feat: client-side tab caching for instant tab switching

Previously loaded tabs stay in the DOM and are shown/hidden via CSS.
New tabs are fetched via fetch() + DOMParser on first visit, then
cached. Switching back is instant with no network request.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

server/shell.ts

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function renderShell(opts: ShellOptions): string {
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
   <link rel="icon" href="data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 100 100'><text y='.9em' font-size='90'>🌌</text></svg>">
   <title>${escapeHtml(title)}</title>
-  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/shell.css?v=5">
+  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/shell.css?v=6">
   <style>
     /* When loaded inside an iframe (e.g. standalone domain redirecting back),
        hide the shell chrome — the parent rSpace page already provides it. */
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ export function renderShell(opts: ShellOptions): string {
   ${renderWelcomeOverlay()}
 
   <script type="module">
-    import '/shell.js?v=5';
+    import '/shell.js?v=6';
     // Provide module list to app switcher
     document.querySelector('rstack-app-switcher')?.setModules(${moduleListJSON});
 
@@ -206,31 +206,62 @@ export function renderShell(opts: ShellOptions): string {
         localStorage.setItem(TABS_KEY, JSON.stringify(layers));
       }
 
+      // ── Tab cache: instant switching via show/hide DOM panes ──
+      let tabCache = null;
+      try {
+        const TC = window.__RSpaceTabCache;
+        if (TC) {
+          tabCache = new TC(spaceSlug, currentModuleId);
+          if (!tabCache.init()) tabCache = null;
+        }
+      } catch(e) { tabCache = null; }
+
       // ── Tab events ──
       tabBar.addEventListener('layer-switch', (e) => {
         const { moduleId } = e.detail;
         saveTabs();
-        window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, moduleId);
+        if (tabCache) {
+          tabCache.switchTo(moduleId).then(ok => {
+            if (!ok) window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, moduleId);
+          });
+        } else {
+          window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, moduleId);
+        }
       });
 
       tabBar.addEventListener('layer-add', (e) => {
         const { moduleId } = e.detail;
-        // Add the new module before navigating so the next page sees it
         if (!layers.find(l => l.moduleId === moduleId)) {
           layers.push(makeLayer(moduleId, layers.length));
         }
         saveTabs();
-        window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, moduleId);
+        if (tabCache) {
+          tabCache.switchTo(moduleId).then(ok => {
+            if (!ok) window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, moduleId);
+          });
+        } else {
+          window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, moduleId);
+        }
       });
 
       tabBar.addEventListener('layer-close', (e) => {
         const { layerId } = e.detail;
+        const closedModuleId = layerId.replace('layer-', '');
         tabBar.removeLayer(layerId);
         layers = layers.filter(l => l.id !== layerId);
         saveTabs();
+        // Remove cached pane from DOM
+        if (tabCache) tabCache.removePane(closedModuleId);
         // If we closed the active tab, switch to the first remaining
         if (layerId === 'layer-' + currentModuleId && layers.length > 0) {
-          window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, layers[0].moduleId);
+          const nextModuleId = layers[0].moduleId;
+          if (tabCache) {
+            tabCache.switchTo(nextModuleId).then(ok => {
+              if (!ok) window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, nextModuleId);
+            });
+          } else {
+            window.location.href = window.__rspaceNavUrl(spaceSlug, nextModuleId);
+          }
         }
       });
 
@@ -355,7 +386,7 @@ export function renderExternalAppShell(opts: ExternalAppShellOptions): string {
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
   <link rel="icon" href="data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 100 100'><text y='.9em' font-size='90'>🌌</text></svg>">
   <title>${escapeHtml(title)}</title>
-  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/shell.css?v=5">
+  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/shell.css?v=6">
   <style>
     html.rspace-embedded .rstack-header { display: none !important; }
     html.rspace-embedded .rstack-tab-row { display: none !important; }
@@ -398,7 +429,7 @@ export function renderExternalAppShell(opts: ExternalAppShellOptions): string {
   </div>
 
   <script type="module">
-    import '/shell.js?v=5';
+    import '/shell.js?v=6';
     document.querySelector('rstack-app-switcher')?.setModules(${moduleListJSON});
 
     const tabBar = document.querySelector('rstack-tab-bar');
@@ -581,7 +612,7 @@ export function renderModuleLanding(opts: ModuleLandingOptions): string {
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
   <link rel="icon" href="data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 100 100'><text y='.9em' font-size='90'>${mod.icon}</text></svg>">
   <title>${escapeHtml(mod.name)} — rSpace</title>
-  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/shell.css?v=5">
+  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/shell.css?v=6">
   ${cssBlock}
   <script defer src="https://rdata.online/collect.js" data-website-id="6ee7917b-0ed7-44cb-a4c8-91037638526b"></script>
 </head>
@@ -601,7 +632,7 @@ export function renderModuleLanding(opts: ModuleLandingOptions): string {
   </header>
   ${bodyContent}
   <script type="module">
-    import '/shell.js?v=5';
+    import '/shell.js?v=6';
     document.querySelector('rstack-app-switcher')?.setModules(${moduleListJSON});
     try {
       var raw = localStorage.getItem('encryptid_session');

