path: root/doc/AUDIO_LIFECYCLE_REFACTOR.md

# Audio System Lifecycle Refactor Plan

## Problem Statement

The current audio system has a fragile initialization order dependency between `synth_init()` and `tracker_init()`:

- `synth_init()` clears ALL registered spectrograms (global state reset)
- `tracker_init()` registers spectrograms with the synth
- If called in wrong order → spectrograms cleared → no audio / test failures

**Current Workarounds:**
- Tests must call `synth_init()` before `tracker_init()`
- `tracker_init()` re-registers everything on every call (memory overhead)
- Hidden bugs when `audio_init()` internally calls `synth_init()`

**Why This is Bad:**
- Brittle: Easy to break by calling init functions in wrong order
- Non-obvious: No compile-time or runtime checks for correct usage
- Wasteful: Re-allocates and re-registers on every init
- Hard to test: Tests must know internal implementation details
- Prevents composition: Can't have multiple tracker instances

---

## Design Goals

1. **Order Independence:** Init functions should work in any order
2. **Explicit Ownership:** Clear who owns what resources
3. **Testability:** Easy to mock, inject, and test components
4. **Memory Safety:** No leaks, no dangling pointers
5. **Size Conscious:** Minimal overhead for 64k binary goal

---

## Proposed Solutions (3 Options)

### Option A: Unified AudioEngine Class (Recommended)

**Concept:** Single top-level class that manages synth and tracker as private members.

```cpp
class AudioEngine {
 public:
  // Lifecycle
  void init();
  void shutdown();
  void reset();  // Clear all state

  // Synth interface (delegates to private synth_)
  int register_spectrogram(const Spectrogram* spec);
  void trigger_voice(int spec_id, float volume, float pan);
  void render(float* output, int num_frames);

  // Tracker interface (delegates to private tracker_)
  void load_music_data(const TrackerScore* score);
  void update_tracker(float music_time);

 private:
  Synth synth_;        // Embedded instance
  Tracker tracker_;    // Embedded instance
  bool initialized_ = false;
};
```

**Pros:**
- Single initialization point: `engine.init()` sets up everything
- Order independence: Internal init sequence is correct by design
- Clear ownership: Engine owns both synth and tracker
- Easy to test: Mock the entire engine or inject test data

**Cons:**
- Larger refactor: Need to update all callsites
- Increased coupling: Synth and tracker bundled together
- Slightly larger binary (vtable overhead if using virtual methods)

**Implementation Steps:**
1. Create `AudioEngine` class in `src/audio/audio_engine.h/cc`
2. Move synth and tracker global state into class members
3. Update `audio.cc` to use `AudioEngine` internally
4. Refactor tests to use `AudioEngine` API
5. Gradually migrate production code
6. Remove old `synth_init()` / `tracker_init()` globals

---

### Option B: Registration Handle System

**Concept:** Tracker holds registration handles and manages synth resources explicitly.

```cpp
class Tracker {
 public:
  void init(Synth* synth);  // Takes synth pointer, registers spectrograms
  void shutdown();          // Unregisters spectrograms
  void update(float music_time);

 private:
  Synth* synth_ = nullptr;
  std::vector<int> registered_spec_ids_;  // Tracks what we registered
};

// Usage:
Synth synth;
synth.init();

Tracker tracker;
tracker.init(&synth);  // Registers spectrograms

// Later, if synth is reset:
synth.reset();
tracker.re_register();  // Tracker knows what to re-register
```

**Pros:**
- Explicit dependencies: Tracker knows it depends on Synth
- Order enforced by API: Can't init tracker without synth pointer
- Resource cleanup: Tracker can unregister on shutdown
- Smaller refactor: Only changes tracker implementation

**Cons:**
- Still has global synth state (just less fragile)
- Tracker needs to track registered IDs (extra bookkeeping)
- Multiple trackers would need careful coordination

**Implementation Steps:**
1. Add `Synth* synth_` member to Tracker
2. Change `tracker_init()` to `tracker_init(Synth* synth)`
3. Store registered spec IDs in tracker
4. Add `tracker_re_register()` to handle synth resets
5. Update all callsites to pass synth pointer

