manual_slop/conductor/archive/gui_layout_refinement_20260223/spec.md

Specification: GUI Layout Audit and UX Refinement

Overview

This track focuses on a holistic review and reorganization of the Manual Slop GUI. The goal is to ensure that AI tunings, diagnostic features, context management, and discussion history are logically placed to support an expert-level "Multi-Viewport" workflow. We will strengthen the "Arcade Aesthetics" and "Tactile Density" values while ensuring the layout remains intuitive for power users.

Scope

• Review Areas: AI Configuration, Diagnostics & Logs, Context Management, and Discussion History panels.
• Paradigm: Multi-Viewport Focus (optimizing floatable/dockable windows).
• Aesthetics: Enhancement of Arcade-style visual feedback and tactile UI density.

Functional Requirements

1. Layout Audit: Analyze current widget placement against holistic use cases. Identify "weirdly placed" features that don't fit the expert-focus workflow.
2. Multi-Viewport Optimization: Refine dockable panel behaviors to ensure flexible multi-monitor setups are seamless.
3. Visual Feedback Overhaul: Implement or enhance blinking notifications and state-change animations (Arcade FX) for tool execution and AI status.
4. Information Density Enhancement: Increase tactile feedback and data density in diagnostic and context panels.

Non-Functional Requirements

• Performance: Ensure layout updates do not introduce lag or violate strict state management principles.
• Consistency: Maintain "USA Graphics Company" tactile interaction values.

Acceptance Criteria

• A comprehensive audit report/plan for adjustments is created.
• GUI layout is reorganized based on the audit results.
• Arcade FX and tactile density enhancements are implemented and verified.
• The redesign is refined iteratively based on user feedback.

Out of Scope

• Modifying underlying AI SDK integration logic.
• Implementing new core MCP tools.
• Backend project management logic.