The user's files through ltk::files, alike natively and in a browser, and a shell's requests answered in a browser through ltk::web::shell_request

An app read the user's files with `std::fs`, which a browser does not have: there a page reaches a folder of the user's computer only through forge/web, which holds it through the File System Access API and answers asynchronously (forge/web/DESIGN.md, section 11). An app that builds for both, such as Crate, had no way to list, read or write a file in a browser, and a page's memory cannot hold a large file whole.
ltk::files. Asynchronous operations on the user's files whose results reach the app as messages through its `ChannelSender`: `list`, `stat`, `read`, `read_range`, `write`, `open_write`, `create_dir`, `rename`, `remove`, `remove_all`, `copy`, `copy_all`, `mount` and `unmount`, each taking the sender and a `done` that turns the `io::Result` into a message. Results come in no set order, so an app that has moved on checks that one is still the one it waits for. Errors are the same `io::ErrorKind`s on every platform, `Interrupted` for a cancelled copy. `Entry` and `Metadata` give a file's kind, size and times, the access time natively only. `ltk::vfs` stays what reads an app's own resources.
Natively. `std::fs` on one worker thread of ltk's, in the order the app asked (`files/native.rs`), and each copy on a thread of its own, so a long one holds nothing else up (`files/copy.rs`). A file written whole or through a `Writer` goes beside its target as a temporary file, synced and renamed over it on commit and removed if dropped before, so a file being written is never seen half done. `rename` never replaces what is at `to`, as in a browser.
In a browser. Each operation is one of forge/web's `fs_*` requests over the app's connection (`platform/web/files.rs`), carrying a number its `fs_reply` answers with; contents travel as a `Uint8Array` beside the JSON, the second argument of the connection's `request` and of the client's event handler, so `on_event` now takes it. What is asked before the app has connected is sent once it has; on a page without a desktop, or once the connection has closed, it fails with `Unsupported`. forge/web's error codes become their `io::ErrorKind`s, and `fs_progress` reaches a copy's `progress`. Without the web backend, on wasm32 every operation fails with `Unsupported` (`files/unsupported.rs`).
Chunks. Contents never travel whole unless they are small: a large file is read with `read_range` and written through a `Writer`, chunk by chunk, `files::CHUNK` (1 MiB) at a time, the next sent once the last is answered. A `Writer` dropped without `close` is aborted and the file left as it was; in a browser a new file shows empty until closed. A copy runs where the files are, its contents never passing through the app: it reports its progress every 100 ms, never replaces an existing file, and, cancelled through its `Operation` or failed, leaves nothing behind.
Mounts and the desktop's notices. `mount` asks the browser for a folder of the user's computer, from the user's press, and `unmount` lets it go; natively both fail with `Unsupported`. `App::on_files_changed`, `App::on_mounts_changed` and `App::on_open_files` hear of forge/web's `fs_changed`, `fs_mounts` and `open_files`, which the web backend queues as page events; natively they are not called yet.
Types. `files::mime_type( name )` gives a file's type by shared-mime-info's `globs2`, with its weights, its case-sensitive globs and fnmatch's `*`, `?` and bracket classes, from the resource directory's `mime/` first, then the user's and the system's. `scripts/android-assets.sh`, and so `web-assets.sh`, now copies shared-mime-info's `globs2` and `subclasses` into the tree's `mime/` (`MIME_DIR` overrides where from), so a page has them.
ltk::web::shell_request. A shell message that waits for forge/web's reply, such as `get_window_thumbnail`: sent as `shell_send` sends one and answered at once with forge/web's reply as JSON, or `None` before the app has connected, since a request is not kept for later, and when forge/web replies nothing. A shell's requests that wait for an answer natively got none in a browser. `shell.rs` parses a message once for both, and `send` returns forge/web's reply.
Tests cover writing and committing, aborting, listing, ranges, removing, copying a tree with its progress, a cancelled copy, a copy that would replace, and the globs. `CHANGELOG.md` describes the changes.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ All notable changes to `ltk` are documented here. The format is based on [Keep a
 
 ### Added
 
+- **The user's files, alike natively and in a browser: `ltk::files`** — asynchronous operations on the user's files whose results reach the app as messages through its `ChannelSender`: `list`, `stat`, `read`, `read_range`, `write`, `open_write`, `create_dir`, `rename`, `remove`, `remove_all`, `copy`, `copy_all`, `mount` and `unmount`, each taking the sender and a `done` that turns the `io::Result` into a message. Natively they run `std::fs` on a worker thread of ltk's, and each copy on a thread of its own; in a browser they are forge/web's `fs_*` requests over the app's connection, contents travelling as a `Uint8Array` beside the JSON as the second argument of the connection's `request` and of the client's event handler, and what is asked before the app connects is sent once it has, or fails with `Unsupported` on a page without a desktop. Contents travel in chunks: a large file is read with `read_range` and written through a `Writer`, chunk by chunk, `files::CHUNK` (1 MiB) at a time, and its contents appear only once the writer is closed, a new file showing empty until then in a browser; natively it is written beside the file and renamed over it, and a writer dropped unclosed leaves the file as it was. A copy runs where the files are, reports its progress every 100 ms, never replaces an existing file, and, cancelled through its `Operation` or failed, leaves nothing behind. Errors are the same `io::ErrorKind`s on every platform. `Entry` and `Metadata` give a file's kind, size and times, the access time natively only. `mount` asks the browser for a folder of the user's computer, from the user's press, and fails with `Unsupported` natively. `App::on_files_changed`, `App::on_mounts_changed` and `App::on_open_files` hear of forge/web's `fs_changed`, `fs_mounts` and `open_files`. `files::mime_type( name )` gives a file's type by shared-mime-info's `globs2`, the resource directory's `mime/globs2` first, which `scripts/android-assets.sh`, and so `web-assets.sh`, now copies into the tree with shared-mime-info's `subclasses` (`MIME_DIR` overrides where from), then the system's. `rename` never replaces what is at `to`, natively as in a browser. Tests cover writing, aborting, listing, ranges, removing, copying a tree with its progress, a cancelled copy, a copy that would replace, and the globs.
+- **`ltk::web::shell_request( json )`** — a shell message that waits for forge/web's reply, such as `get_window_thumbnail`: sent as `shell_send` sends one and answered at once with forge/web's reply as JSON, or `None` before the app has connected, since a request is not kept for later, and when forge/web replies nothing. A shell's requests that wait for an answer natively got none in a browser.
 - **`Canvas::draw_image_keyed( key, rgba, w, h, dest, opacity )`** — `draw_image_data` with `key` naming the pixels in place of a fingerprint of them, so a caller that draws the same images on every frame, such as a terminal's glyphs, does not hash every one of them each time. Every draw with the same `key` must pass the same pixels, which are read only when the image is not cached; a key never names an image drawn by content.
 - **Fullscreen in a browser's desktop** — on a page with forge/web, `App::fullscreen` and `App::start_fullscreen` ask forge/web for the main window to fill the desktop with a `set_fullscreen` request, as Wayland's `xdg_toplevel.set_fullscreen`, where they did nothing; alone on a page the app's canvas still takes the browser's fullscreen.
 - **A browser app hears of the desktop's windows** — on a page with forge/web, the web backend asks for the list of toplevels when it connects and turns its `toplevel_opened` and `toplevel_closed` events into `App::on_toplevel_event`, as the Wayland backend does with `ext-foreign-toplevel-list-v1`, so a shell's dock knows which applications have windows open and names each by its `identifier`.

scripts/android-assets.sh

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 # EXTRA_FONTS, space-separated paths, adds fonts the app itself reads from
 # `ltk::resource_dir()/fonts`, such as a terminal's monospace face.
 # KEYBOARDS_DIR defaults to the `keyboards/` next to this script's directory.
+# MIME_DIR, shared-mime-info's directory, whose globs2, which
+# `ltk::files::mime_type` reads from `mime/`, and subclasses are copied there,
+# defaults to /usr/share/mime.
 set -eu
 
 keyboards=${KEYBOARDS_DIR:-$( cd "$( dirname "$0" )/.." && pwd )/keyboards}
@@ -57,6 +60,18 @@ do
 	cp "$font" "$root/fonts/"
 done
 
