/**
 * Deep merge utility with EXPLICIT path specification
 *
 * This utility performs a shallow merge by default, with deep merging
 * ONLY for paths explicitly specified. This prevents accidental deep
 * merging of unexpected properties.
 *
 * @example
 * ```typescript
 * const config = { a: 1, b: { x: 1, y: 2 }, c: { z: 3 } }
 * const override = { a: 2, b: { x: 10 }, c: 'not-an-object' }
 *
 * // Deep merge only 'b', shallow merge everything else
 * const result = deepMerge(config, override, ['b'])
 * // Result: { a: 2, b: { x: 10, y: 2 }, c: 'not-an-object' }
 *
 * // Note: 'c' was NOT deep merged because it's not in deepPaths
 * // Note: 'b.x' was updated while 'b.y' was preserved (deep merge)
 * ```
 *
 * @param base - The base object to merge into
 * @param override - The object with values to override
 * @param deepPaths - Array of keys that should be deep merged (must be plain objects)
 * @returns A new object with merged values
 */
export declare function deepMerge<T extends object>(base: T, override: Partial<T>, deepPaths: Array<keyof T>): T;