@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@ permissions:
 
 jobs:
   test:
+    name: test (${{ matrix.os-type }}, ${{ matrix.python-version }}${{ matrix.backend == 'gix' && ', gix' || '' }})
     strategy:
       matrix:
         os-type: [ubuntu, macos, windows]
         python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14", "3.14t", "3.15", "3.15t"]
+        backend: [cli]
         exclude:
         - os-type: macos
           python-version: "3.14t"
@@ -32,6 +34,11 @@ jobs:
           experimental: true
         - python-version: "3.15t"
           experimental: true
+        - os-type: windows
+          python-version: "3.12"
+          backend: gix
+          build-docs: false
+          experimental: false
 
       fail-fast: false
 
@@ -51,6 +58,20 @@ jobs:
       with:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         allow-prereleases: ${{ matrix.experimental }}
+        cache: ${{ matrix.backend == 'gix' && 'pip' || '' }}
+        cache-dependency-path: |
+          pyproject.toml
+          requirements.txt
+          test-requirements.txt
+          gix-requirements.txt
+
+    - name: Prepare Rust for GixPython's Windows source build
+      if: matrix.backend == 'gix'
+      run: |
+        # GixPython 0.1.0 publishes macOS wheels only and needs Rust >= 1.89.
+        rustup toolchain install stable --profile minimal
+        rustup default stable
+        rustc --version
 
     - name: Set up WSL (Windows)
       if: matrix.os-type == 'windows'
@@ -89,7 +110,11 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Install project and test dependencies
       run: |
-        pip install ./smmap ./gitdb '.[test]'
+        pip install ./smmap ./gitdb ".[${EXTRAS}]"
+        python -c 'import os; from git import _backend; print("Backend:", _backend.name); assert _backend.name == os.environ["EXPECTED_BACKEND"]'
+      env:
+        EXTRAS: ${{ matrix.backend == 'gix' && 'test,gix' || 'test' }}
+        EXPECTED_BACKEND: ${{ matrix.backend }}
 
     - name: Show POSIX file ownership
       # Linux and macOS only. On Windows, Git Bash's `ls -ld` reports a
@@ -172,9 +197,17 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Test with pytest
       run: |
-        pytest --color=yes -p no:sugar --instafail -vv --durations=30
+        pytest --color=yes -p no:sugar --instafail -vv --durations=30 \
+          --junitxml=test-results/pytest.xml --backend-report=test-results/backend.json
       continue-on-error: false
 
+    - name: Retain test results and backend operation counts
+      if: always()
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
+      with:
+        name: tests-${{ matrix.os-type }}-${{ matrix.python-version }}-${{ matrix.backend }}
+        path: test-results/
+
     - name: Documentation
       if: matrix.build-docs
       run: |
 
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ uv pip install --python .tox/gix/bin/python --editable '.[test,gix]'
 
 `tox -e gix` also resolves the published release from the package index.
 
+GixPython 0.1.0 publishes macOS wheels. On Windows and Linux, installation
+builds the released source distribution and requires Rust 1.89 or newer and
+a platform C/C++ toolchain. Windows CI uses the runner's MSVC tools and a
+stable Rust toolchain, with pip's built-wheel cache enabled.
+
 Python extras add dependencies; they do not leave a runtime feature bit.
 Set `GIT_PYTHON_BACKEND=cli` or `GIT_PYTHON_BACKEND=gix` before importing
 GitPython. Explicit Gix selection fails if `gix` cannot be imported; an invalid
@@ -70,7 +75,8 @@ uv --cache-dir .cache/uv pip install --offline --no-index \
 For another machine, populate that directory from PyPI or its package cache
 before running the offline installation tests. Select wheels compatible with
 the interpreter and platform; ordinary and free-threaded CPython use different
-wheels. A local GixPython source build is no longer required.
+wheels. On platforms without a published wheel, first build one from the
+released source distribution and retain it in the wheelhouse.
 
