[GUI] few stability patches for GUI

src/SharpEmu.GUI/GameLibraryCache.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2026 SharpEmu Emulator Project
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Text.Json;
+using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
+
+namespace SharpEmu.GUI;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Remembers the last completed library scan so a cold start can paint the
+/// grid immediately instead of waiting on a recursive walk of every game
+/// folder. The cache is a display seed, never an authority: startup still
+/// runs the normal scan and reconciles over it, so a stale file can only
+/// ever cost one frame of wrong content, not a wrong library.
+/// </summary>
+internal static class GameLibraryCache
+{
+    private const int CurrentVersion = 1;
+
+    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions SerializerOptions = new()
+    {
+        WriteIndented = true,
+        DefaultIgnoreCondition = JsonIgnoreCondition.WhenWritingNull,
+    };
+
+    internal static string CachePath =>
+        Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "user", "library_cache.json");
+
+    internal sealed class CachedGame
+    {
+        public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+        public string? TitleId { get; set; }
+        public string? Version { get; set; }
+        public string Path { get; set; } = string.Empty;
+        public long SizeBytes { get; set; }
+        public string? CoverPath { get; set; }
+        public string? BackgroundPath { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    internal sealed class CacheDocument
+    {
+        public int Version { get; set; }
+        public List<string> Folders { get; set; } = [];
+        public List<CachedGame> Games { get; set; } = [];
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Returns the cached games when the file matches the configured folder
+    /// set and the executables still exist. Entries whose executable is gone
+    /// are dropped so a removed game never flashes on screen.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static List<GameEntry> Load(IReadOnlyList<string> folders)
+    {
+        var games = new List<GameEntry>();
+        try
+        {
+            if (!File.Exists(CachePath))
+            {
+                return games;
+            }
+
+            var document = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<CacheDocument>(
+                File.ReadAllText(CachePath),
+                SerializerOptions);
+            if (document is null || document.Version != CurrentVersion)
+            {
+                return games;
+            }
+
+            if (!SameFolders(document.Folders, folders))
+            {
+                return games;
+            }
+
+            foreach (var cached in document.Games)
+            {
+                if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cached.Path) || !File.Exists(cached.Path))
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                games.Add(new GameEntry(
+                    cached.Name,
+                    cached.TitleId,
+                    cached.Version,
+                    cached.Path,
+                    cached.SizeBytes,
+                    Existing(cached.CoverPath),
+                    Existing(cached.BackgroundPath)));
+            }
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            Console.Error.WriteLine(
+                $"[GUI][WARN] Could not read the library cache: {exception.Message}");
+            games.Clear();
+        }
+
+        return games;
+    }
+
+    internal static void Save(IReadOnlyList<string> folders, IReadOnlyList<GameEntry> games)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            var directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(CachePath);
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(directory))
+            {
+                Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
+            }
+
+            var document = new CacheDocument
+            {
+                Version = CurrentVersion,
+                Folders = [.. folders],
+            };
+
+            foreach (var game in games)
+            {
+                document.Games.Add(new CachedGame
+                {
+                    Name = game.Name,
+                    TitleId = game.TitleId,
+                    Version = game.Version,
+                    Path = game.Path,
+                    SizeBytes = game.SizeBytes,
+                    CoverPath = game.CoverPath,
+                    BackgroundPath = game.BackgroundPath,
+                });
+            }
+
+            File.WriteAllText(
+                CachePath,
+                JsonSerializer.Serialize(document, SerializerOptions));
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            Console.Error.WriteLine(
+                $"[GUI][WARN] Could not write the library cache: {exception.Message}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static string? Existing(string? path) =>
+        !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(path) && File.Exists(path) ? path : null;
+
+    private static bool SameFolders(
+        IReadOnlyList<string> cached,
+        IReadOnlyList<string> configured)
+    {
+        if (cached.Count != configured.Count)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        var known = new HashSet<string>(cached, GameLibraryPath.Comparer);
+        foreach (var folder in configured)
+        {
+            if (!known.Contains(folder))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+}

src/SharpEmu.GUI/GuiSettings.cs

@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ public sealed class GuiSettings
     /// <summary>Loop the selected game's sce_sys/snd0.at9 preview music.</summary>
     public bool PlayTitleMusic { get; set; } = true;
 
