@ldclabs/kip-lang 0.4.0 → 2.0.0

package/src/lower.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,2011 @@
+import type {
+  Program,
+  Statement,
+  MutationClause as CstMutationClause,
+  FindStatement,
+  AsOfClause,
+  OrderItem,
+  WhereClause as CstWhereClause,
+  WherePattern,
+  PropositionTuple,
+  Term as CstTerm,
+  PredicateAtom,
+  RawPredicateExpression,
+  ObjectPattern,
+  ObjectLiteral,
+  ObjectEntry,
+  Expression,
+  ScalarValue,
+  SchemaSymbol,
+  TargetRef,
+  MutateStatement,
+  CreateConceptStatement,
+  UpsertConceptStatement,
+  EnsurePropositionStatement,
+  AssertStatement,
+  CreateEvidenceStatement,
+  CreateAssertionStatement,
+  CreateActivityStatement,
+  UpdateStatement as CstUpdateStatement,
+  UpdateAction as CstUpdateAction,
+  SetFacetClause,
+  SetStructuralClause,
+  UnsetStructuralClause,
+  UnsetField,
+  RetractAssertionStatement,
+  SupersedeAssertionStatement,
+  CorrectEvidenceStatement,
+  TransitionActivityStatement,
+  SetRetentionStatement,
+  ArchiveStatement,
+  TombstoneStatement,
+  PurgeStatement,
+  MergeConceptStatement,
+  DescribeStatement,
+  ListStatement,
+  SearchStatement,
+  VerifyStatement,
+  ValidateStatement,
+  PreviewStatement,
+  HistoryStatement,
+  ChangesStatement,
+  SnapshotStatement,
+  ExportCapsuleStatement
+} from './ast.js'
+import { invalidSyntax } from './errors.js'
+import type {
+  AggregationFunction,
+  Assignments,
+  AsOf,
+  BeliefTarget,
+  Command,
+  ComparisonOperator,
+  ConceptCreate,
+  ConceptUpsert,
+  DescribeTarget,
+  DotPathVar,
+  ElementRef,
+  EnsureProposition,
+  FacetAssignment,
+  FacetUnset,
+  FilterExpression,
+  FilterFunction,
+  FilterOperand,
+  FindExpression,
+  HistoryCommand,
+  BoundValue,
+  KipValue,
+  KmlStatement,
+  KqlQuery,
+  ListTarget,
+  MatchValue,
+  MetaCommand,
+  MutationClause,
+  MutationValue,
+  ObjectMatcher,
+  OrderByItem,
+  PathStep,
+  PredAtom,
+  PredPathAtom,
+  PredTerm,
+  PropositionMatcher,
+  RecordCreate,
+  Scalar,
+  SearchTarget,
+  StructuralEdge,
+  StructuralRemoval,
+  SymbolRef,
+  Term,
+  UpdateAction,
+  UpdateExpr,
+  UpdateFunction,
+  ValidateTarget,
+  VerifyTarget,
+  WhereClause
+} from './exec-ast.js'
+import type { Range } from './token.js'
+
+const AGGREGATIONS = new Map<string, AggregationFunction>([
+  ['COUNT', 'Count'],
+  ['SUM', 'Sum'],
+  ['AVG', 'Avg'],
+  ['MIN', 'Min'],
+  ['MAX', 'Max']
+])
+
+const FILTER_FUNCTIONS = new Map<string, FilterFunction>([
+  ['CONTAINS', 'Contains'],
+  ['STARTS_WITH', 'StartsWith'],
+  ['ENDS_WITH', 'EndsWith'],
+  ['REGEX', 'Regex'],
+  ['IN', 'In'],
+  ['IS_NULL', 'IsNull'],
+  ['IS_NOT_NULL', 'IsNotNull'],
+  ['IS_LITERAL', 'IsLiteral'],
+  ['IS_ELEMENT', 'IsElement'],
+  ['IS_KIND', 'IsKind'],
+  ['LITERAL_TYPE', 'LiteralType']
+])
+
+const UPDATE_FUNCTIONS = new Map<string, UpdateFunction>([
+  ['ADD', 'Add'],
+  ['MUL', 'Mul'],
+  ['CLAMP', 'Clamp'],
+  ['COALESCE', 'Coalesce']
+])
+
+const UPDATE_ARITY: Record<UpdateFunction, number> = {
+  Add: 2,
+  Mul: 2,
+  Coalesce: 2,
+  Clamp: 3
+}
+
+const COMPARISONS = new Map<string, ComparisonOperator>([
+  ['==', 'Equal'],
+  ['!=', 'NotEqual'],
+  ['<', 'LessThan'],
+  ['>', 'GreaterThan'],
+  ['<=', 'LessEqual'],
+  ['>=', 'GreaterEqual']
+])
+
+/**
+ * Engine-owned state no cognitive mutation may write (Spec §6.3, §2.11).
+ *
+ * These are checked by name on every mutation, not just on UPDATE: author
+ * content that could rewrite engine truth or its own authority is exactly
+ * what "external cognition cannot self-escalate authority" forbids.
+ */
+const PROTECTED_FIELDS = new Set([
+  '_system',
+  'governance',
+  'space_id',
+  'space_seq'
+])
+
+/**
+ * Assertion payload that is immutable after creation (Spec §13.7).
+ *
+ * Changing epistemic commitment means a new Assertion plus supersession, so
+ * an UPDATE naming one of these is the `EpistemicRevisionRequired` mistake
+ * caught statically wherever the WHERE block says the target is an Assertion.
+ */
+const ASSERTION_IMMUTABLE = new Set([
+  'proposition_id',
+  'proposition',
+  'asserted_by',
+  'stance',
+  'mode',
+  'confidence',
+  'asserted_at',
+  'valid_time',
+  'evidence_refs'
+])
+
+/** Evidence payload and observation identity are immutable (Spec §15.5). */
+const EVIDENCE_IMMUTABLE = new Set([
+  'evidence_class',
+  'payload',
+  'content_digest',
+  'media_type',
+  'observed_at'
+])
+
+/** A Proposition tuple is immutable after creation (Spec §12.5). */
+const PROPOSITION_IMMUTABLE = new Set(['subject', 'predicate', 'object'])
+
+/**
+ * Lowers a parsed program carrying exactly one command.
+ *
+ * KIP's request envelope binds one command to one result, so a source text
+ * that holds two statements is not a command — it is a batch, and silently
+ * running the first would answer a question the caller did not ask. Use
+ * {@link lowerAll} for multi-statement text such as a schema capsule.
+ *
+ * @throws {KipSyntaxError} on anything that is not one executable command.
