissions.
 - Share report files carefully; they include file paths and processing diagnostics.
 - Normalize report events intentionally avoid embedding transcript text, but output artifacts contain transcript content.
 ## Related docs
 - CLI reference: [cli.md](cli.md)
 - Configuration reference: [config.md](config.md)
 - Troubleshooting: [troubleshooting.md](troubleshooting.md)
 - Integration notes:
  - [integrations/whisperx-json.md](integrations/whisperx-json.md)
  - [integrations/output-schemas.md](integrations/output-schemas.md)
 - Synthetic examples: [../examples/README.md](../examples/README.md)
--- a/docs/policy/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/policy/architecture.md
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
 # Architecture Policy
 ## Purpose
 This document defines seriatim's development architecture and invariants for
 maintainers and automated coding agents. It describes how the implemented
 system is intended to be built and changed. It is not a user manual, CLI
 reference, config reference, or roadmap.
 Keep this document aligned with [documentation policy](documentation.md). It
 must describe current behavior only; planned or speculative work belongs under
 `docs/roadmap/`.
 ## Project Shape
 seriatim is a Go CLI for transcript artifact processing. The implemented
 commands are `merge`, `trim`, and `normalize`.
 `merge` reads one or more JSON transcript files, optionally maps input files to
 canonical speakers, runs a registry-selected preprocessing chain, merges
 canonical segments into deterministic chronological order, runs a
 registry-selected postprocessing chain, validates the selected output schema,
 and writes JSON output plus an optional JSON report.
 `trim` and `normalize` are artifact-level commands outside the merge pipeline.
 `trim` reads an existing seriatim output artifact and projects it by segment ID.
 `normalize` reads transcript-like JSON and emits one of seriatim's supported
 output schemas. Neither command runs merge preprocessing or postprocessing
 modules.
 The supported public output schemas are `seriatim-minimal`,
 `seriatim-intermediate`, and `seriatim-full`. For command and flag details, use
 [CLI reference](../cli.md) and [configuration reference](../config.md).
 ## Core Design Principles
 - Keep a hexagonal architecture boundary. Domain models, stage contracts, and
  deterministic transformations must stay separate from CLI parsing,
  filesystem access, config loading, reporting, and other external adapters.
 - Keep stages and modules composable. Built-in modules are selected by
  canonical registry names and implement explicit interfaces for their pipeline
  role.
 - Preserve deterministic behavior. Given the same inputs, configuration, and
  version, output ordering, segment IDs, schema validation, and report event
  ordering should remain stable.
 - Current command execution is sequential. There is no scheduler, worker pool,
  or concurrent module execution in the implemented pipeline. Any concurrency
  added later must be bounded, observable, and must not make output handling
  nondeterministic.
 - Prefer the Go standard library. Third-party dependencies should remain narrow
  and justified, such as Cobra for CLI structure, YAML parsing, and JSON Schema
  validation.
 - Document current behavior. Architecture, user, and internal docs must not
  describe planned features as implemented behavior.
 ## Architectural Boundaries
 Core transcript data belongs in `internal/model` and public artifact contracts
 belong in `schema`. Conversion from internal merged data to public JSON shapes
 belongs at the artifact boundary, not inside CLI code or transformation
 packages.
 Pipeline orchestration belongs in `internal/pipeline`. It resolves registered
 modules, validates preprocessing state transitions, executes stages in order,
 collects report events, converts the final transcript, and writes optional
 reports. Built-in adapters and modules are registered from `internal/builtin`.
 CLI code in `internal/cli` should parse flags, build validated config values,
 and delegate. `merge` delegates to `pipeline.Run`; `trim` and `normalize`
 perform artifact-level orchestration and delegate deterministic parsing,
 validation, and transformation work to their internal packages.
 Config loading and validation belongs in `internal/config`. Filesystem reads and
 writes are adapter concerns and should not spread into pure transformation
 helpers. Existing built-in modules that load configured YAML files must keep
 that I/O narrow and explicit.
 Reports belong in `internal/report`. Modules and commands should emit concise
 events for validation findings, corrections, and transformations without
 turning report messages into a duplicate output artifact.
 Tests and samples are supporting evidence for behavior. Tests should verify
 stable contracts and edge cases; samples should remain valid examples, not
 hidden architecture dependencies.
 ## Modules or Stages
 The merge pipeline has these implemented stages:
 - `InputReader`: reads configured external input into raw transcripts.
 - `Preprocessor`: transforms `PreprocessState` from raw to canonical state.
 - `Merger`: combines canonical transcripts into one merged transcript.
 - `Postprocessor`: transforms or annotates the merged transcript.
 - `OutputWriter`: writes the selected output artifact.
 Modules must keep narrow responsibilities, declare their stage through the
 interface they implement, and use explicit config values. Preprocessors must
 declare `Requires()` and `Produces()` states; the runner rejects invalid
 raw/canonical ordering before processing completes.
 Modules run in the configured order. Order-affecting modules must run before
 `assign-ids`, and `validate-output` must see final IDs that match the selected
 schema. Accepted and rejected transformations should be deterministic and, when
 observable, recorded through report events.
 Transformation helpers should avoid hidden global state. Shared caches, such as
 compiled JSON schemas, must be protected and must not affect output ordering.
 ## State, Inputs, and Outputs
 seriatim is file-based. It reads JSON inputs and optional YAML rule files, then
 writes JSON transcript artifacts and optional JSON reports.
 The implemented application has no durable database, daemon state, resume
 state, remote storage, or background job state. Runtime state is held in memory
 for the current command invocation and serialized only through requested output
 and report files.
 Input file paths are normalized and validated during config construction.
 `merge` sorts input file paths before processing, then uses stable segment sort
 keys. `trim` preserves transcript order while renumbering retained IDs.
 `normalize` sorts by implemented deterministic keys and assigns fresh IDs.
 ## Configuration and CLI Boundaries
 The CLI surface is an adapter over validated config structs. Cobra command code
 should stay thin: parse flags, account for flag/default precedence, call config
 constructors, and delegate.
 Config constructors validate required paths, output parent directories, module
 lists, selected schemas, mutually exclusive trim selector options, and supported
 environment-derived settings. Module name validation is split between config
 where command-specific names are fixed and the pipeline registry where module
 composition is resolved.
 Do not duplicate full CLI or config reference material here. Use
 [CLI reference](../cli.md) and [configuration reference](../config.md) for
 canonical user-facing details.
 ## Errors, Logging, and Diagnostics
 Commands return errors instead of printing inside deep logic. The root command
 silences Cobra usage/error output, and `cmd/seriatim/main.go` prints one error
 to stderr and exits with status `1`.
 Validation failures should fail fast with contextual errors. Correctable
 conditions should be deterministic and, where reports are requested, reflected
 as report events. Optional reports contain metadata and ordered events; they are
 not required for command success unless the report file itself cannot be
 written.
 The implemented code does not use a logging subsystem. Diagnostics are returned
 as errors or written to optional report JSON. Normalize report events avoid
 embedding transcript text; keep that privacy-oriented behavior when changing
 normalize diagnostics.
 ## Testing Expectations
 `go test ./...` is the repository-wide check. There is currently no Makefile,
 taskfile, linter config, or dedicated documentation check.
 When changing config or CLI behavior, inspect `internal/config` and
 `internal/cli` tests. When changing pipeline composition or stage contracts,
 inspect `internal/pipeline` and `internal/builtin` tests. When changing
 correction or annotation modules, inspect the package tests for overlap,
 coalesce, danglers, backchannel, filler, and autocorrect behavior.
 When changing artifact-level commands, inspect `internal/trim`,
 `internal/normalize`, and their CLI tests. When changing public output shape or
 schema validation, inspect `schema` and `internal/artifact` tests. Report and
 diagnostic changes should be covered through the command or package tests that
 emit the affected events.
 ## Dependency Policy
 Prefer the Go standard library for parsing, data transformation, concurrency
 primitives, filesystem work, and testing wherever it is reasonable.
 Third-party dependencies must be narrow, justified, and preferably de facto
 standard for their purpose. Existing examples include Cobra for CLI structure,
 `gopkg.in/yaml.v3` for YAML files, and `jsonschema/v6` for validating embedded
 public JSON schemas. Avoid broad framework dependencies for behavior that is
 already simple and local.
 ## Documentation Expectations
 Architecture docs must stay aligned with [documentation policy](documentation.md).
 Current-behavior docs must not become aspirational. If code and docs disagree,
 fix the inaccurate current-behavior doc or put planned work under
 `docs/roadmap/`.
 Prefer links to canonical docs instead of repeating full CLI, config, schema, or
 operations reference material. Keep examples real, tested where practical, and
 free of secrets or private transcript data.
 ## Architectural Invariants
 - Keep core/domain logic separate from CLI, config, filesystem, reporting, and
  other adapter concerns.
 - Centralize default configuration values as constants defined in internal/config/config.go.
 - Keep modules narrowly scoped, explicitly configured, and composable by
  registry name.
 - Preserve deterministic ordering, final segment ID assignment, and schema
  validation before output acceptance.
 - Keep `trim` and `normalize` artifact-level; do not run merge modules from
  those commands.
 - Keep public output schemas validated through `schema`.
 - Keep optional reports ordered, concise, and diagnostic.
 - Avoid broad dependencies without a concrete maintainability benefit.
 - Do not document unimplemented behavior outside `docs/roadmap/`.
 ## Non-Goals
 The implemented application does not perform transcription, audio diarization,
 speaker inference from audio or text, summarization, daemon operation, remote
 storage, dynamic external plugin loading, or concurrent pipeline execution.
 The architecture policy is not a package-by-package reference, CLI manual,
 config reference, schema reference, or roadmap.
--- a/docs/policy/development.md
+++ b/docs/policy/development.md
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
 # Development Policy
 ## Purpose
 This document defines contributor workflow for maintainers and coding agents.
 It complements [architecture policy](architecture.md) and
 [documentation policy](documentation.md).
 ## Repository layout
 - `cmd/seriatim/`: process entrypoint.
 - `internal/cli/`: Cobra commands and flag wiring.
 - `internal/config/`: option normalization and validation.
 - `internal/pipeline/`: orchestration interfaces, registry, runner.
 - `internal/builtin/`: implemented input/pre/post/output modules and merger.
 - `internal/artifact/`: conversion from internal merged model to public shapes.
 - `internal/trim/`: artifact-level trim logic.
 - `internal/normalize/`: artifact-level normalize parsing/building.
 - `internal/*` domain packages: overlap, coalesce, danglers, filler,
  backchannel, speaker, autocorrect, report, model.
 - `schema/`: public structs plus embedded JSON Schemas and validation.
 - `docs/`: policy, user docs, roadmap, and internal docs.
 ## Local checks
 Primary repository check:
 ```sh
 go test ./...
 ```
 Useful manual checks for CLI-facing changes:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize --help
 ```
 Current toolchain note:
 - There is no Makefile.
 - There is no taskfile.
 - There is no committed linter configuration.
 - There is no automated documentation checker.
 ## Coding conventions
 - Keep core behavior deterministic for identical inputs/config/version.
 - Keep CLI command functions thin: parse flags, construct config, delegate.
 - Keep validation in `internal/config` and package-specific validators.
 - Return errors from deep logic; do not print inside internal packages.
 - Preserve clear package boundaries between adapters and domain transforms.
 - Define configuration defaults as constants in internal/config/config.go.
 ## Dependency policy
 Prefer the Go standard library first.
 Third-party dependencies should stay narrow and justified. Current direct
 runtime dependencies are:
 - `github.com/spf13/cobra` for CLI structure.
 - `gopkg.in/yaml.v3` for YAML rule files.
 - `github.com/santhosh-tekuri/jsonschema/v6` for public schema validation.
 ## Adding CLI flags
 1. Add the flag in the relevant `internal/cli/*.go` command.
 2. Thread the raw value through `config.*Options`.
 3. Add normalization/validation in `internal/config/config.go`.
 4. Update or add CLI/config tests.
 5. Update canonical docs (`docs/cli.md`, `docs/config.md`) if user-visible.
 ## Adding config fields or environment variables
 1. Add field(s) to the relevant config struct(s).
 2. Parse and validate in `internal/config/config.go`.
 3. Add tests in `internal/config/config_test.go`.
 4. Thread validated values into consuming modules.
 5. Update `docs/config.md` and related docs.
 ## Adding modules or pipeline behavior
 1. Implement the module in the appropriate package (often `internal/builtin`).
 2. Expose a stable module name via `Name()`.
 3. Register it in `internal/builtin/registry.go`.
 4. Ensure preprocessing modules declare correct `Requires()`/`Produces()`
   states.
 5. Add/adjust tests in module packages and `internal/cli/merge_test.go`.
 6. Document internal behavior changes in `docs/internal/`.
 ## Schema and artifact changes
 1. Update public structs and validation logic in `schema/`.
 2. Update embedded JSON Schema files (`schema/*.schema.json`) if contract
   changes.
 3. Update conversion behavior in `internal/artifact`, `internal/trim`, and/or
   `internal/normalize` as needed.
 4. Add tests in `schema/`, `internal/artifact/`, `internal/trim/`,
   `internal/normalize/`, and CLI tests.
 5. Update user and internal docs that reference output contracts.
 ## Documentation expectations
 - Outside `docs/roadmap/`, document only implemented behavior.
 - Keep canonical homes: CLI in `docs/cli.md`, config in `docs/config.md`,
  operations in `docs/operations.md`, troubleshooting in
  `docs/troubleshooting.md`, internals in `docs/internal/`.
 - When behavior changes, update docs in the same change.
--- a/docs/policy/documentation.md
+++ b/docs/policy/documentation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,356 @@
 # Go Project Documentation Policy
 ## Purpose
 Project documentation must help four audiences:
 1. users who need to run the application;
 2. administrators/operators who need to configure and operate it;
 3. developers who need to understand and change it safely;
 4. LLM coding agents that need clear scope, boundaries, and invariants.
 Docs should be accurate, concise, task-oriented, and organized by audience. Prefer links to canonical docs over repetition.
 ## Core Rules
 ### 1. Keep docs concise
 Each document should cover a defined scope and only the essentials for that scope.
 Avoid:
 - long background explanations;
 - repeated reference material;
 - implementation detail in user-facing docs;
 - aspirational language outside roadmap docs;
 - verbose examples where one minimal example is clearer.
 ### 2. Document only implemented behavior outside roadmap files
 Unimplemented, planned, aspirational, experimental, or future work may be described only under:
 - `docs/roadmap/`
 No other documentation file, including `README.md`, should describe code, features, modules, stages, commands, config fields, or behaviors that do not currently exist.
 If a feature is partial, non-roadmap docs may describe only the implemented portion and its current boundary.
 ### 3. Use canonical homes
 Each type of information should have one canonical location.
 Canonical homes:
 - project purpose and quickstart: `README.md`
 - development principles: `docs/policy/architecture.md`
 - configuration reference: `docs/config.md`
 - CLI reference: `docs/cli.md`
 - operations and recovery: `docs/operations.md`
 - troubleshooting: `docs/troubleshooting.md`
 - implemented internals: `docs/internal/`
 - future work: `docs/roadmap/`
 - contributor workflow: `docs/policy/development.md`
 - copyable examples: `examples/`
 Other files should summarize briefly and link to the canonical source.
 ### 4. Keep examples real
 Examples should be valid, maintained, and free of secrets.
 Where practical:
 - example configs should load successfully;
 - example commands should match real CLI syntax;
 - important examples should be covered by tests.
 ## Documentation Profiles
 All projects require:
 - `README.md`
 - `docs/policy/architecture.md`
 Additional docs depend on the project.
 ### Small library
 Recommended:
 - `docs/policy/development.md`, if contributor conventions are non-obvious
 ### Simple CLI
 Required:
 - `docs/cli.md`
 Recommended:
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 ### Config-driven CLI
 Required:
 - `docs/cli.md`
 - `docs/config.md`
 Recommended:
 - `examples/`
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 ### Stateful or operator-facing application
 Required:
 - `docs/cli.md`, if CLI-based
 - `docs/config.md`, if config-driven
 - `docs/operations.md`
 Recommended:
 - `docs/troubleshooting.md`
 - `examples/`
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 ### Modular, staged, service-oriented, or orchestration application
 Required:
 - `docs/cli.md`, if CLI-based
 - `docs/config.md`, if config-driven
 - `docs/operations.md`
 - `docs/internal/`
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 Recommended:
 - `docs/troubleshooting.md`
 - validated examples under `examples/`
 ## Required Documents
 ### README.md
 **Audience:** users, administrators, operators
 The README is the outward-facing project orientation page.
 It should include, in order:
 1. concise description;
 2. elevator pitch;
 3. shortest useful command or usage example;
 4. links to targeted docs.
 The README should be short. It is not a manual.
 The “shortest useful command” means the simplest command that performs the project’s core use case. (It does not mean `app --help`.)
 ### docs/policy/architecture.md
 **Audience:** developers, LLM coding agents
 `docs/policy/architecture.md` is required for every project.
 It is an inward-facing development policy document. It should describe how the project is intended to be built and changed.
 It should include:
 - project shape;
 - core design principles;
 - package and boundary philosophy;
 - state/persistence philosophy, if applicable;
 - external integration philosophy, if applicable;
 - error-handling and logging principles;
 - testing expectations;
 - documentation expectations;
 - architectural invariants;
 - explicit non-goals, if useful.
 For small projects, this file may be brief. It may simply state that the project is intentionally narrow, monolithic, and dependency-light.
 ### docs/policy/development.md
 **Audience:** developers, LLM coding agents
 Required for projects maintained by humans and LLM coding agents.
 It should include:
 - repository layout;
 - build/test commands;
 - coding conventions;
 - dependency policy;
 - how to add config fields;
 - how to add CLI flags;
 - how to add stages/modules/adapters, if applicable;
 - how to update examples;
 - documentation update expectations.
 ### docs/config.md
 **Audience:** administrators, operators, advanced users
 Required for applications with configuration files.
 It should include, in order:
 1. config file locations and discovery precedence;
 2. minimal working config;
 3. production-oriented config;
 4. full configuration reference;
 5. secrets handling, if applicable;
 6. links to maintained examples.
 The full configuration reference should be canonical.
 ### docs/cli.md
 **Audience:** users, administrators, operators
 Required for CLI applications.
 It should include, in order:
 1. shortest useful command;
 2. command overview;
 3. complete flag reference;
 4. common workflows;
 5. diagnostic or recovery commands, if applicable.
 Explain when commands are useful, not just their syntax.
 ### docs/operations.md
 **Audience:** administrators, operators
 Required for applications that maintain state, support resume behavior, run multiple stages, write durable artifacts, use remote storage, or require recovery procedures.
 It should cover:
 - normal workflow;
 - filesystem layout;
 - remote storage layout, if applicable;
 - logs and manifests;
 - resume/retry behavior;
 - cleanup behavior;
 - archive/backup behavior;
 - safe recovery procedures;
 - operational caveats.
 ### docs/troubleshooting.md
 **Audience:** administrators, operators
 Recommended once recurring failure modes exist.
 Each entry should include:
 - symptom;
 - likely cause;
 - diagnostic command or inspection step;
 - safe fix;
 - relevant links.
 ### docs/internal/
 **Audience:** developers, LLM coding agents
 Required for modular, staged, service-oriented, or orchestration projects.
 This directory describes implemented internal components. It is not the roadmap.
 Use one file per major component where useful.
 Each component doc should include:
 1. purpose;
 2. inputs and outputs;
 3. boundaries;
 4. config fields used;
 5. external adapters used;
 6. state or manifest behavior, if applicable;
 7. skip/resume behavior, if applicable;
 8. failure behavior;
 9. tests to inspect before changing;
 10. architectural invariants.
 ### docs/roadmap/
 **Audience:** maintainers, developers, LLM coding agents
 This is the only place for planned, future, aspirational, experimental, or unimplemented work.
 Roadmap docs should clearly distinguish:
 - proposed work;
 - accepted plans;
 - deferred ideas;
 - rejected ideas;
 - implementation prompts or task breakdowns, if useful.
 Roadmap docs should not be confused with current behavior.
 ### docs/integrations/
 **Audience:** developers, LLM coding agents
 Required for projects that depend on external CLIs, APIs, services, protocols, or file formats where the integration contract is important to maintain.
 This directory contains concise, versioned reference notes for external integration contracts. It should document only the parts of the external system that this project actually uses.
 Use one file per integration where useful.
 ## Examples Directory
 Projects with non-trivial configuration or workflows should include `examples/`.
 Useful examples include:
 - minimal working config;
 - production-oriented config;
 - full annotated config;
 - local development config;
 - remote/object-storage config;
 - minimal session/input file.
 Examples should be valid, maintained, tested when practical, and linked from relevant docs.
 ## Security and Privacy
 Docs and examples must not include:
 - real API keys;
 - tokens;
 - passwords;
 - private keys;
 - private environment dumps;
 - sensitive user data;
 - raw private transcripts;
 - private infrastructure details unless intentionally public.
 Document secret-handling mechanisms, not actual secret values.
 ## Maintenance Rules
 When docs change, verify the affected behavior.
 Where practical:
 - load example config files in tests;
 - test CLI examples or command parser behavior;
 - validate documented flags against real flags;
 - remove stale references;
 - update links after renames;
 - keep roadmap content out of non-roadmap docs.
 If documentation and code disagree, fix the documentation and/or open a roadmap item; do not leave aspirational behavior in current-behavior docs.
 Documentation is complete only when it matches the current code.
 ## Documentation Change Checklist
 Before merging documentation changes, verify:
 - README is concise and orientation-focused.
 - `docs/policy/architecture.md` describes development principles.
 - Future work appears only under `docs/roadmap/`.
 - User-facing docs avoid unnecessary internals.
 - Developer-facing docs preserve boundaries and invariants.
 - Config examples match the schema.
 - CLI examples match real commands and flags.
 - Defaults appear in the canonical config reference.
 - No secrets or private data are included.
 - Links are accurate.
--- a/docs/roadmap/audit.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/audit.md
@@ -0,0 +1,591 @@
 # Pre-1.0 Code Quality And Deduplication Audit
 ## Executive Summary
 seriatim's current codebase is in good shape for a limited pre-1.0 cleanup pass. The main command paths are explicit, tests cover the public CLI and important transformation behavior, and the implemented architecture mostly matches the policy in `docs/policy/architecture.md`: merge uses a registry-driven pipeline, while trim and normalize operate at the artifact level.
 The top three refactoring targets before 1.0 are:
 1. Centralize public output schema names, schema validation selection, and artifact schema switching.
 2. Reduce duplicated trim projection logic across full, intermediate, and minimal artifacts.
 3. Move trim command orchestration out of `internal/cli` so CLI code remains a thin adapter like merge and normalize.
 No major architectural risk appears to block 1.0. The best next step is a series of small, behavior-preserving refactors protected by the existing CLI, trim, normalize, artifact, schema, and pipeline tests.
 ## Repository Map Reviewed
 Reviewed documentation and policy:
 - `README.md`
 - `docs/cli.md`
 - `docs/config.md`
 - `docs/operations.md`
 - `docs/troubleshooting.md`
 - `docs/policy/architecture.md`
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 - `docs/internal/pipeline.md`
 - `docs/internal/artifacts.md`
 - `docs/internal/modules.md`
 - `docs/integrations/output-schemas.md`
 - `docs/integrations/whisperx-json.md`
 - `docs/roadmap/cleanup.md`
 Reviewed implementation areas:
 - `cmd/seriatim`: root process error handling.
 - `internal/cli`: Cobra command setup and command-level tests for `merge`, `trim`, and `normalize`.
 - `internal/config`: validated config construction, defaults, environment variables, path validation, and config tests.
 - `internal/pipeline`: registry resolution, stage ordering, preprocessing state validation, and pipeline execution.
 - `internal/builtin`: built-in input, preprocess, merge, postprocess, and output modules.
 - `internal/artifact`: conversion from merged model to public output artifacts.
 - `internal/trim`: selector parsing, artifact parsing/conversion, trimming, and trim tests.
 - `internal/normalize`: artifact-level parsing, repair, building, reporting, and normalize tests.
 - `internal/report`: report model and JSON writer.
 - `internal/overlap`, `internal/coalesce`, `internal/danglers`, `internal/backchannel`, `internal/filler`, `internal/autocorrect`, `internal/speaker`: implemented modules and module-specific tests.
 - `schema`: public Go schema types, embedded JSON Schemas, semantic validation, and schema tests.
 - `examples` and `samples`: checked layout and role, not every sample payload line-by-line.
 The reviewed execution paths were:
 - `seriatim merge`: Cobra options, `config.NewMergeConfig`, `pipeline.Run`, built-in registry, output writer, optional report.
 - `seriatim trim`: Cobra options, `config.NewTrimConfig`, artifact parsing, trim application, schema conversion, output writing, optional report.
 - `seriatim normalize`: Cobra options, `config.NewNormalizeConfig`, `normalize.Run`, artifact parsing/building, output writing, optional report.
 No `internal/app`, `internal/stage`, `internal/modules`, `internal/validators`, `internal/adapters`, `internal/storage`, `internal/manifest`, `pkg`, or top-level `tests` directories exist in the current layout. Equivalent responsibilities are implemented in the packages listed above.
 ## High-Confidence Deduplication Opportunities
 ### Centralize Output Schema Names And Schema Selection
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/config`
 - `internal/trim`
 - `internal/artifact`
 - `internal/normalize`
 - `schema`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - `internal/config` defines `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, and `seriatim-full` as output schema constants and validates CLI/config values.
 - `internal/trim/artifact.go` defines another set of constants with the same string values.
 - `internal/artifact`, `internal/normalize`, and `internal/trim` each switch over the same schema names to select conversion or validation behavior.
 Why it matters:
 - Output schema names are part of the public interface. If a schema name, default, or validation error changes in one package but not another, `merge`, `trim`, and `normalize` can drift.
 - The current duplication is small but central enough that future schema changes would require edits in several packages.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Keep one canonical set of public schema names, preferably outside command-specific config construction.
 - Expose narrow helpers for schema validation and display text where needed.
 - Preserve the current semantic difference that `merge` and `normalize` resolve `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA` and default to intermediate, while `trim` preserves the input artifact schema unless `--output-schema` is supplied.
 - Do not build a broad schema registry unless a new implemented schema makes the switch statements materially harder to maintain.
 Suggested tests:
 - `internal/config` tests for schema defaults, env precedence, invalid values, and trim override behavior.
 - `internal/cli` tests for merge, trim, and normalize schema flags.
 - `internal/artifact`, `internal/trim`, `internal/normalize`, and `schema` tests for selected shape validation.
 Risk level: Low to medium. Public behavior must stay byte-compatible where tests assert shapes and diagnostics.
 ### Reduce Duplicated Trim Projection Logic Across Artifact Shapes
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/trim/apply.go`
 - `internal/trim/apply_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - `Apply`, `ApplyIntermediate`, and `ApplyMinimal` each validate mode, reject empty selectors, collect input IDs, validate sequential IDs, verify selected IDs exist, apply keep/remove policy, renumber retained segments from 1, build old-to-new mappings, collect removed IDs, and enforce `AllowEmpty`.
 - Only the segment shape and full-schema overlap group recomputation differ.
 Why it matters:
 - Trim is user-facing artifact surgery. Drift in ID validation, empty-output handling, or keep/remove behavior across schemas would produce confusing public differences.
 - The duplicated loops make future fixes to selector behavior or ID policy likely to require changes in three places.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Extract a small projection helper that operates on ordered segment IDs and returns retained indexes, old-to-new ID mapping, removed IDs, and empty-output validation.
 - Keep schema-specific reconstruction local to each artifact shape.
 - Keep full-schema overlap recomputation separate; it is a real semantic difference and should remain obvious.
 Suggested tests:
 - Existing `internal/trim/apply_test.go` coverage for keep/remove, renumbering, sequential ID validation, empty output, schema preservation, and overlap recomputation.
 - Existing `internal/cli/trim_test.go` coverage for end-to-end artifact behavior and report audit fields.
 - Add one table test that asserts the same selector policy across all three schemas.
 Risk level: Medium. The refactor touches public trim behavior, but the duplicated policy is well covered.
 ### Move Trim Orchestration Out Of The CLI Adapter
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/cli/trim.go`
 - `internal/trim`
 - `internal/config`
 - `internal/report`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - `merge` parses flags, builds config, and delegates to `pipeline.Run`.
 - `normalize` parses flags, builds config, and delegates to `normalize.Run`.
 - `trim` parses flags and config, but also reads files, parses artifacts, applies domain logic, converts schemas, validates output, writes output JSON, builds audit payloads, and writes reports directly in `internal/cli`.
 Why it matters:
 - This is the clearest boundary drift from the architecture policy. CLI should stay an adapter for flag parsing and command dispatch.
 - Keeping trim orchestration in CLI makes it harder to test trim as an application service without Cobra and makes report/output behavior easier to diverge from normalize.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Add a `trim.Run(ctx, cfg)` or similarly narrow artifact-level service in `internal/trim`.
 - Move artifact reading, selector parsing, apply/convert/validate/write/report orchestration into that service.
 - Leave Cobra flag definitions and `config.NewTrimConfig` calls in `internal/cli`.
 - Keep trim audit fields stable unless tests and docs are intentionally updated.
 Suggested tests:
 - Keep existing `internal/cli/trim_test.go` end-to-end tests.
 - Add direct `internal/trim` service tests for report generation and output schema conversion once the orchestration moves.
 Risk level: Medium. It is mostly a move, but report event wording and error wrapping must remain stable.
 ### Centralize Pretty JSON File Writing
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/builtin/output.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim.go`
 - `internal/normalize/normalize.go`
 - `internal/report/report.go`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - Several packages create a file with `os.Create`, use `json.NewEncoder`, set a two-space indent, encode a value, and defer close.
 - Error wrapping differs by call site: normalize wraps encode errors, trim and merge output mostly return raw errors, and report writing returns raw encode errors.
 Why it matters:
 - JSON artifacts and reports are core outputs. Formatting and write error semantics should not drift accidentally.
 - Centralizing this low-level operation would simplify future changes such as consistent close error handling or atomic write policy, if such behavior is ever implemented.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Introduce a small internal helper for deterministic JSON file writing.
 - Keep report construction in `internal/report`; only share the file-writing mechanics.
 - Do not introduce atomic writes or temporary files as part of this cleanup unless that behavior is intentionally designed and documented.
 Suggested tests:
 - Existing CLI tests that read output JSON for all commands.
 - Existing report tests through merge, trim, and normalize CLI paths.
 - A small helper-level test can verify indentation and trailing newline if those become explicit guarantees.
 Risk level: Low.
 ## Medium-Confidence Opportunities
 ### Simplify Artifact Schema Switching In `internal/trim`
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/trim/artifact.go`
 - `internal/trim/artifact_test.go`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - `Artifact.Value`, `SegmentCount`, `Application`, `Version`, `ValidateArtifact`, `ApplyArtifact`, and `ConvertArtifact` all switch on the same schema discriminator and nil-check the same payload pointers.
 Why it matters:
 - The wrapper works, but the repeated switch boilerplate makes it easier to miss one accessor when adding a field or changing error behavior.
