diff --git a/internal/app/output.go b/internal/app/output.go
index 0153a91..ca44f3e 100644
--- a/internal/app/output.go
+++ b/internal/app/output.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/weatherreporter/internal/comparison"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/weatherreporter/internal/report"
 )
 
@@ -51,6 +52,35 @@ func resolveOutputDirWithConfigured(workingDir, override, configuredDir string)
 	return resolveOutputDir(workingDir, directory)
 }
 
+func resolveComparisonOutputDirectory(workingDir, override, configuredDir, reportOutputName string) (string, error) {
+	workingDir, err := validateWorkingDir(workingDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if override != "" {
+		return resolveComparisonDirectoryPath(workingDir, override)
+	}
+	outputDir, err := resolveOutputDir(workingDir, configuredDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	name, err := comparison.DefaultDirectoryName(reportOutputName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return filepath.Join(outputDir, name), nil
+}
+
+func resolveComparisonDirectoryPath(workingDir, directory string) (string, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(directory) == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("comparison output directory is required")
+	}
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(directory) {
+		directory = filepath.Join(workingDir, directory)
+	}
+	return filepath.Clean(directory), nil
+}
+
 func resolveOutputDir(workingDir, override string) (string, error) {
 	workingDir, err := validateWorkingDir(workingDir)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/app/output_test.go b/internal/app/output_test.go
index 9379ea5..aedacbc 100644
--- a/internal/app/output_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/output_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,43 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
+func TestResolveComparisonOutputDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDir := t.TempDir()
+	configured := filepath.Join(workingDir, "configured")
+	blocked := filepath.Join(workingDir, "not-a-directory")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(blocked, []byte("blocked"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name             string
+		override         string
+		configuredDir    string
+		reportOutputName string
+		want             string
+		wantErr          bool
+	}{
+		{name: "working directory default", reportOutputName: "today.md", want: filepath.Join(workingDir, "comparison-today")},
+		{name: "configured relative directory", configuredDir: "configured", reportOutputName: "tomorrow.md", want: filepath.Join(configured, "comparison-tomorrow")},
+		{name: "configured absolute directory", configuredDir: configured, reportOutputName: "hourly.md", want: filepath.Join(configured, "comparison-hourly")},
+		{name: "relative explicit directory", override: "exact", configuredDir: blocked, reportOutputName: "daily-2026-08-24.md", want: filepath.Join(workingDir, "exact")},
+		{name: "absolute explicit directory", override: filepath.Join(workingDir, "absolute"), reportOutputName: "today.md", want: filepath.Join(workingDir, "absolute")},
+		{name: "invalid report suffix", reportOutputName: "today.txt", wantErr: true},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := resolveComparisonOutputDirectory(workingDir, test.override, test.configuredDir, test.reportOutputName)
+			if (err != nil) != test.wantErr {
+				t.Fatalf("resolveComparisonOutputDirectory() error = %v, want error %t", err, test.wantErr)
+			}
+			if !test.wantErr && got != test.want {
+				t.Fatalf("resolveComparisonOutputDirectory() = %q, want %q", got, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestResolveOutputDirRejectsDanglingSymlinkComponents(t *testing.T) {
 	workingDir := t.TempDir()
 	dangling := filepath.Join(workingDir, "dangling")
diff --git a/internal/comparison/publish.go b/internal/comparison/publish.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ade9dea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/comparison/publish.go
@@ -0,0 +1,394 @@
+package comparison
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// DestinationErrorKind identifies a comparison destination safety failure.
+type DestinationErrorKind string
+
+const (
+	DestinationInvalidPath      DestinationErrorKind = "invalid_path"
+	DestinationFilesystemRoot   DestinationErrorKind = "filesystem_root"
+	DestinationWorkingDirectory DestinationErrorKind = "working_directory"
+	DestinationSymlink          DestinationErrorKind = "symlink"
+	DestinationNotDirectory     DestinationErrorKind = "not_directory"
+	DestinationNotEmpty         DestinationErrorKind = "not_empty"
+	DestinationUnrecognized     DestinationErrorKind = "unrecognized"
+	DestinationInspection       DestinationErrorKind = "inspection"
+)
+
+// DestinationError provides inspectable context without making filesystem
+// implementation details part of a manifest or command-result schema.
