@rangojs/router 0.0.0-experimental.2 → 0.0.0-experimental.204030a9

package/src/route-definition/dsl-helpers.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,1109 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import type {
+  PartialCacheOptions,
+  Handler,
+  LoaderDefinition,
+  MiddlewareFn,
+  ShouldRevalidateFn,
+  TransitionConfig,
+} from "../types.js";
+import {
+  getContext,
+  getNamePrefix,
+  getUrlPrefix,
+  requireDslContext,
+  type EntryData,
+  type EntryPropDatas,
+  type EntryPropSegments,
+  type HelperContext,
+  type InterceptEntry,
+} from "../server/context";
+import { invariant } from "../errors";
+import { isCachedFunction } from "../cache/taint.js";
+import { RangoContext } from "../server/context";
+import { isStaticHandler } from "../static-handler.js";
+import RootLayout from "../server/root-layout";
+import type {
+  AllUseItems,
+  RouteItem,
+  ParallelItem,
+  InterceptItem,
+  MiddlewareItem,
+  RevalidateItem,
+  LoaderItem,
+  LoadingItem,
+  ErrorBoundaryItem,
+  NotFoundBoundaryItem,
+  LayoutItem,
+  WhenItem,
+  CacheItem,
+  TransitionItem,
+  UseItems,
+} from "../route-types.js";
+import type { RouteHelpers } from "./helpers-types.js";
+import { resolveHandlerUse, mergeHandlerUse } from "./resolve-handler-use.js";
+import { ALL_USE_ITEM_TYPES } from "./use-item-types.js";
+
+/**
+ * Check if an item contains routes (directly or inside nested structures like cache).
+ * Used to determine if a layout or cache should be treated as an orphan.
+ */
+const hasRoutesInItem = (item: AllUseItems): boolean => {
+  if (item.type === "route") return true;
+  // Lazy includes contain deferred routes — treat them as having routes
+  // to prevent the parent layout from being misclassified as orphan,
+  // which would clear its parent pointer and break the middleware chain.
+  if (item.type === "include") return true;
+  if (item.type === "cache" && item.uses) {
+    return item.uses.some((child) => hasRoutesInItem(child));
+  }
+  if (item.type === "layout" && item.uses) {
+    return item.uses.some((child) => hasRoutesInItem(child));
+  }
+  if (item.type === "middleware" && item.uses) {
+    return item.uses.some((child) => hasRoutesInItem(child));
+  }
+  return false;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Fresh empty collections shared by every from-scratch segment entry. Returns
+ * new arrays/objects per call so no two entries share mutable references.
+ * mountPath is intentionally NOT included here — each call site adds it from
+ * getUrlPrefix() where applicable: the route() and transition() helpers add
+ * none, while path() (which also builds a `type: "route"` entry) and the
+ * structural helpers (layout/cache/middleware/parallel) do.
+ */
+const emptySegmentBase = (): EntryPropDatas &
+  EntryPropSegments & { loading: undefined } => ({
+  loading: undefined,
+  middleware: [],
+  revalidate: [],
+  errorBoundary: [],
+  notFoundBoundary: [],
+  layout: [],
+  parallel: {},
+  intercept: [],
+  loader: [],
+});
+
+/**
+ * Run a children/use callback as a nested scope, flatten the result, and assert
+ * every item is a valid use item. `kind` preserves the existing error wording
+ * ("use()" vs "children" callback).
+ */
+function runAndValidateUseItems(
+  store: ReturnType<typeof getContext>,
+  namespace: string,
+  entry: EntryData,
+  cb: () => any,
+  label: string,
+  kind: "use" | "children",
+): AllUseItems[] {
+  const result = store.run(namespace, entry, cb)?.flat(3);
+  return validateUseItems(result, namespace, label, kind);
+}
+
+/** Assert an already-invoked, flattened callback result is a use-item array. */
+function validateUseItems(
+  result: any,
+  namespace: string,
+  label: string,
+  kind: "use" | "children",
+): AllUseItems[] {
+  invariant(
+    Array.isArray(result) && result.every((item) => isValidUseItem(item)),
+    `${label}() ${kind === "use" ? "use()" : "children"} callback must return an array of use items [${namespace}]`,
+  );
+  return result as AllUseItems[];
+}
+
+/** True when a children/use result contains no routes (directly or nested). */
+const isOrphan = (result: AllUseItems[]): boolean =>
+  !result.some((item) => item != null && hasRoutesInItem(item));
+
+/**
+ * Register a routeless structural entry as an orphan sibling: clear its parent
+ * pointer so it leaves the middleware/parent-pointer chain (LOAD-BEARING — see
+ * docs/tree-structure.md) and push it onto the parent's layout[] so it renders
+ * as a wrapper. Used by cache()/middleware()/transition(); layout() runs extra
+ * validation and registers inline.
