Correct filesystem listener transport rustdoc

README.md

@@ -3,17 +3,33 @@
 Rust building blocks for the Web Interface Protocol (WIP).
 
 The repository is a resolver-3 virtual Cargo workspace whose packages all live
-under `crates/*`. It provides a transport-independent protocol model, a Rust
-interface-authoring facade, a request-scoped host runtime, and a private
-public-API conformance consumer. The repository root is not itself a package.
-HTTP and other transport bindings are intentionally outside the supported
-slice.
+under `crates/*`. It provides a transport-independent protocol model, the
+standard framework-independent WIP over HTTP v1 binding, a stateful
+presentation-independent client runtime, a Rust interface-authoring facade, a
+request-scoped host runtime, a bounded Linux filesystem projection server, an
+interactive terminal client, and a private public-API conformance consumer. The
+repository root is not itself a package.
 
 ## Crate graph and responsibilities
 
 ```text
+wip-tui (interactive Worldspace explorer and operation editor)
+├── wip-client                Known Space, request identity, validators, and calls
+├── wip-http                 framework-neutral HTTP request/response messages
+└── wip-protocol              descriptors and logical values
+
+wip-fs-server (request-time filesystem projection and loopback listener)
+├── wip-http                 standard routes/codecs/envelopes/batching
+├── wip-host                  request-scoped publication and dispatch
+└── wip-interface             macro-generated filesystem capabilities
+
 wip-public-api-example (workspace-only executable, integration tests, doctest)
 ├── wip-protocol              logical declarations, values, calls, and validation
+├── wip-http                 standard HTTP v1 routes, JSON codecs, envelopes, and batching
+│   └── wip-protocol
+├── wip-client                stateful Known Space, lazy tree, observation, and call runtime
+│   ├── wip-http
+│   └── wip-protocol
 ├── wip-interface             application DTO codecs and interface authoring facade
 │   ├── wip-protocol
 │   └── wip-interface-macros  proc-macro implementation detail
@@ -25,15 +41,19 @@ wip-public-api-example (workspace-only executable, integration tests, doctest)
 | Crate | Responsibility | Does not own |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `wip-protocol` | Transport-independent descriptors, object/call/result types, logical `Value`s, validation, and stable protocol error categories. | Application DTOs, implementations, persistence, or wire encoding. |
+| `wip-http` | Standard WIP over HTTP v1 endpoint/route derivation, UTF-8 JSON codecs, direct success bodies, error/status classification, and retrieval batches. | HTTP I/O, URL scheme or TLS policy, authentication schemes, server frameworks, filesystem projection, or client presentation/cache policy. |
+| `wip-client` | Endpoint/security-context-isolated Known Space, normalized object and interface observations, intent-driven object and descriptor coverage with bounded request deduplication, immutable operation call contexts, stale transitions, and bounded histories. | HTTP I/O, credentials, persistent cache, automatic operation retries, or presentation widgets/events. |
+| `wip-tui` | Keyboard-only interactive Worldspace tree, selected Entry and qualified operation panes, descriptor-driven argument editing, bounded result/diagnostic rendering, terminal lifecycle, and HTTP I/O workers over `wip-client`. | Independent cache/validator semantics, automatic operation retries, Host internals, backend paths, or persistent state. |
 | `wip-interface` | The public `WipType`/`interface` authoring API, Rust-to-protocol codecs, generated descriptors, and typed implementation dispatch. | Object publication, backend lifetime, or transport policy. |
 | `wip-interface-macros` | Procedural-macro expansion used by `wip-interface`. It is not an application dependency. | A supported direct user API. |
-| `wip-host` | Opaque interface registration, explicit object membership, validator checks, and interface-qualified dispatch against one host-owned instance. | Backend atomicity, global object lookup, or network serving. |
-| `wip-public-api-example` | An independently compiled consumer of only the three public crates. Its DTOs and traits are application-owned; its implementation and backend handle remain host-private. | Reusable library API or a production server. |
+| `wip-host` | Opaque interface registration, explicit object membership, validator checks, interface-qualified dispatch against one host-owned instance, and descriptor-guided argument decoding inside that same resolution boundary. | Backend atomicity, global object lookup, or network serving. |
+| `wip-fs-server` | Linux directory-handle-confined request-time projection, complete depth-bounded observations and bounded file operations, standard `wip-http` dispatch/batch handling, and a loopback HTTP binary. | A new wire profile, implicit symlink following, non-loopback cleartext, authentication policy, TLS termination, or filesystem-wide preregistration. |
+| `wip-public-api-example` | An independently compiled consumer of the protocol, authoring, and host public crates. Its DTOs and traits are application-owned; its implementation and backend handle remain host-private. | Reusable library API or a production server. |
 
 The boundary is intentional: protocol types describe what can cross a
 transport; application DTOs opt into that model with `WipType`; a host-private
-implementation owns credentials, handles, and backend state; and a future
-transport maps its own routes/envelopes to `CallOperationRequest` and
+implementation owns credentials, handles, and backend state; and `wip-http`
+maps standard routes/envelopes to `CallOperationRequest` and
 `CallOperationResponse` without placing transport-specific types in descriptors
 or application traits.
 
@@ -236,6 +256,33 @@ rolled back. Without that proof, post-invocation failures remain
 comparison and backend commit atomic and return a validator describing the state
 that becomes committed.
 
+## Interactive terminal client
+
+[`crates/wip-tui`](crates/wip-tui) provides the `wip-tui` executable. It starts
+from Worldspace `/`, lazily expands materialized tree nodes, displays current
+object/interface/operation metadata, validates all canonical descriptor types in
+a field editor, and requires a separate confirmation action before every call.
+It uses the stateful `wip-client` runtime for request correlation, observed
+validators, stale transitions, and unknown outcomes. One canonical `http` or
+`https` endpoint is used unchanged for request construction, transport, and
+cache partitioning. Scheme, TLS, certificates, authentication, and proxy policy
+belong to the HTTP implementation and deployment. Full startup, key binding,
+layout, validator, and filesystem-operation examples are in the
+[package README](crates/wip-tui/README.md).
+
+## Filesystem projection server
+
+[`crates/wip-fs-server`](crates/wip-fs-server) contains the practical server
+binary and its full security model, configuration, curl walkthrough, and
+resource/failure semantics. It resolves every object from current filesystem
+state, uses pinned directory-relative handles without following symlinks, omits
+non-UTF-8 backend names, returns complete recursive observations through the
+requested depth or a resource-limit failure, and publishes validator-protected
+replacement only in explicit read-write mode.
+The built-in HTTP listener is loopback-only. Externally visible URL schemes,
+TLS termination, certificates, authentication, and proxy routing are deployment
+concerns rather than separate WIP profiles.
+
 ## Validation
 
 Enter the dev shell and run the acceptance commands exactly:

crates/wip-client/Cargo.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[package]
+name = "wip-client"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2024"
+description = "Presentation-independent stateful WIP client runtime"
+license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
+
+[dependencies]
+wip-http = { path = "../wip-http" }
+wip-protocol = { path = "../wip-protocol" }

crates/wip-client/tests/adapter.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,252 @@
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+
+use wip_client::{
+    CallOutcome, Client, ClientErrorKind, ClientLimits, Completion, DiagnosticKind,
+    ObservationState, OutcomeUnknownReason, SecurityContext,
+};
+use wip_http::http::{Response, StatusCode};
+use wip_http::{
+    Limits, encode_fetch_interface_response, encode_observe_response,
+    encode_protocol_error_response,
+};
+use wip_protocol::{
+    FetchInterfaceRequest, FetchInterfaceResponse, INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor,
+    Object, ObjectObservation, ObserveRequest, OperationDeclaration, ParameterDeclaration,
+    ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction, ReturnDeclaration, TypeExpr, Value,
+};
+
+fn limits() -> Limits {
+    Limits::new(64 * 1024, 64 * 1024, 64, 64).unwrap()
+}
+
+fn setup() -> (Client, wip_client::SessionId) {
+    let mut client = Client::new(ClientLimits::new(2, 16, 16, 16, 16).unwrap(), limits());
+    let session = client
+        .open_session("https://example.test/wip", SecurityContext::new("subject"))
+        .unwrap();
+    (client, session)
+}
+
+fn response(status: StatusCode, body: &[u8]) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(status)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(body.to_vec())
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
+fn object() -> Object {
+    Object {
+        name: "item".into(),
+        description: None,
+        interfaces: vec!["math".into()],
+        r#ref: None,
+        validator: Some(b"object-v1".to_vec()),
+    }
+}
+
+fn descriptor(format: &str) -> InterfaceDescriptor {
+    InterfaceDescriptor {
+        format: format.into(),
+        documentation: None,
+        types: vec![],
+        operations: vec![OperationDeclaration {
+            name: "calculate".into(),
+            documentation: None,
+            parameters: vec![ParameterDeclaration {
+                name: "value".into(),
+                required: true,
+                documentation: None,
+                r#type: TypeExpr::Integer,
+            }],
+            returns: ReturnDeclaration {
+                documentation: None,
+                r#type: TypeExpr::Integer,
+            },
+        }],
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn malformed_json_unknown_fields_duplicates_and_invalid_success_are_invalid_response() {
+    let cases: &[&[u8]] = &[
+        b"{not json",
+        br#"{"name":"item","interfaces":[],"unknown":true}"#,
+        br#"{"name":"item","interfaces":["math","math"]}"#,
+        br#"{"name":"wrong","interfaces":[]}"#,
+    ];
+    for body in cases {
+        let (mut client, session) = setup();
+        let request = client.refresh_observed(&session, "/item", 0).unwrap();
+        let error = client
+            .complete(request.id, response(StatusCode::OK, body))
+            .unwrap_err();
+        assert_eq!(error.kind, ClientErrorKind::InvalidResponse);
+        assert!(matches!(
+            client.object(&session, "/item").unwrap().state,
+            ObservationState::Error(_)
+        ));
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn disallowed_code_and_status_success_contradictions_are_invalid_response() {
+    let cases = [
+        (
+            StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+            br#"{"error":{"code":"interface_not_found","message":"wrong"}}"#.as_slice(),
+        ),
+        (
+            StatusCode::OK,
+            br#"{"error":{"code":"not_found","message":"wrong status"}}"#.as_slice(),
+        ),
+        (
+            StatusCode::CREATED,
+            br#"{"name":"item","interfaces":[]}"#.as_slice(),
+        ),
+    ];
+    for (status, body) in cases {
+        let (mut client, session) = setup();
+        let request = client.refresh_observed(&session, "/item", 0).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            client
+                .complete(request.id, response(status, body))
+                .unwrap_err()
+                .kind,
+            ClientErrorKind::InvalidResponse
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn valid_error_envelope_is_authoritative_and_status_mismatch_is_diagnostic() {
+    let (mut client, session) = setup();
+    let request = client.refresh_observed(&session, "/item", 0).unwrap();
+    let error = ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound,
+        message: "missing".into(),
+    };
+    let mut encoded =
+        encode_protocol_error_response(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, &error, limits()).unwrap();
+    *encoded.status_mut() = StatusCode::IM_A_TEAPOT;
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        client.complete(request.id, encoded).unwrap(),
+        Completion::ProtocolFailure(error)
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        client.object(&session, "/item").unwrap().state,
+        ObservationState::Stale
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        client.diagnostics(&session).unwrap().back().unwrap().kind,
+        DiagnosticKind::HttpStatusMismatch
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn non_success_without_valid_envelope_remains_transport_failure() {
+    let (mut client, session) = setup();
+    let request = client.refresh_observed(&session, "/item", 0).unwrap();
+    let error = client
+        .complete(
+            request.id,
+            response(StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY, b"gateway html"),
+        )
+        .unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.kind, ClientErrorKind::Transport);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unsupported_descriptor_format_is_distinct_from_invalid_response() {
+    let (mut client, session) = setup();
+    let request = client.prepare_interface(&session, "math").unwrap();
+    let logical = FetchInterfaceRequest {
+        interface: "math".into(),
+    };
+    let value = FetchInterfaceResponse {
+        interface: "math".into(),
+        descriptor: descriptor("future-format/2"),
+        validator: Some(b"v2".to_vec()),
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_fetch_interface_response(&logical, &value, limits()).unwrap();
+    let error = client.complete(request.id, encoded).unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(error.kind, ClientErrorKind::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn malformed_call_success_after_dispatch_is_outcome_unknown_and_stales_object() {
+    let (mut client, session) = setup();
+    let observation = client.refresh_observed(&session, "/item", 0).unwrap();
+    client
+        .complete(
+            observation.id,
+            encode_observe_response(
+                &ObserveRequest {
+                    path: "/item".into(),
+                    depth: 0,
+                },
+                &ObjectObservation {
+                    object: object(),
+                    children: None,
+                },
+                limits(),
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    let interface = client.prepare_interface(&session, "math").unwrap();
+    client
+        .complete(
+            interface.id,
+            encode_fetch_interface_response(
+                &FetchInterfaceRequest {
+                    interface: "math".into(),
+                },
+                &FetchInterfaceResponse {
+                    interface: "math".into(),
+                    descriptor: descriptor(INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1),
+                    validator: None,
+                },
+                limits(),
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    let call = client
+        .prepare_call(
+            &session,
+            "/item",
+            "math",
+            "calculate",
+            BTreeMap::from([("value".into(), Value::Integer(2))]),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    client.mark_dispatched(call.id).unwrap();
+
+    let completion = client
+        .complete(
+            call.id,
+            response(
+                StatusCode::OK,
+                br#"{"result":"not an integer","unknown":true}"#,
+            ),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        completion,
+        Completion::Call(record)
+            if matches!(
+                &record.outcome,
+                CallOutcome::Unknown {
+                    reason: OutcomeUnknownReason::ResponseDecode,
+                    failure: Some(failure),
+                } if failure.kind == ClientErrorKind::InvalidResponse
+            )
+    ));
+    assert_eq!(
+        client.object(&session, "/item").unwrap().state,
+        ObservationState::Stale
+    );
+    assert_eq!(client.in_flight_len(), 0);
+}

crates/wip-fs-server/Cargo.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+[package]
+name = "wip-fs-server"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2024"
+description = "Request-time filesystem projection server for WIP over HTTP"
+license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
+readme = "README.md"
+publish = false
+
+[dependencies]
+http = "1"
+rustix = { version = "1.1", features = ["fs"] }
+wip-host = { path = "../wip-host" }
+wip-http = { path = "../wip-http" }
+wip-interface = { path = "../wip-interface" }
+wip-protocol = { path = "../wip-protocol" }
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+tempfile = "3"

crates/wip-fs-server/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+# wip-fs-server
+
+`wip-fs-server` projects one configured Linux filesystem directory onto WIP
+Worldspace `/` at request time. It does not register the filesystem contents or
+keep one object instance per entry. It uses `wip-host` for publication and typed
+operation dispatch and uses the standard `wip-http` routes, JSON codecs,
+envelopes, batching, and HTTP status mapping.
+
+## Security model
+
+- The effective root is opened once as a directory capability. Root path
+  components must be real directories (symlink components are rejected), and the
+  displayed effective root is read back from that same pinned descriptor. Every
+  request is resolved segment-by-segment with directory-relative, `O_NOFOLLOW`
+  handles.
+- Symlinks are projected as links and are never followed. Their stored target is
+  available only through the `SymlinkInspect.read_link` application operation.
+- Regular files, directories, symlinks, and unsupported entry types have distinct
+  public descriptions and capability sets.
+- WIP names are Unicode. Linux names that are not valid UTF-8 are deliberately
+  not published; valid UTF-8 names map byte-for-byte and therefore cannot collide.
+  Unicode paths containing backend-invalid NUL bytes are likewise treated as
+  unpublished rather than as backend failures.
+- No object `ref` is issued. This avoids claiming representation identity for
+  hard links or path-specific names. Regular files and symlinks receive an opaque
+  validator containing filesystem identity plus protected metadata; replacing a
+  path therefore does not preserve its validator.
+- Protocol metadata and errors never contain the backend absolute path. Startup
+  prints only the explicitly configured effective root and security-sensitive
+  modes.
+- The built-in HTTP listener is loopback-only. TLS termination, certificates,
+  authentication, an externally visible URL scheme, and proxy routing are
+  deployment concerns rather than separate WIP transport profiles.
+
+The implementation currently targets Linux because it uses `O_PATH`,
+directory-relative descriptor traversal, and `/proc/self/fd` to reopen the same
+pinned backend object without resolving the untrusted Worldspace path twice.
+
+## Run
+
+Run the loopback listener in read-only mode:
+
+```console
+cargo run -p wip-fs-server -- \
+  --root /srv/public-files \
+  --listen 127.0.0.1:8080 \
+  --base-path /wip
+```
+
+Run with the write capability deliberately enabled:
+
+```console
+cargo run -p wip-fs-server -- \
+  --root ./example-files \
+  --listen 127.0.0.1:8080 \
+  --base-path /wip \
+  --read-write
+```
+
+The server reports the effective root, `ReadOnly`/`ReadWrite` mode, endpoint,
+and actual listen address. It does not enumerate the root.
+
+## Standard interactions
+
+The following examples use the built-in HTTP listener. The JSON follows the
+standard WIP over HTTP binding; validators and operation `Bytes` are base64 body
+fields, never `ETag` or `If-Match` headers.
+
+Observe only the root Object:
+
+```console
+curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/wip/v1/observe \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Accept: application/json' \
+  --data '{"path":"/","depth":0}'
+```
+
+Observe the root and two levels of indexable children:
+
+```console
+curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/wip/v1/observe \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Accept: application/json' \
+  --data '{"path":"/","depth":2}'
+```
+
+A regular-file observation returns the opaque read interface reference and an object
+validator. Retrieve that descriptor with:
+
+```console
+curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/wip/v1/fetch_interface \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Accept: application/json' \
+  --data '{"interface":"<read-interface-from-observation>"}'
+```
+
+Then call a bounded range read:
+
+```console
+curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/wip/v1/call_operation \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Accept: application/json' \
+  --data '{
+    "target":{"path":"/notes.txt","validator":"<base64-validator>"},
+    "interface":{"reference":"<read-interface>"},
+    "operation":"read",
+    "arguments":{"offset":0,"length":4096}
+  }'
+```
+
+In `--read-write` mode a second regular-file interface declares `replace`.
+Writes require the current object validator and return the post-write validator:
+
+```console
+curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/wip/v1/call_operation \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -H 'Accept: application/json' \
+  --data '{
+    "target":{"path":"/notes.txt","validator":"<base64-validator>"},
+    "interface":{"reference":"<write-interface>"},
+    "operation":"replace",
+    "arguments":{"contents":"dXBkYXRlZA=="}
+  }'
+```
+
+`observe` and `fetch_interface` can also be combined through the standard
+`POST /wip/v1/batch` route. `call_operation` is never batchable.
+
+## Resource and failure behavior
+
+`ResourceLimits` bounds request/response bytes, HTTP request-head bytes, JSON
+nesting, batch items, file read/write bytes, tree depth/node count, pinned handles,
+and active connections/requests. One absolute request deadline covers header and
+body intake, dispatch, cooperative filesystem work, and response transmission;
+stalled clients are closed and cannot occupy a worker beyond that bound. Workers
+accept connections directly, so the listener never moves more than the configured
+concurrency into active userspace service. Advisory file-lock acquisition uses a
+nonblocking loop and checks the same deadline/cancellation rather than allowing a
+contended lock to stall a worker. Object observation recursively opens only the
+requested depth. A successful response is complete through that depth; if the
+configured projected-node budget would be exceeded, the interaction fails with
+`ResourceLimitExceeded` instead of returning a partial observation. I/O failure
+and cancellation remain errors.
+
+Whole-file replacement compares the request validator against the identity and
+state of the same pinned file handle used for the write. Failures before mutation
+carry a `NotCommitted` guarantee and map to `Internal` or
+`ResourceLimitExceeded`; a failure after truncation/write begins maps to
+`OperationOutcomeUnknown`. The server and Clients do not automatically retry
+side-effecting operations.

crates/wip-fs-server/src/interfaces.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+//! Filesystem capability interfaces published by the projection.
+
+use wip_interface as wip;
+
+/// Bounded reads from a regular file.
+#[wip::interface]
+pub trait FileRead {
+    /// Reads bytes from the current regular file.
+    ///
+    /// # Returns
+    /// At most the configured read limit, beginning at `offset`.
+    fn read(
+        &self,
+        /// Byte offset; omitted means zero.
+        offset: Option<u64>,
+        /// Requested byte count; omitted means the rest of the file.
+        length: Option<u64>,
+    ) -> wip::OperationResult<wip::Bytes>;
+}
+
+/// Inspection operations for a symbolic link itself.
+#[wip::interface]
+pub trait SymlinkInspect {
+    /// Reads the link payload without following it.
+    ///
+    /// # Returns
+    /// The platform path bytes stored in the symbolic link.
+    fn read_link(&self) -> wip::OperationResult<wip::Bytes>;
+}
+
+/// Explicitly enabled mutation of a regular file.
+#[wip::interface]
+pub trait FileWrite {
+    /// Replaces the current regular file contents through its pinned handle.
+    ///
+    /// # Returns
+    /// Unit after the new bytes have been written and synchronized.
+    fn replace(
+        &self,
+        /// Complete replacement contents.
+        contents: wip::Bytes,
+    ) -> wip::OperationResult<()>;
+}

crates/wip-fs-server/src/lib.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+//! Request-time filesystem projection served through the standard WIP over HTTP binding.
+//!
+//! This crate deliberately keeps the boundaries visible:
+//!
+//! - [`wip_protocol`] owns logical requests and responses;
+//! - [`wip_host`] owns object publication, validators, and typed dispatch;
+//! - [`wip_http`] owns routes, JSON, envelopes, batching, and status mapping;
+//! - this crate owns the filesystem capability boundary and the real HTTP listener.
+//!
+//! The built-in HTTP listener is intentionally loopback-only. TLS termination,
+//! certificates, authentication, and externally visible schemes are independent
+//! deployment concerns rather than WIP transport profiles.
+
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
+
+mod interfaces;
+mod projection;
+mod server;
+
+use std::net::{IpAddr, Ipv4Addr, SocketAddr};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+pub use interfaces::{FileRead, FileWrite, SymlinkInspect};
+pub use server::{BoundServer, ServerBuildError, WipFsServer};
+
+/// Filesystem capabilities published by regular files.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum AccessMode {
+    /// Publish bounded reads only.
+    ReadOnly,
+    /// Also publish validator-protected whole-file replacement.
+    ReadWrite,
+}
+
+/// Bounded resource policy applied by the HTTP adapter and filesystem provider.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct ResourceLimits {
+    /// Standard JSON, body-size, nesting, and batch limits.
+    pub wire: wip_http::Limits,
+    /// Maximum bytes returned by one file read.
+    pub max_file_read_bytes: usize,
+    /// Maximum bytes accepted by one file replacement.
+    pub max_file_write_bytes: usize,
+    /// Maximum accepted `observe` depth.
+    pub max_observation_depth: u32,
+    /// Maximum accepted `observe` node count, including its root.
+    pub max_observation_nodes: u32,
+    /// Maximum simultaneously pinned projected filesystem handles.
+    pub max_open_handles: usize,
+    /// Maximum bytes accepted for one HTTP request head, including its terminator.
+    pub max_http_header_bytes: usize,
+    /// Maximum requests executing concurrently.
+    pub max_concurrent_requests: usize,
+    /// End-to-end deadline for HTTP intake, dispatch, and response transmission.
+    pub request_timeout: Duration,
+}
+
+impl Default for ResourceLimits {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            wire: wip_http::Limits::new(256 * 1024, 2 * 1024 * 1024, 64, 64)
+                .expect("default wire limits are nonzero"),
+            max_file_read_bytes: 1024 * 1024,
+            max_file_write_bytes: 1024 * 1024,
+            max_observation_depth: 32,
+            max_observation_nodes: 1024,
+            max_open_handles: 2048,
+            max_http_header_bytes: 16 * 1024,
+            max_concurrent_requests: 32,
+            request_timeout: Duration::from_secs(30),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Complete listener and projection configuration.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ServerConfig {
+    /// Filesystem directory projected as Worldspace `/`.
+    pub root: PathBuf,
+    /// Loopback socket used by the built-in cleartext listener.
+    pub listen: SocketAddr,
+    /// URL path prefix below which standard `v1/*` routes are mounted.
+    pub endpoint_base_path: String,
+    /// Read-only or explicit read-write publication mode.
+    pub access: AccessMode,
+    /// Request, operation, traversal, and concurrency bounds.
+    pub limits: ResourceLimits,
+}
+
+impl ServerConfig {
+    /// Builds a secure-by-default configuration for `root`.
+    ///
+    /// The listener defaults to an ephemeral loopback port and read-only access.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn for_root(root: impl Into<PathBuf>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            root: root.into(),
+            listen: SocketAddr::new(IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::LOCALHOST), 0),
+            endpoint_base_path: "/wip".into(),
+            access: AccessMode::ReadOnly,
+            limits: ResourceLimits::default(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn validate(&self) -> Result<(), ConfigError> {
+        if !self.listen.ip().is_loopback() {
+            return Err(ConfigError::NonLoopbackCleartext);
+        }
+        if !valid_base_path(&self.endpoint_base_path) {
+            return Err(ConfigError::InvalidBasePath);
+        }
+        if self.limits.max_file_read_bytes == 0
+            || self.limits.max_file_write_bytes == 0
+            || self.limits.max_observation_nodes == 0
+            || self.limits.max_open_handles == 0
+            || self.limits.max_http_header_bytes == 0
+            || self.limits.max_concurrent_requests == 0
+            || self.limits.request_timeout.is_zero()
+        {
+            return Err(ConfigError::ZeroLimit);
+        }
+        if self.limits.max_open_handles < self.limits.max_observation_nodes as usize {
+            return Err(ConfigError::InsufficientHandles);
+        }
+        if self.limits.wire.max_response_bytes() < 512 {
+            return Err(ConfigError::ResponseLimitTooSmall);
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn endpoint(&self) -> Result<wip_http::Endpoint, ConfigError> {
+        let endpoint = format!("http://localhost{}", self.endpoint_base_path);
+        wip_http::Endpoint::parse(&endpoint).map_err(|_| ConfigError::InvalidBasePath)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Invalid server configuration.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ConfigError {
+    /// The cleartext built-in listener was exposed beyond loopback.
+    NonLoopbackCleartext,
+    /// The endpoint prefix is not an absolute canonical URL path.
+    InvalidBasePath,
+    /// A resource limit is zero.
+    ZeroLimit,
+    /// Tree nodes could exhaust the configured handle ceiling by construction.
+    InsufficientHandles,
+    /// The response limit cannot reliably carry a bounded protocol error envelope.
+    ResponseLimitTooSmall,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for ConfigError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        formatter.write_str(match self {
+            Self::NonLoopbackCleartext => "the built-in cleartext listener must bind to loopback",
+            Self::InvalidBasePath => {
+                "endpoint base path must be absolute, canonical, and query-free"
+            }
+            Self::ZeroLimit => "all resource limits and the request timeout must be nonzero",
+            Self::InsufficientHandles => "max_open_handles must cover max_observation_nodes",
+            Self::ResponseLimitTooSmall => "max_response_bytes must be at least 512",
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for ConfigError {}
+
+fn valid_base_path(path: &str) -> bool {
+    path.starts_with('/')
+        && !path.contains('?')
+        && !path.contains('#')
+        && !path.contains("//")
+        && !path
+            .split('/')
+            .any(|segment| segment == "." || segment == "..")
+        && (path == "/" || !path.ends_with('/'))
+}

crates/wip-fs-server/src/main.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::net::SocketAddr;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use wip_fs_server::{AccessMode, ServerConfig, WipFsServer};
+
+fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut root: Option<PathBuf> = None;
+    let mut listen: SocketAddr = "127.0.0.1:8080".parse()?;
+    let mut base_path = "/wip".to_owned();
+    let mut access = AccessMode::ReadOnly;
+    let mut arguments = std::env::args().skip(1);
+    while let Some(argument) = arguments.next() {
+        match argument.as_str() {
+            "--root" => root = Some(PathBuf::from(required_value(&mut arguments, "--root")?)),
+            "--listen" => listen = required_value(&mut arguments, "--listen")?.parse()?,
+            "--base-path" => base_path = required_value(&mut arguments, "--base-path")?,
+            "--read-write" => access = AccessMode::ReadWrite,
+            "--help" | "-h" => {
+                print_help();
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+            unknown => return Err(format!("unknown argument `{unknown}`; use --help").into()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    let root = root.ok_or("--root is required")?;
+    let mut config = ServerConfig::for_root(root);
+    config.listen = listen;
+    config.endpoint_base_path = base_path;
+    config.access = access;
+
+    let server = WipFsServer::new(config)?;
+    let effective_root = server.effective_root().to_owned();
+    let endpoint = server.endpoint().clone();
+    let bound = server.bind()?;
+    eprintln!(
+        "wip-fs-server root={} access={access:?} endpoint={} listen={}",
+        effective_root.display(),
+        endpoint,
+        bound.local_addr()
+    );
+    bound.serve()?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn required_value(
+    arguments: &mut impl Iterator<Item = String>,
+    option: &str,
+) -> Result<String, Box<dyn Error>> {
+    arguments
+        .next()
+        .ok_or_else(|| format!("{option} requires a value").into())
+}
+
+fn print_help() {
+    println!(
+        "Usage: wip-fs-server --root PATH [--listen 127.0.0.1:8080] \\\n         [--base-path /wip] [--read-write]\n\n\
+         The built-in HTTP listener is loopback-only. TLS termination, authentication, \
+         and external routing are deployment concerns."
+    );
+}

crates/wip-fs-server/src/server.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,722 @@
+use std::io::{Read, Write};
+use std::net::{SocketAddr, TcpListener, TcpStream};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+use http::{Request, Response, StatusCode};
+use wip_host::{ExecutionContext, ObjectProvider};
+use wip_http::{
+    BatchRequestKind, BatchResponse, BatchResponseItem, BatchSuccess, CodecError, EncodeHttpError,
+    Endpoint, RequestMetadataError, ResourceLimitKind, Route, decode_batch_request,
+    decode_call_operation_metadata, decode_fetch_interface_request, decode_observe_request,
+    encode_batch_error_response, encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response, encode_batch_response,
+    encode_call_operation_response, encode_fetch_interface_response, encode_observe_response,
+    encode_protocol_error_response, encode_resource_limit_error_response, validate_http_request,
+};
+use wip_protocol::{ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction};
+
+use crate::projection::Projection;
+use crate::{ConfigError, ServerConfig};
+
+/// Filesystem projection and framework-neutral standard WIP request adapter.
+pub struct WipFsServer {
+    config: ServerConfig,
+    endpoint: Endpoint,
+    effective_root: std::path::PathBuf,
+    projection: Arc<Projection>,
+}
+
+impl WipFsServer {
+    /// Validates configuration and opens the configured directory capability.
+    pub fn new(config: ServerConfig) -> Result<Self, ServerBuildError> {
+        config.validate()?;
+        let endpoint = config.endpoint()?;
+        let projection = Projection::open(&config.root, config.access, config.limits)?;
+        let effective_root = projection.effective_root()?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            config,
+            endpoint,
+            effective_root,
+            projection: Arc::new(projection),
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the canonical effective filesystem root opened by the server.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn effective_root(&self) -> &std::path::Path {
+        &self.effective_root
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the configured transport endpoint prefix.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn endpoint(&self) -> &Endpoint {
+        &self.endpoint
+    }
+
+    /// Handles one already-buffered HTTP request with the standard `wip-http` codecs.
+    ///
+    /// Listener integrations must enforce the same body limit while collecting bytes.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn handle_http(&self, request: Request<Vec<u8>>) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.handle_http_with_deadline(request, Instant::now() + self.config.limits.request_timeout)
+    }
+
+    fn handle_http_with_deadline(
+        &self,
+        request: Request<Vec<u8>>,
+        deadline: Instant,
+    ) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let Some(route) = self.route(request.uri().path()) else {
+            return empty_response(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+        };
+        if let Err(error) = validate_http_request(&self.endpoint, route, &request) {
+            return self.metadata_error(route, error);
+        }
+        let context = ExecutionContext::new()
+            .with_deadline(deadline)
+            .with_resource_budget(u64::from(self.config.limits.max_observation_nodes));
+        match route {
+            Route::Observe => self.observe(request.body(), &context),
+            Route::FetchInterface => self.fetch_interface(request.body()),
+            Route::CallOperation => self.call_operation(request.body(), &context),
+            Route::Batch => self.batch(request.body(), &context),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Binds the built-in bounded loopback HTTP listener.
+    ///
+    /// The built-in listener is cleartext and loopback-only. Externally visible
+    /// schemes, TLS termination, authentication, and proxy routing are deployment
+    /// concerns rather than WIP transport profiles.
+    pub fn bind(self) -> Result<BoundServer, ServerBuildError> {
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind(self.config.listen)
+            .map_err(|error| ServerBuildError::Listener(error.to_string()))?;
+        listener
+            .set_nonblocking(true)
+            .map_err(|error| ServerBuildError::Listener(error.to_string()))?;
+        let local_addr = listener
+            .local_addr()
+            .map_err(|error| ServerBuildError::Listener(error.to_string()))?;
+        Ok(BoundServer {
+            local_addr,
+            service: Arc::new(self),
+            listener: Arc::new(listener),
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn route(&self, path: &str) -> Option<Route> {
+        [
+            Route::Observe,
+            Route::FetchInterface,
+            Route::CallOperation,
+            Route::Batch,
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .find(|route| self.endpoint.route(*route).path() == path)
+    }
+
+    fn observe(&self, body: &[u8], context: &ExecutionContext) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let request = match decode_observe_request(body, self.config.limits.wire) {
+            Ok(request) => request,
+            Err(error) => return self.codec_error(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, error),
+        };
+        match self.projection.observe(context, &request) {
+            Ok(tree) => encode_observe_response(&request, &tree, self.config.limits.wire)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|error| {
+                    self.read_encode_error(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, error)
+                }),
+            Err(error) => self.protocol_error(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, &error, None),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn fetch_interface(&self, body: &[u8]) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let request = match decode_fetch_interface_request(body, self.config.limits.wire) {
+            Ok(request) => request,
+            Err(error) => return self.codec_error(ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface, error),
+        };
+        match self.projection.fetch_interface(&request) {
+            Ok(interface) => {
+                encode_fetch_interface_response(&request, &interface, self.config.limits.wire)
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|error| {
+                        self.read_encode_error(ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface, error)
+                    })
+            }
+            Err(error) => self.protocol_error(ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface, &error, None),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn call_operation(&self, body: &[u8], context: &ExecutionContext) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let metadata = match decode_call_operation_metadata(body, self.config.limits.wire) {
+            Ok(metadata) => metadata,
+            Err(error) => return self.codec_error(ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation, error),
+        };
+        let may_commit = metadata.operation == "replace";
+        let decoded = std::sync::Mutex::new(None);
+        let execution = self.projection.call_operation_with_context_and_decoder(
+            context,
+            metadata.target.clone(),
+            metadata.interface.clone(),
+            metadata.operation.clone(),
+            |descriptor| {
+                let request = metadata.decode_request(body, descriptor, self.config.limits.wire)?;
+                let arguments = request.arguments.clone();
+                *decoded.lock().unwrap_or_else(|error| error.into_inner()) =
+                    Some((request, descriptor.clone()));
+                Ok::<_, CodecError>(arguments)
+            },
+        );
+        match execution.map_err(|error| error.protocol_error()) {
+            Ok(result) => {
+                let Some((request, descriptor)) = decoded
+                    .into_inner()
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|error| error.into_inner())
+                else {
+                    let error = ProtocolError {
+                        code: if may_commit {
+                            ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown
+                        } else {
+                            ProtocolErrorCode::Internal
+                        },
+                        message: "operation completed without response metadata".into(),
+                    };
+                    return self.protocol_error(ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation, &error, None);
+                };
+                encode_call_operation_response(
+                    &request,
+                    &descriptor,
+                    &result,
+                    self.config.limits.wire,
+                )
+                .unwrap_or_else(|encode_error| {
+                    if !may_commit {
+                        return self
+                            .read_encode_error(ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation, encode_error);
+                    }
+                    // Replacement may already be committed, so a response
+                    // encoding failure cannot carry a non-commit guarantee.
