diff --git a/hosts/ocaml/bootstrap_render.py b/hosts/ocaml/bootstrap_render.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fc9ef4f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/ocaml/bootstrap_render.py
@@ -0,0 +1,480 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Bootstrap the SX HTML renderer to native OCaml.
+
+Reads spec/render.sx (helpers) and web/adapter-html.sx (dispatch),
+combines them, and transpiles to sx_render.ml.
+
+Performance-critical functions (escape_html, render_attrs) are provided
+as native OCaml in the PREAMBLE. Web-specific renderers (lake, marsh,
+island) are appended in FIXUPS.
+
+Usage:
+    python3 hosts/ocaml/bootstrap_render.py
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+_HERE = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+_PROJECT = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(_HERE, "..", ".."))
+sys.path.insert(0, _PROJECT)
+
+from shared.sx.parser import parse_all, serialize
+from shared.sx.types import Symbol, Keyword
+
+
+def extract_defines(source: str) -> list[tuple[str, list]]:
+    """Parse .sx source, return list of (name, define-expr) for top-level defines."""
+    exprs = parse_all(source)
+    defines = []
+    for expr in exprs:
+        if isinstance(expr, list) and expr and isinstance(expr[0], Symbol):
+            if expr[0].name == "define":
+                name = expr[1].name if isinstance(expr[1], Symbol) else str(expr[1])
+                defines.append((name, expr))
+    return defines
+
+
+def strip_type_annotations(expr):
+    """Recursively strip :as type annotations from param lists.
+    Transforms (name :as type) → name in function parameter positions."""
+    if isinstance(expr, list):
+        # Check if this is a typed param: (name :as type)
+        if (len(expr) == 3 and isinstance(expr[0], Symbol)
+                and isinstance(expr[1], Keyword) and expr[1].name == "as"):
+            return expr[0]  # just the name
+
+        # Check for param list patterns — list where first element is a symbol
+        # and contains :as keywords
+        new = []
+        for item in expr:
+            new.append(strip_type_annotations(item))
+        return new
+    return expr
+
+
+PREAMBLE = """\
+(* sx_render.ml — Auto-generated from spec/render.sx + web/adapter-html.sx *)
+(* Do not edit — regenerate with: python3 hosts/ocaml/bootstrap_render.py *)
+
+[@@@warning "-26-27"]
+
+open Sx_types
+open Sx_runtime
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Platform bindings — native OCaml for performance and type access        *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let eval_expr expr env = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr env
+let cond_scheme_p = Sx_ref.cond_scheme_p
+
+(* Primitive wrappers needed as direct OCaml functions *)
+let raw_html_content v = match v with RawHTML s -> String s | _ -> String ""
+let make_raw_html v = match v with String s -> RawHTML s | _ -> Nil
+let scope_emit v1 v2 = prim_call "scope-emit!" [v1; v2]
+let init v = prim_call "init" [v]
+let dict_has a b = prim_call "dict-has?" [a; b]
+let dict_get a b = prim_call "dict-get" [a; b]
+let is_component v = prim_call "component?" [v]
+let is_island v = prim_call "island?" [v]
+let is_macro v = prim_call "macro?" [v]
+let is_lambda v = prim_call "lambda?" [v]
+let is_nil v = prim_call "nil?" [v]
+
+(* Forward refs for web-specific renderers — set in FIXUPS or by caller *)
+let render_html_lake_ref : (value -> value -> value) ref = ref (fun _ _ -> String "")
+let render_html_marsh_ref : (value -> value -> value) ref = ref (fun _ _ -> String "")
+let render_html_island_ref : (value -> value -> value -> value) ref = ref (fun _ _ _ -> String "")
+
+let render_html_lake args env = !render_html_lake_ref args env
+let render_html_marsh args env = !render_html_marsh_ref args env
+let render_html_island comp args env = !render_html_island_ref comp args env
+let cek_call = Sx_ref.cek_call
+
+let trampoline v = match v with
+  | Thunk (expr, env) -> Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env env)
+  | other -> other
+
+let expand_macro m args_val _env = match m with
+  | Macro mac ->
+    let args = match args_val with List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> l | _ -> [] in
+    let local = env_extend (Env mac.m_closure) in
+    let rec bind_params ps as' = match ps, as' with
+      | [], rest ->
+        (match mac.m_rest_param with
+         | Some rp -> ignore (env_bind local (String rp) (List rest))
+         | None -> ())
+      | p :: ps_rest, a :: as_rest ->
+        ignore (env_bind local p a);
+        bind_params ps_rest as_rest
+      | _ :: _, [] ->
+        List.iter (fun p -> ignore (env_bind local p Nil)) (List.rev ps)
+    in
+    bind_params (List.map (fun p -> String p) mac.m_params) args;
+    Sx_ref.eval_expr mac.m_body local
+  | _ -> Nil
+
+(** try-catch: wraps a try body fn and catch handler fn.
+    Maps to OCaml exception handling. *)
+let try_catch try_fn catch_fn =
+  try sx_call try_fn []
+  with
+  | Eval_error msg -> sx_call catch_fn [String msg]
+  | e -> sx_call catch_fn [String (Printexc.to_string e)]
+
+(** set-render-active! — no-op on OCaml (always active). *)
+let set_render_active_b _v = Nil
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Performance-critical: native Buffer-based HTML escaping                 *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Tag registries — native string lists for callers, value Lists for SX   *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let boolean_attrs_set = [
+  "async"; "autofocus"; "autoplay"; "checked"; "controls"; "default";
+  "defer"; "disabled"; "formnovalidate"; "hidden"; "inert"; "ismap";
+  "loop"; "multiple"; "muted"; "nomodule"; "novalidate"; "open";
+  "playsinline"; "readonly"; "required"; "reversed"; "selected"
+]
+let is_boolean_attr name = List.mem name boolean_attrs_set
+
+let html_tags_list = [
+  "html"; "head"; "body"; "title"; "meta"; "link"; "script"; "style"; "noscript";
+  "header"; "nav"; "main"; "section"; "article"; "aside"; "footer";
+  "h1"; "h2"; "h3"; "h4"; "h5"; "h6"; "hgroup";
+  "div"; "p"; "blockquote"; "pre"; "figure"; "figcaption"; "address"; "hr";
+  "ul"; "ol"; "li"; "dl"; "dt"; "dd"; "menu"; "details"; "summary"; "dialog";
+  "a"; "span"; "em"; "strong"; "small"; "b"; "i"; "u"; "s"; "sub"; "sup";
+  "mark"; "abbr"; "cite"; "code"; "kbd"; "samp"; "var"; "time"; "br"; "wbr";
+  "table"; "thead"; "tbody"; "tfoot"; "tr"; "th"; "td"; "caption"; "colgroup"; "col";
+  "form"; "input"; "textarea"; "select"; "option"; "optgroup"; "button"; "label";
+  "fieldset"; "legend"; "datalist"; "output";
+  "img"; "video"; "audio"; "source"; "picture"; "canvas"; "iframe";
+  "svg"; "path"; "circle"; "rect"; "line"; "polyline"; "polygon"; "ellipse";
+  "g"; "defs"; "use"; "text"; "tspan"; "clipPath"; "mask"; "pattern";
+  "linearGradient"; "radialGradient"; "stop"; "filter";
+  "feGaussianBlur"; "feOffset"; "feBlend"; "feColorMatrix"; "feComposite";
+  "feMerge"; "feMergeNode"; "feTurbulence"; "feComponentTransfer";
+  "feFuncR"; "feFuncG"; "feFuncB"; "feFuncA"; "feDisplacementMap"; "feFlood";
+  "feImage"; "feMorphology"; "feSpecularLighting"; "feDiffuseLighting";
+  "fePointLight"; "feSpotLight"; "feDistantLight";
+  "animate"; "animateTransform"; "foreignObject"; "template"; "slot"
+]
+let html_tags = html_tags_list  (* callers expect string list *)
+let html_tags_val = List (List.map (fun s -> String s) html_tags_list)
+
+let void_elements_list = [
+  "area"; "base"; "br"; "col"; "embed"; "hr"; "img"; "input";
+  "link"; "meta"; "param"; "source"; "track"; "wbr"
+]
+let void_elements = void_elements_list  (* callers expect string list *)
+let void_elements_val = List (List.map (fun s -> String s) void_elements_list)
+
+let boolean_attrs = boolean_attrs_set  (* callers expect string list *)
+let boolean_attrs_val = List (List.map (fun s -> String s) boolean_attrs_set)
+
+(* Native escape for internal use — returns raw OCaml string *)
+let escape_html_raw s =
+  let buf = Buffer.create (String.length s) in
+  String.iter (function
+    | '&' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&"
+    | '<' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&lt;"
+    | '>' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&gt;"
+    | '"' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&quot;"
+    | c -> Buffer.add_char buf c) s;
+  Buffer.contents buf
+
+(* escape_html: native string -> string for callers *)
+let escape_html = escape_html_raw
+
+(* escape_html_val / escape_attr_val — take a value, return String value (for transpiled code) *)
+let escape_html_val v =
+  let s = match v with String s -> s | v -> value_to_string v in
+  String (escape_html_raw s)
+
+let escape_attr_val v = escape_html_val v
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Performance-critical: native attribute rendering                        *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let render_attrs attrs = match attrs with
+  | Dict d ->
+    let buf = Buffer.create 64 in
+    Hashtbl.iter (fun k v ->
+      if is_boolean_attr k then begin
+        if sx_truthy v then begin
+          Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
+          Buffer.add_string buf k
+        end
+      end else if v <> Nil then begin
+        Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
+        Buffer.add_string buf k;
+        Buffer.add_string buf "=\\"";
+        Buffer.add_string buf (escape_html_raw (value_to_string v));
+        Buffer.add_char buf '"'
+      end) d;
+    String (Buffer.contents buf)
+  | _ -> String ""
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Forward ref — used by setup_render_env and buffer renderer              *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let render_to_html_ref : (value -> value -> value) ref =
