diff --git a/scripts/permutation-check.ts b/scripts/permutation-check.ts
index 2fd1c8396..d2e85313a 100644
--- a/scripts/permutation-check.ts
+++ b/scripts/permutation-check.ts
@@ -218,6 +218,25 @@ async function executeStep(page: Page, step: PermStep): Promise<void> {
 	await page.waitForTimeout(step.settle);
 }
 
+// ── URL variant matrix (v2) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/**
+ * Universal URL variants applied to every instrumented demo. The layout at
+ * `src/routes/test/soma/+layout.svelte` reads `?perm.dir` / `?perm.locale`
+ * and re-seeds the presentation context; the runner validates the full
+ * click cycle under each variant so RTL-only reactivity bugs (e.g. the
+ * slider thumb-transform regression) fail cleanly instead of shipping.
+ *
+ * Per-component axes (component-specific state like `?perm.open=true`,
+ * `?perm.variant=alertdialog`, `?perm.value=tab-2`) are declared by the
+ * demo itself via `<script>` seed defaults — the runner doesn't need to
+ * know about them; it just runs the click cycle at each base URL.
+ */
+const URL_VARIANTS: Array<{ suffix: string; label: string }> = [
+	{ suffix: '', label: 'ltr' },
+	{ suffix: '?perm.dir=rtl', label: 'rtl' }
+];
+
 // ── Main loop ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 type StepResult =
@@ -226,14 +245,19 @@ type StepResult =
 	| { kind: 'error'; label: string; err: string }
 	| { kind: 'skipped'; label: string };
 
-type RouteResult = {
-	route: string;
-	morfo: string;
+type VariantResult = {
+	variant: string;
+	url: string;
 	stepsTotal: number;
 	steps: StepResult[];
 	pageErrors: string[];
 };
 
+type RouteResult = {
+	morfo: string;
+	variants: VariantResult[];
+};
+
 const BASE = process.argv[2] ?? (await probePort(5173, 5180));
 if (!BASE) {
 	console.error('Could not find a running dev server on 5173-5180.');
@@ -254,8 +278,13 @@ const ctx = await browser.newContext();
 const results: RouteResult[] = [];
 const skipped: string[] = [];
 
-for (const morfo of morfos) {
-	const route = `/test/soma/${morfo.kebab}`;
+/** Run one URL variant: load, cycle click-driven steps, report. */
+async function runVariant(
+	base: string,
+	url: string,
+	variantLabel: string,
+	morfo: Morfo
+): Promise<VariantResult | 'no-steps'> {
 	const page = await ctx.newPage();
 	const pageErrors: string[] = [];
 	page.on('pageerror', (e) => pageErrors.push(e.message));
@@ -263,40 +292,59 @@ for (const morfo of morfos) {
 		if (m.type() === 'error') pageErrors.push(m.text());
 	});
 
+	const variantResult: VariantResult = {
+		variant: variantLabel,
+		url,
+		stepsTotal: 0,
+		steps: [],
+		pageErrors: []
+	};
+
 	try {
-		await page.goto(BASE + route, { waitUntil: 'networkidle', timeout: 20000 });
+		await page.goto(base + url, { waitUntil: 'networkidle', timeout: 20000 });
 		await page.waitForTimeout(300);
 
-		// Initial snapshot — if there are no perm steps at all, skip.
 		const initialSteps = await collectSteps(page);
 		if (initialSteps.length === 0) {
-			skipped.push(morfo.kebab);
 			await page.close();
-			continue;
+			return 'no-steps';
 		}
 