 Recommended refactor:
 - After centralizing schema names, consider small methods or private helpers that reduce repeated nil-check/access patterns.
 - Avoid a generic visitor framework unless it directly removes the existing boilerplate without hiding schema-specific conversion rules.
 Suggested tests:
 - `internal/trim/artifact_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go` schema conversion cases.
 Risk level: Low to medium.
 ### Share Common Config Path Validation Helpers For Single-Input Commands
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/config/config.go`
 - `internal/config/config_test.go`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - `NewTrimConfig` and `NewNormalizeConfig` both trim, clean, require, and stat a single `--input-file`.
 - They also share `--output-file` and optional `--report-file` normalization behavior.
 Why it matters:
 - Config validation is a public command contract. Even small drift in missing file errors, directory errors, or output path parent checks would be user-visible.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Add private helpers for required single input files and optional output/report paths.
 - Keep merge's multi-input normalization separate because it deduplicates and sorts repeated `--input-file` values.
 - Preserve the intentional output schema difference between trim and normalize.
 Suggested tests:
 - Existing `internal/config` tests for trim and normalize input/output/report errors.
 - Existing CLI tests for report path failures.
 Risk level: Low.
 ### Add Narrow CLI Flag Helper Functions
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/cli/merge.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim.go`
 - `internal/cli/normalize.go`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - `--input-file`, `--output-file`, `--report-file`, `--output-schema`, and `--output-modules` are defined in multiple commands with related help text and defaults.
 Why it matters:
 - Flag names and help text are part of the user interface. Minor drift between commands can make docs and tests harder to keep accurate.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Add small flag registration helpers only for shared flags whose semantics are genuinely the same.
 - Do not introduce a command factory; current command files are short and readable.
 - Keep trim's `--output-schema` help/default distinct because omitted trim schema preserves the input artifact schema.
 Suggested tests:
 - Existing command recognition and behavior tests.
 - Add help-output assertions only if the helper refactor changes how help text is generated.
 Risk level: Low.
 ### Centralize Segment Provenance Reference Formatting Where Semantics Match
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/overlap`
 - `internal/coalesce`
 - `internal/danglers`
 - `internal/model`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - Several modules construct or interpret provenance references such as `source#index`, `word-run:group:speaker:run`, `coalesce:n`, and `resolve-danglers:n`.
 - `internal/overlap` and `internal/coalesce` both prefer `Source` plus `SourceSegmentIndex` and fall back to `SourceRef`.
 Why it matters:
 - Provenance references appear in public full output and reports/tests rely on deterministic values. A formatting mismatch could affect downstream consumers.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Introduce a very small helper for the common `source#index` or "best available segment reference" behavior.
 - Leave module-specific generated prefixes local unless another module needs to parse or construct them with the same semantics.
 Suggested tests:
 - `internal/overlap` resolve/detect tests.
 - `internal/coalesce` tests.
 - Merge CLI tests that assert `source_ref`, `derived_from`, and overlap group segment references.
 Risk level: Medium. Public full-output provenance must remain stable.
 ### Share Category Tagging Mechanics Between Backchannel And Filler Carefully
 Affected files/packages:
 - `internal/backchannel`
 - `internal/filler`
 - `internal/builtin`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - Backchannel and filler modules both normalize text by removing punctuation, collapse fields, reject empty text, enforce a maximum word count of three, enforce a max duration, match regex patterns, avoid duplicate categories, and append a category.
 Why it matters:
 - The policies are similar enough that a bug fix to normalization or duplicate category handling may need to be applied twice.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Consider a tiny private shared helper for tag application mechanics if another tagger is added or if a bug is found in the common logic.
 - Keep the category names, regex lists, and duration defaults in their current packages.
 - Do not create a broad classifier framework before 1.0.
 Suggested tests:
 - `internal/backchannel/backchannel_test.go`
 - `internal/filler/filler_test.go`
 - Merge CLI tests that assert category tagging and report events.
 Risk level: Low to medium.
 ### Reduce Repetition In Schema Semantic Validation
 Affected files/packages:
 - `schema/output.go`
 - `schema/output_test.go`
 Duplicated or near-duplicated behavior:
 - Full, intermediate, and minimal semantic validators each enforce sequential segment IDs and non-decreasing timing.
 - Full validation also checks overlap group timing, which is intentionally schema-specific.
 Why it matters:
 - Sequential IDs and timing are cross-schema public invariants. Drift in error wording or strictness would be confusing.
 Recommended refactor:
 - Consider a small helper that validates ordered ID/timing pairs for all segment shapes.
 - Keep full overlap group validation separate.
 Suggested tests:
 - Existing schema validation tests for missing/non-sequential IDs and invalid timing.
 - Add cross-schema semantic validation cases if helper extraction touches all three shapes.
 Risk level: Low.
 ## Boundary And Responsibility Concerns
 The main boundary concern is `internal/cli/trim.go`. It currently holds command parsing, artifact I/O, selector parsing, domain execution, schema conversion, output validation, output writing, report assembly, and audit sorting. That orchestration belongs in `internal/trim` under the current architecture because trim is an artifact-level application command, not CLI-specific behavior.
 `internal/normalize` already provides a better pattern: the CLI builds `config.NormalizeConfig` and delegates to `normalize.Run`. `merge` follows the same boundary direction by delegating to `pipeline.Run`.
 Other boundary observations:
 - YAML loading for speaker maps and autocorrect rules lives in narrow packages and is called from built-in modules. This is acceptable for current behavior, although future refactors could split file loading from pure transformation if tests start needing adapter-free module execution.
 - `schema` owns public schema structs, embedded JSON Schema validation, and semantic validation. That is an appropriate boundary. Avoid moving command defaults or CLI wording into `schema`.
 - `internal/report` owns report data structures and report JSON writing. It should not grow command-specific audit policy, but it can reasonably share low-level deterministic JSON writing.
 ## Path, Key, And Naming Construction Review
 seriatim currently uses local filesystem paths only. There are no remote keys, cache paths, manifests, lock files, daemon paths, object-store keys, or resume state paths in the inspected implementation.
 Path validation is reasonably centralized in `internal/config`:
 - `normalizeInputFiles` handles merge's repeated input files, duplicate detection, sorting, and file existence.
 - `normalizeOutputPath` validates output/report parent directories.
 - `requireFile` validates input files and YAML config files.
 Cleanup opportunities:
 - Add private config helpers for required single input paths and optional report paths to reduce repeated trim/normalize validation.
 - Centralize deterministic JSON output file writing as described above.
 - Consider a small provenance reference helper for `source#index` formatting and fallback behavior where `internal/overlap` and `internal/coalesce` already share semantics.
 No remote key or generated workspace path cleanup is applicable.
 ## Resolution And Catalog Review
 Module resolution is cleanly centralized for merge:
 - `internal/builtin.NewRegistry` registers built-in input, preprocessing, postprocessing, merger, and output modules.
 - `internal/pipeline.Registry` resolves names and returns user-facing unknown module errors.
 - `pipeline.Run` validates preprocessing state transitions before execution.
 Output module resolution differs by command:
 - Merge resolves output modules through the pipeline registry.
 - Normalize accepts only `json` through config validation.
 - Trim does not expose output modules and always writes JSON.
 Those differences appear intentional for current behavior. Do not force trim and normalize into the merge registry unless artifact-level commands gain actual pluggable output modules.
 Schema resolution is less centralized:
 - Config validates public schema names for CLI/config inputs.
 - Artifact, normalize, and trim packages switch over the same schema values for output construction, parsing, conversion, and validation.
 Recommended centralization is limited to schema names and narrow validation/selection helpers. Avoid a plugin or catalog abstraction that would imply unimplemented dynamic schemas.
 ## Config And Command-Loading Review
 Config loading is explicit and mostly consistent:
 - CLI commands parse flags into option structs.
 - `internal/config` validates and normalizes runtime configs.
 - Merge and normalize resolve `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA`; trim accepts an explicit schema override and otherwise preserves the input artifact schema.
 - Merge sorts and deduplicates repeated input files; trim and normalize each require exactly one input file.
 Likely intentional differences:
 - Trim has `--keep`, `--remove`, and `--allow-empty`; merge and normalize do not.
 - Merge exposes module lists and stage config; trim and normalize do not run the merge pipeline.
 - Normalize validates output modules as only `json`; trim has no output module flag.
 - `--output-schema` has a default in merge and normalize help, but trim's empty default is meaningful.
 Likely cleanup opportunities:
 - Share path/report validation helpers for single-input commands.
 - Share flag registration for truly common flags after confirming help text stays stable.
 - Add small config test builders to reduce repeated boilerplate in `internal/config/config_test.go`.
 No duplicated secret handling was found; no secrets are currently implemented.
 ## State, Manifest, Or Progress Handling Review
 No durable state, manifests, checkpoints, progress files, resume logic, force mode, dry-run mode, remote storage, or daemon state are implemented.
 Reports are deterministic JSON event artifacts:
 - Merge reports are finalized in `internal/pipeline`.
 - Normalize reports are built in `internal/normalize`.
 - Trim reports are currently built in `internal/cli`.
 The only state/progress cleanup recommended before 1.0 is to align trim report construction with an `internal/trim` application service and to avoid adding manifest/resume abstractions unless a concrete implemented workflow requires them.
 ## Refactors To Avoid Before 1.0
 Avoid these tempting refactors before 1.0:
 - A generic workflow engine for merge, trim, and normalize. Their command semantics are different enough that a shared engine would obscure behavior.
 - A broad plugin architecture. Current modules are built-in and registry-driven; dynamic plugins are not implemented.
 - A sweeping CLI redesign or command factory. The current explicit Cobra setup is easy to audit.
 - A generalized schema catalog that implies runtime-extensible schemas. Only the implemented minimal, intermediate, and full output schemas should be represented.
 - A manifest, checkpoint, resume, or dry-run framework. No such state model exists today.
 - Premature generics-heavy helpers for schema conversions. Keep helpers small and tied to duplicated policy, not shape similarity alone.
 - Merging backchannel and filler into one classifier package unless the common mechanics are extracted narrowly and domain-specific rules remain obvious.
 - Replacing all file I/O with an adapter layer. The current app is filesystem-only; introduce adapter seams only where they reduce tested duplication or clarify command boundaries.
 ## Recommended Implementation Sequence
 1. Centralize schema names and output schema validation helpers.
   - Goal: one canonical public schema name source and stable validation behavior.
   - Files: `internal/config`, `internal/trim`, `internal/artifact`, `internal/normalize`, `schema` as needed.
   - Tests: `go test ./internal/config ./internal/artifact ./internal/trim ./internal/normalize ./schema ./internal/cli`.
   - Prompt size: one small implementation prompt.
 2. Extract trim projection policy.
   - Goal: one implementation of keep/remove selection, sequential ID validation, renumbering, old-to-new mapping, removed IDs, and allow-empty policy.
   - Files: `internal/trim/apply.go`, `internal/trim/apply_test.go`.
   - Tests: `go test ./internal/trim ./internal/cli`.
   - Prompt size: one prompt.
 3. Move trim orchestration into `internal/trim`.
   - Goal: make trim CLI match the merge/normalize adapter boundary.
   - Files: `internal/cli/trim.go`, new or updated `internal/trim` service file, trim tests.
   - Tests: `go test ./internal/trim ./internal/cli`.
   - Prompt size: one prompt.
 4. Centralize deterministic JSON output writing.
   - Goal: remove repeated `os.Create` plus indented JSON encoder boilerplate.
   - Files: a small internal helper plus `internal/builtin/output.go`, `internal/normalize/normalize.go`, `internal/trim` or `internal/cli/trim.go`, `internal/report/report.go`.
   - Tests: `go test ./internal/builtin ./internal/normalize ./internal/trim ./internal/report ./internal/cli`.
   - Prompt size: one prompt.
 5. Clean up config and CLI repetition.
   - Goal: private helpers for single input path validation, optional report paths, and common flags where semantics match.
   - Files: `internal/config/config.go`, `internal/config/config_test.go`, `internal/cli/*.go`.
   - Tests: `go test ./internal/config ./internal/cli`.
   - Prompt size: one prompt; split CLI helper work if help text assertions are added.
 6. Review provenance and category helper extraction.
   - Goal: centralize only shared mechanics that are easy to get wrong.
   - Files: `internal/overlap`, `internal/coalesce`, maybe `internal/model`; `internal/backchannel`, `internal/filler`.
   - Tests: `go test ./internal/overlap ./internal/coalesce ./internal/backchannel ./internal/filler ./internal/cli`.
   - Prompt size: one or two prompts depending on whether provenance and category work are both pursued.
 7. Test helper cleanup.
   - Goal: reduce repeated config builders and CLI test fixtures without hiding test intent.
   - Files: `internal/config/*_test.go`, `internal/cli/*_test.go`, selected module tests.
   - Tests: affected package tests plus `go test ./...`.
   - Prompt size: one prompt if scoped to config/CLI; otherwise split by package.
 8. Dead-code and legacy terminology sweep.
   - Goal: remove stale helpers or wording left after cleanup.
   - Files: code and docs touched by the above stages.
   - Tests: `go test ./...`; grep for stale schema or architecture terms.
   - Prompt size: one prompt.
 ## Test Strategy
 Before refactoring:
 - Use existing tests as a behavior lock:
  - `go test ./internal/config`
  - `go test ./internal/trim`
  - `go test ./internal/normalize`
  - `go test ./internal/artifact`
  - `go test ./schema`
  - `go test ./internal/cli`
 During schema cleanup:
 - Preserve tests covering schema defaults, env precedence, invalid schema values, trim schema preservation, trim schema conversion, normalize selected schema, and merge output schemas.
 - Add a small cross-command test only if centralization changes the public error text source.
 During trim projection cleanup:
 - Add or preserve tests that assert the same selector behavior for full, intermediate, and minimal inputs.
 - Keep full-schema overlap group recomputation tests separate.
 During trim orchestration move:
 - Keep CLI end-to-end tests for trim output and reports.
 - Add direct `internal/trim` service tests if report construction moves out of CLI.
 During JSON writer cleanup:
 - Preserve CLI tests that read generated JSON.
 - If the helper claims deterministic formatting, add a focused helper test for indentation and newline behavior.
 During provenance/category cleanup:
 - Preserve module tests and merge CLI tests that assert `source_ref`, `derived_from`, overlap group segment refs, backchannel categories, filler categories, and report events.
 Final validation for any cleanup sequence:
 - `go test ./...`
 - `go run ./cmd/seriatim --help`
 - `go run ./cmd/seriatim merge --help`
 - `go run ./cmd/seriatim trim --help`
 - `go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize --help`
 For this audit-only pass, the full test suite was intentionally not run because no code or example behavior changed.
 ## Appendix: Findings Not Worth Acting On
 ### Keep Merge Pipeline Registry Explicit
 The registry resolution methods for input readers, preprocessors, postprocessors, output writers, and the merger look similar, but they produce stage-specific error messages and keep stage boundaries clear. A generic resolver would save little and could make errors less direct.
 ### Keep Merge, Trim, And Normalize As Separate Command Concepts
 The commands share flags and file output behavior, but their domain semantics differ. Merge is a staged pipeline over raw inputs; trim and normalize operate on artifacts. A shared command runner would likely obscure those distinctions.
 ### Do Not Centralize All File Reads
 `internal/builtin/input`, `internal/normalize/parse`, `internal/speaker`, `internal/autocorrect`, and trim orchestration read different file contracts and wrap errors differently. Centralizing all reads would not improve clarity today.
 ### Keep Schema-Specific Artifact Conversion Visible
 Full, intermediate, and minimal outputs are intentionally different public contracts. Helpers can remove repeated accessors and schema names, but conversion code should remain easy to audit.
 ### Leave `samples/` Alone In Code Cleanup
 `samples/` is a documentation/data hygiene question, not a code-quality refactor. The cleanup sequence should focus on maintained `examples/` and avoid destructive sample moves without a separate privacy and documentation pass.
 ### Avoid Test Fixture Over-Abstraction
 There is repeated test setup in CLI and config tests, but much of it makes public behavior explicit at the call site. Add small builders where they reduce noise, but do not hide important command arguments behind opaque fixtures.
--- a/docs/roadmap/cleanup.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/cleanup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,784 @@
 # Pre-1.0 Cleanup Implementation Plan
 ## Purpose
 This roadmap defines the staged cleanup work recommended by
 `docs/roadmap/audit.md`. It is written for coding agents that will implement the
 cleanup in order.
 This is a roadmap document. It may describe planned refactors because it lives
 under `docs/roadmap/`. Implementation agents must not document planned cleanup
 as current behavior outside `docs/roadmap/`.
 ## Governing Policies
 Follow these policy documents before implementing any stage:
 - `docs/policy/architecture.md`
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 - `docs/policy/documentation.md`
 The cleanup must preserve these project rules:
 - Keep CLI code thin: parse flags, build validated config, delegate.
 - Keep config normalization and validation in `internal/config`.
 - Keep public output contracts and validation in `schema`.
 - Keep merge pipeline orchestration in `internal/pipeline`.
 - Keep trim and normalize artifact-level; do not run merge modules from those
  commands.
 - Keep behavior deterministic and sequential.
 - Prefer narrow helpers over broad frameworks.
 - Do not add concurrency, dynamic plugins, durable state, manifests, remote
  storage, or resume behavior.
 ## Global Implementation Rules
 Each stage should be implemented as a small, behavior-preserving change.
 For every stage:
 - Start with `git status --short`.
 - Read the files listed in that stage before editing.
 - Do not modify unrelated files.
 - Preserve public CLI flags, defaults, output schemas, JSON shapes, report event
  ordering, report event text, and error messages unless the stage explicitly
  says otherwise.
 - Prefer private helpers unless a cross-package helper is genuinely needed.
 - Do not introduce generic engines, plugin systems, broad adapter layers, or
  generics-heavy abstractions.
 - Run the stage-specific tests listed in the stage.
 - Run `go test ./...` before considering the full cleanup sequence complete.
 Documentation updates during cleanup should be minimal. If a refactor changes
 implemented package boundaries that are described in `docs/internal/` or
 `docs/policy/architecture.md`, update those docs in the same implementation
 stage. Do not update user-facing docs if behavior did not change.
 ## Stage 1: Centralize Output Schema Names
 ### Goal
 Make `schema` the canonical source for public output schema names and keep
 command-specific default/precedence policy in `internal/config`.
 ### Decision
 Use the `schema` package as the canonical home for output schema name constants
 because public output contracts already live there.
 Add these exported string constants to `schema`:
 - `OutputSchemaMinimal = "seriatim-minimal"`
 - `OutputSchemaIntermediate = "seriatim-intermediate"`
 - `OutputSchemaFull = "seriatim-full"`
 Add narrow schema-name helpers in `schema`, not CLI-specific helpers:
 - `ValidOutputSchemaName(value string) bool`
 - `OutputSchemaNames() []string`
 Do not put CLI flag names or default selection policy in `schema`.
 Keep the `internal/config` constants as aliases for compatibility inside the
 repository:
 - `config.OutputSchemaMinimal = schema.OutputSchemaMinimal`
 - `config.OutputSchemaIntermediate = schema.OutputSchemaIntermediate`
 - `config.OutputSchemaFull = schema.OutputSchemaFull`
 Remove the duplicate string constants from `internal/trim/artifact.go`; use the
 canonical schema constants instead. A type alias or package-local aliases are
 acceptable only if they point directly to the `schema` constants and do not
 repeat string literals.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `schema/output.go`
 - `schema/output_test.go`
 - `internal/config/config.go`
 - `internal/config/config_test.go`
 - `internal/trim/artifact.go`
 - `internal/trim/artifact_test.go`
 - `internal/artifact/transcript.go`
 - `internal/normalize/build.go`
 - `internal/cli/*_test.go`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add canonical output schema constants and helpers to `schema/output.go`.
 2. Update `internal/config` schema constants to alias `schema` constants.
 3. Update config validation to use `schema.ValidOutputSchemaName` while keeping
   the existing `--output-schema must be one of ...` error text.
 4. Update `internal/trim` to stop repeating schema string constants.
 5. Update affected tests only where they refer to moved constants.
 6. Search for raw schema string literals outside tests and docs. Keep raw values
   in docs and test fixtures where they are intentionally testing serialized
   public JSON.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - There is one canonical set of output schema string constants in `schema`.
 - `merge` and `normalize` still default to `seriatim-intermediate` and still
  honor `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA`.
 - `trim` still preserves the input artifact schema when `--output-schema` is
  omitted.
 - Invalid schema error text remains stable unless tests are intentionally
  updated.
 - No new schema registry or plugin-style abstraction exists.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./schema ./internal/config ./internal/artifact ./internal/trim ./internal/normalize ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 2: Extract Trim Projection Policy
 ### Goal
 Use one implementation for trim selector policy, ID validation, retained-index
 selection, ID renumbering metadata, removed IDs, and empty-output handling.
 ### Decision
 Add a private projection helper in `internal/trim/apply.go`. Do not introduce a
 generic artifact framework.
 Recommended shape:
 ```go
 type projection struct {
    retainedIndexes []int
    oldToNewID      map[int]int
    removedIDs      []int
 }
 func projectSegmentIDs(ids []int, opts Options) (projection, error)
 ```
 The helper should:
 - validate `Mode`;
 - reject an empty selector;
 - validate input IDs are positive, unique, and sequential from `1..n`;
 - validate selected IDs exist;
 - apply keep/remove semantics;
 - return retained input indexes in original order;
 - return deterministic old-to-new ID mappings;
 - return removed input IDs in original order;
 - enforce `AllowEmpty`.
 Keep schema-specific segment reconstruction in `Apply`, `ApplyIntermediate`,
 and `ApplyMinimal`. Keep full-schema overlap group recomputation only in the
 full-schema path.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/trim/apply.go`
 - `internal/trim/apply_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go`
 - `schema/output.go`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add the private projection helper and small supporting types.
 2. Refactor `Apply` to call the helper, reconstruct full segments from retained
   indexes, renumber IDs, clear old overlap group IDs, and recompute overlap
   groups.
 3. Refactor `ApplyIntermediate` to call the helper and reconstruct intermediate
   segments.
 4. Refactor `ApplyMinimal` to call the helper and reconstruct minimal segments.
 5. Preserve existing error messages from `validateMode`, empty selectors,
   invalid input IDs, missing selected IDs, and empty output.
 6. Add a focused table test proving the same selector policy is applied to all
   three schema shapes.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Keep/remove behavior is unchanged for all supported artifact schemas.
 - Segment IDs are still reassigned sequentially from `1`.
 - Full-schema trim still recomputes overlap groups.
 - Intermediate and minimal trim still do not create overlap groups.
 - The common selector and ID policy exists in one helper.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/trim ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 3: Move Trim Orchestration Into `internal/trim`
 ### Goal
 Make `trim` match the repository's adapter boundary: CLI parses flags and
 delegates; artifact-level orchestration lives in `internal/trim`.
 ### Decision
 Add `Run(ctx context.Context, cfg config.TrimConfig) error` to `internal/trim`.
 Move from `internal/cli/trim.go` into `internal/trim`:
 - selector parsing from validated config;
 - input file read;
 - artifact parse;
 - `ApplyArtifact`;
 - output schema selection and conversion;
 - output validation;
 - transcript output JSON write;
 - trim audit payload construction;
 - report event construction;
 - old-to-new ID mapping ordering.
 Keep in `internal/cli/trim.go`:
 - Cobra command definition;
 - flag registration;
 - `cmd.Flags().Changed("output-schema")` handling;
 - `config.NewTrimConfig`;
 - delegation to `trim.Run`.
 Temporarily keep any moved JSON writer local to `internal/trim` if Stage 4 has
 not yet been implemented. Stage 4 will centralize file writing.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/cli/trim.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go`
 - `internal/trim/*.go`
 - `internal/trim/*_test.go`
 - `internal/config/config.go`
 - `internal/report/report.go`
 - `internal/normalize/normalize.go`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Create `internal/trim/run.go` or another appropriately named file.
 2. Move trim audit structs to `internal/trim`. Keep JSON field names unchanged.
 3. Add `Run(ctx, cfg)` and check `ctx.Err()` before doing work.
 4. Move helper functions needed only by trim orchestration, including ordered
   ID mapping.
 5. Update `internal/cli/trim.go` to delegate to `trim.Run`.
 6. Add direct `internal/trim` tests for service-level behavior if existing CLI
   tests do not cover moved report/output behavior clearly.
 7. Keep all existing trim CLI tests passing.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - `internal/cli/trim.go` contains flag wiring, config construction, and a call
  to `trim.Run`; it no longer performs artifact I/O or report construction.
 - Trim output files and report files are unchanged for existing tests.
 - Trim error wrapping is not weakened for user-facing file, parse, validation,
  or report-write failures.
 - No merge pipeline modules are invoked by trim.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/trim ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 4: Centralize Deterministic JSON File Writing
 ### Goal
 Remove repeated `os.Create` plus indented `json.Encoder` boilerplate while
 preserving current JSON formatting.
 ### Decision
 Create a small package named `internal/jsonfile`.
 Recommended API:
 ```go
 package jsonfile
 func Write(path string, value any) error
 ```
 The helper should:
 - create or truncate the target path with `os.Create`;
 - encode JSON with `encoder.SetIndent("", "  ")`;
 - preserve the current trailing newline produced by `Encoder.Encode`;
 - return underlying create/encode/close errors with enough context for callers
  to wrap where they already wrap.
 Do not implement atomic writes, temporary files, directory creation, lock files,
 or fsync behavior in this stage.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/builtin/output.go`
 - `internal/report/report.go`
 - `internal/normalize/normalize.go`
 - `internal/trim/run.go` or `internal/cli/trim.go`, depending on Stage 3 state
 - Existing CLI tests that read output JSON
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add `internal/jsonfile/jsonfile.go`.
 2. Add a focused `internal/jsonfile/jsonfile_test.go` covering two-space
   indentation and valid JSON.
 3. Update merge JSON output writer to use `jsonfile.Write`.
 4. Update normalize output writing to use `jsonfile.Write`, preserving
   user-facing error context.
 5. Update trim output writing to use `jsonfile.Write`.
 6. Update `report.WriteJSON` to use `jsonfile.Write`.
 7. Remove duplicated local `writeOutputJSON` helpers.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Merge, trim, normalize, and report JSON are still pretty-printed with two
  spaces and a trailing newline.
 - There is one implementation of deterministic JSON file writing.
 - Report construction remains in `internal/report` or command packages; only
  file-writing mechanics are shared.
 - No new persistence semantics are introduced.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/jsonfile ./internal/builtin ./internal/report ./internal/normalize ./internal/trim ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 5: Clean Up Config Path Validation
 ### Goal
 Reduce repeated path validation in single-input command config without changing
 config precedence or errors.
 ### Decision
 Add private helpers in `internal/config/config.go` only. Do not create a config
 builder framework.
 Recommended helpers:
 ```go
 func normalizeSingleInputFile(path string, flag string) (string, error)
 func normalizeOptionalOutputPath(path string, flag string) (string, error)
 ```
 `normalizeSingleInputFile` should preserve the current `--input-file is
 required` and `requireFile` behavior.
 `normalizeOptionalOutputPath` should return `""` for empty or whitespace-only
 values and otherwise call the existing required output path validation.
 Keep `normalizeInputFiles` separate for merge because merge accepts repeated
 input files, rejects duplicates, and sorts paths.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/config/config.go`
 - `internal/config/config_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/normalize_test.go`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add private path helpers.
 2. Refactor `NewTrimConfig` to use them.
 3. Refactor `NewNormalizeConfig` to use them.
 4. Keep `NewMergeConfig` behavior unchanged except where it can reuse existing
   `normalizeOutputPath`.
 5. Preserve all current error message substrings tested by config and CLI
   tests.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Trim and normalize single-input path normalization is implemented once.
 - Optional report path handling is implemented once.
 - Merge multi-input normalization remains explicit and unchanged.
 - No config struct fields, env vars, flags, defaults, or precedence rules
  change.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/config ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 6: Add Narrow CLI Flag Helpers
 ### Goal
 Reduce typo-prone repeated Cobra flag wiring while keeping command files
 explicit and readable.
 ### Decision
 Add helper functions in `internal/cli/flags.go`. Helpers should take a
 `*cobra.Command` and a target pointer. This avoids adding a direct import of
 `pflag` unless it becomes clearly cleaner.
 Recommended helpers:
 - `addOutputFileFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string)`
 - `addReportFileFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string)`
 - `addOutputModulesFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string)`
 - `addMergeOutputSchemaFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string)`
 - `addNormalizeOutputSchemaFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string)`
 - `addTrimOutputSchemaFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string)`
 Do not create one generic output schema helper because trim has different
 omitted-flag semantics and help text.
 For `--input-file`, prefer keeping command-local definitions unless a helper
 improves clarity:
 - merge uses `StringArrayVar`;
 - trim and normalize use `StringVar`;
 - usage text differs.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/cli/merge.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim.go`
 - `internal/cli/normalize.go`
 - `internal/cli/*_test.go`
 - `docs/cli.md`, only to verify flag text if behavior or help text changes
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add `internal/cli/flags.go`.
 2. Move only identical or intentionally paired flag definitions into helpers.
 3. Keep command-specific flags and semantic differences local.
 4. Run command help manually and compare the important flag names/defaults.
 5. Update tests only if they assert help text that intentionally changed.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Public flag names and defaults are unchanged.
 - Help text remains at least as accurate as before.
 - Command files remain easy to read.
 - No command factory or shared command runner is introduced.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/cli
 go run ./cmd/seriatim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize --help
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 7: Centralize Common Segment Reference Formatting
 ### Goal
 Use one helper for the shared "best available segment reference" policy used by
 overlap and coalesce logic.
 ### Decision
 Add a small helper in `internal/model`, because the helper operates on
 `model.Segment` and expresses domain reference semantics.
 Recommended API:
 ```go
 func SegmentReference(segment Segment) string
 ```
 The helper should:
 - return `fmt.Sprintf("%s#%d", segment.Source, *segment.SourceSegmentIndex)`
  when `Source` is non-empty and `SourceSegmentIndex` is non-nil;
 - otherwise return `segment.SourceRef` when non-empty;
 - otherwise return `""`.
 Use this helper only where the existing code already has this exact fallback
 policy. Keep generated references such as `word-run:%d:%d:%d`, `coalesce:%d`,
 and `resolve-danglers:%d` local to the modules that create them.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/model/model.go`
 - `internal/overlap/detect.go`
 - `internal/coalesce/coalesce.go`
 - `internal/overlap/*_test.go`
 - `internal/coalesce/*_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/merge_test.go`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add `SegmentReference` and tests in `internal/model`.
 2. Replace duplicated fallback logic in overlap detection.
 3. Replace duplicated fallback logic in coalesce.
 4. Do not change generated reference prefixes.
 5. Do not change sorting behavior or derived-from ordering.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Existing provenance strings in full output remain unchanged.
 - `source#index` formatting exists in one shared helper for matching semantics.
 - Module-specific generated references stay module-local.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/model ./internal/overlap ./internal/coalesce ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 8: Reduce Repetition In Schema Semantic Validation
 ### Goal
 Use one private helper for cross-schema segment ID and timing invariants.
