diff --git a/docs/linux-proton.md b/docs/linux-proton.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c442e6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/linux-proton.md
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+# Experimental Linux graphics rendering through Proton
+
+The Windows renderer can render text and CSS animation on Linux x64 through
+Proton's DXVK and vkd3d-proton libraries. This is an opt-in compatibility
+experiment, not native Linux support or a complete Open Edit installation.
+
+`pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs` launches an already-downloaded Windows
+engine using an already-installed Proton. It translates project/output paths,
+uses a dedicated Wine prefix, forwards the engine's output and exit status, and
+fails if the engine logs errors despite exiting zero. It installs nothing.
+
+## Tested scope
+
+Tested on Ubuntu 24.04 x64, NVIDIA RTX 4070 SUPER (driver 580.173.2), an active X
+display, Steam Proton Experimental (Wine 10.0, DXVK 2.7.1 development build,
+vkd3d-proton 3.0.0), renderer 0.10.2 and Windows FFmpeg 9.0.1:
+
+| Check | Result |
+| --- | --- |
+| Renderer `--version` and `--help` | Pass |
+| PNG capture of CSS shapes | Pass; pixels inspected |
+| Text and animated CSS shape to H.264 MP4 | Pass; 320×240, 10 frames, 10 fps, 1 second |
+| First/last decoded frames | Text visible; shape moves |
+| `--verify` plus JSON report | Pass, all 10 frames |
+| Embedded H.264 `<video>` | **Fails** in Media Foundation; unsupported in this experiment |
+| Standard `openedit init --dry` | Still rejects Linux in CLI 0.0.19 |
+| Full recipe/gates/caption pipeline | Not validated |
+| Render-server stdin jobs | Rejected by launcher; job paths need translation |
+
+Stock Ubuntu Wine 9.0 started the binary but could not create the WebGPU device:
+`D3D12 create fence handle failed with E_NOTIMPL`. Proton with its native DXVK
+and vkd3d-proton DLLs got past this failure. Setting Proton's GStreamer library
+paths alone did not repair video decoding; it produced missing-library errors
+and a crash. Do not treat a successful MP4 encode as proof that source footage
+decoded. The launcher rejects logged engine errors for this reason.
+
+Other GPUs, display servers, Proton releases, media types and font caches have
+not been validated. The smoke fixture used the engine's embedded fallback font.
+`--headless` was tested with an active display, not a display-less host.
+
+## Prepare a private runtime directory
+
+Prerequisites: Node.js, an existing Steam Proton installation containing
+`files/bin/wine64`, working Vulkan drivers/display, `curl`, `unzip`, `sha256sum`,
+and native FFmpeg/ffprobe for inspecting results. No global installation or
+automatic upgrade is performed by these instructions.
+
+From the repository root, choose an **unused** runtime directory. Set the Proton
+path to the installation on your machine; some releases have different layouts.
+
+```bash
+export OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR="$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Proton - Experimental"
+export OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR="$PWD/.veed-engine/linux-proton"
+export OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR="$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/engine"
+mkdir -p "$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/downloads"
+```
+
+Download the upstream engine and verify its published checksum before extraction:
+
+```bash
+(
+  set -eu
+  cd "$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/downloads"
+  release=https://github.com/veedstudio/weave-renderer-public-releases/releases/download/weave-v0.10.2
+  curl -fLO "$release/weave-viewer-cli-windows-x64.zip"
+  curl -fLO "$release/weave-viewer-cli-windows-x64.zip.sha256"
+  sha256sum -c weave-viewer-cli-windows-x64.zip.sha256
+  unzip -q weave-viewer-cli-windows-x64.zip -d "$OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR"
+  curl -fL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/veedstudio/weave-renderer-public-releases/weave-v0.10.2/LICENSE-binary.md \
+    -o "$OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR/LICENSE-binary.md"
+)
+```
+
+Copy Proton's translation DLLs next to the engine (leave the Steam installation
+unchanged). Keep the engine's bundled shaders, fonts and other DLLs intact:
+
+```bash
+cp "$OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR/files/lib/wine/dxvk/x86_64-windows/dxgi.dll" \
+   "$OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR/files/lib/wine/dxvk/x86_64-windows/d3d11.dll" \
+   "$OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR/files/lib/wine/vkd3d-proton/x86_64-windows/d3d12.dll" \
+   "$OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR/files/lib/wine/vkd3d-proton/x86_64-windows/d3d12core.dll" \
+   "$OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR/"
+```
+
+MP4 recording also needs **Windows** `ffmpeg.exe` next to the engine. Native
+Linux FFmpeg cannot replace the Windows child process. Obtain and checksum-check
+the essentials ZIP from [Gyan's FFmpeg builds](https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/)
+(the same provider used by Open Edit's Windows installer), extract it into the
+private runtime directory, and copy its `bin/ffmpeg.exe` next to the engine.
