Drive auras from UNIT_AURA_DELTA

UNIT_AURA says nothing about what changed and stays silent when a buff
is refreshed or its duration packet lands, so a recast HoT kept its old
timer until something else rebuilt the row. UNIT_AURA_DELTA reports
added, updated and removed aura instances, refreshes included.

Unit frames register it on their own token. An add, a removal or a full
update rebuilds the auras as before; an update-only delta re-reads the
slot behind each shown icon for its stacks and timer and redraws the
buff indicators, without a relayout or a dispel scan. Frames that
follow a GUID (the target-of-X chain) stay on UNIT_AURA, since the
delta only fires for tokens. A finished aura layout announces itself
as "unitframe:auras".

buffwatch drops its 0.4s rescan: bars rebuild on the delta, on login
and on a target change, and a timer wakes the frame when the next aura
crosses the bar threshold. Bars re-anchor when the player or target
frame lays out its aura rows, and a whitelist or blacklist click
applies at once.

Nameplates, the loss of control alert and the equipment manager's
mount/stealth/dining check listen to the delta as well.

api/unitframes.lua

@@ -98,6 +98,25 @@ local function StartAuraTimers(icons)
   end
 end
 
+-- Re-reads the stacks and timer of each shown icon of an aura block from the
+-- slot RefreshUnit filled it from, then restarts the timers. For auras that
+-- refreshed or restacked in place, which leaves every aura in its slot.
+local function RetimeAuras(icons, unitstr)
+  if not icons then return end
+
+  local i = 1
+  while icons[i] and icons[i]:IsShown() do
+    local _, _, count, _, duration, expirationTime = C_UnitAuras.UnitAuraBySlot(unitstr, icons[i].slot)
+    if count then
+      icons[i].stacks:SetText(count > 1 and count or "")
+      icons[i].auraStart, icons[i].auraDuration = AuraTimer(duration, expirationTime)
+    end
+    i = i + 1
+  end
+
+  StartAuraTimers(icons)
+end
+
 -- ============================================================================
 -- GUID-based Roster Tracking for Smart Updates
 -- Only updates frames where the unit actually changed, not ALL 40 frames
@@ -1110,6 +1129,14 @@ function pfUI.uf.OnEvent()
       this.update_portrait = true
     elseif event == "UNIT_AURA" then
       this.update_aura = true
+    elseif event == "UNIT_AURA_DELTA" then
+      -- an aura that only refreshed or restacked leaves every aura in its
+      -- slot, so the icons need their timers and stacks, not a rebuild
+      if arg2.isFullUpdate or arg2.addedAuraInstanceIDs or arg2.removedAuraInstanceIDs then
+        this.update_aura = true
+      else
+        this.update_auratime = true
+      end
     elseif event == "UNIT_FACTION" then
       this.update_pvp = true
     elseif event == "UNIT_COMBAT" then
@@ -1298,14 +1325,19 @@ function pfUI.uf.OnUpdate()
     this.update_full = nil
     this.update_base = nil
     this.update_aura = nil
+    this.update_auratime = nil
     this.update_portrait = nil
     this.update_pvp = nil
   else
-    -- process individual events
+    -- process individual events; a rebuild re-times the icons as well
     if this.update_aura then
       pfUI.uf:RefreshUnit(this, "aura")
       this.update_aura = nil
+      this.update_auratime = nil
       this.update_base = true
+    elseif this.update_auratime then
+      pfUI.uf:RefreshUnit(this, "auratime")
+      this.update_auratime = nil
     end
 
     if this.update_portrait then
@@ -1350,7 +1382,6 @@ local UNIT_EVENTS = {
   "UNIT_FOCUS",
   "UNIT_PORTRAIT_UPDATE", "UNIT_MODEL_CHANGED",
   "UNIT_FACTION",
-  "UNIT_AURA", -- frame=buff, frame=debuff
   "INCOMING_RESURRECT_CHANGED", -- frame=ressIcon
 }
 
@@ -1370,6 +1401,18 @@ function pfUI.uf:RegisterUnitEvents(unit)
     end
   end
 
+  -- auras (frame=buff, frame=debuff, indicators): UNIT_AURA_DELTA, which also
+  -- reports refreshes and new durations and says what changed. It fires for
+  -- tokens only, so a chained unit, followed by GUID, keeps UNIT_AURA.
+  local aura, other = "UNIT_AURA_DELTA", "UNIT_AURA"
+  if self.chain then aura, other = other, aura end
+  self:UnregisterEvent(other)
+  if unit then
+    self:RegisterUnitEvent(aura, unit)
+  else
+    self:UnregisterEvent(aura)
+  end
+
   -- UNIT_COMBAT rides along only while the frame draws combat feedback text.
   -- UpdateConfig clears eventunit when it toggles that, so the next
   -- UpdateVisibility re-runs this.
@@ -1830,6 +1873,7 @@ function pfUI.uf:RefreshUnit(unit, component)
       local name, icon, count, _, duration, expirationTime, _, _, _, spellId = C_UnitAuras.UnitAuraBySlot(unitstr, auraSlots[i])
 
       if name then
+        unit.buffs[i].slot = auraSlots[i]
         unit.buffs[i].texture:SetTexture(icon)
         unit.buffs[i]:Show()
 