+ */
+export function lower(program: Program): Command {
+  const [first, second] = program.statements
+  if (!first) {
+    throw invalidSyntax('expected a KIP command, found none')
+  }
+  if (second) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'expected one KIP command, found several: wrap consecutive mutations in ' +
+        'MUTATE { ... } to make them one transaction, or use lowerAll for a batch',
+      second.range
+    )
+  }
+  return lowerStatement(first)
+}
+
+/** Lowers every statement in a multi-command source text. */
+export function lowerAll(program: Program): Command[] {
+  if (program.statements.length === 0) {
+    throw invalidSyntax('expected at least one KIP command, found none')
+  }
+  return program.statements.map(lowerStatement)
+}
+
+export function lowerStatement(stmt: Statement): Command {
+  switch (stmt.kind) {
+    case 'FindStatement':
+      return { Kql: lowerFind(stmt) }
+
+    case 'MutateStatement':
+      return { Kml: lowerMutate(stmt) }
+
+    case 'CreateConceptStatement':
+    case 'UpsertConceptStatement':
+    case 'EnsurePropositionStatement':
+    case 'AssertStatement':
+    case 'CreateEvidenceStatement':
+    case 'CreateAssertionStatement':
+    case 'CreateActivityStatement':
+    case 'UpdateStatement':
+    case 'RetractAssertionStatement':
+    case 'SupersedeAssertionStatement':
+    case 'CorrectEvidenceStatement':
+    case 'TransitionActivityStatement':
+    case 'SetRetentionStatement':
+    case 'ArchiveStatement':
+    case 'TombstoneStatement':
+    case 'PurgeStatement':
+    case 'MergeConceptStatement':
+      const clauses = lowerMutationClause(stmt, 0)
+      assertUniqueHandles(clauses, stmt.range)
+      assertResolvedHandles(clauses, stmt.range)
+      return {
+        Kml: {
+          explicit_transaction: false,
+          clauses
+        }
+      }
+
+    default:
+      return { Meta: lowerMeta(stmt) }
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// KQL
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerFind(stmt: FindStatement): KqlQuery {
+  if (stmt.projections.length === 0) {
+    throw invalidSyntax('FIND requires at least one projection', stmt.range)
+  }
+  return {
+    find_clause: {
+      expressions: stmt.projections.map((p) => lowerFindExpression(p))
+    },
+    where_clauses: lowerWhere(stmt.where),
+    as_of: stmt.asOf ? lowerAsOf(stmt.asOf) : null,
+    for_time: stmt.forTime ? lowerScalar(stmt.forTime.value) : null,
+    epistemic: stmt.epistemic ? lowerBoundObject(stmt.epistemic.options) : null,
+    order_by: stmt.orderBy ? stmt.orderBy.items.map(lowerOrderItem) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+    cursor: stmt.cursor ? lowerScalar(stmt.cursor.value) : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerAsOf(clause: AsOfClause): AsOf {
+  const value = lowerScalar(clause.value)
+  switch (clause.basis) {
+    case 'SEQ':
+      return { Seq: value }
+    case 'TX':
+      return { Tx: value }
+    case 'TIME':
+      return { Time: value }
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerFindExpression(expr: Expression): FindExpression {
+  if (expr.kind === 'AggregateExpr') {
+    const func = AGGREGATIONS.get(expr.name.toUpperCase())
+    if (!func) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(`unknown aggregate ${expr.name}`, expr.range)
+    }
+    return {
+      Aggregation: {
+        func,
+        var: lowerDotPath(expr.argument),
+        distinct: expr.distinct
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return { Variable: lowerDotPath(expr) }
+}
+
+function lowerOrderItem(item: OrderItem): OrderByItem {
+  const direction = item.direction === 'DESC' ? 'Desc' : 'Asc'
+  if (item.expression.kind === 'AggregateExpr') {
+    const func = AGGREGATIONS.get(item.expression.name.toUpperCase())
+    if (!func) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `unknown aggregate ${item.expression.name}`,
+        item.expression.range
+      )
+    }
+    return {
+      variable: lowerDotPath(item.expression.argument),
+      direction,
+      aggregation: func
+    }
+  }
+  return {
+    variable: lowerDotPath(item.expression),
+    direction,
+    aggregation: null
+  }
+}
+
+/** A projection or sort key must resolve to one variable plus a path. */
+function lowerDotPath(expr: Expression): DotPathVar {
+  if (expr.kind === 'VariableRef') {
+    return { var: varName(expr.name, expr.range), path: [] }
+  }
+  if (expr.kind === 'FieldAccess') {
+    const path: PathStep[] = expr.steps.map((step) =>
+      step.kind === 'DotStep'
+        ? { Field: step.name }
+        : { Key: step.key.parsed }
+    )
+    return { var: varName(expr.base.name, expr.base.range), path }
+  }
+  throw invalidSyntax(
+    `expected a variable or a dot path, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+    expr.range
+  )
+}
+
+function lowerWhere(clause: { patterns: WherePattern[] }): WhereClause[] {
+  return clause.patterns.map(lowerWherePattern)
+}
+
+function lowerWherePattern(pattern: WherePattern): WhereClause {
+  switch (pattern.kind) {
+    case 'ConceptPattern':
+      return {
+        Concept: {
+          variable: varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range),
+          matcher: lowerObjectMatcher(pattern.matcher)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'PropositionPattern':
+      return {
+        Proposition: {
+          variable: pattern.variable
+            ? varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range)
+            : null,
+          matcher: lowerPropositionMatcher(pattern.tuple)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'AssertionPattern':
+      return {
+        Assertion: {
+          variable: varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range),
+          matcher: lowerObjectMatcher(pattern.matcher)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'EvidencePattern':
+      return {
+        Evidence: {
+          variable: varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range),
+          matcher: lowerObjectMatcher(pattern.matcher)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'ActivityPattern':
+      return {
+        Activity: {
+          variable: varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range),
+          matcher: lowerObjectMatcher(pattern.matcher)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'StructuralPattern':
+      return {
+        Structural: {
+          variable: pattern.variable
+            ? varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range)
+            : null,
+          subject: lowerTerm(pattern.subject),
+          field: lowerSymbol(pattern.field),
+          object: lowerTerm(pattern.object)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'BeliefPattern': {
+      let target: BeliefTarget
+      if (pattern.proposition) {
+        target = {
+          Proposition: varName(
+            pattern.proposition.name,
+            pattern.proposition.range
+          )
+        }
+      } else if (pattern.propositionId) {
+        // Same slot, same reference form as `?p PROPOSITION (id: ...)`.
+        target = { Id: lowerScalar(pattern.propositionId) }
+      } else {
+        if (!pattern.subject || !pattern.predicate || !pattern.object) {
+          throw invalidSyntax(
+            'BELIEF requires one bound Proposition, an (id: ...) reference, or a full (subject, predicate, object) tuple',
+            pattern.range
+          )
+        }
+        target = {
+          Tuple: {
+            subject: lowerPropositionSubject(pattern.subject),
+            predicate: { Atom: lowerPredAtom(pattern.predicate) },
+            object: lowerTerm(pattern.object)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      return {
+        Belief: {
+          variable: varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range),
+          target
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    case 'BeliefSlotPattern':
+      return {
+        BeliefSlot: {
+          variable: varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range),
+          subject: lowerPropositionSubject(pattern.subject),
+          predicate: lowerPredAtom(pattern.predicate)
+        }
+      }
+
+    case 'FilterClause':
+      return { Filter: { expression: lowerFilter(pattern.expression) } }
+
+    case 'NotClause':
+      return { Not: pattern.patterns.map(lowerWherePattern) }
+
+    case 'OptionalClause':
+      return { Optional: pattern.patterns.map(lowerWherePattern) }
+
+    case 'UnionClause':
+      return { Union: pattern.patterns.map(lowerWherePattern) }
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerPropositionMatcher(tuple: PropositionTuple): PropositionMatcher {
+  if (tuple.id) return { Id: lowerScalar(tuple.id) }
+  if (!tuple.subject || !tuple.predicate || !tuple.object) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'a Proposition expression is either (subject, predicate, object) or (id: ...)',
+      tuple.range
+    )
+  }
+  return {
+    Tuple: {
+      subject: lowerPropositionSubject(tuple.subject),
+      predicate: lowerPredicate(tuple.predicate),
+      object: lowerTerm(tuple.object)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolves the tuple a resolve-or-create statement needs.
+ *
+ * `(id: ...)` is match-only: it names a Proposition that must already exist,
+ * so it cannot drive ENSURE PROPOSITION — or the ASSERT sugar that desugars
+ * through it — whose job is to create the tuple when it is absent.
