diff --git a/scarf/scarf/Core/Models/TemplateConfig.swift b/scarf/scarf/Core/Models/TemplateConfig.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..458ce8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scarf/scarf/Core/Models/TemplateConfig.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+import Foundation
+
+// MARK: - Schema (ships inside template.json as manifest.config)
+
+/// Author-declared configuration schema for a template. Published as the
+/// `config` block of `template.json` (manifest schemaVersion 2). Users fill
+/// in values at install time via `TemplateConfigSheet`; values land in
+/// `<project>/.scarf/config.json` with secrets resolved through the
+/// macOS Keychain.
+struct TemplateConfigSchema: Codable, Sendable, Equatable {
+    let fields: [TemplateConfigField]
+    let modelRecommendation: TemplateModelRecommendation?
+
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
+        case fields = "schema"
+        case modelRecommendation
+    }
+
+    nonisolated var isEmpty: Bool { fields.isEmpty }
+
+    /// Fast lookup by key. Validators guarantee keys are unique within a
+    /// schema at manifest-parse time, so this is safe.
+    nonisolated func field(for key: String) -> TemplateConfigField? {
+        fields.first { $0.key == key }
+    }
+}
+
+/// One configurable field the user fills in. Discriminated by `type`.
+/// We keep one flat struct rather than an enum-associated-value encoding
+/// so JSON reads cleanly as a record and authors can hand-edit manifests
+/// without fighting Swift's `"case"` discriminator syntax.
+struct TemplateConfigField: Codable, Sendable, Equatable, Identifiable {
+    nonisolated var id: String { key }
+
+    let key: String
+    let type: FieldType
+    let label: String
+    let description: String?
+    let required: Bool
+    let placeholder: String?
+
+    // Type-specific constraints — all optional. The validator enforces
+    // only the ones that apply to `type`; extras are ignored.
+    let defaultValue: TemplateConfigValue?
+    let options: [EnumOption]?        // type == .enum
+    let minLength: Int?               // type == .string / .text
+    let maxLength: Int?
+    let pattern: String?              // type == .string (regex)
+    let minNumber: Double?            // type == .number
+    let maxNumber: Double?
+    let step: Double?
+    let itemType: String?             // type == .list — only "string" supported in v1
+    let minItems: Int?
+    let maxItems: Int?
+
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
+        case key, type, label, description, required, placeholder
+        case defaultValue = "default"
+        case options
+        case minLength, maxLength, pattern
+        case minNumber = "min"
+        case maxNumber = "max"
+        case step
+        case itemType, minItems, maxItems
+    }
+
+    enum FieldType: String, Codable, Sendable, Equatable {
+        case string
+        case text
+        case number
+        case bool
+        case `enum`
+        case list
+        case secret
+    }
+
+    /// One option of an `enum` field. `value` is what ends up in
+    /// `config.json`; `label` is the human-readable text shown in the UI.
+    struct EnumOption: Codable, Sendable, Equatable, Identifiable {
+        nonisolated var id: String { value }
+        let value: String
+        let label: String
+    }
+}
+
+/// Author's model-of-choice hint, shown in the install preview + on the
+/// catalog detail page. Purely advisory — Scarf never auto-switches the
+/// active model. Individual cron jobs can override via
+/// `HermesCronJob.model` if the author wants enforcement.
+struct TemplateModelRecommendation: Codable, Sendable, Equatable {
+    let preferred: String
+    let rationale: String?
+    let alternatives: [String]?
+}
+
+// MARK: - Values (what lands in config.json and the Keychain)
+
+/// One configured value. Secrets don't carry their raw bytes — only a
+/// Keychain reference of the form `"keychain://<service>/<account>"` so
+/// serialising config.json to disk never leaks the secret into git or
+/// into backups.
+enum TemplateConfigValue: Codable, Sendable, Equatable {
+    case string(String)
+    case number(Double)
+    case bool(Bool)
+    case list([String])
+    case keychainRef(String)
+
+    /// Convenience: the string representation suitable for display or
+    /// for writing into a placeholder that the agent reads. Keychain
+    /// refs return the ref string, not the resolved secret — callers
+    /// resolve through `ProjectConfigKeychain` explicitly when they
+    /// actually need the plaintext.
+    nonisolated var displayString: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .string(let s): return s
+        case .number(let n):
+            return n.truncatingRemainder(dividingBy: 1) == 0
+                ? String(Int(n))
+                : String(n)
+        case .bool(let b): return b ? "true" : "false"
+        case .list(let items): return items.joined(separator: ", ")
+        case .keychainRef(let ref): return ref
+        }
+    }
+
+    init(from decoder: Decoder) throws {
+        let container = try decoder.singleValueContainer()
+        if let s = try? container.decode(String.self) {
+            // Preserve the keychain:// scheme so secrets round-trip as
+            // references, not as plaintext.
