diff --git a/.opencode/module-graph.md b/.opencode/module-graph.md
index 99cc195..18e90a2 100644
--- a/.opencode/module-graph.md
+++ b/.opencode/module-graph.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 ```
 lib/
   model/         ← data classes, enums, exceptions (zero internal deps)
-  data/          ← data access, serialization (depends on model/)
+  data/          ← data access, serialization, file I/O (depends on model/)
   analyzer/      ← analysis engine, rule checkers (depends on model/, data/)
     checker/     ← individual rule implementations (depends on model/)
   util/          ← shared utilities (zero internal deps)
@@ -53,12 +53,24 @@ bin/
 | Layer | Role |
 |---|---|
 | `model/` | Data classes, enums, custom exceptions. Zero knowledge of other layers. |
-| `data/` | Config loading, JSON parsing, file I/O. Depends on `model/` for types. |
+| `data/` | Config loading, JSON mapping, Dart source parsing, file I/O. Depends on `model/` for types and may use external packages (`yaml`, `analyzer`). |
 | `analyzer/` | Core logic: walks files, resolves imports, checks rules. Orchestrates the analysis. |
 | `analyzer/checker/` | Individual rule implementations. Each checker validates one rule type. |
 | `util/` | Shared helpers (string, file, path utilities). No knowledge of project domain. |
 | `bin/main.dart` | CLI entry point. Only calls the public API — never internal modules directly. |
 
+## Data Layer Contents
+
+- `config_item_mapper.dart` — maps JSON objects to `EagleEyeConfigItem`.
+- `config_keys.dart` — JSON key names (wire format).
+- `dart_source_loader.dart` — reads Dart files and returns `CompilationUnit`.
+- `json_converter.dart` — parses the configuration array.
+- `eagle_eye_repository.dart` — exposes config, application name, and Dart paths.
+- `file_helper.dart` — internal file-system operations.
+
+The model layer has no wire-format knowledge: `EagleEyeConfigItem.fromJson`
+does not exist, and JSON keys live in `data/`.
+
 ## Adding a New Feature
 
 1. If a new domain type is needed → add to `model/`
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d71168a..ae8c0c3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ## Unreleased
 
+- Internal refactor: move JSON mapping, configuration keys, and Dart source loading into `lib/data/`. `EagleEyeConfigItem` is now a pure model with no `fromJson` factory, and `EagleEyeRepository` returns Dart file paths instead of `File` objects. `FileHelper` no longer references `util/logger_helper.dart`.
 - Add a configuration validation step before analysis. EagleEye now rejects malformed rules and configurations where more than one rule matches the same file, instead of silently applying the first match.
 - Add a `--verbose` (`-v`) flag that prints every configuration, file, import, and pattern check performed by EagleEye. Add `--help` (`-h`) for usage information.
 