+type DestinationError struct {
+	Kind   DestinationErrorKind
+	Target string
+	Err    error
+}
+
+func (err *DestinationError) Error() string {
+	if err.Err == nil {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("comparison destination %q is %s", err.Target, err.Kind)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("comparison destination %q is %s: %v", err.Target, err.Kind, err.Err)
+}
+
+func (err *DestinationError) Unwrap() error {
+	return err.Err
+}
+
+// DestinationPlan records a preflighted, exact bundle directory. Callers must
+// pass it to Publish rather than recreating destination policy themselves.
+type DestinationPlan struct {
+	WorkingDirectory string
+	Target           string
+	Replace          bool
+	Exists           bool
+}
+
+// ErrUnrecognizedBundle marks a directory that is not a valid current-schema
+// Weatherreporter comparison bundle.
+var ErrUnrecognizedBundle = errors.New("unrecognized comparison bundle")
+
+// PlanDestination performs the read-only comparison destination preflight.
+func PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target string, replace bool) (DestinationPlan, error) {
+	workingDirectory, err := absoluteCleanPath(workingDirectory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationInvalidPath, workingDirectory, err)
+	}
+	target, err = absoluteCleanPath(target)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationInvalidPath, target, err)
+	}
+	if filepath.Dir(target) == target {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationFilesystemRoot, target, nil)
+	}
+	if target == workingDirectory {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationWorkingDirectory, target, nil)
+	}
+
+	plan := DestinationPlan{WorkingDirectory: workingDirectory, Target: target, Replace: replace}
+	info, err := os.Lstat(target)
+	if err != nil {
+		if !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationInspection, target, err)
+		}
+		if err := inspectMissingDestinationParent(target); err != nil {
+			return DestinationPlan{}, err
+		}
+		return plan, nil
+	}
+	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationSymlink, target, nil)
+	}
+	if !info.IsDir() {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationNotDirectory, target, nil)
+	}
+
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(target)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationInspection, target, err)
+	}
+	if len(entries) == 0 {
+		plan.Exists = true
+		return plan, nil
+	}
+	if !replace {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationNotEmpty, target, nil)
+	}
+	if _, err := RecognizeBundle(target); err != nil {
+		return DestinationPlan{}, newDestinationError(DestinationUnrecognized, target, err)
+	}
+	plan.Exists = true
+	return plan, nil
+}
+
+func absoluteCleanPath(value string) (string, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(value) == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("path is required")
+	}
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(value) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("path %q must be absolute", value)
+	}
+	return filepath.Clean(value), nil
+}
+
+func inspectMissingDestinationParent(target string) error {
+	for parent := filepath.Dir(target); ; parent = filepath.Dir(parent) {
+		info, err := os.Lstat(parent)
+		if err == nil {
+			if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 {
+				resolved, statErr := os.Stat(parent)
+				if statErr != nil {
+					return newDestinationError(DestinationInspection, target, statErr)
+				}
+				if !resolved.IsDir() {
+					return newDestinationError(DestinationNotDirectory, target, nil)
+				}
+				return nil
+			}
+			if !info.IsDir() {
+				return newDestinationError(DestinationNotDirectory, target, nil)
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+		if !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return newDestinationError(DestinationInspection, target, err)
+		}
+		if filepath.Dir(parent) == parent {
+			return newDestinationError(DestinationInspection, target, fmt.Errorf("no existing directory ancestor"))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func newDestinationError(kind DestinationErrorKind, target string, err error) error {
+	return &DestinationError{Kind: kind, Target: target, Err: err}
+}
+
+// RecognizeBundle verifies that directory contains exactly one valid current
+// comparison bundle. It never follows bundle entries through symlinks.
