Merge branch 'hn/reftable-coverity-fixes'

Problems identified by Coverity in the reftable code have been
corrected.

* hn/reftable-coverity-fixes:
  reftable: add print functions to the record types
  reftable: make reftable_record a tagged union
  reftable: remove outdated file reftable.c
  reftable: implement record equality generically
  reftable: make reftable-record.h function signatures const correct
  reftable: handle null refnames in reftable_ref_record_equal
  reftable: drop stray printf in readwrite_test
  reftable: order unittests by complexity
  reftable: all xxx_free() functions accept NULL arguments
  reftable: fix resource warning
  reftable: ignore remove() return value in stack_test.c
  reftable: check reftable_stack_auto_compact() return value
  reftable: fix resource leak blocksource.c
  reftable: fix resource leak in block.c error path
  reftable: fix OOB stack write in print functions

18 files changed, 615 insertions, 525 deletions

diff --git a/reftable/block.c b/reftable/block.c
index 855e3f5c94..2170748c5e 100644
--- a/reftable/block.c
+++ b/reftable/block.c
@@ -188,13 +188,16 @@ int block_reader_init(struct block_reader *br, struct reftable_block *block,
 	uint32_t full_block_size = table_block_size;
 	uint8_t typ = block->data[header_off];
 	uint32_t sz = get_be24(block->data + header_off + 1);
-
+	int err = 0;
 	uint16_t restart_count = 0;
 	uint32_t restart_start = 0;
 	uint8_t *restart_bytes = NULL;
+	uint8_t *uncompressed = NULL;
 
-	if (!reftable_is_block_type(typ))
-		return REFTABLE_FORMAT_ERROR;
+	if (!reftable_is_block_type(typ)) {
+		err =  REFTABLE_FORMAT_ERROR;
+		goto done;
+	}
 
 	if (typ == BLOCK_TYPE_LOG) {
 		int block_header_skip = 4 + header_off;
@@ -203,7 +206,7 @@ int block_reader_init(struct block_reader *br, struct reftable_block *block,
 		uLongf src_len = block->len - block_header_skip;
 		/* Log blocks specify the *uncompressed* size in their header.
 		 */
-		uint8_t *uncompressed = reftable_malloc(sz);
+		uncompressed = reftable_malloc(sz);
 
 		/* Copy over the block header verbatim. It's not compressed. */
 		memcpy(uncompressed, block->data, block_header_skip);
@@ -212,16 +215,19 @@ int block_reader_init(struct block_reader *br, struct reftable_block *block,
 		if (Z_OK !=
 		    uncompress2(uncompressed + block_header_skip, &dst_len,
 				block->data + block_header_skip, &src_len)) {
-			reftable_free(uncompressed);
-			return REFTABLE_ZLIB_ERROR;
+			err = REFTABLE_ZLIB_ERROR;
+			goto done;
 		}
 
-		if (dst_len + block_header_skip != sz)
-			return REFTABLE_FORMAT_ERROR;
+		if (dst_len + block_header_skip != sz) {
+			err = REFTABLE_FORMAT_ERROR;
+			goto done;
+		}
 
 		/* We're done with the input data. */
 		reftable_block_done(block);
 		block->data = uncompressed;
+		uncompressed = NULL;
 		block->len = sz;
 		block->source = malloc_block_source();
 		full_block_size = src_len + block_header_skip;
@@ -251,7 +257,9 @@ int block_reader_init(struct block_reader *br, struct reftable_block *block,
 	br->restart_count = restart_count;
 	br->restart_bytes = restart_bytes;
 
-	return 0;
+done:
+	reftable_free(uncompressed);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static uint32_t block_reader_restart_offset(struct block_reader *br, int i)
@@ -413,7 +421,7 @@ int block_reader_seek(struct block_reader *br, struct block_iter *it,
 done:
 	strbuf_release(&key);
 	strbuf_release(&next.last_key);
-	reftable_record_destroy(&rec);
+	reftable_record_release(&rec);
 
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/reftable/block_test.c b/reftable/block_test.c
index 4b3ea262dc..fa2ee092ec 100644
--- a/reftable/block_test.c
+++ b/reftable/block_test.c
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ static void test_block_read_write(void)
 	struct block_writer bw = {
 		.last_key = STRBUF_INIT,
 	};
-	struct reftable_ref_record ref = { NULL };
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+	};
 	int i = 0;
 	int n;
 	struct block_reader br = { 0 };
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@ static void test_block_read_write(void)
 	block.source = malloc_block_source();
 	block_writer_init(&bw, BLOCK_TYPE_REF, block.data, block_size,
 			  header_off, hash_size(GIT_SHA1_FORMAT_ID));
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &ref);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < N; i++) {
 		char name[100];
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ static void test_block_read_write(void)
 		snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "branch%02d", i);
 		memset(hash, i, sizeof(hash));
 
-		ref.refname = name;
-		ref.value_type = REFTABLE_REF_VAL1;
-		ref.value.val1 = hash;
+		rec.u.ref.refname = name;
+		rec.u.ref.value_type = REFTABLE_REF_VAL1;
+		rec.u.ref.value.val1 = hash;
 
 		names[i] = xstrdup(name);
 		n = block_writer_add(&bw, &rec);
-		ref.refname = NULL;
-		ref.value_type = REFTABLE_REF_DELETION;
+		rec.u.ref.refname = NULL;
+		rec.u.ref.value_type = REFTABLE_REF_DELETION;
 		EXPECT(n == 0);
 	}
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static void test_block_read_write(void)
 		if (r > 0) {
 			break;
 		}
-		EXPECT_STREQ(names[j], ref.refname);
+		EXPECT_STREQ(names[j], rec.u.ref.refname);
 		j++;
 	}
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static void test_block_read_write(void)
 		n = block_iter_next(&it, &rec);
 		EXPECT(n == 0);
 
-		EXPECT_STREQ(names[i], ref.refname);
+		EXPECT_STREQ(names[i], rec.u.ref.refname);
 
 		want.len--;
 		n = block_reader_seek(&br, &it, &want);
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ static void test_block_read_write(void)
 
 		n = block_iter_next(&it, &rec);
 		EXPECT(n == 0);
-		EXPECT_STREQ(names[10 * (i / 10)], ref.refname);
+		EXPECT_STREQ(names[10 * (i / 10)], rec.u.ref.refname);
 
 		block_iter_close(&it);
 	}
diff --git a/reftable/blocksource.c b/reftable/blocksource.c
index 0044eecd9a..2605371c28 100644
--- a/reftable/blocksource.c
+++ b/reftable/blocksource.c
@@ -134,8 +134,10 @@ int reftable_block_source_from_file(struct reftable_block_source *bs,
 	}
 
 	err = fstat(fd, &st);
-	if (err < 0)
-		return -1;
+	if (err < 0) {
+		close(fd);
+		return REFTABLE_IO_ERROR;
+	}
 
 	p = reftable_calloc(sizeof(struct file_block_source));
 	p->size = st.st_size;
diff --git a/reftable/generic.c b/reftable/generic.c
index 7a8a738d86..b27d152e89 100644
--- a/reftable/generic.c
+++ b/reftable/generic.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
 */
 
 #include "basics.h"
+#include "constants.h"
 #include "record.h"
 #include "generic.h"
 #include "reftable-iterator.h"
@@ -15,23 +16,21 @@ https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
 int reftable_table_seek_ref(struct reftable_table *tab,
 			    struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
 {
-	struct reftable_ref_record ref = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
-	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &ref);
+	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+				       .u.ref = {
+					       .refname = (char *)name,
+				       } };
 	return tab->ops->seek_record(tab->table_arg, it, &rec);
 }
 
 int reftable_table_seek_log(struct reftable_table *tab,
 			    struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
 {
-	struct reftable_log_record log = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
-		.update_index = ~((uint64_t)0),
-	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_log(&rec, &log);
+	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+				       .u.log = {
+					       .refname = (char *)name,
+					       .update_index = ~((uint64_t)0),
+				       } };
 	return tab->ops->seek_record(tab->table_arg, it, &rec);
 }
 
