@rangojs/router 0.0.0-experimental.9c87b9aa → 0.0.0-experimental.9eb4192e

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

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import type {
   UseItems,
 } from "../route-types.js";
 import type { RouteHelpers } from "./helpers-types.js";
+import { resolveHandlerUse, mergeHandlerUse } from "./resolve-handler-use.js";
 
 /**
  * Check if an item contains routes (directly or inside nested structures like cache).
@@ -54,6 +55,9 @@ const hasRoutesInItem = (item: AllUseItems): boolean => {
   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;
 };
 
@@ -300,6 +304,15 @@ const cache: RouteHelpers<any, any>["cache"] = (
     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");
@@ -352,10 +365,37 @@ const cache: RouteHelpers<any, any>["cache"] = (
   return { name: namespace, type: "cache", uses: result } as CacheItem;
 };
 
-const middleware: RouteHelpers<any, any>["middleware"] = (...fn) => {
+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.
-  // Checked before context validation — this is a static invariant.
-  for (const f of fn) {
+  for (const f of fns) {
     if (isCachedFunction(f)) {
       throw new Error(
         `A "use cache" function cannot be used as middleware. ` +
@@ -366,17 +406,80 @@ const middleware: RouteHelpers<any, any>["middleware"] = (...fn) => {
     }
   }
 
-  const ctx = getContext().getStore();
+  const store = getContext();
+  const ctx = store.getStore();
   if (!ctx) throw new Error("middleware() must be called inside map()");
 
-  // Attach to last entry in stack
-  const parent = ctx.parent;
-  if (!parent || !("middleware" in parent)) {
-    invariant(false, "No parent entry available for middleware()");
+  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 = `$${store.getNextIndex("middleware")}`;
+    parent.middleware.push(...fns);
+    return { name, type: "middleware" } as MiddlewareItem;
   }
-  const name = `$${getContext().getNextIndex("middleware")}`;
-  parent.middleware.push(...fn);
-  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 = {
+    id: namespace,
+    shortCode: store.getShortCode("layout"),
+    type: "layout",
+    parent: ctx.parent,
+    handler: RootLayout,
+    loading: undefined,
+    middleware: [...fns],
+    revalidate: [],
+    errorBoundary: [],
+    notFoundBoundary: [],
+    layout: [],
+    parallel: {},
+    intercept: [],
+    loader: [],
+    ...(urlPrefix ? { mountPath: urlPrefix } : {}),
+  } as 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 = rawResult.flat(3);
+
+  invariant(
+    result.every((item: any) => isValidUseItem(item)),
+    `middleware() children callback must return an array of use items [${namespace}]`,
+  );
+
+  const hasRoutes =
+    result &&
+    Array.isArray(result) &&
+    result.some((item) => item != null && hasRoutesInItem(item));
+
+  if (!hasRoutes) {
+    const parent = ctx.parent;
+    if (parent && "layout" in parent) {
+      entry.parent = null;
+      parent.layout.push(entry);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    name: namespace,
+    type: "middleware",
+    uses: result,
+  } as MiddlewareItem;
 };
 
 const parallel: RouteHelpers<any, any>["parallel"] = (slots, use) => {
@@ -397,13 +500,25 @@ const parallel: RouteHelpers<any, any>["parallel"] = (slots, use) => {
 
   const namespace = `${ctx.namespace}.$${store.getNextIndex("parallel")}`;
 
-  // Unwrap any static handler definitions in parallel slots
+  // 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, slotHandler] of Object.entries(
+  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;
@@ -447,15 +562,6 @@ const parallel: RouteHelpers<any, any>["parallel"] = (slots, use) => {
       : {}),
   } satisfies EntryData;
 
