HellionChat/docs/ROADMAP.md

# Hellion Chat — Roadmap

Planned work after the v1.0.0 standalone cut. This list is intentionally high-level: concrete specs, size estimates and
repro steps live in the internal backlog. External tracking runs via
[Gitea Issues](https://gitea.hellion-forge.cloud/JonKazama-Hellion/HellionChat/issues) with the `roadmap` label once an
item is scheduled for a cycle.

Order reflects priority, not a guarantee. Items may shift or be dropped entirely if they turn out to be a poor fit for
the plugin's privacy-first scope during brainstorming.

---

## Next Cycle (v1.4.10)

**Render Clipper, Symbol-Picker and Final-Cleanup.** Reserve items inherited from the v1.4.9 plan that did not need to
land in the HITCH-cut: an `ImGuiListClipper` for variable-height messages in `DrawMessages` (the OtterGui `ImGuiClip.cs`
wrapper is the idiom anchor), a Symbol Picker popup for the chat input (`imgui_demo.cpp` Popups & Modal Windows section
is the pattern reference), plus the carry-over from v1.4.9: structural First-Frame-Layout rewrite if the v1.4.9 selective
defers turn out to be too narrow once user-side regressions surface. Lazy-Window-Init naive is **not** in scope — the
v1.4.9 Stage-2 diagnose falsified that path (`WindowSystem.windows` is non-thread-safe, Game-Freeze under reload stress,
no measurable HITCH delta). A clean DI-container adoption (Lightless `PluginHostFactory` pattern) belongs in v1.5.x and
will revisit the question with the right threading model.

---

## v1.4.9 — Plugin-Load Render Polish (released 2026-05-15)

Tenth sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. First-frame HITCH drops from ~127 ms median to ~76 ms median (4-reload
sample), comfortably under Dalamud's 100 ms warning threshold. Mechanism: a single `_firstFrameDone` flag inside
`ChatLogWindow` defers six non-essential rendering sections (bottom status bar, channel-name SeString chunks, window
bounds check, v0.6.1 hint banner, autocomplete, input-preview calculation) from frame 0 to frame 1. User sees those
sections ~17 ms (60 fps) later, invisible inside the ~2.5 s font-atlas build window after every reload. Slash-command
registration moved from individual window constructors to a central `SetupCommands` / `TearDownCommands` pair in
`Plugin.cs` — `/hellion`, `/hellionView`, `/hellionSeString` and `/hellionDebugger` work before their target windows are
opened the first time, and Dalamud's plugin-manager `OpenConfigUi` / `OpenMainUi` buttons hang on the same path.
Plugin-load profiling logs (auto-translate warmup, `MessageStore.Connect`, `MessageStore.Migrate`, `FilterAllTabs`) stay
on at Information level as a regression tripwire. Migration v17 stays (no schema bump). Hypothesis-triage falsified
three of four candidate root causes (font-atlas sync fallback, theme-apply ABGR-cache init, multiple-window render via
lazy-init) — actual cost distributes evenly across ~10 ImGui sections inside ChatLogWindow, so structural rewrite is
deferred to v1.5.x DI-container cycle.

## v1.4.8 — Hook-Layer and Polish Quick-Wins (released 2026-05-14)

Ninth sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. Database Viewer gains an optional FTS5 full-text search across the
full chat history, built asynchronously on first run after the update with a progress toast; the local page-filter
remains the default mode. Custom theme files auto-reload when edited while the theme is active (1 Hz disk-stat throttle,
so per-frame cost is free). Retention sweep no longer blocks the framework thread — `Framework.Run(...).Wait()` is
replaced by `Framework.RunOnTick(...)`, removing the ~194 ms hitch per sweep. Status-bar height is now derived from
`GetTextLineHeightWithSpacing()` plus a DPI-aware spacer so the bar renders correctly at Windows display scaling above
100 %. Receive-suppressed-tells routing was investigated and **postponed to v1.5.x**: when other plugins suppress tells
via `CheckMessageHandled`, FFXIV's chat-pipeline skips the `RaptureLogModule.AddMsgSourceEntry` path, which means the
`ContentIdResolverHook` does not fire and tell-partner identification breaks. The fix belongs next to the planned ad-block
hook layer where the same patch surface comes up anyway. Migration v17 stays (no schema bump). H3 leaves a foundation
note in the Vault (`Projekte/FFXIV/Hellion Chat/v1.5.x Ad-Block Foundation.md`) covering the NoSoliciting filter +
bubble-layer hook pattern as a ready-made template for the v1.5.x cycle.

