[IMP] component: allow multiple mount/unmount

closes #258

doc/component.md

@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ We explain here all the public methods of the `Component` class.
   is asynchronous, since each children need to be created as well. Most applications
   will need to call `mount` exactly once, on the root component.
 
+  Note that a component can be mounted and unmounted multiple times if needed.
+
 - **`unmount()`**: in case a component need to be detached/removed from the DOM, this
   method can be used. Most applications should not call `unmount`, this is more
   useful to the underlying component system.

src/component/component.ts

@@ -265,14 +265,23 @@ export class Component<T extends Env, Props extends {}, State extends {}> {
    *
    * This should only be done if the component was created manually. Components
    * created declaratively in templates are managed by the Owl system.
+   *
+   * Note that a component can be mounted an unmounted several times
    */
   async mount(target: HTMLElement): Promise<void> {
-    const vnode = await this.__prepare();
+    if (this.__owl__.isMounted) {
-    if (this.__owl__.isDestroyed) {
-      // component was destroyed before we get here...
       return;
     }
-    this.__patch(vnode);
+    if (this.__owl__.renderId === 1) {
+      // we use the fact that renderId === 1 as a way to determine that the
+      // component is mounted for the first time
+      const vnode = await this.__prepare();
+      if (this.__owl__.isDestroyed) {
+        // component was destroyed before we get here...
+        return;
+      }
+      this.__patch(vnode);
+    }
     target.appendChild(this.el!);
 
     if (document.body.contains(target)) {

tests/component/component.test.ts

@@ -3950,3 +3950,64 @@ describe("top level sub widgets", () => {
     expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div>CHILD 2</div>");
   });
 });
+
+describe("unmounting and remounting", () => {
+  test("widget can be unmounted and remounted", async () => {
+    env.qweb.addTemplates(`
+        <templates>
+          <div t-name="MyWidget">Hey</div>
+        </templates>`);
+
+    const steps: string[] = [];
+    class MyWidget extends Widget {
+      async willStart() {
+        steps.push("willstart");
+      }
+      mounted() {
+        steps.push("mounted");
+      }
+      willUnmount() {
+        steps.push("willunmount");
+      }
+    }
+
+    const w = new MyWidget(env);
+    await w.mount(fixture);
+    expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div>Hey</div>");
+    expect(steps).toEqual(["willstart", "mounted"]);
+
+    w.unmount();
+    expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("");
+    expect(steps).toEqual(["willstart", "mounted", "willunmount"]);
+
+    await w.mount(fixture);
+    expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div>Hey</div>");
+    expect(steps).toEqual(["willstart", "mounted", "willunmount", "mounted"]);
+  });
+
+  test("widget can be mounted twice without ill effect", async () => {
+    env.qweb.addTemplates(`
+        <templates>
+          <div t-name="MyWidget">Hey</div>
+        </templates>`);
+
+    const steps: string[] = [];
+    class MyWidget extends Widget {
+      async willStart() {
+        steps.push("willstart");
+      }
+      mounted() {
+        steps.push("mounted");
+      }
+      willUnmount() {
+        steps.push("willunmount");
+      }
+    }
+
+    const w = new MyWidget(env);
+    await w.mount(fixture);
+    await w.mount(fixture);
+    expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div>Hey</div>");
+    expect(steps).toEqual(["willstart", "mounted"]);
+  });
+});