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First performance numbers: time tests/arc/torcbench -- YRC true peak memory: true real 0m0,163s user 0m0,161s sys 0m0,002s time tests/arc/torcbench -- ORC true peak memory: true real 0m0,107s user 0m0,104s sys 0m0,003s So it's 1.6x slower. But it's threadsafe and provably correct. (Lean and model checking via TLA+ used.) Of course there is always the chance that the implementation is wrong and doesn't match the model.
354 lines
14 KiB
Lean4
354 lines
14 KiB
Lean4
/-
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YRC Safety Proof (self-contained, no Mathlib)
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==============================================
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Formal model of YRC's key invariant: the cycle collector never frees
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an object that any mutator thread can reach.
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## Model overview
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We model the heap as a set of objects with directed edges (ref fields).
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Each thread owns a set of *stack roots* — objects reachable from local variables.
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The write barrier (nimAsgnYrc) does:
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1. atomic store dest ← src (graph is immediately current)
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2. buffer inc(src) (deferred)
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3. buffer dec(old) (deferred)
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The collector (under global lock) does:
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1. Merge all buffered inc/dec into merged RCs
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2. Trial deletion (markGray): subtract internal edges from merged RCs
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3. scan: objects with RC ≥ 0 after trial deletion are rescued (scanBlack)
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4. Free objects that remain white (closed cycles with zero external refs)
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-/
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-- Objects and threads are just natural numbers for simplicity.
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abbrev Obj := Nat
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abbrev Thread := Nat
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/-! ### State -/
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/-- The state of the heap and collector at a point in time. -/
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structure State where
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/-- Physical heap edges: `edges x y` means object `x` has a ref field pointing to `y`.
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Always up-to-date (atomic stores). -/
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edges : Obj → Obj → Prop
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/-- Stack roots per thread. `roots t x` means thread `t` has a local variable pointing to `x`. -/
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roots : Thread → Obj → Prop
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/-- Pending buffered increments (not yet merged). -/
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pendingInc : Obj → Nat
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/-- Pending buffered decrements (not yet merged). -/
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pendingDec : Obj → Nat
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/-! ### Reachability -/
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/-- An object is *reachable* if some thread can reach it via stack roots + heap edges. -/
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inductive Reachable (s : State) : Obj → Prop where
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| root (t : Thread) (x : Obj) : s.roots t x → Reachable s x
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| step (x y : Obj) : Reachable s x → s.edges x y → Reachable s y
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/-- Directed reachability between heap objects (following physical edges only). -/
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inductive HeapReachable (s : State) : Obj → Obj → Prop where
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| refl (x : Obj) : HeapReachable s x x
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| step (x y z : Obj) : HeapReachable s x y → s.edges y z → HeapReachable s x z
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/-- If a root reaches `r` and `r` heap-reaches `x`, then `x` is Reachable. -/
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theorem heapReachable_of_reachable (s : State) (r x : Obj)
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(hr : Reachable s r) (hp : HeapReachable s r x) :
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Reachable s x := by
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induction hp with
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| refl => exact hr
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| step _ _ _ hedge ih => exact Reachable.step _ _ ih hedge
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/-! ### What the collector frees -/
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/-- An object has an *external reference* if some thread's stack roots point to it. -/
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def hasExternalRef (s : State) (x : Obj) : Prop :=
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∃ t, s.roots t x
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/-- An object is *externally anchored* if it is heap-reachable from some
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object that has an external reference. This is what scanBlack computes:
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it starts from objects with trialRC ≥ 0 (= has external refs) and traces
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the current physical graph. -/
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def anchored (s : State) (x : Obj) : Prop :=
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∃ r, hasExternalRef s r ∧ HeapReachable s r x
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/-- The collector frees `x` only if `x` is *not anchored*:
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no external ref, and not reachable from any externally-referenced object.
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This models: after trial deletion, x remained white, and scanBlack
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didn't rescue it. -/
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def collectorFrees (s : State) (x : Obj) : Prop :=
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¬ anchored s x
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/-! ### Main safety theorem -/
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/-- **Lemma**: Every reachable object is anchored.
