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-rw-r--r--tvix/eval/src/vm/generators.rs783
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diff --git a/tvix/eval/src/vm/generators.rs b/tvix/eval/src/vm/generators.rs
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+//! This module implements generator logic for the VM. Generators are functions
+//! used during evaluation which can suspend their execution during their
+//! control flow, and request that the VM do something.
+//!
+//! This is used to keep the VM's stack size constant even when evaluating
+//! deeply nested recursive data structures.
+//!
+//! We implement generators using the [`genawaiter`] crate.
+
+use core::pin::Pin;
+use genawaiter::rc::Co;
+pub use genawaiter::rc::Gen;
+use std::fmt::Display;
+use std::future::Future;
+
+use crate::value::{PointerEquality, SharedThunkSet};
+use crate::warnings::{EvalWarning, WarningKind};
+use crate::FileType;
+use crate::NixString;
+
+use super::*;
+
+// -- Implementation of generic generator logic.
+
+/// States that a generator can be in while being driven by the VM.
+pub(crate) enum GeneratorState {
+    /// Normal execution of the generator.
+    Running,
+
+    /// Generator is awaiting the result of a forced value.
+    AwaitingValue,
+}
+
+/// Messages that can be sent from generators *to* the VM. In most
+/// cases, the VM will suspend the generator when receiving a message
+/// and enter some other frame to process the request.
+///
+/// Responses are returned to generators via the [`GeneratorResponse`] type.
+pub enum VMRequest {
+    /// Request that the VM forces this value. This message is first sent to the
+    /// VM with the unforced value, then returned to the generator with the
+    /// forced result.
+    ForceValue(Value),
+
+    /// Request that the VM deep-forces the value.
+    DeepForceValue(Value, SharedThunkSet),
+
+    /// Request the value at the given index from the VM's with-stack, in forced
+    /// state.
+    ///
+    /// The value is returned in the `ForceValue` message.
+    WithValue(usize),
+
+    /// Request the value at the given index from the *captured* with-stack, in
+    /// forced state.
+    CapturedWithValue(usize),
+
+    /// Request that the two values be compared for Nix equality. The result is
+    /// returned in the `ForceValue` message.
+    NixEquality(Box<(Value, Value)>, PointerEquality),
+
+    /// Push the given value to the VM's stack. This is used to prepare the
+    /// stack for requesting a function call from the VM.
+    ///
+    /// The VM does not respond to this request, so the next message received is
+    /// `Empty`.
+    StackPush(Value),
+
+    /// Pop a value from the stack and return it to the generator.
+    StackPop,
+
+    /// Request that the VM coerces this value to a string.
+    StringCoerce(Value, CoercionKind),
+
+    /// Request that the VM calls the given value, with arguments already
+    /// prepared on the stack. Value must already be forced.
+    Call(Value),
+
+    /// Request a call frame entering the given lambda immediately. This can be
+    /// used to force thunks.
+    EnterLambda {
+        lambda: Rc<Lambda>,
+        upvalues: Rc<Upvalues>,
+        light_span: LightSpan,
+    },
+
+    /// Emit a runtime warning (already containing a span) through the VM.
+    EmitWarning(EvalWarning),
+
+    /// Emit a runtime warning through the VM. The span of the current generator
+    /// is used for the final warning.
+    EmitWarningKind(WarningKind),
+
+    /// Request a lookup in the VM's import cache, which tracks the
+    /// thunks yielded by previously imported files.
+    ImportCacheLookup(PathBuf),
+
+    /// Provide the VM with an imported value for a given path, which
+    /// it can populate its input cache with.
+    ImportCachePut(PathBuf, Value),
+
+    /// Request that the VM imports the given path through its I/O interface.
+    PathImport(PathBuf),
+
+    /// Request that the VM reads the given path to a string.
+    ReadToString(PathBuf),
+
+    /// Request that the VM checks whether the given path exists.
+    PathExists(PathBuf),
+
+    /// Request that the VM reads the given path.
+    ReadDir(PathBuf),
+
+    /// Request a reasonable span from the VM.
+    Span,
+
+    /// Request evaluation of `builtins.tryEval` from the VM. See
+    /// [`VM::catch_result`] for an explanation of how this works.
+    TryForce(Value),
+
+    /// Request serialisation of a value to JSON, according to the
+    /// slightly odd Nix evaluation rules.
+    ToJson(Value),
+}
+
+/// Human-readable representation of a generator message, used by observers.
