arcane-os 0.3.0 → 0.3.2

package/src/release-bundle.mjs

@@ -1,28 +1,19 @@
-import {createHash,randomBytes} from 'node:crypto';
-import {once} from 'node:events';
-import {constants as FS_CONSTANTS} from 'node:fs';
 import {
-    link,
     lstat,
     mkdir,
-    open,
+    readFile,
+    readdir,
     realpath,
-    rm
+    rename,
+    rm,
+    writeFile
 } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import path from 'node:path';
-import {Readable,Transform,Writable} from 'node:stream';
-import {pipeline} from 'node:stream/promises';
-import {createDeflateRaw,createGunzip} from 'node:zlib';
-
-import {appDescriptorSha256,projectPackageManifest,validateAppDescriptor} from './app-descriptor.mjs';
+import {gzipSync,gunzipSync} from 'node:zlib';
+import {validateAppDescriptor} from './app-descriptor.mjs';
 import {SDK_NAME,SDK_VERSION} from './constants.mjs';
 import {ArcaneError,ERROR_CODES,throwIfAborted} from './errors.mjs';
-import {
-    authenticateAppReleaseAuthority,
-    RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME,
-    PACKAGER_VERSION,
-    parseSemver
-} from './packager/core.mjs';
+import {RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME,PACKAGER_VERSION,parseSemver} from './packager/core.mjs';
 
 export const APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME='ARCANE_APP_BUNDLE.json';
 export const APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME='arcane-app.json';
@@ -31,2493 +22,389 @@ export const APP_BUNDLE_KIND='arcane-app-release-bundle';
 export const APP_BUNDLE_FORMAT='ustar+gzip';
 export const APP_BUNDLE_SCHEMA_VERSION=1;
 export const APP_BUNDLE_EXTENSION='.arcane-app.tar.gz';
-export const APP_BUNDLE_SUPPORTED_SDK_VERSIONS=Object.freeze([SDK_VERSION]);
+export const APP_BUNDLE_SUPPORTED_SDK_VERSIONS=[SDK_VERSION];
 
-export const APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS=Object.freeze({
-    maxCompressedBytes:512*1024*1024,
-    maxExpandedBytes:1024*1024*1024,
-    maxEntries:16384,
-    maxPayloadFiles:16381,
-    maxEntryBytes:512*1024*1024,
-    maxControlBytes:4*1024*1024,
-    maxPathBytes:256,
-    maxExpansionRatio:200,
-    expansionSlackBytes:16*1024*1024
-});
-
-const TAR_BLOCK_BYTES=512;
-const TAR_END_BYTES=TAR_BLOCK_BYTES*2;
+const TAR_BLOCK_SIZE=512;
+const TAR_END_SIZE=TAR_BLOCK_SIZE*2;
 const ARCHIVE_MODE=0o644;
-const GZIP_HEADER=Buffer.from([0x1f,0x8b,0x08,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x02,0x03]);
-const READ_ONLY_NO_FOLLOW=FS_CONSTANTS.O_RDONLY|(FS_CONSTANTS.O_NOFOLLOW??0);
-const SHA256_PATTERN=/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/u;
-const APP_ID_PATTERN=/^[a-z][a-z0-9]*(?:-[a-z0-9]+)*$/u;
 const WINDOWS_RESERVED_PATTERN=
     /^(?:con|prn|aux|nul|clock\$|conin\$|conout\$|com[1-9¹²³]|lpt[1-9¹²³])(?:[.]|$)/iu;
 const WINDOWS_UNSAFE_FILENAME_CHARACTER_PATTERN=/[<>"|?*]/u;
-const PORTABLE_RESERVED_FILENAME_PATTERN=WINDOWS_RESERVED_PATTERN;
 const CONTROL_PATHS=new Set([
     APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME,
     APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,
     APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH
 ]);
-const textDecoder=new TextDecoder('utf-8',{fatal:true});
 
-function fail(message,code=ERROR_CODES.integrityFailed,details){
+function fail(message,code='ARCANE_BUNDLE_INVALID',details){
     throw new ArcaneError(code,message,{details});
 }
 
-function appendErrorWarning(error,warning){
-    try{
-        error.message=`${String(error?.message??error)} ${warning}`;
-    }catch{}
-}
-
 async function emit(onEvent,event){
-    await onEvent?.(Object.freeze(event));
-}
-
-function sha256(value){
-    return createHash('sha256').update(value).digest('hex');
-}
-
-function canonicalJsonBytes(value){
-    return Buffer.from(`${JSON.stringify(value,null,2)}\n`,'utf8');
+    if(typeof onEvent==='function')await onEvent(event);
 }
 
 function compareText(left,right){
-    return Buffer.compare(Buffer.from(String(left),'utf8'),Buffer.from(String(right),'utf8'));
+    const a=String(left);
+    const b=String(right);
+    return a<b?-1:a>b?1:0;
 }
 
 function isPlainObject(value){
-    if(value===null||typeof value!=='object'||Array.isArray(value))return false;
-    const prototype=Object.getPrototypeOf(value);
-    return prototype===Object.prototype||prototype===null;
+    return value!==null&&typeof value==='object'&&!Array.isArray(value);
 }
 
-function assertExactKeys(value,keys,label){
-    if(!isPlainObject(value))fail(`${label} must be a JSON object.`);
-    const actual=Object.keys(value);
-    if(JSON.stringify(actual)!==JSON.stringify(keys)){
-        fail(`${label} must contain exactly these keys in canonical order: ${keys.join(', ')}.`);
-    }
-}
-
-function assertInteger(value,{minimum=0,maximum=Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,label}){
-    if(!Number.isSafeInteger(value)||value<minimum||value>maximum){
-        fail(`${label} must be an integer from ${minimum} through ${maximum}.`);
-    }
-}
-
-function assertSha256(value,label){
-    if(typeof value!=='string'||!SHA256_PATTERN.test(value)){
-        fail(`${label} must be a lowercase SHA-256 digest.`);
-    }
+function copyJson(value){
+    return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(value));
 }
 
 function pathKey(value){
-    return value.normalize('NFC').toLowerCase();
-}
-
-function registerPortablePathTopology(topology,filePath,label){
-    const segments=filePath.split('/');
-    let prefix='';
-    for(let index=0;index<segments.length;index+=1){
-        prefix=prefix?`${prefix}/${segments[index]}`:segments[index];
-        const key=pathKey(prefix);
-        const kind=index===segments.length-1?'file':'directory';
-        const existingKind=topology.kinds.get(key);
-        if(existingKind&&existingKind!==kind){
-            fail(`${label} uses ${prefix} as both a file and a directory.`);
-        }
-        const spelling=topology.spellings.get(key);
-        if(spelling!==undefined&&spelling!==prefix){
-            fail(`${label} has a case-colliding path prefix: ${spelling} and ${prefix}.`);
-        }
-        if(existingKind==='file'&&kind==='file'){
-            fail(`${label} has a duplicate path: ${prefix}.`);
-        }
-        topology.kinds.set(key,kind);
-        topology.spellings.set(key,prefix);
-    }
-}
-
-function validatePortablePathTopology(filePaths,label){
-    const topology={kinds:new Map(),spellings:new Map()};
-    for(const filePath of filePaths)registerPortablePathTopology(topology,filePath,label);
+    return value.normalize('NFC').toLocaleLowerCase('en-US');
 }
 
 export function validateAppBundlePath(value,label='bundle path'){
-    if(typeof value!=='string'||!value||value!==value.normalize('NFC')){
-        fail(`${label} must be a nonempty NFC-normalized string.`);
-    }
-    const bytes=Buffer.byteLength(value,'utf8');
-    if(bytes>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxPathBytes){
-        fail(`${label} exceeds the ${APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxPathBytes}-byte USTAR limit.`);
-    }
-    if(value.startsWith('/')||value.startsWith('\\')||value.includes('\\')
-        ||value.includes(':')||/[\u0000-\u001f\u007f]/u.test(value)){
-        fail(`${label} is not a canonical relative archive path.`);
+    if(typeof value!=='string'||!value||value!==value.normalize('NFC')
+        ||value.includes('\\')||value.startsWith('/')||/^[a-z]:/iu.test(value)
+        ||/[\u0000-\u001f\u007f]/u.test(value)){
+        fail(`Unsafe ${label}: ${String(value)}.`);
     }
     const segments=value.split('/');
-    if(segments.some(segment=>!segment||segment==='.'||segment==='..'
-        ||WINDOWS_UNSAFE_FILENAME_CHARACTER_PATTERN.test(segment)
-        ||/[. ]$/u.test(segment)||WINDOWS_RESERVED_PATTERN.test(segment))){
-        fail(`${label} contains an unsafe path segment.`);
+    for(const segment of segments){
+        if(!segment||segment==='.'||segment==='..'||segment.endsWith('.')||segment.endsWith(' ')
+            ||segment.includes(':')||WINDOWS_UNSAFE_FILENAME_CHARACTER_PATTERN.test(segment)
+            ||WINDOWS_RESERVED_PATTERN.test(segment)){
+            fail(`Unsafe ${label}: ${value}.`);
+        }
     }
-    return value;
+    return segments.join('/');
 }
 
-function splitUstarPath(value){
-    validateAppBundlePath(value,'USTAR entry path');
-    const complete=Buffer.from(value,'utf8');
-    if(complete.length<=100){
-        return {name:complete,prefix:Buffer.alloc(0)};
-    }
-    for(let index=value.length-1;index>0;index-=1){
-        if(value[index]!=='/')continue;
-        const prefix=Buffer.from(value.slice(0,index),'utf8');
-        const name=Buffer.from(value.slice(index+1),'utf8');
-        if(prefix.length<=155&&name.length>0&&name.length<=100){
+function splitUstarPath(archivePath){
+    const normalized=validateAppBundlePath(archivePath,'archive path');
+    if(Buffer.byteLength(normalized,'utf8')<=100)return {name:normalized,prefix:''};
+    const segments=normalized.split('/');
+    for(let index=segments.length-1;index>0;index-=1){
+        const prefix=segments.slice(0,index).join('/');
+        const name=segments.slice(index).join('/');
+        if(Buffer.byteLength(prefix,'utf8')<=155&&Buffer.byteLength(name,'utf8')<=100){
             return {name,prefix};
         }
     }
-    fail(`USTAR entry path cannot be represented without an extension header: ${value}.`);
+    fail(`Archive path cannot be represented by ustar: ${normalized}.`);
 }
 
-function writeOctal(header,offset,length,value){
-    if(!Number.isSafeInteger(value)||value<0)fail('USTAR numeric fields must be nonnegative integers.');
-    const octal=value.toString(8);
-    if(octal.length>length-1)fail('USTAR numeric field overflowed its canonical octal field.');
-    header.write(`${octal.padStart(length-1,'0')}\0`,offset,length,'ascii');
+function writeTextField(header,offset,length,value,label){
+    const encoded=Buffer.from(String(value),'utf8');
+    if(encoded.length>length)fail(`${label} does not fit its ustar field.`);
+    encoded.copy(header,offset);
 }
 
-export function createCanonicalUstarHeader(entryPath,size){
-    assertInteger(size,{minimum:0,maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxEntryBytes,label:'USTAR entry size'});
-    const {name,prefix}=splitUstarPath(entryPath);
-    const header=Buffer.alloc(TAR_BLOCK_BYTES,0);
-    name.copy(header,0);
-    writeOctal(header,100,8,ARCHIVE_MODE);
-    writeOctal(header,108,8,0);
-    writeOctal(header,116,8,0);
-    writeOctal(header,124,12,size);
-    writeOctal(header,136,12,0);
+function writeOctalField(header,offset,length,value,label,{trailingSpace=false}={}){
+    if(!Number.isSafeInteger(value)||value<0)fail(`${label} must be a nonnegative integer.`);
+    const terminal=trailingSpace?'\0 ':'\0';
+    const digits=value.toString(8);
+    const available=length-terminal.length;
+    if(digits.length>available)fail(`${label} does not fit its ustar field.`);
+    const rendered=`${digits.padStart(available,'0')}${terminal}`;
+    header.write(rendered,offset,length,'ascii');
+}
+
+export function createCanonicalUstarHeader(archivePath,size){
+    const {name,prefix}=splitUstarPath(archivePath);
+    const header=Buffer.alloc(TAR_BLOCK_SIZE);
+    writeTextField(header,0,100,name,'ustar name');
+    writeOctalField(header,100,8,ARCHIVE_MODE,'ustar mode');
+    writeOctalField(header,108,8,0,'ustar uid');
+    writeOctalField(header,116,8,0,'ustar gid');
+    writeOctalField(header,124,12,size,'ustar size');
+    writeOctalField(header,136,12,0,'ustar mtime');
     header.fill(0x20,148,156);
     header[156]=0x30;
     header.write('ustar\0',257,6,'ascii');
     header.write('00',263,2,'ascii');
-    prefix.copy(header,345);
-    const checksum=header.reduce((total,byte)=>total+byte,0);
-    const checksumText=checksum.toString(8).padStart(6,'0');
-    if(checksumText.length!==6)fail('USTAR header checksum overflowed its canonical field.');
-    header.write(`${checksumText}\0 `,148,8,'ascii');
+    writeTextField(header,265,32,'root','ustar owner');
+    writeTextField(header,297,32,'root','ustar group');
+    writeTextField(header,345,155,prefix,'ustar prefix');
+    let checksum=0;
+    for(const value of header)checksum+=value;
+    writeOctalField(header,148,8,checksum,'ustar checksum',{trailingSpace:true});
     return header;
 }
 
