Replace sx_call() with render_to_sx() across all services

Python no longer generates s-expression strings. All SX rendering now
goes through render_to_sx() which builds AST from native Python values
and evaluates via async_eval_to_sx() — no SX string literals in Python.

- Add render_to_sx()/render_to_html() infrastructure in shared/sx/helpers.py
- Add (abort status msg) IO primitive in shared/sx/primitives_io.py
- Convert all 9 services: ~650 sx_call() invocations replaced
- Convert shared helpers (root_header_sx, full_page_sx, etc.) to async
- Fix likes service import bug (likes.models → models)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

sx/sxc/pages/__init__.py

@@ -34,30 +34,30 @@ def _register_sx_layouts() -> None:
     register_custom_layout("sx-section", _sx_section_full_headers, _sx_section_oob_headers, _sx_section_mobile)
 
 
-def _sx_full_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
+async def _sx_full_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     """Full headers for sx home page: root + sx menu row."""
     from shared.sx.helpers import root_header_sx
     from sxc.sx_components import _sx_header_sx, _main_nav_sx
 
-    main_nav = _main_nav_sx(kw.get("section"))
-    root_hdr = root_header_sx(ctx)
-    sx_row = _sx_header_sx(main_nav)
+    main_nav = await _main_nav_sx(kw.get("section"))
+    root_hdr = await root_header_sx(ctx)
+    sx_row = await _sx_header_sx(main_nav)
     return "(<> " + root_hdr + " " + sx_row + ")"
 
 
-def _sx_oob_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
+async def _sx_oob_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     """OOB headers for sx home page."""
     from shared.sx.helpers import root_header_sx, oob_header_sx
     from sxc.sx_components import _sx_header_sx, _main_nav_sx
 
-    root_hdr = root_header_sx(ctx)
-    main_nav = _main_nav_sx(kw.get("section"))
-    sx_row = _sx_header_sx(main_nav)
+    root_hdr = await root_header_sx(ctx)
+    main_nav = await _main_nav_sx(kw.get("section"))
+    sx_row = await _sx_header_sx(main_nav)
     rows = "(<> " + root_hdr + " " + sx_row + ")"
-    return oob_header_sx("root-header-child", "sx-header-child", rows)
+    return await oob_header_sx("root-header-child", "sx-header-child", rows)
 
 
-def _sx_section_full_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
+async def _sx_section_full_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     """Full headers for sx section pages: root + sx row + sub row."""
     from shared.sx.helpers import root_header_sx
     from sxc.sx_components import (
@@ -70,14 +70,14 @@ def _sx_section_full_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     sub_nav = kw.get("sub_nav", "")
     selected = kw.get("selected", "")
 
-    root_hdr = root_header_sx(ctx)
-    main_nav = _main_nav_sx(section)
-    sub_row = _sub_row_sx(sub_label, sub_href, sub_nav, selected)
-    sx_row = _sx_header_sx(main_nav, child=sub_row)
+    root_hdr = await root_header_sx(ctx)
+    main_nav = await _main_nav_sx(section)
+    sub_row = await _sub_row_sx(sub_label, sub_href, sub_nav, selected)
+    sx_row = await _sx_header_sx(main_nav, child=sub_row)
     return "(<> " + root_hdr + " " + sx_row + ")"
 
 
-def _sx_section_oob_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
+async def _sx_section_oob_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     """OOB headers for sx section pages."""
     from shared.sx.helpers import root_header_sx, oob_header_sx
     from sxc.sx_components import (
@@ -90,34 +90,34 @@ def _sx_section_oob_headers(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     sub_nav = kw.get("sub_nav", "")
     selected = kw.get("selected", "")
 
-    root_hdr = root_header_sx(ctx)
-    main_nav = _main_nav_sx(section)
-    sub_row = _sub_row_sx(sub_label, sub_href, sub_nav, selected)
-    sx_row = _sx_header_sx(main_nav, child=sub_row)
+    root_hdr = await root_header_sx(ctx)
+    main_nav = await _main_nav_sx(section)
+    sub_row = await _sub_row_sx(sub_label, sub_href, sub_nav, selected)
+    sx_row = await _sx_header_sx(main_nav, child=sub_row)
     rows = "(<> " + root_hdr + " " + sx_row + ")"
-    return oob_header_sx("root-header-child", "sx-header-child", rows)
+    return await oob_header_sx("root-header-child", "sx-header-child", rows)
 
