lyng/bytecode_migration_plan.md

Bytecode Migration Plan

Goal: migrate the compiler so all values live in frames/bytecode, keeping JVM tests green after each step.

Steps

• Step 1: Module/import slots seeded into module frame; bytecode module resolution works across closures.
• Step 2: Allow implicit/qualified this member refs to compile to bytecode.
  • Enable bytecode for ImplicitThisMethodCallRef, QualifiedThisMethodSlotCallRef, QualifiedThisFieldSlotRef.
  • Keep unsupported cases blocked: ClassScopeMemberRef, dynamic receivers, delegated members.
  • JVM tests must be green before commit.
• Step 3: Bytecode support for try/catch/finally.
  • Implement bytecode emission for try/catch and finally blocks.
  • Preserve existing error/stack semantics.
  • JVM tests must be green before commit.

Remaining Migration (prioritized)

• Step 4: Allow bytecode wrapping for supported declaration statements.
  • Enable DestructuringVarDeclStatement and ExtensionPropertyDeclStatement in containsUnsupportedForBytecode.
  • Keep JVM tests green before commit.
• Step 5: Enable bytecode for delegated var declarations.
  • Revisit containsDelegatedRefs guard for DelegatedVarDeclStatement.
  • Ensure delegate binding uses explicit Statement objects (no inline suspend lambdas).
• Step 6: Map literal spread in bytecode.
  • Replace MapLiteralEntry.Spread bytecode exception with runtime putAll/merge logic.
• Step 7: Class-scope member refs in bytecode.
  • Support ClassScopeMemberRef without scope-map fallback.
• Step 8: ObjDynamic member access in bytecode.
  • Allow dynamic receiver field/method lookup without falling back to interpreter.
• Step 9: Module-level bytecode execution.
  • Compile Script bodies to bytecode instead of interpreting at module scope.
  • Keep import/module slot seeding in frame-only flow.

Notes

• Keep imports bound to module frame slots; no scope map writes for imports.
• Avoid inline suspend lambdas in compiler hot paths; use explicit object : Statement().
• Do not reintroduce bytecode fallback opcodes; all symbol resolution remains compile-time only.