diff --git a/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe.rs b/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe.rs
index 196691d6..2b18cf12 100644
--- a/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe.rs
+++ b/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ use serde_json::{Value, json};
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
 #[path = "auto_layout_probe/clearance.rs"]
 mod clearance;
+#[path = "auto_layout_probe/condensed.rs"]
+mod condensed;
 #[path = "auto_layout_probe/layered.rs"]
 mod layered;
 
@@ -1092,6 +1094,61 @@ fn repair_placement_cli(project_file: &std::path::Path, diagram_text: &std::ffi:
     );
 }
 
+fn scc_observe(name: &str, f: Builder) -> Value {
+    let before = f.project;
+    let diagram = f.diagram;
+    validate_candidate(&before).expect("Validate SCC input");
+    let candidate = match condensed::candidate_with_diagnostics(&before, diagram) {
+        Err(error) => json!({"supported":false,"error":error.to_string()}),
+        Ok((after, plan)) => {
+            let same = condensed::candidate(&before, diagram);
+            let mut repeated = after.clone();
+            let mut stability = Vec::new();
+            for pass in 2..=10 {
+                match condensed::candidate(&repeated, diagram) {
+                    Ok(next) => {
+                        stability.push(json!({"pass":pass,"equal_previous":next==repeated,"equal_first":next==after}));
+                        repeated = next;
+                    }
+                    Err(error) => {
+                        stability.push(json!({"pass":pass,"error":error.to_string()}));
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            json!({"supported":true,"project":after,"plan":plan,"metrics":metrics(&after,diagram),
+                "lead_incompatibilities":lead_diagnostics(&after,diagram),
+                "conservation":conservation(&before,&after,diagram),"roundtrip":roundtrip(&after),
+                "same_input_exact":same.as_ref().is_ok_and(|p|*p==after),"ten_candidate_calls":stability})
+        }
+    };
+    json!({"fixture":name,"diagram":diagram,"before_project":before,
+        "before":metrics(&before,diagram),"candidate":candidate})
+}
+
+fn scc_placement_cli(project_file: &std::path::Path, diagram_text: &std::ffi::OsStr) {
+    let project: Project =
+        serde_json::from_slice(&std::fs::read(project_file).expect("Read Project"))
+            .expect("Decode Project");
+    let diagram: Id = diagram_text
+        .to_str()
+        .expect("UTF-8 UUID")
+        .parse()
+        .expect("Diagram UUID");
+    println!(
+        "{}",
+        scc_observe(
+            "external_case",
+            Builder {
+                project,
+                diagram,
+                next: 0,
+                witness: None
+            }
+        )
+    );
+}
+
 fn arrange_corpus(path: &std::path::Path) {
     let manifest: Value = serde_json::from_slice(&std::fs::read(path).expect("Read manifest"))
         .expect("Decode manifest");
@@ -1201,10 +1258,20 @@ fn main() {
         repair_placement_cli(std::path::Path::new(&args[2]), &args[3]);
         return;
     }
+    if args.len() == 4 && args[1] == "--scc-placement" {
+        scc_placement_cli(std::path::Path::new(&args[2]), &args[3]);
+        return;
+    }
+    if args.len() == 2 && args[1] == "--scc-fixtures" {
+        for (name, f) in fixtures() {
+            println!("{}", scc_observe(name, f));
+        }
+        return;
+    }
     assert_eq!(
         args.len(),
         1,
-        "Usage: auto_layout_probe [--route-corpus MANIFEST | --arrange-corpus MANIFEST | --import-placement PROJECT UUID PLAN | --repair-placement PROJECT UUID]"
+        "Usage: auto_layout_probe [--route-corpus MANIFEST | --arrange-corpus MANIFEST | --import-placement PROJECT UUID PLAN | --repair-placement PROJECT UUID | --scc-placement PROJECT UUID | --scc-fixtures]"
     );
     println!(
         "{}",
diff --git a/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe/condensed.rs b/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe/condensed.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..205c95c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/oa-core/examples/auto_layout_probe/condensed.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,551 @@
+//! Isolated SCC-block placement experiment; no production-layout acceptance.
