Fix thumbnail lifecycle failures

crates/pdfs-core/src/cache.rs

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::fmt;
 use std::io::{Read, Seek, SeekFrom};
+use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt as _;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU64, Ordering};
@@ -415,6 +416,10 @@ pub struct ContentCache {
     /// Subdirectory holding cached thumbnails (`<key>.t<n>` + `.meta`). Kept out
     /// of `content_dir` so the budget scan never sees thumbnail files.
     thumb_dir: PathBuf,
+    /// Owner-protected scratch space for decrypted camera RAWs passed to
+    /// exiftool. Files are removed on drop and swept on the next cache open after
+    /// an unclean shutdown.
+    raw_thumb_dir: PathBuf,
     /// Subdirectory holding on-demand block-cache files (`<key>.b<idx>` +
     /// `.meta`). Kept out of `content_dir` so the whole-file budget scan never
     /// sees them; blocks carry their own LRU budget.
@@ -507,6 +512,19 @@ impl ContentCache {
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&content_dir)?;
         let thumb_dir = content_dir.join("thumbs");
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&thumb_dir)?;
+        let raw_thumb_dir = content_dir.join("raw-thumbnails");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&raw_thumb_dir)?;
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&raw_thumb_dir, std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o700))?;
+        if let Ok(entries) = std::fs::read_dir(&raw_thumb_dir) {
+            for entry in entries.flatten() {
+                let name = entry.file_name();
+                if name.to_string_lossy().starts_with("pdfs-raw-")
+                    && entry.file_type().is_ok_and(|kind| kind.is_file())
+                {
+                    let _ = std::fs::remove_file(entry.path());
+                }
+            }
+        }
         let block_dir = content_dir.join("blocks");
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&block_dir)?;
         // Scratch holds disk-backed write buffers. A previous run's leftovers are
@@ -530,6 +548,7 @@ impl ContentCache {
         let cache = Self {
             content_dir,
             thumb_dir,
+            raw_thumb_dir,
             block_dir,
             scratch_dir,
             staging_dir,
@@ -1666,6 +1685,12 @@ impl ContentCache {
             .join(format!("{}.t{ttype}.meta", Self::key(uid)))
     }
 
+    /// Owner-protected transient directory used to stage decrypted camera RAWs
+    /// for metadata helpers. Callers still remove individual files promptly.
+    pub fn raw_thumbnail_staging_dir(&self) -> &Path {
+        &self.raw_thumb_dir
+    }
+
     /// Serve a cached thumbnail of `ttype` for `uid`, or `None` on miss/stale.
     /// Validated by node `mtime` alone: a new revision (which is what changes the
     /// thumbnail) bumps the mtime, so a stale thumbnail is detected. Thumbnails

crates/pdfs-core/src/control.rs

@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ pub enum Request {
         #[serde(default)]
         generation: u64,
     },
+    /// Reserve a daemon-issued generation for ordinary-file thumbnail work.
+    /// The daemon is the ordering authority, so GUI restarts and wall-clock
+    /// corrections cannot make a new listing look older than an earlier one.
+    ReserveFileThumbGeneration,
     /// Stop ordinary-file thumbnail work belonging to older listings. Photos
     /// timeline work and an explicit recursive build are deliberately separate.
     CancelFileThumbs { generation: u64 },
@@ -111,6 +115,8 @@ pub enum Request {
     /// The request returns immediately; progress is read with
     /// [`Request::ThumbnailBuildStatus`].
     StartThumbnailBuild { path: String },
+    /// Stop the current recursive ordinary-file thumbnail build, if any.
+    CancelThumbnailBuild,
     /// Read progress for the recursive ordinary-file thumbnail build.
     ThumbnailBuildStatus,
     /// Download a photo's full content into the cache; replies with its path.
@@ -1232,35 +1238,9 @@ pub fn is_thumbnail_image_name(name: &str) -> bool {
     let Some((_, extension)) = name.rsplit_once('.') else {
         return false;
     };
-    matches!(
+    let extension = extension.to_ascii_lowercase();
-        extension.to_ascii_lowercase().as_str(),
+    STANDARD_THUMBNAIL_EXTENSIONS.contains(&extension.as_str())
-        "bmp"
+        || RAW_THUMBNAIL_EXTENSIONS.contains(&extension.as_str())
-            | "gif"
-            | "jpeg"
-            | "jpg"
-            | "png"
-            | "tif"
-            | "tiff"
-            | "webp"
-            | "arw"
-            | "cr2"
-            | "cr3"
-            | "crw"
-            | "dng"
-            | "k25"
-            | "kdc"
-            | "mrw"
-            | "nef"
-            | "nrw"
-            | "orf"
-            | "pef"
-            | "raf"
-            | "rw"
-            | "rw2"
-            | "sr2"
-            | "srf"
-            | "x3f"
-    )
 }
 
 /// Whether `name` is one of the concrete RAW formats handled by the exiftool
@@ -1270,29 +1250,21 @@ pub fn is_raw_image_name(name: &str) -> bool {
     let Some((_, extension)) = name.rsplit_once('.') else {
         return false;
     };
-    matches!(
+    let extension = extension.to_ascii_lowercase();
-        extension.to_ascii_lowercase().as_str(),
+    RAW_THUMBNAIL_EXTENSIONS.contains(&extension.as_str())
-        "arw"
-            | "cr2"
-            | "cr3"
-            | "crw"
-            | "dng"
-            | "k25"
-            | "kdc"
-            | "mrw"
-            | "nef"
-            | "nrw"
-            | "orf"
-            | "pef"
-            | "raf"
-            | "rw"
-            | "rw2"
-            | "sr2"
-            | "srf"
-            | "x3f"
-    )
 }
 
+const STANDARD_THUMBNAIL_EXTENSIONS: &[&str] =
+    &["bmp", "gif", "jpeg", "jpg", "png", "tif", "tiff", "webp"];
+
+/// Concrete camera RAW formats with embedded previews handled by exiftool.
+/// This is the single source used by both RAW classification and the broader
+/// thumbnail capability check.
+const RAW_THUMBNAIL_EXTENSIONS: &[&str] = &[
+    "arw", "cr2", "cr3", "crw", "dng", "k25", "kdc", "mrw", "nef", "nrw", "orf", "pef", "raf",
+    "raw", "rw2", "sr2", "srf", "x3f",
+];
+
 /// Progress of the one recursive ordinary-file thumbnail build the daemon may
 /// run at a time.
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -1467,6 +1439,13 @@ pub enum Response {
     PhotoMonths { months: Vec<PhotoMonth> },
     /// Thumbnails for a [`Request::PhotoThumbs`] batch.
     Thumbs { items: Vec<PhotoThumb> },
+    /// A [`Request::FileThumbs`] generation is no longer current. This is
+    /// retryable after reserving a fresh generation and must never be interpreted
+    /// as a permanent "no thumbnail" verdict.
+    FileThumbsStale,
+    /// Daemon-issued generation reserved by
+    /// [`Request::ReserveFileThumbGeneration`].
+    FileThumbGeneration { generation: u64 },
     /// Current recursive thumbnail-build progress.
     ThumbnailBuild { status: ThumbnailBuildStatus },
     /// An on-disk path the front-end can open (e.g. a downloaded photo).
@@ -1801,10 +1780,12 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn thumbnail_build_requests_and_progress_roundtrip() {
         let requests = [
+            Request::ReserveFileThumbGeneration,
             Request::CancelFileThumbs { generation: 43 },
             Request::StartThumbnailBuild {
                 path: "pictures/events".into(),
             },
+            Request::CancelThumbnailBuild,
             Request::ThumbnailBuildStatus,
         ];
         for request in requests {
@@ -1828,6 +1809,16 @@ mod tests {
         let line = serde_json::to_string(&response).unwrap();
         let decoded: Response = serde_json::from_str(&line).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(line, serde_json::to_string(&decoded).unwrap());
+
+        let response = Response::FileThumbGeneration { generation: 44 };
+        let line = serde_json::to_string(&response).unwrap();
+        let decoded: Response = serde_json::from_str(&line).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(line, serde_json::to_string(&decoded).unwrap());
+
+        let response = Response::FileThumbsStale;
+        let line = serde_json::to_string(&response).unwrap();
+        let decoded: Response = serde_json::from_str(&line).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(line, serde_json::to_string(&decoded).unwrap());
     }
 
