diff --git a/compile_seed.ce b/compile_seed.ce
deleted file mode 100644
index 46c59295..00000000
--- a/compile_seed.ce
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
-// compile_seed.ce — compile a .cm module to native .dylib via QBE (seed mode)
-// Usage: ./cell --dev --seed compile_seed <file.cm>
-
-var fd = use("fd")
-var os = use("os")
-var tokenize = use("tokenize")
-var parse = use("parse")
-var fold = use("fold")
-var mcode = use("mcode")
-var streamline = use("streamline")
-var qbe_macros = use("qbe")
-var qbe_emit = use("qbe_emit")
-
-if (length(args) < 1) {
-  print("usage: cell --dev --seed compile_seed <file.cm>")
-  disrupt
-}
-
-var file = args[0]
-var base = file
-if (ends_with(base, ".cm")) {
-  base = text(base, 0, length(base) - 3)
-} else if (ends_with(base, ".ce")) {
-  base = text(base, 0, length(base) - 3)
-}
-
-var safe = replace(replace(replace(base, "/", "_"), "-", "_"), ".", "_")
-var symbol = "js_" + safe + "_use"
-var tmp = "/tmp/qbe_" + safe
-var ssa_path = tmp + ".ssa"
-var s_path = tmp + ".s"
-var o_path = tmp + ".o"
-var rt_o_path = "/tmp/qbe_rt.o"
-var dylib_path = file + ".dylib"
-var rc = 0
-
-// Step 1: compile to QBE IL
-print("compiling " + file + " to QBE IL...")
-var src = text(fd.slurp(file))
-var result = tokenize(src, file)
-var ast = parse(result.tokens, src, file, tokenize)
-var folded = fold(ast)
-var compiled = mcode(folded)
-var optimized = streamline(compiled)
-var il = qbe_emit(optimized, qbe_macros)
-
-// Step 2: append wrapper function
-var wrapper = `
-export function l $${symbol}(l %ctx) {
-@entry
-  %result =l call $cell_rt_module_entry(l %ctx)
-  ret %result
-}
-`
-il = il + wrapper
-
-// Write IL to file — remove old file first to avoid leftover content
-if (fd.is_file(ssa_path)) fd.unlink(ssa_path)
-var out_fd = fd.open(ssa_path, 1537, 420)
-fd.write(out_fd, il)
-fd.close(out_fd)
-print("wrote " + ssa_path + " (" + text(length(il)) + " bytes)")
-
-// Step 3: compile QBE IL to assembly
-print("qbe compile...")
-rc = os.system("qbe -o " + s_path + " " + ssa_path)
-if (rc != 0) {
-  print("qbe compilation failed")
-  disrupt
-}
-
-// Step 4: assemble
-print("assemble...")
-rc = os.system("cc -c " + s_path + " -o " + o_path)
-if (rc != 0) {
-  print("assembly failed")
-  disrupt
-}
-
-// Step 5: compile runtime stubs
-if (!fd.is_file(rt_o_path)) {
-  print("compile runtime stubs...")
-  rc = os.system("cc -c source/qbe_helpers.c -o " + rt_o_path + " -fPIC -Isource")
-  if (rc != 0) {
-    print("runtime stubs compilation failed")
-    disrupt
-  }
-}
-
-// Step 6: link dylib
-print("link...")
-rc = os.system("cc -shared -fPIC -undefined dynamic_lookup " + o_path + " " + rt_o_path + " -o " + dylib_path)
-if (rc != 0) {
-  print("linking failed")
-  disrupt
-}
-
-print("built: " + dylib_path)
diff --git a/internal/engine.cm b/internal/engine.cm
index 221a42fd..4d4fec46 100644
--- a/internal/engine.cm
+++ b/internal/engine.cm
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Hidden vars (os, actorsym, init, core_path, shop_path, json, args) come from env
 // Engine is self-sufficient: defines its own compilation pipeline
 var ACTORDATA = actorsym
+var native_mode = false
 var SYSYM = '__SYSTEM__'
 
 var _cell = {}
@@ -216,13 +217,24 @@ var _program = null
 var _user_args = []
 var _j = 1
 var _init = init
-if (args != null && _init == null) {
+
+// Inherit native_mode from init (set by C for --native, or by parent actor)
+if (_init != null && _init.native_mode)
+  native_mode = true
+
+// CLI path: convert args to init record
+if (args != null && (_init == null || !_init.program)) {
   _program = args[0]
   while (_j < length(args)) {
     push(_user_args, args[_j])
     _j = _j + 1
   }
-  _init = {program: _program, arg: _user_args}
+  if (_init == null) {
+    _init = {program: _program, arg: _user_args}
+  } else {
+    _init.program = _program
+    _init.arg = _user_args
+  }
 }
 
 use_cache['core/os'] = os
@@ -413,9 +425,11 @@ core_extras.content_hash = content_hash
 core_extras.cache_path = cache_path
 core_extras.ensure_build_dir = ensure_build_dir
 core_extras.compile_to_blob = compile_to_blob
+core_extras.native_mode = native_mode
 
