diff --git a/backend/api.py b/backend/api.py
index 1395e9a..2f547d9 100644
--- a/backend/api.py
+++ b/backend/api.py
@@ -98,6 +98,38 @@ def nodes() -> list[str]:
     return sorted(NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS.keys())
 
 
+def describe(class_name: str) -> dict:
+    """Return a dict describing a node: inputs, outputs, description, keywords, category.
+
+    Thin wrapper around :func:`backend.node_registry.get_node_info`.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    class_name : str
+        The node class name, e.g. ``"GaussianFilter"``.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        Keys include ``name``, ``display_name``, ``category``, ``input``,
+        ``input_order``, ``output``, ``output_name``, ``description``,
+        ``keywords``, and more.
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    KeyError
+        If no node with that name is registered.
+    """
+    from backend.node_registry import NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS, get_node_info
+    _ensure_registry()
+    if class_name not in NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS:
+        raise KeyError(
+            f"Unknown node {class_name!r}. "
+            f"Use tono.nodes() to list available nodes."
+        )
+    return get_node_info(class_name)
+
+
 def get_node(class_name: str) -> Any:
     """Return a fresh instance of the named node class.
 
@@ -167,10 +199,12 @@ def apply(class_name: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
     cls = NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS[class_name]
     instance = cls()
 
+    input_types = cls.INPUT_TYPES()
+    required = input_types.get("required", {})
+    required_names = list(required.keys())
+
     # Map positional args to required input names in declaration order
     if args:
-        input_types = cls.INPUT_TYPES()
-        required_names = list(input_types.get("required", {}).keys())
         for i, arg in enumerate(args):
             if i >= len(required_names):
                 raise TypeError(
@@ -185,6 +219,18 @@ def apply(class_name: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
                 )
             kwargs[name] = arg
 
+    # Fill in defaults from INPUT_TYPES metadata for any missing required inputs.
+    # The metadata dict is the single source of truth for default values — the
+    # GUI pre-populates widgets from it, and we mirror that behaviour here so
+    # tono.GaussianFilter(field) works without repeating the default at the call site.
+    for name, spec in required.items():
+        if name in kwargs:
+            continue
+        if isinstance(spec, (list, tuple)) and len(spec) >= 2 and isinstance(spec[1], dict):
+            meta = spec[1]
+            if "default" in meta:
+                kwargs[name] = meta["default"]
+
     func = getattr(instance, cls.FUNCTION)
 
     # Run inside an execution context so emit_* calls are no-ops
diff --git a/docs/library.md b/docs/library.md
index 440516c..fd48f2f 100644
--- a/docs/library.md
+++ b/docs/library.md
@@ -19,15 +19,35 @@ import tono
 fields = tono.load("scan.gwy")
 height = fields[0]
 
-# Apply a processing node
-leveled = tono.apply("PlaneLevelField", height)
-filtered = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", leveled, sigma=2.0)
+# Every registered node is available as a top-level callable
+leveled = tono.PlaneLevelField(height)
+filtered = tono.GaussianFilter(leveled, sigma=2.0)
 
 # Access the raw numpy array
 print(filtered.data.shape)   # (256, 256)
 print(filtered.data.mean())  # height in metres
 ```
 
+## Discovering node signatures
+
+Every node carries a real `inspect.Signature` synthesised from its input
+declarations, so `help()`, Jupyter's `?`, and IPython tab-completion all show
+the correct parameters, types, defaults, and enum choices:
+
+```python
+>>> help(tono.EdgeDetect)
+EdgeDetect(
+    field: DataField,
+    method: Literal['sobel', 'prewitt', 'laplacian', 'log'],
+    sigma: float = 1.0,
+) -> DataField
+    Detect edges using Sobel, Prewitt, Laplacian, or LoG operators.
+    ...
+```
+
+`dir(tono)` lists every registered node — useful for tab-completion and
+programmatic discovery.
+
 ## API reference
 
 ### Loading data
@@ -55,19 +75,48 @@ List all supported file extensions.
 
 ### Processing
 
-#### `tono.apply(node_name, *args, **kwargs)`
+There are two equivalent ways to invoke a node. Both return a single value
+when the node has one output, or a tuple when it has multiple.