     #[test]

crates/pdfs-fuse/src/control.rs

@@ -329,8 +329,14 @@ fn handle_control_conn(core: &Core, username: &str, mountpoint: &Path, stream: U
                 items: core.photo_thumbs(&parsed),
             }
         }
-        Ok(CtlRequest::FileThumbs { items, generation }) => CtlResponse::Thumbs {
+        Ok(CtlRequest::FileThumbs { items, generation }) => {
-            items: core.file_thumbs(&items, generation),
+            match core.file_thumbs(&items, generation) {
+                Some(items) => CtlResponse::Thumbs { items },
+                None => CtlResponse::FileThumbsStale,
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(CtlRequest::ReserveFileThumbGeneration) => CtlResponse::FileThumbGeneration {
+            generation: core.reserve_file_thumb_generation(),
         },
         Ok(CtlRequest::CancelFileThumbs { generation }) => {
             core.cancel_file_thumbs(generation);
@@ -339,11 +345,15 @@ fn handle_control_conn(core: &Core, username: &str, mountpoint: &Path, stream: U
             }
         }
         Ok(CtlRequest::StartThumbnailBuild { path }) => match rel_to_mount(mountpoint, &path) {
-            Ok(rel) => CtlResponse::ThumbnailBuild {
+            Ok(rel) => match core.start_thumbnail_build(rel) {
-                status: core.start_thumbnail_build(rel),
+                Ok(status) => CtlResponse::ThumbnailBuild { status },
+                Err(error) => CtlResponse::error(error),
             },
             Err(error) => CtlResponse::error(error),
         },
+        Ok(CtlRequest::CancelThumbnailBuild) => CtlResponse::ThumbnailBuild {
+            status: core.cancel_thumbnail_build(),
+        },
         Ok(CtlRequest::ThumbnailBuildStatus) => CtlResponse::ThumbnailBuild {
             status: core.thumbnail_build_status(),
         },

crates/pdfs-fuse/src/lib.rs

@@ -374,6 +374,45 @@ impl SearchRoots {
     }
 }
 
+/// Negative thumbnail knowledge has two different authorities. A remote miss
+/// only says Proton has no thumbnail to download; it must never suppress local
+/// generation. A local miss says this exact file revision was successfully
+/// inspected and could not be decoded. Both maps are bounded independently.
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct ThumbnailMissCaches {
+    remote: HashMap<(NodeUid, i32), i64>,
+    local: HashMap<(NodeUid, i32), i64>,
+}
+
+impl ThumbnailMissCaches {
+    fn remote_contains(&self, key: &(NodeUid, i32), tag: i64) -> bool {
+        self.remote.get(key) == Some(&tag)
+    }
+
+    fn local_contains(&self, key: &(NodeUid, i32), tag: i64) -> bool {
+        self.local.get(key) == Some(&tag)
+    }
+
+    fn remember_remote(&mut self, key: (NodeUid, i32), tag: i64) {
+        Self::remember(&mut self.remote, key, tag);
+    }
+
+    fn remember_local(&mut self, key: (NodeUid, i32), tag: i64) {
+        Self::remember(&mut self.local, key, tag);
+    }
+
+    fn forget_local(&mut self, key: &(NodeUid, i32)) {
+        self.local.remove(key);
+    }
+
+    fn remember(map: &mut HashMap<(NodeUid, i32), i64>, key: (NodeUid, i32), tag: i64) {
+        if map.len() >= MAX_THUMBNAIL_MISSES && !map.contains_key(&key) {
+            map.clear();
+        }
+        map.insert(key, tag);
+    }
+}
+
 /// `path` expressed relative to `root`, or `None` if it is not below it. The
 /// root itself resolves to the empty path; an empty root is the mount itself
 /// and covers everything.
@@ -521,8 +560,12 @@ struct Core {
     file_thumb_cancel: Arc<tokio::sync::Notify>,
     /// Progress of the explicit recursive build started from the Files toolbar.
     thumbnail_build: Arc<Mutex<ThumbnailBuildStatus>>,
-    /// Nodes the remote has told us have *no* thumbnail of a given type, keyed by
+    /// Cancellation for the explicit recursive build. Separate from ordinary
-    /// `(uid, thumbnail type)` and holding the mtime the answer was learned at.
+    /// listing cancellation because the two jobs have independent lifetimes.
+    thumbnail_build_cancelled: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    thumbnail_build_cancel: Arc<tokio::sync::Notify>,
+    /// Negative thumbnail knowledge, separated by whether the remote lacked a
+    /// thumbnail or local decoding proved this revision unsupported.
     ///
     /// Absence has to be cached or it costs a round trip every time it is asked
     /// for, and it is asked for constantly: an `ls -l` from an xattr-aware lister
@@ -530,7 +573,7 @@ struct Core {
     /// of videos re-probed 130 times per listing at ~186 ms each (B5). The mtime
     /// is the validity tag — a new revision may well have a thumbnail — matching
     /// how [`ContentCache::read_thumbnail`] validates the positive side.
-    no_thumbnail: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<(NodeUid, i32), i64>>>,
+    thumbnail_misses: Arc<Mutex<ThumbnailMissCaches>>,
     /// Last account quota answer and when it was learned, for `statfs(2)`.
     ///
     /// `df` and the free-space preflight of every file manager and installer ask
@@ -3590,7 +3633,7 @@ impl Core {
         // "This file has no thumbnail" is an answer worth remembering: without
         // it every listing pays a round trip per file to be told nothing (B5).
         let key = (uid.clone(), ttype.as_i32());
-        if self.no_thumbnail.lock().get(&key) == Some(&mtime) {
+        if self.thumbnail_misses.lock().remote_contains(&key, mtime) {
             return Ok(None);
         }
         let bytes = self
@@ -3607,15 +3650,7 @@ impl Core {
                     .store_thumbnail(&uid, ttype.as_i32(), mtime, bytes);
             }
             None => {
-                let mut misses = self.no_thumbnail.lock();
+                self.thumbnail_misses.lock().remember_remote(key, mtime);
-                // Bounded by clearing rather than by LRU: the entries are two
-                // words each, the cap is far above any plausible working set,
-                // and re-learning a miss costs one round trip. Not worth a
-                // second data structure to order them.
-                if misses.len() >= MAX_THUMBNAIL_MISSES {
-                    misses.clear();
-                }
-                misses.insert(key, mtime);
             }
         }
         Ok(bytes)
@@ -7556,6 +7591,38 @@ mod tests {
     }
 }
 
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod thumbnail_miss_tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn remote_misses_never_suppress_local_generation() {
+        let uid = parse_uid("volume~node").expect("uid");
+        let key = (uid, ThumbnailType::Thumbnail.as_i32());
+        let mut misses = ThumbnailMissCaches::default();
+
+        misses.remember_remote(key.clone(), 42);
+        assert!(misses.remote_contains(&key, 42));
+        assert!(!misses.local_contains(&key, 42));
+
+        misses.remember_local(key.clone(), 42);
+        assert!(misses.local_contains(&key, 42));
+        misses.forget_local(&key);
+        assert!(!misses.local_contains(&key, 42));
+        assert!(misses.remote_contains(&key, 42));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn local_miss_cache_is_bounded_on_gui_only_paths() {
+        let mut misses = ThumbnailMissCaches::default();
+        for index in 0..=MAX_THUMBNAIL_MISSES {
+            let uid = parse_uid(&format!("volume~node-{index}")).expect("uid");
+            misses.remember_local((uid, ThumbnailType::Thumbnail.as_i32()), 42);
+        }
+        assert_eq!(misses.local.len(), 1);
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod search_root_tests {
     use super::*;

crates/pdfs-fuse/src/mount.rs

@@ -395,7 +395,9 @@ pub fn mount(
         file_thumb_generation: Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(0)),
         file_thumb_cancel: Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new()),
         thumbnail_build: Arc::new(Mutex::new(Default::default())),
-        no_thumbnail: Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new())),
+        thumbnail_build_cancelled: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false)),
+        thumbnail_build_cancel: Arc::new(tokio::sync::Notify::new()),
+        thumbnail_misses: Arc::new(Mutex::new(Default::default())),
         quota: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
         size_upgrades: Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new())),
         size_waiters: Arc::new(Default::default()),

crates/pdfs-fuse/src/photos.rs

@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 //! a phone) are generated locally and stored as if the server had served them.
 
