feat(mustache): Added group_by filter to templates

AGENTS.md

@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ Page_Data :: struct {
 
 `render_site` pre-parses all templates and partials once (via `mustache.parse`), then reuses them for every page render.
 
+**Pipes extension**: section tags may transform the resolved value before iteration via `{{#key | op args…}}`. Pipe filters are parsed into `Node.filters` (allocator-owned by the template) and applied at render time via `apply_pipeline`, with filter results (e.g. `[dynamic]Group` from `group_by`) living in `context.temp_allocator`. Currently only `group_by <field>` is implemented; see `mustache/EXTENSIONS.md`. Used by `posts_index.html` to group posts by year without privileged Go-side data shaping.
+
 ### Markdown pipeline (in content.odin `load_page`)
 
 ```
@@ -209,7 +211,7 @@ odin test . -all-packages  # includes mustache spec tests
 
 ## Mustache engine
 
-Spec-compliant Mustache implementation at `mustache/`. See `mustache/SPEC.md` for the implementation specification.
+Spec-compliant Mustache implementation at `mustache/`. See `mustache/EXTENSIONS.md` for the non-standard extensions (pipes).
 
 ### Files
 
@@ -218,6 +220,7 @@ Spec-compliant Mustache implementation at `mustache/`. See `mustache/SPEC.md` fo
 | `mustache.odin` | Public API (`parse`, `render`, `Template`), parser (`parse_section`), renderer (`render_nodes`), template inheritance (`merge_block_overrides`) |
 | `tokenizer.odin` | Tokenizer (template string → `[]Token`), standalone whitespace detection |
 | `data.odin` | Reflection-based data model: `effective` (union/distinct peeling), `lookup_in`, `resolve_name`, `is_truthy`, `any_to_string`, `list_info`, `write_value` |
+| `pipes.odin` | Pipes extension: `Pipe_Filter` AST, `parse_pipeline`, `apply_pipeline`, `apply_group_by`. Stored on `Node.filters`; render-scoped results in temp allocator. |
 | `spec_test.odin` | JSON spec test runner — loads `spec/specs/*.json`, runs each test case |
 
 ### Architecture

PLAN.md

@@ -1,141 +0,0 @@
-# Plan: Computed Properties in Mustache
-
-## Problem
-
-`Year_Section` is a privileged, hardcoded struct in render.odin. Every section listing gets pages grouped by year — no choice. The grouping dimension (year) is baked into the code. Templates can't request different views of the same data.
-
-## Solution: Computed Properties
-
-Struct fields that are procs get called during mustache data resolution. When `lookup_in` resolves a field via reflection and finds a proc, it calls it and uses the return value. This is computed properties (Vue/Ember pattern), not spec lambdas (text transformers).
-
-No mustache syntax changes. `{{#posts.by_year}}` is vanilla mustache — the magic is in data resolution, not template syntax.
-
-## Template Usage
-
-```handlebars
-{{#posts.by_year}}
-  <h2>{{year}}</h2>
-  {{#posts}}
-    <li>{{title}}</li>
-  {{/posts}}
-{{/posts.by_year}}
-
-{{#posts.all}}
-  <li>{{title}}</li>
-{{/posts.all}}
-```
-
-Context resolution handles naming naturally — `posts` inside a Year_Group (the `.posts` field) shadows the outer `posts` view object.
-
-## Data Model
-
-```odin
-Year_Group :: struct {
-    year:  string,
-    posts: [dynamic]Page_Context,
-}
-
-Pages_View :: struct {
-    all:     [dynamic]Page_Context,
-    by_year: proc() -> [dynamic]Year_Group,
-}
-
-Section_Data :: struct {
-    using base: Base_Data,
-    page_title: string,
-    posts:      Pages_View,
-}
-```
-
-`by_year` is a closure that captures `all` and groups lazily. Grouping only happens when the template requests it.
-
-## Implementation Steps
-
-### 1. Mustache data layer (`mustache/data.odin`)
-
-In `lookup_in` (or `resolve_name`), after resolving a field value via reflection:
-
-```odin
-// If the resolved value is a proc, call it
-if value, ok := resolved.(proc() -> any); ok {
-    return value()
-}
-```
-
-Need to handle proc detection generically — Odin has many proc types (different signatures, calling conventions). The computed properties we use are all zero-argument procs returning `any`.
