Implement Row Expansion For Error Details In LiveSection

Nov 29, 2025 by Alex Johnson 57 views

Introduction

In the realm of software development, providing clear and concise feedback to users is crucial for a smooth and efficient workflow. When tasks fail, it's essential to present the error details in a way that doesn't disrupt the overall view and allows for easy understanding. This article delves into the implementation of row expansion for error details within the LiveSection component, ensuring that users can quickly identify and address issues without losing context.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the problem statement, desired behavior, implementation details, and the steps required to achieve this functionality. By the end, you'll have a solid understanding of how to enhance user experience by displaying error information in an organized and intuitive manner.

Problem Statement

When a task within the LiveSection fails, it's vital to communicate the error details effectively. The initial implementation lacked a mechanism to display these details without disrupting the layout of other rows. This led to a situation where error messages would push other rows down, making it harder for users to maintain an overview of the entire section. The primary challenge was to find a way to present the error information in a non-intrusive manner, ensuring that the user could easily access the details while keeping the rest of the section visible and organized.

The core issue revolves around the need for a dynamic display that can adapt to the presence of error details. Without row expansion, the error message is simply appended to the row, causing a shift in the layout. This not only looks untidy but also reduces the usability of the LiveSection. To address this, we need a solution that allows the error details to be displayed only when necessary, without affecting the position of other elements on the screen. This requires careful consideration of the user interface and how the error information is integrated into the existing structure.

Effective error communication is a cornerstone of user-friendly software. When errors occur, users need to quickly understand what went wrong and how to fix it. If the error details are hidden or disrupt the layout, it can lead to frustration and decreased productivity. Therefore, implementing row expansion is not just about aesthetics; it's about making the software more accessible and efficient for the user. The goal is to provide a seamless experience where error information is readily available, but doesn't interfere with the overall workflow. This involves designing an intuitive way to reveal and hide error details, ensuring that the user can easily manage the information presented on the screen. By focusing on the user's needs and how they interact with the software, we can create a more effective and enjoyable experience.

Desired Behavior

The desired behavior for error display is to have the row expand when an error occurs, revealing the error details beneath the main row. This expansion should not disrupt the position of other rows in the LiveSection. For example, if a linting task fails, the row should expand to show the specific issues found, such as found 3 issues in pkg/design/render.go. This detailed information should be displayed in a way that is clearly associated with the failing task, making it easy for the user to understand the context of the error.

The visual representation of this behavior is crucial for user comprehension. The expanded row should clearly indicate that it is providing additional information related to the task in the main row. This can be achieved through visual cues such as indentation, distinct background colors, or the use of an expansion icon. The goal is to make the error details easily accessible without overwhelming the user with too much information at once. By keeping the main rows concise and only revealing details when necessary, we can maintain a clean and organized interface.

Maintaining a consistent user experience is paramount in software design. The row expansion behavior should be predictable and uniform across all error scenarios within the LiveSection. This means that the expansion animation, the way error details are displayed, and the mechanism for collapsing the row should be consistent. Consistency helps users build a mental model of how the system works, making it easier for them to navigate and use the software effectively. By adhering to a consistent pattern, we can reduce cognitive load and improve the overall usability of the application. This includes ensuring that the error messages are clear, concise, and provide actionable information to the user.

┌─ QUALITY ─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  ✓ Format                                             │
│  ✓ Vet                                                │
│  ✗ Lint                                               │
│    → found 3 issues in pkg/design/render.go           │
│  ▫ Test                                               │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The example above illustrates the desired outcome. When the Lint task fails, the row expands to display the error message → found 3 issues in pkg/design/render.go. This expansion occurs without shifting the other rows (Format, Vet, and Test), allowing the user to see the error details in context without losing their place in the list. The → symbol is used to visually connect the error detail with the main row, making the relationship clear. This approach ensures that the user can quickly identify the issue and take appropriate action.

Implementation Details

The implementation of row expansion involves modifying the LiveRow struct and the renderRow function within the LiveSection component. The LiveRow struct is extended to include a Detail field, which stores the error message or additional information to be displayed upon expansion. A boolean field, Expanded, is added to track whether the row is currently expanded or not. This allows the system to maintain the state of each row and render it accordingly.

The renderRow function is updated to check the Status of the row and the presence of a Detail. If the Status is StatusError or StatusWarning and the Detail is not empty, the function appends the detail to the rendered line, prefixed with an indentation and a visual cue (e.g., →). This ensures that the error detail is clearly associated with the main row. The function also checks the Expanded flag to determine whether to include the detail in the rendered output. This conditional rendering is crucial for controlling the visibility of the error details.

type LiveRow struct {
    Label    string
    Status   RowStatus
    Detail   string    // if non-empty and Status is Error/Warning, render below
    Expanded bool
}

func (s *LiveSection) renderRow(r LiveRow) string {
    line := statusIcon(r.Status) + " " + r.Label
    if r.Detail != "" && (r.Status == StatusError || r.Status == StatusWarning) {
        line += "\n    → " + r.Detail
    }
    return line
}

Tracking the total rendered lines is essential for accurate cursor positioning. When a row is expanded, it occupies additional lines on the screen. To ensure that the cursor moves correctly, the system needs to account for these variable row heights. This is achieved by maintaining a count of the total number of lines rendered, including any expansions. The cursor math is then adjusted based on this total, ensuring that the cursor always appears in the correct position. This involves updating the logic that calculates cursor movements and ensuring that it takes into account the dynamic height of the LiveSection.

