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+# Go-Blockchain Modernisation Design
+
+## Goal
+
+Modernise `forge.lthn.ai/core/go-blockchain` from a standalone binary with stdlib `flag` and bare goroutines into a proper `core-chain` binary using `cli.Main()`, DI services, and go-process daemon lifecycle.
+
+## Architecture
+
+The refactor migrates go-blockchain to the standard Core CLI patterns without touching internal blockchain logic (chain/, consensus/, crypto/, wire/, types/, etc.). The P2P sync loop and wallet scanner become `core.Service` implementations managed by the DI container, with the sync service optionally running as a go-process daemon in headless mode.
+
+## Current State
+
+- **Entry point**: `cmd/chain/main.go` — stdlib `flag`, direct `store.New()`, bare `go syncLoop()`, inline `frame.Run()`
+- **Stale go.mod**: Replace directives point to `/home/claude/Code/core/*` (different machine)
+- **No build config**: No `.core/build.yaml`, not in `go.work`
+- **Dependencies**: core/cli, core/go-p2p, core/go-store, bubbletea, testify, x/crypto
+
+## Design
+
+### 1. Entry Point: `cli.Main()` Migration
+
+New `cmd/core-chain/main.go`:
+
+```go
+package main
+
+import (
+    "forge.lthn.ai/core/cli/pkg/cli"
+    blockchain "forge.lthn.ai/core/go-blockchain"
+)
+
+func main() {
+    cli.Main(
+        cli.WithCommands("chain", blockchain.AddChainCommands),
+    )
+}
+```
+
+`AddChainCommands()` registers subcommands on the `chain` parent cobra command:
+
+| Subcommand | Description |
+|------------|-------------|
+| `chain explorer` | TUI block explorer (current default mode) |
+| `chain sync` | Headless P2P sync (daemon-capable) |
+| `chain mine` | Mining (existing mining/ package) |
+
+Persistent flags on `chain` parent: `--data-dir`, `--seed`, `--testnet`.
+
+Old `cmd/chain/` directory is removed after migration.
+
+### 2. SyncService as `core.Service`
+
+Wraps the current `syncLoop`/`syncOnce` logic:
+
+```go
+type SyncService struct {
+    *core.ServiceRuntime[SyncServiceOptions]
+}
+
+type SyncServiceOptions struct {
+    DataDir  string
+    Seed     string
+    Testnet  bool
+    Chain    *chain.Chain
+}
+
+func (s *SyncService) OnStartup(ctx context.Context) error {
+    go s.syncLoop(ctx)
+    return nil
+}
+
+func (s *SyncService) OnShutdown() error { return nil }
+```
+
+In headless mode (`core-chain chain sync`), runs as a **go-process Daemon**:
+- PID file at `~/.core/daemons/core-chain-sync.pid`
+- Auto-registered in daemon registry
+- `core-chain chain sync --stop` to halt
+
+In TUI mode (`core-chain chain explorer`), SyncService starts as a background service within the same process — no daemon wrapper needed.
+
+### 3. WalletService as `core.Service`
+
+Same pattern as SyncService. Wraps existing `wallet/` scanner logic. Only instantiated when wallet-related subcommands are invoked.
+
+### 4. DI Container Wiring
+
+```go
+func AddChainCommands(parent *cobra.Command) {
+    // Parse persistent flags, create store, chain
+    // Wire services into core.New():
+    c, _ := core.New(
+        core.WithService(NewSyncService),
+        core.WithService(NewWalletService),
+    )
+}
+```
+
+The `chain.Chain` instance and `store.Store` are created once and injected into services via the DI container — no globals.
+
+### 5. Wire Protocol Extraction (Deferred)
+
+The `wire/` package is generic Levin binary serialization, reusable by go-p2p and potentially other modules. Candidate for extraction to `forge.lthn.ai/core/go-wire` as a separate module.
+
+**Deferred to a follow-up task** — initial refactor keeps wire/ in-tree.
+
+### 6. Build & Workspace Integration
+
+- **`.core/build.yaml`**: `binary: core-chain`, targets: `darwin/arm64`, `linux/amd64`
+- **go.mod**: Fix replace directives from `/home/claude/Code/core/*` to `/Users/snider/Code/core/*`
+- **go.work**: Add `./go-blockchain` entry
+- **Build**: `core build` or `go build -o ./bin/core-chain ./cmd/core-chain`
+
+### 7. Unchanged Packages
+
+These packages contain blockchain domain logic and are not touched:
+
+- `chain/` — block storage, sync algorithm, validation
+- `consensus/` — proof-of-work consensus rules
+- `crypto/` — cryptographic primitives
+- `difficulty/` — difficulty adjustment
+- `mining/` — block mining
+- `types/` — block, transaction, header types
+- `wire/` — binary serialization (extraction deferred)
+- `p2p/` — Levin protocol encoding (called from SyncService)
+- `tui/` — TUI models (wired into `cli.NewFrame("HCF")` from explorer subcommand)
+- `config/` — network configs, hard forks, client version
+- `wallet/` — wallet scanning (wrapped by WalletService)
+- `rpc/` — RPC client types
+
+## Binary
+
+Standalone `core-chain` binary (not integrated into main `core` binary). Rationale: go-blockchain pulls in x/crypto and potentially CGo-dependent dependencies that shouldn't bloat the core CLI.
+
+## Key References
+
+| File | Role |
+|------|------|
+| `cmd/chain/main.go` | Current entry point (to be replaced) |
+| `chain/sync.go` | Sync logic (to be wrapped by SyncService) |
+| `wallet/scanner.go` | Wallet scanner (to be wrapped by WalletService) |
+| `tui/` | TUI models (rewired to explorer subcommand) |
+| `core/cli/pkg/cli/main.go` | `cli.Main()` pattern |
+| `core/go-process/daemon.go` | Daemon lifecycle |