pastel-ui/IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md

# Pastel UI - Implementation Plan

**Status**: In Progress
**Started**: 2025-11-07
**Target**: Feature Complete MVP

## Overview

This document outlines the complete implementation plan to achieve feature completeness for Pastel UI, a modern web application for color manipulation, palette generation, and accessibility analysis.

## ✅ Completed Features

### Phase 1: Foundation (DONE)
- [x] Next.js 16 setup with TypeScript
- [x] Tailwind CSS 4 configuration
- [x] Project structure and directories
- [x] Type-safe Pastel API client (all 21 endpoints)
- [x] Base UI components (Button, Input)
- [x] React Query integration
- [x] Providers setup (QueryClient, Toaster)

### Phase 2: Core Color Components (DONE)
- [x] ColorPicker component with react-colorful
- [x] ColorDisplay component for previews
- [x] ColorInfo component with format display
- [x] React Query hooks for all API endpoints
- [x] Playground page with live color picking
- [x] Copy to clipboard functionality
- [x] Loading and error states

## 🚧 Remaining Features

### Phase 3: Color Manipulation Tools
**Priority**: High
**Estimated Time**: 4-6 hours

#### 3.1 Manipulation Panel Component
- [ ] Create `ManipulationPanel.tsx` with sliders
- [ ] Lighten/Darken controls (0-100% range)
- [ ] Saturate/Desaturate controls (0-100% range)
- [ ] Hue rotation control (0-360° range)
- [ ] Real-time preview while adjusting
- [ ] Apply/Reset buttons
- [ ] Debounced API calls for smooth UX

#### 3.2 Color Operations
- [ ] Complement color generator
- [ ] Grayscale conversion
- [ ] Color mixing interface
  - [ ] Two color inputs
  - [ ] Ratio slider (0-100%)
  - [ ] Color space selection dropdown
- [ ] Color history tracking (Zustand store)
- [ ] Undo/Redo functionality

#### 3.3 Enhanced Playground
- [ ] Connect Quick Action buttons to mutations
- [ ] Add color history sidebar
- [ ] Keyboard shortcuts (Cmd+C copy, Cmd+Z undo)
- [ ] Save favorite colors to localStorage
- [ ] Export color as image/SVG

### Phase 4: Palette Generation
**Priority**: High
**Estimated Time**: 6-8 hours

#### 4.1 Palette Components
- [ ] `PaletteGrid.tsx` - Display palette as grid/list
- [ ] `PaletteSwatch.tsx` - Individual color in palette
- [ ] `PaletteExport.tsx` - Export menu component
- [ ] `ColorStopEditor.tsx` - Gradient stop editor

#### 4.2 Harmony Palettes Page (`/palettes/harmony`)
- [ ] Base color picker
- [ ] Harmony type selector:
  - [ ] Monochromatic
  - [ ] Analogous
  - [ ] Complementary
  - [ ] Split-complementary
  - [ ] Triadic
  - [ ] Tetradic
- [ ] Live preview of generated palette
- [ ] Adjust harmony angles (advanced mode)
- [ ] Export palette

#### 4.3 Distinct Colors Page (`/palettes/distinct`)
- [ ] Count selector (2-100 colors)
- [ ] Distance metric selection (CIE76, CIEDE2000)
- [ ] Optional fixed colors input
- [ ] Progress indicator with estimated time
- [ ] Cancel button for long operations
- [ ] Statistics display (min/avg distance, generation time)
- [ ] Regenerate button

#### 4.4 Gradient Creator Page (`/palettes/gradient`)
- [ ] Multiple color stops editor (add/remove/reorder)
- [ ] Stop count selector (2-1000 steps)
- [ ] Color space dropdown (RGB, HSL, Lab, LCH, OkLab, OkLCH)
- [ ] Live gradient preview (horizontal/vertical/radial)
- [ ] Export as CSS gradient code
- [ ] Export as color array
- [ ] Copy individual colors from gradient

#### 4.5 Palette Dashboard Page (`/palettes`)
- [ ] Overview of all palette types
- [ ] Quick links to each generator
- [ ] Recent palettes gallery (localStorage)
- [ ] Saved palettes management
- [ ] Share palette via URL

#### 4.6 Export Functionality
- [ ] Export formats:
  - [ ] CSS variables (`:root { --color-1: #...}`)
  - [ ] SCSS variables (`$color-1: #...`)
  - [ ] Tailwind config (`colors: { primary: '#...' }`)
  - [ ] JSON (`{"colors": [...]}`)
  - [ ] SVG swatches (visual export)
  - [ ] PNG image (rendered swatches)
- [ ] Copy to clipboard
- [ ] Download as file
- [ ] Variable naming options

