diff --git a/.dirge/memory/MEMORY.md b/.dirge/memory/MEMORY.md
index e059137..9dd4ff2 100644
--- a/.dirge/memory/MEMORY.md
+++ b/.dirge/memory/MEMORY.md
@@ -1,7 +1,37 @@
 Janet's `eval` runs in Janet's default environment and does NOT have access to symbols imported via `(use ...)` in the calling file. `(eval '(core-inc 1))` fails with "unknown symbol core-inc" even when the file does `(use ./core)`. FIX: emit Janet data structures where function VALUES are embedded directly (e.g. `[core-inc 1]`) rather than source strings `"(core-inc 1)"`. The `core-fn-values` table resolves Janet symbol names to actual function values at compile time.
 §
-Jolt Compiler Architecture (Phases 1-6, dfa9874→c366963): Two-phase — analyze-form (Clojure form → annotated AST) → emit-ast (→ Janet source string) or emit-expr (→ Janet data structures for eval). analyze-form takes [form bindings &opt ctx]; ctx needed for macro expansion. Symbol classification: bindings first (:local), then core-renames (:core-symbol), then plain (:symbol). Two emitter paths: string (compile-form) and data structures (compile-ast). Core fn values resolved via core-fn-values table. compile-and-eval takes [form ctx]; pass nil for no macro ctx. Naming: Clojure - → core-sub. Key bugs found: emit-vector-expr must wrap with (tuple ...) — bare tuples eval as fn calls. make-symbol must treat / at pos 0 as unqualified. raw-form->janet converter for quote (don't re-analyze). core-renames entry for fn? was missing.
+Jolt Compiler Architecture (Phases 1-6, dfa9874→1de109f): Two-phase — analyze-form (Clojure form → annotated AST) → emit-ast (→ Janet source string) or emit-expr (→ Janet data structures for eval). analyze-form takes [form bindings &opt ctx]; ctx needed for macro expansion. Symbol classification: bindings first (:local), then core-renames (:core-symbol), then plain (:symbol). Two emitter paths: string (compile-form) and data structures (compile-ast). Core fn values resolved via core-fn-values table. compile-and-eval takes [form ctx]; pass nil for no macro ctx.
+
+Key naming/facts:
+- Clojure - → core-sub (NOT core--)
+- core-nth did not exist — had to add both the function and core-bindings entry
+- Missing from core-renames early: fn?, list, name, subs
+- Bare tuples in Janet eval → treated as function calls. Always emit (tuple ...) or ['tuple ...]
+- make-symbol: / at position 0 means unqualified symbol (was parsing empty ns)
+- raw-form->janet converter for quote: don't re-analyze quoted forms, pass through verbatim
+- emit-try-expr: Janet format is (try body ([err] handler)) not (try body (catch sym handler))
+- Loop compilation: (do (var _loop_N nil) (set _loop_N (fn [params] body)) (_loop_N init-vals...))
+- Recur compilation: rewrites to (loop-name arg1 arg2...) via :loop-name in AST
+
+eval-string dispatch: When :compile? true, stateful forms (defmacro, ns, deftype, defmulti, defmethod, require, in-ns) use interpreter. All others (def, macros like defn) go through compile-and-eval. Macros expanded at analyze time via resolve-macro.
+
+Remaining: syntax-quote, set! compiler support. deftype/defmulti/defmethod routed to interpreter.
 §
-eval-string dispatch (api.janet): When :compile? is true, stateful forms (defmacro, ns, deftype, defmulti, defmethod, require, in-ns) always use interpreter. All others (def, defn via macros, pure expressions) go through compile-and-eval. defn bug was caused by macros not being expanded — fixed in Phase 4 by routing macros through compiler's analyze-form which expands them at analyze time.
+Jolt Compiler Architecture (Phases 1-6, dfa9874→1de109f): Two-phase — analyze-form (Clojure form → annotated AST) → emit-ast (→ Janet source string) or emit-expr (→ Janet data structures for eval). analyze-form takes [form bindings &opt ctx]; ctx needed for macro expansion. Symbol classification: bindings first (:local), then core-renames (:core-symbol), then plain (:symbol). Two emitter paths: string (compile-form) and data structures (compile-ast). Core fn values resolved via core-fn-values table. compile-and-eval takes [form ctx]; pass nil for no macro ctx.
+
+Key naming/facts:
+- Clojure - → core-sub (NOT core--)
+- core-nth did not exist — had to add both the function and core-bindings entry
