---
phase: 20-plugin-settings-shell-persistence
verified: 2026-04-29T22:25:00Z
status: passed
score: 5/5 must-haves verified
gaps: []
---

# Phase 20: Plugin Settings Shell & Persistence — Verification Report

**Phase Goal:** Users can access PaperForge configuration in Obsidian's Settings tab, edit all setup wizard fields, and settings survive restarts and tab switches — all without breaking the existing sidebar.

**Verified:** 2026-04-29T22:25:00Z
**Status:** PASSED — All 5 observable truths verified, all 3 requirement IDs satisfied.
**Re-verification:** No (initial verification)

---

## Goal Achievement

### Observable Truths

| # | Truth | Status | Evidence |
|---|-------|--------|----------|
| 1 | Settings tab renders all 8 fields in 3 sections with Chinese labels and tooltips | VERIFIED | `PaperForgeSettingTab.display()` (lines 243-263): 3 `<h3>` sections — "基础路径" (6 fields), "API 密钥" (1 password), "Zotero 链接" (1 field). All `.setName()` and `.setDesc()` in Chinese. `_addTextSetting` and `_addPasswordSetting` methods handle each field type. |
| 2 | Field edits survive tab switch (in-memory state survives `display()` re-invocation) | VERIFIED | `onChange` (lines 273, 287) updates `this.plugin.settings[key]` immediately. `display()` (line 245) calls `containerEl.empty()` then rebuilds from `this.plugin.settings` via `setValue()` (lines 270, 284). Tab switch → `display()` re-entry reads current in-memory state → zero data loss. |
| 3 | Settings persist across Obsidian restart via `data.json` | VERIFIED | `loadSettings()` (lines 337-339): merges `DEFAULT_SETTINGS` with `await this.loadData()`. `saveSettings()` (lines 341-343): `await this.saveData(this.settings)`. Uses standard Obsidian Plugin persistence API which writes to `<vault>/.obsidian/plugins/paperforge/data.json`. |
| 4 | Fresh install (no prior `data.json`) loads gracefully with `DEFAULT_SETTINGS` | VERIFIED | `Object.assign({}, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, await this.loadData())` (line 338) — `Object.assign` silently ignores null/undefined sources. `vault_path` defaults to `''`, `system_dir` to `'99_System'`, etc. `.setValue(this.plugin.settings[key] || '')` (lines 270, 284) guards against undefined with fallback to `''`. No `TypeError` possible. |
| 5 | Existing sidebar (`PaperForgeStatusView`) and command palette actions continue working | VERIFIED | `PaperForgeStatusView` class (lines 36-232) completely unchanged. `ACTIONS[]` constant (lines 17-34) unchanged. `onload()` still registers view (line 302), ribbon icon (line 304), and all commands (lines 308-330). `PaperForgeSettingTab` addition at line 306 is purely additive — zero modifications to sidebar code. |

**Score:** 5/5 truths verified

### Required Artifacts

| Artifact | Expected | Status | Details |
|----------|----------|--------|---------|
| `paperforge/plugin/main.js` | Contains `DEFAULT_SETTINGS`, `loadSettings/saveSettings`, `PaperForgeSettingTab` class with 8 fields, debounced save | VERIFIED | +87 lines added in commit `dfffc05`. All plan specs implemented. |

### Key Link Verification

| From | To | Via | Status | Details |
|------|----|-----|--------|---------|
| `PaperForgeSettingTab` | `this.plugin.settings` | `setValue()` read / `onChange` write | WIRED | `_addTextSetting` reads at line 270, writes at line 273 |
| `onChange` handler | In-memory settings | `this.plugin.settings[key] = value` | WIRED | Immediate update lines 273, 287 |
| `onChange` handler | Disk persistence | `_debouncedSave()` → `this.plugin.saveSettings()` | WIRED | 500ms debounce at lines 293-296 |
| `onload()` | Settings tab | `this.addSettingTab(...)` | WIRED | Line 306 |
| `display()` | In-memory settings | `this.plugin.settings[key]` | WIRED | Line 270, 284 |
| `loadSettings()` | Disk | `this.loadData()` | WIRED | Line 338 with null-safe merge |
| Plugin class | Existing sidebar | Unchanged code paths | WIRED | `PaperForgeStatusView` untouched |

### Data-Flow Trace (Level 4)

| Artifact | Data Variable | Source | Produces Real Data | Status |
|----------|--------------|--------|-------------------|--------|
| Settings tab fields | `this.plugin.settings[key]` | User input via `onChange` | Yes — user-provided values stored immediately in-memory | FLOWING |
| Disk persistence | `this.plugin.settings` | In-memory → `saveData()` | Yes — debounced 500ms write to `data.json` | FLOWING |
| Restore on load | `this.plugin.settings` | `loadData()` → `Object.assign({}, DEFAULTS, ...)` | Yes — null-safe merge from disk | FLOWING |
| Tab switch survival | `this.plugin.settings` | In-memory → `display()` rebuild | Yes — `setValue()` reads current in-memory values | FLOWING |

