amethyst/docs/plans/2026-03-16-desktop-media-manual-testing-plan.md

Manual Testing Plan: Desktop Media Full Parity (feat/desktop-media)

Context

Branch has 13 commits implementing Phases 0-9 of desktop media: image display, upload, video/audio playback, lightbox, encrypted DM files, profile gallery, server management, and imeta tags. 49 unit tests cover service logic. This plan covers integration & UI manual testing that unit tests can't reach.

Prerequisites

• VLC installed on system (required for VLCJ video/audio)
• Logged into a Nostr account with signing capability
• At least one reachable Blossom server (e.g. https://blossom.primal.net)
• Test files ready: JPEG (with EXIF), PNG, GIF, SVG, MP4, MP3, large file (>10MB)

Run Command

./gradlew :desktopApp:run

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Phase 1: Image Display & Caching

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
1.1	Images load in feed	Open feed with image notes	Blurhash placeholder shows first, then full image fades in	✅ PASS
1.2	User avatars render	Browse feed/profile	All profile pictures display correctly	✅ PASS
1.3	Animated GIF	Open note with GIF URL	GIF animates with all frames	✅ PASS (was static-only, fixed with AnimatedGifImage composable)
1.4	Base64 inline images	Open note with base64 data URI	Image decodes and displays	✅ PASS
1.5	Cache persistence	Close app, reopen, revisit same feed	Previously loaded images appear instantly (disk cache)	✅ PASS
1.6	Cache location	Check OS cache dir	macOS: ~/Library/Caches/AmethystDesktop/image_cache/	✅ PASS
1.7	Broken image URL	Note with 404 image URL	Graceful fallback (no crash, placeholder or blank)	✅ PASS

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Phase 2: File Upload (Blossom Protocol)

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
2.1	Upload JPEG	Compose note → attach JPEG → publish	Upload succeeds, URL in note	✅ PASS
2.2	Upload PNG	Compose note → attach PNG → publish	Upload succeeds, URL in note	✅ PASS
2.3	EXIF stripped	Upload JPEG with GPS EXIF → download result from Blossom URL	No EXIF metadata in downloaded file	✅ PASS (implicit — DesktopMediaCompressor strips EXIF before upload)
2.4	Auth header	Upload with Nostr signer	Server accepts upload (BUD-11 auth works)	✅ PASS (uploads succeed = auth works)
2.5	Upload progress	Attach large file → upload	Progress indicator updates during upload	✅ PASS
2.6	Upload error	Disconnect network mid-upload	Error state shown, no crash	✅ PASS
2.7	Server selector	Open compose → attach file → check server selector	Shows configured Blossom servers; dropdown to switch	✅ PASS (fixed: added ServerSelector shown when files attached)

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Phase 3: Upload UX (File Picker, Paste, Drag-Drop)

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
3.1	File picker	Compose → click Attach → select image	Native dialog opens, file appears in attachment row	✅ PASS
3.2	Multi-select	File picker → select 3 images	All 3 appear in attachment row with thumbnails	✅ PASS
3.3	File type filter	File picker dialog	Only media files shown (images, video, audio)	✅ PASS
3.4	Clipboard paste	Copy image → Compose → Cmd+V/Ctrl+V	Pasted image appears in attachment row	✅ PASS
3.5	Drag & drop	Drag image file onto compose dialog	File appears in attachment row; visual drop indicator	✅ PASS
3.6	Remove attachment	Click X on attached file	File removed from row	✅ PASS
3.7	Thumbnail preview	Attach image	Thumbnail visible in attachment row	✅ PASS
3.8	Alt text	Attach image → enter alt text → publish	Alt text included in imeta tag	✅ PASS
3.9	Imeta tags	Publish note with image	Published event has imeta tag (url, m, x, dim, blurhash)	✅ PASS

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Phase 4: Video Playback (VLCJ)

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
4.1	Inline video	Open note with MP4 URL	Video player renders inline (not just URL text)	✅ PASS
4.2	Play/pause	Click play button	Video plays; click again pauses	✅ PASS
4.3	Seek bar	Drag seek bar	Video jumps to position	✅ PASS
4.4	Volume control	Adjust volume slider	Audio level changes	✅ PASS (widened slider 80dp→240dp for usability)
4.5	Aspect ratio	Videos with 16:9 and 4:3	Correct aspect ratio maintained	✅ PASS
4.6	Controls auto-hide	Play video, don't move mouse for 2s	Controls fade out; reappear on mouse move	✅ PASS
4.7	Player pool limit	Scroll through 5+ video notes	Max 3 players active; earlier ones release	✅ PASS
4.8	WebM format	Note with WebM URL	Plays correctly (if VLC supports it)	✅ PASS

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Phase 5: Lightbox & Gallery Navigation

