# it.1 — loop/recur additive — Implementation Plan

> **Parent spec:** `docs/specs/2026-05-15-iteration-discipline.md`
>
> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: use `skills/implement`
> to run this plan. Steps use `- [ ]` checkboxes for tracking.

**Goal:** Add `Term::Loop` / `Term::Recur` / `LoopBinder` as
first-class additive AST nodes — parse, print, prose, round-trip,
serde, schema-lockstep, typecheck (binder typing + recur
unification + recur-tail-position), and codegen (loop-header block
with one phi per binder; `recur` = back-edge `br`) — **without
removing or modifying anything that exists** (`tail-app`/`tail-do`
and the seven existing `block_terminated` sites stay exactly as
they are).

**Architecture:** Mirror the proven mut.1→mut.2→mut.3 shape. Task 1
lands the variants + every `match Term` walker arm (structural arms
real; the typecheck/codegen *dispatch* arms are `Internal` stubs) +
the serde/schema lockstep quintet, so `cargo test --workspace` is
green with `loop`/`recur` structurally present end-to-end but
semantically stubbed. Tasks 2–8 then layer surface parse, print,
prose, real typecheck, real codegen, and the test corpus, each
green at its own gate. `recur`↔`loop` arity/type unification lives
in `synth` via a `loop_stack: &mut Vec<Vec<Type>>` threaded exactly
as mut.2 threaded `mut_scope_stack`; `RecurNotInTailPosition` is the
only recur check in `verify_tail_positions`.

**Tech Stack:** `ailang-core` (ast/desugar/workspace/serde),
`ailang-check` (lib/lift/mono/linearity/uniqueness/reuse_shape/
pre_desugar_validation), `ailang-codegen` (lib/escape/lambda),
`ailang-surface` (parse/print), `ailang-prose`, `ail` (CLI dep
walker + rewrite_term), the schema/spec-drift + carve-out test
crates.

---

## Design decisions (Boss-resolved; not implementer judgement calls)

- **DD-1 — recur context placement.** Arity/type unification of a
  `Term::Recur`'s args against its lexically-enclosing `Term::Loop`
  binders lives in `synth`, threaded via a new
  `loop_stack: &mut Vec<Vec<Type>>` parameter added to `synth`
  immediately after the existing `mut_scope_stack` parameter, and
  propagated through every `synth` call site exactly as mut.2
  propagated `mut_scope_stack` (`lib.rs` recursive sites + `mono.rs`
  + `lift.rs` + `builtins.rs` test helpers + the mq.3 in-test helper
  at `lib.rs:6663`). `Term::Loop` pushes its binder type-vector
  (innermost = last); `Term::Recur` reads the innermost frame:
  empty stack ⇒ `RecurOutsideLoop`; length mismatch ⇒
  `RecurArityMismatch`; per-position unify failure ⇒
  `RecurTypeMismatch`. The **tail-position** rule for `recur` is the
  *only* recur concern handled in `verify_tail_positions`; its
  public signature `pub fn verify_tail_positions(t: &Term, is_tail:
  bool) -> Result<()>` is **unchanged** (it.3 reworks it) — loop-tail
  context is tracked internally as the walk descends (a `Term::Loop`
  arm recurses its body in a "recur-legal, recur-must-be-tail"
  context; a `Term::Recur` reached outside that tail context ⇒
  `RecurNotInTailPosition`).
- **DD-2 — `LoopBinder` derives.** Exactly
  `#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]`, mirroring
  `MutVar` (`ast.rs:564`); the type field carries
  `#[serde(rename = "type")]`. No `PartialEq`/`Eq` (codegen phi
  emission maps binder *name* → SSA; it never compares `LoopBinder`
  values).
- **DD-3 — stub-then-fill sequencing.** Task 1 makes the workspace
  compile and `cargo test --workspace` pass with the typecheck and
  codegen *dispatch* arms returning `CheckError::Internal` /
  `CodegenError::Internal` (same boundary device mut.1 used). Real
  typecheck lands in Task 6; real codegen in Task 7. No task between
  1 and 7 leaves the workspace non-compiling.

---

## Files this plan creates or modifies

**Create:**
- Test: `examples/loop_smoke.ail` — positive round-trip + parse/print fixture (single counted loop)
- Test: `examples/loop_nested_in_lambda.ail` — positive: a `loop` inside a lambda body + a nested loop (mut.3 lambda-boundary analogue)
- Test: `examples/loop_counter.ail` — e2e: accumulator counter, runs and prints `55`
- Test: `examples/test_recur_outside_loop.ail.json` — negative: `recur` with no enclosing `loop`
- Test: `examples/test_recur_arity_mismatch.ail.json` — negative: `recur` arg count ≠ binder count
- Test: `examples/test_recur_type_mismatch.ail.json` — negative: `recur` arg type ≠ binder type
- Test: `examples/test_recur_not_in_tail_position.ail.json` — negative: `recur` not in loop tail position
- Test: `crates/ailang-check/tests/loop_recur_pin.rs` — driver: typechecks the four negatives + the positive smoke

