feat: minor visual fix for PNG export

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CLAUDE.md

@@ -31,10 +31,15 @@ cargo install wasm-bindgen-cli --version 0.2.128   # must match the wasm-bindgen
 python3 -m http.server -d dist 8080
 ```
 
-Native debug env vars (see `src/app.rs`, near the top of `FractalApp::new`):
-`MANDEL_KIND`, `MANDEL_POWER`, `MANDEL_JULIA="re,im"`, `MANDEL_SHARE="<fragment>"`,
-`MANDEL_VIEW="re,im,half_height[,iterations]"`, `MANDEL_DE=1`,
-`MANDEL_BUDDHABROT=1`, `MANDEL_EXPORT=1` (+ `MANDEL_EXPORT_PATH=out.png`).
+Native CLI flags (`src/cli.rs`, applied in `FractalApp::apply_cli`): `--kind`,
+`--power`, `--julia re,im`, `--share <fragment>`,
+`--view re,im,half_height[,iterations]`, `--de`, `--buddhabrot`,
+`--buddha-palette`, `--export` (+ `--export-path out.png`). `--headless`
+(`src/headless.rs`) skips the window entirely: it builds the same view from
+the other flags, creates its own offscreen wgpu device, and renders straight
+to a PNG (`--width`/`--height`, default 1920×1080) — implies `--export`'s
+save behavior without needing a GPU-backed window/event loop. Not yet
+supported with `--buddhabrot`. Run `mandelbrot --help` for the full list.
 
 There's no GPU in most sandboxes: `cargo check`/`cargo test --test shader_valid`
 are the fast, headless way to validate a change. `cargo test` also runs but

Cargo.toml

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ png = "0.18.1"
 [target.'cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))'.dependencies]
 env_logger = "0.11.11"
 clap = { version = "4.5.51", features = ["derive"] }
+pollster = "1.0.1"
 
 [target.'cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")'.dependencies]
 futures-channel = { version = "0.3.34", default-features = false, features = ["alloc", "std"] }

src/app.rs

@@ -2,16 +2,16 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
 use eframe::CreationContext;
 use eframe::egui_wgpu;
+#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 use eframe::egui_wgpu::wgpu;
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 use crate::cli::Cli;
 use crate::fractal::{
     BuddhabrotCallback, BuddhabrotRenderer, BuddhabrotUniforms, ExportRender, FractalCallback,
-    FractalKind, FractalRenderer, MAX_REF_POINTS, ShareState, Uniforms,
+    FractalKind, FractalRenderer, MAX_REF_POINTS, ShareState, Uniforms, compute_reference,
+    compute_set_reference,
 };
-#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-use crate::fractal::{compute_reference, compute_set_reference};
 use crate::lights::Light;
 use crate::view::{
     Big, DEFAULT_HALF_HEIGHT, ViewState, big_from_decimal_str, big_from_f64, big_to_decimal_str,
@@ -67,6 +67,23 @@ fn kind_label(kind: FractalKind) -> &'static str {
         .unwrap_or("Mandelbrot")
 }
 
+/// The iteration formula for a kind, in human-readable notation (mirrors the
+/// doc comments on `FractalKind`'s variants). `power` is only used by
+/// Multibrot.
+fn kind_formula(kind: FractalKind, power: u32) -> String {
+    match kind {
+        FractalKind::Mandelbrot => "z = z² + c".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::BurningShip => "z = (|Re(z)| + i|Im(z)|)² + c".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::Tricorn => "z = conj(z)² + c".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::Multibrot => format!("z = z^{power} + c"),
+        FractalKind::Celtic => "z = |Re(z²)| + i·Im(z²) + c".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::Perpendicular => "z = (x² − y²) − 2x|y|i + c".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::Buffalo => "z = |Re(z²)| − i|Im(z²)| + c".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::Phoenix => "z = z² + c + p·z_prev".to_string(),
+        FractalKind::Lambda => "z = λ·z(1 − z)".to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
 type JuliaPreset = (&'static str, f64, f64, u32, Option<(f64, f64)>);
 
 /// Nice-looking Julia constants offered as presets.
@@ -303,6 +320,11 @@ pub struct FractalApp {
     /// Whether the app is in fullscreen (browser Fullscreen API on web, viewport
     /// fullscreen on native). Kept in sync with the real state each frame.
     fullscreen: bool,
+    /// Whether the "Fractal Info" popup (formula/constants/zoom for the
+    /// current view) is open.
