got dotenv parsing working

.gitignore

@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@ resources/ai/sessions
 infra/Pulumi.*.yaml.backup
 infra/desi-explorer-infra
 api/target/
+.env
+.env.*
+*.env

AGENTS.md

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ The root `Makefile` is a lean delegator: base commands (`run`, `build`, `test`,
 - Odin code lives in `gui/src/`; external deps go in `gui/lib/` and are wired via `-collection:lib=lib/local` (or a git submodule imported by relative path).
 - Everything is plain `make` — no Taskfile — so CI (Gitea Actions) can call `make` directly.
 - Keep the renderer (gui/), API (api/), and infra (infra/) logically separated; each owns its own Makefile, and the root Makefile is the only place that ties them together.
+- **Diagrams in this repo's documentation are Mermaid flowcharts.** Gitea renders ` ```mermaid ` fenced blocks natively. Prefer a Mermaid flowchart over ASCII art / box-drawing diagrams; if a diagram genuinely can't be expressed as a flowchart, fall back to a plain text-based markdown diagram (e.g. a code block or table) rather than hand-rawn ASCII boxes.
 
 ## Gotchas
 - Odin version is pinned in `.gitea/workflows/*.yml` (`ODIN_VERSION`) and defaults in `scripts/install_odin.sh`; bump both together when tracking a new release.

Makefile

@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ GUI          := gui
 API          := api
 INFRA        := infra
 
+# Local dev/test assets live under resources/dev. These are the defaults for
+# the run/*-web targets; override any of them on the command line, e.g.
+#   make run GUI_ENV_FILE=/path/to/gui.env API_DESI_DATA=/path/to/data.json
+RESOURCE_DIR   := $(CURDIR)/resources/dev
+GUI_ENV_FILE   ?= $(RESOURCE_DIR)/gui.env.example
+API_ENV_FILE   ?= $(RESOURCE_DIR)/api.env.example
+API_DESI_DATA  ?= $(RESOURCE_DIR)/desi_subset.json
+
 .PHONY: help setup run run-web build build-debug build-web test clean fmt \
         renovate-validate
 
@@ -32,9 +40,9 @@ setup: ## Setup all sub-projects (submodules, gui deps, api deps, infra deps)
 ## ---- Renderer (Odin) -----------------------------------------------------
 
 run: ## Run the native app (gui/)
-	@$(MAKE) -C $(API) run & api_pid=$$!; \
+	@API_ENV_FILE="$(API_ENV_FILE)" API_DESI_DATA="$(API_DESI_DATA)" $(MAKE) -C $(API) run & api_pid=$$!; \
 	trap 'kill $$api_pid 2>/dev/null' INT TERM EXIT; \
-	$(MAKE) -C $(GUI) run; \
+	GUI_ENV_FILE="$(GUI_ENV_FILE)" $(MAKE) -C $(GUI) run; \
 	kill $$api_pid 2>/dev/null
 
 build: ## Release build (gui/ + api/)
@@ -49,9 +57,9 @@ build-web: ## WebAssembly build -> build/web (gui/, needs emscripten)
 	@$(MAKE) -C $(GUI) build-web
 
 run-web: ## Start WASM build + API server for web dev
-	@$(MAKE) -C $(API) run & api_pid=$$!; \
+	@API_ENV_FILE="$(API_ENV_FILE)" API_DESI_DATA="$(API_DESI_DATA)" $(MAKE) -C $(API) run & api_pid=$$!; \
 	trap 'kill $$api_pid 2>/dev/null' INT TERM EXIT; \
-	$(MAKE) -C $(GUI) build-web; \
+	GUI_ENV_FILE="$(GUI_ENV_FILE)" $(MAKE) -C $(GUI) build-web; \
 	kill $$api_pid 2>/dev/null
 
