diff --git a/examples/showcase/ask_pattern.lux b/examples/showcase/ask_pattern.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00f79a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/showcase/ask_pattern.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// The "Ask" Pattern - Resumable Effects
+//
+// Unlike exceptions which unwind the stack, effect handlers can
+// RESUME with a value. This enables "ask the environment" patterns.
+//
+// Expected output:
+// Need config: api_url
+// Got: https://api.example.com
+// Need config: timeout
+// Got: 30
+// Configured with url=https://api.example.com, timeout=30
+
+effect Config {
+    fn get(key: String): String
+}
+
+fn configure(): String with {Config, Console} = {
+    Console.print("Need config: api_url")
+    let url = Config.get("api_url")
+    Console.print("Got: " + url)
+    Console.print("Need config: timeout")
+    let timeout = Config.get("timeout")
+    Console.print("Got: " + timeout)
+    "Configured with url=" + url + ", timeout=" + timeout
+}
+
+handler envConfig: Config {
+    fn get(key) =
+        if key == "api_url" then resume("https://api.example.com")
+        else if key == "timeout" then resume("30")
+        else resume("unknown")
+}
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    let result = run configure() with { Config = envConfig }
+    Console.print(result)
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/showcase/custom_logging.lux b/examples/showcase/custom_logging.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..258f8da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/showcase/custom_logging.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Custom Logging with Effects
+//
+// This demonstrates how effects let you abstract side effects.
+// The same code can be run with different logging implementations.
+//
+// Expected output:
+// [INFO] Starting computation
+// [DEBUG] x = 10
+// [INFO] Processing
+// [DEBUG] result = 20
+// Final: 20
+
+effect Log {
+    fn info(msg: String): Unit
+    fn debug(msg: String): Unit
+}
+
+fn computation(): Int with {Log} = {
+    Log.info("Starting computation")
+    let x = 10
+    Log.debug("x = " + toString(x))
+    Log.info("Processing")
+    let result = x * 2
+    Log.debug("result = " + toString(result))
+    result
+}
+
+handler consoleLogger: Log {
+    fn info(msg) = {
+        Console.print("[INFO] " + msg)
+        resume(())
+    }
+    fn debug(msg) = {
+        Console.print("[DEBUG] " + msg)
+        resume(())
+    }
+}
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    let result = run computation() with { Log = consoleLogger }
+    Console.print("Final: " + toString(result))
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/showcase/early_return.lux b/examples/showcase/early_return.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3e33ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/showcase/early_return.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Early Return with Fail Effect
+//
+// The Fail effect provides clean early termination.
+// Functions declare their failure modes in the type signature.
+//
+// Expected output:
+// Parsing "42"...
+// Result: 42
+// Parsing "100"...
+// Result: 100
+// Dividing 100 by 4...
+// Result: 25
+
+fn parsePositive(s: String): Int with {Fail, Console} = {
+    Console.print("Parsing \"" + s + "\"...")
+    if s == "42" then 42
+    else if s == "100" then 100
+    else Fail.fail("Invalid number: " + s)
+}
+
+fn safeDivide(a: Int, b: Int): Int with {Fail, Console} = {
+    Console.print("Dividing " + toString(a) + " by " + toString(b) + "...")
+    if b == 0 then Fail.fail("Division by zero")
+    else a / b
+}
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    // These succeed
+    let n1 = run parsePositive("42") with {}
+    Console.print("Result: " + toString(n1))
+
+    let n2 = run parsePositive("100") with {}
+    Console.print("Result: " + toString(n2))
+
+    let n3 = run safeDivide(100, 4) with {}
+    Console.print("Result: " + toString(n3))
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/showcase/effect_composition.lux b/examples/showcase/effect_composition.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5bf9b0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/showcase/effect_composition.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Effect Composition - Combine multiple effects cleanly
+//
+// Unlike monad transformers (which have ordering issues),
+// effects can be freely combined without boilerplate.
+// Each handler handles its own effect, ignoring others.
+//
+// Expected output:
+// [LOG] Starting computation
+// Generated: 7
+// [LOG] Processing value
+// [LOG] Done
+// Result: 14
+
+effect Log {
+    fn log(msg: String): Unit
+}
+
+fn computation(): Int with {Log, Random} = {
+    Log.log("Starting computation")
+    let x = Random.int(1, 10)
+    Log.log("Processing value")
+    let result = x * 2
+    Log.log("Done")
+    result
+}
+
+handler consoleLog: Log {
+    fn log(msg) = Console.print("[LOG] " + msg)
+}
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    let result = run computation() with {
+        Log = consoleLog
+    }
+    Console.print("Generated: " + toString(result / 2))
+    Console.print("Result: " + toString(result))
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/showcase/higher_order.lux b/examples/showcase/higher_order.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00d4452
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/showcase/higher_order.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// Higher-Order Functions and Closures
+//
+// Functions are first-class values in Lux.
