fix(lsp): prevent flicker in codelens virtual text #34888

Problem:
Calling lsp.codelens.refresh() causes transient visual flicker because
codelens virtual texts are briefly replaced with "Unresolved lens ..."
before being resolved and redrawn. Since refresh() is triggered
frequently (e.g., on CursorHold or InsertLeave), this leads to redundant
and noisy virtual text updates, even when the final text hasn't changed.

Solution:
Do not update virtual text for a line if some lenses for that line are
not resolved yet.

A trade-off is that the user may temporarily see outdated virtual text.
However, that's preferable to spamming updates on every refresh.

runtime/lua/vim/lsp/codelens.lua

@@ -125,6 +125,61 @@ function M.clear(client_id, bufnr)
   end
 end
 
+---@param lenses lsp.CodeLens[]
+---@return table<integer, lsp.CodeLens[]>
+local function group_lenses_by_start_line(lenses)
+  local lenses_by_lnum = {} ---@type table<integer, lsp.CodeLens[]>
+  for _, lens in pairs(lenses) do
+    local line_lenses = lenses_by_lnum[lens.range.start.line]
+    if not line_lenses then
+      line_lenses = {}
+      lenses_by_lnum[lens.range.start.line] = line_lenses
+    end
+    table.insert(line_lenses, lens)
+  end
+  return lenses_by_lnum
+end
+
+---@param bufnr integer
+---@param ns integer
+---@param line integer
+---@param lenses lsp.CodeLens[] Lenses that start at `line`
+local function display_line_lenses(bufnr, ns, line, lenses)
+  local chunks = {}
+  local num_lenses = #lenses
+  table.sort(lenses, function(a, b)
+    return a.range.start.character < b.range.start.character
+  end)
+
+  local has_unresolved = false
+  for i, lens in ipairs(lenses) do
+    if lens.command then
+      local text = lens.command.title:gsub('%s+', ' ')
+      table.insert(chunks, { text, 'LspCodeLens' })
+      if i < num_lenses then
+        table.insert(chunks, { ' | ', 'LspCodeLensSeparator' })
+      end
+    else
+      has_unresolved = true
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- If some lenses are not resolved yet, don't update the line's virtual text. Due to this, user
+  -- may see outdated lenses or not see already resolved lenses. However, showing outdated lenses
+  -- for short period of time is better than spamming user with virtual text updates.
+  if has_unresolved then
+    return
+  end
+
+  api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(bufnr, ns, line, line + 1)
+  if #chunks > 0 then
+    api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(bufnr, ns, line, 0, {
+      virt_text = chunks,
+      hl_mode = 'combine',
+    })
+  end
+end
+
 --- Display the lenses using virtual text
 ---
 ---@param lenses? lsp.CodeLens[] lenses to display
@@ -141,37 +196,10 @@ function M.display(lenses, bufnr, client_id)
     return
   end
 
-  local lenses_by_lnum = {} ---@type table<integer, lsp.CodeLens[]>
+  local lenses_by_lnum = group_lenses_by_start_line(lenses)
-  for _, lens in pairs(lenses) do
-    local line_lenses = lenses_by_lnum[lens.range.start.line]
-    if not line_lenses then
-      line_lenses = {}
-      lenses_by_lnum[lens.range.start.line] = line_lenses
-    end
-    table.insert(line_lenses, lens)
-  end
   local num_lines = api.nvim_buf_line_count(bufnr)
   for i = 0, num_lines do
-    local line_lenses = lenses_by_lnum[i] or {}
+    display_line_lenses(bufnr, ns, i, lenses_by_lnum[i] or {})
-    api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(bufnr, ns, i, i + 1)
-    local chunks = {}
-    local num_line_lenses = #line_lenses
-    table.sort(line_lenses, function(a, b)
-      return a.range.start.character < b.range.start.character
-    end)
-    for j, lens in ipairs(line_lenses) do
-      local text = (lens.command and lens.command.title or 'Unresolved lens ...'):gsub('%s+', ' ')
-      table.insert(chunks, { text, 'LspCodeLens' })
-      if j < num_line_lenses then
-        table.insert(chunks, { ' | ', 'LspCodeLensSeparator' })
-      end
-    end
-    if #chunks > 0 then
-      api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(bufnr, ns, i, 0, {
-        virt_text = chunks,
-        hl_mode = 'combine',
-      })
-    end
   end
 end
 
@@ -214,40 +242,41 @@ local function resolve_lenses(lenses, bufnr, client_id, callback)
     return
   end
 
-  local function countdown()
+  ---@param n integer
-    num_lens = num_lens - 1
+  local function countdown(n)
+    num_lens = num_lens - n
     if num_lens == 0 then
       callback()
     end
   end
+
   local ns = namespaces[client_id]
   local client = vim.lsp.get_client_by_id(client_id)
-  for _, lens in pairs(lenses or {}) do
-    if lens.command then
-      countdown()
-    else
-      assert(client)
-      client:request(ms.codeLens_resolve, lens, function(_, result)
-        if api.nvim_buf_is_loaded(bufnr) and result and result.command then
-          lens.command = result.command
-          -- Eager display to have some sort of incremental feedback
-          -- Once all lenses got resolved there will be a full redraw for all lenses
-          -- So that multiple lens per line are properly displayed
 
-          local num_lines = api.nvim_buf_line_count(bufnr)
+  -- Resolve all lenses in a line, then display them.
-          if lens.range.start.line <= num_lines then
+  local lenses_by_lnum = group_lenses_by_start_line(lenses)
-            api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(
+  for line, line_lenses in pairs(lenses_by_lnum) do
-              bufnr,
+    local num_resolved_line_lenses = 0
-              ns,
+    local function display_line_countdown()
-              lens.range.start.line,
+      num_resolved_line_lenses = num_resolved_line_lenses + 1
-              0,
+      if num_resolved_line_lenses == #line_lenses then
-              { virt_text = { { lens.command.title, 'LspCodeLens' } }, hl_mode = 'combine' }
+        display_line_lenses(bufnr, ns, line, line_lenses)
-            )
+        countdown(#line_lenses)
+      end
+    end
+
+    for _, lens in pairs(line_lenses) do
+      if lens.command then
+        display_line_countdown()
+      else
+        assert(client)
+        client:request(ms.codeLens_resolve, lens, function(_, result)
+          if api.nvim_buf_is_loaded(bufnr) and result and result.command then
+            lens.command = result.command
           end
-        end
+          display_line_countdown()
-
+        end, bufnr)
-        countdown()
+      end
-      end, bufnr)
     end
   end
 end
@@ -268,12 +297,10 @@ function M.on_codelens(err, result, ctx)
 
   M.save(result, bufnr, ctx.client_id)
 
-  -- Eager display for any resolved (and unresolved) lenses and refresh them
+  -- Eager display for any resolved lenses and refresh them once resolved.
-  -- once resolved.
   M.display(result, bufnr, ctx.client_id)
   resolve_lenses(result, bufnr, ctx.client_id, function()
     active_refreshes[bufnr] = nil
-    M.display(result, bufnr, ctx.client_id)
   end)
 end