diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d77deca7..55e946f3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ on:
     branches: [main]
     types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
   push:
-    branches: [main]
+    branches: [main, "feature/**", "refactor/**"]
 
 concurrency:
   group: ci-${{ github.ref }}
diff --git a/ARCHITECTURE.md b/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 3109fdfe..3584a697 100644
--- a/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ In contrast to contracts, Capabilities are defined as Abstract Base Classes (`Ca
 
 Capabilities do not hold state. They are factories that produce grammars and rules on demand. The engine queries a capability for its available grammars and rules, then filters them based on the contract configuration. This design keeps capabilities lightweight and makes the filtering logic centralized in the engine.
 
-### Notation Bridging
+### Typed Notation
 
-Each capability defines a typed Notation (a data class with named fields) that provides domain-specific structure. However, the Rule and Grammar abstract interfaces operate on a generic list-of-strings representation. Capabilities bridge this gap by providing a conversion method from the typed notation to the generic form. This gives type safety at the capability level while maintaining a uniform interface for the engine.
+Each capability defines a frozen dataclass Notation with one `str` field per recognized component (e.g., `DateNotation` carries `N1`, `N2`, `N3`). The concrete notation type is the sole type parameter threaded end to end: `Grammar[NotationT]` recognizes it and `Rule[NotationT]` validates it, so the engine and every rule operate on the fully typed object rather than a positional `list[str]`. Rules read notation fields by name (e.g., `notation.N1`); there is no generic list alias and no conversion bridge between the typed notation and a list form.
 
 ### Contract Parameters
 
diff --git a/CONTEXT.md b/CONTEXT.md
index 1829c05a..09234bb2 100644
--- a/CONTEXT.md
+++ b/CONTEXT.md
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ Capability-defined intermediate representation that Grammars must produce:
     - **SIUnit:** `SIUnitNotation(text, shape)` — `shape` is `"symbol"` / `"name"` / `"compound"` / `"split_word_prefix"` / `"split_symbol_prefix"`; `text` is the unit expression as written (symbols keep exact casing, names are grammar-folded to lowercase, compounds keep the written form)
 - **IP / Phone / URL:** capability-defined shapes for address / number / URI components
 
-**Note:** Capabilities define Notation using frozen dataclasses for type safety and immutability. The `as_list()` method bridges the typed notation to the generic `list[str]` interface.
-
 ### Notation Type Example
 ```python
 from dataclasses import dataclass
@@ -56,10 +54,6 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 class EmailNotation:
     local_part: str
     domain_part: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Convert to list[str] for generic Rule interface."""
-        return [self.local_part, self.domain_part]
 ```
 
 ---
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index e119ab34..7bee92d4 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -17,20 +17,26 @@ Paxman requires Python 3.11 or later. To set up a local development environment:
 ```bash
 # Clone the repository
 git clone <repository-url>
-cd paxman-alternative
+cd paxman-python
 
-# Create and activate a virtual environment using uv
-uv venv
-source .venv/bin/activate
+# Install the package with all dev tooling (pytest, hypothesis, ruff,
+# pyright, import-linter) into a managed virtual environment
+uv sync --all-extras
+```
 
-# Install the package in editable mode with dev dependencies
-uv pip install -e ".[dev]"
+All dev dependencies are listed in `pyproject.toml` under `[dependency-groups] dev` and include pytest, hypothesis, ruff, pyright, and import-linter.
 
-# Install the dependency-group dev tools (import-linter)
-uv pip install -e ".[dev]" --group dev
-```
+---
+
+## Before You Write Code
+
+Before implementing a capability or changing recognition or validation logic, read the contributor guides in the repository root:
+
+- [HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_CAPABILITY.md](HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_CAPABILITY.md) — end-to-end walkthrough of adding a self-contained capability (notation, contract, capability, grammar, rules, presentation).
+- [HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_GRAMMAR.md](HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_GRAMMAR.md) — conventions for writing grammars that recognize input without validating it.
+- [TESTING_STRATEGY.md](TESTING_STRATEGY.md) — the project's TDD and testing expectations, including purity scans and registry hygiene.
 
-All dev dependencies are listed in `pyproject.toml` under `[project.optional-dependencies] dev` and include pytest, hypothesis, ruff, pyright, and import-linter.
+These guides document the contribution patterns; the code under `paxman/` remains the source of truth.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_CAPABILITY.md b/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_CAPABILITY.md
index 07323392..c2ac069e 100644
--- a/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_CAPABILITY.md
+++ b/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_CAPABILITY.md
@@ -99,15 +99,13 @@ Create `paxman/capabilities/YourDomain/notation.py`:
 
 1. Import `dataclass` from `dataclasses`
 2. Define a frozen dataclass with `@dataclass(frozen=True)` and one field per component of your notation
-3. Add an `as_list()` method that returns the fields as a plain list of strings (in order) — an optional helper for bridging to generic interfaces
 
-The engine passes typed notation objects to rules, not lists. Rules access fields by name (e.g., `notation.field_name`). The `as_list()` method is a convenience helper, not an engine requirement.
+The engine passes typed notation objects to rules, not lists. Rules access fields by name (e.g., `notation.field_name`).
 
 **Rules for Notation:**
 
 - Every field must be a `str` type
 - The dataclass must be frozen (immutable)
-- The `as_list()` method must return fields in a consistent, documented order
 - Rules access notation fields by name (e.g., `notation.field_name`), not by list position
 
 **Example patterns:**
@@ -128,7 +126,7 @@ class YourDomainNotation:
     field_two: str
 ```
 
-This is optional. Use it when your notation will be instantiated many times (e.g., processing bulk input). The `as_list()` method works the same way.
+This is optional. Use it when your notation will be instantiated many times (e.g., processing bulk input).
 
