Pacsea Feature Priority List

April 11, 2026 · View on GitHub

Generated based on analysis of the current codebase architecture, user impact, and implementation complexity.

Progress todos (2026-04-04)

Shipped (recent releases — baseline for changelog / tagged releases):

v0.6.0 — Integrated TUI execution (PTY, password modal, live logs)
v0.7.0 — Extended News Mode (multi-source feed, caching, background retry, filters/sort)
v0.7.1 — News/search UX (separate search fields, mark-read in normal mode, toasts)
v0.7.2 — Security/dep updates, CodeQL-related fixes, i18n tweaks
v0.7.3 — Passwordless sudo in TUI (where safe), $VISUAL/$EDITOR for config files, numpad Enter (#119), terminal theme via OSC 10/11 + use_terminal_theme
v0.7.4 — privilege_tool (sudo/doas), auth_mode (prompt / passwordless-only / interactive PAM), BlackArch repo detection + results filter, theme skeleton preflight
v0.8.0 — Custom Pacman repos (repos.conf, Repositories modal, pacman.conf apply, pacman -Sl indexing + deduped search); PKGBUILD ShellCheck/Namcap in details pane (worker, timeouts, Ctrl+D / Ctrl+K); AUR SSH voting + guided SSH setup (opt-in, dry-run safe)

Still open (aligned with tier list below; not exhaustive):

Quick Version Reference

Released (as shipped):

Version	Key feature(s)
`v0.6.0`	Integrated TUI execution (PTY, live logs, sudo modal)
`v0.7.0`–`v0.7.1`	Extended News Mode + search/mark-read UX
`v0.7.2`	Security/dependency updates, CodeQL fixes, i18n
`v0.7.3`	Passwordless sudo path, `$VISUAL`/`$EDITOR`, numpad Enter, OSC terminal theme
`v0.7.4`	`privilege_tool`, `auth_mode`, BlackArch repo filter
`v0.8.0`	`repos.conf` + Repositories modal + indexed third-party repos; PKGBUILD ShellCheck/Namcap; AUR SSH voting + setup flow
(earlier)	Installed/AUR-scoped items in News Mode — shipped in v0.7.x (see tier #10)

Roadmap targets (original labels — not strict release commitments):

Target	Item
Next	🔴 Adjustable pane heights
Next	🔴 CLI `--update` respects mirror + AUR-helper settings from `settings.conf`
Next	🟠 Button/focus tooltips
Next	🟠 Distro-specific news (EOS, Manjaro, Garuda, CachyOS, …)
Next	🟠 Rearrange pane order / locations
`v0.8.x`+	🟡 Accessibility themes, mirror browser UI, update-by-criticality grouping (see diagram — v0.8.0 shipped repos + checks + voting)
`v1.0.0`	🎉 Stable release (polish)
`v1.1.0`+	🟢 Conflict wizard, AUR maintainer/wiki/multi-PM umbrella (#130), optional repo presets beyond `repos.conf` (custom repos shipped v0.8.0 — #132)
`v2.0.0`	🔵 Multi-PM (apt, dnf, Flatpak)

Priority Tiers Overview

Tier	Description	Timeline Suggestion
🔴 Tier 1	High impact, reasonable complexity, core UX improvements	Next 1-2 releases
🟠 Tier 2	Good value, moderate complexity, extends existing systems	Next 3-4 releases
🟡 Tier 3	Valuable for specific use cases, medium effort	Roadmap items
🟢 Tier 4	Niche or higher complexity, community-driven	Future consideration
🔵 Tier 5	Major architectural changes, long-term vision	Future major version

GitHub issue cross-reference

Open and closed issues on Firstp1ck/Pacsea that map to this document (umbrella issues cover several bullets).

