GUI: dashboard layout with sidebar navigation

README.md

@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ That builds two programs in `.\build\Release\`: `GpuAutoOptimizer.exe`, the wind
 
 ### The app
 
-Start `GpuAutoOptimizer.exe`. The window shows the GPU, live telemetry, the saved tune and what is applied right now; pick a preset and press **Optimize** (it offers to restart as administrator first, because tuning writes clocks and power limits). The run screen shows temperature, power and every probe as it happens; **Abort** restores stock. The results screen compares before and after and can turn on **apply at every logon**.
+Start `GpuAutoOptimizer.exe`. The **Dashboard** shows the GPU with live telemetry, what is applied right now next to the saved tune (with **Apply saved tune**, the **Apply at logon** switch and **Revert to stock**), the four profiles and a log of what happened. On the **Optimize** page, pick a profile and press **Optimize GPU** (it offers to restart as administrator first, because tuning writes clocks and power limits). The run shows temperature, power and every probe as it happens; **Abort** restores stock. The results compare before and after and can turn on apply at every logon.
 
-With apply-at-logon on, Windows starts the app in the tray at every logon. It applies the saved tune and then keeps it applied: every 30 seconds it reads back what the driver reports. If the tune was reset (a driver reset or TDR), it applies it again; if that happens four times within an hour it stops and tells you the tune is probably not stable; if another program such as MSI Afterburner changed the settings, it leaves them alone and tells you; after a driver update it does not apply the old tune and tells you to optimize again. While it keeps a tune applied (or a run is in progress), closing the window keeps it in the tray and **Exit** in the tray menu quits; otherwise closing the window quits. **Revert to stock** in the tray menu, or `gao --reset` from a shell, puts the card at stock and the watchdog leaves it there until you apply the tune again (window, tray menu or `gao --apply`). Only one optimize runs at a time, from the window or the command line.
+With apply-at-logon on, Windows starts the app in the tray at every logon. It applies the saved tune and then keeps it applied: every 30 seconds it reads back what the driver reports. If the tune was reset (a driver reset or TDR), it applies it again; if that happens four times within an hour it stops and tells you the tune is probably not stable; if another program such as MSI Afterburner changed the settings, it leaves them alone and tells you; after a driver update it does not apply the old tune and tells you to optimize again. Closing the window keeps the app in the tray; **Exit** in the tray menu quits. **Revert to stock** in the tray menu, or `gao --reset` from a shell, puts the card at stock and the watchdog leaves it there until you apply the tune again (window, tray menu or `gao --apply`). Only one optimize runs at a time, from the window or the command line.
 
 ### The command line
 

docs/hardware-checks.md

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ root; adjust the path for a Debug build.
 | 34 | Watchdog backs off from another tool | tray running, set an offset in MSI Afterburner and Apply | no | a balloon says another program changed the settings; the watchdog does not fight it | |
 | 35 | One instance | start the app twice | no | the second start brings the first window forward and exits | Pass (2026-09-27, after the P5 fix pass): the second start exits with code 0, the first keeps running. |
 | 36 | CLI and tray side by side | tray running with the tune kept applied; `gao --reset`, wait 45 s, `gao --status`; then `gao --optimize` from a shell while the window runs an optimize | yes | after `--reset` the card stays at stock (the tray notes it and does not re-apply); after `gao --apply` the tray keeps the tune applied again; the second optimize refuses with `another optimize is already running` | Pass for reset and apply (2026-09-27): after `gao --reset` the card stayed at stock for 45 s with the tray running (no watchdog line); `gao --apply` applied the tune again. Two optimizes at once not yet tried. |
-| 37 | Closing the window | close the window with no tune applied, then again with a tune kept applied | no / yes | without a tune the app exits; with one it hides to the tray | Pass without a tune (2026-09-27): the app exits on close. |
+| 37 | Closing the window | close the window, then choose Exit in the tray menu | no | closing hides the window to the tray (a balloon says so the first time); Exit quits | |
 
 ## Notes
 

src/app/gui/main_gui.cpp

@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ struct App {
     bool watch = false;   // keep the saved tune applied (off after a revert or a reset by choice)
     bool worker_was_running = false;
     bool strike_pending = false;   // a logon apply whose 2-minute grace has not passed yet
+    bool told_about_tray = false;  // the "still running in the tray" balloon, once per session
 