+ */
+function requireStructuralTuple(
+  tuple: PropositionTuple,
+  statement: string
+): { subject: Term; predicate: PredAtom; object: Term } {
+  if (tuple.id) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${statement} needs a (subject, predicate, object) tuple: (id: ...) only matches an ` +
+        'existing Proposition, and no structure can be created from an id',
+      tuple.range
+    )
+  }
+  const predicateExpression = tuple.predicate!
+  const predicate = lowerPredicate(predicateExpression)
+  if (!('Atom' in predicate)) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${statement} needs one exact predicate; alternation and hop quantifiers are KQL traversal forms`,
+      tuple.predicate!.range
+    )
+  }
+  if ('Variable' in predicate.Atom) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${statement} needs an exact quoted predicate or :parameter; ?variables are KQL read-pattern syntax`,
+      predicateExpression.range
+    )
+  }
+  return {
+    subject: lowerPropositionSubject(tuple.subject!),
+    predicate: predicate.Atom,
+    object: lowerTerm(tuple.object!)
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerPredicate(expr: RawPredicateExpression): PredTerm {
+  const [only] = expr.atoms
+  if (expr.atoms.length === 1 && only && !only.quantifier) {
+    return { Atom: lowerPredAtom(only.atom) }
+  }
+  const path: PredPathAtom[] = expr.atoms.map((atom) => ({
+    predicate: lowerPredAtom(atom.atom),
+    hops: atom.quantifier
+      ? { min: atom.quantifier.min, max: atom.quantifier.max ?? null }
+      : null
+  }))
+  return { Path: path }
+}
+
+function lowerPredAtom(atom: PredicateAtom): PredAtom {
+  switch (atom.kind) {
+    case 'StringLiteral':
+      return { Literal: atom.parsed }
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(atom.name) }
+    case 'VariableRef':
+      return { Variable: varName(atom.name, atom.range) }
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerTerm(term: CstTerm): Term {
+  switch (term.kind) {
+    case 'VariableRef':
+      return { Variable: varName(term.name, term.range) }
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(term.name) }
+    case 'ObjectPattern':
+      return { Match: lowerObjectMatcher(term) }
+    case 'PropositionTuple':
+      return { Proposition: lowerPropositionMatcher(term) }
+    default:
+      return { Literal: lowerKipValue(term) }
+  }
+}
+
+/** A Proposition subject is always an Element reference, never a Literal. */
+function lowerPropositionSubject(term: CstTerm): Term {
+  switch (term.kind) {
+    case 'StringLiteral':
+    case 'NumberLiteral':
+    case 'BooleanLiteral':
+    case 'NullLiteral':
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        'a Proposition subject must be a local Element reference, never a Literal',
+        term.range
+      )
+    default:
+      return lowerTerm(term)
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerObjectMatcher(pattern: ObjectPattern): ObjectMatcher {
+  const matcher: ObjectMatcher = {}
+  for (const member of pattern.members) {
+    if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(matcher, member.key)) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `duplicate match field ${member.key}`,
+        member.range
+      )
+    }
+    matcher[member.key] = lowerMatchValue(member.value)
+  }
+  return matcher
+}
+
+function lowerMatchValue(expr: Expression): MatchValue {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'VariableRef':
+      return { Variable: varName(expr.name, expr.range) }
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(expr.name) }
+    case 'ArrayLiteral':
+      return { Array: expr.elements.map(lowerMatchValue) }
+    case 'ObjectPattern':
+      return { Match: lowerObjectMatcher(expr) }
+    case 'PropositionTuple':
+      return { Proposition: lowerPropositionMatcher(expr) }
+    default:
+      return { Literal: lowerKipValue(expr) }
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Filters
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerFilter(expr: Expression): FilterExpression {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'BinaryExpression': {
+      if (expr.operator === '&&' || expr.operator === '||') {
+        return {
+          Logical: {
+            left: lowerFilter(expr.left),
+            operator: expr.operator === '&&' ? 'And' : 'Or',
+            right: lowerFilter(expr.right)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      const operator = COMPARISONS.get(expr.operator)
+      if (!operator) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          `unknown comparison operator ${expr.operator}`,
+          expr.range
+        )
+      }
+      return {
+        Comparison: {
+          left: lowerFilterOperand(expr.left),
+          operator,
+          right: lowerFilterOperand(expr.right)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    case 'UnaryExpression':
+      if (expr.operator === '!') {
+        return { Not: lowerFilter(expr.operand) }
+      }
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        'a filter must be a comparison, a logical combination, a negation or a function call',
+        expr.range
+      )
+
+    case 'FunctionCallExpr': {
+      const func = FILTER_FUNCTIONS.get(expr.name.toUpperCase())
+      if (!func) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          `${expr.name} is not a KIP filter function`,
+          expr.range
+        )
+      }
+      return {
+        Function: { func, args: expr.args.map(lowerFilterOperand) }
+      }
+    }
+
+    case 'AggregateExpr':
+      // An aggregate summarizes a solution set; a filter runs per candidate
+      // row, so there is no set for it to summarize yet.
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${expr.name} is an aggregate and cannot appear inside FILTER`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+
+    default:
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `a filter must be a comparison, a logical combination, a negation or a function call, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerFilterOperand(expr: Expression): FilterOperand {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'VariableRef':
+    case 'FieldAccess':
+      return { Variable: lowerDotPath(expr) }
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(expr.name) }
+    case 'ArrayLiteral':
+      if (expr.trailingComma) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          'a filter list does not allow a trailing comma',
+          expr.range
+        )
+      }
+      return { List: expr.elements.map(lowerFilterOperand) }
+    case 'UnaryExpression':
+      if (expr.operator === '-') {
+        return { Negate: lowerFilterOperand(expr.operand) }
+      }
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `expected a filter operand, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+    case 'AggregateExpr':
+      // An aggregate summarizes a solution set; a filter runs per candidate
+      // row, so there is no set for it to summarize yet.
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${expr.name} is an aggregate and cannot appear inside FILTER`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+    case 'FunctionCallExpr':
+    case 'BinaryExpression':
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `expected a filter operand, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+    default:
+      return { Literal: lowerKipValue(expr) }
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// KML
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerMutate(stmt: MutateStatement): KmlStatement {
+  if (stmt.clauses.length === 0) {
+    throw invalidSyntax('MUTATE requires at least one mutation', stmt.range)
+  }
+  const clauses = stmt.clauses.flatMap((clause, i) =>
+    lowerMutationClause(clause, i)
+  )
+  assertUniqueHandles(clauses, stmt.range)
+  assertResolvedHandles(clauses, stmt.range)
+  return { explicit_transaction: true, clauses }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Handles are block-local names. Two clauses claiming the same handle make
+ * every forward reference to it ambiguous, so the whole plan is rejected
+ * rather than resolved by position.
+ */
+function assertUniqueHandles(clauses: MutationClause[], range: Range): void {
+  const seen = new Set<string>()
+  for (const clause of clauses) {
+    const handle = handleOf(clause)
+    if (handle === null) continue
+    if (seen.has(handle)) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `duplicate local handle ?${handle} in one mutation plan`,
+        range
+      )
+    }
+    seen.add(handle)
+  }
+}
+
+function handleOf(clause: MutationClause): string | null {
+  if ('CreateConcept' in clause) return clause.CreateConcept.handle
+  if ('UpsertConcept' in clause) return clause.UpsertConcept.handle
+  if ('CreateEvidence' in clause) return clause.CreateEvidence.handle
+  if ('CreateAssertion' in clause) return clause.CreateAssertion.handle
+  if ('CreateActivity' in clause) return clause.CreateActivity.handle
+  if ('EnsureProposition' in clause) return clause.EnsureProposition.handle
+  return null
+}
+
+/**
+ * Every executable `Handle` must be created by this mutation plan or bound by
+ * that clause's WHERE. Parameters remain runtime bindings and are unaffected.
