diff --git a/LANGUAGE.md b/LANGUAGE.md
index a9dbd2c..b068053 100644
--- a/LANGUAGE.md
+++ b/LANGUAGE.md
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ roadmap and milestone history.
 - optionals with `none`, `orelse`, postfix `?`, conditional unwraps, guarded unwraps, and left-to-right short-circuiting multi-unwraps
 - nominal distinct types with exact backing construction, native enums with optional explicit integer backing and explicit backing-to-scalar casts, contextual enum literals, and imported C enums as target-backed integer aliases
 - source-order native structs, opaque nominal records with `Name :: opaque`, complete `c_struct { ... }`, keyed record literals, native untagged unions, and native tagged unions `union(Enum)` / `union(enum)`
+- named native struct fields may declare defaults with `field T = expression`; keyed literals use defaults for omitted fields and explicit initializers override them
 - void-payload tagged-union variants, anonymous struct payloads, contextual `.variant`, `.variant{payload}`, and `.variant{field = value}` construction
 - native sum composition with `A | B` for unbacked enums and tagged unions, using program-global `u16` variant ids
 - fallible channel types `T ! E`, where `E` is a native enum/tagged union or supported sum composition; `void ! E` functions complete successfully on fallthrough, and void-success `catch` handlers may fall through without `yield`
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 4affae9..d9261df 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -731,8 +731,8 @@
   - enabled `&<array literal>` (Zig's `&.{...}`): the literal is promoted to an
     anonymous global whose address decays to a slice, so list fields like
     `libraries = &["raylib"]` work; empty lists are `&[]`
-  - deferred: build graph / steps / caching, multiple artifacts, computed paths
-    (needs string building), struct field defaults to drop `&[]` on empty lists
+  - deferred: build graph / steps / caching, multiple artifacts, and computed paths
+    (needs string building); milestone 44 later removed explicit `&[]` build-config fields
 
 29. fix bugs (implemented)
   - bare `return` is the empty return for void functions; `yield` always requires a
@@ -925,7 +925,14 @@
   - runtime pointer contexts implicitly materialize a bare identity; pointer-to-identity conversion is
     rejected, and bare-containing aggregates cannot enter runtime storage or ABI/C layouts
 
-44. struct field defaults on declaration
+44. struct field defaults on declaration (implemented)
+  - named native structs accept `field T = expression`; keyed construction evaluates defaults
+    for omitted fields while explicit initializers override them
+  - defaults resolve names in the declaration file, participate in record constraint inference,
+    and work during runtime and comptime construction
+  - `@std/build.BuildConfig` uses defaults for optional list fields
+  - fields without defaults remain required; C-layout records, unions, tuples, and anonymous
+    generated structs do not accept defaults
 
 ## A word on unchecked casts
 
diff --git a/compiler/ast/ast.odin b/compiler/ast/ast.odin
index ba87f2f..d96e914 100644
--- a/compiler/ast/ast.odin
+++ b/compiler/ast/ast.odin
@@ -304,6 +304,14 @@ Declaration_Alias :: struct {
 	diagnostic:  source.Diagnostic_Id,
 }
 
+Struct_Field_Default :: struct {
+	record: Type_Syntax,
+	field:  symbol.Id,
+	expr:   Expr_Id,
+	pkg:    Package_Id,
+	file:   File_Id,
+}
+
 File :: struct {
 	source:  source.Source_Id,
 	pkg:     Package_Id,
@@ -357,6 +365,7 @@ Module :: struct {
 	c_trampolines: [dynamic]Trampoline,
 	strings:    [dynamic]string,
 	type_fields: [dynamic]types.Field,
+	struct_field_defaults: [dynamic]Struct_Field_Default,
 	type_uses:   [dynamic]Type_Use,
 	type_store: types.Store,
 	allocator:  mem.Allocator,
@@ -379,6 +388,7 @@ init_module :: proc(allocator := context.allocator) -> Module {
 	module.c_trampolines.allocator = allocator
 	module.strings.allocator = allocator
 	module.type_fields.allocator = allocator
+	module.struct_field_defaults.allocator = allocator
 	module.type_uses.allocator = allocator
 	return module
 }
@@ -436,6 +446,7 @@ destroy_module :: proc(module: ^Module) {
 	delete(module.c_trampolines)
 	delete(module.strings)
 	delete(module.type_fields)
+	delete(module.struct_field_defaults)
 	delete(module.type_uses)
 	types.destroy_store(&module.type_store)
 }
diff --git a/compiler/checker/checker.odin b/compiler/checker/checker.odin
index 95fa45a..609e859 100644
--- a/compiler/checker/checker.odin
+++ b/compiler/checker/checker.odin
@@ -4471,12 +4471,19 @@ infer_compound_expr :: proc(
 			}
 			return value
 		}
+		fields := types.fields_for(store, value)
+		item, item_ok := types.node(store, value)
+		initialized := make([]bool, len(fields), checker.allocator)
+		defer delete(initialized, checker.allocator)
 		for keyed in expr.args {
 			keyed_expr := checker.ast_module.exprs[keyed]
 			if keyed_expr.left == ast.INVALID_EXPR {
 				continue
 			}
 			slot, field, ok := find_struct_field_slot(checker, value, keyed_expr.name)
+			if ok && item_ok {
+				initialized[slot-int(item.field_start)] = true
+			}
 			if !ok || !is_inferred_record_field(checker, slot) {
 				_ = infer_nested_expr(checker, keyed_expr.left, locals, pkg, file, demanded, local_types)
 				continue
@@ -4491,6 +4498,19 @@ infer_compound_expr :: proc(
 				)
 			}
 		}
+		if item_ok && item.kind == .Struct && !item.tuple {
+			for field, index in fields {
+				if initialized[index] {
+					continue
+				}
+				if field_default, ok := find_struct_field_default(checker, value, symbol.Id(field.name)); ok {
+					_ = infer_nested_expr(
+						checker, field_default.expr, nil, field_default.pkg, field_default.file,
+						demanded, expected=field.type,
+					)
+				}
+			}
+		}
 		return value
 	case .Keyed:
 		return infer_nested_expr(checker, expr.left, locals, pkg, file, demanded, local_types)
@@ -6098,6 +6118,27 @@ infer_all :: proc(checker: ^Checker) {
 		checker.record_field_demands_dirty = false
 		spec_count := len(checker.specs)
 
