opencode-buddy 0.3.4 → 0.3.7

package/README.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ A virtual ASCII pet companion that lives in the opencode TUI sidebar. Hatches, f
 └──────────────────────────┘
 ```
 
-The buddy blinks every 600ms, animates inside the TUI sidebar, and reacts to your coding sessions.
+The buddy renders inside the TUI sidebar, reacts to your coding sessions (cheering when a turn finishes, getting scared on errors, falling asleep when low on energy), and can be controlled via slash commands typed directly in the prompt.
 
 ## Install
 
@@ -34,14 +34,12 @@ Requires opencode ≥ 1.15.
 npm install -g opencode-buddy
 ```
 
-The `postinstall` script automatically registers the plugin in both config files using the same spec. opencode picks the right entrypoint from the package's `exports` field:
+The `postinstall` script automatically registers the plugin in both config files using the same spec. opencode picks the right entrypoint from the package's `exports` field based on runtime kind:
 
-- `opencode-buddy` (main) → `src/server-plugin.js` (server plugin, no-op since 0.3.x)
-- `opencode-buddy` with kind `tui` → `src/tui-plugin.jsx` (TUI plugin)
+- `opencode.json` (kind: `server`) → `src/server-plugin.js` via `main` (no-op since 0.3.x)
+- `tui.json` (kind: `tui`) → `src/tui-plugin.jsx` via `exports["./tui"]`
 
-Both `~/.config/opencode/opencode.json` and `~/.config/opencode/tui.json` get the same `plugin: ["opencode-buddy"]` entry.
-
-If you have those config files as JSONC (with comments), the script skips them — add the entries manually:
+Both `~/.config/opencode/opencode.json` and `~/.config/opencode/tui.json` get the same `plugin: ["opencode-buddy"]` entry. The `postinstall` is JSONC-safe — it leaves any file that contains comments alone and asks you to add the entry manually:
 
 ```jsonc
 // ~/.config/opencode/opencode.json
@@ -50,7 +48,7 @@ If you have those config files as JSONC (with comments), the script skips them
 }
 ```
 
-```json
+```jsonc
 // ~/.config/opencode/tui.json
 {
   "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/tui.json",
@@ -75,22 +73,37 @@ Once installed, type `/` in the prompt to see the slash commands. The buddy ship
 
 The buddy also reacts passively to your sessions:
 
-- `session.idle` → 4 second **celebrating** animation
-- `session.error` → 5 second **scared** animation
-- Energy < 20 → automatically transitions to **sleeping**
+- `session.idle` → 4 second **celebrating** state
+- `session.error` → 5 second **scared** state
+- Energy < 20 → automatically transitions to **sleeping** (animation pauses)
 - Hunger < 25 → transitions to **scared** for 30 seconds
 
 State is shared across all opencode sessions via `~/.config/opencode-buddy/state.json`. Open a session in a different terminal and your buddy is still there.
 
+### What you see in the sidebar
+
+The sidebar shows the buddy's species-specific ASCII art, plus four lines under it:
+
+```
+[BDDY]  Quack the cat        <- species + name (preceded by a rotating status dot)
+<art rows>                     <- 6 rows of the species art
+hunger |████░░░░░░| 79         <- hunger bar
+happy  |███░░░░░░░| 60         <- happiness bar
+energy |███████░░░| 70         <- energy bar
+idle  Lv1  xp5/50              <- state label + level + xp progress
+```
+
+The bottom state label reflects the persisted `state` field in `state.json`. It changes on `session.idle` (4 s "celebrating"), `session.error` (5 s "scared"), and on energy/hunger thresholds (auto "sleeping" or "scared"). The art's idle state has 3 frames; the sidebar re-renders the current frame each time `state.json` is reloaded.
+
 ## Six species
 
 ```
         duck                    cat                  dragon
-          __                /\_/\                  /\_/\
-        <(o )___          ( o.o )                ( o o )  ~~
-         ( ._> /           > ^ <                  > ^ < /
-          `--'            /|   |\                /|   |\
-       ~ idle ~         (_|   |_)               (_|   |_)
+          __                /\_/\                  /^^\
+        <(o )___          ( o.o )                (o o)  ~~
+         ( ._> /           > ^ <                  >w<    ~
+          `--'            /|   |\                /| |\
+       ~ idle ~         (_|   |_)               (_| |_)
                            meow                   rawr
 
       axolotl                robot                  ghost
@@ -102,7 +115,7 @@ State is shared across all opencode sessions via `~/.config/opencode-buddy/state
      ~ ambien              beep                   boo
 ```
 
-Each species has a per-character color palette. The idle state is a 3-frame blink loop that runs at ~1.6 fps.
+Each species has a per-character color palette. The idle state has 3 frames; `frameCount` is exposed so the View can pick a frame to render. The buddy renders whatever frame `frame() % fc()` returns at the moment of re-render.
 