 // NOW load shop -- it receives all of the above via env
 var shop = use_core('internal/shop')
+if (native_mode) use_core('build')
 var time = use_core('time')
 
 var pronto = use_core('pronto')
@@ -690,6 +704,7 @@ $_.start = function start(cb, program) {
       overling_id: oid,
       root_id: root ? root[ACTORDATA].id : null,
       program,
+      native_mode: native_mode,
     }
     greeters[id] = cb
     push(message_queue, { startup })
@@ -1082,6 +1097,28 @@ $_.clock(_ => {
   env.log  = log
   env = stone(env)
 
+  var native_build = null
+  var native_dylib_path = null
+  var native_handle = null
+  var native_parts = null
+  var native_basename = null
+  var native_sym = null
+
+  // Native execution path: compile to dylib and run
+  if (native_mode) {
+    native_build = use_core('build')
+    native_dylib_path = native_build.compile_native(prog_path, null, null, pkg)
+    native_handle = os.dylib_open(native_dylib_path)
+    native_parts = array(prog_path, '/')
+    native_basename = native_parts[length(native_parts) - 1]
+    native_sym = pkg ? shop.c_symbol_for_file(pkg, native_basename) : null
+    if (native_sym)
+      os.native_module_load_named(native_handle, native_sym, env)
+    else
+      os.native_module_load(native_handle, env)
+    return
+  }
+
   var source_blob = fd.slurp(prog_path)
   var hash = content_hash(source_blob)
   var cached_path = cache_path(hash)
diff --git a/internal/shop.cm b/internal/shop.cm
index 5bb1ac2d..66aa02f1 100644
--- a/internal/shop.cm
+++ b/internal/shop.cm
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ var _default_policy = {
   allow_dylib: true,
   allow_static: true,
   allow_mach: true,
-  allow_compile: true
+  allow_compile: true,
+  native: false
 }
 
 Shop.load_config = function() {
@@ -336,6 +337,7 @@ Shop.load_config = function() {
 
 function get_policy() {
   var config = Shop.load_config()
+  if (native_mode) config.policy.native = true
   return config.policy
 }
 
@@ -433,14 +435,37 @@ function detect_host_target() {
 var host_target = detect_host_target()
 
 // Check for a native .cm dylib at the deterministic lib path
-// Returns the loaded module value, or null if no native dylib exists
+// Returns a native descriptor {_native, _handle, _sym}, or null if no native dylib exists
+// Also checks staleness: if source has changed, the content-addressed build artifact
+// won't exist for the new hash, so the installed dylib is treated as stale.
 function try_native_mod_dylib(pkg, stem) {
   var dylib_path = get_dylib_path(pkg, stem)
+  var src_path = null
+  var src = null
+  var host = null
+  var hash = null
+  var tc_ext = null
+  var build_path = null
+  var handle = null
+  var sym = null
+
   if (!fd.is_file(dylib_path)) return null
-  var handle = os.dylib_open(dylib_path)
+
+  // Staleness check: verify the content-addressed build artifact exists
+  src_path = get_packages_dir() + '/' + safe_package_path(pkg) + '/' + stem
+  if (fd.is_file(src_path)) {
+    src = text(fd.slurp(src_path))
+    host = detect_host_target()
+    hash = content_hash(src + '\n' + host + '\nnative')
+    tc_ext = dylib_ext
+    build_path = global_shop_path + '/build/' + hash + '.' + host + tc_ext
+    if (!fd.is_file(build_path)) return null
+  }
+
+  handle = os.dylib_open(dylib_path)
   if (!handle) return null
-  var sym = Shop.c_symbol_for_file(pkg, stem)
-  return os.native_module_load_named(handle, sym)
+  sym = Shop.c_symbol_for_file(pkg, stem)
+  return {_native: true, _handle: handle, _sym: sym}
 }
 
