diff --git a/kinds/constraint.cue b/kinds/constraint.cue
index 35ff089dda7..4d1bb954cf5 100644
--- a/kinds/constraint.cue
+++ b/kinds/constraint.cue
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@ package kind
 import "github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/kindsys"
 
 // In each child directory, the set of .cue files with 'package kind'
-// must be an instance of kindsys.#Core - a declaration of a core kind.
-kindsys.#Core
+// must be an instance of kindsys.Core - a declaration of a core kind.
+kindsys.Core
diff --git a/pkg/codegen/generators.go b/pkg/codegen/generators.go
index eaff6621abd..037766d13d7 100644
--- a/pkg/codegen/generators.go
+++ b/pkg/codegen/generators.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ type ManyToMany codejen.ManyToMany[*DeclForGen]
 
 // ForGen is a codejen input transformer that converts a pure kindsys.SomeDecl into
 // a DeclForGen by binding its contained lineage.
-func ForGen(rt *thema.Runtime, decl *kindsys.SomeDecl) (*DeclForGen, error) {
+func ForGen(rt *thema.Runtime, decl kindsys.SomeDecl) (*DeclForGen, error) {
 	lin, err := decl.BindKindLineage(rt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func ForGen(rt *thema.Runtime, decl *kindsys.SomeDecl) (*DeclForGen, error) {
 // DeclForGen wraps [kindsys.SomeDecl] to provide trivial caching of
 // the lineage declared by the kind (nil for raw kinds).
 type DeclForGen struct {
-	*kindsys.SomeDecl
+	kindsys.SomeDecl
 	lin thema.Lineage
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/codegen/jenny_basecorereg.go b/pkg/codegen/jenny_basecorereg.go
index 1811fce7aa9..d97dfd3e6cc 100644
--- a/pkg/codegen/jenny_basecorereg.go
+++ b/pkg/codegen/jenny_basecorereg.go
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ func (gen *genBaseRegistry) JennyName() string {
 func (gen *genBaseRegistry) Generate(decls ...*DeclForGen) (*codejen.File, error) {
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
 	if err := tmpls.Lookup("kind_registry.tmpl").Execute(buf, tvars_kind_registry{
-		NumStructured:     len(decls),
 		PackageName:       filepath.Base(gen.path),
 		KindPackagePrefix: filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Join("github.com/grafana/grafana", gen.kindrelroot)),
 		Kinds:             decls,
diff --git a/pkg/codegen/jenny_corekind.go b/pkg/codegen/jenny_corekind.go
index 81d83993e32..806ab2531ad 100644
--- a/pkg/codegen/jenny_corekind.go
+++ b/pkg/codegen/jenny_corekind.go
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ import (
 // all generated kinds.
 //
 // This generator only has output for core structured kinds.
-func CoreKindJenny(gokindsdir string, cfg *CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig) OneToOne {
+func CoreKindJenny(gokindsdir string, cfg *CoreKindJennyConfig) OneToOne {
 	if cfg == nil {
-		cfg = new(CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig)
+		cfg = new(CoreKindJennyConfig)
 	}
 	if cfg.GenDirName == nil {
 		cfg.GenDirName = func(decl *DeclForGen) string {
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ func CoreKindJenny(gokindsdir string, cfg *CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig) On
 	}
 }
 
-// CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig holds configuration options for [CoreKindJenny].
-type CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig struct {
+// CoreKindJennyConfig holds configuration options for [CoreKindJenny].
+type CoreKindJennyConfig struct {
 	// GenDirName returns the name of the directory in which the file should be
 	// generated. Defaults to DeclForGen.Lineage().Name() if nil.
 	GenDirName func(*DeclForGen) string
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ type CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig struct {
 
 type coreKindJenny struct {
 	gokindsdir string
-	cfg        *CoreStructuredKindGeneratorConfig
+	cfg        *CoreKindJennyConfig
 }
 
 var _ OneToOne = &coreKindJenny{}
diff --git a/pkg/codegen/tmpl.go b/pkg/codegen/tmpl.go
index a7c2e405b6b..3c1668bb216 100644
--- a/pkg/codegen/tmpl.go
+++ b/pkg/codegen/tmpl.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ type (
 	}
 	tvars_kind_registry struct {
 		// Header tvars_autogen_header
-		NumStructured     int
 		PackageName       string
 		KindPackagePrefix string
 		Kinds             []*DeclForGen
diff --git a/pkg/codegen/tmpl/kind_core.tmpl b/pkg/codegen/tmpl/kind_core.tmpl
index cf006b155c6..eac0d9bc7e2 100644
--- a/pkg/codegen/tmpl/kind_core.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/codegen/tmpl/kind_core.tmpl
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func NewKind(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (*Kind, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	k := &Kind{
-		decl: *decl,
+		decl: decl,
 	}
 
 	lin, err := decl.Some().BindKindLineage(rt, opts...)
@@ -91,9 +91,8 @@ func (k *Kind) Maturity() kindsys.Maturity {
 
 // Decl returns the [kindsys.Decl] containing both CUE and Go representations of the
 // {{ .Properties.MachineName }} declaration in .cue files.
-func (k *Kind) Decl() *kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
-	d := k.decl
-	return &d
+func (k *Kind) Decl() kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
+  return k.decl
 }
 
 // Props returns a [kindsys.SomeKindProps], with underlying type [kindsys.CoreProperties],
diff --git a/pkg/kinds/dashboard/dashboard_kind_gen.go b/pkg/kinds/dashboard/dashboard_kind_gen.go
index 42aa0b38d92..2f228a3e55a 100644
--- a/pkg/kinds/dashboard/dashboard_kind_gen.go
+++ b/pkg/kinds/dashboard/dashboard_kind_gen.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func NewKind(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (*Kind, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	k := &Kind{
-		decl: *decl,
+		decl: decl,
 	}
 
 	lin, err := decl.Some().BindKindLineage(rt, opts...)
@@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ func (k *Kind) Maturity() kindsys.Maturity {
 
 // Decl returns the [kindsys.Decl] containing both CUE and Go representations of the
 // dashboard declaration in .cue files.
-func (k *Kind) Decl() *kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
-	d := k.decl
-	return &d
+func (k *Kind) Decl() kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
+	return k.decl
 }
 
