fix(plugins): plugin manager tab doesn't always load on first visit (#319)

* fix(plugins): reset pluginsInitialized on HTMX re-swap; use refreshInstalledPlugins in refreshPlugins

HTMX's `revealed` trigger fires each time the plugins tab becomes
visible (Alpine's x-show toggles display:none which re-triggers the
IntersectionObserver). Each re-reveal fetches a fresh empty HTML
skeleton via hx-swap="innerHTML". The htmx:afterSwap handler reset
window.pluginManager.initialized/initializing but not pluginsInitialized,
so initializePlugins() hit its guard and skipped loadInstalledPlugins()
and searchPluginStore() — leaving the fresh empty DOM unpopulated.

Fix: also reset pluginsInitialized = false in the afterSwap handler.
Existing caches (3s for installed plugins, 5min for store) mean tab
revisits within the TTL render from cache instantly with no extra
API traffic.

Also change refreshPlugins() to call refreshInstalledPlugins() (which
already exists and explicitly invalidates the cache) instead of the
bare loadInstalledPlugins() call that could silently skip the fetch
if the 3-second cache happened to still be valid.

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

* fix(plugins): use cached store on HTMX re-swap; reserve searchPluginStore(true) for first load

searchPluginStore(true) bypasses the isCacheValid check unconditionally,
so every tab revisit was hitting the GitHub commit-info API even within
the 5-minute cache window.

Set window.pluginManager._reswap = true in the htmx:afterSwap handler
and read it in initializePlugins() to call searchPluginStore(false) on
re-swaps (respects the 5-minute cache) vs searchPluginStore(true) on
first load (always fetches fresh). Explicit user refresh via
refreshPlugins() already calls searchPluginStore(true) directly.

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

---------

Co-authored-by: Chuck <chuck@example.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

config/config_secrets.template.json

@@ -1,16 +1,8 @@
 {
-    "ledmatrix-weather": {
-        "api_key": "YOUR_OPENWEATHERMAP_API_KEY"
-    },
     "youtube": {
         "api_key": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY",
         "channel_id": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_CHANNEL_ID"
     },
-    "music": {
-        "SPOTIFY_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_SPOTIFY_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
-        "SPOTIFY_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_SPOTIFY_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
-        "SPOTIFY_REDIRECT_URI": "http://127.0.0.1:8888/callback"
-    },
     "github": {
         "api_token": "YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN"
     }

first_time_install.sh

@@ -599,8 +599,12 @@ if [ ! -f "$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/config/config_secrets.json" ]; then
         echo "⚠ Template config/config_secrets.template.json not found; creating a minimal secrets file"
         cat > "$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/config/config_secrets.json" <<'EOF'
 {
-  "weather": {
+    "youtube": {
-    "api_key": "YOUR_OPENWEATHERMAP_API_KEY"
+        "api_key": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY",
+        "channel_id": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_CHANNEL_ID"
+    },
+    "github": {
+        "api_token": "YOUR_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN"
     }
 }
 EOF

web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import time
 import hashlib
 import uuid
 import logging
+import threading
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional, Tuple, Dict, Any, Type
@@ -1626,6 +1627,71 @@ def get_system_version():
         logger.exception("[System] get_system_version failed")
         return jsonify({'status': 'error', 'message': 'Failed to get system version'}), 500
 
