feat: Enhance card metadata handling, implement persistent Scryfall caching, and update pack generation logic for new booster structure.

docs/development/CENTRAL.md

@@ -28,3 +28,4 @@
 - [Persist Metadata](./devlog/2025-12-16-230000_persist_metadata.md): Completed. Implemented IndexedDB persistence for Scryfall metadata to ensure offline availability and reduce API calls.
 - [Bulk Parse Feedback](./devlog/2025-12-16-231500_bulk_parse_feedback.md): Completed. Updated `CubeManager` to handle metadata generation properly and provide feedback on missing cards.
 - [Full Metadata Passthrough](./devlog/2025-12-16-234500_full_metadata_passthrough.md): Completed. `DraftCard` now includes a `definition` property containing the complete, raw Scryfall object for future-proofing and advanced algorithm usage.
+- [Server-Side Caching](./devlog/2025-12-16-235900_server_side_caching.md): Completed. Implemented logic to cache images and metadata on the server upon bulk parsing, and updated client to use local assets.

docs/development/devlog/2025-12-16-235900_server_side_caching.md

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Plan: Server-Side Caching of Bulk Data
+
+## Objective
+Implement server-side caching of both card images and metadata upon bulk parsing, ensuring the application relies on local assets rather than external Scryfall URLs.
+
+## Implementation Steps
+
+1.  **Refactor Server Architecture (`CardService.ts`)**
+    *   Update storage paths to `public/cards/images` (previously `public/cards`) and `public/cards/metadata`.
+    *   Implement `cacheMetadata` to save JSON files alongside images.
+
+2.  **Update API Endpoint (`index.ts`)**
+    *   Modify `POST /api/cards/cache` to handle metadata saving in addition to image downloading.
+    *   Update static file serving to map `/cards` to `public/cards`, making images accessible at `/cards/images/{id}.jpg`.
+
+3.  **Update Client Logic (`CubeManager.tsx`, `PackGeneratorService.ts`, `LobbyManager.tsx`)**
+    *   **Generation**: Pass a flag (`useLocalImages`) to the generator service.
+    *   **Url Construction**: Generator now produces URLs like `${origin}/cards/images/{id}.jpg` when the flag is set.
+    *   **Triggers**: `CubeManager` immediately sends parsed data to the server for caching before generating packs.
+    *   **Consistency**: `LobbyManager` updated to look for images in the new `/cards/images` path for multiplayer sessions.
+
+## Impact
+*   **Performance**: Initial "Parse Bulk" takes slightly longer (due to server cache call), but subsequent interactions are instant and local.
+*   **Reliability**: Application works offline or without Scryfall after initial parse.
+*   **Precision**: Metadata is now persisted as individual JSONs on the backend, ready for future complex backend algorithms.

src/client/src/modules/cube/CubeManager.tsx

@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ export const CubeManager: React.FC<CubeManagerProps> = ({ packs, setPacks, onGoT
   // --- Effects ---
   useEffect(() => {
     if (rawScryfallData) {
-      const result = generatorService.processCards(rawScryfallData, filters);
+      // Use local images: true
+      const result = generatorService.processCards(rawScryfallData, filters, true);
       setProcessedData(result);
     }
   }, [filters, rawScryfallData]);
@@ -189,6 +190,20 @@ export const CubeManager: React.FC<CubeManagerProps> = ({ packs, setPacks, onGoT
       }
 
       setRawScryfallData(expandedCards);
+
+      // Cache to server
+      if (expandedCards.length > 0) {
+        setProgress('Loading...');
+        // Deduplicate for shipping to server
+        const uniqueCards = Array.from(new Map(expandedCards.map(c => [c.id, c])).values());
+
+        await fetch('/api/cards/cache', {
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          body: JSON.stringify({ cards: uniqueCards }) // Send full metadata
+        });
+      }
+
       setLoading(false);
       setProgress('');
 

src/client/src/modules/lobby/LobbyManager.tsx

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export const LobbyManager: React.FC<LobbyManagerProps> = ({ generatedPacks }) =>
 
