@haposoft/cafekit 0.16.0-rc.3 → 0.16.0-rc.4

package/src/claude/scripts/validate-spec-output.cjs

@@ -6,11 +6,20 @@
  * the hard backstop before a spec is marked ready for implementation.
  */
 
+const crypto = require('crypto');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const POLICY = require('./workflow-policy.cjs');
+const SEMANTIC = require('./spec-semantic-model.cjs');
+const {
+  canonicalProjectRoot,
+  groundSpec,
+  parseCanonicalAnchors,
+  parseVerificationDefinitions,
+} = require('./spec-ground.cjs');
 
 const TASK_PATH_RE = /^tasks\/task-R\d+-\d{2}-[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*\.md$/;
+const TASK_IDENTITY_RE = /^tasks\/task-(R\d+-\d{2})-[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*\.md$/;
 const REQUIRED_REGISTRY_KEYS = [
   'id',
   'title',
@@ -23,11 +32,50 @@ const REQUIRED_REGISTRY_KEYS = [
 ];
 const APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION = '2.0';
 const LEGACY_APPROVAL_ERROR =
-  `Legacy approval field "approved" detected. Migration required: replace "approved" with "agent_validated" and "user_approved" per schema v${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION} (schema_version: "${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION}"). See spec-state.json template. Refusing to infer user approval.`;
+  `Legacy approval field "approved" detected. Migration required: replace "approved" with "agent_validated" per schema v${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION} (schema_version: "${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION}"). See spec-state.json template.`;
 const FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE = 'feature-receipt.md';
+const SPEC_STATUS_VALUES = new Set(['in_progress', 'in-progress', 'paused', 'blocked', 'done']);
+const TASK_STATUS_VALUES = new Set(['pending', 'in_progress', 'blocked', 'done']);
+const VALIDATION_STATUS_VALUES = new Set(['not-run', 'in_progress', 'completed']);
+const ANCHOR_TYPES = new Set([
+  'file', 'symbol', 'command', 'route', 'schema', 'contract', 'artifact', 'external',
+]);
+const PHASE_FIELDS = ['id', 'task_ids', 'entry_condition', 'exit_condition', 'owner_boundary'];
+const TASK_TRIGGER_VALUES = new Set([
+  'distinct_ownership',
+  'real_dependency',
+  'durable_transition',
+  'separate_proof',
+  'parallel_coordination',
+]);
+const SEMANTIC_REVIEW_FIELDS = [
+  'status',
+  'reviewed_artifact_digest',
+  'reviewed_criteria',
+  'counterexamples',
+];
+const SEMANTIC_REVIEW_STATUSES = new Set(['not-run', 'completed']);
+const SHA256_RE = /^sha256:[a-f0-9]{64}$/;
+const SCHEMA_21 = '2.1';
+const TASK_21_SECTIONS = [
+  'Outcome', 'Scope', 'Anchors and Ownership', 'Changes', 'Acceptance', 'Dependencies', 'Verification Plan',
+];
+const BOUNDARY_21_FIELDS = Object.freeze({
+  ownership: ['id', 'type', 'tasks', 'write_sets'],
+  dependency: ['id', 'type', 'producer', 'consumer', 'deliverable'],
+  transition: ['id', 'type', 'design_ref', 'owner', 'consumers', 'precondition', 'postcondition', 'failure', 'recovery'],
+  proof: ['id', 'type', 'subject', 'verifier', 'verification_ref', 'artifact_anchor'],
+  parallel: ['id', 'type', 'tasks', 'resources'],
+});
+const SPEC_21_REQUIRED_FIELDS = Object.freeze([
+  'schema_version', 'feature_name', 'created_at', 'updated_at', 'language', 'status',
+  'scope_lock', 'authoring', 'coordination', 'validation', 'semantic_model',
+  'ready_for_implementation', 'workflow_policy',
+]);
+const SPEC_21_OPTIONAL_FIELDS = Object.freeze(['research', 'task_files', 'task_registry', 'decisions']);
 
 function usage() {
-  console.error('Usage: node .claude/scripts/validate-spec-output.cjs specs/<feature>');
+  console.error('Usage: node .claude/scripts/validate-spec-output.cjs specs/<feature> [--semantic-digest]');
 }
 
 function resolveSpecDir(input) {
@@ -52,6 +100,10 @@ function readJson(filePath, errors) {
   }
 }
 
+function isPlainObject(value) {
+  return Boolean(value && typeof value === 'object' && !Array.isArray(value));
+}
+
 function isPathInside(parent, child) {
   const relative = path.relative(path.resolve(parent), path.resolve(child));
   return relative !== '' && relative !== '..' && !relative.startsWith(`..${path.sep}`) && !path.isAbsolute(relative);
@@ -174,6 +226,20 @@ function hasHeading(content, heading) {
   return new RegExp(`^##\\s+${escaped}\\s*$`, 'm').test(content);
 }
 
+function headingCount(content, heading) {
+  const escaped = heading.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&');
+  return [...content.matchAll(new RegExp(`^##\\s+${escaped}\\s*$`, 'gim'))].length;
+}
+
+function validateUniqueSectionGroups(label, content, groups, errors) {
+  for (const group of groups) {
+    const count = group.reduce((total, heading) => total + headingCount(content, heading), 0);
+    if (count > 1) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: machine-read section ${group.join('/')} must appear at most once`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 function extractSection(content, heading) {
   const escaped = heading.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&');
   const re = new RegExp(`^##\\s+${escaped}\\s*$`, 'im');
@@ -185,46 +251,336 @@ function extractSection(content, heading) {
   return next ? after.slice(0, next.index) : after;
 }
 
-function extractRequirementIds(requirementsText) {
-  const ids = new Set();
-  const headingRe = /^#{2,4}\s+(?:(?:Requirement)\s+)?((?:REQ-\d+)|(?:R\d+))\b/gim;
+function semanticMarkdown(content) {
+  const withoutComments = String(content).replace(/<!--[\s\S]*?-->/g, '');
+  let fence = null;
+  return withoutComments.split('\n').map((line) => {
+    const marker = line.match(/^\s{0,3}(`{3,}|~{3,})/);
+    if (marker) {
+      const character = marker[1][0];
+      const length = marker[1].length;
+      if (fence === null) fence = { character, length };
+      else if (character === fence.character && length >= fence.length) fence = null;
+      return '';
+    }
+    return fence === null ? line : '';
+  }).join('\n');
+}
+
+function requirementHeadingDeclarations(requirementsText) {
+  const semanticText = semanticMarkdown(requirementsText);
+  const declarations = [];
+  const invalid = [];
+  const headingRe = /^#{2,4}\s+(.+?)\s*$/gm;
   let match;
+  while ((match = headingRe.exec(semanticText)) !== null) {
+    const heading = match[1].trim();
+    const explicit = heading.match(/^Requirement\s+([^\s:.-]+)(?=[:.\s-]|$)/i);
+    const prefixed = heading.match(/^((?:R|REQ|NFR|SEC|PERF)[A-Za-z0-9_.-]*\d[A-Za-z0-9_.-]*)(?=[:\s]|$)/i);
+    const numeric = heading.match(/^(\d+)(?=[:.\s-]|$)/);
+    const bracketed = heading.match(/^\[(R\d+)\](?=[:.\s-]|$)/i);
+    let token = null;
+    let canonical = null;
+    if (explicit) {
+      token = explicit[1];
+      canonical = /^\d+$/.test(token)
+        ? `R${token}`
+        : (/^R\d+$/i.test(token) ? token.toUpperCase() : null);
+    } else if (prefixed) {
+      token = prefixed[1];
+      canonical = /^R\d+$/i.test(token) ? token.toUpperCase() : null;
+    } else if (numeric) {
+      token = numeric[1];
+    } else if (bracketed) {
+      token = bracketed[1];
+    }
+    if (canonical) declarations.push({ id: canonical, heading });
+    else if (token !== null) invalid.push({ token, heading });
+  }
+  return { declarations, invalid };
+}
 
-  while ((match = headingRe.exec(requirementsText)) !== null) {
-    ids.add(match[1].toUpperCase());
+function acceptanceCriterionDeclarations(requirementsText) {
+  const semanticText = semanticMarkdown(requirementsText);
+  const canonical = [];
+  const invalid = [];
+  const re = /^\s*(?:[-*+]\s+)?\*{0,2}([^\s*]+)\*{0,2}(?:\s*[:—-])?\s+(.+?)\s*$/gm;
+  let match;
+  while ((match = re.exec(semanticText)) !== null) {
+    const token = match[1];
+    const looksStructured = /^(?:R|REQ|NFR|SEC|PERF|AC)[A-Za-z0-9_.-]*\d[A-Za-z0-9_.-]*$/i.test(token)
+      || /^R\d+[.-][A-Za-z0-9]+$/i.test(token);
+    if (!looksStructured) continue;
+    if (/^R\d+\.\d+$/i.test(token)) {
+      canonical.push({ id: token.toUpperCase(), text: match[2].trim() });
+    } else {
+      invalid.push({ token, text: match[2].trim() });
+    }
   }
+  return { canonical, invalid };
+}
 
-  const numericRequirementRe = /^#{2,4}\s+(?:Requirement\s+)?(\d+)(?=[:.\s-])/gim;
-  while ((match = numericRequirementRe.exec(requirementsText)) !== null) {
-    ids.add(`R${match[1]}`);
+function validateRequirementInventory(requirementsText, errors) {
+  const headings = requirementHeadingDeclarations(requirementsText);
+  const criteria = acceptanceCriterionDeclarations(requirementsText);
+  for (const declaration of headings.invalid) {
+    if (hasSpecPlaceholders(declaration.token)) continue;
+    errors.push(
+      `requirements.md: unsupported requirement id ${declaration.token} in requirement heading; ` +
+      'use Requirement N or RN',
+    );
+  }
+  for (const declaration of criteria.invalid) {
+    if (hasSpecPlaceholders(declaration.token)) continue;
+    errors.push(
+      `requirements.md: unsupported acceptance criterion id ${declaration.token}; use RN.M`,
+    );
   }
 
-  const bracketRe = /\[((?:REQ-\d+)|(?:R\d+))\]/gi;
-  while ((match = bracketRe.exec(requirementsText)) !== null) {
-    ids.add(match[1].toUpperCase());
+  const seenRequirements = new Set();
+  for (const declaration of headings.declarations) {
+    if (seenRequirements.has(declaration.id)) {
+      errors.push(`requirements.md: duplicate canonical requirement id ${declaration.id}`);
+    }
+    seenRequirements.add(declaration.id);
+  }
+  const seenCriteria = new Set();
+  for (const criterion of criteria.canonical) {
+    if (seenCriteria.has(criterion.id)) {
+      errors.push(`requirements.md: duplicate canonical acceptance criterion id ${criterion.id}`);
+    }
+    seenCriteria.add(criterion.id);
+    const requirementId = criterion.id.split('.')[0];
+    if (seenRequirements.size > 0 && !seenRequirements.has(requirementId)) {
+      errors.push(`requirements.md: acceptance criterion ${criterion.id} has no matching ${requirementId} heading`);
+    }
   }
+}
+
+function extractRequirementIds(requirementsText) {
+  return [...new Set(requirementHeadingDeclarations(requirementsText).declarations
+    .map(({ id }) => id)
+    .filter((id) => id !== 'R0'))].sort();
+}
+
+function extractAcceptanceCriteria(requirementsText) {
+  return acceptanceCriterionDeclarations(requirementsText).canonical;
+}
+
+function hasTestableAcceptanceCriterion(requirementsText) {
+  const assertion = /\b(?:shall|must|returns?|rejects?|emits?|writes?|persists?|creates?|deletes?|renders?|displays?|records?|exits?|fails?|equals?|contains?|remains?|transitions?)\b/i;
+  const observable = /`[^`]+`|\b(?:exit code|http|status|file|path|record|event|response|result|state|field|value|message|artifact|directory|request|output|error)\b|\d/i;
+  return extractAcceptanceCriteria(requirementsText).some(({ text }) => (
+    text.length >= 24
+    && !hasSpecPlaceholders(text)
+    && assertion.test(text)
+    && observable.test(text)
+  ));
+}
+
+function hasConcreteDesignBoundary(designText) {
+  const sections = [
+    'Boundary',
+    'Architecture',
+    'Components and Interfaces',
+    'Canonical Contracts & Invariants',
+    'Implementation Boundary',
+  ].map((heading) => extractSection(designText, heading)).filter(Boolean);
+  const boundary = sections.join('\n');
+  if (boundary.length < 24 || hasSpecPlaceholders(boundary)) return false;
+  const genericIdentifiers = new Set([
+    'module', 'service', 'component', 'entrypoint', 'interface', 'function',
+    'class', 'route', 'command', 'database', 'table', 'process', 'boundary', 'owner',
+  ]);
+  const fencedReferences = [...boundary.matchAll(/`([^`]+)`/g)]
+    .map((match) => match[1].trim())
+    .filter((reference) => (
+      reference.length >= 3
+      && !genericIdentifiers.has(reference.toLowerCase())
+      && (/[/\\.]/.test(reference) || /^[A-Za-z_$][A-Za-z0-9_$.:-]*$/.test(reference))
+    ));
+  const pathReference = /(?:^|\s)(?:src|packages|apps|lib|cmd|internal|tests?|\.claude|\.codex)\/[A-Za-z0-9_.\/-]+/im.test(boundary);
+  const ownedBehavior = /\b(?:owns?|reads?|writes?|calls?|invokes?|imports?|registers?|routes?|persists?|updates?|creates?|deletes?|validates?|returns?|emits?|handles?|maps?|touches?|modifies?|implements?|consumes?|produces?)\b/i.test(boundary);
+  return ownedBehavior && (fencedReferences.length > 0 || pathReference);
+}
+
+function taskFormat(content) {
+  const conciseHeadings = [
+    'Outcome', 'Scope and Typed Anchors', 'Changes', 'Acceptance', 'Dependencies',
+    'Verification Plan',
+  ];
+  return conciseHeadings.some((heading) => hasHeading(content, heading)) ? 'v2' : 'legacy';
+}
+
+function sectionFieldValues(section, labels) {
+  return evidenceFieldValues(section || '', labels);
+}
 
-  return [...ids].filter((id) => id !== 'R0').sort();
+function validateVerificationPlan(taskPath, content, errors) {
+  const section = extractSection(content, 'Verification Plan') || '';
+  const commands = sectionFieldValues(section, ['Command', 'Commands', 'Command(s)']);
+  if (!commands.some((value) => isExecutableCommand(value) || isJustifiedNotApplicable(value))) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan requires a command-shaped invocation or justified N/A`);
+  }
+  if (!sectionFieldValues(section, ['Expected', 'Expected result', 'Expected proof']).some(hasObservableProof)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan requires an observable Expected result`);
+  }
+  const negative = sectionFieldValues(section, ['Negative path', 'Negative-path']);
+  if (!negative.some((value) => meaningfulMarkdownLines(value).length > 0 || isJustifiedNotApplicable(value))) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan requires a negative-path disposition`);
+  }
+  const reachability = sectionFieldValues(section, ['Reachability']);
+  if (!reachability.some((value) => isConcreteReachabilityAnchor(value) || isJustifiedNotApplicable(value))) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan requires a concrete reachability target or justified N/A`);
+  }
+  if (/^\s*(?:[-*+]\s*)?(?:\*\*)?(?:Observed|Actual|Verdict|Verification)(?:\*\*)?\s*:/im.test(section)
+    || /^\s*(?:Base|Head)\s*:/im.test(section)
+    || /\b(?:PASS|PASS_WITH_WARNINGS|FAIL|BLOCKED)\b/.test(section)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan is planned proof only and must not contain execution receipt fields or verdicts`);
+  }
 }
 
 /**
- * Extract sub-criteria IDs (e.g. R3.4) ONLY when requirements.md declares them
- * as explicit literals — bold `**R3.4**` or a line-leading `R3.4`. Specs that
- * write acceptance criteria as a plain numbered list declare no such literals.
- * Every declared literal must have an explicit numeric task mapping.
+ * Extract sub-criteria IDs (e.g. R3.4) only from canonical criterion declaration
+ * positions. Incidental prose such as "see R7.2" is not an inventory entry.
  */
 function extractSubCriteriaIds(requirementsText) {
-  const ids = new Set();
-  const re = /(?:^|\s)\**(R\d+\.\d+)\**/gim;
-  let match;
-  while ((match = re.exec(requirementsText)) !== null) {
-    const id = match[1].toUpperCase();
-    if (!id.startsWith('R0.')) ids.add(id);
-  }
-  return [...ids].sort();
+  return [...new Set(extractAcceptanceCriteria(requirementsText)
+    .map(({ id }) => id)
+    .filter((id) => !id.startsWith('R0.')))].sort();
+}
+
+function meaningfulMarkdownLines(section) {
+  if (typeof section !== 'string') return [];
+  return section.split('\n').map((rawLine) => rawLine
+    .trim()
+    .replace(/^[-*+]\s*/, '')
+    .replace(/^\[[ xX]\]\s*/, '')
+    .replace(/\*\*/g, '')
+    .trim())
+    .filter((line) => (
+      line.length >= 8
+      && !/^\|?\s*:?-{3,}/.test(line)
+      && !hasSpecPlaceholders(line)
+    ));
+}
+
+function hasSubstantiveSection(content, headings) {
+  const section = headings.map((heading) => extractSection(content, heading)).find((value) => value !== null);
+  return meaningfulMarkdownLines(section).length > 0;
+}
+
+function hasActionableTaskStep(section) {
+  if (typeof section !== 'string') return false;
+  return section.split('\n').some((line) => {
+    const match = line.match(/^\s*[-*+]\s+\[[ xX]\]\s+(?:\d+(?:\.\d+)?\s+)?(?:\(P\)\s+)?(.+?)\s*$/i);
+    if (!match) return false;
+    const action = match[1].replace(/\*\*/g, '').trim();
+    return action.length >= 4
+      && !hasSpecPlaceholders(action)
+      && !/^_?Requirements?\s*:/i.test(action);
+  });
+}
+
+function hasSubstantiveTaskRequirement(section) {
+  return meaningfulMarkdownLines(section).some((line) => {
+    if (/^_?Requirements?\s*:/i.test(line)) return false;
+    const match = line.match(/^(?:R)?\d+(?:\.\d+)?\s*(?:[-—:]\s*)?(.+)$/i);
+    return Boolean(match && match[1].trim().length >= 4 && !hasSpecPlaceholders(match[1]));
+  });
+}
+
+function evidenceFieldValues(section, labels) {
+  const alternation = labels
+    .map((label) => label.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&'))
+    .join('|');
+  const re = new RegExp(
+    `^\\s*(?:[-*+]\\s*)?(?:\\*\\*)?(?:${alternation})(?:\\*\\*)?\\s*:\\s*(.*?)\\s*$`,
+    'gim',
+  );
+  return [...section.matchAll(re)].map((match) => match[1].trim());
+}
+
+function isJustifiedNotApplicable(value) {
+  const match = typeof value === 'string' && value.match(/^N\/A\s*(?:[-—:]\s*)(.+)$/i);
+  return Boolean(match && match[1].trim().length >= 12 && !hasSpecPlaceholders(match[1]));
+}
+
+function isExecutableCommand(value) {
+  // Static validation can prove command shape only. Project command/script
+  // existence is runtime evidence owned by the execution receipt; resolving it
+  // here would require forbidden project inspection or command execution.
+  if (typeof value !== 'string' || hasSpecPlaceholders(value)) return false;
+  const fenced = [...value.matchAll(/`([^`]+)`/g)].map((match) => match[1].trim());
+  const candidates = fenced.length > 0 ? fenced : [value.trim()];
+  return candidates.some((command) => {
+    if (command.length < 4 || /^(?:run|execute|verify|check)\s+(?:tests?|checks?|build)$/i.test(command)) return false;
+    const first = command.split(/\s+/)[0];
+    if (!/^(?:[A-Za-z0-9_@.-]+|\.\.?\/[A-Za-z0-9_./-]+)$/.test(first)) return false;
+    return command.includes(' ')
+      || /[/.]/.test(first)
+      || /^(?:make|pytest|jest|vitest)$/i.test(first);
+  });
+}
+
+function hasObservableProof(value) {
+  if (typeof value !== 'string') return false;
+  const text = value.trim();
+  return text.length >= 12
+    && !hasSpecPlaceholders(text)
+    && /`[^`]+`|(?:^|\s)(?:src|packages|apps|lib|cmd|internal|tests?)\/|\b(?:exit(?:\s+code)?|status|error|output|result|artifact|route|record|state|field|value|response|file|path|persisted|rendered|registered|imported|mounted|invoked)\b|\d/i.test(text);
+}
+
+function hasObservableCompletionCriterion(section) {
+  return meaningfulMarkdownLines(section).some((line) => (
+    line.length >= 16
+    && /\b(?:returns?|rejects?|writes?|persists?|creates?|deletes?|renders?|displays?|records?|exits?|fails?|equals?|contains?|remains?|transitions?|is imported|is mounted|is registered|is invoked)\b/i.test(line)
+    && /`[^`]+`|(?:^|\s)(?:src|packages|apps|lib|cmd|internal|tests?)\/|\b(?:exit(?:\s+code)?|status|error|output|result|artifact|route|record|state|field|value|response|file|path|caller|component|service|command)\b|\d/i.test(line)
+  ));
+}
+
+function isConcreteReachabilityAnchor(value) {
+  if (typeof value !== 'string') return false;
+  const anchor = value.replace(/`/g, '').trim();
+  return anchor.length >= 3
+    && !hasSpecPlaceholders(anchor)
+    && !/^(?:N\/A|none|unknown|pending)$/i.test(anchor)
+    && (/[/\\.]/.test(anchor) || /^[A-Za-z_$][A-Za-z0-9_$:-]*(?:\s+[A-Za-z0-9_./:-]+)*$/.test(anchor));
 }
 
