One missing brace in 27 specs — the cross-target proof was never running

.github/workflows/emit-bitexact-gate.yml

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ on:
       # rewrites the C emitter merges with the cross-target proof never running.
       - "bootstrap/**"
       - "cli/**"
+      - "tools/check_specs_parse.py"
       - "tools/gft_backprop_microcode.py"
       - "tools/verify_emit_bitexact.py"
       - "tools/verify_multitarget.py"
@@ -54,6 +55,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build t27c
         run: cargo build --release -p t27c
 
+      # Precondition for everything below. A spec that does not parse produces no
+      # backend output at all, and the downstream scripts report that as "the C
+      # backend failed to build" -- which sent four days of readers to the wrong
+      # subsystem. Ask the parser first, and print its own message.
+      - name: Required specs parse (negative control)
+        run: python3 tools/check_specs_parse.py --self-check
+      - name: Required specs parse
+        run: python3 tools/check_specs_parse.py
+
       - name: Prove generated RTL == GF-T model (bit-exact) + synthesizes
         run: python3 tools/verify_emit_bitexact.py
 

docs/NOW.md

@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
+# NOW -- one missing brace, and three layers that named the wrong subsystem (2026-08-18)
+
+Last updated: 2026-08-18
+
+## specs: close 27 unterminated test blocks; the cross-target proof was never running (Closes #2185)
+
+- **`emit-bitexact` was red since 2026-08-14 because of one character.** A bulk edit appended `test <name>_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {` to 27 spec files and omitted the closing `}` in every one, so the parser hits the next `test` keyword while still inside the block
+- **Three layers each reported something else, and only the innermost was true.** The CI gate said `IGLA RACE CROSS-TARGET MISMATCH`; `verify_igla_race.py` said `FAIL: C backend failed to build/run`; `t27c` said `parse error in fn 'ternary_mac_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2' near line 1815: unexpected token after expression statement: KwTest` -- file, function, line and token, exactly right. The script runs its builds with `capture_output=True` and inspects only `returncode`, so that message was collected and thrown away
+- **A diagnostic that names the wrong subsystem costs more than none.** "The C and Rust backends diverge" is a far more alarming claim than "a spec has a typo", and it is where four days of reading went
+- **There was no cross-target divergence.** With the braces closed, `verify_igla_race.py` exits 0: C and Rust each match the reference bit-exact over 800 vectors, for both `ternary_mul/mac` and `systolic_ternary_pe` with its i16 accumulator. #2184 is corrected accordingly -- the `i16 + i8` no-cast gap in `gen_rust` is real, is documented in the script, and is worked around there; it was never what made the gate red
+- **Gate:** `tools/check_specs_parse.py` asks the question the three layers did not -- does `t27c` accept the file -- and prints the compiler's own message. Negative control plants an unclosed block and proves the gate rejects it. Wired in ahead of every other step, because it is their precondition
+- **Reported, not fixed:** closing the braces reveals 15 of 27 igla specs still failing on unrelated parser features (`unknown cast target type f32`, `Unexpected top-level token: KwModule`), overlapping #2174. Different class, left alone
+- The `paths:` edit silently failed on an indentation mismatch for the second time today. Caught by a negative control over the filter, not by reading it
+
 # NOW -- the bit-exactness gate could not see the compiler (2026-08-18)
 
 Last updated: 2026-08-18

specs/igla/coder/arch.t27

@@ -2329,7 +2329,7 @@ test arch_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test arch_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (72→73)
 test arch_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test arch_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/bench_proxy.t27

@@ -1231,7 +1231,7 @@ test bench_proxy_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test bench_proxy_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (72→73)
 test bench_proxy_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test bench_proxy_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/benchmark.t27

@@ -4617,7 +4617,7 @@ test benchmark_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test benchmark_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (73→74)
 test benchmark_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test benchmark_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/dataset.t27

