diff --git a/frontend/app/block/block.tsx b/frontend/app/block/block.tsx
index a5bb77b20a..badead2691 100644
--- a/frontend/app/block/block.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/block/block.tsx
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@ import {
     FullSubBlockProps,
     SubBlockProps,
 } from "@/app/block/blocktypes";
-import { PreviewModel, PreviewView, makePreviewModel } from "@/app/view/preview/preview";
-import { SysinfoView, SysinfoViewModel, makeSysinfoViewModel } from "@/app/view/sysinfo/sysinfo";
-import { VDomView, makeVDomModel } from "@/app/view/vdom/vdom";
+import { PreviewModel } from "@/app/view/preview/preview";
+import { SysinfoViewModel } from "@/app/view/sysinfo/sysinfo";
 import { VDomModel } from "@/app/view/vdom/vdom-model";
 import { ErrorBoundary } from "@/element/errorboundary";
 import { CenteredDiv } from "@/element/quickelems";
@@ -25,40 +24,31 @@ import {
 import { getWaveObjectAtom, makeORef, useWaveObjectValue } from "@/store/wos";
 import { focusedBlockId, getElemAsStr } from "@/util/focusutil";
 import { isBlank, useAtomValueSafe } from "@/util/util";
-import { HelpView, HelpViewModel, makeHelpViewModel } from "@/view/helpview/helpview";
-import { QuickTipsView, QuickTipsViewModel } from "@/view/quicktipsview/quicktipsview";
-import { TermViewModel, TerminalView, makeTerminalModel } from "@/view/term/term";
-import { WaveAi, WaveAiModel, makeWaveAiViewModel } from "@/view/waveai/waveai";
-import { WebView, WebViewModel, makeWebViewModel } from "@/view/webview/webview";
+import { HelpViewModel } from "@/view/helpview/helpview";
+import { TermViewModel } from "@/view/term/term";
+import { WaveAiModel } from "@/view/waveai/waveai";
+import { WebViewModel } from "@/view/webview/webview";
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import { atom, useAtomValue } from "jotai";
-import { Suspense, memo, useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { memo, Suspense, useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import "./block.scss";
 import { BlockFrame } from "./blockframe";
 import { blockViewToIcon, blockViewToName } from "./blockutil";
 
+const BlockRegistry: Map<string, ViewModelClass> = new Map();
+BlockRegistry.set("term", TermViewModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("preview", PreviewModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("web", WebViewModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("waveai", WaveAiModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("cpuplot", SysinfoViewModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("sysinfo", SysinfoViewModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("vdom", VDomModel);
+BlockRegistry.set("help", HelpViewModel);
+
 function makeViewModel(blockId: string, blockView: string, nodeModel: BlockNodeModel): ViewModel {
-    if (blockView === "term") {
-        return makeTerminalModel(blockId, nodeModel);
-    }
-    if (blockView === "preview") {
-        return makePreviewModel(blockId, nodeModel);
-    }
-    if (blockView === "web") {
-        return makeWebViewModel(blockId, nodeModel);
-    }
-    if (blockView === "waveai") {
-        return makeWaveAiViewModel(blockId);
-    }
-    if (blockView === "cpuplot" || blockView == "sysinfo") {
-        // "cpuplot" is for backwards compatibility with already-opened widgets
-        return makeSysinfoViewModel(blockId, blockView);
-    }
-    if (blockView == "vdom") {
-        return makeVDomModel(blockId, nodeModel);
-    }
-    if (blockView === "help") {
-        return makeHelpViewModel(blockId, nodeModel);
+    const ctor = BlockRegistry.get(blockView);
+    if (ctor != null) {
+        return new ctor(blockId, nodeModel);
     }
     return makeDefaultViewModel(blockId, blockView);
 }
@@ -73,40 +63,11 @@ function getViewElem(
     if (isBlank(blockView)) {
         return <CenteredDiv>No View</CenteredDiv>;
     }
-    if (blockView === "term") {
-        return <TerminalView key={blockId} blockId={blockId} model={viewModel as TermViewModel} />;
-    }
-    if (blockView === "preview") {
-        return (
-            <PreviewView
-                key={blockId}
-                blockId={blockId}
-                blockRef={blockRef}
-                contentRef={contentRef}
-                model={viewModel as PreviewModel}
-            />
-        );
-    }
-    if (blockView === "web") {
-        return <WebView key={blockId} blockId={blockId} model={viewModel as WebViewModel} blockRef={blockRef} />;
-    }
-    if (blockView === "waveai") {
-        return <WaveAi key={blockId} blockId={blockId} model={viewModel as WaveAiModel} />;
-    }
-    if (blockView === "cpuplot" || blockView === "sysinfo") {
-        // "cpuplot" is for backwards compatibility with already opened widgets
-        return <SysinfoView key={blockId} blockId={blockId} model={viewModel as SysinfoViewModel} />;
-    }
-    if (blockView == "help") {
-        return <HelpView key={blockId} model={viewModel as HelpViewModel} />;
-    }
-    if (blockView == "tips") {
-        return <QuickTipsView key={blockId} model={viewModel as QuickTipsViewModel} />;
-    }
-    if (blockView == "vdom") {
-        return <VDomView key={blockId} blockId={blockId} model={viewModel as VDomModel} />;
+    if (viewModel.viewComponent == null) {
+        return <CenteredDiv>No View Component</CenteredDiv>;
     }
-    return <CenteredDiv>Invalid View "{blockView}"</CenteredDiv>;
+    const VC = viewModel.viewComponent;
+    return <VC key={blockId} blockId={blockId} blockRef={blockRef} contentRef={contentRef} model={viewModel} />;
 }
 
