test(confidence-engine): prove direct helper production seam

scripts/start-case-experiment-helper.cjs

@@ -14,27 +14,14 @@
  *   1 — execution failure or invalid input
  */
 
-// Minimal .env.local loader — no external dependency required.
-// Parses KEY=VALUE lines, skips comments (#) and blank lines.
-(function loadDotEnvLocal() {
-  const fs = require("fs");
-  const path = require("path");
-  const envPath = path.resolve(__dirname, "..", ".env.local");
+// Use the standard environment loader already available to this Next repository.
+// loadEnvConfig mutates process.env in-place (same semantics as previous bespoke parser).
+(function loadEnvironment() {
   try {
-    const raw = fs.readFileSync(envPath, "utf-8");
-    for (const line of raw.split("\n")) {
-      const trimmed = line.trim();
-      if (!trimmed || trimmed.startsWith("#")) continue;
-      const eqIdx = trimmed.indexOf("=");
-      if (eqIdx <= 0) continue;
-      const key = trimmed.slice(0, eqIdx).trim();
-      const value = trimmed.slice(eqIdx + 1).trim();
-      if (!(key in process.env)) {
-        process.env[key] = value;
-      }
-    }
+    const { loadEnvConfig } = require("@next/env");
+    loadEnvConfig(__dirname, undefined, { logOutput: "none" }, false);
   } catch {
-    // .env.local missing — proceed with whatever is already set.
+    // loader unavailable — proceed with whatever is already set.
   }
 })();
 
@@ -121,6 +108,34 @@ async function runStartCaseExperiment(scenarioInput) {
 }
 
 (async () => {
+  // Import-only mode: prove real production seam without invoking startCase.
+  // Used only for deterministic apparatus verification of the import path.
+  if (process.env.START_CASE_EXPERIMENT_HELPER_IMPORT_ONLY === "1") {
+    try {
+      const mod = await import("../../lib/graph/orchestrator.js");
+      const startCaseResolved = typeof mod.startCase === "function";
+      const output = JSON.stringify({
+        success: true,
+        mode: "import-only",
+        startCaseResolved,
+      });
+      console.log(output);
+      process.exit(0);
+    } catch (e) {
+      let failureReason;
+      if (e.code === "ERR_REQUIRE_ESM" || e.message.includes("ERR_REQUIRE_ESM")) {
+        failureReason = "CJS cannot import ESM module";
+      } else if (e.code === "ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND" || e.code === "ERR_UNSUPPORTED_DIR_IMPORT") {
+        failureReason = `Module resolution failed: ${e.message}`;
+      } else {
+        failureReason = `Import error: ${e.message}`;
+      }
+      const output = JSON.stringify({ success: false, mode: "import-only", startCaseResolved: false, failureReason });
+      console.log(output);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+  }
+
   try {
     const scenarioInput = readScenarioInput(process.argv);
     const result = await runStartCaseExperiment(scenarioInput);