+ */
+const attachOrphanSibling = (
+  parent: EntryData | null,
+  entry: EntryData,
+): void => {
+  entry.parent = null;
+  if (parent && "layout" in parent) parent.layout.push(entry);
+};
+
+/**
+ * Run `fn` with `ctx.parent` temporarily redirected to `temp` — a satellite
+ * entry that captures the attachments declared by a use() callback — restoring
+ * the original parent afterward, including on throw. loader()/intercept() each
+ * build their own tempParent shape (intercept keeps a loading get/set accessor
+ * and a captured-layouts array); this only centralizes the save/restore.
+ */
+function withParent<T>(ctx: HelperContext, temp: EntryData, fn: () => T): T {
+  const original = ctx.parent;
+  ctx.parent = temp;
+  try {
+    return fn();
+  } finally {
+    ctx.parent = original;
+  }
+}
+
+const revalidate: RouteHelpers<any, any>["revalidate"] = (fn) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "revalidate() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  // Attach to last entry in stack
+  const parent = ctx.parent;
+  if (!parent || !("revalidate" in parent)) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for revalidate()");
+  }
+  const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("revalidate")}`;
+  parent.revalidate.push(fn);
+  return { name, type: "revalidate" } as RevalidateItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Error boundary helper - attaches an error fallback to the current entry
+ *
+ * When an error occurs during rendering of this segment or its children,
+ * the fallback will be rendered instead. The fallback can be:
+ * - A static ReactNode (e.g., <ErrorPage />)
+ * - A handler function that receives error info and reset function
+ *
+ * Error boundaries catch errors from:
+ * - Middleware execution
+ * - Loader execution
+ * - Handler/component rendering
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```typescript
+ * layout(<ShopLayout />, () => [
+ *   errorBoundary(<ShopErrorFallback />),
+ *   route("products.detail", ProductDetail),
+ * ])
+ *
+ * // Or with handler for dynamic error UI:
+ * route("products.detail", ProductDetail, () => [
+ *   errorBoundary(({ error, reset }) => (
+ *     <div>
+ *       <h2>Product failed to load</h2>
+ *       <p>{error.message}</p>
+ *       <button onClick={reset}>Retry</button>
+ *     </div>
+ *   )),
+ * ])
+ * ```
+ */
+const errorBoundary: RouteHelpers<any, any>["errorBoundary"] = (fallback) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "errorBoundary() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  // Attach to parent entry in stack
+  const parent = ctx.parent;
+  if (!parent || !("errorBoundary" in parent)) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for errorBoundary()");
+  }
+  const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("errorBoundary")}`;
+  parent.errorBoundary.push(fallback);
+  return { name, type: "errorBoundary" } as ErrorBoundaryItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * NotFound boundary helper - attaches a not-found fallback to the current entry
+ *
+ * When a DataNotFoundError is thrown (via notFound()) during rendering of this
+ * segment or its children, the fallback will be rendered instead. The fallback can be:
+ * - A static ReactNode (e.g., <ProductNotFound />)
+ * - A handler function that receives not found info
+ *
+ * NotFound boundaries catch DataNotFoundError from:
+ * - Loader execution
+ * - Handler/component rendering
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```typescript
+ * layout(<ShopLayout />, () => [
+ *   notFoundBoundary(<ProductNotFound />),
+ *   route("products.detail", ProductDetail),
+ * ])
+ *
+ * // Or with handler for dynamic not found UI:
+ * route("products.detail", ProductDetail, () => [
+ *   notFoundBoundary(({ notFound }) => (
+ *     <div>
+ *       <h2>Product not found</h2>
+ *       <p>{notFound.message}</p>
+ *       <a href="/products">Browse all products</a>
+ *     </div>
+ *   )),
+ * ])
+ * ```
+ */
+const notFoundBoundary: RouteHelpers<any, any>["notFoundBoundary"] = (
+  fallback,
+) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "notFoundBoundary() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  // Attach to parent entry in stack
+  const parent = ctx.parent;
+  if (!parent || !("notFoundBoundary" in parent)) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for notFoundBoundary()");
+  }
+  const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("notFoundBoundary")}`;
+  parent.notFoundBoundary.push(fallback);
+  return { name, type: "notFoundBoundary" } as NotFoundBoundaryItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * When helper - defines a condition for intercept activation
+ *
+ * Only valid inside intercept() use() callback. The when() function
+ * is captured by the intercept and stored in its `when` array.
+ * During soft navigation, all when() conditions must return true
+ * for the intercept to activate.