---

### Option C: Synth Resource Manager with Reference Counting

**Concept:** Spectrograms are ref-counted, auto-cleanup when no refs remain.

```cpp
class Synth {
 public:
  // Returns a handle that auto-releases on destruction
  SpectrogramHandle register_spectrogram(const Spectrogram* spec);

  void trigger_voice(const SpectrogramHandle& handle, float volume, float pan);
};

class SpectrogramHandle {
 public:
  ~SpectrogramHandle() { if (synth_) synth_->unregister(id_); }
  SpectrogramHandle(const SpectrogramHandle&);  // Ref count++
  int id() const { return id_; }

 private:
  Synth* synth_;
  int id_;
};
```

**Pros:**
- RAII: Automatic cleanup, no leaks
- Safe against synth resets: Handles become invalid automatically
- Modern C++ design: Follows std::shared_ptr pattern

**Cons:**
- Complex implementation: Ref counting overhead
- Larger binary: More code for handle management
- Doesn't solve init order (still need synth before tracker)

**Implementation Steps:**
1. Create `SpectrogramHandle` class with ref counting
2. Update `synth_register_spectrogram()` to return handle
3. Add `synth_unregister()` internal API
4. Update tracker to store handles instead of IDs
5. Test thoroughly (ref counting bugs are subtle)

---

## Recommended Approach: Option A (AudioEngine) + Resource Manager

**Why Option A?**
- Most robust: Completely solves initialization order issues
- Future-proof: Easy to extend with more audio subsystems
- Testable: Single point of dependency injection
- Size acceptable: ~500 bytes overhead (acceptable for robustness)

### Component Separation: Addressing Asset/Procedural Spectrograms

**Current Problem:**
Tracker currently handles 3 distinct responsibilities:
1. Loading assets via `GetAsset()` (AssetManager dependency)
2. Generating procedural spectrograms (owns allocated memory)
3. Pattern sequencing (triggers events at correct times)

**Proposed Architecture:**

```
                    ┌─────────────────┐
                    │  AudioEngine    │
                    │  (Facade)       │
                    └────────┬────────┘
                             │
           ┌─────────────────┼─────────────────┐
           │                 │                 │
    ┌──────▼──────┐   ┌─────▼──────┐   ┌─────▼────────┐
    │   Synth     │   │  Tracker   │   │   Resource   │
    │             │   │            │   │   Manager    │
    │ (Playback)  │   │ (Sequence) │   │  (Loading)   │
    └─────────────┘   └────────────┘   └──────┬───────┘
                                               │
                                    ┌──────────┼──────────┐
                                    │                     │
                             ┌──────▼──────┐      ┌──────▼──────┐
                             │ AssetManager│      │  Procedural │
                             │  (Assets)   │      │  Generator  │
                             └─────────────┘      └─────────────┘
```

**SpectrogramResourceManager Responsibilities:**
- Load asset spectrograms from AssetManager
- Generate procedural spectrograms from NoteParams
- Own all allocated memory (consistent ownership)
- Provide unified interface for both types
- Cache resources to avoid re-generation

**Migration Path (Incremental):**
1. Create `AudioEngine` class alongside existing globals
2. Update tests to use `AudioEngine` first (validate correctness)
3. Add `audio_engine.cc` to build, mark old functions deprecated
4. Migrate `main.cc` and production code
5. Remove old `synth_init()` / `tracker_init()` in final cleanup

**Estimated Effort:**
- Week 1: Design + implement AudioEngine class
- Week 2: Migrate tests + validate
- Week 3: Migrate production code
- Week 4: Cleanup + documentation

---

## Alternative: Keep Current Design with Better Documentation

If refactor is too costly, improve current system:

1. **Add Assertions:**
   ```cpp
   void tracker_init() {
     assert(synth_is_initialized() && "Must call synth_init() first!");
     // ... rest of init
   }
   ```

2. **Add State Tracking:**
   ```cpp
   static bool g_synth_initialized = false;
   void synth_init() {
     // ... init code
     g_synth_initialized = true;
   }
   ```

3. **Document Init Order:**
   - Update `CONTRIBUTING.md` with explicit init order requirements
   - Add comments to every init function
   - Create example code snippets

