Compile .st -> .scb

The compile command converts Strata Text (.st) into Strata Core Binary (.scb).

This is a canonical compilation step. The output bytes are the only valid binary representation of the input value.

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Purpose

compile exists to:

• Parse human-authored Strata Text

• Validate all syntax and semantics

• Produce canonical Strata Core Binary

• Reject any invalid or ambiguous input

It is the only supported way to produce .scb from .st.

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Command

strata-js compile <input.st> <output.scb>

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Compilation pipeline

The command performs the following steps, in order:

1. Parse

   • The .st file is parsed into a Strata value

   • All syntax rules are enforced

   • All integers are range-checked

   • All bytes and strings are validated

2. Validate

   • The value model is validated against Strata rules

   • Invalid constructs are rejected

   • No normalization or coercion is performed

3. Encode

   • The value is encoded into canonical Strata Core Binary

   • Map keys are ordered canonically

   • Integers are encoded using canonical varints

   • Strings are encoded as validated UTF-8

4. Write

   • The resulting bytes are written exactly as produced

   • No metadata or headers are added

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Canonical guarantee

For a given .st file:

• The output .scb is deterministic

• Recompiling produces byte-identical output

• Hashes computed over the output are stable

Any change in output bytes indicates:

• A change in input

• Or a regression in the implementation

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Error handling

Compilation fails if:

• The input contains invalid syntax

• An integer is out of range

• A string is malformed

• The input violates Strata rules

On failure:

• No output file is written

• The command exits with a non-zero code

• An error message is printed

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No partial success

compile is atomic.

Either:

• The entire file is valid and compiled

• Or nothing is produced

There is no partial output.

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Example

strata-js compile config.st config.scb

This:

• Reads config.st

• Produces config.scb

• Guarantees canonical encoding

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Relationship to hashing

Hashes are not computed during compilation.

However:

• The output .scb is hash-ready

• Hashing the result is guaranteed to be stable

• Hashing before or after transport yields the same result

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Summary

compile is the boundary between human input and canonical data.

Once a value is compiled:

• It is frozen

• It is unambiguous

• It is safe to hash, transmit, and store

All Strata pipelines start here.