     // Crash dumps are written by a thread created up front (a crashing thread
     // may have no stack or heap left to do it itself).
@@ -163,17 +164,6 @@ void recover_device() {
     if (!g.device_lost) ImGui_ImplDX11_Init(g.device.Get(), g.ctx.Get());
 }
 
-void apply_dpi(float scale) {
-    ImGuiStyle& style = ImGui::GetStyle();
-    style = ImGuiStyle();
-    ImGui::StyleColorsDark();
-    style.WindowRounding = 0;
-    style.FrameRounding = 4;
-    style.ChildRounding = 6;
-    style.ScaleAllSizes(scale);
-    style.FontScaleDpi = scale;
-}
-
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------- tray
 
 std::wstring widen(const std::string& s) {
@@ -211,8 +201,16 @@ void tray_icon(DWORD message, const wchar_t* tip = nullptr, const wchar_t* ballo
     }
 }
 
-void notify(const std::string& text) {
-    g.ui.watchdog_note = gao::app::now_text() + "  " + text;
+// A line in the window's log for this session.
+void note(const std::string& text, bool warn = false) {
+    g.ui.notes.push_back({gao::app::now_text(), text, warn});
+    if (g.ui.notes.size() > 100) g.ui.notes.erase(g.ui.notes.begin());
+}
+
+// A tray balloon. Pass log=false when the event is already in boot.log,
+// which the window's log shows too.
+void notify(const std::string& text, bool log = true) {
+    if (log) note(text, true);
     tray_icon(NIM_MODIFY, nullptr, widen(text).c_str());
 }
 
@@ -256,14 +254,16 @@ void refresh_status(bool with_task) {
     }
     if (g.gpu.read_applied) g.ui.applied = g.gpu.read_applied();
     const auto log = gao::read_lines(gao::boot_log_path());
-    g.ui.last_boot = log && !log->empty() ? log->back() : std::string();
+    g.ui.boot_log.clear();
+    if (log) g.ui.boot_log.assign(log->size() > 200 ? log->end() - 200 : log->begin(), log->end());
     if (with_task) g.ui.boot_on = gao::boot_task_exists();
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------- actions
 
+void hw_lost();   // below, with the other hardware helpers
+
 void act_optimize(gao::Preset preset) {
-    g.ui.message.clear();
     g.worker->start(preset);   // the watchdog skips while it runs
 }
 
@@ -285,48 +285,49 @@ void act_restart_elevated() {
         g.exit_requested = true;
     } else {
         g.instance_mutex = CreateMutexW(nullptr, TRUE, kInstanceMutex);
-        g.ui.message = "Elevation was cancelled.";
+        note("Elevation was cancelled.");
     }
 }
 
 bool refuse_while_tuning() {
     if (g.worker->running()) return true;
     if (!gao::app::tuning_in_progress()) return false;
-    g.ui.message = "An optimize is running on the command line; wait for it to finish.";
+    note("An optimize is running on the command line; wait for it to finish.", true);
     return true;
 }
 
 void act_apply() {
     if (refuse_while_tuning()) return;
-    if (!g.nvml_ok || !g.nvapi_ok) { g.ui.message = "The NVIDIA driver is not available right now."; return; }
+    if (!g.nvml_ok || !g.nvapi_ok) { note("The NVIDIA driver is not available right now.", true); return; }
     std::string why;
-    if (!gao::app::prepare_state(&why)) { g.ui.message = why; return; }
+    if (!gao::app::prepare_state(&why)) { note(why, true); return; }
     gao::Config cfg = gao::app::load_config();
     cfg.boot_strikes = 0;   // strikes only gate the logon apply
     const std::string driver = g.nvml_ok ? g.nvml->DriverVersion() : std::string();
     const auto d = gao::decide_boot(cfg, driver, g.nvml_ok ? g.nvml->GpuUuid(kGpu) : std::string());
-    if (d != gao::BootDecision::Apply) { g.ui.message = "Not applied: " + gao::app::decision_text(d, cfg, driver); return; }
-    if (!gao::apply_profile(g.gpu, *cfg.profile, &why)) { g.ui.message = "Not applied: " + why; return; }
+    if (d != gao::BootDecision::Apply) { note("Not applied: " + gao::app::decision_text(d, cfg, driver), true); return; }
+    if (!gao::apply_profile(g.gpu, *cfg.profile, &why)) { note("Not applied: " + why, true); return; }
     g.watch = true;
     g.watchdog = gao::Watchdog();
-    g.ui.message = "Applied " + gao::app::profile_text(*cfg.profile);
+    note("Applied " + gao::app::profile_text(*cfg.profile));
     refresh_status(false);
 }
 