 ## ---- Aggregates ----------------------------------------------------------

README.md

@@ -79,6 +79,22 @@ make clean        # remove build artifacts from all projects
 make fmt          # format all projects
 ```
 
+`make run` / `make run-web` configure the API and renderer from the example
+assets under `resources/dev/` (see the dotenv lib in `gui/lib/local/dotenv`).
+Override any of them on the command line:
+
+```sh
+make run \
+  GUI_ENV_FILE=/path/to/gui.env \
+  API_ENV_FILE=/path/to/api.env \
+  API_DESI_DATA=/path/to/desi_data.json
+```
+
+The defaults point at `resources/dev/gui.env.example` (renderer's `API_URL`),
+`resources/dev/api.env.example` (API `API_BIND_ADDR`), and
+`resources/dev/desi_subset.json` (a small JSON catalog subset served by the
+API's `/api/v1/catalogs` and `/api/v1/objects` endpoints).
+
 Project-specific targets live in their own `Makefile` and are reached with
 `make -C <dir> <target>`:
 

api/Cargo.lock

@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "axum",
+ "dotenvy",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "tokio",
@@ -108,6 +109,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "tracing-subscriber",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "dotenvy"
+version = "0.15.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1aaf95b3e5c8f23aa320147307562d361db0ae0d51242340f558153b4eb2439b"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "errno"
 version = "0.3.14"

api/Cargo.toml

@@ -5,17 +5,18 @@ edition = "2021"
 description = "Backend API for DESI Explorer — serves DESI survey catalog data"
 
 [dependencies]
+anyhow = "1"
 axum = "0.8"
-tokio = { version = "1", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread", "signal"] }
+dotenvy = "0.15"
 serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
+serde_json = "1"
+tokio = { version = "1", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread", "signal"] }
+tower-http = { version = "0.7", features = ["cors", "trace"] }
 tracing = "0.1"
 tracing-subscriber = { version = "0.3", features = ["env-filter"] }
-tower-http = { version = "0.7", features = ["cors", "trace"] }
-anyhow = "1"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 tower = { version = "0.5", features = ["util"] }
-serde_json = "1"
 
 [profile.release]
 lto = true

api/Makefile

@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@
 # `api-*` convenience targets).
 
 CARGO ?= cargo
+ROOT  := ..
+
+# Normalize API_ENV_FILE / API_DESI_DATA (given relative to the repo root) to
+# absolute paths so the API process can open them regardless of its working
+# directory. "override" is required because they are usually passed as
+# command-line/env vars, which would otherwise override any assignment here.
+define normalize_path
+ifdef $1
+ifneq ($(abspath $($1)),$($1))
+override $1 := $(abspath $(ROOT)/$($1))
+endif
+endif
+endef
+$(foreach v,API_ENV_FILE API_DESI_DATA,$(eval $(call normalize_path,$v)))
 
 .PHONY: help setup run build test check fmt clean
 

api/src/config.rs

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
 pub struct Config {
     pub bind_addr: String,
+    /// Path to a DESI data file (JSON) to serve; `None` falls back to the
+    /// built-in placeholder catalogs.
+    pub desi_data: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 impl Config {
@@ -7,6 +12,14 @@ impl Config {
         let bind_addr =
             std::env::var("API_BIND_ADDR").unwrap_or_else(|_| "0.0.0.0:8080".to_string());
 
-        Ok(Self { bind_addr })
+        let desi_data = std::env::var("API_DESI_DATA")
+            .ok()
+            .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+            .map(PathBuf::from);
+
+        Ok(Self {
+            bind_addr,
+            desi_data,
+        })
     }
 }

api/src/lib.rs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 pub mod config;
 pub mod models;
 pub mod routes;
+pub mod store;

api/src/main.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-use desi_explorer_api::{config, routes};
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use desi_explorer_api::{config, routes, store};
 
 use tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter;
 
@@ -11,8 +14,22 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         )
         .init();
 
+    load_env_file()?;
+
     let config = config::Config::from_env()?;
-    let app = routes::app();
+
+    let catalog_store = match &config.desi_data {
+        Some(path) => {
+            tracing::info!(path = %path.display(), "loading DESI data");
+            store::CatalogStore::load(Path::new(path))?
+        }
+        None => {
+            tracing::warn!("API_DESI_DATA not set, serving placeholder catalogs");
+            store::CatalogStore::placeholder()
+        }
+    };
+
+    let app = routes::app_with_state(Arc::new(catalog_store));
 
     let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind(&config.bind_addr).await?;
     tracing::info!("DESI Explorer API listening on {}", config.bind_addr);
@@ -24,6 +41,27 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Loads the env file named by `API_ENV_FILE` (if set) into the process
+/// environment. Existing env vars are not overridden, so values passed
+/// directly on the command line or by the Makefile take precedence.
+fn load_env_file() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let path = std::env::var("API_ENV_FILE").unwrap_or_default();
+    if path.is_empty() {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    match dotenvy::from_path(&path) {
+        Ok(_) => tracing::info!(%path, "loaded env file"),
+        Err(err) => {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "failed to load API_ENV_FILE {path:?}: {err}"
+            ))
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 async fn shutdown_signal() {
     let _ = tokio::signal::ctrl_c().await;
     tracing::info!("shutting down");

api/src/models.rs

@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-use serde::Serialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 /// Catalog metadata for a DESI data release/survey.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct Catalog {
     pub name: String,
     pub release: String,
-    pub description: &'static str,
+    pub description: String,
     pub object_count: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 /// A single catalog object (galaxy / quasar / star) with its survey
 /// coordinates. `ra` and `dec` are in degrees; `redshift` is dimensionless.
-#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct CatalogObject {
     pub id: String,
     pub catalog: String,

api/src/routes/catalogs.rs

@@ -1,34 +1,16 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
 use axum::{
-    extract::Query,
+    extract::{Query, State},
-    http::StatusCode,
-    response::{IntoResponse, Response},
     Json,
 };
 use serde::Deserialize;
-use std::sync::LazyLock;
 
 use crate::models::{Catalog, CatalogObject};
+use crate::store::CatalogStore;
 
-/// Placeholder catalogs until real DESI EDR/DR1 ingestion lands.
+pub async fn list_catalogs(State(state): State<Arc<CatalogStore>>) -> Json<Vec<Catalog>> {
-static CATALOGS: LazyLock<Vec<Catalog>> = LazyLock::new(|| {
+    Json(state.catalogs.clone())
-    vec![
-        Catalog {
-            name: "edr".to_string(),
-            release: "EDR".to_string(),
-            description: "DESI Early Data Release",
-            object_count: None,
-        },
-        Catalog {
-            name: "dr1".to_string(),
-            release: "DR1".to_string(),
-            description: "DESI Data Release 1",
-            object_count: None,
-        },
-    ]
-});
-
-pub async fn list_catalogs() -> Json<Vec<Catalog>> {
-    Json(CATALOGS.clone())
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
@@ -38,17 +20,29 @@ pub struct ObjectQuery {
     limit: Option<usize>,
 }
 
-/// Placeholder object query. Real implementation will page through the
+pub async fn list_objects(
-/// centralized DESI catalog store rather than return an empty result set.
+    State(state): State<Arc<CatalogStore>>,
-pub async fn list_objects(Query(query): Query<ObjectQuery>) -> Response {
+    Query(query): Query<ObjectQuery>,
+) -> Json<Vec<CatalogObject>> {
     let limit = query.limit.unwrap_or(100).min(10_000);
 
     tracing::debug!(
         %limit,
         catalog = query.catalog.as_deref().unwrap_or("all"),
-        "querying catalog objects (placeholder)"
+        objects = state.objects.len(),
+        "querying catalog objects"
     );
 
-    let objects: Vec<CatalogObject> = Vec::new();
+    let objects: Vec<CatalogObject> = match &query.catalog {
-    (StatusCode::OK, Json(objects)).into_response()
+        Some(catalog) => state
+            .objects
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|o| &o.catalog == catalog)
+            .take(limit)
