feat: diagnose method calls before object creation

README.md

@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@ DO player.add "five"
 Type mismatch for method Player.add: parameter points needs NUMBER, but this argument looks like TEXT.
 ```
 
+If a learner calls a simple object method before creating the object with `NEW`, `claro typecheck` now points to the missing setup instead of letting the dotted call look like an ordinary unknown function:
+
+```text
+Object player is not known yet. Create it with NEW ClassName player before calling player.add.
+```
+
 For simple object fields created with `NEW Class name`, `claro typecheck` also catches direct wrong-type field assignments such as `SET player.score "ten"` when the class says `HAS score NUMBER`:
 
 ```text

docs/ADVANCED_STATIC_TYPING.md

@@ -125,6 +125,27 @@ Type mismatch for method Player.add: parameter points needs NUMBER, but this arg
 
 Both sides of this narrow method foundation are covered by validation: `tests/typecheck_method_good.claro` checks that `DO player.add 5` is accepted, and `tests/typecheck_method_bad.claro` checks the friendly wrong-type diagnostic.
 
+If the method call comes before the object is created, the type checker now gives the learner the missing setup step:
+
+```claro
+CLASS Player
+    HAS score NUMBER
+
+    TEACH add points
+        CHECK TYPE points IS NUMBER
+        SET score score + points
+    END
+END
+
+DO player.add 5
+```
+
+Output:
+
+```text
+Object player is not known yet. Create it with NEW ClassName player before calling player.add.
+```
+
 ## Object field assignment checks
 
 Claro also has a narrow static diagnostic for direct object-field assignments. If a class declares a typed field and a script creates a simple object with `NEW Class name`, `claro typecheck` remembers the field type:

docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Ready now:
 - typed variables such as `SET score NUMBER 10`
 - `TYPE OF` and `CHECK TYPE`
 - typed list/map checks through `claro typecheck`
-- a narrow function/method argument check: `CHECK TYPE parameter IS TYPE` inside a function or simple object method lets `claro typecheck` accept correct checked calls and catch mismatched `DO`, `CALL ... WITH`, and `DO object.method ...` arguments
+- a narrow function/method argument check: `CHECK TYPE parameter IS TYPE` inside a function or simple object method lets `claro typecheck` accept correct checked calls, catch mismatched `DO`, `CALL ... WITH`, and `DO object.method ...` arguments, and explain when a `DO object.method ...` call happens before the object is created with `NEW`
 - a narrow object-field assignment/check-type check for simple `NEW Class object` plus direct `SET object.field value` and `CHECK TYPE object.field IS TYPE` cases when the class declares `HAS field TYPE`; validation now covers correct NUMBER, TEXT, and YESNO direct assignments, direct `CHECK TYPE` metadata acceptance for NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO fields, negative NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO field `CHECK TYPE` metadata mismatches, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-expectation unknown-field `CHECK TYPE` diagnostics, missing-object field assignment and `CHECK TYPE` diagnostics, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO wrong-type diagnostics, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-valued unknown-field diagnostics for direct assignments to undeclared fields, plus a plain beginner-facing unknown-field diagnostic when the assigned expression type is not inferable yet
 
 Still needed:

docs/ROADMAP.md

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ See `CURRENT_STATUS.md` for the detailed feature matrix.
 
 1. Keep beginner-facing docs current and separate from historical release notes.
 2. Keep examples aligned with the modern simple syntax (`END`, `DO`, short `SET`, short `ASK`) while documenting older compatibility forms separately.
-3. Expand validation around typecheck diagnostics and package/networking safety. Current object-method parameter validation covers one correct `DO object.method ...` call and one wrong-type diagnostic; object-field validation covers correct NUMBER, TEXT, and YESNO direct `SET object.field value` assignments, direct `CHECK TYPE` metadata acceptance for NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO fields, negative NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO metadata mismatches, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-expectation unknown-field `CHECK TYPE` diagnostics, missing-object field assignment and `CHECK TYPE` diagnostics, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO wrong-type direct assignments, simple NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-valued unknown-field diagnostics after `NEW Class object`, and a beginner-facing fallback when the unknown field's assigned expression type is not inferable yet.
+3. Expand validation around typecheck diagnostics and package/networking safety. Current object-method parameter validation covers one correct `DO object.method ...` call, one wrong-type diagnostic, and missing-object guidance when `DO player.method ...` appears before `NEW`; object-field validation covers correct NUMBER, TEXT, and YESNO direct `SET object.field value` assignments, direct `CHECK TYPE` metadata acceptance for NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO fields, negative NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO metadata mismatches, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-expectation unknown-field `CHECK TYPE` diagnostics, missing-object field assignment and `CHECK TYPE` diagnostics, NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO wrong-type direct assignments, simple NUMBER/TEXT/YESNO-valued unknown-field diagnostics after `NEW Class object`, and a beginner-facing fallback when the unknown field's assigned expression type is not inferable yet.
 4. Add small examples for each foundation feature before adding bigger syntax.
 