---

## v1.4.7 — Backlog Cleanup and Mid-Features (released 2026-05-13)

Eighth sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. First user-visible feature bundle since v1.4.5. TempTell tabs can
now be pinned via right-click; pinned tabs survive plugin reload and character logout, keep their conversation history
(loaded on demand from the message store on rehydrate), and stay bound to the same `/tell` partner. A hard cap of 5
pinned tabs lives in a pool separate from the 15-tab auto-tell pool, total ceiling 20. The sidebar groups pinned tabs
into their own section with a divider header, and the sidebar width itself is now configurable in **Theme & Layout**
between 44 and 160 px. Honorific glow outlines render when the title carries a Glow colour, opt-in via **Settings →
Integrations → Render glow outlines (Honorific)** (default off). Honorific's gradient (Color3 / GradientColourSet / Wave
/ Pulse) is parsed but rendered statically — a later cycle will port the full animation algorithm or land an upstream
IPC PR for the resolved frame colour. `Configuration.UpdateFrom` now preserves the runtime `CurrentChannel` across the
persistent-tab merge, and `TabSwitched` deep-clones the seeded channel instead of sharing the previous tab's
`UsedChannel` — together they fix a Settings-Save regression where the chat input could pop back to
`/tell <pinned-partner>` after touching settings on a Party or Linkshell tab. Internal items: `IPluginLogProxy`
indirection over Dalamud's `IPluginLog` routes all ~91 `Plugin.Log` call sites through a testable proxy, closing the
F12.1 test-isolation gap (`MessageStore.Migrate0` runs in xUnit now). TempTab counter switched from `Interlocked` cached
field to derived `Tabs.Count(predicate)`. Migration v16 → v17 is additive (new `Tab.IsPinned` flag). Build-Suite floor
688 → 710 (+22 tests across Pin-lifecycle predicates, pool limits, Tab.Clone roundtrip, MessageStore Migrate0
construction, and Honorific TitleData JSON roundtrip).

## v1.4.6 — Code Hygiene and Refactor (released 2026-05-12)

Seventh sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. Maintenance patch — no user-visible behaviour changes; tightens the
development feedback loop and pulls in two ChatTwo upstream bugfixes. `scripts/preflight.sh` gains a csharpier reflow
check (Block E) and a markdownlint pass (Block F), so style drift and markdown violations are blocked at the pre-push
gate. `FontManager.AddFontWithFallback` catch-filter now spans `InvalidOperationException` and `ArgumentException` on
top of the existing IO triad, with the exception type name in the warning log so the diagnostic path can see which
atlas-toolkit throw triggered the fallback. `BrandingLinks` and `IntegrationLinks` run a `[ModuleInitializer]` URL
validation pass on plugin load; a typo in a future URL rotation now throws at startup instead of failing silently when a
user clicks the broken button. Cherry-picked from ChatTwo upstream `f35b7d3`: `Chat.SetChannel` no longer leaks the
native `Utf8String` when the linkshell check rejects the channel (rename to `IsChannelOrExistingLinkshell` plus
wrap-not-return), and `Tab.Clone` now deep-clones `UsedChannel` and `TellTarget` (the previous reference copy let PopOut
and Temp tabs mutate each other's channel state). The `ChatLogWindow` active-tab underline pill scales with
`ImGuiHelpers.GlobalScale` and rounds to physical pixels for crisp rendering above 100 % DPI. Internal items:
`HellionStyle` ChildBgAlpha extracted to a testable helper, `Plugin.SaveConfig` clones only the temp-tab subset in the
snapshot path, `SettingsOverview` caches the draw-list per frame, `Dalamud.Utility.Util` static surface routed through
an `IPlatformUtil` indirection (`MessageStore`'s `IsWine` probe is now testable in isolation). No schema bump, no
migration.

