What is the 'Neural Link'?

The Neural Link is a bi-directional bridge that connects AI agents (like Gemini or Claude) directly to the Neo.mjs runtime. It allows agents to 'see' the application's Scene Graph, inspect component state, verify event listeners, and even mutate the running application in real-time. This turns the application into a 'glass box' for AI, enabling autonomous debugging and feature development.

Why is Neo.mjs called an 'Application Engine' instead of a framework?

Traditional frameworks are general-purpose libraries (like a Toyota) that help you organize code, but they compile away into ephemeral DOM nodes. Neo.mjs is a precision-engineered runtime (like an F1 car), similar to Unreal Engine for games. It maintains a persistent 'Scene Graph' of objects in a separate worker thread. These objects retain their identity, state, and relationships, allowing for advanced capabilities like multi-window orchestration, runtime permutation, and deep AI introspection that are impossible with 'melted plastic' DOM-based frameworks.

What is 'Context Engineering'?

Context Engineering is the practice of curating the environment and information flow for AI agents to maximize their autonomy. In Neo.mjs, this is implemented via three Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers: a Knowledge Base for semantic code understanding, a Memory Core for learning from past sessions, and a GitHub Workflow server for project management. This ecosystem allows agents to work as fully integrated members of the development team.

What is 'Object Permanence' in the context of Neo.mjs?

In Neo.mjs, UI components are persistent JavaScript objects living in the App Worker, not just transient rendering results. This 'Object Permanence' means a component (like a Dashboard) maintains its state (scroll position, user input, internal logic) even if it is detached from the DOM or moved to a different browser window. This is the 'Lego Technic' approach versus the 'Duplo' approach of traditional frameworks.

What is an 'Agent Operating System'?

Neo.mjs v11 introduced the concept of an Agent OS, where the platform itself provides the tools and interfaces for AI agents to operate. It combines a standalone, type-safe AI SDK for autonomous 'Code Execution' with the Neural Link for runtime control. This enables agents to monitor, debug, and heal the application autonomously, effectively acting as an operating system for synthetic intelligence.

How does Neo.mjs handle multi-window applications?

Neo.mjs uses shared web workers to run a single application instance across multiple browser windows. All windows share the same application state and data in real-time. Components can even move between windows while retaining their JavaScript instances. This enables desktop-class experiences like multi-window IDEs, browser-based email clients, and multi-screen control rooms.

What makes Neo.mjs different from React, Angular, or Vue?

Neo.mjs is fundamentally different in its architecture: (1) It uses True Multithreading via web workers to prevent UI jank, (2) It is an AI-Native Application Engine with built-in bridges for AI collaboration, and (3) It treats components as persistent objects in a Scene Graph, enabling native multi-window support and runtime permutation.

Frontmatter

id	8744
title	Implement Canvas-based Hover Effects for Portal Header
state	Closed
labels	enhancementdesign
assignees	tobiu
createdAt	Jan 17, 2026, 4:13 AM
updatedAt	Jan 17, 2026, 4:46 AM
githubUrl	https://github.com/neomjs/neo/issues/8744
author	tobiu
commentsCount	1
parentIssue	8727
subIssues	[]
subIssuesCompleted	0
subIssuesTotal	0
blockedBy	[]
blocking	[]
closedAt	Jan 17, 2026, 4:46 AM

Implement Canvas-based Hover Effects for Portal Header

Name: Neo.mjs Application Engine
Author: Neo.mjs

Closed v11.23.0 enhancementdesign

tobiu commented on Jan 17, 2026, 4:13 AM

Disable CSS Hover: Override .neo-button:hover in HeaderToolbar.scss to prevent the default ghost button background.
Implement Event Delegation: Add mouseenter/mouseleave listeners to HeaderToolbar delegated to .neo-button to track hover state.
Canvas Bridge: Pass the hovered button ID to the HeaderCanvas Shared Worker.
Render Effect: Update HeaderCanvas to visually highlight the hovered button (e.g., via energy surge similar to active state).

tobiu added the enhancement label on Jan 17, 2026, 4:13 AM

tobiu added the design label on Jan 17, 2026, 4:13 AM

tobiu added the ai label on Jan 17, 2026, 4:13 AM

tobiu referenced in commit e31c607 - "feat: Implement Canvas-based Hover Effects for Portal Header (#8744)" on Jan 17, 2026, 4:45 AM

tobiu assigned to @tobiu on Jan 17, 2026, 4:46 AM

tobiu Jan 17, 2026, 4:46 AM

Input from Gemini 3 Pro:

✦ Implemented Canvas-based Hover Effects for the Portal Header.

Key Changes:

SCSS Override: Disabled default CSS hover/active effects in HeaderToolbar.scss.

Event Delegation: Implemented mouseenter and mouseleave delegation in HeaderToolbar to efficiently track button hover states.

Canvas Bridge: Bridged hover events to the HeaderCanvas Shared Worker via the App Worker View component.

Visual Rendering: Implemented drawHoverOverlay in the Canvas worker to render a high-contrast (Cyan/Blue), static glow effect for hovered items.

Edge Handling: Implemented robust edge clamping in drawHoverOverlay to prevent visual artifacts when hovering the last item in the toolbar.

tobiu removed the ai label on Jan 17, 2026, 4:46 AM

tobiu closed this issue on Jan 17, 2026, 4:46 AM

tobiu added parent issue #8727 on Jan 17, 2026, 5:15 AM