ns_string's only caller was impl Into(*NSString) for string, so +stringWithUTF8String: is inlined there. c_string's one use (NSBundle.resourcePath in uikit) becomes rsrc.UTF8String() with resourcePath retyped *NSString. ffi-objc-call-06 and ffi-objc-dsl-07 .ir snapshots regenerated — they only drop the now-absent extern declares.
NSLog's fmt, addObserver's name, UIApplicationMain's principal-class, CADisplayLink's run-loop mode, and metal's newLibraryWithSource/newFunctionWithName string args are retyped *NSString, so their call sites read xx "..." instead of ns_string("...".ptr). ns_string is now used only by impl Into(*NSString) for string.
Adds an NSString foreign class and impl Into(*NSString) for string so a string literal flows into any *NSString slot via xx. uikit's keyboard userInfo lookups now read objectForKey(xx "...") instead of ns_string("...".ptr), and objectForKey's key param is retyped *NSString.
ffi-objc-call-06 .ir snapshot regenerated: declaring the NSString type adds its reflection thunks (struct_to_string/pointer_to_string), same as the existing NSObject/NSDictionary. Runtime output unchanged.
Removes `__block_invoke_void` / `__block_invoke_bool` and their
companion `Into(Block)` impls from
`library/modules/std/objc_block.sx`. The generic
`Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R` impl from step 5.2 now
covers both shapes (and every other closure shape) via per-mono
`#insert build_block_convert($args, $R)` source emission.
Net stdlib shrinkage: ~52 lines, two trampolines + two per-shape
impls down to zero. Adding a new block-shape consumer no longer
requires touching stdlib — the impl emits per-call-shape on
demand.
`examples/95-objc-block-noop.sx` (zero-arg closure) and
`examples/96-objc-block-multi-arg.sx` (user-declared per-shape
impl for `Closure(s32, *void) -> void`) still pass: 95 routes
through the new generic, 96 keeps its in-file impl as a
documentation example of the user-declares-their-own path.
Suite at 217/217.
Adds the generic `impl Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R`
in `library/modules/std/objc_block.sx` alongside the existing
hand-rolled `Closure() -> void` and `Closure(bool) -> void`
impls. The convert body is a single
`#insert build_block_convert($args, $R);` — per-call-shape
monomorphisation re-runs the builder so each closure shape gets
its dedicated nested `callconv(.c)` trampoline + Block literal.
The impl-mono path threads pack types through
`pack_bindings[args]` and the single-type return through
`type_bindings[R]`. Both need to be visible to the body's
`$args` / `$R` expression-position references — the existing
lowering only consulted `pack_arg_types` (set by pack-fn mono,
not by tryPackImplMatch). Two small extensions:
- `lowerExpr`'s `.comptime_pack_ref` arm now consults
`pack_arg_types` → `pack_bindings` → `type_bindings` in order,
treating a `type_bindings` hit as a single `const_type(T)`
value rather than the slice form.
- `resolveTypeArg` grows a `.comptime_pack_ref` arm that maps
the same name through `type_bindings` so type-arg positions
(e.g. inside `type_name(...)` in the builder body) resolve
the bound single Type.
- `type_bridge.isTypeShapedAstNode` lists `comptime_pack_ref`
and `pack_index_type_expr` as type-shaped so
`buildTypeBindings`'s strategy-1 explicit-arg path picks
them up when calling a `$T: Type`-generic fn.
`examples/177-generic-into-block.sx` flips green: a
`Closure(s64, s64) -> void` (no hand-rolled impl) is converted
through the generic impl, its block invoked via a typed
`callconv(.c)` fn-pointer, and the closure's side effects land
in the host globals. Hand-rolled impls remain for `()` and
`(bool)` shapes; 5.3 deletes those once a focused test covers
their behaviour through the generic path. Suite at 217/217.
`build_block_convert(args: []Type, $ret: Type) -> string` emits
the convert-body source for the generic `Into(Block) for
Closure(..$args) -> $R` impl (step 5.2):
1. A nested `__invoke :: (block_self: *Block, arg0: T0, ...) ->
R callconv(.c) { ... }` trampoline matching the per-shape
Apple Block ABI.
