diff --git a/internal/artifact/artifact.go b/internal/artifact/artifact.go
index 07a044b1..461e28fb 100644
--- a/internal/artifact/artifact.go
+++ b/internal/artifact/artifact.go
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
-
-	"github.com/holos-run/holos/internal/errors"
 )
 
 // NewStore should provide a concrete Store.
@@ -54,7 +52,7 @@ func (a *MapStore) Set(path string, data []byte) error {
 	a.mu.Lock()
 	defer a.mu.Unlock()
 	if _, ok := a.m[path]; ok {
-		return errors.Format("%s already set", path)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s already set", path)
 	}
 	a.m[path] = data
 	slog.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("store: set path %s", path), "component", "store", "op", "set", "path", path, "bytes", len(data))
@@ -70,10 +68,15 @@ func (a *MapStore) Get(path string) (data []byte, ok bool) {
 	return
 }
 
-// Save writes a file or directory tree to the filesystem.
+// Save writes a file or directory tree to the filesystem.  dir must be an
+// absolute path.
 func (a *MapStore) Save(dir, path string) error {
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(dir) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("path not absolute: %s", dir)
+	}
+
 	if strings.HasSuffix(path, "/") {
-		return errors.Format("path must not end in a /")
+		return fmt.Errorf("path must not end in a /: %s", path)
 	}
 
 	fullPath := filepath.Join(dir, path)
@@ -82,10 +85,10 @@ func (a *MapStore) Save(dir, path string) error {
 	// Save a single file and return.
 	if data, ok := a.Get(path); ok {
 		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(fullPath), 0777); err != nil {
-			return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", msg, err)
 		}
 		if err := os.WriteFile(fullPath, data, 0666); err != nil {
-			return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", msg, err)
 		}
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -98,10 +101,10 @@ func (a *MapStore) Save(dir, path string) error {
 			data, _ := a.Get(key)
 			fullPath = filepath.Join(dir, key)
 			if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(fullPath), 0777); err != nil {
-				return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", msg, err)
 			}
 			if err := os.WriteFile(fullPath, data, 0666); err != nil {
-				return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", msg, err)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -111,28 +114,31 @@ func (a *MapStore) Save(dir, path string) error {
 
 // Load saves a file or directory tree to the store.
 func (a *MapStore) Load(dir, path string) error {
-	fileSystem := os.DirFS(dir)
-	err := fs.WalkDir(fileSystem, path, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(dir) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("path not absolute: %s", dir)
+	}
+	fsys := os.DirFS(dir)
+	err := fs.WalkDir(fsys, path, func(path string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err)
+			return err
 		}
 		// Skip over directories.
 		if d.IsDir() {
 			return nil
 		}
 		// Load files into the store.
-		data, err := fs.ReadFile(fileSystem, path)
+		data, err := fs.ReadFile(fsys, path)
 		if err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err)
+			return err
 		}
 		if err := a.Set(path, data); err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err)
+			return err
 		}
 
 		return nil
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err)
+		return err
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/internal/cli/show.go b/internal/cli/show.go
index 52e71a10..67ed149f 100644
--- a/internal/cli/show.go
+++ b/internal/cli/show.go
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ func NewShowCmd(cfg *platform.Config) (cmd *cobra.Command) {
 	cmd.AddCommand(spCmd)
 
 	sbp := &showBuildPlans{
-		Format: "yaml",
-		Out:    cfg.Stdout,
+		format: "yaml",
+		cfg:    cfg,
 	}
 	sbCmd := platform.NewCommand(cfg, sbp.Run)
 	sbCmd.Use = "buildplans"
@@ -66,18 +66,18 @@ func (s *showPlatform) Run(ctx context.Context, p *platform.Platform) error {
 }
 
 type showBuildPlans struct {
-	Format string
-	Out    io.Writer
+	format string
+	cfg    *platform.Config
 }
 
 func (s *showBuildPlans) flagSet() *pflag.FlagSet {
 	fs := pflag.NewFlagSet("", pflag.ContinueOnError)
-	fs.StringVar(&s.Format, "format", "yaml", "yaml or json format")
+	fs.StringVar(&s.format, "format", "yaml", "yaml or json format")
 	return fs
 }
 