-		// Determine the max index the page declares at any point. Re-check the
-		// DOM after each step so portal-gated elements (Dialog.Close inside
-		// `{#if open}`) get counted once they mount.
-		const knownIndices = new Set<number>(initialSteps.map((s) => s.index));
-		const executedIndices = new Set<number>();
-
-		const routeResult: RouteResult = {
-			route,
-			morfo: morfo.kebab,
-			stepsTotal: 0, // filled after the run
-			steps: [],
-			pageErrors: []
-		};
+		// Any errors from the URL-seeded initial state count against the variant.
+		if (pageErrors.length > 0) {
+			const captured = pageErrors.splice(0, pageErrors.length).join(' | ');
+			variantResult.steps.push({
+				kind: 'fail',
+				label: '[initial seed]',
+				reason: `pageerror: ${captured.slice(0, 200)}`
+			});
+		} else {
+			// Validate morfo at the URL-seeded state BEFORE any clicks so v2
+			// state-injection alone (no click sequence) is exercised.
+			try {
+				const seedIssues = await validateMorfoAgainstDom(page, morfo);
+				if (seedIssues.length === 0) {
+					variantResult.steps.push({ kind: 'pass', label: '[initial seed]' });
+				} else {
+					variantResult.steps.push({
+						kind: 'fail',
+						label: '[initial seed]',
+						reason: seedIssues.map((i) => `[${i.kind}] ${i.message}`).join(' · ')
+					});
+				}
+			} catch (e) {
+				variantResult.steps.push({
+					kind: 'error',
+					label: '[initial seed]',
+					err: `validation: ${(e as Error).message.slice(0, 120)}`
+				});
+			}
+		}
 
-		// Iterate until no new pending step shows up. Cap at 50 to avoid a
-		// runaway demo that keeps spawning indices.
+		const executedIndices = new Set<number>();
 		let safety = 50;
 		while (safety-- > 0) {
-			// Re-collect; demos may have mounted new perm elements.
 			const current = await collectSteps(page);
-			for (const s of current) knownIndices.add(s.index);
-
 			const next = current
 				.filter((s) => !executedIndices.has(s.index))
 				.sort((a, b) => a.index - b.index)[0];
@@ -308,7 +356,7 @@ for (const morfo of morfos) {
 			try {
 				await executeStep(page, step);
 			} catch (e) {
-				routeResult.steps.push({
+				variantResult.steps.push({
 					kind: 'error',
 					label: step.label,
 					err: (e as Error).message.slice(0, 120)
@@ -316,32 +364,34 @@ for (const morfo of morfos) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			// Any new page errors since the last step?
 			if (pageErrors.length > 0) {
 				const captured = pageErrors.splice(0, pageErrors.length).join(' | ');
-				routeResult.steps.push({ kind: 'fail', label: step.label, reason: `pageerror: ${captured.slice(0, 200)}` });
+				variantResult.steps.push({
+					kind: 'fail',
+					label: step.label,
+					reason: `pageerror: ${captured.slice(0, 200)}`
+				});
 				continue;
 			}
 
 			if (step.skipValidate) {
-				routeResult.steps.push({ kind: 'pass', label: step.label + ' (no-validate)' });
+				variantResult.steps.push({ kind: 'pass', label: step.label + ' (no-validate)' });
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			// Re-validate morfo against current DOM.
 			try {
 				const issues = await validateMorfoAgainstDom(page, morfo);
 				if (issues.length === 0) {
-					routeResult.steps.push({ kind: 'pass', label: step.label });
+					variantResult.steps.push({ kind: 'pass', label: step.label });
 				} else {
-					routeResult.steps.push({
+					variantResult.steps.push({
 						kind: 'fail',
 						label: step.label,
 						reason: issues.map((i) => `[${i.kind}] ${i.message}`).join(' · ')
 					});
 				}
 			} catch (e) {
-				routeResult.steps.push({
+				variantResult.steps.push({
 					kind: 'error',
 					label: step.label,
 					err: `validation: ${(e as Error).message.slice(0, 120)}`
@@ -349,21 +399,39 @@ for (const morfo of morfos) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Any errors that slipped past the per-step capture
-		routeResult.pageErrors = pageErrors;
-		routeResult.stepsTotal = routeResult.steps.length;
-		results.push(routeResult);
+		variantResult.pageErrors = pageErrors;
+		variantResult.stepsTotal = variantResult.steps.length;
 	} catch (e) {
-		results.push({
-			route,
-			morfo: morfo.kebab,
-			stepsTotal: 0,
-			steps: [{ kind: 'error', label: 'navigation', err: (e as Error).message.slice(0, 120) }],
-			pageErrors: []
+		variantResult.steps.push({
+			kind: 'error',
+			label: '[navigation]',
+			err: (e as Error).message.slice(0, 120)
 		});
 	} finally {
 		await page.close();
 	}
+
+	return variantResult;
+}
+
+for (const morfo of morfos) {
+	const variantResults: VariantResult[] = [];
+	let anyStepped = false;
+
+	for (const v of URL_VARIANTS) {
+		const url = `/test/soma/${morfo.kebab}${v.suffix}`;
+		const r = await runVariant(BASE, url, v.label, morfo);
+		if (r === 'no-steps') continue;
+		anyStepped = true;
+		variantResults.push(r);
+	}
+
+	if (!anyStepped) {
+		skipped.push(morfo.kebab);
+		continue;
+	}
+
+	results.push({ morfo: morfo.kebab, variants: variantResults });
 }
 
