diff --git a/content/docs/getting-started/core-concepts.mdx b/content/docs/getting-started/core-concepts.mdx
index 11830611b1..5240778b82 100644
--- a/content/docs/getting-started/core-concepts.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/getting-started/core-concepts.mdx
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ export default defineStack({
   objects: [{
     name: 'user',
     label: 'User',
-    fields: [
-      { name: 'phone', label: 'Phone Number', type: 'phone', required: true },
-    ],
+    fields: {
+      phone: { label: 'Phone Number', type: 'phone', required: true },
+    },
   }],
 });
 ```
diff --git a/content/docs/guides/common-patterns.mdx b/content/docs/guides/common-patterns.mdx
index 40d4082fd4..1699345796 100644
--- a/content/docs/guides/common-patterns.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/guides/common-patterns.mdx
@@ -27,19 +27,19 @@ export default defineStack({
     {
       name: 'project',
       label: 'Project',
-      fields: [
-        { name: 'title', label: 'Title', type: 'text', required: true, maxLength: 200 },
-        { name: 'description', label: 'Description', type: 'textarea' },
-        { name: 'status', label: 'Status', type: 'select', options: [
+      fields: {
+        title: { label: 'Title', type: 'text', required: true, maxLength: 200 },
+        description: { label: 'Description', type: 'textarea' },
+        status: { label: 'Status', type: 'select', options: [
           { label: 'Planning', value: 'planning', default: true },
           { label: 'Active', value: 'active' },
           { label: 'Complete', value: 'complete' },
           { label: 'Archived', value: 'archived' }
         ]},
-        { name: 'owner', label: 'Owner', type: 'lookup', reference: 'user' },
-        { name: 'due_date', label: 'Due Date', type: 'date' },
-        { name: 'budget', label: 'Budget', type: 'currency', currencyConfig: { precision: 2, defaultCurrency: 'USD' } }
-      ]
+        owner: { label: 'Owner', type: 'lookup', reference: 'user' },
+        due_date: { label: 'Due Date', type: 'date' },
+        budget: { label: 'Budget', type: 'currency', currencyConfig: { precision: 2, defaultCurrency: 'USD' } },
+      }
     }
   ]
 });
@@ -85,27 +85,27 @@ Create a parent-child relationship where child records are cascaded on delete.
     {
       name: 'order',
       label: 'Order',
-      fields: [
-        { name: 'order_number', label: 'Order #', type: 'autonumber', autonumberFormat: 'ORD-{0000}' },
-        { name: 'customer', label: 'Customer', type: 'lookup', reference: 'contact' },
-        { name: 'total', label: 'Total', type: 'summary', summaryOperations: ['sum'] },
-        { name: 'status', label: 'Status', type: 'select', options: [
+      fields: {
+        order_number: { label: 'Order #', type: 'autonumber', autonumberFormat: 'ORD-{0000}' },
+        customer: { label: 'Customer', type: 'lookup', reference: 'contact' },
+        total: { label: 'Total', type: 'summary', summaryOperations: ['sum'] },
+        status: { label: 'Status', type: 'select', options: [
           { label: 'Draft', value: 'draft', default: true },
           { label: 'Submitted', value: 'submitted' },
           { label: 'Fulfilled', value: 'fulfilled' }
-        ]}
-      ]
+        ]},
+      }
     },
     {
       name: 'order_line',
       label: 'Order Line',
-      fields: [
-        { name: 'order', label: 'Order', type: 'master_detail', reference: 'order' },
-        { name: 'product', label: 'Product', type: 'lookup', reference: 'product' },
-        { name: 'quantity', label: 'Qty', type: 'number', min: 1, required: true },
-        { name: 'unit_price', label: 'Unit Price', type: 'currency' },
-        { name: 'line_total', label: 'Line Total', type: 'formula', expression: 'quantity * unit_price' }
-      ]
+      fields: {
+        order: { label: 'Order', type: 'master_detail', reference: 'order' },
+        product: { label: 'Product', type: 'lookup', reference: 'product' },
