diff --git a/editor/CMakeLists.txt b/editor/CMakeLists.txt
index 7cba679..4c79b45 100644
--- a/editor/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/editor/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ target_include_directories(step63_test PRIVATE src)
 add_executable(step64_test tests/step64_test.cpp)
 target_include_directories(step64_test PRIVATE src)
 
+add_executable(step65_test tests/step65_test.cpp)
+target_include_directories(step65_test PRIVATE src)
+
 add_executable(whetstone_editor src/main.cpp)
 target_include_directories(whetstone_editor PRIVATE src)
 # find_package(SDL2 REQUIRED)  # Commented out for now to avoid build issues
diff --git a/editor/tests/step65_test.cpp b/editor/tests/step65_test.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc713e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editor/tests/step65_test.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+// Step 65 TDD Test: Memory strategy inference
+//
+// Tests that the system can infer appropriate memory annotations:
+// 1. Python source → @Reclaim(Tracing)
+// 2. C++ unique_ptr patterns → @Lifetime(RAII) or @Owner(Single)
+// 3. C++ shared_ptr patterns → @Owner(Shared_ARC)
+// 4. C raw malloc/free → @Deallocate(Explicit)
+// 5. Immutable data → @Allocate(Static) candidate
+// 6. Suggestions are surfaced, not auto-applied
+//
+// Will fail until memory strategy inference is implemented.
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <cassert>
+#include <vector>
+#include "ast/ASTNode.h"
+#include "ast/Module.h"
+#include "ast/Function.h"
+#include "ast/Variable.h"
+#include "ast/Annotation.h"
+
+// Forward declaration — MemoryStrategyInference
+class MemoryStrategyInference {
+public:
+    struct Suggestion {
+        std::string nodeId;
+        std::string annotationType;  // e.g., "ReclaimAnnotation"
+        std::string strategy;        // e.g., "Tracing"
+        std::string reason;          // Human-readable explanation
+        double confidence;           // 0.0 to 1.0
+    };
+
+    // Analyze an AST and suggest memory annotations
+    std::vector<Suggestion> inferAnnotations(const ASTNode* root) const;
+};
+
+static bool hasSuggestion(const std::vector<MemoryStrategyInference::Suggestion>& suggestions,
+                           const std::string& annotationType,
+                           const std::string& strategy) {
+    for (const auto& s : suggestions) {
+        if (s.annotationType == annotationType && s.strategy == strategy) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+int main() {
+    int passed = 0;
+    int failed = 0;
+
+    MemoryStrategyInference inference;
+
+    // --- Test 1: Python module → @Reclaim(Tracing) suggested ---
+    {
+        Module mod("m1", "PyModule", "python");
+        Function* fn = new Function("f1", "process");
+        mod.addChild("functions", fn);
+
+        auto suggestions = inference.inferAnnotations(&mod);
+        assert(hasSuggestion(suggestions, "ReclaimAnnotation", "Tracing") &&
+               "Python module should suggest @Reclaim(Tracing)");
+
+        std::cout << "Test 1 PASS: Python → @Reclaim(Tracing) suggested" << std::endl;
+        ++passed;
+
+        delete fn;
+    }
+
+    // --- Test 2: C++ module with no specific patterns → generic suggestion ---
+    {
+        Module mod("m1", "CppModule", "cpp");
+        Function* fn = new Function("f1", "compute");
+        mod.addChild("functions", fn);
+
+        auto suggestions = inference.inferAnnotations(&mod);
+        // Should have at least one suggestion
+        assert(!suggestions.empty() && "C++ module should have at least one suggestion");
+
+        std::cout << "Test 2 PASS: C++ module gets memory suggestions" << std::endl;
+        ++passed;
+
+        delete fn;
+    }
+
+    // --- Test 3: Suggestions are not auto-applied ---
+    {
+        Module mod("m1", "PyModule", "python");
+        Function* fn = new Function("f1", "process");
+        mod.addChild("functions", fn);
+
+        // Before inference
+        auto annosBefore = fn->getChildren("annotations");
+        size_t countBefore = annosBefore.size();
+
+        // Run inference
+        inference.inferAnnotations(&mod);
+
+        // After inference — annotations should NOT be added to the AST
+        auto annosAfter = fn->getChildren("annotations");
+        assert(annosAfter.size() == countBefore &&
+               "Inference should NOT auto-apply annotations to AST");
+
+        std::cout << "Test 3 PASS: Suggestions not auto-applied to AST" << std::endl;
+        ++passed;
+
+        delete fn;
+    }
+
+    // --- Test 4: Suggestions include confidence scores ---
+    {
+        Module mod("m1", "PyModule", "python");
+        Function* fn = new Function("f1", "process");
+        mod.addChild("functions", fn);
+
+        auto suggestions = inference.inferAnnotations(&mod);
+        for (const auto& s : suggestions) {
+            assert(s.confidence >= 0.0 && s.confidence <= 1.0 &&
+                   "Confidence should be between 0 and 1");
+            assert(!s.reason.empty() && "Suggestion should have a reason");
+        }
+
+        std::cout << "Test 4 PASS: Suggestions have confidence scores and reasons" << std::endl;
+        ++passed;
+
+        delete fn;
+    }
+
+    // --- Test 5: Elisp module → @Reclaim(Tracing) suggested ---
+    {
+        Module mod("m1", "ElModule", "elisp");
+        Function* fn = new Function("f1", "process");
+        mod.addChild("functions", fn);
+
+        auto suggestions = inference.inferAnnotations(&mod);
+        assert(hasSuggestion(suggestions, "ReclaimAnnotation", "Tracing") &&
+               "Elisp module should suggest @Reclaim(Tracing)");
+
+        std::cout << "Test 5 PASS: Elisp → @Reclaim(Tracing) suggested" << std::endl;
+        ++passed;
+
+        delete fn;
+    }
+
+    // --- Summary ---
+    std::cout << "\n=== Step 65 Results: " << passed << " passed, " << failed << " failed ===" << std::endl;
+    return failed > 0 ? 1 : 0;
+}