+ */
+function assertResolvedHandles(clauses: MutationClause[], range: Range): void {
+  const planHandles = new Set<string>()
+  for (const clause of clauses) {
+    const handle = handleOf(clause)
+    if (handle !== null) planHandles.add(handle)
+  }
+
+  for (const clause of clauses) {
+    const allowed = new Set(planHandles)
+    const body = Object.values(clause)[0] as Record<string, unknown>
+    collectWhereVariables(body.where_clauses, allowed)
+
+    const referenced = new Set<string>()
+    collectTaggedHandles(body, referenced)
+    for (const handle of referenced) {
+      if (!allowed.has(handle)) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          `?${handle} is not bound by this command's mutation outputs or WHERE clause`,
+          range
+        )
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function collectWhereVariables(value: unknown, out: Set<string>): void {
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+    for (const item of value) collectWhereVariables(item, out)
+    return
+  }
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') return
+  const record = value as Record<string, unknown>
+  if (typeof record.variable === 'string') out.add(record.variable)
+  // Pattern terms and predicate atoms use the tagged `{ Variable: name }`
+  // shape. Filter operands also use `Variable`, but carry a DotPathVar object
+  // rather than a string, so they cannot accidentally introduce a binding.
+  if (typeof record.Variable === 'string') out.add(record.Variable)
+  for (const child of Object.values(record)) collectWhereVariables(child, out)
+}
+
+function collectTaggedHandles(value: unknown, out: Set<string>): void {
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+    for (const item of value) collectTaggedHandles(item, out)
+    return
+  }
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') return
+  const record = value as Record<string, unknown>
+  if (typeof record.Handle === 'string') out.add(record.Handle)
+  for (const child of Object.values(record)) collectTaggedHandles(child, out)
+}
+
+/**
+  * One source statement may lower to several clauses; `ASSERT` is the case.
+  *
+  * `seq` is the clause's position in its plan, used only to keep synthetic
+  * handles distinct between two handle-less ASSERTs in the same transaction.
+  */
+function lowerMutationClause(
+  stmt: CstMutationClause,
+  seq: number
+): MutationClause[] {
+  switch (stmt.kind) {
+    case 'CreateConceptStatement':
+      return [{ CreateConcept: lowerCreateConcept(stmt) }]
+    case 'UpsertConceptStatement':
+      return [{ UpsertConcept: lowerUpsertConcept(stmt) }]
+    case 'EnsurePropositionStatement':
+      return [{ EnsureProposition: lowerEnsureProposition(stmt) }]
+    case 'AssertStatement':
+      return lowerAssertSugar(stmt, seq)
+    case 'CreateEvidenceStatement':
+      return [{ CreateEvidence: lowerRecordCreate(stmt) }]
+    case 'CreateAssertionStatement':
+      return [{ CreateAssertion: lowerRecordCreate(stmt) }]
+    case 'CreateActivityStatement':
+      return [{ CreateActivity: lowerRecordCreate(stmt) }]
+    case 'UpdateStatement':
+      return [{ Update: lowerUpdate(stmt) }]
+    case 'RetractAssertionStatement':
+      return [
+        {
+          RetractAssertion: {
+            target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+            where_clauses: stmt.where ? lowerWhere(stmt.where) : null,
+            limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+            expect_state: stmt.expectState
+              ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectState.value)
+              : null
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    case 'SupersedeAssertionStatement':
+      return [
+        {
+          SupersedeAssertion: {
+            target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+            by: lowerElementRef(stmt.by),
+            expect_state: stmt.expectState
+              ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectState.value)
+              : null
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    case 'CorrectEvidenceStatement':
+      return [
+        {
+          CorrectEvidence: {
+            target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+            by: lowerElementRef(stmt.by),
+            expect_state: stmt.expectState
+              ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectState.value)
+              : null
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    case 'TransitionActivityStatement':
+      return [{ TransitionActivity: lowerTransition(stmt) }]
+    case 'SetRetentionStatement':
+      return [
+        {
+          SetRetention: {
+            target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+            values: lowerAssignments(stmt.assignments, null),
+            where_clauses: stmt.where ? lowerWhere(stmt.where) : null,
+            limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+            expect_version: stmt.expectVersion
+              ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectVersion.value)
+              : null
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    case 'ArchiveStatement':
+      return [{ Archive: lowerRemoval(stmt) }]
+    case 'TombstoneStatement':
+      return [{ Tombstone: lowerRemoval(stmt) }]
+    case 'PurgeStatement':
+      return [{ Purge: lowerPurge(stmt) }]
+    case 'MergeConceptStatement':
+      return [
+        {
+          MergeConcept: {
+            source: lowerElementRef(stmt.source),
+            into: lowerElementRef(stmt.into),
+            where_clauses: stmt.where ? lowerWhere(stmt.where) : null,
+            expect_version: stmt.expectVersion
+              ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectVersion.value)
+              : null
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerCreateConcept(stmt: CreateConceptStatement): ConceptCreate {
+  return {
+    handle: varName(stmt.handle.name, stmt.handle.range),
+    type: stmt.type ? lowerSymbol(stmt.type.value) : null,
+    client_key: stmt.clientKey ? lowerScalar(stmt.clientKey.value) : null,
+    name: stmt.name ? lowerScalar(stmt.name.value) : null,
+    set_fields: stmt.setFields
+      ? lowerAssignments(stmt.setFields.assignments, null)
+      : null,
+    set_attributes: stmt.setAttributes
+      ? lowerAssignments(stmt.setAttributes.assignments, null)
+      : null,
+    set_facets: stmt.setFacets.map((f) => lowerFacet(f, null)),
+    set_structural: stmt.setStructural
+      ? lowerStructural(stmt.setStructural, null)
+      : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerUpsertConcept(stmt: UpsertConceptStatement): ConceptUpsert {
+  const match = stmt.match ? lowerObjectMatcher(stmt.match.pattern) : null
+
+  // Identity for an upsert is `id` or `key`; a name-only match is forbidden
+  // because names are mutable grounding state with duplicates allowed, so
+  // "the Concept named X" can silently address a different node over time.
+  if (match) {
+    const fields = Object.keys(match)
+    const hasIdentity = fields.includes('id') || fields.includes('key')
+    if (!hasIdentity) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        'UPSERT CONCEPT must match on a stable identity: add {id: ...} or {key: ...} — ' +
+          'name is mutable grounding state and never identifies a Concept',
+        stmt.match!.range
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    handle: varName(stmt.handle.name, stmt.handle.range),
+    match,
+    expect_version: stmt.expectVersion
+      ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectVersion.value)
+      : null,
+    set_fields: stmt.setFields
+      ? lowerAssignments(stmt.setFields.assignments, null)
+      : null,
+    set_attributes: stmt.setAttributes
+      ? lowerAssignments(stmt.setAttributes.assignments, null)
+      : null,
+    set_facets: stmt.setFacets.map((f) => lowerFacet(f, null)),
+    unset_attributes: stmt.unsetAttributes
+      ? lowerUnsetFields(stmt.unsetAttributes.fields)
+      : null,
+    unset_facets: stmt.unsetFacets.map((f) => ({
+      facet: lowerSymbol(f.facet),
+      fields: lowerUnsetFields(f.fields)
+    })),
+    set_structural: stmt.setStructural
+      ? lowerStructural(stmt.setStructural, null)
+      : null,
+    unset_structural: stmt.unsetStructural
+      ? lowerStructuralRemovals(stmt.unsetStructural, null)
+      : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerEnsureProposition(
+  stmt: EnsurePropositionStatement
+): EnsureProposition {
+  const triple = requireStructuralTuple(stmt.tuple, 'ENSURE PROPOSITION')
+  return {
+    handle: stmt.handle ? varName(stmt.handle.name, stmt.handle.range) : null,
+    ...triple,
+    expect_version: stmt.expectVersion
+      ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectVersion.value)
+      : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerRecordCreate(
+  stmt:
+    | CreateEvidenceStatement
+    | CreateAssertionStatement
+    | CreateActivityStatement
+): RecordCreate {
+  const fields = stmt.setFields
+    ? lowerAssignments(stmt.setFields.assignments, null)
+    : null
+  return {
+    handle: varName(stmt.handle.name, stmt.handle.range),
+    client_key: stmt.clientKey ? lowerScalar(stmt.clientKey.value) : null,
+    set_fields: fields,
+    set_facets: stmt.setFacets.map((f) => lowerFacet(f, null)),
+    set_structural: stmt.setStructural
+      ? lowerStructural(stmt.setStructural, null)
+      : null
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Desugars `ASSERT` into exactly what the Spec defines it as (§55.1):
+ * `ENSURE PROPOSITION` + `CREATE ASSERTION`, plus `SUPERSEDE` when written.