**Pros:** Zero refactor cost
**Cons:** Doesn't solve underlying fragility

---

## Decision Matrix

| Criterion | Option A (Engine) | Option B (Handles) | Option C (RefCount) | Status Quo |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|------------|
| Order Independence | ✅ Full | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Testability | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Moderate | ❌ Poor |
| Memory Safety | ✅ Full | ✅ Good | ✅ Excellent | ⚠️ Manual |
| Refactor Effort | 🔴 High | 🟡 Medium | 🔴 High | 🟢 None |
| Binary Size Impact | +500B | +200B | +1KB | 0B |
| Future Extensibility | ✅ High | ⚠️ Medium | ⚠️ Medium | ❌ Low |

**Recommendation:** Option A for production, Status Quo improvements for short-term

---

## Detailed Design: SpectrogramResourceManager

### Interface

```cpp
class SpectrogramResourceManager {
 public:
  // Lifecycle
  void init();
  void shutdown();  // Frees all owned memory

  // Lazy loading API (loads on first access)
  const Spectrogram* get_or_load_asset(AssetId asset_id);
  const Spectrogram* get_or_generate_procedural(int sample_id, const NoteParams& params);

  // Explicit loading (for pre-warming if needed)
  int preload_asset(AssetId asset_id);
  int preload_procedural(int sample_id, const NoteParams& params);

  // Query API
  const Spectrogram* get_spectrogram(int resource_id) const;
  bool is_loaded(int resource_id) const;

  // Cache management
  void clear_cache();
  int get_cache_size() const;

 private:
  struct Resource {
    Spectrogram spec;
    float* owned_data;     // nullptr if asset (not owned)
    AssetId asset_id;      // ASSET_LAST_ID if procedural
    bool is_procedural;
  };

  Resource resources_[MAX_SPECTROGRAMS];
  int next_slot_ = 0;
};
```

### Usage in AudioEngine (Lazy Loading)

```cpp
class AudioEngine {
 public:
  void init() {
    synth_.init();
    resource_mgr_.init();
    tracker_.init(&synth_, &resource_mgr_);
  }

  void load_music_data(const TrackerScore* score,
                       const NoteParams* samples,
                       const AssetId* sample_assets,
                       uint32_t sample_count) {
    // Register sample metadata (but don't load yet!)
    for (uint32_t i = 0; i < sample_count; ++i) {
      if (sample_assets[i] != AssetId::ASSET_LAST_ID) {
        resource_mgr_.register_asset(i, sample_assets[i]);  // Metadata only
      } else {
        resource_mgr_.register_procedural(i, samples[i]);   // Metadata only
      }
    }

    tracker_.load_score(score);
  }

  void update(float music_time, float dt) {
    // Pre-warm samples needed in next 2 seconds
    tracker_.prewarm_lookahead(music_time, music_time + 2.0f);

    // Update tracker (triggers events)
    tracker_.update(music_time);
  }

  void trigger_sample(int sample_id, float volume, float pan) {
    // Load on-demand if not cached
    const Spectrogram* spec = resource_mgr_.get_or_load(sample_id);

    // Register with synth (lazy registration)
    int synth_id = get_or_register_synth_id(sample_id, spec);

    // Trigger voice
    synth_.trigger_voice(synth_id, volume, pan);
  }

 private:
  int get_or_register_synth_id(int sample_id, const Spectrogram* spec) {
    if (sample_to_synth_id_[sample_id] == -1) {
      // First use: register with synth
      sample_to_synth_id_[sample_id] = synth_.register_spectrogram(spec);
    }
    return sample_to_synth_id_[sample_id];
  }

  Synth synth_;
  Tracker tracker_;
  SpectrogramResourceManager resource_mgr_;
  int sample_to_synth_id_[256] = {-1};  // -1 = not registered yet
};
```

**Timeline:**
```
t=0.0s:  init() - No samples loaded (instant startup)
t=0.0s:  load_music_data() - Register metadata only (~0ms)
t=0.0s:  update(0.0) - Pre-warm samples for t=0-2s (load 3-5 samples)
t=0.0s:  Pattern triggers → trigger_sample() → Instant (pre-warmed)
t=1.0s:  update(1.0) - Pre-warm samples for t=1-3s (load 2-3 more)
t=2.0s:  update(2.0) - Pre-warm samples for t=2-4s (load 2-3 more)
...
Total samples loaded by t=10s: Maybe 10-12 (not all 19)
```