-
-Alternative: check via `reflect.Type_Info` if the value is a proc type, then call it through `reflect.CallProcedure` or transmute.
-
-### 2. Odin closure challenge
-
-Contextless procs can't capture variables. Regular closure procs capture context by reference. We need the proc to access the page list when called later by mustache.
-
-Options:
-- Store the data alongside the proc in the struct (e.g., `all` field on `Pages_View`). The proc accesses it via the struct instance.
-- Use `context.allocator` to store captured data that the closure references.
-- Pass the struct as an implicit `self` parameter (method-style).
-
-The simplest approach: the closure captures a pointer to the data, which is arena-allocated and alive during rendering.
-
-### 3. Build `Pages_View` in `render_section`
-
-```odin
-all_pages := make([dynamic]Page_Context)
-for page in site.pages {
-    if page.section != section || page._is_index { continue }
-    append(&all_pages, build_page_context(page))
-}
-
-view := Pages_View{
-    all = all_pages,
-    by_year = group_by_year_closure,  // captures all_pages
-}
-```
-
-### 4. Remove `Year_Section` and `year_sections`
-
-- Delete `Year_Section` struct
-- Remove `year_sections` from `Section_Data`
-- Remove year grouping logic from `render_section`
-- Delete `get_year` helper (or move it into the closure)
-
-### 5. Update templates
-
-`posts_index.html`:
-```handlebars
-{{#posts.by_year}}
-  <section>
-    <h2>{{year}}</h2>
-    <ul class="post-list">
-      {{#posts}} <li>...</li> {{/posts}}
-    </ul>
-  </section>
-{{/posts.by_year}}
-```
-
-Home page could use the same pattern:
-```handlebars
-{{#pages.all}}
-  <li>...</li>
-{{/pages.all}}
-```
-
-### 6. Tests
-
-- Verify `by_year` proc is called lazily (only when template requests it)
-- Verify year groups contain correct pages
-- Verify flat list (`all`) works independently
-
-## Prerequisite
-
-**Step 1 (mustache data layer) must be done first.** This is the foundation — without proc-calling in data resolution, none of the rest works.
-
-## Future Extensions
-
-Once computed properties work, they're available everywhere:
-- `posts.featured` — filter by starred
-- `posts.recent(n)` — most recent N posts (if we support params)
-- `site.tags` — all unique tags across posts
-- `pages.by_section("posts")` — filter by section
-
-These are all zero-argument procs on view structs. No mustache changes needed beyond step 1.

TODOS.md

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 - [ ] follow symlinks in `scan_content`?
 - [ ] ensure sidenote numbers render in display order and not in declaration order.
 - [ ] Add Opt-in deflist support.
-- [ ] We need to be able to do `Year_Section` in a non-magical, unprivileged way. See [PLAN.md](PLAN.md) for computed properties approach.
+- [x] We need to be able to do `Year_Section` in a non-magical, unprivileged way. Implemented via the pipes extension to mustache — see [mustache/EXTENSIONS.md](mustache/EXTENSIONS.md).
 - [ ] Table of contents support.
 - [ ] Nav items should be active when the current page is selected.
 - [ ] Theme selector for syntax highlighting.

defaults/layouts/section_index.html

@@ -3,17 +3,17 @@
 <main>
   <h1>{{page_title}}</h1>
   {{&body}}
-  {{#by_year}}
+  {{#posts | group_by year}}
   <section>
-    <h2>{{year}}</h2>
+    <h2>{{key}}</h2>
     <ul>
-      {{#posts}} <li><a href="{{permalink}}">{{&title}}</a><span>{{#date_iso}}<time
+      {{#items}} <li><a href="{{permalink}}">{{&title}}</a><span>{{#date_iso}}<time
             datetime="{{date_iso}}">{{date_display}}</time>{{/date_iso}}</span>
       </li>
-      {{/posts}}
+      {{/items}}
     </ul>
   </section>
-  {{/by_year}}
+  {{/posts}}
 </main>
 {{/content}}
 {{/base}}

mustache/EXTENSIONS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# Mustache Extensions
+
+Thor's mustache engine implements the [Mustache spec](https://github.com/mustache/spec) plus the following non-standard extensions. Extensions are opt-in via template syntax — vanilla mustache templates render identically to the spec.
+
+## Pipes
+
+A pipe expression appears inside a section tag and transforms the resolved value before iteration. Pipes let templates request different views of the same data without privileged Go-side support.