-function decodeUstarField(field,label){
-    const zero=field.indexOf(0);
-    const end=zero===-1?field.length:zero;
-    if(zero!==-1&&field.subarray(zero).some(byte=>byte!==0)){
-        fail(`${label} contains nonzero bytes after its terminator.`);
-    }
-    try{
-        return textDecoder.decode(field.subarray(0,end));
-    }catch(error){
-        fail(`${label} is not canonical UTF-8.`,ERROR_CODES.integrityFailed,{cause:error.message});
-    }
-}
-
-function parseCanonicalOctal(field,label){
-    const text=field.toString('ascii');
-    if(!/^[0-7]+\0$/u.test(text))fail(`${label} is not canonical NUL-terminated octal.`);
-    const value=Number.parseInt(text.slice(0,-1),8);
-    if(!Number.isSafeInteger(value))fail(`${label} exceeds the safe integer range.`);
-    return value;
-}
-
-function parseCanonicalUstarHeader(header){
-    if(header.length!==TAR_BLOCK_BYTES)fail('USTAR header is incomplete.');
-    const name=decodeUstarField(header.subarray(0,100),'USTAR name');
-    const prefix=decodeUstarField(header.subarray(345,500),'USTAR prefix');
-    const entryPath=prefix?`${prefix}/${name}`:name;
-    const size=parseCanonicalOctal(header.subarray(124,136),'USTAR size');
-    const canonical=createCanonicalUstarHeader(entryPath,size);
-    if(!header.equals(canonical)){
-        fail(`USTAR header is not the canonical regular-file header for ${entryPath}.`);
-    }
-    return {path:entryPath,size};
-}
-
-function crcTable(){
-    const table=new Uint32Array(256);
-    for(let index=0;index<256;index+=1){
-        let value=index;
-        for(let bit=0;bit<8;bit+=1){
-            value=(value&1)?(0xedb88320^(value>>>1)):(value>>>1);
-        }
-        table[index]=value>>>0;
-    }
-    return table;
-}
-
-const CRC32_TABLE=crcTable();
-
-function updateCrc32(current,bytes){
-    let value=current;
-    for(const byte of bytes){
-        value=CRC32_TABLE[(value^byte)&0xff]^(value>>>8);
-    }
-    return value>>>0;
-}
-
-function fileIdentity(info){
-    return Object.freeze({
-        device:String(info.dev),
-        inode:String(info.ino),
-        bytes:Number(info.size),
-        modifiedNanoseconds:String(info.mtimeNs),
-        changedNanoseconds:String(info.ctimeNs),
-        links:String(info.nlink)
-    });
-}
-
-function identityMatches(info,identity){
-    return String(info.dev)===identity.device
-        &&String(info.ino)===identity.inode
-        &&Number(info.size)===identity.bytes
-        &&String(info.mtimeNs)===identity.modifiedNanoseconds
-        &&String(info.ctimeNs)===identity.changedNanoseconds
-        &&String(info.nlink)===identity.links;
-}
-
-function identitiesEqual(left,right){
-    return left.device===right.device
-        &&left.inode===right.inode
-        &&left.bytes===right.bytes
-        &&left.modifiedNanoseconds===right.modifiedNanoseconds
-        &&left.changedNanoseconds===right.changedNanoseconds
-        &&left.links===right.links;
-}
-
-function fileObjectMatches(info,identity){
-    return String(info.dev)===identity.device&&String(info.ino)===identity.inode;
-}
-
-function anchoredContentObjectMatches(info,identity){
-    return info.isFile()
-        &&fileObjectMatches(info,identity)
-        &&Number(info.size)===identity.bytes
-        &&String(info.nlink)===identity.links;
+function tarEntry(archivePath,content){
+    const header=createCanonicalUstarHeader(archivePath,content.length);
+    const remainder=content.length%TAR_BLOCK_SIZE;
+    const padding=remainder===0?Buffer.alloc(0):Buffer.alloc(TAR_BLOCK_SIZE-remainder);
+    return Buffer.concat([header,content,padding]);
 }
 
-async function anchoredFileSha256(handle,identity,label,{signal}={}){
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    const before=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-    if(!anchoredContentObjectMatches(before,identity)){
-        fail(`${label} did not retain its anchored file object before content verification.`);
-    }
-    const digest=createHash('sha256');
-    const buffer=Buffer.allocUnsafe(64*1024);
-    let position=0;
-    while(position<identity.bytes){
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        const requested=Math.min(buffer.length,identity.bytes-position);
-        const result=await handle.read(buffer,0,requested,position);
-        if(result.bytesRead===0)fail(`${label} ended before its anchored byte length.`);
-        digest.update(buffer.subarray(0,result.bytesRead));
-        position+=result.bytesRead;
-    }
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    const probe=Buffer.alloc(1);
-    const extra=await handle.read(probe,0,1,identity.bytes);
-    if(extra.bytesRead!==0)fail(`${label} grew beyond its anchored byte length.`);
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    const after=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-    if(!anchoredContentObjectMatches(after,identity)){
-        fail(`${label} changed while its anchored content was verified.`);
-    }
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    return Object.freeze({
-        sha256:digest.digest('hex'),
-        before,
-        after
-    });
-}
-
-async function assertAnchoredContent(handle,identity,expectedSha256,label,{signal}={}){
-    const inspected=await anchoredFileSha256(handle,identity,label,{signal});
-    if(inspected.sha256!==expectedSha256){
-        fail(`${label} did not retain its anchored content identity.`);
-    }
-    if(!identityMatches(inspected.before,identity)||!identityMatches(inspected.after,identity)){
-        fail(`${label} did not retain its anchored metadata identity.`);
-    }
-}
-
-function isInside(parent,candidate){
-    const relative=path.relative(parent,candidate);
-    return relative===''||(!relative.startsWith('..')&&!path.isAbsolute(relative));
-}
-
-async function openStableFile(filePath,label,{maximum=APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxEntryBytes}={}){
-    const before=await lstat(filePath,{bigint:true});
-    if(before.isSymbolicLink()||!before.isFile()){
-        fail(`${label} must be a regular file, not a link or special entry.`);
-    }
-    if(before.nlink!==1n){
-        fail(`${label} must have exactly one filesystem link.`,ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-    if(Number(before.size)>maximum)fail(`${label} exceeds its ${maximum}-byte limit.`,ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    let handle;
-    try{
-        handle=await open(filePath,READ_ONLY_NO_FOLLOW);
-    }catch(error){
-        if(error?.code==='ELOOP')fail(`${label} became a symbolic link.`);
+async function realDirectory(location,label){
+    const requested=path.resolve(location);
+    let info;
+    try{info=await lstat(requested);}
+    catch(error){
+        if(error?.code==='ENOENT')fail(`${label} does not exist: ${requested}.`);
         throw error;
     }
-    try{
-        const opened=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(!opened.isFile()||opened.nlink!==1n||!identityMatches(opened,fileIdentity(before))){
-            fail(`${label} changed while it was opened.`);
-        }
-        return {handle,identity:fileIdentity(opened)};
-    }catch(error){
-        await handle.close().catch(()=>{});
-        throw error;
+    if(info.isSymbolicLink()||!info.isDirectory())fail(`${label} must be a real directory.`);
+    const canonical=await realpath(requested);
+    const canonicalInfo=await lstat(canonical);
+    if(canonicalInfo.isSymbolicLink()||!canonicalInfo.isDirectory()){
+        fail(`${label} must be a real directory.`);
     }
+    return canonical;
 }
 
-async function readExactOpenedBytes(opened,label,{signal}={}){
-    const bytes=Buffer.alloc(opened.identity.bytes);
-    let position=0;
-    while(position<bytes.length){
+async function listReleaseFiles(releaseRoot,{signal}={}){
+    const files=[];
+    async function visit(directory,relativeRoot=''){
         throwIfAborted(signal);
-        const result=await opened.handle.read(bytes,position,bytes.length-position,position);
-        if(result.bytesRead===0)fail(`${label} ended before its recorded byte length.`);
-        position+=result.bytesRead;
-    }
-    const probe=Buffer.alloc(1);
-    const extra=await opened.handle.read(probe,0,1,opened.identity.bytes);
-    if(extra.bytesRead!==0)fail(`${label} grew beyond its recorded byte length.`);
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    const after=await opened.handle.stat({bigint:true});
-    if(after.nlink!==1n||!identityMatches(after,opened.identity)){
-        fail(`${label} changed while it was read.`);
-    }
-    return bytes;
-}
-
-async function readStableControlFile(filePath,label,{signal}={}){
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    const opened=await openStableFile(filePath,label,{maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxControlBytes});
-    try{
-        const bytes=await readExactOpenedBytes(opened,label,{signal});
-        const current=await lstat(filePath,{bigint:true});
-        if(current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||current.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(current,opened.identity)){
-            fail(`${label} path changed while it was read.`);
+        const entries=await readdir(directory,{withFileTypes:true});
+        entries.sort((left,right)=>compareText(left.name,right.name));
+        for(const entry of entries){
+            const relative=relativeRoot?`${relativeRoot}/${entry.name}`:entry.name;
+            validateAppBundlePath(relative,'release path');
+            const absolute=path.join(directory,entry.name);
+            const info=await lstat(absolute);
+            if(info.isSymbolicLink())fail(`Release contains a symbolic link: ${relative}.`);
+            if(info.isDirectory())await visit(absolute,relative);
+            else if(info.isFile())files.push({path:relative,absolute});
+            else fail(`Release contains a non-file entry: ${relative}.`);
         }
-        return bytes;
-    }finally{
-        await opened.handle.close();
     }
+    await visit(releaseRoot);
+    return files.sort((left,right)=>compareText(left.path,right.path));
 }
 
-async function* verifiedFileChunks(root,identity,{signal}={}){
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    const filePath=path.join(root,...identity.path.split('/'));
-    const opened=await openStableFile(filePath,`release payload ${identity.path}`);
-    try{
-        const canonicalFile=await realpath(filePath);
-        if(!isInside(root,canonicalFile))fail(`Release payload escaped its root: ${identity.path}.`);
-        if(opened.identity.bytes!==identity.bytes){
-            fail(`Release payload size changed: ${identity.path}.`);
-        }
-        const digest=createHash('sha256');
-        let position=0;
-        const buffer=Buffer.allocUnsafe(64*1024);
-        while(position<identity.bytes){
-            throwIfAborted(signal);
-            const requested=Math.min(buffer.length,identity.bytes-position);
-            const {bytesRead}=await opened.handle.read(buffer,0,requested,position);
-            if(bytesRead===0)fail(`Release payload ended early: ${identity.path}.`);
-            const chunk=Buffer.from(buffer.subarray(0,bytesRead));
-            digest.update(chunk);
-            position+=bytesRead;
-            yield chunk;
-        }
-        const probe=Buffer.alloc(1);
-        const extra=await opened.handle.read(probe,0,1,identity.bytes);
-        if(extra.bytesRead!==0)fail(`Release payload grew while it was bundled: ${identity.path}.`);
-        const after=await opened.handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(after.nlink!==1n||!identityMatches(after,opened.identity)
-            ||digest.digest('hex')!==identity.sha256){
-            fail(`Release payload changed while it was bundled: ${identity.path}.`);
-        }
-        const current=await lstat(filePath,{bigint:true});
-        if(current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||!identityMatches(current,opened.identity)){
-            fail(`Release payload path changed while it was bundled: ${identity.path}.`);
-        }
-    }finally{
-        await opened.handle.close();
-    }
+function readJsonContent(content,label){
+    try{return JSON.parse(content.toString('utf8'));}
+    catch(error){fail(`${label} is not valid JSON: ${error.message}.`);}
 }
 
-function validateReleaseInventory(receipt){
-    if(!Array.isArray(receipt.files)||receipt.files.length<1
-        ||receipt.files.length>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxPayloadFiles){
-        fail(`Verified release inventory must contain 1 through ${APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxPayloadFiles} files.`);
-    }
-    const keys=new Set();
-    let totalBytes=0;
-    let previous=null;
-    const files=receipt.files.map((file,index)=>{
-        assertExactKeys(file,['path','bytes','sha256'],`release file ${index}`);
-        const relativePath=validateAppBundlePath(file.path,`release file ${index} path`);
-        if(pathKey(relativePath)===pathKey(RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME)){
-            fail(`Release inventory must not contain ${RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME}.`);
-        }
-        const key=pathKey(relativePath);
-        if(keys.has(key))fail(`Release inventory has a duplicate or case-colliding path: ${relativePath}.`);
-        keys.add(key);
-        if(previous!==null&&compareText(previous,relativePath)>=0){
-            fail('Release inventory must use strict canonical path order.');
-        }
-        previous=relativePath;
-        assertInteger(file.bytes,{
-            minimum:0,
-            maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxEntryBytes,
-            label:`release file ${relativePath} bytes`
-        });
-        assertSha256(file.sha256,`release file ${relativePath} sha256`);
-        totalBytes+=file.bytes;
-        if(!Number.isSafeInteger(totalBytes)||totalBytes>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxExpandedBytes){
-            fail('Release payload exceeds the expanded archive limit.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        return Object.freeze({path:relativePath,bytes:file.bytes,sha256:file.sha256});
-    });
-    validatePortablePathTopology(files.map(file=>file.path),'Release inventory');
-    if(totalBytes<1){
-        fail('Verified release payload must contain at least one byte.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
+function validateReleaseManifest(value){
+    if(!isPlainObject(value)||value.schemaVersion!==1||value.kind!=='arcane-app-release'
+        ||value.packagerVersion!==PACKAGER_VERSION||!isPlainObject(value.app)
+        ||typeof value.app.id!=='string'||typeof value.app.version!=='string'
+        ||!Array.isArray(value.files)){
+        fail(`${RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME} is malformed.`);
     }
-    if(receipt.fileCount!==files.length||receipt.totalBytes!==totalBytes
-        ||receipt.contentSha256!==sha256(JSON.stringify(files))){
-        fail('Verified release receipt inventory totals are inconsistent.');
-    }
-    return Object.freeze(files);
-}
-
-function expectedReleaseApp(descriptor){
-    return Object.freeze({
-        id:descriptor.id,
-        displayName:descriptor.displayName,
-        version:descriptor.version,
-        entry:descriptor.package.entry,
-        start:`./apps/${descriptor.id}/${descriptor.package.entry}`,
-        security:descriptor.security,
-        localAIModelPolicy:descriptor.package.localAIModelPolicy
-            ??Object.freeze({verified_only:true,models:Object.freeze([])})
-    });
-}
-
-function releaseDocumentFromReceipt(receipt,descriptor,files){
-    const expectedApp=expectedReleaseApp(descriptor);
-    if(receipt.builder!==PACKAGER_VERSION
-        ||JSON.stringify(receipt.app)!==JSON.stringify(expectedApp)
-        ||!SHA256_PATTERN.test(receipt.policySha256??'')){
-        fail('Verified release receipt is not bound to the authored schema-2 descriptor.');
+    parseSemver(value.app.version);
+    const files=value.files.map((entry,index)=>validateAppBundlePath(
+        entry,
+        `${RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME}.files[${index}]`
+    )).sort(compareText);
+    if(new Set(files.map(pathKey)).size!==files.length){
+        fail(`${RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME} contains duplicate files.`);
     }
-    return Object.freeze({
-        schemaVersion:1,
-        builder:receipt.builder,
-        app:expectedApp,
-        policySha256:receipt.policySha256,
-        fileCount:receipt.fileCount,
-        totalBytes:receipt.totalBytes,
-        contentSha256:receipt.contentSha256,
-        files
-    });
+    return {...copyJson(value),files};
 }
 