 function validateTaskSections(taskPath, content, errors) {
+  if (taskFormat(content) === 'v2') {
+    const headings = [
+      'Outcome', 'Scope and Typed Anchors', 'Changes', 'Acceptance', 'Dependencies',
+      'Verification Plan',
+    ];
+    validateUniqueSectionGroups(taskPath, content, headings.map((heading) => [heading]), errors);
+    for (const heading of headings) {
+      if (!hasHeading(content, heading)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing ${heading}`);
+      else if (heading !== 'Dependencies' && !hasSubstantiveSection(content, [heading])) errors.push(`${taskPath}: ${heading} must be substantive`);
+    }
+    const changes = extractSection(content, 'Changes') || '';
+    if (!hasActionableTaskStep(changes)) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Changes must contain at least one substantive actionable checkbox`);
+    }
+    const acceptance = extractSection(content, 'Acceptance') || '';
+    if (!/\bR?\d+\.\d+\b/.test(acceptance)) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Acceptance must map at least one canonical RN.M criterion`);
+    }
+    validateVerificationPlan(taskPath, content, errors);
+    return;
+  }
+  validateUniqueSectionGroups(taskPath, content, [
+    ['Context'],
+    ['Constraints'],
+    ['Steps', 'Implementation Steps'],
+    ['Requirements'],
+    ['Related Files'],
+    ['Completion Criteria'],
+    ['Evidence', 'Task Test Plan & Verification Evidence', 'Verification & Evidence'],
+    ['Risk Assessment'],
+    ['Execution Closure'],
+  ], errors);
   const hasContext = hasHeading(content, 'Context');
   const hasConstraints = hasHeading(content, 'Constraints');
   const hasSteps =
@@ -239,14 +595,28 @@ function validateTaskSections(taskPath, content, errors) {
     hasHeading(content, 'Task Test Plan & Verification Evidence') ||
     hasHeading(content, 'Verification & Evidence');
   const hasRiskAssessment = hasHeading(content, 'Risk Assessment');
+  const stepsSection = extractSection(content, 'Steps')
+    || extractSection(content, 'Implementation Steps')
+    || '';
+  const requirementsSection = extractSection(content, 'Requirements') || '';
 
   if (!hasContext) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Context`);
+  else if (!hasSubstantiveSection(content, ['Context'])) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Context section must contain substantive task context`);
   if (!hasConstraints) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Constraints`);
+  else if (!hasSubstantiveSection(content, ['Constraints'])) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Constraints section must contain substantive scope or implementation constraints`);
   if (!hasSteps) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Steps/Implementation Steps`);
+  else if (!hasActionableTaskStep(stepsSection)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Steps must contain at least one substantive actionable checkbox`);
   if (!hasRequirements) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Requirements mapping`);
+  else if (!hasSubstantiveTaskRequirement(requirementsSection)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Requirements section must contain a substantive mapped requirement description`);
   if (!hasRelatedFiles) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Related Files`);
   else if (relatedFilesSection(content).rows.length === 0) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Related Files section must not be empty`);
   if (!hasCompletionCriteria) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Completion Criteria`);
+  else {
+    const completion = extractSection(content, 'Completion Criteria') || '';
+    if (!hasObservableCompletionCriterion(completion)) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Completion Criteria must contain at least one observable, testable outcome`);
+    }
+  }
   if (!hasEvidence) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Evidence or task test plan`);
   if (!hasRiskAssessment) errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Risk Assessment`);
   if (hasEvidence) {
@@ -254,25 +624,38 @@ function validateTaskSections(taskPath, content, errors) {
       || extractSection(content, 'Task Test Plan & Verification Evidence')
       || extractSection(content, 'Verification & Evidence')
       || '';
+    const commandValues = evidenceFieldValues(evidenceSection, ['Command', 'Commands', 'Command(s)']);
+    if (!commandValues.some((value) => isExecutableCommand(value) || isJustifiedNotApplicable(value))) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Evidence requires an executable Command(s) value or explicit justified N/A`);
+    }
+    const expectedValues = evidenceFieldValues(evidenceSection, ['Expected proof', 'Expected result', 'Expected', 'Expect']);
+    if (!expectedValues.some(hasObservableProof)) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Evidence requires an observable expected result`);
+    }
+    const artifactValues = evidenceFieldValues(
+      evidenceSection,
+      ['Inspect', 'Artifact/runtime proof', 'Artifact / runtime proof', 'Artifact proof', 'Runtime proof'],
+    );
+    if (!artifactValues.some((value) => isConcreteReachabilityAnchor(value) || hasObservableProof(value))) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Evidence requires concrete artifact or runtime proof`);
+    }
     if (!/Runtime reachability verification/i.test(evidenceSection)) {
       errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Runtime reachability verification`);
     } else {
-      // Reachability must prove a concrete path/anchor, not just the phrase.
-      // Require at least one of: backtick file path, Entrypoint/caller line, or anchor.
-      const hasConcreteAnchor =
-        /`[^`]*\.[a-z]{1,4}`/i.test(evidenceSection) ||
-        /Entrypoint\/caller\s*:/i.test(evidenceSection) ||
-        /Route is registered|import.*from|anchor:\s*`/i.test(evidenceSection);
-      if (!hasConcreteAnchor) {
+      const anchorValues = evidenceFieldValues(evidenceSection, ['Entrypoint/caller', 'Anchor']);
+      const concreteAnchors = anchorValues.filter(isConcreteReachabilityAnchor);
+      if (concreteAnchors.length === 0) {
         errors.push(`${taskPath}: Runtime reachability verification must reference a concrete file path or anchor (e.g. \`src/...\` or Entrypoint/caller)`);
       } else {
         // Cross-check against declared Related Files paths
         const relatedPaths = new Set(relatedFilesSection(content).rows.map((r) => r.path));
-        const referencedPaths = [...evidenceSection.matchAll(/`([^`]*\.[a-z0-9]{1,4})`/gi)].map((m) => m[1].replace(/^\.\//, ''));
+        const referencedPaths = concreteAnchors
+          .map((anchor) => anchor.replace(/`/g, '').replace(/^\.\//, ''))
+          .filter((anchor) => /[/\\.]|^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+\.[A-Za-z0-9]+$/.test(anchor));
         // At least one referenced path should correspond to a declared Related Files entry (or be clearly external)
         if (referencedPaths.length > 0 && relatedPaths.size > 0) {
           const overlaps = referencedPaths.some((p) => [...relatedPaths].some((rp) => p === rp || p.endsWith(rp) || rp.endsWith(p) || p.includes(rp.split('/').pop())));
-          if (!overlaps && !/Entrypoint\/caller/i.test(evidenceSection)) {
+          if (!overlaps && !/\b(?:external|later integration task)\b/i.test(evidenceSection)) {
             errors.push(`${taskPath}: Runtime reachability verification references no Related Files path — must anchor to a declared file`);
           }
         }
@@ -281,6 +664,29 @@ function validateTaskSections(taskPath, content, errors) {
   }
 }
 
+function taskDeclaresParallel(content, taskPath, errors) {
+  const steps = extractSection(content, 'Changes')
+    || extractSection(content, 'Steps')
+    || extractSection(content, 'Implementation Steps')
+    || '';
+  const actionable = steps.split('\n').filter((line) => /^\s*[-*+]\s+\[[ xX]\]\s+/i.test(line));
+  const markedIndexes = [];
+  actionable.forEach((line, index) => {
+    if (/\(P\)/i.test(line)) markedIndexes.push(index);
+  });
+  if (markedIndexes.length > 1) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: task-level (P) marker must appear exactly once`);
+  }
+  if (markedIndexes.some((index) => index !== 0)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: task-level (P) marker must be on the first actionable Steps checkbox`);
+  }
+  if (markedIndexes.length > 0
+    && !/^\s*[-*+]\s+\[[ xX]\]\s+(?:\d+(?:\.\d+)?\s+)?\(P\)\s+\S/i.test(actionable[markedIndexes[0]])) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: (P) must follow the optional step number on an actionable checkbox`);
+  }
+  return markedIndexes.length > 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * Task files are created from the scaffold template (the scaffold-guard hook
  * forces creation through it), so every task starts as a stub full of `{{...}}`
@@ -298,11 +704,168 @@ function validateTaskPlaceholders(taskPath, content, errors, warnings) {
   if (stub) {
     errors.push(`${taskPath}: unfilled scaffold placeholder ${stub[0]} — task stub was not completed`);
   }
+  const bracket = content.match(SPEC_BRACKET_PLACEHOLDER_RE);
+  if (bracket) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: unresolved square-bracket placeholder ${bracket[0]}`);
+  }
   if (/\.\.\.\//.test(content)) {
     warnings.push(`${taskPath}: contains a '.../' path placeholder — replace with a concrete path`);
   }
 }
 
+function markdownHeaders(content, name) {
+  const escaped = name.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&');
+  return [...content.matchAll(new RegExp(`^\\*\\*${escaped}:\\*\\*\\s*(.*?)\\s*$`, 'gim'))]
+    .map((match) => match[1].trim());
+}
+
+function expectedTaskId(taskPath) {
+  return taskPath.match(TASK_IDENTITY_RE)?.[1] || null;
+}
+
+function validateTaskIdentity(taskPath, content, entry, errors) {
+  const expected = expectedTaskId(taskPath);
+  if (!expected) return;
+  if (entry?.id !== expected) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: task_registry id must match path-derived id ${expected} (got ${String(entry?.id)})`);
+  }
+  const headings = [...content.matchAll(/^#\s+Task\s+(R\d+-\d{2})\s*:/gim)].map((match) => match[1].toUpperCase());
+  if (headings.length !== 1) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: canonical task heading must appear exactly once`);
+  } else if (headings[0] !== expected) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Markdown heading id ${headings[0]} must match path-derived id ${expected}`);
+  }
+}
+
+function isIsoTimestamp(value) {
+  return typeof value === 'string'
+    && /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}T\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}(?:\.\d+)?(?:Z|[+-]\d{2}:\d{2})$/.test(value)
+    && Number.isFinite(Date.parse(value));
+}
+
+function validateTaskLifecycle(taskPath, entry, errors) {
+  if (!isPlainObject(entry) || !TASK_STATUS_VALUES.has(entry.status)) return;
+  const label = `spec.json.task_registry.${taskPath}`;
+  const blocker = entry.blocker;
+  if (blocker !== null && (typeof blocker !== 'string' || blocker.trim() === '')) {
+    errors.push(`${label}.blocker: must be null or a non-empty string`);
+  }
+  for (const field of ['started_at', 'completed_at', 'last_updated_at']) {
+    if (entry[field] !== null && !isIsoTimestamp(entry[field])) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.${field}: must be null or an ISO 8601 timestamp`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (entry.status === 'pending') {
+    if (blocker !== null) errors.push(`${label}: pending status requires blocker null`);
+    if (entry.started_at !== null || entry.completed_at !== null) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: pending status requires started_at and completed_at null`);
+    }
+  } else if (entry.status === 'in_progress') {
+    if (blocker !== null) errors.push(`${label}: in_progress status requires blocker null`);
+    if (!isIsoTimestamp(entry.started_at) || !isIsoTimestamp(entry.last_updated_at)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: in_progress status requires started_at and last_updated_at timestamps`);
+    } else if (Date.parse(entry.last_updated_at) < Date.parse(entry.started_at)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: in_progress timestamps must satisfy started_at <= last_updated_at`);
+    }
+    if (entry.completed_at !== null) errors.push(`${label}: in_progress status requires completed_at null`);
+  } else if (entry.status === 'blocked') {
+    if (typeof blocker !== 'string' || blocker.trim() === '') {
+      errors.push(`${label}: blocked status requires a non-empty blocker`);
+    }
+    if (!isIsoTimestamp(entry.last_updated_at)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: blocked status requires last_updated_at timestamp`);
+    } else if (isIsoTimestamp(entry.started_at)
+      && Date.parse(entry.last_updated_at) < Date.parse(entry.started_at)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: started blocked timestamps must satisfy started_at <= last_updated_at`);
+    }
+    if (entry.completed_at !== null) errors.push(`${label}: blocked status requires completed_at null`);
+  } else if (entry.status === 'done') {
+    if (blocker !== null) errors.push(`${label}: done status requires blocker null`);
+    if (![entry.started_at, entry.completed_at, entry.last_updated_at].every(isIsoTimestamp)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: done status requires started_at, completed_at, and last_updated_at timestamps`);
+    } else if (
+      Date.parse(entry.completed_at) < Date.parse(entry.started_at)
+      || Date.parse(entry.last_updated_at) < Date.parse(entry.completed_at)
+    ) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: done timestamps must satisfy started_at <= completed_at <= last_updated_at`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function validateTaskDependencyHeader(taskPath, content, entry, specReady, errors) {
+  const registryDependencies = Array.isArray(entry?.dependencies) ? entry.dependencies : [];
+  const headers = markdownHeaders(content, 'Dependencies');
+  if (headers.length > 1) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Dependencies header must appear exactly once`);
+  }
+  let raw = headers[0];
+  if (taskFormat(content) === 'v2') {
+    const section = extractSection(content, 'Dependencies') || '';
+    const values = section.split('\n')
+      .map((line) => line.trim().replace(/^[-*+]\s*/, '').replace(/^`|`$/g, '').trim())
+      .filter(Boolean);
+    raw = values.length === 1 && /^(?:none|n\/a)$/i.test(values[0])
+      ? values[0]
+      : values.join(',');
+  }
+  if (raw === undefined) {
+    if (registryDependencies.length > 0 || specReady) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Dependencies header; required for dependency parity before readiness`);
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let markdownDependencies = [];
+  if (!/^(?:none|n\/a)$/i.test(raw)) {
+    markdownDependencies = raw.split(',').map((dependency) => dependency.trim().replace(/^`|`$/g, ''));
+    const seen = new Set();
+    for (const dependency of markdownDependencies) {
+      if (!TASK_PATH_RE.test(dependency)) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: Dependencies header contains invalid task path ${dependency || '(empty)'}`);
+      } else if (dependency === taskPath) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: Dependencies header cannot contain itself`);
+      } else if (seen.has(dependency)) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: Dependencies header contains duplicate dependency ${dependency}`);
+      }
+      seen.add(dependency);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const registrySorted = [...registryDependencies].sort();
+  const markdownSorted = [...markdownDependencies].sort();
+  if (JSON.stringify(registrySorted) !== JSON.stringify(markdownSorted)) {
+    errors.push(
+      `${taskPath}: dependency drift between spec.json task_registry ${JSON.stringify(registrySorted)} ` +
+      `and Markdown Dependencies header ${JSON.stringify(markdownSorted)}`,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function validateTaskStatusHeader(taskPath, content, entry, specReady, errors) {
+  const headers = markdownHeaders(content, 'Status');
+  if (headers.length > 1) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Status header must appear exactly once`);
+  }
+  const status = headers[0];
+  if (status === undefined) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: missing Status header required for registry parity`);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!TASK_STATUS_VALUES.has(status)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Status must be one of ${[...TASK_STATUS_VALUES].join(', ')} (got ${status})`);
+  }
+  if (specReady && status === 'blocked') {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Status cannot be blocked while ready_for_implementation is true`);
+  }
+  if (typeof entry?.status === 'string' && status !== entry.status) {
+    errors.push(
+      `${taskPath}: status drift between spec.json task_registry ${entry.status} ` +
+      `and Markdown Status header ${status}`,
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Each phase completion must carry its own timestamp. Reusing `timestamps.init`
  * for a later phase is forbidden (SKILL.md spec.json Update Rules). This used to
@@ -310,9 +873,23 @@ function validateTaskPlaceholders(taskPath, content, errors, warnings) {
  */
 function validateTimestamps(spec, errors) {
   const ts = spec.timestamps;
-  if (!ts || typeof ts !== 'object') return;
+  for (const field of ['created_at', 'updated_at']) {
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, field) && !isIsoTimestamp(spec[field])) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.${field}: must be an ISO 8601 timestamp`);
+    }
+  }
+  if (ts === undefined) return;
+  if (!isPlainObject(ts)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.timestamps: must be an object when present');
+    return;
+  }
+  for (const [field, value] of Object.entries(ts)) {
+    if (value !== null && !isIsoTimestamp(value)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.timestamps.${field}: must be null or an ISO 8601 timestamp`);
+    }
+  }
   const init = ts.init;
-  if (!init) return;
+  if (!isIsoTimestamp(init)) return;
 
   for (const phase of ['requirements_done', 'design_done', 'tasks_done']) {
     if (ts[phase] && ts[phase] === init) {
@@ -324,6 +901,55 @@ function validateTimestamps(spec, errors) {
   }
 }
 
+function validateFinalLifecycleTimestamps(spec, taskFiles, context, errors) {
+  if (spec.ready_for_implementation !== true) return;
+  const ts = isPlainObject(spec.timestamps) ? spec.timestamps : {};
+  const required = ['init', 'requirements_done', 'design_done', 'validation_done'];
+  if (taskFiles.length > 0) required.push('tasks_done');
+  if (explicitResearchPath(spec) === 'research.md') required.push('research_done');
+  for (const field of required) {
+    if (!isIsoTimestamp(ts[field])) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.timestamps.${field}: ready handoff requires an ISO 8601 timestamp`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const field of ['created_at', 'updated_at']) {
+    if (!isIsoTimestamp(spec[field])) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.${field}: ready handoff requires an ISO 8601 timestamp`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (![spec.created_at, ts.init, ts.requirements_done, ts.design_done, ts.validation_done, spec.updated_at]
+    .every(isIsoTimestamp)) return;
+  const ordered = [
+    ['created_at', spec.created_at],
+    ['timestamps.init', ts.init],
+    ['timestamps.requirements_done', ts.requirements_done],
+    ...(isIsoTimestamp(ts.research_done) ? [['timestamps.research_done', ts.research_done]] : []),
+    ['timestamps.design_done', ts.design_done],
+    ...(isIsoTimestamp(ts.tasks_done) ? [['timestamps.tasks_done', ts.tasks_done]] : []),
+    ...(isIsoTimestamp(ts.review_done) ? [['timestamps.review_done', ts.review_done]] : []),
+    ['timestamps.validation_done', ts.validation_done],
+  ];
+  for (let index = 1; index < ordered.length; index += 1) {
+    if (Date.parse(ordered[index][1]) < Date.parse(ordered[index - 1][1])) {
+      errors.push(
+        `spec.json final lifecycle timestamps must be ordered; ${ordered[index][0]} precedes ${ordered[index - 1][0]}`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+  if (Date.parse(spec.updated_at) !== Date.parse(ts.validation_done)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.updated_at must describe the same final state as timestamps.validation_done');
+  }
+  const lastValidatedAt = spec.validation?.last_validated_at;
+  if (lastValidatedAt !== undefined && lastValidatedAt !== null) {
+    if (!isIsoTimestamp(lastValidatedAt)) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.validation.last_validated_at: must be null or an ISO 8601 timestamp');
+    } else if (Date.parse(lastValidatedAt) !== Date.parse(ts.validation_done)) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.validation.last_validated_at must describe the same final state as timestamps.validation_done');
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 /** Normalize a fenced code block body for byte-comparison: trim + collapse
  * trailing whitespace per line + drop blank edges. Keeps inner structure so a
  * real field rename (user_name vs userName) still differs. */
@@ -341,11 +967,15 @@ function normalizeBlock(body) {
  * Returns a Map<name, normalizedBody>. Empty when the spec uses no markers —
  * which makes the whole cross-layer check opt-in (no effect on legacy specs).
  */
-function extractContractDefs(designText) {
+function extractContractDefs(designText, label, errors) {
   const defs = new Map();
   const re = /<!--\s*contract:([A-Za-z0-9_.-]+)\s*-->\s*\n```[^\n]*\n([\s\S]*?)\n```/g;
   let match;
   while ((match = re.exec(designText)) !== null) {
+    if (defs.has(match[1])) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: duplicate canonical contract definition "${match[1]}"`);
+      continue;
+    }
     defs.set(match[1], normalizeBlock(match[2]));
   }
   return defs;
@@ -360,21 +990,80 @@ function extractContractDefs(designText) {
  * `firstBlock` keeps the legacy fallback for single-contract tasks that copy
  * the block without repeating the marker.
  */
-function extractTaskContracts(taskText) {
+function extractTaskContracts(taskText, taskPath, errors) {
   const names = [];
-  const nameLine = taskText.match(/^\s*Contracts:\s*([^\n]+)$/im);
-  if (nameLine) {
+  const nameLines = [...taskText.matchAll(/^\s*Contracts:\s*([^\n]+)$/gim)];
+  if (nameLines.length > 1) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Contracts declaration must appear at most once`);
+  }
+  const seenNames = new Set();
+  for (const nameLine of nameLines) {
     for (const token of nameLine[1].split(',')) {
       const name = token.trim();
-      if (name) names.push(name);
+      if (!name) continue;
+      if (seenNames.has(name)) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: Contracts declaration contains duplicate name "${name}"`);
+        continue;
+      }
+      seenNames.add(name);
+      names.push(name);
     }
   }
-  const blocks = extractContractDefs(taskText); // same marker+fence grammar as design.md
+  const blocks = extractContractDefs(taskText, taskPath, errors); // same marker+fence grammar as design.md
   const blockMatch = taskText.match(/```[^\n]*\n([\s\S]*?)\n```/);
   const firstBlock = blockMatch ? normalizeBlock(blockMatch[1]) : null;
   return { names, blocks, firstBlock };
 }
 