+mime=${MIME_DIR:-/usr/share/mime}
+for table in globs2 subclasses
+do
+	if [ -f "$mime/$table" ]
+	then
+		mkdir -p "$root/mime"
+		cp "$mime/$table" "$root/mime/$table"
+	else
+		echo "android-assets: $mime/$table not found, skipped" >&2
+	fi
+done
+
 cd "$root"
 hash=$( find . -type f ! -name MANIFEST -print0 | LC_ALL=C sort -z | xargs -0 sha256sum | sha256sum | cut -d' ' -f1 )
 {

src/app.rs

@@ -917,6 +917,24 @@ pub trait App: 'static
 		None
 	}
 
+	/// A directory the app listed through [`crate::files::list`] changed: in a browser, through another client of the desktop. Natively not reported yet.
+	fn on_files_changed( &self, _dir: &std::path::Path ) -> Option<Self::Message>
+	{
+		None
+	}
+
+	/// The folders of the user's computer mounted in a browser, when the app connects and whenever one comes or goes. Natively there are none.
+	fn on_mounts_changed( &self, _mounts: &[ crate::files::Mount ] ) -> Option<Self::Message>
+	{
+		None
+	}
+
+	/// The files a browser's desktop launched the app to open. Natively they come in the app's arguments instead.
+	fn on_open_files( &self, _paths: Vec<std::path::PathBuf> ) -> Option<Self::Message>
+	{
+		None
+	}
+
 	/// Return `Some(id)` once to focus the widget with that [`WidgetId`](crate::types::WidgetId).
 	/// The app must return `None` after the first call.
 	///

src/files/copy.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-only
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Liberux Labs, S. L. <info@liberux.net>
+
+//! Copying natively, in chunks, with progress and a way to stop.
+
+use std::fs::{ self, File };
+use std::io::{ self, Read };
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::atomic::{ AtomicBool, Ordering };
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use super::native::Pending;
+use super::CHUNK;
+use crate::time::Instant;
+
+/// How often progress is reported.
+const PROGRESS_EVERY: Duration = Duration::from_millis( 100 );
+
+pub( super ) fn copy( from: &Path, to: &Path, all: bool, cancelled: &AtomicBool, progress: &dyn Fn( u64, u64 ) ) -> io::Result<()>
+{
+	if fs::symlink_metadata( to ).is_ok() { return Err( io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists.into() ); }
+	let meta = fs::metadata( from )?;
+	if meta.is_dir() && !all { return Err( io::ErrorKind::IsADirectory.into() ); }
+	let total     = if meta.is_dir() { tree_size( from )? } else { meta.len() };
+	let mut meter = Meter { copied: 0, total, last: None, cancelled, progress };
+	if !meta.is_dir() { return copy_file( from, to, &mut meter ); }
+	let result = copy_tree( from, to, &mut meter );
+	if result.is_err() { let _ = fs::remove_dir_all( to ); }
+	result
+}
+
+struct Meter<'a>
+{
+	copied:    u64,
+	total:     u64,
+	last:      Option<Instant>,
+	cancelled: &'a AtomicBool,
+	progress:  &'a dyn Fn( u64, u64 ),
+}
+
+impl Meter<'_>
+{
+	fn advance( &mut self, bytes: u64 ) -> io::Result<()>
+	{
+		if self.cancelled.load( Ordering::Relaxed ) { return Err( io::Error::new( io::ErrorKind::Interrupted, "cancelled" ) ); }
+		self.copied += bytes;
+		let now = Instant::now();
+		if self.last.is_none_or( |last| now.duration_since( last ) >= PROGRESS_EVERY ) || self.copied == self.total
+		{
+			self.last = Some( now );
+			( self.progress )( self.copied, self.total );
+		}
+		Ok( () )
+	}
+}
+
+fn tree_size( dir: &Path ) -> io::Result<u64>
+{
+	let mut size = 0;
+	for entry in fs::read_dir( dir )?
+	{
+		let entry = entry?;
+		let kind  = entry.file_type()?;
+		if kind.is_dir() { size += tree_size( &entry.path() )?; } else if kind.is_file() { size += entry.metadata()?.len(); }
+	}
+	Ok( size )
+}
+
+fn copy_tree( from: &Path, to: &Path, meter: &mut Meter<'_> ) -> io::Result<()>
+{
+	fs::create_dir( to )?;
+	for entry in fs::read_dir( from )?
+	{
+		let entry  = entry?;
+		let kind   = entry.file_type()?;
+		let target = to.join( entry.file_name() );
+		if kind.is_dir()
+		{
+			copy_tree( &entry.path(), &target, meter )?;
+		} else if kind.is_symlink() {
+			copy_link( &entry.path(), &target )?;
+		} else {
+			copy_file( &entry.path(), &target, meter )?;
+		}
+	}
+	let _ = fs::set_permissions( to, fs::metadata( from )?.permissions() );
+	Ok( () )
+}
+
+fn copy_file( from: &Path, to: &Path, meter: &mut Meter<'_> ) -> io::Result<()>
+{
+	let mut source = File::open( from )?;
+	let mut target = Pending::create( to )?;
+	let mut buffer = vec![ 0; CHUNK ];
+	loop
+	{
+		let read = match source.read( &mut buffer )
+		{
+			Ok( 0 )                                                => break,
+			Ok( read )                                             => read,
+			Err( e ) if e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => continue,
+			Err( e )                                               => return Err( e ),
+		};
+		target.write( &buffer[ ..read ] )?;
+		meter.advance( read as u64 )?;
+	}
+	meter.advance( 0 )?;
+	target.commit()?;
+	let _ = fs::set_permissions( to, source.metadata()?.permissions() );
+	Ok( () )
+}
+
+#[ cfg( unix ) ]
+fn copy_link( from: &Path, to: &Path ) -> io::Result<()>
+{
+	std::os::unix::fs::symlink( fs::read_link( from )?, to )
+}
+
+#[ cfg( not( unix ) ) ]
+fn copy_link( _from: &Path, _to: &Path ) -> io::Result<()>
+{
+	Ok( () )
+}
+
+#[ cfg( test ) ]
+mod tests
+{
+	use super::*;
+	use std::cell::Cell;
+	use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+	fn scratch( name: &str ) -> PathBuf
+	{
+		let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join( format!( "ltk-copy-{name}-{}", std::process::id() ) );
+		let _ = fs::remove_dir_all( &dir );
+		fs::create_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+		dir
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_tree_is_copied_whole_with_its_progress()
+	{
+		let dir = scratch( "tree" );
+		let src = dir.join( "src" );
+		fs::create_dir_all( src.join( "sub" ) ).unwrap();
+		fs::write( src.join( "a" ), vec![ 1; CHUNK + 10 ] ).unwrap();
+		fs::write( src.join( "sub/b" ), b"bb" ).unwrap();
+		let last = Cell::new( ( 0, 0 ) );
+		copy( &src, &dir.join( "dst" ), true, &AtomicBool::new( false ), &|copied, total| last.set( ( copied, total ) ) ).unwrap();
+		assert_eq!( fs::read( dir.join( "dst/a" ) ).unwrap().len(), CHUNK + 10 );
+		assert_eq!( fs::read( dir.join( "dst/sub/b" ) ).unwrap(), b"bb" );
+		assert_eq!( last.get(), ( CHUNK as u64 + 12, CHUNK as u64 + 12 ) );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_cancelled_copy_leaves_nothing()
+	{
+		let dir = scratch( "cancel" );
+		let src = dir.join( "src" );
+		fs::create_dir( &src ).unwrap();
+		fs::write( src.join( "a" ), b"aa" ).unwrap();
+		let result = copy( &src, &dir.join( "dst" ), true, &AtomicBool::new( true ), &|_, _| {} );
+		assert_eq!( result.unwrap_err().kind(), io::ErrorKind::Interrupted );
+		assert!( !dir.join( "dst" ).exists() );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_copy_never_replaces()
+	{
+		let dir = scratch( "exists" );
+		fs::write( dir.join( "a" ), b"a" ).unwrap();
+		fs::write( dir.join( "b" ), b"b" ).unwrap();
+		let result = copy( &dir.join( "a" ), &dir.join( "b" ), false, &AtomicBool::new( false ), &|_, _| {} );
+		assert_eq!( result.unwrap_err().kind(), io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists );
+		assert_eq!( fs::read( dir.join( "b" ) ).unwrap(), b"b" );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+}