 await browser.close();
@@ -371,25 +439,40 @@ await browser.close();
 // ── Report ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 console.log('');
-let passed = 0;
-let failed = 0;
+let passedRoutes = 0;
+let failedRoutes = 0;
+let totalSteps = 0;
+let totalFailed = 0;
 for (const r of results) {
-	const bad = r.steps.filter((s) => s.kind !== 'pass');
+	const bad = r.variants
+		.flatMap((v) => v.steps)
+		.filter((s) => s.kind !== 'pass');
+	totalSteps += r.variants.reduce((acc, v) => acc + v.steps.length, 0);
+	totalFailed += bad.length;
+
 	if (bad.length === 0) {
-		console.log(`PASS  ${r.morfo.padEnd(20)}  ${r.stepsTotal} permutation${r.stepsTotal === 1 ? '' : 's'}`);
-		for (const s of r.steps) {
-			console.log(`      ·  ${s.label}`);
+		const variantCount = r.variants.length;
+		const stepCount = r.variants.reduce((acc, v) => acc + v.steps.length, 0);
+		console.log(
+			`PASS  ${r.morfo.padEnd(20)}  ${variantCount} variant${variantCount === 1 ? '' : 's'} · ${stepCount} step${stepCount === 1 ? '' : 's'}`
+		);
+		for (const v of r.variants) {
+			console.log(`      [${v.variant}]  ${v.url}`);
+			for (const s of v.steps) console.log(`         ·  ${s.label}`);
 		}
-		passed++;
+		passedRoutes++;
 	} else {
-		console.log(`FAIL  ${r.morfo.padEnd(20)}  ${r.stepsTotal} permutations, ${bad.length} failed`);
-		for (const s of r.steps) {
-			if (s.kind === 'pass') console.log(`      ·  ${s.label}`);
-			else if (s.kind === 'skipped') console.log(`      ·  ${s.label}  (skipped)`);
-			else if (s.kind === 'fail') console.log(`      ✖  ${s.label}  ${s.reason}`);
-			else console.log(`      ✖  ${s.label}  ERROR ${s.err}`);
+		console.log(`FAIL  ${r.morfo.padEnd(20)}  ${bad.length} step${bad.length === 1 ? '' : 's'} failed`);
+		for (const v of r.variants) {
+			console.log(`      [${v.variant}]  ${v.url}`);
+			for (const s of v.steps) {
+				if (s.kind === 'pass') console.log(`         ·  ${s.label}`);
+				else if (s.kind === 'skipped') console.log(`         ·  ${s.label}  (skipped)`);
+				else if (s.kind === 'fail') console.log(`         ✖  ${s.label}  ${s.reason}`);
+				else console.log(`         ✖  ${s.label}  ERROR ${s.err}`);
+			}
 		}
-		failed++;
+		failedRoutes++;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -401,9 +484,12 @@ if (skipped.length > 0) {
 	console.log('  (demo has no `data-perm-step` annotations yet — see src/uix/morfo/PERMUTATION_RUNNER.md)');
 }
 console.log('');
-console.log(
-	failed === 0
-		? `All ${passed} instrumented demo${passed === 1 ? '' : 's'} passed.`
-		: `${failed} demo${failed === 1 ? '' : 's'} failed: ${results.filter((r) => r.steps.some((s) => s.kind !== 'pass')).map((r) => r.morfo).join(', ')}`
-);
-process.exit(failed === 0 ? 0 : 1);
+const summary =
+	failedRoutes === 0
+		? `All ${passedRoutes} instrumented demo${passedRoutes === 1 ? '' : 's'} passed. (${totalSteps} step${totalSteps === 1 ? '' : 's'} across ${URL_VARIANTS.length} URL variant${URL_VARIANTS.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}.)`
+		: `${failedRoutes} demo${failedRoutes === 1 ? '' : 's'} failed (${totalFailed}/${totalSteps} steps): ${results
+				.filter((r) => r.variants.some((v) => v.steps.some((s) => s.kind !== 'pass')))
+				.map((r) => r.morfo)
+				.join(', ')}`;
+console.log(summary);
+process.exit(failedRoutes === 0 ? 0 : 1);
diff --git a/src/routes/test/soma/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/test/soma/+layout.svelte
index 2d49ea7f3..7cfe13838 100644
--- a/src/routes/test/soma/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/test/soma/+layout.svelte
@@ -5,9 +5,20 @@
 	import { App } from '$lib/ext/app';
 	import { createPresentation } from '$lib/ext/presentation';
 	import { componentLangs } from '$soma/core/langs';
+	import { Perms, parsePerms } from './_perms.svelte';
 