+function implementationObligationClosure(content, label, errors) {
+  const allIds = [];
+  const re = /<!--\s*implementation-obligation:([a-z0-9]+(?:[._-][a-z0-9]+)*)\s*-->/gi;
+  let match;
+  while ((match = re.exec(content)) !== null) {
+    allIds.push(match[1].toLowerCase());
+  }
+  const counts = new Map();
+  for (const id of allIds) counts.set(id, (counts.get(id) || 0) + 1);
+  for (const [id, count] of counts) {
+    if (count > 1) errors.push(`${label}: duplicate implementation obligation marker ${id}`);
+  }
+
+  const closureCount = headingCount(content, 'Execution Closure');
+  const section = closureCount === 1 ? (extractSection(content, 'Execution Closure') || '') : '';
+  const closureIds = [];
+  const blocks = new Map();
+  const closureRe = /<!--\s*implementation-obligation:([a-z0-9]+(?:[._-][a-z0-9]+)*)\s*-->/gi;
+  const markers = [...section.matchAll(closureRe)];
+  for (const [index, marker] of markers.entries()) {
+    const id = marker[1].toLowerCase();
+    closureIds.push(id);
+    const blockStart = marker.index + marker[0].length;
+    const blockEnd = markers[index + 1]?.index ?? section.length;
+    if (!blocks.has(id)) blocks.set(id, section.slice(blockStart, blockEnd).trim());
+  }
+  if (allIds.length > 0 && closureCount !== 1) {
+    errors.push(`${label}: implementation obligation markers require exactly one Execution Closure section`);
+  } else if (allIds.length > closureIds.length) {
+    const closureCounts = new Map();
+    for (const id of closureIds) closureCounts.set(id, (closureCounts.get(id) || 0) + 1);
+    for (const [id, count] of counts) {
+      if ((closureCounts.get(id) || 0) < count) {
+        errors.push(`${label}: implementation obligation marker ${id} must be inside Execution Closure`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  const notApplicable = closureCount === 1
+    && closureIds.length === 0
+    && isJustifiedNotApplicable(section.trim());
+  return {
+    ids: [...new Set(closureIds)],
+    section,
+    headingCount: closureCount,
+    blocks,
+    notApplicable,
+  };
+}
+
 const RELATED_FILE_ACTIONS = new Set(['create', 'modify', 'delete', 'read']);
 
 function relatedFilesSection(content) {
@@ -414,6 +1103,86 @@ function validateRelatedFiles(taskPath, content, errors) {
   }
 }
 
+function parseMarkdownTable(section, expectedHeaders) {
+  if (typeof section !== 'string') return [];
+  const lines = section.split('\n');
+  for (let index = 0; index + 1 < lines.length; index += 1) {
+    if (!/^\s*\|/.test(lines[index]) || !/^\s*\|(?:\s*:?-{3,}:?\s*\|)+\s*$/.test(lines[index + 1])) continue;
+    const headers = lines[index].split('|').slice(1, -1).map((cell) => cell.trim().toLowerCase());
+    if (JSON.stringify(headers) !== JSON.stringify(expectedHeaders.map((header) => header.toLowerCase()))) continue;
+    const rows = [];
+    for (let rowIndex = index + 2; rowIndex < lines.length && /^\s*\|/.test(lines[rowIndex]); rowIndex += 1) {
+      const cells = lines[rowIndex].split('|').slice(1, -1)
+        .map((cell) => cell.trim().replace(/^`|`$/g, '').trim());
+      if (cells.some(Boolean)) rows.push(cells);
+    }
+    return rows;
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+function typedAnchors(content, label, namespace, errors) {
+  const section = extractSection(content, namespace === 'design' ? 'Typed Anchors' : 'Scope and Typed Anchors') || '';
+  const rows = parseMarkdownTable(section, ['ID', 'Type', 'Target', 'Role']);
+  if (rows.length === 0) {
+    const consumesDesign = namespace === 'task'
+      && sectionFieldValues(section, ['Canonical design anchors consumed']).join(' ').match(/\bA-D-\d{2}\b/);
+    if (!consumesDesign) errors.push(`${label}: typed anchor table ID/Type/Target/Role is required unless the task only consumes canonical design anchors`);
+    return [];
+  }
+  const taskId = namespace === 'task' ? expectedTaskId(label) : null;
+  const namespacePattern = namespace === 'design'
+    ? /^A-D-\d{2}$/
+    : new RegExp(`^A-${taskId || 'INVALID'}-\\d{2}$`);
+  return rows.map(([id = '', rawType = '', target = '', role = '']) => {
+    const type = rawType.toLowerCase();
+    if (!ANCHOR_TYPES.has(type)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: typed anchor ${id || '(missing id)'} has unknown Type ${rawType || '(empty)'}`);
+    }
+    if (!namespacePattern.test(id)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: typed anchor ${id || '(missing id)'} has invalid ${namespace} namespace`);
+    }
+    if (!target || hasSpecPlaceholders(target)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: typed anchor ${id || '(missing id)'} requires a concrete Target`);
+    }
+    if (!role || hasSpecPlaceholders(role)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: typed anchor ${id || '(missing id)'} requires a concrete Role`);
+    }
+    return { id, type, target, role, label, namespace };
+  });
+}
+
+function validateTypedAnchorInventory(designText, taskContents, errors) {
+  const designAnchors = typedAnchors(designText, 'design.md', 'design', errors);
+  const allAnchors = [...designAnchors];
+  for (const [taskPath, content] of taskContents) {
+    if (taskFormat(content) === 'v2') allAnchors.push(...typedAnchors(content, taskPath, 'task', errors));
+  }
+  const byId = new Map();
+  const designByTarget = new Map(designAnchors.map((anchor) => [`${anchor.type}\0${anchor.target}`, anchor]));
+  for (const anchor of allAnchors) {
+    if (byId.has(anchor.id)) {
+      errors.push(`${anchor.label}: duplicate typed anchor ID ${anchor.id}; first declared in ${byId.get(anchor.id).label}`);
+    } else byId.set(anchor.id, anchor);
+    if (anchor.namespace === 'task') {
+      const canonical = designByTarget.get(`${anchor.type}\0${anchor.target}`);
+      if (canonical) {
+        errors.push(`${anchor.label}: typed anchor ${anchor.id} duplicates canonical design target ${canonical.id}; reference the design anchor ID instead`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  for (const [taskPath, content] of taskContents) {
+    if (taskFormat(content) !== 'v2') continue;
+    for (const reference of content.match(/\bA-D-\d{2}\b/g) || []) {
+      if (!byId.has(reference)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: dangling canonical design anchor reference ${reference}`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const reference of designText.match(/\bA-D-\d{2}\b/g) || []) {
+    if (!byId.has(reference)) errors.push(`design.md: dangling canonical design anchor reference ${reference}`);
+  }
+  return { anchors: allAnchors, designAnchors, byId };
+}
+
 function validateArtifactDeclaration(taskPath, entry, errors) {
   if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(entry || {}, 'artifacts')) return;
   const artifacts = entry.artifacts;
@@ -445,13 +1214,21 @@ function workflowPolicyContext(spec, errors) {
     const result = POLICY.validateWorkflowPolicySnapshot(spec.workflow_policy);
     if (!result.valid) {
       for (const error of result.errors) errors.push(error);
-      return { explicit: true, policy: null, bounded: false, strict: false };
+      return { explicit: true, policy: null, legacy: false, taskRequired: false, strict: false };
+    }
+    let policy;
+    try {
+      policy = POLICY.readWorkflowPolicySnapshot(spec);
+    } catch (error) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.workflow_policy: shared policy adapter failed (${error.message})`);
+      return { explicit: true, policy: null, legacy: false, taskRequired: false, strict: false };
     }
     return {
       explicit: true,
-      policy: spec.workflow_policy,
-      bounded: spec.workflow_policy.artifact_profile === 'bounded',
-      strict: spec.workflow_policy.artifact_profile === 'strict',
+      policy,
+      legacy: spec.workflow_policy.version === '1',
+      taskRequired: spec.coordination?.tasks_required === true,
+      strict: policy.assurance_level === 'Strict',
     };
   }
 
@@ -461,15 +1238,11 @@ function workflowPolicyContext(spec, errors) {
       ? 'spec.json.workflow_policy: missing persisted snapshot; design_context.execution_tier is a read-only legacy adapter and cannot establish workflow authority or readiness'
       : 'spec.json.workflow_policy: missing persisted snapshot; the current spec boundary requires an explicit workflow_policy',
   );
-  return { explicit: false, policy: null, bounded: false, strict: false };
+  return { explicit: false, policy: null, legacy: false, taskRequired: false, strict: false };
 }
 
-function validateFeatureReceipt(spec, context, errors, receiptArtifact) {
-  if (!context.explicit || !context.bounded) return;
-  if (!receiptArtifact) {
-    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: required by bounded Standard workflow policy`);
-    return;
-  }
+function validateFeatureReceipt(spec, context, errors, warnings, receiptArtifact) {
+  if (!receiptArtifact) return;
   let body;
   try {
     body = fs.readFileSync(receiptArtifact.path, 'utf8');
@@ -477,32 +1250,108 @@ function validateFeatureReceipt(spec, context, errors, receiptArtifact) {
     errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: cannot be read (${error.message})`);
     return;
   }
-  // A spec-ready artifact is a design boundary, not execution closeout. Keep a
-  // pending receipt explicit. Feature receipts are informational and never own
-  // completion authority; task Evidence receipts are the only closeout source.
-  if (/^\s*Verification:\s*PENDING\s*$/im.test(body)) return;
-  errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: informational only; keep Verification: PENDING and use task Evidence for completion authority`);
+  if (/^\s*Verification:\s*PENDING\s*$/im.test(body)) {
+    if (context.legacy) {
+      warnings.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: legacy v1 PENDING receipt is read-compatible only and is not readiness proof`);
+      return;
+    }
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: premature execution receipt is forbidden in a Specs v2 pre-implementation artifact`);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (spec.status !== 'done') {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed execution receipt is valid only on terminal status done, never for readiness`);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!/^\s*Verification:\s*PASS\s*$/im.test(body)) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed taskless proof requires literal Verification: PASS`);
+  }
+  if (!/^\s*Status:\s*done\s*$/im.test(body)) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed proof and spec.json must both use status done`);
+  }
+  const commands = evidenceFieldValues(body, ['Command', 'Commands', 'Command(s)']);
+  if (!commands.some(isExecutableCommand)) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed proof requires an executable Command`);
+  }
+  const expected = evidenceFieldValues(body, ['Expected result', 'Expected proof', 'Expected']);
+  if (!expected.some(hasObservableProof)) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed proof requires an observable expected result`);
+  }
+  const observed = evidenceFieldValues(body, ['Observed result', 'Result', 'Observed proof']);
+  if (!observed.some(hasObservableProof)) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed proof requires an observable result`);
+  }
+  const artifacts = evidenceFieldValues(
+    body,
+    ['Artifact/runtime proof', 'Artifact / runtime proof', 'Artifact proof', 'Runtime proof', 'Inspect'],
+  );
+  if (!artifacts.some((value) => isConcreteReachabilityAnchor(value) || hasObservableProof(value))) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed proof requires concrete artifact or runtime proof`);
+  }
+  const bindingPattern = /^(?:[0-9a-f]{40}|[0-9a-f]{64})$/i;
+  const base = evidenceFieldValues(body, ['Base'])[0];
+  const head = evidenceFieldValues(body, ['Head'])[0];
+  if (!bindingPattern.test(base || '') || !bindingPattern.test(head || '') || base === head) {
+    errors.push(`${FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE}: completed proof requires distinct 40- or 64-hex Base and Head bindings`);
+  }
 }
 
-const SPEC_PLACEHOLDER_RE = /\{\{[^}\n]+\}\}|<[^>\n]+>|\b(?:TBD|TODO|N\/A|NA|NONE|UNKNOWN|PENDING|PLACEHOLDER|REPLACE_ME)\b|\.{3,}/i;
+const SPEC_PLACEHOLDER_RE = /\{\{[^}\n]+\}\}|<[^>\n]+>|(?<![A-Za-z0-9_./-])(?:TBD|TODO|N\/A|NA|NONE|UNKNOWN|PENDING|PLACEHOLDER|REPLACE_ME)(?![A-Za-z0-9_./-])|\.{3,}/i;
+const SPEC_BRACKET_PLACEHOLDER_RE = /\[(?:specific(?:\s+[a-z][a-z0-9 /_-]{0,60})?|target\s+users?|component\s+name)\](?!\s*\()/i;
 const SPEC_TEMPLATE_GUIDANCE_RE = /\b(?:to be filled|filled by (?:the )?(?:feature owner|user)|fill (?:this|in)|replace (?:this|with)|add (?:the )?real)\b/i;
 
 function hasSpecPlaceholders(content) {
-  return SPEC_PLACEHOLDER_RE.test(content) || SPEC_TEMPLATE_GUIDANCE_RE.test(content);
+  return SPEC_PLACEHOLDER_RE.test(content)
+    || SPEC_BRACKET_PLACEHOLDER_RE.test(content)
+    || SPEC_TEMPLATE_GUIDANCE_RE.test(content);
 }
 
-function validateBoundedReadiness(spec, requirementsText, designText, errors) {
-  if (spec.ready_for_implementation !== true) return;
+function validateRequirementDialect(requirementsText, errors) {
+  const legacy = requirementsText.match(/\bREQ-\d+\b/i);
+  if (legacy) {
+    errors.push(
+      `requirements.md: ${legacy[0].toUpperCase()} is not a canonical requirement id; ` +
+      'use Requirement N/RN with acceptance criteria RN.M (task mappings use N.M)',
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function validateSemanticReadiness(spec, requirementsText, designText, context, errors) {
+  if (
+    spec.ready_for_implementation !== true
+    || !context.explicit
+    || context.policy?.lane === 'Direct'
+  ) return;
+  const profile = context.policy?.lane || 'non-Direct';
 
   const source = spec.scope_lock?.source;
   if (typeof source !== 'string' || source.trim() === '' || hasSpecPlaceholders(source)) {
-    errors.push('spec.json.scope_lock.source: Standard bounded readiness requires a concrete scope source');
+    errors.push(`spec.json.scope_lock.source: ${profile} readiness requires a concrete scope source`);
   }
   if (hasSpecPlaceholders(requirementsText)) {
-    errors.push('requirements.md: Standard bounded readiness rejects placeholders');
+    errors.push(`requirements.md: ${profile} readiness rejects placeholders`);
+  }
+  let placeholderDesignText = designText;
+  if (context.policy?.lane === 'Critical') {
+    const closure = extractSection(designText, 'Execution Closure');
+    if (closure !== null && isJustifiedNotApplicable(closure.trim())) {
+      placeholderDesignText = designText.replace(closure, '');
+    }
+  }
+  if (hasSpecPlaceholders(placeholderDesignText)) {
+    errors.push(`design.md: ${profile} readiness rejects placeholders`);
   }
-  if (hasSpecPlaceholders(designText)) {
-    errors.push('design.md: Standard bounded readiness rejects placeholders');
+  if (extractRequirementIds(requirementsText).length === 0) {
+    errors.push(`requirements.md: ${profile} readiness requires at least one canonical numeric requirement id (Requirement N or RN)`);
+  }
+  if (extractSubCriteriaIds(requirementsText).length === 0 || !hasTestableAcceptanceCriterion(requirementsText)) {
+    errors.push(
+      `requirements.md: ${profile} readiness requires at least one testable acceptance criterion using RN.M`,
+    );
+  }
+  if (!hasConcreteDesignBoundary(designText)) {
+    errors.push(
+      `design.md: ${profile} readiness requires a grounded path/code identifier plus owned or touched behavior in Architecture, Components and Interfaces, Canonical Contracts & Invariants, or Implementation Boundary`,
+    );
   }
 }
 
@@ -549,6 +1398,7 @@ function validateResearchArtifact(researchArtifact, errors, requireConcrete = tr
     return;
   }
   const research = fs.readFileSync(researchArtifact.path, 'utf8');
+  validateUniqueSectionGroups('research.md', research, [['Evidence Summary']], errors);
   const evidence = extractSection(research, 'Evidence Summary');
   if (evidence === null) {
     errors.push('research.md: missing ## Evidence Summary');
@@ -557,8 +1407,55 @@ function validateResearchArtifact(researchArtifact, errors, requireConcrete = tr
   }
 }
 
+function groundedResearchEvidence(section, canonicalSpecDir) {
+  if (/https:\/\/[^\s)>]+/i.test(section)) return true;
+  const projectRoot = path.dirname(path.dirname(canonicalSpecDir));
+  for (const match of section.matchAll(/`([^`]+)`/g)) {
+    let target = match[1].trim();
+    if (!target || /\s/.test(target) || path.isAbsolute(target) || /^[A-Za-z]:[\\/]/.test(target)) continue;
+    target = target.split('#')[0].replace(/:\d+(?::\d+)?$/, '');
+    if (unsafeRelatedPath(target)) continue;
+    const resolved = path.resolve(projectRoot, target);
+    if (isPathInside(projectRoot, resolved) && fs.existsSync(resolved)) return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+function validateResearchArtifact21(researchArtifact, canonicalSpecDir, errors) {
+  const research = fs.readFileSync(researchArtifact.path, 'utf8');
+  const headings = ['Uncertainty', 'Evidence Summary', 'Decision', 'Remaining Gaps'];
+  for (const heading of headings) {
+    const count = headingCount(research, heading);
+    if (count !== 1) errors.push(`research.md: requires exactly one ## ${heading} section`);
+  }
+  const sections = Object.fromEntries(headings.map((heading) => [heading, extractSection(research, heading)]));
+  for (const heading of ['Uncertainty', 'Evidence Summary', 'Decision']) {
+    if (sections[heading] !== null && !hasConcreteResearchEvidence(sections[heading])) {
+      errors.push(`research.md: ${heading} must contain concrete non-placeholder content`);
+    }
+  }
+  if (sections['Evidence Summary'] !== null
+    && hasConcreteResearchEvidence(sections['Evidence Summary'])
+    && !groundedResearchEvidence(sections['Evidence Summary'], canonicalSpecDir)) {
+    errors.push('research.md: Evidence Summary must ground at least one existing repository target or https primary source');
+  }
+  const gaps = sections['Remaining Gaps'];
+  if (gaps !== null) {
+    const semantic = semanticMarkdown(gaps).replace(/^\s*[-*+]\s*/gm, '').trim();
+    const none = /^none\b/i.test(semantic);
+    if (none) {
+      const rationale = semantic.replace(/^none\b\s*(?:[-—:]\s*)?/i, '').trim();
+      if (rationale.length < 12 || !hasConcreteResearchEvidence(rationale)) {
+        errors.push('research.md: Remaining Gaps None requires concrete rationale or evidence');
+      }
+    } else if (!hasConcreteResearchEvidence(gaps)) {
+      errors.push('research.md: Remaining Gaps must contain a concrete gap or None with rationale or evidence');
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 function validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, context = {}) {
-  // Approval schema v2: generated, agent_validated, user_approved independent.
+  // Canonical approval authority is technical only. rc.3 user_approved is readable but inert.
   // Legacy "approved" field is rejected fail-closed with migration guidance.
   const approvals = spec.approvals || {};
   let hasLegacy = false;
@@ -571,6 +1468,15 @@ function validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, context = {}) {
       errors.push(`spec.json.approvals.${stage}: ${LEGACY_APPROVAL_ERROR}`);
       hasLegacy = true;
     }
+    const keys = Object.keys(approval).sort();
+    const canonical = ['agent_validated', 'generated'];
+    const rc3 = ['agent_validated', 'generated', 'user_approved'];
+    if (JSON.stringify(keys) !== JSON.stringify(canonical) && JSON.stringify(keys) !== JSON.stringify(rc3)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.approvals.${stage}: fields must be generated and agent_validated; legacy user_approved is readable but has zero authority`);
+    }
+    for (const key of keys) {
+      if (typeof approval[key] !== 'boolean') errors.push(`spec.json.approvals.${stage}.${key}: must be boolean`);
+    }
     // Unsupported/ambiguous: if schema_version missing when approvals use v2 shape, warn but not fail? B2 says fail closed.
     // We fail closed when version is unsupported or ambiguous and ready_for_implementation is true.
   }
@@ -583,12 +1489,12 @@ function validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, context = {}) {
     errors.push(`spec.json.approval_schema_version: unsupported "${spec.approval_schema_version}", expected "${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION}"`);
   }
   // If approvals use v2 fields but no schema_version, treat as ambiguous — fail closed when ready flag is set
-  const usesV2 = Object.values(approvals).some((a) => a && typeof a === 'object' && ('agent_validated' in a || 'user_approved' in a));
+  const usesV2 = Object.values(approvals).some((a) => a && typeof a === 'object' && 'agent_validated' in a);
   if (usesV2 && spec.schema_version === undefined && spec.approval_schema_version === undefined) {
     // Only warn now; will be error if ready_for_implementation is true (checked below)
     // Provide guidance
     if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true) {
-      errors.push(`spec.json.schema_version: missing — spec uses v2 approvals (agent_validated/user_approved) but has no schema_version "${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION}"`);
+      errors.push(`spec.json.schema_version: missing — spec uses v2 approvals but has no schema_version "${APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION}"`);
     }
   }
 