### Phase 5: Accessibility Tools
**Priority**: High
**Estimated Time**: 5-7 hours

#### 5.1 Accessibility Components
- [ ] `ContrastChecker.tsx` - WCAG contrast analysis
- [ ] `ColorBlindSimulator.tsx` - Simulation previews
- [ ] `WCAGBadge.tsx` - AA/AAA compliance indicators
- [ ] `AccessibilityReport.tsx` - Full report component

#### 5.2 Contrast Checker Page (`/accessibility/contrast`)
- [ ] Foreground color picker
- [ ] Background color picker
- [ ] Live contrast ratio calculation
- [ ] WCAG 2.1 compliance display:
  - [ ] Normal text (AA: 4.5:1, AAA: 7:1)
  - [ ] Large text (AA: 3:1, AAA: 4.5:1)
  - [ ] UI components (AA: 3:1)
- [ ] Pass/Fail badges with explanations
- [ ] Text preview with actual contrast
- [ ] Suggestions for improvement
- [ ] Swap colors button
- [ ] Share contrast check via URL

#### 5.3 Color Blindness Simulator Page (`/accessibility/colorblind`)
- [ ] Color input (single or batch)
- [ ] Simulation type selector:
  - [ ] Protanopia (red-blind)
  - [ ] Deuteranopia (green-blind)
  - [ ] Tritanopia (blue-blind)
- [ ] Side-by-side comparison view
- [ ] Batch simulation for palettes
- [ ] Download simulated palette
- [ ] Educational information about each type

#### 5.4 Accessibility Dashboard Page (`/accessibility`)
- [ ] Overview of tools
- [ ] Quick contrast check widget
- [ ] Recent accessibility checks
- [ ] Educational resources links

#### 5.5 Text Color Optimizer
- [ ] Background color input
- [ ] Automatic best text color calculation
- [ ] WCAG compliance guarantee
- [ ] Light vs Dark comparison
- [ ] Integrate into Contrast Checker page

### Phase 6: Named Colors Explorer
**Priority**: Medium
**Estimated Time**: 3-4 hours

#### 6.1 Components
- [ ] `NamedColorsGrid.tsx` - Grid of all colors
- [ ] `ColorCard.tsx` - Individual color card
- [ ] `ColorSearch.tsx` - Search and filter UI

#### 6.2 Named Colors Page (`/names`)
- [ ] Display all 148 CSS/X11 named colors
- [ ] Grid view with color swatches and names
- [ ] Search by name or hex value
- [ ] Filter by:
  - [ ] Hue range (red, blue, green, etc.)
  - [ ] Brightness (light, medium, dark)
  - [ ] Saturation (vivid, muted, gray)
- [ ] Sort options:
  - [ ] Alphabetical
  - [ ] By hue
  - [ ] By brightness
  - [ ] By saturation
- [ ] Click color to use in playground
- [ ] Find nearest named color for custom input
- [ ] Copy color on click
- [ ] Favorites/bookmarks

### Phase 7: Batch Operations
**Priority**: Medium
**Estimated Time**: 4-5 hours

#### 7.1 Components
- [ ] `BatchUploader.tsx` - File upload interface
- [ ] `BatchOperationSelector.tsx` - Operation picker
- [ ] `BatchPreview.tsx` - Results preview table
- [ ] `BatchExporter.tsx` - Download results

#### 7.2 Batch Page (`/batch`)
- [ ] File upload (CSV, JSON)
  - [ ] CSV format: `color\n#ff0099\nrgb(255,0,153)`
  - [ ] JSON format: `{"colors": ["#ff0099", "rgb(255,0,153)"]}`
- [ ] Manual color list input
- [ ] Operation selection:
  - [ ] Format conversion
  - [ ] Lighten/Darken
  - [ ] Saturate/Desaturate
  - [ ] Rotate hue
  - [ ] Complement
  - [ ] Grayscale
  - [ ] Color blindness simulation
- [ ] Progress bar for processing
- [ ] Results preview table
- [ ] Export results in multiple formats
- [ ] Error handling for invalid colors

### Phase 8: Navigation & Layout
**Priority**: High
**Estimated Time**: 3-4 hours

#### 8.1 Layout Components
- [ ] `Navbar.tsx` - Top navigation
  - [ ] Logo
  - [ ] Main navigation links
  - [ ] Theme toggle (dark/light mode)
  - [ ] Command palette trigger (Cmd+K)
- [ ] `Sidebar.tsx` - Side navigation (optional)
- [ ] `Footer.tsx` - Footer with links
- [ ] `MobileMenu.tsx` - Responsive mobile menu