+use super::{PlacementNode, PlacementPlan, import_placement};
+use oa_core::{Id, ModelError, Position, Project, Size, projection, routing};
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
+
+const LIMIT: usize = 20_000_000;
+const PAD: f32 = 32.0;
+const SPAN: f32 = 100_000.0;
+
+fn error(text: &str) -> ModelError {
+    ModelError(format!("SCC placement: {text}"))
+}
+fn charge(work: &mut usize, count: usize) -> Result<(), ModelError> {
+    *work = work.saturating_add(count);
+    if *work > LIMIT {
+        Err(error("work limit exceeded"))
+    } else {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+fn components(arcs: &[BTreeSet<usize>], work: &mut usize) -> Result<Vec<Vec<usize>>, ModelError> {
+    let n = arcs.len();
+    let mut reach = vec![vec![false; n]; n];
+    for start in 0..n {
+        let mut todo = vec![start];
+        reach[start][start] = true;
+        while let Some(at) = todo.pop() {
+            for &next in &arcs[at] {
+                charge(work, 1)?;
+                if !reach[start][next] {
+                    reach[start][next] = true;
+                    todo.push(next);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    let mut used = vec![false; n];
+    let mut result = Vec::new();
+    for i in 0..n {
+        if used[i] {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let mut group = Vec::new();
+        for j in i..n {
+            charge(work, 1)?;
+            if !used[j] && reach[i][j] && reach[j][i] {
+                used[j] = true;
+                group.push(j);
+            }
+        }
+        result.push(group);
+    }
+    Ok(result)
+}
+
+// Clockwise perimeter slots. Restrict to near-square physical envelopes when
+// possible; minimizing perimeter area without this restriction makes a strip.
+fn perimeter(
+    n: usize,
+    cell: Size,
+    gap: Size,
+    work: &mut usize,
+) -> Result<(Vec<Position>, usize, usize), ModelError> {
+    let mut best: Option<((bool, f32, f32, usize, usize), usize, usize)> = None;
+    for rows in 2..=n.max(2) {
+        for cols in 2..=n.max(2) {
+            charge(work, 1)?;
+            if 2 * rows + 2 * cols - 4 < n {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let width = cols as f32 * cell.width + (cols - 1) as f32 * gap.width;
+            let height = rows as f32 * cell.height + (rows - 1) as f32 * gap.height;
+            let aspect = (width / height).max(height / width);
+            let key = (
+                aspect > 2.0,
+                if aspect <= 2.0 {
+                    width * height
+                } else {
+                    aspect
+                },
+                width * height,
+                rows,
+                cols,
+            );
+            if best.as_ref().is_none_or(|(old, _, _)| key < *old) {
+                best = Some((key, rows, cols));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    let (_, rows, cols) = best.ok_or_else(|| error("no perimeter grid"))?;
+    let mut slots = Vec::new();
+    for col in 0..cols {
+        slots.push((col, 0));
+    }
+    for row in 1..rows {
+        slots.push((cols - 1, row));
+    }
+    for col in (0..cols - 1).rev() {
+        slots.push((col, rows - 1));
+    }
+    for row in (1..rows - 1).rev() {
+        slots.push((0, row));
+    }
+    Ok((
+        slots
+            .into_iter()
+            .take(n)
+            .map(|(x, y)| Position {
+                x: x as f32 * (cell.width + gap.width),
+                y: y as f32 * (cell.height + gap.height),
+            })
+            .collect(),
+        rows,
+        cols,
+    ))
+}
+
+fn lift(
+    id: Id,
+    parent: Option<Id>,
+    parents: &BTreeMap<Id, Option<Id>>,
+    work: &mut usize,
+) -> Result<Option<Id>, ModelError> {
+    let mut at = id;
+    for _ in 0..=parents.len() {
+        charge(work, 1)?;
+        let Some(&up) = parents.get(&at) else {
+            return Err(error("missing visual ancestor"));
+        };
+        if up == parent {
+            return Ok(Some(at));
+        }
+        let Some(next) = up else {
+            return Ok(None);
+        };
+        at = next;
+    }
+    Err(error("cyclic visual ancestry"))
+}
+
+/// Frozen projected geometry is the minimum; folded nodes remain opaque.