+                    let error = ProtocolError {
+                        code: ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown,
+                        message: "operation completed but its response could not be encoded".into(),
+                    };
+                    self.protocol_error(ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation, &error, None)
+                })
+            }
+            Err(error) => self.protocol_error(ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation, &error, None),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn batch(&self, body: &[u8], context: &ExecutionContext) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let request = match decode_batch_request(body, self.config.limits.wire) {
+            Ok(request) => request,
+            Err(error) => return self.batch_codec_error(error),
+        };
+        let responses = request
+            .requests
+            .iter()
+            .map(|item| {
+                let outcome = match &item.request {
+                    BatchRequestKind::Observe(request) => self
+                        .projection
+                        .observe(context, request)
+                        .map(BatchSuccess::Observe),
+                    BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(request) => self
+                        .projection
+                        .fetch_interface(request)
+                        .map(BatchSuccess::FetchInterface),
+                    BatchRequestKind::Invalid { error, .. } => Err(error.clone()),
+                };
+                BatchResponseItem {
+                    id: item.id.clone(),
+                    outcome,
+                }
+            })
+            .collect();
+        let response = BatchResponse { responses };
+        encode_batch_response(&request, &response, self.config.limits.wire).unwrap_or_else(
+            |error| match error {
+                EncodeHttpError::Codec(codec) => self.batch_codec_error(codec),
+                EncodeHttpError::Http(_) => self.batch_top_error(&internal_error(), None),
+            },
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn metadata_error(&self, route: Route, error: RequestMetadataError) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        match error {
+            RequestMetadataError::InvalidRequest(_) => self.protocol_error(
+                interaction(route),
+                &ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+                    message: "invalid HTTP request metadata".into(),
+                },
+                None,
+            ),
+            RequestMetadataError::UnsupportedMediaType => {
+                empty_response(StatusCode::UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE)
+            }
+            RequestMetadataError::NotAcceptable => empty_response(StatusCode::NOT_ACCEPTABLE),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn codec_error(
+        &self,
+        interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+        error: CodecError,
+    ) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        if let Some(kind) = error.resource_limit_kind() {
+            self.protocol_error(interaction, &resource_error(), Some(kind))
+        } else {
+            self.protocol_error(
+                interaction,
+                &ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+                    message: "malformed WIP request".into(),
+                },
+                None,
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn batch_codec_error(&self, error: CodecError) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        if let Some(kind) = error.resource_limit_kind() {
+            self.batch_top_error(&resource_error(), Some(kind))
+        } else {
+            self.batch_top_error(
+                &ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+                    message: "malformed WIP batch request".into(),
+                },
+                None,
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn read_encode_error(
+        &self,
+        interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+        error: EncodeHttpError,
+    ) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        match error {
+            EncodeHttpError::Codec(codec) if codec.resource_limit_kind().is_some() => {
+                self.protocol_error(interaction, &resource_error(), codec.resource_limit_kind())
+            }
+            _ => self.protocol_error(interaction, &internal_error(), None),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn protocol_error(
+        &self,
+        interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+        error: &ProtocolError,
+        resource_kind: Option<ResourceLimitKind>,
+    ) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let encoded = match resource_kind {
+            Some(kind) => encode_resource_limit_error_response(
+                interaction,
+                error,
+                kind,
+                self.config.limits.wire,
+            ),
+            None => encode_protocol_error_response(interaction, error, self.config.limits.wire),
+        };
+        encoded.unwrap_or_else(|_| empty_response(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR))
+    }
+
+    fn batch_top_error(
+        &self,
+        error: &ProtocolError,
+        resource_kind: Option<ResourceLimitKind>,
+    ) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+        let encoded = match resource_kind {
+            Some(kind) => {
+                encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response(error, kind, self.config.limits.wire)
+            }
+            None => encode_batch_error_response(error, self.config.limits.wire),
+        };
+        encoded.unwrap_or_else(|_| empty_response(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Bound real HTTP listener for a [`WipFsServer`].
+pub struct BoundServer {
+    local_addr: SocketAddr,
+    service: Arc<WipFsServer>,
+    listener: Arc<TcpListener>,
+}
+
+impl BoundServer {
+    /// Returns the actual bound loopback address, including an assigned port.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn local_addr(&self) -> SocketAddr {
+        self.local_addr
+    }
+
+    /// Serves requests with a fixed worker count until `shutdown` becomes true.
+    ///
+    /// Workers accept connections directly, so at most
+    /// `max_concurrent_requests` sockets are active in userspace. Each connection
+    /// is closed after one request and shares one absolute deadline across HTTP
+    /// intake, dispatch, and response transmission.
+    pub fn serve_until(&self, shutdown: Arc<AtomicBool>) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+        let mut workers = Vec::with_capacity(self.service.config.limits.max_concurrent_requests);
+        for _ in 0..self.service.config.limits.max_concurrent_requests {
+            let listener = Arc::clone(&self.listener);
+            let service = Arc::clone(&self.service);
+            let shutdown = Arc::clone(&shutdown);
+            workers.push(thread::spawn(move || {
+                while !shutdown.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
+                    match listener.accept() {
+                        Ok((stream, _)) => serve_connection(&service, stream),
+                        Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock => {
+                            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(5));
+                        }
+                        Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => {}
+                        Err(error) => return Err(error),
+                    }
+                }
+                Ok(())
+            }));
+        }
+        for worker in workers {
+            worker
+                .join()
+                .map_err(|_| std::io::Error::other("HTTP worker panicked"))??;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Serves until the process is terminated.
+    pub fn serve(&self) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+        self.serve_until(Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false)))
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct ParsedRequestHead {
+    method: http::Method,
+    target: String,
+    headers: Vec<(http::header::HeaderName, http::HeaderValue)>,
+    content_length: usize,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum IntakeError {
+    Timeout,
+    HeaderTooLarge,
+    PayloadTooLarge { target: String },
+    BadRequest,
+    Socket,
+}
+
+fn serve_connection(service: &WipFsServer, mut stream: TcpStream) {
+    let _ = stream.set_nonblocking(false);
+    let started = Instant::now();
+    let deadline = started
+        .checked_add(service.config.limits.request_timeout)
+        .unwrap_or(started);
+    let response = match read_http_request(
+        &mut stream,
+        service.config.limits.max_http_header_bytes,
+        service.config.limits.wire.max_request_bytes(),
+        deadline,
+    ) {
+        Ok(request) => Some(service.handle_http_with_deadline(request, deadline)),
+        Err(IntakeError::HeaderTooLarge) => {
+            Some(empty_response(StatusCode::REQUEST_HEADER_FIELDS_TOO_LARGE))
+        }
+        Err(IntakeError::PayloadTooLarge { target }) => {
+            Some(payload_too_large_response(service, &target))
+        }
+        Err(IntakeError::BadRequest) => Some(empty_response(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST)),
+        Err(IntakeError::Timeout | IntakeError::Socket) => None,
+    };
+    if let Some(response) = response {
+        let _ = write_http_response(&mut stream, &response, deadline);
+    }
+    let _ = stream.shutdown(std::net::Shutdown::Both);
+}
+
+fn read_http_request(
+    stream: &mut TcpStream,
+    maximum_header: usize,
+    maximum_body: usize,
+    deadline: Instant,
+) -> Result<Request<Vec<u8>>, IntakeError> {
+    let mut received = Vec::with_capacity(maximum_header.min(8 * 1024));
+    let header_end = loop {
+        if let Some(position) = received.windows(4).position(|window| window == b"\r\n\r\n") {
+            let end = position + 4;
+            if end > maximum_header {
+                return Err(IntakeError::HeaderTooLarge);
+            }
+            break end;
+        }
+        if received.len() >= maximum_header {
+            return Err(IntakeError::HeaderTooLarge);
+        }
+        let mut chunk = [0_u8; 4 * 1024];
+        let available = (maximum_header - received.len()).min(chunk.len());
+        let count = read_with_deadline(stream, &mut chunk[..available], deadline)?;
+        if count == 0 {
+            return Err(IntakeError::BadRequest);
+        }
+        received.extend_from_slice(&chunk[..count]);
+    };
+
+    let parsed = parse_request_head(&received[..header_end])?;
+    if parsed.content_length > maximum_body {
+        return Err(IntakeError::PayloadTooLarge {
+            target: parsed.target,
+        });
+    }
+    let mut body = Vec::with_capacity(parsed.content_length);
+    let buffered = &received[header_end..];
+    body.extend_from_slice(&buffered[..buffered.len().min(parsed.content_length)]);
+    while body.len() < parsed.content_length {
+        let mut chunk = [0_u8; 8 * 1024];
+        let wanted = (parsed.content_length - body.len()).min(chunk.len());
+        let count = read_with_deadline(stream, &mut chunk[..wanted], deadline)?;
+        if count == 0 {
+            return Err(IntakeError::BadRequest);
+        }
+        body.extend_from_slice(&chunk[..count]);
+    }
+
+    let mut builder = Request::builder().method(parsed.method).uri(parsed.target);
+    for (name, value) in parsed.headers {
+        builder = builder.header(name, value);
+    }
+    builder.body(body).map_err(|_| IntakeError::BadRequest)
+}
+
+fn parse_request_head(bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<ParsedRequestHead, IntakeError> {
+    let text = std::str::from_utf8(bytes).map_err(|_| IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+    let mut lines = text
+        .strip_suffix("\r\n\r\n")
+        .ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?
+        .split("\r\n");
+    let mut request_line = lines
+        .next()
+        .ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?
+        .split_ascii_whitespace();
+    let method = request_line.next().ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+    let target = request_line.next().ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+    let version = request_line.next().ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+    if request_line.next().is_some()
+        || !matches!(version, "HTTP/1.0" | "HTTP/1.1")
+        || !target.starts_with('/')
+    {
+        return Err(IntakeError::BadRequest);
+    }
+    let method =
+        http::Method::from_bytes(method.as_bytes()).map_err(|_| IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+    let _: http::Uri = target.parse().map_err(|_| IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+
+    let mut headers = Vec::new();
+    let mut content_length = None;
+    for line in lines {
+        if line.is_empty() || line.starts_with([' ', '\t']) {
+            return Err(IntakeError::BadRequest);
+        }
+        let (name, value) = line.split_once(':').ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+        let name = http::header::HeaderName::from_bytes(name.as_bytes())
+            .map_err(|_| IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+        let value =
+            http::HeaderValue::from_str(value.trim()).map_err(|_| IntakeError::BadRequest)?;
+        if name == http::header::CONTENT_LENGTH {
+            if content_length.is_some() {
+                return Err(IntakeError::BadRequest);
+            }
+            content_length = Some(
+                value
+                    .to_str()
+                    .ok()
+                    .and_then(|value| value.parse::<usize>().ok())
+                    .ok_or(IntakeError::BadRequest)?,
+            );
+        }
+        if name == http::header::TRANSFER_ENCODING {
+            return Err(IntakeError::BadRequest);
+        }
+        headers.push((name, value));
+    }
+
+    Ok(ParsedRequestHead {
+        method,
+        target: target.to_owned(),
+        headers,
+        content_length: content_length.unwrap_or(0),
+    })
+}
+
+fn read_with_deadline(
+    stream: &mut TcpStream,
+    buffer: &mut [u8],
+    deadline: Instant,
+) -> Result<usize, IntakeError> {
+    let remaining = deadline
+        .checked_duration_since(Instant::now())
+        .ok_or(IntakeError::Timeout)?;
+    stream
+        .set_read_timeout(Some(remaining.max(Duration::from_millis(1))))
+        .map_err(|_| IntakeError::Socket)?;
+    stream.read(buffer).map_err(|error| match error.kind() {
+        std::io::ErrorKind::TimedOut | std::io::ErrorKind::WouldBlock => IntakeError::Timeout,
+        _ => IntakeError::Socket,
+    })
+}
+
+fn payload_too_large_response(service: &WipFsServer, target: &str) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+    let route = service.route(target.split('?').next().unwrap_or_default());
+    route.map_or_else(
+        || empty_response(StatusCode::PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE),
+        |route| {
+            if route == Route::Batch {
+                service.batch_top_error(
+                    &resource_error(),
+                    Some(ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes),
+                )
+            } else {
+                service.protocol_error(
+                    interaction(route),
+                    &resource_error(),
+                    Some(ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes),
+                )
+            }
+        },
+    )
+}
+
+fn write_http_response(
+    stream: &mut TcpStream,
+    response: &Response<Vec<u8>>,
+    deadline: Instant,
+) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    let mut encoded = Vec::new();
+    write!(
+        encoded,
+        "HTTP/1.1 {} {}\r\n",
+        response.status().as_u16(),
+        response.status().canonical_reason().unwrap_or("")
+    )?;
+    for (name, value) in response.headers() {
+        if name == http::header::CONTENT_LENGTH
+            || name == http::header::CONNECTION
+            || name == http::header::TRANSFER_ENCODING
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+        encoded.extend_from_slice(name.as_str().as_bytes());
+        encoded.extend_from_slice(b": ");
+        encoded.extend_from_slice(value.as_bytes());
+        encoded.extend_from_slice(b"\r\n");
+    }
+    write!(
+        encoded,
+        "Content-Length: {}\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n",
+        response.body().len()
+    )?;
+    encoded.extend_from_slice(response.body());
+    write_all_with_deadline(stream, &encoded, deadline)
+}
+
+fn write_all_with_deadline(
+    stream: &mut TcpStream,
+    mut bytes: &[u8],
+    deadline: Instant,
+) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    while !bytes.is_empty() {
+        let remaining = deadline
+            .checked_duration_since(Instant::now())
+            .ok_or_else(|| {
+                std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::TimedOut, "request timed out")
+            })?;
+        stream.set_write_timeout(Some(remaining.max(Duration::from_millis(1))))?;
+        match stream.write(bytes) {
+            Ok(0) => {
+                return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::WriteZero,
+                    "socket closed",
+                ));
+            }
+            Ok(count) => bytes = &bytes[count..],
+            Err(error) if error.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => {}
+            Err(error) => return Err(error),
+        }
+    }
+    stream.flush()
+}
+
+fn interaction(route: Route) -> ProtocolInteraction {
+    match route {
+        Route::Observe => ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+        Route::FetchInterface => ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface,
+        Route::CallOperation => ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation,
+        Route::Batch => ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+    }
+}
+
+fn resource_error() -> ProtocolError {
+    ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded,
+        message: "configured resource limit exceeded".into(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn internal_error() -> ProtocolError {
+    ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::Internal,
+        message: "filesystem server failed".into(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn empty_response(status: StatusCode) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(status)
+        .body(Vec::new())
+        .expect("static status builds an HTTP response")
+}
+
+/// Failure while validating, opening, or binding the server.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum ServerBuildError {
+    /// Configuration is unsafe or unbounded.
+    Config(ConfigError),
+    /// The root capability could not be opened.
+    Io(std::io::Error),
+    /// The listener could not be bound.
+    Listener(String),
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for ServerBuildError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::Config(error) => write!(formatter, "invalid server configuration: {error}"),
+            Self::Io(error) => write!(formatter, "filesystem root could not be opened: {error}"),
+            Self::Listener(error) => write!(formatter, "HTTP listener could not be bound: {error}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for ServerBuildError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn std::error::Error + 'static)> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Config(error) => Some(error),
+            Self::Io(error) => Some(error),
+            Self::Listener(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<ConfigError> for ServerBuildError {
+    fn from(value: ConfigError) -> Self {
+        Self::Config(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<std::io::Error> for ServerBuildError {
+    fn from(value: std::io::Error) -> Self {
+        Self::Io(value)
+    }
+}

crates/wip-fs-server/tests/end_to_end.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,494 @@
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use std::io::{Read, Write};
+use std::net::{SocketAddr, TcpStream};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+use tempfile::tempdir;
+use wip_fs_server::{AccessMode, ServerConfig, WipFsServer};
+use wip_http::{
+    BatchRequest, BatchRequestItem, BatchRequestKind, BatchResponse, BatchSuccess, DecodedResponse,
+    Endpoint, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE, Limits, Route, decode_batch_request, decode_batch_response,
+    decode_call_operation_response, decode_fetch_interface_response, decode_observe_response,
+    encode_batch_request, encode_call_operation_request, encode_fetch_interface_request,
+    encode_observe_request,
+};
+use wip_protocol::{
+    CallOperationRequest, FetchInterfaceRequest, InterfaceTarget, ObserveRequest,
+    ProtocolErrorCode, Target, Value,
+};
+
+#[test]
+fn real_listener_serves_three_core_interactions_batch_and_write() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("hello.txt"), b"hello world").expect("write file");
+    std::fs::create_dir(temporary.path().join("nested")).expect("create directory");
+
+    let mut config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    config.access = AccessMode::ReadWrite;
+    let limits = config.limits.wire;
+    let bound = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(config)
+            .expect("build server")
+            .bind()
+            .expect("bind"),
+    );
+    let address = bound.local_addr();
+    let shutdown = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+    let worker = {
+        let bound = Arc::clone(&bound);
+        let shutdown = Arc::clone(&shutdown);
+        thread::spawn(move || bound.serve_until(shutdown))
+    };
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse(&format!("http://localhost:{}/wip", address.port()))
+        .expect("client endpoint");
+
+    let file_request = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/hello.txt".into(),
+        depth: 0,
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_observe_request(&endpoint, &file_request, limits).expect("encode observation"),
+    );
+    let file = success(
+        decode_observe_response(&file_request, &response, limits).expect("decode observation"),
+    )
+    .object;
+    assert_eq!(file.name, "hello.txt");
+    assert_eq!(file.interfaces.len(), 2);
+    assert!(file.validator.is_some());
+
+    let tree_request = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/".into(),
+        depth: 1,
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_observe_request(&endpoint, &tree_request, limits).expect("encode tree"),
+    );
+    let tree =
+        success(decode_observe_response(&tree_request, &response, limits).expect("decode tree"));
+    assert_eq!(
+        tree.children
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("root children observed")
+            .len(),
+        2
+    );
+
+    let read_interface_request = FetchInterfaceRequest {
+        interface: file.interfaces[0].clone(),
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_fetch_interface_request(&endpoint, &read_interface_request, limits)
+            .expect("encode interface fetch"),
+    );
+    let read_interface = success(
+        decode_fetch_interface_response(&read_interface_request, &response, limits)
+            .expect("decode interface"),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(read_interface.descriptor.operations[0].name, "read");
+
+    let read_request = CallOperationRequest {
+        target: Target {
+            path: "/hello.txt".into(),
+            validator: file.validator.clone(),
+        },
+        interface: InterfaceTarget {
+            reference: file.interfaces[0].clone(),
+            validator: None,
+        },
+        operation: "read".into(),
+        arguments: BTreeMap::from([
+            ("offset".into(), Value::Integer(6)),
+            ("length".into(), Value::Integer(5)),
+        ]),
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint, &read_request, &read_interface.descriptor, limits)
+            .expect("encode read call"),
+    );
+    let read = success(
+        decode_call_operation_response(
+            &read_request,
+            &read_interface.descriptor,
+            &response,
+            limits,
+        )
+        .expect("decode read call"),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(read.result, Value::Bytes(b"world".to_vec()));
+
+    let batch_request = BatchRequest {
+        requests: vec![
+            BatchRequestItem {
+                id: "root".into(),
+                request: BatchRequestKind::Observe(ObserveRequest {
+                    path: "/".into(),
+                    depth: 0,
+                }),
+            },
+            BatchRequestItem {
+                id: "tree".into(),
+                request: BatchRequestKind::Observe(ObserveRequest {
+                    path: "/nested".into(),
+                    depth: 1,
+                }),
+            },
+            BatchRequestItem {
+                id: "interface".into(),
+                request: BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(read_interface_request.clone()),
+            },
+        ],
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_batch_request(&endpoint, &batch_request, limits).expect("encode batch"),
+    );
+    let batch =
+        success(decode_batch_response(&batch_request, &response, limits).expect("decode batch"));
+    assert_batch_successes(&batch);
+
+    let write_interface_request = FetchInterfaceRequest {
+        interface: file.interfaces[1].clone(),
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_fetch_interface_request(&endpoint, &write_interface_request, limits)
+            .expect("encode write interface fetch"),
+    );
+    let write_interface = success(
+        decode_fetch_interface_response(&write_interface_request, &response, limits)
+            .expect("decode write interface"),
+    );
+    let write_request = CallOperationRequest {
+        target: Target {
+            path: "/hello.txt".into(),
+            validator: file.validator,
+        },
+        interface: InterfaceTarget {
+            reference: file.interfaces[1].clone(),
+            validator: None,
+        },
+        operation: "replace".into(),
+        arguments: BTreeMap::from([("contents".into(), Value::Bytes(b"updated".to_vec()))]),
+    };
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_call_operation_request(
+            &endpoint,
+            &write_request,
+            &write_interface.descriptor,
+            limits,
+        )
+        .expect("encode write call"),
+    );
+    let write = success(
+        decode_call_operation_response(
+            &write_request,
+            &write_interface.descriptor,
+            &response,
+            limits,
+        )
+        .expect("decode write call"),
+    );
+    assert!(write.validator.is_some());
+    assert_eq!(
+        std::fs::read(temporary.path().join("hello.txt")).expect("read updated file"),
+        b"updated"
+    );
+
+    shutdown.store(true, Ordering::Release);
+    worker
+        .join()
+        .expect("join listener")
+        .expect("listener exits cleanly");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn stalled_request_body_times_out_and_releases_the_only_worker() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let mut config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    config.limits.max_concurrent_requests = 1;
+    config.limits.request_timeout = Duration::from_millis(200);
+    let limits = config.limits.wire;
+    let bound = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(config)
+            .expect("build server")
+            .bind()
+            .expect("bind"),
+    );
+    let address = bound.local_addr();
+    let shutdown = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+    let worker = {
+        let bound = Arc::clone(&bound);
+        let shutdown = Arc::clone(&shutdown);
+        thread::spawn(move || bound.serve_until(shutdown))
+    };
+
+    let mut stalled = TcpStream::connect(address).expect("connect stalled client");
+    stalled
+        .set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(1)))
+        .expect("set stalled read timeout");
+    write!(
+        stalled,
+        "POST /wip/v1/observe HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: localhost\r\nContent-Type: application/json\r\nAccept: application/json\r\nContent-Length: 100\r\n\r\n{{"
+    )
+    .expect("write partial request");
+    stalled.flush().expect("flush partial request");
+    thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(25));
+
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse(&format!("http://localhost:{}/wip", address.port()))
+        .expect("client endpoint");
+    let observe = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/".into(),
+        depth: 0,
+    };
+    let started = Instant::now();
+    let response = exchange(
+        address,
+        encode_observe_request(&endpoint, &observe, limits).expect("encode observation"),
+    );
+    let _root =
+        success(decode_observe_response(&observe, &response, limits).expect("decode observation"));
+    assert!(
+        started.elapsed() < Duration::from_secs(1),
+        "the valid request remained starved after the intake deadline"
+    );
+
+    let mut byte = [0_u8; 1];
+    match stalled.read(&mut byte) {
+        Ok(0) => {}
+        Err(error)
+            if matches!(
+                error.kind(),
+                std::io::ErrorKind::ConnectionReset
+                    | std::io::ErrorKind::ConnectionAborted
+                    | std::io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe
+            ) => {}
+        outcome => panic!("stalled connection was not closed after its deadline: {outcome:?}"),
+    }
+
+    shutdown.store(true, Ordering::Release);
+    worker
+        .join()
+        .expect("join listener")
+        .expect("listener exits cleanly");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn batch_keeps_known_malformed_arguments_item_local() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    let limits = config.limits.wire;
+    let server = WipFsServer::new(config).expect("build server");
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://localhost/wip").expect("endpoint");
+    let body = br#"{"requests":[{"id":"ok","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/","depth":0}},{"id":"bad","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/","depth":"bad"}}]}"#;
+    let logical = decode_batch_request(body, limits).expect("decode item-local invalid request");
+    assert!(matches!(
+        logical.requests[1].request,
+        BatchRequestKind::Invalid { .. }
+    ));
+    let request = http::Request::builder()
+        .method(http::Method::POST)
+        .uri(endpoint.route(Route::Batch).as_str())
+        .header(http::header::CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .header(http::header::ACCEPT, "application/json")
+        .body(body.to_vec())
+        .expect("build request");
+    let response = server.handle_http(request);
+    let batch = success(
+        decode_batch_response(&logical, &response, limits).expect("decode mixed batch response"),
+    );
+    assert!(matches!(
+        batch.responses[0].outcome,
+        Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(_))
+    ));
+    assert!(batch.responses[1].outcome.is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn call_argument_decoding_does_not_mask_missing_target() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    let server = WipFsServer::new(config).expect("build server");
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://localhost/wip").expect("endpoint");
+    let body = br#"{"target":{"path":"/missing"},"interface":{"reference":"unknown"},"operation":"missing","arguments":{"bytes":"not-base64"}}"#;
+    let request = http::Request::builder()
+        .method(http::Method::POST)
+        .uri(endpoint.route(Route::CallOperation).as_str())
+        .header(http::header::CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .header(http::header::ACCEPT, "application/json")
+        .body(body.to_vec())
+        .expect("build request");
+    let response = server.handle_http(request);
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), http::StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+    assert!(
+        std::str::from_utf8(response.body())
+            .expect("UTF-8 error")
+            .contains("\"not_found\"")
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn backend_invalid_unicode_path_is_not_found_not_internal() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    let limits = config.limits.wire;
+    let server = WipFsServer::new(config).expect("build server");
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://localhost/wip").expect("endpoint");
+    let request = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/bad\0name".into(),
+        depth: 0,
+    };
+    let response = server.handle_http(
+        encode_observe_request(&endpoint, &request, limits).expect("encode observation"),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), http::StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+    match decode_observe_response(&request, &response, limits).expect("decode missing response") {
+        DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure { error, .. } => {
+            assert_eq!(error.code, ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound);
+        }
+        DecodedResponse::Success(_) => panic!("backend-invalid path must not resolve"),
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn read_response_size_failure_preserves_non_commit_guarantee() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("large"), vec![b'x'; 2_000]).expect("write file");
+    let mut config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    config.limits.wire = Limits::new(4_096, 1_024, 64, 64).expect("wire limits");
+    let limits = config.limits.wire;
+    let server = WipFsServer::new(config).expect("build server");
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://localhost/wip").expect("endpoint");
+
+    let observe_request = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/large".into(),
+        depth: 0,
+    };
+    let response = server.handle_http(
+        encode_observe_request(&endpoint, &observe_request, limits).expect("encode observation"),
+    );
+    let file = success(
+        decode_observe_response(&observe_request, &response, limits).expect("decode observation"),
+    )
+    .object;
+    let interface_request = FetchInterfaceRequest {
+        interface: file.interfaces[0].clone(),
+    };
+    let response = server.handle_http(
+        encode_fetch_interface_request(&endpoint, &interface_request, limits)
+            .expect("encode interface fetch"),
+    );
+    let interface = success(
+        decode_fetch_interface_response(&interface_request, &response, limits)
+            .expect("decode interface"),
+    );
+    let call = CallOperationRequest {
+        target: Target {
+            path: "/large".into(),
+            validator: file.validator,
+        },
+        interface: InterfaceTarget {
+            reference: file.interfaces[0].clone(),
+            validator: None,
+        },
+        operation: "read".into(),
+        arguments: BTreeMap::from([("length".into(), Value::Integer(1_500))]),
+    };
+    let response = server.handle_http(
+        encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint, &call, &interface.descriptor, limits)
+            .expect("encode read call"),
+    );
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), http::StatusCode::PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE);
+    match decode_call_operation_response(&call, &interface.descriptor, &response, limits)
+        .expect("decode resource failure")
+    {
+        DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure { error, .. } => {
+            assert_eq!(error.code, ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded);
+        }
+        DecodedResponse::Success(_) => panic!("oversized read response must fail"),
+    }
+}
+
+fn assert_batch_successes(batch: &BatchResponse) {
+    assert_eq!(batch.responses.len(), 3);
+    assert!(matches!(
+        batch.responses[0].outcome,
+        Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(_))
+    ));
+    assert!(matches!(
+        batch.responses[1].outcome,
+        Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(_))
+    ));
+    assert!(matches!(
+        batch.responses[2].outcome,
+        Ok(BatchSuccess::FetchInterface(_))
+    ));
+}
+
+fn success<T>(response: DecodedResponse<T>) -> T {
+    match response {
+        DecodedResponse::Success(value) => value,
+        DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure { error, .. } => panic!("protocol failure: {error}"),
+    }
+}
+
+fn exchange(address: SocketAddr, request: http::Request<Vec<u8>>) -> http::Response<Vec<u8>> {
+    let mut stream = TcpStream::connect(address).expect("connect listener");
+    stream
+        .set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(5)))
+        .expect("set read timeout");
+    let path = request
+        .uri()
+        .path_and_query()
+        .map_or("/", |value| value.as_str());
+    write!(
+        stream,
+        "{} {} HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: localhost\r\nConnection: close\r\n",
+        request.method(),
+        path
+    )
+    .expect("write request line");
+    for (name, value) in request.headers() {
+        write!(
+            stream,
+            "{}: {}\r\n",
+            name,
+            value.to_str().expect("ASCII request header")
+        )
+        .expect("write header");
+    }
+    write!(stream, "Content-Length: {}\r\n\r\n", request.body().len())
+        .expect("write content length");
+    stream.write_all(request.body()).expect("write body");
+    stream.flush().expect("flush request");
+
+    let mut raw = Vec::new();
+    stream.read_to_end(&mut raw).expect("read response");
+    let split = raw
+        .windows(4)
+        .position(|window| window == b"\r\n\r\n")
+        .expect("HTTP response header");
+    let head = std::str::from_utf8(&raw[..split]).expect("UTF-8 response head");
+    let mut lines = head.split("\r\n");
+    let status = lines
+        .next()
+        .and_then(|line| line.split_whitespace().nth(1))
+        .and_then(|status| status.parse::<u16>().ok())
+        .expect("response status");
+    let mut builder = http::Response::builder().status(status);
+    for line in lines {
+        let (name, value) = line.split_once(':').expect("response header");
+        builder = builder.header(name, value.trim());
+    }
+    builder
+        .body(raw[split + 4..].to_vec())
+        .expect("build response")
+}

crates/wip-host/src/lib.rs

@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ impl InterfaceRegistry {
 
     /// Observes a registered interface by its host-side reference.
     #[must_use]
-    pub fn observe(&self, reference: &InterfaceRef) -> Option<InterfaceObservation> {
+    pub fn observe_object(&self, reference: &InterfaceRef) -> Option<InterfaceObservation> {
         self.artifacts.get(reference).map(Self::observation)
     }
 
@@ -535,11 +535,36 @@ impl<T: WipObject> PublishedObject<T> {
         context: &ExecutionContext,
         request: CallRequest,
         authorize: impl FnOnce(&T, &InterfaceRef, &str) -> bool,
+    ) -> OperationAttempt {
+        let CallRequest {
+            target,
+            interface,
+            operation,
+            arguments,
+        } = request;
+        self.dispatch_resolved_with_decoder(
+            context,
+            target,
+            interface,
+            operation,
+            |_| Ok::<_, std::convert::Infallible>(arguments),
+            authorize,
+        )
+    }
+
+    fn dispatch_resolved_with_decoder<E>(
+        &self,
+        context: &ExecutionContext,
+        target: Target,
+        interface: InterfaceTarget,
+        operation: String,
+        decode_arguments: impl FnOnce(&InterfaceDescriptor) -> Result<BTreeMap<String, Value>, E>,
+        authorize: impl FnOnce(&T, &InterfaceRef, &str) -> bool,
     ) -> OperationAttempt {
         let pre_dispatch_failure =
             |kind, message: &str| OperationAttempt::NotStarted(CallError::new(kind, message));
         let current_object_validator = self.implementation.validator();
-        if let Some(supplied) = request.target.validator.as_deref()
+        if let Some(supplied) = target.validator.as_deref()
             && current_object_validator.map(Validator::as_bytes) != Some(supplied)
         {
             return pre_dispatch_failure(
@@ -548,9 +573,11 @@ impl<T: WipObject> PublishedObject<T> {
             );
         }
 
-        let Some(bound) = self.interfaces.iter().find(|bound| {
-            bound.artifact.reference.as_str() == request.interface.reference.as_str()
-        }) else {
+        let Some(bound) = self
+            .interfaces
+            .iter()
+            .find(|bound| bound.artifact.reference.as_str() == interface.reference.as_str())
+        else {
             return pre_dispatch_failure(
                 CallErrorKind::InterfaceMismatch,
                 "interface is not a member of the current object publication",
@@ -559,7 +586,7 @@ impl<T: WipObject> PublishedObject<T> {
 
         match (
             bound.artifact.validator.as_ref(),
-            request.interface.validator.as_deref(),
+            interface.validator.as_deref(),
         ) {
             (Some(_), None) => {
                 return pre_dispatch_failure(
@@ -581,18 +608,18 @@ impl<T: WipObject> PublishedObject<T> {
             .descriptor
             .operations
             .iter()
-            .any(|operation| operation.name == request.operation)
+            .any(|declared| declared.name == operation)
         {
             return pre_dispatch_failure(
                 CallErrorKind::OperationNotFound,
-                &format!("operation `{}` is not declared", request.operation),
+                &format!("operation `{operation}` is not declared"),
             );
         }
 
-        if request.target.validator.is_none()
+        if target.validator.is_none()
             && self
                 .implementation
-                .requires_validator(&bound.artifact.reference, &request.operation)
+                .requires_validator(&bound.artifact.reference, &operation)
         {
             return pre_dispatch_failure(
                 CallErrorKind::ValidatorRequired,
@@ -600,19 +627,24 @@ impl<T: WipObject> PublishedObject<T> {
             );
         }
 
+        let arguments = match decode_arguments(&bound.artifact.descriptor) {
+            Ok(arguments) => arguments,
+            Err(_) => {
+                return pre_dispatch_failure(
+                    CallErrorKind::InvalidArguments,
+                    "operation arguments could not be decoded",
+                );
+            }
+        };
         if let Err(error) = bound
             .artifact
             .descriptor
-            .validate_arguments(&request.operation, &request.arguments)
+            .validate_arguments(&operation, &arguments)
         {
             return pre_dispatch_failure(CallErrorKind::InvalidArguments, &error.to_string());
         }
 
-        if !authorize(
-            &self.implementation,
-            &bound.artifact.reference,
-            &request.operation,
-        ) {
+        if !authorize(&self.implementation, &bound.artifact.reference, &operation) {
             return pre_dispatch_failure(
                 CallErrorKind::PermissionDenied,
                 "operation is not permitted for this caller",
@@ -623,23 +655,22 @@ impl<T: WipObject> PublishedObject<T> {
             return OperationAttempt::NotStarted(error);
         }
 
-        let value =
-            match (bound.dispatch)(&self.implementation, &request.operation, request.arguments) {
-                Ok(value) => value,
-                Err(
-                    error @ (DispatchError::UnknownOperation(_)
-                    | DispatchError::InvalidArguments(_)
-                    | DispatchError::Decode(_)),
-                ) => return OperationAttempt::NotStarted(CallError::from_pre_dispatch(error)),
-                Err(error) => {
-                    return OperationAttempt::Started(Err(OperationFailure::from_dispatch(error)));
-                }
-            };
+        let value = match (bound.dispatch)(&self.implementation, &operation, arguments) {
+            Ok(value) => value,
+            Err(
+                error @ (DispatchError::UnknownOperation(_)
+                | DispatchError::InvalidArguments(_)
+                | DispatchError::Decode(_)),
+            ) => return OperationAttempt::NotStarted(CallError::from_pre_dispatch(error)),
+            Err(error) => {
+                return OperationAttempt::Started(Err(OperationFailure::from_dispatch(error)));
+            }
+        };
 
         if bound
             .artifact
             .descriptor
-            .validate_result(&request.operation, &value)
+            .validate_result(&operation, &value)
             .is_err()
         {
             return OperationAttempt::Started(Err(OperationFailure::internal(
@@ -832,13 +863,13 @@ pub trait ObjectProvider {
         true
     }
 
-    /// Fetches the canonical object projection currently published at `path`.
-    fn fetch(&self, path: &str) -> Result<Object, CallError> {
-        self.fetch_with_context(&ExecutionContext::default(), path)
+    /// Observes the canonical object projection currently published at `path`.
+    fn observe_object(&self, path: &str) -> Result<Object, CallError> {
+        self.observe_object_with_context(&ExecutionContext::default(), path)
     }
 
-    /// Fetches an object while propagating runtime execution controls.
-    fn fetch_with_context(
+    /// Observes an object while propagating runtime execution controls.
+    fn observe_object_with_context(
         &self,
         context: &ExecutionContext,
         path: &str,
@@ -851,7 +882,7 @@ pub trait ObjectProvider {
         .map_err(|_| {
             CallError::new(
                 CallErrorKind::Internal,
-                "provider panicked while fetching an object",
+                "provider panicked while observing an object",
             )
         })?;
         let object = match resolved {
@@ -922,6 +953,62 @@ pub trait ObjectProvider {
             ProviderResult::Failure(error) => Err(CallError::from_host_failure(error)),
         }
     }
+
+    /// Resolves one operation target and decodes its arguments only after all
+    /// descriptor-independent canonical preconditions have succeeded.
+    ///
+    /// Transport bindings whose value representation depends on the selected
+    /// interface descriptor should use this method instead of resolving a
+    /// descriptor before [`ObjectProvider::call_operation_with_context`]. The
+    /// callback executes inside the same exact-once provider boundary after
+    /// object/interface validators, membership, operation lookup, and required
+    /// object-validator checks. A callback error becomes `InvalidArguments` and
+    /// typed implementation code is not invoked.
+    fn call_operation_with_context_and_decoder<E>(
+        &self,
+        context: &ExecutionContext,
+        target: Target,
+        interface: InterfaceTarget,
+        operation: String,
+        decode_arguments: impl FnOnce(&InterfaceDescriptor) -> Result<BTreeMap<String, Value>, E>,
+    ) -> Result<CallResult, CallError> {
+        wip_protocol::validate_path(&target.path)
+            .map_err(|error| CallError::new(CallErrorKind::InvalidRequest, error.to_string()))?;
+        let path = target.path.clone();
+        let execution = catch_unwind(AssertUnwindSafe(|| {
+            self.execute_operation(context, &path, |publication| {
+                publication.dispatch_resolved_with_decoder(
+                    context,
+                    target,
+                    interface,
+                    operation,
+                    decode_arguments,
+                    |object, interface, operation| {
+                        self.authorize(&path, object, interface, operation)
+                    },
+                )
+            })
+        }));
+
+        let execution = execution.map_err(|_| {
+            CallError::from_operation_failure(OperationFailure::internal(
+                EffectGuarantee::Unknown,
+                "provider execution panicked",
+            ))
+        })?;
+        match execution {
+            ProviderResult::Found(OperationAttempt::NotStarted(error)) => Err(error),
+            ProviderResult::Found(OperationAttempt::Started(Ok(result))) => Ok(result),
+            ProviderResult::Found(OperationAttempt::Started(Err(error))) => {
+                Err(CallError::from_operation_failure(error))
+            }
+            ProviderResult::NotFound => Err(CallError::new(
+                CallErrorKind::NotFound,
+                "target path is not published",
+            )),
+            ProviderResult::Failure(error) => Err(CallError::from_host_failure(error)),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// Failure to construct an explicit object publication.

