refactor(PitchWalker): redesign as processor, add reEvalOnLoop

PitchWalker was classified as a generator but always consumed the
incoming pattern's triggers. Reclassify as a processor so it modifies
the pattern produced by an upstream generator (clonePattern instead of
createPattern). Add reEvalOnLoop flag on the Primitive base class; when
set, the sequencer re-evaluates the chain at each loop start so
stateful primitives produce evolving patterns across loops.

playground/js/shapeseq/chain.js

@@ -119,6 +119,22 @@ export class Chain {
     return this._primitives.slice();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns true if any primitive in the chain has reEvalOnLoop === true.
+   * Used by the sequencer to decide whether to re-evaluate the pipeline
+   * on each loop start, even when inputs haven't changed.
+   *
+   * @returns {boolean}
+   */
+  hasReEvalPrimitives() {
+    for (let i = 0; i < this._primitives.length; i++) {
+      if (this._primitives[i].reEvalOnLoop === true) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   // ── Per-generator step counts (polyrhythm) ─────────────────────
 
   /**

playground/js/shapeseq/primitive.js

@@ -154,6 +154,14 @@ export class Primitive {
       return Object.freeze(frozen);
     }));
 
+    /**
+     * When true, the sequencer re-evaluates the chain at each loop start
+     * even if inputs haven't changed. Useful for stateful primitives
+     * (e.g. PitchWalker) whose output evolves across evaluations.
+     * @type {boolean}
+     */
+    this.reEvalOnLoop = false;
+
     /** @private */
     this._seed = 0;
   }

playground/js/shapeseq/primitives.js

@@ -147,13 +147,17 @@ export class ProbabilityGate extends Primitive {
 
 export class PitchWalker extends Primitive {
   constructor() {
-    super('PitchWalker', 'generator', [
+    super('PitchWalker', 'processor', [
       { name: 'stepSize', default: 0.3, boundary: 'clamp' },
       { name: 'directionBias', default: 0.5, boundary: 'clamp' },
       { name: 'gravity', default: 0.3, boundary: 'clamp' },
       { name: 'range', default: 0.8, boundary: 'clamp' },
     ]);
 
+    // PitchWalker is stateful — its random walk evolves across evaluations,
+    // so re-evaluate on each loop start to produce evolving patterns.
+    this.reEvalOnLoop = true;
+
     /** @private */
     this._position = 0.5;
   }
@@ -179,16 +183,11 @@ export class PitchWalker extends Primitive {
       ? state.position
       : this._position;
 
-    const pattern = createPattern(patternDesc.stepCount);
+    const pattern = clonePattern(patternDesc);
     let currentRng = rng;
 
-    // Use incoming pattern's triggers if available, otherwise all triggered
+    for (let i = 0; i < pattern.stepCount; i++) {
-    const srcSteps = patternDesc.steps;
+      if (pattern.steps[i].trigger) {
-
-    for (let i = 0; i < patternDesc.stepCount; i++) {
-      const triggered = srcSteps[i].trigger;
-
-      if (triggered) {
         // Random walk step
         const r1 = next(currentRng);
         currentRng = r1.nextState;
@@ -207,9 +206,9 @@ export class PitchWalker extends Primitive {
         if (position < 0) position = 0;
         if (position > 1) position = 1;
 
-        setStep(pattern, i, { trigger: true, pitch: position });
+        pattern.steps[i].pitch = position;
       }
-      // Untriggered steps keep default pitch, trigger=false
+      // Untriggered steps: preserve existing data unchanged
     }
 
     this._position = position;

playground/js/shapeseq/sequencer.js

@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ export class ShapeSeqEngine {
     this._onNoteOn = (data) => this._handleNoteOn(data);
     /** @private */
     this._onNoteOff = (data) => this._handleNoteOff(data);
+    /** @private */
+    this._onLoopStart = () => this._handleLoopStart();
   }
 
   // ── Lifecycle ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -117,6 +119,9 @@ export class ShapeSeqEngine {
     this._bus.on(SEQ.NOTE_ON, this._onNoteOn);
     this._bus.on(SEQ.NOTE_OFF, this._onNoteOff);
 
+    // 6. Subscribe to loop start for stateful primitive re-evaluation
+    this._bus.on(SEQ.LOOP_START, this._onLoopStart);
+
     this._initialized = true;
   }
 
