From 7e930193a98f2d77020a00e4ebd25ab8d5066613 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Emile Clark-Boman <emile@agribit.com.au>
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:08:05 +1000
Subject: [PATCH] MAJOR: create nt/primitives/bootstrap

---
 flake.nix                                     |  4 +-
 nt/primitives/bootstrap.nix                   | 15 ------
 nt/primitives/bootstrap/README.md             | 53 +++++++++++++++++++
 nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix           | 39 ++++++++++++++
 nt/primitives/{util => bootstrap}/nt.nix      |  0
 nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/bootstrap.nix   |  7 +++
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/parse/parse.nix |  0
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/parse/sig.nix   |  0
 .../{util => bootstrap/parse}/trapdoor.nix    |  6 +--
 nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/README.md         |  8 +++
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/attrs.nix   |  0
 nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/bootstrap.nix     | 11 ++++
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/fn.nix      |  0
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/list.nix    |  0
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/num.nix     |  0
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/string.nix  |  0
 nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/bootstrap.nix   |  8 +++
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/types/maybe.nix |  0
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/types/null.nix  |  0
 nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/types/wrap.nix  |  0
 nt/primitives/default.nix                     |  1 +
 nt/primitives/mix/bootstrap.nix               | 10 ----
 nt/primitives/std/README.md                   | 17 ------
 nt/primitives/std/default.nix                 | 28 ----------
 nt/primitives/std/enforce.nix                 |  2 -
 nt/primitives/types/default.nix               |  8 ---
 nt/primitives/util/default.nix                |  7 ---
 27 files changed, 132 insertions(+), 92 deletions(-)
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap.nix
 create mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap/README.md
 create mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix
 rename nt/primitives/{util => bootstrap}/nt.nix (100%)
 create mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/bootstrap.nix
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/parse/parse.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/parse/sig.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{util => bootstrap/parse}/trapdoor.nix (90%)
 create mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/README.md
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/attrs.nix (100%)
 create mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/bootstrap.nix
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/fn.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/list.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/num.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/std/string.nix (100%)
 create mode 100644 nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/bootstrap.nix
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/types/maybe.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/types/null.nix (100%)
 rename nt/primitives/{ => bootstrap}/types/wrap.nix (100%)
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/mix/bootstrap.nix
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/std/README.md
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/std/default.nix
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/std/enforce.nix
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/types/default.nix
 delete mode 100644 nt/primitives/util/default.nix

diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 71e81ef..706358a 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
   outputs = _: let
     # nt depends on the mix subsystem for bootstrapping,
     # we can fake its dependency on this mwahahahah
-    this.util = import ./nt/primitives/util/bootstrap.nix;
-    mix = import ./nt/primitives/mix {inherit this;};
+    bootstrap = import ./nt/primitives/bootstrap;
+    mix = import ./nt/primitives/mix {this = bootstrap;};
   in
     import ./nt {inherit mix;};
 }
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 9299236..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/bootstrap.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-# WARNING: this file is strictly for bootstrapping nt
-let
-  input = {inherit this;};
-  this =
-    import ./util.nix input
-    // import ./parse.nix input
-    // import ./trapdoor.nix input
-    // import ./null.nix input
-    // import ./maybe.nix input
-    // import ./wrap.nix input
-    // import ./enforce.nix input
-    // import ./sig.nix input
-    // import ./nt.nix input;
-in
-  this
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap/README.md b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c67368
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+## Primitives - /nt/primitives
+All expressions in the `/nt/primitives` directory should have no dependencies on NixTypes
+because **`/nt/primitives` is the dependency of NixTypes**! However for consistency in
+the development process `/nt/primitives` is structured using the Mix Module subsystem
+(`/nt/primitives/mix`).
+
+*"But Emile..."* I hear you say! **How can primitives be a Mix module if Mix depends on primitives??**
+Welp I'm sure I could have done some cool exploit of lazy evaluation in recursion,
+*but I was alas lazy...* So the solution is **they can't... ;-;** But they can be pretty close!
+
+Instead we have `/nt/primitives/bootstrap`! Which provides a **miniature dependency-free standard library.**
+`import ./nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix` is passed as to `import ./nt/primitives/mix` which is
+then passed to `import ./nt`.
+
+Most importantly, `/nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix` contains the function `bootstrap:: Path | List | Attrs | Function -> Attrs`:
+```nix
+# et voilà!
