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IDEAS.md
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IDEAS.md
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# ReefVM Architectural Improvement Ideas
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This document contains architectural ideas for improving ReefVM. These focus on enhancing the VM's capabilities through structural improvements rather than just adding new opcodes.
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## 1. Scope Resolution Optimization
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**Current Issue**: Variable lookups are O(n) through the scope chain on every `LOAD`. This becomes expensive in deeply nested closures.
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**Architectural Solution**: Implement **static scope analysis** with **lexical addressing**:
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```typescript
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// Instead of: LOAD x (runtime scope chain walk)
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// Compile to: LOAD_FAST 2 1 (scope depth 2, slot 1 - O(1) lookup)
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class Scope {
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locals: Map<string, Value>
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parent?: Scope
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// NEW: Add indexed slots for fast access
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slots: Value[] // Direct array access
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nameToSlot: Map<string, number> // Compile-time mapping
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- O(1) variable access instead of O(n)
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- Critical for hot loops and deeply nested functions
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- Compiler can still fall back to named lookup for dynamic cases
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---
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## 2. Module System Architecture
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**Current Gap**: No way to organize code across multiple files or create reusable libraries.
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**Architectural Solution**: Add first-class module support:
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```typescript
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// New opcodes: IMPORT, EXPORT, MAKE_MODULE
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// New bytecode structure:
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type Bytecode = {
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instructions: Instruction[]
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constants: Constant[]
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exports?: Map<string, number> // Exported symbols
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imports?: Import[] // Import declarations
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}
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type Import = {
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modulePath: string
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symbols: string[] // [] means import all
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alias?: string
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}
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```
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**Pattern**:
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```
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MAKE_MODULE .module_body
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EXPORT add
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EXPORT subtract
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HALT
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.module_body:
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MAKE_FUNCTION (x y) .add_impl
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RETURN
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Code organization and reusability
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- Circular dependency detection at load time
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- Natural namespace isolation
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- Enables standard library architecture
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---
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## 3. Source Map Integration
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**Current Issue**: Runtime errors show bytecode addresses, not source locations.
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**Architectural Solution**: Add source mapping layer:
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```typescript
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type Bytecode = {
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instructions: Instruction[]
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constants: Constant[]
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sourceMap?: SourceMap // NEW
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}
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type SourceMap = {
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file?: string
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mappings: SourceMapping[] // Instruction index → source location
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}
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type SourceMapping = {
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instruction: number
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line: number
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column: number
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source?: string // Original source text
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Meaningful error messages with line/column
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- Debugger can show original source
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- Stack traces map to source code
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- Critical for production debugging
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---
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## 4. Debugger Hook Architecture
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**Current Gap**: No way to pause execution, inspect state, or step through code.
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**Architectural Solution**: Add debug event system:
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```typescript
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class VM {
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debugger?: Debugger
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async execute(instruction: Instruction) {
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// Before execution
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await this.debugger?.onInstruction(this.pc, instruction, this)
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// Execute
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switch (instruction.op) { ... }
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// After execution
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await this.debugger?.afterInstruction(this.pc, this)
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}
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}
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interface Debugger {
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breakpoints: Set<number>
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onInstruction(pc: number, instruction: Instruction, vm: VM): Promise<void>
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afterInstruction(pc: number, vm: VM): Promise<void>
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onCall(fn: Value, args: Value[]): Promise<void>
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onReturn(value: Value): Promise<void>
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onException(error: Value): Promise<void>
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Step-through debugging
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- Breakpoints at any instruction
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- State inspection at any point
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- Non-invasive (no bytecode modification)
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- Can build IDE integrations
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---
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## 5. Bytecode Optimization Pass Framework
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**Current Gap**: Bytecode is emitted directly, no optimization.
