# Session 2025-11-06 Summary

## What Was Accomplished

### 1. Fixed `nul` File Git Error
**Problem:** `npm run installer` failed with "error: unable to index file 'nul'"
- Windows reserved device name (`nul`) was being tracked by Git
- Caused fatal error during `git add -A`

**Fix:**
- Removed `nul` file
- Added `nul` and `NUL` to `.gitignore`

### 2. Added Repository Field to package.json Files
**Problem:** Missing repository field (from programming.md requirement)

**Fix:**
- Added repository field to main `package.json`:
  ```json
  "repository": {
    "type": "git",
    "url": "https://github.com/BobFrankston/msger.git"
  }
  ```
- Added repository field to `msgerdefs/package.json` with `"directory": "msgerdefs"`

**Benefit:** npm package pages will show GitHub link

### 3. Clarified msger API Philosophy
**Discovery:** Storage API is redundant - native `localStorage` is preferred for compatibility

**Changes:**
- Removed all storage wrapper functions from `template.html`
- Simplified `window.msger` to only have `isAvailable()`
- Updated documentation to recommend native browser APIs

**New msger API (v0.1.74):**
```javascript
window.msger = {
    isAvailable: function() { return true; }
};

// Use native APIs instead:
localStorage.setItem('key', JSON.stringify(value));
const value = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('key'));
window.close();
```

**Philosophy:** msger is a CLI tool, not a JavaScript library. Use native browser APIs for compatibility.

### 4. Fixed Multi-Monitor Positioning Bug
**Problem:** `-pos 10,10,1` placed window on wrong monitor
- Code assumed monitors arranged left-to-right
- Added widths of all previous monitors (incorrect!)
- Didn't account for actual OS monitor positions

**Fix in `main.rs` (lines 296-323):**
```rust
// Get the specific monitor by index
if let Some(monitor) = monitors.get(screen_num as usize) {
    // Get the monitor's actual position from the OS
    let monitor_pos = monitor.position();

    // Add user's offset to monitor's position
    x += monitor_pos.x;
    y += monitor_pos.y;
}
```

**Result:** Now correctly positions windows on any monitor regardless of arrangement

### 5. Documented Future File/Window APIs
**Added comprehensive notes for next week's implementation:**

**File System API (when time for debugging):**
- File dialogs (always safe): `selectFile()`, `selectFiles()`, `saveFileAs()`, `selectFolder()`
- Direct path access (requires `--allowFs`): `fs.read()`, `fs.write()`, `fs.list()`, `fs.exists()`, `fs.mkdir()`
- Goal: Make msger feasible for writing platform apps

**Window Manipulation APIs:**
- Runtime control in template mode: `setSize()`, `setPosition()`, `setTitle()`, `setAlwaysOnTop()`
- IPC works in template mode - these were disabled prematurely
- Can be re-enabled with bidirectional IPC pattern

**Why these will work:**
- IPC proven to work perfectly in template mode (button clicks use it)
- Just need bidirectional pattern (JavaScript → Rust → JavaScript)
- Use `webview.evaluate_script()` to send results back to JavaScript

### 6. Created Documentation Files

**MSGER-API-SUMMARY.md:**
- Complete overview of current minimal API
- Philosophy explanation (CLI tool, not JS library)
- Native browser API recommendations
- Future API plans
- Comparison to Electron

**Updated README.md:**
- Current status section (v0.1.74)
- msger JavaScript API section (minimal by design)
- Mode comparison table with native API row
- Future improvements with implementation notes
- Removed fixed multi-monitor bug notice

**Updated SESSION-NOTES.md:**
- "Recently Fixed" section for multi-monitor positioning
- Comprehensive File/Window API implementation plan
- Periodic wry update check reminder
- Updated "What Works" to emphasize native APIs

## Files Modified

### Source Code
- `msger-native/src/main.rs` - Fixed multi-monitor positioning logic
- `msger-native/src/template.html` - Removed storage API, simplified to `isAvailable()` only
- `.gitignore` - Added `nul` and `NUL`
- `package.json` - Added repository field
- `msgerdefs/package.json` - Added repository field with directory

### Documentation
- `README.md` - Updated current status, API section, future plans
- `SESSION-NOTES.md` - Updated priorities, recently fixed, API clarification
- `MSGER-API-SUMMARY.md` - Created comprehensive API overview
- `SESSION-2025-11-06.md` - This file

### Binaries
- `msger-native/bin/msgernative.exe` - Rebuilt with all fixes

## Key Insights

### What msger Really Is
**msger = Fast CLI wrapper for native windows + HTML + button results**

Not a JavaScript API library. The value is:
1. Speed and size (10-20x faster, 50x smaller than Electron)
2. Button results returned to parent process (template mode)
3. CLI-driven configuration
4. Native webview integration

Everything else (storage, rendering, PWAs) is standard browser functionality.

### IPC Status
- ✅ **Template mode**: IPC works perfectly (proven by button clicks)
- ❌ **URL mode**: IPC crashes (wry 0.47.2 bug)
- 💡 **Insight**: File and window APIs will work in template mode using same IPC mechanism

### Native API Preference
Use native browser APIs for compatibility:
- `localStorage` instead of `msger.saveData()`
- `window.close()` instead of `msger.close()`
- `<input type="file">` for now (until file API implemented)

Code will work in any browser context, not just msger.

## Next Steps (Week of 2025-11-11+)

### Priority 1: File System API
When you have time for debugging:
1. Add `rfd = "0.14"` to Cargo.toml
2. Implement bidirectional IPC pattern
3. Add file dialog functions (always safe)
4. Add direct path operations (with `--allowFs` flag)
5. Test thoroughly

### Priority 2: Window Manipulation APIs
Re-enable runtime window control in template mode:
1. Use same bidirectional IPC as file API
2. Test `setSize()`, `setPosition()`, `setTitle()`, etc.

### Priority 3: Periodic wry Update
Check if newer wry versions fix URL mode IPC crash.

## Testing

Test multi-monitor fix:
```bash
# Should now place window on second monitor (screen 1)
msger -message "Test Screen 1" -pos 10,10,1

# Test on third monitor
msger -message "Test Screen 2" -pos 10,10,2
```

## Version

Current version: **v0.1.74** (updated from v0.1.57)
- Minimal JavaScript API (native browser APIs preferred)
- Fixed multi-monitor positioning
- Repository fields added
- Ready for npm publish