+            if s.hasPrefix("keychain://") {
+                self = .keychainRef(s)
+            } else {
+                self = .string(s)
+            }
+        } else if let b = try? container.decode(Bool.self) {
+            self = .bool(b)
+        } else if let n = try? container.decode(Double.self) {
+            self = .number(n)
+        } else if let arr = try? container.decode([String].self) {
+            self = .list(arr)
+        } else {
+            throw DecodingError.typeMismatch(
+                TemplateConfigValue.self,
+                .init(codingPath: decoder.codingPath,
+                      debugDescription: "Expected String, Bool, Number, or [String]")
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    func encode(to encoder: Encoder) throws {
+        var container = encoder.singleValueContainer()
+        switch self {
+        case .string(let s): try container.encode(s)
+        case .number(let n): try container.encode(n)
+        case .bool(let b): try container.encode(b)
+        case .list(let items): try container.encode(items)
+        case .keychainRef(let ref): try container.encode(ref)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - On-disk shape (what's in <project>/.scarf/config.json)
+
+/// The JSON file the installer writes + the editor reads. Non-secret
+/// values appear inline; secrets are `"keychain://<service>/<account>"`
+/// references that `ProjectConfigService` resolves through the Keychain
+/// on demand.
+struct ProjectConfigFile: Codable, Sendable {
+    let schemaVersion: Int
+    let templateId: String
+    var values: [String: TemplateConfigValue]
+    let updatedAt: String
+
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
+        case schemaVersion
+        case templateId
+        case values
+        case updatedAt
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Keychain reference helpers
+
+/// One secret stored via `ProjectConfigKeychain`. We derive both halves
+/// (service + account) from the template slug + project-path hash so two
+/// installs of the same template in different dirs don't collide in the
+/// login Keychain.
+struct TemplateKeychainRef: Sendable, Equatable {
+    /// Macro service name, e.g. `com.scarf.template.awizemann-site-status-checker`.
+    let service: String
+    /// Account name: `<fieldKey>:<projectPathHashShort>`. The hash suffix
+    /// guarantees uniqueness across multiple installs of the same template.
+    let account: String
+
+    /// `"keychain://<service>/<account>"` — what lands in `config.json`.
+    nonisolated var uri: String { "keychain://\(service)/\(account)" }
+
+    /// Parse a `keychain://…` URI back into a ref. Returns `nil` when the
+    /// input isn't well-formed so callers can distinguish a missing ref
+    /// from a malformed one.
+    nonisolated static func parse(_ uri: String) -> TemplateKeychainRef? {
+        guard uri.hasPrefix("keychain://") else { return nil }
+        let rest = String(uri.dropFirst("keychain://".count))
+        guard let slash = rest.firstIndex(of: "/") else { return nil }
+        let service = String(rest[..<slash])
+        let account = String(rest[rest.index(after: slash)...])
+        guard !service.isEmpty, !account.isEmpty else { return nil }
+        return TemplateKeychainRef(service: service, account: account)
+    }
+
+    /// Build a ref from a template slug + field key + project path.
+    /// The hash suffix is a SHA-256-truncated-to-8-hex-chars fingerprint
+    /// of the absolute project path. Stable across launches, different
+    /// between `/Users/a/proj1` and `/Users/a/proj2`.
+    nonisolated static func make(
+        templateSlug: String,
+        fieldKey: String,
+        projectPath: String
+    ) -> TemplateKeychainRef {
+        TemplateKeychainRef(
+            service: "com.scarf.template.\(templateSlug)",
+            account: "\(fieldKey):\(Self.shortHash(of: projectPath))"
+        )
+    }
+
+    nonisolated static func shortHash(of string: String) -> String {
+        // 8 hex chars is 32 bits of uniqueness — plenty for
+        // distinguishing a handful of project dirs per template install.
+        let data = Data(string.utf8)
+        var hash: UInt32 = 0x811c9dc5
+        for byte in data {
+            hash ^= UInt32(byte)
+            hash &*= 0x01000193
+        }
+        return String(format: "%08x", hash)
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Validation
+
+/// One schema- or value-validation problem. Carries `fieldKey` so the
+/// UI can surface the error inline with the field rather than at the
+/// top of the form.
+struct TemplateConfigValidationError: Error, Sendable, Equatable {
+    let fieldKey: String?
+    let message: String
+}
+
+enum TemplateConfigSchemaError: LocalizedError, Sendable {
+    case duplicateKey(String)
+    case unsupportedType(String)
+    case emptyEnumOptions(String)
+    case duplicateEnumValue(key: String, value: String)
+    case unsupportedListItemType(key: String, itemType: String)
+    case secretFieldHasDefault(String)
+    case emptyModelPreferred
+
+    var errorDescription: String? {
+        switch self {
+        case .duplicateKey(let k):
+            return "Config schema has duplicate key: \(k)"
+        case .unsupportedType(let t):
+            return "Config schema uses unsupported field type: \(t)"
+        case .emptyEnumOptions(let k):
+            return "Enum field '\(k)' must declare at least one option"
+        case .duplicateEnumValue(let k, let v):
+            return "Enum field '\(k)' has duplicate option value: \(v)"
+        case .unsupportedListItemType(let k, let t):
+            return "List field '\(k)' uses unsupported itemType '\(t)'. Only 'string' is supported in v1."
+        case .secretFieldHasDefault(let k):
+            return "Secret field '\(k)' cannot declare a default value — secrets belong only in the Keychain."
+        case .emptyModelPreferred:
+            return "modelRecommendation.preferred must be a non-empty model id."