 function makeDefaultViewModel(blockId: string, viewType: string): ViewModel {
@@ -123,6 +84,7 @@ function makeDefaultViewModel(blockId: string, viewType: string): ViewModel {
         }),
         preIconButton: atom(null),
         endIconButtons: atom(null),
+        viewComponent: null,
     };
     return viewModel;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/app/block/blockframe.tsx b/frontend/app/block/blockframe.tsx
index 33c33c1263..6a9e4185dd 100644
--- a/frontend/app/block/blockframe.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/block/blockframe.tsx
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ const BlockFrame_Default_Component = (props: BlockFrameProps) => {
                     "--magnified-block-blur": `${magnifiedBlockBlur}px`,
                 } as React.CSSProperties
             }
-            inert={preview ? "1" : undefined} // this does exist in the DOM, just not in react
+            {...({ inert: preview ? "1" : undefined } as any)} // sets insert="1" ... but tricks TS into accepting it
         >
             <BlockMask nodeModel={nodeModel} />
             {preview || viewModel == null ? null : (
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/helpview/helpview.tsx b/frontend/app/view/helpview/helpview.tsx
index 34ce9ba924..51069240c9 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/helpview/helpview.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/helpview/helpview.tsx
@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@ function makeHelpViewModel(blockId: string, nodeModel: BlockNodeModel) {
     return new HelpViewModel(blockId, nodeModel);
 }
 
-function HelpView({ model }: { model: HelpViewModel }) {
+function HelpView(props: ViewComponentProps<HelpViewModel>) {
+    const model = props.model;
     const homepageUrl = useAtomValue(model.homepageUrl);
 