 ## Conversion coverage
 
@@ -683,13 +689,13 @@ identify the historical fixture where needed.
 | GIX-21 | Bug; missing API | `Repository.committer()` preserves a process identity of ` Name. ` / ` email@example.invalid ` while `git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT` returns `Name.` / `email@example.invalid`. Native snapshot overrides for name, email and date work, but modifying the retained snapshot would leak per-command identity across threads. GixPython 0.1.0 has no general independent repository clone: Python copying fails and internal `RepoHandle::clone()` shares its `Arc` state. | Expose Git-compatible identity cleanup and a cheap independent native clone with isolated config, including per-command removal semantics. Reopening isolates state but repeats setup; `with_object_memory()` changes object-write behavior and is not a general clone. Keep `_checked_signature` validation and CLI fallback for cleanup/overrides. Never clean identity fields in Python or mutate shared snapshots/process environment to handle a command. |
 | GIX-22 | Missing API | The native Git directory is sufficient for the two fixed metadata leaves used here: `modules` and `COMMIT_EDITMSG`. Git's `path.c` applies no special relocation to either, including in linked worktrees. The adapter appends only these names to the canonical native Git directory. | No new binding is needed for these ordinary paths. Other `--git-path` names and symlinked metadata leaves retain CLI resolution; a general resolver must handle config/environment overrides, common/private storage and canonical targets. `Repository.modules_path()` means `.gitmodules`, not the `modules` storage directory. |
 | GIX-23 | Missing API | No hook lookup or execution API is bound in GixPython 0.1.0. The removed absence fast path read config through Gix but used Python `os.stat()` to declare success. | Bind native hook lookup with configured/default path, linked-worktree, missing/nonexecutable-hook and diagnostic semantics, plus execution where needed. Until then all managed hook calls use Git, including `--ignore-missing` no-ops. A Python filesystem check is not a Gix implementation. |
-| GIX-24 | Bug | In both object formats, `new_commit_as()` accepts a blob as the tree or a parent where `git commit-tree` rejects it. Tree-editor `upsert()`/`write()` accepts object IDs whose actual kinds disagree with blob/tree/gitlink modes; `git mktree --missing` rejects all three tested mismatches. `edit_references_as()` accepts a blob target under `refs/heads/`, rejected by `git update-ref`. | Provide checked commit/tree construction and reference edits, at least in Git-strict mode. Validate kinds and branch targets, including symbolic aliases, before writing and under the required ref locks. Existing `_commit_tree`, `_write_tree` and `_update_ref` guards query Gix headers and select CLI on invalid inputs; they do not replace Gix writes with Python. |
+| GIX-24 | Bug | In both object formats, `new_commit_as()` accepts a blob as the tree or a parent where `git commit-tree` rejects it. Tree-editor `upsert()`/`write()` accepts object IDs whose actual kinds disagree with blob/tree/gitlink modes; `git mktree --missing` rejects all three tested mismatches. `edit_references_as()` accepts a blob target under `refs/heads/`, rejected by `git update-ref`. | Provide checked commit/tree construction and reference edits, at least in Git-strict mode. Match Git's kind and direct-branch target validation before writing and under the required ref locks, including its distinct handling of symbolic aliases. Existing `_commit_tree`, `_write_tree` and `_update_ref` guards query Gix headers and select CLI on invalid inputs; they do not replace Gix writes with Python. |
 | GIX-25 | Bug; missing API | After `git symbolic-ref refs/heads/dangling refs/heads/missing`, `Repository.references().all()` enumerates the dangling name, while `git for-each-ref --format=%(refname)` omits it. Valid symbolic aliases must remain present. Both SHA-1 and SHA-256 probes reproduce this difference. | Expose Git-compatible enumeration with the same dangling-reference and diagnostic behavior, retaining the raw iterator for callers that need it. `_for_each_ref` forces Gix to resolve symbolic targets and falls back to Git on failure; keep that fallback until a compatible Gix API/mode is verified. |
 
 Windows reproduction for GIX-14 uses CPython 3.12.13, Git
 2.55.0.windows.3 and the released GixPython 0.1.0 source distribution with
 the same pinned Gitoxide revision above. Both `105114db` and the CLI metadata
-batching change reproduce the following existing failures:
+batching change (`f6779dbb`) reproduce the following existing failures:
 
 - `test_native_command_queries_match_cli` and
   `test_native_worktree_inventory_includes_bare_main` return backslashes in
@@ -701,13 +707,30 @@ batching change reproduce the following existing failures:
   `InvalidGitRepositoryError`. The binding must reject this input through its
   normal native error contract so discovery can take the existing fallback.
 
-These remain open compatibility bugs. The optional Windows selection also
-has tests that fail before a native/Git comparison: newline-containing
-filenames, a raw backslash gitfile operand, and a POSIX-specific symlink
-canonicalization assertion. Its symbolic-alias blob assertion is not evidence
-of a Gix mismatch on this Git version: direct Git controls in both object
-formats also accept the alias update and leave the branch pointing to a blob.
-This does not invalidate GIX-24's separate direct-branch validation comparison.
+The adapters now format locations returned by `Repository.common_dir()`,
+`workdir()` and `git_dir()` with the existing Windows-only path separator
+conversion, including `Repo.common_dir` and gitfile worktree paths. Gix still
+resolves every location. Ordinary, bare and linked repository metadata and
+worktree-list queries compare exactly against Git without additional CLI
+calls. POSIX filenames containing literal backslashes are unaffected.
+
+Discovery catches only the binding's exact
+`RuntimeError("native worker panicked")` and selects Git's existing validation
+path. The malformed metadata regression then raises `InvalidGitRepositoryError`.
+Unrelated runtime
+errors still propagate. Both normal native write errors and worker panics
+after a mutation begins are tested to ensure they never trigger a CLI retry.
+GIX-14 remains open: these adapter changes do not fix the upstream panic or
+the other discovery compatibility bugs.
+
+The tests now pass gitfile operands in Git's Windows-compatible spelling and
+compare symlink resolution against the current platform's Git output. Status
+and ignore parity runs with a portable filename everywhere; only the extra
+newline-filename variant is skipped on Windows. Blob-reference updates also
+compare against Git: a direct branch rejects the blob, while a symbolic alias
+outside `refs/heads/` accepts it on Git 2.55.0.windows.3, in both object
+formats. That alias behavior is not evidence of a Gix mismatch and does not
+invalidate GIX-24's separate direct-branch comparison.
 
