Fix sidebar sort order. Closes #61

AGENTS.md

@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ mc.subscribe(EventType.ACK, handler)
 | `MESHCORE_ENABLE_MESSAGE_POLL_FALLBACK` | `false` | Switch the always-on radio audit task from hourly checks to aggressive 10-second polling; the audit checks both missed message drift and channel-slot cache drift |
 | `MESHCORE_FORCE_CHANNEL_SLOT_RECONFIGURE` | `false` | Disable channel-slot reuse and force `set_channel(...)` before every channel send, even on serial/BLE |
 
-**Note:** Runtime app settings are stored in the database (`app_settings` table), not environment variables. These include `max_radio_contacts`, `auto_decrypt_dm_on_advert`, `sidebar_sort_order`, `advert_interval`, `last_advert_time`, `favorites`, `last_message_times`, `flood_scope`, `blocked_keys`, and `blocked_names`. `max_radio_contacts` is the configured radio contact capacity baseline used by background maintenance: favorites reload first, non-favorite fill targets about 80% of that value, and full offload/reload triggers around 95% occupancy. They are configured via `GET/PATCH /api/settings`. MQTT, bot, webhook, Apprise, and SQS configs are stored in the `fanout_configs` table, managed via `/api/fanout`. If the radio's channel slots appear unstable or another client is mutating them underneath this app, operators can force the old always-reconfigure send path with `MESHCORE_FORCE_CHANNEL_SLOT_RECONFIGURE=true`.
+**Note:** Runtime app settings are stored in the database (`app_settings` table), not environment variables. These include `max_radio_contacts`, `auto_decrypt_dm_on_advert`, `sidebar_sort_order`, `advert_interval`, `last_advert_time`, `favorites`, `last_message_times`, `flood_scope`, `blocked_keys`, and `blocked_names`. `max_radio_contacts` is the configured radio contact capacity baseline used by background maintenance: favorites reload first, non-favorite fill targets about 80% of that value, and full offload/reload triggers around 95% occupancy. They are configured via `GET/PATCH /api/settings`. The backend still carries `sidebar_sort_order` for compatibility and migration, but the current frontend sidebar stores sort order per section (`Channels`, `Contacts`, `Repeaters`) in localStorage rather than treating it as one shared server-backed preference. MQTT, bot, webhook, Apprise, and SQS configs are stored in the `fanout_configs` table, managed via `/api/fanout`. If the radio's channel slots appear unstable or another client is mutating them underneath this app, operators can force the old always-reconfigure send path with `MESHCORE_FORCE_CHANNEL_SLOT_RECONFIGURE=true`.
 
 Byte-perfect channel retries are user-triggered via `POST /api/messages/channel/{message_id}/resend` and are allowed for 30 seconds after the original send.
 

app/AGENTS.md

@@ -272,6 +272,8 @@ Repository writes should prefer typed models such as `ContactUpsert` over ad hoc
 - `flood_scope`
 - `blocked_keys`, `blocked_names`
 
+Note: `sidebar_sort_order` remains in the backend model for compatibility and migration, but the current frontend sidebar uses per-section localStorage sort preferences instead of a single shared server-backed sort mode.
+
 Note: MQTT, community MQTT, and bot configs were migrated to the `fanout_configs` table (migrations 36-38).
 
 ## Security Posture (intentional)

frontend/AGENTS.md

@@ -318,6 +318,8 @@ LocalStorage migration helpers for favorites; canonical favorites are server-sid
 - `flood_scope`
 - `blocked_keys`, `blocked_names`
 
+The backend still carries `sidebar_sort_order` for compatibility and old preference migration, but the current sidebar UI stores sort order per section (`Channels`, `Contacts`, `Repeaters`) in frontend localStorage rather than treating it as one global server-backed setting.
+
 Note: MQTT, bot, and community MQTT settings were migrated to the `fanout_configs` table (managed via `/api/fanout`). They are no longer part of `AppSettings`.
 
