Final slice of the .type_tag activation. Sx code can now
construct Type values through the `$<pack>[<int_literal>]`
syntax in expression position. Lowering emits the new
`const_type(TypeId)` opcode; the interp materialises
`Value.type_tag(TypeId)`; reflection intrinsics + cmp_eq
read it kind-honestly.
Plumbing:
- src/parser.zig: `parsePrimary` accepts `$<ident>[<int_literal>]`
at the front of every expression. Emits a `pack_index_type_expr`
AST node — same node already used in TYPE positions in step 3,
now extended to expression positions.
- src/ir/lower.zig: two places teach the new node.
- `lowerExpr` arm: looks up `pack_arg_types[name][index]`, emits
`builder.constType(arg_tys[index])`. OOB / no-binding paths
emit a focused diagnostic + a `constType(.void)` placeholder
(loud failure preserves silent-error budget).
- `resolveTypeArg` arm: the same lookup, but returns the
TypeId directly. Used by the lower-time fast paths in
`tryLowerReflectionCall` + `tryConstBoolCondition` so
`type_name($args[0])`, `type_eq($args[0], s64)`, and
`has_impl(...)` all see the bound TypeId rather than
falling through to the `.s64` default that the silent-arm
rule forbids.
The two arms ensure both runtime AND compile-time paths use
the same source-of-truth (`pack_arg_types`), so per-mono
dispatch via `inline if type_eq($args[0], s64) { ... }` folds
at compile time as expected.
`examples/169-pack-value-dispatch.sx` exercises both shapes:
- `type_name($args[0])` returns the per-mono concrete type
name ("s64", "string", "f64").
- `inline if type_eq($args[0], s64) { ... }` ladder dispatches
per-mono ("got s64", "got string", "got bool", "got other").
209/209 example tests + `zig build test` green.
What's now possible end-to-end:
show :: (..$args) -> string => type_name($args[0]);
show(42) // "s64"
show("hi") // "string"
describe :: (..$args) -> string {
inline if type_eq($args[0], s64) { return "got s64"; }
...
}
The "by the book" activation is complete:
- foundation (const_type opcode, interp variant, helpers) — 4.0
- interp reflection arms (type_name / type_eq / has_impl) — 4.1
- box_any/display audit + bitcast guard — 4.2
- source-language construction via $args[$i] — 4.3
Step 5 (generic Into(Block) impl in stdlib) is now fully
unblocked — its trampoline body can interpolate per-mono types
both in type positions AND in expression positions.
Step 6 + 7 of the .type_tag activation plan. Audit pass on the
Any-boxing and value-display paths to confirm `.type_tag`
flows cleanly OR fails loudly.
Audit findings:
- `box_any` (interp.zig:1168) stores fields[0] as `.int(TypeId)`
for the Any-tag, fields[1] as the raw operand Value. A
`.type_tag` operand becomes the value field — correct.
Tag-field stays int-shaped across all Any boxes; value
field can be any Value kind including type_tag.
- `unbox_any` (interp.zig:1176) returns fields[1] as-is —
preserves whatever was stored. Correct for `.type_tag`.
- `any_to_string` (std.sx:316) has a `case type:` arm:
case type: { s : string = xx val; result = s; }
KNOWN GAP. Pre-`.type_tag`, the Any's value field was
string-shaped (lower-time type_name folding to const_string).
Now the value field will be `.type_tag(TypeId)`. The
`xx val to string` cast becomes a shape mismatch. Deferred
until source construction wires a path that surfaces this —
the loud bitcast guard below catches the silent-fall-through
case.
New guard:
- `bitcast` interp arm (interp.zig:664) now explicitly bails
when source is `.type_tag` and target is anything OTHER than
`.any` (boxing into Any) or the identity Type. Catches the
case-type-arm scenario above + any other stale "xx val to
string" path that would silently misinterpret a Type value.
Diagnostic suggests using `type_name(val)` as the
replacement.
No code changes in box_any / unbox_any (already correct).
208/208 example tests + `zig build test` green. No `.type_tag`
constructions exercised yet — the guards are dormant infrastructure
ready for when source construction surfaces them.
Second slice of the .type_tag activation. The reflection
intrinsics (`type_name`, `type_eq`, `has_impl`) now have
interp-time implementations that read `.type_tag` Values
directly. Today's lower-time fast path (folding to
`const_string`/`const_bool` when the type arg is statically
resolvable) stays — these interp arms are the fallback path
for when lowering emits a real `builtin_call` because the
arg is interp-time-only (e.g. `args[i]` inside a builder body
where the pack element is bound at interp execution).
Plumbing:
- New BuiltinId entries: `type_name`, `type_eq`, `has_impl`.
- Interp arms in `execBuiltinInner`:
- `type_name(t)`: reads `.type_tag` via `asTypeId`, looks up
via `module.types.typeName`, dupes the slice into the
interp allocator, returns `.string`. Non-`.type_tag` arg
→ `bailDetail` ("argument is not a Type value").
- `type_eq(a, b)`: both args must be `.type_tag`; compares
TypeIds. Either side missing → `bailDetail`.
- `has_impl(P, T)`: bails with a "not yet wired" message —
interp-time has_impl needs a queryable snapshot of the
host's `protocol_thunk_map` + `param_impl_map`, which is
its own follow-up slice. Static-arg has_impl still works
via the lower-time `tryConstBoolCondition` fast path.
- emit_llvm: explicit arms for the three new builtins that
log + map to undef-i64 (Type values are comptime-only; if
one of these reaches LLVM emit, lowering produced wrong
IR — the LLVM verifier downstream surfaces the offending
site).
Three new Zig unit tests in interp.test.zig:
- `type_name builtin on type_tag` — emits a `builtin_call`
to `type_name` with a `const_type(s64)` operand, asserts
the result is the string "s64".
- `type_eq builtin on type_tag values` — two equal Type
operands compare equal.
- (Pre-existing) `const_type yields type_tag` + `type_tag
comparison` from 4.0 still pass.
208/208 example tests + `zig build test` green. No source-
language path constructs `.type_tag` yet — the foundation is
ready for the `$args`-in-expression-position slice that
turns it on for users.
Wires the dormant `Value.type_tag(TypeId)` variant in interp.zig
so Type values flow through the comptime interpreter as
first-class kind-distinguished entities. No source-language
construction path yet — that's a follow-up. This commit is the
infrastructure foundation.
Audit findings (from interp.zig switch-walk):
- Every `else =>` arm over Value is either already loud
(`bailDetail` / `error.TypeError`) or a pass-through helper
(`materializeCtxArg`, `materializeForCall`, `resolveSlotChain`)
where transit-unchanged is semantically correct for type_tag.
No new silent paths introduced by activating the variant.
- The three pre-existing `.type_tag => return bailDetail(...)`
arms (store-at-raw-ptr, deref-non-pointer, unbox-non-aggregate)
already cover the disallowed paths cleanly.
New plumbing:
- `Op.const_type: TypeId` — dedicated opcode. Never piggybacks
on `const_int`. Result IR-type is `.any` to signal "untyped
at runtime" so downstream coercions fail loudly.
- `Builder.constType(tid)` constructor.
- Interp arm emits `Value{ .type_tag = tid }` for the op.
- emit_llvm arm bails loudly + emits an undef-i64 placeholder
(Type is comptime-only — if a Type ever reached LLVM emit,
some upstream builder leaked through; the diagnostic + LLVM
verifier downstream surface the offending site).
- `print.zig` arm prints `const type(<typeName>)`.
