diff --git a/internal/engine.cm b/internal/engine.cm
index 5883ad62..6a171985 100644
--- a/internal/engine.cm
+++ b/internal/engine.cm
@@ -34,13 +34,17 @@ var packages_path = shop_path ? shop_path + '/packages' : null
 // Self-sufficient initialization: content-addressed cache
 var use_cache = {}
 
+// Save blob intrinsic before var blob = use_core('blob') hoists and shadows it.
+// Function declarations see the hoisted null; IIFEs see the intrinsic.
+var _make_blob = (function() { return blob })()
+
 function content_hash(content) {
   var data = content
-  if (!is_blob(data)) data = stone(blob(text(data)))
+  if (!is_blob(data)) data = stone(_make_blob(text(data)))
   return text(crypto.blake2(data), 'h')
 }
 
-function cache_path(hash) {
+function pipeline_cache_path(hash) {
   if (!shop_path) return null
   return shop_path + '/build/' + hash
 }
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ function detect_cc() {
 function native_dylib_cache_path(src, target) {
   var native_key = src + '\n' + target + '\nnative\n'
   var full_key = native_key + '\nnative'
-  return cache_path(content_hash(full_key))
+  return pipeline_cache_path(content_hash(full_key))
 }
 
 var _engine_host_target = null
@@ -134,9 +138,11 @@ function load_pipeline_module(name, env) {
   if (fd.is_file(source_path)) {
     if (!source_blob) source_blob = fd.slurp(source_path)
     hash = content_hash(source_blob)
-    cached = cache_path(hash)
-    if (cached && fd.is_file(cached))
+    cached = pipeline_cache_path(hash)
+    if (cached && fd.is_file(cached)) {
+      log.system('engine: pipeline ' + name + ' (cached)')
       return mach_load(fd.slurp(cached), env)
+    }
 
     // Cache miss: compile from source using boot seed pipeline
     mcode_path = core_path + '/boot/' + name + '.cm.mcode'
@@ -158,6 +164,7 @@ function load_pipeline_module(name, env) {
       compiled = boot_sl(compiled)
       mcode_json = json.encode(compiled)
       mach_blob = mach_compile_mcode_bin(name, mcode_json)
+      log.system('engine: pipeline ' + name + ' (compiled)')
       if (!native_mode && cached) {
         ensure_build_dir()
         fd.slurpwrite(cached, mach_blob)
@@ -209,6 +216,31 @@ if (native_mode) {
   use_cache['core/qbe_emit'] = _qbe_emit_mod
 }
 
+var compiler_fingerprint = (function() {
+  var files = [
+    "tokenize", "parse", "fold", "mcode", "streamline",
+    "qbe", "qbe_emit", "ir_stats"
+  ]
+  var combined = ""
+  var i = 0
+  var path = null
+  while (i < length(files)) {
+    path = core_path + '/' + files[i] + '.cm'
+    if (fd.is_file(path))
+      combined = combined + text(fd.slurp(path))
+    i = i + 1
+  }
+  return content_hash(stone(blob(combined)))
+})()
+
+function module_cache_path(content, salt) {
+  if (!shop_path) return null
+  var s = salt || 'mach'
+  return shop_path + '/build/' + content_hash(
+    stone(_make_blob(text(content) + '\n' + s + '\n' + compiler_fingerprint))
+  )
+}
+
 // analyze: tokenize + parse + fold, check for errors
 function analyze(src, filename) {
   var tok_result = tokenize_mod(src, filename)
@@ -592,7 +624,6 @@ function use_core(path) {
   arrfor(array(core_extras), function(k) { env[k] = core_extras[k] })
   env = stone(env)
 
