Implementation Plan: Frontend Style Unification

Branch: [001-unify-frontend-style] | Date: 2026-02-23 | Spec: spec.md
Input: Feature specification from /specs/001-unify-frontend-style/spec.md

Summary

Unify the frontend visual system and interaction patterns across primary product routes so users experience a coherent, predictable interface.
The implementation approach is to standardize shared UI primitives and page-shell patterns first, then align navigation and state feedback patterns, while preserving existing behavior and i18n/accessibility constraints. UX consistency in ux_reference.md is treated as a hard requirement and mapped to concrete component contracts and verification steps.

Technical Context

Language/Version: Node.js 18+ runtime, SvelteKit (existing frontend stack)
Primary Dependencies: SvelteKit, Tailwind CSS, existing frontend UI primitives under frontend/src/lib/components/ui
Storage: N/A (UI styling and component behavior only)
Testing: Vitest + existing frontend component/store tests
Target Platform: Web browser (desktop-first internal product UI)
Project Type: Web application (frontend + backend repository, frontend-focused scope)
Performance Goals: Preserve existing perceived responsiveness; avoid layout shifts in loading/error/success/empty states
Constraints:

Must follow Tailwind-first styling and avoid introducing native fetch usage (Constitution)
Must keep user-facing text compatible with existing i18n strategy
Must not regress core task flows while refactoring UI
Must preserve accessibility-visible focus and readable contrast behavior
Scale/Scope: Core primary routes and shared layout/components used by dashboards, tasks, reports, settings

Constitution Check

GATE: Must pass before Phase 0 research. Re-check after Phase 1 design.

✅ Semantic Protocol Compliance: Planned artifacts include contracts with [DEF]/@TIER/@PRE/@POST/@UX_STATE for affected modules in contracts/modules.md.
✅ Unified Frontend Experience: Scope is frontend style unification with Tailwind-first constraints; i18n consistency explicitly included.
✅ Independent Testability: Spec includes independent tests per user story; quickstart includes isolated verification flows.
✅ Architecture Integrity: No plugin or backend execution model changes required; frontend-only structural alignment.
⚠️ Known Repository Risk (External to this feature): Multiple specs/001-* directories exist in repo and trigger script warnings. Feature plan continues with explicit active feature directory specs/001-unify-frontend-style.

Project Structure

Documentation (this feature)

specs/001-unify-frontend-style/
├── plan.md
├── research.md
├── data-model.md
├── quickstart.md
├── contracts/
│   └── modules.md
└── tasks.md

Source Code (repository root)

backend/
└── src/
    ├── api/
    ├── models/
    └── services/

frontend/
├── src/
│   ├── lib/
│   │   ├── components/
│   │   │   ├── layout/
│   │   │   ├── reports/
│   │   │   └── ui/
│   │   ├── stores/
│   │   └── i18n/
│   ├── components/
│   └── routes/
└── tests/

Structure Decision: Use existing web-application layout and implement changes primarily in frontend/src/lib/components, frontend/src/routes, and related frontend tests.

Phase 0: Research Focus

Standardize style baseline strategy for existing Tailwind-based Svelte components.
Define migration strategy for legacy/non-conformant components without behavior regression.
Define UX-consistent state patterns (loading/empty/error/success) reusable across pages.
Define i18n and accessibility safeguards during style unification.
Define validation approach (visual conformance + behavior safety checks).

Phase 1: Design & Contracts Outputs

Produce data-model.md with style/token/pattern/conformance entities.
Produce contracts/modules.md with semantic contracts and UX states for critical modules.
Produce quickstart.md with executable validation steps for independent scenario checks.
Re-run Constitution check after design to confirm no UX compromise.

Complexity Tracking

No constitution violations requiring explicit exceptions.

Test Data Reference

Component	TIER	Fixture Name	Location
FrontendStyleReview	CRITICAL	style_review_sample	spec.md#test-data-fixtures
StateFeedbackPattern	CRITICAL	state_feedback_sample	spec.md#test-data-fixtures

Note: Tester Agent MUST use these fixtures when writing unit/integration tests for CRITICAL modules.

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