diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 11ef11f..af62c5f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Build output
 /build/
 /out/
+
+# Staged distribution artifacts (scripts/build-*.sh output)
+/dist/
 *.o
 *.obj
 *.a
diff --git a/scripts/build-all.sh b/scripts/build-all.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2fe865e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-all.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# build-all.sh — build every artifact this host can produce and stage it under
+# dist/. Convenience wrapper over the per-artifact scripts in scripts/.
+#
+# On macOS:   server + libs (macOS slice + xcframework) + macos-client (.app)
+# On Windows: server + libs (windows DLL) + windows-client (.exe folder)
+# On Linux:   server only (no native client presets target Linux)
+#
+# Usage:
+#   scripts/build-all.sh                  # build everything host can, into ./dist
+#   scripts/build-all.sh --dist /out
+#   scripts/build-all.sh --no-configure   # passed through to each step
+#   scripts/build-all.sh --skip-client    # skip the GUI client(s)
+#   scripts/build-all.sh --skip-libs      # skip the library artifacts
+#   scripts/build-all.sh --skip-server    # skip the server
+#   scripts/build-all.sh -h|--help
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VC_SCRIPT_NAME="build-all"
+source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
+
+PASS_ARGS=()
+SKIP_CLIENT=false
+SKIP_LIBS=false
+SKIP_SERVER=false
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --dist)         PASS_ARGS+=( --dist "$2" ); vc_set_dist "$2"; shift 2 ;;
+        --no-configure) PASS_ARGS+=( --no-configure ); shift ;;
+        --skip-client)  SKIP_CLIENT=true; shift ;;
+        --skip-libs)    SKIP_LIBS=true; shift ;;
+        --skip-server)  SKIP_SERVER=true; shift ;;
+        -h|--help)      vc_print_help "$0"; exit 0 ;;
+        *) vc_die "unknown arg: $1 (try --help)" ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+HOST="$(vc_host_os)"
+vc_log "host: $HOST   dist: $VC_DIST_DIR"
+
+run() {
+    local name="$1"; shift
+    vc_step "→ $name $*"
+    "$SCRIPT_DIR/$name" "$@" "${PASS_ARGS[@]}"
+}
+
+if ! $SKIP_SERVER; then
+    run build-server.sh
+fi
+
+if ! $SKIP_LIBS; then
+    if [[ "$HOST" == "macos" ]]; then
+        run build-libs.sh --platform macos
+    elif [[ "$HOST" == "windows" ]]; then
+        run build-libs.sh --platform windows
+    fi
+fi
+
+if ! $SKIP_CLIENT; then
+    if [[ "$HOST" == "macos" ]]; then
+        run build-macos-client.sh
+    elif [[ "$HOST" == "windows" ]]; then
+        run build-windows-client.sh
+    fi
+fi
+
+vc_ok "all done -> $VC_DIST_DIR"
+vc_log "contents:"
+( cd "$VC_DIST_DIR" && find . -maxdepth 3 | sort | sed 's/^/    /' ) || true
diff --git a/scripts/build-libs.sh b/scripts/build-libs.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5001a0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-libs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# build-libs.sh — build libvoicecat for each supported client platform and
+# stage the artifacts under dist/lib/.
+#
+# Artifacts per platform:
+#   macos       → dist/lib/macos/        libvoicecat.a + libvoicecat-fat.a + voicecat.h + module.modulemap
+#   ios         → dist/lib/ios-device/   (arm64-ios slice)
+#   ios-sim     → dist/lib/ios-sim/      (arm64-ios-sim slice)
+#   windows     → dist/lib/windows/      voicecat.dll + voicecat.h
+#   xcframework → dist/lib/VoiceCatCore.xcframework/   (stitched Apple slices)
+#
+# The Apple slices + XCFramework are produced by clients/apple/scripts/
+# build-xcframework.sh (the validated flow); this script drives it and stages
+# the outputs. The Windows DLL comes from the `windows-client` preset.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh                       # host default (macos on macOS, windows on Windows)
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --platform macos
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --platform ios
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --platform ios-sim
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --platform windows
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --all-apple           # macos + ios + ios-sim + xcframework (macOS host)
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --all                 # everything buildable on this host
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh --dist /out --no-configure
+#   scripts/build-libs.sh -h|--help
+#
+# Platform availability: macos / ios / ios-sim require a macOS host; windows
+# requires a Windows host. Requires VCPKG_ROOT.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VC_SCRIPT_NAME="build-libs"
+source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
+
+PLATFORMS=()
+DO_CONFIGURE=true
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --dist)         vc_set_dist "$2"; shift 2 ;;
+        --no-configure) DO_CONFIGURE=false; shift ;;
+        --platform)     PLATFORMS+=( "$2" ); shift 2 ;;
+        --all-apple)    PLATFORMs_all_apple=1; shift ;;
+        --all)          PLATFORMS=( all-host ); shift ;;
+        -h|--help)      vc_print_help "$0"; exit 0 ;;
+        *) vc_die "unknown arg: $1 (try --help)" ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+HOST="$(vc_host_os)"
+
+# --all-apple expands to the three Apple platforms.