+func RecognizeBundle(directory string) (Manifest, error) {
+	info, err := os.Lstat(directory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("inspect directory", err)
+	}
+	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 || !info.IsDir() {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("directory is not a real directory", nil)
+	}
+
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(directory)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("read directory", err)
+	}
+	manifestData, err := readBundleFile(directory, ManifestFilename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, err
+	}
+	manifest, err := decodeManifest(manifestData)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, err
+	}
+	if err := manifest.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("validate manifest", err)
+	}
+
+	expected := map[string]struct{}{
+		ManifestFilename:    {},
+		DataPackageFilename: {},
+	}
+	for _, result := range manifest.Results {
+		if result.Status == StatusSucceeded {
+			expected[result.ReportPath] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+	if len(entries) != len(expected) {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("directory entries do not match manifest", nil)
+	}
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if _, ok := expected[entry.Name()]; !ok {
+			return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("directory has an undeclared entry", nil)
+		}
+		if _, err := readBundleFile(directory, entry.Name()); err != nil {
+			return Manifest{}, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	dataPackage, err := readBundleFile(directory, DataPackageFilename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, err
+	}
+	if SHA256(dataPackage) != manifest.DataPackage.SHA256 {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("data package digest does not match manifest", nil)
+	}
+	return manifest, nil
+}
+
+func readBundleFile(directory, name string) ([]byte, error) {
+	if !isArtifactBasename(name) {
+		return nil, unrecognizedBundleError("bundle entry name is unsafe", nil)
+	}
+	filePath := filepath.Join(directory, name)
+	info, err := os.Lstat(filePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, unrecognizedBundleError("inspect bundle entry", err)
+	}
+	if info.Mode()&os.ModeSymlink != 0 || !info.Mode().IsRegular() {
+		return nil, unrecognizedBundleError("bundle entry is not a regular file", nil)
+	}
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, unrecognizedBundleError("read bundle entry", err)
+	}
+	return data, nil
+}
+
+func decodeManifest(data []byte) (Manifest, error) {
+	decoder := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+	decoder.DisallowUnknownFields()
+	var manifest Manifest
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&manifest); err != nil {
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("decode manifest", err)
+	}
+	var trailing any
+	if err := decoder.Decode(&trailing); err != io.EOF {
+		if err == nil {
+			return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("manifest has multiple JSON values", nil)
+		}
+		return Manifest{}, unrecognizedBundleError("decode manifest", err)
+	}
+	return manifest, nil
+}
+
+func unrecognizedBundleError(action string, err error) error {
+	if err == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrUnrecognizedBundle, action)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: %v", ErrUnrecognizedBundle, action, err)
+}
+
+// Publish writes a complete logical bundle through a private sibling directory
+// and atomically installs it at a preflighted destination.
+func Publish(ctx context.Context, plan DestinationPlan, bundle LogicalBundle) error {
+	return publish(ctx, plan, bundle, publishOperations{rename: os.Rename})
+}
+
+type publishOperations struct {
+	rename       func(string, string) error
+	beforeCommit func()
+}
+
+func publish(ctx context.Context, plan DestinationPlan, bundle LogicalBundle, operations publishOperations) error {
+	if err := bundle.Validate(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("validate comparison bundle: %w", err)
+	}
+	manifestData, err := EncodeManifest(bundle.Manifest)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	plan, err = PlanDestination(plan.WorkingDirectory, plan.Target, plan.Replace)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(plan.Target), 0o755); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create comparison destination parent %q: %w", filepath.Dir(plan.Target), err)
+	}
+	temporaryDirectory, err := os.MkdirTemp(filepath.Dir(plan.Target), "."+filepath.Base(plan.Target)+".staging-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create comparison staging directory: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chmod(temporaryDirectory, 0o700); err != nil {
+		os.RemoveAll(temporaryDirectory)
+		return fmt.Errorf("secure comparison staging directory: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if temporaryDirectory != "" {
+			_ = os.RemoveAll(temporaryDirectory)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err := writeLogicalBundle(ctx, temporaryDirectory, bundle, manifestData); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	currentPlan, err := PlanDestination(plan.WorkingDirectory, plan.Target, plan.Replace)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if operations.beforeCommit != nil {
+		operations.beforeCommit()
+	}
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if !currentPlan.Exists {
+		if err := operations.rename(temporaryDirectory, currentPlan.Target); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("publish comparison bundle to %q: %w", currentPlan.Target, err)
+		}
+		temporaryDirectory = ""
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	backupDirectory, err := uniqueSiblingPath(filepath.Dir(currentPlan.Target), "."+filepath.Base(currentPlan.Target)+".backup-")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := operations.rename(currentPlan.Target, backupDirectory); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("back up comparison destination %q: %w", currentPlan.Target, err)
+	}
+	if err := operations.rename(temporaryDirectory, currentPlan.Target); err != nil {
+		restoreErr := operations.rename(backupDirectory, currentPlan.Target)
+		if restoreErr != nil {
+			return errors.Join(
+				fmt.Errorf("replace comparison destination %q: %w", currentPlan.Target, err),
+				fmt.Errorf("restore prior comparison destination from %q: %w", backupDirectory, restoreErr),
+			)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("replace comparison destination %q: %w", currentPlan.Target, err)
+	}
+	temporaryDirectory = ""
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(backupDirectory); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("remove comparison backup %q: %w", backupDirectory, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func writeLogicalBundle(ctx context.Context, directory string, bundle LogicalBundle, manifestData []byte) error {
