diff --git a/.cards/bootstrap.md b/.cards/bootstrap.md
index 2481651..afbe6ab 100644
--- a/.cards/bootstrap.md
+++ b/.cards/bootstrap.md
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ This is the only node in the entire store where `type === hash`. It is the root
 
 ## What Bootstrap Registers
 
-`bootstrap(store)` is called once when a [[Store]] is opened (and is idempotent). It registers:
+`bootstrap(store, varStore?)` is called once when a [[Store]] is opened (and is idempotent). It registers:
 
 1. **The meta-schema** — defines the structure of all schemas (allowed JSON Schema keywords)
 2. **Primitive type schemas** — `@ocas/string`, `@ocas/number`, `@ocas/object`, `@ocas/array`, `@ocas/bool`
 3. **Output schemas** — 18 `@ocas/output/*` schemas for [[Render System|CLI envelope]] types
 
-All of these are stored as regular CAS nodes, addressable by hash. The `@ocas/*` aliases are convenience names resolved at runtime.
+All of these are stored as regular CAS nodes, addressable by hash. When a [[Variable|varStore]] is provided, bootstrap also writes each `@ocas/*` builtin name → hash binding into the variable store, making them resolvable like any other variable.
 
 ## Idempotency
 
diff --git a/.cards/cli.md b/.cards/cli.md
index a3549f3..88d8f46 100644
--- a/.cards/cli.md
+++ b/.cards/cli.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ ocas hash <type> <file|--pipe>  # compute hash without storing
 ocas verify <hash>              # check integrity + schema validity
 ocas refs <hash>                # list direct ocas_ref edges
 ocas walk <hash>                # recursive DAG traversal
-ocas list --type <hash|alias>   # list nodes by type
+ocas list --type <hash|name>    # list nodes by type
 ocas list-schema                # list all schema hashes
 ocas list-meta                  # list meta-schema hashes
 ocas gc                         # garbage collection
@@ -72,12 +72,14 @@ ocas render --pipe/-p [options]
 | `--inline <text>` | Inline text content for `template set` |
 | `--format tree` | Tree display for `walk` |
 