-function createBundleManifest({descriptor,descriptorBytes,descriptorSha256,release,releaseBytes}){
-    const packageSha256=sha256(JSON.stringify(projectPackageManifest(descriptor)));
-    return Object.freeze({
+function bundleManifest(descriptor,release,files){
+    return {
         schemaVersion:APP_BUNDLE_SCHEMA_VERSION,
         kind:APP_BUNDLE_KIND,
         format:APP_BUNDLE_FORMAT,
-        sdk:Object.freeze({name:SDK_NAME,version:SDK_VERSION}),
-        app:Object.freeze({id:descriptor.id,version:descriptor.version}),
-        descriptor:Object.freeze({
-            path:APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,
-            schemaVersion:descriptor.schemaVersion,
-            canonicalSha256:descriptorSha256,
-            packageSha256,
-            fileSha256:sha256(descriptorBytes),
-            bytes:descriptorBytes.length
-        }),
-        release:Object.freeze({
-            path:APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH,
-            schemaVersion:release.schemaVersion,
-            builder:release.builder,
-            policySha256:release.policySha256,
-            manifestSha256:sha256(releaseBytes),
-            contentSha256:release.contentSha256,
-            fileCount:release.fileCount,
-            totalBytes:release.totalBytes
-        }),
-        payload:Object.freeze({
-            root:'payload',
-            fileCount:release.fileCount,
-            totalBytes:release.totalBytes,
-            files:release.files
-        })
-    });
-}
-
-class ArchiveFileWriter{
-    constructor(handle,state){
-        this.handle=handle;
-        this.digest=createHash('sha256');
-        this.bytes=0;
-        this.state=state;
-        this.recordState();
-    }
-
-    recordState(){
-        this.state.contentBytes=this.bytes;
-        this.state.contentSha256=this.digest.copy().digest('hex');
-    }
-
-    async write(chunk){
-        const bytes=Buffer.isBuffer(chunk)?chunk:Buffer.from(chunk);
-        let offset=0;
-        while(offset<bytes.length){
-            const result=await this.handle.write(bytes,offset,bytes.length-offset,null);
-            if(result.bytesWritten===0)fail('Archive output stopped accepting bytes.');
-            this.digest.update(bytes.subarray(offset,offset+result.bytesWritten));
-            this.bytes+=result.bytesWritten;
-            offset+=result.bytesWritten;
-            this.recordState();
-            if(this.bytes>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxCompressedBytes){
-                fail('Compressed bundle exceeds its 512 MiB limit.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    result(){
-        return {bytes:this.bytes,sha256:this.digest.digest('hex')};
-    }
-}
-
-class Crc32Transform extends Transform{
-    constructor(){
-        super();
-        this.crc=0xffffffff;
-        this.bytes=0;
-    }
-
-    _transform(chunk,_encoding,callback){
-        this.crc=updateCrc32(this.crc,chunk);
-        this.bytes=(this.bytes+chunk.length)>>>0;
-        callback(null,chunk);
-    }
-
-    trailer(){
-        const trailer=Buffer.alloc(8);
-        trailer.writeUInt32LE((this.crc^0xffffffff)>>>0,0);
-        trailer.writeUInt32LE(this.bytes>>>0,4);
-        return trailer;
-    }
-}
-
-async function* tarChunks(entries,{releaseRoot,signal,onEvent}={}){
-    for(let index=0;index<entries.length;index+=1){
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        const entry=entries[index];
-        yield createCanonicalUstarHeader(entry.path,entry.bytes);
-        if(entry.buffer){
-            yield entry.buffer;
-        }else{
-            yield* verifiedFileChunks(releaseRoot,entry.identity,{signal});
-        }
-        const padding=(TAR_BLOCK_BYTES-(entry.bytes%TAR_BLOCK_BYTES))%TAR_BLOCK_BYTES;
-        if(padding)yield Buffer.alloc(padding);
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.entry.written',
-            path:entry.path,
-            bytes:entry.bytes,
-            index:index+1,
-            entryCount:entries.length
-        });
-    }
-    yield Buffer.alloc(TAR_END_BYTES);
-}
-
-async function writeDeterministicGzip(fileHandle,entries,options){
-    const writer=new ArchiveFileWriter(fileHandle,options.stagingState);
-    await writer.write(GZIP_HEADER);
-    const crc=new Crc32Transform();
-    const deflate=createDeflateRaw({level:9});
-    const sink=new Writable({
-        write(chunk,_encoding,callback){
-            writer.write(chunk).then(()=>callback(),callback);
-        }
-    });
-    await pipeline(Readable.from(tarChunks(entries,options)),crc,deflate,sink);
-    await writer.write(crc.trailer());
-    return Object.freeze(writer.result());
-}
-
-function validateOutputFilename(outputPath){
-    const filename=path.basename(outputPath);
-    if(!filename.toLowerCase().endsWith(APP_BUNDLE_EXTENSION)){
-        fail(`Bundle output must end in ${APP_BUNDLE_EXTENSION}.`,ERROR_CODES.usage);
-    }
-    if(filename!==filename.normalize('NFC')||filename.length>255
-        ||Buffer.byteLength(filename,'utf8')>255||/[. ]$/u.test(filename)
-        ||/[<>:"/\\|?*\u0000-\u001f\u007f]/u.test(filename)
-        ||PORTABLE_RESERVED_FILENAME_PATTERN.test(filename)){
-        fail('Bundle output filename must be one portable direct filename.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-}
-
-async function acquireArtifactLock(outputPath,{onEvent}={}){
-    const lockPath=`${outputPath}.lock`;
-    const nonce=randomBytes(16).toString('hex');
-    let handle;
-    let lockIdentity;
-    let documentBytes;
-    let created=false;
-    try{
-        handle=await open(lockPath,'wx+',0o600);
-        created=true;
-        const acquiredAtUtc=new Date().toISOString();
-        const expiresAtUtc=new Date(Date.now()+2*60*60*1000).toISOString();
-        documentBytes=Buffer.from(`${JSON.stringify({
-            owner:`arcane-os:${process.pid}`,
-            nonce,
-            artifactPath:outputPath,
-            acquiredAtUtc,
-            ttlSeconds:7200,
-            expiresAtUtc,
-            releaseProcedure:'The owning Arcane bundle operation removes this lock after success or failure.',
-            staleRecoveryProcedure:'After expiresAtUtc, confirm the recorded process is absent and preserve any adjacent temporary artifact before removing this lock.'
-        },null,2)}\n`,'utf8');
-        await handle.writeFile(documentBytes);
-        await handle.sync();
-        const opened=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(!opened.isFile()||opened.nlink!==1n||Number(opened.size)!==documentBytes.length){
-            fail('Artifact lock changed while it was acquired.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        lockIdentity=fileIdentity(opened);
-        const current=await lstat(lockPath,{bigint:true});
-        if(current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||current.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(current,lockIdentity)){
-            fail('Artifact lock path changed while it was acquired.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        await emit(onEvent,Object.freeze({type:'bundle.lock.written',lockPath,nonce}));
-        lockIdentity=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-            lockPath,
-            handle,
-            lockIdentity,
-            sha256(documentBytes),
-            'Acquired artifact lock'
-        );
-        await handle.close();
-        handle=null;
-    }catch(error){
-        if(handle&&lockIdentity&&documentBytes){
-            try{
-                await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-                    lockPath,
-                    handle,
-                    lockIdentity,
-                    sha256(documentBytes),
-                    'Partial artifact lock cleanup'
-                );
-                await rm(lockPath);
-            }catch(cleanupError){
-                if(cleanupError?.code!=='ENOENT'){
-                    appendErrorWarning(
-                        error,
-                        `Partial artifact lock was preserved at ${lockPath}; ${cleanupError.message}`
-                    );
-                }
-            }
-        }else if(created){
-            appendErrorWarning(
-                error,
-                `Partial artifact lock was preserved at ${lockPath} because its FileHandle identity was unavailable; inspect its nonce and owner before recovery.`
-            );
-        }
-        if(handle){
-            try{
-                await handle.close();
-            }catch(closeError){
-                appendErrorWarning(
-                    error,
-                    `Lock acquisition handle close warning: ${String(closeError?.message??closeError)}`
-                );
-            }
-            handle=null;
-        }
-        if(error?.code==='EEXIST'){
-            fail(`Another bundle operation owns ${lockPath}. Inspect it before stale-lock recovery.`,ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        throw error;
-    }
-    let released=false;
-    return async()=>{
-        if(released)return null;
-        released=true;
-        try{
-            const current=await lstat(lockPath,{bigint:true});
-            if(current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||current.nlink!==1n
-                ||!identityMatches(current,lockIdentity)){
-                throw new Error('Artifact lock path no longer belongs to this operation.');
-            }
-            const opened=await openStableFile(lockPath,'artifact operation lock',{
-                maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxControlBytes
-            });
-            try{
-                if(!identitiesEqual(opened.identity,lockIdentity)){
-                    throw new Error('Artifact lock identity no longer belongs to this operation.');
-                }
-                const currentBytes=await readExactOpenedBytes(opened,'artifact operation lock');
-                if(!currentBytes.equals(documentBytes)){
-                    throw new Error('Artifact lock nonce or contents changed before release.');
-                }
-            }finally{
-                await opened.handle.close().catch(()=>{});
-            }
-            const beforeRemove=await lstat(lockPath,{bigint:true});
-            if(!identityMatches(beforeRemove,lockIdentity)){
-                throw new Error('Artifact lock changed immediately before release.');
-            }
-            await rm(lockPath);
-            return null;
-        }catch(error){
-            return Object.freeze({
-                scope:'artifact-lock',
-                path:lockPath,
-                message:String(error?.message??error),
-                recovery:'Inspect the lock owner and nonce before removing or replacing the lease.'
-            });
-        }
+        sdk:{name:SDK_NAME,version:SDK_VERSION},
+        app:{id:descriptor.id,version:descriptor.version},
+        descriptor:APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,
+        release:APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH,
+        files:[...files]
     };
 }
 