 `HealthStatus` includes `fanout_statuses: Record<string, FanoutStatusEntry>` mapping config IDs to `{name, type, status}`. Also includes `bots_disabled: boolean`.

frontend/src/App.tsx

@@ -135,7 +135,6 @@ export function App() {
     favorites,
     fetchAppSettings,
     handleSaveAppSettings,
-    handleSortOrderChange,
     handleToggleFavorite,
     handleToggleBlockedKey,
     handleToggleBlockedName,
@@ -401,10 +400,7 @@ export function App() {
       void markAllRead();
     },
     favorites,
-    sortOrder: appSettings?.sidebar_sort_order ?? 'recent',
-    onSortOrderChange: (sortOrder: 'recent' | 'alpha') => {
-      void handleSortOrderChange(sortOrder);
-    },
+    legacySortOrder: appSettings?.sidebar_sort_order,
     isConversationNotificationsEnabled,
   };
   const conversationPaneProps = {

frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx

@@ -19,7 +19,17 @@ import {
   type Conversation,
   type Favorite,
 } from '../types';
-import { getStateKey, type ConversationTimes, type SortOrder } from '../utils/conversationState';
+import {
+  buildSidebarSectionSortOrders,
+  getStateKey,
+  loadLegacyLocalStorageSortOrder,
+  loadLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders,
+  saveLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders,
+  type ConversationTimes,
+  type SidebarSectionSortOrders,
+  type SidebarSortableSection,
+  type SortOrder,
+} from '../utils/conversationState';
 import { getContactDisplayName } from '../utils/pubkey';
 import { handleKeyboardActivate } from '../utils/a11y';
 import { ContactAvatar } from './ContactAvatar';
@@ -91,13 +101,36 @@ interface SidebarProps {
   onToggleCracker: () => void;
   onMarkAllRead: () => void;
   favorites: Favorite[];
-  /** Sort order from server settings */
-  sortOrder?: SortOrder;
-  /** Callback when sort order changes */
-  onSortOrderChange?: (order: SortOrder) => void;
+  /** Legacy global sort order, used only to seed per-section local preferences. */
+  legacySortOrder?: SortOrder;
   isConversationNotificationsEnabled?: (type: 'channel' | 'contact', id: string) => boolean;
 }
 
+type InitialSectionSortState = {
+  orders: SidebarSectionSortOrders;
+  source: 'section' | 'legacy' | 'none';
+};
+
+function loadInitialSectionSortOrders(): InitialSectionSortState {
+  const storedOrders = loadLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders();
+  if (storedOrders) {
+    return { orders: storedOrders, source: 'section' };
+  }
+
+  const legacyOrder = loadLegacyLocalStorageSortOrder();
+  if (legacyOrder) {
+    return {
+      orders: buildSidebarSectionSortOrders(legacyOrder),
+      source: 'legacy',
+    };
+  }
+
+  return {
+    orders: buildSidebarSectionSortOrders(),
+    source: 'none',
+  };
+}
+
 export function Sidebar({
   contacts,
   channels,
@@ -112,12 +145,12 @@ export function Sidebar({
   onToggleCracker,
   onMarkAllRead,
   favorites,
-  sortOrder: sortOrderProp = 'recent',
-  onSortOrderChange,
+  legacySortOrder,
   isConversationNotificationsEnabled,
 }: SidebarProps) {
-  const sortOrder = sortOrderProp;
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('');
+  const initialSectionSortState = useMemo(loadInitialSectionSortOrders, []);
+  const [sectionSortOrders, setSectionSortOrders] = useState(initialSectionSortState.orders);
   const initialCollapsedState = useMemo(loadCollapsedState, []);
   const [toolsCollapsed, setToolsCollapsed] = useState(initialCollapsedState.tools);
   const [favoritesCollapsed, setFavoritesCollapsed] = useState(initialCollapsedState.favorites);
@@ -125,10 +158,31 @@ export function Sidebar({
   const [contactsCollapsed, setContactsCollapsed] = useState(initialCollapsedState.contacts);
   const [repeatersCollapsed, setRepeatersCollapsed] = useState(initialCollapsedState.repeaters);
   const collapseSnapshotRef = useRef<CollapseState | null>(null);
+  const sectionSortSourceRef = useRef(initialSectionSortState.source);
 