 
-Run a processing node. Positional arguments are mapped to required inputs in declaration order. Returns a single output if the node has one output, or a tuple if it has multiple.
+#### `tono.NodeName(*args, **kwargs)` — typed call syntax
+
+Recommended for scripts and notebooks. Each node is exposed as a top-level
+callable with a real `inspect.Signature`, so your editor, `help()`, and Jupyter
+all know the parameters and defaults:
 
 ```python
-# Positional: first required input is `field`
-result = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", my_field, sigma=3.0)
+# Positional arguments map to required inputs in declaration order
+result = tono.GaussianFilter(my_field, sigma=3.0)
 
-# All keyword arguments
-result = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", field=my_field, sigma=3.0)
+# Fully keyword — order-independent
+result = tono.GaussianFilter(field=my_field, sigma=3.0)
 
-# Nodes with multiple outputs return a tuple
-field_out, mask_out = tono.apply("ThresholdMask", my_field, method="otsu")
+# Defaults declared in the node's INPUT_TYPES metadata are auto-filled
+result = tono.GaussianFilter(my_field)  # uses sigma=1.0 from metadata
+
+# Multi-output nodes return a tuple
+log_mag, mag, phase, psdf = tono.FFT2D(my_field, windowing="hann", level="mean")
+```
+
+#### `tono.apply(node_name, *args, **kwargs)` — string-based dispatch
+
+Use this when the node name is only known at runtime (e.g. a user-selected
+pipeline). Same arg conventions, same default-filling behaviour.
+
+```python
+name = choose_node_from_config()
+result = tono.apply(name, my_field, sigma=3.0)
+```
+
+#### `tono.describe(name) -> dict`
+
+Return a dict describing a node's inputs, outputs, description, keywords, and
+category. Thin wrapper around the registry metadata used by the web UI.
+
+```python
+info = tono.describe("EdgeDetect")
+print(info["input"]["required"].keys())  # dict_keys(['field', 'method', 'sigma'])
+print(info["output_name"])               # ['edges']
 ```
 
 #### `tono.get_node(name) -> node_instance`
@@ -144,12 +193,11 @@ for path in input_dir.glob("*.gwy"):
     height = fields[0]
 
     # Standard processing pipeline
-    leveled = tono.apply("PlaneLevelField", height)
-    filtered = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", leveled, sigma=1.5)
+    leveled = tono.PlaneLevelField(height)
+    filtered = tono.GaussianFilter(leveled, sigma=1.5)
 
-    # Extract statistics
-    stats_node = tono.get_node("Statistics")
-    (table,) = stats_node.process(field=filtered)
+    # Scalar measurements
+    table = tono.Statistics(filtered)
     results[path.name] = table
 
     print(f"{path.name}: processed {height.xres}x{height.yres} "
@@ -176,11 +224,11 @@ axes[0].set_title("Raw")
 axes[0].set_xlabel("x (um)")
 axes[0].set_ylabel("y (um)")
 
-leveled = tono.apply("PlaneLevelField", field)
+leveled = tono.PlaneLevelField(field)
 axes[1].imshow(leveled.data * 1e9, extent=extent, cmap="afmhot")
 axes[1].set_title("Leveled")
 
-filtered = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", leveled, sigma=2.0)
+filtered = tono.GaussianFilter(leveled, sigma=2.0)
 axes[2].imshow(filtered.data * 1e9, extent=extent, cmap="afmhot")
 axes[2].set_title("Filtered")
 
diff --git a/examples/library_usage.py b/examples/library_usage.py
index 3e9b89b..2afdf5d 100644
--- a/examples/library_usage.py
+++ b/examples/library_usage.py
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ import tono
 # ── 1. Generate a synthetic surface ──────────────────────────────────
 
 print("Generating synthetic surface...")
-surface = tono.apply(
-    "SyntheticSurface",
+surface = tono.SyntheticSurface(
     pattern="fbm",
     xres=256,
     yres=256,
@@ -29,27 +28,26 @@ print(f"  Height range: {np.ptp(surface.data)*1e9:.1f} nm")
 # ── 2. Level the surface ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 print("\nLeveling...")
-leveled = tono.apply("PlaneLevelField", surface)
+leveled = tono.PlaneLevelField(surface)
 print(f"  Mean after leveling: {leveled.data.mean()*1e9:.4f} nm")
 
 # ── 3. Apply a Gaussian filter ───────────────────────────────────────
 
 print("\nFiltering...")