+pub fn candidate(project: &Project, diagram: Id) -> Result<Project, ModelError> {
+    candidate_with_diagnostics(project, diagram).map(|(result, _)| result)
+}
+
+pub fn candidate_with_diagnostics(
+    project: &Project,
+    diagram: Id,
+) -> Result<(Project, serde_json::Value), ModelError> {
+    let d = project
+        .diagrams
+        .get(&diagram)
+        .ok_or_else(|| error("missing diagram"))?;
+    if d.projection.scenario().is_some() {
+        return Err(error("Scenario unsupported"));
+    }
+    if d.nodes.len() > 256 {
+        return Err(error("stored-node bound exceeded"));
+    }
+    let view = projection::project_diagram(project, d);
+    if view.edges.len() > 1024 {
+        return Err(error("visible-edge bound exceeded"));
+    }
+    if view.nodes.iter().any(|n| {
+        !n.size.width.is_finite()
+            || !n.size.height.is_finite()
+            || n.size.width <= 0.0
+            || n.size.height <= 0.0
+    }) {
+        return Err(error("invalid projected minima"));
+    }
+    let parents: BTreeMap<_, _> = view.nodes.iter().map(|n| (n.id, n.visual_parent)).collect();
+    let names: BTreeMap<_, _> = view
+        .nodes
+        .iter()
+        .map(|n| (n.id, (project.elements[&n.element].alias.clone(), n.id)))
+        .collect();
+    let mut children: BTreeMap<Option<Id>, Vec<Id>> = BTreeMap::new();
+    for n in &view.nodes {
+        children.entry(n.visual_parent).or_default().push(n.id);
+    }
+    for ids in children.values_mut() {
+        ids.sort_by_key(|id| names[id].clone());
+    }
+    let mut work = 0;
+    let mut depth = BTreeMap::new();
+    for n in &view.nodes {
+        let mut at = n.id;
+        let mut count = 0;
+        let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+        while let Some(up) = *parents.get(&at).ok_or_else(|| error("missing parent"))? {
+            charge(&mut work, 1)?;
+            if !seen.insert(at) {
+                return Err(error("cyclic hierarchy"));
+            }
+            count += 1;
+            at = up;
+        }
+        depth.insert(n.id, count);
+    }
+    let routed = routing::route_diagram(project, d, &view);
+    let mut sizes: BTreeMap<_, _> = view.nodes.iter().map(|n| (n.id, n.size)).collect();
+    let mut offsets = BTreeMap::new();
+    let mut diagnostics = Vec::new();
+    let mut groups: Vec<_> = children.keys().copied().collect();
+    groups.sort_by_key(|p| std::cmp::Reverse(p.map_or(0, |id| depth[&id] + 1)));
+    for parent in groups {
+        let ids = &children[&parent];
+        let index: BTreeMap<_, _> = ids.iter().enumerate().map(|(i, id)| (*id, i)).collect();
+        let mut arcs = vec![BTreeSet::new(); ids.len()];
+        let mut links = Vec::new();
+        let mut undirected = BTreeSet::new();
+        for edge in &view.edges {
+            charge(&mut work, 1)?;
+            let (Some(a), Some(b)) = (
+                lift(edge.source, parent, &parents, &mut work)?,
+                lift(edge.target, parent, &parents, &mut work)?,
+            ) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            if a == b {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let (a, b) = (index[&a], index[&b]);
+            if edge.oriented {
+                arcs[a].insert(b);
+            } else {
+                undirected.insert((ids[a].min(ids[b]), ids[a].max(ids[b])));
+            }
+            let routed_edge = routed
+                .edges
+                .get(&edge.id)
+                .ok_or_else(|| error("missing estimated edge label"))?;
