Updates to app launch (#2316)

novelwriter/__init__.py

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QApplication, QErrorMessage
 from novelwriter.config import Config
 from novelwriter.error import exceptionHandler
 from novelwriter.shared import SharedData
+from novelwriter.splash import NSplashScreen
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from novelwriter.guimain import GuiMain
@@ -267,13 +268,25 @@ def main(sysArgs: list | None = None) -> GuiMain | None:
     # Connect the exception handler before making the main GUI
     sys.excepthook = exceptionHandler
 
+    splash = NSplashScreen()
+    splash.show()
+
+    splash.showStatus("")
+    splash.showStatus("Starting novelWriter ...")
+
     # Run Config steps that require the QApplication
-    CONFIG.loadConfig()
+    CONFIG.loadConfig(splash)
     CONFIG.initLocalisation(app)
     SHARED.initTheme(GuiTheme())
 
     # Launch main GUI
     nwGUI = GuiMain()
+    nwGUI.showNormal()
+    splash.finish(nwGUI)
+
+    CONFIG.finishStartup()
+    del splash
+
     nwGUI.postLaunchTasks(cmdOpen)
 
     sys.exit(app.exec())

novelwriter/config.py

@@ -37,20 +37,21 @@ from PyQt6.QtCore import (
     PYQT_VERSION, PYQT_VERSION_STR, QT_VERSION, QT_VERSION_STR, QLibraryInfo,
     QLocale, QStandardPaths, QSysInfo, QTranslator
 )
-from PyQt6.QtGui import QFont, QFontDatabase
+from PyQt6.QtGui import QFont, QFontDatabase, QFontMetrics
 from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
 from novelwriter.common import (
     NWConfigParser, checkInt, checkPath, describeFont, fontMatcher,
     formatTimeStamp
 )
-from novelwriter.constants import nwFiles, nwUnicode
+from novelwriter.constants import nwFiles, nwHtmlUnicode, nwUnicode
 from novelwriter.error import formatException, logException
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from datetime import datetime
 
     from novelwriter.core.projectdata import NWProjectData
+    from novelwriter.splash import NSplashScreen
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ class Config:
         "_appPath", "_appRoot", "_backPath", "_backupPath", "_confPath", "_dLocale", "_dShortDate",
         "_dShortDateTime", "_dataPath", "_errData", "_hasError", "_homePath", "_manuals",
         "_nwLangPath", "_qLocale", "_qtLangPath", "_qtTrans", "_recentPaths", "_recentProjects",
-        "allowOpenDial", "altDialogClose", "altDialogOpen", "appHandle", "appName",
+        "_splash", "allowOpenDial", "altDialogClose", "altDialogOpen", "appHandle", "appName",
         "askBeforeBackup", "askBeforeExit", "autoSaveDoc", "autoSaveProj", "autoScroll",
         "autoScrollPos", "autoSelect", "backupOnClose", "cursorWidth", "dialogLine", "dialogStyle",
         "doJustify", "doReplace", "doReplaceDQuote", "doReplaceDash", "doReplaceDots",
@@ -94,6 +95,8 @@ class Config:
         # Initialisation
         # ==============
 
+        self._splash = None
+
         # Set Application Variables
         self.appName   = "novelWriter"
         self.appHandle = "novelwriter"
@@ -497,6 +500,12 @@ class Config:
 
         return sorted(langList.items(), key=lambda x: x[0])
 
+    def splashMessage(self, message: str) -> None:
+        """Send a message to the splash screen."""
+        if self._splash:
+            self._splash.showStatus(message)
+        return
+
     ##
     #  Config Actions
     ##
@@ -543,6 +552,8 @@ class Config:
 
     def initLocalisation(self, nwApp: QApplication) -> None:
         """Initialise the localisation of the GUI."""
+        self.splashMessage("Loading localisation ...")
+
         self._qLocale = QLocale(self.guiLocale)
         QLocale.setDefault(self._qLocale)
         self._qtTrans = {}
@@ -568,8 +579,11 @@ class Config:
 
         return
 
-    def loadConfig(self) -> bool:
+    def loadConfig(self, splash: NSplashScreen | None = None) -> bool:
         """Load preferences from file and replace default settings."""
+        self._splash = splash
+        self.splashMessage("Loading user configuration ...")
+
         logger.debug("Loading config file")
 
         conf = NWConfigParser()
@@ -690,6 +704,9 @@ class Config:
         # Check Values
         # ============
 
+        self._prepareFont(self.guiFont, "GUI")
+        self._prepareFont(self.textFont, "document")
+
         # If we're using straight quotes, disable auto-replace
         if self.fmtSQuoteOpen == self.fmtSQuoteClose == "'" and self.doReplaceSQuote:
             logger.info("Using straight single quotes, so disabling auto-replace")
@@ -820,6 +837,11 @@ class Config:
 
         return True
 
+    def finishStartup(self) -> None:
+        """Call after startup is complete."""
+        self._splash = None
+        return
+
     ##
     #  Internal Functions
     ##
@@ -842,6 +864,17 @@ class Config:
             logger.debug("Checking package 'pyenchant': OK")
         return
 
