The `TaskManager` threadpool is a memory-safe replacement for the `spawnAndSend` operations that are currently causing memory issues in status-desktop.
From a fundamental memory management point of view, `libstatus/settings`, `libstatus/contracts`, and `libstatus/tokens` (custom tokens) have all been converted to `{.threadvar.}`s and `Atomic[bool]`s to maintain the cache and `dirty` flag across threads, respectively, eliminating the need for thread locks and incorrect `{.gcsafe.}` compiler overrides.
The successful [recyclable threadpool experiment from `nim-task-runner`](https://github.com/status-im/nim-task-runner/blob/test/use-cases/test/use_cases/test_sync.nim) using `AsyncChannel[ThreadSafeString]`s was brought over to `status-desktop` and implemented in somewhat of a hardcoded manner, as we knew this would save some time instead of trying to create a fully fleshed out `nim-task-runner` API and build a miraculous macro that may or may not be able to generate the needed API.
The threadpool is started by the `TaskManager` and both the `TaskManager` and the `TaskManager`'s threadpool are started as early as possible in the application lifecycle (in `nim_status_client.nim`). The `TaskManager` creates a thread to run the threadpool. During its initialization, the threadpool then spools up all the threads it will manage and puts them in an idle thread sequence. This is to prevent expensive thread creation and teardown happening during the app's lifetime as it is quite expensive and blocks the main thread. When tasks comes in to the pool, the task is sent to an idle thread, or put in a queue if all threads are busy. The idle thread is moved to the busy thread sequence. When a task is completed, the thread is taken out of the busy threads sequence and moved back in to the sequence of idle threads, effectively recycling it.
The first `spawnAndSend` we were able to change over to the new threadpool was `estimate`, which estimates the gas of a sticker purchase transaction.
From the consumer point of view, the existing `spawnAndSend` to achieve this looks like:
```nim
proc estimate*(self: StickersView, packId: int, address: string, price: string, uuid: string) {.slot.} =
let status_stickers = self.status.stickers
spawnAndSend(self, "setGasEstimate") do:
var success: bool
var estimate = status_stickers.estimateGas(packId, address, price, success)
if not success:
estimate = 325000
let result: tuple[estimate: int, uuid: string] = (estimate, uuid)
Json.encode(result)
```
And the new syntax looks like this:
```nim
proc estimate*(self: StickersView, packId: int, address: string, price: string, uuid: string) {.slot.} =
self.status.taskManager.threadPool.stickers.stickerPackPurchaseGasEstimate(cast[pointer](self.vptr), "setGasEstimate", packId, address, price, uuid)
```
The logic inside the `spawnAndSend` body was moved to [src/status/tasks/stickers.nim](https://github.com/status-im/status-desktop/compare/experiment/tasks-3?expand=1#diff-09e57eef00b0cee5c4abdb9039f948d8372e7003e09e934a9b4c7e9167d47658).
This is just the first migration of `spawnAndSend`, however moving the majority of the remaining `spawnAndSend`s will likely just be an exercise in copy/pasta. There will be one or two that may require a bit more thinking, depending how they rely on data from the model.
Once the `spawnAndSend`s have been converted to the threadpool, we can start implementing the [long-running process from the task runner use case experiments](https://github.com/status-im/nim-task-runner/blob/test/use-cases/test/use_cases/test_long_running.nim).
And finally, we can then implement the [async tasks](https://github.com/status-im/nim-task-runner/blob/test/use-cases/test/use_cases/test_async.nim) if needed.
@michaelsbradleyjr and I spent many hours digging in to the depths of nim's memory management in an attempt to understand it. We have created [a presentation with our task runner experiment findings](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ItCxAfsVTcIoH_E4bgvmHljhbU-tC3T6K2A6ahwAedk/edit?usp=sharing), and @michaelsbradleyjr has spent time [answering questions off the back of that presentation.](https://gist.github.com/michaelsbradleyjr/1eaa9937b3fbb4ffff3fb814f0dd82a9).
We have created a fork of `edn.nim` at `status-im/edn.nim` and we need the PR to be merged and the commit hash updated before we can merge this PR in to `status-desktop`.
Replaces PR #105.
Implement a `pkg-macos` target that ultimately results in `Status.dmg` being
written to `pkg/`. Due to [limitations][limits] of the OpenSSL `.dylib`s in
`/usr/lib/` on macOS, `libssl.a` and `libcrypto.a` are statically linked into
`bin/nim_status_client` from a [Homebrew][brew] "bottle" that is compatible
with macOS 10.13 (the oldest macOS version compatible with Qt v5.14).
`pkg-macos` creates an `.app` bundle layout in `tmp/macos/dist` based partly on
information in a very helpful [StackOverflow answer][so-answer]. Note the part
of the answer (toward the end) that explains a problem with the working
directory and how to fix it. That's the reason for the `nim_status_client.sh`
script introduced in this commit (it gets copied into the bundle). It's also
the reason for having `Info.plist` copied into the bundle before `macdeployqt`
is run (see below) and then overwriting it with `Info.runner.plist` before
creating the `.dmg` file. The app icons file `status-icon.icns` was taken from
`deployment/macos/` in the [status-react][sr] repo.