- `Value.asTypeId() ?TypeId` helper — the kind-honest accessor
for Type values. asInt/asFloat/asBool/asString continue to
return null for `.type_tag` (no silent coercion).
- `evalCmp` arm for `.type_tag, .type_tag` — TypeId equality.
Mixed `.type_tag` vs `.int` deliberately falls through to
the typeErrorDetail bail (a Type is not an int).
Tests (src/ir/interp.test.zig):
- `const_type yields type_tag` — confirms the variant is
produced and that asTypeId/asInt distinguish correctly.
- `type_tag comparison` — exercises cmp_eq on equal and
unequal pairs, asserts the right bool comes back.
208/208 example tests + `zig build test` green. No user-visible
behaviour change yet — `.type_tag` is constructible from Zig-
side IR builders but no sx-level syntax produces it. Next slice
wires `$args` lowering (or `$args[i]` in expression position)
to emit `const_type` per pack element.
Logs the 4-commit step-3 batch (69dcee8 → 8b457ff):
- 3a.A/3a.B: parser + AST + resolver for `$args[$i]` in type
positions (return, param, local-var annotation).
- 3a.C: extend resolution to fn-pointer type literals — the
shape step 5's generic Into(Block) trampoline body needs.
- 3b: `type_eq` + `has_impl` comptime intrinsics (`type_name`
already existed). Both fold via `tryConstBoolCondition` so
`inline if type_eq/has_impl` collapses at lower time.
Step 5 (generic Into(Block) impl) is now type-system-unblocked.
Step 4 (#insert pack passthrough + compile_error) is the
smaller intermediate slice if needed before pushing into the
stdlib refactor.
Issue 0047 (`#run` stderr vs runtime stdout split) noted in
"Current state" — filed but not blocking.
Test count: 208/208.
Step 3 second slice. Adds two reflection builtins used by
pack-fn bodies to branch on type identity / protocol
membership at compile time. type_name already existed
(lower.zig:8693); reused as-is.
type_eq(T1, T2) -> bool structural TypeId equality
has_impl(P, T) -> bool T has a reachable impl for P
Both are wired through `tryConstBoolCondition` so the inline-if
ladder folds them at lower time — `inline if type_eq(...)` /
`inline if has_impl(...)` collapse to a single branch with no
runtime instructions, perfect for guard-based dispatch inside
pack-fn bodies.
`has_impl`'s protocol arg accepts two shapes:
- plain protocol name: `has_impl(Allocator, CAllocator)` →
walks `protocol_thunk_map["Allocator\x00CAllocator"]`.
- parameterised call: `has_impl(Into(Block), s64)` →
builds the param_impl_map key `"Into\x00Block\x00s64"`
and checks containment. The protocol type-args resolve
through `resolveTypeArg` so type aliases, generics, and
pack-indexed types all work as protocol args.
`computeHasImpl` is the shared implementation between the
runtime builtin path and the `tryConstBoolCondition` fast
path so both branches stay in sync.
`examples/168-pack-reflection-intrinsics.sx` exercises every
shape:
- type_name for primitive types.
- type_eq with both equal + unequal cases, including pointer
types (s64 vs *s64).
- inline-if folding type_eq.
- has_impl with a real plain-protocol impl
(Allocator/CAllocator → true; Allocator/s64 → false).
- has_impl with a user-defined parameterised protocol
(Wrap(s64)/s32 → true; mismatched target args → false).
208/208 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Caveat: plain-protocol has_impl uses `protocol_thunk_map`
which is lazily populated when an `xx` cast or protocol
dispatch creates the thunks. For a static check before any
dispatch, that could false-negative. Allocator/CAllocator
works in 168 because stdlib's startup uses CAllocator through
the Allocator protocol — the thunks already exist by the time
has_impl runs. A more robust static check (walk fn_ast_map for
"<T_name>.<method>" entries against the protocol's method
list) is deferred to a follow-up if needed.
LSP "undefined variable" warnings on type names in expression
position (s64, *s64, Wrap(s64), etc. passed to type_eq /
has_impl) are cosmetic — sema doesn't know these intrinsics
accept types as args. Tracked separately.
Adds `resolveFunctionTypeWithBindings` so `function_type_expr`
in a binding-aware context — local var annotations, return
types, nested type expressions — recursively resolves through
the active pack bindings. Without this, the fall-through to
`type_bridge.resolveAstType` lost pack context and the new
`pack_index_type_expr` arm spammed the "outside pack-aware
context" diagnostic (the function still worked by accident
thanks to the `.s64` fallback).
Plumbing:
- `resolveTypeWithBindings` adds a `function_type_expr` case
in both the bindings-active branch and the fallthrough
switch (the same shape as `closure_type_expr`).
- `resolveFunctionTypeWithBindings` recursively resolves each
param + return type with bindings, then calls
`functionTypeCC` with the AST's calling convention.
`examples/167-pack-type-fnptr.sx` exercises the pattern step
5's trampoline needs:
fp : (*void, $args[0]) -> $args[1] = double_s64;
return fp(null, args[0]);
Output: 14 (= 7*2 via the typed fn-pointer).
207/207 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Step 3 first slice. `$<pack>[<int_literal>]` now parses in
every type position and resolves against the active pack
binding (`pack_arg_types` map set up by `monomorphizePackFn`).
Plumbing:
- src/ast.zig: new `PackIndexTypeExpr { pack_name, index }`
AST node + `pack_index_type_expr` variant in `Data`.
- src/parser.zig: in `parseTypeExpr`'s `$<ident>` arm, peek
for `[`. If found, parse a non-negative `int_literal` index
followed by `]` and emit a `pack_index_type_expr` node.
Plain `$T` / `$T/Eq` paths unchanged.
- src/ir/lower.zig::resolveTypeWithBindings: handles
`pack_index_type_expr` first — looks up the pack name in
`pack_arg_types`, returns `arg_tys[index]` when in range.
OOB and "no active pack binding" cases emit focused
diagnostics at the node span.
- src/ir/type_bridge.zig::resolveAstType: handles the same
node but falls back to `.s64` with a stderr note — the bare
type_bridge has no access to lowering state. Pack-aware
callers route through `resolveTypeWithBindings`.
- src/sema.zig: adds `pack_index_type_expr` to the no-op
arms in `analyzeNode` and `findNodeAtOffset` so the sema
pass doesn't reject the new variant.
Tests:
- examples/165-pack-type-position.sx (lock-in from 69dcee8)
flips from parse error to "42 first". Exercises both a
return-type position (-> $args[0]) AND a local-var
annotation (second : $args[1] = args[1]); two
heterogeneous call shapes confirm distinct monos pick
distinct concrete types per pack index.
- examples/166-pack-type-position-three.sx — three-element
pack with $args[2] (third element) as return type. Three
call shapes: (s64,s64,string), (bool,f64,s64),
(string,string,bool). Prints "third 99 false".
Out of scope (deferred):
- $args[$i] where $i is a comptime-bound expression (only
literal int supported in this slice).
- $args[$i] in fn-pointer type LITERALS (works for named
decls but nested fn type expressions need an audit).
- $args[$i] in struct field types.
206/206 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Step 3 of the variadic heterogeneous type packs feature.
`$args[$i]` (with `$i` a literal integer for the first slice)
should resolve to the i-th element type of the active pack
binding in every type position: return types, param types,
local var annotations, fn-pointer type literals, struct fields.
Today the parser hits "expected '{'" at the `$args[<lit>]`
token because the `$<ident>` arm in `parseTypeExpr` only
recognises plain generic names (`$T`, `$T/Eq/Hashable`).
