Fixes from architecture review (4 critical, 10 warnings):
Critical:
- Fix selectNode/setNode docs to accurately describe prop-key
navigation behavior including array support and prop-key writes
- Document RenderContext/Density exported types in host-config
- Resolve ADR dual status ambiguity with clarifying note in README
(frontmatter status = editorial, body Status = decision)
- Effect types already addressed in prior commit
Warnings addressed:
- Add Fragment re-export note to jsx-runtime section in
build-distribution
- Document childCtx/transformCtx helper functions in transforms.md
- Document render() accepting non-root UNode in host-config
- Add Value.Hash re-entrancy constraint to reconciler.md
- Add true-passthrough constraint and h('root') special case
to element-factory constraints
- Add _idCounter bundling caveat note
Review document added at docs/reviews/architecture-review-2026-05-18.md
with full findings, source verification table, and recommendations.
128 lines
8.7 KiB
Markdown
128 lines
8.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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status: draft
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last_updated: 2026-05-18
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---
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# @alkdev/ujsx Architecture
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Universal JSX — runtime-agnostic reactive tree primitives with TypeBox schemas. UJSX treats JSX as an intermediate representation for multi-target rendering.
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## Why This Exists
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UJSX fills a specific niche: **generic tree construction and rendering** where the same declarative template can target different hosts (markdown, graph structures, UI frameworks, workflow engines). It borrows the JSX mental model — nested elements with props and children — but strips away all platform-specific assumptions.
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No `onClick`, no `className`, no `style`. The tree is a pure data structure (`UNode`) validated by TypeBox schemas, and the rendering contract is a HostConfig that decides what "create", "update", and "remove" mean for its target.
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This makes UJSX useful for:
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- **Workflow definitions** — operations as elements, dependencies as parent-child structure, rendered to graphology DAGs or reactive execution engines
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- **Structured document generation** — markdown, HTML, or any text format via transform rules
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- **Desktop UI** — instanced glyphs, panels, layouts rendered to Three.js or similar (the spoke UI use case)
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## Core Principle
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**The tree is the truth. Hosts are interpreters.** UJSX defines what a tree looks like (`UNode`, `UElement`, `URoot`), how it's constructed (`h()`, `createComponent()`), and how it can react to changes (signals). It does not dictate what the tree means — that's the host's job.
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## Current State
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UJSX is functional but incomplete. The core primitives exist and are tested:
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- **Schema** — TypeBox Module (`UJSX`) defining `UNode`, `UElement`, `URoot`, `UPrimitive`, `PropValue`, `UniversalProps`; TypeScript types `ComponentFn` and `UComponent`; type guards `isUElement`, `isURoot`, `isUPrimitive`
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- **Element factory** — `h()`, `createRoot()`, `createComponent()`, `Fragment`, JSX runtime
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- **Reactive layer** — `ReactiveRoot`, `reactiveComponent`, `reactiveElement`, signal/computed/effect/batch
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- **HostConfig** — generic host interface with `createRoot().render()` for mount-only rendering
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- **Transforms** — `TransformRegistry` for bi-directional transforms
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- **Events** — `PubSubLike` and `EventEnvelope` for decoupled event emission
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- **Pointers** — `ValuePointer`, `selectNode`, `setNode` for tree navigation and targeted mutation
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**Known gaps** (documented in architecture docs, planned for reconciler implementation):
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- `unmount()` is a stub — no fiber tree teardown, no instance removal, no signal disposal. See [host-config.md](host-config.md) and [lifecycle.md](lifecycle.md).
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- `render()` is mount-only — no re-render, no diffing, no `prepareUpdate`/`commitUpdate` calls. See [reconciler.md](reconciler.md).
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- `dispose` functions are no-ops — signal subscriptions leak. See [lifecycle.md](lifecycle.md).
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- No `key` field on `UElement` — positional matching only. See [ADR-004](decisions/004-key-as-first-class-field.md).