@@ -598,15 +1504,15 @@ function validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, context = {}) {
 
   if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true) {
     if (hasLegacy) {
-      errors.push(`spec.json.ready_for_implementation: cannot be true with legacy approval fields — migrate to agent_validated/user_approved`);
+      errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: cannot be true with legacy approved fields');
     }
-    const stages = context.bounded && !(Array.isArray(spec.task_files) && spec.task_files.length > 0)
-      ? ['requirements', 'design']
-      : ['requirements', 'design', 'tasks'];
+    const stages = context.taskRequired
+      ? ['requirements', 'design', 'tasks']
+      : ['requirements', 'design'];
     for (const stage of stages) {
       const approval = spec.approvals?.[stage];
-      if (!approval || approval?.generated !== true || approval?.agent_validated !== true || approval?.user_approved !== true) {
-        errors.push(`spec.json.ready_for_implementation: requires generated and agent_validated and user_approved ${stage} evidence (v2)`);
+      if (!approval || approval?.generated !== true || approval?.agent_validated !== true) {
+        errors.push(`spec.json.ready_for_implementation: requires generated and agent_validated ${stage} evidence (v2)`);
       }
     }
     if (spec.validation?.status === 'in_progress' || spec.validation?.status === 'not-run') {
@@ -615,12 +1521,432 @@ function validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, context = {}) {
   }
 }
 
-function validateDependencyTopology(spec, taskFiles, registry, taskRecords, errors) {
-  const dependencies = new Map(taskFiles.map((taskFile) => [taskFile, new Set(registry?.[taskFile]?.dependencies || [])]));
-  if (dependencies.size === 0) return;
+function validateReadinessStatusValues(spec, errors) {
+  if (typeof spec.ready_for_implementation !== 'boolean') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: must be a boolean');
+  }
+  if (typeof spec.status !== 'string' || !SPEC_STATUS_VALUES.has(spec.status)) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.status: must be one of ${[...SPEC_STATUS_VALUES].join(', ')}`);
+  }
+  if (spec.validation !== undefined && !isPlainObject(spec.validation)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation: must be an object when present');
+  }
+  const validationStatus = isPlainObject(spec.validation) ? spec.validation.status : undefined;
+  if (validationStatus !== undefined && !VALIDATION_STATUS_VALUES.has(validationStatus)) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.validation.status: must be one of ${[...VALIDATION_STATUS_VALUES].join(', ')}`);
+  }
+  if (spec.ready_for_implementation !== true) return;
+  if (spec.status === 'blocked' || spec.status === 'paused') {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.status: cannot be ${spec.status} while ready_for_implementation is true`);
+  }
+  if (typeof spec.blocker === 'string' && spec.blocker.trim() !== '') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.blocker: must be empty while ready_for_implementation is true');
+  }
+  if (validationStatus !== 'completed') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: requires validation.status completed');
+  }
+}
 
-  const visiting = new Set();
-  const visited = new Set();
+function validateCoreMachineState(spec, taskFiles, errors, { schema21 = false } = {}) {
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec.scope_lock)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.scope_lock: must be an object, not a boolean or array');
+  }
+  validateTimestamps(spec, errors);
+  validateReadinessStatusValues(spec, errors);
+  if (isIsoTimestamp(spec.created_at) && isIsoTimestamp(spec.updated_at)
+    && Date.parse(spec.updated_at) < Date.parse(spec.created_at)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json lifecycle timestamps must satisfy created_at <= updated_at');
+  }
+  if (schema21 || spec.schema_version === APPROVAL_SCHEMA_VERSION) {
+    const required = [
+      'schema_version', 'feature_name', 'created_at', 'updated_at', 'status',
+      'scope_lock', 'authoring', 'coordination', 'validation', 'ready_for_implementation', 'workflow_policy',
+    ];
+    if (!schema21) required.splice(required.indexOf('authoring'), 1);
+    else required.push('language');
+    for (const field of required) if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, field)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.${field}: required by schema ${spec.schema_version} machine state`);
+    }
+    if (!isPlainObject(spec.validation)
+      || !Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec.validation, 'status')
+      || !Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec.validation, 'semantic_review')) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation: schema ${spec.schema_version} requires status and semantic_review`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (taskFiles.length === 0) return;
+  const taskFileSet = new Set(taskFiles);
+  if (!Array.isArray(spec.task_files)) errors.push('spec.json.task_files: physical tasks require an array');
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec.task_registry)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.task_registry: physical tasks require an object keyed by task file path');
+    return;
+  }
+  for (const taskPath of taskFiles) {
+    const entry = spec.task_registry[taskPath];
+    const label = `spec.json.task_registry.${taskPath}`;
+    if (!isPlainObject(entry)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: must be an object`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    for (const key of REQUIRED_REGISTRY_KEYS) if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(entry, key)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: missing ${key}`);
+    }
+    if (entry.id !== expectedTaskId(taskPath)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: id must match path-derived id ${expectedTaskId(taskPath)} (got ${String(entry.id)})`);
+    }
+    if (typeof entry.title !== 'string' || entry.title.trim() === '' || hasSpecPlaceholders(entry.title)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.title: must be a concrete non-empty string`);
+    }
+    if (!TASK_STATUS_VALUES.has(entry.status)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.status: must be one of ${[...TASK_STATUS_VALUES].join(', ')}`);
+    }
+    validateTaskLifecycle(taskPath, entry, errors);
+    if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true && entry.status === 'blocked') {
+      errors.push(`${label}.status: cannot be blocked while ready_for_implementation is true`);
+    }
+    if (!Array.isArray(entry.dependencies)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.dependencies: must be an array`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    const seen = new Set();
+    for (const dependency of entry.dependencies) {
+      if (!taskFileSet.has(dependency)) errors.push(`${label}.dependencies: unknown dependency ${dependency}`);
+      if (dependency === taskPath) errors.push(`${label}.dependencies: cannot contain itself`);
+      if (seen.has(dependency)) errors.push(`${label}.dependencies: duplicate dependency ${dependency}`);
+      seen.add(dependency);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function meaningfulObligationValue(value) {
+  if (typeof value !== 'string') return false;
+  const text = value.trim();
+  return text.length >= 8
+    && !hasSpecPlaceholders(text)
+    && !/^(?:works?|done|check|verify|test|proof|evidence|state|authority|recovery)$/i.test(text);
+}
+
+function normalizeClosureText(value) {
+  return String(value)
+    .toLowerCase()
+    .replace(/[|`*_[\]{}()]/g, ' ')
+    .replace(/\s+/g, ' ')
+    .trim();
+}
+
+function closureFieldName(value) {
+  const name = normalizeClosureText(value).replace(/\s*\/\s*/g, ' / ');
+  if (/^(?:obligation ids? \/ )?requirements?$/.test(name)
+    || /^obligation id \/ requirements$/.test(name)) return ['requirements'];
+  if (/^canonical state$/.test(name)) return ['canonical_state'];
+  if (/^authority$/.test(name)) return ['authority'];
+  if (/^(?:crash \/ retry )?recovery$/.test(name)) return ['recovery'];
+  if (/^owner task$/.test(name)) return ['owner_task'];
+  if (/^(?:consumer tasks?|consumers?)(?: \/ dependency order)?$/.test(name)) return ['consumer_tasks'];
+  if (/^verification$/.test(name)) return ['verification'];
+  if (/^evidence$/.test(name)) return ['evidence'];
+  if (/^verification \/ evidence$/.test(name)) return ['verification', 'evidence'];
+  return [];
+}
+
+function appendClosureField(fields, label, value) {
+  for (const key of closureFieldName(label)) {
+    if (!fields.has(key)) fields.set(key, []);
+    fields.get(key).push(String(value).trim());
+  }
+}
+
+function parseClosureFields(block) {
+  const fields = new Map();
+  const lines = String(block).split('\n');
+  for (const line of lines) {
+    const candidate = line
+      .trim()
+      .replace(/^[-*+]\s*/, '')
+      .replace(/^\*\*/, '');
+    const field = candidate.match(/^([^:]+?)(?:\*\*)?\s*:\s*(.*?)\s*$/);
+    if (field) appendClosureField(fields, field[1], field[2]);
+  }
+
+  for (let index = 0; index + 2 < lines.length; index += 1) {
+    if (!/^\s*\|/.test(lines[index]) || !/^\s*\|(?:\s*:?-{3,}:?\s*\|)+\s*$/.test(lines[index + 1])) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    const headers = lines[index].split('|').slice(1, -1).map((cell) => cell.trim());
+    for (let rowIndex = index + 2; rowIndex < lines.length && /^\s*\|/.test(lines[rowIndex]); rowIndex += 1) {
+      const cells = lines[rowIndex].split('|').slice(1, -1).map((cell) => cell.trim());
+      headers.forEach((header, cellIndex) => appendClosureField(fields, header, cells[cellIndex] || ''));
+    }
+    break;
+  }
+  return fields;
+}
+
+function closureField(fields, key) {
+  return (fields.get(key) || []).join(' ');
+}
+
+function normalizedStringSet(values) {
+  return [...new Set(values.map((value) => String(value).toUpperCase()))].sort();
+}
+
+function validateClosureCorrespondence(label, closure, obligationId, obligation, errors) {
+  const block = closure.blocks?.get(obligationId);
+  if (typeof block !== 'string' || block.trim() === '') {
+    errors.push(`${label}: Execution Closure marker ${obligationId} requires a marker-local field block`);
+    return;
+  }
+  const parsed = parseClosureFields(block);
+  const fields = [
+    ['canonical_state', obligation.canonical_state],
+    ['authority', obligation.authority],
+    ['recovery', obligation.recovery],
+    ['owner_task', obligation.owner_task],
+    ['verification', obligation.verification],
+    ['evidence', obligation.evidence],
+  ];
+  for (const [field, value] of fields) {
+    if (typeof value !== 'string' || value.trim() === '') continue;
+    const localValue = closureField(parsed, field);
+    if (!localValue || !normalizeClosureText(localValue).includes(normalizeClosureText(value))) {
+      errors.push(
+        `${label}: Execution Closure for ${obligationId} must mirror spec.json ${field} in its marker-local field`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  const expectedRequirements = normalizedStringSet(
+    Array.isArray(obligation.requirements) ? obligation.requirements : [],
+  );
+  const actualRequirements = normalizedStringSet(
+    closureField(parsed, 'requirements').match(/\bR\d+(?:\.\d+)?\b/gi) || [],
+  );
+  if (JSON.stringify(actualRequirements) !== JSON.stringify(expectedRequirements)) {
+    errors.push(
+      `${label}: Execution Closure for ${obligationId} must mirror spec.json requirements in its marker-local field`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  const consumers = Array.isArray(obligation.consumer_tasks) ? obligation.consumer_tasks : [];
+  const consumerValue = closureField(parsed, 'consumer_tasks');
+  if (consumers.length === 0) {
+    if (!/^\s*(?:none|n\/a)\b/i.test(consumerValue)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: Execution Closure for ${obligationId} must state that consumer_tasks are none`);
+    }
+  } else {
+    const actualConsumers = [...new Set(
+      consumerValue.match(/tasks\/task-R\d+-\d{2}-[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*\.md/gi) || [],
+    )].sort();
+    const expectedConsumers = [...new Set(consumers)].sort();
+    if (JSON.stringify(actualConsumers) !== JSON.stringify(expectedConsumers)) {
+      errors.push(
+        `${label}: Execution Closure for ${obligationId} must mirror spec.json consumer_tasks in its marker-local field`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function validateImplementationObligations(
+  spec,
+  context,
+  requirementIds,
+  subCriteriaIds,
+  taskFiles,
+  registry,
+  designClosure,
+  taskClosures,
+  errors,
+) {
+  if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'implementation_obligations')) {
+    const taskClosurePresent = [...taskClosures.values()].some((closure) => closure.headingCount > 0);
+    if (designClosure.ids.length > 0 || [...taskClosures.values()].some((closure) => closure.ids.length > 0)) {
+      errors.push(
+        'implementation obligation markers require a declared spec.json.implementation_obligations array',
+      );
+    }
+    if (context.policy?.lane === 'Critical') {
+      if (designClosure.headingCount !== 1 || !designClosure.notApplicable) {
+        errors.push(
+          'design.md: Critical scope must declare non-empty spec.json.implementation_obligations or one justified N/A in Execution Closure',
+        );
+      }
+    } else if (designClosure.headingCount > 0) {
+      errors.push('design.md: Execution Closure is allowed only for a declared Critical obligation decision');
+    }
+    if (taskClosurePresent) {
+      errors.push('tasks/: Execution Closure is allowed only for tasks assigned to declared implementation obligations');
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+  const obligations = spec.implementation_obligations;
+  if (context.policy?.lane !== 'Critical') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.implementation_obligations: allowed only for Critical workflow policy');
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(obligations) || obligations.length === 0) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.implementation_obligations: must be a non-empty array when present');
+    return;
+  }
+  if (designClosure.notApplicable) {
+    errors.push('design.md: justified N/A cannot coexist with declared implementation obligations');
+  }
+
+  const knownRequirements = new Set([...requirementIds, ...subCriteriaIds]);
+  const knownTasks = new Set(taskFiles);
+  const dependencies = new Map(taskFiles.map((taskFile) => [
+    taskFile,
+    new Set(Array.isArray(registry?.[taskFile]?.dependencies) ? registry[taskFile].dependencies : []),
+  ]));
+  function dependsOn(taskFile, ownerTask, seen = new Set()) {
+    if (taskFile === ownerTask) return true;
+    if (seen.has(taskFile)) return false;
+    seen.add(taskFile);
+    return [...(dependencies.get(taskFile) || [])].some((dependency) => (
+      dependsOn(dependency, ownerTask, seen)
+    ));
+  }
+
+  const ids = new Set();
+  const obligationsById = new Map();
+  for (const [index, obligation] of obligations.entries()) {
+    const label = `spec.json.implementation_obligations[${index}]`;
+    if (!isPlainObject(obligation)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: must be an object`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    const obligationId = typeof obligation.id === 'string' ? obligation.id.trim().toLowerCase() : '';
+    if (!/^[a-z0-9]+(?:[._-][a-z0-9]+)*$/.test(obligationId)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.id: must be a stable lowercase marker id`);
+    } else if (obligation.id !== obligationId) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.id: must be lowercase without surrounding whitespace`);
+    } else if (ids.has(obligationId)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.id: duplicate obligation id ${obligationId}`);
+    } else {
+      ids.add(obligationId);
+      obligationsById.set(obligationId, obligation);
+    }
+
+    if (!Array.isArray(obligation.requirements) || obligation.requirements.length === 0) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.requirements: must be a non-empty array of requirement references`);
+    } else {
+      const seenRequirements = new Set();
+      for (const reference of obligation.requirements) {
+        if (typeof reference !== 'string' || !/^R\d+(?:\.\d+)?$/i.test(reference)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.requirements: invalid requirement reference ${String(reference)}`);
+          continue;
+        }
+        const normalized = reference.toUpperCase();
+        if (seenRequirements.has(normalized)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.requirements: duplicate requirement reference ${normalized}`);
+        } else if (!knownRequirements.has(normalized)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.requirements: unknown requirement reference ${normalized}`);
+        }
+        seenRequirements.add(normalized);
+      }
+    }
+
+    const ownerTask = obligation.owner_task;
+    const ownerValid = typeof ownerTask === 'string' && knownTasks.has(ownerTask);
+    if (!ownerValid) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.owner_task: must name exactly one registered task`);
+    }
+
+    if (!Array.isArray(obligation.consumer_tasks)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.consumer_tasks: must be an array of registered tasks`);
+    } else {
+      const seenConsumers = new Set();
+      for (const consumerTask of obligation.consumer_tasks) {
+        if (typeof consumerTask !== 'string' || !knownTasks.has(consumerTask)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.consumer_tasks: unknown task reference ${String(consumerTask)}`);
+          continue;
+        }
+        if (consumerTask === ownerTask) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.consumer_tasks: owner task cannot also be a consumer`);
+        } else if (seenConsumers.has(consumerTask)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.consumer_tasks: duplicate task reference ${consumerTask}`);
+        } else if (ownerValid && !dependsOn(consumerTask, ownerTask)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.consumer_tasks: ${consumerTask} must depend on owner ${ownerTask}`);
+        }
+        seenConsumers.add(consumerTask);
+      }
+    }
+
+    for (const field of ['canonical_state', 'authority', 'recovery']) {
+      if (!meaningfulObligationValue(obligation[field])) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.${field}: must be concrete, non-placeholder implementation semantics`);
+      }
+    }
+    if (!isExecutableCommand(obligation.verification)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.verification: must be an executable command`);
+    }
+    if (!hasObservableProof(obligation.evidence)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.evidence: must name an observable result, state, artifact, or exit outcome`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (ids.size > 0 && designClosure.headingCount !== 1) {
+    errors.push('design.md: declared implementation obligations require exactly one Execution Closure section');
+  }
+  const designSet = new Set(designClosure.ids);
+  for (const designId of designSet) {
+    if (!ids.has(designId)) {
+      errors.push(`design.md: implementation obligation marker ${designId} is not declared in spec.json`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const obligationId of ids) {
+    if (!designSet.has(obligationId)) {
+      errors.push(`design.md: missing implementation obligation marker ${obligationId}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const [taskFile, closure] of taskClosures) {
+    if (closure.headingCount > 0 && closure.ids.length === 0) {
+      errors.push(`${taskFile}: Execution Closure requires at least one assigned implementation obligation marker`);
+    }
+    for (const marker of closure.ids) {
+      const obligation = obligationsById.get(marker);
+      if (!obligation) {
+        errors.push(`${taskFile}: implementation obligation marker ${marker} is not declared in spec.json`);
+        continue;
+      }
+      const participants = new Set([
+        obligation.owner_task,
+        ...(Array.isArray(obligation.consumer_tasks) ? obligation.consumer_tasks : []),
+      ]);
+      if (!participants.has(taskFile)) {
+        errors.push(`${taskFile}: marker ${marker} is not assigned to this owner/consumer task`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const [obligationId, obligation] of obligationsById) {
+    if (designSet.has(obligationId)) {
+      validateClosureCorrespondence('design.md', designClosure, obligationId, obligation, errors);
+    }
+    const participants = [
+      obligation.owner_task,
+      ...(Array.isArray(obligation.consumer_tasks) ? obligation.consumer_tasks : []),
+    ].filter((taskFile) => typeof taskFile === 'string' && knownTasks.has(taskFile));
+    for (const taskFile of participants) {
+      const closure = taskClosures.get(taskFile)
+        || { ids: [], section: '', headingCount: 0, blocks: new Map(), notApplicable: false };
+      if (!closure.ids.includes(obligationId)) {
+        errors.push(`${taskFile}: missing implementation obligation marker ${obligationId}`);
+      } else {
+        if (closure.headingCount !== 1) {
+          errors.push(`${taskFile}: declared implementation obligations require exactly one Execution Closure section`);
+        }
+        validateClosureCorrespondence(taskFile, closure, obligationId, obligation, errors);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function validateDependencyTopology(spec, taskFiles, registry, taskRecords, errors) {
+  const dependencies = new Map(taskFiles.map((taskFile) => [taskFile, new Set(registry?.[taskFile]?.dependencies || [])]));
+  if (dependencies.size === 0) return;
+
+  const visiting = new Set();
+  const visited = new Set();
   function visit(taskFile, stack = []) {
     if (visiting.has(taskFile)) {
       const cycleStart = stack.indexOf(taskFile);
@@ -737,7 +2063,1203 @@ function validateDependencyTopology(spec, taskFiles, registry, taskRecords, erro
   }
 }
 
