@sap/cds-dk 9.9.3 → 10.0.4

package/node_modules/@sap/cds-compiler/lib/base/csnRefs.js

@@ -0,0 +1,1420 @@
+// CSN functionality for resolving references
+
+// Resolving references in a CSN can be a bit tricky, because the semantics of
+// a reference is context-dependent, especially if queries are involved.  This
+// module provides the corresponding resolve/inspect functions.
+//
+// This module should work with both client-style CSN and Universal CSN.
+//
+// See below for preconditions / things to consider – the functions in this
+// module do not issue user-friendly messages for invalid references in a CSN,
+// such messages are (hopefully) issued by the compile() function.
+
+// The main export function `csnRefs` of this module is called with a CSN as
+// input and returns functions which analyse references in the provided CSN:
+//
+//     const { csnRefs } = require('../model/csnRefs');
+//     function myCsnAnalyser( csn ) {
+//       const { inspectRef } = csnRefs( csn );
+//         …
+//         const { links, art } = inspectRef( csnPath );
+//         // → art is the CSN node which is referred to by the reference
+//         // → links provides some info about each reference path step
+//         …
+//     }
+//
+// You can see the results of the CSN refs functions by using our client tool:
+//     cdsc --enrich-csn MyModel.cds
+// It is also used by our references tests, for details see ./enrichCsn.js.
+
+// Terminology used in this file:
+//
+// - ref (reference): a { ref: <path> } object (or sometimes also a string)
+//   referring an artifact or member (element, …)
+// - path: an array of strings or { id: … } objects for the dot-connected names
+//   used as reference
+// - csnPath: an array of strings and numbers (e.g. ['definitions', 'S.E',
+//   'query', 'SELECT', 'from', 'ref', 0, 'where', 2]); they are the property
+//   names and array indexes which navigate from the CSN root to the reference.
+
+// ## PRECONDITIONS / THINGS TO CONSIDER -------------------------------------
+
+// The functions in this module expect
+//
+// 1. a well-formed CSN with valid references;
+// 2. a compiled model, i.e. a CSN with all inferred information provided by
+//    the compile() function for the CSN flavors `client` or `universal`
+//    (including the (non-)enumerable `elements` property in `client` CSN);
+// 3. no (relevant) CSN changes between the calls of the same instance of
+//    inspectRef() - to enable caching.
+//
+// If any of these conditions are not given, our functions usually simply
+// throw an exception (which might even be a plain TypeError), but it might
+// also just return any value.  CSN processors can provide user-friendly error
+// messages by calling the Core Compiler in case of exceptions.  For details,
+// see internalDoc/CoreCompiler.md#use-of-the-core-compiler-for-csn-processors.
+
+// During a transformation, care must be taken to adhere to these conditions.
+// E.g. a structure flattening function cannot create an element `s_x` and
+// delete `s` and then still expect inspectRef() to be able to resolve a
+// reference `['s', 'x']`.
+
+// There are currently 3 (SQL) backend issues for which we provide a workaround:
+//
+// - function `resolvePath`: issue with argument `arg` being falsy
+// - function `artifactRef`: issue with non-string ref without definition
+// - function `initColumnElement`: issue with column which is neither `*` nor
+//   a `ref` with sibling `inline`, but still has no corresponding element
+
+// The functions in this module also use an internal cache, which can be dropped
+// for a single definition (main artifact) with function dropDefinitionCache().
+
+// When modifying the CSN, caches might need to be invalidated.  In the following
+// example, the second call of inspectRef() might lead to a wrong result or an
+// exception if the assignment to `inspectRef` is not uncommented:
+//
+//     let { inspectRef } = csnRefs( csn );
+//     const csnPath = ['definitions','P','projection','columns',0];
+//     const subElement = inspectRef( csnPath );  // type T is involved
+//     csn.definitions.T.type = 'some.other.type';
+//     // ({ inspectRef } = csnRefs( csn ));      // drop caches
+//     … = inspectRef( csnPath );  // type T - using the cached or the new?
+//
+// On request, we might add a functions for individual cache invalidations or
+// low-level versions of inspectRef() for performance.
+
+// ## NAME RESOLUTION OVERVIEW -----------------------------------------------
+
+// The most interesting part of a reference is always: where to search for the
+// name in its first path item?  The general search is always as follows, with
+// the exact behavior being dependent on the “reference context” (e.g. “reference
+// in a `on` condition of a `mixin` definition”):
+//
+// 1. We search in environments constructed by “defining” names “around” the
+//    lexical position of the reference.  In a CSN, these could be the
+//    (explicit and implicit) table alias names and `mixin` definitions of the
+//    current query and its parent queries (according to the query hierarchy).
+// 2. If the search according to (1) was not successful and the name starts
+//    with a `$`, we could consider the name to be a “magic” variable with
+//    `$self` (and `$projection`) being a special magic variable.
+// 3. Otherwise, we would search in a “dynamic” environment, which could be
+//    `‹csn›.definitions` for global references like `type`, the elements of
+//    the current element's parent, the combined elements of the query source
+//    entities, the resulting elements of the current query, or something
+//    special (elements of the association's target, …).
+//
+// The names in further path items are searched in the “navigation” environment
+// of the path so far - it does not need to depend on the reference context (as
+// we do not check the validity here):
+//
+// 1. We search in the elements of the target entity for associations and
+//    compositions, and in the elements of the current object otherwise.
+// 2. If there is an `items`, we check for `elements`/`target` inside `items`.
+// 3. `elements`/`target`/`items` inherited from the “effective type” are also
+//    considered.
+
+// For details about the name resolution in CSN, see
+// internalDoc/CsnSyntax.md#helper-property-for-simplified-name-resolution
+// and doc/NameResolution.md.  Here comes a summary.
+
+// ## IMPLEMENTATION OVERVIEW ------------------------------------------------
+
+// The main function `inspectRef` works as follows:
+//
+// 1. For ease of use, the input is the “CSN path” as explained above, e.g.
+//    ['definitions', 'P', 'query', 'SELECT', 'from', 'ref', 0, 'where', 2]
+// 2. This is condensed into a “reference context” string, e.g. `ref_where`;
+//    that might also depend on sibling properties along the way, e.g.
+//    ['definitions', 'P', 'query', 'SELECT', 'columns', 0, 'expand', 0] leads
+//    to `expand` if there is a `‹csn›.definitions.P.query.SELECT.columns[0].ref`
+//    and to `columns` otherwise.
+// 3. Additionally, other useful CSN nodes are collected like the current query;
+//    the queries of a definition are also prepared for further inspection.
+// 4. If applicable, a “base environment” is calculated; e.g. references in
+//    `ref_where` are resolved against the elements of the entity referred to
+//    by the outer `ref`.
+// 5. We look up the “reference semantics” in constant `referenceSemantics`
+//    using the “reference context” string as key.
+// 6. The property `lexical` determines whether to search in “lexical
+//    environments” (table aliases and `mixin`s) starting from which query, and
+//    whether to do something special for names starting with `$`.