 func (s *showBuildPlans) Run(ctx context.Context, p *platform.Platform) error {
-	encoder, err := holos.NewSequentialEncoder(s.Format, s.Out)
+	encoder, err := holos.NewSequentialEncoder(s.format, s.cfg.Stdout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err)
 	}
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@ func (s *showBuildPlans) Run(ctx context.Context, p *platform.Platform) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				return errors.Wrap(err)
 			}
-			opts := holos.NewBuildOpts(pc.Path())
-			opts.BuildContext.TempDir = "${TMPDIR_PLACEHOLDER}"
+			opts := holos.NewBuildOpts(p.Root(), pc.Path(), s.cfg.WriteTo, "${TMPDIR_PLACEHOLDER}")
 
 			// TODO(jjm): refactor into [holos.NewBuildOpts] as functional options.
 			// Component name, label, annotations passed via tags to cue.
diff --git a/internal/component/component.go b/internal/component/component.go
index 01365c57..3517b2e9 100644
--- a/internal/component/component.go
+++ b/internal/component/component.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func (c *Component) BuildPlan(tm holos.TypeMeta, opts holos.BuildOpts) (BuildPla
 	switch tm.APIVersion {
 	case "v1alpha6":
 		// Prepare runtime build context for injection as a cue tag.
-		bc := v1alpha6.NewBuildContext(opts.BuildContext)
+		bc := v1alpha6.NewBuildContext(opts.TempDir())
 		buildContextTags, err := bc.Tags()
 		if err != nil {
 			return bp, errors.Format("could not get build context tag: %w", err)
@@ -150,11 +150,9 @@ func (c *Component) render(ctx context.Context, tm holos.TypeMeta) error {
 	defer util.Remove(ctx, tempDir)
 
 	// Runtime configuration of the build.
-	opts := holos.NewBuildOpts(c.Path)
+	opts := holos.NewBuildOpts(c.Root, c.Path, c.WriteTo, tempDir)
 	opts.Stderr = c.Stderr
 	opts.Concurrency = c.Concurrency
-	opts.WriteTo = filepath.Join(c.Root, c.WriteTo)
-	opts.BuildContext.TempDir = tempDir
 
 	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
 	log.DebugContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("rendering %s kind %s version %s", c.Path, tm.Kind, tm.APIVersion), "kind", tm.Kind, "apiVersion", tm.APIVersion, "path", c.Path)
@@ -187,10 +185,9 @@ func (c *Component) renderAlpha5(ctx context.Context) error {
 	defer util.Remove(ctx, tempDir)
 
 	// Runtime configuration of the build.
-	opts := holos.NewBuildOpts(c.Path)
+	opts := holos.NewBuildOpts(c.Root, c.Path, c.WriteTo, "")
 	opts.Stderr = c.Stderr
 	opts.Concurrency = c.Concurrency
-	opts.WriteTo = filepath.Join(c.Root, c.WriteTo)
 
 	tm := holos.TypeMeta{
 		Kind:       "BuildPlan",
diff --git a/internal/component/v1alpha5/v1alpha5.go b/internal/component/v1alpha5/v1alpha5.go
index d7c9b44f..628d6633 100644
--- a/internal/component/v1alpha5/v1alpha5.go
+++ b/internal/component/v1alpha5/v1alpha5.go
@@ -117,7 +117,12 @@ type taskParams struct {
 }
 
 func (t taskParams) id() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s/%s", t.opts.Path, t.buildPlanName, t.taskName)
+	return fmt.Sprintf(
+		"%s:%s/%s",
+		filepath.Clean(t.opts.Leaf()),
+		t.buildPlanName,
+		t.taskName,
+	)
 }
 
 type generatorTask struct {
@@ -149,7 +154,7 @@ func (t generatorTask) run(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (t generatorTask) file() error {
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(string(t.opts.Path), string(t.generator.File.Source)))
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(t.opts.AbsPath(), string(t.generator.File.Source)))
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err)
 	}
@@ -162,7 +167,7 @@ func (t generatorTask) file() error {
 func (t generatorTask) helm(ctx context.Context) error {
 	h := t.generator.Helm
 	// Cache the chart by version to pull new versions. (#273)
-	cacheDir := filepath.Join(string(t.opts.Path), "vendor", t.generator.Helm.Chart.Version)
+	cacheDir := filepath.Join(t.opts.AbsPath(), "vendor", t.generator.Helm.Chart.Version)
 	cachePath := filepath.Join(cacheDir, filepath.Base(h.Chart.Name))
 
