diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/explain.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/explain.ts
index 5f2e9bb236..59d3d2bf12 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/explain.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/explain.ts
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ const SCHEMAS: Record<string, SchemaInfo> = {
   object: 'project_task',
   fields: ['title', 'status', 'assigned_to'],
   filters: [{ field: 'status', operator: 'eq', value: 'open' }],
-  sort: [{ field: 'created_at', direction: 'desc' }],
+  sort: [{ field: 'created_at', order: 'desc' }],
   limit: 50,
 }`,
     related: ['object', 'field', 'view'],
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.ts
index df67d64583..78b2ed31d7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/generate.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ const ${toCamelCase(name)}ListView: UI.View = {
     columns: [
       { field: 'name', width: 200 },
     ],
-    defaultSort: { field: 'name', direction: 'asc' },
+    sort: [{ field: 'name', order: 'asc' }],
     pageSize: 25,
   },
 };
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.test.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.test.ts
index 6ecc5ec3db..5f28299eb2 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.test.ts
@@ -24,12 +24,15 @@ function makeFakeEngine() {
     async find(object: string, options?: any) {
       const rows = ensure(object).filter(r => matches(r, options?.filter ?? options?.where));
       if (options?.orderBy?.[0]) {
-        const { field, direction } = options.orderBy[0];
+        // Canonical SortNode key only (spec/data/query.zod.ts): the real
+        // engine strips an unknown `direction:` key and defaults to asc, so
+        // the mock must too — honoring both keys masks wrong-key sorts.
+        const { field, order } = options.orderBy[0];
         rows.sort((a, b) => {
           const av = a[field]; const bv = b[field];
           if (av === bv) return 0;
           const cmp = av > bv ? 1 : -1;
-          return direction === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
+          return order === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
         });
       }
       return rows.slice(0, options?.limit ?? 1000);
@@ -163,6 +166,18 @@ describe('ReportService', () => {
     expect(leads[0].name).toBe('A');
   });
 
+  it('listReports: most recently updated first', async () => {
+    // Regression: the query sorted with the non-canonical `direction: 'desc'`
+    // key, which SortNode strips — so it sorted ascending (oldest first).
+    engine._tables['sys_saved_report'] = [
+      { id: 'r_old', name: 'Old', object_name: 'lead', query_json: '{}', updated_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: 'r_new', name: 'New', object_name: 'lead', query_json: '{}', updated_at: '2026-03-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: 'r_mid', name: 'Mid', object_name: 'lead', query_json: '{}', updated_at: '2026-02-01T00:00:00Z' },
+    ];
+    const rows = await svc.listReports({ object: 'lead' }, CTX);
+    expect(rows.map(r => r.id)).toEqual(['r_new', 'r_mid', 'r_old']);
+  });
+
   it('getReport: returns null on miss', async () => {
     expect(await svc.getReport('nope', CTX)).toBeNull();
   });
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.ts
index 84b4de3c2f..a9aa24eb9c 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-reports/src/report-service.ts
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ export class ReportService implements IReportService {
     if (filter?.object) f.object_name = filter.object;
     if (filter?.ownerId) f.owner_id = filter.ownerId;
     const rows = await this.engine.find('sys_saved_report', {
-      filter: f, limit: 500, orderBy: [{ field: 'updated_at', direction: 'desc' }], context: SYSTEM_CTX,
+      filter: f, limit: 500, orderBy: [{ field: 'updated_at', order: 'desc' }], context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
     return Array.isArray(rows) ? rows.map(rowFromSaved) : [];
   }
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ export class ReportService implements IReportService {
     const f: any = {};
     if (filter?.reportId) f.report_id = filter.reportId;
     const rows = await this.engine.find('sys_report_schedule', {
-      filter: f, limit: 500, orderBy: [{ field: 'next_run_at', direction: 'asc' }], context: SYSTEM_CTX,
+      filter: f, limit: 500, orderBy: [{ field: 'next_run_at', order: 'asc' }], context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
     return Array.isArray(rows) ? rows.map(rowFromSchedule) : [];
   }
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/share-link-routes.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/share-link-routes.ts
index 10c0e23df4..dc70006fd2 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/share-link-routes.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/share-link-routes.ts
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ export function registerShareLinkRoutes(
       const SYSTEM_CTX = { isSystem: true, roles: [], permissions: [] } as const;
       const rows = await engine.find('ai_messages', {
         where: { conversation_id: resolved.link.record_id },
-        sort: [{ field: 'created_at', direction: 'asc' }],
+        sort: [{ field: 'created_at', order: 'asc' }],
         limit: 500,
         context: SYSTEM_CTX,
       } as any);
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-rule-service.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-rule-service.ts
index 3ec5ce1013..90e2b87a75 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-rule-service.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-rule-service.ts
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ export class SharingRuleService implements ISharingRuleService {
     if (orgId) where.organization_id = orgId;
     const rows = await this.engine.find('sys_sharing_rule', {
       filter: where,
-      orderBy: [{ field: 'name', direction: 'asc' }],
+      orderBy: [{ field: 'name', order: 'asc' }],
       limit: 1000,
       context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.test.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.test.ts
index be719ed923..a785cd22ab 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.test.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,20 @@ function makeFakeEngine(schemas: Record<string, any>) {
     async find(object: string, options?: any) {
       const table = ensure(object);
       const filter = options?.filter ?? options?.where;
-      return table.filter(r => matches(r, filter)).slice(0, options?.limit ?? 1000);
+      let out = table.filter(r => matches(r, filter));
+      if (options?.orderBy?.[0]) {
+        // Canonical SortNode key only (spec/data/query.zod.ts): the real
+        // engine strips an unknown `direction:` key and defaults to asc, so
+        // the mock must too — honoring both keys masks wrong-key sorts.
