Per user direction: the low-level abi(.compiler) primitive surface is the
comptime 'compiler' library, so name the file compiler.sx (a peer of build.sx)
instead of the interim std/build.sx — which also frees the 'build' name for the
default build IMPLEMENTATION (default_build + on_build slot), which will live in
modules/build.sx alongside the BuildOptions DSL.
Updated the two example imports + the plan's Phase 5 file-split note. 704/0
both gates.
The one genuine action primitive: link(objects, output, libraries, frameworks,
flags, target) in library/modules/std/build.sx. Per the user decision to drop
fallibility from the build callback, link is plain VOID — a link failure bails
on the VM (hard build error), no -> ! / failable-tuple needed.
comptime_vm.zig can't depend on the driver (core/main/target), so link
dispatches through a new compiler_hooks.BuildHooks { ctx, link } vtable that
main.zig installs into BuildConfig.build_hooks before the post-link callback.
The driver side is main.LinkHooksCtx (unions explicit + CLI link flags, calls
target.link). New VM readers readStringList / readStringArg (inverse of
makeStringList) decode the List(string)/string args from flat memory.
Smoke test examples/1663-platform-build-pipeline-link (AOT): a post-link
callback re-links the build's own objects (c_object_paths + emit_object) into a
temp output via sx link — the relinked binary is a functional executable that
runs. Negative-probe verified (bad path -> ld fails -> ComptimeVmBail -> build
exit 1). The Zig driver still auto-links; removing that is P5.4.
704/0 both gates.
The compiler emits the sx object eagerly (the Zig driver, before the post-link
callback), so emit_object is a QUERY (not an action): it returns the path from
a new BuildConfig.object_path field main.zig forwards — no driver vtable. This
completes the build-pipeline QUERY primitives (emit_object / c_object_paths /
link_libraries); only link (the genuine action) remains for the vtable step.
Extended examples/1662 to also assert emit_object().len > 0. 703/0 both gates.
Two abi(.compiler) build-pipeline primitives the sx driver will pass to link:
- c_object_paths() -> List(string) (#import c companion objects)
- link_libraries() -> List(string) (#library names)
They live in a new stdlib home library/modules/std/build.sx and are serviced
by comptime_vm.callCompilerFn reading two new BuildConfig fields that main.zig
forwards before the post-link callback. New reusable VM helper makeStringList
builds a List(string) in flat memory from the call's result type offsets
(target-aware); invoke/callCompilerFn now thread ins.ty for that. Legacy
handlers bail loudly (VM-only by nature — post-link; List(string) isn't
faithfully buildable in the legacy Value model, 0141).
Smoke test examples/1662-platform-build-pipeline-queries (AOT + a 1-line C
#source → one object): a post-link callback verifies the VM-built list is
well-formed; build exit 0 only if so (negative-probe confirmed a real guard).
emit_object + link (the actions) deferred to P5.2b — they replace the Zig
driver's auto-emit/auto-link and need a host-installed callback vtable.
703/0 both gates.
core.invokeByFuncId routes the post-link callback through comptime_vm.tryEval
instead of the legacy Interpreter. REQUIRED because the sx build driver
allocates/grows Lists, which the legacy interp can't do at comptime (issue
0141: struct_get: base has no fields); the VM can. No fallback (a
side-effecting post-link callback can't double-execute): a VM bail is a hard
build error (comptime_vm.last_bail_reason, surfaced by printInterpBailDiag).
BuildConfig + import_sources threaded in; non-empty args rejected loudly.
flushInterpOutput deleted (VM out writes direct via host-FFI).
Smoke test examples/1661-platform-post-link-vm-list (AOT): a post-link
callback grows a List to 3 + returns len==3, so the build succeeds (exit 0)
only via the VM. First corpus coverage of the post-link path.
702/0 both gates.
Lands the full VM/compiler-API arc on branch reify (701/0 both gates):
- abi(.compiler) ABI replaces abi(.zig) extern compiler + the fake
#library "compiler"; bodiless decl = compiler-API surface, bodied =
user compiler-domain fn (lowered for VM eval, emit-skipped).
- out is a plain sx fn (libc write) — the out builtin deleted; the VM
handles it via host-FFI. trace_resolve + interp_print_frames ported.
- 4B VM-native diagnostics: 1179/1180 render proper comptime type
construction failed: under strict.
- S5a: build_options/set_post_link_callback on abi(.compiler) with
BuildConfig threaded into the VM (green intermediate).
- 0522 fixed (describe(args: []Type)); regression 0638.
Strict deletion-gate down to 4 compiler_call bails (1609/1614/1615/1616)
+ 1654 (legitimate unresolvable-symbol diagnostic).
Direction correction (user): the VM does NOT get a transitional compiler_call →
hook-registry shim. BuildOptions is re-expressed as abi(.zig) extern compiler
functions (the compiler-API the VM already dispatches via callCompilerFn), and the
#compiler attribute + compiler_call op + Value-based hook Registry are deleted.
