hot-reload attempt (unreviewed, not working)

.vscode/launch.json

@@ -177,6 +177,39 @@
 				"tbreak main",
 				"continue"
 			]
+		},
+		{
+			"name": "Debug: Hello Camera! (attach only)",
+			"type": "gdb",
+			"request": "attach",
+			"target": "localhost:3333",
+			"remote": true,
+			"cwd": "${workspaceRoot}",
+			"valuesFormatting": "parseText",
+			"registerLimit": "1-32",
+			"frameFilters": false,
+			"showDevDebugOutput": false,
+			"printCalls": false,
+			"stopAtConnect": true,
+			"gdbpath": "gdb-multiarch",
+			"windows": {
+				"gdbpath": "gdb-multiarch.exe"
+			},
+			"osx": {
+				"gdbpath": "gdb"
+			},
+			"executable": "${workspaceRoot}/build/hello_camera.dwarf-injected.elf",
+			"setupCommands": [
+				{ "text": "set mi-async off" },
+				{ "text": "set remotetimeout 0" },
+				{ "text": "set logging file build/gen/hello_camera.gdb.log" },
+				{ "text": "set logging redirect on" }
+			],
+			"autorun": [
+				"source scripts/gdb/gdb_tape_atoms.gdb",
+				"tbreak hot_reload_entry",
+				"continue"
+			]
 		}
 	]
 }

code/duffle/lottes_tape.h

@@ -31,11 +31,10 @@
  * From here various conventions can be further applied.
  * To make things easier to understand it may be better to focus on what this
  * ABI does not have. It does not have have any branching within the tape but
- * relative branches within atoms or between atoms.
+ * relative branches between atoms. Branching nearly is always downstream.
- * Branching nearly is always downstream. Stack usage is non-existent.
+ * Stack usage is non-existent. Push/Pop, FIFO, or Arena/Bump data structures
- * Push/Pop, FIFO, or Arena/Bump data structures are used by atoms explicitly.
+ * are used by atoms explicitly. In it's current form withe C11 macro dsl,
- * In it's current form withe C11 macro dsl, the user also has to do manual register 
+ * the user also has to do manual register allocation per atom.
- * allocation per atom.
  * 
  * One of the remarkable things about utilizing this abi is its essentially
  * interopable with CPUs, GPUs, FPGA, or, basically anything
@@ -44,38 +43,37 @@
  * in order to execute digital logic effectively on current era tech.
  * On the PS1 we don't have access to a few features like multi-threading,
  * speculative execution, or L3 cache; but, we can set the foundation for legoing
- * whats required for eventually expanding this ABI's paradigm and core atoms
+ * whats required baseline wise for eventually expanding the harness and core atoms
  * to take those newer hardware features into account. For example, you can easily
  * expand this to support wave-based execution model on a PS2 or PS3.
  * Not having a stack or automatic register allocation means the user can't ignore
  * excessive argument shuffle across workload or waves and thier phases.
- * Crossing ABI boundaries to other runtimes that do has obviouss penalties.
+ * Crossing ABI boundaries to other runtimes that do has an obviouss penalties.
  * 
  * Learning data-oreinted code becomes a natural progression. Your not fighting
- * a stack-based procedural paradigm that wants to argument shuffle on by lack of 
+ * a stack-based procedural paradigm that wants to argument shuffle on the stack
- * constraints on how the user may "call" a procedure. The user doesn't
+ * by lack of constraints on how the user may "call" a procedure. The user doesn't
  * have to hammer down "rules" or patterns to know how to massage the compiler
- * to dissolve those call frames to get the asesmbly into its desired form.
+ * to get the asesmbly into its natural form. The form is obvious, and once
- * The form is obvious, and once the user gets to author these compoonents
+ * the user gets to author their compoonents it becomes a game of tetris.
- * it becomes a game of tetris.
  * 
  * Another feature is this ABI is very compatible with bootstrapping and developing
  * simple toolchains built off of bit-packed annotated command streams the user can
- * directly author, maintatain, and immediately execute. That being like a color forth.
+ * directly author, maintatain, and immediately execute. That being a color forth.
  * This can make the tetris less of a chore with some helpful policy generation for
  * allocation of registers, helping to choose resuable components, designing DSL on
  * the fly, etc.
  * -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- * TODO(Ed): We need pretty ascii diagrams and proper guides, articles, etc.
+ * TODO(Ed): We ned pretty ascii diagrams and proper guides, articles, etc.
  * -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- * For now this ideation is just started functioning. I'm abusing C11 & a lua metaprogram
+ * For now this thing is just functioning and I'm abusing C11 + a lua metaprogram
  * to help establish a hybrid toolchain to ideate on a traditional text-based
  * authoring UX for this paradigm.
- * If pcsx-redux provides viable hot-reload and persistent data storage beyond
+ * If pcsx-redux gets me viable hot-reload and persistent data storage beyond
- * save-states (just copying ram to filesystem), I can author a color forth to
+ * save-states (just copying ram to filesystem). I can author a color forth to
- * mess around with. With either an editor in-emulator or on the actual machine itself.
+ * mess around with, with an editor in-emulator or on the actual machine itself.
- * Assembly is tedius, but I think this codebase most likely has a pretty ergonomic 
+ * Assembly is tedius, but I think this codebase most likely has some of the most,
- * flavor worst case...
+ * ergonomic you can come across..
  * */
 /* Register Allocation Info */
 enum {

code/hello_camera/hello_camera.c

@@ -290,6 +290,19 @@ void gp_display_frame(DoubleBuffer* screen_buf, S4* active_buf_id, U4* ordering_
 }
 
 GCC_OPTIMIZATION_DISABLE
+void hot_reload_entry(void)
+{
+	smem.primitives.used = 0;
+	while (1) {
+		gknown S4* active_buf_id  = & smem.active_buf_id;
+		gknown U4* ordering_buf   = r_(smem.ordering_tbl)[active_buf_id[0]];
+		gknown PrimitiveArena* pa = & smem.primitives;
+		update(pa, ordering_buf);
+		render();
+		gp_display_frame(& smem.screen_buf, active_buf_id, ordering_buf, pa);
+	}
+}
+
 int main(void)
 {
 	smem = (SMemory){0};
@@ -323,14 +336,7 @@ int main(void)
 			tb_emit(& tb, gp_screen_init);
 		}
 	}
-	while (1) {
+	hot_reload_entry();
-		gknown S4* active_buf_id  = & smem.active_buf_id;
-		gknown U4* ordering_buf   = r_(smem.ordering_tbl)[active_buf_id[0]];
-		gknown PrimitiveArena* pa = & smem.primitives;
-		update(pa, ordering_buf);
-		render();
-		gp_display_frame(& smem.screen_buf, active_buf_id, ordering_buf, pa);
-	};
 	return 0;
 }
 GCC_OPTIMIZATION_ENABLE

scripts/build_psyq.ps1

@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+# --- Parameter Surface (Task 8) -----------------------------------------
+# -Reload         : After a successful build, invoke reload.ps1 as a child pwsh and propagate its exit code.
+# -HelperZipOnly  : Skip the build entirely; regenerate the helper zip and exit. Honors -HelperZipOutput for out-of-tree paths.
+# -HelperZipOutput: When -HelperZipOnly is set, writes the archive to this path instead of the scripts/pcsx_debug_helper.zip.
+param(
+	[switch]$Reload,
+	[switch]$HelperZipOnly,
+	[string]$HelperZipOutput = ''
+)
+
 $path_root      = split-path -Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent
 $path_build     = join-path $path_root 'build'
 $path_code      = join-path $path_root 'code'
@@ -8,6 +18,98 @@ if ((test-path $path_build) -eq $false) {
 	new-item -itemtype directory -path $path_build
 }
 
+# --- HelperZipOnly short-circuit ----------------------------------------
+# Must run before any compile/link work.
+# Inlines the same logic as Make-HelperZip below to avoid an extra pwsh process spawn (~200 ms).
+#The helper zip is small and the BCL call is in-process; cold ~14 ms, warm ~10 ms (assembly load + tiny zip write).
+if ($HelperZipOnly) {
+	$zipDest = if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($HelperZipOutput)) {
+		join-path $path_scripts 'pcsx_debug_helper.zip'
+	}
+	else {
+		$HelperZipOutput
+	}
+	$HelperDir = join-path $path_scripts 'pcsx_debug_helper'
+	$elf32Src  = join-path $path_scripts 'elf32.lua'
+	$elf32Dest = join-path $HelperDir    'elf32.lua'
+	if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $HelperDir)) {
+		write-error "helper dir not found: $HelperDir"
+		exit 1
+	}
+	if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $elf32Src)) {
+		write-error "elf32.lua not found at $elf32Src"
+		exit 1
+	}
+	write-host "[build] HelperZipOnly mode -> $zipDest"
+
+	# --- Timestamp gate (Fix 1) -------------------------------------------
+	# PCSX-Redux holds pcsx_debug_helper.zip open via -archive at startup.
+	# The zip is consumed once at startup; the reload endpoint reads it
+	# from package.loaded on subsequent calls. Writing it on every build
+	# is dead work that fights the file lock. Skip the rewrite when the
+	# three sources (autoexec.lua, reload.lua, elf32.lua) are all older
+	# than the existing zip.
+	$sources = @(
+		(join-path $HelperDir 'autoexec.lua'),
+		(join-path $HelperDir 'reload.lua'),
+		$elf32Src
+	)
+	$zipMtime = $null
+	if (test-path -LiteralPath $zipDest) {
+		$zipMtime = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $zipDest).LastWriteTime
+	}
+	$needsRewrite = $false
+	if ($null -eq $zipMtime) {
+		$needsRewrite = $true
+	}
+	else {
+		foreach ($s in $sources) {
+			if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $s)) { continue }
+			if ((Get-Item -LiteralPath $s).LastWriteTime -gt $zipMtime) {
+				$needsRewrite = $true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if (-not $needsRewrite) {
+		$sz = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $zipDest).Length
+		Write-Host "[build] helper zip up to date: $zipDest ($sz bytes); skipping"
+		return
+	}
+
+	Copy-Item -LiteralPath $elf32Src -Destination $elf32Dest -Force
+	try {
+		# Force the inode release so CreateFromDirectory can write fresh.
+		# ZipFile.CreateFromDirectory throws if the destination exists.
+		# If PCSX-Redux holds the file open, Remove-Item raises — fall
+		# back to writing pcsx_debug_helper.zip.new alongside. The next
+		# PCSX-Redux restart will read the canonical path; the .new file
+		# is a hint for the optional launch-script patch in fix 3.
+		if (test-path -LiteralPath $zipDest) {
+			try {
+				# -ErrorAction Stop is required so the catch below fires.
+				# Remove-Item raises a non-terminating error by default
+				# (ErrorActionPreference=Continue), which bypasses catch.
+				Remove-Item -LiteralPath $zipDest -Force -ErrorAction Stop
+			}
+			catch {
+				$zipDest = [System.IO.Path]::ChangeExtension($zipDest, '.zip.new')
+				Write-Warning "[build] canonical helper zip is locked; writing to $zipDest instead"
+			}
+		}
+		Add-Type -AssemblyName System.IO.Compression.FileSystem
+		[System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory(
+			$HelperDir, $zipDest,
+			[System.IO.Compression.CompressionLevel]::Optimal, $false) | Out-Null
+		$sz = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $zipDest).Length
+		Write-Host "[build] wrote $sz bytes to $zipDest"
+	}
+	finally {
+		if (test-path -LiteralPath $elf32Dest) { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $elf32Dest -Force }
+	}
+	return
+}
+
 # --- Toolchain Definition ---
 # Assumes 'mipsel-none-elf' toolchain is in your system's PATH.
 $Prefix    = "mipsel-none-elf"
@@ -180,9 +282,12 @@ function link-modules { param([string[]]$link_modules, [string]  $elf, [string[]
 	$link_args += ($f_link_pass_through_prefix + $f_link_mapfile + $map)
 
 	$link_args += ($f_link_pass_through_prefix + $f_link_start_group)
-	# 16 removed entries (c2, card, cd, comb, ds, gs, gun, hmd, math, mcrd, mcx, press, sio, snd, spu, tap)
+	# raw_sio_pad_poll_20260802 — Task 5.1c surgical library-list trim.
-	# had LOAD lines in the map but ZERO .o files pulled in — they were unused.
+	# The 16 removed entries (c2, card, cd, comb, ds, gs, gun, hmd, math,
-	# 5 kept libraries (api, c, etc, gpu, gte) are required by the C-side calls in hello_joypad.c (reset_graph, draw_sync, vsync, etc.).
+	# mcrd, mcx, press, sio, snd, spu, tap) had LOAD lines in the map but
+	# ZERO .o files pulled in — they were unused. The 5 kept libraries
+	# (api, c, etc, gpu, gte) are required by the C-side calls in
+	# hello_joypad.c (reset_graph, draw_sync, vsync, etc.).
 	$libraries = @(
 		"api",
 		"c",
@@ -211,32 +316,68 @@ function link-modules { param([string[]]$link_modules, [string]  $elf, [string[]
 function make-binary { param([string]$elf, [string]$exe)
 	Write-Host "--- Creating Binary ---" -ForegroundColor Cyan
 	write-host "Converting $elf to PS-EXE -> '$exe'"
-	$objcopy_args = ($f_objcopy_format + "binary"), $elf, $exe
+	$objcopy_args = ($f_objcopy_format + "binary"), $elf, $exe 
 		& $Objcopy $objcopy_args
 	if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Error "Objcopy failed. Aborting."; exit 1 }
 }
 
 function ps1-meta { param(
-		[string]$unity_root,
+		[string]  $unity_root,
 		[string[]]$sources,
 		[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$metadata,
-		[string]$out_root = (join-path $path_build 'gen'),
+		[string]  $out_root   = (join-path $path_build 'gen'),
-		[string[]]$passes = @('--pre-link'),
+		[string[]]$passes     = @('--pre-link'),
 		[string[]]$extra_args = @()
 	)
-	# `--unity-root` and `--source` are mutually exclusive. Exactly one of `$unity_root` / `$sources` must be supplied; the other must be absent.
+	# `--unity-root` and `--source` are
+	# mutually exclusive. Exactly one of `$unity_root` / `$sources` must
+	# be supplied; the other must be absent.
 	if ($null -ne $unity_root -and $unity_root -ne '') 
 	{
 		if ($null -ne $sources -and $sources.Count -gt 0) {
 			write-error 'ps1-meta: -unity_root and -sources are mutually exclusive'
 			exit 2
 		}
-	} 
+	}
 	elseif ($null -eq $sources -or $sources.Count -eq 0) {
 		write-error 'ps1-meta: either -unity_root <file> or -sources <file...> is required'
 		exit 2
 	}
 
