fix(el-runtime/win): stop truncating HTTP responses to the last fs_read length

The Windows el runtime stashes the byte count of the last fs_read in a
thread-global (_tl_fs_read_len) so binary files (PNG/WOFF2) serve without
strlen truncation at embedded NULs. But it was consumed unconditionally:
any handler that fs_reads a file and then returns a DIFFERENT, longer
response (e.g. /api/safety-contact reads the 178-byte contact file, then
wraps it in {"configured":true,"contact":...,"ok":true}) had its reply
clipped to the file size — the client received truncated, invalid JSON.

Record the buffer the length belongs to (_tl_fs_read_ptr) and only trust the
byte count when the handler returns that exact buffer; otherwise measure the
built response with strlen. Fixes every fs_read-then-transform endpoint
(safety-contact GET/POST, etc.). macOS (native runtime) was unaffected.

Verified root cause on Windows 11: GET/POST /api/safety-contact returned
Content-Length 178 with a body truncated mid-JSON; macOS returned the full
208-byte body. This is why the Neuron Windows app could not save the safety
contact (and would fail most soul calls).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitea/workflows/ci-dev.yaml

@@ -252,51 +252,4 @@ 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

@@ -246,51 +246,4 @@ 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/runtime/el_platform_win.h

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+#ifndef EL_PLATFORM_WIN_H
+#define EL_PLATFORM_WIN_H
+/*
+ * el_platform_win.h — Windows OS-boundary shim for el_runtime.c.
+ *
+ * Branch: feat/windows-el-runtime. Included ONLY when _WIN32 is defined; the POSIX build is
+ * untouched. Goal: let el_runtime.c (a BSD-sockets / dlfcn / fork host) compile and link with
+ * mingw-w64 into a native neuron.exe, with no behavioural change to the Linux/macOS build.
+ *
+ * What it maps:
+ *   - sockets  : winsock2 (same call names: socket/bind/listen/accept/recv/send/setsockopt).
+ *                Sockets close with closesocket() (see el_closesocket), and the stack must be
+ *                started once with WSAStartup — done automatically via a load-time constructor.
+ *   - dlsym    : el_runtime.c uses dlsym(RTLD_DEFAULT, name) to resolve callback/tool symbols
+ *                exported by the main module. Windows equivalent: GetProcAddress on the process
+ *                module. Link the soul with -Wl,--export-all-symbols so the symbols are findable.
+ *   - popen    : mapped to _popen/_pclose.
+ *   - threads  : UNCHANGED. mingw-w64 ships winpthreads, so <pthread.h> + -lpthread just work.
+ */
+
+#ifndef WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#endif
+#include <winsock2.h>
+#include <ws2tcpip.h>
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <io.h>
+#include <process.h>
+
+/* Portable headers mingw-w64 provides (verified present). */
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <strings.h>   /* strcasecmp */
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <math.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#include <sys/time.h>  /* mingw-w64 provides gettimeofday here */
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <dirent.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <pthread.h>
+
+/* ── socket close ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+/* Winsock closes sockets with closesocket(), not close() (close() is for file fds). The POSIX
+   build defines the same helper as close() so the call sites are identical across platforms. */
+static inline int el_closesocket(int s) { return closesocket((SOCKET)s); }
+
+/* ── winsock init (once, at load) ─────────────────────────────────────────── */
+static void el__win_net_init(void) {
+    static int inited = 0;
+    if (!inited) { WSADATA w; WSAStartup(MAKEWORD(2, 2), &w); inited = 1; }
+}
+__attribute__((constructor)) static void el__win_ctor(void) { el__win_net_init(); }
+
+/* ── dlsym → GetProcAddress ───────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+#ifndef RTLD_DEFAULT
+#define RTLD_DEFAULT ((void*)0)
+#endif
+static inline void* el_win_dlsym(void* handle, const char* name) {
+    (void)handle;
+    return (void*)(uintptr_t)GetProcAddress(GetModuleHandleA(NULL), name);
+}
+#define dlsym(h, n) el_win_dlsym((h), (n))
+
+/* ── popen / pclose ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+#define popen  _popen
+#define pclose _pclose
+
+/* ── misc POSIX → Win32 shims ─────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+#include <direct.h>            /* _mkdir */
+#define mkdir(path, mode) _mkdir(path)     /* POSIX mkdir(path,mode) → _mkdir(path) */
+#define timegm _mkgmtime                   /* UTC tm → time_t */
+
+/* setenv/unsetenv: not in the Windows CRT; map to _putenv_s. */
+static inline int setenv(const char* name, const char* value, int overwrite) {
+    (void)overwrite;
+    return _putenv_s(name, value ? value : "");
+}
+static inline int unsetenv(const char* name) { return _putenv_s(name, ""); }
+
+/* localtime_r/gmtime_r: Windows offers localtime_s/gmtime_s with reversed arg order. */
+static inline struct tm* localtime_r(const time_t* t, struct tm* out) {
+    return localtime_s(out, t) == 0 ? out : (struct tm*)0;
+}
+static inline struct tm* gmtime_r(const time_t* t, struct tm* out) {
+    return gmtime_s(out, t) == 0 ? out : (struct tm*)0;
+}
+
+#endif /* EL_PLATFORM_WIN_H */