## v1.4.5 — UX and Robustness (released 2026-05-12)

Sixth sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. User-visible robustness polish plus two doc/test polish items from
the audit backlog. Chat-log draw failures now surface as a one-shot notification instead of failing silently. The
first-run wizard splits accept from close: `OnClose` no longer silently sets `FirstRunCompleted`, and a new footer
"Later — keep defaults" button is the explicit path to dismiss without picking a profile. `InputHistoryService` clears
on plugin dispose so the previous session's typed commands don't bleed into the next load. `FontManager` falls back to
the system font path if the embedded Hellion font resource is missing (broken-csproj / dev-build only). The status bar
hides the version slot when the chat window is too narrow to fit all five slots without overlap. Plus
`Plugin.cs:167-168` gains an explicit session-only Auto-Tell-Tab invariant comment with a `TempTabCounter.InitFromList`
pin in the Build-Suite. No schema bump, no migration.

## v1.4.4 — Threading and IPC Safety Polish (released 2026-05-12)

Fifth sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. `AutoTellTabsService.ActiveTempTabCount` switches from a
lock-protected LINQ `Count` to an `Interlocked` counter kept in sync from inside the existing mutation paths;
`Initialize()` seeds from the persisted Tabs list and `SaveConfig`'s snapshot-restore path calls a new
`ResyncTempTabCounter()` after the mid-step `RemoveAll`. `HonorificService` carries per-method threading banners and
`TryUnsubscribe`'s log level moves from Debug to Warning. `AutoTranslate.PreloadCache` is marked `IsBackground = true`
so plugin unload no longer waits for it. `Configuration.IsAllowedForStorage` logs once per unknown ChatType via a
`NonSerialized` `HashSet`, and `PrivacyPersistUnknownChannels` default flips to `true` for new installs. No schema bump,
no migration.

## v1.4.3 — Plugin-Load Async-Init + Repo-Cutover (released 2026-05-08)

Fourth and largest sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. Plugin migrated to Dalamud's `IAsyncDalamudPlugin` API:
the constructor handles only bootstrap essentials (config load, language init, conflict detection); migrations, service
allocations, window construction and hook subscription move to `LoadAsync`. Schema gate replaces the v9 → v16 migration
chain; configs on schema v16+ load directly, older configs trigger an "install v1.4.2 first" error.
`AutoTranslate.PreloadCache` moved off the load path. `FontManager.BuildFonts` runs sync at the start of `LoadAsync`;
Dalamud rebuilds the font atlas on its own pipeline. Custom-repo URL cut over to `gitea.hellion-forge.cloud`; the GitHub
repo remains as a frozen v1.4.2 snapshot. Plugin load time sits at ~3.7 s median (5 reloads), comparable to v1.4.2 — the
async migration is a foundation for v1.4.4 lazy-init optimisations rather than an immediate user-perceived win.

## v1.4.2 — ChatLog Frame-Hot-Path (released 2026-05-08)

Third sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. Per-frame allocations eliminated from the ChatLogWindow render path
and the settings status bar. Card-mode border loop in `DrawMessages` hoists five invariants into a pre-loop hoist;
`AutoTellTabTint` gets a per-tab cache via `TabTintCache` (separate validation keys per cache, no cross-invalidation);
status bar moves the cache-gate check before the aggregation and replaces LINQ `Sum`+`Count` with a single-pass foreach.