**Modify (line ranges from recon a7224502d6da018ec):**
- `crates/ailang-core/src/ast.rs:513–540` (variant block), `:554–581` (`MutVar`→`LoopBinder` template), `:894–949` (serde round-trip `mod tests`)
- `crates/ailang-core/tests/design_schema_drift.rs:140–175`
- `crates/ailang-core/tests/schema_coverage.rs` (VariantTag + EXPECTED_VARIANTS + visit_term)
- `crates/ailang-core/tests/spec_drift.rs` (2 exemplars + 2 arms)
- `docs/DESIGN.md:2394–2412` (§"Data model" jsonc, must stay inside `## Data model`…`## Pipeline`)
- `crates/ailang-core/src/desugar.rs` — 9 sites: `:349`,`:559`,`:1214`,`:1381`,`:1551`,`:1629`,`:1686`,`:1716`,`:2837`
- `crates/ailang-core/src/workspace.rs:1254`,`:1388`
- `crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs` — `:249` (type-rebuilder), `:2590` (`verify_tail_positions`), `:2613`/`:3593`/`Term::Mut@3614` (`synth`), `CheckError` enum `:660–680` + `code()` `:732` + `ctx()`/Display `:802`, `synth` call sites for `loop_stack`
- `crates/ailang-check/src/lift.rs:383`,`:760`; `mono.rs:1233`,`:1607`; `linearity.rs:601`,`:796`,`:929`; `uniqueness.rs:346`; `reuse_shape.rs:261`; `pre_desugar_validation.rs:129`
- `crates/ailang-codegen/src/lib.rs:1325` (`lower_term`), `:564`/`:3094` (`synth_with_extras`); `escape.rs:197`,`:389`,`:506`; `lambda.rs:478`,`:119–154`/`:248–260`
- `crates/ailang-prose/src/lib.rs:909`,`:1109`,`:1251`
- `crates/ail/src/main.rs:1520`,`:2754`
- `crates/ail/tests/codegen_import_map_fallback_pin.rs:62` (test-side exhaustive `Term` match — mut.1's plan missed this; do not miss again)
- `crates/ailang-surface/src/parse.rs:42–43`,`:69–72`,`:1212–1214`,`:1582–1643`,`:2504–2551`
- `crates/ailang-surface/src/print.rs:551–597`
- `crates/ailang-core/specs/form_a.md:283–286`,`:304–324`
- `crates/ailang-core/tests/carve_out_inventory.rs:23–40` (EXPECTED 13 → 17)

---

## Task 1: AST variants + every walker arm + serde/schema lockstep (stub-then-fill base)

**Files:** `crates/ailang-core/src/ast.rs`,
`crates/ailang-core/tests/design_schema_drift.rs`,
`crates/ailang-core/tests/schema_coverage.rs`,
`crates/ailang-core/tests/spec_drift.rs`, `docs/DESIGN.md`,
all walker files listed above,
`crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs` (stub arms only),
`crates/ailang-codegen/src/lib.rs` (stub arms only).

- [ ] **Step 1.1: Add the AST variants and `LoopBinder`.**

In `crates/ailang-core/src/ast.rs`, inside `pub enum Term` adjacent
to the `Term::Mut`/`Term::Assign` block (`:513–540`), add:

```rust
    /// Named loop head. The only repetition form besides structural
    /// recursion. Iter it.1. `recur` re-enters the lexically
    /// nearest enclosing `Loop`, rebinding `binders` positionally.
    Loop {
        binders: Vec<LoopBinder>,
        body: Box<Term>,
    },
    /// Backward jump to the lexically nearest enclosing `Loop`.
    /// Must be in tail position of that loop's body. Iter it.1.
    Recur {
        #[serde(default)]
        args: Vec<Term>,
    },
```

Immediately after the `MutVar` struct (`:554–581`), add:

```rust
/// One named, typed, initialised binder of a `Term::Loop`.
/// Mirrors `MutVar` exactly (DD-2): no `PartialEq` — codegen maps
/// the binder name to an SSA value, never compares binders.
#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
pub struct LoopBinder {
    pub name: String,
    #[serde(rename = "type")]
    pub ty: Type,
    pub init: Box<Term>,
}
```

- [ ] **Step 1.2: Run the build to enumerate every non-exhaustive `match Term`.**

Run: `cargo build --workspace 2>&1 | grep -E "pattern .* not covered|crates/" | head -60`
Expected: a list of `E0004` non-exhaustive-match errors at exactly
the walker sites enumerated in "Files this plan creates or
modifies". Use this list to drive Steps 1.3–1.5 (it must match the
recon site list; any extra site is a new arm to add with the same
rule).

- [ ] **Step 1.3: Add structural pass-through arms.**

At each site below, insert the arm immediately after the adjacent
`Term::Assign` arm, mirroring the recursion shape of the local
`Term::Mut` arm (recurse into children, rebuild the same variant;
visitors return the visitor's unit/bool fold; rebuilders return
`Term::Loop`/`Term::Recur` reconstructed). The exact arm for a
*rebuilder* (returns `Term`):

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => Term::Loop {
    binders: binders.iter().map(|b| LoopBinder {
        name: b.name.clone(),
        ty: b.ty.clone(),
        init: Box::new(rebuild(&b.init)),
    }).collect(),
    body: Box::new(rebuild(body)),
},
Term::Recur { args } => Term::Recur {
    args: args.iter().map(|a| rebuild(a)).collect(),
},
```

(Replace `rebuild` with the local recursive call name at the site.)
The exact arm for a *visitor* (returns `()` / `bool` / accumulates):

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
    for b in binders { visit(&b.init); }
    visit(body);
}
Term::Recur { args } => { for a in args { visit(a); } }
```

Structural-pass-through sites (visitor or plain rebuild, no binding
semantics): `desugar.rs:349`, `:559`, `:1214`, `:1381`, `:1551`,
`:1686`, `:1716`, `:2837`; `workspace.rs:1388`;
`lift.rs:760`; `mono.rs:1233`, `:1607`;
`uniqueness.rs:346`; `reuse_shape.rs:261`;
`pre_desugar_validation.rs:129`; `main.rs:1520`;
`codegen_import_map_fallback_pin.rs:62`;
`crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs:249` (type-rebuilder — rebuild each
`LoopBinder.ty` via the local type-rebuild fn);
`lift.rs:383` (rebuilder).

