@bobfrankston/msger 0.1.137 → 0.1.139

package/docs/PI-FIX-APPLIED.md

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# Pi Rendering Fix Applied
+
+## Date
+2025-11-17
+
+## Changes Made
+Applied test16 successful rendering approach to msger main.rs:
+
+### 1. Disable HW Acceleration on ARM (line 500-501)
+```rust
+#[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", any(target_arch = "arm", target_arch = "aarch64")))]
+std::env::set_var("WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE", "1");
+```
+
+### 2. Set Fill Properties on WebKit Widget (lines 627-651, both URL and HTML paths)
+```rust
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+let webview = {
+    use gtk::prelude::*;
+    let wv = builder.build_gtk(vbox).expect("Failed to create webview");
+
+    // Set fill properties on WebKit widget for proper sizing on Pi
+    if let Some(children) = vbox.children().first() {
+        if let Ok(webkit_widget) = children.clone().downcast::<gtk::Widget>() {
+            webkit_widget.set_hexpand(true);
+            webkit_widget.set_vexpand(true);
+            webkit_widget.set_halign(gtk::Align::Fill);
+            webkit_widget.set_valign(gtk::Align::Fill);
+        }
+    }
+
+    vbox.show_all();
+    wv
+};
+```
+
+## Expected Result
+- Clean rendering on first display on Raspberry Pi
+- No manual resize required
+- Works for both -html and -url modes
+
+## Update 2025-11-17 (v0.1.139)
+First attempt (fill properties only) didn't work - still needed manual window move to trigger render.
+
+Added synthetic resize trigger:
+```rust
+#[cfg(any(target_arch = "arm", target_arch = "aarch64"))]
+{
+    let current_size = window.inner_size();
+    window.set_inner_size(tao::dpi::LogicalSize::new(
+        current_size.width as f64 + 1.0,
+        current_size.height as f64
+    ));
+    window.set_inner_size(tao::dpi::LogicalSize::new(
+        current_size.width as f64,
+        current_size.height as f64
+    ));
+}
+```
+
+This programmatically nudges window size +1px then back, forcing configure event.
+
+## Testing Required
+1. Build for Pi ARM64
+2. Test: `msger -html '<h1>Test</h1>'`
+3. Test: `msger -url 'https://example.com'`
+4. Verify no regression on x86/WSL
+
+## Based On
+test16-html-param.rs which demonstrated clean first-time rendering on Pi

package/docs/PI-RENDERING-NOTES.md

@@ -182,3 +182,81 @@ All automatically checked (warnings shown if missing):
 - Last build: 2025-11-14 00:26:20 UTC
 - Versions tested: 0.1.116, 0.1.117, 0.1.118
 - Status: **Issue persists - no fix found yet**
+
+## WebView Framework Alternatives (2025-11-17)
+
+### Current Issue
+GTK rendering with wry/webkit2gtk consistently garbled on Linux (Pi, WSL). Brief valid header shows, then screen corrupts.
+
+### Attempted Fix (Failed)
+- Tried `vbox.show_all()` / `vbox.show()` before `build_gtk()`
+- Requires `use gtk::prelude::*` import
+- Compilation issues - gtk crate not directly available in wry context
+- Simple GTK method calls won't work without proper trait imports/dependencies
+
+### WebView Alternatives (Keep WebView Capability)
+
+**1. Tauri Framework**
+- Built on wry but handles GTK setup better
+- More mature, may have GTK fixes built-in
+- Still uses webkit2gtk on Linux
+- Worth trying - abstracts GTK complexity
+
+**2. Native OS Dialogs (Fallback)**
+- `native-dialog` crate - OS-native dialogs
+- No WebView capability - simple text/buttons only
+- Not suitable for HTML/URL content requirement
+
+**3. Electron (Heavy)**
+- Bundles Chromium - avoids system WebView
+- Would need full rewrite from Rust to Node.js
+- Most reliable but resource-heavy
+
+**4. CEF (Chromium Embedded Framework)**
+- `rust-cef` bindings
+- Bundles Chromium like Electron
+- Complex integration, large binaries
+
+**5. Qt WebEngine**
+- Different rendering engine (Chromium-based)
+- Requires Qt framework
+- Cross-platform but large dependency
+
+**6. webkit2gtk Direct Integration**
+- Bypass wry, use webkit2gtk FFI directly
+- More control over GTK initialization
+- Requires deep GTK/webkit knowledge
+
+### Recommendation
+Try Tauri framework first - may have solved GTK rendering issues that raw wry hasn't.
+
+## Key Finding: Resize Fixes Rendering (2025-11-17)
+
+**Discovery**: Msger displays garbled initially, but becomes readable after resizing past initial window dimensions.
+
+**Implications**:
+- WebKit widget renders correctly
+- Initial render/compositing is corrupted
+- Resize triggers proper redraw via configure-event
+- Not a WebKit bug - likely GTK size allocation timing issue
+
+**Tests Performed**:
+- test13: Yellow WebKit background with hexpand/halign fill - horizontal resize works
+- test14: Configure event logging - vertical resize works
+- Both tests render cleanly on resize (no artifacts)
+
+**Root Cause Hypothesis**:
+- WebKit widget size negotiation happens before GTK container finalized
+- Initial render uses wrong dimensions or uninitialized buffer
+- Configure event forces correct size allocation and clean redraw
+
+**Potential Fixes**:
+1. Force configure event after webview creation (simulate resize)
+2. Set explicit size on vbox before build_gtk()
+3. Call gtk size allocation functions manually
+4. Delay webview creation until after vbox realized
+
+**Why disable HW acceleration helps in tests**:
+- Software rendering more forgiving of size mismatches
+- Compositor artifacts avoided
+- Not ARM-specific - timing issue affects all platforms