+ *
+ * Nothing else is fabricated. The sugar exists because recording an
+ * attributed claim is the hot path, not because it means anything new.
+ */
+function lowerAssertSugar(
+  stmt: AssertStatement,
+  seq: number
+): MutationClause[] {
+  const members = new Map<string, Expression>()
+  for (const entry of stmt.assignments.entries) {
+    if (members.has(entry.key)) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(`duplicate ASSERT member ${entry.key}`, entry.range)
+    }
+    members.set(entry.key, entry.value)
+  }
+
+  const known = new Set([
+    'by',
+    'mode',
+    'stance',
+    'confidence',
+    'at',
+    'valid',
+    'evidence',
+    'key'
+  ])
+  for (const [key, value] of members) {
+    if (!known.has(key)) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${key} is not an ASSERT member; expected one of ${[...known].join(', ')}`,
+        value.range
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  // `by` names whose stance this is, and `mode` says how it was arrived at.
+  // Neither has a safe default: guessing the actor would forge attribution,
+  // and guessing the mode would turn hearsay into observation.
+  const by = members.get('by')
+  if (!by) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'ASSERT requires by: <semantic actor> — an Assertion without an assertor has no epistemic owner',
+      stmt.assignments.range
+    )
+  }
+  const mode = members.get('mode')
+  if (!mode) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'ASSERT requires mode: one of observed, stated, inferred, predicted, hypothetical, imported',
+      stmt.assignments.range
+    )
+  }
+
+  // The Proposition handle is synthesized, so it must collide with neither a
+  // user handle nor another ASSERT in the same plan. `#` cannot occur in a KIP
+  // identifier, which rules out the first; `seq` is the clause position, which
+  // rules out the second — two handle-less ASSERTs in one MUTATE are ordinary
+  // input, not a name clash.
+  const assertionHandle = stmt.handle
+    ? varName(stmt.handle.name, stmt.handle.range)
+    : `#assert${seq}`
+  const propositionHandle = `${assertionHandle}#proposition`
+
+  const triple = requireStructuralTuple(stmt.tuple, 'ASSERT')
+
+  const clauses: MutationClause[] = [
+    {
+      EnsureProposition: {
+        handle: propositionHandle,
+        ...triple,
+        expect_version: null
+      }
+    }
+  ]
+
+  const fields: Assignments = [
+    ['proposition', { Handle: propositionHandle }],
+    ['asserted_by', lowerMutationValue(by, null)],
+    ['mode', lowerMutationValue(mode, null)],
+    // The normative expansion carries a stance even when the source omitted
+    // one, so the default is materialized here rather than left for the
+    // engine to re-derive.
+    [
+      'stance',
+      members.has('stance')
+        ? lowerMutationValue(members.get('stance')!, null)
+        : { Value: { String: 'support' } }
+    ]
+  ]
+  const optional: [string, string][] = [
+    ['confidence', 'confidence'],
+    ['at', 'asserted_at'],
+    ['valid', 'valid_time']
+  ]
+  for (const [member, field] of optional) {
+    const value = members.get(member)
+    if (value) fields.push([field, lowerMutationValue(value, null)])
+  }
+
+  // `evidence` is a reserved Core *structural* field, not a plain one: the
+  // normative desugaring emits `("evidence", ref) {role: "support"}`. An array
+  // cites several artifacts, so it becomes one role-qualified edge each.
+  const evidenceExpr = members.get('evidence')
+  const evidenceEdges: StructuralEdge[] =
+    evidenceExpr === undefined
+      ? []
+      : (evidenceExpr.kind === 'ArrayLiteral'
+          ? evidenceExpr.elements
+          : [evidenceExpr]
+        ).map((ref) => ({
+          field: { Name: 'evidence' },
+          value: lowerMutationValue(ref, null),
+          options: { role: { Value: { String: 'support' } } }
+        }))
+
+  const clientKeyExpr = members.get('key')
+  clauses.push({
+    CreateAssertion: {
+      handle: assertionHandle,
+      client_key: clientKeyExpr ? lowerScalarExpression(clientKeyExpr) : null,
+      set_fields: fields,
+      set_facets: [],
+      set_structural: evidenceEdges.length > 0 ? evidenceEdges : null
+    }
+  })
+
+  if (stmt.superseding) {
+    clauses.push({
+      SupersedeAssertion: {
+        target: lowerElementRef(stmt.superseding),
+        by: { Handle: assertionHandle },
+        expect_state: null
+      }
+    })
+  }
+
+  return clauses
+}
+
+function lowerTransition(stmt: TransitionActivityStatement) {
+  let setFields: Assignments | null = null
+  let setStructural: StructuralEdge[] | null = null
+  for (const clause of stmt.finalize) {
+    if (clause.kind === 'SetFieldsClause') {
+      if (setFields) {
+        throw invalidSyntax('duplicate SET FIELDS clause', clause.range)
+      }
+      setFields = lowerAssignments(clause.assignments, null)
+    } else {
+      if (setStructural) {
+        throw invalidSyntax('duplicate SET STRUCTURAL clause', clause.range)
+      }
+      setStructural = lowerStructural(clause, null)
+    }
+  }
+  return {
+    target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+    to: lowerScalar(stmt.to),
+    set_fields: setFields,
+    set_structural: setStructural,
+    expect_state: stmt.expectState ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectState.value) : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerRemoval(stmt: ArchiveStatement | TombstoneStatement) {
+  return {
+    target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+    where_clauses: stmt.where ? lowerWhere(stmt.where) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+    expect_state: stmt.expectState ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectState.value) : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerPurge(stmt: PurgeStatement) {
+  if (stmt.confirm.parsed !== 'PURGE') {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'PURGE must be confirmed with the exact literal "PURGE"',
+      stmt.confirm.range
+    )
+  }
+  return {
+    target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+    where_clauses: stmt.where ? lowerWhere(stmt.where) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+    reference_policy: stmt.referencePolicy
+      ? lowerScalar(stmt.referencePolicy)
+      : null,
+    confirm: 'PURGE'
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// UPDATE
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerUpdate(stmt: CstUpdateStatement) {
+  if (stmt.actions.length === 0) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'UPDATE requires at least one SET or UNSET action',
+      stmt.range
+    )
+  }
+
+  const target = lowerElementRef(stmt.target)
+  const targetVar = 'Handle' in target ? target.Handle : null
+  const kind =
+    targetVar && stmt.where ? boundKindOf(targetVar, stmt.where.patterns) : null
+
+  const actions = stmt.actions.map((action) =>
+    lowerUpdateAction(action, targetVar, kind)
+  )
+
+  return {
+    target,
+    expect_version: stmt.expectVersion
+      ? lowerScalar(stmt.expectVersion.value)
+      : null,
+    actions,
+    where_clauses: stmt.where ? lowerWhere(stmt.where) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null
+  }
+}
+
+/** Which Core kind the UPDATE target is bound to, when the WHERE block says. */
+type BoundKind = 'assertion' | 'evidence' | 'proposition' | 'concept' | 'activity'
+
+function boundKindOf(
+  variable: string,
+  patterns: WherePattern[]
+): BoundKind | null {
+  for (const pattern of patterns) {
+    switch (pattern.kind) {
+      case 'AssertionPattern':
+        if (varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range) === variable) {
+          return 'assertion'
+        }
+        break
+      case 'EvidencePattern':
+        if (varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range) === variable) {
