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DSA Project Roadmap & Task Breakdown

Damn Simple Architecture — Full ecosystem development plan including emulator, assembler, compiler, debugger, and tooling infrastructure.

Table of Contents

  1. Phase 1: Foundation & Core Infrastructure
  2. Phase 2: Compiler Development
  3. Phase 3: Build System & Package Management
  4. Phase 4: Debugger & Development Tools
  5. Phase 5: Integration & Polish
  6. Phase 6: Future Enhancements (NTH)
  7. Summary Timeline
  8. Critical Path
  9. Recommended Work Order

Phase 1: Foundation & Core Infrastructure

Estimated Duration: 3–4 weeks

1.1 Binary Format & Linking System

Priority: CRITICAL — Everything depends on this.
Total Estimate: 1.5 weeks

1.1.1 Design New Binary Format Specification

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: None
Deliverable: docs/binary-format-spec.md

  • Research existing object file formats (ELF, COFF, Mach-O) for inspiration
  • Design .dsb object file format specification
    • Symbol table structure
    • Relocation table format
    • Section definitions (code, data, rodata, bss)
    • Debug information structure
    • Metadata headers
  • Design .dse executable format specification
    • Entry point definition
    • Memory layout requirements
    • Linking metadata
  • Document format specifications in markdown
  • Create format version strategy for future compatibility

1.1.2 Implement DSB Object File Writer

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: 1.1.1
Deliverable: dsa-binary-format crate v0.1.0

  • Create new crate: dsa-binary-format
  • Implement object file structures
    • Header structure
    • Symbol table builder
    • Section manager
    • Relocation entry creator
  • Write serialization logic
  • Add validation and error handling
  • Write unit tests for each structure
  • Integration tests for complete object files

1.1.3 Build Linker Program

Estimate: 4 days
Dependencies: 1.1.2
Deliverable: dsa-link executable

  • Create new crate: dsa-linker
  • Implement symbol resolution
    • Global symbol table
    • Symbol conflict detection
    • Weak symbol handling
  • Implement relocation processing
    • Address calculation
    • Patch generation
    • Cross-section references
  • Build executable generator
    • Combine sections
    • Generate final memory layout
    • Write .dse output
  • Add linker script support (basic)
  • Comprehensive error messages
  • Test suite with complex linking scenarios

1.2 Assembler Rewrite

Priority: HIGH — Required for all compiled code.
Total Estimate: 1.5 weeks

1.2.1 Assembler Architecture Design

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: 1.1.1
Deliverable: docs/assembler-architecture.md

  • Design multi-pass architecture
    • Pass 1: Symbol collection
    • Pass 2: Macro expansion
    • Pass 3: Code generation
    • Pass 4: Relocation generation
  • Plan error handling strategy
  • Design threading model for parallel file processing
  • Define module/import resolution system
  • Plan integration points with DSC compiler

1.2.2 Implement Core Assembler

Estimate: 5 days
Dependencies: 1.1.2, 1.2.1
Deliverable: dsa-asm executable v2.0.0

  • Create new crate: dsa-assembler-ng (next-gen)
  • Implement lexer with better error recovery
  • Build parser with detailed error messages
    • Instruction parsing
    • Directive handling
    • Macro system
    • Include resolution
  • Symbol table management
  • Code generator outputting to DSB format
  • Multi-threading for file parsing
  • Comprehensive test suite
  • Error message testing

1.2.3 Import System & DSC Integration

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 1.2.2, 2.1.2
Deliverable: Working import system

  • Design import protocol between DSC and assembler
  • Implement symbol table merging
  • Handle pre-compiled object imports
  • Test DSC → Assembly → Object pipeline
  • Document integration process

1.3 Documentation Updates

Priority: MEDIUM — Can be done alongside development.
Total Estimate: 3 days (distributed)

1.3.1 Update Assembly Documentation

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: 1.2.2
Deliverable: Updated docs/dsa-assembly-reference.md

  • Review all instruction documentation
  • Document new pseudo-instructions
  • Update calling convention docs
  • Add examples for new features
  • Document assembler directives
  • Macro system documentation

1.3.2 Architecture Documentation

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: None (can start anytime)
Deliverable: docs/dsa-architecture.md

  • Document ISA specification
  • Memory model documentation
  • Interrupt handling
  • Hardware peripheral specs
  • Timing/performance characteristics

1.3.3 Build Tools Documentation

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: 1.2.2, 1.1.3, 3.1.2
Deliverable: docs/build-tools-guide.md

  • Assembler usage guide
  • Linker usage guide
  • Build system guide
  • Tutorial: Building a simple program
  • Tutorial: Multi-file projects

