# Roadmap Update - 2025-10-06

**Current State**: Sprint 9 Phase 3 PAUSED + Book Compatibility Analysis COMPLETE
**Test Status**: 3554 passing (stable, zero regressions)
**Quality Status**: TDG A- maintained
**Last Session**: Book Compatibility Sprint (Option 1 completed)

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## 📊 Current Project Status

### Completed Work (2025-10-06)

**✅ Book Compatibility Sprint** (4 hours):
- Created 2 automated test suites (`.pmat/test_*.sh`)
- Verified 82.6% actual compatibility (vs 77% documented)
- Fixed documentation accuracy (100% one-liners vs claimed 60%)
- Closed Bug #002 (main function compilation)
- Updated ruchy-book documentation with empirical evidence

**✅ Sprint 8.5 Parser Mutation** (100%):
- All 29 parser mutation gaps fixed
- 100% file coverage across 6 parser modules
- Comprehensive test patterns established

**⏸️ Sprint 9 Phase 3 Runtime Large Files** (30%):
- 3/10 files complete (eval_method.rs, eval_string_methods.rs, eval_try_catch.rs)
- 18 mutation gaps fixed
- 7 files deferred for overnight testing (infrastructure created)

### Known Gaps from Book Analysis

**Real Feature Gaps** (from compatibility testing):
1. ❌ Dataframes (Chapter 18): Parser not implemented
2. ❌ Try-catch (Chapter 17): Parser incomplete
3. ⚠️ String methods: to_uppercase(), split() issues
4. ⚠️ Output formatting: to_string(), object literals

**Parser Regression** (from background test):
- 29 MISSED mutations in parser (1597 total tested)
- Patterns: match arms (9), negations (5), stubs (4)
- Files: expressions.rs (11), mod.rs (5), collections.rs (5)

### Quality Metrics

| Metric | Current | Target | Status |
|--------|---------|--------|--------|
| Test Count | 3554 | 3500+ | ✅ Exceeds |
| Book Compatibility | 82.6% | >90% | ⚠️ 7.4% gap |
| One-liner Support | 100% | 100% | ✅ Perfect |
| TDG Grade | A- | A- | ✅ Maintained |
| Sprint 9 Phase 3 | 30% | 100% | ⏸️ Paused |
| Parser Mutation | 98% | 100% | ⚠️ 29 gaps |

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## 🎯 4 High-Value Work Options

### **Option 1: Complete Sprint 9 Phase 3** (Runtime Mutation Testing)
**Finish the paused mutation testing work**

**Scope**:
- 7 remaining large files (400-700 lines each)
- Estimated 20-40 mutation gaps to fix
- Infrastructure already created (`.pmat/run_overnight_mutations.sh`)

**Effort**: 6-10 hours  
**Value**: Foundation quality (prevents regressions)  
**Risk**: Low (established process, known patterns)  

**Tasks**:
1. Run overnight mutation tests for 7 files
2. Analyze gaps and categorize by pattern
3. Write targeted tests for each gap
4. Verify 100% mutation coverage
5. Document completion

**Pros**:
- Completes started work systematically
- Establishes runtime quality baseline
- Uses proven mutation testing approach
- High confidence in success

**Cons**:
- Delays user-facing improvements
- May find test oracle limitations
- Time-consuming (10-15 hours runtime)

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### **Option 2: Fix Book Compatibility Gaps** (Feature Implementation)
**Address real gaps discovered in compatibility testing**

**Scope**:
- Implement missing string methods (to_uppercase, etc.)
- Fix try-catch parser support
- Standardize output formatting
- Begin dataframe parser work

**Effort**: 8-12 hours  
**Value**: Direct user impact (increases book compatibility)  
**Risk**: Medium (parser work can be complex)  

**Tasks**:
1. **String Methods** (2-3 hours):
   - Implement to_uppercase(), to_lowercase()
   - Fix split() output formatting
   - Add comprehensive tests
   
2. **Try-Catch Parser** (3-4 hours):
   - Complete try-catch syntax support
   - Add error handling tests
   - Update documentation

3. **Output Formatting** (2-3 hours):
   - Standardize to_string() behavior
   - Fix object literal formatting
   - Ensure consistency

4. **Dataframe Parser** (4-6 hours):
   - Implement df![] macro parsing
   - Add basic dataframe tests
   - Document limitations

**Pros**:
- Increases book compatibility from 82.6% → ~90%
- Fixes real user pain points
- Clear, actionable deliverables
- Measurable impact

**Cons**:
- Parser work can be complex
- May reveal additional gaps
- Leaves Sprint 9 incomplete

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### **Option 3: Fix Parser Regression** (Quality Debt Paydown)
**Address 29 MISSED mutations found in parser**

**Scope**:
- Fix 29 mutation gaps across 6 parser files
- Largest concentration: expressions.rs (11), mod.rs (5), collections.rs (5)
- Patterns: match arms (9), negations (5), stubs (4)

**Effort**: 4-6 hours  
**Value**: Parser quality assurance  
**Risk**: Low (established mutation testing process)  

**Tasks**:
1. Analyze all 29 MISSED mutations by pattern
2. Write targeted tests for each category:
   - Match arm deletions (9 gaps)
   - Negation operators (5 gaps)
   - Function stubs (4 gaps)
   - Other patterns (11 gaps)
3. Verify fixes with mutation re-run
4. Document as "Sprint 8.5 Extension"

