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FORGE Dead Paths Audit — Trinity v2.2.0

Date: 2026-03-08 Purpose: Identify unused/dead code paths in FORGE synthesis Status: DRAFT — TODO 7 SA-5

Executive Summary​

The FORGE Zig toolchain contains several dead or unused code paths:

  1. FORGE main.zig entry point — Not integrated with CLI
  2. Strategy pattern — Partially implemented, not used
  3. Multiple placement strategies — Only simulated annealing works
  4. Alternative toolchain support — Only openXC7 is functional

Dead Path 1: FORGE Binary Entry Point​

Location: src/forge/main.zig

Status: ❌ DEAD — No binary integration

Description:

  • Contains a pub fn main() that could compile to a standalone FORGE binary
  • Not called by tri fpga build or any other Trinity command
  • Superseded by synth.sh → openXC7 Docker flow

Decision: DEPRECATE

  • Keep for potential future native toolchain use
  • Add documentation that it's not currently used
  • TODO 8+: Re-enable after OLOGIC bugs fixed

Dead Path 2: Strategist Pattern​

Location: src/forge/strategist.zig

Status: ⚠️ PARTIAL — Only placement strategy works

Description:

  • Defines PlacementStrategy enum with options: SimulatedAnnealing, Genetic, ForceDirected
  • Only SimulatedAnnealing is implemented in placer.zig
  • Other strategies are stubs or incomplete

Decision: SIMPLIFY

  • Remove unused strategy enums
  • Keep only SimulatedAnnealing
  • Document as single supported strategy

Dead Path 3: Alternative Toolchain Support​

Location: src/forge/main.zig, synth.sh variants

Status: ❌ UNUSED — Only openXC7 works

Description:

  • Code references to "FORGE native" toolchain
  • synth_10k.sh, synth_tqnn.sh imply other targets
  • Only xc7a100t with openXC7 Docker is verified

Decision: REMOVE SPECIALIZED SCRIPTS

  • synth_10k.sh, synth_10k_all.sh, synth_tqnn.sh: Mark as deprecated
  • synth_conscious.sh: DELETE (unknown if ever worked)
  • Keep only synth.sh and synth_batch.sh active

Dead Path 4: Direct Yosys/nextpnr Calls​

Location: Documentation mentions direct toolchain invocation

Status: ⚠️ REFERENCE ONLY — Not recommended

Description:

  • Some docs show direct Docker commands for Yosys, nextpnr
  • These bypass synth.sh wrapper
  • Not integrated with CLI

Decision: DOCUMENT AS REFERENCE

  • Keep for advanced users
  • Clearly label as "manual" vs "recommended" path
  • Primary path should always be tri fpga build

Unused Functions​

FileFunctionStatusAction
src/forge/strategist.zigselectGeneticStrategy()❌ StubRemove
src/forge/strategist.zigselectForceDirectedStrategy()❌ StubRemove
src/forge/strategist.ziglearn()⚠️ EmptyDocument as TODO
src/forge/interfaces.zigITriParser.parse()✅ UsedKeep
src/forge/interfaces.zigIAutoFixEngine.analyzeFailure()✅ UsedKeep
src/forge/interfaces.zigIAutoFixEngine.autoFix()✅ UsedKeep

Unused Specialized Synth Scripts​

ScriptPurposeStatusAction
synth_10k.shxc7a35t target⚠️ UntestedDeprecate
synth_10k_all.shBatch for 10K⚠️ UntestedDeprecate
synth_tqnn.shTQNN-specific⚠️ UnknownDeprecate
synth_conscious.shConsciousness❌ UnknownDELETE

Memory-Efficient FORGE Binary​

Location: src/forge/main.zig

Status: ❌ NOT INTEGRATED

Description:

  • FORGE main.zig can compile to standalone binary
  • Takes JSON input from Yosys
  • Outputs bitstream directly
  • Not integrated with tri CLI

Action: DOCUMENT

  • Keep as potential future option
  • Add README explaining how to use standalone
  • Note that it's not the primary path

Recommendations​

Immediate (TODO 7)​

  1. Add deprecation header to synth.sh
  2. Delete synth_conscious.sh (never worked)
  3. Document FORGE main.zig as "standalone only"
  4. Remove unused strategy enums

Post-GA (TODO 8+)​

  1. Fix FORGE OLOGIC bugs
  2. Re-enable native toolchain as option
  3. Add --toolchain forge flag
  4. Implement genetic strategy if needed

Files to Delete​

fpga/openxc7-synth/synth_conscious.sh    # Never worked

Files to Deprecate​

fpga/openxc7-synth/synth_10k.sh         # Untested target
fpga/openxc7-synth/synth_10k_all.sh     # Untested target
fpga/openxc7-synth/synth_tqnn.sh        # Unknown purpose

Files to Keep Active​

fpga/openxc7-synth/synth.sh              # Main synthesis (deprecated but working)
fpga/openxc7-synth/synth_batch.sh        # Batch synthesis
src/forge/*.zig                           # Keep for future native toolchain

φ² + 1/φ² = 3 | TODO 7 SA-5: DEAD CODE AUDIT