+    info_open: bool,
+    /// Whether the Help window (about + mouse/touch controls) is open.
+    help_open: bool,
     /// Time-based animation of colours / Julia c / Phoenix p / zoom.
     anim: AnimState,
 
@@ -395,6 +417,27 @@ impl FractalApp {
             guard.callback_resources.insert(buddhabrot_renderer);
         }
 
+        let mut app = Self::default_state();
+
+        // On the web, restore a shared view from the URL fragment (#...).
+        #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
+        if let Some(frag) = web_location_hash() {
+            if let Some(state) = ShareState::decode(&frag) {
+                app.apply_share(&state);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Debug/testing hooks, driven by CLI flags.
+        #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+        app.apply_cli(Cli::parse());
+
+        app
+    }
+
+    /// Build the app's default state (no window, no GPU, no CLI applied yet).
+    /// Shared by the windowed app (`new`, which then layers CLI/share-link
+    /// overrides on top) and headless rendering.
+    pub(crate) fn default_state() -> Self {
         let view = ViewState::default();
         let ref_center_re = view.center_re.clone();
         let ref_center_im = view.center_im.clone();
@@ -404,7 +447,7 @@ impl FractalApp {
         let center_im_edit = big_to_decimal_str(&view.center_im, sig);
         let zoom_edit = format_magnification(view.magnification());
 
-        let mut app = Self {
+        Self {
             view,
             mode: FractalMode::Mandelbrot,
             kind: FractalKind::Mandelbrot,
@@ -431,6 +474,8 @@ impl FractalApp {
             buddha_accumulate: true,
             controls_open: true,
             fullscreen: false,
+            info_open: false,
+            help_open: false,
             anim: AnimState::default(),
             fps: 0.0,
             fps_frames: 0,
@@ -455,27 +500,20 @@ impl FractalApp {
             center_im_edit,
             zoom_edit,
             zoom_edited: false,
-        };
-
-        // On the web, restore a shared view from the URL fragment (#...).
-        #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
-        if let Some(frag) = web_location_hash() {
-            if let Some(state) = ShareState::decode(&frag) {
-                app.apply_share(&state);
         }
     }
 
-        // Debug/testing hooks, driven by CLI flags.
+    /// Apply native CLI flags on top of the default state: fractal kind/mode,
+    /// a restored share link or explicit view, coloring toggles, and export
+    /// options. Shared by the windowed app and headless rendering.
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
-        {
-            let cli = Cli::parse();
-
+    pub(crate) fn apply_cli(&mut self, cli: Cli) {
         if let Some(k) = cli.kind {
-                app.kind = k.into();
+            self.kind = k.into();
             if let Some(p) = cli.power {
-                    app.power = p.clamp(2, 8);
+                self.power = p.clamp(2, 8);
             }
-                app.view = Self::default_view_for(app.mode, app.kind);
+            self.view = Self::default_view_for(self.mode, self.kind);
         }
         if let Some(jc) = cli.julia {
             let p: Vec<&str> = jc.split(',').collect();
@@ -483,37 +521,34 @@ impl FractalApp {
                 p.first().map(|s| s.trim().parse::<f64>()),
                 p.get(1).map(|s| s.trim().parse::<f64>()),
             ) {
-                    app.mode = FractalMode::Julia;
-                    app.julia_c = (re, im);
-                    app.view = Self::default_view_for(FractalMode::Julia, app.kind);
+                self.mode = FractalMode::Julia;
+                self.julia_c = (re, im);
+                self.view = Self::default_view_for(FractalMode::Julia, self.kind);
             }
         }
         if let Some(frag) = cli.share
             && let Some(state) = ShareState::decode(&frag)
         {
-                app.apply_share(&state);
+            self.apply_share(&state);
         }
         if let Some(spec) = cli.view {
-                app.apply_view_spec(&spec);
+            self.apply_view_spec(&spec);
         }
         if cli.de {
-                app.de_coloring = true;
+            self.de_coloring = true;
         }
         if cli.buddhabrot {
-                app.buddhabrot = true;
+            self.buddhabrot = true;
         }
         if let Some(p) = cli.buddha_palette {
-                app.buddha_palette = p.min(BUDDHA_PALETTE_NAMES.len() as u32 - 1);
+            self.buddha_palette = p.min(BUDDHA_PALETTE_NAMES.len() as u32 - 1);
         }
-            app.export_path = cli.export_path;
+        self.export_path = cli.export_path;
         if cli.export {
-                app.export_requested = true;
+            self.export_requested = true;
         }
     }
 
-        app
-    }
-
     /// Apply a view spec "re,im,half_height[,iterations]" (re/im are decimal,
     /// parsed at full precision). Used by the native debug env var.