 
-def _sx_mobile(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
+async def _sx_mobile(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     """Mobile menu for sx home page: main nav + root."""
     from shared.sx.helpers import (
-        mobile_menu_sx, mobile_root_nav_sx, sx_call, SxExpr,
+        mobile_menu_sx, mobile_root_nav_sx, render_to_sx, SxExpr,
     )
     from sxc.sx_components import _main_nav_sx
 
-    main_nav = _main_nav_sx(kw.get("section"))
+    main_nav = await _main_nav_sx(kw.get("section"))
     return mobile_menu_sx(
-        sx_call("mobile-menu-section",
+        await render_to_sx("mobile-menu-section",
             label="sx", href="/", level=1, colour="violet",
             items=SxExpr(main_nav)),
-        mobile_root_nav_sx(ctx),
+        await mobile_root_nav_sx(ctx),
     )
 
 
-def _sx_section_mobile(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
+async def _sx_section_mobile(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     """Mobile menu for sx section pages: sub nav + main nav + root."""
     from shared.sx.helpers import (
-        mobile_menu_sx, mobile_root_nav_sx, sx_call, SxExpr,
+        mobile_menu_sx, mobile_root_nav_sx, render_to_sx, SxExpr,
     )
     from sxc.sx_components import _main_nav_sx
 
@@ -125,17 +125,17 @@ def _sx_section_mobile(ctx: dict, **kw: Any) -> str:
     sub_label = kw.get("sub_label", section)
     sub_href = kw.get("sub_href", "/")
     sub_nav = kw.get("sub_nav", "")
-    main_nav = _main_nav_sx(section)
+    main_nav = await _main_nav_sx(section)
 
     parts = []
     if sub_nav:
-        parts.append(sx_call("mobile-menu-section",
+        parts.append(await render_to_sx("mobile-menu-section",
             label=sub_label, href=sub_href, level=2, colour="violet",
             items=SxExpr(sub_nav)))
-    parts.append(sx_call("mobile-menu-section",
+    parts.append(await render_to_sx("mobile-menu-section",
         label="sx", href="/", level=1, colour="violet",
         items=SxExpr(main_nav)))
-    parts.append(mobile_root_nav_sx(ctx))
+    parts.append(await mobile_root_nav_sx(ctx))
     return mobile_menu_sx(*parts)
 
 

sx/sxc/sx_components.py

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import os
 
 from shared.sx.jinja_bridge import load_sx_dir, watch_sx_dir
 from shared.sx.helpers import (
-    sx_call, SxExpr, get_asset_url,
+    render_to_sx, SxExpr, get_asset_url,
 )
 from content.highlight import highlight
 
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@ def _full_wire_text(sx_src: str, *comp_names: str) -> str:
 # Navigation helpers
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-def _nav_items_sx(items: list[tuple[str, str]], current: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _nav_items_sx(items: list[tuple[str, str]], current: str | None = None) -> str:
     """Build nav link items as sx."""
     parts = []
     for label, href in items:
-        parts.append(sx_call("nav-link",
+        parts.append(await render_to_sx("nav-link",
             href=href, label=label,
             is_selected="true" if current == label else None,
             select_colours="aria-selected:bg-violet-200 aria-selected:text-violet-900",
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ def _nav_items_sx(items: list[tuple[str, str]], current: str | None = None) -> s
     return "(<> " + " ".join(parts) + ")"
 
 
-def _sx_header_sx(nav: str | None = None, *, child: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _sx_header_sx(nav: str | None = None, *, child: str | None = None) -> str:
     """Build the sx docs menu-row."""
-    return sx_call("menu-row-sx",
+    return await render_to_sx("menu-row-sx",
         id="sx-row", level=1, colour="violet",
         link_href="/", link_label="sx",
         link_label_content=SxExpr('(span :class "font-mono" "(</>) sx")'),
@@ -132,40 +132,40 @@ def _sx_header_sx(nav: str | None = None, *, child: str | None = None) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def _docs_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _docs_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
     from content.pages import DOCS_NAV
-    return _nav_items_sx(DOCS_NAV, current)
+    return await _nav_items_sx(DOCS_NAV, current)
 
 
-def _reference_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _reference_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
     from content.pages import REFERENCE_NAV
-    return _nav_items_sx(REFERENCE_NAV, current)
+    return await _nav_items_sx(REFERENCE_NAV, current)
 