-  const handleSortToggle = () => {
-    const newOrder = sortOrder === 'alpha' ? 'recent' : 'alpha';
-    onSortOrderChange?.(newOrder);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (sectionSortSourceRef.current === 'legacy') {
+      saveLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders(sectionSortOrders);
+      sectionSortSourceRef.current = 'section';
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (sectionSortSourceRef.current !== 'none' || legacySortOrder === undefined) return;
+
+    const seededOrders = buildSidebarSectionSortOrders(legacySortOrder);
+    setSectionSortOrders(seededOrders);
+    saveLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders(seededOrders);
+    sectionSortSourceRef.current = 'section';
+  }, [legacySortOrder, sectionSortOrders]);
+
+  const handleSortToggle = (section: SidebarSortableSection) => {
+    setSectionSortOrders((prev) => {
+      const nextOrder = prev[section] === 'alpha' ? 'recent' : 'alpha';
+      const updated = { ...prev, [section]: nextOrder };
+      saveLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders(updated);
+      sectionSortSourceRef.current = 'section';
+      return updated;
+    });
   };
 
   const handleSelectConversation = (conversation: Conversation) => {
@@ -203,7 +257,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
         if (a.name === 'Public') return -1;
         if (b.name === 'Public') return 1;
 
-        if (sortOrder === 'recent') {
+        if (sectionSortOrders.channels === 'recent') {
           const timeA = getLastMessageTime('channel', a.key);
           const timeB = getLastMessageTime('channel', b.key);
           if (timeA && timeB) return timeB - timeA;
@@ -212,13 +266,13 @@ export function Sidebar({
         }
         return a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
       }),
-    [uniqueChannels, sortOrder, getLastMessageTime]
+    [uniqueChannels, sectionSortOrders.channels, getLastMessageTime]
   );
 
   const sortContactsByOrder = useCallback(
-    (items: Contact[]) =>
+    (items: Contact[], order: SortOrder) =>
       [...items].sort((a, b) => {
-        if (sortOrder === 'recent') {
+        if (order === 'recent') {
           const timeA = getLastMessageTime('contact', a.public_key);
           const timeB = getLastMessageTime('contact', b.public_key);
           if (timeA && timeB) return timeB - timeA;
@@ -227,18 +281,26 @@ export function Sidebar({
         }
         return (a.name || a.public_key).localeCompare(b.name || b.public_key);
       }),
-    [sortOrder, getLastMessageTime]
+    [getLastMessageTime]
   );
 
   // Split non-repeater contacts and repeater contacts into separate sorted lists
   const sortedNonRepeaterContacts = useMemo(
-    () => sortContactsByOrder(uniqueContacts.filter((c) => c.type !== CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER)),
-    [uniqueContacts, sortContactsByOrder]
+    () =>
+      sortContactsByOrder(
+        uniqueContacts.filter((c) => c.type !== CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER),
+        sectionSortOrders.contacts
+      ),
+    [uniqueContacts, sectionSortOrders.contacts, sortContactsByOrder]
   );
 
   const sortedRepeaters = useMemo(
-    () => sortContactsByOrder(uniqueContacts.filter((c) => c.type === CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER)),
-    [uniqueContacts, sortContactsByOrder]
+    () =>
+      sortContactsByOrder(
+        uniqueContacts.filter((c) => c.type === CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER),
+        sectionSortOrders.repeaters
+      ),
+    [uniqueContacts, sectionSortOrders.repeaters, sortContactsByOrder]
   );
 
