Three-argument filtered map macro raises ValueError during evaluation

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Assessment

Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Newbie friendliness
68/100
Issue type
Bug
Clarity
Mostly clear
Activity status
Active
Tech stack
python
Domain
backend

Research direction

Start by running the provided repro.py against the map macro evaluator and trace the three-argument filtered map path described in the issue. Add coverage for both expressions, then confirm the filtered form returns 3 instead of raising ValueError while the existing filter(...).map(...) form still passes.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

Summary

The standard filtered map(x, predicate, transform) form compiles but raises ValueError: too many values to unpack (expected 2) during evaluation. The equivalent filter(...).map(...) expression completes normally.

Reproduction

Save the following as repro.py.

from celpy import Environment

for expression in (
    "[1,2,3].map(x, x > 1, x+1)[0]",
    "[1,2,3].filter(x, x > 1).map(x, x+1)[0]",
):
    env = Environment()
    try:
        result = env.program(env.compile(expression)).evaluate({})
        print(expression, "=>", result)
    except Exception as exc:
        print(expression, "=>", type(exc).__name__, str(exc))

Run:

python -m pip install cel-python==0.5.0
python repro.py

Actual result

[1,2,3].map(x, x > 1, x+1)[0] => ValueError too many values to unpack (expected 2)
[1,2,3].filter(x, x > 1).map(x, x+1)[0] => 3

Expected behavior and why

Both expressions should return 3: filter [1,2,3] to [2,3], add one to each element, and select the first result.

CEL defines e.map(x, p, t) as the map transformation with predicate filtering before transformation:
https://github.com/cel-expr/cel-spec/blob/ba58ae5007845f3a1279b488cdeb79645ce958bb/doc/langdef.md#macros

Code-level observation and impact

The map evaluator unpacks two macro arguments where this form supplies three. This is an internal Python arity error rather than the normal evaluation of a supported CEL expression. If this macro overload is intentionally outside the supported profile, please clarify that scope; accepting the syntax and then raising an unpacking error is still an unhelpful failure mode for callers.

Environment

  • Package: cel-python 0.5.0
  • Runtime: CPython 3.13.3
  • OS: macOS 26.6.2, Apple Silicon / arm64
  • Reproduced: 2026-09-11

cel-python-reproduction.zip

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