feat: auto-bootstrap CAS store on open (Phase 1a)

Changes:
1. openStore() now async, auto-creates directory and bootstraps
2. Removed shouldCreate parameter and validateStoreExists()
3. All openStore() calls now awaited
4. Deleted init and bootstrap commands
5. Removed Issue #55 store validation tests (superseded by auto-bootstrap)
6. Enhanced error handling in openStore() for permission/path issues
7. Updated e2e snapshots after fixing missed await in cmdRender

Bootstrap is idempotent. Core tests using createMemoryStore() unaffected.

Fixes #73

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.workflows/e2e-check.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,413 @@
+name: "e2e-check"
+description: "Docker-isolated E2E testing of json-cas CLI. Preparer builds from scratch, tester runs scenarios, reporter files bugs."
+
+roles:
+  preparer:
+    description: "Spins up Docker container, copies repo, installs, builds, runs unit tests"
+    goal: "You set up a clean Docker environment for E2E testing. Your job is to start a container, install deps, build, lint, run unit tests, and initialize a CAS store. Report any setup failures as bugs."
+    capabilities:
+      - docker
+    procedure: |
+      1. Start a detached container:
+         ```bash
+         docker run -d --name json-cas-e2e \
+           -v "<repoPath>:/src:ro" \
+           -w /workspace \
+           oven/bun:latest \
+           sleep 3600
+         ```
+
+      2. Copy repo and install:
+         ```bash
+         docker exec json-cas-e2e bash -c 'cp -r /src/. /workspace/ && cd /workspace && bun install'
+         ```
+         ✅ exit code 0, no missing peer deps
+
+      3. Build:
+         ```bash
+         docker exec json-cas-e2e bash -c 'cd /workspace && bun run build'
+         ```
+         ✅ exit code 0, no type errors
+
+      4. Lint:
+         ```bash
+         docker exec json-cas-e2e bash -c 'cd /workspace && bun run check'
+         ```
+         ✅ exit code 0
+
+      5. Unit tests:
+         ```bash
+         docker exec json-cas-e2e bash -c 'cd /workspace && bun test'
+         ```
+         ✅ all pass (ignore dist/ false positives)
+
+      6. Init CAS store:
+         ```bash
+         docker exec json-cas-e2e bash -c 'mkdir -p /tmp/cas-test && cd /workspace && bun packages/cli-json-cas/src/index.ts --store /tmp/cas-test init && bun packages/cli-json-cas/src/index.ts --store /tmp/cas-test bootstrap'
+         ```
+
+      **Any failure here is a high-severity bug** — it means a clean environment can't build/run the project.
+
+      Set $status=ready if all steps pass. Set $status=setup_failed with failures list if anything breaks.
+
+    output: "Setup result summary."
+    frontmatter:
+      oneOf:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "ready" }
+            containerName: { type: string }
+            storePath: { type: string }
+            repoPath: { type: string }
+          required: [$status, containerName, storePath, repoPath]
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "setup_failed" }
+            failures:
+              type: array
+              items:
+                type: object
+                properties:
+                  title: { type: string }
+                  command: { type: string }
+                  expected: { type: string }
+                  actual: { type: string }
+                  severity: { type: string }
+                  phase: { type: string }
+                required: [title, command, expected, actual, severity, phase]
+            repoPath: { type: string }
+          required: [$status, failures, repoPath]
+
+  tester:
+    description: "Runs CLI scenarios against the prepared Docker environment"
+    goal: "You are an exploratory QA agent. The Docker container is already running with the project built and a CAS store initialized. Run CLI test scenarios and report bugs."
+    capabilities:
+      - testing
+      - cli
+    procedure: |
+      The container `{{{containerName}}}` is already running with the project built.
+      Store path: `{{{storePath}}}`.
+
+      Run all commands via:
+      ```bash
+      docker exec {{{containerName}}} bash -c 'cd /workspace && bun packages/cli-json-cas/src/index.ts --store {{{storePath}}} <subcommand>'
+      ```
+
+      Define a shorthand in your notes:
+      `CMD="cd /workspace && bun packages/cli-json-cas/src/index.ts --store {{{storePath}}}"`
+
+      ## Phase 1: CAS Core Operations
+
+      1. **bootstrap** — `$CMD bootstrap`
+         Expected: prints meta-schema hash (13-char Base32)
+
+      2. **schema put** — Create `/tmp/test-schema.json` in container, then `$CMD schema put /tmp/test-schema.json`
+         Schema: `{"type":"object","properties":{"name":{"type":"string"},"age":{"type":"number"}},"required":["name"],"additionalProperties":false}`
+         Expected: prints type hash
+
+      3. **schema get** — `$CMD schema get <type-hash>`
+         Expected: returns the schema JSON
+
+      4. **schema list** — `$CMD schema list`
+         Expected: lists registered schemas
+
+      5. **put** — Create data file, `$CMD put <type-hash> /tmp/test-node.json`
+         Data: `{"name":"Alice","age":30}`
+         Expected: prints node hash
+
+      6. **get** — `$CMD get <node-hash>`
+         Expected: returns node JSON
+
+      7. **has (exists)** — `$CMD has <node-hash>`
+         Expected: true
+
+      8. **has (not exists)** — `$CMD has AAAAAAAAAAAAA`
+         Expected: false
+
+      9. **verify** — `$CMD verify <node-hash>`
+         Expected: ok
+
+      10. **refs** — `$CMD refs <node-hash>`
+          Expected: lists refs (may be empty)
+
+      11. **walk** — `$CMD walk <node-hash>`
+          Expected: shows traversal tree
+
+      12. **hash (dry run)** — `$CMD hash <type-hash> /tmp/test-node.json`
+          Expected: same hash as put
+
+      13. **cat** — `$CMD cat <node-hash>`
+          Expected: full node output
+
+      14. **cat --payload** — `$CMD cat <node-hash> --payload`
+          Expected: payload only (no type wrapper)
+
+      ## Phase 2: Schema Validation
+
+      1. **Invalid node** — `$CMD put <type-hash> /tmp/bad-node.json` where bad-node = `{"name":123}`
+         Expected: validation error, non-zero exit
+
+      2. **schema validate** — `$CMD schema validate <node-hash>`
+         Expected: valid for good node
+
+      3. **Non-existent schema** — `$CMD put AAAAAAAAAAAAA /tmp/test-node.json`
+         Expected: error about missing schema
+
+      ## Phase 3: Variable System
+
+      1. **var set** — `$CMD var set myapp/config <node-hash>`
+         Expected: creates variable
+
+      2. **var get** — `$CMD var get myapp/config --schema <type-hash>`
+         Expected: returns variable
+
+      3. **var list** — `$CMD var list`
+         Expected: shows all variables
+
+      4. **var list prefix** — `$CMD var list myapp/`
+         Expected: filtered results
+
+      5. **var set (update)** — Put a second node, `$CMD var set myapp/config <new-hash>`
+         Expected: upsert succeeds
+
+      6. **var tag** — `$CMD var tag myapp/config --schema <type-hash> env:prod important`
+         Expected: adds tag and label
+
+      7. **var list --tag** — `$CMD var list --tag env:prod`
+         Expected: finds tagged variable
+
+      8. **var list --tag (label)** — `$CMD var list --tag important`
+         Expected: finds labeled variable
+
+      9. **var tag remove** — `$CMD var tag myapp/config --schema <type-hash> :important`
+         Expected: removes label
+
+      10. **var delete** — `$CMD var delete myapp/config`
+          Expected: deletes variable
+
+      11. **var get (deleted)** — `$CMD var get myapp/config --schema <type-hash>`
+          Expected: not found error
+
+      ## Phase 4: Template System
+
+      1. **template set** — Create template file, `$CMD template set <type-hash> /tmp/test.liquid`
+         Template: `Name: {{ payload.name }}, Age: {{ payload.age }}`
+         Expected: success
+
+      2. **template get** — `$CMD template get <type-hash>`
+         Expected: returns template text
+
+      3. **template list** — `$CMD template list`
+         Expected: lists templates
+
+      4. **template delete** — `$CMD template delete <type-hash>`
+         Expected: success
+
+      5. **template get (deleted)** — `$CMD template get <type-hash>`
+         Expected: not found error
+
+      ## Phase 5: Render
+
+      1. Re-register template, then `$CMD render <node-hash>`
+         Expected: rendered output with payload values filled in
+
+      2. **render --resolution** — `$CMD render <node-hash> --resolution 0.5`
+         Expected: different resolution output
+
+      3. **render (bad hash)** — `$CMD render AAAAAAAAAAAAA`
+         Expected: graceful error, non-zero exit
+
+      ## Phase 6: GC
+
+      1. **gc basic** — `$CMD gc`
+         Expected: runs without error
+
+      2. **gc preserves referenced** — Verify `$CMD has <node-hash>` still true
+
+      3. **gc collects orphans** — Put an orphan node (not in any variable), run gc, check it's gone
+
+      ## Phase 7: Edge Cases & Error Handling
+
+      1. `$CMD get AAAAAAAAAAAAA` — non-existent
+      2. `$CMD put <type-hash> /nonexistent/file.json` — missing file
+      3. `$CMD var set "" <hash>` — empty name
+      4. `$CMD var set "bad name!" <hash>` — invalid name chars
+      5. `$CMD schema put /tmp/bad-schema.json` — `{"type":"invalid"}`
+      6. `$CMD` with no subcommand — should show help
+      7. `$CMD --store /nonexistent/path get <hash>` — bad store path
+
+      ## Recording Results
+
+      For each scenario:
+      - ✅ Pass: works as expected
+      - ❌ Fail: unexpected behavior, crash, wrong output
+      - ⚠️ Questionable: works but confusing UX
+
+      Collect all ❌ and ⚠️. For each, record:
+      - Title (concise description)
+      - Command (exact command run)
+      - Expected behavior
+      - Actual behavior (include actual output)
+      - Severity: critical / high / medium / low
+      - Phase: which test phase
+
+      ## CRITICAL: Frontmatter Output Format
+
+      Your response MUST start with YAML frontmatter. The `bugs` field MUST be an array of objects, NOT strings.
+
+      Example of CORRECT frontmatter:
+      ```yaml
+      ---
+      $status: bugs_found
+      containerName: json-cas-e2e
+      repoPath: /path/to/repo
+      bugs:
+        - title: "put does not validate data against schema"
+          command: "json-cas put <hash> bad-data.json"
+          expected: "Validation error, non-zero exit"
+          actual: "Accepted invalid data, exit 0"
+          severity: "high"
+          phase: "Schema Validation"
+      ---
+      ```
+
+      Do NOT write bugs as plain strings like `- some bug description`. Each bug MUST be an object with all 6 fields.
+
+      If all tests pass:
+      ```yaml
+      ---
+      $status: all_passed
+      containerName: json-cas-e2e
+      ---
+      ```
+
+    output: "Summary of all phases with pass/fail counts. Set $status."
+    frontmatter:
+      oneOf:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "bugs_found" }
+            bugs:
+              type: array
+              items:
+                type: object
+                properties:
+                  title: { type: string }
+                  command: { type: string }
+                  expected: { type: string }
+                  actual: { type: string }
+                  severity: { type: string }
+                  phase: { type: string }
+                required: [title, command, expected, actual, severity, phase]
+            containerName: { type: string }
+            repoPath: { type: string }
+          required: [$status, bugs, containerName]
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "all_passed" }
+            containerName: { type: string }
+          required: [$status, containerName]
+
+  reporter:
+    description: "Opens Gitea issues for each bug found by the tester"
+    goal: "You are a bug reporter. You create well-formatted Gitea issues for each bug found during E2E testing."
+    capabilities:
+      - issue-management
+    procedure: |
+      1. Parse the bugs array from the tester's output
+      2. Group bugs by severity (critical first)
+      3. For each bug, create a Gitea issue:
+         ```bash
+         tea issues create -r uncaged/json-cas \
+           -t "[E2E] <title>" \
+           -d "## Bug Report (E2E Check)
+
+         **Phase:** <phase>
+         **Severity:** <severity>
+
+         **Command:**
+         \`\`\`
+         <exact command>
+         \`\`\`
+
+         **Expected:** <expected>
+
+         **Actual:** <actual>
+
+         ---
+         _Reported by e2e-check workflow (Docker isolated)_"
+         ```
+
+         ⚠️ If `tea issues create` fails with long body, use Gitea REST API:
+         ```bash
+         eval "$(cfg env)" && GITEA_TOKEN=$(cfg get GITEA_TOKEN)
+         curl -s -X POST "https://git.shazhou.work/api/v1/repos/uncaged/json-cas/issues" \
+           -H "Authorization: token $GITEA_TOKEN" \
+           -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+           -d '{"title":"[E2E] ...","body":"..."}'
+         ```
+
+      4. Collect created issue numbers
+
+    output: "List created issues. Set $status."
+    frontmatter:
+      oneOf:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "reported" }
+            issues:
+              type: array
+              items: { type: string }
+          required: [$status, issues]
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "partial" }
+            created: { type: number }
+            failed: { type: number }
+          required: [$status, created, failed]
+
+  cleanup:
+    description: "Stops and removes the Docker container"
+    goal: "You clean up the Docker environment after testing is complete."
+    capabilities:
+      - docker
+    procedure: |
+      Stop and remove the container:
+      ```bash
+      docker stop {{{containerName}}} && docker rm {{{containerName}}}
+      ```
+
+      Verify it's gone:
+      ```bash
+      docker ps -a --filter name={{{containerName}}} --format '{{.Names}}'
+      ```
+      Expected: empty output.
+
+    output: "Cleanup result."
+    frontmatter:
+      oneOf:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "cleaned" }
+          required: [$status]
+        - type: object
+          properties:
+            $status: { const: "cleanup_failed" }
+            error: { type: string }
+          required: [$status, error]
+
+graph:
+  $START:
+    _: { role: "preparer", prompt: "Set up Docker environment for E2E testing. Repo at {{{repoPath}}}." }
+  preparer:
+    ready: { role: "tester", prompt: "Environment ready. Container: {{{containerName}}}, store: {{{storePath}}}. Run all test scenarios." }
+    setup_failed: { role: "reporter", prompt: "Setup failures found. File these as bugs: {{{failures}}}" }
+  tester:
+    all_passed: { role: "cleanup", prompt: "All tests passed. Clean up container {{{containerName}}}." }
+    bugs_found: { role: "reporter", prompt: "File these bugs as Gitea issues: {{{bugs}}}" }
+  reporter:
+    reported: { role: "cleanup", prompt: "Bugs filed: {{{issues}}}. Clean up container {{{containerName}}}." }
+    partial: { role: "cleanup", prompt: "Filed {{{created}}} issues, {{{failed}}} failed. Clean up container {{{containerName}}}." }
+  cleanup:
+    cleaned: { role: "$END", prompt: "E2E check complete. Environment cleaned up." }
+    cleanup_failed: { role: "$END", prompt: "E2E check complete but cleanup failed: {{{error}}}" }

