@bobfrankston/msger 0.1.377 → 0.1.380

package/README.md

@@ -92,6 +92,32 @@ msger -url "https://example.com" -dev
 msger --help
 ```
 
+### Headless mode (`-noshow`) — use the WebView as a CSS/JS engine
+
+`-noshow` doesn't open a visible window, but the WebView still loads HTML, runs `<script>` blocks, and resolves CSS — so an embedded script can query the engine and post a result back via `window.ipc.postMessage`. Combined with `-result <fieldname>` to print just one field, this lets you use msger as a headless rendering engine for things like `contrast-color()`, `getComputedStyle()`, and `CSS.supports()`.
+
+```bash
+# Resolve contrast-color() — needs a DOM element + getComputedStyle because
+# CSS functions only resolve through the cascade.
+msger -noshow -html '<div id=x style="color:contrast-color(steelblue)"></div>
+<script>
+  requestAnimationFrame(() => requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+    window.ipc.postMessage(JSON.stringify({
+      button: "r",
+      value: getComputedStyle(document.getElementById("x")).color
+    }));
+  }));
+</script>' -result value
+# → rgb(255, 255, 255)
+```
+
+The Node API works the same way — pass `noshow: true` and `html: "..."` to `showMessageBox`, then read `result.value` from the resolved promise.
+
+Notes:
+- `-result <fieldname>` prints just that field's value (string as-is, other types JSON-stringified) instead of the full `MessageBoxResult` JSON. Useful for shell consumption.
+- The two `requestAnimationFrame` calls let layout settle before reading computed style — needed for `contrast-color`, gradients, etc.
+- The original `-noshow -save` behavior is unchanged: it still exits after saving without ever creating a WebView.
+
 ## JSON Configuration Files
 
 You can store message box configuration in a JSON file for reuse. JSON files support comments (JSON5 format).
@@ -118,7 +144,7 @@ msger -title "Test" -message "Saving config..." -save test.json
 
 **Notes:**
 - The `-save` option saves only the explicitly specified command-line arguments, not derived defaults. This keeps config files minimal and allows defaults to evolve.
-- Use `-noshow` with `-save` to create config files without displaying the message box.
+- `-noshow` with `-save` writes the config and exits without ever creating a WebView. Without `-save`, `-noshow` creates the WebView and runs scripts but doesn't open a visible window — useful for headless CSS/JS resolution (see "Headless mode" below).
 - File extensions: If you don't specify `.json`, it will be added automatically (e.g., `myconfig` becomes `myconfig.json`).
 
 ### Complete JSON Structure
@@ -264,8 +290,14 @@ Options:
   -fullscreen, --fullscreen       Start window in fullscreen mode (F11 to toggle, Escape to exit)
   -raw, --raw                     With -html: load HTML as-is, no msger template/buttons (alias: -full)
   -debug, --debug                 Return debug info (HTML, size, autoSize) in result
+  -noshow, --noshow               Don't display the window. With -save, exits after saving.
+                                  Otherwise the WebView still loads + runs scripts so a page
+                                  can post a result via window.ipc.postMessage; only the
+                                  window isn't shown. Useful for headless CSS/JS resolution.
   -noresult, --noresult           Suppress JSON result output on stdout (errors still go to stderr)
-  -result, --result               Re-enable result output (overrides -noresult from config file)
+  -result, --result [fieldname]   Re-enable result output. With <fieldname>, print just that
+                                  field (e.g. -result value → bare string). Strings print as-is,
+                                  other types JSON-stringify. Missing field → exit 2.
   -v, -version, --version         Show version number
   -help, -?, --help               Show help message
 

package/cli.js

@@ -40,12 +40,19 @@ Options:
   -ontop                  Keep window always on top of other windows
   -load <file>            Load options from JSON file (supports comments)
   -save <file>            Save current options to JSON file
-  -noshow                 Save config without showing message box (use with -save)
+  -noshow                 Don't display the window. With -save, also exits after saving.
+                          Otherwise the WebView still loads and runs scripts (so a page can
+                          query the DOM/CSS and post a result via window.ipc.postMessage)
+                          — only the window isn't mapped on screen. Useful for headless
+                          CSS/JS resolution (e.g. contrast-color, getComputedStyle).
   -pin                    Create pinnable Start Menu shortcut (requires -load)
   -dev                    Open DevTools (F12) automatically on startup (for debugging)
   -debug                  Return debug info (HTML, size) in result
   -noresult               Suppress JSON result output on stdout (errors still go to stderr)
-  -result                 Re-enable result output (overrides -noresult from a config file)
+  -result [fieldname]     Re-enable result output (overrides -noresult from a config file).
+                          With <fieldname>, print just that field's value (e.g. -result value
+                          prints only result.value, no JSON wrapper). Strings print as-is;
+                          other types JSON-stringify. Missing field → exit 2.
   -v, -version, --version Show version number (alone: print and exit; with options: show in title)
   -help, -?, --help       Show this help message
 
@@ -63,6 +70,9 @@ Examples:
   echo -e "\\x1b[31mError:\\x1b[0m Something failed" | msger
   echo '{"message":"Test","buttons":["OK"]}' | msger
 
+  # Headless evaluation — use the WebView as a CSS/JS engine, no UI
+  msger -noshow -html "<div id=x style='color:contrast-color(steelblue)'></div><script>requestAnimationFrame(()=>requestAnimationFrame(()=>window.ipc.postMessage(JSON.stringify({button:'x',value:getComputedStyle(document.getElementById('x')).color}))))</script>" -result value
+
 Notes:
   - If no options are provided, all non-option arguments are concatenated as the message
   - Message text supports ANSI color codes (automatically converted to HTML)

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@bobfrankston/msger",
-  "version": "0.1.377",
+  "version": "0.1.380",
   "description": "Fast, lightweight, cross-platform message box - Rust-powered alternative to msgview",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./index.js",

package/shower.d.ts

@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export interface MessageBoxOptions {
     initScriptPath?: string; /** Path to JS file injected into WebView (avoids large JSON) */
     service?: boolean; /** Service mode: bidirectional IPC with parent. Stdin/stdout stay open. */
     contentDir?: string; /** Base directory for custom protocol file serving (avoids file:// URLs) */
+    hidden?: boolean; /** Create the window invisible. The WebView still renders so JS / CSS / layout queries (e.g. `getComputedStyle`, `contrast-color()`) resolve; the window just isn't mapped on screen. Set by the CLI's `-noshow` flag. */
 }
 export interface MessageBoxResult {
     button: string;

package/shower.js

@@ -675,7 +675,8 @@ export function showService(options) {
     if (!rustOptions.app_name)
         rustOptions.app_name = _appName;
     const jsonToSend = JSON.stringify(rustOptions);
-    console.error(`[service] Sending to Rust: ${jsonToSend.slice(0, 200)}`);
+    if (process.env.MSGER_DEBUG)
+        console.log(`[service] Sending to Rust: ${jsonToSend.slice(0, 200)}`);
     child.stdin?.write(jsonToSend + "\n");
     return new ServiceHandle(child);
 }