src/files/mime.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-only
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Liberux Labs, S. L. <info@liberux.net>
+
+//! A file's type from its name, by shared-mime-info's `globs2`: the resource directory's `mime/globs2` where an app bundles it, as a page does, else the system's.
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::sync::OnceLock;
+
+struct Glob
+{
+	weight:         u32,
+	mime:           String,
+	pattern:        String,
+	case_sensitive: bool,
+}
+
+/// The MIME type shared-mime-info gives a file named `name`, from its globs alone.
+pub fn mime_type( name: &str ) -> Option<&'static str>
+{
+	static GLOBS: OnceLock<Vec<Glob>> = OnceLock::new();
+	best( GLOBS.get_or_init( load ), name )
+}
+
+fn load() -> Vec<Glob>
+{
+	let bundled = crate::resource_dir().map( |dir| dir.join( "mime" ) );
+	let home    = std::env::var_os( "XDG_DATA_HOME" ).map( PathBuf::from )
+		.or_else( || std::env::var_os( "HOME" ).map( |home| PathBuf::from( home ).join( ".local/share" ) ) );
+	let system  = std::env::var( "XDG_DATA_DIRS" ).ok().filter( |dirs| !dirs.is_empty() ).unwrap_or_else( || "/usr/local/share:/usr/share".into() );
+	let dirs    = bundled.into_iter()
+		.chain( home.map( |dir| dir.join( "mime" ) ) )
+		.chain( system.split( ':' ).map( |dir| PathBuf::from( dir ).join( "mime" ) ) );
+	let mut globs = Vec::new();
+	for dir in dirs
+	{
+		if let Ok( text ) = crate::vfs::read_to_string( dir.join( "globs2" ) ) { globs.extend( parse( &text ) ); }
+	}
+	globs
+}
+
+fn parse( text: &str ) -> impl Iterator<Item = Glob> + '_
+{
+	text.lines().filter( |line| !line.starts_with( '#' ) ).filter_map( |line|
+	{
+		let mut fields = line.splitn( 4, ':' );
+		let weight     = fields.next()?.parse().ok()?;
+		let mime       = fields.next()?.to_string();
+		let pattern    = fields.next()?.to_string();
+		let flags      = fields.next().unwrap_or_default();
+		let case_sensitive = flags.split( ',' ).any( |flag| flag == "cs" );
+		Some( Glob { weight, mime, pattern: if case_sensitive { pattern } else { pattern.to_lowercase() }, case_sensitive } )
+	} )
+}
+
+/// The heaviest glob that matches, then a case-sensitive one, then the longest; the first directory's wins a tie.
+fn best<'a>( globs: &'a [ Glob ], name: &str ) -> Option<&'a str>
+{
+	let lower = name.to_lowercase();
+	let mut found: Option<&Glob> = None;
+	for glob in globs
+	{
+		let subject = if glob.case_sensitive { name } else { &lower };
+		if !matches( &glob.pattern, subject ) { continue; }
+		let better = found.is_none_or( |f| ( glob.weight, glob.case_sensitive, glob.pattern.len() ) > ( f.weight, f.case_sensitive, f.pattern.len() ) );
+		if better { found = Some( glob ); }
+	}
+	found.map( |glob| glob.mime.as_str() )
+}
+
+/// `fnmatch` without flags: `*`, `?` and bracket classes.
+fn matches( pattern: &str, name: &str ) -> bool
+{
+	let pattern: Vec<char> = pattern.chars().collect();
+	let name:    Vec<char> = name.chars().collect();
+	matches_at( &pattern, &name )
+}
+
+fn matches_at( pattern: &[ char ], name: &[ char ] ) -> bool
+{
+	match pattern.first()
+	{
+		None        => name.is_empty(),
+		Some( '*' ) => ( 0..=name.len() ).any( |skip| matches_at( &pattern[ 1.. ], &name[ skip.. ] ) ),
+		Some( '?' ) => !name.is_empty() && matches_at( &pattern[ 1.. ], &name[ 1.. ] ),
+		Some( '[' ) =>
+		{
+			let Some( ( &c, rest ) ) = name.split_first() else { return false };
+			match class( &pattern[ 1.. ], c )
+			{
+				Some( ( true, after ) ) => matches_at( after, rest ),
+				Some( ( false, _ ) )    => false,
+				None                    => c == '[' && matches_at( &pattern[ 1.. ], rest ),
+			}
+		}
+		Some( &p ) => name.first() == Some( &p ) && matches_at( &pattern[ 1.. ], &name[ 1.. ] ),
+	}
+}
+
+/// Whether `c` is in the class that `pattern` opens, and what follows the class; `None` when it is never closed.
+fn class( pattern: &[ char ], c: char ) -> Option<( bool, &[ char ] )>
+{
+	let ( negated, mut i ) = match pattern.first() { Some( '!' ) | Some( '^' ) => ( true, 1 ), _ => ( false, 0 ) };
+	let mut hit   = false;
+	let mut first = true;
+	while i < pattern.len()
+	{
+		let p = pattern[ i ];
+		if p == ']' && !first { return Some( ( hit != negated, &pattern[ i + 1.. ] ) ); }
+		first = false;
+		if pattern.get( i + 1 ) == Some( &'-' ) && pattern.get( i + 2 ).is_some_and( |&end| end != ']' )
+		{
+			hit |= ( p..=pattern[ i + 2 ] ).contains( &c );
+			i += 3;
+		} else {
+			hit |= p == c;
+			i += 1;
+		}
+	}
+	None
+}
+
+#[ cfg( test ) ]
+mod tests
+{
+	use super::*;
+
+	const GLOBS2: &str = "\
+# This file was automatically generated
+50:text/x-csrc:*.c
+50:text/x-c++src:*.C:cs
+50:image/jpeg:*.jpg
+50:image/jpeg:*.jpeg
+50:application/x-compressed-tar:*.tar.gz
+50:application/gzip:*.gz
+10:text/x-readme:readme*
+50:text/x-chdr:*.[ch]h
+";
+
+	fn globs() -> Vec<Glob>
+	{
+		parse( GLOBS2 ).collect()
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn extensions_ignore_case_unless_told()
+	{
+		let globs = globs();
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "photo.JPG" ), Some( "image/jpeg" ) );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "main.c" ), Some( "text/x-csrc" ) );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "main.C" ), Some( "text/x-c++src" ) );
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn the_longest_pattern_of_a_weight_wins()
+	{
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs(), "src.tar.gz" ), Some( "application/x-compressed-tar" ) );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs(), "log.gz" ), Some( "application/gzip" ) );
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn wildcards_and_classes_match()
+	{
+		let globs = globs();
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "README.md" ), Some( "text/x-readme" ) );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "util.hh" ), Some( "text/x-chdr" ) );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "util.ch" ), Some( "text/x-chdr" ) );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "util.xh" ), None );
+		assert_eq!( best( &globs, "noextension" ), None );
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn classes_take_ranges_and_negation()
+	{
+		assert!( matches( "file[0-9]", "file7" ) );
+		assert!( !matches( "file[!0-9]", "file7" ) );
+		assert!( matches( "a[]]b", "a]b" ) );
+		assert!( matches( "a[b", "a[b" ) );
+	}
+}