+
+### Syntax
+
+```
+{{#<key> | <op> <arg> <arg>... | <op> <arg>... }} … {{/<key>}}
+```
+
+- The first whitespace-separated token after `|` is the op name; remaining tokens are its arguments.
+- Whitespace around `|` is optional: `posts|group_by year` and `posts | group_by year` are equivalent.
+- Multiple filters compose left-to-right.
+- **At most 8 filters** may appear in a single tag (compile-time constant `MAX_PIPES` in `pipes.odin`). Exceeding it is a parse error.
+- **At most 2 args** per filter (compile-time constant `MAX_PIPE_ARGS`). Exceeding it is a parse error.
+- The close tag is the **bare key only**. Pipe expressions are not allowed in close tags — `{{/posts | group_by year}}` is a parse error.
+- Pipes are only supported in section tags (`{{#…}}` and `{{^…}}`) today. Variable interpolation (`{{x | op}}`) is a parse error.
+
+### Example
+
+```handlebars
+{{#posts | group_by year}}
+  <section>
+    <h2>{{key}}</h2>
+    <ul>{{#items}}<li>{{title}}</li>{{/items}}</ul>
+  </section>
+{{/posts}}
+```
+
+### Available ops
+
+#### `group_by <field>`
+
+Buckets each element of a list by the value of `<field>`. Returns a list of `Group` values, each shaped as:
+
+```
+Group :: struct {
+    key:   string,   // the distinct field value
+    items: [dynamic]any,  // elements sharing that value
+}
+```
+
+Group order preserves first-appearance order in the input list (not key-sorted).
+
+Errors (returned as `Data_Error` at render time):
+- Argument count is not 1.
+- Input is not a list.
+- Any element is missing the named field.
+- Any element has an empty value for the named field.
+
+### Memory ownership
+
+- **Parsed pipe filters** (`Pipe_Filter` values) are stored inline on each `Node` via `[dynamic; MAX_PIPES]Pipe_Filter`, and `args` is inline on each `Pipe_Filter` via `[dynamic; MAX_PIPE_ARGS]string`. Both use Odin's fixed-capacity dynamic array type, so no per-tag heap allocations occur at parse time. The storage dies with the `Template` when `delete_template` is called.
+- **Filter results** (e.g. the `[dynamic]Group` returned by `group_by`) are render-scoped allocations in `context.temp_allocator`. They die with the render call. No caller-side cleanup is needed.
+- The string data inside `Pipe_Filter` (op names, args) is borrowed from the template source — no cloning.
+
+### Future ops (not yet implemented)
+
+The pipe framework is general; additional ops are straightforward to add to `apply_filter` in `pipes.odin`:
+
+- `sort`, `sort_by <field>` — ordering
+- `filter <field> <value>`, `where <field>` — selection
+- `take <n>`, `take_last <n>`, `skip <n>` — slicing
+- `reverse` — order flip
+
+To add a new op:
+1. Implement `apply_<op>(value: any, args: []string) -> (any, Render_Error)` in `pipes.odin`.
+2. Add a `case` to `apply_filter`.
+3. Add tests to `pipes_test.odin`.

mustache/data.odin

@@ -174,11 +174,11 @@ call_interp_lambda :: proc(val: any) -> (result: string, ok: bool) {
 
 call_section_lambda :: proc(val: any, text: string) -> (result: string, ok: bool) {
 	switch v in val {
-	case proc(string) -> string:
+	case proc(_: string) -> string:
 		return v(text), true
-	case proc(string) -> int:
+	case proc(_: string) -> int:
 		return fmt.tprintf("%d", v(text)), true
-	case proc(string) -> bool:
+	case proc(_: string) -> bool:
 		return "true" if v(text) else "false", true
 	case:
 		return "", false
@@ -207,6 +207,19 @@ list_info :: proc(a: any) -> (elem_info: ^runtime.Type_Info, count: int, data: r
 	}
 }
 
+// extract_list_element returns the n-th element of a list (described by
+// elem_info/data from list_info) as a ready-to-use any.
+//
+// Unwraps [dynamic]any element types so downstream lookup_in sees the inner
+// value's real type, not a double-wrapped any-of-any.