+          return 'evidence'
+        }
+        break
+      case 'ActivityPattern':
+        if (varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range) === variable) {
+          return 'activity'
+        }
+        break
+      case 'ConceptPattern':
+        if (varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range) === variable) {
+          return 'concept'
+        }
+        break
+      case 'PropositionPattern':
+        if (
+          pattern.variable &&
+          varName(pattern.variable.name, pattern.variable.range) === variable
+        ) {
+          return 'proposition'
+        }
+        break
+      case 'NotClause':
+      case 'OptionalClause':
+      case 'UnionClause': {
+        const nested = boundKindOf(variable, pattern.patterns)
+        if (nested) return nested
+        break
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+function lowerUpdateAction(
+  action: CstUpdateAction,
+  targetVar: string | null,
+  kind: BoundKind | null
+): UpdateAction {
+  switch (action.kind) {
+    case 'SetFieldsClause': {
+      const assignments = lowerAssignments(action.assignments, targetVar)
+      for (const entry of action.assignments.entries) {
+        guardImmutableField(entry.key, kind, entry.range)
+      }
+      return { SetFields: assignments }
+    }
+    case 'SetAttributesClause': {
+      const assignments = lowerAssignments(action.assignments, targetVar)
+      for (const entry of action.assignments.entries) {
+        guardProtectedField(entry.key, entry.range)
+      }
+      return { SetAttributes: assignments }
+    }
+    case 'SetFacetClause':
+      return { SetFacet: lowerFacet(action, targetVar) }
+    case 'UnsetAttributesClause':
+      return { UnsetAttributes: lowerUnsetFields(action.fields) }
+    case 'UnsetFacetClause':
+      return {
+        UnsetFacet: {
+          facet: lowerSymbol(action.facet),
+          fields: lowerUnsetFields(action.fields)
+        }
+      }
+    case 'SetStructuralClause':
+      guardStructuralMutation('SET STRUCTURAL', kind, action.range)
+      return { SetStructural: lowerStructural(action, targetVar) }
+    case 'UnsetStructuralClause':
+      guardStructuralMutation('UNSET STRUCTURAL', kind, action.range)
+      return { UnsetStructural: lowerStructuralRemovals(action, targetVar) }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Structural mutation reaches mutable Concept topology only (Spec §17.5).
+ * Record kinds keep their topology: an Assertion's citations and an
+ * Evidence's lineage are immutable payload, a Proposition has no structural
+ * fields, and a pending Activity finalizes through TRANSITION ACTIVITY.
+ */
+function guardStructuralMutation(
+  verb: string,
+  kind: BoundKind | null,
+  range: Range
+): void {
+  switch (kind) {
+    case 'assertion':
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${verb} cannot change an Assertion's citations: they are immutable payload — record a new Assertion with SUPERSEDING`,
+        range
+      )
+    case 'evidence':
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${verb} cannot change Evidence topology: correct it with CORRECT EVIDENCE :old BY :new`,
+        range
+      )
+    case 'proposition':
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${verb} has no target on a Proposition: a Proposition is its tuple and carries no structural fields`,
+        range
+      )
+    case 'activity':
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${verb} cannot change Activity topology: finalize a pending Activity with TRANSITION ACTIVITY ... SET STRUCTURAL; a terminal Activity is immutable`,
+        range
+      )
+    default:
+      return
+  }
+}
+
+/** Engine-owned state is never author-writable, whatever the element kind. */
+function guardProtectedField(field: string, range: Range): void {
+  if (PROTECTED_FIELDS.has(field)) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${field} is engine-maintained state and cannot be written by a mutation`,
+      range
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+function guardImmutableField(
+  field: string,
+  kind: BoundKind | null,
+  range: Range
+): void {
+  guardProtectedField(field, range)
+
+  if (kind === 'assertion' && ASSERTION_IMMUTABLE.has(field)) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${field} is immutable Assertion payload: record the change as a new Assertion with SUPERSEDING, ` +
+        'never by rewriting the old one',
+      range
+    )
+  }
+  if (kind === 'evidence' && EVIDENCE_IMMUTABLE.has(field)) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${field} is immutable Evidence payload: correct it with CORRECT EVIDENCE :old BY :new`,
+      range
+    )
+  }
+  if (kind === 'proposition' && PROPOSITION_IMMUTABLE.has(field)) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${field} is part of the immutable Proposition tuple: a different tuple is a different Proposition`,
+      range
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Assignments, facets, structural edges
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerAssignments(
+  object: ObjectLiteral,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): Assignments {
+  const seen = new Set<string>()
+  const out: Assignments = []
+  for (const entry of object.entries) {
+    guardProtectedField(entry.key, entry.range)
+    if (seen.has(entry.key)) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(`duplicate assignment for ${entry.key}`, entry.range)
+    }
+    seen.add(entry.key)
+    out.push([entry.key, lowerMutationValue(entry.value, targetVar)])
+  }
+  return out
+}
+
+function lowerFacet(
+  clause: SetFacetClause,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): FacetAssignment {
+  return {
+    facet: lowerSymbol(clause.facet),
+    values: lowerAssignments(clause.assignments, targetVar)
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerStructural(
+  clause: SetStructuralClause,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): StructuralEdge[] {
+  return clause.assignments.map((assignment) => ({
+    field: lowerSymbol(assignment.field),
+    value: lowerMutationValue(assignment.value, targetVar),
+    options: assignment.options ? lowerBoundObject(assignment.options) : null
+  }))
+}
+
+function lowerStructuralRemovals(
+  clause: UnsetStructuralClause,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): StructuralRemoval[] {
+  if (clause.removals.length === 0) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      'UNSET STRUCTURAL removes named references; list at least one (field, target)',
+      clause.range
+    )
+  }
+  return clause.removals.map((removal) => ({
+    field: lowerSymbol(removal.field),
+    value: lowerMutationValue(removal.value, targetVar)
+  }))
+}
+
+function lowerUnsetFields(fields: UnsetField[]): string[] {
+  const seen = new Set<string>()
+  for (const field of fields) {
+    if (seen.has(field.name)) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(`duplicate field ${field.name}`, field.range)
+    }
+    guardProtectedField(field.name, field.range)
+    seen.add(field.name)
+  }
+  return [...seen]
+}
+
+function lowerMutationValue(
+  expr: Expression,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): MutationValue {
+  if (expr.kind === 'FunctionCallExpr') {
+    return { Expr: lowerUpdateExpr(expr, targetVar) }
+  }
+  if (expr.kind === 'AggregateExpr') {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `${expr.name} is an aggregate and cannot appear in an assignment`,
+      expr.range
+    )
+  }
+  return lowerBoundValue(expr, targetVar)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Lowers a `data_value`, keeping structure only where something still needs
+ * binding. A wholly literal subtree collapses to one `Value`, so an engine
+ * that has nothing to substitute never walks a binding tree.