+// 7. The property `dynamic` determines where to search if the lexical search
+//    was not successful.
+// 8. The remaining reference path is resolved as well - the final referred CSN
+//    node is returned as well as information about each path step.
+
+// We usually cache calculated data.  For the following reasons, we now use a
+// WeakMap as cache instead of adding non-enumerable properties to the CSN:
+//
+// - CSN consumers should not have access to the cached data, as we might
+//   change the way how we calculate things.
+// - Avoid memory leaks.
+// - Natural cache invalidation if there is no handle anymore to the functions
+//   returned by `csnRefs`.
+
+// Our cache looks like follows:
+
+// - Each object in the CSN could have an cache entry which itself is an object
+//   which contains cached data.  Such data can be a link to a CSN node (like
+//   `_effectiveType`/`elements`), scalar (like `$queryNumber`) or link to
+//   another cache object (like `$next`).
+// - A cache entry must not link to a cache object of another main definition;
+//   otherwise, individual cache invalidation does not work.
+// - Usually, each CSN object has an individual cache object.
+// - For CSN queries nodes, cache objects are _shared_: both the CSN nodes
+//   `‹query› = { SELECT: ‹select›, … }` and `‹select›` share the same cache
+//   object; a UNION `‹set_query› = { SET: args: [‹query1›, …] }` and ‹query1›
+//   (which can itself be a `SELECT` or `SET`) share also the same cache
+//   object; this way, the relevant query elements are directly available.
+// - The cache objects for all queries of an entity are initialized as soon as
+//   any reference in the entity is inspected: with data for the query
+//   hierarchy, query number, table aliases and links from a column to its
+//   respective inferred element.
+
+// Property name convention in cache:
+//
+// - $PropName: to other cache object (with proto), dictionary (w/o proto), or scalar
+// - _PropName, PropName: to CSN object value or dictionary of CSN node (_PropName),
+//    or CSN dictionary (PropName)
+
+// Property `_parent` in cache set with initDefinition() is set for members:
+//
+// - for an action, param or element: the node containing the dictionary of …,
+//   → elements of the leading/other query have main/query as _parent
+// - for a `returns`/`items` or anonymous `target`/`targetAspect`: the node containing
+//   the object (remark: in XSN, the _parent link of elements/items in items differs)
+// - for any query: use main as _parent
+// - for a mixin or table alias: use query select as _parent
+// - for a column: TODO
+
+// Additional properties in cache set with initDefinition():
+//
+// - $name: name for a main artifact (in `definitions`) or a column
+// - _keys: the foreign keys as dictionary
+// - $origin$step: for Univeral CSN (TODO: describe further)
+// - $queries on def: array of caches for all queryies, null in anonymous aspects
+// - $queryNumber: the index position +1 of a query inside the $queries array
+// - _select: value of the `SELECT` or `projection` property of a query
+// - elements: the elements of the query (original CSN elements from query or main)
+// - $next: the “upper” query cache, used when searching for a table alias
+// - $aliases: dictionary of caches for table aliases
+//   (currently not stored as cache of table alias, has _ref/_select and elements)
+// - _element on query column: the corresponding element
+// - _column on element of a query entity: the column “creating” it
+
+// Other properties set on-demand:
+//
+// - _ref on object with a `ref` property: cached return value of artifactRef{,.from}
+// - _env on non-string path item: environment provided by the ref so far,
+//    next path item is element in it
+// - _effectiveType on def/member/items: cached result of effectiveType()
+// - _origin on def/member/items: the "prototype" (via type or relevant ref)
+
+
+'use strict';
+
+
+const BUILTIN_TYPE = {};
+const { SemanticLocation, locationString } = require('../base/location');
+const { ModelError, CompilerAssertion } = require('../base/error');
+const { isAnnotationExpression } = require('../base/builtins');
+
+// Properties in which artifact or members are defined - next property in the
+// "csnPath" is the name or index of that property; 'args' (its value can be a
+// dictionary) is handled extra here, also 'expand' and 'inline'
+const artifactProperties = [ 'elements', 'columns', 'keys', 'mixin', 'enum',
+  'params', 'actions', 'definitions', 'extensions' ]; // + 'args', see above
+
+// Mapping the “reference context string” to the reference semantics
+// - lexical: false | Function - determines where to look first for “lexical names”
+// - dynamic: String - describes the dynamic environment (if in query)
+// - assoc: String, with dynamic: 'global' - what to do with assoc steps
+//   * 'target': always follow target, including last ref item
+//   * other (& not provided) = follow target (targetAspect if no target) if not last ref item
+const referenceSemantics = {
+  $init: { $initOnly: true },
+  type: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'global' },
+  includes: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'global' },
+  target: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'global' },
+  targetAspect: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'global' },
+  from: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'global', assoc: 'target' },
+  keys: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'target' },
+  keys_origin: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'target' },
+  excluding: { lexical: false, dynamic: 'source' },
+  expand: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'expand' },   // ...using baseEnv
+  inline: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'inline' },   // ...using baseEnv
+  ref_where: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'ref-target' }, // ...using baseEnv
+  on: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'query' }, // assoc defs, redirected to
+  // there are also 'on_join' and 'on_mixin' with default semantics
+  $calc: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'query' }, // calculation for draft
+  annotation: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'query' }, // anno top-level `ref`
+  annotationExpr: { lexical: justDollar, dynamic: 'query' }, // annotation assignment
+  orderBy_ref: { lexical: query => query, dynamic: 'query' },
+  orderBy_expr: { lexical: query => query, dynamic: 'source' }, // ref in ORDER BY expression
+  orderBy_set_ref: { lexical: query => query.$next, dynamic: 'query' }, // to outer SELECT (from UNION)
+  // refs in ORDER BY expr in UNION not really allowed
+  // only with table alias (of outer queries) or $self
+  orderBy_set_expr: { lexical: query => query.$next, dynamic: false },
+  // default: { lexical: query => query, dynamic: 'source' }
+};
+
+function justDollar() {
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {CSN.Model} csn
+ * @param {boolean|string} [universalReady]
+ */
+function csnRefs( csn, universalReady ) {
+  // some users exchange the dict while using csn-refs !?! see test/testDraft.js
+  // const { definitions } = csn;
+  const cache = new WeakMap();
+  setCache( BUILTIN_TYPE, '_origin', null );
+  if (universalReady === 'init-all') // TODO: remove
+    initAllDefinitions();
+
+  // Functions which set the new `baseEnv`:
+  resolveRef.expandInline = function resolveExpandInline( ref, ...args ) {
+    return cached( ref, '_env', () => navigationEnv( resolveRef( ref, ...args ).art ) );
+  };
+  resolveRef.ref_where = function resolveRefWhere( pathItem, baseRef, ...args ) {
+    return cached( pathItem, '_env', () => {
+      resolveRef( baseRef, ...args ); // sets _env cache for non-string ref items
+      return getCache( pathItem, '_env' );
+    } );
+  };
+  artifactRef.from = artifactRefFrom;
+  return {
+    // init and drop caches: ----------------------------------------------------
+    initAllDefinitions,         // TODO: delete
+    initDefinition,
+    dropDefinitionCache,
+    // artifact references, effective type, and origin: -------------------------
+    artifactRef,                // with prop `from`, see above
+    effectiveType,
+    getOrigin: art => cached( art, '_origin', getOriginRaw ),
+    // the main API function: ---------------------------------------------------
+    inspectRef,
+    // file and semantic location for CSN path: ---------------------------------
+    msgLocations,
+    // small cache functions ----------------------------------------------------
+    getColumn: elem => getCache( elem, '_column' ),
+    getElement: col => getCache( col, '_element' ),
+    /** Returns the column's name; either explicit, implicit or internal one. */
+    getColumnName: col => getCache( col, '$name' ),
+    /** Return the query cache (with `elements`) for the query. */
+    queryForElements: query => query && cache.get( query.projection || query ),
+    $getQueries: def => getCache( def, '$queries' ), // unstable API
+    __getCache_forEnrichCsnDebugging: obj => cache.get( obj ),
+    // functions which we could return top-level: -------------------------------
+    targetAspect,
+    queryOrMain,
+  };
+
+  // Init and drop caches: ------------------------------------------------------
+
+  function initAllDefinitions() { // TODO: delete
+    for (const name of Object.keys( csn.definitions || {}))
+      initDefinition( name );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Initialize the cache for the definition named `main` and all its members,
+   * including queries and embedded anonymous aspects.