### Behavioral Spot-Checks

| Behavior | Command | Result | Status |
|----------|---------|--------|--------|
| Commit exists | `git show dfffc05` | Commit found, modifies only `main.js` (+87 lines) | PASS |
| No CSS changes needed | `git diff dfffc05^..dfffc05 -- styles.css` | No output (no changes) | PASS |

**Step 7b: SKIPPED** (Obsidian plugin settings tab — UI-only artifact requiring Obsidian runtime for behavioral testing)

### Requirements Coverage

| Requirement | Source Plan | Description | Status | Evidence |
|-------------|-----------|-------------|--------|----------|
| SETUP-01 | Phase 20 PLAN | Settings tab renders all 8 fields with Chinese labels and tooltips | SATISFIED | Lines 247-263: 3 sections with `<h3>` Chinese headers, 7 text + 1 password field, all `.setName()`/`.setDesc()` in Chinese |
| SETUP-02 | Phase 20 PLAN | Settings persist via `loadData/saveData` with `DEFAULT_SETTINGS` merge; fresh install gets defaults | SATISFIED | Lines 337-339 (`loadSettings` with null-safe merge), lines 341-343 (`saveSettings`), lines 6-15 (`DEFAULT_SETTINGS`) |
| SETUP-03 | Phase 20 PLAN | Immediate in-memory update; debounced disk writes; tab switch survival | SATISFIED | Lines 273, 287 (immediate in-memory), lines 293-296 (500ms debounce), lines 243-245 (`display()` rebuilds from in-memory state) |

**Discrepancy note:** The SUMMARY (`requirements-completed: [SETUP-01, SETUP-02]`) and REQUIREMENTS.md both show SETUP-03 as unchecked. However, the **actual code** in `main.js` fully implements SETUP-03. The code was written and committed, but the tracking metadata was not updated. The implementation satisfies SETUP-03 in full.

### Anti-Patterns Found

| File | Line | Pattern | Severity | Impact |
|------|------|---------|----------|--------|
| — | — | None found | — | — |

No TODO/FIXME/placeholder comments, no stub implementations, no `console.log`-only handlers, no empty return patterns. The debounce pattern is correctly implemented with proper `clearTimeout`/`setTimeout`. All `onChange` handlers both update in-memory state and trigger debounced persistence.

### Human Verification Required

These items require visual/manual verification in Obsidian (cannot be verified programmatically):

1. **Settings tab renders correctly in Obsidian UI**
   - **Test:** Open Obsidian → Settings → Community Plugins → PaperForge (gear icon)
   - **Expected:** Settings tab shows "基础路径" section with 6 fields, "API 密钥" with password field, "Zotero 链接" with 1 field. All labels and descriptions in Chinese. Password field shows masked characters.

2. **Tab switch preserves values**
   - **Test:** Type values into fields → click another plugin's settings tab → click back to PaperForge
   - **Expected:** All typed values remain intact.

3. **Restart persistence**
   - **Test:** Fill all 8 fields → restart Obsidian → open PaperForge settings
   - **Expected:** All values restored from `data.json`.

4. **Fresh install behavior**
   - **Test:** Delete `.obsidian/plugins/paperforge/data.json` → reload Obsidian → open PaperForge settings
   - **Expected:** Fields show `DEFAULT_SETTINGS` values (empty vault_path, "99_System" for system_dir, etc.). No JavaScript errors in console.

5. **Sidebar regression check**
   - **Test:** Click ribbon icon → sidebar opens. Ctrl+P → "PaperForge: Sync Library" → runs. Ctrl+P → "PaperForge: Run OCR" → runs.
   - **Expected:** Sidebar panel renders with metrics and action cards. Commands execute without error.

### Commit Audit

| Check | Result |
|-------|--------|
| Commit `dfffc05` exists | VERIFIED |
| Modifies only `main.js` | VERIFIED (+87 lines) |
| Commit message scoped `20-20` | VERIFIED |
| No other files modified | VERIFIED (styles.css unchanged) |
| Task 1+2 combined in single commit | As noted in SUMMARY (interdependent code) |
| Task 3 (CSS) skipped per plan | VERIFIED (Obsidian defaults sufficient) |

---

### Gaps Summary

**No gaps found.** The implementation is complete, correct, and matches the plan specification exactly:

- `DEFAULT_SETTINGS` constant with all 8 fields ✓
- `loadSettings()` with null-safe `Object.assign({}, DEFAULTS, await this.loadData())` ✓
- `saveSettings()` via Obsidian `saveData()` API ✓
- `PaperForgeSettingTab` class extending `PluginSettingTab` with 3 sections ✓
- All 8 fields: 7 text + 1 password for API key ✓
- All Chinese labels and tooltips ✓
- Immediate in-memory update on `onChange` ✓
- 500ms debounced disk persistence ✓
- `display()` rebuilds from in-memory state — safe on tab switch ✓
- Zero regression on existing sidebar and commands ✓

---

_Verified: 2026-04-29T22:25:00Z_
_Verifier: the agent (gsd-verifier)_