+            .cloned()
+            .collect(),
+        None => state.objects.iter().take(limit).cloned().collect(),
+    };
+
+    Json(objects)
 }

api/src/routes/mod.rs

@@ -1,13 +1,23 @@
 pub mod catalogs;
 pub mod health;
 
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
 use axum::{routing::get, Router};
 
-/// Builds the application router. Kept separate from `main` so tests can
+use crate::store::CatalogStore;
-/// construct it without binding a socket.
+
+/// Builds the application router with a static placeholder store. Kept
+/// separate from `main` so tests can construct it without binding a socket.
 pub fn app() -> Router {
+    app_with_state(Arc::new(CatalogStore::placeholder()))
+}
+
+/// Builds the application router serving the given catalog store.
+pub fn app_with_state(state: Arc<CatalogStore>) -> Router {
     Router::new()
         .route("/health", get(health::health))
         .route("/api/v1/catalogs", get(catalogs::list_catalogs))
         .route("/api/v1/objects", get(catalogs::list_objects))
+        .with_state(state)
 }

api/src/store.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use serde::Deserialize;
+
+use crate::models::{Catalog, CatalogObject};
+
+/// In-memory catalog store, shared (via `Arc`) across routes. Populated either
+/// from a DESI data file loaded at startup or from `placeholder`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
+pub struct CatalogStore {
+    pub catalogs: Vec<Catalog>,
+    pub objects: Vec<CatalogObject>,
+}
+
+/// JSON layout of the DESI data file referenced by `API_DESI_DATA`.
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+pub struct DataFile {
+    pub catalogs: Vec<Catalog>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub objects: Vec<CatalogObject>,
+}
+
+impl CatalogStore {
+    /// Static fallback catalogs used when no `API_DESI_DATA` file is given
+    /// (and by the `routes::app()` test helper).
+    pub fn placeholder() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            catalogs: vec![
+                Catalog {
+                    name: "edr".to_string(),
+                    release: "EDR".to_string(),
+                    description: "DESI Early Data Release".to_string(),
+                    object_count: None,
+                },
+                Catalog {
+                    name: "dr1".to_string(),
+                    release: "DR1".to_string(),
+                    description: "DESI Data Release 1".to_string(),
+                    object_count: None,
+                },
+            ],
+            objects: Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Loads catalogs and objects from a JSON data file. Errors on unreadable
+    /// files or malformed JSON so the caller can fail loudly instead of
+    /// silently serving empty data.
+    pub fn load(path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
+        let text = std::fs::read_to_string(path)?;
+        let file: DataFile = serde_json::from_str(&text)?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            catalogs: file.catalogs,
+            objects: file.objects,
+        })
+    }
+}

api/tests/objects.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+use axum::body::{to_bytes, Body};
+use axum::http::{Request, StatusCode};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tower::ServiceExt;
+
+use desi_explorer_api::models::CatalogObject;
+use desi_explorer_api::routes;
+use desi_explorer_api::store::CatalogStore;
+
+fn sample_store() -> CatalogStore {
+    CatalogStore {
+        catalogs: Vec::new(),
+        objects: vec![
+            CatalogObject {
+                id: "o1".to_string(),
+                catalog: "edr".to_string(),
+                object_type: "GALAXY".to_string(),
+                ra: 1.5,
+                dec: 2.5,
+                redshift: 0.8,
+            },
+            CatalogObject {
+                id: "o2".to_string(),
+                catalog: "dr1".to_string(),
+                object_type: "STAR".to_string(),
+                ra: 3.5,
+                dec: 4.5,
+                redshift: 0.0,
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn objects_returns_all_when_no_filter() {
+    let app = routes::app_with_state(Arc::new(sample_store()));
+
+    let response = app
+        .oneshot(
+            Request::builder()
+                .uri("/api/v1/objects")
+                .body(Body::empty())
+                .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = to_bytes(response.into_body(), usize::MAX).await.unwrap();
+    let objects: Vec<CatalogObject> = serde_json::from_slice(&body).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(objects.len(), 2);
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn objects_filters_by_catalog() {
+    let app = routes::app_with_state(Arc::new(sample_store()));
+
+    let response = app
+        .oneshot(
+            Request::builder()
+                .uri("/api/v1/objects?catalog=edr")
+                .body(Body::empty())
+                .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = to_bytes(response.into_body(), usize::MAX).await.unwrap();
+    let objects: Vec<CatalogObject> = serde_json::from_slice(&body).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(objects.len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(objects[0].id, "o1");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn objects_respects_limit() {
+    let app = routes::app_with_state(Arc::new(sample_store()));
+
+    let response = app
+        .oneshot(
+            Request::builder()
+                .uri("/api/v1/objects?limit=1")
+                .body(Body::empty())
+                .unwrap(),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = to_bytes(response.into_body(), usize::MAX).await.unwrap();
+    let objects: Vec<CatalogObject> = serde_json::from_slice(&body).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(objects.len(), 1);
+}

api/tests/store.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+use desi_explorer_api::store::CatalogStore;
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_parses_catalogs_and_objects() {
+        let json = r#"{
+            "catalogs": [
+                {"name":"edr","release":"EDR","description":"test","object_count":2}
+            ],
+            "objects": [
+                {"id":"o1","catalog":"edr","object_type":"GALAXY","ra":1.5,"dec":2.5,"redshift":0.8}
+            ]
+        }"#;
+
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "desi_explorer_store_{}_{}",
+            std::process::id(),
+            line!()
+        ));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let path = dir.join("data.json");
+        std::fs::write(&path, json).unwrap();
+
+        let store = CatalogStore::load(&path).unwrap();
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
+
+        assert_eq!(store.catalogs.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(store.catalogs[0].name, "edr");
+        assert_eq!(store.catalogs[0].object_count, Some(2));
+        assert_eq!(store.objects.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(store.objects[0].id, "o1");
+        assert_eq!(store.objects[0].ra, 1.5);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_rejects_malformed_json() {
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "desi_explorer_store_{}_{}",
+            std::process::id(),
+            line!()
+        ));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let path = dir.join("data.json");
+        std::fs::write(&path, "not json").unwrap();
+
+        let result = CatalogStore::load(&path);
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
+
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+    }
+}

gui/Makefile

@@ -8,13 +8,28 @@
 # output dirs live at the repo root and are referenced through `$(ROOT)`.
 
 ODIN         ?= odin
+GDB          ?= gdb
 ROOT         := ..
 BIN          := $(ROOT)/bin
 BINARY       := $(BIN)/desi_explorer
 ODIN_FLAGS   := -collection:lib=lib/local
 WASM_DEFINE  := RAYLIB_WASM_LIB=env.o
 
-.PHONY: help setup add-dep run build build-debug build-web test clean fmt
+# Normalize GUI_ENV_FILE (given relative to the repo root) to an absolute path
+# so the Odin process can open it regardless of its working directory.
+# "override" is required because GUI_ENV_FILE is usually set on the command
+# line (or passed as an env var to this sub-make), which would otherwise
+# override any assignment made here.
+ifdef GUI_ENV_FILE
+ifneq ($(abspath $(GUI_ENV_FILE)),$(GUI_ENV_FILE))
+override GUI_ENV_FILE := $(abspath $(ROOT)/$(GUI_ENV_FILE))
+endif
+endif
+# "override" on a command-line variable silently drops it from the recipe
+# environment; re-export it so the app can find its env file (run + gdb).
+export GUI_ENV_FILE
+
+.PHONY: help setup add-dep run build build-debug gdb build-web test clean fmt
 