.workflows/retrospect-workflow.yaml

@@ -51,16 +51,19 @@ roles:
     output: "A findings report with per-issue root cause and suggested procedure fixes. Set $status to clean or findings (with report hash)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "clean" }
             summary: { type: string }
           required: [$status, summary]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "findings" }
             report: { type: string }
             targetWorkflow: { type: string }
           required: [$status, report, targetWorkflow]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "wrong_project" }
             workflowName: { type: string }
           required: [$status, workflowName]
@@ -93,12 +96,14 @@ roles:
     output: "A change plan stored in CAS. Set $status to ready (with plan hash and repoPath) or no_action (if findings don't warrant changes)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "ready" }
             plan: { type: string }
             repoPath: { type: string }
           required: [$status, plan, repoPath]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "no_action" }
             reason: { type: string }
           required: [$status, reason]
@@ -128,12 +133,14 @@ roles:
     output: "List all files changed and provide a summary. Set $status to done (with branch/worktree), or failed (with reason)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "done" }
             branch: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
           required: [$status, branch, worktree]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "failed" }
             reason: { type: string }
           required: [$status, reason]
@@ -157,12 +164,14 @@ roles:
     output: "Explain your decision. Set $status to approved (with branch/worktree) or rejected (with comments)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "approved" }
             branch: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
           required: [$status, branch, worktree]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "rejected" }
             comments: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
@@ -191,11 +200,13 @@ roles:
     output: "Include PR URL on success or error log on failure. Set $status to committed (with prUrl) or hook_failed (with error)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "committed" }
             prUrl: { type: string }
           required: [$status, prUrl]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "hook_failed" }
             error: { type: string }
           required: [$status, error]

.workflows/solve-issue.yaml

@@ -26,12 +26,14 @@ roles:
     output: "Output a brief summary of the test spec. Set $status to ready (with plan hash and repoPath) or insufficient_info."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "ready" }
             plan: { type: string }
             repoPath: { type: string }
           required: [$status, plan, repoPath]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "insufficient_info" }
           required: [$status]
   developer:
@@ -67,12 +69,14 @@ roles:
     output: "List all files changed and provide a summary. Set $status to done (with branch/worktree), or failed (with reason)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "done" }
             branch: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
           required: [$status, branch, worktree]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "failed" }
             reason: { type: string }
           required: [$status, reason]
@@ -105,12 +109,14 @@ roles:
     output: "Explain your decision with specific file/line references. Set $status to approved (with branch/worktree) or rejected (with comments)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "approved" }
             branch: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
           required: [$status, branch, worktree]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "rejected" }
             comments: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
@@ -133,16 +139,19 @@ roles:
     output: "Report test results per scenario. Set $status to passed (with branch/worktree), fix_code (with report), or fix_spec (with report)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "passed" }
             branch: { type: string }
             worktree: { type: string }
           required: [$status, branch, worktree]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "fix_code" }
             report: { type: string }
           required: [$status, report]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "fix_spec" }
             report: { type: string }
           required: [$status, report]
@@ -169,11 +178,13 @@ roles:
     output: "Include PR URL on success or error log on failure. Set $status to committed (with prUrl) or hook_failed (with error)."
     frontmatter:
       oneOf:
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "committed" }
             prUrl: { type: string }
           required: [$status, prUrl]
-        - properties:
+        - type: object
+          properties:
             $status: { const: "hook_failed" }
             error: { type: string }
           required: [$status, error]

bun.lock

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
       "dependencies": {
         "ajv": "^8.20.0",
         "cborg": "^4.2.3",
+        "liquidjs": "^10.27.0",
         "xxhash-wasm": "^1.1.0",
       },
     },
@@ -141,6 +142,8 @@
 
     "chardet": ["chardet@2.1.1", "", {}, "sha512-PsezH1rqdV9VvyNhxxOW32/d75r01NY7TQCmOqomRo15ZSOKbpTFVsfjghxo6JloQUCGnH4k1LGu0R4yCLlWQQ=="],
 
+    "commander": ["commander@10.0.1", "", {}, "sha512-y4Mg2tXshplEbSGzx7amzPwKKOCGuoSRP/CjEdwwk0FOGlUbq6lKuoyDZTNZkmxHdJtp54hdfY/JUrdL7Xfdug=="],
+
     "cross-spawn": ["cross-spawn@7.0.6", "", { "dependencies": { "path-key": "^3.1.0", "shebang-command": "^2.0.0", "which": "^2.0.1" } }, "sha512-uV2QOWP2nWzsy2aMp8aRibhi9dlzF5Hgh5SHaB9OiTGEyDTiJJyx0uy51QXdyWbtAHNua4XJzUKca3OzKUd3vA=="],
 
     "dataloader": ["dataloader@1.4.0", "", {}, "sha512-68s5jYdlvasItOJnCuI2Q9s4q98g0pCyL3HrcKJu8KNugUl8ahgmZYg38ysLTgQjjXX3H8CJLkAvWrclWfcalw=="],
@@ -203,6 +206,8 @@
 
     "layerr": ["layerr@3.0.0", "", {}, "sha512-tv754Ki2dXpPVApOrjTyRo4/QegVb9eVFq4mjqp4+NM5NaX7syQvN5BBNfV/ZpAHCEHV24XdUVrBAoka4jt3pA=="],
 
+    "liquidjs": ["liquidjs@10.27.0", "", { "dependencies": { "commander": "^10.0.0" }, "bin": { "liquidjs": "bin/liquid.js", "liquid": "bin/liquid.js" } }, "sha512-tw/OA59K7aIBlMKIrKlumr37fiZUheShVHXY8cVctWisgY1p9mc5hreOvlreoS0wTiwlWk14Ya7305c2a/Cg5w=="],
+
     "locate-path": ["locate-path@5.0.0", "", { "dependencies": { "p-locate": "^4.1.0" } }, "sha512-t7hw9pI+WvuwNJXwk5zVHpyhIqzg2qTlklJOf0mVxGSbe3Fp2VieZcduNYjaLDoy6p9uGpQEGWG87WpMKlNq8g=="],
 
     "lodash.startcase": ["lodash.startcase@4.4.0", "", {}, "sha512-+WKqsK294HMSc2jEbNgpHpd0JfIBhp7rEV4aqXWqFr6AlXov+SlcgB1Fv01y2kGe3Gc8nMW7VA0SrGuSkRfIEg=="],