+ */
+const when: RouteHelpers<any, any>["when"] = (fn) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "when() must be called inside intercept()",
+  );
+
+  // The when() function needs to be captured by the intercept's tempParent
+  // which should have a `when` array. If not present, we're not inside intercept()
+  const parent = ctx.parent as any;
+  if (!parent || !("when" in parent)) {
+    invariant(
+      false,
+      "when() can only be used inside intercept() use() callback",
+    );
+  }
+
+  const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("when")}`;
+  parent.when.push(fn);
+  return { name, type: "when" } as WhenItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Cache helper - defines caching configuration for segments
+ *
+ * Creates a cache boundary that applies to all children unless overridden.
+ * When used without children, attaches cache config to the parent entry
+ * (e.g., for loader-specific caching).
+ *
+ * Supports these call signatures:
+ * - cache() - no args, uses app-level defaults (for loader caching)
+ * - cache(() => [...]) - wraps children with app-level defaults
+ * - cache('profileName') - uses a named cache profile
+ * - cache('profileName', () => [...]) - named profile with children
+ * - cache({ ttl: 60 }, () => [...]) - with explicit options
+ */
+const cache: RouteHelpers<any, any>["cache"] = (
+  optionsOrChildren?:
+    | PartialCacheOptions
+    | false
+    | string
+    | (() => UseItems<AllUseItems>),
+  maybeChildren?: () => UseItems<AllUseItems>,
+) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "cache() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  // Handle overloaded signature
+  let options: PartialCacheOptions | false;
+  let children: (() => UseItems<AllUseItems>) | undefined;
+
+  if (optionsOrChildren === undefined) {
+    // cache() - no args, use defaults
+    options = {};
+    children = undefined;
+  } else if (typeof optionsOrChildren === "string") {
+    // cache('profileName') or cache('profileName', () => [...])
+    // Resolve from context-scoped profiles (set per-router via HelperContext).
+    const ctxStore = RangoContext.getStore();
+    const profile = ctxStore?.cacheProfiles?.[optionsOrChildren];
+    invariant(
+      profile,
+      `cache("${optionsOrChildren}"): unknown cache profile. ` +
+        `Define it in createRouter({ cacheProfiles: { "${optionsOrChildren}": { ttl: ... } } }).`,
+    );
+    options = { ttl: profile.ttl, swr: profile.swr, tags: profile.tags };
+    children = maybeChildren;
+  } else if (typeof optionsOrChildren === "function") {
+    // cache(() => [...]) - use empty options (will use defaults)
+    options = {};
+    children = optionsOrChildren;
+  } else {
+    // cache(options, children) - explicit options
+    options = optionsOrChildren;
+    children = maybeChildren;
+  }
+
+  // Allocate a single index for this cache() call (used in all paths)
+  const cacheIndex = store.getNextIndex("cache");
+  const name = `$${cacheIndex}`;
+  const cacheConfig = { options };
+
+  // If no children, create an orphan cache entry (like orphan layouts)
+  // This allows cache() to wrap subsequent siblings
+  if (!children) {
+    const parent = ctx.parent as any;
+
+    // Check if we're inside a loader() use() callback - special case for loader caching
+    if (parent && parent.type === "loader") {
+      // Direct assignment to loader entry's cache field
+      parent.cache = cacheConfig;
+      return { name, type: "cache" } as CacheItem;
+    }
+
+    // Create orphan cache entry (like orphan layout)
+    // Subsequent siblings in the same array will attach to this entry
+    const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.${cacheIndex}`;
+    const urlPrefix = getUrlPrefix();
+
+    const entry = {
+      ...emptySegmentBase(),
+      id: namespace,
+      shortCode: store.getShortCode("cache"),
+      type: "cache",
+      parent: parent, // link to current parent for hierarchy
+      cache: cacheConfig,
+      handler: RootLayout,
+      ...(urlPrefix ? { mountPath: urlPrefix } : {}),
+    } satisfies EntryData;
+
+    // Attach to parent's layout array (cache entries are structural like layouts)
+    if (parent && "layout" in parent) {
+      parent.layout.push(entry);
+    }
+
+    // Update context parent so subsequent siblings attach to this cache entry
+    // This makes cache() act as sugar for cache(() => [...])
+    ctx.parent = entry;
+
+    return { name: namespace, type: "cache" } as CacheItem;
+  }
+
+  // Inside a loader() use() callback, only the direct form — cache()/cache(opts)/
+  // cache("profile") — writes cache config to the loader entry. The wrapper
+  // form creates a structural cache boundary with its own children scope, which
+  // has no effect on the loader and would silently no-op.