@@ -129,17 +128,25 @@ void reftable_iterator_destroy(struct reftable_iterator *it)
 int reftable_iterator_next_ref(struct reftable_iterator *it,
 			       struct reftable_ref_record *ref)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, ref);
-	return iterator_next(it, &rec);
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+		.u.ref = *ref,
+	};
+	int err = iterator_next(it, &rec);
+	*ref = rec.u.ref;
+	return err;
 }
 
 int reftable_iterator_next_log(struct reftable_iterator *it,
 			       struct reftable_log_record *log)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_log(&rec, log);
-	return iterator_next(it, &rec);
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+		.u.log = *log,
+	};
+	int err = iterator_next(it, &rec);
+	*log = rec.u.log;
+	return err;
 }
 
 int iterator_next(struct reftable_iterator *it, struct reftable_record *rec)
diff --git a/reftable/iter.c b/reftable/iter.c
index 93d04f735b..a8d174c040 100644
--- a/reftable/iter.c
+++ b/reftable/iter.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static int filtering_ref_iterator_next(void *iter_arg,
 				       struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
 	struct filtering_ref_iterator *fri = iter_arg;
-	struct reftable_ref_record *ref = rec->data;
+	struct reftable_ref_record *ref = &rec->u.ref;
 	int err = 0;
 	while (1) {
 		err = reftable_iterator_next_ref(&fri->it, ref);
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static int indexed_table_ref_iter_next_block(struct indexed_table_ref_iter *it)
 static int indexed_table_ref_iter_next(void *p, struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
 	struct indexed_table_ref_iter *it = p;
-	struct reftable_ref_record *ref = rec->data;
+	struct reftable_ref_record *ref = &rec->u.ref;
 
 	while (1) {
 		int err = block_iter_next(&it->cur, rec);
diff --git a/reftable/merged.c b/reftable/merged.c
index e5b53da6db..2a6efa110d 100644
--- a/reftable/merged.c
+++ b/reftable/merged.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ static int merged_iter_init(struct merged_iter *mi)
 
 		if (err > 0) {
 			reftable_iterator_destroy(&mi->stack[i]);
-			reftable_record_destroy(&rec);
+			reftable_record_release(&rec);
 		} else {
 			struct pq_entry e = {
 				.rec = rec,
@@ -57,18 +57,17 @@ static void merged_iter_close(void *p)
 static int merged_iter_advance_nonnull_subiter(struct merged_iter *mi,
 					       size_t idx)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = reftable_new_record(mi->typ);
 	struct pq_entry e = {
-		.rec = rec,
+		.rec = reftable_new_record(mi->typ),
 		.index = idx,
 	};
-	int err = iterator_next(&mi->stack[idx], &rec);
+	int err = iterator_next(&mi->stack[idx], &e.rec);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
 	if (err > 0) {
 		reftable_iterator_destroy(&mi->stack[idx]);
-		reftable_record_destroy(&rec);
+		reftable_record_release(&e.rec);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -126,11 +125,11 @@ static int merged_iter_next_entry(struct merged_iter *mi,
 		if (err < 0) {
 			return err;
 		}
-		reftable_record_destroy(&top.rec);
+		reftable_record_release(&top.rec);
 	}
 
 	reftable_record_copy_from(rec, &entry.rec, hash_size(mi->hash_id));
-	reftable_record_destroy(&entry.rec);
+	reftable_record_release(&entry.rec);
 	strbuf_release(&entry_key);
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -290,11 +289,12 @@ int reftable_merged_table_seek_ref(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
 				   struct reftable_iterator *it,
 				   const char *name)
 {
-	struct reftable_ref_record ref = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+		.u.ref = {
+			.refname = (char *)name,
+		},
 	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &ref);
 	return merged_table_seek_record(mt, it, &rec);
 }
 
@@ -302,12 +302,11 @@ int reftable_merged_table_seek_log_at(struct reftable_merged_table *mt,
 				      struct reftable_iterator *it,
 				      const char *name, uint64_t update_index)
 {
-	struct reftable_log_record log = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
-		.update_index = update_index,
-	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_log(&rec, &log);
+	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+				       .u.log = {
+					       .refname = (char *)name,
+					       .update_index = update_index,
+				       } };
 	return merged_table_seek_record(mt, it, &rec);
 }
 
diff --git a/reftable/pq.c b/reftable/pq.c
index efc474017a..96ca6dd37b 100644
--- a/reftable/pq.c
+++ b/reftable/pq.c
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ struct pq_entry merged_iter_pqueue_remove(struct merged_iter_pqueue *pq)
 void merged_iter_pqueue_add(struct merged_iter_pqueue *pq, struct pq_entry e)
 {
 	int i = 0;
+
 	if (pq->len == pq->cap) {
 		pq->cap = 2 * pq->cap + 1;
 		pq->heap = reftable_realloc(pq->heap,
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ void merged_iter_pqueue_release(struct merged_iter_pqueue *pq)
 {
 	int i = 0;
 	for (i = 0; i < pq->len; i++) {
-		reftable_record_destroy(&pq->heap[i].rec);
+		reftable_record_release(&pq->heap[i].rec);
 	}
 	FREE_AND_NULL(pq->heap);
 	pq->len = pq->cap = 0;
diff --git a/reftable/pq_test.c b/reftable/pq_test.c
index c9bb05e37b..7de5e886f3 100644
--- a/reftable/pq_test.c
+++ b/reftable/pq_test.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ static void test_pq(void)
 	int N = ARRAY_SIZE(names) - 1;
 
 	struct merged_iter_pqueue pq = { NULL };
-	const char *last = NULL;
+	char *last = NULL;
 
 	int i = 0;
 	for (i = 0; i < N; i++) {
@@ -42,12 +42,10 @@ static void test_pq(void)
 
 	i = 1;
 	do {
-		struct reftable_record rec =
-			reftable_new_record(BLOCK_TYPE_REF);
-		struct pq_entry e = { 0 };
-
-		reftable_record_as_ref(&rec)->refname = names[i];
-		e.rec = rec;
+		struct pq_entry e = { .rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+					       .u.ref = {
+						       .refname = names[i],
+					       } } };
 		merged_iter_pqueue_add(&pq, e);
 		merged_iter_pqueue_check(pq);
 		i = (i * 7) % N;
@@ -55,19 +53,18 @@ static void test_pq(void)
 
 	while (!merged_iter_pqueue_is_empty(pq)) {
 		struct pq_entry e = merged_iter_pqueue_remove(&pq);
-		struct reftable_ref_record *ref =
-			reftable_record_as_ref(&e.rec);
-
+		struct reftable_record *rec = &e.rec;
 		merged_iter_pqueue_check(pq);
 
+		EXPECT(reftable_record_type(rec) == BLOCK_TYPE_REF);
 		if (last) {
-			EXPECT(strcmp(last, ref->refname) < 0);
+			EXPECT(strcmp(last, rec->u.ref.refname) < 0);
 		}
-		last = ref->refname;
-		ref->refname = NULL;
-		reftable_free(ref);
+		// this is names[i], so don't dealloc.
+		last = rec->u.ref.refname;
+		rec->u.ref.refname = NULL;
+		reftable_record_release(rec);
 	}
-
 	for (i = 0; i < N; i++) {
 		reftable_free(names[i]);
 	}
diff --git a/reftable/reader.c b/reftable/reader.c
index 006709a645..00906e7a2d 100644
--- a/reftable/reader.c
+++ b/reftable/reader.c
@@ -239,8 +239,7 @@ static int table_iter_next_in_block(struct table_iter *ti,
 {
 	int res = block_iter_next(&ti->bi, rec);
 	if (res == 0 && reftable_record_type(rec) == BLOCK_TYPE_REF) {
-		((struct reftable_ref_record *)rec->data)->update_index +=
-			ti->r->min_update_index;
+		rec->u.ref.update_index += ti->r->min_update_index;
 	}
 
 	return res;
@@ -290,28 +289,33 @@ int reader_init_block_reader(struct reftable_reader *r, struct block_reader *br,
 
 	err = reader_get_block(r, &block, next_off, guess_block_size);
 	if (err < 0)
-		return err;
+		goto done;
 
 	block_size = extract_block_size(block.data, &block_typ, next_off,
 					r->version);
-	if (block_size < 0)
-		return block_size;
-
+	if (block_size < 0) {
+		err = block_size;
+		goto done;
+	}
 	if (want_typ != BLOCK_TYPE_ANY && block_typ != want_typ) {
-		reftable_block_done(&block);
-		return 1;
+		err = 1;
+		goto done;
 	}
 
 	if (block_size > guess_block_size) {
 		reftable_block_done(&block);
 		err = reader_get_block(r, &block, next_off, block_size);
 		if (err < 0) {
-			return err;
+			goto done;
 		}
 	}
 
-	return block_reader_init(br, &block, header_off, r->block_size,
-				 hash_size(r->hash_id));
+	err = block_reader_init(br, &block, header_off, r->block_size,
+				hash_size(r->hash_id));
+done:
+	reftable_block_done(&block);
+
+	return err;
 }
 
 static int table_iter_next_block(struct table_iter *dest,
@@ -475,7 +479,7 @@ static int reader_seek_linear(struct reftable_reader *r, struct table_iter *ti,
 
 done:
 	block_iter_close(&next.bi);
-	reftable_record_destroy(&rec);
+	reftable_record_release(&rec);
 	strbuf_release(&want_key);
 	strbuf_release(&got_key);
 	return err;
@@ -485,34 +489,35 @@ static int reader_seek_indexed(struct reftable_reader *r,
 			       struct reftable_iterator *it,
 			       struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
-	struct reftable_index_record want_index = { .last_key = STRBUF_INIT };
-	struct reftable_record want_index_rec = { NULL };
-	struct reftable_index_record index_result = { .last_key = STRBUF_INIT };
-	struct reftable_record index_result_rec = { NULL };
+	struct reftable_record want_index = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX, .u.idx = { .last_key = STRBUF_INIT }
+	};
+	struct reftable_record index_result = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX,
+		.u.idx = { .last_key = STRBUF_INIT },
+	};
 	struct table_iter index_iter = TABLE_ITER_INIT;
 	struct table_iter next = TABLE_ITER_INIT;
 	int err = 0;
 