+   *
+   * Return the initialized artifact.
+   */
+  function initDefinition( main ) {
+    const name = typeof main === 'string' && main;
+    if (name) {
+      main = csn.definitions[name];
+      setCache( main, '$name', name );
+    }
+    // TODO: some --test-mode check that the argument is in ‹csn›.definitions ?
+    if (!main || getCache( main, '$queries' ) !== undefined) // already computed
+      return main;
+
+    traverseDef( main, null, null, null, initNode );
+    const queries = cached( main, '$queries', allQueries );
+    for (const qcache of queries || []) {
+      const { _select } = qcache;
+      const { elements } = _select;
+      if (elements) {
+        for (const n of Object.keys( elements ))
+          traverseDef( elements[n], _select, n, 'element', initNode );
+      }
+      if (_select.mixin) {
+        for (const n of Object.keys( _select.mixin ))
+          setCache( _select.mixin[n], '_parent', _select ); // relevant initNode() part
+      }
+    }
+    return main;
+  }
+
+  function initNode( art, parent, name, kind ) {
+    setCache( art, '_parent', parent );
+    if (art.keys)            // TODO: what about managed w/o keys in Univeral CSN?
+      setCache( art, '_keys', getKeysDict( art ) );
+    if (kind === 'target') {
+      // Prevent re-initialization of anonymous aspect with initDefinition():
+      // (that would be with parent: null which would be wrong)
+      setCache( art, '$queries', null );
+      return;
+    }
+    if (art.type || !kind)      // with type, top-level, query or mixin
+      return;
+    const { $origin } = art;
+    if (typeof $origin === 'object') // null, […], {…}
+      return;
+    const step = $origin || name;
+    if (parent.$origin ||
+        parent.type && kind !== 'enum' && parent.$origin !== null ||
+        getCache( parent, '$origin$step' ))
+      setCache( art, '$origin$step', (kind === 'element' ? step : { [kind]: step }) );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the array of all (sub-)queries (value of the `SELECT`/`projection`
+   * property) inside the given `main` artifact (of `main.query`).
+   *
+   * @param {CSN.Definition} main
+   * @returns {CSN.Query[]}
+   */
+  function allQueries( main ) {
+    const all = [];
+    const projection = main.query || main.projection && main;
+    if (!projection)
+      return null;
+    traverseQuery( projection, null, null, function memorize( query, fromSelect, parentQuery ) {
+      if (query.ref) {          // ref in from
+        // console.log('SQ:',query,cache.get(query))
+        const as = query.as || implicitAs( query.ref );
+        const _ref = artifactRefFrom( query );
+        // TODO: really eval from refs here and not on-demand?
+        // if not, just have this (w/o elements) as cache elem on the CSN node
+        getCache( fromSelect, '$aliases' )[as] = { _ref, elements: _ref.elements, _parent: query };
+      }
+      else {
+        const qcache = getQueryCache( parentQuery );
+        if (query !== main)
+          cache.set( query, qcache );
+
+        if (fromSelect) {
+          const $queryNumber = all.length + 1;
+          const alias = query.as || `$_select_${ $queryNumber }__`;
+          getCache( fromSelect, '$aliases' )[alias] = qcache;
+        }
+
+        const select = query.SELECT || query.projection;
+        if (select) {
+          cache.set( select, qcache ); // query and query.SELECT have the same cache qcache
+          qcache._select = select;
+          qcache._parent = main;
+          all.push( qcache );
+        }
+      }
+    } );
+    all.forEach( function initElements( qcache, index ) {
+      qcache._parent = main;
+      qcache.$queryNumber = index + 1;
+      const { elements } = (index ? qcache._select : main);
+      qcache.elements = elements;
+      const { columns } = qcache._select;
+      if (elements && columns)
+        columns.map( (col, colIndex) => initColumnElement( col, colIndex, qcache ) );
+      else if (columns && !elements)
+        throw new ModelError( `Query elements not available: ${ Object.keys( (index ? qcache._select : main) ).join('+') }`);
+    } );
+    return all;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return the cache object for a new query.
+   * Might re-use cache object with the `parentQuery`, or use `parentQuery`
+   * for link to next lexical environment.
+   */
+
+  function getQueryCache( parentQuery ) {
+    if (!parentQuery)
+      return { $aliases: Object.create(null) };
+    const pcache = cache.get( parentQuery.projection || parentQuery );
+    if (!parentQuery.SET)       // SELECT / projection: real sub query
+      return { $aliases: Object.create(null), $next: pcache };
+    // the parent query is a SET: that is not a sub query
+    // (works, as no sub queries are allowed in ORDER BY)
+    return (!pcache._select)    // no leading query yet
+      ? pcache                  // share cache with parent query
+      : { $aliases: Object.create(null), $next: pcache.$next };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * TODO: comment
+   *
+   * In the OData backend, the sub elements from a column with expand might
+   * have been “externalized” into a named type. No backward `_column` link
+   * from the (now the type) element is possible this way, of course...
+   */
+  function initColumnElement( col, colIndex, parentElementOrQueryCache, externalElements ) {
+    if (col === '*')
+      return;
+    if (col.inline) {
+      col.inline.map( c => initColumnElement( c, null, parentElementOrQueryCache, externalElements ) );
+      return;
+    }
+    setCache( col, '_parent',   // not set for query (has property _select)
+              !parentElementOrQueryCache._select && parentElementOrQueryCache );
+    // TODO: why set _parent suddently to a cache and not the SELECT?
