fix(bun): adjust field alignment in BunSelectQuery struct

* implement preloadRelationAlias to rewrite WHERE conditions
* update Where method to handle relation alias in queries

pkg/common/adapters/database/bun.go

@@ -289,19 +289,20 @@ func (b *BunAdapter) DriverName() string {
 
 // BunSelectQuery implements SelectQuery for Bun
 type BunSelectQuery struct {
-	query          *bun.SelectQuery
+	query                *bun.SelectQuery
-	db             bun.IDB // Store DB connection for count queries
+	db                   bun.IDB // Store DB connection for count queries
-	hasModel       bool    // Track if Model() was called
+	hasModel             bool    // Track if Model() was called
-	schema         string  // Separated schema name
+	schema               string  // Separated schema name
-	tableName      string  // Just the table name, without schema
+	tableName            string  // Just the table name, without schema
-	entity         string
+	entity               string
-	tableAlias     string
+	tableAlias           string
-	driverName     string                                                   // Database driver name (postgres, sqlite, mssql)
+	driverName           string                                                   // Database driver name (postgres, sqlite, mssql)
-	inJoinContext  bool                                                     // Track if we're in a JOIN relation context
+	inJoinContext        bool                                                     // Track if we're in a JOIN relation context
-	joinTableAlias string                                                   // Alias to use for JOIN conditions
+	joinTableAlias       string                                                   // Alias to use for JOIN conditions
-	skipAutoDetect bool                                                     // Skip auto-detection to prevent circular calls
+	skipAutoDetect       bool                                                     // Skip auto-detection to prevent circular calls
-	customPreloads map[string][]func(common.SelectQuery) common.SelectQuery // Relations to load with custom implementation
+	preloadRelationAlias string                                                   // Relation alias used in separate-query preloads (e.g. "tprp" for relation "TPRP")
-	metricsEnabled bool
+	customPreloads       map[string][]func(common.SelectQuery) common.SelectQuery // Relations to load with custom implementation
+	metricsEnabled       bool
 }
 
 func (b *BunSelectQuery) Model(model interface{}) common.SelectQuery {
@@ -346,12 +347,14 @@ func (b *BunSelectQuery) ColumnExpr(query string, args ...interface{}) common.Se
 }
 
 func (b *BunSelectQuery) Where(query string, args ...interface{}) common.SelectQuery {
-	// If we're in a JOIN context, add table prefix to unqualified columns
 	if b.inJoinContext && b.joinTableAlias != "" {
 		query = addTablePrefix(query, b.joinTableAlias)
+	} else if b.preloadRelationAlias != "" && b.tableName != "" {
+		// Separate-query preload: the caller may have written conditions using the
+		// relation name as a prefix (e.g. "TPRP.col"). Bun uses the real table name
+		// as the alias, so rewrite any such references to use tableName instead.
+		query = replaceRelationAlias(query, b.preloadRelationAlias, b.tableName)
 	} else if b.tableAlias != "" && b.tableName != "" {
-		// If we have a table alias defined, check if the query references a different alias
-		// This can happen in preloads where the user expects a certain alias but Bun generates another
 		query = normalizeTableAlias(query, b.tableAlias, b.tableName)
 	}
 	b.query = b.query.Where(query, args...)
@@ -487,6 +490,30 @@ func normalizeTableAlias(query, expectedAlias, tableName string) string {
 	return modified
 }
 
+// replaceRelationAlias rewrites WHERE conditions written with a relation alias prefix
+// (e.g. "TPRP.col") to use the real table name that bun uses in separate queries
+// (e.g. "t_proposalinstance.col"). Only called for separate-query preload wrappers.
+func replaceRelationAlias(query, relationAlias, tableName string) string {
+	if relationAlias == "" || tableName == "" || query == "" {
+		return query
+	}
+	parts := strings.FieldsFunc(query, func(r rune) bool {
+		return r == ' ' || r == '(' || r == ')' || r == ','
+	})
+	modified := query
+	for _, part := range parts {
+		if dotIndex := strings.Index(part, "."); dotIndex > 0 {
+			prefix := part[:dotIndex]
+			column := part[dotIndex+1:]
+			if strings.EqualFold(prefix, relationAlias) {
+				logger.Debug("Replacing relation alias '%s' with table name '%s' in preload WHERE condition", prefix, tableName)
+				modified = strings.ReplaceAll(modified, part, tableName+"."+column)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return modified
+}
+
 func isJoinKeyword(word string) bool {
 	switch strings.ToUpper(word) {
 	case "JOIN", "INNER", "LEFT", "RIGHT", "FULL", "OUTER", "CROSS":
@@ -676,8 +703,20 @@ func (b *BunSelectQuery) PreloadRelation(relation string, apply ...func(common.S
 				wrapper.tableAlias = provider.TableAlias()
 				logger.Debug("Preload relation '%s' using table alias: %s", relation, wrapper.tableAlias)
 			}
+
 		}
 