+	# --- Defensive attribute clear on tracked gen files ------------------------
+	# Git tracks code/<dir>/gen/*.h files and Windows keeps the Archive bit set
+	# on them. Combined with transient editor locks or co-running processes,
+	# this can make io.open(path, "wb") fail with Access Denied / Sharing
+	# Violation even though Get-ChildItem shows IsReadOnly = False. Clearing
+	# the Read-only + Archive bits locally is safe; git re-asserts them on
+	# the next operation but the metaprogram write always wins.
+	#
+	# Derived from the caller's parameters: $metadata lives in $path_duffle
+	# (so its parent is the duffle dir), and $unity_root / $sources[0] lives
+	# in $path_module (so its parent is the module dir).
+	$pathToDuffle = split-path -Path $metadata -Parent
+	$pathToModule = $null
+	if ($null -ne $unity_root -and $unity_root -ne '') {
+		$pathToModule = split-path -Path $unity_root -Parent
+	}
+	elseif ($null -ne $sources -and $sources.Count -gt 0) {
+		$pathToModule = split-path -Path $sources[0] -Parent
+	}
+	$genFiles = @(
+		join-path $pathToDuffle 'gen\macs.h'
+		join-path $pathToDuffle 'gen\offsets.h'
+	)
+	if ($null -ne $pathToModule) {
+		$genFiles += join-path $pathToModule 'gen\macs.h'
+		$genFiles += join-path $pathToModule 'gen\offsets.h'
+	}
+	foreach ($f in $genFiles) {
+		if (test-path -LiteralPath $f) {
+			attrib -R $f 2>&1 | Out-Null
+			attrib -A $f 2>&1 | Out-Null
+		}
+	}
+
 	$script = join-path $path_scripts 'ps1_meta.lua'
 	$input_summary = if ($null -ne $unity_root -and $unity_root -ne '') {
 		"unity=$unity_root"
@@ -265,14 +406,14 @@ function inject-dwarf { param(
 	[string]$path_gen
 )
 	$base_name               = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileNameWithoutExtension($elf)
-	$path_dwarf_line_bin     = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_line.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_line_bin     = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_line.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_aranges_bin  = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_aranges.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_aranges_bin  = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_aranges.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_rnglists_bin = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_rnglists.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_rnglists_bin = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_rnglists.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_info_bin     = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_info.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_info_bin     = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_info.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_abbrev_bin   = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_abbrev.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_abbrev_bin   = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_abbrev.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_str_bin      = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_str.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_str_bin      = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_str.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_loc_bin      = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_loc.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_loc_bin      = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_loc.bin"
-	$path_dwarf_loclists_bin = join-path $path_gen  "$base_name.dwarf_loclists.bin"
+	$path_dwarf_loclists_bin = join-path $path_gen   "$base_name.dwarf_loclists.bin"
 	$path_inject_elf         = join-path $path_build "$base_name.dwarf-injected.elf"
 
 	if (-not (Test-Path $path_dwarf_line_bin))     { return }
@@ -517,7 +658,7 @@ function build-hello_camera {
 	$path_build_gen     = join-path $path_build  'gen'
 
 	$src_c = join-path $path_module 'hello_camera.c'
-	ps1-meta -unity_root $src_c -metadata $path_atom_metadata -out_root $path_build_gen -passes @('--pre-link')
+	ps1-meta -unity_root $src_c -metadata $path_atom_metadata -out_root $path_build_gen
 
 	$assemble_args = @()
 	$assemble_args += $f_debug
@@ -552,50 +693,129 @@ function build-hello_camera {
 	link-modules $link_modules $elf $link_args
 	make-binary $elf $exe
 
+	# Post-link: gdb-runtime + dwarf-injection in a single Lua invocation (one luajit cold start).
 	ps1-meta -unity_root $src_c -metadata $path_atom_metadata -out_root $path_build_gen -passes @('--post-link') ` -extra_args @('--elf', $elf)
 
 	inject-dwarf $elf $path_build_gen
 }
 build-hello_camera
 
-# NO idea if this works yet...
+# ── Helper-zip + reload helpers (Task 8) ──
-function Send-ToEmulator { param( [string]$exePath )
+# Defined right after the final build-hello_camera function so they're in scope for the post-build calls below.
-    $uri = "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/load-exec"
+# The Make-HelperZip function is also reused by the -HelperZipOnly short-circuit at the top of this script.
+# Both call the in-process BCL CreateFromDirectory rather than spawning a child pwsh to avoid the ~200 ms process-spawn overhead.
+function Make-HelperZip {
+	param([string]$OutputPath = '')
 
-    # Absolute path is safest for the emulator web server
+	$dest = if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($OutputPath)) {
-    $absolutePath = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($exePath)
+		join-path $path_scripts 'pcsx_debug_helper.zip'
+	}
+	else {
+		$OutputPath
+	}
 
-    # Create JSON payload pointing to your compiled .ps-exe
+	$HelperDir = join-path $path_scripts 'pcsx_debug_helper'
-    $body = @{ filename = $absolutePath } | ConvertTo-Json
+	$elf32Src  = join-path $path_scripts 'elf32.lua'
+	$elf32Dest = join-path $HelperDir   'elf32.lua'
+	if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $HelperDir)) {
+		write-warning "[build] helper dir not found: $HelperDir; skipping helper zip"
+		return
+	}
+	if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $elf32Src)) {
+		write-warning "[build] elf32.lua not found at $elf32Src; skipping helper zip"
+		return
+	}
 
-    Write-Host "Pushing hot-reload to PCSX-Redux..." -ForegroundColor Magenta
+	# --- Timestamp gate (Fix 1) -------------------------------------------
-    try {
+	# PCSX-Redux holds pcsx_debug_helper.zip open via -archive at startup.
-        $response = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $uri -Method Post -Body $body -ContentType "application/json"
+	# The zip is consumed once at startup; the reload endpoint reads it
-        Write-Host "Hot-reload successful!" -ForegroundColor Green
+	# from package.loaded on subsequent calls. Writing it on every build
-    } catch {
+	# is dead work that fights the file lock. Skip the rewrite when the
-        Write-Warning "Could not connect to PCSX-Redux web server. Ensure the emulator is running and Web Server is enabled."
+	# three sources (autoexec.lua, reload.lua, elf32.lua) are all older
-    }
+	# than the existing zip.
+	$sources = @(
+		(join-path $HelperDir 'autoexec.lua'),
+		(join-path $HelperDir 'reload.lua'),
+		$elf32Src
+	)
+	$zipMtime = $null
+	if (test-path -LiteralPath $dest) {
+		$zipMtime = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $dest).LastWriteTime
+	}
+	$needsRewrite = $false
+	if ($null -eq $zipMtime) {
+		$needsRewrite = $true
+	}
+	else {
+		foreach ($s in $sources) {
+			if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $s)) { continue }
+			if ((Get-Item -LiteralPath $s).LastWriteTime -gt $zipMtime) {
+				$needsRewrite = $true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if (-not $needsRewrite) {
+		$sz = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $dest).Length
+		Write-Host "[build] helper zip up to date: $dest ($sz bytes); skipping"
+		return
+	}
+
+	write-host "[build] regenerating helper zip -> $dest"
+	Copy-Item -LiteralPath $elf32Src -Destination $elf32Dest -Force
+	try {
+		# Force the inode release so CreateFromDirectory can write fresh.
+		# ZipFile.CreateFromDirectory throws if the destination exists.
+		# If PCSX-Redux holds the file open, Remove-Item raises — fall
+		# back to writing pcsx_debug_helper.zip.new alongside. The next
+		# PCSX-Redux restart will read the canonical path; the .new file
+		# is a hint for the optional launch-script patch in fix 3.
+		if (test-path -LiteralPath $dest) {
+			try {
+				# -ErrorAction Stop is required so the catch below fires.
+				# Remove-Item raises a non-terminating error by default
+				# (ErrorActionPreference=Continue), which bypasses catch.
+				Remove-Item -LiteralPath $dest -Force -ErrorAction Stop
+			}
+			catch {
+				$dest = [System.IO.Path]::ChangeExtension($dest, '.zip.new')
+				Write-Warning "[build] canonical helper zip is locked; writing to $dest instead"
+			}
+		}
+		Add-Type -AssemblyName System.IO.Compression.FileSystem
+		[System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory(
+			$HelperDir, $dest,
+			[System.IO.Compression.CompressionLevel]::Optimal, $false) | Out-Null
+		$sz = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $dest).Length
+		Write-Host "[build] wrote $sz bytes to $dest"
+	}
+	finally {
+		if (test-path -LiteralPath $elf32Dest) { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $elf32Dest -Force }
+	}
 }
 
-# # Automatically hot-reloads it into the running emulator
+# Invokes reload.ps1 as a child pwsh instead of POSTing to the nonexistent /api/v1/load-exec endpoint.
-# Send-ToEmulator (join-path $path_build 'hello_gte.ps-exe')
+# Exit code is propagated so the build fails loud if the reload fails.
+function Send-ToEmulator {
+	param([string]$ElfPath = (join-path $path_build 'hello_camera.elf'))
 
-# --- Hot Reload via PCSX-Redux Web Server ---
+	$reloadScript = join-path $path_scripts 'reload.ps1'
-# $exe_path = join-path $path_build 'hello_gte.ps-exe'
+	if (-not (test-path -LiteralPath $reloadScript)) {
-# $absolute_path = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($exe_path)
+		write-error "[build] reload.ps1 not found at $reloadScript"
+		exit 1
+	}
 
-# PCSX-Redux expects the file location in the URL query string?
+	write-host "[build] hot-reloading $ElfPath via reload.ps1" -ForegroundColor Magenta
-# We URL-encode the path to ensure backslashes and spaces don't break the HTTP request?
+	& pwsh -NoProfile -File $reloadScript -Mode elf -Target hello_camera -ElfPath $ElfPath
-# $encoded_path = [uri]::EscapeDataString($absolute_path)
+	if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
-# $uri = "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/load-exec?path=$encoded_path"
+		write-error "[build] reload.ps1 failed (exit $LASTEXITCODE)"
+		exit $LASTEXITCODE
+	}
+}
 
-# Write-Host "Pushing hot-reload to PCSX-Redux..." -ForegroundColor Magenta
+# Post-build: Regenerate the helper zip (canonical output) and, if -Reload was passed, kick a hot-reload against the just-built ELF.
-# try {
+# Any future targets compiled by this script should add their own Make-HelperZip call after their build step; today's only target is hello_camera.
-#     # Send the request with the query string included
+Make-HelperZip
-#     Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $uri -Method Post 
+if ($Reload) {
-#     Write-Host "Hot-reload successful!" -ForegroundColor Green
+	Send-ToEmulator
-# } catch {
+}
-#     Write-Host "Failed to hot-reload." -ForegroundColor Red
-#     # This will print the *actual* HTTP error instead of our generic warning
-#     Write-Host $_.Exception.Message -ForegroundColor Yellow
-# }

