diff --git a/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.ps1 b/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.ps1
index d6a187649..60ddc4b02 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.ps1
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.py b/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.py
index 68a5954f8..def75d863 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/cf-edit/scripts/cf-edit.py
@@ -31,9 +31,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.ps1
index 7c170ee91..1c30ddceb 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.ps1
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.py b/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.py
index 96b091053..6361e1c64 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/form-compile/scripts/form-compile.py
@@ -32,9 +32,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.ps1 b/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.ps1
index 91d22d1b8..702ebfb66 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.ps1
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.py b/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.py
index 53e2aa81c..f697e9c2b 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/form-edit/scripts/form-edit.py
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.ps1 b/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.ps1
index 2d5e82c95..77c4b8227 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.ps1
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.py b/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.py
index 11fe90a01..dadbdaebe 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/interface-edit/scripts/interface-edit.py
@@ -364,9 +364,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.ps1
index b304352ad..10b3fe7a9 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.ps1
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.py b/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.py
index 4fca1b998..f452df6b9 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/meta-compile/scripts/meta-compile.py
@@ -40,9 +40,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.ps1 b/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.ps1
index ff3755da3..46feb7b0d 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.ps1
@@ -44,8 +44,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.py b/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.py
index 8141e0367..af0855fb3 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/meta-edit/scripts/meta-edit.py
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.ps1
index 663477631..3c6f0846c 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.ps1
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.py b/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.py
index ddf7d4fd7..83d91f16d 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/mxl-compile/scripts/mxl-compile.py
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.ps1
index 78a3c76a0..9d3895176 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.ps1
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.py b/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.py
index e965ce1be..fcf1cc0b3 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/role-compile/scripts/role-compile.py
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.ps1
index aad8e741c..903b57623 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.ps1
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.py b/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.py
index 2bd1dda43..321fd187b 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/skd-compile/scripts/skd-compile.py
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.ps1
index 9a8f4a097..0eaa19418 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.ps1
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.py b/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.py
index e8b78b8e2..d3a64ef7a 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/skd-decompile/scripts/skd-decompile.py
@@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.ps1 b/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.ps1
index b21e59deb..86ac4cb91 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.ps1
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.py b/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.py
index 5ed621ea2..b09a6e610 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/subsystem-compile/scripts/subsystem-compile.py
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)
 
 
diff --git a/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.ps1 b/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.ps1
index 476ac16c6..f10e3c816 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.ps1
+++ b/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.ps1
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ function ConvertFrom-JsonInput([string]$text, [string]$source, [string]$expected
 	} catch {
 		$what = if ($expected) { "$source expects $expected" } else { "Invalid JSON in $source" }
 		$got = ($text -replace '\s+', ' ').Trim()
-		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) + '...' }
-		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, got: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
+		$label = 'got'
+		if ($got.Length -gt 60) { $label = 'got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)'; $got = $got.Substring(0, 60) }
+		[Console]::Error.WriteLine("[ERROR] ${what}, ${label}: ${got} ($($_.Exception.Message))")
 		exit 1
 	}
 	Write-Output -NoEnumerate $parsed
diff --git a/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.py b/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.py
index 88cc352cb..6d7e1df69 100644
--- a/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.py
+++ b/.claude/skills/subsystem-edit/scripts/subsystem-edit.py
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ def parse_json_input(text, source, expected=None):
     except ValueError as exc:
         what = "%s expects %s" % (source, expected) if expected else "Invalid JSON in %s" % source
         got = " ".join(str(text).split())
+        label = "got"
         if len(got) > 60:
-            got = got[:60] + "..."
-        print("[ERROR] %s, got: %s (%s)" % (what, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
+            label = "got (first 60 chars, whitespace collapsed)"
+            got = got[:60]
+        print("[ERROR] %s, %s: %s (%s)" % (what, label, got, exc), file=_psys.stderr)
         _psys.exit(1)