+impl Display for VMRequest {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            VMRequest::ForceValue(v) => write!(f, "force_value({})", v.type_of()),
+            VMRequest::DeepForceValue(v, _) => {
+                write!(f, "deep_force_value({})", v.type_of())
+            }
+            VMRequest::WithValue(_) => write!(f, "with_value"),
+            VMRequest::CapturedWithValue(_) => write!(f, "captured_with_value"),
+            VMRequest::NixEquality(values, ptr_eq) => {
+                write!(
+                    f,
+                    "nix_eq({}, {}, PointerEquality::{:?})",
+                    values.0.type_of(),
+                    values.1.type_of(),
+                    ptr_eq
+                )
+            }
+            VMRequest::StackPush(v) => write!(f, "stack_push({})", v.type_of()),
+            VMRequest::StackPop => write!(f, "stack_pop"),
+            VMRequest::StringCoerce(v, kind) => match kind {
+                CoercionKind::Weak => write!(f, "weak_string_coerce({})", v.type_of()),
+                CoercionKind::Strong => write!(f, "strong_string_coerce({})", v.type_of()),
+            },
+            VMRequest::Call(v) => write!(f, "call({})", v),
+            VMRequest::EnterLambda { lambda, .. } => {
+                write!(f, "enter_lambda({:p})", *lambda)
+            }
+            VMRequest::EmitWarning(_) => write!(f, "emit_warning"),
+            VMRequest::EmitWarningKind(_) => write!(f, "emit_warning_kind"),
+            VMRequest::ImportCacheLookup(p) => {
+                write!(f, "import_cache_lookup({})", p.to_string_lossy())
+            }
+            VMRequest::ImportCachePut(p, _) => {
+                write!(f, "import_cache_put({})", p.to_string_lossy())
+            }
+            VMRequest::PathImport(p) => write!(f, "path_import({})", p.to_string_lossy()),
+            VMRequest::ReadToString(p) => {
+                write!(f, "read_to_string({})", p.to_string_lossy())
+            }
+            VMRequest::PathExists(p) => write!(f, "path_exists({})", p.to_string_lossy()),
+            VMRequest::ReadDir(p) => write!(f, "read_dir({})", p.to_string_lossy()),
+            VMRequest::Span => write!(f, "span"),
+            VMRequest::TryForce(v) => write!(f, "try_force({})", v.type_of()),
+            VMRequest::ToJson(v) => write!(f, "to_json({})", v.type_of()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Responses returned to generators *from* the VM.
+pub enum VMResponse {
+    /// Empty message. Passed to the generator as the first message,
+    /// or when return values were optional.
+    Empty,
+
+    /// Value produced by the VM and returned to the generator.
+    Value(Value),
+
+    /// Path produced by the VM in response to some IO operation.
+    Path(PathBuf),
+
+    /// VM response with the contents of a directory.
+    Directory(Vec<(bytes::Bytes, FileType)>),
+
+    /// VM response with a span to use at the current point.
+    Span(LightSpan),
+}
+
+impl Display for VMResponse {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            VMResponse::Empty => write!(f, "empty"),
+            VMResponse::Value(v) => write!(f, "value({})", v),
+            VMResponse::Path(p) => write!(f, "path({})", p.to_string_lossy()),
+            VMResponse::Directory(d) => write!(f, "dir(len = {})", d.len()),
+            VMResponse::Span(_) => write!(f, "span"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) type Generator =
+    Gen<VMRequest, VMResponse, Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<Value, ErrorKind>>>>>;
+
+/// Helper function to provide type annotations which are otherwise difficult to
+/// infer.
+pub fn pin_generator(
+    f: impl Future<Output = Result<Value, ErrorKind>> + 'static,
+) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<Value, ErrorKind>>>> {
+    Box::pin(f)
+}
+
+impl<'o> VM<'o> {
+    /// Helper function to re-enqueue the current generator while it
+    /// is awaiting a value.
+    fn reenqueue_generator(&mut self, name: &'static str, span: LightSpan, generator: Generator) {
+        self.frames.push(Frame::Generator {
+            name,
+            generator,
+            span,
+            state: GeneratorState::AwaitingValue,
+        });
+    }
+
+    /// Helper function to enqueue a new generator.
