diff --git a/docs/grammar.ebnf b/docs/grammar.ebnf
index dffffb1..89044db 100644
--- a/docs/grammar.ebnf
+++ b/docs/grammar.ebnf
@@ -123,9 +123,12 @@ deref           = "@"  , form ;        (* (deref form)            *)
 metadata        = "^"  , meta-form , ws , form ;   (* attach metadata to form *)
 meta-form       = map | keyword | symbol | string ;
 (* Normalized like Clojure: a symbol or string is a type hint -> {:tag ...};
-   a keyword -> {keyword true}; a map is used as-is. On a symbol the metadata
-   rides on the symbol (it stays a bare symbol, so a hint like ^String is
-   transparent in params/lets/bodies); other targets use a runtime with-meta. *)
+   a keyword -> {keyword true}; a map is used as-is. A keyword/symbol/string
+   meta-form on a symbol rides ON the symbol (it stays a bare symbol, so a hint
+   like ^String is transparent in params/lets/bodies). A MAP meta-form routes
+   through a runtime (with-meta form ...) even on a symbol (jolt-8w2), so a name
+   with ^{:map} metadata reads as a form, not a bare symbol — def/defn/defmacro/ns
+   unwrap that to the bare name (and attach the metadata). *)
 
 (* --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dispatch forms — introduced by "#".
diff --git a/docs/libraries.md b/docs/libraries.md
index 330aebf..694e1ef 100644
--- a/docs/libraries.md
+++ b/docs/libraries.md
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ Libraries confirmed to load and pass their conformance checks on Jolt
   [jolt-lang/db](https://github.com/jolt-lang/db) (`next.jdbc`, `next.jdbc.sql`,
   `next.jdbc.prepare`, `next.jdbc.transaction`) over `jdbc.core`, for libraries
   that target the next.jdbc API
+* [tools.logging](https://github.com/clojure/tools.logging) — the real
+  `clojure.tools.logging` source runs verbatim. jolt provides a native
+  `clojure.tools.logging.impl` backend (a stderr `LoggerFactory` — the library's
+  designed extension point, where slf4j/log4j/jul adapters normally plug in) plus
+  the host shims it needs (`agent`/`send-off`, `clojure.lang.LockingTransaction`,
+  a `clojure.pprint` subset, `clojure.string/trim-newline`). The level macros,
+  `logf`/`logp`, `spy`, and `enabled?` all work; output goes to stderr.
 * [migratus](https://github.com/yogthos/migratus) — database migrations; loads
   unmodified and runs filesystem SQL/EDN migrations against SQLite through the
   next.jdbc layer above. `migrate`/`rollback` round-trip end to end. Caveat:
diff --git a/jolt-core/clojure/core/00-syntax.clj b/jolt-core/clojure/core/00-syntax.clj
index 17238a8..0e3fc71 100644
--- a/jolt-core/clojure/core/00-syntax.clj
+++ b/jolt-core/clojure/core/00-syntax.clj
@@ -110,7 +110,12 @@
 ;; then. Its body resolves fn/map/reduce/cond at EXPANSION time, by which point all
 ;; of 00-syntax has loaded, so using them here is fine.
 (defmacro ns [nm & clauses]
-  (let [calls (reduce
+  ;; ^{:map} metadata on the ns name reads as a (with-meta sym {...}) form, not an
+  ;; annotated symbol (jolt-8w2). Real libraries put :author/:doc there
+  ;; (clojure.tools.logging), so unwrap to the bare symbol; jolt does not track
+  ;; namespace metadata, so the map is dropped.
+  (let [nm (if (and (seq? nm) (= 'with-meta (first nm))) (second nm) nm)
+        calls (reduce
                 (fn [acc clause]
                   (if (seq? clause)
                     (let [head (first clause) args (rest clause)]
diff --git a/jolt-core/clojure/core/50-io.clj b/jolt-core/clojure/core/50-io.clj
index aceff06..98d9ff9 100644
--- a/jolt-core/clojure/core/50-io.clj
+++ b/jolt-core/clojure/core/50-io.clj
@@ -177,3 +177,30 @@
 (defmethod print-method :jolt/chan [c w]
   (.write w "#<channel>")
   nil)
+
+;; Minimal synchronous agent shim. jolt has no thread pool or STM, so this is
+;; enough for libraries that hold an agent but don't depend on asynchronous
+;; dispatch (e.g. clojure.tools.logging's *logging-agent*, which only sends from
+;; within a transaction — never the case here, so it always logs directly). An
+;; agent is an atom; send/send-off apply the action immediately. NOT concurrent.
+(defn agent
+  "Creates an agent (an atom on jolt — synchronous, no async dispatch)."
+  [state & _opts]
+  (atom state))
+
+(defn send-off
+  "Apply (action state & args) to the agent's state immediately; return the agent."
+  [a f & args]
+  (apply swap! a f args)
+  a)
+
+(defn send
+  "Like send-off on jolt (no separate thread pool)."
+  [a f & args]
+  (apply swap! a f args)
+  a)
+
+(defn agent-error
+  "jolt agents never enter an error state."
+  [_a]
+  nil)
diff --git a/src/jolt/clojure/pprint.clj b/src/jolt/clojure/pprint.clj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20f4d49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/jolt/clojure/pprint.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+;; clojure.pprint — minimal jolt shim.