 ## Architecture
 
@@ -114,7 +127,7 @@ flowchart LR
 
     subgraph OpencodeTUI["opencode TUI process (binary)"]
         direction TB
-        Config[("tui.json<br/>plugin: [...]")]
+        Config[("tui.json<br/>plugin: [opencode-buddy]")]
         Runtime[TuiPluginRuntime]
         Sidebar[Sidebar component]
         Prompt[Prompt component]
@@ -132,13 +145,15 @@ flowchart LR
         direction TB
         TUIEntry["tui entry<br/>(id: opencode-buddy)"]
         View[View component<br/>SolidJS]
-        AnimTick[setInterval 600ms<br/>frame++]
+        FrameSignal[("frame signal<br/>(plugin-level)")]
+        AnimTick[setInterval 300ms<br/>frame++ gated by energy]
         RefreshTick[setInterval 1500ms<br/>mtime poll]
         SlashCmds["slash commands<br/>feed / play / rest /<br/>status / rename / switch"]
 
+        TUIEntry --> FrameSignal
         TUIEntry --> View
         TUIEntry --> SlashCmds
-        View --> AnimTick
+        FrameSignal --> AnimTick
         View --> RefreshTick
     end
 
@@ -164,6 +179,7 @@ flowchart LR
     Bus -->|session.idle| View
     Bus -->|session.error| View
     View -->|write derived state| StateFile
+    AnimTick -->|reads energy| StateFile
 
     classDef store fill:#1e293b,stroke:#64748b,color:#f1f5f9
     class StateFile store
@@ -172,21 +188,23 @@ flowchart LR
 ### Boot flow
 
 1. opencode reads `~/.config/opencode/tui.json` and discovers the buddy entry under `plugin`.
-2. The TUI runtime loads `tui-plugin.jsx` from `opencode-buddy/tui`, which exports a `{ id, tui }` module.
-3. The `tui(api)` function runs once: it registers the `sidebar_content` slot and registers 6 slash commands on the keymap.
-4. The TUI's `<Slot name="sidebar_content" />` (in the sidebar component) resolves to the buddy's `View` component. Each render of the sidebar instantiates one `<View>`.
-5. The view runs two timers: a 1500 ms state-poll timer that reads `state.json` mtime, and a 600 ms animation timer that increments the frame counter.
-6. Slash commands typed in the prompt hit the keymap → buddy's `run()` → reads/writes `state.json` directly → toast feedback to the user.
-7. The view's reactive signals propagate state changes back to the sidebar render. No re-render of the TUI shell is needed.
+2. The TUI runtime loads `tui-plugin.jsx` from `opencode-buddy` (via `exports["./tui"]` in `package.json`).
+3. The `tui(api)` function runs once. It does three things:
+   - Sets up a **plugin-level frame signal** and a `setInterval` (300 ms) that ticks it. The frame signal is passed into the View as a prop, so the View is purely a consumer — its own lifecycle does not own the timer. This means slot re-renders cannot freeze the animation.
+   - Registers the `sidebar_content` slot. The slot renderer is cached on first call so the View instance is reused across re-renders.
+   - Registers 6 slash commands on the keymap.
+4. The TUI's `<Slot name="sidebar_content" />` (in the sidebar component) resolves to the buddy's cached `View`. The View reads the frame signal and re-renders the buddy art on every tick.
+5. The View also runs a 1500 ms timer that polls `state.json` mtime. When the file changes, the View reloads and re-renders. Slash commands write to `state.json` directly, so the next poll picks up the change.
+6. The `setInterval` for the frame signal also reads `state.json` each tick. If the buddy is `sleeping` or has energy < 20, the frame does not advance — the animation visually pauses while the buddy rests.
 