+  ref (fun _expr _env -> String "")
+
+(* scope-emitted is a prim alias *)
+let scope_emitted name = prim_call "scope-emitted" [name]
+
+(* RENDER_HTML_FORMS — list of special form names handled by dispatch-html-form *)
+let render_html_forms = List [
+  String "if"; String "when"; String "cond"; String "case";
+  String "let"; String "let*"; String "letrec";
+  String "begin"; String "do";
+  String "define"; String "defcomp"; String "defmacro"; String "defisland";
+  String "defpage"; String "defhandler"; String "defquery"; String "defaction";
+  String "defrelation"; String "deftype"; String "defeffect"; String "defstyle";
+  String "map"; String "map-indexed"; String "filter"; String "for-each";
+  String "scope"; String "provide"
+]
+
+"""
+
+
+FIXUPS = """
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Wire up forward ref                                                     *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let () = render_to_html_ref := render_to_html
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Buffer-based streaming renderer — zero intermediate string allocation   *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+(** Escape HTML directly into a buffer. *)
+let escape_html_buf buf s =
+  for i = 0 to String.length s - 1 do
+    match String.unsafe_get s i with
+    | '&' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&amp;"
+    | '<' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&lt;"
+    | '>' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&gt;"
+    | '"' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&quot;"
+    | c -> Buffer.add_char buf c
+  done
+
+let render_attrs_buf buf attrs =
+  Hashtbl.iter (fun k v ->
+    if is_boolean_attr k then begin
+      if sx_truthy v then begin
+        Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
+        Buffer.add_string buf k
+      end
+    end else if v <> Nil then begin
+      Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
+      Buffer.add_string buf k;
+      Buffer.add_string buf "=\\"";
+      escape_html_buf buf (value_to_string v);
+      Buffer.add_char buf '"'
+    end) attrs
+
+(** Render to pre-allocated buffer — delegates to transpiled render_to_html
+    and extracts the string result. *)
+let render_to_buf buf expr (env : env) =
+  match !render_to_html_ref expr (Env env) with
+  | String s -> Buffer.add_string buf s
+  | RawHTML s -> Buffer.add_string buf s
+  | v -> Buffer.add_string buf (value_to_str v)
+
+(** Public API: render to a pre-allocated buffer. *)
+let render_to_buffer buf expr env = render_to_buf buf expr env
+
+(** Convenience: render to string. *)
+let render_to_html_streaming expr (env : env) =
+  match !render_to_html_ref expr (Env env) with
+  | String s -> s
+  | RawHTML s -> s
+  | v -> value_to_str v
+
+(** The native OCaml renderer — used by sx_server when SX adapter isn't loaded. *)
+let do_render_to_html expr (env_val : value) =
+  match !render_to_html_ref expr env_val with
+  | String s -> s
+  | RawHTML s -> s
+  | v -> value_to_str v
+
+(** Render via the SX adapter (render-to-html from adapter-html.sx).
+    Falls back to the native ref if the SX adapter isn't loaded. *)
+let sx_render_to_html (render_env : env) expr (eval_env : env) =
+  if Sx_types.env_has render_env "render-to-html" then
+    let fn = Sx_types.env_get render_env "render-to-html" in
+    let result = Sx_ref.cek_call fn (List [expr; Env eval_env]) in
+    match result with String s -> s | RawHTML s -> s | _ -> value_to_str result
+  else
+    do_render_to_html expr (Env eval_env)
+
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Setup — bind render primitives in an env and wire up the ref            *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let is_html_tag name = List.mem name html_tags_list
+let is_void name = List.mem name void_elements_list
+
+(* escape_html_str: takes raw OCaml string, returns raw string — for callers *)
+let escape_html_str = escape_html_raw
+
+let setup_render_env (raw_env : env) =
+  let env = Env raw_env in
+  let bind name fn =
+    ignore (Sx_types.env_bind raw_env name (NativeFn (name, fn)))
+  in
+
+  bind "render-html" (fun args ->
+    match args with
+    | [String src] ->
+      let exprs = Sx_parser.parse_all src in
+      let expr = match exprs with
+        | [e] -> e
+        | [] -> Nil
+        | _ -> List (Symbol "do" :: exprs)
+      in
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
+    | [expr] ->
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
+    | [expr; Env e] ->
+      !render_to_html_ref expr (Env e)
+    | _ -> String "");
+
+  bind "render-to-html" (fun args ->
+    match args with
+    | [String src] ->
+      let exprs = Sx_parser.parse_all src in
+      let expr = match exprs with
+        | [e] -> e
+        | [] -> Nil
+        | _ -> List (Symbol "do" :: exprs)
+      in
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
+    | [expr] ->
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
+    | [expr; Env e] ->
+      !render_to_html_ref expr (Env e)
+    | _ -> String "")
+"""
+
+
+def main():
+    import tempfile
+    from shared.sx.ocaml_sync import OcamlSync
+
+    # Load the transpiler into OCaml kernel
+    bridge = OcamlSync()
+    transpiler_path = os.path.join(_HERE, "transpiler.sx")
+    bridge.load(transpiler_path)
+
+    # Read source files
+    spec_path = os.path.join(_PROJECT, "spec", "render.sx")
+    adapter_path = os.path.join(_PROJECT, "web", "adapter-html.sx")
+
+    with open(spec_path) as f:
+        spec_src = f.read()
+    with open(adapter_path) as f:
+        adapter_src = f.read()
+
+    spec_defines = extract_defines(spec_src)
+    adapter_defines = extract_defines(adapter_src)
+
+    # Skip: performance-critical (native in PREAMBLE) and web-specific (in FIXUPS)
+    skip = {
+        # Native in PREAMBLE for performance
+        "escape-html", "escape-attr", "render-attrs",
+        # OCaml can't have uppercase let bindings; registries need dual types
+        "RENDER_HTML_FORMS",
+        "HTML_TAGS", "VOID_ELEMENTS", "BOOLEAN_ATTRS",
+        # Web-specific — provided as stubs or in FIXUPS
+        "render-html-lake", "render-html-marsh",
+        "render-html-island", "serialize-island-state",
+    }
+
+    # Combine: spec helpers first (dependency order), then adapter dispatch
+    all_defines = []
+    for name, expr in spec_defines:
+        if name not in skip:
+            all_defines.append((name, expr))
+    for name, expr in adapter_defines:
+        if name not in skip:
+            all_defines.append((name, expr))
+
+    # Deduplicate — keep last definition for each name
+    seen = {}
+    for i, (n, e) in enumerate(all_defines):
+        seen[n] = i
+    all_defines = [(n, e) for i, (n, e) in enumerate(all_defines) if seen[n] == i]
+
+    # Strip type annotations from params: (name :as type) → name
+    all_defines = [(name, strip_type_annotations(expr)) for name, expr in all_defines]
+
+    print(f"Transpiling {len(all_defines)} defines from render spec + adapter...",
+          file=sys.stderr)
+
+    # Build the defines list and known names for the transpiler
+    defines_list = [[name, expr] for name, expr in all_defines]
+    known_names = [name for name, _ in all_defines]
+    # Add PREAMBLE-provided names so transpiler emits them as direct calls
+    known_names.extend([
+        "escape-html", "escape-attr", "render-attrs",
+        "eval-expr", "trampoline", "expand-macro",
+        "try-catch", "set-render-active!",
+        "render-html-lake", "render-html-marsh",
+        "render-html-island", "serialize-island-state",
+        "scope-emitted",
+        "RENDER_HTML_FORMS",
+        "cond-scheme?",
+    ])
+
+    # Serialize to temp file, load into kernel
+    defines_sx = serialize(defines_list)
+    known_sx = serialize(known_names)
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", suffix=".sx", delete=False) as tmp:
+        tmp.write(f"(define _defines '{defines_sx})\n")
+        tmp.write(f"(define _known_defines '{known_sx})\n")
+        tmp_path = tmp.name
+    try:
+        bridge.load(tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        os.unlink(tmp_path)
+
+    # Add renames for uppercase constants and dual-form registries
+    bridge.eval('(dict-set! ml-renames "RENDER_HTML_FORMS" "render_html_forms")')
+    bridge.eval('(dict-set! ml-renames "HTML_TAGS" "html_tags_val")')
+    bridge.eval('(dict-set! ml-renames "VOID_ELEMENTS" "void_elements_val")')
+    bridge.eval('(dict-set! ml-renames "BOOLEAN_ATTRS" "boolean_attrs_val")')
+    bridge.eval('(dict-set! ml-renames "escape-html" "escape_html_val")')
+    bridge.eval('(dict-set! ml-renames "escape-attr" "escape_attr_val")')
+
+    # Call ml-translate-file — emits as single let rec block
+    result = bridge.eval("(ml-translate-file _defines)")
+
+    bridge.stop()
+
+    output = PREAMBLE + "\n(* === Transpiled from render spec + adapter === *)\n" + result + "\n" + FIXUPS
+
+    # Write output
+    output_path = os.path.join(_HERE, "lib", "sx_render.ml")
+    with open(output_path, "w") as f:
+        f.write(output)
+    print(f"Wrote {len(output)} bytes to {output_path}", file=sys.stderr)
+    print(f"  {len(all_defines)} functions transpiled", file=sys.stderr)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/hosts/ocaml/lib/sx_render.ml b/hosts/ocaml/lib/sx_render.ml
index bcdb7662..7063d55e 100644
--- a/hosts/ocaml/lib/sx_render.ml
+++ b/hosts/ocaml/lib/sx_render.ml
@@ -1,60 +1,128 @@
-(** HTML renderer for SX values.
+(* sx_render.ml — Auto-generated from spec/render.sx + web/adapter-html.sx *)
+(* Do not edit — regenerate with: python3 hosts/ocaml/bootstrap_render.py *)
 