 // Props returns a [kindsys.SomeKindProps], with underlying type [kindsys.CoreProperties],
diff --git a/pkg/kinds/playlist/playlist_kind_gen.go b/pkg/kinds/playlist/playlist_kind_gen.go
index 2b0287d7687..202a8883e42 100644
--- a/pkg/kinds/playlist/playlist_kind_gen.go
+++ b/pkg/kinds/playlist/playlist_kind_gen.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func NewKind(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (*Kind, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	k := &Kind{
-		decl: *decl,
+		decl: decl,
 	}
 
 	lin, err := decl.Some().BindKindLineage(rt, opts...)
@@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ func (k *Kind) Maturity() kindsys.Maturity {
 
 // Decl returns the [kindsys.Decl] containing both CUE and Go representations of the
 // playlist declaration in .cue files.
-func (k *Kind) Decl() *kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
-	d := k.decl
-	return &d
+func (k *Kind) Decl() kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
+	return k.decl
 }
 
 // Props returns a [kindsys.SomeKindProps], with underlying type [kindsys.CoreProperties],
diff --git a/pkg/kinds/team/team_kind_gen.go b/pkg/kinds/team/team_kind_gen.go
index ab4de5cfad8..4c08d5de435 100644
--- a/pkg/kinds/team/team_kind_gen.go
+++ b/pkg/kinds/team/team_kind_gen.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func NewKind(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (*Kind, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	k := &Kind{
-		decl: *decl,
+		decl: decl,
 	}
 
 	lin, err := decl.Some().BindKindLineage(rt, opts...)
@@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ func (k *Kind) Maturity() kindsys.Maturity {
 
 // Decl returns the [kindsys.Decl] containing both CUE and Go representations of the
 // team declaration in .cue files.
-func (k *Kind) Decl() *kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
-	d := k.decl
-	return &d
+func (k *Kind) Decl() kindsys.Decl[kindsys.CoreProperties] {
+	return k.decl
 }
 
 // Props returns a [kindsys.SomeKindProps], with underlying type [kindsys.CoreProperties],
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/kind.go b/pkg/kindsys/kind.go
index 7458ac779f2..9e360889b70 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/kind.go
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/kind.go
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ type Interface interface {
 	// a Decl() method through which these same properties are accessible.
 	Props() SomeKindProperties
 
+	// TODO docs
+	Lineage() thema.Lineage
+
 	// TODO remove, unnecessary with Props()
 	Name() string
 
@@ -71,18 +74,19 @@ type Core interface {
 	Interface
 
 	// TODO docs
-	Lineage() thema.Lineage
-
-	// TODO docs
-	Decl() *Decl[CoreProperties] // TODO figure out how to reconcile this interface with CustomProperties
+	Decl() Decl[CoreProperties]
 }
 
-// type Composable interface {
-// 	Interface
-//
-// 	// TODO docs
-// 	Lineage() thema.Lineage
-//
-// 	// TODO docs
-// 	Properties() CoreProperties // TODO figure out how to reconcile this interface with CustomProperties
-// }
+type Custom interface {
+	Interface
+
+	// TODO docs
+	Decl() Decl[CustomProperties]
+}
+
+type Composable interface {
+	Interface
+
+	// TODO docs
+	Decl() Decl[ComposableProperties]
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_composable.cue b/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_composable.cue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1169b74bca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_composable.cue
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package kindsys
+
+// Composable is a category of kind that provides schema elements for
+// composition into Core and Custom kinds. Grafana plugins
+// provide composable kinds; for example, a datasource plugin provides one to
+// describe the structure of its queries, which is then composed into dashboards
+// and alerting rules.
+//
+// Each Composable is an implementation of exactly one Slot, a shared meta-schema
+// defined by Grafana itself that constrains the shape of schemas declared in
+// that ComposableKind.
+Composable: S={
+	_sharedKind
+
+	// schemaInterface is the name of the Grafana schema interface implemented by
+	// this Composable kind. The set is open to ensure forward compatibility of
+	// Grafana and tooling with any additional schema interfaces that may be added.
+//	schemaInterface: or([ for k, _ in schemaInterfaces {k}, string])
+	schemaInterface: string
+
+	let schif = schemaInterfaces[S.schemaInterface]
+
+	// lineage is the Thema lineage containing all the schemas that have existed for this kind.
+	// The name of the lineage is constrained to the name of the schema interface being implemented.
+//	lineage: thema.#Lineage & {name: S.schemaInterface, joinSchema: schif.interface}
+	lineage: { joinSchema: (schif.interface | *{}) }
+
+	lineageIsGroup: schif.group | *false
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_custom.cue b/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_custom.cue
index 92564bf8688..d8f30275749 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_custom.cue
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/kindcat_custom.cue
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ package kindsys
 //
 // Grafana provides Kubernetes apiserver-shaped HTTP APIs for interacting with custom
 // kinds - the same API patterns (and clients) used to interact with k8s CustomResources.
-#Custom: S={
+Custom: S={
 	_sharedKind
 
 	lineage: { name: S.machineName }
 	lineageIsGroup: false
-	...
 }
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/kindcats.cue b/pkg/kindsys/kindcats.cue
index cc07d2884a6..f0cd4005d82 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/kindcats.cue
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/kindcats.cue
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 // Grafana provides a standard mechanism for representing its kinds as CRDs.
 //
 // There are three categories of kinds: Core, Custom, and Composable.
-#Kind: #Composable | #Core | #Custom
+Kind: Composable | Core | Custom
 