-  var hash = null
   var cached_path = null
   var mach_blob = null
   var source_blob = null
@@ -629,14 +660,15 @@ function use_core(path) {
     // Bytecode path (fallback or non-native mode)
     _load_mod = function() {
       if (!source_blob) source_blob = fd.slurp(file_path)
-      hash = content_hash(source_blob)
-      cached_path = cache_path(hash)
+      cached_path = module_cache_path(source_blob, 'mach')
       if (cached_path && fd.is_file(cached_path)) {
+        log.system('engine: cache hit for core/' + path)
         result = mach_load(fd.slurp(cached_path), env)
       } else {
         script = text(source_blob)
         ast = analyze(script, file_path)
         mach_blob = compile_to_blob('core:' + path, ast)
+        log.system('engine: compiled core/' + path)
         if (!native_mode && cached_path) {
           ensure_build_dir()
           fd.slurpwrite(cached_path, mach_blob)
@@ -733,8 +765,10 @@ function actor_die(err)
   if (underlings) {
     unders = array(underlings)
     arrfor(unders, function(id, index) {
-      log.console(`calling on ${id} to disrupt too`)
-      $_.stop(create_actor({id}))
+      if (!is_null(underlings[id])) {
+        log.system(`stopping underling ${id}`)
+        $_.stop(create_actor({id}))
+      }
     })
   }
 
@@ -786,7 +820,8 @@ core_extras.actor_api = $_
 core_extras.log = log
 core_extras.runtime_env = runtime_env
 core_extras.content_hash = content_hash
-core_extras.cache_path = cache_path
+core_extras.cache_path = module_cache_path
+core_extras.compiler_fingerprint = compiler_fingerprint
 core_extras.ensure_build_dir = ensure_build_dir
 core_extras.compile_to_blob = compile_to_blob
 core_extras.native_mode = native_mode
@@ -1253,6 +1288,7 @@ $_.start = function start(cb, program) {
       root_id: root ? root[ACTORDATA].id : null,
       program,
       native_mode: native_mode,
+      no_warn: _no_warn,
     }
     greeters[id] = cb
     push(message_queue, { startup })
@@ -1300,7 +1336,7 @@ $_.couple = function couple(actor) {
   if (actor == $_.self) return // can't couple to self
   couplings[actor[ACTORDATA].id] = true
   sys_msg(actor, {kind:'couple', from_id: _cell.id})
-  log.system(`coupled to ${actor}`)
+  log.system(`coupled to ${actor[ACTORDATA].id}`)
 }
 
 function actor_prep(actor, send) {
@@ -1363,7 +1399,7 @@ function actor_send(actor, message) {
     }
     return
   }
-  log.system(`Unable to send message to actor ${actor[ACTORDATA]}`)
+  log.system(`Unable to send message to actor ${actor[ACTORDATA].id}`)
 }
 
 function send_messages() {
@@ -1525,7 +1561,7 @@ function handle_sysym(msg)
       }
       greeter(greet_msg)
     }
-    if (msg.message.type == 'disrupt')
+    if (msg.message.type == 'disrupt' || msg.message.type == 'stop')
       delete underlings[from_id]
   } else if (msg.kind == 'contact') {
     if (portal_fn) {
@@ -1549,7 +1585,7 @@ function handle_message(msg) {
   var fn = null
 
   if (msg[SYSYM]) {
-    handle_sysym(msg[SYSYM], msg.from)
+    handle_sysym(msg[SYSYM])
     return
   }
 
@@ -1734,52 +1770,81 @@ $_.clock(_ => {
   env.log  = log
   env = stone(env)
 
