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)

Editor UX limitation
Runtime limitation
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.

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