## v1.4.1 — Theme Engine Performance (released 2026-05-08)

Second sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. ABGR cache pre-computed on theme records; `HellionStyle.PushGlobal`
reads from the cache instead of converting per slot per frame. **~13 % render-time recovery** in smoke tests (plan
estimate of 2–6 % was conservative; real result ~10–15 %). Custom-theme hot-reload survives transient file locks via
last-known-good snapshot. Plus: Synthwave Sunset as the tenth built-in, author credits consolidated under Hellion Forge,
Mint Grove + Forge Merchantman credited to Carla Beleandis as a community thanks.

## v1.4.0 — Critical Lifecycle Fixes (released 2026-05-07)

First sub-patch of the v1.4.x Polish Sweep series. Seven P0 findings from audit passes 3 and 4 resolved: async-void
loads, missing `IsBackground` flags, `GC.Collect` in Dispose, deferred-save race and pre-v13 backup lookup for
`WindowOpacity`. No schema bumps, no user-facing behaviour changes other than reload and shutdown running noticeably
cleaner.

## v1.3.0 — Plugin Integrations: Honorific (released 2026-05-07)

First cycle of the plugin integrations roadmap. Honorific custom titles displayed in the chat header with auto-detect
and silent fallback. New Integrations settings tab. Pattern-setter for the five following cycles (Context Menu,
NotificationMaster, RP Status Block, ExtraChat, XIVIM).

Spec: [Plugin Integrations Overview](../Hellion%20Chat%20Plugin-Integrationen.md)

## v1.2.3 — Theme Expansion (released 2026-05-06)

Four new built-in themes: Night Blue, Indigo Violet, Forge Merchantman, Hellion Spectrum (Deuteran/Protan-safe). No
engine changes. See `docs/CHANGELOG.md`.

(v1.2.2 was burned because the `repo.json` manifest was not bumped in sync on the first push — re-released as v1.2.3
with full manifest synchronisation.)

## v1.2.1 — Settings Cleanup (released 2026-05-06)

Settings re-sorted thematically (9 cards), 4 dead settings removed, auto-migration v15 → v16 without data loss.

## v1.2.0 — Layout Refresh (released 2026-05-05)

Top tabs refresh, sidebar tab icons, bottom status bar, card rows as default message render, auto-tell tab hashing.

## v1.1.0 — Theme Foundation (released 2026-05-05)

Theme engine with five built-in themes, settings card grid, custom themes via JSON, theme authoring docs. Plugin icon
updated to Hellion Forge hammer. See `docs/CHANGELOG.md` for details.

Items from the original v1.1.0 plan (ad-block / spam filter, receive-suppressed-tells toggle) were deferred in favour of
the theme engine — both items live on in the mid-term block.

---

## Mid-Term (v1.4.x+)

- **Plugin Integrations Roadmap (Cycles 2–6)** — six plugin integrations planned; Honorific (Cycle 1) is live, followed
  by Context Menu, NotificationMaster, RP Status Block, ExtraChat and XIVIM in their own cycles. Spec and cycle order in
  [Plugin Integrations Overview](../Hellion%20Chat%20Plugin-Integrationen.md).
- **Ad-Block / Spam Filter** — hybrid concept combining a lightweight built-in filter with optional `NoSoliciting` IPC
  integration. Addresses ad-spam in public channels and tells. Deferred from the v1.1.0 plan.
- **Receive-Suppressed-Tells Toggle** — auto-tell tabs trigger even when a third-party plugin (e.g. XIVMessenger)
  globally suppresses /tell display. Same hook layer as ad-block, so they are bundled.
- **Database Viewer Inline Search** — full-text search in the DB viewer via SQLite FTS5. Currently only date and channel
  filters are available.
- **TempTell Persistence** — pin toggle on TempTell tabs so selected tells survive a relog. Tester request from Jingliu.
- **FontManager Async Refactor** — move `LoadGameSymFontAsync` out of the blocking plugin constructor. Fix cold-start
  hitching on first plugin load (low severity; plugin is functional).
- **Separate Opacity Active vs. Inactive** — second slider for inactive window opacity. Upstream declines this; we can
  decide differently here.
- **Failed-Tell Notification** — visible message on /tell failure (offline, restricted instance, blacklisted,
  world-mismatch) instead of silent failure.
- **Per-Tab Sound Notification** — sound toggle and optionally a custom .wav per tab, with mute-in-combat option.

