---
id: TASK-41
title: Build dynamic Shape Registry to replace hardcoded switch statements
status: Done
assignee: []
created_date: '2026-02-18 20:06'
updated_date: '2026-03-11 23:01'
labels:
  - infrastructure
  - phase-0
  - ecosystem
milestone: m-1
dependencies: []
references:
  - rspace-online/lib/folk-shape.ts
  - rspace-online/website/canvas.html
  - rspace-online/lib/community-sync.ts
priority: high
---

## Description

<!-- SECTION:DESCRIPTION:BEGIN -->
Replace the 170-line switch statement in canvas.html's `createShapeElement()` and the 100-line type-switch in community-sync.ts's `#updateShapeElement()` with a dynamic ShapeRegistry.

Create lib/shape-registry.ts with:
- ShapeRegistration interface (tagName, elementClass, defaults, category, portDescriptors, eventDescriptors)
- ShapeRegistry class with register(), createElement(), updateElement(), listAll(), getByCategory()
- Each folk-*.ts gets a static `registration` property and static `fromData()` method

This is the prerequisite for all other ecosystem features (pipes, events, groups, nesting, embedding).
<!-- SECTION:DESCRIPTION:END -->

## Acceptance Criteria
<!-- AC:BEGIN -->
- [x] #1 ShapeRegistry class created with register/createElement/updateElement methods
- [x] #2 All 30+ folk-*.ts shapes have static registration property
- [x] #3 canvas.html switch statement replaced with registry.createElement()
- [x] #4 community-sync.ts type-switch replaced with registry.updateElement()
- [x] #5 All existing shapes still create and sync correctly
- [x] #6 No regression in shape creation or remote sync
<!-- AC:END -->

## Final Summary

<!-- SECTION:FINAL_SUMMARY:BEGIN -->
## Completed: Dynamic Shape Registry

Created `lib/shape-registry.ts` — `ShapeRegistry` class with `register()`, `createElement()`, `updateElement()`, `has()`, `listAll()`. Singleton `shapeRegistry` exported from `lib/index.ts`.

Added `static fromData(data)` and `applyData(data)` to all 41 shape classes (base `FolkShape` + 40 subclasses including `FolkArrow`). Each shape's creation/sync logic is now co-located with its `toJSON()`.

Replaced 300-line `newShapeElement()` switch in `canvas.html` with ~25-line registry call. Special cases preserved: `wb-svg` whiteboard drawings, `folk-canvas` parentSlug, `folk-rapp` spaceSlug context defaults.

Replaced 165-line `#updateShapeElement()` if-chain in `community-sync.ts` with single `shape.applyData(data)` delegation (~10 lines).

All existing shapes create and sync identically. No TypeScript errors introduced.

Commit: c4717e3
<!-- SECTION:FINAL_SUMMARY:END -->