- [ ] **Step 1.4: Add the binding-aware / type-embedding arms (substantive).**

These arms are NOT pass-through — a `Term::Loop` *binds* its
binder names and *embeds* the binder types:

`crates/ailang-core/src/desugar.rs:1629` — `free_vars_in_term`
(load-bearing: feeds `MutVarCapturedByLambda`). Loop binder names
are bound; recur args are uses:

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
    let mut inner = free_vars_in_term(body);
    for b in binders {
        out.extend(free_vars_in_term(&b.init));
        inner.remove(&b.name);
    }
    out.extend(inner);
}
Term::Recur { args } => {
    for a in args { out.extend(free_vars_in_term(a)); }
}
```

(Adapt to the site's exact accumulator/return convention — match
the local `Term::Mut` arm's free/bound treatment of `MutVar.name`.)

`crates/ailang-codegen/src/lambda.rs:478` — `collect_captures`
(loop-inside-lambda soundness). Loop binder names are NOT captures
inside the loop body; recur args ARE uses. Mirror the
`Term::Mut`-binds-`var`-names treatment at `lambda.rs:482`.

`crates/ailang-prose/src/lib.rs:1109` — `count_free_var`: loop
binders bind (subtract), recur args count as uses. Mirror the
`Term::Mut` arm at `:1113`.

`crates/ailang-core/src/workspace.rs:1254` —
`walk_term_embedded_types`: each `LoopBinder.ty` is an embedded
type, walked exactly as `MutVar.ty` at `:1254–1260`; recur has no
embedded type.

`crates/ail/src/main.rs:2754` — `rewrite_term`: rewrite each
`LoopBinder.ty` (mirror the `MutVar.ty` rewrite at `:2754`); recur
args structural.

`crates/ailang-check/src/linearity.rs:601`,`:929` — binder inits
consume, body uses; recur args consume. Mirror the local
`Term::Mut`/`MutVar.init` linearity treatment.
`crates/ailang-codegen/src/escape.rs:197`,`:389`,`:506` — binder
inits + body escape-walk; recur args escape-walk. Mirror the local
`Term::Mut` escape arm.

- [ ] **Step 1.5: Add the variant-name string emitters.**

At `crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs:3593` (the `Term::Mut => "mut"`
sub-match), `crates/ailang-check/src/linearity.rs:796`, and any
other `Term::Mut => "mut"`/`Term::Assign => "assign"` string mapping
the build flags, add `Term::Loop { .. } => "loop"` and
`Term::Recur { .. } => "recur"`.

- [ ] **Step 1.6: Add the typecheck + codegen DISPATCH STUBS (DD-3).**

`crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs` `synth` (`match t` at `:2613`,
adjacent to `Term::Mut` arm `:3614`):

```rust
Term::Loop { .. } | Term::Recur { .. } => Err(CheckError::Internal {
    msg: "Term::Loop/Recur typecheck lands in it.1 Task 6".into(),
}),
```

`crates/ailang-codegen/src/lib.rs` `lower_term` (`match t` at
`:1326`, adjacent to `Term::Mut` arm `:1762`):

```rust
Term::Loop { .. } | Term::Recur { .. } => Err(CodegenError::Internal(
    "Term::Loop/Recur codegen lands in it.1 Task 7".into(),
)),
```

`crates/ailang-codegen/src/lib.rs` `synth_with_extras` (`match t`
at `:564`, adjacent to `Term::Mut` arm `:3094`):

```rust
Term::Loop { binders: _, body } => self.synth_with_extras(body, extras),
Term::Recur { .. } => Ok(Type::unit()),
```

(Use the *exact* `CheckError::Internal` / `CodegenError::Internal`
constructor shapes the recon-named adjacent arms use — copy the
`Term::Mut` mut.1-era stub form verbatim, only changing the message.)

- [ ] **Step 1.7: Serde round-trip unit tests.**

In `crates/ailang-core/src/ast.rs` `#[cfg(test)] mod tests`
(`:894–949`), beside the existing `Term::Mut`/`Assign` tests, add:

```rust
#[test]
fn term_loop_round_trips_through_json() {
    let t = Term::Loop {
        binders: vec![LoopBinder {
            name: "i".into(),
            ty: Type::con("Int"),
            init: Box::new(Term::Lit(Lit::Int(0))),
        }],
        body: Box::new(Term::Recur {
            args: vec![Term::Var { name: "i".into() }],
        }),
    };
    let j = serde_json::to_string(&t).unwrap();
    assert!(j.contains(r#""t":"loop""#));
    assert!(j.contains(r#""type":"#)); // LoopBinder.ty serde rename
    let back: Term = serde_json::from_str(&j).unwrap();
    assert_eq!(serde_json::to_string(&back).unwrap(), j);
}

#[test]
fn term_recur_empty_args_round_trips() {
    let t = Term::Recur { args: vec![] };
    let j = serde_json::to_string(&t).unwrap();
    let back: Term = serde_json::from_str(&j).unwrap();
    assert_eq!(serde_json::to_string(&back).unwrap(), j);
}
```

(Match the exact `Type::con` / `Lit` / `Term::Var` constructors the
neighbouring `term_assign_round_trips_through_json` test uses; if a
constructor name differs, copy the neighbour's verbatim.)

- [ ] **Step 1.8: Schema-drift exemplars + variant→tag arms.**

`crates/ailang-core/tests/design_schema_drift.rs`: in the exemplar
tuple list (`:140–153`), after the `assign` exemplar, add tuples for
`Term::Loop` (a minimal `Loop{binders:vec![],body:Box::new(unit)}`,
tag `"loop"`) and `Term::Recur` (`Recur{args:vec![]}`, tag
`"recur"`), mirroring the `mut`/`assign` tuple shape. In the
exhaustive variant→tag match (`:160–175`), after
`Term::Assign => "assign"` (`:174`), add
`Term::Loop { .. } => "loop"`, `Term::Recur { .. } => "recur"`.

- [ ] **Step 1.9: DESIGN.md §"Data model" jsonc entries (in-range).**

In `docs/DESIGN.md`, between the `{ "t": "assign", … }` entry
(`:2410–2412`) and the next entry — guaranteed to stay inside the
`## Data model` (`:2249`) … `## Pipeline` (`:2490`) slice the drift
test scans — add:

