+\item While $\exists_{S \in \set S} S \ge W$,
+update $W \assign S$ and $\set S \assign \set S \, \backslash \{ S \}$
+
+(This will often remove $W$ from $\set S$. Afterwards, $\set S$
+is a collection of heads to be merged into $W$.)
+
+\item Choose an ordering of $\set S$, $S_i$ for $i=1 \ldots n$.
+
+\item For each $S_i$ in turn, choose a corresponding $M_i$
+such that $$
+ M_i \le S_i \land \left[
+ M_i \le W \lor \bigexists_{j<i} M_i \le S_j
+ \right]
+$$
+
+\item Set $\Gamma \iassign \depsreqof{W}$.
+
+If there are multiple candidates we prefer $M_i \in \pcn$
+if available.
+
+\item For each $i \ldots 1..n$, update our putative direct
+dependencies:
+$$
+\Gamma \assign \setmergeof{
+ \Gamma
+ }{
+ \begin{cases}
+ M_i \in \pcn : & \depsreqof{M_i} \\
+ M_i \not\in \pcn : & \{ \}
+ \end{cases}
+ }{
+ \depsreqof{S_i}
+ }
+$$
+
+TODO define $\setmerge$
+
+\item Finalise our putative direct dependencies
+$
+\Gamma \assign g(\pc, \Gamma)
+$
+
+\item For each direct dependency $\pd \in \Gamma$,
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+\item Add an edge $\pc \hasdirdep \pd$ to the digraph (adding nodes
+as necessary).
+If this results in a cycle, abort entirely (as the function $g$ is
+inappropriate; a different $g$ could work).
+\item Run $\alg{Rank-Recurse}(\pd)$.
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\subsection{Results of the ranking phase}
+
+By the end of the ranking phase, we have recorded the following
+information:
+
+\begin{itemize}
+\item
+$ \allpatches, \hasdirdep $ and hence the completion of $\hasdirdep$
+into the partial order $\hasdep$.
+
+\item
+For each $\pc \in \allpatches$,
+the base branch starting point commit $W^{\pcn} = W$.
+
+\item
+For each $\pc$,
+the direct dependencies $\Gamma^{\pc} = \Gamma$.
+
+\item
+For each $\pc$,
+the ordered set of base branch sources $\set S^{\pcn} = \set S,
+S^{\pcn}_i = S_i$
+and corresponding merge bases $M^{\pcn}_i = M_i$.
+
+\end{itemize}
+
+\subsection{Proof of termination}
+
+$\alg{Rank-Recurse}(\pc)$ recurses but only downwards through the
+finite graph $\hasdirdep$, so it must terminate.
+
+The whole ranking algorithm iterates but each iteration involves
+adding one or more patches to $\allpatches$. Since there are
+finitely many patches and we never remove anything from $\allpatches$
+this must complete eventually.
+
+$\qed$
+
+\section{Traversal phase --- algorithm}
+
+(In general, unless stated otherwise below, when we generate a new
+commit $C$ using one of the commit kind algorith, we update
+$W \assign C$. In any such case where we say we're going to Merge
+with $L = W$, if $R \ge W$ we do not Merge but instead simply set
+$W \assign R$.)
+
+
+For each patch $\pc \in \allpatches$ in topological order by $\hasdep$,
+lowest first:
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+
+\item Optionally, attempt
+ $\alg{Merge-Base}(\pc)$. This may or may not succeed.
+
+\item If this didn't succeed, or was not attempted, execute
+ $\alg{Recreate-Base}(\pc)$.
+
+\item Then in any case, execute
+ $\alg{Merge-Tip}(\pc)$.
+
+\end{enumerate}
+
+After processing each $\pc$ we will have created:
+
+\begin{itemize}
+
+\item $\tipcn$ and $\tipcy$ such that $\baseof{\tipcy} = \tipcn$.