 
-def _protocols_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _protocols_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
     from content.pages import PROTOCOLS_NAV
-    return _nav_items_sx(PROTOCOLS_NAV, current)
+    return await _nav_items_sx(PROTOCOLS_NAV, current)
 
 
-def _examples_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _examples_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
     from content.pages import EXAMPLES_NAV
-    return _nav_items_sx(EXAMPLES_NAV, current)
+    return await _nav_items_sx(EXAMPLES_NAV, current)
 
 
-def _essays_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _essays_nav_sx(current: str | None = None) -> str:
     from content.pages import ESSAYS_NAV
-    return _nav_items_sx(ESSAYS_NAV, current)
+    return await _nav_items_sx(ESSAYS_NAV, current)
 
 
-def _main_nav_sx(current_section: str | None = None) -> str:
+async def _main_nav_sx(current_section: str | None = None) -> str:
     from content.pages import MAIN_NAV
-    return _nav_items_sx(MAIN_NAV, current_section)
+    return await _nav_items_sx(MAIN_NAV, current_section)
 
 
-def _sub_row_sx(sub_label: str, sub_href: str, sub_nav: str,
+async def _sub_row_sx(sub_label: str, sub_href: str, sub_nav: str,
                 selected: str = "") -> str:
     """Build the level-2 sub-section menu-row."""
-    return sx_call("menu-row-sx",
+    return await render_to_sx("menu-row-sx",
         id="sx-sub-row", level=2, colour="violet",
         link_href=sub_href, link_label=sub_label,
         selected=selected or None,
@@ -178,22 +178,22 @@ def _sub_row_sx(sub_label: str, sub_href: str, sub_nav: str,
 # Content builders — return sx source strings
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-def _doc_nav_sx(items: list[tuple[str, str]], current: str) -> str:
+async def _doc_nav_sx(items: list[tuple[str, str]], current: str) -> str:
     """Build the in-page doc navigation pills."""
     items_sx = " ".join(
         f'(list "{label}" "{href}")'
         for label, href in items
     )
-    return sx_call("doc-nav", items=SxExpr(f"(list {items_sx})"), current=current)
+    return await render_to_sx("doc-nav", items=SxExpr(f"(list {items_sx})"), current=current)
 
 
-def _attr_table_sx(title: str, attrs: list[tuple[str, str, bool]]) -> str:
+async def _attr_table_sx(title: str, attrs: list[tuple[str, str, bool]]) -> str:
     """Build an attribute reference table."""
     from content.pages import ATTR_DETAILS
     rows = []
     for attr, desc, exists in attrs:
         href = f"/reference/attributes/{attr}" if exists and attr in ATTR_DETAILS else None
-        rows.append(sx_call("doc-attr-row", attr=attr, description=desc,
+        rows.append(await render_to_sx("doc-attr-row", attr=attr, description=desc,
                            exists="true" if exists else None,
                            href=href))
     return (
@@ -209,13 +209,13 @@ def _attr_table_sx(title: str, attrs: list[tuple[str, str, bool]]) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def _primitives_section_sx() -> str:
+async def _primitives_section_sx() -> str:
     """Build the primitives section."""
     from content.pages import PRIMITIVES
     parts = []
     for category, prims in PRIMITIVES.items():
         prims_sx = " ".join(f'"{p}"' for p in prims)
-        parts.append(sx_call("doc-primitives-table",
+        parts.append(await render_to_sx("doc-primitives-table",
             category=category,
             primitives=SxExpr(f"(list {prims_sx})")))
     return " ".join(parts)
@@ -245,8 +245,9 @@ def _headers_table_sx(title: str, headers: list[tuple[str, str, str]]) -> str:
 
 
 
-def _docs_content_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+async def _docs_content_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     """Route to the right docs content builder."""
+    import inspect
     builders = {
         "introduction": _docs_introduction_sx,
         "getting-started": _docs_getting_started_sx,
@@ -257,7 +258,8 @@ def _docs_content_sx(slug: str) -> str:
         "server-rendering": _docs_server_rendering_sx,
     }
     builder = builders.get(slug, _docs_introduction_sx)
-    return builder()
+    result = builder()
+    return await result if inspect.isawaitable(result) else result
 
 
 def _docs_introduction_sx() -> str:
@@ -379,8 +381,8 @@ def _docs_evaluator_sx() -> str:
     )
 