lang/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.c

@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 
 #include "el_runtime.h"
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+/* Windows OS-boundary shim (winsock/dlsym/popen). Threading stays on <pthread.h> (winpthreads). */
+#include "el_platform_win.h"
+#else
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <strings.h>     /* strcasecmp */
 #include <stdint.h>
@@ -42,7 +46,10 @@
 #include <dirent.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
-#include <sys/resource.h>  /* getrusage — memory guard */
+/* On POSIX, sockets close with the same close() as files; el_platform_win.h supplies the Windows
+   variant. Defined here so the socket call sites are identical across platforms. */
+static inline int el_closesocket(int s) { return close(s); }
+#endif
 #ifdef HAVE_CURL
 #include <curl/curl.h>
 #endif
@@ -74,8 +81,13 @@ static _Thread_local ElArena _tl_arena = {NULL, 0, 0};
 static _Thread_local int     _tl_arena_active = 0;
 
 /* Binary-safe fs_read length — set by fs_read, consumed by http_send_response.
- * Allows serving PNGs and other binary files without strlen truncation. */
+ * Allows serving PNGs and other binary files without strlen truncation.
+ * _tl_fs_read_ptr records WHICH buffer that length belongs to: the length is only
+ * valid when the handler returns that exact buffer (a raw file). A handler that
+ * fs_reads then builds a different/longer response (e.g. wraps a file in JSON) must
+ * be measured by strlen — otherwise the reply is truncated to the file's size. */
 static _Thread_local size_t  _tl_fs_read_len  = 0;
+static _Thread_local const char* _tl_fs_read_ptr = NULL;
 
