diff --git a/.drive/projects/prisma-cli-v8/deferred.md b/.drive/projects/prisma-cli-v8/deferred.md
index fed5bb82..b4a922a5 100644
--- a/.drive/projects/prisma-cli-v8/deferred.md
+++ b/.drive/projects/prisma-cli-v8/deferred.md
@@ -364,6 +364,14 @@ CLI does not do, and each restarts as engine work if wanted:
   build` from the engine's `test` script and let turbo's `^build`
   dependency do that work, or stop the engine's build cleaning a
   directory another package reads while it runs.
+  Seen again on the presentations branch (2026-08-12) with a second
+  message for the same cause — `Cannot find package
+  '@prisma/cli-engine/testing'` — and a failure count that varied 13,
+  34 and 43 files across three runs of one commit, while
+  `--concurrency=1` and a direct `npx vitest run` in `packages/cli`
+  both passed all 60 every time. The varying count is the tell: a
+  change that touches many files shifts the timing and makes it fire
+  more often, which reads as "this branch broke everything".
 - **The packed shell manifest carries `devDependencies` on private
   packages at versions no registry has** — `@repo/cli-telemetry` and
   `@repo/tsconfig`, both at `8.0.0-rc.1`. Harmless when a consumer
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/command-context.ts b/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/command-context.ts
index 44c53d63..1062b8d9 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/command-context.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/command-context.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,26 @@ export function makeUi(colorEnabled: boolean, stderr: OutputStream): Ui {
 }
 
 /** Materializes ONLY the active format's presentation functions, at the
- *  return site: human → human + stdout + next; json → json + next. */
+ *  return site: human → human + stdout + next; json → json + next.
+ *
+ *  `stdout` and `next` may be absent at runtime, so both are called with
+ *  `?.()`. `Presentations` requires all four, so no command compiled
+ *  against this engine can omit one — but `@prisma/orm-toolchain` is
+ *  built against engine `0.0.9`, where three of the four were optional,
+ *  and its published commands took that up: `migration list` declares
+ *  `human` and `json` and neither of the others. Calling them
+ *  unconditionally makes it exit 2 — `stdout` in human mode, `next` in
+ *  both.
+ *
+ *  `json` is called unconditionally, and stays that way: a missing json
+ *  presentation is the defect this change removes, and every ORM command
+ *  already declares one.
+ *
+ *  This is version skew in our own code, not a foreign contract. The fix
+ *  is in prisma/prisma: declare the missing presentations in the ORM
+ *  commands and build orm-toolchain against this engine, where the type
+ *  refuses to compile without them. Delete both `?.()` when that
+ *  version is pinned here. */
 function materializePresentation(
   state: RunState,
   ui: Ui,
@@ -63,7 +82,7 @@ function materializePresentation(
     return {
       human: [],
       stdout: [],
-      json: presentations.json?.(),
+      json: presentations.json(),
       next: presentations.next?.() ?? [],
     };
   }
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/settlement.ts b/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/settlement.ts
index e5bfb619..e654d6d1 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/settlement.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/src/execution/settlement.ts
@@ -71,10 +71,7 @@ export function settleCompleted(
     const envelope: CompletedEnvelope = {
       ok: true,
       commandId: state.commandId,
-      result:
-        presented.presentation.json === undefined
-          ? presented.data
-          : presented.presentation.json,
+      result: presented.presentation.json,
       exitCode,
       diagnostics: presented.diagnostics.map((diagnostic) =>
         withDocsUrl(state, diagnostic),
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/src/presentation.ts b/packages/cli-engine/src/presentation.ts
index 5570ed58..8c563d94 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/src/presentation.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/src/presentation.ts
@@ -40,9 +40,8 @@ export interface PresentedResult<T> {
   readonly diagnostics: readonly Diagnostic[];
   /**
    * Only the active format's presentation is materialized; the other
-   * format's fields are normalized to empty. `json` stays undefined
-   * when the handler supplied no json presentation — the envelope's
-   * `result` then falls back to `data`.
+   * format's fields are normalized to empty. In human mode `json` is
+   * undefined because the json presentation was never invoked.
    */
   readonly presentation: {
     readonly human: readonly Block[];
@@ -54,16 +53,19 @@ export interface PresentedResult<T> {
 
 /**
  * The per-format presentation functions a handler supplies to
- * ctx.present. Only the active format's functions are invoked, at the
- * return site. `human` composes engine primitives, rendered to stderr;
- * `stdout` is the machine-consumable data lines — what a pipe
- * receives, the human mode's only stdout writes.
+ * ctx.present. Every one is required: a command states each output
+ * surface it publishes rather than inheriting one by omission. Only the
+ * active format's functions are invoked, at the return site. `human`
+ * composes engine primitives, rendered to stderr; `stdout` is the
+ * machine-consumable data lines — what a pipe receives, the human
+ * mode's only stdout writes; `json` is the `--json` envelope's
+ * `result`; `next` is the suggested follow-up actions.
  */
 export interface Presentations {
   readonly human: (ui: Ui) => readonly Block[];
-  readonly stdout?: () => readonly string[];
-  readonly json?: () => unknown;
-  readonly next?: () => readonly NextAction[];
+  readonly stdout: () => readonly string[];
+  readonly json: () => unknown;
+  readonly next: () => readonly NextAction[];
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/src/telemetry/commands.ts b/packages/cli-engine/src/telemetry/commands.ts
index 8ddf7629..ae433402 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/src/telemetry/commands.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/src/telemetry/commands.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ function statusPresentations(status: TelemetryStatus): Presentations {
     ],
     stdout: () => [...formatTelemetryStatusLines(status)],
     json: () => status,
+    next: () => [],
   };
 }
 