+    pub(super) fn enqueue_generator<F, G>(&mut self, name: &'static str, span: LightSpan, gen: G)
+    where
+        F: Future<Output = Result<Value, ErrorKind>> + 'static,
+        G: FnOnce(GenCo) -> F,
+    {
+        self.frames.push(Frame::Generator {
+            name,
+            span,
+            state: GeneratorState::Running,
+            generator: Gen::new(|co| pin_generator(gen(co))),
+        });
+    }
+
+    /// Run a generator frame until it yields to the outer control loop, or runs
+    /// to completion.
+    ///
+    /// The return value indicates whether the generator has completed (true),
+    /// or was suspended (false).
+    pub(crate) fn run_generator(
+        &mut self,
+        name: &'static str,
+        span: LightSpan,
+        frame_id: usize,
+        state: GeneratorState,
+        mut generator: Generator,
+        initial_message: Option<VMResponse>,
+    ) -> EvalResult<bool> {
+        // Determine what to send to the generator based on its state.
+        let mut message = match (initial_message, state) {
+            (Some(msg), _) => msg,
+            (_, GeneratorState::Running) => VMResponse::Empty,
+
+            // If control returned here, and the generator is
+            // awaiting a value, send it the top of the stack.
+            (_, GeneratorState::AwaitingValue) => VMResponse::Value(self.stack_pop()),
+        };
+
+        loop {
+            match generator.resume_with(message) {
+                // If the generator yields, it contains an instruction
+                // for what the VM should do.
+                genawaiter::GeneratorState::Yielded(request) => {
+                    self.observer.observe_generator_request(name, &request);
+
+                    match request {
+                        VMRequest::StackPush(value) => {
+                            self.stack.push(value);
+                            message = VMResponse::Empty;
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::StackPop => {
+                            message = VMResponse::Value(self.stack_pop());
+                        }
+
+                        // Generator has requested a force, which means that
+                        // this function prepares the frame stack and yields
+                        // back to the outer VM loop.
+                        VMRequest::ForceValue(value) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+                            self.enqueue_generator("force", span.clone(), |co| {
+                                value.force(co, span)
+                            });
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        // Generator has requested a deep-force.
+                        VMRequest::DeepForceValue(value, thunk_set) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+                            self.enqueue_generator("deep_force", span, |co| {
+                                value.deep_force(co, thunk_set)
+                            });
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        // Generator has requested a value from the with-stack.
+                        // Logic is similar to `ForceValue`, except with the
+                        // value being taken from that stack.
+                        VMRequest::WithValue(idx) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+
+                            let value = self.stack[self.with_stack[idx]].clone();
+                            self.enqueue_generator("force", span.clone(), |co| {
+                                value.force(co, span)
+                            });
+
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        // Generator has requested a value from the *captured*
+                        // with-stack. Logic is same as above, except for the
+                        // value being from that stack.
+                        VMRequest::CapturedWithValue(idx) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+
+                            let call_frame = self.last_call_frame()
+                                .expect("Tvix bug: generator requested captured with-value, but there is no call frame");
+
+                            let value = call_frame.upvalues.with_stack().unwrap()[idx].clone();
+                            self.enqueue_generator("force", span.clone(), |co| {
+                                value.force(co, span)
+                            });
+
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::NixEquality(values, ptr_eq) => {
+                            let values = *values;
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+                            self.enqueue_generator("nix_eq", span, |co| {
+                                values.0.nix_eq(values.1, co, ptr_eq)
+                            });
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::StringCoerce(val, kind) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+                            self.enqueue_generator("coerce_to_string", span, |co| {
+                                val.coerce_to_string(co, kind)
+                            });
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::Call(callable) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+                            self.call_value(span, None, callable)?;
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::EnterLambda {
+                            lambda,
+                            upvalues,
+                            light_span,
+                        } => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span, generator);
+
+                            self.frames.push(Frame::CallFrame {
+                                span: light_span,
+                                call_frame: CallFrame {
+                                    lambda,
+                                    upvalues,
+                                    ip: CodeIdx(0),
+                                    stack_offset: self.stack.len(),
+                                },
+                            });
+
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::EmitWarning(warning) => {
+                            self.push_warning(warning);
+                            message = VMResponse::Empty;
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::EmitWarningKind(kind) => {
+                            self.emit_warning(kind);
+                            message = VMResponse::Empty;