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## Architecture Documents
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| Document | Content |
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|----------|---------|
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| [schema.md](schema.md) | TypeBox Module, UNode/UElement/URoot/UPrimitive types, type guards |
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| [element-factory.md](element-factory.md) | h(), createRoot(), createComponent(), Fragment, JSX runtime |
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| [reactive-layer.md](reactive-layer.md) | ReactiveRoot, reactiveComponent, reactiveElement, signals, disposal gaps |
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| [host-config.md](host-config.md) | HostConfig interface, createRoot(), mount-only rendering, reconciler gap |
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| [reconciler.md](reconciler.md) | Fiber tree, reconciliation algorithm, update scheduling, TypeBox optimizations |
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| [lifecycle.md](lifecycle.md) | Mount, update, unmount/dispose lifecycle, signal cleanup, partial tree teardown |
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| [transforms.md](transforms.md) | TransformRegistry, TransformRule, TransformContext, bi-directional transforms |
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| [events.md](events.md) | EventEnvelope, PubSubLike, UjsxEventMap |
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| [pointers.md](pointers.md) | ValuePointer, selectNode, setNode, tree navigation |
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| [build-distribution.md](build-distribution.md) | Package structure, exports map, dependencies, runtime targets |
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### Design Decisions
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| ADR | Decision |
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|-----|----------|
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| [001](decisions/001-html-agnostic-core.md) | HTML-agnostic core — no DOM-specific props |
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| [002](decisions/002-typebox-module-as-registry.md) | TypeBox Module IS the type registry |
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| [003](decisions/003-preact-signals-for-reactivity.md) | Preact signals-core for reactivity |
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| [004](decisions/004-key-as-first-class-field.md) | `key` as a first-class field on UElement — not a prop |
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| [005](decisions/005-signal-driven-updates-over-tree-diffing.md) | Signal-driven updates for props, reconciliation for structure |
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## Consumer Context
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UJSX is designed as a library consumed by other projects, not an end-user application. Understanding these consumers shapes the API design:
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### Flowgraph (`@alkdev/flowgraph`)
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Uses UJSX as a direct dependency. Workflow templates are `UNode` trees. Renders them to:
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- **graphology DAG** — structural analysis, cycle detection, topological sort via a `HostConfig`
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- **Reactive execution engine** — runtime workflow execution with signal-based status propagation
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See `docs/research/reconciler/05-flowgraph-host-configs.md` for the planned integration.
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### Desktop UI (Spoke HUD)
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Uses UJSX to define instanced glyph layouts, panels, and adaptive-density content. Renders via a Three.js `HostConfig`. Signal-driven property updates flow through `prepareUpdate`/`commitUpdate` to GPU buffers.
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### OpenCode Plugin (future)
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An OpenCode plugin that provides UJSX-based template operations. Would use TransformRegistry for bi-directional markdown↔UJSX conversion.
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## Reconciler Roadmap
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The reconciler bridges the reactive layer to the host layer, enabling signal-driven updates and key-based children reconciliation. Architecture docs define the WHAT and WHY; research docs contain the detailed implementation plans.
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| Phase | Description | Architecture | Research |
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|-------|-------------|-------------|----------|
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| 0 | `key` field on `UElement` | [ADR-004](decisions/004-key-as-first-class-field.md), [schema.md](schema.md) | [00-KEY-FIELD-DESIGN.md](../research/reconciler/00-KEY-FIELD-DESIGN.md) |
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| 1 | Reactive → Host bridge (fiber tree, signal-driven updates) | [reconciler.md](reconciler.md), [ADR-005](decisions/005-signal-driven-updates-over-tree-diffing.md) | [01-reactive-host-bridge.md](../research/reconciler/01-reactive-host-bridge.md) |
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| 2 | Key-based children reconciliation (LIS algorithm) | [reconciler.md](reconciler.md) | [02-key-based-children-reconciliation.md](../research/reconciler/02-key-based-children-reconciliation.md) |
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| 3 | Unmount & dispose support | [lifecycle.md](lifecycle.md) | [03-unmount-dispose-support.md](../research/reconciler/03-unmount-dispose-support.md) |
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| 4 | TypeBox value optimization layer | [reconciler.md](reconciler.md) (TypeBox Optimization Layer section) | [04-typebox-optimization-layer.md](../research/reconciler/04-typebox-optimization-layer.md) |
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| 5 | Flowgraph HostConfig implementations | Downstream consumer (`@alkdev/flowgraph`), not ujsx | [05-flowgraph-host-configs.md](../research/reconciler/05-flowgraph-host-configs.md) |
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## Document Lifecycle
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Architecture documents use YAML frontmatter with `status` and `last_updated` fields:
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```yaml
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---
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status: draft | stable | deprecated
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last_updated: YYYY-MM-DD
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---
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```
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| Status | Meaning | Transitions |
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|--------|---------|-------------|
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| `draft` | Under active development. Content may change significantly. Implementation should not start until the document reaches `stable`. | → `stable` when implementation is complete and API contract is verified by tests. |
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| `stable` | API contracts are locked. Changes require a review cycle and may warrant an ADR if they affect documented decisions. | → `deprecated` when superseded. → `draft` if a fundamental redesign is needed (rare). |
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| `deprecated` | Superseded by another document. Kept for reference. Links should point to the replacement. | Removed when no longer referenced. |
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ADR documents use a separate `Status` field in their body: `Proposed`, `Accepted`, `Deprecated`, or `Superseded`. ADRs never revert from `Accepted`. Note that ADR frontmatter (`status: draft`) refers to the **document's editorial status** (is the writing complete?), while the body `Status` refers to the **decision's status** (is this decision finalized?). A `Proposed` decision can have a `draft` document; an `Accepted` decision has a `stable` document.
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## References
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- UJSX research index: `docs/research/README.md`
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- Reconciler research: `docs/research/reconciler/`
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- SDD process: `docs/sdd_process.md`
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- Preact signals-core: `@preact/signals-core`
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- TypeBox: `@alkdev/typebox`
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- Taskgraph_ts architecture pattern: `/workspace/@alkdev/taskgraph_ts/docs/architecture/` |