+    public string LibraryLayout { get; set; } = "Carousel";
+
     public string? EmulatorPath { get; set; }
 
     /// <summary>UI language, matching a file code under Languages/ (e.g. "en", "tr").</summary>
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ public sealed class GuiSettings
         {
             settings.RenderResolutionScale = 1.0;
         }
+        settings.LibraryLayout = NormalizeChoice(settings.LibraryLayout, "Carousel", "Grid");
         settings.WindowMode = NormalizeChoice(settings.WindowMode, "Windowed", "Borderless", "Exclusive");
         settings.Resolution = NormalizeResolution(settings.Resolution);
         settings.ScalingMode = NormalizeChoice(settings.ScalingMode, "Fit", "Cover", "Stretch", "Integer");

src/SharpEmu.GUI/Languages/en.json

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
   "Library.SearchWatermark": "Search library…",
   "Library.AddFolder": "Add folder",
   "Library.OpenFile": "Open file…",
+  "Library.View.Grid": "Stacked view",
+  "Library.View.Carousel": "Row view",
 
   "Library.Context.Launch": "Launch",
   "Library.Context.OpenFolder": "Open game folder",

src/SharpEmu.GUI/Languages/tr.json

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
   "Library.SearchWatermark": "Kütüphanede ara…",
   "Library.AddFolder": "Klasör ekle",
   "Library.OpenFile": "Dosya aç…",
+  "Library.View.Grid": "Alt alta görünüm",
+  "Library.View.Carousel": "Tek sıra görünüm",
 
   "Library.Context.Launch": "Başlat",
   "Library.Context.OpenFolder": "Oyun klasörünü aç",

src/SharpEmu.GUI/MainWindow.GameOptions.cs

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow
             CloseGameSettings();
             LaunchSelected();
         };
+        GameOptionsCloseButton.Click += (_, _) => CloseGameSettings();
         GameOptionsOpenFolderButton.Click += (_, _) => OpenSelectedGameFolder();
         GameOptionsCopyPathButton.Click += async (_, _) =>
             await CopyToClipboardAsync((GameList.SelectedItem as GameEntry)?.Path);
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow
             !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(game.TitleId);
 
         _isGameSettingsOpen = true;
+        SetGameOptionsPagesSpan(coversConsoleRow: true);
         SetGameOptionsOpenClass(BackdropLayer, active: true);
         SetGameOptionsOpenClass(CarouselHost, active: true);
         SetGameOptionsOpenClass(LibrarySelectedDetails, active: true);
@@ -158,6 +160,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow
         }
 
         _isGameSettingsOpen = false;
+        SetGameOptionsPagesSpan(coversConsoleRow: false);
         SetGameOptionsNavigationIndicator(_gameOptionsIndicatorIndex, animate: false);
         _gameSettingsTitleId = null;
         _gameEnvironmentPassthrough.Clear();
@@ -438,6 +441,11 @@ public partial class MainWindow
             animate);
     }
 
+    private void SetGameOptionsPagesSpan(bool coversConsoleRow)
+    {
+        Grid.SetRowSpan(PagesHost, coversConsoleRow ? 2 : 1);
+    }
+
     private Button[] GameOptionsNavigationButtons() =>
     [
         GameOptionsGeneralNav,
@@ -476,18 +484,6 @@ public partial class MainWindow
         ("SHARPEMU_GUEST_IMAGE_CPU_SYNC", GameEnvGuestImageCpuSyncToggle),
     ];
 
-    private static void SetGameOptionsOpenClass(Control control, bool active)
-    {
-        if (active)
-        {
-            if (!control.Classes.Contains("gameOptionsOpen"))
-            {
-                control.Classes.Add("gameOptionsOpen");
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            control.Classes.Remove("gameOptionsOpen");
-        }
-    }
+    private static void SetGameOptionsOpenClass(Control control, bool active) =>
+        SetClass(control, "gameOptionsOpen", active);
 }

src/SharpEmu.GUI/MainWindow.axaml

@@ -136,6 +136,13 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 
         <StackPanel Grid.Column="2" x:Name="LibraryToolbar" Orientation="Horizontal" Spacing="8"
                     VerticalAlignment="Center">
+          <Button x:Name="LibraryLayoutButton"
+                  Classes="iconGhost"
+                  VerticalAlignment="Center">
+            <TextBlock x:Name="LibraryLayoutGlyph"
+                       Classes="materialSymbol compact"
+                       Text="grid_view" />
+          </Button>
           <TextBox x:Name="SearchBox"
                    PlaceholderText="{Binding [Library.SearchWatermark], Source={x:Static local:Localization.Instance}}"
                    Width="240"
@@ -147,7 +154,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
         </StackPanel>
       </Grid>
 
