From 92a024fc1c1d179c555a602df6cd6d4620a749bc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?=E5=B0=8F=E6=A9=98?= <xiaoju@shazhou.work>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 14:41:25 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 1/3] feat: add sorting, pagination, and timestamps to list
 commands

Add --sort, --limit, --offset, --desc flags to `list --type`, `list-meta`,
`list-schema`, and `var list`. Change Store.listByType to return
{hash, created, updated}[] and extend VariableStore.list with the same
sort/pagination params.

Fixes #27
---
 packages/cli/src/index.ts                     |  86 +++++-
 .../__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap     |   6 +-
 packages/cli/tests/list-meta-schema.test.ts   |  28 +-
 packages/cli/tests/list-pagination.test.ts    | 249 ++++++++++++++++++
 packages/cli/tests/pipe.test.ts               |   8 +-
 packages/cli/tests/put-get-has.test.ts        |   3 +-
 packages/core/src/bootstrap.test.ts           |   4 +-
 packages/core/src/bootstrap.ts                |  30 ++-
 packages/core/src/gc.ts                       |   5 +-
 packages/core/src/index.test.ts               |   8 +-
 packages/core/src/index.ts                    |  11 +-
 packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts     | 191 ++++++++++++++
 packages/core/src/list-utils.ts               |  43 +++
 packages/core/src/mem-store.ts                |  14 +-
 packages/core/src/store.test.ts               |  28 +-
 packages/core/src/store.ts                    |  25 +-
 packages/core/src/types.ts                    |  40 ++-
 .../core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts | 108 ++++++++
 packages/core/src/variable-store.ts           |  25 +-
 packages/fs/src/store.test.ts                 |  24 +-
 packages/fs/src/store.ts                      |  30 ++-
 21 files changed, 874 insertions(+), 92 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 packages/cli/tests/list-pagination.test.ts
 create mode 100644 packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts
 create mode 100644 packages/core/src/list-utils.ts
 create mode 100644 packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts

diff --git a/packages/cli/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
index 775a8df..6d49d6a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
-import type { Hash, Store, VariableStore } from "@ocas/core";
+import type { Hash, ListOptions, Store, VariableStore } from "@ocas/core";
 import {
   bootstrap,
   CasNodeNotFoundError,
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ const VALUE_FLAGS = new Set([
   "epsilon",
   "inline",
   "type",
+  "sort",
+  "limit",
+  "offset",
 ]);
 
 function parseArgs(argv: string[]): { flags: Flags; positional: string[] } {
@@ -230,6 +233,60 @@ function parseTagsLabels(args: string[]): {
   return { tags, labels, deleteNames };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Parse --sort/--limit/--offset/--desc into a ListOptions object.
+ * Validates each flag and dies with a clear error on invalid values.
+ */
+function parseListOptions(): ListOptions {
+  const opts: ListOptions = {};
+  const sortFlag = flags.sort;
+  if (sortFlag !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof sortFlag !== "string") {
+      die("Error: --sort requires a value (created or updated)");
+    }
+    if (sortFlag !== "created" && sortFlag !== "updated") {
+      die(`Error: --sort must be 'created' or 'updated' (got '${sortFlag}')`);
+    }
+    opts.sort = sortFlag;
+  }
+  const limitFlag = flags.limit;
+  if (limitFlag !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof limitFlag !== "string") {
+      die("Error: --limit requires a numeric value");
+    }
+    const parsed = Number.parseInt(limitFlag, 10);
+    if (
+      !Number.isFinite(parsed) ||
+      parsed < 0 ||
+      String(parsed) !== limitFlag
+    ) {
+      die(`Error: --limit must be a non-negative integer (got '${limitFlag}')`);
+    }
+    opts.limit = parsed;
+  }
+  const offsetFlag = flags.offset;
+  if (offsetFlag !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof offsetFlag !== "string") {
+      die("Error: --offset requires a numeric value");
+    }
+    const parsed = Number.parseInt(offsetFlag, 10);
+    if (
+      !Number.isFinite(parsed) ||
+      parsed < 0 ||
+      String(parsed) !== offsetFlag
+    ) {
+      die(
+        `Error: --offset must be a non-negative integer (got '${offsetFlag}')`,
+      );
+    }
+    opts.offset = parsed;
+  }
+  if (flags.desc === true) {
+    opts.desc = true;
+  }
+  return opts;
+}
+
 // ---- Commands ----
 
 async function cmdPut(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
@@ -769,6 +826,7 @@ async function cmdVarList(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const namePrefix = args[0] ?? "";
   const schemaInput = flags.schema as string | undefined;
   const tagFlags = flags.tag;
+  const listOpts = parseListOptions();
 
   const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
 
@@ -792,9 +850,10 @@ async function cmdVarList(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 
     const variables = varStore.list({
       namePrefix,
-      schema,
-      tags: Object.keys(tags).length > 0 ? tags : undefined,
-      labels: labels.length > 0 ? labels : undefined,
+      ...(schema !== undefined ? { schema } : {}),
+      ...(Object.keys(tags).length > 0 ? { tags } : {}),
+      ...(labels.length > 0 ? { labels } : {}),
+      ...listOpts,
     });
     await out(
       await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/var-list", variables),
@@ -929,6 +988,7 @@ async function cmdTemplateList(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     const variables = varStore.list({
       namePrefix: "@ocas/template/text/",
       schema: stringHash,
+      limit: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
     });
 
     const templates = variables.map((v) => ({
@@ -992,27 +1052,33 @@ async function cmdList(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const typeFlag = flags.type;
   if (typeof typeFlag !== "string")
     die("Usage: ocas list --type <hash-or-name>");
+  const opts = parseListOptions();
   const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
   try {
     const typeHash = resolveHash(typeFlag, varStore);
-    const hashes = Array.from(store.listByType(typeHash));
-    await out(await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/list", hashes), store);
+    const entries = store.listByType(typeHash, opts);
+    await out(await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/list", entries), store);
   } finally {
     varStore.close();
   }
 }
 
 async function cmdListMeta(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const opts = parseListOptions();
   const store = await openStore();
-  const hashes = store.listMeta();
-  await out(await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/list-meta", hashes), store);
+  const entries = store.listMeta(opts);
+  await out(
+    await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/list-meta", entries),
+    store,
+  );
 }
 
 async function cmdListSchema(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const opts = parseListOptions();
   const store = await openStore();
-  const hashes = store.listSchemas();
+  const entries = store.listSchemas(opts);
   await out(
-    await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/list-schema", hashes),
+    await wrapEnvelope(store, "@ocas/output/list-schema", entries),
     store,
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap b/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap
index df0ee99..809db84 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap
@@ -199,21 +199,21 @@ exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.3 var list shows all variables 1`] = `
       "name": "@ocas/output/list",
       "schema": "CTS5P6RD8HMCS",
       "tags": {},
-      "value": "CTCEXSNPWMAQQ",
+      "value": "7BWZ3JKKMSH4N",
     },
     {
       "labels": [],
       "name": "@ocas/output/list-meta",
       "schema": "CTS5P6RD8HMCS",
       "tags": {},
-      "value": "0V41JBWK72HS3",
+      "value": "1WQ7C0EV8QGA4",
     },
     {
       "labels": [],
       "name": "@ocas/output/list-schema",
       "schema": "CTS5P6RD8HMCS",
       "tags": {},
-      "value": "AW24Q8BKXQYTE",
+      "value": "7FYGS2KQ3REM9",
     },
     {
       "labels": [],
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/list-meta-schema.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/list-meta-schema.test.ts
index e36b9a6..7f3c353 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/list-meta-schema.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/list-meta-schema.test.ts
@@ -33,18 +33,22 @@ describe("list-meta CLI command", () => {
       ["list", "--type", "@ocas/schema"],
       storePath,
     );
-    const schemaList = envValue(schemaListOut) as string[];
+    const schemaList = envValue(schemaListOut) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
     expect(Array.isArray(schemaList)).toBe(true);
 
     const { stdout, stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(["list-meta"], storePath);
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
     expect(stderr).toBe("");
 