+- Missing from core-renames early: fn?, list, name, subs
+- Bare tuples in Janet eval → treated as function calls. Always emit (tuple ...) or ['tuple ...]
+- make-symbol: / at position 0 means unqualified symbol (was parsing empty ns)
+- raw-form->janet converter for quote: don't re-analyze quoted forms, pass through verbatim
+- emit-try-expr: Janet format is (try body ([err] handler)) not (try body (catch sym handler))
+- Loop compilation: (do (var _loop_N nil) (set _loop_N (fn [params] body)) (_loop_N init-vals...))
+- Recur compilation: rewrites to (loop-name arg1 arg2...) via :loop-name in AST
+
+eval-string dispatch: When :compile? true, stateful forms (defmacro, ns, deftype, defmulti, defmethod, require, in-ns) use interpreter. All others (def, macros like defn) go through compile-and-eval. Macros expanded at analyze time via resolve-macro.
+
+Remaining: syntax-quote, set! compiler support. deftype/defmulti/defmethod routed to interpreter. Git push needs manual approval.
 §
-Phase 6: 47 comprehensive compile-mode tests in test/phase6-final.janet. Collections, math, predicates, comparison, seq ops (map/filter/reduce/take/drop), special forms (let/if/loop/try/quote), macros (defn/when/and/or/fn/if-let), complex nesting. All 317 tests pass. Remaining: syntax-quote, set! compiler support. deftype, defmulti/defmethod routed to interpreter (stateful).
+Phase 6: 47 comprehensive compile-mode tests in test/phase6-final.janet. Collections, math, predicates, comparison, seq ops (map/filter/reduce/take/drop), special forms (let/if/loop/try/quote), macros (defn/when/and/or/fn/if-let), complex nesting. 58 assertions. All 317 tests pass, 0 failures. Remaining: syntax-quote, set! compiler support. deftype, defmulti/defmethod routed to interpreter (stateful).
diff --git a/.dirge/memory/PITFALLS.md b/.dirge/memory/PITFALLS.md
index 95f166b..dbe7929 100644
--- a/.dirge/memory/PITFALLS.md
+++ b/.dirge/memory/PITFALLS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
-Janet eval data-structure constraints: (1) Bare tuples eval as fn calls — use `['tuple val1 val2]` not `[val1 val2]` for vector values. (2) Janet try: `[(tuple ;[err-sym]) handler-body]` NOT `(catch [err] body)` — catch is NOT a first-position keyword. (3) quote in compile-ast: use raw-form→janet converter (map Jolt reader structs → Janet symbols) — don't re-analyze. (4) eval runs in default env, doesn't see `use`-imported symbols. FIX: embed fn values directly via core-fn-values table.
-§
 When you need to mutate a local with `set`, use `(var x nil)` not `(def x nil)`. `def` creates constants — `(set ns-name ...)` on a `def` fails with "cannot set constant". This hit us in loader.janet ns-name extraction loop.
 §
 core-renames MUST match actual function names in core.janet. `"-"`→`core-sub` NOT `core--`. `"fn?"` was missing entirely (caused silent nil). Missing entries → symbol treated as unknown global, returns nil. When adding: grep core.janet for actual `(defn core-XXX)` name, add to BOTH core-renames (string table) and core-fn-values (fn value table).
+§
+Bare tuples in Janet's `eval` are function calls: `(eval [1 2 3])` tries to call `1` as function. Always emit `['tuple 1 2 3]` or `(tuple 1 2 3)` in data-structure emitter. Similarly, `(eval (try body (sym handler)))` fails because `catch` is not a Janet special form — must be `(try body ([sym] handler))`. Discovered during Phase 5/6 compiler work.
+§
+core-renames MUST match actual function names in core.janet. `"-"`→`core-sub` NOT `core--`. `"fn?"` was missing entirely (caused silent nil). Missing entries → symbol treated as unknown global, returns nil. When adding: grep core.janet for actual `(defn core-XXX)` name, add to BOTH core-renames (string table) and core-fn-values (fn value table).
+§
+Bare tuples in Janet's `eval` are function calls: `(eval [1 2 3])` tries to call `1` as function. Always emit `['tuple 1 2 3]` or `(tuple 1 2 3)` in data-structure emitter. Similarly, `(eval (try body (sym handler)))` fails because `catch` is not a Janet special form — must be `(try body ([sym] handler))`. Discovered during Phase 5/6 compiler work.
diff --git a/.dirge/skills/.usage.json b/.dirge/skills/.usage.json
index 5a52239..267a885 100644
