feat(dashboard): implement smart auto-layout with expansion and better defaults

This commit implements 5 major improvements to the dashboard layout system:

**1. Improved Default Layout (defaultLayout.js)**
- Changed from 2 tabs to 3 tabs for better organization:
  - Tab 1 (Status): User widgets only (userInfo, userStats, userMood, userAttributes)
  - Tab 2 (Scene): Scene widgets + characters (calendar, weather, temp, clock, location, presentCharacters)
  - Tab 3 (Inventory): Full inventory widget
- Cleaner separation prevents cramming all widgets on one tab

**2. Widget Max Size Limits (widget definition files)**
- Added maxAutoSize property to all widgets (enforced only during auto-arrange):
  - Info widgets (calendar, weather, temp, clock): { w: 2, h: 3 }
  - Location: { w: 3, h: 3 }
  - presentCharacters: { w: 3, h: 6 } (can expand significantly)
  - Inventory: { w: 3, h: 8 } (full tab)
- Prevents blind expansion while allowing intelligent space filling

**3. Smart Expansion Algorithm (gridEngine.js)**
- Added expansion pass after compaction in autoLayout():
  - Sorts widgets top-to-bottom, left-to-right
  - Tries to expand height first (fills vertical gaps)
  - Then tries to expand width (fills horizontal gaps)
  - Respects maxAutoSize limits from widget definitions
  - Only expands if no collision with other widgets
- Widgets now fill available space instead of staying at default sizes
- Example: presentCharacters expands from 2x3 to 3x6 when space available

**4. Auto-Reflow on Column Change (dashboardManager.js)**
- Modified onColumnsChange callback to auto-layout after column count changes
- When grid transitions (2→3 or 3→2), automatically reflo ws widgets
- Prevents overlap and optimizes for new column count
- User experience: seamless adaptation when console opens/closes

**5. Fixed Grid Height/Scrollbar CSS (style.css)**
- Added flex: 1, overflow-y: auto, min-height: 0 to .rpg-dashboard-grid
- Grid now properly fills available space in dashboard container
- Accounts for bottom buttons (manual update, settings)
- Prevents "fingernail of extra height" that caused scrollbars

**Technical Changes:**
- Passed widget registry to GridEngine for maxAutoSize lookups
- getWidgetMaxSize() helper looks up definitions from registry
- Moved registry initialization before GridEngine construction
- Grid now uses flexbox to fill available vertical space

**User-Facing Improvements:**
- Reset layout creates logical 3-tab structure from the start
- Auto-arrange expands widgets to fill available space intelligently
- Resizing window/console automatically reflows layout
- No more unwanted scrollbars from slight overflow

Fixes cramped layouts, underutilized space, and scrollbar issues.

src/systems/dashboard/dashboardManager.js

@@ -101,48 +101,36 @@ export class DashboardManager {
         // Create container structure
         this.createContainerStructure();
 
+        // Initialize Widget Registry (use provided registry or create new one)
+        this.registry = this.config.registry || new WidgetRegistry();
+
         // Initialize Grid Engine (columns calculated dynamically)
         this.gridEngine = new GridEngine({
             rowHeight: this.config.rowHeight,
             gap: this.config.gap,
             container: this.gridContainer,
+            registry: this.registry, // Pass registry for maxAutoSize lookups
             onColumnsChange: (newCols, oldCols) => {
                 console.log('[DashboardManager] Grid columns changed:', oldCols, '→', newCols);
 
