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FA-89926 / Bytecode virtual machines / Open access

Call frames: arguments bound in pop order · case 01

Two-argument functions see their parameters swapped; sub(a, b) returns b - a.

Verified by executionVariant 1 · 7 checks per implementationDownload source bundle ↓JSON ↗

ROOT CAUSE

The argument slice is reversed, so the last pushed argument lands in local 0.

THE FAILURE

The argument slice is reversed, so the last pushed argument lands in local 0.

Unsuccessful approach: Rotating the top value to the front is still pop-order thinking and also invents an argument for zero-arity calls.

Case contract

Instructions: push v, load k, store k, add/sub/mul (second-from-top op top), jz t, jmp t, call t nargs nlocals, ret, halt. call pops nargs values (the first pushed becomes local 0), appends zero locals up to nlocals, records return pc = call pc + 1, and raises ["StackOverflowError", frames] when the frame count already equals max_depth. ret pops the result, discards the callee frame, pushes the result on the caller stack and resumes at the saved pc. Each executed instruction costs one fuel; running out returns ["fuel", pc]; host faults are ["vm-fault"].

Why this case matters

Frame setup and teardown decide argument binding, return values and recursion limits in every stack VM.

1 / The failure

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json

N = 1
observations = []
def solve(code, max_depth, fuel):
    def run():
        frames = [{'locals': [0] * 4, 'stack': [], 'ret': None}]
        pc = 0
        for _ in range(fuel):
            f = frames[-1]
            ins = code[pc]
            op = ins[0]
            if op == 'push':
                f['stack'].append(ins[1])
                pc += 1
            elif op == 'load':
                f['stack'].append(f['locals'][ins[1]])
                pc += 1
            elif op == 'store':
                f['locals'][ins[1]] = f['stack'].pop()
                pc += 1
            elif op in ('add', 'sub', 'mul'):
                b = f['stack'].pop()
                a = f['stack'].pop()
                f['stack'].append(a + b if op == 'add' else a - b if op == 'sub' else a * b)
                pc += 1
            elif op == 'jz':
                pc = ins[1] if f['stack'].pop() == 0 else pc + 1
            elif op == 'jmp':
                pc = ins[1]
            elif op == 'call':
                target, nargs, nlocals = ins[1], ins[2], ins[3]
                if len(frames) >= max_depth:
                    return ['StackOverflowError', len(frames)]
                args = f['stack'][len(f['stack']) - nargs:][::-1]
                del f['stack'][len(f['stack']) - nargs:]
                frames.append({'locals': args + [0] * (nlocals - nargs), 'stack': [], 'ret': pc + 1})
                pc = target
            elif op == 'ret':
                value = f['stack'].pop()
                frames.pop()
                frames[-1]['stack'].append(value)
                pc = f['ret']
            else:
                return ['halt', f['stack']]
        return ['fuel', pc]
    try:
        return run()
    except (IndexError, TypeError):
        return ['vm-fault']
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
cases = [[('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 21], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [18]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 8], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']], 10, 100),
   ['halt', [3]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 1],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [4]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    4,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 4]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 22], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [19]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 9], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']], 10, 100),
   ['halt', [4]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [10]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    6,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 5]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 23], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [20]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 10], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [5]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [18]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [2]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    4,
    500),
   ['halt', [2]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    3,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 3]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 24], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [21]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 11], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [28]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    4,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 4]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 25], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [22]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 12], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [7]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 5],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [40]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    6,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 5]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])]]
for label, args, expected in cases[N - 1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0['halt', [-18]]['halt', [18]]Failed
zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack['halt', [3]]['halt', [3]]Passed
extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments['halt', [4]]['halt', [4]]Passed
regression: recursive factorial['halt', [6]]['halt', [6]]Passed
recursion depth exactly at the limit['halt', [6]]['halt', [6]]Passed
recursion one frame over the limit['StackOverflowError', 4]['StackOverflowError', 4]Passed
control: fuel exhaustion['fuel', 4]['fuel', 4]Passed