+;;
+;; The real clojure.pprint is a full pretty-printer (thousands of lines of column
+;; tracking / dispatch tables). This shim provides just the surface that portable
+;; libraries reach for when they "pretty print" a value — notably
+;; clojure.tools.logging/spy (pprint + with-pprint-dispatch + code-dispatch).
+;; pprint writes the value readably with a trailing newline (no pretty layout);
+;; the dispatch vars are recognized but not used for layout.
+(ns clojure.pprint)
+
+(def code-dispatch
+  "Recognized but not used for layout on jolt." :code-dispatch)
+(def simple-dispatch
+  "Recognized but not used for layout on jolt." :simple-dispatch)
+
+(def ^:dynamic *print-pprint-dispatch* simple-dispatch)
+
+(defn pprint
+  "Print object readably followed by a newline. Writes to *out* (or the given
+  writer). Not a pretty-printer on jolt — no column-aware layout."
+  ([object] (prn object))
+  ([object writer] (binding [*out* writer] (prn object))))
+
+(defmacro with-pprint-dispatch
+  "Evaluate body with the given pprint dispatch selected. On jolt the dispatch is
+  recognized but does not affect layout, so this just evaluates body."
+  [_dispatch & body]
+  `(do ~@body))
diff --git a/src/jolt/clojure/string.clj b/src/jolt/clojure/string.clj
index c435719..807813e 100644
--- a/src/jolt/clojure/string.clj
+++ b/src/jolt/clojure/string.clj
@@ -135,3 +135,17 @@
            (let [c (str ch)]
              (if (or (= c "\\") (= c "$")) (str "\\" c) c)))
          (seq replacement))))
+
+;; Ported from clojure.string/trim-newline (CharSequence interop replaced with
+;; portable count/subs). Removes all trailing \n or \r characters.
+(defn trim-newline
+  "Removes all trailing newline \\n or return \\r characters from
+  string.  Similar to Perl's chomp."
+  [s]
+  (loop [index (count s)]
+    (if (zero? index)
+      ""
+      (let [c (subs s (dec index) index)]
+        (if (or (= c "\n") (= c "\r"))
+          (recur (dec index))
+          (subs s 0 index))))))
diff --git a/src/jolt/clojure/tools/logging.clj b/src/jolt/clojure/tools/logging.clj
index f14ce0d..e963f06 100644
--- a/src/jolt/clojure/tools/logging.clj
+++ b/src/jolt/clojure/tools/logging.clj
@@ -1,75 +1,338 @@
-;; clojure.tools.logging — jolt shim of the public API.
-;;
-;; Faithful to the upstream macro surface (logp/logf, the level macros and their
-;; f-variants, log, enabled?, spy), dispatching through the Logger/LoggerFactory
-;; protocols in clojure.tools.logging.impl. Two deliberate departures from
-;; upstream, both forced by jolt not being a JVM:
-;;
-;;   - log* writes directly. The real log* may hand off to an agent when inside a
-;;     running clojure.lang.LockingTransaction; jolt has neither agents nor STM.
-;;   - The throwable-first-argument branch is dropped. Upstream splits args on
-;;     (instance? Throwable x); on jolt that is always false for exception values,
-;;     so the would-be throwable simply becomes part of the printed message. This
-;;     also avoids the double-evaluation the branch would otherwise cause here.
-(ns clojure.tools.logging
+;;; logging.clj -- delegated logging for Clojure
+
+;; by Alex Taggart
+;; July 27, 2009
+
+;; Copyright (c) Alex Taggart, July 2009. All rights reserved.  The use
+;; and distribution terms for this software are covered by the Eclipse
+;; Public License 1.0 (http://opensource.org/licenses/eclipse-1.0.php)
+;; which can be found in the file epl-v10.html at the root of this
+;; distribution.  By using this software in any fashion, you are
+;; agreeing to be bound by the terms of this license.  You must not
+;; remove this notice, or any other, from this software.
+(ns ^{:author "Alex Taggart"
+      :doc "Logging macros which delegate to a specific logging implementation.
+
+  A logging implementation is selected at runtime when this namespace is first
+  loaded. For more details, see the documentation for *logger-factory*.
+
+  If you want to test that your code emits specific log messages, see the
+  clojure.tools.logging.test namespace."}
+  clojure.tools.logging
+  (:use
+   [clojure.string :only [trim-newline]]
+   [clojure.pprint :only [code-dispatch pprint with-pprint-dispatch]])
   (:require [clojure.tools.logging.impl :as impl]))
 
-;; The LoggerFactory used to obtain loggers. Defaults to the jolt stderr
-;; factory; rebind to plug in a different backend.
-(def ^:dynamic *logger-factory* (impl/find-factory))
+(def ^{:doc
+  "The default agent used for performing logging when direct logging is
+  disabled. See log* for details." :dynamic true}
+  *logging-agent* (agent nil :error-mode :continue))
+
+(def ^{:doc
+  "The set of levels that will require using an agent when logging from within a
+  running transaction. Defaults to #{:info :warn}. See log* for details." :dynamic true}
+  *tx-agent-levels* #{:info :warn})
+
+(def ^{:doc
+  "Overrides the default rules for choosing between logging directly or via an
+  agent. Defaults to nil. See log* for details." :dynamic true}
+  *force* nil)
 
 (defn log*
-  "Write a log entry through the logger. Direct, unlike upstream's agent path."