-    Extracted from run_tests.ml — renders an SX expression tree to an
-    HTML string, expanding components and macros along the way.
-
-    Depends on [Sx_ref.eval_expr] for evaluating sub-expressions
-    during rendering (keyword arg values, conditionals, etc.). *)
+[@@@warning "-26-27"]
 
 open Sx_types
+open Sx_runtime
 
 (* ====================================================================== *)
-(* Tag / attribute registries                                              *)
+(* Platform bindings — native OCaml for performance and type access        *)
 (* ====================================================================== *)
 
-let html_tags = [
-  "html"; "head"; "body"; "title"; "meta"; "link"; "script"; "style"; "noscript";
-  "header"; "nav"; "main"; "section"; "article"; "aside"; "footer";
-  "h1"; "h2"; "h3"; "h4"; "h5"; "h6"; "hgroup";
-  "div"; "p"; "blockquote"; "pre"; "figure"; "figcaption"; "address"; "hr";
-  "ul"; "ol"; "li"; "dl"; "dt"; "dd"; "menu";
-  "a"; "span"; "em"; "strong"; "small"; "b"; "i"; "u"; "s"; "sub"; "sup";
-  "mark"; "del"; "ins"; "q"; "cite"; "dfn"; "abbr"; "code"; "var"; "samp";
-  "kbd"; "data"; "time"; "ruby"; "rt"; "rp"; "bdi"; "bdo"; "wbr"; "br";
-  "table"; "thead"; "tbody"; "tfoot"; "tr"; "th"; "td"; "caption"; "colgroup"; "col";
-  "form"; "input"; "textarea"; "select"; "option"; "optgroup"; "button"; "label";
-  "fieldset"; "legend"; "datalist"; "output"; "progress"; "meter";
-  "details"; "summary"; "dialog";
-  "img"; "video"; "audio"; "source"; "picture"; "canvas"; "iframe"; "embed"; "object"; "param";
-  "svg"; "path"; "circle"; "rect"; "line"; "polyline"; "polygon"; "ellipse";
-  "g"; "defs"; "use"; "text"; "tspan"; "clipPath"; "mask"; "pattern";
-  "linearGradient"; "radialGradient"; "stop"; "filter"; "feBlend"; "feFlood";
-  "feGaussianBlur"; "feOffset"; "feMerge"; "feMergeNode"; "feComposite";
-  "template"; "slot";
-]
+let eval_expr expr env = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr env
+let cond_scheme_p = Sx_ref.cond_scheme_p
 
-let void_elements = [
-  "area"; "base"; "br"; "col"; "embed"; "hr"; "img"; "input";
-  "link"; "meta"; "param"; "source"; "track"; "wbr"
-]
+(* Primitive wrappers needed as direct OCaml functions *)
+let raw_html_content v = match v with RawHTML s -> String s | _ -> String ""
+let make_raw_html v = match v with String s -> RawHTML s | _ -> Nil
+let scope_emit v1 v2 = prim_call "scope-emit!" [v1; v2]
+let init v = prim_call "init" [v]
+let dict_has a b = prim_call "dict-has?" [a; b]
+let dict_get a b = prim_call "dict-get" [a; b]
+let is_component v = prim_call "component?" [v]
+let is_island v = prim_call "island?" [v]
+let is_macro v = prim_call "macro?" [v]
+let is_lambda v = prim_call "lambda?" [v]
+let is_nil v = prim_call "nil?" [v]
 
-let boolean_attrs = [
+(* Forward refs for web-specific renderers — set in FIXUPS or by caller *)
+let render_html_lake_ref : (value -> value -> value) ref = ref (fun _ _ -> String "")
+let render_html_marsh_ref : (value -> value -> value) ref = ref (fun _ _ -> String "")
+let render_html_island_ref : (value -> value -> value -> value) ref = ref (fun _ _ _ -> String "")
+
+let render_html_lake args env = !render_html_lake_ref args env
+let render_html_marsh args env = !render_html_marsh_ref args env
+let render_html_island comp args env = !render_html_island_ref comp args env
+let cek_call = Sx_ref.cek_call
+
+let trampoline v = match v with
+  | Thunk (expr, env) -> Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env env)
+  | other -> other
+
+let expand_macro m args_val _env = match m with
+  | Macro mac ->
+    let args = match args_val with List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> l | _ -> [] in
+    let local = env_extend (Env mac.m_closure) in
+    let rec bind_params ps as' = match ps, as' with
+      | [], rest ->
+        (match mac.m_rest_param with
+         | Some rp -> ignore (env_bind local (String rp) (List rest))
+         | None -> ())
+      | p :: ps_rest, a :: as_rest ->
+        ignore (env_bind local p a);
+        bind_params ps_rest as_rest
+      | _ :: _, [] ->
+        List.iter (fun p -> ignore (env_bind local p Nil)) (List.rev ps)
+    in
+    bind_params (List.map (fun p -> String p) mac.m_params) args;
+    Sx_ref.eval_expr mac.m_body local
+  | _ -> Nil
+
+(** try-catch: wraps a try body fn and catch handler fn.
+    Maps to OCaml exception handling. *)
+let try_catch try_fn catch_fn =
+  try sx_call try_fn []
+  with
+  | Eval_error msg -> sx_call catch_fn [String msg]
+  | e -> sx_call catch_fn [String (Printexc.to_string e)]
+
+(** set-render-active! — no-op on OCaml (always active). *)
+let set_render_active_b _v = Nil
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Performance-critical: native Buffer-based HTML escaping                 *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Tag registries — native string lists for callers, value Lists for SX   *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let boolean_attrs_set = [
   "async"; "autofocus"; "autoplay"; "checked"; "controls"; "default";
   "defer"; "disabled"; "formnovalidate"; "hidden"; "inert"; "ismap";
   "loop"; "multiple"; "muted"; "nomodule"; "novalidate"; "open";
   "playsinline"; "readonly"; "required"; "reversed"; "selected"
 ]
+let is_boolean_attr name = List.mem name boolean_attrs_set
 
-let is_html_tag name = List.mem name html_tags
-let is_void name = List.mem name void_elements
-let is_boolean_attr name = List.mem name boolean_attrs
+let html_tags_list = [
+  "html"; "head"; "body"; "title"; "meta"; "link"; "script"; "style"; "noscript";
+  "header"; "nav"; "main"; "section"; "article"; "aside"; "footer";
+  "h1"; "h2"; "h3"; "h4"; "h5"; "h6"; "hgroup";
+  "div"; "p"; "blockquote"; "pre"; "figure"; "figcaption"; "address"; "hr";
+  "ul"; "ol"; "li"; "dl"; "dt"; "dd"; "menu"; "details"; "summary"; "dialog";
+  "a"; "span"; "em"; "strong"; "small"; "b"; "i"; "u"; "s"; "sub"; "sup";
+  "mark"; "abbr"; "cite"; "code"; "kbd"; "samp"; "var"; "time"; "br"; "wbr";
+  "table"; "thead"; "tbody"; "tfoot"; "tr"; "th"; "td"; "caption"; "colgroup"; "col";
+  "form"; "input"; "textarea"; "select"; "option"; "optgroup"; "button"; "label";
+  "fieldset"; "legend"; "datalist"; "output";
+  "img"; "video"; "audio"; "source"; "picture"; "canvas"; "iframe";
+  "svg"; "path"; "circle"; "rect"; "line"; "polyline"; "polygon"; "ellipse";
+  "g"; "defs"; "use"; "text"; "tspan"; "clipPath"; "mask"; "pattern";
+  "linearGradient"; "radialGradient"; "stop"; "filter";
+  "feGaussianBlur"; "feOffset"; "feBlend"; "feColorMatrix"; "feComposite";
+  "feMerge"; "feMergeNode"; "feTurbulence"; "feComponentTransfer";
+  "feFuncR"; "feFuncG"; "feFuncB"; "feFuncA"; "feDisplacementMap"; "feFlood";
+  "feImage"; "feMorphology"; "feSpecularLighting"; "feDiffuseLighting";
+  "fePointLight"; "feSpotLight"; "feDistantLight";
+  "animate"; "animateTransform"; "foreignObject"; "template"; "slot"
+]
+let html_tags = html_tags_list  (* callers expect string list *)
+let html_tags_val = List (List.map (fun s -> String s) html_tags_list)
 
+let void_elements_list = [
+  "area"; "base"; "br"; "col"; "embed"; "hr"; "img"; "input";
+  "link"; "meta"; "param"; "source"; "track"; "wbr"
+]
+let void_elements = void_elements_list  (* callers expect string list *)
+let void_elements_val = List (List.map (fun s -> String s) void_elements_list)
 
-(* ====================================================================== *)
-(* HTML escaping                                                           *)
-(* ====================================================================== *)
+let boolean_attrs = boolean_attrs_set  (* callers expect string list *)
+let boolean_attrs_val = List (List.map (fun s -> String s) boolean_attrs_set)
 
-let escape_html s =
+(* Native escape for internal use — returns raw OCaml string *)
+let escape_html_raw s =
   let buf = Buffer.create (String.length s) in
   String.iter (function
     | '&' -> Buffer.add_string buf "&amp;"
@@ -64,360 +132,138 @@ let escape_html s =
     | c -> Buffer.add_char buf c) s;
   Buffer.contents buf
 
+(* escape_html: native string -> string for callers *)
+let escape_html = escape_html_raw
+
+(* escape_html_val / escape_attr_val — take a value, return String value (for transpiled code) *)
+let escape_html_val v =
+  let s = match v with String s -> s | v -> value_to_string v in
+  String (escape_html_raw s)
+
+let escape_attr_val v = escape_html_val v
 
 (* ====================================================================== *)
-(* Attribute rendering                                                     *)
+(* Performance-critical: native attribute rendering                        *)
 (* ====================================================================== *)
 
