127 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
127 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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name: gpui-element
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description: Implementing custom elements using GPUI's low-level Element API (vs. high-level Render/RenderOnce APIs). Use when you need maximum control over layout, prepaint, and paint phases for complex, performance-critical custom UI components that cannot be achieved with Render/RenderOnce traits.
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---
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## When to Use
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Use the low-level `Element` trait when:
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- Need fine-grained control over layout calculation
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- Building complex, performance-critical components
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- Implementing custom layout algorithms (masonry, circular, etc.)
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- High-level `Render`/`RenderOnce` APIs are insufficient
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**Prefer `Render`/`RenderOnce` for:** Simple components, standard layouts, declarative UI
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## Quick Start
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The `Element` trait provides direct control over three rendering phases:
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```rust
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impl Element for MyElement {
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type RequestLayoutState = MyLayoutState; // Data passed to later phases
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type PrepaintState = MyPaintState; // Data for painting
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fn id(&self) -> Option<ElementId> {
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Some(self.id.clone())
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}
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fn source_location(&self) -> Option<&'static std::panic::Location<'static>> {
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None
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}
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// Phase 1: Calculate sizes and positions
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fn request_layout(&mut self, .., window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App)
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-> (LayoutId, Self::RequestLayoutState)
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{
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let layout_id = window.request_layout(
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Style { size: size(px(200.), px(100.)), ..default() },
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vec![],
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cx
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);
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(layout_id, MyLayoutState { /* ... */ })
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}
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// Phase 2: Create hitboxes, prepare for painting
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fn prepaint(&mut self, .., bounds: Bounds<Pixels>, layout: &mut Self::RequestLayoutState,
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window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App) -> Self::PrepaintState
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{
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let hitbox = window.insert_hitbox(bounds, HitboxBehavior::Normal);
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MyPaintState { hitbox }
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}
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// Phase 3: Render and handle interactions
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fn paint(&mut self, .., bounds: Bounds<Pixels>, layout: &mut Self::RequestLayoutState,
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paint_state: &mut Self::PrepaintState, window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App)
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{
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window.paint_quad(paint_quad(bounds, Corners::all(px(4.)), cx.theme().background));
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window.on_mouse_event({
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let hitbox = paint_state.hitbox.clone();
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move |event: &MouseDownEvent, phase, window, cx| {
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if hitbox.is_hovered(window) && phase.bubble() {
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// Handle interaction
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cx.stop_propagation();
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}
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}
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});
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}
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}
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// Enable element to be used as child
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impl IntoElement for MyElement {
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type Element = Self;
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fn into_element(self) -> Self::Element { self }
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}
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```
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## Core Concepts
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### Three-Phase Rendering
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1. **request_layout**: Calculate sizes and positions, return layout ID and state
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2. **prepaint**: Create hitboxes, compute final bounds, prepare for painting
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3. **paint**: Render element, set up interactions (mouse events, cursor styles)
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### State Flow
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```
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RequestLayoutState → PrepaintState → paint
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```
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State flows in one direction through associated types, passed as mutable references between phases.
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### Key Operations
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- **Layout**: `window.request_layout(style, children, cx)` - Create layout node
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- **Hitboxes**: `window.insert_hitbox(bounds, behavior)` - Create interaction area
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- **Painting**: `window.paint_quad(...)` - Render visual content
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- **Events**: `window.on_mouse_event(handler)` - Handle user input
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## Reference Documentation
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### Complete API Documentation
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- **Element Trait API**: See [api-reference.md](references/api-reference.md)
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- Associated types, methods, parameters, return values
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- Hitbox system, event handling, cursor styles
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### Implementation Guides
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- **Examples**: See [examples.md](references/examples.md)
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- Simple text element with highlighting
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- Interactive element with selection
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- Complex element with child management
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- **Best Practices**: See [best-practices.md](references/best-practices.md)
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- State management, performance optimization
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- Interaction handling, layout strategies
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- Error handling, testing, common pitfalls
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- **Common Patterns**: See [patterns.md](references/patterns.md)
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- Text rendering, container, interactive, composite, scrollable patterns
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- Pattern selection guide
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- **Advanced Patterns**: See [advanced-patterns.md](references/advanced-patterns.md)
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- Custom layout algorithms (masonry, circular)
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- Element composition with traits
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- Async updates, memoization, virtual lists
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