From 58f0dbbc84e11a5032f9373468bb5296080bae80 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Orkuncakilkaya <orkuncakilkaya@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:53:27 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 1/5] fix(ludic.npc): a name picked and a name let go build
 nothing - the body's names counted in place, the last eight who left in a
 ring made with the state

ludic deps --allocs (25.2) found npc_pick_name making a list of the body's names at every spawn and
np_left making a new list of the recent names at every retire.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 packages/ludic.npc/names.ludic  | 39 +++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 packages/ludic.npc/person.ludic |  3 ++-
 packages/ludic.npc/tick.ludic   |  2 +-
 3 files changed, 31 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/names.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/names.ludic
index 48582954..81d6699c 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/names.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/names.ludic
@@ -7,30 +7,47 @@ export function npc_name_used(npc_st: NpcState, n: string) -> bool {
   for i in 0 .. len(all) { if all[i].active and all[i].name == n { return true } }
   let posts = npc_posts(npc_st)
   for i in 0 .. len(posts) { if posts[i].active and posts[i].name == n { return true } }
-  if npc_st.np_recent != null { for i in 0 .. len(npc_st.np_recent) { if npc_st.np_recent[i] == n { return true } } }
+  for i in 0 .. len(npc_st.np_recent) { if npc_st.np_recent[i] != "" and npc_st.np_recent[i] == n { return true } }
   return false
 }
 
 # a free name from the body's pool, from a place in it the dice choose ("" when the pool is empty)
 export function npc_pick_name(npc_st: NpcState, body: int) -> string {
-  let pool = new []string
-  for i in 0 .. NPCN_COUNT { if NpcNames[i].body == body { push(pool, NpcNames[i].name) } }
-  let n = len(pool)
+  var n = 0
+  for i in 0 .. NPCN_COUNT { if NpcNames[i].body == body { n += 1 } }
   if n == 0 { return "" }
   let start = npc_between(npc_st, 0, n - 1)
   for k in 0 .. n {
-    let name = pool[(start + k) % n]
+    let name = np_name_nth(body, (start + k) % n)
     if not npc_name_used(npc_st, name) { return name }
   }
-  return pool[start]
+  return np_name_nth(body, start)
+}
+# the body's j-th name in the table, counted in place rather than gathered into a list
+function np_name_nth(body: int, j: int) -> string {
+  var seen = 0
+  for i in 0 .. NPCN_COUNT {
+    if NpcNames[i].body == body {
+      if seen == j { return NpcNames[i].name }
+      seen += 1
+    }
+  }
+  return ""
 }
 
+# the last eight who left, in a ring of slots made with the state
 function np_left(npc_st: mut NpcState, name: string) -> void {
-  push(npc_st.np_recent, name)
-  if len(npc_st.np_recent) <= 8 { return }
-  let keep = new []string
-  for i in len(npc_st.np_recent) - 8 .. len(npc_st.np_recent) { push(keep, npc_st.np_recent[i]) }
-  npc_st.np_recent = keep
+  npc_st.np_recent[npc_st.np_rnext] = name
+  npc_st.np_rnext = (npc_st.np_rnext + 1) % len(npc_st.np_recent)
+}
+function np_recent_new() -> []string {
+  let l = new []string
+  for i in 0 .. 8 { push(l, "") }
+  return l
+}
+function np_recent_clear(npc_st: mut NpcState) -> void {
+  for i in 0 .. len(npc_st.np_recent) { npc_st.np_recent[i] = "" }
+  npc_st.np_rnext = 0
 }
 
