⚡ Bolt: Preload audio feedback to reduce latency

src/chirp/audio_feedback.py

@@ -69,6 +69,23 @@ def __init__(
             else:
                 self._logger.debug("Audio feedback initialized using %s", backend)
 
+    def preload(self, asset_name: str, override_path: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+        """Preload a sound file into the cache to avoid latency on first play."""
+        if not self._enabled:
+            return
+
+        cache_key = override_path or asset_name
+        if cache_key in self._cache:
+            return
+
+        try:
+            with self._get_sound_path(asset_name, override_path) as path:
+                self._load_and_cache(path, cache_key)
+        except (FileNotFoundError, Exception) as exc:
+            self._logger.warning(
+                "Failed to preload sound %s: %s", override_path or asset_name, exc
+            )
+
     def play_start(self, override_path: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
         self._play_sound("ping-up.wav", override_path)
 

src/chirp/main.py

@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@ def __init__(self, *, verbose: bool = False) -> None:
             volume=self.config.audio_feedback_volume,
         )
 
+        if self.config.audio_feedback:
+            # Preload sounds to minimize latency on first use
+            self.audio_feedback.preload("ping-up.wav", self.config.start_sound_path)
+            self.audio_feedback.preload("ping-down.wav", self.config.stop_sound_path)
+            if self.config.error_sound_path:
+                self.audio_feedback.preload(
+                    "error-placeholder", self.config.error_sound_path
+                )
+
         console = None
         for handler in self.logger.handlers:
             if isinstance(handler, RichHandler):