refactor(relays): unify relay config with typed registry and improve hint usage

- Create typed RelayRole and RelayConfig interface in relays.ts
- Add centralized RELAY_CONFIGS registry with role annotations
- Add helper getters: getLocalRelays(), getDefaultRelays(), getContentRelays(), getFallbackContentRelays()
- Maintain backwards compatibility with RELAYS and NON_CONTENT_RELAYS constants
- Refactor relayManager to use new registry helpers
- Harden applyRelaySetToPool with consistent normalization and local relay preservation
- Add RelaySetChangeSummary return type for debugging
- Improve articleService to prioritize and filter relay hints from naddr
- Use centralized fallback content relay helpers instead of hard-coded arrays

src/config/relays.ts

@@ -3,36 +3,95 @@
  * Single set of relays used throughout the application
  */
 
-// All relays including local relays
+export type RelayRole = 'local-cache' | 'default' | 'fallback' | 'non-content' | 'bunker'
-export const RELAYS = [
+
-  'ws://localhost:10547',
+export interface RelayConfig {
-  'ws://localhost:4869',
+  url: string
-  'wss://relay.nsec.app',
+  roles: RelayRole[]
-  'wss://relay.damus.io',
+}
-  'wss://nos.lol',
+
-  'wss://relay.nostr.band',
+/**
-  'wss://wot.dergigi.com',
+ * Central relay registry with role annotations
-  'wss://relay.snort.social',
+ */
-  'wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net',
+const RELAY_CONFIGS: RelayConfig[] = [
-  'wss://purplepag.es',
+  { url: 'ws://localhost:10547', roles: ['local-cache'] },
-  'wss://relay.primal.net',
+  { url: 'ws://localhost:4869', roles: ['local-cache'] },
-  'wss://proxy.nostr-relay.app/5d0d38afc49c4b84ca0da951a336affa18438efed302aeedfa92eb8b0d3fcb87',
+  { url: 'wss://relay.nsec.app', roles: ['default', 'non-content'] },
+  { url: 'wss://relay.damus.io', roles: ['default', 'fallback'] },
+  { url: 'wss://nos.lol', roles: ['default', 'fallback'] },
+  { url: 'wss://relay.nostr.band', roles: ['default', 'fallback'] },
+  { url: 'wss://wot.dergigi.com', roles: ['default'] },
+  { url: 'wss://relay.snort.social', roles: ['default'] },
+  { url: 'wss://nostr-pub.wellorder.net', roles: ['default'] },
+  { url: 'wss://purplepag.es', roles: ['default'] },
+  { url: 'wss://relay.primal.net', roles: ['default', 'fallback'] },
+  { url: 'wss://proxy.nostr-relay.app/5d0d38afc49c4b84ca0da951a336affa18438efed302aeedfa92eb8b0d3fcb87', roles: ['default'] },
 ]
 
 /**
- * Relays that should NOT be used as content hints (auth/signer, etc.)
+ * Get all local cache relays (localhost relays)
- * These relays are fine for connection and other purposes, but shouldn't
- * be suggested as places where posts/highlights are likely to be found.
  */
-export const NON_CONTENT_RELAYS = [
+export function getLocalRelays(): string[] {
-  'wss://relay.nsec.app',
+  return RELAY_CONFIGS
+    .filter(config => config.roles.includes('local-cache'))
+    .map(config => config.url)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get all default relays (main public relays)
+ */
+export function getDefaultRelays(): string[] {
+  return RELAY_CONFIGS
+    .filter(config => config.roles.includes('default'))
+    .map(config => config.url)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get fallback content relays (last resort public relays for content fetching)
+ * These are reliable public relays that should be tried when other methods fail
+ */
+export function getFallbackContentRelays(): string[] {
+  return RELAY_CONFIGS
+    .filter(config => config.roles.includes('fallback'))
+    .map(config => config.url)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get relays suitable for content fetching (excludes non-content relays like auth/signer relays)
+ */
+export function getContentRelays(): string[] {
+  return RELAY_CONFIGS
+    .filter(config => !config.roles.includes('non-content'))
+    .map(config => config.url)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get relays that should NOT be used as content hints
+ */
+export function getNonContentRelays(): string[] {
+  return RELAY_CONFIGS
+    .filter(config => config.roles.includes('non-content'))
+    .map(config => config.url)
+}
+
+/**
+ * All relays including local relays (backwards compatibility)
+ */
+export const RELAYS = [
+  ...getLocalRelays(),
+  ...getDefaultRelays(),
 ]
 