   // Filter by search query
@@ -604,11 +666,12 @@ export function Sidebar({
     title: string,
     collapsed: boolean,
     onToggle: () => void,
-    showSortToggle = false,
+    sortSection: SidebarSortableSection | null = null,
     unreadCount = 0,
     highlightUnread = false
   ) => {
     const effectiveCollapsed = isSearching ? false : collapsed;
+    const sectionSortOrder = sortSection ? sectionSortOrders[sortSection] : null;
 
     return (
       <div className="flex justify-between items-center px-3 py-2 pt-3.5">
@@ -630,16 +693,24 @@ export function Sidebar({
           )}
           <span>{title}</span>
         </button>
-        {(showSortToggle || unreadCount > 0) && (
+        {(sortSection || unreadCount > 0) && (
           <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-1.5">
-            {showSortToggle && (
+            {sortSection && sectionSortOrder && (
               <button
                 className="bg-transparent text-muted-foreground/60 px-1 py-0.5 text-[10px] rounded hover:text-foreground transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
-                onClick={handleSortToggle}
-                aria-label={sortOrder === 'alpha' ? 'Sort by recent' : 'Sort alphabetically'}
-                title={sortOrder === 'alpha' ? 'Sort by recent' : 'Sort alphabetically'}
+                onClick={() => handleSortToggle(sortSection)}
+                aria-label={
+                  sectionSortOrder === 'alpha'
+                    ? `Sort ${title} by recent`
+                    : `Sort ${title} alphabetically`
+                }
+                title={
+                  sectionSortOrder === 'alpha'
+                    ? `Sort ${title} by recent`
+                    : `Sort ${title} alphabetically`
+                }
               >
-                {sortOrder === 'alpha' ? 'A-Z' : '⏱'}
+                {sectionSortOrder === 'alpha' ? 'A-Z' : '⏱'}
               </button>
             )}
             {unreadCount > 0 && (
@@ -731,7 +802,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
               'Favorites',
               favoritesCollapsed,
               () => setFavoritesCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
-              false,
+              null,
               favoritesUnreadCount,
               favoritesHasMention
             )}
@@ -747,7 +818,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
               'Channels',
               channelsCollapsed,
               () => setChannelsCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
-              true,
+              'channels',
               channelsUnreadCount,
               channelsHasMention
             )}
@@ -763,7 +834,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
               'Contacts',
               contactsCollapsed,
               () => setContactsCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
-              true,
+              'contacts',
               contactsUnreadCount,
               contactsUnreadCount > 0
             )}
@@ -779,7 +850,7 @@ export function Sidebar({
               'Repeaters',
               repeatersCollapsed,
               () => setRepeatersCollapsed((prev) => !prev),
-              true,
+              'repeaters',
               repeatersUnreadCount
             )}
             {(isSearching || !repeatersCollapsed) &&

frontend/src/hooks/useAppSettings.ts

@@ -43,25 +43,6 @@ export function useAppSettings() {
     [fetchAppSettings]
   );
 
-  const handleSortOrderChange = useCallback(
-    async (order: 'recent' | 'alpha') => {
-      const previousOrder = appSettings?.sidebar_sort_order ?? 'recent';
-
-      // Optimistic update for responsive UI
-      setAppSettings((prev) => (prev ? { ...prev, sidebar_sort_order: order } : prev));
-
-      try {
-        const updatedSettings = await api.updateSettings({ sidebar_sort_order: order });
-        setAppSettings(updatedSettings);
-      } catch (err) {
-        console.error('Failed to update sort order:', err);
-        setAppSettings((prev) => (prev ? { ...prev, sidebar_sort_order: previousOrder } : prev));
-        toast.error('Failed to save sort preference');
-      }
-    },
-    [appSettings?.sidebar_sort_order]
-  );
-
   const handleToggleBlockedKey = useCallback(async (key: string) => {
     const normalizedKey = key.toLowerCase();
     setAppSettings((prev) => {
@@ -198,7 +179,6 @@ export function useAppSettings() {
     favorites,
     fetchAppSettings,
     handleSaveAppSettings,
-    handleSortOrderChange,
     handleToggleFavorite,
     handleToggleBlockedKey,
     handleToggleBlockedName,