+    def _prepareFont(self, font: QFont, kind: str) -> None:
+        """Check Unicode availability in font. This also initialises any
+        alternative character used for missing glyphs. See #2315.
+        """
+        self.splashMessage(f"Initialising {kind} font: {font.family()}")
+        metrics = QFontMetrics(font)
+        for char in nwHtmlUnicode.U_TO_H.keys():
+            if not metrics.inFont(char):  # type: ignore
+                logger.warning("No glyph U+%04x in font", ord(char))  # pragma: no cover
+        return
+
 
 class RecentProjects:
 

novelwriter/gui/theme.py

@@ -130,14 +130,6 @@ class GuiTheme:
         self._availSyntax: dict[str, Path] = {}
         self._styleSheets: dict[str, str] = {}
 
-        _listConf(self._availSyntax, CONFIG.assetPath("syntax"), ".conf")
-        _listConf(self._availThemes, CONFIG.assetPath("themes"), ".conf")
-        _listConf(self._availSyntax, CONFIG.dataPath("syntax"), ".conf")
-        _listConf(self._availThemes, CONFIG.dataPath("themes"), ".conf")
-
-        self.loadTheme()
-        self.loadSyntax()
-
         # Icon Functions
         self.getIcon = self.iconCache.getIcon
         self.getPixmap = self.iconCache.getPixmap
@@ -186,6 +178,15 @@ class GuiTheme:
         logger.debug("Text 'N' Height: %d", self.textNHeight)
         logger.debug("Text 'N' Width: %d", self.textNWidth)
 
+        # Process Themes
+        _listConf(self._availSyntax, CONFIG.assetPath("syntax"), ".conf")
+        _listConf(self._availThemes, CONFIG.assetPath("themes"), ".conf")
+        _listConf(self._availSyntax, CONFIG.dataPath("syntax"), ".conf")
+        _listConf(self._availThemes, CONFIG.dataPath("themes"), ".conf")
+
+        self.loadTheme()
+        self.loadSyntax()
+
         return
 
     ##
@@ -218,6 +219,7 @@ class GuiTheme:
             logger.error("Could not load GUI theme")
             return False
 
+        CONFIG.splashMessage("Loading GUI theme ...")
         logger.info("Loading GUI theme '%s'", theme)
         parser = NWConfigParser()
         try:
@@ -357,6 +359,8 @@ class GuiTheme:
         QApplication.setPalette(self._guiPalette)
         self._buildStyleSheets(self._guiPalette)
 
+        CONFIG.splashMessage(f"Loaded GUI theme: {meta.name}")
+
         return True
 
     def loadSyntax(self) -> bool:
@@ -371,6 +375,7 @@ class GuiTheme:
             logger.error("Could not load syntax theme")
             return False
 
+        CONFIG.splashMessage("Loading syntax theme ...")
         logger.info("Loading syntax theme '%s'", theme)
         parser = NWConfigParser()
         try:
@@ -418,6 +423,8 @@ class GuiTheme:
             syntax.mod    = self._parseColor(parser, sec, "modifier")
             syntax.mark   = self._parseColor(parser, sec, "texthighlight")
 
+        CONFIG.splashMessage(f"Loaded syntax theme: {meta.name}")
+
         self.syntaxMeta = meta
         self.syntaxTheme = syntax
 
@@ -633,6 +640,7 @@ class GuiIcons:
             logger.error("Could not load icon theme")
             return False
 
+        CONFIG.splashMessage("Loading icon theme ...")
         logger.info("Loading icon theme '%s'", theme)
         try:
             meta = ThemeMeta()
@@ -656,6 +664,9 @@ class GuiIcons:
             logException()
             return False
 
+        CONFIG.splashMessage(f"Loaded icon theme: {meta.name}")
+        CONFIG.splashMessage("Generating additional icons ...")
+
         # Set colour overrides for project item icons
         if (override := CONFIG.iconColTree) != "theme":
             color = self._svgColors.get(override, b"#000000")
@@ -668,6 +679,10 @@ class GuiIcons:
                 self._svgColors["scene"] = color
                 self._svgColors["note"] = color
 
+        # Populate generated icons cache
+        self.getHeaderDecoration(0)
+        self.getHeaderDecorationNarrow(0)
+
         return True
 
     def setIconColor(self, key: str, color: QColor) -> None:
@@ -822,8 +837,8 @@ class GuiIcons:
     ##
 
     def _loadIcon(self, name: str, color: str | None = None, w: int = 24, h: int = 24) -> QIcon:
-        """Load an icon from the assets themes folder. Is guaranteed to
+        """Load an icon from the assets themes folder. This function is
-        return a QIcon.
+        guaranteed to return a QIcon.
         """
         # If we just want the app icons, return right away
         if name == "novelwriter":

novelwriter/guimain.py

@@ -310,11 +310,11 @@ class GuiMain(QMainWindow):
         self.asProjTimer.start()
         self.asDocTimer.start()
         self.mainStatus.clearStatus()
-        self.showNormal()
 
         logger.debug("Ready: GUI")
         logger.info("novelWriter is ready ...")
         self.mainStatus.setStatusMessage(self.tr("novelWriter is ready ..."))
+        CONFIG.splashMessage("novelWriter is ready ...")
 