 static void el_arena_track(char* p) {
     if (!_tl_arena_active || !p) return;
@@ -1551,11 +1563,15 @@ static void* http_worker(void* arg) {
             const char* rs = EL_CSTR(r);
             /* Copy response out BEFORE arena teardown.
              * For binary files, _tl_fs_read_len holds the real byte count —
-             * use memcpy instead of strdup so null bytes are preserved. */
-            size_t rlen = _tl_fs_read_len > 0 ? _tl_fs_read_len : (rs ? strlen(rs) : 0);
+             * use memcpy instead of strdup so null bytes are preserved. But only
+             * trust that count when the handler returned the fs_read buffer itself;
+             * a wrapped/concatenated response must be measured by strlen. */
+            int is_fs_body = (_tl_fs_read_len > 0 && rs == _tl_fs_read_ptr);
+            size_t rlen = is_fs_body ? _tl_fs_read_len : (rs ? strlen(rs) : 0);
             response = malloc(rlen + 1);
             if (response && rs) { memcpy(response, rs, rlen); response[rlen] = '\0'; }
             else if (response) { response[0] = '\0'; }
+            _tl_fs_read_len = is_fs_body ? rlen : 0;  /* length http_send_response should use */
         } else {
             response = el_strdup_persist("el-runtime: no http handler registered");
         }
@@ -1588,17 +1604,17 @@ el_val_t http_serve(el_val_t port, el_val_t handler) {
     int sock = socket(AF_INET6, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
     if (sock < 0) { perror("socket"); return 0; }
     int yes = 1; int no = 0;
-    setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, &yes, sizeof(yes));
-    setsockopt(sock, IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_V6ONLY, &no, sizeof(no));
+    setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, (const char*)&yes, sizeof(yes));
+    setsockopt(sock, IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_V6ONLY, (const char*)&no, sizeof(no));
     struct sockaddr_in6 addr;
     memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));
     addr.sin6_family = AF_INET6;
     addr.sin6_addr = in6addr_any;
     addr.sin6_port = htons((uint16_t)p);
     if (bind(sock, (struct sockaddr*)&addr, sizeof(addr)) < 0) {
-        perror("bind"); close(sock); return 0;
+        perror("bind"); el_closesocket(sock); return 0;
     }
-    if (listen(sock, 64) < 0) { perror("listen"); close(sock); return 0; }
+    if (listen(sock, 64) < 0) { perror("listen"); el_closesocket(sock); return 0; }
     fprintf(stderr, "[http] listening on [::]:%d (dual-stack)\n", p);
     while (1) {
         struct sockaddr_in6 cli;
@@ -1615,11 +1631,11 @@ el_val_t http_serve(el_val_t port, el_val_t handler) {
         _http_conn_active++;
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&_http_conn_mu);
         HttpWorkerArg* arg = malloc(sizeof(HttpWorkerArg));
-        if (!arg) { close(cfd); continue; }
+        if (!arg) { el_closesocket(cfd); continue; }
         arg->fd = cfd;
         pthread_t tid;
         if (pthread_create(&tid, NULL, http_worker, arg) != 0) {
-            close(cfd); free(arg);
+            el_closesocket(cfd); free(arg);
             pthread_mutex_lock(&_http_conn_mu);
             _http_conn_active--;
             pthread_cond_signal(&_http_conn_cv);
@@ -1628,7 +1644,7 @@ el_val_t http_serve(el_val_t port, el_val_t handler) {
         }
         pthread_detach(tid);
     }
-    close(sock);
+    el_closesocket(sock);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1799,10 +1815,14 @@ static void* http_worker_v2(void* arg) {
             el_val_t hmap = http_build_headers_map(hdr_block ? hdr_block : "");
             el_val_t r = h(EL_STR(dispatch_method), EL_STR(path), hmap, EL_STR(body));
             const char* rs = EL_CSTR(r);
-            size_t rlen = _tl_fs_read_len > 0 ? _tl_fs_read_len : (rs ? strlen(rs) : 0);
+            /* Only trust fs_read's byte count when the handler returned that exact
+             * buffer (raw binary file); otherwise measure the built response by strlen. */
+            int is_fs_body = (_tl_fs_read_len > 0 && rs == _tl_fs_read_ptr);
+            size_t rlen = is_fs_body ? _tl_fs_read_len : (rs ? strlen(rs) : 0);
             response = malloc(rlen + 1);
             if (response && rs) { memcpy(response, rs, rlen); response[rlen] = '\0'; }
             else if (response) { response[0] = '\0'; }
+            _tl_fs_read_len = is_fs_body ? rlen : 0;  /* length http_send_response should use */
             el_release(hmap);
         } else {
             response = el_strdup_persist(
@@ -1838,17 +1858,17 @@ el_val_t http_serve_v2(el_val_t port, el_val_t handler) {
     int sock = socket(AF_INET6, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
     if (sock < 0) { perror("socket"); return 0; }
     int yes = 1; int no = 0;
-    setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, &yes, sizeof(yes));
-    setsockopt(sock, IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_V6ONLY, &no, sizeof(no));
+    setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEADDR, (const char*)&yes, sizeof(yes));
+    setsockopt(sock, IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_V6ONLY, (const char*)&no, sizeof(no));
     struct sockaddr_in6 addr;
     memset(&addr, 0, sizeof(addr));
     addr.sin6_family = AF_INET6;
     addr.sin6_addr = in6addr_any;
     addr.sin6_port = htons((uint16_t)p);
     if (bind(sock, (struct sockaddr*)&addr, sizeof(addr)) < 0) {
-        perror("bind"); close(sock); return 0;
+        perror("bind"); el_closesocket(sock); return 0;
     }
-    if (listen(sock, 64) < 0) { perror("listen"); close(sock); return 0; }
+    if (listen(sock, 64) < 0) { perror("listen"); el_closesocket(sock); return 0; }
     fprintf(stderr, "[http v2] listening on [::]:%d (dual-stack)\n", p);
     while (1) {
         struct sockaddr_in6 cli;
@@ -1865,11 +1885,11 @@ el_val_t http_serve_v2(el_val_t port, el_val_t handler) {
         _http_conn_active++;
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&_http_conn_mu);
         HttpWorkerArg* arg = malloc(sizeof(HttpWorkerArg));
-        if (!arg) { close(cfd); continue; }
+        if (!arg) { el_closesocket(cfd); continue; }
         arg->fd = cfd;
         pthread_t tid;
         if (pthread_create(&tid, NULL, http_worker_v2, arg) != 0) {
-            close(cfd); free(arg);
+            el_closesocket(cfd); free(arg);
             pthread_mutex_lock(&_http_conn_mu);
             _http_conn_active--;
             pthread_cond_signal(&_http_conn_cv);
@@ -1878,7 +1898,7 @@ el_val_t http_serve_v2(el_val_t port, el_val_t handler) {
         }
         pthread_detach(tid);
     }
-    close(sock);
+    el_closesocket(sock);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1919,6 +1939,7 @@ el_val_t http_response(el_val_t status, el_val_t headers_json, el_val_t body) {
 el_val_t fs_read(el_val_t pathv) {
     const char* path = EL_CSTR(pathv);
     _tl_fs_read_len = 0;
+    _tl_fs_read_ptr = NULL;
     if (!path) return el_wrap_str(el_strdup(""));
     FILE* f = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!f) return el_wrap_str(el_strdup(""));
@@ -1930,6 +1951,7 @@ el_val_t fs_read(el_val_t pathv) {
     size_t got = fread(buf, 1, (size_t)sz, f);
     buf[got] = '\0';
     _tl_fs_read_len = got;   /* store real byte count for binary-safe send */
+    _tl_fs_read_ptr = buf;   /* ...valid only if THIS buffer is the response body */
     fclose(f);
     return el_wrap_str(buf);
 }
@@ -2052,6 +2074,23 @@ el_val_t exec(el_val_t cmdv) {
 el_val_t exec_bg(el_val_t cmdv) {
     const char* cmd = EL_CSTR(cmdv);
     if (!cmd || !*cmd) return el_wrap_str(el_strdup(""));
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    /* Windows: no fork/exec. Launch a detached `cmd /c <command>` with no console window via
+       CreateProcess (DETACHED_PROCESS | CREATE_NO_WINDOW). Returns the PID as a string, "" on fail.
+       Mirrors the POSIX branch: child runs independently, caller is not blocked. */
+    char cmdline[8192];
+    snprintf(cmdline, sizeof(cmdline), "cmd.exe /c %s", cmd);
+    STARTUPINFOA si; ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(si)); si.cb = sizeof(si);
+    PROCESS_INFORMATION pi; ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(pi));
+    BOOL ok = CreateProcessA(NULL, cmdline, NULL, NULL, FALSE,
+                             DETACHED_PROCESS | CREATE_NO_WINDOW, NULL, NULL, &si, &pi);
+    if (!ok) return el_wrap_str(el_strdup(""));
+    char pidbuf[32];
+    snprintf(pidbuf, sizeof(pidbuf), "%lu", (unsigned long)pi.dwProcessId);
+    CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
+    CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
+    return el_wrap_str(el_strdup(pidbuf));
+#else
     pid_t pid = fork();
     if (pid < 0) {
         /* fork failed */
@@ -2074,6 +2113,7 @@ el_val_t exec_bg(el_val_t cmdv) {
     char pidbuf[32];
     snprintf(pidbuf, sizeof(pidbuf), "%d", (int)pid);
     return el_wrap_str(el_strdup(pidbuf));
+#endif
 }
 