 // Default capabilities injected into scripts
@@ -511,6 +536,10 @@ function resolve_mod_fn(path, pkg) {
   var _pkg_dir = null
   var _stem = null
   var policy = null
+  var build_mod = null
+  var dylib_path = null
+  var handle = null
+  var sym = null
 
   policy = get_policy()
 
@@ -525,8 +554,21 @@ function resolve_mod_fn(path, pkg) {
   // Check for native .cm dylib at deterministic path first
   if (policy.allow_dylib && pkg && _stem) {
     native_result = try_native_mod_dylib(pkg, _stem)
-    if (native_result != null) {
-      return {_native: true, value: native_result}
+    if (native_result != null) return native_result
+  }
+
+  // Native compilation path: compile to native dylib instead of mach
+  if (policy.native && policy.allow_compile) {
+    build_mod = use_cache['core/build']
+    if (build_mod) {
+      dylib_path = build_mod.compile_native(path, null, null, pkg)
+      if (dylib_path) {
+        handle = os.dylib_open(dylib_path)
+        if (handle) {
+          sym = pkg && _stem ? Shop.c_symbol_for_file(pkg, _stem) : null
+          return {_native: true, _handle: handle, _sym: sym}
+        }
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -950,9 +992,16 @@ function execute_module(info)
   var pkg = null
 
   if (mod_resolve.scope < 900) {
-      // Check if native dylib was resolved
+      // Check if native dylib was resolved (descriptor with _handle and _sym)
       if (is_object(mod_resolve.symbol) && mod_resolve.symbol._native) {
-        used = mod_resolve.symbol.value
+        file_info = Shop.file_info(mod_resolve.path)
+        inject = Shop.script_inject_for(file_info)
+        env = inject_env(inject)
+        pkg = file_info.package
+        env.use = make_use_fn(pkg)
+        env = stone(env)
+        used = os.native_module_load_named(
+          mod_resolve.symbol._handle, mod_resolve.symbol._sym, env)
       } else {
         // Build env with runtime fns, capabilities, and use function
         file_info = Shop.file_info(mod_resolve.path)
@@ -1607,6 +1656,8 @@ Shop.load_as_dylib = function(path, pkg) {
   var stem = null
   var result = null
   var real_pkg = pkg
+  var inject = null
+  var env = null
 
   if (!locator) { print('Module ' + path + ' not found'); disrupt }
 
@@ -1621,7 +1672,15 @@ Shop.load_as_dylib = function(path, pkg) {
   if (!starts_with(file_path, pkg_dir + '/')) return null
   stem = text(file_path, length(pkg_dir) + 1)
   result = try_native_mod_dylib(real_pkg, stem)
-  return result
+  if (!result) return null
+
+  // Build env and load the native module
+  if (!file_info) file_info = Shop.file_info(file_path)
+  inject = Shop.script_inject_for(file_info)
+  env = inject_env(inject)
+  env.use = make_use_fn(real_pkg)
+  env = stone(env)
+  return os.native_module_load_named(result._handle, result._sym, env)
 }
 
 Shop.audit_packages = function() {
diff --git a/run_native.ce b/run_native.ce
index 90408eff..0d803521 100644
--- a/run_native.ce
+++ b/run_native.ce
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 // run_native.ce — load a module both interpreted and native, compare speed
 //
 // Usage:
-//   cell --dev run_native.ce <module>
+//   cell --dev run_native <module>
 //
-// Loads <module>.cm via use() (interpreted) and <module>.cm.dylib (native),
+// Loads <module>.cm via use() (interpreted) and via shop.use_native() (native),
 // runs both and compares results and timing.
 
 var os = use('os')
+var fd = use('fd')
+var shop = use('internal/shop')
 
 if (length(args) < 1) {
-  print('usage: cell --dev run_native.ce <module>')
-  print('  e.g. cell --dev run_native.ce num_torture')
+  print('usage: cell --dev run_native <module>')
+  print('  e.g. cell --dev run_native num_torture')
   return
 }
 
@@ -19,11 +21,6 @@ if (ends_with(name, '.cm')) {
   name = text(name, 0, length(name) - 3)
 }
 
-var safe = replace(replace(name, '/', '_'), '-', '_')
-var symbol = 'js_' + safe + '_use'
-var dylib_path = './' + name + '.cm.dylib'
-var fd = use('fd')
-
 // --- Test argument for function-returning modules ---
 var test_arg = 5000000
 if (length(args) > 1) {
@@ -48,44 +45,35 @@ print('result: ' + text(result_interp))
 print('time:   ' + text(ms_interp) + ' ms')
 