src/files/mod.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-only
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Liberux Labs, S. L. <info@liberux.net>
+
+//! The user's files, asynchronously and alike on every platform: natively through `std::fs` on a worker thread of ltk's, in a browser through forge/web's file requests (forge/web/DESIGN.md, section 11). Every operation hands its result to `done`, whose message reaches the app through its [`ChannelSender`], so nothing blocks the app's thread. Results come in no set order, so an app that may have moved on checks that a result is still the one it waits for.
+//!
+//! Contents travel in chunks: a large file is read in ranges with [`read_range`] and written through a [`Writer`], one chunk after the other is answered, [`CHUNK`] bytes at a time; [`read`] and [`write`] are for small files. A copy runs where the files are, its contents never passing through the app.
+//!
+//! Errors are `io::Error`s of the same kinds on every platform: `NotFound`, `AlreadyExists`, `NotADirectory`, `IsADirectory`, `DirectoryNotEmpty`, `PermissionDenied`, `Unsupported`, and `Interrupted` for a cancelled copy.
+//!
+//! An app's own resources are read through [`crate::vfs`], not here.
+
+#[ cfg( not( target_arch = "wasm32" ) ) ]
+mod copy;
+mod mime;
+#[ cfg( not( target_arch = "wasm32" ) ) ]
+mod native;
+#[ cfg( all( target_arch = "wasm32", not( feature = "web" ) ) ) ]
+mod unsupported;
+
+#[ cfg( not( target_arch = "wasm32" ) ) ]
+use native as backend;
+#[ cfg( all( target_arch = "wasm32", feature = "web" ) ) ]
+use crate::platform::web::files as backend;
+#[ cfg( all( target_arch = "wasm32", not( feature = "web" ) ) ) ]
+use unsupported as backend;
+
+use std::ffi::OsString;
+use std::io;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::SystemTime;
+
+use crate::ChannelSender;
+
+pub use mime::mime_type;
+
+/// The size of the chunks a large file is best read and written in.
+pub const CHUNK: usize = 1 << 20;
+
+#[ derive( Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq ) ]
+pub enum Kind
+{
+	File,
+	Directory,
+}
+
+/// One entry of a directory.
+#[ derive( Debug, Clone ) ]
+pub struct Entry
+{
+	pub name:     OsString,
+	pub kind:     Kind,
+	/// A file's size in bytes; `0` for a directory.
+	pub size:     u64,
+	pub modified: Option<SystemTime>,
+	/// `None` in a browser, which does not keep it.
+	pub accessed: Option<SystemTime>,
+}
+
+#[ derive( Debug, Clone ) ]
+pub struct Metadata
+{
+	pub kind:     Kind,
+	pub size:     u64,
+	pub modified: Option<SystemTime>,
+	pub accessed: Option<SystemTime>,
+}
+
+/// A folder of the user's computer, mounted in a browser.
+#[ derive( Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq ) ]
+pub struct Mount
+{
+	pub path: PathBuf,
+	pub name: String,
+}
+
+pub( crate ) type Reply<T> = Box<dyn FnOnce( io::Result<T> ) + Send>;
+pub( crate ) type Progress = Box<dyn Fn( u64, u64 ) + Send>;
+
+fn reply<M: Send + 'static, T>( sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<T> ) -> M + Send + 'static ) -> Reply<T>
+{
+	let sender = sender.clone();
+	Box::new( move |result| { let _ = sender.send( done( result ) ); } )
+}
+
+/// The entries of the directory `path`, in no order.
+pub fn list<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<Vec<Entry>> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::list( path.into(), reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+pub fn stat<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<Metadata> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::stat( path.into(), reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// The whole of a small file.
+pub fn read<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<Vec<u8>> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::read( path.into(), None, reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// Up to `length` bytes of the file from `offset`; fewer at its end, none past it.
+pub fn read_range<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, offset: u64, length: u64, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<Vec<u8>> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::read( path.into(), Some( ( offset, length ) ), reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// Create or replace a small file with `data`, whole or not at all.
+pub fn write<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, data: Vec<u8>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::write( path.into(), data, reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// A [`Writer`] for the file at `path`.
+pub fn open_write<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<Writer> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	let done = reply( sender, done );
+	backend::open_write( path.into(), Box::new( move |result| done( result.map( |handle| Writer { handle: Some( handle ) } ) ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn create_dir<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::create_dir( path.into(), reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// Move `from` to `to`, which must not exist; in a browser, within one mount.
+pub fn rename<M: Send + 'static>( from: impl Into<PathBuf>, to: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::rename( from.into(), to.into(), reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// Remove a file or an empty directory.
+pub fn remove<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::remove( path.into(), false, reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// Remove a file, or a directory and everything in it.
+pub fn remove_all<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::remove( path.into(), true, reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// Copy the file `from` to `to`, which must not exist and appears only once whole. `progress` hears of the bytes copied out of the total every so often.
+pub fn copy<M: Send + 'static>(
+	from:     impl Into<PathBuf>,
+	to:       impl Into<PathBuf>,
+	sender:   &ChannelSender<M>,
+	progress: impl Fn( u64, u64 ) -> M + Send + 'static,
+	done:     impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static,
+) -> Operation
+{
+	start_copy( from.into(), to.into(), false, sender, progress, done )
+}
+
+/// Copy the directory `from` and everything in it to `to`, which must not exist; a copy that fails or is cancelled leaves no `to` behind.
+pub fn copy_all<M: Send + 'static>(
+	from:     impl Into<PathBuf>,
+	to:       impl Into<PathBuf>,
+	sender:   &ChannelSender<M>,
+	progress: impl Fn( u64, u64 ) -> M + Send + 'static,
+	done:     impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static,
+) -> Operation
+{
+	start_copy( from.into(), to.into(), true, sender, progress, done )
+}
+
+fn start_copy<M: Send + 'static>(
+	from:     PathBuf,
+	to:       PathBuf,
+	all:      bool,
+	sender:   &ChannelSender<M>,
+	progress: impl Fn( u64, u64 ) -> M + Send + 'static,
+	done:     impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static,
+) -> Operation
+{
+	let progress_sender = sender.clone();
+	let progress: Progress = Box::new( move |copied, total| { let _ = progress_sender.send( progress( copied, total ) ); } );
+	Operation { handle: backend::copy( from, to, all, progress, reply( sender, done ) ) }
+}
+
+/// Have the browser ask the user for a folder of their computer and mount it. Call it from the user's press, since the browser opens its picker only then; natively it fails with `Unsupported`.
+pub fn mount<M: Send + 'static>( sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<Mount> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::mount( reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+pub fn unmount<M: Send + 'static>( path: impl Into<PathBuf>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+{
+	backend::unmount( path.into(), reply( sender, done ) );
+}
+
+/// A file being written in chunks, whose contents appear only once closed; in a browser a new file shows empty until then. Dropped without [`Writer::close`], it is aborted and the file left as it was.
+pub struct Writer
+{
+	handle: Option<backend::WriterHandle>,
+}
+
+impl Writer
+{
+	/// Append `chunk`; send the next once `done` has come.
+	pub fn write<M: Send + 'static>( &self, chunk: Vec<u8>, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+	{
+		let done = reply( sender, done );
+		match &self.handle
+		{
+			Some( handle ) => backend::write_chunk( handle, chunk, done ),
+			None           => done( Err( io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe.into() ) ),
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn close<M: Send + 'static>( mut self, sender: &ChannelSender<M>, done: impl FnOnce( io::Result<()> ) -> M + Send + 'static )
+	{
+		let done = reply( sender, done );
+		match self.handle.take()
+		{
+			Some( handle ) => backend::close( handle, done ),
+			None           => done( Err( io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe.into() ) ),
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn abort( mut self )
+	{
+		if let Some( handle ) = self.handle.take() { backend::abort( handle ); }
+	}
+}
+
+impl Drop for Writer
+{
+	fn drop( &mut self )
+	{
+		if let Some( handle ) = self.handle.take() { backend::abort( handle ); }
+	}
+}
+
+/// A copy in progress.
+pub struct Operation
+{
+	handle: backend::OperationHandle,
+}
+
+impl Operation
+{
+	/// Stop the copy, whose `done` then comes with `ErrorKind::Interrupted`.
+	pub fn cancel( &self )
+	{
+		backend::cancel( &self.handle );
+	}
+}