After `<ident>`, an opening `[` is unexpected.
`examples/165-pack-type-position.sx` exercises two type
positions per mono — a return type `-> $args[0]` AND a local
var annotation `second : $args[1] = args[1]` — so the parser
change must cover more than the trailing return arrow. Two
call shapes (`swap_take(42, "ignored")` and `swap_take("first",
99)`) confirm heterogeneous monos pick distinct concrete
types per position.
Cadence shape 2: the expected output is the WORKING output
("42 first"); pre-fix the diff vs the parser-error output
fails. Next commit lands the parser + resolver changes and the
test flips green.
204/204 + 1 expected-failing = 205 total. `zig build test`
green.
Surfaced while adding the `--- build done ---` delimiter
(commit 2993072). `#run print()` output is buffered by the
interp and flushed via std.debug.print → stderr at
core.zig:187/190; JIT runtime `print()` writes via libc
write(1, ...) → stdout. Same `print` call from the user's
viewpoint, different streams in practice.
Not blocking step 3 — tests capture both streams via 2>&1 so
snapshots are unaffected. Issue file documents the fix path
(move the two `std.debug.print` flushes in core.zig to
stdout-writes) for a future session.
Tests that exercise top-level #run produce two interleaved
output streams: the interp's #run prints (flushed via
std.debug.print → stderr at core.zig:187/190) and the JIT-
executed main's prints (libc write fd=1 → stdout). When the
test runner captures both via 2>&1 the boundary between them
is invisible — the snapshot reads as one block.
Now `sx run` emits "--- build done ---\n" on stderr right
before invoking the JIT, when `hasTopLevelRun(root)` is true.
Tests without top-level #run keep their current snapshots
unchanged; only the 7 affected tests pick up the delimiter
between the build-time and run-time sections.
Example: 05-run flips from
hello 25
hello 25
to
hello 25
--- build done ---
hello 25
— the first "hello 25" is from `#run main()` running at
compile time, the second is from JIT main() running at
runtime. The delimiter makes that explicit.
204/204 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Logs the 13efc56 lock-in + 248d6e6 fix for issue-0046.
`createComptimeFunction` now saves/restores eight pieces of
outer lowering state so the wrapper fn (which the interp
executes in isolation) does not inherit caller state that
would corrupt its body lowering.
Pack-fn face was already fixed by step 2b; this commit closes
the plain `(\$x: s32)` comptime face.
Test count: 204/204.
Outstanding items reduced to: non-literal comptime args in
mixed-mode pack-fns (degrades to `?` mangle today).
`createComptimeFunction` wraps a comptime expression into a
fresh fn that the interp executes in isolation. The wrapper
must not inherit the enclosing call's lowering state — any
leaked slot, binding, or scope flag corrupts the wrapper's
own lowering.
Pre-fix, only `func` / `current_block` / `inst_counter` /
`scope` / `current_ctx_ref` were saved. Specifically NOT
saved:
- `inline_return_target` — set by `lowerComptimeCall` for an
outer comptime body with `return X;`. The wrapper's body
was lowering through this slot, routing the wrapper's
`ret` into a basic block from a different function.
- `pack_arg_nodes`, `pack_param_count`, `pack_arg_types` —
active during a pack-fn mono's body lowering. (Pack-fn
face of 0046 was already fixed by step 2b moving pack-fn
calls off the inline path; these saves close a latent
cross-contamination if any future pack-mono body invokes
the comptime interp.)
- `comptime_param_nodes` — active during an outer
`lowerComptimeCall` to bind `$fmt`-style substitutions.
- `block_terminated`, `target_type`, `func_defer_base` — fn-
local flags that the wrapper's lowering needs fresh.
All eight now save/restore in `createComptimeFunction`. The
wrapper runs in a clean state.
`examples/issue-0046.sx` flips from the
non-deterministic interp panic to "inside\n" + "n=42\n".
204/204 example tests + `zig build test` green. Issue file
marked FIXED with a pointer to the regression test.
Lock-in for issue-0046. The test file expects the WORKING
output ("inside" / "n=42") — pre-fix the interp panics
non-deterministically at `storeAtRawPtr` (null pointer store)
because `createComptimeFunction` does not save/restore the
outer `lowerComptimeCall`'s `inline_return_target` state; the
wrapper fn built for the nested `print` body inherits a slot
belonging to a different basic block.
Cadence rule shape 2: expected-failing test, the next commit
turns it green. Today the suite shows 1 failure (issue-0046);
post-fix it returns to all green.
The thread ID + hex addresses in the panic output are non-
deterministic so locking in the broken shape directly would
be flaky — comparing actual panic vs expected-working still
diffs as FAIL pre-fix, no need to snapshot the panic.
The pack-fn face of issue-0046 was fixed incidentally by step
2b (mono path bypasses the inline-return-slot setup that
leaked into nested comptime calls). Plain `($x: s32)` comptime
fns stay on the inline path and still need this fix.
Logs all four step-2 follow-up commits (c917f92, 2e0b97a,
d30d566, 159f898 + their lock-ins). Pack-fns are functionally
complete on the mono path.
Test count: 203/203. Step 6 (stdlib print/format refactor) is
now unblocked from the type-system side; step 5 (generic
Into(Block) impl) still needs step 3 (type-position
$args[$i]) before its trampoline body can be parametric.
iOS-sim chess regression-verified post-step-2b.
Outstanding (not blocking step 3): issue-0046, non-literal
comptime arg mangling.
Fixes follow-up #1 from step 2b. Pack-fns can now mix non-pack
comptime params with the trailing pack:
tagged :: ($tag: s32, ..$args) -> s64 {
return tag * 100 + args.len;
}
`isPackFn` relaxed to "exactly one trailing pack + any number
of non-pack comptime params". The mono path takes over.
Plumbing in src/ir/lower.zig:
- `lowerPackFnCall` walks fd.params + call_node.args in lockstep:
comptime non-pack args fold into the mangle (`__ct_<value>`
segments); non-comptime non-pack args contribute to the
runtime arg-type list; remaining call args populate the pack
expansion.
- `appendComptimeValueMangle` mangles int / bool / float /
string literals stably. Strings hash to keep the symbol short.
Distinct comptime values get distinct monos.
- `monomorphizePackFn` takes `call_node` so it can read comptime
call args. Skips comptime non-pack params when building the
runtime IR signature. Binds each comptime non-pack param both
as a `comptime_param_nodes` entry (for `#insert`) AND as a
runtime local via alloca+store (for bare-name body access).
`examples/164-pack-mixed-comptime.sx` flips from "unresolved
'tag'" to `703` / `900`. Two calls of `tagged` with
different comptime tags get distinct monos
(`tagged__ct_7__pack_...` and `tagged__ct_9__pack`).
This is the load-bearing prerequisite for step 6 of the plan
(stdlib `print` / `format` refactor to `(\$fmt, ..\$args)`).
Out of scope:
- Non-literal comptime args. `appendComptimeValueMangle`
degrades them to `?` (so two distinct non-literal expressions
in the same call slot would collide). Acceptable since
literal args are the only common case; non-literal would need
comptime evaluation to determine the value.
203/203 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Follow-up #1 from step 2b: pack-fns that mix a non-pack
comptime param with the trailing pack (e.g. `tagged($tag: s32,
..$args)`). Today's `isPackFn` requires the pack to be the
ONLY comptime param; mixed shapes fall through to the inline
`lowerComptimeCall` path. That path adds non-string comptime
params to `comptime_param_nodes` for #insert substitution but
does NOT bind them as runtime locals, so the body's bare
`tag` reference hits "unresolved 'tag'" at the call site.