 ### Decision
 Keep this helper private to `schema`. Do not use generics unless the resulting
 code is clearly simpler than a small projection type.
 Recommended shape:
 ```go
 type segmentSemantics struct {
    id    int
    start float64
    end   float64
 }
 func validateSegmentSemantics(segments []segmentSemantics) error
 ```
 Preserve current error text:
 - `segment %d has id %d; want %d`
 - `segment %d has end %.3f before start %.3f`
 Keep full-schema overlap group timing validation separate.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `schema/output.go`
 - `schema/output_test.go`
 - callers in `internal/artifact`, `internal/trim`, and `internal/normalize`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Add the private segment semantic helper.
 2. Adapt full, intermediate, and minimal validation functions to project their
   segment shapes into the helper.
 3. Keep full overlap group semantic validation in the full validation path.
 4. Add or preserve tests that cover invalid IDs and invalid timing for each
   public schema shape.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Sequential ID and timing rules are implemented once.
 - Public schema validation behavior and error wording remain stable.
 - Full overlap group validation remains full-schema only.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./schema ./internal/artifact ./internal/trim ./internal/normalize ./internal/cli
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt.
 ## Stage 9: Test Helper Cleanup
 ### Goal
 Reduce repeated test setup after behavior-preserving refactors are complete.
 ### Decision
 Keep test helpers package-local. Do not add exported test utility packages.
 Prioritize helpers that reduce noise without hiding public command behavior:
 - config option builders in `internal/config/config_test.go`;
 - command execution helpers in `internal/cli` if duplication remains after
  trim orchestration and flag helper cleanup;
 - fixture builders for trim schema shapes if they stay repetitive.
 Do not abstract command arguments so far that tests no longer show the public
 CLI contract being exercised.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - `internal/config/config_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/merge_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/trim_test.go`
 - `internal/cli/normalize_test.go`
 - `internal/trim/*_test.go`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Identify repeated setup that survived prior stages.
 2. Add package-local helper builders for config options with valid defaults.
 3. Consolidate duplicate read/write JSON helpers only inside the test package
   where they are used.
 4. Keep high-signal command arguments inline in CLI tests.
 5. Avoid golden-file rewrites or fixture churn unrelated to cleanup.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - Tests are shorter where setup was noisy.
 - Public behavior being tested remains obvious.
 - No production code changes are made in this stage unless a test-only cleanup
  reveals dead production code from earlier stages.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./internal/config ./internal/cli ./internal/trim
 ```
 ### Prompt Size
 One implementation prompt if limited to config/CLI/trim tests. Split by package
 if the diff becomes large.
 ## Stage 10: Final Dead-Code And Documentation Sweep
 ### Goal
 Remove stale helpers and update internal documentation only where implemented
 cleanup changed current boundaries.
 ### Decision
 This is a cleanup verification stage, not a feature stage.
 Do not delete `samples/`, move examples, redesign docs, or alter user-facing
 references unless directly required by implemented cleanup.
 ### Files To Inspect
 - All files touched by Stages 1-9
 - `docs/policy/architecture.md`
 - `docs/policy/development.md`
 - `docs/internal/artifacts.md`
 - `docs/internal/pipeline.md`
 - `docs/internal/modules.md`
 - `docs/cli.md`
 - `docs/config.md`
 ### Implementation Steps
 1. Search for obsolete helpers, duplicate schema constants, duplicate JSON
   writers, old trim CLI orchestration helpers, and unused imports.
 2. Run `go test ./...`.
 3. Run command help checks.
 4. Update internal docs only if package responsibility changed in a way current
   docs now describe inaccurately.
 5. Do not add planned cleanup notes outside `docs/roadmap/`.
 ### Acceptance Criteria
 - No duplicate output schema string constants remain outside canonical aliases
  and intentional docs/test fixtures.
 - No duplicate production `writeOutputJSON` helper remains.
 - `internal/cli/trim.go` is a thin adapter.
 - Docs outside `docs/roadmap/` describe only implemented behavior.
 - Full repository tests pass.
 ### Validation Commands
 ```sh
 go test ./...
 go run ./cmd/seriatim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize --help
 rg -n "SchemaMinimal|SchemaIntermediate|SchemaFull|writeOutputJSON|seriatim-minimal|seriatim-intermediate|seriatim-full" internal schema
 ```
 The `rg` command is a review aid. Raw schema strings may still be appropriate in
 canonical constants, docs, JSON Schema files, and tests that assert serialized
 public contracts.
 ### Prompt Size
 Small enough for one implementation prompt after prior stages are complete.
 ## Deferred Or Explicitly Avoided Work
 Do not implement these as part of the pre-1.0 cleanup sequence unless a later
 audit identifies a concrete bug or larger duplication pattern:
 - A generic workflow engine for merge, trim, and normalize.
 - Dynamic plugins or runtime-extensible schemas.
 - A manifest, checkpoint, resume, dry-run, force, or progress framework.
 - Atomic output writes or fsync semantics.
 - A broad filesystem adapter layer.
 - A combined backchannel/filler classifier framework.
 - A generic registry resolver that erases stage-specific error messages.
 - A broad public API for internals.
 - Destructive changes to `samples/`.
 Backchannel and filler share mechanics, but the cleanup decision is to defer
 shared category-tagging extraction before 1.0. The current duplication is small,
 domain-specific, and well isolated.
 ## Full Cleanup Validation
 After all implemented stages:
 ```sh
 go test ./...
 go run ./cmd/seriatim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim --help
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize --help
 ```
 Manual review checklist:
 - Public CLI behavior is unchanged.
 - Public output schemas and JSON shapes are unchanged.
 - Report event ordering and text remain stable unless tests were deliberately
  updated.
 - Trim, normalize, and merge boundaries match `docs/policy/architecture.md`.
 - No planned or aspirational behavior was added to non-roadmap docs.
 - Cleanup reduced duplicated policy without introducing broad abstractions.
 ## Open Questions
 No blocking questions are required to implement this plan.
 If a future implementation stage discovers that preserving current behavior
 conflicts with one of the structural decisions above, stop that stage and ask
 for direction before changing public CLI behavior, public JSON contracts, or
 report semantics.
--- a/docs/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/troubleshooting.md
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
 # Troubleshooting
 Each entry includes symptom, likely cause, inspection step, and safe fix.
 ## Missing required flags
 - Symptom: command fails with messages like `--input-file is required`, `--output-file is required`, or `exactly one of --keep or --remove is required`.
 - Likely cause: required command flags were omitted.
 - Inspection: run command help for the failing command:
  - `go run ./cmd/seriatim merge --help`
  - `go run ./cmd/seriatim trim --help`
  - `go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize --help`
 - Safe fix: provide all required flags; for `trim`, provide exactly one selector mode (`--keep` or `--remove`).
 ## Invalid output or report path
 - Symptom: errors like `--output-file parent directory ...` or `--report-file parent directory ...`.
 - Likely cause: parent directory does not exist, is not a directory, or path points to an unusable target.
 - Inspection: verify paths:
  - `dirname <path>`
  - `ls -ld <parent-dir>`
 - Safe fix: create/fix the parent directory and rerun; avoid using directory paths directly as output/report file targets.
 ## Invalid merge input JSON
 - Symptom: merge fails with messages like `parse input file`, `must contain top-level segments array`, `segment 0 missing numeric start`, or `segment 0 words must be an array`.
 - Likely cause: malformed JSON or unsupported/missing fields in a merge input file.
 - Inspection: validate input JSON and required fields (`start`, `end`, `text`):
  - `jq . <input-file>`
 - Safe fix: correct the JSON structure and segment/word field types, then rerun `merge`.
 ## Invalid normalize input shape
 - Symptom: normalize fails with messages like `must contain a "segments" field`, `"segments" must be an array`, or `top-level object with "segments" or a top-level segment array`.
 - Likely cause: normalize input is neither supported object-with-segments nor top-level segment array.
 - Inspection: inspect top-level JSON shape:
  - `jq 'type' <input-file>`
  - `jq 'keys' <input-file>` (for object input)
 - Safe fix: reshape input into one supported form and rerun `normalize`.
 ## Invalid speaker map or autocorrect YAML
 - Symptom: merge fails with errors such as `must contain at least one match rule`, `must include speaker`, `must include target`, or duplicate match/speaker validation failures.
 - Likely cause: YAML rule file structure/content does not match expected schema.
 - Inspection: check YAML validity and required top-level keys:
  - `speakers.yml` requires top-level `match` rules.
  - `autocorrect.yml` requires top-level `autocorrect` rules.
 - Safe fix: correct YAML structure and rule content, then rerun `merge`.
 ## Unknown module names
 - Symptom: errors like `unknown input reader`, `unknown preprocessing module`, `unknown postprocessing module`, or `unknown output module`.
 - Likely cause: module name typo or unsupported module in flag lists.
 - Inspection: compare provided module names against defaults in CLI help and config docs.
 - Safe fix: use implemented module names only or remove unsupported modules from comma-separated lists.
 ## Invalid output schema value
 - Symptom: errors like `--output-schema must be one of ...`.
 - Likely cause: unsupported schema value from flag or `SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA`.
 - Inspection: check effective value:
  - command flags
  - `echo "$SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA"`
 - Safe fix: use one of `seriatim-minimal`, `seriatim-intermediate`, or `seriatim-full`.
 ## Invalid trim selector
 - Symptom: trim fails with messages like `invalid selector ... malformed element`, `segment ID must be positive`, or descending-range errors.
 - Likely cause: selector syntax is invalid.
 - Inspection: verify selector format:
  - single ID: `7`
  - range: `1-10`
  - list: `1-10,15,20-25`
 - Safe fix: correct selector syntax and rerun `trim`.
 ## Schema validation failures
 - Symptom: errors such as `validate-output: ...` in merge or `input JSON is not a valid seriatim output artifact` in trim.
 - Likely cause:
  - merge module order/config produced invalid final artifact (for example, validating before IDs are assigned), or
  - trim input is not a valid seriatim artifact.
 - Inspection:
  - for merge: inspect customized module ordering flags.
  - for trim: verify input artifact against known seriatim schema files in `schema/`.
 - Safe fix:
  - restore valid merge postprocessing order ending with assigned IDs before validation, or
  - provide a valid seriatim artifact as trim input.
 ## Report write failure
 - Symptom: errors like `write --report-file ...` or file-create failures when report writing is requested.
 - Likely cause: report path is not writable or is an invalid target (for example a directory path).
 - Inspection:
  - `ls -ld <report-parent-dir>`
  - verify `--report-file` is a file path, not a directory
 - Safe fix: choose a writable file path under an existing directory and rerun.
 ## Related docs
 - CLI reference: [cli.md](cli.md)
 - Configuration reference: [config.md](config.md)
 - Operations guide: [operations.md](operations.md)
--- a/examples/README.md
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
 # Examples
 These are small synthetic, copyable example assets for the implemented CLI
 commands.
 This directory is the canonical examples home for documentation.
 ## Merge example
 Inputs:
 - `minimal-merge/input-alice.json`
 - `minimal-merge/input-bob.json`
 - `minimal-merge/speakers.yml`
 Run:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim merge \
  --input-file examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json \
  --input-file examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json \
  --speakers examples/minimal-merge/speakers.yml \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-merge.json
 ```
 ## Normalize examples
 Object-with-segments input:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize \
  --input-file examples/normalize/object-with-segments.json \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-normalize-object.json
 ```
 Bare-array input:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim normalize \
  --input-file examples/normalize/bare-segments-array.json \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-normalize-array.json
 ```
 ## Trim example
 Input artifact:
 - `trim/input-full.json`
 Run:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/seriatim trim \
  --input-file examples/trim/input-full.json \
  --output-file /tmp/seriatim-example-trim.json \
  --keep "1-2"
 ```
 ## YAML rule examples
 - `speakers.yml`
 - `autocorrect.yml`
--- a/examples/autocorrect.yml
+++ b/examples/autocorrect.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
 autocorrect:
  - target: "General Kenobi"
    match:
      - "General Kenobi."
  - target: "Okay"
    match:
      - "Okay."
--- a/examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json
+++ b/examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
 {
  "segments": [
    {
      "start": 0.0,
      "end": 1.2,
      "text": " Hello there. "
    },
    {
      "start": 2.6,
      "end": 3.1,
      "text": "Okay."
    }
  ]
 }
--- a/examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json
+++ b/examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
 {
  "segments": [
    {
      "start": 1.3,
      "end": 2.4,
      "text": "General Kenobi."
    }
  ]
 }
--- a/examples/minimal-merge/speakers.yml
+++ b/examples/minimal-merge/speakers.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
 match:
  - speaker: "Alice Example"
    match:
      - "alice"
  - speaker: "Bob Example"
    match:
      - "bob"
--- a/examples/normalize/bare-segments-array.json
+++ b/examples/normalize/bare-segments-array.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
 [
  {
    "start": 2.5,
    "end": 3.0,
    "speaker": "Bob",
    "text": "later"
  },
  {
    "end": 2.0,
    "speaker": "",
    "text": "no start uses end"
  }
 ]
--- a/examples/normalize/object-with-segments.json
+++ b/examples/normalize/object-with-segments.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
 {
  "segments": [
    {
      "id": 7,
      "start": 2.0,
      "end": 2.5,
      "speaker": "Bob",
      "text": "second"
    },
    {
      "id": 1,
      "start": 1.0,
      "end": 1.3,
      "speaker": "Alice",
      "text": "first",
      "categories": ["backchannel"]
    }
  ]
 }
--- a/examples/speakers.yml
+++ b/examples/speakers.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
 match:
  - speaker: "Alice Example"
    match:
      - "alice"
  - speaker: "Bob Example"
    match:
      - "bob"
--- a/examples/trim/input-full.json
+++ b/examples/trim/input-full.json
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
 {
  "metadata": {
    "application": "seriatim",
    "version": "dev",
    "input_reader": "json-files",
    "input_files": [
      "examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json",
      "examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json"
    ],
    "preprocessing_modules": [
      "validate-raw",
      "normalize-speakers",
      "trim-text"
    ],
    "postprocessing_modules": [
      "detect-overlaps",
      "resolve-overlaps",
      "backchannel",
      "filler",
      "resolve-danglers",
      "coalesce",
      "detect-overlaps",
      "autocorrect",
      "assign-ids",
      "validate-output"
    ],
    "output_modules": [
      "json"
    ]
  },
  "segments": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "source": "examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json",
      "source_segment_index": 0,
      "speaker": "Alice Example",
      "start": 0,
      "end": 1.2,
      "text": "Hello there."
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "source": "examples/minimal-merge/input-bob.json",
      "source_segment_index": 0,
      "speaker": "Bob Example",
      "start": 1.3,
      "end": 2.4,
      "text": "General Kenobi."
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "source": "examples/minimal-merge/input-alice.json",
      "source_segment_index": 1,
      "speaker": "Alice Example",
      "start": 2.6,
      "end": 3.1,
      "text": "Okay.",
      "categories": [
        "backchannel"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "overlap_groups": []
 }
--- a/internal/artifact/transcript.go
+++ b/internal/artifact/transcript.go
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@ func FromMerged(cfg config.Config, merged model.MergedTranscript) schema.Transcr
 	}
 }
-// DefaultFromMerged converts the internal merged transcript model into the
+// IntermediateFromMerged converts the internal merged transcript model into the
-// compact default public serialized output contract.
+// compact intermediate public serialized output contract.
-func DefaultFromMerged(cfg config.Config, merged model.MergedTranscript) schema.DefaultTranscript {
+func IntermediateFromMerged(cfg config.Config, merged model.MergedTranscript) schema.IntermediateTranscript {
-	segments := make([]schema.DefaultSegment, len(merged.Segments))
+	segments := make([]schema.IntermediateSegment, len(merged.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range merged.Segments {
-		segments[index] = schema.DefaultSegment{
+		segments[index] = schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			ID:         segment.ID,
 			Start:      segment.Start,
 			End:        segment.End,
@@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ func DefaultFromMerged(cfg config.Config, merged model.MergedTranscript) schema.
 		}
 	}
-	return schema.DefaultTranscript{
+	return schema.IntermediateTranscript{
-		Metadata: schema.DefaultMetadata{
+		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  ApplicationName,
 			Version:      buildinfo.Version,
-			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaDefault,
+			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		},
 		Segments: segments,
 	}
@@ -110,14 +110,14 @@ func MinimalFromMerged(cfg config.Config, merged model.MergedTranscript) schema.
 // runtime-selected public output contract.
 func SelectedFromMerged(cfg config.Config, merged model.MergedTranscript) any {
 	switch cfg.OutputSchema {
 	case config.OutputSchemaDefault:
 		return DefaultFromMerged(cfg, merged)
 	case config.OutputSchemaMinimal:
 		return MinimalFromMerged(cfg, merged)
-	case config.OutputSchemaSeriatim:
+	case config.OutputSchemaFull:
 		return FromMerged(cfg, merged)
 	case config.OutputSchemaIntermediate:
 		return IntermediateFromMerged(cfg, merged)
 	default:
-		return FromMerged(cfg, merged)
+		return IntermediateFromMerged(cfg, merged)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/artifact/transcript_test.go
+++ b/internal/artifact/transcript_test.go
@@ -23,28 +23,28 @@ func TestFromMergedUsesBuildVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestSelectedFromMergedDefaultsToSeriatimTranscript(t *testing.T) {
+func TestSelectedFromMergedDefaultsToIntermediateTranscript(t *testing.T) {
 	got := SelectedFromMerged(config.Config{}, model.MergedTranscript{})
 	if _, ok := got.(schema.IntermediateTranscript); !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("selected artifact type = %T, want schema.IntermediateTranscript", got)
 	}
 }
 func TestSelectedFromMergedUsesIntermediateWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	got := SelectedFromMerged(config.Config{OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaIntermediate}, model.MergedTranscript{})
 	if _, ok := got.(schema.IntermediateTranscript); !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("selected artifact type = %T, want schema.IntermediateTranscript", got)
 	}
 }
 func TestSelectedFromMergedUsesFullWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	got := SelectedFromMerged(config.Config{OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaFull}, model.MergedTranscript{})
 	if _, ok := got.(schema.Transcript); !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("selected artifact type = %T, want schema.Transcript", got)
 	}
 }
-func TestSelectedFromMergedUsesDefaultWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+func TestIntermediateFromMergedEmitsOnlyIntermediateShape(t *testing.T) {
 	got := SelectedFromMerged(config.Config{OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaDefault}, model.MergedTranscript{})
 	if _, ok := got.(schema.DefaultTranscript); !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("selected artifact type = %T, want schema.DefaultTranscript", got)
 	}
 }
 func TestSelectedFromMergedUsesSeriatimWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	got := SelectedFromMerged(config.Config{OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaSeriatim}, model.MergedTranscript{})
 	if _, ok := got.(schema.Transcript); !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("selected artifact type = %T, want schema.Transcript", got)
 	}
 }
 func TestDefaultFromMergedEmitsOnlyDefaultShape(t *testing.T) {
 	merged := model.MergedTranscript{
 		Segments: []model.Segment{
 			{
@@ -65,19 +65,19 @@ func TestDefaultFromMergedEmitsOnlyDefaultShape(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
-	got := DefaultFromMerged(config.Config{OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaDefault}, merged)
+	got := IntermediateFromMerged(config.Config{OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaIntermediate}, merged)
-	want := schema.DefaultTranscript{
+	want := schema.IntermediateTranscript{
-		Metadata: schema.DefaultMetadata{
+		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  ApplicationName,
 			Version:      buildinfo.Version,
-			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaDefault,
+			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		},
-		Segments: []schema.DefaultSegment{
+		Segments: []schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "Alice", Text: "hello", Categories: []string{"backchannel"}},
 		},
 	}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
-		t.Fatalf("default transcript = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+		t.Fatalf("intermediate transcript = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/builtin/output.go
+++ b/internal/builtin/output.go
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@ package builtin
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/jsonfile"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/report"
 )
@@ -20,15 +19,7 @@ func (jsonOutputWriter) Write(ctx context.Context, out any, rpt report.Report, c
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	file, err := os.Create(cfg.OutputFile)
+	if err := jsonfile.Write(cfg.OutputFile, out); err != nil {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	defer file.Close()
 	enc := json.NewEncoder(file)
 	enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
 	if err := enc.Encode(out); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
--- a/internal/builtin/postprocess.go
+++ b/internal/builtin/postprocess.go
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ func (validateOutput) Process(ctx context.Context, in model.MergedTranscript, cf
 	selected := artifact.SelectedFromMerged(cfg, in)
 	var err error
 	switch transcript := selected.(type) {
-	case schema.DefaultTranscript:
+	case schema.IntermediateTranscript:
-		err = schema.ValidateDefaultTranscript(transcript)
+		err = schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript(transcript)
 	case schema.MinimalTranscript:
 		err = schema.ValidateMinimalTranscript(transcript)
 	case schema.Transcript:
--- a/internal/builtin/postprocess_test.go
+++ b/internal/builtin/postprocess_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestValidateOutputUsesMinimalSchemaWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestValidateOutputUsesSeriatimSchemaWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateOutputUsesFullSchemaWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	merged := model.MergedTranscript{
 		Segments: []model.Segment{
 			{
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestValidateOutputUsesSeriatimSchemaWhenConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	cfg := testConfig()
-	cfg.OutputSchema = config.OutputSchemaSeriatim
+	cfg.OutputSchema = config.OutputSchemaFull
 	got, events, err := validateOutput{}.Process(context.Background(), merged, cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("validate output: %v", err)
--- a/internal/cli/flags.go
+++ b/internal/cli/flags.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
 package cli
 import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 )
 func addOutputFileFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string) {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(target, "output-file", "", "output transcript JSON file")
 }
 func addReportFileFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string) {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(target, "report-file", "", "optional report JSON file")
 }
 func addOutputModulesFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string) {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(target, "output-modules", config.DefaultOutputModules, "comma-separated output modules")
 }
 func addMergeOutputSchemaFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string) {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(target, "output-schema", config.DefaultOutputSchema, "output JSON schema: seriatim-minimal, seriatim-intermediate (default), or seriatim-full")
 }
 func addNormalizeOutputSchemaFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string) {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(target, "output-schema", config.DefaultOutputSchema, "output JSON schema: seriatim-minimal, seriatim-intermediate, or seriatim-full")
 }
 func addTrimOutputSchemaFlag(cmd *cobra.Command, target *string) {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(target, "output-schema", "", "optional output JSON schema override: seriatim-minimal, seriatim-intermediate, or seriatim-full")
 }
--- a/internal/cli/merge.go
+++ b/internal/cli/merge.go
@@ -15,7 +15,12 @@ func newMergeCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "merge",
 		Short: "Run the transcript merge pipeline",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			cfg, err := config.NewMergeConfig(opts)
+			mergeOpts := opts
 			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("output-schema") {
 				mergeOpts.OutputSchema = ""
 			}
 			cfg, err := config.NewMergeConfig(mergeOpts)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -26,13 +31,13 @@ func newMergeCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	flags := cmd.Flags()
 	flags.StringArrayVar(&opts.InputFiles, "input-file", nil, "input transcript file; may be repeated")
-	flags.StringVar(&opts.OutputFile, "output-file", "", "output transcript JSON file")
+	addOutputFileFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputFile)
-	flags.StringVar(&opts.ReportFile, "report-file", "", "optional report JSON file")
+	addReportFileFlag(cmd, &opts.ReportFile)
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.SpeakersFile, "speakers", "", "speaker map file")
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.AutocorrectFile, "autocorrect", "", "autocorrect rules file")
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.InputReader, "input-reader", config.DefaultInputReader, "input reader module")
-	flags.StringVar(&opts.OutputModules, "output-modules", config.DefaultOutputModules, "comma-separated output modules")
+	addOutputModulesFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputModules)
-	flags.StringVar(&opts.OutputSchema, "output-schema", config.DefaultOutputSchema, "output JSON schema: default, minimal, or seriatim")
+	addMergeOutputSchemaFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputSchema)
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.PreprocessingModules, "preprocessing-modules", config.DefaultPreprocessingModules, "comma-separated preprocessing modules")
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.PostprocessingModules, "postprocessing-modules", config.DefaultPostprocessingModules, "comma-separated postprocessing modules")
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.CoalesceGap, "coalesce-gap", config.DefaultCoalesceGapValue, "maximum same-speaker gap in seconds for coalesce")
--- a/internal/cli/merge_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/merge_test.go
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ func TestMergeWritesMergedOutputAndReport(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestMergeWritesDefaultOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
+func TestMergeWritesIntermediateOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(config.OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{
 		"segments": [
@@ -131,10 +132,10 @@ func TestMergeWritesDefaultOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("merge failed: %v", err)
 	}
-	var transcript schema.DefaultTranscript
+	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
-	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaDefault {
+	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaIntermediate {
-		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want default", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema)
+		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(transcript.Segments))
@@ -149,12 +150,12 @@ func TestMergeWritesDefaultOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, forbidden := range []string{"overlap_groups", "source", "derived_from", "words"} {
 		if strings.Contains(string(outputBytes), forbidden) {
-			t.Fatalf("default output contains %q:\n%s", forbidden, outputBytes)
+			t.Fatalf("intermediate output contains %q:\n%s", forbidden, outputBytes)
 		}
 	}
 }
-func TestMergeWritesSeriatimOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
+func TestMergeWritesFullOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{
 		"segments": [
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ func TestMergeWritesSeriatimOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	err := executeMergeRaw(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
-		"--output-schema", "seriatim",
+		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaFull,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("merge failed: %v", err)
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ func TestMergeWritesMinimalOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	err := executeMerge(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
-		"--output-schema", "minimal",
+		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -215,8 +216,8 @@ func TestMergeWritesMinimalOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	if transcript.Metadata.Application != "seriatim" {
 		t.Fatalf("application = %q, want seriatim", transcript.Metadata.Application)
 	}
-	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != "minimal" {
+	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaMinimal {
-		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want minimal", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema)
+		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 	if got, want := len(transcript.Segments), 2; got != want {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want %d", got, want)
@@ -330,7 +331,7 @@ func TestMergeValidateMinimalOutputBeforeAssignIDsFails(t *testing.T) {
 	err := executeMerge(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
-		"--output-schema", "minimal",
+		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		"--postprocessing-modules", "validate-output,assign-ids",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
@@ -472,16 +473,16 @@ func TestMergeResolvesOverlapGroupsWithWordRuns(t *testing.T) {
 	var transcript model.FinalTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
-	if len(transcript.OverlapGroups) != 0 {
+	if got, want := len(transcript.OverlapGroups), 1; got != want {
-		t.Fatalf("overlap groups = %#v, want none", transcript.OverlapGroups)
+		t.Fatalf("overlap group count = %d, want %d (%#v)", got, want, transcript.OverlapGroups)
 	}
-	if got, want := len(transcript.Segments), 3; got != want {
+	if got, want := len(transcript.Segments), 2; got != want {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want %d", got, want)
 	}
-	wantTexts := []string{"outside hello there", "bob reply", "later"}
+	wantTexts := []string{"outside hello there later", "bob reply"}
-	wantSpeakers := []string{"Alice", "Bob", "Alice"}
+	wantSpeakers := []string{"Alice", "Bob"}
-	wantRefs := []string{"word-run:1:1:1", "word-run:1:2:1", "word-run:1:1:2"}
+	wantRefs := []string{"word-run:1:1:1", "word-run:1:2:1"}
 	for index, segment := range transcript.Segments {
 		if segment.ID != index+1 {
 			t.Fatalf("segment %d id = %d, want %d", index, segment.ID, index+1)
@@ -498,8 +499,8 @@ func TestMergeResolvesOverlapGroupsWithWordRuns(t *testing.T) {
 		if segment.SourceSegmentIndex != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("segment %d source_segment_index = %d, want nil", index, *segment.SourceSegmentIndex)
 		}
-		if segment.OverlapGroupID != 0 {
+		if segment.OverlapGroupID != 1 {
-			t.Fatalf("segment %d overlap_group_id = %d, want 0", index, segment.OverlapGroupID)
+			t.Fatalf("segment %d overlap_group_id = %d, want 1", index, segment.OverlapGroupID)
 		}
 	}
 	if !equalStrings(transcript.Segments[0].DerivedFrom, []string{inputA + "#0"}) {
@@ -516,7 +517,7 @@ func TestMergeResolvesOverlapGroupsWithWordRuns(t *testing.T) {
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
-	if !hasReportEvent(rpt, "postprocessing", "resolve-overlaps", "processed 1 overlap group(s); changed 1; removed 2 original segment(s); created 3 replacement segment(s)") {
+	if !hasReportEvent(rpt, "postprocessing", "resolve-overlaps", "processed 1 overlap group(s); changed 1; removed 2 original segment(s); created 2 replacement segment(s)") {
 		t.Fatal("expected resolve-overlaps summary report event")
 	}
 }
@@ -1927,7 +1928,7 @@ func TestMergeResolveOverlapsPreservesAbsorbedContextPrefix(t *testing.T) {
 		"--input-file", inputA,
 		"--input-file", inputB,
 		"--speakers", speakers,
-		"--output-schema", "minimal",
+		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		"--output-file", output,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1994,7 +1995,7 @@ func executeMerge(args ...string) error {
 	if !hasOutputSchemaFlag(args) {
 		// Most integration tests were written against the full envelope; keep
 		// that behavior unless the caller explicitly asks for another schema.
-		args = append(args, "--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaSeriatim)
+		args = append(args, "--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaFull)
 	}
 	return executeMergeRaw(args...)