-  var native_build = null
-  var native_dylib_path = null
-  var native_handle = null
-  var native_basename = null
-  var native_sym = null
+  // --- run_program: execute the resolved program ---
+  function run_program() {
+    var native_build = null
+    var native_dylib_path = null
+    var native_handle = 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_basename = file_info.name ? file_info.name + (file_info.is_actor ? '.ce' : '.cm') : fd.basename(prog_path)
-    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)
-  var val = null
-  var script = null
-  var ast = null
-  var mach_blob = null
-  var _compile = function() {
-    if (cached_path && fd.is_file(cached_path)) {
-      val = mach_load(fd.slurp(cached_path), env)
-    } else {
-      script = text(source_blob)
-      ast = analyze(script, prog_path)
-      mach_blob = compile_user_blob(prog, ast, pkg)
-      if (cached_path) {
-        ensure_build_dir()
-        fd.slurpwrite(cached_path, mach_blob)
-      }
-      val = mach_load(mach_blob, env)
+    // 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_basename = file_info.name ? file_info.name + (file_info.is_actor ? '.ce' : '.cm') : fd.basename(prog_path)
+      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 _cached_path = module_cache_path(source_blob, 'mach')
+    var val = null
+    var script = null
+    var ast = null
+    var mach_blob = null
+    var _compile = function() {
+      if (_cached_path && fd.is_file(_cached_path)) {
+        val = mach_load(fd.slurp(_cached_path), env)
+      } else {
+        script = text(source_blob)
+        ast = analyze(script, prog_path)
+        mach_blob = compile_user_blob(prog, ast, pkg)
+        if (_cached_path) {
+          ensure_build_dir()
+          fd.slurpwrite(_cached_path, mach_blob)
+        }
+        val = mach_load(mach_blob, env)
+      }
+    } disruption {
+      os.exit(1)
+    }
+    _compile()
+    if (val) {
+      log.error('Program must not return anything')
+      disrupt
     }
-  } disruption {
-    os.exit(1)
   }
-  _compile()
-  if (val) {
-    log.error('Program must not return anything')
-    disrupt
+
+  // --- Auto-boot: pre-compile uncached deps before running ---
+  // Only auto-boot for the root program (not child actors, not boot itself).
+  // Delegates all discovery + compilation to boot.ce (separate actor/memory).
+  var _is_root_actor = !_cell.args.overling_id
+  var _skip_boot = !_is_root_actor || prog == 'boot' || prog == 'compile_worker'
+
+  if (_skip_boot) {
+    run_program()
+  } else {
+    $_.start(function(event) {
+      if (event.type == 'greet') {
+        send(event.actor, {
+          program: prog,
+          package: pkg,
+          native: native_mode
+        })
+      }
+      if (event.type == 'stop') {
+        run_program()
+      }
+      if (event.type == 'disrupt') {
+        // Boot failed, run program anyway
+        run_program()
+      }
+    }, 'boot')
   }
 })
diff --git a/internal/shop.cm b/internal/shop.cm
index 2efb2c9f..7bd58feb 100644
--- a/internal/shop.cm
+++ b/internal/shop.cm
@@ -21,25 +21,6 @@ var my$_ = actor_api
 
 var core = "core"
 
-// Compiler fingerprint: hash of all compiler source files so that any compiler
-// change invalidates the entire build cache. Folded into hash_path().
-var compiler_fingerprint = (function() {
-  var files = [
-    "tokenize", "parse", "fold", "mcode", "streamline",
-    "qbe", "qbe_emit", "ir_stats"
-  ]
-  var combined = ""
-  var i = 0
-  var path = null
-  while (i < length(files)) {
-    path = core_path + '/' + files[i] + '.cm'
-    if (fd.is_file(path))
-      combined = combined + text(fd.slurp(path))
-    i = i + 1
-  }
-  return content_hash(stone(blob(combined)))
-})()
-
 // Make a package name safe for use in C identifiers.
 // Replaces /, ., -, @ with _ so the result is a valid C identifier fragment.
 function safe_c_name(name) {
@@ -48,21 +29,18 @@ function safe_c_name(name) {
 
 function pull_from_cache(content)
 {
-  var path = hash_path(content)
-  if (fd.is_file(path))
+  var path = cache_path(content)
+  if (fd.is_file(path)) {
+    log.system('shop: cache hit')
     return fd.slurp(path)
+  }
 }
 
 function put_into_cache(content, obj)
 {
-  var path = hash_path(content)
+  var path = cache_path(content)
   fd.slurpwrite(path, obj)
-}
-
-function hash_path(content, salt)
-{
-  var s = salt || 'mach'
-  return global_shop_path + '/build/' + content_hash(stone(blob(text(content) + '\n' + s + '\n' + compiler_fingerprint)))
+  log.system('shop: cached')
 }
 
 var Shop = {}
@@ -818,7 +796,7 @@ function resolve_mod_fn(path, pkg) {
 
   // Check for cached mcode in content-addressed store
   if (policy.allow_compile) {
-    cached_mcode_path = hash_path(content_key, 'mcode')
+    cached_mcode_path = cache_path(content_key, 'mcode')
     if (fd.is_file(cached_mcode_path)) {
       mcode_json = text(fd.slurp(cached_mcode_path))
       compiled = mach_compile_mcode_bin(path, mcode_json)
@@ -877,7 +855,7 @@ function resolve_mod_fn_bytecode(path, pkg) {
   if (cached) return cached
 