+		// Fallback: if the model didn't provide a table name, ask bun directly.
+		if wrapper.tableName == "" {
+			wrapper.schema, wrapper.tableName = parseTableName(sq.GetTableName(), b.driverName)
+		}
+
+		// For separate-query preloads (has-many), bun aliases the related table using
+		// the actual table name, not the relation name. Record the relation alias so
+		// Where() can rewrite conditions like "TPRP.col" to "t_proposalinstance.col".
+		wrapper.preloadRelationAlias = strings.ToLower(relation)
+		logger.Debug("Preload relation '%s' registered alias '%s' for separate-query WHERE rewriting", relation, wrapper.preloadRelationAlias)
+
 		// Start with the interface value (not pointer)
 		current := common.SelectQuery(wrapper)
 
@@ -1451,6 +1490,18 @@ func (b *BunInsertQuery) Returning(columns ...string) common.InsertQuery {
 	return b
 }
 
+func (b *BunInsertQuery) prepareValues() {
+	if len(b.values) > 0 {
+		if !b.hasModel {
+			b.query = b.query.Model(&b.values)
+		} else {
+			for k, v := range b.values {
+				b.query = b.query.Value(k, "?", v)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (b *BunInsertQuery) Exec(ctx context.Context) (res common.Result, err error) {
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
@@ -1458,23 +1509,25 @@ func (b *BunInsertQuery) Exec(ctx context.Context) (res common.Result, err error
 		}
 	}()
 	startedAt := time.Now()
-	if len(b.values) > 0 {
+	b.prepareValues()
-		if !b.hasModel {
-			// If no model was set, use the values map as the model
-			// Bun can insert map[string]interface{} directly
-			b.query = b.query.Model(&b.values)
-		} else {
-			// If model was set, use Value() to add individual values
-			for k, v := range b.values {
-				b.query = b.query.Value(k, "?", v)
-			}
-		}
-	}
 	result, err := b.query.Exec(ctx)
 	recordQueryMetrics(b.metricsEnabled, "INSERT", b.schema, b.entity, b.tableName, startedAt, err)
 	return &BunResult{result: result}, err
 }
 
+func (b *BunInsertQuery) Scan(ctx context.Context, dest interface{}) (err error) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			err = logger.HandlePanic("BunInsertQuery.Scan", r)
+		}
+	}()
+	startedAt := time.Now()
+	b.prepareValues()
+	err = b.query.Scan(ctx, dest)
+	recordQueryMetrics(b.metricsEnabled, "INSERT", b.schema, b.entity, b.tableName, startedAt, err)
+	return err
+}
+
 // BunUpdateQuery implements UpdateQuery for Bun
 type BunUpdateQuery struct {
 	query          *bun.UpdateQuery

pkg/common/adapters/database/gorm.go

@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@ package database
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"gorm.io/gorm"
+	"gorm.io/gorm/clause"
 
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/common"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/logger"
@@ -676,15 +678,16 @@ func (g *GormSelectQuery) Exists(ctx context.Context) (exists bool, err error) {
 
 // GormInsertQuery implements InsertQuery for GORM
 type GormInsertQuery struct {
-	db             *gorm.DB
+	db               *gorm.DB
-	reconnect      func(...*gorm.DB) error
+	reconnect        func(...*gorm.DB) error
-	model          interface{}
+	model            interface{}
-	values         map[string]interface{}
+	values           map[string]interface{}
-	schema         string
+	schema           string
-	tableName      string
+	tableName        string
-	entity         string
+	entity           string
-	driverName     string
+	driverName       string
-	metricsEnabled bool
+	metricsEnabled   bool
+	returningColumns []string
 }
 
 func (g *GormInsertQuery) Model(model interface{}) common.InsertQuery {
@@ -718,7 +721,7 @@ func (g *GormInsertQuery) OnConflict(action string) common.InsertQuery {
 }
 
 func (g *GormInsertQuery) Returning(columns ...string) common.InsertQuery {
-	// GORM doesn't have explicit RETURNING, but updates the model
+	g.returningColumns = columns
 	return g
 }
 
@@ -749,6 +752,76 @@ func (g *GormInsertQuery) Exec(ctx context.Context) (res common.Result, err erro
 	return &GormResult{result: result}, result.Error
 }
 