+if [[ -n "${PLATFORMs_all_apple:-}" ]]; then
+    PLATFORMS=( macos ios ios-sim )
+fi
+
+# Default: host-appropriate single platform.
+if [[ ${#PLATFORMS[@]} -eq 0 ]]; then
+    case "$HOST" in
+        macos)   PLATFORMS=( macos ) ;;
+        windows) PLATFORMS=( windows ) ;;
+        *) vc_die "no default library platform for host '$HOST'. Pass --platform explicitly." ;;
+    esac
+fi
+
+# Expand the meta-target.
+if [[ " ${PLATFORMS[*]} " == *" all-host "* ]]; then
+    PLATFORMS=()
+    case "$HOST" in
+        macos)   PLATFORMS=( macos ios ios-sim ) ;;
+        windows) PLATFORMS=( windows ) ;;
+        *) vc_die "--all: nothing buildable on host '$HOST'." ;;
+    esac
+fi
+
+vc_log "dist dir: $VC_DIST_DIR"
+vc_log "platforms: ${PLATFORMS[*]}"
+
+# Validate platform availability against host.
+for p in "${PLATFORMS[@]}"; do
+    case "$p" in
+        macos|ios|ios-sim) [[ "$HOST" == "macos" ]]   || vc_die "platform '$p' requires a macOS host." ;;
+        windows)           [[ "$HOST" == "windows" ]] || vc_die "platform '$p' requires a Windows host." ;;
+        *) vc_die "unknown platform '$p' (try --help)" ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+HAVE_APPLE=false
+HAVE_WINDOWS=false
+for p in "${PLATFORMS[@]}"; do
+    case "$p" in
+        macos|ios|ios-sim) HAVE_APPLE=true ;;
+        windows)           HAVE_WINDOWS=true ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+# ── Apple slices + XCFramework ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Stage one slice's .a + headers + module map into dist/lib/<sub>.
+stage_apple_slice() {
+    local preset="$1" sub="$2"
+    local lib="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/$preset/lib/libvoicecat.a"
+    local fat="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/$preset/lib/libvoicecat-fat.a"
+    local out; out="$(vc_dist_subdir "lib/$sub")"
+    [[ -f "$lib" ]] || vc_die "expected $lib not found (did the xcframework build run?)"
+    cp "$lib" "$out/"
+    [[ -f "$fat" ]] && cp "$fat" "$out/" || true
+    cp "$VC_REPO_ROOT/core/include/voicecat.h" "$out/"
+    cat > "$out/module.modulemap" <<'MM'
+module VoiceCatC {
+    header "voicecat.h"
+    export *
+}
+MM
+    vc_ok "$sub: libvoicecat.a ($(vc_file_size "$lib") bytes) -> $out"
+}
+
+if $HAVE_APPLE; then
+    vc_resolve_vcpkg_root apple-dev
+    vc_step "build Apple slices via build-xcframework.sh"
+
+    ALL_THREE=false
+    if [[ " ${PLATFORMS[*]} " == *" macos "* && " ${PLATFORMS[*]} " == *" ios "* && " ${PLATFORMS[*]} " == *" ios-sim "* ]]; then
+        ALL_THREE=true
+    fi
+
+    xcfw_invoke() {
+        local args=()
+        $DO_CONFIGURE || args+=( --no-configure )
+        args+=( "$@" )
+        "$VC_REPO_ROOT/clients/apple/scripts/build-xcframework.sh" "${args[@]}"
+    }
+
+    if $ALL_THREE; then
+        xcfw_invoke --all
+        stage_apple_slice apple-dev       macos
+        stage_apple_slice apple-ios       ios-device
+        stage_apple_slice apple-ios-sim   ios-sim
+    else
+        for p in "${PLATFORMS[@]}"; do
+            case "$p" in
+                macos)   xcfw_invoke --preset apple-dev;     stage_apple_slice apple-dev     macos ;;
+                ios)     xcfw_invoke --preset apple-ios;     stage_apple_slice apple-ios     ios-device ;;
+                ios-sim) xcfw_invoke --preset apple-ios-sim; stage_apple_slice apple-ios-sim ios-sim ;;
+            esac
+        done
+    fi
+
+    # Stage the stitched XCFramework (whatever slices the last call produced).