src/files/native.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-only
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Liberux Labs, S. L. <info@liberux.net>
+
+//! `ltk::files` natively: `std::fs` on one worker thread, in the order the app asked, and each copy on a thread of its own so that a long one holds nothing else up.
+
+use std::fs::{ self, File, OpenOptions };
+use std::io::{ self, Read, Seek, SeekFrom, Write };
+use std::path::{ Path, PathBuf };
+use std::sync::atomic::{ AtomicBool, AtomicU64, Ordering };
+use std::sync::mpsc;
+use std::sync::{ Arc, Mutex, OnceLock, PoisonError };
+use std::thread;
+
+use super::{ Entry, Kind, Metadata, Mount, Progress, Reply };
+
+type Job = Box<dyn FnOnce() + Send>;
+
+/// Run `job` on the worker, or here when there is none.
+fn run( job: impl FnOnce() + Send + 'static )
+{
+	static WORKER: OnceLock<Option<mpsc::Sender<Job>>> = OnceLock::new();
+	let worker = WORKER.get_or_init( ||
+	{
+		let ( tx, rx ) = mpsc::channel::<Job>();
+		thread::Builder::new()
+			.name( "ltk-files".into() )
+			.spawn( move || { for job in rx { job(); } } )
+			.ok()
+			.map( |_| tx )
+	} );
+	let job: Job = Box::new( job );
+	let job = match worker
+	{
+		Some( tx ) => match tx.send( job ) { Ok( () ) => return, Err( mpsc::SendError( job ) ) => job },
+		None       => job,
+	};
+	job();
+}
+
+pub fn list( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<Vec<Entry>> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( list_dir( &path ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn stat( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<Metadata> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( fs::metadata( &path ).map( |meta| metadata( &meta ) ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn read( path: PathBuf, range: Option<( u64, u64 )>, reply: Reply<Vec<u8>> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( match range
+	{
+		Some( ( offset, length ) ) => read_range( &path, offset, length ),
+		None                       => fs::read( &path ),
+	} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn write( path: PathBuf, data: Vec<u8>, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( Pending::create( &path ).and_then( |mut file| { file.write( &data )?; file.commit() } ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn create_dir( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( fs::create_dir( &path ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn rename( from: PathBuf, to: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( if fs::symlink_metadata( &to ).is_ok() { Err( io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists.into() ) } else { fs::rename( &from, &to ) } ) );
+}
+
+pub fn remove( path: PathBuf, all: bool, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( remove_path( &path, all ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn mount( reply: Reply<Mount> )
+{
+	reply( Err( io::ErrorKind::Unsupported.into() ) );
+}
+
+pub fn unmount( _path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	reply( Err( io::ErrorKind::Unsupported.into() ) );
+}
+
+/// A writer's file, shared with the jobs that write it.
+pub type WriterHandle = Arc<Mutex<Option<Pending>>>;
+
+pub fn open_write( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<WriterHandle> )
+{
+	run( move || reply( Pending::create( &path ).map( |file| Arc::new( Mutex::new( Some( file ) ) ) ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn write_chunk( handle: &WriterHandle, chunk: Vec<u8>, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	let handle = handle.clone();
+	run( move || reply( match lock( &handle ).as_mut()
+	{
+		Some( file ) => file.write( &chunk ),
+		None         => Err( io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe.into() ),
+	} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn close( handle: WriterHandle, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	run( move ||
+	{
+		let file = lock( &handle ).take();
+		reply( file.map_or_else( || Err( io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe.into() ), Pending::commit ) );
+	} );
+}
+
+pub fn abort( handle: WriterHandle )
+{
+	run( move || drop( lock( &handle ).take() ) );
+}
+
+fn lock( handle: &WriterHandle ) -> std::sync::MutexGuard<'_, Option<Pending>>
+{
+	handle.lock().unwrap_or_else( PoisonError::into_inner )
+}
+
+pub type OperationHandle = Arc<AtomicBool>;
+
+pub fn copy( from: PathBuf, to: PathBuf, all: bool, progress: Progress, reply: Reply<()> ) -> OperationHandle
+{
+	let cancelled = Arc::new( AtomicBool::new( false ) );
+	let flag      = cancelled.clone();
+	let job       = move || reply( super::copy::copy( &from, &to, all, &flag, &progress ) );
+	let job: Job  = Box::new( job );
+	let job       = Arc::new( Mutex::new( Some( job ) ) );
+	let spawned   = job.clone();
+	let started   = thread::Builder::new()
+		.name( "ltk-files-copy".into() )
+		.spawn( move || { if let Some( job ) = spawned.lock().unwrap_or_else( PoisonError::into_inner ).take() { job(); } } )
+		.is_ok();
+	if !started
+	{
+		if let Some( job ) = job.lock().unwrap_or_else( PoisonError::into_inner ).take() { run( job ); }
+	}
+	cancelled
+}
+
+pub fn cancel( handle: &OperationHandle )
+{
+	handle.store( true, Ordering::Relaxed );
+}
+
+pub( super ) fn list_dir( path: &Path ) -> io::Result<Vec<Entry>>
+{
+	let mut entries = Vec::new();
+	for entry in fs::read_dir( path )?
+	{
+		let Ok( entry ) = entry else { continue };
+		// A link is what it points to; a broken one is a file of its own.
+		let Ok( meta ) = fs::metadata( entry.path() ).or_else( |_| entry.metadata() ) else { continue };
+		let meta = metadata( &meta );
+		entries.push( Entry { name: entry.file_name(), kind: meta.kind, size: meta.size, modified: meta.modified, accessed: meta.accessed } );
+	}
+	Ok( entries )
+}
+
+fn metadata( meta: &fs::Metadata ) -> Metadata
+{
+	let kind = if meta.is_dir() { Kind::Directory } else { Kind::File };
+	Metadata
+	{
+		kind,
+		size:     if kind == Kind::File { meta.len() } else { 0 },
+		modified: meta.modified().ok(),
+		accessed: meta.accessed().ok(),
+	}
+}
+
+pub( super ) fn read_range( path: &Path, offset: u64, length: u64 ) -> io::Result<Vec<u8>>
+{
+	let mut file = File::open( path )?;
+	file.seek( SeekFrom::Start( offset ) )?;
+	let mut data = Vec::new();
+	file.take( length ).read_to_end( &mut data )?;
+	Ok( data )
+}
+
+pub( super ) fn remove_path( path: &Path, all: bool ) -> io::Result<()>
+{
+	match ( fs::symlink_metadata( path )?.is_dir(), all )
+	{
+		( true, true )  => fs::remove_dir_all( path ),
+		( true, false ) => fs::remove_dir( path ),
+		( false, _ )    => fs::remove_file( path ),
+	}
+}
+
+/// A file written beside `target`, which becomes it only on [`Pending::commit`]; dropped before, it goes.
+pub struct Pending
+{
+	file:   Option<File>,
+	temp:   PathBuf,
+	target: PathBuf,
+}
+
+impl Pending
+{
+	pub( super ) fn create( target: &Path ) -> io::Result<Self>
+	{
+		static NEXT: AtomicU64 = AtomicU64::new( 0 );
+		let name = target.file_name().ok_or( io::ErrorKind::InvalidInput )?.to_string_lossy();
+		let temp = target.with_file_name( format!( ".{name}.{}-{}.part", std::process::id(), NEXT.fetch_add( 1, Ordering::Relaxed ) ) );
+		let file = OpenOptions::new().write( true ).create_new( true ).open( &temp )?;
+		if let Ok( meta ) = fs::metadata( target ) { let _ = file.set_permissions( meta.permissions() ); }
+		Ok( Self { file: Some( file ), temp, target: target.to_path_buf() } )
+	}
+
+	pub( super ) fn write( &mut self, chunk: &[ u8 ] ) -> io::Result<()>
+	{
+		self.file.as_mut().ok_or( io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe )?.write_all( chunk )
+	}
+
+	pub( super ) fn commit( mut self ) -> io::Result<()>
+	{
+		let file = self.file.take().ok_or( io::ErrorKind::BrokenPipe )?;
+		file.sync_all()?;
+		drop( file );
+		fs::rename( &self.temp, &self.target )
+	}
+}
+
+impl Drop for Pending
+{
+	fn drop( &mut self )
+	{
+		if self.file.take().is_some() { let _ = fs::remove_file( &self.temp ); }
+	}
+}
+
+#[ cfg( test ) ]
+mod tests
+{
+	use super::*;
+
+	fn scratch( name: &str ) -> PathBuf
+	{
+		let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join( format!( "ltk-files-{name}-{}", std::process::id() ) );
+		let _ = fs::remove_dir_all( &dir );
+		fs::create_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+		dir
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_pending_file_appears_only_once_committed()
+	{
+		let dir    = scratch( "commit" );
+		let target = dir.join( "a.txt" );
+		let mut file = Pending::create( &target ).unwrap();
+		file.write( b"one " ).unwrap();
+		file.write( b"two" ).unwrap();
+		assert!( !target.exists() );
+		file.commit().unwrap();
+		assert_eq!( fs::read( &target ).unwrap(), b"one two" );
+		assert_eq!( fs::read_dir( &dir ).unwrap().count(), 1 );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_dropped_pending_file_leaves_the_old_one()
+	{
+		let dir    = scratch( "abort" );
+		let target = dir.join( "a.txt" );
+		fs::write( &target, b"old" ).unwrap();
+		let mut file = Pending::create( &target ).unwrap();
+		file.write( b"new" ).unwrap();
+		drop( file );
+		assert_eq!( fs::read( &target ).unwrap(), b"old" );
+		assert_eq!( fs::read_dir( &dir ).unwrap().count(), 1 );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_listing_gives_kinds_and_sizes()
+	{
+		let dir = scratch( "list" );
+		fs::write( dir.join( "f" ), b"12345" ).unwrap();
+		fs::create_dir( dir.join( "d" ) ).unwrap();
+		let mut entries = list_dir( &dir ).unwrap();
+		entries.sort_by( |a, b| a.name.cmp( &b.name ) );
+		assert_eq!( entries.len(), 2 );
+		assert_eq!( ( entries[ 0 ].kind, entries[ 0 ].size ), ( Kind::Directory, 0 ) );
+		assert_eq!( ( entries[ 1 ].kind, entries[ 1 ].size ), ( Kind::File, 5 ) );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn a_range_stops_at_the_end()
+	{
+		let dir  = scratch( "range" );
+		let file = dir.join( "f" );
+		fs::write( &file, b"0123456789" ).unwrap();
+		assert_eq!( read_range( &file, 3, 4 ).unwrap(), b"3456" );
+		assert_eq!( read_range( &file, 8, 4 ).unwrap(), b"89" );
+		assert!( read_range( &file, 20, 4 ).unwrap().is_empty() );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+
+	#[ test ]
+	fn remove_needs_all_for_a_full_directory()
+	{
+		let dir = scratch( "remove" );
+		let sub = dir.join( "d" );
+		fs::create_dir( &sub ).unwrap();
+		fs::write( sub.join( "f" ), b"x" ).unwrap();
+		assert!( remove_path( &sub, false ).is_err() );
+		remove_path( &sub, true ).unwrap();
+		assert!( !sub.exists() );
+		fs::remove_dir_all( &dir ).unwrap();
+	}
+}