+func (g *GormInsertQuery) Scan(ctx context.Context, dest interface{}) (err error) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			err = logger.HandlePanic("GormInsertQuery.Scan", r)
+		}
+	}()
+	startedAt := time.Now()
+
+	var returningCols []clause.Column
+	for _, col := range g.returningColumns {
+		returningCols = append(returningCols, clause.Column{Name: col})
+	}
+
+	db := g.db.WithContext(ctx)
+	if len(returningCols) > 0 {
+		db = db.Clauses(clause.Returning{Columns: returningCols})
+	}
+
+	var result *gorm.DB
+	switch {
+	case g.model != nil:
+		result = db.Create(g.model)
+	case g.values != nil:
+		result = db.Create(g.values)
+	default:
+		result = db.Create(map[string]interface{}{})
+	}
+
+	if isDBClosed(result.Error) && g.reconnect != nil {
+		if reconnErr := g.reconnect(g.db); reconnErr == nil {
+			result = db.Create(g.model)
+		}
+	}
+
+	recordQueryMetrics(g.metricsEnabled, "INSERT", g.schema, g.entity, g.tableName, startedAt, result.Error)
+	if result.Error != nil {
+		return result.Error
+	}
+
+	// Extract the returning column value from the model or values map
+	if len(g.returningColumns) == 1 {
+		col := g.returningColumns[0]
+		if g.model != nil {
+			val := reflect.ValueOf(g.model)
+			if val.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+				val = val.Elem()
+			}
+			if val.Kind() == reflect.Struct {
+				for i := 0; i < val.NumField(); i++ {
+					f := val.Type().Field(i)
+					dbTag := strings.Split(f.Tag.Get("bun"), ",")[0]
+					jsonTag := strings.Split(f.Tag.Get("json"), ",")[0]
+					if strings.EqualFold(f.Name, col) || dbTag == col || jsonTag == col {
+						reflect.ValueOf(dest).Elem().Set(val.Field(i))
+						return nil
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if g.values != nil {
+			if v, ok := g.values[col]; ok {
+				reflect.ValueOf(dest).Elem().Set(reflect.ValueOf(v))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // GormUpdateQuery implements UpdateQuery for GORM
 type GormUpdateQuery struct {
 	db             *gorm.DB

pkg/common/adapters/database/pgsql.go

@@ -708,6 +708,51 @@ func (p *PgSQLInsertQuery) Exec(ctx context.Context) (res common.Result, err err
 	return &PgSQLResult{result: result}, nil
 }
 
+func (p *PgSQLInsertQuery) Scan(ctx context.Context, dest interface{}) (err error) {
+	startedAt := time.Now()
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			err = logger.HandlePanic("PgSQLInsertQuery.Scan", r)
+		}
+		recordQueryMetrics(p.metricsEnabled, "INSERT", p.schema, p.entity, p.tableName, startedAt, err)
+	}()
+
+	if len(p.values) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no values to insert")
+	}
+
+	columns := make([]string, 0, len(p.values))
+	placeholders := make([]string, 0, len(p.values))
+	args := make([]interface{}, 0, len(p.values))
+	i := 1
+	for _, col := range p.valueOrder {
+		columns = append(columns, col)
+		placeholders = append(placeholders, fmt.Sprintf("$%d", i))
+		args = append(args, p.values[col])
+		i++
+	}
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf("INSERT INTO %s (%s) VALUES (%s)",
+		p.tableName,
+		strings.Join(columns, ", "),
+		strings.Join(placeholders, ", "))
+
+	if len(p.returning) > 0 {
+		query += " RETURNING " + strings.Join(p.returning, ", ")
+	}
+
+	logger.Debug("PgSQL INSERT (Scan): %s [args: %v]", query, args)
+
+	var row *sql.Row
+	if p.tx != nil {
+		row = p.tx.QueryRowContext(ctx, query, args...)
+	} else {
+		row = p.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, query, args...)
+	}
+
+	return row.Scan(dest)
+}
+
 // PgSQLUpdateQuery implements UpdateQuery for PostgreSQL
 type PgSQLUpdateQuery struct {
 	db             *sql.DB

pkg/common/interfaces.go

@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ type InsertQuery interface {
 
 	// Execution
 	Exec(ctx context.Context) (Result, error)
+	Scan(ctx context.Context, dest interface{}) error
 }
 
 // UpdateQuery interface for building UPDATE queries

pkg/common/recursive_crud.go

@@ -125,6 +125,13 @@ func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) ProcessNestedCUD(
 			result.AffectedRows = 1
 			result.Data = regularData
 
+			// Re-select the inserted row so result.Data reflects DB-generated defaults.
+			if row, err := p.processSelect(ctx, tableName, id); err != nil {
+				logger.Warn("Select after insert failed: table=%s, id=%v, error=%v", tableName, id, err)
+			} else if len(row) > 0 {
+				result.Data = row
+			}
+
 			// Process child relations after parent insert (to get parent ID)
 			if err := p.processChildRelations(ctx, "insert", id, relationFields, result.RelationData, modelType, parentIDs); err != nil {
 				logger.Error("Failed to process child relations after insert: table=%s, parentID=%v, relations=%+v, error=%v", tableName, id, relationFields, err)
@@ -146,9 +153,16 @@ func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) ProcessNestedCUD(
 			result.AffectedRows = rows
 			result.Data = regularData
 