packages/cli-json-cas/src/__snapshots__/e2e.test.ts.snap

@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+// Bun Snapshot v1, https://bun.sh/docs/test/snapshots
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.3 schema get returns schema JSON (snapshot) 1`] = `
+"{
+  "type": "object",
+  "required": [
+    "name"
+  ],
+  "properties": {
+    "age": {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    "name": {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  },
+  "additionalProperties": false
+}"
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.4 schema list shows registered schemas 1`] = `
+"8J5E9WCD54ZJZ  (unnamed)
+89ZQWMV9PTC7B  (unnamed)
+86QB0Q5VA7797  (unnamed)
+AKEX4KYV98MGT  (unnamed)
+AGSJVKM01WNKZ  (unnamed)
+7XX5H51CVD9H0  (unnamed)"
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.6 get returns node JSON (snapshot) 1`] = `
+{
+  "payload": {
+    "age": 30,
+    "name": "Alice",
+  },
+  "type": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.9 verify returns ok for valid node 1`] = `"ok"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.10 refs lists direct references (snapshot) 1`] = `""`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.11 walk shows traversal tree (snapshot) 1`] = `"ERARPP19YJT05"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.13 cat returns full node (snapshot) 1`] = `
+{
+  "payload": {
+    "age": 30,
+    "name": "Alice",
+  },
+  "type": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 1: CAS Core 1.14 cat --payload returns only payload (snapshot) 1`] = `
+"{
+  "age": 30,
+  "name": "Alice"
+}"
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 2: Schema Validation 2.2 schema validate on valid node returns valid 1`] = `"valid"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 2: Schema Validation 2.3 put against non-existent schema hash fails 1`] = `"Schema not found: AAAAAAAAAAAAA"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.1 var set creates variable 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": {
+    "labels": [],
+    "name": "myapp/config",
+    "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+    "tags": {},
+    "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+  },
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.2 var get returns variable 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": {
+    "labels": [],
+    "name": "myapp/config",
+    "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+    "tags": {},
+    "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+  },
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.3 var list shows all variables 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": [
+    {
+      "labels": [],
+      "name": "myapp/config",
+      "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+      "tags": {},
+      "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+    },
+  ],
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.4 var list prefix filters by prefix 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": [
+    {
+      "labels": [],
+      "name": "myapp/config",
+      "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+      "tags": {},
+      "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+    },
+  ],
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.5 var set upsert updates existing variable 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": {
+    "labels": [],
+    "name": "myapp/config",
+    "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+    "tags": {},
+    "value": "F68P1BZ46YDXM",
+  },
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.6 var tag adds kv tag and label 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": {
+    "labels": [
+      "important",
+    ],
+    "name": "myapp/config",
+    "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+    "tags": {
+      "env": "prod",
+    },
+    "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+  },
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.7 var list --tag env:prod filters by kv tag 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": [
+    {
+      "labels": [
+        "important",
+      ],
+      "name": "myapp/config",
+      "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+      "tags": {
+        "env": "prod",
+      },
+      "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+    },
+  ],
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.8 var list --tag important filters by label 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": [
+    {
+      "labels": [
+        "important",
+      ],
+      "name": "myapp/config",
+      "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+      "tags": {
+        "env": "prod",
+      },
+      "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+    },
+  ],
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.9 var tag remove deletes label 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": {
+    "labels": [],
+    "name": "myapp/config",
+    "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+    "tags": {
+      "env": "prod",
+    },
+    "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+  },
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.10 var delete removes variable 1`] = `
+{
+  "type": "E1D32N3GT69Q8",
+  "value": [
+    {
+      "labels": [],
+      "name": "myapp/config",
+      "schema": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+      "tags": {
+        "env": "prod",
+      },
+      "value": "ERARPP19YJT05",
+    },
+  ],
+}
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 3: Variable System 3.11 var get deleted variable returns not found 1`] = `"Error: Variable not found: name=myapp/config, schema=7XX5H51CVD9H0"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 4: Template System 4.1 template set registers template 1`] = `
+"{
+  "schemaHash": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+  "contentHash": "FC8WACA792B6F"
+}"
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 4: Template System 4.2 template get returns template text 1`] = `"Name: {{ payload.name }}, Age: {{ payload.age }}"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 4: Template System 4.3 template list shows registered templates 1`] = `
+"[
+  {
+    "schemaHash": "7XX5H51CVD9H0",
+    "preview": "Name: {{ payload.name }}, Age: {{ payload.age }}"
+  }
+]"
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 4: Template System 4.4 template delete removes template 1`] = `
+"{
+  "deleted": true
+}"
+`;
+
+exports[`Phase 4: Template System 4.5 template get deleted template returns not found 1`] = `"Error: Template not found for schema: 7XX5H51CVD9H0"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 5: Render 5.1 render fills payload variables 1`] = `"Hello Alice!"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 5: Render 5.2 render --resolution with different value 1`] = `"Hello Alice!"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 7: Edge Cases 7.1 get non-existent hash errors gracefully 1`] = `"Node not found: AAAAAAAAAAAAA"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 7: Edge Cases 7.3 var set empty name errors 1`] = `"Usage: json-cas var set <name> <hash> [--tag <tag>...]"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 7: Edge Cases 7.4 var set name with invalid chars errors 1`] = `"Error: Invalid variable name "invalid name!": Segment "invalid name!" contains invalid characters (only @, a-z, A-Z, 0-9, ., _, - allowed)"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 7: Edge Cases 7.5 schema put invalid schema errors 1`] = `"Invalid schema: input does not conform to the json-cas JSON Schema meta-schema"`;
+
+exports[`Phase 7: Edge Cases 7.6 no subcommand shows help text 1`] = `
+"Usage: json-cas [--store <path>] [--json] <command> [args]
+
+Commands:
+  schema put <file.json>            Register schema, print type hash
+  schema get <type-hash>            Print schema JSON
+  schema list                       List all schemas (name + hash)
+  schema validate <hash>            Validate node against its schema
+  put <type-hash> <file.json>       Store node, print hash
+  get <hash>                        Print node as JSON
+  has <hash>                        Print true/false
+  verify <hash>                     Verify integrity, print ok/corrupted
+  refs <hash>                       List direct cas_ref edges
+  walk <hash> [--format tree]       Recursive traversal
+  hash <type-hash> <file.json>      Compute hash without storing (dry run)
+  render <hash> [options]           Render node as YAML with resolution decay
+  render --pipe/-p [options]        Render { type, value } from stdin
+  cat <hash> [--payload]            Output node (--payload for payload only)
+  var set <name> <hash> [--tag <tag>...] Create/update a variable
+  var get <name> --schema <hash>    Get a variable by name + schema
+  var delete <name> [--schema <hash>] Delete variable(s)
+  var list [prefix] [--schema <hash>] [--tag <tag>...] List variables
+  var tag <name> --schema <hash> <operations...> Modify tags/labels
+  template set <schema-hash> <file> | --inline <text> Set template for schema
+  template get <schema-hash>        Get template content as raw text
+  template list                     List all templates
+  template delete <schema-hash>     Delete template for schema
+  gc                                Run garbage collection
+
+Flags:
+  --store <path>      Store directory (default: ~/.uncaged/json-cas)
+  --var-db <path>     Variable database path (default: <store>/variables.db)
+  --json              Compact JSON output
+  --schema <hash>     Schema hash filter for var get/delete/tag/list
+  --tag <tag>         Tag/label (can be repeated): key:value (tag), name (label), :name (delete)
+  --inline <text>     Inline text content for template set
+  --resolution <n>    Initial resolution for render (default: 1.0)
+  --decay <n>         Decay factor for render (default: 0.5)
+  --epsilon <n>       Cutoff threshold for render (default: 0.01)
+  --pipe, -p          Read { type, value } JSON from stdin for render"
+`;

packages/cli-json-cas/src/e2e.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,549 @@
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
+
+const entrypoint = resolve(import.meta.dir, "index.ts");
+
+let tmpStore: string;
+let varDbPath: string;
+
+// Shared hashes across phases
+let typeHash: string;
+let nodeHash: string;
+
+beforeAll(() => {
+  tmpStore = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "json-cas-e2e-"));
+  varDbPath = join(tmpStore, "variables.db");
+});
+
+afterAll(() => {
+  rmSync(tmpStore, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+async function runCli(
+  args: string[],
+): Promise<{ stdout: string; stderr: string; exitCode: number }> {
+  const proc = Bun.spawn(
+    ["bun", entrypoint, "--store", tmpStore, "--var-db", varDbPath, ...args],
+    { stdout: "pipe", stderr: "pipe" },
+  );
+  const exitCode = await proc.exited;
+  const stdout = (await new Response(proc.stdout).text()).trim();
+  const stderr = (await new Response(proc.stderr).text()).trim();
+  return { stdout, stderr, exitCode };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse JSON and strip volatile fields (timestamp, created, updated)
+ * so snapshots are stable across runs.
+ */
+function stripVolatile(json: string): unknown {
+  const strip = (v: unknown): unknown => {
+    if (Array.isArray(v)) return v.map(strip);
+    if (v !== null && typeof v === "object") {
+      const out: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+      for (const [k, val] of Object.entries(v as Record<string, unknown>)) {
+        if (k === "timestamp" || k === "created" || k === "updated") continue;
+        out[k] = strip(val);
+      }
+      return out;
+    }
+    return v;
+  };
+  return strip(JSON.parse(json));
+}
+
+// ---- Phase 1: CAS Core ----
+
+describe("Phase 1: CAS Core", () => {
+  test("1.1 schema put returns type hash (auto-bootstraps store)", async () => {
+    const schemaFile = join(tmpStore, "test-schema.json");
+    writeFileSync(
+      schemaFile,
+      JSON.stringify({
+        type: "object",
+        properties: {
+          name: { type: "string" },
+          age: { type: "number" },
+        },
+        required: ["name"],
+        additionalProperties: false,
+      }),
+    );
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["schema", "put", schemaFile]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
+    typeHash = stdout;
+  });
+
+  test("1.3 schema get returns schema JSON (snapshot)", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["schema", "get", typeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("1.4 schema list shows registered schemas", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["schema", "list"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+    expect(stdout).toContain(typeHash);
+  });
+
+  test("1.5 put returns node hash", async () => {
+    const nodeFile = join(tmpStore, "test-node.json");
+    writeFileSync(nodeFile, JSON.stringify({ name: "Alice", age: 30 }));
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["put", typeHash, nodeFile]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatch(/^[0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{13}$/);
+    nodeHash = stdout;
+  });
+
+  test("1.6 get returns node JSON (snapshot)", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["get", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("1.7 has returns true for existing node", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["has", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("true");
+  });
+
+  test("1.8 has returns false for non-existing hash", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["has", "AAAAAAAAAAAAA"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("false");
+  });
+
+  test("1.9 verify returns ok for valid node", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["verify", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("1.10 refs lists direct references (snapshot)", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["refs", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("1.11 walk shows traversal tree (snapshot)", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["walk", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("1.12 hash dry-run returns same hash as put", async () => {
+    const nodeFile = join(tmpStore, "test-node.json");
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["hash", typeHash, nodeFile]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe(nodeHash);
+  });
+
+  test("1.13 cat returns full node (snapshot)", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["cat", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("1.14 cat --payload returns only payload (snapshot)", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["cat", nodeHash, "--payload"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(stdout) as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(parsed).not.toHaveProperty("type");
+    expect(parsed).toHaveProperty("name", "Alice");
+  });
+});
+
+// ---- Phase 2: Schema Validation ----
+
+describe("Phase 2: Schema Validation", () => {
+  test("2.1 put {name:123} against string-schema fails with non-zero exit", async () => {
+    const badFile = join(tmpStore, "bad-node.json");
+    writeFileSync(badFile, JSON.stringify({ name: 123 }));
+    const { stdout, stderr, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "put",
+      typeHash,
+      badFile,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("");
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Validation failed");
+    expect(stderr).toContain(typeHash);
+    // Do NOT snapshot stderr — it embeds a machine-specific tmp path
+  });
+
+  test("2.2 schema validate on valid node returns valid", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["schema", "validate", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("2.3 put against non-existent schema hash fails", async () => {
+    const nodeFile = join(tmpStore, "test-node.json");
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "put",
+      "AAAAAAAAAAAAA",
+      nodeFile,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+});
+
+// ---- Phase 3: Variable System ----
+
+describe("Phase 3: Variable System", () => {
+  test("3.1 var set creates variable", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "set",
+      "myapp/config",
+      nodeHash,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("3.2 var get returns variable", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "get",
+      "myapp/config",
+      "--schema",
+      typeHash,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+    expect(stdout).toContain(nodeHash);
+  });
+
+  test("3.3 var list shows all variables", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["var", "list"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+    expect(stdout).toContain("myapp/config");
+  });
+
+  test("3.4 var list prefix filters by prefix", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["var", "list", "myapp/"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+    expect(stdout).toContain("myapp/config");
+  });
+
+  test("3.5 var set upsert updates existing variable", async () => {
+    const node2File = join(tmpStore, "node2.json");
+    writeFileSync(node2File, JSON.stringify({ name: "Bob", age: 25 }));
+    const { stdout: node2Hash } = await runCli(["put", typeHash, node2File]);
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "set",
+      "myapp/config",
+      node2Hash.trim(),
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+    // Restore original value
+    await runCli(["var", "set", "myapp/config", nodeHash]);
+  });
+
+  test("3.6 var tag adds kv tag and label", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "tag",
+      "myapp/config",
+      "--schema",
+      typeHash,
+      "env:prod",
+      "important",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("3.7 var list --tag env:prod filters by kv tag", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "list",
+      "--tag",
+      "env:prod",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toContain("myapp/config");
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("3.8 var list --tag important filters by label", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "list",
+      "--tag",
+      "important",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toContain("myapp/config");
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("3.9 var tag remove deletes label", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "tag",
+      "myapp/config",
+      "--schema",
+      typeHash,
+      ":important",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+    // Verify label is gone
+    const { stdout: listOut } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "list",
+      "--tag",
+      "important",
+    ]);
+    expect(listOut).not.toContain("myapp/config");
+  });
+
+  test("3.10 var delete removes variable", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "delete",
+      "myapp/config",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stripVolatile(stdout)).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("3.11 var get deleted variable returns not found", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "get",
+      "myapp/config",
+      "--schema",
+      typeHash,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+});
+
+// ---- Phase 4: Template System ----
+
+describe("Phase 4: Template System", () => {
+  test("4.1 template set registers template", async () => {
+    const tmplFile = join(tmpStore, "test.liquid");
+    writeFileSync(tmplFile, "Name: {{ payload.name }}, Age: {{ payload.age }}");
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli([
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      typeHash,
+      tmplFile,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("4.2 template get returns template text", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["template", "get", typeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("Name: {{ payload.name }}, Age: {{ payload.age }}");
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("4.3 template list shows registered templates", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["template", "list"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toContain(typeHash);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("4.4 template delete removes template", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli(["template", "delete", typeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("4.5 template get deleted template returns not found", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(["template", "get", typeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+});
+
+// ---- Phase 5: Render ----
+
+describe("Phase 5: Render", () => {
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    const tmplFile = join(tmpStore, "render-template.liquid");
+    writeFileSync(tmplFile, "Hello {{ payload.name }}!");
+    await runCli(["template", "set", typeHash, tmplFile]);
+  });
+
+  test("5.1 render fills payload variables", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(["render", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("Hello Alice!");
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("5.2 render --resolution with different value", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "render",
+      nodeHash,
+      "--resolution",
+      "0.5",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("5.3 render non-existent hash fails with error", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(["render", "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Node not found");
+    expect(stderr).toContain("ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ");
+  });
+});
+
+// ---- Phase 6: GC ----
+
+describe("Phase 6: GC", () => {
+  let gcNodeHash: string;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    // Create a fresh node for GC tests (independent of shared nodeHash)
+    const gcNodeFile = join(tmpStore, "gc-node.json");
+    writeFileSync(gcNodeFile, JSON.stringify({ name: "GcAlice", age: 30 }));
+    const { stdout } = await runCli(["put", typeHash, gcNodeFile]);
+    gcNodeHash = stdout.trim();
+    // Set a var referencing this node so it survives GC during Phase 6
+    await runCli(["var", "set", "gc-test/ref", gcNodeHash]);
+  });
+
+  test("6.1 gc runs without error", async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout } = await runCli(["gc"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    // Assert structural shape only — exact counts depend on phase history
+    const result = JSON.parse(stdout) as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(typeof result.total).toBe("number");
+    expect(typeof result.reachable).toBe("number");
+    expect(typeof result.collected).toBe("number");
+    expect(typeof result.scanned).toBe("number");
+    expect(result.total as number).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+      result.reachable as number,
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("6.2 gc preserves node referenced by a var", async () => {
+    const { exitCode } = await runCli(["gc"]);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    const { stdout } = await runCli(["has", gcNodeHash]);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("true");
+  });
+
+  test("6.3 gc reclaims orphan node", async () => {
+    const orphanFile = join(tmpStore, "orphan.json");
+    writeFileSync(orphanFile, JSON.stringify({ name: "Orphan", age: 99 }));
+    const { stdout: orphanHashRaw } = await runCli([
+      "put",
+      typeHash,
+      orphanFile,
+    ]);
+    const orphanHash = orphanHashRaw.trim();
+
+    const { stdout: beforeGc } = await runCli(["has", orphanHash]);
+    expect(beforeGc).toBe("true");
+
+    await runCli(["gc"]);
+    const { stdout: afterGc } = await runCli(["has", orphanHash]);
+    expect(afterGc).toBe("false");
+  });
+});
+
+// ---- Phase 7: Edge Cases ----
+
+describe("Phase 7: Edge Cases", () => {
+  test("7.1 get non-existent hash errors gracefully", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(["get", "AAAAAAAAAAAAA"]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("7.2 put with non-existent file errors with ENOENT", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "put",
+      typeHash,
+      "/nonexistent/file.json",
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("ENOENT");
+  });
+
+  test("7.3 var set empty name errors", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(["var", "set", "", nodeHash]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("7.4 var set name with invalid chars errors", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "var",
+      "set",
+      "invalid name!",
+      nodeHash,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("7.5 schema put invalid schema errors", async () => {
+    const badSchemaFile = join(tmpStore, "bad-schema.json");
+    writeFileSync(badSchemaFile, JSON.stringify({ type: "invalid" }));
+    const { stdout, stderr, exitCode } = await runCli([
+      "schema",
+      "put",
+      badSchemaFile,
+    ]);
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stdout).toBe("");
+    expect(stderr).toMatchSnapshot();
+  });
+
+  test("7.6 no subcommand shows help text", async () => {
+    const { stdout, stderr, exitCode: _exitCode } = await runCli([]);
+    const combined = stdout + stderr;
+    expect(combined.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(combined).toMatchSnapshot();
+    expect(combined.toLowerCase()).toContain("usage");
+  });
+
+  test("7.7 --store path is a file errors", async () => {
+    const fileAsStore = join(tmpStore, "not-a-directory");
+    writeFileSync(fileAsStore, "test");
+    const proc = Bun.spawn(
+      [
+        "bun",
+        entrypoint,
+        "--store",
+        fileAsStore,
+        "--var-db",
+        varDbPath,
+        "get",
+        "AAAAAAAAAAAAA",
+      ],
+      { stdout: "pipe", stderr: "pipe" },
+    );
+    const exitCode = await proc.exited;
+    const stderr = (await new Response(proc.stderr).text()).trim();
+    expect(exitCode).not.toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("not a directory");
+  });
+});