 For GIX-8, at fixture commit `44e0a8ec55c42559dfcdf5117710b26261a7c937`,
 compare `git rev-list HEAD` with
@@ -754,7 +777,7 @@ probe and captured results are in
 `.cache/gix-compatibility-ledger/{probe-contracts.py,contracts.json}`.
 Existing [backend regressions](../test/test_gix_backend.py) protect the adapter
 fallbacks, including `test_tree_writes_validate_child_object_kinds`,
-`test_symbolic_alias_cannot_point_a_branch_at_a_blob`,
+`test_branch_blob_updates_match_git`,
 `test_commit_identity_cleanup_matches_git` and
 `test_reference_enumeration_preserves_aliases_and_skips_dangling_refs`.
 This ledger update changes no runtime code or CLI budgets; the earlier
@@ -816,8 +839,9 @@ reproduction or regression. A Gix-based workaround does not resolve that bug;
 require an upstream fix or a verified mode as strict as Git before closing it.
 
 Decide whether to fall back before mutating anything. Read/preparation failures
-can use Git to preserve its public diagnostics. Once `_write()` begins, native
-errors become `GitCommandError` and must never trigger a second CLI mutation.
+can use Git to preserve its public diagnostics. Once `_write()` begins,
+`gix.Error` failures become `GitCommandError`; other exceptions propagate.
+Neither may trigger a second CLI mutation.
 Access native repository state through `Repo._get_gix_repository()` for bound
 commands. Reuse is the default, with explicit recreation available; keep the
 snapshot deviation and refresh behavior above documented. Close native iterators
@@ -827,6 +851,43 @@ Add each conversion with a no-subprocess check and a Git parity check where
 practical, in its own commit. Update this ledger when a limitation changes;
 the runtime report's reason should point to the corresponding entry.
 
+## Windows validation
+
+The [Python package workflow](../.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml) adds a
+Windows/Python 3.12 Gix job while preserving all 28 CLI combinations and their
+existing check names. It installs `.[test,gix]`, verifies the selected backend
+and runs the full suite
+with the same coverage and pytest options. Every job retains JUnit results
+and `--backend-report` operation counts under its `tests-OS-PYTHON-BACKEND`
+artifact, and prints the 30 slowest test durations. The extra Gix job does not
+duplicate the documentation build.
+
+Local Windows checks use CPython 3.12.13, Git 2.55.0.windows.3 and GixPython
+0.1.0 built from the released source distribution. The installed extension
+matches the cached Windows ABI3 wheel byte-for-byte; that wheel's SHA-256 is
+`1a0addd5f569e2ff7fb2b45c38be1093f6cabbead176c779533b983b86307dc2`.
+
+The full baseline at `f6779dbb` reproduced all 17 failures described above:
+16 ordinary failures and the subtest with malformed `commondir`. The full
+patched suite passed with **1,760 tests and 40 subtests**, 58 skipped, nine
+expected failures and three unexpected passes in 2,242.66 seconds. The three
+unexpected passes and the path-deprecation warning also appeared in the
+baseline. Ruff, mypy, basedpyright and the pinned pre-commit checks passed.
+
+The baseline recorded 21,598 CLI launches in 2,279.10 seconds; the patched
+run recorded 21,826 CLI launches and 86,936 native operations. Totals include the additional
+regressions and tests that previously stopped at failing assertions. No CLI
+ceilings were lowered. Both runs used isolated snapshots and CI's coverage,
+Git configuration and pytest options. They overlapped, so the elapsed times
+are not a controlled speed comparison. Logs, JUnit results and operation
+reports are retained locally in `.cache/gix-windows/`.
+
+The CLI repository/discovery regressions passed with 138 tests, 14 subtests,
+nine skips and one expected failure. The changed native path, discovery,
+reference and mutation-error cases also passed under Ubuntu WSL: 43 tests
+and 14 subtests, using CPython 3.14.4, Git 2.53.0 and a separate released-source
+GixPython build. This includes the POSIX newline-filename cases.
+
 ## Published release validation
 