Phase 2: Compiler Development

Estimated Duration: 3–4 weeks

2.1 Language Design & Implementation

Priority: HIGH — Core functionality.
Total Estimate: 2.5 weeks

2.1.1 Language Syntax Design

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: None
Deliverable: docs/language-spec.md

  • Define syntax goals (simplicity, systems programming)
  • Design type system
    • Primitive types
    • Pointers/references
    • Structs
    • Arrays
    • Function types
  • Control flow syntax
  • Function declaration syntax
  • Module/import system
  • Operator precedence
  • Write EBNF grammar
  • Create example programs

2.1.2 Lexer & Parser Implementation

Estimate: 4 days
Dependencies: 2.1.1
Deliverable: Parser in dsc-compiler crate

  • Adapt existing C lexer to new syntax
  • Implement new parser for designed syntax
  • AST node definitions
  • Error recovery mechanisms
  • Comprehensive parser tests
  • Syntax error message quality testing

2.1.3 Code Generation Improvements

Estimate: 5 days
Dependencies: 2.1.2, 1.2.2
Deliverable: Working code generator

  • Review and fix existing codegen issues
  • Implement missing language features
    • Structs
    • Arrays
    • Pointers/memory operations
    • For loops
    • Switch statements
    • Break/continue
  • Optimize register allocation further
  • Implement proper function calling conventions
  • Add constant folding optimization
  • Dead code elimination
  • Test each feature thoroughly

2.1.4 Type Checking & Semantic Analysis

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: 2.1.2
Deliverable: Type checker integrated in compiler

  • Implement type checker
  • Symbol table for scoping
  • Type inference where applicable
  • Const checking
  • Definite assignment analysis
  • Comprehensive semantic error messages
  • Test suite for type errors

2.2 Standard Library

Priority: MEDIUM — Needed for useful programs.
Total Estimate: 1 week

2.2.1 Core Runtime Library (in Assembly)

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: 1.2.2
Deliverable: lib/runtime/ directory

  • Memory allocation (malloc/free)
  • String operations
  • Math functions
  • I/O functions (improved print, read)
  • System call interface
  • Tests for each function

2.2.2 Standard Library (in DSC)

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 2.1.3, 2.2.1
Deliverable: lib/std/ directory

  • String module
  • Collections (array utilities, maybe simple list)
  • File I/O module
  • Math utilities
  • Tests and examples

Phase 3: Build System & Package Management

Estimated Duration: 2–3 weeks

3.1 Build System

Priority: HIGH — Required for complex projects.
Total Estimate: 1.5 weeks

3.1.1 Build System Design

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: None
Deliverable: docs/build-system-design.md

  • Define project structure conventions
  • Design build manifest format (dsa-project.toml or similar)
  • Dependency resolution strategy
  • Build cache design
  • Incremental build strategy
  • Multi-target support

3.1.2 Build Tool Implementation

Estimate: 5 days
Dependencies: 3.1.1, 1.2.2, 1.1.3, 2.1.3
Deliverable: dsa-build executable

  • Create crate: dsa-build
  • Manifest parser
  • Dependency graph builder
  • Task orchestrator
    • Compilation tasks
    • Assembly tasks
    • Linking tasks
  • Build cache implementation
  • Parallel build support
  • Clean, rebuild commands
  • Watch mode for development
  • Comprehensive tests

3.1.3 Project Management Commands

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 3.1.2
Deliverable: Enhanced dsa-build with project management

  • dsa new <project> — Create new project
  • dsa init — Initialize in existing directory
  • dsa add <dependency> — Add dependency
  • Binary vs library project types
  • Template system for project scaffolding
  • Documentation for each command

3.2 Package Management System

Priority: MEDIUM — Enables code sharing.
Total Estimate: 1.5 weeks

3.2.1 Package Registry Design

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 3.1.1
Deliverable: docs/package-registry-design.md

  • Decide: Git monorepo vs custom hosting
  • Design package naming conventions
  • Version resolution strategy (semver)
  • Package manifest format
  • Security considerations
  • Package storage format (source/binary/both)
  • API design for registry server

3.2.2 Local Package Manager Tool

Estimate: 4 days
Dependencies: 3.2.1, 3.1.2
Deliverable: dsa-pkg tool integrated with dsa-build

  • Create crate: dsa-pkg
  • Package index synchronization
  • Dependency resolver
  • Package download/cache system
  • Integration with build system
  • Commands:
    • dsa install <package>
    • dsa publish
    • dsa search <query>
    • dsa update
  • Lock file generation
  • Test with mock registry