 ### Why two config files with the same spec?
 
 opencode has separate plugin registries for the **server** (LLM tools, file watching) and the **TUI** (sidebar slots, slash commands, keybindings). When the same package spec appears in both, opencode looks at the package's `exports` field to pick the right entrypoint:
 
-- `opencode.json` → `kind: "server"` → loads `src/server-plugin.js` via `main` (currently a no-op — we no longer expose an LLM tool)
-- `tui.json` → `kind: "tui"` → loads `src/tui-plugin.jsx` via `exports["./tui"]` (the sidebar slot + slash commands)
+- `opencode.json` → `kind: "server"` → loads `src/server-plugin.js` via `main` (no-op since 0.3.x)
+- `tui.json` → `kind: "tui"` → loads `src/tui-plugin.jsx` via `exports["./tui"]`
 
-This split lets slash commands update state instantly without round-tripping through the LLM, which is the right UX for "I want to feed my pet right now" interactions.
+Slash commands update state instantly without round-tripping through the LLM, which is the right UX for "I want to feed my pet right now" interactions.
 
 ## Project layout
 
@@ -195,10 +213,12 @@ opencode-buddy/
 ├── package.json
 ├── README.md
 ├── LICENSE
+├── scripts/
+│   └── postinstall.mjs     # auto-registers plugin in opencode.json + tui.json
 └── src/
-    ├── tui-plugin.jsx     # TUI plugin: slot + slash commands + event listeners
+    ├── tui-plugin.jsx     # TUI plugin: slot + slash commands + frame timer
     ├── server-plugin.js   # Server plugin: no-op (LLM tool removed in 0.3.x)
-    ├── species.js         # ASCII art + per-species color palettes + 3-frame idle loop
+    ├── species.js         # ASCII art + per-species palettes + 3-frame idle loop
     ├── state.js           # state machine: tick, feed, play, rest, rename, switchSpecies, deriveState
     └── persistence.js     # atomic read/write of state.json
 ```
@@ -211,7 +231,7 @@ State is held at `~/.config/opencode-buddy/state.json`. `~/.config` resolves via
 npm uninstall -g opencode-buddy
 ```
 
-Then remove `"opencode-buddy"` from `opencode.json` and `"opencode-buddy/tui"` from `tui.json` (the npm uninstall doesn't auto-edit user config).
+Then remove `"opencode-buddy"` from `opencode.json` and from `tui.json` (the npm uninstall does not auto-edit user config).
 
 ## License
 

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "opencode-buddy",
-  "version": "0.3.4",
+  "version": "0.3.7",
   "description": "A virtual ASCII pet companion that lives in the opencode TUI sidebar. Hatches, feeds, plays, and reacts to what you're coding.",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "src/server-plugin.js",