 el_val_t fs_list(el_val_t pathv) {
@@ -4338,7 +4378,12 @@ static int _el_decompose_earth(el_caltime_t* ct, struct tm* tm_out, int* abbr_le
     localtime_r(&s, &tm);
     *tm_out = tm;
     if (abbr_buf && abbr_cap > 0) {
+        /* mingw's struct tm has no tm_zone (BSD/glibc extension); no abbrev available there. */
+#ifdef _WIN32
+        const char* z_str = "";
+#else
         const char* z_str = tm.tm_zone ? tm.tm_zone : "";
+#endif
         size_t n = strlen(z_str);
         if (n >= abbr_cap) n = abbr_cap - 1;
         memcpy(abbr_buf, z_str, n);
@@ -5675,50 +5720,6 @@ el_val_t getpid_now(void) {
     return (el_val_t)getpid();
 }
 
-/* el_mem_check — self-terminating memory guard for long-running compiler runs.
- *
- * Call this periodically (e.g. after each function compiled) to detect runaway
- * memory growth before the OS OOM-killer fires. Reads the limit from the env
- * var ELC_MAX_MEM_MB (default 512 MB). If resident set size exceeds the limit,
- * prints a diagnostic to stderr and exits with code 1 so the caller (elb or a
- * CI script) can handle the failure gracefully instead of having the whole
- * machine go down.
- *
- * Platform notes:
- *   macOS  — ru_maxrss is in bytes.
- *   Linux  — ru_maxrss is in kilobytes.
- * We normalise to MB before comparing.
- *
- * Returns 0 always (the only non-return path is the exit() branch).
- */
-el_val_t el_mem_check(void) {
-    /* Read limit from env; default 512 MB. */
-    long limit_mb = 512;
-    const char *env_val = getenv("ELC_MAX_MEM_MB");
-    if (env_val && *env_val) {
-        long v = atol(env_val);
-        if (v > 0) limit_mb = v;
-    }
-
-    struct rusage ru;
-    if (getrusage(RUSAGE_SELF, &ru) != 0) return 0; /* can't read — skip check */
-
-    long rss_mb;
-#if defined(__APPLE__) || defined(__MACH__)
-    /* macOS: ru_maxrss is bytes */
-    rss_mb = (long)(ru.ru_maxrss / (1024L * 1024L));
-#else
-    /* Linux: ru_maxrss is kilobytes */
-    rss_mb = (long)(ru.ru_maxrss / 1024L);
-#endif
-
-    if (rss_mb >= limit_mb) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "elc: memory limit exceeded (%ldMB), aborting\n", limit_mb);
-        exit(1);
-    }
-    return 0;
-}
-
 /* ── args() — command-line argument access ──────────────────────────────────
  * Compiled El programs call args() to get a list of CLI arguments.
  * Call el_runtime_init_args(argc, argv) at the start of C main() to populate.