### Memory Ownership Rules

**Clear Ownership:**
1. **Assets:** AssetManager owns, ResourceManager borrows (pointer only)
2. **Procedurals:** ResourceManager owns (allocated with `new[]`, freed in `shutdown()`)
3. **Synth:** Only stores pointers, never owns data

**Lifetime Guarantees:**
- Assets live until program exit (static data)
- Procedurals live until `ResourceManager::shutdown()`
- Synth references valid as long as ResourceManager exists

---

## Lazy Loading & On-Demand Strategy

### Problem with Eager Loading

**Current plan says:** "Load all resources ONCE at init"

**Issues:**
- Long startup delay (load all 19 samples before demo starts)
- Wasted memory (samples used only once stay loaded)
- No benefit for streaming or late-game content

**Example:** Demo is 60s, sample only used at t=45s → why load it at t=0?

### Proposed: Lazy Loading with Cache

**Strategy:**
1. **Load on first trigger** - Don't load until sample is actually needed
2. **Cache aggressively** - Keep loaded samples in memory (demo is short, ~60s)
3. **Optional pre-warming** - Load predicted samples 1-2 seconds ahead
4. **Eviction policy** - Unload samples that won't be used again (optional)

### Implementation: Two-Tier Cache

```cpp
class SpectrogramResourceManager {
 private:
  struct CacheEntry {
    Spectrogram spec;
    float* owned_data;       // nullptr if not loaded yet
    AssetId asset_id;
    NoteParams proc_params;  // For procedurals

    enum State {
      UNLOADED,              // Not loaded yet
      LOADING,               // Load in progress (async)
      LOADED,                // Ready to use
      EVICTED                // Was loaded, now evicted
    };
    State state = UNLOADED;
    float last_access_time;  // For LRU eviction
  };

  CacheEntry cache_[MAX_SPECTROGRAMS];

 public:
  // Lazy loading (loads if not cached)
  const Spectrogram* get_or_load(int sample_id) {
    CacheEntry& entry = cache_[sample_id];

    if (entry.state == LOADED) {
      entry.last_access_time = current_time();
      return &entry.spec;  // Cache hit!
    }

    if (entry.state == UNLOADED || entry.state == EVICTED) {
      load_now(&entry);  // Load synchronously
      entry.state = LOADED;
    }

    return &entry.spec;
  }

 private:
  void load_now(CacheEntry* entry) {
    if (entry->asset_id != ASSET_LAST_ID) {
      // ASSET: Borrow pointer from AssetManager
      size_t size;
      const uint8_t* data = GetAsset(entry->asset_id, &size);

      #if defined(SUPPORT_COMPRESSED_ASSETS)
        // ON-DEMAND DECOMPRESSION
        if (is_compressed(data)) {
          entry->owned_data = decompress_asset(data, size);
          entry->spec.spectral_data_a = entry->owned_data;
        } else {
          entry->spec.spectral_data_a = (const float*)(data + sizeof(SpecHeader));
        }
      #else
        // Direct pointer (no decompression)
        entry->spec.spectral_data_a = (const float*)(data + sizeof(SpecHeader));
      #endif

    } else {
      // PROCEDURAL: Generate on-demand
      int frames;
      std::vector<float> data = generate_note_spectrogram(entry->proc_params, &frames);

      entry->owned_data = new float[data.size()];
      memcpy(entry->owned_data, data.data(), data.size() * sizeof(float));
      entry->spec.spectral_data_a = entry->owned_data;
      entry->spec.num_frames = frames;
    }
  }
};
```

### On-Demand Decompression (Future)

When assets are compressed (Task #27), decompress lazily:

```cpp
const Spectrogram* get_or_load(int sample_id) {
  CacheEntry& entry = cache_[sample_id];

  if (entry.state == LOADED) {
    return &entry.spec;  // Already decompressed
  }

  // Load compressed asset
  const uint8_t* compressed = GetAsset(entry->asset_id, &size);

  // Decompress into owned buffer
  entry->owned_data = decompress_zlib(compressed, size, &decompressed_size);
  entry->spec.spectral_data_a = entry->owned_data;
  entry->state = LOADED;

  return &entry.spec;
}

void evict(int sample_id) {
  // Free decompressed data, can re-decompress from asset later
  delete[] cache_[sample_id].owned_data;
  cache_[sample_id].owned_data = nullptr;
  cache_[sample_id].state = EVICTED;
}
```