-	reftable_record_key(rec, &want_index.last_key);
-	reftable_record_from_index(&want_index_rec, &want_index);
-	reftable_record_from_index(&index_result_rec, &index_result);
-
+	reftable_record_key(rec, &want_index.u.idx.last_key);
 	err = reader_start(r, &index_iter, reftable_record_type(rec), 1);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto done;
 
-	err = reader_seek_linear(r, &index_iter, &want_index_rec);
+	err = reader_seek_linear(r, &index_iter, &want_index);
 	while (1) {
-		err = table_iter_next(&index_iter, &index_result_rec);
+		err = table_iter_next(&index_iter, &index_result);
 		table_iter_block_done(&index_iter);
 		if (err != 0)
 			goto done;
 
-		err = reader_table_iter_at(r, &next, index_result.offset, 0);
+		err = reader_table_iter_at(r, &next, index_result.u.idx.offset,
+					   0);
 		if (err != 0)
 			goto done;
 
-		err = block_iter_seek(&next.bi, &want_index.last_key);
+		err = block_iter_seek(&next.bi, &want_index.u.idx.last_key);
 		if (err < 0)
 			goto done;
 
@@ -540,8 +545,8 @@ static int reader_seek_indexed(struct reftable_reader *r,
 done:
 	block_iter_close(&next.bi);
 	table_iter_close(&index_iter);
-	reftable_record_release(&want_index_rec);
-	reftable_record_release(&index_result_rec);
+	reftable_record_release(&want_index);
+	reftable_record_release(&index_result);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -590,11 +595,12 @@ static int reader_seek(struct reftable_reader *r, struct reftable_iterator *it,
 int reftable_reader_seek_ref(struct reftable_reader *r,
 			     struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
 {
-	struct reftable_ref_record ref = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+		.u.ref = {
+			.refname = (char *)name,
+		},
 	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &ref);
 	return reader_seek(r, it, &rec);
 }
 
@@ -602,12 +608,11 @@ int reftable_reader_seek_log_at(struct reftable_reader *r,
 				struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name,
 				uint64_t update_index)
 {
-	struct reftable_log_record log = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
-		.update_index = update_index,
-	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_log(&rec, &log);
+	struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+				       .u.log = {
+					       .refname = (char *)name,
+					       .update_index = update_index,
+				       } };
 	return reader_seek(r, it, &rec);
 }
 
@@ -641,6 +646,8 @@ int reftable_new_reader(struct reftable_reader **p,
 
 void reftable_reader_free(struct reftable_reader *r)
 {
+	if (!r)
+		return;
 	reader_close(r);
 	reftable_free(r);
 }
@@ -649,31 +656,33 @@ static int reftable_reader_refs_for_indexed(struct reftable_reader *r,
 					    struct reftable_iterator *it,
 					    uint8_t *oid)
 {
-	struct reftable_obj_record want = {
-		.hash_prefix = oid,
-		.hash_prefix_len = r->object_id_len,
+	struct reftable_record want = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ,
+		.u.obj = {
+			.hash_prefix = oid,
+			.hash_prefix_len = r->object_id_len,
+		},
 	};
-	struct reftable_record want_rec = { NULL };
 	struct reftable_iterator oit = { NULL };
-	struct reftable_obj_record got = { NULL };
-	struct reftable_record got_rec = { NULL };
+	struct reftable_record got = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ,
+		.u.obj = { 0 },
+	};
 	int err = 0;
 	struct indexed_table_ref_iter *itr = NULL;
 
 	/* Look through the reverse index. */
-	reftable_record_from_obj(&want_rec, &want);
-	err = reader_seek(r, &oit, &want_rec);
+	err = reader_seek(r, &oit, &want);
 	if (err != 0)
 		goto done;
 
 	/* read out the reftable_obj_record */
-	reftable_record_from_obj(&got_rec, &got);
-	err = iterator_next(&oit, &got_rec);
+	err = iterator_next(&oit, &got);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto done;
 
-	if (err > 0 ||
-	    memcmp(want.hash_prefix, got.hash_prefix, r->object_id_len)) {
+	if (err > 0 || memcmp(want.u.obj.hash_prefix, got.u.obj.hash_prefix,
+			      r->object_id_len)) {
 		/* didn't find it; return empty iterator */
 		iterator_set_empty(it);
 		err = 0;
@@ -681,15 +690,16 @@ static int reftable_reader_refs_for_indexed(struct reftable_reader *r,
 	}
 
 	err = new_indexed_table_ref_iter(&itr, r, oid, hash_size(r->hash_id),
-					 got.offsets, got.offset_len);
+					 got.u.obj.offsets,
+					 got.u.obj.offset_len);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto done;
-	got.offsets = NULL;
+	got.u.obj.offsets = NULL;
 	iterator_from_indexed_table_ref_iter(it, itr);
 
 done:
 	reftable_iterator_destroy(&oit);
-	reftable_record_release(&got_rec);
+	reftable_record_release(&got);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/reftable/readwrite_test.c b/reftable/readwrite_test.c
index 70c7aedba2..605ba0f9fd 100644
--- a/reftable/readwrite_test.c
+++ b/reftable/readwrite_test.c
@@ -288,6 +288,71 @@ static void test_log_write_read(void)
 	reader_close(&rd);
 }
 
+static void test_log_zlib_corruption(void)
+{
+	struct reftable_write_options opts = {
+		.block_size = 256,
+	};
+	struct reftable_iterator it = { 0 };
+	struct reftable_reader rd = { 0 };
+	struct reftable_block_source source = { 0 };
+	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct reftable_writer *w =
+		reftable_new_writer(&strbuf_add_void, &buf, &opts);
+	const struct reftable_stats *stats = NULL;
+	uint8_t hash1[GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ] = { 1 };
+	uint8_t hash2[GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ] = { 2 };
+	char message[100] = { 0 };
+	int err, i, n;
+
+	struct reftable_log_record log = {
+		.refname = "refname",
+		.value_type = REFTABLE_LOG_UPDATE,
+		.value = {
+			.update = {
+				.new_hash = hash1,
+				.old_hash = hash2,
+				.name = "My Name",
+				.email = "myname@invalid",
+				.message = message,
+			},
+		},
+	};
+
+	for (i = 0; i < sizeof(message) - 1; i++)
+		message[i] = (uint8_t)(rand() % 64 + ' ');
+
+	reftable_writer_set_limits(w, 1, 1);
+
+	err = reftable_writer_add_log(w, &log);
+	EXPECT_ERR(err);
+
+	n = reftable_writer_close(w);
+	EXPECT(n == 0);
+
+	stats = writer_stats(w);
+	EXPECT(stats->log_stats.blocks > 0);
+	reftable_writer_free(w);
+	w = NULL;
+
+	/* corrupt the data. */
+	buf.buf[50] ^= 0x99;
+
+	block_source_from_strbuf(&source, &buf);
+
+	err = init_reader(&rd, &source, "file.log");
+	EXPECT_ERR(err);
+
+	err = reftable_reader_seek_log(&rd, &it, "refname");
+	EXPECT(err == REFTABLE_ZLIB_ERROR);
+
+	reftable_iterator_destroy(&it);
+
+	/* cleanup. */
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
+	reader_close(&rd);
+}
+
 static void test_table_read_write_sequential(void)
 {
 	char **names;
@@ -631,7 +696,6 @@ static void test_write_key_order(void)
 	err = reftable_writer_add_ref(w, &refs[0]);
 	EXPECT_ERR(err);
 	err = reftable_writer_add_ref(w, &refs[1]);
-	printf("%d\n", err);
 	EXPECT(err == REFTABLE_API_ERROR);
 	reftable_writer_close(w);
 	reftable_writer_free(w);
@@ -667,6 +731,7 @@ static void test_corrupt_table(void)
 
 int readwrite_test_main(int argc, const char *argv[])
 {
+	RUN_TEST(test_log_zlib_corruption);
 	RUN_TEST(test_corrupt_table);
 	RUN_TEST(test_corrupt_table_empty);
 	RUN_TEST(test_log_write_read);
diff --git a/reftable/record.c b/reftable/record.c
index 6a5dac32dc..fbaa1fbef5 100644
--- a/reftable/record.c
+++ b/reftable/record.c
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
 #include "reftable-error.h"
 #include "basics.h"
 
+static struct reftable_record_vtable *
+reftable_record_vtable(struct reftable_record *rec);
+static void *reftable_record_data(struct reftable_record *rec);
+
 int get_var_int(uint64_t *dest, struct string_view *in)
 {
 	int ptr = 0;
@@ -72,7 +76,7 @@ int reftable_is_block_type(uint8_t typ)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val1(struct reftable_ref_record *rec)
+uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val1(const struct reftable_ref_record *rec)
 {
 	switch (rec->value_type) {
 	case REFTABLE_REF_VAL1:
@@ -84,7 +88,7 @@ uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val1(struct reftable_ref_record *rec)
 	}
 }
 
-uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val2(struct reftable_ref_record *rec)
+uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val2(const struct reftable_ref_record *rec)
 {
 	switch (rec->value_type) {
 	case REFTABLE_REF_VAL2:
@@ -251,24 +255,24 @@ static void hex_format(char *dest, uint8_t *src, int hash_size)
 	}
 }
 
