add three-tier ci-base rebuild (dev/stage) to CI workflows

The El lexer silently skips '#', so {#each} lexes as LBrace Ident:"each"
and {#if} lexes as LBrace If ... (using the If keyword token, not Hash).
The existing {#each} check used k2=="Hash" which was dead code.

Parser changes (parser.el):
- Add parse_raw_text_content(): collects all tokens as raw text until
  </tag_name>, bypassing El expression parsing. Used for <style> and
  <script> elements so CSS/JS content isn't parsed as El expressions.
- parse_html_element(): use raw-text mode for <style> and <script> tags.
- parse_html_children(): fix {#each} detection (k2=="Ident", k3=="each"
  instead of dead k2=="Hash" check). Add {#if cond}...{#else}...{/if}
  support generating HtmlIf AST nodes.

Codegen changes (codegen.el):
- Add cg_html_if(): generates if (cond_c) { then_c } else { else_c }
  for HtmlIf nodes.
- cg_html_parts(): dispatch HtmlIf to cg_html_if.

.gitea/workflows/ci-dev.yaml

@@ -252,4 +252,51 @@ jobs:
             --source=el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.js
 
           echo "Published El SDK version=${VERSION} to foundation-dev"
+          # Keep key alive for the ci-base rebuild step below
+          # (deleted in that step after docker push)
+
+      - name: Rebuild ci-base with fresh El SDK (dev)
+        # Patches ci-base:dev in-place: pulls the existing image (which has all
+        # system deps — Node, Go, gcloud, Docker CLI, etc.) and overlays the freshly
+        # built El SDK on top. Keeps the full ci-base rebuild fast and incremental.
+        if: github.event_name == 'push'
+        env:
+          GCP_SA_KEY: ${{ secrets.GCP_SA_KEY }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          CI_BASE="us-central1-docker.pkg.dev/neuron-785695/neuron-ci/ci-base"
+          SHA="${GITHUB_SHA:0:8}"
+
+          echo "${GCP_SA_KEY}" > /tmp/gcp-key.json
+          gcloud auth activate-service-account --key-file=/tmp/gcp-key.json
+          gcloud config set project neuron-785695
+          gcloud auth configure-docker us-central1-docker.pkg.dev --quiet
+
+          # Pull existing ci-base:dev (system deps stay cached in the base layer)
+          docker pull "${CI_BASE}:dev" || docker pull "${CI_BASE}:latest"
+
+          # Inline Dockerfile — only replaces the El SDK layer
+          cat > /tmp/Dockerfile.ci-base-patch << 'EOF'
+          ARG BASE
+          FROM ${BASE}
+          COPY dist/platform/elc                 /opt/el/dist/platform/elc
+          COPY dist/bin/elb                       /opt/el/dist/bin/elb
+          COPY el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.c  /opt/el/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.c
+          COPY el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h  /opt/el/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h
+          COPY el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.js /opt/el/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.js
+          RUN chmod +x /opt/el/dist/platform/elc /opt/el/dist/bin/elb
+          EOF
+
+          docker build \
+            --build-arg BASE="${CI_BASE}:dev" \
+            --build-arg BUILDKIT_INLINE_CACHE=1 \
+            -f /tmp/Dockerfile.ci-base-patch \
+            -t "${CI_BASE}:dev" \
+            -t "${CI_BASE}:dev-${SHA}" \
+            .
+
+          docker push "${CI_BASE}:dev"
+          docker push "${CI_BASE}:dev-${SHA}"
+
+          echo "ci-base rebuilt: ${CI_BASE}:dev (${SHA})"
           rm -f /tmp/gcp-key.json