-      <Panel Grid.Row="1" x:Name="PagesHost">
+      <Panel Grid.Row="1" x:Name="PagesHost" ZIndex="1">
 
         <!-- Library page. Covers use a horizontal virtualized rail so the
              number of realized images stays bounded for large libraries. -->
@@ -167,7 +174,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
               </Transitions>
             </Panel.Transitions>
             <ListBox x:Name="GameList" Classes="tileGrid" Background="Transparent"
-                     SelectionMode="Single" Padding="4,0,28,0">
+                     SelectionMode="Single">
             <ListBox.ContextMenu>
               <ContextMenu x:Name="GameContextMenu" Placement="Pointer">
                 <MenuItem x:Name="CtxLaunch"
@@ -218,32 +225,35 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
                 </MenuItem>
               </ContextMenu>
             </ListBox.ContextMenu>
-            <ListBox.ItemsPanel>
-              <ItemsPanelTemplate>
-                <VirtualizingStackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" />
-              </ItemsPanelTemplate>
-            </ListBox.ItemsPanel>
             <ListBox.DataTemplates>
               <DataTemplate x:DataType="local:GameEntry" x:CompileBindings="True">
-                <Border Classes="coverShadow libraryGameCard"
-                        Width="148"
-                        Height="148"
-                        ToolTip.Tip="{Binding Name}"
-                        AutomationProperties.Name="{Binding Name}">
-                  <Border Classes="coverClip">
-                    <Panel>
-                      <Border Background="{Binding PlaceholderBrush}" IsVisible="{Binding !HasCover}">
-                        <TextBlock Text="{Binding Initials}" FontSize="38" FontWeight="Light"
-                                   Foreground="#C4E8ECF4"
-                                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" />
-                      </Border>
-                      <Image Source="{Binding Cover}"
-                             Stretch="UniformToFill"
-                             RenderOptions.BitmapInterpolationMode="LowQuality"
-                             IsVisible="{Binding HasCover}" />
-                    </Panel>
+                <StackPanel Spacing="7">
+                  <Border Classes="coverShadow libraryGameCard"
+                          Width="148"
+                          Height="148"
+                          ToolTip.Tip="{Binding Name}"
+                          AutomationProperties.Name="{Binding Name}">
+                    <Border Classes="coverClip">
+                      <Panel>
+                        <Border Background="{Binding PlaceholderBrush}" IsVisible="{Binding !HasCover}">
+                          <TextBlock Text="{Binding Initials}" FontSize="38" FontWeight="Light"
+                                     Foreground="#C4E8ECF4"
+                                     HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+                        </Border>
+                        <Image Source="{Binding Cover}"
+                               Stretch="UniformToFill"
+                               RenderOptions.BitmapInterpolationMode="LowQuality"
+                               IsVisible="{Binding HasCover}" />
+                      </Panel>
+                    </Border>
                   </Border>
-                </Border>
+                  <TextBlock Classes="libraryTileName"
+                             Text="{Binding Name}"
+                             TextWrapping="Wrap"
+                             MaxLines="2"
+                             TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis"
+                             TextAlignment="Center" />
+                </StackPanel>
               </DataTemplate>
               <DataTemplate x:DataType="local:AddFolderTile">
                 <Border Classes="addFolderTile"
@@ -292,8 +302,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
                       MaxWidth="980"
                       HorizontalAlignment="Left"
                       VerticalAlignment="Top"
-                      Margin="4,8,0,0"
-                      Spacing="18">
+                      Margin="4,8,0,0">
             <StackPanel.Transitions>
               <Transitions>
                 <DoubleTransition Property="Opacity"
@@ -302,8 +311,9 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
                                                Duration="0:0:0.18" />
               </Transitions>
             </StackPanel.Transitions>
-            <TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}"
-                       FontSize="42"
+            <Border Classes="selectedDetailsDivider" />
+            <TextBlock Classes="selectedGameTitle"
+                       Text="{Binding Name}"
                        FontWeight="SemiBold"
                        TextWrapping="Wrap"
                        TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis"
@@ -440,7 +450,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
               </Border>
 
