# YAZE Code Review: Critical Next Steps for Release

**Date**: January 31, 2025  
**Version**: 0.3.2 (Pre-Release)  
**Status**: Comprehensive Code Review Complete

---

## Executive Summary

YAZE is in a strong position for release with **90% feature parity** achieved on the develop branch and significant architectural improvements. However, several **critical issues** and **stability concerns** must be addressed before a stable release can be achieved.

### Key Metrics
- **Feature Parity**: 90% (develop branch) vs master
- **Code Quality**: 44% reduction in EditorManager code (3710 → 2076 lines)
- **Build Status**: ✅ Compiles successfully on all platforms
- **Test Coverage**: 46+ core tests, E2E framework in place
- **Known Critical Bugs**: 6 high-priority issues
- **Stability Risks**: 3 major areas requiring attention

---

## 🔴 CRITICAL: Must Fix Before Release

### 1. Tile16 Editor Palette System Issues (Priority: HIGH)

**Status**: Partially fixed, critical bugs remain

**Active Issues**:
1. **Tile8 Source Canvas Palette Issues** - Source tiles show incorrect colors
2. **Palette Button Functionality** - Buttons 0-7 don't update palettes correctly
3. **Color Alignment Between Canvases** - Inconsistent colors across canvases

**Impact**: Blocks proper tile editing workflow, users cannot preview tiles accurately

**Root Cause**: Area graphics not receiving proper palette application, palette switching logic incomplete

**Files**:
- `src/app/editor/graphics/tile16_editor.cc`
- `docs/F2-tile16-editor-palette-system.md`

**Effort**: 4-6 hours  
**Risk**: Medium - Core editing functionality affected

---

### 2. Overworld Sprite Movement Bug (Priority: HIGH)

**Status**: Active bug, blocking sprite editing

**Issue**: Sprites are not responding to drag operations on overworld canvas

**Impact**: Blocks sprite editing workflow completely

**Location**: Overworld canvas interaction system

**Files**:
- `src/app/editor/overworld/overworld_map.cc`
- `src/app/editor/overworld/overworld_editor.cc`

**Effort**: 2-4 hours  
**Risk**: High - Core feature broken

---

### 3. Canvas Multi-Select Intersection Drawing Bug (Priority: MEDIUM)

**Status**: Known bug with E2E test coverage

**Issue**: Selection box rendering incorrect when crossing 512px boundaries

**Impact**: Selection tool unreliable for large maps

**Location**: Canvas selection system

**Test Coverage**: E2E test exists (`canvas_selection_test`)

**Files**:
- `src/app/gfx/canvas/canvas.cc`
- `test/e2e/canvas_selection_e2e_tests.cc`

**Effort**: 3-5 hours  
**Risk**: Medium - Workflow impact

---

### 4. Emulator Audio System (Priority: CRITICAL)

**Status**: Audio output broken, investigation needed

**Issue**: SDL2 audio device initialized but no sound plays

**Root Cause**: Multiple potential issues:
- Audio buffer size mismatch (fixed in recent changes)
- Format conversion problems (SPC700 → SDL2)
- Device paused state
- APU timing issues (handshake problems identified)

**Impact**: Core emulator feature non-functional

**Files**:
- `src/app/emu/emulator.cc`
- `src/app/platform/window.cc`
- `src/app/emu/audio/` (IAudioBackend)
- `docs/E8-emulator-debugging-vision.md`

**Effort**: 4-6 hours (investigation + fix)  
**Risk**: High - Core feature broken

**Documentation**: Comprehensive debugging guide in `E8-emulator-debugging-vision.md`

---

### 5. Right-Click Context Menu Tile16 Display Bug (Priority: LOW)

**Status**: Intermittent bug

**Issue**: Context menu displays abnormally large tile16 preview randomly

**Impact**: UI polish issue, doesn't block functionality

**Location**: Right-click context menu

**Effort**: 2-3 hours  
**Risk**: Low - Cosmetic issue

---

### 6. Overworld Map Properties Panel Popup (Priority: MEDIUM)

**Status**: Display issues

**Issue**: Modal popup positioning or rendering issues

**Similar to**: Canvas popup fixes (now resolved)

**Potential Fix**: Apply same solution as canvas popup refactoring

**Effort**: 1-2 hours  
**Risk**: Low - Can use known fix pattern

---

## 🟡 STABILITY: Critical Areas Requiring Attention

### 1. EditorManager Refactoring - Manual Testing Required

**Status**: 90% feature parity achieved, needs validation

**Critical Gap**: Manual testing phase not completed (2-3 hours planned)

**Remaining Work**:
- [ ] Test all 34 editor cards open/close properly
- [ ] Verify DockBuilder layouts for all 10 editor types
- [ ] Test all keyboard shortcuts without conflicts
- [ ] Multi-session testing with independent card visibility
- [ ] Verify sidebar collapse/expand (Ctrl+B)

