client-side-routing

name	client-side-routing
description	How to add routes without remounting the app shell. Use when adding a new route, fixing agent sidebar reloads on navigation, or choosing between `root.tsx` layout and pathless `_app.tsx` layout patterns.
scope	dev
metadata	{"internal":true}

Client-Side Routing

Rule

All templates are single-page apps using React Router. Navigation must not remount the app shell. The agent sidebar, document tree, and any other persistent chrome must survive route changes.

Why

If the shell unmounts on every navigation, the agent chat reconnects/reloads, destroying in-progress work and hammering the backend.

Hard Rule

The app shell (AgentSidebar + any top-level navigation) must be mounted ONCE, above the <Outlet />. Never wrap each page in its own <AppLayout> / <Layout>. React sees a different component at the outlet position on each nav and unmounts the entire subtree.

Two Correct Patterns

1. All routes need the shell

Mount <AppLayout> in root.tsx around <Outlet />:

// app/root.tsx
<AppLayout>
  <Outlet />
</AppLayout>

2. Mix of protected and public routes

Use a React Router pathless layout route:

app/routes/
  _app.tsx                  # renders <AppLayout><Outlet /></AppLayout>
  _app._index.tsx           # / → under AppLayout
  _app.settings.tsx         # /settings → under AppLayout
  _app.team.tsx             # /team → under AppLayout
  book.$slug.tsx            # /book/:slug → no layout (public)
  f.$.tsx                   # /f/* → no layout (public form filler)

The _ prefix on _app.tsx makes it a pathless parent — it contributes the layout but no URL segment. Route files prefixed with _app. nest under it and share the layout instance across navigations.

Anti-Pattern

// ❌ BAD — each route wraps its own Layout, causing full remount on every nav
export default function Settings() {
  return (
    <AppLayout>
      <SettingsContent />
    </AppLayout>
  );
}

If a page needs per-route data (e.g. sidebar highlighting the active document), derive it inside the layout from useParams() / useLocation() — don't pass it as a prop through every route file.

Chat-First Routes

If / is a full-page chat such as AgentChatHome, keep the app shell mounted around it when possible so AgentSidebar URL sync and route warmup stay active. If the chat route intentionally lives outside the shell, add a tiny app-owned prewarm for the routes agents commonly open from that chat. In local dev, React Router can update the address bar before a cold Vite route chunk commits, which makes navigation look broken even when the URL is correct.

Adding a New Route

• Pattern #1 (AppLayout in root.tsx): just render page content — nothing else.
• Pattern #2 (pathless _app.tsx): name the file _app.<segment>.tsx for authed routes, or bare <segment>.tsx for public routes.

Related Skills

• adding-a-feature — The four-area checklist referencing route layout patterns
• context-awareness — Navigation state written on every route change