+  invariant(
+    !(ctx.parent && (ctx.parent as any).type === "loader"),
+    "cache() wrapper form is not valid inside loader() use(). Use cache({...}) without children to configure the loader's cache.",
+  );
+
+  // With children: create a cache entry (like layout with caching semantics)
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.${cacheIndex}`;
+  const cacheShortCode = store.getShortCode("cache");
+
+  const urlPrefix = getUrlPrefix();
+
+  const entry = {
+    ...emptySegmentBase(),
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode: cacheShortCode,
+    type: "cache",
+    parent: ctx.parent,
+    cache: cacheConfig,
+    // Cache entries render like layouts (with Outlet as default handler)
+    handler: RootLayout, // RootLayout just renders <Outlet />
+    ...(urlPrefix ? { mountPath: urlPrefix } : {}),
+  } satisfies EntryData;
+
+  // Run children with cache entry as parent
+  const result = runAndValidateUseItems(
+    store,
+    namespace,
+    entry,
+    children,
+    "cache",
+    "children",
+  );
+
+  // Cache entries are structural like layouts: with no routes inside, register
+  // as an orphan sibling.
+  if (isOrphan(result)) attachOrphanSibling(ctx.parent, entry);
+
+  return { name: namespace, type: "cache", uses: result } as CacheItem;
+};
+
+const middleware: RouteHelpers<any, any>["middleware"] = (...args: any[]) => {
+  // Four call forms:
+  //   middleware(fn)                       — single fn, sibling
+  //   middleware(fn, () => [...])          — single fn, wrapping
+  //   middleware([fn1, fn2])              — array, sibling
+  //   middleware([fn1, fn2], () => [...]) — array, wrapping
+  const isArray = Array.isArray(args[0]);
+
+  // Reject the removed variadic form before executing anything.
+  // middleware(fn1, fn2, fn3) — 3+ args, always wrong.
+  // middleware(fn1, fn2) where fn2 is a middleware fn (length >= 1), not a
+  // children callback (length === 0) — legacy two-fn form, reject early.
+  if (
+    args.length > 2 ||
+    (!isArray &&
+      args.length === 2 &&
+      typeof args[1] === "function" &&
+      args[1].length > 0)
+  ) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "middleware() no longer accepts variadic arguments. " +
+        "Use middleware([fn1, fn2, ...]) instead of middleware(fn1, fn2, ...).",
+    );
+  }
+
+  const fns: MiddlewareFn<any>[] = isArray ? args[0] : [args[0]];
+  const children: (() => any[]) | undefined =
+    typeof args[1] === "function" ? args[1] : undefined;
+
+  // Prevent "use cache" functions from being used as middleware.
+  for (const f of fns) {
+    if (isCachedFunction(f)) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `A "use cache" function cannot be used as middleware. ` +
+          `Cached functions return data and do not participate in the ` +
+          `middleware chain. Remove the "use cache" directive or use a ` +
+          `regular middleware function instead.`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "middleware() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  if (!children) {
+    // Sibling mode: attach to parent entry
+    const parent = ctx.parent;
+    if (!parent || !("middleware" in parent)) {
+      invariant(false, "No parent entry available for middleware()");
+    }
+    const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("middleware")}`;
+    parent.middleware.push(...fns);
+    return { name, type: "middleware" } as MiddlewareItem;
+  }
+
+  // Wrapping mode: create a transparent layout that carries the middleware
+  const mwIndex = store.getNextIndex("middleware");
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.${mwIndex}`;
+
+  const urlPrefix = getUrlPrefix();
+  const entry = {
+    ...emptySegmentBase(),
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode: store.getShortCode("layout"),
+    type: "layout",
+    parent: ctx.parent,
+    handler: RootLayout,
+    middleware: [...fns],
+    ...(urlPrefix ? { mountPath: urlPrefix } : {}),
+  } satisfies EntryData;
+
+  // Run children callback. If the second arg was actually a middleware fn
+  // (old variadic form: middleware(mw1, mw2)), this will return a non-array
+  // and the invariant below gives a clear migration error.
+  const rawResult = store.run(namespace, entry, children);
+
+  invariant(
+    Array.isArray(rawResult),
+    "middleware(fn, children) expects the second argument to return an array of use items. " +
+      "To pass multiple middleware, use middleware([fn1, fn2]).",
+  );
+
+  const result = validateUseItems(
+    rawResult.flat(3),
+    namespace,
+    "middleware",
+    "children",
+  );
+
+  if (isOrphan(result)) attachOrphanSibling(ctx.parent, entry);
+
+  return {
+    name: namespace,
+    type: "middleware",
+    uses: result,
+  } as MiddlewareItem;
+};
+
+const parallel: RouteHelpers<any, any>["parallel"] = (slots, use) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "parallel() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  if (!ctx.parent || !ctx.parent?.parallel) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for parallel()");
+  }
+
+  invariant(
+    ctx.parent.type !== "parallel",
+    "parallel() cannot be nested inside another parallel()",
+  );
+
+  const slotNames = Object.keys(slots as Record<string, any>) as `@${string}`[];
+
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.$${store.getNextIndex("parallel")}`;
+
+  // Unwrap slot values. A slot value can be:
+  //   - a Handler / ReactNode (legacy form)
+  //   - a Static() definition (build-time only)
+  //   - a slot descriptor `{ handler, use? }` for slot-local overrides
+  // The descriptor's `use` runs after the broadcast `use` for that slot,
+  // so single-assignment items like `loading()` placed there win without
+  // affecting siblings.
