feat: Support anonymous reactive layers with auto-generated tp-name

- Add tp--generate-anonymous-layer-name to create unique layer names (tp-anon-*)
- Update tp--resolve-props to handle anonymous plists:
  - If plist has reactive variables ($...), generate tp-name and register dependencies
  - All anonymous plists now get a tp-name for reactive support
- Update tp--parse-args to process all props through tp--resolve-props
- Update tp--ensure-props to handle plists with reactive variables
- Add tests for anonymous reactive layers with tp-set, tp-match-set, tp-regexp-set

Co-authored-by: Kinneyzhang <38454496+Kinneyzhang@users.noreply.github.com>

tp-tests.el

@@ -2242,5 +2242,99 @@ Returns list of (START END VALUE) intervals."
       (should (equal (plist-get (plist-get face :underline) :style) 'wave)))
     (should (equal (tp-at 1 'help-echo) "complex"))))
 
+;;; ============================================================
+;;; Anonymous Layer and Reactive Text Property Tests
+;;; ============================================================
+
+(ert-deftest tp-test-set-anonymous-layer-gets-tp-name ()
+  "Test that tp-set with anonymous plist gets a tp-name."
+  (tp-test-with-temp-buffer
+    (insert "Hello World")
+    (tp-set 1 6 '(face bold))
+    ;; Anonymous layer should have a generated tp-name
+    (should (tp-at 1 'tp-name))
+    ;; The tp-name should be a symbol starting with tp-anon-
+    (should (string-prefix-p "tp-anon-" (symbol-name (tp-at 1 'tp-name))))))
+
+(ert-deftest tp-test-set-anonymous-reactive-layer ()
+  "Test that tp-set with anonymous reactive plist works."
+  (tp-test-with-temp-buffer
+    (defvar tp-test-anon-color nil "Test variable for anonymous reactive layer.")
+    (setq tp-test-anon-color "red")
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (insert "Hello World")
+          ;; Set with anonymous reactive plist
+          (tp-set 1 6 '(face (:foreground $tp-test-anon-color)))
+          ;; Should have resolved the reactive variable
+          (let ((face (tp-at 1 'face)))
+            (should (equal (plist-get face :foreground) "red")))
+          ;; Should have a generated tp-name
+          (should (tp-at 1 'tp-name))
+          ;; The reactive variable should be registered in dependencies
+          (should (assoc 'tp-test-anon-color tp-reactive-deps))
+          ;; Change the variable - should update the text
+          (setq tp-test-anon-color "blue")
+          (let ((face (tp-at 1 'face)))
+            (should (equal (plist-get face :foreground) "blue"))))
+      ;; Cleanup
+      (makunbound 'tp-test-anon-color))))
+
+(ert-deftest tp-test-set-anonymous-layer-preserves-existing-tp-name ()
+  "Test that tp-set with anonymous plist preserves existing tp-name."
+  (tp-test-with-temp-buffer
+    (insert "Hello World")
+    ;; First set with a layer name
+    (tp-define-layer my-existing-layer (face bold))
+    (tp-set 1 6 'my-existing-layer)
+    (should (eq (tp-at 1 'tp-name) 'my-existing-layer))
+    ;; Now set with anonymous plist that already has tp-name
+    (tp-set 1 6 '(face italic tp-name my-custom-name))
+    (should (eq (tp-at 1 'tp-name) 'my-custom-name))))
+
+(ert-deftest tp-test-match-set-anonymous-reactive-layer ()
+  "Test that tp-match-set with anonymous reactive plist works."
+  (tp-test-with-temp-buffer
+    (defvar tp-test-match-color nil "Test variable for match reactive layer.")
+    (setq tp-test-match-color "green")
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (insert "Hello World Hello")
+          ;; Set with anonymous reactive plist
+          (tp-match-set "Hello" '(face (:foreground $tp-test-match-color)))
+          ;; Should have resolved the reactive variable
+          (let ((face (tp-at 1 'face)))
+            (should (equal (plist-get face :foreground) "green")))
+          ;; Should have a generated tp-name
+          (should (tp-at 1 'tp-name))
+          ;; Change the variable - should update the text
+          (setq tp-test-match-color "yellow")
+          (let ((face (tp-at 1 'face)))
+            (should (equal (plist-get face :foreground) "yellow"))))
+      ;; Cleanup
+      (makunbound 'tp-test-match-color))))
+
+(ert-deftest tp-test-regexp-set-anonymous-reactive-layer ()
+  "Test that tp-regexp-set with anonymous reactive plist works."
+  (tp-test-with-temp-buffer
+    (defvar tp-test-regexp-color nil "Test variable for regexp reactive layer.")
+    (setq tp-test-regexp-color "purple")
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (insert "abc 123 def 456")
+          ;; Set with anonymous reactive plist
+          (tp-regexp-set "[0-9]+" '(face (:foreground $tp-test-regexp-color)))
+          ;; Should have resolved the reactive variable
+          (let ((face (tp-at 5 'face)))
+            (should (equal (plist-get face :foreground) "purple")))
+          ;; Should have a generated tp-name
+          (should (tp-at 5 'tp-name))
+          ;; Change the variable - should update the text
+          (setq tp-test-regexp-color "orange")
+          (let ((face (tp-at 5 'face)))
+            (should (equal (plist-get face :foreground) "orange"))))
+      ;; Cleanup
+      (makunbound 'tp-test-regexp-color))))
+
 (provide 'tp-ert-tests)
 ;;; tp-ert-tests.el ends here

tp.el

@@ -61,6 +61,17 @@ only (face (:foreground $color)) is stored, not the help-echo.")
 (defvar tp-reactive-enabled t
   "Non-nil means reactive text property updates are enabled.")
 