shared/tab-cache.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+/**
+ * Client-side tab cache for instant tab switching.
+ *
+ * Instead of full page navigations, previously loaded tabs are kept in the DOM
+ * and shown/hidden via CSS. New tabs are fetched via fetch() + DOMParser on
+ * first visit, then stay in the DOM forever.
+ *
+ * Hiding preserves ALL component state: Shadow DOM, event listeners,
+ * WebSocket connections, timers.
+ */
+
+export class TabCache {
+	private currentModuleId: string;
+	private spaceSlug: string;
+	private panes = new Map<string, HTMLElement>();
+
+	constructor(spaceSlug: string, moduleId: string) {
+		this.spaceSlug = spaceSlug;
+		this.currentModuleId = moduleId;
+	}
+
+	/** Wrap the initial #app content in a pane div and set up popstate */
+	init(): boolean {
+		const app = document.getElementById("app");
+		if (!app) return false;
+
+		// Wrap existing content in a pane
+		const pane = document.createElement("div");
+		pane.className = "rspace-tab-pane rspace-tab-pane--active";
+		pane.dataset.moduleId = this.currentModuleId;
+		pane.dataset.pageTitle = document.title;
+
+		while (app.firstChild) {
+			pane.appendChild(app.firstChild);
+		}
+		app.appendChild(pane);
+		this.panes.set(this.currentModuleId, pane);
+
+		// Push initial state into history
+		history.replaceState(
+			{ moduleId: this.currentModuleId, spaceSlug: this.spaceSlug },
+			"",
+			window.location.href,
+		);
+
+		// Handle browser back/forward
+		window.addEventListener("popstate", (e) => {
+			const state = e.state;
+			if (state?.moduleId && this.panes.has(state.moduleId)) {
+				this.showPane(state.moduleId);
+			} else {
+				window.location.reload();
+			}
+		});
+
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	/** Switch to a module tab. Returns true if handled client-side. */
+	async switchTo(moduleId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+		if (moduleId === this.currentModuleId) return true;
+
+		if (this.panes.has(moduleId)) {
+			this.showPane(moduleId);
+			this.updateUrl(moduleId);
+			return true;
+		}
+
+		return this.fetchAndInject(moduleId);
+	}
+
+	/** Check if a pane exists in the DOM cache */
+	has(moduleId: string): boolean {
+		return this.panes.has(moduleId);
+	}
+
+	/** Remove a cached pane from the DOM */
+	removePane(moduleId: string): void {
+		const pane = this.panes.get(moduleId);
+		if (pane) {
+			pane.remove();
+			this.panes.delete(moduleId);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Fetch a module page, extract content, and inject into a new pane */
+	private async fetchAndInject(moduleId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+		const navUrl = (window as any).__rspaceNavUrl;
+		if (!navUrl) return false;
+		const url: string = navUrl(this.spaceSlug, moduleId);
+
+		// Cross-origin URLs → fall back to full navigation
+		try {
+			const resolved = new URL(url, window.location.href);
+			if (resolved.origin !== window.location.origin) return false;
+		} catch {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		const app = document.getElementById("app");
+		if (!app) return false;
+
+		// Show loading spinner
+		const loadingPane = document.createElement("div");
+		loadingPane.className =
+			"rspace-tab-pane rspace-tab-pane--active rspace-tab-loading";
+		loadingPane.innerHTML = '<div class="rspace-tab-spinner"></div>';
+		this.hideAllPanes();
+		app.appendChild(loadingPane);
+
+		try {
+			const resp = await fetch(url);
+			if (!resp.ok) {
+				loadingPane.remove();
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			const html = await resp.text();
+			const content = this.extractContent(html);
+			if (!content) {
+				loadingPane.remove();
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			// Remove loading spinner
+			loadingPane.remove();
+
+			// Create the real pane
+			const pane = document.createElement("div");
+			pane.className = "rspace-tab-pane rspace-tab-pane--active";
+			pane.dataset.moduleId = moduleId;
+			pane.dataset.pageTitle = content.title;
+			pane.innerHTML = content.body;
+			app.appendChild(pane);
+			this.panes.set(moduleId, pane);
+
+			// Load module-specific assets
+			this.loadAssets(content.scripts, content.styles);
+
+			// Update shell state
+			this.currentModuleId = moduleId;
+			document.title = content.title;
+			this.updateShellState(moduleId);
+			this.updateUrl(moduleId);
+			this.updateCanvasLayout(moduleId);
+
+			return true;
+		} catch {
+			loadingPane.remove();
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Parse full HTML response and extract module content */
+	private extractContent(
+		html: string,
+	): {
+		body: string;
+		title: string;
+		scripts: string[];
+		styles: string[];
+	} | null {
+		const parser = new DOMParser();
+		const doc = parser.parseFromString(html, "text/html");
+
+		// Extract #app content or .rspace-iframe-wrap (for external app modules)
+		const appEl = doc.getElementById("app");
+		const iframeWrap = doc.querySelector(".rspace-iframe-wrap");
+
+		let body: string;
+		if (appEl) {
+			body = appEl.innerHTML;
+		} else if (iframeWrap) {
+			body = iframeWrap.outerHTML;
+		} else {
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		const title = doc.title || "";
+
+		// Extract module-specific scripts (exclude shell.js and inline shell bootstrap)
+		const scripts: string[] = [];
+		doc.querySelectorAll('script[type="module"]').forEach((s) => {
+			const src = s.getAttribute("src") || "";
+			if (src.includes("shell.js")) return;
+			const text = s.textContent || "";
+			if (text.includes("import '/shell.js")) return;
+			if (text.includes('import "/shell.js')) return;
+			if (src) scripts.push(src);
+		});
+
+		// Extract module-specific styles (exclude shell.css)
+		const styles: string[] = [];
+		doc.querySelectorAll('link[rel="stylesheet"]').forEach((l) => {
+			const href = l.getAttribute("href") || "";
+			if (href.includes("shell.css")) return;
+			styles.push(href);
+		});
+
+		return { body, title, scripts, styles };
+	}
+
+	/** Load script and style assets (idempotent — browsers deduplicate module scripts) */
+	private loadAssets(scripts: string[], styles: string[]): void {
+		for (const src of scripts) {
+			const el = document.createElement("script");
+			el.type = "module";
+			el.src = src;
+			document.body.appendChild(el);
+		}
+
+		for (const href of styles) {
+			if (document.querySelector(`link[href="${CSS.escape(href)}"]`))
+				continue;
+			const el = document.createElement("link");
+			el.rel = "stylesheet";
+			el.href = href;
+			document.head.appendChild(el);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Show a specific pane and update shell state */
+	private showPane(moduleId: string): void {
+		this.hideAllPanes();
+		const pane = this.panes.get(moduleId);
+		if (pane) {
+			pane.classList.add("rspace-tab-pane--active");
+			const storedTitle = pane.dataset.pageTitle;
+			if (storedTitle) document.title = storedTitle;
+		}
+		this.currentModuleId = moduleId;
+		this.updateShellState(moduleId);
+		this.updateCanvasLayout(moduleId);
+	}
+
+	/** Hide all panes */
+	private hideAllPanes(): void {
+		const app = document.getElementById("app");
+		if (!app) return;
+		app.querySelectorAll(".rspace-tab-pane").forEach((p) => {
+			p.classList.remove("rspace-tab-pane--active");
+		});
+	}
+
+	/** Update app-switcher and tab-bar to reflect current module */
+	private updateShellState(moduleId: string): void {
+		const appSwitcher = document.querySelector("rstack-app-switcher");
+		if (appSwitcher) appSwitcher.setAttribute("current", moduleId);
+
+		const tabBar = (window as any).__rspaceTabBar;
+		if (tabBar) tabBar.setAttribute("active", "layer-" + moduleId);
+	}
+
+	/** Toggle canvas-layout class on #app */
+	private updateCanvasLayout(moduleId: string): void {
+		const app = document.getElementById("app");
+		if (!app) return;
+		if (moduleId === "canvas") {
+			app.classList.add("canvas-layout");
+		} else {
+			app.classList.remove("canvas-layout");
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Push new URL to browser history */
+	private updateUrl(moduleId: string): void {
+		const navUrl = (window as any).__rspaceNavUrl;
+		if (!navUrl) return;
+		const url: string = navUrl(this.spaceSlug, moduleId);
+		history.pushState(
+			{ moduleId, spaceSlug: this.spaceSlug },
+			"",
+			url,
+		);
+	}
+}

