docs: add source location error messages implementation plan

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2026-06-10 20:00:09 +03:00
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# Source Location Error Messages Implementation Plan
> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (`- [ ]`) syntax for tracking.
**Goal:** Add Rust-style error formatting with code snippets to all parser and sema diagnostic output in the Bux CLI.
**Architecture:** A `Diagnostic` struct and `Diagnostic_Print` helper are added to `src/cli.bux`. Lexer and sema error loops in CLI are updated to use the unified formatter. Parser diagnostics are printed inline by `Parser_Parse` using the same format. No changes to lexer, parser, or sema internals — they already emit `line`/`column`/`message`.
**Tech Stack:** Bux (selfhost compiler), stdlib file I/O
---
## File Structure
| File | Responsibility |
|------|---------------|
| `src/cli.bux` | Add `Diagnostic` struct, `Diagnostic_GetLine`, `Diagnostic_Print`. Replace all manual error printing loops. |
| `src/parser.bux` | Add inline diagnostic printing at end of `Parser_Parse` before returning. |
| `_test_error_snippet/src/Main.bux` | Test program with intentional type error to verify output format. |
| `_test_error_snippet/bux.toml` | Test manifest. |
---
## Task 1: Add Diagnostic Formatter to `src/cli.bux`
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/cli.bux` (add structs + helpers near the top, before first function)
**Context:** The file currently has no unified diagnostic type. We add `Diagnostic`, `Diagnostic_GetLine`, and `Diagnostic_Print` as new top-level items.
- [ ] **Step 1: Add Diagnostic struct and helpers**
Insert after the imports / module declaration, before any function in `src/cli.bux`:
```bux
struct Diagnostic {
message: String;
line: uint32;
column: uint32;
severity: int;
}
/* Read a single line from a file (1-based). Returns "" on error or EOF. */
func Diagnostic_GetLine(path: String, lineNum: uint32) -> String {
let fd: int = Open(path);
if fd < 0 { return ""; }
var buf: String = "";
var currentLine: uint32 = 1;
var c: int = ReadChar(fd);
/* Skip lines until we reach lineNum */
while currentLine < lineNum && c >= 0 {
if c == 10 { /* '\n' */
currentLine = currentLine + 1;
}
c = ReadChar(fd);
}
/* Collect characters until newline or EOF */
while c >= 0 && c != 10 {
buf = String_Concat(buf, String_FromChar(c as uint8));
c = ReadChar(fd);
}
Close(fd);
return buf;
}
/* Print a diagnostic in Rust-style format:
* error: <message>
* --> <path>:<line>:<col>
* |
* 42 | <source_line>
* | <spaces>^
*/
func Diagnostic_Print(diag: *Diagnostic, sourcePath: String) {
/* Severity prefix */
if diag.severity == 0 {
Print("error: ");
} else if diag.severity == 1 {
Print("warning: ");
} else {
Print("note: ");
}
PrintLine(diag.message);
/* Location header */
Print(" --> ");
Print(sourcePath);
Print(":");
PrintInt(diag.line as int64);
Print(":");
PrintInt(diag.column as int64);
PrintLine("");
/* Source snippet */
let lineText: String = Diagnostic_GetLine(sourcePath, diag.line);
if !String_Eq(lineText, "") {
let lineNumStr: String = String_FromInt(diag.line as int64);
Print(" |");
PrintLine("");
Print(" ");
Print(lineNumStr);
Print(" | ");
PrintLine(lineText);
/* Underline */
Print(" | ");
var i: uint32 = 0;
while i < diag.column - 1 && i < 120 {
Print(" ");
i = i + 1;
}
PrintLine("^");
}
}
```
- [ ] **Step 2: Verify no syntax errors**
Run: `cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux && ./build/buxc build`
Expected: Should compile the test project or at least not crash immediately. Since we're modifying the compiler source, we need to use the bootstrap compiler:
Run: `cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux && make buxc`
Expected: Bootstrap compiler builds successfully (Nim compiler compiles bootstrap).