 	let { children }: { children: Snippet } = $props();
 
+	// Permutation-runner v2: parse `?perm.X=Y` params from the URL and expose
+	// them to every demo via context. Reactive via `$derived` so SvelteKit
+	// client-side navigations (not full reloads) re-seed when the URL changes.
+	// The layout also honours `?perm.dir=rtl` / `?perm.locale=en` so the
+	// runner can exercise RTL / i18n without clicking the control strip.
+	const perms = $derived(parsePerms());
+	$effect(() => {
+		Perms.set(perms);
+	});
+
 	// ── Lang ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const langs = createLangs(
 		{
@@ -48,6 +59,16 @@
 	// ── App context ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const app = App.create({ langs, presentation });
 
+	// ── URL-seed: let `?perm.dir=rtl` / `?perm.locale=en` override the
+	//    control-strip defaults on mount. Runs after app init so
+	//    `app.setDir` / `app.setLocale` take effect through the normal path.
+	$effect(() => {
+		const initial = perms;
+		if (initial.dir === 'rtl' || initial.dir === 'ltr') app.setDir(initial.dir);
+		if (initial.locale === 'es' || initial.locale === 'en')
+			app.setLocale(initial.locale as 'es' | 'en');
+	});
+
 	// ── Locale / dir controls ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const activeLocale = $derived(app.langs.getLocale());
 	const activeDir = $derived(app.presentation.getDir());
diff --git a/src/routes/test/soma/_perms.svelte.ts b/src/routes/test/soma/_perms.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52fb51730
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/test/soma/_perms.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/**
+ * Test-infra: URL-driven permutations (permutation-runner v2).
+ *
+ * The soma demo pages opt into **seed-from-URL** initial state via
+ * `?perm.X=Y` query params. The test-route layout parses them into a
+ * typed `Perms` context; each demo reads its specific keys with sensible
+ * defaults.
+ *
+ * Why: click-driven permutation sequences (v1) can't reach every state
+ * combination — e.g. "Dialog open AND dir=rtl AND variant=alertdialog"
+ * would need a careful 3-step dance. URL-seed lets the permutation runner
+ * navigate directly to any state the component's morfo can express,
+ * validate morfo, and move on.
+ *
+ * Convention:
+ *   /test/soma/dialog?perm.open=true&perm.dir=rtl&perm.variant=alertdialog
+ *   /test/soma/tabs?perm.value=tab-2
+ *   /test/soma/toolbar?perm.dir=rtl&perm.disabled=true
+ *
+ * Type coercion is naive: `'true'`/`'false'` → boolean, bare digits →
+ * number, everything else stays a string. Demos can cast further when
+ * reading: `(perms?.variant as 'default' | 'alertdialog') ?? 'default'`.
+ *
+ * Prefixed with `_` so SvelteKit does not route it.
+ */
+
+import { page } from '$app/state';
+import { context } from '$soma/provider';
+
+export type PermValue = string | number | boolean;
+export type Perms = Record<string, PermValue>;
+
+const PREFIX = 'perm.';
+
+function coerce(raw: string): PermValue {
+	if (raw === 'true') return true;
+	if (raw === 'false') return false;
+	if (raw !== '' && !Number.isNaN(Number(raw)) && /^-?\d+(\.\d+)?$/.test(raw)) {
+		return Number(raw);
+	}
+	return raw;
+}
+
+/** Parse `?perm.X=Y` params from the current URL. Re-runs on navigation. */
+export function parsePerms(): Perms {
+	const out: Perms = {};
+	const params = page.url.searchParams;
+	for (const [key, value] of params.entries()) {
+		if (!key.startsWith(PREFIX)) continue;
+		out[key.slice(PREFIX.length)] = coerce(value);
+	}