 void act_revert() {
     if (refuse_while_tuning()) return;
-    if (!g.nvml_ok || !g.nvapi_ok) { g.ui.message = "The NVIDIA driver is not available right now."; return; }
+    if (!g.nvml_ok || !g.nvapi_ok) { note("The NVIDIA driver is not available right now.", true); return; }
     const bool ok = g.gpu.reset_to_stock && g.gpu.reset_to_stock();
     g.watch = false;   // stock by choice: the watchdog must not undo it
-    g.ui.message = ok ? "Back at stock. The saved tune is not re-applied until you apply it again."
-                      : "Reset to stock FAILED; try gao --reset.";
+    note(ok ? "Back at stock. The saved tune is not re-applied until you apply it again."
+            : "Reset to stock FAILED; try gao --reset.",
+         !ok);
     refresh_status(false);
 }
 
 void act_boot(bool on) {
     std::string message;
-    on ? gao::app::enable_boot(&message) : gao::app::disable_boot(&message);
-    g.ui.message = message;
+    const bool ok = on ? gao::app::enable_boot(&message) : gao::app::disable_boot(&message);
+    note(message, !ok);
     refresh_status(true);
 }
 
@@ -341,6 +342,11 @@ void render() {
     act.apply_profile = act_apply;
     act.revert_to_stock = act_revert;
     act.set_boot = act_boot;
+    act.detect_gpu = [] {   // e.g. after a driver update: re-create NVML and NVAPI now
+        if (refuse_while_tuning()) return;
+        hw_lost();
+        g.hw_retry_at = 0;
+    };
     gao::gui::draw_ui(g.ui, g.worker->snapshot(), act);
     ImGui::Render();
     const float clear[4] = {0.08f, 0.08f, 0.10f, 1.0f};
@@ -460,21 +466,22 @@ void on_watchdog() {
             std::string why;
             if (gao::apply_profile(g.gpu, *cfg.profile, &why)) {
                 gao::app::boot_log("watchdog: the tune had been reset (driver reset or TDR); re-applied");
-                notify("The tune had been reset (driver reset or TDR) and was re-applied.");
+                notify("The tune had been reset (driver reset or TDR) and was re-applied.", false);
             } else {
                 gao::app::boot_log("watchdog: re-apply failed: " + why);
-                notify("The tune had been reset and could not be re-applied: " + why);
+                notify("The tune had been reset and could not be re-applied: " + why, false);
             }
             break;
         }
         case gao::WatchAction::GiveUpUnstable:
             gao::app::boot_log("watchdog: reset 4 times within an hour; stopped re-applying");
             notify("The tune keeps getting reset (4 times within an hour), which usually means it is not stable. "
-                   "Stopped re-applying it; optimize again.");
+                   "Stopped re-applying it; optimize again.",
+                   false);
             break;
         case gao::WatchAction::BackOffForeign:
             gao::app::boot_log("watchdog: another program changed the GPU settings; leaving them alone");
-            notify("Another program (Afterburner, NVIDIA App...) changed the GPU settings. Leaving them alone.");
+            notify("Another program (Afterburner, NVIDIA App...) changed the GPU settings. Leaving them alone.", false);
             break;
         case gao::WatchAction::NotifyDriverChanged:
             notify("The NVIDIA driver or the card changed since the tune was made. Optimize again to tune for it.");
@@ -504,10 +511,10 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK wnd_proc(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wp, LPARAM lp) {
         if (wp == static_cast<WPARAM>(gao::app::TrayNotice::TuneApplied)) {
             g.watch = true;
             g.watchdog = gao::Watchdog();
-            g.ui.watchdog_note = gao::app::now_text() + "  Applied from the command line; kept applied from now on.";
+            note("Applied from the command line; kept applied from now on.");
         } else {
             g.watch = false;
-            g.ui.watchdog_note = gao::app::now_text() + "  Set to stock from the command line; not re-applied until you apply it again.";