+    let as = columnAlias( col );
+    if (!as && colIndex !== null)
+      as = `$_column_${ colIndex + 1 }`;
+    setCache( col, '$name', as );
+    let type = parentElementOrQueryCache;
+    if (col.cast)
+      traverseType( col.cast, col, colIndex, 'column', initNode );
+
+    while (type.items)
+      type = type.items;
+    if (!type.elements) {
+      // in OData backend, the sub elements from a column with expand might have
+      // been “externalized” into a named type.  No backward _column link is
+      // possible this way, of course...
+      type = artifactRef( type.type );
+      externalElements = true;
+    }
+    const elem = setCache( col, '_element', type.elements[as] );
+    if (elem && !externalElements) // TODO to.sql: something is strange if `elem` is not set
+      setCache( elem, '_column', col );
+    if (col.expand)
+      col.expand.map( c => initColumnElement( c, null, elem, externalElements ) );
+  }
+
+  function dropDefinitionCache( main ) {
+    const queries = getCache( main, '$queries' );
+    if (!queries)               // not yet initialized
+      return;
+    if (!cache.delete( main ))  // not yet initialized
+      return;
+    for (const qcache of queries || []) {
+      const { _select } = qcache;
+      for (const n of Object.keys( _select.mixin || {} ))
+        cache.delete( _select.mixin[n] );
+      dropColumnsCache( _select.columns );
+      traverseDef( _select, null, null, null, a => cache.delete( a ) ); // elements
+    }
+    traverseDef( main, null, null, null, a => cache.delete( a ) );
+  }
+
+  function dropColumnsCache( select ) {
+    if (!select)
+      return;
+    for (const col of select.columns || select.expand || select.inline || []) {
+      dropColumnsCache( col );
+      cache.delete( select );
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Artifact references, effective type, and origin: ---------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Return the object pointing to by the artifact reference (in 'type',
+   * 'includes', 'target').  For `from`, use artifactRefFrom()!
+   *
+   * Warning: do not use it for the binding parameter if the ref is `$self`.
+   *
+   * @param {CSN.ArtifactReferencePath|string} ref
+   * @param {any} [notFound] Value that is returned in case the artifact reference
+   *                         could not be found.
+   */
+  function artifactRef( ref, notFound ) {
+    // TODO: what about type ref?
+    if (typeof ref === 'string') {
+      const main = csn.definitions[ref];
+      if (main)
+        return initDefinition( ref );
+      // notFound only meant for builtins and $self
+      if (notFound !== undefined)
+        return notFound;
+    }
+    else {
+      const art = cached( ref, '_ref', artifactPathRef );
+      if (art)
+        return art;
+      // Backend bug workaround, TODO: delete next 2 lines
+      if (notFound !== undefined)
+        return notFound;
+    }
+    throw new ModelError( `Unknown artifact reference: ${ typeof ref !== 'string' ? JSON.stringify(ref.ref) : ref }` );
+  }
+
+  function artifactRefFrom( ref ) {
+    const art = cached( ref, '_ref', r => navigationEnv( artifactPathRef( r ) ) );
+    if (art)
+      return art;
+    throw new ModelError( `Unknown artifact reference: ${ JSON.stringify(ref.ref) }` );
+  }
+
+  function artifactPathRef( ref ) {
+    const [ head, ...tail ] = ref.ref;
+    let art = initDefinition( pathId( head ) );
+    for (const elem of tail) {
+      const env = navigationEnv( art );
+      art = env.elements[pathId( elem )];
+    }
+    return art;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @param {CSN.Artifact} art
+   */
+  function navigationEnv( art, staticAssoc ) {
+    let env = effectiveType( art );
+    // here, we do not care whether it is semantically ok to navigate into sub
+    // elements of array items (that is the task of the core compiler /
+    // semantic check)
+    while (env.items)
+      env = effectiveType( env.items );
+    if (env.elements)           // shortcut
+      return env;
+    const target = (staticAssoc ? targetAspect( env ) : env.target || env.targetAspect);
+    if (typeof target !== 'string')
+      return target || env;
+    return initDefinition( target );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Return the type relevant for name resolution, i.e. the object which has a
+   * `target`, `elements`, `enum` property, or no `type` property.
+   * (This function could be simplified if we would use JS prototypes for type refs.)
+   *
+   * @param {CSN.ArtifactWithRefs} art
+   */
+  function effectiveType( art ) {
+    const cachedType = getCache( art, '_effectiveType' );
+    if (cachedType !== undefined)
+      return cachedType;
+
+    const chain = [];
+    let origin;
+    while (getCache( art, '_effectiveType' ) === undefined &&
+           (origin = cached( art, '_origin', getOriginRaw )) &&
+           !art.elements && !art.target && !art.targetAspect && !art.enum && !art.items) {
+      chain.push( art );
+      setCache( art, '_effectiveType', 0 ); // initial setting in case of cycles
+      art = origin;
+    }
+    if (!chain.length)
+      return setCache( art, '_effectiveType', art );
+
+    if (getCache( art, '_effectiveType' ) === 0)
+      throw new ModelError( 'Circular type reference');
+    const type = getCache( art, '_effectiveType' ) || art;
+    chain.forEach( a => setCache( a, '_effectiveType', type ) );
+    return type;
+  }
+
+  function getOriginRaw( art ) {
+    if (art.type) {               // TODO: make robust against "linked" = only direct
+      if (art.type !== '$self')
+        return artifactRef( art.type, BUILTIN_TYPE );
+      // binding parameter is typed with `$self` or `many $self`:
+      const action = boundActionOrMain( art );
+      const entity = action?.params && getCache( action, '_parent' );
+      return entity || artifactRef( art.type, BUILTIN_TYPE );
+    }
+    if (typeof art.$origin === 'object') // null, […], {…}
+      return getOriginExplicit( art.$origin );
+
+    const parent = getCache( art, '_parent' );
+    if (parent === undefined && universalReady) {
+      const { $location } = art;
+      const location = $location &&
+            (typeof $location === 'string' ? $location : locationString( $location ));
+      const def = Object.keys( art ).join('+') + (location ? `:${ location }` : '');
+      throw new CompilerAssertion( `Inspecting non-initialized CSN node {${ def }}` );
+    }
+    const step = getCache( art, '$origin$step' );
+    if (!step)
+      return null;
+    const origin = cached( parent, '_origin', getOriginRaw );
+    return originNavigation( origin, step );
+  }
+
+  function boundActionOrMain( art ) {
+    while (art.kind !== 'action' && art.kind !== 'function') {
+      const p = getCache( art, '_parent' );
+      if (!p)
+        return art;
+      art = p;
+    }
+    return art;
+  }
+
+  function getOriginExplicit( $origin ) { // null, […], {…}
+    if (!$origin)
+      return null;
+    if (!Array.isArray( $origin )) // anonymous prototype in $origin
+      return getOriginExplicit( $origin.$origin );
+    const [ head, ...tail ] = $origin;
+    // if (!main) throw Error(JSON.stringify({$origin,csn}))
+    const main = initDefinition( head );
+    return tail.reduce( originNavigation, main );
+  }
+
+  function originNavigation( art, step ) {
+    if (!step)
+      return null;
+    if (!effectiveType( art ))