 # how many pairs share a name, the place's own names included
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/person.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/person.ludic
index f6f90360..7615671c 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/person.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/person.ludic
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ export state NpcState {
   np_wx: float = 0.0
   np_wz: float = 0.0
   np_clock: float = 0.0
-  np_recent: []string = new []string     # the last few names that left
+  np_recent: []string = np_recent_new()   # the last few names that left, a ring
+  np_rnext: int = 0
   np_walkers: []NpcPerson = new []NpcPerson
   np_posts: []NpcPerson = new []NpcPerson
   np_max: int = 10              # walkers at most
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/tick.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/tick.ludic
index 1e9da316..ae7c8a48 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/tick.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/tick.ludic
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export function npc_reset(npc_st: mut NpcState) -> void {
   npc_st.np_n = 0
   npc_st.np_next_h = 0.0
   npc_st.np_hold = false
-  npc_st.np_recent = new []string
+  np_recent_clear(npc_st)
   q_clear(npc_facts(npc_st))
 }
 

From 7f973f9a4f69a2ebc06ea45783426d10413b55fc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Orkuncakilkaya <orkuncakilkaya@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:56:12 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 2/5] fix(ludic.physics): buoyant bodies in a table made with
 the state (256), a sink taking the last row - floating and sinking push
 nothing

ludic deps --allocs (25.2) found phys_float's five pushes per drop reaching the water and
phys_sink's filtered copies per removal.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic |  3 +-
 packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic  |  7 ++---
 packages/ludic.physics/water.ludic  | 44 +++++++++++++----------------
 3 files changed, 24 insertions(+), 30 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic
index f72ae383..c09444df 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/shapes.ludic
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ export function phys_close(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> void {
   }
   if physics_st.ph_shapes != null { List.clear(physics_st.ph_shapes) }
   List.clear(physics_st.ph_spare)
-  List.clear(physics_st.ph_floats)
-  List.clear(physics_st.ph_float_k)
+  physics_st.ph_nf = 0
   if physics_st.ph_facts != null { q_clear(physics_st.ph_facts) }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic
index 5cbdc201..1ef9edb2 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic
@@ -46,10 +46,9 @@ export state PhysicsState {
   ph_steps: int = 0
   ph_gen: int = 0                 # how many worlds have been opened: an id from an older one is stale
   ph_hard: float = 2.0            # metres a second: a contact under this is not a fact
-  ph_floats: []int = new []int         # buoyant bodies' ids
-  ph_float_k: []float = new []float      # and theirs: buoyancy, linear drag, angular drag, wet
-  ph_floats2: []int = new []int        # the spare pair phys_sink filters into
-  ph_float_k2: []float = new []float
+  ph_floats: words = words(256)        # buoyant bodies' ids, the first ph_nf of them
+  ph_float_k: floats = floats(256 * 4)  # and theirs: buoyancy, linear drag, angular drag, wet
+  ph_nf: int = 0
   ph_rx: float = 0.0               # where the last phys_resolve put a body
   ph_rz: float = 0.0
   ph_walkers: []pointer = new []pointer   # a walker id is its place here; null once removed
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/water.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/water.ludic
index 7d73c34c..651e6637 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/water.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/water.ludic
@@ -2,46 +2,42 @@
 # carried by its current, and slowed by its drags. Reaching the water is a PHYS_SPLASH fact.
 const PH_K: int = 4
 
-# buoyancy 1 floats level with the surface, more rides higher; drags in 1/s
+# buoyancy 1 floats level with the surface, more rides higher; drags in 1/s. At most 256 float at
+# once (a table made with the state): past that a body is simply not buoyed
 export function phys_float(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, id: int, buoyancy: float, linear_drag: float, angular_drag: float) -> void {
   ph_buffers()
   phys_sink(physics_st, id)
-  push(physics_st.ph_floats, id)
-  push(physics_st.ph_float_k, buoyancy)
-  push(physics_st.ph_float_k, linear_drag)
-  push(physics_st.ph_float_k, angular_drag)
-  push(physics_st.ph_float_k, 0.0)
+  if physics_st.ph_nf >= len(physics_st.ph_floats) { return }
+  let i = physics_st.ph_nf
+  physics_st.ph_floats[i] = id
+  physics_st.ph_float_k[i * PH_K] = buoyancy
+  physics_st.ph_float_k[i * PH_K + 1] = linear_drag
+  physics_st.ph_float_k[i * PH_K + 2] = angular_drag
+  physics_st.ph_float_k[i * PH_K + 3] = 0.0
+  physics_st.ph_nf += 1
 }
 
