One-line summary
After custom .vrma folders (#23 / #45), change Gear → Animations from replace to additive: keep the bundled Default sequence and VRMA pack always available, append custom-folder clips, scroll when long, mark custom rows, and add a small filter/search.
Problem / motivation
#23 shipped replace semantics (like Avatars): with Settings → Directories → Animations → Custom active, the menu shows only that folder — Default and the bundled pack disappear. That forces a folder switch just to play Greeting / Default again.
For motion, users usually want both: the known bundled set and their own clips. Environments already keep built-ins while Custom adds media; Animations should lean that way in the gear menu.
Proposed solution
Build on the scan / IPC / blob / lib-anim-* work from #45 (keep the Directories row). Change catalog composition + menu UX:
- Additive catalog — when a custom animations folder is active:
bundled (Default + pack) + custom clips (sorted within custom; bundled order unchanged).
When Custom is off / Default row: bundled only (today).
- Default always reachable — no need to reset the Directories row to play Default or a pack clip.
- Scrollable Animations submenu when the list exceeds the current no-scrollbar height (match other long panels’ scroll feel; keep glass bar usable).
- Custom visual mark — e.g. soft lilac pastel stroke / accent on custom rows so they read apart from bundled (minimal, not noisy).
- Filter bar — small glassmorph search at the top of the Animations submenu; filters the visible list by label as the user types (bundled + custom). Clear / empty = full list. Could be the case that the bar only appears when we click mag glass icon, or minimize back when input focus is not writting, eg. clicking elsewhere.
- Docs — update VRMA (drop “replaces, does not add”), using-the-app, manual-testing, changelog; screenshot if the menu chrome changes.
- Empty / invalid folder — same reject UX as Avatars / Environments: red in-panel error when the folder has no accepted
.vrma (or cannot be applied); do not leave Custom armed on a bad path — return the Directories row to Default and keep the bundled menu. Match existing copy/tone where possible.
Out of scope here: custom Default-sequence builder, hotkeys (#24), keywords (#7), thumbnails in the menu.
Alternatives considered
| Approach |
Why not / later |
| Keep replace (#23 as shipped) |
Forces folder toggle to reach Default; weak for “bring your own and keep the pack” |
| Always keep Default only, hide other pack clips when Custom on |
Better than full replace, but still hides useful bundled one-shots |
| Search only, no additive |
Doesn’t restore Default while Custom is active |
| Heavy sidebar / second Animations panel |
Overkill; stay in the gear submenu |
Primary surface
Animations
Constraints you accept
Mock / sketch / reference (optional)
Gear → Animations: [ search…… ] then Default, pack clips, then custom rows with lilac stroke; list scrolls. Directories row still picks the folder; it no longer empties the bundled half of the menu.
Related: #23, #45. Depends on custom-folder plumbing already on main after #45 merges.
One-line summary
After custom
.vrmafolders (#23 / #45), change Gear → Animations from replace to additive: keep the bundled Default sequence and VRMA pack always available, append custom-folder clips, scroll when long, mark custom rows, and add a small filter/search.Problem / motivation
#23 shipped replace semantics (like Avatars): with Settings → Directories → Animations → Custom active, the menu shows only that folder — Default and the bundled pack disappear. That forces a folder switch just to play Greeting / Default again.
For motion, users usually want both: the known bundled set and their own clips. Environments already keep built-ins while Custom adds media; Animations should lean that way in the gear menu.
Proposed solution
Build on the scan / IPC / blob /
lib-anim-*work from #45 (keep the Directories row). Change catalog composition + menu UX:bundled (Default + pack) + custom clips(sorted within custom; bundled order unchanged).When Custom is off / Default row: bundled only (today).
.vrma(or cannot be applied); do not leave Custom armed on a bad path — return the Directories row to Default and keep the bundled menu. Match existing copy/tone where possible.Out of scope here: custom Default-sequence builder, hotkeys (#24), keywords (#7), thumbnails in the menu.
Alternatives considered
Primary surface
Animations
Constraints you accept
Mock / sketch / reference (optional)
Gear → Animations:
[ search…… ]then Default, pack clips, then custom rows with lilac stroke; list scrolls. Directories row still picks the folder; it no longer empties the bundled half of the menu.Related: #23, #45. Depends on custom-folder plumbing already on
mainafter #45 merges.