 ## Complete-platform milestones

src/claro.c

@@ -549,7 +549,8 @@ static int typecheck_file(const char *path){ FILE *f=fopen(path,"rb"); char line
   else if(!strcmp(up,"ASK")){ const char *as=find_word_ci(t,"AS"); char *name=NULL,*type=NULL; if(as){ const char *pcur=as+2; name=unquote_token(&pcur); { char *rest=xstrdup(trim_inplace((char*)pcur)); if(claro_is_type_word(rest)) type=rest; else free(rest); } } else { const char *pcur=t+3; char *prompt=unquote_token(&pcur); free(prompt); name=unquote_token(&pcur); { char *rest=xstrdup(trim_inplace((char*)pcur)); if(claro_is_type_word(rest)) type=rest; else free(rest); } } if(name&&*trim_inplace(name)) type_env_set(&types,trim_inplace(name),type?type:"TEXT"); free(name); free(type); }
   else if(!strcmp(up,"TYPE")&&starts_ci(t,"TYPE OF")){ char *name=check_var_after_as(t); if(name){ type_env_set(&types,name,"TEXT"); free(name); } }
   else if(!strcmp(up,"NEW")){ const char *as=find_word_ci(t,"AS"); char *name=NULL; char *cls=NULL; char objtype[256]; if(as){ cls=substr(t+3,as); name=xstrdup(trim_inplace((char*)as+2)); } else { const char *pcur=t+3; cls=unquote_token(&pcur); name=unquote_token(&pcur); } snprintf(objtype,sizeof(objtype),"OBJECT:%s",trim_inplace(cls)); if(name&&*trim_inplace(name)){ TypeFieldCheck *fc; char fullname[256]; char *nt=trim_inplace(name); char *ct=trim_inplace(cls); type_env_set(&types,nt,objtype); for(fc=field_checks;fc;fc=fc->next){ if(ci_eq(fc->cls,ct)){ snprintf(fullname,sizeof(fullname),"%s.%s",nt,fc->field); type_env_set(&types,fullname,fc->type); } } } free(cls); free(name); }
-  else if((!strcmp(up,"DO")&&!find_word_ci(t,"TIMES"))||!strcmp(up,"CALL")){ char *fname=NULL; char **parts=NULL; int ac=0,i,is_method=0; char lookup[256],display[256]; if(!strcmp(up,"DO")){ const char *pcur=t+2; fname=unquote_token(&pcur); if(*trim_inplace((char*)pcur)) ac=split_args(pcur,&parts); } else { char *rest=t+4; const char *with=find_word_ci(rest,"WITH"); fname=with?substr(rest,with):xstrdup(rest); if(with) ac=split_args(with+4,&parts); } snprintf(lookup,sizeof(lookup),"%s",trim_inplace(fname)); snprintf(display,sizeof(display),"%s",lookup); { char *dot=strchr(lookup,'.'); if(dot){ char objname[128]; const char *objtype; snprintf(objname,sizeof(objname),"%.*s",(int)(dot-lookup),lookup); objtype=type_env_get(types,objname); if(objtype&&starts_ci(objtype,"OBJECT:")){ char method[128]; snprintf(method,sizeof(method),"%s",dot+1); snprintf(lookup,sizeof(lookup),"%s.%s",objtype+7,method); snprintf(display,sizeof(display),"%s",lookup); is_method=1; } } } for(i=0;i<ac;i++){ const char *param=NULL; const char *need=type_param_check_for(param_checks,lookup,i,&param); const char *got=simple_expr_type(types,parts[i]); if(need&&got&&!type_words_match(need,got)){ printf("%s:%d: Type mismatch for %s %s: parameter %s needs %s, but this argument looks like %s.\n",path,line_no,is_method?"method":"function",display,param?param:"argument",need,got); errs++; } } free(fname); }
