---
phase: 28-vu-meter-optimization
verified: 2026-03-05T15:30:00Z
status: human_needed
score: 8/8 must-haves verified (automated)
human_verification:
  - test: "React DevTools Profiler shows zero re-renders during VU updates"
    expected: "With Profiler recording during active audio session, SessionTrackVU components show 0 renders from VU updates"
    why_human: "Automated checks confirm no React state/hooks in VU path, but actual DevTools profiling needs human observation"
  - test: "Session screen remains responsive during 10+ minute session"
    expected: "Page interactions (clicking buttons, typing) remain instant with no freezing during extended audio session"
    why_human: "Performance feel requires human testing - automated checks only verify architecture"
  - test: "VU meters animate smoothly at 60fps"
    expected: "VU meters show smooth animation without stuttering or dropped frames"
    why_human: "Visual smoothness assessment requires human observation"
---

# Phase 28: VU Meter Optimization Verification Report

**Phase Goal:** VU meter updates no longer trigger React reconciliation
**Verified:** 2026-03-05T15:30:00Z
**Status:** human_needed (automated checks passed, human verification required)
**Re-verification:** No - initial verification

## Goal Achievement

### Observable Truths

| # | Truth | Status | Evidence |
|---|-------|--------|----------|
| 1 | VU data flows through external store, not Redux | ✓ VERIFIED | vuStore.js exists (147 lines), useMixerStore routes to vuStore.updateLevel, no Redux dispatch for VU |
| 2 | VU components use refs for direct DOM updates | ✓ VERIFIED | SessionTrackVU uses lightsRef, no useState/useDispatch, direct className assignment in RAF loop |
| 3 | React DevTools shows 0 re-renders from VU updates | ? NEEDS HUMAN | Architecture confirms (no React state in VU path), but DevTools observation needed |
| 4 | Session screen remains responsive during 10+ minute session | ? NEEDS HUMAN | RAF batching architecture supports it, but extended session testing needed |

**Score:** 2/4 truths verified (2 need human verification)

### Required Artifacts

| Artifact | Expected | Status | Details |
|----------|----------|--------|---------|
| `jam-ui/src/stores/vuStore.js` | External VU store with RAF batching | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS (147 lines), SUBSTANTIVE (updateLevel, removeLevel, getSnapshot, getLevelSnapshot, subscribe, reset), WIRED (imported by 5 files) |
| `jam-ui/src/hooks/useVuStore.js` | React hooks for store subscription | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS (60 lines), SUBSTANTIVE (useAllVuLevels, useVuLevel with useSyncExternalStore shim), WIRED (imported by useVuHelpers) |
| `jam-ui/src/hooks/useVuHelpers.js` | VU helpers using external store | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS (105 lines), SUBSTANTIVE (no useState, exposes vuStore methods), WIRED (imported by VuContext) |
| `jam-ui/src/context/VuContext.js` | Simplified VU context with store ref | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS (32 lines), SUBSTANTIVE (provides vuStore reference), WIRED (used by consumers) |
| `jam-ui/src/components/client/SessionTrackVU.js` | VU component with direct DOM updates | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS (102 lines), SUBSTANTIVE (RAF loop, refs, direct DOM manipulation), WIRED (imported by 5 components) |
| `jam-ui/src/hooks/useMixerStore.js` | Bridge callback routing to external store | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS, SUBSTANTIVE (calls vuStore.updateLevel in handleBridgeCallback), WIRED (integrated with native bridge) |
| `jam-ui/package.json` | use-sync-external-store dependency | ✓ VERIFIED | EXISTS, SUBSTANTIVE (version 1.6.0), WIRED (imported in useVuStore.js) |

**Score:** 7/7 artifacts verified

### Key Link Verification

| From | To | Via | Status | Details |
|------|-----|-----|--------|---------|
| useMixerStore.js | vuStore.js | vuStore.updateLevel in handleBridgeCallback | ✓ WIRED | Bridge callback at line 181: `vuStore.updateLevel(fqId, normalizedLevel, leftClipping)` - native VU data routed to external store |
| SessionTrackVU.js | vuStore.js | vuStore.getLevelSnapshot in RAF loop | ✓ WIRED | RAF loop at line 39: `vuStore.getLevelSnapshot(mixerId)` - component polls store at 60fps |
| useVuStore.js | vuStore.js | import { vuStore } | ✓ WIRED | Import exists, vuStore.subscribe and vuStore.getSnapshot used in useSyncExternalStore |
| useVuStore.js | use-sync-external-store | useSyncExternalStore shim | ✓ WIRED | Import from 'use-sync-external-store/shim' correct, used in both hooks |
| SessionTrackVU | DOM elements | refs + requestAnimationFrame | ✓ WIRED | lightsRef.current[i] accessed in RAF loop, className assignment for direct DOM updates |

**Score:** 5/5 key links wired

### Requirements Coverage

| Requirement | Status | Supporting Truths | Evidence |
|-------------|--------|-------------------|----------|
| VU-01: RAF batching for VU updates | ✓ SATISFIED | Truth 1 | vuStore.flushUpdates() runs on RAF loop (lines 31-42), only emits when pendingUpdates has entries |
| VU-02: Direct DOM updates via refs | ✓ SATISFIED | Truth 2 | SessionTrackVU stores light refs, updates className directly in RAF loop without React (lines 45-65) |
| VU-03: VU data in external store | ✓ SATISFIED | Truth 1 | vuStore.js manages vuLevels outside React, useSyncExternalStore integration for safe subscription |

**Score:** 3/3 requirements satisfied

### Anti-Patterns Found

None found.

