BUILD_PR_LEVEL_8_26_MANIFEST_SSOT_AND_UNUSED_JSON_AUDIT

- Added user blocker list for manifest SSoT, game asset wiring, palette normalization, and unused JSON cleanup
- Added audit requirements for tools.manifest.json vs workspace.asset-catalog.json
- Added deletion candidate audit scope
- Added palette opaque alpha normalization rule

PR Details:
- Focused audit/cleanup PR
- No runtime rewrite intended
- No validators
- No start_of_day changes

Author: DavidQ

docs/dev/reports/expected_delta_template.md

@@ -1,7 +1,18 @@
+# Expected Codex Return / Delta Template
 
-Expected Output:
+## Expected Reports
+- `docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_manifest_ssot_audit.md`
+- `docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_unused_json_audit.md`
+- `docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_palette_alpha_normalization_report.md`
+- `docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_user_blockers.md`
 
-- total_json_files >= 1
-- includes all schema + sample + workspace json
-- directory structure preserved
-- no file changes
+## Expected Validation Summary
+- `workspace_manifest_has_samples=<true|false>`
+- `manifest_ssot_conflicts=<count>`
+- `unwired_game_json_files=<count>`
+- `palette_hex_alpha_ff_normalized=<count>`
+- `deletion_candidates=<count>`
+- `deleted_files=<count, only if proven safe>`
+- `runtime_changes=0`
+- `validators_added=0`
+- `start_of_day_changes=0`

docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_manifest_ssot_audit_report.md

@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+# Level 8.26 Manifest SSoT Audit Report
+
+## Scope
+Audited:
+- `games/**/assets/tools.manifest.json`
+- `games/**/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- game/workspace project JSON files under each game folder
+
+Objective:
+- per-game referenced JSON assets
+- per-game unreferenced JSON assets
+- duplicate/overlapping references
+- proposed SSoT target
+
+## Workspace Schema Re-check
+File: `tools/schemas/workspace.schema.json`
+- `samples` key present: no
+- `sampleId` key present: no
+- sample-only `phase` requirement present: no
+
+Result: `workspace_schema_sample_concepts=0`
+
+## Root File Audit
+- `workspace.manifest.json`: contains both `games` and legacy `samples`.
+- `package.json`: root npm project/scripts entrypoint.
+- `package-lock.json`: root lockfile for deterministic installs.
+
+## Manifest Wiring Adjustments Applied (Safe Data Wiring)
+- No manifest path rewrites were retained in this PR.
+- Audit note: game folder casing can appear mixed on Windows display, but tracked repo paths for these catalogs are lowercase (`games/bouncing-ball`, `games/pong`), and catalog paths were left as-is.
+- No runtime JS logic changes.
+
+## Per-Game Findings
+
+### AITargetDummy
+- Sources:
+  - `games/AITargetDummy/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### Asteroids
+- Sources:
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/tools.manifest.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/palettes/asteroids-classic.palette.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/parallax/data/overlay.data.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/parallax/data/title.data.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/parallax/overlay.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/parallax/title.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/sprites/data/demo.data.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/sprites/demo.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/tilemaps/data/stage.data.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/tilemaps/stage.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/asteroid-large.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/asteroid-medium.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/asteroid-small.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/data/library.data.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/ship.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/title.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/images/bezel.stretch.override.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/palettes/hud.json`
+  - `games/Asteroids/assets/tilesets/ui.json`
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none (current references split across two manifests)
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json` as canonical runtime/workspace catalog
+  - `tools.manifest.json` treated as derivable tool-lineage metadata until merged
+
+Asteroids explicit checks:
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/images/bezel.stretch.override.json`: unreferenced
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/palettes/asteroids-classic.palette.json`: referenced
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/palettes/hud.json`: unreferenced
+
+### Bouncing-ball
+- Sources:
+  - `games/bouncing-ball/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/bouncing-ball/assets/palettes/bouncing-ball-classic.palette.json`
+  - `games/bouncing-ball/assets/skins/skin.main.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### Breakout
+- Sources:
+  - `games/breakout/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/breakout/assets/palettes/breakout-classic.palette.json`
+  - `games/breakout/assets/skins/skin.main.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### GravityWell
+- Sources:
+  - `games/GravityWell/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### Pacman
+- Sources:
+  - `games/Pacman/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### Pong
+- Sources:
+  - `games/pong/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/pong/assets/palettes/pong-classic.palette.json`
+  - `games/pong/assets/skins/skin.main.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### SolarSystem
+- Sources:
+  - `games/SolarSystem/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/SolarSystem/assets/palettes/solar-system-classic.palette.json`
+  - `games/SolarSystem/assets/skins/skin.main.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### SpaceDuel
+- Sources:
+  - `games/SpaceDuel/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/SpaceDuel/assets/palettes/space-duel-classic.palette.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### SpaceInvaders
+- Sources:
+  - `games/SpaceInvaders/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/SpaceInvaders/assets/palettes/space-invaders-classic.palette.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+### vector-arcade-sample
+- Sources:
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/config/sample.project.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/runtime/bootstrap.runtime.json`
+- Referenced JSON assets:
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/palettes/vector-native-primary.palette.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/parallax/template-backdrop.parallax.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/sprites/template-player.sprite.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/tilemaps/template-arena.tilemap.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/tilemaps/template-ui.tileset.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/vectors/template-hud.vector.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/vectors/template-obstacle-large.vector.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/vectors/template-obstacle-small.vector.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/vectors/template-player.vector.json`
+  - `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/vectors/template-title.vector.json`
+- Unreferenced JSON assets:
+  - none
+- Duplicate/overlap:
+  - none
+- Proposed SSoT target:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json`
+
+## Folder Shape Audit (`assets/<tool>/data/*`)
+Observed examples:
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/parallax/data/*`
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/sprites/data/*`
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/tilemaps/data/*`
+- `games/Asteroids/assets/vectors/data/*`
+
+Recommendation:
+- Prefer explicit asset ownership paths over generic `data/` where feasible.
+- No directory/file moves were performed in this PR.

docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_unused_json_audit_report.md

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# Level 8.26 Unused JSON Audit Report
+
+## Scope
+Audited deletion candidates and broader `tools/**/*.json` usage with repository text/reference checks (imports, scripts, docs, tests, samples, games, tool metadata references).
+
+## Candidate Audit Results
+
+### Explicit Candidate Paths
+- `tools/codex/sample_maaping_example.json`
+  - Result: file not present in current repo (no deletion action).
+
+- `tools/dev/checkPhase24*`
+  - `tools/dev/checkPhase24CloseoutExecutionGuard.baseline.json`: referenced by guard script/report content.
+  - `tools/dev/checkPhase24CloseoutExecutionGuard.mjs`: referenced by npm script and report content.
+  - Decision: keep.
+
+- `tools/dev/checkSharedExt*.json`
+  - `tools/dev/checkSharedExtractionGuard.baseline.json`: referenced by guard script/docs.
+  - Decision: keep.
+
+- `tools/samples/*`
+  - Result: no JSON files found.
+
+- `tools/shared/samples/*`
+  - JSON files under `tools/shared/samples/project-asset-registry-demo` are referenced by:
+    - `scripts/validate-asset-ownership-strategy.mjs`
+    - docs/reports history and validation docs.
+  - Decision: keep.
+
+### Other Unused JSON Under `tools/`
+- Audit result: no additional JSON file in `tools/` was proven unreferenced under required search scope.
+- Deletion action in this PR: none.
+
+## Palette Opaque Alpha Normalization
+Rule applied:
+- `#RRGGBBFF` -> `#RRGGBB`
+- preserve `#RRGGBBAA` when `AA != FF`
+
+Files updated:
+- `games/vector-arcade-sample/assets/data/palettes/vector-native-primary.palette.json` (4 values)
+- `tools/templates/vector-native-arcade/assets/data/palettes/vector-native-primary.palette.json` (4 values)
+
+Total updated values: 8
+
+## Follow-up Plan (No UI Rewrite in This PR)
+### Goal
+Remove tool-local sample dropdown/select patterns and standardize sample ownership under `/samples/phase-*`.
+
+### Proposed follow-up execution
+1. Inventory tools that render sample dropdown/select UI controls.
+2. Map each dropdown option to canonical `/samples/phase-*` entries.
+3. Add/normalize sample launch links to `/samples` pages only.
+4. Remove tool-local sample selector UI once parity is verified.
+5. Migrate any remaining tool-local sample payload/data into `/samples/phase-*` with manifest linkage.
+6. Add regression checklist to confirm tool behavior unaffected by selector removal.
+
+## Safety/Scope Compliance
+- No runtime JS logic rewritten.
+- No validator modules added.
+- No `start_of_day` files modified.

