fix: terminal input reaches the shell in the order it was typed

internal/server/handlers_panel_term.go

@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ type panelInMsg struct {
 	D    string `json:"d,omitempty"`
 	Cols uint16 `json:"cols,omitempty"`
 	Rows uint16 `json:"rows,omitempty"`
+	// Seq numbers the messages of a session from 1; 0 from a page that
+	// predates it.
+	Seq uint64 `json:"seq,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // POST /api/panel/term/{sid}/in - send keystrokes/resize to the agent PTY.
@@ -63,6 +66,10 @@ func (s *Server) handlePanelIn(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		http.Error(w, "bad request", http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
 	}
+	if m.Seq > 0 && !sess.TakeSeq(m.Seq) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent) // a repeat of one already taken
+		return
+	}
 	switch m.T {
 	case "i":
 		sess.PushIn(proto.InFrame{Type: proto.FrameStdin, Data: m.D})

internal/server/hub.go

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ type Session struct {
 	mu       sync.Mutex
 	inBuf    []proto.InFrame
 	inSignal chan struct{} // size-1; pulsed when inBuf gains data
+	inSeq    uint64        // number of the last browser message taken
 
 	out chan proto.OutMessage // agent -> panel
 
@@ -250,6 +251,19 @@ func (s *Session) close() { s.closeOnce.Do(func() { close(s.closed) }) }
 // Done returns a channel closed when the session ends.
 func (s *Session) Done() <-chan struct{} { return s.closed }
 
+// TakeSeq reports whether the browser message numbered seq is new, and takes
+// note of it. The browser sends them one at a time in rising order and sends
+// one again when it got no answer, so a number not above the last is a repeat.
+func (s *Session) TakeSeq(seq uint64) bool {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	if seq <= s.inSeq {
+		return false
+	}
+	s.inSeq = seq
+	return true
+}
+
 // PushIn appends a downstream frame (panel -> agent) and wakes the agent poll.
 func (s *Session) PushIn(f proto.InFrame) {
 	s.mu.Lock()

internal/server/web/templates/terminal.html

@@ -162,11 +162,42 @@
     term.write('\r\n\x1b[33m' + msg + '\x1b[0m\r\n');
   }
 
-  function send(data) {
+  // Input goes out one request at a time, so on a slow link a keystroke can
+  // never overtake the one before it; what is typed meanwhile is sent together
+  // next. A request that fails goes again under the same number, and the
+  // server drops one it already has.
+  let inSeq = 0, inBusy = false;
+  const inQueue = [];
+  function queueIn(m) {
     if (closed || !sid) return;
-    const bytes = new TextEncoder().encode(data);
-    post(base + sid + '/in', { t: 'i', d: bytesToB64(bytes) });
+    const last = inQueue[inQueue.length - 1];
+    if (last && last.t === 'i' && m.t === 'i') last.text += m.text;
+    else if (last && last.t === 'r' && m.t === 'r') inQueue[inQueue.length - 1] = m;
+    else inQueue.push(m);
+    pumpIn();
   }
+  async function pumpIn() {
+    if (inBusy || !inQueue.length) return;
+    inBusy = true;
+    while (inQueue.length && !closed) {
+      const m = inQueue.shift();
+      const body = m.t === 'i'
+        ? { t: 'i', d: bytesToB64(new TextEncoder().encode(m.text)), seq: ++inSeq }
+        : { t: 'r', cols: m.cols, rows: m.rows, seq: ++inSeq };
+      for (let wait = 300; !closed; wait = Math.min(wait * 2, 5000)) {
+        let r = null;
+        try {
+          r = await fetch(base + sid + '/in', {
+            method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }, body: JSON.stringify(body)
+          });
+        } catch (e) { /* no answer: send it again */ }
+        if (r && r.status < 500) break; // taken, or refused for good
+        await new Promise(res => setTimeout(res, wait));
+      }
+    }
+    inBusy = false;
+  }
+  function send(data) { queueIn({ t: 'i', text: data }); }
   // What the keyboard types gets the CTRL / ALT of the extra keys, if armed.
   term.onData(function (data) { send(withMods(data)); });
 
@@ -240,10 +271,7 @@
     b.addEventListener('contextmenu', function (e) { e.preventDefault(); });
   });
 
-  function sendResize() {
-    if (closed || !sid) return;
-    post(base + sid + '/in', { t: 'r', cols: term.cols, rows: term.rows });
-  }
+  function sendResize() { queueIn({ t: 'r', cols: term.cols, rows: term.rows }); }
   function refit() {
     if (touch && window.visualViewport) {
       // Follow the visible area, so the extra keys sit right above the