-# no longer floats (it is still a body); every removal asks, so the lists are filtered into a kept
-# spare pair and swapped, never made anew
+# no longer floats (it is still a body): the last one takes its row
 export function phys_sink(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, id: int) -> void {
-  if physics_st.ph_floats == null { return }
-  let ids = physics_st.ph_floats2
-  let ks = physics_st.ph_float_k2
-  List.clear(ids)
-  List.clear(ks)
-  for i in 0 .. len(physics_st.ph_floats) {
-    if physics_st.ph_floats[i] != id {
-      push(ids, physics_st.ph_floats[i])
-      for k in 0 .. PH_K { push(ks, physics_st.ph_float_k[i * PH_K + k]) }
+  for i in 0 .. physics_st.ph_nf {
+    if physics_st.ph_floats[i] == id {
+      let last = physics_st.ph_nf - 1
+      physics_st.ph_floats[i] = physics_st.ph_floats[last]
+      for k in 0 .. PH_K { physics_st.ph_float_k[i * PH_K + k] = physics_st.ph_float_k[last * PH_K + k] }
+      physics_st.ph_nf = last
+      return
     }
   }
-  physics_st.ph_floats2 = physics_st.ph_floats
-  physics_st.ph_float_k2 = physics_st.ph_float_k
-  physics_st.ph_floats = ids
-  physics_st.ph_float_k = ks
 }
 
 export function phys_floating(physics_st: PhysicsState, id: int) -> bool {
-  if physics_st.ph_floats == null { return false }
-  for i in 0 .. len(physics_st.ph_floats) { if physics_st.ph_floats[i] == id { return true } }
+  for i in 0 .. physics_st.ph_nf { if physics_st.ph_floats[i] == id { return true } }
   return false
 }
 
 function ph_buoy_all(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> void {
   let dt = physics_st.ph_step
-  for i in 0 .. len(physics_st.ph_floats) {
+  for i in 0 .. physics_st.ph_nf {
     let id = physics_st.ph_floats[i]
     if jph_body_read(physics_st.ph_world, id, physics_st.ph_vals) == 0 {
       ph_buoy_one(physics_st, i, id, physics_st.ph_vals[0], physics_st.ph_vals[2], dt)

From c8c230449ee5ad442cfd4aaabd73e86d56b12da5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Orkuncakilkaya <orkuncakilkaya@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:57:22 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 3/5] fix(character, physics, vehicles, wildlife): fact records
 made at the start (64) with a free list of room for all, as ludic.npc's

A frame holding a new peak of facts made a record and grew the free list; now nothing is made until
64 are held at once. The two record-count tests hold the 64.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic          | 14 ++++++++++++++
 packages/ludic.character/index.ludic              |  1 +
 packages/ludic.character/ports.ludic              |  4 ++--
 packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic            | 14 ++++++++++++++
 packages/ludic.physics/index.ludic                |  1 +
 packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic                |  4 ++--
 packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic           | 14 ++++++++++++++
 packages/ludic.vehicles/index.ludic               |  1 +
 packages/ludic.vehicles/ports.ludic               |  4 ++--
 packages/ludic.vehicles/tests/vehicles_test.ludic |  4 ++--
 packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic           | 14 ++++++++++++++
 packages/ludic.wildlife/index.ludic               |  1 +
 packages/ludic.wildlife/species.ludic             |  4 ++--
 packages/ludic.wildlife/tests/crowd_test.ludic    |  4 ++--
 14 files changed, 72 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic
 create mode 100644 packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic
 create mode 100644 packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic
 create mode 100644 packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic

diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fcb7dfa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic - the facts' records made at the start (CHARACTERFACTS of them) with a free list
+# of room for all, so a frame holding a new peak of facts makes nothing until that many are held
+const CHR_FACTS: int = 64
+
+function chr_fpool_new() -> []CharacterFact {
+  let l = new []CharacterFact
+  for i in 0 .. CHR_FACTS { push(l, new CharacterFact) }
+  return l
+}
+function chr_ffree_new() -> []CharacterFact {
+  let l = chr_fpool_new()
+  List.clear(l)
+  return l
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/index.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/index.ludic
index b145db18..e14df30c 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/index.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/index.ludic
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ numbers float
 import "ludic.base"
 import "rules.ludic"
 import "ports.ludic"
+import "fact_pool.ludic"
 import "state.ludic"
 import "queries.ludic"
 import "ground.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/ports.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/ports.ludic
index 306c5dd2..a53a55a0 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/ports.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/ports.ludic
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ export state CharacterState {
   chr_safe_x: float = 0.0
   chr_safe_z: float = 0.0
   chr_fact_q: Queue<CharacterFact> = chr_fact_q__new()
-  chr_fpool: []CharacterFact = new []CharacterFact   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
-  chr_ffree: []CharacterFact = new []CharacterFact
+  chr_fpool: []CharacterFact = chr_fpool_new()   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
+  chr_ffree: []CharacterFact = chr_ffree_new()
   chr_fnext: int = 0
 }
 function chr__top_plain(x: float, z: float, r: float, from_y: float, step: float, base: float) -> float { return base }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..77bdfc79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic - the facts' records made at the start (PHYSFACTS of them) with a free list
+# of room for all, so a frame holding a new peak of facts makes nothing until that many are held
+const PH_FACTS: int = 64
+
+function ph_fpool_new() -> []PhysFact {
+  let l = new []PhysFact
+  for i in 0 .. PH_FACTS { push(l, new PhysFact) }
+  return l
+}
+function ph_ffree_new() -> []PhysFact {
+  let l = ph_fpool_new()
+  List.clear(l)
+  return l
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/index.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/index.ludic
index df3b930b..4de40a96 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/index.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/index.ludic
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ numbers float
 import "ludic.base"
 import "native.ludic"
 import "state.ludic"
+import "fact_pool.ludic"
 import "shape_ids.ludic"
 import "owned.ludic"
 import "shapes.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic
index 1ef9edb2..ba01b327 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/state.ludic
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ export state PhysicsState {
   ph_ids: []int = words(PH_CAP * 2)
   ph_vals: []float = floats(PH_CAP * 4)
   ph_facts: Queue<PhysFact> = ph_facts__new()
-  ph_fpool: []PhysFact = new []PhysFact   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
-  ph_ffree: []PhysFact = new []PhysFact
+  ph_fpool: []PhysFact = ph_fpool_new()   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
+  ph_ffree: []PhysFact = ph_ffree_new()
   ph_fnext: int = 0
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84e6d0e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic - the facts' records made at the start (VEHICLEFACTS of them) with a free list
+# of room for all, so a frame holding a new peak of facts makes nothing until that many are held
+const VE_FACTS: int = 64
+
+function ve_fpool_new() -> []VehicleFact {
+  let l = new []VehicleFact
+  for i in 0 .. VE_FACTS { push(l, new VehicleFact) }
+  return l
+}
+function ve_ffree_new() -> []VehicleFact {
+  let l = ve_fpool_new()
+  List.clear(l)
+  return l
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/index.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/index.ludic
index 4f51ef00..6e641dda 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.vehicles/index.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/index.ludic
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import "ludic.base"
 import "kinds.ludic"
 import "table.ludic"
 import "ports.ludic"
+import "fact_pool.ludic"
 import "state.ludic"
 import "places.ludic"
 import "call.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/ports.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/ports.ludic
index 3e1c04a4..4682596c 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.vehicles/ports.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/ports.ludic
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ export state VehiclesState {
   ve_ly: float = 0.0
   ve_lz: float = 0.0
   ve_fact_q: Queue<VehicleFact> = ve_fact_q__new()
-  ve_fpool: []VehicleFact = new []VehicleFact   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
-  ve_ffree: []VehicleFact = new []VehicleFact
+  ve_fpool: []VehicleFact = ve_fpool_new()   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
+  ve_ffree: []VehicleFact = ve_ffree_new()
   ve_fnext: int = 0
 }
 function ve__dry(x: float, z: float) -> float { return -10000.0 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/tests/vehicles_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/tests/vehicles_test.ludic
index 71e4cba7..7ff6263e 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.vehicles/tests/vehicles_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/tests/vehicles_test.ludic
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ program VehiclesTest {
     expect(vehicle_by_nid(vehicles_st, b.nid) == null)
   }
 