-  // Run use callback if provided to collect loaders, revalidate, loading
-  if (use && typeof use === "function") {
-    const result = store.run(namespace, entry, use)?.flat(3);
-    invariant(
-      Array.isArray(result) && result.every((item) => isValidUseItem(item)),
-      `parallel() use() callback must return an array of use items [${namespace}]`,
-    );
-  }
-
   for (const slotName of slotNames) {
     const slotEntry = {
       ...entry,
@@ -478,11 +584,61 @@ const parallel: RouteHelpers<any, any>["parallel"] = (slots, use) => {
             staticHandlerIds: undefined,
           }),
     } satisfies EntryData;
+
+    // Per-slot merge order (narrowest-scope-wins for single-assignment items
+    // like loading()):
+    //   1. handler.use      — defaults baked into the handler
+    //   2. shared `use`     — broadcast at the parallel() call site
+    //   3. slot-local `use` — per-slot override via `{ handler, use }` descriptor
+    // Items that accumulate (loader, middleware, revalidate, …) compose
+    // across all three layers regardless of order.
+    const rawSlot = (slots as Record<string, any>)[slotName];
+    const slotHandlerForUse = isSlotDescriptor(rawSlot)
+      ? rawSlot.handler
+      : rawSlot;
+    const slotHandlerUse = resolveHandlerUse(slotHandlerForUse);
+    const slotLocalUse = slotLocalUses[slotName];
+    const explicitUse = combineExplicitUses(use, slotLocalUse);
+    const slotMergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(
+      slotHandlerUse,
+      explicitUse,
+      "parallel",
+    );
+    if (slotMergedUse) {
+      const result = store.run(namespace, slotEntry, slotMergedUse)?.flat(3);
+      invariant(
+        Array.isArray(result) && result.every((item) => isValidUseItem(item)),
+        `parallel() use() callback must return an array of use items [${namespace}]`,
+      );
+    }
+
     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
  */
@@ -527,8 +683,12 @@ const intercept = (
     when: [], // Selector conditions for conditional interception
   };
 
-  // Run use callback if provided to collect loaders, revalidate, middleware, etc.
-  if (use && typeof use === "function") {
+  // 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) {
     // Create a temporary parent context for the use() callback
     // so that middleware, loader, revalidate attach to the intercept entry
     const originalParent = ctx.parent;
@@ -555,7 +715,7 @@ const intercept = (
     };
     ctx.parent = tempParent as EntryData;
 
-    const result = use()?.flat(3);
+    const result = mergedUse()?.flat(3);
 
     // Restore original parent
     ctx.parent = originalParent;
@@ -599,8 +759,12 @@ const loaderFn: RouteHelpers<any, any>["loader"] = (loaderDef, use) => {
     revalidate: [] as ShouldRevalidateFn<any, any>[],
   };
 
-  // If use() callback provided, run it to collect revalidation rules and cache config
-  if (use && typeof use === "function") {
+  // 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) {
     // Temporarily set context for revalidate()/cache() calls to target this loader
     const originalParent = ctx.parent;
     // Create a temporary "parent" with type "loader" so cache() can detect it.
@@ -613,7 +777,7 @@ const loaderFn: RouteHelpers<any, any>["loader"] = (loaderDef, use) => {
     };
     ctx.parent = tempParent as EntryData;
 
-    const result = use()?.flat(3);
+    const result = mergedUse()?.flat(3);
 
     // Copy cache config only if cache() was called during the use() callback.
     // The spread from originalParent may carry an inherited .cache from
@@ -652,11 +816,15 @@ const loadingFn: RouteHelpers<any, any>["loading"] = (component, options) => {
     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 = component;
+    parent.loading = resolved;
   }
 