### Pre-warming Strategy

**Idea:** Predict samples needed in next 1-2 seconds, load ahead of time

```cpp
class Tracker {
 public:
  void update(float music_time) {
    // 1. Trigger patterns at current time
    trigger_patterns_at(music_time);

    // 2. Pre-warm samples needed in next 2 seconds
    prewarm_lookahead(music_time, music_time + 2.0f);
  }

 private:
  void prewarm_lookahead(float start_time, float end_time) {
    // Scan upcoming pattern triggers
    for (const auto& trigger : upcoming_triggers_) {
      if (trigger.time > start_time && trigger.time < end_time) {
        const TrackerPattern& pattern = get_pattern(trigger.pattern_id);

        // Load all samples used in this pattern
        for (const auto& event : pattern.events) {
          resource_mgr_->preload(event.sample_id);  // Async or sync
        }
      }
    }
  }
};
```

**Benefits:**
- No loading stutter when pattern triggers
- Spreads load cost over time (not all at init)
- Can load asynchronously in background thread (if needed)

### Cache Eviction Policy (Optional)

**For very long demos (>5 minutes) or memory-constrained systems:**

```cpp
void try_evict_lru() {
  if (get_cache_memory_usage() > MAX_CACHE_SIZE) {
    // Find least recently used entry
    int lru_id = find_lru_entry();

    // Only evict if not used recently
    if (current_time() - cache_[lru_id].last_access_time > 10.0f) {
      evict(lru_id);
    }
  }
}
```

**Eviction strategies:**
1. **LRU** (Least Recently Used) - evict oldest access
2. **Time-based** - evict samples >10s since last use
3. **Timeline hints** - demo tells cache "won't need sample X again"

**For 64k demo:** Probably not needed (short duration, small sample count)

---

### Comparison: Eager vs Lazy Loading

| Aspect | Eager (Load All at Init) | Lazy (Load on Demand) | Lazy + Pre-warm |
|--------|-------------------------|----------------------|-----------------|
| **Startup Time** | ❌ Slow (load all 19) | ✅ Fast (load 0) | ✅ Fast (load 0) |
| **First Trigger Latency** | ✅ Instant (cached) | ❌ Stutter (load now) | ✅ Instant (pre-loaded) |
| **Memory Usage** | ❌ High (all loaded) | ✅ Low (only used) | ⚠️ Medium (active + lookahead) |
| **Complexity** | ✅ Simple | ⚠️ Medium | ❌ Complex |
| **Best For** | Short demos, few samples | Long demos, many samples | **Recommended for 64k** |

**Recommendation:** **Lazy + Pre-warm (1-2s lookahead)**
- Fast startup (no eager loading)
- No stutter (pre-warming prevents load-on-trigger)
- Memory efficient (only loads active + upcoming samples)

---

### Benefits Over Current Design

| Aspect | Current (Tracker-owned) | Proposed (ResourceManager) |
|--------|------------------------|---------------------------|
| **Ownership** | Split (assets borrowed, procedurals owned) | Centralized (clear rules) |
| **Coupling** | Tracker → AssetManager + gen | ResourceManager → AssetManager + gen |
| **Testability** | Hard (global GetAsset) | Easy (inject mock manager) |
| **Reusability** | Tracker-specific | Usable by any audio component |
| **Memory Safety** | Manual (delete[] in init) | RAII in shutdown() |

### Integration with AssetManager

**Option 1: Direct Dependency (Simple)**
```cpp
int SpectrogramResourceManager::load_asset_spectrogram(AssetId id) {
  size_t size;
  const uint8_t* data = GetAsset(id, &size);  // Direct call
  // ... parse and store
}
```

**Option 2: Injected Interface (Testable)**
```cpp
class IAssetProvider {
 public:
  virtual const uint8_t* get_asset(AssetId id, size_t* size) = 0;
};

class SpectrogramResourceManager {
 public:
  void set_asset_provider(IAssetProvider* provider) {
    asset_provider_ = provider;
  }

  int load_asset_spectrogram(AssetId id) {
    const uint8_t* data = asset_provider_->get_asset(id, &size);
    // ... parse and store
  }

 private:
  IAssetProvider* asset_provider_ = nullptr;
};

// Production: Adapter for AssetManager
class AssetManagerAdapter : public IAssetProvider {
 public:
  const uint8_t* get_asset(AssetId id, size_t* size) override {
    return GetAsset(id, size);  // Delegate to global
  }
};
```