+		for field_default in checker.ast_module.struct_field_defaults {
+			slot, field, ok := find_struct_field_slot(checker, field_default.record, field_default.field)
+			if !ok {
+				continue
+			}
+			expected := field.type if is_runtime_type(checker, field.type) else types.INVALID
+			inferred := infer_expr(
+				checker, field_default.expr, nil, field_default.pkg, field_default.file,
+				expected=expected,
+			)
+			_ = record_field_expr_candidate(
+				checker, slot, field_default.expr, inferred, nil, field_default.pkg, field_default.file,
+			)
+			if is_runtime_type(checker, checker.module.types.fields[slot].type) {
+				_ = record_demand(
+					checker, field_default.expr, checker.module.types.fields[slot].type,
+					nil, nil, field_default.pkg, field_default.file,
+				)
+			}
+		}
+
 		// Backward demands: a global pushes its own (declared or already-resolved) type
 		// onto open numeric slots reachable through names and numeric arithmetic.
 		for global, index in checker.ast_module.globals {
@@ -6753,6 +6794,21 @@ find_struct_field :: proc(checker: ^Checker, struct_type: types.Type, name: symb
 	return 0, {}, false
 }
 
+find_struct_field_default :: proc(
+	checker: ^Checker,
+	struct_type: types.Type,
+	name: symbol.Id,
+) -> (ast.Struct_Field_Default, bool) {
+	resolved := types.resolve_alias(struct_type, &checker.module.types)
+	for field_default in checker.ast_module.struct_field_defaults {
+		if types.resolve_alias(field_default.record, &checker.module.types) == resolved &&
+		   field_default.field == name {
+			return field_default, true
+		}
+	}
+	return {}, false
+}
+
 find_tuple_field :: proc(checker: ^Checker, tuple_type: types.Type, index: u64) -> (int, types.Field, bool) {
 	item, ok := types.node(&checker.module.types, tuple_type)
 	if !ok || item.kind != .Struct || !item.tuple || index >= u64(item.field_count) {
@@ -7895,6 +7951,17 @@ build_compound_expr :: proc(
 				if values[index] != hir.INVALID_EXPR {
 					continue
 				}
+				if field_default, ok := find_struct_field_default(checker, struct_type, symbol.Id(field.name)); ok {
+					values[index] = build_nested_expr(
+						checker, field_default.expr, nil, global_reads, calls,
+						field.type, field_default.pkg, field_default.file,
+					)
+					values[index] = coerce_expr(
+						checker, values[index], field.type,
+						checker.ast_module.exprs[field_default.expr].span,
+					)
+					continue
+				}
 				id := source.addf(checker.diagnostics, expr.span, "missing initializer for struct field '%s'", symbol_text(checker, symbol.Id(field.name)))
 				delete(values, checker.allocator)
 				return invalid_hir_expr(checker, expr.span, id, struct_type)
diff --git a/compiler/checker/comptime.odin b/compiler/checker/comptime.odin
index fa6b480..8f68f26 100644
--- a/compiler/checker/comptime.odin
+++ b/compiler/checker/comptime.odin
@@ -1505,9 +1505,25 @@ ct_eval_struct_expr :: proc(state: ^Ct_State, expr: ast.Expr, expected: types.Ty
 	}
 	if !union_record {
 		for field, index in fields {
-			if values[index] == INVALID_CT_VALUE {
+			if values[index] != INVALID_CT_VALUE {
+				continue
+			}
+			field_default, has_default := find_struct_field_default(checker, struct_type, symbol.Id(field.name))
+			if !has_default {
 				return INVALID_CT_VALUE, ct_flow(.Normal), ct_failf(state, .Not_Comptime, expr.span, "missing initializer for struct field '%s'", symbol_text(checker, symbol.Id(field.name)))
 			}
+			previous_pkg, previous_file := state.pkg, state.file
+			state.pkg, state.file = field_default.pkg, field_default.file
+			value, flow, ok := ct_eval_expr(state, field_default.expr, field.type, depth+1)
+			state.pkg, state.file = previous_pkg, previous_file
+			if !ok || flow.kind != .Normal {
+				return INVALID_CT_VALUE, flow, ok
+			}
+			value, ok = ct_coerce_value(state, value, field.type, checker.ast_module.exprs[field_default.expr].span)