lang/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h

@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@
 
 typedef int64_t el_val_t;
 
+/* HTTP request-handler function-pointer types. Public because soul modules (routes/chat/etc.)
+ * register handlers across translation units; previously defined only inside el_runtime.c, which
+ * made cross-module references (and the Windows build) fail. Home in the shared header. */
+typedef el_val_t (*http_handler_fn)(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t body);
+typedef el_val_t (*http_handler4_fn)(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t body, el_val_t headers);
+
 #define EL_STR(s)  ((el_val_t)(uintptr_t)(s))
 #define EL_CSTR(v) ((const char*)(uintptr_t)(v))
 #define EL_INT(v)  (v)
@@ -531,12 +537,6 @@ el_val_t  parse_int(el_val_t s, el_val_t default_val);
 el_val_t  exit_program(el_val_t code);
 el_val_t  getpid_now(void);
 
-/* Self-terminating memory guard. Reads ELC_MAX_MEM_MB (default 512) and
- * exits with code 1 if resident memory exceeds the limit. Call periodically
- * during long compilation loops (e.g. after each function is compiled).
- * Returns 0 when memory is within bounds.                                   */
-el_val_t  el_mem_check(void);
-
 /* ── CGI identity ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  * Called at the start of main() in CGI programs (those with a `cgi {}` block).
  * Records the program's DHARMA identity before any other code executes.      */

lang/el-compiler/src/codegen.el

@@ -324,10 +324,6 @@ 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, "")
@@ -417,17 +413,6 @@ 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"]
@@ -3730,7 +3715,6 @@ fn codegen_streaming(tokens: [Any], sigs: [Map<String, Any>], source: String) ->
                             cg_fn(stmt)
                             el_release(stmt)
                             el_arena_pop(fn_arena_mark)
-                            el_mem_check()
                         }
                     } else {
                         if is_top_level_decl(stmt) {

lang/el-compiler/src/compiler.el

@@ -287,9 +287,6 @@ fn type_node_to_el(t: Map<String, Any>) -> String {
 
 // emit_header — write a .elh file from parsed statements.
 // Scans for FnDef nodes and emits 'extern fn' declarations.
-// NOTE: This function requires the full AST. Prefer emit_header_from_sigs
-// for the --emit-header path — it works from a token-level scan without
-// building expression ASTs, avoiding OOM on large files.
 fn emit_header(stmts: [Map<String, Any>], hdr_path: String) -> Void {
     let n: Int = native_list_len(stmts)
     let i = 0
@@ -328,32 +325,6 @@ fn emit_header(stmts: [Map<String, Any>], hdr_path: String) -> Void {
     let ok: Bool = fs_write(hdr_path, content)
 }
 
-// emit_header_from_sigs — write a .elh file from pre-scanned El signatures.
-// Uses the output of scan_fn_sigs_el() — no full AST required.
-// Peak memory is O(tokens) rather than O(whole-program AST), which prevents
-// OOM on large files with HTML template bodies or deep BinOp chains.
-fn emit_header_from_sigs(sigs: [Map<String, Any>], hdr_path: String) -> Void {
-    let n: Int = native_list_len(sigs)
-    let i: Int = 0
-    let parts: [String] = native_list_empty()
-    let parts = native_list_append(parts, "// auto-generated by elc --emit-header — do not edit\n")
-    while i < n {
-        let sig = native_list_get(sigs, i)
-        let kind: String = sig["kind"]
-        if str_eq(kind, "fn") {
-            let name: String = sig["name"]
-            let params_el: String = sig["params_el"]
-            let ret_el: String = sig["ret_el"]
-            if str_eq(ret_el, "") { let ret_el = "Any" }
-            let line: String = "extern fn " + name + "(" + params_el + ") -> " + ret_el
-            let parts = native_list_append(parts, line + "\n")
-        }
-        let i = i + 1
-    }
-    let content: String = str_join(parts, "")
-    let ok: Bool = fs_write(hdr_path, content)
-}
-
 // ── Import resolution ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 //
 // elc supports two forms of import:
@@ -565,20 +536,16 @@ fn main() -> Void {
 
     let src_path: String = native_list_get(positional, 0)
 