@@ -1880,6 +1924,7 @@ function pfUI.uf:RefreshUnit(unit, component)
       unit.debuffs[i].backdrop:SetBackdropBorderColor(dispelColor:GetRGBA())
 
       if texture then
+        unit.debuffs[i].slot = auraSlots[i]
         unit.debuffs[i]:Show()
 
         unit.debuffs[i].auraStart, unit.debuffs[i].auraDuration = AuraTimer(duration, expirationTime)
@@ -1905,6 +1950,10 @@ function pfUI.uf:RefreshUnit(unit, component)
     LayoutAuras(unit, unitstr)
     StartAuraTimers(unit.buffs)
     StartAuraTimers(unit.debuffs)
+    pfUI.events:TriggerEvent("unitframe:auras", unit)
+  elseif component == "auratime" then
+    RetimeAuras(unit.buffs, unitstr)
+    RetimeAuras(unit.debuffs, unitstr)
   end
 
   -- indicators
@@ -2026,7 +2075,10 @@ function pfUI.uf:RefreshUnit(unit, component)
     elseif unit.hp.bar.debuffindicators then
       unit.hp.bar.debuffindicators:Hide()
     end
+  end
 
+  -- buff indicators carry timers and stacks, so a re-time redraws them too
+  if component == "all" or component == "aura" or component == "auratime" then
     if not unit.indicators and unit.config.buff_indicator == "1" then
       unit.indicators = pfUI.uf:SetupBuffIndicators(unit.config)
     elseif not unit.indicators then

modules/buffwatch.lua

@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("buffwatch", function ()
         fcache[tostring(config)] = nil -- invalidate so the new entry takes effect immediately
         DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("|cff33ffcc" .. skill .. "|r" .. T["is now blacklisted."])
       end
+      this.parent.Refresh()
     elseif this.parent.unit == "player" then
       local aura = C_UnitAuras.GetAuraDataByIndex("player", this.id, this.type)
       if aura and aura.spellId then C_Spell.CancelSpellByID(aura.spellId) end
@@ -246,7 +247,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("buffwatch", function ()
     table.sort(frame.buffs, frame.buffcmp)
 
     -- create a buff bar for each below threshold
-    local bar = 1
+    local bar, crossing = 1, nil
     for id, data in pairs(frame.buffs) do
       if data[1] and ((data[1] ~= 0 and data[1] < frame.threshold) or frame.threshold == -1) -- timeleft checks
         and data[3] and data[3] ~= "" -- buff has a name
@@ -340,6 +341,10 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("buffwatch", function ()
 
         frame.bars[bar]:Show()
         bar = bar + 1
+      elseif data[1] and data[1] > 0 and data[3] and data[4] and frame.threshold ~= -1 then
+        -- still above the threshold: its bar shows once it drops under
+        local wait = data[1] - frame.threshold
+        if not crossing or wait < crossing then crossing = wait end
       end
     end
 
@@ -347,13 +352,11 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("buffwatch", function ()
     for i = bar, table.getn(frame.bars) do
       frame.bars[i]:Hide()
     end
-  end
 
-  -- Create a new Buff Bar
-  local function BuffBarFrameOnUpdate()
-    if ( this.tick or 1) > GetTime() then return else this.tick = GetTime() + .4 end
-    RefreshBuffBarFrame(this)
-    this:RefreshPosition()
+    -- no event marks an aura's time left dropping under the threshold, so
+    -- wake when the next one does
+    if frame.crossing then frame.crossing:Cancel() end
+    frame.crossing = crossing and C_Timer.NewTimer(crossing + .1, frame.Refresh) or nil
   end
 
   local function RefreshPosition(self)
@@ -373,6 +376,19 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("buffwatch", function ()
     end
   end
 