+  "Attempts to log a message, either directly or via an agent; does not check if
+  the level is enabled.
+
+  For performance reasons, an agent will only be used when invoked within a
+  running transaction, and only for logging levels specified by
+  *tx-agent-levels*. This allows those entries to only be written once the
+  transaction commits, and are discarded if it is retried or aborted.  As
+  corollary, other levels (e.g., :debug, :error) will be written even from
+  failed transactions though at the cost of repeat messages during retries.
+
+  One can override the above by setting *force* to :direct or :agent; all
+  subsequent writes will be direct or via an agent, respectively."
   [logger level throwable message]
-  (impl/write! logger level throwable message)
+  (if (case *force*
+        :agent  true
+        :direct false
+        (and (clojure.lang.LockingTransaction/isRunning)
+             (*tx-agent-levels* level)))
+    (send-off *logging-agent*
+      (fn [_#] (impl/write! logger level throwable message)))
+    (impl/write! logger level throwable message))
   nil)
 
-(defmacro logp
-  "Log a message built by print-str of args, at the given level. Args are
-  evaluated only when the level is enabled."
-  [level & args]
-  `(let [logger# (clojure.tools.logging.impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~(str *ns*))]
-     (when (clojure.tools.logging.impl/enabled? logger# ~level)
-       (log* logger# ~level nil (print-str ~@args)))))
-
-(defmacro logf
-  "Log a clojure.core/format message at the given level. Args are evaluated
-  only when the level is enabled."
-  [level & args]
-  `(let [logger# (clojure.tools.logging.impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~(str *ns*))]
-     (when (clojure.tools.logging.impl/enabled? logger# ~level)
-       (log* logger# ~level nil (format ~@args)))))
+(declare ^{:dynamic true} *logger-factory*) ; default LoggerFactory instance for calling impl/get-logger
 
 (defmacro log
-  ([level message] `(logp ~level ~message))
-  ([level throwable message] `(logp ~level ~throwable ~message)))
+  "Evaluates and logs a message only if the specified level is enabled. See log*
+  for more details."
+  ([level message]
+    `(log ~level nil ~message))
+  ([level throwable message]
+    `(log ~*ns* ~level ~throwable ~message))
+  ([logger-ns level throwable message]
+    `(log *logger-factory* ~logger-ns ~level ~throwable ~message))
+  ([logger-factory logger-ns level throwable message]
+    `(let [logger# (impl/get-logger ~logger-factory ~logger-ns)]
+       (if (impl/enabled? logger# ~level)
+         (log* logger# ~level ~throwable ~message)))))
 
-(defmacro trace [& args] `(logp :trace ~@args))
-(defmacro debug [& args] `(logp :debug ~@args))
-(defmacro info  [& args] `(logp :info ~@args))
-(defmacro warn  [& args] `(logp :warn ~@args))
-(defmacro error [& args] `(logp :error ~@args))
-(defmacro fatal [& args] `(logp :fatal ~@args))
+(defmacro logp
+  "Logs a message using print style args. Can optionally take a throwable as its
+  second arg. See level-specific macros, e.g., debug.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([level message & more] [level throwable message & more])}
+  [level x & more]
+  (if (or (instance? String x) (nil? more)) ; optimize for common case
+    `(log ~level (print-str ~x ~@more))
+    `(let [logger# (impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~*ns*)]
+       (if (impl/enabled? logger# ~level)
+         (let [x# ~x]
+           (if (instance? Throwable x#) ; type check only when enabled
+             (log* logger# ~level x# (print-str ~@more))
+             (log* logger# ~level nil (print-str x# ~@more))))))))
 
-(defmacro tracef [& args] `(logf :trace ~@args))
-(defmacro debugf [& args] `(logf :debug ~@args))
-(defmacro infof  [& args] `(logf :info ~@args))
-(defmacro warnf  [& args] `(logf :warn ~@args))
-(defmacro errorf [& args] `(logf :error ~@args))
-(defmacro fatalf [& args] `(logf :fatal ~@args))
+(defmacro logf
+  "Logs a message using a format string and args. Can optionally take a
+  throwable as its second arg. See level-specific macros, e.g., debugf.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([level fmt & fmt-args] [level throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [level x & more]
+  (if (or (instance? String x) (nil? more)) ; optimize for common case
+    `(log ~level (format ~x ~@more))
+    `(let [logger# (impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~*ns*)]
+       (if (impl/enabled? logger# ~level)
+         (let [x# ~x]
+           (if (instance? Throwable x#) ; type check only when enabled
+             (log* logger# ~level x# (format ~@more))
+             (log* logger# ~level nil (format x# ~@more))))))))
 
 (defmacro enabled?
-  "True if the given level is enabled for the (optionally given) logger ns."
-  ([level] `(clojure.tools.logging.impl/enabled? (clojure.tools.logging.impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~(str *ns*)) ~level))
-  ([level log-ns] `(clojure.tools.logging.impl/enabled? (clojure.tools.logging.impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~log-ns) ~level)))
+  "Returns true if the specific logging level is enabled.  Use of this macro
+  should only be necessary if one needs to execute alternate code paths beyond
+  whether the log should be written to."