+  const unwrappedSlots: Record<string, any> = {};
+  const slotLocalUses: Record<string, (() => any[]) | undefined> = {};
+  let hasStaticSlot = false;
+  const staticSlotIds: Record<string, string> = {};
+  for (const [slotName, rawSlot] of Object.entries(
+    slots as Record<string, any>,
+  )) {
+    let slotHandler: any = rawSlot;
+    if (isSlotDescriptor(rawSlot)) {
+      slotHandler = rawSlot.handler;
+      slotLocalUses[slotName] = rawSlot.use;
+    }
+    if (isStaticHandler(slotHandler)) {
+      hasStaticSlot = true;
+      unwrappedSlots[slotName] = slotHandler.handler;
+      if (slotHandler.$$id) {
+        staticSlotIds[slotName] = slotHandler.$$id;
+        // Capture namespace prefix for build-time reverse() resolution
+        if (ctx.namePrefix) {
+          (slotHandler as any).$$routePrefix = ctx.namePrefix;
+        }
+      }
+    } else {
+      unwrappedSlots[slotName] = slotHandler;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Create full EntryData for parallel with its own loaders/revalidate/loading
+  const parallelUrlPrefix = getUrlPrefix();
+  const entry = {
+    ...emptySegmentBase(),
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode: store.getShortCode("parallel"),
+    type: "parallel",
+    parent: null, // Parallels don't participate in parent chain traversal
+    handler: unwrappedSlots,
+    ...(parallelUrlPrefix ? { mountPath: parallelUrlPrefix } : {}),
+    ...(hasStaticSlot
+      ? {
+          isStaticPrerender: true as const,
+          ...(Object.keys(staticSlotIds).length > 0
+            ? { staticHandlerIds: staticSlotIds }
+            : {}),
+        }
+      : {}),
+  } satisfies EntryData;
+
+  for (const slotName of slotNames) {
+    const slotEntry = {
+      ...entry,
+      handler: { [slotName]: unwrappedSlots[slotName]! },
+      middleware: [...entry.middleware],
+      revalidate: [...entry.revalidate],
+      errorBoundary: [...entry.errorBoundary],
+      notFoundBoundary: [...entry.notFoundBoundary],
+      layout: [...entry.layout],
+      parallel: { ...entry.parallel },
+      intercept: [...entry.intercept],
+      loader: [...entry.loader],
+      ...(entry.staticHandlerIds?.[slotName]
+        ? {
+            isStaticPrerender: true as const,
+            staticHandlerIds: { [slotName]: entry.staticHandlerIds[slotName]! },
+          }
+        : {
+            isStaticPrerender: undefined,
+            staticHandlerIds: undefined,
+          }),
+    } satisfies EntryData;
+
+    // Per-slot merge order (narrowest-scope-wins for single-assignment items
+    // like loading()):
+    //   1. handler.use      — defaults baked into the handler
+    //   2. shared `use`     — broadcast at the parallel() call site
+    //   3. slot-local `use` — per-slot override via `{ handler, use }` descriptor
+    // Items that accumulate (loader, middleware, revalidate, …) compose
+    // across all three layers regardless of order.