package/src/species.js

@@ -27,27 +27,27 @@ const C = {
 const FRAMES = {
   duck: {
     idle: [
-      // frame 0: blink open
+      // frame 0: bob up, blink open
       [
-        `         __         `,
+        `         __   ~     `,
         `       <(o )___     `,
         `        ( ._> /     `,
         `         \`--'       `,
         `                    `,
         `      ~ idle ~      `,
       ],
-      // frame 1: blink closed
+      // frame 1: bob up, blink closed
       [
-        `         __         `,
+        `         __    ~    `,
         `       <(- )___     `,
         `        ( ._> /     `,
         `         \`--'       `,
         `                    `,
         `      ~ idle ~      `,
       ],
-      // frame 2: blink open (same as 0, ends loop)
+      // frame 2: same as 0
       [
-        `         __         `,
+        `         __   ~     `,
         `       <(o )___     `,
         `        ( ._> /     `,
         `         \`--'       `,
@@ -80,19 +80,19 @@ const FRAMES = {
         `         __         `,
         `       <(O )___     `,
         `        ( ._> /     `,
-        `         \`--'   !!  `,
-        `                    `,
-        `      !!  oh no     `,
+        `         \`--'       `,
+        `      !!  !!        `,
+        `      ! quack       `,
       ],
     ],
     sleeping: [
       [
         `         __         `,
-        `       <(o )___     `,
-        `        ( -_> z     `,
-        `         \`--'   z   `,
-        `                    `,
-        `    z z z z z       `,
+        `       <(- )___     `,
+        `        ( ._> /     `,
+        `         \`--'       `,
+        `         z          `,
+        `     z z z z        `,
       ],
     ],
   },
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ const FRAMES = {
     idle: [
       [
         `    /\\_/\\           `,
-        `   ( o.o )          `,
+        `   ( o.o ) ~        `,
         `    > ^ <           `,
         `   /|   |\\          `,
         `  (_|   |_)         `,
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ const FRAMES = {
       ],
       [
         `    /\\_/\\           `,
-        `   ( -.o )          `,
+        `   ( -.o )  ~       `,
         `    > ^ <           `,
         `   /|   |\\          `,
         `  (_|   |_)         `,
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ const FRAMES = {
       ],
       [
         `    /\\_/\\           `,
-        `   ( o.o )          `,
+        `   ( o.o )   ~      `,
         `    > ^ <           `,
         `   /|   |\\          `,
         `  (_|   |_)         `,
@@ -136,101 +136,104 @@ const FRAMES = {
     ],
     celebrating: [
       [
-        `    /\\_/\\           `,
-        `   ( ^.^ )   \\o/    `,
-        `    > ~ <           `,
-        `   /|   |\\  \\o/     `,
+        `    /\\_/\\    \\o/  `,
+        `   ( ^.^ )          `,
+        `    > ~ <   \\o/    `,
+        `   /|   |\\          `,
         `  (_|   |_)         `,
-        `   purrrfect!       `,
+        `   +5 xp! \\o/      `,
       ],
     ],
     scared: [
       [
-        `    /\\_/\\    !!     `,
-        `   ( O.O )          `,
+        `    /\\_/\\  !!      `,
+        `   ( O.O ) !!       `,
         `    > ^ <           `,
-        `   /|   |\\          `,
-        `  (_|   |_)  /\\     `,
+        `   /|   |\\  !!      `,
+        `  (_|   |_)         `,
         `    !! hiss         `,
       ],
     ],
     sleeping: [
       [
         `    /\\_/\\           `,
-        `   ( -.- )  z       `,
+        `   ( -.- ) z        `,
         `    > ^ <           `,
-        `   /|   |\\   z      `,
+        `   /|   |\\    z    `,
         `  (_|   |_)         `,
-        `   z z z z z        `,
+        `   z z z z          `,
       ],
     ],
   },
 
