Allow ordinary config data at the application root

docs/roadmap/config-directives.md

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # Document-Root Configuration Controls
 
 Status: proposed implementation of the agreed `config` spelling and
-document-root-only reservation. The remaining application-root boundary choice
+source-document-root-only reservation. Ordinary application-root `config` data
-is recorded under Open Decisions.
+created through placement or later lifecycle operations is permitted.
 
 Planning baseline: `1e69abc88cf748537cd7febc85e0743755fa2fc1`.
 
@@ -103,21 +103,41 @@ provider settings in the first example, `fragments/provider.yml` can contain
 `/providers/primary/config`. Its filesystem paths still resolve from the
 declaring file under the existing resource-context rules.
 
+### Application-root data from non-document operations
+
+Input placement, mounted imports, typed defaults, CLI overrides, and application
+resolution may produce ordinary `config` data at the final application root,
+following their existing schema and lifecycle rules. Controls are recognized
+only during source-document extraction. For example, a fragment containing
+`timeout: 10s` can be placed at destination `[config]`, producing application
+data at `/config/timeout`. A CLI assignment to `Keys("config", "timeout")`
+addresses that data rather than introducing a control. Collection declarations
+and registrations can likewise address actual data at that application path.
+
+This keeps the reservation document-local. Placement and later lifecycle
+operations do not reinterpret their output as another source document, and no
+additional schema or callback restriction reserves the final root namespace.
+Inspection can show a root `config` value without reinterpreting it; effective
+YAML retains its existing lack of a reloadability guarantee. Explain
+source-local control coordinates and assembled application coordinates
+separately, even when their path text is the same; this requires no new
+inspection-record format.
+
 ### Consistent application-path handling
 
-Allow nested application paths containing literal `config` in input placement,
+Allow application paths containing literal `config`, at root or nested, in
-relative import destinations, collection declarations and registrations, CLI
+input placement, relative import destinations, collection declarations and
-paths and values, version fields, and inspection queries, subject to each
+registrations, CLI paths and values, version fields, and inspection queries.
-operation's existing rules. In particular, a relative destination beginning
+Each operation retains its existing rules. In particular, a relative destination
-with `config` can legitimately refer to a nested application mapping after the
+beginning with `config` can legitimately refer to a nested application mapping
-parent destination is applied. Do not decide its meaning from that relative
+after the parent destination is applied. Do not decide its meaning from that
-segment alone.
+relative segment alone.
 
 Protect actual source-root controls during source-version extraction while
 allowing version fields below an ordinary nested `config` mapping. Preserve
 main-version ownership, non-main header consumption, and existing version modes.
-Root application values produced through placement or later lifecycle inputs
+An assembled application path beginning with `config` does not by itself
-are the distinct boundary choice recorded under Open Decisions.
+establish overlap with an actual source-document control block.
 
 `extends` keeps its existing inheritance meaning, scope, and CLI restrictions.
 Allowing `config` in application data does not make other invalid paths, unknown
@@ -134,9 +154,9 @@ may accept an old block as data without executing its imports.
 Directive-related paths in diagnostics and source evidence change to the new
 spelling, such as `/config/imports/0`. Preserve authored locations, source IDs,
 effective placement, history, sensitivity, and resource ownership. Application
-values under nested `config` receive the same metadata and safe inspection as
+values under root or nested `config` receive the same metadata and safe
-other ordinary fields, including explicit false, zero, empty, and null values
+inspection as other ordinary fields, including explicit false, zero, empty,
-where supported by the schema.
+and null values where supported by the schema.
 
 The Go package name, vanity module path, exported symbol names,
 `configkit:"secret"` struct tag, and library diagnostic prefix remain unchanged.
@@ -156,8 +176,8 @@ and version/control overlap detection as a coordinated change. Retain shared
 helpers when their callers need the same rule; distinguish source-local control
 coordinates from effective application coordinates where their responsibilities
 differ. Do not carry a global name ban into a helper merely by replacing its
-string constant. Resolve the application-root decision below before preparing
+string constant. Allow ordinary application-root `config` data through
-the detailed implementation plan.
+placement and later lifecycle operations without re-extracting controls.
 