+            let mut label = routed_edge.label.bounds.size;
+            if let Some(relation) = project.relations.get(&edge.id) {
+                for end in routing::association_end_geometry(relation, routed_edge) {
+                    label.width = label.width.max(end.label.bounds.size.width);
+                    label.height = label.height.max(end.label.bounds.size.height);
+                }
+            }
+            if !label.width.is_finite() || !label.height.is_finite() {
+                return Err(error("invalid estimated label"));
+            }
+            links.push((a, b, label));
+        }
+        let comps = components(&arcs, &mut work)?;
+        let mut owner = vec![0; ids.len()];
+        for (c, members) in comps.iter().enumerate() {
+            for &i in members {
+                owner[i] = c;
+            }
+        }
+        let mut dag = vec![BTreeSet::new(); comps.len()];
+        for (a, targets) in arcs.iter().enumerate() {
+            for &b in targets {
+                if owner[a] != owner[b] {
+                    dag[owner[a]].insert(owner[b]);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let mut ranks = vec![0usize; comps.len()];
+        let mut done = BTreeSet::new();
+        while done.len() < comps.len() {
+            let next = (0..comps.len())
+                .find(|c| {
+                    !done.contains(c)
+                        && (0..comps.len()).all(|p| !dag[p].contains(c) || done.contains(&p))
+                })
+                .ok_or_else(|| error("condensation is cyclic"))?;
+            charge(&mut work, comps.len() * comps.len())?;
+            for &to in &dag[next] {
+                ranks[to] = ranks[to].max(ranks[next] + 1);
+            }
+            done.insert(next);
+        }
+        let mut blocks = Vec::new();
+        let mut component_diagnostics = Vec::new();
+        let mut member_offsets = BTreeMap::new();
+        for (c, members) in comps.iter().enumerate() {
+            let mut gap = Size {
+                width: PAD,
+                height: PAD,
+            };
+            for &(a, b, label) in &links {
+                if owner[a] == c && owner[b] == c {
+                    gap.width = gap.width.max(label.width + PAD);
+                    gap.height = gap.height.max(label.height + PAD);
+                }
+            }
+            let mut order = Vec::new();
+            let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+            for &start in members {
+                let mut stack = vec![start];
+                while let Some(i) = stack.pop() {
+                    charge(&mut work, 1)?;
+                    if !seen.insert(i) {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    order.push(i);
+                    for &j in arcs[i].iter().rev() {
+                        if owner[j] == c && !seen.contains(&j) {
+                            stack.push(j);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            let cell = Size {
+                width: members
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|&i| sizes[&ids[i]].width)
+                    .fold(0.0, f32::max),
+                height: members
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|&i| sizes[&ids[i]].height)
+                    .fold(0.0, f32::max),
+            };
+            let (slots, rows, cols) = if members.len() == 1 {
+                (vec![Position { x: 0.0, y: 0.0 }], 1, 1)
+            } else {
+                perimeter(members.len(), cell, gap, &mut work)?
