Fast startup: defer bootstrap to background, lazy feed load

- Node::open_with_bind no longer runs bootstrap (anchor connect, NAT
  probe, referrals). New run_bootstrap() method called from background
  task after UI is live.
- Background tasks (pull cycle, diff cycle, etc.) start after bootstrap
  completes, not during block_on.
- Feed no longer pre-loaded during welcome screen readiness check.
  Ready button enables immediately after get_node_info succeeds.
- Feed loads on tab switch, not during startup.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

crates/core/src/node.rs

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub struct Node {
     pub node_id: NodeId,
     pub blob_store: Arc<BlobStore>,
     secret_seed: [u8; 32],
-    bootstrap_anchors: Vec<(NodeId, iroh::EndpointAddr)>,
+    bootstrap_anchors: tokio::sync::Mutex<Vec<(NodeId, iroh::EndpointAddr)>>,
     #[allow(dead_code)]
     profile: DeviceProfile,
     pub activity_log: Arc<std::sync::Mutex<ActivityLog>>,
@@ -113,6 +113,48 @@ impl Node {
             s.add_follow(&node_id)?;
         }
 
+        // Build the node (fast path — no network I/O beyond endpoint creation)
+        let activity_log_ref = Arc::clone(&activity_log);
+        let last_rebalance_ms = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(0));
+        let last_anchor_register_ms = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(0));
+
+        let role = network.device_role();
+        let (replication_budget, delivery_budget) = (role.replication_limit(), role.delivery_limit());
+        let replication_budget_remaining = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(replication_budget));
+        let delivery_budget_remaining = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(delivery_budget));
+        let budget_last_reset_ms = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(
+            std::time::SystemTime::now().duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+                .unwrap_or_default().as_millis() as u64
+        ));
+        blob_store.set_delivery_budget(delivery_budget);
+
+        let mut node = Self {
+            data_dir: data_dir.clone(),
+            storage: Arc::clone(&storage),
+            network: Arc::clone(&network),
+            node_id,
+            blob_store,
+            secret_seed,
+            bootstrap_anchors: tokio::sync::Mutex::new(Vec::new()),
+            profile,
+            activity_log: activity_log_ref,
+            last_rebalance_ms,
+            last_anchor_register_ms,
+            replication_budget_remaining,
+            delivery_budget_remaining,
+            budget_last_reset_ms,
+        };
+
+        Ok(node)
+    }
+
+    /// Bootstrap: connect to anchors, pull initial data, NAT probe, referrals.
+    /// Can be called during open_with_bind (blocking startup) or deferred to background.
+    pub async fn run_bootstrap(&self, data_dir: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let storage = &self.storage;
+        let network = &self.network;
+        let node_id = self.node_id;
+
         // Bootstrap: if peers table is empty, try bootstrap.json then default anchor
         {
             let s = storage.get().await;
@@ -426,35 +468,10 @@ impl Node {
             }
         }
 
-        // Initialize CDN replication budgets based on device role
+        // Store bootstrap anchors on the node
-        let role = network.device_role();
+        *self.bootstrap_anchors.lock().await = bootstrap_anchors;
-        let now = std::time::SystemTime::now()
-            .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
-            .unwrap_or_default()
-            .as_millis() as u64;
-        let replication_budget_remaining = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(role.replication_limit()));
-        let delivery_budget_remaining = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(role.delivery_limit()));
-        let budget_last_reset_ms = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(now));
 
-        // Set delivery budget on blob store (shared with ConnectionManager)
+        Ok(())
-        blob_store.set_delivery_budget(role.delivery_limit());
-
-        Ok(Self {
-            data_dir,
-            storage,
-            network,
-            node_id,
-            blob_store,
-            secret_seed,
-            bootstrap_anchors,
-            profile,
-            activity_log,
-            last_rebalance_ms,
-            last_anchor_register_ms,
-            replication_budget_remaining,
-            delivery_budget_remaining,
-            budget_last_reset_ms,
-        })
     }
 