.gitea/workflows/ci-stage.yaml

@@ -246,4 +246,51 @@ jobs:
             --source=el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h
 
           echo "Published El SDK version=${VERSION} to foundation-stage"
+          # Keep key alive for the ci-base rebuild step below
+          # (deleted in that step after docker push)
+
+      - name: Rebuild ci-base with fresh El SDK (stage)
+        # Patches ci-base:stage in-place: pulls the existing image (which has all
+        # system deps — Node, Go, gcloud, Docker CLI, etc.) and overlays the freshly
+        # built El SDK on top. Keeps the full ci-base rebuild fast and incremental.
+        if: github.event_name == 'push'
+        env:
+          GCP_SA_KEY: ${{ secrets.GCP_SA_KEY }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          CI_BASE="us-central1-docker.pkg.dev/neuron-785695/neuron-ci/ci-base"
+          SHA="${GITHUB_SHA:0:8}"
+
+          echo "${GCP_SA_KEY}" > /tmp/gcp-key.json
+          gcloud auth activate-service-account --key-file=/tmp/gcp-key.json
+          gcloud config set project neuron-785695
+          gcloud auth configure-docker us-central1-docker.pkg.dev --quiet
+
+          # Pull existing ci-base:stage (system deps stay cached in the base layer)
+          docker pull "${CI_BASE}:stage" || docker pull "${CI_BASE}:latest"
+
+          # Inline Dockerfile — only replaces the El SDK layer
+          cat > /tmp/Dockerfile.ci-base-patch << 'EOF'
+          ARG BASE
+          FROM ${BASE}
+          COPY dist/platform/elc                 /opt/el/dist/platform/elc
+          COPY dist/bin/elb                       /opt/el/dist/bin/elb
+          COPY el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.c  /opt/el/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.c
+          COPY el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h  /opt/el/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h
+          COPY el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.js /opt/el/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.js
+          RUN chmod +x /opt/el/dist/platform/elc /opt/el/dist/bin/elb
+          EOF
+
+          docker build \
+            --build-arg BASE="${CI_BASE}:stage" \
+            --build-arg BUILDKIT_INLINE_CACHE=1 \
+            -f /tmp/Dockerfile.ci-base-patch \
+            -t "${CI_BASE}:stage" \
+            -t "${CI_BASE}:stage-${SHA}" \
+            .
+
+          docker push "${CI_BASE}:stage"
+          docker push "${CI_BASE}:stage-${SHA}"
+
+          echo "ci-base rebuilt: ${CI_BASE}:stage (${SHA})"
           rm -f /tmp/gcp-key.json

lang/el-compiler/src/codegen.el

@@ -324,6 +324,10 @@ fn cg_html_parts(children: [Map<String, Any>], acc_var: String) -> String {
             let each_c: String = cg_html_each(child, acc_var)
             let parts = native_list_append(parts, each_c)
         }
+        if str_eq(html_kind, "HtmlIf") {
+            let if_c: String = cg_html_if(child, acc_var)
+            let parts = native_list_append(parts, if_c)
+        }
         let i = i + 1
     }
     str_join(parts, "")
@@ -413,6 +417,17 @@ fn cg_html_each(node: Map<String, Any>, acc_var: String) -> String {
     "{ el_val_t " + list_var + " = (" + list_c + "); el_val_t " + len_var + " = el_list_len(" + list_var + "); for (el_val_t " + idx_var + " = 0; " + idx_var + " < " + len_var + "; " + idx_var + "++) { el_val_t " + item_name + " = el_list_get(" + list_var + ", " + idx_var + "); " + inner_c + "} } "
 }
 
+// Generate code for {#if cond} ... {/if} (with optional {#else}).
+fn cg_html_if(node: Map<String, Any>, acc_var: String) -> String {
+    let cond_expr = node["cond"]
+    let then_children: [Map<String, Any>] = node["then"]
+    let else_children: [Map<String, Any>] = node["else"]
+    let cond_c: String = cg_expr(cond_expr)
+    let then_c: String = cg_html_parts(then_children, acc_var)
+    let else_c: String = cg_html_parts(else_children, acc_var)
+    "if (" + cond_c + ") { " + then_c + " } else { " + else_c + " } "
+}
+
 // Top-level HTML template codegen — returns a C statement-expression string.
 fn cg_html_template(expr: Map<String, Any>) -> String {
     let root = expr["root"]