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
5.1	Open lightbox	Click image in feed/profile/thread	Full-screen overlay with dark backdrop	✅ PASS (fixed: lightbox in Box overlay, split click zones in NoteCard)
5.2	Close (X button)	Click X button top-left	Lightbox closes	✅ PASS (added X close button)
5.3	Close (Esc)	Press Escape	Lightbox closes	✅ PASS
5.4	Zoom (scroll)	Mouse wheel up/down	Image zooms in/out (up to 10x)	✅ PASS
5.5	Pan (drag)	Zoom in → click-drag	Image pans with cursor	✅ PASS
5.6	Reset zoom	Double-click image	Zoom resets to fit	✅ PASS (added onDoubleTap handler)
5.7	Multi-image nav	Open note with 3+ images → click one	Arrow buttons visible; left/right navigate	✅ PASS
5.8	Arrow key nav	Left/Right arrow keys	Navigate between images	✅ PASS
5.9	Index indicator	Multi-image gallery	Shows "1 / 5" style counter	✅ PASS (added bottom-center pill counter)
5.10	Save to disk	Cmd+S / Ctrl+S in lightbox	Save dialog opens; file downloads to chosen path	✅ PASS (fixed: added isMetaPressed for macOS)
5.11	Video in lightbox	Click video thumbnail	Video plays in lightbox with controls	✅ PASS

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Phase 6: Encrypted Media (NIP-17 DMs)

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
6.1	DM file attach	Open DM → attach file	Encryption indicator visible	⬜ BLOCKED — no attach button in DM input (send not implemented)
6.2	Send encrypted	Attach file in DM → send	File uploads encrypted to Blossom	⬜ BLOCKED — send not implemented
6.3	Receive encrypted	Receive DM with encrypted file from another client	File downloads and decrypts; displays correctly	⬜ TODO
6.4	Wrong key	(If testable) Attempt to view another user's encrypted media	Decryption fails gracefully	⬜ TODO

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Phase 7: Profile Gallery (NIP-68 / Kind 20)

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
7.1	Gallery tab visible	Navigate to profile	"Gallery" tab appears	✅ PASS
7.2	Grid layout	Click Gallery tab	Thumbnail grid of kind 20 posts	⬜ TODO — needs user with kind 20 posts to verify
7.3	Blurhash thumbs	Gallery loading	Blurhash placeholders before full thumbnails	⬜ TODO
7.4	Click → lightbox	Click gallery thumbnail	Opens lightbox at that image	⬜ TODO
7.5	Empty gallery	Profile with no picture posts	Empty state "No pictures yet"	✅ PASS
7.6	Picture post display	Kind 20 note in feed	Shows image-first layout with title + description	⬜ TODO — needs kind 20 content
7.7	Create picture post	Compose kind 20 with multiple images	Multi-image post publishes with imeta tags	⬜ BLOCKED — no kind 20 compose UI

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Phase 8: Blossom Server Management

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
8.1	Server list loads	Settings → Media Servers	Shows servers from kind 10063	✅ PASS
8.2	Health check	Click refresh on a server	Green/red/grey with hover tooltip	✅ PASS (added tooltip: Online/Offline/Checking)
8.3	Check all	Click "Check All"	All servers checked in parallel	✅ PASS
8.4	Add server	Enter URL → click Add	Server appears in list; health check runs	✅ PASS
8.5	Remove server	Click delete on a server	Server removed from list	✅ PASS
8.6	Set default server	Click "Set as default" on a server	Server moves to top of list	✅ PASS (added set-as-default action)
8.7	Publish to relays	Add/remove server → check relays	Kind 10063 event updated on relays	⬜ TODO — needs relay inspector to verify
8.8	Invalid server URL	Add "not-a-url"	Add button disabled	✅ PASS (added URL validation)
8.9	Settings scroll	Scroll settings page	Content scrolls	✅ PASS (fixed: added verticalScroll)

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Phase 9: Audio Playback

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
9.1	Inline audio	Note with MP3 URL	Audio player renders inline	✅ PASS
9.2	Play/pause	Click play	Audio plays; click again pauses	✅ PASS
9.3	Seek	Drag seek bar	Playback jumps to position	✅ PASS
9.4	Time display	Play audio file	Shows current/total time	✅ PASS
9.5	Multiple formats	Notes with OGG, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OPUS, M4A	All play (where VLC supports)	⬜ TODO
9.6	Audio pool	Scroll past 6+ audio notes	Max 5 audio players; earlier ones release	N/A — GlobalMediaPlayer uses single shared player now
9.7	Initial volume	Play audio without touching volume slider	Audio audible at 100% on first play	🐛 BUG — VLC starts silent; moving volume slider fixes it. Tried :start-volume, setVolume in playing callback, delayed retries — none work. Needs investigation into VLCJ audio output init timing on macOS.

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Phase 10: Cross-Cutting / Edge Cases

#	Test	Steps	Expected	Status
10.1	No VLC installed	Remove VLC from PATH → run app	Graceful fallback for video/audio (no crash)
10.2	Large file upload	Upload 50MB video	Handles without OOM; progress shown
10.3	Rapid scrolling	Scroll feed with many images quickly	No memory leak, images load on demand
10.4	Window resize	Resize window while viewing gallery/feed	Layout adapts; no clipping
10.5	Multiple uploads	Attach 5 files → upload all → publish	All upload, all get imeta tags
10.6	App restart	Restart app after uploads/config	Cache, server prefs, all persisted

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Unanswered Questions

• Is VLCJ arm64 macOS working? (vlcj-setup plugin uncertain for Apple Silicon)
• Can we test encrypted DM file sharing without a second account/client?
• Should we test SVG rendering separately or is Coil3 SVG decoder sufficient?
• How to verify kind 10063 publish without a relay inspector tool?