perf: improve launcher and app startup responsiveness

* perf: improve ui startup responsiveness

* perf: paint launcher and app windows earlier

Author: Pluze

+labkit/+ui/+app/create.m

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
     debug = optionValue(opts, 'debug', []);
     ui = buildShellFromSpec(spec, debug);
+    drawnow limitrate;
     installCloseGuard(ui.figure);
     ui = buildControlTabs(ui, spec.props.controlTabs, debug);
     ui = buildWorkspace(ui, spec.props.workspace, debug);

+labkit/+ui/+app/private/createTabbedWorkbenchShell.m

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
     end
     ui.fig = uifigure(figArgs{:});
     applyGuiTestMode(ui.fig);
+    paintVisibleFigure();
 
     ui.main = uigridlayout(ui.fig, [1 3]);
     ui.main.ColumnWidth = {leftWidth, 6, '1x'};
@@ -119,6 +120,13 @@ function applyGuiTestMode(fig)
     end
 end
 
+function paintVisibleFigure()
+    if guiTestMode() ~= "visible"
+        return;
+    end
+    drawnow limitrate;
+end
+
 function [tab, panel] = createScrollableTab(parent, titleText)
     tab = uitab(parent, 'Title', titleText);
     host = uigridlayout(tab, [1 1]);

+labkit/+ui/+app/private/installPreviewScrollNavigation.m

@@ -9,19 +9,23 @@ function installPreviewScrollNavigation(fig, axesHandles)
     if isempty(axesHandles)
         return;
     end
-    disableBuiltInWheelNavigation(axesHandles);
 
     key = 'labkitPreviewScrollNavigation';
     if isappdata(fig, key)
         state = getappdata(fig, key);
     else
         state = struct();
         state.axes = gobjects(1, 0);
+        state.preparedAxes = gobjects(1, 0);
         state.fallbackScrollFcn = fig.WindowScrollWheelFcn;
         state.callback = @onPreviewScroll;
     end
+    if ~isfield(state, 'preparedAxes')
+        state.preparedAxes = gobjects(1, 0);
+    end
 
     state.axes = uniqueAxes([normalizeAxes(state.axes), axesHandles]);
+    state.preparedAxes = axesInSet(normalizeAxes(state.preparedAxes), state.axes);
     setappdata(fig, key, state);
 
     current = fig.WindowScrollWheelFcn;
@@ -44,6 +48,7 @@ function onPreviewScroll(src, event)
         if scrollCount == 0
             return;
         end
+        navState = prepareAxesForWheelNavigation(src, key, navState, ax);
         point = ax.CurrentPoint;
         labkit.ui.tool.zoomAxesAtPoint(ax, point(1, 1:2), scrollCount);
     end
@@ -169,22 +174,52 @@ function callFallback(fcn, src, event)
     axesHandles = axesHandles(keep);
 end
 
-function disableBuiltInWheelNavigation(axesHandles)
-    for k = 1:numel(axesHandles)
-        ax = axesHandles(k);
-        try
-            disableDefaultInteractivity(ax);
-        catch
-        end
-        try
-            ax.Interactions = [];
-        catch
+function state = prepareAxesForWheelNavigation(fig, key, state, ax)
+    if axesContains(state.preparedAxes, ax)
+        return;
+    end
+    disableBuiltInWheelNavigation(ax);
+    state.preparedAxes = uniqueAxes([normalizeAxes(state.preparedAxes), ax]);
+    if isValidHandle(fig)
+        setappdata(fig, key, state);
+    end
+end
+
+function disableBuiltInWheelNavigation(ax)
+    try
+        disableDefaultInteractivity(ax);
+    catch
+    end
+    try
+        ax.Interactions = [];
+    catch
+    end
+    try
+        if ~strcmp(ax.Toolbar.Visible, 'on')
+            ax.Toolbar.Visible = 'on';
         end
-        try
-            if ~strcmp(ax.Toolbar.Visible, 'on')
-                ax.Toolbar.Visible = 'on';
-            end
-        catch
+    catch
+    end
+end
+
+function axesHandles = axesInSet(axesHandles, allowedAxes)
+    keep = false(size(axesHandles));
+    for k = 1:numel(axesHandles)
+        keep(k) = axesContains(allowedAxes, axesHandles(k));
+    end
+    axesHandles = axesHandles(keep);
+end
+
+function tf = axesContains(axesHandles, ax)
+    tf = false;
+    axesHandles = normalizeAxes(axesHandles);
+    if ~isValidHandle(ax)
+        return;
+    end
+    for k = 1:numel(axesHandles)
+        if isequal(axesHandles(k), ax)
+            tf = true;
+            return;
         end
     end
 end

+labkit/+ui/version.m

@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@
 %       compatible contract ranges implemented by this code, contract status,
 %       and a short maintainer note.
 
