AILang/docs/journals/2026-05-12-audit-eob.md

# audit-eob — Milestone close: heap-str-abi (closing iter eob.1)

**Date:** 2026-05-12
**Milestone:** heap-str-abi (hs.1 + hs.2 + hs.3 + hs.4 + eob.1)
**Status:** Closed, three DESIGN.md tidies applied inline (`eob.tidy`)

## Architect drift review

`ailang-architect` reported `drift_found` across the commit range
`750f97e..78e8338`. Lockstep invariants and codegen ABI all
intact; three high-severity items in DESIGN.md plus one medium
record-keeping note.

**[high — spec acceptance]** `docs/DESIGN.md:2338-2342` —
`float_to_str` described as "type-installed but codegen-deferred"
with `CodegenError::Internal`. Stale since hs.4.

**[high — spec acceptance]** `docs/DESIGN.md:2387` — same caveat
inside the "What is supported" inventory; `int_to_str` was absent
from the inventory entirely.

**[high — spec acceptance]** `docs/DESIGN.md` (missing) — no
"Str ABI" anchor documenting the heap-Str / static-Str dual
realisation, shared consumer ABI, or codegen-elision invariant
for static-Str-in-RC-paths.

**[medium — record-keeping]** `docs/journals/2026-05-12-iter-hs.4.md`
closed `DONE_WITH_CONCERNS` with weakened RC assertions; eob.1
retroactively restored the strict invariants. No forward-pointer
appended; readers cross-walk via INDEX.md.

### Tidy fixes applied inline (`eob.tidy`)

All three high-severity DESIGN.md drift items addressed in this
audit commit (Boss-mechanical edits — no separate plan / implement
dispatch warranted; the spec amend was small, the Str-ABI-anchor
content was already fully known from the just-closed milestone):

1. `docs/DESIGN.md:2338-2343` (float_to_str caveat block): replaced
   the codegen-deferred prose with a one-paragraph statement that
   `float_to_str` and `int_to_str` are fully wired, allocate a
   heap-Str slab, and carry `ret_mode: Own`. Forward-references the
   new Str-ABI anchor.

2. `docs/DESIGN.md:2387-2392` (inventory bullet): dropped the
   codegen-deferred parenthetical from `float_to_str`; added
   `int_to_str : (Int) -> Str` to the inventory; pointer to the
   Str-ABI section for the dual realisation.

3. `docs/DESIGN.md` (new "Str ABI" subsection placed after the
   Float-semantics block, before "What is not (yet) supported"):
   documents the two realisations (static-Str packed-struct
   `<{ i64, [N+1 x i8] }>` globals in `.rodata`; heap-Str slabs
   allocated via `ailang_rc_alloc(8 + len + 1)`); the shared
   consumer ABI (Str pointer at len-field offset 0, bytes at
   `payload + 8`, inherited `strcmp` semantics); and the
   codegen-level non-RC invariant for static-Str (move-tracking
   partial-drop + non-escape lowering + `Type::Con { name: "Str" }`
   carve-outs at `field_drop_call` and `drop_symbol_for_binder`'s
   App arm).

Medium-severity hs.4-journal forward-pointer: skipped. INDEX.md
already links hs.4 → eob.1 chronologically; the eob.1 journal
explicitly cross-references hs.4's deferred fix as the iter's
motivation. A forward-pointer in hs.4's own file would push the
append-only convention; the cross-walk from INDEX is sufficient.

## Bench-regression check

Sequence run as Boss (the `&&` chain in audit-SKILL.md tripped at
`check.py`'s exit 1; `compile_check.py` and `cross_lang.py` then
run separately to read their exit codes cleanly):

- `check.py`: **exit 1** — 63 metrics; 2 regressed, 5 improved
  beyond tolerance, 56 stable.
  - Regressions: `bench_list_sum.bump_s` +12.60% (tol 10%);
    `bench_hof_pipeline.bump_s` +11.65% (tol 10%). Both only
    marginally over tolerance; the other four `bump_s` metrics
    (`bench_tree_walk`, `bench_closure_chain`,
    `bench_compute_collatz`, `bench_list_sum_explicit`) are stable
    within ±7%.
  - Improvements: three on the `latency.explicit_at_rc` cluster
    (`p99_us` -37.37%, `p99_9_us` -40.14%, `p99_over_median`
    -37.35%); two `gc_over_bump` mirrors on `bench_list_sum` and
    `bench_hof_pipeline` (ratio falls because the denominator —
    `bump_s` — rose; same physical signal as the bump regressions).
- `compile_check.py`: exit 0; 24 metrics, all stable within ±25%.
- `cross_lang.py`: exit 0; 25 metrics, all stable within ±15%.

### Classification

**Latency cluster** (`latency.explicit_at_rc.p99_us` /
`p99_9_us` / `p99_over_median`): third consecutive sighting
across `audit-cma` → `audit-ms` → `audit-eob`. `audit-ms` flagged
this as "one more audit before considering ratification"; this is
that one more audit.

eob.1's only codegen-side touchpoints are the `drop.rs` Str
carve-out (8 LOC) and the `ret_mode: Own` flip at four signature
sites; none of those should plausibly shift latency p99 by 37%.
The signal predates this milestone (audit-cma was three milestones
ago). Conservative call: still **do not** baseline-update on this
audit. The cluster is real and persistent, but the underlying
cause is unknown, and a baseline update without an identified
attribution would obscure the next signal that *does* have an
attributable cause.

Recommendation forward: if the cluster persists into the next
two audits unchanged, ratify with `--update-baseline` and a
journal entry naming the persistence as the ratify rationale
(absence of identified cause being the standing fact). If the
cluster shifts or shrinks meaningfully, that is itself the
attribution signal.

**bump_s cluster** (`bench_list_sum.bump_s`,
`bench_hof_pipeline.bump_s`): **first sighting** in any recent
audit. Both metrics only marginally over the 10% tolerance.
The other four `bump_s` measurements are stable, which makes
"shared underlying bump-allocator change" unlikely; per-fixture
system noise (12.6% on a ~50ms benchmark is ~6ms of jitter) is
the most parsimonious explanation.

eob.1 made zero changes to bump-allocator codepaths. The
implementer's end-report flagged this same cluster as appearing
during the workspace bench sweep before commit. Conservative call:
first-sighting rule — **do not** baseline-update; observe in the
next audit; if it persists, investigate.

**Baseline left pristine on every script** for the third
consecutive audit. No `--update-baseline` invocation.

## Status

Closed. Heap-str-abi milestone fully landed:
- Static-Str layout migrated (hs.1, hs.2).
- Heap-Str runtime additions wired (hs.3, hs.4).
- Effect-op-borrow rule + RC-discipline closes (eob.1).
- DESIGN.md anchors both arg-position rules + Str-ABI dual
  realisation (eob.1 + eob.tidy in this audit).
- WhatsNew entry + roadmap P1 close (eob.1).

Working tree exits audit clean. main HEAD advances by exactly
this audit commit.