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ function consentPresentations(line: string, json: unknown): Presentations {
     human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: line }],
     stdout: () => [line],
     json: () => json,
+    next: () => [],
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/blocks.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/blocks.test.ts
index ae249302..edf64d42 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/blocks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/blocks.test.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,17 @@ async function render(
   const show = defineCommand({
     help: { summary: "Render the fixture blocks" },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-      ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => blocks })),
+      ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => blocks,
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      ),
   });
   const result = await createTestCli({ commands: { show } }).run(
     [
@@ -323,6 +333,9 @@ describe("one character per meaning", () => {
               human: () => [
                 { kind: "summary", status: "error", text: "Failed." },
               ],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
             },
           ),
         );
@@ -371,6 +384,9 @@ describe("one character per meaning", () => {
                 { kind: "summary", status: "warn", text: "Slowly." },
                 { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: "Noted." },
               ],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
             },
           ),
         );
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-isolation.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-isolation.test.ts
index c90d4790..9eb40e7b 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-isolation.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-isolation.test.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ function promptCommand(run: (prompt: PromptSurface) => Promise<unknown>) {
             human: (): readonly Block[] => [
               { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: `answer=${answer}` },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ({ answer }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-prompts.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-prompts.test.ts
index 70717d4f..dfca2c26 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-prompts.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/clack-prompts.test.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ function promptCli(run: (prompt: PromptSurface) => Promise<unknown>) {
                 text: `answer=${JSON.stringify(answer)}`,
               },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ({ answer }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-capabilities.test-d.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-capabilities.test-d.ts
index 5957dbd9..35c04226 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-capabilities.test-d.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-capabilities.test-d.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,17 @@ test("installsPackages alone puts ctx.packages on the context and nothing else",
       expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
       // @ts-expect-error managesCredentials was not declared
       void ctx.credentialManager;
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
@@ -51,7 +61,12 @@ test("installsPackages alone puts ctx.packages on the context and nothing else",
     expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
     // @ts-expect-error managesCredentials was not declared
     void ctx.credentialManager;
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   };
   expectTypeOf(annotated).toEqualTypeOf<typeof def.handler>();
 });
@@ -64,7 +79,17 @@ test("managesCredentials alone puts ctx.credentialManager on the context and not
       expectTypeOf(ctx.credentialManager).toEqualTypeOf<CredentialManager>();
       // @ts-expect-error installsPackages was not declared
       void ctx.packages;
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
@@ -79,7 +104,12 @@ test("managesCredentials alone puts ctx.credentialManager on the context and not
     expectTypeOf(ctx.credentialManager).toEqualTypeOf<CredentialManager>();
     // @ts-expect-error installsPackages was not declared
     void ctx.packages;
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   };
   expectTypeOf(annotated).toEqualTypeOf<typeof def.handler>();
 });
@@ -92,7 +122,17 @@ test("both capabilities declared: both surfaces, and the shared context intact",
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       expectTypeOf(ctx.credentialManager).toEqualTypeOf<CredentialManager>();
       expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
@@ -110,7 +150,12 @@ test("both capabilities declared: both surfaces, and the shared context intact",
   const annotated: CommandHandler<typeof def> = async (_args, ctx) => {
     expectTypeOf(ctx.credentialManager).toEqualTypeOf<CredentialManager>();
     expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   };
   expectTypeOf(annotated).toEqualTypeOf<typeof def.handler>();
 });
@@ -123,7 +168,17 @@ test("neither capability declared: neither surface", () => {
       void ctx.packages;
       // @ts-expect-error managesCredentials was not declared
       void ctx.credentialManager;
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
@@ -137,7 +192,12 @@ test("neither capability declared: neither surface", () => {
     void ctx.packages;
     // @ts-expect-error managesCredentials was not declared
     void ctx.credentialManager;
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   };
   expectTypeOf(annotated).toEqualTypeOf<typeof def.handler>();
 });
@@ -177,7 +237,17 @@ test("a flag that is not a literal infers boolean and loses its surface", () =>
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       // @ts-expect-error the flag is not the literal true
       void ctx.packages;
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
@@ -205,7 +275,17 @@ test("an explicit type argument can claim a capability the declaration omits", (
     help: { summary: "Claims installsPackages without declaring it" },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
@@ -227,9 +307,17 @@ test("the capability generics leave the exit-code catalogue alone", () => {
   const annotated: CommandHandler<typeof def> = async (_args, ctx) => {
     expectTypeOf(ctx.credentialManager).toEqualTypeOf<CredentialManager>();
     expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
-    // @ts-expect-error 7 is outside the command's catalogue
-    ctx.present({ data: null, exitCode: 7 }, { human: () => [] });
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null, exitCode: 4 }, { human: () => [] }));
+    ctx.present(
+      // @ts-expect-error 7 is outside the command's catalogue
+      { data: null, exitCode: 7 },
+      { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+    );
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null, exitCode: 4 },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   };
   expectTypeOf(annotated).toEqualTypeOf<typeof def.handler>();
 });
@@ -243,7 +331,17 @@ test("maySpawn sits beside the capability flags without widening them", () => {
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       expectTypeOf(ctx.credentialManager).toEqualTypeOf<CredentialManager>();
       expectTypeOf(ctx.packages).toEqualTypeOf<PackageOperations>();
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-families.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-families.test.ts
index 3829f2f8..05c20cf3 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-families.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/command-families.test.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,17 @@ function configCommand<T>(section: ConfigSection<T>) {
     help: { summary: "Reads a config section" },
     needs: { config: section },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-      ok(ctx.present({ data: ctx.config }, { human: () => [] })),
+      ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: ctx.config },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ctx.config,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      ),
   });
 }
 
@@ -159,7 +169,12 @@ describe("docs-URL derivation", () => {
               },
             ],
           },
-          { human: () => [] },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
         ),
       ),
   });
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/config.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/config.test.ts
index 43e373e8..02855d7c 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/config.test.ts
@@ -701,6 +701,9 @@ function showCommand(
             human: () => [
               { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: ctx.config.greeting },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ctx.config,
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
@@ -878,7 +881,17 @@ describe("needs.config", { timeout: 60_000 }, () => {
     const plain = defineCommand({
       help: { summary: "No needs at all" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createCli({
       name: "t",
@@ -1037,7 +1050,17 @@ describe("--config on the command line", { timeout: 60_000 }, () => {
       help: { summary: "Echoes a message" },
       args: { flags: { message: flag.string({ brief: "message" }) } },
       handler: async (args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: args.flags.message }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: args.flags.message },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => args.flags.message,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { echo } });
     const run = await cli.run(["echo", "--message", "--config="]);
@@ -1061,7 +1084,17 @@ describe("--config on the command line", { timeout: 60_000 }, () => {
         },
       },
       handler: async (args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: args.positionals.rest }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: args.positionals.rest },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => args.positionals.rest,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { passthrough } });
     const run = await cli.run(["passthrough", "--", "--config="]);
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/credential-manager.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/credential-manager.test.ts
index 661086ee..9d05c646 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/credential-manager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/credential-manager.test.ts
@@ -71,7 +71,17 @@ const credentialReader = () => {
     help: { summary: "Reads the active credential" },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       seen = await ctx.activeCredential();
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: seen }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: seen },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => seen,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
   return { command, seen: () => seen };
@@ -197,7 +207,17 @@ describe("the managesCredentials capability", () => {
       managesCredentials: true,
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         sameInstance = ctx.credentialManager === cli.credentialManager;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { toy } });
@@ -212,7 +232,17 @@ describe("the managesCredentials capability", () => {
       help: { summary: "Does not manage credentials" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         present = "credentialManager" in ctx;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { toy } });
@@ -226,7 +256,12 @@ const needsCredentials = defineCommand({
   help: { summary: "Needs credentials" },
   needs: { credentials: true },
   handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-    ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+    ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    ),
 });
 
 describe("the manager-backed needs check", () => {
@@ -282,7 +317,17 @@ describe("the manager-backed needs check", () => {
           } catch (cause) {
             return notOk(cause as CliStructuredError);
           }
-          return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+          return ok(
+            ctx.present(
+              { data: null },
+              {
+                human: () => [],
+                stdout: () => [],
+                json: () => null,
+                next: () => [],
+              },
+            ),
+          );
         },
       });
 
