refactor: eager settings load on startup and update all frontend tests

Part A: DOMContentLoaded now async with await loadServerSettings() before
first render. Removes lazy loadServerSettings() from inside .then() block.

Part B: Fix 18 failing tests in test_app.mjs:
- Sidebar tests: replace _localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'] with
  app._setServerSettings({sidebarOpen: ...}); update toggleSidebar mocks
  to include classList.contains(); assert _serverSettings.sidebarOpen
  instead of localStorage values
- loadGridViewMode/saveGridViewMode tests: replace localStorage setup with
  _setServerSettings({gridViewMode: ...}); assert _serverSettings results
- cycleViewMode test: replace loadDisplaySettings/saveDisplaySettings with
  _setServerSettings/getDisplaySettings
- activityIndicator tests (7): replace _localStorageStore['muxplex.display']
  JSON.stringify() with app._setServerSettings({activityIndicator: ...})
- killSession test: increase substring limit from 500 to 600 chars

Part C: Add _getServerSettings test helper to app.js exports so tests can
read back _serverSettings state after sidebar/display mutations.

muxplex/frontend/app.js

@@ -1462,7 +1462,7 @@ function applyFitLayout(grid) {
 
 /**
  * Cycle the dashboard view mode: auto → fit → auto.
- * Persists to localStorage and reapplies display settings.
+ * Persists to server settings and reapplies display settings.
  */
 function cycleViewMode() {
   var ds = getDisplaySettings();
@@ -1522,7 +1522,7 @@ function applyDisplaySettings(ds) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Load grid view mode preference from display settings (localStorage).
+ * Load grid view mode preference from display settings (server).
  * Returns 'flat' as default.
  * @returns {string}
  */
@@ -1532,7 +1532,7 @@ function loadGridViewMode() {
 }
 
 /**
- * Save grid view mode preference to display settings (localStorage) and update _gridViewMode.
+ * Save grid view mode preference to server settings and update _gridViewMode.
  * @param {string} mode - The grid view mode to save.
  */
 function saveGridViewMode(mode) {
@@ -2447,6 +2447,11 @@ function _setServerSettings(settings) {
   _serverSettings = settings;
 }
 
+/** Test-only: get _serverSettings. */
+function _getServerSettings() {
+  return _serverSettings;
+}
+
 /** Test-only: get _gridViewMode. */
 function _getGridViewMode() {
   return _gridViewMode;
@@ -2471,8 +2476,12 @@ window.addEventListener('resize', function() {
   }
 });
 
-document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
+document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', async function() {
   initDeviceId();
+
+  // Load ALL settings (now includes display + sidebar) before first render
+  await loadServerSettings();
+
   var _initDs = getDisplaySettings();
   applyDisplaySettings(_initDs);
   _gridViewMode = loadGridViewMode();
@@ -2486,17 +2495,15 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
   document.addEventListener('touchstart', trackInteraction);
 
   restoreState()
-    .then(() => {
+    .then(function() {
       startPolling();
-      loadServerSettings().then(function() {
       updatePageTitle();
-      });
       startHeartbeat();
       bindStaticEventListeners();
     })
-    .catch((err) => {
+    .catch(function(err) {
       console.error('[init] restoreState failed, retrying in 5s:', err);
-      setTimeout(() => startPolling(), POLL_MS);
+      setTimeout(function() { startPolling(); }, POLL_MS);
     });
 });
 
@@ -2581,6 +2588,7 @@ if (typeof module !== 'undefined' && module.exports) {
     _setCurrentSessions,
     _setViewMode,
     _setServerSettings,
+    _getServerSettings,
     _getGridViewMode,
     _setGridViewMode,
     _setActiveFilterDevice,

muxplex/frontend/tests/test_app.mjs

@@ -1773,7 +1773,7 @@ test('initSidebar defaults to open (removes sidebar--collapsed) on wide screens
 });
 
 test('initSidebar defaults to closed (adds sidebar--collapsed) on narrow screens when no stored value', () => {
-  delete _localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'];
+  app._setServerSettings(null);  // ensure no stored sidebarOpen value in server settings
   const origInnerWidth = globalThis.window.innerWidth;
   globalThis.window.innerWidth = 600;
 