```jsonc
{ "t": "loop", "binders": [{ "name": "<id>", "type": <Type>, "init": <Term> }], "body": <Term> }
// Named loop. recur re-enters the nearest enclosing loop. Iter it.1.
{ "t": "recur", "args": [<Term>] }
// Backward jump; tail-position-only; binds the enclosing loop. Iter it.1.
```

Also add a one-line status note paragraph mirroring the mut.3
status note at `:2419–2426`: "`loop`/`recur` are additive as of
it.1; structural-recursion restriction and the `Diverge` effect
land in it.2; `tail-app`/`tail-do` are retired in it.3."

- [ ] **Step 1.10: schema_coverage + spec_drift lockstep.**

`crates/ailang-core/tests/schema_coverage.rs`: add
`VariantTag::TermLoop`, `VariantTag::TermRecur`; extend
`EXPECTED_VARIANTS`; add the two `visit_term` arms (structural
recurse, same shape as the `TermMut`/`TermAssign` arms mut.1 added).
`crates/ailang-core/tests/spec_drift.rs`: add the 2 exemplars + 2
match arms analogous to mut.1's `mut`/`assign` additions.

- [ ] **Step 1.11: Build + full test gate.**

Run: `cargo build --workspace`
Expected: clean (0 errors).

Run: `cargo test --workspace 2>&1 | tail -5`
Expected: all green. Test count rises by the new serde tests (+2)
and the schema/spec-drift additions. No test regresses.
`schema_coverage` passes only after a corpus fixture observes
`loop`/`recur` — if it fails "variant never observed", that is
expected to remain RED until Task 3 lands `examples/loop_smoke.ail`;
record the failing test name and proceed (Task 3 closes it). Every
OTHER test must be green here.

---

## Task 2: Form-A parse (`parse_loop` / `parse_recur`)

**Files:** `crates/ailang-surface/src/parse.rs`,
`crates/ailang-core/specs/form_a.md`.

- [ ] **Step 2.1: RED — parser pin tests.**

In `crates/ailang-surface/src/parse.rs` test module (beside the
`(mut …)` pins at `:2504–2551`):

```rust
#[test]
fn parses_loop_with_one_binder_and_recur_body() {
    let src = "(loop ((var i Int 0)) (recur i))";
    let t = parse_term_str(src).expect("loop parses");
    match t {
        Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
            assert_eq!(binders.len(), 1);
            assert_eq!(binders[0].name, "i");
            assert!(matches!(*body, Term::Recur { .. }));
        }
        other => panic!("expected Term::Loop, got {other:?}"),
    }
}

#[test]
fn parses_recur_zero_args() {
    let t = parse_term_str("(recur)").expect("recur parses");
    assert!(matches!(t, Term::Recur { args } if args.is_empty()));
}
```

(Use the exact test-harness entry the neighbouring `(mut …)` pin
uses — copy its `parse_term_str`/equivalent helper name verbatim.)

- [ ] **Step 2.2: Run RED.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-surface parses_loop_with_one_binder_and_recur_body parses_recur_zero_args`
Expected: FAIL — `loop`/`recur` fall through the head dispatch to
the "unknown head" / generic-app error.

- [ ] **Step 2.3: Dispatch + `parse_loop` + `parse_recur`.**

In `parse.rs`, in the head-keyword dispatch match (`:1212–1214`,
after the `"assign"` arm), add:

```rust
"loop" => self.parse_loop(items)?,
"recur" => self.parse_recur(items)?,
```

Add the keyword strings to the head-keyword list used for the
"unknown head" error message (same list `mut`/`assign` are in,
recon `:1212–1214` region). Then, modelled on `parse_mut`
(`:1582–1625`) and `parse_assign` (`:1633–1643`):

```rust
fn parse_loop(&mut self, items: &[Sexp]) -> Result<Term, ParseError> {
    // items[0] == "loop". items[1] == binder list ((var n T init)...).
    // items[2..] == body terms, right-folded into Term::Seq (mirror
    // parse_mut's body fold at parse.rs:1600-1620 exactly).
    let binder_list = items.get(1).ok_or_else(|| self.err("loop: missing binder list"))?;
    let binders = self.parse_loop_binders(binder_list)?;
    let body = self.parse_body_seq(&items[2..])?; // same helper parse_mut uses
    Ok(Term::Loop { binders, body: Box::new(body) })
}

fn parse_loop_binders(&mut self, list: &Sexp) -> Result<Vec<LoopBinder>, ParseError> {
    // Each entry: (var <name> <Type> <init>) — IDENTICAL shape to
    // the MutVar pull in parse_mut at parse.rs:1588-1597. Reuse that
    // parsing inline, constructing LoopBinder instead of MutVar.
    // ... (copy parse_mut's per-(var ...) decode verbatim, swap the
    //      constructed struct from MutVar to LoopBinder)
}

fn parse_recur(&mut self, items: &[Sexp]) -> Result<Term, ParseError> {
    let args = items[1..].iter().map(|s| self.parse_term(s)).collect::<Result<_,_>>()?;
    Ok(Term::Recur { args })
}
```

(The `parse_body_seq` / per-`(var …)` decode helpers MUST be the
exact ones `parse_mut` calls — recon `parse.rs:1582–1625`; do not
introduce a new body-folding helper.)

- [ ] **Step 2.4: EBNF doc + form_a.md.**

In `parse.rs` module-doc EBNF: `:42–43` add `| loop-term |
recur-term` to the `term` production; `:69–72` add productions:

```
   loop-term   ::= "(" "loop" "(" loop-binder* ")" term+ ")"
   loop-binder ::= "(" "var" IDENT type term ")"
   recur-term  ::= "(" "recur" term* ")"
```

In `crates/ailang-core/specs/form_a.md`: `:283–286` add `loop` /
`recur` to the §Terms production list; `:304–324` add a prose block
mirroring the `mut`/`var`/`assign` block: `loop` introduces named
binders; `recur` re-enters the lexically nearest enclosing `loop`,
must be in tail position, arity/type must match the binders;
diagnostics `recur-outside-loop`, `recur-arity-mismatch`,
`recur-type-mismatch`, `recur-not-in-tail-position`.

- [ ] **Step 2.5: Run GREEN.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-surface parses_loop_with_one_binder_and_recur_body parses_recur_zero_args`
Expected: PASS.

---

## Task 3: Form-A print + positive round-trip fixture

**Files:** `crates/ailang-surface/src/print.rs`,
`examples/loop_smoke.ail`, `examples/loop_nested_in_lambda.ail`.

- [ ] **Step 3.1: Print arms.**

In `print.rs`, after the `Term::Assign` arm (`:586–596`, before the
match close `:597`), add — mirroring the `Term::Mut` Seq-spine
walk at `:551–585`:

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
    write!(w, "(loop (")?;
    for (k, b) in binders.iter().enumerate() {
        if k > 0 { write!(w, " ")?; }
        write!(w, "(var {} ", b.name)?;
        write_type(w, &b.ty)?;
        write!(w, " ")?;
        write_term(w, &b.init)?;
        write!(w, ")")?;
    }
    write!(w, ") ")?;
    // body is a Term::Seq right-spine when multi-term; walk it the
    // SAME way the Term::Mut arm walks its body spine (print.rs:551-585)
    write_seq_spine(w, body)?;
    write!(w, ")")
}
Term::Recur { args } => {
    write!(w, "(recur")?;
    for a in args { write!(w, " ")?; write_term(w, a)?; }
    write!(w, ")")
}
```

(`write_type` / `write_term` / the seq-spine helper MUST be the
exact identifiers the `Term::Mut` arm uses at `:551–585`.)

- [ ] **Step 3.2: Positive fixtures.**

`examples/loop_smoke.ail`:

```
(module loop_smoke
  (fn count_to : Int -> Int (n)
    (loop ((var i Int 0))
      (if (app eq i n) i (recur (app add i 1))))))
```

`examples/loop_nested_in_lambda.ail` — a `loop` inside a lambda
body plus a nested loop (mut.3 lambda-boundary analogue):

```
(module loop_nested_in_lambda
  (fn make_adder : Int -> (Int -> Int) (base)
    (lam (x : Int)
      (loop ((var acc Int base) (var k Int 0))
        (if (app eq k x) acc (recur (app add acc 1) (app add k 1)))))))
```

(Use the exact head-keyword/prelude call spellings the existing
`examples/mut_counter.ail` fixture uses for `if`/`eq`/`add`/`lam` —
read that file and match its surface forms verbatim so the fixture
parses against the real prelude. If a prelude function name
differs, copy `mut_counter.ail`'s spelling.)

- [ ] **Step 3.3: Round-trip + schema-coverage GREEN.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-surface parse_then_print_then_parse_is_idempotent_on_every_ail_fixture parse_is_deterministic_over_every_ail_fixture`
Expected: PASS (the new `examples/loop_*.ail` are auto-discovered;
parse→print→parse is byte-idempotent).

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-core schema_coverage`
Expected: PASS — `loop`/`recur` are now observed in the corpus,
closing the Task 1.11 deferred RED.

---

## Task 4: Prose projection lockstep

**Files:** `crates/ailang-prose/src/lib.rs`.

- [ ] **Step 4.1: RED — prose round-trip pin.**

Add beside the existing prose snapshot tests a test that renders
`examples/loop_smoke.ail`'s parsed AST to prose and back, asserting
AST equality (mirror the nearest existing prose round-trip test's
harness verbatim).

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-prose <new test name>`
Expected: FAIL (the `:909` render walker hits the stub/`todo` arm
or mis-renders).

- [ ] **Step 4.2: Render + free-var + subst arms.**

`crates/ailang-prose/src/lib.rs:909` — real render arms for
`Term::Loop` (binder list + body) / `Term::Recur` (args), mirroring
the `Term::Mut`/`Assign` render at `:909–933`. `:1109` —
`count_free_var`: loop binders bind (done in Task 1.4 if this file
built; confirm the arm is the binding-aware one, not pass-through).
`:1251` — `subst_var_with_term` rebuilder: reconstruct
`Term::Loop` rebuilding each `LoopBinder` (mirror the `MutVar`
reconstruction at `:1253–1276`), `Term::Recur` rebuilding args.

- [ ] **Step 4.3: GREEN.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-prose`
Expected: PASS (all prose tests, including the new round-trip pin).

---

## Task 5: Real typecheck — binder typing, recur unification, loop_stack (DD-1)

**Files:** `crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs`, all `synth` call
sites that thread `mut_scope_stack`.

- [ ] **Step 5.1: RED — positive typecheck + four negatives.**

Create the four negative `.ail.json` fixtures and the positive
check via `crates/ailang-check/tests/loop_recur_pin.rs`:

```rust
// recur_outside_loop.ail.json: (recur 1) at fn-body top level
// recur_arity_mismatch.ail.json: (loop ((var i Int 0)) (recur 1 2))
// recur_type_mismatch.ail.json: (loop ((var i Int 0)) (recur true))
// recur_not_in_tail_position.ail.json:
//   (loop ((var i Int 0)) (do (recur i) 0))   // recur not in tail pos
#[test]
fn loop_smoke_typechecks_clean() {
    assert!(check_ok("examples/loop_smoke.ail"));
}
#[test]
fn recur_outside_loop_is_rejected() {
    assert_eq!(check_err_code("examples/test_recur_outside_loop.ail.json"),
               "recur-outside-loop");
}
// ...arity-mismatch -> "recur-arity-mismatch",
//    type-mismatch  -> "recur-type-mismatch",
//    not-in-tail-pos -> "recur-not-in-tail-position"
```

(Use the exact fixture-loading + code-extraction helpers
`crates/ailang-check/tests/mut_typecheck_pin.rs` uses — copy that
driver's helpers verbatim.)

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-check --test loop_recur_pin`
Expected: FAIL — `loop_smoke` errors with the Task 1.6 stub
`Internal("…typecheck lands in it.1 Task 6")`; the four negatives
also hit the stub (wrong code).

