NilPy: keyword arguments at call sites
Split out of [[decide-nilpy-closure-model]]'s measurement 2026-07-20. 196 uforth sites, all of one shape:
vm.define_word("+", native=w_plus)
Parameter DEFAULTS already exist (PyHdrDefHas and the ProcParamDefault*
tables), so the callee side is done; what is missing is binding an argument by
NAME at the call site.
Shape
At the call site, name=expr binds to the parameter of that name rather than by
position: resolve the name against Procs[cpi].Params[i].Name, fill the
remaining positions from the defaults that already exist, and error on a
duplicate or unknown name. Interacts with overload matching — a keyword form
should resolve after positional matching fails, not before.
Note the same syntax is a NilPy method call (vm.define_word(...)), so it must
work on the method path too, not only plain defs.
Gate
test-nilpy green with a .npy case diffed against CPython — keyword after
positional, keyword filling a defaulted parameter, keyword out of declaration
order, on both a def and a method, and the error cases (unknown name, duplicate)
— plus --tier quick + self-host byte-identical.
Log
- 2026-07-20 — resolved, commit 66685acc.