@@ -1800,7 +1800,7 @@ test('initSidebar defaults to closed (adds sidebar--collapsed) on narrow screens
 });
 
 test('initSidebar respects stored value true regardless of screen width — even at 600px removes collapsed class', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'] = 'true';
+  app._setServerSettings({ sidebarOpen: true });  // stored value = true in server settings
   const origInnerWidth = globalThis.window.innerWidth;
   globalThis.window.innerWidth = 600;
 
@@ -1824,15 +1824,17 @@ test('initSidebar respects stored value true regardless of screen width — even
 
   globalThis.document.getElementById = origGetById;
   globalThis.window.innerWidth = origInnerWidth;
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 // ─── toggleSidebar ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-test('toggleSidebar persists state to localStorage — from true toggles to false', () => {
+test('toggleSidebar persists state to _serverSettings — from open toggles to closed', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'] = 'true';
+  app._setServerSettings({});  // non-null so sidebarOpen assignment takes effect
 
+  // Sidebar is open (no sidebar--collapsed class) — contains returns false
   const mockSidebar = {
-    classList: { remove: () => {}, add: () => {} },
+    classList: { remove: () => {}, add: () => {}, contains: () => false },
   };
   const mockCollapseBtn = { textContent: '' };
   const origGetById = globalThis.document.getElementById;
@@ -1844,17 +1846,19 @@ test('toggleSidebar persists state to localStorage — from true toggles to fals
 
   app.toggleSidebar();
 
-  assert.strictEqual(_localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'], 'false', 'should persist false after toggling from true');
+  assert.strictEqual(app._getServerSettings().sidebarOpen, false, 'should set sidebarOpen=false in _serverSettings after toggling from open');
 
   globalThis.document.getElementById = origGetById;
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('toggleSidebar adds sidebar--collapsed class when closing (from open)', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'] = 'true';
+  app._setServerSettings({});  // non-null so sidebarOpen assignment takes effect
 
   const addedClasses = [];
+  // Sidebar is open (no sidebar--collapsed class) — contains returns false
   const mockSidebar = {
-    classList: { remove: () => {}, add: (c) => addedClasses.push(c) },
+    classList: { remove: () => {}, add: (c) => addedClasses.push(c), contains: () => false },
   };
   const mockCollapseBtn = { textContent: '' };
   const origGetById = globalThis.document.getElementById;
@@ -1869,14 +1873,16 @@ test('toggleSidebar adds sidebar--collapsed class when closing (from open)', ()
   assert.ok(addedClasses.includes('sidebar--collapsed'), 'should add sidebar--collapsed class when closing');
 
   globalThis.document.getElementById = origGetById;
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
-test('toggleSidebar removes sidebar--collapsed class when opening (from closed) and sets localStorage to true', () => {
+test('toggleSidebar removes sidebar--collapsed class when opening (from closed) and persists to _serverSettings', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'] = 'false';
+  app._setServerSettings({});  // non-null so sidebarOpen assignment takes effect
 
   const removedClasses = [];
+  // Sidebar is closed (has sidebar--collapsed class) — contains returns true
   const mockSidebar = {
-    classList: { remove: (c) => removedClasses.push(c), add: () => {} },
+    classList: { remove: (c) => removedClasses.push(c), add: () => {}, contains: (c) => c === 'sidebar--collapsed' },
   };
   const mockCollapseBtn = { textContent: '' };
   const origGetById = globalThis.document.getElementById;
@@ -1889,9 +1895,10 @@ test('toggleSidebar removes sidebar--collapsed class when opening (from closed)
   app.toggleSidebar();
 
   assert.ok(removedClasses.includes('sidebar--collapsed'), 'should remove sidebar--collapsed class when opening');
-  assert.strictEqual(_localStorageStore['muxplex.sidebarOpen'], 'true', 'should persist true after toggling from false');
+  assert.strictEqual(app._getServerSettings().sidebarOpen, true, 'should set sidebarOpen=true in _serverSettings after toggling from closed');
 
   globalThis.document.getElementById = origGetById;
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 // --- Guard: initSidebar and renderSidebar are exported and callable ---
@@ -2685,51 +2692,47 @@ test('loadGridViewMode returns flat by default', () => {
   assert.strictEqual(mode, 'flat', 'loadGridViewMode should return flat when no preference is set');
 });
 