 help: ## List available targets
 	@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## .*$$' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | \
@@ -41,12 +56,22 @@ build-debug: ## Debug build -> bin/desi_explorer
 	@mkdir -p lib/local $(BIN)
 	$(ODIN) build src $(ODIN_FLAGS) -o:none -debug -out:$(BINARY)
 
+gdb: build-debug ## Run the native app under gdb (type 'run', then 'bt' on a crash)
+	$(GDB) -q --args $(BINARY) $(ARGS)
+
 build-web: ## WebAssembly build -> build/web (needs emscripten)
 	@scripts/build_web.sh
 
 test: ## Run Odin unit tests
 	@mkdir -p lib/local
-	$(ODIN) test src $(ODIN_FLAGS)
+	@if ls test/*.odin >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+		echo "== gui/test =="; \
+		$(ODIN) test test $(ODIN_FLAGS); \
+	fi
+	@for dir in $$(find lib/local -name '*_test.odin' -exec dirname {} \; | sort -u); do \
+		echo "== $$dir =="; \
+		$(ODIN) test "$$dir" $(ODIN_FLAGS); \
+	done
 
 clean: ## Remove build artifacts
 	rm -rf $(BIN) build

gui/lib/local/dotenv/src/dotenv.odin

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+package dotenv
+
+import "base:runtime"
+import "core:os"
+import "core:reflect"
+import "core:strconv"
+import "core:strings"
+
+// parse parses dotenv-format source (KEY=VALUE lines) into a map allocated
+// with allocator. Blank lines, lines starting with '#', and lines without a
+// '=' are skipped. Keys and values are trimmed; values may be wrapped in
+// double quotes. Real process environment variables take precedence over the
+// file. The returned map owns its keys/values; release it with destroy.
+@(private)
+parse :: proc(src: string, allocator := context.allocator) -> map[string]string {
+	result := make(map[string]string, allocator)
+
+	it := src
+	for line in strings.split_lines_iterator(&it) {
+		tr := strings.trim_space(line)
+		if len(tr) == 0 || strings.has_prefix(tr, "#") {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		eq := strings.index_byte(tr, '=')
+		if eq < 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		key := strings.trim_space(tr[:eq])
+		if key == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		value := strings.trim_space(tr[eq + 1:])
+		if len(value) >= 2 && value[0] == '"' && value[len(value) - 1] == '"' {
+			value = value[1:len(value) - 1]
+		}
+
+		// real process env vars win over the file
+		if override, found := os.lookup_env(key, allocator); found {
+			result[strings.clone(key, allocator)] = override
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// clone so the map outlives the source buffer (e.g. a freed file read)
+		result[strings.clone(key, allocator)] = strings.clone(value, allocator)
+	}
+
+	return result
+}
+
+// parse_file reads a dotenv file from disk and parses it into a map. It
+// returns (nil, false) when the file cannot be read (e.g. it does not exist).
+parse_file :: proc(filename: string, allocator := context.allocator) -> (map[string]string, bool) {
+	data, err := os.read_entire_file(filename, allocator)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	defer delete(data, allocator)
+
+	return parse(string(data), allocator), true
+}
+
+// destroy frees the cloned keys/values and the map itself. Use it to release
+// a map returned by parse/parse_file (plain delete does not free the strings).
+// Any allocator passed to parse/parse_file must be passed here too.
+destroy :: proc(env: map[string]string, allocator := context.allocator) {
+	for key, value in env {
+		delete(key, allocator)
+		delete(value, allocator)
+	}
+	delete(env)
+}
+
+// env_key returns the env key that should bind to a struct field. It prefers
+// an explicit `env:"NAME"` tag; when the tag is absent or empty it falls
+// back to the field's name. Matching against the parsed map is
+// case-insensitive, so API_URL maps onto api_url (or an `env:"API_URL"` tag).
+@(private)
+env_key_for_field :: proc(field: reflect.Struct_Field) -> string {
+	if tag_key, ok := reflect.struct_tag_lookup(field.tag, "env"); ok && tag_key != "" {
+		return tag_key
+	}
+	return field.name
+}
+
+// decode populates dest's fields from env, matching each field by name
+// (or by an `env:"NAME"` struct tag). Values are converted to the field's
+// type: string is cloned as-is into allocator, integers are parsed with
+// strconv.parse_int (decimal/hex/negative), booleans with strconv.parse_bool,
+// and floats with strconv.parse_f64. Keys missing from env leave the field
+// at its zero value. It returns false if a present value cannot be converted
+// to the field's type.
+decode :: proc(env: map[string]string, dest: ^$T, allocator := context.allocator) -> bool {
+	ti := reflect.type_info_base(type_info_of(T))
+	fields, ok := ti.variant.(runtime.Type_Info_Struct)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	value: string
+	field_ptr := rawptr(dest)
+	st: reflect.Struct_Field
+	for _, i in fields.names[:fields.field_count] {
+		st = reflect.struct_field_at(T, i)
+		name := env_key_for_field(st)
+		value = ""
+		found := false
+		for key, v in env {
+			if key == name || strings.equal_fold(key, name) {
+				value, found = v, true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !found {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		field_ptr = rawptr(uintptr(dest) + fields.offsets[i])
+		field_ti := reflect.type_info_base(fields.types[i])
+		#partial switch variant in field_ti.variant {
+		case runtime.Type_Info_String:
+			(^string)(field_ptr)^ = strings.clone(value, allocator)
+		case runtime.Type_Info_Integer:
+			parsed, err := strconv.parse_int(value)
+			if !err {
+				return false
+			}
+			switch field_ti.size {
+			case 1:
+				(^i8)(field_ptr)^ = cast(i8)parsed
+			case 2:
+				(^i16)(field_ptr)^ = cast(i16)parsed
+			case 4:
+				(^i32)(field_ptr)^ = cast(i32)parsed
+			case 8:
+				(^i64)(field_ptr)^ = cast(i64)parsed
+			case:
+				return false
+			}
+		case runtime.Type_Info_Boolean:
+			parsed, err := strconv.parse_bool(value)
+			if !err {
+				return false
+			}
+			(^bool)(field_ptr)^ = parsed
+		case runtime.Type_Info_Float:
+			parsed, err := strconv.parse_f64(value)
+			if !err {
+				return false
+			}
+			switch field_ti.size {
+			case 4:
+				(^f32)(field_ptr)^ = cast(f32)parsed
+			case 8:
+				(^f64)(field_ptr)^ = parsed
+			case:
+				return false
+			}
+		case:
+		// unsupported field type (slices, pointers, ...) is left untouched
+		}
+	}
+
+	return true
+}

gui/lib/local/dotenv/test/dotenv_test.odin

@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+package dotenv_tests
+
+import "core:os"
+import "core:strings"
+import "core:testing"
+import dotenv "lib:dotenv/src"
+
+Test_Config :: struct {
+	api_url: string,
+	debug:   bool,
+	port:    int,
+	ratio:   f64,
+}
+
+Tagged_Config :: struct {
+	api_url: string `env:"API_URL"`,
+	port:    int `env:"PORT"`,
+	debug:   bool `env:"DEBUG"`,
+}
+
+Tagged_Empty :: struct {
+	api_url: string `env:""`,
+}
+
+// load_env writes src to a unique temp file and parses it via parse_file.
+// The returned map owns its strings; callers must destroy it.
+load_env :: proc(t: ^testing.T, src: string) -> map[string]string {
+	dir, err := os.make_directory_temp("", "dotenv_test_*", context.allocator)
+	testing.expect(t, err == nil, "expected temp dir to be created")
+	defer os.remove_all(dir)
+	defer delete(dir)
+
+	path := strings.concatenate({dir, "/.env"})
+	defer delete(path)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		os.write_entire_file(path, src) == nil,
+		"expected file write to succeed",
+	)
+
+	env, ok := dotenv.parse_file(path)
+	testing.expect(t, ok, "expected parse_file to succeed")
+	return env
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_parse_basic :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8080\nDEBUG=true\nPORT=8080\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	testing.expect(t, env["API_URL"] == "http://127.0.0.1:8080")
+	testing.expect(t, env["DEBUG"] == "true")
+	testing.expect(t, env["PORT"] == "8080")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_parse_ignores_comments_and_blank_lines :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "# leading comment\n\n   \nFOO=bar  \nBAZ =  qux  \n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	testing.expect(t, env["FOO"] == "bar", "value should be trimmed")
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		env["BAZ"] == "qux",
+		"key and value should be trimmed around '='",
+	)
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		"API_URL" not_in env,
+		"comment-only lines should not be parsed",
+	)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_parse_quoted_values :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "GREETING=\"hello world\"\nEMPTY=\"\"\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		env["GREETING"] == "hello world",
+		"quoted value with inner space",
+	)