         return
 
@@ -340,6 +340,15 @@ class GuiMain(QMainWindow):
             logger.info("Command line path: %s", cmdOpen)
             self.openProject(cmdOpen)
 
+        # Add a small delay for the window coordinates to be ready
+        # before showing any dialogs
+        QTimer.singleShot(50, self.showPostLaunchDialogs)
+
+        return
+
+    @pyqtSlot()
+    def showPostLaunchDialogs(self) -> None:
+        """Show post launch dialogs."""
         if not SHARED.hasProject:
             self.showWelcomeDialog()
 

novelwriter/splash.py

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+"""
+novelWriter – Splash Screen
+===========================
+
+File History:
+Created: 2015-04-25 [2.7rc1]
+
+This file is a part of novelWriter
+Copyright (C) 2025 Veronica Berglyd Olsen and novelWriter contributors
+
+This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
+General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from time import sleep
+
+from PyQt6.QtCore import QRect, Qt
+from PyQt6.QtGui import QColor, QPainter, QPixmap
+from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QSplashScreen
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+SPLASH_IMG = Path(__file__).parent / "assets" / "images" / "splash.png"
+
+
+class NSplashScreen(QSplashScreen):
+
+    __slots__ = ("_color", "_rect", "_text")
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__(pixmap=QPixmap(str(SPLASH_IMG)), flags=Qt.WindowType.WindowStaysOnTopHint)
+
+        logger.debug("Create: NSplashScreen")
+
+        font = self.font()
+        font.setPointSizeF(12.0)
+        self.setFont(font)
+        self._color = QColor(26, 52, 78)
+        self._rect = QRect(144, 110, 440, 30)
+        self._text = ""
+        return
+
+    def __del__(self) -> None:  # pragma: no cover
+        logger.debug("Delete: NSplashScreen")
+        return
+
+    def drawContents(self, painter: QPainter) -> None:
+        """Draw the text message."""
+        painter.setPen(self._color)
+        painter.drawText(self._rect, Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignLeft, self._text)
+        return
+
+    def showStatus(self, message: str) -> None:
+        """Update the status message."""
+        self._text = message
+        self.showMessage(message)
+        if message:
+            logger.info("[Splash] %s", message)
+        sleep(0.025)
+        return

tests/test_base/test_base_init.py

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ from novelwriter import (
     BLUE, CONFIG, END, FILE, LINE, LVLC, LVLP, TEXT, TIME, WHITE, _createApp,
     logger, main
 )
+from novelwriter.splash import NSplashScreen
 
 from tests.tools import clearLogHandlers
 
@@ -40,6 +41,8 @@ from tests.tools import clearLogHandlers
 @pytest.mark.base
 def testBaseInit_Launch(caplog, monkeypatch, fncPath):
     """Check launching the main GUI. This test """
+    monkeypatch.setattr(NSplashScreen, "finish", lambda *a: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("novelwriter.splash.sleep", lambda *a: None)
     monkeypatch.setattr("novelwriter._createApp", lambda *a: Mock())
     monkeypatch.setattr("novelwriter.guimain.GuiMain", Mock())
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "exit", Mock())
@@ -77,6 +80,9 @@ def testBaseInit_CreateApp(caplog, monkeypatch, fncPath):
 @pytest.mark.base
 def testBaseInit_Options(monkeypatch, fncPath):
     """Test command line options for logging level."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(NSplashScreen, "finish", lambda *a: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("novelwriter.splash.sleep", lambda *a: None)
+
     gui = Mock()
     app = Mock()
     app.exec = Mock(return_value=0)

tests/test_gui/test_gui_theme.py

@@ -170,14 +170,16 @@ def testGuiTheme_Theme(qtbot, monkeypatch, nwGUI, tstPaths):
         "\n"
         "[Palette]\n"
         "window = 0, 0, 0\n"
-        "windowtext = 255, 255, 255\n"
+        "text = 255, 255, 255\n"
     )
     mainTheme._availThemes["test"] = mockTheme
 
     CONFIG.guiTheme = "test"
     assert mainTheme.loadTheme() is True
-    assert mainTheme.isDarkTheme is False
+    assert mainTheme._guiPalette.window().color().getRgb() == (0, 0, 0, 255)
-    assert mainTheme.helpText.getRgb() == (190, 190, 190, 255)
+    assert mainTheme._guiPalette.text().color().getRgb() == (255, 255, 255, 255)
+    assert mainTheme._guiPalette.light().color().getRgb() == (57, 57, 57, 255)
+    assert mainTheme.isDarkTheme is True
 
     # Load Default Light Theme
     # ========================