feat(selfhost): auto-drop for interface-based Drop implementations

- Extend Lcx_BuildAutoDropFree to detect TypeName_Drop methods

  registered by sema for extend Type for Drop impl blocks.

- Preserve existing @[Drop] attribute path and move semantics.

- Add design doc and implementation plan.

- Mark Destructors/Drop roadmap item done in selfhost.
This commit is contained in:
2026-06-14 17:44:35 +03:00
parent 2c8223f94e
commit e5e490605a
5 changed files with 406 additions and 12 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,250 @@
# Drop Interface Auto-Drop 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:** Make the selfhost compiler emit automatic destructor calls for types that implement `Drop` via `extend Type for Drop`, not only for types marked with `@[Drop]`.
**Architecture:** Extend `Lcx_BuildAutoDropFree` in `src/hir_lower.bux` to detect a `TypeName_Drop` function symbol registered by sema for interface-based implementations. Reuse the existing generic monomorphization and C-backend defer paths.
**Tech Stack:** Bux selfhost compiler (Bux language), Nim bootstrap compiler, C backend, GNU make.
---
## File map
| File | Responsibility |
|------|----------------|
| `src/hir_lower.bux` | Detects `TypeName_Drop` methods and wires them into auto-drop defers. |
| `_test_interface_drop/src/Main.bux` | Existing integration test that should now emit `Buffer_Drop(&buf)`. |
| `_test_drop_user/src/Main.bux` | Existing test using `@[Drop]`; must keep working. |
| `_test_drop_move/src/Main.bux` | Existing test verifying moved vars are not double-dropped; must keep working. |
| `_test_drop_trait/src/Main.bux` | Existing test for `Array<int>` auto-drop; must keep working. |
---
### Task 1: Verify the current failure
**Files:**
- Read: `src/hir_lower.bux:2745-2760`
- Read: `_test_interface_drop/build/main.c` (after build)
- [ ] **Step 1: Build the bootstrap compiler**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
make build
```
Expected: `buxc` is created at project root, build succeeds.
- [ ] **Step 2: Compile `_test_interface_drop` and inspect generated C**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux/_test_interface_drop
../buxc run 2>&1 | tail -5
grep -n "Buffer_Drop" build/main.c
```
Expected: `Buffer_Drop` function is declared/defined, but `main()` does **not** call it before `return 0`. This confirms the bug.
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit the baseline observation (optional)**
No file changes yet; skip commit or note the finding in a scratch file.
---
### Task 2: Extend `Lcx_BuildAutoDropFree` to detect interface Drop
**Files:**
- Modify: `src/hir_lower.bux:2745-2760`
- [ ] **Step 1: Read the exact current code**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
sed -n '2740,2765p' src/hir_lower.bux
```
Current code (approximate):
```bux
// User-defined types with @[Drop]: look for TypeName_Drop function
if typeSym.kind == skType && typeSym.decl != null as *Decl && typeSym.decl.isDrop != 0 {
let dropName: String = String_Concat(typeName, "_Drop");
// Ensure inner free is also monomorphized since Drop calls Free
if String_StartsWith(dropName, "Array_Drop_") {
let elemType: String = Lcx_GetMangledSuffix(dropName, "Array_Drop_");
let genDrop: *Decl = Lcx_FindGenericFunc(ctx, "Array_Drop");
if genDrop != null as *Decl {
Lcx_GenerateFuncInstance(ctx, genDrop, elemType, "", 1);
}
}
return dropName;
}
```
- [ ] **Step 2: Modify the check to include interface-based Drop**
Replace the block with:
```bux
// User-defined types with @[Drop] OR with an explicit TypeName_Drop method
if typeSym.kind == skType && typeSym.decl != null as *Decl {
let dropName: String = String_Concat(typeName, "_Drop");
let hasAttr: bool = typeSym.decl.isDrop != 0;
let dropSym: Symbol = Scope_Lookup(ctx.scope, dropName);
let hasMethod: bool = dropSym.kind == skFunc;
if hasAttr || hasMethod {
// Ensure inner free is also monomorphized since Drop calls Free
if String_StartsWith(dropName, "Array_Drop_") {
let elemType: String = Lcx_GetMangledSuffix(dropName, "Array_Drop_");
let genDrop: *Decl = Lcx_FindGenericFunc(ctx, "Array_Drop");
if genDrop != null as *Decl {
Lcx_GenerateFuncInstance(ctx, genDrop, elemType, "", 1);
}
}
return dropName;
}
}
```
This preserves the `@[Drop]` path and adds the interface path.