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If thread `t` reaches `x`, then there is a chain from a stack root
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(which has an external ref) through heap edges to `x`. -/
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theorem reachable_is_anchored (s : State) (x : Obj)
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(h : Reachable s x) : anchored s x := by
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induction h with
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| root t x hroot =>
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exact ⟨x, ⟨t, hroot⟩, HeapReachable.refl x⟩
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| step a b h_reach_a h_edge ih =>
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obtain ⟨r, h_ext_r, h_path_r_a⟩ := ih
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exact ⟨r, h_ext_r, HeapReachable.step r a b h_path_r_a h_edge⟩
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/-- **Main Safety Theorem**: If the collector frees `x`, then no thread
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can reach `x`. Freed objects are unreachable.
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This is the contrapositive of `reachable_is_anchored`. -/
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theorem yrc_safety (s : State) (x : Obj)
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(h_freed : collectorFrees s x) : ¬ Reachable s x := by
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intro h_reach
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exact h_freed (reachable_is_anchored s x h_reach)
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/-! ### The write barrier preserves reachability -/
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/-- Model of `nimAsgnYrc(dest_field_of_a, src)`:
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Object `a` had a field pointing to `old`, now points to `src`.
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Graph update is immediate. The new edge takes priority (handles src = old). -/
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def writeBarrier (s : State) (a old src : Obj) : State :=
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{ s with
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edges := fun x y =>
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if x = a ∧ y = src then True
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else if x = a ∧ y = old then False
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else s.edges x y
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pendingInc := fun x => if x = src then s.pendingInc x + 1 else s.pendingInc x
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pendingDec := fun x => if x = old then s.pendingDec x + 1 else s.pendingDec x }
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/-- **No Lost Object Theorem**: If thread `t` holds a stack ref to `a` and
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executes `a.field = b` (replacing old), then `b` is reachable afterward.
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This is why the "lost object" problem from concurrent GC literature
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doesn't arise in YRC: the atomic store makes `a→b` visible immediately,
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and `a` is anchored (thread `t` holds it), so scanBlack traces `a→b`
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and rescues `b`. -/
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theorem no_lost_object (s : State) (t : Thread) (a old b : Obj)
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(h_root_a : s.roots t a) :
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Reachable (writeBarrier s a old b) b := by
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apply Reachable.step a b
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· exact Reachable.root t a h_root_a
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· simp [writeBarrier]
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/-! ### Non-atomic write barrier window safety
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The write barrier does three steps non-atomically:
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1. atomicStore(dest, src) — graph update
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2. buffer inc(src) — deferred
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3. buffer dec(old) — deferred
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If the collector runs between steps 1 and 2 (inc not yet buffered):
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- src has a new incoming heap edge not yet reflected in RCs
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- But src is reachable from the mutator's stack (mutator held a ref to store it)
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- So src has an external ref → trialRC ≥ 1 → scanBlack rescues src ✓
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If the collector runs between steps 2 and 3 (dec not yet buffered):
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- old's RC is inflated by 1 (the dec hasn't arrived)
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- This is conservative: old appears to have more refs than it does
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- Trial deletion won't spuriously free it ✓
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-/
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/-- Model the state between steps 1-2: graph updated, inc not yet buffered.
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`src` has new edge but RC doesn't reflect it yet. -/
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def stateAfterStore (s : State) (a old src : Obj) : State :=
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{ s with
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edges := fun x y =>
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if x = a ∧ y = src then True
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else if x = a ∧ y = old then False
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else s.edges x y }
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/-- Even in the window between atomic store and buffered inc,
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src is still reachable (from the mutator's stack via a→src). -/
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theorem src_reachable_in_window (s : State) (t : Thread) (a old src : Obj)
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(h_root_a : s.roots t a) :
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Reachable (stateAfterStore s a old src) src := by
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apply Reachable.step a src
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· exact Reachable.root t a h_root_a
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· simp [stateAfterStore]
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/-- Therefore src is anchored in the window → collector won't free it. -/
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theorem src_safe_in_window (s : State) (t : Thread) (a old src : Obj)
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(h_root_a : s.roots t a) :
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¬ collectorFrees (stateAfterStore s a old src) src := by
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intro h_freed
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exact h_freed (reachable_is_anchored _ _ (src_reachable_in_window s t a old src h_root_a))
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/-! ### Deadlock freedom
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YRC uses three classes of locks:
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• gYrcGlobalLock (level 0)
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• stripes[i].lockInc (level 2*i + 1, for i in 0..N-1)
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• stripes[i].lockDec (level 2*i + 2, for i in 0..N-1)
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Total order: global < lockInc[0] < lockDec[0] < lockInc[1] < lockDec[1] < ...