2. A `return Block.{ ... };` literal whose `invoke` slot points
at the nested trampoline via `xx @__invoke`.
Void-returning shapes emit `typed_fn(block_self.sx_env, args...)`;
non-void emits `return typed_fn(...)`. Per-position arg names
follow `arg0`, `arg1`, ... in declaration order; the typed-fn
cast reconstructs the closure's call signature so the trampoline
hands control back to `sx_fn` with the right argument layout.
`examples/176-build-block-convert.sx` flips green (216/216).
Reconsidered the M5.A.2 cleanup. The compiler-synthesised trampoline
path was hidden behaviour — a user reading their code couldn't tell
how `xx my_closure : Block` worked without reading lower.zig. That's
exactly the kind of magic sx's design has been pushing against.
New design (strict mode):
1. Stdlib's modules/std/objc_block.sx hand-rolls
`__block_invoke_void` + `Into(Block) for Closure() -> void` and
the same pair for `Closure(bool) -> void` (restored from M5.A.2).
These are readable reference implementations of the bridge ABI.
2. The compiler intercept fires NO synthesis — instead, when
`tryUserConversion` can't find a reachable `Into(Block)` impl for
the closure's signature, it emits a focused diagnostic:
"no `Into(Block) for <Closure-sig>` impl — add a per-signature
`__block_invoke_<sig>` trampoline + Into impl alongside the
existing ones in modules/std/objc_block.sx, or declare it in
your own code"
3. Per-signature declarations live in stdlib (for common signatures)
or in user code (for app-specific ones). 96-objc-block-multi-arg
now demonstrates the user-side pattern in-file — it declares its
own `__block_invoke_void_s32_p` + `Into(Block) for Closure(s32,
*void) -> void` impl alongside its main().
Net effect:
- Every block bridge is source-visible. No hidden compiler magic.
- Users see exactly how the Apple ABI shape is constructed in sx
source — stdlib serves as the reference implementation.
- Compiler enforces the discipline: missing impl → clear diagnostic
pointing at the template.
- Coverage for arbitrary signatures requires conscious user opt-in,
not silent fallthrough.
Removed from lower.zig: `tryClosureToBlockConversion`,
`emitBlockInvokeTrampoline`, `mangleClosureSigForBlock`,
`mangleTypeForBlock`, and the `block_invoke_trampolines` dedup
state field. Net: the synthesis machinery is gone; only the
detection helper `isClosureToBlockCast` remains, used by the
diagnostic.
190/190 example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green.
The compiler-synthesised trampoline path (previous commit) covers
every closure signature on demand; the hand-rolled stdlib impls
were only for two specific shapes (`Closure() -> void`,
`Closure(bool) -> void`) and are now strictly redundant.
Kept: the `Block` struct, `BlockDescriptor`, the
`_NSConcreteStackBlock` extern decl, and the shared
`__sx_block_descriptor` global. The compiler-emitted code
references all four; users still need to `#import
"modules/std/objc_block.sx";` to bring them into the module.
Removed: `__block_invoke_void`, `__block_invoke_bool`, and both
`impl Into(Block) for Closure(...) -> void` blocks. Replaced with
a comment block explaining how the compiler now handles the cast.
After this commit, `xx my_closure : Block` works for ANY closure
signature with no per-signature stdlib boilerplate. 189/189
example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green.
Three pieces, no behavior change yet:
1. `ObjcPropertyKind` enum (strong/weak/copy/assign) + `objcPropertyKind`
helper in lower.zig. Reads `field.property_modifiers`, applies the
default rule (`*<ObjC-class>` → strong; primitives → assign), and
emits loud diagnostics for the silent-error budget:
- unknown modifier name (typo) → "expected one of: strong, weak, copy, ..."
- conflicting modifiers (e.g. `strong,weak`) → "mutually exclusive"
- `weak` on non-object slot → "requires a pointer-to-Obj-C-class type"
- `copy` on non-object slot → same
- `strong` (default or explicit) on `*void` → "ambiguous: specify
#property(strong|weak|copy|assign) explicitly"
Called from `emitObjcDefinedClassPropertyImps` for validation; the
returned kind isn't wired into setter/getter/dealloc yet — that's
the next three commits.