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::ImportCacheLookup(path) => {
+                            if let Some(cached) = self.import_cache.get(path) {
+                                message = VMResponse::Value(cached.clone());
+                            } else {
+                                message = VMResponse::Empty;
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::ImportCachePut(path, value) => {
+                            self.import_cache.insert(path, value);
+                            message = VMResponse::Empty;
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::PathImport(path) => {
+                            let imported = self
+                                .io_handle
+                                .import_path(&path)
+                                .map_err(|e| ErrorKind::IO {
+                                    path: Some(path),
+                                    error: e.into(),
+                                })
+                                .with_span(&span, self)?;
+
+                            message = VMResponse::Path(imported);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::ReadToString(path) => {
+                            let content = self
+                                .io_handle
+                                .read_to_string(&path)
+                                .map_err(|e| ErrorKind::IO {
+                                    path: Some(path),
+                                    error: e.into(),
+                                })
+                                .with_span(&span, self)?;
+
+                            message = VMResponse::Value(Value::String(content.into()))
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::PathExists(path) => {
+                            let exists = self
+                                .io_handle
+                                .path_exists(&path)
+                                .map_err(|e| ErrorKind::IO {
+                                    path: Some(path),
+                                    error: e.into(),
+                                })
+                                .map(Value::Bool)
+                                .with_span(&span, self)?;
+
+                            message = VMResponse::Value(exists);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::ReadDir(path) => {
+                            let dir = self
+                                .io_handle
+                                .read_dir(&path)
+                                .map_err(|e| ErrorKind::IO {
+                                    path: Some(path),
+                                    error: e.into(),
+                                })
+                                .with_span(&span, self)?;
+                            message = VMResponse::Directory(dir);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::Span => {
+                            message = VMResponse::Span(self.reasonable_light_span());
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::TryForce(value) => {
+                            self.try_eval_frames.push(frame_id);
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+
+                            debug_assert!(
+                                self.frames.len() == frame_id + 1,
+                                "generator should be reenqueued with the same frame ID"
+                            );
+
+                            self.enqueue_generator("force", span.clone(), |co| {
+                                value.force(co, span)
+                            });
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+
+                        VMRequest::ToJson(value) => {
+                            self.reenqueue_generator(name, span.clone(), generator);
+                            self.enqueue_generator("to_json", span, |co| {
+                                value.to_json_generator(co)
+                            });
+                            return Ok(false);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Generator has completed, and its result value should
+                // be left on the stack.
+                genawaiter::GeneratorState::Complete(result) => {
+                    let value = result.with_span(&span, self)?;
+                    self.stack.push(value);
+                    return Ok(true);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub type GenCo = Co<VMRequest, VMResponse>;
+
+// -- Implementation of concrete generator use-cases.
+
+/// Request that the VM place the given value on its stack.
+pub async fn request_stack_push(co: &GenCo, val: Value) {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::StackPush(val)).await {
+        VMResponse::Empty => {}
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Request that the VM pop a value from the stack and return it to the
+/// generator.
+pub async fn request_stack_pop(co: &GenCo) -> Value {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::StackPop).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Force any value and return the evaluated result from the VM.
+pub async fn request_force(co: &GenCo, val: Value) -> Value {
+    if let Value::Thunk(_) = val {
+        match co.yield_(VMRequest::ForceValue(val)).await {
+            VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+            msg => panic!(
+                "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+                msg
+            ),
+        }
+    } else {
+        val
+    }
+}
+
+/// Force a value
+pub(crate) async fn request_try_force(co: &GenCo, val: Value) -> Value {
+    if let Value::Thunk(_) = val {
+        match co.yield_(VMRequest::TryForce(val)).await {
+            VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+            msg => panic!(
+                "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+                msg
+            ),
+        }
+    } else {
+        val
+    }
+}
+
+/// Call the given value as a callable. The argument(s) must already be prepared
+/// on the stack.
+pub async fn request_call(co: &GenCo, val: Value) -> Value {
+    let val = request_force(co, val).await;
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::Call(val)).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Helper function to call the given value with the provided list of arguments.
+/// This uses the StackPush and Call messages under the hood.