+/**
+ * Relays that should NOT be used as content hints (backwards compatibility)
+ */
+export const NON_CONTENT_RELAYS = getNonContentRelays()
+
 /**
  * Check if a relay URL is suitable for use as a content hint
- * Returns true for remote relays that are reasonable for posts/highlights
+ * Returns true for relays that are reasonable for posts/highlights
  */
 export function isContentRelay(url: string): boolean {
-  return !NON_CONTENT_RELAYS.includes(url)
+  return !getNonContentRelays().includes(url)
 }
 

src/services/articleService.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { nip19 } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { AddressPointer } from 'nostr-tools/nip19'
 import { NostrEvent } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { Helpers } from 'applesauce-core'
-import { RELAYS } from '../config/relays'
+import { getContentRelays, getFallbackContentRelays, isContentRelay } from '../config/relays'
 import { prioritizeLocalRelays, partitionRelays, createParallelReqStreams } from '../utils/helpers'
 import { merge, toArray as rxToArray } from 'rxjs'
 import { UserSettings } from './settingsService'
@@ -138,13 +138,6 @@ export async function fetchArticleByNaddr(
 
     const pointer = decoded.data as AddressPointer
 
-    // Define relays to query - use union of relay hints from naddr and configured relays
-    // This avoids failures when naddr contains stale/unreachable relay hints
-    const hintedRelays = (pointer.relays && pointer.relays.length > 0) ? pointer.relays : []
-    const baseRelays = Array.from(new Set<string>([...hintedRelays, ...RELAYS]))
-    const orderedRelays = prioritizeLocalRelays(baseRelays)
-    const { local: localRelays, remote: remoteRelays } = partitionRelays(orderedRelays)
-
     // Fetch the article event
     const filter = {
       kinds: [pointer.kind],
@@ -152,24 +145,59 @@ export async function fetchArticleByNaddr(
       '#d': [pointer.identifier]
     }
 
-    // Parallel local+remote, stream immediate, collect up to first from each
+    let events: NostrEvent[] = []
-    const { local$, remote$ } = createParallelReqStreams(relayPool, localRelays, remoteRelays, filter, 1200, 6000)
-    const collected = await lastValueFrom(merge(local$.pipe(take(1)), remote$.pipe(take(1))).pipe(rxToArray()))
-    let events = collected as NostrEvent[]
 
-    // Fallback: if nothing found, try a second round against a set of reliable public relays
+    // First, try relay hints from naddr (primary source)
+    // Filter to only content relays to avoid using auth/signer relays
+    const hintedRelays = (pointer.relays && pointer.relays.length > 0)
+      ? pointer.relays.filter(isContentRelay)
+      : []
+    
+    if (hintedRelays.length > 0) {
+      const orderedHintedRelays = prioritizeLocalRelays(hintedRelays)
+      const { local: localHinted, remote: remoteHinted } = partitionRelays(orderedHintedRelays)
+      
+      const { local$, remote$ } = createParallelReqStreams(
+        relayPool,
+        localHinted,
+        remoteHinted,
+        filter,
+        1200,
+        6000
+      )
+      const collected = await lastValueFrom(
+        merge(local$.pipe(take(1)), remote$.pipe(take(1))).pipe(rxToArray())
+      )
+      events = collected as NostrEvent[]
+    }
+
+    // Fallback: if no hints or nothing found from hints, try default content relays
     if (events.length === 0) {
-      const reliableRelays = Array.from(new Set<string>([
+      const defaultContentRelays = getContentRelays()
-        'wss://relay.nostr.band',
+      const orderedDefault = prioritizeLocalRelays(defaultContentRelays)
-        'wss://relay.primal.net',
+      const { local: localDefault, remote: remoteDefault } = partitionRelays(orderedDefault)
-        'wss://relay.damus.io',
+      
-        'wss://nos.lol',
+      const { local$, remote$ } = createParallelReqStreams(
-        ...remoteRelays // keep any configured remote relays
+        relayPool,
-      ]))
+        localDefault,
+        remoteDefault,
+        filter,
+        1200,
+        6000
+      )
+      const collected = await lastValueFrom(
+        merge(local$.pipe(take(1)), remote$.pipe(take(1))).pipe(rxToArray())
+      )
+      events = collected as NostrEvent[]
+    }
+
+    // Last resort: try fallback content relays (most reliable public relays)
+    if (events.length === 0) {
+      const fallbackRelays = getFallbackContentRelays()
       const { remote$: fallback$ } = createParallelReqStreams(
         relayPool,
-        [], // no local
+        [], // no local for fallback
-        reliableRelays,
+        fallbackRelays,
         filter,
         1500,
         12000

src/services/relayManager.ts

@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
 import { RelayPool } from 'applesauce-relay'
 import { prioritizeLocalRelays } from '../utils/helpers'
+import { getLocalRelays, getDefaultRelays } from '../config/relays'
 
 /**
  * Local relays that are always included
  */
-export const ALWAYS_LOCAL_RELAYS = [
+export const ALWAYS_LOCAL_RELAYS = getLocalRelays()
-  'ws://localhost:10547',
-  'ws://localhost:4869'
-]
 