diff --git a/lib/data/config_item_mapper.dart b/lib/data/config_item_mapper.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d593eec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/data/config_item_mapper.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/config_keys.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/invalid_config_exception.dart';
+
+/// Maps configuration JSON objects into [EagleEyeConfigItem] instances.
+///
+/// This is a data-layer concern: the model stays free of wire-format
+/// knowledge, while the mapper owns key names and type validation.
+class ConfigItemMapper {
+  /// Maps a single JSON object into an [EagleEyeConfigItem].
+  ///
+  /// The [ConfigKeys.nameEagleItemKey] field is optional and maps to `null`
+  /// when absent. Throws an [InvalidConfigException] when a required field is
+  /// missing or when a field has an unexpected type.
+  EagleEyeConfigItem map(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
+    final dependenciesAllowed = _readDependenciesAllowed(json);
+    final forbiddenDependencies = _readStringList(
+      json,
+      ConfigKeys.forbiddenDependenciesEagleItemKey,
+    );
+    final exclusiveDependencies = _readStringList(
+      json,
+      ConfigKeys.exclusiveDependenciesEagleItemKey,
+    );
+    final filePattern = _readFilePattern(json);
+    final name = _readName(json);
+
+    return EagleEyeConfigItem(
+      dependenciesAllowed: dependenciesAllowed,
+      forbiddenDependencies: forbiddenDependencies,
+      exclusiveDependencies: exclusiveDependencies,
+      filePattern: filePattern,
+      name: name,
+    );
+  }
+
+  bool? _readDependenciesAllowed(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
+    final key = ConfigKeys.dependenciesAllowedEagleItemKey;
+    final value = json[key];
+    if (value != null && value is! bool) {
+      throw InvalidConfigException('The "$key" value must be a boolean.');
+    }
+    return value as bool?;
+  }
+
+  List<String>? _readStringList(Map<String, dynamic> json, String key) {
+    final value = json[key];
+    if (value == null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    if (value is! List || value.any((item) => item is! String)) {
+      throw InvalidConfigException(
+        'The "$key" value must be a list of strings.',
+      );
+    }
+    return List<String>.from(value);
+  }
+
+  String _readFilePattern(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
+    final key = ConfigKeys.filePatternEagleItemKey;
+    final value = json[key];
+    if (value is! String || value.trim().isEmpty) {
+      throw InvalidConfigException(
+        'The "$key" value is required and must be a non-empty string.',
+      );
+    }
+    return value;
+  }
+
+  String? _readName(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
+    final key = ConfigKeys.nameEagleItemKey;
+    final value = json[key];
+    if (value != null && value is! String) {
+      throw InvalidConfigException('The "$key" value must be a string.');
+    }
+    return value as String?;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/model/config_keys.dart b/lib/data/config_keys.dart
similarity index 100%
rename from lib/model/config_keys.dart
rename to lib/data/config_keys.dart
diff --git a/lib/data/dart_source_loader.dart b/lib/data/dart_source_loader.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7dc1e6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/data/dart_source_loader.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import 'package:analyzer/dart/analysis/features.dart';
+import 'package:analyzer/dart/analysis/utilities.dart';
+import 'package:analyzer/dart/ast/ast.dart';
+
+/// Loads Dart source files from disk and parses them into ASTs.
+///
+/// This is a data-layer concern: it owns reading source files and turning
+/// them into [CompilationUnit] values for the analyzer.
+class DartSourceLoader {
+  /// Parses the Dart file at [path] into a [CompilationUnit].
+  CompilationUnit load(String path) {
+    return parseFile(
+      path: path,
+      featureSet: FeatureSet.latestLanguageVersion(),
+    ).unit;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/data/eagle_eye_repository.dart b/lib/data/eagle_eye_repository.dart
index e0f44fa..d326afd 100644
--- a/lib/data/eagle_eye_repository.dart
+++ b/lib/data/eagle_eye_repository.dart
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import 'dart:io';
-
 import 'package:eagle_eye/data/file_helper.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/data/json_converter.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/eagle_eye_config.dart';
@@ -21,8 +19,9 @@ abstract class EagleEyeRepository {
   /// Returns an [EagleEyeConfig]
   Future<EagleEyeConfig> getAndCheckIfConfigFileExists();
 
-  /// Returns all Dart files found within the project’s `lib/` directory.
-  List<File> allDartFiles();
+  /// Returns the paths of all Dart files found within the project’s `lib/`
+  /// directory.
+  List<String> allDartPaths();
 
   /// Returns the application’s name as defined in the project structure.
   String getApplicationName();
@@ -56,17 +55,15 @@ class EagleEyeRepositoryImpl extends EagleEyeRepository {
   });
 
   @override
-  List<File> allDartFiles() {
-    Directory libsDir = fileHelper.getAndCheckIfLibsDirectoryExists(
-      libsFolderName,
-    );
-    return fileHelper.allDartFiles(libsDir);
+  List<String> allDartPaths() {
+    final libsDir = fileHelper.getAndCheckIfLibsDirectoryExists(libsFolderName);
+    return fileHelper.allDartFiles(libsDir).map((file) => file.path).toList();
   }
 
   @override
   Future<EagleEyeConfig> getAndCheckIfConfigFileExists() async {
-    final String configFileContent =
-        await fileHelper.getAndCheckIfConfigFileExists(configFileName);
+    final String configFileContent = await fileHelper
+        .getAndCheckIfConfigFileExists(configFileName);
 
     return jsonConverter.convert(configFileContent);
   }
diff --git a/lib/data/file_helper.dart b/lib/data/file_helper.dart
index 52d75c7..b1af4bd 100644
--- a/lib/data/file_helper.dart
+++ b/lib/data/file_helper.dart
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/application_name_not_found_exception.
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/config_file_not_found_exception.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/empty_dart_file_list_exception.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/library_folder_not_found_exception.dart';
-import 'package:eagle_eye/util/logger_helper.dart';
 import 'package:yaml/yaml.dart';
 