+        quantity: { label: 'Qty', type: 'number', min: 1, required: true },
+        unit_price: { label: 'Unit Price', type: 'currency' },
+        line_total: { label: 'Line Total', type: 'formula', expression: 'quantity * unit_price' },
+      }
     }
   ]
 }
@@ -257,18 +257,18 @@ Define a multi-step approval process for records.
   objects: [{
     name: 'expense_report',
     label: 'Expense Report',
-    fields: [
-      { name: 'title', label: 'Title', type: 'text', required: true },
-      { name: 'amount', label: 'Amount', type: 'currency' },
-      { name: 'status', label: 'Status', type: 'select', options: [
+    fields: {
+      title: { label: 'Title', type: 'text', required: true },
+      amount: { label: 'Amount', type: 'currency' },
+      status: { label: 'Status', type: 'select', options: [
         { label: 'Draft', value: 'draft', default: true },
         { label: 'Submitted', value: 'submitted' },
         { label: 'Approved', value: 'approved' },
         { label: 'Rejected', value: 'rejected' }
       ]},
-      { name: 'submitted_by', label: 'Submitted By', type: 'lookup', reference: 'user' },
-      { name: 'approved_by', label: 'Approved By', type: 'lookup', reference: 'user' }
-    ],
+      submitted_by: { label: 'Submitted By', type: 'lookup', reference: 'user' },
+      approved_by: { label: 'Approved By', type: 'lookup', reference: 'user' },
+    },
     enable: {
       trackHistory: true,
       apiEnabled: true
@@ -397,19 +397,19 @@ Restrict field visibility and editability based on user profiles.
   objects: [{
     name: 'employee',
     label: 'Employee',
-    fields: [
-      { name: 'name', label: 'Name', type: 'text', required: true },
-      { name: 'email', label: 'Email', type: 'email', required: true },
-      { name: 'department', label: 'Department', type: 'lookup', reference: 'department' },
+    fields: {
+      name: { label: 'Name', type: 'text', required: true },
+      email: { label: 'Email', type: 'email', required: true },
+      department: { label: 'Department', type: 'lookup', reference: 'department' },
       // Sensitive fields with encryption
-      { name: 'salary', label: 'Salary', type: 'currency',
+      salary: { label: 'Salary', type: 'currency',
         hidden: true,  // Hidden from default views
         encryptionConfig: {
           algorithm: 'aes-256-gcm',
           keyRotation: true
         }
       },
-      { name: 'ssn', label: 'SSN', type: 'text',
+      ssn: { label: 'SSN', type: 'text',
         hidden: true,
         maskingRule: {
           strategy: 'partial',
@@ -421,8 +421,8 @@ Restrict field visibility and editability based on user profiles.
           algorithm: 'aes-256-gcm',
           keyRotation: true
         }
-      }
-    ]
+      },
+    }
   }]
 }
 ```
@@ -441,9 +441,9 @@ import { defineStack } from '@objectstack/spec';
 export default defineStack({
   objects: [
     // Pattern 1: CRUD objects
-    { name: 'project', label: 'Project', fields: [/* ... */] },
+    { name: 'project', label: 'Project', fields: {/* ... */} },
     // Pattern 2: Master-detail
-    { name: 'task', label: 'Task', fields: [/* ... */] },
+    { name: 'task', label: 'Task', fields: {/* ... */} },
   ],
   views: [
     // Pattern 3: List views
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/compile.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/compile.ts
index b6a1fa8418..2a5dffb2e2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/compile.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/compile.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import path from 'path';
 import fs from 'fs';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
 import { ZodError } from 'zod';
-import { ObjectStackDefinitionSchema } from '@objectstack/spec';
+import { ObjectStackDefinitionSchema, normalizeStackInput } from '@objectstack/spec';
 import { loadConfig } from '../utils/config.js';
 import {
   printHeader,
@@ -41,9 +41,10 @@ export const compileCommand = new Command('compile')
         printKV('Load time', `${duration}ms`);
       }
 