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
+use std::ffi::OsStr;
 use std::fs::OpenOptions;
 use std::io::{Read as _, Write as _};
 use std::os::unix::fs::OpenOptionsExt as _;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
 use std::sync::Once;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
@@ -44,6 +45,11 @@ const THUMB_QUALITY: u8 = 82;
 pub(crate) const THUMB_GEN_CONCURRENCY: usize = 4;
 /// Images processed between recursive-build progress updates.
 const THUMB_BUILD_CHUNK: usize = 16;
+/// A recursive build may wait briefly for an opportunistic tile job that
+/// already owns a uid, but never forever.
+const THUMB_BUILD_CLAIM_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
+/// Backstop for cancellation if a notification races with waiter registration.
+const THUMB_CANCEL_POLL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(100);
 /// A broken metadata helper must not hold one of the four thumbnail permits
 /// indefinitely. Matches the deliberately generous KDE RAW thumbnail budget.
 const EXIFTOOL_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(20);
@@ -68,6 +74,17 @@ struct GeneratedThumb {
     ratio: f64,
 }
 
+/// Scaling distinguishes a permanent content verdict from an environmental
+/// failure. Only `Undecodable` may enter the local negative cache.
+enum ScaleAttempt {
+    Made(GeneratedThumb),
+    Undecodable,
+    Unavailable,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+struct RawPreviewUnavailable;
+
 /// How one attempt at generating a missing thumbnail ended. The distinction that
 /// matters is *permanent* versus *transient*: only bytes we cannot decode prove
 /// the photo will never have a thumbnail, and only that verdict is persisted.
@@ -109,13 +126,49 @@ impl ThumbBatchSummary {
     }
 }
 
+/// `true` means publish a new build, `false` means the caller may attach to the
+/// already-running build for the same root. A different root is never silently
+/// accepted as if it were the requested job.
+fn thumbnail_build_may_start(status: &ThumbnailBuildStatus, path: &str) -> CoreResult<bool> {
+    if !status.running {
+        return Ok(true);
+    }
+    if status.path == path {
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+    Err(CoreError::invalid(format!(
+        "a thumbnail build is already running for {}",
+        if status.path.is_empty() {
+            "Proton Drive"
+        } else {
+            &status.path
+        }
+    )))
+}
+
 /// Scale a full-size photo down to a thumbnail: at most [`THUMB_EDGE`] on its
-/// longest side, JPEG, aspect ratio preserved. `None` when the bytes aren't an
+/// longest side, JPEG, aspect ratio preserved. Environmental RAW-extraction
-/// image this build can decode — the caller then writes the photo off as
+/// failures remain retryable; only bytes conclusively outside the supported
-/// un-thumbnailable.
+/// formats return an undecodable verdict.
 ///
 /// CPU-bound (a 20 MP JPEG is real work), so callers run it on the blocking pool.
-fn scale_thumbnail(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<GeneratedThumb> {
+fn scale_thumbnail(bytes: &[u8], name: &str, staging_dir: &Path) -> ScaleAttempt {
+    scale_thumbnail_with_exiftool(
+        bytes,
+        name,
+        staging_dir,
+        OsStr::new("exiftool"),
+        EXIFTOOL_TIMEOUT,
+    )
+}
+
+fn scale_thumbnail_with_exiftool(
+    bytes: &[u8],
+    name: &str,
+    staging_dir: &Path,
+    exiftool: &OsStr,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> ScaleAttempt {
     let direct = image::ImageReader::new(std::io::Cursor::new(bytes))
         .with_guessed_format()
         .ok()
@@ -123,22 +176,29 @@ fn scale_thumbnail(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<GeneratedThumb> {
     let image = match direct {
         Some(image) => image,
         None if is_raw_image_name(name) => {
-            let (preview, orientation) = extract_raw_preview(bytes, name)?;
+            let (preview, orientation) =
-            let mut image = image::ImageReader::new(std::io::Cursor::new(preview))
+                match extract_raw_preview(bytes, name, staging_dir, exiftool, timeout) {
+                    Ok(Some(preview)) => preview,
+                    Ok(None) => return ScaleAttempt::Undecodable,
+                    Err(_) => return ScaleAttempt::Unavailable,
+                };
+            let Some(mut image) = image::ImageReader::new(std::io::Cursor::new(preview))
                 .with_guessed_format()
-                .ok()?
+                .ok()
-                .decode()
+                .and_then(|reader| reader.decode().ok())
-                .ok()?;
+            else {
+                return ScaleAttempt::Undecodable;
+            };
             if let Some(orientation) = image::metadata::Orientation::from_exif(orientation) {
                 image.apply_orientation(orientation);
             }
             image
         }
-        None => return None,
+        None => return ScaleAttempt::Undecodable,
     };
     let (width, height) = (image.width(), image.height());
     if width == 0 || height == 0 {
-        return None;
+        return ScaleAttempt::Undecodable;
     }
     let ratio = f64::from(width) / f64::from(height);
 
@@ -146,10 +206,13 @@ fn scale_thumbnail(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<GeneratedThumb> {
     // THUMB_EDGE and the ratio is untouched.
     let thumb = image.thumbnail(THUMB_EDGE, THUMB_EDGE).to_rgb8();
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
-    image::codecs::jpeg::JpegEncoder::new_with_quality(&mut bytes, THUMB_QUALITY)
+    if image::codecs::jpeg::JpegEncoder::new_with_quality(&mut bytes, THUMB_QUALITY)
         .encode_image(&thumb)
-        .ok()?;
+        .is_err()
-    Some(GeneratedThumb { bytes, ratio })
+    {
+        return ScaleAttempt::Unavailable;
+    }
+    ScaleAttempt::Made(GeneratedThumb { bytes, ratio })
 }
 
 /// Temporary file passed to exiftool. The helper identifies most RAWs from their
@@ -158,7 +221,7 @@ fn scale_thumbnail(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<GeneratedThumb> {
 struct RawTempFile(PathBuf);
 