+	if err := writeBundleFile(ctx, filepath.Join(directory, DataPackageFilename), bundle.DataPackage); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	for _, report := range bundle.Reports {
+		if err := writeBundleFile(ctx, filepath.Join(directory, report.Path), report.Markdown); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if err := writeBundleFile(ctx, filepath.Join(directory, ManifestFilename), manifestData); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func writeBundleFile(ctx context.Context, filePath string, content []byte) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	file, err := os.OpenFile(filePath, os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_EXCL, 0o600)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create comparison bundle file %q: %w", filePath, err)
+	}
+	if _, err := file.Write(content); err != nil {
+		file.Close()
+		return fmt.Errorf("write comparison bundle file %q: %w", filePath, err)
+	}
+	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("close comparison bundle file %q: %w", filePath, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func uniqueSiblingPath(parent, prefix string) (string, error) {
+	file, err := os.CreateTemp(parent, prefix)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("reserve comparison backup path: %w", err)
+	}
+	path := file.Name()
+	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
+		os.Remove(path)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("close comparison backup reservation: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Remove(path); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("release comparison backup reservation: %w", err)
+	}
+	return path, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/comparison/publish_test.go b/internal/comparison/publish_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c24b23c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/comparison/publish_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,439 @@
+package comparison
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestPlanDestination(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	absent := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "absent")
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, absent, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PlanDestination() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if plan.Target != absent || plan.Exists {
+		t.Fatalf("PlanDestination() = %#v, want absent target", plan)
+	}
+	nested := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "missing-parent", "comparison")
+	if _, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, nested, false); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PlanDestination(nested) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Dir(nested)); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		t.Fatalf("read-only plan created parent: stat error = %v", err)
+	}
+
+	empty := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "empty")
+	if err := os.Mkdir(empty, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	plan, err = PlanDestination(workingDirectory, empty, false)
+	if err != nil || !plan.Exists {
+		t.Fatalf("PlanDestination(empty) = %#v, %v", plan, err)
+	}
+
+	file := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "file")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(file, []byte("not a directory"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, file, false, DestinationNotDirectory)
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, workingDirectory, false, DestinationWorkingDirectory)
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, string(os.PathSeparator), false, DestinationFilesystemRoot)
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, "relative", false, DestinationInvalidPath)
+
+	link := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "link")
+	if err := os.Symlink(empty, link); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, link, false, DestinationSymlink)
+
+	dangling := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "dangling")
+	if err := os.Symlink(filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "missing"), dangling); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, dangling, false, DestinationSymlink)
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, filepath.Join(dangling, "child"), false, DestinationInspection)
+
+	nonempty := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "nonempty")
+	if err := os.Mkdir(nonempty, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(nonempty, "extra"), []byte("x"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, nonempty, false, DestinationNotEmpty)
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, nonempty, true, DestinationUnrecognized)
+}
+
+func TestPlanDestinationRejectsUnreadableDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
+		t.Skip("root can inspect directories regardless of mode")
+	}
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "unreadable")
+	if err := os.Mkdir(target, 0o700); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.Chmod(target, 0); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = os.Chmod(target, 0o700) })
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, target, false, DestinationInspection)
+}
+
+func TestRecognizeBundleRejectsUnsafeAndMalformedContents(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		mutate func(t *testing.T, directory string)
+	}{
+		{name: "extra file", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(directory, "extra.txt"), []byte("extra"), 0o600); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+		{name: "subdirectory", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			if err := os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(directory, "nested"), 0o700); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+		{name: "missing report", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			if err := os.Remove(filepath.Join(directory, "01-weather-light.md")); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+		{name: "symlink report", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			path := filepath.Join(directory, "01-weather-light.md")
+			if err := os.Remove(path); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if err := os.Symlink(filepath.Join(directory, DataPackageFilename), path); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+		{name: "digest mismatch", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(directory, DataPackageFilename), []byte("altered"), 0o600); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+		{name: "unknown manifest field", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			path := filepath.Join(directory, ManifestFilename)
+			data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			data = append(data[:len(data)-2], []byte(",\n  \"unknown\": true\n}\n")...)
