chat: let pfUI's chat colors own their alpha and apply live

Two problems with routing the native transparency slider into the pfUI panel.

RefreshBackgroundAlpha overwrote the alpha of C.chat.global.background on every
refresh, so anyone with custom colors enabled saw their configured opacity
revert on reload, tab switch and dock change. That value carries its own alpha,
is set by the shipped profiles and is shared with the meter skins, so the slider
must not own it. Skip the alpha mirror entirely when custom colors are on; the
slider still drives the panel on the default theme, which is what issue #48 was
actually about.

The colors were also only applied at module load, so the pickers needed a
/reload to show anything. Extract that into ApplyPanelColors and expose it as
pfUI.chat:UpdateConfig, which the gui resolves as U["chat"], so the three chat
color settings take effect on the spot. CreateBackdrop is re-run first to
restore the appearance theme, which is what lets toggling custom colors back
off return the panel to the global theme without a reload.

.luarc.json

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  "runtime": {
+    "version": "Lua 5.1"
+  },
+  "diagnostics": {
+    "disable": ["deprecated"],
+    "globals": [
+      "this",
+      "event",
+      "arg",
+      "arg1",
+      "arg2",
+      "arg3",
+      "arg4",
+      "arg5",
+      "arg6",
+      "arg7",
+      "arg8",
+      "arg9"
+    ]
+  }
+}

.pkgmeta

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package-as: pfUI
+
+ignore:
+  - .luarc.json

modules/chat.lua

@@ -63,6 +63,23 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
     return pfUI_cache["chathistory"][realm][player][id]
   end
 
+  -- [ Chat Panel Colors ]
+  -- The panels normally inherit pfUI's global appearance theme; custom colors let chat
+  -- deviate from it. CreateBackdrop is re-run first to restore the theme, so toggling
+  -- custom colors back off doesn't leave the previous override behind.
+  local function ApplyPanelColors(panel)
+    if not panel then return end
+
+    CreateBackdrop(panel, default_border, nil, .8)
+    if C.chat.global.custombg ~= "1" then return end
+
+    local r, g, b, a = GetStringColor(C.chat.global.background)
+    panel.backdrop:SetBackdropColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(a))
+
+    local r, g, b, a = GetStringColor(C.chat.global.border)
+    panel.backdrop:SetBackdropBorderColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(a))
+  end
+
   pfUI.chat = CreateFrame("Frame",nil,UIParent)
 
   pfUI.chat.left = CreateFrame("Frame", "pfChatLeft", UIParent)
@@ -76,19 +93,11 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
   pfUI.chat.left:SetPoint("BOTTOMLEFT", 2*default_border,2*default_border)
   pfUI.chat.left:SetScript("OnShow", function() pfUI.chat:RefreshChat() end)
   UpdateMovable(pfUI.chat.left)
-  CreateBackdrop(pfUI.chat.left, default_border, nil, .8)
+  ApplyPanelColors(pfUI.chat.left)
   if C.chat.global.frameshadow == "1" then
     CreateBackdropShadow(pfUI.chat.left)
   end
 
-  if C.chat.global.custombg == "1" then
-    local r, g, b, a = GetStringColor(C.chat.global.background)
-    pfUI.chat.left.backdrop:SetBackdropColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(a))
-
-    local r, g, b, a = GetStringColor(C.chat.global.border)
-    pfUI.chat.left.backdrop:SetBackdropBorderColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(a))
-  end
-
   pfUI.chat.left.panelTop = CreateFrame("Frame", "leftChatPanelTop", pfUI.chat.left)
   pfUI.chat.left.panelTop:ClearAllPoints()
   pfUI.chat.left.panelTop:SetHeight(C.global.font_size+default_border*2)
@@ -251,19 +260,11 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
   pfUI.chat.right:SetPoint("BOTTOMRIGHT", -2*default_border,2*default_border)
   pfUI.chat.right:SetScript("OnShow", function() pfUI.chat:RefreshChat() end)
   UpdateMovable(pfUI.chat.right)
-  CreateBackdrop(pfUI.chat.right, default_border, nil, .8)
+  ApplyPanelColors(pfUI.chat.right)
   if C.chat.global.frameshadow == "1" then
     CreateBackdropShadow(pfUI.chat.right)
   end
 