-## Type Aliases
+## Variable Names
 
-The CLI resolves `@ocas/*` aliases to hashes automatically:
+The CLI resolves `@ocas/*` variable names to hashes automatically. All commands that accept a hash argument also accept a variable name — `resolveHash()` queries the [[Variable]] store and returns the bound hash:
 
 ```bash
 ocas put @ocas/object data.json    # resolves @ocas/object → hash
 ocas put @ocas/schema schema.json  # auto-routes to putSchema()
 ocas list --type @ocas/schema      # list all schemas
 ```
+
+User-defined variable names work the same way — once `ocas var set myapp/config <hash>` is registered, `ocas get myapp/config` resolves to that hash.
diff --git a/.cards/render-system.md b/.cards/render-system.md
index e66dcbd..59ece2d 100644
--- a/.cards/render-system.md
+++ b/.cards/render-system.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ ocas gc | ocas render -p
 ocas list --type @ocas/schema | ocas render -p
 ```
 
-`wrapEnvelope(store, alias, value)` creates an envelope by resolving the alias to its schema hash.
+`wrapEnvelope(store, name, value)` creates an envelope by resolving the variable name to its schema hash.
 
 ## Templates
 
diff --git a/.cards/schema.md b/.cards/schema.md
index 56cc8bd..7f144ad 100644
--- a/.cards/schema.md
+++ b/.cards/schema.md
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ When the store sees `ocas_ref`, it knows this field is a graph edge — not just
 
 ## Namespace
 
-Alias names starting with `@ocas/` are reserved for the system. Built-in aliases:
+Variable names starting with `@ocas/` are reserved for the system. Built-in names:
 
 - `@ocas/schema` — the meta-schema (self-referencing)
 - `@ocas/string`, `@ocas/number`, `@ocas/object`, `@ocas/array`, `@ocas/bool` — primitive types
 - `@ocas/output/*` — [[Render System|envelope]] schemas for CLI output
 
-Users define their own schemas freely — the only restriction is the `@ocas/` prefix.
+These names are written to the [[Variable]] store during [[Bootstrap]] and resolve to their hashes via the same lookup that handles user-defined variables. Users define their own schemas freely — the only restriction is the `@ocas/` prefix.
diff --git a/.cards/variable.md b/.cards/variable.md
index 548b204..8e2ffe0 100644
--- a/.cards/variable.md
+++ b/.cards/variable.md
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ Tags and labels share a unified command (`var tag`):
 
 ## Namespace Protection
 
-Variable names starting with `@ocas/` are reserved for internal use (e.g. `@ocas/template/text/<hash>` for [[Render System|template]] storage). The CLI rejects user attempts to write to this namespace.
+Variable names starting with `@ocas/` are reserved for internal use. [[Bootstrap]] writes the builtin schema bindings (`@ocas/schema`, `@ocas/string`, `@ocas/output/*`, …) into the variable store, and `@ocas/template/text/<hash>` is used for [[Render System|template]] storage. The CLI rejects user attempts to write to this namespace.
+
+## Names as Hash Inputs
+
+Every CLI command that takes a hash argument also accepts a variable name. The `resolveHash()` helper checks whether the input matches the 13-char hash format; if not, it queries the variable store by exact name and returns the first match's value. This unifies builtin schema names and user-defined variables under a single resolution path — there is no separate "alias" concept.
 
 ## Role in Garbage Collection
 
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 6651001..6b0ee94 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -59,6 +59,14 @@ bun run format    # Biome format (auto-fix)
 - `Hash` — 13-character uppercase Crockford Base32 string (XXH64)
 - `CasNode` — content-addressed node with schema
 - `Store` — abstract storage interface (get/put)
+- `VariableStore` — SQLite-backed mutable bindings (name → hash)
+
+### Architecture Notes
+
+- **No "alias" concept** — every name resolution flows through the `VariableStore`. Builtin schemas (`@ocas/schema`, `@ocas/string`, `@ocas/output/*`, …) are registered as variables during `bootstrap(store, varStore)`, alongside user-defined variables created via `ocas var set`.
+- **`bootstrap(store, varStore?)`** writes builtin name → hash bindings into the varStore when one is provided; called automatically by `openStore()` and `openStoreAndVarStore()`.
+- **`resolveHash(input, varStore)`** is the unified hash/name resolver in the CLI. If `input` matches the 13-char hash format it is returned as-is; otherwise the varStore is queried by exact name. This means every CLI command that accepts a hash argument also accepts a variable name (schema names, user vars, etc.).
+- **`openStoreAndVarStore()`** in the CLI opens both stores and bootstraps once; prefer it over separate `openStore()` + `createVariableStore()` to avoid double bootstrap.
 
 ### Internal Dependencies
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 304441b..42c60c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ raw (non-envelope) text.
 ```
 
 ```
-Usage: ocas [--store <path>] [--json] <command> [args]
+Usage: ocas [--home <path>] [--json] <command> [args]
 
 Commands (all emit a { type, value } envelope unless noted):
   put <type-hash> <file.json>       Store node (value = hash)          (@output/put)
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ Commands (all emit a { type, value } envelope unless noted):
   hash <type-hash> <file.json>      Compute hash without storing       (@output/hash)
   render <hash> [options]           Render node as text (raw output)
   render --pipe/-p [options]        Render a piped envelope (raw output)
-  list --type <hash-or-alias>       Hashes for a type (value = list)   (@output/list)
+  list --type <hash-or-name>        Hashes for a type (value = list)   (@output/list)
   list-meta                         Meta-schema hashes                 (@output/list-meta)
   list-schema                       All schema hashes                  (@output/list-schema)
   var set|get|delete|tag|list ...   Variable CRUD                      (@output/var-*)
@@ -128,11 +128,19 @@ Commands (all emit a { type, value } envelope unless noted):
   gc                                Garbage collection                 (@output/gc)
 
 Flags:
-  --store <path>   Store directory (default: ~/.ocas)
-  --json           Compact JSON output
-  --pipe, -p       Read a { type, value } envelope from stdin for render
+  --home <path>   Store directory (default: $OCAS_HOME or ~/.ocas)
+  --json          Compact JSON output
+  --pipe, -p      Read a { type, value } envelope from stdin for render
 ```
 
+### Variable names
+
+Any command that takes a hash also accepts a variable name. Builtin schemas
+(`@ocas/schema`, `@ocas/string`, `@ocas/object`, `@ocas/output/*`, …) are
+registered in the variable store during bootstrap; user variables created via
+`ocas var set <name> <hash>` resolve the same way. There is no separate alias
+concept — every name lookup queries the variable store.
+
 ### Pipe examples
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/packages/cli/README.md b/packages/cli/README.md
index a248b2a..8578935 100644
--- a/packages/cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/README.md
@@ -31,15 +31,15 @@ bun packages/cli-ocas/src/index.ts <command> [args]
 ## CLI Usage
 
 ```
-Usage: ocas [--store <path>] [--json] <command> [args]
+Usage: ocas [--home <path>] [--json] <command> [args]
 ```
 