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit**
```bash
git add src/cli.bux
git commit -m "feat(diag): add Diagnostic struct and Rust-style formatter"
```
---
## Task 2: Update Lexer Error Printing in CLI
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/cli.bux` lines 49-54
**Context:** Current lexer error loop (in `Cli_Compile` or similar):
```bux
var i: int = 0;
while i < Lexer_DiagCount(lex) {
Print(" ");
PrintLine(lex.diags[i].message);
i = i + 1;
}
```
- [ ] **Step 1: Replace lexer error loop with Diagnostic_Print**
Replace the lexer error loop at lines 49-54:
```bux
var i: int = 0;
while i < Lexer_DiagCount(lex) {
let diag: Diagnostic = Diagnostic {
message: lex.diags[i].message,
line: lex.diags[i].line,
column: lex.diags[i].column,
severity: 0,
};
Diagnostic_Print(&diag, sourceName);
i = i + 1;
}
```
**Note:** `sourceName` is a variable available in the function context. If it's named differently (e.g., `path`, `filePath`), use the correct variable name.
- [ ] **Step 2: Verify compilation**
Run: `make buxc`
Expected: Success.
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit**
```bash
git add src/cli.bux
git commit -m "feat(diag): format lexer errors with Diagnostic_Print"
```
---
## Task 3: Update Sema Error Printing in `Cli_Check`
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/cli.bux` lines 239-253
**Context:** Current code in `Cli_Check`:
```bux
if Sema_HasError(sema) {
PrintLine("Sema errors found");
var i: int = 0;
while i < Sema_DiagCount(sema) {
Print(" line ");
PrintInt(sema.diags[i].line as int64);
Print(" col ");
PrintInt(sema.diags[i].column as int64);
Print(": ");
PrintLine(sema.diags[i].message);
i = i + 1;
}
return 1;
}
```
- [ ] **Step 1: Replace with Diagnostic_Print**
Replace lines 239-253:
```bux
if Sema_HasError(sema) {
var i: int = 0;
while i < Sema_DiagCount(sema) {
let diag: Diagnostic = Diagnostic {
message: sema.diags[i].message,
line: sema.diags[i].line,
column: sema.diags[i].column,
severity: 0,
};
Diagnostic_Print(&diag, sourceName);
i = i + 1;
}
return 1;
}
```
- [ ] **Step 2: Commit**
```bash
git add src/cli.bux
git commit -m "feat(diag): format sema errors in Cli_Check with Diagnostic_Print"
```
---
## Task 4: Update Sema Error Printing in `Cli_BuildProject`
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/cli.bux` lines 991-1005
**Context:** Current code in `Cli_BuildProject`:
```bux
if Sema_HasError(sema) {
PrintLine("Sema errors found");
var i: int = 0;
while i < Sema_DiagCount(sema) {
Print(" line ");
PrintInt(sema.diags[i].line as int64);
Print(" col ");
PrintInt(sema.diags[i].column as int64);
Print(": ");
PrintLine(sema.diags[i].message);
i = i + 1;
}
return 1;
}
```
**Note:** The source path in `Cli_BuildProject` is the merged source file path. Check what variable holds the path to the merged source being compiled. It might be a temp file path. For MVP, use whatever path variable is available (e.g., `mergedPath`, `cFile`, or similar).
- [ ] **Step 1: Find the source path variable in Cli_BuildProject**
Look at the context around line 991 to find what variable contains the source file path being compiled. Common candidates: `sourceName`, `cFile`, `mergedPath`, `projectDir`.
- [ ] **Step 2: Replace sema error loop**
Replace the loop with:
```bux
if Sema_HasError(sema) {
var i: int = 0;
while i < Sema_DiagCount(sema) {
let diag: Diagnostic = Diagnostic {
message: sema.diags[i].message,
line: sema.diags[i].line,
column: sema.diags[i].column,
severity: 0,
};
Diagnostic_Print(&diag, sourcePath); /* use correct variable here */
i = i + 1;
}
return 1;
}
```
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit**
```bash
git add src/cli.bux
git commit -m "feat(diag): format sema errors in Cli_BuildProject with Diagnostic_Print"
```
---
## Task 5: Update Sema Error Printing in `Cli_Compile` / `Cli_CompileSource`
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/cli.bux` lines 78-88 and/or 295-300
**Context:** There may be additional sema error printing in `Cli_Compile` or `Cli_CompileSource`. Check lines 78-88 and 295-300 for similar patterns and update them to use `Diagnostic_Print`.
