/**
 * Policy Loading Utility
 *
 * Loads and caches policy from lexmap.policy.json
 * Supports custom policy path via environment variable
 */
import type { Policy } from "../../types/policy.js";
/**
 * Load policy from lexmap.policy.json
 *
 * @param path - Optional custom policy path (defaults to working file with fallback to example)
 * @returns Policy object
 * @throws Error if policy file cannot be read or parsed
 *
 * Policy loading precedence:
 * 1. LEX_POLICY_PATH environment variable (explicit override)
 * 2. Custom path parameter (if provided)
 * 3. .smartergpt/lex/lexmap.policy.json (working file)
 * 4. canon/policy/lexmap.policy.json (canonical policy - checked in git)
 * 5. src/policy/policy_spec/lexmap.policy.json.example (example template)
 *
 * @example
 * ```typescript
 * const policy = loadPolicy();
 * console.log(Object.keys(policy.modules)); // ['indexer', 'ts', 'php', 'mcp']
 * ```
 *
 * @example With custom path
 * ```typescript
 * const policy = loadPolicy('/custom/path/policy.json');
 * ```
 *
 * @example With environment variable
 * ```typescript
 * process.env.LEX_POLICY_PATH = '/custom/path/policy.json';
 * const policy = loadPolicy();
 * ```
 */
export declare function loadPolicy(path?: string): Policy;
/**
 * Load policy if available, return null if not found (graceful mode)
 *
 * @param path - Optional custom policy path
 * @returns Policy object or null if not found
 *
 * This is used by CLI commands that should work without a policy file,
 * emitting a warning instead of failing.
 *
 * @example
 * ```typescript
 * const policy = loadPolicyIfAvailable();
 * if (!policy) {
 *   console.warn('No policy file found, skipping validation');
 * }
 * ```
 */
export declare function loadPolicyIfAvailable(path?: string): Policy | null;
/**
 * Clear cached policy (useful for testing)
 */
export declare function clearPolicyCache(): void;