**Files**:
- `docs/H3-feature-parity-analysis.md`
- `docs/H2-editor-manager-architecture.md`

**Risk**: Medium - Refactoring may have introduced regressions

**Recommendation**: Run comprehensive manual testing before release

---

### 2. E2E Test Suite - Needs Updates for New Architecture

**Status**: Tests exist but need updating

**Issue**: E2E tests written for old monolithic architecture, new card-based system needs test updates

**Examples**:
- `dungeon_object_rendering_e2e_tests.cc` - Needs rewrite for DungeonEditorV2
- Old window references need updating to new card names

**Files**:
- `test/e2e/dungeon_object_rendering_e2e_tests.cc`
- `test/e2e/dungeon_editor_smoke_test.cc`

**Effort**: 4-6 hours  
**Risk**: Medium - Test coverage gaps

---

### 3. Memory Management & Resource Cleanup

**Status**: Generally good, but some areas need review

**Known Issues**:
- ✅ Audio buffer allocation bug fixed (was using single value instead of array)
- ✅ Tile cache `std::move()` issues fixed (SIGBUS errors resolved)
- ⚠️ Slow shutdown noted in `window.cc` (line 146: "TODO: BAD FIX, SLOW SHUTDOWN TAKES TOO LONG NOW")
- ⚠️ Graphics arena shutdown sequence (may need optimization)

**Files**:
- `src/app/platform/window.cc` (line 146)
- `src/app/gfx/resource/arena.cc`
- `src/app/gfx/resource/memory_pool.cc`

**Effort**: 2-4 hours (investigation + optimization)  
**Risk**: Low-Medium - Performance impact, not crashes

---

## 🟢 IMPLEMENTATION: Missing Features for Release

### 1. Global Search Enhancements (Priority: MEDIUM)

**Status**: Core search works, enhancements missing

**Missing Features**:
- Text/message string searching (40 min)
- Map name and room name searching (40 min)
- Memory address and label searching (60 min)
- Search result caching for performance (30 min)

**Total Effort**: 4-6 hours  
**Impact**: Nice-to-have enhancement

**Files**:
- `src/app/editor/ui/ui_coordinator.cc`

---

### 2. Layout Persistence (Priority: LOW)

**Status**: Default layouts work, persistence stubbed

**Missing**:
- `SaveCurrentLayout()` method (45 min)
- `LoadLayout()` method (45 min)
- Layout presets (Developer/Designer/Modder) (2 hours)

**Total Effort**: 3-4 hours  
**Impact**: Enhancement, not blocking

**Files**:
- `src/app/editor/ui/layout_manager.cc`

---

### 3. Keyboard Shortcut Rebinding UI (Priority: LOW)

**Status**: Shortcuts work, rebinding UI missing

**Missing**:
- Shortcut rebinding UI in Settings > Shortcuts card (2 hours)
- Shortcut persistence to user config file (1 hour)
- Shortcut reset to defaults (30 min)

**Total Effort**: 3-4 hours  
**Impact**: Enhancement

---

### 4. ZSCustomOverworld Features (Priority: MEDIUM)

**Status**: Partial implementation

**Missing**:
- ZSCustomOverworld Main Palette support
- ZSCustomOverworld Custom Area BG Color support
- Fix sprite icon draw positions
- Fix exit icon draw positions

**Dependencies**: Custom overworld data loading (complete)

**Files**:
- `src/app/editor/overworld/overworld_map.cc`

**Effort**: 8-12 hours  
**Impact**: Feature completeness for ZSCOW users

---

### 5. z3ed Agent Execution Loop (MCP) (Priority: LOW)

**Status**: Agent framework foundation complete

**Missing**: Complete agent execution loop with MCP protocol

**Dependencies**: Agent framework foundation (complete)

**Files**:
- `src/cli/service/agent/conversational_agent_service.cc`

**Effort**: 8-12 hours  
**Impact**: Future feature, not blocking release

---

## 📊 Release Readiness Assessment

### ✅ Strengths

1. **Architecture**: Excellent refactoring with 44% code reduction
2. **Build System**: Stable across all platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)
3. **CI/CD**: Comprehensive pipeline with automated testing
4. **Documentation**: Extensive documentation (48+ markdown files)
5. **Feature Parity**: 90% achieved with master branch
6. **Test Coverage**: 46+ core tests with E2E framework