   dragon: {
     idle: [
+      // wings trailing right, tail left
       [
-        `      /\\_/\\         `,
-        `     ( o o )  ~~    `,
-        `      > ^ < /       `,
-        `     /|   |\\        `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `      rawr          `,
+        `    /^^\\           `,
+        `   (o o)  ~~       `,
+        `    >w<    ~       `,
+        `   /| |\\           `,
+        `  (_| |_)  ~        `,
+        `    rawr!          `,
       ],
+      // blink, wings up, tail mid
       [
-        `      /\\_/\\         `,
-        `     ( - - )  ~~    `,
-        `      > ^ < /       `,
-        `     /|   |\\        `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `      rawr          `,
+        `    /^^\\           `,
+        `   (- -)  ~~~      `,
+        `    >w<      ~     `,
+        `   /| |\\           `,
+        `  (_| |_)    ~      `,
+        `    rawr!          `,
       ],
+      // wings mid, tail right
       [
-        `      /\\_/\\         `,
-        `     ( o o )  ~~    `,
-        `      > ^ < /       `,
-        `     /|   |\\        `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `      rawr          `,
+        `    /^^\\           `,
+        `   (o o)  ~~       `,
+        `    >w<        ~   `,
+        `   /| |\\           `,
+        `  (_| |_)      ~    `,
+        `    rawr!          `,
       ],
     ],
     working: [
       [
-        `      /\\_/\\   ~~~   `,
-        `     ( o o ) ~~     `,
-        `      > ^ <         `,
-        `     /|   |\\  ~~    `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `    forging...      `,
+        `    /^^\\    ~~~    `,
+        `   (o o) ~~~       `,
+        `    >w<   ~~       `,
+        `   /| |\\   ~~~     `,
+        `  (_| |_)          `,
+        `   forging...      `,
       ],
     ],
     celebrating: [
       [
-        `      /\\^/\\    \\o/  `,
-        `     ( ^.^ )        `,
-        `      > ~ <    \\o/  `,
-        `     /|   |\\        `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `   +50 xp!! \\o/    `,
+        `    /^^\\    \\o/   `,
+        `   (^o^)            `,
+        `    >w<   \\o/      `,
+        `   /| |\\    \\o/    `,
+        `  (_| |_)           `,
+        `   ROAR! \\o/       `,
       ],
     ],
     scared: [
       [
-        `      /\\_/\\    !!   `,
-        `     ( O O )        `,
-        `      > ^ <         `,
-        `     /|   |\\   !!   `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `    !! yikes        `,
+        `    /^^\\    !!     `,
+        `   (O O)  !!        `,
+        `    >w<             `,
+        `   /| |\\   !!      `,
+        `  (_| |_)           `,
+        `   ! yikes          `,
       ],
     ],
     sleeping: [
       [
-        `      /\\_/\\         `,
-        `     ( - - ) z      `,
-        `      > ^ <         `,
-        `     /|   |\\   z    `,
-        `    (_|   |_)       `,
-        `   z z z z z        `,
+        `    /^^\\  z        `,
+        `   (- -)   z        `,
+        `    >w<             `,
+        `   /| |\\  z        `,
+        `  (_| |_)           `,
+        `   z z z z          `,
       ],
     ],
   },
@@ -239,7 +242,7 @@ const FRAMES = {
     idle: [
       [
         `      ^___^         `,
-        `     (o . o)        `,
+        `     (o . o)~       `,
         `    \\|_|_|/        `,
         `     \\| |/         `,
         `      ) (          `,
@@ -247,7 +250,7 @@ const FRAMES = {
       ],
       [
         `      ^___^         `,
-        `     (o - o)        `,
+        `     (o - o) ~      `,
         `    \\|_|_|/        `,
         `     \\| |/         `,
         `      ) (          `,
@@ -255,7 +258,7 @@ const FRAMES = {
       ],
       [
         `      ^___^         `,
-        `     (o . o)        `,
+        `     (o . o)  ~     `,
         `    \\|_|_|/        `,
         `     \\| |/         `,
         `      ) (          `,
@@ -315,16 +318,16 @@ const FRAMES = {
         `      beep          `,
       ],
       [
-        `     [ O . O ]      `,
+        `     [- . - ]   .   `,
         `    /|#####|\\       `,
         `   / |#####| \\      `,
         `      |     |       `,
         `     /| | | |\\      `,
-        `      beep          `,
+        `      bzzt          `,
       ],
       [
         `     [ O . O ]      `,
-        `    /|#####|\\       `,
+        `    /|#####|\\   .   `,
         `   / |#####| \\      `,
         `      |     |       `,
         `     /| | | |\\      `,
@@ -384,15 +387,15 @@ const FRAMES = {
         `      boo           `,
       ],
       [
-        `     .-""-.         `,
-        `    ( o . o )       `,
+        `     .-""-.  o      `,
+        `    ( - . - )       `,
         `    | ~  ~ |        `,
         `    |     |         `,
         `    \\uuuuu/        `,
         `      boo           `,
       ],
       [
-        `     .-""-.         `,
+        `     .-""-.   o     `,
         `    ( o . o )       `,
         `    | ~  ~ |        `,
         `    |     |         `,
@@ -500,7 +503,7 @@ const PALETTES = {
 export const SPECIES = ["duck", "cat", "dragon", "axolotl", "robot", "ghost"];
 export const STATES = ["idle", "working", "celebrating", "scared", "sleeping"];
 
-const FRAME_INTERVAL_MS = 600;
+const FRAME_INTERVAL_MS = 300;
 
 export function framesFor(species, state) {
   const list = FRAMES[species]?.[state] ?? FRAMES.duck.idle;
@@ -529,6 +532,9 @@ export function renderFrame(species, state, frameIdx) {
   const frames = framesFor(species, state);
   const i = ((frameIdx % frames.length) + frames.length) % frames.length;
   const palette = PALETTES[species];
+  // Idle motion lives in the art itself (wagging tails, flapping wings,
+  // bobbing bodies) so the For reconciliation always sees new content
+  // each frame and re-renders. No whitespace trickery required.
   return frames[i].map((row) => {
     let out = "";
     for (const ch of row) out += palette(ch);

package/src/tui-plugin.jsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /** @jsxImportSource @opentui/solid */
-import { createSignal, createMemo, onCleanup, For } from "solid-js"
+import { createSignal, createMemo, onCleanup } from "solid-js"
 import * as persistence from "./persistence.js"
 import {
   tick as tickState,
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ const REFRESH_TICK_MS = 1500
 function View(props) {
   const api = props.api
   const theme = () => api.theme.current
+  const frame = props.frame
   const [state, setState] = createSignal(null)
-  const [frame, setFrame] = createSignal(0)
   const [lastMtime, setLastMtime] = createSignal(0)
   const [tick, setTick] = createSignal(0)
 