frontend/src/test/sidebar.test.tsx

@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ function renderSidebar(overrides?: {
       onToggleCracker={vi.fn()}
       onMarkAllRead={vi.fn()}
       favorites={favorites}
-      sortOrder="recent"
-      onSortOrderChange={vi.fn()}
+      legacySortOrder="recent"
       isConversationNotificationsEnabled={overrides?.isConversationNotificationsEnabled}
     />
   );
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ function renderSidebar(overrides?: {
 }
 
 function getSectionHeaderContainer(title: string): HTMLElement {
-  const btn = screen.getByRole('button', { name: new RegExp(title, 'i') });
+  const btn = screen.getByRole('button', { name: title });
   const container = btn.closest('div');
   if (!container) throw new Error(`Missing header container for section ${title}`);
   return container;
@@ -142,9 +141,9 @@ describe('Sidebar section summaries', () => {
   it('expands collapsed sections during search and restores collapse state after clearing search', async () => {
     const { opsChannel, aliceName } = renderSidebar();
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Tools/i }));
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Channels/i }));
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Contacts/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Tools' }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Channels' }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Contacts' }));
 
     expect(screen.queryByText('Packet Feed')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.queryByText(opsChannel.name)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -169,9 +168,9 @@ describe('Sidebar section summaries', () => {
   it('persists collapsed section state across unmount and remount', () => {
     const { opsChannel, aliceName, unmount } = renderSidebar();
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Tools/i }));
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Channels/i }));
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Contacts/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Tools' }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Channels' }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Contacts' }));
 
     expect(screen.queryByText('Packet Feed')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.queryByText(opsChannel.name)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -206,8 +205,7 @@ describe('Sidebar section summaries', () => {
         onToggleCracker={vi.fn()}
         onMarkAllRead={vi.fn()}
         favorites={[]}
-        sortOrder="recent"
-        onSortOrderChange={vi.fn()}
+        legacySortOrder="recent"
       />
     );
 
@@ -253,4 +251,69 @@ describe('Sidebar section summaries', () => {
     const unread = within(aliceRow).getByText('3');
     expect(bell.compareDocumentPosition(unread) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_FOLLOWING).toBeTruthy();
   });
+
+  it('sorts each section independently and persists per-section sort preferences', () => {
+    const publicChannel = makeChannel('AA'.repeat(16), 'Public');
+    const zebraChannel = makeChannel('BB'.repeat(16), '#zebra');
+    const alphaChannel = makeChannel('CC'.repeat(16), '#alpha');
+    const zed = makeContact('11'.repeat(32), 'Zed');
+    const amy = makeContact('22'.repeat(32), 'Amy');
+    const relayZulu = makeContact('33'.repeat(32), 'Zulu Relay', CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER);
+    const relayAlpha = makeContact('44'.repeat(32), 'Alpha Relay', CONTACT_TYPE_REPEATER);
+
+    const props = {
+      contacts: [zed, amy, relayZulu, relayAlpha],
+      channels: [publicChannel, zebraChannel, alphaChannel],
+      activeConversation: null,
+      onSelectConversation: vi.fn(),
+      onNewMessage: vi.fn(),
+      lastMessageTimes: {
+        [getStateKey('channel', zebraChannel.key)]: 300,
+        [getStateKey('channel', alphaChannel.key)]: 100,
+        [getStateKey('contact', zed.public_key)]: 200,
+        [getStateKey('contact', amy.public_key)]: 100,
+        [getStateKey('contact', relayZulu.public_key)]: 300,
+        [getStateKey('contact', relayAlpha.public_key)]: 100,
+      },
+      unreadCounts: {},
+      mentions: {},
+      showCracker: false,
+      crackerRunning: false,
+      onToggleCracker: vi.fn(),
+      onMarkAllRead: vi.fn(),
+      favorites: [],
+      legacySortOrder: 'recent' as const,
+    };
+
+    const getChannelsOrder = () => screen.getAllByText(/^#/).map((node) => node.textContent);
+    const getContactsOrder = () =>
+      screen
+        .getAllByText(/^(Amy|Zed)$/)
+        .map((node) => node.textContent)
+        .filter((text): text is string => Boolean(text));
+    const getRepeatersOrder = () =>
+      screen
+        .getAllByText(/Relay$/)
+        .map((node) => node.textContent)
+        .filter((text): text is string => Boolean(text));
+
+    const { unmount } = render(<Sidebar {...props} />);
+
+    expect(getChannelsOrder()).toEqual(['#zebra', '#alpha']);
+    expect(getContactsOrder()).toEqual(['Zed', 'Amy']);
+    expect(getRepeatersOrder()).toEqual(['Zulu Relay', 'Alpha Relay']);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Sort Channels alphabetically' }));
+
+    expect(getChannelsOrder()).toEqual(['#alpha', '#zebra']);
+    expect(getContactsOrder()).toEqual(['Zed', 'Amy']);
+    expect(getRepeatersOrder()).toEqual(['Zulu Relay', 'Alpha Relay']);
+
+    unmount();
+    render(<Sidebar {...props} />);
+
+    expect(getChannelsOrder()).toEqual(['#alpha', '#zebra']);
+    expect(getContactsOrder()).toEqual(['Zed', 'Amy']);
+    expect(getRepeatersOrder()).toEqual(['Zulu Relay', 'Alpha Relay']);
+  });
 });