               <Border Padding="260,18,32,24">
-                <Grid ColumnDefinitions="*,Auto"
+                <Grid ColumnDefinitions="*,Auto,Auto"
                       ColumnSpacing="34">
                   <StackPanel Spacing="3"
                               VerticalAlignment="Center">
@@ -491,6 +501,20 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
                                  Text="{Binding TitleId}" />
                     </StackPanel>
                   </StackPanel>
+
+                  <Button x:Name="GameOptionsCloseButton"
+                          Grid.Column="2"
+                          Classes="optionsCircle compact"
+                          VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                          ToolTip.Tip="{Binding [Common.Back],
+                                                Source={x:Static local:Localization.Instance},
+                                                x:CompileBindings=False}"
+                          AutomationProperties.Name="{Binding [Common.Back],
+                                                              Source={x:Static local:Localization.Instance},
+                                                              x:CompileBindings=False}">
+                    <TextBlock Classes="materialSymbol"
+                               Text="close" />
+                  </Button>
                 </Grid>
               </Border>
 
@@ -502,10 +526,18 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
                       RowDefinitions="Auto,*">
                   <Button x:Name="GameOptionsLaunchButton"
                           Classes="gameOptionsLaunch">
-                    <TextBlock VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                               Text="{Binding [Library.Context.Launch],
-                                              Source={x:Static local:Localization.Instance},
-                                              x:CompileBindings=False}" />
+                    <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal"
+                                Spacing="8"
+                                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+                                VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                      <TextBlock Classes="materialSymbol"
+                                 VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                 Text="play_arrow" />
+                      <TextBlock VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                 Text="{Binding [Library.Context.Launch],
+                                                Source={x:Static local:Localization.Instance},
+                                                x:CompileBindings=False}" />
+                    </StackPanel>
                   </Button>
 
                   <ScrollViewer x:Name="GameOptionsNavScroll"

src/SharpEmu.GUI/MainWindow.axaml.cs

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
     private const int MaxConsoleLines = 4000;
     private const int MaxConsoleLinesPerFlush = 500;
     private static readonly TimeSpan NavigationIndicatorAnimationDuration =
-        TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(240);
+        TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(180);
 
     private static readonly IBrush DefaultLineBrush = new SolidColorBrush(Color.Parse("#C7CFDE"));
     private static readonly IBrush DimLineBrush = new SolidColorBrush(Color.Parse("#6B7488"));
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
     private bool _isClosing;
     private bool _restoringGameSelection;
     private bool _addFolderInProgress;
+    private bool _isLibraryGridLayout;
     private GameEntry? _lastSelectedGame;
 
     // Bundled key art shown whenever no game-specific backdrop applies; the
@@ -134,6 +135,8 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
     private HostGamepadButtons _previousPadButtons;
     private long _navLeftNextAt;
     private long _navRightNextAt;
+    private long _navUpNextAt;
+    private long _navDownNextAt;
 
     //Github http client for latest commit
     private static readonly HttpClient GithubHttpClient = CreateGithubHttpClient();
@@ -219,6 +222,9 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         CloseConsoleButton.Click += (_, _) => ConsoleToggle.IsChecked = false;
         LibraryTabButton.Click += (_, _) => SetActivePage(0);
         OptionsTabButton.Click += (_, _) => SetActivePage(1);
+        LibraryLayoutButton.Click += (_, _) => ToggleLibraryLayout();
+        LibraryPage.SizeChanged += (_, _) => UpdateLibraryGridHeight();
+        LibrarySelectedDetails.SizeChanged += (_, _) => UpdateLibraryGridHeight();
         ConsoleToggle.IsCheckedChanged += (_, _) => ConsolePanel.IsVisible = ConsoleToggle.IsChecked == true && _consoleWindow is null;
         WireOptionsNavigation();
         WireGameOptions();
@@ -379,18 +385,73 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         }
     }
 