src/files/unsupported.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-only
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Liberux Labs, S. L. <info@liberux.net>
+
+//! `ltk::files` on wasm32 without the web backend, where there are no files to reach.
+
+use std::io;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use super::{ Entry, Metadata, Mount, Progress, Reply };
+
+pub type WriterHandle    = ();
+pub type OperationHandle = ();
+
+fn unsupported<T>( reply: Reply<T> )
+{
+	reply( Err( io::ErrorKind::Unsupported.into() ) );
+}
+
+pub fn list( _path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<Vec<Entry>> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn stat( _path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<Metadata> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn read( _path: PathBuf, _range: Option<( u64, u64 )>, reply: Reply<Vec<u8>> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn write( _path: PathBuf, _data: Vec<u8>, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn open_write( _path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<WriterHandle> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn write_chunk( _handle: &WriterHandle, _chunk: Vec<u8>, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn close( _handle: WriterHandle, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn abort( _handle: WriterHandle ) {}
+pub fn create_dir( _path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn rename( _from: PathBuf, _to: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn remove( _path: PathBuf, _all: bool, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn copy( _from: PathBuf, _to: PathBuf, _all: bool, _progress: Progress, reply: Reply<()> ) -> OperationHandle { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn cancel( _handle: &OperationHandle ) {}
+pub fn mount( reply: Reply<Mount> ) { unsupported( reply ) }
+pub fn unmount( _path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> ) { unsupported( reply ) }

src/lib.rs

@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ pub( crate ) mod secure_mem;
 pub( crate ) mod resources;
 pub mod time;
 pub mod vfs;
+pub mod files;
 pub mod gles_render;
 #[ cfg( not( target_arch = "wasm32" ) ) ]
 pub mod egl_context;
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ pub use platform::android::{ keep_running, set_android_app, AndroidApp };
 #[ cfg( feature = "web" ) ]
 pub mod web
 {
-	pub use crate::platform::web::{ load_resources, load_tree, set_canvas, set_shell_listener, shell_send };
+	pub use crate::platform::web::{ load_resources, load_tree, set_canvas, set_shell_listener, shell_request, shell_send };
 }
 pub use resources::{ resource_dir, set_resource_dir };
 pub use xkeysym::Keysym;

src/platform/web/desktop.rs

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use crate::app::{ App, Layer, ShellMode, ToplevelEvent };
 use crate::event_loop::AppData;
 
 use super::run::{ push, PageEvent };
-use super::shell;
+use super::{ files, shell };
 
 /// The id the main surface goes by.
 pub( super ) const MAIN: u32 = 0;
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pub( crate ) struct Connection
 {
 	request:    js_sys::Function,
 	disconnect: js_sys::Function,
-	_on_event:  Closure<dyn FnMut( String )>,
+	_on_event:  Closure<dyn FnMut( String, JsValue )>,
 }
 
 impl Connection
@@ -31,11 +31,12 @@ impl Connection
 	{
 		let api = js_sys::Reflect::get( &js_sys::global(), &"forgeWeb".into() ).ok().filter( |v| v.is_object() )?;
 		let connect: js_sys::Function = js_sys::Reflect::get( &api, &"connect".into() ).ok()?.dyn_into().ok()?;
-		let on_event = Closure::<dyn FnMut( String )>::new( on_event );
+		let on_event = Closure::<dyn FnMut( String, JsValue )>::new( on_event );
 		let connection = connect.call2( &api, &JsValue::from_str( app_id ), on_event.as_ref() ).ok()?;
 		let method = |name: &str| js_sys::Reflect::get( &connection, &name.into() ).ok().and_then( |f| f.dyn_into::<js_sys::Function>().ok() );
 		let this = Self { request: method( "request" )?, disconnect: method( "disconnect" )?, _on_event: on_event };
 		shell::connected( Some( this.request.clone() ) );
+		files::connected( Some( this.request.clone() ) );
 		if let Err( e ) = this.request( &json!( { "type": "list_toplevels" } ) )
 		{
 			web_sys::console::warn_1( &format!( "[ltk] list_toplevels: {e}" ).into() );
@@ -71,11 +72,13 @@ impl Connection
 	pub( super ) fn close( &self )
 	{
 		shell::connected( None );
+		files::connected( None );
 		let _ = self.disconnect.call0( &JsValue::NULL );
 	}
 }
 
-fn on_event( json: String )
+/// One of forge/web's events, with the file contents `data` carries for an `fs_reply`.
+fn on_event( json: String, data: JsValue )
 {
 	let Ok( event ) = serde_json::from_str::<Value>( &json ) else { return };
 	let surface = event[ "surface" ].as_u64().unwrap_or( 0 ) as u32;
@@ -98,6 +101,11 @@ fn on_event( json: String )
 			title:      event[ "title" ].as_str().unwrap_or_default().to_string(),
 		} ) ),
 		Some( "toplevel_closed" ) => push( PageEvent::Toplevel( ToplevelEvent::Closed { id: event[ "id" ].as_u64().unwrap_or( 0 ) as u32 } ) ),
+		Some( "fs_reply" )    => files::reply( &event, data ),
+		Some( "fs_progress" ) => files::progress( &event ),
+		Some( "fs_changed" )  => push( PageEvent::FilesChanged( event[ "path" ].as_str().unwrap_or_default().into() ) ),
+		Some( "fs_mounts" )   => push( PageEvent::Mounts( files::mounts( &event ) ) ),
+		Some( "open_files" )  => push( PageEvent::OpenFiles( files::paths( &event ) ) ),
 		_               => web_sys::console::warn_1( &format!( "[ltk] forge/web: {json}" ).into() ),
 	}
 }