+let
+  this = bootstrap {inherit this bootstrap;} [
+    {
+      std = ./std/bootstrap.nix;
+      types = ./types/bootstrap.nix;
+      parse = ./parse/bootstrap.nix;
+    }
+  ];
+in
+  this;
+```
+**\~\~!!KABOOM !!\~\~**
+
+Now **our primitives have a primitive module system!**
+
+The init process looks like this:
+```nix
+# REF: flake.nix
+{
+  outputs = _: let
+    # Step 1: Bootstrap and blast off (*zooommmmm whoooosshhhhh pppppeeeeeeewww*)
+    bootstrap = import ./nt/primitives/bootstrap;
+    # Step 2: Lie to Mix about its real identity (it's not ready for the truth...)
+    mix = import ./nt/primitives/mix {this = bootstrap;};
+  in
+    # Step 3: Actually import NixTypes
+    import ./nt {inherit mix;};
+    # Step 4: Like and subscripe!!1!11!!!!!
+}
+```
+
+
+## A note on /nt/primitives/bootstrap
+**None of these functions/types/etc are exported for users of NixTypes!** So they should
+remain as simple and minimal as possible to avoid extra work maintaining.
+Instead, **most of these will be reimplemented post-bootstrap to be NixType compatible**.
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6fdc608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/default.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# WARNING: /nt/primitives/bootstrap cannot depend on mix!
+# WARNING: This file is strictly for bootstrapping nt.
+# WARNING: Use it with `import ./nt/primitives/bootstrap`
+let
+  inherit
+    (builtins)
+    foldl'
+    isAttrs
+    isList
+    isPath
+    mapAttrs
+    ;
+
+  # NOTE: bootstrap does the equivalent to mix's `include.public` option.
+  bootstrap = inputs: let
+    delegate = target:
+    # PATH
+      if isPath target
+      then import target inputs
+      # LIST
+      else if isList target
+      then target |> foldl' (acc: el: acc // delegate el) {}
+      # ATTRS
+      else if isAttrs target
+      then target |> mapAttrs (_: value: delegate value)
+      # FUNCTION (OR FAIL)
+      else target inputs;
+  in
+    delegate;
+
+  this = bootstrap {inherit this bootstrap;} [
+    {
+      std = ./std/bootstrap.nix;
+      types = ./types/bootstrap.nix;
+      parse = ./parse/bootstrap.nix;
+    }
+  ];
+in
+  this
diff --git a/nt/primitives/util/nt.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/nt.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/util/nt.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/nt.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/bootstrap.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/bootstrap.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf91c18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/bootstrap.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# WARNING: /nt/primitives/bootstrap cannot depend on mix
+# WARNING: this file is strictly for bootstrapping nt
+{bootstrap, ...} @ inputs:
+bootstrap inputs [
+  ./parse.nix
+  ./sig.nix
+]
diff --git a/nt/primitives/parse/parse.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/parse.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/parse/parse.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/parse.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/parse/sig.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/sig.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/parse/sig.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/sig.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/util/trapdoor.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/trapdoor.nix
similarity index 90%
rename from nt/primitives/util/trapdoor.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/trapdoor.nix
index f4e45ca..815f60d 100644
--- a/nt/primitives/util/trapdoor.nix
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/parse/trapdoor.nix
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   inherit
     (this.std)
     enfHasAttr
-    enfHasAttr'
+    enfHasAttrUnsafe
     enfIsAttrs
     ;
 in rec {
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ in rec {
 
   mkTrapdoorFn = key: decl:
     assert enfHasAttr "default" decl "mkTrapdoorFn";
-    assert enfHasAttr' "unlock" decl "mkTrapdoorFn";
+    assert enfHasAttrUnsafe "unlock" decl "mkTrapdoorFn";
     # return trapdoor function
       (x: let
         keys = attrNames decl.unlock;
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ in rec {
 
   mkTrapdoorSet = key: decl:
     assert enfHasAttr "default" decl "mkTrapdoorSet";
-    assert enfHasAttr' "unlock" decl "mkTrapdoorSet";
+    assert enfHasAttrUnsafe "unlock" decl "mkTrapdoorSet";
     # return trapdoor set
       let
         keys = attrNames decl.unlock;
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/README.md b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02f30ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+## Primitive Standard Functions - /nt/primitives/bootstrap/std
+>[!NOTE]
+> This directory is dedicated to porting functions from `nixpkgs.pkgs.lib`.
+
+**None of these functions/types/etc are exported for users of NixTypes!** So they should
+remain as simple and minimal as possible to avoid extra work maintaining.
+Instead, **all of these will be reimplemented post-bootstrap to be NixType compatible**.