lang/el-compiler/src/parser.el

@@ -293,6 +293,48 @@ fn is_void_element(name: String) -> Bool {
     false
 }
 
+// Collect all tokens as raw text until </tag_name> is encountered.
+// Used for <style> and <script> elements to avoid parsing CSS/JS as El.
+// Returns { "text": "...", "pos": p_after_closing_tag }
+fn parse_raw_text_content(tokens: [Any], pos: Int, tag_name: String) -> Map<String, Any> {
+    let parts: [String] = native_list_empty()
+    let p = pos
+    let running = true
+    while running {
+        let k = tok_kind(tokens, p)
+        if str_eq(k, "Eof") {
+            let running = false
+        } else {
+            if str_eq(k, "Lt") {
+                let k2 = tok_kind(tokens, p + 1)
+                if str_eq(k2, "Slash") {
+                    // Check if this is </tag_name>
+                    let close_name = tok_value(tokens, p + 2)
+                    if str_eq(close_name, tag_name) {
+                        // consume </tag_name>
+                        let p = p + 3
+                        let p = expect(tokens, p, "Gt")
+                        let running = false
+                    } else {
+                        let v = tok_value(tokens, p)
+                        let parts = native_list_append(parts, v)
+                        let p = p + 1
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    let v = tok_value(tokens, p)
+                    let parts = native_list_append(parts, v)
+                    let p = p + 1
+                }
+            } else {
+                let v = tok_value(tokens, p)
+                let parts = native_list_append(parts, v)
+                let p = p + 1
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    { "text": str_join(parts, " "), "pos": p }
+}
+
 // Collect tokens as text content until we hit Lt, LBrace, Eof, or a
 // closing-tag marker (Lt Slash). Returns { "text": "...", "pos": p }
 fn parse_html_text_tokens(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
@@ -435,77 +477,125 @@ fn parse_html_children(tokens: [Any], pos: Int, parent_tag: String) -> Map<Strin
                 }
             } else {
                 if str_eq(k, "LBrace") {
-                    // Interpolation: {expr} or {#each ...} or {/each}
+                    // Interpolation: {expr}, {#each ...}, {#if ...}, {#else}, {/each}, {/if}
+                    // Note: '#' (ASCII 35) is skipped by the lexer, so {#each} lexes as
+                    // LBrace Ident:"each" ... and {#if} lexes as LBrace If ... and
+                    // {#else} lexes as LBrace Else RBrace.
                     let k2 = tok_kind(tokens, p + 1)
-                    if str_eq(k2, "Hash") {
-                        // {#each list as item}
-                        let k3_v = tok_value(tokens, p + 2)
-                        if str_eq(k3_v, "each") {
-                            let p = p + 3
-                            // parse list expr up to "as" keyword
+                    if str_eq(k2, "Slash") {
+                        // {/each} or {/if} — end of block, stop
+                        // skip { /
+                        let p = p + 2
+                        // skip the close-tag name token (each, if, etc.)
+                        let p = p + 1
+                        // skip }
+                        let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+                        let running = false
+                    } else {
+                        if str_eq(k2, "If") {
+                            // {#if condition} ... {/if}
+                            // Skip { if (2 tokens; '#' was silently skipped by lexer)
+                            let p = p + 2
+                            // Parse condition expression (no block expr)
                             let prev_no_block: String = state_get("__no_block_expr")
                             state_set("__no_block_expr", "1")
-                            let r_list = parse_expr(tokens, p)
+                            let r_cond = parse_expr(tokens, p)
                             state_set("__no_block_expr", prev_no_block)
-                            let list_expr = r_list["node"]
-                            let p = r_list["pos"]
-                            // r_list result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
-                            el_release(r_list)
-                            // expect "as"
-                            let p = expect(tokens, p, "As")
-                            // item variable name
-                            let item_name = tok_value(tokens, p)
-                            let p = p + 1
+                            let cond_expr = r_cond["node"]
+                            let p = r_cond["pos"]
+                            el_release(r_cond)
                             // consume closing }
                             let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
-                            // parse body until {/each}
-                            let r_body = parse_html_each_body(tokens, p)
-                            let body_children = r_body["children"]
-                            let p = r_body["pos"]
-                            // r_body result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
-                            el_release(r_body)
-                            let each_node: Map<String, Any> = { "html": "Each", "list": list_expr, "item": item_name, "body": body_children }
-                            let children = native_list_append(children, each_node)
-                        } else {
-                            let p = p + 1
-                        }
-                    } else {
-                        if str_eq(k2, "Slash") {
-                            // {/each} — end of each block, stop