-function validateSpec(specDir) {
+function validateParallelEligibility(taskFiles, registry, taskRecords, errors) {
+  const parallelTasks = taskFiles.filter((taskFile) => taskRecords.get(taskFile)?.parallel === true);
+  for (const taskFile of parallelTasks) {
+    const dependencies = Array.isArray(registry?.[taskFile]?.dependencies)
+      ? registry[taskFile].dependencies
+      : [];
+    if (dependencies.length > 0) {
+      errors.push(`${taskFile}: task-level (P) cannot declare sibling dependencies`);
+    }
+
+    const ownRows = taskRecords.get(taskFile)?.rows || [];
+    for (const sibling of taskFiles) {
+      if (sibling === taskFile) continue;
+      const siblingRows = taskRecords.get(sibling)?.rows || [];
+      const conflicts = new Set();
+      for (const ownRow of ownRows) {
+        for (const siblingRow of siblingRows) {
+          if (ownRow.path === siblingRow.path) {
+            conflicts.add(ownRow.path);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      for (const conflict of conflicts) {
+        errors.push(
+          `${taskFile}: task-level (P) has Related Files contention on ${conflict} with ${sibling}`,
+        );
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function explicitResearchPath(spec) {
+  if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'research') || spec.research === null) return null;
+  return isPlainObject(spec.research) ? spec.research.path : spec.research;
+}
+
+function validateCoordinationTopology(spec, context, taskFiles, specDir, errors) {
+  const depth = context.policy?.planning_depth;
+  if (depth === 'None') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.workflow_policy.planning_depth: None cannot have a durable spec artifact');
+  }
+  const coordination = spec.coordination;
+  if (!isPlainObject(coordination)) {
+    if (!context.legacy) errors.push('spec.json.coordination: Specs v2 requires an object');
+    return { tasksRequired: context.legacy && taskFiles.length > 0, phases: [] };
+  }
+  if (typeof coordination.tasks_required !== 'boolean') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.tasks_required: must be a boolean');
+  }
+  if (typeof coordination.phases_required !== 'boolean') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.phases_required: must be a boolean');
+  }
+  const tasksRequired = coordination.tasks_required === true;
+  if (tasksRequired && taskFiles.length === 0) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.tasks_required: true requires physical task files and matching registry');
+  }
+  if (!tasksRequired && taskFiles.length > 0) {
+    errors.push('tasks/: physical task files exist while coordination.tasks_required is false');
+  }
+  let taskTriggers = [];
+  if (!context.legacy && tasksRequired) {
+    if (coordination.reason !== 'task_topology') {
+      errors.push('spec.json.coordination.reason: Specs v2 task bundles require canonical task_topology reason');
+    }
+    if (!Array.isArray(coordination.task_triggers) || coordination.task_triggers.length === 0) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: Specs v2 task bundles require a non-empty auditable trigger list');
+    } else {
+      taskTriggers = coordination.task_triggers;
+      const seen = new Set();
+      for (const trigger of taskTriggers) {
+        if (!TASK_TRIGGER_VALUES.has(trigger)) {
+          errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: unknown trigger ${String(trigger)}`);
+        } else if (seen.has(trigger)) {
+          errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: duplicate trigger ${trigger}`);
+        }
+        seen.add(trigger);
+      }
+    }
+  } else if (!context.legacy && Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(coordination, 'task_triggers')) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: taskless Specs v2 must omit task triggers');
+  }
+  const phases = coordination.phases;
+  if (phases !== undefined && !Array.isArray(phases)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.phases: must be an array when present');
+    return { tasksRequired, phases: [] };
+  }
+  const phaseList = Array.isArray(phases) ? phases : [];
+  if (coordination.phases_required !== (phaseList.length > 0)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.phases_required: must match whether structured phases are present');
+  }
+  if (phaseList.length > 0 && (depth !== 'Full' || !tasksRequired)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.phases: structured phases are allowed only for a Full task graph');
+  }
+  const taskIds = new Set(taskFiles.map(expectedTaskId));
+  const covered = new Set();
+  const phaseIds = new Set();
+  for (const [index, phase] of phaseList.entries()) {
+    const label = `spec.json.coordination.phases[${index}]`;
+    if (!isPlainObject(phase)
+      || JSON.stringify(Object.keys(phase).sort()) !== JSON.stringify([...PHASE_FIELDS].sort())) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: must contain exactly ${PHASE_FIELDS.join(', ')}`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (typeof phase.id !== 'string' || !/^[a-z0-9]+(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*$/.test(phase.id)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.id: must be a stable kebab-case id`);
+    } else if (phaseIds.has(phase.id)) errors.push(`${label}.id: duplicate phase id ${phase.id}`);
+    phaseIds.add(phase.id);
+    if (!Array.isArray(phase.task_ids) || phase.task_ids.length === 0) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.task_ids: must be a non-empty array`);
+    } else {
+      for (const taskId of phase.task_ids) {
+        if (!taskIds.has(taskId)) errors.push(`${label}.task_ids: unknown task id ${String(taskId)}`);
+        else if (covered.has(taskId)) errors.push(`${label}.task_ids: task ${taskId} is grouped more than once`);
+        covered.add(taskId);
+      }
+    }
+    for (const field of ['entry_condition', 'exit_condition', 'owner_boundary']) {
+      if (typeof phase[field] !== 'string' || phase[field].trim().length < 8 || hasSpecPlaceholders(phase[field])) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.${field}: must be concrete and non-placeholder`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if (phaseList.length > 0) {
+    for (const taskId of taskIds) {
+      if (!covered.has(taskId)) errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.phases: task ${taskId} is not grouped exactly once`);
+    }
+  }
+  try {
+    for (const entry of fs.readdirSync(specDir, { withFileTypes: true })) {
+      if (entry.isFile() && /^phase(?:-|_).*\.md$/i.test(entry.name)) {
+        errors.push(`${entry.name}: phase files are forbidden; use compact spec.json.coordination.phases metadata`);
+      }
+    }
+  } catch (_) {}
+  return { tasksRequired, phases: phaseList, taskTriggers };
+}
+
+function validateTaskTriggerEvidence(spec, topology, taskFiles, taskRecords, errors) {
+  if (!Array.isArray(topology.taskTriggers) || topology.taskTriggers.length === 0) return;
+  const triggers = new Set(topology.taskTriggers);
+  const dependencyCount = Object.values(spec.task_registry || {}).reduce((count, entry) => (
+    count + (Array.isArray(entry?.dependencies) ? entry.dependencies.length : 0)
+  ), 0);
+  const artifactTaskCount = Object.values(spec.task_registry || {}).filter((entry) => (
+    Array.isArray(entry?.artifacts) && entry.artifacts.length > 0
+  )).length;
+  const parallelTaskCount = taskFiles.filter((taskFile) => taskRecords.get(taskFile)?.parallel === true).length;
+  const writeOwners = new Map();
+  let tasksWithWriteOwnership = 0;
+  for (const taskFile of taskFiles) {
+    const writePaths = new Set((taskRecords.get(taskFile)?.rows || [])
+      .filter((row) => ['create', 'modify', 'delete'].includes(row.action))
+      .map((row) => path.normalize(row.path).split(path.sep).join('/')));
+    if (writePaths.size > 0) tasksWithWriteOwnership += 1;
+    for (const filePath of writePaths) {
+      if (!writeOwners.has(filePath)) writeOwners.set(filePath, []);
+      writeOwners.get(filePath).push(taskFile);
+    }
+  }
+  const overlappingWrite = [...writeOwners.entries()]
+    .find(([, owners]) => owners.length > 1);
+  const hasDistinctOwnership = taskFiles.length >= 2
+    && tasksWithWriteOwnership >= 2
+    && overlappingWrite === undefined;
+  const evidence = {
+    distinct_ownership: hasDistinctOwnership,
+    real_dependency: dependencyCount > 0,
+    durable_transition: topology.phases.length > 0,
+    separate_proof: artifactTaskCount > 0,
+    parallel_coordination: parallelTaskCount > 0,
+  };
+  for (const trigger of triggers) {
+    if (TASK_TRIGGER_VALUES.has(trigger) && evidence[trigger] !== true) {
+      if (trigger === 'distinct_ownership') {
+        const overlap = overlappingWrite
+          ? `; shared write path ${overlappingWrite[0]} is declared by ${overlappingWrite[1].join(', ')}`
+          : '';
+        errors.push(
+          'spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: distinct_ownership requires at least 2 tasks with distinct, ' +
+          `non-overlapping Related Files Create/Modify/Delete boundaries${overlap}`,
+        );
+      } else {
+        errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: ${trigger} has no matching physical task inventory or graph evidence`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  for (const [trigger, present] of Object.entries(evidence)) {
+    if (present && trigger !== 'distinct_ownership' && !triggers.has(trigger)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.task_triggers: physical task inventory or graph requires ${trigger}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function criterionReferences(content) {
+  const ids = new Set();
+  for (const match of semanticMarkdown(content).matchAll(/\bR?(\d+\.\d+)\b/gi)) ids.add(`R${match[1]}`);
+  return ids;
+}
+
+function namedContractDefinitions(designText, errors) {
+  const ids = new Set();
+  for (const match of semanticMarkdown(designText).matchAll(/^#{3,6}\s+(C\d+)\s+(?:—|-)\s+.+$/gim)) {
+    const id = match[1].toUpperCase();
+    if (ids.has(id)) errors.push(`design.md: duplicate named contract ID ${id}`);
+    ids.add(id);
+  }
+  return ids;
+}
+
+function validateNamedContractReferences(designText, taskContents, errors) {
+  const definitions = namedContractDefinitions(designText, errors);
+  for (const [taskPath, content] of taskContents) {
+    if (taskFormat(content) !== 'v2') continue;
+    const scope = extractSection(content, 'Scope and Typed Anchors') || '';
+    const declared = sectionFieldValues(scope, ['Contracts/Invariants', 'Contracts', 'Invariants']).join(' ');
+    for (const id of declared.match(/\bC\d+\b/gi) || []) {
+      if (!definitions.has(id.toUpperCase())) errors.push(`${taskPath}: references unknown named contract ${id.toUpperCase()}`);
+    }
+    if (/<!--\s*contract:[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+\s*-->/.test(content)) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: Specs v2 tasks reference named contract IDs and must not copy canonical contract blocks`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function stableJson(value) {
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) return `[${value.map(stableJson).join(',')}]`;
+  if (isPlainObject(value)) {
+    return `{${Object.keys(value).sort().map((key) => `${JSON.stringify(key)}:${stableJson(value[key])}`).join(',')}}`;
+  }
+  return JSON.stringify(value);
+}
+
+function semanticDigestState(spec) {
+  const taskRegistry = isPlainObject(spec.task_registry)
+    ? Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(spec.task_registry).map(([taskPath, entry]) => [taskPath, {
+      id: entry?.id ?? null,
+      dependencies: entry?.dependencies ?? null,
+      ...(Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(entry || {}, 'artifacts') ? { artifacts: entry.artifacts } : {}),
+    }]))
+    : spec.task_registry ?? null;
+  return {
+    scope_lock: spec.scope_lock ?? null,
+    task_files: spec.task_files ?? null,
+    task_registry: taskRegistry,
+    coordination: spec.coordination ?? null,
+    semantic_model: spec.semantic_model ?? null,
+    decisions: spec.decisions ?? null,
+    workflow_policy: spec.workflow_policy ?? null,
+  };
+}
+
+function semanticTaskMarkdown(content) {
+  let fence = null;
+  let inComment = false;
+  return String(content).split(/(\r?\n)/).map((line) => {
+    if (/^\r?\n$/.test(line)) return line;
+    if (inComment) {
+      if (line.includes('-->')) inComment = false;
+      return line;
+    }
+    const commentStart = line.indexOf('<!--');
+    if (commentStart >= 0) {
+      if (line.indexOf('-->', commentStart + 4) < 0) inComment = true;
+      return line;
+    }
+    const marker = line.match(/^\s{0,3}(`{3,}|~{3,})/);
+    if (marker) {
+      const character = marker[1][0];
+      const length = marker[1].length;
+      if (fence === null) fence = { character, length };
+      else if (character === fence.character && length >= fence.length) fence = null;
+      return line;
+    }
+    if (fence !== null) return line;
+    return line
+      .replace(/^(\*\*Status:\*\*[ \t]*)(?:pending|in_progress|blocked|done)([ \t]*)$/, '$1<lifecycle-status>$2')
+      .replace(/^(\s*[-*+]\s+\[)[ xX](\])/, '$1 $2');
+  }).join('');
+}
+
+function computeSemanticDigest(specDir) {
+  const errors = [];
+  const canonicalSpecDir = validateSpecRoot(specDir, errors);
+  if (!canonicalSpecDir) return { errors, digest: null };
+  const specArtifact = inspectSpecArtifact(
+    specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'spec.json', 'spec.json', errors, { required: true },
+  );
+  const spec = specArtifact ? readJson(specArtifact.path, errors) : null;
+  const artifacts = [];
+  for (const relativePath of ['requirements.md', 'design.md']) {
+    const artifact = inspectSpecArtifact(
+      specDir, canonicalSpecDir, relativePath, relativePath, errors, { required: true },
+    );
+    if (artifact) artifacts.push([relativePath, fs.readFileSync(artifact.path)]);
+  }
+  const research = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'research.md', 'research.md', errors);
+  if (research) artifacts.push(['research.md', fs.readFileSync(research.path)]);
+  for (const taskFile of listTaskFiles(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, errors)) {
+    const artifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, taskFile, taskFile, errors, { required: true });
+    if (artifact) artifacts.push([taskFile, Buffer.from(semanticTaskMarkdown(fs.readFileSync(artifact.path, 'utf8')), 'utf8')]);
+  }
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec) || errors.length > 0) return { errors, digest: null };
+  const hash = crypto.createHash('sha256');
+  for (const [relativePath, bytes] of artifacts) {
+    hash.update(relativePath, 'utf8');
+    hash.update('\0');
+    hash.update(String(bytes.length), 'utf8');
+    hash.update('\0');
+    hash.update(bytes);
+    hash.update('\0');
+  }
+  const state = Buffer.from(stableJson(semanticDigestState(spec)), 'utf8');
+  hash.update('spec.json#semantic-state\0', 'utf8');
+  hash.update(String(state.length), 'utf8');
+  hash.update('\0');
+  hash.update(state);
+  return { errors, digest: `sha256:${hash.digest('hex')}` };
+}
+
+function designSemanticReviewIds(designText) {
+  return new Set([...semanticMarkdown(designText).matchAll(/^#{3,6}\s+([DIC]\d+)\s+(?:—|-)\s+.+$/gim)]
+    .map((match) => match[1].toUpperCase()));
+}
+
+function concreteSemanticReviewText(value) {
+  return typeof value === 'string'
+    && value.trim() === value
+    && meaningfulObligationValue(value)
+    && !hasSpecPlaceholders(value);
+}
+
+function validateSemanticReview(specDir, spec, context, subCriteriaIds, designText, errors) {
+  const review = spec.validation?.semantic_review;
+  if (!isPlainObject(review)) {
+    if (!context.legacy) errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review: Specs v2 requires the canonical object');
+    return;
+  }
+  const fields = Object.keys(review).sort();
+  if (JSON.stringify(fields) !== JSON.stringify([...SEMANTIC_REVIEW_FIELDS].sort())) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review: fields must be exactly ${SEMANTIC_REVIEW_FIELDS.join(', ')}`);
+  }
+  if (!SEMANTIC_REVIEW_STATUSES.has(review.status)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.status: must be not-run or completed');
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(review.reviewed_criteria)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_criteria: must be an array');
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(review.counterexamples)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.counterexamples: must be an array');
+  }
+  if (review.status === 'not-run') {
+    if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: requires validation.semantic_review.status completed');
+    }
+    if (review.reviewed_artifact_digest !== null || review.reviewed_criteria?.length > 0
+      || review.counterexamples?.length > 0) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review: not-run state must keep receipt fields null or empty');
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!SHA256_RE.test(review.reviewed_artifact_digest || '')) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_artifact_digest: must be sha256:<64 lowercase hex>');
+  } else {
+    const computed = computeSemanticDigest(specDir);
+    if (computed.errors.length > 0) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_artifact_digest: cannot recompute (${computed.errors.join('; ')})`);
+    } else if (review.reviewed_artifact_digest !== computed.digest) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_artifact_digest: stale or does not match final artifacts and canonical state');
+    }
+  }
+  if (context.policy?.assurance_level === 'Strict' && SHA256_RE.test(review.reviewed_artifact_digest || '')) {
+    try {
+      const authority = require('../hooks/semantic-review-authority.cjs');
+      const canonicalSpecDir = fs.realpathSync(specDir);
+      let root = fs.realpathSync(process.cwd());
+      if (!isPathInside(root, canonicalSpecDir)) root = path.dirname(path.dirname(canonicalSpecDir));
+      const attestation = authority.verifyAttestation(
+        root,
+        path.join(canonicalSpecDir, 'spec.json'),
+        spec.feature_name,
+        review.reviewed_artifact_digest,
+      );
+      if (!attestation.ok) errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review: Strict assurance requires matching host-observed reviewer PASS attestation (${attestation.reason})`);
+    } catch (error) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review: Strict assurance attestation is unavailable (${error.message})`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const criteria = Array.isArray(review.reviewed_criteria) ? review.reviewed_criteria : [];
+  const criterionSet = new Set(criteria);
+  if (criterionSet.size !== criteria.length) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_criteria: must not contain duplicates');
+  }
+  for (const criterion of criteria) {
+    if (!subCriteriaIds.includes(criterion)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_criteria: unknown criterion ${String(criterion)}`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const criterion of subCriteriaIds) {
+    if (!criterionSet.has(criterion)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_criteria: missing criterion ${criterion}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const designIds = designSemanticReviewIds(designText);
+  const coveredCriteria = new Set();
+  for (const [index, counterexample] of (Array.isArray(review.counterexamples) ? review.counterexamples : []).entries()) {
+    const label = `spec.json.validation.semantic_review.counterexamples[${index}]`;
+    const expectedFields = ['criterion', 'scenario', 'expected', 'design_reference'];
+    if (!isPlainObject(counterexample)
+      || JSON.stringify(Object.keys(counterexample).sort()) !== JSON.stringify(expectedFields.sort())) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: must contain exactly criterion, scenario, expected, design_reference`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (!subCriteriaIds.includes(counterexample.criterion)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.criterion: unknown criterion ${String(counterexample.criterion)}`);
+    } else if (coveredCriteria.has(counterexample.criterion)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.criterion: duplicate counterexample for ${counterexample.criterion}`);
+    } else {
+      coveredCriteria.add(counterexample.criterion);
+    }
+    for (const field of ['scenario', 'expected']) {
+      if (!concreteSemanticReviewText(counterexample[field])) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.${field}: must be concrete and non-placeholder`);
+      }
+    }
+    if (typeof counterexample.design_reference !== 'string'
+      || !designIds.has(counterexample.design_reference.toUpperCase())) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.design_reference: must reference a real D/I/C ID in design.md`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const criterionId of subCriteriaIds) {
+    if (!coveredCriteria.has(criterionId)) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review.counterexamples: missing concrete counterexample for ${criterionId}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function exactTaskTarget(value) {
+  return typeof value === 'string' && value.trim() === value && value !== ''
+    && !unsafeRelatedPath(value) && !/[*?{}[\]]/.test(value) && !/[\\/]$/.test(value);
+}
+
+function targetsContend(left, right) {
+  const a = left.replace(/\\/g, '/').replace(/\/+$/, '');
+  const b = right.replace(/\\/g, '/').replace(/\/+$/, '');
+  return a === b || a.startsWith(`${b}/`) || b.startsWith(`${a}/`);
+}
+
+function task21Anchors(taskPath, content, errors) {
+  const section = extractSection(content, 'Anchors and Ownership') || '';
+  const tableCount = (section.match(/^\s*\|\s*ID\s*\|\s*Type\s*\|\s*Target\s*\|\s*Role\s*\|\s*Access\s*\|\s*Action\s*\|\s*$/gim) || []).length;
+  if (tableCount !== 1) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Anchors and Ownership requires one table ID | Type | Target | Role | Access | Action`);
+    return [];
+  }
+  if (hasHeading(content, 'Related Files')) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Related Files is not canonical in schema 2.1; use Anchors and Ownership only`);
+  }
+  return parseCanonicalAnchors(content, { label: taskPath, design: false }, errors);
+}
+
+function canonicalTaskCriterionIds(section) {
+  return [...new Set([...String(section || '').matchAll(/^\s*[-*+]\s+(?:\*\*)?(R\d+\.\d+)(?:\*\*)?\s*:/gim)]
+    .map((match) => match[1].toUpperCase()))].sort();
+}
+
+function canonicalTaskChangeIds(section) {
+  const ids = [];
+  for (const match of String(section || '').matchAll(/_Requirements:\s*([^_\n]+)_/gi)) {
+    for (const token of match[1].split(',')) {
+      const id = token.trim().match(/^(?:R)?(\d+\.\d+)$/i);
+      if (id) ids.push(`R${id[1]}`);
+    }
+  }
+  return [...new Set(ids)].sort();
+}
+
+function hasConcreteTaskProse(section) {
+  return meaningfulMarkdownLines(section).some((line) => (
+    line.length >= 16
+    && !/^(?:implement|update|handle|verify|deliver|support|works?|done|task outcome|in scope|out of scope)\.?$/i.test(line)
+    && !/\b(?:as needed|appropriate behavior|expected behavior|the feature|this task|relevant files?)\b/i.test(line)
+  ));
+}
+
+function validateTask21(taskPath, content, entry, errors) {
+  for (const section of TASK_21_SECTIONS) {
+    if (headingCount(content, section) !== 1) errors.push(`${taskPath}: requires exactly one ## ${section} section`);
+  }
+  const h2 = [...content.matchAll(/^##\s+(.+?)\s*$/gm)].map((match) => match[1]);
+  for (const heading of h2) if (!TASK_21_SECTIONS.includes(heading)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: schema 2.1 task has non-canonical section ## ${heading}`);
+  }
+  validateTaskIdentity(taskPath, content, entry, errors);
+  validateTaskDependencyHeader(taskPath, content, entry, true, errors);
+  validateTaskStatusHeader(taskPath, content, entry, true, errors);