+            };
+            component_diagnostics.push(serde_json::json!({"component":c,"rank":ranks[c],"members":members.iter().map(|&i|ids[i]).collect::<Vec<_>>(),"walk":order.iter().map(|&i|ids[i]).collect::<Vec<_>>(),"grid_rows":rows,"grid_cols":cols,"gap":gap}));
+            let mut size = Size {
+                width: 0.0,
+                height: 0.0,
+            };
+            for (i, pos) in order.into_iter().zip(slots) {
+                size.width = size.width.max(pos.x + sizes[&ids[i]].width);
+                size.height = size.height.max(pos.y + sizes[&ids[i]].height);
+                member_offsets.insert(i, pos);
+            }
+            blocks.push(size);
+        }
+        let max_rank = ranks.iter().copied().max().unwrap_or(0);
+        charge(
+            &mut work,
+            links
+                .len()
+                .saturating_mul(comps.len().saturating_add(1))
+                .saturating_mul(comps.len().saturating_add(1)),
+        )?;
+        let mut block_positions = vec![Position { x: 0.0, y: 0.0 }; comps.len()];
+        let mut x = 0.0;
+        let mut total = Size {
+            width: 0.0,
+            height: 0.0,
+        };
+        let mut prior_order = vec![0usize; comps.len()];
+        for rank in 0..=max_rank {
+            let mut layer: Vec<_> = (0..comps.len()).filter(|&c| ranks[c] == rank).collect();
+            // Fixed one-pass proximity order, including undirected links, without
+            // inventing direction or changing condensation ranks.
+            layer.sort_by_key(|&c| {
+                let neighbors: Vec<_> = links
+                    .iter()
+                    .filter_map(|&(a, b, _)| {
+                        let (a, b) = (owner[a], owner[b]);
+                        if a == c && ranks[b] < rank {
+                            Some(prior_order[b])
+                        } else if b == c && ranks[a] < rank {
+                            Some(prior_order[a])
+                        } else {
+                            None
+                        }
+                    })
+                    .collect();
+                (
+                    if neighbors.is_empty() {
+                        c
+                    } else {
+                        neighbors.iter().sum::<usize>() / neighbors.len()
+                    },
+                    c,
+                )
+            });
+            // Keep same-rank undirected neighbours contiguous in one canonical
+            // breadth-first walk; these links never become directed rank arcs.
+            let mut proximity = Vec::new();
+            let mut remaining: BTreeSet<_> = layer.iter().copied().collect();
+            for &start in &layer {
+                if !remaining.remove(&start) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                let mut queue = std::collections::VecDeque::from([start]);
+                while let Some(c) = queue.pop_front() {
+                    proximity.push(c);
+                    for &next in &layer {
+                        charge(&mut work, links.len() + 1)?;
+                        if remaining.contains(&next)
+                            && links.iter().any(|&(a, b, _)| {
+                                (owner[a] == c && owner[b] == next)
+                                    || (owner[b] == c && owner[a] == next)
+                            })
+                        {
+                            remaining.remove(&next);
+                            queue.push_back(next);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            layer = proximity;
+            let mut cut = Size {
+                width: PAD,
+                height: PAD,
+            };
+            for &(a, b, label) in &links {
+                if owner[a] != owner[b] && (ranks[owner[a]] == rank || ranks[owner[b]] == rank) {
+                    cut.width = cut.width.max(label.width + PAD);
+                    cut.height = cut.height.max(label.height + PAD);
+                }
+            }
+            let mut y = 0.0;
+            let mut width = 0.0_f32;
+            for (i, c) in layer.into_iter().enumerate() {
+                prior_order[c] = i;
+                block_positions[c] = Position { x, y };
+                y += blocks[c].height + cut.height;
+                width = width.max(blocks[c].width);
+            }
+            total.width = total.width.max(x + width);
+            total.height = total.height.max((y - cut.height).max(0.0));
+            x += width + cut.width;
+        }
+        let header = if let Some(id) = parent {
+            let n = view.nodes.iter().find(|n| n.id == id).unwrap();
+            if n.collapsed {
+                return Err(error("folded node has projected children"));
+            }
+            if d.projection.state_machine().is_some() {
+                projection::state_header_height(project, n.element)
+            } else {