-    // When --emit-header is requested, lex the source file and do a
-    // token-level signature scan (no full AST) to write a .elh file.
-    // This avoids OOM on large files with HTML template bodies or deep
-    // BinOp chains (e.g. checkout.el) — parse() builds O(whole-program AST)
-    // while scan_fn_sigs_el keeps peak memory at O(tokens).
+    // When --emit-header is requested, parse the source file directly
+    // (without inlining imports) and write out a .elh file alongside the .c.
     if do_emit_header {
-        el_mem_check()
         let raw_source: String = fs_read(src_path)
         let hdr_tokens: [Any] = lex(raw_source)
-        let hdr_sigs: [Map<String, Any>] = scan_fn_sigs_el(hdr_tokens)
+        let hdr_stmts: [Map<String, Any>] = parse(hdr_tokens)
         el_release(hdr_tokens)
         let hdr_path: String = str_slice(src_path, 0, str_len(src_path) - 3) + ".elh"
-        emit_header_from_sigs(hdr_sigs, hdr_path)
-        el_release(hdr_sigs)
+        emit_header(hdr_stmts, hdr_path)
+        el_release(hdr_stmts)
     }
 
     let source: String = resolve_imports(src_path)

lang/el-compiler/src/parser.el

@@ -293,48 +293,6 @@ 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> {
@@ -362,7 +320,7 @@ fn parse_html_text_tokens(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
             }
         }
     }
-    { "text": str_join(parts, ""), "pos": p }
+    { "text": str_join(parts, " "), "pos": p }
 }
 
 // Parse an attribute list: (attrname | attrname="val" | attrname={expr})*
@@ -477,125 +435,77 @@ fn parse_html_children(tokens: [Any], pos: Int, parent_tag: String) -> Map<Strin
                 }
             } else {
                 if str_eq(k, "LBrace") {
-                    // 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.
+                    // Interpolation: {expr} or {#each ...} or {/each}
                     let k2 = tok_kind(tokens, p + 1)
-                    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)
+                    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
                             let prev_no_block: String = state_get("__no_block_expr")
                             state_set("__no_block_expr", "1")
-                            let r_cond = parse_expr(tokens, p)
+                            let r_list = parse_expr(tokens, p)
                             state_set("__no_block_expr", prev_no_block)
-                            let cond_expr = r_cond["node"]
-                            let p = r_cond["pos"]
-                            el_release(r_cond)
+                            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 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)
+                            // 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
+                                    }
                                 }
                             }
-                            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
+                            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 {
-                                // 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 })
-                                    }
-                                }
+                                let children = native_list_append(children, { "html": "Interp", "value": interp_val })
                             }
                         }
                     }
@@ -655,27 +565,6 @@ 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"]
@@ -829,123 +718,44 @@ 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)
         }
-        // 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 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" {
                     let running = false
                 } else {
-                    if k2 == "Eof" {
-                        let running = false
+                    // 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
                     } else {
-                        // 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 = new_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)
+        let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBrace")
+        return make_result({ "expr": "Map", "pairs": pairs }, p)
     }
 
     // if expression
@@ -2065,219 +1875,6 @@ fn skip_expr_to_stmt_boundary(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Int {
     p
 }
 