+Retain the extracted package and its license files. Do not commit or redistribute
+engine, FFmpeg or Proton binaries as part of this source contribution; their
+respective licenses remain separate from this repository's Apache-2.0 code.
+
+## Run the included fixture
+
+```bash
+export VEED_ENGINE_BIN="$PWD/pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs"
+mkdir -p "$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/results"
+"$VEED_ENGINE_BIN" --version
+"$VEED_ENGINE_BIN" tests/fixtures/linux-proton --verify \
+  --verify-report "$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/results/verify.json"
+"$VEED_ENGINE_BIN" tests/fixtures/linux-proton --headless \
+  --record "$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/results/smoke.mp4"
+ffprobe -v error -show_entries stream=codec_name,width,height,r_frame_rate,nb_frames \
+  -show_entries format=duration -of json "$OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR/results/smoke.mp4"
+node --test tests/linux-proton-engine.test.mjs
+```
+
+The launcher preserves the caller's working directory for asset/font discovery.
+Pass path options as separate arguments (`--record "output path.mp4"`). Use
+relative asset paths inside templates/manifests; only command-line paths are
+translated. Custom safe zones belong in the manifest, not `--verify=safezones:…`.
+The Wine prefix and shader cache live under `OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR`; setting
+`WINEPREFIX` does not redirect the launcher to a game's existing prefix.
+
+## Remaining upstream work
+
+The renderer's [public distribution repository](https://github.com/veedstudio/weave-renderer-public-releases)
+states that engine source lives in a private upstream monorepo. Its
+[0.10.2 release](https://github.com/veedstudio/weave-renderer-public-releases/releases/tag/weave-v0.10.2)
+contains macOS arm64 and Windows x64 archives, with no Linux build.
+
+CLI 0.0.19 rejects Linux before testing `VEED_ENGINE_BIN`, and its implementation
+is in the separately published `@veedstudio/openedit-cli` package. This launcher
+does not patch npm caches, impersonate Windows, or bypass preflight. A complete
+Linux integration needs explicit CLI capability handling, reliable media
+decoding, end-to-end gate tests, and preferably a native engine release from the
+engine maintainers. Until then, use this entry point directly for experiments
+within the tested graphics scope.
diff --git a/pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs b/pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2f7b9f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+// Experimental Windows-renderer bridge. No downloads, global installs, or platform spoofing.
+import { accessSync, constants, mkdirSync, statSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { homedir } from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+
+const pathOptions = new Set([
+  '--template', '--overrides', '--exit-screenshot', '--record',
+  '--verify-report', '--contrast-audit', '--statistics',
+]);
+
+export function windowsPath(value, cwd = process.cwd()) {
+  if (/^[a-z]:[\\/]/i.test(value) || value.startsWith('\\\\')) return value;
+  return `Z:${path.resolve(cwd, value)}`;
+}
+
+export function engineArgs(args, cwd = process.cwd()) {
+  if (args.includes('--render-server')) {
+    throw new Error('--render-server is not supported: stdin job paths require a separate bridge.');
+  }
+  let expectsPath = false;
+  return args.map((arg, index) => {
+    if (expectsPath) {
+      expectsPath = false;
+      if (arg.startsWith('--')) throw new Error('Missing path before ' + arg);
+      return windowsPath(arg, cwd);
+    }
+    if (pathOptions.has(arg)) {
+      if (index === args.length - 1) throw new Error('Missing path after ' + arg);
+      expectsPath = true;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith('--verify=') && arg.includes('safezones:')) {
+      throw new Error('Use manifest verify.safezones for custom zones with this experimental launcher.');
+    }
+    // The engine accepts a project directory as its first positional argument.