   const name = `$${store.getNextIndex("loading")}`;
@@ -752,7 +920,7 @@ const routeFn: RouteHelpers<any, any>["route"] = (name, handler, use) => {
     shortCode: store.getShortCode("route"),
     type: "route",
     parent: ctx.parent,
-    handler,
+    handler: handler as unknown as Handler<any, any, any>,
     loading: undefined, // Allow loading() to attach loading state
     middleware: [],
     revalidate: [],
@@ -771,9 +939,12 @@ const routeFn: RouteHelpers<any, any>["route"] = (name, handler, use) => {
   );
   /* Register route entry */
   ctx.manifest.set(name, entry);
+  /* Merge handler.use defaults with explicit use */
+  const handlerUseFn = resolveHandlerUse(handler);
+  const mergedUse = mergeHandlerUse(handlerUseFn, use, "route");
   /* Run use and attach handlers */
-  if (use && typeof use === "function") {
-    const result = store.run(namespace, entry, use)?.flat(3);
+  if (mergedUse) {
+    const result = store.run(namespace, entry, mergedUse)?.flat(3);
     invariant(
       Array.isArray(result) && result.every((item) => isValidUseItem(item)),
       `route() use() callback must return an array of use items [${namespace}]`,
@@ -834,10 +1005,14 @@ const layout: RouteHelpers<any, any>["layout"] = (handler, use) => {
     (handler as any).$$routePrefix = ctx.namePrefix;
   }
 
-  // Run use callback if provided
+  // 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 (use && typeof use === "function") {
-    result = store.run(namespace, entry, use)?.flat(3);
+  if (mergedUse) {
+    result = store.run(namespace, entry, mergedUse)?.flat(3);
 
     invariant(
       Array.isArray(result) && result.every((item) => isValidUseItem(item)),

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

@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ export type RouteHelpers<T extends RouteDefinition, TEnv> = {
    *   "@main": async (ctx) => <MainContent data={ctx.use(DataLoader)} />,
    * })
    *
-   * // With loaders and loading states
+   * // With loaders and loading states (broadcast to every slot)
    * parallel({
    *   "@analytics": AnalyticsPanel,
    *   "@metrics": MetricsPanel,
@@ -131,12 +131,36 @@ export type RouteHelpers<T extends RouteDefinition, TEnv> = {
    *   loader(DashboardLoader),
    *   loading(<DashboardSkeleton />),
    * ])
+   *
+   * // Per-slot scoped use via slot descriptor — for single-assignment items
+   * // like loading() that should not broadcast to siblings.
+   * parallel({
+   *   "@meta": MetaSlot,
+   *   "@sidebar": {
+   *     handler: SidebarSlot,
+   *     use: () => [loading(<SidebarSkeleton />)],
+   *   },
+   * })
    * ```
    * @param slots - Object with slot names (prefixed with @) mapped to handlers
+   *                or `{ handler, use? }` slot descriptors.
    * @param use - Optional callback for loaders, loading, revalidate, etc.
+   *              Items here apply to every slot in the call (broadcast).