-  test "a fed fact a turn, drained each turn, makes a few records and then reuses them" (vehicles_st: mut VehiclesState, vehicles_test_st: mut VehiclesTestState) {
+  test "a fed fact a turn, drained each turn, makes no record past the ones made at the start" (vehicles_st: mut VehiclesState, vehicles_test_st: mut VehiclesTestState) {
     fresh(vehicles_st, vehicles_test_st)
     vehicle_call_for(vehicles_st, 0, VEHICLE_HORSE, 0)
     let h = vehicle_find(vehicles_st, VEHICLE_HORSE)
@@ -386,6 +386,6 @@ program VehiclesTest {
       fed += count(facts(vehicles_st), VEHICLE_FED)
     }
     expect_eq(fed, 1000)
-    expect(vehicle_fact_records(vehicles_st) <= 4)
+    expect_eq(vehicle_fact_records(vehicles_st), 64)
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf300903
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic - the facts' records made at the start (WILDFACTS of them) with a free list
+# of room for all, so a frame holding a new peak of facts makes nothing until that many are held
+const WL_FACTS: int = 64
+
+function wl_fpool_new() -> []WildFact {
+  let l = new []WildFact
+  for i in 0 .. WL_FACTS { push(l, new WildFact) }
+  return l
+}
+function wl_ffree_new() -> []WildFact {
+  let l = wl_fpool_new()
+  List.clear(l)
+  return l
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/index.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/index.ludic
index 6ce99a14..2b5347db 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.wildlife/index.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/index.ludic
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ module ludic_wildlife uses ludic_base
 numbers float
 import "ludic.base"
 import "species.ludic"
+import "fact_pool.ludic"
 import "animal.ludic"
 import "places.ludic"
 import "port.ludic"
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/species.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/species.ludic
index c563dfd3..66834e3b 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.wildlife/species.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/species.ludic
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ export property WildSpecies {
 
 export state WildlifeState {
   wl_facts: Queue<WildFact> = wl_facts__new()
-  wl_fpool: []WildFact = new []WildFact   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
-  wl_ffree: []WildFact = new []WildFact   # of those, the ones free at the last look
+  wl_fpool: []WildFact = wl_fpool_new()   # every fact record made, reused once no drain holds it
+  wl_ffree: []WildFact = wl_ffree_new()   # of those, the ones free at the last look
   wl_fnext: []int = words(1)              # the next of them to hand out
   wl_own: WildTable = null   # a guest's own animals, put away whole while it draws the host's
   wl_px: float = 0.0
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/tests/crowd_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/tests/crowd_test.ludic
index 97805767..3d896957 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.wildlife/tests/crowd_test.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/tests/crowd_test.ludic
@@ -84,13 +84,13 @@ program WildCrowdTest {
     expect(not wildlife_listed(wildlife_st, a))
   }
 