 impl RawTempFile {
-    fn create(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn create_in(staging_dir: &Path, bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<Self> {
         let extension = std::path::Path::new(name)
             .extension()
             .and_then(|value| value.to_str())
@@ -174,7 +237,7 @@ impl RawTempFile {
             .as_nanos();
         for _ in 0..16 {
             let nonce = RAW_TEMP_NONCE.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
-            let path = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            let path = staging_dir.join(format!(
                 "pdfs-raw-{}-{started}-{nonce}.{extension}",
                 std::process::id(),
             ));
@@ -208,8 +271,13 @@ impl Drop for RawTempFile {
 /// Run one bounded exiftool JSON query while draining stdout concurrently. The
 /// latter matters for full-size `JpgFromRaw` fallbacks, whose base64 can exceed a
 /// pipe buffer long before the child exits.
-fn exiftool_query(path: &std::path::Path, tags: &[&str]) -> Option<serde_json::Value> {
+fn exiftool_query(
-    let mut command = Command::new("exiftool");
+    exiftool: &OsStr,
+    path: &Path,
+    tags: &[&str],
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> Result<serde_json::Value, RawPreviewUnavailable> {
+    let mut command = Command::new(exiftool);
     command.args(["-j", "-b", "-n"]);
     command.args(tags);
     command
@@ -227,10 +295,14 @@ fn exiftool_query(path: &std::path::Path, tags: &[&str]) -> Option<serde_json::V
                     );
                 });
             }
-            return None;
+            return Err(RawPreviewUnavailable);
         }
     };
-    let mut stdout = child.stdout.take()?;
+    let Some(mut stdout) = child.stdout.take() else {
+        let _ = child.kill();
+        let _ = child.wait();
+        return Err(RawPreviewUnavailable);
+    };
     let reader = std::thread::spawn(move || {
         let mut output = Vec::new();
         stdout.read_to_end(&mut output).map(|_| output)
@@ -239,7 +311,7 @@ fn exiftool_query(path: &std::path::Path, tags: &[&str]) -> Option<serde_json::V
     let success = loop {
         match child.try_wait() {
             Ok(Some(status)) => break status.success(),
-            Ok(None) if started.elapsed() < EXIFTOOL_TIMEOUT => {
+            Ok(None) if started.elapsed() < timeout => {
                 std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
             }
             Ok(None) | Err(_) => {
@@ -249,11 +321,15 @@ fn exiftool_query(path: &std::path::Path, tags: &[&str]) -> Option<serde_json::V
             }
         }
     };
-    let output = reader.join().ok()?.ok()?;
+    let output = reader
+        .join()
+        .ok()
+        .and_then(Result::ok)
+        .ok_or(RawPreviewUnavailable)?;
     if !success {
-        return None;
+        return Err(RawPreviewUnavailable);
     }
-    serde_json::from_slice(&output).ok()
+    serde_json::from_slice(&output).map_err(|_| RawPreviewUnavailable)
 }
 
 fn exiftool_object(
@@ -276,17 +352,28 @@ fn exiftool_binary(
 /// Extract the embedded display preview from one concrete camera RAW. PreviewImage
 /// is queried alone first so common files do not also serialize a discarded
 /// full-resolution JpgFromRaw; rarer preview tags are requested only on a miss.
-fn extract_raw_preview(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<(Vec<u8>, u8)> {
+fn extract_raw_preview(
-    let file = RawTempFile::create(bytes, name)?;
+    bytes: &[u8],
-    let primary = exiftool_query(&file.0, &["-Orientation", "-PreviewImage"])?;
+    name: &str,
-    let primary = exiftool_object(&primary)?;
+    staging_dir: &Path,
+    exiftool: &OsStr,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> Result<Option<(Vec<u8>, u8)>, RawPreviewUnavailable> {
+    let file = RawTempFile::create_in(staging_dir, bytes, name).ok_or(RawPreviewUnavailable)?;
+    let primary = exiftool_query(
+        exiftool,
+        &file.0,
+        &["-Orientation", "-PreviewImage"],
+        timeout,
+    )?;
+    let primary = exiftool_object(&primary).ok_or(RawPreviewUnavailable)?;
     let orientation = primary
         .get("Orientation")
         .and_then(serde_json::Value::as_u64)
         .and_then(|value| u8::try_from(value).ok())
         .unwrap_or(1);
     if let Some(preview) = exiftool_binary(primary, "PreviewImage") {
-        return Some((preview, orientation));
+        return Ok(Some((preview, orientation)));
     }
 
     const FALLBACKS: [&str; 5] = [
@@ -297,6 +384,7 @@ fn extract_raw_preview(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<(Vec<u8>, u8)> {
         "ThumbnailTIFF",
     ];
     let fallback = exiftool_query(
+        exiftool,
         &file.0,
         &[
             "-OtherImage",
@@ -305,12 +393,13 @@ fn extract_raw_preview(bytes: &[u8], name: &str) -> Option<(Vec<u8>, u8)> {
             "-ThumbnailImage",
             "-ThumbnailTIFF",
         ],
+        timeout,
     )?;
-    let fallback = exiftool_object(&fallback)?;
+    let fallback = exiftool_object(&fallback).ok_or(RawPreviewUnavailable)?;
-    FALLBACKS
+    Ok(FALLBACKS
         .iter()
         .find_map(|key| exiftool_binary(fallback, key))
-        .map(|preview| (preview, orientation))
+        .map(|preview| (preview, orientation)))
 }
 
 /// Formats supported by the local thumbnail decoder and exposed by the GUI.
@@ -514,14 +603,12 @@ impl Core {
         &self,
         items: &[FileThumbRequest],
         generation: u64,
-    ) -> Vec<PhotoThumb> {
+    ) -> Option<Vec<PhotoThumb>> {
-        let previous = self
+        let current =
-            .file_thumb_generation
+            generation != 0 && self.file_thumb_generation.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == generation;
-            .fetch_max(generation, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        if !current {
-        if generation > previous {
+            return None;
-            self.file_thumb_cancel.notify_waiters();
         }
-        let current = self.file_thumb_generation.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == generation;
         let ttype = ThumbnailType::Thumbnail.as_i32();
         let parsed: Vec<(String, NodeUid, i64)> = items
             .iter()
@@ -549,7 +636,10 @@ impl Core {
                 .cache
                 .cached_thumbnail_path(uid, ttype, *modified)
                 .is_some()
-                || self.no_thumbnail.lock().get(&(uid.clone(), ttype)) == Some(modified)
+                || self
+                    .thumbnail_misses
+                    .lock()
+                    .local_contains(&(uid.clone(), ttype), *modified)
                 || !seen.insert(raw.clone())
             {
                 continue;
@@ -557,11 +647,12 @@ impl Core {
             wanted.push(uid.clone());
         }
 
-        if current && !wanted.is_empty() {
+        if !wanted.is_empty() {
             self.spawn_generate_thumbs(wanted, &tags, &names, ThumbJob::Files(generation));
         }
 
         let pending = self.thumb_gen.lock();
+        Some(
             items
                 .iter()
                 .map(|item| {
@@ -573,10 +664,27 @@ impl Core {
                                 .cached_thumbnail_path(uid, ttype, item.modified)
                                 .map(|path| path.display().to_string())
                         }),
-                    pending: current && uid.as_ref().is_some_and(|uid| pending.contains(uid)),
+                        pending: uid.as_ref().is_some_and(|uid| pending.contains(uid)),
                     }
                 })
-            .collect()
+                .collect(),
+        )
+    }
+
+    /// Reserve the next ordinary-file listing generation. This daemon-owned
+    /// monotonic value replaces GUI wall-clock seeds, which can move backwards
+    /// across NTP corrections, suspend, or dual boot.
+    pub(crate) fn reserve_file_thumb_generation(&self) -> u64 {
+        let next = |current| if current == u64::MAX { 1 } else { current + 1 };
+        let previous = self
+            .file_thumb_generation
+            .fetch_update(Ordering::SeqCst, Ordering::SeqCst, |current| {
+                Some(next(current))
+            })
+            .expect("generation update always succeeds");
+        let generation = next(previous);
+        self.file_thumb_cancel.notify_waiters();
+        generation
     }
 
     /// Advance the ordinary-file thumbnail generation. Every queued/download in
@@ -644,7 +752,8 @@ impl Core {
             ThumbJob::Files(generation) => {
                 self.file_thumb_generation.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == generation
             }
-            ThumbJob::Photos | ThumbJob::Build => true,
+            ThumbJob::Photos => true,
+            ThumbJob::Build => !self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.load(Ordering::SeqCst),
         }
     }
 