+        const { field, order } = options.orderBy[0];
+        out = [...out].sort((a, b) => {
+          const av = a[field]; const bv = b[field];
+          if (av === bv) return 0;
+          const cmp = av > bv ? 1 : -1;
+          return order === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
+        });
+      }
+      return out.slice(0, options?.limit ?? 1000);
     },
     async insert(object: string, data: any) {
       const row = { ...data };
@@ -236,6 +249,17 @@ describe('SharingService.grant / listShares / revoke', () => {
     expect(rows.length).toBe(2);
   });
 
+  it('listShares returns the newest grant first', async () => {
+    // Regression: the query sorted with the non-canonical `direction: 'desc'`
+    // key, which SortNode strips — so it sorted ascending (oldest first).
+    engine._tables.sys_record_share = [
+      { id: 'shr_old', object_name: 'account', record_id: 'a1', recipient_id: 'bob', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: 'shr_new', object_name: 'account', record_id: 'a1', recipient_id: 'carol', created_at: '2026-02-01T00:00:00Z' },
+    ];
+    const rows = await svc.listShares('account', 'a1', { userId: 'admin' });
+    expect(rows.map(r => r.id)).toEqual(['shr_new', 'shr_old']);
+  });
+
   it('revoke removes the row', async () => {
     const r = await svc.grant({ object: 'account', recordId: 'a1', recipientId: 'bob' }, { userId: 'admin' });
     await svc.revoke(r.id, { userId: 'admin' });
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.ts
index bcf255f393..b5124b4853 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/sharing-service.ts
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ export class SharingService implements ISharingService {
   ): Promise<RecordShare[]> {
     const rows = await this.engine.find('sys_record_share', {
       filter: { object_name: object, record_id: recordId },
-      orderBy: [{ field: 'created_at', direction: 'desc' }],
+      orderBy: [{ field: 'created_at', order: 'desc' }],
       limit: 500,
       context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
diff --git a/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.test.ts b/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.test.ts
index 7a148600e1..9ef48eec50 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.test.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.test.ts
@@ -13,12 +13,15 @@ function makeFakeEngine() {
         ? t.filter((r) => Object.entries(opts.where).every(([k, v]) => r[k] === v))
         : [...t];
       if (opts.orderBy) {
-        for (const order of [...opts.orderBy].reverse()) {
+        for (const ord of [...opts.orderBy].reverse()) {
+          // Canonical SortNode key only (spec/data/query.zod.ts): the real
+          // engine strips an unknown `direction:` key and defaults to asc,
+          // so the mock must too — honoring both keys masks wrong-key sorts.
           out.sort((a, b) => {
-            const av = a[order.field], bv = b[order.field];
+            const av = a[ord.field], bv = b[ord.field];
             if (av === bv) return 0;
             const cmp = av > bv ? 1 : -1;
-            return order.direction === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
+            return ord.order === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
           });
         }
       }
@@ -118,6 +121,18 @@ describe('DbJobAdapter', () => {
     expect(ok[0].jobId).toBe('mix');
   });
 
+  it('listExecutionsByStatus returns the newest run first', async () => {
+    // Regression: the query sorted with the non-canonical `direction: 'desc'`
+    // key, which SortNode strips — so "latest run" returned the OLDEST run.