+   *              For per-slot single-assignment items, use the slot descriptor's
+   *              own `use` callback — slot-local items run after the broadcast,
+   *              so they take precedence on `loading()` and other last-write-wins
+   *              fields.
    */
   parallel: <
-    TSlots extends Record<`@${string}`, Handler<any, any, TEnv> | ReactNode>,
+    TSlots extends Record<
+      `@${string}`,
+      | Handler<any, any, TEnv>
+      | ReactNode
+      | {
+          handler: Handler<any, any, TEnv> | ReactNode;
+          use?: () => UseItems<ParallelUseItem>;
+        }
+    >,
   >(
     slots: TSlots,
     use?: () => UseItems<ParallelUseItem>,
@@ -182,21 +206,41 @@ export type RouteHelpers<T extends RouteDefinition, TEnv> = {
     ): InterceptItem;
   };
   /**
-   * Attach middleware to the current route/layout
+   * Attach middleware to the current route/layout, or wrap child segments
+   *
+   * **Sibling mode** — attaches middleware to the parent entry:
    * ```typescript
-   * middleware(async (ctx, next) => {
-   *   const session = await getSession(ctx.request);
-   *   if (!session) return redirect("/login");
-   *   ctx.set("user", session.user);
-   *   next();
-   * })
+   * layout(<DashboardShell />, () => [
+   *   middleware(authMiddleware),
+   *   middleware([authMiddleware, loggingMiddleware]),
+   *   path("/", DashboardPage),
+   * ])
+   * ```
    *
-   * // Chain multiple middleware
-   * middleware(authMiddleware, loggingMiddleware, rateLimitMiddleware)
+   * **Wrapping mode** — scopes middleware to the children only:
+   * ```typescript
+   * middleware(authMiddleware, () => [
+   *   path("/dashboard", DashboardPage),
+   *   path("/settings", SettingsPage),
+   * ])
+   *
+   * middleware([authMiddleware, loggingMiddleware], () => [
+   *   path("/admin", AdminPage),
+   * ])
    * ```
-   * @param fns - One or more middleware functions to execute in order
    */
-  middleware: (...fns: MiddlewareFn<TEnv>[]) => MiddlewareItem;
+  middleware: {
+    (fn: MiddlewareFn<TEnv>): MiddlewareItem;
+    (
+      fn: MiddlewareFn<TEnv>,
+      children: () => UseItems<LayoutUseItem>,
+    ): MiddlewareItem;
+    (fns: MiddlewareFn<TEnv>[]): MiddlewareItem;
+    (
+      fns: MiddlewareFn<TEnv>[],
+      children: () => UseItems<LayoutUseItem>,
+    ): MiddlewareItem;
+  };
   /**
    * Control when a segment should revalidate during navigation
    * ```typescript
@@ -255,7 +299,10 @@ export type RouteHelpers<T extends RouteDefinition, TEnv> = {
    * @param options - Configuration options
    * @param options.ssr - If false, skip showing loading on document requests (SSR)
    */
-  loading: (component: ReactNode, options?: { ssr?: boolean }) => LoadingItem;
+  loading: (
+    component: ReactNode | (() => ReactNode),
+    options?: { ssr?: boolean },
+  ) => LoadingItem;
   /**
    * Attach an error boundary to catch errors in this segment and children
    * ```typescript

