diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d1ebae96..b3f7c37f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ jobs:
           .build/chad build examples/hello.ts -o /tmp/hello
           /tmp/hello
 
+      - name: Run examples
+        run: bash scripts/run-examples.sh
+        timeout-minutes: 5
+
       - name: Run self-hosting tests
         run: node --import tsx --test tests/self-hosting.test.ts
         timeout-minutes: 15
@@ -188,6 +192,10 @@ jobs:
           .build/chad build examples/hello.ts -o /tmp/hello
           /tmp/hello
 
+      - name: Run examples
+        run: bash scripts/run-examples.sh
+        timeout-minutes: 5
+
       - name: Run self-hosting tests
         run: node --import tsx --test tests/self-hosting.test.ts
         timeout-minutes: 15
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 19360211..e4f5e357 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 
 **[Documentation](https://cs01.github.io/ChadScript/)** · **[Benchmarks](https://cs01.github.io/ChadScript/benchmarks)** · **[GitHub Releases](https://github.com/cs01/ChadScript/releases)**
 
-**A native compiler for TypeScript — no interpreter, no runtime, no VM.**
+**As typesafe as Rust. As fast as C. As ergonomic as TypeScript.**
 
-Your code goes through a full compilation pipeline: parse, type-check, emit LLVM IR, and link into a standalone native binary.
+ChadScript is a systems programming language that uses TypeScript syntax and compiles directly to native binaries via LLVM. It is **not** a full TypeScript compiler — it's a statically-typed, natively-compiled dialect that shares TypeScript's syntax and feel while imposing stricter rules needed for native code (no generics, by-value closures, no `any`).
 
-ChadScript is self-hosting - the compiler is written in TypeScript and compiles itself into a native binary that doesn't need any JavaScript runtime or Node.js.
+Your code goes through a full compilation pipeline: parse, type-check, emit LLVM IR, and link into a standalone native binary with no Node.js, V8, or JavaScript runtime.
+
+ChadScript is self-hosting — the compiler (~45k lines) is written in this same dialect and compiles itself to a native binary.
 
 ## Demo
 
diff --git a/docs/faq.md b/docs/faq.md
index c16d677b..90e7c222 100644
--- a/docs/faq.md
+++ b/docs/faq.md
@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 ## What is ChadScript?
 
-ChadScript is a compiler that takes TypeScript source code and produces native ELF binaries via LLVM. It is not a runtime, interpreter, or transpiler. The output is a standalone executable with no dependencies on Node.js, V8, or any JavaScript engine.
+ChadScript is a systems programming language that uses TypeScript syntax and compiles to native ELF binaries via LLVM. The goal: **as typesafe as Rust, as fast as C, as ergonomic as TypeScript**.
+
+It is **not** a TypeScript compiler, runtime, interpreter, or transpiler. It's a new language that shares TypeScript's syntax and feel, but imposes stricter rules required for native compilation — no `any`, no user-defined generics, by-value closures, and interfaces are data-only structs. Think of it as a TypeScript-syntax dialect for systems programming.
+
+The output is a standalone native binary with no dependencies on Node.js, V8, or any JavaScript engine.
 
 ## Is ChadScript a drop-in replacement for TypeScript?
 
-No. ChadScript supports a practical subset of TypeScript. It compiles to native machine code, so all types must be known at compile time and dynamic features like `eval()` aren't available. See [Language Support](/language/features) for details.
+No, and it's not trying to be. ChadScript uses TypeScript syntax as its surface language, but it's a different language with different semantics. Code that relies on runtime JS behavior — closures-by-reference, `any`, generics, `instanceof`, npm packages — won't compile. See [Language Support](/language/features) for what works.
 
