diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04c4e4eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata;
+
+
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** for use-cases where a metaDataProducer directly adds its objects to the
+ ** qInstance, then this empty object can be returned.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput implements MetaDataProducerOutput
+{
+   private static final QLogger LOG = QLogger.getLogger(EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput.class);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public void addSelfToInstance(QInstance instance)
+   {
+      /////////////////////////////////
+      // noop - this output is empty //
+      /////////////////////////////////
+      LOG.trace("empty meta data producer has nothing to add.");
+   }
+}
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/EmptyMetaDataProducerOutputTest.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/EmptyMetaDataProducerOutputTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..118c27d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/EmptyMetaDataProducerOutputTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata;
+
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class EmptyMetaDataProducerOutputTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** sorry, just here to avoid a dip in coverage.
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test()
+   {
+      QInstance qInstance = new QInstance();
+      new EmptyMetaDataProducerOutput().addSelfToInstance(qInstance);
+   }
+
+}
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