+  ([level]
+    `(enabled? ~level ~*ns*))
+  ([level logger-ns]
+    `(impl/enabled? (impl/get-logger *logger-factory* ~logger-ns) ~level)))
 
 (defmacro spy
-  "Evaluate expr, log it at the given level (default :debug) as expr => value,
-  and return the value. Single variadic arity (jolt defmacro takes only the
-  first clause of a multi-arity macro), dispatching on arg count."
-  [& args]
-  (let [level (if (= 1 (count args)) :debug (first args))
-        expr  (if (= 1 (count args)) (first args) (second args))]
+  "Evaluates expr and may write the form and its result to the log. Returns the
+  result of expr. Defaults to :debug log level."
+  ([expr]
+    `(spy :debug ~expr))
+  ([level expr]
     `(let [a# ~expr]
-       (logp ~level (print-str '~expr "=>" (pr-str a#)))
+       (log ~level
+         (let [s# (with-out-str
+                    (with-pprint-dispatch code-dispatch ; need a better way
+                      (pprint '~expr)
+                      (print "=> ")
+                      (pprint a#)))]
+           (trim-newline s#)))
        a#)))
+
+(defmacro spyf
+  "Evaluates expr and may write (format fmt result) to the log. Returns the
+  result of expr. Defaults to :debug log level.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  ([fmt expr]
+    `(spyf :debug ~fmt ~expr))
+  ([level fmt expr]
+    `(let [a# ~expr]
+       (log ~level (format ~fmt a#))
+       a#)))
+
+(defn log-stream
+  "Creates a PrintStream that will output to the log at the specified level."
+  [level logger-ns]
+  (let [logger (impl/get-logger *logger-factory* logger-ns)]
+    (java.io.PrintStream.
+      (proxy [java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream] []
+        (flush []
+          ; deal with reflection in proxy-super
+          (let [^java.io.ByteArrayOutputStream this this]
+            (proxy-super flush)
+            (let [message (.trim (.toString this))]
+              (proxy-super reset)
+              (if (> (.length message) 0)
+                (log* logger level nil message))))))
+      true)))
+
+(let [orig (atom nil)    ; holds original System.out and System.err
+      monitor (Object.)] ; sync monitor for calling setOut/setErr
+  (defn log-capture!
+    "Captures System.out and System.err, piping all writes of those streams to
+    the log. If unspecified, levels default to :info and :error, respectively.
+    The specified logger-ns value will be used to namespace all log entries.
+
+    Note: use with-logs to redirect output of *out* or *err*.
+
+    Warning: if the logging implementation is configured to output to System.out
+    (as is the default with java.util.logging) then using this function will
+    result in StackOverflowException when writing to the log."
+    ; Implementation Notes:
+    ; - only set orig when nil to preserve original out/err
+    ; - no enabled? check before making streams since that may change later
+    ([logger-ns]
+      (log-capture! logger-ns :info :error))
+    ([logger-ns out-level err-level]
+      (locking monitor
+        (compare-and-set! orig nil [System/out System/err])
+        (System/setOut  (log-stream out-level logger-ns))
+        (System/setErr (log-stream err-level logger-ns)))))
+  (defn log-uncapture!
+    "Restores System.out and System.err to their original values."
+    []
+    (locking monitor
+      (when-let [[out err :as v] @orig]
+        (swap! orig (constantly nil))
+        (System/setOut out)
+        (System/setErr err)))))
+
+(defmacro with-logs
+  "Evaluates exprs in a context in which *out* and *err* write to the log. The
+  specified logger-ns value will be used to namespace all log entries.
+
+  By default *out* and *err* write to :info and :error, respectively."
+  {:arglists '([logger-ns & body]
+               [[logger-ns out-level err-level] & body])}
+  [arg & body]
+  ; Implementation Notes:
+  ; - no enabled? check before making writers since that may change later
+  (let [[logger-ns out-level err-level] (if (vector? arg)
+                                          arg
+                                          [arg :info :error])]
+    `(binding [*out* (java.io.OutputStreamWriter.
+                       (log-stream ~out-level ~logger-ns))
+               *err* (java.io.OutputStreamWriter.
+                       (log-stream ~err-level ~logger-ns))]
+       ~@body)))
+
+;; level-specific macros
+
+(defmacro trace
+  "Trace level logging using print-style args.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([message & more] [throwable message & more])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logp :trace ~@args))
+
+(defmacro debug
+  "Debug level logging using print-style args.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([message & more] [throwable message & more])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logp :debug ~@args))
+
+(defmacro info
+  "Info level logging using print-style args.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([message & more] [throwable message & more])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logp :info ~@args))
+
+(defmacro warn
+  "Warn level logging using print-style args.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([message & more] [throwable message & more])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logp :warn ~@args))
+
+(defmacro error
+  "Error level logging using print-style args.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([message & more] [throwable message & more])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logp :error ~@args))
+
+(defmacro fatal
+  "Fatal level logging using print-style args.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([message & more] [throwable message & more])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logp :fatal ~@args))
+
+(defmacro tracef
+  "Trace level logging using format.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([fmt & fmt-args] [throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logf :trace ~@args))
+
+(defmacro debugf
+  "Debug level logging using format.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([fmt & fmt-args] [throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logf :debug ~@args))
+
+(defmacro infof
+  "Info level logging using format.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([fmt & fmt-args] [throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logf :info ~@args))
+
+(defmacro warnf
+  "Warn level logging using format.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([fmt & fmt-args] [throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logf :warn ~@args))
+
+(defmacro errorf
+  "Error level logging using format.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([fmt & fmt-args] [throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logf :error ~@args))
+
+(defmacro fatalf
+  "Fatal level logging using format.