package/src/route-definition/index.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ export {
   type RouteHandlers,
 } from "./helper-factories.js";
 
+// Handler use resolver
+export { resolveHandlerUse } from "./resolve-handler-use.js";
+
 // Redirect
 export { redirect } from "./redirect.js";
 

package/src/route-definition/redirect.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { LocationStateEntry } from "../browser/react/location-state-shared.
 import {
   requireRequestContext,
   getRequestContext,
+  _getRequestContext,
 } from "../server/request-context.js";
 
 /**
@@ -83,10 +84,17 @@ export function redirect(
     }
   }
 
+  // Auto-prefix root-relative URLs with basename for app-local redirects.
+  const bn = _getRequestContext()?._basename;
+  let resolvedUrl = url;
+  if (bn && url.startsWith("/") && !url.startsWith(bn + "/") && url !== bn) {
+    resolvedUrl = url === "/" ? bn : bn + url;
+  }
+
   return new Response(null, {
     status,
     headers: {
-      Location: url,
+      Location: resolvedUrl,
       "X-RSC-Redirect": "soft",
     },
   });

package/src/route-definition/resolve-handler-use.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+import type { AllUseItems } from "../route-types.js";
+import { isPrerenderHandler, isPassthroughHandler } from "../prerender.js";
+import { isStaticHandler } from "../static-handler.js";
+
+/**
+ * Extract the .use callback from any handler shape.
+ *
+ * Checks definition brands first (objects with __brand), then plain functions.
+ * ReactNode handlers return undefined (no .use possible).
+ */
+export function resolveHandlerUse(handler: unknown): (() => any[]) | undefined {
+  if (handler == null) return undefined;
+
+  // Check branded definitions first — they're objects but also have typeof "object"
+  if (isPassthroughHandler(handler)) {
+    return (handler as any).use;
+  }
+  if (isPrerenderHandler(handler)) {
+    return (handler as any).use;
+  }
+  if (isStaticHandler(handler)) {
+    return (handler as any).use;
+  }
+  // Loader definitions from createLoader() — branded objects with optional .use
+  if (typeof handler === "object" && (handler as any).__brand === "loader") {
+    return (handler as any).use;
+  }
+  // Plain handler function
+  if (typeof handler === "function") {
+    return (handler as any).use;
+  }
+  // ReactNode or other — no .use
+  return undefined;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Allowed item types per mount site.
+ * Mirrors the RouteUseItem / ParallelUseItem / InterceptUseItem / LayoutUseItem unions
+ * from route-types.ts for runtime validation.
+ */
+const MOUNT_SITE_ALLOWED_TYPES: Record<string, Set<string>> = {
+  path: new Set([
+    "layout",
+    "parallel",
+    "intercept",
+    "middleware",
+    "revalidate",
+    "loader",
+    "loading",
+    "errorBoundary",
+    "notFoundBoundary",
+    "cache",
+    "transition",
+  ]),
+  // Response routes (path.json, path.text, etc.) — mirrors ResponseRouteUseItem
+  response: new Set(["middleware", "cache"]),
+  route: new Set([
+    "layout",
+    "parallel",
+    "intercept",
+    "middleware",
+    "revalidate",
+    "loader",
+    "loading",
+    "errorBoundary",
+    "notFoundBoundary",
+    "cache",
+    "transition",
+  ]),
+  // layout allows AllUseItems — no validation needed, but included for completeness
+  layout: new Set([
+    "layout",
+    "route",
+    "middleware",
+    "revalidate",
+    "parallel",
+    "intercept",
+    "loader",
+    "loading",
+    "errorBoundary",
+    "notFoundBoundary",
+    "cache",
+    "transition",
+    "include",
+  ]),
+  parallel: new Set([
+    "revalidate",
+    "loader",
+    "loading",
+    "errorBoundary",
+    "notFoundBoundary",
+    "transition",
+  ]),
+  intercept: new Set([
+    "middleware",
+    "revalidate",
+    "loader",
+    "loading",
+    "errorBoundary",
+    "notFoundBoundary",
+    "layout",
+    "route",
+    "when",
+    "transition",
+  ]),
+  // LoaderUseItem — only revalidate + cache can attach to a loader entry
+  loader: new Set(["revalidate", "cache"]),
+};
+
+/**
+ * Validate that items from handler.use() are valid for the given mount site.
+ * Throws a descriptive error if any item is not allowed.
+ */
+export function validateHandlerUseItems(
+  items: AllUseItems[],
+  mountSite: string,
+): void {
+  const allowed = MOUNT_SITE_ALLOWED_TYPES[mountSite];
+  if (!allowed) return;
+  for (const item of items) {
+    if (item == null) continue;
+    if (!allowed.has((item as any).type)) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `handler.use() returned ${(item as any).type}() which is not valid inside ${mountSite}(). ` +
+          `Allowed types: ${[...allowed].join(", ")}.`,
+      );
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a merged use callback from handler.use and explicit use.
+ * handler.use items come first (defaults), explicit items second (overrides).
+ * Returns undefined if both are absent.
+ */
+export function mergeHandlerUse(
+  handlerUse: (() => any[]) | undefined,
+  explicitUse: (() => any[]) | undefined,
+  mountSite: string,
+): (() => any[]) | undefined {
+  if (!handlerUse && !explicitUse) return undefined;
+  if (!handlerUse) return explicitUse;
+  if (!explicitUse) {
+    return () => {
+      const items = handlerUse().flat(3);
+      validateHandlerUseItems(items, mountSite);
+      return items;
+    };
+  }
+  return () => {
+    const hItems = handlerUse().flat(3);
+    validateHandlerUseItems(hItems, mountSite);
+    return [...hItems, ...explicitUse()];
+  };
+}