Custom Cursor Fix Summary

Problem Identified

The custom cursor wasn't working because:

  1. Dependency Loading Order: cursor.js was loading BEFORE MouseFollower library
  2. No Retry Mechanism: If dependencies weren't available, the script would fail silently
  3. Optimized Scripts Issue: In production mode, the script loading order wasn't properly sequenced

Root Cause

In _includes/scripts-optimized.html, the loading order was:

// WRONG ORDER:
loadScript('cursor.js');  // ❌ Loads first
loadScript('mouse-follower.min.js'); // ❌ Loads after cursor.js

The cursor.js script needs both GSAP and MouseFollower to be loaded first.

Solutions Implemented

1. Fixed Loading Order

Updated _includes/scripts-optimized.html:

// CORRECT ORDER:
loadScript('https://unpkg.com/mouse-follower@1/dist/mouse-follower.min.js', function() {
  console.log('✅ MouseFollower loaded');
  // Now load cursor.js after MouseFollower is ready
  loadScript('/assets/js/cursor.js', function() {
    console.log('✅ Cursor.js loaded after MouseFollower');
  });
});

2. Added Dependency Waiting System

Updated assets/js/cursor.js with retry mechanism:

function waitForDependencies() {
  if (typeof MouseFollower !== 'undefined' && typeof gsap !== 'undefined') {
    console.log('✅ Dependencies found, initializing cursor');
    setupCursor();
    return;
  }
  
  initAttempts++;
  if (initAttempts < maxAttempts) {
    console.log(`⏳ Waiting for dependencies... attempt ${initAttempts}/${maxAttempts}`);
    setTimeout(waitForDependencies, 500);
  } else {
    console.error('❌ Cursor dependencies not found after maximum attempts');
  }
}

3. Enhanced Debug Logging

Added comprehensive logging to identify issues:

  • Dependency availability checks
  • Loading order verification
  • DOM element existence verification
  • Error reporting for troubleshooting

4. Created Test Page

Added cursor-test.html for isolated testing:

  • Simple environment to test cursor functionality
  • Real-time debug output
  • Minimal dependencies for troubleshooting

Files Modified

Primary Files

  • _includes/scripts-optimized.html - Fixed dependency loading order
  • assets/js/cursor.js - Added retry mechanism and better error handling

Test Files

  • cursor-test.html - Standalone test page for debugging

Expected Behavior

Development Mode

  • Uses standard _includes/scripts.html (no changes needed)
  • Cursor should work as before

Production Mode

  • Uses optimized _includes/scripts-optimized.html
  • MouseFollower loads first, then cursor.js
  • Retry system ensures cursor initializes even with timing issues

Verification Steps

  1. Check Console: Look for these messages: 
    ✅ MouseFollower loaded
✅ Cursor.js loaded after MouseFollower  
✅ Dependencies found, initializing cursor
✅ MouseFollower instance created successfully
✅ Cursor element found in DOM
  2. Visual Check:
    • Native cursor should be hidden
    • Custom glassmorphic cursor should appear
    • Cursor should change on hover (links, buttons, etc.)
  3. Test Page: Visit /cursor-test.html for isolated testing

Troubleshooting

If Cursor Still Doesn't Work:

  1. Check Browser Console for error messages
  2. Verify Dependencies: Ensure GSAP and MouseFollower load successfully
  3. Check CSS: Verify cursor.css is loading properly
  4. Mobile Detection: Cursor is disabled on touch devices (intentional)
  5. Z-index Issues: Cursor uses max z-index (2147483647) to stay visible

Common Issues:

  • AdBlockers: May block MouseFollower CDN
  • CSP Headers: May prevent external script loading
  • Network Issues: Slow CDN loading can cause timing problems
  • Touch Devices: Cursor automatically disables on mobile/touch devices

The retry mechanism should handle most timing-related issues automatically.

Next Steps

  1. Test on production GitHub Pages deployment
  2. Monitor console logs for any remaining issues
  3. Verify cursor works across different browsers
  4. Test on various screen sizes and devices

The custom cursor should now work reliably in both development and production modes! 🖱️