Two-stage rollout, one stable abstraction layer:
1. Short-term: Hexa.NET.ImGui as the backend. Wire up in days, iterate
game logic (chat, inventory, vitals) in weeks. Looks like a debugger,
acceptable while we prove the interaction logic end-to-end.
2. `AcDream.UI.Abstractions` — ViewModels + Commands + `IPanel` /
`IPanelRenderer` interfaces. Backend-agnostic. Plugin API targets
this layer; plugins never see ImGui.
3. Long-term: custom retail-look backend using dat assets. Swap panel
by panel. ImGui stays forever as the `ACDREAM_DEVTOOLS=1` overlay.
The new doc (`2026-04-24-ui-framework.md`) captures:
- Full design of the three-layer split
- Why Hexa.NET.ImGui over ImGui.NET + Silk.NET.OpenGL.Extensions.ImGui
(AOT readiness, tracks upstream ImGui faster, cleaner native-lib
bundling)
- Alternatives considered and ruled out (Myra, Avalonia, NoesisGUI,
RmlUi, pure custom from day one)
- Implementation order (Sprint 1 vitals HUD → Sprint 2 interaction
panels → Sprint 3 plugin API → Sprint 4+ more panels → later
custom retail-look)
- Risks + mitigations and open questions deferred to implementation
Roadmap Phase D updated with a pointer to the new plan so future
sessions start from the latest strategy, not the original
all-custom-from-day-one Phase D description.
No code changes yet. Ready to start Sprint 1 when approved.
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