+	testing.expect(t, env["EMPTY"] == "", "double-quoted empty value")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_parse_skips_lines_without_equals :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "not-an-assignment\nOK=yep\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	testing.expect(t, env["OK"] == "yep")
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		"not-an-assignment" not_in env,
+		"line without '=' should be skipped",
+	)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_parse_missing_file :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env, ok := dotenv.parse_file("/nonexistent/dotenv_test_does_not_exist.env")
+	testing.expect(t, !ok, "missing file should report failure")
+	testing.expect(t, env == nil, "missing file should return nil map")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_real_env_overrides_file :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	testing.expect(t, os.set_env("DESI_EXPLORER_TEST_FOO", "from_env") == nil)
+	defer os.unset_env("DESI_EXPLORER_TEST_FOO")
+
+	env := load_env(t, "DESI_EXPLORER_TEST_FOO=from_file\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		env["DESI_EXPLORER_TEST_FOO"] == "from_env",
+		"real env var should win over file",
+	)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_maps_fields_case_insensitively :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(
+		t,
+		"API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8080\nDEBUG=true\nPORT=8080\nRATIO=0.5\n",
+	)
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Test_Config{}
+	testing.expect(t, dotenv.decode(env, &cfg))
+	defer delete(cfg.api_url)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		cfg.api_url == "http://127.0.0.1:8080",
+		"API_URL maps onto api_url",
+	)
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.debug == true, "DEBUG=true should decode to true")
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.port == 8080, "PORT=8080 should decode to int 8080")
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.ratio == 0.5, "RATIO=0.5 should decode to f64 0.5")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_matches_exact_and_lowercase_keys :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "api_url=http://exact\nPort=9090\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Test_Config{}
+	testing.expect(t, dotenv.decode(env, &cfg))
+	defer delete(cfg.api_url)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		cfg.api_url == "http://exact",
+		"exact-case key should match",
+	)
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.port == 9090, "mixed-case key should match field")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_missing_keys_leave_zero_values :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "UNRELATED=value\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Test_Config{}
+	testing.expect(t, dotenv.decode(env, &cfg))
+
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.api_url == "")
+	testing.expect(t, !cfg.debug)
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.port == 0)
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.ratio == 0)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_unparsable_int_fails :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "PORT=oops\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Test_Config{}
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		!dotenv.decode(env, &cfg),
+		"unparsable int should make decode fail",
+	)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_unparsable_bool_fails :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "DEBUG=maybe\nAPI_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8080\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Test_Config{}
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		!dotenv.decode(env, &cfg),
+		"unparsable bool should make decode fail",
+	)
+	defer delete(cfg.api_url)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_hex_and_negative_ints :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "PORT=0x1F\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Test_Config{}
+	testing.expect(t, dotenv.decode(env, &cfg))
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.port == 31, "hex int should decode")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_honors_env_tags :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8080\nPORT=9090\nDEBUG=true\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Tagged_Config{}
+	testing.expect(t, dotenv.decode(env, &cfg))
+	defer delete(cfg.api_url)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		cfg.api_url == "http://127.0.0.1:8080",
+		"env tag should bind API_URL",
+	)
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.port == 9090, "env tag should bind PORT")
+	testing.expect(t, cfg.debug == true, "env tag should bind DEBUG")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_decode_empty_env_tag_falls_back_to_field_name :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	env := load_env(t, "api_url=http://fallback\n")
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env)
+
+	cfg := Tagged_Empty{}
+	testing.expect(t, dotenv.decode(env, &cfg))
+	defer delete(cfg.api_url)
+
+	testing.expect(
+		t,
+		cfg.api_url == "http://fallback",
+		"empty env tag should use field name",
+	)
+}

gui/src/config.odin

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package main
+
+import "core:log"
+import "core:os"
+import dotenv "lib:dotenv/src"
+
+Config :: struct {
+	api_url: string `env:"API_URL"`,
+}
+
+get_config :: proc(env_file: ^string = nil) -> (^Config, ^Error) {
+	path := ".env"
+	if env_file != nil && env_file^ != "" {
+		path = env_file^
+	} else if from_env, ok := os.lookup_env("GUI_ENV_FILE", context.temp_allocator); ok {
+		path = from_env
+	}
+
+	log.debugf("getting config from file: %s", path)
+
+	env, _ := dotenv.parse_file(path, context.temp_allocator)
+	defer dotenv.destroy(env, context.temp_allocator)
+
+	c := new(Config)
+
+	if env == nil {
+		c.api_url = os.get_env("API_URL", context.temp_allocator)
+	} else if !dotenv.decode(env, c) {
+		return nil, new_clone(Error{.Config, "failed to decode .env into Config"})
+	}
+
+	if err := validate_config(c); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return c, nil
+}
+
+validate_config :: proc(c: ^Config) -> (err: ^Error) {
+	if c.api_url == "" {
+		err = new_clone(Error{.Config, "'API_URL' is required"})
+	}
+	return err
+}

gui/src/data.odin

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 package main
 
+import "core:net"
+import "vendor:curl"
+
 Catalog :: struct {
 	name:         string,
 	release:      string,
@@ -22,6 +25,10 @@ APIError :: struct {
 }
 
 get_catalogs :: proc(url: string) -> ([dynamic]Catalog, ^APIError) {
+	ucurl := curl.url()
+
+
+	defer curl.url_cleanup(ucurl)
 	return nil, nil
 }
 

gui/src/error.odin

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package main
+
+import "core:fmt"
+import "core:strings"
+ErrorType :: enum {
+	Config,
+	API,
+}
+
+Error :: struct {
+	type:    ErrorType,
+	message: string,
+}
+
+format_error :: proc(err: ^Error) -> string {
+	sb := strings.builder_make(context.temp_allocator)
+
+	return fmt.sbprintf(&sb, "[%s] => %s", err.type, err.message)
+}
+

gui/src/main.odin

@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package main
 
+import "base:runtime"
 import "core:math"
 import "core:math/rand"
+import "core:os"
 import rl "vendor:raylib"
 
 WIDTH :: 1280
@@ -24,6 +26,16 @@ universe: [dynamic]Galaxy
 rng: rand.Default_Random_State
 
 main :: proc() {
+
+	c: ^Config
+	err: ^Error
+
+	s := os.get_env("GUI_ENV_FILE", context.temp_allocator)
+
+	if c, err = get_config(&s); err != nil {
+		panic(format_error(err))
+	}
+
 	rng = rand.create(0xDE51_0000)
 	context.random_generator = rand.default_random_generator(&rng)
 
@@ -103,11 +115,5 @@ draw :: proc() {
 	}
 
 	rl.DrawFPS(10, 10)
-	rl.DrawText(
+	rl.DrawText("DESI Explorer — drag to rotate, scroll to zoom", 10, 34, 18, rl.RAYWHITE)
-		"DESI Explorer — drag to rotate, scroll to zoom",
-		10,
-		34,
-		18,
-		rl.RAYWHITE,
-	)
 }

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/01-architecture.md

@@ -59,11 +59,13 @@ get_catalog_objects :: proc(url: string, catalog_name: string)            // nil
 
 ## Data flow gap
 
-```
+```mermaid
-[DESI catalog store]  --(future)-->  [Rust/axum API]  --(nothing today)-->  [Odin + raylib GUI]
+flowchart LR
-                                        ^                                        ^
+    A["DESI catalog store"]
-                                        | serde JSON models                    | hand-mirrored structs
+    B["Rust / axum API<br/><i>serde JSON models</i>"]
-                                        |                                      | (stubs, never used)
+    C["Odin + raylib GUI<br/><i>hand-mirrored structs<br/>stubs, never used</i>"]
+    A -. "future ingestion" .-> B
+    B --x|"nothing today"| C
 ```
 