+      throw new ModelError( 'Cyclic type definition' );
+    if (typeof step === 'string')
+      return navigationEnv( art, true ).elements[step];
+
+    if (step.action)
+      return effectiveArtifactFor( art, 'actions' )[step.action];
+    if (step.param)
+      return effectiveArtifactFor( art, 'params' )[step.param];
+    if (step.returns)
+      return effectiveArtifactFor( art, 'returns' );
+    if (step.enum)
+      return navigationEnv( art, true ).enum[step.enum];
+    if (step.items)
+      return effectiveType( art ).items;
+    if (step.target)
+      return targetAspect( effectiveType( art ) );
+    const [ prop, val ] = Object.entries( step )[0];
+    throw new CompilerAssertion( `Illegal navigation step {${ prop }: "${ val }"}` );
+  }
+
+  function effectiveArtifactFor( art, property ) {
+    while (!art[property])
+      art = cached( art, '_origin', getOriginRaw );
+    return art[property];
+  }
+
+  // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * @param {CSN.Path} csnPath
+   *
+   * - return value `art`: the “resulting” CSN node of the reference
+   *
+   * - return value `links`: array of { art, env } in length of ref.path where
+   *   art = the definition or element reached by the ref path so far
+   *   env = the “navigation environment” provided by `art`
+   *         (not set for last item, except for `from` reference or with filter)
+   *
+   * - return value `scope`
+   *   global: first item is name of definition
+   *   param:  first item is parameter of definition (with param: true)
+   *   parent: first item is elem of parent (definition or outer elem)
+   *   target: first item is elem in target (for keys of assocs)
+   *   $magic: magic variable (path starts with $magic, see also $self)
+   *   $self:  first item is $self or $projection
+   *   // now values only in queries:
+   *   mixin:  first item is mixin
+   *   alias:  first item is table alias
+   *   source: first item is element in a source of the current query
+   *   query:  first item is element of current query
+   *   ref-target: first item is element of target of outer ref item
+   *           (used for filter condition)
+   *   expand: ref is "path continuation" of a ref with EXPAND
+   *   inline: ref is "path continuation" of a ref with INLINE
+   *
+   * - return value `$env` is set with certain values of `scope`:
+   *   with 'alias': the query number _n_ (the _n_th SELECT)
+   *   with 'source': the table alias name for the source entity
+   */
+  function inspectRef( csnPath ) {
+    return analyseCsnPath( csnPath, csn, resolveRef );
+  }
+
+  function resolveRef( ref, refCtx, main, query, parent, baseEnv ) {
+    const path = (typeof ref === 'string') ? [ ref ] : ref.ref;
+    if (!Array.isArray( path ))
+      throw new ModelError( 'References must look like {ref:[...]}' );
+    if (main)                   // TODO: improve, for csnpath starting with art
+      initDefinition( main );
+
+    const head = pathId( path[0] );
+    if (ref.param) {
+      const boundOrMain = (query || !main.actions || parent === main)
+        ? main               // shortcut (would also have been return by function)
+        : boundActionOrMain( parent );
+      return resolvePath( path, boundOrMain.params[head], boundOrMain, 'param' );
+    }
+    const semantics = referenceSemantics[refCtx] || {};
+    if (semantics.$initOnly)
+      return undefined;
+    if (semantics.dynamic === 'global' || ref.global)
+      return resolvePath( path, csn.definitions[head], null, 'global', semantics.assoc );
+
+
+    const qcache = query && cache.get( query.projection || query );
+    // first the lexical scopes (due to query hierarchy) and $magic: ---------
+    if (semantics.lexical !== false) {
+      const tryAlias = path.length > 1 || ref.expand || ref.inline;
+      let ncache = qcache && (semantics.lexical ? semantics.lexical( qcache ) : qcache);
+      while (ncache) {
+        const alias = tryAlias && ncache.$aliases[head];
+        if (alias) {
+          return resolvePath( path, alias._select || alias._ref, null,
+                              'alias', ncache.$queryNumber );
+        }
+        const mixin = ncache._select.mixin?.[head];
+        if (mixin && {}.hasOwnProperty.call( ncache._select.mixin, head )) {
+          setCache( mixin, '_parent', qcache._select );
+          return resolvePath( path, mixin, null, 'mixin', ncache.$queryNumber );
+        }
+        ncache = ncache.$next;
+      }
+      if (head.charAt(0) === '$') {
+        if (head !== '$self' && head !== '$projection')
+          return { scope: '$magic' };
+        const self = qcache && qcache.$queryNumber > 1 ? qcache._select : main;
+        return resolvePath( path, self, null, '$self' );
+      }
+    }
+    // now the dynamic environment: ------------------------------------------
+    if (semantics.dynamic !== false) {
+      if (semantics.dynamic === 'target') { // ref in keys
+        const target = assocTarget( parent, refCtx );
+        return resolvePath( path, target.elements[head], target, 'target' );
+      }
+      if (semantics.dynamic === 'query') {
+        // in an anno, or an ON condition of an association inside inner expand/inline:
+        const elemParent = getCache( parent, '_element' );
+        if (elemParent?.elements) // expand in expand
+          return resolvePath( path, elemParent.elements[head], null, 'query' );
+      }
+      else if (baseEnv) {       // ref-target (filter condition), expand, inline
+        return resolvePath( path, baseEnv.elements[head], baseEnv, semantics.dynamic );
+      }
+      if (!query) {                // outside queries - TODO: items?
+        // refs in annos on foreign keys use fk name, not fk ref name:
+        const dict = parent.elements ?? getCache( parent, '_keys' );
+        let art = dict?.[head];
+        if (!art && head === 'up_') { // ref to up_ in anonymous aspect
+          const up = getCache( parent, '_parent' );
+          const target = up && typeof up.target === 'string' && csn.definitions[up.target];
+          if (target && target.elements) {
+            initDefinition( up.target );
+            art = target.elements.up_;
+          }
+        }
+        return resolvePath( path, art, parent, 'parent' );
+      }
+
+      if (!qcache)
+        throw new CompilerAssertion( `For semantics '${ refCtx }', query not in cache at: ${ locationString(query.$location) }` );
+
+      if (semantics.dynamic === 'query')
+        return resolvePath( path, qcache.elements[head], null, 'query' );
+
+      for (const name in qcache.$aliases) {
+        const alias = qcache.$aliases[name];
+        const found = alias.elements[head];
+        if (found)
+          return resolvePath( path, found, alias._ref, 'source', name );
+      }
+    }
+    // console.log(query.SELECT,qcache,qcache.$next,main)
+    throw new ModelError( `Path item 0=${ head } refers to nothing, refCtx: ${ refCtx }` );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @param {CSN.Path} path
+   * @param {CSN.Artifact} art
+   * @param {CSN.Artifact} parent
+   * @param {string} [scope]
+   * @param [extraInfo]
+   */
+  function resolvePath( path, art, parent, scope, extraInfo ) {
+    if (!art && path.length > 1) {
+      // TODO: For path.length===1, it may be that `art` is undefined, e.g. for CSN paths such
+      //       as `[…, 'on', 1]` where the path segment refers to `=`.