**Recommendation:** Option 1 for now (simpler), Option 2 if we refactor AssetManager too

---

## Implementation Plan (Option A)

### Phase 1: Design & Prototype (5-7 days)

- [ ] Create `src/audio/spectrogram_resource_manager.h/cc`
  - [ ] Implement lazy loading cache (UNLOADED → LOADED states)
  - [ ] Add `get_or_load()` API for on-demand loading
  - [ ] Add `register_*()` API for metadata-only registration
  - [ ] Implement resource loading (assets + procedurals)
  - [ ] Add memory ownership tracking
  - [ ] Write unit tests for lazy loading behavior
- [ ] Create `src/audio/audio_engine.h/cc` with class interface
- [ ] Implement `AudioEngine::init()` / `shutdown()` / `reset()`
- [ ] Add delegation methods for synth/tracker APIs
- [ ] Integrate ResourceManager into AudioEngine
- [ ] Write unit tests for `AudioEngine` lifecycle with resources

### Phase 2: Test Migration (3-5 days)

- [ ] Update `test_tracker.cc` to use `AudioEngine`
- [ ] Update `test_tracker_timing.cc`
- [ ] Update `test_variable_tempo.cc`
- [ ] Update `test_wav_dump.cc`
- [ ] Ensure 100% test pass rate

### Phase 3: Production Integration (5-7 days)

- [ ] Update `audio.cc` to use `AudioEngine` internally
- [ ] Update `main.cc` demo loop
- [ ] Update all effect classes that use audio
- [ ] Add backwards compatibility shims (temporary)

### Phase 4: Cleanup (2-3 days)

- [ ] Remove old `synth_init()` / `tracker_init()` functions
- [ ] Remove global synth/tracker state
- [ ] Update documentation (HOWTO.md, CONTRIBUTING.md)
- [ ] Remove compatibility shims

### Phase 5: Optimization (Optional, 2-3 days)

- [ ] Profile binary size impact
- [ ] Optimize if >1KB overhead
- [ ] Consider `#if !defined(STRIP_ALL)` for test-only features
- [ ] **Optional:** Add async loading (background thread for pre-warming)
  - Load samples in background while demo runs
  - Requires mutex for cache access
  - Benefit: Zero stutter even for large samples
  - Cost: +200-300 bytes for threading code

---

## Future: Async Loading (Post-MVP)

**Idea:** Pre-warm samples in background thread to avoid any stutter

```cpp
class SpectrogramResourceManager {
 public:
  void prewarm_async(int sample_id) {
    if (cache_[sample_id].state == UNLOADED) {
      cache_[sample_id].state = LOADING;

      // Enqueue background load
      thread_pool_.enqueue([this, sample_id]() {
        load_now(&cache_[sample_id]);

        std::lock_guard lock(cache_mutex_);
        cache_[sample_id].state = LOADED;
      });
    }
  }

  const Spectrogram* get_or_load(int sample_id) {
    std::lock_guard lock(cache_mutex_);

    CacheEntry& entry = cache_[sample_id];

    if (entry.state == LOADED) {
      return &entry.spec;  // Ready!
    }

    if (entry.state == LOADING) {
      // Wait for background load to finish
      wait_for_load(sample_id);
    } else {
      // Not started, load synchronously (fallback)
      load_now(&entry);
      entry.state = LOADED;
    }

    return &entry.spec;
  }

 private:
  std::mutex cache_mutex_;
  ThreadPool thread_pool_;
};
```

**Benefits:**
- Zero latency: All loads happen in background
- Demo runs at full framerate during loading

**Costs:**
- +200-300 bytes for threading code
- Complexity: Need mutexes, thread management
- May not be needed for 64k (samples are small, load quickly)