+pub async fn request_call_with<I>(co: &GenCo, mut callable: Value, args: I) -> Value
+where
+    I: IntoIterator<Item = Value>,
+    I::IntoIter: DoubleEndedIterator,
+{
+    let mut num_args = 0_usize;
+    for arg in args.into_iter().rev() {
+        num_args += 1;
+        request_stack_push(co, arg).await;
+    }
+
+    debug_assert!(num_args > 0, "call_with called with an empty list of args");
+
+    while num_args > 0 {
+        callable = request_call(co, callable).await;
+        num_args -= 1;
+    }
+
+    callable
+}
+
+pub async fn request_string_coerce(
+    co: &GenCo,
+    val: Value,
+    kind: CoercionKind,
+) -> Result<NixString, CatchableErrorKind> {
+    match val {
+        Value::String(s) => Ok(s),
+        _ => match co.yield_(VMRequest::StringCoerce(val, kind)).await {
+            VMResponse::Value(Value::Catchable(c)) => Err(c),
+            VMResponse::Value(value) => Ok(value
+                .to_str()
+                .expect("coerce_to_string always returns a string")),
+            msg => panic!(
+                "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+                msg
+            ),
+        },
+    }
+}
+
+/// Deep-force any value and return the evaluated result from the VM.
+pub async fn request_deep_force(co: &GenCo, val: Value, thunk_set: SharedThunkSet) -> Value {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::DeepForceValue(val, thunk_set)).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Ask the VM to compare two values for equality.
+pub(crate) async fn check_equality(
+    co: &GenCo,
+    a: Value,
+    b: Value,
+    ptr_eq: PointerEquality,
+) -> Result<bool, ErrorKind> {
+    match co
+        .yield_(VMRequest::NixEquality(Box::new((a, b)), ptr_eq))
+        .await
+    {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value.as_bool(),
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Emit a fully constructed runtime warning.
+pub(crate) async fn emit_warning(co: &GenCo, warning: EvalWarning) {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::EmitWarning(warning)).await {
+        VMResponse::Empty => {}
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Emit a runtime warning with the span of the current generator.
+pub async fn emit_warning_kind(co: &GenCo, kind: WarningKind) {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::EmitWarningKind(kind)).await {
+        VMResponse::Empty => {}
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Request that the VM enter the given lambda.
+pub(crate) async fn request_enter_lambda(
+    co: &GenCo,
+    lambda: Rc<Lambda>,
+    upvalues: Rc<Upvalues>,
+    light_span: LightSpan,
+) -> Value {
+    let msg = VMRequest::EnterLambda {
+        lambda,
+        upvalues,
+        light_span,
+    };
+
+    match co.yield_(msg).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Request a lookup in the VM's import cache.
+pub(crate) async fn request_import_cache_lookup(co: &GenCo, path: PathBuf) -> Option<Value> {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::ImportCacheLookup(path)).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => Some(value),
+        VMResponse::Empty => None,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Request that the VM populate its input cache for the given path.
+pub(crate) async fn request_import_cache_put(co: &GenCo, path: PathBuf, value: Value) {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::ImportCachePut(path, value)).await {
+        VMResponse::Empty => {}
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Request that the VM import the given path.
+pub(crate) async fn request_path_import(co: &GenCo, path: PathBuf) -> PathBuf {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::PathImport(path)).await {
+        VMResponse::Path(path) => path,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) async fn request_read_to_string(co: &GenCo, path: PathBuf) -> Value {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::ReadToString(path)).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) async fn request_path_exists(co: &GenCo, path: PathBuf) -> Value {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::PathExists(path)).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(value) => value,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) async fn request_read_dir(co: &GenCo, path: PathBuf) -> Vec<(bytes::Bytes, FileType)> {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::ReadDir(path)).await {
+        VMResponse::Directory(dir) => dir,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) async fn request_span(co: &GenCo) -> LightSpan {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::Span).await {
+        VMResponse::Span(span) => span,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) async fn request_to_json(co: &GenCo, value: Value) -> serde_json::Value {
+    match co.yield_(VMRequest::ToJson(value)).await {
+        VMResponse::Value(Value::Json(json)) => json,
+        msg => panic!(
+            "Tvix bug: VM responded with incorrect generator message: {}",
+            msg
+        ),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Call the given value as if it was an attribute set containing a functor. The
+/// arguments must already be prepared on the stack when a generator frame from
+/// this function is invoked.
+///
+pub(crate) async fn call_functor(co: GenCo, value: Value) -> Result<Value, ErrorKind> {
+    let attrs = value.to_attrs()?;
+
+    match attrs.select("__functor") {
+        None => Err(ErrorKind::NotCallable("set without `__functor_` attribute")),
+        Some(functor) => {
+            // The functor receives the set itself as its first argument and
+            // needs to be called with it.
+            let functor = request_force(&co, functor.clone()).await;
+            let primed = request_call_with(&co, functor, [value]).await;
+            Ok(request_call(&co, primed).await)
+        }
+    }
+}