# Release Notes v2.171.0-alpha - WebAssembly Disassembly

## Overview

This alpha release includes the WebAssembly disassembly feature implemented as part of Sprint 49. This feature enhances PMAT's ability to analyze WebAssembly binaries by providing detailed function-level disassembly and pattern detection.

## New Features

### WebAssembly Disassembly

- **Function-level disassembly**: Converts WASM binary functions to readable instruction sequences
- **Instruction analysis**: Provides detailed metadata for each instruction (category, stack effect)
- **Pattern detection**: Identifies common patterns like dead code after unreachable or infinite loops
- **Basic block analysis**: Identifies control flow structure within functions
- **Selective disassembly**: Only disassembles exported functions or those with high complexity

### Technical Improvements

- **Performance Optimization**: Improved disassembly performance with cached parsing
- **Error Handling**: Enhanced error reporting from WebAssembly disassembly
- **Integration**: Seamless integration with existing WebAssembly analysis features

## Bug Fixes

- Fixed WASM disassembly support to properly handle nested structures
- Corrected parsing of complex control flow instructions
- Addressed memory usage issues with large WebAssembly binaries

## Documentation

- Added documentation for WebAssembly disassembly features
- Updated language support documentation
- Created detailed pattern detection examples

## Architecture

The disassembly feature leverages the wasmparser crate to analyze WebAssembly binaries:

- **Modular Design**: Clear separation between parsing, disassembly, and pattern detection
- **Extensible Architecture**: Easy to add new pattern detection rules
- **Performance Focus**: Optimized for handling large WebAssembly files

## Compatibility Notes

- Requires Rust 1.67 or higher
- Compatible with all existing API clients
- Feature flags:
  - `wasm-ast`: WebAssembly analysis (required)

## Technical Debt Reduction

This release marks the beginning of our technical debt reduction efforts:

- Implemented 1/5 high-severity technical debt issues
- Focused on WebAssembly disassembly as the first component
- Established a pattern for further debt reduction

## Credits

- Claude Code - Implementation of WebAssembly disassembly support
- PAIML Team - Architecture design and quality assurance

## Future Work

- Complete C/C++ language analyzer integration (planned for v2.171.0)
- Enhanced WebAssembly pattern detection
- Additional language-specific optimizations

---

*Released: October 27, 2025*
*PMAT version: 2.171.0-alpha*