@@ -684,9 +793,29 @@ impl Core {
                                             return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Cancelled);
                                         }
                                     }
+                                    _ = tokio::time::sleep(THUMB_CANCEL_POLL) => {
+                                        if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
+                                            return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Cancelled);
+                                        }
+                                    }
                                 }
                             },
-                            ThumbJob::Photos | ThumbJob::Build => acquire.await.ok(),
+                            ThumbJob::Build => loop {
+                                tokio::select! {
+                                    permit = &mut acquire => break permit.ok(),
+                                    _ = core.thumbnail_build_cancel.notified() => {
+                                        if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
+                                            return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Cancelled);
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    _ = tokio::time::sleep(THUMB_CANCEL_POLL) => {
+                                        if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
+                                            return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Cancelled);
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            },
+                            ThumbJob::Photos => acquire.await.ok(),
                         };
                         let Some(_permit) = _permit else {
                             return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Unavailable);
@@ -707,9 +836,29 @@ impl Core {
                                             break None;
                                         }
                                     }
+                                    _ = tokio::time::sleep(THUMB_CANCEL_POLL) => {
+                                        if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
+                                            break None;
+                                        }
+                                    }
                                 }
                             },
-                            ThumbJob::Photos | ThumbJob::Build => Some(download.await),
+                            ThumbJob::Build => loop {
+                                tokio::select! {
+                                    result = &mut download => break Some(result),
+                                    _ = core.thumbnail_build_cancel.notified() => {
+                                        if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
+                                            break None;
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    _ = tokio::time::sleep(THUMB_CANCEL_POLL) => {
+                                        if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
+                                            break None;
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            },
+                            ThumbJob::Photos => Some(download.await),
                         };
                         let Some(downloaded) = downloaded else {
                             return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Cancelled);
@@ -726,16 +875,19 @@ impl Core {
                         }
                         // Decoding + scaling a 20 MP JPEG is CPU-bound and would
                         // stall the runtime's worker; hand it to the blocking pool.
-                        let made =
+                        let staging_dir = core.cache.raw_thumbnail_staging_dir().to_path_buf();
-                            tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || scale_thumbnail(&bytes, &name))
+                        let made = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+                            scale_thumbnail(&bytes, &name, &staging_dir)
+                        })
                         .await
-                                .unwrap_or(None);
+                        .unwrap_or(ScaleAttempt::Unavailable);
                         if !core.thumb_job_current(job) {
                             return (uid, ThumbAttempt::Cancelled);
                         }
                         match made {
-                            Some(thumb) => (uid, ThumbAttempt::Made(thumb)),
+                            ScaleAttempt::Made(thumb) => (uid, ThumbAttempt::Made(thumb)),
-                            None => (uid, ThumbAttempt::Undecodable),
+                            ScaleAttempt::Undecodable => (uid, ThumbAttempt::Undecodable),
+                            ScaleAttempt::Unavailable => (uid, ThumbAttempt::Unavailable),
                         }
                     });
                 }
@@ -760,7 +912,9 @@ impl Core {
                     match self.cache.store_thumbnail(&uid, ttype, tag, &thumb.bytes) {
                         Ok(()) => {
                             summary.made += 1;
-                            self.no_thumbnail.lock().remove(&(uid.clone(), ttype));
+                            self.thumbnail_misses
+                                .lock()
+                                .forget_local(&(uid.clone(), ttype));
                             self.record_thumb(&uid, db::THUMB_HAVE, Some(thumb.ratio));
                         }
                         Err(e) => {
@@ -774,7 +928,9 @@ impl Core {
                 ThumbAttempt::Undecodable => {
                     summary.undecodable += 1;
                     if let Some(&tag) = tags.get(&uid.to_string()) {
-                        self.no_thumbnail.lock().insert((uid.clone(), ttype), tag);
+                        self.thumbnail_misses
+                            .lock()
+                            .remember_local((uid.clone(), ttype), tag);
                     }
                     self.record_thumb(&uid, db::THUMB_NONE, None);
                 }
@@ -792,20 +948,22 @@ impl Core {
         self.thumbnail_build.lock().clone()
     }
 
-    /// Start one recursive local-thumbnail build. A second request while it is
+    /// Start one recursive local-thumbnail build. A request for the same root
-    /// running attaches to the existing job instead of duplicating every
+    /// may attach to it; a different root is rejected explicitly instead of
-    /// download; the caller polls [`Core::thumbnail_build_status`].
+    /// silently pretending the existing job belongs to the caller.
-    pub(crate) fn start_thumbnail_build(&self, root: PathBuf) -> ThumbnailBuildStatus {
+    pub(crate) fn start_thumbnail_build(&self, root: PathBuf) -> CoreResult<ThumbnailBuildStatus> {
         let path = root.to_string_lossy().into_owned();
         let status = {
             let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
-            if status.running {
+            if !thumbnail_build_may_start(&status, &path)? {
-                return status.clone();
+                return Ok(status.clone());
             }
+            self.thumbnail_build_cancelled
+                .store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
             *status = ThumbnailBuildStatus {
                 running: true,
                 scanning: true,
-                path,
+                path: path.clone(),
                 folders_scanned: 0,
                 images_found: 0,
                 completed: 0,
@@ -826,18 +984,57 @@ impl Core {
                 status.running = false;
                 status.scanning = false;
                 status.message = Some("Thumbnail generation stopped unexpectedly".to_string());
+                core.thumbnail_build_cancelled
+                    .store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
                 warn!(path = %status.path, "recursive thumbnail build panicked");
             }
         });
+        Ok(status)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn cancel_thumbnail_build(&self) -> ThumbnailBuildStatus {
+        let (status, cancelled) = {
+            let status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
+            let cancelled = status.running;
+            if cancelled {
+                self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            }
+            (status.clone(), cancelled)
+        };
+        if cancelled {
+            self.thumbnail_build_cancel.notify_waiters();
+        }
         status
     }
 
+    fn finish_thumbnail_build(&self) {
+        let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
+        let cancelled = self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.swap(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        status.running = false;
+        status.scanning = false;
+        if cancelled {
+            status.message = Some("Thumbnail build cancelled".to_string());
+        }
+        info!(
+            path = %status.path,
+            images = status.images_found,
+            failed = status.failed,
+            cancelled,
+            "recursive thumbnail build finished"
+        );
+    }
+
     fn run_thumbnail_build(&self, root: PathBuf) {
         let mut folders = vec![root];
         let mut images: Vec<(NodeUid, i64, String)> = Vec::new();
-        let mut seen = HashSet::new();
+        let mut seen_folders = HashSet::new();
+        let mut seen_images = HashSet::new();
 
         while let Some(folder) = folders.pop() {
+            if self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                self.finish_thumbnail_build();
+                return;
+            }
             let listing = self.list_dir(&folder);
             {
                 let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
@@ -861,14 +1058,20 @@ impl Core {
             let mut invalid_here = 0_u64;
             for entry in entries {
                 if entry.is_dir {
-                    if seen.insert(entry.uid) {
+                    if seen_folders.insert(entry.uid) {
                         folders.push(folder.join(entry.name));
                     }
                 } else if is_thumbnail_image_name(&entry.name) {
-                    found_here += 1;
                     match parse_uid(&entry.uid) {
-                        Some(uid) => images.push((uid, entry.modified, entry.name)),
+                        Some(uid) if seen_images.insert(uid.clone()) => {
-                        None => invalid_here += 1,
+                            found_here += 1;
+                            images.push((uid, entry.modified, entry.name));
+                        }
+                        Some(_) => {}
+                        None => {
+                            found_here += 1;
+                            invalid_here += 1;
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -879,6 +1082,10 @@ impl Core {
         }
 
         self.thumbnail_build.lock().scanning = false;
+        if self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+            self.finish_thumbnail_build();
+            return;
+        }
         let ttype = ThumbnailType::Thumbnail.as_i32();
         let mut todo = Vec::new();
         for (uid, modified, name) in images {
@@ -888,7 +1095,11 @@ impl Core {
                 .is_some()
             {
                 self.thumbnail_build.lock().completed += 1;
-            } else if self.no_thumbnail.lock().get(&(uid.clone(), ttype)) == Some(&modified) {
+            } else if self
+                .thumbnail_misses
+                .lock()
+                .local_contains(&(uid.clone(), ttype), modified)
+            {
                 let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
                 status.completed += 1;
                 status.failed += 1;
@@ -898,6 +1109,10 @@ impl Core {
         }
 
