🎼 Orchestrating Complex Extension Dependencies with Smart Caching and Lazy Loading

🚨 The Problem

Symphony's Extension-First architecture creates a unique performance challenge: UI modes themselves are extensions that dynamically spawn additional layers of extensions, potentially creating deep dependency hierarchies that impact startup time, runtime performance, and memory usage.

📊 The Complexity Cascade

🏗️ Raw Metal (Rust Core)
    ↓
🔧 Extension System
    ↓
🎨 Layout Extension (Maestro Mode/Harmony Board)
    ↓
🎵 External Ensemble Layer 1 (Instruments/Operators/Motifs)
    ↓
🎵 External Ensemble Layer 2 (Sub-extensions with dependencies)
    ↓
🎵 External Ensemble Layer N (Deep dependency chains)

⚡ Performance Impact Analysis

Each additional layer introduces cumulative overhead:

• 🚀 Loading Overhead: Extension initialization and inter-process communication setup
• 📡 Runtime Overhead: Complex message passing between extension boundaries
• 💾 Memory Overhead: Multiple isolated extension contexts and duplicated state
• 🧩 Dependency Resolution: Graph traversal, validation, and conflict detection

📋 For complete architectural context and detailed problem analysis, see: UI Architecture Complete Analysis →

🎯 Our Three-Point Solution Strategy

We've identified three complementary approaches that work together to solve the dependency management challenge:

🏗️ 1. Baseline Caching

Always-loaded foundation extensions

⚡ 2. Event-Triggered Lazy Loading

Smart dependency tree activation