 }
--- a/internal/cli/normalize.go
+++ b/internal/cli/normalize.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
 package cli
 import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/normalize"
 )
 func newNormalizeCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	var opts config.NormalizeOptions
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "normalize",
 		Short: "Normalize a transcript artifact into a standard seriatim output shape",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			normalizeOpts := opts
 			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("output-schema") {
 				normalizeOpts.OutputSchema = ""
 			}
 			cfg, err := config.NewNormalizeConfig(normalizeOpts)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			return normalize.Run(cmd.Context(), cfg)
 		},
 	}
 	flags := cmd.Flags()
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.InputFile, "input-file", "", "input transcript JSON file")
 	addOutputFileFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputFile)
 	addReportFileFlag(cmd, &opts.ReportFile)
 	addNormalizeOutputSchemaFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputSchema)
 	addOutputModulesFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputModules)
 	return cmd
 }
--- a/internal/cli/normalize_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/normalize_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,522 @@
 package cli
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/report"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 func TestNormalizeCommandIsRecognized(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd := NewRootCommand()
 	cmd.SetArgs([]string{"normalize", "--help"})
 	if err := cmd.Execute(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize command should be recognized: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeMissingInputFileFails(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--output-file", output,
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected missing input-file error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--input-file is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeMissingOutputFileFails(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[]}`)
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected missing output-file error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-file is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeInvalidOutputSchemaFails(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--output-schema", "compact",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected invalid output schema error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-schema must be one of") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeInvalidOutputModuleFails(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--output-modules", "yaml",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected invalid output module error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unknown output module") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeDefaultOutputSchemaIsIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{
 		"segments": [
 			{"id": 99, "start": 5, "end": 6, "speaker": "Bob", "text": "second", "categories": ["filler"]},
 			{"id": 10, "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "first", "categories": ["backchannel"]}
 		]
 	}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaIntermediate {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].ID != 1 || transcript.Segments[1].ID != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment IDs = %d,%d, want 1,2", transcript.Segments[0].ID, transcript.Segments[1].ID)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Text != "first" || transcript.Segments[1].Text != "second" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected sort order: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments[0].Categories) != 1 || transcript.Segments[0].Categories[0] != "backchannel" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected categories preserved on first segment, got %#v", transcript.Segments[0].Categories)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeBareArrayInputToIntermediateOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `[
 		{"start": 2, "end": 3, "speaker": "Bob", "text": "second"},
 		{"start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "first"}
 	]`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Speaker != "Alice" || transcript.Segments[1].Speaker != "Bob" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected sorted speakers: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeInputIndexTieBreakerIsDeterministic(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `[
 		{"start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Zulu", "text": "first in"},
 		{"start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alpha", "text": "second in"}
 	]`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Speaker != "Zulu" || transcript.Segments[1].Speaker != "Alpha" {
 		t.Fatalf("tie-break order mismatch: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeMinimalSchemaOmitsCategories(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{
 		"segments": [
 			{"start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "first", "categories": ["filler"]}
 		]
 	}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.MinimalTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 1 || transcript.Segments[0].ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected minimal output: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 	bytes, readErr := os.ReadFile(output)
 	if readErr != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("read output: %v", readErr)
 	}
 	if strings.Contains(string(bytes), "categories") {
 		t.Fatalf("minimal output unexpectedly contains categories:\n%s", string(bytes))
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeFullSchemaOutputValidatesAndHasProvenanceFallback(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `[
 		{"start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "first"},
 		{"start": 3, "end": 4, "speaker": "Bob", "text": "second", "source":"custom.json", "source_segment_index": 7}
 	]`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaFull,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if err := schema.ValidateTranscript(transcript); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("full output should validate: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Source != filepath.Base(input) {
 		t.Fatalf("source fallback = %q, want %q", transcript.Segments[0].Source, filepath.Base(input))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].SourceSegmentIndex == nil || *transcript.Segments[0].SourceSegmentIndex != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("source_segment_index fallback = %v, want 0", transcript.Segments[0].SourceSegmentIndex)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[1].Source != "custom.json" {
 		t.Fatalf("explicit source preserved = %q, want custom.json", transcript.Segments[1].Source)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[1].SourceSegmentIndex == nil || *transcript.Segments[1].SourceSegmentIndex != 7 {
 		t.Fatalf("explicit source_segment_index preserved = %v, want 7", transcript.Segments[1].SourceSegmentIndex)
 	}
 	if transcript.OverlapGroups == nil || len(transcript.OverlapGroups) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups = %#v, want empty array", transcript.OverlapGroups)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeEmptySegmentsArrayProducesValidOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 0", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if err := schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript(transcript); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("intermediate output should validate: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeRepairsAndDropsDefectiveSegments(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `[
 		{"start": 5, "speaker": "", "text": "keep-a"},
 		{"end": 3, "speaker": "  ", "text": "keep-b"},
 		{"speaker": "A"},
 		{"speaker": "A", "text": "   "},
 		{"start": 9, "end": 4, "speaker": "B", "text": "keep-c"}
 	]`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "report.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 3", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Start != 3 || transcript.Segments[0].End != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment[0] timing = %v..%v, want 3..3", transcript.Segments[0].Start, transcript.Segments[0].End)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[1].Start != 4 || transcript.Segments[1].End != 9 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment[1] timing = %v..%v, want 4..9", transcript.Segments[1].Start, transcript.Segments[1].End)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[2].Start != 5 || transcript.Segments[2].End != 5 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment[2] timing = %v..%v, want 5..5", transcript.Segments[2].Start, transcript.Segments[2].End)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Speaker != "Unknown_Speaker" || transcript.Segments[2].Speaker != "Unknown_Speaker" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected Unknown_Speaker placeholders, got %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	audit := extractNormalizeAudit(t, rpt)
 	if audit.InputSegmentCount != 5 || audit.OutputSegmentCount != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("audit counts = in:%d out:%d, want in:5 out:3", audit.InputSegmentCount, audit.OutputSegmentCount)
 	}
 	if audit.TimingFieldsRepaired != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("timing fields repaired = %d, want 2", audit.TimingFieldsRepaired)
 	}
 	if audit.TimingOrderSwapped != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("timing order swapped = %d, want 1", audit.TimingOrderSwapped)
 	}
 	if audit.SpeakerFilled != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("speaker filled = %d, want 2", audit.SpeakerFilled)
 	}
 	if audit.SegmentsDroppedText != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segments dropped text = %d, want 2", audit.SegmentsDroppedText)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeSelectedOutputSchemaIsHonored(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"one"}]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.MinimalTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeReportFileWrittenAndContainsObjectInputShape(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"one"}]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "report.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	audit := extractNormalizeAudit(t, rpt)
 	if audit.InputShape != "object_with_segments" {
 		t.Fatalf("input shape = %q, want object_with_segments", audit.InputShape)
 	}
 	if audit.InputSegmentCount != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("input segment count = %d, want 1", audit.InputSegmentCount)
 	}
 	if audit.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaIntermediate {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", audit.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 	if len(audit.OutputModules) != 1 || audit.OutputModules[0] != "json" {
 		t.Fatalf("output modules = %v, want [json]", audit.OutputModules)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeReportIncludesBareArrayShape(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"one"}]`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "report.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	audit := extractNormalizeAudit(t, rpt)
 	if audit.InputShape != "bare_segments_array" {
 		t.Fatalf("input shape = %q, want bare_segments_array", audit.InputShape)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeReportDoesNotIncludeTranscriptText(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	const segmentText = "normalize-report-secret-text"
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"`+segmentText+`"}]`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "report.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	for _, event := range rpt.Events {
 		if strings.Contains(event.Message, segmentText) {
 			t.Fatalf("report unexpectedly contained transcript text in event %#v", event)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeReportEmptyInputEmitsWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "report.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("normalize failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	found := false
 	for _, event := range rpt.Events {
 		if event.Stage == "normalize" && event.Module == "normalize" && event.Severity == report.SeverityWarning &&
 			strings.Contains(event.Message, "zero segments") {
 			found = true
 			break
 		}
 	}
 	if !found {
 		t.Fatalf("expected empty transcript warning event, got %#v", rpt.Events)
 	}
 }
 func TestNormalizeReportWriteFailureReturnsClearError(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "input.json", `{"segments":[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"one"}]}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	err := executeNormalize(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", dir,
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected report write failure")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "write --report-file") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func executeNormalize(args ...string) error {
 	cmd := NewRootCommand()
 	cmd.SetArgs(append([]string{"normalize"}, args...))
 	return cmd.Execute()
 }
 type normalizeAudit struct {
 	Command                string   `json:"command"`
 	InputFile              string   `json:"input_file"`
 	OutputFile             string   `json:"output_file"`
 	InputShape             string   `json:"input_shape"`
 	InputSegmentCount      int      `json:"input_segment_count"`
 	OutputSegmentCount     int      `json:"output_segment_count"`
 	OutputSchema           string   `json:"output_schema"`
 	OutputModules          []string `json:"output_modules"`
 	IDsReassigned          bool     `json:"ids_reassigned"`
 	SortingChangedInput    bool     `json:"sorting_changed_input_order"`
 	SegmentsWithCategories int      `json:"segments_with_categories"`
 	TimingFieldsRepaired   int      `json:"timing_fields_repaired"`
 	TimingOrderSwapped     int      `json:"timing_order_swapped"`
 	SpeakerFilled          int      `json:"speaker_filled"`
 	SegmentsDroppedText    int      `json:"segments_dropped_text"`
 }
 func extractNormalizeAudit(t *testing.T, rpt report.Report) normalizeAudit {
 	t.Helper()
 	for _, event := range rpt.Events {
 		if event.Stage == "normalize" && event.Module == "normalize-audit" {
 			var audit normalizeAudit
 			if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(event.Message), &audit); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("decode normalize audit: %v", err)
 			}
 			return audit
 		}
 	}
 	t.Fatalf("missing normalize-audit event: %#v", rpt.Events)
 	return normalizeAudit{}
 }
--- a/internal/cli/root.go
+++ b/internal/cli/root.go
@@ -10,12 +10,14 @@ import (
 func NewRootCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:           "seriatim",
-		Short:         "Merge per-speaker transcripts into a chronological transcript",
+		Short:         "Merge, trim, and normalize transcript artifacts",
 		Version:       buildinfo.Version,
 		SilenceErrors: true,
 		SilenceUsage:  true,
 	}
 	cmd.AddCommand(newMergeCommand())
 	cmd.AddCommand(newNormalizeCommand())
 	cmd.AddCommand(newTrimCommand())
 	return cmd
 }
--- a/internal/cli/trim.go
+++ b/internal/cli/trim.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
 package cli
 import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/trim"
 )
 func newTrimCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	var opts config.TrimOptions
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "trim",
 		Short: "Trim an existing seriatim transcript artifact by segment ID",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			trimOpts := opts
 			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("output-schema") {
 				trimOpts.OutputSchema = ""
 			}
 			cfg, err := config.NewTrimConfig(trimOpts)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			return trim.Run(cmd.Context(), cfg)
 		},
 	}
 	flags := cmd.Flags()
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.InputFile, "input-file", "", "input seriatim transcript artifact JSON file")
 	addOutputFileFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputFile)
 	addReportFileFlag(cmd, &opts.ReportFile)
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.Keep, "keep", "", "segment ID selector to keep (for example: 1-10,15)")
 	flags.StringVar(&opts.Remove, "remove", "", "segment ID selector to remove (for example: 1-10,15)")
 	addTrimOutputSchemaFlag(cmd, &opts.OutputSchema)
 	flags.BoolVar(&opts.AllowEmpty, "allow-empty", false, "allow trimming to an empty transcript")
 	return cmd
 }
--- a/internal/cli/trim_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/trim_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,781 @@
 package cli
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/report"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 type trimAuditReport struct {
 	Operation               string          `json:"operation"`
 	InputFile               string          `json:"input_file"`
 	OutputFile              string          `json:"output_file"`
 	InputSchema             string          `json:"input_schema"`
 	OutputSchema            string          `json:"output_schema"`
 	Mode                    string          `json:"mode"`
 	Selector                string          `json:"selector"`
 	SelectedIDs             []int           `json:"selected_ids"`
 	AllowEmpty              bool            `json:"allow_empty"`
 	InputSegmentCount       int             `json:"input_segment_count"`
 	RetainedSegmentCount    int             `json:"retained_segment_count"`
 	RemovedSegmentCount     int             `json:"removed_segment_count"`
 	RemovedInputIDs         []int           `json:"removed_input_ids"`
 	OldToNewIDMapping       []trimIDMapping `json:"old_to_new_id_mapping"`
 	OverlapGroupsRecomputed bool            `json:"overlap_groups_recomputed"`
 }
 type trimIDMapping struct {
 	OldID int `json:"old_id"`
 	NewID int `json:"new_id"`
 }
 func TestTrimKeepModeEndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "2,4",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Text != "two" || transcript.Segments[1].Text != "four" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected kept text order: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 	assertSequentialIDs(t, []int{transcript.Segments[0].ID, transcript.Segments[1].ID})
 }
 func TestTrimRemoveModeEndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--remove", "2,4",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Text != "one" || transcript.Segments[1].Text != "three" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected remaining text order: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 	assertSequentialIDs(t, []int{transcript.Segments[0].ID, transcript.Segments[1].ID})
 }
 func TestTrimMutualExclusionFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 		"--remove", "2",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected mutual exclusion error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mutually exclusive") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimMissingSelectionFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected selection flag error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exactly one of --keep or --remove is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimInvalidSelectedIDFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "99",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected missing selected ID error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not exist") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimOmittedOutputSchemaPreservesInputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimMinimalFixture(t, dir, "input-minimal.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.MinimalTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 1 || transcript.Segments[0].ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected minimal trim output: %#v", transcript.Segments)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimExplicitOutputSchemaChangesOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1,3",
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.MinimalTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	assertSequentialIDs(t, []int{transcript.Segments[0].ID, transcript.Segments[1].ID})
 }
 func TestTrimExplicitOutputSchemaConvertsMinimalToIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimMinimalFixture(t, dir, "input-minimal.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1-2",
 		"--output-schema", config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaIntermediate {
 		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	assertSequentialIDs(t, []int{transcript.Segments[0].ID, transcript.Segments[1].ID})
 }
 func TestTrimIntermediateInputPreservesIntermediateOutputAndCategories(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimIntermediateFixture(t, dir, "input-intermediate.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "2",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaIntermediate {
 		t.Fatalf("output_schema = %q, want %q", transcript.Metadata.OutputSchema, config.OutputSchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment ID = %d, want 1", transcript.Segments[0].ID)
 	}
 	assertIntSliceEqual(t, []int{len(transcript.Segments[0].Categories)}, []int{2})
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Categories[0] != "filler" || transcript.Segments[0].Categories[1] != "backchannel" {
 		t.Fatalf("categories = %v, want [filler backchannel]", transcript.Segments[0].Categories)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimFullInputPreservesFullShapeAndRecomputesOverlapGroups(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullOverlapFixture(t, dir, "input-full-overlap.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1,2",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	assertSequentialIDs(t, []int{transcript.Segments[0].ID, transcript.Segments[1].ID})
 	if len(transcript.OverlapGroups) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap group count = %d, want 1", len(transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 	if transcript.OverlapGroups[0].ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap group id = %d, want 1", transcript.OverlapGroups[0].ID)
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID != 1 || transcript.Segments[1].OverlapGroupID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment overlap IDs = %d,%d, want 1,1", transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID, transcript.Segments[1].OverlapGroupID)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimMalformedSelectorFailsWithClearError(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1-",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected malformed selector error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "invalid selector") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "malformed element") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimMalformedInputArtifactFailsClearly(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "broken.json", `{"metadata":`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected malformed artifact error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "input JSON is malformed") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimDuplicateInputSegmentIDsFail(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimMinimalWithIDsFixture(t, dir, "input-dup.json", []int{1, 1})
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected duplicate segment ID failure")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a valid seriatim output artifact") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimNonSequentialInputSegmentIDsFail(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimMinimalWithIDsFixture(t, dir, "input-nonseq.json", []int{1, 3})
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected non-sequential segment ID failure")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a valid seriatim output artifact") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimKeepSelectorWithOverlappingRanges(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1-3,2-4",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 4 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 4", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	assertSequentialIDs(t, []int{
 		transcript.Segments[0].ID,
 		transcript.Segments[1].ID,
 		transcript.Segments[2].ID,
 		transcript.Segments[3].ID,
 	})
 }
 func TestTrimRemoveSelectorWithOverlappingRanges(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--remove", "2-3,3-4",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if transcript.Segments[0].Text != "one" {
 		t.Fatalf("remaining segment = %#v, want one", transcript.Segments[0])
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimSelectorOrderDoesNotAffectTranscriptOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "4,1,3",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 3", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	got := []string{
 		transcript.Segments[0].Text,
 		transcript.Segments[1].Text,
 		transcript.Segments[2].Text,
 	}
 	want := []string{"one", "three", "four"}
 	if got[0] != want[0] || got[1] != want[1] || got[2] != want[2] {
 		t.Fatalf("segment text order = %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimAllowEmptyBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--remove", "1-4",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected empty-output error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "empty transcript") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	err = executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--remove", "1-4",
 		"--allow-empty",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim with --allow-empty failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var transcript schema.Transcript
 	readJSON(t, output, &transcript)
 	if len(transcript.Segments) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 0", len(transcript.Segments))
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimRejectsNonSeriatimInputArtifacts(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeJSONFile(t, dir, "raw-whisperx.json", `{
 		"segments": [
 			{"start": 1, "end": 2, "text": "hello"}
 		]
 	}`)
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 	)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected invalid artifact error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a valid seriatim output artifact") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimReportFileContainsAuditFields(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "trim-report.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 		"--remove", "4,2",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	if len(rpt.Events) == 0 {
 		t.Fatal("expected report events")
 	}
 	if !hasReportEvent(rpt, "trim", "trim", "trimmed 4 input segment(s) into 2 output segment(s) with mode=remove") {
 		t.Fatal("expected trim summary event")
 	}
 	if !hasReportEvent(rpt, "trim", "validate-output", "validated 2 output segment(s)") {
 		t.Fatal("expected validation event")
 	}
 	audit := extractTrimAuditEvent(t, rpt)
 	if audit.Operation != "trim" {
 		t.Fatalf("operation = %q, want trim", audit.Operation)
 	}
 	if audit.InputFile != input {
 		t.Fatalf("input_file = %q, want %q", audit.InputFile, input)
 	}
 	if audit.OutputFile != output {
 		t.Fatalf("output_file = %q, want %q", audit.OutputFile, output)
 	}
 	if audit.InputSchema != config.OutputSchemaFull || audit.OutputSchema != config.OutputSchemaFull {
 		t.Fatalf("schemas = %q -> %q, want full -> full", audit.InputSchema, audit.OutputSchema)
 	}
 	if audit.Mode != "remove" {
 		t.Fatalf("mode = %q, want remove", audit.Mode)
 	}
 	if audit.Selector != "4,2" {
 		t.Fatalf("selector = %q, want %q", audit.Selector, "4,2")
 	}
 	assertIntSliceEqual(t, audit.SelectedIDs, []int{2, 4})
 	if audit.AllowEmpty {
 		t.Fatal("allow_empty should be false")
 	}
 	if audit.InputSegmentCount != 4 || audit.RetainedSegmentCount != 2 || audit.RemovedSegmentCount != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("counts = input:%d retained:%d removed:%d, want 4/2/2", audit.InputSegmentCount, audit.RetainedSegmentCount, audit.RemovedSegmentCount)
 	}
 	assertIntSliceEqual(t, audit.RemovedInputIDs, []int{2, 4})
 	if len(audit.OldToNewIDMapping) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("mapping length = %d, want 2", len(audit.OldToNewIDMapping))
 	}
 	if audit.OldToNewIDMapping[0].OldID != 1 || audit.OldToNewIDMapping[0].NewID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("mapping[0] = %#v, want old_id=1 new_id=1", audit.OldToNewIDMapping[0])
 	}
 	if audit.OldToNewIDMapping[1].OldID != 3 || audit.OldToNewIDMapping[1].NewID != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("mapping[1] = %#v, want old_id=3 new_id=2", audit.OldToNewIDMapping[1])
 	}
 	if !audit.OverlapGroupsRecomputed {
 		t.Fatal("expected overlap_groups_recomputed=true for full schema trim")
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimReportOldToNewMappingIsDeterministicSorted(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "trim-report.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--report-file", reportPath,
 		"--keep", "4,1,3",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	var rpt report.Report
 	readJSON(t, reportPath, &rpt)
 	audit := extractTrimAuditEvent(t, rpt)
 	if len(audit.OldToNewIDMapping) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("mapping length = %d, want 3", len(audit.OldToNewIDMapping))
 	}
 	for index, expectedOld := range []int{1, 3, 4} {
 		if audit.OldToNewIDMapping[index].OldID != expectedOld {
 			t.Fatalf("mapping[%d].old_id = %d, want %d", index, audit.OldToNewIDMapping[index].OldID, expectedOld)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func TestTrimNoReportFileWhenOmitted(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTrimFullFixture(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "trim-report.json")
 	err := executeTrim(
 		"--input-file", input,
 		"--output-file", output,
 		"--keep", "1",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	_, statErr := os.Stat(reportPath)
 	if !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected no report file at %q, got err=%v", reportPath, statErr)
 	}
 }
 func executeTrim(args ...string) error {
 	cmd := NewRootCommand()
 	cmd.SetArgs(append([]string{"trim"}, args...))
 	return cmd.Execute()
 }
 func writeTrimFullFixture(t *testing.T, dir string, name string) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	first := 10
 	second := 20
 	third := 30
 	fourth := 40
 	value := schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application:           "seriatim",
 			Version:               "v-test",
 			InputReader:           "json-files",
 			InputFiles:            []string{"a.json"},
 			PreprocessingModules:  []string{"validate-raw"},
 			PostprocessingModules: []string{"assign-ids"},
 			OutputModules:         []string{"json"},
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &first, SourceRef: "a.json#10", Speaker: "A", Start: 1, End: 2, Text: "one", OverlapGroupID: 9},
 			{ID: 2, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &second, SourceRef: "a.json#20", Speaker: "B", Start: 2, End: 3, Text: "two", OverlapGroupID: 9},
 			{ID: 3, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &third, SourceRef: "a.json#30", Speaker: "C", Start: 4, End: 5, Text: "three", OverlapGroupID: 10},
 			{ID: 4, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &fourth, SourceRef: "a.json#40", Speaker: "D", Start: 5, End: 6, Text: "four", OverlapGroupID: 10},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{
 			{ID: 9, Start: 1, End: 3, Segments: []string{"a.json#10", "a.json#20"}, Speakers: []string{"A", "B"}, Class: "unknown", Resolution: "unresolved"},
 		},
 	}
 	return writeTrimArtifactFile(t, dir, name, value)
 }
 func writeTrimMinimalFixture(t *testing.T, dir string, name string) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	value := schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.MinimalSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "A", Text: "one"},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 3, Speaker: "B", Text: "two"},
 		},
 	}
 	return writeTrimArtifactFile(t, dir, name, value)
 }
 func writeTrimIntermediateFixture(t *testing.T, dir string, name string) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	value := schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "A", Text: "one", Categories: []string{"word-run"}},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 3, Speaker: "B", Text: "two", Categories: []string{"filler", "backchannel"}},
 		},
 	}
 	return writeTrimArtifactFile(t, dir, name, value)
 }
 func writeTrimMinimalWithIDsFixture(t *testing.T, dir string, name string, ids []int) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	if len(ids) < 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("need at least two IDs, got %d", len(ids))
 	}
 	value := schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.MinimalSegment{
 			{ID: ids[0], Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "A", Text: "one"},
 			{ID: ids[1], Start: 2, End: 3, Speaker: "B", Text: "two"},
 		},
 	}
 	return writeTrimArtifactFile(t, dir, name, value)
 }
 func writeTrimFullOverlapFixture(t *testing.T, dir string, name string) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	first := 10
 	second := 20
 	third := 30
 	value := schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application:           "seriatim",
 			Version:               "v-test",
 			InputReader:           "json-files",
 			InputFiles:            []string{"a.json"},
 			PreprocessingModules:  []string{"validate-raw"},
 			PostprocessingModules: []string{"detect-overlaps", "assign-ids"},
 			OutputModules:         []string{"json"},
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &first, SourceRef: "a.json#10", Speaker: "A", Start: 1, End: 3, Text: "one", OverlapGroupID: 5},
 			{ID: 2, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &second, SourceRef: "a.json#20", Speaker: "B", Start: 2, End: 4, Text: "two", OverlapGroupID: 5},
 			{ID: 3, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &third, SourceRef: "a.json#30", Speaker: "C", Start: 6, End: 7, Text: "three", OverlapGroupID: 6},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{
 			{ID: 99, Start: 0, End: 100, Segments: []string{"stale"}, Speakers: []string{"stale"}, Class: "unknown", Resolution: "unresolved"},
 		},
 	}
 	return writeTrimArtifactFile(t, dir, name, value)
 }
 func writeTrimArtifactFile(t *testing.T, dir string, name string, value any) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(value, "", "  ")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("marshal fixture: %v", err)
 	}
 	path := filepath.Join(dir, name)
 	if err := os.WriteFile(path, append(data, '\n'), 0o600); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("write fixture: %v", err)
 	}
 	return path
 }
 func assertSequentialIDs(t *testing.T, ids []int) {
 	t.Helper()
 	for index, id := range ids {
 		want := index + 1
 		if id != want {
 			t.Fatalf("id at index %d = %d, want %d", index, id, want)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func extractTrimAuditEvent(t *testing.T, rpt report.Report) trimAuditReport {
 	t.Helper()
 	for _, event := range rpt.Events {
 		if event.Stage == "trim" && event.Module == "trim-audit" {
 			var audit trimAuditReport
 			if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(event.Message), &audit); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("decode trim audit event: %v", err)
 			}
 			return audit
 		}
 	}
 	t.Fatal("missing trim-audit event")
 	return trimAuditReport{}
 }
 func assertIntSliceEqual(t *testing.T, got []int, want []int) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if len(got) != len(want) {
 		t.Fatalf("slice length = %d, want %d", len(got), len(want))
 	}
 	for index := range got {
 		if got[index] != want[index] {
 			t.Fatalf("slice[%d] = %d, want %d (full got=%v, want=%v)", index, got[index], want[index], got, want)
 		}
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/coalesce/coalesce.go
+++ b/internal/coalesce/coalesce.go
@@ -160,13 +160,7 @@ func (r run) coalescedSegment(id int) model.Segment {
 }
 func segmentRef(segment model.Segment) string {
-	if segment.SourceSegmentIndex != nil {
+	return model.SegmentReference(segment)
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s#%d", segment.Source, *segment.SourceSegmentIndex)
 	}
 	if segment.SourceRef != "" {
 		return segment.SourceRef
 	}
 	return segment.Source
 }
 func isSkippableInterjection(segment model.Segment) bool {
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -8,27 +8,30 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 const (
 	DefaultInputReader            = "json-files"
 	DefaultOutputModules          = "json"
-	DefaultOutputSchema           = OutputSchemaDefault
+	DefaultOutputSchema           = OutputSchemaIntermediate
 	DefaultPreprocessingModules   = "validate-raw,normalize-speakers,trim-text"
 	DefaultPostprocessingModules  = "detect-overlaps,resolve-overlaps,backchannel,filler,resolve-danglers,coalesce,detect-overlaps,autocorrect,assign-ids,validate-output"
-	DefaultOverlapWordRunGap      = 0.75
+	DefaultOverlapWordRunGap      = 1.0
 	DefaultWordRunReorderWindow   = 1.0
 	DefaultCoalesceGap            = 3.0
 	DefaultCoalesceGapValue       = "3.0"
 	DefaultBackchannelMaxDuration = 2.0
 	DefaultFillerMaxDuration      = 1.25
 	OutputSchemaEnv               = "SERIATIM_OUTPUT_SCHEMA"
 	OverlapWordRunGapEnv          = "SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_GAP"
 	WordRunReorderWindowEnv       = "SERIATIM_OVERLAP_WORD_RUN_REORDER_WINDOW"
 	BackchannelMaxDurationEnv     = "SERIATIM_BACKCHANNEL_MAX_DURATION"
 	FillerMaxDurationEnv          = "SERIATIM_FILLER_MAX_DURATION"
-	OutputSchemaDefault           = "default"
+	OutputSchemaMinimal           = schema.OutputSchemaMinimal
-	OutputSchemaSeriatim          = "seriatim"
+	OutputSchemaIntermediate      = schema.OutputSchemaIntermediate
-	OutputSchemaMinimal           = "minimal"
+	OutputSchemaFull              = schema.OutputSchemaFull
 )
 // MergeOptions captures raw CLI option values before validation.