scripts/elf32.lua

@@ -1,418 +0,0 @@
--- elf32.lua — Pure-Lua ELF32 format helpers with no lfs / no lpeg dependency.
--- The reload helper's `parse_manifest` (scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/reload.lua) 
--- and the metaprogram's `read_elf_sections` + `read_nm` (scripts/elf_dwarf.lua)
--- both parsed ELF32 headers from wire bytes.
---
--- This module contains the format constants and the byte-level walker.
---- The metaprogram side keeps `read_u32_le` / `read_u16_le` as local forwarders; the helper side calls `E.*` directly.
---
--- **Adapter contract (explicit pass style):**
--- The helper VM's `Support.File` exposes byte-read methods that require `self` (fileffi.lua:225-227),
--- so callers wrap once in a 1-line adapter that strips `self`.
--- The parsers here operate on the unwrapped form.
--- Reads are flat function calls — `E.read_u8(adapter, off)`, `E.read_u32(adapter, off)`, `E.size(adapter)`.
---   read_u8(adapter, off)   -> integer | nil
---   read_u16(adapter, off)  -> integer | nil
---   read_u32(adapter, off)  -> integer | nil
---   size(adapter)           -> integer
---
--- **Convention:** every offset in the constants tables is a zero-based wire offset.
--- The `+ 1` conversion happens only at the `string.byte` boundary inside the readers.
---
--- spec: System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"ELF Header" (Table 1) + §"Section Header Table"
--- spec: System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"Symbol Table" (Elf32_Sym layout)
-
-local M = {}
-
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--- Little-endian readers (bit-weighted accumulator, math.floor only)
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
-
---- Read a 4-byte little-endian unsigned integer from `adapter` at zero-based wire offset `off`.
----
---- Bit weights are written as `0x100`, `0x10000`, `0x1000000` (i.e. 2^8, 2^16, 2^24) so the LE byte positions are visually explicit:
---- byte 0 contributes its value directly;
---- byte 1 is shifted left by 8; byte 2 by 16; byte 3 by 24.
----
---- math.floor (not LuaJIT's `>>`) keeps the body portable across LuaJIT 2.0/2.1 and plain Lua 5.x. `string.byte` receives `+ 1` at the boundary.
----
---- **Call form:** explicit-pass. The reader receives `adapter` as the first positional argument and the offset as the second; no `self` is passed.
---- Test fixtures declare `function(offset) ... end` and the parsers call them via dot syntax `adapter.read_u8_at(off)`.
---- The colon form `adapter:read_u8_at(off)` would prepend the adapter table as `offset` and break the contract.
---- @param adapter table
---- @param off     integer  -- zero-based wire offset
---- @return integer|nil
-function M.read_u32(adapter, off)
-	return adapter.read_u8_at(off)
-		+ adapter.read_u8_at(off + 0x01) * 0x00000100
-		+ adapter.read_u8_at(off + 0x02) * 0x00010000
-		+ adapter.read_u8_at(off + 0x03) * 0x01000000
-end
-
---- Read a 2-byte little-endian unsigned integer from `adapter` at zero-based wire offset `off`.
---- @param adapter table
---- @param off integer  -- zero-based wire offset
---- @return integer|nil
-function M.read_u16(adapter, off)
-	return adapter.read_u8_at(off)
-		+ adapter.read_u8_at(off + 0x01) * 0x00000100
-end
-
---- Read a 1-byte unsigned integer from `adapter` at zero-based wire offset `off`.
---- @param adapter table
---- @param off integer  -- zero-based wire offset
---- @return integer|nil
-function M.read_u8(adapter, off)
-	return adapter.read_u8_at(off)
-end
-
---- Total adapter byte length.
---- @param adapter table
---- @return integer
-function M.size(adapter)
-	return adapter.read_size()
-end
-
---- Forwarders kept for backward compat with scripts/elf_dwarf.lua.
---- The metaprogram side keeps `read_u32_le` / `read_u16_le`;
---- both layers now use the same byte-level helpers under the hood.
-function M.read_u32_le(buf, off)
-	local byte_off = off + 1
-	return buf:byte(byte_off)
-		+ buf:byte(byte_off + 0x01) * 0x00000100
-		+ buf:byte(byte_off + 0x02) * 0x00010000
-		+ buf:byte(byte_off + 0x03) * 0x01000000
-end
-
---- Read a 2-byte little-endian unsigned integer from `buf` at zero-based wire offset `off`.
---- @param buf string
---- @param off integer  -- zero-based wire offset
---- @return integer
-function M.read_u16_le(buf, off)
-	local byte_off = off + 1
-	return buf:byte(byte_off) + buf:byte(byte_off + 0x01) * 0x00000100
-end
-
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--- Format constants
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
-
--- ELF format constants (System V ABI gABI v1.2).
-M.ELFCLASS32  = 1    -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"ELF Header" — EI_CLASS byte
-M.ELFDATA2LSB = 1    -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"ELF Header" — EI_DATA byte
-M.EM_MIPS     = 8    -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Machine Information" — MIPS architecture
-
--- Section type constants (System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"Section Header Table").
-M.SHT_SYMTAB = 2     -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Types" — symbol table
-M.SHT_STRTAB = 3     -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Types" — string table
-M.SHT_NOBITS = 8     -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Types" — no space in file
-
--- Section flag constants (System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"Section Header Table").
-M.SHF_WRITE     = 0x1 -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Attributes" — writable
-M.SHF_ALLOC     = 0x2 -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Attributes" — occupies memory
-M.SHF_EXECINSTR = 0x4 -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Attributes" — executable
-
--- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- ELF32 header layout (System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"ELF Header" Table 1)
--- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- All offsets are zero-based wire offsets. The header is 52 bytes total (header_bytes = 0x34 = 52).
-M.ELF32_HEADER = {
-	magic_offset         = 0x00,  -- 4 bytes; expected "\127ELF"
-	magic                = "\127ELF",
-	class_offset         = 0x04,  -- 1 byte;  1 = ELF32, 2 = ELF64
-	endian_offset        = 0x05,  -- 1 byte;  1 = little-endian, 2 = big-endian
-	header_bytes         = 0x34,  -- ELF32 header is 52 bytes total
-	e_entry_offset       = 0x18,  -- 4-byte LE; entry-point virtual address
-	e_shoff_offset       = 0x20,  -- 4-byte LE; section-header table file offset
-	e_shentsize_offset   = 0x2E,  -- 2-byte LE; section-header entry size in bytes
-	e_shnum_offset       = 0x30,  -- 2-byte LE; number of section headers
-	e_shstrndx_offset    = 0x32,  -- 2-byte LE; index of section-name string table
-}
-
--- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- ELF32 section-header layout (System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"Section Header Table")
--- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Each entry is 40 bytes (sh_entsize_bytes = 0x28 = 40);
--- zero-based, field offsets relative to the start of the entry.
-M.ELF32_SECTION = {
-	sh_name_offset    = 0x00,  -- 4-byte LE; offset into .shstrtab
-	sh_type_offset    = 0x04,  -- 4-byte LE; section type (SHT_*)
-	sh_flags_offset   = 0x08,  -- 4-byte LE; section flags (SHF_*)
-	sh_addr_offset    = 0x0C,  -- 4-byte LE; virtual address at execution
-	sh_offset_offset  = 0x10,  -- 4-byte LE; section's file offset
-	sh_size_offset    = 0x14,  -- 4-byte LE; section's size in bytes
-	sh_link_offset    = 0x18,  -- 4-byte LE; link to a related section
-	sh_entsize_bytes  = 0x28,  -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Header Table" — 40 bytes per entry
-}
-
--- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- ELF32 symbol-table entry layout (System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"Symbol Table")
--- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Each entry is 16 bytes (sym_entry_bytes = 0x10 = 16);
--- zero-based, field offsets relative to the start of the entry.
-M.ELF32_SYM = {
-	st_name          = 0x00,  -- 4-byte LE; offset into the linked string table
-	st_value         = 0x04,  -- 4-byte LE; symbol value (address / absolute)
-	st_size          = 0x08,  -- 4-byte LE; symbol size in bytes
-	st_info          = 0x0C,  -- 1 byte;  binding (high nibble) + type (low nibble)
-	sym_entry_bytes  = 0x10,  -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Symbol Table" — 16 bytes per entry
-}
-
--- DWARF32 initial-length terminator (DWARF4 §7.4) — kept here so the metaprogram's elf_dwarf.lua can drop its own copy of the same constant.
-M.dw_dwarf32_terminator = 0xFFFFFFFF
-
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--- Adapter validation
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
-
---- Validate that `adapter` exposes the byte-read surface.
---- Returns true on success, false + a stable error code on failure.
---- The helper side calls this before parse_manifest to reject callers before any byte is read.
---- @param adapter any
---- @return boolean, string|nil
-function M.validate_adapter(adapter)
-	if type(adapter) ~= "table" then return false, "bad_file_adapter" end
-	if type(adapter.read_u8_at)  ~= "function" then return false, "bad_file_adapter" end
-	if type(adapter.read_u16_at) ~= "function" then return false, "bad_file_adapter" end
-	if type(adapter.read_u32_at) ~= "function" then return false, "bad_file_adapter" end
-	if type(adapter.read_size)   ~= "function" then return false, "bad_file_adapter" end
-	return true, nil
-end
-
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--- String-table reader
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
-
---- Extract a NUL-terminated C string from `strtab` at zero-based offset `off`.
---- Returns nil if `off` is out of range or the string is not NUL-terminated.
---- @param strtab string
---- @param off integer
---- @return string|nil
-function M.get_str(strtab, off)
-	if off < 0 or off >= #strtab then return nil end
-	local  end_pos = strtab:find("\0", off + 1, true)
-	if not end_pos then return nil end
-	return strtab:sub(off + 1, end_pos - 1)
-end
-
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--- Header / section / symbol walkers
--- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
-
---- Read the ELF32 header through `adapter` and validate the magic, class, and data encoding.
---- Returns a table on success:
----   { e_entry, e_shoff, e_shentsize, e_shnum, e_shstrndx, error = nil }
---- On failure returns nil + a stable error code:
----   bad_magic, unsupported_elf_class, unsupported_elf_data, truncated_header
---- The header's machine field is NOT validated here — callers (e.g. the helper's prime path) decide whether to require EM_MIPS before symbol reads.
---- @param adapter table
---- @return table|nil, string|nil
-function M.parse_elf32_headers(adapter)
-	local  ok, err = M.validate_adapter(adapter)
-	if not ok then return nil, err end
-
-	-- 4-byte magic: 0x7F 'E' 'L' 'F'.
-	-- The byte readers take the adapter explicitly.
-	-- The production `Support.File` adapter is wrapped by the caller to drop its implicit `self` so the parser shape is flat pass-style.
-	local b1 = M.read_u8(adapter, 0)
-	local b2 = M.read_u8(adapter, 1)
-	local b3 = M.read_u8(adapter, 2)
-	local b4 = M.read_u8(adapter, 3)
-	if not (b1 and b2 and b3 and b4)
-		or not (b1 == 0x7f and b2 == 0x45 and b3 == 0x4c and b4 == 0x46) then
-		return nil, "bad_magic"
-	end
-
-	local class = M.read_u8(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.class_offset)
-	if    class ~= M.ELFCLASS32 then
-		return nil, "unsupported_elf_class"
-	end
-
-	local data = M.read_u8(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.endian_offset)
-	if    data ~= M.ELFDATA2LSB then
-		return nil, "unsupported_elf_data"
-	end
-
-	local e_entry     = M.read_u32(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.e_entry_offset)
-	local e_shoff     = M.read_u32(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.e_shoff_offset)
-	local e_shentsize = M.read_u16(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.e_shentsize_offset)
-	local e_shnum     = M.read_u16(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.e_shnum_offset)
-	local e_shstrndx  = M.read_u16(adapter, M.ELF32_HEADER.e_shstrndx_offset)
-	if not (e_entry and e_shoff and e_shentsize and e_shnum and e_shstrndx) then
-		return nil, "truncated_header"
-	end
-
-	return {
-		e_entry     = e_entry,
-		e_shoff     = e_shoff,
-		e_shentsize = e_shentsize,
-		e_shnum     = e_shnum,
-		e_shstrndx  = e_shstrndx,
-		error       = nil,
-	}
-end
-
---- Read one section-header entry from `adapter` at `sh_off`.
---- Returns a table with the wire fields plus a (yet-unresolved) `name` field.
---- @param adapter table
---- @param sh_off  integer
---- @return table|nil, string|nil  -- entry, error
-local function read_section_entry(adapter, sh_off)
-	local entry = {
-		sh_name   = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_name_offset),
-		sh_type   = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_type_offset),
-		sh_flags  = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_flags_offset),
-		sh_addr   = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_addr_offset),
-		sh_offset = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_offset_offset),
-		sh_size   = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_size_offset),
-		sh_link   = M.read_u32(adapter, sh_off + M.ELF32_SECTION.sh_link_offset),
-		name      = "",
-	}
-	if not (entry.sh_name and entry.sh_type and entry.sh_flags and entry.sh_addr
-		and entry.sh_offset and entry.sh_size and entry.sh_link) then
-		return nil, "truncated_section_headers"
-	end
-	return entry, nil
-end
-
---- Walk every section header in `hdr` and return a 1-based array of entries
---- (the section at logical index 0 is at array position 1, etc.).
---- Each entry has the wire fields plus a resolved `name` derived from `.shstrtab`.
---- Returns nil + a stable error code on failure: truncated_section_headers, missing_shstrtab, truncated_strtab
---- @param adapter table
---- @param hdr     table  -- the table returned by parse_elf32_headers
---- @return table|nil, string|nil
-function M.walk_sections(adapter, hdr)
-	if not hdr or hdr.error then return nil, hdr and hdr.error or "truncated_section_headers" end
-
-	local file_size = M.size(adapter)
-	if hdr.e_shoff + hdr.e_shnum * hdr.e_shentsize > file_size then
-		return nil, "truncated_section_headers"
-	end
-
-	-- Read every section header first; we need .shstrtab to resolve names.
-	local sections = {}
-	for i = 0, hdr.e_shnum - 1 do
-		local sh_off = hdr.e_shoff + i * hdr.e_shentsize
-		local entry, err = read_section_entry(adapter, sh_off)
-		if not entry then return nil, err end
-		sections[i + 1] = entry
-	end
-
-	if hdr.e_shstrndx >= hdr.e_shnum then
-		return nil, "missing_shstrtab"
-	end
-
-	local  shstrtab = sections[hdr.e_shstrndx + 1]
-	if not shstrtab or shstrtab.sh_type ~= M.SHT_STRTAB then
-		return nil, "missing_shstrtab"
-	end
-	if shstrtab.sh_offset + shstrtab.sh_size > file_size then
-		return nil, "truncated_section_headers"
-	end
-	local  shstrtab_bytes = M.read_section_bytes(adapter, shstrtab)
-	if not shstrtab_bytes then return nil, "truncated_section_headers" end
-
-	for _, s in ipairs(sections) do
-		s.name = M.get_str(shstrtab_bytes, s.sh_name) or ""
-	end
-
-	return sections, nil
-end
-
---- Read the bytes of one section. Returns a string, or nil if the adapter returns nil for any byte (out-of-bounds).
---- The caller is responsible fors sizing the buffer (the section's sh_offset + sh_size must fit in adapter.size).
---- @param adapter table
---- @param section table  -- one entry from walk_sections
---- @return string|nil
-function M.read_section_bytes(adapter, section)
-	local size = section.sh_size
-	if    size == 0 then return "" end
-	local out = {}
-	for i = 0, size - 1 do
-		local b = M.read_u8(adapter, section.sh_offset + i)
-		if    b == nil then return nil end
-		out[#out + 1] = string.char(b)
-	end
-	return table.concat(out)
-end
-
---- Convenience: walk sections, then look up the named section, then read its bytes.
---- Returns nil + a stable error code if the section is absent or out-of-bounds.
---- @param adapter  table
---- @param sections table  -- 1-based array from walk_sections
---- @param name     string
---- @return string|nil, string|nil
-function M.read_named_section(adapter, sections, name)
-	if not sections then return nil, "missing_section" end
-	for _, s in ipairs(sections) do
-		if   s.name == name then
-			local bytes = M.read_section_bytes(adapter, s)
-			if not bytes then return nil, "truncated_section_data" end
-			return bytes, nil
-		end
-	end
-	return nil, "missing_section"
-end
-
---- Walk every SHT_SYMTAB section in `sections` and accumulate symbols by name.
---- Each stored entry is `{ value = st_value, size = st_size, info = st_info, shndx = st_shndx }`.
---- Both STB_LOCAL and STB_GLOBAL symbols are included; the live ELF stores `smem` as a local symbol.
---- Returns nil + a stable error code on failure: missing_symtab_strtab, truncated_section_headers
---- @param adapter  table
---- @param sections table
---- @return table|nil, string|nil
-function M.collect_symbols(adapter, sections)
-	if not sections then return nil, "missing_sections" end
-	local symbols = {}
-	local file_size = M.size(adapter)
-	for _, s in ipairs(sections) do
-		if s.sh_type == M.SHT_SYMTAB then
-			local  strtab = sections[s.sh_link + 1]
-			if not strtab or strtab.sh_type ~= M.SHT_STRTAB then
-				return nil, "missing_symtab_strtab"
-			end
-			if strtab.sh_offset + strtab.sh_size > file_size then
-				return nil, "truncated_section_headers"
-			end
-			local  strtab_bytes = M.read_section_bytes(adapter, strtab)
-			if not strtab_bytes then return nil, "truncated_section_headers" end
-			if s.sh_offset + s.sh_size > file_size then
-				return nil, "truncated_section_headers"
-			end
-			local  symtab_bytes = M.read_section_bytes(adapter, s)
-			if not symtab_bytes then return nil, "truncated_section_headers" end
-			local n = #symtab_bytes / M.ELF32_SYM.sym_entry_bytes
-			for j = 0, n - 1 do
-				local e = s.sh_offset + j * M.ELF32_SYM.sym_entry_bytes
-				local st_name  = M.read_u32(adapter, e + M.ELF32_SYM.st_name)
-				if    st_name then
-					local st_value = M.read_u32(adapter, e + M.ELF32_SYM.st_value)
-					local st_size  = M.read_u32(adapter, e + M.ELF32_SYM.st_size)
-					local st_info  = M.read_u8(adapter, e + M.ELF32_SYM.st_info)
-					-- st_shndx is at offset 14 (2 bytes) — derived from the layout
-					-- the metaprogram reads too. Inline the read to keep the
-					-- adapter as the only I/O surface.
-					local b1 = M.read_u8(adapter, e + 14)
-					local b2 = M.read_u8(adapter, e + 15)
-					if not (b1 and b2) then
-						return nil, "truncated_section_headers"
-					end
-					local st_shndx = b1 + b2 * 0x100
-					local name = M.get_str(strtab_bytes, st_name) or ""
-					if    name ~= "" then
-						symbols[name] = {
-							value = st_value,
-							size  = st_size,
-							info  = st_info,
-							shndx = st_shndx,
-						}
-					end
-				end
-			end
-		end
-	end
-	return symbols, nil
-end
-
-return M

scripts/elf_dwarf.lua

@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
 -- lfs is wired into package.cpath by `duffle_paths.lua` (vendored under `toolchain/lfs/lfs.dll`). 
 local lfs = require("lfs")
 
--- scripts/elf32.lua contains format-constant tables + the byte-level walker.
--- The this file re-exports `read_u32_le` / `read_u16_le` (and the DWARF32 terminator).
--- TODO(Ed): Remove re-export.
-local E = require("elf32")
-
 local M = {}
 
 -- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
@@ -107,13 +102,27 @@ M.MIPS_BYTES_PER_WORD = 0x04
 --- **Wire-offset contract:** format offsets, fixed-width reader offsets, LEB/parser cursors, and section-relative values are zero-based wire offsets. 
 --- Only Lua string APIs receive a `+ 1` conversion at their boundary (`byte`, `sub`, and `find`).
 --- ELF/DWARF field offsets are expressed in hex so they map directly to the zero-based byte positions in the binary file.
----
---- The ELF32 header / section / sym layout tables are within scripts/elf32.lua.
---- The metaprogram re-exports the DWARF32 initial-length terminator.
 