+			if err := os.WriteFile(path, data, 0o600); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+		{name: "traversal report path", mutate: func(t *testing.T, directory string) {
+			t.Helper()
+			path := filepath.Join(directory, ManifestFilename)
+			data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			var manifest Manifest
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &manifest); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			manifest.Results[0].ReportPath = "../outside.md"
+			data, err = json.Marshal(manifest)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if err := os.WriteFile(path, data, 0o600); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			directory := publishTestBundle(t, testBundle())
+			test.mutate(t, directory)
+			if _, err := RecognizeBundle(directory); !errors.Is(err, ErrUnrecognizedBundle) {
+				t.Fatalf("RecognizeBundle() error = %v, want ErrUnrecognizedBundle", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPlanDestinationAcceptsRecognizedReplacement(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := publishTestBundle(t, testBundle())
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(filepath.Dir(directory), directory, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PlanDestination() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if !plan.Exists {
+		t.Fatal("PlanDestination() did not record recognized existing destination")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPublishWritesAndReplacesBundle(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "comparison-daily")
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Publish(context.Background(), plan, testBundle()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Publish() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := RecognizeBundle(target); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecognizeBundle() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	assertMode(t, target, 0o700)
+	for _, name := range []string{ManifestFilename, DataPackageFilename, "01-weather-light.md"} {
+		assertMode(t, filepath.Join(target, name), 0o600)
+	}
+
+	next := testBundle()
+	next.Manifest.Results[0].ProfileID = "weather-balanced"
+	next.Manifest.Results[0].ReportPath = "01-weather-balanced.md"
+	next.Reports[0].Path = "01-weather-balanced.md"
+	next.Reports[0].Markdown = []byte("# Replacement\n")
+	plan, err = PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Publish(context.Background(), plan, next); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Publish(replace) error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(target, "01-weather-light.md")); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		t.Fatalf("stale report stat error = %v, want not exist", err)
+	}
+	if data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(target, "01-weather-balanced.md")); err != nil || string(data) != "# Replacement\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("replacement report = %q, %v", data, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPublishReplacesEmptyDirectory(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "comparison-daily")
+	if err := os.Mkdir(target, 0o755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Publish(context.Background(), plan, testBundle()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Publish() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := RecognizeBundle(target); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecognizeBundle() error = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPublishRestoresExistingBundleAfterReplacementFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "comparison-daily")
+	initial := testBundle()
+	initialPlan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Publish(context.Background(), initialPlan, initial); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	before := directorySnapshot(t, target)
+
+	next := testBundle()
+	next.Reports[0].Markdown = []byte("# New\n")
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	calls := 0
+	err = publish(context.Background(), plan, next, publishOperations{rename: func(oldPath, newPath string) error {
+		calls++
+		if calls == 2 {
+			return errors.New("replace failed")
+		}
+		return os.Rename(oldPath, newPath)
+	}})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("publish() succeeded despite replacement failure")
+	}
+	after := directorySnapshot(t, target)
+	if !equalSnapshots(before, after) {
+		t.Fatal("failed publication changed the prior bundle")
+	}
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(workingDirectory)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(entries) != 1 || entries[0].Name() != filepath.Base(target) {
+		t.Fatalf("failed publication left sibling artifacts: %#v", entries)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPublishRetainsBackupWhenRestorationFails(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "comparison-daily")