-    const parsed = JSON.parse(stdout) as { type: string; value: string[] };
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(stdout) as {
+      type: string;
+      value: Array<{ hash: string; created: number; updated: number }>;
+    };
     expect(parsed.type).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
     expect(Array.isArray(parsed.value)).toBe(true);
     expect(parsed.value).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(parsed.value[0]).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
+    const first = parsed.value[0] as { hash: string };
+    expect(first.hash).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
   });
 
   test("E1. --json flag yields compact JSON", async () => {
@@ -136,10 +140,12 @@ describe("E4. list-schema vs list --type with multiple meta-schema versions", ()
       storePath,
     );
     expect(lsCode).toBe(0);
-    const lsValue = envValue(lsOut) as string[];
-    expect(lsValue).toContain(sM1);
-    expect(lsValue).toContain(m1);
-    expect(lsValue).toContain(m2);
+    const lsHashes = (envValue(lsOut) as Array<{ hash: string }>).map(
+      (e) => e.hash,
+    );
+    expect(lsHashes).toContain(sM1);
+    expect(lsHashes).toContain(m1);
+    expect(lsHashes).toContain(m2);
 
     // CLI: list --type <M2 hash> must NOT include sM1
     const { stdout: ltOut, exitCode: ltCode } = await runCli(
@@ -147,10 +153,12 @@ describe("E4. list-schema vs list --type with multiple meta-schema versions", ()
       storePath,
     );
     expect(ltCode).toBe(0);
-    const ltValue = envValue(ltOut) as string[];
-    expect(ltValue).not.toContain(sM1);
+    const ltHashes = (envValue(ltOut) as Array<{ hash: string }>).map(
+      (e) => e.hash,
+    );
+    expect(ltHashes).not.toContain(sM1);
 
     // list-schema.value.length > list --type <newest>.value.length
-    expect(lsValue.length).toBeGreaterThan(ltValue.length);
+    expect(lsHashes.length).toBeGreaterThan(ltHashes.length);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/list-pagination.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/list-pagination.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6e983d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/list-pagination.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { envValue, runCli } from "./helpers.js";
+
+const HASH_RE = /^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/;
+
+let storePath: string;
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  storePath = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "ocas-list-pagination-"));
+  mkdirSync(storePath, { recursive: true });
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  rmSync(storePath, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+async function putString(text: string): Promise<string> {
+  // Use the @ocas/string built-in via library; CLI doesn't expose put-text but
+  // `put @ocas/string --pipe` works. We'll use --pipe with stdin.
+  const proc = Bun.spawn(
+    [
+      "bun",
+      join(import.meta.dir, "../src/index.ts"),
+      "--home",
+      storePath,
+      "put",
+      "@ocas/string",
+      "--pipe",
+    ],
+    { stdout: "pipe", stderr: "pipe", stdin: "pipe" },
+  );
+  proc.stdin.write(JSON.stringify(text));
+  proc.stdin.end();
+  await proc.exited;
+  const out = await new Response(proc.stdout).text();
+  return (JSON.parse(out) as { value: string }).value;
+}
+
+async function makeN(n: number, gap = 2): Promise<string[]> {
+  const hashes: string[] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    hashes.push(await putString(`val-${i}-${Math.random()}`));
+    if (gap > 0 && i < n - 1) {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, gap));
+    }
+  }
+  return hashes;
+}
+
+describe("CLI list --type pagination", () => {
+  test("E1. entries are {hash, created, updated} objects", async () => {
+    await makeN(3);
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as Array<{
+      hash: string;
+      created: number;
+      updated: number;
+    }>;
+    expect(value.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    for (const e of value) {
+      expect(e.hash).toMatch(HASH_RE);
+      expect(typeof e.created).toBe("number");
+      expect(typeof e.updated).toBe("number");
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("E2. --limit 2", async () => {
+    await makeN(5, 0);
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--limit", "2"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as unknown[];
+    expect(value).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  test("E3. --offset 1 skips first", async () => {
+    await makeN(3);
+    const { stdout: a } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    const { stdout: b } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--offset", "1", "--limit", "100"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    const all = envValue(a) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
+    const skip = envValue(b) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
+    expect(skip).toHaveLength(all.length - 1);
+    expect((skip[0] as { hash: string }).hash).toBe(
+      (all[1] as { hash: string }).hash,
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("E4. --desc reverses default order", async () => {
+    await makeN(3);
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--desc"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as Array<{ created: number }>;
+    for (let i = 1; i < value.length; i++) {
+      expect((value[i] as { created: number }).created).toBeLessThanOrEqual(
+        (value[i - 1] as { created: number }).created,
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("E5. --sort updated accepted; equals created for CAS", async () => {
+    await makeN(3);
+    const { stdout: a } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--sort", "created"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    const { stdout: b } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--sort", "updated"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(envValue(a)).toEqual(envValue(b));
+  });
+
+  test("E7. invalid --sort exits non-zero", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stderr } = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--sort", "foo"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("--sort");
+  });
+
+  test("E8. invalid --limit exits non-zero", async () => {
+    const r1 = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--limit", "-1"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(r1.exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(r1.stderr).toContain("--limit");
+
+    const r2 = await runCli(
+      ["list", "--type", "@ocas/string", "--limit", "abc"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect(r2.exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(r2.stderr).toContain("--limit");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("CLI list-meta / list-schema pagination", () => {
+  test("F1. list-meta entries are objects", async () => {
+    // Bootstrap implicitly happens when running any cli command that opens store
+    await runCli(["list-meta"], storePath);
+    const { stdout } = await runCli(["list-meta"], storePath);
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as Array<{
+      hash: string;
+      created: number;
+      updated: number;
+    }>;
+    expect(value.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+    for (const e of value) {
+      expect(e.hash).toMatch(HASH_RE);
+      expect(typeof e.created).toBe("number");
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("F2. list-schema --limit honored", async () => {
+    const { stdout } = await runCli(["list-schema", "--limit", "3"], storePath);
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as unknown[];
+    expect(value).toHaveLength(3);
+  });
+
+  test("F3. list-schema --desc reverses order", async () => {
+    const { stdout: asc } = await runCli(["list-schema"], storePath);
+    const { stdout: desc } = await runCli(["list-schema", "--desc"], storePath);
+    const a = envValue(asc) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
+    const d = envValue(desc) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
+    expect(d[0]?.hash).toBe(a[a.length - 1]?.hash);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("CLI var list pagination", () => {
+  test("G1./G2. --limit and --offset on var list", async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+      const h = await putString(`tval-${i}`);
+      await runCli(["var", "set", `myvar-${i}`, h], storePath);
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2));
+    }
+    const { stdout: lim } = await runCli(
+      ["var", "list", "myvar-", "--limit", "2"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    expect((envValue(lim) as unknown[]).length).toBe(2);
+
+    const { stdout: off } = await runCli(
+      ["var", "list", "myvar-", "--offset", "1", "--limit", "10"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    const offList = envValue(off) as Array<{ name: string }>;
+    expect(offList.length).toBe(3);
+    expect(offList[0]?.name).toBe("myvar-1");
+  });
+
+  test("G3. --desc reverses var list order", async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      const h = await putString(`dval-${i}`);
+      await runCli(["var", "set", `dv-${i}`, h], storePath);
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2));
+    }
+    const { stdout } = await runCli(
+      ["var", "list", "dv-", "--desc"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    const list = envValue(stdout) as Array<{ name: string }>;
+    expect(list[0]?.name).toBe("dv-2");
+  });
+
+  test("G4. --sort updated", async () => {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      const h = await putString(`sval-${i}`);
+      await runCli(["var", "set", `sv-${i}`, h], storePath);
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2));
+    }
+    // Re-set sv-0 with NEW value to bump updated
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2));
+    const newH = await putString("sval-0-new");
+    await runCli(["var", "set", "sv-0", newH], storePath);
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli(
+      ["var", "list", "sv-", "--sort", "updated"],
+      storePath,
+    );
+    const list = envValue(stdout) as Array<{ name: string }>;
+    expect(list[list.length - 1]?.name).toBe("sv-0");
+  });
+
+  test("G6. invalid --sort exits non-zero", async () => {
+    const r = await runCli(["var", "list", "--sort", "bogus"], storePath);
+    expect(r.exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(r.stderr).toContain("--sort");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/pipe.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/pipe.test.ts
index cec546a..5cd065e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/pipe.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/pipe.test.ts
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ describe("Phase 8: Pipe Composition", () => {
     ]);
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
 
