---
review_report: true
reviewer_model: gpt-5.6-sol
reviewed_at: 2026-08-04T12:09:06+00:00
target_doc: pipeline/04c-layout-ir.md
target_doc_source_commit: 53b76e6d3009b8e6434d41573524c7ce5c499d23
target_doc_watched_paths_digest: 71774435a40512fdfeaa2771405f426a01abae3299e7b7ac5b896252ae444cc5
source_commit: 53b76e6d3009b8e6434d41573524c7ce5c499d23
checklist:
  factual_accuracy: pass
  cross_references: pass
  completeness: pass
  style_consistency: pass
  source_alignment: pass
  front_matter_validity: partial
finding_count: 1
severity_breakdown:
  critical: 0
  major: 1
  minor: 0
  nit: 0
---

# Review report for pipeline/04c-layout-ir.md

## Summary

The page's source descriptions, citations, links, required sections, and style match the recorded source commit and generation contract. One major front-matter issue remains: the document carries an obsolete watched-path digest, which prevents the review ledger from recognizing this cycle as current.

## Items checked

- Ran `regenerate.py show pipeline/04c-layout-ir.md` and read the target page, `_common.md`, `pipeline-04c-layout-ir.md`, and dependencies `pipeline/04-ast-to-ir.md`, `pipeline/04b-pre-link-passes.md`, `cross-cutting/targets.md`, and `ir-reference/index.md`.
- Verified all 72 line-number citation occurrences against source at `53b76e6d3009b8e6434d41573524c7ce5c499d23`, including citations in `slang-lower-to-ir.cpp`, `slang-parameter-binding.cpp`, `slang-target-program.h`, `slang-type-layout.cpp`, `slang-ir-link.cpp`, and `slang-compiler-options.h`.
- Spot-checked more than 20 factual claims, including parameter-binding order, explicit Vulkan entry-point bindings, descriptor-space bookkeeping, unsupported ray-tracing diagnostics, cache behavior, both construction loops, capability forwarding, obfuscation, and link participation.
- Resolved all 18 unique relative link targets at the recorded commit and confirmed all seven referenced generated peers are present in the manifest.
- Swept 197 identifier tokens and 10 source-like filenames against the recorded tree; the only apparent identifier misses were prose metadata and abbreviated commit hashes, whose commits were separately verified.
- Ran the structural linter and checked the 29,290-byte document against its 32,768-byte cap.

## Findings

| ID | Severity | Location | Description | Evidence | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-001 | major | Front matter, line 6 | `watched_paths_digest` is `71774435a40512fdfeaa2771405f426a01abae3299e7b7ac5b896252ae444cc5`, but the digest for the resolved watched files at the recorded source commit is `209732500305bcb18fcda63902d7342536b82874be03cfaadcb631d2b21216ed`. The stale value also differs from the authoritative freshness entry, so recording this report would leave the document review-stale. | `docs/generated/design/_meta/freshness.json:231-235` records source commit `53b76e6d3009b8e6434d41573524c7ce5c499d23` with digest `209732500305bcb18fcda63902d7342536b82874be03cfaadcb631d2b21216ed`; `python3 docs/generated/design/_meta/regenerate.py digest pipeline/04c-layout-ir.md` returns the same value. | Replace the target document's `watched_paths_digest` with `209732500305bcb18fcda63902d7342536b82874be03cfaadcb631d2b21216ed`, then refresh the freshness record through the normal remediation workflow. |

## No-issues notes

- The document correctly avoids turning layout-IR construction into a four-phase target-pipeline page.
- Both numbered construction tables cover their source loops in order, and the optional obfuscation description matches the strip and DCE options.
- The parameter-binding additions are supported by the watched source and stay distinct from post-link target legalization.
- The caveat about layout modules participating in `linkIR` is supported by `targetProgram->getExistingIRModuleForLayout()` at `source/slang/slang-ir-link.cpp:2208-2210`.