-filtered = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", leveled, sigma=2.0)
+filtered = tono.GaussianFilter(leveled, sigma=2.0)
 print(f"  Height range after filtering: {np.ptp(filtered.data)*1e9:.1f} nm")
 
 # ── 4. Compute statistics ────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 print("\nStatistics:")
-stats_node = tono.get_node("Statistics")
-(table,) = stats_node.process(field=filtered)
+table = tono.Statistics(filtered)
 for row in table:
     print(f"  {row['quantity']}: {row['value']:.6g} {row.get('unit', '')}")
 
 # ── 5. Edge detection ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 print("\nEdge detection...")
-edges = tono.apply("EdgeDetect", filtered, method="sobel", sigma=1.0)
+edges = tono.EdgeDetect(filtered, method="sobel", sigma=1.0)
 print(f"  Edge map range: [{edges.data.min():.2f}, {edges.data.max():.2f}]")
 
 # ── 6. Create a DataField from a numpy array ─────────────────────────
@@ -64,7 +62,7 @@ print(f"  Unit: {custom_field.si_unit_z}")
 # ── 7. FFT analysis ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 print("\nFFT of the filtered surface...")
-fft_log_mag, fft_mag, fft_phase, fft_psdf = tono.apply("FFT2D", filtered, windowing="hann", level="mean")
+fft_log_mag, fft_mag, fft_phase, fft_psdf = tono.FFT2D(filtered, windowing="hann", level="mean")
 print(f"  FFT shape: {fft_mag.data.shape}")
 print(f"  Domain: {fft_mag.domain}")
 
diff --git a/tests/node_tests/note.py b/tests/node_tests/note.py
index 4d99f79..e581647 100644
--- a/tests/node_tests/note.py
+++ b/tests/node_tests/note.py
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ def test_parse_ibw_note():
 
 
 def test_note_load_no_file():
-    from backend.nodes.note import Note
-    node = Note()
+    from backend.nodes.note import IgorNote
+    node = IgorNote()
     try:
         node.load(filename="")
         assert False, "Expected ValueError for empty filename"
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ def test_note_load_no_file():
 
 
 def test_note_load_file_not_found():
-    from backend.nodes.note import Note
-    node = Note()
+    from backend.nodes.note import IgorNote
+    node = IgorNote()
     try:
         node.load(filename="/nonexistent/path/file.ibw")
         assert False, "Expected FileNotFoundError"
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ def test_note_load_file_not_found():
 
 
 def test_note_load_wrong_extension():
-    from backend.nodes.note import Note
-    node = Note()
+    from backend.nodes.note import IgorNote
+    node = IgorNote()
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
         txt_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, "notes.txt")
         Path(txt_path).write_text("Key=Value")
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ def test_note_load_wrong_extension():
 
 def test_note_load_empty_note():
     """An .ibw file with no parseable note entries raises ValueError."""
-    from backend.nodes.note import Note
+    from backend.nodes.note import IgorNote
     from unittest.mock import patch
     import numpy as np
 
-    node = Note()
+    node = IgorNote()
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
         ibw_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, "empty_note.ibw")
         Path(ibw_path).write_bytes(b"fake_ibw")
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def test_note_load_empty_note():
 
 def test_note_load_ibw():
     """Load from a real .ibw file if available in the demo directory."""
-    from backend.nodes.note import Note
+    from backend.nodes.note import IgorNote
     from backend.data_types import DataTable
 
     demo_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "..", "demo"))
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def test_note_load_ibw():
     if ibw_path is None:
         return
 
-    node = Note()
+    node = IgorNote()
     try:
         result, = node.load(filename=ibw_path)
         assert isinstance(result, DataTable)
diff --git a/tests/test_tono_api.py b/tests/test_tono_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfc0e39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_tono_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+"""Tests for the public ``tono`` library API surface."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import inspect
+from typing import Literal, get_args, get_origin
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+
+import tono
+from backend.data_types import DataField, RecordTable
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def sample_field() -> DataField:
+    """A small deterministic field for fast tests."""