-async function inspectOutput(outputPath,{overwrite,signal}){
+async function outputBoundary(outputPath,overwrite){
+    if(typeof outputPath!=='string'||!outputPath.trim())fail('outputPath is required.');
+    if(typeof overwrite!=='boolean')fail('overwrite must be a boolean.',ERROR_CODES.usage);
+    const resolved=path.resolve(outputPath);
+    await mkdir(path.dirname(resolved),{recursive:true});
+    const parent=await realDirectory(path.dirname(resolved),'Bundle output directory');
+    const selected=path.join(parent,path.basename(resolved));
     try{
-        const info=await lstat(outputPath,{bigint:true});
-        if(info.isSymbolicLink()||!info.isFile()||info.nlink!==1n){
-            fail('Bundle output collision is not a replaceable regular file.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        if(!overwrite){
-            fail('Bundle output already exists; pass overwrite: true or --overwrite to replace it.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        const opened=await openStableFile(outputPath,'existing bundle output',{
-            maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxCompressedBytes
-        });
-        try{
-            if(!identitiesEqual(opened.identity,fileIdentity(info))){
-                fail('Bundle output changed while its overwrite anchor was opened.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-            }
-            const inspected=await anchoredFileSha256(
-                opened.handle,
-                opened.identity,
-                'Existing bundle output',
-                {signal}
-            );
-            if(!identityMatches(inspected.before,opened.identity)
-                ||!identityMatches(inspected.after,opened.identity)){
-                fail('Bundle output changed while its overwrite content was inspected.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-            }
-            return {...opened,contentSha256:inspected.sha256};
-        }catch(error){
-            try{
-                await opened.handle.close();
-            }catch(closeError){
-                appendErrorWarning(
-                    error,
-                    `Prior-output anchor close warning: ${String(closeError?.message??closeError)}`
-                );
-            }
-            throw error;
-        }
-    }catch(error){
-        if(error?.code==='ENOENT')return null;
-        throw error;
-    }
-}
-
-async function assertSingleLinkStaging(temporary,temporaryIdentity){
-    const staged=await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-    if(staged.isSymbolicLink()||!staged.isFile()||staged.nlink!==1n
-        ||!identityMatches(staged,temporaryIdentity)){
-        fail('Verified bundle staging changed before atomic promotion.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-}
-
-async function assertLinkedStagingPair(temporary,outputPath,temporaryIdentity,anchorHandle){
-    const [staged,output,anchored]=await Promise.all([
-        lstat(temporary,{bigint:true}),
-        lstat(outputPath,{bigint:true}),
-        anchorHandle.stat({bigint:true})
-    ]);
-    const stagedIdentity=fileIdentity(staged);
-    if(staged.isSymbolicLink()||output.isSymbolicLink()
-        ||!staged.isFile()||!output.isFile()||!anchored.isFile()
-        ||staged.nlink!==2n||output.nlink!==2n
-        ||anchored.nlink!==2n
-        ||!identityMatches(output,stagedIdentity)
-        ||!identityMatches(anchored,stagedIdentity)
-        ||!fileObjectMatches(staged,temporaryIdentity)
-        ||!fileObjectMatches(output,temporaryIdentity)
-        ||Number(staged.size)!==temporaryIdentity.bytes
-        ||Number(output.size)!==temporaryIdentity.bytes
-        ||String(staged.mtimeNs)!==temporaryIdentity.modifiedNanoseconds
-        ||String(output.mtimeNs)!==temporaryIdentity.modifiedNanoseconds){
-        fail('Bundle output and staging links did not retain the verified staging object.');
-    }
-    return stagedIdentity;
-}
-
-async function anchoredSinglePathIdentity(filePath,handle,priorIdentity,label){
-    const [current,anchored]=await Promise.all([
-        lstat(filePath,{bigint:true}),
-        handle.stat({bigint:true})
-    ]);
-    const currentIdentity=fileIdentity(current);
-    if(current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||current.nlink!==1n
-        ||!anchored.isFile()||anchored.nlink!==1n
-        ||!identityMatches(anchored,currentIdentity)
-        ||(priorIdentity&&(priorIdentity.links==='1'
-            ?!identityMatches(current,priorIdentity)
-            :(!fileObjectMatches(current,priorIdentity)
-                ||Number(current.size)!==priorIdentity.bytes
-                ||String(current.mtimeNs)!==priorIdentity.modifiedNanoseconds)))){
-        fail(`${label} did not retain its anchored single-link identity.`);
-    }
-    return currentIdentity;
-}
-
-async function anchoredLinkPairIdentity(firstPath,secondPath,handle,priorIdentity,label){
-    const [first,second,anchored]=await Promise.all([
-        lstat(firstPath,{bigint:true}),
-        lstat(secondPath,{bigint:true}),
-        handle.stat({bigint:true})
-    ]);
-    const linkedIdentity=fileIdentity(first);
-    if(first.isSymbolicLink()||second.isSymbolicLink()
-        ||!first.isFile()||!second.isFile()||!anchored.isFile()
-        ||first.nlink!==2n||second.nlink!==2n||anchored.nlink!==2n
-        ||!identityMatches(second,linkedIdentity)
-        ||!identityMatches(anchored,linkedIdentity)
-        ||(priorIdentity.links==='2'
-            ?!identityMatches(first,priorIdentity)
-            :(!fileObjectMatches(first,priorIdentity)
-                ||Number(first.size)!==priorIdentity.bytes
-                ||String(first.mtimeNs)!==priorIdentity.modifiedNanoseconds))){
-        fail(`${label} did not retain its anchored two-link identity.`);
-    }
-    return linkedIdentity;
-}
-
-async function anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-    filePath,
-    handle,
-    identity,
-    expectedSha256,
-    label,
-    options
-){
-    await assertAnchoredContent(handle,identity,expectedSha256,label,options);
-    const current=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(filePath,handle,identity,label);
-    throwIfAborted(options?.signal);
-    return current;
-}
-
-async function anchoredLinkPairContentIdentity(
-    firstPath,
-    secondPath,
-    handle,
-    identity,
-    expectedSha256,
-    label,
-    options
-){
-    await assertAnchoredContent(handle,identity,expectedSha256,label,options);
-    const current=await anchoredLinkPairIdentity(firstPath,secondPath,handle,identity,label);
-    throwIfAborted(options?.signal);
-    return current;
-}
-
-function changedStagingCleanupIssue(temporary,message){
-    return Object.freeze({
-        scope:'artifact-staging',
-        path:temporary,
-        message,
-        recovery:'Inspect the preserved staging path and remove it only after confirming its owner.'
-    });
-}
-
-function anchoredCleanupResult({issue=null,retryIdentity=null}={}){
-    return Object.freeze({issue,retryIdentity});
-}
-
-async function cleanupAnchoredTemporary(
-    temporary,
-    handle,
-    expectedIdentity,
-    expectedContentSha256,
-    expectedContentBytes
-){
-    try{
-        const anchored=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        let current;
-        try{
-            current=await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-        }catch(error){
-            if(error?.code==='ENOENT')return anchoredCleanupResult();
-            throw error;
-        }
-        let anchoredIdentity=fileIdentity(anchored);
-        if(!anchored.isFile()||anchored.nlink!==1n
-            ||current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||current.nlink!==1n
-            ||!fileObjectMatches(current,anchoredIdentity)
-            ||Number(current.size)!==anchoredIdentity.bytes){
-            return anchoredCleanupResult({
-                issue:changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                    temporary,
-                    `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; it is not the exact file object held by the creation handle.`
-                )
-            });
-        }
-        if(expectedContentSha256&&Number.isSafeInteger(expectedContentBytes)
-            &&expectedContentBytes>=0){
-            const contentIdentity=expectedIdentity??Object.freeze({
-                ...anchoredIdentity,
-                bytes:expectedContentBytes
-            });
-            try{
-                anchoredIdentity=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-                    temporary,
-                    handle,
-                    contentIdentity,
-                    expectedContentSha256,
-                    'Verified bundle staging cleanup'
-                );
-            }catch(error){
-                return anchoredCleanupResult({
-                    issue:changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                        temporary,
-                        `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; ${error.message}`
-                    )
-                });
-            }
-        }else{
-            return anchoredCleanupResult({
-                issue:changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                    temporary,
-                    `Preserved staging path ${temporary}; no authoritative content identity was available for cleanup.`
-                )
-            });
-        }
-        try{
-            await rm(temporary);
-        }catch(error){
-            if(['EACCES','EBUSY','EPERM'].includes(error?.code)){
-                return anchoredCleanupResult({retryIdentity:anchoredIdentity});
-            }
-            throw error;
-        }
-        try{
-            await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-            return anchoredCleanupResult({
-                issue:changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                    temporary,
-                    `A staging path reappeared after anchored cleanup at ${temporary}.`
-                )
-            });
-        }catch(error){
-            if(error?.code==='ENOENT')return anchoredCleanupResult();
-            throw error;
-        }
+        const info=await lstat(selected);
+        if(info.isSymbolicLink()||!info.isFile())fail('Existing bundle output must be a real file.');
+        if(!overwrite)fail(`Bundle output already exists: ${selected}.`,ERROR_CODES.usage);
     }catch(error){
-        return anchoredCleanupResult({
-            issue:changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                `Anchored staging cleanup warning for ${temporary}: ${String(error?.message??error)}`
-            )
-        });
+        if(error?.code!=='ENOENT')throw error;
     }
+    return selected;
 }
 
-async function cleanupOwnedTemporary(
-    temporary,
-    temporaryIdentity,
-    expectedContentSha256,
-    expectedContentBytes
-){
-    let opened;
-    const closeAnchor=async message=>{
-        if(!opened?.handle)return message;
-        const handle=opened.handle;
-        opened=null;
-        try{
-            await handle.close();
-            return message;
-        }catch(error){
-            const warning=`Retry-cleanup anchor close warning: ${String(error?.message??error)}`;
-            return message?`${message} ${warning}`:warning;
-        }
-    };
+async function writeBundle(outputPath,content,{overwrite}){
+    const temporary=`${outputPath}.staging-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`;
+    await writeFile(temporary,content,{flag:'wx'});
     try{
-        const current=await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-        if(!temporaryIdentity||!expectedContentSha256
-            ||!Number.isSafeInteger(expectedContentBytes)||expectedContentBytes<0
-            ||current.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||current.nlink!==1n
-            ||!fileObjectMatches(current,temporaryIdentity)
-            ||Number(current.size)!==temporaryIdentity.bytes
-            ||temporaryIdentity.bytes!==expectedContentBytes){
-            return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; its complete no-follow single-link identity is not owned by this operation.`
-            );
-        }
-        opened=await openStableFile(temporary,'verified bundle staging retry cleanup',{
-            maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxCompressedBytes
-        });
-        if(!fileObjectMatches(current,opened.identity)
-            ||!fileObjectMatches(current,temporaryIdentity)
-            ||opened.identity.bytes!==temporaryIdentity.bytes){
-            return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                await closeAnchor(
-                    `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; its retry-cleanup file object is not owned by this operation.`
-                )
-            );
-        }
-        try{
-            await assertAnchoredContent(
-                opened.handle,
-                temporaryIdentity,
-                expectedContentSha256,
-                'Verified bundle staging retry cleanup'
-            );
-        }catch(error){
-            return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                await closeAnchor(
-                    `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; ${error.message}`
-                )
-            );
-        }
-        const closeWarning=await closeAnchor(null);
-        if(closeWarning){
-            return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; ${closeWarning}`
-            );
-        }
-        const beforeRemove=await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-        if(beforeRemove.isSymbolicLink()||!beforeRemove.isFile()||beforeRemove.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(beforeRemove,temporaryIdentity)){
-            return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                `Preserved changed staging path ${temporary}; its retry-cleanup identity changed before removal.`
-            );
-        }
-        await rm(temporary);
-        try{
-            await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-            return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                temporary,
-                `A staging path reappeared after exact-identity cleanup at ${temporary}.`
-            );
-        }catch(error){
-            if(error?.code==='ENOENT')return null;
-            throw error;
-        }
+        if(overwrite)await rm(outputPath,{force:true});
+        await rename(temporary,outputPath);
     }catch(error){
-        const closeWarning=await closeAnchor(null);
-        if(error?.code==='ENOENT'&&!closeWarning)return null;
-        return changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-            temporary,
-            `Staging cleanup warning for ${temporary}: ${String(error?.message??error)}`
-                +(closeWarning?` ${closeWarning}`:'')
-        );
+        await rm(temporary,{force:true}).catch(()=>{});
+        throw error;
     }
 }
 