@@ -46,6 +49,26 @@ type MergeOptions struct {
 	CoalesceGap           string
 }
 // TrimOptions captures raw CLI option values before validation.
 type TrimOptions struct {
 	InputFile    string
 	OutputFile   string
 	ReportFile   string
 	Keep         string
 	Remove       string
 	OutputSchema string
 	AllowEmpty   bool
 }
 // NormalizeOptions captures raw CLI option values before validation.
 type NormalizeOptions struct {
 	InputFile     string
 	OutputFile    string
 	ReportFile    string
 	OutputSchema  string
 	OutputModules string
 }
 // Config is the validated runtime configuration for a merge invocation.
 type Config struct {
 	InputFiles             []string
@@ -65,12 +88,32 @@ type Config struct {
 	FillerMaxDuration      float64
 }
 // TrimConfig is the validated runtime configuration for a trim invocation.
 type TrimConfig struct {
 	InputFile    string
 	OutputFile   string
 	ReportFile   string
 	Mode         string
 	Selector     string
 	OutputSchema string
 	AllowEmpty   bool
 }
 // NormalizeConfig is the validated runtime configuration for a normalize invocation.
 type NormalizeConfig struct {
 	InputFile     string
 	OutputFile    string
 	ReportFile    string
 	OutputSchema  string
 	OutputModules []string
 }
 // NewMergeConfig validates raw merge options and returns normalized config.
 func NewMergeConfig(opts MergeOptions) (Config, error) {
 	cfg := Config{
 		InputReader:            strings.TrimSpace(opts.InputReader),
 		OutputModules:          nil,
-		OutputSchema:           strings.TrimSpace(opts.OutputSchema),
+		OutputSchema:           "",
 		PreprocessingModules:   nil,
 		PostprocessingModules:  nil,
 		OverlapWordRunGap:      DefaultOverlapWordRunGap,
@@ -83,14 +126,12 @@ func NewMergeConfig(opts MergeOptions) (Config, error) {
 	if cfg.InputReader == "" {
 		return Config{}, errors.New("--input-reader is required")
 	}
-	if cfg.OutputSchema == "" {
+	var err error
-		cfg.OutputSchema = DefaultOutputSchema
+	cfg.OutputSchema, err = resolveOutputSchema(opts.OutputSchema)
-	}
+	if err != nil {
 	if err := validateOutputSchema(cfg.OutputSchema); err != nil {
 		return Config{}, err
 	}
 	var err error
 	cfg.OutputModules, err = parseModuleList(opts.OutputModules)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("--output-modules: %w", err)
@@ -169,6 +210,99 @@ func NewMergeConfig(opts MergeOptions) (Config, error) {
 	return cfg, nil
 }
 // NewTrimConfig validates raw trim options and returns normalized config.
 func NewTrimConfig(opts TrimOptions) (TrimConfig, error) {
 	inputFile, err := normalizeSingleInputFile(opts.InputFile, "--input-file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return TrimConfig{}, err
 	}
 	outputFile, err := normalizeOutputPath(opts.OutputFile, "--output-file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return TrimConfig{}, err
 	}
 	reportFile, err := normalizeOptionalOutputPath(opts.ReportFile, "--report-file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return TrimConfig{}, err
 	}
 	keep := strings.TrimSpace(opts.Keep)
 	remove := strings.TrimSpace(opts.Remove)
 	if keep == "" && remove == "" {
 		return TrimConfig{}, errors.New("exactly one of --keep or --remove is required")
 	}
 	if keep != "" && remove != "" {
 		return TrimConfig{}, errors.New("--keep and --remove are mutually exclusive")
 	}
 	mode := "keep"
 	selector := keep
 	if remove != "" {
 		mode = "remove"
 		selector = remove
 	}
 	outputSchema := strings.TrimSpace(opts.OutputSchema)
 	if outputSchema != "" {
 		if err := validateOutputSchema(outputSchema); err != nil {
 			return TrimConfig{}, err
 		}
 	}
 	return TrimConfig{
 		InputFile:    inputFile,
 		OutputFile:   outputFile,
 		ReportFile:   reportFile,
 		Mode:         mode,
 		Selector:     selector,
 		OutputSchema: outputSchema,
 		AllowEmpty:   opts.AllowEmpty,
 	}, nil
 }
 // NewNormalizeConfig validates raw normalize options and returns normalized config.
 func NewNormalizeConfig(opts NormalizeOptions) (NormalizeConfig, error) {
 	inputFile, err := normalizeSingleInputFile(opts.InputFile, "--input-file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, err
 	}
 	outputFile, err := normalizeOutputPath(opts.OutputFile, "--output-file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, err
 	}
 	reportFile, err := normalizeOptionalOutputPath(opts.ReportFile, "--report-file")
 	if err != nil {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, err
 	}
 	outputSchema, err := resolveOutputSchema(opts.OutputSchema)
 	if err != nil {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, err
 	}
 	outputModules, err := parseModuleList(opts.OutputModules)
 	if err != nil {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, fmt.Errorf("--output-modules: %w", err)
 	}
 	if len(outputModules) == 0 {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, errors.New("--output-modules must include at least one module")
 	}
 	if err := validateNormalizeOutputModules(outputModules); err != nil {
 		return NormalizeConfig{}, err
 	}
 	return NormalizeConfig{
 		InputFile:     inputFile,
 		OutputFile:    outputFile,
 		ReportFile:    reportFile,
 		OutputSchema:  outputSchema,
 		OutputModules: outputModules,
 	}, nil
 }
 func parseModuleList(value string) ([]string, error) {
 	value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
 	if value == "" {
@@ -188,12 +322,26 @@ func parseModuleList(value string) ([]string, error) {
 }
 func validateOutputSchema(value string) error {
-	switch value {
+	if schema.ValidOutputSchemaName(value) {
 	case OutputSchemaDefault, OutputSchemaSeriatim, OutputSchemaMinimal:
 		return nil
 	default:
 		return fmt.Errorf("--output-schema must be one of %q, %q, or %q", OutputSchemaDefault, OutputSchemaMinimal, OutputSchemaSeriatim)
 	}
 	names := schema.OutputSchemaNames()
 	return fmt.Errorf("--output-schema must be one of %q, %q, or %q", names[0], names[1], names[2])
 }
 func resolveOutputSchema(value string) (string, error) {
 	value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
 	if value == "" {
 		value = strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(OutputSchemaEnv))
 	}
 	if value == "" {
 		value = DefaultOutputSchema
 	}
 	if err := validateOutputSchema(value); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 	return value, nil
 }
 func normalizeInputFiles(paths []string) ([]string, error) {
@@ -223,6 +371,26 @@ func normalizeInputFiles(paths []string) ([]string, error) {
 	return normalized, nil
 }
 func normalizeSingleInputFile(path string, flag string) (string, error) {
 	path = strings.TrimSpace(path)
 	if path == "" {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s is required", flag)
 	}
 	clean := filepath.Clean(path)
 	if err := requireFile(clean, flag); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 	return clean, nil
 }
 func normalizeOptionalOutputPath(path string, flag string) (string, error) {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(path) == "" {
 		return "", nil
 	}
 	return normalizeOutputPath(path, flag)
 }
 func normalizeOutputPath(path string, flag string) (string, error) {
 	path = strings.TrimSpace(path)
 	if path == "" {
@@ -308,3 +476,12 @@ func contains(values []string, target string) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
 func validateNormalizeOutputModules(modules []string) error {
 	for _, module := range modules {
 		if module != "json" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unknown output module %q", module)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ func TestDuplicateInputFilesFailValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestOutputSchemaDefaultsToDefault(t *testing.T) {
+func TestOutputSchemaDefaultsToIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
@@ -67,7 +68,8 @@ func TestOutputSchemaDefaultsToDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsDefault(t *testing.T) {
+func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
@@ -77,19 +79,20 @@ func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsDefault(t *testing.T) {
 		OutputFile:            output,
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
-		OutputSchema:          OutputSchemaDefault,
+		OutputSchema:          OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
-	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaDefault {
+	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaIntermediate {
-		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaDefault)
+		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 }
 func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsMinimal(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
@@ -111,7 +114,8 @@ func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsMinimal(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsSeriatim(t *testing.T) {
+func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsFull(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
@@ -121,19 +125,87 @@ func TestOutputSchemaAcceptsSeriatim(t *testing.T) {
 		OutputFile:            output,
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
-		OutputSchema:          OutputSchemaSeriatim,
+		OutputSchema:          OutputSchemaFull,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
-	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaSeriatim {
+	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaFull {
-		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaSeriatim)
+		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaFull)
 	}
 }
 func TestOutputSchemaUsesEnvWhenFlagOmitted(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, OutputSchemaFull)
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
 	cfg, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
 		InputFiles:            []string{input},
 		OutputFile:            output,
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaFull {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaFull)
 	}
 }
 func TestOutputSchemaFlagOverridesEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, OutputSchemaFull)
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
 	cfg, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
 		InputFiles:            []string{input},
 		OutputFile:            output,
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 		OutputSchema:          OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 }
 func TestOutputSchemaRejectsInvalidEnvValue(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "compact")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
 	_, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
 		InputFiles:            []string{input},
 		OutputFile:            output,
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected output schema error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-schema must be one of") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestOutputSchemaRejectsUnknownValue(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
@@ -155,7 +227,36 @@ func TestOutputSchemaRejectsUnknownValue(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestOverlapWordRunGapDefaultsTo075(t *testing.T) {
+func TestOutputSchemaRejectsLegacyValues(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []string{"default", "minimal", "seriatim"}
 	for _, legacy := range tests {
 		t.Run(legacy, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 			dir := t.TempDir()
 			input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 			output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
 			_, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
 				InputFiles:            []string{input},
 				OutputFile:            output,
 				InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 				OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 				OutputSchema:          legacy,
 				PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 				PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 			})
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatal("expected output schema error")
 			}
 			if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-schema must be one of") {
 				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }
 func TestOverlapWordRunGapDefaultsTo1(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv(OverlapWordRunGapEnv, "")
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
@@ -437,15 +538,9 @@ func TestCoalesceGapUsesValidOverride(t *testing.T) {
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
-	cfg, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
+	opts := validMergeOptions(input, output)
-		InputFiles:            []string{input},
+	opts.CoalesceGap = "1.5"
-		OutputFile:            output,
+	cfg, err := NewMergeConfig(opts)
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 		CoalesceGap:           "1.5",
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -459,15 +554,9 @@ func TestCoalesceGapAllowsZero(t *testing.T) {
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
-	cfg, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
+	opts := validMergeOptions(input, output)
-		InputFiles:            []string{input},
+	opts.CoalesceGap = "0"
-		OutputFile:            output,
+	cfg, err := NewMergeConfig(opts)
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 		CoalesceGap:           "0",
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -492,15 +581,9 @@ func TestCoalesceGapRejectsInvalidOverride(t *testing.T) {
 			input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 			output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
-			_, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
+			opts := validMergeOptions(input, output)
-				InputFiles:            []string{input},
+			opts.CoalesceGap = test.value
-				OutputFile:            output,
+			_, err := NewMergeConfig(opts)
 				InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 				OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 				PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 				PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 				CoalesceGap:           test.value,
 			})
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatal("expected error")
 			}
@@ -511,6 +594,216 @@ func TestCoalesceGapRejectsInvalidOverride(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 func TestNewTrimConfigRequiresInputAndOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	_, err := NewTrimConfig(TrimOptions{
 		OutputFile: output,
 		Keep:       "1",
 	})
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--input-file is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected input-file required error, got %v", err)
 	}
 	_, err = NewTrimConfig(TrimOptions{
 		InputFile: input,
 		Keep:      "1",
 	})
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-file is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected output-file required error, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewTrimConfigRequiresExactlyOneSelectorFlag(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	opts := validTrimOptions(input, output)
 	opts.Keep = ""
 	_, err := NewTrimConfig(opts)
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exactly one of --keep or --remove is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected missing selector error, got %v", err)
 	}
 	opts = validTrimOptions(input, output)
 	opts.Remove = "2"
 	_, err = NewTrimConfig(opts)
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mutually exclusive") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected mutually exclusive selector error, got %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewTrimConfigAcceptsOutputSchemaOverride(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	reportPath := filepath.Join(dir, "report.json")
 	opts := validTrimOptions(input, output)
 	opts.Keep = ""
 	opts.Remove = "3-5"
 	opts.ReportFile = reportPath
 	opts.OutputSchema = OutputSchemaMinimal
 	opts.AllowEmpty = true
 	cfg, err := NewTrimConfig(opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.Mode != "remove" {
 		t.Fatalf("mode = %q, want remove", cfg.Mode)
 	}
 	if cfg.Selector != "3-5" {
 		t.Fatalf("selector = %q, want 3-5", cfg.Selector)
 	}
 	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 	if !cfg.AllowEmpty {
 		t.Fatal("allow empty should be true")
 	}
 	if cfg.ReportFile != reportPath {
 		t.Fatalf("report file = %q, want %q", cfg.ReportFile, reportPath)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewTrimConfigTreatsWhitespaceReportFileAsOmitted(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	opts := validTrimOptions(input, output)
 	opts.ReportFile = "  \t  "
 	cfg, err := NewTrimConfig(opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.ReportFile != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("report file = %q, want empty", cfg.ReportFile)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewTrimConfigRejectsInvalidOutputSchemaOverride(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "trimmed.json")
 	opts := validTrimOptions(input, output)
 	opts.OutputSchema = "compact"
 	_, err := NewTrimConfig(opts)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected output schema validation error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-schema must be one of") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewNormalizeConfigRequiresInputFile(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	_, err := NewNormalizeConfig(NormalizeOptions{
 		OutputFile:    output,
 		OutputModules: DefaultOutputModules,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected input-file required error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--input-file is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewNormalizeConfigRequiresOutputFile(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	opts := validNormalizeOptions(input, "")
 	_, err := NewNormalizeConfig(opts)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected output-file required error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-file is required") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewNormalizeConfigResolvesOutputSchemaDefaultAndEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, "")
 	opts := validNormalizeOptions(input, output)
 	cfg, err := NewNormalizeConfig(opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.OutputSchema != DefaultOutputSchema {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, DefaultOutputSchema)
 	}
 	t.Setenv(OutputSchemaEnv, OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	cfg, err = NewNormalizeConfig(opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.OutputSchema != OutputSchemaMinimal {
 		t.Fatalf("output schema = %q, want %q", cfg.OutputSchema, OutputSchemaMinimal)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewNormalizeConfigRejectsInvalidOutputSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	opts := validNormalizeOptions(input, output)
 	opts.OutputSchema = "compact"
 	_, err := NewNormalizeConfig(opts)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected output schema error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--output-schema must be one of") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewNormalizeConfigRejectsUnknownOutputModule(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	opts := validNormalizeOptions(input, output)
 	opts.OutputModules = "json,yaml"
 	_, err := NewNormalizeConfig(opts)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected output module error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unknown output module") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestNewNormalizeConfigTreatsWhitespaceReportFileAsOmitted(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 	output := filepath.Join(dir, "normalized.json")
 	opts := validNormalizeOptions(input, output)
 	opts.ReportFile = "\n\t "
 	cfg, err := NewNormalizeConfig(opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("config failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if cfg.ReportFile != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("report file = %q, want empty", cfg.ReportFile)
 	}
 }
 func assertPositiveFloatEnvValidation(t *testing.T, envName string) {
 	t.Helper()
@@ -531,14 +824,7 @@ func assertPositiveFloatEnvValidation(t *testing.T, envName string) {
 			input := writeTempFile(t, dir, "input.json")
 			output := filepath.Join(dir, "merged.json")
-			_, err := NewMergeConfig(MergeOptions{
+			_, err := NewMergeConfig(validMergeOptions(input, output))
 				InputFiles:            []string{input},
 				OutputFile:            output,
 				InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 				OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 				PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 				PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 			})
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatal("expected error")
 			}
@@ -549,6 +835,33 @@ func assertPositiveFloatEnvValidation(t *testing.T, envName string) {
 	}
 }
 func validMergeOptions(inputFile string, outputFile string) MergeOptions {
 	return MergeOptions{
 		InputFiles:            []string{inputFile},
 		OutputFile:            outputFile,
 		InputReader:           DefaultInputReader,
 		OutputModules:         DefaultOutputModules,
 		PreprocessingModules:  DefaultPreprocessingModules,
 		PostprocessingModules: DefaultPostprocessingModules,
 	}
 }
 func validTrimOptions(inputFile string, outputFile string) TrimOptions {
 	return TrimOptions{
 		InputFile:  inputFile,
 		OutputFile: outputFile,
 		Keep:       "1",
 	}
 }
 func validNormalizeOptions(inputFile string, outputFile string) NormalizeOptions {
 	return NormalizeOptions{
 		InputFile:     inputFile,
 		OutputFile:    outputFile,
 		OutputModules: DefaultOutputModules,
 	}
 }
 func writeTempFile(t *testing.T, dir string, name string) string {
 	t.Helper()
--- a/internal/danglers/danglers.go
+++ b/internal/danglers/danglers.go
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func nearestPriorMatch(segments []model.Segment, consumed []bool, index int) int
 		if consumed[candidate] {
 			continue
 		}
-		if sharesDerivedFrom(segments[index], segments[candidate]) {
+		if segments[index].Speaker == segments[candidate].Speaker && sharesDerivedFrom(segments[index], segments[candidate]) {
 			return candidate
 		}
 	}
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func nearestSubsequentMatch(segments []model.Segment, consumed []bool, index int
 		if consumed[candidate] {
 			continue
 		}
-		if sharesDerivedFrom(segments[index], segments[candidate]) {
+		if segments[index].Speaker == segments[candidate].Speaker && sharesDerivedFrom(segments[index], segments[candidate]) {
 			return candidate
 		}
 	}
--- a/internal/danglers/danglers_test.go
+++ b/internal/danglers/danglers_test.go
@@ -51,6 +51,30 @@ func TestApplyUsesAnyDerivedFromIntersection(t *testing.T) {
 	assertSegment(t, got.Segments[0], "resolve-danglers:1", "target end.", 1, 4, []string{"source#1", "source#2", "source#3"})
 }
 func TestApplyDoesNotMergeDanglersAcrossSpeakersBackward(t *testing.T) {
 	in := transcript(
 		segment("a", "Alice", 1, 2, "target", []string{"source#1"}),
 		segment("b", "Bob", 3, 4, "end.", []string{"source#1"}),
 	)
 	got, summary := Apply(in)
 	if summary.DanglersMerged != 0 || !reflect.DeepEqual(got, in) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected merge:\ngot  %#v\nwant %#v", got, in)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyDoesNotMergeDanglersAcrossSpeakersForward(t *testing.T) {
 	in := transcript(
 		segment("a", "Alice", 1, 2, "start", []string{"source#1"}),
 		segment("b", "Bob", 3, 4, "target", []string{"source#1"}),
 	)
 	got, summary := Apply(in)
 	if summary.DanglersMerged != 0 || !reflect.DeepEqual(got, in) {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected merge:\ngot  %#v\nwant %#v", got, in)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyDoesNotMergeWithoutSharedProvenance(t *testing.T) {
 	in := transcript(
 		segment("a", "Alice", 1, 2, "target", []string{"source#1"}),
--- a/internal/jsonfile/jsonfile.go
+++ b/internal/jsonfile/jsonfile.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
 package jsonfile
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 )
 // Write creates or truncates path and writes deterministic indented JSON.
 func Write(path string, value any) (err error) {
 	file, err := os.Create(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("create %q: %w", path, err)
 	}
 	defer func() {
 		closeErr := file.Close()
 		if err == nil && closeErr != nil {
 			err = fmt.Errorf("close %q: %w", path, closeErr)
 		}
 	}()
 	encoder := json.NewEncoder(file)
 	encoder.SetIndent("", "  ")
 	if err := encoder.Encode(value); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("encode %q: %w", path, err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
--- a/internal/jsonfile/jsonfile_test.go
+++ b/internal/jsonfile/jsonfile_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
 package jsonfile
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 func TestWriteFormatsWithTwoSpaceIndentAndTrailingNewline(t *testing.T) {
 	type payload struct {
 		Name  string `json:"name"`
 		Items []int  `json:"items"`
 	}
 	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "out.json")
 	value := payload{
 		Name:  "alpha",
 		Items: []int{1, 2},
 	}
 	if err := Write(path, value); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("write failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("read output: %v", err)
 	}
 	got := string(data)
 	want := "{\n  \"name\": \"alpha\",\n  \"items\": [\n    1,\n    2\n  ]\n}\n"
 	if got != want {
 		t.Fatalf("formatted JSON mismatch\nwant:\n%s\ngot:\n%s", want, got)
 	}
 }
 func TestWriteProducesValidJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "out.json")
 	value := map[string]any{
 		"application": "seriatim",
 		"segments": []map[string]any{
 			{
 				"id":      1,
 				"speaker": "A",
 				"text":    "hello",
 			},
 		},
 	}
 	if err := Write(path, value); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("write failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("read output: %v", err)
 	}
 	if !strings.HasSuffix(string(data), "\n") {
 		t.Fatalf("output missing trailing newline: %q", string(data))
 	}
 	var decoded map[string]any
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &decoded); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("output is not valid JSON: %v", err)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/model/model.go
+++ b/internal/model/model.go
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package model
 import "fmt"
 // RawTranscript is a loaded input document before canonical normalization.
 type RawTranscript struct {
 	Source   string       `json:"source"`
@@ -61,6 +63,17 @@ type Segment struct {
 	OverlapGroupID     int      `json:"overlap_group_id,omitempty"`
 }
 // SegmentReference returns the best available external reference for a segment.
 func SegmentReference(segment Segment) string {
 	if segment.Source != "" && segment.SourceSegmentIndex != nil {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s#%d", segment.Source, *segment.SourceSegmentIndex)
 	}
 	if segment.SourceRef != "" {
 		return segment.SourceRef
 	}
 	return ""
 }
 // Word preserves optional word-level timing data.
 type Word struct {
 	Text    string  `json:"text"`
--- a/internal/model/model_test.go
+++ b/internal/model/model_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
 package model
 import "testing"
 func TestSegmentReferenceUsesSourceAndIndexWhenAvailable(t *testing.T) {
 	index := 3
 	segment := Segment{
 		Source:             "input.json",
 		SourceSegmentIndex: &index,
 		SourceRef:          "word-run:1:2:3",
 	}
 	got := SegmentReference(segment)
 	want := "input.json#3"
 	if got != want {
 		t.Fatalf("reference = %q, want %q", got, want)
 	}
 }
 func TestSegmentReferenceFallsBackToSourceRef(t *testing.T) {
 	segment := Segment{
 		Source:    "input.json",
 		SourceRef: "coalesce:2",
 	}
 	got := SegmentReference(segment)
 	want := "coalesce:2"
 	if got != want {
 		t.Fatalf("reference = %q, want %q", got, want)
 	}
 }
 func TestSegmentReferenceReturnsEmptyWhenNoReferenceFieldsPresent(t *testing.T) {
 	segment := Segment{
 		Source: "input.json",
 	}
 	if got := SegmentReference(segment); got != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("reference = %q, want empty", got)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/normalize/build.go
+++ b/internal/normalize/build.go
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
 package normalize
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/artifact"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/buildinfo"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 // BuildResult contains normalize output plus deterministic transformation diagnostics.
 type BuildResult struct {
 	Output                 any
 	OutputSegmentCount     int
 	SortingChanged         bool
 	IDsReassigned          bool
 	SegmentsWithCategories int
 }
 // Build converts parsed normalize input into a selected seriatim output schema.
 func Build(parsed ParsedTranscript, cfg config.NormalizeConfig) (BuildResult, error) {
 	ordered := sortedSegments(parsed.Segments)
 	sortingChanged := didSortingChangeOrder(ordered)
 	idsReassigned := didReassignIDs(ordered)
 	segmentsWithCategories := countSegmentsWithCategories(ordered)
 	switch cfg.OutputSchema {
 	case config.OutputSchemaMinimal:
 		output := buildMinimal(ordered)
 		if err := schema.ValidateMinimalTranscript(output); err != nil {
 			return BuildResult{}, fmt.Errorf("validate normalize output: %w", err)
 		}
 		return BuildResult{
 			Output:                 output,
 			OutputSegmentCount:     len(ordered),
 			SortingChanged:         sortingChanged,
 			IDsReassigned:          idsReassigned,
 			SegmentsWithCategories: segmentsWithCategories,
 		}, nil
 	case config.OutputSchemaIntermediate:
 		output := buildIntermediate(ordered)
 		if err := schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript(output); err != nil {
 			return BuildResult{}, fmt.Errorf("validate normalize output: %w", err)
 		}
 		return BuildResult{
 			Output:                 output,
 			OutputSegmentCount:     len(ordered),
 			SortingChanged:         sortingChanged,
 			IDsReassigned:          idsReassigned,
 			SegmentsWithCategories: segmentsWithCategories,
 		}, nil
 	case config.OutputSchemaFull:
 		output := buildFull(ordered, cfg)
 		if err := schema.ValidateTranscript(output); err != nil {
 			return BuildResult{}, fmt.Errorf("validate normalize output: %w", err)
 		}
 		return BuildResult{
 			Output:                 output,
 			OutputSegmentCount:     len(ordered),
 			SortingChanged:         sortingChanged,
 			IDsReassigned:          idsReassigned,
 			SegmentsWithCategories: segmentsWithCategories,
 		}, nil
 	default:
 		return BuildResult{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported output schema %q", cfg.OutputSchema)
 	}
 }
 func sortedSegments(input []InputSegment) []InputSegment {
 	ordered := make([]InputSegment, len(input))
 	copy(ordered, input)
 	sort.SliceStable(ordered, func(i, j int) bool {
 		left := ordered[i]
 		right := ordered[j]
 		if left.Start != right.Start {
 			return left.Start < right.Start
 		}
 		if left.End != right.End {
 			return left.End < right.End
 		}
 		if left.InputIndex != right.InputIndex {
 			return left.InputIndex < right.InputIndex
 		}
 		return left.Speaker < right.Speaker
 	})
 	return ordered
 }
 func buildMinimal(segments []InputSegment) schema.MinimalTranscript {
 	outputSegments := make([]schema.MinimalSegment, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		outputSegments[index] = schema.MinimalSegment{
 			ID:      index + 1,
 			Start:   segment.Start,
 			End:     segment.End,
 			Speaker: segment.Speaker,
 			Text:    segment.Text,
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  artifact.ApplicationName,
 			Version:      buildinfo.Version,
 			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: outputSegments,
 	}
 }
 func buildIntermediate(segments []InputSegment) schema.IntermediateTranscript {
 	outputSegments := make([]schema.IntermediateSegment, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		outputSegments[index] = schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			ID:         index + 1,
 			Start:      segment.Start,
 			End:        segment.End,
 			Speaker:    segment.Speaker,
 			Text:       segment.Text,
 			Categories: append([]string(nil), segment.Categories...),
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  artifact.ApplicationName,
 			Version:      buildinfo.Version,
 			OutputSchema: config.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		},
 		Segments: outputSegments,
 	}
 }
 func buildFull(segments []InputSegment, cfg config.NormalizeConfig) schema.Transcript {
 	defaultSource := filepath.Base(cfg.InputFile)
 	outputSegments := make([]schema.Segment, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		source := strings.TrimSpace(segment.Source)
 		if source == "" {
 			source = defaultSource
 		}
 		sourceSegmentIndex := copyIntPtr(segment.SourceSegmentIndex)
 		if sourceSegmentIndex == nil {
 			fallback := segment.InputIndex
 			sourceSegmentIndex = &fallback
 		}
 		outputSegments[index] = schema.Segment{
 			ID:                 index + 1,
 			Source:             source,
 			SourceSegmentIndex: sourceSegmentIndex,
 			SourceRef:          segment.SourceRef,
 			DerivedFrom:        append([]string(nil), segment.DerivedFrom...),
 			Speaker:            segment.Speaker,
 			Start:              segment.Start,
 			End:                segment.End,
 			Text:               segment.Text,
 			Categories:         append([]string(nil), segment.Categories...),
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application:           artifact.ApplicationName,
 			Version:               buildinfo.Version,
 			InputReader:           "normalize-input",
 			InputFiles:            []string{cfg.InputFile},
 			PreprocessingModules:  []string{},
 			PostprocessingModules: []string{},
 			OutputModules:         append([]string(nil), cfg.OutputModules...),
 		},
 		Segments:      outputSegments,
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{},
 	}
 }
 func copyIntPtr(value *int) *int {
 	if value == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 	copied := *value
 	return &copied
 }
 func didSortingChangeOrder(segments []InputSegment) bool {
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		if segment.InputIndex != index {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
 	return false
 }
 func didReassignIDs(segments []InputSegment) bool {
 	if len(segments) == 0 {
 		return false
 	}
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		newID := index + 1
 		if segment.OriginalID == nil || *segment.OriginalID != newID {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
 	return false
 }
 func countSegmentsWithCategories(segments []InputSegment) int {
 	count := 0
 	for _, segment := range segments {
 		if len(segment.Categories) > 0 {
 			count++
 		}
 	}
 	return count
 }
--- a/internal/normalize/normalize.go
+++ b/internal/normalize/normalize.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
 package normalize
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/artifact"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/buildinfo"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/jsonfile"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/report"
 )
 type normalizeAudit struct {
 	Command                string   `json:"command"`
 	InputFile              string   `json:"input_file"`
 	OutputFile             string   `json:"output_file"`
 	InputShape             string   `json:"input_shape"`
 	InputSegmentCount      int      `json:"input_segment_count"`
 	OutputSegmentCount     int      `json:"output_segment_count"`
 	OutputSchema           string   `json:"output_schema"`
 	OutputModules          []string `json:"output_modules"`
 	IDsReassigned          bool     `json:"ids_reassigned"`
 	SortingChangedInput    bool     `json:"sorting_changed_input_order"`
 	SegmentsWithCategories int      `json:"segments_with_categories"`
 	TimingFieldsRepaired   int      `json:"timing_fields_repaired"`
 	TimingOrderSwapped     int      `json:"timing_order_swapped"`
 	SpeakerFilled          int      `json:"speaker_filled"`
 	SegmentsDroppedText    int      `json:"segments_dropped_text"`
 }
 // Run executes artifact-level normalization.
 func Run(ctx context.Context, cfg config.NormalizeConfig) error {
 	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	parsed, err := ParseFile(cfg.InputFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	built, err := Build(parsed, cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if err := jsonfile.Write(cfg.OutputFile, built.Output); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if cfg.ReportFile != "" {
 		audit := normalizeAudit{
 			Command:                "normalize",
 			InputFile:              cfg.InputFile,
 			OutputFile:             cfg.OutputFile,
 			InputShape:             string(parsed.Shape),
 			InputSegmentCount:      parsed.InputSegmentCount,
 			OutputSegmentCount:     built.OutputSegmentCount,
 			OutputSchema:           cfg.OutputSchema,
 			OutputModules:          append([]string(nil), cfg.OutputModules...),
 			IDsReassigned:          built.IDsReassigned,
 			SortingChangedInput:    built.SortingChanged,
 			SegmentsWithCategories: built.SegmentsWithCategories,
 			TimingFieldsRepaired:   parsed.Stats.TimingFieldsRepaired,
 			TimingOrderSwapped:     parsed.Stats.TimingOrderSwapped,
 			SpeakerFilled:          parsed.Stats.SpeakerFilled,
 			SegmentsDroppedText:    parsed.Stats.SegmentsDroppedText,
 		}
 		auditJSON, err := json.Marshal(audit)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("marshal normalize audit: %w", err)
 		}
 		events := []report.Event{
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", "started normalize command"),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("input file: %s", cfg.InputFile)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("detected input shape: %s", parsed.Shape)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("input segment count: %d", parsed.InputSegmentCount)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("selected output schema: %s", cfg.OutputSchema)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("selected output modules: %s", strings.Join(cfg.OutputModules, ","))),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("output file: %s", cfg.OutputFile)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("ids reassigned: %t", built.IDsReassigned)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("sorting changed input order: %t", built.SortingChanged)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("segments with categories: %d", built.SegmentsWithCategories)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("timing fields repaired: %d", parsed.Stats.TimingFieldsRepaired)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("timing order swapped: %d", parsed.Stats.TimingOrderSwapped)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("speaker placeholders added: %d", parsed.Stats.SpeakerFilled)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize", fmt.Sprintf("segments dropped for empty text: %d", parsed.Stats.SegmentsDroppedText)),
 			report.Info("normalize", "normalize-audit", string(auditJSON)),
 		}
 		if parsed.InputSegmentCount == 0 {
 			events = append(events, report.Warning("normalize", "normalize", "input transcript contains zero segments"))
 		}
 		events = append(events,
 			report.Info("normalize", "validate-output", fmt.Sprintf("validated %d output segment(s)", built.OutputSegmentCount)),
 			report.Info("output", "json", "wrote transcript JSON"),
 		)
 		rpt := report.Report{
 			Metadata: report.Metadata{
 				Application:           artifact.ApplicationName,
 				Version:               buildinfo.Version,
 				InputReader:           "normalize-input",
 				InputFiles:            []string{cfg.InputFile},
 				PreprocessingModules:  []string{},
 				PostprocessingModules: []string{},
 				OutputModules:         append([]string(nil), cfg.OutputModules...),
 			},
 			Events: events,
 		}
 		if err := report.WriteJSON(cfg.ReportFile, rpt); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("write --report-file %q: %w", cfg.ReportFile, err)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
--- a/internal/normalize/parse.go
+++ b/internal/normalize/parse.go
@@ -0,0 +1,307 @@
 package normalize
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 )
 // InputShape identifies which top-level input shape was parsed.
 type InputShape string
 const (
 	ShapeObjectWithSegments InputShape = "object_with_segments"
 	ShapeBareSegmentsArray  InputShape = "bare_segments_array"
 )
 // ParsedTranscript is the validated normalize input model.
 type ParsedTranscript struct {
 	Shape             InputShape
 	InputSegmentCount int
 	Stats             NormalizeStats
 	Segments          []InputSegment
 }
 // InputSegment is a validated segment from normalize input.
 type InputSegment struct {
 	InputIndex         int
 	OriginalID         *int
 	StartPresent       bool
 	EndPresent         bool
 	SpeakerPresent     bool
 	TextPresent        bool
 	Start              float64
 	End                float64
 	Speaker            string
 	Text               string
 	Categories         []string
 	Source             string
 	SourceSegmentIndex *int
 	SourceRef          string
 	DerivedFrom        []string
 	OverlapGroupID     *int
 }
 // NormalizeStats captures deterministic repair/drop outcomes from normalize input processing.