 ---
 
@@ -362,12 +360,11 @@ Create `paxman/capabilities/YourDomain/capability.py`:
 1. Import `Capability` from `paxman.core.capability`
 2. Import your grammars and rules
 3. Define a class that extends `Capability`
-4. Set `name` to a lowercase identifier (e.g., "yourdomain") — this is the name users pass to the contract
-5. Set `version` to a semantic version string (e.g., "1.0.0")
-6. Implement `get_grammars()` — return a list of grammar instances
-7. Implement `get_rules()` — return a list of rule instances
-8. Define a `create_contract()` static method that returns a default contract
-9. Implement `format_value(value, output_format, notation)` — the single presentation seam. The engine calls it immediately after `Rule.normalize()` and before candidate deduplication and status determination. Return the value unchanged for the default format; only an explicitly offered alternative triggers conversion (e.g., Date `"US"` rendering, Country `alpha3`/`numeric`/`name` conversion, Phone RFC 3966/national rendering). A capability with no alternative formats (e.g., Email, IP) inherits the identity implementation from `Capability` and does not override it. Rules never implement presentation — see Step 5d and the presentational-only invariant in Step 7.
+ 4. Set `name` to a lowercase identifier (e.g., "yourdomain") — this is the name users pass to the contract
+ 5. Implement `get_grammars()` — return a list of grammar instances
+ 6. Implement `get_rules()` — return a list of rule instances
+ 7. Define a `create_contract()` static method that returns a default contract
+ 8. Implement `format_value(value, output_format, notation)` — the single presentation seam. The engine calls it immediately after `Rule.normalize()` and before candidate deduplication and status determination. Return the value unchanged for the default format; only an explicitly offered alternative triggers conversion (e.g., Date `"US"` rendering, Country `alpha3`/`numeric`/`name` conversion, Phone RFC 3966/national rendering). A capability with no alternative formats (e.g., Email, IP) inherits the identity implementation from `Capability` and does not override it. Rules never implement presentation — see Step 5d and the presentational-only invariant in Step 7.
 
 ---
 
@@ -746,20 +743,17 @@ Two sections in one file:
 
 1. `test_creates_with_fields` — verify field access
 2. `test_is_frozen` — verify immutability (assigning raises error)
-3. `test_as_list_returns_correct` — verify list conversion
-4. `test_as_list_preserves_order` — verify field order matches list order
-5. `test_equality` — verify value equality
-6. `test_hashable` — verify it can be used in sets or as dict keys
+3. `test_equality` — verify value equality
+4. `test_hashable` — verify it can be used in sets or as dict keys
 
 **Capability wiring tests:**
 
-1. `test_is_capability_subclass` — verify isinstance check
-2. `test_name` — verify name matches expected value
-3. `test_version` — verify version matches expected value
-4. `test_get_grammars_returns_all` — verify grammar count
-5. `test_get_rules_returns_all` — verify rule count
-6. `test_grammar_name` — verify grammar names follow convention
-7. `test_rule_name` — verify rule names follow convention
+ 1. `test_is_capability_subclass` — verify isinstance check
+ 2. `test_name` — verify name matches expected value
+ 3. `test_get_grammars_returns_all` — verify grammar count
+ 4. `test_get_rules_returns_all` — verify rule count
+ 5. `test_grammar_name` — verify grammar names follow convention
+ 6. `test_rule_name` — verify rule names follow convention
 
 ### 10d: Integration Tests
 
@@ -917,7 +911,7 @@ Rule names follow the pattern `Section {X.Y.Z}-{description}` (e.g., `Section 3.
 
 ### Pattern: Notation Fields Are Typed
 
-Rules access notation fields by name (e.g., `notation.field_name`), not by list position. Your `as_list()` method is an optional helper for bridging to generic interfaces.
+Rules access notation fields by name (e.g., `notation.field_name`), not by list position.
 
 ### Pitfall: Grammar Regex Must Be Compiled Once
 
@@ -1064,7 +1058,7 @@ Semantics to rely on:
 
 Use this checklist to verify your capability is complete:
 
-- [ ] Notation is a frozen dataclass with `as_list()` method
+- [ ] Notation is a frozen dataclass with one `str` field per component
 - [ ] Each grammar extends `Grammar[YourDomainNotation]` and implements `recognize(text) -> list[RecognitionMatch[YourDomainNotation]]`
 - [ ] Each rule extends `Rule[YourDomainNotation]` and implements `matches(notation, contract) -> bool` and `normalize(notation, contract) -> str`
 - [ ] Each rule declares `target_semantics` (non-empty `frozenset[str]`) and `requires_features` (`frozenset()` when the rule always runs)
@@ -1088,7 +1082,7 @@ Use this checklist to verify your capability is complete:
 - [ ] Grammar tests cover happy path, edge cases, multiple matches, and empty input
 - [ ] Rule tests cover valid input, invalid input, normalization, provenance, and naming
 - [ ] Notation tests cover creation, immutability, and equality
-- [ ] Capability tests cover subclass check, name, version, grammar count, and rule count
+- [ ] Capability tests cover subclass check, name, grammar count, and rule count
 - [ ] Integration tests use the `_clean_registry` fixture
 - [ ] End-to-end tests exercise the public API
 - [ ] `pyright --strict` passes with zero errors
diff --git a/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_GRAMMAR.md b/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_GRAMMAR.md
index 248fa324..cd7e242e 100644
--- a/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_GRAMMAR.md
+++ b/HOW_TO_ADD_NEW_GRAMMAR.md
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class TestSlashISODateGrammar:
         grammar = SlashISODateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("2026/07/26")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     def test_does_not_match_us_or_european_order(self) -> None:
         """A 2-digit-first slash date is not a slash-ISO date."""
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class TestSlashISODateGrammar:
         assert result[0].start == 2
         assert result[0].end == 12
         assert result[0].raw_text == "2026/07/26"
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     def test_grammar_name(self) -> None:
         grammar = SlashISODateGrammar()
diff --git a/TESTING_STRATEGY.md b/TESTING_STRATEGY.md
index dc56711a..e5e26f03 100644
--- a/TESTING_STRATEGY.md
+++ b/TESTING_STRATEGY.md
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ For the Email capability, this means three classes of tests:
 
 **Rule tests** confirm that each validation rule's `matches()` method accepts valid notation and rejects invalid notation. They verify that `normalize()` produces the expected canonical string. They check that rule metadata (name, strategy, provenance attributes, citation) is set correctly. For example, `Section341AddrSpec` lowercases the email during normalization, while `Section63localhost` preserves case.
 