 	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
@@ -455,11 +460,11 @@ func buildArtifact(ctx context.Context, idx int, artifact core.Artifact, tasks c
 
 	// Write the final artifact
 	out := string(artifact.Artifact)
-	if err := opts.Store.Save(opts.WriteTo, out); err != nil {
+	if err := opts.Store.Save(opts.AbsWriteTo(), out); err != nil {
 		return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
 	}
 	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
-	log.DebugContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("wrote %s", filepath.Join(opts.WriteTo, out)))
+	log.DebugContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("wrote %s", filepath.Join(opts.AbsWriteTo(), out)))
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -472,8 +477,7 @@ type BuildPlan struct {
 
 func (b *BuildPlan) Build(ctx context.Context) error {
 	name := b.BuildPlan.Metadata.Name
-	path := b.Opts.Path
-	log := logger.FromContext(ctx).With("name", name, "path", path)
+	log := logger.FromContext(ctx).With("name", name, "path", filepath.Clean(b.Opts.Leaf()))
 
 	msg := fmt.Sprintf("could not build %s", name)
 	if b.BuildPlan.Spec.Disabled {
@@ -595,7 +599,7 @@ func kustomize(ctx context.Context, t core.Transformer, p taskParams) error {
 		"could not transform %s for %s path %s",
 		t.Output,
 		p.buildPlanName,
-		p.opts.Path,
+		filepath.Clean(p.opts.Leaf()),
 	)
 
 	// Write the kustomization
diff --git a/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6.go b/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6.go
index ad8596a2..8bcfba04 100644
--- a/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6.go
+++ b/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6.go
@@ -24,32 +24,8 @@ import (
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/cli"
 )
 
-// Platform represents a platform builder.
-type Platform struct {
-	Platform core.Platform
-}
-
-// Load loads from a cue value.
-func (p *Platform) Load(v cue.Value) error {
-	return errors.Wrap(v.Decode(&p.Platform))
-}
-
-func (p *Platform) Export(encoder holos.Encoder) error {
-	if err := encoder.Encode(&p.Platform); err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (p *Platform) Select(selectors ...holos.Selector) []holos.Component {
-	components := make([]holos.Component, 0, len(p.Platform.Spec.Components))
-	for _, component := range p.Platform.Spec.Components {
-		if holos.IsSelected(component.Labels, selectors...) {
-			components = append(components, &Component{component})
-		}
-	}
-	return components
-}
+// TODO(jjm) accept an interface to run commands to inject a mock runner from
+// the tests.
 
 type Component struct {
 	Component core.Component
@@ -122,7 +98,7 @@ func (c *Component) ExtractYAML() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 var _ holos.BuildPlan = &BuildPlan{}
-var _ task = generatorTask{}
+var _ task = &generatorTask{}
 var _ task = transformersTask{}
 var _ task = validatorTask{}
 
@@ -138,7 +114,16 @@ type taskParams struct {
 }
 
 func (t taskParams) id() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s/%s", t.opts.Path, t.buildPlanName, t.taskName)
+	path := filepath.Clean(t.opts.Leaf())
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s/%s", path, t.buildPlanName, t.taskName)
+}
+
+func (t taskParams) tempDir() (string, error) {
+	if tempDir := t.opts.TempDir(); tempDir == "" {
+		return "", errors.Format("missing build context temp directory")
+	} else {
+		return tempDir, nil
+	}
 }
 
 type generatorTask struct {
@@ -147,7 +132,7 @@ type generatorTask struct {
 	wg        *sync.WaitGroup
 }
 