+extract_list_element :: proc(elem_info: ^runtime.Type_Info, data: rawptr, n: int) -> any {
+	elem_ptr := rawptr(uintptr(data) + uintptr(n) * uintptr(elem_info.size))
+	if _, is_any := elem_info.variant.(runtime.Type_Info_Any); is_any {
+		return (^any)(elem_ptr)^
+	}
+	return any{elem_ptr, elem_info.id}
+}
+
 // any_to_string converts a scalar value to a string using the temp allocator.
 any_to_string :: proc(a: any) -> string {
 	if a == nil {

mustache/mustache.odin

@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ Node :: struct {
 	kind:        Node_Kind,
 	text:        string,
 	key:         string,
+	filters:     [dynamic; MAX_PIPES]Pipe_Filter,
 	is_dynamic:  bool,
 	indent:      string,
 	first_child: int,
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ Block_Override :: struct {
 	count:     int,
 }
 
-template_free :: proc(tmpl: ^Template) {
+delete_template :: proc(tmpl: ^Template) {
 	if tmpl != nil && len(tmpl.nodes) > 0 {
 		delete(tmpl.nodes)
 	}
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ template_free :: proc(tmpl: ^Template) {
 
 delete_partials :: proc(partials: map[string]Template) {
 	for _, &p in partials {
-		template_free(&p)
+		delete_template(&p)
 	}
 	delete(partials)
 }
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ parse_tokens :: proc(
 ) {
 	nodes = make([dynamic]Node, 0, len(tokens), allocator)
 	pos := 0
-	err = parse_section(tokens, &pos, &nodes, "", source)
+	err = parse_section(tokens, &pos, &nodes, "", source, allocator)
 	return
 }
 
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ parse_section :: proc(
 	nodes: ^[dynamic]Node,
 	end_tag: string,
 	source: string,
+	allocator := context.allocator,
 ) -> Render_Error {
 	for pos^ < len(tokens) {
 		tok := tokens[pos^]
@@ -191,11 +193,19 @@ parse_section :: proc(
 			pos^ += 1
 			idx := len(nodes)
 			content_start := 0
-			if pos^ < len(tokens) { content_start = tokens[pos^].pos }
+			if pos^ < len(tokens) {content_start = tokens[pos^].pos}
-			append(nodes, Node{kind = .Section, key = tok.value, first_child = -1})
+			append(nodes, Node{kind = .Section, first_child = -1})
-			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, tok.value, source) or_return
+			pipe_key, perr := parse_pipeline(tok.value, &nodes[idx].filters)
+			if perr != nil {
+				return Syntax_Error {
+					msg = fmt.tprintf("pipe parse error in '{{#%s}}': %v", tok.value, perr),
+					pos = tok.pos,
+				}
+			}
+			nodes[idx].key = pipe_key
+			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, pipe_key, source, allocator) or_return
 			close_pos := 0
-			if pos^ - 1 >= 0 && pos^ - 1 < len(tokens) { close_pos = tokens[pos^ - 1].pos }
+			if pos^ - 1 >= 0 && pos^ - 1 < len(tokens) {close_pos = tokens[pos^ - 1].pos}
 			nodes[idx].first_child = idx + 1
 			nodes[idx].child_count = len(nodes) - idx - 1
 			nodes[idx].content = source[content_start:close_pos]
@@ -204,16 +214,33 @@ parse_section :: proc(
 			pos^ += 1
 			idx := len(nodes)
 			content_start := 0
-			if pos^ < len(tokens) { content_start = tokens[pos^].pos }
+			if pos^ < len(tokens) {content_start = tokens[pos^].pos}
-			append(nodes, Node{kind = .Inverted, key = tok.value, first_child = -1})
+			append(nodes, Node{kind = .Inverted, first_child = -1})
-			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, tok.value, source) or_return
+			pipe_key, perr := parse_pipeline(tok.value, &nodes[idx].filters)
+			if perr != nil {
+				return Syntax_Error {
+					msg = fmt.tprintf("pipe parse error in '{{^%s}}': %v", tok.value, perr),
+					pos = tok.pos,
+				}
+			}
+			nodes[idx].key = pipe_key
+			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, pipe_key, source, allocator) or_return
 			close_pos := 0
-			if pos^ - 1 >= 0 && pos^ - 1 < len(tokens) { close_pos = tokens[pos^ - 1].pos }
+			if pos^ - 1 >= 0 && pos^ - 1 < len(tokens) {close_pos = tokens[pos^ - 1].pos}
 			nodes[idx].first_child = idx + 1
 			nodes[idx].child_count = len(nodes) - idx - 1
 			nodes[idx].content = source[content_start:close_pos]
 
