websocket_disconnect.js

// PURPOSE:
// to prevent green dot from going grey on simple user navigations to different parts of the app

// PROBLEM:
// if the user 'x's the tab of their browser, this ActionCable method never runs, thus the user is always online
disconnected: function() {
  setTimeout(function () {
    if (!App.cable) {
      this.perform("disappear");
    }
  }, 5000);
},

// PURPOSE:
// to fire `this.perform('disappear') if the user closes the tab or navigates to a different domain

// PROBLEM:
// if the user navigates to a different page this is also fired... thus, defeats the purpose of `setTimeout()` on line 7
window.onbeforeunload = function () {
  this.perform("disappear");
};