Next commit:
- Relax `isPackFn` to "exactly one trailing pack + any number
of non-pack comptime params" so the mono path takes over.
- Fold comptime VALUES into the mangled name (`tagged(7, ...)`
and `tagged(9, ...)` get distinct monos so each body sees
its own comptime constants).
- Bind comptime args as both `comptime_param_nodes` (for
#insert substitution) AND runtime locals (for bare-name
references). String literals stay as string locals;
int/bool/float literals become typed locals of the
appropriate primitive type.
This is the load-bearing prerequisite for step 6 (stdlib
`print`/`format` refactor to `(\$fmt, ..\$args)`) — without
mixed-mode mono support, stdlib stays on the inline path
forever.
203/203 example tests + `zig build test` green (the lock-in
captures the wrong-shape diagnostic as the snapshot to flip).
Fixes follow-ups #3 (bare `args` reference) and #4
(`args[<runtime_int>]`) from step 2b. The pack-mono now
materialises an `[]Any` slice value for the pack name at body
entry: each pack-param slot is loaded, boxed via `boxAny`, and
stored into a stack [N x Any] array; the slice {data_ptr, len}
binds to the pack name in scope.
Plumbing in src/ir/lower.zig:
- `materialisePackSlice(scope, pack_name, slot_refs, arg_types)`
— new helper that emits the array alloca + box+store loop +
slice alloca + bind. Empty-pack case (N == 0) emits {null, 0}
directly.
- `monomorphizePackFn` captures the pack-param slot Refs as
they bind, then calls `materialisePackSlice` after binding so
the slice load can pull each param value.
After: `args` (bare) resolves as `[]Any` and forwards to
slice-typed helpers; `args[<runtime_int>]` lowers through the
standard slice-indexing path, element type `Any`. Per-position
type info is lost via Any boxing — that is the inherent cost
of treating a heterogeneous pack as a uniform value. Literal-
indexed access still routes through `packArgNodeAt` and keeps
the concrete per-position types.
`examples/162-pack-bare-args.sx` flips from "unresolved 'args'"
to `3` (forwarded to `log_count(items: []Any)` which returns
`items.len`).
`examples/163-pack-runtime-index.sx` flips from the LLVM
verifier crash to `4` (while-loop over `args.len`, indexing
each `args[i]` runtime).
202/202 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Lock-ins for follow-ups #3 (bare `args` reference) and #4
(`args[<runtime_int>]`) from step 2b. Both share the same root
cause: the pack-mono does not materialise an `[]Any` slice
value for the pack name, so any body that needs `args` as a
value at runtime fails.
`examples/162-pack-bare-args.sx` — pack-fn body forwards `args`
to a `[]Any`-typed helper. Today: "unresolved 'args' (in
... fn forward__pack_s64_string_f64)".
`examples/163-pack-runtime-index.sx` — pack-fn body indexes
`args[i]` with a runtime `i`. Today: LLVM verifier crash —
"GEP base pointer is not a vector or a vector of pointers" —
because `args` resolves to a junk Ref via the scope-lookup
fall-through, and the slice-indexing path emits a GEP off
that.
Next commit materialises an `[]Any` slice on demand inside the
mono: each pack param is boxed into Any, stored in a stack
[N x Any] array, and the slice {data_ptr, len} is bound to the
pack name. `args` then resolves as a runtime value the same way
the pre-2b inline path used to. `args[i]` runtime indexing goes
through the standard slice index path; element type is `Any`
(lossy on per-position types — inherent to runtime indexing
into a heterogeneous pack).
202/202 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Two follow-on fixes for follow-up #2 (generic pack-fn return).
(1) `pack_arg_types` — a new type-only pack binding consulted by
`inferExprType` for `<pack_name>[<int_literal>]`. The earlier
`pack_arg_nodes`-via-synthesized-idents path lost the type
during return-type inference because the synthesized idents
("__pack_args_0" etc.) only resolve once the mono scope is set
up — but the inference runs BEFORE scope setup. Now
`monomorphizePackFn` installs `pack_arg_types[<pack>] =
arg_types` alongside the existing nodes/count maps, and
`inferExprType` consults it directly.
`foo(..$args) -> $R => args[2]` called as `foo(42, 3.2, "hello")`
now correctly returns "hello" (string) — the third element-
typed pick threads through inference to the mono ret_ty.
(2) `diagPackIndexOOB` — focused diagnostic for `args[<lit>]`
where the literal exceeds the pack arity. Pre-fix the
substitution returned null and the standard slice-indexing
fall-through emitted "unresolved args" — burying the real
cause. Now: "pack index 2 out of bounds: 'args' has 1
element" at the index span.
Tests:
- `examples/160-pack-hetero-ret.sx` — generic `$R` with non-
zeroth heterogeneous pick (returns "hello").
- `examples/161-pack-index-oob.sx` — call passes 1 arg but
body indexes args[2]; locks in the OOB diagnostic shape.
200/200 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Fix for follow-up #2 from step 2b. When a pack-fn declares
`(..\$args) -> \$R` (return type a generic name), the mono now
infers ret_ty from the body's first explicit `return X;` or
falls back to the tail expression of an arrow-form body.
Plumbing in src/ir/lower.zig:
- `inferPackBodyReturnType(body)` walks the body via the
existing `findReturnValueType` helper (return stmts) and
falls through to `inferExprType` on the tail expression for
arrow-form / tail-expr bodies.
- `monomorphizePackFn` now pre-installs `pack_arg_nodes` and
`pack_param_count` BEFORE resolving the return type so the
inference can substitute `args[<lit>]` to call-site arg
AST nodes during type lookup.
- Generic-ret detection: `fd.return_type` AST node is a
`type_expr` with `is_generic = true`. Concrete returns stay
on the standard `resolveReturnType` path.
`examples/159-pack-generic-ret.sx` flips from `0 0` (silent-
zero coercion through opaque struct ret_ty) to `42 99`.
198/198 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Follow-up #2 from step 2b: pack-fns with a generic return type
(`(..\$args) -> \$R`). Today's `monomorphizePackFn` calls
`resolveReturnType` which sees `\$R` as a generic name and
returns an opaque struct TypeId. The mono's ret_ty is wrong
and the value silently coerces to 0.
`examples/159-pack-generic-ret.sx` pins this: `first(42)` and
`first(99)` both return `0` instead of the call arg. The lock-in
captures the wrong output as the snapshot to flip.
Next commit infers the ret type from the body's tail expression
(arrow form) or the first explicit `return X;` (block form),
then builds the mono signature against that concrete type.
198/198 example tests + \`zig build test\` green.
Logs commit 7989618 (the 2b shift from inline expansion to real
shared mono fns) and updates the test count to 197/197.
Pack feature step 2 is fully done — typed indexing, control-flow,
and per-call-shape mono all land. Step 3 (type-reflection
intrinsics) is the next slice and unlocks the stdlib payoff
(generic Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R) by enabling
$args[$i] substitution in type positions.
Documented follow-ups: mixed $fmt+..$args shapes, generic $R
binding, bare args reference, runtime indexing, and issue-0046
fix all remain deferred — none block step 3.
Pack-fns (`isPackFn(fd) == true` — last param `is_variadic AND
is_comptime`, no other comptime params) now emit ONE
monomorphised function per unique call-site signature. Repeat
calls with the same arg-type tuple share the mono; distinct
shapes get distinct symbols. Pre-2b each call inlined a fresh
body copy into the caller's basic block; IR size grew linearly
in call sites.