+ */
+function lowerBoundValue(
+  expr: Expression,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): BoundValue {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(expr.name) }
+
+    case 'VariableRef':
+      return { Handle: varName(expr.name, expr.range) }
+
+    case 'FieldAccess': {
+      const path = lowerDotPath(expr)
+      guardOwnField(path, targetVar, expr.range)
+      return { Variable: path }
+    }
+
+    case 'ArrayLiteral':
+      return isFullyLiteral(expr)
+        ? { Value: lowerKipValue(expr) }
+        : { Array: expr.elements.map((e) => lowerBoundValue(e, targetVar)) }
+
+    case 'ObjectLiteral':
+      return isFullyLiteral(expr)
+        ? { Value: lowerKipValue(expr) }
+        : {
+            Object: expr.entries.map(
+              (e) =>
+                [e.key, lowerBoundValue(e.value, targetVar)] as [
+                  string,
+                  BoundValue
+                ]
+            )
+          }
+
+    default:
+      return { Value: lowerKipValue(expr) }
+  }
+}
+
+/** True when nothing in the subtree needs binding at execution time. */
+function isFullyLiteral(expr: Expression): boolean {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'StringLiteral':
+    case 'NumberLiteral':
+    case 'BooleanLiteral':
+    case 'NullLiteral':
+      return true
+    case 'ArrayLiteral':
+      return expr.elements.every(isFullyLiteral)
+    case 'ObjectLiteral':
+      return expr.entries.every((e) => isFullyLiteral(e.value))
+    case 'UnaryExpression':
+      return expr.operator === '-' && isFullyLiteral(expr.operand)
+    default:
+      return false
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerUpdateExpr(
+  expr: Expression,
+  targetVar: string | null
+): UpdateExpr {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'FunctionCallExpr': {
+      const func = UPDATE_FUNCTIONS.get(expr.name.toUpperCase())
+      if (!func) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          `${expr.name} is not a KIP update function; expected ADD, MUL, CLAMP or COALESCE`,
+          expr.range
+        )
+      }
+      const arity = UPDATE_ARITY[func]
+      if (expr.args.length !== arity) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          `${expr.name} takes ${arity} arguments, found ${expr.args.length}`,
+          expr.range
+        )
+      }
+      return {
+        Function: {
+          func,
+          args: expr.args.map((arg) => lowerUpdateExpr(arg, targetVar))
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(expr.name) }
+
+    case 'NumberLiteral':
+      return { Number: expr.value }
+
+    case 'UnaryExpression':
+      if (expr.operator === '-' && expr.operand.kind === 'NumberLiteral') {
+        return { Number: -expr.operand.value }
+      }
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `expected a number, a parameter, the target's own field or a registered function, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+
+    case 'VariableRef':
+    case 'FieldAccess': {
+      const path = lowerDotPath(expr)
+      guardOwnField(path, targetVar, expr.range)
+      return { Variable: path }
+    }
+
+    default:
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `expected a number, a parameter, the target's own field or a registered function, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * An update expression may read only the element being updated.
+ *
+ * Reading another variable would make the result depend on a join the
+ * statement never declared, so each matched element must be computable from
+ * its own row.
+ */
+function guardOwnField(
+  path: DotPathVar,
+  targetVar: string | null,
+  range: Range
+): void {
+  if (targetVar !== null && path.var !== targetVar) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(
+      `an update expression may read only the target ?${targetVar}, found ?${path.var}`,
+      range
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// META
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerMeta(stmt: Statement): MetaCommand {
+  switch (stmt.kind) {
+    case 'DescribeStatement':
+      return { Describe: lowerDescribe(stmt) }
+    case 'ListStatement':
+      return { List: lowerList(stmt) }
+    case 'SearchStatement':
+      return { Search: lowerSearch(stmt) }
+    case 'VerifyStatement':
+      return {
+        Verify: {
+          target: VERIFY_TARGETS[stmt.target],
+          value: lowerScalar(stmt.value)
+        }
+      }
+    case 'ValidateStatement':
+      return {
+        Validate: {
+          target: VALIDATE_TARGETS[stmt.target],
+          value: lowerScalar(stmt.value),
+          options: stmt.options ? lowerBoundObject(stmt.options) : null
+        }
+      }
+    case 'PreviewStatement':
+      return {
+        Preview:
+          stmt.target === 'KML'
+            ? { Kml: lowerScalar(stmt.value) }
+            : {
+                ImportCapsule: {
+                  capsule: lowerScalar(stmt.value),
+                  into: lowerScalar(stmt.into!)
+                }
+              }
+      }
+    case 'HistoryStatement':
+      return { History: lowerHistory(stmt) }
+    case 'ChangesStatement':
+      return {
+        Changes:
+          stmt.mode === 'SINCE'
+            ? {
+                Since: {
+                  cursor: lowerScalar(stmt.value),
+                  limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null
+                }
+              }
+            : {
+                AfterSeq: {
+                  seq: lowerScalar(stmt.value),
+                  limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null
+                }
+              }
+      }
+    case 'SnapshotStatement':
+      return { Snapshot: { as_of: stmt.asOf ? lowerAsOf(stmt.asOf) : null } }
+    case 'ExportCapsuleStatement':
+      return { ExportCapsule: lowerExport(stmt) }
+    default:
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `${stmt.kind} is not an executable KIP command`,
+        stmt.range
+      )
+  }
+}
+
+const VERIFY_TARGETS: Record<VerifyStatement['target'], VerifyTarget> = {
+  CAPSULE: 'Capsule',
+  SCHEMA_PACKAGE: 'SchemaPackage',
+  RECEIPT: 'Receipt',
+  BLOB: 'Blob',
+  CHECKPOINT: 'Checkpoint'
+}
+
+const VALIDATE_TARGETS: Record<ValidateStatement['target'], ValidateTarget> = {
+  KQL: 'Kql',
+  KML: 'Kml',
+  CAPSULE: 'Capsule',
+  SCHEMA_PACKAGE: 'SchemaPackage',
+  IMPORT_PLAN: 'ImportPlan'
+}
+
+const LIST_TARGETS: Record<ListStatement['target'], ListTarget> = {
+  SPACES: 'Spaces',
+  SCHEMA_PACKAGES: 'SchemaPackages',
+  TYPES: 'Types',
+  PREDICATES: 'Predicates',
+  FACETS: 'Facets',
+  STRUCTURAL_FIELDS: 'StructuralFields',
+  EPISTEMIC_POLICIES: 'EpistemicPolicies'
+}
+
+const SEARCH_TARGETS: Record<SearchStatement['searchKind'], SearchTarget> = {
+  CONCEPT: 'Concept',
+  PROPOSITION: 'Proposition',
+  ASSERTION: 'Assertion',
+  EVIDENCE: 'Evidence',
+  ACTIVITY: 'Activity',
+  COGNITION: 'Cognition'
+}
+
+function lowerDescribe(stmt: DescribeStatement): DescribeTarget {
+  const value = () => {
+    if (!stmt.value) {
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `DESCRIBE ${stmt.target} requires an operand`,
+        stmt.range
+      )
+    }
+    return lowerScalar(stmt.value)
+  }
+
+  switch (stmt.target) {
+    case 'PRIMER':
+      return { Primer: { mode: stmt.mode ? lowerScalar(stmt.mode) : null } }
+    case 'PROTOCOL':
+      return 'Protocol'
+    case 'EXECUTION_CONTEXT':
+      return 'ExecutionContext'
+    case 'CAPABILITIES':
+      return 'Capabilities'
