diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 892c80e..d2e4a82 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,17 +76,17 @@ Run the API-backed local debug workspace when you need platform, run, platform_w
 
 ```bash
 git clone git@git.npc0.com:admin343/run.git run # once, if the ignored local checkout is missing
-scripts/local-debug-start.sh
-scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+scripts/dev-start.sh
+scripts/dev-smoke.sh
 ```
 
 See `docs/local-debug-workspace.md` for ports, disposable data roots, log files, reset steps, smoke evidence, and the required browser walkthrough. This workflow treats frontend local auth fallback as a verification failure.
-Use `LOCAL_DEBUG_SELF_START=true scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh` when you need the smoke command to own the temporary local stack for the duration of the verification.
+Use `LOCAL_DEBUG_SELF_START=true scripts/dev-smoke.sh` when you need the smoke command to own the temporary local stack for the duration of the verification.
 
 For local debug, prefer the managed scripts because they snapshot run source into the closed `.local-debug` build bucket and start the bootstrap worker from the built binary:
 
 ```bash
-scripts/local-debug-start.sh
+scripts/dev-start.sh
 ```
 
 ## Docker Deployment
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ Typical local debugging:
 cp platform/.env.example platform/.env
 cp platform_web/.env.example platform_web/.env
 
-scripts/local-debug-start.sh
-scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+scripts/dev-start.sh
+scripts/dev-smoke.sh
 ```
 
 Most common edits:
diff --git a/docs/local-debug-workspace.md b/docs/local-debug-workspace.md
index bb377c9..66b2769 100644
--- a/docs/local-debug-workspace.md
+++ b/docs/local-debug-workspace.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Use the managed local debug scripts for browser-facing verification. Do not star
 - Default platform API: `http://127.0.0.1:18080`.
 - Default platform_web: `http://127.0.0.1:5173`.
 - Default local debug root: `.local-debug/`.
-- Restart with `scripts/local-debug-stop.sh` followed by `scripts/local-debug-start.sh`.
+- Restart with `scripts/dev-stop.sh` followed by `scripts/dev-start.sh`.
 - Use `LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_PORT`, `LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_PORT`, and `LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT` only when a task explicitly needs an isolated stack.
 - When debugging an already-running local page, prefer the current `5173`/`18080` stack and inspect `.local-debug/logs/` before starting anything else.
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Use the managed local debug scripts for browser-facing verification. Do not star
 
 ```bash
 git clone git@git.npc0.com:admin343/run.git run # once, if the ignored local checkout is missing
-scripts/local-debug-start.sh
+scripts/dev-start.sh
 ```
 
 The script prints the resolved platform URL, platform_web URL, log files, and the exact local account for browser login:
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ The script prints the resolved platform URL, platform_web URL, log files, and th
 Useful defaults can be overridden before running the script:
 
 ```bash
-LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_PORT=18081 LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_PORT=5174 scripts/local-debug-start.sh
+LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_PORT=18081 LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_PORT=5174 scripts/dev-start.sh
 ```
 
 ## Environment
 
-The scripts source `scripts/local-debug-env.sh`.
+The public commands use shared local debug helpers under `scripts/local-debug/`.
 
 Key platform variables:
 
@@ -85,13 +85,13 @@ Key frontend variables:
 Start the stack, then run:
 
 ```bash
-scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+scripts/dev-smoke.sh
 ```
 
 For one-command verification in environments that clean up background processes when a command returns, run:
 
 ```bash
-LOCAL_DEBUG_SELF_START=true scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+LOCAL_DEBUG_SELF_START=true scripts/dev-smoke.sh
 ```
 
 The smoke command verifies:
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ Run the automated browser acceptance suite when you need repeatable proof for th
 LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_PORT=18189 LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_PORT=5183 LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT=/private/tmp/browser-local-debug-acceptance scripts/browser-acceptance.sh
 ```
 
-By default the command safely resets the configured local debug root, starts platform, run worker, and platform_web, runs `scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh`, verifies browser-facing route contracts, and cleans up the self-started stack. Set `BROWSER_ACCEPTANCE_SELF_START=false` to run against an already-started local debug stack.
+By default the command safely resets the configured local debug root, starts platform, run worker, and platform_web, runs `scripts/dev-smoke.sh`, verifies browser-facing route contracts, and cleans up the self-started stack. Set `BROWSER_ACCEPTANCE_SELF_START=false` to run against an already-started local debug stack.
 