**Scanned files:**
- jam-ui/src/stores/vuStore.js
- jam-ui/src/hooks/useVuStore.js
- jam-ui/src/hooks/useVuHelpers.js
- jam-ui/src/context/VuContext.js
- jam-ui/src/components/client/SessionTrackVU.js
- jam-ui/src/hooks/useMixerStore.js

**Checks performed:**
- ✓ No TODO/FIXME/placeholder comments
- ✓ No empty return stubs (only valid `return null` in useVuLevel example)
- ✓ No console.log-only implementations
- ✓ No React state (useState) in VU components
- ✓ No old mixerHelper.updateVU calls
- ✓ All exports substantive (not empty functions)

### Human Verification Required

#### 1. React DevTools Profiler - Zero VU Re-renders

**Test:**
1. Start jam-ui: `cd jam-ui && npm run start`
2. Open browser DevTools → Components tab → Profiler
3. Start profiler recording
4. Join or create a music session with audio input enabled
5. Play audio through your input for 30+ seconds
6. Stop profiler recording
7. Examine SessionTrackVU component renders

**Expected:**
- SessionTrackVU shows 0 renders during VU activity
- Only initial mount render visible
- No "Cascading updates" warnings
- Commit flamegraph flat during VU updates

**Why human:** Automated checks confirm architecture (no React state in VU path, direct DOM updates), but actual React DevTools profiling requires browser observation. Cannot programmatically query DevTools profiler data.

#### 2. Extended Session Responsiveness

**Test:**
1. Join music session with 3+ participants
2. Enable audio input with continuous VU activity
3. Keep session open for 10+ minutes
4. While VU meters are animating, test interactions:
   - Click volume sliders
   - Type in chat
   - Open/close modals
   - Switch tabs and return

**Expected:**
- All interactions remain instant (no input lag)
- No page freezing at any point
- VU meters continue animating smoothly
- Memory usage stable (no leak-related slowdown)

**Why human:** Performance feel requires human testing. Automated checks verify RAF batching and external store architecture, but actual responsiveness during extended use requires subjective assessment of interaction latency.

#### 3. VU Meter Visual Quality

**Test:**
1. Join session with audio enabled
2. Play sustained audio at varying levels (quiet → medium → loud)
3. Observe VU meter animations

**Expected:**
- Smooth animation without stuttering
- Responsive to audio level changes (no excessive lag)
- Lights change color correctly (green → yellow → red)
- No visual artifacts (flashing, incorrect states)

**Why human:** Visual smoothness is subjective - requires human observation to assess whether animation feels smooth at 60fps vs choppy. Automated checks verify RAF structure but not perceptual quality.

### Architecture Verification Details

**VU Data Flow (verified end-to-end):**
```
Native C++ client (50-70 VU updates/sec)
  ↓ [window.JK.HandleBridgeCallback2]
useMixerStore.handleBridgeCallback (line 136)
  ↓ [vuStore.updateLevel(fqId, level, clipping)]
vuStore.pendingUpdates buffer (line 58)
  ↓ [RAF loop @ 60fps]
vuStore.flushUpdates() (line 31)
  ↓ [merges to vuLevels, emitChange()]
SessionTrackVU RAF loop (line 30)
  ↓ [vuStore.getLevelSnapshot(mixerId)]
Direct DOM manipulation (line 56)
  → lightsRef.current[i].className = 'vu-light vu-bg-success'
```

**Why this achieves zero React re-renders:**
1. ✓ Native updates go to external store buffer, not React state
2. ✓ RAF batching limits updates to 60fps max (vs 50-70 native)
3. ✓ SessionTrackVU RAF loop polls store, doesn't subscribe via useSyncExternalStore
4. ✓ Direct className assignment bypasses React reconciliation
5. ✓ React.memo prevents parent re-renders from propagating
6. ✓ No useState/useSelector in VU component

**Critical implementation details verified:**
- ✓ vuStore.getSnapshot returns same reference when unchanged (Object.is comparison)
- ✓ RAF loop auto-starts with first subscriber, auto-stops with last (lines 122, 131)
- ✓ getLevelSnapshot checks pendingUpdates first for immediate access (line 107)
- ✓ useCallback memoizes getSnapshot to prevent resubscription (line 54)
- ✓ Component cleanup calls vuStore.removeLevel on unmount (line 24)

---

## Verification Summary

**Automated Verification: PASSED**
- ✅ All 7 artifacts exist, substantive, and wired
- ✅ All 5 key links verified
- ✅ All 3 requirements architecturally satisfied
- ✅ 0 anti-patterns found
- ✅ VU data flow traced end-to-end
- ✅ No React state in hot path

**Human Verification: REQUIRED**
- ⏳ React DevTools profiling (confirm 0 re-renders)
- ⏳ Extended session responsiveness testing (10+ minutes)
- ⏳ VU animation visual quality assessment

**Overall Status: human_needed**

The phase goal is architecturally achieved - VU meter updates bypass React reconciliation through external store + RAF batching + direct DOM updates. All code structures are verified. Human testing needed to confirm:
1. DevTools observation (zero renders)
2. Subjective responsiveness (no freezing)
3. Visual quality (smooth animation)

---

_Verified: 2026-03-05T15:30:00Z_
_Verifier: Claude (gsd-verifier)_