@@ -153,6 +158,7 @@ export class ShapeSeqEngine {
     // Unsubscribe from event bus
     this._bus.off(SEQ.NOTE_ON, this._onNoteOn);
     this._bus.off(SEQ.NOTE_OFF, this._onNoteOff);
+    this._bus.off(SEQ.LOOP_START, this._onLoopStart);
 
     // Destroy the sequence IML instance
     if (this._sequenceIML) {
@@ -266,6 +272,30 @@ export class ShapeSeqEngine {
     return this._playing;
   }
 
+  // ── Loop re-evaluation (private) ──────────────────────────────────
+
+  /**
+   * Handle seq.loopStart events. If the chain contains stateful primitives
+   * with reEvalOnLoop === true, force a pipeline re-evaluation using the
+   * last known inputs. This lets stateful generators (e.g. PitchWalker)
+   * produce evolving patterns across loops even when inputs stay still.
+   *
+   * @private
+   */
+  _handleLoopStart() {
+    if (!this._initialized || !this._chain || !this._sequenceIML) return;
+    if (!this._chain.hasReEvalPrimitives()) return;
+
+    // If we have cached inputs, force an immediate re-evaluation now
+    if (!isNaN(this._lastInputs[0]) && !isNaN(this._lastInputs[1])) {
+      const savedInputs = [this._lastInputs[0], this._lastInputs[1]];
+      // Reset dirty-check so setSequenceInputs re-runs the pipeline
+      this._lastInputs[0] = NaN;
+      this._lastInputs[1] = NaN;
+      this.setSequenceInputs(savedInputs);
+    }
+  }
+
   // ── Bridge integration (private) ───────────────────────────────────
 