-  test "a fact a frame, drained each frame, makes a few records and then reuses them" (wildlife_st: mut WildlifeState, wildlife_tests_fake_st: mut WildlifeTestsFakeState) {
+  test "a fact a frame, drained each frame, makes no record past the ones made at the start" (wildlife_st: mut WildlifeState, wildlife_tests_fake_st: mut WildlifeTestsFakeState) {
     let a = walker(wildlife_st, wildlife_tests_fake_st)
     for k in 1 .. 3001 {
       wildlife_moved(wildlife_st, a, 0.0, -3.0 * float(k), 0.0, -1.2)
       let fs = q_drain(wildlife_facts(wildlife_st))
       for i in 0 .. len(fs) { expect_eq(fs[i].what, WILD_PRINT) }
     }
-    expect(wildlife_fact_records(wildlife_st) <= 4)
+    expect_eq(wildlife_fact_records(wildlife_st), 64)
   }
 }

From 082fd26bf1e6ade82a313bddc061f712603e46cd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Orkuncakilkaya <orkuncakilkaya@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:58:10 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 4/5] frame allocs (25.2): a fact record past the 64 made at
 the start is @alloc_ok, in its own function, in npc, character, physics,
 vehicles and wildlife

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic | 7 +++++++
 packages/ludic.character/state.ludic     | 4 +---
 packages/ludic.npc/pool.ludic            | 7 +++++++
 packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic             | 4 +---
 packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic   | 7 +++++++
 packages/ludic.physics/system.ludic      | 4 +---
 packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic  | 7 +++++++
 packages/ludic.vehicles/state.ludic      | 4 +---
 packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic  | 7 +++++++
 packages/ludic.wildlife/facts.ludic      | 4 +---
 10 files changed, 40 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)

diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic
index fcb7dfa5..2b9b2d9d 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -12,3 +12,10 @@ function chr_ffree_new() -> []CharacterFact {
   List.clear(l)
   return l
 }
+# past them: a record for the new peak, kept in the pool for good
+@alloc_ok("a new peak of facts held at once, past the 64 made at the start; kept and reused")
+function chr_fact_more(character_st: mut CharacterState) -> CharacterFact {
+  let f = new CharacterFact
+  push(character_st.chr_fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.character/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.character/state.ludic
index f70e3e7f..99f21200 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.character/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.character/state.ludic
@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ function chr_fact_record(character_st: mut CharacterState) -> CharacterFact {
     character_st.chr_fnext += 1
     return f
   }
-  let f = new CharacterFact
-  push(character_st.chr_fpool, f)
-  return f
+  return chr_fact_more(character_st)
 }
 function chr_say(character_st: mut CharacterState, what: int, v: float) -> void {
   let f = chr_fact_record(character_st)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/pool.ludic
index b33c43db..4c9dc012 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/pool.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/pool.ludic
@@ -24,3 +24,10 @@ function np_queue_sized(q: Queue<NpcFact>) -> Queue<NpcFact> {
   List.clear(q.spare)
   return q
 }
+# past them: a record for the new peak, kept in the pool for good
+@alloc_ok("a new peak of facts held at once, past the 64 made at the start; kept and reused")
+function np_fact_more(npc_st: mut NpcState) -> NpcFact {
+  let f = new NpcFact
+  push(npc_st.np_fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic
index dd50e908..c6256992 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/way.ludic
@@ -94,9 +94,7 @@ function np_fact_record(npc_st: mut NpcState) -> NpcFact {
     f.z = 0.0
     return f
   }
-  let f = new NpcFact
-  push(npc_st.np_fpool, f)
-  return f
+  return np_fact_more(npc_st)
 }
 # how many fact records have ever been made: the peak held at once, not the facts pushed
 export function npc_fact_records(npc_st: NpcState) -> int { return len(npc_st.np_fpool) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic
index 77bdfc79..990de92a 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -12,3 +12,10 @@ function ph_ffree_new() -> []PhysFact {
   List.clear(l)
   return l
 }
+# past them: a record for the new peak, kept in the pool for good
+@alloc_ok("a new peak of facts held at once, past the 64 made at the start; kept and reused")
+function ph_fact_more(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> PhysFact {
+  let f = new PhysFact
+  push(physics_st.ph_fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/system.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/system.ludic
index e0c2e682..c2a06a95 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/system.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/system.ludic
@@ -45,9 +45,7 @@ function ph_fact_record(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> PhysFact {
     physics_st.ph_fnext += 1
     return f
   }
-  let f = new PhysFact
-  push(physics_st.ph_fpool, f)
-  return f
+  return ph_fact_more(physics_st)
 }
 function ph_contacts(physics_st: mut PhysicsState) -> void {
   let n = jph_contacts_drain(physics_st.ph_world, physics_st.ph_ids, physics_st.ph_vals, PH_CAP)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic
index 84e6d0e9..f57b3276 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -12,3 +12,10 @@ function ve_ffree_new() -> []VehicleFact {
   List.clear(l)
   return l
 }
+# past them: a record for the new peak, kept in the pool for good
+@alloc_ok("a new peak of facts held at once, past the 64 made at the start; kept and reused")
+function ve_fact_more(vehicles_st: mut VehiclesState) -> VehicleFact {
+  let f = new VehicleFact
+  push(vehicles_st.ve_fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/state.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/state.ludic
index e5606dc7..8e4aa8b3 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.vehicles/state.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/state.ludic
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ function ve_fact_record(vehicles_st: mut VehiclesState) -> VehicleFact {
     vehicles_st.ve_fnext += 1
     return f
   }
-  let f = new VehicleFact
-  push(vehicles_st.ve_fpool, f)
-  return f
+  return ve_fact_more(vehicles_st)
 }
 # how many fact records have ever been made: the peak held at once, not the facts pushed
 export function vehicle_fact_records(vehicles_st: VehiclesState) -> int { return len(vehicles_st.ve_fpool) }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic
index bf300903..99cd472a 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/fact_pool.ludic
@@ -12,3 +12,10 @@ function wl_ffree_new() -> []WildFact {
   List.clear(l)
   return l
 }
+# past them: a record for the new peak, kept in the pool for good
+@alloc_ok("a new peak of facts held at once, past the 64 made at the start; kept and reused")
+function wl_fact_more(wildlife_st: mut WildlifeState) -> WildFact {
+  let f = new WildFact
+  push(wildlife_st.wl_fpool, f)
+  return f
+}
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/facts.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/facts.ludic
index 32330109..fe393914 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.wildlife/facts.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/facts.ludic
@@ -48,9 +48,7 @@ function wl_fact_record(wildlife_st: mut WildlifeState) -> WildFact {
     f.diet = 0
     return f
   }
-  let f = new WildFact
-  push(wildlife_st.wl_fpool, f)
-  return f
+  return wl_fact_more(wildlife_st)
 }
 # how many fact records have ever been made: the peak held at once, not the facts pushed
 export function wildlife_fact_records(wildlife_st: WildlifeState) -> int { return len(wildlife_st.wl_fpool) }

From 34664e867f55a5799fa5800ff5c749446809c362 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Orkuncakilkaya <orkuncakilkaya@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:01:30 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 5/5] frame allocs (25.2): physics, npc, vehicles and
 wildlife's bounded growth declared - id tables to their most, a walker slot,
 a guest's copies, a player's own vehicle, a table at a load