+    XCFW="$VC_REPO_ROOT/clients/apple/VoiceCatCore.xcframework"
+    [[ -d "$XCFW" ]] || vc_die "xcframework not found at $XCFW"
+    LIB_DIR="$VC_DIST_DIR/lib"
+    mkdir -p "$LIB_DIR"
+    rm -rf "$LIB_DIR/VoiceCatCore.xcframework"
+    cp -R "$XCFW" "$LIB_DIR/"
+    vc_ok "VoiceCatCore.xcframework -> $LIB_DIR/"
+fi
+
+# ── Windows DLL ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+if $HAVE_WINDOWS; then
+    vc_resolve_vcpkg_root windows-client
+    vc_step "build Windows DLL (preset: windows-client)"
+    if $DO_CONFIGURE; then
+        cmake --preset windows-client
+    fi
+    cmake --build --preset windows-client
+    DLL="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/windows-client/bin/voicecat.dll"
+    [[ -f "$DLL" ]] || vc_die "expected $DLL not found"
+    OUT="$(vc_dist_subdir lib/windows)"
+    cp "$DLL" "$OUT/"
+    cp "$VC_REPO_ROOT/core/include/voicecat.h" "$OUT/"
+    vc_ok "windows: voicecat.dll ($(vc_file_size "$DLL") bytes) -> $OUT"
+fi
+
+vc_ok "done -> $VC_DIST_DIR/lib"
diff --git a/scripts/build-macos-client.sh b/scripts/build-macos-client.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f724b03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-macos-client.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# build-macos-client.sh — build the macOS AppKit client (VoiceCatMac.app) and
+# stage it into dist/macos-client/.
+#
+# Two steps:
+#   1. Build VoiceCatCore.xcframework (macOS slice) by invoking the existing
+#      clients/apple/scripts/build-xcframework.sh — that builds libvoicecat.a
+#      (apple-dev preset), merges vcpkg deps into a fat .a, and stitches the
+#      XCFramework the Swift Package consumes.
+#   2. xcodebuild the VoiceCatMac scheme into a known derivedDataPath, then
+#      copy VoiceCatMac.app into dist/macos-client/.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   scripts/build-macos-client.sh              # build + stage into ./dist/macos-client
+#   scripts/build-macos-client.sh --dist /out
+#   scripts/build-macos-client.sh --no-configure   # skip cmake configure (xcframework step)
+#   scripts/build-macos-client.sh --config Debug   # Xcode build config (default Release)
+#   scripts/build-macos-client.sh -h|--help
+#
+# macOS only. Requires VCPKG_ROOT and Xcode.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VC_SCRIPT_NAME="build-macos-client"
+source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
+
+DO_CONFIGURE=true
+XCODE_CONFIG="Release"
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --dist)         vc_set_dist "$2"; shift 2 ;;
+        --no-configure) DO_CONFIGURE=false; shift ;;
+        --config)       XCODE_CONFIG="$2"; shift 2 ;;
+        -h|--help)      vc_print_help "$0"; exit 0 ;;
+        *) vc_die "unknown arg: $1 (try --help)" ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+vc_require_macos
+vc_log "dist dir: $VC_DIST_DIR"
+
+vc_step "build VoiceCatCore.xcframework (macOS slice)"
+XCFW_ARGS=()
+$DO_CONFIGURE || XCFW_ARGS+=( --no-configure )
+"$VC_REPO_ROOT/clients/apple/scripts/build-xcframework.sh" "${XCFW_ARGS[@]}"
+XCFW="$VC_REPO_ROOT/clients/apple/VoiceCatCore.xcframework"
+[[ -d "$XCFW" ]] || vc_die "xcframework not found at $XCFW"
+vc_ok "xcframework ready -> $XCFW"
+
+vc_step "xcodebuild VoiceCatMac ($XCODE_CONFIG)"
+XCODEPROJ="$VC_REPO_ROOT/clients/apple/macOS/VoiceCatMac.xcodeproj"
+DERIVED="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/macos-app"
+xcodebuild -project "$XCODEPROJ" -scheme VoiceCatMac \
+    -configuration "$XCODE_CONFIG" -derivedDataPath "$DERIVED" build