-func (t generatorTask) run(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (t *generatorTask) run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	defer t.wg.Done()
 	msg := fmt.Sprintf("could not build %s", t.id())
 	switch t.generator.Kind {
@@ -163,14 +148,18 @@ func (t generatorTask) run(ctx context.Context) error {
 		if err := t.file(); err != nil {
 			return errors.Format("%s: could not generate file: %w", msg, err)
 		}
+	case "Command":
+		if err := t.command(ctx); err != nil {
+			return errors.Format("%s: could not generate from command: %w", msg, err)
+		}
 	default:
 		return errors.Format("%s: unsupported kind %s", msg, t.generator.Kind)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t generatorTask) file() error {
-	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(string(t.opts.Path), string(t.generator.File.Source)))
+func (t *generatorTask) file() error {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(t.opts.AbsPath(), string(t.generator.File.Source)))
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err)
 	}
@@ -180,10 +169,10 @@ func (t generatorTask) file() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t generatorTask) helm(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (t *generatorTask) helm(ctx context.Context) error {
 	h := t.generator.Helm
 	// Cache the chart by version to pull new versions. (#273)
-	cacheDir := filepath.Join(string(t.opts.Path), "vendor", t.generator.Helm.Chart.Version)
+	cacheDir := filepath.Join(t.opts.AbsPath(), "vendor", t.generator.Helm.Chart.Version)
 	cachePath := filepath.Join(cacheDir, filepath.Base(h.Chart.Name))
 
 	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
@@ -307,7 +296,7 @@ func (t generatorTask) helm(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t generatorTask) resources() error {
+func (t *generatorTask) resources() error {
 	var size int
 	for _, m := range t.generator.Resources {
 		size += len(m)
@@ -338,6 +327,39 @@ func (t generatorTask) resources() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (t *generatorTask) command(ctx context.Context) error {
+	store := t.opts.Store
+	msg := fmt.Sprintf("could not generate from command %s", t.id())
+
+	args := t.generator.Command.Args
+	if len(args) < 1 {
+		return errors.Format("%s: command args length must be at least 1", msg)
+	}
+
+	r, err := util.RunCmdA(ctx, t.opts.Stderr, args[0], args[1:]...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+	}
+
+	if t.generator.Command.Stdout {
+		// Store the command stdout as the artifact.
+		if err := store.Set(string(t.generator.Output), r.Stdout.Bytes()); err != nil {
+			return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Store the file tree as the artifact.
+		tempDir, err := t.taskParams.tempDir()
+		if err != nil {
+			return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+		}
+		if err := store.Load(tempDir, string(t.generator.Output)); err != nil {
+			return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 type transformersTask struct {
 	taskParams
 	transformers []core.Transformer
@@ -422,7 +444,7 @@ func buildArtifact(ctx context.Context, idx int, artifact core.Artifact, tasks c
 	msg := fmt.Sprintf("could not build %s artifact %s", buildPlanName, artifact.Artifact)
 	// Process Generators concurrently
 	for gid, gen := range artifact.Generators {
-		task := generatorTask{
+		task := &generatorTask{
 			taskParams: taskParams{
 				taskName:      fmt.Sprintf("artifact/%d/generator/%d", idx, gid),
 				buildPlanName: buildPlanName,
@@ -480,11 +502,11 @@ func buildArtifact(ctx context.Context, idx int, artifact core.Artifact, tasks c
 
 	// Write the final artifact
 	out := string(artifact.Artifact)
-	if err := opts.Store.Save(opts.WriteTo, out); err != nil {
+	if err := opts.Store.Save(opts.AbsWriteTo(), out); err != nil {
 		return errors.Format("%s: %w", msg, err)
 	}
 	log := logger.FromContext(ctx)
-	log.DebugContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("wrote %s", filepath.Join(opts.WriteTo, out)))
+	log.DebugContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("wrote %s", filepath.Join(opts.AbsWriteTo(), out)))
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -497,8 +519,10 @@ type BuildPlan struct {
 
 func (b *BuildPlan) Build(ctx context.Context) error {
 	name := b.BuildPlan.Metadata.Name
-	path := b.Opts.Path
-	log := logger.FromContext(ctx).With("name", name, "path", path)
+	log := logger.FromContext(ctx).With(
+		"name", name,
+		"path", filepath.Clean(b.Opts.Leaf()),
+	)
 
 	msg := fmt.Sprintf("could not build %s", name)
 	if b.BuildPlan.Spec.Disabled {
@@ -617,11 +641,11 @@ func commandTransformer(ctx context.Context, t core.Transformer, p taskParams) e
 		"could not transform %s for %s path %s",
 		t.Output,
 		p.buildPlanName,
-		p.opts.Path,
+		p.opts.Leaf(),
 	)
 