 /**
- * Hardcoded relays that are always included
+ * Hardcoded relays that are always included (minimal reliable set)
  */
 export const HARDCODED_RELAYS = [
   'wss://relay.nostr.band'
@@ -28,7 +26,7 @@ export function getActiveRelayUrls(relayPool: RelayPool): string[] {
  * Normalizes a relay URL to match what applesauce-relay stores internally
  * Adds trailing slash for URLs without a path
  */
-function normalizeRelayUrl(url: string): string {
+export function normalizeRelayUrl(url: string): string {
   try {
     const parsed = new URL(url)
     // If the pathname is empty or just "/", ensure it ends with "/"
@@ -42,58 +40,84 @@ function normalizeRelayUrl(url: string): string {
   }
 }
 
+export interface RelaySetChangeSummary {
+  added: string[]
+  removed: string[]
+}
+
 /**
  * Applies a new relay set to the pool: adds missing relays, removes extras
+ * Always preserves local relays even if not in finalUrls
+ * @returns Summary of changes for debugging
  */
 export function applyRelaySetToPool(
   relayPool: RelayPool,
-  finalUrls: string[]
+  finalUrls: string[],
-): void {
+  options?: { preserveAlwaysLocal?: boolean }
-  // Normalize all URLs to match pool's internal format
+): RelaySetChangeSummary {
-  const currentUrls = new Set(Array.from(relayPool.relays.keys()))
+  const preserveLocal = options?.preserveAlwaysLocal !== false // default true
-  const normalizedTargetUrls = new Set(finalUrls.map(normalizeRelayUrl))
-
   
-
+  // Ensure local relays are always included
-  // Add new relays (use original URLs for adding, not normalized)
+  const urlsWithLocal = preserveLocal
-  const toAdd = finalUrls.filter(url => !currentUrls.has(normalizeRelayUrl(url)))
+    ? Array.from(new Set([...finalUrls, ...ALWAYS_LOCAL_RELAYS]))
+    : finalUrls
   
-  if (toAdd.length > 0) {
+  // Normalize all URLs consistently for comparison
-    relayPool.group(toAdd)
+  const normalizedCurrent = new Set(
+    Array.from(relayPool.relays.keys()).map(normalizeRelayUrl)
+  )
+  const normalizedTarget = new Set(urlsWithLocal.map(normalizeRelayUrl))
+  
+  // Map normalized URLs back to original for adding
+  const normalizedToOriginal = new Map<string, string>()
+  for (const url of urlsWithLocal) {
+    normalizedToOriginal.set(normalizeRelayUrl(url), url)
   }
-
+  
-  // Remove relays not in target (but always keep local relays)
+  // Find relays to add (not in current pool)
+  const toAdd: string[] = []
+  for (const normalizedUrl of normalizedTarget) {
+    if (!normalizedCurrent.has(normalizedUrl)) {
+      const originalUrl = normalizedToOriginal.get(normalizedUrl) || normalizedUrl
+      toAdd.push(originalUrl)
+    }
+  }
+  
+  // Find relays to remove (not in target, but preserve local relays)
+  const normalizedLocal = new Set(ALWAYS_LOCAL_RELAYS.map(normalizeRelayUrl))
   const toRemove: string[] = []
-  for (const url of currentUrls) {
+  for (const currentUrl of relayPool.relays.keys()) {
-    // Check if this normalized URL is in the target set
+    const normalizedCurrentUrl = normalizeRelayUrl(currentUrl)
-    if (!normalizedTargetUrls.has(url)) {
+    if (!normalizedTarget.has(normalizedCurrentUrl)) {
-      // Also check if it's a local relay (check both normalized and original forms)
+      // Always preserve local relays
-      const isLocal = ALWAYS_LOCAL_RELAYS.some(localUrl => 
+      if (!preserveLocal || !normalizedLocal.has(normalizedCurrentUrl)) {
-        normalizeRelayUrl(localUrl) === url || localUrl === url
+        toRemove.push(currentUrl)
-      )
-      if (!isLocal) {
-        toRemove.push(url)
       }
     }
   }
   
-
+  // Apply changes
+  if (toAdd.length > 0) {
+    relayPool.group(toAdd)
+  }
+  
   for (const url of toRemove) {
     const relay = relayPool.relays.get(url)
     if (relay) {
       try {
-        // Only close if relay is actually connected or attempting to connect
-        // This helps avoid WebSocket warnings for connections that never started
         relay.close()
       } catch (error) {
         // Suppress errors when closing relays that haven't fully connected yet
-        // This can happen when switching relay sets before connections establish
-        // Silently ignore
       }
       relayPool.relays.delete(url)
     }
   }
   
+  // Return summary for debugging (useful for understanding relay churn)
+  if (import.meta.env.DEV && (toAdd.length > 0 || toRemove.length > 0)) {
+    console.debug('[relay-pool] Changes:', { added: toAdd, removed: toRemove })
+  }
   
+  return { added: toAdd, removed: toRemove }
 }