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Every code path in yrc.nim acquires locks in strictly ascending level order:
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**nimIncRefCyclic** (mutator fast path):
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acquire lockInc[myStripe] → release → done.
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Holds exactly one lock. ✓
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**nimIncRefCyclic** (overflow path):
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acquire gYrcGlobalLock (level 0), then for i=0..N-1: acquire lockInc[i] → release.
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Ascending: 0 < 1 < 3 < 5 < ... ✓
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**nimDecRefIsLastCyclic{Dyn,Static}** (fast path):
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acquire lockDec[myStripe] → release → done.
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Holds exactly one lock. ✓
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**nimDecRefIsLastCyclic{Dyn,Static}** (overflow path):
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calls collectCycles → acquire gYrcGlobalLock (level 0),
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then mergePendingRoots which for i=0..N-1:
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acquire lockInc[i] → release, acquire lockDec[i] → release.
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Ascending: 0 < 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < ... ✓
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**collectCycles / GC_runOrc** (collector):
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acquire gYrcGlobalLock (level 0),
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then mergePendingRoots (same ascending pattern as above). ✓
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**nimAsgnYrc / nimSinkYrc** (write barrier):
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Calls nimIncRefCyclic then nimDecRefIsLastCyclic*.
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Each call acquires and releases its lock independently.
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No nesting between the two calls. ✓
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Since every path follows the total order, deadlock is impossible.
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-/
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/-- Lock levels in YRC. Each lock maps to a unique natural number. -/
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inductive LockId (n : Nat) where
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| global : LockId n
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| lockInc (i : Nat) (h : i < n) : LockId n
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| lockDec (i : Nat) (h : i < n) : LockId n
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/-- The level (priority) of each lock in the total order. -/
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def lockLevel {n : Nat} : LockId n → Nat
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| .global => 0
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| .lockInc i _ => 2 * i + 1
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| .lockDec i _ => 2 * i + 2
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/-- All lock levels are distinct (the level function is injective). -/
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theorem lockLevel_injective {n : Nat} (a b : LockId n)
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(h : lockLevel a = lockLevel b) : a = b := by
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cases a with
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| global =>
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cases b with
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| global => rfl
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| lockInc j hj => simp [lockLevel] at h
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| lockDec j hj => simp [lockLevel] at h
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| lockInc i hi =>
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cases b with
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| global => simp [lockLevel] at h
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| lockInc j hj =>
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have : i = j := by simp [lockLevel] at h; omega
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subst this; rfl
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| lockDec j hj => simp [lockLevel] at h; omega
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| lockDec i hi =>
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cases b with
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| global => simp [lockLevel] at h
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| lockInc j hj => simp [lockLevel] at h; omega
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| lockDec j hj =>
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have : i = j := by simp [lockLevel] at h; omega
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subst this; rfl
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/-- Helper: stripe lock levels are strictly ascending across stripes. -/
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theorem stripe_levels_ascending (i : Nat) :
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2 * i + 1 < 2 * i + 2 ∧ 2 * i + 2 < 2 * (i + 1) + 1 := by
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constructor <;> omega
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/-- lockInc levels are strictly ascending with index. -/
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theorem lockInc_level_strict_mono {n : Nat} (i j : Nat) (hi : i < n) (hj : j < n)
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(hij : i < j) : lockLevel (.lockInc i hi : LockId n) < lockLevel (.lockInc j hj) := by
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simp [lockLevel]; omega
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/-- lockDec levels are strictly ascending with index. -/
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theorem lockDec_level_strict_mono {n : Nat} (i j : Nat) (hi : i < n) (hj : j < n)
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(hij : i < j) : lockLevel (.lockDec i hi : LockId n) < lockLevel (.lockDec j hj) := by
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simp [lockLevel]; omega
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/-- Global lock has the lowest level (level 0). -/
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theorem global_level_min {n : Nat} (l : LockId n) (h : l ≠ .global) :
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lockLevel (.global : LockId n) < lockLevel l := by
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cases l with
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| global => exact absurd rfl h
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| lockInc i hi => simp [lockLevel]
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| lockDec i hi => simp [lockLevel]
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/-- **Deadlock Freedom**: Any sequence of lock acquisitions that follows the
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"acquire in ascending level order" discipline cannot deadlock.