-    private static void SetActiveClass(Button button, bool active)
+    private void SetLibraryLayout(bool grid)
+    {
+        _isLibraryGridLayout = grid;
+        SetClass(GameList, "gridLayout", grid);
+        SetClass(LibrarySelectedDetails, "gridLayout", grid);
+        LibraryPage.RowDefinitions[0].Height = grid
+            ? GridLength.Auto
+            : new GridLength(188);
+        LibraryPage.Margin = grid
+            ? new Thickness(0, 6, 0, 0)
+            : new Thickness(0, 46, 0, 0);
+        UpdateLibraryGridHeight();
+        UpdateLibraryLayoutButton();
+
+        if (GameList.SelectedItem is { } selected)
+        {
+            Dispatcher.UIThread.Post(
+                () => GameList.ScrollIntoView(selected),
+                DispatcherPriority.Loaded);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void UpdateLibraryGridHeight()
+    {
+        var pageHeight = LibraryPage.Bounds.Height;
+        if (!_isLibraryGridLayout || pageHeight <= 0)
+        {
+            GameList.MaxHeight = double.PositiveInfinity;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        GameList.MaxHeight = Math.Max(
+            0,
+            pageHeight - LibrarySelectedDetails.DesiredSize.Height);
+    }
+
+    private void ToggleLibraryLayout()
+    {
+        SetLibraryLayout(!_isLibraryGridLayout);
+        _settings.LibraryLayout = _isLibraryGridLayout ? "Grid" : "Carousel";
+        _settings.Save();
+    }
+
+    private void UpdateLibraryLayoutButton()
+    {
+        LibraryLayoutGlyph.Text = _isLibraryGridLayout ? "view_carousel" : "grid_view";
+        var label = Localization.Instance.Get(
+            _isLibraryGridLayout ? "Library.View.Carousel" : "Library.View.Grid");
+        ToolTip.SetTip(LibraryLayoutButton, label);
+        AutomationProperties.SetName(LibraryLayoutButton, label);
+    }
+
+    private static void SetActiveClass(Button button, bool active) =>
+        SetClass(button, "active", active);
+
+    private static void SetClass(Control control, string className, bool active)
     {
         if (active)
         {
-            if (!button.Classes.Contains("active"))
+            if (!control.Classes.Contains(className))
             {
-                button.Classes.Add("active");
+                control.Classes.Add(className);
             }
         }
         else
         {
-            button.Classes.Remove("active");
+            control.Classes.Remove(className);
         }
     }
 
@@ -494,7 +555,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         translationAnimation.InsertExpressionKeyFrame(
             1f,
             "this.FinalValue",
-            new SineEaseInOut());
+            new CubicEaseOut());
 
         var animations = visual.Compositor.CreateImplicitAnimationCollection();
         animations[nameof(CompositionVisual.Translation)] = translationAnimation;
@@ -676,6 +737,23 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
             MoveSelection(1);
         }
 
+        if (_isLibraryGridLayout)
+        {
+            var up = (pad.Buttons & HostGamepadButtons.Up) != 0 || pad.LeftY < 64;
+            var down = (pad.Buttons & HostGamepadButtons.Down) != 0 || pad.LeftY > 192;
+            var rowStep = LibraryRowStep();
+
+            if (ShouldNavigate(up, ref _navUpNextAt, now))
+            {
+                MoveSelection(-rowStep);
+            }
+
+            if (ShouldNavigate(down, ref _navDownNextAt, now))
+            {
+                MoveSelection(rowStep);
+            }
+        }
+
         var pressed = pad.Buttons & ~_previousPadButtons;
         if ((pressed & HostGamepadButtons.Cross) != 0)
         {
@@ -712,6 +790,29 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         return false;
     }
 
+    private int LibraryRowStep()
+    {
+        if (GameList.ContainerFromIndex(0) is not { } first)
+        {
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        var top = first.Bounds.Top;
+        var columns = 1;
+        for (var index = 1; index < _libraryTiles.Count; index++)
+        {
+            if (GameList.ContainerFromIndex(index) is not { } container ||
+                Math.Abs(container.Bounds.Top - top) > 0.5)
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+
+            columns++;
+        }
+
+        return columns;
+    }
+
     private void MoveSelection(int delta)
     {
         var index = GameList.SelectedIndex < 0
@@ -747,6 +848,8 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         {
             _ = CheckForUpdatesAsync();
         }
+
+        SeedLibraryFromCache();
         await RescanLibraryAsync();
     }
 