Plumbing in `src/ir/lower.zig`:
- `isPackFn(fd)` — true when the only comptime param is a
trailing pack. Mixed `($fmt, ..$args)` shapes stay on the
inline `lowerComptimeCall` path (different substitution
mechanism for the comptime non-pack param; deferred).
- `lowerPackFnCall(fd, call_node)`:
- Builds a mangled name `<fn_name>__pack__<arg_types>` from
call-site `inferExprType` results. Distinct shapes get
distinct symbols.
- Cache-checks `lowered_functions`; calls
`monomorphizePackFn` on miss.
- Lowers call args, then re-fetches the func pointer (the
fetch BEFORE arg lowering would invalidate after any
transitively-triggered module.functions.items realloc),
prepends ctx if needed, coerces, emits direct call.
- `monomorphizePackFn(fd, mangled, arg_types)`:
- Mirrors `monomorphizeFunction` for the standard fn build:
save state, build param list (ctx + fixed prefix + N pack
params with synthesised names `__pack_<name>_<i>`),
`beginFunction`, entry block, bind params to scope.
- Installs `pack_arg_nodes[<name>]` with synthesised AST
identifier nodes pointing at the pack-param slots so the
body's `args[<int_literal>]` substitutes through the
existing 2a.B mechanism — substitution resolves to the
mono's own param slot loads.
- Installs `pack_param_count[<name>] = N` so the body's
`args.len` resolves to a compile-time constant via a new
intercept in `lowerFieldAccess` (and the parallel arm in
`inferExprType`).
- Lowers the body with `inline_return_target = null` so
`return X;` emits a real `ret X` instead of the inline-slot
routing — the mono is a real fn now.
- Routed at three call sites: each `if (hasComptimeParams(fd))
{ return self.lowerComptimeCall(...); }` now first checks
`isPackFn(fd)` and routes to `lowerPackFnCall` when true.
Lifetime gotcha caught and fixed: `params.items` is stored by
reference in `Function.init` (no copy), so the local
`ArrayList(Function.Param)` must NOT be deinit'd in
`monomorphizePackFn` — matches the leak convention already used
by `monomorphizeFunction`.
`examples/158-pack-mono-dedup.sx` confirms the dedup
end-to-end: `count(), count(1), count(2), count(1,2,3),
count("x", true)` produces `0 1 1 3 2` at runtime AND emits
exactly 4 monos in IR (`count__pack`, `count__pack_s64`,
`count__pack_s64_s64_s64`, `count__pack_string_bool`) — the
two s64 calls share. `args.len` resolves to the comptime
constant N inside each mono.
`examples/156-pack-typed-index.sx` and
`examples/157-pack-if-return.sx` continue to pass unchanged.
Out of scope:
- Mixed `$fmt + ..$args` shapes (stays on inline path).
- Generic `$R` return types (concrete returns only).
- Bare `args` reference (passing the slice as a whole).
- `args[<runtime_int>]` (non-literal index).
197/197 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Logs the 2a.C/2a.D pair (6b7a66b + e6d6903) — the if-return
regression in issue-0045's original fix, now resolved via the
SSA "return-done block" pattern.
Step 2 is functionally sufficient for the impl-matching payoff
(step 5 of the plan); per-call-shape monomorphisation deferred
until a real workload demands it.
Step 3 ("Type-reflection intrinsics") flagged as the natural
next slice: `$args[$i]` in type positions unlocks the block-
trampoline body in stdlib's generic Into(Block) impl, which is
the visible payoff of the whole pack feature.
Fixes the regression locked in by 2a.C (commit 6b7a66b).
issue-0045's original fix set `block_terminated = true` after
each inline `return X;` to skip dead code in the inlined body.
But the flag leaked past structured control flow — an `if cond
{ return X; }` whose merge block continued to subsequent
statements would short-circuit the trailing code at the
`lowerBlockValue` loop's `if (self.block_terminated) return
null;` check.
Switched to the classical SSA "return-done block" shape:
- `InlineReturnInfo` carries a third field `done_bb: BlockId`
— a fresh basic block allocated by `lowerComptimeCall` per
comptime-call instance.
- `lowerReturn`'s inline path stores into the slot, drains
defers, and emits `br done_bb`. The basic block's terminator
is what carries the "no fall-through" signal; the
`block_terminated` flag is no longer touched.
- `lowerComptimeCall` allocates the slot + done_bb, lowers the
body, then switches to done_bb and loads the slot. Tail-
expression bodies that fall through (rare when has_return is
true) get a synthetic store + br so the CFG is well-formed.
For `if cond { return 42; }; return -1;`:
- cond=true: then's `return 42` stores 42, br done_bb. Merge
block has only the false predecessor, doesn't run the
trailing return. Load done_bb → 42.
- cond=false: condBr skips to merge. Merge runs `return -1;`
→ store -1, br done_bb. Load → -1.
`examples/157-pack-if-return.sx` flips from `8354116000` (the
uninitialised slot load on the false path) to `-1`. A
three-way `classify(..$args)` smoke confirms multi-path
inline-return works for any of the three branches.
Dead-code-after-return inside the inlined body still trips the
LLVM verifier (same shape as a regular `return X; print("dead");`
which also crashes today). Acceptable consistency — user code
shouldn't write unreachable code in either context.
196/196 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Follow-up to issue-0045's fix (commit 9e78790). The fix routes
inline-comptime-body `return X;` into a result slot but sets
`block_terminated = true` after the inline return — and that
flag leaks past the enclosing `if`'s merge block.
Body shape:
maybe :: (..$args) -> s64 {
if args.len > 0 { return 42; }
return -1;
}
For `maybe()` (zero call-args), the false-condition path skips
the then-branch's `return 42;` and should fall through to
`return -1;`. Today's flow:
- Then-branch's `return 42;` stores 42 to slot and sets
block_terminated = true.
- if lowering switches to merge_bb. block_terminated stays
true (never reset across the if/merge boundary).
- lowerBlockValue's loop sees block_terminated and returns
null without processing the trailing `return -1;`.
- lowerComptimeCall loads slot — slot was never written on
the false-condition path → garbage (8354116000 on this
machine; stable across runs).
`maybe(99)` works because the cond is true; the then-branch's
store wins.
Next commit reshapes the inline-return mechanism to use a
dedicated "return-done" basic block: each inline `return X;`
stores to slot and branches to ret_done; after the body
lowers, lowerComptimeCall switches to ret_done and loads. The
basic block CFG carries the control-flow termination — no
need for the leaking `block_terminated` flag.
196/196 example tests + `zig build test` green (the new test
captures the wrong value as the snapshot to flip).
Comptime fn body containing BOTH a nested comptime call
(`print(...)`) AND a `return X;` fails in one of two shapes
depending on the comptime-param flavour: a `storeAtRawPtr`
panic in the interp (plain `$x: s32` comptime) or "unresolved
'result'" at compile time (pack-fn `..$args`).
Same root: my issue-0045 fix's `inline_return_target` slot
setup interacts badly with the recursive comptime-call path
that invokes `#insert build_format(fmt)` → interpreter →
parse-and-lower of `result := ...` statements.
Pre-issue-0045-fix the pattern crashed at the LLVM verifier
("Terminator found in the middle of a basic block") so the
recursive path never ran. The fix exposed the deeper bug; it
didn't create it.
Not blocking the next pack-feature slices:
- Step 2a tests use arrow-form bodies with no nested print.