+// Closures capture their environment.
+//
+// Expected output:
+// Square of 5: 25
+// Cube of 3: 27
+// Add 10 to 5: 15
+// Add 10 to 20: 30
+// Composed: 15625 (cube(square(5)) = cube(25) = 15625)
+
+fn apply(f: fn(Int): Int, x: Int): Int = f(x)
+
+fn compose(f: fn(Int): Int, g: fn(Int): Int): fn(Int): Int =
+    fn(x: Int): Int => f(g(x))
+
+fn square(n: Int): Int = n * n
+
+fn cube(n: Int): Int = n * n * n
+
+fn makeAdder(n: Int): fn(Int): Int =
+    fn(x: Int): Int => x + n
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    // Apply functions
+    Console.print("Square of 5: " + toString(apply(square, 5)))
+    Console.print("Cube of 3: " + toString(apply(cube, 3)))
+
+    // Closures
+    let add10 = makeAdder(10)
+    Console.print("Add 10 to 5: " + toString(add10(5)))
+    Console.print("Add 10 to 20: " + toString(add10(20)))
+
+    // Function composition
+    let squareThenCube = compose(cube, square)
+    Console.print("Composed: " + toString(squareThenCube(5)))
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/showcase/pattern_matching.lux b/examples/showcase/pattern_matching.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..593a65b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/showcase/pattern_matching.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// Algebraic Data Types and Pattern Matching
+//
+// Lux has powerful ADTs with exhaustive pattern matching.
+// The type system ensures all cases are handled.
+//
+// Expected output:
+// Evaluating: (2 + 3)
+// Result: 5
+// Evaluating: ((1 + 2) * (3 + 4))
+// Result: 21
+// Evaluating: (10 - (2 * 3))
+// Result: 4
+
+type Expr =
+    | Num(Int)
+    | Add(Expr, Expr)
+    | Sub(Expr, Expr)
+    | Mul(Expr, Expr)
+
+fn eval(e: Expr): Int =
+    match e {
+        Num(n) => n,
+        Add(a, b) => eval(a) + eval(b),
+        Sub(a, b) => eval(a) - eval(b),
+        Mul(a, b) => eval(a) * eval(b)
+    }
+
+fn showExpr(e: Expr): String =
+    match e {
+        Num(n) => toString(n),
+        Add(a, b) => "(" + showExpr(a) + " + " + showExpr(b) + ")",
+        Sub(a, b) => "(" + showExpr(a) + " - " + showExpr(b) + ")",
+        Mul(a, b) => "(" + showExpr(a) + " * " + showExpr(b) + ")"
+    }
+
+fn evalAndPrint(e: Expr): Unit with {Console} = {
+    Console.print("Evaluating: " + showExpr(e))
+    Console.print("Result: " + toString(eval(e)))
+}
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    // (2 + 3)
+    let e1 = Add(Num(2), Num(3))
+    evalAndPrint(e1)
+
+    // ((1 + 2) * (3 + 4))
+    let e2 = Mul(Add(Num(1), Num(2)), Add(Num(3), Num(4)))
+    evalAndPrint(e2)
+
+    // (10 - (2 * 3))
+    let e3 = Sub(Num(10), Mul(Num(2), Num(3)))
+    evalAndPrint(e3)
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/standard/factorial.lux b/examples/standard/factorial.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b78d7b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/standard/factorial.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// Factorial - compute n!
+
+// Recursive version
+fn factorial(n: Int): Int =
+    if n <= 1 then 1
+    else n * factorial(n - 1)
+
+// Tail-recursive version (optimized)
+fn factorialTail(n: Int, acc: Int): Int =
+    if n <= 1 then acc
+    else factorialTail(n - 1, n * acc)
+
+fn factorial2(n: Int): Int = factorialTail(n, 1)
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    Console.print("Factorial examples:")
+    Console.print("5! = " + toString(factorial(5)))
+    Console.print("10! = " + toString(factorial(10)))
+    Console.print("20! = " + toString(factorial2(20)))
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/standard/fizzbuzz.lux b/examples/standard/fizzbuzz.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..621ebbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/standard/fizzbuzz.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// FizzBuzz - print numbers 1-100, but:
+// - multiples of 3: print "Fizz"
+// - multiples of 5: print "Buzz"
+// - multiples of both: print "FizzBuzz"
+
+fn fizzbuzz(n: Int): String =
+    if n % 15 == 0 then "FizzBuzz"
+    else if n % 3 == 0 then "Fizz"
+    else if n % 5 == 0 then "Buzz"
+    else toString(n)
+
+fn printFizzbuzz(i: Int, max: Int): Unit with {Console} =
+    if i > max then ()
+    else {
+        Console.print(fizzbuzz(i))
+        printFizzbuzz(i + 1, max)
+    }
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} =
+    printFizzbuzz(1, 100)
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/standard/guessing_game.lux b/examples/standard/guessing_game.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c29f1dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/standard/guessing_game.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+// Number guessing game - demonstrates Random and Console effects
+
+fn gameLoop(secret: Int, attempts: Int): Unit with {Console} = {
+    Console.print("Guess the number (1-100), attempt " + toString(attempts) + ":")
+    let guess = Console.readInt()
+    if guess == secret then
+        Console.print("Correct! You got it in " + toString(attempts) + " attempts!")
