Make xterm the explicit default renderer

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ All notable user-visible changes are recorded here. Versions follow [Semantic Ve
 ### Added
 
 - A persisted terminal renderer dropdown in public shares and signed-in
-  session tabs. xterm.js remains the default; Refstream can be selected without
+  session tabs. xterm.js is the default; Refstream (alpha) can be selected without
   changing the process, relay protocol, encryption, or session permissions.
 - Refstream mode now mounts its terminal-native find, command inspection,
   retained-output download, eight themes, text sizing, and back-to-live tools

app/README.md

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ The full relay and app setup is documented in [the self-hosting guide](../docs/s
 - `src/` — React client
 - `server/` — API, stores, and migrations
 - `worker/` — Cloudflare Worker adapter
-- `src/terminal/` — relay protocol, E2EE, and selectable xterm.js/Refstream rendering; Refstream mode includes its local find, command, export, theme, sizing, and back-to-live tools
+- `src/terminal/` — relay protocol, E2EE, and selectable rendering; xterm.js is the default and Refstream (alpha) includes local find, command, export, theme, sizing, and back-to-live tools
 - `scripts/` — build and deployment checks
 
 `npm run check:protocol` verifies that the app's terminal protocol files match

app/src/routes/Workspace.tsx

@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ export function Workspace() {
               }}
             >
               <option value="xterm">xterm.js</option>
-              <option value="refstream">Refstream</option>
+              <option value="refstream">Refstream (alpha)</option>
             </select>
           </label>
         </div>

app/src/terminal/renderer.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 import { Terminal as RefstreamTerminal } from "../../../web/vendor/refstream/v0.1.0-alpha.2/refstream.js";
 
 export type TerminalRenderer = "xterm" | "refstream";
+export const DEFAULT_TERMINAL_RENDERER: TerminalRenderer = "xterm";
 type TerminalOptions = ITerminalOptions & ITerminalInitOnlyOptions;
 
 export interface TerminalSurface {
@@ -30,9 +31,11 @@ const STORAGE_KEY = "shell-online-terminal-renderer";
 
 export function readTerminalRenderer(): TerminalRenderer {
   try {
-    return localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY) === "refstream" ? "refstream" : "xterm";
+    return localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY) === "refstream"
+      ? "refstream"
+      : DEFAULT_TERMINAL_RENDERER;
   } catch {
-    return "xterm";
+    return DEFAULT_TERMINAL_RENDERER;
   }
 }
 

docs/content.json

@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
         ],
         [
           "Choose the renderer",
-          "Terminal controls include a persisted renderer dropdown for xterm.js or Refstream. xterm.js remains the default. Refstream mode adds find, command inspection when the process emits shell markers, retained-output download, built-in themes, text sizing, and a back-to-live shortcut. Switching reopens only the browser view; the process, encryption, permissions, fixed session grid, and relay connection model do not change."
+          "Terminal controls include a persisted renderer dropdown. xterm.js is the default; Refstream (alpha) is available as an experimental alternative. Refstream mode adds find, command inspection when the process emits shell markers, retained-output download, built-in themes, text sizing, and a back-to-live shortcut. Switching reopens only the browser view; the process, encryption, permissions, fixed session grid, and relay connection model do not change."
         ],
         [
           "Large paste, bounded",

web/main.ts

@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ function renderTerminal(sessionId: string): void {
                 <div class="settings-card-heading"><label id="renderer-label" for="terminal-renderer">Renderer</label></div>
                 <select id="terminal-renderer" aria-describedby="renderer-description">
                   <option value="xterm">xterm.js</option>
-                  <option value="refstream">Refstream</option>
+                  <option value="refstream">Refstream (alpha)</option>
                 </select>
                 <span id="renderer-description">Changing renderer reopens this view.</span>
               </section>

web/terminal-renderer.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 import { Terminal as RefstreamTerminal } from "./vendor/refstream/v0.1.0-alpha.2/refstream.js";
 
 export type TerminalRenderer = "xterm" | "refstream";
+export const DEFAULT_TERMINAL_RENDERER: TerminalRenderer = "xterm";
 type TerminalOptions = ITerminalOptions & ITerminalInitOnlyOptions;
 
 export interface TerminalSurface {
@@ -43,9 +44,9 @@ export function readTerminalRenderer(): TerminalRenderer {
   try {
     return localStorage.getItem(TERMINAL_RENDERER_STORAGE_KEY) === "refstream"
       ? "refstream"
-      : "xterm";
+      : DEFAULT_TERMINAL_RENDERER;
   } catch {
-    return "xterm";
+    return DEFAULT_TERMINAL_RENDERER;
   }
 }