     #[allow(dead_code)]
@@ -726,6 +761,14 @@ impl FractalApp {
         self.generation = self.generation.wrapping_add(1);
     }
 
+    /// The current reference orbit, as uploaded to the GPU. Used by headless
+    /// rendering to build its own `ExportRender` without going through
+    /// `egui_wgpu`'s callback machinery.
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    pub(crate) fn reference_points(&self) -> &[[f32; 2]] {
+        &self.reference
+    }
+
     /// Recompute the reference orbit when needed. Native: dispatch to a worker
     /// thread and pick up completed results. Web: compute inline.
     fn ensure_reference(&mut self) {
@@ -804,7 +847,63 @@ impl FractalApp {
         }
     }
 
-    fn make_uniforms(&self, aspect: f64) -> Uniforms {
+    /// Compute the reference orbit for the current view synchronously, on the
+    /// calling thread — unlike `ensure_reference`, which dispatches to the
+    /// native worker (or, on wasm, computes inline but still runs once per
+    /// frame poll). Used by headless rendering, which has no frame loop to
+    /// poll a background result on and only ever needs one reference.
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    pub(crate) fn compute_reference_blocking(&mut self) {
+        if self.auto_iterations {
+            self.max_iterations = self.auto_iteration_count();
+        }
+        let mut key = self.current_key();
+        let precision = self.view.precision_bits();
+        let max_iter = key.iter.min(MAX_REF_POINTS as u32 - 1);
+
+        // Lambda in Set mode has a static fractal centered at origin.
+        if key.kind == FractalKind::Lambda && !key.julia {
+            key.center_re = big_from_f64(0.0, precision);
+            key.center_im = big_from_f64(0.0, precision);
+        }
+
+        let points = if key.julia {
+            let jr = big_from_f64(key.julia_c.0, precision);
+            let ji = big_from_f64(key.julia_c.1, precision);
+            compute_reference(
+                &key.center_re,
+                &key.center_im,
+                &jr,
+                &ji,
+                max_iter,
+                precision,
+                key.kind,
+                key.power,
+                key.phoenix_p,
+                key.lambda_l,
+            )
+        } else {
+            compute_set_reference(
+                &key.center_re,
+                &key.center_im,
+                max_iter,
+                precision,
+                key.kind,
+                key.power,
+                key.phoenix_p,
+                key.lambda_l,
+            )
+        };
+        self.apply_reference(
+            points,
+            key.center_re.clone(),
+            key.center_im.clone(),
+            key.half_height,
+        );
+        self.last_request = Some(key);
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn make_uniforms(&self, aspect: f64) -> Uniforms {
         let (span_x, span_y) = self.view.span(aspect);
         Uniforms {
             span: [span_x as f32, span_y as f32],
@@ -905,9 +1004,6 @@ impl FractalApp {
         self.status = None;
         self.export = Some(Arc::clone(&shared));
 
-        // Progress budget: rendering fills [0, RENDER_END], encoding the rest.
-        const RENDER_END: f32 = 0.6;
-
         #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
         {
             let name = self
@@ -926,51 +1022,11 @@ impl FractalApp {
                     uniforms,
                     reference.as_slice(),
                 );
-
-                // Render the image tile by tile, waiting for each so progress
-                // reflects real GPU work.
-                for t in 0..er.tiles {
-                    er.render_tile(&device, &queue, t);
-                    let _ = device.poll(wgpu::PollType::Wait {
-                        submission_index: None,
-                        timeout: None,
-                    });
-                    let done = (t + 1) as f32 / er.tiles as f32;
-                    set_progress(&shared, "Rendering", RENDER_END * done);
-                }
-                er.copy_to_readback(&device, &queue);
-
-                // Wait for the copy, then read the mapped bytes.
-                let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
-                er.readback()
-                    .slice(..)