+  -- every watch frame: one stacks on the bars of another, so all of them
+  -- re-anchor together
+  local watched = {}
+  local function RefreshPositions()
+    for _, frame in pairs(watched) do frame:RefreshPosition() end
+  end
+
+  -- the bars sit above their unit frame's aura rows, which move when the
+  -- rows lay out again
+  pfUI.events:RegisterCallback("unitframe:auras", function(_, unit)
+    if unit == pfUI.uf.player or unit == pfUI.uf.target then RefreshPositions() end
+  end, "buffwatch")
+
   local function CreateBuffBarFrame(unit, type)
     local framename = "pf" .. unit .. ( type == "HARMFUL" and "Debuff" or "Buff" ) .. "Bar"
     local frame = _G[framename] or CreateFrame("Frame", framename, UIParent)
@@ -388,9 +404,22 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("buffwatch", function ()
     end
 
     frame.RefreshPosition = RefreshPosition
+    frame.Refresh = function()
+      RefreshBuffBarFrame(frame)
+      RefreshPositions()
+    end
 
-    -- OnEvent (UNIT_AURA) doesn't trigger properly on buff refresh
-    frame:SetScript("OnUpdate", BuffBarFrameOnUpdate)
+    -- UNIT_AURA_DELTA reports refreshes and new durations as well, so the bars
+    -- follow the auras on events alone. A new target is another unit, whose
+    -- auras no delta describes.
+    frame:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA_DELTA", frame.unit)
+    frame:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_ENTERING_WORLD")
+    if frame.unit == "target" then frame:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_TARGET_CHANGED") end
+    frame:SetScript("OnEvent", frame.Refresh)
+    table.insert(watched, frame)
+
+    -- the first read waits until the caller has configured the frame
+    RunNextFrame(frame.Refresh)
 
     return frame
   end

modules/equipmentmanager.lua

@@ -1536,7 +1536,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("equipmentmanager", function()
 
   engineEvents:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_ENTERING_WORLD")
   engineEvents:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_LEAVING_WORLD")
-  engineEvents:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA", "player") -- mounted, stealth, dining
+  engineEvents:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA_DELTA", "player") -- mounted, stealth, dining
   engineEvents:RegisterEvent("UPDATE_SHAPESHIFT_FORM")
   engineEvents:RegisterEvent("ZONE_CHANGED")
   engineEvents:RegisterEvent("ZONE_CHANGED_INDOORS")

modules/lossofcontrol.lua

@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("lossofcontrol", function ()
     self:Show()
   end
 
-  -- a refreshed debuff (UNIT_AURA) or a second kick on the same school
+  -- a refreshed debuff (UNIT_AURA_DELTA) or a second kick on the same school
   -- (SPELL_UPDATE_COOLDOWN) changes the timer without a loss of control event
   frame:SetScript("OnShow", function()
-    this:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA", "player")
+    this:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA_DELTA", "player")
     this:RegisterEvent("SPELL_UPDATE_COOLDOWN")
   end)
   frame:SetScript("OnHide", function()

modules/nameplates.lua

@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ nameplates:RegisterEvent("NAME_PLATE_CREATED")
 nameplates:RegisterEvent("NAME_PLATE_UNIT_ADDED")
 nameplates:RegisterEvent("NAME_PLATE_UNIT_REMOVED")
 nameplates:RegisterEvent("UPDATE_MOUSEOVER_UNIT")
--- UNIT_AURA / UNIT_FLAGS / UNIT_SPELLCAST_* are registered per plate, on the
+-- UNIT_AURA_DELTA / UNIT_FLAGS / UNIT_SPELLCAST_* are registered per plate, on the
 -- plate's own frame, against its own token -- see OnCreate and
 -- NAME_PLATE_UNIT_ADDED.
 nameplates:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_GUILD_UPDATE")
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ nameplates:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_SPELLCAST_NOT_INTERRUPTIBLE", "target", "focu
         -- Point this plate's own subscriptions at the token it just took. On a
         -- recycled frame these replace the previous unit rather than stacking:
         -- RegisterUnitEvent on an already-filtered registration swaps the units.
-        plate.nameplate:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA", arg1)
+        plate.nameplate:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_AURA_DELTA", arg1)
         plate.nameplate:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_FLAGS", arg1)
         plate.nameplate:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_TARGET", arg1)
         plate.nameplate:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_SPELLCAST_START", arg1)
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@ nameplates:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_SPELLCAST_NOT_INTERRUPTIBLE", "target", "focu
     -- new token; _REMOVED drops it, which matters because freed slots are
     -- reused and a stale token would feed this frame another unit's events.
     nameplate:SetScript("OnEvent", function()
-      if event == "UNIT_AURA" then
+      if event == "UNIT_AURA_DELTA" then
         -- a fresh C_UnitAuras read next tick rather than waiting out the 0.5s
         -- throttle -- covers expiry, dispels, refreshes and stack changes
         this.auraUpdate = true