diff --git a/tests/test_adapters.py b/tests/test_adapters.py
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_adapters.py
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+"""
+Tests for engine/pipeline/adapters.py - Stage adapters for the pipeline.
+
+Tests Stage adapters that bridge existing components to the Stage interface:
+- DataSourceStage: Wraps DataSource objects
+- DisplayStage: Wraps Display backends
+- PassthroughStage: Simple pass-through stage for pre-rendered data
+- SourceItemsToBufferStage: Converts SourceItem objects to text buffers
+- EffectPluginStage: Wraps effect plugins
+"""
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from engine.data_sources.sources import SourceItem
+from engine.pipeline.adapters import (
+    DataSourceStage,
+    DisplayStage,
+    EffectPluginStage,
+    PassthroughStage,
+    SourceItemsToBufferStage,
+)
+from engine.pipeline.core import PipelineContext
+
+
+class TestDataSourceStage:
+    """Test DataSourceStage adapter."""
+
+    def test_datasource_stage_name(self):
+        """DataSourceStage stores name correctly."""
+        mock_source = MagicMock()
+        stage = DataSourceStage(mock_source, name="headlines")
+        assert stage.name == "headlines"
+
+    def test_datasource_stage_category(self):
+        """DataSourceStage has 'source' category."""
+        mock_source = MagicMock()
+        stage = DataSourceStage(mock_source, name="headlines")
+        assert stage.category == "source"
+
+    def test_datasource_stage_capabilities(self):
+        """DataSourceStage advertises source capability."""
+        mock_source = MagicMock()
+        stage = DataSourceStage(mock_source, name="headlines")
+        assert "source.headlines" in stage.capabilities
+
+    def test_datasource_stage_dependencies(self):
+        """DataSourceStage has no dependencies."""
+        mock_source = MagicMock()
+        stage = DataSourceStage(mock_source, name="headlines")
+        assert stage.dependencies == set()
+
+    def test_datasource_stage_process_calls_get_items(self):
+        """DataSourceStage.process() calls source.get_items()."""
+        mock_items = [
+            SourceItem(content="Item 1", source="headlines", timestamp="12:00"),
+        ]
+        mock_source = MagicMock()
+        mock_source.get_items.return_value = mock_items
+
+        stage = DataSourceStage(mock_source, name="headlines")
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        result = stage.process(None, ctx)
+
+        assert result == mock_items
+        mock_source.get_items.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_datasource_stage_process_fallback_returns_data(self):
+        """DataSourceStage.process() returns data if no get_items method."""
+        mock_source = MagicMock(spec=[])  # No get_items method
+        stage = DataSourceStage(mock_source, name="headlines")
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        test_data = [{"content": "test"}]
+
+        result = stage.process(test_data, ctx)
+        assert result == test_data
+
+
+class TestDisplayStage:
+    """Test DisplayStage adapter."""
+
+    def test_display_stage_name(self):
+        """DisplayStage stores name correctly."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+        assert stage.name == "terminal"
+
+    def test_display_stage_category(self):
+        """DisplayStage has 'display' category."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+        assert stage.category == "display"
+
+    def test_display_stage_capabilities(self):
+        """DisplayStage advertises display capability."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+        assert "display.output" in stage.capabilities
+
+    def test_display_stage_dependencies(self):
+        """DisplayStage has no dependencies."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+        assert stage.dependencies == set()
+
+    def test_display_stage_init(self):
+        """DisplayStage.init() calls display.init() with dimensions."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        mock_display.init.return_value = True
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        ctx.params = MagicMock()
+        ctx.params.viewport_width = 100
+        ctx.params.viewport_height = 30
+
+        result = stage.init(ctx)
+
+        assert result is True
+        mock_display.init.assert_called_once_with(100, 30, reuse=False)
+
+    def test_display_stage_init_uses_defaults(self):
+        """DisplayStage.init() uses defaults when params missing."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        mock_display.init.return_value = True
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        ctx.params = None
+
+        result = stage.init(ctx)
+
+        assert result is True
+        mock_display.init.assert_called_once_with(80, 24, reuse=False)
+
+    def test_display_stage_process_calls_show(self):
+        """DisplayStage.process() calls display.show() with data."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+
+        test_buffer = [[["A", "red"] for _ in range(80)] for _ in range(24)]
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        result = stage.process(test_buffer, ctx)
+
+        assert result == test_buffer
+        mock_display.show.assert_called_once_with(test_buffer)
+
+    def test_display_stage_process_skips_none_data(self):
+        """DisplayStage.process() skips show() if data is None."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        result = stage.process(None, ctx)
+
+        assert result is None
+        mock_display.show.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_display_stage_cleanup(self):
+        """DisplayStage.cleanup() calls display.cleanup()."""