 		case .Section_Close:
+			if strings.contains(tok.value, "|") {
+				return Syntax_Error {
+					msg = fmt.tprintf(
+						"pipe expression not allowed in close tag '{{/%s}}' — use the bare key",
+						tok.value,
+					),
+					pos = tok.pos,
+				}
+			}
 			if end_tag != "" && tok.value == end_tag {
 				pos^ += 1
 				return nil
@@ -249,7 +276,7 @@ parse_section :: proc(
 				nodes,
 				Node{kind = .Parent, key = tok.value, indent = tok.indent, first_child = -1},
 			)
-			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, tok.value, source) or_return
+			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, tok.value, source, allocator) or_return
 			nodes[idx].first_child = idx + 1
 			nodes[idx].child_count = len(nodes) - idx - 1
 
@@ -260,7 +287,7 @@ parse_section :: proc(
 				nodes,
 				Node{kind = .Block, key = tok.value, indent = tok.indent, first_child = -1},
 			)
-			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, tok.value, source) or_return
+			parse_section(tokens, pos, nodes, tok.value, source, allocator) or_return
 			nodes[idx].first_child = idx + 1
 			nodes[idx].child_count = len(nodes) - idx - 1
 		}
@@ -465,7 +492,14 @@ render_nodes :: proc(
 				if perr == nil {
 					temp: strings.Builder
 					strings.builder_init(&temp, context.temp_allocator)
-					render_nodes(sub_tpl.nodes[:], sub_tpl.nodes[:], ctx, partials, &temp, blocks) or_return
+					render_nodes(
+						sub_tpl.nodes[:],
+						sub_tpl.nodes[:],
+						ctx,
+						partials,
+						&temp,
+						blocks,
+					) or_return
 					write_value(b, strings.to_string(temp), escape = true)
 				}
 			} else {
@@ -480,7 +514,14 @@ render_nodes :: proc(
 				if perr == nil {
 					temp: strings.Builder
 					strings.builder_init(&temp, context.temp_allocator)
-					render_nodes(sub_tpl.nodes[:], sub_tpl.nodes[:], ctx, partials, &temp, blocks) or_return
+					render_nodes(
+						sub_tpl.nodes[:],
+						sub_tpl.nodes[:],
+						ctx,
+						partials,
+						&temp,
+						blocks,
+					) or_return
 					write_value(b, strings.to_string(temp), escape = false)
 				}
 			} else {
@@ -490,18 +531,32 @@ render_nodes :: proc(
 
 		case .Section:
 			val := resolve_name(node.key, ctx[:])
+			if len(node.filters) > 0 {
+				transformed, perr := apply_pipeline(val, node.filters[:])
+				if perr != nil {
+					return perr
+				}
+				val = transformed
+			}
 			if result_str, ok := call_section_lambda(val, node.content); ok {
 				sub_tpl, perr := parse(result_str, context.temp_allocator, context.temp_allocator)
 				if perr == nil {
-					render_nodes(sub_tpl.nodes[:], sub_tpl.nodes[:], ctx, partials, b, blocks) or_return
+					render_nodes(
+						sub_tpl.nodes[:],
+						sub_tpl.nodes[:],
+						ctx,
+						partials,
+						b,
+						blocks,
+					) or_return
 				}
 			} else if is_truthy(val) {
 				children := all_nodes[node.first_child:node.first_child + node.child_count]
 				elem_info, count, data := list_info(val)
 				if elem_info != nil {
 					for j in 0 ..< count {
-						elem_ptr := rawptr(uintptr(data) + uintptr(j) * uintptr(elem_info.size))
+						elem := extract_list_element(elem_info, data, j)
-						append(ctx, any{elem_ptr, elem_info.id})
+						append(ctx, elem)
 						defer pop(ctx)
 						render_nodes(all_nodes, children, ctx, partials, b, blocks) or_return
 					}
@@ -515,6 +570,13 @@ render_nodes :: proc(
 
 		case .Inverted:
 			val := resolve_name(node.key, ctx[:])
+			if len(node.filters) > 0 {
+				transformed, perr := apply_pipeline(val, node.filters[:])
+				if perr != nil {
+					return perr
+				}
+				val = transformed
+			}
 			if !is_truthy(val) {
 				children := all_nodes[node.first_child:node.first_child + node.child_count]
 				render_nodes(all_nodes, children, ctx, partials, b, blocks) or_return

mustache/mustache_test.odin

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import "core:testing"
 leak_parse_free :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	tmpl, err := parse("Hello {{name}}!")
