P5.6 (macOS): default_pipeline drives bundling; fix issue 0125 (array-format blowup)

build.sx now `#import`s the sx bundler and `default_pipeline` delegates to its
`bundle_main` when a bundle was requested (emit + link, then wrap the binary into
the `.app`/`.apk`); otherwise it just emit+links via the shared `emit_and_link`
core. The Zig `--bundle`/`post_link_module` dispatch shim is removed — the CLI
bundle flags only feed `BuildConfig`, and `default_pipeline` branches on
`bundle_path()`. Validated end-to-end on macOS: `sx build --bundle App.app
--bundle-id … foo.sx` on a plain program AND auto-bundle from `set_bundle_path`
both produce a valid signed `.app` (correct `Contents/MacOS/` layout, Info.plist,
passes `codesign`, binary runs). Also fixed a pre-existing host-build bug:
target_triple was left empty for host builds → `is_macos()` false → wrong flat
layout; main.zig now exposes the host triple when `--target` is absent.

bundle_main no longer re-calls `build_options()` (the handle is already its `opts`
param).

Fix issue 0125 (root cause): the type-match dispatcher unboxed each interned array
tag to the concrete array type — a whole-array load — and passed it to
`array_to_string` by value, which LLVM scalarized into one SelectionDAG node per
element (~12s / segfault at [65536]u8). The bundler's `format("…{}…")` instantiates
`any_to_string`, so importing it into the prelude surfaced 0125 for any large-array
program. Fix (route 1): `any_to_string`'s `case array:` arm calls `slice_to_string`,
and `lowerRuntimeDispatchCall` detects an ARRAY tag bound to a SLICE param and builds
a `{ptr,len}` slice VIEW of the payload pointer (`unbox_any → [*]elem` is an
int-to-ptr with NO load, paired with the array length) instead of loading the array.
Output is byte-identical (`[a, b, c]`). Pinned as
examples/0056-basic-large-array-format-no-blowup.sx; 0055 drops 12s → 0.2s.

37 `.ir` snapshots regenerated (build.sx now pulls in the bundler's types + the
array-format lowering changed); verified `.ir`-only, zero behavior-stream diffs.
705/0 both gates.

examples/0056-basic-large-array-format-no-blowup.sx

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Interning a large (~64KB) array type and using `{}` formatting elsewhere must
+// NOT scalarize into an O(N) SelectionDAG (which crashed `sx build` / made
+// `sx run` take ~12s). The array Any-unbox formats via a SLICE VIEW of its
+// storage — no whole-array load.
+//
+// Regression (issue 0125): `any_to_string`'s `case array:` arm used to do
+// `array_to_string(cast(type) val)`, loading the whole [65536]u8 by value and
+// reading each element off the loaded aggregate. Now the dispatcher builds a
+// `{ptr,len}` slice view of the payload pointer and formats that — output is
+// identical (`[a, b, c]`), and a large unrelated array type costs nothing.
+
+#import "modules/std.sx";
+
+f :: () {
+    buf : [65536]u8 = ---;
+    buf[0] = 65; // 'A'
+    out(string.{ ptr = @buf[0], len = 1 });
+    out("\n");
+}
+
+main :: () -> i32 {
+    f();
+    print("{}\n", 5);                 // an int format — unaffected by the big array
+    small : [3]i64 = .[7, 8, 9];
+    print("{}\n", small);             // array format still renders the element list
+    return 0;
+}

examples/expected/0056-basic-large-array-format-no-blowup.exit

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0

examples/expected/0056-basic-large-array-format-no-blowup.stderr

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+

examples/expected/0056-basic-large-array-format-no-blowup.stdout

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+A
+5
+[7, 8, 9]

issues/0125-any-to-string-array-arms-by-value.md

@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 # 0125 — any_to_string's array arms materialize every interned array type by value
 
+> **RESOLVED (2026-06-19).** Root cause as described below: the type-match
+> dispatcher (`lowerRuntimeDispatchCall`, src/ir/lower/call.zig) unboxed each
+> interned array tag to the concrete array type — a whole-array load — and fed it
+> to `array_to_string` by value, which LLVM scalarized to one DAG node per element.
+> **Fix (route 1):** `any_to_string`'s `case array:` arm now calls `slice_to_string`
+> (library/modules/std/fmt.sx); the dispatcher detects an ARRAY tag bound to a SLICE
+> param and builds a `{ptr,len}` slice VIEW of the payload pointer (`unbox_any →
+> [*]elem` is an int-to-ptr with NO load, paired with the array length) instead of
+> loading the array. Output is byte-identical (`[a, b, c]`). The repro compiles fast
+> and prints correctly; pinned as `examples/0056-basic-large-array-format-no-blowup.sx`.
+
 ## Symptom
 