 // properties shared between all kind categories.
 _sharedKind: {
@@ -86,37 +86,9 @@ _sharedKind: {
 // Core specifies the kind category for core-defined arbitrary types.
 // Familiar types and functional resources in Grafana, such as dashboards and
 // and datasources, are represented as core kinds.
-#Core: S=close({
+Core: S=close({
 	_sharedKind
 
 	lineage: { name: S.machineName }
 	lineageIsGroup: false
 })
-
-// Composable is a category of kind that provides schema elements for
-// composition into Core and Custom kinds. Grafana plugins
-// provide composable kinds; for example, a datasource plugin provides one to
-// describe the structure of its queries, which is then composed into dashboards
-// and alerting rules.
-//
-// Each Composable is an implementation of exactly one Slot, a shared meta-schema
-// defined by Grafana itself that constrains the shape of schemas declared in
-// that ComposableKind.
-#Composable: S={
-	_sharedKind
-
-	// TODO docs
-	// TODO unify this with the existing slots decls in pkg/framework/coremodel
-	slot: "Panel" | "Query" | "DSConfig"
-
-	// TODO unify this with the existing slots decls in pkg/framework/coremodel
-	lineageIsGroup: bool & [
-		if slot == "Panel" { true },
-		if slot == "DSConfig" { true },
-		if slot == "Query" { false },
-	][0]
-
-	// lineage is the Thema lineage containing all the schemas that have existed for this kind.
-	// It is required that lineage.name is the same as the [machineName].
-	lineage: thema.#Lineage & { name: S.machineName }
-}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/kindmetas.go b/pkg/kindsys/kindmetas.go
index ce05b49ebac..c0d498e0e49 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/kindmetas.go
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/kindmetas.go
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ type CommonProperties struct {
 }
 
 // CoreProperties represents the static properties in the declaration of a
-// #Core kind that are representable with basic Go types. This
+// Core kind that are representable with basic Go types. This
 // excludes Thema schemas.
 //
-// When a .cue #Core declaration is loaded through the standard [LoadCoreKind],
+// When a .cue Core declaration is loaded through the standard [LoadCoreKind],
 // func, it is fully validated and populated according to all rules specified
-// in CUE for #Core kinds.
+// in CUE for Core kinds.
 type CoreProperties struct {
 	CommonProperties
 	CurrentVersion thema.SyntacticVersion `json:"currentVersion"`
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func (m CoreProperties) Common() CommonProperties {
 }
 
 // CustomProperties represents the static properties in the declaration of a
-// #Custom kind that are representable with basic Go types. This
+// Custom kind that are representable with basic Go types. This
 // excludes Thema schemas.
 type CustomProperties struct {
 	CommonProperties
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func (m CustomProperties) Common() CommonProperties {
 }
 
 // ComposableProperties represents the static properties in the declaration of a
-// #Composable kind that are representable with basic Go types. This
+// Composable kind that are representable with basic Go types. This
 // excludes Thema schemas.
 type ComposableProperties struct {
 	CommonProperties
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/load.go b/pkg/kindsys/load.go
index 804a48a1eae..efb3ef9298b 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/load.go
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/load.go
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ func doLoadFrameworkCUE(ctx *cue.Context) (cue.Value, error) {
 //
 // For low-level use in constructing other types and APIs, while still letting
 // us declare all the frameworky CUE bits in a single package. Other Go types
-// make the constructs in this value easy to use.
+// make the constructs in the returned cue.Value easy to use.
 //
-// All calling code within grafana/grafana is expected to use Grafana's
-// singleton [cue.Context], returned from [cuectx.GrafanaCUEContext]. If nil
-// is passed, the singleton will be used.
+// Calling this with a nil [cue.Context] (the singleton returned from
+// [cuectx.GrafanaCUEContext] is used) will memoize certain CUE operations.
+// Prefer passing nil unless a different cue.Context is specifically required.
 func CUEFramework(ctx *cue.Context) cue.Value {
 	if ctx == nil || ctx == cuectx.GrafanaCUEContext() {
 		// Ensure framework is loaded, even if this func is called
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ func CUEFramework(ctx *cue.Context) cue.Value {
 	return v
 }
 
-// ToKindMeta takes a cue.Value expected to represent a kind of the category
+// ToKindProps takes a cue.Value expected to represent a kind of the category
 // specified by the type parameter and populates the Go type from the cue.Value.
-func ToKindMeta[T KindProperties](v cue.Value) (T, error) {
+func ToKindProps[T KindProperties](v cue.Value) (T, error) {
 	props := new(T)
 	if !v.Exists() {
 		return *props, ErrValueNotExist
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ func ToKindMeta[T KindProperties](v cue.Value) (T, error) {
 	anyprops := any(*props).(SomeKindProperties)
 	switch anyprops.(type) {
 	case CoreProperties:
-		kdef = fw.LookupPath(cue.MakePath(cue.Def("Core")))
+		kdef = fw.LookupPath(cue.MakePath(cue.Str("Core")))
 	case CustomProperties:
-		kdef = fw.LookupPath(cue.MakePath(cue.Def("Custom")))
+		kdef = fw.LookupPath(cue.MakePath(cue.Str("Custom")))
 	case ComposableProperties:
-		kdef = fw.LookupPath(cue.MakePath(cue.Def("Composable")))
+		kdef = fw.LookupPath(cue.MakePath(cue.Str("Composable")))
 	default:
 		// unreachable so long as all the possibilities in KindProperties have switch branches
 		panic("unreachable")
@@ -128,8 +128,9 @@ type SomeDecl struct {
 // BindKindLineage binds the lineage for the kind declaration.
 //
 // For kinds with a corresponding Go type, it is left to the caller to associate
-// that Go type with the lineage returned from this function by a call to [thema.BindType].
-func (decl *SomeDecl) BindKindLineage(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (thema.Lineage, error) {
+// that Go type with the lineage returned from this function by a call to
+// [thema.BindType].
+func (decl SomeDecl) BindKindLineage(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (thema.Lineage, error) {
 	if rt == nil {
 		rt = cuectx.GrafanaThemaRuntime()
 	}
@@ -142,19 +143,19 @@ func (decl *SomeDecl) BindKindLineage(rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOptio
 }
 
 // IsCore indicates whether the represented kind is a core kind.
-func (decl *SomeDecl) IsCore() bool {
+func (decl SomeDecl) IsCore() bool {
 	_, is := decl.Properties.(CoreProperties)
 	return is
 }
 
 // IsCustom indicates whether the represented kind is a custom kind.
-func (decl *SomeDecl) IsCustom() bool {
+func (decl SomeDecl) IsCustom() bool {
 	_, is := decl.Properties.(CustomProperties)
 	return is
 }
 