-                // Fix widget dimensions when column count changes
+                // Auto-reflow current tab to optimize for new column count
-                // This prevents widgets from shrinking when grid switches between 2/3/4 columns
                 const currentTab = this.tabManager.getTab(this.currentTabId);
-                if (currentTab) {
+                if (currentTab && currentTab.widgets && currentTab.widgets.length > 0) {
-                    currentTab.widgets.forEach(widget => {
+                    console.log(`[DashboardManager] Auto-reflowing ${currentTab.widgets.length} widgets for ${newCols} columns`);
-                        // If widget was full-width in old grid, make it full-width in new grid
+
-                        if (widget.w === oldCols) {
+                    // Run auto-layout to reflow and expand widgets for new grid
-                            console.log(`[DashboardManager] Adjusting full-width widget ${widget.id}: w=${widget.w} → ${newCols}`);
+                    // This prevents overlap and optimizes space usage
-                            widget.w = newCols;
+                    this.gridEngine.autoLayout(currentTab.widgets, { preserveOrder: true });
-                        }
-                        // If widget is wider than new grid, clamp it
-                        else if (widget.w > newCols) {
-                            console.log(`[DashboardManager] Clamping oversized widget ${widget.id}: w=${widget.w} → ${newCols}`);
-                            widget.w = newCols;
-                        }
-                        // If widget x position is out of bounds, reset to 0
-                        if (widget.x >= newCols) {
-                            console.log(`[DashboardManager] Resetting out-of-bounds widget ${widget.id}: x=${widget.x} → 0`);
-                            widget.x = 0;
-                        }
-                    });
 
                     // Save changes
                     this.triggerAutoSave();
                 }
 
-                // Re-render all widgets with adjusted dimensions
+                // Re-render all widgets with new layout
                 this.renderAllWidgets();
             }
         });
 
-        // Initialize Widget Registry (use provided registry or create new one)
-        this.registry = this.config.registry || new WidgetRegistry();
-
         // Initialize Tab Manager with dashboard data structure
         // Create default tab if no tabs exist
         if (this.dashboard.tabs.length === 0) {

src/systems/dashboard/defaultLayout.js

@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ export function generateDefaultDashboard() {
         },
 
         tabs: [
+            // Tab 1: Status (User widgets only - compact and focused)
             {
                 id: 'tab-status',
                 name: 'Status',
                 icon: '📊',
                 order: 0,
                 widgets: [
-                    // === USER CLUSTER (Top) ===
+                    // Row 0: User Info (avatar, name, level)
-                    // Row 0: User Info (avatar, name, level) - AT TOP
                     {
                         id: 'widget-userinfo',
                         type: 'userInfo',
@@ -61,17 +61,17 @@ export function generateDefaultDashboard() {
                             statBarGradient: true
                         }
                     },
-                    // Row 3: User Mood (left column)
+                    // Row 3: User Mood
                     {
                         id: 'widget-usermood',
                         type: 'userMood',
                         x: 0,
                         y: 3,
-                        w: 1,
+                        w: 2,
                         h: 1,
                         config: {}
                     },
-                    // Row 4-5: User Attributes (full width, needs 2 columns for 3x2 grid)
+                    // Row 4-5: User Attributes
                     {
                         id: 'widget-userattributes',
                         type: 'userAttributes',
@@ -80,15 +80,22 @@ export function generateDefaultDashboard() {
                         w: 2,
                         h: 2,
                         config: {}
-                    },
+                    }
-
+                ]
-                    // === SCENE CLUSTER (Middle) ===
+            },
-                    // Row 6-7: Calendar (left) + Weather (right)
+            // Tab 2: Scene (Scene info widgets + characters)
+            {
+                id: 'tab-scene',
+                name: 'Scene',
+                icon: '🌍',
+                order: 1,
+                widgets: [
+                    // Row 0-1: Calendar (left) + Weather (right)
                     {
                         id: 'widget-calendar',
                         type: 'calendar',
                         x: 0,
-                        y: 6,
+                        y: 0,
                         w: 1,
                         h: 2,
                         config: {}
@@ -97,19 +104,19 @@ export function generateDefaultDashboard() {
                         id: 'widget-weather',
                         type: 'weather',
                         x: 1,
-                        y: 6,
+                        y: 0,
                         w: 1,
                         h: 2,
                         config: {
                             compact: false
                         }
                     },
-                    // Row 8-9: Temperature (left) + Clock (right)
+                    // Row 2-3: Temperature (left) + Clock (right)
                     {
                         id: 'widget-temperature',
                         type: 'temperature',
                         x: 0,
-                        y: 8,
+                        y: 2,
                         w: 1,
                         h: 2,
                         config: {
@@ -120,31 +127,29 @@ export function generateDefaultDashboard() {
                         id: 'widget-clock',
                         type: 'clock',
                         x: 1,
-                        y: 8,
+                        y: 2,
                         w: 1,
                         h: 2,
                         config: {
                             format: 'digital'
                         }
                     },
-                    // Row 10-11: Location (full width)
+                    // Row 4-5: Location (full width)
                     {
                         id: 'widget-location',
                         type: 'location',
                         x: 0,
-                        y: 10,
+                        y: 4,
                         w: 2,
                         h: 2,
                         config: {}
                     },
-
+                    // Row 6-8: Present Characters (full width, will expand with auto-layout)
-                    // === SOCIAL CLUSTER (Bottom) ===
-                    // Row 12-14: Present Characters (full width)
                     {
                         id: 'widget-presentchars',
                         type: 'presentCharacters',
                         x: 0,
-                        y: 12,
+                        y: 6,
                         w: 2,
                         h: 3,
                         config: {
@@ -154,11 +159,12 @@ export function generateDefaultDashboard() {
                     }
                 ]
             },
+            // Tab 3: Inventory (Full tab for inventory system)
             {
                 id: 'tab-inventory',
                 name: 'Inventory',
                 icon: '🎒',
-                order: 1,
+                order: 2,
                 widgets: [
                     {
                         id: 'widget-inventory',