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/scarf/scarf/Core/Services/ProjectConfigKeychain.swift b/scarf/scarf/Core/Services/ProjectConfigKeychain.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36f5590
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scarf/scarf/Core/Services/ProjectConfigKeychain.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+import Foundation
+import Security
+import os
+
+/// Thin wrapper around the macOS Keychain for template-config secrets.
+/// Scarf doesn't have other Keychain users yet so this file is the one
+/// place that touches the `Security` framework; keep it small and
+/// auditable so a reader can tell at a glance what we store, under what
+/// identifiers, and when items are removed.
+///
+/// **What we store.** Generic passwords (kSecClassGenericPassword) in
+/// the login Keychain. Each item is identified by a (service, account)
+/// pair derived from the template slug + field key + project-path hash
+/// — see `TemplateKeychainRef.make`. The stored Data is the user's
+/// raw secret bytes; we never transform or encode them.
+///
+/// **When items are written.** By `ProjectTemplateInstaller` after the
+/// install preview is confirmed and the user has filled in the
+/// configure sheet. By `TemplateConfigSheet` when the user edits a
+/// secret field post-install.
+///
+/// **When items are removed.** By `ProjectTemplateUninstaller`,
+/// iterating the lock file's `configKeychainItems` list. The login
+/// Keychain is never swept for stray entries — if the lock is out of
+/// sync we log + skip rather than guess which items are ours.
+///
+/// **What shows to the user.** macOS prompts "Scarf wants to access
+/// the Keychain" the first time we read a secret in a given session.
+/// User approves; subsequent reads in that session are silent. We
+/// never bypass this — the prompt is the user's trust boundary.
+struct ProjectConfigKeychain: Sendable {
+    private static let logger = Logger(subsystem: "com.scarf", category: "ProjectConfigKeychain")
+
+    /// Which Keychain to target. The default is the login Keychain
+    /// (`nil` uses the user's default chain). Tests pass an explicit
+    /// namespace suffix via `testServiceSuffix` — see `TemplateConfigTests` —
+    /// so integration tests can roundtrip without polluting real
+    /// user state.
+    let testServiceSuffix: String?
+
+    nonisolated init(testServiceSuffix: String? = nil) {
+        self.testServiceSuffix = testServiceSuffix
+    }
+
+    /// Write or overwrite the secret for (service, account). Tests
+    /// route their items through a distinct service prefix via
+    /// `testServiceSuffix` so they can't leak into the user's real
+    /// Keychain.
+    nonisolated func set(service: String, account: String, secret: Data) throws {
+        let svc = resolved(service: service)
+        let query: [String: Any] = [
+            kSecClass as String: kSecClassGenericPassword,
+            kSecAttrService as String: svc,
+            kSecAttrAccount as String: account,
+        ]
+        // Try update first — cheaper than delete-then-add and doesn't
+        // trip macOS's "item already exists" if another thread raced us.
+        let update: [String: Any] = [
+            kSecValueData as String: secret,
+        ]
+        let updateStatus = SecItemUpdate(query as CFDictionary, update as CFDictionary)
+        if updateStatus == errSecSuccess { return }
+        if updateStatus != errSecItemNotFound {
+            throw Self.error(status: updateStatus, op: "update")
+        }
+        var insert = query
+        insert[kSecValueData as String] = secret
+        // kSecAttrAccessibleAfterFirstUnlockThisDeviceOnly — stays in
+        // this device's Keychain, not synced via iCloud, usable after
+        // first unlock (so background cron triggers can read).
+        insert[kSecAttrAccessible as String] = kSecAttrAccessibleAfterFirstUnlockThisDeviceOnly
+        let addStatus = SecItemAdd(insert as CFDictionary, nil)
+        if addStatus != errSecSuccess {
+            throw Self.error(status: addStatus, op: "add")
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Retrieve the secret for (service, account). Returns `nil` when
+    /// the item simply doesn't exist (user never set it, or an
+    /// uninstall already removed it). Throws on every other Keychain
+    /// error so callers don't silently treat "access denied" or
+    /// "corrupt keychain" as "no value."
+    nonisolated func get(service: String, account: String) throws -> Data? {
+        let svc = resolved(service: service)
+        let query: [String: Any] = [
+            kSecClass as String: kSecClassGenericPassword,
+            kSecAttrService as String: svc,
+            kSecAttrAccount as String: account,
+            kSecReturnData as String: true,
+            kSecMatchLimit as String: kSecMatchLimitOne,
+        ]
+        var result: CFTypeRef?
+        let status = SecItemCopyMatching(query as CFDictionary, &result)
+        if status == errSecItemNotFound { return nil }
+        if status != errSecSuccess {
+            throw Self.error(status: status, op: "get")
+        }
+        return result as? Data
+    }
+
+    /// Delete the secret for (service, account). Absent item is a
+    /// no-op; any other failure throws. Called by
+    /// `ProjectTemplateUninstaller` for every item in
+    /// `TemplateLock.configKeychainItems`.