 A program that (a) interns any large (~64KB+) array type and (b) uses

library/modules/build.sx

@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 // tail imports cli.sx which imports this file) is handled by the resolver.
 #import "modules/std.sx";
 #import "modules/compiler.sx";
+// The sx-side `.app`/`.apk` bundler. `default_pipeline` delegates to its
+// `bundle_main` when a bundle was requested. The bundler is `abi(.compiler)`
+// (comptime-only, never emitted into the binary), and the build↔bundle import
+// cycle resolves like the std↔build one.
+#import "modules/platform/bundle.sx";
 
 OperatingSystem :: enum { macos; linux; windows; wasm; ios; android; unknown; }
 Architecture :: enum { aarch64; x86_64; wasm32; wasm64; unknown; }
@@ -112,18 +117,34 @@ on_build :: (cb: (opt: BuildOptions) -> bool abi(.compiler)) abi(.compiler);
 
 // ── The default build script ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 //
-// `default_pipeline` is the stdlib build driver: the compiler invokes it after
+// `emit_and_link` is the build CORE: emit the sx object, gather the C companion
-// codegen (everything is sx-driven — there is no auto-emit/auto-link). It emits
+// objects, and link them into the output with the build's libraries / frameworks /
-// the sx object, gathers the C companion objects, and links them into the output
+// flags / target. Shared by `default_pipeline` AND `platform.bundle.bundle_main`
-// with the build's libraries / frameworks / flags / target. A user overrides the
+// (which wraps it with the per-target `.app` / `.apk` bundling) so a bundler
-// whole pipeline with their own `#run on_build(custom);` in main.sx (last-wins).
+// override doesn't re-implement emit+link.
-// The compiler FORCE-LOWERS this well-known name and auto-invokes it after
+emit_and_link :: (opt: BuildOptions) -> bool abi(.compiler) {
-// codegen when no `#run on_build(custom);` override was registered (no library
-// `#run` needed). A user override takes over entirely.
-default_pipeline :: (opt: BuildOptions) -> bool abi(.compiler) {
     obj := emit_object();
     objs := c_object_paths();
     objs.append(obj);
     link(objs, build_output(), link_libraries(), build_frameworks(), build_flags(), build_target());
     return true;
 }
+
+// `default_pipeline` is the stdlib build driver: the compiler invokes it after
+// codegen (everything is sx-driven — there is no auto-emit/auto-link). It emits +
+// links the program via `emit_and_link`. A user overrides the whole pipeline with
+// their own `#run on_build(custom);` in main.sx (last-wins) — e.g. bundling is
+// `#import "modules/platform/bundle.sx"; #run on_build(bundle_main);`, where
+// `bundle_main` runs `emit_and_link` then wraps the binary into a `.app` / `.apk`.
+// The compiler FORCE-LOWERS this well-known name and auto-invokes it after codegen
+// when no `on_build` override was registered (no library `#run` needed).
+//
+// When a bundle was requested (`--bundle`/`--apk` or `set_bundle_path`), delegate
+// to the per-target bundler (`bundle_main` runs the emit+link core then wraps the
+// `.app`/`.apk`); otherwise just emit + link.
+default_pipeline :: (opt: BuildOptions) -> bool abi(.compiler) {
+    if opt.bundle_path().len > 0 {
+        return bundle_main(opt);
+    }
+    return emit_and_link(opt);
+}

library/modules/platform/bundle.sx

@@ -29,14 +29,18 @@
 // `abi(.compiler)` so the backend doesn't lower it and its `build_options()`
 // compiler-API call is permitted (it would otherwise be rejected as a
 // comptime-only function called at runtime).
-bundle_main :: (opt: BuildOptions) -> bool abi(.compiler) {
+bundle_main :: (opts: BuildOptions) -> bool abi(.compiler) {
-    opts := build_options();
+    // Run the standard build core first (emit the object + link the binary) — an
+    // `on_build` override REPLACES default_pipeline, so the bundler owns the whole
+    // pipeline: emit + link, then wrap the linked binary into the `.app` / `.apk`.
+    if !emit_and_link(opts) { return false; }
+
     binary := opts.binary_path();
     bundle := opts.bundle_path();
     bid    := opts.bundle_id();
 