 // IsComposable indicates whether the represented kind is a composable kind.
-func (decl *SomeDecl) IsComposable() bool {
+func (decl SomeDecl) IsComposable() bool {
 	_, is := decl.Properties.(ComposableProperties)
 	return is
 }
@@ -171,8 +172,8 @@ type Decl[T KindProperties] struct {
 }
 
 // Some converts the typed Decl to the equivalent typeless SomeDecl.
-func (decl *Decl[T]) Some() *SomeDecl {
-	return &SomeDecl{
+func (decl Decl[T]) Some() SomeDecl {
+	return SomeDecl{
 		V:          decl.V,
 		Properties: any(decl.Properties).(SomeKindProperties),
 	}
@@ -195,17 +196,20 @@ func (decl *Decl[T]) Some() *SomeDecl {
 // This is a low-level function, primarily intended for use in code generation.
 // For representations of core kinds that are useful in Go programs at runtime,
 // see ["github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/registry/corekind"].
-func LoadCoreKind(declpath string, ctx *cue.Context, overlay fs.FS) (*Decl[CoreProperties], error) {
+func LoadCoreKind(declpath string, ctx *cue.Context, overlay fs.FS) (Decl[CoreProperties], error) {
+	none := Decl[CoreProperties]{}
 	vk, err := cuectx.BuildGrafanaInstance(ctx, declpath, "kind", overlay)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return none, err
 	}
-	decl := &Decl[CoreProperties]{
-		V: vk,
-	}
-	decl.Properties, err = ToKindMeta[CoreProperties](vk)
+
+	props, err := ToKindProps[CoreProperties](vk)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return none, err
 	}
-	return decl, nil
+
+	return Decl[CoreProperties]{
+		V:          vk,
+		Properties: props,
+	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/report.go b/pkg/kindsys/report.go
index 7ede815620e..0f7e65e8db7 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/report.go
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/report.go
@@ -139,24 +139,24 @@ func buildKindStateReport() *KindStateReport {
 		}, "core")
 	}
 