#### 8.2 Theme System
- [ ] Theme provider with context
- [ ] Theme toggle component
- [ ] System preference detection
- [ ] Persist theme to localStorage
- [ ] Smooth theme transitions

#### 8.3 Command Palette
- [ ] Install cmdk (already installed)
- [ ] `CommandPalette.tsx` component
- [ ] Keyboard shortcut (Cmd+K)
- [ ] Search all features
- [ ] Quick navigation
- [ ] Recent colors/palettes
- [ ] Keyboard shortcuts reference

### Phase 9: Enhanced UI Components
**Priority**: Medium
**Estimated Time**: 4-5 hours

#### 9.1 Additional UI Components
- [ ] `Slider.tsx` - For manipulation controls
- [ ] `Tabs.tsx` - For format switching
- [ ] `Dialog.tsx` - For modals
- [ ] `DropdownMenu.tsx` - For menus
- [ ] `Select.tsx` - For selections
- [ ] `Label.tsx` - Form labels
- [ ] `Card.tsx` - Container component
- [ ] `Badge.tsx` - For status indicators
- [ ] `Tooltip.tsx` - For helpful hints
- [ ] `Separator.tsx` - Visual divider

#### 9.2 Color-Specific UI
- [ ] `ColorSwatch.tsx` - Small color preview
- [ ] `ColorInput.tsx` - Validated color input
- [ ] `ColorHistory.tsx` - History timeline
- [ ] `ColorFavorites.tsx` - Saved colors

### Phase 10: State Management & Persistence
**Priority**: Medium
**Estimated Time**: 3-4 hours

#### 10.1 Zustand Stores
- [ ] `colorStore.ts` - Current color state
- [ ] `historyStore.ts` - Color history with undo/redo
- [ ] `preferencesStore.ts` - User preferences
  - [ ] Theme preference
  - [ ] Preferred color formats
  - [ ] Default export format
- [ ] `palettesStore.ts` - Saved palettes

#### 10.2 LocalStorage Integration
- [ ] Persist color history (last 50 colors)
- [ ] Persist saved palettes
- [ ] Persist user preferences
- [ ] Clear data functionality

#### 10.3 URL State
- [ ] Share colors via URL (`?color=ff0099`)
- [ ] Share palettes via URL (`?palette=ff0099,00ccff,ffcc00`)
- [ ] Share contrast checks via URL

### Phase 11: Utility Functions
**Priority**: Medium
**Estimated Time**: 2-3 hours

#### 11.1 Color Utilities (`lib/utils/color.ts`)
- [ ] `parseColor(input: string)` - Parse any format
- [ ] `validateColor(input: string)` - Validate color
- [ ] `formatColor(color, format)` - Format conversion
- [ ] `getContrastRatio(fg, bg)` - WCAG contrast
- [ ] `isLightColor(color)` - Light/dark detection

#### 11.2 Export Utilities (`lib/utils/export.ts`)
- [ ] `exportAsCSS(colors)` - CSS variables
- [ ] `exportAsSCSS(colors)` - SCSS variables
- [ ] `exportAsTailwind(colors)` - Tailwind config
- [ ] `exportAsJSON(colors)` - JSON format
- [ ] `exportAsSVG(colors)` - SVG swatches
- [ ] `exportAsPNG(colors)` - PNG image

#### 11.3 Keyboard Shortcuts (`lib/hooks/useKeyboard.ts`)
- [ ] Cmd+K - Command palette
- [ ] Cmd+C - Copy current color
- [ ] Cmd+V - Paste color
- [ ] Cmd+Z - Undo
- [ ] Cmd+Shift+Z - Redo
- [ ] Cmd+D - Toggle dark mode
- [ ] Cmd+/ - Show shortcuts help

### Phase 12: Documentation & Help
**Priority**: Low
**Estimated Time**: 2-3 hours

#### 12.1 Docs Page (`/docs`)
- [ ] Getting started guide
- [ ] Feature overview
- [ ] API integration guide
- [ ] Keyboard shortcuts reference
- [ ] Export format examples
- [ ] Color theory basics
- [ ] WCAG guidelines explanation

#### 12.2 In-App Help
- [ ] Tooltips on hover
- [ ] Help icons with popovers
- [ ] Onboarding tour (optional)
- [ ] Feature flags for tours

### Phase 13: Testing
**Priority**: Medium
**Estimated Time**: 4-6 hours

#### 13.1 Unit Tests (Vitest)
- [ ] Test color utilities
- [ ] Test export utilities
- [ ] Test component rendering
- [ ] Test API client
- [ ] Test stores (Zustand)

#### 13.2 E2E Tests (Playwright)
- [ ] Test playground flow
- [ ] Test palette generation
- [ ] Test accessibility tools
- [ ] Test batch operations
- [ ] Test named colors search