-void reftable_ref_record_print(struct reftable_ref_record *ref,
-			       uint32_t hash_id)
+static void reftable_ref_record_print_sz(const struct reftable_ref_record *ref,
+					 int hash_size)
 {
-	char hex[2 * GIT_SHA256_RAWSZ + 1] = { 0 }; /* BUG */
+	char hex[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = { 0 }; /* BUG */
 	printf("ref{%s(%" PRIu64 ") ", ref->refname, ref->update_index);
 	switch (ref->value_type) {
 	case REFTABLE_REF_SYMREF:
 		printf("=> %s", ref->value.symref);
 		break;
 	case REFTABLE_REF_VAL2:
-		hex_format(hex, ref->value.val2.value, hash_size(hash_id));
+		hex_format(hex, ref->value.val2.value, hash_size);
 		printf("val 2 %s", hex);
 		hex_format(hex, ref->value.val2.target_value,
-			   hash_size(hash_id));
+			   hash_size);
 		printf("(T %s)", hex);
 		break;
 	case REFTABLE_REF_VAL1:
-		hex_format(hex, ref->value.val1, hash_size(hash_id));
+		hex_format(hex, ref->value.val1, hash_size);
 		printf("val 1 %s", hex);
 		break;
 	case REFTABLE_REF_DELETION:
@@ -278,6 +282,11 @@ void reftable_ref_record_print(struct reftable_ref_record *ref,
 	printf("}\n");
 }
 
+void reftable_ref_record_print(const struct reftable_ref_record *ref,
+			       uint32_t hash_id) {
+	reftable_ref_record_print_sz(ref, hash_size(hash_id));
+}
+
 static void reftable_ref_record_release_void(void *rec)
 {
 	reftable_ref_record_release(rec);
@@ -430,6 +439,21 @@ static int reftable_ref_record_is_deletion_void(const void *p)
 		(const struct reftable_ref_record *)p);
 }
 
+
+static int reftable_ref_record_equal_void(const void *a,
+					  const void *b, int hash_size)
+{
+	struct reftable_ref_record *ra = (struct reftable_ref_record *) a;
+	struct reftable_ref_record *rb = (struct reftable_ref_record *) b;
+	return reftable_ref_record_equal(ra, rb, hash_size);
+}
+
+static void reftable_ref_record_print_void(const void *rec,
+					   int hash_size)
+{
+	reftable_ref_record_print_sz((struct reftable_ref_record *) rec, hash_size);
+}
+
 static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_ref_record_vtable = {
 	.key = &reftable_ref_record_key,
 	.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
@@ -439,6 +463,8 @@ static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_ref_record_vtable = {
 	.decode = &reftable_ref_record_decode,
 	.release = &reftable_ref_record_release_void,
 	.is_deletion = &reftable_ref_record_is_deletion_void,
+	.equal = &reftable_ref_record_equal_void,
+	.print = &reftable_ref_record_print_void,
 };
 
 static void reftable_obj_record_key(const void *r, struct strbuf *dest)
@@ -457,6 +483,21 @@ static void reftable_obj_record_release(void *rec)
 	memset(obj, 0, sizeof(struct reftable_obj_record));
 }
 
+static void reftable_obj_record_print(const void *rec, int hash_size)
+{
+	const struct reftable_obj_record *obj = rec;
+	char hex[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = { 0 };
+	struct strbuf offset_str = STRBUF_INIT;
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < obj->offset_len; i++)
+		strbuf_addf(&offset_str, "%" PRIu64 " ", obj->offsets[i]);
+	hex_format(hex, obj->hash_prefix, obj->hash_prefix_len);
+	printf("prefix %s (len %d), offsets [%s]\n",
+	       hex, obj->hash_prefix_len, offset_str.buf);
+	strbuf_release(&offset_str);
+}
+
 static void reftable_obj_record_copy_from(void *rec, const void *src_rec,
 					  int hash_size)
 {
@@ -465,12 +506,14 @@ static void reftable_obj_record_copy_from(void *rec, const void *src_rec,
 		(const struct reftable_obj_record *)src_rec;
 
 	reftable_obj_record_release(obj);
-	*obj = *src;
-	obj->hash_prefix = reftable_malloc(obj->hash_prefix_len);
-	memcpy(obj->hash_prefix, src->hash_prefix, obj->hash_prefix_len);
+	obj->hash_prefix = reftable_malloc(src->hash_prefix_len);
+	obj->hash_prefix_len = src->hash_prefix_len;
+	if (src->hash_prefix_len)
+		memcpy(obj->hash_prefix, src->hash_prefix, obj->hash_prefix_len);
 
-	obj->offsets = reftable_malloc(obj->offset_len * sizeof(uint64_t));
-	COPY_ARRAY(obj->offsets, src->offsets, obj->offset_len);
+	obj->offsets = reftable_malloc(src->offset_len * sizeof(uint64_t));
+	obj->offset_len = src->offset_len;
+	COPY_ARRAY(obj->offsets, src->offsets, src->offset_len);
 }
 
 static uint8_t reftable_obj_record_val_type(const void *rec)
@@ -572,6 +615,25 @@ static int not_a_deletion(const void *p)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int reftable_obj_record_equal_void(const void *a, const void *b, int hash_size)
+{
+	struct reftable_obj_record *ra = (struct reftable_obj_record *) a;
+	struct reftable_obj_record *rb = (struct reftable_obj_record *) b;
+
+	if (ra->hash_prefix_len != rb->hash_prefix_len
+	    || ra->offset_len != rb->offset_len)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (ra->hash_prefix_len &&
+	    memcmp(ra->hash_prefix, rb->hash_prefix, ra->hash_prefix_len))
+		return 0;
+	if (ra->offset_len &&
+	    memcmp(ra->offsets, rb->offsets, ra->offset_len * sizeof(uint64_t)))
+		return 0;
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
 static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_obj_record_vtable = {
 	.key = &reftable_obj_record_key,
 	.type = BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ,
@@ -580,32 +642,43 @@ static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_obj_record_vtable = {
 	.encode = &reftable_obj_record_encode,
 	.decode = &reftable_obj_record_decode,
 	.release = &reftable_obj_record_release,
-	.is_deletion = not_a_deletion,
+	.is_deletion = &not_a_deletion,
+	.equal = &reftable_obj_record_equal_void,
+	.print = &reftable_obj_record_print,
 };
 
-void reftable_log_record_print(struct reftable_log_record *log,
-			       uint32_t hash_id)
+static void reftable_log_record_print_sz(struct reftable_log_record *log,
+					 int hash_size)
 {
-	char hex[GIT_SHA256_RAWSZ + 1] = { 0 };
+	char hex[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1] = { 0 };
 
 	switch (log->value_type) {
 	case REFTABLE_LOG_DELETION:
-		printf("log{%s(%" PRIu64 ") delete", log->refname,
+		printf("log{%s(%" PRIu64 ") delete\n", log->refname,
 		       log->update_index);
 		break;
 	case REFTABLE_LOG_UPDATE:
 		printf("log{%s(%" PRIu64 ") %s <%s> %" PRIu64 " %04d\n",
-		       log->refname, log->update_index, log->value.update.name,
-		       log->value.update.email, log->value.update.time,
+		       log->refname, log->update_index,
+		       log->value.update.name ? log->value.update.name : "",
+		       log->value.update.email ? log->value.update.email : "",
+		       log->value.update.time,
 		       log->value.update.tz_offset);
-		hex_format(hex, log->value.update.old_hash, hash_size(hash_id));
+		hex_format(hex, log->value.update.old_hash, hash_size);
 		printf("%s => ", hex);
-		hex_format(hex, log->value.update.new_hash, hash_size(hash_id));
-		printf("%s\n\n%s\n}\n", hex, log->value.update.message);
+		hex_format(hex, log->value.update.new_hash, hash_size);
+		printf("%s\n\n%s\n}\n", hex,
+		       log->value.update.message ? log->value.update.message : "");
 		break;
 	}
 }
 
+void reftable_log_record_print(struct reftable_log_record *log,
+				      uint32_t hash_id)
+{
+	reftable_log_record_print_sz(log, hash_size(hash_id));
+}
+
 static void reftable_log_record_key(const void *r, struct strbuf *dest)
 {
 	const struct reftable_log_record *rec =
@@ -881,8 +954,16 @@ static int zero_hash_eq(uint8_t *a, uint8_t *b, int sz)
 	return !memcmp(a, b, sz);
 }
 
-int reftable_log_record_equal(struct reftable_log_record *a,
-			      struct reftable_log_record *b, int hash_size)
+static int reftable_log_record_equal_void(const void *a,
+					  const void *b, int hash_size)
+{
+	return reftable_log_record_equal((struct reftable_log_record *) a,
+					 (struct reftable_log_record *) b,
+					 hash_size);
+}
+
+int reftable_log_record_equal(const struct reftable_log_record *a,
+			      const struct reftable_log_record *b, int hash_size)
 {
 	if (!(null_streq(a->refname, b->refname) &&
 	      a->update_index == b->update_index &&
@@ -915,6 +996,11 @@ static int reftable_log_record_is_deletion_void(const void *p)
 		(const struct reftable_log_record *)p);
 }
 
