diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/apt/on_BinaryRequest__13_apt.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/apt/on_BinaryRequest__13_apt.py
index e0add4a..d575639 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/apt/on_BinaryRequest__13_apt.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/apt/on_BinaryRequest__13_apt.py
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ def main(
 
     # Use abxpkg AptProvider to install binary
     provider = AptProvider()
-    if not provider.INSTALLER_BIN_ABSPATH:
+    try:
+        provider.INSTALLER_BINARY()
+    except Exception:
         click.echo(
             "AptProvider.INSTALLER_BIN is not available on this host",
             err=True,
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ def main(
                 err=True,
             )
 
-        binary = binary.load_or_install()
+        binary = binary.install()
     except Exception as e:
         click.echo(f"apt install failed: {e}", err=True)
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/base/utils.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/base/utils.py
index 7d65389..91c0a37 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/base/utils.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/base/utils.py
@@ -780,8 +780,13 @@ def enforce_lib_permissions(config_dir: Path | str | None = None) -> None:
         for fname in filenames:
             fp = dp / fname
             _chown_if_needed(fp, target_uid, target_gid)
-            # Preserve execute bit for binaries
-            current = fp.stat().st_mode
+            # Preserve execute bit for binaries. Use lstat() so dangling
+            # symlinks (which are valid, just unresolved) don't crash the
+            # permission enforcer; skip chmod for symlinks since chmod()
+            # would follow them and fail the same way.
+            current = fp.lstat().st_mode
+            if stat.S_ISLNK(current):
+                continue
             if current & stat.S_IXUSR:
                 fp.chmod(0o755)  # rwxr-xr-x (executable)
             else:
@@ -799,9 +804,15 @@ def enforce_lib_permissions(config_dir: Path | str | None = None) -> None:
                 for fname in filenames:
                     fp = dp / fname
                     _chown_if_needed(fp, target_uid, target_gid)
+                    # Skip symlinks — chmod would follow them and raise on
+                    # a dangling target, mirroring the lib/ tree walk above.
+                    if stat.S_ISLNK(fp.lstat().st_mode):
+                        continue
                     fp.chmod(0o644)
         elif entry.is_file():
             _chown_if_needed(entry, target_uid, target_gid)
+            if stat.S_ISLNK(entry.lstat().st_mode):
+                continue
             entry.chmod(0o644)
 
 
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/on_BinaryRequest__14_bash.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/on_BinaryRequest__14_bash.py
index a357f60..f361b23 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/on_BinaryRequest__14_bash.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/on_BinaryRequest__14_bash.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def main(
         sys.exit(1)
 
     try:
-        binary = binary.load_or_install()
+        binary = binary.install()
     except Exception as e:
         click.echo(f"bash install failed: {e}", err=True)
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/tests/test_bash_provider.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/tests/test_bash_provider.py
index 9e0997c..3964111 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/tests/test_bash_provider.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/bash/tests/test_bash_provider.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def test_hook_fails_for_missing_binary_after_command(self):
 
         # Should fail since binary not found after command
         assert result.returncode == 1
-        assert "unable to load or install binary nonexistent_binary_xyz123" in (
+        assert "unable to install binary nonexistent_binary_xyz123" in (
             result.stderr.lower()
         )
 
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/brew/on_BinaryRequest__12_brew.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/brew/on_BinaryRequest__12_brew.py
index 712d3b0..9a1ff92 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/brew/on_BinaryRequest__12_brew.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/brew/on_BinaryRequest__12_brew.py
@@ -50,11 +50,8 @@ def main(
 
     # Use abxpkg BrewProvider to install binary
     provider = BrewProvider()
-    if not provider.INSTALLER_BIN_ABSPATH:
-        click.echo("brew not available on this system", err=True)
-        sys.exit(0)
     try:
-        Binary(name=provider.INSTALLER_BIN, binproviders=[provider]).load()
+        provider.INSTALLER_BINARY()
     except Exception:
         click.echo("brew not available on this system", err=True)
         sys.exit(0)
@@ -79,7 +76,7 @@ def main(
                 err=True,
             )
 
-        binary = binary.load_or_install()
+        binary = binary.install()
     except Exception as e:
         click.echo(f"brew install failed: {e}", err=True)
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/cargo/on_BinaryRequest__12_cargo.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/cargo/on_BinaryRequest__12_cargo.py
index 6239fbb..e751dfc 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/cargo/on_BinaryRequest__12_cargo.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/cargo/on_BinaryRequest__12_cargo.py
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ def main(
         sys.exit(0)
 
     provider = CargoProvider()
-    if not provider.INSTALLER_BIN_ABSPATH:
+    try:
+        provider.INSTALLER_BINARY()
+    except Exception:
         click.echo("cargo not available on this system", err=True)
         sys.exit(0)
 
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ def main(
                 err=True,
             )
 
-        binary = binary.load_or_install()
+        binary = binary.install()
     except Exception as e:
         click.echo(f"cargo install failed: {e}", err=True)
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/chromewebstore/on_BinaryRequest__90_chromewebstore.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/chromewebstore/on_BinaryRequest__90_chromewebstore.py
index 86cadcd..1bbf868 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/chromewebstore/on_BinaryRequest__90_chromewebstore.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/chromewebstore/on_BinaryRequest__90_chromewebstore.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def main(
     ]:
         sys.exit(0)
 
-    provider = ChromeWebstoreProvider(extensions_dir=_extensions_dir())
+    provider = ChromeWebstoreProvider(bin_dir=_extensions_dir())
     if not provider.is_valid:
         click.echo("chromewebstore provider is not available on this host", err=True)
         sys.exit(0)
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def main(
             "min_version": min_version or extra_kwargs.get("min_version") or None,
             "overrides": json.loads(overrides) if overrides else {},
         },
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
 
     if not binary.abspath:
         click.echo(f"{name} not resolved as Chrome Web Store extension", err=True)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/claudecode/config.json b/abx_plugins/plugins/claudecode/config.json
index aeb2846..87b2354 100644
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/claudecode/config.json
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/claudecode/config.json
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
       "name": "{CLAUDECODE_BINARY}",
       "binproviders": "env,npm",
       "min_version": null,
+      "postinstall_scripts": true,
       "overrides": {
         "npm": {
           "install_args": [
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/defuddle/tests/test_defuddle.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/defuddle/tests/test_defuddle.py
index 5ad4e20..c6f3ac8 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/defuddle/tests/test_defuddle.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/defuddle/tests/test_defuddle.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def get_defuddle_binary_path() -> str | None:
         name="defuddle",
         binproviders=[NpmProvider(), EnvProvider()],
         overrides={"npm": {"install_args": ["defuddle"]}},
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _defuddle_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _defuddle_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/forumdl/tests/test_forumdl.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/forumdl/tests/test_forumdl.py
index 7bc980c..85c3efe 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/forumdl/tests/test_forumdl.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/forumdl/tests/test_forumdl.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def get_forumdl_binary_path() -> str | None:
                 ],
             },
         },
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _forumdl_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _forumdl_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/gallerydl/tests/test_gallerydl.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/gallerydl/tests/test_gallerydl.py
index 6e79f10..b8c2ace 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/gallerydl/tests/test_gallerydl.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/gallerydl/tests/test_gallerydl.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def get_gallerydl_binary_path() -> str | None:
     binary = Binary(
         name="gallery-dl",
         binproviders=[PipProvider(), EnvProvider()],
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _gallerydl_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _gallerydl_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/liteparse/tests/test_liteparse.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/liteparse/tests/test_liteparse.py
index f5a7f8e..05b1233 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/liteparse/tests/test_liteparse.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/liteparse/tests/test_liteparse.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def get_liteparse_binary_path() -> str | None:
         name="lit",
         binproviders=[NpmProvider(), EnvProvider()],
         overrides={"npm": {"install_args": ["@llamaindex/liteparse"]}},
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _liteparse_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _liteparse_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/mercury/tests/test_mercury.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/mercury/tests/test_mercury.py
index 8c90990..b195a43 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/mercury/tests/test_mercury.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/mercury/tests/test_mercury.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def get_mercury_binary_path() -> str | None:
         name="postlight-parser",
         binproviders=[NpmProvider(), EnvProvider()],
         overrides={"npm": {"install_args": ["@postlight/parser"]}},
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _mercury_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _mercury_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/npm/on_BinaryRequest__10_npm.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/npm/on_BinaryRequest__10_npm.py
index c2f1f31..7282a84 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/npm/on_BinaryRequest__10_npm.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/npm/on_BinaryRequest__10_npm.py
@@ -61,8 +61,10 @@ def main(
     npm_prefix.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
     # Use abxpkg NpmProvider to install binary with custom prefix
-    provider = NpmProvider(npm_prefix=npm_prefix)
-    if not provider.INSTALLER_BIN_ABSPATH:
+    provider = NpmProvider(install_root=npm_prefix)
+    try:
+        provider.INSTALLER_BINARY()
+    except Exception:
         click.echo("npm not available on this system", err=True)
         sys.exit(0)
 
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ def main(
             os.environ["PUPPETEER_SKIP_DOWNLOAD"] = "true"
             os.environ["PUPPETEER_SKIP_CHROMIUM_DOWNLOAD"] = "true"
 
-        binary = binary.load_or_install()
+        binary = binary.install()
     except Exception as e:
         click.echo(f"npm install failed: {e}", err=True)
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/opendataloader/tests/test_opendataloader.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/opendataloader/tests/test_opendataloader.py
index aa4a851..1e541d3 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/opendataloader/tests/test_opendataloader.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/opendataloader/tests/test_opendataloader.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def get_opendataloader_binary_path() -> str | None:
         name="opendataloader-pdf",
         binproviders=[PipProvider(), EnvProvider()],
         overrides={"pip": {"install_args": ["opendataloader-pdf"]}},
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _opendataloader_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _opendataloader_binary_path
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def get_java_binary_path() -> str | None:
             "brew": {"install_args": ["openjdk"]},
             "apt": {"install_args": ["default-jre"]},
         },
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _java_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _java_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/pip/on_BinaryRequest__11_pip.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/pip/on_BinaryRequest__11_pip.py
index c90fdc3..9be4c7c 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/pip/on_BinaryRequest__11_pip.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/pip/on_BinaryRequest__11_pip.py
@@ -169,8 +169,10 @@ def main(
             _seed_pip_venv(pip_venv_path, preferred_python)
 
         # Use abxpkg PipProvider to install binary with custom venv
-        provider = PipProvider(pip_venv=pip_venv_path)
-        if not provider.INSTALLER_BIN_ABSPATH:
+        provider = PipProvider(install_root=pip_venv_path)
+        try:
+            provider.INSTALLER_BINARY()
+        except Exception:
             click.echo("pip not available on this system", err=True)
             sys.exit(0)
 
@@ -197,7 +199,7 @@ def main(
                     err=True,
                 )
 
-            binary = binary.load_or_install()
+            binary = binary.install()
         except Exception as e:
             click.echo(f"pip install failed: {e}", err=True)
             sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/config.json b/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/config.json
index e39cd03..11b6417 100644
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/config.json
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/config.json
@@ -34,11 +34,6 @@
       "type": "boolean",
       "default": true,
       "description": "Enable Puppeteer dependency installation during crawl setup"
-    },
-    "PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR": {
-      "type": "string",
-      "default": "",
-      "description": "Override the Puppeteer browser cache directory"
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/on_BinaryRequest__12_puppeteer.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/on_BinaryRequest__12_puppeteer.py
index 1d94271..8e17d7a 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/on_BinaryRequest__12_puppeteer.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/puppeteer/on_BinaryRequest__12_puppeteer.py
@@ -67,18 +67,9 @@ def main(
     if not lib_dir:
         lib_dir = str(Path.home() / ".config" / "abx" / "lib")
 
-    configured_cache_dir = (config.PUPPETEER_CACHE_DIR or "").strip()
-    if configured_cache_dir:
-        browser_cache_dir = Path(configured_cache_dir).expanduser().resolve()
-        browser_cache_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        provider = PuppeteerProvider(
-            browser_cache_dir=browser_cache_dir,
-            browser_bin_dir=browser_cache_dir.parent / "bin",
-        )
-    else:
-        install_root = (Path(lib_dir) / "puppeteer").resolve()
-        install_root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        provider = PuppeteerProvider(install_root=install_root)
+    install_root = (Path(lib_dir) / "puppeteer").resolve()
+    install_root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    provider = PuppeteerProvider(install_root=install_root)
 
     raw_overrides = json.loads(overrides) if overrides else {}
     if not isinstance(raw_overrides, dict):
@@ -115,7 +106,7 @@ def main(
                 "binproviders": [provider],
                 "overrides": raw_overrides,
             },
-        ).load_or_install()
+        ).install()
     except Exception as e:
         error_output = str(e)
         hint = _get_install_failure_hint(error_output)
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/readability/tests/test_readability.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/readability/tests/test_readability.py
index c292eda..536fd8d 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/readability/tests/test_readability.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/readability/tests/test_readability.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def get_readability_binary_path() -> str | None:
                 "install_args": ["https://github.com/ArchiveBox/readability-extractor"],
             },
         },
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _readability_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _readability_binary_path
diff --git a/abx_plugins/plugins/ytdlp/tests/test_ytdlp.py b/abx_plugins/plugins/ytdlp/tests/test_ytdlp.py
index 0fab289..58be8a8 100755
--- a/abx_plugins/plugins/ytdlp/tests/test_ytdlp.py
+++ b/abx_plugins/plugins/ytdlp/tests/test_ytdlp.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def get_ytdlp_binary_path() -> str | None:
         name="yt-dlp",
         binproviders=[PipProvider(), EnvProvider()],
         overrides={"pip": {"install_args": ["yt-dlp[default]"]}},
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     if binary and binary.abspath:
         _ytdlp_binary_path = str(binary.abspath)
         return _ytdlp_binary_path
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def require_ffmpeg_binary() -> str:
     binary = Binary(
         name="ffmpeg",
         binproviders=[EnvProvider(), BrewProvider(), AptProvider()],
-    ).load_or_install()
+    ).install()
     assert binary and binary.abspath, (
         "ffmpeg installation failed. ytdlp tests require a real ffmpeg binary."
     )
diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 233d955..5d2e7cd 100755
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -311,6 +311,20 @@ def install_claude_code_with_hooks() -> str:
             overrides = binary_record.get("overrides")
             if overrides:
                 npm_cmd.append(f"--overrides={json.dumps(overrides)}")
+            # Forward any remaining top-level binary-record fields (e.g.
+            # ``postinstall_scripts``, ``min_release_age``) so the npm hook
+            # sees them as Binary kwargs via ``parse_extra_hook_args``.
+            _forwarded = {
+                key: value
+                for key, value in binary_record.items()
+                if key not in {"name", "binproviders", "overrides", "min_version"}
+                and value is not None
+            }
+            for key, value in _forwarded.items():
+                flag = "--" + key.replace("_", "-")
+                npm_cmd.append(
+                    f"{flag}={json.dumps(value) if not isinstance(value, str) else value}",
+                )
 
             npm_result = subprocess.run(
                 npm_cmd,
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e09c1b4..3836125 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ addopts = ["-p", "abx_plugins.pytest_bootstrap", "-p", "no:cacheprovider"]
 
 [tool.uv]
 exclude-newer = "14 days"
-exclude-newer-package = { abxpkg = "1 second"}
+exclude-newer-package = { abxpkg = "1 second", abx-plugins = "1 second" }
 
 [tool.pyright]
 include = [