+            note("Set to stock from the command line; not re-applied until you apply it again.", true);
         }
         refresh_status(false);
         return 0;
@@ -527,19 +534,19 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK wnd_proc(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wp, LPARAM lp) {
             }
             return 0;
         case WM_DPICHANGED: {
-            apply_dpi(HIWORD(wp) / 96.0f);
+            gao::gui::apply_style(HIWORD(wp) / 96.0f);
             const RECT* r = reinterpret_cast<const RECT*>(lp);
             SetWindowPos(hwnd, nullptr, r->left, r->top, r->right - r->left, r->bottom - r->top, SWP_NOZORDER | SWP_NOACTIVATE);
             return 0;
         }
         case WM_CLOSE:
-            // With a tune to keep applied, or a run in progress, the window
-            // hides and the tray stays. Otherwise there is nothing to stay for.
-            if (g.watch || g.worker->running()) {
-                ShowWindow(hwnd, SW_HIDE);
-                g.visible = false;
-            } else {
-                g.exit_requested = true;
+            // Closing hides to the tray, like other tray apps; Exit in the tray
+            // menu quits. Say so the first time, or it looks like a quit.
+            ShowWindow(hwnd, SW_HIDE);
+            g.visible = false;
+            if (!g.told_about_tray) {
+                g.told_about_tray = true;
+                tray_icon(NIM_MODIFY, nullptr, L"Still running in the tray. Right-click the icon and choose Exit to quit.");
             }
             return 0;
         case WM_TIMER:
@@ -627,11 +634,11 @@ int WINAPI wWinMain(HINSTANCE inst, HINSTANCE, PWSTR cmdline, int) {
     wc.hCursor = LoadCursorW(nullptr, MAKEINTRESOURCEW(32512));   // IDC_ARROW
     wc.lpszClassName = kWindowClass;
     RegisterClassExW(&wc);
-    g.hwnd = CreateWindowW(kWindowClass, L"GPU Auto Optimizer", WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW, CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT, 920, 640,
+    g.hwnd = CreateWindowW(kWindowClass, L"GPU Auto Optimizer", WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW, CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT, 1180, 860,
                            nullptr, nullptr, inst, nullptr);
     if (!g.hwnd || !create_device()) return 1;
     const float scale = GetDpiForWindow(g.hwnd) / 96.0f;   // the monitor the window actually opened on
-    SetWindowPos(g.hwnd, nullptr, 0, 0, static_cast<int>(920 * scale), static_cast<int>(640 * scale),
+    SetWindowPos(g.hwnd, nullptr, 0, 0, static_cast<int>(1180 * scale), static_cast<int>(860 * scale),
                  SWP_NOMOVE | SWP_NOZORDER | SWP_NOACTIVATE);
     const BOOL dark = TRUE;   // a dark title bar to match the dark window
     DwmSetWindowAttribute(g.hwnd, DWMWA_USE_IMMERSIVE_DARK_MODE, &dark, sizeof(dark));
@@ -651,9 +658,8 @@ int WINAPI wWinMain(HINSTANCE inst, HINSTANCE, PWSTR cmdline, int) {
     io.IniFilename = nullptr;   // nothing to persist; the layout is fixed
     wchar_t windows[MAX_PATH];
     const UINT wn = GetWindowsDirectoryW(windows, MAX_PATH);
-    const std::string font = wn && wn < MAX_PATH ? (std::filesystem::path(windows) / L"Fonts" / L"segoeui.ttf").string() : "";
-    if (font.empty() || !io.Fonts->AddFontFromFileTTF(font.c_str(), 17.0f)) io.Fonts->AddFontDefault();
-    apply_dpi(scale);
+    gao::gui::load_fonts(wn && wn < MAX_PATH ? (std::filesystem::path(windows) / L"Fonts").string() : std::string());
+    gao::gui::apply_style(scale);
     ImGui_ImplWin32_Init(g.hwnd);
     ImGui_ImplDX11_Init(g.device.Get(), g.ctx.Get());
 
@@ -672,7 +678,7 @@ int WINAPI wWinMain(HINSTANCE inst, HINSTANCE, PWSTR cmdline, int) {
                 g.strike_pending = true;
                 SetTimer(g.hwnd, kTimerStrike, 2 * 60 * 1000, nullptr);
             } else if (logon.decision != gao::BootDecision::NoProfile) {
-                notify(logon.message);
+                notify(logon.message, false);   // apply_at_logon wrote boot.log
             }
         }
         refresh_status(false);