@@ -630,7 +675,15 @@ describe("token material never leaves", () => {
         const stored = await ctx.credentialManager.sessions();
         const active = await ctx.activeCredential();
         return ok(
-          ctx.present({ data: { stored, active } }, { human: () => [] }),
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: { stored, active } },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ({ stored, active }),
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
         );
       },
     });
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/engine.type-test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/engine.type-test.ts
index b5d84e0a..86d31a60 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/engine.type-test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/engine.type-test.ts
@@ -181,7 +181,12 @@ const diagnostic: Diagnostic = {
   nextActions: [],
 };
 
-const presentations: Presentations = { human: () => [] };
+const presentations: Presentations = {
+  human: () => [],
+  stdout: () => [],
+  json: () => null,
+  next: () => [],
+};
 
 export const runCheck: CommandHandler<typeof checkCommand> = async (
   args,
@@ -536,7 +541,12 @@ export const managedCommand = defineCommand({
     const active: ActiveCredential | null = await ctx.activeCredential();
     void manager;
     void active;
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   },
 });
 export const managedIsDeclared: true = managedCommand.managesCredentials;
@@ -548,7 +558,12 @@ export const unmanagedCommand = defineCommand({
     void active;
     // @ts-expect-error the capability was not declared, so the context carries no credentialManager
     void ctx.credentialManager;
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   },
 });
 export const unmanagedIsUndeclared: false = unmanagedCommand.managesCredentials;
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/events.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/events.test.ts
index 5682813d..527d14ff 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/events.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/events.test.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ const noisy = defineCommand({
             { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "done" },
           ],
           stdout: () => ["done"],
+          json: () => ({ done: true }),
           next: () => [{ kind: "done", label: "Nothing else" }],
         },
       ),
@@ -114,6 +115,8 @@ describe("human rendering", () => {
             { data: null },
             {
               human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
               next: () => [
                 {
                   kind: "open-url",
@@ -150,6 +153,8 @@ describe("human rendering", () => {
             { data: null },
             {
               human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
               next: () => [
                 {
                   kind: "run-command",
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/execution.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/execution.test.ts
index 1e5927f5..cbffe4c4 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/execution.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/execution.test.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ const check = defineCommand({
         },
         {
           human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "warn", text: "1 finding" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => ({ findings: 1 }),
+          next: () => [],
         },
       ),
     ),
@@ -117,6 +120,34 @@ const throwing = defineCommand({
   },
 });
 
+/** Its `data` and its json presentation deliberately differ. Every other
+ *  fixture here passes the same value to both, so none of them can tell
+ *  which one the envelope published — `data` is what the handler worked
+ *  with, `result` is what the command chose to publish, and the engine
+ *  used to publish `data` for any command that declared no json.
+ *
+ *  What this catches: settlement publishing `data` rather than the json
+ *  presentation. What it does not catch: the old conditional fallback
+ *  returning, because this command declares a json presentation, so the
+ *  fallback's branch is never taken. Nothing compiled against this
+ *  engine can omit `json`, so that branch is unreachable rather than
+ *  untested. */
+const divergent = defineCommand({
+  help: { summary: "Publishes something other than its working data" },
+  handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
+    ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: { internal: "the handler's own object" } },
+        {
+          human: () => [],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => ({ published: "what the command states" }),
+          next: () => [],
+        },
+      ),
+    ),
+});
+
 const whoami = defineCommand({
   help: { summary: "Show the signed-in user" },
   needs: { credentials: true },
@@ -133,6 +164,9 @@ const whoami = defineCommand({
               text: `Signed in (${active?.workspaceId})`,
             },
           ],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => ({ workspaceId: active?.workspaceId }),
+          next: () => [],
         },
       ),
     );
@@ -146,6 +180,7 @@ function makeCli() {
       failing,
       check,
       throwing,
+      divergent,
       "tool greet": greet,
       "auth whoami": whoami,
     },
@@ -198,6 +233,15 @@ describe("completed commands", () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  test("the envelope's result is the json presentation, never the handler's data", async () => {
+    const result = await makeCli().run(["divergent", "--json"]);
+
+    const last = result.json[result.json.length - 1];
+    expect(
+      last.kind === "result" && last.envelope.ok && last.envelope.result,
+    ).toEqual({ published: "what the command states" });
+  });
+
   test("commandId is the full dotted mount path", async () => {
     const result = await makeCli().run(["tool", "greet", "world", "--json"]);
 
@@ -517,7 +561,17 @@ describe("needs preconditions", () => {
         }),
       },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
   }
 
@@ -626,7 +680,12 @@ describe("undocumented completion exit codes", () => {
         ok(
           ctx.present(
             { data: null, exitCode: 7 } as unknown as { data: null },
-            { human: () => [] },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
           ),
         ),
     });
@@ -647,7 +706,17 @@ describe("undocumented completion exit codes", () => {
       help: { summary: "Documents 4 but returns 5" },
       exitCodes: { 4: "findings" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null, exitCode: 5 as 4 }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null, exitCode: 5 as 4 },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { rogue }, now: EPOCH });
     const result = await cli.run(["rogue", "--json"]);
@@ -683,6 +752,9 @@ describe("sensitive field rows", () => {
                 ],
               },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ({ token: "tok_secret" }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       ),
@@ -715,7 +787,17 @@ describe("report() after the handler resolved", () => {
       help: { summary: "Leaks its report function" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         smuggled = ctx.report;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createCli({
@@ -776,7 +858,17 @@ describe("credentials that cannot be read", () => {
       help: { summary: "Needs credentials" },
       needs: { credentials: true },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createCli({
       name: "t",
@@ -887,7 +979,17 @@ describe("parse and route failures", () => {
         },
       },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { strict }, now: EPOCH });
     const result = await cli.run(["strict", "--mode", "z", "--count", "q"], {
@@ -910,7 +1012,17 @@ describe("parse and route failures", () => {
         flags: { count: flag.number({ brief: "how many", placeholder: "n" }) },
       },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { counting }, now: EPOCH });
     const result = await cli.run(["counting", "--count", ""], {
@@ -954,7 +1066,12 @@ describe("parse and route failures", () => {
         ok(
           ctx.present(
             { data: { bang: args.flags.withBang } },
-            { human: () => [] },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ({ bang: args.flags.withBang }),
+              next: () => [],
+            },
           ),
         ),
     });
@@ -970,7 +1087,17 @@ describe("ctx.host", () => {
   const reporting = defineCommand({
     help: { summary: "Report the host" },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-      ok(ctx.present({ data: ctx.host }, { human: () => [] })),
+      ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: ctx.host },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ctx.host,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      ),
   });
 