-let render_attrs attrs =
-  let buf = Buffer.create 64 in
-  Hashtbl.iter (fun k v ->
-    if is_boolean_attr k then begin
-      if sx_truthy v then begin
+let render_attrs attrs = match attrs with
+  | Dict d ->
+    let buf = Buffer.create 64 in
+    Hashtbl.iter (fun k v ->
+      if is_boolean_attr k then begin
+        if sx_truthy v then begin
+          Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
+          Buffer.add_string buf k
+        end
+      end else if v <> Nil then begin
         Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
-        Buffer.add_string buf k
-      end
-    end else if not (is_nil v) then begin
-      Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
-      Buffer.add_string buf k;
-      Buffer.add_string buf "=\"";
-      Buffer.add_string buf (escape_html (value_to_string v));
-      Buffer.add_char buf '"'
-    end) attrs;
-  Buffer.contents buf
+        Buffer.add_string buf k;
+        Buffer.add_string buf "=\"";
+        Buffer.add_string buf (escape_html_raw (value_to_string v));
+        Buffer.add_char buf '"'
+      end) d;
+    String (Buffer.contents buf)
+  | _ -> String ""
+
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+(* Forward ref — used by setup_render_env and buffer renderer              *)
+(* ====================================================================== *)
+
+let render_to_html_ref : (value -> value -> value) ref =
+  ref (fun _expr _env -> String "")
+
+(* scope-emitted is a prim alias *)
+let scope_emitted name = prim_call "scope-emitted" [name]
+
+(* RENDER_HTML_FORMS — list of special form names handled by dispatch-html-form *)
+let render_html_forms = List [
+  String "if"; String "when"; String "cond"; String "case";
+  String "let"; String "let*"; String "letrec";
+  String "begin"; String "do";
+  String "define"; String "defcomp"; String "defmacro"; String "defisland";
+  String "defpage"; String "defhandler"; String "defquery"; String "defaction";
+  String "defrelation"; String "deftype"; String "defeffect"; String "defstyle";
+  String "map"; String "map-indexed"; String "filter"; String "for-each";
+  String "scope"; String "provide"
+]
+
+
+(* === Transpiled from render spec + adapter === *)
+(* *definition-form-extensions* *)
+let rec _definition_form_extensions_ =
+  (List [])
+
+(* definition-form? *)
+and definition_form_p name =
+  (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "define")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "defcomp")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "defisland")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "defmacro")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "defstyle")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "deftype")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "defeffect")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (prim_call "contains?" [_definition_form_extensions_; name]))))))))
+
+(* parse-element-args *)
+and parse_element_args args env =
+  (let attrs = (Dict (Hashtbl.create 0)) in let children = ref ((List [])) in (let () = ignore ((List.fold_left (fun state arg -> (let skip = (get (state) ((String "skip"))) in (if sx_truthy (skip) then (prim_call "assoc" [state; (String "skip"); (Bool false); (String "i"); (prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])]) else (if sx_truthy ((let _and = (prim_call "=" [(type_of (arg)); (String "keyword")]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (prim_call "<" [(prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))]); (len (args))]))) then (let val' = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (args) ((prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])))) (env)))) in (let () = ignore ((sx_dict_set_b attrs (keyword_name (arg)) val')) in (prim_call "assoc" [state; (String "skip"); (Bool true); (String "i"); (prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])]))) else (let () = ignore ((children := sx_append_b !children arg; Nil)) in (prim_call "assoc" [state; (String "i"); (prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])])))))) (let _d = Hashtbl.create 2 in Hashtbl.replace _d (value_to_str (String "i")) (Number 0.0); Hashtbl.replace _d (value_to_str (String "skip")) (Bool false);  Dict _d) (sx_to_list args))) in (List [attrs; !children])))
+
+(* eval-cond *)
+and eval_cond clauses env =
+  (if sx_truthy ((cond_scheme_p (clauses))) then (eval_cond_scheme (clauses) (env)) else (eval_cond_clojure (clauses) (env)))
+
+(* eval-cond-scheme *)
+and eval_cond_scheme clauses env =
+  (if sx_truthy ((empty_p (clauses))) then Nil else (let clause = (first (clauses)) in let test = (first (clause)) in let body = (nth (clause) ((Number 1.0))) in (if sx_truthy ((is_else_clause (test))) then body else (if sx_truthy ((trampoline ((eval_expr (test) (env))))) then body else (eval_cond_scheme ((rest (clauses))) (env))))))
+
+(* eval-cond-clojure *)
+and eval_cond_clojure clauses env =
+  (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "<" [(len (clauses)); (Number 2.0)])) then Nil else (let test = (first (clauses)) in let body = (nth (clauses) ((Number 1.0))) in (if sx_truthy ((is_else_clause (test))) then body else (if sx_truthy ((trampoline ((eval_expr (test) (env))))) then body else (eval_cond_clojure ((prim_call "slice" [clauses; (Number 2.0)])) (env))))))
+
+(* process-bindings *)
+and process_bindings bindings env =
+  (let local = (env_extend (env)) in (let () = ignore ((List.iter (fun pair -> ignore ((if sx_truthy ((let _and = (prim_call "=" [(type_of (pair)); (String "list")]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (prim_call ">=" [(len (pair)); (Number 2.0)]))) then (let name = (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(type_of ((first (pair)))); (String "symbol")])) then (symbol_name ((first (pair)))) else (String (sx_str [(first (pair))]))) in (env_bind local (sx_to_string name) (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (pair) ((Number 1.0)))) (local)))))) else Nil))) (sx_to_list bindings); Nil)) in local))
+
+(* is-render-expr? *)
+and is_render_expr_p expr =
+  (if sx_truthy ((let _or = (Bool (not (sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(type_of (expr)); (String "list")]))))) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (empty_p (expr)))) then (Bool false) else (let h = (first (expr)) in (if sx_truthy ((Bool (not (sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(type_of (h)); (String "symbol")])))))) then (Bool false) else (let n = (symbol_name (h)) in (let _or = (prim_call "=" [n; (String "<>")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "=" [n; (String "raw!")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "starts-with?" [n; (String "~")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "starts-with?" [n; (String "html:")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _or = (prim_call "contains?" [html_tags_val; n]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (let _and = (prim_call ">" [(prim_call "index-of" [n; (String "-")]); (Number 0.0)]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (let _and = (prim_call ">" [(len (expr)); (Number 1.0)]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (prim_call "=" [(type_of ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0))))); (String "keyword")]))))))))))))
+
+(* merge-spread-attrs *)
+and merge_spread_attrs target spread_dict =
+  (List.iter (fun key -> ignore ((let val' = (dict_get (spread_dict) (key)) in (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [key; (String "class")])) then (let existing = (dict_get (target) ((String "class"))) in (sx_dict_set_b target (String "class") (if sx_truthy ((let _and = existing in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (Bool (not (sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [existing; (String "")]))))))) then (String (sx_str [existing; (String " "); val'])) else val'))) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [key; (String "style")])) then (let existing = (dict_get (target) ((String "style"))) in (sx_dict_set_b target (String "style") (if sx_truthy ((let _and = existing in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (Bool (not (sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [existing; (String "")]))))))) then (String (sx_str [existing; (String ";"); val'])) else val'))) else (sx_dict_set_b target key val')))))) (sx_to_list (prim_call "keys" [spread_dict])); Nil)
+
+(* render-to-html *)
+and render_to_html expr env =
+  (let () = ignore ((set_render_active_b ((Bool true)))) in (let _match_val = (type_of (expr)) in (if _match_val = (String "nil") then (String "") else (if _match_val = (String "string") then (escape_html_val (expr)) else (if _match_val = (String "number") then (String (sx_str [expr])) else (if _match_val = (String "boolean") then (if sx_truthy (expr) then (String "true") else (String "false")) else (if _match_val = (String "list") then (if sx_truthy ((empty_p (expr))) then (String "") else (render_list_to_html (expr) (env))) else (if _match_val = (String "symbol") then (render_value_to_html ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) (env)) else (if _match_val = (String "keyword") then (escape_html_val ((keyword_name (expr)))) else (if _match_val = (String "raw-html") then (raw_html_content (expr)) else (if _match_val = (String "spread") then (let () = ignore ((scope_emit ((String "element-attrs")) ((spread_attrs (expr))))) in (String "")) else (if _match_val = (String "thunk") then (render_to_html ((thunk_expr (expr))) ((thunk_env (expr)))) else (render_value_to_html ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) (env))))))))))))))
+
+(* render-value-to-html *)
+and render_value_to_html val' env =
+  (let _match_val = (type_of (val')) in (if _match_val = (String "nil") then (String "") else (if _match_val = (String "string") then (escape_html_val (val')) else (if _match_val = (String "number") then (String (sx_str [val'])) else (if _match_val = (String "boolean") then (if sx_truthy (val') then (String "true") else (String "false")) else (if _match_val = (String "list") then (render_list_to_html (val') (env)) else (if _match_val = (String "raw-html") then (raw_html_content (val')) else (if _match_val = (String "spread") then (let () = ignore ((scope_emit ((String "element-attrs")) ((spread_attrs (val'))))) in (String "")) else (if _match_val = (String "thunk") then (render_to_html ((thunk_expr (val'))) ((thunk_env (val')))) else (escape_html_val ((String (sx_str [val'])))))))))))))
+
+(* render-html-form? *)
+and render_html_form_p name =
+  (prim_call "contains?" [render_html_forms; name])
+
+(* render-list-to-html *)
+and render_list_to_html expr env =
+  (if sx_truthy ((empty_p (expr))) then (String "") else (let head = (first (expr)) in (if sx_truthy ((Bool (not (sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(type_of (head)); (String "symbol")])))))) then (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun x -> (render_value_to_html (x) (env))) (sx_to_list expr)))]) else (let name = (symbol_name (head)) in let args = (rest (expr)) in (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "<>")])) then (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun x -> (render_to_html (x) (env))) (sx_to_list args)))]) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "raw!")])) then (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun x -> (String (sx_str [(trampoline ((eval_expr (x) (env))))]))) (sx_to_list args)))]) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "lake")])) then (render_html_lake (args) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "marsh")])) then (render_html_marsh (args) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "error-boundary")])) then (let has_fallback = (prim_call ">" [(len (args)); (Number 1.0)]) in (let body_exprs = (if sx_truthy (has_fallback) then (rest (args)) else args) in let fallback_expr = (if sx_truthy (has_fallback) then (first (args)) else Nil) in (String (sx_str [(String "<div data-sx-boundary=\"true\">"); (try_catch ((NativeFn ("\206\187", fun _args -> (fun () -> (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun x -> (render_to_html (x) (env))) (sx_to_list body_exprs)))])) ()))) ((NativeFn ("\206\187", fun _args -> match _args with [err] -> (fun err -> (let safe_err = (prim_call "replace" [(prim_call "replace" [(String (sx_str [err])); (String "<"); (String "&lt;")]); (String ">"); (String "&gt;")]) in (if sx_truthy ((let _and = fallback_expr in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (Bool (not (sx_truthy ((is_nil (fallback_expr)))))))) then (try_catch ((NativeFn ("\206\187", fun _args -> (fun () -> (render_to_html ((List [(trampoline ((eval_expr (fallback_expr) (env)))); err; Nil])) (env))) ()))) ((NativeFn ("\206\187", fun _args -> match _args with [e2] -> (fun e2 -> (String (sx_str [(String "<div class=\"sx-render-error\" style=\"color:red;font-size:0.875rem;padding:0.5rem;border:1px solid red;border-radius:0.25rem;margin:0.5rem 0;\">Render error: "); safe_err; (String "</div>")]))) e2 | _ -> Nil)))) else (String (sx_str [(String "<div class=\"sx-render-error\" style=\"color:red;font-size:0.875rem;padding:0.5rem;border:1px solid red;border-radius:0.25rem;margin:0.5rem 0;\">Render error: "); safe_err; (String "</div>")]))))) err | _ -> Nil)))); (String "</div>")])))) else (if sx_truthy ((let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "portal")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (prim_call "=" [name; (String "promise-delayed")]))) then (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun x -> (render_to_html (x) (env))) (sx_to_list args)))]) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "contains?" [html_tags_val; name])) then (render_html_element (name) (args) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((let _and = (prim_call "starts-with?" [name; (String "~")]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (let _and = (env_has (env) (name)) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (is_island ((env_get (env) (name))))))) then (render_html_island ((env_get (env) (name))) (args) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "starts-with?" [name; (String "~")])) then (let val' = (env_get (env) (name)) in (if sx_truthy ((is_component (val'))) then (render_html_component (val') (args) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((is_macro (val'))) then (render_to_html ((expand_macro (val') (args) (env))) (env)) else (String (sx_str [(String "<!