diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageCatalog.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageCatalog.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5bc2155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageCatalog.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using KernelPanic.Core;
+
+namespace KernelPanic.Data
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// UI-facing language reference copy. This is not card data and does not unlock content by itself.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class LanguageCatalog
+    {
+        private static readonly LanguageCatalogEntry[] Entries =
+        {
+            new(Language.C, "C", "bare metal", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: Native cards hit immediately and reward careful resource timing. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("arch", "Arch"), Distro("templeos", "TempleOS")),
+            new(Language.CPlusPlus, "C++", "template arsenal", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: Native cards hit immediately with complex setup payoffs. Signature mechanic copy pending.", "unlock: upgrade a C card during a run"),
+            new(Language.Rust, "Rust", "safe systems", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: Rust resolves on the native track with reliable damage and defensive spillover. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("arch", "Arch"), Distro("fedora", "Fedora")),
+            new(Language.Python, "Python", "queued scripts", ResolutionTrack.InterpreterQueue, "TODO: Python queues flexible effects that resolve at end of turn. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("ubuntu", "Ubuntu"), Distro("kali", "Kali"), Distro("mint", "Mint")),
+            new(Language.JavaScript, "JavaScript", "runtime chaos", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: JavaScript fires instantly with swingy side effects. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("ubuntu", "Ubuntu"), Distro("endeavouros", "EndeavourOS"), Distro("mint", "Mint")),
+            new(Language.TypeScript, "TypeScript", "typed runtime", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: TypeScript stabilizes JavaScript-style tempo with stricter setup. Signature mechanic copy pending.", "unlock: upgrade a JavaScript card during a run"),
+            new(Language.Haskell, "Haskell", "lazy proofs", ResolutionTrack.LazyStack, "TODO: Haskell stores delayed work on the lazy stack before resolving in bursts. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("gentoo", "Gentoo"), Distro("nixos", "NixOS")),
+            new(Language.Assembly, "Assembly", "raw opcodes", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: Assembly is immediate, low-level, and high commitment. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("gentoo", "Gentoo"), Distro("templeos", "TempleOS")),
+            new(Language.Java, "Java", "warming vm", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: Java starts expensive and gets cheaper as the combat warms up. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("debian", "Debian"), Distro("fedora", "Fedora")),
+            new(Language.Go, "Go", "small services", ResolutionTrack.Native, "TODO: Go uses direct native actions with simple scaling and concurrency hooks. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("cachyos", "CachyOS"), Distro("nixos", "NixOS")),
+            new(Language.Ruby, "Ruby", "sharp scripts", ResolutionTrack.InterpreterQueue, "TODO: Ruby queues expressive effects with combo-friendly timing. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("kali", "Kali"), Distro("endeavouros", "EndeavourOS")),
+            new(Language.PHP, "PHP", "legacy glue", ResolutionTrack.InterpreterQueue, "TODO: PHP queues practical effects that improve when the board is messy. Signature mechanic copy pending.", null, Distro("debian", "Debian"), Distro("cachyos", "CachyOS")),
+        };
+
+        public static IReadOnlyList<LanguageCatalogEntry> All => Entries;
+
+        public static LanguageCatalogEntry Get(Language language)
+        {
+            for (int i = 0; i < Entries.Length; i++)
+            {
+                if (Entries[i].Language == language)
+                {
+                    return Entries[i];
+                }
+            }
+
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(language), language, "Language is not registered in the catalog.");
+        }
+
+        private static LanguageDistroReference Distro(string id, string displayName)
+        {
+            return new LanguageDistroReference(id, displayName);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public readonly struct LanguageCatalogEntry
+    {
+        public LanguageCatalogEntry(Language language, string displayName, string identityTag, ResolutionTrack resolutionTrack, string howItWorks, string unlockHint, params LanguageDistroReference[] supportingDistros)
+        {
+            Language = language;
+            DisplayName = displayName;
+            IdentityTag = identityTag;
+            ResolutionTrack = resolutionTrack;
+            HowItWorks = howItWorks;
+            UnlockHint = unlockHint;
+            SupportingDistros = supportingDistros ?? Array.Empty<LanguageDistroReference>();
+        }
+
+        public Language Language { get; }
+        public string DisplayName { get; }
+        public string IdentityTag { get; }
+        public ResolutionTrack ResolutionTrack { get; }
+        public string HowItWorks { get; }
+        public string UnlockHint { get; }
+        public IReadOnlyList<LanguageDistroReference> SupportingDistros { get; }
+    }
+
+    public readonly struct LanguageDistroReference
+    {
+        public LanguageDistroReference(string id, string displayName)
+        {
+            Id = id;
+            DisplayName = displayName;
+        }
+
+        public string Id { get; }
+        public string DisplayName { get; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageDeckDatabase.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageDeckDatabase.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bc0284
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageDeckDatabase.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using KernelPanic.Core;
+using UnityEngine;
+
+namespace KernelPanic.Data
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Resolves language starter decks for collection display.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class LanguageDeckDatabase : ScriptableObject
+    {
+        [SerializeField] private List<LanguageDeckDefinition> allDecks = new();
+
+        public IReadOnlyList<LanguageDeckDefinition> AllDecks => allDecks;
+
+        public LanguageDeckDefinition FindByLanguage(Language language)
+        {
+            for (int i = 0; i < allDecks.Count; i++)
+            {
+                LanguageDeckDefinition deck = allDecks[i];
+                if (deck != null && deck.Language == language)
+                {
+                    return deck;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageDeckDefinition.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageDeckDefinition.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37d33c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Data/LanguageDeckDefinition.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using KernelPanic.Core;
+using UnityEngine;
+
+namespace KernelPanic.Data
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Defines the read-only starter deck shown for a language in the collection codex.
+    /// </summary>
+    public sealed class LanguageDeckDefinition : ScriptableObject
+    {
+        [System.Serializable]
+        public struct LanguageDeckEntry
+        {
+            [SerializeField] private CardDefinition card;
+            [SerializeField] private int count;
+
+            public CardDefinition Card => card;
+            public int Count => count;
+        }
+
+        [SerializeField] private Language language;
+        [SerializeField] private List<LanguageDeckEntry> entries = new();
+
+        public Language Language => language;
+        public IReadOnlyList<LanguageDeckEntry> Entries => entries;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Meta/LanguageUnlock.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Meta/LanguageUnlock.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a546321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Meta/LanguageUnlock.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+using System;
+using KernelPanic.Core;
+using KernelPanic.Data;
+
+namespace KernelPanic.Meta
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Read-only unlock rule for language availability.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class LanguageUnlock
+    {
+        public static bool IsUnlocked(Language language, PlayerCollection collection)
+        {
+            if (language == Language.CPlusPlus || language == Language.TypeScript)
+            {
+                // TODO: evolved-language unlock gate, separate from distro ownership.
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (collection == null)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            LanguageCatalogEntry entry = LanguageCatalog.Get(language);
+            for (int unitIndex = 0; unitIndex < collection.OwnedUnits.Count; unitIndex++)
+            {
+                DistroDefinition unit = collection.OwnedUnits[unitIndex];
+                if (unit == null)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                for (int distroIndex = 0; distroIndex < entry.SupportingDistros.Count; distroIndex++)
+                {
+                    if (string.Equals(unit.Id, entry.SupportingDistros[distroIndex].Id, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+}