frontend/src/utils/conversationState.ts

@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@
 
 const LAST_MESSAGE_KEY = 'remoteterm-lastMessageTime';
 const SORT_ORDER_KEY = 'remoteterm-sortOrder';
+const SIDEBAR_SECTION_SORT_ORDERS_KEY = 'remoteterm-sidebar-section-sort-orders';
 
 export type ConversationTimes = Record<string, number>;
 export type SortOrder = 'recent' | 'alpha';
+export type SidebarSortableSection = 'channels' | 'contacts' | 'repeaters';
+export type SidebarSectionSortOrders = Record<SidebarSortableSection, SortOrder>;
 
 // In-memory cache of last message times (loaded from server on init)
 let lastMessageTimesCache: ConversationTimes = {};
@@ -93,6 +96,56 @@ export function loadLocalStorageSortOrder(): SortOrder {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Load the legacy single sidebar sort order from localStorage, if present.
+ */
+export function loadLegacyLocalStorageSortOrder(): SortOrder | null {
+  try {
+    const stored = localStorage.getItem(SORT_ORDER_KEY);
+    if (!stored) return null;
+    return stored === 'alpha' ? 'alpha' : 'recent';
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+export function buildSidebarSectionSortOrders(
+  defaultOrder: SortOrder = 'recent'
+): SidebarSectionSortOrders {
+  return {
+    channels: defaultOrder,
+    contacts: defaultOrder,
+    repeaters: defaultOrder,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Load per-section sidebar sort orders from localStorage.
+ */
+export function loadLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders(): SidebarSectionSortOrders | null {
+  try {
+    const stored = localStorage.getItem(SIDEBAR_SECTION_SORT_ORDERS_KEY);
+    if (!stored) return null;
+
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(stored) as Partial<SidebarSectionSortOrders>;
+    return {
+      channels: parsed.channels === 'alpha' ? 'alpha' : 'recent',
+      contacts: parsed.contacts === 'alpha' ? 'alpha' : 'recent',
+      repeaters: parsed.repeaters === 'alpha' ? 'alpha' : 'recent',
+    };
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+export function saveLocalStorageSidebarSectionSortOrders(orders: SidebarSectionSortOrders): void {
+  try {
+    localStorage.setItem(SIDEBAR_SECTION_SORT_ORDERS_KEY, JSON.stringify(orders));
+  } catch {
+    // localStorage might be disabled
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Clear conversation state from localStorage (after migration)
  */