-    info = labkit.contract.versionInfo("ui", "3.4.2", ">=3.0 <4", ...
-        "stable", "UI 3.x app/spec/view/tool/diag contract with debounced parameter callbacks, spinner-backed panners, reusable image preview redraws, compact file panels, toolPanel file entry helpers, filePanel title context, preview-area row/column sizing, debug trace, debug artifact sample/output folders, hidden-test-safe alerts, close guard, crash reports, output folder prompts, and default text fitting.");
+    info = labkit.contract.versionInfo("ui", "3.4.4", ">=3.0 <4", ...
+        "stable", "UI 3.x app/spec/view/tool/diag contract with debounced parameter callbacks, spinner-backed panners, reusable image preview redraws, compact file panels, toolPanel file entry helpers, filePanel title context, preview-area row/column sizing, visible-window early paint, lazy preview scroll-interaction setup, debug trace, debug artifact sample/output folders, hidden-test-safe alerts, close guard, crash reports, output folder prompts, and default text fitting.");
 end

labkit_launcher.m

@@ -35,10 +35,9 @@
         return;
     end
 
-    root = fileparts(mfilename('fullpath'));
-    apps = discoverApps(root);
-
     if mode == "list"
+        root = fileparts(mfilename('fullpath'));
+        apps = discoverApps(root);
         varargout = {appCatalogTable(apps)};
         return;
     end
@@ -47,8 +46,9 @@
             'labkit_launcher returns at most the launcher figure handle.');
     end
 
+    root = fileparts(mfilename('fullpath'));
     initializeLauncherPath(root);
-    fig = runLauncher(root, apps);
+    fig = runLauncher(root);
     if nargout == 1
         varargout = {fig};
     end
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
     info = struct( ...
         "name", "labkit_launcher", ...
         "displayName", "LabKit App Launcher", ...
-        "version", "1.2.2", ...
+        "version", "1.2.3", ...
         "updated", "2026-07-02");
 end
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ function addPathIfMissing(folder, varargin)
 
 %% Section: Main launcher window
 
-function fig = runLauncher(root, apps)
+function fig = runLauncher(root)
     panelFontSize = 15;
     tableFontSize = 15;
 
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ function addPathIfMissing(folder, varargin)
     fig = uifigure(figArgs{:});
     fig.Name = char(launcherVersionTitle());
     applyLauncherGuiTestMode(fig);
+    paintVisibleLauncherFigure();
     main = uigridlayout(fig, [1 3]);
     main.ColumnWidth = {360, 5, '1x'};
     main.RowHeight = {'1x'};
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ function addPathIfMissing(folder, varargin)
     btnProfile.Layout.Column = 2;
     if isprop(btnProfile, 'Tooltip')
         btnProfile.Tooltip = ['Profile the next app launched from this launcher ' ...
-            'until that app window closes.'];
+            'until that app window closes. Saves the report without opening a browser.'];
     end
     txtInfo = uitextarea(controlsGrid, 'Editable', 'off', 'Value', {'Ready.'});
 
@@ -220,8 +221,17 @@ function addPathIfMissing(folder, varargin)
     ui.controls.appTable = struct('table', appTable);
     setappdata(fig, 'labkitUiRegistry', ui);
 
-    state = struct('apps', apps, 'visibleApps', apps, 'selectedRow', 1, ...
-        'status', integrityStatus(root, apps), 'profileNextLaunch', false);
+    state = struct('apps', emptyAppStruct(), 'visibleApps', emptyAppStruct(), ...
+        'selectedRow', 1, 'status', "Loading app list...", ...
+        'profileNextLaunch', false);
+    appTable.Data = cell(0, 5);
+    setLaunchEnabled(false);
+    updateInfo("Loading app list...");
+    drawnow limitrate;
+
+    state.apps = discoverApps(root);
+    state.visibleApps = state.apps;
+    state.status = integrityStatus(root, state.apps);
     refreshTable();
 
     function onRefreshApps(varargin)
@@ -1110,7 +1120,7 @@ function validateCleanArtifactsTarget(root, target, relativeTarget)
     targetFile = fullfile(root, char(app.relativePath));
     target = @() launchProfileTarget(app, debugMode);
     [htmlFile, artifacts] = profileLabKitTarget(target, htmlFile, ...
-        'OpenReport', launcherGuiTestMode() ~= "hidden", ...
+        'OpenReport', false, ...
         'WaitForGuiClose', true, ...
         'CloseFiguresAfterRun', false, ...
         'ProjectRoot', root, ...
@@ -1482,6 +1492,13 @@ function applyLauncherGuiTestMode(fig)
     end
 end
 
+function paintVisibleLauncherFigure()
+    if launcherGuiTestMode() ~= "visible"
+        return;
+    end
+    drawnow limitrate;
+end
+
 function tf = confirmUpdate(root, sourceLabel)
     message = sprintf(['Download %s zip and replace the LabKit runtime in:\n\n%s\n\n' ...
         'The LabKit folder should contain only LabKit runtime files. Before ' ...