+
+\end{itemize}
+
+\subsection{$\alg{Merge-Base}(\pc)$}
+
+This algorithm attempts to construct a suitably updated version of the
+base branch $\pcn$ using some existing version of $\pcn$ as a starting
+point.
+
+It should be executed noninteractively. Specifically, if any step
+fails with a merge conflict, the whole thing should be abandoned.
+This avoids asking the user to resolve confusing conflicts. It also
+avoids asking the user to pointlessly resolve conflicts in situations
+where we will later discover that $\alg{Merge-Base}$ wasn't feasible
+after all.
+
+If $\pc$ has only one direct dependency, this algorithm should not be
+used as in that case $\alg{Recreate-Base}$ is trivial and guaranteed
+to generate a perfect answer, whereas this algorithm might involve
+merges and therefore might not produce a perfect answer if the
+situation is complicated.
+
+Initially, set $W \iassign W^{\pcn}$.
+
+\subsubsection{Bases and sources}
+
+In some order, perhaps interleaving the two kinds of merge:
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+
+\item For each $\pd \isdirdep \pc$, find a merge base
+$M \le W,\; \le \tipdy$ and merge $\tipdy$ into $W$.
+That is, use $\alg{Merge}$ with $L = W,\; R = \tipdy$.
+(Dependency Merge.)
+
+\item For each $S \in S^{\pcn}_i$, merge it into $W$.
+That is, use $\alg{Merge}$ with $L = W,\; R = S,\; M = M^{\pcn}_i$.
+(Base Sibling Merge.)
+
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\subsubsection{Fixup}
+
+Execute $\alg{Fixup-Base}(W,\pc)$.
+
+
+\subsection{$\alg{Recreate-Base}(\pc)$}
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+
+\item
+
+Choose a $\hasdep$-maximal direct dependency $\pd$ of $\pc$.
+
+\item
+
+Use $\alg{Create Base}$ with $L$ = $\pdy,\; \pq = \pc$ to generate $C$
+and set $W \iassign C$. (Recreate Base Beginning.)
+
+\item
+
+Execute the subalgorithm $\alg{Recreate-Recurse}(\pc)$.
+
+\item
+
+Declare that we contain all of the relevant information from the
+sources. That is, use $\alg{Pseudo-merge}$ with $L = W, \;
+\set R = \{ W \} \cup \set S^{\pcn}$.
+(Recreate Base Final Declaration.)
+
+\end{enumerate}
+
+\subsubsection{$\alg{Recreate-Recurse}(\pd)$}
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+
+\item Is $W \haspatch \pd$ ? If so, there is nothing to do: return.
+
+\item TODO what about non-Topbloke base branches
+
+\item Use $\alg{Pseudo-Merge}$ with $L = W,\; \set R = \{ \tipdn \}$.
+(Recreate Base Dependency Base Declaration.)
+
+\item For all $\hasdep$-maximal $\pd' \isdirdep \pd$,
+execute $\alg{Recreate-Recurse}(\pd')$.
+
+\item Use $\alg{Merge}$ to apply $\pd$ to $W$. That is,
+$L = W, \; R = \tipdy, \; M = \baseof{R} = \tipdn$.
+(Recreate Reapply.)
+
+\end{enumerate}
+
+
+\subsection{$\alg{Merge-Tip}(\pc)$}
+
+\begin{enumerate}
+
+\item TODO CHOOSE/REFINE W AND S as was done during Ranking for bases
+
+\item $\alg{Merge}$ from $\tipcn$. That is, $L = W, \;
+R = \tipcn$ and choose any suitable $M$. (Tip Base Merge.)
+
+\item For each source $S \in \set S^{\pcy}$,
+$\alg{Merge}$ with $L = W, \; R = S$ and any suitable $M$.
+(Tip Source Merge.)
+
+\end{enumerate}
+
+
+\section{Traversal phase --- proofs}
+
+For each operation called for by the traversal algorithms, we prove
+that the commit generation preconditions are met.
+
+\subsection{Tip Base Merge}