Also record that 4D (host FFI) is DONE via the arena/absolute-pointer allocator
(the earlier pin/tag hazard is moot — the arena never moves an allocation), and
that 0602/0603 stay on legacy fallback until the BuildOptions migration lands.
No code change (reverted the speculative compiler_call bridge).
Audited the 5 roles interp.zig still serves (A comptime folds, B #insert,
C post-link bundler, D #compiler hooks, E bail diagnostics) and the shared
substrate (Value tagged union + host_ffi bridge).
User decision: UNIFY — the VM gains a host-FFI escape + real-pointer
translation and runs the post-link bundler too; interp.zig fully deleted.
Dependency-ordered sub-phases recorded in PLAN-COMPILER-VM.md:
4A finish comptime ops (box_any/unbox_any, out/print, global_addr, trace) ->
4B VM-native diagnostics -> 4C #insert -> 4D host FFI + #compiler hooks ->
4E post-link bundler (+ dedicated bundle tests) -> 4F flip default + delete
interp.zig/Value + re-express define/make_enum over the compiler-API.
No code change — planning + checkpoint only.
Dual-path + emit-time legacy fallback are transitional scaffolding only; the VM
must reach parity at BOTH comptime sites (emit time AND lowering time), after
which the -Dcomptime-flat flag, the fallback, and interp.zig are all removed.
We do not ship both evaluators permanently.
The mutating compiler-API, minting types LAZILY at lowering time (single pass,
the existing runComptimeTypeFunc path — so the write side is legacy-only; the
VM isn't wired at lowering time, and the read-side readers stay dual-path):
declare_type(name) -> Type forward nominal handle (≈ declare)
pointer_to(t) -> Type build *T references
register_type(handle, kind, members) ONE kind-branching fill (≈ unified define)
register_type branches on kind IN THE COMPILER (subsuming define's per-kind
dispatch); codes match type_kind: 1 struct, 2 actual .@"enum", 3 tagged_union,
4 tuple. Members are {name: string, ty: Type}. A non-generic `-> Type` builder is
now flagged is_comptime (decl.zig) so its dead body permits the welded calls.
Graph support: forward declare_type handles + pointer_to express a mutually-
recursive A<->B graph (*A, *B, B-by-value) before bodies are filled. register_type
is idempotent — re-filling a nominal slot (a minting module reached via two import
edges) re-mints identically rather than erroring (nominalIdent reads identity from
any nominal kind).
Fixes (issue 0142):
- A fully payloadless comptime-minted enum was minted as an all-void tagged_union,
whose IR size disagrees with its LLVM size -> verifySizes panic. Now mints a real
.@"enum" (register_type kind 2 AND the metatype defineEnum).
- Bare `EnumType.variant` qualified construction of a payloadless variant wasn't
supported (failed for hand-written enums too — the type name lowered to a Type
value). Added in lowerFieldAccess via isPayloadlessVariant; payload-carrying
variants keep their call form.
Examples: 0631 (graph + actual enum + reflection), 0632 (make_enum all-void),
0633/0634/0635 (namespaced / bare / multi-edge import of a minted type), 0187
(qualified variant construction). Unit tests added.
Parity 697/697 (gate OFF and -Dcomptime-flat).
The last two read-only readers the metatype's type_info(T) needs, each backed by
a TypeTable query both the legacy handler and the VM call (no drift):
type_kind(t: TypeId) -> i64 (kindCode; stable discriminant, total — never bails)
type_field_value(t: TypeId, idx) -> i64 (memberValue; enum explicit value or ordinal)
kindCode codes (compiler-owned, stable): 0 other / 1 struct / 2 enum /
3 tagged_union / 4 tuple / 5 union / 6 array / 7 vector / 8 error_set.
With these, the READ side is complete: find_type + type_kind + type_field_count +
type_field_{name,type} + type_nominal_name + type_field_value cover everything
reflectTypeInfo reads — a comptime sx fn can fully reflect a struct/enum/tuple
into data with no #builtin.
Example 0630 reflects Color / WindowFlags(flags) / Point. VM unit test added.
Revised forward direction: the write side will be ONE register_type(info) fn that
branches on the kind in the compiler (subsuming define's per-kind dispatch), not a
per-kind register_struct.
Parity 691/691 (gate OFF and -Dcomptime-flat).
Three more read-only compiler-API readers on the TypeId-handle shape, each backed
by a new TypeTable query that both the legacy handler and the VM call (no drift):
type_nominal_name(t: TypeId) -> StringId (nominalName; loud-bail for unnamed types)
type_field_name(t: TypeId, idx: i64) -> StringId (memberName)
type_field_type(t: TypeId, idx: i64) -> TypeId (memberType)
All loud-bail on out-of-range idx / no-member — no silent default. First multi-arg
compiler fns (callCompilerFn now reads arg 1 = idx); added Vm.argHandle/argTypeId
range-checked arg readers and moved find_type/type_field_count onto them. Names use
the type_* family to avoid colliding with the std metatype builtins (field_name /
type_name in core.sx); the new TypeTable.nominalName is distinct from the existing
typeName(id) display-string renderer.