crates/wip-host/tests/host.rs

@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ fn registry_returns_atomic_canonical_observation_without_rewriting_descriptor()
 #[test]
 fn canonical_object_projection_supports_optional_metadata_and_ordered_sets() {
     let (_, provider, _) = registry_and_provider();
-    let object = provider.fetch("/document").unwrap();
+    let object = provider.observe_object("/document").unwrap();
 
     assert_eq!(object.name, "document");
     assert_eq!(object.description.as_deref(), Some("public document"));
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ fn canonical_object_projection_supports_optional_metadata_and_ordered_sets() {
     assert!(!format!("{object:?}").contains("secret-handle"));
     assert!(!format!("{object:?}").contains("/document"));
 
-    let empty = provider.fetch("/empty").unwrap();
+    let empty = provider.observe_object("/empty").unwrap();
     assert!(empty.interfaces.is_empty());
     assert_eq!(empty.r#ref, None);
     assert_eq!(empty.validator, None);
@@ -518,13 +518,13 @@ fn duplicate_exposure_is_rejected_and_private_state_is_not_projected() {
 fn paths_are_resolution_context_not_object_identity() {
     let (_, provider, _) = registry_and_provider();
 
-    let left = provider.fetch("/left/document").unwrap();
-    let right = provider.fetch("/right/document").unwrap();
+    let left = provider.observe_object("/left/document").unwrap();
+    let right = provider.observe_object("/right/document").unwrap();
     assert_eq!(left, right);
     assert_eq!(left.r#ref.as_deref(), Some("shared-ref"));
 
-    let first = provider.fetch("/switch").unwrap();
-    let second = provider.fetch("/switch").unwrap();
+    let first = provider.observe_object("/switch").unwrap();
+    let second = provider.observe_object("/switch").unwrap();
     assert_ne!(first.r#ref, second.r#ref);
     assert_ne!(first.validator, second.validator);
 }
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ fn call_failures_follow_canonical_precedence_without_execution() {
     }
     assert_eq!(provider.resolutions.get(), resolutions);
     assert_failure(
-        provider.fetch("/invalid/").unwrap_err(),
+        provider.observe_object("/invalid/").unwrap_err(),
         CallErrorKind::InvalidRequest,
         ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
     );
@@ -741,6 +741,89 @@ fn call_failures_follow_canonical_precedence_without_execution() {
     assert_eq!(provider.calls.get(), 0);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn descriptor_guided_decoder_runs_inside_canonical_resolution_boundary() {
+    let (_, provider, hidden) = registry_and_provider();
+    let decodes = Cell::new(0_u32);
+    let decode_failure = || {
+        decodes.set(decodes.get() + 1);
+        Err::<BTreeMap<String, Value>, _>(())
+    };
+
+    let missing = provider
+        .call_operation_with_context_and_decoder(
+            &ExecutionContext::new(),
+            Target {
+                path: "/missing".into(),
+                validator: Some(b"stale".to_vec()),
+            },
+            InterfaceTarget {
+                reference: hidden.reference().as_str().into(),
+                validator: None,
+            },
+            "missing".into(),
+            |_| decode_failure(),
+        )
+        .unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(missing.kind(), CallErrorKind::NotFound);
+    assert_eq!(decodes.get(), 0);
+
+    let stale = provider
+        .call_operation_with_context_and_decoder(
+            &ExecutionContext::new(),
+            Target {
+                path: "/document".into(),
+                validator: Some(b"stale".to_vec()),
+            },
+            InterfaceTarget {
+                reference: hidden.reference().as_str().into(),
+                validator: None,
+            },
+            "hidden".into(),
+            |_| decode_failure(),
+        )
+        .unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(stale.kind(), CallErrorKind::ValidatorMismatch);
+    assert_eq!(decodes.get(), 0);
+
+    let mismatch = provider
+        .call_operation_with_context_and_decoder(
+            &ExecutionContext::new(),
+            Target {
+                path: "/document".into(),
+                validator: Some(b"object-v1".to_vec()),
+            },
+            InterfaceTarget {
+                reference: hidden.reference().as_str().into(),
+                validator: None,
+            },
+            "hidden".into(),
+            |_| decode_failure(),
+        )
+        .unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(mismatch.kind(), CallErrorKind::InterfaceMismatch);
+    assert_eq!(decodes.get(), 0);
+
+    let invalid_arguments = provider
+        .call_operation_with_context_and_decoder(
+            &ExecutionContext::new(),
+            Target {
+                path: "/document".into(),
+                validator: Some(b"object-v1".to_vec()),
+            },
+            InterfaceTarget {
+                reference: provider.reader.reference().as_str().into(),
+                validator: Some(b"schema-v1".to_vec()),
+            },
+            "add".into(),
+            |_| decode_failure(),
+        )
+        .unwrap_err();
+    assert_eq!(invalid_arguments.kind(), CallErrorKind::InvalidArguments);
+    assert_eq!(decodes.get(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(provider.calls.get(), 0);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn immutable_interface_rejects_a_supplied_validator() {
     let (_, provider, _) = registry_and_provider();
@@ -766,7 +849,7 @@ fn invalid_host_responses_and_uncertain_operation_failures_use_canonical_codes()
     let (_, provider, _) = registry_and_provider();
 
     assert_failure(
-        provider.fetch("/invalid-object").unwrap_err(),
+        provider.observe_object("/invalid-object").unwrap_err(),
         CallErrorKind::Internal,
         ProtocolErrorCode::Internal,
     );

crates/wip-http/Cargo.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[package]
+name = "wip-http"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2024"
+description = "Framework-independent standard WIP over HTTP v1 binding"
+license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
+
+[dependencies]
+base64 = "0.22"
+http = "1"
+serde = "1"
+serde_json = "1"
+url = "2"
+wip-protocol = { path = "../wip-protocol" }

crates/wip-http/src/batch.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,570 @@
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
+
+use http::header::{ACCEPT, CONTENT_TYPE};
+use http::{Method, Request, Response, StatusCode};
+use serde_json::{Map, Value as Json};
+use wip_protocol::{
+    FetchInterfaceRequest, FetchInterfaceResponse, INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, ObserveRequest,
+    ObserveResponse, ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction,
+};
+
+use crate::response::{self, DecodedResponse};
+use crate::{
+    BodyKind, ClientResponseError, CodecError, EncodeHttpError, Endpoint, InvalidResponseKind,
+    JSON_CONTENT_TYPE, Limits, ResourceLimitKind, Route, is_json_content_type, json,
+};
+
+/// A retrieval method accepted by the standard v1 batch endpoint.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum BatchMethod {
+    /// Observe one object and its indexable descendants.
+    Observe,
+    /// Fetch one interface descriptor.
+    FetchInterface,
+}
+
+impl BatchMethod {
+    fn name(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Observe => "observe",
+            Self::FetchInterface => "fetch_interface",
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn interaction(self) -> ProtocolInteraction {
+        match self {
+            Self::Observe => ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+            Self::FetchInterface => ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// One retrieval interaction accepted by the standard v1 batch endpoint.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum BatchRequestKind {
+    /// Observe one object and its indexable descendants.
+    Observe(ObserveRequest),
+    /// Fetch one interface descriptor.
+    FetchInterface(FetchInterfaceRequest),
+    /// A known method whose `arguments` are not a valid logical request.
+    Invalid {
+        /// Method that was successfully identified from the item envelope.
+        method: BatchMethod,
+        /// Item-local `invalid_request` to return without rejecting other items.
+        error: ProtocolError,
+    },
+}
+
+impl BatchRequestKind {
+    fn interaction(&self) -> ProtocolInteraction {
+        match self {
+            Self::Observe(_) => ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+            Self::FetchInterface(_) => ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface,
+            Self::Invalid { method, .. } => method.interaction(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// One uniquely identified batch subrequest.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct BatchRequestItem {
+    /// Identifier used only to correlate the corresponding subresponse.
+    pub id: String,
+    /// Retrieval interaction and arguments.
+    pub request: BatchRequestKind,
+}
+
+/// A standard v1 batch request.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct BatchRequest {
+    /// Independent subrequests. Identifiers must be unique.
+    pub requests: Vec<BatchRequestItem>,
+}
+
+/// Successful result of one batch item.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum BatchSuccess {
+    /// Successful `observe` result.
+    Observe(ObserveResponse),
+    /// Successful `fetch_interface` result.
+    FetchInterface(FetchInterfaceResponse),
+}
+
+/// One batch subresponse, correlated by `id` rather than array position.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct BatchResponseItem {
+    /// Identifier copied from its subrequest.
+    pub id: String,
+    /// Direct interaction result or canonical item-local protocol failure.
+    pub outcome: Result<BatchSuccess, ProtocolError>,
+}
+
+/// A valid standard v1 batch response.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct BatchResponse {
+    /// Exactly one response for each requested identifier, in any order.
+    pub responses: Vec<BatchResponseItem>,
+}
+
+fn validate_ids<'a>(ids: impl Iterator<Item = &'a str>, maximum: usize) -> Result<(), CodecError> {
+    let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+    let mut count = 0;
+    for id in ids {
+        count += 1;
+        if !seen.insert(id) {
+            return Err(CodecError::DuplicateBatchId { id: id.into() });
+        }
+    }
+    if count > maximum {
+        return Err(CodecError::TooManyBatchItems {
+            actual: count,
+            maximum,
+        });
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn request_item_to_json(item: &BatchRequestItem) -> Result<Json, CodecError> {
+    let (method, arguments) = match &item.request {
+        BatchRequestKind::Observe(value) => ("observe", json::observe_request_to_json(value)),
+        BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(value) => (
+            "fetch_interface",
+            json::fetch_interface_request_to_json(value),
+        ),
+        BatchRequestKind::Invalid { .. } => {
+            return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+                field: "requests".into(),
+                reason: "item-local invalid requests cannot be encoded as client requests".into(),
+            });
+        }
+    };
+    Ok(serde_json::json!({"id": item.id, "method": method, "arguments": arguments}))
+}
+
+fn request_to_json(request: &BatchRequest, limits: Limits) -> Result<Json, CodecError> {
+    validate_ids(
+        request.requests.iter().map(|item| item.id.as_str()),
+        limits.max_batch_items,
+    )?;
+    for item in &request.requests {
+        match &item.request {
+            BatchRequestKind::Observe(value) => value.validate()?,
+            BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(_) | BatchRequestKind::Invalid { .. } => {}
+        }
+    }
+    let requests = request
+        .requests
+        .iter()
+        .map(request_item_to_json)
+        .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
+    Ok(serde_json::json!({"requests": requests}))
+}
+
+fn request_from_json(value: &Json, limits: Limits) -> Result<BatchRequest, CodecError> {
+    let fields = exact_object(value, "batch", &["requests"])?;
+    let values = array(required(fields, "requests")?, "requests")?;
+    if values.len() > limits.max_batch_items {
+        return Err(CodecError::TooManyBatchItems {
+            actual: values.len(),
+            maximum: limits.max_batch_items,
+        });
+    }
+    let mut requests = Vec::with_capacity(values.len());
+    for (index, value) in values.iter().enumerate() {
+        let field = format!("requests[{index}]");
+        let fields = exact_object(value, &field, &["id", "method", "arguments"])?;
+        let id = string(required(fields, "id")?, &format!("{field}.id"))?;
+        let method_name = string(required(fields, "method")?, &format!("{field}.method"))?;
+        let arguments = required(fields, "arguments")?;
+        let method = match method_name.as_str() {
+            "observe" => BatchMethod::Observe,
+            "fetch_interface" => BatchMethod::FetchInterface,
+            _ => {
+                return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+                    field: format!("{field}.method"),
+                    reason: "batch supports only observe and fetch_interface".into(),
+                });
+            }
+        };
+        let decoded = match method {
+            BatchMethod::Observe => {
+                json::observe_request_from_json(arguments).map(BatchRequestKind::Observe)
+            }
+            BatchMethod::FetchInterface => json::fetch_interface_request_from_json(arguments)
+                .map(BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface),
+        };
+        let request = decoded.unwrap_or_else(|error| BatchRequestKind::Invalid {
+            method,
+            error: ProtocolError {
+                code: ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+                message: format!("invalid {} arguments: {error}", method.name()),
+            },
+        });
+        requests.push(BatchRequestItem { id, request });
+    }
+    validate_ids(
+        requests.iter().map(|item| item.id.as_str()),
+        limits.max_batch_items,
+    )?;
+    Ok(BatchRequest { requests })
+}
+
+/// Encodes a batch request using `POST v1/batch`.
+pub fn encode_batch_request(
+    endpoint: &Endpoint,
+    value: &BatchRequest,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Request<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    let body = json::serialize(&request_to_json(value, limits)?, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    Ok(Request::builder()
+        .method(Method::POST)
+        .uri(endpoint.route(Route::Batch).as_str())
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .header(ACCEPT, "application/json")
+        .body(body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes and validates a batch request body.
+pub fn decode_batch_request(body: &[u8], limits: Limits) -> Result<BatchRequest, CodecError> {
+    let value = json::parse(body, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    request_from_json(&value, limits)
+}
+
+fn success_to_json(success: &BatchSuccess) -> Json {
+    match success {
+        BatchSuccess::Observe(value) => json::observe_response_to_json(value),
+        BatchSuccess::FetchInterface(value) => json::fetch_interface_response_to_json(value),
+    }
+}
+
+fn response_to_json(
+    request: &BatchRequest,
+    response: &BatchResponse,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Json, CodecError> {
+    correlate(request, response, limits)?;
+    Ok(serde_json::json!({
+        "responses": response.responses.iter().map(|item| {
+            let mut fields = Map::new();
+            fields.insert("id".into(), Json::String(item.id.clone()));
+            match &item.outcome {
+                Ok(success) => { fields.insert("result".into(), success_to_json(success)); }
+                Err(error) => { fields.insert("error".into(), response::item_error_to_json(error)); }
+            }
+            Json::Object(fields)
+        }).collect::<Vec<_>>()
+    }))
+}
+
+fn correlate(
+    request: &BatchRequest,
+    response: &BatchResponse,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<(), CodecError> {
+    validate_ids(
+        request.requests.iter().map(|item| item.id.as_str()),
+        limits.max_batch_items,
+    )?;
+    validate_ids(
+        response.responses.iter().map(|item| item.id.as_str()),
+        limits.max_batch_items,
+    )?;
+    let requested: BTreeMap<&str, &BatchRequestKind> = request
+        .requests
+        .iter()
+        .map(|item| (item.id.as_str(), &item.request))
+        .collect();
+    for item in &response.responses {
+        let Some(kind) = requested.get(item.id.as_str()) else {
+            return Err(CodecError::UnexpectedBatchId {
+                id: item.id.clone(),
+            });
+        };
+        match (&item.outcome, *kind) {
+            (Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(value)), BatchRequestKind::Observe(request)) => {
+                request.validate_response(value)?;
+            }
+            (
+                Ok(BatchSuccess::FetchInterface(value)),
+                BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(request),
+            ) => {
+                value.validate_for(request)?;
+            }
+            (
+                Err(error),
+                BatchRequestKind::Invalid {
+                    error: expected, ..
+                },
+            ) if error == expected => {}
+            (Err(error), kind)
+                if !matches!(kind, BatchRequestKind::Invalid { .. })
+                    && error.code.is_allowed_for(kind.interaction()) => {}
+            _ => {
+                return Err(CodecError::BatchInteractionMismatch {
+                    id: item.id.clone(),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    for item in &request.requests {
+        if !response.responses.iter().any(|other| other.id == item.id) {
+            return Err(CodecError::MissingBatchId {
+                id: item.id.clone(),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Encodes a valid batch response. Item failures remain inside HTTP 200.
+pub fn encode_batch_response(
+    request: &BatchRequest,
+    value: &BatchResponse,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    let body = json::serialize(
+        &response_to_json(request, value, limits)?,
+        BodyKind::Response,
+        limits,
+    )?;
+    Ok(Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .body(body)?)
+}
+
+/// Encodes a top-level batch-envelope failure.
+///
+/// Item-local failures belong in [`BatchResponseItem`]. Only failures that can
+/// reject the batch envelope before item execution are accepted here. A
+/// resource-limit failure defaults to the logical-limit status; use
+/// [`encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response`] when the concrete class is
+/// known.
+pub fn encode_batch_error_response(
+    error: &ProtocolError,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    if !matches!(
+        error.code,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest
+            | ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded
+            | ProtocolErrorCode::Internal
+    ) {
+        return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+            field: "error.code".into(),
+            reason: "code is not valid for a top-level batch failure".into(),
+        }
+        .into());
+    }
+    let body = json::serialize(&response::error_to_json(error), BodyKind::Response, limits)?;
+    Ok(Response::builder()
+        .status(response::status_for_error(error.code))
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .body(body)?)
+}
+
+/// Encodes a class-specific top-level batch `resource_limit_exceeded` failure.
+pub fn encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response(
+    error: &ProtocolError,
+    kind: ResourceLimitKind,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    if error.code != ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded {
+        return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+            field: "error.code".into(),
+            reason: "resource-limit encoder requires resource_limit_exceeded".into(),
+        }
+        .into());
+    }
+    let body = json::serialize(&response::error_to_json(error), BodyKind::Response, limits)?;
+    Ok(Response::builder()
+        .status(response::status_for_resource_limit(kind))
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .body(body)?)
+}
+
+fn response_from_json(
+    value: &Json,
+    request: &BatchRequest,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<BatchResponse, CodecError> {
+    let fields = exact_object(value, "batch", &["responses"])?;
+    let values = array(required(fields, "responses")?, "responses")?;
+    if values.len() > limits.max_batch_items {
+        return Err(CodecError::TooManyBatchItems {
+            actual: values.len(),
+            maximum: limits.max_batch_items,
+        });
+    }
+    let requested: BTreeMap<&str, &BatchRequestKind> = request
+        .requests
+        .iter()
+        .map(|item| (item.id.as_str(), &item.request))
+        .collect();
+    let mut responses = Vec::with_capacity(values.len());
+    for (index, value) in values.iter().enumerate() {
+        let field = format!("responses[{index}]");
+        let fields = object(value, &field)?;
+        for name in fields.keys() {
+            if !["id", "result", "error"].contains(&name.as_str()) {
+                return Err(CodecError::UnknownField {
+                    field: format!("{field}.{name}"),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+        let id = string(required(fields, "id")?, &format!("{field}.id"))?;
+        let Some(kind) = requested.get(id.as_str()) else {
+            return Err(CodecError::UnexpectedBatchId { id });
+        };
+        let outcome = match (fields.get("result"), fields.get("error")) {
+            (Some(_), Some(_)) | (None, None) => {
+                return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+                    field,
+                    reason: "batch item must contain exactly one of result or error".into(),
+                });
+            }
+            (None, Some(error)) => {
+                let error = response::item_error_from_json(error)?;
+                match kind {
+                    BatchRequestKind::Invalid {
+                        error: expected, ..
+                    } if error == *expected => {}
+                    BatchRequestKind::Invalid { .. } => {
+                        return Err(CodecError::BatchInteractionMismatch { id });
+                    }
+                    kind if error.code.is_allowed_for(kind.interaction()) => {}
+                    _ => return Err(CodecError::BatchInteractionMismatch { id }),
+                }
+                Err(error)
+            }
+            (Some(result), None) => Ok(match kind {
+                BatchRequestKind::Observe(request) => {
+                    let value = json::observe_response_from_json(result)?;
+                    request.validate_response(&value)?;
+                    BatchSuccess::Observe(value)
+                }
+                BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(request) => {
+                    let value = json::fetch_interface_response_from_json(result)?;
+                    value.validate_for(request)?;
+                    BatchSuccess::FetchInterface(value)
+                }
+                BatchRequestKind::Invalid { .. } => {
+                    return Err(CodecError::BatchInteractionMismatch { id });
+                }
+            }),
+        };
+        responses.push(BatchResponseItem { id, outcome });
+    }
+    let response = BatchResponse { responses };
+    correlate(request, &response, limits)?;
+    Ok(response)
+}
+
+/// Decodes a batch response, including item-local failures within HTTP 200.
+pub fn decode_batch_response<B: AsRef<[u8]>>(
+    request: &BatchRequest,
+    value: &Response<B>,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<DecodedResponse<BatchResponse>, ClientResponseError> {
+    let valid_content_type = value
+        .headers()
+        .get(CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .and_then(|value| value.to_str().ok())
+        .is_some_and(is_json_content_type);
+    if !valid_content_type {
+        if value.status().is_success() {
+            return Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                InvalidResponseKind::InvalidBatch,
+                "missing or non-UTF-8 application/json Content-Type",
+            ));
+        }
+        return Err(response::transport_failure(value.status()));
+    }
+    let decoded = response::decode(
+        value.status(),
+        value.body().as_ref(),
+        ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+        limits,
+        |json| response_from_json(json, request, limits),
+    )
+    .map_err(|error| match error {
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse { detail, .. } => {
+            ClientResponseError::invalid(InvalidResponseKind::InvalidBatch, detail)
+        }
+        other => other,
+    })?;
+    if let DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure { error, .. } = &decoded
+        && !matches!(
+            error.code,
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest
+                | ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded
+                | ProtocolErrorCode::Internal
+        )
+    {
+        return Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+            InvalidResponseKind::InvalidBatch,
+            "protocol code is not valid for a top-level batch failure",
+        ));
+    }
+    if let DecodedResponse::Success(success) = &decoded {
+        for item in &success.responses {
+            if let Ok(BatchSuccess::FetchInterface(interface)) = &item.outcome
+                && interface.descriptor.format != INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1
+            {
+                return Err(ClientResponseError::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat {
+                    format: interface.descriptor.format.clone(),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(decoded)
+}
+
+fn object<'a>(value: &'a Json, field: &str) -> Result<&'a Map<String, Json>, CodecError> {
+    value.as_object().ok_or_else(|| CodecError::InvalidField {
+        field: field.into(),
+        reason: "expected object".into(),
+    })
+}
+
+fn exact_object<'a>(
+    value: &'a Json,
+    field: &str,
+    allowed: &[&str],
+) -> Result<&'a Map<String, Json>, CodecError> {
+    let fields = object(value, field)?;
+    for name in fields.keys() {
+        if !allowed.contains(&name.as_str()) {
+            return Err(CodecError::UnknownField {
+                field: format!("{field}.{name}"),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(fields)
+}
+
+fn required<'a>(fields: &'a Map<String, Json>, name: &str) -> Result<&'a Json, CodecError> {
+    fields
+        .get(name)
+        .ok_or_else(|| CodecError::MissingField { field: name.into() })
+}
+
+fn string(value: &Json, field: &str) -> Result<String, CodecError> {
+    value
+        .as_str()
+        .map(str::to_owned)
+        .ok_or_else(|| CodecError::InvalidField {
+            field: field.into(),
+            reason: "expected string".into(),
+        })
+}
+
+fn array<'a>(value: &'a Json, field: &str) -> Result<&'a [Json], CodecError> {
+    value
+        .as_array()
+        .map(Vec::as_slice)
+        .ok_or_else(|| CodecError::InvalidField {
+            field: field.into(),
+            reason: "expected array".into(),
+        })
+}

crates/wip-http/src/codec.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,604 @@
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt::{self, Display, Formatter};
+
+use http::header::{ACCEPT, CONTENT_TYPE};
+use http::{HeaderMap, Method, Request, Response, StatusCode};
+use wip_protocol::{
+    CallOperationRequest, CallOperationResponse, FetchInterfaceRequest, FetchInterfaceResponse,
+    INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor, InterfaceTarget, ObserveRequest, ObserveResponse,
+    ProtocolError, ProtocolInteraction, Target,
+};
+
+use crate::response::{self, DecodedResponse};
+use crate::{
+    BodyKind, ClientResponseError, CodecError, Endpoint, InvalidResponseKind, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE,
+    Limits, ResourceLimitKind, Route, json,
+};
+
+fn request(
+    endpoint: &Endpoint,
+    route: Route,
+    body: Vec<u8>,
+) -> Result<Request<Vec<u8>>, http::Error> {
+    Request::builder()
+        .method(Method::POST)
+        .uri(endpoint.route(route).as_str())
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .header(ACCEPT, "application/json")
+        .body(body)
+}
+
+fn response(status: StatusCode, body: Vec<u8>) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, http::Error> {
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(status)
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .body(body)
+}
+
+fn require_response_content_type<B>(response: &Response<B>) -> Result<(), ClientResponseError> {
+    let valid = response
+        .headers()
+        .get(CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .and_then(|value| value.to_str().ok())
+        .is_some_and(is_json_content_type);
+    if valid {
+        Ok(())
+    } else if response.status().is_success() {
+        Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+            InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+            "missing or non-UTF-8 application/json Content-Type",
+        ))
+    } else {
+        Err(response::transport_failure(response.status()))
+    }
+}
+
+fn is_utf8_charset(value: &str) -> bool {
+    let value = value.trim();
+    value.eq_ignore_ascii_case("utf-8")
+        || value
+            .strip_prefix('"')
+            .and_then(|value| value.strip_suffix('"'))
+            .is_some_and(|value| value.eq_ignore_ascii_case("utf-8"))
+}
+
+/// Returns whether a Content-Type value denotes UTF-8 `application/json`.
+///
+/// The charset parameter is optional because JSON exchanged by this binding is
+/// always UTF-8; when present, its value must be `utf-8`. Other parameters are
+/// rejected so intermediaries cannot silently select another representation.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn is_json_content_type(value: &str) -> bool {
+    let mut parts = value.split(';');
+    if !parts
+        .next()
+        .is_some_and(|media| media.trim().eq_ignore_ascii_case("application/json"))
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    let mut saw_charset = false;
+    for parameter in parts {
+        let Some((name, value)) = parameter.trim().split_once('=') else {
+            return false;
+        };
+        if !name.trim().eq_ignore_ascii_case("charset") || !is_utf8_charset(value) || saw_charset {
+            return false;
+        }
+        saw_charset = true;
+    }
+    true
+}
+
+fn accepts_json(headers: &HeaderMap) -> bool {
+    let mut present = false;
+    let mut best_match: Option<((u8, u8), f32)> = None;
+    for value in headers.get_all(ACCEPT) {
+        present = true;
+        let Ok(value) = value.to_str() else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        for range in value.split(',') {
+            let mut parts = range.split(';');
+            let media_range = parts.next().unwrap_or_default().trim();
+            let mut quality = 1.0_f32;
+            let mut saw_quality = false;
+            let mut saw_charset = false;
+            let mut media_parameter_count = 0;
+            let mut valid = true;
+            for parameter in parts {
+                let parameter = parameter.trim();
+                let (name, value) = parameter
+                    .split_once('=')
+                    .map_or((parameter, None), |(name, value)| {
+                        (name.trim(), Some(value))
+                    });
+                if name.is_empty() {
+                    valid = false;
+                    break;
+                }
+                if saw_quality {
+                    // Parameters after q are Accept extensions and do not
+                    // constrain the selected representation.
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if name.eq_ignore_ascii_case("q") {
+                    let Some(value) = value else {
+                        valid = false;
+                        break;
+                    };
+                    saw_quality = true;
+                    match value.trim().parse::<f32>() {
+                        Ok(value) if (0.0..=1.0).contains(&value) => quality = value,
+                        _ => {
+                            valid = false;
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    let Some(value) = value else {
+                        valid = false;
+                        break;
+                    };
+                    if !name.eq_ignore_ascii_case("charset")
+                        || !is_utf8_charset(value)
+                        || saw_charset
+                    {
+                        valid = false;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    saw_charset = true;
+                    media_parameter_count += 1;
+                }
+            }
+            let media_specificity = if media_range.eq_ignore_ascii_case("application/json") {
+                Some(2)
+            } else if media_range.eq_ignore_ascii_case("application/*") {
+                Some(1)
+            } else if media_range == "*/*" {
+                Some(0)
+            } else {
+                None
+            };
+            if valid && let Some(media_specificity) = media_specificity {
+                let specificity = (media_specificity, media_parameter_count);
+                match best_match {
+                    Some((best_specificity, _)) if best_specificity > specificity => {}
+                    Some((best_specificity, best_quality)) if best_specificity == specificity => {
+                        best_match = Some((specificity, best_quality.max(quality)));
+                    }
+                    _ => best_match = Some((specificity, quality)),
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if present {
+        best_match.is_some_and(|(_, quality)| quality > 0.0)
+    } else {
+        true
+    }
+}
+
+/// A failure while validating inbound HTTP request metadata.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum RequestMetadataError {
+    /// The method or route does not match the selected WIP interaction.
+    InvalidRequest(CodecError),
+    /// The request body does not use UTF-8 `application/json`.
+    UnsupportedMediaType,
+    /// The request's `Accept` metadata excludes `application/json`.
+    NotAcceptable,
+}
+
+impl RequestMetadataError {
+    /// Returns the HTTP status for this metadata failure.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn status(&self) -> StatusCode {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidRequest(_) => StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST,
+            Self::UnsupportedMediaType => StatusCode::UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE,
+            Self::NotAcceptable => StatusCode::NOT_ACCEPTABLE,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for RequestMetadataError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidRequest(error) => error.fmt(formatter),
+            Self::UnsupportedMediaType => {
+                formatter.write_str("expected UTF-8 application/json Content-Type")
+            }
+            Self::NotAcceptable => formatter.write_str("request does not accept application/json"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for RequestMetadataError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn Error + 'static)> {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidRequest(error) => Some(error),
+            Self::UnsupportedMediaType | Self::NotAcceptable => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Validates mandatory HTTP metadata for an inbound WIP request.
+///
+/// Both absolute-form and origin-form request URIs are accepted, but the path
+/// must exactly equal the selected endpoint route and a query is forbidden.
+/// Unsupported content negotiation is reported as a Transport Binding metadata
+/// failure rather than a Core `invalid_request`.
+pub fn validate_http_request<B>(
+    endpoint: &Endpoint,
+    route: Route,
+    value: &Request<B>,
+) -> Result<(), RequestMetadataError> {
+    if value.method() != Method::POST {
+        return Err(RequestMetadataError::InvalidRequest(
+            CodecError::InvalidField {
+                field: "method".into(),
+                reason: "standard WIP routes require POST".into(),
+            },
+        ));
+    }
+    let expected = endpoint.route(route);
+    if value.uri().path() != expected.path() || value.uri().query().is_some() {
+        return Err(RequestMetadataError::InvalidRequest(
+            CodecError::InvalidField {
+                field: "route".into(),
+                reason: "request URI does not match the selected standard route".into(),
+            },
+        ));
+    }
+    let valid_content_type = value
+        .headers()
+        .get(CONTENT_TYPE)
+        .and_then(|value| value.to_str().ok())
+        .is_some_and(is_json_content_type);
+    if !valid_content_type {
+        return Err(RequestMetadataError::UnsupportedMediaType);
+    }
+    if !accepts_json(value.headers()) {
+        return Err(RequestMetadataError::NotAcceptable);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Encodes an `observe` HTTP request.
+pub fn encode_observe_request(
+    endpoint: &Endpoint,
+    value: &ObserveRequest,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Request<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    value.validate().map_err(CodecError::from)?;
+    let body = json::serialize(
+        &json::observe_request_to_json(value),
+        BodyKind::Request,
+        limits,
+    )?;
+    Ok(request(endpoint, Route::Observe, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes an `observe` request body.
+pub fn decode_observe_request(body: &[u8], limits: Limits) -> Result<ObserveRequest, CodecError> {
+    let value = json::parse(body, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    json::observe_request_from_json(&value)
+}
+
+/// Encodes a `fetch_interface` HTTP request.
+pub fn encode_fetch_interface_request(
+    endpoint: &Endpoint,
+    value: &FetchInterfaceRequest,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Request<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    let body = json::serialize(
+        &json::fetch_interface_request_to_json(value),
+        BodyKind::Request,
+        limits,
+    )?;
+    Ok(request(endpoint, Route::FetchInterface, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes a `fetch_interface` request body.
+pub fn decode_fetch_interface_request(
+    body: &[u8],
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<FetchInterfaceRequest, CodecError> {
+    let value = json::parse(body, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    json::fetch_interface_request_from_json(&value)
+}
+
+/// Descriptor-independent fields needed to resolve a `call_operation` request.
+///
+/// A Host decodes this metadata first, fixes the current interface descriptor,
+/// then passes the same body and descriptor to [`decode_call_operation_request`].
+/// This preserves canonical path/interface/operation lookup and error precedence
+/// without treating unvalidated argument JSON as a logical [`wip_protocol::Value`].
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct CallOperationMetadata {
+    /// Path and optional object-state precondition.
+    pub target: Target,
+    /// Interface reference and optional interface precondition.
+    pub interface: InterfaceTarget,
+    /// Operation name used to select a declaration.
+    pub operation: String,
+}
+
+impl CallOperationMetadata {
+    /// Decodes the descriptor-bound request and verifies that routing metadata
+    /// still matches the values used to resolve `descriptor`.
+    pub fn decode_request(
+        &self,
+        body: &[u8],
+        descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+        limits: Limits,
+    ) -> Result<CallOperationRequest, CodecError> {
+        let request = decode_call_operation_request(body, descriptor, limits)?;
+        if request.target != self.target
+            || request.interface != self.interface
+            || request.operation != self.operation
+        {
+            return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+                field: "request".into(),
+                reason: "call metadata changed after descriptor resolution".into(),
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(request)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Decodes descriptor-independent `call_operation` routing metadata.
+pub fn decode_call_operation_metadata(
+    body: &[u8],
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<CallOperationMetadata, CodecError> {
+    let value = json::parse(body, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    let (target, interface, operation) = json::call_request_metadata_from_json(&value)?;
+    Ok(CallOperationMetadata {
+        target,
+        interface,
+        operation,
+    })
+}
+
+/// Encodes a descriptor-bound `call_operation` HTTP request.
+pub fn encode_call_operation_request(
+    endpoint: &Endpoint,
+    value: &CallOperationRequest,
+    descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Request<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    let value = json::call_request_to_json(value, descriptor)?;
+    let body = json::serialize(&value, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    Ok(request(endpoint, Route::CallOperation, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes a descriptor-bound `call_operation` request body.
+pub fn decode_call_operation_request(
+    body: &[u8],
+    descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<CallOperationRequest, CodecError> {
+    let value = json::parse(body, BodyKind::Request, limits)?;
+    json::call_request_from_json(&value, descriptor)
+}
+
+/// Encodes a successful `observe` response as a direct body with HTTP 200.
+pub fn encode_observe_response(
+    request_value: &ObserveRequest,
+    value: &ObserveResponse,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    request_value
+        .validate_response(value)
+        .map_err(CodecError::from)?;
+    let body = json::serialize(
+        &json::observe_response_to_json(value),
+        BodyKind::Response,
+        limits,
+    )?;
+    Ok(response(StatusCode::OK, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes and classifies an `observe` client response.
+pub fn decode_observe_response<B: AsRef<[u8]>>(
+    request_value: &ObserveRequest,
+    value: &Response<B>,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<DecodedResponse<ObserveResponse>, ClientResponseError> {
+    require_response_content_type(value)?;
+    response::decode(
+        value.status(),
+        value.body().as_ref(),
+        ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+        limits,
+        |json| {
+            let observation = json::observe_response_from_json(json)?;
+            request_value.validate_response(&observation)?;
+            Ok(observation)
+        },
+    )
+}
+
+/// Encodes a successful `fetch_interface` response as a direct body with HTTP 200.
+pub fn encode_fetch_interface_response(
+    request_value: &FetchInterfaceRequest,
+    value: &FetchInterfaceResponse,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    value
+        .validate_for(request_value)
+        .map_err(CodecError::from)?;
+    let body = json::serialize(
+        &json::fetch_interface_response_to_json(value),
+        BodyKind::Response,
+        limits,
+    )?;
+    Ok(response(StatusCode::OK, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes and classifies a `fetch_interface` client response.
+pub fn decode_fetch_interface_response<B: AsRef<[u8]>>(
+    request_value: &FetchInterfaceRequest,
+    value: &Response<B>,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<DecodedResponse<FetchInterfaceResponse>, ClientResponseError> {
+    require_response_content_type(value)?;
+    let decoded = response::decode(
+        value.status(),
+        value.body().as_ref(),
+        ProtocolInteraction::FetchInterface,
+        limits,
+        |json| {
+            let interface = json::fetch_interface_response_from_json(json)?;
+            interface.validate_for(request_value)?;
+            Ok(interface)
+        },
+    )?;
+    if let DecodedResponse::Success(success) = &decoded
+        && success.descriptor.format != INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1
+    {
+        return Err(ClientResponseError::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat {
+            format: success.descriptor.format.clone(),
+        });
+    }
+    Ok(decoded)
+}
+
+/// Encodes a successful `call_operation` response as a direct body with HTTP 200.
+pub fn encode_call_operation_response(
+    request_value: &CallOperationRequest,
+    descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+    value: &CallOperationResponse,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    let json = json::call_response_to_json(value, descriptor, &request_value.operation)?;
+    let body = json::serialize(&json, BodyKind::Response, limits)?;
+    Ok(response(StatusCode::OK, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Decodes and classifies a descriptor-bound `call_operation` client response.