3.2.3 Package Registry Implementation

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: 3.2.1
Deliverable: Package registry (URL or repo)

  • If Git monorepo approach:
    • Set up repository structure
    • CI/CD for validation
    • Submission process
    • Package browser website
  • If custom hosting:
    • Simple web server (Rust + Axum/Actix)
    • Package upload API
    • Package search API
    • Basic web UI
    • Database for metadata
  • Documentation for publishing

Phase 4: Debugger & Development Tools

Estimated Duration: 3–4 weeks

4.1 Debug Symbol System

Priority: HIGH — Foundation for debugging.
Total Estimate: 1 week

4.1.1 Debug Symbol Format Design

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: 1.1.1
Deliverable: docs/debug-symbol-format.md

  • Design symbol table format
    • Function addresses → names
    • Line number → address mapping
    • Variable location information
    • Type information
  • Define symbol table file format
  • Plan for embedding in DSE/DSB files

4.1.2 Symbol Generation in Tools

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: 4.1.1, 1.2.2, 2.1.3
Deliverable: Debug symbols in build output

  • Modify assembler to emit debug symbols
  • Modify compiler to emit debug symbols
    • Source file/line tracking
    • Variable scope tracking
  • Linker merges debug symbols
  • Test symbol generation pipeline

4.1.3 Symbol Table Loader in Emulator

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 4.1.2
Deliverable: Symbol loading in emulator crate

  • Implement symbol table parser
  • Build address → symbol lookup (HashMap)
  • Build symbol → address lookup
  • Memory efficient storage
  • Tests for symbol resolution

4.2 Debugger Implementation

Priority: HIGH — Major productivity boost.
Total Estimate: 2 weeks

4.2.1 Core Debugger Features

Estimate: 5 days
Dependencies: 4.1.3
Deliverable: Debugger backend

  • Execution control
    • Step instruction
    • Step over function calls
    • Continue to breakpoint
    • Run to cursor
  • Breakpoint system
    • Address breakpoints
    • Conditional breakpoints
    • Watchpoints (memory access)
  • Register inspection
  • Memory inspection
  • Stack trace generation
  • Test debugger commands

4.2.2 Disassembler with Symbol Resolution

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: 4.1.3
Deliverable: Enhanced disassembler

  • Instruction decoder
  • Format with labels instead of addresses
  • Show function names at call sites
  • Inline comments with variable names
  • Color coding for instruction types
  • Tests for disassembly output

4.2.3 Pseudo-Instruction Decompiler

⚠️ COMPLEX TASK — Separate pass to decompile assembly into readable pseudo-instructions.

Estimate: 4 days
Dependencies: 4.2.2
Deliverable: Pseudo-instruction view mode

  • Pattern recognition for common sequences
    • Function prologue/epilogue
    • Multiplication using shifts/adds
    • Division
    • Conditional moves
  • Control flow reconstruction
    • If/else detection
    • Loop detection
    • Switch statement detection
  • Expression reconstruction
  • Format as higher-level pseudo-code
  • Extensive pattern testing

4.2.4 Execution History Tracking

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 4.2.1
Deliverable: Execution trace feature

  • Circular buffer for instruction history
  • Register state snapshots over time
  • Configurable history depth
  • Efficient memory usage
  • Playback/reverse debugging (basic)
  • Export trace to file

4.3 Enhanced Editor Integration

Priority: MEDIUM — UX improvement.
Total Estimate: 1 week

4.3.1 Tiling Window System

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: None (UI work)
Deliverable: Panel system in emulator

  • Research Rust tiling libraries (egui_tiles, or custom)
  • Design panel layout system
    • Code editor panel
    • Disassembly panel
    • Register panel
    • Memory panel
    • Console panel
  • Implement drag-and-drop panel management
  • Save/load layouts

4.3.2 Assembly Editor Improvements

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 4.3.1
Deliverable: Enhanced assembly editor

  • Syntax highlighting for DSA assembly
  • Auto-completion for instructions
  • Label/symbol auto-completion
  • Error highlighting
  • Inline documentation tooltips
  • Jump-to-definition for labels

4.3.3 High-Level Language Editor

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 4.3.1, 2.1.4
Deliverable: DSC language editor

  • Syntax highlighting for DSC language
  • Basic auto-completion
  • Bracket matching
  • Error highlighting from compiler
  • Go-to-definition (using debug symbols)
  • Inline type hints

4.3.4 Integrate Build Tools in Editor

Estimate: 1 day
Dependencies: 4.3.1, 3.1.2
Deliverable: Integrated build experience