SHA-256 / 52948ce5717721bbf9565b6c24649b29ae04e0513675cb72c1f2e5138c8cfa99

2 / The unsuccessful fix

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json

N = 1
observations = []
def solve(code, max_depth, fuel):
    def run():
        frames = [{'locals': [0] * 4, 'stack': [], 'ret': None}]
        pc = 0
        for _ in range(fuel):
            f = frames[-1]
            ins = code[pc]
            op = ins[0]
            if op == 'push':
                f['stack'].append(ins[1])
                pc += 1
            elif op == 'load':
                f['stack'].append(f['locals'][ins[1]])
                pc += 1
            elif op == 'store':
                f['locals'][ins[1]] = f['stack'].pop()
                pc += 1
            elif op in ('add', 'sub', 'mul'):
                b = f['stack'].pop()
                a = f['stack'].pop()
                f['stack'].append(a + b if op == 'add' else a - b if op == 'sub' else a * b)
                pc += 1
            elif op == 'jz':
                pc = ins[1] if f['stack'].pop() == 0 else pc + 1
            elif op == 'jmp':
                pc = ins[1]
            elif op == 'call':
                target, nargs, nlocals = ins[1], ins[2], ins[3]
                if len(frames) >= max_depth:
                    return ['StackOverflowError', len(frames)]
                args = [f['stack'][-1]] + f['stack'][len(f['stack']) - nargs:-1]
                del f['stack'][len(f['stack']) - nargs:]
                frames.append({'locals': args + [0] * (nlocals - nargs), 'stack': [], 'ret': pc + 1})
                pc = target
            elif op == 'ret':
                value = f['stack'].pop()
                frames.pop()
                frames[-1]['stack'].append(value)
                pc = f['ret']
            else:
                return ['halt', f['stack']]
        return ['fuel', pc]
    try:
        return run()
    except (IndexError, TypeError):
        return ['vm-fault']
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
cases = [[('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 21], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [18]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 8], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']], 10, 100),
   ['halt', [3]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 1],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [4]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    4,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 4]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 22], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [19]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 9], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']], 10, 100),
   ['halt', [4]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [10]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    6,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 5]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 23], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [20]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 10], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [5]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [18]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [2]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    4,
    500),
   ['halt', [2]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    3,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 3]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 2],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 24], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [21]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 11], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [28]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['halt', [6]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    4,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 4]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 3],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])],
 [('two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0',
   ([['push', 25], ['push', 3], ['call', 4, 2, 2], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['load', 1], ['sub'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [22]]),
  ('zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack',
   ([['push', 12], ['call', 4, 0, 1], ['sub'], ['halt'], ['load', 0], ['push', 5], ['add'], ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [7]]),
  ('extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments',
   ([['push', 5],
     ['call', 3, 1, 2],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 3],
     ['add'],
     ['store', 1],
     ['load', 1],
     ['load', 0],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret']],
    10,
    100),
   ['halt', [40]]),
  ('regression: recursive factorial',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion depth exactly at the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    6,
    500),
   ['halt', [24]]),
  ('recursion one frame over the limit',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    5,
    500),
   ['StackOverflowError', 5]),
  ('control: fuel exhaustion',
   ([['push', 4],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['halt'],
     ['load', 0],
     ['jz', 12],
     ['load', 0],
     ['load', 0],
     ['push', 1],
     ['sub'],
     ['call', 3, 1, 1],
     ['mul'],
     ['ret'],
     ['push', 1],
     ['ret']],
    20,
    3),
   ['fuel', 4])]]
for label, args, expected in cases[N - 1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
two-argument call binds first argument to slot 0['halt', [-18]]['halt', [18]]Failed
zero-argument call keeps caller operand stack['halt', [-5]]['halt', [3]]Failed
extra locals are zero-initialised after arguments['halt', [4]]['halt', [4]]Passed
regression: recursive factorial['halt', [6]]['halt', [6]]Passed
recursion depth exactly at the limit['halt', [6]]['halt', [6]]Passed
recursion one frame over the limit['StackOverflowError', 4]['StackOverflowError', 4]Passed
control: fuel exhaustion['fuel', 4]['fuel', 4]Passed

SHA-256 / dd329282b2cae5699cd59792a6e1d1f77f5cb21e05787c35b8e29cd0a4ece0cb

HELD IN THE MEMBER ARCHIVE

The verified repair and its recorded checks are member-only.

This mechanism has 7 recorded checks per implementation. The open-access tier publishes the failure and the unsuccessful fix; the repaired source that passes every check, and the observations that prove it, are available to members.

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Verification & scope

A deterministic, bounded teaching model of one bytecode virtual machine mechanism with a stipulated instruction encoding; it is not a production VM and claims no conformance to any real specification. This reproducer isolates one failure mechanism. Results cover the supplied fixtures. Variants within a family share a test contract and should remain grouped when constructing evaluation splits. Related mechanisms with a shared evaluation_group must also remain together; these controlled models are not independent production incidents.

Observations recorded using Python 3.12.14 at 2026-09-29T14:51:22.076708+00:00.

Case digest / ce979cfbaf08a58676609db0208330cf01be7b6dbe013941009dabd714efd1f1