         for chunk in todo.chunks(THUMB_BUILD_CHUNK) {
+            if self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                self.finish_thumbnail_build();
+                return;
+            }
             let mut claimed = Vec::with_capacity(chunk.len());
             let mut tags = HashMap::with_capacity(chunk.len());
             let mut names = HashMap::with_capacity(chunk.len());
@@ -905,7 +1120,12 @@ impl Core {
                 // A visible tile may have started this image just before the
                 // toolbar action. Wait for that one bounded job to finish rather
                 // than downloading the full image twice.
+                let waiting_since = Instant::now();
                 loop {
+                    if self.thumbnail_build_cancelled.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                        self.finish_thumbnail_build();
+                        return;
+                    }
                     if self
                         .cache
                         .cached_thumbnail_path(uid, ttype, *modified)
@@ -914,7 +1134,11 @@ impl Core {
                         self.thumbnail_build.lock().completed += 1;
                         break;
                     }
-                    if self.no_thumbnail.lock().get(&(uid.clone(), ttype)) == Some(modified) {
+                    if self
+                        .thumbnail_misses
+                        .lock()
+                        .local_contains(&(uid.clone(), ttype), *modified)
+                    {
                         let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
                         status.completed += 1;
                         status.failed += 1;
@@ -926,6 +1150,17 @@ impl Core {
                         claimed.push(uid.clone());
                         break;
                     }
+                    if waiting_since.elapsed() >= THUMB_BUILD_CLAIM_TIMEOUT {
+                        let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
+                        status.completed += 1;
+                        status.failed += 1;
+                        if status.message.is_none() {
+                            status.message = Some(
+                                "Some images stayed busy and were skipped after a timeout".into(),
+                            );
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
                     std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(50));
                 }
             }
@@ -955,16 +1190,7 @@ impl Core {
                 }
             }
         }
-
+        self.finish_thumbnail_build();
-        let mut status = self.thumbnail_build.lock();
-        status.running = false;
-        status.scanning = false;
-        info!(
-            path = %status.path,
-            images = status.images_found,
-            failed = status.failed,
-            "recursive thumbnail build finished"
-        );
     }
 
     /// Persist what a thumbnail attempt learned about a photo, against the
@@ -1092,9 +1318,14 @@ impl Core {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod thumb_tests {
-    use super::{RawTempFile, THUMB_EDGE, exiftool_binary, ratio_of, scale_thumbnail};
+    use super::{
-    use pdfs_core::control::is_thumbnail_image_name;
+        RawTempFile, ScaleAttempt, THUMB_EDGE, exiftool_binary, ratio_of, scale_thumbnail,
+        scale_thumbnail_with_exiftool, thumbnail_build_may_start,
+    };
+    use pdfs_core::control::{ThumbnailBuildStatus, is_thumbnail_image_name};
+    use std::ffi::OsStr;
     use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt as _;
+    use std::time::Duration;
 
     /// A `width`×`height` JPEG, standing in for a camera photo the server never
     /// generated a thumbnail for.
@@ -1112,7 +1343,10 @@ mod thumb_tests {
     #[test]
     fn scaling_fits_the_long_edge_and_keeps_the_aspect_ratio() {
         let photo = jpeg(4000, 3000);
-        let thumb = scale_thumbnail(&photo, "photo.jpg").expect("a JPEG scales");
+        let ScaleAttempt::Made(thumb) = scale_thumbnail(&photo, "photo.jpg", &std::env::temp_dir())
+        else {
+            panic!("a JPEG scales");
+        };
 
         let (width, height) = image::ImageReader::new(std::io::Cursor::new(&thumb.bytes))
             .with_guessed_format()
@@ -1130,7 +1364,11 @@ mod thumb_tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn a_portrait_photo_fits_its_long_edge_too() {
-        let thumb = scale_thumbnail(&jpeg(1000, 2000), "portrait.jpeg").expect("a JPEG scales");
+        let ScaleAttempt::Made(thumb) =
+            scale_thumbnail(&jpeg(1000, 2000), "portrait.jpeg", &std::env::temp_dir())
+        else {
+            panic!("a JPEG scales");
+        };
         assert!(thumb.ratio < 1.0, "portrait stays portrait");
         assert_eq!(ratio_of(&thumb.bytes).map(|r| r < 1.0), Some(true));
     }
@@ -1139,7 +1377,10 @@ mod thumb_tests {
     fn undecodable_bytes_are_not_a_thumbnail() {
         // What a photo in a format this build has no decoder for looks like: the
         // caller writes it off as un-thumbnailable rather than retrying forever.
-        assert!(scale_thumbnail(b"not an image at all", "broken.jpg").is_none());
+        assert!(matches!(
+            scale_thumbnail(b"not an image at all", "broken.jpg", &std::env::temp_dir()),
+            ScaleAttempt::Undecodable
+        ));
         assert!(ratio_of(b"not an image at all").is_none());
     }
 
@@ -1150,9 +1391,11 @@ mod thumb_tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn raw_staging_file_is_private_and_removed_on_drop() {
-        let file =
+        let staging_dir = std::env::temp_dir();
-            RawTempFile::create(b"private camera bytes", "shot.NEF").expect("temporary RAW file");
+        let file = RawTempFile::create_in(&staging_dir, b"private camera bytes", "shot.NEF")
+            .expect("temporary RAW file");
         let path = file.0.clone();
+        assert_eq!(path.parent(), Some(staging_dir.as_path()));
         let mode = std::fs::metadata(&path).unwrap().permissions().mode() & 0o777;
         assert_eq!(mode, 0o600);
         assert_eq!(
@@ -1172,7 +1415,10 @@ mod thumb_tests {
         let path = std::path::PathBuf::from(path);
         let name = path.file_name().unwrap().to_string_lossy();
         let bytes = std::fs::read(&path).unwrap();
-        let thumb = scale_thumbnail(&bytes, &name).expect("embedded RAW preview");
+        let ScaleAttempt::Made(thumb) = scale_thumbnail(&bytes, &name, &std::env::temp_dir())
+        else {
+            panic!("embedded RAW preview");
+        };
         let (width, height) = image::ImageReader::new(std::io::Cursor::new(&thumb.bytes))
             .with_guessed_format()
             .unwrap()
@@ -1192,6 +1438,7 @@ mod thumb_tests {
             "camera.NEF",
             "negative.cr3",
             "sensor.orf",
+            "camera.raw",
         ] {
             assert!(is_thumbnail_image_name(name), "{name}");
         }
@@ -1203,6 +1450,7 @@ mod thumb_tests {
             "unsupported.heic",
             "unsupported.avif",
             "vector.svg",
+            "camera.rw",
         ] {
             assert!(!is_thumbnail_image_name(name), "{name}");
         }
@@ -1224,4 +1472,30 @@ mod thumb_tests {
         assert_eq!(exiftool_binary(object, "ThumbnailImage"), None);
         assert_eq!(exiftool_binary(object, "Missing"), None);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn missing_exiftool_is_retryable_not_a_permanent_raw_miss() {
+        let attempt = scale_thumbnail_with_exiftool(
+            b"camera bytes that require an embedded preview",
+            "shot.raw",
+            &std::env::temp_dir(),
+            OsStr::new("pdfs-exiftool-deliberately-absent"),
+            Duration::from_millis(10),
+        );
+        assert!(matches!(attempt, ScaleAttempt::Unavailable));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_running_build_only_accepts_the_same_root() {
+        let status = ThumbnailBuildStatus {
+            running: true,
+            path: "pictures/first".into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        assert!(!thumbnail_build_may_start(&status, "pictures/first").unwrap());
+        assert!(thumbnail_build_may_start(&status, "pictures/second").is_err());
+
+        let idle = ThumbnailBuildStatus::default();
+        assert!(thumbnail_build_may_start(&idle, "pictures/second").unwrap());
+    }
 }

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/main.rs

@@ -407,6 +407,7 @@ fn build_window(app: &adw::Application) {
             thumbnail_status: browser_widgets.thumbnail_status.clone(),
             thumbnail_poll: RefCell::new(None),
             thumbnail_build_running: Cell::new(false),
+            thumbnail_cancel_pending: Cell::new(false),
             search_source: RefCell::new(None),
             load_generation: Cell::new(0),
             views: browser_widgets.views.clone(),