+        mock_display = MagicMock()
+        stage = DisplayStage(mock_display, name="terminal")
+
+        stage.cleanup()
+
+        mock_display.cleanup.assert_called_once()
+
+
+class TestPassthroughStage:
+    """Test PassthroughStage adapter."""
+
+    def test_passthrough_stage_name(self):
+        """PassthroughStage stores name correctly."""
+        stage = PassthroughStage(name="test")
+        assert stage.name == "test"
+
+    def test_passthrough_stage_category(self):
+        """PassthroughStage has 'render' category."""
+        stage = PassthroughStage()
+        assert stage.category == "render"
+
+    def test_passthrough_stage_is_optional(self):
+        """PassthroughStage is optional."""
+        stage = PassthroughStage()
+        assert stage.optional is True
+
+    def test_passthrough_stage_capabilities(self):
+        """PassthroughStage advertises render output capability."""
+        stage = PassthroughStage()
+        assert "render.output" in stage.capabilities
+
+    def test_passthrough_stage_dependencies(self):
+        """PassthroughStage depends on source."""
+        stage = PassthroughStage()
+        assert "source" in stage.dependencies
+
+    def test_passthrough_stage_process_returns_data_unchanged(self):
+        """PassthroughStage.process() returns data unchanged."""
+        stage = PassthroughStage()
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+
+        test_data = [
+            SourceItem(content="Line 1", source="test", timestamp="12:00"),
+        ]
+        result = stage.process(test_data, ctx)
+
+        assert result == test_data
+        assert result is test_data
+
+
+class TestSourceItemsToBufferStage:
+    """Test SourceItemsToBufferStage adapter."""
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_name(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage stores name correctly."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage(name="custom-name")
+        assert stage.name == "custom-name"
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_category(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage has 'render' category."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        assert stage.category == "render"
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_is_optional(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage is optional."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        assert stage.optional is True
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_capabilities(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage advertises render output capability."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        assert "render.output" in stage.capabilities
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_dependencies(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage depends on source."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        assert "source" in stage.dependencies
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_process_single_line_item(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage converts single-line SourceItem."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+
+        items = [
+            SourceItem(content="Single line content", source="test", timestamp="12:00"),
+        ]
+        result = stage.process(items, ctx)
+
+        assert isinstance(result, list)
+        assert len(result) >= 1
+        # Result should be lines of text
+        assert all(isinstance(line, str) for line in result)
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_process_multiline_item(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage splits multiline SourceItem content."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+
+        content = "Line 1\nLine 2\nLine 3"
+        items = [
+            SourceItem(content=content, source="test", timestamp="12:00"),
+        ]
+        result = stage.process(items, ctx)
+
+        # Should have at least 3 lines
+        assert len(result) >= 3
+        assert all(isinstance(line, str) for line in result)
+
+    def test_source_items_to_buffer_stage_process_multiple_items(self):
+        """SourceItemsToBufferStage handles multiple SourceItems."""
+        stage = SourceItemsToBufferStage()
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+
+        items = [
+            SourceItem(content="Item 1", source="test", timestamp="12:00"),
+            SourceItem(content="Item 2", source="test", timestamp="12:01"),
+            SourceItem(content="Item 3", source="test", timestamp="12:02"),
+        ]
+        result = stage.process(items, ctx)
+
+        # Should have at least 3 lines (one per item, possibly more)
+        assert len(result) >= 3
+        assert all(isinstance(line, str) for line in result)
+
+
+class TestEffectPluginStage:
+    """Test EffectPluginStage adapter."""
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_name(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage stores name correctly."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        assert stage.name == "blur"
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_category(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage has 'effect' category."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        assert stage.category == "effect"
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_is_not_optional(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage is required when configured."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        assert stage.optional is False
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_capabilities(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage advertises effect capability with name."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        assert "effect.blur" in stage.capabilities
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_dependencies(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage has no static dependencies."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        # EffectPluginStage has empty dependencies - they are resolved dynamically
+        assert stage.dependencies == set()
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_stage_type(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage.stage_type returns effect for non-HUD."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        assert stage.stage_type == "effect"
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_hud_special_handling(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage has special handling for HUD effect."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="hud")
+        assert stage.stage_type == "overlay"
+        assert stage.is_overlay is True
+        assert stage.render_order == 100
+
+    def test_effect_plugin_stage_process(self):
+        """EffectPluginStage.process() calls effect.process()."""
+        mock_effect = MagicMock()
+        mock_effect.process.return_value = "processed_data"
+
+        stage = EffectPluginStage(mock_effect, name="blur")
+        ctx = PipelineContext()
+        test_buffer = "test_buffer"
+
+        result = stage.process(test_buffer, ctx)
+
+        assert result == "processed_data"
+        mock_effect.process.assert_called_once()