- Steps 2b/3 don't inherently require nested comptime calls —
builders run inside `#insert` contexts, not inside public
pack-fn bodies.
- Will bite when step 5 refactors stdlib's `print`/`format` to
`..$args` or when user code writes a pack-fn with both
`print` debug output and an early `return`.
Investigation prompt in the issue file points at
`createComptimeFunction`'s saved/restored state list (missing
`inline_return_target`, `pack_arg_nodes`,
`comptime_param_nodes`) as the most likely angle.
Logs the two step-2a commits (223ec3d lock-in, cd36784 fix):
pack-fn bodies' `args[<int_literal>]` now substitutes the i-th
call-site argument's lowered value directly, propagating the
concrete type through field access and typed coercion.
Out-of-scope follow-ups noted: non-literal comptime indices,
type-position `$args[$i]` (step 3), per-mono mangling, and the
pre-existing nested-comptime-call scope bug (a pack-fn body
calling `print(...)` AND containing `return X;` trips
"unresolved 'result'" — same shape as the issue-0045 family,
worth filing separately if a later slice needs it).
Pack-fn bodies that index the pack via `args[<int_literal>]`
now resolve to the i-th call-site argument's lowered value
directly, propagating the call arg's concrete type instead
of the boxed `Any` that the `[]Any` slice path returns.
New plumbing in `src/ir/lower.zig`:
- `pack_arg_nodes: ?std.StringHashMap([]const *const Node)` on
Lowering. Maps a pack param name (e.g. "args") to the slice
of call-site arg AST nodes.
- `lowerComptimeCall` populates the map when the variadic
param is heterogeneous (`is_variadic AND is_comptime`, i.e.
the `..$args` form). Plain `args: ..Any` keeps the existing
`[]Any` slice path so stdlib's `format`/`print` continue
unchanged. The map is saved/restored across nested calls
mirroring `comptime_param_nodes`.
- `packArgNodeAt(ie)` returns the call-arg node when an
index_expr matches `<pack_name>[<comptime_int_literal>]`
with the index in range; null otherwise (fall through to
standard slice indexing for runtime indices or non-pack
bases).
- `lowerIndexExpr` checks `packArgNodeAt` first; on a hit it
lowers the call arg node directly. `inferExprType`'s
`index_expr` arm does the parallel check so AST-level type
inference (e.g., for field-access type checking) sees the
concrete call-arg type.
`examples/156-pack-typed-index.sx` flips from
"field 'x' not found on type 'Any'" to `7` — `args[0].x` now
resolves through the concrete `Point` type instead of Any.
Out of scope (deferred): non-literal comptime indices
(`args[$i]` where `$i` is an arbitrary comptime expression);
`$args[$i]` in type positions (step 3); per-mono mangling
(monomorphisation stays inline-only).
195/195 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Step 2 of the variadic heterogeneous type packs feature: typed
runtime indexing (`args[$i]` at comptime-known `$i`). Today's
pack-fn body lowers `args[i]` through the `[]Any` slice path —
the static type returned is `Any`, so any downstream field
access / typed-coercion / further indexing fails the moment it
needs more than primitive auto-unboxing.
`examples/156-pack-typed-index.sx` pins the simplest visible
failure: `args[0].x` on a struct-typed call arg trips
"field 'x' not found on type 'Any'" at the field-access site
because AST-level type inference for `args[0]` returns Any.
Next commit teaches `lowerIndexExpr` (and `inferExprType` for
the same shape) to detect an index_expr whose base is a
pack-name binding from the enclosing comptime call AND whose
index is a comptime int literal — substitutes the i-th
call-site arg's lowered value directly, propagating the call
arg's concrete type through field access, typed assignments,
and further indexing. The `[]Any` slice path stays as the
runtime-indexed fallback for `args[i]` where `i` is not a
comptime constant.
195/195 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Logs the issue-0045 fix (inline-return slot for comptime-call
bodies, commits 3d32ab0 + 9e78790) — the LLVM verifier crash
that surfaced when probing step 2 of the pack feature. Test
count now 194/194 with the new regression test.
`lowerComptimeCall` now scans the body for `return` statements
via `fnBodyHasReturn`. When found, it allocates a stack slot
typed to the fn's return type and installs it as
`self.inline_return_target` before lowering the body.
`lowerReturn` checks `inline_return_target` first:
- If set, it stores the coerced return value into the slot,
drains pending defers, sets `block_terminated = true`, and
returns without emitting a `ret` into the caller's basic
block.
- Otherwise it emits the standard `ret` as before.
After the body lowers, the inliner either returns the
tail-expression value (existing fast path — bodies with no
`return` skip the slot entirely) or loads the slot when
`block_terminated` is set.
Why the bug was invisible until now: `format`/`print` and
every other stdlib comptime fn use arrow form (`=> expr`) or
`#insert`-only bodies — no `return` statement, no path through
`lowerReturn`. Step 1.b of the pack feature made `..$args`
parseable; the natural smoke test
`foo :: (..$args) -> s64 { return 42; }` was the first
comptime-fn body to take the `return`-with-trailing-statements
path, surfacing the LLVM verifier crash.
`examples/issue-0045.sx` flips from the lock-in failure to
`42`. 194/194 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Filed `issues/0045-pack-fn-call-llvm-verifier-failure.md`.
Surfaced by probing step 2 territory of the variadic
heterogeneous type packs feature: any `..$args` fn whose body
is a block containing `return X;` (or any comptime fn with a
non-void return, comptime params, and explicit `return` in a
block body) trips LLVM's "Terminator found in the middle of a
basic block" verifier.
`lowerComptimeCall` inlines the body's statements directly into
the caller's LLVM function. `lowerReturn` then emits a `ret`
into the caller's basic block — but the caller still has
trailing instructions, hence the verifier failure.
`examples/issue-0045.sx` reproduces the crash with the minimum
pack-fn shape (`foo :: (..$args) -> s64 { return 42; }`). Same
shape with a plain comptime param (`($x: s32) -> s64 { return
42; }`) reproduces identically, so the bug is broader than
packs. Arrow-form bodies (`=> 42`) work today because they have
no `return` statement.
Next commit teaches `lowerComptimeCall` to allocate a result
slot when the body contains a `return`, and reroutes
`lowerReturn` to store into that slot + flag the block as
terminated so the inliner picks up the value.
Logs the four commits that closed out step 1 of the variadic
heterogeneous type packs feature:
- 1c.A: parser-rejection lock-in for `..$args` inside `Closure(...)`.
- 1c.B: parser + AST + types.zig `pack_start` representation.
- 1d.A: impl-matching concrete-only miss lock-in.
- 1d.B: pack-aware impl matching with $args + $R binding through
`param_impl_pack_map` and `pack_bindings`.
Next step is plan step 2 — runtime `args[$i]` indexing + per-mono
mangling — opening the door to body-side pack reflection that
step 5 needs to retire the hand-rolled `Into(Block)` impls.
Also catches up the 1b entry which the prior session left
uncommitted in the working tree.
Pack-shaped impls (`impl P(...) for Closure(..$args) -> $R`) now
match concrete closure sources at xx resolution time. Concrete
impls keep their priority — pack matching only fires on a
concrete-key miss in `param_impl_map`.
New plumbing in src/ir/lower.zig:
- `PackParamImplEntry` carries the pack-shaped source TypeId plus
the pack-var and ret-var names extracted from the impl AST's
`target_type_expr`. `registerParamImpl` detects pack-shaped
sources via `pack_start != null` on the resolved closure type
and additionally registers in a new `param_impl_pack_map`
keyed by `"Proto\x00<arg_mangled>"` (no source suffix).