+static void reftable_log_record_print_void(const void *rec, int hash_size)
+{
+	reftable_log_record_print_sz((struct reftable_log_record*)rec, hash_size);
+}
+
 static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_log_record_vtable = {
 	.key = &reftable_log_record_key,
 	.type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
@@ -924,60 +1010,10 @@ static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_log_record_vtable = {
 	.decode = &reftable_log_record_decode,
 	.release = &reftable_log_record_release_void,
 	.is_deletion = &reftable_log_record_is_deletion_void,
+	.equal = &reftable_log_record_equal_void,
+	.print = &reftable_log_record_print_void,
 };
 
-struct reftable_record reftable_new_record(uint8_t typ)
-{
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	switch (typ) {
-	case BLOCK_TYPE_REF: {
-		struct reftable_ref_record *r =
-			reftable_calloc(sizeof(struct reftable_ref_record));
-		reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, r);
-		return rec;
-	}
-
-	case BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ: {
-		struct reftable_obj_record *r =
-			reftable_calloc(sizeof(struct reftable_obj_record));
-		reftable_record_from_obj(&rec, r);
-		return rec;
-	}
-	case BLOCK_TYPE_LOG: {
-		struct reftable_log_record *r =
-			reftable_calloc(sizeof(struct reftable_log_record));
-		reftable_record_from_log(&rec, r);
-		return rec;
-	}
-	case BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX: {
-		struct reftable_index_record empty = { .last_key =
-							       STRBUF_INIT };
-		struct reftable_index_record *r =
-			reftable_calloc(sizeof(struct reftable_index_record));
-		*r = empty;
-		reftable_record_from_index(&rec, r);
-		return rec;
-	}
-	}
-	abort();
-	return rec;
-}
-
-/* clear out the record, yielding the reftable_record data that was
- * encapsulated. */
-static void *reftable_record_yield(struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	void *p = rec->data;
-	rec->data = NULL;
-	return p;
-}
-
-void reftable_record_destroy(struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	reftable_record_release(rec);
-	reftable_free(reftable_record_yield(rec));
-}
-
 static void reftable_index_record_key(const void *r, struct strbuf *dest)
 {
 	const struct reftable_index_record *rec = r;
@@ -1042,6 +1078,21 @@ static int reftable_index_record_decode(void *rec, struct strbuf key,
 	return start.len - in.len;
 }
 
+static int reftable_index_record_equal(const void *a, const void *b, int hash_size)
+{
+	struct reftable_index_record *ia = (struct reftable_index_record *) a;
+	struct reftable_index_record *ib = (struct reftable_index_record *) b;
+
+	return ia->offset == ib->offset && !strbuf_cmp(&ia->last_key, &ib->last_key);
+}
+
+static void reftable_index_record_print(const void *rec, int hash_size)
+{
+	const struct reftable_index_record *idx = rec;
+	/* TODO: escape null chars? */
+	printf("\"%s\" %" PRIu64 "\n", idx->last_key.buf, idx->offset);
+}
+
 static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_index_record_vtable = {
 	.key = &reftable_index_record_key,
 	.type = BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX,
@@ -1051,95 +1102,66 @@ static struct reftable_record_vtable reftable_index_record_vtable = {
 	.decode = &reftable_index_record_decode,
 	.release = &reftable_index_record_release,
 	.is_deletion = &not_a_deletion,
+	.equal = &reftable_index_record_equal,
+	.print = &reftable_index_record_print,
 };
 
 void reftable_record_key(struct reftable_record *rec, struct strbuf *dest)
 {
-	rec->ops->key(rec->data, dest);
+	reftable_record_vtable(rec)->key(reftable_record_data(rec), dest);
 }
 
 uint8_t reftable_record_type(struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
-	return rec->ops->type;
+	return rec->type;
 }
 
 int reftable_record_encode(struct reftable_record *rec, struct string_view dest,
 			   int hash_size)
 {
-	return rec->ops->encode(rec->data, dest, hash_size);
+	return reftable_record_vtable(rec)->encode(reftable_record_data(rec),
+						   dest, hash_size);
 }
 
 void reftable_record_copy_from(struct reftable_record *rec,
 			       struct reftable_record *src, int hash_size)
 {
-	assert(src->ops->type == rec->ops->type);
+	assert(src->type == rec->type);
 
-	rec->ops->copy_from(rec->data, src->data, hash_size);
+	reftable_record_vtable(rec)->copy_from(reftable_record_data(rec),
+					       reftable_record_data(src),
+					       hash_size);
 }
 
 uint8_t reftable_record_val_type(struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
-	return rec->ops->val_type(rec->data);
+	return reftable_record_vtable(rec)->val_type(reftable_record_data(rec));
 }
 
 int reftable_record_decode(struct reftable_record *rec, struct strbuf key,
 			   uint8_t extra, struct string_view src, int hash_size)
 {
-	return rec->ops->decode(rec->data, key, extra, src, hash_size);
+	return reftable_record_vtable(rec)->decode(reftable_record_data(rec),
+						   key, extra, src, hash_size);
 }
 
 void reftable_record_release(struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
-	rec->ops->release(rec->data);
+	reftable_record_vtable(rec)->release(reftable_record_data(rec));
 }
 
 int reftable_record_is_deletion(struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
-	return rec->ops->is_deletion(rec->data);
+	return reftable_record_vtable(rec)->is_deletion(
+		reftable_record_data(rec));
 }
 
-void reftable_record_from_ref(struct reftable_record *rec,
-			      struct reftable_ref_record *ref_rec)
+int reftable_record_equal(struct reftable_record *a, struct reftable_record *b, int hash_size)
 {
-	assert(!rec->ops);
-	rec->data = ref_rec;
-	rec->ops = &reftable_ref_record_vtable;
-}
-
-void reftable_record_from_obj(struct reftable_record *rec,
-			      struct reftable_obj_record *obj_rec)
-{
-	assert(!rec->ops);
-	rec->data = obj_rec;
-	rec->ops = &reftable_obj_record_vtable;
-}
-
-void reftable_record_from_index(struct reftable_record *rec,
-				struct reftable_index_record *index_rec)
-{
-	assert(!rec->ops);
-	rec->data = index_rec;
-	rec->ops = &reftable_index_record_vtable;
-}
-
-void reftable_record_from_log(struct reftable_record *rec,
-			      struct reftable_log_record *log_rec)
-{
-	assert(!rec->ops);
-	rec->data = log_rec;
-	rec->ops = &reftable_log_record_vtable;
-}
-
-struct reftable_ref_record *reftable_record_as_ref(struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	assert(reftable_record_type(rec) == BLOCK_TYPE_REF);
-	return rec->data;
-}
-
-struct reftable_log_record *reftable_record_as_log(struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	assert(reftable_record_type(rec) == BLOCK_TYPE_LOG);
-	return rec->data;
+	if (a->type != b->type)
+		return 0;
+	return reftable_record_vtable(a)->equal(
+		reftable_record_data(a), reftable_record_data(b), hash_size);
 }
 
 static int hash_equal(uint8_t *a, uint8_t *b, int hash_size)
@@ -1150,13 +1172,15 @@ static int hash_equal(uint8_t *a, uint8_t *b, int hash_size)
 	return a == b;
 }
 
-int reftable_ref_record_equal(struct reftable_ref_record *a,
-			      struct reftable_ref_record *b, int hash_size)
+int reftable_ref_record_equal(const struct reftable_ref_record *a,
+			      const struct reftable_ref_record *b, int hash_size)
 {
 	assert(hash_size > 0);
-	if (!(0 == strcmp(a->refname, b->refname) &&
-	      a->update_index == b->update_index &&
-	      a->value_type == b->value_type))
+	if (!null_streq(a->refname, b->refname))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (a->update_index != b->update_index ||
+	    a->value_type != b->value_type)
 		return 0;
 
 	switch (a->value_type) {
@@ -1210,3 +1234,81 @@ void string_view_consume(struct string_view *s, int n)
 	s->buf += n;
 	s->len -= n;
 }
+
+static void *reftable_record_data(struct reftable_record *rec)
+{
+	switch (rec->type) {
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_REF:
+		return &rec->u.ref;
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_LOG:
+		return &rec->u.log;
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX:
+		return &rec->u.idx;
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ:
+		return &rec->u.obj;
+	}
+	abort();
+}
+
+static struct reftable_record_vtable *
+reftable_record_vtable(struct reftable_record *rec)
+{
+	switch (rec->type) {
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_REF:
+		return &reftable_ref_record_vtable;
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_LOG:
+		return &reftable_log_record_vtable;
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX:
+		return &reftable_index_record_vtable;
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ:
+		return &reftable_obj_record_vtable;
+	}
+	abort();
+}
+
+struct reftable_record reftable_new_record(uint8_t typ)
+{
+	struct reftable_record clean = {
+		.type = typ,
+	};
+
+	/* the following is involved, but the naive solution (just return
+	 * `clean` as is, except for BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX), returns a garbage
+	 * clean.u.obj.offsets pointer on Windows VS CI.  Go figure.
+	 */
+	switch (typ) {
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ:
+	{
+		struct reftable_obj_record obj = { 0 };
+		clean.u.obj = obj;
+		break;
+	}
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX:
+	{
+		struct reftable_index_record idx = {
+			.last_key = STRBUF_INIT,
+		};
+		clean.u.idx = idx;
+		break;
+	}
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_REF:
+	{
+		struct reftable_ref_record ref = { 0 };
+		clean.u.ref = ref;
+		break;
+	}
+	case BLOCK_TYPE_LOG:
+	{
+		struct reftable_log_record log = { 0 };
+		clean.u.log = log;
+		break;
+	}
+	}
+	return clean;
+}
+
+void reftable_record_print(struct reftable_record *rec, int hash_size)
+{
+	printf("'%c': ", rec->type);
+	reftable_record_vtable(rec)->print(reftable_record_data(rec), hash_size);
+}
diff --git a/reftable/record.h b/reftable/record.h
index 498e8c50bf..fd80cd451d 100644
--- a/reftable/record.h
+++ b/reftable/record.h
@@ -58,18 +58,18 @@ struct reftable_record_vtable {
 