 Acceptance evidence is written to:
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ The evidence records stack URLs, the smoke seed evidence directory, first-party
 
 ## Browser Walkthrough
 
-After `scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh` passes, open platform_web:
+After `scripts/dev-smoke.sh` passes, open platform_web:
 
 ```text
 http://127.0.0.1:5173
@@ -154,13 +154,13 @@ Acceptance requires logical IDs, platform routes, job refs, log refs, artifact r
 ## Stop
 
 ```bash
-scripts/local-debug-stop.sh
+scripts/dev-stop.sh
 ```
 
 ## Reset
 
 ```bash
-scripts/local-debug-reset.sh
+scripts/dev-reset.sh
 ```
 
 Reset stops the local debug processes and deletes only the documented local debug root. By default that root is:
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ The start script wraps these commands with the local debug environment:
 
 ```bash
 (cd platform && go run ./cmd/platform)
-source scripts/local-debug-env.sh
+source scripts/local-debug/env.sh
 local_debug_build_bootstrap_run
 "$RUN_BOOTSTRAP_BIN"
 npm --prefix platform_web run dev -- --port 5173
diff --git a/plugins/docs/local-development.md b/plugins/docs/local-development.md
index be14d81..df39ec4 100644
--- a/plugins/docs/local-development.md
+++ b/plugins/docs/local-development.md
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ Manifest validation rejects raw host paths, raw credentials, direct run sockets,
 For full local stack proof, run the repository local debug workspace:
 
 ```bash
-scripts/local-debug-start.sh
-scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+scripts/dev-start.sh
+scripts/dev-smoke.sh
 ```
 
 That workflow registers `plugins/examples/dev-game-plugin/manifest.json`, creates a safe `server-local-debug` fixture through platform APIs, and verifies that plugin/browser evidence exposes only logical IDs, platform routes, job refs, log refs, artifact refs, and safe metadata.
diff --git a/scripts/README.md b/scripts/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d3c1cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Scripts
+
+Use these root-level commands for day-to-day work:
+
+- `scripts/dev-start.sh`: start the local platform API, run worker, and platform_web console.
+- `scripts/dev-smoke.sh`: seed and verify the API-backed local plugin/server fixtures.
+- `scripts/dev-stop.sh`: stop the managed local debug stack.
+- `scripts/dev-reset.sh`: stop the stack and delete only the safe local debug data root.
+- `scripts/browser-acceptance.sh`: run the full self-starting browser acceptance suite.
+- `scripts/check-structure.sh`: verify required repository structure.
+- `scripts/check-all.sh`: run structure, backend, frontend, and plugin checks.
+
+Implementation details for the managed local stack live under `scripts/local-debug/`. Prefer the root commands above instead of calling those internals directly.
diff --git a/scripts/browser-acceptance.sh b/scripts/browser-acceptance.sh
index d6693bd..4ef05c7 100755
--- a/scripts/browser-acceptance.sh
+++ b/scripts/browser-acceptance.sh
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug-env.sh
-source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-env.sh"
+# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug/env.sh
+source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
 
 export BROWSER_ACCEPTANCE_EVIDENCE_DIR="${BROWSER_ACCEPTANCE_EVIDENCE_DIR:-$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT/browser-acceptance}"
 export LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_URL="${LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_URL:-$(local_debug_platform_url)}"
@@ -16,20 +16,20 @@ cleanup() {
     LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT="$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT" \
     LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_PORT="$LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_PORT" \
     LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_PORT="$LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_PORT" \
-      "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-stop.sh" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/dev-stop.sh" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
   fi
 }
 
 if [[ "$SELF_STARTED" == "true" ]]; then
   trap cleanup EXIT
-  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-reset.sh"
-  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-start.sh"
+  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/dev-reset.sh"
+  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/dev-start.sh"
 else
   curl -fsS "$LOCAL_DEBUG_PLATFORM_URL/healthz" >/dev/null
   curl -fsS "$LOCAL_DEBUG_WEB_URL" >/dev/null
 fi
 
-"$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh"
+"$ROOT_DIR/scripts/dev-smoke.sh"
 
 mkdir -p "$BROWSER_ACCEPTANCE_EVIDENCE_DIR"
 node "$ROOT_DIR/platform_web/acceptance/browser-acceptance.mjs"
diff --git a/scripts/check-structure.sh b/scripts/check-structure.sh
index de0de6e..bd9d06f 100755
--- a/scripts/check-structure.sh
+++ b/scripts/check-structure.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ set -euo pipefail
 required_paths=(
   "AGENTS.md"
   "README.md"
+  "scripts/README.md"
+  "scripts/browser-acceptance.sh"
   "scripts/check-all.sh"
   "platform/AGENTS.md"
   "platform/README.md"
@@ -96,6 +98,15 @@ required_paths=(
   "plugins/examples/scum-server-plugin/actions/status.json"
   "plugins/scripts/validate-manifest.ts"
   "plugins/tests/manifest-validation.test.ts"
+  "scripts/dev-start.sh"
+  "scripts/dev-smoke.sh"
+  "scripts/dev-stop.sh"
+  "scripts/dev-reset.sh"
+  "scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
+  "scripts/local-debug/start.sh"
+  "scripts/local-debug/smoke.sh"
+  "scripts/local-debug/stop.sh"
+  "scripts/local-debug/reset.sh"
   "openspec/changes/bootstrap-game-server-platform-architecture/proposal.md"
   "openspec/changes/bootstrap-game-server-platform-architecture/design.md"
   "openspec/changes/bootstrap-game-server-platform-architecture/tasks.md"
diff --git a/scripts/dev-reset.sh b/scripts/dev-reset.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9066a2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-reset.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+exec "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/reset.sh" "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/dev-smoke.sh b/scripts/dev-smoke.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4dcf8d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-smoke.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+exec "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/smoke.sh" "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/dev-start.sh b/scripts/dev-start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0ce692c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+exec "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/start.sh" "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/dev-stop.sh b/scripts/dev-stop.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..3814e13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/dev-stop.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+exec "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/stop.sh" "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/local-debug-env.sh b/scripts/local-debug/env.sh
similarity index 98%
rename from scripts/local-debug-env.sh
rename to scripts/local-debug/env.sh
index e677e60..491b176 100755
--- a/scripts/local-debug-env.sh
+++ b/scripts/local-debug/env.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 
 LOCAL_DEBUG_SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
-LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$LOCAL_DEBUG_SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$LOCAL_DEBUG_SCRIPT_DIR/../.." && pwd)"
 