Topic	Issue	State
Adjustable pane heights (Tier 1 #2)	#135	Open
Rearrange Top/Center/Bottom panes (Tier 2 #8)	#136	Open
Focus/hover discoverability (Tier 2 #5)	#140	Open
Distro-specific news (Tier 2 #7)	#131	Open
Mirror search / selection UI (Tier 3 #11)	#145	Open
Upgrades, rebuild detector, custom upgrade commands, conflicts (Tier 3 #12, Tier 4 #15/#17)	#134	Open
Accessibility themes + system tray / panel bars	#129	Open
AUR maintainer tools + embedded wiki + multi-PM (Tier 4 #16, Tier 5 #18)	#130	Open
Optional dependency descriptions	#102	Open
Updates for GitHub-hosted upstreams	#104	Open
Service restart logic after updates	#99	Open
Transaction abort logic	#98	Open
Sequential multi-package scan support	#95	Open
CLI remove-from-file (install list)	#93	Open
Custom repos + mirror/third-party umbrella	#132	Closed
PKGBUILD validation / ShellCheck+Namcap in UI	#133	Closed
AUR vote via SSH	#137	Closed
`pacsea -u` / `--update` not working (historic)	#57	Closed

🔴 Tier 1 - High Priority

1. Render Actions Directly in TUI (Instead of Spawning Terminals) ✅ COMPLETED

Target Version: v0.6.0 | Status: ✅ Completed | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: High

What: Instead of spawning external terminals for install, removal, update, scans, downgrade, and config operations, render the output directly within the TUI.

Implementation Summary:

✅ PTY-based command execution with live output streaming implemented
✅ All operations (install, remove, update, scan, downgrade, file sync, optional deps) now use integrated executor pattern
✅ Real-time progress display with auto-scrolling log panel
✅ Password prompt modal for sudo authentication
✅ Security enhancements: password validation, faillock lockout detection
✅ Comprehensive test suite covering all workflows

Why Priority #1:

Biggest UX friction point - Spawning external terminals breaks user flow, loses context, and feels disconnected from the TUI experience
Architecture already supports this - Ratatui handles real-time rendering; crossterm supports raw mode I/O
Reduces external dependencies - No longer needs to detect/configure terminal emulators (alacritty, kitty, gnome-terminal, etc.)
Enables future features - Once output is internal, you can add progress bars, cancellation, log viewing, etc.

Implementation Details:

PTY executor worker (src/app/runtime/workers/executor.rs) streams command output in real-time
PreflightExec modal displays live output with progress bar support
Password prompt modal handles sudo authentication with validation
All operations integrated: install/remove, updates, scans, downgrades, file sync, optional deps
Windows compatibility: conditional compilation for PTY-dependent functionality

Key Files: src/app/runtime/workers/executor.rs, src/install/executor.rs, src/ui/modals/preflight_exec.rs, src/ui/modals/password.rs

2. Adjustable Height of Results/Package Info/Search Panes

Target Version: v0.6.1 | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: Allow users to resize the vertical split between the top (search input), middle (results list), and bottom (package info/PKGBUILD) sections.

Why Priority #2:

Directly requested by community - Users have different screen sizes and preferences
Layout system already exists - settings.conf has layout_left_pct, layout_center_pct, layout_right_pct for horizontal splits
Minimal architectural changes - Extend existing percentage-based layout to vertical axis
Keyboard-first design - Add keybinds like Ctrl+Up/Down to resize

Implementation Notes:

Add layout_top_pct, layout_middle_pct, layout_bottom_pct to settings
Implement resize keybinds (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+J/K or similar)
Consider mouse drag support for vertical dividers
Save preferences persistently

Files to Modify: config/settings.conf, src/theme/mod.rs (settings), src/ui.rs (layout calculation)

3. CLI Flags `-u`/`--update` Respect TUI Settings

Target Version: v0.6.2 | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Low

What: When running pacsea -u or pacsea --update, use the mirror settings, preferred AUR helper, and other update-related configurations from settings.conf.

Why Priority #3:

Already partially implemented - --update flag exists in src/args/args.rs and src/args/update.rs
Settings infrastructure exists - crate::theme::settings() loads all config values
Quick win - Low effort, high consistency value
Enables scripting - Users can automate updates that behave like TUI

Implementation Notes:

In src/args/update.rs, load selected_countries, mirror_count, and AUR helper preference
Pass these to the update command builder
Consider adding --use-settings flag as explicit opt-in (or make it default)

Files to Modify: src/args/update.rs, potentially src/logic/distro.rs

4. PKGBUILD Preview with ShellCheck and Namcap Integration ✅ COMPLETED

Shipped in v0.8.0 (details pane, background worker, Tokio timeouts, missing-tool degradation) | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: In the PKGBUILD preview pane, show inline linting warnings from ShellCheck and namcap for AUR packages.