 ### Global flags
 
 | Flag | Description |
 |------|-------------|
-| `--store <path>` | Store directory (default: `~/.uncaged/ocas`) |
-| `--var-db <path>` | Variable database path (default: `<store>/variables.db`) |
+| `--home <path>` | Store directory (default: `$OCAS_HOME` or `~/.ocas`) |
+| `--var-db <path>` | Variable database path (default: `<home>/variables.db`) |
 | `--json` | Compact (single-line) JSON output |
 
 ### Envelope format
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ raw, non-envelope text.
 | `hash <type-hash> <file.json>` | computed hash (string) | `@output/hash` |
 | `render <hash> [options]` | raw text (no envelope) | — |
 | `render --pipe/-p [options]` | raw text from piped envelope | — |
-| `list --type <hash-or-alias>` | hashes (string[]) | `@output/list` |
+| `list --type <hash-or-name>` | hashes (string[]) | `@output/list` |
 | `var set <name> <hash> [--tag ...]` | variable object | `@output/var-set` |
 | `var get <name> --schema <hash>` | variable object | `@output/var-get` |
 | `var delete <name> [--schema <hash>]` | variable or variable[] | `@output/var-delete` |
@@ -117,6 +117,19 @@ ocas gc | ocas render -p
 ocas list --type @schema | ocas render -p
 ```
 
+### Variable names as hash arguments
+
+Every command that takes a hash also accepts a variable name. Builtin schema names like `@ocas/schema`, `@ocas/string`, `@ocas/output/*` are registered in the variable store during bootstrap; user variables created via `ocas var set <name> <hash>` resolve the same way:
+
+```bash
+ocas put @ocas/object data.json     # @ocas/object → builtin schema hash
+ocas list --type @ocas/schema       # filter by builtin schema
+ocas var set myapp/config <hash>
+ocas get myapp/config                # resolves to the user-bound hash
+```
+
+There is no separate alias system — names are just variables.
+
 ### Templates
 
 `template` commands manage the LiquidJS template bound to a schema (stored as a
@@ -142,6 +155,6 @@ There is no separate `src/` module tree; the CLI is a single entry file. Tests (
 
 | Setting | Default | Override |
 |---------|---------|----------|
-| Store directory | `~/.uncaged/ocas` | `--store <path>` |
+| Store directory | `~/.ocas` | `--home <path>` or `OCAS_HOME` env var |
 
 No config file is read; all behavior is controlled via flags and command arguments.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
index a87ed80..4d5651f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ async function readStdinJson(): Promise<unknown> {
 /**
  * Open the filesystem-backed CAS store.
  * Automatically creates directory and bootstraps if needed.
- * If a varStore is provided, builtin schema aliases are written to it during bootstrap.
+ * If a varStore is provided, builtin schema variables are written to it during bootstrap.
  */
 async function openStore(varStore?: VariableStore): Promise<Store> {
   const fullPath = resolve(storePath);
@@ -234,9 +234,9 @@ function parseTagsLabels(args: string[]): {
 
 async function cmdPut(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const isPipe = flags.pipe === true || flags.p === true;
-  const typeHashOrAlias = args[0];
+  const typeHashOrName = args[0];
   const file = isPipe ? undefined : args[1];
-  if (!typeHashOrAlias || (!isPipe && !file))
+  if (!typeHashOrName || (!isPipe && !file))
     die(
       "Usage: ocas put <type-hash> <file.json>\n       ocas put <type-hash> --pipe/-p",
     );
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ async function cmdPut(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Cannot use --pipe/-p with a file argument. Use one or the other.");
   const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
   try {
-    const typeHash = resolveHash(typeHashOrAlias, varStore);
+    const typeHash = resolveHash(typeHashOrName, varStore);
     const payload = isPipe
       ? await readStdinJson()
       : readJsonFile(file as string);
@@ -406,9 +406,9 @@ async function cmdWalk(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 
 async function cmdHash(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const isPipe = flags.pipe === true || flags.p === true;
-  const typeHashOrAlias = args[0];
+  const typeHashOrName = args[0];
   const file = isPipe ? undefined : args[1];
-  if (!typeHashOrAlias || (!isPipe && !file))
+  if (!typeHashOrName || (!isPipe && !file))
     die(
       "Usage: ocas hash <type-hash> <file.json>\n       ocas hash <type-hash> --pipe/-p",
     );
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ async function cmdHash(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Cannot use --pipe/-p with a file argument. Use one or the other.");
   const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
   try {
-    const typeHash = resolveHash(typeHashOrAlias, varStore);
+    const typeHash = resolveHash(typeHashOrName, varStore);
     const payload = isPipe
       ? await readStdinJson()
       : readJsonFile(file as string);
@@ -619,8 +619,7 @@ async function cmdVarGet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: ocas var get <name> --schema <hash-or-name>");
   }
 
-  const store = await openStore();
-  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+  const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
 
   try {
     const schema = resolveHash(schemaInput, varStore);
@@ -649,8 +648,7 @@ async function cmdVarDelete(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("The @ocas/ namespace is reserved and cannot be modified directly.");
   }
 