 The official Apple Silicon ABI3 wheel for GixPython 0.1.0 has SHA-256
 
@@ -101,6 +101,13 @@ def discover_repository(path: str, environment: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
         # Retain Git's rejection/diagnostics for layouts Gix cannot open yet.
         _logger.debug("native discovery: %s", exc)
         return _fallback("Repo.open", "native discovery diagnostics")
+    except RuntimeError as exc:
+        if str(exc) != "native worker panicked":
+            raise
+        # Undecodable Windows commondir paths panic in GixPython 0.1.0.
+        # Discovery is read-only; keep Git's validation and error contract.
+        _logger.debug("native discovery: %s", exc)
+        return _fallback("Repo.open", "native discovery worker panic (GIX-14)")
 
 
 def _repository(command: Any, env: Dict[str, Any], *, query_config: bool = False) -> Any:
@@ -261,9 +268,9 @@ def revision_info(command: Any, ref: str) -> Any:
 
 
 def _rev_parse(repo: Any, args: List[str], kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> bytes:
-    if args[:2] == ["--path-format=absolute", "--git-path"]:
-        from git.util import to_native_path_linux
+    from git.util import to_native_path_linux
 
+    if args[:2] == ["--path-format=absolute", "--git-path"]:
         if len(args) != 3 or args[2] not in ("modules", "COMMIT_EDITMSG"):
             raise _Unsupported("Git metadata path resolution (GIX-22)")
         # Git keeps these fixed leaves in the private Git directory, including
@@ -273,7 +280,7 @@ def _rev_parse(repo: Any, args: List[str], kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> bytes:
             raise _Unsupported("symlinked metadata path (GIX-22)")
         return os.fsencode(to_native_path_linux(path)) + b"\n"
     if args == ["--path-format=absolute", "--git-common-dir"]:
-        return os.fsencode(os.path.abspath(repo.common_dir())) + b"\n"
+        return os.fsencode(to_native_path_linux(os.path.abspath(repo.common_dir()))) + b"\n"
     if args == ["--is-bare-repository"]:
         return b"true\n" if repo.is_bare() and repo.workdir() is None else b"false\n"
     if args == ["--show-object-format"]:
@@ -283,7 +290,7 @@ def _rev_parse(repo: Any, args: List[str], kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> bytes:
         # neither validates unknown repository extensions as Git's query does.
         raise _Unsupported("reference storage format query (GIX-1)")
     if args == ["--show-toplevel"] and repo.workdir() is not None:
-        return os.fsencode(os.path.abspath(repo.workdir())) + b"\n"
+        return os.fsencode(to_native_path_linux(os.path.abspath(repo.workdir()))) + b"\n"
     if args[:1] != ["--verify"] or args[-2:-1] != ["--end-of-options"]:
         raise _Unsupported("discovery or revision options")
     if args[:-2] not in (["--verify"], ["--verify", "--quiet"]):
@@ -437,6 +444,8 @@ def _config(repo: Any, args: List[str], kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> bytes:
 
 
 def _worktree(repo: Any, args: List[str], kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> bytes:
+    from git.util import to_native_path_linux
+
     if args != ["list", "--porcelain", "-z"] or not hasattr(repo, "worktrees"):
         raise _Unsupported("worktree operation or feature disabled")
     proxies = repo.worktrees()
@@ -446,7 +455,7 @@ def _worktree(repo: Any, args: List[str], kwargs: Dict[str, Any]) -> bytes:
 
     def describe(local: Any) -> List[bytes]:
         workdir = local.workdir()
-        fields = [b"worktree " + os.fsencode(workdir or local.git_dir())]
+        fields = [b"worktree " + os.fsencode(to_native_path_linux(os.fspath(workdir or local.git_dir())))]
         # Gix's is_bare() reflects configuration, even for a linked worktree.
         if local.is_bare() and workdir is None:
             fields.append(b"bare")
 
@@ -387,9 +387,12 @@ def __init__(
         except GitCommandError as exc:
             raise InvalidGitRepositoryError(epath) from exc
         if native is not NotImplemented:
-            self._common_dir = osp.abspath(native.common_dir())
+            self._common_dir = to_native_path_linux(osp.abspath(native.common_dir()))
             self.object_format = str(native.object_hash())
-            self._working_tree_dir = environment.get("GIT_WORK_TREE") or native.workdir()
+            workdir = native.workdir()
+            self._working_tree_dir = environment.get("GIT_WORK_TREE") or (
+                to_native_path_linux(os.fspath(workdir)) if workdir is not None else None
+            )
             # Gix's configured bare flag also applies to linked worktrees.
             self._bare = native.is_bare() and self._working_tree_dir is None
         else: