diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 223d408..824f5e7 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -3,38 +3,44 @@
 ###########################################################################
 # just configuration
 ###########################################################################
-set shell          := ["bash", "-c"]
-set dotenv-load    := true
+
+set shell := ["bash", "-c"]
+set dotenv-load := true
+
 ###########################################################################
 # library configuration
 ###########################################################################
-NPM_MODULE         := `cat package.json | jq -r .name`
-tsc                := "./node_modules/typescript/bin/tsc"
-vite               := "NODE_OPTIONS='--max_old_space_size=16384' ./node_modules/vite/bin/vite.js"
+
+NPM_MODULE := `cat package.json | jq -r .name`
+tsc := "./node_modules/typescript/bin/tsc"
+vite := "NODE_OPTIONS='--max_old_space_size=16384' ./node_modules/vite/bin/vite.js"
+
 # minimal formatting, bold is very useful
-bold               := '\033[1m'
-normal             := '\033[0m'
-green              := "\\e[32m"
-yellow             := "\\e[33m"
-blue               := "\\e[34m"
-magenta            := "\\e[35m"
-grey               := "\\e[90m"
+
+bold := '\033[1m'
+normal := '\033[0m'
+green := "\\e[32m"
+yellow := "\\e[33m"
+blue := "\\e[34m"
+magenta := "\\e[35m"
+grey := "\\e[90m"
 
 _help:
     @just --list --unsorted --list-heading $'Commands:\n'
 
 # Build the production npm distributions in dist/metaframe and dist/metapage
 build: _build
+
 _build: _ensure_node_modules _build_npm
 
 _build_npm:
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
     set -euo pipefail
-    # Compiles the entire codebase to typescript files in ./dist. Packaged into the npm module '{{NPM_MODULE}}'
+    # Compiles the entire codebase to typescript files in ./dist. Packaged into the npm module '{{ NPM_MODULE }}'
     # How to test installation of the build?
-    {{tsc}} --noEmit
+    {{ tsc }} --noEmit
     echo "✅ typescript check"
-    {{vite}} build
+    {{ vite }} build
     echo "✅ vite build"
 
 # watch for file changes, then build ALL into ./dist
@@ -42,33 +48,34 @@ watch: _ensure_node_modules
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
     set -euo pipefail
     echo "👀 watching and building into ./dist..."
-    {{tsc}} --noEmit
+    {{ tsc }} --noEmit
     echo "✅ typescript check"
-    {{vite}} --watch build
+    {{ vite }} --watch build
 
 @_tsc +args="":
-    {{tsc}} {{args}}
+    {{ tsc }} {{ args }}
 
 # Run tests
-@test +args="":  (_tsc "--build")
-    npx vitest {{args}}
+test +args="": _ensure_node_modules (_tsc "--build")
+    npx vitest {{ args }}
 
 # Develop:
 #   1. just dev
 #   2. modify metapage/metaframe code
 #   3. refresh browser window
+
 # recompile metapage/metaframe src on change, and open a browser at the test page for the local metapage test
 dev: _ensure_node_modules watch
 
-# typescript check 
+# typescript check
 @check: (_tsc "--build")
-    echo -e "✅ {{green}}TypeScript{{normal}} check passed"
+    echo -e "✅ {{ green }}TypeScript{{ normal }} check passed"
 
 # npm link the package in dist for local development. In the other project: 'npm link @metapages/metapage'
 @link:
     if [ ! -d dist ]; then just build; fi
     cd dist && npm link
-    echo -e "👉 in the other project: npm link {{NPM_MODULE}}"
+    echo -e "👉 in the other project: npm link {{ NPM_MODULE }}"
 
 # unlink the package in dist from local development. You probably don't ever need to do this
 @unlink:
@@ -76,7 +83,7 @@ dev: _ensure_node_modules watch
 
 # List all published versions
 @list:
-    npm view {{NPM_MODULE}} versions --json
+    npm view {{ NPM_MODULE }} versions --json
 
 # Bump version (patch|minor|major|<version>), commit, tag, and push to trigger publish
 version bump="patch":
@@ -88,7 +95,7 @@ version bump="patch":
         exit 1
     fi
     # Bump version in package.json
-    npm version {{bump}} --no-git-tag-version
+    npm version {{ bump }} --no-git-tag-version
     VERSION=`cat package.json | jq -r '.version'`
     # Commit and tag
     git add package.json
@@ -111,15 +118,18 @@ publish: _ensure_node_modules
     set -euo pipefail
     VERSION=`cat package.json | jq -r '.version'`
     # Check if the package exists, if not this is the first publish
-    if ! npm view {{NPM_MODULE}} version &> /dev/null; then
-        echo "📦 First time publishing {{NPM_MODULE}}"
+    if ! npm view {{ NPM_MODULE }} version &> /dev/null; then
+        echo "📦 First time publishing {{ NPM_MODULE }}"
     else
-        INDEX=`npm view {{NPM_MODULE}} versions --json | jq "index( \"$VERSION\" )"`
+        INDEX=`npm view {{ NPM_MODULE }} versions --json | jq "index( \"$VERSION\" )"`
         if [ "$INDEX" != "null" ]; then
             echo -e '🌳 Version exists, not publishing'
             exit 0
         fi
     fi
+    echo "Running tests before publish..."
+    just test --run
+    echo "✅ Tests passed"
     just build
     rm -rf dist/test
     echo "PUBLISHING npm version $VERSION"
@@ -130,11 +140,11 @@ publish: _ensure_node_modules
 # Unpublish version https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v7/commands/npm-unpublish
 unpublish version:
     @echo "❗ If this fails: you cannot use .npmrc or NPM_TOKEN, you must 'npm login' 🤷‍♀️"
-    npm unpublish {{NPM_MODULE}}@{{version}}
+    npm unpublish {{ NPM_MODULE }}@{{ version }}
 
 # https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v7/commands/npm-deprecate
 module_deprecate version +message:
-    npm deprecate {{NPM_MODULE}}@{{version}} "{{message}}"
+    npm deprecate {{ NPM_MODULE }}@{{ version }} "{{ message }}"
 
 # delete all generated assets/files
 clean:
diff --git a/src/test/serialize.test.ts b/src/test/serialize.test.ts
index ed60639..fe02a49 100644
--- a/src/test/serialize.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/serialize.test.ts
@@ -185,9 +185,9 @@ describe("Primary Serialize/Deserialize API", () => {
 
       // Large data should be uploaded (URL dataref)
       expect(typeof serialized.largeData).toBe("string");
-      expect(serialized.largeData).toContain("text/x-uri");
+      expect(serialized.largeData as unknown as string).toContain("text/x-uri");
       // URL is encoded in the dataref
-      expect(decodeURIComponent(serialized.largeData)).toContain("https://storage.example.com");
+      expect(decodeURIComponent(serialized.largeData as unknown as string)).toContain("https://storage.example.com");
 
       // Small data should be inline
       expect(typeof serialized.smallData).toBe("string");