+	return out;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Context for the parsed `Perms` object. Demos read with `Perms.getOr({})`
+ * and fall back to their own defaults:
+ *
+ * ```ts
+ * const perms = Perms.getOr({});
+ * let open = $state((perms.open as boolean) ?? false);
+ * let dir = $state((perms.dir as 'ltr' | 'rtl') ?? 'ltr');
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Use `getOr({})` (not `get()`) so a demo rendered outside the test-route
+ * layout doesn't throw — the empty record falls through to the demo's own
+ * defaults.
+ */
+export const Perms = context<Perms>('soma-test-perms');
diff --git a/src/routes/test/soma/dialog/+page.svelte b/src/routes/test/soma/dialog/+page.svelte
index 2d0f86b0c..e3ac76f0c 100644
--- a/src/routes/test/soma/dialog/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/test/soma/dialog/+page.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import * as Dialog from '$soma/components/dialog';
 	import Portal from '$soma/components/internal/portal.svelte';
-	let open1 = $state(false);
+	import { Perms } from '../_perms.svelte';
+
+	// Perm-runner v2 seed — URL `?perm.open=true` / `?perm.variant=alertdialog`
+	// land directly in that state without walking the click sequence.
+	const perms = Perms.getOr({} as Record<string, string | number | boolean>);
+	let open1 = $state((perms.open as boolean) ?? false);
 	let open2 = $state(false);
 	let open3 = $state(false);
 	let open3nested = $state(false);
diff --git a/src/routes/test/soma/tabs/+page.svelte b/src/routes/test/soma/tabs/+page.svelte
index fbd54462a..4732faefe 100644
--- a/src/routes/test/soma/tabs/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/test/soma/tabs/+page.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import * as Tabs from '$soma/components/tabs';
+	import { Perms } from '../_perms.svelte';
 
-	let value1 = $state('tab-1');
+	// Perm-runner v2 seed — URL `?perm.value=tab-2` lands in that tab.
+	const perms = Perms.getOr({} as Record<string, string | number | boolean>);
+	let value1 = $state((perms.value as string) ?? 'tab-1');
 	let value2 = $state('tab-1');
 	let value3 = $state('tab-1');
 	let value4 = $state('tab-1');
diff --git a/src/routes/test/soma/toolbar/+page.svelte b/src/routes/test/soma/toolbar/+page.svelte
index dc63f6fa7..e31f451b8 100644
--- a/src/routes/test/soma/toolbar/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/test/soma/toolbar/+page.svelte
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import * as Toolbar from '$soma/components/toolbar';
+	import { Perms } from '../_perms.svelte';
 
-	let format = $state<string[]>([]);
-	let align = $state<string[]>(['left']);
+	// Perm-runner v2 seed — `?perm.format=bold,italic` starts with those
+	// toggles on; `?perm.align=center` overrides the alignment.
+	const perms = Perms.getOr({} as Record<string, string | number | boolean>);
+	function parseList(v: unknown, fallback: string[]): string[] {
+		if (typeof v !== 'string' || v.length === 0) return fallback;
+		return v.split(',').map((s) => s.trim()).filter(Boolean);
+	}
+	let format = $state<string[]>(parseList(perms.format, []));
+	let align = $state<string[]>(parseList(perms.align, ['left']));
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
diff --git a/src/uix/morfo/PERMUTATION_RUNNER.md b/src/uix/morfo/PERMUTATION_RUNNER.md
index a0af81c31..876b28227 100644
--- a/src/uix/morfo/PERMUTATION_RUNNER.md
+++ b/src/uix/morfo/PERMUTATION_RUNNER.md
@@ -133,14 +133,58 @@ Demos without `data-perm-step` are skipped with a `SKIP` line (they haven't opte
 