-    // Downstream consumers (jq, etc.) read the `value` array of hashes.
-    const value = envValue(stdout) as string[];
+    // Downstream consumers (jq, etc.) read the `value` array of {hash,...}.
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
     expect(Array.isArray(value)).toBe(true);
-    for (const hash of value) {
-      expect(hash).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
+    for (const entry of value) {
+      expect(entry.hash).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
     }
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/put-get-has.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/put-get-has.test.ts
index 04a4565..7e261a3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/put-get-has.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/put-get-has.test.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ describe("Phase 1: CAS Core", () => {
   test("1.13 list --type returns nodes of that type", async () => {
     const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["list", "--type", typeHash]);
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
-    expect(envValue(stdout)).toContain(nodeHash);
+    const value = envValue(stdout) as Array<{ hash: string }>;
+    expect(value.map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(nodeHash);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/src/bootstrap.test.ts b/packages/core/src/bootstrap.test.ts
index 648c9c1..9bb6675 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/bootstrap.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/bootstrap.test.ts
@@ -328,13 +328,13 @@ describe("bootstrap - meta and schemas indexes (D1)", () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
     const aliases = await bootstrap(store);
     const metaHash = aliases["@ocas/schema"];
-    expect(store.listMeta()).toContain(metaHash as string);
+    expect(store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(metaHash as string);
   });
 
   test("listSchemas contains meta-schema and all built-in schemas", async () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
     const aliases = await bootstrap(store);
-    const schemas = store.listSchemas();
+    const schemas = store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash);
 
     for (const [, hash] of Object.entries(aliases)) {
       expect(schemas).toContain(hash);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/bootstrap.ts b/packages/core/src/bootstrap.ts
index eead489..2f82110 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/bootstrap.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/bootstrap.ts
@@ -169,7 +169,15 @@ const OUTPUT_SCHEMAS: ReadonlyArray<
     "@ocas/output/list",
     {
       type: "array",
-      items: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+      items: {
+        type: "object",
+        properties: {
+          hash: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+          created: { type: "number" },
+          updated: { type: "number" },
+        },
+        required: ["hash", "created", "updated"],
+      },
       title: "ocas list result",
     },
   ],
@@ -177,7 +185,15 @@ const OUTPUT_SCHEMAS: ReadonlyArray<
     "@ocas/output/list-meta",
     {
       type: "array",
-      items: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+      items: {
+        type: "object",
+        properties: {
+          hash: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+          created: { type: "number" },
+          updated: { type: "number" },
+        },
+        required: ["hash", "created", "updated"],
+      },
       title: "ocas list-meta result",
     },
   ],
@@ -185,7 +201,15 @@ const OUTPUT_SCHEMAS: ReadonlyArray<
     "@ocas/output/list-schema",
     {
       type: "array",
-      items: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+      items: {
+        type: "object",
+        properties: {
+          hash: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+          created: { type: "number" },
+          updated: { type: "number" },
+        },
+        required: ["hash", "created", "updated"],
+      },
       title: "ocas list-schema result",
     },
   ],
diff --git a/packages/core/src/gc.ts b/packages/core/src/gc.ts
index d8e38ec..06a29c1 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/gc.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/gc.ts
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ export interface GcStats {
  * - Schema preservation: schemas of reachable nodes are also marked
  */
 export function gc(store: Store, varStore: VariableStore): GcStats {
-  // Get all variables (no filters → global)
-  const variables = varStore.list();
+  // Get all variables (no filters → global). Pass a very large limit so the
+  // API-level default of 100 does not silently truncate gc roots.
+  const variables = varStore.list({ limit: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER });
   const scanned = variables.length;
 
   // Collect unique root hashes from all variables
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.test.ts b/packages/core/src/index.test.ts
index b90222f..319d9fd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.test.ts
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – has", () => {
     const h2 = await store.put(typeHash, { a: 2 });
     const h3 = await store.put(typeHash, { a: 3 });
 
-    const all = store.listByType(typeHash);
+    const all = store.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(all).toHaveLength(3);
     expect(all).toContain(h1);
     expect(all).toContain(h2);
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – listByType", () => {
     const h2 = await store.put(typeHash, { a: 2 });
     await store.put(otherType, { b: 1 });
 
-    const byType = store.listByType(typeHash);
+    const byType = store.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(byType).toHaveLength(2);
     expect(byType).toContain(h1);
     expect(byType).toContain(h2);
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – listByType", () => {
     const h1 = await store.put(typeHash, { n: 1 });
     await store.put(typeHash, { n: 1 });
 
-    expect(store.listByType(typeHash)).toEqual([h1]);
+    expect(store.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash)).toEqual([h1]);
   });
 
   test("bootstrap node is listed under its self type", async () => {
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – listByType", () => {
     const hash = builtinSchemas["@ocas/schema"] ?? "";
 