+pub fn decode_call_operation_response<B: AsRef<[u8]>>(
+    request_value: &CallOperationRequest,
+    descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+    value: &Response<B>,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<DecodedResponse<CallOperationResponse>, ClientResponseError> {
+    require_response_content_type(value)?;
+    response::decode(
+        value.status(),
+        value.body().as_ref(),
+        ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation,
+        limits,
+        |json| json::call_response_from_json(json, descriptor, &request_value.operation),
+    )
+}
+
+fn validate_protocol_error(
+    interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+    error: &ProtocolError,
+) -> Result<(), CodecError> {
+    if !error.code.is_allowed_for(interaction) {
+        return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+            field: "error.code".into(),
+            reason: format!(
+                "code `{}` is not allowed for {interaction:?}",
+                response::error_code_name(error.code)
+            ),
+        });
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn encode_protocol_error_with_status(
+    interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+    error: &ProtocolError,
+    status: StatusCode,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    validate_protocol_error(interaction, error)?;
+    let body = json::serialize(&response::error_to_json(error), BodyKind::Response, limits)?;
+    Ok(response(status, body)?)
+}
+
+/// Encodes a canonical Host error envelope using its standard HTTP status.
+///
+/// The code must be allowed for `interaction`. This API accepts only
+/// [`ProtocolError`], so client-local `InvalidResponse` and
+/// `UnsupportedDescriptorFormat` classifications cannot be emitted as Host
+/// error envelopes. Resource-limit errors use the logical-limit status; callers
+/// that know the concrete limit class should use
+/// [`encode_resource_limit_error_response`].
+pub fn encode_protocol_error_response(
+    interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+    error: &ProtocolError,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    encode_protocol_error_with_status(
+        interaction,
+        error,
+        response::status_for_error(error.code),
+        limits,
+    )
+}
+
+/// Encodes a `resource_limit_exceeded` envelope with its class-specific status.
+pub fn encode_resource_limit_error_response(
+    interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+    error: &ProtocolError,
+    kind: ResourceLimitKind,
+    limits: Limits,
+) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, EncodeHttpError> {
+    if error.code != wip_protocol::ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded {
+        return Err(CodecError::InvalidField {
+            field: "error.code".into(),
+            reason: "resource-limit encoder requires resource_limit_exceeded".into(),
+        }
+        .into());
+    }
+    encode_protocol_error_with_status(
+        interaction,
+        error,
+        response::status_for_resource_limit(kind),
+        limits,
+    )
+}
+
+/// Failure while building an outbound framework-neutral HTTP message.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum EncodeHttpError {
+    /// JSON or protocol encoding failed.
+    Codec(CodecError),
+    /// The framework-neutral HTTP message builder rejected the URI or headers.
+    Http(http::Error),
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Display for EncodeHttpError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::Codec(error) => error.fmt(formatter),
+            Self::Http(error) => error.fmt(formatter),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl std::error::Error for EncodeHttpError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn std::error::Error + 'static)> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Codec(error) => Some(error),
+            Self::Http(error) => Some(error),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<CodecError> for EncodeHttpError {
+    fn from(value: CodecError) -> Self {
+        Self::Codec(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<http::Error> for EncodeHttpError {
+    fn from(value: http::Error) -> Self {
+        Self::Http(value)
+    }
+}

crates/wip-http/src/endpoint.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt::{self, Display, Formatter};
+
+use url::Url;
+
+/// The media type emitted for every WIP request and every response with a body.
+pub const JSON_CONTENT_TYPE: &str = "application/json; charset=utf-8";
+
+/// A fixed standard WIP over HTTP v1 route.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub enum Route {
+    /// Observe one object and its indexable descendants.
+    Observe,
+    /// Fetch an interface descriptor.
+    FetchInterface,
+    /// Call one operation.
+    CallOperation,
+    /// Package independent retrieval interactions.
+    Batch,
+}
+
+impl Route {
+    /// Returns the RFC 3986 relative reference used below an endpoint prefix.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn relative_reference(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Observe => "v1/observe",
+            Self::FetchInterface => "v1/fetch_interface",
+            Self::CallOperation => "v1/call_operation",
+            Self::Batch => "v1/batch",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A canonical absolute hierarchical base URL whose path always ends in `/`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Endpoint(Url);
+
+impl Endpoint {
+    /// Parses and canonicalizes an endpoint.
+    ///
+    /// The input must be an absolute hierarchical URL with a host and without a
+    /// query or fragment. Its path is an endpoint prefix, not a Worldspace path.
+    /// A trailing slash is appended when absent so RFC 3986 relative-reference
+    /// resolution preserves the final prefix segment. The supplied scheme is
+    /// preserved; scheme and transport security are deployment concerns.
+    pub fn parse(input: &str) -> Result<Self, EndpointError> {
+        let mut url = Url::parse(input).map_err(EndpointError::InvalidUrl)?;
+        if url.cannot_be_a_base() || url.host_str().is_none() {
+            return Err(EndpointError::NotAbsoluteBase);
+        }
+        if url.query().is_some() {
+            return Err(EndpointError::HasQuery);
+        }
+        if url.fragment().is_some() {
+            return Err(EndpointError::HasFragment);
+        }
+        if !url.path().ends_with('/') {
+            let path = format!("{}/", url.path());
+            url.set_path(&path);
+        }
+        Ok(Self(url))
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the canonical base URL.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn as_url(&self) -> &Url {
+        &self.0
+    }
+
+    /// Resolves one fixed v1 route below this endpoint prefix.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn route(&self, route: Route) -> Url {
+        self.0
+            .join(route.relative_reference())
+            .expect("fixed relative WIP routes are valid URL references")
+    }
+
+    /// Recognizes an exact standard route below this endpoint.
+    ///
+    /// Query strings, fragments, additional path segments, and Worldspace paths
+    /// are not route components and therefore never match.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn recognize(&self, candidate: &Url) -> Option<Route> {
+        const ROUTES: [Route; 4] = [
+            Route::Observe,
+            Route::FetchInterface,
+            Route::CallOperation,
+            Route::Batch,
+        ];
+        if candidate.query().is_some() || candidate.fragment().is_some() {
+            return None;
+        }
+        ROUTES
+            .into_iter()
+            .find(|route| self.route(*route) == *candidate)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for Endpoint {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        self.0.fmt(formatter)
+    }
+}
+
+impl TryFrom<&str> for Endpoint {
+    type Error = EndpointError;
+
+    fn try_from(value: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        Self::parse(value)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Why an endpoint is not a valid standard WIP over HTTP base.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum EndpointError {
+    /// URL parsing failed.
+    InvalidUrl(url::ParseError),
+    /// The URL is not a hierarchical absolute URL with an authority.
+    NotAbsoluteBase,
+    /// A query component was supplied.
+    HasQuery,
+    /// A fragment component was supplied.
+    HasFragment,
+}
+
+impl Display for EndpointError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidUrl(error) => write!(formatter, "invalid endpoint URL: {error}"),
+            Self::NotAbsoluteBase => {
+                formatter.write_str("WIP endpoint must be an absolute base URL")
+            }
+            Self::HasQuery => formatter.write_str("WIP endpoint must not contain a query"),
+            Self::HasFragment => formatter.write_str("WIP endpoint must not contain a fragment"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for EndpointError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn Error + 'static)> {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidUrl(error) => Some(error),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+}

crates/wip-http/src/error.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,255 @@
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt::{self, Display, Formatter};
+
+/// Caller-selected hard limits applied before or while decoding JSON.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Limits {
+    /// Largest accepted request body in bytes.
+    pub(crate) max_request_bytes: usize,
+    /// Largest accepted response body in bytes.
+    pub(crate) max_response_bytes: usize,
+    /// Largest accepted JSON container nesting depth.
+    pub(crate) max_nesting: usize,
+    /// Largest accepted number of batch items.
+    pub(crate) max_batch_items: usize,
+}
+
+impl Limits {
+    /// Creates a nonzero limit set.
+    pub fn new(
+        max_request_bytes: usize,
+        max_response_bytes: usize,
+        max_nesting: usize,
+        max_batch_items: usize,
+    ) -> Result<Self, LimitConfigurationError> {
+        if max_request_bytes == 0 {
+            return Err(LimitConfigurationError::ZeroRequestBytes);
+        }
+        if max_response_bytes == 0 {
+            return Err(LimitConfigurationError::ZeroResponseBytes);
+        }
+        if max_nesting == 0 {
+            return Err(LimitConfigurationError::ZeroNesting);
+        }
+        if max_batch_items == 0 {
+            return Err(LimitConfigurationError::ZeroBatchItems);
+        }
+        Ok(Self {
+            max_request_bytes,
+            max_response_bytes,
+            max_nesting,
+            max_batch_items,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the request body byte limit.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn max_request_bytes(self) -> usize {
+        self.max_request_bytes
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the response body byte limit.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn max_response_bytes(self) -> usize {
+        self.max_response_bytes
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the JSON container nesting limit.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn max_nesting(self) -> usize {
+        self.max_nesting
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the batch item count limit.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn max_batch_items(self) -> usize {
+        self.max_batch_items
+    }
+}
+
+/// Why a [`Limits`] configuration is not bounded.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum LimitConfigurationError {
+    /// Request-byte limit was zero.
+    ZeroRequestBytes,
+    /// Response-byte limit was zero.
+    ZeroResponseBytes,
+    /// Nesting limit was zero.
+    ZeroNesting,
+    /// Batch-item limit was zero.
+    ZeroBatchItems,
+}
+
+impl Display for LimitConfigurationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        formatter.write_str(match self {
+            Self::ZeroRequestBytes => "request byte limit must be nonzero",
+            Self::ZeroResponseBytes => "response byte limit must be nonzero",
+            Self::ZeroNesting => "nesting limit must be nonzero",
+            Self::ZeroBatchItems => "batch item limit must be nonzero",
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for LimitConfigurationError {}
+
+/// Whether a body is being decoded as a request or response.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum BodyKind {
+    /// An inbound server request.
+    Request,
+    /// An inbound client response.
+    Response,
+}
+
+/// The class of a resource limit exceeded by a wire representation.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ResourceLimitKind {
+    /// A request or response representation exceeded its byte-size limit.
+    RepresentationBytes,
+    /// A logical limit such as nesting depth, batch count, or collection size was exceeded.
+    Logical,
+}
+
+/// A malformed or locally disallowed wire representation.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum CodecError {
+    /// The body exceeds its configured byte limit.
+    BodyTooLarge {
+        /// Actual body size.
+        actual: usize,
+        /// Configured maximum.
+        maximum: usize,
+    },
+    /// JSON syntax is invalid.
+    InvalidJson(serde_json::Error),
+    /// A JSON container exceeds the configured nesting depth.
+    NestingTooDeep {
+        /// Configured maximum.
+        maximum: usize,
+    },
+    /// A required field is absent.
+    MissingField {
+        /// Field name.
+        field: String,
+    },
+    /// An undeclared field is present.
+    UnknownField {
+        /// Field name.
+        field: String,
+    },
+    /// A field has an invalid JSON type or semantic representation.
+    InvalidField {
+        /// Field name or value location.
+        field: String,
+        /// Stable human-readable reason.
+        reason: String,
+    },
+    /// An optional field was represented by JSON null rather than omission.
+    NullOptionalField {
+        /// Field name.
+        field: String,
+    },
+    /// Base64 is not canonical RFC 4648 Section 4 encoding.
+    InvalidBase64 {
+        /// Field name or value location.
+        field: String,
+    },
+    /// Logical protocol validation rejected the decoded representation.
+    ProtocolValidation(wip_protocol::ValidationError),
+    /// The batch exceeds its configured item count.
+    TooManyBatchItems {
+        /// Actual item count.
+        actual: usize,
+        /// Configured maximum.
+        maximum: usize,
+    },
+    /// Batch item identifiers are not unique.
+    DuplicateBatchId {
+        /// Repeated identifier.
+        id: String,
+    },
+    /// A response contains a batch identifier that was not requested.
+    UnexpectedBatchId {
+        /// Unexpected identifier.
+        id: String,
+    },
+    /// A response omitted a requested batch identifier.
+    MissingBatchId {
+        /// Missing identifier.
+        id: String,
+    },
+    /// A batch item result does not match its requested interaction.
+    BatchInteractionMismatch {
+        /// Item identifier.
+        id: String,
+    },
+}
+
+impl CodecError {
+    /// Classifies this failure when it represents a canonical resource limit.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn resource_limit_kind(&self) -> Option<ResourceLimitKind> {
+        match self {
+            Self::BodyTooLarge { .. } => Some(ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes),
+            Self::NestingTooDeep { .. } | Self::TooManyBatchItems { .. } => {
+                Some(ResourceLimitKind::Logical)
+            }
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for CodecError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::BodyTooLarge { actual, maximum } => {
+                write!(formatter, "body has {actual} bytes; maximum is {maximum}")
+            }
+            Self::InvalidJson(error) => write!(formatter, "invalid JSON: {error}"),
+            Self::NestingTooDeep { maximum } => {
+                write!(formatter, "JSON nesting exceeds maximum {maximum}")
+            }
+            Self::MissingField { field } => write!(formatter, "missing field `{field}`"),
+            Self::UnknownField { field } => write!(formatter, "unknown field `{field}`"),
+            Self::InvalidField { field, reason } => {
+                write!(formatter, "invalid field `{field}`: {reason}")
+            }
+            Self::NullOptionalField { field } => {
+                write!(
+                    formatter,
+                    "optional field `{field}` must be omitted instead of null"
+                )
+            }
+            Self::InvalidBase64 { field } => {
+                write!(formatter, "field `{field}` is not canonical base64")
+            }
+            Self::ProtocolValidation(error) => error.fmt(formatter),
+            Self::TooManyBatchItems { actual, maximum } => {
+                write!(formatter, "batch has {actual} items; maximum is {maximum}")
+            }
+            Self::DuplicateBatchId { id } => write!(formatter, "duplicate batch id `{id}`"),
+            Self::UnexpectedBatchId { id } => write!(formatter, "unexpected batch id `{id}`"),
+            Self::MissingBatchId { id } => write!(formatter, "missing batch id `{id}`"),
+            Self::BatchInteractionMismatch { id } => {
+                write!(formatter, "batch result does not match request `{id}`")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for CodecError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn Error + 'static)> {
+        match self {
+            Self::InvalidJson(error) => Some(error),
+            Self::ProtocolValidation(error) => Some(error),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<wip_protocol::ValidationError> for CodecError {
+    fn from(value: wip_protocol::ValidationError) -> Self {
+        Self::ProtocolValidation(value)
+    }
+}

crates/wip-http/src/lib.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+//! Framework-independent standard WIP over HTTP v1 binding.
+//!
+//! This crate owns endpoint and route derivation, UTF-8 JSON encoding, canonical
+//! success and error response handling, HTTP status mapping, descriptor-guided
+//! operation-value conversion, and retrieval batching. It deliberately performs
+//! no I/O and depends on no server framework, TLS implementation, filesystem
+//! projection, client cache, or presentation layer. URL schemes, TLS,
+//! certificates, authentication mechanisms, proxies, and caches are selected by
+//! the HTTP implementation and deployment rather than by WIP conformance.
+//!
+//! Logical values remain owned by [`wip_protocol`]. Validators and `Bytes` are
+//! encoded in JSON bodies using canonical RFC 4648 Section 4 base64; this crate
+//! does not infer WIP validator semantics from `ETag` or `If-Match`.
+//!
+//! ```
+//! use wip_http::{Endpoint, Limits, encode_observe_request};
+//! use wip_protocol::ObserveRequest;
+//!
+//! let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://example.test/api/wip")?;
+//! let limits = Limits::new(64 * 1024, 1024 * 1024, 64, 100)?;
+//! let request = encode_observe_request(
+//!     &endpoint,
+//!     &ObserveRequest { path: "/items/123".into(), depth: 0 },
+//!     limits,
+//! )?;
+//! assert_eq!(request.uri(), "http://example.test/api/wip/v1/observe");
+//! assert_eq!(request.method(), http::Method::POST);
+//! # Ok::<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>>(())
+//! ```
+
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
+
+mod batch;
+mod codec;
+mod endpoint;
+mod error;
+mod json;
+mod response;
+
+pub use batch::{
+    BatchMethod, BatchRequest, BatchRequestItem, BatchRequestKind, BatchResponse,
+    BatchResponseItem, BatchSuccess, decode_batch_request, decode_batch_response,
+    encode_batch_error_response, encode_batch_request, encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response,
+    encode_batch_response,
+};
+pub use codec::{
+    CallOperationMetadata, EncodeHttpError, RequestMetadataError, decode_call_operation_metadata,
+    decode_call_operation_request, decode_call_operation_response, decode_fetch_interface_request,
+    decode_fetch_interface_response, decode_observe_request, decode_observe_response,
+    encode_call_operation_request, encode_call_operation_response, encode_fetch_interface_request,
+    encode_fetch_interface_response, encode_observe_request, encode_observe_response,
+    encode_protocol_error_response, encode_resource_limit_error_response, is_json_content_type,
+    validate_http_request,
+};
+pub use endpoint::{Endpoint, EndpointError, JSON_CONTENT_TYPE, Route};
+pub use error::{BodyKind, CodecError, LimitConfigurationError, Limits, ResourceLimitKind};
+pub use response::{
+    ClientResponseError, DecodedResponse, InvalidResponseKind, StatusMismatch,
+    TransportBindingFailure, TransportFailureKind, error_code_name, status_for_error,
+    status_for_resource_limit,
+};
+
+/// Framework-neutral HTTP types used by this binding's public API.
+pub use http;
+/// URL type used by [`Endpoint`].
+pub use url;
+/// Transport-independent logical protocol model used by this binding.
+pub use wip_protocol;

crates/wip-http/src/response.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,365 @@
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt::{self, Display, Formatter};
+
+use http::StatusCode;
+use serde_json::{Map, Value as Json};
+use wip_protocol::{ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction};
+
+use crate::{BodyKind, CodecError, Limits, ResourceLimitKind, json};
+
+/// A successfully classified client response.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum DecodedResponse<T> {
+    /// A successful direct response body.
+    Success(T),
+    /// A canonical Host protocol failure.
+    ProtocolFailure {
+        /// The authoritative protocol error decoded from the envelope.
+        error: ProtocolError,
+        /// A diagnostic when the HTTP status differs from the canonical mapping.
+        status_mismatch: Option<StatusMismatch>,
+    },
+}
+
+/// Diagnostic evidence that HTTP metadata disagrees with a valid error envelope.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct StatusMismatch {
+    /// Status received from the peer.
+    pub actual: StatusCode,
+    /// Canonical status for the envelope's protocol code.
+    pub expected: StatusCode,
+}
+
+/// Class of non-protocol HTTP failure returned without a valid WIP envelope.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum TransportFailureKind {
+    /// HTTP 401, commonly emitted by authentication infrastructure.
+    AuthenticationRequired,
+    /// HTTP 403, commonly emitted by endpoint policy or infrastructure.
+    EndpointForbidden,
+    /// Another non-success HTTP response without a WIP error envelope.
+    HttpStatus,
+}
+
+/// A non-success HTTP response that is not a valid WIP protocol failure.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct TransportBindingFailure {
+    /// HTTP status returned by the peer or intermediary.
+    pub status: StatusCode,
+    /// Coarse classification which does not invent a protocol error code.
+    pub kind: TransportFailureKind,
+}
+
+/// Why a response violates the WIP v1 response contract.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum InvalidResponseKind {
+    /// A 2xx response contained an error envelope.
+    ErrorEnvelopeOnSuccessStatus,
+    /// A non-2xx response contained a valid success body.
+    SuccessBodyOnErrorStatus,
+    /// A valid error envelope used a code forbidden for the interaction.
+    DisallowedProtocolCode,
+    /// A valid success body used a 2xx status other than canonical HTTP 200.
+    NonCanonicalSuccessStatus,
+    /// A 2xx body was malformed or semantically invalid.
+    InvalidSuccessBody,
+    /// A batch response did not correlate exactly with its request.
+    InvalidBatch,
+}
+
+/// A local failure while classifying or validating a peer response.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum ClientResponseError {
+    /// The HTTP exchange failed outside the protocol envelope.
+    TransportBinding(TransportBindingFailure),
+    /// The peer supplied a contradictory or invalid WIP response.
+    InvalidResponse {
+        /// Stable response-failure category.
+        kind: InvalidResponseKind,
+        /// Bounded diagnostic from local decoding.
+        detail: String,
+    },
+    /// The descriptor is structurally valid but uses an unsupported format.
+    UnsupportedDescriptorFormat {
+        /// Format identifier received from the Host.
+        format: String,
+    },
+}
+
+impl ClientResponseError {
+    pub(crate) fn invalid(kind: InvalidResponseKind, detail: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self::InvalidResponse {
+            kind,
+            detail: detail.into(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for ClientResponseError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::TransportBinding(failure) => write!(
+                formatter,
+                "transport binding failure ({:?}, HTTP {})",
+                failure.kind, failure.status
+            ),
+            Self::InvalidResponse { kind, detail } => {
+                write!(formatter, "invalid WIP response ({kind:?}): {detail}")
+            }
+            Self::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat { format } => {
+                write!(
+                    formatter,
+                    "unsupported interface descriptor format `{format}`"
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for ClientResponseError {}
+
+/// Returns the canonical HTTP status for a wire-level protocol error.
+///
+/// [`ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded`] defaults to the logical-limit
+/// status. Use [`status_for_resource_limit`] when the concrete limit class is
+/// known.
+#[must_use]
+pub const fn status_for_error(code: ProtocolErrorCode) -> StatusCode {
+    match code {
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest => StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound | ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound => StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceMismatch => StatusCode::CONFLICT,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::OperationNotFound => StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidArguments => StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorRequired | ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorRequired => {
+            StatusCode::PRECONDITION_REQUIRED
+        }
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorMismatch | ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorMismatch => {
+            StatusCode::PRECONDITION_FAILED
+        }
+        ProtocolErrorCode::PermissionDenied => StatusCode::FORBIDDEN,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded => StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY,
+        ProtocolErrorCode::Internal | ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown => {
+            StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Returns the canonical HTTP status for a concrete resource-limit class.
+#[must_use]
+pub const fn status_for_resource_limit(kind: ResourceLimitKind) -> StatusCode {
+    match kind {
+        ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes => StatusCode::PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE,
+        ResourceLimitKind::Logical => StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY,
+    }
+}
+
+fn status_matches_error(status: StatusCode, code: ProtocolErrorCode) -> bool {
+    match code {
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded => {
+            status == StatusCode::PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE || status == StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
+        }
+        _ => status == status_for_error(code),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Returns the stable snake-case wire spelling of a protocol code.
+#[must_use]
+pub const fn error_code_name(code: ProtocolErrorCode) -> &'static str {
+    match code {
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest => "invalid_request",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound => "not_found",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound => "interface_not_found",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceMismatch => "interface_mismatch",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::OperationNotFound => "operation_not_found",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidArguments => "invalid_arguments",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorRequired => "validator_required",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorMismatch => "validator_mismatch",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorRequired => "interface_validator_required",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorMismatch => "interface_validator_mismatch",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::PermissionDenied => "permission_denied",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded => "resource_limit_exceeded",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::Internal => "internal",
+        ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown => "operation_outcome_unknown",
+    }
+}
+
+fn error_code_from_name(name: &str) -> Option<ProtocolErrorCode> {
+    Some(match name {
+        "invalid_request" => ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+        "not_found" => ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound,
+        "interface_not_found" => ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound,
+        "interface_mismatch" => ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceMismatch,
+        "operation_not_found" => ProtocolErrorCode::OperationNotFound,
+        "invalid_arguments" => ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidArguments,
+        "validator_required" => ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorRequired,
+        "validator_mismatch" => ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorMismatch,
+        "interface_validator_required" => ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorRequired,
+        "interface_validator_mismatch" => ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorMismatch,
+        "permission_denied" => ProtocolErrorCode::PermissionDenied,
+        "resource_limit_exceeded" => ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded,
+        "internal" => ProtocolErrorCode::Internal,
+        "operation_outcome_unknown" => ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown,
+        _ => return None,
+    })
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn error_to_json(error: &ProtocolError) -> Json {
+    serde_json::json!({
+        "error": {
+            "code": error_code_name(error.code),
+            "message": error.message,
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn item_error_to_json(error: &ProtocolError) -> Json {
+    serde_json::json!({
+        "code": error_code_name(error.code),
+        "message": error.message,
+    })
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn item_error_from_json(value: &Json) -> Result<ProtocolError, CodecError> {
+    let fields = value
+        .as_object()
+        .ok_or_else(|| invalid_field("error", "expected object"))?;
+    exact(fields, &["code", "message"], "error")?;
+    let code_name = required_string(fields, "code")?;
+    let code = error_code_from_name(code_name)
+        .ok_or_else(|| invalid_field("error.code", "unknown protocol error code"))?;
+    let message = required_string(fields, "message")?.to_owned();
+    Ok(ProtocolError { code, message })
+}
+
+fn envelope_error_from_json(value: &Json) -> Result<Option<ProtocolError>, CodecError> {
+    let Some(fields) = value.as_object() else {
+        return Ok(None);
+    };
+    if fields.len() != 1 || !fields.contains_key("error") {
+        return Ok(None);
+    }
+    item_error_from_json(&fields["error"]).map(Some)
+}
+
+fn exact(fields: &Map<String, Json>, allowed: &[&str], parent: &str) -> Result<(), CodecError> {
+    for name in fields.keys() {
+        if !allowed.contains(&name.as_str()) {
+            return Err(CodecError::UnknownField {
+                field: format!("{parent}.{name}"),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    for name in allowed {
+        if !fields.contains_key(*name) {
+            return Err(CodecError::MissingField {
+                field: format!("{parent}.{name}"),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn required_string<'a>(fields: &'a Map<String, Json>, name: &str) -> Result<&'a str, CodecError> {
+    fields
+        .get(name)
+        .and_then(Json::as_str)
+        .ok_or_else(|| invalid_field(&format!("error.{name}"), "expected string"))
+}
+
+fn invalid_field(field: &str, reason: &str) -> CodecError {
+    CodecError::InvalidField {
+        field: field.into(),
+        reason: reason.into(),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn decode<T>(
+    status: StatusCode,
+    body: &[u8],
+    interaction: ProtocolInteraction,
+    limits: Limits,
+    success: impl FnOnce(&Json) -> Result<T, CodecError>,
+) -> Result<DecodedResponse<T>, ClientResponseError> {
+    let value = match json::parse(body, BodyKind::Response, limits) {
+        Ok(value) => value,
+        Err(_) if !status.is_success() => {
+            return Err(transport_failure(status));
+        }
+        Err(error) => {
+            return Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+                error.to_string(),
+            ));
+        }
+    };
+
+    match envelope_error_from_json(&value) {
+        Ok(Some(error)) => {
+            if status.is_success() {
+                return Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                    InvalidResponseKind::ErrorEnvelopeOnSuccessStatus,
+                    "protocol error envelope carried by a success status",
+                ));
+            }
+            if !error.code.is_allowed_for(interaction) {
+                return Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                    InvalidResponseKind::DisallowedProtocolCode,
+                    format!(
+                        "code `{}` is not allowed for {interaction:?}",
+                        error_code_name(error.code)
+                    ),
+                ));
+            }
+            let expected = status_for_error(error.code);
+            let status_mismatch =
+                (!status_matches_error(status, error.code)).then_some(StatusMismatch {
+                    actual: status,
+                    expected,
+                });
+            Ok(DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure {
+                error,
+                status_mismatch,
+            })
+        }
+        Err(_) if !status.is_success() => Err(transport_failure(status)),
+        Err(error) => Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+            InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+            error.to_string(),
+        )),
+        Ok(None) if status == StatusCode::OK => success(&value)
+            .map(DecodedResponse::Success)
+            .map_err(|error| {
+                ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                    InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+                    error.to_string(),
+                )
+            }),
+        Ok(None) if status.is_success() => match success(&value) {
+            Ok(_) => Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                InvalidResponseKind::NonCanonicalSuccessStatus,
+                format!("success body carried by non-canonical HTTP {status}"),
+            )),
+            Err(error) => Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+                error.to_string(),
+            )),
+        },
+        Ok(None) => match success(&value) {
+            Ok(_) => Err(ClientResponseError::invalid(
+                InvalidResponseKind::SuccessBodyOnErrorStatus,
+                "valid success body carried by a non-success status",
+            )),
+            Err(_) => Err(transport_failure(status)),
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn transport_failure(status: StatusCode) -> ClientResponseError {
+    let kind = match status {
+        StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED => TransportFailureKind::AuthenticationRequired,
+        StatusCode::FORBIDDEN => TransportFailureKind::EndpointForbidden,
+        _ => TransportFailureKind::HttpStatus,
+    };
+    ClientResponseError::TransportBinding(TransportBindingFailure { status, kind })
+}

crates/wip-http/tests/batch.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+use wip_http::http::StatusCode;
+use wip_http::wip_protocol::{
+    FetchInterfaceRequest, FetchInterfaceResponse, INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor,
+    Object, ObjectObservation, ObserveRequest, ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode,
+};
+use wip_http::{
+    BatchMethod, BatchRequest, BatchRequestItem, BatchRequestKind, BatchResponse,
+    BatchResponseItem, BatchSuccess, ClientResponseError, DecodedResponse, Endpoint,
+    InvalidResponseKind, Limits, ResourceLimitKind, decode_batch_request, decode_batch_response,
+    encode_batch_error_response, encode_batch_request, encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response,
+    encode_batch_response,
+};
+
+fn limits() -> Limits {
+    Limits::new(100_000, 100_000, 64, 4).unwrap()
+}
+
+fn observed_item(validator: Option<Vec<u8>>) -> ObjectObservation {
+    ObjectObservation {
+        object: Object {
+            name: "item".into(),
+            description: None,
+            interfaces: vec![],
+            r#ref: None,
+            validator,
+        },
+        children: None,
+    }
+}
+
+fn request() -> BatchRequest {
+    BatchRequest {
+        requests: vec![
+            BatchRequestItem {
+                id: "object".into(),
+                request: BatchRequestKind::Observe(ObserveRequest {
+                    path: "/item".into(),
+                    depth: 0,
+                }),
+            },
+            BatchRequestItem {
+                id: "interface".into(),
+                request: BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(FetchInterfaceRequest {
+                    interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+                }),
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn batch_round_trips_by_unique_id_with_item_failures_and_validators() {
+    let request = request();
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("https://example.test/wip").unwrap();
+    let encoded_request = encode_batch_request(&endpoint, &request, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(encoded_request.uri().path(), "/wip/v1/batch");
+    assert_eq!(encoded_request.headers()["accept"], "application/json");
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_batch_request(encoded_request.body(), limits()).unwrap(),
+        request
+    );
+
+    let response = BatchResponse {
+        responses: vec![
+            BatchResponseItem {
+                id: "interface".into(),
+                outcome: Err(ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound,
+                    message: "gone".into(),
+                }),
+            },
+            BatchResponseItem {
+                id: "object".into(),
+                outcome: Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(observed_item(Some(vec![
+                    0, 1, 2, 255,
+                ])))),
+            },
+        ],
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_batch_response(&request, &response, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(encoded.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    assert!(
+        std::str::from_utf8(encoded.body())
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("AAEC/w==")
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(response)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn batch_interface_validator_round_trips_in_item_body() {
+    let request = BatchRequest {
+        requests: vec![BatchRequestItem {
+            id: "interface".into(),
+            request: BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(FetchInterfaceRequest {
+                interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+            }),
+        }],
+    };
+    let response = BatchResponse {
+        responses: vec![BatchResponseItem {
+            id: "interface".into(),
+            outcome: Ok(BatchSuccess::FetchInterface(FetchInterfaceResponse {
+                interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+                descriptor: InterfaceDescriptor {
+                    format: INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1.into(),
+                    documentation: None,
+                    types: vec![],
+                    operations: vec![],
+                },
+                validator: Some(vec![255, 254, 253]),
+            })),
+        }],
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_batch_response(&request, &response, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        std::str::from_utf8(encoded.body())
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("//79")
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(response)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn malformed_known_method_arguments_are_item_local() {
+    let body = br#"{
+        "requests": [
+            {"id":"valid","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/item","depth":0}},
+            {"id":"invalid","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/","depth":"deep"}}
+        ]
+    }"#;
+    let decoded = decode_batch_request(body, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decoded.requests[0].request,
+        BatchRequestKind::Observe(_)
+    ));
+    let invalid = match &decoded.requests[1].request {
+        BatchRequestKind::Invalid { method, error } => {
+            assert_eq!(*method, BatchMethod::Observe);
+            assert_eq!(error.code, ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest);
+            error.clone()
+        }
+        other => panic!("expected item-local invalid request, got {other:?}"),
+    };
+
+    let response = BatchResponse {
+        responses: vec![
+            BatchResponseItem {
+                id: "valid".into(),
+                outcome: Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(observed_item(None))),
+            },
+            BatchResponseItem {
+                id: "invalid".into(),
+                outcome: Err(invalid),
+            },
+        ],
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_batch_response(&decoded, &response, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(encoded.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_batch_response(&decoded, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(response)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn invalid_batch_envelopes_are_rejected_at_top_level() {
+    assert!(decode_batch_request(br#"{}"#, limits()).is_err());
+
+    let malformed_item = br#"{
+        "requests": [
+            {"id":"item","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/","depth":0},"extra":true}
+        ]
+    }"#;
+    assert!(decode_batch_request(malformed_item, limits()).is_err());
+
+    let duplicate = br#"{
+        "requests": [
+            {"id":"same","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/a","depth":0}},
+            {"id":"same","method":"observe","arguments":{"path":"/b","depth":0}}
+        ]
+    }"#;
+    assert!(decode_batch_request(duplicate, limits()).is_err());
+
+    let operation = br#"{
+        "requests": [
+            {"id":"call","method":"call_operation","arguments":{}}
+        ]
+    }"#;
+    assert!(decode_batch_request(operation, limits()).is_err());
+
+    let too_many = Limits::new(100_000, 100_000, 64, 1).unwrap();
+    assert!(decode_batch_request(duplicate, too_many).is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn batch_resource_limits_use_413_or_422_and_never_429() {
+    let error = ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded,
+        message: "bounded".into(),
+    };
+    for (kind, status) in [
+        (
+            ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes,
+            StatusCode::PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE,
+        ),
+        (ResourceLimitKind::Logical, StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY),
+    ] {
+        let encoded = encode_batch_resource_limit_error_response(&error, kind, limits()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(encoded.status(), status);
+        assert_ne!(encoded.status(), StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
+        assert_eq!(
+            decode_batch_response(&request(), &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+            DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure {
+                error: error.clone(),
+                status_mismatch: None,
+            }
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn batch_success_body_requires_exactly_http_200() {
+    let request = request();
+    let response = BatchResponse {
+        responses: vec![
+            BatchResponseItem {
+                id: "object".into(),
+                outcome: Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(observed_item(None))),
+            },
+            BatchResponseItem {
+                id: "interface".into(),
+                outcome: Err(ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound,
+                    message: "gone".into(),
+                }),
+            },
+        ],
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_batch_response(&request, &response, limits()).unwrap();
+    for status in [StatusCode::CREATED, StatusCode::ACCEPTED] {
+        let mut noncanonical = encoded.clone();
+        *noncanonical.status_mut() = status;
+        assert!(matches!(