-      // 2. Validate against Protocol
+      // 2. Normalize map-formatted stack definition and validate against Protocol
       if (!options.json) printStep('Validating protocol compliance...');
-      const result = ObjectStackDefinitionSchema.safeParse(config);
+      const normalized = normalizeStackInput(config as Record<string, unknown>);
+      const result = ObjectStackDefinitionSchema.safeParse(normalized);
 
       if (!result.success) {
         if (options.json) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/doctor.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/doctor.ts
index c658ed423b..2e473bedcb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/doctor.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/doctor.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import chalk from 'chalk';
 import { execSync } from 'child_process';
 import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
+import { normalizeStackInput } from '@objectstack/spec';
 import { printHeader, printSuccess, printWarning, printError, printStep, printInfo } from '../utils/format.js';
 import { loadConfig, configExists } from '../utils/config.js';
 
@@ -476,7 +477,8 @@ export const doctorCommand = new Command('doctor')
     if (configExists()) {
       printStep('Loading configuration for analysis...');
       try {
-        const { config } = await loadConfig();
+        const { config: rawConfig } = await loadConfig();
+        const config: any = normalizeStackInput(rawConfig as Record<string, unknown>);
 
         // Circular dependency detection
         if (Array.isArray(config.objects) && config.objects.length > 0) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/info.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/info.ts
index f08c56f03d..2dd37d7a61 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/info.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/info.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import { Command } from 'commander';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
+import { normalizeStackInput } from '@objectstack/spec';
 import { loadConfig } from '../utils/config.js';
 import {
   printHeader,
@@ -26,7 +27,8 @@ export const infoCommand = new Command('info')
     }
 
     try {
-      const { config, absolutePath, duration } = await loadConfig(configPath);
+      const { config: rawConfig, absolutePath, duration } = await loadConfig(configPath);
+      const config: any = normalizeStackInput(rawConfig as Record<string, unknown>);
       const stats = collectMetadataStats(config);
 
       if (options.json) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts
index c4801c568a..a03c586e98 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import { Command } from 'commander';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
+import { normalizeStackInput } from '@objectstack/spec';
 import { loadConfig } from '../utils/config.js';
 import {
   printHeader,
@@ -207,7 +208,8 @@ export const lintCommand = new Command('lint')
         printInfo(`Config: ${chalk.white(absolutePath)}`);
       }
 
-      const issues = lintConfig(config);
+      const normalized = normalizeStackInput(config as Record<string, unknown>);
+      const issues = lintConfig(normalized);
 
       // ── JSON output ──
       if (options.json) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/validate.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/validate.ts
index 2bc8b7fa8c..c1872594f9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/validate.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/validate.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import { Command } from 'commander';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
 import { ZodError } from 'zod';
-import { ObjectStackDefinitionSchema } from '@objectstack/spec';
+import { ObjectStackDefinitionSchema, normalizeStackInput } from '@objectstack/spec';
 import { loadConfig } from '../utils/config.js';
 import {
   printHeader,
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ export const validateCommand = new Command('validate')
         printKV('Load time', `${duration}ms`);
       }
 
-      // 2. Validate against schema
+      // 2. Normalize map-formatted stack definition and validate against schema
       if (!options.json) printStep('Validating against ObjectStack Protocol...');
-      const result = ObjectStackDefinitionSchema.safeParse(config);
+      const normalized = normalizeStackInput(config as Record<string, unknown>);
+      const result = ObjectStackDefinitionSchema.safeParse(normalized);
 
       if (!result.success) {
         if (options.json) {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/format.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/format.ts
index b317e50dcb..db9cba4ff1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/format.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/format.ts
@@ -134,15 +134,19 @@ export interface MetadataStats {
 }
 
 export function collectMetadataStats(config: any): MetadataStats {
-  const count = (arr: any) => (Array.isArray(arr) ? arr.length : 0);
+  const count = (val: any) => {
+    if (Array.isArray(val)) return val.length;
+    if (val && typeof val === 'object') return Object.keys(val).length;
+    return 0;
+  };
   
   // Count total fields across all objects
   let fields = 0;
-  if (Array.isArray(config.objects)) {
-    for (const obj of config.objects) {
-      if (obj.fields && typeof obj.fields === 'object') {
-        fields += Object.keys(obj.fields).length;
-      }
+  const objects = Array.isArray(config.objects) ? config.objects :
+    (config.objects && typeof config.objects === 'object' ? Object.values(config.objects) : []);
+  for (const obj of objects as any[]) {
+    if (obj.fields && typeof obj.fields === 'object') {
+      fields += Object.keys(obj.fields).length;
     }
   }