The Expanded flag plays a critical role in managing the state of the rows. When a user interacts with a row to expand or collapse it, the Expanded flag is toggled. This change in state triggers a re-render of the LiveSection, which then updates the display based on the new state. The renderRow function uses this flag to determine whether to include the error detail in the rendered output. This mechanism allows for a smooth and responsive user experience, as the error details are only displayed when the user explicitly requests them. The Expanded flag also ensures that the state of the rows is maintained across updates, preventing the display from flickering or resetting unexpectedly.

Files Modified

The primary file affected by this implementation is pkg/live/section.go. This file contains the LiveSection component and its associated functions, including renderRow. The modifications are focused on extending the LiveRow struct and updating the renderRow function to handle the display of error details. This file is central to the functionality of the LiveSection, and any changes here directly impact the way information is presented to the user.

The changes within pkg/live/section.go involve adding the Detail and Expanded fields to the LiveRow struct. These fields are crucial for storing the error information and tracking the expansion state of each row. The renderRow function is updated to check the Status, Detail, and Expanded fields before rendering the error detail. This ensures that the error information is only displayed when necessary and that the expansion state is correctly reflected in the output. The modifications also include the logic for calculating the total number of rendered lines, which is used for cursor positioning.

Ensuring code quality and maintainability is a key consideration when making changes to any file. The modifications to pkg/live/section.go should be done in a way that preserves the readability and structure of the code. This involves following coding best practices, such as writing clear and concise functions, using meaningful variable names, and adding comments to explain complex logic. The changes should also be thoroughly tested to ensure that they do not introduce any regressions or unexpected behavior. By maintaining a high standard of code quality, we can ensure that the LiveSection component remains robust and easy to maintain in the future.

Steps to Completion

The implementation is considered complete when the following criteria are met:

Error rows expand to show detail:
- When an error occurs, the corresponding row in the LiveSection should expand to display the error details beneath the main row. This expansion should be triggered by the presence of a non-empty Detail in the LiveRow struct and the Status being StatusError or StatusWarning.
Cursor updates account for variable row heights:
- The cursor positioning logic should be updated to account for the variable height of the LiveSection due to expanded rows. This involves tracking the total number of rendered lines, including any expansions, and adjusting the cursor movements accordingly.
Multiple expanded rows work correctly:
- The system should handle multiple expanded rows without any issues. This means that each expanded row should display its details correctly, and the cursor positioning should be accurate regardless of the number of expanded rows.

Thorough testing is essential to ensure that the implementation meets these criteria. This includes creating test cases that simulate various scenarios, such as single and multiple error rows, different error messages, and different expansion states. The tests should verify that the error details are displayed correctly, the cursor positioning is accurate, and the overall layout of the LiveSection remains consistent. Automated testing can help to catch regressions and ensure that the functionality remains stable over time. Manual testing is also important to verify the user experience and ensure that the error details are presented in a clear and intuitive manner.

Dependencies

This implementation depends on #80 (LiveSection), which provides the foundational structure and functionality for the LiveSection component. Before implementing row expansion, it's crucial to ensure that #80 is completed and merged into the codebase. This dependency ensures that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support the new functionality.

Managing dependencies effectively is crucial for successful software development. Dependencies can introduce complexity and potential conflicts if not handled properly. In this case, the dependency on #80 highlights the importance of a structured development process where features are built incrementally and dependencies are clearly defined. This allows developers to work in a coordinated manner and ensures that new features are built on a solid foundation. By addressing dependencies early and managing them carefully, we can reduce the risk of integration issues and ensure that the software is stable and reliable. This also involves communication and collaboration among team members to ensure that everyone is aware of the dependencies and their implications.

Conclusion

Implementing row expansion for error details in the LiveSection is a significant step towards enhancing user experience and providing more informative feedback. By allowing error details to be displayed without disrupting the layout, we ensure that users can quickly identify and address issues while maintaining an overview of the entire section. This feature improves the usability of the LiveSection and contributes to a more efficient and user-friendly workflow. The implementation involves extending the LiveRow struct, updating the renderRow function, and carefully managing cursor positioning to account for variable row heights. Thorough testing and adherence to coding best practices are essential to ensure the functionality is robust and maintainable.

For further reading on UI/UX best practices for error handling, you can visit the Nielsen Norman Group website.