+    case 'SPACE':
+      return { Space: { value: stmt.value ? lowerScalar(stmt.value) : null } }
+    case 'SCHEMA_ENVIRONMENT':
+      return {
+        SchemaEnvironment: { as_of: stmt.asOf ? lowerAsOf(stmt.asOf) : null }
+      }
+    case 'PACKAGE':
+      return { Package: value() }
+    case 'TYPE':
+      return { Type: value() }
+    case 'PREDICATE':
+      return { Predicate: value() }
+    case 'FACET':
+      return { Facet: value() }
+    case 'STRUCTURAL_FIELD':
+      return { StructuralField: value() }
+    case 'COMPATIBILITY':
+      if (!stmt.from || !stmt.to) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          'DESCRIBE COMPATIBILITY requires FROM and TO',
+          stmt.range
+        )
+      }
+      return {
+        Compatibility: { from: lowerScalar(stmt.from), to: lowerScalar(stmt.to) }
+      }
+    case 'ERROR':
+      return { Error: value() }
+    case 'TRANSACTION':
+      return { Transaction: value() }
+    case 'TRANSACTION_BY_IDEMPOTENCY_KEY':
+      return { TransactionByIdempotencyKey: value() }
+    case 'SNAPSHOT':
+      return { Snapshot: { as_of: stmt.asOf ? lowerAsOf(stmt.asOf) : null } }
+    case 'CAPSULE':
+      return { Capsule: value() }
+    case 'EPISTEMIC_POLICY':
+      return {
+        EpistemicPolicy: { value: stmt.value ? lowerScalar(stmt.value) : null }
+      }
+    case 'PROJECTION_CAPABILITY':
+      return 'ProjectionCapability'
+    case 'TRUST':
+      return { Trust: { value: stmt.value ? lowerScalar(stmt.value) : null } }
+    case 'ACCESS':
+      return {
+        Access: { with: stmt.with ? lowerBoundObject(stmt.with) : null }
+      }
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerList(stmt: ListStatement) {
+  return {
+    target: LIST_TARGETS[stmt.target],
+    status: stmt.status ? lowerScalar(stmt.status) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+    cursor: stmt.cursor ? lowerScalar(stmt.cursor.value) : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerSearch(stmt: SearchStatement) {
+  return {
+    target: SEARCH_TARGETS[stmt.searchKind],
+    term: lowerScalar(stmt.term),
+    with_type: stmt.withType ? lowerScalar(stmt.withType) : null,
+    with_predicate: stmt.withPredicate ? lowerScalar(stmt.withPredicate) : null,
+    mode: stmt.mode ? lowerScalar(stmt.mode) : null,
+    threshold: stmt.threshold ? lowerScalar(stmt.threshold) : null,
+    as_of_seq: stmt.asOfSeq ? lowerScalar(stmt.asOfSeq) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+    cursor: stmt.cursor ? lowerScalar(stmt.cursor.value) : null
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerHistory(stmt: HistoryStatement): HistoryCommand {
+  const paging = {
+    from_seq: stmt.fromSeq ? lowerScalar(stmt.fromSeq) : null,
+    to_seq: stmt.toSeq ? lowerScalar(stmt.toSeq) : null,
+    limit: stmt.limit ? lowerScalar(stmt.limit.value) : null,
+    cursor: stmt.cursor ? lowerScalar(stmt.cursor.value) : null
+  }
+  if (stmt.target === 'SPACE') {
+    return { Space: paging }
+  }
+  if (!stmt.value) {
+    throw invalidSyntax('HISTORY ELEMENT requires an element id', stmt.range)
+  }
+  return { Element: { value: lowerScalar(stmt.value), ...paging } }
+}
+
+function lowerExport(stmt: ExportCapsuleStatement) {
+  return {
+    target: lowerElementRef(stmt.target),
+    where_clauses: lowerWhere(stmt.where),
+    options: stmt.options ? lowerBoundObject(stmt.options) : null,
+    as_of: stmt.asOf ? lowerAsOf(stmt.asOf) : null
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Leaf conversions
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function lowerScalar(value: ScalarValue): Scalar {
+  if (value.kind === 'ParameterRef') {
+    return { Param: paramName(value.name) }
+  }
+  return { Literal: lowerKipValue(value) }
+}
+
+/** An ASSERT member used where the grammar needs a scalar, e.g. `key:`. */
+function lowerScalarExpression(expr: Expression): Scalar {
+  if (expr.kind === 'ParameterRef') {
+    return { Param: paramName(expr.name) }
+  }
+  if (
+    expr.kind === 'StringLiteral' ||
+    expr.kind === 'NumberLiteral' ||
+    expr.kind === 'BooleanLiteral' ||
+    expr.kind === 'NullLiteral'
+  ) {
+    return { Literal: lowerKipValue(expr) }
+  }
+  throw invalidSyntax(
+    `expected a literal or :parameter, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+    expr.range
+  )
+}
+
+function lowerSymbol(symbol: SchemaSymbol): SymbolRef {
+  return symbol.kind === 'ParameterRef'
+    ? { Param: paramName(symbol.name) }
+    : { Name: symbol.parsed }
+}
+
+function lowerElementRef(ref: TargetRef): ElementRef {
+  switch (ref.kind) {
+    case 'VariableRef':
+      return { Handle: varName(ref.name, ref.range) }
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return { Param: paramName(ref.name) }
+    case 'StringLiteral':
+      return { Id: ref.parsed }
+  }
+}
+
+function lowerKipValue(expr: Expression): KipValue {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'StringLiteral':
+      return { String: expr.parsed }
+    case 'NumberLiteral':
+      if (!Number.isFinite(expr.value)) {
+        throw invalidSyntax(
+          `only finite numbers are valid KIP literals, found ${expr.raw}`,
+          expr.range
+        )
+      }
+      return { Number: expr.value }
+    case 'BooleanLiteral':
+      return { Bool: expr.value }
+    case 'NullLiteral':
+      return 'Null'
+    case 'ArrayLiteral':
+      return { Array: expr.elements.map(lowerKipValue) }
+    case 'ObjectLiteral':
+    case 'ObjectPattern': {
+      const entries =
+        expr.kind === 'ObjectLiteral' ? expr.entries : expr.members
+      const out: Record<string, KipValue> = {}
+      for (const entry of entries) {
+        out[entry.key] = lowerKipValue(entry.value)
+      }
+      return { Object: out }
+    }
+    case 'UnaryExpression':
+      if (expr.operator === '-' && expr.operand.kind === 'NumberLiteral') {
+        return { Number: -expr.operand.value }
+      }
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `expected a value, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+    default:
+      throw invalidSyntax(
+        `expected a value, found ${describeExpression(expr)}`,
+        expr.range
+      )
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Option and epistemic blocks are `data_value`s, not plain JSON: the grammar
+ * lets a parameter stand anywhere inside them.
+ */
+function lowerBoundObject(object: ObjectLiteral): Record<string, BoundValue> {
+  const out: Record<string, BoundValue> = {}
+  for (const entry of object.entries) {
+    out[entry.key] = lowerBoundValue(entry.value, null)
+  }
+  return out
+}
+
+/** Strips the `?` sigil; the executable form carries bare names. */
+function varName(name: string, range: Range): string {
+  if (!name.startsWith('?')) {
+    throw invalidSyntax(`expected a variable, found ${name}`, range)
+  }
+  return name.slice(1)
+}
+
+/** Strips the `:` sigil; the executable form carries bare names. */
+function paramName(name: string): string {
+  return name.startsWith(':') ? name.slice(1) : name
+}
+
+function describeExpression(expr: Expression): string {
+  switch (expr.kind) {
+    case 'ParameterRef':
+      return `the parameter ${expr.name}`
+    case 'VariableRef':
+      return `the variable ${expr.name}`
+    case 'FunctionCallExpr':
+      return `a call to ${expr.name}`
+    case 'AggregateExpr':
+      return `the aggregate ${expr.name}`
+    case 'BinaryExpression':
+      return `the operator ${expr.operator}`
+    default:
+      return expr.kind
+  }
+}