 There is **no live data flow**. The API currently returns JSON placeholders; the
@@ -116,17 +118,16 @@ response protocol with a cheap binary payload would fit this well.
 
 ## High-level target architecture
 
-```
+```mermaid
-        catalog.fbs (single source of truth, checked into repo)
+flowchart TB
-              |
+    S["catalog.fbs<br/><i>single source of truth<br/>checked into repo</i>"]
-     +--------+---------+
+    R["flatc --rust"]
-     |                  |
+    C["flatcc --c<br/><i>or hand-rolled Odin reader</i>"]
-flatc --rust       flatcc --c (or hand-rolled Odin reader)
+    API["api/ · Rust"]
-     |                  |
+    GUI["gui/ · Odin + raylib"]
-api/ (Rust)        gui/ (Odin + raylib)
+    S --> R --> API
-     |                  ^
+    S --> C --> GUI
-     |   HTTP / WebSocket (framed FlatBuffer binary stream)
+    API <-->|"HTTP / WebSocket<br/>framed FlatBuffer binary stream"| GUI
-     +------------------+
 ```
 
 - One schema file. Two generators. Byte-for-byte identical wire format.

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/02-flatbuffers-overview.md

@@ -105,19 +105,28 @@ These are the "thou shalt" rules for keeping buffers compatible:
 
 ## Reading a buffer (conceptual)
 
+Buffer layout:
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+    subgraph BUF["bytes: &[u8]"]
+        O["uoffset<br/>root table offset"]
+        FI["file_identifier<br/>(optional)"]
+        D["tables · vtables · data"]
+    end
+    O --> FI --> D
 ```
-bytes: &[u8]
 