   test("a command reads the runtime, platform and arch from the context", async () => {
@@ -1016,6 +1143,9 @@ describe("flag.optionalBoolean", () => {
           { data: { link: args.flags.link ?? null } },
           {
             human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ({ link: args.flags.link ?? null }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       ),
@@ -1062,7 +1192,17 @@ describe("help examples", () => {
         examples: ["greet world --loud", "{bin} greet world | cat"],
       },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { greet: exemplified }, now: EPOCH });
     const result = await cli.run(["greet", "--help"], {
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/interaction-affordances.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/interaction-affordances.test.ts
index 8ed52350..41d5d5e5 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/interaction-affordances.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/interaction-affordances.test.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ function probeCommand(run: (ctx: CommandContext) => Promise<unknown>) {
             human: (): readonly Block[] => [
               { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: `answer=${answer}` },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ({ answer }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/lifetimes.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/lifetimes.test.ts
index 5a4cb8d0..842219ea 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/lifetimes.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/lifetimes.test.ts
@@ -194,7 +194,15 @@ describe("signal exit codes", () => {
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         await signalDone(ctx.signal);
         return ok(
-          ctx.present({ data: { cleanedUp: true } }, { human: () => [] }),
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: { cleanedUp: true } },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ({ cleanedUp: true }),
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
         );
       },
     });
@@ -220,7 +228,15 @@ describe("signal exit codes", () => {
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         await signalDone(ctx.signal);
         return ok(
-          ctx.present({ data: null, exitCode: 4 }, { human: () => [] }),
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null, exitCode: 4 },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
         );
       },
     });
@@ -320,7 +336,17 @@ describe("the engine owns the double-signal policy", () => {
     const quick = defineCommand({
       help: { summary: "Completes immediately" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createCli({
       name: "t",
@@ -376,6 +402,9 @@ describe("optional dependencies", () => {
             { data: { resolvable: probe.ok } },
             {
               human: (): readonly Block[] => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ({ resolvable: probe.ok }),
+              next: () => [],
             },
           ),
         );
@@ -395,7 +424,17 @@ describe("optional dependencies", () => {
       help: { summary: "Probes a dependency" },
       needs: { dependencies: ["typescript"] },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: (): readonly Block[] => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: (): readonly Block[] => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { command }, now: EPOCH });
     const result = await cli.run(["command", "--json"], { cwd: "." });
@@ -458,7 +497,17 @@ describe("optional dependencies", () => {
       needs: { dependencies: [MISSING] },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         ran = true;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -500,7 +549,17 @@ describe("optional dependencies", () => {
         help: { summary: "Unconditionally needs a missing dependency" },
         needs: { dependencies: [MISSING] },
         handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-          ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+          ok(
+            ctx.present(
+              { data: null },
+              {
+                human: () => [],
+                stdout: () => [],
+                json: () => null,
+                next: () => [],
+              },
+            ),
+          ),
       });
       const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { command }, now: EPOCH });
       const result = await cli.run(["command", "--json"], { cwd: dir });
@@ -527,7 +586,17 @@ describe("optional dependencies", () => {
       help: { summary: "Needs installed dependencies" },
       needs: { dependencies: ["typescript", "vitest"] },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: (): readonly Block[] => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: (): readonly Block[] => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { command }, now: EPOCH });
     const result = await cli.run(["command", "--json"], {
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/management-api.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/management-api.test.ts
index f518ce45..224e89cf 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/management-api.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/management-api.test.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,17 @@ const succeed = (
     help: { summary: "toy" },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       await body?.(ctx);
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-install-matrix.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-install-matrix.test.ts
index 618e5c8c..29e78418 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-install-matrix.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-install-matrix.test.ts
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@ const init = defineCommand({
         { data: { warnings } },
         {
           human: () => warnings.map(warnBlock),
+          stdout: () => [],
           json: () => ({ warnings }),
+          next: () => [],
         },
       ),
     );
@@ -168,7 +170,12 @@ const vendored = defineCommand({
     if (!installed.ok) {
       return notOk(installed.failure);
     }
-    return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+    return ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    );
   },
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-operations.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-operations.test.ts
index c616ceec..50ca618b 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-operations.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/package-operations.test.ts
@@ -212,7 +212,17 @@ function installer(
       if (!outcome.ok) {
         return notOk(outcome.failure);
       }
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 }
@@ -225,7 +235,17 @@ describe("the installsPackages capability", () => {
       installsPackages: true,
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         present = "packages" in ctx;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { toy } });
@@ -242,7 +262,17 @@ describe("the installsPackages capability", () => {
       help: { summary: "Installs nothing" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         present = "packages" in ctx;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { toy } });
@@ -615,7 +645,17 @@ describe("the two ways an operation does not resolve notOk", () => {
         if (rejected !== undefined) {
           throw rejected.reason;
         }
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -677,7 +717,17 @@ describe("the two ways an operation does not resolve notOk", () => {
         const installing = ctx.packages.install({ packages: ["prisma"] });
         controller.abort();
         await installing;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     // No packageManager seed, so detection actually runs.
@@ -713,7 +763,17 @@ describe("the two ways an operation does not resolve notOk", () => {
             (cause: unknown) => String(cause),
           );
         await child;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: failure }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: failure },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => failure,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -743,7 +803,17 @@ describe("the two ways an operation does not resolve notOk", () => {
           (cause: unknown) => String(cause),
         );
         await installing;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: failure }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: failure },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => failure,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -774,7 +844,17 @@ describe("the two ways an operation does not resolve notOk", () => {
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         await ctx.packages.install({ packages: ["prisma"] });
         sameSignal = captured === ctx.signal;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/palette.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/palette.test.ts
index a7270bb2..6962d02e 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/palette.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/palette.test.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ const styled = defineCommand({
             { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: [HEADING_SPAN] },
             { kind: "list", items: [`width=${ui.width}`] },
           ],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => ({}),
+          next: () => [],
         },
       ),
     ),
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/prompts.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/prompts.test.ts
index 24d9d656..bb0044c7 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/prompts.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/prompts.test.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ function promptCommand(run: (prompt: PromptSurface) => Promise<unknown>) {
             human: (): readonly Block[] => [
               { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: `answer=${answer}` },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => ({ answer }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
@@ -429,6 +432,9 @@ describe("needs.interaction", () => {
               human: (): readonly Block[] => [
                 { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" },
               ],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
             },
           ),
         );
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/redirects.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/redirects.test.ts
index c9b5f6a6..84ddef20 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/redirects.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/redirects.test.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ const status = defineCommand({
   help: { summary: "Show migration status" },
   args: { flags: { detailed: flag.boolean({ brief: "more detail" }) } },
   handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-    ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+    ok(
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: null },
+        { human: () => [], stdout: () => [], json: () => null, next: () => [] },
+      ),
+    ),
 });
 