Why Priority #4:

Security-first alignment - Core project philosophy; helps users spot issues before installing
Existing infrastructure - ShellCheck already integrated in security scans (scan_do_shellcheck)
PKGBUILD viewer exists - src/sources/pkgbuild.rs and src/ui/details/ already render PKGBUILDs
Natural extension - Syntect already does highlighting; add diagnostic overlays

Implementation Notes:

Run ShellCheck on PKGBUILD content asynchronously
Parse namcap output for packaging issues
Display warnings as annotations (gutter icons or inline highlights)
Cache results per PKGBUILD version

Files to Modify: src/sources/pkgbuild.rs, src/ui/details/, new linting module

🟠 Tier 2 - Medium Priority

5. Tooltip/Hover Hints for Buttons and Actions

Target Version: v0.7.1 | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: Show contextual help when hovering over buttons or focusing on interactive elements.

Why This Tier:

Improves discoverability for new users
TUI tooltip systems are non-trivial (need timer-based popup, positioning)
Help overlay (? key) already provides keybind reference
Lower urgency since experienced users rely on muscle memory

Implementation Notes:

Create a tooltip component that appears after 500ms hover/focus
Position near cursor/focused element
Pull descriptions from i18n system for translations

6. Vote for AUR Packages via SSH Connection ✅ COMPLETED

Shipped in v0.8.0 (vote/unvote, cached state, configured SSH command, dry-run semantics, guided SSH setup modal) | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium-High

What: Allow users to vote for AUR packages directly from Pacsea using their AUR SSH key.

Why This Tier:

Valuable for AUR contributors and power users
Requires secure SSH key handling and AUR API knowledge
Niche use case (not all users have AUR accounts)
Could attract AUR maintainers to the project

Implementation Notes:

Detect existing ~/.ssh/aur or configurable key path
Use ssh aur@aur.archlinux.org vote <pkgname> command
Add vote status to package info display
Handle authentication errors gracefully

7. Distro-Specific News Support

Target Version: v0.7.2 | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Low-Medium

What: View news for EndeavourOS, Manjaro, Garuda, and CachyOS in addition to Arch Linux.

Why This Tier:

News infrastructure exists - src/sources/news.rs parses Arch RSS
Multiple distros already supported for updates
Each distro has different RSS feed formats
Good community engagement feature

Implementation Notes:

Add RSS URLs for each distro (EOS, Manjaro, Garuda, CachyOS)
Detect current distro from /etc/os-release (already done in src/logic/distro.rs)
Allow switching news source or showing combined feed
Handle different date formats per source

8. Switch Pane Locations (Top/Center/Bottom)

Target Version: v0.7.3 | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: Allow users to rearrange the three main panes (Recent, Search/Results, Install List) to different positions.

Why This Tier:

Layout configuration exists
Requires decoupling pane rendering from position
Users have different workflow preferences
Medium effort for personalization benefit

Implementation Notes:

Add pane_order setting (e.g., "recent,results,install" or "install,results,recent")
Refactor UI rendering to use positional mapping
Add keybind or settings toggle for swapping

🟡 Tier 3 - Roadmap Items

9. Accessibility Themes for Visual Impairments

Target Version: v0.8.1+ (not in v0.8.0; that release focused on repos + PKGBUILD checks + AUR voting) | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: High-contrast themes, screen reader hints, configurable font scaling indicators.

Why This Tier:

Important for inclusivity
Theme system exists (theme.conf)
Requires research into terminal accessibility best practices
May need testing with actual users

Implementation Notes:

Create theme-high-contrast.conf with WCAG-compliant colors
Consider ASCII alternatives to Unicode symbols
Test with screen readers (if terminal supports it)

10. News Based on Installed Packages (Including AUR Comments) ✅ COMPLETED (News Mode)

Shipped in 0.7.x (feed items for installed/AUR updates + AUR comments; not a separate background monitor) | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium-High

What: Watch for news, updates, and new AUR comments for your installed packages.

Why This Tier:

AUR comments viewer already exists (src/sources/comments.rs)
Would require background monitoring/notifications
Complex: tracking state for many packages
High value for security-conscious users

Implementation Notes:

Store "last seen" comment timestamps per package
Background task to check for new comments
Highlight packages with new activity
Consider RSS/Atom feeds where available

11. Mirror Search and Extensive Mirror Selection UI

Target Version: v0.8.1 | Community Request | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: Interactive mirror browser with search, filtering by country/speed, and detailed mirror stats.