     if bundle.len == 0 {
-        // No bundle requested — nothing to do. Build succeeded.
+        // No bundle requested — emit+link already done. Build succeeded.
         return true;
     }
     if bid.len == 0 {

library/modules/std/fmt.sx

@@ -336,7 +336,13 @@ any_to_string :: (val: Any) -> string {
         case enum: result = enum_to_string(cast(type) val);
         case error_set: { tagid : u32 = xx val; result = error_tag_name(tagid); }
         case vector: result = vector_to_string(cast(type) val);
-        case array: result = array_to_string(cast(type) val);
+        // Arrays format via `slice_to_string` over a SLICE VIEW of the payload
+        // (the Any payload for an array IS a pointer to its storage). The dispatcher
+        // (lowerRuntimeDispatchCall) builds the `{ptr,len}` view without ever
+        // loading the whole array as a value — avoiding the O(N) SelectionDAG
+        // scalarization that crippled `[65536]u8` (issue 0125). Output is identical
+        // to the old `array_to_string` (`[a, b, c]`).
+        case array: result = slice_to_string(cast(type) val);
         case slice: result = slice_to_string(cast(type) val);
         case pointer: result = pointer_to_string(cast(type) val);
         case optional: result = optional_to_string(cast(type) val);

src/ir/lower/call.zig

@@ -1483,13 +1483,33 @@ pub fn lowerRuntimeDispatchCall(
 
     self.builder.switchBr(type_tag, cases.items, default_bb, &.{});
 
+    // Whether the cast-arg parameter is a SLICE (`[]$T`). When it is and the tag
+    // is an ARRAY, we pass a slice VIEW of the array's storage rather than loading
+    // the whole array as a value (issue 0125 — the giant load + per-element
+    // SelectionDAG scalarization). The Any payload for an array IS a pointer to its
+    // storage, so `unbox_any → [*]elem` (int-to-ptr, no load) + the array length
+    // gives a `{ptr,len}` slice for free.
+    const cast_param_is_slice = cast_arg_idx < fd.params.len and
+        fd.params[cast_arg_idx].type_expr.data == .slice_type_expr;
+
     for (match_tags, 0..) |tag, ti| {
         self.builder.switchToBlock(case_blocks.items[ti]);
 
         const ty_id = TypeId.fromIndex(@intCast(tag));
 
-        // Unbox the Any value to the concrete type
+        // Unbox the Any value to the concrete type — except an ARRAY tag bound to a
-        const unboxed = self.builder.emit(.{ .unbox_any = .{
+        // SLICE param, which becomes a no-load slice view of the array storage.
+        const tag_is_array = !ty_id.isBuiltin() and self.module.types.get(ty_id) == .array;
+        const unboxed = if (cast_param_is_slice and tag_is_array) blk: {
+            const elem_ty = self.getElementType(ty_id);
+            const arr_len = self.module.types.get(ty_id).array.length;
+            const slice_ty = self.module.types.sliceOf(elem_ty);
+            const ptr_ty = self.module.types.manyPtrTo(elem_ty);
+            // The Any payload (the array's storage address) → `[*]elem` (no load).
+            const ptr = self.builder.emit(.{ .unbox_any = .{ .operand = any_val } }, ptr_ty);
+            const len = self.builder.constInt(@intCast(arr_len), .i64);
+            break :blk self.builder.structInit(&.{ ptr, len }, slice_ty);
+        } else self.builder.emit(.{ .unbox_any = .{
             .operand = any_val,
         } }, ty_id);
 

