ModernUO/Projects/UOContent/Misc
Kamron Batman 535a098996
refactor: compile where/sort/distinct and Advanced Search through expression trees (#2625)
## Summary

`where`, `sort by`, `distinct` and the Advanced Search property test now compile through expression trees instead of the hand-rolled IL in `Emitter.cs`. The emitter and its three `Reflection.Emit` compilers were RunUO-era code from before expression trees existed; they were the only way to avoid per-object reflection at the time, and they are not any more.

Net: ~1,900 lines of IL bookkeeping deleted, one comparison engine instead of two, faster per object, cheaper to compile, collectible, and `Nullable<T>` properties work.

## Why

- **Bugs hid in the IL.** Equality on a type with value semantics but no `IComparable` (`TextDefinition`) was a raw `ceq`, so `where Message = 1060847` never matched. A chained binding (`Message.Number`) dereferenced every link unguarded, so the first swept object with a null intermediate killed the sweep with an NRE. A constant narrower or unsigned than `int` threw before compiling. A struct with no `CompareTo` reached `ceq` on two unboxed values, which is invalid IL. Every dynamic assembly was `Run`, so each `[global where` grew the process for good.
- **Advanced Search had its own engine.** Per entity and per leaf it re-split the expression, scanned the runtime type's properties by name, read the value by reflection, re-parsed the right-hand side and dispatched on type through ~300 lines of `CompareValues`. Same job, second implementation, second set of bugs.

## What changed

- `ICondition.Compile(MethodEmitter)` becomes `ICondition.Build(ParameterExpression)` returning an `Expression`. `ConditionalCompiler` assembles a `Func<object, bool>`, `SortCompiler` a `Comparison<T>`, `DistinctCompiler` both comparer interfaces over one lambda. The parsed constant is an `Expression.Constant`, so the generated type, its constructor and the per-condition field for non-primitive constants disappear with `PropertyValue`.
- `PropertyExpressions` holds the shared pieces: the chain walk with its null-intermediate guard, `CompareTo` resolution with the old null ordering, the integral/enum operator path, and constant parsing.
- `BaseExtension.Optimize` loses its `ref AssemblyEmitter` parameter. An out-of-tree extension that overrides `Optimize` needs to drop it.
- Advanced Search keeps its grammar (`~` negates, `@` is AND, `|` is OR and binds looser, string `>` is "starts with") and translates each leaf into the same conditions, compiled once per declaring type per search and memoized across the workers. Float and double keep their typed-precision tolerance through a small `EpsilonCondition` in the Advanced Search folder.

## Semantics preserved

- Equality on a non-comparable reference type is `object.Equals`, never reference identity. A non-comparable struct boxes into the same call.
- A null intermediate in a chained binding is no match, and stays no match under negation. Sort and distinct read it as `default(T)`.
- Unsigned relational compares stay unsigned; integral primitives and enums use the operator directly, nothing widens to a signed type. `float`, `double`, `decimal`, `string` and structs still go through the type's own `CompareTo`, so `string` equality stays culture-sensitive exactly as before.
- Only `==` and `!=` are valid for non-comparable types; a relational operator still throws at build time.
- `TypeCondition` is still first and still null-checks the cast target.

## Behavior changes

- **`Nullable<T>` works**, with C# lifted semantics in `where`: two nulls are equal, a null and a value are unequal, a null satisfies no relation. Sort keeps a total order with unset values at one end. A null *reference* keeps the ordering it had.
- **Advanced Search**: a leaf that cannot be parsed or resolved is no match even under `~` (it used to negate the failure and match every entity); `null` is the null value for equality on strings, nullables and reference types, as in `where`; dotted names walk into a property; static properties are no longer searchable.