+
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/attrs.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/attrs.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/std/attrs.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/attrs.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/bootstrap.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/bootstrap.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e8b06e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/bootstrap.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# WARNING: /nt/primitives/bootstrap cannot depend on mix
+# WARNING: this file is strictly for bootstrapping nt
+{bootstrap, ...} @ inputs:
+bootstrap inputs [
+  ./attrs.nix
+  ./enforce.nix
+  ./fn.nix
+  ./list.nix
+  ./num.nix
+  ./string.nix
+]
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/fn.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/fn.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/std/fn.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/fn.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/list.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/list.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/std/list.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/list.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/num.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/num.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/std/num.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/num.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/string.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/string.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/std/string.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/std/string.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/bootstrap.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/bootstrap.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2e0f68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/bootstrap.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# WARNING: /nt/primitives/bootstrap cannot depend on mix
+# WARNING: this file is strictly for bootstrapping nt
+{bootstrap, ...} @ inputs:
+bootstrap inputs [
+  ./null.nix
+  ./maybe.nix
+  ./wrap.nix
+]
diff --git a/nt/primitives/types/maybe.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/maybe.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/types/maybe.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/maybe.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/types/null.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/null.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/types/null.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/null.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/types/wrap.nix b/nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/wrap.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from nt/primitives/types/wrap.nix
rename to nt/primitives/bootstrap/types/wrap.nix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/default.nix b/nt/primitives/default.nix
index 961f6cd..870ead5 100644
--- a/nt/primitives/default.nix
+++ b/nt/primitives/default.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 mix.newMixture inputs (mixture: {
   includes.public = [
     ./nt.nix
+    ./bootstrap
   ];
   submods.public = [
     ./mix
diff --git a/nt/primitives/mix/bootstrap.nix b/nt/primitives/mix/bootstrap.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 607f24a..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/mix/bootstrap.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-# WARNING: This file is strictly for bootstrapping nt
-rec {
-  # NOTE: bootstrap does the equivalent to mix's `include.public` option.
-  # NOTE: It also provides itself as input to descendents.
-  bootstrap = args: paths: let
-    input = args // {inherit this bootstrap;};
-    this = paths |> builtins.foldl' (acc: el: acc // import el input) {};
-  in
-    this;
-}
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/README.md b/nt/primitives/std/README.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 9563d0b..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/std/README.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-## Primitive Standard Functions
->[!NOTE]
-> This directory is dedicated to porting functions from `nixpkgs.pkgs.lib`.
-
-The `/nt/primitives` directory should have no dependencies on NixTypes *(with one exception explained below)*.
-Thus the **NixTypes system must be constructed from a dependency-free standard library.**
-
-This includes dependency on `this` (provided by the `nt.mix` module system)!
-`/nt/primitives` is structured as a `nt.mix` module, and hence `/nt/primitives/mix`
-must also depend on `/nt/primitives/std`. My point is, **`/nt/primitives/std`
-cannot use mix at all!**
-
-### Internal Use Only
-**None of these functions are exported for users of NixTypes!** So they should
-remain as simple and minimal as possible to avoid extra work maintaining.
-Instead, **all of these functions will be reimplemented** post-bootstrap
-to be NixType compatible.
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/default.nix b/nt/primitives/std/default.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 130c293..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/std/default.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-# {mix, ...} @ inputs:
-# mix.newMixture inputs (mixture: {
-#   includes.public = [
-#     ./attrs.nix
-#     ./fn.nix
-#     ./list.nix
-#     ./num.nix
-#     ./string.nix
-#   ];
-# })
-# WARNING: /nt/primitives/std cannot depend on mix
-# WARNING: this file is strictly for bootstrapping nt
-let
-  # input = {inherit this;};
-  this = {
-  };
-  # this =
-  #   import ./util.nix input
-  #   // import ./parse.nix input
-  #   // import ./trapdoor.nix input
-  #   // import ./null.nix input
-  #   // import ./maybe.nix input
-  #   // import ./wrap.nix input
-  #   // import ./enforce.nix input
-  #   // import ./sig.nix input
-  #   // import ./nt.nix input;
-in
-  this
diff --git a/nt/primitives/std/enforce.nix b/nt/primitives/std/enforce.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index ea8f50d..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/std/enforce.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-{...}: {
-}
diff --git a/nt/primitives/types/default.nix b/nt/primitives/types/default.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 10f58e8..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/types/default.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-{mix, ...} @ inputs:
-mix.newMixture inputs (mixture: {
-  includes.public = [
-    ./maybe.nix
-    ./null.nix
-    ./wrap.nix
-  ];
-})
diff --git a/nt/primitives/util/default.nix b/nt/primitives/util/default.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 36814cf..0000000
--- a/nt/primitives/util/default.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-{mix, ...} @ inputs:
-mix.newMixture inputs (mixture: {
-  includes.public = [
-    ./nt.nix
-    ./trapdoor.nix
-  ];
-})