+
+APP="$DERIVED/Build/Products/$XCODE_CONFIG/VoiceCatMac.app"
+[[ -d "$APP" ]] || vc_die "VoiceCatMac.app not found at $APP"
+vc_ok "built -> $APP"
+
+vc_step "stage -> $VC_DIST_DIR/macos-client"
+STAGE="$(vc_dist_subdir macos-client)"
+cp -R "$APP" "$STAGE/"
+vc_ok "VoiceCatMac.app -> $STAGE/ ($(du -sh "$APP" | cut -f1))"
+vc_ok "done -> $STAGE"
diff --git a/scripts/build-server.sh b/scripts/build-server.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4715398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-server.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# build-server.sh — build the production-shaped voicecat-server (+ voicecat-admin)
+# and stage the binaries into dist/server/.
+#
+# Uses the `server-release` CMake preset (Release, stripped, no tests — see
+# docs/building.md §5). Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS; the vcpkg triplet
+# is auto-resolved by cmake/voicecat-toolchain.cmake.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   scripts/build-server.sh                  # build + stage into ./dist/server
+#   scripts/build-server.sh --dist /out      # stage into /out/server
+#   scripts/build-server.sh --no-configure   # skip cmake configure, just rebuild + stage
+#   scripts/build-server.sh -h|--help        # show this help
+#
+# Override the default dist dir (<repo>/dist) with --dist or VOICECAT_DIST_DIR.
+# Requires VCPKG_ROOT (or a pre-configured build/server-release cache).
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VC_SCRIPT_NAME="build-server"
+source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
+
+DO_CONFIGURE=true
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --dist)         vc_set_dist "$2"; shift 2 ;;
+        --no-configure) DO_CONFIGURE=false; shift ;;
+        -h|--help)      vc_print_help "$0"; exit 0 ;;
+        *) vc_die "unknown arg: $1 (try --help)" ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+vc_log "dist dir: $VC_DIST_DIR"
+vc_resolve_vcpkg_root server-release
+
+vc_step "configure + build (preset: server-release)"
+if $DO_CONFIGURE; then
+    cmake --preset server-release
+fi
+cmake --build --preset server-release
+
+BIN_DIR="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/server-release/bin"
+EXE_EXT=""
+[[ "$(vc_host_os)" == "windows" ]] && EXE_EXT=".exe"
+
+vc_log "staging binaries -> $VC_DIST_DIR/server"
+STAGE="$(vc_dist_subdir server)"
+
+for b in voicecat-server voicecat-admin; do
+    f="$BIN_DIR/$b$EXE_EXT"
+    if [[ ! -f "$f" ]]; then
+        # voicecat-admin only builds when vcpkg deps are on (server-release has
+        # them on), so it should exist — but be lenient about admin on odd configs.
+        [[ "$b" == "voicecat-admin" ]] && { vc_log "note: $b not found, skipping"; continue; }
+        vc_die "expected output not found: $f"
+    fi
+    cp "$f" "$STAGE/"
+    vc_ok "$b$EXE_EXT -> $STAGE/$(basename "$f") ($(vc_file_size "$f") bytes)"
+done
+
+vc_ok "done -> $STAGE"
diff --git a/scripts/build-windows-client.sh b/scripts/build-windows-client.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9733228
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-windows-client.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# build-windows-client.sh — build the Windows WinForms client and stage a
+# runnable folder into dist/windows-client/.
+#
+# Two steps:
+#   1. Build the native voicecat.dll via the `windows-client` CMake preset
+#      (MinGW, static runtime — no libgcc_s_seh-1.dll / libstdc++-6.dll deps).