 /// Provides utility methods for interacting with project files and directories.
@@ -17,10 +16,9 @@ import 'package:yaml/yaml.dart';
 class FileHelper {
   // Checks if the specified configuration file exists and reads its contents.
   ///
-  /// If the file does not exist, logs an error message via [LoggerHelper].
+  /// Throws a [ConfigFileNotFoundException] if the file does not exist.
   ///
   /// Returns the file content as a [String].
-  /// Throws a [ConfigFileNotFoundException] if the file is not specified
   Future<String> getAndCheckIfConfigFileExists(String configFile) async {
     final file = File(configFile);
     if (!file.existsSync()) {
@@ -32,11 +30,10 @@ class FileHelper {
 
   /// Ensures the specified [libsFolderName] directory exists and returns it.
   ///
-  /// If the directory does not exist, logs an error message via [LoggerHelper].
+  /// Throws a [LibraryFolderNotFoundException] if the directory does not
+  /// exist.
   ///
   /// Returns the [Directory] representing the `lib/` folder.
-  /// Throws a [LibraryFolderNotFoundException] if the lib folder is not
-  /// available.
   Directory getAndCheckIfLibsDirectoryExists(String libsFolderName) {
     final projectDirectory = Directory(libsFolderName);
 
diff --git a/lib/data/json_converter.dart b/lib/data/json_converter.dart
index 49a2567..59f4791 100644
--- a/lib/data/json_converter.dart
+++ b/lib/data/json_converter.dart
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import 'dart:convert';
 
-import 'package:eagle_eye/model/config_keys.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/config_item_mapper.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/config_keys.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/eagle_eye_config.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/invalid_config_exception.dart';
@@ -20,6 +21,13 @@ import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/invalid_json_key_exception.dart';
 /// - `filePattern` — defines which files the rule applies to
 /// - `name` — optional human-readable rule name
 class JsonConverter {
+  /// Creates a new [JsonConverter].
+  JsonConverter({required ConfigItemMapper mapper}) {
+   _mapper = mapper;
+  }
+
+  late ConfigItemMapper _mapper;
+
   void _checkKeys(List<String> keys) {
     final validKeys = [
       ConfigKeys.filePatternEagleItemKey,
@@ -68,9 +76,7 @@ class JsonConverter {
       _checkKeys(jsonDataItem.keys.toList());
 
       try {
-        EagleEyeConfigItem configItem = EagleEyeConfigItem.fromJson(
-          jsonDataItem,
-        );
+        EagleEyeConfigItem configItem = _mapper.map(jsonDataItem);
         eagleConfigItems.add(configItem);
       } on InvalidConfigException catch (e) {
         throw InvalidConfigException('Rule #${index + 1}: ${e.details}');
diff --git a/lib/eagle_eye_launcher.dart b/lib/eagle_eye_launcher.dart
index e5cd09d..404f07d 100644
--- a/lib/eagle_eye_launcher.dart
+++ b/lib/eagle_eye_launcher.dart
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class EagleEyeLauncher {
       EagleEyeConfig configFile = await _locator.repository
           .getAndCheckIfConfigFileExists();
 
-      List<File> dartFiles = _locator.repository.allDartFiles();
+      List<String> dartPaths = _locator.repository.allDartPaths();
 
       String applicationName = _locator.repository.getApplicationName();
 
@@ -77,14 +77,11 @@ class EagleEyeLauncher {
         '${EagleEyeRepositoryImpl.configFileName}',
       );
       onCheck?.call('Application name: $applicationName');
-      onCheck?.call('Found ${dartFiles.length} Dart file(s) in lib/');
+      onCheck?.call('Found ${dartPaths.length} Dart file(s) in lib/');
 
       _locator
           .createConfigValidator(onCheck: onCheck)
-          .validate(
-            config: configFile,
-            filePaths: dartFiles.map((file) => file.path),
-          );
+          .validate(config: configFile, filePaths: dartPaths);
 
       final matcher = _locator.createMatcher(
         config: configFile,
@@ -93,15 +90,15 @@ class EagleEyeLauncher {
 
       List<Violation> errors = [];
 
-      for (final file in dartFiles) {
-        onCheck?.call('Checking ${file.path}');
+      for (final path in dartPaths) {
+        onCheck?.call('Checking $path');
 