- `tryUserConversion` re-shapes the concrete lookup so the pack
path runs on miss. `tryPackImplMatch` walks the pack entries,
verifies the source's fixed prefix matches the impl's prefix,
binds the pack-var to the source's tail param TypeIds, binds
the ret-var (when the impl's return is generic) to the source
return, and monomorphises the convert method. Mangled name
stays keyed on the concrete source so distinct call shapes
monomorphise separately.
- `pack_bindings: ?StringHashMap([]const TypeId)` is saved/
restored around monomorphisation, mirroring `type_bindings`.
- `resolveClosureTypeWithBindings` handles the closure_type_expr
node during type resolution: when the closure carries a
`pack_name` AND `pack_bindings` has a binding for it, the
bound TypeIds are appended after the fixed prefix and the
result is a concrete (non-pack) closure type — so the impl
body's `self: Closure(..$args) -> $R` substitutes to the
concrete source closure during monomorphisation. Without an
active binding, the pack shape is preserved.
`examples/155-pack-impl-match.sx` flips from the
"no Into(Block) for cl_s32_bool__bool" lock-in diagnostic to
"pack impl match ok": one user-declared
`impl Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R` covers a
`Closure(s32, bool) -> bool` source that stdlib has no
hand-rolled impl for. Constructed Block isn't invoked
(invoke=null) — the test exercises only the matching +
monomorphisation, not the trampoline (step 5 of the plan).
Existing concrete-impl paths unchanged: 95-objc-block-noop,
96-objc-block-multi-arg, and stdlib's hand-rolled
`Into(Block) for Closure(bool) -> void` continue to pass through
the concrete map first. Same-file duplicate pack impls
diagnose at registration; cross-module visibility and
multi-pack-impl specificity stay TODOs (matching the deferred
Phase 5 work on the concrete path).
193/193 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Step 1d lock-in test pinning today's matching behaviour.
`registerParamImpl` records every impl in `param_impl_map` keyed
by `"Proto\x00<arg_mangled>\x00<src_mangled>"`. For a pack impl
`Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R` the key contains the
pack-shaped closure's mangle (interns with `pack_start = Some(0)`
after 1c.B). At the `xx cl : *Block` site the lookup mangles the
concrete `Closure(s32, bool) -> bool` source and finds nothing —
the existing focused diagnostic fires:
no `Into(Block) for cl_s32_bool__bool` impl — add a per-signature
`__block_invoke_<sig>` trampoline + Into impl alongside the
existing ones in modules/std/objc_block.sx, or declare it in
your own code
The pack impl is reachable in the file but never considered.
Next commit (1d.B):
- New `param_impl_pack_map` keyed by `"Proto\x00<arg_mangled>"`
(no src) — populated by `registerParamImpl` when the source
is pack-shaped.
- `tryUserConversion` walks the pack map on concrete-key miss.
Pack shape matches when the impl's fixed prefix equals the
source's matching prefix; the remainder binds to `$args` and
the source's return type binds to `$R`. Concrete impls win
over pack impls (specificity).
- `resolveTypeWithBindings` learns the closure_type_expr path
so the impl body's `self: Closure(..$args) -> $R` substitutes
to the concrete source closure during monomorphisation.
The `Closure(s32, bool) -> bool` shape is not covered by stdlib
or 96-block-multi-arg's hand-rolled impls, so the pack impl is
the only candidate post-1d.B.
193/193 example tests + `zig build test` green.
`parseTypeExpr`'s `Closure(...)` arm now accepts a trailing
`..$name` (sigil optional) as a variadic-pack marker. Pack must
be terminal — `)` is the only token accepted after the name.
`ClosureTypeExpr` AST gains `pack_name: ?[]const u8` carrying the
identifier so later slices can name the binding.
`FunctionInfo` / `ClosureInfo` in src/ir/types.zig grow a
`pack_start: ?u32 = null` field. `Closure(..$args) -> R` interns
as `params = []`, `pack_start = Some(0)` — distinct from any
concrete `Closure(...) -> R` shape thanks to updated hash/eql
arms. New constructor pair `closureTypePack` /
`functionTypePack` keeps the existing single-shape constructors
unchanged.
`type_bridge.resolveClosureType` calls `closureTypePack` when
`pack_name != null`. The pack starts after the fixed prefix,
so `Closure(Prefix, ..$args)` resolves with `params = [Prefix]`,
`pack_start = Some(1)`.
No semantic effect yet — the signature exists in the type table
but no matching code reads `pack_start`. Step 1d wires impl
matching: `Closure(..$args) -> $R` binds against any concrete
closure source type in `tryUserConversion` / `registerParamImpl`.
`examples/154-pack-type-rep.sx` flips from rejecting-with-error
to positive parse smoke (prints "pack type rep ok").
192/192 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Next slice of the variadic heterogeneous type packs (`..$args`)
feature: type-system representation. Per the FFI cadence rule, this
commit locks in the parser-rejection behavior so the next commit's
type-rep extension surfaces as a behavior shift.
examples/154-pack-type-rep.sx uses `..$args` inside a `Closure(...)`
type expression — the pack-shape spelling used by impl headers like
`impl Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R`. Today's parser
recognizes `..$args` only at the parameter-list site (1b);
`parseTypeExpr`'s `Closure(...)` arm calls `parseTypeExpr` per
position and hits "expected type name" at the `..` token. Snapshot
captures the rejection at line 18, column 26.
Next commit (1c.B):
- Parser: `parseTypeExpr` Closure arm accepts `..$args` as the
trailing pack marker. AST gets a `pack_name: ?[]const u8` (or
equivalent) field on `ClosureTypeExpr`.
- types.zig: `FunctionInfo` / `ClosureInfo` gain `pack_start: ?u32`
so the pack shape is distinct from any concrete arity in the
type table. Hash/eql updated.
- type_bridge: `resolveClosureType` threads pack_start through.
- 154 flips green.
192/192 example tests + `zig build test` green.
Extends parseParams in src/parser.zig:1558 to recognize a leading
`..` before the optional `$` sigil and the parameter name. The
old `args: ..T` form (variadic marker after the colon) still
works — both paths set the same `is_variadic` flag.
A pack declaration `..$args` parses as:
- `is_variadic = true` (from the leading `..`)
- `is_comptime = true` (from the `$` sigil)
- `type_expr = inferred_type` (no `:` annotation)
The no-colon branch now propagates `is_variadic` and `is_comptime`
onto the Param struct so later slices (type rep, impl matching,
monomorphisation) can read both flags from the parsed AST without
re-deriving from token sequence.
`examples/150-pack-parse.sx` flips from rejecting-with-error to
positive parse smoke. No semantic effect yet — `foo` is declared
but never instantiated.
191/191 example tests + `zig build test` green.
First slice of the `..$args` (variadic heterogeneous type pack)
feature. Locks in the current parser-rejection behavior so the
next commit's parser extension shows up as a behavior shift.
`examples/150-pack-parse.sx` declares `foo :: (..$args) -> s64`.
Today's parser hits `..` where it expects a parameter name
(parseParams in src/parser.zig:1558 only handles `..` inside the
type position after a colon) and emits "expected parameter name".
Expected output captures this rejection.
Per FFI cadence rule, this is the "test fails today, passes after
next commit's parser change" pair.