packages/cli-json-cas/src/index.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bun
 
-import { mkdirSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { existsSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { join, resolve } from "node:path";
 import type { Hash, JSONSchema, Store, VariableStore } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
@@ -15,14 +15,16 @@ import {
   InvalidVariableNameError,
   putSchema,
   refs,
-  render,
+  renderAsync,
+  renderDirect,
+  SchemaValidationError,
   TagLabelConflictError,
   VariableNotFoundError,
   validate,
   verify,
   walk,
 } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
-import { createFsStore } from "@uncaged/json-cas-fs";
+import { openStore as openFsStore } from "@uncaged/json-cas-fs";
 
 // ---- Argument parsing ----
 
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ const VALUE_FLAGS = new Set([
   "resolution",
   "decay",
   "epsilon",
+  "inline",
 ]);
 
 function parseArgs(argv: string[]): { flags: Flags; positional: string[] } {
@@ -109,13 +112,17 @@ function readJsonFile(file: string): unknown {
   }
 }
 
-function openStore(): Store {
-  return createFsStore(resolve(storePath));
+/**
+ * Open the filesystem-backed CAS store.
+ * Automatically creates directory and bootstraps if needed.
+ */
+async function openStore(): Promise<Store> {
+  const fullPath = resolve(storePath);
+  return await openFsStore(fullPath);
 }
 
-function openVarStore(): VariableStore {
-  const store = openStore();
-  mkdirSync(resolve(storePath), { recursive: true });
+async function openVarStore(): Promise<VariableStore> {
+  const store = await openStore();
   return createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
 }
 
@@ -126,7 +133,7 @@ function openVarStore(): VariableStore {
  */
 async function resolveTypeHash(typeHashOrAlias: string): Promise<Hash> {
   if (typeHashOrAlias.startsWith("@")) {
-    const store = openStore();
+    const store = await openStore();
     const builtinSchemas = await bootstrap(store);
     const resolvedHash = builtinSchemas[typeHashOrAlias];
     if (!resolvedHash) {
@@ -142,7 +149,7 @@ async function resolveTypeHash(typeHashOrAlias: string): Promise<Hash> {
  * This is the type hash used in JSON envelopes
  */
 async function getVariableSchemaHash(): Promise<Hash> {
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
 
   // Define the Variable JSON Schema (updated for new model with composite key)
   const variableSchema: JSONSchema = {
@@ -220,43 +227,34 @@ function parseTagsLabels(args: string[]): {
 
 // ---- Commands ----
 
-async function cmdInit(): Promise<void> {
-  const dir = resolve(storePath);
-  mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
-  const store = createFsStore(dir);
-  const builtinSchemas = await bootstrap(store);
-  const metaHash = builtinSchemas["@schema"];
-  console.log(metaHash);
-}
-
-async function cmdBootstrap(): Promise<void> {
-  const store = openStore();
-  const builtinSchemas = await bootstrap(store);
-  const metaHash = builtinSchemas["@schema"];
-  console.log(metaHash);
-}
-
 async function cmdSchemaPut(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const file = args[0];
   if (!file) die("Usage: json-cas schema put <file.json>");
   const schema = readJsonFile(file) as JSONSchema;
-  const store = openStore();
-  const hash = await putSchema(store, schema);
-  console.log(hash);
+  const store = await openStore();
+  try {
+    const hash = await putSchema(store, schema);
+    console.log(hash);
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e instanceof SchemaValidationError) {
+      die(e.message);
+    }
+    throw e;
+  }
 }
 
 async function cmdSchemaGet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hashOrAlias = args[0];
   if (!hashOrAlias) die("Usage: json-cas schema get <type-hash>");
   const hash = await resolveTypeHash(hashOrAlias);
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const schema = getSchema(store, hash);
   if (schema === null) die(`Schema not found: ${hashOrAlias}`);
   out(schema);
 }
 
 async function cmdSchemaList(): Promise<void> {
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const builtinSchemas = await bootstrap(store);
   const metaHash = builtinSchemas["@schema"];
   if (!metaHash) throw new Error("Meta-schema not found");
@@ -277,7 +275,7 @@ async function cmdSchemaList(): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdSchemaValidate(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas schema validate <hash>");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const node = store.get(hash);
   if (node === null) die(`Node not found: ${hash}`);
   const valid = validate(store, node);
@@ -291,7 +289,24 @@ async function cmdPut(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: json-cas put <type-hash> <file.json>");
   const typeHash = await resolveTypeHash(typeHashOrAlias);
   const payload = readJsonFile(file);
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
+
+  // Check if schema exists
+  const schema = getSchema(store, typeHash);
+  if (schema === null) {
+    console.error(`Schema not found: ${typeHash}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  // Validate payload against schema before storing
+  const tempNode = { type: typeHash, payload, timestamp: Date.now() };
+  if (!validate(store, tempNode)) {
+    console.error(
+      `Validation failed: payload in ${file} does not match schema ${typeHash}`,
+    );
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
   const hash = await store.put(typeHash, payload);
   console.log(hash);
 }
@@ -299,7 +314,7 @@ async function cmdPut(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdGet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas get <hash>");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const node = store.get(hash);
   if (node === null) die(`Node not found: ${hash}`);
   out(node);
@@ -308,14 +323,14 @@ async function cmdGet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdHas(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas has <hash>");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   console.log(String(store.has(hash)));
 }
 
 async function cmdVerify(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas verify <hash>");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const node = store.get(hash);
   if (node === null) die(`Node not found: ${hash}`);
   const ok = await verify(hash, node);
@@ -325,7 +340,7 @@ async function cmdVerify(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdRefs(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas refs <hash>");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const node = store.get(hash);
   if (node === null) die(`Node not found: ${hash}`);
   const refHashes = refs(store, node);
@@ -337,7 +352,7 @@ async function cmdRefs(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdWalk(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas walk <hash> [--format tree]");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const format = flags.format;
 
   if (format === "tree") {
@@ -385,14 +400,20 @@ async function cmdHash(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 async function cmdRender(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const isPipe = flags.pipe === true || flags.p === true;
   const hash = args[0];
-  if (!hash) {
+
+  if (isPipe && hash) {
+    die("Cannot use --pipe/-p with a hash argument. Use one or the other.");
+  }
+
+  if (!isPipe && !hash) {
     die(
-      "Usage: ucas render <hash> [--resolution <n>] [--decay <n>] [--epsilon <n>]",
+      "Usage: ucas render <hash> [--resolution <n>] [--decay <n>] [--epsilon <n>]\n       ucas render --pipe/-p [--resolution <n>] [--decay <n>] [--epsilon <n>]",
     );
   }
 
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
 
   // Parse numeric options
   const resolution =
@@ -420,10 +441,67 @@ async function cmdRender(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   }
 
   try {
-    const output = render(store, hash, { resolution, decay, epsilon });
-    // Output to stdout without JSON wrapping (raw YAML)
-    process.stdout.write(output);
+    if (isPipe) {
+      // Read { type, value } JSON from stdin
+      const chunks: Buffer[] = [];
+      for await (const chunk of process.stdin) {
+        chunks.push(chunk as Buffer);
+      }
+      const input = Buffer.concat(chunks).toString("utf-8").trim();
+      if (!input) {
+        die("No input on stdin. Pipe a { type, value } JSON envelope.");
+      }
+
+      let envelope: { type: string; value: unknown };
+      try {
+        envelope = JSON.parse(input) as { type: string; value: unknown };
+      } catch {
+        die("Invalid JSON on stdin. Expected { type, value } envelope.");
+        return; // unreachable, for TS
+      }
+
+      if (
+        typeof envelope !== "object" ||
+        envelope === null ||
+        typeof envelope.type !== "string" ||
+        !("value" in envelope)
+      ) {
+        die("Invalid envelope. Expected { type: string, value: unknown }.");
+      }
+
+      // Validate type hash format: 13-char uppercase Crockford Base32
+      if (!/^[0-9A-Z]{13}$/.test(envelope.type)) {
+        die(
+          `Invalid type hash: "${envelope.type}". Expected 13-character uppercase Crockford Base32 string.`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      const output = renderDirect(
+        envelope.type as Hash,
+        envelope.value,
+        store,
+        {
+          resolution,
+          decay,
+          epsilon,
+        },
+      );
+      process.stdout.write(output);
+    } else {
+      const varStore = await openVarStore();
+      const output = await renderAsync(store, hash, {
+        resolution,
+        decay,
+        epsilon,
+        varStore,
+      });
+      // Output to stdout without JSON wrapping (raw output)
+      process.stdout.write(output);
+    }
   } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof CasNodeNotFoundError) {
+      die(`Error: Node not found: ${error.hash}`);
+    }
     if (error instanceof Error) {
       die(error.message);
     }
@@ -434,7 +512,7 @@ async function cmdRender(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 async function cmdCat(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const hash = args[0];
   if (!hash) die("Usage: json-cas cat <hash>");
-  const store = openStore();
+  const store = await openStore();
   const node = store.get(hash);
   if (node === null) die(`Node not found: ${hash}`);
   if (flags.payload === true) {
@@ -453,7 +531,7 @@ async function cmdVarSet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: json-cas var set <name> <hash> [--tag <tag>...]");
   }
 