+            decode_batch_response(&request, &noncanonical, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+            ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse { .. }
+        ));
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn top_level_batch_errors_use_the_batch_allowed_code_set() {
+    let invalid = ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+        message: "bad envelope".into(),
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_batch_error_response(&invalid, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request(), &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure {
+            error: invalid,
+            status_mismatch: None,
+        }
+    );
+
+    let not_found = wip_http::http::Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(br#"{"error":{"code":"not_found","message":"not a batch failure"}}"#.to_vec())
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request(), &not_found, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::InvalidBatch,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unsupported_batch_descriptor_waits_for_envelope_correlation() {
+    let duplicate = wip_http::http::Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(
+            br#"{"responses":[{"id":"interface","result":{"interface":"interface-v1","descriptor":{"format":"wip-interface/2","future":true}}},{"id":"interface","result":{"interface":"interface-v1","descriptor":{"format":"wip-interface/2"}}}]}"#
+                .to_vec(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request(), &duplicate, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::InvalidBatch,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+
+    let missing = wip_http::http::Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(
+            br#"{"responses":[{"id":"interface","result":{"interface":"interface-v1","descriptor":{"format":"wip-interface/2"}}}]}"#
+                .to_vec(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request(), &missing, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::InvalidBatch,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+
+    let request = BatchRequest {
+        requests: vec![BatchRequestItem {
+            id: "interface".into(),
+            request: BatchRequestKind::FetchInterface(FetchInterfaceRequest {
+                interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+            }),
+        }],
+    };
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_batch_response(&request, &missing, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat { format }
+            if format == "wip-interface/2"
+    ));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn batch_response_must_have_exactly_the_requested_ids() {
+    let request = request();
+    let missing = BatchResponse {
+        responses: vec![BatchResponseItem {
+            id: "object".into(),
+            outcome: Ok(BatchSuccess::Observe(observed_item(None))),
+        }],
+    };
+    assert!(encode_batch_response(&request, &missing, limits()).is_err());
+}

crates/wip-http/tests/codecs.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,526 @@
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+
+use wip_http::http::StatusCode;
+use wip_http::wip_protocol::{
+    CallOperationRequest, CallOperationResponse, Documentation, EnumCase, FetchInterfaceRequest,
+    FetchInterfaceResponse, FieldDeclaration, INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor,
+    InterfaceTarget, MAX_SAFE_INTEGER, Object, ObjectObservation, ObserveRequest,
+    OperationDeclaration, ParameterDeclaration, ReturnDeclaration, Target, TypeDeclaration,
+    TypeExpr, UnionCase, Value,
+};
+use wip_http::{
+    ClientResponseError, CodecError, DecodedResponse, Endpoint, InvalidResponseKind, Limits,
+    ResourceLimitKind, decode_call_operation_metadata, decode_call_operation_request,
+    decode_call_operation_response, decode_fetch_interface_request,
+    decode_fetch_interface_response, decode_observe_request, decode_observe_response,
+    encode_call_operation_request, encode_call_operation_response, encode_fetch_interface_request,
+    encode_fetch_interface_response, encode_observe_request, encode_observe_response,
+};
+
+fn limits() -> Limits {
+    Limits::new(1_000_000, 1_000_000, 100, 100).unwrap()
+}
+
+fn endpoint() -> Endpoint {
+    Endpoint::parse("https://example.test/wip").unwrap()
+}
+
+fn object(name: &str, validator: &[u8]) -> Object {
+    Object {
+        name: name.into(),
+        description: Some("description".into()),
+        interfaces: vec!["interface-v1".into()],
+        r#ref: Some(format!("object:{name}")),
+        validator: Some(validator.to_vec()),
+    }
+}
+
+fn descriptor() -> InterfaceDescriptor {
+    InterfaceDescriptor {
+        format: INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1.into(),
+        documentation: Some(Documentation {
+            summary: "Codec fixture".into(),
+            details: None,
+        }),
+        types: vec![TypeDeclaration {
+            name: "Pair".into(),
+            documentation: None,
+            definition: TypeExpr::Record {
+                fields: vec![
+                    FieldDeclaration {
+                        name: "required".into(),
+                        required: true,
+                        documentation: None,
+                        r#type: TypeExpr::String,
+                    },
+                    FieldDeclaration {
+                        name: "optional".into(),
+                        required: false,
+                        documentation: None,
+                        r#type: TypeExpr::String,
+                    },
+                    FieldDeclaration {
+                        name: "optional_json".into(),
+                        required: false,
+                        documentation: None,
+                        r#type: TypeExpr::Json,
+                    },
+                ],
+            },
+        }],
+        operations: vec![OperationDeclaration {
+            name: "everything".into(),
+            documentation: None,
+            parameters: vec![
+                parameter("unit", TypeExpr::Unit),
+                parameter("boolean", TypeExpr::Boolean),
+                parameter("integer", TypeExpr::Integer),
+                parameter("number", TypeExpr::Number),
+                parameter("string", TypeExpr::String),
+                parameter("bytes", TypeExpr::Bytes),
+                parameter("entry", TypeExpr::Entry),
+                parameter(
+                    "list",
+                    TypeExpr::List {
+                        items: Box::new(TypeExpr::Integer),
+                    },
+                ),
+                parameter(
+                    "record",
+                    TypeExpr::Named {
+                        name: "Pair".into(),
+                    },
+                ),
+                parameter(
+                    "enum",
+                    TypeExpr::Enum {
+                        cases: vec![EnumCase {
+                            name: "ready".into(),
+                            documentation: None,
+                        }],
+                    },
+                ),
+                parameter(
+                    "union",
+                    TypeExpr::Union {
+                        cases: vec![
+                            UnionCase {
+                                name: "empty".into(),
+                                documentation: None,
+                                payload: None,
+                            },
+                            UnionCase {
+                                name: "found".into(),
+                                documentation: None,
+                                payload: Some(TypeExpr::Entry),
+                            },
+                        ],
+                    },
+                ),
+                parameter("json", TypeExpr::Json),
+            ],
+            returns: ReturnDeclaration {
+                documentation: None,
+                r#type: TypeExpr::Bytes,
+            },
+        }],
+    }
+}
+
+fn parameter(name: &str, r#type: TypeExpr) -> ParameterDeclaration {
+    ParameterDeclaration {
+        name: name.into(),
+        required: true,
+        documentation: None,
+        r#type,
+    }
+}
+
+fn record(fields: impl IntoIterator<Item = (&'static str, Value)>) -> Value {
+    Value::Record(
+        fields
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(name, value)| (name.into(), value))
+            .collect(),
+    )
+}
+
+fn call_request() -> CallOperationRequest {
+    CallOperationRequest {
+        target: Target {
+            path: "/items/123".into(),
+            validator: Some(vec![0, 1, 2, 255]),
+        },
+        interface: InterfaceTarget {
+            reference: "interface-v1".into(),
+            validator: Some(vec![9, 8, 7]),
+        },
+        operation: "everything".into(),
+        arguments: BTreeMap::from([
+            ("unit".into(), Value::Unit),
+            ("boolean".into(), Value::Boolean(true)),
+            ("integer".into(), Value::Integer(MAX_SAFE_INTEGER)),
+            ("number".into(), Value::Number(1.5)),
+            ("string".into(), Value::String("text".into())),
+            ("bytes".into(), Value::Bytes(vec![0, 1, 2, 255])),
+            ("entry".into(), Value::String("/items/123".into())),
+            (
+                "list".into(),
+                Value::List(vec![Value::Integer(1), Value::Integer(2)]),
+            ),
+            (
+                "record".into(),
+                record([("required", Value::String("present".into()))]),
+            ),
+            ("enum".into(), Value::String("ready".into())),
+            (
+                "union".into(),
+                record([
+                    ("$case", Value::String("found".into())),
+                    ("value", Value::String("/items/123".into())),
+                ]),
+            ),
+            (
+                "json".into(),
+                record([
+                    ("null", Value::Unit),
+                    ("number", Value::Integer(2)),
+                    ("path_like", Value::String("/not-an-entry".into())),
+                ]),
+            ),
+        ]),
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn every_single_interaction_request_accepts_json() {
+    let observe = encode_observe_request(
+        &endpoint(),
+        &ObserveRequest {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            depth: 0,
+        },
+        limits(),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    let fetch_interface = encode_fetch_interface_request(
+        &endpoint(),
+        &FetchInterfaceRequest {
+            interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+        },
+        limits(),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    let call = encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint(), &call_request(), &descriptor(), limits())
+        .unwrap();
+
+    for request in [observe, fetch_interface, call] {
+        assert_eq!(request.headers()["accept"], "application/json");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn depth_zero_observe_round_trips_direct_body_and_validator() {
+    let request = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/items/123".into(),
+        depth: 0,
+    };
+    let encoded_request = encode_observe_request(&endpoint(), &request, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(encoded_request.uri().path(), "/wip/v1/observe");
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_observe_request(encoded_request.body(), limits()).unwrap(),
+        request
+    );
+
+    let expected = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("123", &[0, 1, 2, 255]),
+        children: None,
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_observe_response(&request, &expected, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(encoded.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    assert!(
+        !std::str::from_utf8(encoded.body())
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("children")
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_observe_response(&request, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(expected)
+    );
+    assert!(encoded.headers().get("etag").is_none());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn observe_and_interface_round_trip_nested_logical_models() {
+    let observe_request = ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/items".into(),
+        depth: 1,
+    };
+    let encoded_request = encode_observe_request(&endpoint(), &observe_request, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_observe_request(encoded_request.body(), limits()).unwrap(),
+        observe_request
+    );
+    let observation = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("items", b"root-validator"),
+        children: Some(vec![ObjectObservation {
+            object: object("123", b"child-validator"),
+            children: None,
+        }]),
+    };
+    let encoded = encode_observe_response(&observe_request, &observation, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_observe_response(&observe_request, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(observation)
+    );
+
+    let empty = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("items", b"root-validator"),
+        children: Some(vec![]),
+    };
+    let encoded_empty = encode_observe_response(&observe_request, &empty, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        std::str::from_utf8(encoded_empty.body())
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("\"children\":[]")
+    );
+
+    let interface_request = FetchInterfaceRequest {
+        interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+    };
+    let encoded_request =
+        encode_fetch_interface_request(&endpoint(), &interface_request, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_fetch_interface_request(encoded_request.body(), limits()).unwrap(),
+        interface_request
+    );
+    let interface = FetchInterfaceResponse {
+        interface: interface_request.interface.clone(),
+        descriptor: descriptor(),
+        validator: Some(vec![4, 5, 6, 255]),
+    };
+    let encoded =
+        encode_fetch_interface_response(&interface_request, &interface, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_fetch_interface_response(&interface_request, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(interface)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn descriptor_guided_values_and_validators_round_trip_both_directions() {
+    let descriptor = descriptor();
+    let request = call_request();
+    let encoded =
+        encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint(), &request, &descriptor, limits()).unwrap();
+    let body = std::str::from_utf8(encoded.body()).unwrap();
+    assert!(body.contains("AAEC/w=="));
+    let metadata = decode_call_operation_metadata(encoded.body(), limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(metadata.target, request.target);
+    assert_eq!(metadata.interface, request.interface);
+    assert_eq!(metadata.operation, request.operation);
+    assert_eq!(
+        metadata
+            .decode_request(encoded.body(), &descriptor, limits())
+            .unwrap(),
+        request
+    );
+    let mut changed_route = request.clone();
+    changed_route.target.path = "/items/other".into();
+    let changed =
+        encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint(), &changed_route, &descriptor, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        metadata
+            .decode_request(changed.body(), &descriptor, limits())
+            .is_err()
+    );
+
+    let mut null_json_request = request.clone();
+    null_json_request
+        .arguments
+        .insert("json".into(), Value::Unit);
+    null_json_request.arguments.insert(
+        "record".into(),
+        record([
+            ("required", Value::String("present".into())),
+            ("optional_json", Value::Unit),
+        ]),
+    );
+    let null_json =
+        encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint(), &null_json_request, &descriptor, limits())
+            .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_call_operation_request(null_json.body(), &descriptor, limits()).unwrap(),
+        null_json_request
+    );
+
+    let expected = CallOperationResponse {
+        result: Value::Bytes(vec![255, 0, 1]),
+        validator: Some(vec![3, 2, 1, 0]),
+    };
+    let encoded =
+        encode_call_operation_response(&request, &descriptor, &expected, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        std::str::from_utf8(encoded.body())
+            .unwrap()
+            .contains("/wAB")
+    );
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_call_operation_response(&request, &descriptor, &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::Success(expected)
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn malformed_unknown_null_and_noncanonical_base64_are_rejected() {
+    let limits = limits();
+    assert!(decode_observe_request(br#"{"path":"/","depth":0,"extra":true}"#, limits).is_err());
+    assert!(
+        decode_observe_request(br#"{"path":"relative","path":"/","depth":0}"#, limits).is_err()
+    );
+
+    let request = call_request();
+    let descriptor = descriptor();
+    let body = serde_json::to_vec(&serde_json::json!({
+        "target": {"path": "/items/123", "validator": null},
+        "interface": {"reference": "interface-v1"},
+        "operation": "everything",
+        "arguments": {}
+    }))
+    .unwrap();
+    assert!(decode_call_operation_request(&body, &descriptor, limits).is_err());
+
+    let mut json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(
+        encode_call_operation_request(&endpoint(), &request, &descriptor, limits)
+            .unwrap()
+            .body(),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    json["arguments"]["bytes"] = serde_json::Value::String("AAEC_w==".into());
+    assert!(
+        decode_call_operation_request(&serde_json::to_vec(&json).unwrap(), &descriptor, limits)
+            .is_err()
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn caller_limits_bound_bytes_and_nesting() {
+    let tiny = Limits::new(8, 8, 2, 1).unwrap();
+    let too_large = decode_observe_request(br#"{"path":"/long","depth":0}"#, tiny).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(&too_large, CodecError::BodyTooLarge { .. }));
+    assert_eq!(
+        too_large.resource_limit_kind(),
+        Some(ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes)
+    );
+
+    let nested = br#"{"path":[[["/"]]],"depth":0}"#;
+    let nesting_limited = Limits::new(1024, 1024, 2, 1).unwrap();
+    let too_deep = decode_observe_request(nested, nesting_limited).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(&too_deep, CodecError::NestingTooDeep { .. }));
+    assert_eq!(
+        too_deep.resource_limit_kind(),
+        Some(ResourceLimitKind::Logical)
+    );
+
+    let outbound_limited = Limits::new(1_000_000, 1_000_000, 1, 10).unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        encode_call_operation_request(
+            &endpoint(),
+            &call_request(),
+            &descriptor(),
+            outbound_limited,
+        )
+        .is_err()
+    );
+    assert!(
+        encode_observe_response(
+            &ObserveRequest {
+                path: "/item".into(),
+                depth: 0,
+            },
+            &ObjectObservation {
+                object: object("item", b"validator"),
+                children: None,
+            },
+            outbound_limited,
+        )
+        .is_err()
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unsupported_descriptor_format_is_client_local() {
+    let request = FetchInterfaceRequest {
+        interface: "interface-v1".into(),
+    };
+    let mut interface = FetchInterfaceResponse {
+        interface: request.interface.clone(),
+        descriptor: descriptor(),
+        validator: None,
+    };
+    interface.descriptor.format = "future-format".into();
+    let response = encode_fetch_interface_response(&request, &interface, limits()).unwrap();
+    let error = decode_fetch_interface_response(&request, &response, limits()).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        error,
+        ClientResponseError::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat { .. }
+    ));
+
+    let future_shape = wip_http::http::Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(
+            br#"{"interface":"interface-v1","descriptor":{"format":"wip-interface/2","future_shape":true}}"#
+                .to_vec(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_fetch_interface_response(&request, &future_shape, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::UnsupportedDescriptorFormat { format }
+            if format == "wip-interface/2"
+    ));
+
+    for malformed in [
+        br#"{"interface":"wrong","descriptor":{"format":"wip-interface/2"}}"#.as_slice(),
+        br#"{"interface":"interface-v1","descriptor":{"format":"wip-interface/2"},"validator":null}"#
+            .as_slice(),
+    ] {
+        let response = wip_http::http::Response::builder()
+            .status(StatusCode::OK)
+            .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+            .body(malformed.to_vec())
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            decode_fetch_interface_response(&request, &response, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+            ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+                kind: InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+                ..
+            }
+        ));
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn invalid_success_is_classified_as_invalid_response() {
+    let response = wip_http::http::Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(br#"{"object":{"name":"wrong","interfaces":[]}}"#.to_vec())
+        .unwrap();
+    let error = decode_observe_response(
+        &ObserveRequest {
+            path: "/expected".into(),
+            depth: 0,
+        },
+        &response,
+        limits(),
+    )
+    .unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        error,
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::InvalidSuccessBody,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+}

crates/wip-http/tests/responses.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,310 @@
+use wip_http::http::{Response, StatusCode};
+use wip_http::wip_protocol::{
+    ObserveRequest, ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction,
+};
+use wip_http::{
+    ClientResponseError, DecodedResponse, InvalidResponseKind, Limits, ResourceLimitKind,
+    TransportFailureKind, decode_observe_response, encode_protocol_error_response,
+    encode_resource_limit_error_response, error_code_name, is_json_content_type, status_for_error,
+    status_for_resource_limit,
+};
+
+fn limits() -> Limits {
+    Limits::new(64 * 1024, 64 * 1024, 32, 16).unwrap()
+}
+
+fn request() -> ObserveRequest {
+    ObserveRequest {
+        path: "/".into(),
+        depth: 0,
+    }
+}
+
+fn response(status: StatusCode, body: impl Into<Vec<u8>>) -> Response<Vec<u8>> {
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(status)
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(body.into())
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn content_type_accepts_only_utf8_json_syntax() {
+    assert!(is_json_content_type("application/json"));
+    assert!(is_json_content_type("Application/JSON; Charset=\"UTF-8\""));
+    assert!(!is_json_content_type("application/json; charset=utf-16"));
+    assert!(!is_json_content_type("application/json; charset=\"utf-8"));
+    assert!(!is_json_content_type("application/json; charset=utf-8\""));
+    assert!(!is_json_content_type("application/json; profile=other"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn every_protocol_code_has_stable_name_and_status() {
+    let expected = [
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
+            "invalid_request",
+            StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound,
+            "not_found",
+            StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound,
+            "interface_not_found",
+            StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceMismatch,
+            "interface_mismatch",
+            StatusCode::CONFLICT,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::OperationNotFound,
+            "operation_not_found",
+            StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidArguments,
+            "invalid_arguments",
+            StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorRequired,
+            "validator_required",
+            StatusCode::PRECONDITION_REQUIRED,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::ValidatorMismatch,
+            "validator_mismatch",
+            StatusCode::PRECONDITION_FAILED,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorRequired,
+            "interface_validator_required",
+            StatusCode::PRECONDITION_REQUIRED,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceValidatorMismatch,
+            "interface_validator_mismatch",
+            StatusCode::PRECONDITION_FAILED,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::PermissionDenied,
+            "permission_denied",
+            StatusCode::FORBIDDEN,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded,
+            "resource_limit_exceeded",
+            StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::Internal,
+            "internal",
+            StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+        ),
+        (
+            ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown,
+            "operation_outcome_unknown",
+            StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+        ),
+    ];
+    assert_eq!(expected.len(), ProtocolErrorCode::ALL.len());
+    for (code, name, status) in expected {
+        assert_eq!(error_code_name(code), name);
+        assert_eq!(status_for_error(code), status);
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn resource_limit_statuses_encode_and_decode_by_concrete_limit_class() {
+    let error = ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded,
+        message: "bounded".into(),
+    };
+    let cases = [
+        (
+            ResourceLimitKind::RepresentationBytes,
+            StatusCode::PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE,
+        ),
+        (ResourceLimitKind::Logical, StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY),
+    ];
+    for (kind, status) in cases {
+        assert_eq!(status_for_resource_limit(kind), status);
+        let encoded = encode_resource_limit_error_response(
+            ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+            &error,
+            kind,
+            limits(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(encoded.status(), status);
+        assert_eq!(
+            decode_observe_response(&request(), &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+            DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure {
+                error: error.clone(),
+                status_mismatch: None,
+            }
+        );
+    }
+
+    let default =
+        encode_protocol_error_response(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, &error, limits()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(default.status(), StatusCode::UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY);
+    assert_ne!(default.status(), StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rate_limit_status_without_protocol_envelope_stays_transport_failure() {
+    let response = Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS)
+        .body(b"rate limited".to_vec())
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_observe_response(&request(), &response, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::TransportBinding(failure)
+            if failure.status == StatusCode::TOO_MANY_REQUESTS
+                && failure.kind == TransportFailureKind::HttpStatus
+    ));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn valid_success_body_requires_exactly_http_200() {
+    let success_body = br#"{"object":{"name":"","interfaces":[]}}"#;
+    for status in [StatusCode::CREATED, StatusCode::ACCEPTED] {
+        assert!(matches!(
+            decode_observe_response(&request(), &response(status, success_body), limits())
+                .unwrap_err(),
+            ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+                kind: InvalidResponseKind::NonCanonicalSuccessStatus,
+                ..
+            }
+        ));
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn server_encoder_rejects_codes_disallowed_for_the_interaction() {
+    let error = ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::InterfaceNotFound,
+        message: "not valid for observe".into(),
+    };
+    assert!(
+        encode_protocol_error_response(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, &error, limits()).is_err()
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn valid_envelope_code_is_authoritative_when_status_mismatches() {
+    let error = ProtocolError {
+        code: ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound,
+        message: "missing".into(),
+    };
+    let mut encoded =
+        encode_protocol_error_response(ProtocolInteraction::Observe, &error, limits()).unwrap();
+    *encoded.status_mut() = StatusCode::IM_A_TEAPOT;
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        decode_observe_response(&request(), &encoded, limits()).unwrap(),
+        DecodedResponse::ProtocolFailure {
+            error,
+            status_mismatch: Some(wip_http::StatusMismatch {
+                actual: StatusCode::IM_A_TEAPOT,
+                expected: StatusCode::NOT_FOUND,
+            }),
+        }
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn envelope_and_status_contradictions_are_invalid_responses() {
+    let error_body = br#"{"error":{"code":"not_found","message":"missing"}}"#;
+    let on_success =
+        decode_observe_response(&request(), &response(StatusCode::OK, error_body), limits())
+            .unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        on_success,
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::ErrorEnvelopeOnSuccessStatus,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+
+    let success_body = br#"{"object":{"name":"","interfaces":[]}}"#;
+    let on_error = decode_observe_response(
+        &request(),
+        &response(StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY, success_body),
+        limits(),
+    )
+    .unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        on_error,
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::SuccessBodyOnErrorStatus,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn disallowed_protocol_code_is_invalid_instead_of_reclassified() {
+    let body = br#"{"error":{"code":"interface_not_found","message":"wrong interaction"}}"#;
+    let error =
+        decode_observe_response(&request(), &response(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND, body), limits())
+            .unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(
+        error,
+        ClientResponseError::InvalidResponse {
+            kind: InvalidResponseKind::DisallowedProtocolCode,
+            ..
+        }
+    ));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn proxy_authentication_and_endpoint_failures_stay_transport_failures() {
+    let cases = [
+        (
+            StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY,
+            TransportFailureKind::HttpStatus,
+            b"proxy failure".as_slice(),
+        ),
+        (
+            StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED,
+            TransportFailureKind::AuthenticationRequired,
+            b"login required".as_slice(),
+        ),
+        (
+            StatusCode::FORBIDDEN,
+            TransportFailureKind::EndpointForbidden,
+            b"denied".as_slice(),
+        ),
+    ];
+    for (status, expected_kind, body) in cases {
+        let response = Response::builder()
+            .status(status)
+            .body(body.to_vec())
+            .unwrap();
+        let error = decode_observe_response(&request(), &response, limits()).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            error,
+            ClientResponseError::TransportBinding(failure)
+                if failure.status == status && failure.kind == expected_kind
+        ));
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn malformed_non_success_envelope_is_transport_binding_failure() {
+    let malformed = response(
+        StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY,
+        br#"{"error":{"code":"not_found","message":null}}"#,
+    );
+    assert!(matches!(
+        decode_observe_response(&request(), &malformed, limits()).unwrap_err(),
+        ClientResponseError::TransportBinding(_)
+    ));
+}

crates/wip-http/tests/routes.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+use wip_http::http::{Method, Request, StatusCode};
+use wip_http::{Endpoint, RequestMetadataError, Route, validate_http_request};
+
+#[test]
+fn endpoint_preserves_http_and_https_when_resolving_canonical_routes() {
+    for scheme in ["http", "https"] {
+        let endpoint = Endpoint::parse(&format!("{scheme}://example.test/root/prefix")).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            endpoint.to_string(),
+            format!("{scheme}://example.test/root/prefix/")
+        );
+
+        let expected = [
+            (Route::Observe, "v1/observe"),
+            (Route::FetchInterface, "v1/fetch_interface"),
+            (Route::CallOperation, "v1/call_operation"),
+            (Route::Batch, "v1/batch"),
+        ];
+        for (route, suffix) in expected {
+            let url = format!("{scheme}://example.test/root/prefix/{suffix}");
+            assert_eq!(endpoint.route(route).as_str(), url);
+            assert_eq!(
+                endpoint.recognize(&wip_http::url::Url::parse(&url).unwrap()),
+                Some(route)
+            );
+        }
+        assert_eq!(
+            endpoint.recognize(
+                &wip_http::url::Url::parse(&format!(
+                    "{scheme}://example.test/root/prefix/v1/observe?path=/items"
+                ))
+                .unwrap()
+            ),
+            None
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn routes_never_mix_worldspace_paths_into_endpoint_prefixes() {
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("https://example.test/wip/%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C/").unwrap();
+    let route = endpoint.route(Route::Observe);
+    assert_eq!(route.path(), "/wip/%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C/v1/observe");
+    assert!(!route.as_str().contains("items"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn inbound_http_metadata_enforces_post_route_and_json() {
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("https://example.test/wip").unwrap();
+    let valid = Request::builder()
+        .method(Method::POST)
+        .uri("/wip/v1/observe")
+        .header("content-type", "application/json; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(Vec::<u8>::new())
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_http_request(&endpoint, Route::Observe, &valid).is_ok());
+
+    let wrong_method = Request::builder()
+        .method(Method::GET)
+        .uri("/wip/v1/observe")
+        .header("content-type", "application/json")
+        .body(Vec::<u8>::new())
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_http_request(&endpoint, Route::Observe, &wrong_method).is_err());
+
+    let wrong_route = Request::builder()
+        .method(Method::POST)
+        .uri("/wip/v1/fetch_interface")
+        .header("content-type", "application/json")
+        .body(Vec::<u8>::new())
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(validate_http_request(&endpoint, Route::Observe, &wrong_route).is_err());
+
+    for accept in [
+        "text/plain, */*;q=1, application/json;q=0",
+        "application/json; charset=utf-16",
+        "application/json; profile=future",
+    ] {
+        let incompatible_accept = Request::builder()
+            .method(Method::POST)
+            .uri("/wip/v1/observe")
+            .header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .header("accept", accept)
+            .body(Vec::<u8>::new())
+            .unwrap();
+        let error =
+            validate_http_request(&endpoint, Route::Observe, &incompatible_accept).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(&error, RequestMetadataError::NotAcceptable));
+        assert_eq!(error.status(), StatusCode::NOT_ACCEPTABLE);
+    }
+
+    for accept in [
+        "application/json; charset=UTF-8",
+        "application/json; q=1; profile=accept-extension",
+    ] {
+        let compatible_accept = Request::builder()
+            .method(Method::POST)
+            .uri("/wip/v1/observe")
+            .header("content-type", "application/json")
+            .header("accept", accept)
+            .body(Vec::<u8>::new())
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(validate_http_request(&endpoint, Route::Observe, &compatible_accept).is_ok());
+    }
+
+    let unsupported_media_type = Request::builder()
+        .method(Method::POST)
+        .uri("/wip/v1/observe")
+        .header("content-type", "text/plain")
+        .header("accept", "application/json")
+        .body(Vec::<u8>::new())
+        .unwrap();
+    let error =
+        validate_http_request(&endpoint, Route::Observe, &unsupported_media_type).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(matches!(&error, RequestMetadataError::UnsupportedMediaType));
+    assert_eq!(error.status(), StatusCode::UNSUPPORTED_MEDIA_TYPE);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn invalid_endpoint_components_and_non_routes_are_rejected() {
+    assert!(Endpoint::parse("/relative").is_err());
+    assert!(Endpoint::parse("file:///wip").is_err());
+    assert!(Endpoint::parse("https://example.test/wip?q=1").is_err());
+    assert!(Endpoint::parse("https://example.test/wip#fragment").is_err());
+
+    let deployment_endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://user:secret@example.test/wip").unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(deployment_endpoint.as_url().scheme(), "http");
+    assert_eq!(deployment_endpoint.as_url().username(), "user");
+
+    let endpoint = Endpoint::parse("http://example.test/wip").unwrap();
+    for outside in [
+        "http://example.test/wip/v1/unknown",
+        "http://example.test/wip/v1/observe/extra",
+        "https://example.test/wip/v1/observe",
+        "http://other.test/wip/v1/observe",
+    ] {
+        assert_eq!(
+            endpoint.recognize(&wip_http::url::Url::parse(outside).unwrap()),
+            None
+        );
+    }
+}

crates/wip-protocol/src/error.rs

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ pub enum PathSegment {
     Return,
     /// Object at a Worldspace path.
     Object(String),
-    /// Child object in a tree response.
+    /// Child object in an observation response.
     Child(String),
 }
 
@@ -163,17 +163,15 @@ pub enum ValidationErrorKind {
         /// Shared opaque object reference.
         reference: String,
     },
-    /// A `fetch_tree` request used a zero limit.
-    ZeroTreeLimit,
-    /// A tree response exceeds the requested maximum depth.
-    TreeDepthExceeded {
-        /// Requested maximum depth.
-        maximum: u32,
+    /// An observation omitted children before reaching the requested depth.
+    ChildrenMissingBeforeDepth {
+        /// Node depth where children were required.
+        depth: u32,
     },
-    /// A tree response exceeds the requested maximum node count.
-    TreeLimitExceeded {
-        /// Requested maximum node count.
-        limit: u32,
+    /// An observation included children at the requested depth boundary.
+    ChildrenAtDepthBoundary {
+        /// Boundary depth where children must be unobserved.
+        depth: u32,
     },
     /// A response refers to a different interface than its request.
     InterfaceResponseMismatch {
@@ -226,10 +224,8 @@ impl Error for ValidationError {}
 /// One core interaction whose failure codes form a closed set.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum ProtocolInteraction {
-    /// Fetch one object by its Worldspace path.
-    Fetch,
-    /// Fetch a bounded tree of objects.
-    FetchTree,
+    /// Observe one object and its indexable descendants to a requested depth.
+    Observe,
     /// Fetch one interface descriptor by its opaque reference.
     FetchInterface,
     /// Invoke one operation on a path-targeted object.
@@ -315,11 +311,11 @@ impl ProtocolErrorCode {
             OperationNotFound, OperationOutcomeUnknown, PermissionDenied, ResourceLimitExceeded,
             ValidatorMismatch, ValidatorRequired,
         };
-        use ProtocolInteraction::{CallOperation, Fetch, FetchInterface, FetchTree};
+        use ProtocolInteraction::{CallOperation, FetchInterface, Observe};
 
         match (interaction, self) {
             (_, InvalidRequest | ResourceLimitExceeded | Internal) => true,
-            (Fetch | FetchTree, NotFound) => true,
+            (Observe, NotFound) => true,
             (FetchInterface, InterfaceNotFound) => true,
             (
                 CallOperation,

crates/wip-protocol/src/lib.rs

@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
 //! | Interface Descriptor | [`InterfaceDescriptor`] |
 //! | Named declaration and all schema expressions | [`TypeDeclaration`] / [`TypeExpr`] |
 //! | Schema-neutral primitive/composite value | [`Value`] |
-//! | `fetch` | [`FetchRequest`] / [`FetchResponse`] |
-//! | `fetch_tree` | [`FetchTreeRequest`] / [`FetchTreeResponse`] |
+//! | `observe` | [`ObserveRequest`] / [`ObserveResponse`] |
 //! | `fetch_interface` | [`FetchInterfaceRequest`] / [`FetchInterfaceResponse`] |
 //! | Object and interface call preconditions | [`Target`] / [`InterfaceTarget`] |
 //! | `call_operation` | [`CallOperationRequest`] / [`CallOperationResponse`] |
@@ -53,10 +52,9 @@ pub use error::{
 };
 pub use model::{
     CallOperationRequest, CallOperationResponse, Documentation, EnumCase, FetchInterfaceRequest,
-    FetchInterfaceResponse, FetchRequest, FetchResponse, FetchTreeRequest, FetchTreeResponse,
-    FieldDeclaration, InterfaceDescriptor, InterfaceTarget, Object, ObjectTreeNode,
-    OperationDeclaration, ParameterDeclaration, ProtocolResult, ReturnDeclaration, Target,
-    TypeDeclaration, TypeExpr, UnionCase, Value,
+    FetchInterfaceResponse, FieldDeclaration, InterfaceDescriptor, InterfaceTarget, Object,
+    ObjectObservation, ObserveRequest, ObserveResponse, OperationDeclaration, ParameterDeclaration,
+    ProtocolResult, ReturnDeclaration, Target, TypeDeclaration, TypeExpr, UnionCase, Value,
 };
 
 /// Validates a canonical absolute Worldspace path.

crates/wip-protocol/src/model.rs

@@ -218,44 +218,26 @@ impl Value {
     }
 }
 
-/// Request for the object currently published at one path.
+/// Request for the object currently published at one path and its indexable descendants.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub struct FetchRequest {
-    /// Canonical absolute Worldspace path.
+pub struct ObserveRequest {
+    /// Canonical absolute path of the observation root.
     pub path: String,
-}
-
-/// Successful `fetch` response.
-pub type FetchResponse = Object;
-
-/// Request for a bounded breadth-first object-tree observation.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub struct FetchTreeRequest {
-    /// Canonical absolute path of the tree root.
-    pub path: String,
-    /// Maximum depth, where the requested object has depth zero.
+    /// Maximum observed depth, where the requested object has depth zero.
     pub depth: u32,
-    /// Maximum total node count, including the root. Must be nonzero.
-    pub limit: u32,
 }
 
-/// One node in a tree observation.
+/// One node in an object observation.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub struct ObjectTreeNode {
-    /// Object observed at this tree position.
+pub struct ObjectObservation {
+    /// Object observed at this Worldspace position.
     pub object: Object,
-    /// Direct children in host-defined traversal order.
-    pub children: Vec<ObjectTreeNode>,
+    /// Complete direct children when observed, or `None` at the requested depth boundary.
+    pub children: Option<Vec<ObjectObservation>>,
 }
 
-/// Successful `fetch_tree` response.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub struct FetchTreeResponse {
-    /// Observed tree rooted at the requested path.
-    pub root: ObjectTreeNode,
-    /// Whether public indexable children were omitted by depth or limit.
-    pub truncated: bool,
-}
+/// Successful `observe` response.
+pub type ObserveResponse = ObjectObservation;
 
 /// Request for the current descriptor of one opaque interface reference.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -372,35 +354,18 @@ impl InterfaceDescriptor {
     }
 }
 
-impl FetchRequest {
+impl ObserveRequest {
     /// Validates the request path.
     pub fn validate(&self) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
         crate::validation::validate_path(&self.path)
     }
 
-    /// Validates an object returned for this request.
+    /// Validates observation shape, names, and requested depth.
     ///
     /// Failure means the Client received an invalid success response; it is not a
     /// Host-returned [`crate::ProtocolErrorCode`].
-    pub fn validate_response(&self, response: &FetchResponse) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
-        response.validate_at_path(&self.path)
-    }
-}
-
-impl FetchTreeRequest {
-    /// Validates the request path and nonzero node limit.
-    pub fn validate(&self) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
-        crate::validation::validate_fetch_tree_request(self)
-    }
-}
-
-impl FetchTreeResponse {
-    /// Validates tree shape, names, depth, and node limit for `request`.
-    ///
-    /// Failure means the Client received an invalid success response; it is not a
-    /// Host-returned [`crate::ProtocolErrorCode`].