  • Build button/command in UI
  • Show build output in console panel
  • Error navigation (click to jump to source)
  • Hot reload on successful build
  • Build status indicator

Phase 5: Integration & Polish

Estimated Duration: 1–2 weeks

5.1 Tool Integration

Priority: HIGH — Everything works together.
Total Estimate: 1 week

5.1.1 Unified Toolchain

Estimate: 3 days
Dependencies: All previous phases
Deliverable: dsa unified command-line tool

  • Create meta-crate: dsa-tools
  • Unified CLI with subcommands
    • dsa build
    • dsa run
    • dsa debug
    • dsa test
    • dsa pkg
  • Shared configuration system
  • Tool interop testing
  • Documentation for workflow

5.1.2 Emulator Integration

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 5.1.1, 4.3.4
Deliverable: Fully integrated development environment

  • Add build tools as emulator dependencies
  • In-editor build triggered from emulator
  • Debugger uses build output directly
  • Source-level debugging with line mapping
  • Test full edit → build → debug cycle

5.1.3 Documentation & Tutorials

Estimate: 2 days
Dependencies: 5.1.2
Deliverable: Complete documentation suite

  • Getting started guide
  • Full tutorial: Building a simple game
  • Debugger usage guide
  • Best practices document
  • Troubleshooting guide

Phase 6: Future Enhancements (NTH)

Priority: LOW — Nice to have, long-term goal.
Estimated Duration: 4+ weeks

6.1 Command-Line Emulator

⚠️ COMPLEX LONG-TERM GOAL — Requires significant design and UX consideration.

6.1.1 Design Phase

Estimate: 1 week
Dependencies: None
Deliverable: docs/cli-emulator-design.md

  • UX research for terminal-based debuggers
  • Design TUI layout (using ratatui or similar)
  • Command syntax design
  • Scripting support design
  • Accessibility considerations

6.1.2 Implementation

Estimate: 3+ weeks
Dependencies: 6.1.1, Phase 4 complete
Deliverable: dsa-emu-cli executable

  • TUI framework setup
  • Core emulator integration
  • Command parser
  • Panel rendering (code, registers, memory, etc.)
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Mouse support
  • Configuration system
  • Extensive usability testing

Summary Timeline

Phase Duration Key Dependencies
Phase 1: Foundation 3–4 weeks None
Phase 2: Compiler 3–4 weeks Phase 1 complete
Phase 3: Build System 2–3 weeks Phases 1–2 complete
Phase 4: Debugger 3–4 weeks Phases 1–3 complete
Phase 5: Integration 1–2 weeks Phases 1–4 complete
Phase 6: CLI Emulator (NTH) 4+ weeks Phase 4 complete

Total Estimated Time: 12–17 weeks (3–4 months) for Phases 1–5

Critical Path

The following tasks are on the critical path and will block other work if delayed:

1.1.1 Binary format design
  └── 1.1.2 Object file writer
        └── 1.1.3 Linker
              └── 1.2.2 Assembler rewrite
                    └── 2.1.3 Compiler codegen
                          └── 3.1.2 Build system
                                └── 4.1.2 Debug symbols
                                      └── 4.2.1 Debugger

Recommended Work Order

Weeks Focus Tasks
1–2 Binary Format & Linker 1.1.1 → 1.1.2 → 1.1.3
3–4 Assembler Rewrite 1.2.1 → 1.2.2
5–6 Compiler Syntax & Parser 2.1.1 → 2.1.2 (start 1.3 docs in parallel)
7–9 Compiler Codegen & Types 2.1.3 → 2.1.4 (start 2.2.1 runtime in parallel)
10–11 Build System 3.1.1 → 3.1.2 → 3.1.3
12–13 Package Management (if desired now) 3.2.1 → 3.2.2 → 3.2.3
14–15 Debug Symbols 4.1.1 → 4.1.2 → 4.1.3
16–18 Core Debugger 4.2.1 → 4.2.2 → 4.2.4
19–20 Editor Enhancements 4.3.1 → 4.3.2 → 4.3.3 → 4.3.4
21–22 Integration & Polish 5.1.1 → 5.1.2 → 5.1.3

Notes

  • Time estimates assume ~6–8 productive hours per day.
  • Add 20–30% buffer for unexpected issues.
  • Testing time is included in each estimate.
  • Documentation is distributed throughout rather than batched at the end.
  • Package management (3.2) can be deferred if time-constrained.
  • Pseudo-instruction decompiler (4.2.3) can be a stretch goal.
  • CLI emulator (Phase 6) is explicitly a "nice to have" and should not block other work.
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