-async function promoteArtifact(temporary,outputPath,{
-    existingOutput,
-    stagingState,
-    anchorHandle,
-    onEvent,
-    signal
-}){
-    await assertAnchoredContent(
-        anchorHandle,
-        stagingState.identity,
-        stagingState.contentSha256,
-        'Verified bundle staging',
-        {signal}
-    );
-    await assertSingleLinkStaging(temporary,stagingState.identity);
-    if(!existingOutput){
-        let promoted=false;
-        try{
-            await emit(onEvent,{
-                type:'bundle.archive.output-vacated',
-                outputPath,
-                replaced:false
-            });
-            await assertAnchoredContent(
-                anchorHandle,
-                stagingState.identity,
-                stagingState.contentSha256,
-                'Verified bundle staging',
-                {signal}
-            );
-            await assertSingleLinkStaging(temporary,stagingState.identity);
-            throwIfAborted(signal);
-            await link(temporary,outputPath);
-            promoted=true;
-            stagingState.identity=await assertLinkedStagingPair(
-                temporary,
-                outputPath,
-                stagingState.identity,
-                anchorHandle
-            );
-            throwIfAborted(signal);
-            await rm(temporary);
-            stagingState.identity=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-                outputPath,
-                anchorHandle,
-                stagingState.identity,
-                'Bundle output'
-            );
-            return Object.freeze({
-                outputPath,
-                backupPath:null,
-                backupIdentity:null,
-                backupContentSha256:null,
-                promotedIdentity:stagingState.identity,
-                promotedContentSha256:stagingState.contentSha256,
-                promoted,
-                replaced:false,
-                stagingPath:temporary,
-                stagingState
-            });
-        }catch(error){
-            const failure=error?.code==='EEXIST'
-                ?new ArcaneError(
-                    ERROR_CODES.policyDenied,
-                    'Bundle output appeared before create-only promotion; no file was overwritten.',
-                    {cause:error}
-                )
-                :error;
-            if(promoted){
-                const rollbackIssues=await rollbackPromotion({
-                    outputPath,
-                    backupPath:null,
-                    backupIdentity:null,
-                    backupContentSha256:null,
-                    promotedIdentity:stagingState.identity,
-                    promotedContentSha256:stagingState.contentSha256,
-                    promoted,
-                    stagingPath:temporary,
-                    stagingState
-                },{promotedHandle:anchorHandle});
-                if(rollbackIssues.length){
-                    appendErrorWarning(failure,`Rollback warning: ${rollbackIssues.join('; ')}`);
-                }
-            }
-            throw failure;
-        }
-    }
-    const existingIdentity=existingOutput.identity;
-    const backup=`${outputPath}.backup-${process.pid}-${randomBytes(6).toString('hex')}`;
-    let backupLinked=false;
-    let outputVacated=false;
-    let promoted=false;
-    let backupIdentity=null;
-    const backupContentSha256=existingOutput.contentSha256;
-    try{
-        const beforeBackup=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-            outputPath,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            existingIdentity,
-            backupContentSha256,
-            'Existing bundle output',
-            {signal}
-        );
-        if(!identitiesEqual(beforeBackup,existingIdentity)){
-            fail('Bundle output changed before atomic promotion; no file was overwritten.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        await link(outputPath,backup);
-        backupLinked=true;
-        existingOutput.identity=await anchoredLinkPairIdentity(
-            outputPath,
-            backup,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            existingOutput.identity,
-            'Bundle output backup'
-        );
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.archive.backup-linked',
-            outputPath,
-            backupPath:backup
-        });
-        existingOutput.identity=await anchoredLinkPairContentIdentity(
-            outputPath,
-            backup,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            existingOutput.identity,
-            backupContentSha256,
-            'Bundle output backup',
-            {signal}
-        );
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        await rm(outputPath);
-        outputVacated=true;
-        existingOutput.identity=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-            backup,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            existingOutput.identity,
-            'Vacated bundle output backup'
-        );
-        backupIdentity=existingOutput.identity;
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.archive.output-vacated',
-            outputPath,
-            backupPath:backup,
-            replaced:true
-        });
-        const stagedAfterEvent=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-            temporary,
-            anchorHandle,
-            stagingState.identity,
-            stagingState.contentSha256,
-            'Verified bundle staging',
-            {signal}
-        );
-        if(!identitiesEqual(stagedAfterEvent,stagingState.identity)){
-            fail('Verified bundle staging changed before overwrite promotion.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        const backupAfterEvent=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-            backup,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            backupIdentity,
-            backupContentSha256,
-            'Preserved bundle backup',
-            {signal}
-        );
-        if(!identitiesEqual(backupAfterEvent,backupIdentity)){
-            fail('Preserved bundle backup changed before overwrite promotion.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        const reboundStaging=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-            temporary,
-            anchorHandle,
-            stagedAfterEvent,
-            'Verified bundle staging'
-        );
-        const reboundBackup=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-            backup,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            backupAfterEvent,
-            'Preserved bundle backup'
-        );
-        if(!identitiesEqual(reboundStaging,stagedAfterEvent)
-            ||!identitiesEqual(reboundBackup,backupAfterEvent)){
-            fail('Bundle staging or preserved backup changed immediately before promotion.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        await link(temporary,outputPath);
-        promoted=true;
-        stagingState.identity=await assertLinkedStagingPair(
-            temporary,
-            outputPath,
-            stagingState.identity,
-            anchorHandle
-        );
+export async function createAppReleaseBundle({
+    releaseRoot,
+    appDescriptor,
+    outputPath,
+    overwrite=false,
+    signal,
+    onEvent
+}={}){
+    throwIfAborted(signal);
+    const canonicalReleaseRoot=await realDirectory(releaseRoot,'App release root');
+    const files=await listReleaseFiles(canonicalReleaseRoot,{signal});
+    const releaseFile=files.find(file=>pathKey(file.path)===pathKey(RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME));
+    if(!releaseFile)fail(`App release is missing ${RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME}.`);
+    const release=validateReleaseManifest(readJsonContent(
+        await readFile(releaseFile.absolute),
+        RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME
+    ));
+    const descriptor=copyJson(validateAppDescriptor(copyJson(appDescriptor),{appId:release.app.id}));
+    if(descriptor.version!==release.app.version){
+        fail('App descriptor and release manifest versions differ.');
+    }
+    const payloadPaths=files.map(file=>`payload/${file.path}`);
+    const manifest=bundleManifest(descriptor,release,payloadPaths);
+    const entries=[
+        tarEntry(APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME,Buffer.from(`${JSON.stringify(manifest,null,2)}\n`,'utf8')),
+        tarEntry(APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,Buffer.from(`${JSON.stringify(descriptor,null,2)}\n`,'utf8'))
+    ];
+    for(const file of files){
         throwIfAborted(signal);
-        await rm(temporary);
-        stagingState.identity=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-            outputPath,
-            anchorHandle,
-            stagingState.identity,
-            'Bundle output'
-        );
-        return Object.freeze({
-            outputPath,
-            backupPath:backup,
-            backupIdentity,
-            backupContentSha256,
-            promotedIdentity:stagingState.identity,
-            promotedContentSha256:stagingState.contentSha256,
-            promoted,
-            replaced:true,
-            stagingPath:temporary,
-            stagingState
-        });
-    }catch(error){
-        const failure=error?.code==='EEXIST'
-            ?new ArcaneError(
-                ERROR_CODES.policyDenied,
-                'A path collision blocked create-only bundle promotion; no path was overwritten.',
-                {cause:error}
-            )
-            :error;
-        if(outputVacated||promoted){
-            const rollbackIssues=await rollbackPromotion({
-                outputPath,
-                backupPath:backupLinked?backup:null,
-                backupIdentity,
-                backupContentSha256,
-                promotedIdentity:stagingState.identity,
-                promotedContentSha256:stagingState.contentSha256,
-                promoted,
-                stagingPath:temporary,
-                stagingState
-            },{
-                promotedHandle:anchorHandle,
-                backupHandle:existingOutput.handle
-            });
-            if(rollbackIssues.length){
-                appendErrorWarning(failure,`Rollback warning: ${rollbackIssues.join('; ')}`);
-            }
-        }else if(backupLinked){
-            const cleanupIssues=await removeUncommittedBackupLink({
-                outputPath,
-                backupPath:backup,
-                existingOutput
-            });
-            if(cleanupIssues.length){
-                appendErrorWarning(failure,`Backup cleanup warning: ${cleanupIssues.join('; ')}`);
-            }
-        }
-        throw failure;
-    }
-}
-
-async function removeUncommittedBackupLink({outputPath,backupPath,existingOutput}){
-    const issues=[];
-    try{
-        existingOutput.identity=await anchoredLinkPairContentIdentity(
-            outputPath,
-            backupPath,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            existingOutput.identity,
-            existingOutput.contentSha256,
-            'Uncommitted bundle backup'
-        );
-        await rm(backupPath);
-        existingOutput.identity=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-            outputPath,
-            existingOutput.handle,
-            existingOutput.identity,
-            existingOutput.contentSha256,
-            'Existing output after backup cleanup'
-        );
-    }catch(error){
-        issues.push(`preserve uncommitted backup ${backupPath}: ${error.message}`);
-    }
-    return issues;
-}
-
-async function stableFileDigest(filePath,label,{signal}={}){
-    const opened=await openStableFile(filePath,label,{
-        maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxCompressedBytes
+        entries.push(tarEntry(`payload/${file.path}`,await readFile(file.absolute)));
+    }
+    entries.push(Buffer.alloc(TAR_END_SIZE));
+    const output=await outputBoundary(outputPath,overwrite);
+    await writeBundle(output,gzipSync(Buffer.concat(entries),{mtime:0}),{overwrite});
+    await emit(onEvent,{
+        type:'bundle.completed',
+        phase:'publish',
+        status:'completed',
+        bundlePath:output,
+        files:[...manifest.files]
     });
-    let operationError;
-    try{
-        const digest=createHash('sha256');
-        const buffer=Buffer.allocUnsafe(64*1024);
-        let position=0;
-        while(position<opened.identity.bytes){
-            throwIfAborted(signal);
-            const requested=Math.min(buffer.length,opened.identity.bytes-position);
-            const result=await opened.handle.read(buffer,0,requested,position);
-            if(result.bytesRead===0)fail(`${label} ended before its recorded byte length.`);
-            digest.update(buffer.subarray(0,result.bytesRead));
-            position+=result.bytesRead;
-        }
-        const probe=Buffer.alloc(1);
-        const extra=await opened.handle.read(probe,0,1,opened.identity.bytes);
-        if(extra.bytesRead!==0)fail(`${label} grew beyond its recorded byte length.`);
-        const canonicalPath=await realpath(filePath);
-        const after=await opened.handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        const current=await lstat(filePath,{bigint:true});
-        const canonical=await lstat(canonicalPath,{bigint:true});
-        if(after.nlink!==1n||current.nlink!==1n||canonical.nlink!==1n
-            ||current.isSymbolicLink()||canonical.isSymbolicLink()
-            ||!current.isFile()||!identityMatches(after,opened.identity)
-            ||!canonical.isFile()||!identityMatches(current,opened.identity)
-            ||!identityMatches(canonical,opened.identity)){
-            fail(`${label} changed while its promoted identity was verified.`);
-        }
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        return Object.freeze({
-            path:canonicalPath,
-            bytes:opened.identity.bytes,
-            sha256:digest.digest('hex'),
-            identity:opened.identity
-        });
-    }catch(error){
-        operationError=error;
-        throw error;
-    }finally{
-        try{
-            await opened.handle.close();
-        }catch(closeError){
-            if(operationError){
-                appendErrorWarning(
-                    operationError,
-                    `${label} handle close warning: ${String(closeError?.message??closeError)}`
-                );
-            }else{
-                throw closeError;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-async function rollbackPromotion(transaction,{promotedHandle,backupHandle}={}){
-    const issues=[];
-    let outputAbsent=false;
-    let recoverableBackupIdentity=null;
-    if(transaction.backupPath){
-        if(!transaction.backupIdentity||!transaction.backupContentSha256||!backupHandle){
-            issues.push(`preserve ${transaction.backupPath}; backup identity is unavailable before restore`);
-            issues.push(`preserve promoted output path ${transaction.outputPath}; prior backup is not recoverable`);
-            return issues;
-        }
-        try{
-            recoverableBackupIdentity=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-                transaction.backupPath,
-                backupHandle,
-                transaction.backupIdentity,
-                'Preserved bundle backup'
-            );
-            if(!identitiesEqual(recoverableBackupIdentity,transaction.backupIdentity)){
-                throw new Error('Preserved bundle backup identity changed before restore.');
-            }
-            await assertAnchoredContent(
-                backupHandle,
-                recoverableBackupIdentity,
-                transaction.backupContentSha256,
-                'Preserved bundle backup'
-            );
-        }catch(error){
-            if(error?.code==='ENOENT'){
-                issues.push(`preserved backup disappeared before restore: ${transaction.backupPath}`);
-            }else{
-                issues.push(`preserve ${transaction.backupPath}; backup identity changed before restore: ${error.message}`);
-            }
-            issues.push(`preserve promoted output path ${transaction.outputPath}; prior backup is not recoverable`);
-            return issues;
-        }
-    }
-    try{
-        const output=await lstat(transaction.outputPath,{bigint:true});
-        let anchored;
-        if(promotedHandle){
-            try{
-                anchored=await promotedHandle.stat({bigint:true});
-            }catch(error){
-                issues.push(`preserve changed output path ${transaction.outputPath}; promoted handle identity is unavailable: ${error.message}`);
-            }
-        }
-        let ownedContent=false;
-        if(transaction.promoted&&transaction.promotedIdentity
-            &&transaction.promotedContentSha256&&promotedHandle
-            &&!output.isSymbolicLink()&&output.isFile()
-            &&fileObjectMatches(output,transaction.promotedIdentity)
-            &&Number(output.size)===transaction.promotedIdentity.bytes
-            &&anchored?.isFile()
-            &&fileObjectMatches(anchored,transaction.promotedIdentity)
-            &&Number(anchored.size)===transaction.promotedIdentity.bytes){
-            try{
-                const reboundIdentity=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-                    transaction.outputPath,
-                    promotedHandle,
-                    transaction.promotedIdentity,
-                    transaction.promotedContentSha256,
-                    'Promoted bundle output rollback'
-                );
-                ownedContent=identitiesEqual(reboundIdentity,transaction.promotedIdentity);
-            }catch(error){
-                issues.push(`preserve changed output path ${transaction.outputPath}; ${error.message}`);
-            }
-        }
-        if(!ownedContent){
-            if(!issues.some(issue=>issue.startsWith(`preserve changed output path ${transaction.outputPath};`))){
-                issues.push(`preserve changed output path ${transaction.outputPath}; identity is not owned by this operation`);
-            }
-        }else{
-            await rm(transaction.outputPath);
-            outputAbsent=true;
-            if(transaction.stagingPath&&transaction.stagingState&&promotedHandle){
-                try{
-                    transaction.stagingState.identity=await anchoredSinglePathIdentity(
-                        transaction.stagingPath,
-                        promotedHandle,
-                        transaction.promotedIdentity,
-                        'Rolled-back bundle staging'
-                    );
-                }catch(error){
-                    if(error?.code!=='ENOENT'){
-                        issues.push(`refresh rolled-back staging identity: ${error.message}`);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }catch(error){
-        if(error?.code==='ENOENT')outputAbsent=true;
-        else issues.push(`inspect or remove failed output: ${error.message}`);
-    }
-    if(transaction.backupPath){
-        try{
-            const backupIdentity=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-                transaction.backupPath,
-                backupHandle,
-                recoverableBackupIdentity,
-                transaction.backupContentSha256,
-                'Preserved bundle backup'
-            );
-            if(!identitiesEqual(backupIdentity,recoverableBackupIdentity)){
-                issues.push(`preserve ${transaction.backupPath}; backup identity changed before restore`);
-                return issues;
-            }
-            if(!outputAbsent){
-                issues.push(`preserve ${transaction.backupPath}; output path is occupied by an unowned identity`);
-                return issues;
-            }
-            await link(transaction.backupPath,transaction.outputPath);
-            const linkedIdentity=await anchoredLinkPairContentIdentity(
-                transaction.outputPath,
-                transaction.backupPath,
-                backupHandle,
-                transaction.backupIdentity,
-                transaction.backupContentSha256,
-                'Create-only bundle restore'
-            );
-            await rm(transaction.backupPath);
-            await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-                transaction.outputPath,
-                backupHandle,
-                linkedIdentity,
-                transaction.backupContentSha256,
-                'Restored bundle output'
-            );
-        }catch(error){
-            if(error?.code==='EEXIST'){
-                issues.push(`preserve ${transaction.backupPath}; create-only restore found an occupied output path`);
-            }else if(error?.code!=='ENOENT'){
-                issues.push(`restore ${transaction.backupPath}: ${error.message}`);
-            }
-            else issues.push(`preserved backup disappeared before restore: ${transaction.backupPath}`);
-        }
-    }
-    return issues;
-}
-
-async function finalizePromotion(transaction,{backupHandle}={}){
-    if(!transaction.backupPath)return null;
-    try{
-        if(!transaction.backupIdentity||!transaction.backupContentSha256||!backupHandle){
-            throw new Error('Preserved artifact backup identity changed before cleanup.');
-        }
-        const backupIdentity=await anchoredSinglePathContentIdentity(
-            transaction.backupPath,
-            backupHandle,
-            transaction.backupIdentity,
-            transaction.backupContentSha256,
-            'Preserved artifact backup'
-        );
-        if(!identitiesEqual(backupIdentity,transaction.backupIdentity)){
-            throw new Error('Preserved artifact backup identity changed before cleanup.');
-        }
-        await rm(transaction.backupPath);
-        return null;
-    }catch(error){
-        return Object.freeze({
-            scope:'artifact-backup',
-            path:transaction.backupPath,
-            message:String(error?.message??error),
-            recovery:'The verified output is committed; inspect and remove this preserved prior artifact.'
-        });
-    }
+    return {
+        bundlePath:output,
+        manifest:copyJson(manifest),
+        descriptor:copyJson(descriptor),
+        release:copyJson(release),
+        files:[...manifest.files]
+    };
 }
 