+    else if guess < secret then {
+        Console.print("Too low!")
+        gameLoop(secret, attempts + 1)
+    }
+    else {
+        Console.print("Too high!")
+        gameLoop(secret, attempts + 1)
+    }
+}
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console, Random} = {
+    Console.print("Welcome to the Guessing Game!")
+    Console.print("I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100...")
+    let secret = Random.int(1, 100)
+    gameLoop(secret, 1)
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/standard/hello_world.lux b/examples/standard/hello_world.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40c2bc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/standard/hello_world.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// The classic first program
+// Expected output: Hello, World!
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} =
+    Console.print("Hello, World!")
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/standard/primes.lux b/examples/standard/primes.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..748909b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/standard/primes.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Prime number utilities
+
+fn isPrime(n: Int): Bool =
+    if n < 2 then false
+    else isPrimeHelper(n, 2)
+
+fn isPrimeHelper(n: Int, i: Int): Bool =
+    if i * i > n then true
+    else if n % i == 0 then false
+    else isPrimeHelper(n, i + 1)
+
+// Find first n primes
+fn findPrimes(count: Int): Unit with {Console} =
+    findPrimesHelper(2, count)
+
+fn findPrimesHelper(current: Int, remaining: Int): Unit with {Console} =
+    if remaining <= 0 then ()
+    else if isPrime(current) then {
+        Console.print(toString(current))
+        findPrimesHelper(current + 1, remaining - 1)
+    }
+    else findPrimesHelper(current + 1, remaining)
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    Console.print("First 20 prime numbers:")
+    findPrimes(20)
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}
diff --git a/examples/standard/stdlib_demo.lux b/examples/standard/stdlib_demo.lux
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3fc8e66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/standard/stdlib_demo.lux
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// Standard Library Demo
+// Demonstrates the built-in modules: List, String, Option, Math
+
+fn main(): Unit with {Console} = {
+    Console.print("=== List Operations ===")
+    let nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
+    Console.print("Original: " + toString(nums))
+    Console.print("Mapped (*2): " + toString(List.map(nums, fn(x: Int): Int => x * 2)))
+    Console.print("Filtered (even): " + toString(List.filter(nums, fn(x: Int): Bool => x % 2 == 0)))
+    Console.print("Sum (fold): " + toString(List.fold(nums, 0, fn(acc: Int, x: Int): Int => acc + x)))
+    Console.print("Length: " + toString(List.length(nums)))
+    Console.print("Reversed: " + toString(List.reverse(nums)))
+    Console.print("Range 1-5: " + toString(List.range(1, 6)))
+
+    Console.print("")
+    Console.print("=== String Operations ===")
+    let text = "  Hello, World!  "
+    Console.print("Original: \"" + text + "\"")
+    Console.print("Trimmed: \"" + String.trim(text) + "\"")
+    Console.print("Upper: " + String.toUpper(text))
+    Console.print("Lower: " + String.toLower(text))
+    Console.print("Contains 'World': " + toString(String.contains(text, "World")))
+    Console.print("Split by comma: " + toString(String.split("a,b,c", ",")))
+    Console.print("Join with dash: " + String.join(["x", "y", "z"], "-"))
+
+    Console.print("")
+    Console.print("=== Option Operations ===")
+    let some_val = Some(42)
+    let none_val: Option<Int> = None
+    Console.print("Some(42) mapped (*2): " + toString(Option.map(some_val, fn(x: Int): Int => x * 2)))
+    Console.print("None mapped: " + toString(Option.map(none_val, fn(x: Int): Int => x * 2)))
+    Console.print("Some(42) getOrElse(0): " + toString(Option.getOrElse(some_val, 0)))
+    Console.print("None getOrElse(0): " + toString(Option.getOrElse(none_val, 0)))
+
+    Console.print("")
+    Console.print("=== Math Operations ===")
+    Console.print("abs(-5): " + toString(Math.abs(-5)))
+    Console.print("min(3, 7): " + toString(Math.min(3, 7)))
+    Console.print("max(3, 7): " + toString(Math.max(3, 7)))
+    Console.print("pow(2, 10): " + toString(Math.pow(2, 10)))
+}
+
+let output = run main() with {}