+    const rawSlot = (slots as Record<string, any>)[slotName];
+    const slotHandlerForUse = isSlotDescriptor(rawSlot)
+      ? rawSlot.handler
+      : rawSlot;
+    const slotHandlerUse = resolveHandlerUse(slotHandlerForUse);
+    const slotLocalUse = slotLocalUses[slotName];
+    const explicitUse = combineExplicitUses(use, slotLocalUse);
+    const slotMergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(
+      slotHandlerUse,
+      explicitUse,
+      "parallel",
+    );
+    if (slotMergedUse) {
+      runAndValidateUseItems(
+        store,
+        namespace,
+        slotEntry,
+        slotMergedUse,
+        "parallel",
+        "use",
+      );
+    }
+
+    ctx.parent.parallel[slotName] = slotEntry;
+  }
+  return { name: namespace, type: "parallel" } as ParallelItem;
+};
+
+function isSlotDescriptor(
+  value: unknown,
+): value is { handler: unknown; use?: () => any[] } {
+  return (
+    typeof value === "object" &&
+    value !== null &&
+    !("__brand" in value) &&
+    "handler" in value &&
+    typeof (value as any).handler !== "undefined"
+  );
+}
+
+function combineExplicitUses(
+  sharedUse: (() => any[]) | undefined,
+  slotLocalUse: (() => any[]) | undefined,
+): (() => any[]) | undefined {
+  if (!sharedUse && !slotLocalUse) return undefined;
+  if (!slotLocalUse) return sharedUse;
+  if (!sharedUse) return slotLocalUse;
+  return () => [...sharedUse(), ...slotLocalUse()];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Intercept helper - defines an intercepting route for soft navigation
+ */
+const intercept = (
+  slotName: `@${string}`,
+  routeName: string,
+  handler: any,
+  use?: () => any[],
+) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "intercept() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  if (!ctx.parent || !ctx.parent?.intercept) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for intercept()");
+  }
+
+  invariant(
+    ctx.parent.type !== "parallel",
+    "intercept() cannot be used inside parallel()",
+  );
+
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.$${store.getNextIndex("intercept")}.${slotName}`;
+
+  // Dot-prefixed = local (add include prefix), unprefixed = global (use as-is)
+  const isLocal = typeof routeName === "string" && routeName.startsWith(".");
+  const bareRouteName = isLocal ? routeName.slice(1) : routeName;
+  const namePrefix = getNamePrefix();
+  const prefixedRouteName =
+    isLocal && namePrefix ? `${namePrefix}.${bareRouteName}` : bareRouteName;
+
+  // Create intercept entry with its own loaders/revalidate/middleware/when
+  const entry: InterceptEntry = {
+    slotName: slotName as `@${string}`,
+    routeName: prefixedRouteName,
+    handler,
+    middleware: [],
+    revalidate: [],
+    errorBoundary: [],
+    notFoundBoundary: [],
+    loader: [],
+    when: [], // Selector conditions for conditional interception
+  };
+
+  // Merge handler.use defaults with explicit use
+  const handlerUseFn = resolveHandlerUse(handler);
+  const mergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(handlerUseFn, use, "intercept");
+
+  // Run merged use callback to collect loaders, revalidate, middleware, etc.
+  if (mergedUse) {
+    // Capture layout() calls into a temporary array
+    const capturedLayouts: EntryData[] = [];
+
+    // Temporary parent so middleware/loader/revalidate/when attach to the
+    // intercept entry; the loading get/set accessor mirrors writes onto `entry`.
+    const tempParent = {
+      ...ctx.parent,
+      middleware: entry.middleware,
+      revalidate: entry.revalidate,
+      errorBoundary: entry.errorBoundary,
+      notFoundBoundary: entry.notFoundBoundary,
+      loader: entry.loader,
+      layout: capturedLayouts, // Capture layout() calls
+      when: entry.when, // Capture when() conditions
+      get loading() {
+        return entry.loading;
+      },
+      set loading(value: ReactNode | false | undefined) {
+        entry.loading = value;
+      },
+    };
+
+    const result = withParent(ctx, tempParent as EntryData, () =>
+      mergedUse()?.flat(3),
+    );
+
+    // Extract layout from captured layouts (use first one if multiple)
+    // Layout inside intercept should always be ReactNode or Handler, not Record slots
+    if (capturedLayouts.length > 0 && capturedLayouts[0].type === "layout") {
+      entry.layout = capturedLayouts[0].handler as
+        | ReactNode
+        | Handler<any, any, any>;
+    }
+
+    validateUseItems(result, namespace, "intercept", "use");
+  }
+
+  ctx.parent.intercept.push(entry);
+  return { name: namespace, type: "intercept" } as InterceptItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Loader helper - attaches a loader to the current entry
+ */
+const loader: RouteHelpers<any, any>["loader"] = (loaderDef, use) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "loader() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  // Attach to last entry in stack
+  if (!ctx.parent || !ctx.parent?.loader) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for loader()");
+  }
+
+  const name = `${ctx.namespace}.$${store.getNextIndex("loader")}`;
+
+  // Create loader entry with empty revalidate array
+  const loaderEntry = {
+    loader: loaderDef,
+    revalidate: [] as ShouldRevalidateFn<any, any>[],
+  };
+
+  // Merge handler.use defaults (attached to the loader definition) with explicit use
+  const handlerUseFn = resolveHandlerUse(loaderDef);
+  const mergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(handlerUseFn, use, "loader");
+
+  // If any use callback is in effect, run it to collect revalidation rules and cache config
+  if (mergedUse) {
+    // Create a temporary "parent" with type "loader" so cache() can detect it.