+  Use the 'logging.readable' namespace to avoid wrapping args in pr-str."
+  {:arglists '([fmt & fmt-args] [throwable fmt & fmt-args])}
+  [& args]
+  `(logf :fatal ~@args))
+
+(defn- call-str [str]
+  (let [fq-sym (symbol str)
+        ns-str (or (namespace fq-sym)
+                   (throw (RuntimeException.
+                            (format "The value of the clojure.tools.logging.factory system property is not fully-qualified: %s"
+                                    (pr-str str)))))
+        ns-sym (symbol ns-str)
+        _      (try
+                 (require ns-sym)
+                 (catch Exception ex
+                   (throw (RuntimeException.
+                            (format "Could not resolve namespace for %s. Either it does not exist or it has a (circular) dependency on clojure.tools.logging."
+                                    (pr-str str))))))
+        fn-sym (symbol (name fq-sym))
+        fn-var (ns-resolve ns-sym fn-sym)]
+    (if fn-var
+      (fn-var)
+      (throw (RuntimeException.
+               (format "Could not resolve var for %s."
+                       (pr-str str)))))))
+
+(defn- find-factory []
+  (if-let [factory-fn-str (System/getProperty "clojure.tools.logging.factory")]
+    (call-str factory-fn-str)
+    (impl/find-factory)))
+
+(def ^:dynamic *logger-factory*
+  "An instance satisfying the clojure.tools.logging.impl/LoggerFactory protocol,
+  which allows uniform access to an underlying logging implementation.
+
+  The default value will be obtained by invoking a no-arg function named by the
+  \"clojure.tools.logging.factory\" system property, or if unset, by invoking
+  clojure.tools.logging.impl/find-factory.
+
+  After loading, this var can be programmatically changed to a different
+  LoggerFactory implementation via binding or alter-var-root.
+
+  See the various factory functions in clojure.tools.logger.impl."
+  (find-factory))
diff --git a/src/jolt/evaluator.janet b/src/jolt/evaluator.janet
index f948ac8..1451786 100644
--- a/src/jolt/evaluator.janet
+++ b/src/jolt/evaluator.janet
@@ -198,7 +198,16 @@
         {:jolt/type :symbol
          :ns (or (get (ctx :env) :compile-ns) (ctx-current-ns ctx))
          :name nm}))
-    form))
+    # Alias-qualified (impl/foo): resolve the alias to its target namespace so the
+    # emitted symbol resolves at the macro's USE site, which has no such alias
+    # (jolt-9av). Matches Clojure's syntax-quote. A real ns name (not an alias)
+    # has no entry and is left as written.
+    (let [cur (ctx-find-ns ctx (or (get (ctx :env) :compile-ns) (ctx-current-ns ctx)))
+          target (and cur (or (ns-alias-lookup cur (form :ns))
+                              (ns-import-lookup cur (form :ns))))]
+      (if target
+        {:jolt/type :symbol :ns target :name (form :name)}
+        form))))
 
 (defn- d-realize
   "Realize a lazy-seq to an array for positional destructuring / splicing; pass
@@ -1828,36 +1837,56 @@
     "defmacro" (let [# ^{:map} metadata on the name reads as a (with-meta sym …)
                      # form (jolt-8w2); unwrap to the bare symbol like def does.
                      name-sym (unwrap-meta-name (in form 1))
-                     rest-form (tuple/slice form 2)
-                     # optional docstring
-                     has-doc? (and (> (length rest-form) 0) (string? (first rest-form)))
-                     raw-args (if has-doc? (in rest-form 1) (first rest-form))
-                     raw-body (tuple/slice rest-form (if has-doc? 2 1))
-                     # arity-clause form: (defmacro name ([params] body...)) — like
-                     # fn/defn. In a code form a vector literal is a tuple and a list
-                     # is an array, so a params vector reads as a tuple while an arity
-                     # clause reads as a list (array): unwrap its params + body. Single
-                     # arity only (what real macros use); a multi-arity macro takes the
-                     # first clause.
-                     arity-clause? (array? raw-args)
-                     args-form (if arity-clause? (first raw-args) raw-args)
-                     body (if arity-clause? (tuple/slice raw-args 1) raw-body)
-                     param-info (parse-params args-form)
-                     fixed-pats (param-info :fixed)
-                     rest-pat (param-info :rest)
+                     after-name (tuple/slice form 2)
+                     # Skip an optional leading docstring (string) then an optional
+                     # attr-map (a struct that is not a symbol — a map literal reads
+                     # as a struct), matching defn. Real macros use both, e.g.
+                     # (defmacro info "doc" {:arglists '(...)} [& args] …).
+                     a1 (if (and (> (length after-name) 0) (string? (first after-name)))
+                          (tuple/slice after-name 1) after-name)
+                     after-meta (if (and (> (length a1) 0)
+                                         (struct? (first a1))
+                                         (not= :symbol (get (first a1) :jolt/type)))
+                                  (tuple/slice a1 1) a1)
+                     # What remains is either a params VECTOR (tuple) + body, or one
+                     # or more arity CLAUSES (each a list, i.e. a janet array). Build
+                     # a uniform arity list [{:params … :body …} …].