+      // TODO: Check the call-side.
+      const loc = locationString(parent?.$location);
+      throw new ModelError(`Path item 0='${ pathId(path[0]) }' refers to nothing; in ${ loc }; path=${ JSON.stringify(path) }`);
+    }
+    const staticAssoc = extraInfo === 'static' && scope === 'global';
+    /** @type {{idx, art?, env?}[]} */
+    const links = path.map( (_v, idx) => ({ idx }) );
+    // TODO: backends should be changed to enable uncommenting:
+    // if (!art)    // does not work with test3/Associations/KeylessManagedAssociation/
+    //   throw new ModelError( `Path item 0=${ pathId( path[0] )
+    //       } refers to nothing, scope: ${ scope }`);
+    links[0].art = art;
+    for (let i = 1; i < links.length; ++i) { // yes, starting at 1, links[0] is set above
+      parent = navigationEnv( art, staticAssoc );
+      links[i - 1].env = parent;
+      if (typeof path[i - 1] !== 'string')
+        setCache( path[i - 1], '_env', parent );
+      if (!parent.elements)
+        throw new ModelError( `${ parent.from ? 'Query ' : '' }elements not available: ${ Object.keys( parent ).join('+') }`);
+      art = parent.elements[pathId( path[i] )];
+      if (!art) {
+        const { env } = links[i - 1];
+        const loc = env.name && env.name.$location || env.$location;
+        throw new ModelError( `Path item ${ i }=${ pathId( path[i] ) } refers to nothing; in ${ locationString( loc ) }; path=${ JSON.stringify(path) }` );
+      }
+      links[i].art = art;
+    }
+    const last = path[path.length - 1];
+    const fromRef = scope === 'global' && extraInfo === 'target';
+    if (fromRef || typeof last !== 'string') {
+      const env = navigationEnv( art );
+      links[links.length - 1].env = env;
+      if (fromRef) {
+        art = env;
+        parent = null;
+      }
+      if (typeof last !== 'string')
+        setCache( last, '_env', env );
+    }
+    return (extraInfo && scope !== 'global')
+      ? {
+        links, art, parent, scope, $env: extraInfo,
+      }
+      : {
+        links, art, parent, scope,
+      };
+  }
+
+  // Return target when resolving references in 'keys'
+  function assocTarget( art, refCtx ) {
+    // Call contexts:
+    // 1. normal definition of association with explicit foreign keys
+    // 2. auto-redirected association with renaming of foreign keys
+    //    (currently: `keys` always available on inherited associations)
+    // 3. user-induced redirection (in 'cast') with explicit foreign keys
+    // 4. original provided association def inside $origin with explicit foreign keys
+    //    (outside $origin like 2)
+    const targetName = refCtx !== 'keys_origin' && art.target ||
+                    art.$origin && art.$origin.target ||
+                    art.cast.target;
+    return initDefinition( targetName );
+  }
+
+  // File and semantic location for CSN path: -----------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * Return [ Location, SemanticLocation ] from `csnPath`.
+   */
+  function msgLocations( csnPath ) {
+    let location = csn?.$location;
+    const artifact = new SemanticLocation();
+    /** @type object */
+    let obj = csn;
+    let index = 0;
+    let inlinePathIndex = null;
+    if (typeof csnPath[0] === 'object')
+      startPath( csnPath[0] );
+
+    /* eslint-disable no-return-assign */
+    const pathFunctions = {
+      definitions: name => absolute( name, 'type' ),
+      vocabularies: name => absolute( name, 'annotation' ),
+      extensions,
+      projection,
+      SELECT: projection,
+      // TODO: alias
+      mixin: name => nameInProp( name, 'mixin' ),
+      actions: name => nameInProp( name, 'action' ),
+      params: name => nameInProp( name, 'param' ),
+      returns: () => (artifact.param = ''),
+      elements: name => elements( name, artifact.select == null ? null : 'element' ),
+      columns: elements,
+      expand: elements,
+      inline: elements,
+      keys: pos => elements( pos, 'key' ),
+      enum: name => elements( name, 'enum' ),
+      item: () => (artifact.innerKind = 'item'),
+      // targetAspect: () => (artifact.innerKind = 'aspect')
+      '@': suffix,
+    }; /* eslint-enable no-return-assign */
+
+    while (obj && index < csnPath.length) {
+      const step = csnPath[index++];
+      obj = obj[step];
+      const fn = pathFunctions[step] || pathFunctions[step.charAt( 0 )];
+      if (fn)
+        fn( csnPath[index] );
+      if (obj?.$location)
+        location = obj.$location;
+    }
+    return [ location, artifact ];
+
+    function startPath( art ) {
+      const parent = getCache( art, '_parent' );
+      if (parent) {
+        if (!art.SELECT && !art.projection)
+          throw new CompilerAssertion( 'CSN path starts with object other than def or query' );
+      }
+      obj = csn.definitions;
+      absolute( getCache( parent || art, '$name' ), 'type' );
+      obj = art;
+      location = art.$location || parent?.$location || csn.$location;
+    }
+
+    function absolute( name, defaultKind ) {
+      obj = obj[name];
+      artifact.mainKind = obj.kind || defaultKind;
+      artifact.absolute = name;
+      ++index;
+    }
+    function extensions( pos ) {
+      obj = obj[pos];
+      artifact.mainKind = obj.annotate ? 'annotate' : 'extend';
+      artifact.absolute = obj.annotate || obj.extend;
+      ++index;
+    }
+    function projection() {
+      let select = getCache( obj, '$queryNumber' );
+      if (select === 1) {
+        const parent = getCache( obj, '_parent' );
+        if (parent && getCache( parent, '$queries' )?.length === 1)
+          select = 0;
+      }
+      artifact.select = select;
+    }
+    function nameInProp( name, prop ) {
+      obj = obj[name];
+      artifact[prop] = name;
+      ++index;
+    }
+    function elements( name, kind ) {
+      obj = obj[name];
+      const elem = (typeof name === 'string') ? name : !obj.inline && columnAlias( obj );
+      if (obj.inline) {         // inline
+        inlinePathIndex ??= artifact.element.length;
+      }
+      else if (inlinePathIndex != null) { // inline before: remove inline col indexes
+        if (elem)
+          artifact.element.length = inlinePathIndex;
+        inlinePathIndex = null;
+      }
+      artifact.element.push( elem || name + 1);
+      artifact.innerKind = kind || undefined;
+      ++index;
+    }
+    function suffix( prop ) {
+      artifact.suffix = prop;
+      obj = null;               // stop
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Low-level cache functions: -------------------------------------------------
+
+  function setCache( obj, prop, val ) {
+    let hidden = cache.get( obj );
+    if (!hidden) {
+      hidden = {};
+      cache.set( obj, hidden );
+    }
+    // TODO: we might keep the following with --test-mode
+    // if (hidden[prop] !== undefined) {
+    //   console.log('RS:',prop,hidden[prop],val,obj)
+    //   throw Error('RESET')
+    // }
+    hidden[prop] = val;
+    return val;
+  }
+
+  function getCache( obj, prop ) {
+    const hidden = cache.get( obj );
+    return hidden && hidden[prop];
+  }
+
+  function cached( obj, prop, calc ) {
+    let hidden = cache.get( obj );
+    if (!hidden) {
+      hidden = {};
+      cache.set( obj, hidden );
+    }
+    else if (hidden[prop] !== undefined) {
+      return hidden[prop];
+    }
+    const val = calc( obj );
+    hidden[prop] = val;
+    return val;
+  }
+}
+
+// CSN path analysing: ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * Analyse path `csnPath` in the CSN `csn` and call `resolve`.