-**Capability tests** verify that the capability class itself satisfies the `Capability` ABC, that it returns the correct number and type of grammars and rules from `get_grammars()` and `get_rules()`, and that its notation type (`EmailNotation`) is immutable, equality-comparable, hashable, and bridges to the generic `list[str]` representation via `as_list()`.
+**Capability tests** verify that the capability class itself satisfies the `Capability` ABC, that it returns the correct number and type of grammars and rules from `get_grammars()` and `get_rules()`, and that its notation type (`EmailNotation`) is an immutable, equality-comparable, hashable frozen dataclass with one `str` field per component.
 
 ### Integration Tests
 
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/AGENTS.md b/paxman/capabilities/AGENTS.md
index 87730ccc..1d9eb0ac 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/AGENTS.md
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/AGENTS.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ The deepest directory in the repo (157 py files): 10 shipped capability packages
 paxman/capabilities/
 ├── __init__.py          # registration imports + __all__ (see NOTES)
 ├── <Name>/              # one self-contained package per capability
-│   ├── __init__.py      # exports Capability, Contract, Notation
+│   ├── __init__.py      # exports Capability, Contract, <Name>Notation
 │   ├── notation.py      # frozen slots dataclass — the intermediate token
 │   ├── contract.py      # frozen CapabilityContract subclass (NO slots)
 │   ├── capability.py    # Capability[NotationT] subclass — wiring + format_value()
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Country/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/Country/capability.py
index 881ccebe..15fb9a3e 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Country/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Country/capability.py
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ class CountryCapability(Capability[CountryNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "country"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[CountryNotation]]:
         """Return all grammar instances.
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Country/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/Country/notation.py
index bbb95060..77d69705 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Country/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Country/notation.py
@@ -16,11 +16,3 @@ class CountryNotation:
 
     shape: str
     value: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Bridge to generic list[str] interface.
-
-        Returns:
-            [shape, value] — shape first for consistent ordering.
-        """
-        return [self.shape, self.value]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Currency/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/Currency/capability.py
index 3e349788..a6b83eb7 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Currency/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Currency/capability.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ class CurrencyCapability(Capability[CurrencyNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "currency"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[CurrencyNotation]]:
         """Return all grammar instances.
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Currency/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/Currency/notation.py
index b185c238..dce17353 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Currency/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Currency/notation.py
@@ -33,7 +33,3 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"invalid shape {self.shape!r}; expected one of {sorted(_VALID_SHAPES)}"
             )
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Flatten the notation for structural equality checks."""
-        return [self.text, self.shape]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Date/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/Date/capability.py
index fa0650c3..585133c5 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Date/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Date/capability.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ class DateCapability(Capability[DateNotation]):
     """Date canonicalization capability."""
 
     name = "date"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[DateNotation]]:
         return [
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Date/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/Date/notation.py
index c3b1eee6..8f16881d 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Date/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Date/notation.py
@@ -18,7 +18,3 @@ class DateNotation:
     N1: str
     N2: str
     N3: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Convert to list[str] for generic Rule interface."""
-        return [self.N1, self.N2, self.N3]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Email/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/Email/capability.py
index 16f5eeba..02602e0f 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Email/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Email/capability.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ class EmailCapability(Capability[EmailNotation]):
     """Email canonicalization capability."""
 
     name = "email"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[EmailNotation]]:
         return [
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Email/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/Email/notation.py
index 991a91c9..825bc271 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Email/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Email/notation.py
@@ -11,7 +11,3 @@ class EmailNotation:
 
     local_part: str
     domain_part: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Convert to list[str] for generic Rule interface."""
-        return [self.local_part, self.domain_part]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/IP/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/IP/capability.py
index c2eaf2c8..0a65a55f 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/IP/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/IP/capability.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ class IPCapability(Capability[IPNotation]):
     """IP canonicalization capability."""
 
     name = "ip"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[IPNotation]]:
         return [
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/IP/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/IP/notation.py
index 36d582ba..4febbd62 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/IP/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/IP/notation.py
@@ -10,7 +10,3 @@ class IPNotation:
     """IP address notation: a single address string."""
 
     address: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Convert to list[str] for generic Rule interface."""
-        return [self.address]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/capability.py
index 8f1aa321..cec43270 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/capability.py
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ class ISBNCapability(Capability[ISBNNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "isbn"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[ISBNNotation]]:
         return [ISBN13RecognitionGrammar(), ISBN10RecognitionGrammar()]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/notation.py
index 7f6caa42..9b350f65 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/ISBN/notation.py
@@ -14,7 +14,3 @@ class ISBNNotation:
 