 	// Sanity checks.
-	tempDir := p.opts.BuildContext.TempDir
+	tempDir := p.opts.TempDir()
 	if tempDir == "" {
 		return errors.Format("%s: holos maintainer error: BuildContext.TempDir not provided by holos", msg)
 	}
@@ -666,7 +690,7 @@ func kustomize(ctx context.Context, t core.Transformer, p taskParams) error {
 		"could not transform %s for %s path %s",
 		t.Output,
 		p.buildPlanName,
-		p.opts.Path,
+		filepath.Clean(p.opts.Leaf()),
 	)
 
 	// Write the kustomization
@@ -701,6 +725,7 @@ func kustomize(ctx context.Context, t core.Transformer, p taskParams) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// TODO(jjm) move to transformerTask command
 func validate(ctx context.Context, validator core.Validator, p taskParams) error {
 	store := p.opts.Store
 	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "holos.validate")
@@ -753,10 +778,10 @@ func (bc BuildContext) Tags() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 // NewBuildContext returns a new BuildContext
-func NewBuildContext(bc holos.BuildContext) BuildContext {
+func NewBuildContext(tempDir string) BuildContext {
 	return BuildContext{
 		BuildContext: core.BuildContext{
-			TempDir: bc.TempDir,
+			TempDir: tempDir,
 		},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6_test.go b/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6_test.go
index 88cfc3be..c5dae092 100644
--- a/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6_test.go
+++ b/internal/component/v1alpha6/v1alpha6_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package v1alpha6_test
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/holos-run/holos/internal/holos"
@@ -13,30 +14,51 @@ const apiVersion string = "v1alpha6"
 
 func TestComponents(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := testutil.SetupPlatform(t, apiVersion)
+	h := testutil.NewComponentHarness(t, tempDir, apiVersion)
+	root := h.Root()
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, root)
 
-	t.Run("Minimal", func(t *testing.T) {
-		msg := "Expected a minimal component to work, but do nothing"
-		h := testutil.NewComponentHarness(t, tempDir, apiVersion)
-		root := h.Root()
-		assert.NotEmpty(t, root)
+	t.Run("WithNoArtifacts", func(t *testing.T) {
+		leaf := "components/minimal"
+		c := h.Component(leaf)
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("Expected %s with no artifacts to work, but do nothing", leaf)
 
-		componentPath := "components/minimal"
-		c := h.Component(componentPath)
+		tm, err := c.TypeMeta()
+		require.NoError(t, err, msg)
 
 		t.Run("TypeMeta", func(t *testing.T) {
-			tm, err := c.TypeMeta()
-			require.NoError(t, err, msg)
-			assert.Equal(t, apiVersion, tm.APIVersion)
-			assert.Equal(t, "BuildPlan", tm.Kind)
+			assert.Equal(t, apiVersion, tm.APIVersion, msg)
+			assert.Equal(t, "BuildPlan", tm.Kind, msg)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("BuildPlan", func(t *testing.T) {
-			tm, err := c.TypeMeta()
-			require.NoError(t, err, msg)
-			bp, err := c.BuildPlan(tm, holos.NewBuildOpts(componentPath))
+			bp, err := c.BuildPlan(tm, holos.NewBuildOpts(root, leaf, "deploy", t.TempDir()))
 			require.NoError(t, err, msg)
 			err = bp.Build(h.Ctx())
 			require.NoError(t, err, msg)
 		})
 	})
+
+	t.Run("BuildPlan", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Run("Command", func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Run("Generator", func(t *testing.T) {
+				leaf := "components/commands/generator/simple"
+				c := h.Component(leaf)
+				msg := fmt.Sprintf("Expected %s with command generator to render config manifests", leaf)
+				tm, err := c.TypeMeta()
+				require.NoError(t, err, msg)
+				assert.Equal(t, tm.APIVersion, apiVersion)
+
+				t.Run("Build", func(t *testing.T) {
+					bp, err := c.BuildPlan(tm, holos.NewBuildOpts(root, leaf, "deploy", t.TempDir()))
+					require.NoError(t, err, msg)
+					err = bp.Build(h.Ctx())
+					require.NoError(t, err, msg)
+					// TODO: Check the rendered manifests.
+				})
+			})
+			t.Run("Transformer", func(t *testing.T) {})
+			t.Run("Validator", func(t *testing.T) {})
+		})
+	})
 }
diff --git a/internal/holos/types.go b/internal/holos/types.go
index 524e826e..98d1f8b8 100644
--- a/internal/holos/types.go
+++ b/internal/holos/types.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -327,22 +328,54 @@ type BuildOpts struct {
 	// Tags represents user managed tags including a component name, labels, and
 	// annotations.
 	Tags []string
-	// BuildContext represents holos managed tags.
-	BuildContext BuildContext
+
+	root    string
+	leaf    string
+	writeTo string
+	tempDir string
 }
 