Why This Tier:

Mirror infrastructure exists (src/index/mirrors.rs, repository/mirrors.json)
Country selection already in settings
UI enhancement on top of existing data
Useful but not critical for most users

Implementation Notes:

Create mirror browser modal
Show speed test results, last sync time, protocols
Allow multi-select with drag/rank

12. Update Grouping by Criticality

Target Version: v0.8.2 | Community Request (Partially Done) | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium

What: In the update preview, group packages by system criticality: kernel, systemd, core packages that need restart vs. regular packages.

Why This Tier:

Update preview already exists
Requires package classification logic
Helps users make informed decisions about timing updates
Aligns with security-first philosophy

Implementation Notes:

Define critical package list (linux, systemd, glibc, etc.)
Group and sort in update modal
Add visual indicators (colors, icons)
Consider reboot recommendation

🟢 Tier 4 - Future Consideration

Progress note: BlackArch repository detection and a results filter/toggle shipped in v0.7.4. Generic third-party repos (including Chaotic, Garuda stacks, EOS, CachyOS examples) ship via repos.conf in v0.8.0 — see #13–14.

13. Chaotic AUR and Garuda Repository Support ✅ ADDRESSED (via `repos.conf`)

Shipped in v0.8.0 (example recipes in repos_example.conf / user repos.conf; pacman -Sl indexing and search dedup) | Impact: ⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium (was standalone; now uses shared repos pipeline)

What: Use Chaotic-AUR, Garuda, and other third-party databases as package sources.

Why This Tier:

Benefits specific user segment; v0.8.0 covers configuration + UI + indexing
Optional future polish: dedicated wizards or presets beyond the example file (still low urgency)

14. Custom Repository Support ✅ COMPLETED

Shipped in v0.8.0 | Impact: ⭐⭐ | Complexity: Medium-High

What: Allow users to add custom repos (CachyOS, Manjaro, EOS, Chaotic-AUR, etc.) with validation, modal editor, and safe pacman.conf apply.

Implementation summary (high level):

repos.conf schema, Repositories modal, privilege-guarded apply, repos_example.conf reference
Third-party DBs indexed for search; deduplication by repo + package name; results filter integration

Why This Tier:

Power user feature — now shipped with safety checks and dry-run behavior

15. Dependency Conflict Resolution

Target Version: v1.3.0 | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Very High

What: Help users resolve dependency conflicts interactively.

Why This Tier:

Very complex problem (pacman doesn't expose conflict resolution API easily)
Would need to parse pacman error output
Risky if implemented incorrectly
Most users can handle conflicts manually

16. AUR Package Maintenance Features

Target Version: v1.4.0 | Impact: ⭐⭐ | Complexity: High

What: Tools for AUR maintainers: update PKGBUILDs, push changes, manage co-maintainers.

Why This Tier:

Very niche audience
Requires full AUR API integration
Separate tool concern (aurpublish, etc.)
Low overlap with primary use case (package consumption)

17. Custom Upgrade Commands

Target Version: v1.1.1 | Impact: ⭐⭐ | Complexity: Low

What: Allow users to define custom pre/post upgrade hooks or alternative upgrade commands.

Why This Tier:

Nice to have for advanced users
Settings system could support this
Limited demand
Potential security concerns with arbitrary commands

🔵 Tier 5 - Future Major Version

18. Multi Package Manager Support (apt, dnf, Flatpak)

Target Version: v2.0.0 | Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Complexity: Extremely High

What: Support Debian-based (apt), Fedora-based (dnf), and Flatpak package managers.

Why Tier 5:

Major architectural overhaul - Current codebase is deeply Arch-specific (pacman, AUR, PKGBUILD parsing)
Essentially a new project - Would need to abstract all package operations behind traits
Different ecosystems - Each has unique metadata formats, repositories, and workflows
Flatpak is most feasible - As an addition rather than replacement (can coexist with pacman)

If Pursued:

Start with Flatpak support (runs alongside pacman)
Create PackageManager trait with implementations per system
Consider separate binaries or feature flags
Could be a "Pacsea 2.0" rewrite goal