-                            // skip {/each}
-                            let p = p + 2
-                            // skip "each"
-                            let p = p + 1
-                            // skip }
-                            let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
-                            let running = false
-                        } else {
-                            // regular {expr}
-                            let r = parse_expr(tokens, p + 1)
-                            let interp_val = r["node"]
-                            let p = r["pos"]
-                            // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
-                            el_release(r)
-                            let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
-                            // Check if the expr is a call to raw()
-                            let is_raw_call = false
-                            let interp_kind: String = interp_val["expr"]
-                            if str_eq(interp_kind, "Call") {
-                                let fn_node = interp_val["func"]
-                                let fn_kind: String = fn_node["expr"]
-                                if str_eq(fn_kind, "Ident") {
-                                    let fn_name_v: String = fn_node["name"]
-                                    if str_eq(fn_name_v, "raw") {
-                                        let is_raw_call = true
-                                    }
+                            // parse then-children until {#else} or {/if}
+                            let r_then = parse_html_children(tokens, p, "__if_then__")
+                            let then_children = r_then["children"]
+                            let p = r_then["pos"]
+                            el_release(r_then)
+                            // check for {#else} — lexed as LBrace Else RBrace
+                            let else_children: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
+                            let ck = tok_kind(tokens, p)
+                            if str_eq(ck, "LBrace") {
+                                let ck2 = tok_kind(tokens, p + 1)
+                                if str_eq(ck2, "Else") {
+                                    // consume { else }
+                                    let p = p + 2
+                                    let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+                                    // parse else-children until {/if}
+                                    let r_else = parse_html_children(tokens, p, "__if_else__")
+                                    let else_children = r_else["children"]
+                                    let p = r_else["pos"]
+                                    el_release(r_else)
                                 }
                             }
-                            if is_raw_call {
-                                let raw_args = interp_val["args"]
-                                let raw_inner = native_list_get(raw_args, 0)
-                                let children = native_list_append(children, { "html": "Raw", "value": raw_inner })
+                            let if_node: Map<String, Any> = { "html": "HtmlIf", "cond": cond_expr, "then": then_children, "else": else_children }
+                            let children = native_list_append(children, if_node)
+                        } else {
+                            if str_eq(k2, "Else") {
+                                // {#else} sentinel — lexed as LBrace Else RBrace
+                                // Do NOT consume — leave position for caller ({#if} handler checks for it)
+                                let running = false
                             } else {
-                                let children = native_list_append(children, { "html": "Interp", "value": interp_val })
+                                // Check for {#each list as item} — lexed as LBrace Ident:"each" ...
+                                let k2_v = tok_value(tokens, p + 1)
+                                if str_eq(k2_v, "each") {
+                                    let p = p + 2
+                                    // parse list expr up to "as" keyword
+                                    let prev_no_block: String = state_get("__no_block_expr")
+                                    state_set("__no_block_expr", "1")
+                                    let r_list = parse_expr(tokens, p)
+                                    state_set("__no_block_expr", prev_no_block)
+                                    let list_expr = r_list["node"]
+                                    let p = r_list["pos"]
+                                    // r_list result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                                    el_release(r_list)
+                                    // expect "as"
+                                    let p = expect(tokens, p, "As")
+                                    // item variable name
+                                    let item_name = tok_value(tokens, p)
+                                    let p = p + 1
+                                    // consume closing }
+                                    let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+                                    // parse body until {/each}
+                                    let r_body = parse_html_each_body(tokens, p)
+                                    let body_children = r_body["children"]
+                                    let p = r_body["pos"]
+                                    // r_body result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                                    el_release(r_body)