-    pub fn validate_for(&self, request: &FetchTreeRequest) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
-        crate::validation::validate_fetch_tree_response(self, request)
+    pub fn validate_response(&self, response: &ObserveResponse) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
+        crate::validation::validate_observe_response(response, self)
     }
 }
 

crates/wip-protocol/src/validation.rs

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap, HashSet};
 
 use crate::{
-    CallOperationRequest, FetchInterfaceRequest, FetchInterfaceResponse, FetchTreeRequest,
-    FetchTreeResponse, InterfaceDescriptor, MAX_SAFE_INTEGER, MIN_SAFE_INTEGER, NameNamespace,
-    Object, ObjectTreeNode, PathSegment, TypeDeclaration, TypeExpr, UNION_CASE_FIELD,
-    UNION_VALUE_FIELD, ValidationError, ValidationErrorKind, Value, ValueKind,
+    CallOperationRequest, FetchInterfaceRequest, FetchInterfaceResponse, InterfaceDescriptor,
+    MAX_SAFE_INTEGER, MIN_SAFE_INTEGER, NameNamespace, Object, ObjectObservation, ObserveRequest,
+    PathSegment, TypeDeclaration, TypeExpr, UNION_CASE_FIELD, UNION_VALUE_FIELD, ValidationError,
+    ValidationErrorKind, Value, ValueKind,
 };
 
 pub(crate) fn validate_object(object: &Object) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
@@ -604,60 +604,38 @@ fn find_operation<'a>(
         })
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn validate_fetch_tree_request(
-    request: &FetchTreeRequest,
-) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
-    validate_path(&request.path)?;
-    if request.limit == 0 {
-        Err(ValidationError::new(ValidationErrorKind::ZeroTreeLimit))
-    } else {
-        Ok(())
-    }
-}
-
-pub(crate) fn validate_fetch_tree_response(
-    response: &FetchTreeResponse,
-    request: &FetchTreeRequest,
+pub(crate) fn validate_observe_response(
+    response: &ObjectObservation,
+    request: &ObserveRequest,
 ) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
     request.validate()?;
-    let mut node_count = 0_u32;
-    validate_tree_node(
-        &response.root,
-        &request.path,
-        0,
-        request.depth,
-        request.limit,
-        &mut node_count,
-    )
+    validate_observation_node(response, &request.path, 0, request.depth)
 }
 
-fn validate_tree_node(
-    node: &ObjectTreeNode,
+fn validate_observation_node(
+    node: &ObjectObservation,
     path: &str,
     depth: u32,
     maximum_depth: u32,
-    limit: u32,
-    node_count: &mut u32,
 ) -> Result<(), ValidationError> {
-    if depth > maximum_depth {
-        return Err(
-            ValidationError::new(ValidationErrorKind::TreeDepthExceeded {
-                maximum: maximum_depth,
-            })
-            .prepend(PathSegment::Object(path.to_owned())),
-        );
-    }
-    *node_count = node_count.saturating_add(1);
-    if *node_count > limit {
-        return Err(
-            ValidationError::new(ValidationErrorKind::TreeLimitExceeded { limit })
-                .prepend(PathSegment::Object(path.to_owned())),
-        );
+    node.object.validate_at_path(path)?;
+
+    if depth == maximum_depth {
+        if node.children.is_some() {
+            return Err(
+                ValidationError::new(ValidationErrorKind::ChildrenAtDepthBoundary { depth })
+                    .prepend(PathSegment::Object(path.to_owned())),
+            );
+        }
+        return Ok(());
     }
 
-    node.object.validate_at_path(path)?;
+    let children = node.children.as_ref().ok_or_else(|| {
+        ValidationError::new(ValidationErrorKind::ChildrenMissingBeforeDepth { depth })
+            .prepend(PathSegment::Object(path.to_owned()))
+    })?;
     let mut names = HashSet::new();
-    for child in &node.children {
+    for child in children {
         validate_object_name(&child.object.name, false)
             .map_err(|error| error.prepend(PathSegment::Child(child.object.name.clone())))?;
         if !names.insert(child.object.name.as_str()) {
@@ -673,14 +651,7 @@ fn validate_tree_node(
         } else {
             format!("{path}/{}", child.object.name)
         };
-        validate_tree_node(
-            child,
-            &child_path,
-            depth.saturating_add(1),
-            maximum_depth,
-            limit,
-            node_count,
-        )?;
+        validate_observation_node(child, &child_path, depth + 1, maximum_depth)?;
     }
     Ok(())
 }

crates/wip-protocol/tests/validation.rs

@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 
 use wip_protocol::{
     CallOperationRequest, CallOperationResponse, EnumCase, FetchInterfaceRequest,
-    FetchInterfaceResponse, FetchRequest, FetchTreeRequest, FetchTreeResponse, FieldDeclaration,
-    INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor, InterfaceTarget, MAX_SAFE_INTEGER, NameNamespace,
-    Object, ObjectTreeNode, OperationDeclaration, ParameterDeclaration, PathSegment, ProtocolError,
-    ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction, ProtocolResult, ReturnDeclaration, Target,
-    TypeDeclaration, TypeExpr, UnionCase, ValidationErrorKind, Value, ValueKind,
+    FetchInterfaceResponse, FieldDeclaration, INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor,
+    InterfaceTarget, MAX_SAFE_INTEGER, NameNamespace, Object, ObjectObservation, ObserveRequest,
+    OperationDeclaration, ParameterDeclaration, PathSegment, ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode,
+    ProtocolInteraction, ProtocolResult, ReturnDeclaration, Target, TypeDeclaration, TypeExpr,
+    UnionCase, ValidationErrorKind, Value, ValueKind,
 };
 
 fn record(entries: impl IntoIterator<Item = (&'static str, Value)>) -> Value {
@@ -617,13 +617,26 @@ fn calls_validate_canonical_paths_named_arguments_and_unit_results() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn fetch_and_fetch_interface_dtos_validate_request_response_correspondence() {
-    let fetch = FetchRequest {
+fn observe_and_fetch_interface_dtos_validate_request_response_correspondence() {
+    let observe = ObserveRequest {
         path: "/articles/one".into(),
+        depth: 0,
     };
-    fetch.validate().unwrap();
-    fetch.validate_response(&object("one")).unwrap();
-    assert!(fetch.validate_response(&object("two")).is_err());
+    observe.validate().unwrap();
+    observe
+        .validate_response(&ObjectObservation {
+            object: object("one"),
+            children: None,
+        })
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        observe
+            .validate_response(&ObjectObservation {
+                object: object("two"),
+                children: None,
+            })
+            .is_err()
+    );
 
     for invalid in [
         "",
@@ -634,8 +647,9 @@ fn fetch_and_fetch_interface_dtos_validate_request_response_correspondence() {
         "/a/../b",
     ] {
         assert!(matches!(
-            FetchRequest {
-                path: invalid.into()
+            ObserveRequest {
+                path: invalid.into(),
+                depth: 0,
             }
             .validate()
             .unwrap_err()
@@ -666,61 +680,51 @@ fn fetch_and_fetch_interface_dtos_validate_request_response_correspondence() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn fetch_tree_dtos_validate_names_depth_limit_and_siblings() {
-    let request = FetchTreeRequest {
+fn observe_response_validates_complete_children_and_depth_boundary() {
+    let request = ObserveRequest {
         path: "/articles".into(),
         depth: 1,
-        limit: 3,
     };
-    let leaf = |name: &str| ObjectTreeNode {
+    let leaf = |name: &str| ObjectObservation {
         object: object(name),
-        children: vec![],
+        children: None,
     };
-    let response = FetchTreeResponse {
-        root: ObjectTreeNode {
-            object: object("articles"),
-            children: vec![leaf("one"), leaf("two")],
-        },
-        truncated: false,
+    let response = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("articles"),
+        children: Some(vec![leaf("one"), leaf("two")]),
     };
-    response.validate_for(&request).unwrap();
+    request.validate_response(&response).unwrap();
 
-    let zero = FetchTreeRequest {
-        limit: 0,
-        ..request.clone()
+    let empty = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("articles"),
+        children: Some(vec![]),
     };
-    assert_eq!(
-        zero.validate().unwrap_err().kind,
-        ValidationErrorKind::ZeroTreeLimit
-    );
+    request.validate_response(&empty).unwrap();
 
-    let shallow = FetchTreeRequest {
+    let missing = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("articles"),
+        children: None,
+    };
+    assert!(matches!(
+        request.validate_response(&missing).unwrap_err().kind,
+        ValidationErrorKind::ChildrenMissingBeforeDepth { depth: 0 }
+    ));
+
+    let boundary = ObserveRequest {
         depth: 0,
         ..request.clone()
     };
     assert!(matches!(
-        response.validate_for(&shallow).unwrap_err().kind,
-        ValidationErrorKind::TreeDepthExceeded { .. }
+        boundary.validate_response(&response).unwrap_err().kind,
+        ValidationErrorKind::ChildrenAtDepthBoundary { depth: 0 }
     ));
 
-    let small = FetchTreeRequest {
-        limit: 2,
-        ..request.clone()
+    let duplicate = ObjectObservation {
+        object: object("articles"),
+        children: Some(vec![leaf("one"), leaf("one")]),
     };
     assert!(matches!(
-        response.validate_for(&small).unwrap_err().kind,
-        ValidationErrorKind::TreeLimitExceeded { .. }
-    ));
-
-    let duplicate = FetchTreeResponse {
-        root: ObjectTreeNode {
-            object: object("articles"),
-            children: vec![leaf("one"), leaf("one")],
-        },
-        truncated: false,
-    };
-    assert!(matches!(
-        duplicate.validate_for(&request).unwrap_err().kind,
+        request.validate_response(&duplicate).unwrap_err().kind,
         ValidationErrorKind::DuplicateName {
             namespace: NameNamespace::ChildObject,
             ..
@@ -778,22 +782,9 @@ fn assert_allowed_codes(interaction: ProtocolInteraction, expected: &[ProtocolEr
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn fetch_error_codes_are_exhaustive() {
+fn observe_error_codes_are_exhaustive() {
     assert_allowed_codes(
-        ProtocolInteraction::Fetch,
-        &[
-            ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
-            ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound,
-            ProtocolErrorCode::ResourceLimitExceeded,
-            ProtocolErrorCode::Internal,
-        ],
-    );
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn fetch_tree_error_codes_are_exhaustive() {
-    assert_allowed_codes(
-        ProtocolInteraction::FetchTree,
+        ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
         &[
             ProtocolErrorCode::InvalidRequest,
             ProtocolErrorCode::NotFound,
@@ -840,11 +831,18 @@ fn call_operation_error_codes_are_exhaustive() {
 
 #[test]
 fn invalid_success_payloads_remain_client_local_validation_failures() {
-    let fetch = FetchRequest {
+    let observe = ObserveRequest {
         path: "/articles/one".into(),
+        depth: 0,
     };
     assert!(matches!(
-        fetch.validate_response(&object("other")).unwrap_err().kind,
+        observe
+            .validate_response(&ObjectObservation {
+                object: object("other"),
+                children: None,
+            })
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .kind,
         ValidationErrorKind::ObjectNameMismatch { .. }
     ));
 

crates/wip-public-api-example/src/lib.rs

@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<DemoReport, Box<dyn Error>> {
         audit: audit.clone(),
     };
 
-    let object = provider.fetch(OBJECT_PATH)?;
+    let object = provider.observe_object(OBJECT_PATH)?;
     let catalog_response = registry
         .fetch_interface(
             object

crates/wip-tui/Cargo.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+[package]
+name = "wip-tui"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2024"
+description = "Interactive terminal client for exploring and operating WIP Worldspaces"
+license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
+readme = "README.md"
+publish = false
+
+[dependencies]
+base64 = "0.22"
+crossterm = "0.28.1"
+ratatui = "0.29.0"
+serde_json = "1"
+ureq = "3.1.2"
+wip-client = { path = "../wip-client" }
+wip-http = { path = "../wip-http" }
+wip-protocol = { path = "../wip-protocol" }
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+tempfile = "3"
+wip-fs-server = { path = "../wip-fs-server" }

crates/wip-tui/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+# wip-tui
+
+`wip-tui` is an interactive terminal client for exploring and operating a WIP
+Worldspace. It is a presentation and terminal-interaction layer over
+`wip-client`: Known Space, request identity, validators, immutable operation call
+contexts, stale transitions, response classification, and bounded histories remain
+owned by the client runtime.
+
+## Start
+
+Supply one `http` or `https` endpoint:
+
+```console
+cargo run -p wip-tui -- --endpoint https://wip.example.test/api/wip
+```
+
+The same canonical endpoint is used unchanged to construct requests, perform
+HTTP I/O, and partition the client cache. WIP over HTTP does not define separate
+HTTPS and development-HTTP profiles; URL scheme, TLS, certificate, authentication,
+and proxy policy belong to the HTTP implementation and deployment.
+
+The endpoint may instead be supplied as `WIP_ENDPOINT`. A non-secret cache
+partition identity may be supplied with `--security-context NAME` or
+`WIP_SECURITY_CONTEXT`. The default request timeout is 30 seconds and can be
+changed with `--timeout SECONDS`.
+
+An Authorization header can be read from an environment variable without placing
+its value in arguments, application state, errors, snapshots, or debug output:
+
+```console
+export WIP_AUTHORIZATION='Bearer …'
+cargo run -p wip-tui -- https://wip.example.test/wip
+```
+
+Use `--authorization-env OTHER_VARIABLE` to select another variable. The value is
+redacted from `Debug` and is never rendered. Shell and process environment security
+remain the operator's responsibility.
+
+### Filesystem server example
+
+In one terminal:
+
+```console
+mkdir -p /tmp/wip-example
+printf 'hello world' >/tmp/wip-example/notes.txt
+cargo run -p wip-fs-server -- \
+  --root /tmp/wip-example \
+  --listen 127.0.0.1:8080 \
+  --base-path /wip \
+  --read-write
+```
+
+In another:
+
+```console
+cargo run -p wip-tui -- http://127.0.0.1:8080/wip
+```
+
+Expand `/`, select `notes.txt`, focus the Interface/Operation pane, and choose
+`read`; descriptors advertised by visible Objects are normally prefetched already.
+The editor labels `offset` and `length` as optional; leave both blank to read the
+bounded file. `Bytes` results are shown as a bounded hex preview. For `replace`,
+enter `contents` as RFC 4648 base64—for example, `dXBkYXRlZA==` for
+`updated`—then review the target Entry, interface reference, operation, and value
+on the confirmation screen before pressing Enter again.
+
+## Keyboard bindings
+
+All required actions are keyboard-accessible.
+
+| Key | Action |
+| --- | --- |
+| `↑`/`k`, `↓`/`j` | Move within the focused tree, operation list, history, or editor |
+| `→`/`l`, `Enter` | Expand a tree node lazily; load/select an interface or operation |
+| `←`/`h` | Collapse a node or move to its parent |
+| `Tab` | Cycle Tree → Selected Entry → Operations → History |
+| `r` | Reobserve the selected Entry and its direct subtree |
+| `c` | Cancel the newest retrieval; a dispatched operation is never presented as canceled |
+| `R` | Reconnect after connection failure |
+| `?` | Open help |
+| `Esc` | Close a modal or return to the tree |
+| `q`, `Ctrl-C` | Exit and restore the terminal |
+
+Inside an argument editor, printable keys are field input, arrows move fields,
+Backspace edits, Enter validates, and Esc cancels. The confirmation screen requires
+a second explicit Enter (or `e`) to execute once. There is no operation auto-retry.
+
+## Screen model
+
+- **Worldspace tree** starts at `/`, lazily materializes expanded nodes, and
+  prefetches children for each visible Object so emptiness and the next expansion
+  frontier are known without selecting that Object first. Text labels distinguish
+  unloaded, loading, empty, stale, and failed state; color is supplemental. Every
+  successful expansion is complete for its requested depth.
+- **Selected Entry** shows only public WIP path, object name, description, ordered
+  interfaces, and freshness. Validators, credentials, Host internals, and backend
+  paths are deliberately hidden. If current metadata disappears, old text is not
+  presented as current.
+- **Interfaces / Operations** identifies every operation by `(interface reference,
+  operation name)`. Descriptor lookahead follows fresh visible Objects, shares the
+  client's in-flight/cache bounds, and never retries retained failures implicitly.
+  The pane shows descriptor documentation, ordered parameters, required/optional
+  status, and result types.
+- **Argument editor** supports Unit, Boolean, Integer, Number, String, base64 Bytes,
+  Record, List, Entry, Enum, Union, Json, and descriptor-local named types. Record,
+  List, Union, and Json values use JSON syntax. Union input is
+  `{"$case":"name","value":…}` when the selected case has a payload. Diagnostics
+  remain attached to the failing field.
+- **Recent results / diagnostics** explicitly distinguishes success, Host failure,
+  invalid protocol response, transport failure, client-local failure, and unknown
+  operation outcome. Large values, bytes, nesting, and control characters are
+  bounded before rendering. Only descriptor-declared `Entry` results become
+  navigation targets; path-looking String or Json values do not.
+
+Terminals below 48×14 show a minimum-size screen instead of attempting the full
+layout.
+
+## Validator and failure behavior
+
+Object and interface validators are observed and attached automatically by
+`wip-client`; users neither copy nor edit them. A successful operation may update the
+cached Object validator but does not by itself make the Object observation stale.
+Validator mismatch, interface mismatch, `OperationOutcomeUnknown`, undecodable
+post-dispatch responses, and post-dispatch timeout/disconnect are displayed using
+the runtime's authoritative transition.
+
+For an unknown outcome, the UI states that execution or side effects may have
+occurred, marks the related Entry stale, and tells the user to refresh. Refreshing
+does not recreate the call: the user must select the operation, review fresh input,
+and explicitly execute again. The same no-auto-retry rule applies after validator
+or interface mismatch.
+
+Retrieval work runs on I/O workers while the input/render loop continues. Responses
+return with the original `RequestId`, so an old completion cannot populate another
+Entry's details. Canceling a retrieval records a local cancellation and drops its
+late response. Once an operation crosses dispatch, cancellation is never described
+as undoing execution.
+
+## Tests
+
+The library form keeps reducers and rendering independent of a real terminal.
+`ratatui::TestBackend` snapshots cover tree/detail/result states and the minimum-size
+fallback. Unit tests cover reducer focus, selection, modal confirmation, key
+translation, descriptor inputs, bounded values, and descriptor-directed Entry
+results. The real HTTP integration test launches `wip-fs-server` on a temporary
+root and covers tree selection, reads, validator-protected replacement, external
+stale-validator rejection without retry, explicit refresh/re-execution, and
+symlink confinement.

crates/wip-tui/src/app.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,952 @@
+//! Pure application state, selection, modal, focus, and key reducer.
+
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
+
+use wip_client::{InterfaceObservation, ObjectObservation, ObservationState, TreeObservation};
+use wip_protocol::{InterfaceDescriptor, Object, Value};
+
+use crate::editor::ArgumentEditor;
+
+const MAX_PRESENTATION_ENTRIES: usize = 2048;
+const MAX_PRESENTATION_INTERFACES: usize = 256;
+
+/// A terminal-independent key understood by the reducer.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum InputKey {
+    /// Up arrow or `k`.
+    Up,
+    /// Down arrow or `j`.
+    Down,
+    /// Left arrow or `h`.
+    Left,
+    /// Right arrow or `l`.
+    Right,
+    /// Focus the next pane.
+    Tab,
+    /// Activate the selected item.
+    Enter,
+    /// Close the current modal or return to the tree.
+    Escape,
+    /// Delete one editor character.
+    Backspace,
+    /// Refresh the selected Entry.
+    Refresh,
+    /// Cancel the newest cancel-safe retrieval.
+    CancelRead,
+    /// Show key help.
+    Help,
+    /// Quit the application.
+    Quit,
+    /// Reconnect after startup or transport failure.
+    Reconnect,
+    /// A printable editor character.
+    Character(char),
+}
+
+/// Pane receiving navigation keys.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Focus {
+    /// Worldspace tree.
+    Tree,
+    /// Selected Entry metadata.
+    Entry,
+    /// Interfaces and operations.
+    Operations,
+    /// Recent result and diagnostic history.
+    History,
+}
+
+impl Focus {
+    fn next(self) -> Self {
+        match self {
+            Self::Tree => Self::Entry,
+            Self::Entry => Self::Operations,
+            Self::Operations => Self::History,
+            Self::History => Self::Tree,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Connection lifecycle shown without relying on color.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ConnectionState {
+    /// No request has been attempted.
+    Disconnected,
+    /// Initial root request or reconnect is in progress.
+    Connecting,
+    /// The root was observed successfully.
+    Connected,
+    /// Connection failed; reconnect and exit remain available.
+    Failed(String),
+}
+
+/// Presentation-safe observation state.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ViewState {
+    /// No observation has been requested.
+    Unloaded,
+    /// One request is in flight.
+    Loading(u64),
+    /// The observation is current.
+    Fresh,
+    /// The retained value needs reobservation.
+    Stale,
+    /// The latest attempt failed.
+    Error(String),
+}
+
+impl From<&ObservationState> for ViewState {
+    fn from(value: &ObservationState) -> Self {
+        match value {
+            ObservationState::Loading(id) => Self::Loading(id.get()),
+            ObservationState::Fresh => Self::Fresh,
+            ObservationState::Stale => Self::Stale,
+            ObservationState::Error(error) => Self::Error(error.to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// One materialized tree Entry.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct EntryView {
+    /// Canonical WIP path.
+    pub path: String,
+    /// Latest object when retained by the client runtime.
+    pub object: Option<Object>,
+    /// Object observation state.
+    pub state: ViewState,
+    /// Direct child paths in Host order.
+    pub children: Vec<String>,
+    /// Expansion observation state.
+    pub tree_state: ViewState,
+    /// Whether the user expanded this row.
+    pub expanded: bool,
+}
+
+impl EntryView {
+    fn placeholder(path: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            path: path.into(),
+            object: None,
+            state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+            children: Vec::new(),
+            tree_state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+            expanded: false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Cached interface descriptor state used by presentation.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct InterfaceView {
+    /// Opaque interface reference.
+    pub reference: String,
+    /// Descriptor when accepted by the client runtime.
+    pub descriptor: Option<InterfaceDescriptor>,
+    /// Descriptor observation state.
+    pub state: ViewState,
+}
+
+/// Stable result/diagnostic category.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum HistoryKind {
+    /// A descriptor-validated operation result.
+    Success,
+    /// A valid Host-declared failure.
+    DomainFailure,
+    /// An invalid protocol response.
+    ProtocolError,
+    /// Network or TLS failure.
+    TransportFailure,
+    /// Client-local validation or capacity failure.
+    ClientFailure,
+    /// Dispatch occurred but execution or commit is uncertain.
+    OutcomeUnknown,
+    /// Informational request state.
+    Information,
+}
+
+/// One bounded recent result or diagnostic.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct HistoryItem {
+    /// Explicit outcome category.
+    pub kind: HistoryKind,
+    /// Short bounded heading.
+    pub title: String,
+    /// Bounded, terminal-safe detail.
+    pub detail: String,
+    /// Navigation target only when declared as descriptor `Entry`.
+    pub entry_target: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Kind of request currently in flight.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum InFlightKind {
+    /// Object refresh.
+    Object(String),
+    /// Tree expansion or refresh.
+    Tree(String),
+    /// Descriptor fetch.
+    Interface(String),
+    /// Explicit operation call.
+    Operation {
+        /// Target path.
+        path: String,
+        /// Interface reference.
+        interface: String,
+        /// Operation name.
+        operation: String,
+        /// Whether the transport dispatch boundary was crossed.
+        dispatched: bool,
+    },
+}
+
+impl InFlightKind {
+    /// Whether dropping the response is a safe cancellation operation.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn cancel_safe(&self) -> bool {
+        !matches!(self, Self::Operation { .. })
+    }
+}
+
+/// Active overlay.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Modal {
+    /// No overlay.
+    None,
+    /// Keyboard help.
+    Help,
+    /// Descriptor-driven field editor.
+    Editor(ArgumentEditor),
+    /// Explicit pre-execution confirmation.
+    Confirm {
+        /// Editor retained when confirmation is cancelled.
+        editor: ArgumentEditor,
+        /// Validated arguments that will be sent.
+        arguments: BTreeMap<String, Value>,
+    },
+}
+
+/// Side effect requested by the pure reducer.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum Action {
+    /// Expand one node lazily.
+    Expand {
+        /// Tree root path.
+        path: String,
+    },
+    /// Reobserve an Entry and its direct children.
+    Refresh {
+        /// Selected path.
+        path: String,
+    },
+    /// Retrieve one interface descriptor.
+    FetchInterface(String),
+    /// Execute only after explicit confirmation.
+    Execute {
+        /// Entry target.
+        path: String,
+        /// Interface reference.
+        interface: String,
+        /// Operation name.
+        operation: String,
+        /// Descriptor-validated arguments.
+        arguments: BTreeMap<String, Value>,
+    },
+    /// Cancel the newest safe retrieval.
+    CancelRead,
+    /// Reconnect and observe the root.
+    Reconnect,
+    /// Navigate to a descriptor-declared Entry result.
+    NavigateEntry(String),
+    /// Exit normally.
+    Quit,
+}
+
+/// Complete presentation model.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct App {
+    /// Effective endpoint label (never credential material).
+    pub endpoint: String,
+    /// Connection lifecycle.
+    pub connection: ConnectionState,
+    /// Materialized tree nodes by path.
+    pub entries: BTreeMap<String, EntryView>,
+    /// Selected Entry path.
+    pub selected_path: String,
+    /// Focused pane.
+    pub focus: Focus,
+    /// Interface descriptor views by opaque reference.
+    pub interfaces: BTreeMap<String, InterfaceView>,
+    /// Selected row in the flattened interface/operation view.
+    pub operation_cursor: usize,
+    /// Selected recent-history row.
+    pub history_cursor: usize,
+    /// Active overlay.
+    pub modal: Modal,
+    /// In-flight requests keyed by client request identity.
+    pub in_flight: BTreeMap<u64, InFlightKind>,
+    /// Recent result and diagnostic history, newest first.
+    pub history: Vec<HistoryItem>,
+    /// Maximum retained presentation history.
+    pub history_limit: usize,
+    /// One-line status for local action feedback.
+    pub status: String,
+}
+
+impl App {
+    /// Creates a disconnected model with `/` selected.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new(endpoint: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        let mut entries = BTreeMap::new();
+        let mut root = EntryView::placeholder("/");
+        root.expanded = true;
+        entries.insert("/".into(), root);
+        Self {
+            endpoint: endpoint.into(),
+            connection: ConnectionState::Disconnected,
+            entries,
+            selected_path: "/".into(),
+            focus: Focus::Tree,
+            interfaces: BTreeMap::new(),
+            operation_cursor: 0,
+            history_cursor: 0,
+            modal: Modal::None,
+            in_flight: BTreeMap::new(),
+            history: Vec::new(),
+            history_limit: 64,
+            status: "press ? for help".into(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Applies one key and returns requested effects without performing I/O.
+    pub fn reduce(&mut self, key: InputKey) -> Vec<Action> {
+        match std::mem::replace(&mut self.modal, Modal::None) {
+            Modal::Help => {
+                if !matches!(key, InputKey::Escape | InputKey::Help) {
+                    self.modal = Modal::Help;
+                }
+                return Vec::new();
+            }
+            Modal::Editor(mut editor) => {
+                match key {
+                    InputKey::Escape => {}
+                    InputKey::Up => {
+                        editor.previous_field();
+                        self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor);
+                    }
+                    InputKey::Down | InputKey::Tab => {
+                        editor.next_field();
+                        self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor);
+                    }
+                    InputKey::Backspace => {
+                        editor.backspace();
+                        self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor);
+                    }
+                    InputKey::Character(character) => {
+                        editor.insert(character);
+                        self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor);
+                    }
+                    InputKey::Enter => match editor.validate() {
+                        Ok(arguments) => self.modal = Modal::Confirm { editor, arguments },
+                        Err(_) => self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor),
+                    },
+                    _ => self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor),
+                }
+                return Vec::new();
+            }
+            Modal::Confirm { editor, arguments } => match key {
+                InputKey::Escape => {
+                    self.modal = Modal::Editor(editor);
+                    return Vec::new();
+                }
+                InputKey::Enter | InputKey::Character('e') => {
+                    let action = Action::Execute {
+                        path: self.selected_path.clone(),
+                        interface: editor.interface.clone(),
+                        operation: editor.operation.name.clone(),
+                        arguments,
+                    };
+                    self.status =
+                        "operation confirmed; preparing request (not yet dispatched)".into();
+                    return vec![action];
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    self.modal = Modal::Confirm { editor, arguments };
+                    return Vec::new();
+                }
+            },
+            Modal::None => {}
+        }
+
+        if key == InputKey::Help {
+            self.modal = Modal::Help;
+            return Vec::new();
+        }
+        if key == InputKey::Quit {
+            return vec![Action::Quit];
+        }
+        if key == InputKey::Reconnect {
+            return vec![Action::Reconnect];
+        }
+        if key == InputKey::CancelRead {
+            return vec![Action::CancelRead];
+        }
+        if key == InputKey::Tab {
+            self.focus = self.focus.next();
+            return Vec::new();
+        }
+
+        match self.focus {
+            Focus::Tree => self.reduce_tree(key),
+            Focus::Operations => self.reduce_operations(key),
+            Focus::History => self.reduce_history(key),
+            Focus::Entry => {
+                if key == InputKey::Escape {
+                    self.focus = Focus::Tree;
+                } else if key == InputKey::Refresh {
+                    return vec![self.refresh_action()];
+                }
+                Vec::new()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn reduce_tree(&mut self, key: InputKey) -> Vec<Action> {
+        let visible = self.visible_paths();
+        let position = visible
+            .iter()
+            .position(|path| path == &self.selected_path)
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        match key {
+            InputKey::Up if position > 0 => self.selected_path = visible[position - 1].clone(),
+            InputKey::Down if position + 1 < visible.len() => {
+                self.selected_path = visible[position + 1].clone();
+            }
+            InputKey::Right | InputKey::Enter => {
+                let node = self
+                    .entries
+                    .entry(self.selected_path.clone())
+                    .or_insert_with(|| EntryView::placeholder(&self.selected_path));
+                node.expanded = true;
+                if !matches!(node.tree_state, ViewState::Fresh) {
+                    return vec![Action::Expand {
+                        path: node.path.clone(),
+                    }];
+                }
+            }
+            InputKey::Left => {
+                let node = self
+                    .entries
+                    .get_mut(&self.selected_path)
+                    .expect("selected Entry exists");
+                if node.expanded {
+                    node.expanded = false;
+                } else if self.selected_path != "/" {
+                    self.selected_path = parent_path(&self.selected_path);
+                }
+            }
+            InputKey::Refresh => return vec![self.refresh_action()],
+            _ => {}
+        }
+        self.operation_cursor = 0;
+        Vec::new()
+    }
+
+    fn reduce_operations(&mut self, key: InputKey) -> Vec<Action> {
+        let rows = self.operation_rows();
+        match key {
+            InputKey::Up => self.operation_cursor = self.operation_cursor.saturating_sub(1),
+            InputKey::Down if self.operation_cursor + 1 < rows.len() => self.operation_cursor += 1,
+            InputKey::Refresh => return vec![self.refresh_action()],
+            InputKey::Escape => self.focus = Focus::Tree,
+            InputKey::Enter => {
+                if let Some(row) = rows.get(self.operation_cursor) {
+                    if let Some(operation_name) = &row.operation {
+                        if let Some(interface) = self.interfaces.get(&row.interface)
+                            && let Some(descriptor) = &interface.descriptor
+                            && let Some(operation) = descriptor
+                                .operations
+                                .iter()
+                                .find(|operation| operation.name == *operation_name)
+                        {
+                            self.modal = Modal::Editor(ArgumentEditor::new(
+                                row.interface.clone(),
+                                descriptor.clone(),
+                                operation.clone(),
+                            ));
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        return vec![Action::FetchInterface(row.interface.clone())];
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+        Vec::new()
+    }
+
+    fn reduce_history(&mut self, key: InputKey) -> Vec<Action> {
+        match key {
+            InputKey::Up => self.history_cursor = self.history_cursor.saturating_sub(1),
+            InputKey::Down if self.history_cursor + 1 < self.history.len() => {
+                self.history_cursor += 1;
+            }
+            InputKey::Enter => {
+                if let Some(path) = self
+                    .history
+                    .get(self.history_cursor)
+                    .and_then(|item| item.entry_target.clone())
+                {
+                    return vec![Action::NavigateEntry(path)];
+                }
+            }
+            InputKey::Escape => self.focus = Focus::Tree,
+            _ => {}
+        }
+        Vec::new()
+    }
+
+    fn refresh_action(&self) -> Action {
+        Action::Refresh {
+            path: self.selected_path.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Records a pending request separately by interaction type.
+    pub fn request_started(&mut self, id: u64, kind: InFlightKind) {
+        match &kind {
+            InFlightKind::Object(path) => {
+                self.ensure_entry(path).state = ViewState::Loading(id);
+            }
+            InFlightKind::Tree(path) => {
+                let entry = self.ensure_entry(path);
+                entry.state = ViewState::Loading(id);
+                entry.tree_state = ViewState::Loading(id);
+            }
+            InFlightKind::Interface(reference) => {
+                self.ensure_interface(reference).state = ViewState::Loading(id);
+            }
+            InFlightKind::Operation { .. } => {}
+        }
+        self.in_flight.insert(id, kind);
+    }
+
+    /// Marks an operation as handed to the transport.
+    pub fn request_dispatched(&mut self, id: u64) {
+        if let Some(InFlightKind::Operation { dispatched, .. }) = self.in_flight.get_mut(&id) {
+            *dispatched = true;
+            self.status = "operation dispatched once; automatic retry is disabled".into();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Removes a completed request identity.
+    pub fn request_finished(&mut self, id: u64) -> Option<InFlightKind> {
+        self.in_flight.remove(&id)
+    }
+
+    /// Applies an object observation from `wip-client`.
+    pub fn apply_object(&mut self, observation: ObjectObservation) {
+        let entry = self.ensure_entry(&observation.path);
+        entry.object = observation.object;
+        entry.state = ViewState::from(&observation.state);
+    }
+
+    /// Applies a lazy tree observation and ensures child placeholders exist.
+    pub fn apply_tree(&mut self, observation: TreeObservation) {
+        let children = observation.children.clone();
+        let entry = self.ensure_entry(&observation.path);
+        entry.children = children.clone();
+        entry.tree_state = ViewState::from(&observation.state);
+        for path in children {
+            self.ensure_entry(&path);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Applies one interface observation from `wip-client`.
+    pub fn apply_interface(&mut self, observation: InterfaceObservation) {
+        let view = self.ensure_interface(&observation.reference);
+        *view = InterfaceView {
+            reference: observation.reference,
+            descriptor: observation.descriptor,
+            state: ViewState::from(&observation.state),
+        };
+    }
+
+    /// Replaces current Entry details from the client's current snapshot.
+    pub fn sync_object(&mut self, path: &str, observation: Option<ObjectObservation>) {
+        match observation {
+            Some(observation) => self.apply_object(observation),
+            None => {
+                let entry = self.ensure_entry(path);
+                entry.object = None;
+                entry.state = ViewState::Stale;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Selects a known or newly discovered descriptor-declared Entry path.
+    pub fn navigate_entry(&mut self, path: impl Into<String>) {
+        let path = path.into();
+        self.ensure_entry(&path);
+        self.selected_path = path;
+        self.focus = Focus::Tree;
+    }
+
+    /// Adds one bounded recent item.
+    pub fn push_history(&mut self, item: HistoryItem) {
+        self.history.insert(0, item);
+        self.history.truncate(self.history_limit);
+        self.history_cursor = 0;
+    }
+
+    /// Returns visible tree paths in display order.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn visible_paths(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+        let mut visible = Vec::new();
+        let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+        self.collect_visible("/", &mut seen, &mut visible);
+        if !seen.contains(&self.selected_path) && self.entries.contains_key(&self.selected_path) {
+            visible.push(self.selected_path.clone());
+        }
+        visible
+    }
+
+    /// Returns interface references advertised by fresh visible Objects in display
+    /// and per-Object declaration order, with duplicates removed.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn visible_interface_references(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+        let mut references = Vec::new();
+        let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+        for path in self.visible_paths() {
+            let Some(object) = self
+                .entries
+                .get(&path)
+                .filter(|entry| entry.state == ViewState::Fresh)
+                .and_then(|entry| entry.object.as_ref())
+            else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            for reference in &object.interfaces {
+                if seen.insert(reference.clone()) {
+                    references.push(reference.clone());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        references
+    }
+
+    fn collect_visible(&self, path: &str, seen: &mut BTreeSet<String>, visible: &mut Vec<String>) {
+        if !seen.insert(path.to_owned()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        visible.push(path.to_owned());
+        let Some(entry) = self.entries.get(path) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        if entry.expanded {
+            for child in &entry.children {
+                self.collect_visible(child, seen, visible);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns flattened interface headers and operations for the selected Entry.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn operation_rows(&self) -> Vec<OperationRow> {
+        let Some(object) = self
+            .entries
+            .get(&self.selected_path)
+            .filter(|entry| entry.state == ViewState::Fresh)
+            .and_then(|entry| entry.object.as_ref())
+        else {
+            return Vec::new();
+        };
+        let mut rows = Vec::new();
+        for reference in &object.interfaces {
+            rows.push(OperationRow {
+                interface: reference.clone(),
+                operation: None,
+            });
+            if let Some(descriptor) = self
+                .interfaces
+                .get(reference)
+                .filter(|view| view.state == ViewState::Fresh)
+                .and_then(|view| view.descriptor.as_ref())
+            {
+                rows.extend(descriptor.operations.iter().map(|operation| OperationRow {
+                    interface: reference.clone(),
+                    operation: Some(operation.name.clone()),
+                }));
+            }
+        }
+        rows
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_entry(&mut self, path: &str) -> &mut EntryView {
+        if !self.entries.contains_key(path) && self.entries.len() >= MAX_PRESENTATION_ENTRIES {
+            let candidate = self
+                .entries
+                .iter()
+                .find(|(candidate, entry)| {
+                    candidate.as_str() != "/"
+                        && candidate.as_str() != self.selected_path
+                        && matches!(
+                            entry.state,
+                            ViewState::Unloaded | ViewState::Stale | ViewState::Error(_)
+                        )
+                })
+                .or_else(|| {
+                    self.entries.iter().find(|(candidate, entry)| {
+                        candidate.as_str() != "/"
+                            && candidate.as_str() != self.selected_path
+                            && !matches!(entry.state, ViewState::Loading(_))
+                    })
+                })
+                .map(|(candidate, _)| candidate.clone());
+            if let Some(candidate) = candidate {
+                self.entries.remove(&candidate);
+                for entry in self.entries.values_mut() {
+                    entry.children.retain(|child| child != &candidate);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        self.entries
+            .entry(path.to_owned())
+            .or_insert_with(|| EntryView::placeholder(path))
+    }
+
+    fn ensure_interface(&mut self, reference: &str) -> &mut InterfaceView {
+        if !self.interfaces.contains_key(reference)
+            && self.interfaces.len() >= MAX_PRESENTATION_INTERFACES
+        {
+            let protected = self
+                .entries
+                .get(&self.selected_path)
+                .and_then(|entry| entry.object.as_ref())
+                .map(|object| object.interfaces.iter().cloned().collect::<BTreeSet<_>>())
+                .unwrap_or_default();
+            let candidate = self
+                .interfaces
+                .iter()
+                .find(|(candidate, interface)| {
+                    !protected.contains(*candidate)
+                        && !matches!(interface.state, ViewState::Loading(_))
+                })
+                .or_else(|| {
+                    self.interfaces
+                        .iter()
+                        .find(|(_, interface)| !matches!(interface.state, ViewState::Loading(_)))
+                })
+                .map(|(candidate, _)| candidate.clone());
+            if let Some(candidate) = candidate {
+                self.interfaces.remove(&candidate);
+            }
+        }
+        self.interfaces
+            .entry(reference.to_owned())
+            .or_insert_with(|| InterfaceView {
+                reference: reference.to_owned(),
+                descriptor: None,
+                state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+            })
+    }
+}
+
+/// One row in the combined Interface and Operation pane.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct OperationRow {
+    /// Interface reference, which participates in operation identity.
+    pub interface: String,
+    /// Operation name, or `None` for the interface heading.