+    nonisolated func delete(service: String, account: String) throws {
+        let svc = resolved(service: service)
+        let query: [String: Any] = [
+            kSecClass as String: kSecClassGenericPassword,
+            kSecAttrService as String: svc,
+            kSecAttrAccount as String: account,
+        ]
+        let status = SecItemDelete(query as CFDictionary)
+        if status == errSecItemNotFound || status == errSecSuccess { return }
+        throw Self.error(status: status, op: "delete")
+    }
+
+    /// Convenience: apply the test suffix when in test mode.
+    nonisolated private func resolved(service: String) -> String {
+        guard let suffix = testServiceSuffix, !suffix.isEmpty else { return service }
+        return "\(service).\(suffix)"
+    }
+
+    /// Build a useful NSError from a Keychain OSStatus. Logs at warning
+    /// — callers decide whether the failure is fatal.
+    nonisolated private static func error(status: OSStatus, op: String) -> NSError {
+        let description = (SecCopyErrorMessageString(status, nil) as String?) ?? "Keychain error"
+        logger.warning("Keychain \(op, privacy: .public) failed: \(status) \(description, privacy: .public)")
+        return NSError(
+            domain: "com.scarf.keychain",
+            code: Int(status),
+            userInfo: [
+                NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "Keychain \(op) failed (\(status)): \(description)"
+            ]
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Ref-shaped convenience layer
+
+extension ProjectConfigKeychain {
+    /// Set a secret using a pre-built `TemplateKeychainRef`. Mirrors the
+    /// service/account plumbing every caller would otherwise repeat.
+    nonisolated func set(ref: TemplateKeychainRef, secret: Data) throws {
+        try set(service: ref.service, account: ref.account, secret: secret)
+    }
+
+    nonisolated func get(ref: TemplateKeychainRef) throws -> Data? {
+        try get(service: ref.service, account: ref.account)
+    }
+
+    nonisolated func delete(ref: TemplateKeychainRef) throws {
+        try delete(service: ref.service, account: ref.account)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/scarf/scarf/Core/Services/ProjectConfigService.swift b/scarf/scarf/Core/Services/ProjectConfigService.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..091acda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scarf/scarf/Core/Services/ProjectConfigService.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,318 @@
+import Foundation
+import os
+
+/// Per-project configuration I/O: reads `<project>/.scarf/config.json`
+/// into typed values, writes them back, resolves Keychain-backed secrets
+/// on demand, and validates user-entered values against the schema.
+///
+/// Separation of concerns:
+///
+/// - **Schema authority.** `TemplateConfigSchema` lives in the bundle's
+///   `template.json` and a copy is stashed at `<project>/.scarf/manifest.json`
+///   at install time so the post-install editor works offline. This
+///   service treats the schema as read-only input; `validateSchema`
+///   checks structural invariants and is called by
+///   `ProjectTemplateService` during install-plan building.
+/// - **Value storage.** Non-secret values live inline in `config.json`;
+///   secret values are Keychain references of the form
+///   `"keychain://<service>/<account>"`. The service owns both halves
+///   of that storage — callers never open `config.json` or touch the
+///   Keychain directly.
+/// - **Remote readiness.** All file I/O goes through
+///   `ServerContext.makeTransport()` so when `ProjectTemplateInstaller`
+///   eventually supports remote contexts, the config store comes along
+///   for the ride. Keychain access stays local (it's a macOS-side thing
+///   by definition — agents on remote Hermes installs would fetch
+///   values via Scarf's channel, same as today).
+struct ProjectConfigService: Sendable {
+    private static let logger = Logger(subsystem: "com.scarf", category: "ProjectConfigService")
+
+    let context: ServerContext
+    let keychain: ProjectConfigKeychain
+
+    nonisolated init(
+        context: ServerContext = .local,
+        keychain: ProjectConfigKeychain = ProjectConfigKeychain()
+    ) {
+        self.context = context
+        self.keychain = keychain
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Paths
+
+    nonisolated static func configPath(for project: ProjectEntry) -> String {
+        project.path + "/.scarf/config.json"
+    }
+
+    nonisolated static func manifestCachePath(for project: ProjectEntry) -> String {
+        project.path + "/.scarf/manifest.json"
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Load / save on-disk config
+
+    /// Read + decode `<project>/.scarf/config.json`. Returns `nil`
+    /// cleanly when the file is absent (e.g. a project installed from
+    /// a schema-less template, or a hand-added project). Throws on
+    /// malformed JSON so the caller can surface a concrete error
+    /// rather than silently treating a corrupt file as missing.
+    nonisolated func load(project: ProjectEntry) throws -> ProjectConfigFile? {
+        let transport = context.makeTransport()
+        let path = Self.configPath(for: project)
+        guard transport.fileExists(path) else { return nil }
+        let data = try transport.readFile(path)
+        do {
+            return try JSONDecoder().decode(ProjectConfigFile.self, from: data)
+        } catch {
+            Self.logger.error("couldn't decode config.json at \(path, privacy: .public): \(error.localizedDescription, privacy: .public)")
+            throw error
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Write `<project>/.scarf/config.json`. Secrets should already be
+    /// represented as `TemplateConfigValue.keychainRef` references here
+    /// — this service never inspects their plaintext.