src/platform/web/files.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-only
+// Copyright (C) 2026 Liberux Labs, S. L. <info@liberux.net>
+
+//! `ltk::files` in a browser: forge/web's file requests over the app's connection (forge/web/DESIGN.md, section 11). Each request carries a number its `fs_reply` answers with; contents travel as a `Uint8Array` beside the JSON, as the request's and the event's second argument. What is asked before the app has connected waits for the connection, and fails with `Unsupported` on a page without a desktop.
+
+use std::cell::{ Cell, RefCell };
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::io;
+use std::path::{ Path, PathBuf };
+use std::time::{ Duration, UNIX_EPOCH };
+
+use serde_json::{ json, Value };
+use wasm_bindgen::{ JsCast, JsValue };
+
+use crate::files::{ Entry, Kind, Metadata, Mount, Progress, Reply };
+
+type Answer  = io::Result<( Value, Option<Vec<u8>> )>;
+type OnReply = Box<dyn FnOnce( Answer )>;
+
+enum Link
+{
+	Waiting( Vec<( Value, Option<Vec<u8>> )> ),
+	Open( js_sys::Function ),
+	Absent,
+}
+
+thread_local!
+{
+	static LINK:     RefCell<Link> = const { RefCell::new( Link::Waiting( Vec::new() ) ) };
+	static NEXT:     Cell<u64> = const { Cell::new( 1 ) };
+	static REPLIES:  RefCell<HashMap<u64, OnReply>> = RefCell::new( HashMap::new() );
+	static PROGRESS: RefCell<HashMap<u64, Progress>> = RefCell::new( HashMap::new() );
+}
+
+pub type WriterHandle    = u64;
+pub type OperationHandle = u64;
+
+pub fn list( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<Vec<Entry>> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_list", "path": name( &path ) } ), None, Box::new( move |answer| reply( answer.map( |( value, _ )| entries( &value ) ) ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn stat( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<Metadata> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_stat", "path": name( &path ) } ), None, Box::new( move |answer|
+	{
+		reply( answer.and_then( |( value, _ )| metadata( &value ).ok_or_else( || io::ErrorKind::InvalidData.into() ) ) )
+	} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn read( path: PathBuf, range: Option<( u64, u64 )>, reply: Reply<Vec<u8>> )
+{
+	let mut message = json!( { "type": "fs_read", "path": name( &path ) } );
+	if let Some( ( offset, length ) ) = range
+	{
+		message[ "offset" ] = offset.into();
+		message[ "length" ] = length.into();
+	}
+	request( message, None, Box::new( move |answer| reply( answer.map( |( _, data )| data.unwrap_or_default() ) ) ) );
+}
+
+pub fn write( path: PathBuf, data: Vec<u8>, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_write", "path": name( &path ) } ), Some( data ), done( reply ) );
+}
+
+pub fn open_write( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<WriterHandle> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_open_write", "path": name( &path ) } ), None, Box::new( move |answer|
+	{
+		reply( answer.and_then( |( value, _ )| value[ "handle" ].as_u64().ok_or_else( || io::ErrorKind::InvalidData.into() ) ) )
+	} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn write_chunk( handle: &WriterHandle, chunk: Vec<u8>, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_write_chunk", "handle": handle } ), Some( chunk ), done( reply ) );
+}
+
+pub fn close( handle: WriterHandle, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_close", "handle": handle } ), None, done( reply ) );
+}
+
+pub fn abort( handle: WriterHandle )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_abort", "handle": handle } ), None, Box::new( |_| {} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn create_dir( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_mkdir", "path": name( &path ) } ), None, done( reply ) );
+}
+
+pub fn rename( from: PathBuf, to: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_rename", "from": name( &from ), "to": name( &to ) } ), None, done( reply ) );
+}
+
+pub fn remove( path: PathBuf, all: bool, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_remove", "path": name( &path ), "recursive": all } ), None, done( reply ) );
+}
+
+pub fn copy( from: PathBuf, to: PathBuf, all: bool, progress: Progress, reply: Reply<()> ) -> OperationHandle
+{
+	let kind = if all { "fs_copy_all" } else { "fs_copy" };
+	let id   = next_id();
+	PROGRESS.with( |p| p.borrow_mut().insert( id, progress ) );
+	send( id, json!( { "type": kind, "from": name( &from ), "to": name( &to ) } ), None, done( reply ) );
+	id
+}
+
+pub fn cancel( handle: &OperationHandle )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_cancel", "copy": handle } ), None, Box::new( |_| {} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn mount( reply: Reply<Mount> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_mount" } ), None, Box::new( move |answer|
+	{
+		reply( answer.and_then( |( value, _ )| mount_of( &value ).ok_or_else( || io::ErrorKind::InvalidData.into() ) ) )
+	} ) );
+}
+
+pub fn unmount( path: PathBuf, reply: Reply<()> )
+{
+	request( json!( { "type": "fs_unmount", "path": name( &path ) } ), None, done( reply ) );
+}
+
+/// The connection's `request` once connected; `None` when there is no desktop or it has closed, which fails what is waiting.
+pub( super ) fn connected( request: Option<js_sys::Function> )
+{
+	let waiting = LINK.with( |l|
+	{
+		let link = match &request { Some( f ) => Link::Open( f.clone() ), None => Link::Absent };
+		match std::mem::replace( &mut *l.borrow_mut(), link )
+		{
+			Link::Waiting( queue ) => queue,
+			_                      => Vec::new(),
+		}
+	} );
+	match request
+	{
+		Some( request ) =>
+		{
+			for ( message, data ) in waiting
+			{
+				let id = message[ "request" ].as_u64().unwrap_or_default();
+				transmit( &request, id, &message, data );
+			}
+		}
+		None =>
+		{
+			let pending: Vec<u64> = REPLIES.with( |r| r.borrow().keys().copied().collect() );
+			for id in pending { answer( id, Err( io::ErrorKind::Unsupported.into() ) ); }
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/// forge/web's `fs_reply`, with the contents it carries as `data`.
+pub( super ) fn reply( event: &Value, data: JsValue )
+{
+	let Some( id ) = event[ "request" ].as_u64() else { return };
+	let result = match event[ "error" ].as_str()
+	{
+		Some( code ) => Err( error( code ) ),
+		None         => Ok( ( event.clone(), data.dyn_ref::<js_sys::Uint8Array>().map( js_sys::Uint8Array::to_vec ) ) ),
+	};
+	answer( id, result );
+}
+
+/// forge/web's `fs_progress` for a copy.
+pub( super ) fn progress( event: &Value )
+{
+	let Some( id ) = event[ "request" ].as_u64() else { return };
+	let copied = event[ "done" ].as_u64().unwrap_or_default();
+	let total  = event[ "total" ].as_u64().unwrap_or_default();
+	PROGRESS.with( |p| { if let Some( progress ) = p.borrow().get( &id ) { progress( copied, total ); } } );
+}
+
+pub( super ) fn mounts( event: &Value ) -> Vec<Mount>
+{
+	event[ "mounts" ].as_array().map( |list| list.iter().filter_map( mount_of ).collect() ).unwrap_or_default()
+}
+
+pub( super ) fn paths( event: &Value ) -> Vec<PathBuf>
+{
+	event[ "paths" ].as_array().map( |list| list.iter().filter_map( Value::as_str ).map( PathBuf::from ).collect() ).unwrap_or_default()
+}
+
+fn next_id() -> u64
+{
+	NEXT.with( |n| { let id = n.get(); n.set( id + 1 ); id } )
+}
+
+fn request( message: Value, data: Option<Vec<u8>>, on_reply: OnReply )
+{
+	send( next_id(), message, data, on_reply );
+}
+
+fn send( id: u64, mut message: Value, data: Option<Vec<u8>>, on_reply: OnReply )
+{
+	message[ "request" ] = id.into();
+	REPLIES.with( |r| r.borrow_mut().insert( id, on_reply ) );
+	let unsent = LINK.with( move |l|
+	{
+		match &mut *l.borrow_mut()
+		{
+			Link::Waiting( queue ) => { queue.push( ( message, data ) ); None }
+			Link::Open( request )  => Some( ( Some( request.clone() ), message, data ) ),
+			Link::Absent           => Some( ( None, message, data ) ),
+		}
+	} );
+	match unsent
+	{
+		Some( ( Some( request ), message, data ) ) => transmit( &request, id, &message, data ),
+		Some( ( None, _, _ ) )                     => answer( id, Err( io::ErrorKind::Unsupported.into() ) ),
+		None                                       => {}
+	}
+}
+
+fn transmit( request: &js_sys::Function, id: u64, message: &Value, data: Option<Vec<u8>> )
+{
+	let data = data.map_or( JsValue::UNDEFINED, |data| js_sys::Uint8Array::from( data.as_slice() ).into() );
+	if let Err( e ) = request.call2( &JsValue::NULL, &JsValue::from_str( &message.to_string() ), &data )
+	{
+		let reason = e.as_string().unwrap_or_else( || format!( "{e:?}" ) );
+		answer( id, Err( io::Error::other( reason ) ) );
+	}
+}
+
+fn answer( id: u64, result: Answer )
+{
+	PROGRESS.with( |p| p.borrow_mut().remove( &id ) );
+	let Some( on_reply ) = REPLIES.with( |r| r.borrow_mut().remove( &id ) ) else { return };
+	on_reply( result );
+}
+
+fn done( reply: Reply<()> ) -> OnReply
+{
+	Box::new( move |answer| reply( answer.map( |_| () ) ) )
+}
+
+fn name( path: &Path ) -> String
+{
+	path.to_string_lossy().into_owned()
+}
+
+fn error( code: &str ) -> io::Error
+{
+	let kind = match code
+	{
+		"not_found"       => io::ErrorKind::NotFound,
+		"exists"          => io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists,
+		"not_a_directory" => io::ErrorKind::NotADirectory,
+		"is_a_directory"  => io::ErrorKind::IsADirectory,
+		"not_empty"       => io::ErrorKind::DirectoryNotEmpty,
+		"denied"          => io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied,
+		"unsupported"     => io::ErrorKind::Unsupported,
+		"cancelled"       => io::ErrorKind::Interrupted,
+		_                 => io::ErrorKind::Other,
+	};
+	io::Error::new( kind, code.to_string() )
+}
+
+fn metadata( value: &Value ) -> Option<Metadata>
+{
+	let kind = match value[ "kind" ].as_str()? { "directory" => Kind::Directory, _ => Kind::File };
+	Some( Metadata
+	{
+		kind,
+		size:     value[ "size" ].as_u64().unwrap_or_default(),
+		modified: value[ "modified" ].as_f64().map( |ms| UNIX_EPOCH + Duration::from_millis( ms.max( 0.0 ) as u64 ) ),
+		accessed: None,
+	} )
+}
+
+fn entries( value: &Value ) -> Vec<Entry>
+{
+	let Some( list ) = value[ "entries" ].as_array() else { return Vec::new() };
+	list.iter().filter_map( |entry|
+	{
+		let meta = metadata( entry )?;
+		Some( Entry { name: entry[ "name" ].as_str()?.into(), kind: meta.kind, size: meta.size, modified: meta.modified, accessed: None } )
+	} ).collect()
+}
+
+fn mount_of( value: &Value ) -> Option<Mount>
+{
+	Some( Mount { path: value[ "path" ].as_str()?.into(), name: value[ "name" ].as_str()?.to_string() } )
+}