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 }
 
 @(test)
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ leak_parse_free_tokens :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 
 	tmpl, err := parse("Hello {{name}}!", context.allocator, mem.dynamic_arena_allocator(&arena))
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 }
 
 @(test)
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ leak_render :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	}
 	tmpl, err := parse("Hello {{name}}!")
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 
 	result, rerr := render(tmpl, Data{name = "World"})
 	testing.expect(t, rerr == nil)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ leak_render_partials :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	partials := make_map(map[string]Template)
 	defer {
 		for _, &p in partials {
-			template_free(&p)
+			delete_template(&p)
 		}
 		delete(partials)
 	}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ leak_render_partials :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 
 	tmpl, err := parse("Hello {{> name}}!")
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 
 	Data :: struct {
 		name: string,
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ leak_render_partials :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 leak_render_sections :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	tmpl, err := parse("{{#items}}{{.}}{{/items}}")
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 
 	Data :: struct {
 		items: [3]string,
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ leak_render_inheritance :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	tmpl_src := "{{<layout}}{{$title}}custom{{/title}}{{/layout}}"
 	tmpl, err := parse(tmpl_src)
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 
 	result, rerr := render(tmpl, {}, partials)
 	testing.expect(t, rerr == nil)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ leak_render_inheritance :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 leak_repeated_render :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
 	tmpl, err := parse("Hello {{name}}!")
 	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
-	defer template_free(&tmpl)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
 
 	Data :: struct {
 		name: string,

mustache/pipes.odin

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+package mustache
+
+import "core:fmt"
+import "core:strings"
+
+// MAX_PIPES was chosen arbitrarily. It holds no performance or logical
+// significance.
+MAX_PIPES :: 8
+
+// No filter accepts more than 2 args.
+MAX_PIPE_ARGS :: 2
+
+Pipe_Filter :: struct {
+	op:   string,
+	args: [dynamic; MAX_PIPE_ARGS]string,
+}
+
+Group :: struct {
+	key:   string,
+	items: [dynamic]any,
+}
+
+// Returned strings are slices into content — no cloning, lifetime bound to
+// the caller's source.
+parse_pipeline :: proc(
+	content: string,
+	filters_out: ^[dynamic; MAX_PIPES]Pipe_Filter,
+) -> (
+	key: string,
+	err: Render_Error,
+) {
+	if !strings.contains(content, "|") {
+		key = strings.trim_space(content)
+		return key, nil
+	}
+
+	segments := strings.split(content, "|", allocator = context.temp_allocator)
+
+	filter_count := len(segments) - 1
+	if filter_count > MAX_PIPES {
+		return "", Syntax_Error {
+			msg = fmt.tprintf("pipe expression has %d filters, max is %d", filter_count, MAX_PIPES),
+		}
+	}
+
+	key = strings.trim_space(segments[0])
+	if len(key) == 0 {
+		return "", Syntax_Error{msg = "pipe expression missing key"}
+	}
+
+	if filter_count == 0 {
+		return key, nil
+	}
+
+	for i in 0 ..< filter_count {
+		seg := strings.trim_space(segments[i + 1])
+		if len(seg) == 0 {
+			return "", Syntax_Error{msg = "empty filter"}
+		}
+
+		tokens := strings.fields(seg)
+		if len(tokens) == 0 {
+			return "", Syntax_Error{msg = "filter missing op name"}
+		}
+
+		arg_count := len(tokens) - 1
+		if arg_count > MAX_PIPE_ARGS {
+			return "", Syntax_Error {
+				msg = fmt.tprintf(
+					"filter '%s' has %d args, max is %d",
+					tokens[0],
+					arg_count,
+					MAX_PIPE_ARGS,
+				),
+			}
+		}
+
+		filter := Pipe_Filter {
+			op = tokens[0],
+		}
+		for j in 1 ..< len(tokens) {
+			append(&filter.args, tokens[j])
+		}
+		append(filters_out, filter)
+		delete(tokens)
+	}
+
+	return key, nil
+}
+
+apply_pipeline :: proc(value: any, filters: []Pipe_Filter) -> (any, Render_Error) {
+	current := value
+	for &filter in filters {
+		result, err := apply_filter(current, &filter)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		current = result
+	}
+	return current, nil
+}
+
+apply_filter :: proc(value: any, filter: ^Pipe_Filter) -> (any, Render_Error) {
+	switch filter.op {
+	case "group_by":
+		return apply_group_by(value, filter.args[:])
+	case:
+		return nil, Data_Error{msg = fmt.tprintf("unknown pipe op '%s'", filter.op)}
+	}
+}
+
+// Groups preserve first-appearance order from the input list.