- [ ] **Step 5.2: Add the four `CheckError` variants.**

In `crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs` `CheckError` enum, beside
`MutVarCapturedByLambda` (`:680`), add (Display body **without** an
embedded `[code]` prefix — the CLI formatter prepends it; 2026-05-15
F2 convention):

```rust
#[error("recur outside of any enclosing loop")]
RecurOutsideLoop { span: Option<Span> },
#[error("recur passes {got} argument(s) but the enclosing loop binds {want}")]
RecurArityMismatch { got: usize, want: usize, span: Option<Span> },
#[error("recur argument {pos} has type {got} but loop binder `{name}` is {want}")]
RecurTypeMismatch { pos: usize, name: String, got: String, want: String, span: Option<Span> },
#[error("recur must be in tail position of its enclosing loop")]
RecurNotInTailPosition { span: Option<Span> },
```

Add the matching `code()` arms beside `:732` (`"recur-outside-loop"`,
`"recur-arity-mismatch"`, `"recur-type-mismatch"`,
`"recur-not-in-tail-position"`) and `ctx()` arms beside `:802`
(mirror the `MutAssignOutOfScope` ctx shape). Add the four code
strings to the diagnostic-doc list in
`crates/ailang-check/src/diagnostic.rs` (same list the mut codes
were added to).

- [ ] **Step 5.3: Thread `loop_stack` through `synth` (DD-1).**

Change `synth`'s signature to add, immediately after the
`mut_scope_stack: &mut Vec<IndexMap<String, Type>>` parameter:

```rust
loop_stack: &mut Vec<Vec<Type>>,
```

Propagate it through **every** recursive `synth` call and every
external call site exactly where `mut_scope_stack` is already
passed: all `lib.rs` recursive sites, `mono.rs:712`/`:1337`,
`lift.rs:723`, the `builtins.rs` test helpers, and the mq.3 in-test
helper at `lib.rs:6663`. (Grep `mut_scope_stack` to get the exact
site set; `loop_stack` goes through the identical set — this is the
mut.2 dev-dep-cycle-aware pattern; integration tests call across the
edge, in-source `#[cfg(test)]` cannot.)

- [ ] **Step 5.4: Real `Term::Loop` / `Term::Recur` typing arms.**

Replace the Task 1.6 stub arm in `synth` (`:3614` region) with:

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
    let mut binder_tys = Vec::with_capacity(binders.len());
    let mut frame = IndexMap::new();
    for b in binders {
        let init_ty = self.synth(&b.init, env, locals, mut_scope_stack, loop_stack, /*…existing args…*/)?;
        self.unify(&init_ty, &b.ty).map_err(|_| CheckError::AssignTypeMismatch { /* reuse shape: init vs declared */ })?;
        frame.insert(b.name.clone(), b.ty.clone());
        binder_tys.push(b.ty.clone());
    }
    loop_stack.push(binder_tys);
    locals.push(frame); // same frame mechanism Term::Mut uses
    let body_ty = self.synth(body, env, locals, mut_scope_stack, loop_stack, /*…*/)?;
    locals.pop();
    loop_stack.pop();
    Ok(body_ty)
}
Term::Recur { args } => {
    let want = loop_stack.last().cloned()
        .ok_or(CheckError::RecurOutsideLoop { span: None })?;
    if args.len() != want.len() {
        return Err(CheckError::RecurArityMismatch {
            got: args.len(), want: want.len(), span: None });
    }
    for (i, (a, wt)) in args.iter().zip(want.iter()).enumerate() {
        let at = self.synth(a, env, locals, mut_scope_stack, loop_stack, /*…*/)?;
        if self.unify(&at, wt).is_err() {
            return Err(CheckError::RecurTypeMismatch {
                pos: i, name: format!("#{i}"),
                got: type_display(&at), want: type_display(wt), span: None });
        }
    }
    Ok(Type::never()) // recur does not fall through; bottom unifies anywhere
}
```

(Match the EXACT `self.synth(...)` argument list of the neighbouring
`Term::Mut` arm — copy its call shape, only adding `loop_stack`.
Use the project's existing bottom/never type constructor; if none
exists, return the innermost loop's body type sentinel the way the
`Term::Mut` arm returns its body type — pick `Type::unit()` only if
the codebase has no bottom; record which in the journal. Use the
real `unify` / `type_display` identifiers from the neighbouring
arms.)

- [ ] **Step 5.5: `verify_tail_positions` recur-tail arms (DD-1).**

In `crates/ailang-check/src/lib.rs:2590` `verify_tail_positions`
(signature unchanged), add arms — modelled on the existing
`Term::Mut` arm at `:2672–2677`:

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
    for b in binders { verify_tail_positions(&b.init, false)?; }
    // recur is legal and must be tail INSIDE this body:
    verify_loop_body(body)?; // new private helper, below
}
Term::Recur { .. } => {
    // Reached here only OUTSIDE a loop body's tail context
    // (verify_loop_body intercepts the in-tail ones). Either no
    // enclosing loop (synth already flags RecurOutsideLoop) or
    // non-tail position:
    return Err(CheckError::RecurNotInTailPosition { span: None });
}
```

Add the private helper next to `verify_tail_positions`:

```rust
fn verify_loop_body(t: &Term) -> Result<(), CheckError> {
    match t {
        Term::Recur { .. } => Ok(()), // tail position: OK
        Term::If { cond, then, els } => {
            verify_tail_positions(cond, false)?;
            verify_loop_body(then)?; verify_loop_body(els)
        }
        Term::Seq(items) => {
            // only the last item is in tail position
            for it in &items[..items.len().saturating_sub(1)] {
                verify_tail_positions(it, false)?;
            }
            if let Some(last) = items.last() { verify_loop_body(last)?; }
            Ok(())
        }
        Term::Match { scrutinee, arms } => {
            verify_tail_positions(scrutinee, false)?;
            for a in arms { verify_loop_body(&a.body)?; }
            Ok(())
        }
        Term::Let { value, body, .. } => {
            verify_tail_positions(value, false)?;
            verify_loop_body(body)
        }
        Term::Loop { .. } => verify_tail_positions(t, true), // inner loop: its own recur scope
        other => verify_tail_positions(other, true),
    }
}
```

(Mirror the EXACT child-arm names the existing `verify_tail_positions`
`Term::If`/`Term::Seq`/`Term::Match`/`Term::Let` arms use at
`:2590–2682` — copy their destructuring shapes verbatim; the only
new behaviour is "a `Recur` in tail context is OK, anywhere else is
`RecurNotInTailPosition`".)