Summary Matrix

Feature	Version	Impact	Complexity	Dependencies	Tier
Render in TUI (no terminal spawn)	`v0.6.0` ✅	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	High	None	🔴 1
Adjustable pane heights	`v0.6.1`	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Medium	None	🔴 1
CLI update respects settings	`v0.6.2`	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Low	None	🔴 1
PKGBUILD ShellCheck/namcap	`v0.8.0` ✅	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Medium	ShellCheck, namcap	🔴 1
Button tooltips	`v0.7.1`	⭐⭐⭐	Medium	None	🟠 2
Distro news	`v0.7.2`	⭐⭐⭐	Low-Medium	RSS feeds	🟠 2
Switch pane locations	`v0.7.3`	⭐⭐⭐	Medium	None	🟠 2
Accessibility themes	`v0.8.1`+	⭐⭐⭐	Medium	None	🟡 3
Mirror search UI	`v0.8.1`	⭐⭐⭐	Medium	None	🟡 3
Update criticality grouping	`v0.8.2`	⭐⭐⭐	Medium	None	🟡 3
AUR SSH voting	`v0.8.0` ✅	⭐⭐⭐	Medium-High	SSH key, AUR account	🟠 2
Package-based news	`v0.7.x` ✅	⭐⭐⭐	Medium-High	None	🟡 3
v1.0.0 Release	`v1.0.0`	—	—	Stability & polish	—
Chaotic AUR/Garuda (via `repos.conf`)	`v0.8.0` ✅	⭐⭐	Medium	User-configured repos	🟢 4
Custom upgrade commands	`v1.1.1`	⭐⭐	Low	None	🟢 4
Custom repository support (`repos.conf`)	`v0.8.0` ✅	⭐⭐	Medium-High	`pacman`, privilege apply	🟢 4
Dependency conflict resolution	`v1.3.0`	⭐⭐⭐	Very High	pacman internals	🟢 4
AUR maintenance tools	`v1.4.0`	⭐⭐	High	AUR API	🟢 4
Multi-PM (apt, dnf, Flatpak)	`v2.0.0`	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Extremely High	Complete redesign	🔵 5

Recommended Development Path

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v0.8.0 (latest release) ✅                                                  │
│  ✅ repos.conf + Repositories modal + third-party index/search dedup         │
│  ✅ PKGBUILD ShellCheck/Namcap + AUR SSH voting + SSH setup modal            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v0.6.x Series - Core UX Improvements                                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  v0.6.0  │ ✅ Render actions in TUI (biggest UX win) - COMPLETED           │
│  v0.6.1  │ 🔴 Adjustable pane heights                                      │
│  v0.6.2  │ 🔴 CLI --update respects TUI settings                            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v0.7.x Series — shipped vs still open                                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  ✅ Done │ v0.7.0–v0.7.4: News stack, package-scoped news/comments,           │
│          │ privilege/auth modes, BlackArch filter, OSC theme, editor open    │
│  🔴 Open │ Button tooltips, distro RSS (EOS/Manjaro/…), pane rearrange       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v0.8.x Series — remainder after v0.8.0                                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  v0.8.0  │ ✅ Custom repos workflow + PKGBUILD checks + AUR voting (above)   │
│  v0.8.1+ │ 🟡 Accessibility themes; mirror search/selection UI              │
│  (plan)  │ 🟡 Update grouping by criticality (kernel, systemd, etc.)          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v0.9.x+ — optional labeling only                                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  (no new mandatory milestones here; use tier list + tags)                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v1.0.0 - Stable Release                                                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Focus: Polish, stability, documentation, community feedback                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v1.x Series - Extended / niche tooling                                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  v1.1.0+ │ Optional: repo preset wizards beyond `repos_example.conf` (if any)│
│  v1.1.1  │ Custom upgrade commands                                          │
│  v1.2.0  │ Unassigned (custom repos → v0.8.0); reprioritize when planning v1.x │
│  v1.3.0  │ Dependency conflict resolution                                   │
│  v1.4.0  │ AUR package maintenance tools                                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  v2.0.0 - Multi Package Manager Support                                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Major rewrite: apt, dnf, Flatpak support                                   │
│  Consider: PackageManager trait abstraction                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Last updated: 2026-04-04 — synced to v0.8.0 release notes (Release-docs/RELEASE_v0.8.0.md), changelog v0.7.4...v0.8.0, and GitHub issues (open/closed) on Firstp1ck/Pacsea
PKGBUILD checks, AUR voting, and custom repos are documented as v0.8.0 features; in-tree Cargo.toml may lag the tag until the next version bump