+                                    let each_node: Map<String, Any> = { "html": "Each", "list": list_expr, "item": item_name, "body": body_children }
+                                    let children = native_list_append(children, each_node)
+                                } else {
+                                    // regular {expr} — disable map-literal parsing so {fn(a,b)}
+                                    // does not trigger the LBrace→map path inside parse_primary
+                                    let prev_no_block: String = state_get("__no_block_expr")
+                                    state_set("__no_block_expr", "1")
+                                    let r = parse_expr(tokens, p + 1)
+                                    state_set("__no_block_expr", prev_no_block)
+                                    let interp_val = r["node"]
+                                    let p = r["pos"]
+                                    // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                                    el_release(r)
+                                    let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+                                    // Check if the expr is a call to raw()
+                                    let is_raw_call = false
+                                    let interp_kind: String = interp_val["expr"]
+                                    if str_eq(interp_kind, "Call") {
+                                        let fn_node = interp_val["func"]
+                                        let fn_kind: String = fn_node["expr"]
+                                        if str_eq(fn_kind, "Ident") {
+                                            let fn_name_v: String = fn_node["name"]
+                                            if str_eq(fn_name_v, "raw") {
+                                                let is_raw_call = true
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    if is_raw_call {
+                                        let raw_args = interp_val["args"]
+                                        let raw_inner = native_list_get(raw_args, 0)
+                                        let children = native_list_append(children, { "html": "Raw", "value": raw_inner })
+                                    } else {
+                                        let children = native_list_append(children, { "html": "Interp", "value": interp_val })
+                                    }
+                                }
                             }
                         }
                     }
@@ -565,6 +655,27 @@ fn parse_html_element(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
     if is_void_element(tag_name) {
         return make_result({ "html": "Element", "tag": tag_name, "attrs": attrs, "children": native_list_empty(), "self_closing": true }, p)
     }
+    // raw-text mode for style/script — collect content as plain text without parsing CSS/JS as El
+    if str_eq(tag_name, "style") {
+        let r_raw = parse_raw_text_content(tokens, p, "style")
+        let raw_text: String = r_raw["text"]
+        let p = r_raw["pos"]
+        el_release(r_raw)
+        let raw_child: Map<String, Any> = { "html": "Text", "text": raw_text }
+        let raw_children: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
+        let raw_children = native_list_append(raw_children, raw_child)
+        return make_result({ "html": "Element", "tag": tag_name, "attrs": attrs, "children": raw_children, "self_closing": false }, p)
+    }
+    if str_eq(tag_name, "script") {
+        let r_raw = parse_raw_text_content(tokens, p, "script")
+        let raw_text: String = r_raw["text"]
+        let p = r_raw["pos"]
+        el_release(r_raw)
+        let raw_child: Map<String, Any> = { "html": "Text", "text": raw_text }
+        let raw_children: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
+        let raw_children = native_list_append(raw_children, raw_child)
+        return make_result({ "html": "Element", "tag": tag_name, "attrs": attrs, "children": raw_children, "self_closing": false }, p)
+    }
     // parse children
     let r_children = parse_html_children(tokens, p, tag_name)
     let children = r_children["children"]
@@ -718,44 +829,123 @@ fn parse_primary(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
             // as the start of the block they're expecting.
             return make_result({ "expr": "Nil" }, pos)
         }
-        let p = pos + 1
-        let pairs: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
-        let running = true
-        while running {
-            let k2 = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-            if k2 == "RBrace" {
-                let running = false
-            } else {
-                if k2 == "Eof" {
+        // Distinguish map literal from interpolation chain.
+        // A map literal requires { key: value } — the second token inside { must be Colon.
+        // An empty {} is a map literal.  Everything else is an interpolation chain.
+        let first_k: String = tok_kind(tokens, pos + 1)
+        let second_k: String = tok_kind(tokens, pos + 2)
+        if str_eq(first_k, "RBrace") {
+            // Empty map literal {}
+            return make_result({ "expr": "Map", "pairs": native_list_empty() }, pos + 2)
+        }
+        if str_eq(second_k, "Colon") {
+            // MAP LITERAL: { key: value, ... }
+            let p = pos + 1
+            let pairs: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
+            let running = true
+            while running {
+                let k2 = tok_kind(tokens, p)
+                if k2 == "RBrace" {
                     let running = false
                 } else {
-                    // key: Str token
-                    let key = tok_value(tokens, p)