     // All built-in schemas should be typed by the meta-schema
-    const allTypedByMeta = store.listByType(hash);
+    const allTypedByMeta = store.listByType(hash).map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(allTypedByMeta).toContain(hash); // meta-schema itself
     expect(allTypedByMeta).toContain(builtinSchemas["@ocas/string"] ?? "");
     expect(allTypedByMeta).toContain(builtinSchemas["@ocas/number"] ?? "");
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 4fd066a..d136879 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export { cborEncode } from "./cbor.js";
 export { type GcStats, gc } from "./gc.js";
 export { computeHash, computeSelfHash } from "./hash.js";
 export { renderWithTemplate } from "./liquid-render.js";
+export { applyListOptions, casListEntry } from "./list-utils.js";
 export { registerOutputTemplates } from "./output-templates.js";
 export {
   type RenderOptions,
@@ -22,7 +23,15 @@ export {
   walk,
 } from "./schema.js";
 export { createMemoryStore } from "./store.js";
-export type { CasNode, Hash, Store } from "./types.js";
+export {
+  type CasNode,
+  DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT,
+  type Hash,
+  type ListEntry,
+  type ListOptions,
+  type ListSort,
+  type Store,
+} from "./types.js";
 export type { Variable } from "./variable.js";
 export {
   CasNodeNotFoundError,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts b/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20eff98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { BOOTSTRAP_STORE } from "./bootstrap-capable.js";
+import { createMemoryStore } from "./store.js";
+
+const HASH_RE = /^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/;
+
+async function putN(
+  store: ReturnType<typeof createMemoryStore>,
+  type: string,
+  n: number,
+  delayMs = 2,
+): Promise<string[]> {
+  const hashes: string[] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    hashes.push(await store.put(type, { i }));
+    if (delayMs > 0 && i < n - 1) {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, delayMs));
+    }
+  }
+  return hashes;
+}
+
+describe("listByType - pagination + sort + timestamps", () => {
+  test("A1. returns objects with hash/created/updated", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 3, 0);
+
+    const list = store.listByType(m);
+    for (const e of list) {
+      expect(e.hash).toMatch(HASH_RE);
+      expect(typeof e.created).toBe("number");
+      expect(typeof e.updated).toBe("number");
+      expect(e.created).toBe(e.updated);
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("A2. default sort is created ASC", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 4);
+
+    const list = store.listByType(m);
+    for (let i = 1; i < list.length; i++) {
+      expect((list[i] as { created: number }).created).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+        (list[i - 1] as { created: number }).created,
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("A3. desc:true reverses order", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 4);
+
+    const list = store.listByType(m, { desc: true });
+    for (let i = 1; i < list.length; i++) {
+      expect((list[i] as { created: number }).created).toBeLessThanOrEqual(
+        (list[i - 1] as { created: number }).created,
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("A4. sort: 'updated' is equivalent to 'created' for CAS nodes", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 4);
+
+    const a = store.listByType(m, { sort: "created" });
+    const b = store.listByType(m, { sort: "updated" });
+    expect(a).toEqual(b);
+  });
+
+  test("A5. limit truncates", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 5, 0);
+    expect(store.listByType(m, { limit: 2 })).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  test("A6. offset skips", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 5);
+
+    const all = store.listByType(m);
+    const skip = store.listByType(m, { offset: 2, limit: 10 });
+    expect(skip).toHaveLength(all.length - 2);
+    expect(skip[0]).toEqual(all[2] as (typeof all)[number]);
+  });
+
+  test("A7. limit:0 returns empty array", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 3, 0);
+    expect(store.listByType(m, { limit: 0 })).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("A8. offset past end returns empty array", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 3, 0);
+    expect(store.listByType(m, { offset: 100 })).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("A9. default limit is 100", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 150, 0);
+    expect(store.listByType(m)).toHaveLength(100);
+  });
+
+  test("A10. desc + offset + limit combined", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await putN(store, m, 5, 15);
+    const all = store.listByType(m);
+    const got = store.listByType(m, { desc: true, offset: 1, limit: 2 });
+    expect(got).toHaveLength(2);
+    // desc order is reverse of `all`; offset 1 + limit 2 → all[n-2], all[n-3]
+    const n = all.length;
+    expect(got[0]?.hash).toBe(all[n - 2]?.hash as string);
+    expect(got[1]?.hash).toBe(all[n - 3]?.hash as string);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("listMeta / listSchemas - pagination", () => {
+  test("B1. listMeta returns {hash,created,updated}", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const h = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    const list = store.listMeta();
+    expect(list).toHaveLength(1);
+    const e = list[0] as { hash: string; created: number; updated: number };
+    expect(e.hash).toBe(h);
+    expect(typeof e.created).toBe("number");
+    expect(typeof e.updated).toBe("number");
+  });
+
+  test("B2. listMeta default limit 100", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    for (let i = 0; i < 150; i++) {
+      await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object", i });
+    }
+    expect(store.listMeta()).toHaveLength(100);
+  });
+
+  test("B3. listMeta limit/offset/desc", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+      await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object", i });
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2));
+    }
+    expect(store.listMeta({ limit: 2 })).toHaveLength(2);
+    const all = store.listMeta();
+    const desc = store.listMeta({ desc: true });
+    expect(desc[0]).toEqual(all[all.length - 1] as (typeof all)[number]);
+  });
+
+  test("B4. listSchemas returns objects, supports limit", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    await store.put(m, { type: "string" });
+    await store.put(m, { type: "number" });
+
+    const list = store.listSchemas();
+    for (const e of list) {
+      expect(e.hash).toMatch(HASH_RE);
+      expect(typeof e.created).toBe("number");
+    }
+    expect(store.listSchemas({ limit: 1 })).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("Determinism / edge cases", () => {
+  test("I1. same-ms timestamps yield deterministic ordering across calls", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
+    // No delay → likely same millisecond
+    await putN(store, m, 5, 0);
+    const a = store.listByType(m);
+    const b = store.listByType(m);
+    expect(b).toEqual(a);
+  });
+
+  test("I2. empty store returns []", () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    expect(store.listByType("0000000000000")).toEqual([]);
+    expect(store.listMeta()).toEqual([]);
+    expect(store.listSchemas()).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts b/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7faceb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import {
+  DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT,
+  type Hash,
+  type ListEntry,
+  type ListOptions,
+} from "./types.js";
+
+/**
+ * Apply sort/desc/offset/limit to an array of `ListEntry` records.
+ * Default sort is by `created` ascending; default limit is `DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT`.
+ *
+ * Tiebreaker is the entry hash (lexicographic ascending) so ordering remains
+ * deterministic for entries sharing the same timestamp.
+ */
+export function applyListOptions(
+  entries: ListEntry[],
+  options?: ListOptions,
+): ListEntry[] {
+  const sort = options?.sort ?? "created";
+  const desc = options?.desc ?? false;
+  const limit = options?.limit ?? DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT;
+  const offset = options?.offset ?? 0;
+
+  const sorted = [...entries].sort((a, b) => {
+    const av = sort === "updated" ? a.updated : a.created;
+    const bv = sort === "updated" ? b.updated : b.created;
+    if (av !== bv) return desc ? bv - av : av - bv;
+    // Hash tiebreaker — stable across calls
+    if (a.hash === b.hash) return 0;
+    return desc ? (a.hash < b.hash ? 1 : -1) : a.hash < b.hash ? -1 : 1;
+  });
+
+  if (limit <= 0) return [];
+  return sorted.slice(offset, offset + limit);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build a `ListEntry` for a CAS node from its hash and timestamp.
+ * For immutable CAS nodes `created === updated === timestamp`.
+ */
+export function casListEntry(hash: Hash, timestamp: number): ListEntry {
+  return { hash, created: timestamp, updated: timestamp };
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/mem-store.ts b/packages/core/src/mem-store.ts
index 8876b7e..51806c2 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/mem-store.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/mem-store.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { BootstrapCapableStore } from "./bootstrap-capable.js";
 import { BOOTSTRAP_STORE } from "./bootstrap-capable.js";
 import { createMemoryStore } from "./store.js";
-import type { CasNode, Hash } from "./types.js";
+import type { CasNode, Hash, ListEntry, ListOptions } from "./types.js";
 