2. `ensureArcRuntimeDecls` lazily declares libobjc's ARC helpers:
objc_retain, objc_release, objc_storeWeak, objc_loadWeakRetained,
objc_initWeak, objc_destroyWeak. Uses the existing
`ensureCRuntimeDecl` pattern; idempotent.
3. Fix existing NSObject method names in std/objc.sx — `isEqual_`,
`isKindOfClass_`, `respondsToSelector_` had trailing underscores
that the selector mangling turned into double-colon selectors
(`isEqual::`). Removed the trailing underscore so the selectors
come out as `isEqual:`, `isKindOfClass:`, `respondsToSelector:`
as Apple's runtime expects.
4. Two xfail regression tests:
- ffi-objc-arc-02-strong-property: assigns child to parent's strong
property, releases the original child reference. Midpoint check:
child's dealloc should NOT have fired (strong setter retained).
Pre-M4.B-setter: child dealloc fires immediately → "FAIL: child
dealloc'd at midpoint" snapshot. Exit code 1.
- ffi-objc-arc-03-weak-property: assigns target to holder's weak
property, releases target. Reads holder.target → should be null
(auto-niled). Pre-M4.B-getter/setter: reads stale pointer →
"FAIL: weak property didn't auto-nil" snapshot.
These will turn green as M4.B setter (commit 2), getter (commit 3),
and dealloc-cleanup (commit 4) land. Each subsequent commit updates
the snapshot to reflect the now-passing output.
189/189 example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green.
Declare `NSObject` in std/objc.sx as `#foreign #objc_class("NSObject")`
with the canonical instance + class-method surface every Obj-C class
inherits: `retain`/`release`/`autorelease`/`new`/`alloc`/`init`/
`description`/`hash`/`isEqual_`/`isKindOfClass_`/`respondsToSelector_`/
`class`. Root the foreign-class hierarchy in uikit.sx at NSObject by
adding `#extends NSObject;` to every previously-unrooted declaration
(NSValue, NSNumber, NSDictionary, NSSet, NSNotification, NSBundle,
NSNotificationCenter, NSRunLoop, CADisplayLink, CALayer, EAGLContext,
UIScreen, UIResponder) plus deeper chain fixes (NSMutableDictionary
extends NSDictionary; UIWindow extends UIView; UIViewController
extends UIResponder). After this, M2.3's extends-chain walk finds
`retain`/`release` on any UIKit-typed value:
view := UIView.alloc().init();
defer view.release(); // canonical sx idiom — no language magic
Plus `autoreleasepool(body: Closure())` stdlib helper that wraps
`body` in `objc_autoreleasePoolPush` / `defer objc_autoreleasePoolPop`.
Required for Foundation factory returns; closure-call frame is real
cost so hot loops should inline the push/defer-pop pattern manually.
Smoke test `ffi-objc-arc-01-autoreleasepool.sx` exercises both
patterns; refresh of two IR snapshots picks up the new stdlib decls
appearing in test outputs that include `modules/std/objc.sx`.
185/185 example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green.
For every sx-defined #objc_class, emit a C-callconv +alloc IMP
that the Obj-C runtime calls when '[Cls alloc]' fires (from sx
code, UIKit instantiation, Info.plist principal class, etc.):
+alloc IMP (cls: Class, _cmd: SEL) -> id
instance = class_createInstance(cls, 0)
state = malloc(STATE_SIZE)
memset(state, 0, STATE_SIZE)
object_setIvar(instance, load(@__<Cls>_state_ivar), state)
return instance
STATE_SIZE = max(typeSizeBytes(state struct), 1) — always at
least one byte so the ivar is never null after +alloc returns.
The IMP is registered on the METACLASS (class methods live there
— every Class object's isa points to the metaclass) in emit_llvm's
class-pair init constructor:
metaclass = object_getClass(cls)
sel_alloc = sel_registerName("alloc")
class_addMethod(metaclass, sel_alloc, alloc_imp, "@@:")
That override wins over NSObject's default +alloc; runtime
instantiations get the __sx_state ivar bound automatically.