     // Effect to update the docsite base url when the app restarts, since the webserver port is dynamic
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ function HelpView({ model }: { model: HelpViewModel }) {
     );
     return (
         <div className="help-view">
-            <WebView blockId={model.blockId} model={model} onFailLoad={onFailLoad} />
+            <WebView {...props} onFailLoad={onFailLoad} />
         </div>
     );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/preview/preview.tsx b/frontend/app/view/preview/preview.tsx
index 01675288a5..5d2dc55157 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/preview/preview.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/preview/preview.tsx
@@ -482,6 +482,10 @@ export class PreviewModel implements ViewModel {
         globalStore.set(this.markdownShowToc, !globalStore.get(this.markdownShowToc));
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return PreviewView;
+    }
+
     async getSpecializedView(getFn: Getter): Promise<{ specializedView?: string; errorStr?: string }> {
         const mimeType = await getFn(this.fileMimeType);
         const fileInfo = await getFn(this.statFile);
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/quicktipsview/quicktipsview.tsx b/frontend/app/view/quicktipsview/quicktipsview.tsx
index a9b5a177ec..bdb55dba8a 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/quicktipsview/quicktipsview.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/quicktipsview/quicktipsview.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ class QuickTipsViewModel implements ViewModel {
         this.showTocAtom = atom(false);
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return QuickTipsView;
+    }
+
     showTocToggle() {
         globalStore.set(this.showTocAtom, !globalStore.get(this.showTocAtom));
     }
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/sysinfo/sysinfo.tsx b/frontend/app/view/sysinfo/sysinfo.tsx
index f3f451ee88..c18c883772 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/sysinfo/sysinfo.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/sysinfo/sysinfo.tsx
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@ class SysinfoViewModel implements ViewModel {
         });
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return SysinfoView;
+    }
+
     async loadInitialData() {
         globalStore.set(this.loadingAtom, true);
         try {
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/term/term.tsx b/frontend/app/view/term/term.tsx
index e15618c071..47a0362a92 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/term/term.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/term/term.tsx
@@ -318,6 +318,10 @@ class TermViewModel implements ViewModel {
         });
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return TerminalView;
+    }
+
     isBasicTerm(getFn: jotai.Getter): boolean {
         // needs to match "const isBasicTerm" in TerminalView()
         const termMode = getFn(this.termMode);
@@ -873,7 +877,7 @@ const TermToolbarVDomNode = ({ blockId, model }: TerminalViewProps) => {
     );
 };
 
-const TerminalView = ({ blockId, model }: TerminalViewProps) => {
+const TerminalView = ({ blockId, model }: ViewComponentProps<TermViewModel>) => {
     const viewRef = React.useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
     const connectElemRef = React.useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
     const [blockData] = WOS.useWaveObjectValue<Block>(WOS.makeORef("block", blockId));
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/vdom/vdom-model.tsx b/frontend/app/view/vdom/vdom-model.tsx
index 6831e8e53d..5c07799f30 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/vdom/vdom-model.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/vdom/vdom-model.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { RpcResponseHelper, WshClient } from "@/app/store/wshclient";
 import { RpcApi } from "@/app/store/wshclientapi";
 import { makeFeBlockRouteId } from "@/app/store/wshrouter";
 import { DefaultRouter, TabRpcClient } from "@/app/store/wshrpcutil";
+import { VDomView } from "@/app/view/vdom/vdom";
 import { applyCanvasOp, mergeBackendUpdates, restoreVDomElems } from "@/app/view/vdom/vdom-utils";
 import { getWebServerEndpoint } from "@/util/endpoints";
 import { adaptFromReactOrNativeKeyEvent, checkKeyPressed } from "@/util/keyutil";
@@ -183,6 +184,10 @@ export class VDomModel {
         );
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return VDomView;
+    }
+
     dispose() {
         DefaultRouter.unregisterRoute(this.wshClient.routeId);
         this.routeGoneUnsub?.();
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/waveai/waveai.tsx b/frontend/app/view/waveai/waveai.tsx
index 8ba1a08526..b4d2589095 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/waveai/waveai.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/waveai/waveai.tsx
@@ -284,6 +284,10 @@ export class WaveAiModel implements ViewModel {
         });
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return WaveAi;
+    }
+
     dispose() {
         DefaultRouter.unregisterRoute(makeFeBlockRouteId(this.blockId));
     }
diff --git a/frontend/app/view/webview/webview.tsx b/frontend/app/view/webview/webview.tsx
index 8b96a674ef..0aeae49a5d 100644
--- a/frontend/app/view/webview/webview.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/view/webview/webview.tsx
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ export class WebViewModel implements ViewModel {
         });
     }
 