+    engine.tables.set('sys_job_run', [
+      { id: '1', job_name: 'first', status: 'success', started_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: '2', job_name: 'third', status: 'success', started_at: '2026-03-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: '3', job_name: 'second', status: 'success', started_at: '2026-02-01T00:00:00Z' },
+    ]);
+    const runs = await adapter.listExecutionsByStatus('success');
+    expect(runs.map((r) => r.jobId)).toEqual(['third', 'second', 'first']);
+  });
+
   it('replay tags a synthetic run as replay trigger', async () => {
     await adapter.schedule('rj', { type: 'cron', expression: '* * * * *' }, async () => {});
     await adapter.replay('rj');
diff --git a/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.ts b/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.ts
index 0d6588da14..b311b5ebcd 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-job/src/db-job-adapter.ts
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ export class DbJobAdapter implements IJobService {
     const rows = await this.engine.find(RUN_TABLE, {
       where: { status },
       limit: limit ?? 50,
-      orderBy: [{ field: 'started_at', direction: 'desc' }],
+      orderBy: [{ field: 'started_at', order: 'desc' }],
       context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
     return (rows ?? []).map((r: any) => ({
diff --git a/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.test.ts b/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.test.ts
index c2b44e3e8f..d5125e0987 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.test.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.test.ts
@@ -25,12 +25,15 @@ function makeFakeEngine() {
       const t = tables.get(table) ?? [];
       let out = opts.where ? t.filter((r) => matches(r, opts.where)) : [...t];
       if (opts.orderBy) {
-        for (const order of [...opts.orderBy].reverse()) {
+        for (const ord of [...opts.orderBy].reverse()) {
+          // Canonical SortNode key only (spec/data/query.zod.ts): the real
+          // engine strips an unknown `direction:` key and defaults to asc,
+          // so the mock must too — honoring both keys masks wrong-key sorts.
           out.sort((a, b) => {
-            const av = a[order.field], bv = b[order.field];
+            const av = a[ord.field], bv = b[ord.field];
             if (av === bv) return 0;
             const cmp = av > bv ? 1 : -1;
-            return order.direction === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
+            return ord.order === 'desc' ? -cmp : cmp;
           });
         }
       }
@@ -164,6 +167,17 @@ describe('DbQueueAdapter', () => {
     expect(failed[0].lastError).toContain('x');
   });
 
+  it('listFailed returns the newest message first', async () => {
+    // Regression: the query sorted with the non-canonical `direction: 'desc'`
+    // key, which SortNode strips — so it sorted ascending (oldest first).
+    engine.tables.set('sys_job_queue', [
+      { id: 'm_old', queue: 'q', status: 'dlq', payload_json: '{}', created_at: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' },
+      { id: 'm_new', queue: 'q', status: 'dlq', payload_json: '{}', created_at: '2026-02-01T00:00:00Z' },
+    ]);
+    const failed = await adapter.listFailed('q');
+    expect(failed.map((f) => f.id)).toEqual(['m_new', 'm_old']);
+  });
+
   it('replay resets dlq message back to pending and re-processes', async () => {
     let attempts = 0;
     await adapter.subscribe('replay-q', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.ts b/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.ts
index f140e5e83c..32a22d50db 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-queue/src/db-queue-adapter.ts
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ export class DbQueueAdapter implements IQueueService {
       where,
       limit: options?.limit ?? 100,
       offset: options?.offset,
-      orderBy: [{ field: 'created_at', direction: 'desc' }],
+      orderBy: [{ field: 'created_at', order: 'desc' }],
       context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
     return (rows ?? []).map((r: any) => this.rowToRecord(r));
@@ -265,8 +265,8 @@ export class DbQueueAdapter implements IQueueService {
       where: { queue, status: 'pending' },
       limit: max * 3, // over-fetch in case of CAS contention
       orderBy: [
-        { field: 'priority', direction: 'asc' },
-        { field: 'scheduled_for', direction: 'asc' },
+        { field: 'priority', order: 'asc' },
+        { field: 'scheduled_for', order: 'asc' },
       ],
       context: SYSTEM_CTX,
     });
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/benchmark.bench.ts b/packages/spec/src/benchmark.bench.ts
index 76208642ff..d6c7b7c241 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/benchmark.bench.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/benchmark.bench.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe('Data Domain — Schema Parse Performance', () => {
     object: 'benchmark_object',
     fields: ['name', 'status', 'priority'],
     filters: [['status', '=', 'active'], 'and', ['priority', '>', 0]],
-    sort: [{ field: 'priority', direction: 'desc' }],
+    orderBy: [{ field: 'priority', order: 'desc' }],
     top: 25,
     skip: 0,
   };
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ describe('UI Domain — Schema Parse Performance', () => {
         { field: 'name', width: 200 },
         { field: 'status', width: 100 },
       ],
-      defaultSort: { field: 'name', direction: 'asc' },
+      sort: [{ field: 'name', order: 'asc' }],
       pageSize: 25,
     },
   };