- [ ] **Step 5.6: GREEN.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-check --test loop_recur_pin`
Expected: PASS — `loop_smoke` typechecks; the four negatives each
return their exact code.

Run: `cargo test --workspace 2>&1 | tail -3`
Expected: all green (the `loop_stack` threading touched many call
sites; no regression).

---

## Task 6: Carve-out inventory + check the corpus still classifies

**Files:** `crates/ailang-core/tests/carve_out_inventory.rs`.

- [ ] **Step 6.1: Extend EXPECTED.**

In `carve_out_inventory.rs:23–40` `const EXPECTED`, add the four
new negative fixtures (`test_recur_outside_loop.ail.json`,
`test_recur_arity_mismatch.ail.json`,
`test_recur_type_mismatch.ail.json`,
`test_recur_not_in_tail_position.ail.json`), count 13 → 17,
preserving alphabetical order if the const is sorted.

- [ ] **Step 6.2: GREEN.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ailang-core carve_out_inventory`
Expected: PASS (inventory matches the `.ail.json`-only set).

---

## Task 7: Real codegen — loop-header + phi, recur back-edge, lambda boundary

**Files:** `crates/ailang-codegen/src/lib.rs`,
`crates/ailang-codegen/src/lambda.rs`, `examples/loop_counter.ail`.

- [ ] **Step 7.1: RED — e2e fixture.**

`examples/loop_counter.ail` (sum 1..10 via an accumulator loop;
equivalent tail-rec helper prints `55`):

```
(module loop_counter
  (fn main : () -> () !IO ()
    (app print
      (loop ((var acc Int 0) (var i Int 1))
        (if (app gt i 10)
            acc
            (recur (app add acc i) (app add i 1)))))))
```

(Match `examples/mut_counter.ail`'s exact `print`/`gt`/`add`
spellings + module/fn header form verbatim — read it first.)

Add an e2e assertion (mirror the `mut_counter` e2e in
`crates/ail/tests/e2e.rs`):

```rust
#[test]
fn loop_counter_runs_and_prints_55() {
    assert_eq!(run_example("examples/loop_counter.ail").trim(), "55");
}
```

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ail --test e2e loop_counter_runs_and_prints_55`
Expected: FAIL — codegen hits the Task 1.6 stub
`CodegenError::Internal("…codegen lands in it.1 Task 7")`.

- [ ] **Step 7.2: `Term::Loop` lowering — header block + phi.**

Replace the Task 1.6 `lower_term` stub (`:1326` match, `Term::Mut`
neighbour `:1762`) with:

```rust
Term::Loop { binders, body } => {
    // 1. lower each binder init in the CURRENT block
    let mut init_ssa = Vec::with_capacity(binders.len());
    for b in binders {
        let (v, ty) = self.lower_term(&b.init, /*…existing args…*/)?;
        init_ssa.push((b.name.clone(), b.ty.clone(), v, ty));
    }
    let pred = self.current_block_label();
    let header = self.fresh_label("loop.header");
    self.emit(&format!("  br label %{header}\n"));
    self.start_block(&header);
    // 2. one phi per binder; record the SSA name so Term::Var
    //    inside the body resolves to the phi, and Term::Recur
    //    knows the back-edge incoming list. Reuse the
    //    mut_var_allocas-style name->ssa map (a parallel
    //    loop_binder_phis: Vec<(String, phi_ssa, llvm_ty)> on a
    //    per-loop save stack mirroring mut.3's save/restore).
    let mut phis = Vec::new();
    for (name, decl_ty, iv, _) in &init_ssa {
        let p = self.fresh_ssa();
        let lty = self.llvm_ty(decl_ty);
        // back-edge incomings are patched after the body is lowered
        self.emit(&format!("  {p} = phi {lty} [ {iv}, %{pred} ] ; +recur edges\n"));
        phis.push((name.clone(), p, lty, decl_ty.clone()));
    }
    self.push_loop_frame(header.clone(), phis.clone()); // name->phi + header label
    let (body_v, body_ty) = self.lower_term(body, /*…*/)?;
    let recur_edges = self.pop_loop_frame(); // Vec<(pred_label, Vec<arg_ssa>)>
    // 3. patch each phi's incoming list with the collected recur edges
    self.patch_loop_phis(&header, &phis, &recur_edges);
    // 4. the loop's value is the body value on the non-recur exit
    Ok((body_v, body_ty))
}
Term::Recur { args } => {
    let frame = self.current_loop_frame()
        .expect("Term::Recur without loop frame — typecheck guarantees this");
    let mut arg_ssa = Vec::with_capacity(args.len());
    for a in args {
        let (v, _) = self.lower_term(a, /*…*/)?;
        arg_ssa.push(v);
    }
    let from = self.current_block_label();
    self.record_recur_edge(from.clone(), arg_ssa);   // for phi patching
    self.emit(&format!("  br label %{}\n", frame.header));
    self.block_terminated = true;                    // NEW seam (additive)
    Ok((self.unit_ssa(), Type::unit()))
}
```

Add the minimal helper surface used above next to the
`mut_var_allocas`/`pending_entry_allocas` fields (`:725–737`),
mirroring their lifecycle: `loop_frames: Vec<LoopFrame>` where
`LoopFrame { header: String, phis: Vec<(String,String,String,Type)>,
recur_edges: Vec<(String, Vec<String>)> }`; `push_loop_frame` /
`pop_loop_frame` / `current_loop_frame` / `record_recur_edge` /
`patch_loop_phis` / `current_block_label` / `start_block` /
`fresh_label`. Where an equivalent already exists (e.g. a
fresh-label or current-block helper), REUSE it — grep before adding.
`Term::Var` resolution must consult the innermost `loop_frames`
phi map *before* the `mut_var_allocas` load path (a binder name
shadows like a mut var), exactly as mut.3 prepended the mut-var
lookup in the `Term::Var` arm.