+  validateVerificationPlan(taskPath, content, errors);
+  validateTaskPlaceholders(taskPath, content, errors, []);
+  const outcome = extractSection(content, 'Outcome') || '';
+  const scope = extractSection(content, 'Scope') || '';
+  const changes = extractSection(content, 'Changes') || '';
+  const acceptance = extractSection(content, 'Acceptance') || '';
+  if (!hasConcreteTaskProse(outcome)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Outcome must be concrete and non-generic`);
+  if (!hasConcreteTaskProse(scope)
+    || !/^\s*[-*+]\s+(?:\*\*)?In scope(?:\*\*)?\s*:/im.test(scope)
+    || !/^\s*[-*+]\s+(?:\*\*)?Out of scope(?:\*\*)?\s*:/im.test(scope)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Scope requires concrete In scope and Out of scope boundaries`);
+  }
+  if (!hasActionableTaskStep(changes)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Changes requires an actionable checkbox`);
+  const changeCriteria = canonicalTaskChangeIds(changes);
+  const acceptanceCriteria = canonicalTaskCriterionIds(acceptance);
+  const rawChangeCriteria = [...changes.matchAll(/_Requirements:\s*([^_\n]+)_/gi)]
+    .flatMap((match) => match[1].split(','))
+    .map((token) => token.trim().replace(/^R/i, ''))
+    .filter((token) => /^\d+\.\d+$/.test(token));
+  const rawAcceptanceCriteria = [...acceptance.matchAll(/^\s*[-*+]\s+(?:\*\*)?(R\d+\.\d+)(?:\*\*)?\s*:/gim)]
+    .map((match) => match[1].toUpperCase());
+  if (new Set(rawChangeCriteria).size !== rawChangeCriteria.length) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Changes contains duplicate RN.M authority`);
+  if (new Set(rawAcceptanceCriteria).size !== rawAcceptanceCriteria.length) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Acceptance contains duplicate RN.M authority`);
+  if (!hasConcreteTaskProse(acceptance)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Acceptance must declare a concrete implementation or verification outcome`);
+  if (JSON.stringify(changeCriteria) !== JSON.stringify(acceptanceCriteria)) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Changes and Acceptance must trace the same exact RN.M criteria`);
+  }
+  const verificationRefs = sectionFieldValues(extractSection(content, 'Verification Plan') || '', ['Verification ref'])
+    .map((value) => String(value).toUpperCase().match(/\bV\d+(?:\.\d+)?\b/)?.[0])
+    .filter(Boolean);
+  if (verificationRefs.length !== 1 || !/^V\d+(?:\.\d+)?$/.test(verificationRefs[0])) {
+    errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan requires exactly one canonical V reference`);
+  }
+  const taskRoles = sectionFieldValues(extractSection(content, 'Verification Plan') || '', ['Task role'])
+    .map((value) => String(value).toLowerCase().match(/\b(subject|verifier)\b/)?.[1])
+    .filter(Boolean);
+  if (taskRoles.length !== 1) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification Plan requires exactly one Task role: subject or verifier`);
+  return {
+    anchors: task21Anchors(taskPath, content, errors),
+    criteria: acceptanceCriteria,
+    verificationRefs,
+    taskRole: taskRoles[0] || null,
+  };
+}
+
+function semanticDigest21(specDir, spec, taskFiles) {
+  const policy = spec.workflow_policy;
+  const semanticState = {
+    schema_version: spec.schema_version,
+    feature_name: spec.feature_name,
+    scope_lock: spec.scope_lock,
+    authoring: spec.authoring,
+    research: spec.research ?? null,
+    workflow_policy: policy,
+    coordination: spec.coordination,
+    semantic_model: spec.semantic_model,
+    task_files: spec.task_files,
+    task_registry: Object.fromEntries(taskFiles.map((taskPath) => {
+      const entry = spec.task_registry?.[taskPath] || {};
+      return [taskPath, { id: entry.id, title: entry.title, dependencies: entry.dependencies, artifacts: entry.artifacts }];
+    })),
+  };
+  const artifacts = {
+    state: semanticState,
+    requirements: fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, 'requirements.md'), 'utf8'),
+    design: fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, 'design.md'), 'utf8'),
+    research: spec.research === 'research.md' && fs.existsSync(path.join(specDir, 'research.md'))
+      ? fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, 'research.md'), 'utf8') : null,
+    tasks: taskFiles.map((taskPath) => [taskPath, semanticTaskMarkdown(fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, taskPath), 'utf8'))]),
+  };
+  return `sha256:${crypto.createHash('sha256').update(stableJson(artifacts)).digest('hex')}`;
+}
+
+function computeSemanticDigest21(specDir, spec) {
+  const errors = [];
+  const canonicalSpecDir = validateSpecRoot(specDir, errors);
+  if (!canonicalSpecDir) return { errors, digest: null };
+  if (spec === undefined) {
+    const specArtifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'spec.json', 'spec.json', errors, { required: true });
+    if (specArtifact) spec = readJson(specArtifact.path, errors);
+  }
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec)) {
+    if (errors.length === 0) errors.push('spec.json: must contain a JSON object');
+    return { errors, digest: null };
+  }
+  const requiredArtifacts = ['requirements.md', 'design.md'];
+  const contents = new Map();
+  for (const relativePath of requiredArtifacts) {
+    const artifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, relativePath, relativePath, errors, { required: true });
+    if (artifact) contents.set(relativePath, fs.readFileSync(artifact.path, 'utf8'));
+  }
+  const taskFiles = listTaskFiles(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, errors);
+  const projection = SEMANTIC.modelFromMarkdown(canonicalSpecDir, spec);
+  errors.push(...projection.errors.map((error) => `semantic projection: ${error}`));
+  let digestSpec = spec;
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec.semantic_model)) {
+    digestSpec = { ...spec, semantic_model: projection.model };
+  } else {
+    errors.push(...SEMANTIC.validateSemanticModel(spec.semantic_model, spec));
+    if (SEMANTIC.stableJson(spec.semantic_model) !== SEMANTIC.stableJson(projection.model)) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.semantic_model: digest refuses Markdown projection drift');
+    }
+  }
+  const verificationDefinitions = new Map(((spec.semantic_model || projection.model).verification_definitions || [])
+    .map((definition) => [definition.id, definition]));
+  const declared = Array.isArray(spec.task_files) ? [...spec.task_files].sort() : [];
+  if (taskFiles.length === 0) {
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'task_files') || Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'task_registry')) {
+      errors.push('schema 2.1 digest refuses task inventory without physical tasks');
+    }
+  } else {
+    if (JSON.stringify(declared) !== JSON.stringify(taskFiles)) errors.push('schema 2.1 digest requires task_files to match physical tasks exactly');
+    if (!isPlainObject(spec.task_registry) || Object.keys(spec.task_registry).sort().join(',') !== taskFiles.join(',')) {
+      errors.push('schema 2.1 digest requires task_registry to match physical tasks exactly');
+    }
+  }
+  validateResearchLifecycle21(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, spec, errors);
+  const anchorsByTask = new Map();
+  const criteriaByTask = new Map();
+  for (const taskPath of taskFiles) {
+    const artifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, taskPath, taskPath, errors, { required: true });
+    if (!artifact) continue;
+    const content = fs.readFileSync(artifact.path, 'utf8');
+    for (const section of TASK_21_SECTIONS) if (headingCount(content, section) !== 1) {
+      errors.push(`${taskPath}: digest requires exactly one ## ${section} section`);
+    }
+    validateTaskIdentity(taskPath, content, spec.task_registry?.[taskPath], errors);
+    anchorsByTask.set(taskPath, task21Anchors(taskPath, content, errors));
+    criteriaByTask.set(taskPath, canonicalTaskCriterionIds(extractSection(content, 'Acceptance') || ''));
+  }
+  if (contents.has('design.md')) {
+    validateBoundaries21(
+      spec, taskFiles, spec.task_registry || {}, anchorsByTask, criteriaByTask,
+      contents.get('design.md'), verificationDefinitions, errors,
+    );
+  }
+  if (errors.length > 0) return { errors, digest: null };
+  return { errors, digest: semanticDigest21(specDir, digestSpec, taskFiles) };
+}
+
+function validateSemanticReview21(specDir, spec, criteria, designIds, verificationDefs, errors) {
+  const review = spec.validation?.semantic_review;
+  const fields = ['status', 'semantic_digest', 'reviewed_criteria', 'counterexamples'];
+  if (!isPlainObject(review) || Object.keys(review).sort().join(',') !== fields.sort().join(',')) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review: schema 2.1 fields must be exactly ${fields.join(', ')}`);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!['not-run', 'completed'].includes(review.status)) errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.status: must be not-run or completed');
+  if (review.status === 'not-run') {
+    if (review.semantic_digest !== null || review.reviewed_criteria?.length || review.counterexamples?.length) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review: not-run receipt must be empty');
+    }
+    if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true) errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: requires completed semantic review');
+    return;
+  }
+  const computed = computeSemanticDigest21(specDir, spec);
+  if (computed.errors.length > 0) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review.semantic_digest: cannot recompute malformed physical topology (${computed.errors.join('; ')})`);
+  } else if (review.semantic_digest !== computed.digest) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.semantic_digest: stale for current authoring, policy, topology, or research');
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(review.reviewed_criteria) || new Set(review.reviewed_criteria).size !== review.reviewed_criteria.length) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.reviewed_criteria: must be a unique array');
+  } else {
+    for (const criterion of criteria) if (!review.reviewed_criteria.includes(criterion)) errors.push(`semantic review missing criterion ${criterion}`);
+    for (const criterion of review.reviewed_criteria) if (!criteria.includes(criterion)) errors.push(`semantic review has unknown criterion ${criterion}`);
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(review.counterexamples)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation.semantic_review.counterexamples: must be an array');
+    return;
+  }
+  const fingerprints = new Map();
+  const covered = new Set();
+  for (const [index, counterexample] of review.counterexamples.entries()) {
+    const label = `semantic_review.counterexamples[${index}]`;
+    const expected = ['criterion', 'case_kind', 'scenario', 'expected', 'decision_refs', 'verification_ref'];
+    if (!isPlainObject(counterexample) || Object.keys(counterexample).sort().join(',') !== expected.sort().join(',')) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: fields must be exactly ${expected.join(', ')}`);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (!criteria.includes(counterexample.criterion)) errors.push(`${label}.criterion: unknown criterion ${counterexample.criterion}`);
+    if (covered.has(counterexample.criterion)) errors.push(`${label}.criterion: duplicate counterexample for ${counterexample.criterion}`);
+    covered.add(counterexample.criterion);
+    if (!['negative', 'boundary', 'failure', 'recovery', 'adversarial'].includes(counterexample.case_kind)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.case_kind: must name a concrete semantic case kind`);
+    }
+    for (const field of ['scenario', 'expected']) {
+      const value = counterexample[field];
+      if (!concreteSemanticReviewText(value) || /^(?:works?|fails?|handles? (?:it|error)|correct behavior|expected behavior)$/i.test(String(value).trim())) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.${field}: obvious placeholder or generic boilerplate; structural checks do not replace semantic judgment`);
+      }
+    }
+    const fingerprint = [counterexample.case_kind, counterexample.scenario, counterexample.expected]
+      .map((value) => String(value).toLowerCase().replace(/\bR\d+(?:\.\d+)?\b/gi, '').replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, ' ').trim()).join('|');
+    if (fingerprints.has(fingerprint)) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: normalized duplicate counterexample fingerprint also used by ${fingerprints.get(fingerprint)}; structural checks do not replace semantic judgment`);
+    } else fingerprints.set(fingerprint, counterexample.criterion);
+    if (!Array.isArray(counterexample.decision_refs) || counterexample.decision_refs.length === 0) {
+      errors.push(`${label}.decision_refs: requires at least one D/I/C ref`);
+    } else for (const ref of counterexample.decision_refs) {
+      if (!/^[DIC]\d+(?:\.\d+)?$/i.test(ref) || !designIds.has(ref.toUpperCase())) errors.push(`${label}.decision_refs: ${ref} does not exist in design.md`);
+    }
+    const verificationRef = String(counterexample.verification_ref || '').toUpperCase();
+    const definition = verificationDefs.get(verificationRef);
+    if (!definition) errors.push(`${label}.verification_ref: ${verificationRef || '(empty)'} has no V definition in design.md`);
+    else {
+      const definitionCriteria = [...definition.subject_criteria, ...definition.proof_criteria];
+      if (!definitionCriteria.includes(counterexample.criterion)) errors.push(`${label}.verification_ref: ${verificationRef} does not trace criterion ${counterexample.criterion}`);
+      for (const ref of counterexample.decision_refs || []) {
+        if (!definition.decision_refs.includes(ref.toUpperCase())) errors.push(`${label}.verification_ref: ${verificationRef} does not trace decision ${ref}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  for (const criterion of criteria) if (!covered.has(criterion)) errors.push(`semantic review counterexamples missing criterion ${criterion}`);
+  if (spec.workflow_policy?.assurance_level === 'Strict' && SHA256_RE.test(review.semantic_digest || '')) {
+    try {
+      const authority = require('../hooks/semantic-review-authority.cjs');
+      const root = canonicalProjectRoot(specDir);
+      const attestation = authority.verifyAttestation(root, path.join(specDir, 'spec.json'), spec.feature_name, review.semantic_digest);
+      if (!attestation.ok) errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review: Strict readiness requires matching allowlisted host-observed reviewer PASS attestation (${attestation.reason})`);
+    } catch (error) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.validation.semantic_review: Strict readiness attestation is unavailable (${error.message})`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function validateDecisionState21(spec, errors) {
+  if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'decisions')) return;
+  if (!Array.isArray(spec.decisions) || spec.decisions.length === 0) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.decisions: omit when no decisions exist; otherwise use a non-empty array');
+    return;
+  }
+  const ids = new Set();
+  for (const [index, decision] of spec.decisions.entries()) {
+    const label = `spec.json.decisions[${index}]`;
+    const fields = ['id', 'classification', 'statement', 'status', 'evidence'];
+    if (!isPlainObject(decision) || Object.keys(decision).sort().join(',') !== fields.sort().join(',')) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: fields must be exactly ${fields.join(', ')}`); continue;
+    }
+    if (!/^Q\d+$/.test(decision.id) || ids.has(decision.id)) errors.push(`${label}.id: must be a unique Qn id`);
+    ids.add(decision.id);
+    if (!concreteSemanticReviewText(decision.statement)) errors.push(`${label}.statement: must be concrete`);
+    if (decision.classification === 'repository_fact') {
+      if (decision.status !== 'grounded' || !concreteSemanticReviewText(decision.evidence)) errors.push(`${label}: repository_fact requires grounded status and repository evidence`);
+    } else if (decision.classification === 'reversible_assumption') {
+      if (decision.status !== 'recorded' || !concreteSemanticReviewText(decision.evidence)) errors.push(`${label}: reversible_assumption requires recorded status and a bounded reversal boundary`);
+    } else if (decision.classification === 'user_owned') {
+      if (!['unresolved', 'resolved'].includes(decision.status)) errors.push(`${label}.status: user_owned must be unresolved or resolved`);
+      if (decision.status === 'unresolved' && decision.evidence !== null) errors.push(`${label}.evidence: unresolved user_owned decision must be null`);
+      if (decision.status === 'resolved' && !concreteSemanticReviewText(decision.evidence)) errors.push(`${label}.evidence: resolved user_owned decision requires the user resolution`);
+      if (decision.status === 'unresolved' && spec.ready_for_implementation === true) errors.push(`${label}: unresolved material user-owned decision blocks readiness`);
+    } else errors.push(`${label}.classification: must be repository_fact, reversible_assumption, or user_owned`);
+  }
+}
+
+function canonicalDesignDefinitions(designText, kind, errors) {
+  const definitions = new Map();
+  const semantic = semanticMarkdown(designText);
+  const heading = new RegExp(`^#{3,6}\\s+(${kind}\\d+(?:\\.\\d+)?)\\s+(?:—|-)\\s+(.+)$`, 'gim');
+  const matches = [...semantic.matchAll(heading)];
+  for (const [index, match] of matches.entries()) {
+    const nextHeading = semantic.slice(match.index + match[0].length).search(/^#{1,6}\s+/m);
+    const end = nextHeading < 0 ? semantic.length : match.index + match[0].length + nextHeading;
+    const definition = semantic.slice(match.index + match[0].length, end).trim();
+    const id = match[1].toUpperCase();
+    if (definitions.has(id)) errors.push(`design.md: duplicate canonical ${kind} definition ${id}`);
+    else definitions.set(id, definition);
+  }
+  const bullet = new RegExp(`^\\s*(?:[-*]\\s*)?\\*\\*(${kind}\\d+(?:\\.\\d+)?)\\*\\*\\s*[:—-]\\s*(.+)$`, 'gim');
+  for (const match of semantic.matchAll(bullet)) {
+    const id = match[1].toUpperCase();
+    if (definitions.has(id)) errors.push(`design.md: duplicate canonical ${kind} definition ${id}`);
+    else definitions.set(id, match[2].trim());
+  }
+  return definitions;
+}
+
+function boundaryParticipants(boundary) {
+  if (boundary.type === 'ownership' || boundary.type === 'parallel') return boundary.tasks || [];
+  if (boundary.type === 'dependency') return [boundary.producer, boundary.consumer];
+  if (boundary.type === 'transition') return [boundary.owner, ...(boundary.consumers || [])];
+  if (boundary.type === 'proof') return [boundary.subject, boundary.verifier];
+  return [];
+}
+
+function validateTaskCriterionGraph(
+  taskFiles, registry, criteriaByTask, verificationRefsByTask, taskRolesByTask,
+  knownCriteria, boundaries, verificationDefinitions, errors,
+) {
+  if (taskFiles.length === 0) return;
+  const owners = new Map(knownCriteria.map((criterion) => [criterion, []]));
+  for (const taskPath of taskFiles) {
+    for (const criterion of criteriaByTask.get(taskPath) || []) {
+      if (!owners.has(criterion)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: Acceptance references unknown criterion ${criterion}`);
+      else owners.get(criterion).push(registry[taskPath]?.id);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const [criterion, taskIds] of owners) {
+    if (taskIds.length === 0) errors.push(`requirements.md:${criterion}: acceptance criterion not covered by any task`);
+    if (taskIds.length > 1) errors.push(`requirements.md:${criterion}: requires exactly one implementation owner; claimed by ${taskIds.join(', ')}`);
+  }
+  for (const taskPath of taskFiles) {
+    for (const verificationRef of verificationRefsByTask.get(taskPath) || []) {
+      const definition = verificationDefinitions.get(verificationRef);
+      if (!definition) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification ref ${verificationRef} has no concrete canonical V definition`);
+        continue;
+      }
+      const definitionCriteria = [...definition.subject_criteria, ...definition.proof_criteria];
+      for (const criterion of criteriaByTask.get(taskPath) || []) if (!definitionCriteria.includes(criterion)) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: Verification ref ${verificationRef} does not trace owned criterion ${criterion}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  for (const boundary of (boundaries || []).filter((item) => item?.type === 'proof')) {
+    const subjectPath = taskFiles.find((candidate) => registry[candidate]?.id === boundary.subject);
+    const verifierPath = taskFiles.find((candidate) => registry[candidate]?.id === boundary.verifier);
+    const subjectCriteria = criteriaByTask.get(subjectPath) || [];
+    const verifierCriteria = criteriaByTask.get(verifierPath) || [];
+    if (taskRolesByTask.get(subjectPath) !== 'subject') errors.push(`${subjectPath || boundary.subject}: proof subject must declare Task role subject`);
+    if (taskRolesByTask.get(verifierPath) !== 'verifier') errors.push(`${verifierPath || boundary.verifier}: proof verifier must declare Task role verifier`);
+    if (subjectCriteria.length === 0) errors.push(`${subjectPath || boundary.subject}: proof subject requires at least one implementation criterion`);
+    if (verifierCriteria.length === 0) errors.push(`${verifierPath || boundary.verifier}: proof verifier requires a separately owned proof criterion`);
+    for (const criterion of verifierCriteria) if (subjectCriteria.includes(criterion)) {
+      errors.push(`${verifierPath || boundary.verifier}: proof verifier criterion ${criterion} duplicates subject implementation ownership`);
+    }
+    const definition = verificationDefinitions.get(String(boundary.verification_ref).toUpperCase());
+    const definitionCriteria = definition ? [...definition.subject_criteria, ...definition.proof_criteria] : [];
+    for (const criterion of [...subjectCriteria, ...verifierCriteria]) if (definition && !definitionCriteria.includes(criterion)) {
+      errors.push(`${boundary.id}: shared V definition must trace subject and verifier criterion ${criterion}`);
+    }
+    for (const taskId of [boundary.subject, boundary.verifier]) {
+      const taskPath = taskFiles.find((candidate) => registry[candidate]?.id === taskId);
+      if (taskPath && !(verificationRefsByTask.get(taskPath) || []).includes(String(boundary.verification_ref).toUpperCase())) {
+        errors.push(`${taskPath}: proof boundary ${boundary.id} must match task Verification ref ${boundary.verification_ref}`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function validateBoundaries21(spec, taskFiles, registry, anchorsByTask, criteriaByTask, designText, verificationDefinitions, errors) {
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec.coordination) || !Array.isArray(spec.coordination.boundaries)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.coordination.boundaries: must be an array');
+    return;
+  }
+  const allowedCoordination = new Set(['boundaries', 'phases']);
+  for (const key of Object.keys(spec.coordination)) if (!allowedCoordination.has(key)) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.${key}: marker/task trigger authority is not canonical in schema 2.1`);
+  }
+  if (taskFiles.length > 0 && spec.coordination.boundaries.length === 0) {
+    errors.push('physical task bundle requires at least one typed coordination boundary with semantic evidence');
+  }
+  const pathById = new Map(taskFiles.map((taskPath) => [registry[taskPath]?.id, taskPath]));
+  const taskIds = new Set(pathById.keys());
+  const boundaryIds = new Set();
+  const boundaryById = new Map();
+  const dependencyEdges = [];
+  const authorityByTask = new Map(taskFiles.map((taskPath) => [registry[taskPath]?.id, new Set()]));
+  const transitionDefinitions = canonicalDesignDefinitions(designText, 'T', errors);
+  const taskList = (value, label, minimum = 1) => {