       // Transform packs to use local URLs
       // Note: For multiplayer, clients need to access this URL.
-      const baseUrl = `${window.location.protocol}//${window.location.host}/cards`;
+      const baseUrl = `${window.location.protocol}//${window.location.host}/cards/images`;
 
       const updatedPacks = generatedPacks.map(pack => ({
         ...pack,

src/client/src/services/PackGeneratorService.ts

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ export interface PackGenerationSettings {
 
 export class PackGeneratorService {
 
-  processCards(cards: ScryfallCard[], filters: { ignoreBasicLands: boolean, ignoreCommander: boolean, ignoreTokens: boolean }): { pools: ProcessedPools, sets: SetsMap } {
+  processCards(cards: ScryfallCard[], filters: { ignoreBasicLands: boolean, ignoreCommander: boolean, ignoreTokens: boolean }, useLocalImages: boolean = false): { pools: ProcessedPools, sets: SetsMap } {
     const pools: ProcessedPools = { commons: [], uncommons: [], rares: [], mythics: [], lands: [], tokens: [] };
     const setsMap: SetsMap = {};
 
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ export class PackGeneratorService {
         typeLine: typeLine,
         layout: layout,
         colors: cardData.colors || [],
-        image: cardData.image_uris?.normal || cardData.card_faces?.[0]?.image_uris?.normal || '',
+        image: useLocalImages
+          ? `${window.location.origin}/cards/images/${cardData.id}.jpg`
+          : (cardData.image_uris?.normal || cardData.card_faces?.[0]?.image_uris?.normal || ''),
         set: cardData.set_name,
         setCode: cardData.set,
         setType: setType,

src/server/index.ts

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
 
 app.use(express.json({ limit: '50mb' })); // Increase limit for large card lists
 
-// Serve static images
+// Serve static images (Nested)
 app.use('/cards', express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public/cards')));
 
 // API Routes
@@ -51,9 +51,10 @@ app.post('/api/cards/cache', async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
       return;
     }
 
-    console.log(`Caching images for ${cards.length} cards...`);
+    console.log(`Caching images and metadata for ${cards.length} cards...`);
-    const count = await cardService.cacheImages(cards);
+    const imgCount = await cardService.cacheImages(cards);
-    res.json({ success: true, downloaded: count });
+    const metaCount = await cardService.cacheMetadata(cards);
+    res.json({ success: true, downloadedImages: imgCount, savedMetadata: metaCount });
   } catch (err: any) {
     console.error('Error in cache route:', err);
     res.status(500).json({ error: err.message });

src/server/services/CardService.ts

@@ -8,9 +8,18 @@ const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename);
 const CARDS_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '../public/cards');
 
 export class CardService {
+  private imagesDir: string;
+  private metadataDir: string;
+
   constructor() {
-    if (!fs.existsSync(CARDS_DIR)) {
+    this.imagesDir = path.join(CARDS_DIR, 'images');
-      fs.mkdirSync(CARDS_DIR, { recursive: true });
+    this.metadataDir = path.join(CARDS_DIR, 'metadata');
+
+    if (!fs.existsSync(this.imagesDir)) {
+      fs.mkdirSync(this.imagesDir, { recursive: true });
+    }
+    if (!fs.existsSync(this.metadataDir)) {
+      fs.mkdirSync(this.metadataDir, { recursive: true });
     }
   }
 
@@ -38,7 +47,7 @@ export class CardService {
 
         if (!imageUrl) continue;
 
-        const filePath = path.join(CARDS_DIR, `${uuid}.jpg`);
+        const filePath = path.join(this.imagesDir, `${uuid}.jpg`);
 
         if (fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
           // Already cached
@@ -67,4 +76,21 @@ export class CardService {
 
     return downloadedCount;
   }
+
+  async cacheMetadata(cards: any[]): Promise<number> {
+    let cachedCount = 0;
+    for (const card of cards) {
+      if (!card.id) continue;
+      const filePath = path.join(this.metadataDir, `${card.id}.json`);
+      if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
+        try {
+          fs.writeFileSync(filePath, JSON.stringify(card, null, 2));
+          cachedCount++;
+        } catch (e) {
+          console.error(`Failed to save metadata for ${card.id}`, e);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return cachedCount;
+  }
 }