 ## What TypeScript features are supported?
 
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index af004b68..ccc4d712 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 layout: home
 hero:
   name: ChadScript
-  text: TypeScript to Native Binaries
-  tagline: "A native compiler for TypeScript. Write TypeScript, ship a standalone binary."
+  text: As fast as C. As ergonomic as TypeScript.
+  tagline: "A natively-compiled systems language with TypeScript syntax. Write in a familiar style, ship a standalone binary with no runtime."
   actions:
     - theme: brand
       text: Get Started
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ hero:
 features:
   - title: No Runtime
     details: Compiles to standalone ELF binaries that start in under 2ms.
-  - title: Familiar Syntax
-    details: Standard TypeScript syntax — classes, interfaces, async/await, closures.
+  - title: TypeScript Syntax
+    details: Uses TypeScript's syntax — classes, interfaces, async/await, closures. Not a full TS compiler; a natively-compiled dialect.
   - title: Batteries Included
     details: Everything you'd npm install — HTTP, SQLite, fetch, crypto, JSON — is built in. No dependencies.
   - title: Single-Binary Deploy
diff --git a/scripts/run-examples.sh b/scripts/run-examples.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..6321920e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run-examples.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Run all compilable examples and verify they work.
+# Server examples are started, verified with curl, then killed.
+# Usage: bash scripts/run-examples.sh [--compiler <path>]
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+COMPILER="${COMPILER:-.build/chad}"
+BUILD_DIR="/tmp/chadscript-examples"
+PASSED=0
+FAILED=0
+FAILURES=""
+
+# Parse --compiler flag
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    --compiler) COMPILER="$2"; shift 2 ;;
+    *) echo "Unknown option: $1"; exit 1 ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+# Validate compiler exists — supports both a binary path and "node dist/chad-node.js"
+COMPILER_FIRST_WORD="${COMPILER%% *}"
+if [ ! -f "$COMPILER_FIRST_WORD" ] && ! command -v "$COMPILER_FIRST_WORD" &>/dev/null; then
+  echo "Compiler not found: $COMPILER"
+  echo "Build it first: node dist/chad-node.js build src/chad-native.ts -o .build/chad"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+mkdir -p "$BUILD_DIR"
+
+# --- Helpers ---
+
+pass() {
+  echo "  PASS: $1"
+  PASSED=$((PASSED + 1))
+}
+
+fail() {
+  echo "  FAIL: $1 — $2"
+  FAILED=$((FAILED + 1))
+  FAILURES="${FAILURES}\n  $1: $2"
+}
+
+compile() {
+  local src="$1"
+  local out="$2"
+  # Use eval-free word splitting so "node dist/chad-node.js" works
+  if ! $COMPILER build "$src" -o "$out" 2>&1; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Wait for a server to respond on a port (up to N seconds)
+wait_for_server() {
+  local port="$1"
+  local max_wait="${2:-5}"
+  local i=0
+  while [ $i -lt $max_wait ]; do
+    if curl -s -o /dev/null -w '' "http://localhost:$port/" 2>/dev/null; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 1
+    i=$((i + 1))
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
+echo "=== ChadScript Examples Runner ==="
+echo "Compiler: $COMPILER"
+echo "Build dir: $BUILD_DIR"
+echo ""
+
+# --- 1. hello.ts (simple print) ---
+
+echo "[1/8] hello.ts"
+if compile examples/hello.ts "$BUILD_DIR/hello"; then
+  OUTPUT=$("$BUILD_DIR/hello" 2>&1) || true
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Hello from ChadScript"; then
+    pass "hello.ts"
+  else
+    fail "hello.ts" "unexpected output: $OUTPUT"
+  fi
+else
+  fail "hello.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 2. timers.ts (event loop, self-terminating) ---
+
+echo "[2/8] timers.ts"
+if compile examples/timers.ts "$BUILD_DIR/timers"; then
+  # No `timeout` on macOS — use background process + wait with a deadline
+  "$BUILD_DIR/timers" > "$BUILD_DIR/timers.out" 2>&1 &
+  TIMER_PID=$!
+  ( sleep 10; kill "$TIMER_PID" 2>/dev/null ) &
+  WATCHDOG_PID=$!
+  wait "$TIMER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  kill "$WATCHDOG_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  wait "$WATCHDOG_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  OUTPUT=$(cat "$BUILD_DIR/timers.out")
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "tick 3"; then
+    pass "timers.ts"
+  else
+    fail "timers.ts" "didn't see tick 3: $OUTPUT"
+  fi
+else
+  fail "timers.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 3. cli-parser-demo.ts (argparse) ---