   /**

playground/js/shapeseq/tests/pitch-walker.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+/**
+ * Tests for PitchWalker reclassified as a processor.
+ *
+ * Verifies that PitchWalker:
+ *  - Has category 'processor'
+ *  - Preserves upstream trigger patterns
+ *  - Preserves upstream step data (velocity, accent, timeOffset, subdivisions)
+ *  - Only modifies pitch on triggered steps
+ *  - Leaves untriggered steps completely unchanged
+ *  - Advances position state
+ *  - Integrates correctly in a Chain with a generator upstream
+ */
+
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+
+import { PitchWalker, EuclideanRhythm } from '../primitives.js';
+import { createPattern, setStep } from '../pattern.js';
+import { createPRNG } from '../prng.js';
+import { Chain } from '../chain.js';
+
+// Helper: build a pattern with specific triggers and custom step data
+function makeTestPattern(stepCount, triggerIndices, stepOverrides) {
+  const pattern = createPattern(stepCount);
+  for (const idx of triggerIndices) {
+    setStep(pattern, idx, { trigger: true });
+  }
+  if (stepOverrides) {
+    for (const [idx, data] of Object.entries(stepOverrides)) {
+      setStep(pattern, Number(idx), data);
+    }
+  }
+  return pattern;
+}
+
+describe('PitchWalker', () => {
+  it('has category "processor"', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    assert.equal(pw.category, 'processor');
+  });
+
+  it('preserves upstream trigger pattern', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    const rng = createPRNG(42);
+    const triggers = [0, 2, 5, 7];
+    const input = makeTestPattern(8, triggers);
+
+    const { patternDesc } = pw.process(
+      new Float32Array([0.3, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8]),
+      input, {}, rng
+    );
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+      const expected = triggers.includes(i);
+      assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[i].trigger, expected,
+        `step ${i} trigger should be ${expected}`);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('preserves upstream velocity, accent, timeOffset, subdivisions on triggered steps', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    const rng = createPRNG(99);
+    const input = makeTestPattern(4, [1, 3], {
+      1: { trigger: true, velocity: 0.9, accent: true, timeOffset: 0.1, subdivisions: 2 },
+      3: { trigger: true, velocity: 0.4, accent: false, timeOffset: -0.2, subdivisions: 3 },
+    });
+
+    const { patternDesc } = pw.process(
+      new Float32Array([0.3, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8]),
+      input, {}, rng
+    );
+
+    // Step 1
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[1].velocity, 0.9);
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[1].accent, true);
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[1].timeOffset, 0.1);
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[1].subdivisions, 2);
+
+    // Step 3
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[3].velocity, 0.4);
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[3].accent, false);
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[3].timeOffset, -0.2);
+    assert.equal(patternDesc.steps[3].subdivisions, 3);
+  });
+
+  it('modifies pitch on triggered steps only', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    const rng = createPRNG(7);
+    const input = makeTestPattern(8, [0, 3, 6]);
+
+    // Record original pitches
+    const origPitches = input.steps.map(s => s.pitch);
+
+    const { patternDesc } = pw.process(
+      new Float32Array([0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1.0]),
+      input, {}, rng
+    );
+
+    // Triggered steps should have pitch set by random walk (may differ from default 0.5)
+    // We just verify they are valid numbers in [0,1]
+    for (const idx of [0, 3, 6]) {
+      const p = patternDesc.steps[idx].pitch;
+      assert.equal(typeof p, 'number');
+      assert.ok(p >= 0 && p <= 1, `pitch at step ${idx} should be in [0,1], got ${p}`);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('does NOT modify untriggered steps at all', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    const rng = createPRNG(123);
+    const input = makeTestPattern(6, [1, 4], {
+      0: { velocity: 0.3, accent: true, timeOffset: 0.15 },
+      2: { velocity: 0.8, accent: false, timeOffset: -0.1 },
+    });
+
+    // Snapshot untriggered steps before
+    const untriggeredBefore = {};
+    for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
+      if (![1, 4].includes(i)) {
+        const s = input.steps[i];
+        untriggeredBefore[i] = {
+          trigger: s.trigger,
+          pitch: s.pitch,
+          velocity: s.velocity,
+          accent: s.accent,
+          timeOffset: s.timeOffset,
+          subdivisions: s.subdivisions,
+        };
+      }
+    }
+
+    const { patternDesc } = pw.process(
+      new Float32Array([0.3, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8]),
+      input, {}, rng
+    );
+
+    for (const [idx, before] of Object.entries(untriggeredBefore)) {
+      const after = patternDesc.steps[Number(idx)];
+      assert.equal(after.trigger, before.trigger, `step ${idx} trigger unchanged`);
+      assert.equal(after.pitch, before.pitch, `step ${idx} pitch unchanged`);
+      assert.equal(after.velocity, before.velocity, `step ${idx} velocity unchanged`);
+      assert.equal(after.accent, before.accent, `step ${idx} accent unchanged`);
+      assert.equal(after.timeOffset, before.timeOffset, `step ${idx} timeOffset unchanged`);
+      assert.equal(after.subdivisions, before.subdivisions, `step ${idx} subdivisions unchanged`);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('advances the position state', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    const rng = createPRNG(55);
+    const input = makeTestPattern(8, [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]);
+
+    const initialPosition = 0.5;
+    const { nextState } = pw.process(
+      new Float32Array([0.5, 0.5, 0.3, 1.0]),
+      input, { position: initialPosition }, rng
+    );
+
+    assert.equal(typeof nextState.position, 'number');
+    // With 8 triggered steps and nonzero stepSize/range, position should move
+    assert.notEqual(nextState.position, initialPosition,
+      'position should change after processing triggered steps');
+  });
+
+  it('does not mutate the input pattern', () => {
+    const pw = new PitchWalker();
+    const rng = createPRNG(42);
+    const input = makeTestPattern(4, [0, 2]);
+    const origPitch0 = input.steps[0].pitch;
+    const origPitch1 = input.steps[1].pitch;
+
+    pw.process(new Float32Array([0.3, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8]), input, {}, rng);
+
+    // clonePattern should prevent mutation of the original
+    assert.equal(input.steps[0].pitch, origPitch0);
+    assert.equal(input.steps[1].pitch, origPitch1);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('PitchWalker integration with Chain', () => {
+  it('runs after generators and receives their trigger pattern', () => {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    chain.addPrimitive(new EuclideanRhythm());
+    chain.addPrimitive(new PitchWalker());
+
+    // EuclideanRhythm params: steps=0.5, pulses=0.5, rotation=0.0
+    // PitchWalker params: stepSize=0.3, directionBias=0.5, gravity=0.3, range=0.8
+    const params = new Float32Array([0.5, 0.5, 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8]);
+    const stepCount = 8;
+    const result = chain.evaluate(params, stepCount, 42);
+
+    // The result should have stepCount steps
+    assert.equal(result.stepCount, stepCount);
+
+    // Count triggers — EuclideanRhythm with steps=0.5 (maps to ~5) and pulses=0.5
+    // should produce some triggers
+    const triggeredSteps = result.steps.filter(s => s.trigger);
+    assert.ok(triggeredSteps.length > 0,
+      'should have at least one triggered step from EuclideanRhythm');
+
+    // Triggered steps should have pitch values set by PitchWalker (not default 0.5)
+    // With enough steps, at least some should differ from 0.5
+    const pitches = triggeredSteps.map(s => s.pitch);
+    const allDefault = pitches.every(p => p === 0.5);
+    assert.ok(!allDefault || pitches.length <= 1,
+      'PitchWalker should have modified pitch on triggered steps');
+
+    // Untriggered steps should retain default pitch
+    const untriggeredSteps = result.steps.filter(s => !s.trigger);
+    for (const s of untriggeredSteps) {
+      assert.equal(s.pitch, 0.5, 'untriggered steps should have default pitch');
+    }
+  });
+});