-	all := kindsys.AllSlots(nil)
+	all := kindsys.SchemaInterfaces(nil)
 	// TODO this is all hacks until #59001, which will unite plugins with kindsys
 	for _, tree := range corelist.New(nil) {
 		rp := tree.RootPlugin()
-		for _, slot := range all {
-			if may, _ := slot.ForPluginType(string(rp.Meta().Type)); may {
-				n := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", strings.Title(rp.Meta().Id), slot.Name())
+		for _, si := range all {
+			if si.Should(string(rp.Meta().Type)) {
+				n := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", strings.Title(rp.Meta().Id), si.Name())
 				props := kindsys.ComposableProperties{
 					CommonProperties: kindsys.CommonProperties{
 						Name:              n,
 						PluralName:        n + "s",
 						MachineName:       machinize(n),
 						PluralMachineName: machinize(n) + "s",
-						LineageIsGroup:    slot.IsGroup(),
+						LineageIsGroup:    si.IsGroup(),
 						Maturity:          "planned",
 					},
 				}
-				if ck, has := rp.SlotImplementations()[slot.Name()]; has {
+				if ck, has := rp.SlotImplementations()[si.Name()]; has {
 					props.CommonProperties.Maturity = "merged"
 					props.CurrentVersion = ck.Latest().Version()
 				}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/report.json b/pkg/kindsys/report.json
index 34e41bce973..6773c6c1445 100644
--- a/pkg/kindsys/report.json
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/report.json
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Alertmanager-Querys",
       "machineName": "alertmanager_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "alertmanager_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Cloudwatch-Querys",
       "machineName": "cloudwatch_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "cloudwatch_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Dashboard-Querys",
       "machineName": "dashboard_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "dashboard_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Elasticsearch-Querys",
       "machineName": "elasticsearch_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "elasticsearch_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Grafana-Azure-Monitor-Datasource-Querys",
       "machineName": "grafana_azure_monitor_datasource_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "grafana_azure_monitor_datasource_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Grafana-Querys",
       "machineName": "grafana_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "grafana_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Graphite-Querys",
       "machineName": "graphite_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "graphite_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Jaeger-Querys",
       "machineName": "jaeger_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "jaeger_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Loki-Querys",
       "machineName": "loki_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "loki_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Mssql-Querys",
       "machineName": "mssql_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "mssql_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Mysql-Querys",
       "machineName": "mysql_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "mysql_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Parca-Querys",
       "machineName": "parca_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "parca_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Phlare-Querys",
       "machineName": "phlare_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "phlare_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Postgres-Querys",
       "machineName": "postgres_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "postgres_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Prometheus-Querys",
       "machineName": "prometheus_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "prometheus_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Stackdriver-Querys",
       "machineName": "stackdriver_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "stackdriver_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Tempo-Querys",
       "machineName": "tempo_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "tempo_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Testdata-Querys",
       "machineName": "testdata_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "testdata_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@
       "pluralName": "Zipkin-Querys",
       "machineName": "zipkin_query",
       "pluralMachineName": "zipkin_querys",
-      "lineageIsGroup": false,
+      "lineageIsGroup": true,
       "maturity": "planned",
       "currentVersion": [
         0,
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/schema_interface.cue b/pkg/kindsys/schema_interface.cue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9c855884685
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/schema_interface.cue
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package kindsys
+
+// The schema interfaces defined in this file are meta-schemas. They are shared
+// contracts between the producers (composable kinds, defined in Grafana
+// plugins) and consumers (core and custom Grafana kinds) of composable schemas.
+//
+// This contract is similar to an interface in most programming languages:
+// producer and consumer implementations depend only on the schema interface
+// definition, rather than the details of any particular implementation. This
+// allows producers and consumers to be loosely coupled, while keeping an
+// explicit contract for composition of sub-schemas from producers into the
+// consumer schemas that want to use them.
+//
+// Schema interfaces allow schema composition to be broken down into a series of
+// simple "what," "which," and "how" questions:
+//
+//  - "What" is the subschema to be composed?
+//  - "How" should subschema(s) be composed into another schema to produce a unified result schema?
+//  - "Which" subset of known composable subschemas ("whats") should be provided in composition ("how")?
+//
+// On the producer side, Grafana plugin authors may provide Thema lineages
+// within Composable kinds declared in .cue files adjacent to their
+// plugin.json, following a pattern (see
+// github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/pfs.#GrafanaPlugin.composableKinds)
+// corresponding to the name of the schema interface. Each such definition is
+// an answer to "what."
+//
+// On the consumer side, any core or custom kind author can choose to define a
+// standard Thema composition slot in its contained lineage that uses one of
+// these schema interfaces as its meta-schema. The slot specification in Thema
+// answers "how", for that kind.
+//
+// Composable kinds declared by a plugin are parsed and validated by Grafana's
+// plugin system when a plugin is installed. This gives each Grafana instance a
+// set of all known Composable kinds ("whats"), which can be narrowed into the
+// subsets ("which") that each known Core or Custom can consume. These subsets
+// are injected dynamically into the consumers, resulting in the final schema.
+//
+// For example, in the Thema lineage for the dashboard core kind:
+//  - There is a slot named `panelcfg`
+//  - It is constrained to accept only Thema lineages following the `panelcfg` schema interface
+//  - The composition logic specifies that the `panelcfg.PanelOptions` from each lineage provided
+//    to the dashboard lineage be one possibility for `panels[].options`
+//
+// (TODO actual implementation is pending https://github.com/grafana/thema/issue/8)
+//
+// Thus, the dashboard schema used for validation by any particular Grafana instance
+// can tell the user if a particular dashboard with a `timeseries` panel has invalid
+// values for `panels[].options`, even though neither the dashboard core kind, nor the
+// the timeseries composable kind, are directly aware of (import) each other.