-  if C.chat.global.custombg == "1" then
-    local r, g, b, a = GetStringColor(C.chat.global.background)
-    pfUI.chat.right.backdrop:SetBackdropColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(a))
-
-    local r, g, b, a = GetStringColor(C.chat.global.border)
-    pfUI.chat.right.backdrop:SetBackdropBorderColor(tonumber(r), tonumber(g), tonumber(b), tonumber(a))
-  end
-
   pfUI.chat.right.panelTop = CreateFrame("Frame", "rightChatPanelTop", pfUI.chat.right)
   pfUI.chat.right.panelTop:ClearAllPoints()
   pfUI.chat.right.panelTop:SetHeight(C.global.font_size+default_border*2)
@@ -296,6 +297,68 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
     end
   end
 
+  -- [ Chat Background Alpha ]
+  -- Blizzard's per-window transparency slider drives FCF_SetWindowAlpha, which only
+  -- touches the ChatFrame*Background textures that pfUI hides on docked frames. Mirror
+  -- the window's stored alpha onto the visible pfUI backdrop so the native slider
+  -- controls it directly.
+  local function ApplyChatBackgroundAlpha(panel, frame)
+    if not (panel and panel.backdrop and frame) then return end
+    local _, _, _, _, _, alpha = GetChatWindowInfo(frame:GetID())
+    alpha = tonumber(alpha)
+    if not alpha then return end
+    local r, g, b = panel.backdrop:GetBackdropColor()
+    panel.backdrop:SetBackdropColor(r, g, b, alpha)
+  end
+
+  function pfUI.chat:RefreshBackgroundAlpha()
+    -- Custom colors own the alpha. C.chat.global.background carries its own alpha, is
+    -- set by profiles and is shared with the meter skins, so the native slider must not
+    -- overwrite it -- doing so reverted the configured opacity on every refresh. The
+    -- slider only drives the panel when the user hasn't opted into pfUI's chat colors.
+    if C.chat.global.custombg == "1" then return end
+
+    -- left panel follows the currently selected docked tab
+    local selected = SELECTED_CHAT_FRAME
+    if not (selected and selected:GetParent() == pfUI.chat.left) then
+      selected = ChatFrame1
+    end
+    ApplyChatBackgroundAlpha(pfUI.chat.left, selected)
+
+    if C.chat.right.enable == "1" then
+      ApplyChatBackgroundAlpha(pfUI.chat.right, ChatFrame3)
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- live config apply, resolved by the gui as U["chat"]. Lets the color pickers
+  -- take effect on the spot instead of waiting for a /reload.
+  function pfUI.chat:UpdateConfig()
+    ApplyPanelColors(pfUI.chat.left)
+    ApplyPanelColors(pfUI.chat.right)
+    pfUI.chat:RefreshBackgroundAlpha()
+  end
+
+  function pfUI.chat:MigrateBackgroundAlpha()
+    -- Runs once per character. The previous SetupPositions default stored a hard 0 window
+    -- alpha, which now renders the pfUI backdrop fully transparent. Restore the historical
+    -- 0.8 look for any pfUI-managed window still sitting at 0. Only existing installs that
+    -- already ran chat setup carry that legacy 0; fresh installs get 0.8 from SetupPositions.
+    if pfUI_init.chatbgalpha then return end
+    if not pfUI_init["chat_position"] then return end
+    pfUI_init.chatbgalpha = true
+
+    local frames = { ChatFrame1, ChatFrame2 }
+    if C.chat.right.enable == "1" then table.insert(frames, ChatFrame3) end
+
+    for _, frame in ipairs(frames) do
+      local _, _, _, _, _, alpha = GetChatWindowInfo(frame:GetID())
+      alpha = tonumber(alpha)
+      if alpha and alpha <= 0 then
+        FCF_SetWindowAlpha(frame, 0.8)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   function pfUI.chat:RefreshChat()
     local panelheight = C.global.font_size*1.5 + default_border*2 + 2
 