src/systems/dashboard/gridEngine.js

@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ export class GridEngine {
         this.snapToGrid = config.snapToGrid !== false;
         this.container = config.container || null;
 
+        // Widget registry for accessing widget definitions (e.g., maxAutoSize)
+        this.registry = config.registry || null;
+
         // Container width will be set dynamically
         this.containerWidth = 0;
 
@@ -562,7 +565,92 @@ export class GridEngine {
             }
         });
 
-        console.log(`[GridEngine] Auto-layout complete (compacted ${compactedCount} widgets)`);
+        console.log(`[GridEngine] Compaction complete (${compactedCount} widgets moved up)`);
+
+        // Expansion pass: Try to expand widgets to fill available space
+        console.log('[GridEngine] Expanding widgets to fill available space...');
+        let expandedCount = 0;
+
+        // Sort widgets by position (top-to-bottom, left-to-right) for orderly expansion
+        const sortedForExpand = [...sorted].sort((a, b) => {
+            if (a.y !== b.y) return a.y - b.y; // Top to bottom
+            return a.x - b.x; // Left to right
+        });
+
+        // Helper to get widget max size from registry
+        const getWidgetMaxSize = (widget) => {
+            // Try to get widget definition from registry
+            if (this.registry && widget.type) {
+                const definition = this.registry.get(widget.type);
+                if (definition && definition.maxAutoSize) {
+                    return definition.maxAutoSize;
+                }
+            }
+            // Default max size if not specified (flexible expansion)
+            return { w: this.columns, h: 10 };
+        };
+
+        sortedForExpand.forEach(widget => {
+            const maxSize = getWidgetMaxSize(widget);
+            const originalW = widget.w;
+            const originalH = widget.h;
+
+            // Try expanding height first (fills vertical gaps)
+            let expandedH = false;
+            for (let tryH = originalH + 1; tryH <= Math.min(maxSize.h, originalH + 3); tryH++) {
+                // Clear current position
+                for (let row = widget.y; row < widget.y + widget.h; row++) {
+                    for (let col = widget.x; col < widget.x + widget.w; col++) {
+                        occupied.delete(`${col},${row}`);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Check if expanded height is free
+                if (isFree(widget.x, widget.y, widget.w, tryH)) {
+                    widget.h = tryH;
+                    markOccupied(widget, widget.x, widget.y, widget.w, tryH);
+                    expandedH = true;
+                    expandedCount++;
+                    console.log(`[GridEngine] Expanded ${widget.id} height: ${originalH} → ${tryH}`);
+                    break;
+                } else {
+                    // Re-mark original and try next size
+                    markOccupied(widget, widget.x, widget.y, widget.w, widget.h);
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Try expanding width (fills horizontal gaps)
+            let expandedW = false;
+            for (let tryW = originalW + 1; tryW <= Math.min(maxSize.w, this.columns); tryW++) {
+                // Clear current position
+                for (let row = widget.y; row < widget.y + widget.h; row++) {
+                    for (let col = widget.x; col < widget.x + widget.w; col++) {
+                        occupied.delete(`${col},${row}`);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Check if expanded width is free
+                if (isFree(widget.x, widget.y, tryW, widget.h)) {
+                    widget.w = tryW;
+                    markOccupied(widget, widget.x, widget.y, tryW, widget.h);
+                    expandedW = true;
+                    expandedCount++;
+                    console.log(`[GridEngine] Expanded ${widget.id} width: ${originalW} → ${tryW}`);