Pack feature plan saved at
~/.claude/plans/lets-see-options-for-merry-dijkstra.md ("Variadic
heterogeneous type packs" section). Motivates replacing the
hand-rolled per-signature `Into(Block)` impls with one generic
`impl Into(Block) for Closure(..$args) -> $R`; also unlocks
compile-time arity/type errors for `print`/`format`.
191/191 example tests + `zig build test` green.
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.
A signature the hand-rolled stdlib never covered: `Closure(s32, *void) -> void`.
Pre-M5.A this code wouldn't compile (no `Into(Block) for Closure(s32, *void) -> void`
declaration); post-M5.A the compiler emits `__block_invoke_v_i_p` on
demand and the call site goes through it.
The test uses two-arg side-effect capture (globals `g_sum`, `g_tag`)
to verify both args reached the closure body. Confirms the
trampoline's calling convention forwards
`(__sx_default_context, sx_env, arg0, arg1)` correctly through to
the closure's underlying fn.
Note: return-value signatures (e.g. `Closure(s32) -> s32`) are
recognised by the trampoline emitter — `cinfo.ret` flows through
to `beginFunction`'s return slot — but exercising them requires
closure-return-type inference that the test runner stumbled on
during authoring (`(n: s32) => { return n+1; }` infers void). The
void-returning shape is the more common Cocoa pattern (animation
bodies, dispatch_async, completion handlers); return-value
signatures land properly once the closure inference catches up
(orthogonal to M5.A).
190/190 example tests pass.
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.
`xx closure : Block` casts now bypass the user-space Into(Block)
protocol path entirely. The compiler intercepts in
`tryUserConversion` BEFORE the Into lookup, detects when src is
`Closure(...)` and dst is `Block`, and emits:
1. A C-ABI trampoline `__block_invoke_<sig>` (deduped per closure
signature via `block_invoke_trampolines` map). Body matches the
existing hand-rolled `__block_invoke_void` exactly: load
block_self struct, extract sx_env (field 5) + sx_fn (field 6),
call sx_fn(__sx_default_context, sx_env, ...user_args), return.
2. Inline Block-struct construction at the cast site:
`Block { isa = &_NSConcreteStackBlock, flags=0, reserved=0,
invoke = &__block_invoke_<sig>,
descriptor = &__sx_block_descriptor,
sx_env = closure.env, sx_fn = closure.fn_ptr }`
Signature mangling: compact codes — `v` void, `b` bool, `i` s32,
`q` s64, `f` f32, `d` f64, `c/C/s/S/I/Q` for other ints, `p` for
pointers/aggregates that lower to a machine word. Return first,
then params underscore-joined. `Closure() -> void` mangles to `v`;
`Closure(bool) -> void` mangles to `v_b`.
Loud failures at the cast site:
- `Block` struct missing → "requires #import \"modules/std/objc_block.sx\";"
- `_NSConcreteStackBlock` extern missing → same diagnostic.
- `__sx_block_descriptor` global missing → same.
- `__sx_default_context` missing inside the trampoline emitter →
compiler-bug diagnostic (the scan pass should always register it).
The existing hand-rolled stdlib impls (`__block_invoke_void`,
`__block_invoke_bool`, the two `Into(Block) for Closure(...)`
impls) are now redundant — the compiler-synthesised trampoline
takes over via the intercept. Next commit (M5.A.2) removes them.
95-objc-block-noop continues to pass; IR shows `__block_invoke_v`
(the synthesised name) replacing the hand-rolled
`__block_invoke_void` at the cast site. 189/189 example tests
pass; chess on iOS-sim green.
12 commits this session shipped the entire M4 milestone. sx-defined
Obj-C classes now honor `context.allocator` end-to-end, route through
NSObject's retain/release at the source-language level, and emit
correct ARC ops in property setters/getters/dealloc per the Apple
ABI contract.
189/189 example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green throughout.
Ready for M5 (closure↔block bridge) or M1.1.b (Class(T) phantom
typing) next session.
emitObjcDefinedClassDeallocImp now walks the class's #property fields
BEFORE freeing the state struct. For each:
- assign → no-op (primitives, no ARC traffic).
- strong → val = load field; objc_release(val).
- copy → same as strong (the stored value is a +1 retained copy
produced by the setter's [val copy]; we release it here).
- weak → objc_destroyWeak(&field) — unregisters the slot from
libobjc's side-table so the runtime stops tracking it.
Order matters: property releases happen BEFORE freeing the state
struct (which would invalidate the pointers we need to read), which
happens BEFORE [super dealloc] (which eventually frees the Obj-C
instance's own memory). The full sequence is now:
%state = object_getIvar(self, __sx_state_ivar)
// M4.B (this commit):
for each strong/copy property P:
val = load struct_gep(state, P.idx); objc_release(val)
for each weak property P:
objc_destroyWeak(struct_gep(state, P.idx))
// M4.0c (already shipped):
allocator = load struct_gep(state, 0)
allocator.dealloc(state)
object_setIvar(self, ivar, null)
// M1.2 A.6:
[super dealloc] // → objc_msgSendSuper2
ffi-objc-arc-02-strong-property now passes: child held by parent's
strong property gets released when parent deallocates, refcount → 0,
child deallocates, both states freed via tracker. Balanced 2/2.
189/189 example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green. M4 complete.
emitObjcDefinedPropertyGetter dispatches on objcPropertyKind. The
strong/copy/assign paths keep their bare load. The weak path:
retained = objc_loadWeakRetained(field_addr)
autoreleased = objc_autorelease(retained)
return autoreleased
`objc_loadWeakRetained` does the race-safe upgrade via libobjc's
side-table: if the target has deinitialized (or is mid-dealloc on
another thread), returns null; otherwise returns the target with
refcount bumped (+1 retained, transferred to caller).
`objc_autorelease` drops the +1 into the current pool so the
caller doesn't need to manually balance — matches Apple's auto-nil
weak-getter contract.
The bare-load weak path (still in place pre-M4.B-getter) worked
for the single-threaded test scenario because the runtime nils the
slot before the load happens. The load-retained version covers the
multi-threaded "between load and use, target deinit's" race that
silent bare-load can't.
189/189 example tests pass; chess on iOS-sim green.
emitObjcDefinedPropertySetter now dispatches on objcPropertyKind to
emit the right runtime ops per Apple's ARC contract:
- assign → bare store (primitives, explicitly opted-out object slots).
- strong → load old; objc_retain(new); store new; objc_release(old).
Apple's runtime treats release(NULL) as a safe no-op, so
no explicit null-check on the old value.
- weak → objc_storeWeak(field_addr, val) — handles first-store
(init) and re-store (destroy + init) atomically. Registers
the slot with libobjc's side-table; the runtime auto-nils
it when the target deallocates.
- copy → [val copy] (sends `copy` selector — returns retained per
the NSCopying contract); load old; store the copied
instance; release old.
Side-effect on the weak path: even with the bare-load getter still in
place (loaded directly from the slot), weak reads work because Apple's
runtime side-table-nils the slot at target dealloc. The getter
improvement via objc_loadWeakRetained is the next commit and is
needed for race-safe reads (between load and use, the target could
deinit on another thread); for the single-threaded test scenarios
the bare load is sufficient.
ffi-objc-arc-02-strong-property advances from "child dealloc'd at
midpoint" to "unbalanced; alloc=2 dealloc=1" — strong setter now
retains, but the M4.B-dealloc cleanup hasn't landed so the child
held by the property isn't released when the parent deallocates.
Final commit (M4.B dealloc) closes the loop.
ffi-objc-arc-03-weak-property turns fully green: storeWeak +
auto-nil side-table do the work.
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.