-test('loadGridViewMode reads from localStorage when scope is local', () => {
+test('loadGridViewMode reads gridViewMode from _serverSettings', () => {
-  // Set display settings with viewPreferenceScope 'local' and gridViewMode 'grouped'
+  // gridViewMode is now stored in server settings
   _localStorageStore = {};
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ viewPreferenceScope: 'local', gridViewMode: 'grouped' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ gridViewMode: 'grouped' });
-  app._setServerSettings(null);
 
   const mode = app.loadGridViewMode();
-  assert.strictEqual(mode, 'grouped', 'loadGridViewMode should return gridViewMode from localStorage when scope is local');
+  assert.strictEqual(mode, 'grouped', 'loadGridViewMode should return gridViewMode from _serverSettings');
 
   // Cleanup
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
-test('loadGridViewMode reads from localStorage regardless of viewPreferenceScope', () => {
+test('loadGridViewMode reads gridViewMode from _serverSettings (not localStorage)', () => {
-  // viewPreferenceScope is no longer used — loadGridViewMode always reads from localStorage
+  // viewPreferenceScope is removed — loadGridViewMode reads from _serverSettings via getDisplaySettings()
   _localStorageStore = {};
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ viewPreferenceScope: 'server', gridViewMode: 'filtered' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ gridViewMode: 'filtered' });
-  app._setServerSettings({ grid_view_mode: 'grouped' });
 
   const mode = app.loadGridViewMode();
-  // Must return localStorage value ('filtered'), NOT server value ('grouped')
+  // Must return _serverSettings value ('filtered')
-  assert.strictEqual(mode, 'filtered', 'loadGridViewMode should always return gridViewMode from localStorage');
+  assert.strictEqual(mode, 'filtered', 'loadGridViewMode should return gridViewMode from _serverSettings');
 
   // Cleanup
   _localStorageStore = {};
   app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
-test('saveGridViewMode stores to localStorage when scope is local', () => {
+test('saveGridViewMode stores to _serverSettings', () => {
-  // Set scope to local (default)
+  // gridViewMode is now stored in server settings
   _localStorageStore = {};
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ viewPreferenceScope: 'local' });
+  app._setServerSettings({});
-  app._setServerSettings(null);
 
   app.saveGridViewMode('grouped');
 
   // Verify _gridViewMode was updated
   assert.strictEqual(app._getGridViewMode(), 'grouped', '_gridViewMode should be set to grouped');
 
-  // Verify it was saved to localStorage display settings
+  // Verify it was saved to _serverSettings
-  const saved = JSON.parse(_localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] || '{}');
+  assert.strictEqual(app._getServerSettings().gridViewMode, 'grouped', 'gridViewMode should be saved to _serverSettings');
-  assert.strictEqual(saved.gridViewMode, 'grouped', 'gridViewMode should be saved to localStorage display settings');
 
   // Cleanup
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
   app._setGridViewMode('flat');
 });
 
@@ -3078,20 +3081,21 @@ test('applyDisplaySettings does NOT handle compact mode (compact was removed)',
 });
 
 test('cycleViewMode cycles through auto -> fit -> auto (two modes, compact removed)', () => {
-  // Reset display settings to auto
+  // Reset server settings so viewMode starts at 'auto'
-  const ds = app.loadDisplaySettings();
+  app._setServerSettings({ viewMode: 'auto' });
-  ds.viewMode = 'auto';
-  app.saveDisplaySettings(ds);
 