-// NewBuildOpts returns a [BuildOpts] configured to build the component at path.
-func NewBuildOpts(path string) BuildOpts {
+// NewBuildOpts returns a [BuildOpts] configured to build the component at leaf
+// from the platform module at root writing rendered manifests into the deploy
+// directory.
+func NewBuildOpts(root, leaf, deploy, tempDir string) BuildOpts {
 	return BuildOpts{
 		Store:       artifact.NewStore(),
 		Concurrency: min(runtime.NumCPU(), 8),
 		Stderr:      os.Stderr,
-		WriteTo:     "deploy",
-		Path:        path,
 		Tags:        make([]string, 0, 10),
+
+		root:    root,
+		leaf:    leaf,
+		writeTo: deploy,
+		tempDir: tempDir,
 	}
 }
 
+// Leaf returns the cleaned component path relative to the platform root. For
+// example "components/podinfo"
+func (b *BuildOpts) Leaf() string {
+	return filepath.Clean(b.leaf)
+}
+
+// TODO(jjm) rename to AbsLeaf() and document.
+func (b *BuildOpts) AbsPath() string {
+	return filepath.Join(b.root, b.leaf)
+}
+
+// AbsDeploy returns the absolute path to the write to directory, usually the
+// deploy sub directory of the platform module root.
+func (b *BuildOpts) AbsWriteTo() string {
+	return filepath.Join(b.root, b.writeTo)
+}
+
+// TempDir returns the temporary directory managed by holos and injected into
+// cue using a [BuildContext] so artifacts can refer to the same path in the
+// configuration.
+func (b *BuildOpts) TempDir() string {
+	return b.tempDir
+}
+
 // BuildContext represents build context values provided by the holos render
 // component command.  These values are expected to be randomly generated and
 // late binding, meaning they cannot be known ahead of time in a static
diff --git a/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/buildplan.cue b/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/buildplan.cue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7baf711d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/buildplan.cue
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package holos
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"github.com/holos-run/holos/api/core/v1alpha6:core"
+)
+
+// Example of a simple v1alpha6 command generator.
+
+holos: core.#BuildPlan & {
+	metadata: {
+		name: "simple"
+		labels: "holos.run/component.name":       name
+		annotations: "app.holos.run/description": "\(name) command generator"
+	}
+	spec: artifacts: [{
+		artifact: "components/\(metadata.name)/\(metadata.name).gen.yaml"
+		generators: [{
+			kind:   "Command"
+			output: artifact
+			command: {
+				args: ["/bin/echo", json.Marshal(_ConfigMap)]
+				stdout: true
+			}
+		}]
+	}]
+}
+
+_ConfigMap: {
+	apiVersion: "v1"
+	kind:       "ConfigMap"
+	metadata: name: "simple"
+}
diff --git a/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/typemeta.cue b/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/typemeta.cue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06d5d7ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/typemeta.cue
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+@extern(embed)
+package holos
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"github.com/holos-run/holos/api/core/v1alpha6:core"
+)
+
+_BuildContext: string | *"{}" @tag(holos_build_context, type=string)
+BuildContext:  core.#BuildContext & json.Unmarshal(_BuildContext)
+
+holos: core.#BuildPlan & {
+	buildContext: BuildContext
+}
+
+holos: _ @embed(file=typemeta.yaml)
diff --git a/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/typemeta.yaml b/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/typemeta.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..991b2c69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/testutil/fixtures/v1alpha6/components/commands/generator/simple/typemeta.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+kind: BuildPlan
+apiVersion: v1alpha6
diff --git a/internal/testutil/testutil.go b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
index 6cd4268d..793e94d8 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/holos-run/holos/internal/component"
 	"github.com/holos-run/holos/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/holos-run/holos/internal/generate"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 //go:embed all:fixtures