@@ -2450,7 +2450,7 @@ test dataset_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test dataset_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (72→73)
 test dataset_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test dataset_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/eval.t27

@@ -3631,7 +3631,7 @@ test eval_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test eval_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (74→75)
 test eval_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test eval_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/pipeline.t27

@@ -2253,7 +2253,7 @@ test pipeline_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test pipeline_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (73→74)
 test pipeline_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test pipeline_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/prm.t27

@@ -1559,7 +1559,7 @@ test prm_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test prm_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (73→74)
 test prm_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test prm_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/tokenizer.t27

@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ test tokenizer_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test tokenizer_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (73→74)
 test tokenizer_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test tokenizer_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/training.t27

@@ -1587,7 +1587,7 @@ test training_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test training_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (73→74)
 test training_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test training_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/coder/weights.t27

@@ -1460,7 +1460,7 @@ test weights_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test weights_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — CODER depth +1 (73→74)
 test weights_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test weights_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/adder_tree.t27

@@ -1594,7 +1594,7 @@ test adder_tree_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test adder_tree_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (82→83)
 test adder_tree_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test adder_tree_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/backend.t27

@@ -1934,7 +1934,7 @@ test backend_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test backend_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (85→86)
 test backend_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test backend_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/bram_weights.t27

@@ -1588,7 +1588,7 @@ test bram_weights_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test bram_weights_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test bram_weights_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test bram_weights_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/cordic.t27

@@ -1601,7 +1601,7 @@ test cordic_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test cordic_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test cordic_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test cordic_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/cordic_fixed.t27

@@ -1615,7 +1615,7 @@ test cordic_fixed_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test cordic_fixed_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (84→85)
 test cordic_fixed_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test cordic_fixed_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/cordic_top.t27

@@ -1640,7 +1640,7 @@ test cordic_top_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test cordic_top_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (84→85)
 test cordic_top_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test cordic_top_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/eda.t27

@@ -1829,7 +1829,7 @@ test eda_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test eda_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test eda_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test eda_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/formal.t27

@@ -1750,7 +1750,7 @@ test formal_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test formal_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test formal_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test formal_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/gemm.t27

@@ -1642,7 +1642,7 @@ test gemm_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test gemm_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test gemm_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test gemm_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/opcodes.t27

@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ test opcodes_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test opcodes_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test opcodes_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test opcodes_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/rtl.t27

@@ -1776,7 +1776,7 @@ test rtl_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test rtl_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (83→84)
 test rtl_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test rtl_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/systolic_array.t27

@@ -1755,7 +1755,7 @@ test systolic_array_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test systolic_array_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (86→87)
 test systolic_array_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test systolic_array_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/systolic_ternary.t27

@@ -2004,7 +2004,7 @@ test systolic_ternary_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test systolic_ternary_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool B depth +1 (99→100)
 test systolic_ternary_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test systolic_ternary_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/ternary_gemm.t27

@@ -1755,7 +1755,7 @@ test ternary_gemm_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test ternary_gemm_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (82→83)
 test ternary_gemm_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test ternary_gemm_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/ternary_inference.t27

@@ -1130,7 +1130,7 @@ test ternary_inference_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test ternary_inference_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Integration depth +1 (82→83)
 test ternary_inference_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test ternary_inference_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/ternary_mac.t27

@@ -1810,7 +1810,7 @@ test ternary_mac_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test ternary_mac_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (82→83)
 test ternary_mac_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test ternary_mac_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }

specs/igla/race/yosys.t27

@@ -1785,7 +1785,7 @@ test yosys_w339_batch_depth_invariant_1 {
 test yosys_w339_batch_depth_invariant_2 {
   // Verify baseline properties for 15-variable accumulation
   assert(true)
-
+}
 // Wave Loop 340 — Pool A depth +1 (84→85)
 test yosys_w340_batch_depth_invariant_1 { /* verify baseline */ }
 test yosys_w340_batch_depth_invariant_2 { /* verify baseline */ }