--- a/.dirge/skills/.usage.json
+++ b/.dirge/skills/.usage.json
@@ -2,45 +2,47 @@
   "jolt-bootstrap": {
     "created_by": "agent",
     "use_count": 9,
-    "view_count": 20,
+    "view_count": 22,
     "patch_count": 10,
     "last_used_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:23.336653+00:00",
-    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T18:45:23.328485+00:00",
+    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T20:34:59.785509+00:00",
     "last_patched_at": "2026-06-02T03:44:45.935676+00:00",
     "created_at": "2026-06-01T21:49:51.101718+00:00",
     "state": "active",
     "pinned": false
   },
-  "jpm-build": {
-    "created_by": "agent",
-    "use_count": 0,
-    "view_count": 11,
-    "patch_count": 0,
-    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T17:43:38.327259+00:00",
-    "created_at": "2026-06-01T20:56:39.144222+00:00",
-    "state": "active",
-    "pinned": false
-  },
   "jolt-compiler": {
     "created_by": "agent",
-    "use_count": 0,
-    "view_count": 0,
-    "patch_count": 1,
-    "last_patched_at": "2026-06-02T19:40:03.526270+00:00",
+    "use_count": 2,
+    "view_count": 4,
+    "patch_count": 4,
+    "last_used_at": "2026-06-02T20:37:02.987991+00:00",
+    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T20:37:02.978817+00:00",
+    "last_patched_at": "2026-06-02T20:37:29.530250+00:00",
     "created_at": "2026-06-02T17:54:38.690279+00:00",
     "state": "active",
     "pinned": false
   },
   "jolt-dev": {
     "created_by": "agent",
-    "use_count": 28,
-    "view_count": 39,
-    "patch_count": 33,
-    "last_used_at": "2026-06-02T20:12:45.918073+00:00",
-    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T20:12:45.904425+00:00",
-    "last_patched_at": "2026-06-02T20:13:13.431432+00:00",
+    "use_count": 29,
+    "view_count": 42,
+    "patch_count": 34,
+    "last_used_at": "2026-06-02T20:32:00.407408+00:00",
+    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T20:34:59.800746+00:00",
+    "last_patched_at": "2026-06-02T20:33:05.356194+00:00",
     "created_at": "2026-06-01T21:26:06.614465+00:00",
     "state": "active",
     "pinned": false
+  },
+  "jpm-build": {
+    "created_by": "agent",
+    "use_count": 0,
+    "view_count": 13,
+    "patch_count": 0,
+    "last_viewed_at": "2026-06-02T20:34:59.807762+00:00",
+    "created_at": "2026-06-01T20:56:39.144222+00:00",
+    "state": "active",
+    "pinned": false
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.dirge/skills/jolt-compiler/SKILL.md b/.dirge/skills/jolt-compiler/SKILL.md
index 9f3be90..7223b88 100644
--- a/.dirge/skills/jolt-compiler/SKILL.md
+++ b/.dirge/skills/jolt-compiler/SKILL.md
@@ -70,14 +70,55 @@ Functions that need special mapping (name differs):
 - `"-"` → `"core-sub"` (not `core--`)
 - `"some"` → `core-some?` (shared with `core-some?`)
 - `"pr-str"` → `core-str` (alias)
-- `"nth"` → `core-get` (alias)
+- `"nth"` → `core-nth` (separate function, added in Phase 6)
+- `"list"` → `core-list`, `"name"` → `core-name`, `"subs"` → `core-subs`
+
+## Loop/recur compilation
+
+`loop*` emits a self-referential closure:
+```janet
+(do (var _loop_N nil)
+    (set _loop_N (fn [params] body))
+    (_loop_N init-vals...))
+```
+
+`recur` saves `:loop-name` in the AST (looked up from bindings `:jolt/current-loop`), then `emit-recur-expr` rewrites to `(loop-name arg1 arg2...)`.
+
+In the string emitter, recur similarly emits `(loop-name arg ...)`.
+
+## Throw/try compilation
+
+- `throw` → `(error val)` in Janet
+- `try/catch` → `(try body ([err] handler-body))` — NOTE: Janet uses `([sym] handler)` format, NOT `(catch sym handler)`
+- `try/finally` → appends do-block after catch clause in the Janet tuple
+
+## Quote in data-structure emitter
+
+Don't re-analyze quoted forms. Use `raw-form->janet` to pass Jolt reader forms through verbatim to Janet's `quote`:
+```
+(emit-quote-expr expr) → ['quote (raw-form->janet expr)]
+```
+raw-form->janet converts symbols to Janet symbols, arrays/tuples recursively.
+
+## Remaining ops (interpreter only)
+
+`syntax-quote`, `set!`, `deftype`, `defmulti`, `defmethod` — these are stateful or complex and always use the interpreter path even in compile mode.
 