+	initialPlan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Publish(context.Background(), initialPlan, testBundle()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var backupPath string
+	calls := 0
+	err = publish(context.Background(), plan, testBundle(), publishOperations{rename: func(oldPath, newPath string) error {
+		calls++
+		if calls == 1 {
+			backupPath = newPath
+		}
+		if calls == 2 || calls == 3 {
+			return errors.New("rename failed")
+		}
+		return os.Rename(oldPath, newPath)
+	}})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), backupPath) {
+		t.Fatalf("publish() error = %v, want retained backup path %q", err, backupPath)
+	}
+	if info, statErr := os.Stat(backupPath); statErr != nil || !info.IsDir() {
+		t.Fatalf("backup stat = %v, %v, want retained directory", info, statErr)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPublishCancellationBeforeCommitLeavesNoDestination(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "comparison-daily")
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	if err := publish(ctx, plan, testBundle(), publishOperations{rename: os.Rename, beforeCommit: cancel}); !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		t.Fatalf("Publish() error = %v, want context cancellation", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Lstat(target); !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		t.Fatalf("destination stat error = %v, want not exist", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func assertDestinationErrorKind(t *testing.T, workingDirectory, target string, replace bool, want DestinationErrorKind) {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, replace)
+	var destinationError *DestinationError
+	if !errors.As(err, &destinationError) || destinationError.Kind != want {
+		t.Fatalf("PlanDestination(%q) error = %v, want destination error %q", target, err, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func publishTestBundle(t *testing.T, bundle LogicalBundle) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	target := filepath.Join(workingDirectory, "comparison-daily")
+	plan, err := PlanDestination(workingDirectory, target, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := Publish(context.Background(), plan, bundle); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return target
+}
+
+func testBundle() LogicalBundle {
+	dataPackage := []byte("report: daily\n")
+	manifest := validManifest()
+	manifest.DataPackage.SHA256 = SHA256(dataPackage)
+	return LogicalBundle{
+		Manifest:    manifest,
+		DataPackage: dataPackage,
+		Reports: []BundleReport{{
+			Position: 1,
+			Path:     "01-weather-light.md",
+			Markdown: []byte("# Daily\n"),
+		}},
+	}
+}
+
+func assertMode(t *testing.T, path string, want os.FileMode) {
+	t.Helper()
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got := info.Mode().Perm(); got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("mode for %q = %#o, want %#o", path, got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func directorySnapshot(t *testing.T, directory string) map[string]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(directory)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	snapshot := make(map[string]string, len(entries))
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(directory, entry.Name()))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		snapshot[entry.Name()] = string(data)
+	}
+	return snapshot
+}
+
+func equalSnapshots(left, right map[string]string) bool {
+	if len(left) != len(right) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for name, value := range left {
+		if right[name] != value {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func TestRecognizeBundleRejectsTrailingJSONValue(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := publishTestBundle(t, testBundle())
+	path := filepath.Join(directory, ManifestFilename)
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, append(data, []byte("{}")...), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := RecognizeBundle(directory); !errors.Is(err, ErrUnrecognizedBundle) {
+		t.Fatalf("RecognizeBundle() error = %v, want ErrUnrecognizedBundle", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPlanDestinationRejectsWhitespaceTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	workingDirectory := t.TempDir()
+	assertDestinationErrorKind(t, workingDirectory, " \t", false, DestinationInvalidPath)
+}
+
+func TestRecognizeBundleDoesNotAcceptNonRegularManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.Mkdir(filepath.Join(directory, ManifestFilename), 0o700); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := RecognizeBundle(directory); !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "regular file") {
+		t.Fatalf("RecognizeBundle() error = %v, want regular file rejection", err)
+	}
+}