+
+// A SchemaInterface defines a single Grafana schema interface.
+SchemaInterface: {
+	// name is the unique identifier of the schema interface.
+	//
+	// Often used to provide namespacing of schema interface implementations
+	// in places where implementations must be enumerated, such as:
+	//  - In-memory indexes in the Grafana backend
+	//  - Documentation URLs
+	//  - Parent directory paths or names in generated code
+	name: string & =~"^[A-Z][A-Za-z]{1,19}$"
+
+	// interface is the body of the SchemaInterface - the actual meta-schema that
+	// forms the shared contract between consumers (core & custom kind lineages)
+	// and producers (composable kind lineages).
+	interface: {}
+
+	// pluginTypes is a list of plugin types that are expected to produce composable
+	// kinds following this interface.
+	//
+	// Note that Grafana's plugin architecture intentionally does not enforce this.
+	// The worst that a violation (impl expected and absent, or impl present and not expected)
+	// will currently produce is a warning.
+	//
+	// TODO this relies on information in pkg/plugins/plugindef, awkward having it here
+	pluginTypes: [...string]
+
+	// Whether lineages implementing this are considered "grouped" or not. Generally
+	// this refers to whether an e.g. JSON object is ever expected to exist that
+	// corresponds to the whole schema, or to top-level fields within the schema.
+	//
+	// TODO see https://github.com/grafana/thema/issues/62
+	//
+	// The main effect is whether code generation should produce one type that represents
+	// the root schema for lineages, or only produce types for each of the top-level fields
+	// within the schema.
+	group: bool | *true
+}
+
+// The canonical list of all Grafana schema interfaces.
+schemaInterfaces: [N=string]: SchemaInterface & { name: N }
+schemaInterfaces: {
+	Panel: {
+		interface: {
+			// Defines plugin-specific options for a panel that should be persisted. Required,
+			// though a panel without any options may specify an empty struct.
+			//
+			// Currently mapped to #Panel.options within the dashboard schema.
+			PanelOptions: {}
+
+			// Plugin-specific custom field properties. Optional.
+			//
+			// Currently mapped to #Panel.fieldConfig.defaults.custom within the dashboard schema.
+			PanelFieldConfig?: {}
+		}
+
+		pluginTypes: ["panel"]
+
+		// grouped b/c separate non-cross-referring elements always occur together in larger structure (panel)
+		group: true
+	}
+	Query: {
+		// The contract for the queries schema interface is itself a pattern:
+		// Each of its top-level fields must be represent a distinct query type for
+		// the datasource plugin. The queryType field acts as a discriminator, and
+		// is constrained to be the same as the name of the top-level field declaring it.
+		interface: [QT=string]: {
+			queryType?: QT
+		}
+
+		pluginTypes: ["datasource"]
+
+		// grouped b/c separate, non-cross-referring elements are actually themselves each impls of the concept
+		// and it avoids us having to put more levels in the slot system (uggghhh)
+		group: true
+	}
+	DSOptions: {
+		interface: {
+			// Normal datasource configuration options.
+			Options: {}
+			// Sensitive datasource configuration options that require encryption.
+			SecureOptions: {}
+		}
+
+		pluginTypes: ["datasource"]
+
+		// group b/c separate, non-cross-referring elements have diff runtime representation due to encryption
+		group: true
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/schema_interface.go b/pkg/kindsys/schema_interface.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..83aa25bab2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/kindsys/schema_interface.go
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+package kindsys
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+
+	"cuelang.org/go/cue"
+	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/cuectx"
+)
+
+// SchemaInterface represents one of Grafana's named schema interfaces.
+//
+// Canonical definition of schema interfaces is done in CUE. Instances of
+// this type simply represent that information in Go.
+// TODO link to framework docs
+type SchemaInterface struct {
+	name    string
+	group   bool
+	raw     cue.Value
+	plugins []string
+}
+
+// Name returns the name of the SchemaInterface.
+//
+// The name is also used as the path at which a SchemaInterface lineage is defined in a
+// plugin models.cue file.
+func (s SchemaInterface) Name() string {
+	return s.name
+}
+
+// Interface returns the cue.Value representing the meta-schema that is the
+// contract between core or custom kinds that compose the meta-schema, and the
+// plugin-declared composable kinds that implement the meta-schema.
+func (s SchemaInterface) Interface() cue.Value {
+	return s.raw.LookupPath(ip)
+}
+
+var ip = cue.ParsePath("interface")
+
+// Should indicates whether the given plugin type is expected (but not required)
+// to produce a composable kind that implements this SchemaInterface.
+func (s SchemaInterface) Should(plugintype string) bool {
+	pt := plugintype
+	for _, t := range s.plugins {
+		if pt == t {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// IsGroup indicates whether the slot specifies a group lineage - one in which
+// each top-level key represents a distinct schema for objects that are expected
+// to exist in the wild, but objects corresponding to the root of the schema are not
+// expected to exist.
+func (s SchemaInterface) IsGroup() bool {
+	return s.group
+}
+
+func FindSchemaInterface(name string) (SchemaInterface, error) {
+	sl, has := SchemaInterfaces(nil)[name]
+	if !has {
+		return SchemaInterface{}, fmt.Errorf("unsupported slot: %s", name)
+	}
+	return sl, nil
+}
+
+var defaultIfaces map[string]SchemaInterface
+var onceIfaces sync.Once
+
+// SchemaInterfaces returns a map of all [SchemaInterface]s defined by
+// Grafana's kindsys framework.
+//
+// All calling code within grafana/grafana is expected to use Grafana's
+// singleton [cue.Context], returned from [cuectx.GrafanaCUEContext]. If nil is
+// passed, the singleton will be used. This is a reasonable default for external
+// code, as well.
+//
+// TODO link to framework docs
+func SchemaInterfaces(ctx *cue.Context) map[string]SchemaInterface {
+	if ctx == nil || ctx == cuectx.GrafanaCUEContext() {
+		// Ensure framework is loaded, even if this func is called
+		// from an init() somewhere.
+		onceIfaces.Do(func() {
+			defaultIfaces = doSchemaInterfaces(nil)
+		})
+		return defaultIfaces
+	}
+
+	return doSchemaInterfaces(ctx)
+}
+
+func doSchemaInterfaces(ctx *cue.Context) map[string]SchemaInterface {
+	fw := CUEFramework(ctx)
+
+	defs := fw.LookupPath(cue.ParsePath("schemaInterfaces"))
+	if !defs.Exists() {
+		panic("schemaInterfaces key does not exist in kindsys framework")
+	}
+	type typ struct {
+		Name        string   `json:"name"`
+		PluginTypes []string `json:"pluginTypes"`
+		Group       bool     `json:"group"`
+	}
+
+	ifaces := make(map[string]SchemaInterface)
+	iter, _ := defs.Fields() //nolint:errcheck
+	for iter.Next() {
+		k := iter.Selector().String()
+		v := &typ{}
+		_ = iter.Value().Decode(&v) //nolint:errcheck,gosec
+		ifaces[k] = SchemaInterface{
+			name:    v.Name,
+			plugins: v.PluginTypes,
+			group:   v.Group,
+			raw:     iter.Value(),
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ifaces
+}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/slot.go b/pkg/kindsys/slot.go
deleted file mode 100644
index c16491269c2..00000000000
--- a/pkg/kindsys/slot.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,121 +0,0 @@
-package kindsys
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-
-	"cuelang.org/go/cue"
-)
-
-// Slot represents one of Grafana's named slot definitions.
-// TODO link to framework docs
-type Slot struct {
-	name    string
-	raw     cue.Value
-	plugins map[string]bool
-}
-
-// Name returns the name of the Slot.
-//
-// The name is also used as the path at which a Slot lineage is defined in a
-// plugin models.cue file.
-func (s Slot) Name() string {