 ## Stateful forms (must use interpreter, NOT compiler)
 
 These forms modify context state and cannot be compiled:
 - `defmacro`, `ns`, `deftype`, `defmulti`, `defmethod`, `require`, `in-ns`
 
-Note: `def` IS handled by the compiler (compiles to Janet `def`).
+Note: `def` IS handled by the compiler (compiles to Janet `def`, since macros are expanded at analyze time).
+
+## eval-string dispatch (compile mode)
+
+```janet
+(if (or (= head-name "defmacro") (= head-name "ns")
+        (= head-name "deftype") (= head-name "defmulti") (= head-name "defmethod")
+        (= head-name "require") (= head-name "in-ns"))
+  (eval-form ctx @{} form)     ; interpret
+  (compile-and-eval form ctx)) ; compile
 
 ## Adding a new op
 
@@ -88,7 +129,12 @@ Note: `def` IS handled by the compiler (compiles to Janet `def`).
 5. Add `core-fn-values` entry (Janet string name → actual fn value)
 6. Add tests in `test/compiler-test.janet`
 
-## Test patterns
+## Test files
+
+- `test/compiler-test.janet` — Phase 2-5 tests (source output + compile-eval + macro tests)
+- `test/phase6-final.janet` — Phase 6 comprehensive compile-mode tests (47 assertions)
+
+Run: `janet test/compiler-test.janet` or `janet test/phase6-final.janet` or `jpm test`
 
 - Source output tests: `(assert (= "(expected)" (compile-str "(input)")) "label")`
 - Round-trip tests: `(assert (= val (compile-eval-str "(input)")) "label")`
diff --git a/.dirge/skills/jolt-dev/SKILL.md b/.dirge/skills/jolt-dev/SKILL.md
index e040ce7..0e6518a 100644
--- a/.dirge/skills/jolt-dev/SKILL.md
+++ b/.dirge/skills/jolt-dev/SKILL.md
@@ -44,6 +44,36 @@ When you need to mutate a local with `set`, use `(var x nil)` not `(def x nil)`.
 
 Key design decision: **compile-and-eval emits Janet DATA STRUCTURES, not source strings**, because Janet's `eval` doesn't see `use`-imported symbols. `core-fn-values` table resolves Janet names to actual function values at compile time.
 
