# Vault Tab UI + Session Timeout — Design Spec

**Date:** 2026-04-27
**Scope:** New `vault.html` full-tab UI, shared session timeout, popup↔vault navigation

## Problem

Chrome extension popups close when focus leaves them (e.g., file picker dialogs). The popup is also too cramped for complex operations like editing identity/card items, managing attachments, or bulk vault operations. Currently we work around this with `popOutToTab()` which opens `popup.html` in a tab — a hack that reuses popup-sized UI in a full window.

Additionally, there's no session timeout — users must re-enter their passphrase every time they interact with the extension.

## Design

### Two entry points, one shared core

- **`popup.html`** — quick access: search, copy, autofill, add login/secure_note (without attachments)
- **`vault.html`** — full "desktop" UI in a browser tab: sidebar + detail pane, handles everything including attachments, bulk operations, trash, devices, settings, field history

Both talk to the same service worker, share the same WASM session handle and unlock state.

### vault.html layout

Sidebar + detail pane, similar to 1Password's desktop app:

```
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  🔒 Relicario              [lock] [settings]     │
├────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────┤
│  [search...]   │                                 │
│                │   (detail view for selected     │
│  ── logins ──  │    item, or form when           │
│  GitHub    🔑  │    adding/editing)              │
│  AWS       🔑  │                                 │
│                │                                 │
│  ── notes ──   │                                 │
│  Recovery  📝  │                                 │
│                │                                 │
│                │                                 │
│                │                                 │
├────────────────┤                                 │
│  🗑 trash      │                                 │
│  📱 devices    │                                 │
│  ⚙ settings   │                                 │
└────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────┘
```

- **Left sidebar (~240px):** vault name/lock status at top, search input, item list grouped by type, nav links at bottom (trash, devices, settings)
- **Right pane:** detail view for selected item, or add/edit form. Empty state when nothing selected.
- URL hash tracks current selection (`#item/abc123`, `#add/login`, `#trash`, etc.) for browser back/forward

### Session timeout

Lives in the **service worker**, not in any UI. Shared across popup and vault tab.

**Timer logic** — new `session-timer.ts` module alongside existing `session.ts`:
- Holds a `setTimeout` ID, reads config from `chrome.storage.local`
- Resets on every message routed through the SW (any popup or vault tab interaction)
- When it fires: calls `clearCurrent()` to zero the WASM handle, then broadcasts `{ type: 'session_expired' }` via `chrome.runtime.sendMessage`
- Both popup and vault tab listen for this broadcast and show the lock screen

**Config shape** in `chrome.storage.local`:
```json
{ "session_timeout": { "mode": "inactivity", "minutes": 15 } }
```
or:
```json
{ "session_timeout": { "mode": "every_time" } }
```

Default: `{ mode: 'inactivity', minutes: 15 }`. This is a **per-device setting** (stored in `chrome.storage.local`, not in the encrypted vault) since different devices have different risk profiles.

**UI for timeout config:** In a "device settings" section, a simple toggle:
- "Lock after inactivity" with a minutes dropdown (5, 15, 30, 60)
- "Lock every time" (current behavior)

Changing the setting sends an `update_session_config` message to the SW which immediately applies the new timer.

### Navigation between popup and vault

**Popup → vault:**
- "Open vault" link on the lock screen and item list toolbar
- `Shift+F` keydown listener in popup — opens/focuses the vault tab
- When navigating from popup with context (e.g., viewing an item), pass item ID via URL: `vault.html#item/abc123`
- `popOutToTab()` now redirects to `vault.html` instead of `popup.html` for types that need it

**Global shortcut:**
- `chrome.commands` manifest entry (default unbound, user configures in `chrome://extensions/shortcuts`)
- SW listener opens or focuses existing vault tab

**Vault → popup:**
- Not needed — vault tab is the superset

### Shared components

Form renderers (login, secure-note, identity, card, key, totp, document), field helpers, attachments disclosure, generator panel are currently in `popup/components/`. These get moved to `shared/components/` so both entry points can import them.

The popup wrappers conditionally hide attachments (via `isInTab()`); the vault versions always show everything.

### Keyboard shortcuts

| Key | Context | Action |
|-----|---------|--------|
| `/` | Popup list, vault sidebar | Focus search |
| `+` | Popup list, vault sidebar | New item |
| `↑↓` | Popup list, vault sidebar | Navigate items |
| `Enter` | Popup list, vault sidebar | Open selected item |
| `Escape` | Popup | Close popup |
| `Escape` | Vault form/detail | Back to list |
| `Shift+F` | Popup | Open/focus vault tab |
| Global | Anywhere in Chrome | Open/focus vault tab (user-configured) |

### New files

```
extension/
├── src/
│   ├── vault/
│   │   ├── vault.ts           # Entry point, state management, hash routing
│   │   ├── vault-shell.ts     # Layout container, sidebar/pane split
│   │   ├── vault-sidebar.ts   # Search, grouped item list, nav links
│   │   └── vault-pane.ts      # Detail/form/settings renderer
│   ├── shared/
│   │   └── components/        # Moved from popup/components/
│   │       ├── types/         # login.ts, secure-note.ts, etc.
│   │       ├── fields.ts
│   │       ├── attachments-disclosure.ts
│   │       └── generator-panel.ts
│   ├── service-worker/
│   │   └── session-timer.ts   # Inactivity timeout logic
│   └── popup/
│       └── components/        # Thin wrappers that import from shared/
├── vault.html                 # New entry point
└── vault.css                  # Vault-specific layout styles (imports shared)
```

### What stays in popup

The popup keeps its stacked-view navigation and compact layout. It imports form/detail components from `shared/` but wraps them in popup-specific chrome (back buttons, condensed headers). Login and secure_note forms render inline in the popup (without attachments); all other types redirect to `vault.html`.

### Messages

New message types:
- `update_session_config` — popup/vault → SW, updates timeout settings
- `get_session_config` — popup/vault → SW, reads current timeout settings

New broadcast:
- `session_expired` — SW → all extension views, triggers lock screen

### Out of scope

- Grouping/tagging/export features (future work, mentioned as eventual goal)
- Mobile-style responsive layout for vault tab
- Theme customization
- Multi-vault support