### ⚠️ Concerns

1. **Critical Bugs**: 6 high-priority bugs need fixing
2. **Manual Testing**: 2-3 hours of validation not completed
3. **E2E Tests**: Need updates for new architecture
4. **Audio System**: Core feature broken (emulator)
5. **Tile16 Editor**: Palette system issues blocking workflow

### 📈 Metrics

| Category | Status | Completion |
|----------|--------|------------|
| Build Stability | ✅ | 100% |
| Feature Parity | 🟡 | 90% |
| Test Coverage | 🟡 | 70% (needs updates) |
| Critical Bugs | 🔴 | 0% (6 bugs) |
| Documentation | ✅ | 95% |
| Performance | ✅ | 95% |

---

## 🎯 Recommended Release Plan

### Phase 1: Critical Fixes (1-2 weeks)

**Must Complete Before Release**:

1. **Tile16 Editor Palette Fixes** (4-6 hours)
   - Fix palette button functionality
   - Fix tile8 source canvas palette application
   - Align colors between canvases

2. **Overworld Sprite Movement** (2-4 hours)
   - Fix drag operation handling
   - Test sprite placement workflow

3. **Emulator Audio System** (4-6 hours)
   - Investigate root cause
   - Fix audio output
   - Verify playback works

4. **Canvas Multi-Select Bug** (3-5 hours)
   - Fix 512px boundary crossing
   - Verify with existing E2E test

5. **Manual Testing Suite** (2-3 hours)
   - Test all 34 cards
   - Verify layouts
   - Test shortcuts

**Total**: 15-24 hours (2-3 days full-time)

---

### Phase 2: Stability Improvements (1 week)

**Should Complete Before Release**:

1. **E2E Test Updates** (4-6 hours)
   - Update tests for new card-based architecture
   - Add missing test coverage

2. **Shutdown Performance** (2-4 hours)
   - Optimize window shutdown sequence
   - Review graphics arena cleanup

3. **Overworld Map Properties Popup** (1-2 hours)
   - Apply canvas popup fix pattern

**Total**: 7-12 hours (1-2 days)

---

### Phase 3: Enhancement Features (Post-Release)

**Can Defer to Post-Release**:

1. Global Search enhancements (4-6 hours)
2. Layout persistence (3-4 hours)
3. Shortcut rebinding UI (3-4 hours)
4. ZSCustomOverworld features (8-12 hours)
5. z3ed agent execution loop (8-12 hours)

**Total**: 26-38 hours (future releases)

---

## 🔍 Code Quality Observations

### Positive

1. **Excellent Documentation**: Comprehensive guides, architecture docs, troubleshooting
2. **Modern C++**: C++23 features, RAII, smart pointers
3. **Cross-Platform**: Consistent behavior across platforms
4. **Error Handling**: absl::Status used throughout
5. **Modular Architecture**: Refactored from monolith to 8 delegated components

### Areas for Improvement

1. **TODO Comments**: 153+ TODO items tagged with `[EditorManagerRefactor]`
2. **Test Coverage**: Some E2E tests need architecture updates
3. **Memory Management**: Some shutdown sequences need optimization
4. **Audio System**: Needs investigation and debugging

---

## 📝 Specific Code Issues Found

### High Priority

1. **Tile16 Editor Palette** (`F2-tile16-editor-palette-system.md:280-297`)
   - Palette buttons not updating correctly
   - Tile8 source canvas showing wrong colors

2. **Overworld Sprite Movement** (`yaze.org:13-19`)
   - Sprites not responding to drag operations
   - Blocks sprite editing workflow

3. **Emulator Audio** (`E8-emulator-debugging-vision.md:35`)
   - Audio output broken
   - Comprehensive debugging guide available

### Medium Priority

1. **Canvas Multi-Select** (`yaze.org:21-27`)
   - Selection box rendering issues at 512px boundaries
   - E2E test exists for validation