+ *
+ * @param {CSN.Path} csnPath
+ * @param {CSN.Model} csn
+ * @param {any} resolve
+ */
+function analyseCsnPath( csnPath, csn, resolve ) {
+  /** @type {any} */
+  let refCtx = null;
+  /** @type {boolean|string|number} */
+  let isName = false;
+  let baseRef = null;
+  let baseCtx = null;
+  let baseEnv = null;
+  let {
+    index, main, parent, art, query,
+  } = startCsnPath( csnPath, csn );
+  let obj = art;
+
+  for (; index < csnPath.length; index++) {
+    if (!obj && !resolve)
+      // For the semantic location, use current object as best guess
+      break;
+
+    const prop = csnPath[index];
+    if (refCtx === 'annotation' && typeof obj === 'object') {
+      // we do not know yet whether the annotation value is an expression or not →
+      // loop over outer array and records (structure values):
+      // TODO: add test → `@(A: [{target: ($user)}])` on query column
+      if (Array.isArray( obj ) || !isAnnotationExpression( obj )) {
+        obj = obj[prop];
+        continue;
+      }
+      refCtx = 'annotationExpr';
+    }
+    // array item, name/index of artifact/member, (named) argument
+    if (isName || Array.isArray( obj ) || prop === 'returns') {
+      // TODO: call some kind of resolve.setOrigin()
+      if (isName === 'actions') {
+        art = obj[prop];
+        parent = art;   // param refs in annos for actions are based on the action, not the entity
+      }
+      else if (typeof isName === 'string' || prop === 'returns') {
+        parent = art;
+        art = obj[prop];
+      }
+      else if (refCtx === 'orderBy') {
+        const isSelect = isSelectQuery( query );
+        // use _query_ elements with direct refs (consider sub-optimal CSN,
+        // representation of the CAST function), otherwise source elements:
+        if (obj[prop].ref && !obj[prop].cast)
+          refCtx = (isSelect ? 'orderBy_ref' : 'orderBy_set_ref');
+        else
+          refCtx = (isSelect ? 'orderBy_expr' : 'orderBy_set_expr');
+      }
+      isName = false;
+    }
+    else if (artifactProperties.includes( String(prop) )) {
+      if (refCtx === 'target' || refCtx === 'targetAspect') { // with 'elements'
+        // $self refers to the anonymous aspect
+        if (resolve)
+          resolve( '', '$init', main );
+        main = obj;
+        art = obj;
+        parent = obj;
+      }
+      isName = prop;
+      // if we want to allow auto-redirect of user-provided target with renamed keys:
+      // (TODO: no, we do not allow that anymore)
+      refCtx = (refCtx === '$origin' && prop === 'keys') ? 'keys_origin' : prop;
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'items' || prop === 'returns') {
+      art = obj[prop];
+      // TODO: what about parent here?, see cache property _parent
+      // BTW, still necessary to calculate parent here if we have _parent?
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'args') {
+      isName = true;            // for named arguments
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'SELECT' || prop === 'SET' || prop === 'projection') {
+      query = obj;
+      parent = null;
+      baseEnv = null;
+      refCtx = prop;
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'where' && refCtx === 'ref') {
+      if (resolve)
+        baseEnv = resolve.ref_where( obj, baseRef, baseCtx, main, query, parent, baseEnv );
+      refCtx = 'ref_where';
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'expand' || prop === 'inline') {
+      if (obj.ref) {
+        if (resolve)
+          baseEnv = resolve.expandInline( obj, baseCtx, main, query, parent, baseEnv );
+        refCtx = prop;
+      }
+      isName = prop;
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'on') {
+      if (refCtx === 'from')
+        refCtx = 'on_join';
+      else if (refCtx === 'mixin')
+        refCtx = 'on_mixin';
+      else
+        refCtx = 'on';          // will use query elements with REDIRECTED TO
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'ref') {
+      baseRef = obj;            // needs to be inspected for filter conditions
+      baseCtx = refCtx;
+      refCtx = prop;
+    }
+    else if (prop === 'orderBy') {
+      refCtx = 'orderBy';
+    }
+    else if (prop[0] === '@') {
+      refCtx = 'annotation';
+    }
+    else if (prop === '$calc') {
+      refCtx = '$calc';
+    }
+    else if (prop !== 'xpr' && prop !== 'list') {
+      // 'xpr' and 'list' do not change the ref context, all other props do:
+      refCtx = prop;
+    }
+    obj = obj[prop];
+  }
+  // console.log( 'CPATH:', csnPath, refCtx, obj, parent.$location );
+  if (!resolve)
+    return { query };           // for constructSemanticLocationFromCsnPath
+  return resolve( obj, refCtx, main, query, parent, baseEnv );
+}
+
+function startCsnPath( csnPath, csn ) {
+  const head = csnPath[0];
+  if (typeof head !== 'string') {
+    const {
+      main, parent, art, query,
+    } = head;
+    return {
+      index: 1, main, parent, art, query,
+    };
+  }
+  if (csnPath.length < 2 || head !== 'definitions' && head !== 'vocabularies')
+    throw new CompilerAssertion( 'References outside definitions and vocabularies not supported yet' );
+  const art = csn[head][csnPath[1]];
+  return {
+    index: 2, main: art, parent: art, art, query: null,
+  };
+}
+
+// CSN traversal functions: -----------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * Traverse an artifact `node` and its members, but without queries, in pre-order.
+ *
+ * Call `callback` on all nodes with the following arguments:
+ *
+ * - `node`: the current node
+ * - `parent`: the parent node (containing the dictionary),
+ *   see the initial file comment for cache property _parent for details
+ * - `name`: the name of the current node in the parent dictionary, or
+ *   true for `returns` parameter, and increasing number for `items` object
+ * - `kind`
+ *
+ *
+ * The callback is called on the following CSN nodes inside the query `query`:
+ * - a query node, which has property `SET` or `SELECT` (or `projection`),
+ * - a query source node inside `from` if it has property `ref`,
+ * - NOT on a `join` node inside `from`.