src/platform/web/mod.rs

@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 //! | --- | --- |
 //! | `assets.rs` | The themes, fonts and keyboard layouts a page serves, fetched into memory as the app's resource directory |
 //! | `desktop.rs` | The connection to forge/web and the main surface's role |
-//! | `shell.rs` | The shell protocol over that connection, for a shell such as crustace: [`shell_send`] and [`set_shell_listener`] |
+//! | `shell.rs` | The shell protocol over that connection, for a shell such as crustace: [`shell_send`], [`shell_request`] and [`set_shell_listener`] |
+//! | `files.rs` | [`crate::files`] over that connection: forge/web's file requests, their replies and a copy's progress |
 //! | `overlays.rs` | The app's overlays as surfaces of the desktop, kept in step with `App::overlays()` |
 //! | `subsurfaces.rs` | The app's subsurfaces as surfaces of the desktop, painted when their content changes and otherwise only moved |
 //! | `log.rs` | Panics into the browser's console |
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ mod assets;
 mod clipboard;
 mod cursor;
 mod desktop;
+pub( crate ) mod files;
 mod input;
 mod keys;
 mod log;
@@ -38,7 +40,7 @@ mod surface;
 
 pub use assets::{ load_resources, load_tree };
 pub use run::set_canvas;
-pub use shell::{ set_shell_listener, shell_send };
+pub use shell::{ set_shell_listener, shell_request, shell_send };
 pub( crate ) use state::WebPlatform;
 pub( crate ) use surface::WebSurfaceState;
 

src/platform/web/run.rs

@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ pub( super ) enum PageEvent
 	},
 	/// A window of the desktop's, as `ext-foreign-toplevel-list` reports it.
 	Toplevel( ToplevelEvent ),
+	/// A directory another client changed.
+	FilesChanged( std::path::PathBuf ),
+	Mounts( Vec<crate::files::Mount> ),
+	/// The files the app was launched to open.
+	OpenFiles( Vec<std::path::PathBuf> ),
 }
 
 /// An event listener, registered for as long as it lives.
@@ -126,6 +131,7 @@ pub( crate ) fn try_run<A: App>( app: A ) -> Result<(), RunError>
 	// A canvas the page named wins; else the page's desktop gives the main surface, and without one ltk lays a canvas over the page.
 	let given   = CANVAS.with( |c| c.borrow_mut().take() );
 	let desktop = if given.is_none() { Connection::open( app.app_id() ) } else { None };
+	if desktop.is_none() { super::files::connected( None ); }
 	let ( canvas, target, own ) = match ( desktop.as_ref(), given )
 	{
 		( Some( desktop ), _ ) =>
@@ -296,6 +302,18 @@ impl<A: App> AppData<A>
 				{
 					if let Some( msg ) = self.app.on_toplevel_event( event ) { self.pending_msgs.push( msg ); }
 				}
+				PageEvent::FilesChanged( dir ) =>
+				{
+					if let Some( msg ) = self.app.on_files_changed( &dir ) { self.pending_msgs.push( msg ); }
+				}
+				PageEvent::Mounts( mounts ) =>
+				{
+					if let Some( msg ) = self.app.on_mounts_changed( &mounts ) { self.pending_msgs.push( msg ); }
+				}
+				PageEvent::OpenFiles( paths ) =>
+				{
+					if let Some( msg ) = self.app.on_open_files( paths ) { self.pending_msgs.push( msg ); }
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		self.dispatch_sources();

src/platform/web/shell.rs

@@ -18,36 +18,42 @@ thread_local!
 /// Send `message`, one of the shell protocol's JSON objects, to forge/web.
 pub fn shell_send( message: &str )
 {
-	let message: Value = match serde_json::from_str( message )
+	let Some( message ) = parse( message ) else { return };
-	{
-		Ok( m )  => m,
-		Err( e ) =>
-		{
-			web_sys::console::warn_1( &format!( "[ltk] shell message is not JSON ({e}): {message}" ).into() );
-			return;
-		}
-	};
 	let request = REQUEST.with( |r| r.borrow().clone() );
 	match request
 	{
-		Some( request ) => send( &request, message ),
+		Some( request ) => { send( &request, message ); }
 		None            => PENDING.with( |p| p.borrow_mut().push( message ) ),
 	}
 }
 
+/// Send `message` as [`shell_send`] does and return forge/web's reply, as JSON, at once. `None` before the app has connected, since a request is not kept for later, and when forge/web replies nothing.
+pub fn shell_request( message: &str ) -> Option<String>
+{
+	let message = parse( message )?;
+	let request = REQUEST.with( |r| r.borrow().clone() )?;
+	send( &request, message )?.as_string()
+}
+
+fn parse( message: &str ) -> Option<Value>
+{
+	serde_json::from_str( message )
+		.map_err( |e| web_sys::console::warn_1( &format!( "[ltk] shell message is not JSON ({e}): {message}" ).into() ) )
+		.ok()
+}
+
 /// Have `listener` receive each of forge/web's shell messages as JSON.
 pub fn set_shell_listener( listener: impl Fn( &str ) + 'static )
 {
 	LISTENER.with( |l| *l.borrow_mut() = Some( Box::new( listener ) ) );
 }
 
-fn send( request: &js_sys::Function, message: Value )
+fn send( request: &js_sys::Function, message: Value ) -> Option<JsValue>
 {
 	let json = json!( { "type": "shell", "message": message } ).to_string();
-	if let Err( e ) = request.call1( &JsValue::NULL, &JsValue::from_str( &json ) )
+	request.call1( &JsValue::NULL, &JsValue::from_str( &json ) )
-	{
+		.map_err( |e| web_sys::console::warn_2( &"[ltk] forge/web refused a shell message:".into(), &e ) )
-		web_sys::console::warn_2( &"[ltk] forge/web refused a shell message:".into(), &e );
+		.ok()
-	}
 }
 
 /// The connection's `request`, once connected, and `None` once it has closed.