+			if !ok {
+				return INVALID_CT_VALUE, ct_flow(.Normal), false
+			}
+			values[index] = value
 		}
 	}
 	start := u32(len(state.children))
diff --git a/compiler/loader/loader.odin b/compiler/loader/loader.odin
index 81a8508..7eaea74 100644
--- a/compiler/loader/loader.odin
+++ b/compiler/loader/loader.odin
@@ -1886,6 +1886,9 @@ canonicalize_types :: proc(module: ^ast.Module, allocator: mem.Allocator) {
 	for &field in module.type_fields {
 		field.type = canonical_type(module, field.type, mapping, visiting)
 	}
+	for &field_default in module.struct_field_defaults {
+		field_default.record = canonical_type(module, field_default.record, mapping, visiting)
+	}
 	for index := 0; index < original_count; index += 1 {
 		_ = canonical_type(module, types.DYNAMIC_START+types.Type(index), mapping, visiting)
 	}
diff --git a/compiler/parser/parser.odin b/compiler/parser/parser.odin
index 9742501..2d30a09 100644
--- a/compiler/parser/parser.odin
+++ b/compiler/parser/parser.odin
@@ -2532,6 +2532,7 @@ parse_record_body :: proc(
 	allow_anonymous_struct_payload := false,
 	allow_keyword_names := false,
 	tuple_result: ^bool = nil,
+	defaults: ^[dynamic]ast.Expr_Id = nil,
 ) -> bool {
 	if _, ok := allow(parser, .Left_Brace); !ok {
 		source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, expected_open)
@@ -2557,6 +2558,9 @@ parse_record_body :: proc(
 			mode = 2
 			field_type := parse_type(parser)
 			append(fields, types.Field{name=0, type=field_type})
+			if defaults != nil {
+				append(defaults, ast.INVALID_EXPR)
+			}
 		} else {
 			if mode == 2 {
 				source.add(parser.diagnostics, current(parser).span, "struct fields cannot mix named and unnamed forms")
@@ -2575,6 +2579,14 @@ parse_record_body :: proc(
 			}
 			field_type := parse_record_field_type(parser, allow_anonymous_struct_payload)
 			append(fields, types.Field{name=u32(field_name.symbol), type=field_type})
+			if defaults != nil {
+				value := ast.INVALID_EXPR
+				if _, ok := allow(parser, .Equal); ok {
+					skip_newlines(parser)
+					value = parse_expression(parser)
+				}
+				append(defaults, value)
+			}
 		}
 		if _, ok := allow(parser, .Comma); ok {
 			skip_newlines(parser)
@@ -2678,6 +2690,9 @@ parse_struct :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_layout, file_hidden:
 	fields: [dynamic]types.Field
 	fields.allocator = parser.module.allocator
 	defer delete(fields)
+	defaults: [dynamic]ast.Expr_Id
+	defaults.allocator = parser.module.allocator
+	defer delete(defaults)
 	allow_anonymous_struct_payload := is_union && (inferred_tag || types.is_valid(declared_tag))
 	tuple := false
 	_ = parse_record_body(
@@ -2687,7 +2702,13 @@ parse_struct :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_layout, file_hidden:
 		allow_anonymous_struct_payload,
 		allow_anonymous_struct_payload,
 		&tuple,
+		&defaults,
 	)
+	for value in defaults {
+		if value != ast.INVALID_EXPR && (c_layout || is_union || tuple) {
+			source.add(parser.diagnostics, parser.module.exprs[value].span, "field defaults are only supported by named native structs")
+		}
+	}
 	if tuple && (c_layout || is_union) {
 		source.add(parser.diagnostics, start.span, "unnamed fields are only supported by native structs")
 		tuple = false
@@ -2697,6 +2718,19 @@ parse_struct :: proc(parser: ^Parser, name: token.Token, c_layout, file_hidden:
 	}
 	if !types.define_record(&parser.module.type_store, id, fields[:], c_layout, false, is_union, tag=tag, declared_tag=declared_tag, tuple=tuple) {
 		source.addf(parser.diagnostics, name.span, "duplicate type declaration '%s'", token_text(parser, name))
+	} else if !c_layout && !is_union && !tuple {
+		for value, index in defaults {
+			if value == ast.INVALID_EXPR {
+				continue
+			}
+			append(&parser.module.struct_field_defaults, ast.Struct_Field_Default{