@@ -447,9 +510,13 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
     for index, value in pairs(DOCKED_CHAT_FRAMES) do
       FCF_UpdateButtonSide(value)
     end
+
+    pfUI.chat:RefreshBackgroundAlpha()
   end
 
   hooksecurefunc("FCF_SaveDock", pfUI.chat.RefreshChat)
+  hooksecurefunc("FCF_SetWindowAlpha", function() pfUI.chat:RefreshBackgroundAlpha() end)
+  hooksecurefunc("FCF_SelectDockFrame", function() pfUI.chat:RefreshBackgroundAlpha() end)
 
   if C.chat.global.tabmouse == "1" then
     pfUI.chat.mouseovertab = CreateFrame("Frame")
@@ -500,7 +567,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
     FCF_SetLocked(ChatFrame1, 1)
     FCF_SetWindowName(ChatFrame1, GENERAL)
     FCF_SetWindowColor(ChatFrame1, 0, 0, 0)
-    FCF_SetWindowAlpha(ChatFrame1, 0)
+    FCF_SetWindowAlpha(ChatFrame1, 0.8)
     FCF_SetChatWindowFontSize(ChatFrame1, 12)
     ChatFrame1:SetUserPlaced(1)
 
@@ -508,7 +575,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
     FCF_SetLocked(ChatFrame2, 1)
     FCF_SetWindowName(ChatFrame2, COMBAT_LOG)
     FCF_SetWindowColor(ChatFrame2, 0, 0, 0)
-    FCF_SetWindowAlpha(ChatFrame2, 0)
+    FCF_SetWindowAlpha(ChatFrame2, 0.8)
     FCF_SetChatWindowFontSize(ChatFrame2, 12)
     ChatFrame2:SetUserPlaced(1)
 
@@ -518,7 +585,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
       FCF_SetLocked(ChatFrame3, 1)
       FCF_SetWindowName(ChatFrame3, T["Loot & Spam"])
       FCF_SetWindowColor(ChatFrame3, 0, 0, 0)
-      FCF_SetWindowAlpha(ChatFrame3, 0)
+      FCF_SetWindowAlpha(ChatFrame3, 0.8)
       FCF_SetChatWindowFontSize(ChatFrame3, 12)
       FCF_UnDockFrame(ChatFrame3)
       FCF_SetTabPosition(ChatFrame3, 0)
@@ -566,6 +633,9 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("chat", function ()
   end
 
   pfUI.chat:SetScript("OnEvent", function()
+    -- restore legacy chat windows stuck at 0 alpha before anything reads it
+    pfUI.chat:MigrateBackgroundAlpha()
+
     -- set the default chat
     FCF_SelectDockFrame(SELECTED_CHAT_FRAME)
 

modules/gui.lua

@@ -2880,9 +2880,9 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("gui", function ()
       CreateConfig(nil, T["Only Show Chat Dock On Mouseover"], C.chat.global, "tabmouse", "checkbox")
       CreateConfig(nil, T["Enable Chat Tab Flashing"], C.chat.global, "chatflash", "checkbox")
       CreateConfig(nil, T["Enable Frame Shadow"], C.chat.global, "frameshadow", "checkbox")
-      CreateConfig(nil, T["Enable Custom Colors"], C.chat.global, "custombg", "checkbox")
-      CreateConfig(nil, T["Chat Background Color"], C.chat.global, "background", "color")
-      CreateConfig(nil, T["Chat Border Color"], C.chat.global, "border", "color")
+      CreateConfig(U["chat"], T["Enable Custom Colors"], C.chat.global, "custombg", "checkbox")
+      CreateConfig(U["chat"], T["Chat Background Color"], C.chat.global, "background", "color")
+      CreateConfig(U["chat"], T["Chat Border Color"], C.chat.global, "border", "color")
       CreateConfig(nil, T["Enable Custom Incoming Whispers Layout"], C.chat.global, "whispermod", "checkbox")
       CreateConfig(nil, T["Incoming Whispers Color"], C.chat.global, "whisper", "color")
       CreateConfig(nil, T["Enable Sticky Chat"], C.chat.global, "sticky", "checkbox")