+    nonisolated func save(
+        project: ProjectEntry,
+        templateId: String,
+        values: [String: TemplateConfigValue]
+    ) throws {
+        let transport = context.makeTransport()
+        let file = ProjectConfigFile(
+            schemaVersion: 2,
+            templateId: templateId,
+            values: values,
+            updatedAt: ISO8601DateFormatter().string(from: Date())
+        )
+        let encoder = JSONEncoder()
+        encoder.outputFormatting = [.prettyPrinted, .sortedKeys]
+        let data = try encoder.encode(file)
+        let parent = (Self.configPath(for: project) as NSString).deletingLastPathComponent
+        try transport.createDirectory(parent)
+        try transport.writeFile(Self.configPath(for: project), data: data)
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Manifest cache (schema used by post-install editor)
+
+    /// Copy a template's `template.json` into `<project>/.scarf/manifest.json`
+    /// so the post-install "Configuration" button can render the form
+    /// offline. Called once by the installer after unpack + validate.
+    nonisolated func cacheManifest(project: ProjectEntry, manifestData: Data) throws {
+        let transport = context.makeTransport()
+        let path = Self.manifestCachePath(for: project)
+        let parent = (path as NSString).deletingLastPathComponent
+        try transport.createDirectory(parent)
+        try transport.writeFile(path, data: manifestData)
+    }
+
+    /// Load the cached manifest into a `ProjectTemplateManifest` so the
+    /// editor can look up field types + labels. Returns `nil` when the
+    /// project wasn't installed from a schemaful template.
+    nonisolated func loadCachedManifest(project: ProjectEntry) throws -> ProjectTemplateManifest? {
+        let transport = context.makeTransport()
+        let path = Self.manifestCachePath(for: project)
+        guard transport.fileExists(path) else { return nil }
+        let data = try transport.readFile(path)
+        return try JSONDecoder().decode(ProjectTemplateManifest.self, from: data)
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Secrets
+
+    /// Resolve a `keychainRef` value into the actual secret bytes.
+    /// Returns `nil` if the Keychain entry has been removed (e.g.
+    /// external user cleanup, a previous uninstall that didn't finish).
+    nonisolated func resolveSecret(ref value: TemplateConfigValue) throws -> Data? {
+        guard case .keychainRef(let uri) = value,
+              let ref = TemplateKeychainRef.parse(uri) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+        return try keychain.get(ref: ref)
+    }
+
+    /// Store a freshly-entered secret. Returns the `keychainRef` value
+    /// suitable for writing into `config.json`.
+    nonisolated func storeSecret(
+        templateSlug: String,
+        fieldKey: String,
+        project: ProjectEntry,
+        secret: Data
+    ) throws -> TemplateConfigValue {
+        let ref = TemplateKeychainRef.make(
+            templateSlug: templateSlug,
+            fieldKey: fieldKey,
+            projectPath: project.path
+        )
+        try keychain.set(ref: ref, secret: secret)
+        return .keychainRef(ref.uri)
+    }
+
+    /// Delete every Keychain item tracked in `refs`. Absent items are
+    /// fine (uninstall may run after the user manually cleaned an
+    /// entry). Any other failure is logged and re-thrown so the
+    /// uninstaller can surface it.
+    nonisolated func deleteSecrets(refs: [TemplateKeychainRef]) throws {
+        for ref in refs {
+            try keychain.delete(ref: ref)
+        }
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Schema validation (author-facing; called at bundle inspect time)
+
+    /// Verify structural invariants on a schema: unique keys, known
+    /// types, enum options, secret-without-default rule, model
+    /// recommendation non-empty when present. Called by
+    /// `ProjectTemplateService.inspect` before buildPlan runs.
+    nonisolated static func validateSchema(_ schema: TemplateConfigSchema) throws {
+        var seen = Set<String>()
+        for field in schema.fields {
+            if !seen.insert(field.key).inserted {
+                throw TemplateConfigSchemaError.duplicateKey(field.key)
+            }
+            switch field.type {
+            case .enum:
+                let opts = field.options ?? []
+                guard !opts.isEmpty else {
+                    throw TemplateConfigSchemaError.emptyEnumOptions(field.key)
+                }
+                var seenValues = Set<String>()
+                for opt in opts {
+                    if !seenValues.insert(opt.value).inserted {
+                        throw TemplateConfigSchemaError.duplicateEnumValue(key: field.key, value: opt.value)
+                    }
+                }
+            case .list:
+                let item = field.itemType ?? "string"
+                if item != "string" {
+                    throw TemplateConfigSchemaError.unsupportedListItemType(key: field.key, itemType: item)
+                }
+            case .secret:
+                if field.defaultValue != nil {
+                    throw TemplateConfigSchemaError.secretFieldHasDefault(field.key)
+                }
+            case .string, .text, .number, .bool:
+                break
+            }
+        }
+        if let rec = schema.modelRecommendation {
+            if rec.preferred.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty {
+                throw TemplateConfigSchemaError.emptyModelPreferred
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Value validation (runs on user input in the configure sheet)
+
+    /// Validate user-entered values against the schema. Returns one
+    /// `TemplateConfigValidationError` per problem. Empty array means
+    /// the form is submittable.