+                     multi? (and (> (length after-meta) 0) (array? (first after-meta)))
+                     arities (if multi?
+                               (map (fn [cl] {:params (first cl) :body (tuple/slice cl 1)})
+                                    after-meta)
+                               @[{:params (first after-meta) :body (tuple/slice after-meta 1)}])
                      defining-ns (ctx-current-ns ctx)]
                  (def interp-fn (fn [& macro-args]
+                   (def n (length macro-args))
+                   # Pick the arity: an exact fixed-count match wins; otherwise the
+                   # first variadic arity that accepts n args (Clojure fn dispatch).
+                   (var chosen nil)
+                   (each ar arities
+                     (def pi (parse-params (ar :params)))
+                     (when (and (nil? chosen) (not (pi :rest)) (= n (length (pi :fixed))))
+                       (set chosen [pi (ar :body)])))
+                   (when (nil? chosen)
+                     (each ar arities
+                       (def pi (parse-params (ar :params)))
+                       (when (and (nil? chosen) (pi :rest) (>= n (length (pi :fixed))))
+                         (set chosen [pi (ar :body)]))))
+                   (when (nil? chosen)
+                     (error (string "no matching arity for macro " (name-sym :name)
+                                    " (" n " args)")))
+                   (def pi (chosen 0))
+                   (def body (chosen 1))
                    (var new-bindings @{})
                    (table/setproto new-bindings bindings)
                    (put new-bindings "&env" @{})  # implicit &env for macro bodies (table — nil-safe)
                    (var i 0)
                    # Destructure macro params (like fn), so [& [a & more :as all]]
                    # and {:keys …} rest forms work in macro arglists.
-                   (each pat fixed-pats
+                   (each pat (pi :fixed)
                      (destructure-bind ctx new-bindings pat (macro-args i))
                      (++ i))
-                   (when rest-pat
-                     (destructure-bind ctx new-bindings rest-pat (rest-args-val macro-args i)))
+                   (when (pi :rest)
+                     (destructure-bind ctx new-bindings (pi :rest) (rest-args-val macro-args i)))
                    # Use defining namespace for symbol resolution
                    (def saved-ns (ctx-current-ns ctx))
                    (ctx-set-current-ns ctx defining-ns)
@@ -1870,12 +1899,20 @@
                      (set result (eval-form ctx new-bindings bf)))
                    (ctx-set-current-ns ctx saved-ns)
                    result))
-                 # Prefer a COMPILED expander (native-speed expansion, zero runtime
-                 # cost). Skip when the body uses &env/&form (the compiled fn has no
-                 # such params) — those fall back to the interpreted closure.
-                 (def uses-env (or (form-uses-sym? body "&env") (form-uses-sym? body "&form")))
+                 # A COMPILED expander (native-speed) is only built for the
+                 # single-arity case (the compile hook + recompile path take one
+                 # [args body]); multi-arity macros use the interpreted expander.
+                 (def single? (= 1 (length arities)))
+                 (def args-form (and single? ((first arities) :params)))
+                 (def body (and single? ((first arities) :body)))
+                 (def uses-env (do (var u false)
+                                   (each ar arities
+                                     (when (or (form-uses-sym? (ar :body) "&env")
+                                               (form-uses-sym? (ar :body) "&form"))
+                                       (set u true)))
+                                   u))
                  (def compiled-fn
-                   (when (and macro-compile-hook (not uses-env))
+                   (when (and macro-compile-hook single? (not uses-env))
                      (macro-compile-hook ctx args-form body)))
                  (def macro-fn (or compiled-fn interp-fn))
                   (let [ns-name (ctx-current-ns ctx)
@@ -1886,8 +1923,10 @@
                    # compile it once the analyzer is alive (staged bootstrap): a
                    # macro defined WHILE the analyzer is still being built gets an
                    # interpreted closure now, a compiled expander later. uses-env
-                   # macros stay interpreted (the compiled fn* has no &env/&form).
-                   (put v :macro-src @[args-form body])
+                   # macros stay interpreted (the compiled fn* has no &env/&form);
+                   # multi-arity macros keep the interpreted dispatch (no single
+                   # [args body] to recompile).
+                   (when single? (put v :macro-src @[args-form body]))
                    (put v :macro-uses-env uses-env)
                    (when compiled-fn (put v :macro-compiled true))
                    # A (re)defined macro invalidates any cached expansions.
@@ -2412,8 +2451,11 @@
       (if (= :jolt/char (form :jolt/type))
         form
       # a UUID/inst value flowing back through eval (macro expansion, eval of a
-      # read form) is a self-evaluating literal, like chars.
-      (if (or (= :jolt/uuid (form :jolt/type)) (= :jolt/inst (form :jolt/type)))
+      # read form) is a self-evaluating literal, like chars. A namespace object
+      # does too: `~*ns*` in a syntax-quote (clojure.tools.logging) splices the
+      # live ns into the expansion.