-                    .map_async(wgpu::MapMode::Read, move |res| {
-                        let _ = tx.send(res);
-                    });
-                let _ = device.poll(wgpu::PollType::Wait {
-                    submission_index: None,
-                    timeout: None,
-                });
-                let _ = rx.recv();
-
-                set_progress(&shared, "Encoding", RENDER_END);
-                let png = {
-                    let data = er
-                        .readback()
-                        .slice(..)
-                        .get_mapped_range()
-                        .expect("map readback buffer");
                 let sh = Arc::clone(&shared);
-                    crate::fractal::encode_png_with_progress(
-                        &data,
-                        er.width,
-                        er.height,
-                        er.padded_bpr,
-                        er.swap_rb,
-                        |f| set_progress(&sh, "Encoding", RENDER_END + (0.97 - RENDER_END) * f),
-                    )
-                };
-                er.readback().unmap();
+                let png =
+                    crate::fractal::export_to_png_blocking(&device, &queue, &er, |phase, f| {
+                        set_progress(&sh, phase, f)
+                    });
 
                 set_progress(&shared, "Saving", 0.98);
                 let result = std::fs::write(&name, &png)
@@ -981,6 +1037,8 @@ impl FractalApp {
         }
         #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
         {
+            // Progress budget: rendering fills [0, RENDER_END], encoding the rest.
+            const RENDER_END: f32 = 0.6;
             wasm_bindgen_futures::spawn_local(async move {
                 let er = ExportRender::new(
                     &device,
@@ -1093,6 +1151,13 @@ impl FractalApp {
                                 self.fullscreen = !self.fullscreen;
                                 self.apply_fullscreen(ui.ctx());
                             }
+                            if ui
+                                .button("Help")
+                                .on_hover_text("About this app, and mouse/touch controls")
+                                .clicked()
+                            {
+                                self.help_open = !self.help_open;
+                            }
                             // FPS readout. Monospace + fixed width so the number
                             // changing doesn't jitter the button row.
                             ui.add(
@@ -1111,6 +1176,173 @@ impl FractalApp {
             });
     }
 
+    /// Floating bottom-left overlay: a single button that toggles the
+    /// "Fractal Info" window. Kept separate from `overlay_buttons` (top-left)
+    /// so it stays out of the way of the panel toggle / fullscreen controls,
+    /// but is still reachable even when the controls panel is collapsed.
+    fn info_button(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
+        egui::Area::new(egui::Id::new("info_button"))
+            .anchor(egui::Align2::LEFT_BOTTOM, egui::vec2(8.0, -8.0))
+            .show(ui.ctx(), |ui| {
+                egui::Frame::popup(ui.style())
+                    .shadow(egui::Shadow::NONE)
+                    .show(ui, |ui| {
+                        if ui
+                            .button("Fractal infos")
+                            .on_hover_text("Show details about the current fractal")
+                            .clicked()
+                        {
+                            self.info_open = !self.info_open;
+                        }
+                    });
+            });
+    }
+
+    /// Window with details about what's currently on screen: formula, active
+    /// per-kind constants, zoom depth, iteration count. Reads live state, so
+    /// it stays correct as the user pans/zooms/switches kinds.
+    fn info_window(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) {
+        let mut open = self.info_open;
+        egui::Window::new("Fractal Info")
+            .id(egui::Id::new("info_window"))
+            .open(&mut open)
+            .collapsible(false)
+            .resizable(false)
+            .anchor(egui::Align2::LEFT_BOTTOM, egui::vec2(8.0, -44.0))
+            .show(ctx, |ui| {
+                ui.label(
+                    egui::RichText::new(kind_label(self.kind))
+                        .strong()
+                        .heading(),
+                );
+                let mode_label = if self.buddhabrot {
+                    "Buddhabrot mode — orbit density (random c, z₀ = 0)"
+                } else {
+                    match self.mode {
+                        FractalMode::Mandelbrot => {
+                            "Mandelbrot mode — parameter space (c varies per pixel, z₀ = 0)"
+                        }
+                        FractalMode::Julia => {
+                            "Julia mode — dynamical plane for a fixed c (z₀ varies per pixel)"
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+                ui.label(mode_label);
+                ui.separator();
+
+                ui.label(format!("formula: {}", kind_formula(self.kind, self.power)));
+                if self.mode == FractalMode::Julia {
+                    ui.label(format!("c = {:.6} {:+.6}i", self.julia_c.0, self.julia_c.1));
+                }
+                if self.kind == FractalKind::Phoenix {
+                    ui.label(format!(
+                        "p = {:.6} {:+.6}i",
+                        self.phoenix_p.0, self.phoenix_p.1
+                    ));
+                }
+                if self.kind == FractalKind::Lambda {
+                    ui.label(format!(
+                        "λ = {:.6} {:+.6}i",
+                        self.lambda_l.0, self.lambda_l.1
+                    ));
+                }
+                ui.separator();
+
+                ui.label(self.kind.description());
+            });
+        self.info_open = open;
+    }
+
+    /// Help window: what the app does, plus a reference for mouse/touch and
+    /// keyboard controls.