+			// Re-select the updated row so result.Data reflects current DB state.
+			if row, err := p.processSelect(ctx, tableName, result.ID); err != nil {
+				logger.Warn("Select after update failed: table=%s, id=%v, error=%v", tableName, result.ID, err)
+			} else if len(row) > 0 {
+				result.Data = row
+			}
+
 			// Process child relations for update
 			if err := p.processChildRelations(ctx, "update", data[pkName], relationFields, result.RelationData, modelType, parentIDs); err != nil {
-				logger.Error("Failed to process child relations after update: table=%s, parentID=%v, relations=%+v, error=%v", tableName, data[pkName], relationFields, err)
+				logger.Error("Failed to process child relations after update: table=%s, parentID=%v, relations=%+v, error=%v", tableName, data[pkName], regularData, err)
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process child relations: %w", err)
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -160,7 +174,7 @@ func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) ProcessNestedCUD(
 		// Process child relations first (for referential integrity)
 		if err := p.processChildRelations(ctx, "delete", data[pkName], relationFields, result.RelationData, modelType, parentIDs); err != nil {
 			logger.Error("Failed to process child relations before delete: table=%s, id=%v, relations=%+v, error=%v", tableName, data[pkName], relationFields, err)
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to process child relations before delete: %w", err)
+			return nil, nil
 		}
 
 		rows, err := p.processDelete(ctx, tableName, data[pkName])
@@ -234,27 +248,37 @@ func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) injectForeignKeys(data map[string]interface{}, mode
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Iterate through model fields to find foreign key fields
+	pkCol := reflection.GetPrimaryKeyName(reflect.New(modelType).Interface())
-	for i := 0; i < modelType.NumField(); i++ {
-		field := modelType.Field(i)
-		jsonTag := field.Tag.Get("json")
-		jsonName := strings.Split(jsonTag, ",")[0]
 
-		// Check if this field is a foreign key and we have a parent ID for it
+	for parentKey, parentID := range parentIDs {
-		// Common patterns: DepartmentID, ManagerID, ProjectID, etc.
+		dbColNames := reflection.GetForeignKeyColumn(modelType, parentKey)
-		for parentKey, parentID := range parentIDs {
+
-			// Match field name patterns like "department_id" with parent key "department"
+		if len(dbColNames) == 0 {
-			if strings.EqualFold(jsonName, parentKey+"_id") ||
+			// No explicit tag found — fall back to naming convention by scanning scalar fields.
-				strings.EqualFold(jsonName, parentKey+"id") ||
+			for i := 0; i < modelType.NumField(); i++ {
-				strings.EqualFold(field.Name, parentKey+"ID") {
+				field := modelType.Field(i)
-				// Use the DB column name as the key, since data is keyed by DB column names
+				jsonName := strings.Split(field.Tag.Get("json"), ",")[0]
-				dbColName := reflection.GetColumnName(field)
+				if strings.EqualFold(jsonName, "rid"+parentKey) ||
-				if _, exists := data[dbColName]; !exists {
+					strings.EqualFold(jsonName, "rid_"+parentKey) ||
-					logger.Debug("Injecting foreign key: %s = %v", dbColName, parentID)
+					strings.EqualFold(jsonName, "id_"+parentKey) ||
-					data[dbColName] = parentID
+					strings.EqualFold(jsonName, parentKey+"_id") ||
+					strings.EqualFold(jsonName, parentKey+"id") ||
+					strings.EqualFold(field.Name, parentKey+"ID") {
+					dbColNames = []string{reflection.GetColumnName(field)}
+					break
 				}
 			}
 		}
+
+		for _, dbColName := range dbColNames {
+			if pkCol != "" && strings.EqualFold(dbColName, pkCol) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if _, exists := data[dbColName]; !exists {
+				logger.Debug("Injecting foreign key: %s = %v", dbColName, parentID)
+				data[dbColName] = parentID
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -272,27 +296,32 @@ func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) processInsert(
 		query = query.Value(key, ConvertSliceForBun(value))
 	}
 	pkName := reflection.GetPrimaryKeyName(tableName)
-	// Add RETURNING clause to get the inserted ID
 	query = query.Returning(pkName)
 
-	result, err := query.Exec(ctx)
+	var id interface{}
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := query.Scan(ctx, &id); err != nil {
 		logger.Error("Insert execution failed: table=%s, data=%+v, error=%v", tableName, data, err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("insert exec failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Try to get the ID
+	logger.Debug("Insert successful, ID: %v", id)
-	var id interface{}
-	if lastID, err := result.LastInsertId(); err == nil && lastID > 0 {
-		id = lastID
-	} else if data[pkName] != nil {
-		id = data[pkName]
-	}
-
-	logger.Debug("Insert successful, ID: %v, rows affected: %d", id, result.RowsAffected())
 	return id, nil
 }
 