 ---
 
+## v2 — URL-driven state injection
+
+v1 covers "click through a state sequence and validate after each step." v2 adds **URL-seeded initial state**: the demo reads `?perm.X=Y` params from the URL and uses them as initial `$state` values. Every instrumented demo now runs TWICE in CI — once under `ltr` (no params), once under `rtl` (`?perm.dir=rtl`). Universal axes are run across every demo; per-component axes are just defaults in the demo's script.
+
+### Layout plumbing
+
+`src/routes/test/soma/+layout.svelte` parses `?perm.*` params once at mount, exposes them via a context at `src/routes/test/soma/_perms.svelte.ts`, and also honours `?perm.dir=ltr|rtl` and `?perm.locale=es|en` by routing through the existing `App.setDir` / `App.setLocale` path (so the control strip stays in sync).
+
+### Demo opt-in
+
+Read the perms and use them as **initial** state (not live-bound — the user can still click through transitions after landing):
+
+```svelte
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { Perms } from '../_perms.svelte';
+
+  const perms = Perms.getOr({} as Record<string, string | number | boolean>);
+
+  // Perm-runner v2 seed — `?perm.open=true` / `?perm.variant=alertdialog`
+  // land directly in that state without walking the click sequence.
+  let open = $state((perms.open as boolean) ?? false);
+  let variant = $state((perms.variant as 'default' | 'alertdialog') ?? 'default');
+</script>
+```
+
+Type coercion is naive: `'true'` / `'false'` → boolean, bare digits → number, everything else stays a string. Cast to the component's actual union at the read site.
+
+### URL variants
+
+The runner runs each instrumented demo under a matrix of base URL variants defined in `scripts/permutation-check.ts`:
+
+| Variant | URL suffix |
+|---------|------------|
+| `ltr` | `` (no params) |
+| `rtl` | `?perm.dir=rtl` |
+
+Per-component axes (`?perm.open=true`, `?perm.variant=alertdialog`, `?perm.value=tab-2`) are NOT enumerated by the runner yet — they're just defaults the demo honours when the URL provides them. Adding them to the matrix is a v3 task (the runner would read the morfo's `states` + `data.values` to generate the cartesian product).
+
+### `[initial seed]` step
+
+At each URL variant, the runner validates morfo BEFORE running any click step. That validation appears in the log as `[initial seed]` and catches morfo drift that exists at the URL-seeded state — exactly the gap a click-only cycle can't reach.
+
+---
+
 ## Roadmap
 
-- **v1 (current)** — click-based state transitions, morfo re-validation after each step.
-- **v2** — URL-param-driven state injection (`?perm=open,dir=rtl,disabled`) so headless permutations don't need a click sequence.
-- **v3** — derive the permutation set automatically from the morfo's `states` and `data` enum values; no per-demo instrumentation needed for the baseline cycles.
+- **v1 (shipped 2026-04-22)** — click-based state transitions, morfo re-validation after each step.
+- **v2 (shipped 2026-04-22)** — URL-seeded initial state, universal axes (`dir`, `locale`), `[initial seed]` validation step before clicks. Demo layout reads `?perm.*` params, demos seed initial `$state` from them.
+- **v3** — derive the per-component axis matrix automatically from the morfo's `states` and `data.values`. No per-demo instrumentation needed for the baseline cycles; the runner generates `?perm.X=Y` URLs from the morfo itself.
 - **v4** — integrate with `MutationObserver` to validate `data-last-action` / `data-state` ordering for Sema.
 
-The convention (`data-perm-step` / `data-perm-mode`) is forward-compatible: v2+ infrastructure adds alternative drivers without invalidating v1 annotations.
+The convention (`data-perm-step` / `data-perm-mode` / `perm.X=Y`) is forward-compatible: v3+ infrastructure adds automation without invalidating v1/v2 annotations.
 
 ---