Example 0629 reflects Pair { lo: Point; hi: Point } — each field name + the nominal
name of a field's type, #run-folded, VM-HANDLED natively. VM unit test added.
Parity 690/690 (gate OFF and -Dcomptime-flat).
First read-only compiler-API reflection readers, bound the same way as the
intern/text_of seed (compiler_lib.bound_fns + Vm.callCompilerFn, native on flat
memory, no marshaling). A type handle is a plain u32 TypeId (like StringId), so
both stay clean scalar host-calls:
find_type(name: StringId) -> TypeId (TypeTable.findByName; unresolved/0 if absent)
type_field_count(t: TypeId) -> i64 (new TypeTable.memberCount; loud-bail, no silent 0)
memberCount is the single source both the legacy handler and the VM read, so the
two paths can't drift. find_type returns a non-optional TypeId using the
unresolved(0) sentinel for not-found rather than ?Type — a Type value is
.any-typed (which the flat-memory VM does not represent) and an optional can't
cross the legacy<->VM eval boundary; unresolved is the project-blessed "no type"
marker.
Example 0628 chains intern -> find_type -> type_field_count (+ a not-found
lookup), folded at #run, VM-HANDLED natively. VM unit test added.
Parity 689/689 (gate OFF and -Dcomptime-flat).
Phase 1.final of the flat-memory comptime VM — wire the host through it,
reach corpus parity, and gate it behind a build flag — plus the first
Phase 3 (compiler-API) step. Default OFF; legacy interpreter unchanged.
Host wiring + hardening:
- Machine accessors return error.OutOfBounds (no debug panic) on bad
addresses; Frame.get/set bounds-check and bail (no panic) on a malformed
operand ref (e.g. a ret Ref.none from an unresolved name).
- tryEval routed at both comptime call sites in emit_llvm — the const-init
fold and the #run side-effect path — with per-eval legacy fallback;
yields .void_val for void/noreturn entries. Both sites sx_trace_clear()
before the legacy fallback so a partial VM run that pushed trace frames
doesn't double-push on re-run.
VM coverage (all corpus const-inits except the inline-asm global):
- Implicit context materialized from the __sx_default_context global; the
full allocator protocol runs on the VM (context.allocator.alloc ->
call_indirect -> CAllocator thunk -> libc_malloc -> native flat malloc).
- Native libc memory builtins (malloc/calloc/free/memcpy/memmove/memset)
on flat memory; f32 stored/loaded as the 4-byte single; signed sub-64-bit
loads sign-extended; global_get (lazy + memoized); func_ref/call_indirect
(func-ref encoded fid+1, 0 reserved for null); string/slice fat-pointer
field access; is_comptime; the failable/error cluster (error_set tuples,
trace_frame + native sx_trace_push/clear -> raise/catch/or + return traces).
Build flag + Phase 3 seed:
- -Dcomptime-flat (build_opts module) OR SX_COMPTIME_FLAT env enables the VM;
zig build test -Dcomptime-flat runs the full corpus on the VM (688/0).
- intern/text_of serviced natively on flat memory via Vm.callCompilerFn
(compiler_welded boundary) — the seed the rest of the compiler-API grows on.
Parity 688/688 gate ON and OFF. Unit tests added throughout. The
lowering-time #insert wiring was explored and reverted (lowering-time IR can
be malformed; full malformed-IR hardening is a prerequisite, deferred).
The byte-weld (sx structs whose layout was validated to mirror the
compiler's Zig records) plus the serialization/marshaling bridge was the
wrong direction: it bolted a parallel layout regime and hand-built
byte-copies onto a comptime value model that fundamentally isn't bytes.
Strip the struct-weld machinery:
- compiler_lib.zig loses the type registry (weldStruct / bound_types /
BoundType / FieldLayout / findType / SxField / LayoutMismatch /
validateStructLayout); it is now just the intern/text_of function
host-call bridge (kept as the Phase-3 compiler-call seed).
- nominal.zig loses validateWeldedStruct / weldedFieldOrderStr + the
sd.abi == .zig validation call.
- Remove the struct-weld unit tests and examples 0625/0627 (welded
structs) + 1183/1186 (weld-layout diagnostics).
- The #library / abi / extern syntax stays.
Record the new direction: a bytecode VM over flat, byte-addressable
memory so comptime values are native bytes (no weld/validation/marshal),
target-aware (preserves cross-compilation) and sandboxed. See
current/PLAN-COMPILER-VM.md (Phase 0 strip -> Phase 1 flat-memory value
model -> Phase 2 bytecode -> Phase 3 compiler-API on flat memory).
design/comptime-compiler-api.md gets a SUPERSEDED banner. Also drop the
"~500 lines / split the step" rule from CLAUDE.md.