     shape: Literal["isbn10", "isbn13"]
     digits: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Convert to list[str] for the generic Rule interface."""
-        return [self.shape, self.digits]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Money/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/Money/capability.py
index d7e3a0b2..2c646481 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Money/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Money/capability.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ class MoneyCapability(Capability[MoneyNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "money"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[MoneyNotation]]:
         """Return all grammar instances.
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Money/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/Money/notation.py
index 4234d3b0..cc1b7336 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Money/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Money/notation.py
@@ -45,16 +45,3 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
             raise ValueError(f"invalid currency_shape: {self.currency_shape!r}")
         if self.amount_shape and self.amount_shape not in _VALID_AMOUNT_SHAPES:
             raise ValueError(f"invalid amount_shape: {self.amount_shape!r}")
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Bridge to generic list[str] interface.
-
-        Returns:
-            [currency_part, amount_part, currency_shape, amount_shape].
-        """
-        return [
-            self.currency_part,
-            self.amount_part,
-            self.currency_shape,
-            self.amount_shape,
-        ]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Phone/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/Phone/capability.py
index d00845fd..27cbd8aa 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Phone/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Phone/capability.py
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ class PhoneCapability(Capability[PhoneNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "phone"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[PhoneNotation]]:
         """Return all grammar instances.
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/Phone/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/Phone/notation.py
index 814987de..e0eaa14b 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/Phone/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/Phone/notation.py
@@ -25,11 +25,3 @@ class PhoneNotation:
     shape: str
     value: str
     extension: str = ""
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Bridge to generic list[str] interface.
-
-        Returns:
-            [shape, value, extension] — shape first for consistent ordering.
-        """
-        return [self.shape, self.value, self.extension]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/capability.py
index c3fbb330..8701156b 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/capability.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ class SIUnitCapability(Capability[SIUnitNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "si_unit"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[SIUnitNotation]]:
         """Return all grammar instances.
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/notation.py
index 07a179c2..de30c076 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/SIUnit/notation.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ class SIUnitNotation:
     Attributes:
         text: The unit text. Symbols keep their exact casing; names are
             grammar-folded to lowercase; compounds keep the written form.
-        shape: One of "symbol", "name", "compound", "split_word_prefix", "split_symbol_prefix".
+        shape: One of "symbol", "name", "compound", "split_word_prefix",
+            "split_symbol_prefix".
     """
 
     text: str
@@ -43,7 +44,3 @@ def __post_init__(self) -> None:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"invalid shape {self.shape!r}; expected one of {sorted(_VALID_SHAPES)}"
             )
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Flatten the notation for structural equality checks."""
-        return [self.text, self.shape]
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/URL/capability.py b/paxman/capabilities/URL/capability.py
index f466fedc..324f04e4 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/URL/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/URL/capability.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ class URLCapability(Capability[URLNotation]):
     """
 
     name = "url"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[URLNotation]]:
         return [
diff --git a/paxman/capabilities/URL/notation.py b/paxman/capabilities/URL/notation.py
index 175fa092..73d3403f 100644
--- a/paxman/capabilities/URL/notation.py
+++ b/paxman/capabilities/URL/notation.py
@@ -11,11 +11,7 @@ class URLNotation:
 
     Shape-only carrier (D15): it stores the recognized text exactly as
     scanned and never validates it — validity is the rule layer's job (D7).
-    The single ``text`` component maps one-to-one through ``as_list()``.
+    The single ``text`` component is the recognized URL string.
     """
 
     text: str
-
-    def as_list(self) -> list[str]:
-        """Convert to list[str] for generic Rule interface."""
-        return [self.text]
diff --git a/paxman/core/__init__.py b/paxman/core/__init__.py
index 092d2c3a..1da0b8bc 100644
--- a/paxman/core/__init__.py
+++ b/paxman/core/__init__.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
     Candidate,
     Grammar,
     GrammarRule,
-    Notation,
     Provenance,
     RecognitionMatch,
     RecognizedRep,
@@ -46,7 +45,6 @@
     "Grammar",
     "GrammarRule",
     "MultipleMentionsError",
-    "Notation",
     "PaxmanError",
     "Provenance",
     "RecognitionError",
diff --git a/paxman/core/capability.py b/paxman/core/capability.py
index 5fa8957f..0b733203 100644
--- a/paxman/core/capability.py
+++ b/paxman/core/capability.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class EmailCapability(Capability[EmailNotation]): ...
     """
 
     name: str
-    version: str
 
     @abstractmethod
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[NotationT]]:
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ class ContractFactory(Protocol):
     unanimous common parameter block — ``excluded_rules``, ``pinned_rules``,
     ``year``, ``output_format``, all keyword-only — followed by capability-
     specific parameters.  This protocol makes that common block structural:
-    the five capability classes satisfy it by declaring ``create_contract``
+    every shipped capability class satisfies it by declaring ``create_contract``
     with those parameters (plus their own extras).
     """
 
diff --git a/paxman/core/domain.py b/paxman/core/domain.py
index 056107a4..0973253c 100644
--- a/paxman/core/domain.py
+++ b/paxman/core/domain.py
@@ -33,12 +33,6 @@ class Resolution(Enum):
     AMBIGUOUS = "ambiguous"
 
 
-# Notation type — capability-defined, but list[str] is the generic contract.
-# For capability-specific Notation, use a TypedDict or dataclass to capture
-# positional semantics.
-Notation = list[str]
-
-
 @dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
 class Provenance:
     """Authority citation for a validated value."""
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 1277d67f..255dae8f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 name = "paxman"
 version = "0.2.0"
 description = "Canonicalization authority resolver"
+readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
+license = "MIT"
+license-files = ["LICENSE.md"]
 classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
@@ -15,15 +18,10 @@ classifiers = [
 ]
 dependencies = []
 
-[project.optional-dependencies]
-dev = [
-    "pytest>=8.0",
-    "pytest-cov>=5.0",
-    "hypothesis>=6.100",
-    "ruff>=0.5",
-    "pyright>=1.1",
-    "import-linter>=2.10",
-]
+[project.urls]
+Homepage = "https://github.com/azaharizaman/paxman-python"
+Repository = "https://github.com/azaharizaman/paxman-python"
+Issues = "https://github.com/azaharizaman/paxman-python"
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 markers = [
@@ -112,5 +110,10 @@ packages = ["paxman"]
 
 [dependency-groups]
 dev = [
+    "pytest>=8.0",
+    "pytest-cov>=5.0",
+    "hypothesis>=6.100",
+    "ruff>=0.5",
+    "pyright>=1.1",
     "import-linter>=2.13",
 ]
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/country/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/country/test_capability.py
index 6250e0cf..dd5378f9 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/country/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/country/test_capability.py
@@ -24,18 +24,6 @@ def test_is_frozen(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
             notation.shape = "alpha3"  # type: ignore[misc]
 