tests/cases/gui/labkit_framework/ui/GuiLayoutUiAxesWorkbenchTest.m

@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ function verify_gui_layout_ui_axes_workbench()
     plot(plotAx, 1:3, [1 4 2], 'DisplayName', 'probe');
     assert(~isempty(ui.figure.WindowScrollWheelFcn), ...
         'previewArea should install LabKit-managed scroll-wheel navigation.');
-    assert(isempty(plotAx.Interactions), ...
-        'previewArea should not rely on focus-gated built-in axes interactions.');
+    assertPreviewScrollNotPrepared(ui.figure, plotAx, ...
+        'previewArea should defer built-in axes interaction cleanup until scroll is used.');
     plotAx.XLim = [0 10];
     plotAx.YLim = [0 20];
     didZoomPlot = labkit.ui.tool.zoomAxesAtPoint(plotAx, [5 10], -1);
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ function verify_gui_layout_ui_axes_workbench()
     hFirstImage = labkit.ui.view.drawImage(ui, 'plotPreview', ...
         zeros(12, 16, 3, 'uint8'), 'axis', 'image', 'title', 'Image Probe');
     imgAx = ui.controls.plotPreview.axesById.image;
-    assert(isempty(imgAx.Interactions), ...
-        'drawImage should not re-enable focus-gated built-in zoom interactions.');
+    assertPreviewScrollNotPrepared(ui.figure, imgAx, ...
+        'drawImage should not force eager built-in axes interaction cleanup.');
     didZoomImage = labkit.ui.tool.zoomAxesAtPoint(imgAx, [8 6], -2);
     assert(didZoomImage && imgAx.XLim(1) >= 0.5 && imgAx.XLim(2) <= 16.5 && ...
         imgAx.YLim(1) >= 0.5 && imgAx.YLim(2) <= 12.5, ...
@@ -146,3 +146,24 @@ function noop(varargin)
 function value = relativeLogPosition(anchor, limits)
     value = (log10(anchor) - log10(limits(1))) ./ diff(log10(limits));
 end
+
+function assertPreviewScrollNotPrepared(fig, ax, message)
+    state = getappdata(fig, 'labkitPreviewScrollNavigation');
+    assert(isstruct(state) && isfield(state, 'preparedAxes'), ...
+        'previewArea should track lazy scroll preparation state.');
+    assert(~axesContains(state.preparedAxes, ax), message);
+end
+
+function tf = axesContains(axesHandles, ax)
+    tf = false;
+    if isempty(axesHandles)
+        return;
+    end
+    axesHandles = axesHandles(:).';
+    for k = 1:numel(axesHandles)
+        if isvalid(axesHandles(k)) && isequal(axesHandles(k), ax)
+            tf = true;
+            return;
+        end
+    end
+end

tests/cases/gui/project/launcher/LauncherProfilerTest.m

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ function performance_profile_action_uses_profile_tool(testCase)
                 'Launcher performance profile action should use the shared profileLabKitTarget tool.');
             testCase.verifyFalse(isempty(strfind(body, '''WaitForGuiClose'', true')), ...
                 'Launcher performance profile should continue until the launched app window closes.');
+            testCase.verifyFalse(isempty(strfind(body, '''OpenReport'', false')), ...
+                'Launcher performance profile should save artifacts without opening a browser.');
             testCase.verifyFalse(isempty(strfind(body, ...
                 '''artifacts'', ''profile'', ''launcher-app-session''')), ...
                 'Launcher performance profile reports should use the launcher app-session artifact folder.');

tools/profiling/profileLabKitTarget.m

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 %   htmlFile  generated HTML report path
 %   artifacts struct with htmlFile, jsonFile, and functionCount
 % Options:
-%   OpenReport           true opens the generated HTML report.
+%   OpenReport           false opens no browser; true opens the generated HTML report.
 %   WaitForGuiClose      true waits for newly opened figures before export.
 %   CloseFiguresAfterRun false closes newly opened figures after profiling.
 %   ChangeFolder         true cd's to a resolved .m file folder while profiling.
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@
 %
 % Examples:
 %   addpath(fullfile('tools', 'profiling'))
+%   profileLabKitTarget("labkit_launcher", [], "WaitForGuiClose", false, ...
+%       "PrintSummary", true)
 %   profileLabKitTarget("labkit_launcher", [], "OpenReport", true)
-%   profileLabKitTarget("labkit_launcher", [], "OpenReport", false, ...
-%       "WaitForGuiClose", false, "PrintSummary", true)
 
     if nargin < 1
         target = [];
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 function opt = parseProfileOptions(varargin)
     p = inputParser;
     p.FunctionName = 'profileLabKitTarget';
-    addParameter(p, 'OpenReport', true, @isLogicalScalar);
+    addParameter(p, 'OpenReport', false, @isLogicalScalar);
     addParameter(p, 'WaitForGuiClose', true, @isLogicalScalar);
     addParameter(p, 'CloseFiguresAfterRun', false, @isLogicalScalar);
     addParameter(p, 'ChangeFolder', true, @isLogicalScalar);