+    return index === 0 && !arg.startsWith('-') ? windowsPath(arg, cwd) : arg;
+  });
+}
+
+function requireFile(file, executable = false) {
+  if (!statSync(file, { throwIfNoEntry: false })?.isFile()) throw new Error('Missing file: ' + file);
+  accessSync(file, executable ? constants.X_OK : constants.R_OK);
+  return file;
+}
+
+export async function launch(args, env = process.env) {
+  if (process.platform !== 'linux' || process.arch !== 'x64') {
+    throw new Error('This experimental launcher supports Linux x64 only.');
+  }
+  for (const key of ['OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR', 'OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR']) {
+    if (!env[key] || !path.isAbsolute(env[key])) throw new Error(key + ' must be an absolute directory path.');
+  }
+  const engine = env.OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR;
+  const wine = requireFile(path.join(env.OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR, 'files/bin/wine64'), true);
+  const binary = requireFile(path.join(engine, 'weave-viewer-cli.exe'));
+  for (const dll of ['dxgi.dll', 'd3d11.dll', 'd3d12.dll', 'd3d12core.dll']) requireFile(path.join(engine, dll));
+  if (args.includes('--record')) requireFile(path.join(engine, 'ffmpeg.exe'));
+  const translated = engineArgs(args);
+  // A dedicated prefix, never the user's default Wine prefix or a Steam game's prefix.
+  const state = env.OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR ?? path.join(env.XDG_STATE_HOME ?? path.join(homedir(), '.local/state'), 'openedit-proton');
+  if (!path.isAbsolute(state)) throw new Error('OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR must be absolute.');
+  const prefix = path.join(state, 'wineprefix');
+  mkdirSync(prefix, { recursive: true });
+  const child = spawn(wine, [binary, ...translated], {
+    stdio: ['inherit', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
+    env: {
+      ...env,
+      WINEPREFIX: prefix,
+      WINEDEBUG: env.WINEDEBUG ?? '-all',
+      DXVK_LOG_LEVEL: env.DXVK_LOG_LEVEL ?? 'error',
+      VKD3D_DEBUG: env.VKD3D_DEBUG ?? 'none',
+      VKD3D_SHADER_CACHE_PATH: env.VKD3D_SHADER_CACHE_PATH ?? state,
+      WINEDLLOVERRIDES: [env.WINEDLLOVERRIDES, 'dxgi,d3d11,d3d12,d3d12core=n'].filter(Boolean).join(';'),
+      WINEPATH: [windowsPath(engine), env.WINEPATH].filter(Boolean).join(';'),
+    },
+  });
+  // This engine can exit 0 after failing to decode a source video. Preserve its logs
+  // while rejecting that false success; keep only a small tail across stream chunks.
+  let failed = false;
+  for (const [stream, output] of [[child.stdout, process.stdout], [child.stderr, process.stderr]]) {
+    let tail = '';
+    stream.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      output.write(chunk);
+      const text = tail + chunk.toString();
+      if (/\[error\]|video decode failed|VideoSourcePump: provider failed to open/.test(text)) failed = true;
+      tail = text.slice(-512);
+    });
+  }
+  const interrupt = () => child.kill('SIGINT');
+  const terminate = () => child.kill('SIGTERM');
+  process.on('SIGINT', interrupt);
+  process.on('SIGTERM', terminate);
+  try {
+    return await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      child.once('error', reject);
+      child.once('close', (code, signal) => {
+        if (signal) return reject(new Error('Renderer terminated by ' + signal));
+        if (failed && code === 0) {
+          console.error('linux-proton-engine: renderer logged an error; output is not a successful render.');
+          resolve(1);
+        } else resolve(code ?? 1);
+      });
+    });
+  } finally {
+    process.removeListener('SIGINT', interrupt);
+    process.removeListener('SIGTERM', terminate);
+  }
+}
+
+if (process.argv[1] && path.resolve(process.argv[1]) === fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)) {
+  try { process.exitCode = await launch(process.argv.slice(2)); }
+  catch (error) { console.error('linux-proton-engine: ' + error.message); process.exitCode = 1; }
+}
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/linux-proton/manifest.json b/tests/fixtures/linux-proton/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1767bee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/linux-proton/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "render": { "width": 320, "height": 240, "duration": 1, "fps": 10 }