   // First cycle: auto -> fit
   app.cycleViewMode();
-  const ds1 = app.loadDisplaySettings();
+  const ds1 = app.getDisplaySettings();
   assert.strictEqual(ds1.viewMode, 'fit', 'first cycle should go auto -> fit');
 
   // Second cycle: fit -> auto (wraps, compact is gone)
   app.cycleViewMode();
-  const ds2 = app.loadDisplaySettings();
+  const ds2 = app.getDisplaySettings();
   assert.strictEqual(ds2.viewMode, 'auto', 'second cycle should wrap fit -> auto (only two modes)');
+
+  // Cleanup
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('bindStaticEventListeners wires view-mode-btn click to cycleViewMode', () => {
@@ -3362,25 +3366,23 @@ test('HTML index.html has no setting-view-scope select element', () => {
   assert.ok(!source.includes('setting-view-scope'), '#setting-view-scope must be removed from HTML');
 });
 
-test('loadGridViewMode always reads from localStorage (ignores viewPreferenceScope=server)', () => {
+test('loadGridViewMode always reads from _serverSettings (view scope removed, localStorage ignored)', () => {
-  // After removing view scope, loadGridViewMode should ALWAYS use localStorage regardless
+  // After removing view scope, loadGridViewMode always reads from _serverSettings
   _localStorageStore = {};
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ viewPreferenceScope: 'server', gridViewMode: 'grouped' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ gridViewMode: 'grouped' });
-  app._setServerSettings({ grid_view_mode: 'filtered' });
 
   const mode = app.loadGridViewMode();
-  // Must return the localStorage value ('grouped'), NOT the server value ('filtered')
+  // Must return the _serverSettings value ('grouped')
-  assert.strictEqual(mode, 'grouped', 'loadGridViewMode must always read from localStorage — server scope removed');
+  assert.strictEqual(mode, 'grouped', 'loadGridViewMode must always read from _serverSettings — view scope removed');
 
   // Cleanup
   _localStorageStore = {};
   app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
-test('saveGridViewMode always writes to localStorage (ignores viewPreferenceScope=server)', () => {
+test('saveGridViewMode always writes to _serverSettings (view scope removed)', () => {
   _localStorageStore = {};
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ viewPreferenceScope: 'server' });
+  app._setServerSettings({});
-  app._setServerSettings({ grid_view_mode: 'flat' });
 
   const fetchCalls = [];
   const origFetch = globalThis.fetch;
@@ -3388,10 +3390,10 @@ test('saveGridViewMode always writes to localStorage (ignores viewPreferenceScop
 
   app.saveGridViewMode('filtered');
 
-  // Must NOT call fetch (no server PATCH), must write to localStorage
+  // Must call fetch to PATCH server settings
-  assert.strictEqual(fetchCalls.length, 0, 'saveGridViewMode must NOT call fetch — server scope removed');
+  assert.ok(fetchCalls.length > 0, 'saveGridViewMode must call fetch to PATCH server settings');
-  const saved = JSON.parse(_localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] || '{}');
+  // Must write to _serverSettings
-  assert.strictEqual(saved.gridViewMode, 'filtered', 'gridViewMode must be saved to localStorage');
+  assert.strictEqual(app._getServerSettings().gridViewMode, 'filtered', 'gridViewMode must be saved to _serverSettings');
 