+
+echo "[3/8] cli-parser-demo.ts"
+if compile examples/cli-parser-demo.ts "$BUILD_DIR/cli-parser-demo"; then
+  OUTPUT=$("$BUILD_DIR/cli-parser-demo" -v -o result.txt myfile.txt 2>&1) || true
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "verbose"; then
+    pass "cli-parser-demo.ts"
+  else
+    fail "cli-parser-demo.ts" "unexpected output: $OUTPUT"
+  fi
+else
+  fail "cli-parser-demo.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 4. query.ts (sqlite in-memory) ---
+
+echo "[4/8] query.ts"
+if compile examples/query.ts "$BUILD_DIR/query"; then
+  OUTPUT=$("$BUILD_DIR/query" 2>&1) || true
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "Found"; then
+    pass "query.ts"
+  else
+    fail "query.ts" "unexpected output: $OUTPUT"
+  fi
+else
+  fail "query.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 5. word-count.ts (file I/O) ---
+
+echo "[5/8] word-count.ts"
+if compile examples/word-count.ts "$BUILD_DIR/word-count"; then
+  # Create a test file to count
+  echo "hello world foo bar" > "$BUILD_DIR/test-input.txt"
+  OUTPUT=$("$BUILD_DIR/word-count" "$BUILD_DIR/test-input.txt" 2>&1) || true
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "words"; then
+    pass "word-count.ts"
+  else
+    fail "word-count.ts" "unexpected output: $OUTPUT"
+  fi
+else
+  fail "word-count.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 6. string-search.ts (grep-like) ---
+
+echo "[6/8] string-search.ts"
+if compile examples/string-search.ts "$BUILD_DIR/string-search"; then
+  # Create a test file to search
+  printf "line one\nfind me here\nline three\n" > "$BUILD_DIR/search-input.txt"
+  OUTPUT=$("$BUILD_DIR/string-search" "find" "$BUILD_DIR/search-input.txt" 2>&1) || true
+  if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -q "find"; then
+    pass "string-search.ts"
+  else
+    fail "string-search.ts" "unexpected output: $OUTPUT"
+  fi
+else
+  fail "string-search.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 7. http-server.ts (server + curl) ---
+
+echo "[7/8] http-server.ts"
+if compile examples/http-server.ts "$BUILD_DIR/http-server"; then
+  PORT=18080
+  "$BUILD_DIR/http-server" -p "$PORT" &
+  SERVER_PID=$!
+
+  if wait_for_server "$PORT" 5; then
+    # Test root endpoint
+    RESP=$(curl -s "http://localhost:$PORT/")
+    if echo "$RESP" | grep -q "ChadScript"; then
+      # Test JSON endpoint
+      RESP2=$(curl -s "http://localhost:$PORT/json")
+      if echo "$RESP2" | grep -q "message"; then
+        # Test POST echo
+        RESP3=$(curl -s -X POST -d 'hello world' "http://localhost:$PORT/echo")
+        if echo "$RESP3" | grep -q "hello world"; then
+          pass "http-server.ts"
+        else
+          fail "http-server.ts" "POST /echo failed: $RESP3"
+        fi
+      else
+        fail "http-server.ts" "GET /json failed: $RESP2"
+      fi
+    else
+      fail "http-server.ts" "GET / failed: $RESP"
+    fi
+  else
+    fail "http-server.ts" "server didn't start on port $PORT"
+  fi
+
+  kill "$SERVER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  wait "$SERVER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+else
+  fail "http-server.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- 8. hackernews/app.ts (full-stack server + curl) ---
+
+echo "[8/8] hackernews/app.ts"
+if compile examples/hackernews/app.ts "$BUILD_DIR/hackernews"; then
+  PORT=18081
+  "$BUILD_DIR/hackernews" -p "$PORT" &
+  SERVER_PID=$!
+
+  if wait_for_server "$PORT" 5; then
+    # Test API endpoint
+    RESP=$(curl -s "http://localhost:$PORT/api/posts")
+    if echo "$RESP" | grep -q "ChadScript"; then
+      # Test HTML page
+      RESP2=$(curl -s "http://localhost:$PORT/")
+      if echo "$RESP2" | grep -q "html"; then
+        pass "hackernews/app.ts"
+      else
+        fail "hackernews/app.ts" "GET / didn't return HTML: ${RESP2:0:100}"
+      fi
+    else
+      fail "hackernews/app.ts" "GET /api/posts failed: ${RESP:0:100}"
+    fi
+  else
+    fail "hackernews/app.ts" "server didn't start on port $PORT"
+  fi
+
+  kill "$SERVER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  wait "$SERVER_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+else
+  fail "hackernews/app.ts" "compile failed"
+fi
+
+# --- Summary ---
+
+echo ""
+echo "=== Results ==="
+echo "Passed: $PASSED / $((PASSED + FAILED))"
+echo "Failed: $FAILED / $((PASSED + FAILED))"
+
+if [ $FAILED -gt 0 ]; then
+  echo -e "\nFailures:$FAILURES"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "All examples passed!"