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**Architectural Solution**: Add optimization pipeline:
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```typescript
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type Optimizer = (bytecode: Bytecode) => Bytecode
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// Framework for composable optimization passes
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class BytecodeOptimizer {
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passes: Optimizer[] = []
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add(pass: Optimizer): this {
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this.passes.push(pass)
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return this
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}
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optimize(bytecode: Bytecode): Bytecode {
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return this.passes.reduce((bc, pass) => pass(bc), bytecode)
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}
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}
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// Example passes:
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const optimizer = new BytecodeOptimizer()
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.add(constantFolding) // PUSH 2; PUSH 3; ADD → PUSH 5
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.add(deadCodeElimination) // Remove unreachable code after HALT/RETURN
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.add(jumpChaining) // JUMP .a → .a: JUMP .b → JUMP .b directly
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.add(peepholeOptimization) // DUP; POP → (nothing)
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Faster execution without changing compiler
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- Can add passes without modifying VM
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- Composable and testable
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- Enables aggressive optimizations (inlining, constant folding, etc.)
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---
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## 6. Value Memory Management Architecture
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**Current Issue**: No tracking of memory usage, no GC hooks, unbounded growth.
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**Architectural Solution**: Add memory management layer:
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```typescript
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class MemoryManager {
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allocatedBytes: number = 0
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maxBytes?: number
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allocateValue(value: Value): Value {
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const size = this.sizeOf(value)
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if (this.maxBytes && this.allocatedBytes + size > this.maxBytes) {
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throw new Error('Out of memory')
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}
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this.allocatedBytes += size
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return value
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}
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sizeOf(value: Value): number {
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// Estimate memory footprint
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}
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// Hook for custom GC
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gc?: () => void
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}
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class VM {
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memory: MemoryManager
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// All value-creating operations check memory
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push(value: Value) {
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this.memory.allocateValue(value)
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this.stack.push(value)
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}
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Memory limits for sandboxing
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- Memory profiling
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- Custom GC strategies
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- Prevents runaway memory usage
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---
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## 7. Instruction Profiler Architecture
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**Current Gap**: No way to identify performance bottlenecks in bytecode.
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**Architectural Solution**: Add instrumentation layer:
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```typescript
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class Profiler {
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instructionCounts: Map<number, number> = new Map()
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instructionTime: Map<number, number> = new Map()
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hotFunctions: Map<number, FunctionProfile> = new Map()
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recordInstruction(pc: number, duration: number) {
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this.instructionCounts.set(pc, (this.instructionCounts.get(pc) || 0) + 1)
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this.instructionTime.set(pc, (this.instructionTime.get(pc) || 0) + duration)
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}
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getHotSpots(): HotSpot[] {
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// Identify most-executed instructions
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}
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generateReport(): ProfileReport {
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// Human-readable performance report
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}
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}
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class VM {
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profiler?: Profiler
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async execute(instruction: Instruction) {
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const start = performance.now()
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// ... execute ...
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const duration = performance.now() - start
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this.profiler?.recordInstruction(this.pc, duration)
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}
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Identify hot loops and functions
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- Guide optimization efforts
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- Measure impact of changes
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- Can feed into JIT compiler (future)
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---
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## 8. Standard Library Plugin Architecture
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**Current Issue**: Native functions registered manually, no standard library structure.
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**Architectural Solution**: Module-based native libraries:
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```typescript
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interface NativeModule {
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name: string
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exports: Record<string, any>
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init?(vm: VM): void
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}
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class VM {
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modules: Map<string, NativeModule> = new Map()
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registerModule(module: NativeModule) {
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this.modules.set(module.name, module)
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module.init?.(this)
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// Auto-register exports to global scope
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for (const [name, value] of Object.entries(module.exports)) {
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this.set(name, value)
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}
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}
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loadModule(name: string): NativeModule {
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return this.modules.get(name) || throw new Error(`Module ${name} not found`)
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}
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}
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// Example usage:
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const mathModule: NativeModule = {
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name: 'math',
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exports: {
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sin: Math.sin,
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cos: Math.cos,
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sqrt: Math.sqrt,
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PI: Math.PI
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}
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}
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vm.registerModule(mathModule)
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Organized standard library
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- Lazy loading of modules
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- Third-party plugin system
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- Clear namespace boundaries
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---
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## 9. Streaming Bytecode Execution
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**Current Limitation**: Must load entire bytecode before execution.