modules/nameplates.lua

@@ -1039,13 +1039,29 @@ nameplates:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_GUILD_UPDATE")
     local mouseover = plate.cachedGuid and plate.cachedGuid == frameState.mouseoverGuid or nil
     local unitstr = target and "target" or mouseover and "mouseover" or plate.cachedGuid or nil
 
+    -- target event sometimes fires too quickly, where nameplate identifiers are not
+    -- yet updated. So while being inside this event, we cannot trust the unitstr.
+    if event == "PLAYER_TARGET_CHANGED" then unitstr = nil end
+
+    -- remove unitstr when it doesn't resolve to this plate's unit (stale istarget,
+    -- stale mouseover guid or a despawned unit). Must run before the cache fills
+    -- below -- an unrelated unitstr would poison cache.player/minion with the
+    -- *other* unit's answer, and the nil-gate would then never recompute it.
+    if unitstr and UnitName(unitstr) ~= name then unitstr = nil end
+
     -- resolve player vs npc from plate's own unit so libunitscan can't return
     -- a player record for an NPC sharing the same name (e.g. Chromie). Stored
     -- as true/false/nil so it doubles as the GetUnitInfo hint.
     if plate.cache.player == nil and unitstr then
       plate.cache.player = UnitIsPlayer(unitstr) and true or false
     end
-    local class, ulevel, elite, player, guild = GetUnitInfo(name, true, plate.cache.player)
+    if plate.cache.minion == nil and unitstr then
+      plate.cache.minion = UnitIsMinion(unitstr) and true or false
+    end
+    local class, ulevel, elite, player, guild
+    if not plate.cache.minion then
+      class, ulevel, elite, player, guild = GetUnitInfo(name, true, plate.cache.player)
+    end
     if plate.cache.player ~= nil then player = plate.cache.player or nil end
 
     -- Use database level ONLY if current level is ?? (fixes ?? after reload, but doesn't override visible levels)
@@ -1065,18 +1081,11 @@ nameplates:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_GUILD_UPDATE")
     if player and unittype == "ENEMY_NPC" then unittype = "ENEMY_PLAYER" end
     if player and unittype == "FRIENDLY_NPC" then unittype = "FRIENDLY_PLAYER" end
     elite = plate.original.levelicon:IsShown() and not player and "boss" or elite
-    if not class then plate.wait_for_scan = true end
+    if not class and not plate.cache.minion then plate.wait_for_scan = true end
 
     -- skip data updates on invisible frames
     if not visible then return end
 
-    -- target event sometimes fires too quickly, where nameplate identifiers are not
-    -- yet updated. So while being inside this event, we cannot trust the unitstr.
-    if event == "PLAYER_TARGET_CHANGED" then unitstr = nil end
-
-    -- remove unitstr on unit name mismatch
-    if unitstr and UnitName(unitstr) ~= name then unitstr = nil end
-
     -- always make sure to keep plate visible
     plate:Show()
 
@@ -1551,7 +1560,7 @@ nameplates:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_GUILD_UPDATE")
     -- otherwise an NPC sharing a name with a known player flips wait_for_scan
     -- off here, then OnDataChanged re-sets it, every frame until the mob scan
     -- lands.
-    if nameplate.wait_for_scan and GetUnitInfo(name, true, nameplate.cache.player) then
+    if nameplate.wait_for_scan and not nameplate.cache.minion and GetUnitInfo(name, true, nameplate.cache.player) then
       nameplate.wait_for_scan = nil
       update = true
     end