-- unknown component: "); name; (String " -->")]))))) else (if sx_truthy ((render_html_form_p (name))) then (dispatch_html_form (name) (expr) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((let _and = (env_has (env) (name)) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (is_macro ((env_get (env) (name)))))) then (render_to_html ((expand_macro ((env_get (env) (name))) (args) (env))) (env)) else (render_value_to_html ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) (env)))))))))))))))))
+
+(* dispatch-html-form *)
+and dispatch_html_form name expr env =
+  (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "if")])) then (let cond_val = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))) in (if sx_truthy (cond_val) then (render_to_html ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call ">" [(len (expr)); (Number 3.0)])) then (render_to_html ((nth (expr) ((Number 3.0)))) (env)) else (String "")))) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "when")])) then (if sx_truthy ((Bool (not (sx_truthy ((trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env))))))))) then (String "") else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(len (expr)); (Number 3.0)])) then (render_to_html ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (env)) else (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun i -> (render_to_html ((nth (expr) (i))) (env))) (sx_to_list (prim_call "range" [(Number 2.0); (len (expr))]))))]))) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "cond")])) then (let branch = (eval_cond ((rest (expr))) (env)) in (if sx_truthy (branch) then (render_to_html (branch) (env)) else (String ""))) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "case")])) then (render_to_html ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "letrec")])) then (let bindings = (nth (expr) ((Number 1.0))) in let body = (prim_call "slice" [expr; (Number 2.0)]) in let local = (env_extend (env)) in (let () = ignore ((List.iter (fun pair -> ignore ((let pname = (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(type_of ((first (pair)))); (String "symbol")])) then (symbol_name ((first (pair)))) else (String (sx_str [(first (pair))]))) in (env_bind local (sx_to_string pname) Nil)))) (sx_to_list bindings); Nil)) in (let () = ignore ((List.iter (fun pair -> ignore ((let pname = (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(type_of ((first (pair)))); (String "symbol")])) then (symbol_name ((first (pair)))) else (String (sx_str [(first (pair))]))) in (env_set local (sx_to_string pname) (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (pair) ((Number 1.0)))) (local)))))))) (sx_to_list bindings); Nil)) in (let () = ignore ((if sx_truthy ((prim_call ">" [(len (body)); (Number 1.0)])) then (List.iter (fun e -> ignore ((trampoline ((eval_expr (e) (local)))))) (sx_to_list (init (body))); Nil) else Nil)) in (render_to_html ((last (body))) (local)))))) else (if sx_truthy ((let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "let")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (prim_call "=" [name; (String "let*")]))) then (let local = (process_bindings ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)) in (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(len (expr)); (Number 3.0)])) then (render_to_html ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (local)) else (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun i -> (render_to_html ((nth (expr) (i))) (local))) (sx_to_list (prim_call "range" [(Number 2.0); (len (expr))]))))]))) else (if sx_truthy ((let _or = (prim_call "=" [name; (String "begin")]) in if sx_truthy _or then _or else (prim_call "=" [name; (String "do")]))) then (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(len (expr)); (Number 2.0)])) then (render_to_html ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)) else (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun i -> (render_to_html ((nth (expr) (i))) (env))) (sx_to_list (prim_call "range" [(Number 1.0); (len (expr))]))))])) else (if sx_truthy ((definition_form_p (name))) then (let () = ignore ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) in (String "")) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "map")])) then (let f = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))) in let coll = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (env)))) in (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun item -> (if sx_truthy ((is_lambda (f))) then (render_lambda_html (f) ((List [item])) (env)) else (render_to_html ((sx_apply f (List [item]))) (env)))) (sx_to_list coll)))])) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "map-indexed")])) then (let f = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))) in let coll = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (env)))) in (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.mapi (fun i item -> let i = Number (float_of_int i) in (if sx_truthy ((is_lambda (f))) then (render_lambda_html (f) ((List [i; item])) (env)) else (render_to_html ((sx_apply f (List [i; item]))) (env)))) (sx_to_list coll)))])) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "filter")])) then (render_to_html ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) (env)) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "for-each")])) then (let f = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))) in let coll = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (env)))) in (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun item -> (if sx_truthy ((is_lambda (f))) then (render_lambda_html (f) ((List [item])) (env)) else (render_to_html ((sx_apply f (List [item]))) (env)))) (sx_to_list coll)))])) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "scope")])) then (let scope_name = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))) in let rest_args = (prim_call "slice" [expr; (Number 2.0)]) in let scope_val = ref (Nil) in let body_exprs = ref (Nil) in (let () = ignore ((if sx_truthy ((let _and = (prim_call ">=" [(len (rest_args)); (Number 2.0)]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (let _and = (prim_call "=" [(type_of ((first (rest_args)))); (String "keyword")]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (prim_call "=" [(keyword_name ((first (rest_args)))); (String "value")])))) then (let () = ignore ((scope_val := (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (rest_args) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))); Nil)) in (body_exprs := (prim_call "slice" [rest_args; (Number 2.0)]); Nil)) else (body_exprs := rest_args; Nil))) in (let () = ignore ((scope_push (scope_name) (!scope_val))) in (let result' = (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [(len (!body_exprs)); (Number 1.0)])) then (render_to_html ((first (!body_exprs))) (env)) else (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun e -> (render_to_html (e) (env))) (sx_to_list !body_exprs)))])) in (let () = ignore ((scope_pop (scope_name))) in result'))))) else (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [name; (String "provide")])) then (let prov_name = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 1.0)))) (env)))) in let prov_val = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (expr) ((Number 2.0)))) (env)))) in let body_start = (Number 3.0) in let body_count = (prim_call "-" [(len (expr)); (Number 3.0)]) in (let () = ignore ((scope_push (prov_name) (prov_val))) in (let result' = (if sx_truthy ((prim_call "=" [body_count; (Number 1.0)])) then (render_to_html ((nth (expr) (body_start))) (env)) else (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun i -> (render_to_html ((nth (expr) (i))) (env))) (sx_to_list (prim_call "range" [body_start; (prim_call "+" [body_start; body_count])]))))])) in (let () = ignore ((scope_pop (prov_name))) in result')))) else (render_value_to_html ((trampoline ((eval_expr (expr) (env))))) (env))))))))))))))))
+
+(* render-lambda-html *)
+and render_lambda_html f args env =
+  (let local = (env_merge ((lambda_closure (f))) (env)) in (let () = ignore ((for_each_indexed ((NativeFn ("\206\187", fun _args -> match _args with [i; p] -> (fun i p -> (env_bind local (sx_to_string p) (nth (args) (i)))) i p | _ -> Nil))) ((lambda_params (f))))) in (render_to_html ((lambda_body (f))) (local))))
+
+(* render-html-component *)
+and render_html_component comp args env =
+  (let kwargs = (Dict (Hashtbl.create 0)) in let children = ref ((List [])) in (let () = ignore ((List.fold_left (fun state arg -> (let skip = (get (state) ((String "skip"))) in (if sx_truthy (skip) then (prim_call "assoc" [state; (String "skip"); (Bool false); (String "i"); (prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])]) else (if sx_truthy ((let _and = (prim_call "=" [(type_of (arg)); (String "keyword")]) in if not (sx_truthy _and) then _and else (prim_call "<" [(prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))]); (len (args))]))) then (let val' = (trampoline ((eval_expr ((nth (args) ((prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])))) (env)))) in (let () = ignore ((sx_dict_set_b kwargs (keyword_name (arg)) val')) in (prim_call "assoc" [state; (String "skip"); (Bool true); (String "i"); (prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])]))) else (let () = ignore ((children := sx_append_b !children arg; Nil)) in (prim_call "assoc" [state; (String "i"); (prim_call "inc" [(get (state) ((String "i")))])])))))) (let _d = Hashtbl.create 2 in Hashtbl.replace _d (value_to_str (String "i")) (Number 0.0); Hashtbl.replace _d (value_to_str (String "skip")) (Bool false);  Dict _d) (sx_to_list args))) in (let local = (env_merge ((component_closure (comp))) (env)) in (let () = ignore ((List.iter (fun p -> ignore ((env_bind local (sx_to_string p) (if sx_truthy ((dict_has (kwargs) (p))) then (dict_get (kwargs) (p)) else Nil)))) (sx_to_list (component_params (comp))); Nil)) in (let () = ignore ((if sx_truthy ((component_has_children (comp))) then (env_bind local (sx_to_string (String "children")) (make_raw_html ((prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun c -> (render_to_html (c) (env))) (sx_to_list !children)))])))) else Nil)) in (render_to_html ((component_body (comp))) (local)))))))
+
+(* render-html-element *)
+and render_html_element tag args env =
+  (let parsed = (parse_element_args (args) (env)) in let attrs = (first (parsed)) in let children = (nth (parsed) ((Number 1.0))) in let is_void = (prim_call "contains?" [void_elements_val; tag]) in (if sx_truthy (is_void) then (String (sx_str [(String "<"); tag; (render_attrs (attrs)); (String " />")])) else (let () = ignore ((scope_push ((String "element-attrs")) (Nil))) in (let content = (prim_call "join" [(String ""); (List (List.map (fun c -> (render_to_html (c) (env))) (sx_to_list children)))]) in (let () = ignore ((List.iter (fun spread_dict -> ignore ((merge_spread_attrs (attrs) (spread_dict)))) (sx_to_list (scope_emitted ((String "element-attrs")))); Nil)) in (let () = ignore ((scope_pop ((String "element-attrs")))) in (String (sx_str [(String "<"); tag; (render_attrs (attrs)); (String ">"); content; (String "</"); tag; (String ">")]))))))))
+
 