-  const varStore = openVarStore();
+  const varStore = await openVarStore();
 
   try {
     // Parse tags/labels from --tag flags
@@ -504,7 +582,7 @@ async function cmdVarGet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: json-cas var get <name> --schema <hash>");
   }
 
-  const varStore = openVarStore();
+  const varStore = await openVarStore();
 
   try {
     const variable = varStore.get(name, schema);
@@ -526,7 +604,7 @@ async function cmdVarDelete(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: json-cas var delete <name> [--schema <hash>]");
   }
 
-  const varStore = openVarStore();
+  const varStore = await openVarStore();
 
   try {
     if (schema !== undefined) {
@@ -563,7 +641,7 @@ async function cmdVarTag(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     die("Usage: json-cas var tag <name> --schema <hash> <operations...>");
   }
 
-  const varStore = openVarStore();
+  const varStore = await openVarStore();
 
   try {
     const { tags, labels, deleteNames } = parseTagsLabels(tagArgs);
@@ -595,7 +673,7 @@ async function cmdVarList(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   const schema = flags.schema as string | undefined;
   const tagFlags = flags.tag;
 
-  const varStore = openVarStore();
+  const varStore = await openVarStore();
 
   try {
     // Parse tags/labels from --tag flags
@@ -629,8 +707,172 @@ async function cmdVarList(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
   }
 }
 
+async function cmdTemplateSet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const schemaHash = args[0];
+  const inlineFlag = flags.inline;
+
+  if (!schemaHash) {
+    die("Usage: json-cas template set <schema-hash> <file> | --inline <text>");
+  }
+
+  const store = await openStore();
+  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+
+  try {
+    // Validate schema hash exists in CAS
+    if (!store.has(schemaHash)) {
+      die(`Error: Schema hash not found in CAS: ${schemaHash}`);
+    }
+
+    // Determine content source
+    let content: string;
+
+    if (typeof inlineFlag === "string") {
+      // --inline mode
+      const fileArg = args[1];
+      if (fileArg !== undefined && !fileArg.startsWith("--")) {
+        die("Error: Cannot specify both file and --inline");
+      }
+      content = inlineFlag;
+    } else if (inlineFlag === true) {
+      // --inline flag present but no value
+      const contentArg = args[1];
+      if (!contentArg) {
+        die(
+          "Usage: json-cas template set <schema-hash> <file> | --inline <text>",
+        );
+      }
+      content = contentArg;
+    } else {
+      // File mode
+      const file = args[1];
+      if (!file) {
+        die(
+          "Usage: json-cas template set <schema-hash> <file> | --inline <text>",
+        );
+      }
+      if (!existsSync(file)) {
+        die(`Error: File not found: ${file}`);
+      }
+      content = readFileSync(file, "utf-8");
+    }
+
+    // Store content in CAS under @string schema
+    const stringHash = await resolveTypeHash("@string");
+    const contentHash = await store.put(stringHash, content);
+
+    // Create variable binding: @ucas/template/text/<schema-hash>
+    const varName = `@ucas/template/text/${schemaHash}`;
+    varStore.set(varName, contentHash);
+
+    out({
+      schemaHash,
+      contentHash,
+    });
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e instanceof CasNodeNotFoundError) {
+      die(`Error: ${e.message}`);
+    }
+    throw e;
+  } finally {
+    varStore.close();
+  }
+}
+
+async function cmdTemplateGet(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const schemaHash = args[0];
+
+  if (!schemaHash) {
+    die("Usage: json-cas template get <schema-hash>");
+  }
+
+  const store = await openStore();
+  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+
+  try {
+    const varName = `@ucas/template/text/${schemaHash}`;
+    const stringHash = await resolveTypeHash("@string");
+    const variable = varStore.get(varName, stringHash);
+
+    if (variable === null) {
+      die(`Error: Template not found for schema: ${schemaHash}`);
+    }
+
+    // Get the content from CAS
+    const node = store.get(variable.value);
+    if (node === null) {
+      die(`Error: Content not found in CAS: ${variable.value}`);
+    }
+
+    // Output raw text (not JSON)
+    process.stdout.write(node.payload as string);
+  } finally {
+    varStore.close();
+  }
+}
+
+async function cmdTemplateList(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const store = await openStore();
+  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+
+  try {
+    const stringHash = await resolveTypeHash("@string");
+    const variables = varStore.list({
+      namePrefix: "@ucas/template/text/",
+      schema: stringHash,
+    });
+
+    const templates = variables.map((v) => {
+      const schemaHash = v.name.replace("@ucas/template/text/", "");
+
+      // Get content for preview
+      const node = store.get(v.value);
+      const content = (node?.payload as string | undefined) ?? "";
+
+      // Truncate preview to 80 chars
+      const preview =
+        content.length > 80 ? `${content.slice(0, 77)}...` : content;
+
+      return {
+        schemaHash,
+        preview,
+      };
+    });
+
+    out(templates);
+  } finally {
+    varStore.close();
+  }
+}
+
+async function cmdTemplateDelete(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const schemaHash = args[0];
+
+  if (!schemaHash) {
+    die("Usage: json-cas template delete <schema-hash>");
+  }
+
+  const store = await openStore();
+  const varStore = createVariableStore(resolve(varDbPath), store);
+
+  try {
+    const varName = `@ucas/template/text/${schemaHash}`;
+    const stringHash = await resolveTypeHash("@string");
+    varStore.remove(varName, stringHash);
+
+    out({ deleted: true });
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e instanceof VariableNotFoundError) {
+      die(`Error: Template not found for schema: ${schemaHash}`);
+    }
+    throw e;
+  } finally {
+    varStore.close();
+  }
+}
+
 async function cmdGc(_args: string[]): Promise<void> {
-  const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+  const store = await openStore();
   const varStore = createVariableStore(varDbPath, store);
 
   try {
@@ -646,8 +888,6 @@ function printUsage(): void {
 Usage: json-cas [--store <path>] [--json] <command> [args]
 
 Commands:
-  init                              Create store dir and write bootstrap seed
-  bootstrap                         Write meta-schema seed, print hash
   schema put <file.json>            Register schema, print type hash
   schema get <type-hash>            Print schema JSON
   schema list                       List all schemas (name + hash)
@@ -660,12 +900,17 @@ Commands:
   walk <hash> [--format tree]       Recursive traversal
   hash <type-hash> <file.json>      Compute hash without storing (dry run)
   render <hash> [options]           Render node as YAML with resolution decay
+  render --pipe/-p [options]        Render { type, value } from stdin
   cat <hash> [--payload]            Output node (--payload for payload only)
   var set <name> <hash> [--tag <tag>...] Create/update a variable
   var get <name> --schema <hash>    Get a variable by name + schema
   var delete <name> [--schema <hash>] Delete variable(s)
   var list [prefix] [--schema <hash>] [--tag <tag>...] List variables
   var tag <name> --schema <hash> <operations...> Modify tags/labels
+  template set <schema-hash> <file> | --inline <text> Set template for schema
+  template get <schema-hash>        Get template content as raw text
+  template list                     List all templates
+  template delete <schema-hash>     Delete template for schema
   gc                                Run garbage collection
 
 Flags:
@@ -674,9 +919,11 @@ Flags:
   --json              Compact JSON output
   --schema <hash>     Schema hash filter for var get/delete/tag/list
   --tag <tag>         Tag/label (can be repeated): key:value (tag), name (label), :name (delete)
+  --inline <text>     Inline text content for template set
   --resolution <n>    Initial resolution for render (default: 1.0)
   --decay <n>         Decay factor for render (default: 0.5)
-  --epsilon <n>       Cutoff threshold for render (default: 0.01)`);
+  --epsilon <n>       Cutoff threshold for render (default: 0.01)
+  --pipe, -p          Read { type, value } JSON from stdin for render`);
 }
 
 // ---- Dispatch ----
@@ -689,14 +936,6 @@ if (!cmd) {
 }
 
 switch (cmd) {
-  case "init":
-    await cmdInit();
-    break;
-
-  case "bootstrap":
-    await cmdBootstrap();
-    break;
-
   case "schema": {
     const [sub, ...subRest] = rest;
     switch (sub) {
@@ -778,6 +1017,27 @@ switch (cmd) {
     break;
   }
 
+  case "template": {
+    const [sub, ...subRest] = rest;
+    switch (sub) {
+      case "set":
+        await cmdTemplateSet(subRest);
+        break;
+      case "get":
+        await cmdTemplateGet(subRest);
+        break;
+      case "list":
+        await cmdTemplateList(subRest);
+        break;
+      case "delete":
+        await cmdTemplateDelete(subRest);
+        break;
+      default:
+        die(`Unknown template subcommand: ${sub ?? "(none)"}`);
+    }
+    break;
+  }
+
   case "gc":
     await cmdGc(rest);
     break;

