## on nock.c CLAUDE: The key is that call_count is static (shared across ALL function calls), while my_call is local (each function call gets its own copy on the stack). Here's what happens without my_call: 1. Call #0 ENTERS → logs "ENTER call #0", call_count becomes 1 2. Call #1 ENTERS (recursive) → logs "ENTER call #1", call_count becomes 2 3. Call #2 ENTERS (recursive) → logs "ENTER call #2", call_count becomes 3 4. Call #2 EXITS → logs "EXIT call #2" using (call_count-1 = 2) ✓ Correct! 5. Call #1 EXITS → logs "EXIT call #1" using (call_count-1 = 2) ✗ Wrong! Should be 1 6. Call #0 EXITS → logs "EXIT call #0" using (call_count-1 = 2) ✗ Wrong! Should be 0 The problem: by the time call #0 exits, call_count has already been incremented by all the recursive calls. With my_call (a local variable): 1. Call #0: my_call=0 (saved on stack), call_count++ 2. Call #1: my_call=1 (saved on stack), call_count++ 3. Call #2: my_call=2 (saved on stack), call_count++ 4. Call #2 EXITS → uses its own my_call=2 ✓ 5. Call #1 EXITS → uses its own my_call=1 ✓ 6. Call #0 EXITS → uses its own my_call=0 ✓ Each recursive call preserves its own my_call value on the stack, so the EXIT log always matches the ENTER log! This is a classic recursion pattern in C: use static variables for things you want to share across calls (like a counter), but capture their values in local variables if you need them to survive recursion. ## after first round on vere CLAUDE: Current Logging Features The C Nock interpreter now logs: - Call number: Unique ID for each Nock evaluation (call #0, #1, etc.) - Recursion depth: Indented to show call hierarchy - Opcode: The Nock rule being executed (0-12) or CELL for distribution - Subject type: Whether the subject (bus) is a cell or atom - Mug: Hash of the subject/result for tracking identical nouns - Return value type: Cell or atom with its mug Example Pattern from the Log >>> ENTER call #8 depth=5 opcode=8 bus=cell[mug=0x5cc2e3ff] >>> ENTER call #9 depth=6 opcode=8 bus=cell[mug=0x528e9b65] <<< EXIT call #9 depth=6 returns=cell[mug=0x6d2bc01f] >>> ENTER call #10 depth=6 opcode=8 bus=cell[mug=0x479b42af] <<< EXIT call #10 depth=6 returns=cell[mug=0x6d2bc01f] <<< EXIT call #8 depth=5 returns=cell[mug=0x6d2bc01f] This shows: opcode 8 (Nock Eight = extend subject) calling itself recursively twice, both returning the same noun (mug 0x6d2bc01f).