+    rng = np.random.default_rng(0)
+    data = rng.standard_normal((32, 32)).astype(np.float64)
+    return tono.field(data, xreal=1e-6, yreal=1e-6)
+
+
+# ── Typed call syntax ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_gaussian_filter_call(sample_field):
+    result = tono.GaussianFilter(sample_field, sigma=2.0)
+    assert isinstance(result, DataField)
+    assert result.data.shape == sample_field.data.shape
+
+
+def test_default_filling_from_metadata(sample_field):
+    # sigma has a metadata default of 1.0 — call should succeed without it.
+    result = tono.GaussianFilter(sample_field)
+    assert isinstance(result, DataField)
+
+
+def test_keyword_only_call(sample_field):
+    result = tono.GaussianFilter(field=sample_field, sigma=0.5)
+    assert isinstance(result, DataField)
+
+
+def test_enum_input_call(sample_field):
+    result = tono.EdgeDetect(sample_field, method="sobel", sigma=1.0)
+    assert isinstance(result, DataField)
+
+
+def test_multi_output_returns_tuple(sample_field):
+    out = tono.FFT2D(sample_field, windowing="hann", level="mean")
+    assert isinstance(out, tuple)
+    assert len(out) == 4
+    assert all(isinstance(x, DataField) for x in out)
+
+
+def test_awkward_required_order(sample_field):
+    # ThresholdMask has ``threshold`` (default 0.0) followed by ``direction``
+    # (no default). The wrapper must handle this without raising, and the
+    # metadata default for threshold must still fire at call time.
+    mask, record = tono.ThresholdMask(
+        sample_field, method="otsu", direction="above"
+    )
+    assert mask.shape == sample_field.data.shape
+    assert isinstance(record, RecordTable)
+
+
+# ── Signature introspection ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_signature_has_expected_params():
+    sig = inspect.signature(tono.GaussianFilter)
+    assert list(sig.parameters) == ["field", "sigma"]
+    assert sig.parameters["sigma"].default == 1.0
+    assert sig.parameters["field"].annotation is DataField
+
+
+def test_signature_enum_uses_literal():
+    sig = inspect.signature(tono.EdgeDetect)
+    annotation = sig.parameters["method"].annotation
+    assert get_origin(annotation) is Literal
+    assert set(get_args(annotation)) == {"sobel", "prewitt", "laplacian", "log"}
+
+
+def test_signature_return_annotation_single_output():
+    sig = inspect.signature(tono.GaussianFilter)
+    assert sig.return_annotation is DataField
+
+
+def test_signature_return_annotation_multi_output():
+    sig = inspect.signature(tono.FFT2D)
+    assert sig.return_annotation is tuple
+
+
+def test_docstring_contains_description_and_params():
+    doc = tono.EdgeDetect.__doc__ or ""
+    assert "Sobel" in doc or "sobel" in doc
+    assert "field" in doc
+    assert "method" in doc
+    assert "sigma" in doc
+
+
+# ── Module-level dunder behaviour ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_dir_lists_nodes():
+    entries = dir(tono)
+    assert "GaussianFilter" in entries
+    assert "EdgeDetect" in entries
+    assert "apply" in entries  # existing top-level export
+    assert "describe" in entries
+
+
+def test_unknown_attribute_raises_attribute_error():
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError, match="NotARealNode"):
+        tono.NotARealNode  # noqa: B018
+
+
+def test_dunder_lookup_raises_immediately():
+    # __getattr__ should short-circuit dunder lookups so that e.g. copy/pickle
+    # machinery doesn't trigger registry loading.
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+        tono.__some_dunder__  # noqa: B018
+
+
+def test_wrappers_are_cached():
+    first = tono.GaussianFilter
+    second = tono.GaussianFilter
+    assert first is second
+
+
+# ── describe() ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def test_describe_returns_expected_keys():
+    info = tono.describe("EdgeDetect")
+    assert info["name"] == "EdgeDetect"
+    assert "input" in info
+    assert "output" in info
+    assert "description" in info
+    assert "field" in info["input"]["required"]
+
+
+def test_describe_unknown_node_raises():
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        tono.describe("NotARealNode")
+
+
+# ── apply() still works and matches wrapper semantics ───────────────────
+
+def test_apply_default_filling(sample_field):
+    # apply() should also fill metadata defaults now.