+}
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/linux-proton/template.wv b/tests/fixtures/linux-proton/template.wv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a511c64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/linux-proton/template.wv
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<html><head><style>
+body { margin: 0; width: 320px; height: 240px; background: #102030; }
+#label { position: absolute; left: 24px; top: 20px; font-size: 24px; color: #ffffff; }
+#box { position: absolute; left: 40px; top: 90px; width: 80px; height: 80px;
+  background: #ff6600; animation: travel 1000ms linear both; }
+@keyframes travel { from { transform: translateX(0px); } to { transform: translateX(120px); } }
+</style></head><body><div id="label">Linux render test</div><div id="box"></div></body></html>
diff --git a/tests/linux-proton-engine.test.mjs b/tests/linux-proton-engine.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4275352
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/linux-proton-engine.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { mkdtempSync, mkdirSync, writeFileSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { engineArgs, windowsPath } from '../pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs';
+
+test('translates project and output paths with spaces without shell interpretation', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(engineArgs(['a project', '--record', 'out/$(touch nope).mp4', '--fps', '30'], '/work'),
+    ['Z:/work/a project', '--record', 'Z:/work/out/$(touch nope).mp4', '--fps', '30']);
+});
+test('preserves Windows and UNC paths', () => {
+  assert.equal(windowsPath('C:\\clips\\in.mp4'), 'C:\\clips\\in.mp4');
+  assert.equal(windowsPath('\\\\server\\share\\in.mp4'), '\\\\server\\share\\in.mp4');
+});
+test('handles template mode and report paths independently of numeric flags', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(engineArgs(['--template', '/tmp/a.wv', '--width', '320', '--verify-report', './qa.json'], '/work'),
+    ['--template', 'Z:/tmp/a.wv', '--width', '320', '--verify-report', 'Z:/work/qa.json']);
+});
+test('rejects missing paths rather than forwarding a different flag as a filename', () => {
+  assert.throws(() => engineArgs(['--record']), /Missing path/);
+  assert.throws(() => engineArgs(['--record', '--headless']), /Missing path/);
+});
+test('rejects batch stdin and embedded custom-zone paths until they have a path bridge', () => {
+  assert.throws(() => engineArgs(['--render-server']), /stdin job paths/);
+  assert.throws(() => engineArgs(['--verify=safezones:zones.json']), /manifest/);
+  assert.deepEqual(engineArgs(['--verify=bounds']), ['--verify=bounds']);
+});
+
+test('a logged decode failure cannot masquerade as exit-zero success', { skip: process.platform !== 'linux' || process.arch !== 'x64' }, () => {
+  const root = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'openedit-proton-test-'));
+  try {
+    mkdirSync(path.join(root, 'files/bin'), { recursive: true });
+    const fakeWine = path.join(root, 'files/bin/wine64');
+    writeFileSync(fakeWine, '#!/bin/sh\nprintf "[error] VideoDecoder(MF): failed to open source\\n"\nexit 0\n', { mode: 0o755 });
+    for (const file of ['weave-viewer-cli.exe', 'dxgi.dll', 'd3d11.dll', 'd3d12.dll', 'd3d12core.dll']) writeFileSync(path.join(root, file), 'fixture');
+    const script = fileURLToPath(new URL('../pipeline/scripts/linux-proton-engine.mjs', import.meta.url));
+    const run = () => spawnSync(process.execPath, [script, '--version'], {
+      env: { ...process.env, OPENEDIT_PROTON_DIR: root, OPENEDIT_WINDOWS_ENGINE_DIR: root, OPENEDIT_LINUX_STATE_DIR: path.join(root, 'state') },
+      encoding: 'utf8', timeout: 10000,
+    });
+    const failure = run();
+    assert.equal(failure.status, 1);
+    assert.match(failure.stderr, /not a successful render/);
+    writeFileSync(fakeWine, '#!/bin/sh\nprintf "weave-viewer-cli 0.10.2\\n"\nexit 0\n');
+    assert.equal(run().status, 0);
+    writeFileSync(fakeWine, '#!/bin/sh\nexit 7\n');
+    assert.equal(run().status, 7);
+  } finally { rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true }); }
+});