## Measurements

`where`, from the handoff (Debug test host, single condition, ratios not absolutes):

| Approach | ns/object | Compile | Collectible | LOC |
|---|---:|---:|---|---:|
| `AssemblyBuilder` + IL (before) | 20.5 | 0.311 ms | no (`Run`) | ~1,916 |
| Expression trees (after) | ~12 | 0.187 ms warm | yes | ~600 |

Advanced Search, Release, one `SkillTeleporter`, 2M evaluations per leaf:

| Leaf | Before | After |
|---|---:|---:|
| `Hue=5` | 137 ns | 20 ns |
| `Name~~gate` | 121 ns | 39 ns |
| `Skill=Magery` | 116 ns | 21 ns |
| `Weight>0.5` | 122 ns | 28 ns |

Plus 0.5 to 2 ms to compile each declaring type a search meets (12 ms for the first compile in the process). All of it runs on the search workers; nothing new touches the loop.

## Also fixed: Advanced Search map filters

Found while testing the property test in game. The map boxes are independent checkboxes, but the worker applied each ticked map as "must be on this map", so ticking two or more (all maps and Internal, say) rejected every entity before any other filter ran. Present since #1649; the default of Felucca alone never showed it. An entity now passes when its map is any of the ticked ones, with none ticked meaning no map constraint. Pinned by a worker test.

