diff --git a/compiler/src/parser.ts b/compiler/src/parser.ts
index da82cbb..f3ee705 100644
--- a/compiler/src/parser.ts
+++ b/compiler/src/parser.ts
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ function parseSpeck(lines: string[], startIndex: number): SpeckNode | null {
     const closeCount = (rawLine.match(/}/g) || []).length;
 
     // Check for block-opening members
-    const blockStarters = ['state:', 'init:', 'action ', 'event ', 'provenance ', 'bom ', 'interface '];
+    const blockStarters = ['state:', 'init:', 'action ', 'event ', 'provenance ', 'bom ', 'interface ',
+      'state {', 'init {'];
     const isBlockStarter = blockStarters.some(s => line.startsWith(s));
 
     if (isBlockStarter && openCount > 0) {
@@ -304,9 +305,15 @@ function parseMemberBlock(lines: string[], startIndex: number): MemberNode | nul
   if (firstLine.startsWith('state:')) {
     return parseStateBlockMultiline(lines, startIndex, startBraceCount);
   }
+  if (firstLine.startsWith('state {') || firstLine === 'state') {
+    return parseStateBlockMultiline(lines, startIndex, startBraceCount);
+  }
   if (firstLine.startsWith('init:')) {
     return parseInitBlockMultiline(lines, startIndex, startBraceCount);
   }
+  if (firstLine.startsWith('init {') || firstLine === 'init') {
+    return parseInitBlockMultiline(lines, startIndex, startBraceCount);
+  }
   if (firstLine.startsWith('action ')) {
     return parseActionBlockMultiline(lines, startIndex, startBraceCount);
   }
@@ -390,7 +397,7 @@ function parseMember(line: string): MemberNode | null {
     return parseSource(line);
   }
   
-  // state:
+  // state: or state {
   if (line.startsWith('state:')) {
     const varsStr = line.substring(6).trim();
     // state: { ... } - single-line form
@@ -401,8 +408,19 @@ function parseMember(line: string): MemberNode | null {
     // state: { - multi-line opening (handled by parseStateMultiline)
     return { type: 'state', variables: [] };
   }
+  if (line.startsWith('state {') || line === 'state') {
+    // state { ... } inline or state { on its own line (handled by parseMemberBlock)
+    if (line.startsWith('state {')) {
+      const inner = line.substring(6).trim();
+      const content = inner.startsWith('{') ? inner.slice(1).trim() : inner;
+      if (content.endsWith('}')) {
+        return parseStateBlock(content.slice(0, -1).trim());
+      }
+    }
+    return { type: 'state', variables: [] };
+  }
 
-  // init:
+  // init: or init {
   if (line.startsWith('init:')) {
     const initStr = line.substring(5).trim();
     if (initStr.startsWith('{') && initStr.endsWith('}')) {
@@ -411,6 +429,17 @@ function parseMember(line: string): MemberNode | null {
     }
     return { type: 'init', assignments: [] };
   }
+  if (line.startsWith('init {') || line === 'init') {
+    // init { ... } inline
+    if (line.startsWith('init {')) {
+      const inner = line.substring(5).trim();
+      const content = inner.startsWith('{') ? inner.slice(1).trim() : inner;
+      if (content.endsWith('}')) {
+        return parseInitBlock(content.slice(0, -1).trim());
+      }
+    }
+    return { type: 'init', assignments: [] };
+  }
 
   // action keyword
   if (line.startsWith('action ')) {
@@ -553,6 +582,40 @@ function parseTypeExpr(expr: string): TypeExpr {
     // Fallback: treat as ident if malformed
     return { type: 'ident', name: expr };
   }
+
+  // List(T) — parenthetical syntax (SpeckDL canonical form)
+  if (expr.startsWith('List(') && expr.endsWith(')')) {
+    const inner = expr.substring(5, expr.length - 1).trim();
+    return { type: 'list', elementType: parseTypeExpr(inner) };
+  }
+
+  // Set(T) — parenthetical syntax (SpeckDL canonical form)
+  if (expr.startsWith('Set(') && expr.endsWith(')')) {
+    const inner = expr.substring(4, expr.length - 1).trim();
+    return { type: 'set', elementType: parseTypeExpr(inner) };
+  }
+
+  // Map(K, V) — parenthetical syntax (SpeckDL canonical form)
+  if (expr.startsWith('Map(') && expr.endsWith(')')) {
+    const inner = expr.substring(4, expr.length - 1);
+    let depth = 0;
+    let commaIdx = -1;
+    for (let i = 0; i < inner.length; i++) {
+      if (inner[i] === '(' || inner[i] === '<') depth++;
+      else if (inner[i] === ')' || inner[i] === '>') depth--;
+      else if (inner[i] === ',' && depth === 0) {
+        commaIdx = i;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    if (commaIdx !== -1) {
+      const keyStr = inner.substring(0, commaIdx).trim();
+      const valStr = inner.substring(commaIdx + 1).trim();
+      return { type: 'map', keyType: parseTypeExpr(keyStr), valueType: parseTypeExpr(valStr) };
+    }
+    // Fallback: treat as ident if malformed
+    return { type: 'ident', name: expr };
+  }
   
   // List type: [T]
   if (expr.startsWith('[') && expr.endsWith(']')) {