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/browser.rs

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ pub(crate) struct BrowserState {
     pub(crate) thumbnail_status: gtk4::Label,
     pub(crate) thumbnail_poll: RefCell<Option<glib::SourceId>>,
     pub(crate) thumbnail_build_running: Cell<bool>,
+    pub(crate) thumbnail_cancel_pending: Cell<bool>,
     /// Pending debounce timer for the search box; replaced on every keystroke so
     /// only the last pause actually fires a [`Request::Search`].
     pub(crate) search_source: RefCell<Option<glib::SourceId>>,
@@ -1469,7 +1470,13 @@ pub(crate) fn wire_browser_actions(
     let ui_uf = ui.clone();
     upload_folder.connect_clicked(move |_| prompt_upload_folder(&ui_uf));
     let ui_thumbs = ui.clone();
-    build_thumbnails.connect_clicked(move |_| start_thumbnail_build(&ui_thumbs));
+    build_thumbnails.connect_clicked(move |_| {
+        if ui_thumbs.browser.thumbnail_build_running.get() {
+            cancel_thumbnail_build(&ui_thumbs);
+        } else {
+            start_thumbnail_build(&ui_thumbs);
+        }
+    });
 }
 
 const THUMBNAIL_BUILD_POLL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(500);
@@ -1488,7 +1495,10 @@ fn start_thumbnail_build(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     }
     cancel_file_thumbnails(ui);
     ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.set(true);
-    ui.browser.build_thumbnails.set_sensitive(false);
+    // Do not expose Cancel until the daemon has acknowledged Start; the two
+    // requests use separate control connections and could otherwise reorder.
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.set(true);
+    repaint_thumbnail_build_action(ui, true);
     ui.browser.thumbnail_build_row.set_visible(true);
     ui.browser.thumbnail_progress.set_fraction(0.0);
     ui.browser
@@ -1504,21 +1514,61 @@ fn start_thumbnail_build(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     glib::spawn_future_local(async move {
         match rx.recv().await {
             Ok(Ok(Response::ThumbnailBuild { status })) => {
+                ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.set(false);
                 repaint_thumbnail_build(&ui, &status);
             }
             Ok(Ok(Response::Error { message, kind })) => {
-                thumbnail_build_failed(&ui, &message);
+                thumbnail_build_failed(&ui);
                 toast_failure(&ui, "Couldn't build thumbnails", &message, kind);
             }
             _ => {
                 let message = "The mount service didn't respond.";
-                thumbnail_build_failed(&ui, message);
+                thumbnail_build_failed(&ui);
                 toast_error(&ui, "Couldn't build thumbnails", message);
             }
         }
     });
 }
 
+fn cancel_thumbnail_build(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    if ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.replace(true) {
+        return;
+    }
+    ui.browser.build_thumbnails.set_sensitive(false);
+    ui.browser
+        .thumbnail_status
+        .set_label("Stopping thumbnail build…");
+    let rx = spawn_request(ui.dirs.control_socket(), Request::CancelThumbnailBuild);
+    let ui = ui.clone();
+    glib::spawn_future_local(async move {
+        match rx.recv().await {
+            Ok(Ok(Response::ThumbnailBuild { status })) if !status.running => {
+                repaint_thumbnail_build(&ui, &status)
+            }
+            Ok(Ok(Response::ThumbnailBuild { .. })) => schedule_thumbnail_build_poll(&ui),
+            Ok(Ok(Response::Error { message, kind })) => {
+                thumbnail_cancel_failed(&ui);
+                toast_failure(&ui, "Couldn't cancel thumbnail build", &message, kind);
+            }
+            _ => {
+                thumbnail_cancel_failed(&ui);
+                toast_error(
+                    &ui,
+                    "Couldn't cancel thumbnail build",
+                    "The mount service didn't respond.",
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+fn thumbnail_cancel_failed(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.set(false);
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.set(true);
+    repaint_thumbnail_build_action(ui, true);
+    schedule_thumbnail_build_poll(ui);
+}
+
 fn schedule_thumbnail_build_poll(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     if let Some(source) = ui.browser.thumbnail_poll.borrow_mut().take() {
         source.remove();
@@ -1534,12 +1584,17 @@ fn schedule_thumbnail_build_poll(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
                     repaint_thumbnail_build(&ui_result, &status)
                 }
                 Ok(Ok(Response::Error { message, .. })) => {
-                    thumbnail_build_failed(&ui_result, &message)
+                    thumbnail_build_failed(&ui_result);
+                    toast_error(&ui_result, "Thumbnail build stopped", &message);
                 }
-                _ => thumbnail_build_failed(
+                _ => {
+                    thumbnail_build_failed(&ui_result);
+                    toast_error(
                         &ui_result,
+                        "Thumbnail build stopped",
                         "The mount service stopped reporting thumbnail progress.",
-                ),
+                    );
+                }
             }
         });
     });
@@ -1593,13 +1648,12 @@ fn repaint_thumbnail_build(ui: &Rc<Ui>, status: &ThumbnailBuildStatus) {
 
     if status.running {
         ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.set(true);
-        ui.browser.build_thumbnails.set_sensitive(false);
+        repaint_thumbnail_build_action(ui, true);
         schedule_thumbnail_build_poll(ui);
     } else {
         ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.set(false);
-        ui.browser
+        ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.set(false);
-            .build_thumbnails
+        repaint_thumbnail_build_action(ui, false);
-            .set_sensitive(*ui.mounted.borrow());
         if ui.stack.visible_child_name().as_deref() == Some("browser") {
             reload_listing(ui);
         }
@@ -1612,15 +1666,32 @@ fn show_thumbnail_build_progress(status: &ThumbnailBuildStatus) -> bool {
     status.running
 }
 
-fn thumbnail_build_failed(ui: &Rc<Ui>, message: &str) {
+fn repaint_thumbnail_build_action(ui: &Rc<Ui>, running: bool) {
-    ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.set(false);
+    ui.browser.build_thumbnails.set_icon_name(if running {
+        "process-stop-symbolic"
+    } else {
+        "pdfs-build-thumbnails-symbolic"
+    });
     ui.browser
         .build_thumbnails
-        .set_sensitive(*ui.mounted.borrow());
+        .set_tooltip_text(Some(if running {
-    ui.browser.thumbnail_build_row.set_visible(true);
+            "Cancel thumbnail build"
+        } else {
+            "Build thumbnails in this folder and its subfolders"
+        }));
+    ui.browser.build_thumbnails.set_sensitive(
+        *ui.mounted.borrow() && (!running || !ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.get()),
+    );
+}
+
+fn thumbnail_build_failed(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.set(false);
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.set(false);
+    repaint_thumbnail_build_action(ui, false);
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_build_row.set_visible(false);
     ui.browser.thumbnail_progress.set_fraction(0.0);
-    ui.browser.thumbnail_status.set_label(message);
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_status.set_label("");
-    ui.browser.thumbnail_status.set_tooltip_text(Some(message));
+    ui.browser.thumbnail_status.set_tooltip_text(None);
 }
 