+_update_check_cache: Dict = {}
+_UPDATE_CHECK_TTL = 300  # 5 minutes
+_update_check_lock = threading.Lock()
+
+@api_v3.route('/system/check-update', methods=['GET'])
+def check_for_update():
+    """Check if a newer version is available on the remote."""
+    now = time.time()
+    project_dir = str(PROJECT_ROOT)
+    with _update_check_lock:
+        if _update_check_cache.get('ts', 0) + _UPDATE_CHECK_TTL > now:
+            return jsonify(_update_check_cache['data'])
+
+        try:
+            fetch_result = subprocess.run(
+                ['git', 'fetch', 'origin', 'main'],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=15, cwd=project_dir
+            )
+            if fetch_result.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"git fetch failed: {fetch_result.stderr.strip()}")
+
+            local_result = subprocess.run(
+                ['git', 'rev-parse', 'HEAD'],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, cwd=project_dir
+            )
+            if local_result.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"git rev-parse HEAD failed: {local_result.stderr.strip()}")
+            local_sha = local_result.stdout.strip()
+
+            remote_result = subprocess.run(
+                ['git', 'rev-parse', 'origin/main'],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, cwd=project_dir
+            )
+            if remote_result.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"git rev-parse origin/main failed: {remote_result.stderr.strip()}")
+            remote_sha = remote_result.stdout.strip()
+
+            if local_sha == remote_sha:
+                data = {'status': 'success', 'update_available': False,
+                        'local_sha': local_sha[:8], 'remote_sha': remote_sha[:8]}
+            else:
+                log_result = subprocess.run(
+                    ['git', 'log', 'HEAD..origin/main', '--oneline'],
+                    capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, cwd=project_dir
+                )
+                if log_result.returncode != 0:
+                    raise RuntimeError(f"git log failed: {log_result.stderr.strip()}")
+                lines = [commit_line for commit_line in log_result.stdout.strip().split('\n') if commit_line]
+                commits_behind = len(lines)
+                data = {
+                    'status': 'success',
+                    'update_available': commits_behind > 0,
+                    'local_sha': local_sha[:8],
+                    'remote_sha': remote_sha[:8],
+                    'commits_behind': commits_behind,
+                    'latest_message': lines[0].split(' ', 1)[1] if lines else '',
+                }
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("[System] check-update failed: %s", e)
+            data = {'status': 'error', 'update_available': False, 'message': str(e)}
+
+        _update_check_cache['ts'] = now
+        _update_check_cache['data'] = data
+    return jsonify(data)
+
 @api_v3.route('/system/action', methods=['POST'])
 def execute_system_action():
     """Execute system actions (start/stop/reboot/etc)"""
@@ -1735,6 +1801,10 @@ def execute_system_action():
                 cwd=project_dir
             )
 
+            # Invalidate update-check cache so the banner hides immediately
+            with _update_check_lock:
+                _update_check_cache.clear()
+
             # Return custom response for git_pull
             if result.returncode == 0:
                 pull_message = "Code updated successfully."

web_interface/static/v3/app.css

@@ -1004,3 +1004,39 @@ button.bg-white {
 [data-theme="dark"] .theme-toggle-btn {
     color: #fbbf24;
 }
+
+/* Update available banner */
+.update-banner {
+    background-color: #eff6ff;
+    border-color: #bfdbfe;
+    color: #1e40af;
+}
+.update-banner-action {
+    background-color: #3b82f6;
+    color: #fff;
+}
+.update-banner-action:hover {
+    background-color: #2563eb;
+}
+.update-banner-dismiss {
+    color: #1e40af;
+    opacity: 0.6;
+}
+.update-banner-dismiss:hover {
+    opacity: 1;
+}
+
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner {
+    background-color: #1e293b;
+    border-color: #334155;
+    color: #93c5fd;
+}
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner-action {
+    background-color: #2563eb;
+}
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner-action:hover {
+    background-color: #3b82f6;
+}
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner-dismiss {
+    color: #93c5fd;
+}

web_interface/static/v3/plugins_manager.js

@@ -1165,9 +1165,11 @@ function initializePluginPageWhenReady() {
         if (target.id === 'plugins-content' ||
             target.querySelector('#installed-plugins-grid')) {
             console.log('HTMX swap detected for plugins, initializing...');
-            // Reset initialization flag to allow re-initialization after HTMX swap
+            // Reset all initialization flags so the fresh empty DOM gets populated
             window.pluginManager.initialized = false;
             window.pluginManager.initializing = false;
+            window.pluginManager._reswap = true; // signal: use cached store, don't re-fetch GitHub
+            pluginsInitialized = false;
             initTimer = setTimeout(attemptInit, 100);
         }
     }, { once: false }); // Allow multiple swaps
@@ -1211,9 +1213,13 @@ function initializePlugins() {
         console.warn('[INIT] checkGitHubAuthStatus not available yet');
     }
 
-    // Load both installed plugins and plugin store
+    // Load both installed plugins and plugin store.
+    // On HTMX re-swaps use cached store data (fetchCommitInfo=false) to avoid
+    // re-hitting GitHub on every tab switch; only fetch fresh on first load.
+    const isReswap = !!window.pluginManager._reswap;
+    window.pluginManager._reswap = false;
     loadInstalledPlugins();
-    searchPluginStore(true); // Load plugin store with fresh metadata from GitHub
+    searchPluginStore(!isReswap);
 