+    fn help_window(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) {
+        let mut open = self.help_open;
+        egui::Window::new("Help")
+            .id(egui::Id::new("help_window"))
+            .open(&mut open)
+            .collapsible(false)
+            .default_width(360.0)
+            .show(ctx, |ui| {
+                egui::ScrollArea::vertical()
+                    .max_height(480.0)
+                    .show(ui, |ui| {
+                        ui.heading("About");
+                        ui.label(
+                            "A deep-zoom fractal explorer. It renders the Mandelbrot set \
+                             and several related fractals (Burning Ship, Tricorn, \
+                             Multibrot, Celtic, Perpendicular, Buffalo, Phoenix, Lambda).",
+                        );
+                        ui.add_space(4.0);
+                        ui.label(
+                            "Each fractals can be rendered in different modes: \n\
+                             • Mandelbrot mode fixes z₀=0 and then for each pixel, set c as it's position \
+                             in the complex plane. \n\
+                             • Julia mode fixes c and instead varies the \
+                             starting point z₀ across the plane. \n\
+                             • Buddhabrot mode switches to a different, Monte-Carlo rendering of orbit density \
+                             instead of the ordinary escape-time set.",
+                        );
+                        ui.separator();
+
+                        ui.heading("Mouse & touch");
+                        egui::Grid::new("help_mouse_grid")
+                            .num_columns(2)
+                            .spacing([12.0, 6.0])
+                            .show(ui, |ui| {
+                                ui.label("Drag");
+                                ui.label("Pan the view");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("Scroll / trackpad");
+                                ui.label("Zoom toward the cursor");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("Pinch (touch)");
+                                ui.label("Zoom toward the gesture center");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("Two-finger drag (touch)");
+                                ui.label("Pan the view");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                            });
+                        ui.separator();
+
+                        ui.heading("Keyboard");
+                        egui::Grid::new("help_keyboard_grid")
+                            .num_columns(2)
+                            .spacing([12.0, 6.0])
+                            .show(ui, |ui| {
+                                ui.label("Arrow keys");
+                                ui.label("Pan the view");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("Z / S");
+                                ui.label("Zoom in / out toward the center");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("+ / -");
+                                ui.label("Increase / decrease iterations");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("R");
+                                ui.label("Reset to the default view");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("H");
+                                ui.label("Toggle this Help window");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("I");
+                                ui.label("Toggle the Info window");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                                ui.label("A");
+                                ui.label("Toggle antialiasing (2×2)");
+                                ui.end_row();
+                            });
+                        ui.separator();
+
+                        ui.heading("Tips");
+                        ui.label(
+                            "• \"Copy link\" (in the panel) encodes the exact view so it \
+                             can be reopened later or sent to someone else.",
+                        );
+                    });
+            });
+        self.help_open = open;
+    }
+
     /// Push the desired fullscreen state to the platform.
     #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
     fn apply_fullscreen(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) {
@@ -1594,10 +1826,11 @@ impl FractalApp {
             ui.add(
                 egui::DragValue::new(&mut self.export_scale)
                     .range(1.0..=16.0)
-                    .speed(0.5),
+                    .speed(0.25)
+                    .custom_formatter(|x, _| format!("x{:.1}", x)),
             );
             ui.label(format!(
-                "→ {}×{}",
+                "= {}×{}",
                 (self.last_size_px.x * self.export_scale) as u32,
                 (self.last_size_px.y * self.export_scale) as u32,
             ));
@@ -1726,6 +1959,84 @@ impl FractalApp {
             ui.ctx().request_repaint();
         }
 
+        // Keyboard: arrows pan, z/s zoom in/out, +/- adjust iterations, R
+        // resets the view, H/I toggle the Help/Info windows. Skipped while a
+        // text field (e.g. the center/zoom edit boxes) has focus.