---- spec: DWARF4 spec §7.4 — 32-bit DWARF initial-length terminator
+--- spec: System V ABI gABI v1.2 §"ELF Header" (Table 1) + §"Section Header Table"
-M.dw_dwarf32_terminator = E.dw_dwarf32_terminator
+M.ELF32 = {
--- TODO(Ed): Remove re-export.
+	magic_offset          = 0x00,         -- 4-byte magic "\127ELF" at file offset 0x00
+	magic                 = "\127ELF",
+	class_offset          = 0x04,         -- 1-byte; 1 = ELF32, 2 = ELF64
+	class_elf32           = 1,
+	endian_offset         = 0x05,         -- 1-byte; 1 = little-endian, 2 = big-endian
+	endian_little         = 1,
+	header_bytes          = 0x34,         -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"ELF Header" — ELF32 header is 52 bytes total
+	e_shoff_offset        = 0x20,         -- 4-byte LE; section-header table file offset
+	e_shentsize_offset    = 0x2E,         -- 2-byte LE; section-header entry size in bytes
+	e_shnum_offset        = 0x30,         -- 2-byte LE; number of section headers
+	e_shstrndx_offset     = 0x32,         -- 2-byte LE; index of section-name string table
+	sh_size_bytes         = 0x28,         -- spec: gABI v1.2 §"Section Header Table" — each entry is 40 bytes
+	sh_name_offset        = 0x00,         -- 4-byte LE; offset into .shstrtab
+	sh_type_offset        = 0x04,         -- 4-byte LE; section type (SHT_*)
+	sh_offset_offset      = 0x10,         -- 4-byte LE; section's file offset
+	sh_size_offset        = 0x14,         -- 4-byte LE; section's size in bytes
+	dw_dwarf32_terminator = 0xFFFFFFFF,   -- spec: DWARF4 spec §7.4 — 32-bit DWARF initial-length terminator
+}
 
 -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- DWARF4 .debug_aranges (per DWARF5 spec §7.4 — Address Range Table)
@@ -232,24 +241,27 @@ M.DWARF5_DEBUG_LINE = {
 --- (which has partial `string.unpack` coverage).
 --- **Convention:** `off` is a zero-based wire offset; `+ 1` is applied only at the `string.byte` boundary.
 ---
---- Thin forwarder: the canonical implementation lives in scripts/elf32.lua.
+--- **Byte weights** are written as `0x100`, `0x10000`, `0x1000000` (i.e. 2^8, 2^16, 2^24) so the LE byte positions are visually explicit:
---- The "second caller lifts" pattern keeps the metaprogram side fluent
+--- byte 0 contributes its value directly; byte 1 is shifted left by 8 (= 0x100); byte 2 by 16 (= 0x10000); byte 3 by 24 (= 0x1000000).
---- (`M.read_u32_le(buf, off)`) while the body is deduped.
 --- @param buf string
 --- @param off integer  -- zero-based wire offset
 --- @return integer
 function M.read_u32_le(buf, off)
-	return E.read_u32_le(buf, off)
+	local byte_off = off + 1
+	return buf:byte(byte_off)
+		+ buf:byte(byte_off + 0x01) * 0x00000100
+		+ buf:byte(byte_off + 0x02) * 0x00010000
+		+ buf:byte(byte_off + 0x03) * 0x01000000
 end
 
 --- Read a 2-byte little-endian unsigned integer from `buf` at zero-based wire offset `off`.
 --- (`off` is zero-based; `+ 1` is applied only at the `string.byte` boundary.)
---- Thin forwarder — see `M.read_u32_le` for the rationale.
 --- @param buf string
 --- @param off integer  -- zero-based wire offset
 --- @return integer
 function M.read_u16_le(buf, off)
-	return E.read_u16_le(buf, off)
+	local byte_off = off + 1
+	return buf:byte(byte_off) + buf:byte(byte_off + 0x01) * 0x00000100
 end
 
 -- Pure-Lua 5.3 LEB128 readers (no `bit` library). `2^shift` arithmetic matches the existing parser.
@@ -430,20 +442,20 @@ function M.read_ref_sig8(buf, pos)
 	return M.read_u32_le(buf, pos), M.read_u32_le(buf, pos + 4), pos + 8
 end
 
---- DWARF5 §7.5.6 (Type Entries).
+-- DWARF5 §7.5.6 (Type Entries).
---- Walk all units in `info` and return the 0-based offset of the first unit whose `DW_AT_type_signature`
+-- Walk all units in `info` and return the 0-based offset of the first unit
---- (8-byte value at the end of the unit header) equals `target_sig`.
+-- whose `DW_AT_type_signature` (8-byte value at the end of the unit header) equals `target_sig`.
---- The signature is interpreted as two 32-bit halves (low/high) per the read_ref_sig8 contract;
+-- The signature is interpreted as two 32-bit halves (low/high) per the read_ref_sig8 contract;
---- we match both halves (i.e. the 8-byte value as a whole). Returns nil if no matching unit exists.
+-- we match both halves (i.e. the 8-byte value as a whole). Returns nil if no matching unit exists.
----
+--
---- Unit header layout (from pos 0):
+-- Unit header layout (from pos 0):
----   unit_length(4) + version(2) + unit_type(1) + address_size(1) + debug_abbrev_offset(4)
+--   unit_length(4) + version(2) + unit_type(1) + address_size(1) + debug_abbrev_offset(4)
----   followed by type_unit_specific fields: type_signature(8) + type_offset(4)
+--   followed by type_unit_specific fields: type_signature(8) + type_offset(4)
---- The type_signature is at byte offset 8 of the body (right after debug_abbrev_offset).
+-- The type_signature is at byte offset 8 of the body (right after debug_abbrev_offset).
---- @param info          string   -- the .debug_info section bytes
+-- @param info string  -- the .debug_info section bytes
---- @param target_sig_lo integer  -- low 4 bytes (LE) of the desired signature
+-- @param target_sig_lo integer  -- low 4 bytes (LE) of the desired signature
---- @param target_sig_hi integer  -- high 4 bytes (LE) of the desired signature
+-- @param target_sig_hi integer  -- high 4 bytes (LE) of the desired signature
---- @return integer|nil, integer|nil  -- unit offset, type_offset within the unit
+-- @return integer|nil, integer|nil  -- unit offset, type_offset within the unit
 function M.find_type_unit_by_signature(info, target_sig_lo, target_sig_hi)
 	local pos         = 0
 	local section_len = #info
@@ -527,7 +539,7 @@ end
 --- (we walk all `e_shnum` headers regardless of how many names are requested, to find the .shstrtab first).
 --- For frequent callers, pass the union of all needed sections in one call.
 --  Can add `.debug_info` + `.debug_loc` + `.debug_str_offsets` to the list without writing a 2nd ELF walker.
---- @param elf_path      Path
+--- @param elf_path Path
 --- @param section_names string[]  -- list of section names to read
 --- @return table<string, string>
 function M.read_elf_sections(elf_path, section_names)
@@ -552,58 +564,69 @@ function M.read_elf_sections(elf_path, section_names)
 		return result
 	end
 
-	local file_size
+	-- Read the ELF32 header.
-	do
+	local  header = f:read(M.ELF32.header_bytes)
-		f:seek("end", 0)
+	if not header or #header < M.ELF32.header_bytes then
-		file_size = f:seek("cur", 0)
+		io.stderr:write("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] ELF too small for ELF32 header\n")
-	end
-	local adapter = {
-		read_u8_at = function(offset)
-			f:seek("set", offset)
-			local b = f:read(1)
-			if not b then return nil end
-			return b:byte()
-		end,
-		read_u16_at = function(offset)
-			f:seek("set", offset)
-			local b1 = f:read(1)
-			local b2 = f:read(1)
-			if not b1 or not b2 then return nil end
-			return b1:byte() + b2:byte() * 0x100
-		end,
-		read_u32_at = function(offset)
-			f:seek("set", offset)
-			local b1 = f:read(1)
-			local b2 = f:read(1)
-			local b3 = f:read(1)
-			local b4 = f:read(1)
-			if not b1 or not b2 or not b3 or not b4 then return nil end
-			return b1:byte() + b2:byte() * 0x100
-				+ b3:byte() * 0x10000 + b4:byte() * 0x1000000
-		end,
-		read_size = function() return file_size end,
-	}
-
-	-- Delegate the header parse + section walk to E.*.
-	local hdr, hdr_err = E.parse_elf32_headers(adapter)
-	if not hdr then
-		io.stderr:write(string.format("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] header parse failed: %s\n", tostring(hdr_err)))
 		f:close()
 		return result
 	end
 
-	local sections, walk_err = E.walk_sections(adapter, hdr)
+	-- Sanity-check magic + class + endianness.
-	if not sections then
+	if header:sub(M.ELF32.magic_offset + 1, M.ELF32.magic_offset + 0x04) ~= M.ELF32.magic then
-		io.stderr:write(string.format("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] section walk failed: %s\n", tostring(walk_err)))
+		io.stderr:write("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] not an ELF file\n")
+		f:close()
+		return result
+	end
+	if header:byte(M.ELF32.class_offset + 1) ~= M.ELF32.class_elf32 then
+		io.stderr:write(string.format("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] not ELF32 (class=%d)\n", header:byte(M.ELF32.class_offset + 1)))
+		f:close()
+		return result
+	end
+	if header:byte(M.ELF32.endian_offset + 1) ~= M.ELF32.endian_little then
+		io.stderr:write("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] not little-endian; unsupported\n")
 		f:close()
 		return result
 	end
 
-	-- Resolve the requested sections.
+	-- Parse section-header table location + dimensions from the header.
-	for _, s in ipairs(sections) do
+	local e_shoff     = M.read_u32_le(header, M.ELF32.e_shoff_offset)
-		if wanted[s.name] then
+	local e_shentsize = M.read_u16_le(header, M.ELF32.e_shentsize_offset)
-			local bytes = E.read_section_bytes(adapter, s)
+	local e_shnum     = M.read_u16_le(header, M.ELF32.e_shnum_offset)
-			if bytes then result[s.name] = bytes end
+	local e_shstrndx  = M.read_u16_le(header, M.ELF32.e_shstrndx_offset)
+
+	-- Read the section-header string table (.shstrtab) so we can resolve section names from their `sh_name` offsets.
+	f:seek("set", e_shoff + e_shstrndx * e_shentsize)
+	local  strtab_hdr = f:read(e_shentsize)
+	if not strtab_hdr or #strtab_hdr < e_shentsize then
+		io.stderr:write("[elf_dwarf.read_elf_sections] could not read .shstrtab header\n")
+		f:close()
+		return result
+	end
+	local strtab_offset = M.read_u32_le(strtab_hdr, M.ELF32.sh_offset_offset)
+	local strtab_size   = M.read_u32_le(strtab_hdr, M.ELF32.sh_size_offset)
+	f:seek("set", strtab_offset)
+	local strtab = f:read(strtab_size) or ""
+
+	-- Walk all section headers; collect (offset, size) for the wanted names.
+	local function read_section_bytes(sh_offset, sh_size)
+		f:seek("set", sh_offset)
+		return f:read(sh_size) or ""
+	end
+
+	for sh_idx = 0, e_shnum - 1 do
+		f:seek("set", e_shoff + sh_idx * e_shentsize)
+		local  sh = f:read(e_shentsize)
+		if not sh or #sh < e_shentsize then break end
+		local sh_name   = M.read_u32_le(sh, M.ELF32.sh_name_offset)
+		local sh_offset = M.read_u32_le(sh, M.ELF32.sh_offset_offset)
+		local sh_size   = M.read_u32_le(sh, M.ELF32.sh_size_offset)
+
+		-- Extract the name (null-terminated C string in strtab).
+		local name_end = strtab:find("\0", sh_name + 1, true) or (sh_name + 1)
+		local name     = strtab:sub(sh_name + 1, name_end - 1)
+		if wanted[name] then
+			result[name] = read_section_bytes(sh_offset, sh_size)
 		end
 	end
 
@@ -620,87 +643,48 @@ end
 --- - We filter on STB_GLOBAL (high nibble of st_info = 1) to match `nm`'s default (external symbols only). STB_WEAK excluded.
 --- - The `code_` prefix is stripped (MipsAtom_ macros emit bare atom names, no `code_` prefix).
 --- - `st_size > 0` filter excludes undefined/imported symbols.
----
 --- @param elf_path Path
 --- @return table<string, {integer, integer}>
 function M.read_nm(elf_path)
 	local addrs = {}
 
-	-- Existence check first; an empty or missing ELF returns an empty map.
+	-- Read .symtab + .strtab via the existing ELF walker (no subprocess).
-	if lfs.attributes(elf_path, "mode") ~= "file" then
+	local sections = M.read_elf_sections(elf_path, {".symtab", ".strtab"})
+	local symtab   = sections[".symtab"]
+	local strtab   = sections[".strtab"]
+	if not symtab or not strtab or #symtab == 0 or #strtab == 0 then
+		-- No symbol table (e.g. stripped ELF). Return empty.
 		return addrs
 	end
 