     // Setup search functionality (with guard against duplicate listeners)
     const searchInput = document.getElementById('plugin-search');
@@ -5127,7 +5133,7 @@ function refreshPlugins() {
     pluginStoreCache = null;
     cacheTimestamp = null;
 
-    loadInstalledPlugins();
+    refreshInstalledPlugins(); // invalidates cache before fetching
     // Fetch latest metadata from GitHub when refreshing
     searchPluginStore(true);
     showNotification('Plugins refreshed with latest metadata from GitHub', 'success');

web_interface/templates/v3/base.html

@@ -900,6 +900,34 @@
         </div>
     </header>
 
+    <!-- Update available banner -->
+    <div id="update-banner" style="display:none"
+         class="update-banner border-b transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out">
+        <div class="mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-12 2xl:px-16 py-2" style="max-width:100%">
+            <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
+                <div class="flex items-center space-x-3">
+                    <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-up text-lg"></i>
+                    <span class="text-sm font-medium" id="update-banner-text"
+                          aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
+                        A new LEDMatrix update is available
+                    </span>
+                </div>
+                <div class="flex items-center space-x-3">
+                    <button onclick="applyUpdate()" id="update-banner-btn"
+                            class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-1 text-xs font-semibold rounded-md
+                                   update-banner-action transition-colors duration-150">
+                        <i class="fas fa-download mr-1"></i> Update Now
+                    </button>
+                    <button type="button" onclick="dismissUpdateBanner()"
+                            class="update-banner-dismiss rounded p-1 transition-colors duration-150"
+                            title="Dismiss" aria-label="Dismiss update">
+                        <i class="fas fa-times text-sm"></i>
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
     <!-- Main content -->
     <main class="mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-12 2xl:px-16 py-8" style="max-width: 100%;">
         <!-- Navigation tabs -->
@@ -4874,6 +4902,77 @@
             </form>
         </div>
     </div>
+<!-- Update banner logic -->
+<script>
+(function() {
+    var CHECK_INTERVAL = 30 * 60 * 1000; // 30 minutes
+
+    function getDismissedSha() {
+        try { return sessionStorage.getItem('update-sha-dismissed'); } catch(e) { return null; }
+    }
+
+    function checkForUpdate() {
+        fetch('/api/v3/system/check-update')
+            .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
+            .then(function(data) {
+                if (data.update_available && getDismissedSha() !== data.remote_sha) {
+                    var n = data.commits_behind || 0;
+                    var msg = 'A new LEDMatrix update is available';
+                    if (n > 0) msg += ' (' + n + ' commit' + (n > 1 ? 's' : '') + ')';
+                    document.getElementById('update-banner-text').textContent = msg;
+                    document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = '';
+                    try { sessionStorage.setItem('update-sha', data.remote_sha); } catch(e) {}
+                } else {
+                    document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = 'none';
+                }
+            })
+            .catch(function() {});
+    }
+
+    window.dismissUpdateBanner = function() {
+        document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = 'none';
+        try {
+            var sha = sessionStorage.getItem('update-sha');
+            if (sha) sessionStorage.setItem('update-sha-dismissed', sha);
+        } catch(e) {}
+    };
+
+    window.applyUpdate = function() {
+        var btn = document.getElementById('update-banner-btn');
+        var originalHTML = '<i class="fas fa-download mr-1"></i> Update Now';
+        btn.innerHTML = '<i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin mr-1"></i> Updating...';
+        btn.disabled = true;
+        fetch('/api/v3/system/action', {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+            body: JSON.stringify({ action: 'git_pull' })
+        })
+        .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
+        .then(function(data) {
+            btn.innerHTML = originalHTML;
+            btn.disabled = false;
+            if (data.status === 'success') {
+                document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = 'none';
+                try { sessionStorage.removeItem('update-sha-dismissed'); } catch(e) {}
+            }
+            if (typeof showNotification === 'function') {
+                showNotification(data.message || 'Update complete', data.status || 'success');
+            }
+        })
+        .catch(function() {
+            btn.innerHTML = originalHTML;
+            btn.disabled = false;
+            if (typeof showNotification === 'function') {
+                showNotification('Update failed — check your connection', 'error');
+            }
+        });
+    };
+
+    // Initial check shortly after page load, then periodic
+    setTimeout(checkForUpdate, 2000);
+    setInterval(checkForUpdate, CHECK_INTERVAL);
+})();
+</script>
 </body>
 </html>