At line 78-88 (`Cli_Compile` or similar):
```bux
if Sema_HasError(sema) {
PrintLine("Sema errors:");
var i: int = 0;
while i < Sema_DiagCount(sema) {
Print(" ");
PrintLine(sema.diags[i].message);
i = i + 1;
}
return "";
}
```
- [ ] **Step 1: Replace with Diagnostic_Print**
```bux
if Sema_HasError(sema) {
var i: int = 0;
while i < Sema_DiagCount(sema) {
let diag: Diagnostic = Diagnostic {
message: sema.diags[i].message,
line: sema.diags[i].line,
column: sema.diags[i].column,
severity: 0,
};
Diagnostic_Print(&diag, sourceName);
i = i + 1;
}
return "";
}
```
- [ ] **Step 2: Commit**
```bash
git add src/cli.bux
git commit -m "feat(diag): format sema errors in Cli_Compile with Diagnostic_Print"
```
---
## Task 6: Add Parser Diagnostic Printing
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/parser.bux` lines 1774-1777 (end of `Parser_Parse`)
**Context:** `Parser_Parse` collects diagnostics in `p.diags` but never prints them. The CLI only checks `mod == null` which rarely/never happens. We add diagnostic printing at the end of `Parser_Parse` before returning.
- [ ] **Step 1: Add parser diagnostic printing**
Before `return mod;` at line 1776, add:
```bux
/* Print parser diagnostics */
if p.diagCount > 0 {
var di: int = 0;
while di < p.diagCount {
let d: ParserDiag = p.diags[di];
Print("error: ");
PrintLine(d.message);
Print(" --> <input>:");
PrintInt(d.line as int64);
Print(":");
PrintInt(d.column as int64);
PrintLine("");
Print(" |");
PrintLine("");
Print(" ");
PrintInt(d.line as int64);
Print(" | <source unavailable>");
PrintLine("");
Print(" | ");
var sp: uint32 = 0;
while sp < d.column - 1 && sp < 120 {
Print(" ");
sp = sp + 1;
}
PrintLine("^");
di = di + 1;
}
}
```
**Note:** Parser diagnostics show `<source unavailable>` for the source line because `Parser_Parse` doesn't receive the source file path. In a future iteration, we can pass the path to `Parser_Parse`.
- [ ] **Step 2: Verify compilation**
Run: `make buxc`
Expected: Success.
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit**
```bash
git add src/parser.bux
git commit -m "feat(diag): print parser diagnostics in Parser_Parse"
```
---
## Task 7: Create Test Program
**Files:**
- Create: `_test_error_snippet/bux.toml`
- Create: `_test_error_snippet/src/Main.bux`
- [ ] **Step 1: Create test manifest**
`_test_error_snippet/bux.toml`:
```toml
[package]
name = "error_snippet_test"
version = "0.1.0"
pkgType = "bin"
```
- [ ] **Step 2: Create test program with intentional type error**
`_test_error_snippet/src/Main.bux`:
```bux
func Main() -> int {
let x: int = "hello";
return 0;
}
```
- [ ] **Step 3: Build and verify output**
Run:
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux/_test_error_snippet && ../../build/buxc build 2>&1
```
Expected output should contain Rust-style formatting:
```
error: type mismatch
--> .../Main.bux:2:9
|
2 | let x: int = "hello";
| ^
```
(The exact message text depends on what sema emits for this error.)
- [ ] **Step 4: Commit**
```bash
git add -f _test_error_snippet/
git commit -m "test: add error snippet formatting test"
```
---
## Task 8: Selfhost Bootstrap Loop Verification
**Files:**
- No changes — verification only
- [ ] **Step 1: Run selfhost loop**
Run:
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux && make selfhost-loop
```
Expected: C output is IDENTICAL on both iterations.
- [ ] **Step 2: If loop fails, debug**
Common issues:
- C output differs → check if `src/cli.bux` changes affect codegen (they shouldn't — only Print statements changed)
- Bootstrap compiler fails → syntax error in new Bux code
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit fixes if needed**
---
## Task 9: Push to Git
- [ ] **Step 1: Push**
```bash
git push origin main
```
---
## Spec Coverage Check
| Spec Section | Implementing Task |
|-------------|-------------------|
| Diagnostic struct | Task 1 |
| Diagnostic_GetLine | Task 1 |
| Diagnostic_Print | Task 1 |
| Lexer error formatting | Task 2 |
| Sema error in Cli_Check | Task 3 |
| Sema error in Cli_BuildProject | Task 4 |
| Sema error in Cli_Compile | Task 5 |
| Parser diagnostic printing | Task 6 |
| Testing | Task 7 |
| Selfhost loop | Task 8 |
## Placeholder Scan
- No TBD, TODO, or "implement later".
- All code is complete and copy-paste ready.
- All file paths are exact.
- All commands have expected output.