+                    break;
+                } else {
+                    // Re-mark original and try next size
+                    markOccupied(widget, widget.x, widget.y, widget.w, widget.h);
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (!expandedH && !expandedW) {
+                // Widget couldn't expand - ensure it's still marked in grid
+                markOccupied(widget, widget.x, widget.y, widget.w, widget.h);
+            }
+        });
+
+        console.log(`[GridEngine] Expansion complete (${expandedCount} expansions made)`);
+        console.log(`[GridEngine] Auto-layout complete`);
         return widgets;
     }
 }

src/systems/dashboard/widgets/infoBoxWidgets.js

@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ export function registerCalendarWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         category: 'scene',
         minSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
         defaultSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 2, h: 3 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {
@@ -281,6 +282,7 @@ export function registerWeatherWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         description: 'Weather emoji and forecast',
         minSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
         defaultSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 2, h: 3 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {
@@ -314,6 +316,7 @@ export function registerTemperatureWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         description: 'Temperature display with thermometer',
         minSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
         defaultSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 2, h: 3 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {
@@ -354,6 +357,7 @@ export function registerClockWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         description: 'Analog clock with time display',
         minSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
         defaultSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 2, h: 3 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {
@@ -403,6 +407,7 @@ export function registerLocationWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         description: 'Map with location display',
         minSize: { w: 1, h: 2 },
         defaultSize: { w: 2, h: 2 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 3, h: 3 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {

src/systems/dashboard/widgets/inventoryWidget.js

@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ export function registerInventoryWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         category: 'inventory',
         minSize: { w: 2, h: 4 },
         defaultSize: { w: 2, h: 6 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 3, h: 8 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion (full tab)
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {

src/systems/dashboard/widgets/presentCharactersWidget.js

@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@ export function registerPresentCharactersWidget(registry, dependencies) {
         category: 'social',
         minSize: { w: 2, h: 2 },
         defaultSize: { w: 2, h: 3 },
+        maxAutoSize: { w: 3, h: 6 }, // Max size for auto-arrange expansion (can expand significantly)
         requiresSchema: false,
 
         render(container, config = {}) {

style.css

@@ -1152,7 +1152,10 @@ body:has(.rpg-panel.rpg-position-left) #sheld {
 .rpg-dashboard-grid {
     position: relative;
     width: 100%;
-    min-height: 200px;
+    flex: 1; /* Fill available space in dashboard container */
+    overflow-y: auto; /* Allow scrolling within grid if needed */
+    overflow-x: hidden;
+    min-height: 0; /* Allow flex to shrink below natural size */
 }
 
 /* Hide resize handles by default */