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 packages/ludic.npc/census.ludic        | 1 +
 packages/ludic.npc/mirror.ludic        | 1 +
 packages/ludic.physics/owned.ludic     | 1 +
 packages/ludic.physics/shape_ids.ludic | 2 ++
 packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic    | 1 +
 packages/ludic.vehicles/call.ludic     | 1 +
 packages/ludic.wildlife/table.ludic    | 1 +
 7 files changed, 8 insertions(+)

diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/census.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/census.ludic
index 5b48a5b6..fabcb699 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/census.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/census.ludic
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export function npc_spawn(npc_st: mut NpcState, kind: int) -> NpcPerson {
       break
     }
   }
+  @alloc_ok("a walker for each of np_max at most; one who left is reused")
   if p == null {
     if len(npc_st.np_walkers) >= npc_st.np_max { return null }
     p = new NpcPerson
diff --git a/packages/ludic.npc/mirror.ludic b/packages/ludic.npc/mirror.ludic
index a2026cf7..02f8dd8d 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.npc/mirror.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.npc/mirror.ludic
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export function npc_mirroring(npc_st: NpcState) -> bool { return npc_st.np_mirro
 # the host's slot: somebody new in it (born), or nobody (gone)
 export function npc_put(npc_st: mut NpcState, slot: int, id: int, kind: int, look: int, seed: float, name: string, hx: float, hz: float) -> NpcPerson {
   if slot < 0 or slot >= npc_st.np_max or kind < 0 or kind >= NPCK_COUNT { return null }
+  @alloc_ok("a guest's copy of the host's slots, no more than np_max")
   while len(npc_st.np_walkers) <= slot {
     let q = new NpcPerson
     q.slot = len(npc_st.np_walkers)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/owned.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/owned.ludic
index 78f7c879..68b49eb8 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/owned.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/owned.ludic
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 const PH_INDEX: int = 8388607      # a body id's low 23 bits are its index (Jolt's BodyID)
 
 # every body owns nothing: at a world's opening, the table made once at its size and kept after
+@alloc_ok("the body table made at its size when a world opens, kept after")
 function ph_own_reset(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, max_bodies: int) -> void {
   if len(physics_st.ph_own) < max_bodies {
     List.clear(physics_st.ph_own)
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/shape_ids.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/shape_ids.ludic
index 199bc482..eaacf08a 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/shape_ids.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/shape_ids.ludic
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ function ph_keep(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, s: pointer) -> int {
     physics_st.ph_shapes[id] = s
     return id
   }
+  @alloc_ok("the id table grows to the most shapes held at once; a freed id is handed out again")
   push(physics_st.ph_shapes, s)
   return len(physics_st.ph_shapes) - 1
 }
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ export function phys_shape_free(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, id: int) -> void {
   if s == null { return }
   jph_shape_free(s)
   physics_st.ph_shapes[id] = null
+  @alloc_ok("the spare ids, no more than the most shapes ever held")
   push(physics_st.ph_spare, id)
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic b/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic
index c77c5776..dd381101 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.physics/walker.ludic
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export function phys_walker_add(physics_st: mut PhysicsState, r: float, h: float
       return i
     }
   }
+  @alloc_ok("a slot for the most walkers at once; a removed one's slot is reused")
   push(physics_st.ph_walkers, k)
   return len(physics_st.ph_walkers) - 1
 }
diff --git a/packages/ludic.vehicles/call.ludic b/packages/ludic.vehicles/call.ludic
index 12ed5764..bb39b736 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.vehicles/call.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.vehicles/call.ludic
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # call.ludic - a player's boat or horse brought to a place: made there the first time, fetched there
 # after; gone when its player leaves
+@alloc_ok("a player's own boat or horse, made the first time it is called and fetched after")
 function ve_add(vehicles_st: VehiclesState, kind: int, owner: int, x: float, z: float, yaw: float) -> Vehicle {
   if kind != VEHICLE_HORSE and kind != VEHICLE_BOAT { return null }
   let v = new Vehicle
diff --git a/packages/ludic.wildlife/table.ludic b/packages/ludic.wildlife/table.ludic
index 46782ddb..032aea8d 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.wildlife/table.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.wildlife/table.ludic
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export property WildTable {
   nids: IntMap = null
 }
 
+@alloc_ok("a table of animals: a load, or a guest taking the host's")
 function wl__new() -> WildTable {
   let w = new WildTable
   let tb: Table<WildAnimal> = table_new(2, 2)