+apply_group_by :: proc(value: any, args: []string) -> (result: any, err: Render_Error) {
+	if len(args) != 1 {
+		return nil, Data_Error{msg = fmt.tprintf("group_by expects 1 argument, got %d", len(args))}
+	}
+	field := args[0]
+
+	elem_info, count, data := list_info(value)
+	if elem_info == nil {
+		return nil, Data_Error{msg = "group_by expects a list"}
+	}
+
+	groups := make([dynamic]Group, 0, 8, context.temp_allocator)
+	key_to_idx := make(map[string]int, context.temp_allocator)
+	defer delete(key_to_idx)
+
+	for j in 0 ..< count {
+		elem_ptr := rawptr(uintptr(data) + uintptr(j) * uintptr(elem_info.size))
+		elem := any{elem_ptr, elem_info.id}
+
+		key_val, found := lookup_in(elem, field)
+		if !found {
+			return nil, Data_Error {
+				msg = fmt.tprintf("group_by: element missing field '%s'", field),
+			}
+		}
+		key_str := any_to_string(key_val)
+		if len(key_str) == 0 {
+			return nil, Data_Error{msg = fmt.tprintf("group_by: field '%s' is empty", field)}
+		}
+
+		idx, exists := key_to_idx[key_str]
+		if !exists {
+			idx = len(groups)
+			key_to_idx[key_str] = idx
+			append(
+				&groups,
+				Group{key = key_str, items = make([dynamic]any, 0, 4, context.temp_allocator)},
+			)
+		}
+		append(&groups[idx].items, elem)
+	}
+
+	return groups, nil
+}

mustache/pipes_test.odin

@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+#+test
+package mustache
+
+import "core:fmt"
+import "core:testing"
+
+Pipe_Post :: struct {
+	title: string,
+	year:  string,
+}
+
+Pipe_Data :: struct {
+	posts: []Pipe_Post,
+}
+
+make_data :: proc(posts: ..Pipe_Post) -> Pipe_Data {
+	d: Pipe_Data
+	d.posts = posts
+	return d
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_group_by_basic :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data(
+		{title = "A", year = "2024"},
+		{title = "B", year = "2024"},
+		{title = "C", year = "2023"},
+	)
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts | group_by year}}{{key}}:{{#items}}{{title}},{{/items}};{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "2024:A,B,;2023:C,;")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_group_by_doesnt_sort :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data(
+		{title = "old", year = "2020"},
+		{title = "new", year = "2024"},
+		{title = "mid", year = "2022"},
+	)
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts | group_by year}}{{key}} {{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "2020 2024 2022 ")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_group_by_empty_list_skips :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := Pipe_Data {
+		posts = nil,
+	}
+	tpl, _ := parse("[{{#posts | group_by year}}{{key}}{{/posts}}]")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "[]")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_group_by_missing_field_fails :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data({title = "A", year = "2024"})
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts | group_by missing}}x{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	_, err := render(tpl, data)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "missing field should error")
+
+	is_data_err := false
+	#partial switch e in err {
+	case Data_Error:
+		is_data_err = len(e.msg) > 0
+	}
+	testing.expect(t, is_data_err, "error should be Data_Error")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_group_by_requires_grouped_field :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data({title = "A", year = ""})
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts | group_by year}}x{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	_, err := render(tpl, data)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "empty field value should error")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_group_by_requires_arg :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data({title = "A", year = "2024"})
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts | group_by}}x{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	_, err := render(tpl, data)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "group_by with no args should error")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_group_by_non_list_returns_error :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	Scalar_Data :: struct {
+		name: string,
+	}
+	data := Scalar_Data {
+		name = "hello",
+	}
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#name | group_by x}}y{{/name}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	_, err := render(tpl, data)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "group_by on a scalar should error")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_accepts_8_filters :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	src := "{{#posts | group_by year | group_by year | group_by year | group_by year | group_by year | group_by year | group_by year | group_by year}}x{{/posts}}"
+	tpl, err := parse(src)
+	testing.expect(t, err == nil, "8 filters should parse OK")