+    if (!Array.isArray(value) || value.length < minimum || new Set(value).size !== value.length) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: must contain at least ${minimum} unique task id(s)`);
+      return [];
+    }
+    for (const taskId of value) if (!taskIds.has(taskId)) errors.push(`${label}: unknown task ${taskId}`);
+    return value;
+  };
+  const validateTargetMap = (value, tasks, label) => {
+    if (!isPlainObject(value) || Object.keys(value).sort().join(',') !== [...tasks].sort().join(',')) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: must be keyed exactly by boundary tasks`); return;
+    }
+    for (const taskId of tasks) {
+      if (!Array.isArray(value[taskId]) || value[taskId].length === 0 || new Set(value[taskId]).size !== value[taskId].length) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.${taskId}: must be a non-empty array of unique exact targets`);
+        continue;
+      }
+      for (const target of value[taskId]) if (!exactTaskTarget(target)) errors.push(`${label}.${taskId}: ${target} is not an exact target`);
+    }
+    for (let left = 0; left < tasks.length; left += 1) for (let right = left + 1; right < tasks.length; right += 1) {
+      for (const a of value[tasks[left]] || []) for (const b of value[tasks[right]] || []) {
+        if (targetsContend(a, b)) errors.push(`${label}: parent/child or exact resource contention ${a} vs ${b}`);
+      }
+    }
+  };
+  for (const [index, boundary] of spec.coordination.boundaries.entries()) {
+    const label = `spec.json.coordination.boundaries[${index}]`;
+    const fields = BOUNDARY_21_FIELDS[boundary?.type];
+    if (!fields || !isPlainObject(boundary) || Object.keys(boundary).sort().join(',') !== [...(fields || [])].sort().join(',')) {
+      errors.push(`${label}: malformed typed boundary`); continue;
+    }
+    if (boundaryIds.has(boundary.id)) errors.push(`${label}: duplicate boundary ID ${boundary.id}`);
+    boundaryIds.add(boundary.id);
+    boundaryById.set(boundary.id, boundary);
+    if (boundary.type === 'ownership') {
+      const tasks = taskList(boundary.tasks, `${label}.tasks`, 2);
+      validateTargetMap(boundary.write_sets, tasks, `${label}.write_sets`);
+      for (const taskId of tasks) {
+        const taskWrites = new Set((anchorsByTask.get(pathById.get(taskId)) || []).filter((anchor) => anchor.access === 'write').map((anchor) => anchor.target));
+        const declaredWrites = new Set(boundary.write_sets?.[taskId] || []);
+        for (const target of boundary.write_sets?.[taskId] || []) if (!taskWrites.has(target)) errors.push(`${label}.write_sets.${taskId}: ${target} lacks exact task write anchor`);
+        for (const target of taskWrites) if (!declaredWrites.has(target)) errors.push(`${label}.write_sets.${taskId}: missing exact task write target ${target}`);
+      }
+    } else if (boundary.type === 'dependency') {
+      taskList([boundary.producer, boundary.consumer], label, 2);
+      if (boundary.producer === boundary.consumer) errors.push(`${label}: producer and consumer must differ`);
+      if (!exactTaskTarget(boundary.deliverable)) errors.push(`${label}.deliverable: missing exact deliverable`);
+      dependencyEdges.push([boundary.producer, boundary.consumer, boundary.deliverable]);
+      const producerPath = pathById.get(boundary.producer);
+      const consumerPath = pathById.get(boundary.consumer);
+      const producerAnchors = anchorsByTask.get(producerPath) || [];
+      const consumerAnchors = anchorsByTask.get(consumerPath) || [];
+      if (!producerAnchors.some((anchor) => anchor.target === boundary.deliverable && anchor.access === 'write')) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.deliverable: producer ${boundary.producer} must own an exact write anchor for ${boundary.deliverable}`);
+      }
+      if (!consumerAnchors.some((anchor) => anchor.target === boundary.deliverable && anchor.access === 'read')) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.deliverable: consumer ${boundary.consumer} must own an exact read anchor for ${boundary.deliverable}`);
+      }
+      if (!registry[consumerPath]?.dependencies?.includes(producerPath)) errors.push(`${label}: dependency boundary must bind the registry DAG edge`);
+    } else if (boundary.type === 'transition') {
+      taskList([boundary.owner], `${label}.owner`);
+      taskList(boundary.consumers, `${label}.consumers`);
+      if (boundary.consumers.includes(boundary.owner)) errors.push(`${label}.consumers: transition owner cannot also be its consumer`);
+      const transitionDefinition = transitionDefinitions.get(String(boundary.design_ref).toUpperCase());
+      if (!transitionDefinition || !concreteSemanticReviewText(transitionDefinition)) errors.push(`${label}.design_ref: missing canonical design T definition`);
+      for (const field of ['precondition', 'postcondition', 'failure', 'recovery']) if (!concreteSemanticReviewText(boundary[field])) errors.push(`${label}.${field}: missing concrete transition definition`);
+      for (const taskId of [boundary.owner, ...boundary.consumers]) authorityByTask.get(taskId)?.add(boundary.id);
+    } else if (boundary.type === 'proof') {
+      taskList([boundary.subject, boundary.verifier], label, 2);
+      if (boundary.subject === boundary.verifier) errors.push(`${label}: proof subject must differ from verifier`);
+      const verificationDefinition = verificationDefinitions.get(String(boundary.verification_ref).toUpperCase());
+      if (!verificationDefinition) errors.push(`${label}.verification_ref: missing canonical V definition`);
+      else {
+        if (verificationDefinition.subject_owner !== boundary.subject) errors.push(`${label}.subject: must match semantic V subject_owner`);
+        if (verificationDefinition.proof_owner !== boundary.verifier) errors.push(`${label}.verifier: must match semantic V proof_owner`);
+        if (verificationDefinition.evidence_anchor !== boundary.artifact_anchor) errors.push(`${label}.artifact_anchor: must match semantic V evidence_anchor`);
+      }
+      const verifierPath = pathById.get(boundary.verifier);
+      const proofAnchor = (anchorsByTask.get(verifierPath) || []).find((anchor) => anchor.id === boundary.artifact_anchor);
+      const observableProofAnchor = proofAnchor?.role === 'verifier' && (
+        (proofAnchor.type === 'command' && proofAnchor.access === 'read' && proofAnchor.action === 'read')
+        || (proofAnchor.type === 'artifact' && proofAnchor.access === 'write' && ['create', 'modify'].includes(proofAnchor.action))
+      );
+      if (!observableProofAnchor) errors.push(`${label}.artifact_anchor: must be owned by verifier ${boundary.verifier} as an observable command or output artifact anchor; a source write is not proof`);
+      const subjectPath = pathById.get(boundary.subject);
+      const subjectCriteria = criteriaByTask.get(subjectPath) || [];
+      const definitionCriteria = verificationDefinition
+        ? [...verificationDefinition.subject_criteria, ...verificationDefinition.proof_criteria] : [];
+      if (verificationDefinition && !subjectCriteria.some((criterion) => definitionCriteria.includes(criterion))) {
+        errors.push(`${label}.verification_ref: canonical V definition must trace a criterion owned by proof subject ${boundary.subject}`);
+      }
+      authorityByTask.get(boundary.subject)?.add(boundary.id);
+      authorityByTask.get(boundary.verifier)?.add(boundary.id);
+    } else if (boundary.type === 'parallel') {
+      const tasks = taskList(boundary.tasks, `${label}.tasks`, 2);
+      validateTargetMap(boundary.resources, tasks, `${label}.resources`);
+      for (const taskId of tasks) {
+        const taskWrites = (anchorsByTask.get(pathById.get(taskId)) || []).filter((anchor) => anchor.access === 'write').map((anchor) => anchor.target);
+        const resources = [...(boundary.resources?.[taskId] || [])].sort();
+        if (JSON.stringify([...new Set(taskWrites)].sort()) !== JSON.stringify(resources)) {
+          errors.push(`${label}.resources.${taskId}: must exactly equal task write resources`);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  const participation = new Map([...taskIds].map((taskId) => [taskId, 0]));
+  for (const boundary of spec.coordination.boundaries) {
+    for (const taskId of new Set(boundaryParticipants(boundary))) if (participation.has(taskId)) {
+      participation.set(taskId, participation.get(taskId) + 1);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const [taskId, count] of participation) if (count === 0) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.boundaries: task ${taskId} must participate in at least one justified typed boundary`);
+  }
+  for (const taskPath of taskFiles) {
+    const expected = dependencyEdges.filter(([, consumer]) => consumer === registry[taskPath]?.id).map(([producer]) => pathById.get(producer)).sort();
+    if (JSON.stringify([...(registry[taskPath]?.dependencies || [])].sort()) !== JSON.stringify(expected)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: registry dependencies must be an exact projection of dependency boundaries`);
+  }
+  if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec.coordination, 'phases')) {
+    if (!Array.isArray(spec.coordination.phases) || spec.coordination.phases.length === 0) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.coordination.phases: must be a non-empty compact metadata array');
+    } else {
+      const phaseIds = new Set();
+      for (const [index, phase] of spec.coordination.phases.entries()) {
+        const label = `spec.json.coordination.phases[${index}]`;
+        const fields = ['id', 'task_ids', 'entry_condition', 'exit_condition', 'owner_boundary'];
+        if (!isPlainObject(phase) || Object.keys(phase).sort().join(',') !== fields.sort().join(',')) {
+          errors.push(`${label}: fields must be exactly ${fields.join(', ')}`); continue;
+        }
+        if (phaseIds.has(phase.id)) errors.push(`${label}: duplicate phase id ${phase.id}`);
+        phaseIds.add(phase.id);
+        taskList(phase.task_ids, `${label}.task_ids`);
+        const ownerBoundary = boundaryById.get(phase.owner_boundary);
+        if (!ownerBoundary) errors.push(`${label}.owner_boundary: unknown boundary ${phase.owner_boundary}`);
+        else {
+          const participants = [...new Set(boundaryParticipants(ownerBoundary))].sort();
+          const phaseTasks = [...new Set(phase.task_ids || [])].sort();
+          if (!['dependency', 'transition', 'proof'].includes(ownerBoundary.type)) {
+            errors.push(`${label}.owner_boundary: ${ownerBoundary.type} cannot own phase progression`);
+          }
+          if (JSON.stringify(participants) !== JSON.stringify(phaseTasks)) {
+            errors.push(`${label}.owner_boundary: participants must match phase task_ids exactly`);
+          }
+        }
+        for (const field of ['entry_condition', 'exit_condition']) if (!concreteSemanticReviewText(phase[field])) errors.push(`${label}.${field}: must be concrete`);
+      }
+      const phaseTasks = spec.coordination.phases.flatMap((phase) => Array.isArray(phase?.task_ids) ? phase.task_ids : []);
+      const counts = new Map([...taskIds].map((taskId) => [taskId, phaseTasks.filter((candidate) => candidate === taskId).length]));
+      for (const [taskId, count] of counts) if (count !== 1) {
+        errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.phases: task ${taskId} must appear in exactly one phase (found ${count})`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  const graph = new Map([...taskIds].map((taskId) => [taskId, []]));
+  for (const [producer, consumer] of dependencyEdges) graph.get(producer)?.push(consumer);
+  const visiting = new Set();
+  const visited = new Set();
+  const visit = (taskId, stack = []) => {
+    if (visiting.has(taskId)) {
+      const start = stack.indexOf(taskId);
+      errors.push(`spec.json.coordination.boundaries: dependency cycle ${stack.slice(start).concat(taskId).join(' -> ')}`);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (visited.has(taskId)) return;
+    visiting.add(taskId);
+    for (const next of graph.get(taskId) || []) visit(next, [...stack, taskId]);
+    visiting.delete(taskId);
+    visited.add(taskId);
+  };
+  for (const taskId of taskIds) visit(taskId);
+  const pathExists = (from, to, seen = new Set()) => {
+    if (from === to) return true;
+    if (seen.has(from)) return false;
+    seen.add(from);
+    return (graph.get(from) || []).some((next) => pathExists(next, to, seen));
+  };
+  for (const boundary of spec.coordination.boundaries.filter((item) => item.type === 'parallel')) {
+    for (let left = 0; left < boundary.tasks.length; left += 1) for (let right = left + 1; right < boundary.tasks.length; right += 1) {
+      const a = boundary.tasks[left]; const b = boundary.tasks[right];
+      if (pathExists(a, b) || pathExists(b, a)) errors.push(`${boundary.id}: parallel tasks have a dependency path`);
+      for (const authority of authorityByTask.get(a) || []) if (authorityByTask.get(b)?.has(authority)) errors.push(`${boundary.id}: parallel tasks share transition/proof authority ${authority}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function validateResearchLifecycle21(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, spec, errors) {
+  const state = spec.authoring?.research;
+  const hasPointer = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'research');
+  const artifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'research.md', 'research.md', errors);
+  if (state === 'absent') {
+    if (hasPointer) errors.push('spec.json.research: authoring.research absent requires no pointer');
+    if (artifact) errors.push('research.md: authoring.research absent requires no physical artifact');
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (state === 'draft' || state === 'validated') {
+    if (spec.research !== 'research.md') errors.push(`spec.json.research: authoring.research ${state} requires canonical pointer research.md`);
+    if (!artifact) errors.push(`research.md: authoring.research ${state} requires a physical regular file`);
+    else validateResearchArtifact21(artifact, canonicalSpecDir, errors);
+    return artifact;
+  }
+  return artifact;
+}
+
+function validateSpec21(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, spec, errors, warnings) {
+  const allowedFields = new Set([...SPEC_21_REQUIRED_FIELDS, ...SPEC_21_OPTIONAL_FIELDS]);
+  for (const field of SPEC_21_REQUIRED_FIELDS) if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, field)) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.${field}: required by closed schema 2.1 machine state`);
+  }
+  for (const field of Object.keys(spec)) if (!allowedFields.has(field)) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.${field}: unknown or legacy field is not canonical in closed schema 2.1`);
+  }
+  const policy = POLICY.validateWorkflowPolicySnapshot(spec.workflow_policy);
+  if (!policy.valid || spec.workflow_policy?.version !== SCHEMA_21) {
+    errors.push(...policy.errors.map((error) => `spec.json.${error}`));
+    if (spec.workflow_policy?.version !== SCHEMA_21) errors.push('spec.json.workflow_policy.version: schema 2.1 mutation requires policy 2.1');
+  }
+  const authoringFields = ['requirements', 'design', 'research', 'tasks'];
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec.authoring) || Object.keys(spec.authoring).sort().join(',') !== authoringFields.sort().join(',')) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.authoring: fields must be exactly ${authoringFields.join(', ')}`);
+  } else for (const [artifact, state] of Object.entries(spec.authoring)) {
+    if (!['draft', 'validated', 'absent'].includes(state)) errors.push(`spec.json.authoring.${artifact}: must be draft, validated, or absent`);
+  }
+  if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'approvals')) errors.push('spec.json.approvals: legacy approval semantics are inert and not canonical in schema 2.1');
+  const scopeFields = ['source', 'in_scope', 'out_of_scope', 'expansion_policy'];
+  if (isPlainObject(spec.scope_lock)
+    && Object.keys(spec.scope_lock).sort().join(',') !== [...scopeFields].sort().join(',')) {
+    errors.push(`spec.json.scope_lock: fields must be exactly ${scopeFields.join(', ')}`);
+  }
+  if (isPlainObject(spec.scope_lock)) {
+    if (typeof spec.scope_lock.source !== 'string' || spec.scope_lock.source.trim() === '') errors.push('spec.json.scope_lock.source: must be a non-empty string');
+    for (const field of ['in_scope', 'out_of_scope']) {
+      const values = spec.scope_lock[field];
+      if (!Array.isArray(values) || values.some((value) => typeof value !== 'string' || value.trim() !== value || value === '')
+        || new Set(values || []).size !== (values || []).length) {
+        errors.push(`spec.json.scope_lock.${field}: must be an array of unique non-empty trimmed strings`);
+      }
+    }
+    if (spec.scope_lock.expansion_policy !== 'requires-user-approval') errors.push('spec.json.scope_lock.expansion_policy: must be requires-user-approval');
+  }
+  if (isPlainObject(spec.validation)
+    && Object.keys(spec.validation).sort().join(',') !== 'semantic_review,status') {
+    errors.push('spec.json.validation: fields must be exactly status, semantic_review');
+  }
+  const taskFiles = listTaskFiles(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, errors);
+  validateCoreMachineState(spec, taskFiles, errors, { schema21: true });
+  validateDecisionState21(spec, errors);
+  validateResearchLifecycle21(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, spec, errors);
+  if (taskFiles.length === 0) {
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'task_files') || Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'task_registry')) errors.push('taskless schema 2.1 must omit task_files and task_registry');
+    if (spec.authoring?.tasks !== 'absent') errors.push('spec.json.authoring.tasks: taskless spec must be absent');
+  } else {
+    if (JSON.stringify([...(spec.task_files || [])].sort()) !== JSON.stringify(taskFiles)) errors.push('spec.json.task_files: must exactly match physical tasks');
+    if (!isPlainObject(spec.task_registry) || Object.keys(spec.task_registry).sort().join(',') !== taskFiles.join(',')) errors.push('spec.json.task_registry: must exactly match physical tasks');
+    if (!['draft', 'validated'].includes(spec.authoring?.tasks)) errors.push('spec.json.authoring.tasks: physical tasks require draft or validated');
+  }
+  const requirementsText = fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, 'requirements.md'), 'utf8');
+  const designText = fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, 'design.md'), 'utf8');
+  const projection = SEMANTIC.modelFromMarkdown(canonicalSpecDir, spec);
+  errors.push(...projection.errors.map((error) => `semantic projection: ${error}`));
+  if (!isPlainObject(spec.semantic_model)) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.semantic_model: schema 2.1 requires explicit promoted machine semantic authority');
+  } else {
+    errors.push(...SEMANTIC.validateSemanticModel(spec.semantic_model, spec));
+    if (SEMANTIC.stableJson(spec.semantic_model) !== SEMANTIC.stableJson(projection.model)) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.semantic_model: differs from Markdown projection; rerun spec-readiness with the current semantic review result');
+    }
+  }
+  const authorityModel = isPlainObject(spec.semantic_model) ? spec.semantic_model : projection.model;
+  const verificationDefinitions = new Map((authorityModel.verification_definitions || []).map((definition) => [definition.id, definition]));
+  const designIds = new Set(designSemanticReviewIds(designText));
+  for (const definition of verificationDefinitions.values()) for (const decisionRef of definition.decision_refs) {
+    if (!designIds.has(decisionRef)) errors.push(`spec.json.semantic_model.${definition.id}: decision ref ${decisionRef} does not exist in design.md`);
+  }
+  const designAnchors = (authorityModel.anchors || []).filter((anchor) => /^A-D-/.test(anchor.id)).map((anchor) => ({
+    ...anchor, label: 'design.md', design: true, schema21: true,
+  }));
+  validateRequirementInventory(requirementsText, errors);
+  const criteria = (authorityModel.criteria || []).map((criterion) => criterion.id);
+  const anchorsByTask = new Map();
+  const criteriaByTask = new Map();
+  const verificationRefsByTask = new Map();
+  const taskRolesByTask = new Map();
+  const taskContents = new Map();
+  for (const taskPath of taskFiles) {
+    const content = fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, taskPath), 'utf8');
+    const task = validateTask21(taskPath, content, spec.task_registry?.[taskPath], errors);
+    taskContents.set(taskPath, content);
+    anchorsByTask.set(taskPath, task.anchors);
+    criteriaByTask.set(taskPath, task.criteria);
+    verificationRefsByTask.set(taskPath, task.verificationRefs);
+    taskRolesByTask.set(taskPath, task.taskRole);
+  }
+  const anchorsById = new Map();
+  const designTargets = new Map(designAnchors.map((anchor) => [`${anchor.type}\0${anchor.target}`, anchor]));
+  for (const anchor of [...designAnchors, ...[...anchorsByTask.values()].flat()]) {
+    if (anchorsById.has(anchor.id)) errors.push(`${anchor.label}: duplicate anchor ID ${anchor.id}; first declared in ${anchorsById.get(anchor.id).label}`);
+    else anchorsById.set(anchor.id, anchor);
+    if (!anchor.design && designTargets.has(`${anchor.type}\0${anchor.target}`)) {
+      errors.push(`${anchor.label}: anchor ${anchor.id} duplicates canonical design target ${designTargets.get(`${anchor.type}\0${anchor.target}`).id}`);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const [taskPath, content] of taskContents) for (const reference of content.match(/\bA-D-\d{2}\b/g) || []) {
+    if (!anchorsById.has(reference)) errors.push(`${taskPath}: dangling canonical design anchor reference ${reference}`);
+  }
+  validateTaskCriterionGraph(
+    taskFiles,
+    spec.task_registry || {},
+    criteriaByTask,
+    verificationRefsByTask,
+    taskRolesByTask,
+    criteria,
+    spec.coordination?.boundaries,
+    verificationDefinitions,
+    errors,
+  );
+  validateBoundaries21(
+    spec, taskFiles, spec.task_registry || {}, anchorsByTask, criteriaByTask,
+    designText, verificationDefinitions, errors,
+  );
+  validateSemanticReview21(specDir, spec, criteria, designIds, verificationDefinitions, errors);
+  if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true) {
+    for (const artifact of ['requirements', 'design']) if (spec.authoring?.[artifact] !== 'validated') errors.push(`spec.json.authoring.${artifact}: readiness requires validated`);
+    if (taskFiles.length > 0 && spec.authoring?.tasks !== 'validated') errors.push('spec.json.authoring.tasks: readiness requires validated task projection');
+    if (spec.research === 'research.md' && spec.authoring?.research !== 'validated') errors.push('spec.json.authoring.research: explicit research readiness requires validated');
+    let projectRoot = null;
+    try { projectRoot = canonicalProjectRoot(canonicalSpecDir); } catch (error) {
+      errors.push(`spec.json.ready_for_implementation: canonical project root cannot be resolved (${error.message})`);
+    }
+    if (projectRoot) {
+      const grounding = groundSpec({ specDir: canonicalSpecDir, root: projectRoot, spec });
+      for (const error of grounding.errors) errors.push(`grounding: ${error}`);
+      for (const warning of grounding.warnings) warnings.push(`grounding: ${warning}`);
+    }
+    if (errors.length > 0) errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: cannot be true while schema 2.1 semantic errors exist');
+  }
+  warnings.push('schema 2.1 structural checks do not replace semantic judgment');
+}
+
+function validateSpec(specDir, overrideSpec) {
   const errors = [];
   const warnings = [];
   const canonicalSpecDir = validateSpecRoot(specDir, errors);
@@ -753,30 +3275,39 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
   const specJsonArtifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'spec.json', 'spec.json', errors, { required: true });
   if (!specJsonArtifact) return { errors, warnings };
 