The [`macdeployqt`][macdeployqt] tool is used to copy the needed portions of Qt
into the bundle; it automatically updates `rpath`, etc. so the
`nim_status_client` executable in the bundle can locate the libs within the
bundle.
`macdeployqt` is run twice, for the "outer" and "inner" `.app` bundles,
because of an apparent bug in `macdeployqt` that results in QtWebEngine related
resources not being processed correctly on the first pass. This results in some
bloat in the final bundle but it seems unavoidable at present.
The [create-dmg][cdmg] tool is used to package the bundle into a `.dmg`
file. There are two reasons for this:
1. It produces a nice looking icon for the `.dmg` that overlays the Status logo
on an external disk icon.
2. `Info.plist` needs to be overwritten after running `macdeployqt` (see
explanation above) but before creating the `.dmg` file. If we passed the `-dmg`
cli option to `macdeployqt` to have it generate the `.dmg` file then it
wouldn't be possible to overwrite `Info.plist`.
So there is a cosmetic reason and a practical reason for using another
tool. Probably the biggest downside is that `create-dmg` is implemented in
Node.js so it needs to be installed with `npm`; that's the reason this commit
introduces `package.json`, etc. Note that zero code from `node_modules` ends up
in the `.app` bundle or the `.dmg` file.
Code signing of the macOS `.app` bundle and `.dmg` is attempted if the
environment variable `MACOS_CODESIGN_IDENT` is defined. In that case, the
environment variable `MACOS_KEYCHAIN_OPT` may optionally be defined with the
path to a preferred keychain database file.
Refactor a number of sections in the Makefile for consistency's sake, e.g. the
`appimage` target becomes `pkg-linux` and ultimately results in
`NimStatusClient-x86_64.AppImage` being written to `pkg/`.
Make a number of changes to bring the Linux packaging steps up-to-date and use
the `-qmlimport` cli option of `linuxdeployqt` to simplify resolution of Qt
plugins.
Note that `make pkg` will correctly resolve to `make pkg-linux` or `make
pkg-macos` depending on the OS in use.
Consistently use lower-case "c" in the name of *components* directories and
imports.
[limits]: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/124782
[brew]: https://brew.sh/
[so-answer]: https://stackoverflow.com/a/3251285
[sr]: https://github.com/status-im/status-react/tree/develop/deployment/macos
[macdeployqt]: https://doc.qt.io/qt-5/macos-deployment.html
[cdmg]: https://github.com/sindresorhus/create-dmg
Generates 5 random accounts with identicons, allows user to enter password, then stores the account and logs in to the statusgo node.
Add EventEmitter that notifies nim_status_client.nim once node has started and is logged in (likely needs some refactoring to include the eventemitter in the base controller class).
Add QML StateMachine for the onboarding view.
Add nimcrytpo, uuids, eventemitter, isaac dependencies via submodules.
Add button to Intro view to randomly gen account.
Work on this PR started before the build system was updated and at one point I
upgraded `nim_status_client.nimble` to use NimScript so the nimble command
would stop warning that the old format was being used. In team chat it was
discussed that since we're no longer using nimble for package management we
could simply delete `nim_status_client.nimble` to avoid confusion, which can be
done in another PR.
Introduce a BrowserLayout stub so the index will be calcualted correctly re:
the active tab.
Reorganize ChatLayout and NodeLayout into subdirs `Chat` and `Node`,
respectively.
Introduce ProfileLayout which uses a "LeftTab" approach similar to that of
WalletLayout. There remains quite a bit of styling work to be done in
ProfileLayout and its LeftTab. Also, it may be better to start over using a
SplitView like the ChatLayout, I'm not really sure.
It wasn't clear what should be the default view for the right-pane when Profile
is selected in the left-most TabBar. In this PR, it defaults to showing the
view corresponding to the ENS usernames button.
In the archived Figma for the desktop design, it seemed a picture could be set,
e.g. there is a headshot of a woman used in the Profile screen. To that end I
explored how to take a square image and clip/mask it so it appears round and I
included a larger placeholder image for that purpose. In the new design, and
with respect to mobile, it may not be possible to set a profile picture so the
code that rounds the image can maybe be dropped.
Onboarding carousel completed
Redo folder restructuring
NOTES:
1. nim_status_client binary is output to `./bin/nim_status_client`, so you'll need to update your workflow to run this file. README has been updated to reflect this. Also, if you're running VSCode, instructions for code reload were added.
2. All `ui` files now live in `ui/`
3. All lib files (ie `libstatus`) now live in `lib/`
4. Removed the Qt Creater user project file as this is unique to each user
5. Moved the project file to `ui/`, so just open up the `ui` folder in Qt creator and it should locate the project file
6. `-d:release` removed from compilation as it wasn't needed
7. Broke up main.qml in to the main app and onboarding components, however this should be broken down further into more reusable components
8. Click "Get started" to show chat
Format some files using nimpretty
Eric Mastro
Michael Bradley, Jr
Richard Ramos
Jonathan Rainville
Iuri Matias