+// processSelect fetches the row identified by id from tableName into a flat map.
+// Used to populate result.Data with the actual DB state after insert/update.
+func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) processSelect(ctx context.Context, tableName string, id interface{}) (map[string]interface{}, error) {
+	pkName := reflection.GetPrimaryKeyName(tableName)
+	var row map[string]interface{}
+	if err := p.db.NewSelect().
+		Table(tableName).
+		Where(fmt.Sprintf("%s = ?", QuoteIdent(pkName)), id).
+		Scan(ctx, &row); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("select after write failed: %w", err)
+	}
+	return row, nil
+}
+
 // processUpdate handles update operation
 func (p *NestedCUDProcessor) processUpdate(
 	ctx context.Context,

pkg/common/recursive_crud_test.go

@@ -101,12 +101,18 @@ func (m *mockInsertQuery) Value(column string, value interface{}) InsertQuery {
 func (m *mockInsertQuery) OnConflict(action string) InsertQuery { return m }
 func (m *mockInsertQuery) Returning(columns ...string) InsertQuery { return m }
 func (m *mockInsertQuery) Exec(ctx context.Context) (Result, error) {
-	// Record the insert call
 	m.db.insertCalls = append(m.db.insertCalls, m.values)
 	m.db.lastID++
 	return &mockResult{lastID: m.db.lastID, rowsAffected: 1}, nil
 }
 
+func (m *mockInsertQuery) Scan(ctx context.Context, dest interface{}) error {
+	m.db.insertCalls = append(m.db.insertCalls, m.values)
+	m.db.lastID++
+	reflect.ValueOf(dest).Elem().Set(reflect.ValueOf(m.db.lastID))
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Mock UpdateQuery
 type mockUpdateQuery struct {
 	db        *mockDatabase

pkg/funcspec/function_api_test.go

@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ func TestReplaceMetaVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			name:     "Replace [user]",
 			sqlQuery: "SELECT * FROM audit WHERE username = [user]",
 			expectedCheck: func(result string) bool {
-				return strings.Contains(result, "'testuser'")
+				return strings.Contains(result, "$USR$testuser$USR$")
 			},
 		},
 		{

pkg/reflection/model_utils.go

@@ -973,6 +973,108 @@ func GetRelationType(model interface{}, fieldName string) RelationType {
 	return RelationUnknown
 }
 
+// GetForeignKeyColumn returns the DB column names of the foreign key(s) that
+// relate parentKey to modelType. Composite keys (e.g. bun "join:a=b,join:c=d"
+// or GORM "foreignKey:ColA,ColB") yield multiple entries. Returns nil when no
+// tag is found (caller should fall back to convention).
+//
+// Two lookup strategies are tried in order:
+//
+//  1. Relation-field match: find a field whose name/json equals parentKey, then
+//     read its bun join: or GORM foreignKey: tag and return the local columns.
+//     e.g. parentKey="department", field `Department bun:"join:dept_id=id"` → ["dept_id"]
+//
+//  2. Join left-side scan: scan every bun join tag in the struct for pairs whose
+//     left side equals parentKey and return the right-side (child FK) columns.
+//     e.g. parentKey="rid_mastertaskitem", field `Children bun:"join:rid_mastertaskitem=rid_parentmastertaskitem"` → ["rid_parentmastertaskitem"]
+//     Strategy 1 is skipped if the matched field is a declared relation (rel:) or
+//     has a GORM tag but carries no explicit FK — callers should use convention.
+func GetForeignKeyColumn(modelType reflect.Type, parentKey string) []string {
+	for modelType.Kind() == reflect.Ptr || modelType.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+		modelType = modelType.Elem()
+	}
+	if modelType.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Strategy 1: match parentKey against a field's name/json tag.
+	for i := 0; i < modelType.NumField(); i++ {
+		field := modelType.Field(i)
+
+		name := field.Name
+		jsonName := strings.Split(field.Tag.Get("json"), ",")[0]
+		if !strings.EqualFold(name, parentKey) && !strings.EqualFold(jsonName, parentKey) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		bunTag := field.Tag.Get("bun")
+
+		// Bun: join:local_col=foreign_col (one join: part per pair)
+		var bunCols []string
+		for _, part := range strings.Split(bunTag, ",") {
+			part = strings.TrimSpace(part)
+			if strings.HasPrefix(part, "join:") {
+				pair := strings.TrimPrefix(part, "join:")
+				if idx := strings.Index(pair, "="); idx > 0 {
+					bunCols = append(bunCols, pair[:idx])
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		if len(bunCols) > 0 {
+			return bunCols
+		}
+
+		// GORM: foreignKey:FieldA,FieldB
+		for _, part := range strings.Split(field.Tag.Get("gorm"), ";") {
+			part = strings.TrimSpace(part)
+			if strings.HasPrefix(part, "foreignKey:") {
+				var cols []string
+				for _, fkFieldName := range strings.Split(strings.TrimPrefix(part, "foreignKey:"), ",") {
+					fkFieldName = strings.TrimSpace(fkFieldName)
+					if fkField, ok := modelType.FieldByName(fkFieldName); ok {
+						cols = append(cols, getColumnNameFromField(fkField))
+					}
+				}
+				if len(cols) > 0 {
+					return cols
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		// The field matched by name/json but has no explicit FK tag. If it is a
+		// declared relation field (rel:) or carries a GORM tag, the caller should
+		// use naming convention — don't fall through to strategy 2. Otherwise the
+		// matched field is a plain scalar column; proceed to the join left-side scan.
+		if strings.Contains(bunTag, "rel:") || field.Tag.Get("gorm") != "" {
+			return nil
+		}
+		break
+	}
+
+	// Strategy 2: scan every field's bun join tag for pairs whose left side (the
+	// parent's column) matches parentKey; the right side is the child FK column.
+	// This handles cases where parentKey is a raw column name rather than a
+	// relation field name (e.g. self-referential or has-many relationships).
+	seen := map[string]bool{}
+	var cols []string
+	for i := 0; i < modelType.NumField(); i++ {
+		for _, part := range strings.Split(modelType.Field(i).Tag.Get("bun"), ",") {
+			part = strings.TrimSpace(part)
+			if strings.HasPrefix(part, "join:") {
+				pair := strings.TrimPrefix(part, "join:")
+				if idx := strings.Index(pair, "="); idx > 0 {
+					left, right := pair[:idx], pair[idx+1:]
+					if strings.EqualFold(left, parentKey) && !seen[right] {
+						seen[right] = true
+						cols = append(cols, right)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return cols // nil if empty
+}
+
 // GetRelationModel gets the model type for a relation field
 // It searches for the field by name in the following order (case-insensitive):
 // 1. Actual field name

