# CT.M1 — ContentValidationPipeline

## Summary

| Field | Value |
|--------|--------|
| **Module ID** | CT.M1 |
| **Track** | [Content tooling — internal authoring](../tooling/internal_authoring.md) (cross-cutting; not E1–E9) |
| **Stage target** | Prototype |
| **Status** | Planned (see [dependency register](module_dependency_register.md)) |

## Purpose

Own **content schema artifacts**, **automated validation** in CI and locally, and (when wired) **server-side smoke loading** so file-backed catalogs cannot drift from enforced contracts.

## Responsibilities

- Publish and version **JSON Schema** (or agreed equivalent) for catalogs consumed by **E2.M1**, **E3.M2–M3**, **E4.M1**, **E7.M1**.
- Run **structural** and **cross-reference** validation before merge; expose the same rules to **CT.M2**.
- Optional: **C#** deserialize test or boot check aligned with `ContentCatalogRegistry` (or successor).

## Key contracts

| Contract | Role |
|----------|------|
| Content schema files | `$id` + versioning per [contracts.md](contracts.md) |
| Validation CLI | Stable exit codes and machine-readable errors for CI and studio |

## Module dependencies

- **Soft:** Gameplay modules above must define or stabilize the **shapes** being validated; pipeline can ship **minimal** schemas first.

## Dependents (by design)

- **CT.M2** — AuthoringStudioApplication
- **CT.M3** — ContentReferenceAndBundleWorkflows

## Related implementation slices

Content tooling **Slice 1** — schemas + CI; **Slice 4** — server parity hardening.

## Source anchors

- Plan: [`internal-content-authoring.md`](../../plans/internal-content-authoring.md)
- [Module dependency register](module_dependency_register.md)