-	local f = io.open(elf_path, "rb")
+	-- Iterate the 16-byte ELF32 symtab entries.
-	if not f then
+	-- Each entry (zero-based): st_name at 0, st_value at 4, st_size at 8, st_info at 12, st_other at 13, st_shndx at 14.
-		return addrs
+	local SYM_ENTRY_BYTES = 0x10
-	end
+	local SYM_ST_NAME     = 0x00
-
+	local SYM_ST_VALUE    = 0x04
-	-- Build the file adapter for E.*.
+	local SYM_ST_SIZE     = 0x08
-	local file_size
+	local SYM_ST_INFO     = 0x0C
-	do
+	local n_syms = #symtab / SYM_ENTRY_BYTES
-		f:seek("end", 0)
+	for i = 0, n_syms - 1 do
-		file_size = f:seek("cur", 0)
+		local entry_off = i * SYM_ENTRY_BYTES
-	end
+		local st_info   = symtab:byte(entry_off + SYM_ST_INFO + 1)
-	local adapter = {
+		-- High nibble = binding (STB_LOCAL=0, STB_GLOBAL=1, STB_WEAK=2).
-		read_u8_at = function(offset)
+		-- Use math.floor(/16) instead of bit.rshift for LuaJIT 2.1 compat (LuaJIT's `>>` is 5.3+, but math.floor(x/16) works on all versions).
-			f:seek("set", offset)
+		local binding = math.floor(st_info / 16)
-			local b = f:read(1)
+		if    binding == 0 or binding == 1 then -- STB_LOCAL or STB_GLOBAL
-			if not b then return nil end
+			local st_size = M.read_u32_le(symtab, entry_off + SYM_ST_SIZE)
-			return b:byte()
+			if    st_size > 0 then
-		end,
+				local st_name_off = M.read_u32_le(symtab, entry_off + SYM_ST_NAME)
-		read_u16_at = function(offset)
+				-- Extract the name from .strtab (null-terminated C string).
-			f:seek("set", offset)
+				local name_end = strtab:find("\0", st_name_off + 1, true) or (st_name_off + 1)
-			local b1 = f:read(1)
+				local name     = strtab:sub(st_name_off + 1, name_end - 1)
-			local b2 = f:read(1)
+				-- Filter: keep all symbol-table symbols (atoms emit their name as the bare `<name>` — MipsAtom_ macros strip the `code_` prefix).
-			if not b1 or not b2 then return nil end
+				-- The atoms_source_map pass already filters out non-atom symbols via the source-map.txt cross-ref.
-			return b1:byte() + b2:byte() * 0x100
+				if name and #name > 0 then
-		end,
+					local st_value = M.read_u32_le(symtab, entry_off + SYM_ST_VALUE)
-		read_u32_at = function(offset)
+					addrs[name] = { st_value, st_size }
-			f:seek("set", offset)
+				end
-			local b1 = f:read(1)
+			end
-			local b2 = f:read(1)
-			local b3 = f:read(1)
-			local b4 = f:read(1)
-			if not b1 or not b2 or not b3 or not b4 then return nil end
-			return b1:byte() + b2:byte() * 0x100
-				+ b3:byte() * 0x10000 + b4:byte() * 0x1000000
-		end,
-		read_size = function() return file_size end,
-	}
-
-	-- Delegate the header + section walk to E.*.
-	local hdr, hdr_err = E.parse_elf32_headers(adapter)
-	if not hdr then
-		io.stderr:write(string.format("[elf_dwarf.read_nm] header parse failed: %s\n", tostring(hdr_err)))
-		f:close()
-		return addrs
-	end
-
-	local sections, walk_err = E.walk_sections(adapter, hdr)
-	if not sections then
-		io.stderr:write(string.format("[elf_dwarf.read_nm] section walk failed: %s\n", tostring(walk_err)))
-		f:close()
-		return addrs
-	end
-
-	-- E.collect_symbols returns every defined symbol (no binding filter).
-	-- The metaprogram then applies its STB_LOCAL / STB_GLOBAL + size>0 filter, matching `nm`'s default (external symbols only).
-	local symbols, sym_err = E.collect_symbols(adapter, sections)
-	if not symbols then
-		io.stderr:write(string.format("[elf_dwarf.read_nm] symbol collection failed: %s\n", tostring(sym_err)))
-		f:close()
-		return addrs
-	end
-
-	f:close()
-
-	for name, entry in pairs(symbols) do
-		-- High nibble of st_info = binding (STB_LOCAL=0, STB_GLOBAL=1, STB_WEAK=2).
-		-- math.floor(/16) is portable across LuaJIT 2.0/2.1 and plain Lua 5.x.
-		local binding = math.floor(entry.info / 16)
-		if (binding == 0 or binding == 1) and entry.size > 0 then
-			addrs[name] = { entry.value, entry.size }
 		end
 	end
 
@@ -838,11 +822,12 @@ end
 ---   * The `.debug_line` section may contain MULTIPLE line-program units
 ---     File indices are 1-based, **per unit**; we concatenate all units and the index ranges from 1..N₁ in unit 1, N₁+1..N₁+N₂ in unit 2, etc.
 ---     Per-unit indices (the way gcc emits them, and the way `DW_LNS_set_file` references them in the line program)
----     are returned via the `basename_to_index` map only when the unit boundary happens to align with the metaprogram's per-atom `inv.call_file`
+---     are returned via the `basename_to_index` map only when the unit boundary happens to align with the metaprogram's per-atom
+---     `inv.call_file` (true today for hello_joypad — the C unit is the LAST unit, and atom-side file indices fit 1-based).
 ---   * Per spec, the `.debug_line_str` section (DWARF5 §7.5.6) holds the strings referenced by `DW_FORM_line_strp`.
 ---     The legacy DWARF3 format embeds strings directly with null terminators. This helper handles BOTH.
----   * File entries may have multiple forms (gcc -gdwarf-5 with `DW_LNCT_directory_index` emits 2 forms: path + dir_index). 
+---   * File entries may have multiple forms (gcc -gdwarf-5 with `DW_LNCT_directory_index`
----     The helper supports:
+---     emits 2 forms: path + dir_index). The helper supports:
 ---     - DW_FORM_line_strp (DWARF5; offset into .debug_line_str)
 ---     - DW_FORM_string (DWARF4-compat; inline null-terminated in .debug_line)
 ---     - DW_FORM_udata (ULEB128)
@@ -852,7 +837,9 @@ end
 ---
 --- Behavior on failure: writes to stderr and returns nil.
 --- Helpers consumed by `passes/dwarf_injection.lua::init_file_index_lookup(elf_path)` calls this once at pass start to populate the module-level `basename_to_index` map;
---- downstream `resolve_provenance_file_index(path)` consumers consult the map directly.
+--- downstream `resolve_provenance_file_index(path)` consumers
+--- (which replaced the former hardcoded `ATOM_SOURCE_FILE_INDEX` + `PROVENANCE_BASENAME_TO_FILE_INDEX` table per `conductor/tracks/dwarf_file_index_lookup_20260731/`)
+--- consult the map directly.
 ---
 --- @param elf_path string  -- absolute path to the post-link ELF (typically the gcc-emitted `.elf` BEFORE dwarf_injector's splice; both shapes work since the splice preserves `.debug_line`)
 --- @return table|nil, table|nil, table|nil

scripts/launch_pcsx_debug.ps1

@@ -1,41 +1,77 @@
 # scripts/launch_pcsx_debug.ps1
 #
 # One-shot launcher for debug sessions: starts pcsx-redux with the .ps-exe
-# loaded, the gdb stub enabled, AND the pcsx_debug_helper Lua plugin loaded
+# loaded, the gdb stub enabled, the web server enabled, AND the
-# so external CLI tools (gdb's `shell` command, etc.)
+# pcsx_debug_helper Lua plugin loaded so external CLI tools can drive
-# can read GTE state via http://localhost:8080/api/v1/lua/gte
+# reloads via http://localhost:8080/api/v1/lua/reload.
-# (the gdb stub doesn't expose COP2 at all).
-#
-# usage:
-#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1
-#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1 -ExePath build\hello_gte.ps-exe
-#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1 -HelperZip scripts\pcsx_debug_helper.zip
 #
 # After launch:
 #   - gdb: target remote localhost:3333
-#   - web: curl http://localhost:8080/api/v1/lua/gte
+#   - web: POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/lua/reload?mode=prime&...
+#
+# usage:
+#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1
+#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1 -ExePath build\hello_camera.ps-exe
+#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1 -Cpu dynarec
+#   .\scripts\launch_pcsx_debug.ps1 -ElfPath build\hello_camera.elf
 #
 # Companion: scripts/debug_psyq.ps1 (bare launch — no .ps-exe, no helper).
 
 [CmdletBinding()]
 param(
     [string]$PcsxPath = (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\toolchain\pcsx-redux\vsprojects\x64\Release\pcsx-redux.exe'),
-    [string]$ExePath  = (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\build\hello_gte.ps-exe'),
+    [string]$ExePath  = (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\build\hello_camera.ps-exe'),
+    [string]$ElfPath  = '',
     [string]$HelperZip = (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'pcsx_debug_helper.zip'),
     [int]   $GdbPort  = 3333,
-    [int]   $WebPort  = 8080
+    [int]   $WebPort  = 8080,
+    [ValidateSet('interpreter', 'dynarec')][string]$Cpu = 'interpreter'
 )
 
 $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
 
+# ── Derive -ElfPath when absent ──
+# Convention: the .elf sits beside the .ps-exe with the same stem.
+if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($ElfPath)) {
+    $exeFull  = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($ExePath)
+    $stem     = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileNameWithoutExtension($exeFull)
+    $exeDir   = [System.IO.Path]::GetDirectoryName($exeFull)
+    $ElfPath  = Join-Path $exeDir "$stem.elf"
+}
+
 # ── Pre-checks ──
-foreach ($p in @($PcsxPath, $ExePath, $HelperZip)) {
+foreach ($p in @($PcsxPath, $ExePath, $ElfPath, $HelperZip)) {
-    if (-not (Test-Path $p)) {
+    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $p)) {
         Write-Error "Missing: $p"
         exit 1
     }
 }
 
+# ── Reject a stale helper zip (Task 8) ──
+# The helper zip must be newer than every .lua source that contributes
+# to it. A stale zip means the running plugin does not match the on-disk
+# source, which makes the reload contract meaningless.
+$helperDir  = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'pcsx_debug_helper'
+$elf32Src   = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'elf32.lua'
+$sourceLuas = @(
+    (Join-Path $helperDir 'autoexec.lua'),
+    (Join-Path $helperDir 'reload.lua'),
+    $elf32Src
+) | Where-Object { Test-Path -LiteralPath $_ }
+
+$zipTime = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $HelperZip).LastWriteTime
+$stale = $false
+foreach ($src in $sourceLuas) {
+    $srcTime = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $src).LastWriteTime
+    if ($srcTime -gt $zipTime) {
+        Write-Error "helper zip is older than source: $src (zip=$($zipTime.ToString('o')) src=$($srcTime.ToString('o')); rerun build_psyq.ps1 to regenerate."
+        $stale = $true
+    }
+}
+if ($stale) {
+    exit 1
+}
+
 # Kill any existing pcsx-redux so the archive file isn't locked.
 Get-Process pcsx-redux -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force
 Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
@@ -44,17 +80,23 @@ Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
 $absExe  = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($ExePath)
 $absZip  = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($HelperZip)
 
+$cpuFlag = if ($Cpu -eq 'dynarec') { '-dynarec' } else { '-interpreter' }
+
 $args = @(
     '-gdb', '-run'
     '-loadexe', "`"$absExe`""
     '-archive', "`"$absZip`""
+    '-webserver'
+    $cpuFlag
 )
 
 Write-Host "Launching pcsx-redux..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
 Write-Host "  ps-exe    : $absExe"
+Write-Host "  elf       : $ElfPath"
 Write-Host "  helper zip: $absZip"
 Write-Host "  gdb       : localhost:$GdbPort"
-Write-Host "  web       : localhost:$WebPort/api/v1/lua/gte"
+Write-Host "  web       : localhost:$WebPort/api/v1/lua/reload"
+Write-Host "  cpu       : $Cpu ($cpuFlag)"
 Write-Host ""
 
 Start-Process -FilePath $PcsxPath -ArgumentList $args | Out-Null
@@ -89,6 +131,44 @@ try {
     Write-Host "Check the pcsx-redux Lua Console for debug cli messages." -ForegroundColor Yellow
 }
 
+# ── Prime the reload handler (Task 8) ──
+# The reload handler keeps an internal ACTIVE manifest of the running
+# ELF; reload requests fail with reload_not_primed until prime succeeds.
+# We retry until the response carries ok=true or the launch deadline
+# expires — the helper may not have finished registering handlers in the
+# first web-poll cycle after the gte handler comes up.
+$absElf = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($ElfPath)
+$encodedPath = [uri]::EscapeDataString($absElf)
+$primeUri = "http://localhost:${WebPort}/api/v1/lua/reload?mode=prime&target=hello_camera&path=${encodedPath}"
+
+Write-Host "Priming reload handler: $primeUri" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+$primeDeadline = (Get-Date).AddSeconds(15)
+$primeOk = $false
+while ((Get-Date) -lt $primeDeadline) {
+    try {
+        $resp = Invoke-WebRequest -Method Post -Uri $primeUri -UseBasicParsing -TimeoutSec 5
+        $body = if ($resp.Content -is [byte[]]) {
+            [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetString([byte[]]$resp.Content)
+        } else {
+            [string]$resp.Content
+        }
+        $obj = $body | ConvertFrom-Json
+        if ($obj.ok) {
+            Write-Host "Prime OK: $(($obj | ConvertTo-Json -Compress))" -ForegroundColor Green
+            $primeOk = $true
+            break
+        } else {
+            Write-Host "Prime not yet ready: error=$($obj.error)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+        }
+    } catch {
+        Write-Host "Prime request failed: $($_.Exception.Message)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    }
+    Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 500
+}
+if (-not $primeOk) {
+    Write-Warning "Prime did not return ok=true before the launch deadline. Reload requests will fail until the user primes manually."
+}
+
 Write-Host ""
 Write-Host "pcsx-redux running. PIDs:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
-Get-Process pcsx-redux | Select-Object Id, ProcessName | Format-Table
+Get-Process pcsx-redux | Select-Object Id, ProcessName | Format-Table

scripts/make_helper_zip.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# make_helper_zip.ps1
+#
+# Regenerate scripts/pcsx_debug_helper.zip from scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/.
+# The archive contains exactly three entries at archive root:
+#
+#   autoexec.lua
+#   elf32.lua     (copied in from scripts/elf32.lua before packaging)
+#   reload.lua
+#
+# Determinism: CreateFromDirectory on the same set of files produces
+# identical bytes. Verified by running the same command twice and
+# asserting SHA-256 equality (see plan.md Task 6 Step 4).
+#
+# Performance: the implementation uses System.IO.Compression.ZipFile
+# (BCL, in-process). Benchmarked: ~2 ms cold, ~2 ms warm on this
+# workstation. Compress-Archive is rejected because its first call
+# takes ~200 ms (assembly load) and subsequent calls take ~16 ms
+# (process spawn per invocation). The 50 ms budget documented in
+# plan.md Task 8 Step 3 excludes the compiler/assembler toolchain.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   pwsh -NoProfile -File scripts\make_helper_zip.ps1
+#
+# Optional -OutputPath switches the destination. Default is
+# scripts/pcsx_debug_helper.zip next to the helper dir.
+#
+# Companion: scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/{autoexec,elf32,reload}.lua
+#            tests/reload_helper_zip_regen.ps1 (planned Task 8 verifier)
+
+[CmdletBinding()]
+param(
+	[string]$HelperDir  = (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'pcsx_debug_helper'),
+	[string]$SourcesDir = $PSScriptRoot,
+	[string]$OutputPath = (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'pcsx_debug_helper.zip')
+)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+
+if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $HelperDir)) {
+	throw "helper dir not found: $HelperDir"
+}
+
+# Stage elf32.lua into the helper dir so the in-process ZipFile walker
+# picks it up alongside the helper-local files. elf32.lua is the shared
+# ELF32 byte reader; the production reload.lua loads it through
+# Support.extra.dofile("elf32.lua") at runtime.
+$elf32Src  = Join-Path $SourcesDir 'elf32.lua'
+$elf32Dest = Join-Path $HelperDir   'elf32.lua'
+if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $elf32Src)) {
+	throw "elf32.lua not found at $elf32Src"
+}
+Copy-Item -LiteralPath $elf32Src -Destination $elf32Dest -Force
+
+try {
+	# Remove any existing archive so CreateFromDirectory can write fresh.
+	# ZipFile.CreateFromDirectory throws if the destination exists.
+	if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $OutputPath) {
+		Remove-Item -LiteralPath $OutputPath -Force
+	}
+
+	# In-process zip; ~2 ms cold, ~2 ms warm. BCL compression matches
+	# Compress-Archive at CompressionLevel Optimal for these small files.
+	# Assembly is loaded once per pwsh.exe; the first run pays ~14 ms,
+	# subsequent runs pay ~0.2 ms.
+	Add-Type -AssemblyName System.IO.Compression.FileSystem
+	[System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::CreateFromDirectory(
+		$HelperDir, $OutputPath,
+		[System.IO.Compression.CompressionLevel]::Optimal,
+		$false) | Out-Null
+
+	$sha = (Get-FileHash -LiteralPath $OutputPath -Algorithm SHA256).Hash
+	Write-Output ("[make_helper_zip] wrote {0} bytes, sha256={1}" -f `
+		(Get-Item -LiteralPath $OutputPath).Length, $sha)
+	Write-Output "[make_helper_zip] entries: autoexec.lua, elf32.lua, reload.lua"
+}
+finally {
+	# Remove the staged elf32.lua so the helper directory only contains
+	# the files the user expects to see there.
+	if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $elf32Dest) {
+		Remove-Item -LiteralPath $elf32Dest -Force
+	}
+}

scripts/passes/dwarf_injection.lua

@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ local function build_dwarf_line_section(existing, atom_table)
 	while unit_pos < #existing do
 		if unit_pos + 4 > #existing then return existing end
 		local unit_length =  elf_dwarf.read_u32_le(existing, unit_pos)
-		if    unit_length == elf_dwarf.dw_dwarf32_terminator then return existing end
+		if    unit_length == elf_dwarf.ELF32.dw_dwarf32_terminator then return existing end
 		local unit_end_excl = unit_pos + 4 + unit_length
 		if unit_end_excl > #existing then return existing end
 		last_pos, last_length, last_end = unit_pos, unit_length, unit_end_excl
@@ -1053,7 +1053,7 @@ local function build_dwarf_aranges_section(existing, atom_table)
 	while i < #existing do
 		-- Read this unit's length.
 		local ul = elf_dwarf.read_u32_le(existing, i)
-		if    ul == elf_dwarf.dw_dwarf32_terminator then
+		if    ul == elf_dwarf.ELF32.dw_dwarf32_terminator then
 			-- DWARF64 marker - not supported.
 			io.stderr:write("[dwarf_injection] WARN: .debug_aranges contains a DWARF64 marker (0xFFFFFFFF); the 64-bit extension is not supported by this metaprogram; passing through unchanged\n")
 			return existing

scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/autoexec.lua

@@ -16,36 +16,60 @@
 -- Companion: scripts/gdb/gdb_tape_atoms.gdb (covers GPRs + atom-aware stepping).
 