 	/* is this a tombstone? */
 	int (*is_deletion)(const void *rec);
-};
 
-/* record is a generic wrapper for different types of records. */
-struct reftable_record {
-	void *data;
-	struct reftable_record_vtable *ops;
+	/* Are two records equal? This assumes they have the same type. Returns 0 for non-equal. */
+	int (*equal)(const void *a, const void *b, int hash_size);
+
+	/* Print on stdout, for debugging. */
+	void (*print)(const void *rec, int hash_size);
 };
 
 /* returns true for recognized block types. Block start with the block type. */
 int reftable_is_block_type(uint8_t typ);
 
-/* creates a malloced record of the given type. Dispose with record_destroy */
+/* return an initialized record for the given type */
 struct reftable_record reftable_new_record(uint8_t typ);
 
 /* Encode `key` into `dest`. Sets `is_restart` to indicate a restart. Returns
@@ -97,8 +97,25 @@ struct reftable_obj_record {
 	int offset_len;
 };
 
-/* see struct record_vtable */
+/* record is a generic wrapper for different types of records. It is normally
+ * created on the stack, or embedded within another struct. If the type is
+ * known, a fresh instance can be initialized explicitly. Otherwise, use
+ * reftable_new_record() to initialize generically (as the index_record is not
+ * valid as 0-initialized structure)
+ */
+struct reftable_record {
+	uint8_t type;
+	union {
+		struct reftable_ref_record ref;
+		struct reftable_log_record log;
+		struct reftable_obj_record obj;
+		struct reftable_index_record idx;
+	} u;
+};
 
+/* see struct record_vtable */
+int reftable_record_equal(struct reftable_record *a, struct reftable_record *b, int hash_size);
+void reftable_record_print(struct reftable_record *rec, int hash_size);
 void reftable_record_key(struct reftable_record *rec, struct strbuf *dest);
 uint8_t reftable_record_type(struct reftable_record *rec);
 void reftable_record_copy_from(struct reftable_record *rec,
@@ -111,25 +128,9 @@ int reftable_record_decode(struct reftable_record *rec, struct strbuf key,
 			   int hash_size);
 int reftable_record_is_deletion(struct reftable_record *rec);
 
-/* zeroes out the embedded record */
+/* frees and zeroes out the embedded record */
 void reftable_record_release(struct reftable_record *rec);
 
-/* clear and deallocate embedded record, and zero `rec`. */
-void reftable_record_destroy(struct reftable_record *rec);
-
-/* initialize generic records from concrete records. The generic record should
- * be zeroed out. */
-void reftable_record_from_obj(struct reftable_record *rec,
-			      struct reftable_obj_record *objrec);
-void reftable_record_from_index(struct reftable_record *rec,
-				struct reftable_index_record *idxrec);
-void reftable_record_from_ref(struct reftable_record *rec,
-			      struct reftable_ref_record *refrec);
-void reftable_record_from_log(struct reftable_record *rec,
-			      struct reftable_log_record *logrec);
-struct reftable_ref_record *reftable_record_as_ref(struct reftable_record *ref);
-struct reftable_log_record *reftable_record_as_log(struct reftable_record *ref);
-
 /* for qsort. */
 int reftable_ref_record_compare_name(const void *a, const void *b);
 
diff --git a/reftable/record_test.c b/reftable/record_test.c
index f4ad7cace4..f91ea5e883 100644
--- a/reftable/record_test.c
+++ b/reftable/record_test.c
@@ -16,24 +16,20 @@
 
 static void test_copy(struct reftable_record *rec)
 {
-	struct reftable_record copy =
-		reftable_new_record(reftable_record_type(rec));
+	struct reftable_record copy = { 0 };
+	uint8_t typ;
+
+	typ = reftable_record_type(rec);
+	copy = reftable_new_record(typ);
 	reftable_record_copy_from(&copy, rec, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 	/* do it twice to catch memory leaks */
 	reftable_record_copy_from(&copy, rec, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
-	switch (reftable_record_type(&copy)) {
-	case BLOCK_TYPE_REF:
-		EXPECT(reftable_ref_record_equal(reftable_record_as_ref(&copy),
-						 reftable_record_as_ref(rec),
-						 GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
-		break;
-	case BLOCK_TYPE_LOG:
-		EXPECT(reftable_log_record_equal(reftable_record_as_log(&copy),
-						 reftable_record_as_log(rec),
-						 GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
-		break;
-	}
-	reftable_record_destroy(&copy);
+	EXPECT(reftable_record_equal(rec, &copy, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
+
+	puts("testing print coverage:\n");
+	reftable_record_print(&copy, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+
+	reftable_record_release(&copy);
 }
 
 static void test_varint_roundtrip(void)
@@ -106,61 +102,58 @@ static void test_reftable_ref_record_roundtrip(void)
 	int i = 0;
 
 	for (i = REFTABLE_REF_DELETION; i < REFTABLE_NR_REF_VALUETYPES; i++) {
-		struct reftable_ref_record in = { NULL };
-		struct reftable_ref_record out = { NULL };
-		struct reftable_record rec_out = { NULL };
+		struct reftable_record in = {
+			.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+		};
+		struct reftable_record out = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF };
 		struct strbuf key = STRBUF_INIT;
-		struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
 		uint8_t buffer[1024] = { 0 };
 		struct string_view dest = {
 			.buf = buffer,
 			.len = sizeof(buffer),
 		};
-
 		int n, m;
 
-		in.value_type = i;
+		in.u.ref.value_type = i;
 		switch (i) {
 		case REFTABLE_REF_DELETION:
 			break;
 		case REFTABLE_REF_VAL1:
-			in.value.val1 = reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
-			set_hash(in.value.val1, 1);
+			in.u.ref.value.val1 = reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+			set_hash(in.u.ref.value.val1, 1);
 			break;
 		case REFTABLE_REF_VAL2:
-			in.value.val2.value = reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
-			set_hash(in.value.val2.value, 1);
-			in.value.val2.target_value =
+			in.u.ref.value.val2.value =
 				reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
-			set_hash(in.value.val2.target_value, 2);
+			set_hash(in.u.ref.value.val2.value, 1);
+			in.u.ref.value.val2.target_value =
+				reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+			set_hash(in.u.ref.value.val2.target_value, 2);
 			break;
 		case REFTABLE_REF_SYMREF:
-			in.value.symref = xstrdup("target");
+			in.u.ref.value.symref = xstrdup("target");
 			break;
 		}
-		in.refname = xstrdup("refs/heads/master");
+		in.u.ref.refname = xstrdup("refs/heads/master");
 
-		reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &in);
-		test_copy(&rec);
+		test_copy(&in);
 
-		EXPECT(reftable_record_val_type(&rec) == i);
+		EXPECT(reftable_record_val_type(&in) == i);
 
-		reftable_record_key(&rec, &key);
-		n = reftable_record_encode(&rec, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+		reftable_record_key(&in, &key);
+		n = reftable_record_encode(&in, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 		EXPECT(n > 0);
 
 		/* decode into a non-zero reftable_record to test for leaks. */
-
-		reftable_record_from_ref(&rec_out, &out);
-		m = reftable_record_decode(&rec_out, key, i, dest,
-					   GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+		m = reftable_record_decode(&out, key, i, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 		EXPECT(n == m);
 