+#   2. `dotnet publish` the C# app (clients/windows/VoiceCat.App). The app's
+#      Directory.Build.props copies voicecat.dll into the output automatically.
+#
+# The staged folder contains VoiceCat.App.exe + voicecat.dll + all .NET deps,
+# ready to run. By default it is framework-dependent (needs the .NET 10 runtime
+# installed); pass --self-contained for a folder that runs without .NET.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   scripts/build-windows-client.sh                # build + stage into ./dist/windows-client
+#   scripts/build-windows-client.sh --dist /out
+#   scripts/build-windows-client.sh --no-configure # skip cmake configure (DLL step)
+#   scripts/build-windows-client.sh --self-contained
+#   scripts/build-windows-client.sh -h|--help
+#
+# Windows only (MSYS2/MinGW). Requires VCPKG_ROOT and the .NET 10 SDK.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VC_SCRIPT_NAME="build-windows-client"
+source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
+
+DO_CONFIGURE=true
+SELF_CONTAINED=false
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --dist)           vc_set_dist "$2"; shift 2 ;;
+        --no-configure)   DO_CONFIGURE=false; shift ;;
+        --self-contained) SELF_CONTAINED=true; shift ;;
+        -h|--help)        vc_print_help "$0"; exit 0 ;;
+        *) vc_die "unknown arg: $1 (try --help)" ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+vc_require_windows
+vc_log "dist dir: $VC_DIST_DIR"
+vc_resolve_vcpkg_root windows-client
+
+vc_step "build native DLL (preset: windows-client)"
+if $DO_CONFIGURE; then
+    cmake --preset windows-client
+fi
+cmake --build --preset windows-client
+DLL="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/windows-client/bin/voicecat.dll"
+[[ -f "$DLL" ]] || vc_die "expected output not found: $DLL"
+vc_ok "voicecat.dll -> $DLL ($(vc_file_size "$DLL") bytes)"
+
+vc_step "publish C# app (dotnet publish)"
+APP_PROJ="$VC_REPO_ROOT/clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/VoiceCat.App.csproj"
+PUBLISH_DIR="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/windows-client/publish"
+rm -rf "$PUBLISH_DIR"
+mkdir -p "$PUBLISH_DIR"
+
+PUBLISH_ARGS=(dotnet publish "$APP_PROJ" -c Release -o "$PUBLISH_DIR")
+if $SELF_CONTAINED; then
+    PUBLISH_ARGS+=( -r win-x64 --self-contained true )
+fi
+"${PUBLISH_ARGS[@]}"
+APP_EXE="$PUBLISH_DIR/VoiceCat.App.exe"
+[[ -f "$APP_EXE" ]] || vc_die "publish output missing VoiceCat.App.exe in $PUBLISH_DIR"
+
+vc_step "stage -> $VC_DIST_DIR/windows-client"
+STAGE="$(vc_dist_subdir windows-client)"
+cp -R "$PUBLISH_DIR/." "$STAGE/"
+vc_ok "VoiceCat.App.exe + deps -> $STAGE (voicecat.dll included)"
+vc_ok "done -> $STAGE"
diff --git a/scripts/common.sh b/scripts/common.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f1170f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/common.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# common.sh — shared helpers for the scripts/ build scripts.
+#
+# Source this from the other scripts/ build scripts (after setting SCRIPT_DIR):
+#
+#   SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+#   VC_SCRIPT_NAME="build-foo"   # optional, for nicer log prefixes
+#   source "$SCRIPT_DIR/common.sh"
+#
+# What it provides:
+#   - repo-root + dist-dir resolution (default <repo>/dist; override with
+#     --dist <path> via vc_set_dist, or the VOICECAT_DIST_DIR env var).
+#   - VCPKG_ROOT detection (env var first, then an existing CMake cache).
+#   - host-platform guards (vc_require_macos / vc_require_windows / vc_host_os).
+#   - uniform [tag] logging + a portable file-size helper.
+#   - vc_dist_subdir <name>: create (clean) and echo $DIST/<name>.
+#   - vc_print_help <file>: print a script's leading "# " comment block as the
+#     --help text (so each script's header comment IS its help).
+#
+# Not meant to be run directly.