**Recommendation:** Only implement if profiling shows stutter issues

---

## Success Criteria

1. **No Init Order Failures:** Tests pass regardless of call order
2. **Memory Clean:** No leaks detected by sanitizers
3. **Size Budget:** <1KB binary size increase
4. **API Simplicity:** Single `engine.init()` call for users
5. **Test Coverage:** 100% coverage of lifecycle edge cases

---

## Open Questions

1. Should `AudioEngine` be a singleton or instance-based?
   - **Proposal:** Instance-based for testability, but provide global getter for convenience

2. How to handle legacy code during migration?
   - **Proposal:** Keep old functions as deprecated wrappers for 1-2 releases

3. Should synth and tracker be members or pointers?
   - **Proposal:** Direct members (smaller, faster, simpler ownership)

4. What about backend abstraction (MiniaudioBackend, MockBackend)?
   - **Proposal:** AudioEngine owns backend pointer, injected via `set_backend()`

---

## FAQ

### Q: How does this handle procedural vs asset spectrograms?

**A:** Via a dedicated `SpectrogramResourceManager`:

- **Assets:** Loaded from AssetManager, ResourceManager stores pointer only (doesn't own)
- **Procedurals:** Generated via `generate_note_spectrogram()`, ResourceManager owns memory
- **Unified Interface:** Both types returned as `const Spectrogram*`, caller doesn't care about source

**Key Insight:** Separating resource loading from pattern sequencing allows:
- Tracker focuses on timing/triggering (single responsibility)
- Resources loaded once at init (no per-frame overhead)
- Easy to add new spectrogram sources (streaming, compressed, etc.)

### Q: Does AudioEngine depend on AssetManager?

**A:** Indirectly, via ResourceManager:

```
AudioEngine → ResourceManager → AssetManager (via GetAsset)
            ↘ Tracker (no asset dependency)
            ↘ Synth (no asset dependency)
```

**Benefits:**
- Only one component knows about assets (ResourceManager)
- Easy to mock for testing (inject fake ResourceManager)
- If AssetManager is refactored, only ResourceManager needs updating

### Q: What happens to the current caching mechanism?

**A:** Improved and centralized:

**Current (Tracker-owned):**
```cpp
static int g_sample_synth_cache[256];  // Maps sample_id → synth_id
```

**Proposed (AudioEngine-owned):**
```cpp
class AudioEngine {
 private:
  int sample_to_synth_id_[256];  // Clearer ownership
};
```

**Why better?**
- Cache lifetime matches engine lifetime (no stale data)
- Cleared automatically on `engine.reset()`
- Testable (can verify cache contents)

### Q: Why not load all samples at init?

**A:** Lazy loading with pre-warming is more efficient:

**Problems with eager loading:**
- Slow startup: Load all 19 samples before t=0 (~50-100ms delay)
- Wasted memory: Sample used only at t=45s stays loaded from t=0
- No benefit: 60s demo doesn't need all samples loaded upfront

**Lazy + Pre-warm strategy:**
```
t=0.0s: Load 0 samples (instant startup)
t=0.0s: Pre-warm 3-5 samples for t=0-2s range (background)
t=1.0s: Pre-warm 2-3 more for t=1-3s range
By t=10s: Only ~10 samples loaded (not all 19)
```

**Benefits:**
- ✅ Instant startup (no initial loading)
- ✅ No trigger stutter (pre-warming prevents load-on-access)
- ✅ Memory efficient (only active + upcoming samples)
- ✅ Spreads load cost over time

**Future: On-demand decompression (Task #27)**
When assets are compressed, decompress only when needed:
- Compressed asset in binary: 2KB
- Decompressed in memory: 8KB (4x larger)
- Only decompress samples actually used (save memory)

### Q: How does this affect binary size?

**Estimated overhead:**
- `SpectrogramResourceManager` (basic): ~300 bytes
- `SpectrogramResourceManager` (with lazy loading): ~500 bytes
- `AudioEngine` wrapper: ~200 bytes
- Total: **~700 bytes** (1.1% of 64KB budget)

**Savings from removing global state:** ~100 bytes
**Net impact:** **~600 bytes** (acceptable for robustness + lazy loading)

---

## References

- Current issue: Commit 7721f57 "fix(audio): Resolve tracker test failures..."
- Related: `doc/TRACKER.md`, `doc/ASSET_SYSTEM.md`
- Design patterns: Facade pattern, Dependency Injection, Resource Manager pattern