+    nonisolated static func validateValues(
+        _ values: [String: TemplateConfigValue],
+        against schema: TemplateConfigSchema
+    ) -> [TemplateConfigValidationError] {
+        var errors: [TemplateConfigValidationError] = []
+        for field in schema.fields {
+            let value = values[field.key]
+            if field.required && !Self.hasMeaningfulValue(value, type: field.type) {
+                errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key, message: "\(field.label) is required."))
+                continue
+            }
+            guard let value else { continue }
+            switch field.type {
+            case .string, .text:
+                if case .string(let s) = value {
+                    if let min = field.minLength, s.count < min {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) must be at least \(min) characters."))
+                    }
+                    if let max = field.maxLength, s.count > max {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) must be at most \(max) characters."))
+                    }
+                    if let pattern = field.pattern,
+                       s.range(of: pattern, options: .regularExpression) == nil {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) doesn't match the expected format."))
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                        message: "\(field.label) must be a string."))
+                }
+
+            case .number:
+                if case .number(let n) = value {
+                    if let min = field.minNumber, n < min {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) must be ≥ \(min)."))
+                    }
+                    if let max = field.maxNumber, n > max {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) must be ≤ \(max)."))
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                        message: "\(field.label) must be a number."))
+                }
+
+            case .bool:
+                if case .bool = value { /* ok */ } else {
+                    errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                        message: "\(field.label) must be true or false."))
+                }
+
+            case .enum:
+                if case .string(let s) = value {
+                    let options = (field.options ?? []).map(\.value)
+                    if !options.contains(s) {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) must be one of \(options.joined(separator: ", "))."))
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                        message: "\(field.label) must be one of the predefined options."))
+                }
+
+            case .list:
+                if case .list(let items) = value {
+                    if let min = field.minItems, items.count < min {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) needs at least \(min) item(s)."))
+                    }
+                    if let max = field.maxItems, items.count > max {
+                        errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                            message: "\(field.label) accepts at most \(max) item(s)."))
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                        message: "\(field.label) must be a list."))
+                }
+
+            case .secret:
+                if case .keychainRef = value { /* opaque — trust it */ } else {
+                    errors.append(.init(fieldKey: field.key,
+                                        message: "\(field.label) must be supplied (Keychain entry missing)."))
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return errors
+    }
+
+    nonisolated private static func hasMeaningfulValue(
+        _ value: TemplateConfigValue?,
+        type: TemplateConfigField.FieldType
+    ) -> Bool {
+        guard let value else { return false }
+        switch (type, value) {
+        case (.string, .string(let s)), (.text, .string(let s)), (.enum, .string(let s)):
+            return !s.isEmpty
+        case (.number, .number):
+            return true
+        case (.bool, .bool):
+            return true
+        case (.list, .list(let arr)):
+            return !arr.isEmpty
+        case (.secret, .keychainRef):
+            return true
+        default:
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/scarf/scarfTests/TemplateConfigTests.swift b/scarf/scarfTests/TemplateConfigTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57d529f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scarf/scarfTests/TemplateConfigTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,402 @@
+import Testing
+import Foundation
+@testable import scarf
+
+// MARK: - Schema validation
+
+@Suite struct TemplateConfigSchemaValidationTests {
+
+    @Test func acceptsMinimalValidSchema() throws {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "name", type: .string, label: "Name",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil, minLength: nil,
+                      maxLength: nil, pattern: nil, minNumber: nil,
+                      maxNumber: nil, step: nil, itemType: nil,
+                      minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+    }
+
+    @Test func rejectsDuplicateKeys() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "same", type: .string, label: "A", description: nil,
+                      required: false, placeholder: nil, defaultValue: nil,
+                      options: nil, minLength: nil, maxLength: nil,
+                      pattern: nil, minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil,
+                      step: nil, itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil),
+                .init(key: "same", type: .bool, label: "B", description: nil,
+                      required: false, placeholder: nil, defaultValue: nil,
+                      options: nil, minLength: nil, maxLength: nil,
+                      pattern: nil, minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil,
+                      step: nil, itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        #expect(throws: TemplateConfigSchemaError.self) {
+            try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func rejectsSecretWithDefault() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "api_key", type: .secret, label: "API Key",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: .string("leaked-by-accident"),
+                      options: nil, minLength: nil, maxLength: nil,
+                      pattern: nil, minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil,
