diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/json_validate_standalone.py b/wizard-work/spark/json_validate_standalone.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f60175
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/json_validate_standalone.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""JSON Validator CLI - Validates JSON files and reports syntax errors."""
+import json
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def validate_json_file(filepath: str) -> dict:
+    """Validate a JSON file and return result dict."""
+    result = {
+        "file": filepath,
+        "valid": False,
+        "error": None,
+        "line": None,
+        "column": None,
+        "decoded": None
+    }
+    
+    try:
+        content = Path(filepath).read_text()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        result["error"] = f"File not found: {filepath}"
+        return result
+    except Exception as e:
+        result["error"] = f"Read error: {e}"
+        return result
+    
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(content)
+        result["valid"] = True
+        result["decoded"] = data
+        return result
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        result["error"] = str(e.msg)
+        result["line"] = e.lineno
+        result["column"] = e.colno
+        # Show context around error
+        lines = content.split('\n')
+        if e.lineno and e.lineno <= len(lines):
+            result["context"] = lines[e.lineno - 1]
+        return result
+
+
+def main():
+    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+        print("Usage: json_validate_standalone.py <file.json> [file2.json...]")
+        sys.exit(1)
+    
+    exit_code = 0
+    results = []
+    
+    for filepath in sys.argv[1:]:
+        result = validate_json_file(filepath)
+        results.append(result)
+        
+        if result["valid"]:
+            print(f"VALID: {filepath}")
+        else:
+            print(f"INVALID: {filepath}")
+            print(f"  Error: {result['error']}")
+            if result.get('line'):
+                print(f"  Line: {result['line']}, Column: {result['column']}")
+                if result.get('context'):
+                    print(f"  Context: {result['context'][:60]}")
+            exit_code = 1
+    
+    sys.exit(exit_code)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
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diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/test_json_validator.py b/wizard-work/spark/test_json_validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7dfaea3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/test_json_validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Test suite for json_validate_standalone.py"""
+import json
+import sys
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+def run_validator(files):
+    """Run validator and return (exit_code, output)."""
+    cmd = ['python3', '/root/.hermes/wizard-outputs/spark/json_validate_standalone.py'] + files
+    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+    return result.returncode, result.stdout
+
+def test_valid_json():
+    """Test that valid JSON returns exit code 0."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w', suffix='.json', delete=False) as f:
+        json.dump({"test": "data"}, f)
+        f.flush()
+        exit_code, output = run_validator([f.name])
+        Path(f.name).unlink()
+        assert exit_code == 0, f"Expected 0, got {exit_code}"
+        assert "VALID:" in output, f"Expected 'VALID:' in output"
+    return True
+
+def test_invalid_json():
+    """Test that invalid JSON returns exit code 1."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w', suffix='.json', delete=False) as f:
+        f.write('{invalid json')
+        f.flush()
+        exit_code, output = run_validator([f.name])
+        Path(f.name).unlink()
+        assert exit_code == 1, f"Expected 1, got {exit_code}"
+        assert "INVALID:" in output, f"Expected 'INVALID:' in output"
+    return True
+
+def test_nonexistent_file():
+    """Test handling of nonexistent file."""
+    exit_code, output = run_validator(['/nonexistent/file.json'])
+    assert exit_code == 1, f"Expected 1 for nonexistent file"
+    assert "File not found" in output, f"Expected 'File not found' in output"
+    return True
+
+def test_multiple_files_mixed():
+    """Test with multiple files, some valid some invalid."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w', suffix='.json', delete=False) as f1:
+        json.dump({"a": 1}, f1)
+        f1.flush()
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w', suffix='.json', delete=False) as f2:
+            f2.write('{bad}')
+            f2.flush()
+            exit_code, output = run_validator([f1.name, f2.name])
+            Path(f1.name).unlink()
+            Path(f2.name).unlink()
+            assert exit_code == 1, "Should fail due to invalid file"
+            assert "VALID:" in output and "INVALID:" in output
+    return True
+
+def main():
+    tests = [
+        ("Valid JSON", test_valid_json),
+        ("Invalid JSON", test_invalid_json),
+        ("Nonexistent file", test_nonexistent_file),
+        ("Multiple files mixed", test_multiple_files_mixed),
+    ]
+    
+    passed = 0
+    failed = 0
+    
+    for name, test_fn in tests:
+        try:
+            test_fn()
+            print(f"PASS: {name}")
+            passed += 1
+        except AssertionError as e:
+            print(f"FAIL: {name} - {e}")
+            failed += 1
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"ERROR: {name} - {e}")
+            failed += 1
+    
+    print(f"\nResults: {passed} passed, {failed} failed")
+    return 0 if failed == 0 else 1
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
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