-  ┌─────────────────────────────┐
+Access sequence — each field is a few offset dereferences and a read:
-  │ uoffset (root table offset)  │
-  │ file_identifier (optional)   │
-  │ ... tables, vtables, data ...│
-  └─────────────────────────────┘
 
-root = follow(bytes)              // jump to root table via uoffset
+```mermaid
-vtable = root - root.vtable_off  // locate vtable for this table
+flowchart TD
-field_ra  = vtable.slot_ra != 0  // present?
+    R["root = follow(bytes)<br/>jump to root table via uoffset"]
-if present: ra = read_f64(bytes, root + slot_ra)
+    V["vtable = root − root.vtable_off<br/>locate vtable for this table"]
+    Q{"field slot present?"}
+    R --> V --> Q
+    Q -- "no" --> DEF["use schema default"]
+    Q -- "yes" --> RD["ra = read_f64(bytes, root + slot_ra)"]
 ```
 
 There is **no parsing loop**. Each accessor is a few offset dereferences and a

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/03-rust-integration.md

@@ -196,6 +196,18 @@ Notes:
 
 ## Building buffers efficiently (Rust specifics)
 
+Build order is **back-to-front** (children before parents):
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart TB
+    A["create_string / create_vector<br/>children first"]
+    B["create nested child tables"]
+    C["create parent table<br/>ObjectBatch::create(&args)"]
+    D["builder.finish(root, Some(&#34;DESI&#34;))"]
+    E["Bytes::copy_from_slice(fbb.finished_data())<br/>→ HTTP / WebSocket response"]
+    A --> B --> C --> D --> E
+```
+
 - `FlatBufferBuilder::with_capacity(n)` pre-allocates; `reset()` reuses the
   buffer across messages. In a loop streaming batches, create one builder, reuse
   it — avoid repeated reallocation.

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/04-odin-client-integration.md

@@ -17,6 +17,21 @@ has two C-related access points:
    schema plus a small `libflatccrt.a` runtime. Works via the C ABI, so Odin's
    `foreign import` can consume it.
 
+Choosing a path:
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+    NAT{"primary target is native desktop?"}
+    NAT -- "yes" --> CGO{"want to avoid C in the build?"}
+    CGO -- "yes" --> PATHA["Path B · pure-Odin reader<br/>hand-rolled, no C dependency"]
+    CGO -- "no" --> PATHA
+    CGO -- "prefer proven lib / less maintenance" --> PATHC["Path A · FFI to FlatCC<br/>bind generated C headers"]
+    PATHC --> REUSE["Path C · OdinArrow reuse<br/>or borrow its decode patterns"]
+    NAT -- "no · browser/WASM" --> PATHD["Path D · TS/JS interop<br/>official JS lib → typed arrays into WASM"]
+```
+
+Index of paths:
+
 | Path | Effort | Zero-copy on reads | Notes |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | A: FFI to FlatCC (C runtime) | Medium | ✅ | Bind generated C headers to Odin `foreign` |
@@ -175,12 +190,14 @@ typed Odin slices.
 The rendering win only materializes if data stays zero-copy **into the frame
 loop**:
 
-1. Fetch frame bytes → owned `[dynamic]u8` (or a slice pinned for the lifetime
+```mermaid
-   of the frame).
+flowchart LR
-2. `verify` the buffer once.
+    A["fetch frame bytes → [dynamic]u8<br/>or a slice pinned for the frame"]
-3. Get `ra_slice := ObjectBatch.ra(&buf)` → `[]f64` view.
+    B["verify the buffer once"]
-4. Per object in `update()`/`draw()`: read `ra[i]`, `dec[i]`, `z[i]` straight
+    C["ObjectBatch.ra(&buf) → []f64 view"]
-   from that slice; build `rl.Vector3`; `DrawPoint3D`.
+    D["per object in update()/draw()<br/>ra[i] · dec[i] · z[i] → rl.Vector3 → DrawPoint3D"]
+    A --> B --> C --> D
+```
 
 No per-object allocation. The current `Galaxy { position, color }` dynamic array
 in `main.odin` is the data structure you'd replace with *slices into the

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/05-streaming-protocols.md

@@ -24,14 +24,17 @@ offers two built-in mechanisms plus the community pattern:
 
 ### Option 1: Size-prefixed FlatBuffers (built-in)
 
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+    A["u32 LE<br/>total buffer len<br/><i>size prefix</i>"]
+    B["u32 LE<br/>root table offset"]
+    C["file identifier<br/>(4 bytes)"]
+    D["tables · vtables · data"]
+    A --> B --> C --> D
+```
+
 ```rust
 builder.finish_size_prefixed(root, Some("DESI"));
-// +---------------------------+
-// | u32 LE: total buffer len  |  <-- size prefix
-// | u32 LE: root table offset |
-// | file identifier (4 bytes) |
-// | ... data ...              |
-// +---------------------------+
 ```
 
 Reader side:
@@ -53,8 +56,12 @@ message kinds).
 
 ### Option 2: Custom length-prefix framing (like `flatstream`)
 
-```
+```mermaid
-[ u32 LE: message_len ] [ optional checksum (e.g. u32 crc/xxhash) ] [ flatbuffer payload ]
+flowchart LR
+    A["u32 LE<br/>message_len"]
+    B["optional checksum<br/>(u32 crc / xxhash)"]
+    C["FlatBuffer payload"]
+    A --> B --> C
 ```
 
 - `flatstream-rs` (see `03-rust-integration.md`) is a reference implementation
@@ -260,6 +267,16 @@ FlatBuffers long-term (mmap-friendly, page-in-what-you-touch).
 