-async function resolveOutputTarget(requested,releaseRoot){
-    const requestedParent=path.dirname(requested);
-    const missing=[];
-    let existing=requestedParent;
-    for(;;){
-        try{
-            const info=await lstat(existing);
-            if(info.isSymbolicLink()||!info.isDirectory()){
-                fail('Bundle output parent must resolve through regular directories.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-            }
-            break;
-        }catch(error){
-            if(error?.code!=='ENOENT')throw error;
-            const parent=path.dirname(existing);
-            if(parent===existing)throw error;
-            missing.unshift(path.basename(existing));
-            existing=parent;
-        }
-    }
-    const canonicalExisting=await realpath(existing);
-    const candidateParent=path.join(canonicalExisting,...missing);
-    if(isInside(releaseRoot,candidateParent)){
-        fail('Bundle output cannot be inside the authenticated release root.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-    await mkdir(candidateParent,{recursive:true});
-    const canonicalParent=await realpath(candidateParent);
-    if(isInside(releaseRoot,canonicalParent)){
-        fail('Bundle output parent resolved inside the authenticated release root.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-    return path.join(canonicalParent,path.basename(requested));
+function readStringField(header,offset,length){
+    const end=header.indexOf(0,offset);
+    const selectedEnd=end<0||end>offset+length?offset+length:end;
+    return header.subarray(offset,selectedEnd).toString('utf8');
 }
 
-function parseCanonicalJson(bytes,label){
-    let text;
-    try{
-        text=textDecoder.decode(bytes);
-    }catch(error){
-        fail(`${label} is not UTF-8 JSON.`,ERROR_CODES.integrityFailed,{cause:error.message});
-    }
-    let value;
-    try{
-        value=JSON.parse(text);
-    }catch(error){
-        fail(`${label} is not valid JSON.`,ERROR_CODES.integrityFailed,{cause:error.message});
-    }
-    if(!bytes.equals(canonicalJsonBytes(value))){
-        fail(`${label} is not canonical two-space JSON with one trailing LF.`);
-    }
+function readOctalField(header,offset,length,label){
+    const text=header.subarray(offset,offset+length).toString('ascii').replace(/[\0 ]+$/u,'');
+    if(!/^[0-7]+$/u.test(text))fail(`${label} is not a valid ustar octal field.`);
+    const value=Number.parseInt(text,8);
+    if(!Number.isSafeInteger(value))fail(`${label} exceeds the supported integer range.`);
     return value;
 }
 
-class StrictTarParser{
-    constructor(compressedBytes){
-        this.compressedBytes=compressedBytes;
-        this.expansionLimit=Math.min(
-            APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxExpandedBytes,
-            compressedBytes*APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxExpansionRatio
-                +APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.expansionSlackBytes
-        );
-        this.totalExpanded=0;
-        this.header=Buffer.alloc(TAR_BLOCK_BYTES);
-        this.headerBytes=0;
-        this.state='header';
-        this.zeroBlocks=0;
-        this.entries=[];
-        this.pathTopology={kinds:new Map(),spellings:new Map()};
-        this.current=null;
-        this.remaining=0;
-        this.padding=0;
-        this.ended=false;
-    }
-
-    consume(chunk){
-        this.totalExpanded+=chunk.length;
-        if(this.totalExpanded>this.expansionLimit){
-            fail('Bundle expansion exceeds its absolute or ratio ceiling.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        let offset=0;
-        while(offset<chunk.length){
-            if(this.ended)fail('USTAR archive contains bytes after its two terminal zero blocks.');
-            if(this.state==='header'){
-                const count=Math.min(TAR_BLOCK_BYTES-this.headerBytes,chunk.length-offset);
-                chunk.copy(this.header,this.headerBytes,offset,offset+count);
-                this.headerBytes+=count;
-                offset+=count;
-                if(this.headerBytes===TAR_BLOCK_BYTES)this.finishHeader();
-                continue;
-            }
-            if(this.state==='data'){
-                const count=Math.min(this.remaining,chunk.length-offset);
-                const piece=chunk.subarray(offset,offset+count);
-                this.current.digest.update(piece);
-                if(this.current.chunks){
-                    this.current.chunks.push(Buffer.from(piece));
-                    this.current.controlBytes+=piece.length;
-                    if(this.current.controlBytes>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxControlBytes){
-                        fail(`${this.current.path} exceeds the control-document limit.`,ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-                    }
-                }
-                this.remaining-=count;
-                offset+=count;
-                if(this.remaining===0)this.finishEntry();
-                continue;
-            }
-            if(this.state==='padding'){
-                const count=Math.min(this.padding,chunk.length-offset);
-                if(chunk.subarray(offset,offset+count).some(byte=>byte!==0)){
-                    fail(`USTAR padding is nonzero after ${this.current?.path??'an entry'}.`);
-                }
-                this.padding-=count;
-                offset+=count;
-                if(this.padding===0){
-                    this.current=null;
-                    this.state='header';
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    finishHeader(){
-        const header=Buffer.from(this.header);
-        this.header.fill(0);
-        this.headerBytes=0;
-        if(header.every(byte=>byte===0)){
-            this.zeroBlocks+=1;
-            if(this.zeroBlocks===2){
-                this.ended=true;
-                return;
-            }
-            this.state='header';
-            return;
-        }
-        if(this.zeroBlocks!==0)fail('USTAR archive resumed after its first terminal zero block.');
-        if(this.entries.length>=APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxEntries){
-            fail('USTAR archive exceeds its entry-count limit.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        const parsed=parseCanonicalUstarHeader(header);
-        const expectedControl=[
-            APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME,
-            APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,
-            APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH
-        ][this.entries.length];
-        if(expectedControl&&parsed.path!==expectedControl){
-            fail(`USTAR entry ${this.entries.length+1} must be ${expectedControl}.`);
-        }
-        if(this.entries.length>=3&&!parsed.path.startsWith('payload/')){
-            fail('Every non-control USTAR entry must be beneath payload/.');
-        }
-        registerPortablePathTopology(this.pathTopology,parsed.path,'USTAR archive topology');
-        this.current={
-            path:parsed.path,
-            size:parsed.size,
-            digest:createHash('sha256'),
-            chunks:CONTROL_PATHS.has(parsed.path)?[]:null,
-            controlBytes:0
-        };
-        this.remaining=parsed.size;
-        this.padding=(TAR_BLOCK_BYTES-(parsed.size%TAR_BLOCK_BYTES))%TAR_BLOCK_BYTES;
-        this.state='data';
-        if(this.remaining===0)this.finishEntry();
-    }
-
-    finishEntry(){
-        const entry=Object.freeze({
-            path:this.current.path,
-            bytes:this.current.size,
-            sha256:this.current.digest.digest('hex'),
-            ...(this.current.chunks?{buffer:Buffer.concat(this.current.chunks)}:{})
-        });
-        this.entries.push(entry);
-        if(this.padding===0){
-            this.current=null;
-            this.state='header';
-        }else{
-            this.state='padding';
-        }
-    }
-
-    finish(){
-        if(!this.ended||this.zeroBlocks!==2||this.headerBytes!==0
-            ||this.state!=='header'||this.current!==null){
-            fail('USTAR archive ended before its exact two-block terminator.');
-        }
-        return Object.freeze({
-            entries:Object.freeze(this.entries),
-            expandedBytes:this.totalExpanded
-        });
-    }
-}
-
-class DeterministicGzipDigest{
-    constructor(){
-        this.digest=createHash('sha256');
-        this.digest.update(GZIP_HEADER);
-        this.compressedBytes=GZIP_HEADER.length;
-        this.crc=0xffffffff;
-        this.expandedBytes=0;
-        this.deflate=createDeflateRaw({level:9});
-        this.deflate.on('data',chunk=>{
-            this.digest.update(chunk);
-            this.compressedBytes+=chunk.length;
-        });
-    }
-
-    async write(chunk){
-        this.crc=updateCrc32(this.crc,chunk);
-        this.expandedBytes=(this.expandedBytes+chunk.length)>>>0;
-        if(!this.deflate.write(chunk))await once(this.deflate,'drain');
-    }
-
-    async finish(){
-        const completed=new Promise((resolve,reject)=>{
-            this.deflate.once('end',resolve);
-            this.deflate.once('error',reject);
-        });
-        this.deflate.end();
-        await completed;
-        const trailer=Buffer.alloc(8);
-        trailer.writeUInt32LE((this.crc^0xffffffff)>>>0,0);
-        trailer.writeUInt32LE(this.expandedBytes>>>0,4);
-        this.digest.update(trailer);
-        this.compressedBytes+=trailer.length;
-        return Object.freeze({
-            sha256:this.digest.digest('hex'),
-            compressedBytes:this.compressedBytes
+function readTarEntries(archive){
+    const entries=new Map();
+    let offset=0;
+    while(offset+TAR_BLOCK_SIZE<=archive.length){
+        const header=archive.subarray(offset,offset+TAR_BLOCK_SIZE);
+        if(header.every(value=>value===0))break;
+        if(readStringField(header,257,6)!=='ustar')fail('Bundle is not a ustar archive.');
+        const expectedChecksum=readOctalField(header,148,8,'ustar checksum');
+        const checksumHeader=Buffer.from(header);
+        checksumHeader.fill(0x20,148,156);
+        let actualChecksum=0;
+        for(const value of checksumHeader)actualChecksum+=value;
+        if(actualChecksum!==expectedChecksum)fail('Bundle contains a malformed ustar header.');
+        if(header[156]!==0&&header[156]!==0x30)fail('Bundle contains a non-file archive entry.');
+        const name=readStringField(header,0,100);
+        const prefix=readStringField(header,345,155);
+        const archivePath=validateAppBundlePath(prefix?`${prefix}/${name}`:name,'archive path');
+        if(entries.has(pathKey(archivePath)))fail(`Bundle contains a duplicate path: ${archivePath}.`);
+        const size=readOctalField(header,124,12,'ustar size');
+        const contentStart=offset+TAR_BLOCK_SIZE;
+        const contentEnd=contentStart+size;
+        if(contentEnd>archive.length)fail(`Bundle entry is incomplete: ${archivePath}.`);
+        entries.set(pathKey(archivePath),{
+            path:archivePath,
+            content:Buffer.from(archive.subarray(contentStart,contentEnd))
         });
+        offset=contentStart+Math.ceil(size/TAR_BLOCK_SIZE)*TAR_BLOCK_SIZE;
     }
-
-    destroy(){
-        this.deflate.destroy();
-    }
+    return entries;
 }
 
