Added tech doc with list of challenges and a solution idea

#163
#162
#161

Author: SebastianMC

docs/tech/initial-auto-sort-and-notifications.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+## Challenges to address (as of 2.1.14):
+
+- the initial notifications "Custom sorting ON" and "Parsing custom sorting specification SUCCEEDED!" 
+  don't reflect the actual state in some cases - the custom sorting is not applied
+- the notifications are shown more than once in some cases
+- when the File Explorer is not visible on start (1.7.2 and the lazy views) it is not possible to auto-apply custom sort
+  and attempting to do so ends up with an error
+- there are more challenges when attempting to apply the custom sorting automatically on start
+
+An idea of solution, not ideal, but acceptable at glance:
+- simplify the logic of notifications - only show when successful
+- introduce a new popup "Custom sorting was not applied automatically, apply now?"
+  - only when it was enabled, only when the File Explorer view is visible
+  - allow to disable this popup in settings (or via a checkbox "don't show it again")
+- introduce a new popup "File Explorer view is not visible, cannot apply custom sort"
+  - only when the user explicitly attempts to apply custom sort 
+
+Additional remarks:
+- [Brian Ray](https://github.com/bray) mentions a Lazy Plugin loader in #163
+  - check it out and make sure it works correctly (gracefully, not necessarily auto-apply custom sort) 
+- in some rare cases the custom sorting can be applied successfully on start
+  - keep this scenario handled correctly
+  - see #161 for the sequence of events (a) -> (b) -> (c) -> (d)
+
+## References:
+
+#163: Obsidian 1.7.2 - automatic sorting fails when launching Obsidian
+[#163](https://github.com/SebastianMC/obsidian-custom-sort/issues/163)
+
+#162: Obsidian 1.7.2 breaking changes - when File Explorer is not displayed an attempt to apply custom sort fails with error
+[#162](https://github.com/SebastianMC/obsidian-custom-sort/issues/162)
+
+#161: Find out how to automatically apply custom sort on app start / vault (re)load etc.
+[#161](https://github.com/SebastianMC/obsidian-custom-sort/issues/161)

src/main.ts

@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ export default class CustomSortPlugin
 	sortSpecCache?: SortSpecsCollection | null
 	initialAutoOrManualSortingTriggered: boolean
 
+		// Indicator of correct hooking up the plugin-integration-point:
+	    //  - on initialization, OR
+	    //  - after explicit user actions like enabling the custom sort
 	fileExplorerFolderPatched: boolean
 
 	showNotice(message: string, timeout?: number) {