 
-def _docs_primitives_sx() -> str:
-    prims = _primitives_section_sx()
+async def _docs_primitives_sx() -> str:
+    prims = await _primitives_section_sx()
     return (
         f'(~doc-page :title "Primitives"'
         f'  (~doc-section :title "Built-in functions" :id "builtins"'
@@ -471,14 +473,16 @@ def _docs_server_rendering_sx() -> str:
 # Reference pages
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-def _reference_content_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+async def _reference_content_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+    import inspect
     builders = {
         "attributes": _reference_attrs_sx,
         "headers": _reference_headers_sx,
         "events": _reference_events_sx,
         "js-api": _reference_js_api_sx,
     }
-    return builders.get(slug or "", _reference_attrs_sx)()
+    result = builders.get(slug or "", _reference_attrs_sx)()
+    return await result if inspect.isawaitable(result) else result
 
 
 def _reference_index_sx() -> str:
@@ -573,18 +577,22 @@ def _reference_attr_detail_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def _reference_attrs_sx() -> str:
+async def _reference_attrs_sx() -> str:
     from content.pages import REQUEST_ATTRS, BEHAVIOR_ATTRS, SX_UNIQUE_ATTRS, HTMX_MISSING_ATTRS
+    req = await _attr_table_sx("Request Attributes", REQUEST_ATTRS)
+    beh = await _attr_table_sx("Behavior Attributes", BEHAVIOR_ATTRS)
+    uniq = await _attr_table_sx("Unique to sx", SX_UNIQUE_ATTRS)
+    missing = await _attr_table_sx("htmx features not yet in sx", HTMX_MISSING_ATTRS)
     return (
         f'(~doc-page :title "Attribute Reference"'
         f'  (p :class "text-stone-600 mb-6"'
         f'    "sx attributes mirror htmx where possible. This table shows what exists, '
         f'what\'s unique to sx, and what\'s not yet implemented.")'
         f'  (div :class "space-y-8"'
-        f'    {_attr_table_sx("Request Attributes", REQUEST_ATTRS)}'
-        f'    {_attr_table_sx("Behavior Attributes", BEHAVIOR_ATTRS)}'
-        f'    {_attr_table_sx("Unique to sx", SX_UNIQUE_ATTRS)}'
-        f'    {_attr_table_sx("htmx features not yet in sx", HTMX_MISSING_ATTRS)}))'
+        f'    {req}'
+        f'    {beh}'
+        f'    {uniq}'
+        f'    {missing}))'
     )
 
 
@@ -2066,9 +2074,9 @@ def home_content_sx() -> str:
     )
 
 
-def docs_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+async def docs_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     """Docs content as sx wire format."""
-    inner = _docs_content_sx(slug)
+    inner = await _docs_content_sx(slug)
     return (
         f'(section :id "main-panel"'
         f'  :class "flex-1 md:h-full md:min-h-0 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain js-grid-viewport"'
@@ -2076,8 +2084,8 @@ def docs_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def reference_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
-    inner = _reference_content_sx(slug)
+async def reference_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+    inner = await _reference_content_sx(slug)
     return (
         f'(section :id "main-panel"'
         f'  :class "flex-1 md:h-full md:min-h-0 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain js-grid-viewport"'
@@ -2085,8 +2093,8 @@ def reference_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def protocol_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
-    inner = _protocol_content_sx(slug)
+async def protocol_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+    inner = await _protocol_content_sx(slug)
     return (
         f'(section :id "main-panel"'
         f'  :class "flex-1 md:h-full md:min-h-0 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain js-grid-viewport"'
@@ -2094,8 +2102,8 @@ def protocol_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def examples_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
-    inner = _examples_content_sx(slug)
+async def examples_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+    inner = await _examples_content_sx(slug)
     return (
         f'(section :id "main-panel"'
         f'  :class "flex-1 md:h-full md:min-h-0 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain js-grid-viewport"'
@@ -2103,8 +2111,8 @@ def examples_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def essay_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
-    inner = _essay_content_sx(slug)
+async def essay_content_partial_sx(slug: str) -> str:
+    inner = await _essay_content_sx(slug)
     return (
         f'(section :id "main-panel"'
         f'  :class "flex-1 md:h-full md:min-h-0 overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain js-grid-viewport"'