**Pros**:
- Closes parser quality gap (98% → 100%)
- Uses proven mutation testing approach
- Builds on Sprint 8.5 success
- Quick wins with established patterns

**Cons**:
- Parser-focused (not user-facing)
- Delays feature work
- May find more gaps in full run

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### **Option 4: Strategic Feature Selection** (High-Impact Features)
**Implement most-requested features from roadmap**

**Scope**:
- Select 2-3 high-impact features from backlog
- Focus on quick wins with maximum user value
- Balance effort vs impact ratio

**Effort**: 6-10 hours  
**Value**: Maximum user impact per hour  
**Risk**: Medium (feature-dependent)  

**Candidate Features** (from roadmap/issues):
1. **Async/Await Syntax** (3-4 hours):
   - Complete async function parsing
   - Add await expression support
   - Enable concurrent programming examples

2. **Pattern Guards** (2-3 hours):
   - Implement `match x { n if n > 0 => ... }`
   - Add comprehensive tests
   - Update documentation

3. **Improved Error Messages** (2-3 hours):
   - Add source location to errors
   - Improve error clarity
   - Add "did you mean?" suggestions

4. **REPL Multi-line Support** (3-4 hours):
   - Enable multi-line input
   - Improve testing experience
   - Better book example validation

**Pros**:
- High user value per hour invested
- Enables new use cases
- Flexible scope (can adjust based on time)
- Visible improvements

**Cons**:
- Feature selection requires decision
- May introduce new bugs
- Scope creep risk

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## 📈 Recommendation Matrix

| Option | User Impact | Quality Impact | Effort | Risk | ROI |
|--------|------------|---------------|--------|------|-----|
| **Option 1** (Sprint 9 Phase 3) | Low | High | 6-10h | Low | Medium |
| **Option 2** (Book Compat Gaps) | High | Medium | 8-12h | Medium | High |
| **Option 3** (Parser Regression) | Low | High | 4-6h | Low | Medium |
| **Option 4** (Strategic Features) | High | Low | 6-10h | Medium | High |

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## 💡 Recommendations by Goal

### If Goal: **Maximum User Value**
→ **Option 2** (Book Compatibility Gaps)  
**Reasoning**: Direct fixes to discovered pain points, measurable improvement (82.6% → ~90%)

### If Goal: **Quality Foundation**
→ **Option 1** (Sprint 9 Phase 3)  
**Reasoning**: Completes systematic quality work, prevents future regressions

### If Goal: **Quick Wins**
→ **Option 3** (Parser Regression)  
**Reasoning**: Smallest effort (4-6h), closes known gap, proven process

### If Goal: **Strategic Growth**
→ **Option 4** (Strategic Features)  
**Reasoning**: High-impact features, flexible scope, enables new capabilities

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## 🔄 Hybrid Approaches

### **Hybrid A: Quality + Features** (12-16 hours)
1. Complete Option 3 (Parser Regression) - 4-6h
2. Then Option 2 (Book Compatibility Gaps) - 8-12h
3. Result: Parser at 100%, book compatibility at ~90%

### **Hybrid B: Foundation + Quick Wins** (10-14 hours)
1. Complete Option 1 (Sprint 9 Phase 3) - 6-10h
2. Then Option 3 (Parser Regression) - 4-6h
3. Result: Runtime + Parser both at 100% mutation coverage

### **Hybrid C: User Value First** (14-20 hours)
1. Option 2 (Book Compatibility Gaps) - 8-12h
2. Option 4 (Strategic Features) - 6-10h
3. Result: Maximum user-facing improvements

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## 📋 Decision Framework

**Choose Based On**:

1. **Time Available**:
   - 4-6 hours → Option 3 (Parser Regression)
   - 6-10 hours → Option 1 (Sprint 9 Phase 3) or Option 4 (Strategic Features)
   - 8-12 hours → Option 2 (Book Compatibility Gaps)
   - 12+ hours → Hybrid approaches

2. **Current Pain Point**:
   - Users reporting missing features → Option 2
   - Quality concerns → Option 1 or 3
   - Need new capabilities → Option 4

3. **Strategic Priority**:
   - Complete started work → Option 1
   - User adoption → Option 2
   - Quality assurance → Option 3
   - Growth/features → Option 4

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## 🎯 My Recommendation

**Primary**: **Option 2** (Book Compatibility Gaps)

**Reasoning**:
1. **Evidence-Based**: Gaps discovered through empirical testing
2. **High Impact**: Increases book compatibility 82.6% → ~90%
3. **User Value**: Fixes real pain points (string methods, try-catch, etc.)
4. **Measurable**: Clear success criteria (can re-run test suite)
5. **Timely**: Builds on today's compatibility analysis momentum

**Alternative**: If prefer quality → **Option 3** (Parser Regression) then **Option 1** (Sprint 9 Phase 3)

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**Next Step**: Select one option and begin execution

Generated: 2025-10-06
Status: READY FOR DECISION
Confidence: HIGH - All options well-analyzed with clear trade-offs