-  const spec = readJson(specJsonArtifact.path, errors);
+  const spec = overrideSpec === undefined ? readJson(specJsonArtifact.path, errors) : overrideSpec;
   if (!spec || typeof spec !== 'object' || Array.isArray(spec)) {
     if (errors.length === 0) errors.push('spec.json: must contain a JSON object');
     return { errors, warnings };
   }
 
-  const policyContext = workflowPolicyContext(spec, errors);
-  if (policyContext.explicit && Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'override_receipt')) {
-    errors.push('spec.json.override_receipt: duplicate legacy field; persist only workflow_policy.override_receipt');
+  if (spec.schema_version === SCHEMA_21 && Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'override_receipt')) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.override_receipt: legacy override receipt is inert read compatibility and must be omitted from canonical state');
   }
 
-  if (!spec.scope_lock || typeof spec.scope_lock !== 'object' || Array.isArray(spec.scope_lock)) {
-    errors.push('spec.json.scope_lock: must be an object, not a boolean or array');
+  if (spec.schema_version === SCHEMA_21) {
+    const requirements = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'requirements.md', 'requirements.md', errors, { required: true });
+    const design = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, 'design.md', 'design.md', errors, { required: true });
+    if (requirements && design) validateSpec21(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, spec, errors, warnings);
+    return { errors, warnings };
   }
 
-  validateTimestamps(spec, errors);
-  validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, policyContext);
-
+  const policyContext = workflowPolicyContext(spec, errors);
   const taskFiles = listTaskFiles(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, errors);
   const taskFileSet = new Set(taskFiles);
-  const declaredTaskBundle = Array.isArray(spec.task_files) && spec.task_files.length > 0;
-  const requiresTaskBundle = taskFiles.length > 0 || declaredTaskBundle || policyContext.strict;
-  if (policyContext.strict && taskFiles.length === 0) {
-    errors.push('strict workflow policy requires at least one task file and task registry entry');
+  validateCoreMachineState(spec, taskFiles, errors);
+  const topology = validateCoordinationTopology(spec, policyContext, taskFiles, specDir, errors);
+  policyContext.taskRequired = topology.tasksRequired;
+  const requiresTaskBundle = topology.tasksRequired;
+  validateStateTransitions(spec, errors, policyContext);
+  validateFinalLifecycleTimestamps(spec, taskFiles, policyContext, errors);
+  if (!requiresTaskBundle && !policyContext.legacy) {
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'task_files')) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.task_files: taskless Specs v2 must omit task inventory');
+    }
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'task_registry')) {
+      errors.push('spec.json.task_registry: taskless Specs v2 must omit task registry');
+    }
   }
 
   if (!Array.isArray(spec.task_files)) {
@@ -804,20 +3335,7 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
       if (!taskFileSet.has(registryPath)) {
         errors.push(`spec.json.task_registry.${registryPath}: no matching task file`);
       }
-      for (const key of REQUIRED_REGISTRY_KEYS) {
-        if (!(key in (entry || {}))) {
-          errors.push(`spec.json.task_registry.${registryPath}: missing ${key}`);
-        }
-      }
       validateArtifactDeclaration(registryPath, entry, errors);
-      if (entry && !Array.isArray(entry.dependencies)) {
-        errors.push(`spec.json.task_registry.${registryPath}.dependencies: must be an array`);
-      }
-      for (const dep of entry?.dependencies || []) {
-        if (!taskFileSet.has(dep)) {
-          errors.push(`spec.json.task_registry.${registryPath}.dependencies: unknown dependency ${dep}`);
-        }
-      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -849,7 +3367,7 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
       errors.push('spec.json.timestamps.validation_done: required when validation.status is completed');
     }
     if (taskFiles.length >= 5 && !spec.timestamps?.review_done) {
-      errors.push('spec.json.timestamps.review_done: required for 5+ task specs after validation');
+      errors.push('spec.json.timestamps.review_done: required after validation for a large task graph');
     }
   }
 
@@ -873,13 +3391,21 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
   const receiptArtifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE, FEATURE_RECEIPT_FILE, errors);
   validateResearchPointer(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, spec, errors);
 
-  const requiresResearchArtifact = policyContext.explicit
-    && Boolean(policyContext.policy?.proof_obligations?.includes('needsResearchGrounding'));
-  if (requiresResearchArtifact) {
-    validateResearchArtifact(researchArtifact, errors, policyContext.explicit);
+  const researchPointer = explicitResearchPath(spec);
+  if (researchPointer !== null && researchPointer !== 'research.md') {
+    errors.push('spec.research: explicit research must use the canonical research.md path');
+  }
+  const legacyResearchRequired = policyContext.legacy
+    && spec.workflow_policy?.proof_obligations?.includes('needsResearchGrounding');
+  if (researchPointer === 'research.md' || (policyContext.legacy && researchArtifact)) {
+    validateResearchArtifact(researchArtifact, errors, true);
+  } else if (legacyResearchRequired) {
+    validateResearchArtifact(null, errors, true);
+  } else if (researchArtifact) {
+    errors.push('research.md: physical research artifact requires explicit spec.research="research.md"');
   }
 
-  validateFeatureReceipt(spec, policyContext, errors, receiptArtifact);
+  validateFeatureReceipt(spec, policyContext, errors, warnings, receiptArtifact);
 
   let requirementIds = [];
   let subCriteriaIds = [];
@@ -887,38 +3413,85 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
   let designText = '';
   if (requirementsArtifact) {
     requirementsText = fs.readFileSync(requirementsArtifact.path, 'utf8');
+    validateUniqueSectionGroups('requirements.md', requirementsText, [['Requirements']], errors);
+    validateRequirementDialect(requirementsText, errors);
+    validateRequirementInventory(requirementsText, errors);
     requirementIds = extractRequirementIds(requirementsText);
     subCriteriaIds = extractSubCriteriaIds(requirementsText);
   }
-  if (designArtifact) designText = fs.readFileSync(designArtifact.path, 'utf8');
-  validateBoundedReadiness(spec, requirementsText, designText, errors);
+  if (designArtifact) {
+    designText = fs.readFileSync(designArtifact.path, 'utf8');
+    validateUniqueSectionGroups('design.md', designText, [
+      ['Architecture'],
+      ['Canonical Contracts & Invariants'],
+      ['Execution Closure'],
+      ['Requirements Traceability'],
+      ['Components and Interfaces'],
+    ], errors);
+  }
+  if (!policyContext.legacy) {
+    validateSemanticReview(
+      specDir,
+      spec,
+      policyContext,
+      subCriteriaIds,
+      designText,
+      errors,
+    );
+  }
+  validateSemanticReadiness(spec, requirementsText, designText, policyContext, errors);
 
   const coveredRequirementIds = new Set();
   const coveredSubCriteriaIds = new Set();
   const mappedRequirementReferences = [];
   const taskRecords = new Map();
+  const taskClosures = new Map();
+  const taskContents = new Map();
   // Cross-layer contract defs (opt-in): empty unless design.md uses
   // <!-- contract:NAME --> markers, so legacy specs are unaffected.
-  const contractDefs = designArtifact ? extractContractDefs(designText) : new Map();
-  if (taskFiles.length >= 5 && contractDefs.size === 0) {
-    errors.push(
-      'design.md: 5+ task spec requires contract blocks for BE/FE shared shapes (<!-- contract:NAME -->) — fail closed, not warning',
-    );
-  }
+  const contractDefs = designArtifact ? extractContractDefs(designText, 'design.md', errors) : new Map();
+  const designClosure = designArtifact
+    ? implementationObligationClosure(designText, 'design.md', errors)
+    : { ids: [], section: '', headingCount: 0, blocks: new Map(), notApplicable: false };
   for (const taskFile of taskFiles) {
     const taskArtifact = inspectSpecArtifact(specDir, canonicalSpecDir, taskFile, taskFile, errors);
     if (!taskArtifact) continue;
     const content = fs.readFileSync(taskArtifact.path, 'utf8');
+    taskContents.set(taskFile, content);
+    const registryEntry = spec.task_registry?.[taskFile];
+    validateTaskIdentity(taskFile, content, registryEntry, errors);
     validateTaskSections(taskFile, content, errors);
     validateTaskPlaceholders(taskFile, content, errors, warnings);
     validateRelatedFiles(taskFile, content, errors);
-    taskRecords.set(taskFile, { rows: relatedFilesSection(content).rows });
+    validateTaskDependencyHeader(
+      taskFile,
+      content,
+      registryEntry,
+      spec.ready_for_implementation === true,
+      errors,
+    );
+    validateTaskStatusHeader(
+      taskFile,
+      content,
+      registryEntry,
+      spec.ready_for_implementation === true,
+      errors,
+    );
+    taskClosures.set(
+      taskFile,
+      implementationObligationClosure(content, taskFile, errors),
+    );
+    taskRecords.set(taskFile, {
+      rows: relatedFilesSection(content).rows,
+      parallel: taskDeclaresParallel(content, taskFile, errors),
+    });
 
     // Requirement traceability: only structured _Requirements: ..._ mappings inside Steps/Requirements sections count.
     // Incidental mentions elsewhere (prose Context, Constraints) must not be counted.
-    const stepsSection = extractSection(content, 'Steps') || extractSection(content, 'Implementation Steps') || '';
+    const stepsSection = extractSection(content, 'Changes') || extractSection(content, 'Steps') || extractSection(content, 'Implementation Steps') || '';
     const reqSectionInTask = extractSection(content, 'Requirements') || '';
-    const mappingSource = `${stepsSection}\n${reqSectionInTask}`;
+    const acceptanceSection = extractSection(content, 'Acceptance') || '';
+    const mappingSource = `${stepsSection}\n${reqSectionInTask}\n${acceptanceSection}`;
     // Also consider inline _Requirements: inside Steps bullet lines that may be outside section extraction edge cases,
     // so fallback to whole content scanning only if sections are null (e.g., malformed heading). But prefer scoped.
     const effectiveMappingSource = mappingSource.trim() ? mappingSource : content;
@@ -933,8 +3506,8 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
           const sub = trimmed.match(/^(\d+\.\d+)$/);
           const subId = sub ? `R${sub[1]}` : null;
           coveredRequirementIds.add(requirementId);
-          if (policyContext.strict) mappedRequirementReferences.push({ taskFile, token: trimmed, requirementId, subId });
-        } else if (policyContext.strict && trimmed !== '') {
+          mappedRequirementReferences.push({ taskFile, token: trimmed, requirementId, subId });
+        } else if (trimmed !== '') {
           errors.push(`${taskFile}: requirement mapping "${trimmed}" must use numeric IDs such as 1 or 1.1`);
         }
         // Record the full sub-criterion (e.g. 3.4 -> R3.4) for per-criterion coverage.
@@ -943,13 +3516,34 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
       }
     }
 
+    if (taskFormat(content) === 'v2') {
+      for (const subId of criterionReferences(`${stepsSection}\n${acceptanceSection}`)) {
+        coveredSubCriteriaIds.add(subId);
+        coveredRequirementIds.add(subId.split('.')[0]);
+        mappedRequirementReferences.push({
+          taskFile,
+          token: subId.slice(1),
+          requirementId: subId.split('.')[0],
+          subId,
+        });
+      }
+    }
+
     // Cross-layer contract check (opt-in via design.md markers). When a task
     // claims `Contracts: NAME`, design.md must define the name and the task's
     // local copy must match the canonical definition byte-for-byte (after
     // whitespace normalization). This catches BE/FE drift like user_name vs
     // userName before integration, and rejects declarations with no canonical
     // source instead of silently accepting an orphan contract.
-    const { names, blocks, firstBlock } = extractTaskContracts(content);
+    if (taskFormat(content) === 'v2') continue;
+    const { names, blocks, firstBlock } = extractTaskContracts(content, taskFile, errors);
+    for (const taggedName of blocks.keys()) {
+      if (!names.includes(taggedName)) {
+        errors.push(
+          `${taskFile}: carries <!-- contract:${taggedName} --> block but must declare it on one Contracts: line`,
+        );
+      }
+    }
     if (names.length > 0 && contractDefs.size === 0) {
       errors.push(`${taskFile}: declares contract(s) but design.md defines no canonical contract blocks`);
     }
@@ -972,21 +3566,38 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
           errors.push(`${taskFile}: contract "${name}" body diverges from the canonical definition in design.md`);
         }
       }
-      // Marker-tagged blocks not declared on the Contracts: line are drift risks.
-      for (const taggedName of blocks.keys()) {
-        if (!names.includes(taggedName)) {
-          warnings.push(`${taskFile}: carries <!-- contract:${taggedName} --> block but does not declare it on the Contracts: line`);
-        }
-      }
     }
   }
 
+
+  if (!policyContext.legacy) validateTypedAnchorInventory(designText, taskContents, errors);
+  validateNamedContractReferences(designText, taskContents, errors);
+
   validateDependencyTopology(spec, taskFiles, spec.task_registry, taskRecords, errors);
+  validateParallelEligibility(taskFiles, spec.task_registry, taskRecords, errors);
+  if (!policyContext.legacy) {
+    validateTaskTriggerEvidence(spec, topology, taskFiles, taskRecords, errors);
+  }
+  if (policyContext.legacy) {
+    validateImplementationObligations(
+      spec,
+      policyContext,
+      requirementIds,
+      subCriteriaIds,
+      taskFiles,
+      spec.task_registry,
+      designClosure,
+      taskClosures,
+      errors,
+    );
+  } else if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(spec, 'implementation_obligations')) {
+    errors.push('spec.json.implementation_obligations: legacy copied-closure contract is not part of Specs v2; use named design contracts and task references');
+  }
 
-  if (policyContext.strict) {
-    if (requirementIds.length === 0) {
-      errors.push('requirements.md: strict workflow requires numeric requirement IDs (for example Requirement 1 or R1)');
-    }
+  if (policyContext.strict && requirementIds.length === 0) {
+    errors.push('requirements.md: strict workflow requires numeric requirement IDs (for example Requirement 1 or R1)');
+  }
+  if (requiresTaskBundle) {
     const knownRequirements = new Set(requirementIds);
     const knownSubCriteria = new Set(subCriteriaIds);
     for (const reference of mappedRequirementReferences) {
@@ -1016,6 +3627,15 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
     }
   }
 
+
+  const designVerification = extractSection(designText, 'Verification') || '';
+  const designVerificationCoverage = criterionReferences(designVerification);
+  for (const subId of subCriteriaIds) {
+    if (!designVerificationCoverage.has(subId)) {
+      errors.push(`requirements.md:${subId}: missing deterministic design Verification coverage`);
+    }
+  }
+
   if (spec.ready_for_implementation === true && errors.length > 0) {
     errors.push('spec.json.ready_for_implementation: cannot be true while validator errors exist');
   }
@@ -1024,26 +3644,46 @@ function validateSpec(specDir) {
 }
 
 function main() {
-  const specDir = resolveSpecDir(process.argv[2]);
+  const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+  const semanticDigestMode = args.includes('--semantic-digest');
+  const positional = args.filter((arg) => arg !== '--semantic-digest');
+  const specDir = positional.length === 1 ? resolveSpecDir(positional[0]) : null;
   if (!specDir) {
     usage();
     process.exit(2);
   }
 
+  if (semanticDigestMode) {
+    let spec = null;
+    try { spec = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(specDir, 'spec.json'), 'utf8')); } catch {}
+    const result = spec?.schema_version === SCHEMA_21
+      ? computeSemanticDigest21(specDir, spec)
+      : computeSemanticDigest(specDir);
+    if (result.errors.length > 0) {
+      console.error(`SEMANTIC_DIGEST_FAIL ${path.relative(process.cwd(), specDir) || specDir}`);
+      for (const error of result.errors) console.error(`- ${error}`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+    console.log(result.digest);
+    return;
+  }
+
   const { errors, warnings } = validateSpec(specDir);
   for (const warning of warnings) {
     console.warn(`[WARN] ${warning}`);
   }
 
   if (errors.length > 0) {
-    console.error(`FAIL ${path.relative(process.cwd(), specDir) || specDir}`);
+    console.error(`STRUCTURAL_FAIL ${path.relative(process.cwd(), specDir) || specDir}`);
     for (const error of errors) {
       console.error(`- ${error}`);
     }
     process.exit(1);
   }
 
-  console.log(`PASS ${path.relative(process.cwd(), specDir) || specDir}`);
+  console.log(`STRUCTURALLY_VALID ${path.relative(process.cwd(), specDir) || specDir} (semantic review and execution proof are not claimed)`);
 }
 
-main();
+module.exports = { validateSpec, computeSemanticDigest21 };
+
+if (require.main === module) main();