playground/js/shapeseq/tests/re-eval.test.js

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import { strict as assert } from 'node:assert';
+import { Primitive } from '../primitive.js';
+import { PitchWalker, EuclideanRhythm, ProbabilityGate } from '../primitives.js';
+import { Chain } from '../chain.js';
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Primitive.reEvalOnLoop default
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+describe('Primitive.reEvalOnLoop', () => {
+  it('defaults to false on the base class', () => {
+    // Use a concrete subclass that does not override reEvalOnLoop
+    const prim = new EuclideanRhythm();
+    assert.strictEqual(prim.reEvalOnLoop, false);
+  });
+
+  it('defaults to false for non-stateful primitives', () => {
+    const gate = new ProbabilityGate();
+    assert.strictEqual(gate.reEvalOnLoop, false);
+  });
+});
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// PitchWalker.reEvalOnLoop
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+describe('PitchWalker.reEvalOnLoop', () => {
+  it('is true', () => {
+    const walker = new PitchWalker();
+    assert.strictEqual(walker.reEvalOnLoop, true);
+  });
+});
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Chain.hasReEvalPrimitives()
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+describe('Chain.hasReEvalPrimitives()', () => {
+  it('returns false for an empty chain', () => {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    assert.strictEqual(chain.hasReEvalPrimitives(), false);
+  });
+
+  it('returns false when no primitives have reEvalOnLoop', () => {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    chain.addPrimitive(new EuclideanRhythm());
+    chain.addPrimitive(new ProbabilityGate());
+    assert.strictEqual(chain.hasReEvalPrimitives(), false);
+  });
+
+  it('returns true when at least one primitive has reEvalOnLoop', () => {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    chain.addPrimitive(new EuclideanRhythm());
+    chain.addPrimitive(new PitchWalker());
+    assert.strictEqual(chain.hasReEvalPrimitives(), true);
+  });
+
+  it('returns false after removing the only reEvalOnLoop primitive', () => {
+    const chain = new Chain();
+    chain.addPrimitive(new EuclideanRhythm());
+    chain.addPrimitive(new PitchWalker());
+    assert.strictEqual(chain.hasReEvalPrimitives(), true);
+
+    // PitchWalker is at index 1
+    chain.removePrimitive(1);
+    assert.strictEqual(chain.hasReEvalPrimitives(), false);
+  });
+});
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Sequencer integration (requires browser APIs: AudioContext, WASM, etc.)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+// NOTE: ShapeSeqEngine integration tests for loop-start re-evaluation
+// require browser APIs (AudioContext, WASM IML, ClockEngine with
+// requestAnimationFrame). These must be tested in a browser environment
+// or with appropriate mocks (e.g. Playwright e2e tests).
+//
+// Key behaviors to verify in integration tests:
+//   1. seq.loopStart event triggers _handleLoopStart()
+//   2. _handleLoopStart() bumps generation and calls setSequenceInputs()
+//      when chain.hasReEvalPrimitives() is true
+//   3. _handleLoopStart() is a no-op when chain has no reEval primitives
+//   4. Unsubscribes from seq.loopStart on destroy()
+//   5. freeze-as-algorithm (meml-9h1) suppresses re-evaluation (future)