 ## Decision summary for this repo
 
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+    A["HTTP GET → one FlatBuffer body per batch<br/>validate Rust builder + Odin reader"]
+    B["WebSocket → one Binary message per batch<br/>interactive path · no custom framing"]
+    C["Self-identifying messages<br/>file_identifier &#34;DESI&#34;"]
+    D["size-prefixed / flatstream-style framing<br/>or HTTP-range + mmap for static catalogs"]
+    A --> B --> C
+    C -. "later, if needed" .-> D
+```
+
 1. Start with **HTTP GET → one FlatBuffer body per batch** to validate the Rust
    builder + Odin reader (no protocol work at all).
 2. Then add **WebSocket** with one `Binary` message per batch (no custom framing)

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/07-alternatives.md

@@ -108,6 +108,15 @@ message shape — see `10-performance-benchmarks.md`.)
 
 ## Bottom line
 
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+    Q1{"zero-copy reads<br/>in the per-frame render loop?"}
+    Q1 -- "no" --> PB["Protobuf / gRPC<br/>decode once into draw buffers"]
+    Q1 -- "yes" --> Q2{"truly columnar?<br/>millions of rows"}
+    Q2 -- "yes" --> ARR["Apache Arrow IPC<br/>via OdinArrow"]
+    Q2 -- "no · batched vectors" --> FB["FlatBuffers · this proposal"]
+```
+
 - **FlatBuffers is the best default** for this project: the zero-copy read model
   matches the render loop, the wire format is compact for numeric vectors, schema
   evolution fits DESI's release cadence, and the Rust + WASM/JS official story

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/08-testing-strategies.md

@@ -139,7 +139,23 @@ side / flatc* — see the "cross-language fixture" section below.
 
 ### 4. Cross-language conformance suite (THE key integration test)
 
-This is the test that actually catches incompatibility. Design:
+This is the test that actually catches incompatibility. Pipeline:
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+    S["schema/catalog.fbs"]
+    J["testdata/catalog_sample.json"]
+    S --> F["flatc --binary"]
+    J --> F
+    F --> BIN["committed .bin fixtures<br/>repo-checked-in"]
+    BIN --> OT["Odin tests<br/>assert identical values"]
+    BIN --> RT["Rust tests<br/>assert expected values"]
+    RT -. "deterministic builder" .-> PAR["byte-for-byte parity"]
+    OT -. "reads it" .-> PAR
+    PAR -. "catch drift" .-> F
+```
+
+Design:
 
 1. **Static fixtures, committed to the repo** (`testdata/*.bin`):
    - Built once by `flatc --binary <schema>.fbs <data>.json` (deterministic,

resources/ai/research/data-streaming/README.md

@@ -70,6 +70,16 @@ directly from the buffer each frame without allocations.
 
 ## Immediate Next Steps (when you're ready to implement)
 
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+    A["Prototype schema<br/>catalog.fbs: Catalog · CatalogObject · ServerMessage union"]
+    B["Generate Rust code<br/>flatc --rust → api/build.rs · serve WS via axum"]
+    C["Prototype the Odin reader<br/>flatcc FFI · pure-Odin · OdinArrow"]
+    D["Static fixture files<br/>flatc --binary → committed .bin"]
+    E["Cross-language tests<br/>Rust + Odin read the same fixtures identically"]
+    A --> B --> C --> D --> E
+```
+
 1. **Prototype schema first.** Write `catalog.fbs` covering `Catalog`, `CatalogObject`,
    and a `ServerMessage` union (handshake / catalog list / chunk of objects / end).
 2. **Generate Rust code** via `flatc --rust` in an `api/build.rs` (see

resources/dev/api.env.example

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Example API environment — passed via API_ENV_FILE (see root Makefile).
+#
+# The API also reads API_DESI_DATA from the environment (set by the root
+# Makefile to resources/dev/desi_subset.json by default), so it is not
+# repeated here. Values here win unless the same key is already set in the
+# real process environment.
+
+API_BIND_ADDR=127.0.0.1:8080

resources/dev/desi_subset.json

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+{
+  "catalogs": [
+    {
+      "name": "edr",
+      "release": "EDR",
+      "description": "DESI Early Data Release (local dev subset)",
+      "object_count": 3
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "dr1",
+      "release": "DR1",
+      "description": "DESI Data Release 1 (local dev subset)",
+      "object_count": 2
+    }
+  ],
+  "objects": [
+    {
+      "id": "DESI_EDR_000000001",
+      "catalog": "edr",
+      "object_type": "GALAXY",
+      "ra": 150.123456,
+      "dec": 2.345678,
+      "redshift": 0.5521
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "DESI_EDR_000000002",
+      "catalog": "edr",
+      "object_type": "GALAXY",
+      "ra": 254.987654,
+      "dec": -15.203041,
+      "redshift": 1.1045
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "DESI_EDR_000000003",
+      "catalog": "edr",
+      "object_type": "QSO",
+      "ra": 75.001234,
+      "dec": 38.765432,
+      "redshift": 2.8756
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "DESI_DR1_000000001",
+      "catalog": "dr1",
+      "object_type": "STAR",
+      "ra": 188.556677,
+      "dec": 47.112233,
+      "redshift": 0.0001
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "DESI_DR1_000000002",
+      "catalog": "dr1",
+      "object_type": "GALAXY",
+      "ra": 300.445566,
+      "dec": 12.778899,
+      "redshift": 0.7742
+    }
+  ]
+}

resources/dev/gui.env.example

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Example GUI environment — passed via GUI_ENV_FILE (see root Makefile).
+#
+# Point the renderer at the local dev API: `make run` also starts the API
+# server, so http://127.0.0.1:8080 is the default. Values here win unless
+# the same key is already set in the real process environment.
+
+API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8080