 type NormalizeStats struct {
 	TimingFieldsRepaired int
 	TimingOrderSwapped   int
 	SpeakerFilled        int
 	SegmentsDroppedText  int
 }
 type inputSegmentPayload struct {
 	ID                 *int     `json:"id"`
 	Start              *float64 `json:"start"`
 	End                *float64 `json:"end"`
 	Speaker            *string  `json:"speaker"`
 	Text               *string  `json:"text"`
 	Categories         []string `json:"categories"`
 	Source             string   `json:"source"`
 	SourceSegmentIndex *int     `json:"source_segment_index"`
 	SourceRef          string   `json:"source_ref"`
 	DerivedFrom        []string `json:"derived_from"`
 	OverlapGroupID     *int     `json:"overlap_group_id"`
 }
 // ParseFile parses normalize input JSON from file path.
 func ParseFile(path string) (ParsedTranscript, error) {
 	file, err := os.Open(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, err
 	}
 	defer file.Close()
 	return ParseReader(file)
 }
 // ParseReader parses normalize input JSON from a reader.
 func ParseReader(reader io.Reader) (ParsedTranscript, error) {
 	var raw json.RawMessage
 	decoder := json.NewDecoder(reader)
 	decoder.UseNumber()
 	if err := decoder.Decode(&raw); err != nil {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, fmt.Errorf("decode normalize input JSON: %w", err)
 	}
 	if err := ensureSingleValue(decoder); err != nil {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, err
 	}
 	trimmed := bytes.TrimSpace(raw)
 	if len(trimmed) == 0 {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, fmt.Errorf("normalize input is empty")
 	}
 	switch trimmed[0] {
 	case '{':
 		return parseObjectShape(trimmed)
 	case '[':
 		segments, stats, inputCount, err := parseSegmentsArray(trimmed)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ParsedTranscript{}, err
 		}
 		return ParsedTranscript{
 			Shape:             ShapeBareSegmentsArray,
 			InputSegmentCount: inputCount,
 			Stats:             stats,
 			Segments:          segments,
 		}, nil
 	default:
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, fmt.Errorf("normalize input must be a top-level object with \"segments\" or a top-level segment array")
 	}
 }
 func ensureSingleValue(decoder *json.Decoder) error {
 	var extra json.RawMessage
 	err := decoder.Decode(&extra)
 	if err == io.EOF {
 		return nil
 	}
 	if err == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("normalize input must contain exactly one top-level JSON value")
 	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("decode normalize input JSON: %w", err)
 }
 func parseObjectShape(raw []byte) (ParsedTranscript, error) {
 	var object map[string]json.RawMessage
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &object); err != nil {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, fmt.Errorf("decode normalize object input: %w", err)
 	}
 	segmentsRaw, exists := object["segments"]
 	if !exists {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, fmt.Errorf("normalize object input must contain a \"segments\" field")
 	}
 	segments, stats, inputCount, err := parseSegmentsArray(segmentsRaw)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ParsedTranscript{}, err
 	}
 	return ParsedTranscript{
 		Shape:             ShapeObjectWithSegments,
 		InputSegmentCount: inputCount,
 		Stats:             stats,
 		Segments:          segments,
 	}, nil
 }
 func parseSegmentsArray(raw []byte) ([]InputSegment, NormalizeStats, int, error) {
 	var segmentValues []json.RawMessage
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &segmentValues); err != nil {
 		return nil, NormalizeStats{}, 0, fmt.Errorf("normalize input \"segments\" must be an array")
 	}
 	segments := make([]InputSegment, len(segmentValues))
 	for index, segmentRaw := range segmentValues {
 		segment, err := decodeSegment(index, segmentRaw)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, NormalizeStats{}, 0, err
 		}
 		segments[index] = segment
 	}
 	normalized, stats, err := normalizeSegments(segments)
 	return normalized, stats, len(segmentValues), err
 }
 func decodeSegment(index int, raw []byte) (InputSegment, error) {
 	var payload inputSegmentPayload
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &payload); err != nil {
 		return InputSegment{}, fmt.Errorf("segment %d: invalid segment object: %w", index, err)
 	}
 	var start float64
 	if payload.Start != nil {
 		start = *payload.Start
 	}
 	var end float64
 	if payload.End != nil {
 		end = *payload.End
 	}
 	speaker := ""
 	if payload.Speaker != nil {
 		speaker = strings.TrimSpace(*payload.Speaker)
 	}
 	text := ""
 	if payload.Text != nil {
 		text = *payload.Text
 	}
 	return InputSegment{
 		InputIndex:         index,
 		OriginalID:         payload.ID,
 		StartPresent:       payload.Start != nil,
 		EndPresent:         payload.End != nil,
 		SpeakerPresent:     payload.Speaker != nil,
 		TextPresent:        payload.Text != nil,
 		Start:              start,
 		End:                end,
 		Speaker:            speaker,
 		Text:               text,
 		Categories:         append([]string(nil), payload.Categories...),
 		Source:             payload.Source,
 		SourceSegmentIndex: payload.SourceSegmentIndex,
 		SourceRef:          payload.SourceRef,
 		DerivedFrom:        append([]string(nil), payload.DerivedFrom...),
 		OverlapGroupID:     payload.OverlapGroupID,
 	}, nil
 }
 func normalizeSegments(segments []InputSegment) ([]InputSegment, NormalizeStats, error) {
 	stats := NormalizeStats{}
 	filtered := make([]InputSegment, 0, len(segments))
 	for _, segment := range segments {
 		if strings.TrimSpace(segment.Text) == "" {
 			stats.SegmentsDroppedText++
 			continue
 		}
 		filtered = append(filtered, segment)
 	}
 	if len(filtered) == 0 {
 		return filtered, stats, nil
 	}
 	hasStart := make([]bool, len(filtered))
 	hasEnd := make([]bool, len(filtered))
 	for index, segment := range filtered {
 		hasStart[index] = segment.StartPresent
 		hasEnd[index] = segment.EndPresent
 	}
 	for index := range filtered {
 		if !hasStart[index] && !hasEnd[index] {
 			midpoint := inferTimestampFromNeighbors(filtered, hasStart, hasEnd, index)
 			filtered[index].Start = midpoint
 			filtered[index].End = midpoint
 			stats.TimingFieldsRepaired += 2
 			hasStart[index] = true
 			hasEnd[index] = true
 			continue
 		}
 		if hasStart[index] && !hasEnd[index] {
 			filtered[index].End = filtered[index].Start
 			stats.TimingFieldsRepaired++
 			hasEnd[index] = true
 		}
 		if !hasStart[index] && hasEnd[index] {
 			filtered[index].Start = filtered[index].End
 			stats.TimingFieldsRepaired++
 			hasStart[index] = true
 		}
 	}
 	for index := range filtered {
 		if filtered[index].Start < 0 {
 			return nil, NormalizeStats{}, fmt.Errorf("segment %d has start %v; start must be >= 0", filtered[index].InputIndex, filtered[index].Start)
 		}
 		if filtered[index].End < filtered[index].Start {
 			filtered[index].Start, filtered[index].End = filtered[index].End, filtered[index].Start
 			stats.TimingOrderSwapped++
 		}
 		if strings.TrimSpace(filtered[index].Speaker) == "" {
 			filtered[index].Speaker = "Unknown_Speaker"
 			stats.SpeakerFilled++
 		}
 	}
 	return filtered, stats, nil
 }
 func inferTimestampFromNeighbors(segments []InputSegment, hasStart []bool, hasEnd []bool, index int) float64 {
 	prevEnd, hasPrev := nearestPreviousEnd(segments, hasEnd, index)
 	nextStart, hasNext := nearestNextStart(segments, hasStart, index)
 	if hasPrev && hasNext {
 		return (prevEnd + nextStart) / 2
 	}
 	if hasPrev {
 		return prevEnd
 	}
 	if hasNext {
 		return nextStart
 	}
 	return 0
 }
 func nearestPreviousEnd(segments []InputSegment, hasEnd []bool, index int) (float64, bool) {
 	for i := index - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
 		if hasEnd[i] {
 			return segments[i].End, true
 		}
 	}
 	return 0, false
 }
 func nearestNextStart(segments []InputSegment, hasStart []bool, index int) (float64, bool) {
 	for i := index + 1; i < len(segments); i++ {
 		if hasStart[i] {
 			return segments[i].Start, true
 		}
 	}
 	return 0, false
 }
--- a/internal/normalize/parse_test.go
+++ b/internal/normalize/parse_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,279 @@
 package normalize
 import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 func TestParseReaderObjectWithSegmentsParses(t *testing.T) {
 	input := `{
 		"segments": [
 			{"start": 1.0, "end": 2.0, "speaker": " Alice ", "text": "hello", "id": 100}
 		]
 	}`
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(input))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Shape != ShapeObjectWithSegments {
 		t.Fatalf("shape = %q, want %q", parsed.Shape, ShapeObjectWithSegments)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 	segment := parsed.Segments[0]
 	if segment.Speaker != "Alice" {
 		t.Fatalf("speaker = %q, want %q", segment.Speaker, "Alice")
 	}
 	if segment.OriginalID == nil || *segment.OriginalID != 100 {
 		t.Fatalf("original id = %v, want 100", segment.OriginalID)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderBareSegmentArrayParses(t *testing.T) {
 	input := `[
 		{"start": 1.0, "end": 2.0, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello"},
 		{"start": 3.0, "end": 4.0, "speaker": "Bob", "text": "world"}
 	]`
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(input))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Shape != ShapeBareSegmentsArray {
 		t.Fatalf("shape = %q, want %q", parsed.Shape, ShapeBareSegmentsArray)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderInvalidJSONFails(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`{"segments":`))
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected parse error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "decode normalize input JSON") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderObjectMissingSegmentsFails(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`{"items":[]}`))
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected missing segments error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "must contain a \"segments\" field") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderSegmentsNotArrayFails(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`{"segments": {}}`))
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected segments not array error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "\"segments\" must be an array") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderTopLevelScalarShapesFail(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []string{`"text"`, `42`, `null`, `true`}
 	for _, input := range tests {
 		_, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(input))
 		if err == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("expected top-level shape error for %s", input)
 		}
 		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "top-level object") {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected error for %s: %v", input, err)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingStartUsesEndValue(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"t"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Start != 2 || parsed.Segments[0].End != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment timing = %v..%v, want 2..2", parsed.Segments[0].Start, parsed.Segments[0].End)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingEndUsesStartValue(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":1,"speaker":"A","text":"t"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Start != 1 || parsed.Segments[0].End != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment timing = %v..%v, want 1..1", parsed.Segments[0].Start, parsed.Segments[0].End)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingSpeakerUsesUnknownPlaceholder(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":1,"end":2,"text":"t"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Speaker != "Unknown_Speaker" {
 		t.Fatalf("speaker = %q, want Unknown_Speaker", parsed.Segments[0].Speaker)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderEmptySpeakerUsesUnknownPlaceholder(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"   ","text":"t"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Speaker != "Unknown_Speaker" {
 		t.Fatalf("speaker = %q, want Unknown_Speaker", parsed.Segments[0].Speaker)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingTextDropsSegment(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 0", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderEndBeforeStartSwapsValues(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":3,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"t"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Start != 2 || parsed.Segments[0].End != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment timing = %v..%v, want 2..3", parsed.Segments[0].Start, parsed.Segments[0].End)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderNegativeStartFails(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":-1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"t"}]`))
 	assertContains(t, err, "start must be >= 0")
 }
 func TestParseReaderEmptySegmentsArrayAccepted(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`{"segments":[]}`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 0", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderCategoriesPreservedWhenValid(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"t","categories":["filler","backchannel"]}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments[0].Categories) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("categories length = %d, want 2", len(parsed.Segments[0].Categories))
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Categories[0] != "filler" || parsed.Segments[0].Categories[1] != "backchannel" {
 		t.Fatalf("categories = %v", parsed.Segments[0].Categories)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingBothTimesMiddleUsesNeighborMidpoint(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[
 		{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"left"},
 		{"speaker":"B","text":"middle"},
 		{"start":6,"end":7,"speaker":"C","text":"right"}
 	]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[1].Start != 4 || parsed.Segments[1].End != 4 {
 		t.Fatalf("middle timing = %v..%v, want 4..4", parsed.Segments[1].Start, parsed.Segments[1].End)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingBothTimesEdgeFallbacks(t *testing.T) {
 	parsedFirst, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[
 		{"speaker":"A","text":"first"},
 		{"start":5,"end":6,"speaker":"B","text":"second"}
 	]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse first failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsedFirst.Segments[0].Start != 5 || parsedFirst.Segments[0].End != 5 {
 		t.Fatalf("first timing = %v..%v, want 5..5", parsedFirst.Segments[0].Start, parsedFirst.Segments[0].End)
 	}
 	parsedLast, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[
 		{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"first"},
 		{"speaker":"B","text":"last"}
 	]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse last failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsedLast.Segments[1].Start != 2 || parsedLast.Segments[1].End != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("last timing = %v..%v, want 2..2", parsedLast.Segments[1].Start, parsedLast.Segments[1].End)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderMissingBothTimesSingleSegmentUsesZero(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[{"speaker":"A","text":"only"}]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Segments[0].Start != 0 || parsed.Segments[0].End != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("timing = %v..%v, want 0..0", parsed.Segments[0].Start, parsed.Segments[0].End)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderEmptyOrWhitespaceTextDropped(t *testing.T) {
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(`[
 		{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"ok"},
 		{"start":2,"end":3,"speaker":"A","text":""},
 		{"start":3,"end":4,"speaker":"A","text":"   "}
 	]`))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(parsed.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(parsed.Segments))
 	}
 }
 func TestParseReaderOriginalInputIndexPreserved(t *testing.T) {
 	input := `[
 		{"start":1,"end":2,"speaker":"A","text":"one"},
 		{"start":2,"end":3,"speaker":"B","text":"two"},
 		{"start":3,"end":4,"speaker":"C","text":"three"}
 	]`
 	parsed, err := ParseReader(strings.NewReader(input))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	for index, segment := range parsed.Segments {
 		if segment.InputIndex != index {
 			t.Fatalf("segment %d input index = %d, want %d", index, segment.InputIndex, index)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func assertContains(t *testing.T, err error, fragment string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected error containing %q", fragment)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), fragment) {
 		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want substring %q", err.Error(), fragment)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/overlap/detect.go
+++ b/internal/overlap/detect.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package overlap
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/model"
@@ -121,13 +120,7 @@ func distinctSpeakers(segments []model.Segment, indices []int) []string {
 // SegmentRef returns the stable overlap reference for a segment.
 func SegmentRef(segment model.Segment) string {
-	if segment.SourceSegmentIndex != nil {
+	return model.SegmentReference(segment)
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s#%d", segment.Source, *segment.SourceSegmentIndex)
 	}
 	if segment.SourceRef != "" {
 		return segment.SourceRef
 	}
 	return segment.Source
 }
 func clearExisting(in *model.MergedTranscript) {
--- a/internal/report/report.go
+++ b/internal/report/report.go
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 package report
-import (
+import "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/jsonfile"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 )
 // Severity classifies report events.
 type Severity string
@@ -62,13 +59,5 @@ func Warning(stage string, module string, message string) Event {
 // WriteJSON writes a deterministic JSON report.
 func WriteJSON(path string, rpt Report) error {
-	file, err := os.Create(path)
+	return jsonfile.Write(path, rpt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	defer file.Close()
 	enc := json.NewEncoder(file)
 	enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
 	return enc.Encode(rpt)
 }
--- a/internal/trim/apply.go
+++ b/internal/trim/apply.go
@@ -0,0 +1,330 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/model"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/overlap"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 // Mode controls how selector IDs are applied.
 type Mode string
 const (
 	ModeKeep   Mode = "keep"
 	ModeRemove Mode = "remove"
 )
 // Options configures transcript trimming.
 type Options struct {
 	Mode       Mode
 	Selector   Selector
 	AllowEmpty bool
 }
 // Result contains trimming output and ID mapping metadata.
 type Result struct {
 	Transcript schema.Transcript
 	OldToNewID map[int]int
 	RemovedIDs []int
 }
 // IntermediateResult contains trimming output for intermediate schema artifacts.
 type IntermediateResult struct {
 	Transcript schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	OldToNewID map[int]int
 	RemovedIDs []int
 }
 // MinimalResult contains trimming output for minimal schema artifacts.
 type MinimalResult struct {
 	Transcript schema.MinimalTranscript
 	OldToNewID map[int]int
 	RemovedIDs []int
 }
 type projection struct {
 	retainedIndexes []int
 	oldToNewID      map[int]int
 	removedIDs      []int
 }
 // Apply trims a full seriatim output transcript by segment ID.
 func Apply(input schema.Transcript, opts Options) (Result, error) {
 	inputIDs := make([]int, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		inputIDs[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	proj, err := projectSegmentIDs(inputIDs, opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Result{}, err
 	}
 	kept := make([]schema.Segment, len(proj.retainedIndexes))
 	for outputIndex, inputIndex := range proj.retainedIndexes {
 		rewritten := copySegment(input.Segments[inputIndex])
 		rewritten.ID = outputIndex + 1
 		rewritten.OverlapGroupID = 0
 		kept[outputIndex] = rewritten
 	}
 	kept, groups := recomputeOverlapGroups(kept)
 	if groups == nil {
 		groups = make([]schema.OverlapGroup, 0)
 	}
 	out := copyTranscript(input)
 	out.Segments = kept
 	out.OverlapGroups = groups
 	return Result{
 		Transcript: out,
 		OldToNewID: proj.oldToNewID,
 		RemovedIDs: proj.removedIDs,
 	}, nil
 }
 // ApplyIntermediate trims an intermediate seriatim output transcript by
 // segment ID.
 func ApplyIntermediate(input schema.IntermediateTranscript, opts Options) (IntermediateResult, error) {
 	inputIDs := make([]int, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		inputIDs[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	proj, err := projectSegmentIDs(inputIDs, opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return IntermediateResult{}, err
 	}
 	kept := make([]schema.IntermediateSegment, len(proj.retainedIndexes))
 	for outputIndex, inputIndex := range proj.retainedIndexes {
 		segment := input.Segments[inputIndex]
 		rewritten := schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			ID:         outputIndex + 1,
 			Start:      segment.Start,
 			End:        segment.End,
 			Speaker:    segment.Speaker,
 			Text:       segment.Text,
 			Categories: append([]string(nil), segment.Categories...),
 		}
 		kept[outputIndex] = rewritten
 	}
 	return IntermediateResult{
 		Transcript: schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 			Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 				Application:  input.Metadata.Application,
 				Version:      input.Metadata.Version,
 				OutputSchema: input.Metadata.OutputSchema,
 			},
 			Segments: kept,
 		},
 		OldToNewID: proj.oldToNewID,
 		RemovedIDs: proj.removedIDs,
 	}, nil
 }
 // ApplyMinimal trims a minimal seriatim output transcript by segment ID.
 func ApplyMinimal(input schema.MinimalTranscript, opts Options) (MinimalResult, error) {
 	inputIDs := make([]int, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		inputIDs[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	proj, err := projectSegmentIDs(inputIDs, opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return MinimalResult{}, err
 	}
 	kept := make([]schema.MinimalSegment, len(proj.retainedIndexes))
 	for outputIndex, inputIndex := range proj.retainedIndexes {
 		segment := input.Segments[inputIndex]
 		rewritten := schema.MinimalSegment{
 			ID:      outputIndex + 1,
 			Start:   segment.Start,
 			End:     segment.End,
 			Speaker: segment.Speaker,
 			Text:    segment.Text,
 		}
 		kept[outputIndex] = rewritten
 	}
 	return MinimalResult{
 		Transcript: schema.MinimalTranscript{
 			Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 				Application:  input.Metadata.Application,
 				Version:      input.Metadata.Version,
 				OutputSchema: input.Metadata.OutputSchema,
 			},
 			Segments: kept,
 		},
 		OldToNewID: proj.oldToNewID,
 		RemovedIDs: proj.removedIDs,
 	}, nil
 }
 func projectSegmentIDs(ids []int, opts Options) (projection, error) {
 	if err := validateMode(opts.Mode); err != nil {
 		return projection{}, err
 	}
 	selected := opts.Selector.IDs()
 	if len(selected) == 0 {
 		return projection{}, fmt.Errorf("selector cannot be empty")
 	}
 	idIndex, err := validateInputIDs(ids)
 	if err != nil {
 		return projection{}, err
 	}
 	if err := validateSelectedIDsExist(selected, idIndex); err != nil {
 		return projection{}, err
 	}
 	result := projection{
 		retainedIndexes: make([]int, 0, len(ids)),
 		oldToNewID:      make(map[int]int, len(ids)),
 		removedIDs:      make([]int, 0, len(ids)),
 	}
 	for index, id := range ids {
 		keep := opts.Mode == ModeKeep && opts.Selector.Contains(id)
 		if opts.Mode == ModeRemove {
 			keep = !opts.Selector.Contains(id)
 		}
 		if !keep {
 			result.removedIDs = append(result.removedIDs, id)
 			continue
 		}
 		result.retainedIndexes = append(result.retainedIndexes, index)
 		result.oldToNewID[id] = len(result.retainedIndexes)
 	}
 	if len(result.retainedIndexes) == 0 && !opts.AllowEmpty {
 		return projection{}, fmt.Errorf("trim operation produced an empty transcript; set AllowEmpty to true to permit this")
 	}
 	return result, nil
 }
 func validateMode(mode Mode) error {
 	switch mode {
 	case ModeKeep, ModeRemove:
 		return nil
 	default:
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid trim mode %q", mode)
 	}
 }
 func validateInputIDs(ids []int) (map[int]int, error) {
 	seen := make(map[int]int, len(ids))
 	for index, id := range ids {
 		if id <= 0 {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("input transcript has non-positive segment ID %d at index %d", id, index)
 		}
 		if firstIndex, exists := seen[id]; exists {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("input transcript has duplicate segment ID %d at indexes %d and %d", id, firstIndex, index)
 		}
 		seen[id] = index
 	}
 	for id := 1; id <= len(ids); id++ {
 		if _, exists := seen[id]; !exists {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("input transcript segment IDs must be sequential 1..%d; missing ID %d", len(ids), id)
 		}
 	}
 	return seen, nil
 }
 func validateSelectedIDsExist(selected []int, idIndex map[int]int) error {
 	for _, id := range selected {
 		if _, exists := idIndex[id]; !exists {
 			return fmt.Errorf("selected segment ID %d does not exist in input transcript", id)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 func recomputeOverlapGroups(segments []schema.Segment) ([]schema.Segment, []schema.OverlapGroup) {
 	if len(segments) == 0 {
 		return segments, make([]schema.OverlapGroup, 0)
 	}
 	modelSegments := make([]model.Segment, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		modelSegments[index] = model.Segment{
 			ID:                 segment.ID,
 			Source:             segment.Source,
 			SourceSegmentIndex: copyIntPtr(segment.SourceSegmentIndex),
 			SourceRef:          segment.SourceRef,
 			DerivedFrom:        append([]string(nil), segment.DerivedFrom...),
 			Speaker:            segment.Speaker,
 			Start:              segment.Start,
 			End:                segment.End,
 			Text:               segment.Text,
 			Categories:         append([]string(nil), segment.Categories...),
 			OverlapGroupID:     segment.OverlapGroupID,
 		}
 	}
 	detected := overlap.Detect(model.MergedTranscript{
 		Segments: modelSegments,
 	})
 	rewrittenSegments := make([]schema.Segment, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		rewritten := copySegment(segment)
 		rewritten.OverlapGroupID = detected.Segments[index].OverlapGroupID
 		rewrittenSegments[index] = rewritten
 	}
 	groups := make([]schema.OverlapGroup, len(detected.OverlapGroups))
 	for index, group := range detected.OverlapGroups {
 		groups[index] = schema.OverlapGroup{
 			ID:         group.ID,
 			Start:      group.Start,
 			End:        group.End,
 			Segments:   append([]string(nil), group.Segments...),
 			Speakers:   append([]string(nil), group.Speakers...),
 			Class:      group.Class,
 			Resolution: group.Resolution,
 		}
 	}
 	return rewrittenSegments, groups
 }
 func copyTranscript(input schema.Transcript) schema.Transcript {
 	return schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application:           input.Metadata.Application,
 			Version:               input.Metadata.Version,
 			InputReader:           input.Metadata.InputReader,
 			InputFiles:            append([]string(nil), input.Metadata.InputFiles...),
 			PreprocessingModules:  append([]string(nil), input.Metadata.PreprocessingModules...),
 			PostprocessingModules: append([]string(nil), input.Metadata.PostprocessingModules...),
 			OutputModules:         append([]string(nil), input.Metadata.OutputModules...),
 		},
 		Segments:      append([]schema.Segment(nil), input.Segments...),
 		OverlapGroups: append([]schema.OverlapGroup(nil), input.OverlapGroups...),
 	}
 }
 func copySegment(input schema.Segment) schema.Segment {
 	return schema.Segment{
 		ID:                 input.ID,
 		Source:             input.Source,
 		SourceSegmentIndex: copyIntPtr(input.SourceSegmentIndex),
 		SourceRef:          input.SourceRef,
 		DerivedFrom:        append([]string(nil), input.DerivedFrom...),
 		Speaker:            input.Speaker,
 		Start:              input.Start,
 		End:                input.End,
 		Text:               input.Text,
 		Categories:         append([]string(nil), input.Categories...),
 		OverlapGroupID:     input.OverlapGroupID,
 	}
 }
 func copyIntPtr(value *int) *int {
 	if value == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 	copied := *value
 	return &copied
 }
--- a/internal/trim/apply_test.go
+++ b/internal/trim/apply_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,873 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 func TestApplyKeepModeRenumbersFromOne(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2,4")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(result.Transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	assertSegmentIDs(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []int{1, 2})
 	assertSegmentTexts(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []string{"beta", "delta"})
 	assertIntMap(t, result.OldToNewID, map[int]int{2: 1, 4: 2})
 	assertIntSlice(t, result.RemovedIDs, []int{1, 3})
 }
 func TestApplyRemoveModeRenumbersFromOne(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2,4")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeRemove,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertSegmentIDs(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []int{1, 2})
 	assertSegmentTexts(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []string{"alpha", "gamma"})
 	assertIntMap(t, result.OldToNewID, map[int]int{1: 1, 3: 2})
 	assertIntSlice(t, result.RemovedIDs, []int{2, 4})
 }
 func TestApplySelectorOrderDoesNotChangeTranscriptOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "4,1,3")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertSegmentIDs(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []int{1, 2, 3})
 	assertSegmentTexts(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []string{"alpha", "gamma", "delta"})
 }
 func TestApplyFailsWhenSelectedIDDoesNotExist(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2,99")
 	_, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected missing selected ID error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "does not exist") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFailsOnDuplicateInputIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	input.Segments[2].ID = 2
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2")
 	_, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected duplicate input ID error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "duplicate segment ID") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFailsOnMissingOrNonSequentialInputIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	input.Segments[1].ID = 5
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1")
 	_, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected non-sequential input ID error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "must be sequential") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFailsOnNonPositiveInputIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	input.Segments[0].ID = 0
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1")
 	_, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected non-positive input ID error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "non-positive") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyEmptyOutputFailsUnlessAllowEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1-4")
 	_, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeRemove,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected empty-output error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "empty transcript") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	allowed, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:       ModeRemove,
 		Selector:   selector,
 		AllowEmpty: true,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply with AllowEmpty failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(allowed.Transcript.Segments) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 0", len(allowed.Transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	assertIntMap(t, allowed.OldToNewID, map[int]int{})
 	assertIntSlice(t, allowed.RemovedIDs, []int{1, 2, 3, 4})
 }
 func TestApplyPreservesRetainedSegmentFieldsAndClearsOverlapIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	input := fullTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(result.Transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	segment := result.Transcript.Segments[0]
 	if segment.ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment ID = %d, want 1", segment.ID)
 	}
 	if segment.Source != "b.json" {
 		t.Fatalf("source = %q, want %q", segment.Source, "b.json")
 	}
 	if segment.SourceSegmentIndex == nil || *segment.SourceSegmentIndex != 20 {
 		t.Fatalf("source_segment_index = %v, want 20", segment.SourceSegmentIndex)
 	}
 	if segment.SourceRef != "b.json#20" {
 		t.Fatalf("source_ref = %q, want %q", segment.SourceRef, "b.json#20")
 	}
 	if !equalStringSlices(segment.DerivedFrom, []string{"b.json#19", "b.json#20"}) {
 		t.Fatalf("derived_from = %v, want %v", segment.DerivedFrom, []string{"b.json#19", "b.json#20"})
 	}
 	if !equalStringSlices(segment.Categories, []string{"filler", "backchannel"}) {
 		t.Fatalf("categories = %v, want %v", segment.Categories, []string{"filler", "backchannel"})
 	}
 	if segment.Speaker != "Bob" {
 		t.Fatalf("speaker = %q, want Bob", segment.Speaker)
 	}
 	if segment.Start != 2 || segment.End != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("times = %.3f-%.3f, want 2.000-3.000", segment.Start, segment.End)
 	}
 	if segment.Text != "beta" {
 		t.Fatalf("text = %q, want beta", segment.Text)
 	}
 	if segment.OverlapGroupID != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_group_id = %d, want 0", segment.OverlapGroupID)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups count = %d, want 0", len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFullSchemaRemovesStaleOverlapGroups(t *testing.T) {
 	input := overlapTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1,3")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups count = %d, want 0", len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 	for index, segment := range result.Transcript.Segments {
 		if segment.OverlapGroupID != 0 {
 			t.Fatalf("segment %d overlap_group_id = %d, want 0", index, segment.OverlapGroupID)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFullSchemaRecomputesOverlapGroup(t *testing.T) {
 	input := overlapTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1,2")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertSegmentIDs(t, result.Transcript.Segments, []int{1, 2})
 	assertIntSlice(t, []int{
 		result.Transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID,
 		result.Transcript.Segments[1].OverlapGroupID,
 	}, []int{1, 1})
 	if len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups count = %d, want 1", len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 	group := result.Transcript.OverlapGroups[0]
 	if group.ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("group ID = %d, want 1", group.ID)
 	}
 	if group.Start != 1 || group.End != 4 {
 		t.Fatalf("group times = %.3f-%.3f, want 1.000-4.000", group.Start, group.End)
 	}
 	if !equalStringSlices(group.Segments, []string{"a.json#10", "b.json#20"}) {
 		t.Fatalf("group segments = %v, want %v", group.Segments, []string{"a.json#10", "b.json#20"})
 	}
 	if !equalStringSlices(group.Speakers, []string{"Alice", "Bob"}) {
 		t.Fatalf("group speakers = %v, want %v", group.Speakers, []string{"Alice", "Bob"})
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFullSchemaDropsGroupWhenFewerThanTwoSpeakersRemain(t *testing.T) {
 	input := overlapTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups count = %d, want 0", len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(result.Transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if result.Transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment overlap_group_id = %d, want 0", result.Transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFullSchemaHandlesTransitiveOverlaps(t *testing.T) {