pkg/reflection/model_utils_foreign_key_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+package reflection
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// --- local test models ---
+
+type fkDept struct{}
+
+// bunEmployee uses bun join: tag to declare the FK column explicitly.
+type bunEmployee struct {
+	DeptID     string   `bun:"dept_id"                          json:"dept_id"`
+	Department *fkDept  `bun:"rel:belongs-to,join:dept_id=id"   json:"department"`
+}
+
+// bunCompositeEmployee has a composite bun join: (two join: parts).
+type bunCompositeEmployee struct {
+	DeptID   string  `bun:"dept_id"   json:"dept_id"`
+	TenantID string  `bun:"tenant_id" json:"tenant_id"`
+	Department *fkDept `bun:"rel:belongs-to,join:dept_id=id,join:tenant_id=id" json:"department"`
+}
+
+// gormEmployee uses gorm foreignKey: tag (mirrors testmodels.Employee).
+type gormEmployee struct {
+	DepartmentID string  `json:"department_id"`
+	ManagerID    string  `json:"manager_id"`
+	Department   *fkDept `gorm:"foreignKey:DepartmentID;references:ID" json:"department"`
+	Manager      *fkDept `gorm:"foreignKey:ManagerID;references:ID"    json:"manager"`
+}
+
+// gormCompositeEmployee has a composite GORM foreignKey.
+type gormCompositeEmployee struct {
+	DeptID   string  `json:"dept_id"`
+	TenantID string  `json:"tenant_id"`
+	Department *fkDept `gorm:"foreignKey:DeptID,TenantID" json:"department"`
+}
+
+// selfRefItem mimics a self-referential model (like mastertaskitem) where the
+// parent PK column appears as the left side of a has-many join tag.
+type selfRefItem struct {
+	RidItem       int32        `json:"rid_item" bun:"rid_item,type:integer,pk"`
+	RidParentItem int32        `json:"rid_parentitem" bun:"rid_parentitem,type:integer"`
+	// has-one (single parent pointer)
+	Parent   *selfRefItem   `json:"Parent,omitempty" bun:"rel:has-one,join:rid_item=rid_parentitem"`
+	// has-many (child collection) — same join, duplicate right-side must be deduped
+	Children []*selfRefItem `json:"Children,omitempty" bun:"rel:has-many,join:rid_item=rid_parentitem"`
+}
+
+// conventionEmployee has no explicit FK tag — relies on naming convention.
+type conventionEmployee struct {
+	DepartmentID string  `json:"department_id"`
+	Department   *fkDept `json:"department"`
+}
+
+// noTagEmployee has a relation field with no FK tag and no convention match.
+type noTagEmployee struct {
+	Unrelated *fkDept `json:"unrelated"`
+}
+
+func TestGetForeignKeyColumn(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		modelType reflect.Type
+		parentKey string
+		want      []string
+	}{
+		// Bun join: tag
+		{
+			name:      "bun join tag returns local column",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(bunEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      []string{"dept_id"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "bun join tag matched via json tag (case-insensitive)",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(bunEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "Department",
+			want:      []string{"dept_id"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "bun composite join returns all local columns",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(bunCompositeEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      []string{"dept_id", "tenant_id"},
+		},
+
+		// GORM foreignKey: tag
+		{
+			name:      "gorm foreignKey resolves to column name",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(gormEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      []string{"department_id"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "gorm foreignKey resolves second relation",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(gormEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "manager",
+			want:      []string{"manager_id"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "gorm foreignKey matched case-insensitively",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(gormEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "Department",
+			want:      []string{"department_id"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "gorm composite foreignKey returns all columns",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(gormCompositeEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      []string{"dept_id", "tenant_id"},
+		},
+
+		// Join left-side scan (parentKey is a raw column name, not a relation field name)
+		{
+			name:      "self-referential: parent PK column returns child FK column",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(selfRefItem{}),
+			parentKey: "rid_item",
+			want:      []string{"rid_parentitem"},
+		},
+
+		// Pointer and slice unwrapping
+		{
+			name:      "pointer to struct is unwrapped",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(&gormEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      []string{"department_id"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "slice of struct is unwrapped",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf([]gormEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      []string{"department_id"},
+		},
+
+		// No tag — returns nil so caller can fall back to convention
+		{
+			name:      "relation with no FK tag returns nil",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(conventionEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      nil,
+		},
+
+		// Unknown parent key
+		{
+			name:      "unknown parent key returns nil",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(gormEmployee{}),
+			parentKey: "nonexistent",
+			want:      nil,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "non-struct type returns nil",
+			modelType: reflect.TypeOf(""),
+			parentKey: "department",
+			want:      nil,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := GetForeignKeyColumn(tt.modelType, tt.parentKey)
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tt.want) {
+				t.Errorf("GetForeignKeyColumn(%v, %q) = %v, want %v", tt.modelType, tt.parentKey, got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

