Type-Driven Architecture’s Next Frontier: Proof-Carrying Code in Golemio’s IR
The Verification Gap in Modern Compiler IRsIntermediate representations (IRs) have long been the workhorse of compilers, enabling optimizations and target code generation. However, traditional IRs treat type information as a transient artifact—erased or simplified after early passes. This leaves a verification gap: the binary that runs may no longer reflect the safety properties enforced at the source level. For teams building safety-critical systems, this gap is unacceptable. Golemio's IR addresses this by embedding proof-carrying code (PCC) directly into the IR, ensuring that every transformation preserves invariants and that the final binary carries a verifiable proof of its own correctness.The stakes are high. In domains like autonomous driving, medical devices, or financial infrastructure, a single type violation can cascade into catastrophic failures. Traditional approaches—such as runtime assertions or external verification tools—add overhead and complexity without closing the trust gap. PCC shifts the burden: instead of hoping the compiler preserved properties, you