-		EXPECT(reftable_ref_record_equal(&in, &out, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
-		reftable_record_release(&rec_out);
+		EXPECT(reftable_ref_record_equal(&in.u.ref, &out.u.ref,
+						 GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
+		reftable_record_release(&in);
 
 		strbuf_release(&key);
-		reftable_ref_record_release(&in);
+		reftable_record_release(&out);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -187,7 +180,8 @@ static void test_reftable_log_record_equal(void)
 static void test_reftable_log_record_roundtrip(void)
 {
 	int i;
-	struct reftable_log_record in[2] = {
+
+	struct reftable_log_record in[] = {
 		{
 			.refname = xstrdup("refs/heads/master"),
 			.update_index = 42,
@@ -208,12 +202,26 @@ static void test_reftable_log_record_roundtrip(void)
 			.refname = xstrdup("refs/heads/master"),
 			.update_index = 22,
 			.value_type = REFTABLE_LOG_DELETION,
+		},
+		{
+			.refname = xstrdup("branch"),
+			.update_index = 33,
+			.value_type = REFTABLE_LOG_UPDATE,
+			.value = {
+				.update = {
+					.old_hash = reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ),
+					.new_hash = reftable_malloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ),
+					/* rest of fields left empty. */
+				},
+			},
 		}
 	};
 	set_test_hash(in[0].value.update.new_hash, 1);
 	set_test_hash(in[0].value.update.old_hash, 2);
+	set_test_hash(in[2].value.update.new_hash, 3);
+	set_test_hash(in[2].value.update.old_hash, 4);
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(in); i++) {
-		struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
+		struct reftable_record rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG };
 		struct strbuf key = STRBUF_INIT;
 		uint8_t buffer[1024] = { 0 };
 		struct string_view dest = {
@@ -221,23 +229,25 @@ static void test_reftable_log_record_roundtrip(void)
 			.len = sizeof(buffer),
 		};
 		/* populate out, to check for leaks. */
-		struct reftable_log_record out = {
-			.refname = xstrdup("old name"),
-			.value_type = REFTABLE_LOG_UPDATE,
-			.value = {
-				.update = {
-					.new_hash = reftable_calloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ),
-					.old_hash = reftable_calloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ),
-					.name = xstrdup("old name"),
-					.email = xstrdup("old@email"),
-					.message = xstrdup("old message"),
+		struct reftable_record out = {
+			.type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+			.u.log = {
+				.refname = xstrdup("old name"),
+				.value_type = REFTABLE_LOG_UPDATE,
+				.value = {
+					.update = {
+						.new_hash = reftable_calloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ),
+						.old_hash = reftable_calloc(GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ),
+						.name = xstrdup("old name"),
+						.email = xstrdup("old@email"),
+						.message = xstrdup("old message"),
+					},
 				},
 			},
 		};
-		struct reftable_record rec_out = { NULL };
 		int n, m, valtype;
 
-		reftable_record_from_log(&rec, &in[i]);
+		rec.u.log = in[i];
 
 		test_copy(&rec);
 
@@ -245,16 +255,16 @@ static void test_reftable_log_record_roundtrip(void)
 
 		n = reftable_record_encode(&rec, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 		EXPECT(n >= 0);
-		reftable_record_from_log(&rec_out, &out);
 		valtype = reftable_record_val_type(&rec);
-		m = reftable_record_decode(&rec_out, key, valtype, dest,
+		m = reftable_record_decode(&out, key, valtype, dest,
 					   GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 		EXPECT(n == m);
 
-		EXPECT(reftable_log_record_equal(&in[i], &out, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
+		EXPECT(reftable_log_record_equal(&in[i], &out.u.log,
+						 GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
 		reftable_log_record_release(&in[i]);
 		strbuf_release(&key);
-		reftable_record_release(&rec_out);
+		reftable_record_release(&out);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -322,47 +332,43 @@ static void test_reftable_obj_record_roundtrip(void)
 					       } };
 	int i = 0;
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(recs); i++) {
-		struct reftable_obj_record in = recs[i];
 		uint8_t buffer[1024] = { 0 };
 		struct string_view dest = {
 			.buf = buffer,
 			.len = sizeof(buffer),
 		};
-		struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
+		struct reftable_record in = {
+			.type = BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ,
+			.u.obj = recs[i],
+		};
 		struct strbuf key = STRBUF_INIT;
-		struct reftable_obj_record out = { NULL };
-		struct reftable_record rec_out = { NULL };
+		struct reftable_record out = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ };
 		int n, m;
 		uint8_t extra;
 
-		reftable_record_from_obj(&rec, &in);
-		test_copy(&rec);
-		reftable_record_key(&rec, &key);
-		n = reftable_record_encode(&rec, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+		test_copy(&in);
+		reftable_record_key(&in, &key);
+		n = reftable_record_encode(&in, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 		EXPECT(n > 0);
-		extra = reftable_record_val_type(&rec);
-		reftable_record_from_obj(&rec_out, &out);
-		m = reftable_record_decode(&rec_out, key, extra, dest,
+		extra = reftable_record_val_type(&in);
+		m = reftable_record_decode(&out, key, extra, dest,
 					   GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 		EXPECT(n == m);
 
-		EXPECT(in.hash_prefix_len == out.hash_prefix_len);
-		EXPECT(in.offset_len == out.offset_len);
-
-		EXPECT(!memcmp(in.hash_prefix, out.hash_prefix,
-			       in.hash_prefix_len));
-		EXPECT(0 == memcmp(in.offsets, out.offsets,
-				   sizeof(uint64_t) * in.offset_len));
+		EXPECT(reftable_record_equal(&in, &out, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
 		strbuf_release(&key);
-		reftable_record_release(&rec_out);
+		reftable_record_release(&out);
 	}
 }
 
 static void test_reftable_index_record_roundtrip(void)
 {
-	struct reftable_index_record in = {
-		.offset = 42,
-		.last_key = STRBUF_INIT,
+	struct reftable_record in = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX,
+		.u.idx = {
+			.offset = 42,
+			.last_key = STRBUF_INIT,
+		},
 	};
 	uint8_t buffer[1024] = { 0 };
 	struct string_view dest = {
@@ -370,31 +376,30 @@ static void test_reftable_index_record_roundtrip(void)
 		.len = sizeof(buffer),
 	};
 	struct strbuf key = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	struct reftable_index_record out = { .last_key = STRBUF_INIT };
-	struct reftable_record out_rec = { NULL };
+	struct reftable_record out = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX,
+		.u.idx = { .last_key = STRBUF_INIT },
+	};
 	int n, m;
 	uint8_t extra;
 
-	strbuf_addstr(&in.last_key, "refs/heads/master");
-	reftable_record_from_index(&rec, &in);
-	reftable_record_key(&rec, &key);
-	test_copy(&rec);
+	strbuf_addstr(&in.u.idx.last_key, "refs/heads/master");
+	reftable_record_key(&in, &key);
+	test_copy(&in);
 
-	EXPECT(0 == strbuf_cmp(&key, &in.last_key));
-	n = reftable_record_encode(&rec, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+	EXPECT(0 == strbuf_cmp(&key, &in.u.idx.last_key));
+	n = reftable_record_encode(&in, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 	EXPECT(n > 0);
 
-	extra = reftable_record_val_type(&rec);
-	reftable_record_from_index(&out_rec, &out);
-	m = reftable_record_decode(&out_rec, key, extra, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
+	extra = reftable_record_val_type(&in);
+	m = reftable_record_decode(&out, key, extra, dest, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ);
 	EXPECT(m == n);
 
-	EXPECT(in.offset == out.offset);
+	EXPECT(reftable_record_equal(&in, &out, GIT_SHA1_RAWSZ));
 
-	reftable_record_release(&out_rec);
+	reftable_record_release(&out);
 	strbuf_release(&key);
-	strbuf_release(&in.last_key);
+	strbuf_release(&in.u.idx.last_key);
 }
 
 int record_test_main(int argc, const char *argv[])
diff --git a/reftable/reftable-record.h b/reftable/reftable-record.h
index 5370d2288c..67104f8fbf 100644
--- a/reftable/reftable-record.h
+++ b/reftable/reftable-record.h
@@ -49,25 +49,25 @@ struct reftable_ref_record {
 
 /* Returns the first hash, or NULL if `rec` is not of type
  * REFTABLE_REF_VAL1 or REFTABLE_REF_VAL2. */
-uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val1(struct reftable_ref_record *rec);
+uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val1(const struct reftable_ref_record *rec);
 
 /* Returns the second hash, or NULL if `rec` is not of type
  * REFTABLE_REF_VAL2. */
-uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val2(struct reftable_ref_record *rec);
+uint8_t *reftable_ref_record_val2(const struct reftable_ref_record *rec);
 
 /* returns whether 'ref' represents a deletion */
 int reftable_ref_record_is_deletion(const struct reftable_ref_record *ref);
 
 /* prints a reftable_ref_record onto stdout. Useful for debugging. */
-void reftable_ref_record_print(struct reftable_ref_record *ref,
+void reftable_ref_record_print(const struct reftable_ref_record *ref,
 			       uint32_t hash_id);
 
 /* frees and nulls all pointer values inside `ref`. */
 void reftable_ref_record_release(struct reftable_ref_record *ref);
 
 /* returns whether two reftable_ref_records are the same. Useful for testing. */
-int reftable_ref_record_equal(struct reftable_ref_record *a,
-			      struct reftable_ref_record *b, int hash_size);
+int reftable_ref_record_equal(const struct reftable_ref_record *a,
+			      const struct reftable_ref_record *b, int hash_size);
 
 /* reftable_log_record holds a reflog entry */
 struct reftable_log_record {
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ int reftable_log_record_is_deletion(const struct reftable_log_record *log);
 void reftable_log_record_release(struct reftable_log_record *log);
 
 /* returns whether two records are equal. Useful for testing. */
-int reftable_log_record_equal(struct reftable_log_record *a,
-			      struct reftable_log_record *b, int hash_size);
+int reftable_log_record_equal(const struct reftable_log_record *a,
+			      const struct reftable_log_record *b, int hash_size);
 