packages/cli-json-cas/src/template.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,648 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { mkdirSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import type { Hash, Store } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
+import { bootstrap } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
+import { createFsStore } from "@uncaged/json-cas-fs";
+
+// ---- Test helpers ----
+
+let testDir: string;
+let storePath: string;
+let varDbPath: string;
+let cliPath: string;
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  // Create unique temp directory for each test
+  testDir = join(
+    tmpdir(),
+    `json-cas-test-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}`,
+  );
+  storePath = join(testDir, "store");
+  varDbPath = join(testDir, "variables.db");
+  cliPath = join(import.meta.dir, "index.ts");
+
+  mkdirSync(testDir, { recursive: true });
+  mkdirSync(storePath, { recursive: true });
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  // Clean up test directory
+  try {
+    rmSync(testDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  } catch {
+    // Ignore cleanup errors
+  }
+});
+
+/**
+ * Run CLI command and return stdout, stderr, and exit code
+ */
+async function runCli(...args: string[]): Promise<{
+  stdout: string;
+  stderr: string;
+  exitCode: number;
+}> {
+  const proc = Bun.spawn(
+    [
+      "bun",
+      "run",
+      cliPath,
+      "--store",
+      storePath,
+      "--var-db",
+      varDbPath,
+      ...args,
+    ],
+    {
+      stdout: "pipe",
+      stderr: "pipe",
+    },
+  );
+
+  const [stdout, stderr] = await Promise.all([
+    new Response(proc.stdout).text(),
+    new Response(proc.stderr).text(),
+  ]);
+
+  await proc.exited;
+
+  return {
+    stdout: stdout.trim(),
+    stderr: stderr.trim(),
+    exitCode: proc.exitCode ?? 0,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get bootstrap @string type hash
+ */
+async function getStringHash(store: Store): Promise<Hash> {
+  const builtinSchemas = await bootstrap(store);
+  return builtinSchemas["@string"] ?? "";
+}
+
+// ---- Tests ----
+
+describe("template set", () => {
+  test("set template from file", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const templateFile = join(testDir, "template.txt");
+    writeFileSync(templateFile, "Hello {{name}}!");
+
+    const { stdout, stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      templateFile,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBe("");
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output).toHaveProperty("contentHash");
+    expect(output.schemaHash).toBe(stringHash);
+  });
+
+  test("set template with --inline flag", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "--inline",
+      "Inline template content",
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output).toHaveProperty("contentHash");
+    expect(output.schemaHash).toBe(stringHash);
+  });
+
+  test("update existing template (idempotent)", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const templateFile = join(testDir, "template.txt");
+    writeFileSync(templateFile, "Version 1");
+
+    // Set first time
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, templateFile);
+
+    // Update with new content
+    writeFileSync(templateFile, "Version 2");
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      templateFile,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output).toHaveProperty("contentHash");
+
+    // Verify we can get the new version
+    const { stdout: getOut } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+    expect(getOut).toBe("Version 2");
+  });
+
+  test("error when file not found", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "/nonexistent/file.txt",
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Error:");
+  });
+
+  test("error when schema hash invalid", async () => {
+    const templateFile = join(testDir, "template.txt");
+    writeFileSync(templateFile, "content");
+
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      "INVALID_HASH",
+      templateFile,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Error:");
+  });
+
+  test("error when both file and --inline provided", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const templateFile = join(testDir, "template.txt");
+    writeFileSync(templateFile, "content");
+
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      templateFile,
+      "--inline",
+      "inline content",
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Error:");
+  });
+
+  test("support multi-line templates", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const multilineContent = "Line 1\nLine 2\nLine 3";
+    const { exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "--inline",
+      multilineContent,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    // Verify content
+    const { stdout: getOut } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+    expect(getOut).toBe(multilineContent);
+  });
+
+  test("support empty templates", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "--inline",
+      "",
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output).toHaveProperty("contentHash");
+  });
+
+  test("error when neither file nor --inline provided", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "set", stringHash);
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Usage:");
+  });
+
+  test("support templates with special characters", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const specialContent = "Template with {{var}} and $env and @ref";
+    const { exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "--inline",
+      specialContent,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    // Verify content preserved
+    const { stdout: getOut } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+    expect(getOut).toBe(specialContent);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("template get", () => {
+  test("retrieve template as raw text", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const content = "Hello {{name}}!";
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", content);
+
+    const { stdout, stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "get",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBe("");
+    expect(stdout).toBe(content);
+  });
+
+  test("error when template not found", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Error:");
+    expect(stderr).toContain("not found");
+  });
+
+  test("preserve exact whitespace", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Note: runCli helper trims stdout, so we test with content that doesn't have leading/trailing whitespace
+    // The actual CLI preserves whitespace correctly
+    const content = "spaces\n\ttabs\t\nmixed";
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", content);
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+
+    expect(stdout).toBe(content);
+  });
+
+  test("support multi-line templates", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Note: runCli helper trims stdout, so trailing newline will be removed
+    const multiline = "Line 1\nLine 2\nLine 3";
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", multiline);
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+
+    expect(stdout).toBe(multiline);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("template list", () => {
+  test("list all templates", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Create multiple templates
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Template 1");
+    await runCli("template", "set", "SCHEMA_HASH_2", "--inline", "Template 2");
+
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "list");
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(Array.isArray(output)).toBe(true);
+    expect(output.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+
+    // Check structure
+    const item = output[0];
+    expect(item).toHaveProperty("schemaHash");
+    expect(item).toHaveProperty("preview");
+  });
+
+  test("preview truncation for long content", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const longContent = "a".repeat(200);
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", longContent);
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "list");
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout) as Array<{
+      schemaHash: string;
+      preview: string;
+    }>;
+    const item = output.find((i) => i.schemaHash === stringHash);
+    expect(item).toBeDefined();
+    if (item) {
+      expect(item.preview.length).toBeLessThan(longContent.length);
+      expect(item.preview).toContain("...");
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("empty list when no templates", async () => {
+    const { stdout, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "list");
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(Array.isArray(output)).toBe(true);
+    expect(output.length).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("exclude non-template variables", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Create a template
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Template");
+
+    // Create a regular variable (not under @ucas/template/text/)
+    const hash = await store.put(stringHash, "regular var content");
+    await runCli("var", "set", "regular/var", hash);
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "list");
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    // Should only contain template variables
+    for (const item of output) {
+      expect(item.schemaHash).toBeDefined();
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("output JSON array format", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Test");
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "list");
+
+    // Should be valid JSON
+    expect(() => JSON.parse(stdout)).not.toThrow();
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(Array.isArray(output)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("preview shows beginning of content", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const content = "Start of template...";
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", content);
+
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "list");
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout) as Array<{
+      schemaHash: string;
+      preview: string;
+    }>;
+    const item = output.find((i) => i.schemaHash === stringHash);
+    if (item) {
+      expect(item.preview).toContain("Start");
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+describe("template delete", () => {
+  test("delete template variable binding", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Template");
+
+    const { stdout, stderr, exitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "delete",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(stderr).toBe("");
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output).toHaveProperty("deleted");
+    expect(output.deleted).toBe(true);
+
+    // Verify template is gone
+    const { exitCode: getExitCode } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "get",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+    expect(getExitCode).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("error when template not found", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "delete", stringHash);
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Error:");
+    expect(stderr).toContain("not found");
+  });
+
+  test("deletion does not affect other templates", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Create two templates
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Template 1");
+    await runCli("template", "set", "SCHEMA_HASH_2", "--inline", "Template 2");
+
+    // Delete first template
+    await runCli("template", "delete", stringHash);
+
+    // Verify second still exists
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "list");
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout) as Array<{
+      schemaHash: string;
+      preview: string;
+    }>;
+
+    // Should not find deleted template
+    const deleted = output.find((i) => i.schemaHash === stringHash);
+    expect(deleted).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  test("CAS content remains after variable deletion", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Content");
+
+    // Get the content hash before deletion
+    const { stdout: setOut } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "--inline",
+      "Content",
+    );
+    const { contentHash } = JSON.parse(setOut);
+
+    // Delete the template variable
+    await runCli("template", "delete", stringHash);
+
+    // Verify CAS node still exists
+    const { exitCode: hasExitCode } = await runCli("has", contentHash);
+    expect(hasExitCode).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test("deletion is non-idempotent (second delete fails)", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Template");
+
+    // First deletion succeeds
+    const { exitCode: firstExit } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "delete",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+    expect(firstExit).toBe(0);
+
+    // Second deletion fails
+    const { exitCode: secondExit } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "delete",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+    expect(secondExit).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("template integration", () => {
+  test("end-to-end workflow: set→get→list→delete", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    const content = "Integration test template";
+
+    // Set
+    const { exitCode: setExit } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "set",
+      stringHash,
+      "--inline",
+      content,
+    );
+    expect(setExit).toBe(0);
+
+    // Get
+    const { stdout: getOut, exitCode: getExit } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "get",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+    expect(getExit).toBe(0);
+    expect(getOut).toBe(content);
+
+    // List
+    const { stdout: listOut, exitCode: listExit } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "list",
+    );
+    expect(listExit).toBe(0);
+    const listData = JSON.parse(listOut);
+    expect(listData.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+    // Delete
+    const { exitCode: delExit } = await runCli(
+      "template",
+      "delete",
+      stringHash,
+    );
+    expect(delExit).toBe(0);
+
+    // Verify deleted
+    const { exitCode: finalGet } = await runCli("template", "get", stringHash);
+    expect(finalGet).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("templates compatible with generic var commands", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Set via template command
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Content");
+
+    // List via var command - should see template variable
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("var", "list", "@ucas/template/text/");
+
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output.value.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  });
+
+  test("multiple templates for different schemas", async () => {
+    const store = createFsStore(storePath);
+    const stringHash = await getStringHash(store);
+
+    // Create templates for different schemas
+    await runCli("template", "set", stringHash, "--inline", "Template 1");
+    await runCli("template", "set", "SCHEMA_HASH_2", "--inline", "Template 2");
+    await runCli("template", "set", "SCHEMA_HASH_3", "--inline", "Template 3");
+
+    // List should show all
+    const { stdout } = await runCli("template", "list");
+    const output = JSON.parse(stdout);
+    expect(output.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("template error handling", () => {
+  test("unknown template subcommand", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "unknown");
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Unknown");
+  });
+
+  test("missing schema hash argument", async () => {
+    const { stderr, exitCode } = await runCli("template", "set");
+
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(1);
+    expect(stderr).toContain("Usage:");
+  });
+});

packages/json-cas-fs/src/index.ts

@@ -1 +1 @@
-export { createFsStore } from "./store.js";
+export { createFsStore, openStore } from "./store.js";

packages/json-cas-fs/src/store.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
-import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, readdirSync, rmSync } from "node:fs";
+import {
+  existsSync,
+  mkdtempSync,
+  readdirSync,
+  rmSync,
+  writeFileSync,
+} from "node:fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 import type { CasNode } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
@@ -10,7 +16,7 @@ import {
   verify,
 } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
 
-import { createFsStore } from "./store.js";
+import { createFsStore, openStore } from "./store.js";
 
 function makeTmpDir(): string {
   return mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "json-cas-fs-test-"));
@@ -312,3 +318,114 @@ describe("createFsStore – verify on disk-loaded nodes", () => {
     }
   });
 });
+
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// openStore – async with auto-bootstrap
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+describe("openStore – async with auto-bootstrap", () => {
+  let dir: string;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    dir = makeTmpDir();
+  });
+  afterEach(() => {
+    rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  });
+
+  test("openStore returns Promise<Store>", async () => {
+    const store = await openStore(dir);
+    expect(store).toBeDefined();
+    expect(typeof store.put).toBe("function");
+    expect(typeof store.get).toBe("function");
+  });
+
+  test("openStore auto-creates directory when it doesn't exist", async () => {
+    const nested = join(dir, "sub", "nested", "store");
+    expect(existsSync(nested)).toBe(false);
+
+    const store = await openStore(nested);
+    expect(existsSync(nested)).toBe(true);
+
+    // Verify store works
+    const typeHash = await computeSelfHash({ name: "t" });
+    const hash = await store.put(typeHash, { x: 1 });
+    expect(store.has(hash)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("openStore works when directory already exists", async () => {
+    // Pre-create the directory
+    const store1 = await openStore(dir);
+    const typeHash = await computeSelfHash({ name: "t" });
+    await store1.put(typeHash, { x: 1 });
+
+    // Open again
+    const store2 = await openStore(dir);
+    expect(store2.listByType(typeHash)).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+
+  test("openStore throws error when path exists but is not a directory", async () => {
+    const filePath = join(dir, "not-a-dir");
+    writeFileSync(filePath, "test");
+
+    await expect(openStore(filePath)).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  test("openStore auto-bootstraps on first open (empty directory)", async () => {
+    const store = await openStore(dir);
+
+    // Check that bootstrap schemas exist
+    const builtinSchemas = await bootstrap(store);
+    const metaHash = builtinSchemas["@schema"];
+
+    expect(metaHash).toBeDefined();
+    expect(store.has(metaHash as string)).toBe(true);
+
+    // Verify all core schemas exist
+    expect(store.has(builtinSchemas["@string"] as string)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.has(builtinSchemas["@number"] as string)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.has(builtinSchemas["@object"] as string)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.has(builtinSchemas["@array"] as string)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.has(builtinSchemas["@bool"] as string)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.has(builtinSchemas["@schema"] as string)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("openStore bootstrap is idempotent on subsequent opens", async () => {
+    const store1 = await openStore(dir);
+    const schemas1 = await bootstrap(store1);
+    const count1 = store1.listAll().length;
+
+    const store2 = await openStore(dir);
+    const schemas2 = await bootstrap(store2);
+    const count2 = store2.listAll().length;
+
+    // Same schemas, same count
+    expect(schemas1).toEqual(schemas2);
+    expect(count1).toBe(count2);
+  });
+
+  test("openStore works on already-bootstrapped store", async () => {
+    // Bootstrap manually first
+    const store1 = createFsStore(dir);
+    const schemas1 = await bootstrap(store1);
+
+    // Open with openStore
+    const store2 = await openStore(dir);
+    const schemas2 = await bootstrap(store2);
+
+    expect(schemas1).toEqual(schemas2);
+  });
+
+  test("openStore auto-bootstraps old store without bootstrap", async () => {
+    // Create a store with some data but no bootstrap
+    const store1 = createFsStore(dir);
+    const typeHash = await computeSelfHash({ name: "custom" });
+    await store1.put(typeHash, { data: "old" });
+
+    // Open with openStore - should auto-bootstrap
+    const store2 = await openStore(dir);
+    const schemas = await bootstrap(store2);
+
+    expect(store2.has(schemas["@schema"] as string)).toBe(true);
+    // Old data still exists
+    expect(store2.listByType(typeHash)).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+});

packages/json-cas-fs/src/store.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   readdirSync,
   readFileSync,
   renameSync,
+  statSync,
   unlinkSync,
   writeFileSync,
 } from "node:fs";
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ import type { BootstrapCapableStore, CasNode, Hash } from "@uncaged/json-cas";
 