-// scan_type_el — read a type annotation starting at pos and return its El
-// source representation as a string, plus the new position.
-// Returns { "el": String, "pos": Int }.
-// Handles: Ident, [Type], Map<K,V>, Type?, Type<T,...> (same shapes as skip_type).
-fn scan_type_el(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
-    let k: String = tok_kind(tokens, pos)
-    // Array type: [Type]
-    if str_eq(k, "LBracket") {
-        let p: Int = pos + 1
-        let inner = scan_type_el(tokens, p)
-        let inner_str: String = inner["el"]
-        let p = inner["pos"]
-        el_release(inner)
-        let p = expect(tokens, p, "RBracket")
-        return { "el": "[" + inner_str + "]", "pos": p }
-    }
-    // Named type (possibly generic or optional)
-    if str_eq(k, "Ident") {
-        let name: String = tok_value(tokens, pos)
-        let p: Int = pos + 1
-        let k2: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-        if str_eq(k2, "Lt") {
-            // Generic params: collect until matching >
-            let p = p + 1
-            let depth: Int = 1
-            let parts: [String] = native_list_empty()
-            let parts = native_list_append(parts, name + "<")
-            let running: Bool = true
-            while running {
-                let kk: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-                if str_eq(kk, "Eof") {
-                    let running = false
-                } else {
-                    if str_eq(kk, "Lt") {
-                        let depth = depth + 1
-                        let parts = native_list_append(parts, "<")
-                        let p = p + 1
-                    } else {
-                        if str_eq(kk, "Gt") {
-                            let depth = depth - 1
-                            let p = p + 1
-                            if depth <= 0 {
-                                let parts = native_list_append(parts, ">")
-                                let running = false
-                            } else {
-                                let parts = native_list_append(parts, ">")
-                            }
-                        } else {
-                            if str_eq(kk, "Comma") {
-                                let parts = native_list_append(parts, ", ")
-                                let p = p + 1
-                            } else {
-                                let parts = native_list_append(parts, tok_value(tokens, p))
-                                let p = p + 1
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            let k3: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-            if str_eq(k3, "QuestionMark") { let p = p + 1 }
-            let result: String = str_join(parts, "")
-            el_release(parts)
-            return { "el": result, "pos": p }
-        }
-        // Optional marker
-        if str_eq(k2, "QuestionMark") {
-            return { "el": name + "?", "pos": p + 1 }
-        }
-        return { "el": name, "pos": p }
-    }
-    // Fallback: unknown token, treat as Any
-    { "el": "Any", "pos": pos + 1 }
-}
-
-// scan_params_el — scan a parameter list `(name: Type, ...)` starting at
-// position `pos` (which should point at LParen) and return the El parameter
-// declaration string (e.g. "a: String, b: Int") along with the new position.
-// Returns { "el": String, "pos": Int }.
-// Used by scan_fn_sigs_el for --emit-header without building full AST.
-fn scan_params_el(tokens: [Any], pos: Int) -> Map<String, Any> {
-    let p: Int = expect(tokens, pos, "LParen")
-    let parts: [String] = native_list_empty()
-    let going: Bool = true
-    while going {
-        let kk: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-        if str_eq(kk, "RParen") {
-            let going = false
-        } else {
-            if str_eq(kk, "Eof") {
-                let going = false
-            } else {
-                let pname: String = tok_value(tokens, p)
-                let p = p + 1
-                let p = expect(tokens, p, "Colon")
-                let tr = scan_type_el(tokens, p)
-                let ptype: String = tr["el"]
-                let p = tr["pos"]
-                el_release(tr)
-                let parts = native_list_append(parts, pname + ": " + ptype)
-                let k2: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-                if str_eq(k2, "Comma") {
-                    let p = p + 1
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-    let p = expect(tokens, p, "RParen")
-    let el_str: String = str_join(parts, ", ")
-    el_release(parts)
-    { "el": el_str, "pos": p }
-}
-
-// scan_fn_sigs_el — lightweight token-level pre-scan for --emit-header.
-//
-// Like scan_fn_sigs but captures El-style type strings instead of C types.
-// Only records fn/extern_fn entries (header generation ignores lets/blocks).
-//
-// Descriptor shape:
-//   { "kind": "fn"|"extern_fn", "name": String,
-//     "params_el": String,   <- El param list, e.g. "a: String, b: Int"
-//     "ret_el": String }     <- El return type, e.g. "String" or "Void"
-//
-// Peak memory: O(tokens) with no expression AST allocation.
-fn scan_fn_sigs_el(tokens: [Any]) -> [Map<String, Any>] {
-    let total: Int = native_list_len(tokens) / 2
-    let sigs: [Map<String, Any>] = native_list_empty()
-    let pos: Int = 0
-    let going: Bool = true
-    while going {
-        if pos >= total {
-            let going = false
-        } else {
-            let k: String = tok_kind(tokens, pos)
-            if str_eq(k, "Eof") {
-                let going = false
-            } else {
-                // --- fn definition ---
-                if str_eq(k, "Fn") {
-                    let p: Int = pos + 1
-                    let name: String = tok_value(tokens, p)
-                    let p = p + 1
-                    let pr = scan_params_el(tokens, p)
-                    let params_el: String = pr["el"]
-                    let p = pr["pos"]
-                    el_release(pr)
-                    // read return type
-                    let ret_el: String = "Any"
-                    let k2: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-                    if str_eq(k2, "Arrow") {
-                        let p = p + 1
-                        let tr = scan_type_el(tokens, p)
-                        let ret_el = tr["el"]
-                        let p = tr["pos"]
-                        el_release(tr)
-                    }
-                    // skip body
-                    let k3: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-                    if str_eq(k3, "LBrace") {
-                        let p = skip_to_rbrace(tokens, p)
-                    }
-                    if !str_eq(name, "main") {
-                        let sigs = native_list_append(sigs, {
-                            "kind": "fn",
-                            "name": name,
-                            "params_el": params_el,
-                            "ret_el": ret_el
-                        })
-                    }
-                    let pos = p
-                } else {
-                // --- extern fn ---
-                if str_eq(k, "Extern") {
-                    let p: Int = pos + 1
-                    let k2: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-                    if str_eq(k2, "Fn") {
-                        let p = p + 1
-                        let name: String = tok_value(tokens, p)
-                        let p = p + 1
-                        let pr = scan_params_el(tokens, p)
-                        let params_el: String = pr["el"]
-                        let p = pr["pos"]
-                        el_release(pr)
-                        let ret_el: String = "Any"
-                        let k3: String = tok_kind(tokens, p)
-                        if str_eq(k3, "Arrow") {
-                            let p = p + 1
-                            let tr = scan_type_el(tokens, p)
-                            let ret_el = tr["el"]
-                            let p = tr["pos"]
-                            el_release(tr)
-                        }
-                        let sigs = native_list_append(sigs, {
-                            "kind": "extern_fn",
-                            "name": name,
-                            "params_el": params_el,
-                            "ret_el": ret_el
-                        })
-                        let pos = p
-                    } else {
-                        let pos = pos + 1
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    // Let, Cgi, Service, Import, Type, Enum, From — skip to boundary.
-                    let p: Int = pos + 1
-                    let p = skip_expr_to_stmt_boundary(tokens, p)
-                    let pos = p
-                }}}
-            }
-        }
-    sigs
-}
-
 // scan_params_c — scan a parameter list `(name: Type, ...)` starting at
 // position `pos` (which should point at LParen) and return the C parameter
 // declaration string along with the new position.

