diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index 3a3933c..16fec5e 100755
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -46,23 +46,34 @@ zi pack"5.2.4" for zsh
 zi pack"5.1.1" for zsh
 ```
 
-### Default Profile
+### System installation (opt-in)
 
-The ZI command that'll be run will be equivalent to:
+By default the package builds Zsh into `$ZPFX` and does **not** touch the system
+shell. To also replace `/bin/zsh`, set `ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM=1` when installing.
+The original is backed up to `/bin/zsh.bkp`; if that backup already exists,
+the system replacement step fails instead of overwriting it:
 
 ```shell
-zi ice as"null" lucid atclone'./.preconfig; print -P %F{208}Building \
-  Zsh...%f; CPPFLAGS="-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include" CFLAGS="-g \
-  -O2 -Wall" LDFLAGS="-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs" \
-  ./configure --prefix="$ZPFX" --enable-shared >/dev/null && make install.bin install.fns \
-  install.modules >/dev/null && sudo rm -f /bin/zsh && sudo cp -vf \
-  Src/zsh /bin/zsh && print -P %F{208}The build succeeded.%f || print \
-  -P %F{160}The build failed.%f'
-    atpull"%atclone" nocompile countdown git for \
-      zsh-users/zsh
+ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM=1 zi pack for zsh
 ```
 
-It copies the zsh binary onto `/bin/zsh`.
+### Default Profile
+
+The ZI command that runs for the default profile is generated from `scripts/build-manifest.py` and mirrored in `package.json`.
+
+In short, the default profile:
+
+- runs `./.preconfig`, then `./configure --prefix="$ZPFX"`
+- uses `LDFLAGS="-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib"`
+- runs `make install` when `yodl` is available, otherwise falls back to `make install.bin install.fns install.modules`
+- installs into `$ZPFX` by default
+- copies the built shell to `/bin/zsh` only when `ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM=1` is set and `/bin/zsh.bkp` does not already exist
+
+By default it never replaces `/bin/zsh`. System replacement requires:
+
+```shell
+ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM=1 zi pack for zsh
+```
 
 ### ZI Completions Control
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6809465..e768ebf 100755
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -f /bin/zsh ]] && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.1.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -f /bin/zsh ]] && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.1.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.2.4; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -f /bin/zsh ]] && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.2.4; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.3.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.3.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.4.2; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.4.2; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.5.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.5.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.6.2; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.6.2; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.7.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.7.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.8; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.8; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.8.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.8.1; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
         "git": "",
         "lucid": "",
         "as": "null",
-        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.9; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/libs -L/usr/local/libs' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; ((1)); } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
+        "atclone": "git checkout --quiet zsh-5.9; ./.preconfig; m {nl}{hi}Building Zsh{…}; CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' ./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || { m -u2 {warn}WARNING{ehi}:{rst}{warn} No {cmd}yodl{warn}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); } && { make install; ((1)); } || make install.bin install.fns install.modules } >> /dev/null 2>&1 && { [[ ${ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-} != 1 ]] || { type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && [[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }; } && m {ok}The build succeeded. || m {failure}The build failed.",
         "atpull": "%atclone",
         "nocompile": "",
         "nocompletions": "",
diff --git a/scripts/build-manifest.py b/scripts/build-manifest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..926b05c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-manifest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Generate package.json (the Zi package manifest) from a single recipe template.
+
+Why this exists: the manifest defines one Zi install profile per Zsh version, and
+every profile's `atclone` build recipe is identical except for the `git checkout`
+line. Hand-maintaining 11 ~600-char copies caused drift (e.g. an inconsistent
+`-f /bin/zsh` guard). This script is the single source of truth: edit BUILD /
+VERSIONS / METADATA here, run `python3 scripts/build-manifest.py`, and commit the
+regenerated package.json.
+
+Notes on the recipe:
+- Builds into $ZPFX (the Zi prefix) via `./configure --prefix="$ZPFX"`.
+- Replacing the *system* /bin/zsh is opt-in: it only happens when the installer
+  sets `ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM=1`. By default the
+  package never touches /bin/zsh.
+"""
+import json
+import pathlib
+
+METADATA = {
+    "name": "zsh",
+    "description": "Zsh – the programmer's shell",
+    "homepage": "https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh",
+    "bugs": {"url": "https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh/issues"},
+    "keywords": ["zpackage", "zshell", "zsh"],
+}
+
+PLUGIN_INFO = {"user": "zsh-users", "plugin": "zsh"}
+
+# Selectable version profiles, in addition to the unpinned "default".
+VERSIONS = ["5.1.1", "5.2.4", "5.3.1", "5.4.2", "5.5.1", "5.6.2",
+            "5.7.1", "5.8", "5.8.1", "5.9"]
+
+# Single source of truth for the build recipe. `{checkout}` is replaced per
+# profile (empty for "default").
+BUILD = (
+    "{checkout}"
+    "./.preconfig; m {{nl}}{{hi}}Building Zsh{{…}}; "
+    "CPPFLAGS='-I/usr/include -I/usr/local/include' CFLAGS='-g -O2 -Wall' "
+    "LDFLAGS='-L/usr/lib -L/usr/local/lib' "
+    "./configure --prefix=\"$ZPFX\" >> /dev/null 2>&1 && "
+    "{{ type yodl >> /dev/null 2>&1 || {{ m -u2 {{warn}}WARNING{{ehi}}:{{rst}}{{warn}} "
+    "No {{cmd}}yodl{{warn}}, manual pages will not be built.; ((0)); }} && "
+    "{{ make install; ((1)); }} || make install.bin install.fns install.modules }} "
+    ">> /dev/null 2>&1 && "
+    "{{ [[ ${{ZSH_INSTALL_SYSTEM:-}} != 1 ]] || {{ type sudo >> /dev/null 2>&1 && "
+    "[[ -e /bin/zsh ]] && [[ ! -e /bin/zsh.bkp ]] && sudo mv /bin/zsh /bin/zsh.bkp && "
+    "sudo cp -vf Src/zsh /bin/zsh; }}; }} && m {{ok}}The build succeeded. || m {{failure}}The build failed."
+)
+
+
+def ice(checkout: str) -> dict:
+    return {
+        "requires": "cc;make;cp;rm",
+        "git": "",
+        "lucid": "",
+        "as": "null",
+        "atclone": BUILD.format(checkout=checkout),
+        "atpull": "%atclone",
+        "nocompile": "",
+        "nocompletions": "",
+        "countdown": "",
+    }
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    ices = {"default": ice("")}
+    for v in VERSIONS:
+        ices[v] = ice(f"git checkout --quiet zsh-{v}; ")
+
+    manifest = dict(METADATA)
+    manifest["zsh-data"] = {"plugin-info": PLUGIN_INFO, "zi-ices": ices}
+
+    out = pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "package.json"
+    out.write_text(json.dumps(manifest, indent=2, ensure_ascii=False) + "\n",
+                   encoding="utf-8")
+    print(f"Wrote {out} with {len(ices)} profiles (default + {len(VERSIONS)} versions).")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()