+        if !ui.ctx().egui_wants_keyboard_input() {
+            let dt = ui.input(|i| i.stable_dt as f64).clamp(0.0, 0.1);
+            let (left, right, up, down, zoom_in, zoom_out) = ui.input(|i| {
+                (
+                    i.key_down(egui::Key::ArrowLeft),
+                    i.key_down(egui::Key::ArrowRight),
+                    i.key_down(egui::Key::ArrowUp),
+                    i.key_down(egui::Key::ArrowDown),
+                    i.key_down(egui::Key::Z),
+                    i.key_down(egui::Key::S),
+                )
+            });
+
+            // Pixels/sec pan speed — matches a brisk mouse drag regardless of
+            // frame rate. See `pan_pixels`'s screen-space (+x right, +y down)
+            // convention: Right/Down pan the *camera* right/down, which is
+            // the opposite delta sign from a drag that would show the same
+            // content (a drag grabs the canvas; these keys move the camera).
+            const PAN_SPEED_PX: f64 = 700.0;
+            let mut dx = 0.0;
+            let mut dy = 0.0;
+            if left {
+                dx += PAN_SPEED_PX * dt;
+            }
+            if right {
+                dx -= PAN_SPEED_PX * dt;
+            }
+            if down {
+                dy += PAN_SPEED_PX * dt;
+            }
+            if up {
+                dy -= PAN_SPEED_PX * dt;
+            }
+            if dx != 0.0 || dy != 0.0 {
+                self.view.pan_pixels(dx, dy, height_px);
+                interacted = true;
+            }
+
+            // e-folds/sec, same scale as the auto-zoom animation.
+            const ZOOM_SPEED: f64 = 1.0;
+            if zoom_in != zoom_out {
+                let rate = if zoom_in { ZOOM_SPEED } else { -ZOOM_SPEED };
+                let factor = (-rate * dt).exp();
+                self.view.zoom_at_pixel(0.0, 0.0, height_px, factor);
+                interacted = true;
+            }
+            if left || right || up || down || zoom_in || zoom_out {
+                ui.ctx().request_repaint();
+            }
+
+            if ui.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::R)) {
+                self.view = Self::default_view_for(self.mode, self.kind);
+                interacted = true;
+            }
+            if ui.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::H)) {
+                self.help_open = !self.help_open;
+            }
+            if ui.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::I)) {
+                self.info_open = !self.info_open;
+            }
+            if ui.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::A)) {
+                self.antialias = !self.antialias;
+            }
+            if ui.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::Plus) || i.key_pressed(egui::Key::Equals)) {
+                self.auto_iterations = false;
+                self.max_iterations = ((self.max_iterations as f64 * 1.25).round() as u32)
+                    .clamp(32, MAX_REF_POINTS as u32 - 1);
+            }
+            if ui.input(|i| i.key_pressed(egui::Key::Minus)) {
+                self.auto_iterations = false;
+                self.max_iterations = ((self.max_iterations as f64 / 1.25).round() as u32)
+                    .clamp(32, MAX_REF_POINTS as u32 - 1);
+            }
+        }
+
         if self.buddhabrot {
             // No reference orbit / perturbation machinery: iterate directly in
             // f32 from the live view. Progressive accumulation means this
@@ -1844,6 +2155,9 @@ impl eframe::App for FractalApp {
         // Floating overlay, always reachable (even when the panel is collapsed):
         // toggle the panel and toggle fullscreen. Essential on a phone.
         self.overlay_buttons(ui);
+        self.info_button(ui);
+        self.info_window(ui.ctx());
+        self.help_window(ui.ctx());
 
         if std::mem::take(&mut self.export_requested) {
             self.do_export(frame);
@@ -1872,7 +2186,7 @@ fn finish_export(shared: &Arc<Mutex<ExportShared>>, result: Result<String, Strin
 }
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
-fn unix_timestamp() -> u64 {
+pub(crate) fn unix_timestamp() -> u64 {
     std::time::SystemTime::now()
         .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
         .map(|d| d.as_secs())

src/cli.rs

@@ -45,9 +45,23 @@ pub struct Cli {
     #[arg(long)]
     pub export: bool,
 
-    /// Output path for --export (default: fractal-<timestamp>.png).
+    /// Output path for --export/--headless (default: fractal-<timestamp>.png).