+    result = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", sample_field)
+    assert isinstance(result, DataField)
+
+
+def test_apply_and_wrapper_are_equivalent(sample_field):
+    via_apply = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", sample_field, sigma=1.5)
+    via_wrapper = tono.GaussianFilter(sample_field, sigma=1.5)
+    np.testing.assert_array_equal(via_apply.data, via_wrapper.data)
diff --git a/tono.py b/tono.py
index f923404..58ef624 100644
--- a/tono.py
+++ b/tono.py
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ Quick start::
     # Load SPM data
     fields = tono.load("scan.gwy")
 
-    # Process
+    # Typed call syntax — help(tono.GaussianFilter) shows the signature
+    result = tono.GaussianFilter(fields[0], sigma=3.0)
+
+    # String-based dispatch for dynamic cases
     result = tono.apply("GaussianFilter", fields[0], sigma=3.0)
 
     # Create a field from a numpy array
@@ -22,15 +25,22 @@ Quick start::
 See ``backend.api`` for the full API documentation.
 """
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import inspect
+from typing import Any, Callable, Literal
+
 from backend.api import (  # noqa: F401
     apply,
     channel_names,
+    describe,
     field,
     get_node,
     load,
     nodes,
     supported_formats,
 )
+from backend.api import _ensure_registry as _ensure_registry
 from backend.data_types import (  # noqa: F401
     DataField,
     DataTable,
@@ -38,3 +48,181 @@ from backend.data_types import (  # noqa: F401
     MeshModel,
     RecordTable,
 )
+
+
+# ── Runtime node wrappers ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+#
+# PEP 562 module __getattr__: expose every registered node as a
+# top-level callable so users can write ``tono.GaussianFilter(field, sigma=2)``
+# instead of ``tono.apply("GaussianFilter", field, sigma=2)``. Each wrapper
+# carries a real inspect.Signature synthesised from the node's INPUT_TYPES,
+# so help(tono.GaussianFilter), Jupyter's ``?``, and IPython tab-completion
+# all show the correct parameters, defaults, and enum choices.
+
+_NODE_WRAPPER_CACHE: dict[str, Callable[..., Any]] = {}
+
+
+# Map tono type-system names to Python runtime types used in annotations.
+# Unknown names fall back to ``typing.Any``.
+_TONO_TYPE_MAP: dict[str, Any] = {
+    "DATA_FIELD": DataField,
+    "IMAGE": DataField,
+    "FLOAT": float,
+    "INT": int,
+    "STRING": str,
+    "BOOL": bool,
+    "LINE": LineData,
+    "RECORD_TABLE": RecordTable,
+    "TABLE": RecordTable,
+    "DATA_TABLE": DataTable,
+    "MESH": MeshModel,
+    "COORD": tuple,
+}
+
+
+def _tono_type_to_python(spec: Any) -> Any:
+    """Resolve a tono input/output type spec to a Python annotation.
+
+    ``spec`` is the first element of an INPUT_TYPES tuple — either a string
+    type name (``"FLOAT"``) or a list of choices (``["sobel", "prewitt"]``).
+    """
+    if isinstance(spec, (list, tuple)) and all(isinstance(x, str) for x in spec):
+        # Enum input — use typing.Literal so help() shows the exact choices.
+        if len(spec) == 0:
+            return str
+        return Literal[tuple(spec)]  # type: ignore[valid-type]
+    if isinstance(spec, str):
+        return _TONO_TYPE_MAP.get(spec, Any)
+    return Any
+
+
+def _build_node_wrapper(name: str, cls: type) -> Callable[..., Any]:
+    """Build a callable wrapper with a synthesised inspect.Signature for ``cls``."""
