From ad81b9791a54af26f4aa9c12ab24708c6c08282d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "every.channel" <founder@every.channel>
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:21:19 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] web: prefer video tag with gesture audio unlock

---
 apps/web/app.js                               | 44 ++++++++++++++++---
 ...-live-video-tag-first-with-audio-unlock.md | 26 +++++++++++
 2 files changed, 63 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 evolution/proposals/ECP-0078-live-video-tag-first-with-audio-unlock.md

diff --git a/apps/web/app.js b/apps/web/app.js
index 43086c8..ac2e288 100644
--- a/apps/web/app.js
+++ b/apps/web/app.js
@@ -169,10 +169,16 @@ function mountPlayer(relayUrl, name) {
     watch.connection.websocket = { enabled: false };
   }
 
-  const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
-  canvas.className = "canvas";
-  watch.appendChild(canvas);
-
+  // Prefer a video element for native controls/audio routing.
+  // Start muted to satisfy autoplay policy, then unlock audio on user gesture.
+  const video = document.createElement("video");
+  video.className = "archiveVideo";
+  video.controls = true;
+  video.autoplay = true;
+  video.muted = true;
+  video.volume = 1;
+  video.playsInline = true;
+  watch.appendChild(video);
   mount.appendChild(watch);
   const forceAudioOn = () => {
     try {
@@ -182,9 +188,33 @@ function mountPlayer(relayUrl, name) {
       // Best effort only.
     }
   };
-  forceAudioOn();
-  window.setTimeout(forceAudioOn, 1000);
-  window.setTimeout(forceAudioOn, 4000);
+  const unlockAudio = () => {
+    forceAudioOn();
+    watch.backend?.paused?.set?.(true);
+    watch.backend?.paused?.set?.(false);
+    video.muted = false;
+    video.volume = 1;
+    void video.play().catch(() => {});
+    setHint(`Live: subscribed to ${name} (audio unlocked)`, "ok");
+  };
+  document.addEventListener("pointerdown", unlockAudio, { once: true });
+  video.addEventListener("pointerdown", unlockAudio, { once: true });
+  void video.play().catch(() => {});
+
+  // If video-element rendering stalls, fall back to canvas rendering.
+  window.setTimeout(() => {
+    const stalled = video.readyState < 2 || (video.currentTime === 0 && !video.paused);
+    if (!stalled) return;
+    const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
+    canvas.className = "canvas";
+    try {
+      video.remove();
+      watch.appendChild(canvas);
+      setHint(`Live: subscribed to ${name} (canvas fallback)`, "warn");
+    } catch (_) {
+      // Ignore fallback errors.
+    }
+  }, 9000);
   bindPlayerSignals(watch, name);
 }
 
diff --git a/evolution/proposals/ECP-0078-live-video-tag-first-with-audio-unlock.md b/evolution/proposals/ECP-0078-live-video-tag-first-with-audio-unlock.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e64ec91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/evolution/proposals/ECP-0078-live-video-tag-first-with-audio-unlock.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# ECP-0078: Live `<video>`-First Rendering With Gesture Audio Unlock
+
+## Context
+
+Live browser playback currently prioritizes canvas rendering. Audio can fail on first load due to autoplay policy (`AudioContext was not allowed to start`) and we still need a robust `<video>` rendering path for native controls.
+
+## Decision
+
+In the web watcher mount path:
+
+1. Render live playback with a `<video>` child in `<moq-watch>` first.
+2. Start muted for autoplay compatibility, then unlock audio on first user gesture by:
+   - forcing backend `muted=false`, `volume=1`,
+   - toggling paused state to trigger resume,
+   - unmuting the `<video>` element.
+3. If `<video>` playback stalls during startup, automatically fall back to canvas rendering.
+
+## Rationale
+
+- Preserves the `<video>` UX target while handling browser autoplay constraints explicitly.
+- Avoids total playback failure by retaining a tested canvas fallback path.
+- Keeps changes local to app wiring without forking upstream MoQ player internals.
+
+## Reversibility
+
+- Remove the fallback timer and unlock wiring to return to a fixed rendering mode.