 export LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT="${LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT:-$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT_DIR/.local-debug}"
 export LOCAL_DEBUG_LOG_DIR="${LOCAL_DEBUG_LOG_DIR:-$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT/logs}"
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ local_debug_prepare_run_build_source() {
 {
   "sourceDir": "$RUN_SOURCE_DIR",
   "buildSourceRoot": "$RUN_BUILD_SOURCE_ROOT",
-  "createdBy": "scripts/local-debug-env.sh"
+  "createdBy": "scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
 }
 EOF
 }
diff --git a/scripts/local-debug-reset.sh b/scripts/local-debug/reset.sh
similarity index 73%
rename from scripts/local-debug-reset.sh
rename to scripts/local-debug/reset.sh
index b2ae88c..febfda3 100755
--- a/scripts/local-debug-reset.sh
+++ b/scripts/local-debug/reset.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug-env.sh
-source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-env.sh"
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug/env.sh
+source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
 
 case "$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT" in
   "$ROOT_DIR/.local-debug" | /private/tmp/browser-local-debug-* | /tmp/browser-local-debug-*)
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ case "$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT" in
     ;;
 esac
 
-"$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-stop.sh"
+"$ROOT_DIR/scripts/dev-stop.sh"
 
 printf 'deleting local debug root only: %s\n' "$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT"
 rm -rf "$LOCAL_DEBUG_ROOT"
diff --git a/scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh b/scripts/local-debug/smoke.sh
similarity index 99%
rename from scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
rename to scripts/local-debug/smoke.sh
index 9621c64..c226650 100755
--- a/scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/local-debug/smoke.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug-env.sh
-source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-env.sh"
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug/env.sh
+source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
 
 PLATFORM_URL="$(local_debug_platform_url)"
 API_URL="$PLATFORM_URL/api/v1"
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ if (!plugin.gameClientBridge?.commands?.length) {
 }
 if (missing.length > 0) {
   console.error(`SCUM plugin registration is stale or incomplete: missing ${missing.join(", ")}`);
-  console.error("Run scripts/local-debug-reset.sh, restart the local debug stack, then rerun scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh.");
+  console.error("Run scripts/dev-reset.sh, restart the local debug stack, then rerun scripts/dev-smoke.sh.");
   process.exit(1);
 }
 NODE
diff --git a/scripts/local-debug-start.sh b/scripts/local-debug/start.sh
similarity index 97%
rename from scripts/local-debug-start.sh
rename to scripts/local-debug/start.sh
index d191ac4..99a531f 100755
--- a/scripts/local-debug-start.sh
+++ b/scripts/local-debug/start.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug-env.sh
-source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-env.sh"
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug/env.sh
+source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
 
 mkdir -p "$LOCAL_DEBUG_LOG_DIR" "$LOCAL_DEBUG_PID_DIR" "$PLATFORM_DATA_DIR" "$PLATFORM_LOG_DIR" "$RUN_WORKSPACE_ROOT" "$RUN_SPOOL_ROOT" "$RUN_BUILD_BUCKET_ROOT"
 mkdir -p "$GOCACHE"
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ Login with:
   password: operator-local
 
 Run smoke verification:
-  scripts/local-debug-smoke.sh
+  scripts/dev-smoke.sh
 
 Open local console:
   $(local_debug_web_url)
diff --git a/scripts/local-debug-stop.sh b/scripts/local-debug/stop.sh
similarity index 91%
rename from scripts/local-debug-stop.sh
rename to scripts/local-debug/stop.sh
index 388eacf..aec4b93 100755
--- a/scripts/local-debug-stop.sh
+++ b/scripts/local-debug/stop.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
-# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug-env.sh
-source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug-env.sh"
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=scripts/local-debug/env.sh
+source "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/local-debug/env.sh"
 
 if [[ ! -d "$LOCAL_DEBUG_PID_DIR" ]]; then
   printf 'no local debug pid directory at %s\n' "$LOCAL_DEBUG_PID_DIR"