package/docs/TODO.md

@@ -562,3 +562,25 @@ None currently known!
 - MSGER-API-SUMMARY.md - API reference
 - msgerdefs/README.md - TypeScript package docs
 - Update msgerdefs TypeScript definitions
+
+### GTK/Linux Rendering Issue (Pi, WSL)
+**Status:** 🔍 INVESTIGATING - See [PI-RENDERING-NOTES.md](PI-RENDERING-NOTES.md) for details
+
+**Problem:**
+- GTK window shows garbled rendering on Linux (Pi ARM64, WSL x64)
+- Brief valid header appears, then screen corrupts
+- Affects all webkit2gtk-based platforms
+
+**Investigation:**
+- Attempted `vbox.show_all()` / `vbox.show()` before `build_gtk()` - failed (requires gtk::prelude import)
+- WebView framework alternatives documented in PI-RENDERING-NOTES.md
+- Consider trying Tauri framework (built on wry with better GTK handling)
+
+**Current Workaround:**
+- Windows build works perfectly
+- Linux builds compile but rendering broken
+
+**Next Steps:**
+- Research Tauri framework as wry replacement
+- Check wry GitHub issues for similar GTK rendering bugs
+- Consider webkit2gtk direct integration for more control

package/msger-native/src/main.rs

@@ -402,12 +402,11 @@ fn main() {
         .with_resizable(true)
         .with_always_on_top(options.always_on_top);
 
-    // On Linux, create window invisible to avoid garbled rendering on webkit2gtk
-    // We'll show it after webview is created
-    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
-    {
-        window_builder = window_builder.with_visible(false);
-    }
+    // On Linux, show window immediately (invisible approach didn't fix rendering)
+    // #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    // {
+    //     window_builder = window_builder.with_visible(false);
+    // }
 
     // Set icon if loaded successfully
     if let Some(icon) = icon {
@@ -497,6 +496,7 @@ fn main() {
     #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
     let vbox = window.default_vbox().expect("Failed to get GTK vbox");
 
+
     // webview is only used on Windows for About menu functionality
     #[cfg_attr(not(windows), allow(unused_variables))]
     let webview = if let Some(ref url) = options.url {
@@ -628,15 +628,6 @@ fn main() {
         #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
         let webview = builder.build(window.as_ref()).expect("Failed to create webview");
 
-        // Fix for garbled window on Linux/GTK: Show window after webview creation
-        // Window was created invisible, now show it after webkit2gtk is ready
-        #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
-        {
-            // Give webkit2gtk more time to initialize - Pi needs longer delay
-            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500));
-            window.set_visible(true);
-        }
-
         webview
     } else {
         // Use HTML content (msger API already in template.html)
@@ -694,15 +685,6 @@ fn main() {
         #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
         let webview = builder.build(window.as_ref()).expect("Failed to create webview");
 
-        // Fix for garbled window on Linux/GTK: Show window after webview creation
-        // Window was created invisible, now show it after webkit2gtk is ready
-        #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
-        {
-            // Give webkit2gtk more time to initialize - Pi needs longer delay
-            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500));
-            window.set_visible(true);
-        }
-
         webview
     };
 

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name": "@bobfrankston/msger",
-    "version": "0.1.137",
+    "version": "0.1.139",
     "description": "Fast, lightweight, cross-platform message box - Rust-powered alternative to msgview",
     "type": "module",
     "main": "./index.js",