+  else if((!strcmp(up,"DO")&&!find_word_ci(t,"TIMES"))||!strcmp(up,"CALL")){ char *fname=NULL; char **parts=NULL; int ac=0,i,is_method=0; char lookup[256],display[256]; if(!strcmp(up,"DO")){ const char *pcur=t+2; fname=unquote_token(&pcur); if(*trim_inplace((char*)pcur)) ac=split_args(pcur,&parts); } else { char *rest=t+4; const char *with=find_word_ci(rest,"WITH"); fname=with?substr(rest,with):xstrdup(rest); if(with) ac=split_args(with+4,&parts); } snprintf(lookup,sizeof(lookup),"%s",trim_inplace(fname)); snprintf(display,sizeof(display),"%s",lookup); { char *dot=strchr(lookup,'.'); if(dot){ char objname[128]; const char *objtype; snprintf(objname,sizeof(objname),"%.*s",(int)(dot-lookup),lookup); objtype=type_env_get(types,objname); if(objtype&&starts_ci(objtype,"OBJECT:")){ char method[128]; snprintf(method,sizeof(method),"%s",dot+1); snprintf(lookup,sizeof(lookup),"%s.%s",objtype+7,method); snprintf(display,sizeof(display),"%s",lookup); is_method=1; }
+       else if(!strcmp(up,"DO")){ printf("%s:%d: Object %s is not known yet. Create it with NEW ClassName %s before calling %s.\n",path,line_no,objname,objname,lookup); errs++; } } } for(i=0;i<ac;i++){ const char *param=NULL; const char *need=type_param_check_for(param_checks,lookup,i,&param); const char *got=simple_expr_type(types,parts[i]); if(need&&got&&!type_words_match(need,got)){ printf("%s:%d: Type mismatch for %s %s: parameter %s needs %s, but this argument looks like %s.\n",path,line_no,is_method?"method":"function",display,param?param:"argument",need,got); errs++; } } free(fname); }
   else if(!strcmp(up,"CHECK")&&starts_ci(t,"CHECK TYPE")){ const char *is=find_word_ci(t,"IS"); if(is){ char *expr=substr(t+10,is); char *need=xstrdup(trim_inplace((char*)is+2)); char *et=trim_inplace(expr); const char *got=simple_expr_type(types,et); if(got&&!type_words_match(need,got)){ printf("%s:%d: Type check failed: expected %s, but %s looks like %s.\n",path,line_no,need,et,got); errs++; } else if(!got&&strchr(et,'.')){ char objname[128],fieldname[128]; char *dot=strchr(et,'.'); const char *objtype; snprintf(objname,sizeof(objname),"%.*s",(int)(dot-et),et); snprintf(fieldname,sizeof(fieldname),"%s",dot+1); objtype=type_env_get(types,objname); if(objtype&&starts_ci(objtype,"OBJECT:")&&!type_field_check_for(field_checks,objtype+7,fieldname)){ printf("%s:%d: Object %s has no field %s. Check the field name or add HAS %s %s to the class.\n",path,line_no,objtype+7,fieldname,fieldname,need); errs++; } else if(!objtype){ printf("%s:%d: Object %s is not known yet. Create it with NEW ClassName %s before checking %s.\n",path,line_no,objname,objname,et); errs++; } } free(expr); free(need); } else { printf("%s:%d: CHECK TYPE needs IS. Try: CHECK TYPE score IS NUMBER\n",path,line_no); errs++; } }
  }
  fclose(f); if(errs==0) printf("Type check OK\n"); return errs?1:0; }

tests/typecheck_method_unknown_object_bad.claro

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+CLASS Player
+    HAS score NUMBER
+
+    TEACH add points
+        CHECK TYPE points IS NUMBER
+        SET score score + points
+    END
+END
+
+DO player.add 5

tools/validate_typecheck_diagnostics.py

@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ EXPECTED = {
     "tests/typecheck_method_bad.claro": [
         "tests/typecheck_method_bad.claro:11: Type mismatch for method Player.add: parameter points needs NUMBER, but this argument looks like TEXT.",
     ],
+    "tests/typecheck_method_unknown_object_bad.claro": [
+        "tests/typecheck_method_unknown_object_bad.claro:10: Object player is not known yet. Create it with NEW ClassName player before calling player.add.",
+    ],
     "tests/typecheck_object_field_bad.claro": [
         "tests/typecheck_object_field_bad.claro:6: Type mismatch for field player.score: expected NUMBER, but this value looks like TEXT.",
     ],