 /** In-memory store wrapper used by schema validation tests. */
 export class MemStore implements BootstrapCapableStore {
@@ -23,20 +23,20 @@ export class MemStore implements BootstrapCapableStore {
     return this.#inner.has(hash);
   }
 
-  listByType(typeHash: Hash): Hash[] {
-    return this.#inner.listByType(typeHash);
+  listByType(typeHash: Hash, options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
+    return this.#inner.listByType(typeHash, options);
   }
 
   listAll(): Hash[] {
     return this.#inner.listAll();
   }
 
-  listMeta(): Hash[] {
-    return this.#inner.listMeta();
+  listMeta(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
+    return this.#inner.listMeta(options);
   }
 
-  listSchemas(): Hash[] {
-    return this.#inner.listSchemas();
+  listSchemas(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
+    return this.#inner.listSchemas(options);
   }
 
   delete(hash: Hash): void {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/store.test.ts b/packages/core/src/store.test.ts
index 6ebbc2f..f6a4b1e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/store.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/store.test.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – meta and schema indexes", () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
     const hash = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
 
-    expect(store.listMeta()).toContain(hash);
-    expect(store.listSchemas()).toContain(hash);
+    expect(store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(hash);
+    expect(store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(hash);
   });
 
   test("B3. regular put does not add hash to metaSet", async () => {
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – meta and schema indexes", () => {
     const metaHash = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
     const schemaHash = await store.put(metaHash, { type: "string" });
 
-    expect(store.listMeta()).not.toContain(schemaHash);
-    expect(store.listMeta()).toContain(metaHash);
+    expect(store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).not.toContain(schemaHash);
+    expect(store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(metaHash);
   });
 
   test("B4. schema typed by meta-schema appears in listSchemas", async () => {
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – meta and schema indexes", () => {
     const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
     const s = await store.put(m, { type: "string" });
 
-    const schemas = store.listSchemas();
+    const schemas = store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(schemas).toContain(m);
     expect(schemas).toContain(s);
 
-    const meta = store.listMeta();
+    const meta = store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(meta).toContain(m);
     expect(meta).not.toContain(s);
   });
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – meta and schema indexes", () => {
     const s1 = await store.put(m1, { type: "string" });
     const s2 = await store.put(m2, { type: "number" });
 
-    const meta = store.listMeta();
+    const meta = store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(meta).toContain(m1);
     expect(meta).toContain(m2);
     expect(meta).toHaveLength(2);
 
-    const schemas = store.listSchemas();
+    const schemas = store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(schemas).toContain(m1);
     expect(schemas).toContain(m2);
     expect(schemas).toContain(s1);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – meta and schema indexes", () => {
     const h2 = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE](payload);
     expect(h1).toBe(h2);
 
-    const meta = store.listMeta();
+    const meta = store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash);
     const occurrences = meta.filter((h) => h === h1).length;
     expect(occurrences).toBe(1);
   });
@@ -76,14 +76,14 @@ describe("createMemoryStore – meta and schema indexes", () => {
     const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
     const s = await store.put(m, { type: "string" });
 
-    expect(store.listMeta()).toContain(m);
-    expect(store.listSchemas()).toContain(s);
+    expect(store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(m);
+    expect(store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(s);
 
     store.delete(m);
 
-    expect(store.listMeta()).not.toContain(m);
+    expect(store.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).not.toContain(m);
     // schemas typed by deleted meta no longer surface
-    expect(store.listSchemas()).not.toContain(s);
-    expect(store.listSchemas()).not.toContain(m);
+    expect(store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash)).not.toContain(s);
+    expect(store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash)).not.toContain(m);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/src/store.ts b/packages/core/src/store.ts
index 4c6f9d1..f7ced1f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/store.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/store.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import {
   type BootstrapCapableStore,
 } from "./bootstrap-capable.js";
 import { computeHash, computeSelfHash } from "./hash.js";
-import type { CasNode, Hash } from "./types.js";
+import { applyListOptions, casListEntry } from "./list-utils.js";
+import type { CasNode, Hash, ListEntry, ListOptions } from "./types.js";
 
 export function createMemoryStore(): BootstrapCapableStore {
   const data = new Map<Hash, CasNode>();
@@ -29,6 +30,15 @@ export function createMemoryStore(): BootstrapCapableStore {
     return hash;
   }
 
+  function entriesForHashes(hashes: Iterable<Hash>): ListEntry[] {
+    const result: ListEntry[] = [];
+    for (const h of hashes) {
+      const node = data.get(h);
+      if (node) result.push(casListEntry(h, node.timestamp));
+    }
+    return result;
+  }
+
   const store: BootstrapCapableStore = {
     async put(typeHash: Hash, payload: unknown): Promise<Hash> {
       const hash = await computeHash(typeHash, payload);
@@ -49,20 +59,21 @@ export function createMemoryStore(): BootstrapCapableStore {
       return data.has(hash);
     },
 
-    listByType(typeHash: Hash): Hash[] {
+    listByType(typeHash: Hash, options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
       const set = byType.get(typeHash);
-      return set ? [...set] : [];
+      if (!set) return [];
+      return applyListOptions(entriesForHashes(set), options);
     },
 
     listAll(): Hash[] {
       return Array.from(data.keys());
     },
 
-    listMeta(): Hash[] {
-      return Array.from(metaSet);
+    listMeta(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
+      return applyListOptions(entriesForHashes(metaSet), options);
     },
 
-    listSchemas(): Hash[] {
+    listSchemas(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
       const result = new Set<Hash>();
       for (const meta of metaSet) {
         result.add(meta);
@@ -71,7 +82,7 @@ export function createMemoryStore(): BootstrapCapableStore {
           for (const h of set) result.add(h);
         }
       }
-      return Array.from(result);
+      return applyListOptions(entriesForHashes(result), options);
     },
 
