# 0139 — by-value self-referential type segfaults (`typeSizeBytes` infinite recursion)

> **RESOLVED.** Root cause: `typeSizeBytes` (and the layout path) recursed into
> each by-value aggregate field with no cycle guard, so a by-value self/mutual
> reference looped to a stack overflow. Fix: a new `checkInfiniteSize` pass
> (`src/ir/lower/decl.zig`, Pass 1g — after type registration, before body
> lowering) walks the by-VALUE containment graph; on a back-edge it emits a loud
> diagnostic (`type 'X' is infinitely sized (it contains itself by value); use a
> pointer ('*X') to break the cycle`) and poisons the offending field to
> `.unresolved`, breaking the recursion before any sizing runs. A pointer / slice
> / optional payload breaks the cycle, so `*Self` recursion stays valid. Covers
> both source decls and comptime-constructed (`declare`/`define`) types.
> Regression test: `examples/1178-diagnostics-infinite-size-self-reference.sx`.

**Symptom** — a type whose field/variant payload is ITSELF *by value* (not behind
a pointer) crashes the compiler with a stack-overflow segfault instead of a loud
"infinite size" diagnostic. Observed: `Segmentation fault` inside
`src/ir/types.zig:typeSizeBytes` (unbounded self-recursion through the field
loop). Expected: a clean compile error naming the offending type and suggesting
`*Self`.

**Pre-existing / scope** — NOT specific to the comptime `declare`/`define`
metaprogramming; a hand-written SOURCE enum reproduces it identically. So the fix
belongs in the general type-system size/layout path, and the comptime
construction path (METATYPE F5) inherits the protection for free once it lands.

**Reproduction** (source enum — no metaprogramming needed):

```sx
#import "modules/std.sx";

Bad :: enum {
    node: Bad;     // by-VALUE self-reference → infinite size
    leaf;
}

main :: () -> i32 {
    x : Bad = .leaf;
    return 0;
}
```

Same crash via the metaprogramming path (`#import "modules/std/meta.sx"`):

```sx
make_bad :: () -> Type {
    h := declare("Bad");
    return define(h, .enum(.{ variants = .[
        EnumVariant.{ name = "node", payload = Bad },   // by-value self-ref
        EnumVariant.{ name = "leaf", payload = void } ] }));
}
Bad :: make_bad();
```

**Investigation prompt** — A by-value self-referential (or mutually-recursive)
aggregate has infinite size and must be rejected loudly, not recursed into
forever. The crash is in `src/ir/types.zig:typeSizeBytes` (~line 736), which
recurses into each struct/tagged-union field's type with no cycle guard; a field
typed as its own (or an enclosing) nominal type recurses unboundedly →
stack overflow. Fix: detect the cycle — walk the nominal-type dependency with a
visited set (or a recursion-depth / on-stack-nominal guard), and when a nominal
type reaches itself by value (no pointer indirection on the path), emit a
diagnostic via `self.diagnostics.addFmt(.err, span, "type '{s}' is infinitely
sized (it contains itself by value); use a pointer (`*{s}`) to break the cycle",
…)` and return a sentinel size (e.g. 0 with the error already raised, or poison)
rather than recursing. A pointer field (`*Bad`) breaks the cycle and must stay
allowed (pointers have a fixed size and don't recurse into the pointee).
Verification: run the repro above — expect the loud diagnostic + non-zero exit,
NOT a segfault. Add an `examples/11xx-diagnostics-*` (or `issues/`) pin once the
message is settled. This also closes METATYPE PLAN F5's "by-VALUE self-reference
rejected" item for the comptime path.