+    pub operation: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Returns the canonical parent of a non-root path.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn parent_path(path: &str) -> String {
+    match path.rsplit_once('/') {
+        Some(("", _)) | None => "/".into(),
+        Some((parent, _)) => parent.into(),
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use wip_protocol::{INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, OperationDeclaration, ReturnDeclaration, TypeExpr};
+
+    fn object(name: &str, interfaces: &[&str]) -> Object {
+        Object {
+            name: name.into(),
+            description: Some(format!("{name} description")),
+            interfaces: interfaces.iter().map(|value| (*value).into()).collect(),
+            r#ref: None,
+            validator: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tree_navigation_and_lazy_expansion_are_pure() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip");
+        app.apply_tree(TreeObservation {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            children: vec!["/a".into(), "/b".into()],
+            revision: request_id(),
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        assert_eq!(app.visible_paths(), ["/", "/a", "/b"]);
+        app.reduce(InputKey::Down);
+        assert_eq!(app.selected_path, "/a");
+        assert!(matches!(
+            app.reduce(InputKey::Right).as_slice(),
+            [Action::Expand { path }] if path == "/a"
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn visible_interface_references_are_ordered_deduplicated_and_fresh() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip");
+        app.apply_tree(TreeObservation {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            children: vec!["/a".into(), "/stale".into()],
+            revision: request_id(),
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            object: Some(object("", &["root", "shared"])),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/a".into(),
+            object: Some(object("a", &["shared", "child"])),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/stale".into(),
+            object: Some(object("stale", &["ignored"])),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Stale,
+        });
+        app.apply_tree(TreeObservation {
+            path: "/a".into(),
+            children: vec!["/a/hidden".into()],
+            revision: request_id(),
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/a/hidden".into(),
+            object: Some(object("hidden", &["hidden"])),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.visible_interface_references(),
+            ["root", "shared", "child"]
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn focus_modal_and_explicit_confirmation_gate_execution() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip");
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            object: Some(object("", &["iface"])),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        let descriptor = InterfaceDescriptor {
+            format: INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1.into(),
+            documentation: None,
+            types: vec![],
+            operations: vec![OperationDeclaration {
+                name: "ping".into(),
+                documentation: None,
+                parameters: vec![],
+                returns: ReturnDeclaration {
+                    documentation: None,
+                    r#type: TypeExpr::Unit,
+                },
+            }],
+        };
+        app.apply_interface(InterfaceObservation {
+            reference: "iface".into(),
+            descriptor: Some(descriptor),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        app.focus = Focus::Operations;
+        app.operation_cursor = 1;
+        assert!(app.reduce(InputKey::Enter).is_empty());
+        assert!(matches!(app.modal, Modal::Editor(_)));
+        assert!(app.reduce(InputKey::Enter).is_empty());
+        assert!(matches!(app.modal, Modal::Confirm { .. }));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            app.reduce(InputKey::Enter).as_slice(),
+            [Action::Execute { operation, .. }] if operation == "ping"
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn presentation_maps_enforce_client_sized_hard_bounds() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip");
+        for index in 0..(MAX_PRESENTATION_ENTRIES + 100) {
+            app.navigate_entry(format!("/discovered-{index}"));
+            app.selected_path = "/".into();
+        }
+        assert!(app.entries.len() <= MAX_PRESENTATION_ENTRIES);
+        assert!(app.entries.contains_key("/"));
+
+        for index in 0..(MAX_PRESENTATION_INTERFACES + 50) {
+            app.apply_interface(InterfaceObservation {
+                reference: format!("interface-{index}"),
+                descriptor: None,
+                validator: None,
+                state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+            });
+        }
+        assert!(app.interfaces.len() <= MAX_PRESENTATION_INTERFACES);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn result_navigation_only_uses_explicit_entry_target() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip");
+        app.push_history(HistoryItem {
+            kind: HistoryKind::Success,
+            title: "string".into(),
+            detail: "/looks/like/a/path".into(),
+            entry_target: None,
+        });
+        app.focus = Focus::History;
+        assert!(app.reduce(InputKey::Enter).is_empty());
+        app.push_history(HistoryItem {
+            kind: HistoryKind::Success,
+            title: "Entry".into(),
+            detail: "/actual".into(),
+            entry_target: Some("/actual".into()),
+        });
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.reduce(InputKey::Enter),
+            vec![Action::NavigateEntry("/actual".into())]
+        );
+    }
+
+    fn request_id() -> wip_client::RequestId {
+        // A request identity has no public constructor; derive one through the runtime.
+        let mut client = wip_client::Client::new(
+            wip_client::ClientLimits::new(1, 4, 4, 4, 4).unwrap(),
+            wip_http::Limits::new(1024, 1024, 8, 8).unwrap(),
+        );
+        let session = client
+            .open_session(
+                "https://example.test/wip",
+                wip_client::SecurityContext::new("test"),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+        client.refresh_object(&session, "/").unwrap().id
+    }
+}

crates/wip-tui/src/config.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+//! Command-line and environment configuration for the HTTP client.
+
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt::{self, Debug, Display, Formatter};
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use wip_http::Endpoint;
+
+/// Credential wrapper whose debug output is always redacted.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Secret(String);
+
+impl Secret {
+    pub(crate) fn expose(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl Debug for Secret {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        formatter.write_str("Secret([REDACTED])")
+    }
+}
+
+/// Validated runtime configuration.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct Config {
+    /// Canonical endpoint used for request construction, transport, and cache partitioning.
+    endpoint: String,
+    /// Non-secret cache partition identity.
+    security_context: String,
+    /// Bounded network timeout.
+    timeout: Duration,
+    /// Optional complete Authorization header value, never rendered or logged.
+    authorization: Option<Secret>,
+}
+
+impl Debug for Config {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        formatter
+            .debug_struct("Config")
+            .field("endpoint", &self.endpoint)
+            .field("security_context", &self.security_context)
+            .field("timeout", &self.timeout)
+            .field("authorization", &self.authorization)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Config {
+    /// Returns the canonical endpoint used by the client and HTTP transport.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn endpoint(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.endpoint
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the non-secret session cache partition identity.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn security_context(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.security_context
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the end-to-end request timeout.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn timeout(&self) -> Duration {
+        self.timeout
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn authorization(&self) -> Option<&Secret> {
+        self.authorization.as_ref()
+    }
+
+    /// Parses process arguments and supported environment variables.
+    ///
+    /// Endpoint precedence is `--endpoint`, a positional endpoint, then
+    /// `WIP_ENDPOINT`. Authorization is read only from the variable named by
+    /// `--authorization-env` (default `WIP_AUTHORIZATION`).
+    pub fn from_env() -> Result<Self, ConfigError> {
+        let arguments = std::env::args().skip(1).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        let endpoint_env = std::env::var("WIP_ENDPOINT").ok();
+        let security_context = std::env::var("WIP_SECURITY_CONTEXT").ok();
+        Self::parse(arguments, endpoint_env, security_context, |name| {
+            std::env::var(name).ok()
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Parses supplied values; exposed to make startup policy independently testable.
+    pub fn parse<I, S, F>(
+        arguments: I,
+        endpoint_env: Option<String>,
+        security_context_env: Option<String>,
+        mut read_secret: F,
+    ) -> Result<Self, ConfigError>
+    where
+        I: IntoIterator<Item = S>,
+        S: Into<String>,
+        F: FnMut(&str) -> Option<String>,
+    {
+        let mut endpoint = None;
+        let mut timeout = Duration::from_secs(30);
+        let mut security_context = security_context_env.unwrap_or_else(|| "anonymous".into());
+        let mut authorization_env = "WIP_AUTHORIZATION".to_owned();
+        let mut iter = arguments.into_iter().map(Into::into);
+        while let Some(argument) = iter.next() {
+            match argument.as_str() {
+                "--endpoint" => endpoint = Some(next_value(&mut iter, "--endpoint")?),
+                "--security-context" => {
+                    security_context = next_value(&mut iter, "--security-context")?;
+                }
+                "--authorization-env" => {
+                    authorization_env = next_value(&mut iter, "--authorization-env")?;
+                }
+                "--timeout" => {
+                    let raw = next_value(&mut iter, "--timeout")?;
+                    let seconds = raw
+                        .parse::<u64>()
+                        .ok()
+                        .filter(|seconds| *seconds > 0)
+                        .ok_or_else(|| {
+                            ConfigError::Invalid("--timeout must be a positive integer".into())
+                        })?;
+                    timeout = Duration::from_secs(seconds);
+                }
+                "--help" | "-h" => return Err(ConfigError::Help),
+                value if value.starts_with('-') => {
+                    return Err(ConfigError::Invalid(format!("unknown option {value}")));
+                }
+                value if endpoint.is_none() => endpoint = Some(value.to_owned()),
+                _ => return Err(ConfigError::Invalid("multiple endpoints supplied".into())),
+            }
+        }
+        let supplied = endpoint
+            .or(endpoint_env)
+            .ok_or_else(|| ConfigError::Invalid("endpoint is required".into()))?;
+        let endpoint =
+            Endpoint::parse(&supplied).map_err(|error| ConfigError::Invalid(error.to_string()))?;
+        if !endpoint.as_url().username().is_empty() || endpoint.as_url().password().is_some() {
+            return Err(ConfigError::Invalid(
+                "endpoint userinfo is not accepted; supply credentials through the configured environment variable"
+                    .into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        if !matches!(endpoint.as_url().scheme(), "http" | "https") {
+            return Err(ConfigError::Invalid(
+                "this HTTP client supports http and https endpoint schemes".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        if security_context.is_empty() {
+            return Err(ConfigError::Invalid(
+                "security context must not be empty".into(),
+            ));
+        }
+        let authorization = read_secret(&authorization_env)
+            .filter(|value| !value.is_empty())
+            .map(Secret);
+        Ok(Self {
+            endpoint: endpoint.to_string(),
+            security_context,
+            timeout,
+            authorization,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns concise command usage without mentioning credential values.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn usage() -> &'static str {
+        "usage: wip-tui [--endpoint] URL [--security-context NAME] [--authorization-env VAR] [--timeout SECONDS]\n\
+         URL may also be supplied as WIP_ENDPOINT; the HTTP adapter supports http and https."
+    }
+}
+
+fn next_value(
+    iter: &mut impl Iterator<Item = String>,
+    option: &str,
+) -> Result<String, ConfigError> {
+    iter.next()
+        .ok_or_else(|| ConfigError::Invalid(format!("{option} requires a value")))
+}
+
+/// Startup configuration failure.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ConfigError {
+    /// Help was requested.
+    Help,
+    /// A safe, non-secret configuration diagnostic.
+    Invalid(String),
+}
+
+impl Display for ConfigError {
+    fn fmt(&self, formatter: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::Help => formatter.write_str(Config::usage()),
+            Self::Invalid(detail) => write!(formatter, "{detail}\n{}", Config::usage()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for ConfigError {}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn endpoint_is_canonical_and_secrets_are_redacted() {
+        let config = Config::parse(
+            ["https://example.test/wip", "--authorization-env", "TOKEN"],
+            None,
+            None,
+            |name| (name == "TOKEN").then(|| "Bearer secret-value".into()),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(config.endpoint(), "https://example.test/wip/");
+        let debug = format!("{config:?}");
+        assert!(debug.contains("[REDACTED]"));
+        assert!(!debug.contains("secret-value"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn endpoint_userinfo_is_rejected_before_it_can_reach_debug_or_render_state() {
+        for endpoint in [
+            "https://user:password@example.test/wip",
+            "http://user:password@localhost:3000/wip",
+        ] {
+            let error = Config::parse([endpoint], None, None, |_| None).unwrap_err();
+            assert!(error.to_string().contains("userinfo"));
+            assert!(!error.to_string().contains("password"));
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn http_and_https_are_preserved_as_the_single_endpoint() {
+        for expected in ["http://example.test:3000/wip/", "https://example.test/wip/"] {
+            let supplied = expected.trim_end_matches('/');
+            let config = Config::parse([supplied], None, None, |_| None).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(config.endpoint(), expected);
+        }
+    }
+}

crates/wip-tui/src/editor.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,628 @@
+//! Descriptor-driven operation argument editing and validation.
+
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+
+use base64::Engine as _;
+use base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD;
+use wip_protocol::{InterfaceDescriptor, OperationDeclaration, TypeExpr, Value};
+
+const MAX_FIELD_INPUT_BYTES: usize = 256 * 1024;
+
+/// One editable top-level operation parameter.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ArgumentField {
+    /// Parameter name.
+    pub name: String,
+    /// Whether the parameter must be supplied.
+    pub required: bool,
+    /// Canonical descriptor type.
+    pub r#type: TypeExpr,
+    /// User-entered text.
+    pub input: String,
+    /// Field-local validation diagnostic.
+    pub diagnostic: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Marker returned when one or more field diagnostics prevent submission.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct InvalidArguments;
+
+/// Pure, terminal-independent editor built from an operation descriptor.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ArgumentEditor {
+    /// Opaque interface reference selected for the call.
+    pub interface: String,
+    /// Selected operation declaration.
+    pub operation: OperationDeclaration,
+    /// Complete descriptor used to resolve named types.
+    pub descriptor: InterfaceDescriptor,
+    /// Top-level parameter fields in declaration order.
+    pub fields: Vec<ArgumentField>,
+    /// Index of the active field.
+    pub cursor: usize,
+}
+
+impl ArgumentEditor {
+    /// Builds an editor whose fields preserve descriptor order.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new(
+        interface: impl Into<String>,
+        descriptor: InterfaceDescriptor,
+        operation: OperationDeclaration,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let fields = operation
+            .parameters
+            .iter()
+            .map(|parameter| ArgumentField {
+                name: parameter.name.clone(),
+                required: parameter.required,
+                r#type: parameter.r#type.clone(),
+                input: if parameter.required && parameter.r#type == TypeExpr::Unit {
+                    "null".into()
+                } else {
+                    String::new()
+                },
+                diagnostic: None,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        Self {
+            interface: interface.into(),
+            operation,
+            descriptor,
+            fields,
+            cursor: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Moves to the preceding field without wrapping.
+    pub fn previous_field(&mut self) {
+        self.cursor = self.cursor.saturating_sub(1);
+    }
+
+    /// Moves to the following field without wrapping.
+    pub fn next_field(&mut self) {
+        if self.cursor + 1 < self.fields.len() {
+            self.cursor += 1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Appends one printable character to the active field.
+    pub fn insert(&mut self, character: char) {
+        if !character.is_control()
+            && let Some(field) = self.fields.get_mut(self.cursor)
+        {
+            if field.input.len().saturating_add(character.len_utf8()) <= MAX_FIELD_INPUT_BYTES {
+                field.input.push(character);
+                field.diagnostic = None;
+            } else {
+                field.diagnostic = Some("field input reached the 256 KiB limit".into());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Removes one scalar value from the active field.
+    pub fn backspace(&mut self) {
+        if let Some(field) = self.fields.get_mut(self.cursor) {
+            field.input.pop();
+            field.diagnostic = None;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Validates all fields and returns protocol values when every field is valid.
+    ///
+    /// Invalid or missing values are retained as field-local diagnostics. Optional
+    /// blank fields are omitted from the resulting argument map.
+    pub fn validate(&mut self) -> Result<BTreeMap<String, Value>, InvalidArguments> {
+        let mut arguments = BTreeMap::new();
+        let mut invalid = false;
+        for field in &mut self.fields {
+            field.diagnostic = None;
+            if field.input.len() > MAX_FIELD_INPUT_BYTES {
+                field.diagnostic = Some("field input exceeds the 256 KiB limit".into());
+                invalid = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+            if field.input.trim().is_empty() {
+                if field.required {
+                    field.diagnostic = Some("required value is missing".into());
+                    invalid = true;
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+            match parse_value(
+                &self.descriptor,
+                &field.r#type,
+                field.input.trim(),
+                &field.name,
+            ) {
+                Ok(value) => {
+                    arguments.insert(field.name.clone(), value);
+                }
+                Err(error) => {
+                    field.diagnostic = Some(error);
+                    invalid = true;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        if invalid {
+            return Err(InvalidArguments);
+        }
+        if let Err(error) = self
+            .descriptor
+            .validate_arguments(&self.operation.name, &arguments)
+        {
+            if let Some(field) = self.fields.get_mut(self.cursor) {
+                field.diagnostic = Some(error.to_string());
+            }
+            return Err(InvalidArguments);
+        }
+        Ok(arguments)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Returns a compact canonical spelling for a type expression.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn type_name(r#type: &TypeExpr) -> String {
+    match r#type {
+        TypeExpr::Unit => "Unit".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Boolean => "Boolean".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Integer => "Integer".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Number => "Number".into(),
+        TypeExpr::String => "String".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Bytes => "Bytes(base64)".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Json => "Json".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Entry => "Entry".into(),
+        TypeExpr::Named { name } => name.clone(),
+        TypeExpr::Record { fields } => format!(
+            "Record{{{}}}",
+            fields
+                .iter()
+                .map(|field| format!(
+                    "{}{}: {}",
+                    field.name,
+                    if field.required { "" } else { "?" },
+                    type_name(&field.r#type)
+                ))
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .join(", ")
+        ),
+        TypeExpr::List { items } => format!("List<{}>", type_name(items)),
+        TypeExpr::Enum { cases } => format!(
+            "Enum<{}>",
+            cases
+                .iter()
+                .map(|case| case.name.as_str())
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .join(" | ")
+        ),
+        TypeExpr::Union { cases } => format!(
+            "Union<{}>",
+            cases
+                .iter()
+                .map(|case| case.name.as_str())
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .join(" | ")
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+fn parse_value(
+    descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+    r#type: &TypeExpr,
+    input: &str,
+    field: &str,
+) -> Result<Value, String> {
+    if let TypeExpr::Named { name } = r#type {
+        let declaration = descriptor
+            .types
+            .iter()
+            .find(|declaration| declaration.name == *name)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: unknown named type {name}"))?;
+        return parse_value(descriptor, &declaration.definition, input, field);
+    }
+    let value = match r#type {
+        TypeExpr::Unit => {
+            if matches!(input, "null" | "()") {
+                Value::Unit
+            } else {
+                return Err(format!("{field}: expected null"));
+            }
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Boolean => input
+            .parse::<bool>()
+            .map(Value::Boolean)
+            .map_err(|_| format!("{field}: expected true or false"))?,
+        TypeExpr::Integer => input
+            .parse::<i64>()
+            .map(Value::Integer)
+            .map_err(|_| format!("{field}: expected a signed integer"))?,
+        TypeExpr::Number => {
+            let number = input
+                .parse::<f64>()
+                .map_err(|_| format!("{field}: expected a finite number"))?;
+            if !number.is_finite() {
+                return Err(format!("{field}: expected a finite number"));
+            }
+            Value::Number(number)
+        }
+        TypeExpr::String => Value::String(parse_string(input)),
+        TypeExpr::Bytes => Value::Bytes(
+            STANDARD
+                .decode(input)
+                .map_err(|_| format!("{field}: expected RFC 4648 base64"))?,
+        ),
+        TypeExpr::Entry => {
+            let path = parse_string(input);
+            wip_protocol::validate_path(&path)
+                .map_err(|error| format!("{field}: invalid Entry path: {error}"))?;
+            Value::String(path)
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Enum { cases } => {
+            let case = parse_string(input);
+            if !cases.iter().any(|candidate| candidate.name == case) {
+                return Err(format!("{field}: unknown enum case {case}"));
+            }
+            Value::String(case)
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Json => {
+            let json = serde_json::from_str(input)
+                .map_err(|error| format!("{field}: invalid JSON: {error}"))?;
+            json_to_untyped(&json, field)?
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Record { .. } | TypeExpr::List { .. } | TypeExpr::Union { .. } => {
+            let json = serde_json::from_str(input)
+                .map_err(|error| format!("{field}: invalid JSON: {error}"))?;
+            json_to_typed(descriptor, r#type, &json, field)?
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Named { .. } => unreachable!("named types handled above"),
+    };
+    descriptor
+        .validate_value(r#type, &value)
+        .map_err(|error| format!("{field}: {error}"))?;
+    Ok(value)
+}
+
+fn parse_string(input: &str) -> String {
+    serde_json::from_str::<String>(input).unwrap_or_else(|_| input.to_owned())
+}
+
+fn json_to_typed(
+    descriptor: &InterfaceDescriptor,
+    r#type: &TypeExpr,
+    json: &serde_json::Value,
+    field: &str,
+) -> Result<Value, String> {
+    if let TypeExpr::Named { name } = r#type {
+        let declaration = descriptor
+            .types
+            .iter()
+            .find(|declaration| declaration.name == *name)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: unknown named type {name}"))?;
+        return json_to_typed(descriptor, &declaration.definition, json, field);
+    }
+    match r#type {
+        TypeExpr::Unit if json.is_null() => Ok(Value::Unit),
+        TypeExpr::Boolean => json
+            .as_bool()
+            .map(Value::Boolean)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected boolean")),
+        TypeExpr::Integer => json
+            .as_i64()
+            .map(Value::Integer)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected integer")),
+        TypeExpr::Number => json
+            .as_f64()
+            .filter(|value| value.is_finite())
+            .map(Value::Number)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected finite number")),
+        TypeExpr::String => json
+            .as_str()
+            .map(|value| Value::String(value.into()))
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected string")),
+        TypeExpr::Bytes => json
+            .as_str()
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected base64 string"))
+            .and_then(|value| {
+                STANDARD
+                    .decode(value)
+                    .map(Value::Bytes)
+                    .map_err(|_| format!("{field}: expected RFC 4648 base64"))
+            }),
+        TypeExpr::Entry => {
+            let path = json
+                .as_str()
+                .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected Entry string"))?;
+            wip_protocol::validate_path(path)
+                .map_err(|error| format!("{field}: invalid Entry path: {error}"))?;
+            Ok(Value::String(path.into()))
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Enum { cases } => {
+            let case = json
+                .as_str()
+                .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected enum string"))?;
+            if !cases.iter().any(|candidate| candidate.name == case) {
+                return Err(format!("{field}: unknown enum case {case}"));
+            }
+            Ok(Value::String(case.into()))
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Json => json_to_untyped(json, field),
+        TypeExpr::List { items } => json
+            .as_array()
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected array"))?
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .map(|(index, item)| {
+                json_to_typed(descriptor, items, item, &format!("{field}[{index}]"))
+            })
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
+            .map(Value::List),
+        TypeExpr::Record { fields } => {
+            let object = json
+                .as_object()
+                .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected object"))?;
+            for name in object.keys() {
+                if !fields.iter().any(|candidate| candidate.name == *name) {
+                    return Err(format!("{field}.{name}: unknown field"));
+                }
+            }
+            let mut values = BTreeMap::new();
+            for declaration in fields {
+                match object.get(&declaration.name) {
+                    Some(value) => {
+                        values.insert(
+                            declaration.name.clone(),
+                            json_to_typed(
+                                descriptor,
+                                &declaration.r#type,
+                                value,
+                                &format!("{field}.{}", declaration.name),
+                            )?,
+                        );
+                    }
+                    None if declaration.required => {
+                        return Err(format!(
+                            "{field}.{}: required field is missing",
+                            declaration.name
+                        ));
+                    }
+                    None => {}
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(Value::Record(values))
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Union { cases } => {
+            let object = json
+                .as_object()
+                .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: expected union object"))?;
+            if object.keys().any(|name| name != "$case" && name != "value") {
+                return Err(format!("{field}: union accepts only $case and value"));
+            }
+            let case_name = object
+                .get("$case")
+                .and_then(serde_json::Value::as_str)
+                .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}.$case: required string is missing"))?;
+            let case = cases
+                .iter()
+                .find(|candidate| candidate.name == case_name)
+                .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}.$case: unknown union case {case_name}"))?;
+            let mut values = BTreeMap::from([("$case".into(), Value::String(case_name.into()))]);
+            match (&case.payload, object.get("value")) {
+                (Some(payload), Some(value)) => {
+                    values.insert(
+                        "value".into(),
+                        json_to_typed(descriptor, payload, value, &format!("{field}.value"))?,
+                    );
+                }
+                (Some(_), None) => {
+                    return Err(format!("{field}.value: required payload is missing"));
+                }
+                (None, Some(_)) => {
+                    return Err(format!("{field}.value: payload-free case has a value"));
+                }
+                (None, None) => {}
+            }
+            Ok(Value::Record(values))
+        }
+        TypeExpr::Named { .. } => unreachable!("named types handled above"),
+        _ => Err(format!(
+            "{field}: value does not match {}",
+            type_name(r#type)
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
+fn json_to_untyped(json: &serde_json::Value, field: &str) -> Result<Value, String> {
+    match json {
+        serde_json::Value::Null => Ok(Value::Unit),
+        serde_json::Value::Bool(value) => Ok(Value::Boolean(*value)),
+        serde_json::Value::Number(value) => {
+            if let Some(integer) = value.as_i64() {
+                Ok(Value::Integer(integer))
+            } else {
+                value
+                    .as_f64()
+                    .filter(|number| number.is_finite())
+                    .map(Value::Number)
+                    .ok_or_else(|| format!("{field}: number is not finite"))
+            }
+        }
+        serde_json::Value::String(value) => Ok(Value::String(value.clone())),
+        serde_json::Value::Array(values) => values
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .map(|(index, value)| json_to_untyped(value, &format!("{field}[{index}]")))
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
+            .map(Value::List),
+        serde_json::Value::Object(values) => values
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(name, value)| {
+                json_to_untyped(value, &format!("{field}.{name}"))
+                    .map(|value| (name.clone(), value))
+            })
+            .collect::<Result<BTreeMap<_, _>, _>>()
+            .map(Value::Record),
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use wip_protocol::{
+        EnumCase, FieldDeclaration, INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, ParameterDeclaration, ReturnDeclaration,
+        TypeDeclaration, UnionCase,
+    };
+
+    fn descriptor(
+        parameters: Vec<ParameterDeclaration>,
+        types: Vec<TypeDeclaration>,
+    ) -> InterfaceDescriptor {
+        InterfaceDescriptor {
+            format: INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1.into(),
+            documentation: None,
+            types,
+            operations: vec![OperationDeclaration {
+                name: "run".into(),
+                documentation: None,
+                parameters,
+                returns: ReturnDeclaration {
+                    documentation: None,
+                    r#type: TypeExpr::Unit,
+                },
+            }],
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn validates_every_canonical_shape_and_reports_fields() {
+        let parameters = vec![
+            parameter("unit", true, TypeExpr::Unit),
+            parameter("flag", true, TypeExpr::Boolean),
+            parameter("count", true, TypeExpr::Integer),
+            parameter("number", true, TypeExpr::Number),
+            parameter("text", true, TypeExpr::String),
+            parameter("bytes", true, TypeExpr::Bytes),
+            parameter("entry", true, TypeExpr::Entry),
+            parameter("json", true, TypeExpr::Json),
+            parameter(
+                "list",
+                true,
+                TypeExpr::List {
+                    items: Box::new(TypeExpr::Integer),
+                },
+            ),
+            parameter(
+                "record",
+                true,
+                TypeExpr::Record {
+                    fields: vec![FieldDeclaration {
+                        name: "name".into(),
+                        required: true,
+                        documentation: None,
+                        r#type: TypeExpr::String,
+                    }],
+                },
+            ),
+            parameter(
+                "choice",
+                true,
+                TypeExpr::Enum {
+                    cases: vec![EnumCase {
+                        name: "yes".into(),
+                        documentation: None,
+                    }],
+                },
+            ),
+            parameter(
+                "union",
+                true,
+                TypeExpr::Union {
+                    cases: vec![UnionCase {
+                        name: "some".into(),
+                        documentation: None,
+                        payload: Some(TypeExpr::Integer),
+                    }],
+                },
+            ),
+            parameter(
+                "named",
+                true,
+                TypeExpr::Named {
+                    name: "Alias".into(),
+                },
+            ),
+        ];
+        let descriptor = descriptor(
+            parameters,
+            vec![TypeDeclaration {
+                name: "Alias".into(),
+                documentation: None,
+                definition: TypeExpr::String,
+            }],
+        );
+        let operation = descriptor.operations[0].clone();
+        let mut editor = ArgumentEditor::new("test", descriptor, operation);
+        let inputs = [
+            "null",
+            "true",
+            "7",
+            "2.5",
+            "hello",
+            "aGk=",
+            "/item",
+            "{\"safe\":true}",
+            "[1,2]",
+            "{\"name\":\"n\"}",
+            "yes",
+            "{\"$case\":\"some\",\"value\":4}",
+            "value",
+        ];
+        for (field, input) in editor.fields.iter_mut().zip(inputs) {
+            field.input = input.into();
+        }
+        let values = editor.validate().expect("valid values");
+        assert_eq!(values["bytes"], Value::Bytes(b"hi".to_vec()));
+        assert_eq!(values["entry"], Value::String("/item".into()));
+        assert!(editor.fields.iter().all(|field| field.diagnostic.is_none()));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn missing_invalid_and_optional_fields_are_field_local() {
+        let descriptor = descriptor(
+            vec![
+                parameter("required", true, TypeExpr::Integer),
+                parameter("optional", false, TypeExpr::Boolean),
+            ],
+            vec![],
+        );
+        let operation = descriptor.operations[0].clone();
+        let mut editor = ArgumentEditor::new("test", descriptor, operation);
+        editor.fields[1].input = "not-a-bool".into();
+        assert_eq!(editor.validate(), Err(InvalidArguments));
+        assert!(
+            editor.fields[0]
+                .diagnostic
+                .as_deref()
+                .unwrap()
+                .contains("required")
+        );
+        assert!(
+            editor.fields[1]
+                .diagnostic
+                .as_deref()
+                .unwrap()
+                .contains("true or false")
+        );
+        editor.fields[0].input = "1".into();
+        editor.fields[1].input.clear();
+        assert_eq!(editor.validate().unwrap().len(), 1);
+    }
+
+    fn parameter(name: &str, required: bool, r#type: TypeExpr) -> ParameterDeclaration {
+        ParameterDeclaration {
+            name: name.into(),
+            required,
+            documentation: None,
+            r#type,
+        }
+    }
+}

crates/wip-tui/src/lib.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+//! Presentation and terminal interaction for stateful WIP client sessions.
+
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
+
+pub mod app;
+pub mod config;
+pub mod editor;
+pub mod render;
+pub mod runtime;
+pub mod terminal;

crates/wip-tui/src/main.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+fn main() {
+    if let Err(error) = wip_tui::runtime::run_from_env() {
+        eprintln!("wip-tui: {error}");
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
+}

crates/wip-tui/src/render.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,851 @@
+//! Deterministic bounded rendering for real and test terminal backends.
+
+use ratatui::Frame;
+use ratatui::layout::{Alignment, Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
+use ratatui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
+use ratatui::text::{Line, Span};
+use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Clear, List, ListItem, Paragraph, Wrap};
+
+use crate::app::{App, ConnectionState, Focus, HistoryKind, Modal, OperationRow, ViewState};
+use crate::editor::type_name;
+
+const MAX_RENDER_TEXT: usize = 512;
+
+/// Draws the complete application without mutating it.
+pub fn draw(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, app: &App) {
+    let area = frame.area();
+    if area.width < 48 || area.height < 14 {
+        frame.render_widget(
+            Paragraph::new("wip-tui\nTerminal is too small. Resize to at least 48 x 14.\nq: quit")
+                .block(
+                    Block::default()
+                        .borders(Borders::ALL)
+                        .title(" Minimum size "),
+                )
+                .alignment(Alignment::Center)
+                .wrap(Wrap { trim: true }),
+            area,
+        );
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let vertical = Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Vertical)
+        .constraints([
+            Constraint::Length(2),
+            Constraint::Min(8),
+            Constraint::Length(2),
+        ])
+        .split(area);
+    render_header(frame, vertical[0], app);
+    let columns = Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
+        .constraints([Constraint::Percentage(38), Constraint::Percentage(62)])
+        .split(vertical[1]);
+    render_tree(frame, columns[0], app);
+    let right = Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Vertical)
+        .constraints([
+            Constraint::Percentage(31),
+            Constraint::Percentage(39),
+            Constraint::Percentage(30),
+        ])
+        .split(columns[1]);
+    render_selected(frame, right[0], app);
+    render_operations(frame, right[1], app);
+    render_history(frame, right[2], app);
+    render_footer(frame, vertical[2], app);
+    render_modal(frame, app);
+}
+
+fn render_header(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &App) {
+    let connection = match &app.connection {
+        ConnectionState::Disconnected => "DISCONNECTED",
+        ConnectionState::Connecting => "CONNECTING",
+        ConnectionState::Connected => "CONNECTED",
+        ConnectionState::Failed(_) => "FAILED (R reconnect / q quit)",
+    };
+    let text = format!(
+        " wip-tui  {}  [{}]  in-flight: {}",
+        sanitize(&app.endpoint),
+        connection,
+        app.in_flight.len()
+    );
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(text).style(Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD)),
+        area,
+    );
+}
+
+fn render_tree(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &App) {
+    let mut paths = app.visible_paths();
+    let selected_index = paths
+        .iter()
+        .position(|path| path == &app.selected_path)
+        .unwrap_or(0);
+    let (start, end) = list_window(paths.len(), selected_index, area.height.saturating_sub(2));
+    let rows = paths.drain(start..end).map(|path| {
+        let node = app.entries.get(&path);
+        let selected = path == app.selected_path;
+        let depth = if path == "/" {
+            0
+        } else {
+            path.trim_start_matches('/').split('/').count()
+        };
+        let marker = node.map_or('·', |node| if node.expanded { '▼' } else { '▶' });
+        let label = node.and_then(|node| node.object.as_ref()).map_or_else(
+            || path.clone(),
+            |object| {
+                if path == "/" {
+                    "/".into()
+                } else {
+                    object.name.clone()
+                }
+            },
+        );
+        let mut suffix = node.map_or_else(
+            || " [unloaded]".into(),
+            |node| {
+                let tree = match &node.tree_state {
+                    ViewState::Loading(_) => " [loading children]",
+                    ViewState::Stale => " [stale children]",
+                    ViewState::Error(_) => " [failed children]",
+                    ViewState::Fresh if node.children.is_empty() => " [empty]",
+                    _ => "",
+                };
+                let object = state_suffix(&node.state);
+                format!("{object}{tree}")
+            },
+        );
+        suffix = sanitize(&suffix);
+        let style = if selected {
+            Style::default().fg(Color::Black).bg(Color::Cyan)
+        } else {
+            Style::default()
+        };
+        ListItem::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::raw("  ".repeat(depth)),
+            Span::raw(format!("{marker} {}", sanitize(&label))),
+            Span::styled(suffix, state_style(node.map(|value| &value.state))),
+        ]))
+        .style(style)
+    });
+    frame.render_widget(
+        List::new(rows).block(focused_block(" Worldspace tree ", app.focus == Focus::Tree)),
+        area,
+    );
+}
+
+fn render_selected(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &App) {
+    let mut lines = vec![Line::from(format!(
+        "Path: {}",
+        sanitize(&app.selected_path)
+    ))];
+    if let Some(entry) = app.entries.get(&app.selected_path) {
+        lines.push(Line::from(format!("State: {}", state_label(&entry.state))));
+        if entry.state == ViewState::Fresh {
+            if let Some(object) = &entry.object {
+                lines.push(Line::from(format!("Name: {}", sanitize(&object.name))));
+                lines.push(Line::from(format!(
+                    "Description: {}",
+                    object
+                        .description
+                        .as_deref()
+                        .map(sanitize)
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| "(none)".into())
+                )));
+                lines.push(Line::from(format!(
+                    "Interfaces (ordered): {}",
+                    if object.interfaces.is_empty() {
+                        "(none)".into()
+                    } else {
+                        object
+                            .interfaces
+                            .iter()
+                            .map(|value| sanitize(value))
+                            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                            .join(", ")
+                    }
+                )));
+            }
+        } else {
+            lines.push(Line::from(
+                "No current object metadata; refresh required (old metadata hidden).",
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(lines)
+            .block(focused_block(" Selected Entry ", app.focus == Focus::Entry))
+            .wrap(Wrap { trim: false }),
+        area,
+    );
+}
+
+fn render_operations(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &App) {
+    let rows = app.operation_rows();
+    let selected_index = app.operation_cursor.min(rows.len().saturating_sub(1));
+    let (start, end) = list_window(rows.len(), selected_index, area.height.saturating_sub(2));
+    let items = rows[start..end].iter().enumerate().map(|(offset, row)| {
+        let index = start + offset;
+        let (text, style) = operation_line(app, row);
+        let selected = app.focus == Focus::Operations && index == app.operation_cursor;
+        ListItem::new(text).style(if selected {
+            Style::default().fg(Color::Black).bg(Color::Cyan)
+        } else {
+            style
+        })
+    });
+    let title = " Interfaces / Operations (Enter: load or edit) ";
+    if rows.is_empty() {
+        frame.render_widget(
+            Paragraph::new("No declared interfaces or no current object.")