+ *
+ * @param {CSN.Query} query
+ * @param {CSN.QuerySelect} fromSelect for query in `from`
+ * @param {CSN.Query} parentQuery for a sub query (ex those in `from`)
+ * @param {(query: CSN.Query&CSN.QueryFrom, select: CSN.QuerySelectEnriched, parentQuery: CSN.Query) => void} callback
+ */
+
+function traverseDef( node, parent, name, kind, callback ) {
+  callback( node, parent, name, kind );
+  if (node.params) {
+    for (const n of Object.keys( node.params ))
+      traverseType( node.params[n], node, n, 'param', callback );
+  }
+  if (node.returns)
+    traverseType( node.returns, node, true, 'returns', callback );
+  traverseType( node, true, name, kind, callback );
+  if (node.actions) {
+    for (const n of Object.keys( node.actions ))
+      traverseDef( node.actions[n], node, n, 'action', callback );
+  }
+}
+
+function traverseType( node, parent, name, kind, callback ) {
+  if (parent !== true)
+    callback( node, parent, name, kind );
+  const target = targetAspect( node );
+  if (target && typeof target === 'object' && target.elements) {
+    callback( target, node, true, 'target' );
+    node = target;
+  }
+  else if (node.items) {
+    let items = 0;
+    while (node.items) {
+      callback( node.items, node, ++items, 'items' );
+      node = node.items;
+    }
+  }
+  if (node.elements) {
+    for (const n of Object.keys( node.elements ))
+      traverseDef( node.elements[n], node, n, 'element', callback );
+  }
+  if (node.enum) {
+    for (const n of Object.keys( node.enum ))
+      traverseDef( node.enum[n], node, n, 'enum', callback );
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Traverse query in pre-order
+ *
+ * The callback is called on the following CSN nodes inside the query `query`:
+ * - a query node, which has property `SET` or `SELECT` (or `projection`),
+ * - a query source node inside `from` if it has property `ref`,
+ * - NOT on a `join` node inside `from`.
+ *
+ * @param {CSN.Query} query
+ * @param {CSN.QuerySelect} fromSelect for query in `from`
+ * @param {CSN.Query} parentQuery for a sub query (ex those in `from`)
+ * @param {(query: CSN.Query&CSN.QueryFrom, select: CSN.QuerySelectEnriched, parentQuery: CSN.Query) => void} callback
+ */
+function traverseQuery( query, fromSelect, parentQuery, callback ) {
+  const select = query.SELECT || query.projection;
+  if (select) {
+    callback( query, fromSelect, parentQuery );
+    traverseFrom( select.from, select, parentQuery, callback );
+    for (const prop of [ 'columns', 'where', 'having' ]) {
+      // all properties which can have sub queries (`join-on` also can)
+      const expr = select[prop];
+      if (expr)
+        expr.forEach( q => traverseExpr( q, query, callback ) );
+    }
+  }
+  else if (query.SET) {
+    callback( query, fromSelect, parentQuery );
+    const { args } = query.SET;
+    for (const q of args || [])
+      traverseQuery( q, null, query, callback );
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {CSN.QueryFrom} from
+ * @param {CSN.QuerySelect} fromSelect
+ * @param {CSN.Query} parentQuery
+ * @param {(from: CSN.QueryFrom, select: CSN.QuerySelect, parentQuery: CSN.Query) => void} callback
+ */
+function traverseFrom( from, fromSelect, parentQuery, callback ) {
+  if (from.ref) {
+    callback( from, fromSelect, parentQuery );
+  }
+  else if (from.args) {         // join
+    from.args.forEach( arg => traverseFrom( arg, fromSelect, parentQuery, callback ) );
+    if (from.on)                // join-on, potentially having a sub query (in xpr)
+      from.on.forEach(arg => traverseExpr( arg, fromSelect, callback ));
+  }
+  else {                        // sub query in FROM
+    traverseQuery( from, fromSelect, parentQuery, callback );
+  }
+}
+
+function traverseExpr( expr, parentQuery, callback ) {
+  if (expr.SELECT || expr.SET)
+    traverseQuery( expr, null, parentQuery, callback );
+  for (const prop of [ 'args', 'xpr' ]) {
+    // all properties which could have sub queries (directly or indirectly),
+    const val = expr[prop];
+    if (val && typeof val === 'object') {
+      const args = Array.isArray( val ) ? val : Object.values( val );
+      args.forEach( e => traverseExpr( e, parentQuery, callback ) );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// Small CSN utility functions: -------------------------------------------------
+
+// A SELECT which is (unnecessarily) put into parentheses, the CSN
+// representation uses SET without `op` and args of length 1 in compiler <v6:
+function isSelectQuery( query ) {
+  while (query.SET) {
+    const { args } = query.SET;
+    if (args.length !== 1)
+      return false;
+    query = args[0];
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Alias is either explicit or implicit from reference or function without arguments.
+ * If the column is an expression without explicit alias, `false` is returned.
+ * Use csnRefs.getColumnName() instead.
+ *
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+function columnAlias( col ) {
+  return col.as || (!col.args && col.func) || (col.ref && implicitAs( col.ref ));
+}
+
+function implicitAs( ref ) {
+  if (typeof ref !== 'string')
+    ref = ref[ref.length - 1];
+  const id = (typeof ref === 'string') ? ref : ref.id; // inlined `pathId`
+  return id.substring( id.lastIndexOf('.') + 1 );
+}
+
+function pathId( item ) {
+  return (typeof item === 'string') ? item : item.id;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Foreign keys are stored in an array; for easier name resolution, create
+ * a dictionary of them.
+ */
+function getKeysDict( art ) {
+  const dict = Object.create(null);
+  for (const key of art.keys)
+    dict[key.as || implicitAs( key.ref )] = key;
+  return dict;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return the target aspect (or target entity if that does not exist) of `art`.
+ * Works with both CSN flavors `client` and `universal`.
+ */
+function targetAspect( art ) {
+  const { $origin } = art;
+  return ($origin
+    ? typeof $origin === 'object' && !Array.isArray( $origin ) && $origin.target
+    : art.targetAspect
+  ) || art.target;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return value of a query SELECT for the query node, or the main artifact,
+ * i.e. a value with an `elements` property.
+ * TODO: only used in transformViewOrEntity() - make it use queryForElements()
+ *
+ * @param {object} query node (object with SET or SELECT property)
+ * @param {object} main definition
+ */
+function queryOrMain( query, main ) {
+  while (query.SET)
+    query = query.SET.args[0];
+  if (query.SELECT?.elements)
+    return query.SELECT;
+  let leading = main.query || main;
+  while (leading.SET)
+    leading = leading.SET.args[0];
+  // If an entity has both a projection and query property, the param `query`
+  // can be the entity itself (when inspect is called with a csnPath containing
+  // 'projection'), but `leading` can be its `query` property:
+  if ((leading === query || leading === query.query) && main.elements)
+    return main;
+  throw new ModelError( `Query elements not available: ${ Object.keys( query ).join('+') }`);
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  artifactProperties,
+  csnRefs,
+  analyseCsnPath,
+  traverseQuery,
+  columnAlias,
+  implicitAs,
+  pathId,
+  getKeysDict,
+};