src/main.zig

@@ -747,7 +747,17 @@ fn compileWithTimer(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, io: std.Io, input_path: []cons
         // branching (iOS device vs simulator vs macOS) and `Frameworks/`
         // embedding. Slice fields point into the long-lived target_config /
         // CLI argv buffers, which outlive the post-link callback.
-        if (merged_config.triple) |t| e.build_config.target_triple = std.mem.span(t);
+        if (merged_config.triple) |t| {
+            e.build_config.target_triple = std.mem.span(t);
+        } else {
+            // Host build (no `--target`): expose the HOST triple so the sx
+            // bundler's `is_macos()`/`is_ios()`/… predicates resolve correctly.
+            // Left empty, a host macOS `.app` would get the flat iOS-style layout
+            // (is_macos() == false) instead of `Contents/MacOS/`.
+            const host = sx.llvm_api.c.LLVMGetDefaultTargetTriple();
+            defer sx.llvm_api.c.LLVMDisposeMessage(host);
+            e.build_config.target_triple = allocator.dupe(u8, std.mem.span(host)) catch null;
+        }
         e.build_config.target_frameworks = fws;
         e.build_config.target_framework_paths = merged_config.framework_paths;
         // Phase 5: the sx-driven build pipeline reads these via the
@@ -790,28 +800,13 @@ fn compileWithTimer(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, io: std.Io, input_path: []cons
         }
     }
 
-    // CLI `--bundle <path>` migration shim. The legacy Zig bundler
+    // Post-link build driver. Either the user registered an `on_build(cb)`
-    // path (target.createBundle) has been retired; the equivalent
+    // override (bundling is `#run on_build(bundle_main);` — bundle_main runs the
-    // logic now lives in `library/modules/platform/bundle.sx`. If the
+    // emit+link core then wraps the `.app`/`.apk`), or we run the stdlib
-    // user passed `--bundle` on the command line but did NOT register
+    // `default_pipeline` (emit + link; it fails with a precise hint if a bundle was
-    // a post-link callback themselves, point the resolver at
+    // requested via `--bundle`/`--apk` but no bundler was registered). The CLI
-    // `platform.bundle.bundle_main`. The lookup is best-effort: if the
+    // bundle flags only feed `BuildConfig` (bundle_path/id/…) — there is no Zig
-    // source doesn't `#import "modules/platform/bundle.sx"`,
+    // bundler shim; bundling is entirely sx-driven. A `false` return fails the build.
-    // `invokeByName` returns null and the existing "not found" branch
-    // prints a clear migration message.
-    if (comp.ir_emitter) |*e| {
-        if (e.build_config.bundle_path != null and
-            e.build_config.post_link_callback_fn == null and
-            e.build_config.post_link_module == null)
-        {
-            e.build_config.post_link_module = "platform.bundle";
-        }
-    }
-
-    // Post-link callback: if the user registered one via
-    // `BuildOptions.set_post_link_callback(fn)` or
-    // `set_post_link_module("name")`, re-enter the IR interpreter and
-    // invoke that sx function now. A `false` return fails the build.
     if (comp.getPostLinkCallback()) |fid| {
         const ret = comp.invokeByFuncId(fid, comp.getPostLinkTakesOptions()) catch |err| {
             printInterpBailDiag(&comp, "post-link callback", err);
@@ -821,29 +816,8 @@ fn compileWithTimer(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, io: std.Io, input_path: []cons
             std.debug.print("error: post-link callback returned false\n", .{});
             return error.CompileError;
         }
-    } else if (comp.getPostLinkModule()) |mod_name| {
-        const qualified = try std.fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "{s}.bundle_main", .{mod_name});
-        defer allocator.free(qualified);
-        const ret_opt = comp.invokeByName(qualified, true) catch |err| {
-            const label = try std.fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "post-link module '{s}.bundle_main'", .{mod_name});
-            defer allocator.free(label);
-            printInterpBailDiag(&comp, label, err);
-            return error.CompileError;
-        };
-        if (ret_opt) |ret| {
-            if (ret.asBool() == false) {
-                std.debug.print("error: post-link module '{s}.bundle_main' returned false\n", .{mod_name});
-                return error.CompileError;
-            }
-        } else {
-            std.debug.print("error: post-link module '{s}.bundle_main' not found\n", .{mod_name});
-            return error.CompileError;
-        }
     } else {
-        // No user/module override → run the stdlib default build pipeline. The
+        // No override → run the force-lowered stdlib `default_pipeline`.
-        // compiler force-lowers `default_pipeline` (well-known name); it emits +
-        // links the program. Everything is sx-driven — this is the only build path
-        // when the user hasn't overridden it.
         const ret_opt = comp.invokeByName("default_pipeline", true) catch |err| {
             printInterpBailDiag(&comp, "default build pipeline", err);
             return error.CompileError;