     delete(hash: Hash): void {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/types.ts b/packages/core/src/types.ts
index ee88836..66d801f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/types.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,40 @@ export type CasNode<T = unknown> = {
   timestamp: number;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Sort key for list operations.
+ * - "created": ordering by node creation timestamp (default).
+ * - "updated": ordering by mutation timestamp; for immutable CAS nodes this
+ *   is identical to "created".
+ */
+export type ListSort = "created" | "updated";
+
+/**
+ * Common options shared by list operations on the CAS store.
+ */
+export type ListOptions = {
+  sort?: ListSort;
+  desc?: boolean;
+  limit?: number;
+  offset?: number;
+};
+
+/**
+ * One entry in the result of a list operation: a hash plus its
+ * creation/mutation timestamps. For immutable CAS nodes
+ * `created === updated === node.timestamp`.
+ */
+export type ListEntry = {
+  hash: Hash;
+  created: number;
+  updated: number;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Default limit applied when callers omit `limit` from list options.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT = 100;
+
 /**
  * Content-addressable store interface.
  * Self-referencing nodes are created only via bootstrap().
@@ -23,9 +57,9 @@ export type Store = {
   put(typeHash: Hash, payload: unknown): Promise<Hash>;
   get(hash: Hash): CasNode | null;
   has(hash: Hash): boolean;
-  listByType(typeHash: Hash): Hash[];
+  listByType(typeHash: Hash, options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[];
   listAll(): Hash[];
-  listMeta(): Hash[];
-  listSchemas(): Hash[];
+  listMeta(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[];
+  listSchemas(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[];
   delete(hash: Hash): void;
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts b/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d37d1ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { bootstrap } from "./bootstrap.js";
+import { createMemoryStore } from "./store.js";
+import type { Hash } from "./types.js";
+import { createVariableStore, type VariableStore } from "./variable-store.js";
+
+let dbDir: string;
+let dbPath: string;
+let casStore: ReturnType<typeof createMemoryStore>;
+let varStore: VariableStore;
+let stringHash: Hash;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  dbDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "ocas-var-pagination-"));
+  dbPath = join(dbDir, "vars.db");
+  casStore = createMemoryStore();
+  const aliases = await bootstrap(casStore);
+  stringHash = aliases["@ocas/string"] as Hash;
+  varStore = createVariableStore(dbPath, casStore);
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  varStore.close();
+  rmSync(dbDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+async function setN(prefix: string, n: number, delayMs = 2): Promise<Hash[]> {
+  const hashes: Hash[] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+    const h = await casStore.put(stringHash, `${prefix}-${i}`);
+    varStore.set(`${prefix}-${i}`, h);
+    hashes.push(h);
+    if (delayMs > 0 && i < n - 1) {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, delayMs));
+    }
+  }
+  return hashes;
+}
+
+describe("VariableStore.list - pagination + sort", () => {
+  test("D1. default sort = created ASC", async () => {
+    await setN("v", 3);
+    const list = varStore.list({ namePrefix: "v-" });
+    for (let i = 1; i < list.length; i++) {
+      expect((list[i] as { created: number }).created).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+        (list[i - 1] as { created: number }).created,
+      );
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("D2. sort: 'updated' differs after re-set", async () => {
+    await setN("u", 3);
+    await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 5));
+    // Re-set u-0 with a NEW value so updated changes
+    const newHash = await casStore.put(stringHash, "u-0-new");
+    varStore.set("u-0", newHash);
+
+    const byUpdated = varStore.list({
+      namePrefix: "u-",
+      sort: "updated",
+    });
+    // u-0 should be last when sorted updated ASC
+    const last = byUpdated[byUpdated.length - 1] as { name: string };
+    expect(last.name).toBe("u-0");
+  });
+
+  test("D3. desc reverses both sort modes", async () => {
+    await setN("d", 3);
+    const asc = varStore.list({ namePrefix: "d-" });
+    const desc = varStore.list({ namePrefix: "d-", desc: true });
+    expect(desc[0]).toEqual(asc[asc.length - 1] as (typeof asc)[number]);
+  });
+
+  test("D4. limit/offset honored", async () => {
+    await setN("p", 5);
+    expect(varStore.list({ namePrefix: "p-", limit: 2 })).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(
+      varStore.list({ namePrefix: "p-", offset: 2, limit: 10 }),
+    ).toHaveLength(3);
+  });
+
+  test("D5. default limit is 100", async () => {
+    await setN("big", 105, 0);
+    const list = varStore.list({ namePrefix: "big-" });
+    expect(list).toHaveLength(100);
+  });
+
+  test("D6. pagination applied AFTER namePrefix/schema filters", async () => {
+    await setN("filt", 5);
+    const list = varStore.list({
+      namePrefix: "filt-",
+      schema: stringHash,
+      limit: 2,
+    });
+    expect(list).toHaveLength(2);
+    for (const v of list) {
+      expect((v as { name: string }).name.startsWith("filt-")).toBe(true);
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("limit: 0 returns empty array", async () => {
+    await setN("z", 3, 0);
+    expect(varStore.list({ namePrefix: "z-", limit: 0 })).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts b/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts
index bd9df8c..46076ba 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Database } from "bun:sqlite";
-import type { Hash, Store } from "./types.js";
+import type { Hash, ListSort, Store } from "./types.js";
+import { DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT } from "./types.js";
 import type { Variable } from "./variable.js";
 
 /**
@@ -605,7 +606,10 @@ export class VariableStore {
     }
 
     // Remove all schema variants for this name
-    const variants = this.list({ exactName: name });
+    const variants = this.list({
+      exactName: name,
+      limit: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
+    });
 
     if (variants.length === 0) {
       return [];
@@ -629,6 +633,10 @@ export class VariableStore {
     schema?: Hash;
     tags?: Record<string, string>;
     labels?: string[];
+    sort?: ListSort;
+    desc?: boolean;
+    limit?: number;
+    offset?: number;
   }): Variable[] {
     // Validate mutually exclusive options
     if (options?.namePrefix !== undefined && options?.exactName !== undefined) {
@@ -642,6 +650,12 @@ export class VariableStore {
     const schema = options?.schema;
     const filterTags = options?.tags ?? {};
     const filterLabels = options?.labels ?? [];
+    const sort = options?.sort ?? "created";
+    const desc = options?.desc ?? false;
+    const limit = options?.limit ?? DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT;
+    const offset = options?.offset ?? 0;
+
+    if (limit <= 0) return [];
 
     // Build query with filters
     let query = `
@@ -695,7 +709,12 @@ export class VariableStore {
       query += ` WHERE ${whereClauses.join(" AND ")}`;
     }
 
-    query += " ORDER BY v.created ASC";
+    const sortColumn = sort === "updated" ? "v.updated" : "v.created";
+    const direction = desc ? "DESC" : "ASC";
+    // Tiebreaker: name ASC for stable ordering across same-ms timestamps
+    query += ` ORDER BY ${sortColumn} ${direction}, v.name ASC`;
+    query += " LIMIT ? OFFSET ?";
+    params.push(limit, offset);
 
     const stmt = this.db.prepare(query);
     const rows = stmt.all(...params) as Array<{
diff --git a/packages/fs/src/store.test.ts b/packages/fs/src/store.test.ts
index f52e152..728b673 100644
--- a/packages/fs/src/store.test.ts
+++ b/packages/fs/src/store.test.ts
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – has and list", () => {
     const h2 = await store.put(typeHash, { a: 2 });
     const h3 = await store.put(typeHash, { a: 3 });
 
-    const all = store.listByType(typeHash);
+    const all = store.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(all).toHaveLength(3);
     expect(all).toContain(h1);
     expect(all).toContain(h2);
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listByType", () => {
     const h2 = await store.put(typeHash, { a: 2 });
     await store.put(otherType, { b: 1 });
 