website/public/shell.css

@@ -381,3 +381,29 @@ body[data-theme="light"] {
     padding-right: 8px;
   }
 }
+
+/* ── Tab pane caching (show/hide) ── */
+
+.rspace-tab-pane {
+  display: none;
+}
+
+.rspace-tab-pane--active {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.rspace-tab-loading {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  min-height: calc(100vh - 92px);
+}
+
+.rspace-tab-spinner {
+  width: 32px;
+  height: 32px;
+  border: 3px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
+  border-top-color: #14b8a6;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  animation: rspace-spin 0.8s linear infinite;
+}

website/shell.ts

@@ -13,10 +13,14 @@ import { RStackSpaceSwitcher } from "../shared/components/rstack-space-switcher"
 import { RStackTabBar } from "../shared/components/rstack-tab-bar";
 import { RStackMi } from "../shared/components/rstack-mi";
 import { rspaceNavUrl } from "../shared/url-helpers";
+import { TabCache } from "../shared/tab-cache";
 
 // Expose URL helper globally (used by shell inline scripts + components)
 (window as any).__rspaceNavUrl = rspaceNavUrl;
 
+// Expose TabCache for inline shell script to instantiate
+(window as any).__RSpaceTabCache = TabCache;
+
 // Register all header components
 RStackIdentity.define();
 RStackAppSwitcher.define();