-function validateFileRecord(file,label){
-    assertExactKeys(file,['path','bytes','sha256'],label);
-    validateAppBundlePath(file.path,`${label}.path`);
-    assertInteger(file.bytes,{
-        minimum:0,
-        maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxEntryBytes,
-        label:`${label}.bytes`
-    });
-    assertSha256(file.sha256,`${label}.sha256`);
-    return Object.freeze({path:file.path,bytes:file.bytes,sha256:file.sha256});
-}
-
-function validateBundleManifest(value){
-    assertExactKeys(value,[
-        'schemaVersion','kind','format','sdk','app','descriptor','release','payload'
-    ],APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME);
-    if(value.schemaVersion!==APP_BUNDLE_SCHEMA_VERSION||value.kind!==APP_BUNDLE_KIND
-        ||value.format!==APP_BUNDLE_FORMAT){
-        fail('Bundle manifest protocol discriminator is unsupported.');
-    }
-    assertExactKeys(value.sdk,['name','version'],'bundle.sdk');
-    if(value.sdk.name!==SDK_NAME)fail(`bundle.sdk.name must be ${SDK_NAME}.`);
-    parseSemver(value.sdk.version);
-    if(!APP_BUNDLE_SUPPORTED_SDK_VERSIONS.includes(value.sdk.version)){
-        fail(
-            `bundle.sdk.version ${value.sdk.version} is structurally known but not compatible with this Arcane SDK generation.`,
-            ERROR_CODES.policyDenied
-        );
-    }
-    assertExactKeys(value.app,['id','version'],'bundle.app');
-    if(typeof value.app.id!=='string'||!APP_ID_PATTERN.test(value.app.id))fail('bundle.app.id is invalid.');
-    parseSemver(value.app.version);
-    assertExactKeys(value.descriptor,[
-        'path','schemaVersion','canonicalSha256','packageSha256','fileSha256','bytes'
-    ],'bundle.descriptor');
-    if(value.descriptor.path!==APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME||value.descriptor.schemaVersion!==2){
-        fail('bundle.descriptor must identify the authored schema-2 descriptor.');
-    }
-    for(const field of ['canonicalSha256','packageSha256','fileSha256']){
-        assertSha256(value.descriptor[field],`bundle.descriptor.${field}`);
-    }
-    assertInteger(value.descriptor.bytes,{
-        minimum:1,
-        maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxControlBytes,
-        label:'bundle.descriptor.bytes'
-    });
-    assertExactKeys(value.release,[
-        'path','schemaVersion','builder','policySha256','manifestSha256',
-        'contentSha256','fileCount','totalBytes'
-    ],'bundle.release');
-    if(value.release.path!==APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH||value.release.schemaVersion!==1
-        ||value.release.builder!==PACKAGER_VERSION){
-        fail('bundle.release identifies an unsupported app release contract.');
-    }
-    for(const field of ['policySha256','manifestSha256','contentSha256']){
-        assertSha256(value.release[field],`bundle.release.${field}`);
-    }
-    assertInteger(value.release.fileCount,{
-        minimum:1,
-        maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxPayloadFiles,
-        label:'bundle.release.fileCount'
-    });
-    assertInteger(value.release.totalBytes,{
-        minimum:1,
-        maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxExpandedBytes,
-        label:'bundle.release.totalBytes'
-    });
-    assertExactKeys(value.payload,['root','fileCount','totalBytes','files'],'bundle.payload');
-    if(value.payload.root!=='payload'||!Array.isArray(value.payload.files)){
-        fail('bundle.payload must contain one exact payload inventory.');
-    }
-    if(value.payload.files.length<1||value.payload.files.length>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxPayloadFiles){
-        fail('bundle.payload.files exceeds its cardinality contract.');
-    }
-    const keys=new Set();
-    let totalBytes=0;
-    let previous=null;
-    const files=value.payload.files.map((file,index)=>{
-        const record=validateFileRecord(file,`bundle.payload.files[${index}]`);
-        if(pathKey(record.path)===pathKey(RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME)){
-            fail(`bundle.payload.files must not contain ${RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME}.`);
-        }
-        const key=pathKey(record.path);
-        if(keys.has(key))fail(`Bundle payload has a duplicate or case-colliding path: ${record.path}.`);
-        keys.add(key);
-        if(previous!==null&&compareText(previous,record.path)>=0){
-            fail('Bundle payload inventory must use strict canonical path order.');
-        }
-        previous=record.path;
-        totalBytes+=record.bytes;
-        if(!Number.isSafeInteger(totalBytes)||totalBytes>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxExpandedBytes){
-            fail('Bundle payload exceeds its expanded byte ceiling.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        return record;
-    });
-    validatePortablePathTopology([
-        APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME,
-        APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,
-        APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH,
-        ...files.map(file=>`payload/${file.path}`)
-    ],'Bundle archive topology');
-    if(value.payload.fileCount!==files.length||value.payload.totalBytes!==totalBytes
-        ||value.release.fileCount!==files.length||value.release.totalBytes!==totalBytes){
-        fail('Bundle payload and release totals do not match their inventory.');
-    }
-    return {manifest:value,files:Object.freeze(files)};
-}
-
-function validateEmbeddedRelease(value,descriptor,files,bundle){
-    assertExactKeys(value,[
-        'schemaVersion','builder','app','policySha256','fileCount','totalBytes','contentSha256','files'
-    ],RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME);
-    if(value.schemaVersion!==1||value.builder!==PACKAGER_VERSION){
-        fail('Embedded release manifest protocol is unsupported.');
-    }
-    assertExactKeys(value.app,[
-        'id','displayName','version','entry','start','security','localAIModelPolicy'
-    ],'embedded release app');
-    const expectedApp=expectedReleaseApp(descriptor);
-    if(JSON.stringify(value.app)!==JSON.stringify(expectedApp)){
-        fail('Embedded release app does not match the authored descriptor.');
-    }
-    const releaseFiles=Array.isArray(value.files)
-        ?value.files.map((file,index)=>validateFileRecord(file,`release.files[${index}]`))
-        :null;
-    if(!releaseFiles||JSON.stringify(releaseFiles)!==JSON.stringify(files)){
-        fail('Embedded release inventory does not match the bundle payload inventory.');
-    }
-    const totalBytes=files.reduce((total,file)=>total+file.bytes,0);
-    const contentSha256=sha256(JSON.stringify(files));
-    assertSha256(value.policySha256,'release.policySha256');
-    if(value.fileCount!==files.length||value.totalBytes!==totalBytes
-        ||value.contentSha256!==contentSha256){
-        fail('Embedded release inventory totals or content digest are invalid.');
-    }
-    if(bundle.release.builder!==value.builder
-        ||bundle.release.policySha256!==value.policySha256
-        ||bundle.release.contentSha256!==value.contentSha256
-        ||bundle.release.fileCount!==value.fileCount
-        ||bundle.release.totalBytes!==value.totalBytes){
-        fail('Bundle release binding does not match the embedded release manifest.');
-    }
-    return value;
-}
-
-function validateParsedBundle(parsed,{
-    bundleSha256,
-    compressedBytes,
-    bundlePath,
-    artifactIdentity
-}){
-    const entries=parsed.entries;
-    if(entries.length<4)fail('Bundle must contain three control documents and at least one payload file.');
-    const [bundleEntry,descriptorEntry,releaseEntry]=entries;
-    const {manifest,files}=validateBundleManifest(
-        parseCanonicalJson(bundleEntry.buffer,APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME)
-    );
-    const expectedPaths=[
-        APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME,
-        APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,
-        APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH,
-        ...files.map(file=>`payload/${file.path}`)
-    ];
-    if(JSON.stringify(entries.map(entry=>entry.path))!==JSON.stringify(expectedPaths)){
-        fail('Bundle USTAR topology or entry order does not match the manifest.');
-    }
-    const descriptorDocument=parseCanonicalJson(descriptorEntry.buffer,APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME);
-    const descriptor=validateAppDescriptor(descriptorDocument,{appId:manifest.app.id});
-    if(!descriptorEntry.buffer.equals(canonicalJsonBytes(descriptor))
-        ||descriptor.version!==manifest.app.version
-        ||descriptor.schemaVersion!==manifest.descriptor.schemaVersion
-        ||descriptorEntry.bytes!==manifest.descriptor.bytes
-        ||descriptorEntry.sha256!==manifest.descriptor.fileSha256
-        ||appDescriptorSha256(descriptor)!==manifest.descriptor.canonicalSha256
-        ||sha256(JSON.stringify(projectPackageManifest(descriptor)))!==manifest.descriptor.packageSha256){
-        fail('Authored descriptor binding does not match the bundle manifest.');
-    }
-    const releaseDocument=parseCanonicalJson(releaseEntry.buffer,RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME);
-    validateEmbeddedRelease(releaseDocument,descriptor,files,manifest);
-    if(releaseEntry.sha256!==manifest.release.manifestSha256){
-        fail('Embedded release manifest digest does not match the bundle manifest.');
-    }
-    for(let index=0;index<files.length;index+=1){
-        const entry=entries[index+3];
-        const file=files[index];
-        if(entry.bytes!==file.bytes||entry.sha256!==file.sha256){
-            fail(`Payload entry does not match its release identity: ${file.path}.`);
-        }
-    }
-    const consistency=Object.freeze({
-        artifact:Object.freeze({sha256:bundleSha256,bytes:compressedBytes}),
-        descriptor:Object.freeze({
-            canonicalSha256:manifest.descriptor.canonicalSha256,
-            fileSha256:manifest.descriptor.fileSha256,
-            packageSha256:manifest.descriptor.packageSha256,
-            bytes:manifest.descriptor.bytes
-        }),
-        release:Object.freeze({
-            manifestSha256:manifest.release.manifestSha256,
-            policySha256:manifest.release.policySha256,
-            contentSha256:manifest.release.contentSha256,
-            fileCount:manifest.release.fileCount,
-            totalBytes:manifest.release.totalBytes
-        })
-    });
-    return Object.freeze({
-        schemaVersion:APP_BUNDLE_SCHEMA_VERSION,
-        kind:'arcane-app-release-bundle-verification',
-        verified:true,
-        arcaneCompatible:true,
-        bundlePath,
-        bundleSha256,
-        compressedBytes,
-        artifactIdentity,
-        expandedBytes:parsed.expandedBytes,
-        entryCount:entries.length,
-        sdk:Object.freeze({...manifest.sdk}),
-        app:Object.freeze({...manifest.app}),
-        descriptorSha256:manifest.descriptor.canonicalSha256,
-        descriptorFileSha256:manifest.descriptor.fileSha256,
-        descriptorBytes:manifest.descriptor.bytes,
-        packageSha256:manifest.descriptor.packageSha256,
-        releaseManifestSha256:manifest.release.manifestSha256,
-        releasePolicySha256:manifest.release.policySha256,
-        releaseContentSha256:manifest.release.contentSha256,
-        fileCount:manifest.release.fileCount,
-        totalBytes:manifest.release.totalBytes,
-        consistency
-    });
+function requiredEntry(entries,entryPath){
+    const entry=entries.get(pathKey(entryPath));
+    if(!entry)fail(`Bundle is missing ${entryPath}.`);
+    return entry;
 }
 