+    // Save existing .cache to distinguish inherited config from newly set config.
+    const parentCache = (ctx.parent as any).cache;
+    const tempParent = {
+      ...ctx.parent,
+      type: "loader",
+      revalidate: loaderEntry.revalidate,
+    };
+
+    const result = withParent(ctx, tempParent as EntryData, () =>
+      mergedUse()?.flat(3),
+    );
+
+    // Copy cache config only if cache() was called during the use() callback.
+    // The spread may carry an inherited .cache from a parent cache() boundary —
+    // only copy if it was newly set.
+    if (
+      (tempParent as any).cache &&
+      (tempParent as any).cache !== parentCache
+    ) {
+      (loaderEntry as any).cache = (tempParent as any).cache;
+    }
+
+    validateUseItems(result, name, "loader", "use");
+  }
+
+  ctx.parent.loader.push(loaderEntry);
+  return { name, type: "loader" } as LoaderItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Loading helper - attaches a loading component to the current entry
+ * Loading components are static (no context) and shown during navigation
+ */
+const loading: RouteHelpers<any, any>["loading"] = (component, options) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "loading() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  const parent = ctx.parent;
+  if (!parent || !("loading" in parent)) {
+    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for loading()");
+  }
+
+  // Unwrap function form: loading(() => <Skeleton />) → loading(<Skeleton />)
+  const resolved =
+    typeof component === "function" ? (component as () => any)() : component;
+
+  // If ssr: false and we're in SSR, set loading to false
+  if (options?.ssr === false && ctx.isSSR) {
+    parent.loading = false;
+  } else {
+    parent.loading = resolved;
+  }
+
+  const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("loading")}`;
+  return { name, type: "loading" } as LoadingItem;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Transition helper - opts the entry (or a wrapped group of routes) into
+ * transition-driven navigation by attaching a TransitionConfig. This drives the
+ * commit through startTransition (content hold on all React versions) and, on
+ * experimental React, places a `<ViewTransition>` boundary unless
+ * `viewTransition: false`. See skills/view-transitions for the matrix.
+ */
+const transition = (
+  configOrChildren?: TransitionConfig | (() => UseItems<AllUseItems>),
+  maybeChildren?: () => UseItems<AllUseItems>,
+): TransitionItem => {
+  // Resolve overloaded arguments:
+  //   transition()                    -> config={}, children=undefined
+  //   transition(config)              -> config=config, children=undefined
+  //   transition(children)            -> config={}, children=children
+  //   transition(config, children)    -> config=config, children=children
+  const config: TransitionConfig =
+    typeof configOrChildren === "function" ? {} : (configOrChildren ?? {});
+  const children: (() => UseItems<AllUseItems>) | undefined =
+    typeof configOrChildren === "function" ? configOrChildren : maybeChildren;
+
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "transition() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("transition")}`;
+
+  if (!children) {
+    // Position 1: child of path() — attach to parent entry
+    const parent = ctx.parent;
+    if (!parent || !("loading" in parent)) {
+      invariant(false, "No parent entry available for transition()");
+    }
+    parent.transition = config;
+    return { name, type: "transition" } as TransitionItem;
+  }
+
+  // Position 2: wrapper — create a transparent layout with transition config
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.${store.getNextIndex("transition")}`;
+  const entry = {
+    ...emptySegmentBase(),
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode: store.getShortCode("layout"),
+    type: "layout",
+    parent: ctx.parent,
+    handler: RootLayout,
+    transition: config,
+  } satisfies EntryData;
+
+  const result = runAndValidateUseItems(
+    store,
+    namespace,
+    entry,
+    children,
+    "transition",
+    "children",
+  );
+
+  if (isOrphan(result)) attachOrphanSibling(ctx.parent, entry);
+
+  return { name: namespace, type: "transition" } as TransitionItem;
+};
+
+const route: RouteHelpers<any, any>["route"] = (name, handler, use) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "route() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.${store.getNextIndex("route")}.${name}`;
+
+  const entry = {
+    ...emptySegmentBase(),
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode: store.getShortCode("route"),
+    type: "route",
+    parent: ctx.parent,
+    handler: handler as unknown as Handler<any, any, any>,
+  } satisfies EntryData;
+
+  /* We will throw if user is registring same route name twice */
+  invariant(
+    ctx.manifest.get(name) === undefined,