     #[arg(long, value_name = "PATH")]
     pub export_path: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Run without opening a window: render the current view to a PNG and
+    /// exit. Combine with --kind/--julia/--share/--view etc. to pick what to
+    /// render. Not yet supported with --buddhabrot.
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub headless: bool,
+
+    /// Output image width in pixels (--headless only).
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "PX", default_value_t = 1920)]
+    pub width: u32,
+
+    /// Output image height in pixels (--headless only).
+    #[arg(long, value_name = "PX", default_value_t = 1080)]
+    pub height: u32,
 }
 
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, ValueEnum)]

src/fractal/mod.rs

@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ pub mod share;
 
 pub use buddhabrot::{BuddhabrotCallback, BuddhabrotRenderer, BuddhabrotUniforms};
 pub use reference::{FractalKind, compute_reference, compute_set_reference};
-pub use renderer::{
-    ExportRender, FractalCallback, FractalRenderer, MAX_REF_POINTS, Uniforms,
-    encode_png_with_progress,
-};
+#[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
+pub use renderer::encode_png_with_progress;
+#[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+pub use renderer::export_to_png_blocking;
+pub use renderer::{ExportRender, FractalCallback, FractalRenderer, MAX_REF_POINTS, Uniforms};
 pub use share::ShareState;

src/fractal/reference.rs

@@ -37,6 +37,26 @@ pub enum FractalKind {
     Lambda = 8,
 }
 
+impl FractalKind {
+    pub fn description(&self) -> &str {
+        match self {
+            FractalKind::Mandelbrot => {
+                "The Mandelbrot set is the most famous fractal set, obtained with the simplest escape-time formula. This set represents all Julia fractals: each points of the Mandelbrot set is related to a specific Julia fractal."
+            }
+            FractalKind::BurningShip => {
+                "A variation of the famous Mandelbrot set, using absolute values on the real and imaginary part of each iterations."
+            }
+            FractalKind::Tricorn => "The Tricorn set is obtained using the same formula as the Mandelbrot set, taking the complex conjugate of the previous iteration.",
+            FractalKind::Multibrot => "Multibrot use the same formula as the Mandelbrot set, with a bigger exposant.",
+            FractalKind::Celtic => "",
+            FractalKind::Perpendicular => "",
+            FractalKind::Buffalo => "",
+            FractalKind::Phoenix => "",
+            FractalKind::Lambda => "",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Reference orbit escapes once |Z|^2 exceeds this. Kept larger than the pixel
 /// bailout so pixels escaping alongside the reference can still reach their
 /// bailout before the stored orbit runs out.

src/fractal/renderer.rs

@@ -757,6 +757,59 @@ impl ExportRender {
     }
 }
 
+/// Render `er` tile by tile (blocking on the GPU after each tile so progress
+/// reflects real work), read it back, and encode the result as PNG bytes.
+/// Blocks the calling thread throughout, so it's only for native targets:
+/// the UI export path runs it on a background thread, headless rendering
+/// runs it directly since it has no frame loop to share a thread with.
+#[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+pub fn export_to_png_blocking(
+    device: &wgpu::Device,
+    queue: &wgpu::Queue,
+    er: &ExportRender,
+    mut on_progress: impl FnMut(&'static str, f32),
+) -> Vec<u8> {
+    // Progress budget: rendering fills [0, RENDER_END], encoding the rest.
+    const RENDER_END: f32 = 0.6;
+
+    for t in 0..er.tiles {
+        er.render_tile(device, queue, t);
+        let _ = device.poll(wgpu::PollType::Wait {
+            submission_index: None,
+            timeout: None,
+        });
+        let done = (t + 1) as f32 / er.tiles as f32;
+        on_progress("Rendering", RENDER_END * done);
+    }
+    er.copy_to_readback(device, queue);
+
+    let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
+    er.readback()
+        .slice(..)
+        .map_async(wgpu::MapMode::Read, move |res| {
+            let _ = tx.send(res);
+        });
+    let _ = device.poll(wgpu::PollType::Wait {
+        submission_index: None,
+        timeout: None,
+    });
+    let _ = rx.recv();
+
+    on_progress("Encoding", RENDER_END);
+    let png = {
+        let data = er
+            .readback()
+            .slice(..)