 /// Send a mutating request (rename / move / delete / mkdir / upload, or a trash

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/status.rs

@@ -683,9 +683,11 @@ pub(crate) fn set_mounted(ui: &Rc<Ui>, mounted: bool) {
     ui.browser.new_folder.set_sensitive(mounted);
     ui.browser.upload.set_sensitive(mounted);
     ui.browser.upload_folder.set_sensitive(mounted);
-    ui.browser
+    ui.browser.build_thumbnails.set_sensitive(
-        .build_thumbnails
+        mounted
-        .set_sensitive(mounted && !ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.get());
+            && (!ui.browser.thumbnail_build_running.get()
+                || !ui.browser.thumbnail_cancel_pending.get()),
+    );
     ui.gallery.upload.set_sensitive(mounted);
     ui.details.details.pin_row.set_sensitive(mounted);
     ui.details.details.rename_button.set_sensitive(mounted);

crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/widgets/thumbnails.rs

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 use crate::*;
 use pdfs_core::control::{FileThumbRequest, is_thumbnail_image_name};
-use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 
 const THUMB_BATCH: usize = 32;
 const THUMB_CACHE_MAX: usize = 256;
@@ -25,6 +24,27 @@ pub(crate) struct FileThumbnailState {
     inflight: Cell<bool>,
     source: RefCell<Option<glib::SourceId>>,
     generation: Cell<u64>,
+    generation_loading: Cell<bool>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum ReplyDisposition {
+    Ignore,
+    Load,
+    Retry,
+    Missing,
+}
+
+fn reply_disposition(wanted: bool, has_path: bool, pending: bool) -> ReplyDisposition {
+    if !wanted {
+        ReplyDisposition::Ignore
+    } else if has_path {
+        ReplyDisposition::Load
+    } else if pending {
+        ReplyDisposition::Retry
+    } else {
+        ReplyDisposition::Missing
+    }
 }
 
 impl FileThumbnailState {
@@ -38,13 +58,8 @@ impl FileThumbnailState {
             queue: RefCell::new(VecDeque::new()),
             inflight: Cell::new(false),
             source: RefCell::new(None),
-            generation: Cell::new(
+            generation: Cell::new(0),
-                SystemTime::now()
+            generation_loading: Cell::new(false),
-                    .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
-                    .unwrap_or_default()
-                    .as_nanos()
-                    .min(u128::from(u64::MAX)) as u64,
-            ),
         }
     }
 
@@ -84,14 +99,17 @@ pub(crate) fn cancel_file_thumbnails(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     }
     ui.file_thumbs.queue.borrow_mut().clear();
     ui.file_thumbs.wanted.borrow_mut().clear();
-    let generation = ui.file_thumbs.generation.get().saturating_add(1);
+    let generation = ui.file_thumbs.generation.replace(0);
-    ui.file_thumbs.generation.set(generation);
     // The request is useful even when its reply is not. `spawn_request` owns the
     // socket round-trip on a worker thread, so dropping the receiver is safe.
+    if generation != 0 {
         drop(spawn_request(
             ui.dirs.control_socket(),
-        Request::CancelFileThumbs { generation },
+            Request::CancelFileThumbs {
+                generation: generation.saturating_add(1),
+            },
         ));
+    }
 }
 
 /// A square thumbnail surface with a generic file icon underneath the picture.
@@ -244,6 +262,10 @@ fn schedule_file_thumbs(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     if ui.file_thumbs.queue.borrow().is_empty() || ui.file_thumbs.inflight.get() {
         return;
     }
+    if ui.file_thumbs.generation.get() == 0 {
+        reserve_file_thumb_generation(ui);
+        return;
+    }
     if let Some(source) = ui.file_thumbs.source.borrow_mut().take() {
         source.remove();
     }
@@ -255,6 +277,40 @@ fn schedule_file_thumbs(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     *ui.file_thumbs.source.borrow_mut() = Some(source);
 }
 
+fn reserve_file_thumb_generation(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    if ui.file_thumbs.generation_loading.replace(true) {
+        return;
+    }
+    let rx = spawn_request(
+        ui.dirs.control_socket(),
+        Request::ReserveFileThumbGeneration,
+    );
+    let ui = ui.clone();
+    glib::spawn_future_local(async move {
+        let result = rx.recv().await;
+        ui.file_thumbs.generation_loading.set(false);
+        match result {
+            Ok(Ok(Response::FileThumbGeneration { generation })) if generation != 0 => {
+                ui.file_thumbs.generation.set(generation);
+                schedule_file_thumbs(&ui);
+            }
+            _ => retry_file_thumb_generation(&ui),
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+fn retry_file_thumb_generation(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
+    if let Some(source) = ui.file_thumbs.source.borrow_mut().take() {
+        source.remove();
+    }
+    let ui_retry = ui.clone();
+    let source = glib::timeout_add_local_once(THUMB_RETRY, move || {
+        ui_retry.file_thumbs.source.borrow_mut().take();
+        schedule_file_thumbs(&ui_retry);
+    });
+    *ui.file_thumbs.source.borrow_mut() = Some(source);
+}
+
 fn flush_file_thumbs(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
     if ui.file_thumbs.inflight.get() {
         return;
@@ -291,19 +347,23 @@ fn flush_file_thumbs(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
         ui.file_thumbs.inflight.set(false);
         match result {
             Ok(Ok(Response::Thumbs { items: replies })) => {
-                let requested: HashMap<String, FileThumbRequest> = items
+                let mut requested: HashMap<String, FileThumbRequest> = items
                     .iter()
                     .cloned()
                     .map(|item| (item.uid.clone(), item))
                     .collect();
                 let mut pending = Vec::new();
                 for reply in replies {
-                    let Some(request) = requested.get(&reply.uid) else {
+                    let Some(request) = requested.remove(&reply.uid) else {
                         continue;
                     };
                     let key = thumbnail_key(&request.uid, request.modified);
-                    match reply.path {
+                    let wanted = ui.file_thumbs.wanted.borrow().contains_key(&key);
-                        Some(path) => match gtk4::gdk::Texture::from_filename(&path) {
+                    match reply_disposition(wanted, reply.path.is_some(), reply.pending) {
+                        ReplyDisposition::Ignore => continue,
+                        ReplyDisposition::Load => {
+                            let Some(path) = reply.path else { continue };
+                            match gtk4::gdk::Texture::from_filename(&path) {
                                 Ok(texture) => {
                                     ui.file_thumbs.store_texture(&key, texture.clone());
                                     if let Some(pictures) =
@@ -319,23 +379,31 @@ fn flush_file_thumbs(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
                                     ui.file_thumbs.store_missing(key.clone());
                                     ui.file_thumbs.wanted.borrow_mut().remove(&key);
                                 }
-                        },
+                            }
-                        None if reply.pending => pending.push(request.clone()),
+                        }
-                        None => {
+                        ReplyDisposition::Retry => pending.push(request),
+                        ReplyDisposition::Missing => {
                             ui.file_thumbs.store_missing(key.clone());
                             ui.file_thumbs.wanted.borrow_mut().remove(&key);
                         }
                     }
                 }
+                pending.extend(requested.into_values());
                 if !pending.is_empty() {
                     retry_file_thumbs(&ui, pending);
                 }
             }
+            Ok(Ok(Response::FileThumbsStale)) => {
+                ui.file_thumbs.generation.set(0);
+                retry_file_thumbs(&ui, items);
+            }
             Ok(Ok(Response::Error { message, .. })) => {
                 tracing::debug!("file thumbnails failed: {message}");
+                retry_file_thumbs(&ui, items);
             }
             Ok(Ok(_)) | Ok(Err(_)) | Err(_) => {
                 tracing::debug!("file thumbnails: no reply");
+                retry_file_thumbs(&ui, items);
             }
         }
         schedule_file_thumbs(&ui);
@@ -358,7 +426,7 @@ fn retry_file_thumbs(ui: &Rc<Ui>, items: Vec<FileThumbRequest>) {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::is_image_name;
+    use super::{ReplyDisposition, is_image_name, reply_disposition};
 
     #[test]
     fn image_extensions_are_case_insensitive_and_specific() {
@@ -369,6 +437,7 @@ mod tests {
             "archive.tiff",
             "camera.nef",
             "negative.CR3",
+            "camera.RAW",
         ] {
             assert!(is_image_name(name), "{name}");
         }
@@ -380,8 +449,21 @@ mod tests {
             "camera.heic",
             "frame.avif",
             "graphic.svg",
+            "camera.rw",
         ] {
             assert!(!is_image_name(name), "{name}");
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn cancelled_listing_replies_cannot_become_permanent_misses() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            reply_disposition(false, false, false),
+            ReplyDisposition::Ignore
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            reply_disposition(true, false, false),
+            ReplyDisposition::Missing
+        );
+    }
 }