Implement an aligned two-section frame format, a compiled prefix router, a minimal pending and active hook engine, and a header-first receive path that only decodes payloads on local delivery. Recreate the protocol-focused test suite and document the explicit framing deviation in src/protocol/PROTOCOL_CHANGES.md.
Move demo leaf echo behavior out of the core protocol runtime, treat procedure IDs as opaque protocol fields, and return direct registered children in endpoint introspection to match the spec.
Michael Mikovsky