# Task: Duplicate Object / Duplicate Group

## Objective
Duplicate an object and, if possible, duplicate a grouped structure.

## Test File Split
- Vanilla object duplication test: `main.js`
- Vanilla group duplication test: `group.js`
- R3F object duplication test: `src/App.jsx`
- R3F group duplication test: `src/Group.jsx`
- Run object test: default route
- Command (Vanilla object): `npm run dev:object` or `yarn dev:object`
- Command (Vanilla group): `npm run dev:group` or `yarn dev:group`

## Vanilla three.js
- Possible: Yes
- Notes:
- Object duplication is in `main.js` using mesh clone.
- Group duplication is in `group.js` using `THREE.Group()` and group clone.
- Transforms preserved: Yes, duplicate keeps copied transform values and can be moved independently after duplication.
- Structure preserved: Yes, child hierarchy is preserved when duplicating a group.
- Linked or independent: Mostly independent transforms, but geometry and material are shared by default unless explicitly cloned.
- UX clean: Yes for developers, but requires code understanding.
- Key concepts:
- Object3D clone behavior
- Shared vs cloned geometry and material
- Complexity: Easy

## R3F
- Possible: Yes
- Notes:
- Object duplication is in `src/App.jsx` using repeated meshes with shared geometry/material.
- Group duplication is in `src/Group.jsx` by rendering the grouped component twice.
- Transforms preserved: Yes, each instance has its own position, rotation, and scale.
- Structure preserved: Yes, component tree/group structure is preserved.
- Linked or independent: Instance transforms are independent; geometry/material may be shared or isolated depending on how props/instances are created.
- UX clean: Yes, declarative and easier to scale.
- What R3F abstracted:
- Imperative clone calls become declarative repeated components/instances.
- Complexity: Easy

## Thob Page Builder
- Possible: Yes
- Notes:
- There is a shortcut to duplicate objects.
- Observed behavior: duplicate creates a completely different object that cannot be linked to the original, unlike vanilla and R3F patterns where sharing/linking behavior can be controlled.
- Duplicate group behavior: Same as single object duplication, a complete copy is made with no linking.
- Transforms preserved: Yes.
- Structure preserved: Yes, as copy- paste duplication.
- Linked or independent: Independent only, with no linking behavior available.
- UX clean: Mixed. Shortcut is quick, but behavior is confusing because linked duplication is not possible.
- Builder steps:
- Create an object
- Use duplicate shortcut
- Duplicate a grouped structure and verify it is a full independent copy
- Complexity: Medium

## What to Observe
- Are transforms preserved?
- Vanilla: Yes
- R3F: Yes
- Thob: Yes
- Does duplication preserve structure?
- Vanilla: Yes
- R3F: Yes
- Thob: Yes, as full copy- paste duplication
- Does the duplicate remain linked or independent?
- Vanilla: Transform- independent, data can be shared by default unless cloned
- R3F: Transform- independent, sharing depends on implementation
- Thob: Independent only, no linking behavior
- Is the UX clean?
- Vanilla: Technical but predictable
- R3F: Clean and scalable
- Thob: Fast shortcut, but ambiguous result for duplication semantics

## Comparison Summary
- Possible in all 3? Yes
- Main differences:
- Vanilla and R3F give clear control over sharing vs independence.
- Thob duplicate shortcut creates separate objects and does not support linked behavior.
- Where Thob is better:
- Fast editor action for simple duplication
- Where Thob is weaker:
- No linked duplication model
- No linked group duplication model
- What feels awkward or unclear:
- No option to keep duplicates linked for synchronized edits

## Limitation Type (if any)
- [x] Editor UX limitation
- [ ] Runtime limitation
- [x] Schema / data model limitation
- [ ] Component limitation
- [ ] Event system limitation
- [ ] Asset pipeline limitation
- [ ] Unknown / needs investigation

## Workaround
- Is there a workaround?
- Yes
- If yes, what is it?
- Use reusable components/prefabs and instantiate multiple independent copies.
- If linked behavior is required, use explicit shared data/component references where supported.

## Suggested Improvement
- What should improve in Thob?
- Add explicit duplicate modes: independent duplicate and linked duplicate.
- Add reliable deep group duplication with clear hierarchy preview.
- it Is:
- editor
- schema/data
- UX

## Difficulty Estimate
- Medium

## Business Value
- High

## Recommendation
Yes. Thob should support both independent and linked duplication because currently duplication works as copy-paste only, which limits synchronized workflows.