@@ -783,6 +886,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         RefreshHostRefreshRates(_settings.RefreshRate);
         RefreshUpdateText();
         UpdateEmptyStateTexts();
+        UpdateLibraryLayoutButton();
         UpdateRunButtons();
     }
 
@@ -1067,6 +1171,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         LogToFileToggle.IsChecked = _settings.LogToFile;
         OverrideLogFileToggle.IsChecked = _settings.OverrideLogFile;
         TitleMusicToggle.IsChecked = _settings.PlayTitleMusic;
+        SetLibraryLayout(string.Equals(_settings.LibraryLayout, "Grid", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
         DiscordToggle.IsChecked = _settings.DiscordRichPresence;
         AutoUpdateToggle.IsChecked = _settings.CheckForUpdatesOnStartup;
         EnvBthidToggle.IsChecked = _settings.EnvironmentToggles.Contains("SHARPEMU_BTHID_UNAVAILABLE");
@@ -1444,6 +1549,31 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Paints the previous scan's result before the real scan starts. The
+    /// scan that follows reconciles over this, so the cache only ever
+    /// shortens the blank period; it never decides what the library holds.
+    /// </summary>
+    private void SeedLibraryFromCache()
+    {
+        Dispatcher.UIThread.VerifyAccess();
+
+        if (_allGames.Count != 0)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var cached = GameLibraryCache.Load(_settings.GameFolders.ToArray());
+        if (cached.Count == 0)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _allGames.AddRange(cached);
+        RefreshVisibleGames(new HashSet<GameEntry>(cached));
+        LoadGameDetailsInBackground(cached, cached);
+    }
+
     private async Task RescanLibraryAsync(bool showProgress = true)
     {
         Dispatcher.UIThread.VerifyAccess();
@@ -1473,6 +1603,7 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         LoadingState.IsVisible = false;
         LoadGameDetailsInBackground(reconciliation.CoversToLoad, reconciliation.Games);
         UpdateDiscordPresence();
+        GameLibraryCache.Save(folders, reconciliation.Games);
     }
 
     /// <summary>

src/SharpEmu.GUI/Themes/Styles/Buttons.axaml

@@ -43,6 +43,23 @@ Shared launcher button variants and page switcher styles.
     <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}" />
   </Style>
 
+  <Style Selector="Button.iconGhost">
+    <Setter Property="Width" Value="32" />
+    <Setter Property="Height" Value="32" />
+    <Setter Property="Padding" Value="0" />
+    <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent" />
+    <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource CardBorderBrush}" />
+    <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1" />
+    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}" />
+    <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="8" />
+    <Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Center" />
+    <Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Center" />
+  </Style>
+  <Style Selector="Button.iconGhost:pointerover /template/ ContentPresenter#PART_ContentPresenter">
+    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource ElevatedBrush}" />
+    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}" />
+  </Style>
+
   <Style Selector="ToggleButton.ghost">
     <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent" />
     <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{StaticResource CardBorderBrush}" />

src/SharpEmu.GUI/Themes/Styles/GameOptions.axaml

@@ -103,6 +103,57 @@ Contextual per-game options reveal, actions, and selected-game motion.
     <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="White" />
   </Style>
 