+                      step: nil, itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        #expect(throws: TemplateConfigSchemaError.self) {
+            try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func rejectsEnumWithoutOptions() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "choice", type: .enum, label: "Choice",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: [],
+                      minLength: nil, maxLength: nil, pattern: nil,
+                      minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil, step: nil,
+                      itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        #expect(throws: TemplateConfigSchemaError.self) {
+            try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func rejectsEnumWithDuplicateValues() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "choice", type: .enum, label: "Choice",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil,
+                      options: [.init(value: "a", label: "A"),
+                                .init(value: "a", label: "Another A")],
+                      minLength: nil, maxLength: nil, pattern: nil,
+                      minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil, step: nil,
+                      itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        #expect(throws: TemplateConfigSchemaError.self) {
+            try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func rejectsUnsupportedListItemType() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "items", type: .list, label: "Items",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil,
+                      minLength: nil, maxLength: nil, pattern: nil,
+                      minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil, step: nil,
+                      itemType: "number", minItems: 1, maxItems: 10)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        #expect(throws: TemplateConfigSchemaError.self) {
+            try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func rejectsEmptyModelPreferred() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [],
+            modelRecommendation: .init(preferred: "  ", rationale: nil, alternatives: nil)
+        )
+        #expect(throws: TemplateConfigSchemaError.self) {
+            try ProjectConfigService.validateSchema(schema)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Value validation
+
+@Suite struct TemplateConfigValueValidationTests {
+
+    @Test func requiredFieldRejectsEmptyString() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "name", type: .string, label: "Name",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil, minLength: nil,
+                      maxLength: nil, pattern: nil, minNumber: nil,
+                      maxNumber: nil, step: nil, itemType: nil,
+                      minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        let errors = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["name": .string("")], against: schema
+        )
+        #expect(errors.count == 1)
+        #expect(errors.first?.fieldKey == "name")
+    }
+
+    @Test func patternRejectsBadInput() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "email", type: .string, label: "Email",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil, minLength: nil,
+                      maxLength: nil, pattern: "^[^@]+@[^@]+$",
+                      minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil, step: nil,
+                      itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        let errors = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["email": .string("not-an-email")], against: schema
+        )
+        #expect(errors.count == 1)
+    }
+
+    @Test func numberRangeEnforced() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "port", type: .number, label: "Port",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil, minLength: nil,
+                      maxLength: nil, pattern: nil, minNumber: 1024,
+                      maxNumber: 65535, step: nil, itemType: nil,
+                      minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        let errors = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["port": .number(80)], against: schema
+        )
+        #expect(errors.count == 1)
+    }
+
+    @Test func enumRejectsUnknownValue() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "mode", type: .enum, label: "Mode",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil,
+                      options: [.init(value: "fast", label: "Fast"),
+                                .init(value: "slow", label: "Slow")],
+                      minLength: nil, maxLength: nil, pattern: nil,
+                      minNumber: nil, maxNumber: nil, step: nil,
+                      itemType: nil, minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        let errors = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["mode": .string("medium")], against: schema
+        )
+        #expect(errors.count == 1)
+    }
+
+    @Test func listItemBoundsEnforced() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "urls", type: .list, label: "URLs",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil, minLength: nil,
+                      maxLength: nil, pattern: nil, minNumber: nil,
+                      maxNumber: nil, step: nil, itemType: "string",
+                      minItems: 1, maxItems: 3)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        let tooFew = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["urls": .list([])], against: schema
+        )
+        let tooMany = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["urls": .list(["a", "b", "c", "d"])], against: schema
+        )
+        let justRight = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["urls": .list(["a", "b"])], against: schema
+        )
+        #expect(tooFew.count == 1)
+        #expect(tooMany.count == 1)
+        #expect(justRight.isEmpty)
+    }
+
+    @Test func secretFieldAcceptsKeychainRef() {
+        let schema = TemplateConfigSchema(
+            fields: [
+                .init(key: "tok", type: .secret, label: "Token",
+                      description: nil, required: true, placeholder: nil,
+                      defaultValue: nil, options: nil, minLength: nil,
+                      maxLength: nil, pattern: nil, minNumber: nil,
+                      maxNumber: nil, step: nil, itemType: nil,
+                      minItems: nil, maxItems: nil)
+            ],
+            modelRecommendation: nil
+        )
+        let errors = ProjectConfigService.validateValues(
+            ["tok": .keychainRef("keychain://test/tok:abc")],