-        final unit = _locator.parseDartFile(file.path);
-        EagleEyeConfigItem? eagleEyeItem = matcher.find(file.path);
+        final unit = _locator.dartSourceLoader.load(path);
+        EagleEyeConfigItem? eagleEyeItem = matcher.find(path);
         if (eagleEyeItem != null) {
           final visitor = _locator.createVisitor(
             configItem: eagleEyeItem,
-            filePath: file.path,
+            filePath: path,
             applicationName: applicationName,
             unit: unit,
             errorCallback: (error) => errors.add(error),
@@ -114,7 +111,7 @@ class EagleEyeLauncher {
       }
 
       onCheck?.call(
-        'Checked ${dartFiles.length} file(s); '
+        'Checked ${dartPaths.length} file(s); '
         '${errors.length} violation(s) found',
       );
 
diff --git a/lib/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart b/lib/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart
index 3726092..03dc006 100644
--- a/lib/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart
+++ b/lib/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-import 'package:eagle_eye/model/config_keys.dart';
-import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/invalid_config_exception.dart';
-
 /// Represents a single rule item in the Eagle Eye configuration file.
 ///
 /// Each [EagleEyeConfigItem] defines dependency constraints for files
@@ -38,72 +35,4 @@ class EagleEyeConfigItem {
     required this.filePattern,
     this.name,
   });
-
-  /// Maps a single JSON object into an [EagleEyeConfigItem].
-  ///
-  /// Throws an [InvalidConfigException] when a required field is missing or
-  /// when a field has an unexpected type.
-  factory EagleEyeConfigItem.fromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
-    final dependenciesAllowed = _readDependenciesAllowed(json);
-    final forbiddenDependencies = _readStringList(
-      json,
-      ConfigKeys.forbiddenDependenciesEagleItemKey,
-    );
-    final exclusiveDependencies = _readStringList(
-      json,
-      ConfigKeys.exclusiveDependenciesEagleItemKey,
-    );
-    final filePattern = _readFilePattern(json);
-    final name = _readName(json);
-
-    return EagleEyeConfigItem(
-      dependenciesAllowed: dependenciesAllowed,
-      forbiddenDependencies: forbiddenDependencies,
-      exclusiveDependencies: exclusiveDependencies,
-      filePattern: filePattern,
-      name: name,
-    );
-  }
-
-  static bool? _readDependenciesAllowed(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
-    final key = ConfigKeys.dependenciesAllowedEagleItemKey;
-    final value = json[key];
-    if (value != null && value is! bool) {
-      throw InvalidConfigException('The "$key" value must be a boolean.');
-    }
-    return value as bool?;
-  }
-
-  static List<String>? _readStringList(Map<String, dynamic> json, String key) {
-    final value = json[key];
-    if (value == null) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    if (value is! List || value.any((item) => item is! String)) {
-      throw InvalidConfigException(
-        'The "$key" value must be a list of strings.',
-      );
-    }
-    return List<String>.from(value);
-  }
-
-  static String _readFilePattern(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
-    final key = ConfigKeys.filePatternEagleItemKey;
-    final value = json[key];
-    if (value is! String || value.trim().isEmpty) {
-      throw InvalidConfigException(
-        'The "$key" value is required and must be a non-empty string.',
-      );
-    }
-    return value;
-  }
-
-  static String? _readName(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
-    final key = ConfigKeys.nameEagleItemKey;
-    final value = json[key];
-    if (value != null && value is! String) {
-      throw InvalidConfigException('The "$key" value must be a string.');
-    }
-    return value as String?;
-  }
 }
diff --git a/lib/service_locator.dart b/lib/service_locator.dart
index ac906de..f7c8a5f 100644
--- a/lib/service_locator.dart
+++ b/lib/service_locator.dart
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import 'package:analyzer/dart/analysis/features.dart';
-import 'package:analyzer/dart/analysis/utilities.dart';
 import 'package:analyzer/dart/ast/ast.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/analyzer/config_validator.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/analyzer/eagle_eye_matcher.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/analyzer/eagle_eye_visitor.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/analyzer/regex_helper.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/config_item_mapper.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/dart_source_loader.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/data/eagle_eye_repository.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/data/file_helper.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/data/json_converter.dart';
@@ -25,9 +25,12 @@ class ServiceLocator {
   ServiceLocator();
 
   final FileHelper _fileHelper = FileHelper();
-  final JsonConverter _jsonConverter = JsonConverter();
+  final JsonConverter _jsonConverter = JsonConverter(
+    mapper: ConfigItemMapper(),
+  );
   final RegexHelper _regexHelper = RegexHelper();
   final OutputRenderer _outputRenderer = OutputRenderer();
+  final DartSourceLoader _dartSourceLoader = DartSourceLoader();
 
   late final EagleEyeRepository _repository = EagleEyeRepositoryImpl(
     fileHelper: _fileHelper,
@@ -43,17 +46,12 @@ class ServiceLocator {
   /// The renderer used to format detected violations.
   OutputRenderer get outputRenderer => _outputRenderer;
 