+            .get_mapped_range()
+            .expect("map readback buffer");
+        encode_png_with_progress(&data, er.width, er.height, er.padded_bpr, er.swap_rb, |f| {
+            on_progress("Encoding", RENDER_END + (0.97 - RENDER_END) * f)
+        })
+    };
+    er.readback().unmap();
+    png
+}
+
 /// Convert a padded BGRA/RGBA readback into tightly-packed RGBA8 and encode it
 /// as PNG bytes, reporting progress in `[0, 1]` via `on_progress` as rows are
 /// streamed to the compressor (encoding is the slow, subdividable phase).

src/headless.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+// Headless PNG rendering: parse the CLI, build the exact same view/state the
+// windowed app would from it, then render straight to a file. No window, no
+// event loop, no worker-thread debounce (nothing to debounce for a one-shot
+// render); it just creates its own wgpu device, computes the reference orbit
+// once, and renders through the same `ExportRender` path the "Export PNG"
+// button uses.
+
+use eframe::egui_wgpu::wgpu;
+
+use crate::app::{FractalApp, unix_timestamp};
+use crate::cli::Cli;
+use crate::fractal::{ExportRender, FractalRenderer, export_to_png_blocking};
+
+/// Cap on the output image dimension (px), to stay within GPU texture limits.
+const MAX_DIM: u32 = 8192 * 16;
+
+pub fn run(cli: Cli) -> Result<(), String> {
+    if cli.buddhabrot {
+        return Err("headless mode doesn't support --buddhabrot yet".into());
+    }
+
+    let width = cli.width.clamp(16, MAX_DIM);
+    let height = cli.height.clamp(16, MAX_DIM);
+    let export_path = cli
+        .export_path
+        .clone()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("fractal-{}.png", unix_timestamp()));
+
+    let mut app = FractalApp::default_state();
+    app.apply_cli(cli);
+
+    eprintln!("computing reference orbit…");
+    app.compute_reference_blocking();
+
+    let (device, queue) = pollster::block_on(request_device())?;
+    let format = wgpu::TextureFormat::Rgba8UnormSrgb;
+    let renderer = FractalRenderer::new(&device, format);
+    let (pipeline, bind_group_layout, format) = renderer.export_handles();
+
+    let uniforms = app.make_uniforms(width as f64 / height as f64);
+    let er = ExportRender::new(
+        &device,
+        &queue,
+        pipeline,
+        &bind_group_layout,
+        format,
+        width,
+        height,
+        uniforms,
+        app.reference_points(),
+    );
+
+    eprintln!("rendering {width}×{height}…");
+    let png = export_to_png_blocking(&device, &queue, &er, |phase, fraction| {
+        eprint!("\r{phase} {:>3.0}%", fraction * 100.0);
+    });
+    eprintln!();
+
+    std::fs::write(&export_path, &png).map_err(|e| format!("save failed: {e}"))?;
+    println!("saved {export_path} ({width}×{height})");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Set up a wgpu device with no surface/window attached, matching the limits
+/// `main::wgpu_options` requests for the windowed app (the fractal fragment
+/// shader needs storage buffers, which downlevel/WebGL-style limits disallow).
+async fn request_device() -> Result<(wgpu::Device, wgpu::Queue), String> {
+    let instance = wgpu::Instance::default();
+    let adapter = instance
+        .request_adapter(&wgpu::RequestAdapterOptions::default())
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("no compatible GPU adapter: {e}"))?;
+    adapter
+        .request_device(&wgpu::DeviceDescriptor {
+            label: Some("headless fractal device"),
+            required_features: wgpu::Features::empty(),
+            required_limits: adapter.limits(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        })
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("failed to create device: {e}"))
+}

src/main.rs

@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ mod view;
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 mod cli;
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+mod headless;
+#[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 mod worker;
 
 use app::FractalApp;
@@ -49,11 +51,24 @@ fn wgpu_options() -> eframe::egui_wgpu::WgpuConfiguration {
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 fn main() -> eframe::Result {
+    use clap::Parser as _;
+
     env_logger::builder()
         .filter_level(log::LevelFilter::Info)
         .parse_default_env()
         .init();
 
+    let cli = cli::Cli::parse();
+    if cli.headless {
+        return match headless::run(cli) {
+            Ok(()) => Ok(()),
+            Err(e) => {
+                eprintln!("error: {e}");
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
     let native_options = eframe::NativeOptions {
         renderer: eframe::Renderer::Wgpu,
         wgpu_options: wgpu_options(),