     /// Get recent activity events (for diagnostics UI).
@@ -2487,8 +2504,8 @@ impl Node {
         storage.list_peer_records()
     }
 
-    pub fn list_bootstrap_anchors(&self) -> &[(NodeId, iroh::EndpointAddr)] {
+    pub async fn list_bootstrap_anchors(&self) -> Vec<(NodeId, iroh::EndpointAddr)> {
-        &self.bootstrap_anchors
+        self.bootstrap_anchors.lock().await.clone()
     }
 
     /// Get connection info for display: (node_id, slot_kind, connected_at)

crates/tauri-app/src/lib.rs

@@ -2464,33 +2464,43 @@ pub fn run() {
                     Arc::clone(mgr.active_node().expect("just created"))
                 };
 
-                // Start background networking
+                Ok::<_, anyhow::Error>((n, mgr))
-                n.start_accept_loop();
+            })?;
-                n.start_pull_cycle(300);
+
-                n.start_diff_cycle(120);
+            // Start bootstrap + background tasks AFTER setup completes (non-blocking)
-                n.start_rebalance_cycle(600);
+            let boot_node = Arc::clone(&node);
-                n.start_growth_loop();
+            let boot_data_dir = data_dir.clone();
-                n.start_recovery_loop();
+            tauri::async_runtime::spawn(async move {
-                n.start_social_checkin_cycle(3600);
+                // Bootstrap: connect to anchors, NAT probe, referrals (slow — runs in background)
-                n.start_anchor_register_cycle(600);
+                if let Err(e) = boot_node.run_bootstrap(&boot_data_dir).await {
-                n.start_upnp_renewal_cycle();
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %e, "Background bootstrap failed");
-                n.start_upnp_tcp_renewal_cycle();
+                }
-                n.start_http_server();
+
-                n.start_bootstrap_connectivity_check();
+                // Start all background networking tasks
-                n.start_replication_cycle(600);
+                boot_node.start_accept_loop();
+                boot_node.start_pull_cycle(300);
+                boot_node.start_diff_cycle(120);
+                boot_node.start_rebalance_cycle(600);
+                boot_node.start_growth_loop();
+                boot_node.start_recovery_loop();
+                boot_node.start_social_checkin_cycle(3600);
+                boot_node.start_anchor_register_cycle(600);
+                boot_node.start_upnp_renewal_cycle();
+                boot_node.start_upnp_tcp_renewal_cycle();
+                boot_node.start_http_server();
+                boot_node.start_bootstrap_connectivity_check();
+                boot_node.start_replication_cycle(600);
 
                 let cache_max_bytes: u64 = {
-                    let storage = n.storage.get().await;
+                    let storage = boot_node.storage.get().await;
                     storage.get_setting("cache_size_bytes")
                         .ok()
                         .flatten()
                         .and_then(|s| s.parse().ok())
                         .unwrap_or(1_073_741_824u64)
                 };
-                Node::start_eviction_cycle(Arc::clone(&n), 300, cache_max_bytes);
+                Node::start_eviction_cycle(Arc::clone(&boot_node), 300, cache_max_bytes);
-
+            });
-                Ok::<_, anyhow::Error>((n, mgr))
-            })?;
 
             // Manage both the swappable Node and the IdentityManager
             let app_node: AppNode = Arc::new(tokio::sync::RwLock::new(node));

frontend/app.js

@@ -3702,10 +3702,9 @@ async function init() {
             setupOverlay.classList.remove('hidden');
             setupName.focus();
         }
-        // Pre-load feed + messages from local DB (instant — no network needed)
+        // Pre-load messages (lightweight) — feed loads when user switches to it
-        await loadFeed(true).catch(() => {});
         loadMessages(true).catch(() => {});
-        // Mark ready button as clickable
+        // Mark ready button as clickable immediately — feed loads on tab switch
         if (readyBar) readyBar.style.width = '100%';
         if (readyBtn) {
             readyBtn.disabled = false;