 
 (* ====================================================================== *)
-(* HTML renderer                                                           *)
+(* Wire up forward ref                                                     *)
 (* ====================================================================== *)
 
-(* Forward ref — resolved at setup time *)
-let render_to_html_ref : (value -> env -> string) ref =
-  ref (fun _expr _env -> "")
-
-let render_to_html expr env = !render_to_html_ref expr env
-
-(** Render via the SX adapter (render-to-html from adapter-html.sx).
-    Falls back to the native ref if the SX adapter isn't loaded. *)
-let sx_render_to_html render_env expr eval_env =
-  if env_has render_env "render-to-html" then
-    let fn = env_get render_env "render-to-html" in
-    let result = Sx_ref.cek_call fn (List [expr; Env eval_env]) in
-    match result with String s -> s | RawHTML s -> s | _ -> Sx_runtime.value_to_str result
-  else
-    render_to_html expr eval_env
-
-let render_children children env =
-  String.concat "" (List.map (fun c -> render_to_html c env) children)
-
-(** Parse keyword attrs and positional children from an element call's args.
-    Attrs are evaluated; children are returned UNEVALUATED for render dispatch. *)
-let parse_element_args args env =
-  let attrs = Hashtbl.create 8 in
-  let children = ref [] in
-  let skip = ref false in
-  let len = List.length args in
-  List.iteri (fun idx arg ->
-    if !skip then skip := false
-    else match arg with
-    | Keyword k when idx + 1 < len ->
-      let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.nth args (idx + 1)) (Env env) in
-      Hashtbl.replace attrs k v;
-      skip := true
-    | Spread pairs ->
-      List.iter (fun (k, v) -> Hashtbl.replace attrs k v) pairs
-    | _ ->
-      children := arg :: !children
-  ) args;
-  (attrs, List.rev !children)
-
-let render_html_element tag args env =
-  let (attrs, children) = parse_element_args args env in
-  let attr_str = render_attrs attrs in
-  if is_void tag then
-    "<" ^ tag ^ attr_str ^ " />"
-  else
-    let content = String.concat ""
-      (List.map (fun c -> render_to_html c env) children) in
-    "<" ^ tag ^ attr_str ^ ">" ^ content ^ "</" ^ tag ^ ">"
-
-let render_component comp args env =
-  match comp with
-  | Component c ->
-    let kwargs = Hashtbl.create 8 in
-    let children_exprs = ref [] in
-    let skip = ref false in
-    let len = List.length args in
-    List.iteri (fun idx arg ->
-      if !skip then skip := false
-      else match arg with
-      | Keyword k when idx + 1 < len ->
-        let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.nth args (idx + 1)) (Env env) in
-        Hashtbl.replace kwargs k v;
-        skip := true
-      | _ ->
-        children_exprs := arg :: !children_exprs
-    ) args;
-    let children = List.rev !children_exprs in
-    let local = env_merge c.c_closure env in
-    List.iter (fun p ->
-      let v = match Hashtbl.find_opt kwargs p with Some v -> v | None -> Nil in
-      ignore (env_bind local p v)
-    ) c.c_params;
-    if c.c_has_children then begin
-      let rendered_children = String.concat ""
-        (List.map (fun c -> render_to_html c env) children) in
-      ignore (env_bind local "children" (RawHTML rendered_children))
-    end;
-    render_to_html c.c_body local
-  | _ -> ""
-
-let expand_macro (m : macro) args _env =
-  let local = env_extend m.m_closure in
-  let params = m.m_params in
-  let rec bind_params ps as' =
-    match ps, as' with
-    | [], rest ->
-      (match m.m_rest_param with
-       | Some rp -> ignore (env_bind local rp (List rest))
-       | None -> ())
-    | p :: ps_rest, a :: as_rest ->
-      ignore (env_bind local p a);
-      bind_params ps_rest as_rest
-    | _ :: _, [] ->
-      List.iter (fun p -> ignore (env_bind local p Nil)) (List.rev ps)
-  in
-  bind_params params args;
-  Sx_ref.eval_expr m.m_body (Env local)
-
-let rec do_render_to_html (expr : value) (env : env) : string =
-  match expr with
-  | Nil -> ""
-  | Bool true -> "true"
-  | Bool false -> "false"
-  | Number n ->
-    if Float.is_integer n then string_of_int (int_of_float n)
-    else Printf.sprintf "%g" n
-  | String s -> escape_html s
-  | Keyword k -> escape_html k
-  | RawHTML s -> s
-  | SxExpr s -> s
-  | Symbol s ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (Symbol s) (Env env) in
-    do_render_to_html v env
-  | List [] | ListRef { contents = [] } -> ""
-  | List (head :: args) | ListRef { contents = head :: args } ->
-    render_list_to_html head args env
-  | _ ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env env) in
-    do_render_to_html v env
-
-and render_list_to_html head args env =
-  match head with
-  | Symbol "<>" ->
-    render_children args env
-  | Symbol "raw!" ->
-    (* Inject pre-rendered HTML without escaping *)
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.hd args) (Env env) in
-    (match v with
-     | String s | RawHTML s -> s
-     | _ -> value_to_string v)
-  | Symbol tag when is_html_tag tag ->
-    render_html_element tag args env
-  | Symbol "if" ->
-    let cond_val = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.hd args) (Env env) in
-    if sx_truthy cond_val then
-      (if List.length args > 1 then do_render_to_html (List.nth args 1) env else "")
-    else
-      (if List.length args > 2 then do_render_to_html (List.nth args 2) env else "")
-  | Symbol "when" ->
-    let cond_val = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.hd args) (Env env) in
-    if sx_truthy cond_val then
-      String.concat "" (List.map (fun e -> do_render_to_html e env) (List.tl args))
-    else ""
-  | Symbol "cond" ->
-    render_cond args env
-  | Symbol "case" ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-    do_render_to_html v env
-  | Symbol ("let" | "let*") ->
-    render_let args env
-  | Symbol ("begin" | "do") ->
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ""
-      | [last] -> do_render_to_html last env
-      | e :: rest ->
-        ignore (Sx_ref.eval_expr e (Env env));
-        go rest
-    in go args
-  | Symbol ("define" | "defcomp" | "defmacro" | "defisland") ->
-    ignore (Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env));
-    ""
-  | Symbol "map" ->
-    render_map args env false
-  | Symbol "map-indexed" ->
-    render_map args env true
-  | Symbol "filter" ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-    do_render_to_html v env
-  | Symbol "for-each" ->
-    render_for_each args env
-  | Symbol name ->
-    (try
-      let v = env_get env name in
-      (match v with
-       | Component c when c.c_affinity = "client" -> ""  (* skip client-only *)
-       | Component _ -> render_component v args env
-       | Island _i ->
-         let call_sx = "(" ^ String.concat " " (List.map (fun v ->
-           match v with
-           | Symbol s -> s | Keyword k -> ":" ^ k | String s -> "\"" ^ s ^ "\""
-           | _ -> Sx_runtime.value_to_str v
-         ) (Symbol name :: args)) ^ ")" in
-         Printf.sprintf "<span data-sx-island=\"%s\">%s</span>" _i.i_name call_sx
-       | Macro m ->
-         let expanded = expand_macro m args env in
-         do_render_to_html expanded env
-       | _ ->
-         let result = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-         do_render_to_html result env)
-    with Eval_error _ ->
-      (* Primitive or special form — not in env, delegate to CEK *)
-      (try
-        let result = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-        do_render_to_html result env
-      with Eval_error _ -> ""))
-  | _ ->
-    let result = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-    do_render_to_html result env
-
-and render_cond args env =
-  let as_list = function List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> Some l | _ -> None in
-  let is_scheme = List.for_all (fun a -> match as_list a with
-    | Some items when List.length items = 2 -> true
-    | _ -> false) args
-  in
-  if is_scheme then begin
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ""
-      | clause :: rest ->
-        (match as_list clause with
-         | Some [test; body] ->
-           let is_else = match test with
-             | Keyword "else" -> true
-             | Symbol "else" | Symbol ":else" -> true
-             | _ -> false
-           in
-           if is_else then do_render_to_html body env
-           else
-             let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr test (Env env) in
-             if sx_truthy v then do_render_to_html body env
-             else go rest
-         | _ -> "")
-    in go args
-  end else begin
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ""
-      | [_] -> ""
-      | test :: body :: rest ->
-        let is_else = match test with
-          | Keyword "else" -> true
-          | Symbol "else" | Symbol ":else" -> true
-          | _ -> false
-        in
-        if is_else then do_render_to_html body env
-        else
-          let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr test (Env env) in
-          if sx_truthy v then do_render_to_html body env
-          else go rest
-    in go args
-  end
-
-and render_let args env =
-  let as_list = function List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> Some l | _ -> None in
-  let bindings_expr = List.hd args in
-  let body = List.tl args in
-  let local = env_extend env in
-  let bindings = match as_list bindings_expr with Some l -> l | None -> [] in
-  let is_scheme = match bindings with
-    | (List _ :: _) | (ListRef _ :: _) -> true
-    | _ -> false
-  in
-  if is_scheme then
-    List.iter (fun b ->
-      match as_list b with
-      | Some [Symbol name; expr] | Some [String name; expr] ->
-        let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env local) in
-        ignore (env_bind local name v)
-      | _ -> ()
-    ) bindings
-  else begin
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ()
-      | (Symbol name) :: expr :: rest | (String name) :: expr :: rest ->
-        let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env local) in
-        ignore (env_bind local name v);
-        go rest
-      | _ -> ()
-    in go bindings
-  end;
-  let rec render_body = function
-    | [] -> ""
-    | [last] -> do_render_to_html last local
-    | e :: rest ->
-      ignore (Sx_ref.eval_expr e (Env local));
-      render_body rest
-  in render_body body
-
-and render_map args env indexed =
-  let (fn_val, coll_val) = match args with
-    | [a; b] ->
-      let va = Sx_ref.eval_expr a (Env env) in
-      let vb = Sx_ref.eval_expr b (Env env) in
-      (match va, vb with
-       | (Lambda _ | NativeFn _), _ -> (va, vb)
-       | _, (Lambda _ | NativeFn _) -> (vb, va)
-       | _ -> (va, vb))
-    | _ -> (Nil, Nil)
-  in
-  let items = match coll_val with List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> l | _ -> [] in
-  String.concat "" (List.mapi (fun i item ->
-    let call_args = if indexed then [Number (float_of_int i); item] else [item] in
-    match fn_val with
-    | Lambda l ->
-      let local = env_extend l.l_closure in
-      List.iter2 (fun p a -> ignore (env_bind local p a))
-        l.l_params call_args;
-      do_render_to_html l.l_body local
-    | _ ->
-      let result = Sx_runtime.sx_call fn_val call_args in
-      do_render_to_html result env
-  ) items)
-
-and render_for_each args env =
-  let (fn_val, coll_val) = match args with
-    | [a; b] ->
-      let va = Sx_ref.eval_expr a (Env env) in
-      let vb = Sx_ref.eval_expr b (Env env) in
-      (match va, vb with
-       | (Lambda _ | NativeFn _), _ -> (va, vb)
-       | _, (Lambda _ | NativeFn _) -> (vb, va)
-       | _ -> (va, vb))
-    | _ -> (Nil, Nil)
-  in
-  let items = match coll_val with List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> l | _ -> [] in
-  String.concat "" (List.map (fun item ->
-    match fn_val with
-    | Lambda l ->
-      let local = env_extend l.l_closure in
-      List.iter2 (fun p a -> ignore (env_bind local p a))
-        l.l_params [item];
-      do_render_to_html l.l_body local
-    | _ ->
-      let result = Sx_runtime.sx_call fn_val [item] in
-      do_render_to_html result env
-  ) items)
-
+let () = render_to_html_ref := render_to_html
 