 	input := transitiveOverlapFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1-3")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups count = %d, want 1", len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 	assertIntSlice(t, []int{
 		result.Transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID,
 		result.Transcript.Segments[1].OverlapGroupID,
 		result.Transcript.Segments[2].OverlapGroupID,
 	}, []int{1, 1, 1})
 	group := result.Transcript.OverlapGroups[0]
 	if group.Start != 10 || group.End != 15 {
 		t.Fatalf("group times = %.3f-%.3f, want 10.000-15.000", group.Start, group.End)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyFullSchemaBoundaryTouchingNotGrouped(t *testing.T) {
 	input := boundaryFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1-2")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("overlap_groups count = %d, want 0", len(result.Transcript.OverlapGroups))
 	}
 	assertIntSlice(t, []int{
 		result.Transcript.Segments[0].OverlapGroupID,
 		result.Transcript.Segments[1].OverlapGroupID,
 	}, []int{0, 0})
 }
 func TestApplyIntermediateDoesNotIncludeOverlapGroups(t *testing.T) {
 	input := schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: "seriatim-intermediate",
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 3, Speaker: "Alice", Text: "alpha", Categories: []string{"word-run"}},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 4, Speaker: "Bob", Text: "beta", Categories: []string{"filler"}},
 		},
 	}
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "1")
 	result, err := ApplyIntermediate(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply intermediate failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(result.Transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if result.Transcript.Segments[0].ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment id = %d, want 1", result.Transcript.Segments[0].ID)
 	}
 	if err := schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript(result.Transcript); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("intermediate output should remain valid: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyMinimalDoesNotIncludeOverlapGroups(t *testing.T) {
 	input := schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: "seriatim-minimal",
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.MinimalSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 3, Speaker: "Alice", Text: "alpha"},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 4, Speaker: "Bob", Text: "beta"},
 		},
 	}
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2")
 	result, err := ApplyMinimal(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply minimal failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if len(result.Transcript.Segments) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 1", len(result.Transcript.Segments))
 	}
 	if result.Transcript.Segments[0].ID != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment id = %d, want 1", result.Transcript.Segments[0].ID)
 	}
 	if err := schema.ValidateMinimalTranscript(result.Transcript); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("minimal output should remain valid: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestApplySelectorPolicyIsSharedAcrossSchemas(t *testing.T) {
 	type testCase struct {
 		name               string
 		opts               Options
 		wantTexts          []string
 		wantOldToNew       map[int]int
 		wantRemoved        []int
 		wantSegmentCount   int
 		wantErrorSubstring string
 	}
 	cases := []testCase{
 		{
 			name:             "keep preserves input order regardless of selector order",
 			opts:             Options{Mode: ModeKeep, Selector: mustParseSelector(t, "4,1,3")},
 			wantTexts:        []string{"alpha", "gamma", "delta"},
 			wantOldToNew:     map[int]int{1: 1, 3: 2, 4: 3},
 			wantRemoved:      []int{2},
 			wantSegmentCount: 3,
 		},
 		{
 			name:             "remove reports deterministic renumbering metadata",
 			opts:             Options{Mode: ModeRemove, Selector: mustParseSelector(t, "2,4")},
 			wantTexts:        []string{"alpha", "gamma"},
 			wantOldToNew:     map[int]int{1: 1, 3: 2},
 			wantRemoved:      []int{2, 4},
 			wantSegmentCount: 2,
 		},
 		{
 			name:               "missing selected id returns error",
 			opts:               Options{Mode: ModeKeep, Selector: mustParseSelector(t, "9")},
 			wantErrorSubstring: "does not exist",
 		},
 		{
 			name:               "empty selector returns error",
 			opts:               Options{Mode: ModeKeep, Selector: Selector{}},
 			wantErrorSubstring: "selector cannot be empty",
 		},
 		{
 			name:               "invalid mode returns error",
 			opts:               Options{Mode: Mode("bad"), Selector: mustParseSelector(t, "1")},
 			wantErrorSubstring: `invalid trim mode "bad"`,
 		},
 		{
 			name:               "empty output blocked when allow empty is false",
 			opts:               Options{Mode: ModeRemove, Selector: mustParseSelector(t, "1-4")},
 			wantErrorSubstring: "empty transcript",
 		},
 		{
 			name:             "empty output allowed when allow empty is true",
 			opts:             Options{Mode: ModeRemove, Selector: mustParseSelector(t, "1-4"), AllowEmpty: true},
 			wantTexts:        []string{},
 			wantOldToNew:     map[int]int{},
 			wantRemoved:      []int{1, 2, 3, 4},
 			wantSegmentCount: 0,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, test := range cases {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			fullInput := fullTranscriptFixture()
 			intermediateInput := intermediateFixture()
 			minimalInput := minimalFixture()
 			fullResult, fullErr := Apply(fullInput, test.opts)
 			intermediateResult, intermediateErr := ApplyIntermediate(intermediateInput, test.opts)
 			minimalResult, minimalErr := ApplyMinimal(minimalInput, test.opts)
 			if test.wantErrorSubstring != "" {
 				assertErrorContains(t, fullErr, test.wantErrorSubstring)
 				assertErrorContains(t, intermediateErr, test.wantErrorSubstring)
 				assertErrorContains(t, minimalErr, test.wantErrorSubstring)
 				return
 			}
 			if fullErr != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("apply full failed: %v", fullErr)
 			}
 			if intermediateErr != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("apply intermediate failed: %v", intermediateErr)
 			}
 			if minimalErr != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("apply minimal failed: %v", minimalErr)
 			}
 			assertIntSlice(t, extractFullIDs(fullResult.Transcript.Segments), extractSequentialIDs(test.wantSegmentCount))
 			assertIntSlice(t, extractIntermediateIDs(intermediateResult.Transcript.Segments), extractSequentialIDs(test.wantSegmentCount))
 			assertIntSlice(t, extractMinimalIDs(minimalResult.Transcript.Segments), extractSequentialIDs(test.wantSegmentCount))
 			assertStringSlice(t, extractFullTexts(fullResult.Transcript.Segments), test.wantTexts)
 			assertStringSlice(t, extractIntermediateTexts(intermediateResult.Transcript.Segments), test.wantTexts)
 			assertStringSlice(t, extractMinimalTexts(minimalResult.Transcript.Segments), test.wantTexts)
 			assertIntMap(t, fullResult.OldToNewID, test.wantOldToNew)
 			assertIntMap(t, intermediateResult.OldToNewID, test.wantOldToNew)
 			assertIntMap(t, minimalResult.OldToNewID, test.wantOldToNew)
 			assertIntSlice(t, fullResult.RemovedIDs, test.wantRemoved)
 			assertIntSlice(t, intermediateResult.RemovedIDs, test.wantRemoved)
 			assertIntSlice(t, minimalResult.RemovedIDs, test.wantRemoved)
 		})
 	}
 }
 func TestApplyOutputInvariantsValidAfterRenumberAndOverlapRecompute(t *testing.T) {
 	input := overlapTranscriptFixture()
 	selector := mustParseSelector(t, "2,1")
 	result, err := Apply(input, Options{
 		Mode:     ModeKeep,
 		Selector: selector,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("apply failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if err := schema.ValidateTranscript(result.Transcript); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("trim output should remain valid: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func mustParseSelector(t *testing.T, value string) Selector {
 	t.Helper()
 	selector, err := ParseSelector(value)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("selector parse failed for %q: %v", value, err)
 	}
 	return selector
 }
 func fullTranscriptFixture() schema.Transcript {
 	firstIndex := 10
 	secondIndex := 20
 	thirdIndex := 30
 	fourthIndex := 40
 	return schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application:           "seriatim",
 			Version:               "v-test",
 			InputReader:           "json-files",
 			InputFiles:            []string{"a.json", "b.json"},
 			PreprocessingModules:  []string{"validate-raw"},
 			PostprocessingModules: []string{"detect-overlaps"},
 			OutputModules:         []string{"json"},
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{
 				ID:                 1,
 				Source:             "a.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &firstIndex,
 				SourceRef:          "a.json#10",
 				DerivedFrom:        []string{"a.json#10"},
 				Speaker:            "Alice",
 				Start:              1,
 				End:                2,
 				Text:               "alpha",
 				Categories:         []string{"word-run"},
 				OverlapGroupID:     7,
 			},
 			{
 				ID:                 2,
 				Source:             "b.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &secondIndex,
 				SourceRef:          "b.json#20",
 				DerivedFrom:        []string{"b.json#19", "b.json#20"},
 				Speaker:            "Bob",
 				Start:              2,
 				End:                3,
 				Text:               "beta",
 				Categories:         []string{"filler", "backchannel"},
 				OverlapGroupID:     7,
 			},
 			{
 				ID:                 3,
 				Source:             "c.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &thirdIndex,
 				SourceRef:          "c.json#30",
 				DerivedFrom:        []string{"c.json#30"},
 				Speaker:            "Carol",
 				Start:              3,
 				End:                4,
 				Text:               "gamma",
 				Categories:         []string{"normal"},
 				OverlapGroupID:     8,
 			},
 			{
 				ID:                 4,
 				Source:             "d.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &fourthIndex,
 				SourceRef:          "d.json#40",
 				DerivedFrom:        []string{"d.json#40"},
 				Speaker:            "Dan",
 				Start:              4,
 				End:                5,
 				Text:               "delta",
 				Categories:         []string{"normal"},
 				OverlapGroupID:     9,
 			},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{
 			{
 				ID:         7,
 				Start:      1.5,
 				End:        3.1,
 				Segments:   []string{"a.json#10", "b.json#20"},
 				Speakers:   []string{"Alice", "Bob"},
 				Class:      "unknown",
 				Resolution: "unresolved",
 			},
 		},
 	}
 }
 func overlapTranscriptFixture() schema.Transcript {
 	first := 10
 	second := 20
 	third := 30
 	return schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application:           "seriatim",
 			Version:               "v-test",
 			InputReader:           "json-files",
 			InputFiles:            []string{"a.json", "b.json", "c.json"},
 			PreprocessingModules:  []string{"validate-raw"},
 			PostprocessingModules: []string{"detect-overlaps"},
 			OutputModules:         []string{"json"},
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{
 				ID:                 1,
 				Source:             "a.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &first,
 				SourceRef:          "a.json#10",
 				Speaker:            "Alice",
 				Start:              1,
 				End:                4,
 				Text:               "a",
 				OverlapGroupID:     99,
 			},
 			{
 				ID:                 2,
 				Source:             "b.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &second,
 				SourceRef:          "b.json#20",
 				Speaker:            "Bob",
 				Start:              2,
 				End:                3,
 				Text:               "b",
 				OverlapGroupID:     99,
 			},
 			{
 				ID:                 3,
 				Source:             "c.json",
 				SourceSegmentIndex: &third,
 				SourceRef:          "c.json#30",
 				Speaker:            "Carol",
 				Start:              10,
 				End:                11,
 				Text:               "c",
 				OverlapGroupID:     100,
 			},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{
 			{
 				ID:         99,
 				Start:      0,
 				End:        100,
 				Segments:   []string{"stale#1", "stale#2"},
 				Speakers:   []string{"stale"},
 				Class:      "unknown",
 				Resolution: "unresolved",
 			},
 		},
 	}
 }
 func transitiveOverlapFixture() schema.Transcript {
 	one := 1
 	two := 2
 	three := 3
 	return schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application: "seriatim",
 			Version:     "v-test",
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &one, Speaker: "Alice", Start: 10, End: 14, Text: "a"},
 			{ID: 2, Source: "b.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &two, Speaker: "Bob", Start: 12, End: 13, Text: "b"},
 			{ID: 3, Source: "c.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &three, Speaker: "Carol", Start: 13.5, End: 15, Text: "c"},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{{ID: 77}},
 	}
 }
 func boundaryFixture() schema.Transcript {
 	one := 1
 	two := 2
 	return schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application: "seriatim",
 			Version:     "v-test",
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &one, Speaker: "Alice", Start: 1, End: 2, Text: "a", OverlapGroupID: 7},
 			{ID: 2, Source: "b.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &two, Speaker: "Bob", Start: 2, End: 3, Text: "b", OverlapGroupID: 7},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{{ID: 7, Start: 1, End: 3}},
 	}
 }
 func assertSegmentIDs(t *testing.T, segments []schema.Segment, want []int) {
 	t.Helper()
 	got := make([]int, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		got[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	assertIntSlice(t, got, want)
 }
 func assertSegmentTexts(t *testing.T, segments []schema.Segment, want []string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	got := make([]string, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		got[index] = segment.Text
 	}
 	if !equalStringSlices(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("segment texts = %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
 }
 func assertIntSlice(t *testing.T, got []int, want []int) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if len(got) != len(want) {
 		t.Fatalf("slice length = %d, want %d", len(got), len(want))
 	}
 	for index := range got {
 		if got[index] != want[index] {
 			t.Fatalf("slice[%d] = %d, want %d (full got=%v, want=%v)", index, got[index], want[index], got, want)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func assertIntMap(t *testing.T, got map[int]int, want map[int]int) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if len(got) != len(want) {
 		t.Fatalf("map length = %d, want %d", len(got), len(want))
 	}
 	for key, wantValue := range want {
 		gotValue, exists := got[key]
 		if !exists {
 			t.Fatalf("missing map key %d", key)
 		}
 		if gotValue != wantValue {
 			t.Fatalf("map[%d] = %d, want %d", key, gotValue, wantValue)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func equalStringSlices(got []string, want []string) bool {
 	if len(got) != len(want) {
 		return false
 	}
 	for index := range got {
 		if got[index] != want[index] {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
 	return true
 }
 func assertErrorContains(t *testing.T, err error, substring string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected error containing %q", substring)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), substring) {
 		t.Fatalf("error %q does not contain %q", err.Error(), substring)
 	}
 }
 func assertStringSlice(t *testing.T, got []string, want []string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if !equalStringSlices(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("slice = %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
 }
 func extractSequentialIDs(count int) []int {
 	ids := make([]int, count)
 	for index := range ids {
 		ids[index] = index + 1
 	}
 	return ids
 }
 func extractFullIDs(segments []schema.Segment) []int {
 	ids := make([]int, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		ids[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	return ids
 }
 func extractIntermediateIDs(segments []schema.IntermediateSegment) []int {
 	ids := make([]int, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		ids[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	return ids
 }
 func extractMinimalIDs(segments []schema.MinimalSegment) []int {
 	ids := make([]int, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		ids[index] = segment.ID
 	}
 	return ids
 }
 func extractFullTexts(segments []schema.Segment) []string {
 	texts := make([]string, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		texts[index] = segment.Text
 	}
 	return texts
 }
 func extractIntermediateTexts(segments []schema.IntermediateSegment) []string {
 	texts := make([]string, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		texts[index] = segment.Text
 	}
 	return texts
 }
 func extractMinimalTexts(segments []schema.MinimalSegment) []string {
 	texts := make([]string, len(segments))
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		texts[index] = segment.Text
 	}
 	return texts
 }
 func intermediateFixture() schema.IntermediateTranscript {
 	return schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: schema.OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "Alice", Text: "alpha", Categories: []string{"word-run"}},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 3, Speaker: "Bob", Text: "beta", Categories: []string{"filler", "backchannel"}},
 			{ID: 3, Start: 3, End: 4, Speaker: "Carol", Text: "gamma", Categories: []string{"normal"}},
 			{ID: 4, Start: 4, End: 5, Speaker: "Dan", Text: "delta", Categories: []string{"normal"}},
 		},
 	}
 }
 func minimalFixture() schema.MinimalTranscript {
 	return schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: schema.OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.MinimalSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "Alice", Text: "alpha"},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 3, Speaker: "Bob", Text: "beta"},
 			{ID: 3, Start: 3, End: 4, Speaker: "Carol", Text: "gamma"},
 			{ID: 4, Start: 4, End: 5, Speaker: "Dan", Text: "delta"},
 		},
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/trim/artifact.go
+++ b/internal/trim/artifact.go
@@ -0,0 +1,396 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 const (
 	SchemaMinimal      = schema.OutputSchemaMinimal
 	SchemaIntermediate = schema.OutputSchemaIntermediate
 	SchemaFull         = schema.OutputSchemaFull
 )
 // Artifact stores a parsed seriatim output artifact of one supported schema.
 type Artifact struct {
 	Schema       string
 	Full         *schema.Transcript
 	Intermediate *schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	Minimal      *schema.MinimalTranscript
 }
 // ApplyArtifactResult contains trimmed artifact output and ID mapping metadata.
 type ApplyArtifactResult struct {
 	Artifact                Artifact
 	OldToNewID              map[int]int
 	RemovedIDs              []int
 	OverlapGroupsRecomputed bool
 }
 // ParseArtifactJSON parses and validates a serialized seriatim output artifact.
 func ParseArtifactJSON(data []byte) (Artifact, error) {
 	var decoded any
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &decoded); err != nil {
 		return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("input JSON is malformed: %w", err)
 	}
 	var full schema.Transcript
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &full); err == nil {
 		if err := schema.ValidateTranscript(full); err == nil {
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema: SchemaFull,
 				Full:   &full,
 			}, nil
 		}
 	}
 	var intermediate schema.IntermediateTranscript
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &intermediate); err == nil {
 		if err := schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript(intermediate); err == nil {
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema:       SchemaIntermediate,
 				Intermediate: &intermediate,
 			}, nil
 		}
 	}
 	var minimal schema.MinimalTranscript
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &minimal); err == nil {
 		if err := schema.ValidateMinimalTranscript(minimal); err == nil {
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema:  SchemaMinimal,
 				Minimal: &minimal,
 			}, nil
 		}
 	}
 	return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("input JSON is not a valid seriatim output artifact")
 }
 // ValidateArtifact validates an artifact against its declared schema.
 func ValidateArtifact(artifact Artifact) error {
 	switch artifact.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if artifact.Full == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("full artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		return schema.ValidateTranscript(*artifact.Full)
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if artifact.Intermediate == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("intermediate artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		return schema.ValidateIntermediateTranscript(*artifact.Intermediate)
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if artifact.Minimal == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("minimal artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		return schema.ValidateMinimalTranscript(*artifact.Minimal)
 	default:
 		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported artifact schema %q", artifact.Schema)
 	}
 }
 // Value returns the artifact value for JSON serialization.
 func (artifact Artifact) Value() any {
 	switch artifact.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if artifact.Full == nil {
 			return schema.Transcript{}
 		}
 		return *artifact.Full
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if artifact.Intermediate == nil {
 			return schema.IntermediateTranscript{}
 		}
 		return *artifact.Intermediate
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if artifact.Minimal == nil {
 			return schema.MinimalTranscript{}
 		}
 		return *artifact.Minimal
 	default:
 		return nil
 	}
 }
 // SegmentCount returns the number of segments in the artifact.
 func (artifact Artifact) SegmentCount() int {
 	switch artifact.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if artifact.Full == nil {
 			return 0
 		}
 		return len(artifact.Full.Segments)
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if artifact.Intermediate == nil {
 			return 0
 		}
 		return len(artifact.Intermediate.Segments)
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if artifact.Minimal == nil {
 			return 0
 		}
 		return len(artifact.Minimal.Segments)
 	default:
 		return 0
 	}
 }
 // Application returns artifact metadata application name.
 func (artifact Artifact) Application() string {
 	switch artifact.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if artifact.Full == nil {
 			return ""
 		}
 		return artifact.Full.Metadata.Application
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if artifact.Intermediate == nil {
 			return ""
 		}
 		return artifact.Intermediate.Metadata.Application
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if artifact.Minimal == nil {
 			return ""
 		}
 		return artifact.Minimal.Metadata.Application
 	default:
 		return ""
 	}
 }
 // Version returns artifact metadata version.
 func (artifact Artifact) Version() string {
 	switch artifact.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if artifact.Full == nil {
 			return ""
 		}
 		return artifact.Full.Metadata.Version
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if artifact.Intermediate == nil {
 			return ""
 		}
 		return artifact.Intermediate.Metadata.Version
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if artifact.Minimal == nil {
 			return ""
 		}
 		return artifact.Minimal.Metadata.Version
 	default:
 		return ""
 	}
 }
 // ApplyArtifact trims a parsed artifact while preserving its input schema.
 func ApplyArtifact(input Artifact, opts Options) (ApplyArtifactResult, error) {
 	switch input.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if input.Full == nil {
 			return ApplyArtifactResult{}, fmt.Errorf("full artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		result, err := Apply(*input.Full, opts)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ApplyArtifactResult{}, err
 		}
 		out := result.Transcript
 		return ApplyArtifactResult{
 			Artifact: Artifact{
 				Schema: SchemaFull,
 				Full:   &out,
 			},
 			OldToNewID:              result.OldToNewID,
 			RemovedIDs:              result.RemovedIDs,
 			OverlapGroupsRecomputed: true,
 		}, nil
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if input.Intermediate == nil {
 			return ApplyArtifactResult{}, fmt.Errorf("intermediate artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		result, err := ApplyIntermediate(*input.Intermediate, opts)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ApplyArtifactResult{}, err
 		}
 		out := result.Transcript
 		return ApplyArtifactResult{
 			Artifact: Artifact{
 				Schema:       SchemaIntermediate,
 				Intermediate: &out,
 			},
 			OldToNewID:              result.OldToNewID,
 			RemovedIDs:              result.RemovedIDs,
 			OverlapGroupsRecomputed: false,
 		}, nil
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if input.Minimal == nil {
 			return ApplyArtifactResult{}, fmt.Errorf("minimal artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		result, err := ApplyMinimal(*input.Minimal, opts)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ApplyArtifactResult{}, err
 		}
 		out := result.Transcript
 		return ApplyArtifactResult{
 			Artifact: Artifact{
 				Schema:  SchemaMinimal,
 				Minimal: &out,
 			},
 			OldToNewID:              result.OldToNewID,
 			RemovedIDs:              result.RemovedIDs,
 			OverlapGroupsRecomputed: false,
 		}, nil
 	default:
 		return ApplyArtifactResult{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported artifact schema %q", input.Schema)
 	}
 }
 // ConvertArtifact converts a parsed artifact to another supported output schema.
 func ConvertArtifact(input Artifact, outputSchema string) (Artifact, error) {
 	if outputSchema == "" || outputSchema == input.Schema {
 		return input, nil
 	}
 	switch input.Schema {
 	case SchemaFull:
 		if input.Full == nil {
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("full artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		switch outputSchema {
 		case SchemaIntermediate:
 			out := intermediateFromFull(*input.Full)
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema:       SchemaIntermediate,
 				Intermediate: &out,
 			}, nil
 		case SchemaMinimal:
 			out := minimalFromFull(*input.Full)
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema:  SchemaMinimal,
 				Minimal: &out,
 			}, nil
 		default:
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported output schema %q", outputSchema)
 		}
 	case SchemaIntermediate:
 		if input.Intermediate == nil {
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("intermediate artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		switch outputSchema {
 		case SchemaMinimal:
 			out := minimalFromIntermediate(*input.Intermediate)
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema:  SchemaMinimal,
 				Minimal: &out,
 			}, nil
 		case SchemaFull:
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot emit %q from %q input artifact", SchemaFull, SchemaIntermediate)
 		default:
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported output schema %q", outputSchema)
 		}
 	case SchemaMinimal:
 		if input.Minimal == nil {
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("minimal artifact payload is missing")
 		}
 		switch outputSchema {
 		case SchemaIntermediate:
 			out := intermediateFromMinimal(*input.Minimal)
 			return Artifact{
 				Schema:       SchemaIntermediate,
 				Intermediate: &out,
 			}, nil
 		case SchemaFull:
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot emit %q from %q input artifact", SchemaFull, SchemaMinimal)
 		default:
 			return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported output schema %q", outputSchema)
 		}
 	default:
 		return Artifact{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported input schema %q", input.Schema)
 	}
 }
 func intermediateFromFull(input schema.Transcript) schema.IntermediateTranscript {
 	segments := make([]schema.IntermediateSegment, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		segments[index] = schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			ID:         segment.ID,
 			Start:      segment.Start,
 			End:        segment.End,
 			Speaker:    segment.Speaker,
 			Text:       segment.Text,
 			Categories: append([]string(nil), segment.Categories...),
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  input.Metadata.Application,
 			Version:      input.Metadata.Version,
 			OutputSchema: SchemaIntermediate,
 		},
 		Segments: segments,
 	}
 }
 func minimalFromFull(input schema.Transcript) schema.MinimalTranscript {
 	segments := make([]schema.MinimalSegment, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		segments[index] = schema.MinimalSegment{
 			ID:      segment.ID,
 			Start:   segment.Start,
 			End:     segment.End,
 			Speaker: segment.Speaker,
 			Text:    segment.Text,
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  input.Metadata.Application,
 			Version:      input.Metadata.Version,
 			OutputSchema: SchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: segments,
 	}
 }
 func minimalFromIntermediate(input schema.IntermediateTranscript) schema.MinimalTranscript {
 	segments := make([]schema.MinimalSegment, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		segments[index] = schema.MinimalSegment{
 			ID:      segment.ID,
 			Start:   segment.Start,
 			End:     segment.End,
 			Speaker: segment.Speaker,
 			Text:    segment.Text,
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  input.Metadata.Application,
 			Version:      input.Metadata.Version,
 			OutputSchema: SchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: segments,
 	}
 }
 func intermediateFromMinimal(input schema.MinimalTranscript) schema.IntermediateTranscript {
 	segments := make([]schema.IntermediateSegment, len(input.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range input.Segments {
 		segments[index] = schema.IntermediateSegment{
 			ID:      segment.ID,
 			Start:   segment.Start,
 			End:     segment.End,
 			Speaker: segment.Speaker,
 			Text:    segment.Text,
 		}
 	}
 	return schema.IntermediateTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  input.Metadata.Application,
 			Version:      input.Metadata.Version,
 			OutputSchema: SchemaIntermediate,
 		},
 		Segments: segments,
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/trim/artifact_test.go
+++ b/internal/trim/artifact_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema"
 )
 func TestParseArtifactJSONRejectsMalformedJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := ParseArtifactJSON([]byte(`{"metadata":`))
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected malformed JSON error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "input JSON is malformed") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseArtifactJSONRejectsDuplicateSegmentIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	first := 10
 	second := 20
 	value := schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application: "seriatim",
 			Version:     "v-test",
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &first, Speaker: "A", Start: 1, End: 2, Text: "one"},
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &second, Speaker: "B", Start: 2, End: 3, Text: "two"},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{},
 	}
 	data := mustMarshalJSON(t, value)
 	_, err := ParseArtifactJSON(data)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected invalid artifact error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a valid seriatim output artifact") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseArtifactJSONRejectsNonSequentialSegmentIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	first := 10
 	second := 20
 	value := schema.Transcript{
 		Metadata: schema.Metadata{
 			Application: "seriatim",
 			Version:     "v-test",
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.Segment{
 			{ID: 1, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &first, Speaker: "A", Start: 1, End: 2, Text: "one"},
 			{ID: 3, Source: "a.json", SourceSegmentIndex: &second, Speaker: "B", Start: 2, End: 3, Text: "two"},
 		},
 		OverlapGroups: []schema.OverlapGroup{},
 	}
 	data := mustMarshalJSON(t, value)
 	_, err := ParseArtifactJSON(data)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected invalid artifact error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not a valid seriatim output artifact") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func TestConvertArtifactMinimalToIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	value := schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: SchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.MinimalSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "A", Text: "one"},
 			{ID: 2, Start: 2, End: 3, Speaker: "B", Text: "two"},
 		},
 	}
 	artifact := Artifact{
 		Schema:  SchemaMinimal,
 		Minimal: &value,
 	}
 	converted, err := ConvertArtifact(artifact, SchemaIntermediate)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("convert failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if converted.Schema != SchemaIntermediate {
 		t.Fatalf("schema = %q, want %q", converted.Schema, SchemaIntermediate)
 	}
 	if converted.Intermediate == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected intermediate artifact")
 	}
 	if len(converted.Intermediate.Segments) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("segment count = %d, want 2", len(converted.Intermediate.Segments))
 	}
 	if converted.Intermediate.Segments[0].ID != 1 || converted.Intermediate.Segments[1].ID != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected IDs: %#v", converted.Intermediate.Segments)
 	}
 }
 func TestConvertArtifactMinimalToFullFails(t *testing.T) {
 	value := schema.MinimalTranscript{
 		Metadata: schema.MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "v-test",
 			OutputSchema: SchemaMinimal,
 		},
 		Segments: []schema.MinimalSegment{
 			{ID: 1, Start: 1, End: 2, Speaker: "A", Text: "one"},
 		},
 	}
 	artifact := Artifact{
 		Schema:  SchemaMinimal,
 		Minimal: &value,
 	}
 	_, err := ConvertArtifact(artifact, SchemaFull)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected conversion error")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "cannot emit") {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
 func mustMarshalJSON(t *testing.T, value any) []byte {
 	t.Helper()
 	data, err := json.Marshal(value)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("marshal: %v", err)
 	}
 	return data
 }
--- a/internal/trim/run.go
+++ b/internal/trim/run.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"sort"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/jsonfile"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/report"
 )
 type auditReport struct {
 	Operation               string      `json:"operation"`
 	InputFile               string      `json:"input_file"`
 	OutputFile              string      `json:"output_file"`
 	InputSchema             string      `json:"input_schema"`
 	OutputSchema            string      `json:"output_schema"`
 	Mode                    string      `json:"mode"`
 	Selector                string      `json:"selector"`
 	SelectedIDs             []int       `json:"selected_ids"`
 	AllowEmpty              bool        `json:"allow_empty"`
 	InputSegmentCount       int         `json:"input_segment_count"`
 	RetainedSegmentCount    int         `json:"retained_segment_count"`
 	RemovedSegmentCount     int         `json:"removed_segment_count"`
 	RemovedInputIDs         []int       `json:"removed_input_ids"`
 	OldToNewIDMapping       []idMapping `json:"old_to_new_id_mapping"`
 	OverlapGroupsRecomputed bool        `json:"overlap_groups_recomputed"`
 }
 type idMapping struct {
 	OldID int `json:"old_id"`
 	NewID int `json:"new_id"`
 }
 // Run executes artifact-level trim orchestration.