 const MIGRATION_GROUP = { migration: { brief: "Migrations" } };
@@ -590,7 +595,17 @@ describe("retired flags", () => {
     const list = defineCommand({
       help: { summary: "List migrations" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
       commandFamilies: [
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/run-hooks.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/run-hooks.test.ts
index 2bcc2a47..c697ac19 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/run-hooks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/run-hooks.test.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@ const deploy = defineCommand({
     ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "deployed" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "deployed" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     ),
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/spawn.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/spawn.test.ts
index f1909c20..e25d5b4a 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/spawn.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/spawn.test.ts
@@ -182,7 +182,15 @@ describe("the run records its most recent child", () => {
       maySpawn: true,
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
         ok(
-          ctx.present({ data: ctx.lastChild() ?? "none" }, { human: () => [] }),
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: ctx.lastChild() ?? "none" },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ctx.lastChild() ?? "none",
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
         ),
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { asking }, now: CLOCK });
@@ -199,7 +207,17 @@ describe("the run records its most recent child", () => {
       maySpawn: true,
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         await ctx.spawn({ command: "alchemy" });
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: ctx.lastChild() }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: ctx.lastChild() },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ctx.lastChild(),
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -224,7 +242,12 @@ describe("the run records its most recent child", () => {
         return ok(
           ctx.present(
             { data: { afterFirst, afterSecond: ctx.lastChild() } },
-            { human: () => [] },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => ({ afterFirst, afterSecond: ctx.lastChild() }),
+              next: () => [],
+            },
           ),
         );
       },
@@ -306,7 +329,17 @@ describe("the spawn request", () => {
           .spawn({ command: "second" })
           .then(() => "no error", String);
         await first;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: second }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: second },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => second,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { twice }, now: CLOCK });
@@ -322,7 +355,17 @@ describe("the spawn request", () => {
       help: { summary: "Spawns without declaring it" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
         await ctx.spawn({ command: "alchemy" });
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { undeclared }, now: CLOCK });
@@ -338,7 +381,17 @@ describe("the spawn request", () => {
       help: { summary: "Wants credentials it cannot hand over" },
       needs: { credentials: "child" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
 
     expect(() =>
@@ -393,7 +446,17 @@ describe("output while a child owns the terminal", () => {
         ctx.report({ kind: "message", severity: "info", text: "during-2" });
         await child;
         ctx.report({ kind: "message", severity: "info", text: "after" });
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -425,14 +488,32 @@ describe("output while a child owns the terminal", () => {
         const child = ctx.spawn({ command: "alchemy" });
         const failure = (() => {
           try {
-            ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] });
+            ctx.present(
+              { data: null },
+              {
+                human: () => [],
+                stdout: () => [],
+                json: () => null,
+                next: () => [],
+              },
+            );
             return "no error";
           } catch (cause) {
             return String(cause);
           }
         })();
         await child;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: failure }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: failure },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => failure,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { presenting }, now: CLOCK });
@@ -458,7 +539,17 @@ describe("signals", () => {
         abortedNow = () => ctx.signal.aborted;
         await ctx.spawn({ command: "alchemy" });
         abortedAfterChild = ctx.signal.aborted;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({
@@ -1126,7 +1217,17 @@ describe("the commentary buffer is bounded", () => {
           });
         }
         await child;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const messages: string[] = [];
@@ -1161,7 +1262,17 @@ describe("the terminal has one owner at a time", () => {
           .confirm("Proceed?", { default: true })
           .then(() => "no error", String);
         await child;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: failure }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: failure },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => failure,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { prompting }, now: CLOCK });
@@ -1185,7 +1296,17 @@ describe("the terminal has one owner at a time", () => {
           .spawn({ command: "alchemy" })
           .then(() => "no error", String);
         await answer;
-        return ok(ctx.present({ data: failure }, { human: () => [] }));
+        return ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: failure },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => failure,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        );
       },
     });
     const cli = createTestCli({ commands: { prompting }, now: CLOCK });
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-payload.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-payload.test.ts
index d79539db..8627dfd1 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-payload.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-payload.test.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,12 @@ const deploy = defineCommand({
     ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "deployed" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "deployed" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     ),
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-run.test.ts b/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-run.test.ts
index 0303923a..5d28b7d9 100644
--- a/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-run.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli-engine/tests/telemetry-run.test.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,12 @@ const deploy = defineCommand({
     return ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "deployed" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "deployed" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     );
   },
@@ -86,7 +91,12 @@ const telemetryStatus = defineCommand({
     ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "enabled" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "enabled" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     ),
 });
@@ -101,7 +111,12 @@ const signedOut = defineCommand({
     return ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "signed in" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "signed in" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     );
   },
@@ -116,7 +131,12 @@ const spawning = defineCommand({
     return ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "spawned" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "spawned" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     );
   },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/agent/presentation.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/agent/presentation.ts
index ec8a1201..d28fd380 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/agent/presentation.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/agent/presentation.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ export function installPresentations(
   statusCommand: string | null,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
@@ -90,6 +92,8 @@ export function statusPresentations(
   installCommand: string | null,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       title(`Checking ${result.statusScope} Prisma skills.`),
       fields([
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/login.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/login.ts
index 4d73d904..dccbbaee 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/login.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/login.ts
@@ -69,16 +69,20 @@ function nextActionsFor(
   ];
 }
 
-function presentationsFor(spec: {
-  readonly session: Session;
-  readonly environmentCredentialInForce: boolean;
-  readonly agentSetupTipCommand: string | null;
-}): Presentations {
+function presentationsFor(
+  spec: {
+    readonly session: Session;
+    readonly environmentCredentialInForce: boolean;
+    readonly agentSetupTipCommand: string | null;
+  },
+  result: LoginResult,
+): Presentations {
   const rows = [
     { label: "status", value: "signed in" },
     { label: "workspace", value: sessionLabel(spec.session) },
   ];
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       { kind: "fields", rows },
@@ -152,11 +156,14 @@ export const authLoginCommand = defineCommand({
     return ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: result },
-        presentationsFor({
-          session,
-          environmentCredentialInForce: environmentSession,
-          agentSetupTipCommand,
-        }),
+        presentationsFor(
+          {
+            session,
+            environmentCredentialInForce: environmentSession,
+            agentSetupTipCommand,
+          },
+          result,
+        ),
       ),
     );
   },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/logout.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/logout.ts
index 17791ed3..170c0f9a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/logout.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/logout.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ function presentationsFor(
       : `Ended ${result.endedCount} workspace ${result.endedCount === 1 ? "session" : "sessions"}.`;
   const rows = [{ label: "ended", value: String(result.endedCount) }];
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/whoami.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/whoami.ts
index 27607556..07879567 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/whoami.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/whoami.ts
@@ -97,13 +97,17 @@ function mergedIdentity(
   };
 }
 