@@ -71,16 +71,17 @@ function View(props) {
   const refreshTimer = setInterval(refresh, REFRESH_TICK_MS)
   onCleanup(() => clearInterval(refreshTimer))
 
-  const animTimer = setInterval(() => {
-    setFrame((f) => f + 1)
-  }, ANIMATION_TICK_MS)
-  onCleanup(() => clearInterval(animTimer))
+  // The frame signal lives at the plugin level (see tui() below). It
+  // is passed in as a prop so this View can read its current value
+  // without owning a timer of its own.
 
   const current = state
   const species = () => {
     const v = current()
     return v ? v.species : "duck"
   }
+  // Only animate when the buddy is awake (not sleeping). Sleeping
+  // buddies hold a single frame so the user can see they're resting.
   const buddyState = () => {
     const v = current()
     return v ? v.state : "idle"
@@ -106,12 +107,18 @@ function View(props) {
     return theme().text
   }
 
+  const SPINNER = ["\u25D0", "\u25D3", "\u25D1", "\u25D2"]
+  const spinner = () => SPINNER[frame() % SPINNER.length]
+
   return (
     <box>
-      <text fg={theme().accent}>{current() ? current().name + " the " + current().species : "BUDDY"}</text>
-      <For each={lines()}>
-        {(line) => <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(line)}</text>}
-      </For>
+      <text fg={theme().accent}>{spinner()}  {current() ? current().name + " the " + current().species : "BUDDY"}</text>
+      <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(lines()[0] ?? "")}</text>
+      <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(lines()[1] ?? "")}</text>
+      <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(lines()[2] ?? "")}</text>
+      <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(lines()[3] ?? "")}</text>
+      <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(lines()[4] ?? "")}</text>
+      <text fg={speciesColor()}>{stripAnsi(lines()[5] ?? "")}</text>
       <text fg={theme().textMuted}>hunger {barStr(current()?.hunger ?? 0)} {Math.floor(current()?.hunger ?? 0)}</text>
       <text fg={theme().textMuted}>happy  {barStr(current()?.happiness ?? 0)} {Math.floor(current()?.happiness ?? 0)}</text>
       <text fg={theme().textMuted}>energy {barStr(current()?.energy ?? 0)} {Math.floor(current()?.energy ?? 0)}</text>
@@ -121,11 +128,34 @@ function View(props) {
 }
 
 const tui = async (api) => {
+  // The animation timer lives at the plugin level so it survives View
+  // remounts. We expose a single global frame counter via a SolidJS
+  // signal stored on the api object, which every View can read.
+  // This decouples the animation loop from any individual View's
+  // lifecycle.
+  const [getFrame, setFrame] = createSignal(0)
+  api.__buddyFrame = { getFrame, setFrame }
+  setInterval(async () => {
+    // Read current state from disk. If the buddy is sleeping or has
+    // very low energy, freeze the frame so animation visually pauses
+    // — a sleeping buddy should not be flickering.
+    const s = await persistence.load()
+    const sleeping = s && (s.state === "sleeping" || s.energy < 20)
+    if (!sleeping) setFrame((f) => f + 1)
+  }, ANIMATION_TICK_MS)
+
+  // Cache the View element so slot re-renders don't recreate it.
+  const viewCache = new Map()
+
   api.slots.register({
     order: 50,
     slots: {
       sidebar_content(_ctx, props) {
-        return <View api={api} session_id={props.session_id} />
+        const key = props.session_id ?? "default"
+        if (!viewCache.has(key)) {
+          viewCache.set(key, <View api={api} session_id={props.session_id} frame={getFrame} />)
+        }
+        return viewCache.get(key)
       },
     },
   })