-    const byType = store.listByType(typeHash);
+    const byType = store.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(byType).toHaveLength(2);
     expect(byType).toContain(h1);
     expect(byType).toContain(h2);
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listByType", () => {
     const h2 = await store1.put(typeHash, { x: 2 });
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    const byType = store2.listByType(typeHash);
+    const byType = store2.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(byType).toHaveLength(2);
     expect(byType).toContain(h1);
     expect(byType).toContain(h2);
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listByType", () => {
     await store1.put(typeHash, { n: 7 });
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    expect(store2.listByType(typeHash)).toEqual([hash]);
+    expect(store2.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash)).toEqual([hash]);
   });
 
   test("rebuilds _index from .bin files when index is missing", async () => {
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listByType", () => {
     rmSync(join(dir, "_index"), { recursive: true, force: true });
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    expect(store2.listByType(typeHash)).toEqual([h1, h2]);
+    expect(store2.listByType(typeHash).map((e) => e.hash)).toEqual([h1, h2]);
     expect(existsSync(join(dir, "_index", typeHash))).toBe(true);
     expect(readdirSync(join(dir, "_index"))).toContain(typeHash);
   });
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listByType", () => {
     const hash = builtinSchemas["@ocas/schema"] ?? "";
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    expect(store2.listByType(hash)).toContain(hash);
+    expect(store2.listByType(hash).map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(hash);
   });
 });
 
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listMeta and listSchemas", () => {
     const h2 = await store1[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object", v: "b" });
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    const meta = store2.listMeta();
+    const meta = store2.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(meta).toContain(h1);
     expect(meta).toContain(h2);
     expect(meta).toHaveLength(2);
@@ -492,13 +492,13 @@ describe("createFsStore – listMeta and listSchemas", () => {
     expect(existsSync(metaPath)).toBe(false);
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    expect(store2.listMeta()).toContain(h1);
+    expect(store2.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(h1);
     expect(existsSync(metaPath)).toBe(true);
     const content = readFileSync(metaPath, "utf8");
     expect(content).toContain(h1);
 
     // unrelated type hash not in meta
-    expect(store2.listMeta()).not.toContain(t);
+    expect(store2.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).not.toContain(t);
   });
 
   test("C5. existing _meta is not overwritten", async () => {
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ describe("createFsStore – listMeta and listSchemas", () => {
     const s2 = await store.put(m, { type: "number" });
     const s3 = await store.put(m, { type: "array" });
 
-    const schemas = store.listSchemas();
+    const schemas = store.listSchemas().map((e) => e.hash);
     expect(schemas).toHaveLength(4);
     expect(schemas).toContain(m);
     expect(schemas).toContain(s1);
@@ -543,8 +543,8 @@ describe("createFsStore – listMeta and listSchemas", () => {
     expect(content).toContain(h2);
 
     const store2 = createFsStore(dir);
-    expect(store2.listMeta()).not.toContain(h1);
-    expect(store2.listMeta()).toContain(h2);
+    expect(store2.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).not.toContain(h1);
+    expect(store2.listMeta().map((e) => e.hash)).toContain(h2);
   });
 
   test("C8. fresh store with no self-ref puts has empty listMeta", () => {
diff --git a/packages/fs/src/store.ts b/packages/fs/src/store.ts
index 3fb5196..49170a8 100644
--- a/packages/fs/src/store.ts
+++ b/packages/fs/src/store.ts
@@ -14,12 +14,16 @@ import type {
   BootstrapCapableStore,
   CasNode,
   Hash,
+  ListEntry,
+  ListOptions,
   VariableStore,
 } from "@ocas/core";
 
 import {
+  applyListOptions,
   BOOTSTRAP_STORE,
   bootstrap,
+  casListEntry,
   cborEncode,
   computeHash,
   computeSelfHash,
@@ -174,6 +178,18 @@ function appendToTypeIndex(
   typeIndex.set(type, list);
 }
 
+function hashesToEntries(
+  data: Map<Hash, CasNode>,
+  hashes: Iterable<Hash>,
+): ListEntry[] {
+  const result: ListEntry[] = [];
+  for (const h of hashes) {
+    const node = data.get(h);
+    if (node) result.push(casListEntry(h, node.timestamp));
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
 export function createFsStore(dir: string): BootstrapCapableStore {
   const data = new Map<Hash, CasNode>();
   loadDir(dir, data);
@@ -237,19 +253,21 @@ export function createFsStore(dir: string): BootstrapCapableStore {
       return data.has(hash);
     },
 
-    listByType(typeHash: Hash): Hash[] {
-      return typeIndex.get(typeHash) ?? [];
+    listByType(typeHash: Hash, options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
+      const list = typeIndex.get(typeHash);
+      if (!list) return [];
+      return applyListOptions(hashesToEntries(data, list), options);
     },
 
     listAll(): Hash[] {
       return Array.from(data.keys());
     },
 
-    listMeta(): Hash[] {
-      return Array.from(metaSet);
+    listMeta(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
+      return applyListOptions(hashesToEntries(data, metaSet), options);
     },
 
-    listSchemas(): Hash[] {
+    listSchemas(options?: ListOptions): ListEntry[] {
       const result = new Set<Hash>();
       for (const meta of metaSet) {
         result.add(meta);
@@ -258,7 +276,7 @@ export function createFsStore(dir: string): BootstrapCapableStore {
           for (const h of list) result.add(h);
         }
       }
-      return Array.from(result);
+      return applyListOptions(hashesToEntries(data, result), options);
     },
 
     delete(hash: Hash): void {

From ed19466a3bfb282456d67c57f3b9fd17d5f0ed15 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?=E5=B0=8F=E6=A9=98?= <xiaoju@shazhou.work>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 14:49:30 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 2/3] docs: add sort/pagination flags to cli card

---
 .cards/cli.md | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/.cards/cli.md b/.cards/cli.md
index e101aad..db36676 100644
--- a/.cards/cli.md
+++ b/.cards/cli.md
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ ocas render --pipe/-p [options]
 | `--render`, `-r` | Render output inline (equivalent to piping to `ocas render -p`) |
 | `--inline <text>` | Inline text content for `template set` |
 | `--format tree` | Tree display for `walk` |
+| `--sort created\|updated` | Sort key for list commands (default: `created`; for CAS nodes both are equivalent) |
+| `--limit <n>` | Max results to return (default: 100) |
+| `--offset <n>` | Skip first N results (default: 0) |
+| `--desc` | Sort descending (default: ascending) |
 
 ## Variable Names
 

From 190ae672a72f1cfffa7703993db366d12deb386a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?=E5=B0=8F=E6=A9=98?= <xiaoju@shazhou.work>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 15:08:44 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 3/3] refactor: remove DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT from core, add
 changeset
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

- Core layer: limit=undefined means no limit (return all)
- CLI layer: default limit 100 in parseListOptions()
- Remove Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER sentinel usages
- Add changeset for breaking list return type change