pkg/restheadspec/empty_result_test.go

@@ -9,29 +9,29 @@ import (
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/common"
 )
 
-// Test that normalizeResultArray returns empty array when no records found without ID
+// Test that normalizeResultArray returns empty object when no records found (single-record mode)
 func TestNormalizeResultArray_EmptyArrayWhenNoID(t *testing.T) {
 	handler := &Handler{}
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		name             string
+		name            string
-		input            interface{}
+		input           interface{}
-		shouldBeEmptyArr bool
+		shouldBeEmptyObj bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name:             "nil should return empty array",
+			name:            "nil should return empty object",
-			input:            nil,
+			input:           nil,
-			shouldBeEmptyArr: true,
+			shouldBeEmptyObj: true,
 		},
 		{
-			name:             "empty slice should return empty array",
+			name:            "empty slice should return empty object",
-			input:            []*EmptyTestModel{},
+			input:           []*EmptyTestModel{},
-			shouldBeEmptyArr: true,
+			shouldBeEmptyObj: true,
 		},
 		{
-			name:             "single element should return the element",
+			name:            "single element should return the element",
-			input:            []*EmptyTestModel{{ID: 1, Name: "test"}},
+			input:           []*EmptyTestModel{{ID: 1, Name: "test"}},
-			shouldBeEmptyArr: false,
+			shouldBeEmptyObj: false,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "multiple elements should return the slice",
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func TestNormalizeResultArray_EmptyArrayWhenNoID(t *testing.T) {
 				{ID: 1, Name: "test1"},
 				{ID: 2, Name: "test2"},
 			},
-			shouldBeEmptyArr: false,
+			shouldBeEmptyObj: false,
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -47,25 +47,25 @@ func TestNormalizeResultArray_EmptyArrayWhenNoID(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			result := handler.normalizeResultArray(tt.input)
 
-			// For cases that should return empty array
+			// For cases that should return empty object
-			if tt.shouldBeEmptyArr {
+			if tt.shouldBeEmptyObj {
-				emptyArr, ok := result.([]interface{})
+				emptyObj, ok := result.(map[string]interface{})
 				if !ok {
-					t.Errorf("Expected empty array []interface{}{}, got %T: %v", result, result)
+					t.Errorf("Expected empty object map[string]interface{}{}, got %T: %v", result, result)
 					return
 				}
-				if len(emptyArr) != 0 {
+				if len(emptyObj) != 0 {
-					t.Errorf("Expected empty array with length 0, got length %d", len(emptyArr))
+					t.Errorf("Expected empty object with length 0, got length %d", len(emptyObj))
 				}
 