docs/dev/reports/level_8_26_user_blockers.md

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# Level 8.26 User Blockers
+
+## Scope
+Captured blocker questions from `BUILD_PR_LEVEL_8_26_MANIFEST_SSOt_AND_UNUSED_JSON_AUDIT` and recorded current decisions from this execution.
+
+## Root / Manifest Questions
+1. Why does root `workspace.manifest.json` still contain `samples`?
+- Decision: **Blocker remains open**. Current file still contains `samples`; this PR audited and documented, but did not perform broad manifest migration.
+
+2. What is root `package-lock.json` for?
+- Decision: npm lockfile for reproducible dependency resolution. Keep at repo root.
+
+3. Is root `package.json` only unit-test related; should it move under `tests/`?
+- Decision: No. It is the repo npm entrypoint (scripts/dependencies), not test-only. Keep at root.
+
+4. Difference between `tools.manifest.json` and `workspace.asset-catalog.json`?
+- Decision: Current split is dual-source:
+  - `workspace.asset-catalog.json` = workspace/runtime asset catalog.
+  - `tools.manifest.json` = tool lineage/runtime/toolData mapping.
+  This is an SSoT conflict risk.
+
+5. Single manifest passed to Workspace Editor and opened with Workspace Manager?
+- Decision: Recommended target remains one game/workspace manifest SSoT with other views derived.
+
+## Asteroids / Games Questions
+6. Should `bezel.stretch.override.json` be in manifest SSoT?
+- Decision: Yes if it participates in runtime/workspace asset graph.
+- Current audit: **not referenced** by Asteroids manifests.
+
+7. Should `asteroids-classic.palette.json` and `hud.json` be in manifest SSoT including Primitive Skin Editor section?
+- Decision: Yes for shared game/workspace ownership visibility.
+- Current audit:
+  - `asteroids-classic.palette.json` referenced.
+  - `hud.json` not referenced.
+
+8. Should game asset folders avoid `assets/<tool>/data/` when direct asset ownership works?
+- Decision: Prefer explicit direct ownership paths where possible; no file moves in this PR.
+
+9. Apply same checks to all games?
+- Decision: Completed in per-game manifest SSoT audit report.
+
+10. Palette swatches should not end with `FFFFFFFF` when `FFFFFF` is sufficient.
+- Decision: Implemented where found in tracked palette JSON files.
+
+## Tool Launch / Palette Browser Questions
+11. Why does `sample.0213.palette-browser.json` exist?
+- Decision: It is a tool payload for a sample that explicitly launches palette browser.
+
+12. Confirm payload/data split (`palette-browser` payload vs `sample.<id>.palette.json` shared data)?
+- Decision: Confirmed. Tool payload and palette data remain separate concerns.
+
+## Deletion / Cleanup Questions
+13. Can delete `tools/codex/sample_maaping_example.json`?
+- Decision: Path not found in repo. No deletion performed.
+
+14. Can delete `tools/dev/checkPhase24*` and `tools/dev/checkSharedExt*.json`?
+- Decision: No. Baseline JSON files are referenced by guard scripts/reports.
+
+15. Can delete `tools/samples/*`?
+- Decision: No files found under `tools/samples` in current repo.
+
+16. Can delete `tools/shared/samples/*`?
+- Decision: No. Referenced by validation script/docs; not proven unused.
+
+17. Audit rest of `tools/` JSON and delete unused only.
+- Decision: Completed audit. No safe deletion candidate proven unused under required reference checks.
+
+18. Remove all sample dropdown/select support in tools.
+- Decision: Follow-up required; intentionally not implemented in this audit PR.
+
+19. Migrate tool-local samples to `/samples/phase-*` where needed.
+- Decision: Follow-up required; not executed in this audit PR.
+
+20. If files are not wired, wire or mark deletion.
+- Decision: Marked unreferenced assets in manifest SSoT report; no destructive cleanup without dedicated wiring/migration PR.
+
+## Root File Audit Notes
+- `workspace.manifest.json`: still contains `samples` and now also contains `games`; boundary conflict remains tracked.
+- `package.json`: root npm entrypoint with test/build/guard scripts.
+- `package-lock.json`: dependency lock state for deterministic installs.

docs/dev/roadmaps/MASTER_ROADMAP_ENGINE.md

@@ -879,3 +879,6 @@
 - [x] Verify sample tool payload files match workspace/game `tools[]` item shape.
 - [ ] Verify palette/shared data never embeds inside tool payload files.
 - [.] Verify workspace schema has no sample-only concepts.
+- [.] Manifest SSoT audit across game workspace catalogs/tool manifests is in progress.
+- [.] Unused JSON cleanup audit (tools + explicit deletion candidates) is in progress.
+- [.] Palette opaque alpha normalization (`#RRGGBBFF` -> `#RRGGBB`) is in progress.