+(defvar tp--anonymous-layer-counter 0
+  "Counter for generating unique anonymous layer names.")
+
+(defun tp--generate-anonymous-layer-name ()
+  "Generate a unique symbol for anonymous layers.
+Uses a combination of timestamp and counter to ensure uniqueness."
+  (setq tp--anonymous-layer-counter (1+ tp--anonymous-layer-counter))
+  (intern (format "tp-anon-%s-%d"
+                  (format-time-string "%s%N")
+                  tp--anonymous-layer-counter)))
+
 
 ;;; Reactive Text Properties Functions
 
@@ -250,8 +261,12 @@ Supports four calling conventions:
 3. String region: (START END PROPS STRING)
 4. Entire string: (STRING PROP VAL ...)
 
-PROPS can also be a symbol representing a layer or group name defined
+PROPS can be:
-by `define-tp' or `define-tp-group', which will be resolved to its properties."
+- A symbol representing a layer or group name defined by `define-tp' or `define-tp-group'
+- A plist of properties (anonymous layers get a generated tp-name)
+
+For anonymous plists with reactive variables ($...), a unique tp-name is generated
+and reactive dependencies are registered automatically."
   (let (object start finish props)
     (cond
      ;; First arg is a string - apply to entire string
@@ -275,10 +290,6 @@ by `define-tp' or `define-tp-group', which will be resolved to its properties."
         (setq object nil
               props props-or-val)))
      (t (error "Invalid first argument: %S" start-or-string)))
-    ;; Resolve layer/group name to properties if props is a symbol.
-    ;; This allows passing layer names like 'my-layer instead of property lists.
-    (when (symbolp props)
-      (setq props (or (tp--resolve-props props) props)))
     ;; Unwrap double-wrapped properties: when called as (tp-set 1 6 '(face bold)),
     ;; props is already the plist.  But when called internally or from certain
     ;; contexts, props might be wrapped in an extra list like '((face bold)).
@@ -286,6 +297,11 @@ by `define-tp' or `define-tp-group', which will be resolved to its properties."
     ;; a list (not just a symbol like 'face).
     (when (and (listp props) (listp (car-safe props)))
       (setq props (car props)))
+    ;; Resolve props: handles layer/group names and anonymous reactive plists.
+    ;; For symbols: resolves to layer/group properties with tp-name/tp-layers.
+    ;; For plists: adds tp-name and handles reactive variables.
+    (when props
+      (setq props (or (tp--resolve-props props) props)))
     (list object start finish props)))
 
 (defun tp-set (start-or-string &optional end-or-prop props-or-val &rest rest)
@@ -1956,19 +1972,43 @@ Appends 'tp-name property to identify the layer."
   "Resolve PROPS to a property list with layer metadata.
 PROPS can be:
 - A symbol (layer name from `tp-layer-alist' or group name from `tp-layer-groups')
-- A plist (returned as-is)
+- A plist (handles anonymous layers with reactive variables)
 
 If PROPS is a symbol:
 - First checks `tp-layer-alist' and returns the layer properties WITH `tp-name'
 - Then checks `tp-layer-groups' and returns properties WITH `tp-layers'
 
+If PROPS is a plist:
+- If it contains reactive variables ($...), generates a UUID for `tp-name',
+  registers reactive dependencies, and returns the resolved props with `tp-name'.
+  If the plist already has a `tp-name', uses that instead of generating a new one.
+- If no reactive variables, adds a `tp-name' for the anonymous layer.
+
 Returns nil if PROPS is a symbol but no matching layer/group is found.
 
 For layer names, includes `tp-name' property for reactive text property support.
 For group names, includes `tp-layers' property with the full layer stack."
   (cond
-   ;; Already a plist - return as-is
+   ;; Already a plist - check for reactive variables and add tp-name
-   ((listp props) props)
+   ((listp props)
+    (let* ((existing-tp-name (plist-get props 'tp-name))
+           (reactive-syms (tp--collect-reactive-symbols props)))
+      (if reactive-syms
+          ;; Has reactive symbols - need to handle as anonymous reactive layer
+          (let* ((layer-name (or existing-tp-name (tp--generate-anonymous-layer-name)))
+                 ;; Resolve reactive symbols to get current values
+                 (resolved-props (tp--resolve-reactive-symbols props)))
+            ;; Register this anonymous layer in tp-layer-alist with original template
+            (tp--set-layer-props layer-name (tp--resolve-reactive-symbols props))
+            ;; Register reactive dependencies with the original template props
+            (tp--register-reactive-deps layer-name reactive-syms props)
+            ;; Return resolved props with tp-name
+            (append resolved-props (list 'tp-name layer-name)))
+        ;; No reactive symbols - just add tp-name if not present
+        (if existing-tp-name
+            props
+          (let ((layer-name (tp--generate-anonymous-layer-name)))
+            (append props (list 'tp-name layer-name)))))))
    ;; Symbol - check if it's a layer or group name
    ((symbolp props)
     (cond
@@ -1985,12 +2025,12 @@ For group names, includes `tp-layers' property with the full layer stack."
    (t nil)))
 
 (defun tp--ensure-props (plist)
-  "Ensure PLIST is a property list, resolving layer names if needed.
+  "Ensure PLIST is a property list, resolving layer names and handling reactive vars.
 If PLIST is a symbol, resolve it via `tp--resolve-props'.
+If PLIST is a plist, also process it via `tp--resolve-props' to handle
+anonymous reactive layers.
 If resolution fails, return PLIST unchanged (for backward compatibility)."
-  (if (symbolp plist)
+  (or (tp--resolve-props plist) plist))
-      (or (tp--resolve-props plist) plist)
-    plist))
 
 (defun tp-layer-reset ()
   "Reset all layer definitions.