+    input_types = cls.INPUT_TYPES()
+    required = input_types.get("required", {})
+    optional = input_types.get("optional", {})
+
+    params: list[inspect.Parameter] = []
+    param_doc_lines: list[str] = []
+    EMPTY = inspect.Parameter.empty
+
+    def _param(arg_name: str, raw_spec: Any, force_optional: bool) -> None:
+        # raw_spec is a tuple like ("FLOAT", {...}) or (["sobel","prewitt"],)
+        type_token = raw_spec[0] if isinstance(raw_spec, (list, tuple)) and raw_spec else raw_spec
+        meta: dict = {}
+        if isinstance(raw_spec, (list, tuple)) and len(raw_spec) >= 2 and isinstance(raw_spec[1], dict):
+            meta = raw_spec[1]
+
+        annotation = _tono_type_to_python(type_token)
+        if force_optional:
+            default: Any = None
+        elif "default" in meta:
+            default = meta["default"]
+        else:
+            default = EMPTY
+
+        params.append(
+            inspect.Parameter(
+                arg_name,
+                inspect.Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
+                default=default,
+                annotation=annotation,
+            )
+        )
+
+        # Docstring line
+        if isinstance(type_token, (list, tuple)):
+            type_desc = "{" + ", ".join(repr(c) for c in type_token) + "}"
+        elif isinstance(type_token, str):
+            type_desc = type_token
+        else:
+            type_desc = "Any"
+        default_desc = "" if default is EMPTY else f" (default: {default!r})"
+        param_doc_lines.append(f"    {arg_name} : {type_desc}{default_desc}")
+
+    for arg_name, raw_spec in required.items():
+        _param(arg_name, raw_spec, force_optional=False)
+
+    # Python signatures require that any parameter with a default is followed
+    # only by parameters that also have defaults. Some nodes declare required
+    # inputs in an order that violates this (e.g. ThresholdMask has ``threshold``
+    # with a default followed by ``direction`` without). Walk the required
+    # params in reverse and clear defaults that would break ordering — the
+    # default still fires at runtime via apply()'s metadata default-filling,
+    # it just isn't displayed in the signature for that slot.
+    _seen_no_default = False
+    for i in range(len(params) - 1, -1, -1):
+        if params[i].default is EMPTY:
+            _seen_no_default = True
+        elif _seen_no_default:
+            params[i] = params[i].replace(default=EMPTY)
+
+    for arg_name, raw_spec in optional.items():
+        _param(arg_name, raw_spec, force_optional=True)
+
+    # Return annotation: single-output nodes return the unwrapped Python type;
+    # multi-output nodes return a tuple.
+    outputs = getattr(cls, "OUTPUTS", ())
+    if len(outputs) == 1:
+        return_annotation: Any = _tono_type_to_python(outputs[0][0])
+    else:
+        return_annotation = tuple
+
+    signature = inspect.Signature(params, return_annotation=return_annotation)
+
+    description = (getattr(cls, "DESCRIPTION", "") or "").strip()
+    output_lines = [
+        f"    {out_name} : {out_type}"
+        for out_type, out_name, *_ in outputs
+    ]
+
+    doc_parts: list[str] = []
+    if description:
+        doc_parts.append(description)
+    doc_parts.append("")
+    doc_parts.append("Parameters")
+    doc_parts.append("----------")
+    doc_parts.extend(param_doc_lines if param_doc_lines else ["    (none)"])
+    if output_lines:
+        doc_parts.append("")
+        doc_parts.append("Returns")
+        doc_parts.append("-------")
+        doc_parts.extend(output_lines)
+    docstring = "\n".join(doc_parts)
+
+    def wrapper(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return apply(name, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    wrapper.__name__ = name
+    wrapper.__qualname__ = f"tono.{name}"
+    wrapper.__module__ = "tono"
+    wrapper.__doc__ = docstring
+    wrapper.__signature__ = signature  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    wrapper.__wrapped_node__ = name  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    return wrapper
+
+
+def __getattr__(name: str) -> Any:
+    # Skip dunder lookups so imports, pickling, and debuggers don't trigger
+    # registry loading or spurious AttributeError chains.
+    if name.startswith("__") and name.endswith("__"):
+        raise AttributeError(f"module 'tono' has no attribute {name!r}")
+
+    from backend.node_registry import NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS
+
+    _ensure_registry()
+    if name not in NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS:
+        raise AttributeError(f"module 'tono' has no attribute {name!r}")
+
+    cached = _NODE_WRAPPER_CACHE.get(name)
+    if cached is None:
+        cached = _build_node_wrapper(name, NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS[name])
+        _NODE_WRAPPER_CACHE[name] = cached
+    return cached
+
+
+def __dir__() -> list[str]:
+    from backend.node_registry import NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS
+
+    _ensure_registry()
+    return sorted({*globals().keys(), *NODE_CLASS_MAPPINGS.keys()})