---

## Long-Term (v1.x+)

### Storage Backends (three-stage confirmation)

- MySQL/MariaDB backend for multi-device setups
- PostgreSQL backend
- AES-256 encryption for sensitive channels with a local key

### Linux-Specific

- WireGuard network detection as an optional filter trigger
- libnotify integration for native Linux toasts
- XDG compliance (complex under Wine)

### UX and Tab Management

- **Regex Tab Routing** — route plugin output spam into dedicated tabs, auto-sort tells from specific people. Clearly
  scoped against ad-block: routing sorts into views, blocking hides globally.
- **Auto-Detect Duties** — tab switch on duty start via condition flag.
- **UX Bundle** — vertical tab bar as a layout option, Shift+Mousewheel to scroll tab headers without activating them,
  global hotkey to close the active tab.
- **Configure Tab Title** — configurable tab title format (name / name + abbreviated world / full name / custom),
  overridable per tab.
- **Name Display Options** — analogous to FFXIV vanilla (full name, first name abbreviated, initials), per-channel
  override possible.
- **Item & Flag Linking** — outgoing: Shift-click on an item/flag sends it to the focused plugin input. Incoming: item
  links and map coordinates are clickable.
- **Color Currently Selected Input Channel** — tint the channel-selector button in the input bar with the current
  channel colour.
- **Plugin-Disclosure Pre-Send Filter** — configurable word/regex list blocks sending with a pre-send confirmation.
  Protects against accidentally mentioning plugins in public channels.
- **Chat Clear on Name Change** — on character name change, migrate or wipe local history; default is wipe for maximum
  privacy.
- **Hide Plugin Window on NG+ Screen** — extend hide logic to cover additional addon names.
- **Kick from Novice Network** — mentor niche; context menu entry with confirmation.
- **Text-to-Speech for /tell** — incoming tells via TTS, optionally per sender, with channel filter and mute-in-combat.
  Low priority.

### Distribution and Branding

- Hand-drawn Hellion logo (currently a placeholder from the Hellion Online Media brand repo)
- GitHub Action for automatic `repo.json` sync after tag push
- Submission to the Dalamud main plugin repository (in addition to the custom repo)

---

## Bug Verifications

Carried over from the upstream issue tracker; not yet reproduced or verified in Hellion Chat 1.0.0. Will be tested
against the current state when opportunity allows.

- **Right-Click Whisper Error** in Field Ops / Special Instances (Eureka, Bozja, Occult Crescent, DRS) — upstream
  [#168](https://github.com/Infiziert90/ChatTwo/issues/168). Reply helper appears to swallow the `@World` suffix.
- **FPS Drops with Plugin Active** — upstream [#145](https://github.com/Infiziert90/ChatTwo/issues/145). 10–20 % drop
  since upstream v1.29.19.0. v1.0.0 includes several fixes on the suspected paths; repro test against the current state
  is open.
- **Add Blacklist from Plugin Window** — upstream [#140](https://github.com/Infiziert90/ChatTwo/issues/140). Right-click
  add-to-blacklist throws "Cannot locate character with that name"; works via vanilla chat.
- **DB Viewer Column Sort** — State column sorts lexicographically instead of numerically (10 before 2). XIVIM
  [#82](https://github.com/NightmareXIV/XIVInstantMessenger/issues/82); repro in Hellion Chat open.

---

## Licence Boundary

Hellion Chat is licensed under EUPL-1.2. Concept imports from AGPL-3.0 plugins (e.g. XIV Instant Messenger) are
architectural inspiration only — no code was ported. Code imports from the upstream codebase are complete as of v1.4.x
because Chat 2 is undergoing a fundamental rework and selective patches are no longer cleanly portable. Status and
rationale in [`UPSTREAM_SYNC.md`](UPSTREAM_SYNC.md).