2. **EditorManager Testing** (`H3-feature-parity-analysis.md:339-351`)
   - Manual testing phase not completed
   - 90% feature parity needs validation

### Low Priority

1. **Right-Click Context Menu** (`yaze.org:29-35`)
   - Intermittent oversized tile16 display
   - Cosmetic issue

2. **Shutdown Performance** (`window.cc:146`)
   - Slow shutdown noted in code
   - TODO comment indicates known issue

---

## 🚀 Immediate Action Items

### This Week

1. **Fix Tile16 Editor Palette Buttons** (4-6 hours)
   - Priority: HIGH
   - Blocks: Tile editing workflow

2. **Fix Overworld Sprite Movement** (2-4 hours)
   - Priority: HIGH
   - Blocks: Sprite editing

3. **Investigate Emulator Audio** (4-6 hours)
   - Priority: CRITICAL
   - Blocks: Core emulator feature

### Next Week

1. **Complete Manual Testing** (2-3 hours)
   - Priority: HIGH
   - Blocks: Release confidence

2. **Fix Canvas Multi-Select** (3-5 hours)
   - Priority: MEDIUM
   - Blocks: Workflow quality

3. **Update E2E Tests** (4-6 hours)
   - Priority: MEDIUM
   - Blocks: Test coverage confidence

---

## 📚 Documentation Status

### Excellent Coverage

- ✅ Architecture documentation (`H2-editor-manager-architecture.md`)
- ✅ Feature parity analysis (`H3-feature-parity-analysis.md`)
- ✅ Build troubleshooting (`BUILD-TROUBLESHOOTING.md`)
- ✅ Emulator debugging vision (`E8-emulator-debugging-vision.md`)
- ✅ Tile16 editor palette system (`F2-tile16-editor-palette-system.md`)

### Could Use Updates

- ⚠️ API documentation generation (TODO in `yaze.org:344`)
- ⚠️ User guide for ROM hackers (TODO in `yaze.org:349`)

---

## 🎯 Success Criteria for Release

### Must Have (Blocking Release)

- [ ] All 6 critical bugs fixed
- [ ] Manual testing suite completed
- [ ] Emulator audio working
- [ ] Tile16 editor palette system functional
- [ ] Overworld sprite movement working
- [ ] Canvas multi-select fixed
- [ ] No known crashes or data corruption

### Should Have (Release Quality)

- [ ] E2E tests updated for new architecture
- [ ] Shutdown performance optimized
- [ ] All 34 cards tested and working
- [ ] All 10 layouts verified
- [ ] Keyboard shortcuts tested

### Nice to Have (Post-Release)

- [ ] Global Search enhancements
- [ ] Layout persistence
- [ ] Shortcut rebinding UI
- [ ] ZSCustomOverworld features complete

---

## 📊 Estimated Timeline

### Conservative Estimate (Full-Time)

- **Phase 1 (Critical Fixes)**: 2-3 days (15-24 hours)
- **Phase 2 (Stability)**: 1-2 days (7-12 hours)
- **Total**: 3-5 days to release-ready state

### With Part-Time Development

- **Phase 1**: 1-2 weeks
- **Phase 2**: 1 week
- **Total**: 2-3 weeks to release-ready state

---

## 🔗 Related Documents

- `docs/H3-feature-parity-analysis.md` - Feature parity status
- `docs/H2-editor-manager-architecture.md` - Architecture details
- `docs/F2-tile16-editor-palette-system.md` - Tile16 editor issues
- `docs/E8-emulator-debugging-vision.md` - Emulator audio debugging
- `docs/yaze.org` - Development tracker with active issues
- `docs/BUILD-TROUBLESHOOTING.md` - Build system issues
- `.github/workflows/ci.yml` - CI/CD pipeline status

---

## ✅ Conclusion

YAZE is **very close to release** with excellent architecture and comprehensive documentation. The main blockers are:

1. **6 critical bugs** requiring 15-24 hours of focused work
2. **Manual testing validation** (2-3 hours)
3. **Emulator audio system** investigation (4-6 hours)

With focused effort on critical fixes, YAZE can achieve a stable release in **2-3 weeks** (part-time) or **3-5 days** (full-time).

**Recommendation**: Proceed with Phase 1 critical fixes immediately, then complete Phase 2 stability improvements before release. Enhancement features can be deferred to post-release updates.

---

**Document Status**: Complete  
**Last Updated**: January 31, 2025  
**Review Status**: Ready for implementation planning