 // --- Native run ---
-if (!fd.is_file(dylib_path)) {
-  print('\nno ' + dylib_path + ' found — run compile.ce first')
+// Resolve to .cm path for shop.use_native()
+var mod_path = name + '.cm'
+if (!fd.is_file(mod_path)) {
+  print('\nno ' + mod_path + ' found')
   return
 }
 
 print('\n--- native ---')
 var t3 = os.now()
-var lib = os.dylib_open(dylib_path)
+var mod_native = shop.use_native(mod_path)
 var t4 = os.now()
-var mod_native = os.dylib_symbol(lib, symbol)
-var t5 = os.now()
 var result_native = null
 if (is_function(mod_native)) {
   print('module returns a function, calling with ' + text(test_arg))
-  t4 = os.now()
+  t3 = os.now()
   result_native = mod_native(test_arg)
-  t5 = os.now()
+  t4 = os.now()
 }
 result_native = result_native != null ? result_native : mod_native
-var ms_load = (t4 - t3) / 1000000
-var ms_exec = (t5 - t4) / 1000000
-var ms_native = (t5 - t3) / 1000000
+var ms_native = (t4 - t3) / 1000000
 print('result: ' + text(result_native))
-print('load:   ' + text(ms_load) + ' ms')
-print('exec:   ' + text(ms_exec) + ' ms')
-print('total:  ' + text(ms_native) + ' ms')
+print('time:   ' + text(ms_native) + ' ms')
 
 // --- Comparison ---
 print('\n--- comparison ---')
 var match = result_interp == result_native
 var speedup = 0
-var speedup_exec = 0
 print('match:  ' + text(match))
 if (ms_native > 0) {
   speedup = ms_interp / ms_native
-  print('speedup: ' + text(speedup) + 'x (total)')
-}
-if (ms_exec > 0) {
-  speedup_exec = ms_interp / ms_exec
-  print('speedup: ' + text(speedup_exec) + 'x (exec only)')
+  print('speedup: ' + text(speedup) + 'x')
 }
diff --git a/source/cell.c b/source/cell.c
index ee47027d..ad91899a 100644
--- a/source/cell.c
+++ b/source/cell.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ static int run_test_suite(size_t heap_size);
 cell_rt *root_cell = NULL;
 static char *shop_path = NULL;
 static char *core_path = NULL;
+static int native_mode = 0;
 static JSRuntime *g_runtime = NULL;
 
 // Compute blake2b hash of data and return hex string (caller must free)
@@ -434,6 +435,7 @@ static void print_usage(const char *prog)
   printf("  --core <path>              Set core path directly (overrides CELL_CORE)\n");
   printf("  --shop <path>              Set shop path (overrides CELL_SHOP)\n");
   printf("  --dev                      Dev mode (shop=.cell, core=.)\n");
+  printf("  --native                   Use AOT native code instead of bytecode\n");
   printf("  --heap <size>              Initial heap size (e.g. 256MB, 1GB)\n");
   printf("  --test [heap_size]         Run C test suite\n");
   printf("  -h, --help                 Show this help message\n");
@@ -510,6 +512,9 @@ int cell_init(int argc, char **argv)
       if (lstat(".cell/packages/core", &lst) != 0)
         symlink("../..", ".cell/packages/core");
       arg_start++;
+    } else if (strcmp(argv[arg_start], "--native") == 0) {
+      native_mode = 1;
+      arg_start++;
     } else {
       break;
     }
@@ -648,7 +653,16 @@ int cell_init(int argc, char **argv)
     JS_SetPropertyStr(ctx, env_ref.val, "actorsym", JS_DupValue(ctx, cli_rt->actor_sym_ref.val));
     tmp = js_core_json_use(ctx);
     JS_SetPropertyStr(ctx, env_ref.val, "json", tmp);
-    JS_SetPropertyStr(ctx, env_ref.val, "init", JS_NULL);
+    if (native_mode) {
+      JSGCRef init_ref;
+      JS_AddGCRef(ctx, &init_ref);
+      init_ref.val = JS_NewObject(ctx);
+      JS_SetPropertyStr(ctx, init_ref.val, "native_mode", JS_NewBool(ctx, 1));
+      JS_SetPropertyStr(ctx, env_ref.val, "init", init_ref.val);
+      JS_DeleteGCRef(ctx, &init_ref);
+    } else {
+      JS_SetPropertyStr(ctx, env_ref.val, "init", JS_NULL);
+    }
     JSGCRef args_ref;
     JS_AddGCRef(ctx, &args_ref);
     args_ref.val = JS_NewArray(ctx);