-function presentationsFor(spec: {
-  readonly credential: ActiveCredential | null;
-  readonly identity: CredentialIdentity | null;
-}): Presentations {
+function presentationsFor(
+  spec: {
+    readonly credential: ActiveCredential | null;
+    readonly identity: CredentialIdentity | null;
+  },
+  result: WhoamiResult,
+): Presentations {
   const rows = credentialFieldRows(spec);
   const fromEnvironment = spec.credential?.origin.source === "environment";
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       { kind: "fields", rows },
@@ -157,7 +161,10 @@ export const authWhoamiCommand = defineCommand({
       expiresAt: credential?.expiresAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
     };
     return ok(
-      ctx.present({ data: result }, presentationsFor({ credential, identity })),
+      ctx.present(
+        { data: result },
+        presentationsFor({ credential, identity }, result),
+      ),
     );
   },
 });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-logout.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-logout.ts
index e9a7d656..8ab41e81 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-logout.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-logout.ts
@@ -15,13 +15,17 @@ export interface WorkspaceLogoutResult {
   readonly wasSelected: boolean;
 }
 
-function logoutPresentations(spec: {
-  readonly label: string;
-  readonly wasSelected: boolean;
-  readonly environmentCredentialInForce: boolean;
-}): Presentations {
+function logoutPresentations(
+  spec: {
+    readonly label: string;
+    readonly wasSelected: boolean;
+    readonly environmentCredentialInForce: boolean;
+  },
+  result: WorkspaceLogoutResult,
+): Presentations {
   const rows = [{ label: "workspace", value: spec.label }];
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
@@ -95,11 +99,14 @@ export const authWorkspaceLogoutCommand = defineCommand({
     return ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: result },
-        logoutPresentations({
-          label: sessionLabel(session),
-          wasSelected,
-          environmentCredentialInForce: environmentCredentialInForce(ctx.env),
-        }),
+        logoutPresentations(
+          {
+            label: sessionLabel(session),
+            wasSelected,
+            environmentCredentialInForce: environmentCredentialInForce(ctx.env),
+          },
+          result,
+        ),
       ),
     );
   },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-use.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-use.ts
index b2f610e9..a8a1a03c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-use.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/auth/workspace-use.ts
@@ -34,11 +34,14 @@ function noWorkspaceSessionsError(): CliStructuredError {
   );
 }
 
-function usePresentations(spec: {
-  readonly session: Session;
-  readonly previous: Session | undefined;
-  readonly environmentCredentialInForce: boolean;
-}): Presentations {
+function usePresentations(
+  spec: {
+    readonly session: Session;
+    readonly previous: Session | undefined;
+    readonly environmentCredentialInForce: boolean;
+  },
+  result: WorkspaceUseResult,
+): Presentations {
   const rows = [
     ...(spec.previous === undefined
       ? []
@@ -46,6 +49,7 @@ function usePresentations(spec: {
     { label: "workspace", value: sessionLabel(spec.session) },
   ];
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
@@ -124,11 +128,14 @@ export const authWorkspaceUseCommand = defineCommand({
     return ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: result },
-        usePresentations({
-          session,
-          previous,
-          environmentCredentialInForce: environmentCredentialInForce(ctx.env),
-        }),
+        usePresentations(
+          {
+            session,
+            previous,
+            environmentCredentialInForce: environmentCredentialInForce(ctx.env),
+          },
+          result,
+        ),
       ),
     );
   },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/branch/list.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/branch/list.ts
index ad2125d3..02ecca64 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/branch/list.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/branch/list.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ function listPresentations(result: BranchListResult): Presentations {
     branch.envMap,
   ]);
   return {
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/create.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/create.ts
index a02c28eb..8ebc3c90 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/create.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/create.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ export const bucketCreateCommand = defineCommand({
                 text: `Created bucket "${bucket.name}" in ${bucketTargetLabel(projectName, bucket.branchId)}.`,
               },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => result,
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/delete.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/delete.ts
index 26ec1fba..0198341e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/delete.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/delete.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ const CONSENT_QUESTION =
 
 function deletePresentations(result: BucketDeleteResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Deleting object-store bucket." },
       { kind: "fields", rows: [{ label: "bucket", value: result.bucket.id }] },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-create.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-create.ts
index 79dbeda8..af7bd58d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-create.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-create.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ function resolveKeyRole(role: string | undefined): "read" | "read_write" {
 
 function createPresentations(result: BucketKeyCreateResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-delete.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-delete.ts
index 30690a37..058d3497 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-delete.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-delete.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ import { mapBucketOperationError } from "./errors";
 
 function deletePresentations(result: BucketKeyDeleteResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Deleting bucket access key." },
       { kind: "fields", rows: [{ label: "key", value: result.key.id }] },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-list.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-list.ts
index 9b0a29a1..6cbb042b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-list.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/key-list.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const TITLE = "Listing access keys for bucket.";
 function listPresentations(result: BucketKeyListResult): Presentations {
   const rows = bucketKeyRows(result.keys);
   return {
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       { kind: "fields", rows: [{ label: "bucket", value: result.bucketId }] },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/list.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/list.ts
index e73c19ff..c92201fa 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/list.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/bucket/list.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ function listPresentations(result: BucketListResult): Presentations {
   const rows = bucketRows(result.buckets);
   const stdoutRows = bucketStdoutRows(result.buckets);
   return {
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/feedback.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/feedback.ts
index be2200c8..3033fe59 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/feedback.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/feedback.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ function emailInvalidError(value: string): CliStructuredError {
 