+      (if (or (= :jolt/uuid (form :jolt/type)) (= :jolt/inst (form :jolt/type))
+              (= :jolt/namespace (form :jolt/type)))
         form
       (if (= :jolt/set (form :jolt/type))
         # evaluate each element (set literals like #{(inc 1)} must compute)
diff --git a/src/jolt/javatime.janet b/src/jolt/javatime.janet
index d4d718b..5986d4d 100644
--- a/src/jolt/javatime.janet
+++ b/src/jolt/javatime.janet
@@ -542,6 +542,9 @@
   # (resources/<dir>). getSystemClassLoader yields the same stub.
   (each nm ["ClassLoader" "java.lang.ClassLoader"]
     (register-class-statics! nm @{"getSystemClassLoader" (fn [] @{:jolt/type :jolt/classloader})}))
+  # No STM on jolt: a transaction is never running, so logging libraries that
+  # gate agent-vs-direct on it (clojure.tools.logging/log*) always log directly.
+  (register-class-statics! "clojure.lang.LockingTransaction" @{"isRunning" (fn [] false)})
   (register-tagged-methods! :jolt/classloader
     @{"getResource" (fn [self path] nil)
       "getResources" (fn [self path] nil)
diff --git a/test/integration/conformance-test.janet b/test/integration/conformance-test.janet
index ba280ea..2dee3aa 100644
--- a/test/integration/conformance-test.janet
+++ b/test/integration/conformance-test.janet
@@ -495,6 +495,25 @@
    # ns (jolt-9pu — it used to see an empty table).
    ["cross-ns methods visible" "[:sql]"
     "(do (ns cf.mm) (defmulti ext identity) (defmethod ext :default [_] :d) (defn allk [] (vec (for [[k v] (methods ext) :when (not= k :default)] k))) (ns cf.mmi) (defmethod cf.mm/ext :sql [_] :s) (in-ns (quote user)) (cf.mm/allk))"]
+
+   ### ---- defmacro surface + syntax-quote/ns (enabling real clojure libs) ----
+   # multi-arity defmacro (clojure.tools.logging/log has 4 arities)
+   ["defmacro multi-arity" "[6 5 6]"
+    "(do (defmacro mar ([a] (list (quote +) a 1)) ([a b] (list (quote +) a b)) ([a b c] (list (quote +) a b c))) [(mar 5) (mar 2 3) (mar 1 2 3)])"]
+   # defmacro with docstring AND attr-map before the params (every tools.logging
+   # level macro is shaped this way)
+   ["defmacro doc + attr-map" "10"
+    "(do (defmacro mam \"doc\" {:arglists (quote ([x]))} [x] (list (quote inc) x)) (mam 9))"]
+   # syntax-quote resolves a namespace ALIAS to its target ns, so a macro's
+   # template resolves at the USE site (jolt-9av)
+   ["syntax-quote resolves alias" "\"HI\""
+    "(do (ns sq.lib (:require [clojure.string :as s])) (defmacro up [x] `(s/upper-case ~x)) (in-ns (quote user)) (sq.lib/up \"hi\"))"]
+   # ^{:map} metadata on an ns name (jolt-8w2): the ns name is the bare symbol
+   ["ns name with ^{:map} meta" "5"
+    "(do (ns ^{:author \"a\" :doc \"d\"} nm.meta) (def q 5) (in-ns (quote user)) nm.meta/q)"]
+   # ~*ns* splices the live namespace object into a template (it self-evaluates)
+   ["unquote *ns* in template" "true"
+    "(do (defmacro cur-ns [] `(str ~*ns*)) (string? (cur-ns)))"]
   ])
 
 # Run every case under a given context factory and return the failures. The same
diff --git a/test/spec/host-interop-spec.janet b/test/spec/host-interop-spec.janet
index a577a5b..19f8c04 100644
--- a/test/spec/host-interop-spec.janet
+++ b/test/spec/host-interop-spec.janet
@@ -259,8 +259,12 @@
   ["file-seq finds files"  "true"
    "(do (require '[clojure.java.io :as io]) (pos? (count (filter (fn [f] (.isFile f)) (file-seq (io/file \"docs\"))))))"])
 
-# clojure.tools.logging shim (jolt-nzg): the macro surface works, debug/trace
-# are suppressed (no-op nil) by default, and the impl protocol layer is present.
+# The REAL clojure.tools.logging (vendored verbatim) runs on jolt: a jolt
+# clojure.tools.logging.impl backend (stderr LoggerFactory) plus host shims
+# (agent/send-off, clojure.lang.LockingTransaction/isRunning, a clojure.pprint
+# subset, clojure.string/trim-newline) and the defmacro/syntax-quote/ns fixes.
+# These cases assert the public API behaves; the level rows return nil because
+# the real level macros return the (nil) result of log* when enabled.
 (defspec "host-interop / clojure.tools.logging"
   ["info returns nil"   "nil"  "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) (log/info \"hi\" 42))"]
   ["debug suppressed"   "nil"  "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) (log/debug \"x\"))"]
@@ -269,4 +273,20 @@
   ["enabled? debug"     "false" "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) (log/enabled? :debug))"]
   ["spy returns value"  "3"    "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) (log/spy :info (+ 1 2)))"]
   ["impl factory name"  "\"jolt/stderr\""
-   "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging.impl :as impl]) (impl/name (impl/find-factory)))"])
+   "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging.impl :as impl]) (impl/name (impl/find-factory)))"]
+  # vars that exist only in the real library (not in a hand-rolled shim)
+  ["real lib *tx-agent-levels*" "#{:info :warn}"
+   "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) log/*tx-agent-levels*)"]
+  ["real lib log-capture! present" "true"
+   "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) (fn? log/log-capture!))"]