 (* ====================================================================== *)
 (* Buffer-based streaming renderer — zero intermediate string allocation   *)
@@ -434,7 +280,6 @@ let escape_html_buf buf s =
     | c -> Buffer.add_char buf c
   done
 
-(** Render attributes directly into a buffer. *)
 let render_attrs_buf buf attrs =
   Hashtbl.iter (fun k v ->
     if is_boolean_attr k then begin
@@ -442,7 +287,7 @@ let render_attrs_buf buf attrs =
         Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
         Buffer.add_string buf k
       end
-    end else if not (is_nil v) then begin
+    end else if v <> Nil then begin
       Buffer.add_char buf ' ';
       Buffer.add_string buf k;
       Buffer.add_string buf "=\"";
@@ -450,274 +295,56 @@ let render_attrs_buf buf attrs =
       Buffer.add_char buf '"'
     end) attrs
 
-(** Buffer-based render_to_html — writes directly, no intermediate strings. *)
-let rec render_to_buf buf (expr : value) (env : env) : unit =
-  match expr with
-  | Nil -> ()
-  | Bool true -> Buffer.add_string buf "true"
-  | Bool false -> Buffer.add_string buf "false"
-  | Number n ->
-    if Float.is_integer n then Buffer.add_string buf (string_of_int (int_of_float n))
-    else Buffer.add_string buf (Printf.sprintf "%g" n)
-  | String s -> escape_html_buf buf s
-  | Keyword k -> escape_html_buf buf k
+(** Render to pre-allocated buffer — delegates to transpiled render_to_html
+    and extracts the string result. *)
+let render_to_buf buf expr (env : env) =
+  match !render_to_html_ref expr (Env env) with
+  | String s -> Buffer.add_string buf s
   | RawHTML s -> Buffer.add_string buf s
-  | SxExpr s -> Buffer.add_string buf s
-  | Symbol s ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (Symbol s) (Env env) in
-    render_to_buf buf v env
-  | List [] | ListRef { contents = [] } -> ()
-  | List (head :: args) | ListRef { contents = head :: args } ->
-    render_list_buf buf head args env
-  | _ ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env env) in
-    render_to_buf buf v env
-
-and render_list_buf buf head args env =
-  match head with
-  | Symbol "<>" ->
-    List.iter (fun c -> render_to_buf buf c env) args
-  | Symbol "raw!" ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.hd args) (Env env) in
-    (match v with
-     | String s | RawHTML s -> Buffer.add_string buf s
-     | _ -> Buffer.add_string buf (value_to_string v))
-  | Symbol tag when is_html_tag tag ->
-    render_element_buf buf tag args env
-  | Symbol "if" ->
-    let cond_val = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.hd args) (Env env) in
-    if sx_truthy cond_val then
-      (if List.length args > 1 then render_to_buf buf (List.nth args 1) env)
-    else
-      (if List.length args > 2 then render_to_buf buf (List.nth args 2) env)
-  | Symbol "when" ->
-    let cond_val = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.hd args) (Env env) in
-    if sx_truthy cond_val then
-      List.iter (fun e -> render_to_buf buf e env) (List.tl args)
-  | Symbol "cond" ->
-    render_cond_buf buf args env
-  | Symbol "case" ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-    render_to_buf buf v env
-  | Symbol ("let" | "let*") ->
-    render_let_buf buf args env
-  | Symbol ("begin" | "do") ->
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ()
-      | [last] -> render_to_buf buf last env
-      | e :: rest -> ignore (Sx_ref.eval_expr e (Env env)); go rest
-    in go args
-  | Symbol ("define" | "defcomp" | "defmacro" | "defisland") ->
-    ignore (Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env))
-  | Symbol "map" -> render_map_buf buf args env false
-  | Symbol "map-indexed" -> render_map_buf buf args env true
-  | Symbol "filter" ->
-    let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-    render_to_buf buf v env
-  | Symbol "for-each" -> render_for_each_buf buf args env
-  | Symbol name ->
-    (try
-      let v = env_get env name in
-      (match v with
-       | Component c when c.c_affinity = "client" -> ()
-       | Component _ -> render_component_buf buf v args env
-       | Island _i ->
-         (* Islands are client-rendered — emit placeholder with SX call
-            expression so the client can hydrate from source. *)
-         let call_sx = "(" ^ String.concat " " (List.map (fun v ->
-           match v with
-           | Symbol s -> s | Keyword k -> ":" ^ k | String s -> "\"" ^ s ^ "\""
-           | _ -> Sx_runtime.value_to_str v
-         ) (Symbol name :: args)) ^ ")" in
-         Buffer.add_string buf (Printf.sprintf "<span data-sx-island=\"%s\">%s</span>"
-           _i.i_name call_sx)
-       | Macro m ->
-         let expanded = expand_macro m args env in
-         render_to_buf buf expanded env
-       | _ ->
-         let result = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-         render_to_buf buf result env)
-    with Eval_error msg ->
-      (* Unknown symbol/component — skip silently during SSR.
-         The client will render from page-sx. *)
-      Printf.eprintf "[ssr-skip] %s\n%!" msg)
-  | _ ->
-    (try
-      let result = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List (head :: args)) (Env env) in
-      render_to_buf buf result env
-    with Eval_error msg ->
-      Printf.eprintf "[ssr-skip] %s\n%!" msg)
-
-and render_element_buf buf tag args env =
-  let (attrs, children) = parse_element_args args env in
-  Buffer.add_char buf '<';
-  Buffer.add_string buf tag;
-  render_attrs_buf buf attrs;
-  if is_void tag then
-    Buffer.add_string buf " />"
-  else begin
-    Buffer.add_char buf '>';
-    List.iter (fun c -> render_to_buf buf c env) children;
-    Buffer.add_string buf "</";
-    Buffer.add_string buf tag;
-    Buffer.add_char buf '>'
-  end
-
-and render_component_buf buf comp args env =
-  match comp with
-  | Component c ->
-    let kwargs = Hashtbl.create 8 in
-    let children_exprs = ref [] in
-    let skip = ref false in
-    let len = List.length args in
-    List.iteri (fun idx arg ->
-      if !skip then skip := false
-      else match arg with
-      | Keyword k when idx + 1 < len ->
-        let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr (List.nth args (idx + 1)) (Env env) in
-        Hashtbl.replace kwargs k v;
-        skip := true
-      | _ -> children_exprs := arg :: !children_exprs
-    ) args;
-    let children = List.rev !children_exprs in
-    let local = env_merge c.c_closure env in
-    List.iter (fun p ->
-      let v = match Hashtbl.find_opt kwargs p with Some v -> v | None -> Nil in
-      ignore (env_bind local p v)
-    ) c.c_params;
-    if c.c_has_children then begin
-      let child_buf = Buffer.create 256 in
-      List.iter (fun c -> render_to_buf child_buf c env) children;
-      ignore (env_bind local "children" (RawHTML (Buffer.contents child_buf)))
-    end;
-    render_to_buf buf c.c_body local
-  | _ -> ()
-
-and render_cond_buf buf args env =
-  let as_list = function List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> Some l | _ -> None in
-  let is_scheme = List.for_all (fun a -> match as_list a with
-    | Some items when List.length items = 2 -> true | _ -> false) args in
-  if is_scheme then begin
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ()
-      | clause :: rest ->
