File handoff verification with SHA-256 manifests

AI-assisted, self-initiated Python demonstration using invented text files. A read-only scanner records relative paths, byte counts and SHA-256 hashes; a comparison function reports added, removed, changed and unchanged files.

Verified sample: one added file, one removed file, one changed file and one unchanged file across two synthetic snapshots. A known SHA-256 test vector and content-preservation check passed.

Outputs: two JSON manifests and a categorized difference report. Symlinks are outside scope and rejected. This is an integrity check, not malware scanning or a production backup system. Part of a three-tool suite with six passing tests. Source and synthetic samples available on request; no prior client work is claimed.