-	return s.name
-}
-
-// MetaSchema returns the meta-schema that is the contract between core or
-// custom kinds that compose the meta-schema, and the plugin-declared composable
-// kinds that implement the meta-schema.
-func (s Slot) MetaSchema() cue.Value {
-	return s.raw
-}
-
-// ForPluginType indicates whether for this Slot, plugins of the given type may
-// provide a slot implementation (first return value), and for those types that
-// may, whether they must produce one (second return value).
-//
-// Expected values here are those in the set of
-// ["github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/plugins/plugindef".Type], though passing
-// a string not in that set will harmlessly return {false, false}. That type is
-// not used here to avoid import cycles.
-//
-// Note that, at least for now, plugins are not required to provide any slot
-// implementations, and do so by simply not containing any .cue files in the
-// "grafanaplugin" package. Consequently, the "must" return value is best
-// understood as, "IF a plugin provides a *.cue files, it MUST contain an
-// implementation of this slot."
-func (s Slot) ForPluginType(plugintype string) (may, must bool) {
-	must, may = s.plugins[plugintype]
-	return
-}
-
-// IsGroup indicates whether the slot specifies a group lineage - one in which
-// each top-level key represents a distinct schema for objects that are expected
-// to exist in the wild, but objects corresponding to the root of the schema are not
-// expected to exist.
-func (s Slot) IsGroup() bool {
-	// TODO rely on first-class Thema properties for this, one they exist - https://github.com/grafana/thema/issues/62
-	switch s.name {
-	case "Panel", "DSOptions":
-		return true
-	case "Query":
-		return false
-	default:
-		panic("unreachable - unknown slot name " + s.name)
-	}
-}
-
-func FindSlot(name string) (*Slot, error) {
-	sl, has := AllSlots(nil)[name]
-	if !has {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported slot: %s", name)
-	}
-	return sl, nil
-}
-
-// AllSlots returns a map of all [Slot]s defined in the Grafana kindsys
-// framework.
-//
-// TODO cache this for core context
-func AllSlots(ctx *cue.Context) map[string]*Slot {
-	fw := CUEFramework(ctx)
-	slots := make(map[string]*Slot)
-
-	// Ignore err, can only happen if we change structure of fw files, and all we'd
-	// do is panic and that's what the next line will do anyway. Same for similar ignored
-	// errors later in this func
-	iter, _ := fw.LookupPath(cue.ParsePath("pluginTypeMetaSchema")).Fields(cue.Optional(true))
-	type nameopt struct {
-		name string
-		req  bool
-	}
-	plugslots := make(map[string][]nameopt)
-	for iter.Next() {
-		plugin := iter.Selector().String()
-		iiter, _ := iter.Value().Fields(cue.Optional(true))
-		for iiter.Next() {
-			slotname := iiter.Selector().String()
-			plugslots[slotname] = append(plugslots[slotname], nameopt{
-				name: plugin,
-				req:  !iiter.IsOptional(),
-			})
-		}
-	}
-
-	iter, _ = fw.LookupPath(cue.ParsePath("slots")).Fields(cue.Optional(true))
-	for iter.Next() {
-		n := iter.Selector().String()
-		sl := Slot{
-			name:    n,
-			raw:     iter.Value(),
-			plugins: make(map[string]bool),
-		}
-
-		for _, no := range plugslots[n] {
-			sl.plugins[no.name] = no.req
-		}
-
-		slots[n] = &sl
-	}
-
-	return slots
-}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/slot_test.go b/pkg/kindsys/slot_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index a4a17c8ae45..00000000000
--- a/pkg/kindsys/slot_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-package kindsys
-
-import (
-	"sort"
-	"testing"
-
-	"cuelang.org/go/cue/cuecontext"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// This is a brick-dumb test that just ensures slots are being loaded correctly
-// from their declarations in .cue files.
-//
-// If this test fails, it's either because:
-// - They're not being loaded correctly - there's a bug in kindsys somewhere, fix it
-// - The set of slots names has been modified - update the static list here
-func TestSlotsAreLoaded(t *testing.T) {
-	slots := []string{"Panel", "Query", "DSOptions"}
-	all := AllSlots(cuecontext.New())
-	var loadedSlots []string
-	for k := range all {
-		loadedSlots = append(loadedSlots, k)
-	}
-
-	sort.Strings(slots)
-	sort.Strings(loadedSlots)
-
-	require.Equal(t, slots, loadedSlots, "slots loaded from cue differs from fixture set - either a bug or fixture needs updating")
-}
diff --git a/pkg/kindsys/slots.cue b/pkg/kindsys/slots.cue
deleted file mode 100644
index 2d4976ff274..00000000000
--- a/pkg/kindsys/slots.cue
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-package kindsys
-
-// The slots named and specified in this file are meta-schemas that act as a
-// shared contract between Grafana plugins (producers) and coremodel types
-// (consumers).
-//
-// On the consumer side, any coremodel Thema lineage can choose to define a
-// standard Thema composition slot that specifies one of these named slots as
-// its meta-schema. Such a specification entails that all schemas in any lineage
-// placed into that composition slot must adhere to the meta-schema.
-//
-// On the producer side, Grafana's plugin system enforces that certain plugin
-// types are expected to provide Thema lineages for these named slots which
-// adhere to the slot meta-schema.
-//
-// For example, the Panel slot is consumed by the dashboard coremodel, and is
-// expected to be produced by panel plugins.
-//
-// The name given to each slot in this file must be used as the name of the
-// slot in the coremodel, and the name of the field under which the lineage
-// is provided in a plugin's models.cue file.
-//
-// Conformance to meta-schema is achieved by Thema's native lineage joinSchema,
-// which Thema internals automatically enforce across all schemas in a lineage.
-
-// Meta-schema for the Panel slot, as implemented in Grafana panel plugins.
-//
-// This is a grouped meta-schema, intended solely for use in composition. Object
-// literals conforming to it are not expected to exist.
-slots: Panel: {
-  // Defines plugin-specific options for a panel that should be persisted. Required,
-  // though a panel without any options may specify an empty struct.
-  //
-  // Currently mapped to #Panel.options within the dashboard schema.
-  PanelOptions: {...}
-  // Plugin-specific custom field properties. Optional.
-  //
-  // Currently mapped to #Panel.fieldConfig.defaults.custom within the dashboard schema.
-  PanelFieldConfig?: {...}
-}
-
-// Meta-schema for the Query slot, as implemented in Grafana datasource plugins.
-slots: Query: {...}
-
-// Meta-schema for the DSOptions slot, as implemented in Grafana datasource plugins.
-//
-// This is a grouped meta-schema, intended solely for use in composition. Object
-// literals conforming to it are not expected to exist.
-slots: DSOptions: {
-  // Normal datasource configuration options.
-  Options: {...}
-  // Sensitive datasource configuration options that require encryption.
-  SecureOptions: {...}
-}
-
-// pluginTypeMetaSchema defines which plugin types should use which metaschemas
-// as joinSchema for the lineages declared at which paths.
-pluginTypeMetaSchema: [string]: {...}
-pluginTypeMetaSchema: {
-	// Panel plugins are expected to provide a lineage at path Panel conforming to
-	// the Panel joinSchema.
-	panel: {
-		Panel: slots.Panel
-	}
-	// Datasource plugins are expected to provide lineages at paths Query and
-	// DSOptions, conforming to those joinSchemas respectively.
-	datasource: {
-		Query: slots.Query
-		DSOptions: slots.DSOptions
-	}
-}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugingotypes.go b/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugingotypes.go
index 34d94e23cdd..f3e2257d84f 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugingotypes.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugingotypes.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func (j *pgoJenny) Generate(decl *pfs.PluginDecl) (*codejen.File, error) {
 	}
 