   // Check for cached mcode
-  cached_mcode_path = hash_path(content_key, 'mcode')
+  cached_mcode_path = cache_path(content_key, 'mcode')
   if (fd.is_file(cached_mcode_path)) {
     mcode_json = text(fd.slurp(cached_mcode_path))
     compiled = mach_compile_mcode_bin(path, mcode_json)
@@ -896,7 +874,7 @@ function resolve_mod_fn_bytecode(path, pkg) {
   mcode_json = shop_json.encode(optimized)
 
   fd.ensure_dir(global_shop_path + '/build')
-  fd.slurpwrite(hash_path(content_key, 'mcode'), stone(blob(mcode_json)))
+  fd.slurpwrite(cache_path(content_key, 'mcode'), stone(blob(mcode_json)))
 
   compiled = mach_compile_mcode_bin(path, mcode_json)
   put_into_cache(content_key, compiled)
@@ -2170,6 +2148,7 @@ Shop.get_lib_dir = function() {
 Shop.ensure_dir = fd.ensure_dir
 Shop.install_zip = install_zip
 Shop.ensure_package_dylibs = ensure_package_dylibs
+Shop.resolve_path = resolve_path
 
 Shop.get_local_dir = function() {
   return global_shop_path + "/local"
@@ -2236,7 +2215,7 @@ Shop.load_as_mach = function(path, pkg) {
 
   // Try cached mcode -> compile to mach
   if (!compiled) {
-    cached_mcode_path = hash_path(content_key, 'mcode')
+    cached_mcode_path = cache_path(content_key, 'mcode')
     if (fd.is_file(cached_mcode_path)) {
       mcode_json = text(fd.slurp(cached_mcode_path))
       compiled = mach_compile_mcode_bin(file_path, mcode_json)
@@ -2256,7 +2235,7 @@ Shop.load_as_mach = function(path, pkg) {
     ir = _mcode_mod(ast)
     optimized = _streamline_mod(ir)
     mcode_json = shop_json.encode(optimized)
-    cached_mcode_path = hash_path(content_key, 'mcode')
+    cached_mcode_path = cache_path(content_key, 'mcode')
     fd.ensure_dir(global_shop_path + '/build')
     fd.slurpwrite(cached_mcode_path, stone(blob(mcode_json)))
     compiled = mach_compile_mcode_bin(file_path, mcode_json)
@@ -2309,6 +2288,34 @@ Shop.load_as_dylib = function(path, pkg) {
   return os.native_module_load_named(result._handle, result._sym, env)
 }
 
+// Check if a .cm file has a cached bytecode artifact (mach or mcode)
+Shop.is_cached = function(path) {
+  if (!fd.is_file(path)) return false
+  var content_key = stone(blob(text(fd.slurp(path))))
+  if (fd.is_file(cache_path(content_key, 'mach'))) return true
+  if (fd.is_file(cache_path(content_key, 'mcode'))) return true
+  return false
+}
+
+// Check if a .cm file has a cached native dylib artifact
+Shop.is_native_cached = function(path, pkg) {
+  var build_mod = use_cache['core/build']
+  if (!build_mod || !fd.is_file(path)) return false
+  var src = text(fd.slurp(path))
+  var host = detect_host_target()
+  if (!host) return false
+  var san_flags = build_mod.native_sanitize_flags ? build_mod.native_sanitize_flags() : ''
+  var native_key = build_mod.native_cache_content ?
+    build_mod.native_cache_content(src, host, san_flags) :
+    (src + '\n' + host)
+  return fd.is_file(build_mod.cache_path(native_key, build_mod.SALT_NATIVE))
+}
+
+// Compile + cache a module without executing it
+Shop.precompile = function(path, pkg) {
+  resolve_mod_fn(path, pkg)
+}
+
 Shop.audit_packages = function() {
   var packages = Shop.list_packages()
 
diff --git a/source/cell.c b/source/cell.c
index a5283855..e01c2d06 100644
--- a/source/cell.c
+++ b/source/cell.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include "cell.h"
 #include "cell_internal.h"
+#include "quickjs-internal.h"
 #include "cJSON.h"
 