- [ ] **Step 3: Rebuild the bootstrap compiler**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
make build
```
Expected: build succeeds.
- [ ] **Step 4: Verify `_test_interface_drop` now emits the drop call**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux/_test_interface_drop
rm -rf build
../buxc run 2>&1 | tail -5
grep -n "Buffer_Drop" build/main.c
```
Expected: `main()` now contains `Buffer_Drop(&buf);` before `return 0;`.
- [ ] **Step 5: Commit the implementation**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
git add src/hir_lower.bux
git commit -m "feat(selfhost): auto-drop for interface-based Drop implementations"
```
---
### Task 3: Regression-test existing Drop tests
**Files:**
- Test: `_test_drop_user/src/Main.bux`
- Test: `_test_drop_move/src/Main.bux`
- Test: `_test_drop_trait/src/Main.bux`
- [ ] **Step 1: Compile `_test_drop_user`**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux/_test_drop_user
rm -rf build
../buxc run 2>&1 | tail -5
```
Expected: builds and runs without error.
- [ ] **Step 2: Compile `_test_drop_move`**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux/_test_drop_move
rm -rf build
../buxc run 2>&1 | tail -5
```
Expected: builds and runs without double-free / crash.
- [ ] **Step 3: Compile `_test_drop_trait`**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux/_test_drop_trait
rm -rf build
../buxc run 2>&1 | tail -5
```
Expected: prints `30` and exits cleanly.
- [ ] **Step 4: Commit if all pass**
If any fail, debug before committing. If all pass:
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
git add -A
git commit -m "test: verify existing Drop tests still pass"
```
---
### Task 4: Selfhost-loop determinism check
**Files:**
- All `src/*.bux`
- [ ] **Step 1: Run the selfhost loop**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
make selfhost-loop
```
Expected output:
```
Selfhost loop passed: C output is identical.
```
- [ ] **Step 2: If it fails, diff the C outputs**
```bash
diff -u build/selfhost-loop-a/build/main.c build/selfhost-loop-b/build/main.c | head -80
```
Investigate any difference. Likely causes:
- Variable naming drift — not expected from this change.
- New monomorphization triggered by the change — acceptable only if deterministic.
- [ ] **Step 3: Commit after passing**
```bash
cd /home/ziko/z-git/bux/bux
git add -A
git commit -m "ci: selfhost-loop passes with Drop interface auto-drop"
```
---
## Spec coverage check
| Spec requirement | Implementing task |
|------------------|-------------------|
| Universal Drop recognition | Task 2 |
| No syntax changes | No task needed |
| Preserve move semantics | Task 2 reuses existing path; Task 3 verifies `_test_drop_move` |
| Selfhost loop compatibility | Task 4 |
## Placeholder scan
- No TBD/TODO/"implement later" markers.
- Each step includes exact file paths and commands.
- Code blocks contain the actual change.
## Type consistency check
- `Scope_Lookup` returns `Symbol` — used correctly.
- `Symbol.kind == skFunc` matches existing patterns in the codebase.
- `typeSym.decl.isDrop != 0` preserved from original code.
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
# Drop Trait / Destructors Design Document
> **Date:** 2026-06-10
> **Status:** Approved
> **Status:** Superseded — see [2026-06-14-drop-interface-auto-drop-design.md](2026-06-14-drop-interface-auto-drop-design.md)
> **Scope:** Selfhost compiler (`src/*.bux`)
## 1. Problem Statement
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
# Drop Interface Auto-Drop Design Document
> **Date:** 2026-06-14
> **Status:** Approved
> **Scope:** Selfhost compiler (`src/*.bux`)
## 1. Problem Statement
Bux already has two ways to declare that a type needs automatic cleanup:
1. **`@[Drop]` attribute** on a struct — triggers auto-drop lookup of `TypeName_Drop`.
2. **`extend Type for Drop { ... }`** — implements the `Drop` interface from `lib/Drop.bux`.
The parser and sema already support both forms, but the HIR lowering step only recognizes the `@[Drop]` attribute. As a result, a type that implements `Drop` via the interface is **not** automatically cleaned up when its variables go out of scope.
Example (`_test_interface_drop/src/Main.bux`):
```bux
import Drop
struct Buffer {
ptr: *int
}
extend Buffer for Drop {
func Drop(self: *Buffer) {