-				// Verify it serializes to [] and not null
+				// Verify it serializes to {} and not null
 				jsonBytes, err := json.Marshal(result)
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Errorf("Failed to marshal result: %v", err)
 					return
 				}
-				if string(jsonBytes) != "[]" {
+				if string(jsonBytes) != "{}" {
-					t.Errorf("Expected JSON '[]', got '%s'", string(jsonBytes))
+					t.Errorf("Expected JSON '{}', got '%s'", string(jsonBytes))
 				}
 			}
 		})
@@ -138,12 +138,12 @@ func TestSendResponseWithOptions_NoDataFoundHeader(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected X-No-Data-Found header to be 'true', got '%s'", mockWriter.headers["X-No-Data-Found"])
 	}
 
-	// Check status code is 200
+	// Check status code is 204 when no records found
-	if mockWriter.statusCode != 200 {
+	if mockWriter.statusCode != 204 {
-		t.Errorf("Expected status code 200, got %d", mockWriter.statusCode)
+		t.Errorf("Expected status code 204, got %d", mockWriter.statusCode)
 	}
 
-	// Verify the body is an empty array
+	// Verify the body is an empty array (list request, SingleRecordAsObject not set)
 	if mockWriter.body == nil {
 		t.Error("Expected body to be set, got nil")
 	} else {

pkg/restheadspec/handler.go

@@ -2502,14 +2502,16 @@ func (h *Handler) sendResponseWithOptions(w common.ResponseWriter, data interfac
 		w.SetHeader("X-No-Data-Found", "true")
 	}
 
-	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
-
 	// Normalize single-record arrays to objects if requested
 	if options != nil && options.SingleRecordAsObject {
 		data = h.normalizeResultArray(data)
 	}
 
-	// Return data as-is without wrapping in common.Response
+	if dataLen == 0 {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+	} else {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	}
 
 	if err := w.WriteJSON(data); err != nil {
 		logger.Error("Failed to write JSON response: %v", err)
@@ -2520,7 +2522,7 @@ func (h *Handler) sendResponseWithOptions(w common.ResponseWriter, data interfac
 // Returns the single element if data is a slice/array with exactly one element, otherwise returns data unchanged
 func (h *Handler) normalizeResultArray(data interface{}) interface{} {
 	if data == nil {
-		return []interface{}{}
+		return map[string]interface{}{}
 	}
 
 	// Use reflection to check if data is a slice or array
@@ -2535,15 +2537,15 @@ func (h *Handler) normalizeResultArray(data interface{}) interface{} {
 			// Return the single element
 			return dataValue.Index(0).Interface()
 		} else if dataValue.Len() == 0 {
-			// Keep empty array as empty array, don't convert to empty object
+			// Single-record request with no result → empty object
-			return []interface{}{}
+			return map[string]interface{}{}
 		}
 	}
 
 	if dataValue.Kind() == reflect.String {
 		str := dataValue.String()
 		if str == "" || str == "null" {
-			return []interface{}{}
+			return map[string]interface{}{}
 		}
 
 	}
@@ -2552,9 +2554,6 @@ func (h *Handler) normalizeResultArray(data interface{}) interface{} {
 
 // sendFormattedResponse sends response with formatting options
 func (h *Handler) sendFormattedResponse(w common.ResponseWriter, data interface{}, metadata *common.Metadata, options ExtendedRequestOptions) {
-	// Normalize single-record arrays to objects if requested
-	httpStatus := http.StatusOK
-
 	// Handle nil data - convert to empty array
 	if data == nil {
 		data = []interface{}{}
@@ -2566,8 +2565,10 @@ func (h *Handler) sendFormattedResponse(w common.ResponseWriter, data interface{
 	dataLen := reflection.Len(data)
 
 	// Add X-No-Data-Found header when no records were found
+	httpStatus := http.StatusOK
 	if dataLen == 0 {
 		w.SetHeader("X-No-Data-Found", "true")
+		httpStatus = http.StatusNoContent
 	}
 
 	// Apply normalization after header is set

pkg/restheadspec/headers.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/common"
 	"github.com/bitechdev/ResolveSpec/pkg/logger"
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ func DecodeParam(pStr string) (string, error) {
 		code, _ = DecodeParam(code)
 	} else {
 		strDat, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(code)
-		if err == nil {
+		if err == nil && utf8.Valid(strDat) {
 			code = string(strDat)
 		}
 	}

pkg/websocketspec/handler_test.go

@@ -239,6 +239,11 @@ func (m *MockInsertQuery) Exec(ctx context.Context) (common.Result, error) {
 	return args.Get(0).(common.Result), args.Error(1)
 }
 
+func (m *MockInsertQuery) Scan(ctx context.Context, dest interface{}) error {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, dest)
+	return args.Error(0)
+}
+
 // MockUpdateQuery is a mock implementation of common.UpdateQuery
 type MockUpdateQuery struct {
 	mock.Mock