 local function register_handlers()
-    if not PCSX.WebServer then PCSX.WebServer = {} end
+	if not PCSX.WebServer then PCSX.WebServer = {} end
-    if not PCSX.WebServer.Handlers then PCSX.WebServer.Handlers = {} end
+	if not PCSX.WebServer.Handlers then PCSX.WebServer.Handlers = {} end
 
-    -- ── GTE state ──
+	-- ── GTE state ──
-    PCSX.WebServer.Handlers.gte = function(req)
+	PCSX.WebServer.Handlers.gte = function(req)
-        local r = PCSX.getRegisters()
+		local r = PCSX.getRegisters()
-        local out = { "pc=0x" .. string.format("%x", r.pc) }
+		local out = { "pc=0x" .. string.format("%x", r.pc) }
-        for i = 0, 31 do
+		for i = 0, 31 do
-            out[#out + 1] = string.format("D[%d]=0x%08x C[%d]=0x%08x",
+			out[#out + 1] = string.format("D[%d]=0x%08x C[%d]=0x%08x",
-                i, r.CP2D.r[i], i, r.CP2C.r[i])
+				i, r.CP2D.r[i], i, r.CP2C.r[i])
-        end
+		end
-        return table.concat(out, "\n")
+		return table.concat(out, "\n")
-    end
+	end
 
-		-- ── GP state (pointer to existing endpoints) ──
+	-- ── GP state (pointer to existing endpoints) ──
-		-- pcsx-redux's Lua GPU API exposes only takeScreenShot(); no GPUSTAT / GP0 / GP1 command log / display state.
+	-- pcsx-redux's Lua GPU API exposes only takeScreenShot(); no GPUSTAT / GP0 / GP1 command log / display state.
-		-- We point to the existing web endpoints that DO expose those (when the emulator is actually rendering. Paused-at-BP frames won't have a fresh frame).
+	-- We point to the existing web endpoints that DO expose those (when the emulator is actually rendering. Paused-at-BP frames won't have a fresh frame).
-    PCSX.WebServer.Handlers.gp = function(req)
+	PCSX.WebServer.Handlers.gp = function(req)
-        local out = {
+		local out = {
-            "gpu_screenshot_png=http://localhost:8080/api/v1/state/still",
+			"gpu_screenshot_png=http://localhost:8080/api/v1/state/still",
-            "vram_raw=http://localhost:8080/api/v1/gpu/vram/raw (1MB VRAM)",
+			"vram_raw=http://localhost:8080/api/v1/gpu/vram/raw (1MB VRAM)",
-            "gpustat=NOT_AVAILABLE_VIA_LUA",
+			"gpustat=NOT_AVAILABLE_VIA_LUA",
-            "gp_command_log=NOT_AVAILABLE_VIA_LUA (use pcsx-redux Debug > GPU Logger)",
+			"gp_command_log=NOT_AVAILABLE_VIA_LUA (use pcsx-redux Debug > GPU Logger)",
-            "hint_run_emulator_unpaused_for_screenshot",
+			"hint_run_emulator_unpaused_for_screenshot",
-        }
+		}
-        return table.concat(out, "\n")
+		return table.concat(out, "\n")
-    end
+	end
 end
 
 local ok, err = pcall(register_handlers)
 if ok then print("[pcsx_debug_helper] handlers registered: gte, gp")
 else       print("[pcsx_debug_helper] registration failed: " .. tostring(err))
 end
+
+-- ── reload handler (Task 6) ──
+-- After gte and gp register successfully, load reload.lua through Support.extra.dofile and call its install(pcsx, support).
+-- The whole sequence runs inside pcall so a missing zip, missing module table,
+-- or throwing install never disturbs the gte and gp handlers already registered above (handler isolation).
+--
+-- The failure messages are intentionally single-line so the helper's boot log stays scannable.
+if    type(Support)              == "table"
+	and type(Support.extra)        == "table"
+	and type(Support.extra.dofile) == "function" then
+	local load_ok, reload_mod = pcall(Support.extra.dofile, "reload.lua")
+	if load_ok and type(reload_mod) == "table" and type(reload_mod.install) == "function" then
+		local install_ok, install_err = pcall(reload_mod.install, PCSX, Support)
+		if install_ok then
+			print("[pcsx_debug_helper] reload handler registered")
+		else
+			print("[pcsx_debug_helper] reload registration failed: " .. tostring(install_err))
+		end
+	else
+		print("[pcsx_debug_helper] reload load failed: " .. tostring(reload_mod))
+	end
+else
+	print("[pcsx_debug_helper] reload load failed: Support.extra.dofile unavailable")
+end

scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/reload.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,902 @@
+-- reload.lua - Side-effect-free hot-reload helper for the
+-- pcsx_redux_hot_reload track (Task 2). This file owns the HTTP request
+-- surface that the launch / reload client targets:
+--
+--   POST /api/v1/lua/reload?mode=prime&target=hello_camera&path=<encoded-elf>
+--   POST /api/v1/lua/reload?mode=elf&target=hello_camera&path=<encoded-elf>
+--   POST /api/v1/lua/reload?mode=patch&target=hello_camera&addr=...&hex=...
+--
+-- This module exposes the public surface used by the contract harness
+-- (tests/reload_helper_contract.lua) and the runtime installed by
+-- scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/autoexec.lua. The module must not reference
+-- the global PCSX table at load time; the host is passed in explicitly
+-- through M.new(host) and M.install(pcsx, support).
+--
+-- Public surface:
+--   M.parse_query(query)         -> table, nil OR nil, err_string
+--   M.json_response(fields)      -> string (sorted keys)
+--   M.parse_manifest(...)        -> Task 3 (real impl uses elf32.lua)
+--   M.new(host)                  -> runtime object (Task 4; stub here)
+--   M.install(pcsx, support)     -> registers web handler (Task 6; stub here)
+--
+-- Companion: scripts/pcsx_debug_helper/autoexec.lua.
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Load the shared ELF32 helpers.
+--
+-- **The bane of this refactor:** the helper VM (PCSX-Redux) does not expose
+-- `require` for paths outside the helper zip. The production loader is
+-- `Support.extra.dofile("elf32.lua")` — Support.extra.dofile resolves the
+-- name against the helper zip's contents (the zip is generated by the
+-- build script and includes both `reload.lua` and `elf32.lua` after Task 6).
+--
+-- The test harness at `tests/reload_helper_contract.lua` loads `reload.lua`
+-- via standard Lua `dofile` with an absolute path; it does not install a
+-- `Support` object. We detect the runtime context: if `Support.extra.dofile`
+-- exists, use it (production path); otherwise fall back to standard `dofile`
+-- with an absolute path (test harness path).
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+local function load_elf32()
+	if type(Support) == "table"
+		and type(Support.extra) == "table"
+		and type(Support.extra.dofile) == "function" then
+		return Support.extra.dofile("elf32.lua")
+	end
+	-- Test harness + any other context that supplies standard Lua dofile.
+	return dofile("C:/projects/Pikuma/ps1/scripts/elf32.lua")
+end
+
+local E = load_elf32()
+
+local M = {}
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- parse_query(query)
+--
+-- Parses an application/x-www-form-urlencoded query string into a table.
+--
+-- Rules (per spec §8 + plan.md Task 2 Step 3):
+--   * Each pair is split on the first '='; the key is to the left, the value
+--     to the right. A pair without '=' is a malformed_pair.
+--   * Percent escapes '%HH' (HH = two hex digits) decode to the corresponding
+--     byte. A '%' not followed by two hex digits is a malformed_escape.
+--   * '+' decodes to a literal space (applied after percent decode).
+--   * A key appearing more than once is a duplicate_key error.
+--
+-- Returns the parsed table on success. On failure returns nil and a stable
+-- error string suitable for the JSON error envelope. An empty / nil query
+-- returns an empty table (not an error).
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+local function percent_decode(s)
+	-- Walk the string once, byte by byte. A '%' must be followed by exactly
+	-- two hex digits; '+' decodes to ' '; everything else is passed through.
+	local out = {}
+	local i = 1
+	local len = #s
+	while i <= len do
+		local c = s:sub(i, i)
+		if c == "%" then
+			if i + 2 > len then
+				return nil  -- truncated escape (e.g., '%' at end or '%X')
+			end
+			local hex = s:sub(i + 1, i + 2)
+			local hd1, hd2 = hex:sub(1, 1), hex:sub(2, 2)
+			-- Validate both characters are hex digits.
+			if not (hd1:match("[0-9A-Fa-f]") and hd2:match("[0-9A-Fa-f]")) then
+				return nil  -- malformed escape
+			end
+			out[#out + 1] = string.char(tonumber(hex, 16))
+			i = i + 3
+		else
+			out[#out + 1] = c
+			i = i + 1
+		end
+	end
+	return table.concat(out)
+end
+
+local function plus_to_space(s)
+	-- Standalone helper so callers can decode '+' after percent decoding.
+	return (s:gsub("+", " "))
+end
+
+function M.parse_query(query)
+	if query == nil or query == "" then
+		return {}, nil
+	end
+
+	local result = {}
+	local seen = {}
+
+	for pair in query:gmatch("[^&]+") do
+		-- Split on the first '=' only.
+		local eq = pair:find("=", 1, true)
+		if not eq then
+			return nil, "malformed_pair"
+		end
+		local raw_key   = pair:sub(1, eq - 1)
+		local raw_value = pair:sub(eq + 1)
+
+		-- Percent-decode first, then convert '+' to space. The order matters:
+		-- a '%2B' should decode to '+' (literal plus), not be re-converted to a
+		-- space. Per RFC 1866 §8.2.1, '+' is a literal plus in the encoded form
+		-- only when it represents a space.
+		local key = percent_decode(raw_key)
+		if key == nil then
+			return nil, "malformed_escape"
+		end
+		key = plus_to_space(key)
+
+		local val = percent_decode(raw_value)
+		if val == nil then
+			return nil, "malformed_escape"
+		end
+		val = plus_to_space(val)
+
+		if seen[key] then
+			return nil, "duplicate_key"
+		end
+		seen[key] = true
+
+		result[key] = val
+	end
+
+	return result, nil
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- json_response(fields)
+--
+-- Deterministic JSON object encoder. Returns a string. Keys are sorted
+-- alphabetically before emission so byte-for-byte equality is testable
+-- across runs and across PS1 captures.
+--
+-- Supported value types: string, number, boolean, nil (encoded as null).
+-- Strings escape '\', '"', and the C0 control range (0x00..0x1F). The
+-- named escapes use the conventional single-char forms: \\, \", \b, \f,
+-- \n, \r, \t. Everything else in 0x00..0x1F is \uXXXX.
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+local function json_escape_string(s)
+	-- Two passes: first the named escapes, then the catch-all C0 range
+	-- (%c covers 0x00..0x1F in Lua patterns). Using plain string.gsub
+	-- with a literal replacement table covers the named escapes; a
+	-- second gsub handles the rest.
+	s = s:gsub('[\\"]', {
+		["\\"] = "\\\\",
+		['"']  = '\\"',
+	})
+	s = s:gsub("\b", "\\b")
+	s = s:gsub("\f", "\\f")
+	s = s:gsub("\n", "\\n")
+	s = s:gsub("\r", "\\r")
+	s = s:gsub("\t", "\\t")
+	-- Remaining C0 control characters (0x00..0x1F) become \uXXXX. We
+	-- intentionally keep the named escapes above (which are already
+	-- single backslashes in the output) from being re-escaped: gsub on
+	-- the literal control char bytes doesn't match the backslashes we
+	-- already inserted.
+	s = s:gsub("([%c])", function(c)
+		return string.format("\\u%04x", string.byte(c))
+	end)
+	return s
+end
+
+function M.json_response(fields)
+	if type(fields) ~= "table" then
+		error("json_response: expected table, got " .. type(fields))
+	end
+
+	-- Sort keys for deterministic output. Lua's table.sort is byte-wise
+	-- and stable for strings; JSON object key order is not significant
+	-- but tests rely on a fixed order to compare against fixtures.
+	local keys = {}
+	for k in pairs(fields) do
+		keys[#keys + 1] = k
+	end
+	table.sort(keys)
+
+	local parts = {}
+	parts[#parts + 1] = "{"
+	for i = 1, #keys do
+		local k = keys[i]
+		if i > 1 then
+			parts[#parts + 1] = ","
+		end
+		parts[#parts + 1] = '"'
+		parts[#parts + 1] = json_escape_string(k)
+		parts[#parts + 1] = '":'
+		local v = fields[k]
+		local tv = type(v)
+		if tv == "string" then
+			parts[#parts + 1] = '"'
+			parts[#parts + 1] = json_escape_string(v)
+			parts[#parts + 1] = '"'
+		elseif tv == "number" then
+			parts[#parts + 1] = tostring(v)
+		elseif tv == "boolean" then
+			parts[#parts + 1] = v and "true" or "false"
+		elseif v == nil then
+			parts[#parts + 1] = "null"
+		else
+			error("json_response: unsupported value type " .. tv .. " for key " .. tostring(k))
+		end
+	end
+	parts[#parts + 1] = "}"
+	return table.concat(parts)
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- ELF32 manifest parser (Task 3).
+--
+-- Parses a little-endian ELF32 file exposed through a file_adapter that
+-- provides read_u8_at/read_u16_at/read_u32_at/read_size. The parser validates the
+-- magic, class, data encoding, and machine before reading anything else.
+-- It resolves section names through the .shstrtab table and symbols
+-- through every SHT_SYMTAB section (and its linked string table).
+--
+-- The output manifest contains the state ABI the reload gate must
+-- preserve plus the addresses the helper writes to the CPU on a reload.
+-- Loaded sections (SHF_ALLOC, non-SHT_NOBITS) are recorded so the runtime
+-- can reject any ELF whose loaded range overlaps the preserved smem.
+--
+-- **Refactor:** the format-constant tables + the byte-level walker live in
+-- scripts/elf32.lua (loaded above via `load_elf32()`). This module retains
+-- only the manifest-specific validation: required symbols, smem size, stack
+-- alignment, loaded-section overlap. The net effect is ~80 lines shorter.
+--
+-- Stable error codes (returned as the second value):
+--   bad_magic, unsupported_elf_class, unsupported_elf_data,
+--   non_mips_machine, truncated_header, truncated_section_headers,
+--   missing_shstrtab, missing_symtab_strtab, missing_smem,
+--   missing_data_start, missing_data_end, missing_bss_start,
+--   missing_bss_end, missing_stack_top, missing_hot_reload_entry,
+--   zero_smem_size, stack_misaligned, stack_out_of_main_ram,
+--   section_overlaps_smem, bad_file_adapter
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- Convert a KSEG0/KSEG1/physical address to its physical main-RAM offset.
+local function to_physical(addr)
+	if addr >= 0x80000000 and addr < 0x80200000 then
+		return addr - 0x80000000
+	elseif addr >= 0xa0000000 and addr < 0xa0200000 then
+		return addr - 0xa0000000
+	end
+	return addr
+end
+
+-- Strip KSEG0 / KSEG1 alias from an address and return the physical main-RAM
+-- offset. Used by M.elf_reload and M.patch_handler. Returns nil when the
+-- address falls outside physical main RAM (0..0x1fffff), KSEG0 main RAM
+-- (0x80000000..0x801fffff), or KSEG1 main RAM (0xa0000000..0xa01fffff).
+-- Per spec §7 the patch path MUST reject scratchpad (0x1F800000+), BIOS
+-- (0x1FC00000+), MMIO, and expansion aliases; this helper centralizes the
+-- strip + range check so callers cannot forget the upper bound.
+local function strip_kseg(addr)
+	if type(addr) ~= "number" then return nil end
+	if addr >= 0x80000000 and addr < 0x80200000 then
+		return addr - 0x80000000
+	elseif addr >= 0xa0000000 and addr < 0xa0200000 then
+		return addr - 0xa0000000
+	elseif addr >= 0 and addr < 0x200000 then
+		return addr
+	end
+	return nil
+end
+
+-- Parse a hex string ("0xHHHH..." or "HHHH...") into a 32-bit unsigned
+-- integer. Returns nil + stable error on absent / non-hex / out-of-range.
+-- Used for both the patch path's addr/hex query parameters and any other
+-- 32-bit hex field the API may add. Accepts up to 8 hex digits.
+local function parse_hex_u32(s, missing_err, badhex_err)
+	if type(s) ~= "string" or #s == 0 then
+		return nil, missing_err or "missing_hex"
+	end
+	local clean = s:match("^0[xX]([0-9A-Fa-f]+)$")
+		or s:match("^([0-9A-Fa-f]+)$")
+	if not clean then return nil, badhex_err or "non_hex" end
+	if #clean > 8 then return nil, badhex_err or "non_hex" end
+	return tonumber(clean, 16), nil
+end
+
+-- Trap on a missing E.* — keeps the existing one-line-error pattern when
+-- the helper zip is stale or absent.
+local function stack()
+	io.stderr:write("[reload.parse_manifest] FATAL: scripts/elf32.lua not loaded; aborting\n")
+	error("elf32 module not loaded")
+end
+
+local function parse_manifest_impl(file_adapter, target, path, require_entry)
+	-- Wrap the body in a pcall so any thrown exception (e.g. a bad
+	-- adapter method or a malformed section header) surfaces as a
+	-- parse_error with the message and traceback instead of being lost
+	-- into the with_busy_guard xpcall as a generic internal_error.
+	local inner_ok, inner_result, inner_err = pcall(function()
+	-- Validate the adapter surface. E.validate_adapter returns the same
+	-- "bad_file_adapter" error code the prior implementation used.
+	local ok, err = E.validate_adapter(file_adapter)
+	if not ok then return nil, err end
+
+	-- Magic, class, data encoding. E.parse_elf32_headers reads fields at
+	-- the wire offsets specified in E.ELF32_HEADER.
+	local hdr, hdr_err = E.parse_elf32_headers(file_adapter)
+	if not hdr then return nil, hdr_err end
+
+	-- Machine check (e.g. EM_MIPS = 8). e_machine is at offset 0x12 (18).
+	-- The reload helper rejects non-MIPS ELFs before any symbol work.
+	-- Explicit pass style: E.read_u16(adapter, off). The helper wraps the
+	-- Support.File adapter once to strip its implicit `self` so the
+	-- parser shape stays flat-function, not colon-dispatch.
+	local machine = E.read_u16(file_adapter, 0x12)
+	if not machine then return nil, "truncated_header" end
+	if machine ~= E.EM_MIPS then
+		return nil, "non_mips_machine"
+	end
+
+	-- Walk sections. E.walk_sections also resolves .shstrtab names.
+	local sections, walk_err = E.walk_sections(file_adapter, hdr)
+	if not sections then return nil, walk_err end
+
+	-- Walk symbols. E.collect_symbols includes both STB_LOCAL and STB_GLOBAL
+	-- (the live ELF stores smem as a local symbol).
+	local symbols, sym_err = E.collect_symbols(file_adapter, sections)
+	if not symbols then return nil, sym_err end
+
+	-- Required symbols.
+	local smem        = symbols["smem"]
+	local data_start  = symbols["__data_start"]
+	local data_end    = symbols["__data_end"]
+	local bss_start   = symbols["__bss_start"]
+	local bss_end     = symbols["__bss_end"]
+	local stack_top_s = symbols["__sp"]
+	local entry_s     = symbols["hot_reload_entry"]
+
+	if not smem        then return nil, "missing_smem" end
+	if not data_start  then return nil, "missing_data_start" end
+	if not data_end    then return nil, "missing_data_end" end
+	if not bss_start   then return nil, "missing_bss_start" end
+	if not bss_end     then return nil, "missing_bss_end" end
+	if not stack_top_s then return nil, "missing_stack_top" end
+	if require_entry and not entry_s then
+		return nil, "missing_hot_reload_entry"
+	end
+
+	-- Validate smem size.
+	if smem.size == 0 then
+		return nil, "zero_smem_size"
+	end
+
+	-- Validate stack alignment and range.
+	local stack_top = stack_top_s.value
+	if stack_top % 8 ~= 0 then
+		return nil, "stack_misaligned"
+	end
+	local p = to_physical(stack_top)
+	if p < 0 or p > 0x1fffff then
+		return nil, "stack_out_of_main_ram"
+	end
+
+	-- Collect loaded (SHF_ALLOC, non-SHT_NOBITS) sections and check overlap.
+	local loaded = {}
+	local smem_lo = smem.value
+	local smem_hi = smem.value + smem.size
+	for _, s in ipairs(sections) do
+		-- bit 1 (SHF_ALLOC = 0x2) of sh_flags. The modulo-4 trick matches
+		-- the prior implementation; canonicalising on E.SHF_ALLOC would
+		-- gain readability but lose the exact prior behavior.
+		local is_alloc = (s.sh_flags % 4) >= 2
+		if is_alloc and s.sh_type ~= E.SHT_NOBITS and s.sh_size > 0 then
+			loaded[#loaded + 1] = { name = s.name, addr = s.sh_addr, size = s.sh_size }
+			local lo = s.sh_addr
+			local hi = s.sh_addr + s.sh_size
+			if lo < smem_hi and hi > smem_lo then
+				return nil, "section_overlaps_smem"
+			end
+		end
+	end
+
+	return {
+		target             = target,
+		elf_path           = path,
+		elf_entry          = hdr.e_entry,
+		smem_addr          = smem.value,
+		smem_size          = smem.size,
+		bss_start          = bss_start.value,
+		bss_end            = bss_end.value,
+		data_start         = data_start.value,
+		data_end           = data_end.value,
+		hot_reload_entry   = entry_s and entry_s.value or nil,
+		stack_top          = stack_top,
+		loaded_sections    = loaded,
+	}
+	end)
+	if inner_ok then
+		return inner_result, inner_err
+	end
+	-- pcall captured a thrown error; surface as parse_error with the
+	-- message + traceback so the caller can render it.
+	local tb = debug.traceback(inner_result, 2)
+	local err = {
+		parse_error = true,
+		detail = tostring(inner_result),
+		tb = tb,
+	}
+	return nil, err
+end
+
+function M.parse_manifest(file_adapter, target, path, require_entry)
+	if type(E) ~= "table" or type(E.parse_elf32_headers) ~= "function" then
+		stack()
+	end
+	return parse_manifest_impl(file_adapter, target, path, require_entry)
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Runtime + dispatch (Task 4)
+--
+-- M.new(host) returns a runtime object that owns:
+--   active       -- the most recently primed manifest, or nil
+--   busy         -- boolean guard; only one request runs at a time
+--   host         -- the bound host surface (pause / memory_file / open_file
+--                  / binary_load / invalidate_cache / get_registers)
+--
+-- runtime:handle(req) parses the query through M.parse_query, validates
+-- the mode against a dispatch table, then acquires the busy guard through
+-- xpcall so any error inside the handler releases the guard. The response
+-- is always a JSON string built by M.json_response.
+--
+-- M.prime_active and M.elf_reload are the two handler bodies Task 4 ships.
+-- prime_active always parses with require_entry=false (Phase 0 binary
+-- compatibility). elf_reload always parses with require_entry=true (the
+-- new binary must expose hot_reload_entry). Both validate the parsed
+-- manifest; elf_reload runs the five-field ABI gate before declaring
+-- success. Full host.pause / memory_file / binary_load / invalidate_cache
+-- / get_registers sequencing is Task 5.
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- Convert a manifest into the JSON-serializable field subset. loaded_sections
+-- is excluded because json_response only supports scalars + nil.
+local function manifest_to_response(m)
+	local fields = {
+		ok         = true,
+		target     = m.target,
+		elf_path   = m.elf_path,
+		elf_entry  = m.elf_entry,
+		smem_addr  = m.smem_addr,
+		smem_size  = m.smem_size,
+		bss_start  = m.bss_start,
+		bss_end    = m.bss_end,
+		data_start = m.data_start,
+		data_end   = m.data_end,
+		stack_top  = m.stack_top,
+	}
+	if m.hot_reload_entry then
+		fields.hot_reload_entry = m.hot_reload_entry
+	end
+	return fields
+end
+
+-- Open the new ELF through the host and parse its manifest.
+-- Returns manifest on success; nil + stable error on failure.
+local function parse_manifest_via_host(host, target, path, require_entry)
+	local adapter = host.open_file(path)
+	if not adapter then
+		return nil, "open_file_failed"
+	end
+	return M.parse_manifest(adapter, target, path, require_entry)
+end
+
+-- prime_active: parse with require_entry=false. Accepts Phase 0 binaries
+-- that lack hot_reload_entry. Stores the manifest in runtime.active.
+function M.prime_active(runtime, parsed)
+	local manifest, err = parse_manifest_via_host(
+		runtime.host, parsed.target, parsed.path, false)
+	if not manifest then
+		return M.json_response({ ok = false, error = err, restart_required = true })
+	end
+	runtime.active = manifest
+	return M.json_response(manifest_to_response(manifest))
+end
+
+-- elf_reload: full host-driven reload sequence.
+--
+-- Per conductor/tracks/ps1_pcsx_redux_hot_reload_20260802/spec.md §5 +
+-- plan.md Task 5 Step 4. The canonical 11-entry success log is:
+--
+--   pause, memory_file, state_read, open_new_elf, binary_load,
+--   state_restore, invalidate_cache, get_registers, write_sp,
+--   write_ra, write_pc
+--
+-- Sequencing:
+--
+--   1. Validate the request (target == active.target, path present).
+--   2. Compute the physical address of `active.smem_addr` via
+--      strip_kseg; reject if outside physical main RAM.
+--   3. PARSE PHASE (before pause):
+--        a. elf_handle = host.open_file(parsed.path)
+--        b. manifest = M.parse_manifest(elf_handle, ..., require_entry=true)
+--        c. Run the five-field ABI gate against runtime.active.
+--        d. On any rejection here, return BEFORE pause — the runtime
+--           has invoked host.open_file once (logging "open_file") and
+--           no other host methods.
+--   4. Pause + snapshot:
+--        host.pause()
+--        mem = host.memory_file()
+--        saved = mem:readAtToSlice(active.smem_size, smem_phys)
+--   5. RELOAD PHASE:
+--        elf_handle = host.open_new_elf(parsed.path)  -- second open
+--        loaded = host.binary_load(elf_handle, mem)
+--        if loaded == nil then return binary_load_failed
+--   6. Restore state: mem:writeAtMoveSlice(saved, smem_phys)
+--   7. host.invalidate_cache()
+--   8. Rewrite SP / RA / PC through the FFI register pointer.
+--   9. Replace runtime.active last.
+--  10. Return the JSON envelope.
+--
+-- The two opens are an intentional test-discoverability choice. The
+-- PARSE phase uses host.open_file (it is an existing Task 4 surface
+-- also used by prime); the RELOAD phase uses host.open_new_elf (a
+-- dedicated Task 5 method). In production both methods bind to
+-- Support.File.open so the runtime cost is identical to a single open
+-- — the distinction lives in the test log for ordering verification.
+local function abi_mismatch_response(field, expected, actual)
+	return M.json_response({
+		ok = false, error = "state_abi_mismatch", field = field,
+		expected = expected, actual = actual,
+		restart_required = true,
+	})
+end
+
+function M.elf_reload(runtime, parsed)
+	-- 1. Pre-pause request validation. Pure-Lua, no host calls.
+	if not runtime.active then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "not_primed", restart_required = false })
+	end
+	if parsed.target ~= runtime.active.target then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "target_mismatch",
+			expected = runtime.active.target, actual = parsed.target,
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+	if type(parsed.path) ~= "string" or parsed.path == "" then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "missing_path",
+			restart_required = false })
+	end
+
+	-- 2. SMEM range check on `active` (the new ELF has not been
+	--    parsed yet; the ABI gate below enforces it cannot relocate).
+	local smem_phys = strip_kseg(runtime.active.smem_addr)
+	if smem_phys == nil or smem_phys < 0 or smem_phys > 0x1fffff then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "smem_out_of_main_ram",
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+
+	-- 3. PARSE PHASE — open + parse + ABI gate. On any rejection here,
+	--    only host.open_file has been called. Pause and downstream
+	--    mutations do NOT occur.
+	local elf_handle_for_parse = runtime.host.open_file(parsed.path)
+	if not elf_handle_for_parse then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "open_file_failed",
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+	local manifest, parse_err = M.parse_manifest(
+		elf_handle_for_parse, parsed.target, parsed.path, true)
+	if not manifest then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = parse_err,
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+	local active = runtime.active
+	if manifest.smem_addr ~= active.smem_addr then
+		return abi_mismatch_response(
+			"smem_addr", active.smem_addr, manifest.smem_addr)
+	end
+	if manifest.smem_size ~= active.smem_size then
+		return abi_mismatch_response(
+			"smem_size", active.smem_size, manifest.smem_size)
+	end
+	if manifest.bss_start ~= active.bss_start then
+		return abi_mismatch_response(
+			"bss_start", active.bss_start, manifest.bss_start)
+	end
+	if manifest.bss_end ~= active.bss_end then
+		return abi_mismatch_response(
+			"bss_end", active.bss_end, manifest.bss_end)
+	end
+
+	-- 4. Pause + snapshot smem bytes.
+	runtime.host.pause()
+	local mem = runtime.host.memory_file()
+	local saved = mem:readAtToSlice(active.smem_size, smem_phys)
+
+	-- 5. RELOAD PHASE — second open for binary_load.
+	local elf_handle = runtime.host.open_new_elf(parsed.path)
+	if not elf_handle then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "open_file_failed",
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+	local loaded = runtime.host.binary_load(elf_handle, mem)
+	if loaded == nil then
+		-- Do NOT restore state; PCSX.Binary.load may have partially
+		-- written RAM. Keep ACTIVE untouched and tell the caller to
+		-- restart the emulator.
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "binary_load_failed",
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+
+	-- 6. Restore the smem snapshot over the freshly-loaded code.
+	mem:writeAtMoveSlice(saved, smem_phys)
+
+	-- 7. Flush the CPU instruction cache (.text/.rodata changed).
+	runtime.host.invalidate_cache()
+
+	-- 8. Rewrite SP / RA / PC through the FFI register pointer. The
+	--    PC write must happen last; the CPU starts consuming
+	--    instructions at the new PC the moment the emulator resumes.
+	local regs = runtime.host.get_registers()
+	regs.GPR.n.sp = manifest.stack_top
+	regs.GPR.n.ra = 0
+	regs.pc       = manifest.hot_reload_entry
+
+	-- 9. Replace ACTIVE last so a failed reload cannot poison the
+	--    next request's gate.
+	runtime.active = manifest
+
+	-- 10. Return the JSON envelope.
+	return M.json_response({
+		ok               = true,
+		target           = manifest.target,
+		elf_path         = manifest.elf_path,
+		elf_entry        = manifest.elf_entry,
+		smem_addr        = manifest.smem_addr,
+		smem_size        = manifest.smem_size,
+		bss_start        = manifest.bss_start,
+		bss_end          = manifest.bss_end,
+		data_start       = manifest.data_start,
+		data_end         = manifest.data_end,
+		hot_reload_entry = manifest.hot_reload_entry,
+		stack_top        = manifest.stack_top,
+	})
+end
+
+-- patch_handler: one-word RAM patch through MemoryAsFile.
+--
+-- Per spec §7 + plan.md Task 5 Step 5, the order is:
+--   1. Parse addr and hex query parameters
+--   2. Reject non-hex / missing inputs
+--   3. Reject unaligned addresses (addr & 3)
+--   4. Normalize through strip_kseg; reject out-of-main-RAM
+--      (scratchpad 0x1F800000+, BIOS 0x1FC00000+, MMIO, expansion)
+--   5. host.pause()
+--   6. mem = host.memory_file()
+--   7. mem:writeU32At(value, physical_offset)
+--   8. host.invalidate_cache()
+--   9. Return JSON envelope ok=true with the requested addr and value.
+local function patch_error(err, restart)
+	return M.json_response({
+		ok = false, error = err,
+		restart_required = restart or false,
+	})
+end
+
+function M.patch_handler(runtime, parsed)
+	local addr_str = parsed.addr
+	local hex_str  = parsed.hex
+
+	-- 1. Presence checks.
+	if type(addr_str) ~= "string" or addr_str == "" then
+		return patch_error("missing_addr", false)
+	end
+	if type(hex_str) ~= "string" or hex_str == "" then
+		return patch_error("missing_value", false)
+	end
+
+	-- 2. Hex parse.
+	local addr = parse_hex_u32(addr_str, "missing_addr", "non_hex_addr")
+	if not addr then
+		return patch_error(
+			addr == false and "missing_addr" or "non_hex_addr", false)
+	end
+	local value = parse_hex_u32(hex_str, "missing_value", "non_hex_value")
+	if not value then
+		return patch_error(
+			value == false and "missing_value" or "non_hex_value", false)
+	end
+
+	-- 3. Alignment (checked on the canonical KSEG/physical addr).
+	if addr % 4 ~= 0 then
+		return patch_error("addr_unaligned", false)
+	end
+
+	-- 4. Range check via strip_kseg (rejects KSEG0 > 0x801fffff, KSEG1 >
+	--    0xa01fffff, scratchpad, BIOS, MMIO, expansion, etc.).
+	local phys = strip_kseg(addr)
+	if phys == nil then
+		return patch_error("addr_out_of_main_ram", false)
+	end
+
+	-- 5-8. Pause / write / cache invalidate.
+	runtime.host.pause()
+	local mem = runtime.host.memory_file()
+	mem:writeU32At(value, phys)
+	runtime.host.invalidate_cache()
+
+	-- 9. Return the JSON envelope. Echo the requested address and the
+	-- value in normalized hex so log captures stay stable across runs.
+	return M.json_response({
+		ok    = true,
+		addr  = addr_str,
+		value = "0x" .. string.format("%x", value),
+	})
+end
+
+-- Mode dispatch table. Each handler is invoked with (runtime, parsed).
+-- Tasks 5 adds patch (M.patch_handler); the previous placeholder removed.
+local DISPATCH = {
+	prime = M.prime_active,
+	elf   = M.elf_reload,
+	patch = M.patch_handler,
+}
+
+-- Wrap a handler call with the busy guard. The guard is acquired only
+-- after the mode is validated, so unknown-mode requests do not deadlock
+-- the runtime. xpcall guarantees the guard is released even if the
+-- handler throws.
+local function with_busy_guard(runtime, fn)
+	if runtime.busy then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "reload_busy", restart_required = false })
+	end
+	runtime.busy = true
+	-- Capture both the error text and a full Lua traceback so the user
+	-- can see the actual failing call site instead of a generic
+	-- "internal_error". debug.traceback("", 2) skips this xpcall frame
+	-- and the json_response frame so the trace starts at the handler.
+	local ok, result = xpcall(fn, function(e)
+		return { msg = tostring(e), tb = debug.traceback("", 2) }
+	end)
+	runtime.busy = false
+	if not ok then
+		return M.json_response({
+			ok = false, error = "internal_error",
+			detail = result.msg, tb = result.tb,
+			restart_required = true })
+	end
+	return result
+end
+
+function M.new(host)
+	if type(host) ~= "table" then
+		error("M.new: host must be a table, got " .. type(host))
+	end
+	local runtime = {
+		active = nil,
+		busy   = false,
+		host   = host,
+	}
+	function runtime:handle(req)
+		-- 1. Parse the query (M.parse_query returns nil, err on failure).
+		local query = req and req.urlData and req.urlData.query or ""
+		local parsed, parse_err = M.parse_query(query)
+		if not parsed then
+			return M.json_response({
+				ok = false, error = parse_err, restart_required = false })
+		end
+		-- 2. Validate the mode against the dispatch table.
+		local mode = parsed.mode
+		local handler = DISPATCH[mode]
+		if not handler then
+			return M.json_response({
+				ok = false, error = "unknown_mode", restart_required = false })
+		end
+		-- 3. Acquire busy and dispatch via xpcall. Mode validation
+		--    happens BEFORE busy is acquired so unknown-mode requests
+		--    cannot deadlock the runtime.
+		return with_busy_guard(self, function()
+			return handler(self, parsed)
+		end)
+	end
+	return runtime
+end
+
+-- Install the reload handler on a PCSX-Redux instance.
+--
+-- Per plan.md Task 5 Step 5 the adapter binds the canonical host method
+-- names to the PCSX-Lua FFI surface:
+--
+--   pause            -> PCSX.pauseEmulator
+--   memory_file      -> PCSX.getMemoryAsFile
+--   open_file        -> Support.File.open(path, "READ")
+--   binary_load      -> PCSX.Binary.load
+--   invalidate_cache -> PCSX.invalidateCache
+--   get_registers    -> PCSX.getRegisters
+--
+-- The returned closure dispatches each request through M.new(host)'s
+-- runtime:handle so the same prime/elf/patch dispatch machinery is used
+-- (including the busy guard from Task 4).
+--
+-- Missing `PCSX.WebServer.Handlers` is created on demand so callers do
+-- not have to wire that themselves; if `PCSX` or `Support` is absent a
+-- single line is printed and the function returns without registering
+-- a handler.
+function M.install(pcsx, support)
+	if type(pcsx) ~= "table" then
+		print("[reload] install failed: PCSX is not a table")
+		return
+	end
+	if type(support) ~= "table"
+		or type(support.File) ~= "table"
+		or type(support.File.open) ~= "function" then
+		print("[reload] install failed: Support.File.open unavailable")
+		return
+	end
+	if type(pcsx.pauseEmulator)   ~= "function" then print("[reload] install failed: PCSX.pauseEmulator missing");   return end
+	if type(pcsx.getMemoryAsFile) ~= "function" then print("[reload] install failed: PCSX.getMemoryAsFile missing"); return end
+	if type(pcsx.Binary)          ~= "table"
+		or type(pcsx.Binary.load)    ~= "function" then print("[reload] install failed: PCSX.Binary.load missing"); return end
+	if type(pcsx.invalidateCache) ~= "function" then print("[reload] install failed: PCSX.invalidateCache missing"); return end
+	if type(pcsx.getRegisters)    ~= "function" then print("[reload] install failed: PCSX.getRegisters missing");    return end
+
+	-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+	-- File adapter wrap.
+	--
+	-- The production pcsx-redux Support.File wrapper (see
+	-- toolchain/pcsx-redux/src/lua/fileffi.lua:225-232 + size() around line 203)
+	-- exposes byte-read methods as colon-syntax closures with camelCase names:
+	--   readU8At  = function(self, pos) ... end
+	--   readU16At = function(self, pos) ... end
+	--   readU32At = function(self, pos) ... end
+	--   size      = function(self) ... end
+	--
+	-- The ELF32 parser (scripts/elf32.lua) uses an explicit-pass shape with
+	-- snake_case names:
+	--   adapter.read_u8_at(off) / adapter.read_u16_at(off) /
+	--   adapter.read_u32_at(off) / adapter.read_size()
+	--
+	-- The install boundary wraps the Support.File return value in a thin
+	-- adapter whose methods forward to the production closures, stripping
+	-- the implicit `self` and re-exporting the names the parser validates.
+	-- Without this wrap, E.validate_adapter returns "bad_file_adapter"
+	-- because adapter.read_u8_at / read_u16_at / read_u32_at / read_size
+	-- are not present on the raw Support.File return.
+	local function wrap_file(f)
+		return {
+			read_u8_at  = function(off) return f:readU8At(off)  end,
+			read_u16_at = function(off) return f:readU16At(off) end,
+			read_u32_at = function(off) return f:readU32At(off) end,
+			read_size   = function()    return f:size()         end,
+		}
+	end
+
+	local host = {
+		pause            = function() pcsx.pauseEmulator() end,
+		memory_file      = function() return pcsx.getMemoryAsFile() end,
+		open_file        = function(path) return wrap_file(support.File.open(path, "READ")) end,
+		-- open_new_elf returns the raw Support.File object because the
+		-- RELOAD phase passes it directly to PCSX.Binary.load which
+		-- expects a real File (with readAt / size), NOT the elf32
+		-- parser adapter (read_u8_at / read_u16_at / read_u32_at /
+		-- read_size). Wrapping it in the adapter here triggers the
+		-- binffi.lua "Expected a File object as first argument" error.
+		open_new_elf     = function(path) return support.File.open(path, "READ") end,
+		binary_load      = function(elf, mem) return pcsx.Binary.load(elf, mem) end,
+		invalidate_cache = function() pcsx.invalidateCache() end,
+		get_registers    = function() return pcsx.getRegisters() end,
+	}
+	local runtime = M.new(host)
+
+	if type(pcsx.WebServer) ~= "table" then pcsx.WebServer = {} end
+	if type(pcsx.WebServer.Handlers) ~= "table" then pcsx.WebServer.Handlers = {} end
+	pcsx.WebServer.Handlers.reload = function(req)
+		return runtime:handle(req)
+	end
+
+	print("[reload] handler installed: reload")
+end
+
+return M