## Test plan

- [x] `UOContent.Tests`: 862 passed, 0 failed
- [x] `Server.Tests`: 869 passed, 0 failed
- [x] Every commit builds and its tests pass on its own (bisectable)
- [ ] In game: `[global where`, `[area where`, `[condition`, `sort by`, `distinct`, Advanced Search property test
2026-09-10 19:01:59 -07:00
..
AccountPrompt.cs fix: Fixes console clobbering when prompted to add an owner account (#2133) 2025-02-26 18:43:20 -08:00
Animations.cs fix: Moves many EventSinks out of core. (#1783) 2024-05-21 10:02:30 -07:00
AOS.cs fix(ci): run test projects on CI; remove brittle OPL attribute tests (#2513) 2026-07-02 22:35:37 -07:00
AttackMessage.cs perf(messages): mechanical interpolation cleanups (#2436) 2026-05-03 18:26:49 -07:00
AutoRestart.cs fix: Fixes missing methods. Adds more admin gump world building (#1675) 2024-02-10 20:31:25 -08:00
Broadcasts.cs Fixes exiting/crash handling/ctrl+c (#237) 2020-09-12 00:05:38 -07:00
Cleanup.cs fix: Fixes structured logging (#1043) 2022-06-05 01:00:22 -07:00
ClientVerification.cs feat: Add zero-alloc interpolation handler to ValueStringBuilder, replace all StringBuilder usage (#2387) 2026-03-22 14:23:44 -07:00
CrashGuard.cs chore: Use var everywhere (#2294) 2025-12-27 16:47:28 -08:00
DispellableAttribute.cs Formats UO Content (#201) 2020-08-27 18:30:38 -07:00
DispellableFieldAttribute.cs Formats UO Content (#201) 2020-08-27 18:30:38 -07:00
DoorGenerator.cs feat: Adds wall z-offset detection for doorgen (#2025) 2024-12-17 10:40:02 -08:00
Email.cs fix: Fixes spawn entry deserialization (#1693) 2024-03-03 08:45:16 -08:00
FoodDecay.cs feat: Moves TcpServer to another thread. Rewrites Firewall (#1660) 2024-01-20 14:25:12 -08:00
Geometry.cs chore: Cleans up pattern checks. (#892) 2021-12-24 15:53:59 -08:00
Guild.cs fix: Removes side effects from locked down items, decaying houses, bracelet of binding, and builds (#2608) 2026-09-06 09:39:00 -07:00
HardwareInfo.cs fix: Fixes thread guard and cleans up incoming packet reader (#1641) 2023-12-19 17:04:09 -08:00
InhumanSpeech.cs feat: Replaces params array with params ReadOnlySpan (#2125) 2025-02-13 21:19:02 -08:00
Keywords.cs feat: T2A ping-pong mechanic and consider sins behaviour (#2356) 2026-03-10 23:10:27 -07:00
LanguageStatistics.cs fix: Adds command help, webpage, and fixes issues with other commands (#1669) 2024-02-10 00:19:19 -08:00
LightCycle.cs fix: Fixes buffs don't start/stop properly. Streamlines constructor and Add/Remove buffs. (#2082) 2025-01-24 18:20:23 -08:00
LoginStats.cs feat: Converts OnLogin to a coded generated event (#2070) 2025-01-17 15:21:45 -08:00
Loot.cs fix: Fixes dirty-tracking gaps in generated content: setters, sub-object owners, BaseVendor (#2609) 2026-09-06 09:43:44 -07:00
LootPack.cs feat(throwing): wire SA loot flavor + Valkyrie's Glaive stealable (#2512) 2026-07-02 22:28:55 -07:00
MondainsLegacy.cs fix: Consolidates Color/Center html (#1762) 2024-05-07 23:56:32 -07:00
NameList.cs fix: Cleans up murder system (#1428) 2023-07-16 00:04:30 -07:00
NameVerification.cs fix: Fixes detecting consecutive exceptions in name validation (#2192) 2025-05-18 21:02:05 -07:00
Notoriety.cs fix: pet release never finished, summon master follows the pet, horse breeder and notoriety guards (#2613) 2026-09-06 16:12:29 -07:00
PacketThrottles.cs chore: Use var everywhere (#2294) 2025-12-27 16:47:28 -08:00
Paperdoll.cs fix(core): Converts remaining player packets (#374) 2020-12-30 16:09:51 -08:00
Poison.cs feat: Refactor Poison system, implement Darkglow & Parasitic effects (#2385) 2026-03-21 21:27:22 -07:00
PoisonKinds.cs feat: Refactor Poison system, implement Darkglow & Parasitic effects (#2385) 2026-03-21 21:27:22 -07:00
ProfanityProtection.cs fix: Fixes and optimizes NameVerification and ProfanityProtection (#2153) 2025-04-12 02:26:10 -07:00
ProfessionInfo.cs feat: Moves network related events to UOContent using code generation (#1945) 2024-09-06 16:57:10 -07:00
Profile.cs fix: Moves many EventSinks out of core. (#1783) 2024-05-21 10:02:30 -07:00
RaceDefinitions.cs fix: Updates races to properly support gargoyle equipment. (#744) 2021-08-29 00:43:55 -07:00
RegenRates.cs fix: Fixes poison field duration, cleans up skill calculations and poison calculations (#1582) 2023-11-04 12:32:54 -07:00
RenameRequests.cs fix: Fixes and optimizes NameVerification and ProfanityProtection (#2153) 2025-04-12 02:26:10 -07:00
ResourceInfo.cs fix: Codegens BOD rewards. (#1361) 2023-03-06 19:01:14 -08:00
ServerAccess.cs fix: Reverts GetAccount to use IAccount. Adds IAccount to serialization. (#1565) 2023-10-25 19:17:57 -07:00
ServerList.cs feat: Upgrades networking to use io_uring. (#2315) 2026-02-01 16:02:32 -08:00
ShardPoller.cs fix: Fixes dirty-tracking gaps in generated content: setters, sub-object owners, BaseVendor (#2609) 2026-09-06 09:43:44 -07:00
ShrinkTable.cs chore: Use var everywhere (#2294) 2025-12-27 16:47:28 -08:00
StaffInfo.cs fix: Codegens gifts. Unifies staff names. Thank you to the community! (#1766) 2024-05-08 20:44:00 -07:00
StaminaSystem.cs fix: Removes unnecessary dictionary removal guards (#2565) 2026-08-08 11:50:01 -07:00
Titles.cs feat: Adjusts fame and karma system with era gates for OSI accuracy (#2389) 2026-04-25 11:19:57 -07:00
ToggleItem.cs fix: Codegens house/vendors (#1767) 2024-05-08 22:45:59 -07:00
TreasureMapProtection.cs chore: Use var everywhere (#2294) 2025-12-27 16:47:28 -08:00
ValidationQueue.cs Fixes brace style (#248) 2020-09-13 21:49:46 -07:00
Weather.cs fix: Moves containers/bods/traps/etc to serialization generator (#2310) 2026-01-07 21:55:55 -08:00
WelcomeTimer.cs Removes UOAM vendors. (#241) 2020-09-12 11:56:52 -07:00