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+# Code review — NEO-66 server recipe catalog load (fail-fast)
+
+**Date:** 2026-05-24  
+**Scope:** Branch `NEO-66-e3m2-server-recipe-catalog-load-fail-fast` · commits `ccf4cf8`–`f209636` vs `origin/main`  
+**Base:** `origin/main`
+
+## Verdict
+
+**Approve with nits**
+
+## Summary
+
+NEO-66 delivers **E3M2-02**: fail-fast startup load of `content/recipes/*_recipes.json` under `server/NeonSprawl.Server/Game/Crafting/`, mirroring the NEO-51 item-catalog pattern. The loader validates Draft 2020-12 schemas (with `$ref` registration for I/O rows), cross-checks `itemId` / `requiredSkillId` against already-loaded item and skill catalogs, enforces the frozen Slice 3 eight-recipe gate (`PrototypeSlice3RecipeCatalogRules`), registers `RecipeDefinitionCatalog` in DI, and eagerly resolves it in `Program.cs`. Fourteen AAA loader/host tests pass; docs (plan, E3M2 backlog, E3.M2 snapshot, alignment register, `server/README.md`) are updated. Bruno adds a health smoke request for post-boot verification. No client or HTTP recipe API — correctly deferred to NEO-67+. Risk is low: infrastructure-only, CI already gates content; main residual risk is test-factory path pinning consistency across parallel host boots.
+
+## Documentation checked
+
+| Document | Result |
+|----------|--------|
+| [`docs/plans/NEO-66-implementation-plan.md`](../plans/NEO-66-implementation-plan.md) | **Matches** — loader, catalog, path resolution, Slice 3 rules, DI, `Program.cs`, tests, doc touches; acceptance checklist complete; `IRecipeDefinitionRegistry` correctly out of scope. |
+| [`docs/plans/E3M2-prototype-backlog.md`](../plans/E3M2-prototype-backlog.md) | **Matches** — E3M2-02 checkboxes + landed note. |
+| [`docs/decomposition/modules/E3_M2_RefinementAndRecipeExecution.md`](../decomposition/modules/E3_M2_RefinementAndRecipeExecution.md) | **Matches** — implementation snapshot references NEO-66 load; freeze table and CI rules unchanged. |
+| [`docs/decomposition/modules/documentation_and_implementation_alignment.md`](../decomposition/modules/documentation_and_implementation_alignment.md) | **Matches** — E3.M2 row updated with NEO-66 landed note; next backlog item NEO-67. |
+| [`docs/decomposition/modules/module_dependency_register.md`](../decomposition/modules/module_dependency_register.md) | **Partially matches** — table **Status** still **Planned** for E3.M2 (same pattern as post–NEO-65); optional bump when Slice 3 server spine completes. |
+| [`docs/decomposition/modules/client_server_authority.md`](../decomposition/modules/client_server_authority.md) | **N/A** — server startup catalog only; no client mutation. |
+| [`scripts/validate_content.py`](../../scripts/validate_content.py) | **Matches** — C# gate mirrors `_validate_recipe_catalogs` + `_prototype_slice3_recipe_gate`; sync comments on `PrototypeSlice3RecipeCatalogRules`. |
+| [`server/README.md`](../../server/README.md) | **Matches** — Recipe catalog section (config keys, discovery, fail-fast, Slice 3 parity). |
+| Manual QA | **N/A** — plan defers to automated loader/host tests + Bruno health smoke (same pattern as NEO-51); no player-visible HTTP. Consider one-line skip rationale in plan **Tests** section per [planning-implementation-docs](../../.cursor/rules/planning-implementation-docs.md). |
+
+Register/tracking: alignment table E3.M2 **In Progress** with NEO-66 note is correct.
+
+## Blocking issues
+
+None.
+
+## Suggestions
+
+1. **Pin `Content:RecipesDirectory` in other test factories** — `InMemoryWebApplicationFactory` pins recipes (per plan). Also pin in `PostgresWebApplicationFactory`, `MissionRewardDeniedRegistryWebApplicationFactory`, and `RefineActivityDeniedRegistryWebApplicationFactory` (and any future host factories) so CI never depends on ancestor discovery alone when layout differs. `SalvageActivityDeniedRegistryWebApplicationFactory` already pins items/resource-nodes; add recipes there too for symmetry.
+
+2. **Loader test gaps vs plan test table** — Add AAA cases for: empty recipes directory (no `*_recipes.json`), invalid JSON file, unknown `itemId` in **outputs** (inputs covered). Low risk given CI + existing coverage, but closes the plan’s enumerated failure modes.
+
+3. **Plan Tests section — manual QA skip note** — Add one line stating manual QA is skipped because acceptance is fully covered by unit/host tests + Bruno health (per planning-implementation-docs).
+
+## Nits
+
+- Nit: `SchemaRegistry.Global.Register` in `RecipeDefinitionCatalogLoader` mutates process-global state; acceptable for startup load, but parallel test runs share the registry (same as any future multi-catalog `$ref` loaders).
+
+- Nit: `ValidPrototypeCatalogJson` duplicates `content/recipes/prototype_recipes.json` inline — fine for isolated temp-dir fixtures; optional future refactor to read/copy repo file.
+
+- Nit: Full `dotnet test` suite showed occasional parallel host-boot flakes (unrelated tests pass in isolation); not introduced by recipe tests specifically, but extra eager catalog resolve adds startup work — watch CI if flakes increase.
+
+## Verification
+
+```bash
+cd /home/don/neon-sprawl/server
+dotnet test NeonSprawl.Server.Tests/NeonSprawl.Server.Tests.csproj --filter "FullyQualifiedName~RecipeDefinitionCatalogLoaderTests"
+dotnet test NeonSprawl.Server.Tests/NeonSprawl.Server.Tests.csproj
+```
+
+Manual (optional):
+
+- Start server from repo root; confirm Information log: recipe count **8**, catalog directory, file count **1**.
+- Bruno: `bruno/neon-sprawl-server/recipe-catalog/Health after recipe catalog load.bru` → 200 + `service: NeonSprawl.Server`.
+- Negative: set `Content__RecipesDirectory` to an empty temp dir → startup fails with `Recipe catalog validation failed:`.