+				record=id,
+				field=symbol.Id(fields[index].name),
+				expr=value,
+				pkg=parser.pkg,
+				file=parser.file,
+			})
+		}
 	}
 	_ = finish_statement(parser)
 }
diff --git a/compiler_tests.odin b/compiler_tests.odin
index eb81a0c..b3429d0 100644
--- a/compiler_tests.odin
+++ b/compiler_tests.odin
@@ -13325,3 +13325,44 @@ main func() void {
 	testing.expect(t, unresolved_ok)
 	testing.expect_value(t, unresolved, types.U64)
 }
+
+@(test)
+milestone_44_struct_field_defaults_compile_and_run :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	directory := "/tmp/brolang-test-struct-field-defaults"
+	main_path := "/tmp/brolang-test-struct-field-defaults/main.bro"
+	output := "/tmp/brolang-test-struct-field-defaults-output"
+	text := `Config :: struct {
+	count int = 7
+	enabled bool = true
+	name []u8 = "bro"
+	required i32
+}
+
+Lists :: struct { items [][]u8 = &[] }
+
+read func(value Config) i32 {
+	return value.required + value.count
+}
+
+ANSWER :: $read(Config{required = 35})
+
+main func() i32 {
+	defaults Config = Config{required = 35}
+	overridden Config = Config{count = 1, enabled = false, name = "x", required = 40}
+	lists Lists = Lists{}
+	if (ANSWER != 42) return 1
+	if (defaults.count != 7 or defaults.enabled == false) return 2
+	if (defaults.name.len != 3 or lists.items.len != 0) return 3
+	if (overridden.count != 1 or overridden.enabled or overridden.name.len != 1) return 4
+	return 0
+}
+`
+	_ = os2.remove_all(directory)
+	defer _ = os2.remove_all(directory)
+	defer _ = os.remove(output)
+	testing.expect(t, os.make_directory(directory) == nil)
+	testing.expect(t, os.write_entire_file(main_path, transmute([]byte)text))
+	testing.expect_value(t, compiler_core.compile_package(directory, output), 0)
+	state := run_executable(output)
+	testing.expect_value(t, state.exit_code, 0)
+}
diff --git a/main.odin b/main.odin
index 024c86c..53aa202 100644
--- a/main.odin
+++ b/main.odin
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ default_build_bro :: proc(project_name: string, allocator := context.allocator)
 	defer strings.builder_destroy(&builder)
 	strings.write_string(&builder, "b :: import \"@std/build\"\n\nconfig :: b.BuildConfig{\n\tname = \"")
 	write_escaped_brolang_string(&builder, name)
-	strings.write_string(&builder, "\",\n\tsource = \"source\",\n\tlibraries = &[],\n\tlib_paths = &[],\n\tincludes = &[],\n\tdefines = &[],\n\tlinks = &[],\n}\n")
+	strings.write_string(&builder, "\",\n\tsource = \"source\",\n}\n")
 	return strings.clone(strings.to_string(builder), allocator)
 }
 
diff --git a/std/build/build.bro b/std/build/build.bro
index fad3c9e..cf2f884 100644
--- a/std/build/build.bro
+++ b/std/build/build.bro
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 # build.bro, reads the config, and writes root/build/name.
 #
 # Declarative and literal-only: one executable per build. List fields take an
-# address-of an array literal (`&["raylib"]`); empty lists are written `&[]`.
+# address-of an array literal (`&["raylib"]`) and default to empty.
 BuildConfig :: struct {
 	name      []u8      # output executable name under root/build
 	source    []u8      # program package directory, relative to build.bro
-	libraries [][]u8    # library names to link (-l)
-	lib_paths [][]u8    # library search directories (-L)
-	includes  [][]u8    # C include directories (-I)
-	defines   [][]u8    # C preprocessor defines (name or name=value)
-	links     [][]u8    # extra linker inputs (object/source files, -framework pairs)
+	libraries [][]u8 = &[] # library names to link (-l)
+	lib_paths [][]u8 = &[] # library search directories (-L)
+	includes  [][]u8 = &[] # C include directories (-I)
+	defines   [][]u8 = &[] # C preprocessor defines (name or name=value)
+	links     [][]u8 = &[] # extra linker inputs (object/source files, -framework pairs)
 }