-    def test_as_list_returns_correct(self) -> None:
-        """Verify list conversion."""
-        notation = CountryNotation(shape="alpha2", value="US")
-        assert notation.as_list() == ["alpha2", "US"]
-
-    def test_as_list_preserves_order(self) -> None:
-        """Verify field order matches list order."""
-        notation = CountryNotation(shape="name", value="United States")
-        result = notation.as_list()
-        assert result[0] == notation.shape
-        assert result[1] == notation.value
-
     def test_equality(self) -> None:
         """Verify value equality."""
         n1 = CountryNotation(shape="alpha2", value="US")
@@ -187,10 +175,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Verify name matches expected value."""
         assert CountryCapability.name == "country"
 
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Verify version matches expected value."""
-        assert CountryCapability.version == "1.0.0"
-
     def test_get_grammars_returns_all(self) -> None:
         """Verify grammar count (4)."""
         cap = CountryCapability()
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/currency/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/currency/test_capability.py
index 73bf03ad..0912fc29 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/currency/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/currency/test_capability.py
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Verify the capability name."""
         assert CurrencyCapability.name == "currency"
 
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Verify the capability version."""
-        assert CurrencyCapability.version == "1.0.0"
-
     def test_get_grammars(self) -> None:
         """Verify the three grammar instances and their names."""
         cap = CurrencyCapability()
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/currency/test_notation.py b/tests/capabilities/currency/test_notation.py
index e1386589..d9a1212a 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/currency/test_notation.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/currency/test_notation.py
@@ -16,13 +16,6 @@ def test_frozen() -> None:
         notation.text = "EUR"  # type: ignore[misc]
 
 
-def test_as_list() -> None:
-    assert CurrencyNotation(text="US$", shape="qualified_symbol").as_list() == [
-        "US$",
-        "qualified_symbol",
-    ]
-
-
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     ("text", "shape"),
     [
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/date/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/date/test_capability.py
index 5880100d..f0f7c24d 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/date/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/date/test_capability.py
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ def test_is_frozen(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
             notation.N1 = "2025"  # type: ignore[misc]
 
-    def test_as_list_returns_correct(self) -> None:
-        notation = DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
-        assert notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
-
     def test_equality(self) -> None:
         n1 = DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
         n2 = DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
@@ -57,10 +53,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         cap = DateCapability()
         assert cap.name == "date"
 
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        cap = DateCapability()
-        assert cap.version == "1.0.0"
-
     def test_get_grammars_returns_all(self) -> None:
         cap = DateCapability()
         assert len(cap.get_grammars()) == 4
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/date/test_grammar.py b/tests/capabilities/date/test_grammar.py
index fdb3ec00..0a40ca53 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/date/test_grammar.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/date/test_grammar.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     SlashISODateGrammar,
 )
 from paxman.capabilities.Date.grammar.us_recognition import USDateGrammar
+from paxman.capabilities.Date.notation import DateNotation
 
 
 @pytest.mark.capability
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ def test_recognizes_valid_input(self) -> None:
         grammar = ISO8601DateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("2026-07-26")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     def test_recognizes_multiple(self) -> None:
         grammar = ISO8601DateGrammar()
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ def test_emits_spans(self) -> None:
         assert result[0].start == 2
         assert result[0].end == 12
         assert result[0].raw_text == "2026-07-26"
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     @property
     def grammar(self) -> ISO8601DateGrammar:
@@ -77,13 +78,13 @@ def test_recognizes_4digit_year(self) -> None:
         grammar = USDateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("07/26/2026")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["07", "26", "2026"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="07", N2="26", N3="2026")
 
     def test_recognizes_2digit_year(self) -> None:
         grammar = USDateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("07/26/26")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["07", "26", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="07", N2="26", N3="26")
 
     def test_recognizes_variant_input(self) -> None:
         grammar = USDateGrammar()
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ def test_emits_spans(self) -> None:
         assert result[0].start == 2
         assert result[0].end == 12
         assert result[0].raw_text == "07/26/2026"
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["07", "26", "2026"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="07", N2="26", N3="2026")
 
     @property
     def grammar(self) -> USDateGrammar:
@@ -132,13 +133,13 @@ def test_recognizes_4digit_year(self) -> None:
         grammar = EuropeanDateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("26/07/2026")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["26", "07", "2026"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="26", N2="07", N3="2026")
 
     def test_recognizes_2digit_year(self) -> None:
         grammar = EuropeanDateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("26/07/26")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["26", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="26", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     def test_recognizes_variant_input(self) -> None:
         grammar = EuropeanDateGrammar()
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ def test_emits_spans(self) -> None:
         assert result[0].start == 2
         assert result[0].end == 12
         assert result[0].raw_text == "26/07/2026"
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["26", "07", "2026"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="26", N2="07", N3="2026")
 
     @property
     def grammar(self) -> EuropeanDateGrammar:
@@ -182,13 +183,13 @@ def test_recognizes_valid_input(self) -> None:
         grammar = SlashISODateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("2026/07/26")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     def test_recognizes_single_digit_components(self) -> None:
         grammar = SlashISODateGrammar()
         result = grammar.recognize("2026/7/6")
         assert len(result) == 1
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "7", "6"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="7", N3="6")
 
     def test_recognizes_multiple(self) -> None:
         grammar = SlashISODateGrammar()
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ def test_emits_spans(self) -> None:
         assert result[0].start == 2
         assert result[0].end == 12
         assert result[0].raw_text == "2026/07/26"
-        assert result[0].notation.as_list() == ["2026", "07", "26"]
+        assert result[0].notation == DateNotation(N1="2026", N2="07", N3="26")
 
     @property
     def grammar(self) -> SlashISODateGrammar:
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/email/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/email/test_capability.py
index 3d578ad7..38aaab5c 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/email/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/email/test_capability.py
@@ -30,21 +30,6 @@ def test_is_frozen(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
             notation.local_part = "other"  # type: ignore[misc]
 