+                64.0
+            }
+        } else {
+            0.0
+        };
+        for (i, id) in ids.iter().enumerate() {
+            let b = block_positions[owner[i]];
+            let m = member_offsets[&i];
+            offsets.insert(
+                *id,
+                Position {
+                    x: b.x + m.x + if parent.is_some() { PAD } else { 0.0 },
+                    y: b.y + m.y + if parent.is_some() { header + PAD } else { 0.0 },
+                },
+            );
+        }
+        if let Some(id) = parent {
+            let size = sizes.get_mut(&id).unwrap();
+            size.width = size.width.max(total.width + 2.0 * PAD);
+            size.height = size.height.max(total.height + header + 2.0 * PAD);
+        }
+        let lifted: Vec<_> = arcs
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .flat_map(|(a, targets)| targets.iter().map(move |&b| (ids[a], ids[b])))
+            .collect();
+        diagnostics.push(serde_json::json!({"visible_parent":parent,"components":component_diagnostics,"directed_lifted_edges":lifted,"undirected_lifted_pairs":undirected,"block_positions":block_positions,"bounds":total,"policy":"SCCs of sibling-subtree quotient, not global semantic SCCs. Undirected edges affect local gap and deterministic proximity only; no rank direction invented."}));
+    }
+    let mut plans = Vec::new();
+    for n in &view.nodes {
+        let mut position = offsets[&n.id];
+        let mut parent = n.visual_parent;
+        while let Some(id) = parent {
+            charge(&mut work, 1)?;
+            let p = offsets[&id];
+            position.x += p.x;
+            position.y += p.y;
+            parent = parents[&id];
+        }
+        position.x += 40.0;
+        position.y += 40.0;
+        let size = sizes[&n.id];
+        if !position.x.is_finite()
+            || !position.y.is_finite()
+            || position.x + size.width > SPAN
+            || position.y + size.height > SPAN
+        {
+            return Err(error("extent bound exceeded"));
+        }
+        plans.push(PlacementNode {
+            id: n.id,
+            position,
+            size,
+        });
+    }
+    let result = import_placement(
+        project,
+        diagram,
+        PlacementPlan {
+            schema: 1,
+            nodes: plans,
+        },
+    )?;
+    let final_view = projection::project_view(&result, diagram);
+    charge(
+        &mut work,
+        final_view.edges.len() * (final_view.nodes.len() + 1) * 16,
+    )?;
+    if !routing::lead_incompatibilities(&result, &result.diagrams[&diagram], &final_view).is_empty()
+    {
+        return Err(error(
+            "final mandatory port lead incompatible; no repair attempted",
+        ));
+    }
+    Ok((
+        result,
+        serde_json::json!({"groups":diagnostics,"work_charged":work,"work_limit":LIMIT,"scope":"Projected-forest quotient heuristic; actual final reprojection and necessary lead guard checked. No full-route or readability acceptance."}),
+    ))
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    #[test]
+    fn directed_cycles_remain_separate_across_one_way_bridge() {
+        let arcs = vec![
+            BTreeSet::from([1]),
+            BTreeSet::from([0, 2]),
+            BTreeSet::from([3]),
+            BTreeSet::from([2]),
+        ];
+        assert_eq!(
+            components(&arcs, &mut 0).unwrap(),
+            vec![vec![0, 1], vec![2, 3]]
+        );
+    }
+    #[test]
+    fn perimeter_places_ten_unique_cells_without_overlap() {
+        let (positions, _, _) = perimeter(
+            10,
+            Size {
+                width: 224.0,
+                height: 132.0,
+            },
+            Size {
+                width: 32.0,
+                height: 32.0,
+            },
+            &mut 0,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(positions.len(), 10);
+        for (i, a) in positions.iter().enumerate() {
+            for b in &positions[i + 1..] {
+                assert!((a.x - b.x).abs() >= 256.0 || (a.y - b.y).abs() >= 164.0);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/harness/experiments/scc-placement-20260925/plan.md b/harness/experiments/scc-placement-20260925/plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8320b2b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/harness/experiments/scc-placement-20260925/plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# Coherent cyclic-group placement experiment
+
+Source evidence atae9dad54 and the independent grouped-corridor audit change the
+next action. The old sparse candidate has four10-node strongly connected
+components, but its alias cycle breaking interleaves them across16 ranks. The
+single top corridor contributes38880/40522 pairwise shared units. Mixed has the
+same defect:4006/4228 at the top boundary. Test coherent compact SCC blocks with
+the released router before introducing a joint route-separation algorithm.