+
+# This file lives in scripts/, so the repo root is one level up.
+VC_SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+VC_REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$VC_SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+
+# Display name for log lines (defaults to the caller's filename).
+VC_SCRIPT_NAME="${VC_SCRIPT_NAME:-$(basename "${BASH_SOURCE[1]:-$0}")}"
+
+# Dist dir — env override resolved here; --dist updates it via vc_set_dist.
+VC_DIST_DIR="${VOICECAT_DIST_DIR:-$VC_REPO_ROOT/dist}"
+
+# ── Logging ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+vc_log()  { printf '\033[1;34m[%s]\033[0m %s\n' "$VC_SCRIPT_NAME" "$*"; }
+vc_step() { printf '\033[1;36m[%s] === %s ===\033[0m\n' "$VC_SCRIPT_NAME" "$*"; }
+vc_ok()   { printf '\033[1;32m[%s]\033[0m %s\n' "$VC_SCRIPT_NAME" "$*"; }
+vc_err()  { printf '\033[1;31m[%s] error:\033[0m %s\n' "$VC_SCRIPT_NAME" "$*" >&2; }
+vc_die()  { vc_err "$*"; exit 1; }
+
+# Portable file size (macOS `stat -f%z` vs coreutils `stat -c%s`).
+vc_file_size() {
+    stat -f%z "$1" 2>/dev/null || stat -c%s "$1" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+# ── Dist dir ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Set/override the dist directory (called when a script sees --dist <path>).
+vc_set_dist() {
+    VC_DIST_DIR="$1"
+    mkdir -p "$VC_DIST_DIR"
+}
+
+# Create (clean) and echo a subdirectory under dist/.
+vc_dist_subdir() {
+    local path="$VC_DIST_DIR/$1"
+    rm -rf "$path"
+    mkdir -p "$path"
+    echo "$path"
+}
+
+# ── Platform helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+vc_host_os() {
+    case "$(uname -s)" in
+        Darwin)             echo macos ;;
+        MINGW*|MSYS*|CYGWIN*) echo windows ;;
+        Linux)              echo linux ;;
+        *)                  echo unknown ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+vc_require_macos() {
+    [[ "$(uname -s)" == "Darwin" ]] \
+        || vc_die "this script must be run on macOS (uname -s = $(uname -s))."
+}
+
+vc_require_windows() {
+    local s; s="$(uname -s)"
+    [[ "$s" == MINGW* || "$s" == MSYS* || "$s" == CYGWIN* ]] \
+        || vc_die "this script must be run on Windows (MSYS2/MinGW). uname -s = $s."
+}
+
+# ── VCPKG_ROOT ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Honor the env var, else try to read it from an existing CMake cache
+# (Z_VCPKG_ROOT_DIR) so a developer who already configured a preset doesn't need
+# VCPKG_ROOT in their shell env. $1 = the preset whose cache to probe as a
+# fallback (e.g. "dev" or "apple-dev").
+vc_resolve_vcpkg_root() {
+    local fallback_preset="${1:-dev}"
+    if [[ -z "${VCPKG_ROOT:-}" ]]; then
+        local cache="$VC_REPO_ROOT/build/$fallback_preset/CMakeCache.txt"
+        if [[ -f "$cache" ]]; then
+            local detected
+            detected="$(grep -m1 '^Z_VCPKG_ROOT_DIR:INTERNAL=' "$cache" | cut -d= -f2- || true)"
+            if [[ -n "$detected" && -d "$detected" ]]; then
+                export VCPKG_ROOT="$detected"
+            fi
+        fi
+    fi
+    if [[ -z "${VCPKG_ROOT:-}" || ! -d "$VCPKG_ROOT" ]]; then
+        vc_die "VCPKG_ROOT is not set or does not exist.
+       bootstrap vcpkg (https://vcpkg.io) then:
+         export VCPKG_ROOT=/path/to/vcpkg"
+    fi
+    vc_log "VCPKG_ROOT=$VCPKG_ROOT"
+}
+
+# ── Help ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Print a script's leading "# " comment block (skipping the shebang) as help.
+vc_print_help() {
+    awk 'NR==1{next} /^#[[:space:]]?/{sub(/^#[[:space:]]?/,""); print; next} {exit}' "$1"
+}