diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/json_syntax_checker.py b/wizard-work/spark/json_syntax_checker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a54912d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/json_syntax_checker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+json_syntax_checker.py - Minimal JSON syntax validator.
+
+Verifies JSON files are syntactically correct.
+Exit 0 = valid JSON, Exit 1 = invalid JSON
+"""
+
+import json
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def check_json_syntax(file_path: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Check if file contains valid JSON.
+    
+    Returns: (is_valid, message)
+    """
+    path = Path(file_path)
+    
+    if not path.exists():
+        return False, f"File not found: {file_path}"
+    
+    try:
+        content = path.read_text().strip()
+        
+        if not content:
+            return False, "Empty file"
+        
+        json.loads(content)
+        return True, "Valid JSON"
+        
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        return False, f"JSON error at line {e.lineno}, col {e.colno}: {e.msg}"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"Error: {e}"
+
+
+def main():
+    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+        print("Usage: json_syntax_checker.py <json_file>")
+        sys.exit(1)
+    
+    file_path = sys.argv[1]
+    is_valid, message = check_json_syntax(file_path)
+    
+    print(f"{message}")
+    sys.exit(0 if is_valid else 1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/ts_invalid_demo.json b/wizard-work/spark/ts_invalid_demo.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84ed132
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/ts_invalid_demo.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"name": "broken", "missing_end": true
diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/ts_valid_demo.json b/wizard-work/spark/ts_valid_demo.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebfdc29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/ts_valid_demo.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"name": "spark_test", "active": true, "count": 123}
\ No newline at end of file