#### 13.3 Accessibility Testing
- [ ] Keyboard navigation test
- [ ] Screen reader compatibility
- [ ] Color contrast verification
- [ ] ARIA labels audit

### Phase 14: Performance Optimization
**Priority**: Low
**Estimated Time**: 2-3 hours

#### 14.1 Code Splitting
- [ ] Dynamic imports for heavy components
- [ ] Route-based code splitting (already done)
- [ ] Lazy load color picker libraries

#### 14.2 Caching Strategy
- [ ] API response caching (React Query)
- [ ] Image caching
- [ ] Static asset optimization

#### 14.3 Bundle Optimization
- [ ] Analyze bundle size
- [ ] Tree-shake unused code
- [ ] Optimize images
- [ ] Target < 200KB initial bundle

### Phase 15: CI/CD & Deployment
**Priority**: High
**Estimated Time**: 2-3 hours

#### 15.1 GitHub Actions
- [ ] `.github/workflows/ci.yml`
  - [ ] Lint job (ESLint)
  - [ ] Type check job (TypeScript)
  - [ ] Test job (Vitest)
  - [ ] Build job (Next.js)
  - [ ] E2E test job (Playwright)

#### 15.2 Vercel Deployment
- [ ] Connect to Vercel
- [ ] Configure environment variables
- [ ] Set up preview deployments
- [ ] Configure production domain
- [ ] Set up analytics (optional)

#### 15.3 Environment Configuration
- [ ] `.env.example` updates
- [ ] Production API URL configuration
- [ ] Error tracking setup (Sentry - optional)

## Implementation Priority Order

### Sprint 1: Core Functionality (Week 1)
1. Phase 3: Color Manipulation Tools ⭐⭐⭐
2. Phase 8: Navigation & Layout ⭐⭐⭐
3. Phase 9.1: Essential UI Components ⭐⭐

### Sprint 2: Palette Features (Week 2)
4. Phase 4: Palette Generation ⭐⭐⭐
5. Phase 10: State Management ⭐⭐

### Sprint 3: Accessibility & Extras (Week 3)
6. Phase 5: Accessibility Tools ⭐⭐⭐
7. Phase 6: Named Colors Explorer ⭐⭐
8. Phase 7: Batch Operations ⭐⭐

### Sprint 4: Polish & Launch (Week 4)
9. Phase 11: Utility Functions ⭐⭐
10. Phase 13: Testing ⭐⭐
11. Phase 15: CI/CD & Deployment ⭐⭐⭐
12. Phase 12: Documentation ⭐
13. Phase 14: Performance Optimization ⭐

## Success Criteria

### MVP Requirements (Before Launch)
- [x] Color picker working with live preview
- [ ] All color manipulation tools functional
- [ ] At least 2 palette generation methods
- [ ] Contrast checker working
- [ ] Named colors searchable
- [ ] Export to CSS/JSON working
- [ ] Mobile responsive
- [ ] Basic keyboard shortcuts
- [ ] Error handling throughout
- [ ] Deployed to production

### Nice-to-Have Features
- [ ] Color history with undo/redo
- [ ] Saved palettes
- [ ] Batch operations
- [ ] Command palette
- [ ] Comprehensive docs
- [ ] E2E tests
- [ ] Performance < 200KB

## Technical Debt & Known Issues

### Current Issues
- [ ] Warning about multiple lockfiles (not critical)
- [ ] React Compiler not enabled (requires babel plugin)
- [ ] TypeScript ESLint rules simplified (can be re-enabled)

### Future Improvements
- [ ] Add Storybook for component documentation
- [ ] Set up visual regression testing
- [ ] Add internationalization (i18n)
- [ ] Progressive Web App (PWA) features
- [ ] Offline support with Service Worker
- [ ] Color palette AI suggestions (ML integration)

## Timeline Estimate

**Total Estimated Time**: 40-55 hours
**Target Completion**: 4-6 weeks (part-time development)

### Weekly Breakdown
- **Week 1**: Core manipulation + navigation (12-15h)
- **Week 2**: Palettes + state management (10-13h)
- **Week 3**: Accessibility + extras (12-15h)
- **Week 4**: Testing + deployment + docs (6-12h)

## Notes

- All components should follow established patterns
- Maintain type safety throughout
- Follow accessibility best practices
- Keep bundle size under 200KB initial load
- Test on mobile devices regularly
- Document complex logic with comments
- Use React Query for all API calls
- Implement proper error boundaries
- Add loading states for all async operations

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**Last Updated**: 2025-11-07
**Next Review**: After Sprint 1 completion