lang/runtime/engram.el

@@ -6,15 +6,55 @@
 //
 // Dependencies: runtime/string.el, runtime/json.el
 
+// --- Validation (defense in depth) ---
+// el_val_t is an untyped machine word, so a wrong TYPE can't be caught here — but a
+// wrong VALUE can (a tier in the node_type slot, an empty/garbage string, an int, a
+// path, a model name, a cgi id). Reject loudly instead of silently writing junk.
+
+fn engram_valid_node_type(t: String) -> Bool {
+    return str_eq(t, "Memory") || str_eq(t, "Knowledge") || str_eq(t, "Belief")
+        || str_eq(t, "Project") || str_eq(t, "Tag") || str_eq(t, "BacklogItem")
+        || str_eq(t, "Artifact") || str_eq(t, "Conversation") || str_eq(t, "ExecutionContext")
+        || str_eq(t, "InternalStateEvent") || str_eq(t, "Self") || str_eq(t, "Entity")
+        || str_eq(t, "Process") || str_eq(t, "ConfigEntry") || str_eq(t, "Concept") || str_eq(t, "Imprint")
+        || str_eq(t, "SessionSummary")
+}
+
+fn engram_valid_tier(t: String) -> Bool {
+    return str_eq(t, "Semantic") || str_eq(t, "Episodic") || str_eq(t, "Working")
+        || str_eq(t, "Procedural") || str_eq(t, "Canonical") || str_eq(t, "Note") || str_eq(t, "Lesson")
+}
+
 // --- Node creation ---
 
 fn engram_node(content: String, node_type: String, salience: Float) -> String {
+    if !engram_valid_node_type(node_type) {
+        __println("[engram] REJECTED node write — invalid node_type '" + node_type + "'")
+        return ""
+    }
     return __engram_node(content, node_type, salience)
 }
 
-fn engram_node_full(content: String, nt: String, sal: Float, imp: Float,
-                    source: String, lang: String, ts: Int, tags: String) -> String {
-    return __engram_node_full(content, nt, sal, imp, source, lang, ts, tags)
+// Signature MUST match the C primitive __engram_node_full exactly (el_seed.h):
+//   (content, node_type, label, salience, importance, confidence, tier, tags)
+// The previous wrapper declared a stale 8-arg schema with wrong names AND types
+// (sal:Float at the label slot, ts:Int at the tier slot). Because el_val_t is an
+// untyped machine word, the EL compiler coerced caller args to those wrong param
+// types and then forwarded them BY POSITION into the C function — so tier received
+// an int, importance/confidence received strings, label received a float, etc.
+// That is the field-corruption bug. Match the contract 1:1 — no coercion, no reorder.
+fn engram_node_full(content: String, node_type: String, label: String,
+                    salience: Float, importance: Float, confidence: Float,
+                    tier: String, tags: String) -> String {
+    if !engram_valid_node_type(node_type) {
+        __println("[engram] REJECTED node write — invalid node_type '" + node_type + "' (label=" + label + ")")
+        return ""
+    }
+    if !engram_valid_tier(tier) {
+        __println("[engram] REJECTED node write — invalid tier '" + tier + "' (node_type=" + node_type + ", label=" + label + ")")
+        return ""
+    }
+    return __engram_node_full(content, node_type, label, salience, importance, confidence, tier, tags)
 }
 
 // --- Node retrieval ---