-    @pytest.mark.capability
-    def test_as_list_returns_two_element_list(self) -> None:
-        """as_list() bridges to generic list[str] interface."""
-        notation = EmailNotation(local_part="user", domain_part="example.com")
-        result = notation.as_list()
-        assert result == ["user", "example.com"]
-        assert isinstance(result, list)
-
-    @pytest.mark.capability
-    def test_as_list_preserves_order(self) -> None:
-        """as_list() returns [local_part, domain_part] in order."""
-        notation = EmailNotation(local_part="azahari", domain_part="gmail.com")
-        assert notation.as_list()[0] == "azahari"
-        assert notation.as_list()[1] == "gmail.com"
-
     @pytest.mark.capability
     def test_equality(self) -> None:
         """Two notations with same fields are equal."""
@@ -83,11 +68,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Capability name is 'email'."""
         assert EmailCapability().name == "email"
 
-    @pytest.mark.capability
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Capability version is '1.0.0'."""
-        assert EmailCapability().version == "1.0.0"
-
     @pytest.mark.capability
     def test_get_grammars_returns_all_email_grammars(self) -> None:
         """get_grammars() returns all three email grammars."""
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/ip/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/ip/test_capability.py
index afa06863..ba613304 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/ip/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/ip/test_capability.py
@@ -29,14 +29,6 @@ def test_is_frozen(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
             notation.address = "10.0.0.1"  # type: ignore[misc]
 
-    @pytest.mark.capability
-    def test_as_list_returns_single_element(self) -> None:
-        """as_list() bridges to generic list[str] interface."""
-        notation = IPNotation(address="192.168.1.1")
-        result = notation.as_list()
-        assert result == ["192.168.1.1"]
-        assert isinstance(result, list)
-
     @pytest.mark.capability
     def test_equality(self) -> None:
         """Two notations with same address are equal."""
@@ -75,11 +67,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Capability name is 'ip'."""
         assert IPCapability().name == "ip"
 
-    @pytest.mark.capability
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Capability version is '1.0.0'."""
-        assert IPCapability().version == "1.0.0"
-
     @pytest.mark.capability
     def test_get_grammars_returns_all_ip_grammars(self) -> None:
         """get_grammars() returns both IPv4 and IPv6 grammars."""
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_capability.py
index e419a965..70c1ae46 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_capability.py
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@
 pytestmark = [pytest.mark.capability]
 
 
-def test_capability_name_version() -> None:
-    """ISBNCapability has the correct name and version."""
+def test_capability_name() -> None:
+    """ISBNCapability has the correct name."""
     assert ISBNCapability.name == "isbn"
-    assert ISBNCapability.version == "1.0.0"
 
 
 def test_get_grammars() -> None:
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_notation.py b/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_notation.py
index 38b6d030..e117dddc 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_notation.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/isbn/test_notation.py
@@ -20,12 +20,6 @@ def test_notation_fields() -> None:
     assert [f.name for f in dataclasses.fields(ISBNNotation)] == ["shape", "digits"]
 
 
-def test_as_list() -> None:
-    """as_list bridges to the generic list[str] interface."""
-    notation = ISBNNotation(shape="isbn13", digits="9780306406157")
-    assert notation.as_list() == ["isbn13", "9780306406157"]
-
-
 def test_notation_hashable() -> None:
     """Equal instances hash equal."""
     a = ISBNNotation(shape="isbn10", digits="0306406152")
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/money/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/money/test_capability.py
index c5faa536..6642da4e 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/money/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/money/test_capability.py
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Verify the capability name."""
         assert MoneyCapability.name == "money"
 
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Verify the capability version."""
-        assert MoneyCapability.version == "1.0.0"
-
     def test_get_grammars(self) -> None:
         """Verify the three grammar instances and their names."""
         cap = MoneyCapability()
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/money/test_notation.py b/tests/capabilities/money/test_notation.py
index 2664b5e5..39148224 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/money/test_notation.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/money/test_notation.py
@@ -55,17 +55,6 @@ def test_valid_shapes_accepted() -> None:
     MoneyNotation(currency_part="USD", amount_part="500")
 
 
-def test_as_list_order() -> None:
-    """as_list returns [currency_part, amount_part, currency_shape, amount_shape]."""
-    notation = MoneyNotation(
-        currency_part="$",
-        amount_part="1,234.56",
-        currency_shape="symbol",
-        amount_shape="comma_decimal",
-    )
-    assert notation.as_list() == ["$", "1,234.56", "symbol", "comma_decimal"]
-
-
 def test_notation_hashable() -> None:
     """Equal instances hash equal."""
     a = MoneyNotation(currency_part="USD", amount_part="500")
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/phone/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/phone/test_capability.py
index 4fb4572a..a47e8e53 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/phone/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/phone/test_capability.py
@@ -33,16 +33,6 @@ def test_is_frozen(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
             notation.shape = "national"  # type: ignore[misc]
 
-    def test_as_list_returns_correct(self) -> None:
-        """Verify list conversion."""
-        notation = PhoneNotation(shape="e164", value="15551234567")
-        assert notation.as_list() == ["e164", "15551234567", ""]
-
-    def test_as_list_with_extension(self) -> None:
-        """Verify list conversion includes extension."""
-        notation = PhoneNotation(shape="rfc3966", value="15551234567", extension="890")
-        assert notation.as_list() == ["rfc3966", "15551234567", "890"]
-
     def test_equality(self) -> None:
         """Verify value equality."""
         n1 = PhoneNotation(shape="e164", value="15551234567")
@@ -142,10 +132,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Verify capability name."""
         assert PhoneCapability.name == "phone"
 