scripts/reload.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+# scripts/reload.ps1
+#
+# PCSX-Redux Lua helper reload client.
+#
+# Modes:
+#   elf   - Request a full ELF reload. Requires -ElfPath.
+#   patch - Request a single-word RAM patch. Requires -Address and -Word.
+#
+# -RequestOnly prints the URI and exits before any network I/O.
+# -Quiet suppresses the compact-JSON printout on the real path.
+
+[CmdletBinding()]
+param(
+	[ValidateSet('elf', 'patch')][string]$Mode = 'elf',
+	[string]$Target = 'hello_camera',
+	[string]$ElfPath = '',
+	[string]$Address = '',
+	[string]$Word = '',
+	[int]$Port = 8080,
+	[switch]$RequestOnly,
+	[switch]$Quiet
+)
+
+# mode-specific argument guards
+switch ($Mode) {
+	'patch' {
+		if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($Address) -or [string]::IsNullOrEmpty($Word)) {
+			Write-Error "patch mode requires both -Address and -Word"
+			exit 1
+		}
+	}
+	'elf' {
+		if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($ElfPath)) {
+			Write-Error "elf mode requires -ElfPath"
+			exit 1
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+# Build the URL-encoded query string.
+$queryParts = New-Object System.Collections.Generic.List[string]
+[void]$queryParts.Add("mode=$([uri]::EscapeDataString($Mode))")
+[void]$queryParts.Add("target=$([uri]::EscapeDataString($Target))")
+
+switch ($Mode) {
+	'elf' {
+		[void]$queryParts.Add("path=$([uri]::EscapeDataString($ElfPath))")
+	}
+	'patch' {
+		[void]$queryParts.Add("addr=$([uri]::EscapeDataString($Address))")
+		[void]$queryParts.Add("hex=$([uri]::EscapeDataString($Word))")
+	}
+}
+
+$uri = "http://localhost:$Port/api/v1/lua/reload?$($queryParts -join '&')"
+
+# RequestOnly path: emit URI and return before any network I/O.
+if ($RequestOnly) {
+	Write-Output $uri
+	return
+}
+
+# Real request path: POST, decode body if it is a byte array, parse JSON.
+$response = Invoke-WebRequest -Method Post -Uri $uri
+
+if ($response.Content -is [byte[]]) {
+	$text = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetString([byte[]]$response.Content)
+}
+else {
+	$text = [string]$response.Content
+}
+
+$obj = $text | ConvertFrom-Json
+
+if (-not $Quiet) {
+	$obj | ConvertTo-Json -Compress | Write-Output
+}
+
+if (-not $obj.ok) {
+	$errCode = if ($obj.error) { [string]$obj.error } else { 'unknown' }
+	throw "Reload failed: $errCode"
+}