 function feedbackPresentations(result: FeedbackResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: () => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Feedback sent. Thank you!" },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/git/connect.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/git/connect.ts
index 510cc1d6..7f8f6241 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/git/connect.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/git/connect.ts
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ function connectPresentations(
 ): Presentations {
   const connection = result.repositoryConnection;
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/git/disconnect.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/git/disconnect.ts
index 0297c33d..e4d1d2d9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/git/disconnect.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/git/disconnect.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ function disconnectPresentations(
   result: ProjectRepositoryConnectionResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/presentation.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/presentation.ts
index 6d723284..0710dfcf 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/presentation.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/presentation.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ export function initPresentations(
   formatCommand: PrismaCliPackageCommandFormatter,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () =>
       [
         {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/backup-list.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/backup-list.ts
index 1c24240e..a0f66304 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/backup-list.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/backup-list.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ function backupListPresentations(
   const rows = backupRows(result.backups);
   const stdoutRows = backupStdoutRows(result.backups);
   return {
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-create.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-create.ts
index b093593e..d4fae79e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-create.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-create.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ export const postgresConnectionCreateCommand = defineCommand({
                 result.connectionString,
               ),
             stdout: () => [result.connectionString],
+            json: () => result,
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-list.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-list.ts
index f650106c..de76c4e4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-list.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-list.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ function listPresentations(
   const rows = connectionRows(result);
   const stdoutRows = connectionStdoutRows(result);
   return {
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-remove.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-remove.ts
index 3728a068..29cf76d5 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-remove.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-remove.ts
@@ -68,7 +68,9 @@ export const postgresConnectionRemoveCommand = defineCommand({
                 ],
               },
             ],
+            stdout: () => [],
             json: () => ({ connection: result.connection }),
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-rotate.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-rotate.ts
index 25144e09..72946c15 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-rotate.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/connection-rotate.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ export const postgresConnectionRotateCommand = defineCommand({
                 result.connectionString,
               ),
             stdout: () => [result.connectionString],
+            json: () => result,
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/create.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/create.ts
index 2d0bf270..f36dca93 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/create.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/create.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ export const postgresCreateCommand = defineCommand({
                 result.connectionString,
               ),
             stdout: () => [result.connectionString],
+            json: () => result,
+            next: () => [],
           },
         ),
       );
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/list.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/list.ts
index b4aaf5c8..ea854eba 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/list.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/list.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ function listPresentations(result: DatabaseListResult): Presentations {
   const rows = databaseRows(result);
   const stdoutRows = databaseStdoutRows(result);
   return {
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/remove.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/remove.ts
index 5f78b472..3d79e15f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/remove.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/remove.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ const CONSENT_QUESTION =
 
 function removePresentations(result: DatabaseRemoveResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Removing database." },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/restore.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/restore.ts
index fcdc2ac8..960f9177 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/restore.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/restore.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ function restorePresentations(
   ];
 
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: (): Block[] => [
       {
         kind: "summary",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/show.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/show.ts
index b0eba814..3954dbfc 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/show.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/show.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ function stdoutFieldRows(result: DatabaseShowResult): FieldRow[] {
 function showPresentations(result: DatabaseShowResult): Presentations {
   const rows = fieldRows(result);
   return {
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       { kind: "fields", rows },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/usage.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/usage.ts
index e34d59ac..d8287f6f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/usage.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/postgres/usage.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ function stdoutFieldRows(result: DatabaseUsageResult): FieldRow[] {
 function usagePresentations(result: DatabaseUsageResult): Presentations {
   const rows = fieldRows(result);
   return {
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       { kind: "fields", rows },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-add.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-add.ts
index d1d889df..75494e18 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-add.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-add.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ const TITLE = "Setting a new environment variable.";
 
 function singlePresentations(result: EnvAddResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
@@ -127,13 +130,16 @@ export const projectEnvAddCommand = defineCommand({
               data: result,
               diagnostics: previewDefaultDiagnostics(written.warnings),
             },
-            fileWritePresentations({
-              title: "Setting new environment variables from file.",
-              emptyMessage: "No environment variables imported.",
-              scope: result.scope,
-              filePath: result.file.path,
-              variables: result.variables,
-            }),
+            fileWritePresentations(
+              {
+                title: "Setting new environment variables from file.",
+                emptyMessage: "No environment variables imported.",
+                scope: result.scope,
+                filePath: result.file.path,
+                variables: result.variables,
+              },
+              result,
+            ),
           ),
         );
       }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-remove.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-remove.ts
index a679f91d..138d2e46 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-remove.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-remove.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ const TITLE = "Removing the environment variable from the scope.";
 
 function removePresentations(result: EnvRmResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-shared.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-shared.ts
index 24bad5b6..bb74f8b3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-shared.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-shared.ts
@@ -138,15 +138,21 @@ export function variableFieldRows(
   ];
 }
 
-export function fileWritePresentations(input: {
-  readonly title: string;
-  readonly emptyMessage: string;
-  readonly scope: EnvScopeDescriptor;
-  readonly filePath: string;
-  readonly variables: readonly EnvVariableMetadata[];
-}): Presentations {
+export function fileWritePresentations(
+  input: {
+    readonly title: string;
+    readonly emptyMessage: string;
+    readonly scope: EnvScopeDescriptor;
+    readonly filePath: string;
+    readonly variables: readonly EnvVariableMetadata[];
+  },
+  result: unknown,
+): Presentations {
   const rows = variableRows(input.variables);
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: input.title },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-update.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-update.ts
index a2a29042..7a724bd0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-update.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/env-update.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ const TITLE = "Replacing the environment variable's value.";
 
 function singlePresentations(result: EnvUpdateResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "info", text: TITLE },
       {
@@ -121,13 +124,16 @@ export const projectEnvUpdateCommand = defineCommand({
         return ok(
           ctx.present(
             { data: result },
-            fileWritePresentations({
-              title: "Replacing environment variable values from file.",
-              emptyMessage: "No environment variables updated.",
-              scope: result.scope,
-              filePath: result.file.path,
-              variables: result.variables,
-            }),
+            fileWritePresentations(
+              {
+                title: "Replacing environment variable values from file.",
+                emptyMessage: "No environment variables updated.",
+                scope: result.scope,
+                filePath: result.file.path,
+                variables: result.variables,
+              },
+              result,
+            ),
           ),
         );
       }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/presentation.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/presentation.ts
index 19a91436..6deecf93 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/presentation.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/presentation.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export function toNextActions(
 
 export function setupPresentations(result: ProjectSetupResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
     human: () => [
       ...(result.action === "created"
         ? [
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/remove.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/remove.ts
index b579e8dd..90c9ef57 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/remove.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/remove.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ const CONSENT_QUESTION =
 
 function removePresentations(result: ProjectRemoveResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Removing project." },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/rename.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/rename.ts
index 6969254c..31936821 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/rename.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/rename.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ import { mapProjectOperationError } from "./errors";
 
 function renamePresentations(result: ProjectRenameResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: () => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Renaming project." },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/show.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/show.ts
index 29feb7e1..9f216afd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/show.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/show.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ function showPresentations(
 ): Presentations {
   const rows = fieldRows(result, cwd, env);
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       result.project === null
         ? {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/transfer.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/transfer.ts
index 33b98e91..68025859 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/project/transfer.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/project/transfer.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ function transferPresentations(
   toWorkspace: string | undefined,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: (): Block[] => [
       { kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "Transferring project." },
       {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/service/presentation.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/service/presentation.ts
index 510d5234..161109d9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/service/presentation.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/service/presentation.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ function domainFailureRows(domain: ServiceDomainSummary): FieldRow[] {
 