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Verify capability version."""
-        assert PhoneCapability.version == "1.0.0"
-
     def test_get_grammars_returns_all(self) -> None:
         """Verify grammar count."""
         capability = PhoneCapability()
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_capability.py
index a97e0504..fc689d6a 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_capability.py
@@ -19,9 +19,7 @@ def setup_method(self) -> None:
         self.capability = SIUnitCapability()
 
     def test_metadata(self) -> None:
-        # name == "si_unit"; version == "1.0.0"
         assert self.capability.name == "si_unit"
-        assert self.capability.version == "1.0.0"
 
     def test_get_grammars(self) -> None:
         # 3 instances with names {symbol_recognition, name_recognition,
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_notation.py b/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_notation.py
index 75be0f3c..80cfb73a 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_notation.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/si_unit/test_notation.py
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@ def test_rejects_unknown_shape(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             SIUnitNotation(text="kg", shape="quantity")
 
-    def test_as_list(self) -> None:
-        n = SIUnitNotation(text="kg", shape="symbol")
-        assert n.as_list() == ["kg", "symbol"]
-
     def test_frozen(self) -> None:
         n = SIUnitNotation(text="kg", shape="symbol")
         with pytest.raises(dataclasses.FrozenInstanceError):
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/url/test_capability.py b/tests/capabilities/url/test_capability.py
index b0d75862..ea835090 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/url/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/url/test_capability.py
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ def test_name(self) -> None:
         """Capability name is 'url'."""
         assert URLCapability().name == "url"
 
-    def test_version(self) -> None:
-        """Capability version is '1.0.0'."""
-        assert URLCapability().version == "1.0.0"
-
     def test_get_grammars_returns_url_grammar(self) -> None:
         """get_grammars() returns exactly the absolute-URI grammar."""
         cap = URLCapability()
diff --git a/tests/capabilities/url/test_notation.py b/tests/capabilities/url/test_notation.py
index 3dd57bf1..e0c4e2c9 100644
--- a/tests/capabilities/url/test_notation.py
+++ b/tests/capabilities/url/test_notation.py
@@ -14,13 +14,6 @@ def test_fields() -> None:
     assert URLNotation(text="https://example.com").text == "https://example.com"
 
 
-def test_as_list() -> None:
-    """as_list returns the text wrapped in a single-element list."""
-    assert URLNotation(text="mailto:user@example.com").as_list() == [
-        "mailto:user@example.com"
-    ]
-
-
 def test_frozen() -> None:
     """Assigning a field raises FrozenInstanceError."""
     notation = URLNotation(text="https://example.com")
@@ -35,4 +28,4 @@ def test_slots() -> None:
 
 def test_empty_text_valid() -> None:
     """Shape-only notation accepts empty text; validity is the rule's job (D7)."""
-    assert URLNotation(text="").as_list() == [""]
+    assert URLNotation(text="").text == ""
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_feature_gating.py b/tests/integration/test_feature_gating.py
index b3267948..f73e3f27 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_feature_gating.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_feature_gating.py
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ class _LocalizedOnlyCapability(Capability[CountryNotation]):
     """Capability exposing only the localized rule over the fixture grammar."""
 
     name = "country"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[CountryNotation]]:
         return [_NameRecognitionGrammar()]
@@ -160,7 +159,6 @@ class _DanglingFeatureCapability(Capability[CountryNotation]):
     """Capability exposing a rule that names a nonexistent contract feature."""
 
     name = "dangling_feature"
-    version = "0.1.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[CountryNotation]]:
         return [_NameRecognitionGrammar()]
@@ -226,7 +224,6 @@ class _DanglingGrammarCapability(Capability[CountryNotation]):
     """Capability exposing a rule with a dangling grammar affinity."""
 
     name = "dangling_grammar"
-    version = "0.1.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar[CountryNotation]]:
         return [_NameRecognitionGrammar()]
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_capability.py b/tests/unit/test_capability.py
index 2f4ddcb6..893e1031 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_capability.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_capability.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from paxman.core.capability import Capability
 from paxman.core.contract import Contract
-from paxman.core.domain import Grammar, Notation, Provenance, Rule, RuleStrategy
+from paxman.core.domain import Grammar, Provenance, Rule, RuleStrategy
 
 # --- Concrete test doubles ---
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class StubGrammar(Grammar):
     name: str = "stub_grammar"
     semantics = "stub_grammar"
 
-    def recognize(self, text: str) -> list[Notation]:
+    def recognize(self, text: str) -> list[list[str]]:
         return []
 
 
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ class StubRule(Rule):
     target_semantics = frozenset({"stub_grammar"})
     requires_features = frozenset()
 
-    def matches(self, notation: Notation, contract: Contract) -> bool:
+    def matches(self, notation: list[str], contract: Contract) -> bool:
         return True
 
-    def normalize(self, notation: Notation, contract: Contract) -> str:
+    def normalize(self, notation: list[str], contract: Contract) -> str:
         return "stub"
 
 
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ class ConcreteCapability(Capability):
     """Concrete capability that fully implements the ABC."""
 
     name = "test_cap"
-    version = "0.1.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar]:
         return [StubGrammar()]
@@ -75,7 +74,6 @@ def test_cannot_instantiate_without_abstract_methods(self) -> None:
 
         class IncompleteCapability(Capability):
             name = "incomplete"
-            version = "0.1.0"
             # Missing get_grammars and get_rules
 
         with pytest.raises(TypeError):
@@ -87,7 +85,6 @@ def test_cannot_instantiate_missing_get_grammars(self) -> None:
 
         class PartialCapability(Capability):
             name = "partial"
-            version = "0.1.0"
 
             def get_rules(self) -> list[Rule]:
                 return []
@@ -101,7 +98,6 @@ def test_cannot_instantiate_missing_get_rules(self) -> None:
 
         class PartialCapability(Capability):
             name = "partial"
-            version = "0.1.0"
 
             def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar]:
                 return []
@@ -114,7 +110,6 @@ def test_concrete_subclass_instantiates(self) -> None:
         """A fully implemented subclass can be instantiated."""
         cap = ConcreteCapability()
         assert cap.name == "test_cap"
-        assert cap.version == "0.1.0"
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
     def test_get_grammars_returns_list(self) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_discovery.py b/tests/unit/test_discovery.py
index c316cadc..03f31a0b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_discovery.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_discovery.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ class StubCapability(Capability):
     """Minimal capability for testing the registry."""
 