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**Architectural Solution**: Incremental bytecode loading:
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```typescript
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class StreamingBytecode {
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chunks: BytecodeChunk[] = []
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append(chunk: BytecodeChunk) {
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// Remap addresses, merge constants
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this.chunks.push(chunk)
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}
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getInstruction(pc: number): Instruction | undefined {
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// Resolve across chunks
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}
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}
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class VM {
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async runStreaming(stream: ReadableStream<BytecodeChunk>) {
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for await (const chunk of stream) {
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this.bytecode.append(chunk)
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await this.continue() // Execute new chunk
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}
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}
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Execute before full load (faster startup)
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- Network streaming of bytecode
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- Incremental compilation
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- Better REPL experience
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---
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## 10. Type Annotation System (Optional Runtime Types)
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**Current Gap**: All values dynamically typed, no way to enforce types.
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**Architectural Solution**: Optional type metadata:
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```typescript
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type TypedValue = Value & {
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typeAnnotation?: TypeAnnotation
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}
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type TypeAnnotation =
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| { kind: 'number' }
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| { kind: 'string' }
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| { kind: 'array', elementType?: TypeAnnotation }
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| { kind: 'dict', valueType?: TypeAnnotation }
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| { kind: 'function', params: TypeAnnotation[], return: TypeAnnotation }
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// New opcodes: TYPE_CHECK, TYPE_ASSERT
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// Functions can declare parameter types:
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MAKE_FUNCTION (x:number y:string) .body
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Catch type errors earlier
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- Self-documenting code
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- Enables static analysis tools
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- Optional (doesn't break existing code)
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- Can enable optimizations (known number type → skip toNumber())
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---
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## 11. VM State Serialization
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**Current Gap**: Can't save/restore VM execution state.
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**Architectural Solution**: Serializable VM state:
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```typescript
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class VM {
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serialize(): SerializedState {
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return {
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instructions: this.instructions,
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constants: this.constants,
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pc: this.pc,
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stack: this.stack.map(serializeValue),
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callStack: this.callStack.map(serializeFrame),
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scope: serializeScope(this.scope),
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handlers: this.handlers
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}
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}
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static deserialize(state: SerializedState): VM {
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const vm = new VM(/* ... */)
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vm.restore(state)
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return vm
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}
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Save/restore execution state
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- Distributed computing (send state to workers)
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- Crash recovery
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- Time-travel debugging
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- Checkpoint/restart
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---
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## 12. Async Iterator Support
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**Current Gap**: Iterators work via break, but no async iteration.
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**Architectural Solution**: First-class async iteration:
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```typescript
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// New value type:
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type Value = ... | { type: 'async_iterator', value: AsyncIterableIterator<Value> }
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// New opcodes: MAKE_ASYNC_ITERATOR, AWAIT_NEXT, YIELD_ASYNC
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// Pattern:
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for_await (item in asyncIterable) {
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// Compiles to AWAIT_NEXT loop
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}
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```
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**Benefits**:
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- Stream processing
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- Async I/O without blocking
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- Natural async patterns
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- Matches JavaScript async iterators
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---
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## Priority Recommendations
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### Tier 1 (Highest Impact):
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1. **Source Map Integration** - Critical for usability
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2. **Module System** - Essential for scaling beyond toy programs
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3. **Scope Resolution Optimization** - Performance multiplier
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### Tier 2 (High Value):
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4. **Debugger Hook Architecture** - Developer experience game-changer
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5. **Standard Library Plugin Architecture** - Enables ecosystem
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6. **Bytecode Optimization Framework** - Performance without complexity
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### Tier 3 (Nice to Have):
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7. **Instruction Profiler** - Guides future optimization
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8. **Memory Management** - Important for production use
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9. **VM State Serialization** - Enables advanced use cases
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### Tier 4 (Future/Experimental):
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10. **Type Annotations** - Optional, doesn't break existing code
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11. **Streaming Bytecode** - Mostly useful for large programs
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12. **Async Iterators** - Specialized use case
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---
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## Design Principles
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These improvements focus on:
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- **Performance** (scope optimization, bytecode optimization)
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- **Developer Experience** (source maps, debugger, profiler)
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- **Scalability** (modules, standard library architecture)
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- **Production Readiness** (memory management, serialization)
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All ideas maintain ReefVM's core design philosophy of simplicity, orthogonality, and explicit behavior.
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