+This is a structural candidate, not another penalty or gap-repair sweep.
+
+## Fixed candidate
+
+- Plan each sibling group of the actual projected visual forest. Lift oriented
+  connections to immediate child-subtree representatives, compute SCCs, then
+  rank their condensation DAG. Never break a cycle by choosing an arbitrary
+  vertex in another still-blocked component. Undirected edges impose no rank
+  direction. Preserve all semantic orientation/endpoints and authored hierarchy.
+- Pack a multi-member SCC around a compact rectangular perimeter, using a
+  deterministic directed DFS successor order with alias/placement ties. Among
+  integer perimeter grids, prefer near-square physical aspect≤2 when feasible,
+  then minimum area; otherwise minimum aspect, with deterministic ties. This
+  rule is frozen before execution, not selected from measured corpus scores.
+- Use local edge-label estimates for gaps inside and between blocks. Minimum
+  gaps and child-header clearance reserve at least the18+12 mandatory-lead
+  requirement. Recompute parent enclosure from frozen minima. Core estimates
+  are not native glyph measurements. No global longest label inflates every gap.
+- Folded visible nodes are opaque with their exact compact projected footprint;
+  stored expanded sizes and latent descendants follow the audited original-to-
+  final import translation policy. Other omitted placements remain unchanged.
+  Final import alone reconstructs eligible route reset and retained translations.
+- Check actual final projection and mandatory leads. Geometry mismatch, missing
+  owners, bounds/work exhaustion and infeasible leads remain explicit candidate
+  errors; no implicit repair loop or changed port anchors. Scenario remains
+  outside this Arrange operation. Nodes/edges/work and grid enumeration are
+  bounded and candidate failure leaves the original unchanged.
+
+At a nested level these SCCs belong to the child-subtree quotient graph; they
+are a placement heuristic, not a claim about original leaf semantic SCCs.
+Cross-boundary edges and per-parent component/rank membership are reported.
+Nested grouping must not rewrite user containment or silently flatten it.
+
+## Evaluation and stop
+
+Use the same five frozen independent cases and the original nine small fixtures.
+Retain original/current Arrange-reset/old native results; add one SCC candidate,
+without parameter sweeps or changing the router. Report unsupported/error cases.
+Check complete Project conservation with only declared geometry/reset/retained
+translation exceptions, exact port-anchor and hidden-subtree behavior, final
+header/enclosure and node/route collisions, warnings, proper/T/bend contacts,
+shared intervals and pair multiplicities, labels, area and length. Record
+repeat-input equality and ten-call stability, including folded/compound cases.
+The two relation-ID variants must expose any stable-ID routing sensitivity.
+
+The structural witness is actual condensation order with compact component
+members and reduced dominant shared top corridors. A lower shared total alone
+is insufficient: preserve the full quality vector and identify any newly
+ambiguous pair, port failure, label interference or disproportionate area cost.
+Model/identity/history preservation is not evidence of readability. Do not
+adopt after compilation or metric checks alone; a viable candidate still needs
+production command/API/history integration and native route-tracing workflows.
+
+Stop after this one structurally distinct candidate and independent review. If
+coherent blocks only move sharing elsewhere or create hard failures, retain
+the counterexample. Joint derived route separation and virtual long-edge
+ordering remain distinct alternatives; choose the next action from the observed
+failure, not from commitment to this prototype.
+
+Windows only; Linux builds and the frozen published prerelease remain unchanged.