-        (match as_list clause with
-         | Some [test; body] ->
-           let is_else = match test with
-             | Keyword "else" | Symbol "else" | Symbol ":else" -> true | _ -> false in
-           if is_else then render_to_buf buf body env
-           else let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr test (Env env) in
-             if sx_truthy v then render_to_buf buf body env else go rest
-         | _ -> ())
-    in go args
-  end else begin
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> () | [_] -> ()
-      | test :: body :: rest ->
-        let is_else = match test with
-          | Keyword "else" | Symbol "else" | Symbol ":else" -> true | _ -> false in
-        if is_else then render_to_buf buf body env
-        else let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr test (Env env) in
-          if sx_truthy v then render_to_buf buf body env else go rest
-    in go args
-  end
-
-and render_let_buf buf args env =
-  let as_list = function List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> Some l | _ -> None in
-  let bindings_expr = List.hd args in
-  let body = List.tl args in
-  let local = env_extend env in
-  let bindings = match as_list bindings_expr with Some l -> l | None -> [] in
-  let is_scheme = match bindings with (List _ :: _) | (ListRef _ :: _) -> true | _ -> false in
-  if is_scheme then
-    List.iter (fun b ->
-      match as_list b with
-      | Some [Symbol name; expr] | Some [String name; expr] ->
-        let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env local) in
-        ignore (env_bind local name v)
-      | _ -> ()
-    ) bindings
-  else begin
-    let rec go = function
-      | [] -> ()
-      | (Symbol name) :: expr :: rest | (String name) :: expr :: rest ->
-        let v = Sx_ref.eval_expr expr (Env local) in
-        ignore (env_bind local name v); go rest
-      | _ -> ()
-    in go bindings
-  end;
-  let rec render_body = function
-    | [] -> ()
-    | [last] -> render_to_buf buf last local
-    | e :: rest -> ignore (Sx_ref.eval_expr e (Env local)); render_body rest
-  in render_body body
-
-and render_map_buf buf args env indexed =
-  let (fn_val, coll_val) = match args with
-    | [a; b] ->
-      let va = Sx_ref.eval_expr a (Env env) in
-      let vb = Sx_ref.eval_expr b (Env env) in
-      (match va, vb with
-       | (Lambda _ | NativeFn _), _ -> (va, vb)
-       | _, (Lambda _ | NativeFn _) -> (vb, va)
-       | _ -> (va, vb))
-    | _ -> (Nil, Nil)
-  in
-  let items = match coll_val with List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> l | _ -> [] in
-  List.iteri (fun i item ->
-    let call_args = if indexed then [Number (float_of_int i); item] else [item] in
-    match fn_val with
-    | Lambda l ->
-      let local = env_extend l.l_closure in
-      List.iter2 (fun p a -> ignore (env_bind local p a)) l.l_params call_args;
-      render_to_buf buf l.l_body local
-    | _ ->
-      let result = Sx_runtime.sx_call fn_val call_args in
-      render_to_buf buf result env
-  ) items
-
-and render_for_each_buf buf args env =
-  let (fn_val, coll_val) = match args with
-    | [a; b] ->
-      let va = Sx_ref.eval_expr a (Env env) in
-      let vb = Sx_ref.eval_expr b (Env env) in
-      (match va, vb with
-       | (Lambda _ | NativeFn _), _ -> (va, vb)
-       | _, (Lambda _ | NativeFn _) -> (vb, va)
-       | _ -> (va, vb))
-    | _ -> (Nil, Nil)
-  in
-  let items = match coll_val with List l | ListRef { contents = l } -> l | _ -> [] in
-  List.iter (fun item ->
-    match fn_val with
-    | Lambda l ->
-      let local = env_extend l.l_closure in
-      List.iter2 (fun p a -> ignore (env_bind local p a)) l.l_params [item];
-      render_to_buf buf l.l_body local
-    | _ ->
-      let result = Sx_runtime.sx_call fn_val [item] in
-      render_to_buf buf result env
-  ) items
+  | v -> Buffer.add_string buf (value_to_str v)
 
 (** Public API: render to a pre-allocated buffer. *)
 let render_to_buffer buf expr env = render_to_buf buf expr env
 
-(** Convenience: render to string using the buffer renderer. *)
-let render_to_html_streaming expr env =
-  let buf = Buffer.create 65536 in
-  render_to_buf buf expr env;
-  Buffer.contents buf
+(** Convenience: render to string. *)
+let render_to_html_streaming expr (env : env) =
+  match !render_to_html_ref expr (Env env) with
+  | String s -> s
+  | RawHTML s -> s
+  | v -> value_to_str v
+
+(** The native OCaml renderer — used by sx_server when SX adapter isn't loaded. *)
+let do_render_to_html expr (env_val : value) =
+  match !render_to_html_ref expr env_val with
+  | String s -> s
+  | RawHTML s -> s
+  | v -> value_to_str v
+
+(** Render via the SX adapter (render-to-html from adapter-html.sx).
+    Falls back to the native ref if the SX adapter isn't loaded. *)
+let sx_render_to_html (render_env : env) expr (eval_env : env) =
+  if Sx_types.env_has render_env "render-to-html" then
+    let fn = Sx_types.env_get render_env "render-to-html" in
+    let result = Sx_ref.cek_call fn (List [expr; Env eval_env]) in
+    match result with String s -> s | RawHTML s -> s | _ -> value_to_str result
+  else
+    do_render_to_html expr (Env eval_env)
 
 
 (* ====================================================================== *)
 (* Setup — bind render primitives in an env and wire up the ref            *)
 (* ====================================================================== *)
 
-let setup_render_env env =
-  render_to_html_ref := do_render_to_html;
+let is_html_tag name = List.mem name html_tags_list
+let is_void name = List.mem name void_elements_list
 
+(* escape_html_str: takes raw OCaml string, returns raw string — for callers *)
+let escape_html_str = escape_html_raw
+
+let setup_render_env (raw_env : env) =
+  let env = Env raw_env in
   let bind name fn =
-    ignore (env_bind env name (NativeFn (name, fn)))
+    ignore (Sx_types.env_bind raw_env name (NativeFn (name, fn)))
   in
 
   bind "render-html" (fun args ->
@@ -729,11 +356,11 @@ let setup_render_env env =
         | [] -> Nil
         | _ -> List (Symbol "do" :: exprs)
       in
-      String (render_to_html expr env)
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
     | [expr] ->
-      String (render_to_html expr env)
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
     | [expr; Env e] ->
-      String (render_to_html expr e)
+      !render_to_html_ref expr (Env e)
     | _ -> String "");
 
   bind "render-to-html" (fun args ->
@@ -745,9 +372,9 @@ let setup_render_env env =
         | [] -> Nil
         | _ -> List (Symbol "do" :: exprs)
       in
-      String (render_to_html expr env)
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
     | [expr] ->
-      String (render_to_html expr env)
+      !render_to_html_ref expr env
     | [expr; Env e] ->
-      String (render_to_html expr e)
+      !render_to_html_ref expr (Env e)
     | _ -> String "")
diff --git a/hosts/ocaml/transpiler.sx b/hosts/ocaml/transpiler.sx
index c7bf8ece..c25dd3a6 100644
--- a/hosts/ocaml/transpiler.sx
+++ b/hosts/ocaml/transpiler.sx
@@ -262,6 +262,11 @@
     "parse-comp-params"
     "parse-macro-params"
     "parse-keyword-args"
+    "eval-expr"
+    "expand-macro"
+    "try-catch"
+    "set-render-active!"
+    "scope-emitted"
     "jit-try-call"))
 
 (define