-                    let new_p: Int = p + 1
-                    let new_p = expect(tokens, new_p, "Colon")
-                    let r = parse_expr(tokens, new_p)
-                    let val_node = r["node"]
-                    let new_p = r["pos"]
-                    // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
-                    el_release(r)
-                    let pair = { "key": key, "value": val_node }
-                    let pairs = native_list_append(pairs, pair)
-                    let k3 = tok_kind(tokens, new_p)
-                    if k3 == "Comma" {
-                        let new_p = new_p + 1
-                    }
-                    // Non-progress guard: malformed map content can leave
-                    // parse_expr returning the same pos. Force advance.
-                    if new_p <= p {
-                        let p = p + 1
+                    if k2 == "Eof" {
+                        let running = false
                     } else {
-                        let p = new_p
+                        // key: Str or Ident token
+                        let key = tok_value(tokens, p)
+                        let new_p: Int = p + 1
+                        let new_p = expect(tokens, new_p, "Colon")
+                        let r = parse_expr(tokens, new_p)
+                        let val_node = r["node"]
+                        let new_p = r["pos"]
+                        // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                        el_release(r)
+                        let pair = { "key": key, "value": val_node }
+                        let pairs = native_list_append(pairs, pair)
+                        let k3 = tok_kind(tokens, new_p)
+                        if k3 == "Comma" {
+                            let new_p = new_p + 1
+                        }
+                        // Non-progress guard: malformed map content can leave
+                        // parse_expr returning the same pos. Force advance.
+                        if new_p <= p {
+                            let p = p + 1
+                        } else {
+                            let p = new_p
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
+            let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+            return make_result({ "expr": "Map", "pairs": pairs }, p)
         }
-        let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
-        return make_result({ "expr": "Map", "pairs": pairs }, p)
+        // INTERPOLATION CHAIN: {expr}, {expr}{expr}, {expr}<html>, etc.
+        // Build a BinOp(Plus, ...) concatenation chain.
+        let p = pos
+        let chain_node: Map<String, Any> = { "expr": "Nil" }
+        let chain_started = false
+        let chain_running = true
+        while chain_running {
+            let ck: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
+            if str_eq(ck, "LBrace") {
+                let prev_no_block: String = state_get("__no_block_expr")
+                state_set("__no_block_expr", "1")
+                let r = parse_expr(tokens, p + 1)
+                state_set("__no_block_expr", prev_no_block)
+                let part = r["node"]
+                let p = r["pos"]
+                // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                el_release(r)
+                let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+                if !chain_started {
+                    let chain_node = part
+                    let chain_started = true
+                } else {
+                    let chain_node: Map<String, Any> = { "expr": "BinOp", "op": "Plus", "left": chain_node, "right": part }
+                }
+            } else {
+                if str_eq(ck, "Lt") {
+                    let ck2: String = tok_kind(tokens, p + 1)
+                    if str_eq(ck2, "Not") {
+                        let r = parse_html_template(tokens, p)
+                        let part = r["node"]
+                        let p = r["pos"]
+                        // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                        el_release(r)
+                        if !chain_started {
+                            let chain_node = part
+                            let chain_started = true
+                        } else {
+                            let chain_node: Map<String, Any> = { "expr": "BinOp", "op": "Plus", "left": chain_node, "right": part }
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        if str_eq(ck2, "Ident") {
+                            let tag_candidate: String = tok_value(tokens, p + 1)
+                            if is_html_tag_name(tag_candidate) {
+                                let r = parse_html_template(tokens, p)
+                                let part = r["node"]
+                                let p = r["pos"]
+                                // r result map fully consumed — release to free peak heap.
+                                el_release(r)
+                                if !chain_started {
+                                    let chain_node = part
+                                    let chain_started = true
+                                } else {
+                                    let chain_node: Map<String, Any> = { "expr": "BinOp", "op": "Plus", "left": chain_node, "right": part }
+                                }
+                            } else {
+                                let chain_running = false
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            let chain_running = false
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    let chain_running = false
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return make_result(chain_node, p)
     }
 
     // if expression