+                .block(focused_block(title, app.focus == Focus::Operations)),
+            area,
+        );
+    } else {
+        frame.render_widget(
+            List::new(items).block(focused_block(title, app.focus == Focus::Operations)),
+            area,
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+fn operation_line(app: &App, row: &OperationRow) -> (Line<'static>, Style) {
+    if let Some(name) = &row.operation {
+        let descriptor = app
+            .interfaces
+            .get(&row.interface)
+            .and_then(|view| view.descriptor.as_ref());
+        let declaration = descriptor.and_then(|descriptor| {
+            descriptor
+                .operations
+                .iter()
+                .find(|operation| operation.name == *name)
+        });
+        let signature = declaration.map_or_else(
+            || format!("  ({}, {})", row.interface, name),
+            |operation| {
+                let parameters = operation
+                    .parameters
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|parameter| {
+                        format!(
+                            "{}{}: {}",
+                            parameter.name,
+                            if parameter.required { "" } else { "?" },
+                            type_name(&parameter.r#type)
+                        )
+                    })
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                    .join(", ");
+                let documentation = operation
+                    .documentation
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .map(|documentation| format!(" — {}", documentation.summary))
+                    .unwrap_or_default();
+                format!(
+                    "  ({}, {}) ({parameters}) -> {}{}",
+                    row.interface,
+                    name,
+                    type_name(&operation.returns.r#type),
+                    documentation
+                )
+            },
+        );
+        (Line::from(sanitize(&signature)), Style::default())
+    } else {
+        let interface = app.interfaces.get(&row.interface);
+        let state = interface.map_or("unloaded".into(), |view| state_label(&view.state));
+        let documentation = interface
+            .filter(|view| view.state == ViewState::Fresh)
+            .and_then(|view| view.descriptor.as_ref())
+            .and_then(|descriptor| descriptor.documentation.as_ref())
+            .map(|documentation| format!(" — {}", sanitize(&documentation.summary)))
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        (
+            Line::from(format!(
+                "Interface {} [{}]{}",
+                sanitize(&row.interface),
+                state,
+                documentation
+            )),
+            Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+fn render_history(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &App) {
+    let selected_index = app.history_cursor.min(app.history.len().saturating_sub(1));
+    let (start, end) = list_window(
+        app.history.len(),
+        selected_index,
+        area.height.saturating_sub(2),
+    );
+    let items = app.history[start..end]
+        .iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(offset, item)| {
+            let index = start + offset;
+            let label = match item.kind {
+                HistoryKind::Success => "SUCCESS",
+                HistoryKind::DomainFailure => "HOST FAILURE",
+                HistoryKind::ProtocolError => "PROTOCOL ERROR",
+                HistoryKind::TransportFailure => "TRANSPORT FAILURE",
+                HistoryKind::ClientFailure => "CLIENT FAILURE",
+                HistoryKind::OutcomeUnknown => "OUTCOME UNKNOWN",
+                HistoryKind::Information => "INFO",
+            };
+            let link = item
+                .entry_target
+                .as_ref()
+                .map_or("", |_| " [Enter: go to Entry]");
+            let text = format!(
+                "[{label}] {}: {}{link}",
+                sanitize(&item.title),
+                sanitize(&item.detail)
+            );
+            let selected = app.focus == Focus::History && index == app.history_cursor;
+            ListItem::new(text).style(if selected {
+                Style::default().fg(Color::Black).bg(Color::Cyan)
+            } else if item.kind == HistoryKind::OutcomeUnknown {
+                Style::default().fg(Color::Red).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD)
+            } else {
+                Style::default()
+            })
+        });
+    let block = focused_block(
+        " Recent results / diagnostics ",
+        app.focus == Focus::History,
+    );
+    if app.history.is_empty() {
+        frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new("No results yet.").block(block), area);
+    } else {
+        frame.render_widget(List::new(items).block(block), area);
+    }
+}
+
+fn render_footer(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect, app: &App) {
+    let help = " ↑↓/jk move  ←→/hl parent/expand  Tab focus  Enter select  r refresh  + larger tree  c cancel read  ? help  q quit ";
+    let text = format!("{}\n{}", help, sanitize(&app.status));
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(text).style(Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray)),
+        area,
+    );
+}
+
+fn render_modal(frame: &mut Frame<'_>, app: &App) {
+    match &app.modal {
+        Modal::None => {}
+        Modal::Help => {
+            let area = centered(frame.area(), 76, 70);
+            frame.render_widget(Clear, area);
+            frame.render_widget(
+                Paragraph::new(
+                    "Keyboard help\n\n↑/↓ or j/k  move selection / editor field\n←/→ or h/l  collapse/expand or parent\nTab          next pane\nEnter        load interface, edit operation, confirm execute\nr            refresh selected Entry and subtree\nc            cancel newest retrieval (never cancels a sent operation)\nR            reconnect after failure\nEsc          close modal\nq            quit\n\nOperations are never sent until the confirmation screen is accepted.",
+                )
+                .block(Block::default().borders(Borders::ALL).title(" Help "))
+                .wrap(Wrap { trim: false }),
+                area,
+            );
+        }
+        Modal::Editor(editor) => {
+            let area = centered(frame.area(), 86, 78);
+            frame.render_widget(Clear, area);
+            let mut lines = vec![Line::from(format!(
+                "Target: {}  Operation: ({}, {})",
+                sanitize(&app.selected_path),
+                sanitize(&editor.interface),
+                sanitize(&editor.operation.name)
+            ))];
+            if editor.fields.is_empty() {
+                lines.push(Line::from("(no parameters)"));
+            }
+            for (index, field) in editor.fields.iter().enumerate() {
+                let cursor = if index == editor.cursor { ">" } else { " " };
+                let requirement = if field.required {
+                    "required"
+                } else {
+                    "optional"
+                };
+                lines.push(Line::from(format!(
+                    "{cursor} {} [{requirement}, {}] = {}",
+                    sanitize(&field.name),
+                    sanitize(&type_name(&field.r#type)),
+                    sanitize(&field.input)
+                )));
+                if let Some(diagnostic) = &field.diagnostic {
+                    lines.push(Line::styled(
+                        format!("    ERROR: {}", sanitize(diagnostic)),
+                        Style::default().fg(Color::Red),
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
+            lines.push(Line::from(""));
+            lines.push(Line::from("Enter: validate and review  Esc: cancel"));
+            frame.render_widget(
+                Paragraph::new(lines)
+                    .block(
+                        Block::default()
+                            .borders(Borders::ALL)
+                            .title(" Argument editor "),
+                    )
+                    .wrap(Wrap { trim: false }),
+                area,
+            );
+        }
+        Modal::Confirm { editor, arguments } => {
+            let area = centered(frame.area(), 82, 58);
+            frame.render_widget(Clear, area);
+            let mut lines = vec![
+                Line::styled(
+                    "EXPLICIT EXECUTION CONFIRMATION",
+                    Style::default()
+                        .fg(Color::Yellow)
+                        .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+                ),
+                Line::from(format!("Entry: {}", sanitize(&app.selected_path))),
+                Line::from(format!("Interface: {}", sanitize(&editor.interface))),
+                Line::from(format!("Operation: {}", sanitize(&editor.operation.name))),
+                Line::from("Input values:"),
+            ];
+            for (name, value) in arguments {
+                lines.push(Line::from(format!(
+                    "  {} = {}",
+                    sanitize(name),
+                    sanitize(&bounded_value(value))
+                )));
+            }
+            lines.push(Line::from(""));
+            lines.push(Line::styled(
+                "Enter/e: EXECUTE ONCE   Esc: back to editor",
+                Style::default().add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
+            ));
+            frame.render_widget(
+                Paragraph::new(lines)
+                    .block(Block::default().borders(Borders::ALL).title(" Confirm "))
+                    .wrap(Wrap { trim: false }),
+                area,
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn list_window(total: usize, selected: usize, area_height: u16) -> (usize, usize) {
+    let capacity = usize::from(area_height);
+    if total == 0 || capacity == 0 {
+        return (0, 0);
+    }
+    let selected = selected.min(total - 1);
+    let start = selected
+        .saturating_add(1)
+        .saturating_sub(capacity)
+        .min(total.saturating_sub(capacity));
+    (start, start.saturating_add(capacity).min(total))
+}
+
+fn focused_block(title: &'static str, focused: bool) -> Block<'static> {
+    let style = if focused {
+        Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)
+    } else {
+        Style::default()
+    };
+    Block::default()
+        .borders(Borders::ALL)
+        .title(title)
+        .border_style(style)
+}
+
+fn centered(area: Rect, percent_x: u16, percent_y: u16) -> Rect {
+    let vertical = Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Vertical)
+        .constraints([
+            Constraint::Percentage((100 - percent_y) / 2),
+            Constraint::Percentage(percent_y),
+            Constraint::Percentage((100 - percent_y) / 2),
+        ])
+        .split(area);
+    Layout::default()
+        .direction(Direction::Horizontal)
+        .constraints([
+            Constraint::Percentage((100 - percent_x) / 2),
+            Constraint::Percentage(percent_x),
+            Constraint::Percentage((100 - percent_x) / 2),
+        ])
+        .split(vertical[1])[1]
+}
+
+fn state_suffix(state: &ViewState) -> &'static str {
+    match state {
+        ViewState::Unloaded => " [unloaded]",
+        ViewState::Loading(_) => " [loading]",
+        ViewState::Fresh => "",
+        ViewState::Stale => " [stale: refresh required]",
+        ViewState::Error(_) => " [error]",
+    }
+}
+
+fn state_label(state: &ViewState) -> String {
+    match state {
+        ViewState::Unloaded => "unloaded".into(),
+        ViewState::Loading(id) => format!("loading request #{id}"),
+        ViewState::Fresh => "fresh".into(),
+        ViewState::Stale => "stale — refresh required".into(),
+        ViewState::Error(error) => format!("error — {}", sanitize(error)),
+    }
+}
+
+fn state_style(state: Option<&ViewState>) -> Style {
+    match state {
+        Some(ViewState::Stale) => Style::default().fg(Color::Yellow),
+        Some(ViewState::Error(_)) => Style::default().fg(Color::Red),
+        Some(ViewState::Loading(_)) => Style::default().fg(Color::Blue),
+        _ => Style::default(),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Replaces terminal control characters and bounds user/remote text by Unicode scalars.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn sanitize(input: &str) -> String {
+    let mut output = String::new();
+    for (count, character) in input.chars().enumerate() {
+        if count >= MAX_RENDER_TEXT {
+            output.push('…');
+            break;
+        }
+        if character.is_control() && !matches!(character, '\n' | '\t') {
+            output.push('�');
+        } else {
+            output.push(character);
+        }
+    }
+    output
+}
+
+/// Formats a protocol value with strict byte and collection bounds.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn bounded_value(value: &wip_protocol::Value) -> String {
+    bounded_value_at(value, 0)
+}
+
+fn bounded_value_at(value: &wip_protocol::Value, depth: usize) -> String {
+    if depth >= 8 {
+        return "…".into();
+    }
+    match value {
+        wip_protocol::Value::Unit => "null".into(),
+        wip_protocol::Value::Boolean(value) => value.to_string(),
+        wip_protocol::Value::Integer(value) => value.to_string(),
+        wip_protocol::Value::Number(value) => value.to_string(),
+        wip_protocol::Value::String(value) => format!("{:?}", sanitize(value)),
+        wip_protocol::Value::Bytes(bytes) => {
+            let shown = bytes
+                .iter()
+                .take(32)
+                .map(|byte| format!("{byte:02x}"))
+                .collect::<String>();
+            if bytes.len() > 32 {
+                format!("bytes[{}]: {shown}…", bytes.len())
+            } else {
+                format!("bytes[{}]: {shown}", bytes.len())
+            }
+        }
+        wip_protocol::Value::Record(values) => {
+            let mut fields = values
+                .iter()
+                .take(16)
+                .map(|(name, value)| {
+                    format!("{}: {}", sanitize(name), bounded_value_at(value, depth + 1))
+                })
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            if values.len() > 16 {
+                fields.push("…".into());
+            }
+            format!("{{{}}}", fields.join(", "))
+        }
+        wip_protocol::Value::List(values) => {
+            let mut items = values
+                .iter()
+                .take(16)
+                .map(|value| bounded_value_at(value, depth + 1))
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            if values.len() > 16 {
+                items.push("…".into());
+            }
+            format!("[{}]", items.join(", "))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use ratatui::Terminal;
+    use ratatui::backend::TestBackend;
+
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::app::{EntryView, HistoryItem};
+    use crate::editor::ArgumentEditor;
+    use wip_client::{InterfaceObservation, ObjectObservation, ObservationState};
+    use wip_protocol::{
+        INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1, InterfaceDescriptor, Object, OperationDeclaration,
+        ParameterDeclaration, ReturnDeclaration, TypeExpr,
+    };
+
+    fn rendered(app: &App, width: u16, height: u16) -> String {
+        let backend = TestBackend::new(width, height);
+        let mut terminal = Terminal::new(backend).unwrap();
+        terminal.draw(|frame| draw(frame, app)).unwrap();
+        terminal
+            .backend()
+            .buffer()
+            .content
+            .iter()
+            .map(|cell| cell.symbol())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .chunks(width as usize)
+            .map(|line| line.concat())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("\n")
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn observed_empty_visible_entry_is_labeled_without_expansion() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip/");
+        {
+            let root = app.entries.get_mut("/").unwrap();
+            root.children = vec!["/empty".into()];
+            root.tree_state = ViewState::Fresh;
+        }
+        app.entries.insert(
+            "/empty".into(),
+            EntryView {
+                path: "/empty".into(),
+                object: Some(Object {
+                    name: "empty".into(),
+                    description: None,
+                    interfaces: vec![],
+                    r#ref: None,
+                    validator: None,
+                }),
+                state: ViewState::Fresh,
+                children: vec![],
+                tree_state: ViewState::Fresh,
+                expanded: false,
+            },
+        );
+
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 80, 20);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("empty [empty]"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn snapshot_contains_non_color_state_markers_and_hides_validators() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip/");
+        app.connection = ConnectionState::Connected;
+        app.entries.get_mut("/").unwrap().state = ViewState::Stale;
+        app.push_history(HistoryItem {
+            kind: HistoryKind::OutcomeUnknown,
+            title: "replace".into(),
+            detail: "execution and side effects are unknown; refresh before deciding again".into(),
+            entry_target: None,
+        });
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 110, 30);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("stale"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("OUTCOME UNKNOWN"));
+        assert!(!snapshot.contains("validator"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn snapshots_cover_selected_operation_editor_and_failure_categories() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip/");
+        app.connection = ConnectionState::Connected;
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            object: Some(Object {
+                name: String::new(),
+                description: Some("public root description".into()),
+                interfaces: vec!["demo-interface".into()],
+                r#ref: None,
+                validator: Some(b"must-not-render".to_vec()),
+            }),
+            validator: Some(b"must-not-render".to_vec()),
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        let descriptor = InterfaceDescriptor {
+            format: INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1.into(),
+            documentation: None,
+            types: vec![],
+            operations: vec![OperationDeclaration {
+                name: "run".into(),
+                documentation: None,
+                parameters: vec![ParameterDeclaration {
+                    name: "count".into(),
+                    required: true,
+                    documentation: None,
+                    r#type: TypeExpr::Integer,
+                }],
+                returns: ReturnDeclaration {
+                    documentation: None,
+                    r#type: TypeExpr::String,
+                },
+            }],
+        };
+        app.apply_interface(InterfaceObservation {
+            reference: "demo-interface".into(),
+            descriptor: Some(descriptor.clone()),
+            validator: Some(b"must-not-render".to_vec()),
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        for (kind, title) in [
+            (HistoryKind::Success, "result"),
+            (HistoryKind::ProtocolError, "invalid response"),
+            (HistoryKind::TransportFailure, "network"),
+            (HistoryKind::ClientFailure, "local"),
+        ] {
+            app.push_history(HistoryItem {
+                kind,
+                title: title.into(),
+                detail: "bounded detail".into(),
+                entry_target: None,
+            });
+        }
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 140, 40);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("public root description"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("(demo-interface, run)"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("SUCCESS"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("PROTOCOL ERROR"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("TRANSPORT FAILURE"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("CLIENT FAILURE"));
+        assert!(!snapshot.contains("must-not-render"));
+
+        let mut editor = ArgumentEditor::new(
+            "demo-interface",
+            descriptor.clone(),
+            descriptor.operations[0].clone(),
+        );
+        editor.fields[0].diagnostic = Some("expected integer".into());
+        app.modal = Modal::Editor(editor);
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 140, 40);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("Argument editor"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("count [required, Integer]"));
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("ERROR: expected integer"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn list_panes_keep_the_active_row_inside_the_bounded_viewport() {
+        let mut app = App::new("https://example.test/wip/");
+        app.connection = ConnectionState::Connected;
+
+        let children = (0..40)
+            .map(|index| format!("/tree-row-{index:02}"))
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        {
+            let root = app.entries.get_mut("/").unwrap();
+            root.children = children.clone();
+            root.tree_state = ViewState::Fresh;
+            root.expanded = true;
+        }
+        for child in &children {
+            app.entries.insert(
+                child.clone(),
+                EntryView {
+                    path: child.clone(),
+                    object: None,
+                    state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+                    children: vec![],
+                    tree_state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+                    expanded: false,
+                },
+            );
+        }
+        app.selected_path = children.last().unwrap().clone();
+        app.focus = Focus::Tree;
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 100, 30);
+        let tree_pane = snapshot
+            .lines()
+            .map(|line| line.chars().take(38).collect::<String>())
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("\n");
+        assert!(tree_pane.contains("tree-row-39"));
+
+        app.selected_path = "/".into();
+        app.apply_object(ObjectObservation {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            object: Some(Object {
+                name: String::new(),
+                description: None,
+                interfaces: vec!["many".into()],
+                r#ref: None,
+                validator: None,
+            }),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        let operations = (0..20)
+            .map(|index| OperationDeclaration {
+                name: format!("operation-{index:02}"),
+                documentation: None,
+                parameters: vec![],
+                returns: ReturnDeclaration {
+                    documentation: None,
+                    r#type: TypeExpr::Unit,
+                },
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        app.apply_interface(InterfaceObservation {
+            reference: "many".into(),
+            descriptor: Some(InterfaceDescriptor {
+                format: INTERFACE_FORMAT_V1.into(),
+                documentation: None,
+                types: vec![],
+                operations,
+            }),
+            validator: None,
+            state: ObservationState::Fresh,
+        });
+        app.focus = Focus::Operations;
+        app.operation_cursor = app.operation_rows().len() - 1;
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 100, 30);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("(many, operation-19)"));
+
+        for index in 0..20 {
+            app.push_history(HistoryItem {
+                kind: HistoryKind::Information,
+                title: format!("history-{index:02}"),
+                detail: "diagnostic".into(),
+                entry_target: None,
+            });
+        }
+        app.focus = Focus::History;
+        app.history_cursor = app.history.len() - 1;
+        let snapshot = rendered(&app, 100, 30);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("[INFO] history-00"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tiny_terminal_has_a_safe_fallback() {
+        let snapshot = rendered(&App::new("https://example.test/"), 30, 8);
+        assert!(snapshot.contains("too small"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn control_characters_and_large_bytes_are_bounded() {
+        assert_eq!(sanitize("safe\u{1b}[31m"), "safe�[31m");
+        let display = bounded_value(&wip_protocol::Value::Bytes(vec![7; 1000]));
+        assert!(display.starts_with("bytes[1000]"));
+        assert!(display.ends_with('…'));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn entry_view_type_remains_constructible_for_external_snapshots() {
+        let entry = EntryView {
+            path: "/".into(),
+            object: None,
+            state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+            children: vec![],
+            tree_state: ViewState::Unloaded,
+            expanded: false,
+        };
+        assert_eq!(entry.path, "/");
+    }
+}

crates/wip-tui/src/terminal.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+//! Terminal lifecycle guard and crossterm input translation.
+
+use std::io::{self, Stdout};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use crossterm::cursor::{Hide, Show};
+use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
+use crossterm::execute;
+use crossterm::terminal::{
+    EnterAlternateScreen, LeaveAlternateScreen, disable_raw_mode, enable_raw_mode,
+};
+use ratatui::Terminal;
+use ratatui::backend::CrosstermBackend;
+
+use crate::app::InputKey;
+
+type PanicHook = dyn for<'a> Fn(&std::panic::PanicHookInfo<'a>) + Send + Sync + 'static;
+
+/// RAII owner of raw mode, alternate screen, cursor visibility, and panic recovery.
+pub struct TerminalGuard {
+    terminal: Terminal<CrosstermBackend<Stdout>>,
+    previous_hook: Arc<PanicHook>,
+}
+
+impl TerminalGuard {
+    /// Enters terminal UI mode, restoring partial setup on failure.
+    pub fn enter() -> io::Result<Self> {
+        enable_raw_mode()?;
+        let mut stdout = io::stdout();
+        if let Err(error) = execute!(stdout, EnterAlternateScreen, Hide) {
+            let _ = disable_raw_mode();
+            return Err(error);
+        }
+        let terminal = match Terminal::new(CrosstermBackend::new(stdout)) {
+            Ok(terminal) => terminal,
+            Err(error) => {
+                restore_terminal();
+                return Err(error);
+            }
+        };
+        let previous_hook: Arc<PanicHook> = std::panic::take_hook().into();
+        let panic_hook = Arc::clone(&previous_hook);
+        let terminal_owner = std::thread::current().id();
+        std::panic::set_hook(Box::new(move |information| {
+            if std::thread::current().id() == terminal_owner {
+                restore_terminal();
+            }
+            panic_hook(information);
+        }));
+        Ok(Self {
+            terminal,
+            previous_hook,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the ratatui terminal for drawing.
+    pub fn terminal_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Terminal<CrosstermBackend<Stdout>> {
+        &mut self.terminal
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for TerminalGuard {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let previous = Arc::clone(&self.previous_hook);
+        std::panic::set_hook(Box::new(move |information| previous(information)));
+        restore_terminal();
+    }
+}
+
+fn restore_terminal() {
+    let _ = disable_raw_mode();
+    let _ = execute!(io::stdout(), Show, LeaveAlternateScreen);
+}
+
+/// Converts one crossterm key event into a terminal-independent reducer key.
+///
+/// When `editing` is true, printable command letters remain text input and only
+/// Ctrl-C/Escape retain global meaning.
+#[must_use]
+pub fn translate_key(event: KeyEvent, editing: bool) -> Option<InputKey> {
+    if event.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL) && event.code == KeyCode::Char('c') {
+        return Some(InputKey::Quit);
+    }
+    let key = match event.code {
+        KeyCode::Up => InputKey::Up,
+        KeyCode::Down => InputKey::Down,
+        KeyCode::Left => InputKey::Left,
+        KeyCode::Right => InputKey::Right,
+        KeyCode::Tab => InputKey::Tab,
+        KeyCode::Enter => InputKey::Enter,
+        KeyCode::Esc => InputKey::Escape,
+        KeyCode::Backspace => InputKey::Backspace,
+        KeyCode::Char(character) if editing => InputKey::Character(character),
+        KeyCode::Char('k') => InputKey::Up,
+        KeyCode::Char('j') => InputKey::Down,
+        KeyCode::Char('h') => InputKey::Left,
+        KeyCode::Char('l') => InputKey::Right,
+        KeyCode::Char('r') => InputKey::Refresh,
+        KeyCode::Char('R') => InputKey::Reconnect,
+        KeyCode::Char('c') => InputKey::CancelRead,
+        KeyCode::Char('?') => InputKey::Help,
+        KeyCode::Char('q') => InputKey::Quit,
+        KeyCode::Char(character) => InputKey::Character(character),
+        _ => return None,
+    };
+    Some(key)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn editing_keeps_command_letters_as_text_but_ctrl_c_quits() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            translate_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('q'), KeyModifiers::NONE), true),
+            Some(InputKey::Character('q'))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            translate_key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('q'), KeyModifiers::NONE), false),
+            Some(InputKey::Quit)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            translate_key(
+                KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('c'), KeyModifiers::CONTROL),
+                true
+            ),
+            Some(InputKey::Quit)
+        );
+    }
+}

crates/wip-tui/tests/filesystem_e2e.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+use tempfile::tempdir;
+use wip_fs_server::{AccessMode, ServerConfig, WipFsServer};
+use wip_tui::app::{Focus, HistoryKind, InputKey, Modal, ViewState};
+use wip_tui::config::Config;
+use wip_tui::runtime::{HttpTransport, Runtime, default_wire_limits};
+
+#[test]
+fn real_http_filesystem_workflow_is_lazy_validator_safe_and_symlink_confined() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let outside = tempdir().expect("outside root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("hello.txt"), b"hello world").expect("write file");
+    std::fs::create_dir(temporary.path().join("nested")).expect("create nested directory");
+    std::fs::write(outside.path().join("secret.txt"), b"outside-secret").expect("outside file");
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    std::os::unix::fs::symlink(outside.path(), temporary.path().join("outside-link"))
+        .expect("create symlink");
+
+    let mut server_config = ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path());
+    server_config.access = AccessMode::ReadWrite;
+    let bound = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(server_config)
+            .expect("build filesystem server")
+            .bind()
+            .expect("bind filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let shutdown = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+    let worker = {
+        let bound = Arc::clone(&bound);
+        let shutdown = Arc::clone(&shutdown);
+        thread::spawn(move || bound.serve_until(shutdown))
+    };
+    let endpoint = format!("http://127.0.0.1:{}/wip", bound.local_addr().port());
+    let config = Config::parse([endpoint], None, Some("filesystem-test".into()), |_| None)
+        .expect("development config");
+    let transport = HttpTransport::new(&config, default_wire_limits().max_response_bytes())
+        .expect("HTTP transport");
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().selected_path, "/");
+    assert!(runtime.app().entries.contains_key("/hello.txt"));
+    assert!(runtime.app().entries.contains_key("/nested"));
+    assert!(runtime.app().entries.contains_key("/outside-link"));
+    let empty_directory = &runtime.app().entries["/nested"];
+    assert_eq!(empty_directory.tree_state, ViewState::Fresh);
+    assert!(empty_directory.children.is_empty());
+    assert!(!empty_directory.expanded);
+
+    // Visible Objects have their interface descriptors prefetched before selection.
+    let file_interfaces = runtime.app().entries["/hello.txt"]
+        .object
+        .as_ref()
+        .expect("file object")
+        .interfaces
+        .clone();
+    assert!(!file_interfaces.is_empty());
+    for reference in &file_interfaces {
+        assert_eq!(runtime.app().interfaces[reference].state, ViewState::Fresh);
+        assert!(runtime.app().interfaces[reference].descriptor.is_some());
+    }
+    let read_reference = file_interfaces[0].clone();
+    assert_eq!(
+        runtime.app().interfaces[&read_reference]
+            .descriptor
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("read descriptor")
+            .operations[0]
+            .name,
+        "read"
+    );
+
+    // Keyboard-select the already prefetched read operation.
+    runtime.app_mut().selected_path = "/hello.txt".into();
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Operations;
+    runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 1;
+    assert!(!runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter));
+
+    // Descriptor-driven read editor, explicit confirmation, and execution.
+    assert!(matches!(runtime.app().modal, Modal::Editor(_)));
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    assert!(matches!(runtime.app().modal, Modal::Confirm { .. }));
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().history[0].kind, HistoryKind::Success);
+    assert!(
+        runtime.app().history[0]
+            .detail
+            .contains("68656c6c6f20776f726c64")
+    );
+
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/hello.txt"].state, ViewState::Fresh);
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Operations;
+
+    // Use the separately-qualified prefetched write interface and replace with the
+    // automatically attached observed validator.
+    runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 3;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    set_only_field(&mut runtime, "dXBkYXRlZA=="); // "updated"
+    confirm_and_execute(&mut runtime);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(
+        std::fs::read(temporary.path().join("hello.txt")).expect("updated file"),
+        b"updated"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/hello.txt"].state, ViewState::Fresh);
+
+    // Prepare another replacement using the post-operation validator, then mutate
+    // the file externally before explicit execution. The stale validator is rejected,
+    // the Entry becomes stale, and no automatic call is created.
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Operations;
+    runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 3;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    set_only_field(&mut runtime, "c3RhbGUtd3JpdGU=");
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter); // confirmation fixes user input only
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("hello.txt"), b"external").expect("external change");
+    let history_before = runtime.app().history.len();
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(
+        std::fs::read(temporary.path().join("hello.txt")).expect("externally changed file"),
+        b"external"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/hello.txt"].state, ViewState::Stale);
+    assert!(runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().history.len(), history_before + 1);
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().history[0].kind, HistoryKind::DomainFailure);
+    assert!(
+        runtime.app().history[0]
+            .detail
+            .contains("no automatic retry")
+    );
+
+    // Refresh enables a new, separately confirmed execution.
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Tree;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Refresh);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Operations;
+    runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 3;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    set_only_field(&mut runtime, "ZmluYWw=");
+    confirm_and_execute(&mut runtime);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(
+        std::fs::read(temporary.path().join("hello.txt")).expect("final file"),
+        b"final"
+    );
+
+    // Symlink inspection exposes the link payload only. It never traverses or
+    // materializes the target directory outside the configured root.
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    {
+        runtime.app_mut().selected_path = "/outside-link".into();
+        runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Operations;
+        runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 0;
+        runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+        settle(&mut runtime);
+        runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 1;
+        runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+        runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+        runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+        settle(&mut runtime);
+        assert_eq!(runtime.app().history[0].kind, HistoryKind::Success);
+        assert!(!runtime.app().history[0].detail.contains("outside-secret"));
+        assert!(
+            !runtime
+                .app()
+                .entries
+                .contains_key("/outside-link/secret.txt")
+        );
+    }
+
+    shutdown.store(true, Ordering::Release);
+    worker
+        .join()
+        .expect("join filesystem listener")
+        .expect("filesystem listener exits");
+}
+
+fn settle(runtime: &mut Runtime<HttpTransport>) {
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(5);
+    while !runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty() {
+        assert!(Instant::now() < deadline, "runtime requests did not settle");
+        runtime.wait_and_poll(Duration::from_millis(20));
+    }
+}
+
+fn set_only_field(runtime: &mut Runtime<HttpTransport>, input: &str) {
+    let Modal::Editor(editor) = &mut runtime.app_mut().modal else {
+        panic!("operation editor was not open")
+    };
+    assert_eq!(editor.fields.len(), 1);
+    editor.fields[0].input = input.into();
+}
+
+fn confirm_and_execute(runtime: &mut Runtime<HttpTransport>) {
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    assert!(matches!(runtime.app().modal, Modal::Confirm { .. }));
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+}

crates/wip-tui/tests/runtime_async.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,329 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+use tempfile::tempdir;
+use wip_fs_server::{ServerConfig, WipFsServer};
+use wip_http::encode_protocol_error_response;
+use wip_http::http::{Request, Response};
+use wip_protocol::{ProtocolError, ProtocolErrorCode, ProtocolInteraction};
+use wip_tui::app::{ConnectionState, Focus, HistoryKind, InputKey, Modal, ViewState};
+use wip_tui::config::Config;
+use wip_tui::runtime::{
+    Runtime, Transport, TransportError, TransportErrorKind, default_wire_limits,
+};
+
+struct ScriptedTransport {
+    server: Arc<WipFsServer>,
+    sequence: Arc<AtomicUsize>,
+    delayed_after_startup: bool,
+    unknown_calls: bool,
+    fail_call_prepare: bool,
+    fail_tree_prepare: bool,
+    panic_calls: bool,
+    root_tree_protocol_failures: Arc<AtomicUsize>,
+}
+
+impl ScriptedTransport {
+    fn new(server: Arc<WipFsServer>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            server,
+            sequence: Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
+            delayed_after_startup: false,
+            unknown_calls: false,
+            fail_call_prepare: false,
+            fail_tree_prepare: false,
+            panic_calls: false,
+            root_tree_protocol_failures: Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Transport for ScriptedTransport {
+    type Prepared = Request<Vec<u8>>;
+
+    fn prepare(&self, request: Request<Vec<u8>>) -> Result<Self::Prepared, TransportError> {
+        if self.fail_call_prepare && request.uri().path().ends_with("/v1/call_operation") {
+            return Err(TransportError {
+                kind: TransportErrorKind::Disconnect,
+                detail: "scripted local conversion failure".into(),
+            });
+        }
+        if self.fail_tree_prepare && request.uri().path().ends_with("/v1/observe") {
+            return Err(TransportError {
+                kind: TransportErrorKind::Disconnect,
+                detail: "scripted tree conversion failure".into(),
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(request)
+    }
+
+    fn execute(&self, request: Self::Prepared) -> Result<Response<Vec<u8>>, TransportError> {
+        let sequence = self.sequence.fetch_add(1, Ordering::AcqRel);
+        if request.uri().path().ends_with("/v1/observe")
+            && self
+                .root_tree_protocol_failures
+                .fetch_update(Ordering::AcqRel, Ordering::Acquire, |remaining| {
+                    remaining.checked_sub(1)
+                })
+                .is_ok()
+        {
+            return Ok(encode_protocol_error_response(
+                ProtocolInteraction::Observe,
+                &ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::Internal,
+                    message: "scripted startup failure".into(),
+                },
+                default_wire_limits(),
+            )
+            .expect("encode tree failure"));
+        }
+        if self.delayed_after_startup && sequence > 0 {
+            // Delay the first refresh so the second wins and exercises exact
+            // RequestId ownership.
+            let delay = if sequence == 1 { 80 } else { 5 };
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(delay));
+        }
+        if self.panic_calls && request.uri().path().ends_with("/v1/call_operation") {
+            panic!("scripted transport worker panic");
+        }
+        if self.unknown_calls && request.uri().path().ends_with("/v1/call_operation") {
+            return Ok(encode_protocol_error_response(
+                ProtocolInteraction::CallOperation,
+                &ProtocolError {
+                    code: ProtocolErrorCode::OperationOutcomeUnknown,
+                    message: "scripted commit uncertainty".into(),
+                },
+                default_wire_limits(),
+            )
+            .expect("encode unknown outcome"));
+        }
+        Ok(self.server.handle_http(request))
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn out_of_order_refresh_and_cancel_keep_request_identity_safe() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("file"), b"contents").expect("file");
+    let server = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path())).expect("filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let mut transport = ScriptedTransport::new(server);
+    transport.delayed_after_startup = true;
+    let config = config();
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Tree;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Refresh);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Refresh);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/"].state, ViewState::Fresh);
+    assert!(runtime.app().history.iter().any(|item| {
+        item.kind == HistoryKind::Information && item.title.contains("stale response")
+    }));
+
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Refresh);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::CancelRead);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::CancelRead);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert!(runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty());
+    assert!(
+        runtime
+            .app()
+            .history
+            .iter()
+            .any(|item| item.title == "retrieval canceled")
+    );
+
+    // When a refreshed tree omits a formerly selected Entry, the client marks
+    // it stale and the presentation no longer exposes old metadata/operations
+    // as current.
+    std::fs::remove_file(temporary.path().join("file")).expect("remove file");
+    runtime.app_mut().selected_path = "/".into();
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Refresh);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/file"].state, ViewState::Stale);
+    runtime.app_mut().selected_path = "/file".into();
+    assert!(runtime.app().operation_rows().is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn startup_transport_preparation_failure_enters_failed_state() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let server = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path())).expect("filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let mut transport = ScriptedTransport::new(server);
+    transport.fail_tree_prepare = true;
+    let config = config();
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert!(matches!(
+        runtime.app().connection,
+        ConnectionState::Failed(ref detail) if detail.contains("scripted tree conversion failure")
+    ));
+    assert!(runtime.app().status.contains("press R to reconnect"));
+    assert!(runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn startup_protocol_failure_enters_failed_state_and_reconnects() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    let server = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path())).expect("filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let transport = ScriptedTransport::new(server);
+    transport
+        .root_tree_protocol_failures
+        .store(1, Ordering::Release);
+    let config = config();
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert!(matches!(
+        runtime.app().connection,
+        ConnectionState::Failed(ref detail) if detail.contains("scripted startup failure")
+    ));
+    assert!(runtime.app().status.contains("press R to reconnect"));
+    assert!(runtime.app().history.iter().any(|item| {
+        item.kind == HistoryKind::DomainFailure && item.detail.contains("scripted startup failure")
+    }));
+
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Reconnect);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().connection, ConnectionState::Connected);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn local_transport_preparation_failure_is_definitely_not_dispatched() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("file"), b"contents").expect("file");
+    let server = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path())).expect("filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let mut transport = ScriptedTransport::new(server);
+    transport.fail_call_prepare = true;
+    let execute_calls = Arc::clone(&transport.sequence);
+    let config = config();
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+
+    open_read_editor(&mut runtime);
+    let calls_before_operation = execute_calls.load(Ordering::Acquire);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    assert_eq!(
+        execute_calls.load(Ordering::Acquire),
+        calls_before_operation,
+        "preparation failure must not invoke transport I/O"
+    );
+    assert!(runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().history[0].kind, HistoryKind::TransportFailure);
+    assert!(runtime.app().history[0].detail.contains("not dispatched"));
+    assert_eq!(
+        runtime.app().status,
+        "operation not dispatched; not executed"
+    );
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/file"].state, ViewState::Fresh);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn worker_panic_settles_as_unknown_instead_of_stranding_the_main_loop() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("file"), b"contents").expect("file");
+    let server = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path())).expect("filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let mut transport = ScriptedTransport::new(server);
+    transport.panic_calls = true;
+    let config = config();
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+
+    open_read_editor(&mut runtime);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+    assert!(runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().history[0].kind, HistoryKind::OutcomeUnknown);
+    assert!(
+        runtime.app().history[0]
+            .detail
+            .contains("transport worker failed")
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn post_dispatch_unknown_is_prominent_stale_and_never_retried() {
+    let temporary = tempdir().expect("temporary root");
+    std::fs::write(temporary.path().join("file"), b"contents").expect("file");
+    let server = Arc::new(
+        WipFsServer::new(ServerConfig::for_root(temporary.path())).expect("filesystem server"),
+    );
+    let mut transport = ScriptedTransport::new(server);
+    transport.unknown_calls = true;
+    let config = config();
+    let mut runtime = Runtime::new(&config, transport).expect("runtime");
+    runtime.connect();
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+
+    open_read_editor(&mut runtime);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    settle(&mut runtime);
+
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().history[0].kind, HistoryKind::OutcomeUnknown);
+    assert!(
+        runtime.app().history[0]
+            .detail
+            .contains("side effects are unknown")
+    );
+    assert_eq!(runtime.app().entries["/file"].state, ViewState::Stale);
+    assert!(runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty());
+    let history = runtime.app().history.len();
+    thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(20));
+    runtime.poll();
+    assert_eq!(
+        runtime.app().history.len(),
+        history,
+        "no retry was manufactured"
+    );
+}
+
+fn config() -> Config {
+    Config::parse(
+        ["https://example.test/wip"],
+        None,
+        Some("scripted-test".into()),
+        |_| None,
+    )
+    .expect("config")
+}
+
+fn open_read_editor(runtime: &mut Runtime<ScriptedTransport>) {
+    runtime.app_mut().selected_path = "/file".into();
+    runtime.app_mut().focus = Focus::Operations;
+    runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 0;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    settle(runtime);
+    runtime.app_mut().operation_cursor = 1;
+    runtime.handle_key(InputKey::Enter);
+    assert!(matches!(runtime.app().modal, Modal::Editor(_)));
+}
+
+fn settle(runtime: &mut Runtime<ScriptedTransport>) {
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(5);
+    while !runtime.app().in_flight.is_empty() {
+        assert!(Instant::now() < deadline, "scripted runtime did not settle");
+        runtime.wait_and_poll(Duration::from_millis(10));
+    }
+}