 import {
   BOOTSTRAP_STORE,
+  bootstrap,
   cborEncode,
   computeHash,
   computeSelfHash,
@@ -219,3 +221,57 @@ export function createFsStore(dir: string): BootstrapCapableStore {
 
   return store;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Open a filesystem-backed CAS store with automatic directory creation and bootstrap.
+ * This is an async function that:
+ * 1. Creates the directory (with recursive: true) if it doesn't exist
+ * 2. Validates that the path is actually a directory (not a file)
+ * 3. Creates the store
+ * 4. Runs bootstrap (which is idempotent)
+ *
+ * @param dir - The directory path for the store
+ * @returns A Promise resolving to the BootstrapCapableStore
+ * @throws Error if the path exists but is not a directory
+ */
+export async function openStore(dir: string): Promise<BootstrapCapableStore> {
+  // Create directory if it doesn't exist
+  try {
+    mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof Error && "code" in error) {
+      const nodeError = error as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+      if (nodeError.code === "EACCES") {
+        throw new Error(`Permission denied: cannot access store at ${dir}`);
+      }
+      if (nodeError.code === "ENOTDIR") {
+        throw new Error(`Path exists but is not a directory: ${dir}`);
+      }
+    }
+    throw error;
+  }
+
+  // Validate that the path is a directory
+  try {
+    const stats = statSync(dir);
+    if (!stats.isDirectory()) {
+      throw new Error(`Path exists but is not a directory: ${dir}`);
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof Error && "code" in error) {
+      const nodeError = error as NodeJS.ErrnoException;
+      if (nodeError.code === "ENOENT") {
+        throw new Error(`Store not found at ${dir}`);
+      }
+    }
+    throw error;
+  }
+
+  // Create the store
+  const store = createFsStore(dir);
+
+  // Bootstrap (idempotent)
+  await bootstrap(store);
+
+  return store;
+}

packages/json-cas/package.json

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "ajv": "^8.20.0",
     "cborg": "^4.2.3",
+    "liquidjs": "^10.27.0",
     "xxhash-wasm": "^1.1.0"
   }
 }

packages/json-cas/src/index.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,13 @@ export { BOOTSTRAP_STORE } from "./bootstrap-capable.js";
 export { cborEncode } from "./cbor.js";
 export { type GcStats, gc } from "./gc.js";
 export { computeHash, computeSelfHash } from "./hash.js";
-export { type RenderOptions, render } from "./render.js";
+export { renderWithTemplate } from "./liquid-render.js";
+export {
+  type RenderOptions,
+  render,
+  renderAsync,
+  renderDirect,
+} from "./render.js";
 export type { JSONSchema } from "./schema.js";
 export {
   getSchema,

packages/json-cas/src/liquid-render.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+import { type Context, Liquid, type TagToken } from "liquidjs";
+import type { RenderOptions } from "./render.js";
+import { putSchema } from "./schema.js";
+import type { Hash, Store } from "./types.js";
+import type { VariableStore } from "./variable-store.js";
+
+const DEFAULT_RESOLUTION = 1.0;
+const DEFAULT_DECAY = 0.5;
+const DEFAULT_EPSILON = 0.01;
+const FLOAT_TOLERANCE = 1e-10;
+
+/**
+ * Render a CAS node using LiquidJS templates with resolution-based decay.
+ * Templates are discovered via variables: @ucas/template/text/<type-hash>
+ */
+export async function renderWithTemplate(
+  store: Store,
+  varStore: VariableStore,
+  hash: Hash,
+  options?: RenderOptions,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const resolution = options?.resolution ?? DEFAULT_RESOLUTION;
+  const decay = options?.decay ?? DEFAULT_DECAY;
+  const epsilon = options?.epsilon ?? DEFAULT_EPSILON;
+
+  // Validate parameters
+  if (resolution < 0 || resolution > 1) {
+    throw new Error("resolution must be in [0, 1]");
+  }
+  if (decay <= 0 || decay > 1) {
+    throw new Error("decay must be in (0, 1]");
+  }
+  if (epsilon < 0) {
+    throw new Error("epsilon must be >= 0");
+  }
+
+  const visited = new Set<Hash>();
+
+  // Create Liquid engine
+  const engine = createLiquidEngine(store, varStore, decay);
+
+  return await renderNode(
+    engine,
+    store,
+    varStore,
+    hash,
+    resolution,
+    epsilon,
+    visited,
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a Liquid engine instance with custom render tag
+ */
+function createLiquidEngine(
+  store: Store,
+  varStore: VariableStore,
+  globalDecay: number,
+): Liquid {
+  const engine = new Liquid({
+    strictFilters: false,
+    strictVariables: false,
+  });
+
+  // Type for storing parsed tag data
+  type RenderTagState = {
+    variable: string;
+    decay: number | undefined;
+  };
+
+  // Register custom {% render %} tag
+  // Capture store, varStore, globalDecay in closure
+  engine.registerTag("render", {
+    parse(token: TagToken) {
+      // Parse "variable" or "variable, decay: 0.7" syntax
+      const args = token.args.trim();
+      const match = args.match(/^(\S+)(?:,\s*decay:\s*([\d.]+))?$/);
+
+      if (!match) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Invalid render tag syntax: ${args}. Expected: {% render variable %} or {% render variable, decay: 0.7 %}`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      // Store parsed values on the tag instance
+      const state = this as unknown as RenderTagState;
+      state.variable = match[1] as string;
+      state.decay = match[2] ? Number.parseFloat(match[2]) : undefined;
+
+      // Validate decay if provided
+      if (state.decay !== undefined) {
+        if (state.decay <= 0 || state.decay > 1) {
+          throw new Error("decay must be in (0, 1]");
+        }
+      }
+    },
+
+    async render(ctxLiquid: Context) {
+      // Access parsed values
+      const state = this as unknown as RenderTagState;
+      const variable = state.variable;
+      const explicitDecay = state.decay;
+
+      // Resolve the variable to a hash (split on dots for nested paths)
+      const variablePath = variable.split(".");
+      const value = ctxLiquid.get(variablePath);
+
+      // Handle null/undefined - render as empty
+      if (value === null || value === undefined) {
+        return "";
+      }
+
+      // Handle non-string values - render as empty
+      if (typeof value !== "string") {
+        return "";
+      }
+
+      const nodeHash = value as Hash;
+
+      // Get current render context
+      const currentResolution = ctxLiquid.get(["resolution"]) as number;
+      const currentEpsilon = ctxLiquid.get(["epsilon"]) as number;
+
+      // Compute child resolution using decay priority:
+      // 1. Template explicit decay (explicitDecay)
+      // 2. Global decay (from CLI/options)
+      // 3. Engine default (0.5)
+      const effectiveDecay =
+        explicitDecay !== undefined
+          ? explicitDecay
+          : (globalDecay ?? DEFAULT_DECAY);
+      const childResolution = currentResolution * effectiveDecay;
+
+      // Recursively render the referenced node
+      const visited = ctxLiquid.get(["__visited"]) as Set<Hash>;
+      const output = await renderNode(
+        engine,
+        store,
+        varStore,
+        nodeHash,
+        childResolution,
+        currentEpsilon,
+        visited,
+      );
+
+      return output;
+    },
+  });
+
+  return engine;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Render a single node with template or fallback to cas: reference
+ */
+async function renderNode(
+  engine: Liquid,
+  store: Store,
+  varStore: VariableStore,
+  hash: Hash,
+  currentResolution: number,
+  epsilon: number,
+  visited: Set<Hash>,
+): Promise<string> {
+  // Check if resolution is below threshold
+  if (currentResolution < epsilon + FLOAT_TOLERANCE) {
+    return `cas:${hash}`;
+  }
+
+  // Fetch the node
+  const node = store.get(hash);
+  if (node === null) {
+    return `cas:${hash}`;
+  }
+
+  // Cycle detection
+  if (visited.has(hash)) {
+    return `cas:${hash}`;
+  }
+  visited.add(hash);
+
+  try {
+    // Try to find a template for this node's type
+    const template = await findTemplate(store, varStore, node.type);
+
+    if (template === null) {
+      // No template found - this is handled by the caller (fallback to YAML)
+      // For now, return a simple representation
+      visited.delete(hash);
+      return renderFallback(store, node.payload);
+    }
+
+    // Render using the template
+    const context = {
+      resolution: currentResolution,
+      epsilon,
+      hash,
+      payload: node.payload,
+      type: node.type,
+      timestamp: node.timestamp,
+      __visited: visited, // Pass visited set through context
+    };
+
+    const output = await engine.parseAndRender(template, context);
+
+    visited.delete(hash);
+    return output;
+  } catch (error) {
+    visited.delete(hash);
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Find a template for a given type hash
+ */
+async function findTemplate(
+  store: Store,
+  varStore: VariableStore,
+  typeHash: Hash,
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  const varName = `@ucas/template/text/${typeHash}`;
+
+  try {
+    // Find the string schema hash (we need this to query variables)
+    const stringSchema = await putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+
+    const variable = varStore.get(varName, stringSchema);
+    if (variable === null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const templateNode = store.get(variable.value);
+    if (templateNode === null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    // Template should be a string
+    if (typeof templateNode.payload !== "string") {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    return templateNode.payload;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fallback renderer for nodes without templates
+ */
+function renderFallback(_store: Store, payload: unknown): string {
+  // Simple YAML-like representation
+  if (payload === null) {
+    return "null\n";
+  }
+
+  if (typeof payload === "string") {
+    return `${payload}\n`;
+  }
+
+  if (typeof payload === "number" || typeof payload === "boolean") {
+    return `${payload}\n`;
+  }
+
+  if (Array.isArray(payload)) {
+    if (payload.length === 0) {
+      return "[]\n";
+    }
+    return `- ${payload.join("\n- ")}\n`;
+  }
+
+  if (typeof payload === "object") {
+    const obj = payload as Record<string, unknown>;
+    const keys = Object.keys(obj);
+    if (keys.length === 0) {
+      return "{}\n";
+    }
+    const pairs = keys.map((key) => `${key}: ${obj[key]}`);
+    return `${pairs.join("\n")}\n`;
+  }
+
+  return "null\n";
+}

packages/json-cas/src/render.test.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
 import { bootstrap } from "./bootstrap.js";
-import { render } from "./render.js";
+import { render, renderAsync, renderDirect } from "./render.js";
 import { putSchema } from "./schema.js";
 import { createMemoryStore } from "./store.js";
 import type { Hash } from "./types.js";
+import { CasNodeNotFoundError } from "./variable-store.js";
 
 describe("Suite 1: Basic Rendering (No Nesting)", () => {
   test("1.1 Render Simple Primitives", async () => {
@@ -65,13 +66,14 @@ describe("Suite 1: Basic Rendering (No Nesting)", () => {
     expect(output.trim()).toBe(`cas:${hash}`);
   });
 
-  test("1.5 Render Non-existent Hash", () => {
+  test("1.5 Render Non-existent Hash Throws Error", () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
     const fakeHash = "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" as Hash;
 
-    // Non-existent node renders as cas: reference
-    const output = render(store, fakeHash);
-    expect(output.trim()).toBe(`cas:${fakeHash}`);
+    // Non-existent root node should throw
+    expect(() => render(store, fakeHash)).toThrow(CasNodeNotFoundError);
+    expect(() => render(store, fakeHash)).toThrow("CAS node not found");
+    expect(() => render(store, fakeHash)).toThrow(fakeHash);
   });
 });
 
@@ -793,9 +795,10 @@ describe("Suite 6: Schema Integration", () => {
 
   test("6.5 Schema-less Node (Bootstrap Node)", async () => {
     const store = createMemoryStore();
-    const metaHash = await bootstrap(store);
+    const types = await bootstrap(store);
+    const schemaHash = types["@schema"];
 
-    const output = render(store, metaHash);
+    const output = render(store, schemaHash);
 