+	if err == nil {
+		defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	} else {
+		fmt.printfln("parse error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_rejects_nine_filters :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	src := "{{#posts | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y | group_by y}}x{{/posts}}"
+	_, err := parse(src)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "9 filters should fail to parse")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_forbidden_in_close_tag :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	src := "{{#posts | group_by year}}x{{/posts | group_by year}}"
+	_, err := parse(src)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "pipe in close tag should fail to parse")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_empty_middle_filter_required :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	src := "{{#posts | | group_by year}}x{{/posts}}"
+	_, err := parse(src)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "empty pipe filter should fail to parse")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_filter_required :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	src := "{{#posts |}}x{{/posts}}"
+	_, err := parse(src)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "trailing pipe with no filter should fail")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_data_required :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	src := "{{#| group_by year}}x{{/}}"
+	_, err := parse(src)
+	testing.expect(t, err != nil, "missing key should fail to parse")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_extra_whitespace_allowed :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data({title = "A", year = "2024"}, {title = "B", year = "2023"})
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts|group_by   year}}{{key}};{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "2024;2023;")
+}
+
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_no_pipe_still_works :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data({title = "A", year = "2024"}, {title = "B", year = "2023"})
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts}}{{title}};{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "A;B;")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_inverted_section_empty :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := Pipe_Data {
+		posts = nil,
+	}
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{^posts | group_by year}}none{{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "none")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_pipe_single_group_works :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	data := make_data({title = "A", year = "2024"}, {title = "B", year = "2024"})
+	tpl, _ := parse("{{#posts | group_by year}}{{key}}({{#items}}{{title}}{{/items}}){{/posts}}")
+	defer delete_template(&tpl)
+	result, _ := render(tpl, data)
+	defer delete(result)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "2024(AB)")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_delete_template_doesnt_leak :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	tmpl, err := parse("{{#posts | group_by year}}x{{/posts}}")
+	testing.expect(t, err == nil)
+	defer delete_template(&tmpl)
+}
+

render.odin

@@ -16,11 +16,7 @@ Page_Context :: struct {
 	starred:      bool,
 	date_iso:     string,
 	date_display: string,
-}
-
-Year_Section :: struct {
 	year:         string,
-	posts: [dynamic]Page_Context,
 }
 
 Base_Data :: struct {
@@ -47,7 +43,7 @@ Home_Data :: struct {
 Section_Data :: struct {
 	using base: Base_Data,
 	page_title: string,
-	by_year:    [dynamic]Year_Section,
+	posts:      [dynamic]Page_Context,
 }
 
 build_page_context :: proc(page: Page) -> Page_Context {
@@ -57,6 +53,7 @@ build_page_context :: proc(page: Page) -> Page_Context {
 		starred = page.is_starred,
 		date_iso = page.date,
 		date_display = format_date(page.date),
+		year = get_year(page.date),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -334,19 +331,13 @@ render_section :: proc(
 	partials: map[string]mustache.Template,
 	base: Base_Data,
 ) -> string {
-	by_year := make([dynamic]Year_Section)
+	posts := make([dynamic]Page_Context)
-	defer delete(by_year)
+	defer delete(posts)
-	current_year := ""
 	for page in site.pages {
 		if page.section != section || page._is_index {
 			continue
 		}
-		year := get_year(page.date)
+		append(&posts, build_page_context(page))
-		if year != current_year {
-			append(&by_year, Year_Section{year = year})
-			current_year = year
-		}
-		append(&by_year[len(by_year) - 1].posts, build_page_context(page))
 	}
 
 	data := Section_Data {
@@ -362,7 +353,7 @@ render_section :: proc(
 		data.title = fmt.tprintf("%s | %s", capitalize(section), site.title)
 		data.og.title = capitalize(section)
 	}
-	data.by_year = by_year
+	data.posts = posts
 	data.og.url = fmt.tprintf("%s/%s/", site.base_url, section)
 	data.og.type = "website"
 	data.og.is_article = false