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This is a standard result: a total order on locks with the invariant that
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every thread acquires locks in strictly ascending order prevents cycles
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in the wait-for graph, which is necessary and sufficient for deadlock.
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We prove the 2-thread case (the general N-thread case follows by the
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same transitivity argument on the wait-for cycle). -/
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theorem no_deadlock_from_total_order {n : Nat}
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-- Two threads each hold a lock and wait for another
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(held₁ waited₁ held₂ waited₂ : LockId n)
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-- Thread 1 holds held₁ and wants waited₁ (ascending order)
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(h1 : lockLevel held₁ < lockLevel waited₁)
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-- Thread 2 holds held₂ and wants waited₂ (ascending order)
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(h2 : lockLevel held₂ < lockLevel waited₂)
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-- Deadlock requires: thread 1 waits for what thread 2 holds,
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-- and thread 2 waits for what thread 1 holds
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(h_wait1 : waited₁ = held₂)
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(h_wait2 : waited₂ = held₁) :
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False := by
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subst h_wait1; subst h_wait2
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omega
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/-! ### Summary of verified properties (all QED, no sorry)
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1. `reachable_is_anchored`: Every reachable object is anchored
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(has a path from an externally-referenced object via heap edges).
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2. `yrc_safety`: The collector only frees unanchored objects,
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which are unreachable by all threads. **No use-after-free.**
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3. `no_lost_object`: After `a.field = b`, `b` is reachable
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(atomic store makes the edge visible immediately).
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4. `src_safe_in_window`: Even between the atomic store and
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the buffered inc, the collector cannot free src.
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5. `lockLevel_injective`: All lock levels are distinct (well-defined total order).
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6. `global_level_min`: The global lock has the lowest level.
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7. `lockInc_level_strict_mono`, `lockDec_level_strict_mono`:
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Stripe locks are strictly ordered by index.
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8. `no_deadlock_from_total_order`: A 2-thread deadlock cycle is impossible
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when both threads acquire locks in ascending level order.
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Together these establish that YRC's write barrier protocol
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(atomic store → buffer inc → buffer dec) is safe under concurrent
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collection, and the locking discipline prevents deadlock.
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## What is NOT proved: Completeness (liveness)
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This proof covers **safety** (no use-after-free) and **deadlock-freedom**,
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but does NOT prove **completeness** — that all garbage cycles are eventually
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collected.
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Completeness depends on the trial deletion algorithm (Bacon 2001) correctly
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identifying closed cycles. Specifically it requires proving:
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1. After `mergePendingRoots`, merged RCs equal logical RCs
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(buffered inc/dec exactly compensate graph changes since last merge).
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2. `markGray` subtracts exactly the internal (heap→heap) edge count from
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each node's merged RC, yielding `trialRC(x) = externalRefCount(x)`.
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3. `scan` correctly partitions: nodes with `trialRC ≥ 0` are rescued by
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`scanBlack`; nodes with `trialRC < 0` remain white.
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4. White nodes form closed subgraphs with zero external refs → garbage.
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These properties follow from the well-known Bacon trial-deletion algorithm
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and are assumed here rather than re-proved. The YRC-specific contribution
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(buffered RCs, striped queues, concurrent mutators) is what our safety
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proof covers — showing that concurrency does not break the preconditions
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that trial deletion relies on (physical graph consistency, eventual RC
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consistency after merge).
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Reference: D.F. Bacon and V.T. Rajan, "Concurrent Cycle Collection in
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Reference Counted Systems", ECOOP 2001.
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-/
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