 export function listPresentations(result: ServiceListResult): Presentations {
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       title("Listing services for the selected project."),
       fields([
@@ -150,6 +151,8 @@ export function createPresentations(
   result: ServiceCreateResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       result.existing
         ? title(
@@ -195,6 +198,8 @@ export function showPresentations(result: ServiceShowResult): Presentations {
     );
   }
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       title("Showing the selected service state."),
       fields([
@@ -219,6 +224,8 @@ export function deploymentListPresentations(
   result: ServiceDeploymentListResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       title("Listing deployments for the selected service."),
       fields([
@@ -262,6 +269,9 @@ export function deploymentShowPresentations(
   result: ServiceDeploymentShowResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: () => [
       title("Showing deployment details."),
       fields([
@@ -287,6 +297,7 @@ export function openPresentations(
   liveDeploymentId: string,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       result.opened
         ? completed("Opened the live URL for the selected service.")
@@ -324,6 +335,8 @@ export function promotePresentations(
   alreadyLive: boolean,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(
         alreadyLive
@@ -349,6 +362,8 @@ export function rollbackPresentations(
   alreadyLive: boolean,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(
         alreadyLive
@@ -377,6 +392,8 @@ export function deploymentStartPresentations(
   result: ServiceDeploymentRunStateResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(
         result.alreadyInState
@@ -401,6 +418,8 @@ export function deploymentStopPresentations(
   result: ServiceDeploymentRunStateResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(
         result.alreadyInState
@@ -422,6 +441,8 @@ export function deploymentDeletePresentations(
   result: ServiceDeploymentDeleteResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(`Deleted ${result.deploymentId} from ${result.service.name}.`),
       fields([
@@ -441,6 +462,8 @@ export function removePresentations(
   result: ServiceRemoveResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(
         `Removed ${result.service.name} and every deployment it owned.`,
@@ -461,6 +484,8 @@ export function domainAddPresentations(
   result: ServiceDomainAddResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       result.existing
         ? title("Showing the existing custom domain for the selected service.")
@@ -491,6 +516,8 @@ export function domainShowPresentations(
   result: ServiceDomainShowResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       title("Showing custom domain status."),
       fields([
@@ -532,6 +559,9 @@ export function domainRemovePresentations(
   result: ServiceDomainRemoveResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: () => [
       completed(`Removed ${result.hostname} from ${result.service.name}.`),
       fields([
@@ -547,6 +577,8 @@ export function domainRetryPresentations(
   result: ServiceDomainRetryResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
     human: () => [
       completed(`Retried verification for ${result.domain.hostname}.`),
       fields([
@@ -570,6 +602,9 @@ export function domainWaitPresentations(
   result: ServiceDomainWaitResult,
 ): Presentations {
   return {
+    stdout: () => [],
+    json: () => result,
+    next: () => [],
     human: () => [
       completed(`${result.hostname} is live at ${result.liveUrl}`),
       fields([
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/auth.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/auth.test.ts
index bbb98dff..069c2c2d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/auth.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/auth.test.ts
@@ -373,7 +373,12 @@ describe("sessions held with none selected", () => {
       ok(
         ctx.present(
           { data: null },
-          { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" }] },
+          {
+            human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" }],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
         ),
       ),
   });
@@ -385,7 +390,12 @@ describe("sessions held with none selected", () => {
       return ok(
         ctx.present(
           { data: null },
-          { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" }] },
+          {
+            human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" }],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
         ),
       );
     },
@@ -742,7 +752,17 @@ describe("the environment credential carries no refresh token", () => {
     help: { summary: "Issues one management API request" },
     handler: async (_args, ctx) => {
       await ctx.api.GET("/v1/me", {});
-      return ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [] }));
+      return ok(
+        ctx.present(
+          { data: null },
+          {
+            human: () => [],
+            stdout: () => [],
+            json: () => null,
+            next: () => [],
+          },
+        ),
+      );
     },
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/golden-rendering.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/golden-rendering.test.ts
index 6ed0468e..ad4d31fd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/golden-rendering.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/golden-rendering.test.ts
@@ -238,7 +238,17 @@ describe("the restored card matches the shell it replaced", () => {
     const show = defineCommand({
       help: { summary: "Draw the card" },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null }, { human: () => [card] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null },
+            {
+              human: () => [card],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
     const result = await createTestCli({ commands: { show } }).run(["show"], {
       isTty: { stdout: true, stderr: true },
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/mount-coverage.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/mount-coverage.test.ts
index 9024bf63..abfc7ebf 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/mount-coverage.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/mount-coverage.test.ts
@@ -216,7 +216,17 @@ describe("the completeness comparisons report what is wrong", () => {
     defineCommand({
       help: { summary },
       handler: async (_args, ctx) =>
-        ok(ctx.present({ data: null, exitCode: 0 }, { human: () => [] })),
+        ok(
+          ctx.present(
+            { data: null, exitCode: 0 },
+            {
+              human: () => [],
+              stdout: () => [],
+              json: () => null,
+              next: () => [],
+            },
+          ),
+        ),
     });
 
   const kept = toy("kept");
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/orm-mount.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/orm-mount.test.ts
index 9faa5272..cfa07f09 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/orm-mount.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/orm-mount.test.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,29 @@ describe("the ORM family answers from the assembled tree", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  /**
+   * The same command in the other format, because the two formats call
+   * different presentation functions: json mode calls `json` and `next`
+   * and never touches `stdout`, human mode calls `human`, `stdout` and
+   * `next` and never touches `json`. A run in one format therefore
+   * proves nothing about the other.
+   *
+   * This exists because it was missed. #171 made the engine call every
+   * presentation a command declares, was checked against the json test
+   * above, and was reported safe for `stdout` on that basis — while
+   * orm-toolchain's `migration list` declares no `stdout` at all, so
+   * human mode would have exited 2 for every user at a terminal.
+   */
+  it("runs migration list in human mode, which calls different presentations", async () => {
+    const result = await shell({ orm: ORM_SECTION }).run(
+      ["migration", "list", "--format", "human"],
+      { cwd: ORM_PROJECT_DIR },
+    );
+
+    expect(result.exitCode).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.stderr).toContain("migration");
+  });
+
   it("validates the family's config section before running a command", async () => {
     const result = await shell({}).run(["migration", "list", "--json"], {
       cwd: ORM_PROJECT_DIR,
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/whoami.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/whoami.test.ts
index a6700df8..65902e8d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/whoami.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/whoami.test.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,12 @@ const requiresCredentials = defineCommand({
     ok(
       ctx.present(
         { data: null },
-        { human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" }] },
+        {
+          human: () => [{ kind: "summary", status: "ok", text: "ran" }],
+          stdout: () => [],
+          json: () => null,
+          next: () => [],
+        },
       ),
     ),
   needs: { credentials: true },