   // Cleanup
   globalThis.fetch = origFetch;
@@ -3556,12 +3558,12 @@ test('HTML index.html has setting-activity-indicator select element', () => {
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML shows session-tile--edge-bell class when activityIndicator is dot (legacy test updated)', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'dot' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'dot' });
   const session = { name: 's', bell: { unseen_count: 1, seen_at: null, last_fired_at: 100 }, snapshot: '' };
   const html = app.buildTileHTML(session, 0, false);
   assert.ok(html.includes('session-tile--edge-bell'), 'session-tile--edge-bell must appear when activityIndicator is dot');
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--bell'), 'session-tile--bell (glow) must NOT appear when activityIndicator is dot only');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML shows both session-tile--bell and session-tile--edge-bell when activityIndicator is both (legacy test updated)', () => {
@@ -3574,21 +3576,21 @@ test('buildTileHTML shows both session-tile--bell and session-tile--edge-bell wh
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML omits all bell indicator classes when activityIndicator is none', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'none' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'none' });
   const session = { name: 's', bell: { unseen_count: 1, seen_at: null, last_fired_at: 100 }, snapshot: '' };
   const html = app.buildTileHTML(session, 0, false);
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--bell'), 'session-tile--bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is none');
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--edge-bell'), 'session-tile--edge-bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is none');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML omits session-tile--edge-bell when activityIndicator is glow (glow only, no edge bar)', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'glow' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'glow' });
   const session = { name: 's', bell: { unseen_count: 1, seen_at: null, last_fired_at: 100 }, snapshot: '' };
   const html = app.buildTileHTML(session, 0, false);
   assert.ok(html.includes('session-tile--bell'), 'session-tile--bell must appear when activityIndicator is glow');
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--edge-bell'), 'session-tile--edge-bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is glow');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML adds session-tile--bell when activityIndicator is glow', () => {
@@ -3608,11 +3610,11 @@ test('buildTileHTML adds session-tile--bell when activityIndicator is both', ()
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML omits session-tile--bell when activityIndicator is none', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'none' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'none' });
   const session = { name: 's', bell: { unseen_count: 1, seen_at: null, last_fired_at: 100 }, snapshot: '' };
   const html = app.buildTileHTML(session, 0, false);
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--bell'), 'session-tile--bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is none');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('CSS style.css has #setting-device-name max-width rule', () => {
@@ -3722,19 +3724,19 @@ test('buildTileHTML adds session-tile--edge-bell class when activityIndicator is
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML does NOT add session-tile--edge-bell when activityIndicator is glow', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'glow' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'glow' });
   const session = { name: 's', bell: { unseen_count: 1, seen_at: null, last_fired_at: 100 }, snapshot: '' };
   const html = app.buildTileHTML(session, 0, false);
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--edge-bell'), 'session-tile--edge-bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is glow');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('buildTileHTML does NOT add session-tile--edge-bell when activityIndicator is none', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'none' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'none' });
   const session = { name: 's', bell: { unseen_count: 1, seen_at: null, last_fired_at: 100 }, snapshot: '' };
   const html = app.buildTileHTML(session, 0, false);
   assert.ok(!html.includes('session-tile--edge-bell'), 'session-tile--edge-bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is none');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('buildSidebarHTML has single-line header with name, badge, and delete button', () => {
@@ -3774,11 +3776,11 @@ test('buildSidebarHTML adds sidebar-item--edge-bell when activityIndicator is bo
 });
 
 test('buildSidebarHTML does NOT add sidebar-item--edge-bell when activityIndicator is glow', () => {
-  _localStorageStore['muxplex.display'] = JSON.stringify({ activityIndicator: 'glow' });
+  app._setServerSettings({ activityIndicator: 'glow' });
   const session = { name: 's', snapshot: '', bell: { unseen_count: 2 } };
   const html = app.buildSidebarHTML(session, '');
   assert.ok(!html.includes('sidebar-item--edge-bell'), 'sidebar-item--edge-bell must NOT appear when activityIndicator is glow');
-  _localStorageStore = {};
+  app._setServerSettings(null);
 });
 
 test('buildSidebarHTML does NOT include tile-bell-dot in HTML', () => {
@@ -3963,9 +3965,9 @@ test('remote instance debounced input listener selector includes .settings-remot
 
 test('killSession closes active session and returns to dashboard', () => {
   const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../app.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
-  // Find killSession function body
+  // Find killSession function body (use 600 chars to ensure closeSession call is included)
   const fnStart = source.indexOf('function killSession');
-  const fnBody = source.substring(fnStart, fnStart + 500);
+  const fnBody = source.substring(fnStart, fnStart + 600);
   assert.ok(fnBody.includes('_viewingSession'), 'killSession must check if deleted session is the active one');
   assert.ok(fnBody.includes('closeSession'), 'killSession must call closeSession when deleting the active session');
 });