 	pluginfolder := filepath.Base(decl.PluginPath)
-	slotname := strings.ToLower(decl.Slot.Name())
+	slotname := strings.ToLower(decl.SchemaInterface.Name())
 	filename := fmt.Sprintf("types_%s_gen.go", slotname)
 	f.RelativePath = filepath.Join(j.root, pluginfolder, filename)
 	f.From = append(f.From, j)
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugintstypes.go b/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugintstypes.go
index 016f1fbe1a1..e76db2bea62 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugintstypes.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/codegen/jenny_plugintstypes.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func (j *ptsJenny) Generate(decl *pfs.PluginDecl) (*codejen.File, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	slotname := decl.Slot.Name()
+	slotname := decl.SchemaInterface.Name()
 	v := decl.Lineage.Latest().Version()
 
 	tsf.Nodes = append(tsf.Nodes, tsast.Raw{
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-slot-impl/models.cue b/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-kind-datasource/models.cue
similarity index 82%
rename from pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-slot-impl/models.cue
rename to pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-kind-datasource/models.cue
index 2d0dc790c98..7adee7855f3 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-slot-impl/models.cue
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-kind-datasource/models.cue
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package grafanaplugin
 import "github.com/grafana/thema"
 
 Query: thema.#Lineage & {
-	name: "missing_slot_impl"
+	name: "missing_kind_datasource"
 	seqs: [
 		{
 			schemas: [
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-slot-impl/plugin.json b/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-kind-datasource/plugin.json
similarity index 74%
rename from pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-slot-impl/plugin.json
rename to pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-kind-datasource/plugin.json
index 0915b37a530..48836019d86 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-slot-impl/plugin.json
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/testdata/missing-kind-datasource/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "type": "datasource",
-  "name": "Missing slot impl",
-  "id": "missing-slot-datasource",
+  "name": "Missing kind impl",
+  "id": "missing-kind-datasource",
   "backend": true,
   "state": "alpha",
   "info": {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl.go b/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl.go
index 0639d3eb031..ce6eac514ff 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl.go
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 type PluginDecl struct {
-	Slot       *kindsys.Slot
-	Lineage    thema.Lineage
-	Imports    []*ast.ImportSpec
-	PluginPath string
-	PluginMeta plugindef.PluginDef
+	SchemaInterface *kindsys.SchemaInterface
+	Lineage         thema.Lineage
+	Imports         []*ast.ImportSpec
+	PluginPath      string
+	PluginMeta      plugindef.PluginDef
 }
 
 func EmptyPluginDecl(path string, meta plugindef.PluginDef) *PluginDecl {
@@ -24,5 +24,5 @@ func EmptyPluginDecl(path string, meta plugindef.PluginDef) *PluginDecl {
 }
 
 func (decl *PluginDecl) HasSchema() bool {
-	return decl.Lineage != nil && decl.Slot != nil
+	return decl.Lineage != nil && decl.SchemaInterface != nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl_parser.go b/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl_parser.go
index e772de921fc..0e5a94591f1 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl_parser.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/pfs/decl_parser.go
@@ -54,17 +54,17 @@ func (psr *declParser) Parse(root fs.FS) ([]*PluginDecl, error) {
 		}
 
 		for slotName, lin := range slots {
-			slot, err := kindsys.FindSlot(slotName)
+			slot, err := kindsys.FindSchemaInterface(slotName)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Println(fmt.Errorf("parsing plugin failed for %s: %s", dir, err))
 				continue
 			}
 			decls = append(decls, &PluginDecl{
-				Slot:       slot,
-				Lineage:    lin,
-				Imports:    p.CUEImports(),
-				PluginMeta: p.Meta(),
-				PluginPath: path,
+				SchemaInterface: &slot,
+				Lineage:         lin,
+				Imports:         p.CUEImports(),
+				PluginMeta:      p.Meta(),
+				PluginPath:      path,
 			})
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs.go b/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs.go
index 3de4651ef8c..a39f265c8ad 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ var allowedImportsStr string
 
 type slotandname struct {
 	name string
-	slot *kindsys.Slot
+	slot kindsys.SchemaInterface
 }
 
 var allslots []slotandname
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func init() {
 	}
 	allowedImportsStr = strings.Join(all, "\n")
 
-	for n, s := range kindsys.AllSlots(nil) {
+	for n, s := range kindsys.SchemaInterfaces(nil) {
 		allslots = append(allslots, slotandname{
 			name: n,
 			slot: s,
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (t *Tree) SubPlugins() map[string]PluginInfo {
 type TreeList []*Tree
 
 // LineagesForSlot returns the set of plugin-defined lineages that implement a
-// particular named Grafana slot (See ["github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/framework/coremodel".Slot]).
+// particular named Grafana slot (See ["github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/framework/coremodel".SchemaInterface]).
 func (tl TreeList) LineagesForSlot(slotname string) map[string]thema.Lineage {
 	m := make(map[string]thema.Lineage)
 	for _, tree := range tl {
@@ -218,12 +218,14 @@ func ParsePluginFS(f fs.FS, rt *thema.Runtime) (*Tree, error) {
 		}
 		for _, s := range allslots {
 			iv := val.LookupPath(cue.ParsePath(s.slot.Name()))
-			lin, err := bindSlotLineage(iv, s.slot, r.meta, rt)
-			if lin != nil {
-				r.slotimpls[s.slot.Name()] = lin
-			}
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
+			if iv.Exists() {
+				lin, err := bindSlotLineage(iv, s.slot, r.meta, rt)
+				if lin != nil {
+					r.slotimpls[s.slot.Name()] = lin
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -231,8 +233,10 @@ func ParsePluginFS(f fs.FS, rt *thema.Runtime) (*Tree, error) {
 	return tree, nil
 }
 
-func bindSlotLineage(v cue.Value, s *kindsys.Slot, meta plugindef.PluginDef, rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (thema.Lineage, error) {
-	accept, required := s.ForPluginType(string(meta.Type))
+func bindSlotLineage(v cue.Value, s kindsys.SchemaInterface, meta plugindef.PluginDef, rt *thema.Runtime, opts ...thema.BindOption) (thema.Lineage, error) {
+	// temporarily keep this around, there are IMMEDIATE plans to refactor
+	var required bool
+	accept := s.Should(string(meta.Type))
 	exists := v.Exists()
 
 	if !accept {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs_test.go b/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs_test.go
index ede09039767..de08cb5c082 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/pfs/pfs_test.go
@@ -115,9 +115,7 @@ func TestParseTreeTestdata(t *testing.T) {
 		"wrong-slot-panel": {
 			err: ErrImplementedSlots,
 		},
-		"missing-slot-impl": {
-			err: ErrImplementedSlots,
-		},
+		"missing-kind-datasource": {},
 		"panel-conflicting-joinschema": {
 			err:  ErrInvalidLineage,
 			skip: "TODO implement BindOption in thema, SatisfiesJoinSchema, then use it here",
diff --git a/public/app/plugins/gen.go b/public/app/plugins/gen.go
index 7a0be5c1435..543e0e43c06 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/gen.go
+++ b/public/app/plugins/gen.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func adaptToPipeline(j codejen.OneToOne[corecodegen.SchemaForGen]) codejen.OneTo
 		return corecodegen.SchemaForGen{
 			Name:    pd.PluginMeta.Name,
 			Schema:  pd.Lineage.Latest(),
-			IsGroup: pd.Slot.IsGroup(),
+			IsGroup: pd.SchemaInterface.IsGroup(),
 		}
 	})
 }