bux_free(self.ptr as *void);
}
}
func main() -> int {
let buf: Buffer = Buffer { ptr: bux_alloc(10 as uint * sizeof(int)) as *int };
return 0; // Buffer_Drop(&buf) should be emitted here, but currently is not
}
```
## 2. Goals
1. **Universal Drop recognition**: Auto-drop fires for any type that implements `Drop`, whether via `@[Drop]` or via `extend ... for Drop`.
2. **No syntax changes**: The existing `interface Drop` and `extend ... for Drop` syntax remains unchanged.
3. **Preserve move semantics**: Variables that have been moved are still skipped by the existing `CBE_IsMoved` logic.
4. **Selfhost loop compatibility**: The compiler must still bootstrap deterministically.
## 3. Non-Goals
1. **`own T` type**: Adding `own T` to selfhost is a separate, larger feature.
2. **Scoped defers on break/continue**: Tracked separately.
3. **Interface vtable dispatch for auto-drop**: Auto-drop remains static lookup of `TypeName_Drop`; no runtime interface cost.
## 4. Architecture
### 4.1 Before (Current)
In `src/hir_lower.bux`, `Lcx_BuildAutoDropFree` only returns a drop function name when `decl.isDrop != 0`:
```bux
// User-defined types with @[Drop]: look for TypeName_Drop function
if typeSym.kind == skType && typeSym.decl != null as *Decl && typeSym.decl.isDrop != 0 {
let dropName: String = String_Concat(typeName, "_Drop");
// ... generic monomorphization ...
return dropName;
}
```
### 4.2 After (Proposed)
Extend the user-type branch to also detect interface-based implementations:
```bux
// User-defined types with @[Drop] OR with an explicit TypeName_Drop method
if typeSym.kind == skType && typeSym.decl != null as *Decl {
let dropName: String = String_Concat(typeName, "_Drop");
let hasAttr: bool = typeSym.decl.isDrop != 0;
let dropSym: Symbol = Scope_Lookup(ctx.scope, dropName);
let hasMethod: bool = dropSym.kind == skFunc;
if hasAttr || hasMethod {
// ... generic monomorphization ...
return dropName;
}
}
```
Sema already registers methods from `extend ... for Drop` as `TypeName_Drop` function symbols in `ctx.scope` (see `src/sema.bux:1197-1207`). Therefore, looking up the method by name is sufficient to detect an interface-based Drop implementation.
### 4.3 Generic Types
For generic `extend Box<T> for Drop { func Drop(self: *Box<T>) { ... } }`, the symbol registered is `Box_Drop` (generic). The existing `Lcx_FindGenericFunc` / `Lcx_GenerateFuncInstance` path in `Lcx_BuildAutoDropFree` handles monomorphization when the concrete type is a mangled generic instance (e.g., `Box_int`). The proposed change reuses that path unchanged.
## 5. Affected Files
| File | Change |
|------|--------|
| `src/hir_lower.bux` | Extend `Lcx_BuildAutoDropFree` to detect `TypeName_Drop` method symbols even without `@[Drop]` attribute. |
| `_test_interface_drop/src/Main.bux` | Verify that `Buffer_Drop(&buf)` is emitted. |
## 6. Testing Plan
### 6.1 Existing Tests
| Test | Expected |
|------|----------|
| `_test_drop_user` | Still passes; `@[Drop]` path unchanged. |
| `_test_drop_move` | Still skips drop for moved vars. |
| `_test_drop_trait` | Still passes; Array auto-drop unchanged. |
| `make selfhost-loop` | C output remains identical. |
### 6.2 Target Test
`_test_interface_drop/src/Main.bux` should compile and the generated `build/main.c` should contain a call to `Buffer_Drop(&buf)` before `return 0`.
## 7. Risks & Mitigations
| Risk | Mitigation |
|------|------------|
| Any method named `Drop` triggers auto-drop | Acceptable because `Drop` is a privileged interface name. If stricter checking is needed later, sema can record explicit `extend ... for Drop` implementations in a dedicated table. |
| Generic monomorphization missed | Reuse existing generic Drop instance generation path already used for `@[Drop]` types. |
| Selfhost loop breaks | Run `make selfhost-loop` before committing. |
## 8. Future Work
1. **`own T` in selfhost**: Add `own T` type expression + move-on-pass semantics.
2. **Scoped defers on break/continue**: Match bootstrap behavior.
3. **Explicit interface-implementation table**: If the simple method-name lookup becomes too permissive, record `extend ... for Drop` facts in sema and expose them to HIR lowering.
## 9. Placeholder Scan
- No TBD/TODO placeholders.
- All file paths are exact.
- Code snippets match the current selfhost source.