 /* dumps a reftable_log_record on stdout, for debugging/testing. */
 void reftable_log_record_print(struct reftable_log_record *log,
diff --git a/reftable/reftable.c b/reftable/reftable.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e4607a7cd..0000000000
--- a/reftable/reftable.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,115 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2020 Google LLC
-
-Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
-license that can be found in the LICENSE file or at
-https://developers.google.com/open-source/licenses/bsd
-*/
-
-#include "basics.h"
-#include "record.h"
-#include "generic.h"
-#include "reftable-iterator.h"
-#include "reftable-generic.h"
-
-int reftable_table_seek_ref(struct reftable_table *tab,
-			    struct reftable_iterator *it, const char *name)
-{
-	struct reftable_ref_record ref = {
-		.refname = (char *)name,
-	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &ref);
-	return tab->ops->seek_record(tab->table_arg, it, &rec);
-}
-
-int reftable_table_read_ref(struct reftable_table *tab, const char *name,
-			    struct reftable_ref_record *ref)
-{
-	struct reftable_iterator it = { NULL };
-	int err = reftable_table_seek_ref(tab, &it, name);
-	if (err)
-		goto done;
-
-	err = reftable_iterator_next_ref(&it, ref);
-	if (err)
-		goto done;
-
-	if (strcmp(ref->refname, name) ||
-	    reftable_ref_record_is_deletion(ref)) {
-		reftable_ref_record_release(ref);
-		err = 1;
-		goto done;
-	}
-
-done:
-	reftable_iterator_destroy(&it);
-	return err;
-}
-
-uint64_t reftable_table_max_update_index(struct reftable_table *tab)
-{
-	return tab->ops->max_update_index(tab->table_arg);
-}
-
-uint64_t reftable_table_min_update_index(struct reftable_table *tab)
-{
-	return tab->ops->min_update_index(tab->table_arg);
-}
-
-uint32_t reftable_table_hash_id(struct reftable_table *tab)
-{
-	return tab->ops->hash_id(tab->table_arg);
-}
-
-void reftable_iterator_destroy(struct reftable_iterator *it)
-{
-	if (!it->ops) {
-		return;
-	}
-	it->ops->close(it->iter_arg);
-	it->ops = NULL;
-	FREE_AND_NULL(it->iter_arg);
-}
-
-int reftable_iterator_next_ref(struct reftable_iterator *it,
-			       struct reftable_ref_record *ref)
-{
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, ref);
-	return iterator_next(it, &rec);
-}
-
-int reftable_iterator_next_log(struct reftable_iterator *it,
-			       struct reftable_log_record *log)
-{
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	reftable_record_from_log(&rec, log);
-	return iterator_next(it, &rec);
-}
-
-int iterator_next(struct reftable_iterator *it, struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	return it->ops->next(it->iter_arg, rec);
-}
-
-static int empty_iterator_next(void *arg, struct reftable_record *rec)
-{
-	return 1;
-}
-
-static void empty_iterator_close(void *arg)
-{
-}
-
-static struct reftable_iterator_vtable empty_vtable = {
-	.next = &empty_iterator_next,
-	.close = &empty_iterator_close,
-};
-
-void iterator_set_empty(struct reftable_iterator *it)
-{
-	assert(!it->ops);
-	it->iter_arg = NULL;
-	it->ops = &empty_vtable;
-}
diff --git a/reftable/stack.c b/reftable/stack.c
index 56bf5f2d84..ddbdf1b9c8 100644
--- a/reftable/stack.c
+++ b/reftable/stack.c
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ static int stack_compact_range(struct reftable_stack *st, int first, int last,
 	struct strbuf new_table_path = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int err = 0;
 	int have_lock = 0;
-	int lock_file_fd = 0;
+	int lock_file_fd = -1;
 	int compact_count = last - first + 1;
 	char **listp = NULL;
 	char **delete_on_success =
@@ -923,7 +923,7 @@ static int stack_compact_range(struct reftable_stack *st, int first, int last,
 	}
 	/* Don't want to write to the lock for now.  */
 	close(lock_file_fd);
-	lock_file_fd = 0;
+	lock_file_fd = -1;
 
 	have_lock = 1;
 	err = stack_uptodate(st);
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ static int stack_compact_range(struct reftable_stack *st, int first, int last,
 		goto done;
 	}
 	err = close(lock_file_fd);
-	lock_file_fd = 0;
+	lock_file_fd = -1;
 	if (err < 0) {
 		err = REFTABLE_IO_ERROR;
 		unlink(new_table_path.buf);
@@ -1068,9 +1068,9 @@ done:
 		listp++;
 	}
 	free_names(subtable_locks);
-	if (lock_file_fd > 0) {
+	if (lock_file_fd >= 0) {
 		close(lock_file_fd);
-		lock_file_fd = 0;
+		lock_file_fd = -1;
 	}
 	if (have_lock) {
 		unlink(lock_file_name.buf);
diff --git a/reftable/stack_test.c b/reftable/stack_test.c
index f4c743db80..19fe4e2008 100644
--- a/reftable/stack_test.c
+++ b/reftable/stack_test.c
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ static void test_read_file(void)
 		EXPECT(0 == strcmp(want[i], names[i]));
 	}
 	free_names(names);
-	remove(fn);
+	(void) remove(fn);
 }
 
 static void test_parse_names(void)
@@ -839,6 +839,7 @@ static void test_reftable_stack_auto_compaction(void)
 		EXPECT_ERR(err);
 
 		err = reftable_stack_auto_compact(st);
+		EXPECT_ERR(err);
 		EXPECT(i < 3 || st->merged->stack_len < 2 * fastlog2(i));
 	}
 
diff --git a/reftable/writer.c b/reftable/writer.c
index 35c8649c9b..944c2329ab 100644
--- a/reftable/writer.c
+++ b/reftable/writer.c
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ void reftable_writer_set_limits(struct reftable_writer *w, uint64_t min,
 
 void reftable_writer_free(struct reftable_writer *w)
 {
+	if (!w)
+		return;
 	reftable_free(w->block);
 	reftable_free(w);
 }
@@ -254,8 +256,10 @@ done:
 int reftable_writer_add_ref(struct reftable_writer *w,
 			    struct reftable_ref_record *ref)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-	struct reftable_ref_record copy = *ref;
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_REF,
+		.u.ref = *ref,
+	};
 	int err = 0;
 
 	if (ref->refname == NULL)
@@ -264,8 +268,7 @@ int reftable_writer_add_ref(struct reftable_writer *w,
 	    ref->update_index > w->max_update_index)
 		return REFTABLE_API_ERROR;
 
-	reftable_record_from_ref(&rec, &copy);
-	copy.update_index -= w->min_update_index;
+	rec.u.ref.update_index -= w->min_update_index;
 
 	err = writer_add_record(w, &rec);
 	if (err < 0)
@@ -304,7 +307,10 @@ int reftable_writer_add_refs(struct reftable_writer *w,
 static int reftable_writer_add_log_verbatim(struct reftable_writer *w,
 					    struct reftable_log_record *log)
 {
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
+	struct reftable_record rec = {
+		.type = BLOCK_TYPE_LOG,
+		.u.log = *log,
+	};
 	if (w->block_writer &&
 	    block_writer_type(w->block_writer) == BLOCK_TYPE_REF) {
 		int err = writer_finish_public_section(w);
@@ -314,8 +320,6 @@ static int reftable_writer_add_log_verbatim(struct reftable_writer *w,
 
 	w->next -= w->pending_padding;
 	w->pending_padding = 0;
-
-	reftable_record_from_log(&rec, log);
 	return writer_add_record(w, &rec);
 }
 
@@ -396,8 +400,10 @@ static int writer_finish_section(struct reftable_writer *w)
 		w->index_len = 0;
 		w->index_cap = 0;
 		for (i = 0; i < idx_len; i++) {
-			struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
-			reftable_record_from_index(&rec, idx + i);
+			struct reftable_record rec = {
+				.type = BLOCK_TYPE_INDEX,
+				.u.idx = idx[i],
+			};
 			if (block_writer_add(w->block_writer, &rec) == 0) {
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -465,17 +471,17 @@ static void write_object_record(void *void_arg, void *key)
 {
 	struct write_record_arg *arg = void_arg;
 	struct obj_index_tree_node *entry = key;
-	struct reftable_obj_record obj_rec = {
-		.hash_prefix = (uint8_t *)entry->hash.buf,
-		.hash_prefix_len = arg->w->stats.object_id_len,
-		.offsets = entry->offsets,
-		.offset_len = entry->offset_len,
-	};
-	struct reftable_record rec = { NULL };
+	struct reftable_record
+		rec = { .type = BLOCK_TYPE_OBJ,
+			.u.obj = {
+				.hash_prefix = (uint8_t *)entry->hash.buf,
+				.hash_prefix_len = arg->w->stats.object_id_len,
+				.offsets = entry->offsets,
+				.offset_len = entry->offset_len,
+			} };
 	if (arg->err < 0)
 		goto done;
 
-	reftable_record_from_obj(&rec, &obj_rec);
 	arg->err = block_writer_add(arg->w->block_writer, &rec);
 	if (arg->err == 0)
 		goto done;
@@ -488,7 +494,8 @@ static void write_object_record(void *void_arg, void *key)
 	arg->err = block_writer_add(arg->w->block_writer, &rec);
 	if (arg->err == 0)
 		goto done;
-	obj_rec.offset_len = 0;
+
+	rec.u.obj.offset_len = 0;
 	arg->err = block_writer_add(arg->w->block_writer, &rec);
 
 	/* Should be able to write into a fresh block. */