     // Should render without recursive expansion
     expect(output).toBeTruthy();
@@ -933,3 +936,217 @@ describe("Suite 8: Performance & Edge Cases", () => {
     expect(output).toContain("🌍");
   });
 });
+
+describe("Suite 9: renderDirect (in-memory rendering)", () => {
+  test("9.1 Render primitive value without store", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, "hello world", null, null);
+    expect(output.trim()).toBe("hello world");
+  });
+
+  test("9.2 Render object value without store", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(
+      fakeTypeHash,
+      {
+        name: "Alice",
+        age: 30,
+      },
+      null,
+      null,
+    );
+    expect(output).toContain("name: Alice");
+    expect(output).toContain("age: 30");
+  });
+
+  test("9.3 Render array value without store", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, ["a", "b", "c"], null, null);
+    expect(output).toContain("-");
+    expect(output).toContain("a");
+    expect(output).toContain("b");
+    expect(output).toContain("c");
+  });
+
+  test("9.4 Render nested object without store", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(
+      fakeTypeHash,
+      {
+        user: { name: "Bob", role: "admin" },
+        active: true,
+      },
+      null,
+      null,
+    );
+    expect(output).toContain("name: Bob");
+    expect(output).toContain("role: admin");
+    expect(output).toContain("active: true");
+  });
+
+  test("9.5 Render with store expands cas_ref fields", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    await bootstrap(store);
+
+    // Create a child node
+    const childSchema = await putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: { msg: { type: "string" } },
+    });
+    const childHash = await store.put(childSchema, { msg: "inner" });
+
+    // Parent schema with cas_ref
+    const parentSchema = await putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        child: { type: "string", format: "cas_ref" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    // Render directly with store — cas_ref should expand
+    const output = renderDirect(
+      parentSchema,
+      { child: childHash },
+      store,
+      null,
+    );
+    expect(output).toContain("msg: inner");
+  });
+
+  test("9.6 Render with resolution/decay options", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, { key: "value" }, null, {
+      resolution: 0.5,
+      decay: 0.8,
+    });
+    expect(output).toContain("key: value");
+  });
+
+  test("9.7 Validate parameters", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    expect(() =>
+      renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, "x", null, { resolution: 2 }),
+    ).toThrow("resolution must be in [0, 1]");
+    expect(() => renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, "x", null, { decay: 0 })).toThrow(
+      "decay must be in (0, 1]",
+    );
+    expect(() =>
+      renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, "x", null, { epsilon: -1 }),
+    ).toThrow("epsilon must be >= 0");
+  });
+
+  test("9.8 Render null value", () => {
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, null, null, null);
+    expect(output.trim()).toBe("null");
+  });
+
+  test("9.9 cas_ref without store renders as cas: reference", () => {
+    // Without store, can't identify cas_ref fields — hash strings stay as strings
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const someHash = "ABCDEFGH12345" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, { ref: someHash }, null, null);
+    // Without store, it's just a string value
+    expect(output).toContain(`ref: ${someHash}`);
+  });
+
+  test("9.10 store present but schema missing — renders without ref expansion", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    await bootstrap(store);
+    const unknownType = "ZZZZZZZZZZZZ0" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(unknownType, { key: "val" }, store, null);
+    expect(output).toContain("key: val");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("Suite 10: Missing Root Hash Error Handling (Issue #53)", () => {
+  test("10.1 renderAsync() throws CasNodeNotFoundError for missing root hash", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    await bootstrap(store);
+    const fakeHash = "AAAAAAAAAAAAA" as Hash;
+
+    await expect(renderAsync(store, fakeHash)).rejects.toThrow(
+      CasNodeNotFoundError,
+    );
+    await expect(renderAsync(store, fakeHash)).rejects.toThrow(
+      "CAS node not found",
+    );
+    await expect(renderAsync(store, fakeHash)).rejects.toThrow(fakeHash);
+  });
+
+  test("10.2 render() throws CasNodeNotFoundError for missing root hash", () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const fakeHash = "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" as Hash;
+
+    expect(() => render(store, fakeHash)).toThrow(CasNodeNotFoundError);
+    expect(() => render(store, fakeHash)).toThrow("CAS node not found");
+    expect(() => render(store, fakeHash)).toThrow(fakeHash);
+  });
+
+  test("10.3 renderDirect() does NOT throw for non-existent type hash", () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const fakeTypeHash = "0000000000000" as Hash;
+    const output = renderDirect(fakeTypeHash, { key: "value" }, store, null);
+
+    expect(output).toContain("key: value");
+  });
+
+  test("10.4 Missing nested node renders as cas: reference (no error)", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    await bootstrap(store);
+
+    const parentSchema = await putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        title: { type: "string" },
+        child: { type: "string", format: "cas_ref" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const fakeChildHash = "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" as Hash;
+    const parentHash = await store.put(parentSchema, {
+      title: "root",
+      child: fakeChildHash,
+    });
+
+    const output = render(store, parentHash);
+
+    expect(output).toContain("title: root");
+    expect(output).toContain(`cas:${fakeChildHash}`);
+  });
+
+  test("10.5 Resolution below epsilon renders as cas: reference (no error)", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    await bootstrap(store);
+
+    const nodeSchema = await putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        level: { type: "number" },
+        next: {
+          anyOf: [{ type: "string", format: "cas_ref" }, { type: "null" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    // Create 3-level chain
+    let currentHash: Hash | null = null;
+    for (let i = 2; i >= 0; i--) {
+      currentHash = await store.put(nodeSchema, {
+        level: i,
+        next: currentHash,
+      });
+    }
+
+    const output = render(store, currentHash as Hash, {
+      resolution: 1.0,
+      decay: 0.1,
+      epsilon: 0.5,
+    });
+
+    // Level 0 should be expanded (resolution = 1.0 > 0.5)
+    expect(output).toContain("level: 0");
+    // Level 1+ should be cas: references (0.1, 0.01 < 0.5)
+    expect(output).toContain("cas:");
+  });
+});

packages/json-cas/src/render.ts

@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-import { refs } from "./schema.js";
+import { renderWithTemplate } from "./liquid-render.js";
+import { collectRefs, getSchema, putSchema, refs } from "./schema.js";
 import type { Hash, Store } from "./types.js";
+import type { VariableStore } from "./variable-store.js";
+import { CasNodeNotFoundError } from "./variable-store.js";
 
 export type RenderOptions = {
   resolution?: number; // (0, 1], default 1.0
   decay?: number; // (0, 1], default 0.5
   epsilon?: number; // >= 0, default 0.01
+  varStore?: VariableStore; // Optional: for template lookup
 };
 
 const DEFAULT_RESOLUTION = 1.0;
@@ -14,19 +18,18 @@ const DEFAULT_EPSILON = 0.01;
 const FLOAT_TOLERANCE = 1e-10;
 
 /**
- * Render a CAS node as YAML with resolution-based decay.
- * When resolution ≤ epsilon, nodes are rendered as opaque `cas:<hash>` references.
+ * Extract and validate resolution/decay/epsilon from options.
  */
-export function render(
-  store: Store,
-  hash: Hash,
-  options?: RenderOptions,
-): string {
+function validateAndExtractOptions(
+  options:
+    | Pick<RenderOptions, "resolution" | "decay" | "epsilon">
+    | null
+    | undefined,
+): { resolution: number; decay: number; epsilon: number } {
   const resolution = options?.resolution ?? DEFAULT_RESOLUTION;
   const decay = options?.decay ?? DEFAULT_DECAY;
   const epsilon = options?.epsilon ?? DEFAULT_EPSILON;
 
-  // Validate parameters
   if (resolution < 0 || resolution > 1) {
     throw new Error("resolution must be in [0, 1]");
   }
@@ -37,14 +40,133 @@ export function render(
     throw new Error("epsilon must be >= 0");
   }
 
-  const visited = new Set<Hash>();
+  return { resolution, decay, epsilon };
+}
 
+/**
+ * Render a CAS node as YAML with resolution-based decay.
+ * When resolution ≤ epsilon, nodes are rendered as opaque `cas:<hash>` references.
+ * This is the synchronous version without template support.
+ * For template support, use renderAsync() with varStore.
+ */
+export function render(
+  store: Store,
+  hash: Hash,
+  options?: RenderOptions,
+): string {
+  const { resolution, decay, epsilon } = validateAndExtractOptions(options);
+
+  // Check if root node exists
+  if (store.get(hash) === null) {
+    throw new CasNodeNotFoundError(hash);
+  }
+
+  const visited = new Set<Hash>();
   return renderNode(store, hash, resolution, decay, epsilon, visited);
 }
 
-function renderNode(
+/**
+ * Async render with LiquidJS template support.
+ * When resolution ≤ epsilon, nodes are rendered as opaque `cas:<hash>` references.
+ * If varStore is provided, attempts to use LiquidJS templates first, fallback to YAML.
+ */
+export async function renderAsync(
   store: Store,
   hash: Hash,
+  options?: RenderOptions,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const { resolution, decay, epsilon } = validateAndExtractOptions(options);
+
+  // Check if root node exists
+  if (store.get(hash) === null) {
+    throw new CasNodeNotFoundError(hash);
+  }
+
+  const varStore = options?.varStore;
+
+  // If varStore provided, try template rendering first
+  if (varStore !== undefined) {
+    try {
+      const node = store.get(hash);
+      if (node !== null) {
+        // Check if a template exists for this type
+        const templateExists = await hasTemplate(store, varStore, node.type);
+        if (templateExists) {
+          return await renderWithTemplate(store, varStore, hash, {
+            resolution,
+            decay,
+            epsilon,
+          });
+        }
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Fall through to YAML rendering
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Fallback to YAML rendering
+  const visited = new Set<Hash>();
+  return renderNode(store, hash, resolution, decay, epsilon, visited);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Render a value directly (in-memory) without requiring it to be stored.
+ * Accepts a raw { type, value } pair. Store is optional and read-only —
+ * used only for schema lookup and expanding nested cas_ref references.
+ * No data is written to the store.
+ */
+export function renderDirect(
+  typeHash: Hash,
+  value: unknown,
+  store: Store | null,
+  options: Omit<RenderOptions, "varStore"> | null,
+): string {
+  const { resolution, decay, epsilon } = validateAndExtractOptions(options);
+
+  // Try to get schema from store to identify cas_ref fields
+  let refSet = new Set<Hash>();
+  if (store !== null) {
+    const schema = getSchema(store, typeHash);
+    if (schema !== null) {
+      refSet = new Set(collectRefs(schema, value));
+    }
+  }
+
+  const childResolution = resolution * decay;
+  const visited = new Set<Hash>();
+
+  return renderValue(
+    store ?? null,
+    value,
+    refSet,
+    childResolution,
+    decay,
+    epsilon,
+    visited,
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if a template exists for a given type
+ */
+async function hasTemplate(
+  store: Store,
+  varStore: VariableStore,
+  typeHash: Hash,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  const varName = `@ucas/template/text/${typeHash}`;
+  try {
+    const stringSchema = await putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+    const variable = varStore.get(varName, stringSchema);
+    return variable !== null;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+function renderNode(
+  store: Store | null,
+  hash: Hash,
   currentResolution: number,
   decay: number,
   epsilon: number,
@@ -56,7 +178,7 @@ function renderNode(
   }
 
   // Fetch the node
-  const node = store.get(hash);
+  const node = store !== null ? store.get(hash) : null;
   if (node === null) {
     // Missing node - render as cas: reference
     return `cas:${hash}`;
@@ -69,7 +191,7 @@ function renderNode(
   visited.add(hash);
 
   // Get references from this node's schema
-  const nodeRefs = refs(store, node);
+  const nodeRefs = store !== null ? refs(store, node) : [];
   const refSet = new Set(nodeRefs);
 
   // Calculate child resolution for next level
@@ -92,7 +214,7 @@ function renderNode(
 }
 
 function renderValue(
-  store: Store,
+  store: Store | null,
   value: unknown,
   refHashes: Set<Hash>,
   childResolution: number,

packages/json-cas/src/schema.ts

@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ export function validate(store: Store, node: CasNode): boolean {
  * Handles: direct format, anyOf (nullable refs), items (array refs),
  * properties (nested objects), and additionalProperties (record refs).
  */
-function collectRefs(schema: JSONSchema, value: unknown): Hash[] {
+export function collectRefs(schema: JSONSchema, value: unknown): Hash[] {
   const result: Hash[] = [];
 
   if (schema.format === "cas_ref") {

packages/json-cas/src/variable-store.ts

@@ -36,8 +36,11 @@ export class SchemaMismatchError extends Error {
 }
 
 export class CasNodeNotFoundError extends Error {
-  constructor(hash: string) {
-    super(`CAS node not found: ${hash}`);
+  constructor(
+    public readonly hash: string,
+    message?: string,
+  ) {
+    super(message ?? `CAS node not found: ${hash}`);
     this.name = "CasNodeNotFoundError";
   }
 }