+## Compiler Development
+
+### Adding a new op to the compiler
+
+1. Add match arm in `analyze-form` — maps Clojure form → AST node
+2. Add `emit-*-str` for source-to-source path, then arm in `emit-ast` dispatch
+3. Add `emit-*-expr` for data-structure path, then arm in `emit-expr` dispatch
+4. Add tests
+
+### Emitter patterns
+
+**String emitter**: `(buffer/push buf "...")` → source text  
+**Data-structure emitter**: `['keyword val1 val2]` → eval-able tuples
+
+### Janet eval gotchas
+
+- Bare tuples are function calls — always use `['tuple ...]` or `(tuple ...)`
+- `eval` scope: symbols from `(use ...)` not available — embed function VALUES
+- Janet `try`: `(try body ([err] handler))` — not `(catch sym handler)`
+- Core `-` maps to `core-sub` (NOT `core--`)
+
+### Loop compilation
+
+`(loop* [x 0] body-with-recur)` → `(do (var name nil) (set name (fn [x] body)) (name 0))`  
+Recur rewrites to `(loop-name arg...)` via `:jolt/current-loop` binding.
+
+### Quote: use `raw-form->janet` converter, never re-analyze
+
+### Macro expansion: pass ctx to `analyze-form`, check `resolve-macro`, expand + re-analyze
+
 ## Special Form Checklist
 
 To add a new special form to the evaluator AND compiler:
diff --git a/src/jolt/api.janet b/src/jolt/api.janet
index 4483b3f..c50f035 100644
--- a/src/jolt/api.janet
+++ b/src/jolt/api.janet
@@ -56,7 +56,9 @@
                        nil)
             stateful? (or (= head-name "defmacro") (= head-name "ns")
                           (= head-name "deftype") (= head-name "defmulti") (= head-name "defmethod")
-                          (= head-name "require") (= head-name "in-ns"))]
+                          (= head-name "require") (= head-name "in-ns")
+                          (= head-name "syntax-quote") (= head-name "set!")
+                          (= head-name "var") (= head-name ".") (= head-name "new"))]
         (if stateful?
           (eval-form ctx @{} form)
           (compile-and-eval form ctx)))
diff --git a/src/jolt/compiler.janet b/src/jolt/compiler.janet
index a931b98..b806c94 100644
--- a/src/jolt/compiler.janet
+++ b/src/jolt/compiler.janet
@@ -234,6 +234,90 @@
     (++ loop-counter)
     name))
 