+            against: schema
+        )
+        #expect(errors.isEmpty)
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Keychain ref helpers
+
+@Suite struct TemplateKeychainRefTests {
+
+    @Test func uriRoundTrips() {
+        let ref = TemplateKeychainRef(
+            service: "com.scarf.template.alice-foo",
+            account: "api_key:deadbeef"
+        )
+        #expect(ref.uri == "keychain://com.scarf.template.alice-foo/api_key:deadbeef")
+        let parsed = TemplateKeychainRef.parse(ref.uri)
+        #expect(parsed == ref)
+    }
+
+    @Test func parseRejectsMalformedUris() {
+        #expect(TemplateKeychainRef.parse("") == nil)
+        #expect(TemplateKeychainRef.parse("keychain://") == nil)
+        #expect(TemplateKeychainRef.parse("keychain:///account-only") == nil)
+        #expect(TemplateKeychainRef.parse("keychain://service-only") == nil)
+        #expect(TemplateKeychainRef.parse("https://example.com/foo") == nil)
+    }
+
+    @Test func hashDiffersByProjectPath() {
+        let a = TemplateKeychainRef.make(templateSlug: "s", fieldKey: "k", projectPath: "/Users/a/p1")
+        let b = TemplateKeychainRef.make(templateSlug: "s", fieldKey: "k", projectPath: "/Users/a/p2")
+        #expect(a.service == b.service) // same template
+        #expect(a.account != b.account) // different project → different hash suffix
+    }
+
+    @Test func hashStableForSamePath() {
+        let a = TemplateKeychainRef.make(templateSlug: "s", fieldKey: "k", projectPath: "/Users/a/p1")
+        let b = TemplateKeychainRef.make(templateSlug: "s", fieldKey: "k", projectPath: "/Users/a/p1")
+        #expect(a == b)
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - On-disk config round-trip
+
+@Suite struct ProjectConfigFileTests {
+
+    @Test func roundTripsNonSecretValues() throws {
+        let file = ProjectConfigFile(
+            schemaVersion: 2,
+            templateId: "alice/example",
+            values: [
+                "name": .string("Alice"),
+                "enabled": .bool(true),
+                "count": .number(42),
+                "tags": .list(["a", "b", "c"]),
+            ],
+            updatedAt: "2026-04-25T00:00:00Z"
+        )
+        let encoded = try JSONEncoder().encode(file)
+        let decoded = try JSONDecoder().decode(ProjectConfigFile.self, from: encoded)
+        #expect(decoded.schemaVersion == 2)
+        #expect(decoded.templateId == "alice/example")
+        #expect(decoded.values["name"] == .string("Alice"))
+        #expect(decoded.values["enabled"] == .bool(true))
+        #expect(decoded.values["count"] == .number(42))
+        #expect(decoded.values["tags"] == .list(["a", "b", "c"]))
+    }
+
+    @Test func preservesKeychainRefsOnRoundTrip() throws {
+        let file = ProjectConfigFile(
+            schemaVersion: 2,
+            templateId: "alice/example",
+            values: ["tok": .keychainRef("keychain://com.scarf.template.alice-example/tok:deadbeef")],
+            updatedAt: "2026-04-25T00:00:00Z"
+        )
+        let encoded = try JSONEncoder().encode(file)
+        let decoded = try JSONDecoder().decode(ProjectConfigFile.self, from: encoded)
+        // Keychain refs must NOT demote to plain strings on round-trip
+        // — otherwise a post-install editor would lose the secret
+        // binding when saving unchanged values.
+        #expect(decoded.values["tok"] == .keychainRef("keychain://com.scarf.template.alice-example/tok:deadbeef"))
+    }
+}
+
+// MARK: - ProjectConfigService + Keychain integration
+
+/// Exercises the full secret-storage path through a real macOS Keychain
+/// with a test-only service suffix so nothing leaks into the user's
+/// login Keychain. Every test sets + reads + deletes within a unique
+/// service name so parallel runs don't collide.
+@Suite struct ProjectConfigSecretsTests {
+
+    @Test func storeAndResolveSecret() throws {
+        let suffix = "tests-" + UUID().uuidString
+        let keychain = ProjectConfigKeychain(testServiceSuffix: suffix)
+        let service = ProjectConfigService(keychain: keychain)
+        let project = ProjectEntry(name: "Scratch", path: NSTemporaryDirectory() + UUID().uuidString)
+
+        let stored = try service.storeSecret(
+            templateSlug: "alice-example",
+            fieldKey: "api_key",
+            project: project,
+            secret: Data("hunter2".utf8)
+        )
+
+        // What goes into config.json is a keychainRef, not the bytes.
+        guard case .keychainRef(let uri) = stored else {
+            Issue.record("expected keychainRef, got \(stored)")
+            return
+        }
+        #expect(uri.hasPrefix("keychain://"))
+
+        // Resolve brings the bytes back.
+        let resolved = try service.resolveSecret(ref: stored)
+        #expect(resolved == Data("hunter2".utf8))
+
+        // Clean up so we don't leave a test item in the Keychain.
+        if let ref = TemplateKeychainRef.parse(uri) {
+            try keychain.delete(ref: ref)
+            #expect((try keychain.get(ref: ref)) == nil)
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func setOverwritesExistingSecret() throws {
+        let suffix = "tests-" + UUID().uuidString
+        let keychain = ProjectConfigKeychain(testServiceSuffix: suffix)
+        let ref = TemplateKeychainRef(service: "com.scarf.template.overwrite", account: "k:1")
+        try keychain.set(ref: ref, secret: Data("first".utf8))
+        try keychain.set(ref: ref, secret: Data("second".utf8))
+        #expect((try keychain.get(ref: ref)) == Data("second".utf8))
+        try keychain.delete(ref: ref)
+    }
+
+    @Test func deleteOfMissingItemSucceeds() throws {
+        let suffix = "tests-" + UUID().uuidString
+        let keychain = ProjectConfigKeychain(testServiceSuffix: suffix)
+        let ref = TemplateKeychainRef(service: "com.scarf.template.absent", account: "never:set")
+        // Deleting a non-existent item is a no-op — must not throw.
+        try keychain.delete(ref: ref)
+    }
+
+    @Test func deleteMultipleSecretsClearsAll() throws {
+        let suffix = "tests-" + UUID().uuidString
+        let keychain = ProjectConfigKeychain(testServiceSuffix: suffix)
+        let service = ProjectConfigService(keychain: keychain)
+
+        let refs = (0..<3).map { i in
+            TemplateKeychainRef(service: "com.scarf.template.bulk", account: "k:\(i)")
+        }
+        for ref in refs {
+            try keychain.set(ref: ref, secret: Data("v".utf8))
+        }
+        try service.deleteSecrets(refs: refs)
+        for ref in refs {
+            #expect((try keychain.get(ref: ref)) == nil)
+        }
+    }
+}