Addresses review feedback from 小墨
---
 .changeset/list-pagination.md                 |  7 +++++++
 packages/cli/src/index.ts                     |  5 +++--
 packages/core/src/gc.ts                       |  6 +++---
 packages/core/src/index.ts                    |  1 -
 packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts     | 10 ++++++----
 packages/core/src/list-utils.ts               | 19 +++++++++----------
 packages/core/src/types.ts                    |  5 -----
 .../core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts |  4 ++--
 packages/core/src/variable-store.ts           | 16 ++++++++++------
 9 files changed, 40 insertions(+), 33 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 .changeset/list-pagination.md

diff --git a/.changeset/list-pagination.md b/.changeset/list-pagination.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d0d2ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/list-pagination.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"@ocas/core": minor
+"@ocas/fs": minor
+"@ocas/cli": minor
+---
+
+**Breaking:** `listByType()`, `listMeta()`, `listSchemas()` now return `ListEntry[]` (with `hash`, `created`, `updated`) instead of `Hash[]`. All list commands support `--sort`, `--limit`, `--offset`, `--desc` flags. `var list` supports the same pagination options via SQL.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
index 6d49d6a..c3a9f24 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@ function parseTagsLabels(args: string[]): {
  * Validates each flag and dies with a clear error on invalid values.
  */
 function parseListOptions(): ListOptions {
-  const opts: ListOptions = {};
+  // Default limit applied at the CLI layer only; core treats undefined as
+  // "no limit" so internal callers (e.g. gc) can fetch full result sets.
+  const opts: ListOptions = { limit: 100 };
   const sortFlag = flags.sort;
   if (sortFlag !== undefined) {
     if (typeof sortFlag !== "string") {
@@ -988,7 +990,6 @@ async function cmdTemplateList(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     const variables = varStore.list({
       namePrefix: "@ocas/template/text/",
       schema: stringHash,
-      limit: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
     });
 
     const templates = variables.map((v) => ({
diff --git a/packages/core/src/gc.ts b/packages/core/src/gc.ts
index 06a29c1..19de8cd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/gc.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/gc.ts
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ export interface GcStats {
  * - Schema preservation: schemas of reachable nodes are also marked
  */
 export function gc(store: Store, varStore: VariableStore): GcStats {
-  // Get all variables (no filters → global). Pass a very large limit so the
-  // API-level default of 100 does not silently truncate gc roots.
-  const variables = varStore.list({ limit: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER });
+  // Get all variables (no filters → global). Omit `limit` so the full
+  // variable set is returned for use as gc roots.
+  const variables = varStore.list();
   const scanned = variables.length;
 
   // Collect unique root hashes from all variables
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index d136879..11c273c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ export {
 export { createMemoryStore } from "./store.js";
 export {
   type CasNode,
-  DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT,
   type Hash,
   type ListEntry,
   type ListOptions,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts b/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts
index 20eff98..943fb60 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/list-pagination.test.ts
@@ -103,11 +103,13 @@ describe("listByType - pagination + sort + timestamps", () => {
     expect(store.listByType(m, { offset: 100 })).toEqual([]);
   });
 
-  test("A9. default limit is 100", async () => {
+  test("A9. core has no default limit (returns all)", async () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
     const m = await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object" });
     await putN(store, m, 150, 0);
-    expect(store.listByType(m)).toHaveLength(100);
+    // No CLI-layer cap; with 150 nodes of type m (plus m itself which is
+    // self-typed), the full set is returned.
+    expect(store.listByType(m)).toHaveLength(151);
   });
 
   test("A10. desc + offset + limit combined", async () => {
@@ -136,12 +138,12 @@ describe("listMeta / listSchemas - pagination", () => {
     expect(typeof e.updated).toBe("number");
   });
 
-  test("B2. listMeta default limit 100", async () => {
+  test("B2. listMeta has no default limit (returns all)", async () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
     for (let i = 0; i < 150; i++) {
       await store[BOOTSTRAP_STORE]({ type: "object", i });
     }
-    expect(store.listMeta()).toHaveLength(100);
+    expect(store.listMeta()).toHaveLength(150);
   });
 
   test("B3. listMeta limit/offset/desc", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts b/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts
index 7faceb5..5897170 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/list-utils.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
-import {
-  DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT,
-  type Hash,
-  type ListEntry,
-  type ListOptions,
-} from "./types.js";
+import type { Hash, ListEntry, ListOptions } from "./types.js";
 
 /**
  * Apply sort/desc/offset/limit to an array of `ListEntry` records.
- * Default sort is by `created` ascending; default limit is `DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT`.
+ * Default sort is by `created` ascending. If `limit` is omitted, all entries
+ * (after offset) are returned.
  *
  * Tiebreaker is the entry hash (lexicographic ascending) so ordering remains
  * deterministic for entries sharing the same timestamp.
@@ -18,7 +14,7 @@ export function applyListOptions(
 ): ListEntry[] {
   const sort = options?.sort ?? "created";
   const desc = options?.desc ?? false;
-  const limit = options?.limit ?? DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT;
+  const limit = options?.limit;
   const offset = options?.offset ?? 0;
 
   const sorted = [...entries].sort((a, b) => {
@@ -30,8 +26,11 @@ export function applyListOptions(
     return desc ? (a.hash < b.hash ? 1 : -1) : a.hash < b.hash ? -1 : 1;
   });
 
-  if (limit <= 0) return [];
-  return sorted.slice(offset, offset + limit);
+  if (limit !== undefined) {
+    if (limit <= 0) return [];
+    return sorted.slice(offset, offset + limit);
+  }
+  return sorted.slice(offset);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/types.ts b/packages/core/src/types.ts
index 66d801f..4e8ed7a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/types.ts
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@ export type ListEntry = {
   updated: number;
 };
 
-/**
- * Default limit applied when callers omit `limit` from list options.
- */
-export const DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT = 100;
-
 /**
  * Content-addressable store interface.
  * Self-referencing nodes are created only via bootstrap().
diff --git a/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts b/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts
index d37d1ee..3f4b8e4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/variable-list-pagination.test.ts
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ describe("VariableStore.list - pagination + sort", () => {
     ).toHaveLength(3);
   });
 
-  test("D5. default limit is 100", async () => {
+  test("D5. core has no default limit (returns all)", async () => {
     await setN("big", 105, 0);
     const list = varStore.list({ namePrefix: "big-" });
-    expect(list).toHaveLength(100);
+    expect(list).toHaveLength(105);
   });
 
   test("D6. pagination applied AFTER namePrefix/schema filters", async () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts b/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts
index 46076ba..240ec93 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/variable-store.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { Database } from "bun:sqlite";
 import type { Hash, ListSort, Store } from "./types.js";
-import { DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT } from "./types.js";
 import type { Variable } from "./variable.js";
 
 /**
@@ -608,7 +607,6 @@ export class VariableStore {
     // Remove all schema variants for this name
     const variants = this.list({
       exactName: name,
-      limit: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
     });
 
     if (variants.length === 0) {
@@ -652,10 +650,10 @@ export class VariableStore {
     const filterLabels = options?.labels ?? [];
     const sort = options?.sort ?? "created";
     const desc = options?.desc ?? false;
-    const limit = options?.limit ?? DEFAULT_LIST_LIMIT;
+    const limit = options?.limit;
     const offset = options?.offset ?? 0;
 
-    if (limit <= 0) return [];
+    if (limit !== undefined && limit <= 0) return [];
 
     // Build query with filters
     let query = `
@@ -713,8 +711,14 @@ export class VariableStore {
     const direction = desc ? "DESC" : "ASC";
     // Tiebreaker: name ASC for stable ordering across same-ms timestamps
     query += ` ORDER BY ${sortColumn} ${direction}, v.name ASC`;
-    query += " LIMIT ? OFFSET ?";
-    params.push(limit, offset);
+    if (limit !== undefined) {
+      query += " LIMIT ? OFFSET ?";
+      params.push(limit, offset);
+    } else if (offset > 0) {
+      // SQLite requires LIMIT when using OFFSET; use -1 to mean "no limit".
+      query += " LIMIT -1 OFFSET ?";
+      params.push(offset);
+    }
 
     const stmt = this.db.prepare(query);
     const rows = stmt.all(...params) as Array<{