 export async function verifyAppReleaseBundle({bundlePath,signal,onEvent}={}){
     throwIfAborted(signal);
-    if(typeof bundlePath!=='string'||!bundlePath.trim()){
-        fail('bundlePath is required to verify an app release bundle.',ERROR_CODES.usage);
-    }
-    const requested=path.resolve(bundlePath);
-    await emit(onEvent,{type:'bundle.verify.started',bundlePath:requested});
-    const opened=await openStableFile(requested,'app release bundle',{
-        maximum:APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxCompressedBytes
-    });
-    let recompressed;
-    try{
-        const canonicalRequested=await realpath(requested);
-        const canonicalInfo=await lstat(canonicalRequested,{bigint:true});
-        if(canonicalInfo.isSymbolicLink()||!canonicalInfo.isFile()||canonicalInfo.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(canonicalInfo,opened.identity)){
-            fail('App release bundle canonical path did not bind to its opened identity.');
-        }
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.verify.opened',
-            bundlePath:canonicalRequested,
-            compressedBytes:opened.identity.bytes
-        });
-        if(opened.identity.bytes<GZIP_HEADER.length+8){
-            fail('App release bundle is too short to be canonical gzip.');
-        }
-        const header=Buffer.alloc(GZIP_HEADER.length);
-        const first=await opened.handle.read(header,0,header.length,0);
-        if(first.bytesRead!==header.length||!header.equals(GZIP_HEADER)){
-            fail('Bundle gzip header is not the deterministic Arcane header.');
-        }
-        const parser=new StrictTarParser(opened.identity.bytes);
-        recompressed=new DeterministicGzipDigest();
-        const actualDigest=createHash('sha256');
-        let actualBytes=0;
-        const actual=new Transform({
-            transform(chunk,_encoding,callback){
-                try{
-                    actualBytes+=chunk.length;
-                    if(actualBytes>opened.identity.bytes
-                        ||actualBytes>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxCompressedBytes){
-                        fail('Bundle compressed stream exceeded its recorded byte ceiling.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-                    }
-                    actualDigest.update(chunk);
-                    callback(null,chunk);
-                }catch(error){
-                    callback(error);
-                }
-            }
-        });
-        const gunzip=createGunzip();
-        const consume=new Writable({
-            write(chunk,_encoding,callback){
-                try{
-                    throwIfAborted(signal);
-                    parser.consume(chunk);
-                    recompressed.write(chunk).then(()=>callback(),callback);
-                }catch(error){
-                    callback(error);
-                }
-            }
-        });
-        await pipeline(
-            opened.handle.createReadStream({
-                autoClose:false,
-                start:0,
-                end:opened.identity.bytes-1
-            }),
-            actual,
-            gunzip,
-            consume,
-            {signal}
-        );
-        const parsed=parser.finish();
-        const deterministic=await recompressed.finish();
-        const bundleSha256=actualDigest.digest('hex');
-        const probe=Buffer.alloc(1);
-        const extra=await opened.handle.read(probe,0,1,opened.identity.bytes);
-        if(extra.bytesRead!==0)fail('App release bundle grew while it was verified.');
-        if(actualBytes!==opened.identity.bytes
-            ||deterministic.compressedBytes!==actualBytes
-            ||deterministic.sha256!==bundleSha256){
-            fail('Bundle gzip member is not the exact deterministic Arcane encoding.');
-        }
-        const canonicalCurrent=await realpath(requested);
-        const after=await opened.handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        const current=await lstat(requested,{bigint:true});
-        const canonicalAfter=await lstat(canonicalRequested,{bigint:true});
-        if(after.nlink!==1n||current.nlink!==1n||canonicalAfter.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(after,opened.identity)||current.isSymbolicLink()
-            ||canonicalAfter.isSymbolicLink()||!current.isFile()||!canonicalAfter.isFile()
-            ||!identityMatches(current,opened.identity)
-            ||!identityMatches(canonicalAfter,opened.identity)
-            ||canonicalCurrent!==canonicalRequested){
-            fail('App release bundle changed while it was verified.');
-        }
-        const receipt=validateParsedBundle(parsed,{
-            bundleSha256,
-            compressedBytes:actualBytes,
-            bundlePath:canonicalRequested,
-            artifactIdentity:opened.identity
-        });
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.verify.completed',
-            bundlePath:receipt.bundlePath,
-            bundleSha256:receipt.bundleSha256,
-            entryCount:receipt.entryCount
-        });
-        return receipt;
-    }catch(error){
-        recompressed?.destroy();
-        if(error?.name==='AbortError'||signal?.aborted)throwIfAborted(signal);
-        throw error;
-    }finally{
-        await opened.handle.close().catch(()=>{});
-    }
-}
-
-export async function createAppReleaseBundle({
-    receipt,
-    releaseRoot,
-    outputPath,
-    overwrite=false,
-    signal,
-    onEvent
-}={}){
-    throwIfAborted(signal);
-    if(typeof overwrite!=='boolean'){
-        fail('overwrite must be a literal boolean.',ERROR_CODES.usage);
-    }
-    if(typeof releaseRoot!=='string'||!releaseRoot.trim()){
-        fail('releaseRoot is required to create an app release bundle.',ERROR_CODES.usage);
-    }
-    if(typeof outputPath!=='string'||!outputPath.trim()){
-        fail('outputPath is required to create an app release bundle.',ERROR_CODES.usage);
-    }
-    const requestedOutput=path.resolve(outputPath);
-    validateOutputFilename(requestedOutput);
-    const authority=await authenticateAppReleaseAuthority(receipt,{releaseRoot,signal});
-    const canonicalReleaseRoot=await realpath(path.resolve(releaseRoot));
-    const descriptor=validateAppDescriptor(authority.descriptor,{appId:receipt.app?.id});
-    if(authority.source!=='authored'||descriptor.schemaVersion!==2
-        ||authority.descriptorSha256!==appDescriptorSha256(descriptor)){
-        fail('Bundle creation requires one authenticated authored schema-2 descriptor.');
-    }
-    const files=validateReleaseInventory(receipt);
-    const release=releaseDocumentFromReceipt(receipt,descriptor,files);
-    const releaseBytes=canonicalJsonBytes(release);
-    const sourceReleaseBytes=await readStableControlFile(
-        path.join(canonicalReleaseRoot,RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME),
-        RELEASE_MANIFEST_NAME,
-        {signal}
+    if(typeof bundlePath!=='string'||!bundlePath.trim())fail('bundlePath is required.');
+    const selected=path.resolve(bundlePath);
+    const info=await lstat(selected);
+    if(info.isSymbolicLink()||!info.isFile())fail('Bundle path must be a real file.');
+    let archive;
+    try{archive=gunzipSync(await readFile(selected));}
+    catch(error){fail(`Bundle is not valid gzip data: ${error.message}.`);}
+    const entries=readTarEntries(archive);
+    const manifest=readJsonContent(
+        requiredEntry(entries,APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME).content,
+        APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME
     );
-    if(!sourceReleaseBytes.equals(releaseBytes)){
-        fail('Authenticated release manifest bytes are not the canonical receipt projection.');
-    }
-    const descriptorBytes=canonicalJsonBytes(descriptor);
-    if(descriptorBytes.length>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxControlBytes){
-        fail('Authored app descriptor exceeds the control-document limit.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-    const manifest=createBundleManifest({
-        descriptor,
-        descriptorBytes,
-        descriptorSha256:authority.descriptorSha256,
-        release,
-        releaseBytes
-    });
-    const manifestBytes=canonicalJsonBytes(manifest);
-    if(manifestBytes.length>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxControlBytes){
-        fail('Bundle manifest exceeds the control-document limit.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-    const entries=[
-        {path:APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME,bytes:manifestBytes.length,buffer:manifestBytes},
-        {path:APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME,bytes:descriptorBytes.length,buffer:descriptorBytes},
-        {path:APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH,bytes:releaseBytes.length,buffer:releaseBytes},
-        ...files.map(identity=>({
-            path:validateAppBundlePath(`payload/${identity.path}`,'bundle payload archive path'),
-            bytes:identity.bytes,
-            identity
-        }))
-    ];
-    validatePortablePathTopology(entries.map(entry=>entry.path),'Bundle archive topology');
-    if(entries.length>APP_BUNDLE_LIMITS.maxEntries){
-        fail('Bundle exceeds the archive entry-count limit.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-    }
-    const output=await resolveOutputTarget(requestedOutput,canonicalReleaseRoot);
-    const token=`${process.pid}-${Date.now()}-${randomBytes(6).toString('hex')}`;
-    const temporary=path.join(path.dirname(output),`.${path.basename(output)}.${token}.tmp`);
-    const releaseLock=await acquireArtifactLock(output,{onEvent});
-    let handle;
-    let existingOutput;
-    let temporaryIdentity;
-    const stagingState={
-        identity:null,
-        contentBytes:0,
-        contentSha256:sha256(Buffer.alloc(0))
-    };
-    let committed=false;
-    let promotion;
-    let result;
-    let operationError;
-    const cleanupIssues=[];
-    try{
-        existingOutput=await inspectOutput(output,{overwrite,signal});
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.archive.started',
-            outputPath:output,
-            appId:descriptor.id,
-            version:descriptor.version,
-            entryCount:entries.length
-        });
-        handle=await open(temporary,'wx+',0o600);
-        const createdTemporary=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(!createdTemporary.isFile()||createdTemporary.nlink!==1n){
-            fail('New bundle staging is not an owned single-link regular file.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        const encoded=await writeDeterministicGzip(handle,entries,{
-            releaseRoot:canonicalReleaseRoot,
-            signal,
-            onEvent,
-            stagingState
-        });
-        if(stagingState.contentSha256!==encoded.sha256
-            ||stagingState.contentBytes!==encoded.bytes){
-            fail('Archive writer did not retain its encoded content identity.');
-        }
-        await handle.chmod(ARCHIVE_MODE);
-        await handle.sync();
-        const encodedTemporary=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(!encodedTemporary.isFile()||encodedTemporary.nlink!==1n){
-            fail('Encoded bundle staging is not the originally created file object.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        temporaryIdentity=fileIdentity(encodedTemporary);
-        stagingState.identity=temporaryIdentity;
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        await authenticateAppReleaseAuthority(receipt,{releaseRoot:canonicalReleaseRoot,signal});
-        const verified=await verifyAppReleaseBundle({bundlePath:temporary,signal});
-        if(verified.bundleSha256!==encoded.sha256||verified.compressedBytes!==encoded.bytes){
-            fail('New bundle verification did not reproduce its encoded identity.');
-        }
-        const temporaryInfo=await lstat(temporary,{bigint:true});
-        if(temporaryInfo.isSymbolicLink()||!temporaryInfo.isFile()||temporaryInfo.nlink!==1n){
-            fail('Verified bundle staging is not a regular file.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        temporaryIdentity=fileIdentity(temporaryInfo);
-        const anchoredTemporary=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(!anchoredTemporary.isFile()||anchoredTemporary.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(anchoredTemporary,temporaryIdentity)){
-            fail('Verified bundle staging is not the originally created file object.',ERROR_CODES.policyDenied);
-        }
-        if(!identitiesEqual(temporaryIdentity,verified.artifactIdentity)){
-            fail('Verified bundle staging changed after independent verification.');
-        }
-        stagingState.identity=temporaryIdentity;
-        stagingState.contentBytes=verified.compressedBytes;
-        stagingState.contentSha256=verified.bundleSha256;
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.archive.verified',
-            bundleSha256:verified.bundleSha256,
-            compressedBytes:verified.compressedBytes
-        });
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        promotion=await promoteArtifact(temporary,output,{
-            existingOutput,
-            stagingState,
-            anchorHandle:handle,
-            onEvent,
-            signal
-        });
-        await emit(onEvent,{
-            type:'bundle.archive.promoted',
-            bundlePath:output,
-            bundleSha256:verified.bundleSha256
-        });
-        const promoted=await stableFileDigest(output,'promoted app release bundle',{signal});
-        if(promoted.sha256!==verified.bundleSha256
-            ||promoted.bytes!==verified.compressedBytes){
-            fail('Promoted bundle identity does not match the independently verified staging bytes.');
-        }
-        const anchoredPromoted=await handle.stat({bigint:true});
-        if(!anchoredPromoted.isFile()||anchoredPromoted.nlink!==1n
-            ||!identityMatches(anchoredPromoted,promoted.identity)){
-            fail('Promoted bundle digest was not read from the anchored staging object.');
-        }
-        throwIfAborted(signal);
-        const artifactReceipt=Object.freeze({
-            ...verified,
-            kind:'arcane-app-release-bundle-artifact',
-            bundlePath:promoted.path,
-            artifactIdentity:promoted.identity
-        });
-        await handle.close();
-        handle=null;
-        committed=true;
-        const backupCleanup=await finalizePromotion(promotion,{
-            backupHandle:existingOutput?.handle
-        });
-        if(backupCleanup)cleanupIssues.push(backupCleanup);
-        let eventDelivery;
-        try{
-            await emit(onEvent,{
-                type:'bundle.committed',
-                phase:'publish',
-                status:'completed',
-                bundlePath:artifactReceipt.bundlePath,
-                bundleSha256:artifactReceipt.bundleSha256
-            });
-        }catch(error){
-            eventDelivery=Object.freeze({
-                status:'degraded',
-                errorCode:'ARCANE_EVENT_DELIVERY_FAILED',
-                message:String(error?.message??error)
-            });
-        }
-        result={
-            app:descriptor.id,
-            version:descriptor.version,
-            outputPath:artifactReceipt.bundlePath,
-            bundleSha256:artifactReceipt.bundleSha256,
-            compressedBytes:artifactReceipt.compressedBytes,
-            entryCount:artifactReceipt.entryCount,
-            artifactReceipt,
-            ...(eventDelivery?{eventDelivery}:{})
-        };
-    }catch(error){
-        operationError=error;
-        if(promotion&&!committed){
-            const rollbackIssues=await rollbackPromotion(promotion,{
-                promotedHandle:handle,
-                backupHandle:existingOutput?.handle
-            });
-            if(rollbackIssues.length){
-                appendErrorWarning(error,`Rollback warning: ${rollbackIssues.join('; ')}`);
-            }
-        }
-    }finally{
-        let stagingCleanupHandled=false;
-        let retryStagingIdentity=null;
-        if(!committed&&handle){
-            const stagingCleanup=await cleanupAnchoredTemporary(
-                temporary,
-                handle,
-                stagingState?.identity??temporaryIdentity,
-                stagingState.contentSha256,
-                stagingState.contentBytes
-            );
-            if(stagingCleanup.issue)cleanupIssues.push(stagingCleanup.issue);
-            retryStagingIdentity=stagingCleanup.retryIdentity;
-            stagingCleanupHandled=true;
-        }
-        if(handle){
-            try{
-                await handle.close();
-            }catch(error){
-                cleanupIssues.push(changedStagingCleanupIssue(
-                    temporary,
-                    `Staging creation handle close warning for ${temporary}: ${String(error?.message??error)}`
-                ));
-            }
-            handle=null;
-        }
-        if(!committed&&(!stagingCleanupHandled||retryStagingIdentity)){
-            const stagingCleanup=await cleanupOwnedTemporary(
-                temporary,
-                retryStagingIdentity??stagingState?.identity??temporaryIdentity,
-                stagingState.contentSha256,
-                stagingState.contentBytes
-            );
-            if(stagingCleanup)cleanupIssues.push(stagingCleanup);
-        }
-        if(existingOutput?.handle){
-            try{
-                await existingOutput.handle.close();
-            }catch(error){
-                cleanupIssues.push(Object.freeze({
-                    scope:'artifact-backup-handle',
-                    path:promotion?.backupPath??output,
-                    message:`Prior-output anchor close warning: ${String(error?.message??error)}`,
-                    recovery:'Inspect the preserved prior-output path before removing it.'
-                }));
-            }
-            existingOutput.handle=null;
-        }
-        const lockCleanup=await releaseLock();
-        if(lockCleanup)cleanupIssues.push(lockCleanup);
-    }
-    if(operationError){
-        if(cleanupIssues.length){
-            appendErrorWarning(
-                operationError,
-                `Cleanup warning: ${cleanupIssues.map(issue=>issue.message).join('; ')}`
-            );
+    if(!isPlainObject(manifest)||manifest.schemaVersion!==APP_BUNDLE_SCHEMA_VERSION
+        ||manifest.kind!==APP_BUNDLE_KIND||manifest.format!==APP_BUNDLE_FORMAT
+        ||manifest.sdk?.name!==SDK_NAME||manifest.sdk?.version!==SDK_VERSION
+        ||manifest.descriptor!==APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME
+        ||manifest.release!==APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH||!Array.isArray(manifest.files)){
+        fail(`${APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME} is malformed.`);
+    }
+    const descriptor=copyJson(validateAppDescriptor(readJsonContent(
+        requiredEntry(entries,APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME).content,
+        APP_BUNDLE_DESCRIPTOR_NAME
+    ),{appId:manifest.app?.id}));
+    const release=validateReleaseManifest(readJsonContent(
+        requiredEntry(entries,APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH).content,
+        APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH
+    ));
+    if(descriptor.id!==manifest.app.id||descriptor.version!==manifest.app.version
+        ||release.app.id!==manifest.app.id||release.app.version!==manifest.app.version){
+        fail('Bundle control records describe different applications.');
+    }
+    const declared=manifest.files.map((entry,index)=>validateAppBundlePath(
+        entry,
+        `${APP_BUNDLE_MANIFEST_NAME}.files[${index}]`
+    )).sort(compareText);
+    const actual=[...entries.values()]
+        .map(entry=>entry.path)
+        .filter(entry=>!CONTROL_PATHS.has(entry))
+        .concat(APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH)
+        .sort(compareText);
+    if(JSON.stringify(declared)!==JSON.stringify(actual)){
+        fail('Bundle payload inventory differs from its manifest.');
+    }
+    const releasePayload=declared
+        .filter(entry=>entry!==APP_BUNDLE_RELEASE_PATH)
+        .map(entry=>entry.slice('payload/'.length))
+        .sort(compareText);
+    if(JSON.stringify(releasePayload)!==JSON.stringify([...release.files].sort(compareText))){
+        fail('Bundled release files differ from the release manifest.');
+    }
+    await emit(onEvent,{type:'bundle.inspected',bundlePath:selected,files:[...declared]});
+    return {
+        verified:true,
+        bundlePath:selected,
+        manifest:copyJson(manifest),
+        descriptor:copyJson(descriptor),
+        release:copyJson(release),
+        files:[...declared],
+        readFile(relativePath){
+            const normalized=validateAppBundlePath(relativePath,'bundle file path');
+            return Buffer.from(requiredEntry(entries,normalized).content);
         }
-        throw operationError;
-    }
-    if(cleanupIssues.length){
-        result.cleanup=Object.freeze({
-            status:'degraded',
-            issues:Object.freeze(cleanupIssues)
-        });
-    }
-    return Object.freeze(result);
+    };
 }