+  /// The loader used to read and parse Dart source files.
+  DartSourceLoader get dartSourceLoader => _dartSourceLoader;
+
   /// Parses the command-line [args] into [CliOptions].
   CliOptions parseCliOptions(List<String> args) => CliOptions.parse(args);
 
-  /// Parses the Dart file at [path] into a [CompilationUnit].
-  CompilationUnit parseDartFile(String path) {
-    return parseFile(
-      path: path,
-      featureSet: FeatureSet.latestLanguageVersion(),
-    ).unit;
-  }
-
   /// Creates a configuration validator.
   EagleEyeConfigValidator createConfigValidator({CheckReporter? onCheck}) {
     return EagleEyeConfigValidator(regexHelper: _regexHelper, onCheck: onCheck);
diff --git a/test/data/config_item_mapper_test.dart b/test/data/config_item_mapper_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69ce2b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/config_item_mapper_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/config_item_mapper.dart';
+import 'package:test/test.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  group('ConfigItemMapper', () {
+    late ConfigItemMapper mapper;
+
+    setUp(() {
+      mapper = ConfigItemMapper();
+    });
+
+    test('dependenciesAllowed - returns a valid configuration item object', () {
+      final noDependsEnabled = {
+        'filePattern': '*/data/model/*',
+        'dependenciesAllowed': false,
+      };
+
+      final actual = mapper.map(noDependsEnabled);
+      expect(actual.dependenciesAllowed, false);
+      expect(actual.filePattern, '*/data/model/*');
+      expect(null, actual.forbiddenDependencies);
+      expect(null, actual.exclusiveDependencies);
+    });
+
+    test(
+      'forbiddenDependencies - returns a valid configuration item object',
+      () {
+        final doNotWith = {
+          'filePattern': '*viewmodel.dart',
+          'forbiddenDependencies': ['*_screen.dart'],
+        };
+
+        final actual = mapper.map(doNotWith);
+
+        expect(actual.forbiddenDependencies, ['*_screen.dart']);
+        expect(actual.dependenciesAllowed, null);
+        expect(actual.filePattern, '*viewmodel.dart');
+        expect(actual.exclusiveDependencies, null);
+      },
+    );
+
+    test(
+      'exclusiveDependencies - returns a valid configuration item object',
+      () {
+        final doNotWith = {
+          'filePattern': '*screen.dart',
+          'exclusiveDependencies': ['*_widget.dart'],
+        };
+
+        final actual = mapper.map(doNotWith);
+
+        expect(actual.exclusiveDependencies, ['*_widget.dart']);
+        expect(actual.forbiddenDependencies, null);
+        expect(actual.dependenciesAllowed, null);
+        expect(actual.filePattern, '*screen.dart');
+      },
+    );
+
+    test('name - is optional and defaults to null when absent', () {
+      final actual = mapper.map({'filePattern': '*screen.dart'});
+
+      expect(actual.name, null);
+    });
+
+    test('name - maps a provided name', () {
+      final actual = mapper.map({
+        'filePattern': '*screen.dart',
+        'name': 'screens-only-widgets',
+      });
+
+      expect(actual.name, 'screens-only-widgets');
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/data/dart_source_loader_test.dart b/test/data/dart_source_loader_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf48f4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/dart_source_loader_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import 'dart:io';
+
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/dart_source_loader.dart';
+import 'package:test/test.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  group('DartSourceLoader', () {
+    late DartSourceLoader loader;
+    late Directory directory;
+
+    setUp(() {
+      loader = DartSourceLoader();
+      directory = Directory.systemTemp.createTempSync('eagle_eye_loader');
+    });
+
+    tearDown(() {
+      directory.deleteSync(recursive: true);
+    });
+
+    test('parses a Dart file into a compilation unit', () {
+      final file = File('${directory.path}/sample.dart');
+      file.writeAsStringSync(
+        "import 'package:eagle_eye/service_locator.dart';",
+      );
+
+      final unit = loader.load(file.path);
+
+      expect(unit.directives, hasLength(1));
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/data/file_helper_test.dart b/test/data/file_helper_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2bcf2b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/file_helper_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import 'dart:io';
+
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/file_helper.dart';
+import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/empty_dart_file_list_exception.dart';
+import 'package:test/test.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  group('FileHelper.allDartFiles', () {
+    late FileHelper fileHelper;
+    late Directory directory;
+
+    setUp(() {
+      fileHelper = FileHelper();
+      directory = Directory.systemTemp.createTempSync('eagle_eye_files');
+    });
+
+    tearDown(() {
+      directory.deleteSync(recursive: true);
+    });
+
+    test('returns every Dart file recursively', () {
+      Directory('${directory.path}/nested').createSync();
+      File('${directory.path}/root.dart').writeAsStringSync('');
+      File('${directory.path}/nested/child.dart').writeAsStringSync('');
+      File('${directory.path}/notes.txt').writeAsStringSync('');
+
+      final files = fileHelper.allDartFiles(directory);
+
+      expect(files, hasLength(2));
+      expect(
+        files.map((file) => file.uri.pathSegments.last),
+        containsAll(['root.dart', 'child.dart']),
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('throws when no Dart files exist', () {
+      File('${directory.path}/notes.txt').writeAsStringSync('');
+
+      expect(
+        () => fileHelper.allDartFiles(directory),
+        throwsA(isA<EmptyDartFileListException>()),
+      );
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/data/json_converter_test.dart b/test/data/json_converter_test.dart
index 6f18845..367abbb 100644
--- a/test/data/json_converter_test.dart
+++ b/test/data/json_converter_test.dart
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import 'package:eagle_eye/data/config_item_mapper.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/data/json_converter.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/invalid_config_exception.dart';
 import 'package:eagle_eye/model/exceptions/invalid_json_key_exception.dart';
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ void main() {
     late JsonConverter converter;
 