     name = "stub"
-    version = "0.1.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar]:
         return []
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ class StubCapabilityV2(Capability):
     """Same name, different class — tests name collision."""
 
     name = "stub"
-    version = "2.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar]:
         return []
@@ -49,7 +47,6 @@ class AnotherCapability(Capability):
     """Different capability name — tests multiple registrations."""
 
     name = "another"
-    version = "1.0.0"
 
     def get_grammars(self) -> list[Grammar]:
         return []
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_package_install.py b/tests/unit/test_package_install.py
index 98988e23..64096536 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_package_install.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_package_install.py
@@ -101,3 +101,58 @@ def test_package_metadata_matches_pyproject(self) -> None:
             if line.strip().startswith("version =")
         )
         assert metadata.version("paxman") == declared
+
+    @pytest.mark.unit
+    def test_project_metadata_declared(self) -> None:
+        """pyproject declares license, urls, readme, and consolidated dev deps.
+
+        Community-trust floor: the distribution must declare its license,
+        project URLs, and readme, and the duplicated dev-dependency blocks
+        must be collapsed into a single ``[dependency-groups] dev`` group.
+        Tolerant to both PEP 639 license forms (string vs table).
+        """
+        import tomllib
+
+        data = tomllib.loads(
+            (_REPO_ROOT / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        )
+        project = data["project"]
+
+        # readme declared and present on disk
+        assert project.get("readme") == "README.md"
+        assert (_REPO_ROOT / "README.md").is_file()
+
+        # License declared in EITHER PEP 639 form
+        license_field = project.get("license")
+        assert license_field in ("MIT", {"file": "LICENSE.md"}), (
+            f"unexpected license declaration: {license_field!r}"
+        )
+
+        # License file(s) exist on disk
+        if "license-files" in project:
+            for lic in project["license-files"]:
+                assert (_REPO_ROOT / lic).is_file(), f"missing license file: {lic}"
+        else:
+            assert (_REPO_ROOT / "LICENSE.md").is_file()
+
+        # Project URLs
+        urls = project.get("urls", {})
+        repo_url = "https://github.com/azaharizaman/paxman-python"
+        assert urls.get("Repository") == repo_url
+        assert urls.get("Homepage") == repo_url
+        assert urls.get("Issues") == repo_url
+
+        # The legacy optional-dependencies table is gone
+        assert "optional-dependencies" not in project
+
+        # Dev deps consolidated into [dependency-groups] dev
+        dev_deps = " ".join(data["dependency-groups"]["dev"]).lower()
+        for tool in (
+            "pytest",
+            "pytest-cov",
+            "hypothesis",
+            "ruff",
+            "pyright",
+            "import-linter",
+        ):
+            assert tool in dev_deps, f"missing dev dependency: {tool}"
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_removed_surfaces.py b/tests/unit/test_removed_surfaces.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..81b2bb61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_removed_surfaces.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Guards for removed legacy surfaces (architecture-review Near-Term 3).
+
+Each test locks a removal: the surface must not reappear in source.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+import paxman.core.domain
+
+_REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_generic_notation_alias_removed() -> None:
+    """`Notation = list[str]` alias is gone from core and its export."""
+    assert not hasattr(paxman.core.domain, "Notation")
+    assert not hasattr(paxman.core, "Notation")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_no_as_list_bridging_in_source() -> None:
+    """No paxman source module defines as_list() bridging."""
+    offenders = [
+        p.as_posix()
+        for p in (_REPO_ROOT / "paxman").rglob("*.py")
+        if re.search(r"\bdef as_list\b", p.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    ]
+    assert offenders == [], f"as_list bridging found in: {offenders}"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_capability_abc_has_no_version_surface() -> None:
+    """`Capability.version` is removed from the ABC in both declaration forms."""
+    from paxman.core.capability import Capability
+
+    assert "version" not in Capability.__annotations__
+    assert "version" not in vars(Capability)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_shipped_capabilities_do_not_declare_version() -> None:
+    """No shipped capability class carries a dead version attribute."""
+    from paxman.capabilities import (
+        IP,
+        ISBN,
+        URL,
+        Country,
+        Currency,
+        Date,
+        Email,
+        Money,
+        Phone,
+        SIUnit,
+    )
+
+    for cls in (Country, Currency, Date, Email, IP, ISBN, Money, Phone, SIUnit, URL):
+        assert "version" not in vars(cls), cls.__name__
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 5fdb6461..53f41a53 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ name = "paxman"
 version = "0.2.0"
 source = { editable = "." }
 
-[package.optional-dependencies]
+[package.dev-dependencies]
 dev = [
     { name = "hypothesis" },
     { name = "import-linter" },
@@ -343,24 +343,17 @@ dev = [
     { name = "ruff" },
 ]
 
-[package.dev-dependencies]
-dev = [
-    { name = "import-linter" },
-]
-
 [package.metadata]
-requires-dist = [
-    { name = "hypothesis", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=6.100" },
-    { name = "import-linter", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=2.10" },
-    { name = "pyright", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=1.1" },
-    { name = "pytest", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=8.0" },
-    { name = "pytest-cov", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=5.0" },
-    { name = "ruff", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=0.5" },
-]
-provides-extras = ["dev"]
 
 [package.metadata.requires-dev]
-dev = [{ name = "import-linter", specifier = ">=2.13" }]
+dev = [
+    { name = "hypothesis", specifier = ">=6.100" },
+    { name = "import-linter", specifier = ">=2.13" },
+    { name = "pyright", specifier = ">=1.1" },
+    { name = "pytest", specifier = ">=8.0" },
+    { name = "pytest-cov", specifier = ">=5.0" },
+    { name = "ruff", specifier = ">=0.5" },
+]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "pluggy"