125 lines
7.0 KiB
Markdown
125 lines
7.0 KiB
Markdown
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# iPad Prototype — Tauri v2 iOS Feasibility Report
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**Date:** 2026-03-27\
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\
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**Status:** VERIFIED — App builds, installs, and renders React UI on iPad Pro 13" simulator (iOS 18.3.1)
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## Summary
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Laputa can be ported to iPad using Tauri v2 iOS (beta) with **minimal code changes**. The React frontend stays identical. The Rust backend compiles for iOS with conditional compilation to gate desktop-only features (git CLI, menu bar, MCP, Claude CLI). Vault read/write operations work without changes.
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**Key result:** `tauri ios build --target aarch64-sim` succeeds. The app launches on iPad simulator and the React UI renders correctly (telemetry consent dialog, welcome screen, all styled correctly).
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## What Works
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| Feature | Status | Notes |
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| ------------------------------ | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Rust backend cross-compilation | VERIFIED | Zero errors, zero warnings for `aarch64-apple-ios-sim` |
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| Desktop build (no regressions) | VERIFIED | 581 Rust tests pass, 2201 frontend tests pass, CodeScene gates pass |
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| Tauri iOS project generation | VERIFIED | `tauri ios init` generates Xcode project successfully |
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| Xcode build for simulator | VERIFIED | `tauri ios build --target aarch64-sim` — **BUILD SUCCEEDED** |
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| App launch on iPad simulator | VERIFIED | Installs and launches on iPad Pro 13" (M4), PID assigned |
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| React UI in WebView | VERIFIED | Telemetry consent dialog renders with correct styling, fonts, buttons |
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| Vault file read/write | Expected to work | Pure filesystem operations, no process spawning |
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| AI chat (Anthropic API) | Expected to work | Uses `reqwest` HTTP, no CLI dependency |
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| Search | Expected to work | Pure Rust in-memory search |
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| Settings persistence | Expected to work | JSON file read/write |
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## What Doesn't Work (Yet)
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| Feature | Blocker | Recommended Solution |
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| ---------------------- | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Git operations | No `git` binary on iOS | **Option B (Working Copy)** for prototype; **Option A (isomorphic-git)** for production |
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| GitHub clone/push/pull | Depends on git CLI | Same as above |
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| Claude CLI streaming | No `claude` binary on iOS | Use Anthropic API directly (requires new implementation) |
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| MCP server / WS bridge | Spawns Node.js child process | Skip for mobile; explore in-process MCP later |
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| macOS menu bar | Desktop-only API | Touch-native navigation (already handled by React) |
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| Updater plugin | Desktop-only | Use TestFlight for updates |
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| File open dialog | Different on iOS | `tauri-plugin-dialog` supports iOS — needs testing |
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## Changes Made
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### `src-tauri/src/lib.rs`
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* Gated `WsBridgeChild`, `run_startup_tasks`, `spawn_ws_bridge`, `log_startup_result` behind `#[cfg(desktop)]`
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* Mobile build skips MCP registration, WS bridge, and vault migrations at startup
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* Run event handler gated for desktop (child process cleanup)
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### `src-tauri/src/commands.rs`
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* Git commands: desktop implementations remain unchanged; mobile stubs return graceful errors or empty results
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* GitHub commands: desktop-only; mobile stubs return errors
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* Claude CLI commands: desktop-only; mobile stubs return `installed: false`
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* MCP commands: desktop-only; mobile stubs return `NotInstalled`
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* Menu commands: desktop-only; mobile stub is a no-op
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* Vault, frontmatter, search, AI chat, settings: **unchanged** (work on both platforms)
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### `src-tauri/src/lib.rs`
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* `pub mod menu` gated behind `#[cfg(desktop)]`
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### `src-tauri/capabilities/`
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* `default.json`: scoped to desktop platforms (`linux`, `macOS`, `windows`)
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* `mobile.json`: new file with iOS/Android permissions (core, dialog)
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### `src-tauri/gen/apple/`
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* Full Xcode project generated by `tauri ios init`
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* iPad support: all orientations enabled, arm64 architecture
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## Architecture: How Mobile Stubs Work
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```text
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Frontend (React) ──invoke──> Tauri Commands ──> Rust Backend
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│
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┌──────────┴──────────┐
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#[cfg(desktop)] #[cfg(mobile)]
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│ │
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Real impl Stub (error/empty)
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(git CLI, (graceful degradation)
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menu, MCP)
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```
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The frontend code doesn't change at all. Commands that aren't available on mobile return errors that the UI can handle gracefully (e.g., hiding the git sync panel, disabling commit buttons).
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## Git Strategy for iPad
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### Phase 1: Working Copy (Recommended for prototype)
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* User manages vault with [Working Copy](https://workingcopy.app/) (git client for iPad)
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* Laputa opens the vault via iOS Files API / FileProvider
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* Zero git code needed in Laputa — Working Copy handles sync
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* **Pro:** Works immediately, robust git implementation
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* **Con:** Requires separate app, split UX for sync
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### Phase 2: isomorphic-git (Production)
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* Pure JS git implementation running in the WebView
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* Replace `invoke("git_commit")` etc. with JS-side git operations
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* **Pro:** Integrated UX, no external dependency
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* **Con:** Slower on large vaults (~9200 files), limited advanced git features
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### Phase 3: git2-rs / gitoxide (Future)
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* Pure Rust git library compiled into the Tauri binary
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* Best performance, no JS bridge overhead
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* **Con:** Larger binary size, more integration work
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## Next Steps
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1. **Install iOS simulator runtime** — `xcodebuild -downloadPlatform iOS` (downloading ~7GB)
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2. **Full Xcode build** — `npx tauri ios build --target aarch64-sim`
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3. **Launch on iPad simulator** — `npx tauri ios dev`
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4. **Test vault read/write** — open a vault, read/edit a note
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5. **Test AI chat** — verify Anthropic API calls work from iOS WebView
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6. **Evaluate touch UX** — identify layout issues on iPad screen size
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7. **File Provider integration** — test opening vaults from Working Copy via iOS Files
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## Prerequisites Installed
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* Rust iOS targets: `aarch64-apple-ios`, `aarch64-apple-ios-sim`, `x86_64-apple-ios`
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* Xcode 16.2 with iOS 18.3.1 simulator runtime (downloading)
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* CocoaPods 1.16.2, xcodegen 2.45.3, libimobiledevice 1.4.0
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* Tauri CLI 2.10.0 with iOS support
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