+# ============================================================
+# Syntax-quote expansion
+# ============================================================
+
+(defn- sq-list?
+  "Check if form is a (unquote ...) or (unquote-splicing ...) call."
+  [form]
+  (and (array? form) (> (length form) 0)
+       (struct? (first form)) (= :symbol ((first form) :jolt/type))
+       (or (= "unquote" ((first form) :name))
+           (= "unquote-splicing" ((first form) :name)))))
+
+(defn- sq-has-unquote?
+  "Check if any item in a collection is an unquote/unquote-splicing form."
+  [items]
+  (var found false) (var i 0)
+  (while (and (< i (length items)) (not found))
+    (if (sq-list? (in items i)) (set found true)) (++ i))
+  found)
+
+(defn- sq-resolve-sym
+  "Qualify an unqualified symbol with the current namespace."
+  [sym-s ctx]
+  (if (and ctx (nil? (sym-s :ns)))
+    {:jolt/type :symbol :ns (ctx-current-ns ctx) :name (sym-s :name)}
+    sym-s))
+
+(defn- syntax-quote-expand
+  "Expand a syntax-quoted form into a plain Clojure form.
+  Simple forms are wrapped in (quote ...). Forms with unquote produce
+  (concat (list ...) ...) calls."
+  [form ctx]
+  (cond
+    # unquote → just the inner expression
+    (and (array? form) (> (length form) 0)
+         (struct? (first form)) (= :symbol ((first form) :jolt/type))
+         (= "unquote" ((first form) :name)))
+    (in form 1)
+
+    # unquote-splicing → just the inner expression
+    (and (array? form) (> (length form) 0)
+         (struct? (first form)) (= :symbol ((first form) :jolt/type))
+         (= "unquote-splicing" ((first form) :name)))
+    (in form 1)
+
+    # Literals → (quote literal)
+    (or (nil? form) (= true form) (= false form)
+        (number? form) (string? form) (keyword? form))
+    [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "quote"} form]
+
+    # Symbols → (quote resolved-symbol)
+    (and (struct? form) (= :symbol (form :jolt/type)))
+    [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "quote"} (sq-resolve-sym form ctx)]
+
+    # Lists/arrays with unquote → (concat (list ...) (list ...) ...)
+    (array? form)
+    (if (sq-has-unquote? form)
+      (let [items (map |(syntax-quote-expand $ ctx) form)
+            concat-args @[]]
+        (each item items
+          (array/push concat-args
+            [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "list"} item]))
+        (if (> (length concat-args) 1)
+          (tuple ;(array/insert concat-args 0
+            {:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "concat"}))
+          (in concat-args 0)))
+      [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "quote"} form])
+
+    # Vectors → (vec (concat (list ...) ...))
+    (tuple? form)
+    (if (sq-has-unquote? form)
+      (let [items (map |(syntax-quote-expand $ ctx) form)
+            concat-args @[]]
+        (each item items
+          (array/push concat-args
+            [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "list"} item]))
+        [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "vec"}
+         (tuple ;(array/insert concat-args 0
+           {:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "concat"}))])
+      [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "quote"} form])
+
+    # Default → (quote form)
+    [{:jolt/type :symbol :ns nil :name "quote"} form]))
+
 # ============================================================
 # Analyzer
 # ============================================================
@@ -553,8 +637,32 @@
 
 (defn- emit-map-str [form buf] (buffer/push buf (string form)))
 
+(defn- raw-form->janet
+  "Convert a Jolt reader form to a Janet data structure for quoting."
+  [form]
+  (cond
+    (and (struct? form) (= :symbol (form :jolt/type)))
+    (if (form :ns)
+      (symbol (string (form :ns) "/" (form :name)))
+      (symbol (form :name)))
+    (array? form)
+    (tuple/slice (tuple ;(map raw-form->janet form)))
+    (tuple? form)
+    (tuple/slice (tuple ;(map raw-form->janet form)))
+    form))
+
 (defn- emit-quote-str [expr buf]
-  (buffer/push buf "'") (emit-ast (analyze-form expr @{}) buf))
+  (buffer/push buf "'")
+  (def janet-val (raw-form->janet expr))
+  (cond
+    (symbol? janet-val) (buffer/push buf (string janet-val))
+    (number? janet-val) (buffer/push buf (string janet-val))
+    (string? janet-val) (do (buffer/push buf "\"") (buffer/push buf janet-val) (buffer/push buf "\""))
+    (keyword? janet-val) (do (buffer/push buf ":") (buffer/push buf (string janet-val)))
+    (nil? janet-val) (buffer/push buf "nil")
+    (= true janet-val) (buffer/push buf "true")
+    (= false janet-val) (buffer/push buf "false")
+    (buffer/push buf (string janet-val))))
 
 (set emit-ast
   (fn [ast buf]
@@ -677,18 +785,6 @@
 
 (defn- emit-map-expr [form] form)
 
-(defn- raw-form->janet
-  "Convert a Jolt reader form to a Janet data structure for quoting."
-  [form]
-  (cond
-    (and (struct? form) (= :symbol (form :jolt/type)))
-    (symbol (form :name))
-    (array? form)
-    (tuple/slice (tuple ;(map raw-form->janet form)))
-    (tuple? form)
-    (tuple/slice (tuple ;(map raw-form->janet form)))
-    form))
-
 (defn- emit-quote-expr [expr]
   ['quote (raw-form->janet expr)])