fix(classes): defer NEW for DECLARE without a parameterless constructor

A plain DECLARE, field or array element now calls NEW only when the class
has a parameterless one; otherwise the zeroed object waits for
x <- NEW C(...), as in guide section 10.2. DECLARE with parentheses still
requires a matching constructor.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

2 files changed, 8 insertions, 4 deletions

diff --git a/AGENTS/PITFALLS/classes.md b/AGENTS/PITFALLS/classes.md
index 82415d7..ff61439 100644
--- a/AGENTS/PITFALLS/classes.md
+++ b/AGENTS/PITFALLS/classes.md
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@ Part of the [pitfalls index](../PITFALLS.md).
 ## Construction
 
 - PROCEDURE NEW is an ordinary case-insensitive member, also called automatically
-  after zero initialization by DECLARE and assignment-only keyword NEW. Fields and
-  array elements recursively require parameterless construction before the outer NEW.
+  after zero initialization by assignment-only keyword NEW and by DECLARE with
+  parentheses. A plain DECLARE (and fields and array elements, constructed before the
+  outer NEW) calls NEW only when a parameterless NEW exists (`emitDefaultConstruct`);
+  otherwise the zeroed object waits for `x <- NEW C(...)` (guide 10.2).
 - Class variables and BYVAL class parameters use reference slots: keyword NEW rebinds
   them, while ordinary assignment copies into their current object.
 - Fields, array elements, BYREF, this and pointer dereferences receive a value copy
diff --git a/AGENTS/SUBSYSTEMS/CLASS_LIFETIME.md b/AGENTS/SUBSYSTEMS/CLASS_LIFETIME.md
index 3b9ec58..eb7f039 100644
--- a/AGENTS/SUBSYSTEMS/CLASS_LIFETIME.md
+++ b/AGENTS/SUBSYSTEMS/CLASS_LIFETIME.md
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ Part of the [subsystem notes](../SUBSYSTEMS.md). Builds on [classes](CLASSES.md)
   marshalling and exception-aware calls.
 - DECLARE zeroes its original storage on every execution; arrays loop over all flat
   elements and default-construct each one.
-- Constructor argument lists are class-only, and field/array defaults require a
-  parameterless NEW. Explicit NEW method calls do not reconstruct fields.
+- Constructor argument lists are class-only. Plain DECLARE, field and array defaults go
+  through `emitDefaultConstruct`, which calls NEW only when a parameterless one exists
+  (else the object stays zeroed with constructed fields; guide 10.2); DECLARE with
+  parentheses uses `emitConstruct`. Explicit NEW method calls do not reconstruct fields.
 - `SymbolInfo::IsReference` marks a pointer slot for declared class variables and BYVAL
   class parameters; `symbolAddress` loads their current object address for all value,
   lvalue, address-of, receiver and BYREF paths. Field aliases, this and BYREF