+  ["real lib spyf present" "true"
+   "(do (require '[clojure.tools.logging :as log]) (boolean (resolve 'log/spyf)))"])
+
+# Host shims that let the real clojure.tools.logging load: no STM (a transaction
+# is never running) and a minimal clojure.pprint (used by spy).
+(defspec "host-interop / logging host shims"
+  ["LockingTransaction/isRunning" "false" "(clojure.lang.LockingTransaction/isRunning)"]
+  ["pprint writes value"  "\"[1 2 3]\\n\""
+   "(do (require '[clojure.pprint :as pp]) (with-out-str (pp/pprint [1 2 3])))"]
+  ["with-pprint-dispatch runs body" "42"
+   "(do (require '[clojure.pprint :as pp]) (pp/with-pprint-dispatch pp/code-dispatch 42))"])
diff --git a/test/spec/macros-spec.janet b/test/spec/macros-spec.janet
index 5e0d1e5..eb35387 100644
--- a/test/spec/macros-spec.janet
+++ b/test/spec/macros-spec.janet
@@ -93,3 +93,16 @@
   ["docstring + arity"    "15"  "(do (defmacro th \"triple\" ([x] (list (quote *) x 3))) (th 5))"]
   ["^{:map} name meta"    "7"   "(do (defmacro ^{:private true} pm [] 7) (pm))"]
   ["multi-form body"      "6"   "(do (defmacro mb ([a b] (list (quote +) a b))) (mb 2 4))"])
+
+# Multi-arity defmacro (dispatch on arg count) and the docstring + attr-map +
+# params form — both needed to run real Clojure macros, e.g.
+# clojure.tools.logging/log (4 arities) and its level macros (jolt-q8l, jolt-qnr).
+(defspec "macros / defmacro multi-arity & attr-map"
+  ["multi-arity 1"   "6"  "(do (defmacro ma ([a] (list (quote +) a 1)) ([a b] (list (quote +) a b))) (ma 5))"]
+  ["multi-arity 2"   "5"  "(do (defmacro ma ([a] (list (quote +) a 1)) ([a b] (list (quote +) a b))) (ma 2 3))"]
+  ["arity delegates" "[:d nil 9]"
+   "(do (defmacro lg ([m] `(lg :d nil ~m)) ([l t m] (list (quote vector) l t m))) (lg 9))"]
+  ["doc + attr-map + params" "10"
+   "(do (defmacro am \"doc\" {:arglists (quote ([x]))} [x] (list (quote inc) x)) (am 9))"]
+  ["doc + attr-map + variadic" "6"
+   "(do (defmacro vg \"d\" {:arglists (quote ([& a]))} [& xs] `(+ ~@xs)) (vg 1 2 3))"])
diff --git a/test/spec/state-spec.janet b/test/spec/state-spec.janet
index b959eb2..b35944c 100644
--- a/test/spec/state-spec.janet
+++ b/test/spec/state-spec.janet
@@ -37,3 +37,12 @@
 (defspec "state / promises"
   ["promise deliver"    "5"      "(let [p (promise)] (deliver p 5) @p)"]
   ["promise undelivered" "nil"   "(let [p (promise)] @p)"])
+
+# Minimal synchronous agent shim (jolt has no thread pool/STM) — enough for
+# libraries that hold an agent without depending on async dispatch.
+(defspec "state / agents (synchronous shim)"
+  ["agent deref"     "0"  "(deref (agent 0))"]
+  ["agent with opts" "0"  "(deref (agent 0 :error-mode :continue))"]
+  ["send-off applies" "5" "(let [a (agent 0)] (send-off a + 5) (deref a))"]
+  ["send applies"     "7" "(let [a (agent 1)] (send a + 6) (deref a))"]
+  ["agent-error nil"  "nil" "(agent-error (agent 0))"])
diff --git a/test/spec/strings-spec.janet b/test/spec/strings-spec.janet
index b0ae2ad..daeceeb 100644
--- a/test/spec/strings-spec.janet
+++ b/test/spec/strings-spec.janet
@@ -62,3 +62,11 @@
   ["get out of range nil"  "nil"   "(get \"abc\" 9)"]
   ["get negative nil"      "nil"   "(get \"abc\" -1)"]
   ["get default honored"   ":none" "(get \"abc\" 9 :none)"])
+
+# clojure.string/trim-newline (ported from clojure.string): strips trailing \n/\r.
+(defspec "clojure.string / trim-newline"
+  ["trailing newline"   "\"x\""  "(do (require (quote [clojure.string :as s])) (s/trim-newline \"x\\n\"))"]
+  ["trailing \\r\\n"      "\"x\""  "(do (require (quote [clojure.string :as s])) (s/trim-newline \"x\\r\\n\"))"]
+  ["no trailing"        "\"ab\"" "(do (require (quote [clojure.string :as s])) (s/trim-newline \"ab\"))"]
+  ["only newlines"      "\"\""   "(do (require (quote [clojure.string :as s])) (s/trim-newline \"\\n\\n\"))"]
+  ["interior kept"      "\"a\\nb\"" "(do (require (quote [clojure.string :as s])) (s/trim-newline \"a\\nb\\n\"))"])