 #define BOOTSTRAP_MCODE      "boot/bootstrap.cm.mcode"
@@ -325,7 +326,7 @@ void script_startup(cell_rt *prt)
   JS_SetGCScanExternal(js, actor_gc_scan);
   prt->context = js;
 
-  /* Set per-actor heap memory limit */
+  js->actor_label = prt->name;  /* may be NULL; updated when name is set */
   JS_SetHeapMemoryLimit(js, ACTOR_MEMORY_LIMIT);
 
   /* Register all GCRef fields so the Cheney GC can relocate them. */
diff --git a/source/cell_internal.h b/source/cell_internal.h
index 533a9630..a9d5b3a0 100644
--- a/source/cell_internal.h
+++ b/source/cell_internal.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ typedef struct letter {
 #define ACTOR_FAST_TIMER_NS     (10ULL * 1000000)      // 10ms per turn
 #define ACTOR_SLOW_TIMER_NS     (60000ULL * 1000000)   // 60s for slow actors
 #define ACTOR_SLOW_STRIKES_MAX  3                       // consecutive slow turns -> kill
-#define ACTOR_MEMORY_LIMIT      (16ULL * 1024 * 1024)  // 16MB heap cap
+#define ACTOR_MEMORY_LIMIT      (1024ULL * 1024 * 1024)  // 1GB heap cap
 
 typedef struct cell_rt {
   JSContext *context;
diff --git a/source/qjs_actor.c b/source/qjs_actor.c
index c0f11afe..b50f80ee 100644
--- a/source/qjs_actor.c
+++ b/source/qjs_actor.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ JSC_CCALL(actor_disrupt,
 JSC_SCALL(actor_setname,
   cell_rt *rt = JS_GetContextOpaque(js);
   rt->name = strdup(str);
+  js->actor_label = rt->name;
 )
 
 JSC_CCALL(actor_on_exception,
diff --git a/source/quickjs-internal.h b/source/quickjs-internal.h
index e155f1cd..c9ef4afa 100644
--- a/source/quickjs-internal.h
+++ b/source/quickjs-internal.h
@@ -778,6 +778,7 @@ struct JSContext {
   uint32_t suspended_pc;          /* saved PC for resume */
   int vm_call_depth;              /* 0 = pure bytecode, >0 = C frames on stack */
   size_t heap_memory_limit;       /* 0 = no limit, else max heap bytes */
+  const char *actor_label;        /* human-readable label for OOM diagnostics */
 
   JSValue current_exception;
 
diff --git a/source/runtime.c b/source/runtime.c
index 94c146c6..1ea16544 100644
--- a/source/runtime.c
+++ b/source/runtime.c
@@ -2071,6 +2071,7 @@ JSContext *JS_NewContextRawWithHeapSize (JSRuntime *rt, size_t heap_size) {
   ctx->suspended_pc = 0;
   ctx->vm_call_depth = 0;
   ctx->heap_memory_limit = 0;
+  ctx->actor_label = NULL;
   JS_AddGCRef(ctx, &ctx->suspended_frame_ref);
   ctx->suspended_frame_ref.val = JS_NULL;
 
@@ -3297,7 +3298,20 @@ JS_RaiseDisrupt (JSContext *ctx, const char *fmt, ...) {
 
 /* Log to "memory" channel + disrupt.  Skips JS callback (can't allocate). */
 JSValue JS_RaiseOOM (JSContext *ctx) {
-  fprintf (stderr, "out of memory\n");
+  size_t used = (size_t)((uint8_t *)ctx->heap_free - (uint8_t *)ctx->heap_base);
+  size_t block = ctx->current_block_size;
+  size_t limit = ctx->heap_memory_limit;
+  const char *label = ctx->actor_label;
+  if (limit > 0) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "out of memory: heap %zuKB / %zuKB block, limit %zuMB",
+            used / 1024, block / 1024, limit / (1024 * 1024));
+  } else {
+    fprintf(stderr, "out of memory: heap %zuKB / %zuKB block, no limit",
+            used / 1024, block / 1024);
+  }
+  if (label)
+    fprintf(stderr, " [%s]", label);
+  fprintf(stderr, "\n");
   ctx->current_exception = JS_TRUE;
   return JS_EXCEPTION;
 }