 func Run(ctx context.Context, cfg config.TrimConfig) error {
 	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	selector, err := ParseSelector(cfg.Selector)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid selector %q: %w", cfg.Selector, err)
 	}
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(cfg.InputFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read --input-file %q: %w", cfg.InputFile, err)
 	}
 	artifact, err := ParseArtifactJSON(data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--input-file %q: %w", cfg.InputFile, err)
 	}
 	inputSegmentCount := artifact.SegmentCount()
 	inputSchema := artifact.Schema
 	mode := ModeKeep
 	if cfg.Mode == "remove" {
 		mode = ModeRemove
 	}
 	trimmed, err := ApplyArtifact(artifact, Options{
 		Mode:       mode,
 		Selector:   selector,
 		AllowEmpty: cfg.AllowEmpty,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	outputSchema := artifact.Schema
 	if cfg.OutputSchema != "" {
 		outputSchema = cfg.OutputSchema
 	}
 	outputArtifact, err := ConvertArtifact(trimmed.Artifact, outputSchema)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if err := ValidateArtifact(outputArtifact); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("validate trimmed output: %w", err)
 	}
 	if err := jsonfile.Write(cfg.OutputFile, outputArtifact.Value()); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if cfg.ReportFile == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
 	audit := auditReport{
 		Operation:               "trim",
 		InputFile:               cfg.InputFile,
 		OutputFile:              cfg.OutputFile,
 		InputSchema:             inputSchema,
 		OutputSchema:            outputArtifact.Schema,
 		Mode:                    cfg.Mode,
 		Selector:                cfg.Selector,
 		SelectedIDs:             selector.IDs(),
 		AllowEmpty:              cfg.AllowEmpty,
 		InputSegmentCount:       inputSegmentCount,
 		RetainedSegmentCount:    len(trimmed.OldToNewID),
 		RemovedSegmentCount:     len(trimmed.RemovedIDs),
 		RemovedInputIDs:         append([]int(nil), trimmed.RemovedIDs...),
 		OldToNewIDMapping:       orderedIDMapping(trimmed.OldToNewID),
 		OverlapGroupsRecomputed: trimmed.OverlapGroupsRecomputed,
 	}
 	auditJSON, err := json.Marshal(audit)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("marshal trim audit report: %w", err)
 	}
 	rpt := report.Report{
 		Metadata: report.Metadata{
 			Application:   outputArtifact.Application(),
 			Version:       outputArtifact.Version(),
 			InputReader:   "trim-artifact",
 			InputFiles:    []string{cfg.InputFile},
 			OutputModules: []string{"json"},
 		},
 		Events: []report.Event{
 			report.Info("trim", "trim", fmt.Sprintf("trimmed %d input segment(s) into %d output segment(s) with mode=%s", inputSegmentCount, outputArtifact.SegmentCount(), cfg.Mode)),
 			report.Info("trim", "trim-audit", string(auditJSON)),
 			report.Info("trim", "validate-output", fmt.Sprintf("validated %d output segment(s)", outputArtifact.SegmentCount())),
 			report.Info("output", "json", "wrote transcript JSON"),
 		},
 	}
 	if err := report.WriteJSON(cfg.ReportFile, rpt); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 func orderedIDMapping(mapping map[int]int) []idMapping {
 	keys := make([]int, 0, len(mapping))
 	for oldID := range mapping {
 		keys = append(keys, oldID)
 	}
 	sort.Ints(keys)
 	pairs := make([]idMapping, 0, len(keys))
 	for _, oldID := range keys {
 		pairs = append(pairs, idMapping{
 			OldID: oldID,
 			NewID: mapping[oldID],
 		})
 	}
 	return pairs
 }
--- a/internal/trim/run_test.go
+++ b/internal/trim/run_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/internal/config"
 )
 func TestRunReturnsContextErrorBeforeWork(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	cancel()
 	err := Run(ctx, config.TrimConfig{
 		InputFile:    filepath.Join(dir, "input.json"),
 		OutputFile:   filepath.Join(dir, "output.json"),
 		Mode:         "keep",
 		Selector:     "1",
 		OutputSchema: "",
 		AllowEmpty:   false,
 	})
 	if !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
 		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want context.Canceled", err)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/trim/selector.go
+++ b/internal/trim/selector.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 )
 var selectorElementPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^([+-]?\d+)(?:\s*-\s*([+-]?\d+))?$`)
 // Selector represents a normalized union of segment IDs.
 type Selector struct {
 	ranges []idRange
 }
 type idRange struct {
 	start int
 	end   int
 }
 // ParseSelector parses an inline segment selector expression.
 func ParseSelector(input string) (Selector, error) {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(input) == "" {
 		return Selector{}, fmt.Errorf("selector cannot be empty")
 	}
 	parts := strings.Split(input, ",")
 	ranges := make([]idRange, 0, len(parts))
 	for index, raw := range parts {
 		element := strings.TrimSpace(raw)
 		if element == "" {
 			return Selector{}, fmt.Errorf("selector element %d cannot be empty", index+1)
 		}
 		rangeValue, err := parseElement(element)
 		if err != nil {
 			return Selector{}, fmt.Errorf("selector element %d %q: %w", index+1, element, err)
 		}
 		ranges = append(ranges, rangeValue)
 	}
 	normalized := normalizeRanges(ranges)
 	if len(normalized) == 0 {
 		return Selector{}, fmt.Errorf("selector cannot be empty")
 	}
 	return Selector{ranges: normalized}, nil
 }
 // Contains returns true when id is included by this selector.
 func (s Selector) Contains(id int) bool {
 	if id <= 0 {
 		return false
 	}
 	index := sort.Search(len(s.ranges), func(i int) bool {
 		return s.ranges[i].end >= id
 	})
 	if index == len(s.ranges) {
 		return false
 	}
 	rangeValue := s.ranges[index]
 	return id >= rangeValue.start && id <= rangeValue.end
 }
 // IDs returns a deterministic ascending list of unique segment IDs.
 func (s Selector) IDs() []int {
 	total := 0
 	for _, rangeValue := range s.ranges {
 		total += rangeValue.end - rangeValue.start + 1
 	}
 	ids := make([]int, 0, total)
 	for _, rangeValue := range s.ranges {
 		for id := rangeValue.start; id <= rangeValue.end; id++ {
 			ids = append(ids, id)
 		}
 	}
 	return ids
 }
 func parseElement(element string) (idRange, error) {
 	matches := selectorElementPattern.FindStringSubmatch(element)
 	if matches == nil {
 		return idRange{}, fmt.Errorf("malformed element")
 	}
 	start, err := parseID(matches[1])
 	if err != nil {
 		return idRange{}, err
 	}
 	if matches[2] == "" {
 		return idRange{start: start, end: start}, nil
 	}
 	end, err := parseID(matches[2])
 	if err != nil {
 		return idRange{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid range end: %w", err)
 	}
 	if start > end {
 		return idRange{}, fmt.Errorf("descending range %d-%d is invalid", start, end)
 	}
 	return idRange{start: start, end: end}, nil
 }
 func parseID(value string) (int, error) {
 	value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
 	if value == "" {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("missing segment ID")
 	}
 	id, err := strconv.Atoi(value)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("segment ID must be an integer")
 	}
 	if id <= 0 {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("segment ID must be positive")
 	}
 	return id, nil
 }
 func normalizeRanges(in []idRange) []idRange {
 	if len(in) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 	sorted := make([]idRange, len(in))
 	copy(sorted, in)
 	sort.Slice(sorted, func(i, j int) bool {
 		if sorted[i].start == sorted[j].start {
 			return sorted[i].end < sorted[j].end
 		}
 		return sorted[i].start < sorted[j].start
 	})
 	merged := make([]idRange, 0, len(sorted))
 	for _, next := range sorted {
 		if len(merged) == 0 {
 			merged = append(merged, next)
 			continue
 		}
 		last := &merged[len(merged)-1]
 		if next.start <= last.end+1 {
 			if next.end > last.end {
 				last.end = next.end
 			}
 			continue
 		}
 		merged = append(merged, next)
 	}
 	return merged
 }
--- a/internal/trim/selector_test.go
+++ b/internal/trim/selector_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
 package trim
 import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 func TestParseSelectorSingleID(t *testing.T) {
 	selector, err := ParseSelector("1")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertIDs(t, selector, []int{1})
 	assertContains(t, selector, map[int]bool{1: true, 2: false, 0: false, -1: false})
 }
 func TestParseSelectorInclusiveRange(t *testing.T) {
 	selector, err := ParseSelector("1-3")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertIDs(t, selector, []int{1, 2, 3})
 }
 func TestParseSelectorCommaSeparatedCombination(t *testing.T) {
 	selector, err := ParseSelector("1-3,8,10-12")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertIDs(t, selector, []int{1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12})
 }
 func TestParseSelectorWhitespaceTolerance(t *testing.T) {
 	selector, err := ParseSelector(" 1 - 3 ,  8 , 10 - 12 ")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertIDs(t, selector, []int{1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12})
 }
 func TestParseSelectorDuplicatesAndOverlapsNormalizeUnion(t *testing.T) {
 	selector, err := ParseSelector("1-4,2,4,3-6,6")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertIDs(t, selector, []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6})
 	assertContains(t, selector, map[int]bool{1: true, 5: true, 6: true, 7: false})
 }
 func TestParseSelectorDeterministicNormalizedOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	left, err := ParseSelector("8,1-3,2,10-12")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse left failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	right, err := ParseSelector("10-12,3,2,1,8")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("parse right failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	leftIDs := left.IDs()
 	rightIDs := right.IDs()
 	if !equalInts(leftIDs, rightIDs) {
 		t.Fatalf("normalized IDs mismatch: %v vs %v", leftIDs, rightIDs)
 	}
 }
 func TestParseSelectorFailures(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name      string
 		selector  string
 		wantError string
 	}{
 		{name: "empty", selector: "", wantError: "cannot be empty"},
 		{name: "whitespace only", selector: "   ", wantError: "cannot be empty"},
 		{name: "zero", selector: "0", wantError: "must be positive"},
 		{name: "negative", selector: "-1", wantError: "must be positive"},
 		{name: "range includes zero", selector: "0-2", wantError: "must be positive"},
 		{name: "descending range", selector: "10-1", wantError: "descending range"},
 		{name: "empty element", selector: "1,,2", wantError: "cannot be empty"},
 		{name: "trailing comma", selector: "1,", wantError: "cannot be empty"},
 		{name: "malformed alpha", selector: "abc", wantError: "malformed element"},
 		{name: "malformed range", selector: "1-2-3", wantError: "malformed element"},
 		{name: "missing end", selector: "1-", wantError: "malformed element"},
 		{name: "missing start", selector: "-2", wantError: "must be positive"},
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			_, err := ParseSelector(test.selector)
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatalf("expected error for %q", test.selector)
 			}
 			if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), test.wantError) {
 				t.Fatalf("error = %q, want substring %q", err.Error(), test.wantError)
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }
 func assertIDs(t *testing.T, selector Selector, want []int) {
 	t.Helper()
 	got := selector.IDs()
 	if !equalInts(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("IDs = %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
 }
 func assertContains(t *testing.T, selector Selector, checks map[int]bool) {
 	t.Helper()
 	for id, want := range checks {
 		if got := selector.Contains(id); got != want {
 			t.Fatalf("Contains(%d) = %t, want %t", id, got, want)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func equalInts(left []int, right []int) bool {
 	if len(left) != len(right) {
 		return false
 	}
 	for index := range left {
 		if left[index] != right[index] {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
 	return true
 }
--- a/schema/full-output.schema.json
+++ b/schema/full-output.schema.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
-  "$id": "https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema/output.schema.json",
+  "$id": "https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema/full-output.schema.json",
  "title": "seriatim full output transcript",
  "type": "object",
  "additionalProperties": false,
--- a/schema/intermediate-output.schema.json
+++ b/schema/intermediate-output.schema.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
-  "$id": "https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema/default-output.schema.json",
+  "$id": "https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/seriatim/schema/intermediate-output.schema.json",
-  "title": "seriatim default output transcript",
+  "title": "seriatim intermediate output transcript",
  "type": "object",
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "required": ["metadata", "segments"],
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
      "properties": {
        "application": { "type": "string" },
        "version": { "type": "string" },
-        "output_schema": { "type": "string", "const": "default" }
+        "output_schema": { "type": "string", "const": "seriatim-intermediate" }
      }
    },
    "segments": {
--- a/schema/minimal-output.schema.json
+++ b/schema/minimal-output.schema.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
      "properties": {
        "application": { "type": "string" },
        "version": { "type": "string" },
-        "output_schema": { "type": "string", "const": "minimal" }
+        "output_schema": { "type": "string", "const": "seriatim-minimal" }
      }
    },
    "segments": {
--- a/schema/output.go
+++ b/schema/output.go
@@ -14,9 +14,13 @@ import (
 var schemaFS embed.FS
 const (
-	outputSchemaPath        = "output.schema.json"
+	OutputSchemaMinimal      = "seriatim-minimal"
-	defaultOutputSchemaPath = "default-output.schema.json"
+	OutputSchemaIntermediate = "seriatim-intermediate"
-	minimalOutputSchemaPath = "minimal-output.schema.json"
+	OutputSchemaFull         = "seriatim-full"
 	fullOutputSchemaPath         = "full-output.schema.json"
 	intermediateOutputSchemaPath = "intermediate-output.schema.json"
 	minimalOutputSchemaPath      = "minimal-output.schema.json"
 )
 var (
@@ -32,10 +36,10 @@ type Transcript struct {
 	OverlapGroups []OverlapGroup `json:"overlap_groups"`
 }
-// DefaultTranscript is seriatim's default public JSON output contract.
+// IntermediateTranscript is seriatim's intermediate public JSON output contract.
-type DefaultTranscript struct {
+type IntermediateTranscript struct {
-	Metadata DefaultMetadata  `json:"metadata"`
+	Metadata IntermediateMetadata  `json:"metadata"`
-	Segments []DefaultSegment `json:"segments"`
+	Segments []IntermediateSegment `json:"segments"`
 }
 // MinimalTranscript is seriatim's compact public JSON output contract.
@@ -55,8 +59,8 @@ type Metadata struct {
 	OutputModules         []string `json:"output_modules"`
 }
-// DefaultMetadata records default artifact identity.
+// IntermediateMetadata records intermediate artifact identity.
-type DefaultMetadata struct {
+type IntermediateMetadata struct {
 	Application  string `json:"application"`
 	Version      string `json:"version"`
 	OutputSchema string `json:"output_schema"`
@@ -84,9 +88,9 @@ type Segment struct {
 	OverlapGroupID     int      `json:"overlap_group_id,omitempty"`
 }
-// DefaultSegment is the compact public transcript segment shape with
+// IntermediateSegment is the compact public transcript segment shape with
 // categories.
-type DefaultSegment struct {
+type IntermediateSegment struct {
 	ID         int      `json:"id"`
 	Start      float64  `json:"start"`
 	End        float64  `json:"end"`
@@ -115,7 +119,26 @@ type OverlapGroup struct {
 	Resolution string   `json:"resolution"`
 }
-// ValidateTranscript validates a typed transcript against the public JSON
+// ValidOutputSchemaName reports whether value is a supported output schema name.
 func ValidOutputSchemaName(value string) bool {
 	switch value {
 	case OutputSchemaMinimal, OutputSchemaIntermediate, OutputSchemaFull:
 		return true
 	default:
 		return false
 	}
 }
 // OutputSchemaNames returns supported output schema names in validation order.
 func OutputSchemaNames() []string {
 	return []string{
 		OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		OutputSchemaFull,
 	}
 }
 // ValidateTranscript validates a full transcript against the public JSON
 // schema and seriatim-specific semantic rules.
 func ValidateTranscript(transcript Transcript) error {
 	if err := validateSemantics(transcript); err != nil {
@@ -129,18 +152,18 @@ func ValidateTranscript(transcript Transcript) error {
 	return ValidateJSON(data)
 }
-// ValidateDefaultTranscript validates the default transcript against the
+// ValidateIntermediateTranscript validates the intermediate transcript against
-// default JSON schema and seriatim-specific semantic rules.
+// the intermediate JSON schema and seriatim-specific semantic rules.
-func ValidateDefaultTranscript(transcript DefaultTranscript) error {
+func ValidateIntermediateTranscript(transcript IntermediateTranscript) error {
-	if err := validateDefaultSemantics(transcript); err != nil {
+	if err := validateIntermediateSemantics(transcript); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	data, err := json.Marshal(transcript)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("marshal default transcript for schema validation: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("marshal intermediate transcript for schema validation: %w", err)
 	}
-	return ValidateDefaultJSON(data)
+	return ValidateIntermediateJSON(data)
 }
 // ValidateMinimalTranscript validates a minimal transcript against the minimal
@@ -159,13 +182,13 @@ func ValidateMinimalTranscript(transcript MinimalTranscript) error {
 // ValidateJSON validates serialized output JSON against the public schema.
 func ValidateJSON(data []byte) error {
-	return validateJSONWithSchema(data, outputSchemaPath)
+	return validateJSONWithSchema(data, fullOutputSchemaPath)
 }
-// ValidateDefaultJSON validates serialized default output JSON against the
+// ValidateIntermediateJSON validates serialized intermediate output JSON
-// default public schema.
+// against the intermediate public schema.
-func ValidateDefaultJSON(data []byte) error {
+func ValidateIntermediateJSON(data []byte) error {
-	return validateJSONWithSchema(data, defaultOutputSchemaPath)
+	return validateJSONWithSchema(data, intermediateOutputSchemaPath)
 }
 // ValidateMinimalJSON validates serialized minimal output JSON against the
@@ -228,15 +251,17 @@ func outputSchema(schemaPath string) (*jsonschema.Schema, error) {
 }
 func validateSemantics(transcript Transcript) error {
 	segments := make([]segmentSemantics, len(transcript.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range transcript.Segments {
-		wantID := index + 1
+		segments[index] = segmentSemantics{
-		if segment.ID != wantID {
+			id:    segment.ID,
-			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has id %d; want %d", index, segment.ID, wantID)
+			start: segment.Start,
-		}
+			end:   segment.End,
 		if segment.End < segment.Start {
 			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has end %.3f before start %.3f", index, segment.End, segment.Start)
 		}
 	}
 	if err := validateSegmentSemantics(segments); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	for index, group := range transcript.OverlapGroups {
 		if group.End < group.Start {
 			return fmt.Errorf("overlap_group %d has end %.3f before start %.3f", index, group.End, group.Start)
@@ -245,27 +270,44 @@ func validateSemantics(transcript Transcript) error {
 	return nil
 }
-func validateDefaultSemantics(transcript DefaultTranscript) error {
+func validateIntermediateSemantics(transcript IntermediateTranscript) error {
 	segments := make([]segmentSemantics, len(transcript.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range transcript.Segments {
-		wantID := index + 1
+		segments[index] = segmentSemantics{
-		if segment.ID != wantID {
+			id:    segment.ID,
-			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has id %d; want %d", index, segment.ID, wantID)
+			start: segment.Start,
-		}
+			end:   segment.End,
 		if segment.End < segment.Start {
 			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has end %.3f before start %.3f", index, segment.End, segment.Start)
 		}
 	}
-	return nil
+	return validateSegmentSemantics(segments)
 }
 func validateMinimalSemantics(transcript MinimalTranscript) error {
 	segments := make([]segmentSemantics, len(transcript.Segments))
 	for index, segment := range transcript.Segments {
-		wantID := index + 1
+		segments[index] = segmentSemantics{
-		if segment.ID != wantID {
+			id:    segment.ID,
-			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has id %d; want %d", index, segment.ID, wantID)
+			start: segment.Start,
 			end:   segment.End,
 		}
-		if segment.End < segment.Start {
+	}
-			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has end %.3f before start %.3f", index, segment.End, segment.Start)
+	return validateSegmentSemantics(segments)
 }
 type segmentSemantics struct {
 	id    int
 	start float64
 	end   float64
 }
 func validateSegmentSemantics(segments []segmentSemantics) error {
 	for index, segment := range segments {
 		wantID := index + 1
 		if segment.id != wantID {
 			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has id %d; want %d", index, segment.id, wantID)
 		}
 		if segment.end < segment.start {
 			return fmt.Errorf("segment %d has end %.3f before start %.3f", index, segment.end, segment.start)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
--- a/schema/output_test.go
+++ b/schema/output_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,43 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 func TestValidOutputSchemaName(t *testing.T) {
 	valid := []string{
 		OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		OutputSchemaFull,
 	}
 	for _, name := range valid {
 		if !ValidOutputSchemaName(name) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected %q to be valid", name)
 		}
 	}
 	invalid := []string{"", "compact", "minimal", "seriatim"}
 	for _, name := range invalid {
 		if ValidOutputSchemaName(name) {
 			t.Fatalf("expected %q to be invalid", name)
 		}
 	}
 }
 func TestOutputSchemaNames(t *testing.T) {
 	names := OutputSchemaNames()
 	want := []string{
 		OutputSchemaMinimal,
 		OutputSchemaIntermediate,
 		OutputSchemaFull,
 	}
 	if len(names) != len(want) {
 		t.Fatalf("len(names) = %d, want %d", len(names), len(want))
 	}
 	for index := range want {
 		if names[index] != want[index] {
 			t.Fatalf("names[%d] = %q, want %q", index, names[index], want[index])
 		}
 	}
 }
 func TestValidateTranscriptAcceptsValidTranscript(t *testing.T) {
 	transcript := validTranscript()
@@ -21,11 +58,11 @@ func TestValidateMinimalTranscriptAcceptsValidTranscript(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestValidateDefaultTranscriptAcceptsValidTranscript(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateIntermediateTranscriptAcceptsValidTranscript(t *testing.T) {
-	transcript := validDefaultTranscript()
+	transcript := validIntermediateTranscript()
-	if err := ValidateDefaultTranscript(transcript); err != nil {
+	if err := ValidateIntermediateTranscript(transcript); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("validate default transcript: %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("validate intermediate transcript: %v", err)
 	}
 }
@@ -34,7 +71,7 @@ func TestValidateMinimalJSONRejectsMissingRequiredField(t *testing.T) {
 		"metadata": {
 			"application": "seriatim",
 			"version": "dev",
-			"output_schema": "minimal"
+				"output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"
 		}
 	}`))
 	assertErrorContains(t, err, "segments")
@@ -45,7 +82,7 @@ func TestValidateMinimalJSONRejectsWrongFieldType(t *testing.T) {
 		"metadata": {
 			"application": "seriatim",
 			"version": "dev",
-			"output_schema": "minimal"
+				"output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"
 		},
 		"segments": [
 			{
@@ -68,7 +105,7 @@ func TestValidateMinimalJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "top-level overlap groups",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "minimal"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"},
 				"segments": [],
 				"overlap_groups": []
 			}`,
@@ -76,28 +113,28 @@ func TestValidateMinimalJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "segment source",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "minimal"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "source": "input.json", "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello"}]
 			}`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "segment categories",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "minimal"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello", "categories": ["backchannel"]}]
 			}`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "segment derived from",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "minimal"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello", "derived_from": ["input.json#0"]}]
 			}`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "segment words",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "minimal"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-minimal"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello", "words": []}]
 			}`,
 		},
@@ -111,24 +148,24 @@ func TestValidateMinimalJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsMissingRequiredField(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateIntermediateJSONRejectsMissingRequiredField(t *testing.T) {
-	err := ValidateDefaultJSON([]byte(`{
+	err := ValidateIntermediateJSON([]byte(`{
-		"metadata": {
+			"metadata": {
-			"application": "seriatim",
+				"application": "seriatim",
-			"version": "dev",
+				"version": "dev",
-			"output_schema": "default"
+				"output_schema": "seriatim-intermediate"
-		}
+			}
-	}`))
+		}`))
 	assertErrorContains(t, err, "segments")
 }
-func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsWrongFieldType(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateIntermediateJSONRejectsWrongFieldType(t *testing.T) {
-	err := ValidateDefaultJSON([]byte(`{
+	err := ValidateIntermediateJSON([]byte(`{
-		"metadata": {
+			"metadata": {
-			"application": "seriatim",
+				"application": "seriatim",
-			"version": "dev",
+				"version": "dev",
-			"output_schema": "default"
+				"output_schema": "seriatim-intermediate"
-		},
+			},
 		"segments": [
 			{
 				"id": "1",
@@ -142,7 +179,7 @@ func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsWrongFieldType(t *testing.T) {
 	assertErrorContains(t, err, "id")
 }
-func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateIntermediateJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name string
 		json string
@@ -150,7 +187,7 @@ func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "top-level overlap groups",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "default"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-intermediate"},
 				"segments": [],
 				"overlap_groups": []
 			}`,
@@ -158,21 +195,21 @@ func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "segment source",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "default"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-intermediate"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "source": "input.json", "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello"}]
 			}`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "segment derived from",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "default"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-intermediate"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello", "derived_from": ["input.json#0"]}]
 			}`,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "segment words",
 			json: `{
-				"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "default"},
+					"metadata": {"application": "seriatim", "version": "dev", "output_schema": "seriatim-intermediate"},
 				"segments": [{"id": 1, "start": 1, "end": 2, "speaker": "Alice", "text": "hello", "words": []}]
 			}`,
 		},
@@ -180,7 +217,7 @@ func TestValidateDefaultJSONRejectsUnexpectedFields(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			err := ValidateDefaultJSON([]byte(test.json))
+			err := ValidateIntermediateJSON([]byte(test.json))
 			assertErrorContains(t, err, "additional properties")
 		})
 	}
@@ -267,7 +304,7 @@ func TestValidateJSONRejectsUnexpectedInternalFields(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
-func TestValidateDefaultTranscriptRejectsMissingOrNonSequentialIDs(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateIntermediateTranscriptRejectsMissingOrNonSequentialIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name string
 		ids  []int
@@ -280,10 +317,10 @@ func TestValidateDefaultTranscriptRejectsMissingOrNonSequentialIDs(t *testing.T)
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			transcript := validDefaultTranscript()
+			transcript := validIntermediateTranscript()
 			transcript.Segments = transcript.Segments[:0]
 			for index, id := range test.ids {
-				transcript.Segments = append(transcript.Segments, DefaultSegment{
+				transcript.Segments = append(transcript.Segments, IntermediateSegment{
 					ID:      id,
 					Start:   float64(index),
 					End:     float64(index) + 1,
@@ -292,18 +329,18 @@ func TestValidateDefaultTranscriptRejectsMissingOrNonSequentialIDs(t *testing.T)
 				})
 			}
-			err := ValidateDefaultTranscript(transcript)
+			err := ValidateIntermediateTranscript(transcript)
 			assertErrorContains(t, err, test.want)
 		})
 	}
 }
-func TestValidateDefaultTranscriptRejectsInvalidTiming(t *testing.T) {
+func TestValidateIntermediateTranscriptRejectsInvalidTiming(t *testing.T) {
-	transcript := validDefaultTranscript()
+	transcript := validIntermediateTranscript()
 	transcript.Segments[0].Start = 2
 	transcript.Segments[0].End = 1
-	err := ValidateDefaultTranscript(transcript)
+	err := ValidateIntermediateTranscript(transcript)
 	assertErrorContains(t, err, "segment 0 has end")
 }
@@ -411,7 +448,7 @@ func validMinimalTranscript() MinimalTranscript {
 		Metadata: MinimalMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "dev",
-			OutputSchema: "minimal",
+			OutputSchema: "seriatim-minimal",
 		},
 		Segments: []MinimalSegment{
 			{
@@ -425,14 +462,14 @@ func validMinimalTranscript() MinimalTranscript {
 	}
 }
-func validDefaultTranscript() DefaultTranscript {
+func validIntermediateTranscript() IntermediateTranscript {
-	return DefaultTranscript{
+	return IntermediateTranscript{
-		Metadata: DefaultMetadata{
+		Metadata: IntermediateMetadata{
 			Application:  "seriatim",
 			Version:      "dev",
-			OutputSchema: "default",
+			OutputSchema: "seriatim-intermediate",
 		},
-		Segments: []DefaultSegment{
+		Segments: []IntermediateSegment{
 			{
 				ID:         1,
 				Start:      1,
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Eric Rakestraw	f40d4add91	Refresh docs for finalized cleanup architecture	2026-05-24 15:11:11 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	16bb12face	Complete cleanup sweep and align internal artifact docs	2026-05-24 15:08:03 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	f18e2428dc	Reduce config test setup duplication with option builders	2026-05-24 15:06:35 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	3b64e784a1	Deduplicate schema segment semantics validation	2026-05-24 15:04:33 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	3744d229a2	Centralize segment reference fallback in model	2026-05-24 15:03:15 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	9bbe1fb7f1	Extract shared CLI flag wiring helpers	2026-05-24 15:01:33 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	b7a66f6cc4	Refactor single-input config path normalization helpers	2026-05-24 14:59:14 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	c8efdb53d3	Centralize deterministic JSON file writing	2026-05-24 14:57:12 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	ab4b252b08	Move trim command orchestration into internal trim package	2026-05-24 14:54:54 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	e9028e08a4	Unify trim selector projection across output schemas	2026-05-24 14:52:08 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	332884f887	Centralize output schema names in schema package	2026-05-24 14:49:18 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	e5173c78fe	Added a staged roadmap to address the issues identified by the code audit	2026-05-24 09:41:03 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	546be2ab92	Remove the completed documentation roadmap	2026-05-24 09:33:51 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	7743b397a6	Audit code quality and deduplication opportunities	2026-05-24 09:32:54 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	d23a95471c	Remove stale root architecture doc and finalize documentation links	2026-05-24 13:46:06 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	f8ab117bfc	Add integration docs and synthetic command examples	2026-05-24 13:43:47 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	88018c9e76	Add development policy and internal implementation documentation	2026-05-24 13:38:27 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	b3e7dc3136	Add operations and troubleshooting documentation	2026-05-24 13:34:51 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	385c62a5b4	Create canonical CLI and config docs and simplify README	2026-05-24 13:31:17 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	7d9bf33d18	Refine documentation roadmap and record implementation validation	2026-05-24 13:27:01 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	b7cc5fb980	Added the standard documentation policy and a roadmap for adding documentation	2026-05-24 08:19:39 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	b20438acf0	Updated the normalize command to correct common errors in WhisperX-generated input transcripts All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-16 23:05:42 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	6dbb7ab17e	Review normalize command architecture All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-09 12:38:06 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	3591041fa8	Document normalize command	2026-05-09 12:35:48 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	5b008e272c	Add normalize report diagnostics	2026-05-09 12:34:37 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	6c780f6293	Implement normalize output conversion	2026-05-09 12:32:18 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	c132f3fd5d	Add normalize input parsing	2026-05-09 12:29:12 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	3679435063	Add normalize command scaffold	2026-05-09 12:26:47 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	e6d3b4a46e	Harden trim integration All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-08 15:00:46 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	54f7717de8	Document trim command	2026-05-08 14:57:52 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	c48b02d2ec	Add trim report output	2026-05-08 14:56:24 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	ac3dcf2557	Add trim CLI command	2026-05-08 14:53:59 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	1c0e4438ae	Recompute overlap groups during trim	2026-05-08 14:47:52 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	52f7729100	Add artifact trim transformation	2026-05-08 14:44:31 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	2c82f8bf5c	Add trim selector parsing	2026-05-08 14:41:47 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	d865bda4a9	Updated .gitignore to ignore .codex and related files	2026-05-08 14:36:00 +00:00
Eric Rakestraw	f20f06db12	Bugfixes and documentation cleanup for v1.0 release. All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-01 11:30:29 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	c9e98e14b5	Fixed a bug with respect to checksum generation for the Woodpecker release pipeline All checks were successful ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline was successful Details	2026-05-01 10:51:14 -05:00
Eric Rakestraw	be6a53bbbd	Bugfixes in the Woodpecker release pipeline Some checks failed ci/woodpecker/tag/release Pipeline failed Details	2026-05-01 10:34:48 -05:00
`@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@`
	`Copyright (c) 2026 eric.`	`Copyright (c) 2026 Eric Rakestraw.`

	`Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:`	`Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:`