 Keep the existing engine and facade boundaries. No configurable control name,
 new provider abstraction, or change to composition algorithms is needed.
@@ -169,7 +189,8 @@ existing accepted decisions as historical records. Update applicable local
 architecture-policy descriptions when the behavior lands. The current
 [configuration reference](../config.md), public comments, and
 [consumer guide](../consumers/README.md) should explain the new syntax,
-per-source root boundary, and ordinary nested fields together.
+per-source root boundary, ordinary nested fields, and application-root data
+created through non-document operations together.
 
 Migrate maintained examples, fixtures, and behavioral expectations for genuine
 control blocks. Preserve literal `configkit` occurrences that identify the Go
@@ -197,6 +218,10 @@ behavioral coverage at the boundaries this change affects:
 - Mounted inputs and relative destinations distinguish source roots from
   application paths, including a relative destination beginning with `config`.
   Collection registrations and nested version fields follow that distinction.
+- Placement, defaults, CLI overrides, and recorded resolution can produce
+  ordinary application-root `config` data. Collection declarations,
+  registrations, and inspection can address it. Source controls are still
+  extracted before mounting and are not rediscovered in the resulting data.
 - Ordinary `configkit` and `_configkit` data no longer trigger controls or
   name-based rejection. Genuine old control syntax is not executed as an alias.
 - Source-local directive evidence uses `/config/...`; ordinary application
@@ -204,42 +229,8 @@ behavioral coverage at the boundaries this change affects:
   with final values. Existing inheritance and protected-version checks remain
   effective.
 
-Add cases for the application-root outcome once selected. Verify behavior with
+Verify behavior with independent expectations, rather than a test that only
-independent expectations, rather than a test that only checks a renamed
+checks a renamed constant. Reuse existing coverage for unchanged semantics, run
-constant. Reuse existing coverage for unchanged semantics, run the appropriate
+the appropriate focused checks and everyday validation, and check documentation
-focused checks and everyday validation, and check documentation links. No new
+links. No new release gate, security guarantee, or performance threshold follows
-release gate, security guarantee, or performance threshold follows from this
+from this roadmap.
-roadmap.
-
-## Open Decisions
-
-### May non-document operations produce application-root `config` data?
-
-The agreed source-document rule settles authored input: root `config` is a
-control block and nested `config` is data. It does not by itself settle whether
-an effective root `/config` may be produced by `Input.Destination`, mounted
-imports, typed defaults, CLI overrides, or application resolution.
-
-**Recommendation:** Allow these operations to produce ordinary root application
-data, following their existing schema and lifecycle rules. Recognize controls
-only at source-document extraction. For example, a fragment containing
-`timeout: 10s` could be placed at destination `[config]`; a CLI assignment to
-`Keys("config", "timeout")` would address data rather than introduce a control.
-Collection declarations and registrations could likewise address actual data
-at that application path. This keeps the reservation strictly document-local,
-avoids adding a separate schema or callback restriction, and treats later
-operations as data processing rather than new document parsing. Inspection can
-show a root `config` value without reinterpreting it; effective YAML already has
-no reloadability guarantee. The cost is that the same textual path can describe
-source controls or assembled application data, so documentation must distinguish
-those coordinates clearly.
-
-**Alternative:** Also reserve `/config` as an application-root namespace,
-while allowing nested paths such as `/providers/primary/config`. This keeps
-source-root and final-root vocabulary aligned. It requires defining consistent
-behavior for destinations, collection selectors, CLI values, defaults,
-resolution output, and relevant version paths; changing only the source parser
-or CLI checks would leave gaps. It also restricts application data beyond the
-agreed source-document reservation. Choose this alternative only as an explicit
-additional policy decision, with its validation boundary defined before
-implementation.