     setUp(() {
-      converter = JsonConverter();
+      converter = JsonConverter(mapper: ConfigItemMapper());
     });
 
     Matcher throwsInvalidConfig(String expectedMessage) {
diff --git a/test/model/eagle_eye_config_item_test.dart b/test/model/eagle_eye_config_item_test.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 06fee58..0000000
--- a/test/model/eagle_eye_config_item_test.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-import 'package:eagle_eye/model/eagle_eye_config_item.dart';
-import 'package:test/test.dart';
-
-void main() {
-  test('dependenciesAllowed - returns a valid configuration item object', () {
-    final noDependsEnabled = {
-      'filePattern': '*/data/model/*',
-      'dependenciesAllowed': false
-    };
-
-    final actual = EagleEyeConfigItem.fromJson(noDependsEnabled);
-    expect(
-      actual.dependenciesAllowed,
-      false,
-    );
-    expect(actual.filePattern, '*/data/model/*');
-    expect(null, actual.forbiddenDependencies);
-    expect(null, actual.exclusiveDependencies);
-  });
-
-  test('forbiddenDependencies - returns a valid configuration item object', () {
-    final doNotWith = {
-      'filePattern': '*viewmodel.dart',
-      'forbiddenDependencies': ['*_screen.dart']
-    };
-
-    final actual = EagleEyeConfigItem.fromJson(doNotWith);
-
-    expect(
-      actual.forbiddenDependencies,
-      ['*_screen.dart'],
-    );
-    expect(actual.dependenciesAllowed, null);
-    expect(actual.filePattern, '*viewmodel.dart');
-    expect(actual.exclusiveDependencies, null);
-  });
-
-  test('exclusiveDependencies - returns a valid configuration item object', () {
-    final doNotWith = {
-      'filePattern': '*screen.dart',
-      'exclusiveDependencies': ['*_widget.dart']
-    };
-
-    final actual = EagleEyeConfigItem.fromJson(doNotWith);
-
-    expect(actual.exclusiveDependencies, ['*_widget.dart']);
-    expect(actual.forbiddenDependencies, null);
-    expect(actual.dependenciesAllowed, null);
-    expect(actual.filePattern, '*screen.dart');
-  });
-}
diff --git a/test/service_locator_test.dart b/test/service_locator_test.dart
index 8e6adbb..29a0a08 100644
--- a/test/service_locator_test.dart
+++ b/test/service_locator_test.dart
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void main() {
       expect(validator.regexHelper, same(locator.regexHelper));
     });
 
-    test('parses a Dart file into a compilation unit', () {
+    test('exposes a Dart source loader', () {
       final directory = Directory.systemTemp.createTempSync('eagle_eye');
       addTearDown(() => directory.deleteSync(recursive: true));
       final file = File('${directory.path}/sample.dart');
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ void main() {
         "import 'package:eagle_eye/service_locator.dart';",
       );
 
-      final unit = locator.parseDartFile(file.path);
+      final unit = locator.dartSourceLoader.load(file.path);
 
       expect(unit.directives, hasLength(1));
     });