+    `Duplicate route name: ${name} at ${namespace}`,
+  );
+  /* Register route entry */
+  ctx.manifest.set(name, entry);
+  /* Merge handler.use defaults with explicit use */
+  const handlerUseFn = resolveHandlerUse(handler);
+  const mergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(handlerUseFn, use, "route");
+  /* Run use and attach handlers */
+  if (mergedUse) {
+    const result = runAndValidateUseItems(
+      store,
+      namespace,
+      entry,
+      mergedUse,
+      "route",
+      "use",
+    );
+    return { name: namespace, type: "route", uses: result } as RouteItem;
+  }
+
+  /* typesafe item */
+  return { name: namespace, type: "route" } as RouteItem;
+};
+
+const layout: RouteHelpers<any, any>["layout"] = (handler, use) => {
+  const { store, ctx } = requireDslContext(
+    "layout() must be called inside urls()",
+  );
+
+  invariant(
+    !ctx.parent || ctx.parent.type !== "parallel",
+    "layout() cannot be used inside parallel()",
+  );
+
+  const isRoot = !ctx.parent || ctx.parent === null;
+  const nextIndex = isRoot ? "$root" : store.getNextIndex("layout");
+  const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.${nextIndex}`;
+  const shortCode = store.getShortCode("layout");
+
+  // Unwrap static handler definition, extract the actual handler function
+  const isStatic = isStaticHandler(handler);
+  const unwrappedHandler = isStatic ? handler.handler : handler;
+
+  const urlPrefix = getUrlPrefix();
+  const entry = {
+    ...emptySegmentBase(),
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode,
+    type: "layout",
+    parent: ctx.parent,
+    handler: unwrappedHandler,
+    ...(urlPrefix ? { mountPath: urlPrefix } : {}),
+    ...(isStatic
+      ? {
+          isStaticPrerender: true as const,
+          ...(handler.$$id ? { staticHandlerId: handler.$$id } : {}),
+        }
+      : {}),
+  } satisfies EntryData;
+
+  // Capture namespace prefix on static handler for build-time reverse() resolution
+  if (isStatic && handler.$$id && ctx.namePrefix) {
+    (handler as any).$$routePrefix = ctx.namePrefix;
+  }
+
+  // Merge handler.use defaults with explicit use
+  const handlerUseFn = resolveHandlerUse(handler);
+  const mergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(handlerUseFn, use, "layout");
+
+  // Run merged use callback if present
+  let result: AllUseItems[] | undefined;
+  if (mergedUse) {
+    result = runAndValidateUseItems(
+      store,
+      namespace,
+      entry,
+      mergedUse,
+      "layout",
+      "use",
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Check if this is an orphan layout (no routes in children, including nested caches)
+  const hasRoutes =
+    result &&
+    Array.isArray(result) &&
+    result.some((item) => hasRoutesInItem(item));
+
+  if (!hasRoutes) {
+    // Orphan layouts must not contain other layouts as children.
+    // If we're here, all child layouts are also orphan (if any had routes,
+    // hasRoutesInItem would have returned true). Nested orphan chains are
+    // confusing — use sibling orphan layouts instead.
+    if (result) {
+      invariant(
+        !result.some((item) => item?.type === "layout"),
+        `orphan layout cannot contain other layouts as children [${namespace}]`,
+      );
+    }
+
+    const parent = ctx.parent;
+
+    // Allow orphan layouts at root level if they're part of map() builder result
+    if (!parent || parent === null) {
+      if (!isRoot) {
+        invariant(
+          false,
+          `Orphan layout cannot be used at non-root level without parent [${namespace}]`,
+        );
+      }
+      // Root-level orphan is allowed (e.g., sibling layouts in map() builder)
+    } else {
+      // Has parent - register as orphan layout
+      invariant(
+        parent.type === "route" ||
+          parent.type === "layout" ||
+          parent.type === "cache",
+        `Orphan layouts can only be defined inside route or layout > check [${namespace}]`,
+      );
+
+      attachOrphanSibling(parent, entry);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (result) {
+    return { name: namespace, type: "layout", uses: result } as LayoutItem;
+  }
+  return {
+    name: namespace,
+    type: "layout",
+  } as LayoutItem;
+};
+
+const isValidUseItem = (item: any): item is AllUseItems | undefined | null =>
+  item == null ||
+  (typeof item === "object" &&
+    "type" in item &&
+    ALL_USE_ITEM_TYPES.has(item.type));
+
+// DSL helpers exported for direct import from @rangojs/router and for
+// assembly into the RouteHelpers object in helper-factories.ts. The route-item
+// types are discriminated by their `type` literal, so the helpers carry no brand.
+export {
+  layout,
+  cache,
+  middleware,
+  revalidate,
+  parallel,
+  intercept,
+  when,
+  errorBoundary,
+  notFoundBoundary,
+  route,
+  loader,
+  loading,
+  transition,
+  isValidUseItem,
+  emptySegmentBase,
+  runAndValidateUseItems,
+};