**Do not modify** any of the seven existing
`block_terminated = true` sites (`:1377,:1601,:2271,:2352,:2493,
:2565,:2657`) or the `tail`-driven `emit_call`/`emit_indirect_call`/
`lower_effect_op` paths — recur's `block_terminated = true` is a new
parallel setter (spec it.1 additive constraint).

- [ ] **Step 7.3: Lambda boundary (loop-inside-lambda).**

In `crates/ailang-codegen/src/lambda.rs`, the save/restore block
(`:119–154` save, `:248–260` restore) that already saves
`block_terminated`/`mut_var_allocas`/`pending_entry_allocas`/
`entry_block_end_marker` across the closure boundary: add
`loop_frames` to the saved+reset+restored set so a `loop` inside a
lambda body scopes its header/phis to the closure's own entry, not
the outer fn's (exact mut.3 analogue — mirror the lines that handle
`mut_var_allocas` at `:144`/`:252`).

- [ ] **Step 7.4: GREEN.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace -p ail --test e2e loop_counter_runs_and_prints_55`
Expected: PASS (prints `55`).

Run: `ail run examples/loop_nested_in_lambda.ail` (build first if
needed) — Expected: builds and runs without codegen error
(loop-inside-lambda lowers to the closure's own header).

- [ ] **Step 7.5: Full workspace gate.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace 2>&1 | tail -3`
Expected: all green. `tail-app` fixtures still build+run unchanged
(no existing codegen path was modified).

---

## Task 8: tail-app coexistence proof + IR snapshots

**Files:** IR snapshot fixtures if any new unconditional declare
line was added (none expected — loop adds no extern); the existing
`tail-app` corpus.

- [ ] **Step 8.1: Prove `tail-app` is untouched.**

Run: `ail run examples/bench_compute_intsum.ail` and
`ail run examples/list_map_poly.ail`
Expected: byte-identical stdout to pre-it.1 (these are `tail-app`
fixtures; it.1 must not perturb them).

- [ ] **Step 8.2: IR snapshot check.**

Run: `cargo test --workspace 2>&1 | grep -iE "snapshot|\.ll" | tail`
Expected: no IR-snapshot test regressed. If one did, it means an
unconditional IR-header line changed — investigate; loop codegen
should add none (no new extern). Do NOT blanket-regen snapshots;
the expectation is zero snapshot drift in it.1.

- [ ] **Step 8.3: Acceptance gate (spec it.1 acceptance criteria).**

Run: `cargo test --workspace 2>&1 | tail -3`
Expected: all green.

Verify each spec it.1 acceptance bullet:
- `examples/loop_counter.ail` builds + prints `55` ✓ (Task 7.4)
- `loop`/`recur` round-trips, JSON-AST hashable ✓ (Tasks 1.7, 3.3)
- all five `Recur*` diagnostics fire on negatives — note: only
  **four** `Recur*` variants exist in it.1
  (`RecurOutsideLoop`/`RecurArityMismatch`/`RecurTypeMismatch`/
  `RecurNotInTailPosition`); the spec's "five" counts
  `NonStructuralRecursion`, which is **it.2**, not it.1. The it.1
  gate is the four `Recur*` (Task 5.6) ✓
- `tail-app` still works unchanged ✓ (Task 8.1)
- `cargo test --workspace` green ✓

---

## Self-review (planner Step 5)

1. **Spec coverage.** Spec §Components it.1 bullets → tasks: AST+serde
   → T1.1/1.7; schema-drift+DESIGN+coverage → T1.8–1.10; Form-A
   parse → T2; print → T3.1; round-trip fixture → T3.2/3.3; prose
   → T4; check (binder typing + recur unify + tail-pos) + 4
   diagnostics → T5; codegen loop-header/phi + recur + escape +
   lambda → T7; e2e loop_counter → T7.1/7.4; ~25 walker arms → T1.3–
   1.5; carve-out → T6. All it.1 spec sections covered. it.2/it.3
   explicitly excluded (Task 8.3 calls out the spec's "five
   diagnostics" wording counting an it.2 variant — resolved as
   "four in it.1", not a placeholder).
2. **Placeholder scan.** No "TBD/TODO/implement later/similar to
   Task N/add appropriate error handling". The structural-arm
   template + enumerated site list is literal code + literal
   locations, not a placeholder. The "copy the neighbouring
   `Term::Mut` arm verbatim, swapping the constructed struct"
   instructions are exact transformations of named, line-located
   existing code — executable without judgement.
3. **Type/name consistency.** `Term::Loop`/`Term::Recur`/
   `LoopBinder`, `loop_stack: &mut Vec<Vec<Type>>`, the four codes
   `recur-outside-loop`/`recur-arity-mismatch`/`recur-type-mismatch`/
   `recur-not-in-tail-position`, `examples/loop_smoke.ail`/
   `loop_counter.ail`/`loop_nested_in_lambda.ail`,
   `loop_recur_pin.rs` — used consistently across all tasks.
4. **Step granularity.** Each step is one action (add arms at
   enumerated sites / run one command / write one code block) in
   the 2–5-minute band. The largest, T1.3–1.5, is bounded by the
   recon site list and a fixed per-site template.
5. **No commit steps.** None present. Work stays in the working
   tree; the Boss commits the whole it.1 diff at iter end.

Open risk recorded for the implementer (not a placeholder — a named
fallback with a decision rule): if the codebase has no bottom/never
`Type` constructor for `Term::Recur`'s synth result (Step 5.4),
use `Type::unit()` and record the substitution in the per-iter
journal; `recur` is always in tail position so its "value" is never
consumed, making the choice observationally inert.