+  <Style Selector="Button.optionsCircle.compact, ToggleButton.optionsCircle.compact">
+    <Setter Property="Width" Value="40" />
+    <Setter Property="Height" Value="40" />
+    <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="20" />
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="StackPanel.selectedDetailsHost">
+    <Setter Property="Spacing" Value="18" />
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="TextBlock.selectedGameTitle">
+    <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="42" />
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="StackPanel.selectedDetailsHost.gridLayout">
+    <Setter Property="Spacing" Value="12" />
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="StackPanel.selectedDetailsHost.gridLayout TextBlock.selectedGameTitle">
+    <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="26" />
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="Border.selectedDetailsDivider">
+    <Setter Property="Height" Value="1" />
+    <Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="440" />
+    <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0,0,0,18" />
+    <Setter Property="HorizontalAlignment" Value="Stretch" />
+    <Setter Property="Background">
+      <LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0%,0%" EndPoint="100%,0%">
+        <GradientStop Offset="0" Color="#00FFFFFF" />
+        <GradientStop Offset="0.06" Color="#2EFFFFFF" />
+        <GradientStop Offset="0.55" Color="#14FFFFFF" />
+        <GradientStop Offset="1" Color="#00FFFFFF" />
+      </LinearGradientBrush>
+    </Setter>
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="StackPanel.selectedDetailsHost.gridLayout Button.playButton">
+    <Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="44" />
+    <Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="168" />
+    <Setter Property="Padding" Value="28,10" />
+    <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="15" />
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="StackPanel.selectedDetailsHost.gridLayout Button.optionsCircle,
+                   StackPanel.selectedDetailsHost.gridLayout ToggleButton.optionsCircle">
+    <Setter Property="Width" Value="44" />
+    <Setter Property="Height" Value="44" />
+    <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="22" />
+  </Style>
+
   <Style Selector="Button.gameOptionsLaunch">
     <Setter Property="Width" Value="220" />
     <Setter Property="Height" Value="46" />

src/SharpEmu.GUI/Themes/Styles/Library.axaml

@@ -9,8 +9,25 @@ Cover-art library item states and motion.
   <Style Selector="ListBox.tileGrid">
     <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent" />
     <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="0" />
+    <Setter Property="Padding" Value="4,0,28,0" />
     <Setter Property="ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Hidden" />
     <Setter Property="ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Disabled" />
+    <Setter Property="ItemsPanel">
+      <ItemsPanelTemplate>
+        <VirtualizingStackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" />
+      </ItemsPanelTemplate>
+    </Setter>
+  </Style>
+
+  <Style Selector="ListBox.tileGrid.gridLayout">
+    <Setter Property="Padding" Value="4,0,14,0" />
+    <Setter Property="ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Disabled" />
+    <Setter Property="ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Auto" />
+    <Setter Property="ItemsPanel">
+      <ItemsPanelTemplate>
+        <WrapPanel />
+      </ItemsPanelTemplate>
+    </Setter>
   </Style>
   <Style Selector="ListBox.tileGrid ListBoxItem">
     <Setter Property="Width" Value="160" />
@@ -35,6 +52,25 @@ Cover-art library item states and motion.
       </Transitions>
     </Setter>
   </Style>
+  <!-- The title rides along in the item template so both layouts share one
+       template. The rail hides it because the selected game already names
+       itself in the details below the covers. -->
+  <Style Selector="TextBlock.libraryTileName">
+    <Setter Property="IsVisible" Value="False" />
+    <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="12" />
+    <Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="SemiBold" />
+    <Setter Property="LineHeight" Value="16" />
+    <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource TextBrush}" />
+  </Style>
+  <Style Selector="ListBox.tileGrid.gridLayout TextBlock.libraryTileName">
+    <Setter Property="IsVisible" Value="True" />
+  </Style>
+  <Style Selector="ListBox.tileGrid.gridLayout ListBoxItem">
+    <Setter Property="Height" Value="200" />
+    <Setter Property="Margin" Value="0,6,12,10" />
+    <Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Top" />
+  </Style>
+
   <Style Selector="ListBox.tileGrid ListBoxItem:pointerover,
                    ListBox.tileGrid ListBoxItem:selected">
     <Setter Property="Opacity" Value="1" />

tests/SharpEmu.Libs.Tests/GUI/GuiSettingsTests.cs

@@ -61,6 +61,19 @@ public sealed class GuiSettingsTests
         Assert.Equal(1000, settings.RefreshRate);
     }
 
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("""{ }""", "Carousel")]
+    [InlineData("""{ "LibraryLayout": null }""", "Carousel")]
+    [InlineData("""{ "LibraryLayout": "sideways" }""", "Carousel")]
+    [InlineData("""{ "LibraryLayout": "grid" }""", "Grid")]
+    [InlineData("""{ "LibraryLayout": "Grid" }""", "Grid")]
+    public void NormalizeFromJson_LibraryLayout_FallsBackToCarousel(string json, string expected)
+    {
+        var settings = GuiSettings.NormalizeFromJson(json);
+
+        Assert.Equal(expected, settings.LibraryLayout);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void NormalizeFromJson_CustomResolution_IsPreserved()
     {