Per-instance allocator binding (the plan's full design — store
the Allocator value in the state struct so -dealloc frees through
the same one) is deferred. libc malloc/free is fine for v1; we'll
upgrade once Month 4's autoreleasepool + ARC ops shake out.
REFACTOR: collapsed five duplicate 'get<Name>Fid' helpers and
their cache fields (object_getIvar, object_setIvar,
class_createInstance, malloc, memset) into a single
'ensureCRuntimeDecl(name, params, ret) -> FuncId'. The helper
checks for an existing decl by name first (avoids the
'class_createInstance.1' duplicate-symbol crash when stdlib's
'#foreign' decl is already in the module). One helper instead
of one-per-function = ~150 lines deleted.
object_getIvar / object_setIvar added to stdlib std/objc.sx
so user code can use them too (146 exercises object_getIvar
to verify __sx_state was bound to a non-null state pointer
after +alloc).
146-objc-class-alloc-roundtrip.sx end-to-end against macOS:
'[SxFoo alloc]' returns non-null AND object_getIvar(instance,
__sx_state) returns the state ptr. Real Obj-C runtime, no
mocks.
175 example tests pass (+1). zig build test green.
Adds named stand-ins for the three opaque Obj-C runtime types
and Apple's signed-char boolean to library/modules/std/objc.sx:
id :: *void; // any Obj-C instance pointer
Class :: *void; // a class object pointer
SEL :: *void; // a registered selector
BOOL :: s8; // Apple's signed-char boolean (NOT sx's bool)
All resolve to their underlying type at the LLVM layer — no
runtime cost — but make foreign-class declarations read closer
to Objective-C source. The header's old caveat about lacking
type aliases is gone.
141-objc-type-aliases.sx exercises the aliases against the real
macOS Obj-C runtime: alloc/init an NSObject, fetch its class
via objc_getClass, sel_registerName a SEL, then call
'isKindOfClass:' returning BOOL=1. Non-macOS paths print the
same line to keep the snapshot stable.
DEFERRED (M1.1.b, follow-up): 'Class(T)' parameterization with
#extends-aware covariance, and 'instancetype' per-decl
substitution. Both require compiler-level type-check support
beyond plain stdlib aliases.
170 examples pass (+1).
Verify-step uncovered three categories of regressions where sx code
calls into the platform's C ABI through fn-pointer types or as a
registered callback. Every site now declares the right convention.
C-side calls INTO sx → callconv(.c) on the sx function:
- platform/android.sx: sx_android_render_thread_entry is the start
routine pthread_create invokes — pthread treats it as a C function.
Also annotate the pthread_create signature so the start-routine fn-
pointer field rejects mismatching sx fns at compile time.
sx code calling typed fn-pointers cast from C symbols → callconv(.c)
on the fn-pointer type:
- opengl.sx: 55 GL fn-ptr globals + load_gl's proc-loader param. GL
trampolines are macOS/iOS/Android system code.
- std/objc.sx: the two typed `objc_msgSend` casts.
- gpu/metal.sx: ~40 typed `objc_msgSend` casts across Metal command
encoder / device / pipeline construction.
The block invoke trampolines (objc_block.sx) call back INTO sx (the
closure trampoline). The typed fn-ptr there stays default-conv so
ctx prepends correctly. Compiler change: a callconv(.c) sx function
now binds `current_ctx_ref` to `&__sx_default_context` at entry (used
to be gated by `isExportedEntryName`). C-callable sx callbacks like
the block invokes don't get their own __sx_ctx param but their bodies
still need a real Context to forward to the closure they delegate to.
Tests: 152/152 example suite + chess green on all 3 platforms.
Screenshots at /tmp/sx-game-{macos,iossim,android}.png.
- examples/modules/ -> library/modules/ (top-level, no more
symlink hacks in consumer projects)
- compiler discovers stdlib via _NSGetExecutablePath / readlink
/proc/self/exe; searches dev layout (../../library), install
layout (../library), and alongside-binary fallback
- SX_STDLIB_PATH env var overrides for tests / dev convenience
- SX_DEBUG_STDLIB env var dumps the discovery results
- build.zig installs library/ alongside the binary
- Compilation gains stdlib_paths field threaded through resolveImports
- 50 tests pass; consumer projects can now build from any cwd