-  const store = await openStore();
-  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+  const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
 
   try {
     if (schemaInput !== undefined) {
@@ -692,8 +690,7 @@ async function cmdVarTag(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: ocas var tag <name> --schema <hash-or-name> <operations...>");
   }
 
-  const store = await openStore();
-  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+  const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
 
   try {
     const schema = resolveHash(schemaInput, varStore);
@@ -728,8 +725,7 @@ async function cmdVarList(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const schemaInput = flags.schema as string | undefined;
   const tagFlags = flags.tag;
 
-  const store = await openStore();
-  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+  const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
 
   try {
     const schema =
@@ -950,7 +946,7 @@ async function cmdGc(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdList(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const typeFlag = flags.type;
   if (typeof typeFlag !== "string")
-    die("Usage: ocas list --type <hash-or-alias>");
+    die("Usage: ocas list --type <hash-or-name>");
   const { store, varStore } = await openStoreAndVarStore();
   try {
     const typeHash = resolveHash(typeFlag, varStore);
@@ -994,7 +990,7 @@ Commands:
   hash <type-hash> <file.json|--pipe> Compute hash without storing                     (@ocas/output/hash)
   render <hash> [options]           Render node as text with resolution decay (raw output)
   render --pipe/-p [options]        Render { type, value } from stdin (raw output)
-  list --type <hash-or-alias>       List hashes for a type (value=string[])            (@ocas/output/list)
+  list --type <hash-or-name>        List hashes for a type (value=string[])            (@ocas/output/list)
   list-meta                         List meta-schema hashes (value=string[])           (@ocas/output/list-meta)
   list-schema                       List all schema hashes (value=string[])            (@ocas/output/list-schema)
   var set <name> <hash> [--tag <tag>...] Create/update a variable                      (@ocas/output/var-set)
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap b/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap
index 74bc3c7..e3fb0d4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/__snapshots__/edge-cases.test.ts.snap
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Commands:
   hash <type-hash> <file.json|--pipe> Compute hash without storing                     (@ocas/output/hash)
   render <hash> [options]           Render node as text with resolution decay (raw output)
   render --pipe/-p [options]        Render { type, value } from stdin (raw output)
-  list --type <hash-or-alias>       List hashes for a type (value=string[])            (@ocas/output/list)
+  list --type <hash-or-name>        List hashes for a type (value=string[])            (@ocas/output/list)
   list-meta                         List meta-schema hashes (value=string[])           (@ocas/output/list-meta)
   list-schema                       List all schema hashes (value=string[])            (@ocas/output/list-schema)
   var set <name> <hash> [--tag <tag>...] Create/update a variable                      (@ocas/output/var-set)
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/variable.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/variable.test.ts
index 02f2914..54fd6c6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/variable.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/variable.test.ts
@@ -498,13 +498,14 @@ describe("var list", () => {
     const hash2 = await createTestNode(store, typeHash, { test: "data2" });
     const hash3 = await createTestNode(store, typeHash, { test: "data3" });
 
-    // Create three variables
-    await runCli("var", "set", "a", hash1);
-    await runCli("var", "set", "b", hash2);
-    await runCli("var", "set", "c", hash3);
+    // Create three variables (use a prefix to filter out builtin @ocas/* vars
+    // that bootstrap writes into the varStore)
+    await runCli("var", "set", "test/a", hash1);
+    await runCli("var", "set", "test/b", hash2);
+    await runCli("var", "set", "test/c", hash3);
 
-    // List all
-    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli("var", "list");
+    // List all under our prefix
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli("var", "list", "test/");
 
     expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
 
@@ -538,10 +539,19 @@ describe("var list", () => {
 
   test("filter by schema", async () => {
     const store = createFsStore(storePath);
-    const typeHash1 = await getBootstrapHash(store);
-    const typeHash2 = await putSchema(store, { title: "Test", type: "object" });
+    const bootstrapHash = await getBootstrapHash(store);
+    const typeHash1 = await putSchema(store, {
+      title: "TypeA",
+      type: "object",
+    });
+    const typeHash2 = await putSchema(store, {
+      title: "TypeB",
+      type: "object",
+    });
     const hash1 = await createTestNode(store, typeHash1, { test: "data1" });
     const hash2 = await createTestNode(store, typeHash2, { test: "data2" });
+    // bootstrapHash is the meta-schema, used implicitly when bootstrap runs
+    void bootstrapHash;
 
     // Create variables with different schemas
     await runCli("var", "set", "a", hash1);