+    get viewComponent(): ViewComponent {
+        return WebView;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Whether the back button in the header should be disabled.
      * @returns True if the WebView cannot go back or if the WebView call fails. False otherwise.
@@ -595,13 +599,6 @@ function makeWebViewModel(blockId: string, nodeModel: BlockNodeModel): WebViewMo
     return webviewModel;
 }
 
-interface WebViewProps {
-    blockId: string;
-    model: WebViewModel;
-    onFailLoad?: (url: string) => void;
-    blockRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
-}
-
 const BookmarkTypeahead = memo(
     ({ model, blockRef }: { model: WebViewModel; blockRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement> }) => {
         const openBookmarksJson = () => {
@@ -662,6 +659,14 @@ const BookmarkTypeahead = memo(
     }
 );
 
+interface WebViewProps {
+    blockId: string;
+    model: WebViewModel;
+    onFailLoad?: (url: string) => void;
+    blockRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
+    contentRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
+}
+
 const WebView = memo(({ model, onFailLoad, blockRef }: WebViewProps) => {
     const blockData = useAtomValue(model.blockAtom);
     const defaultUrl = useAtomValue(model.homepageUrl);
diff --git a/frontend/types/custom.d.ts b/frontend/types/custom.d.ts
index 1811632c50..d0e8fbc92b 100644
--- a/frontend/types/custom.d.ts
+++ b/frontend/types/custom.d.ts
@@ -249,27 +249,67 @@ declare global {
         wholeWord?: PrimitiveAtom<boolean>;
     };
 
+    declare type ViewComponentProps<T extends ViewModel> = {
+        blockId: string;
+        blockRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
+        contentRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
+        model: T;
+    };
+
+    declare type ViewComponent = React.FC<ViewComponentProps>;
+
+    type ViewModelClass = new (blockId: string, nodeModel: BlockNodeModel) => ViewModel;
+
     interface ViewModel {
+        // The type of view, used for identifying and rendering the appropriate component.
         viewType: string;
+
+        // Icon representing the view, can be a string or an IconButton declaration.
         viewIcon?: jotai.Atom<string | IconButtonDecl>;
+
+        // Display name for the view, used in UI headers.
         viewName?: jotai.Atom<string>;
+
+        // Optional header text or elements for the view.
         viewText?: jotai.Atom<string | HeaderElem[]>;
+
+        // Icon button displayed before the title in the header.
         preIconButton?: jotai.Atom<IconButtonDecl>;
+
+        // Icon buttons displayed at the end of the block header.
         endIconButtons?: jotai.Atom<IconButtonDecl[]>;
+
+        // Background styling metadata for the block.
         blockBg?: jotai.Atom<MetaType>;
+
+        // Whether the block manages its own connection (e.g., for remote access).
         manageConnection?: jotai.Atom<boolean>;
-        noPadding?: jotai.Atom<boolean>;
+
+        // If true, filters out 'nowsh' connections (when managing connections)
         filterOutNowsh?: jotai.Atom<boolean>;
+
+        // If true, removes padding inside the block content area.
+        noPadding?: jotai.Atom<boolean>;
+
+        // Atoms used for managing search functionality within the block.
         searchAtoms?: SearchAtoms;
 
-        // just for terminal
+        // The main view component associated with this ViewModel.
+        viewComponent: ViewComponent<ViewModel>;
+
+        // Function to determine if this is a basic terminal block.
         isBasicTerm?: (getFn: jotai.Getter) => boolean;
 
-        onBack?: () => void;
-        onForward?: () => void;
+        // Returns menu items for the settings dropdown.
         getSettingsMenuItems?: () => ContextMenuItem[];
+
+        // Attempts to give focus to the block, returning true if successful.
         giveFocus?: () => boolean;
+
+        // Handles keydown events within the block.
         keyDownHandler?: (e: WaveKeyboardEvent) => boolean;
+
+        // Cleans up resources when the block is disposed.
         dispose?: () => void;
     }