manual_slop/conductor/tracks/ui_theme_overhaul_20260308/plan.md

Implementation Plan: UI Theme Overhaul & Style System

Phase 1: Research & Typography

• Task: Research imgui-bundle text rendering and theme APIs.
  • Identify the best way to load and render high-quality fonts (Inter/Maple Mono).
  • Check for Freetype support or specialized rendering forks within the current environment.
• Task: Implement Professional Typography.
  • Integrate Inter and Maple Mono font assets.
  • Update the font loading logic in src/gui_2.py (or a dedicated theme module).
  • Verify font rendering quality and scaling across the UI.
• Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 1: Research & Typography' (Protocol in workflow.md)

Phase 2: Professional Style & Theming

• Task: Implement the "Subtle Rounding" Professional Theme.
  • Define the professional color palette and style variables (rounding, padding, spacing).
  • Utilize imgui-bundle's styling APIs to apply the theme globally.
  • Refactor existing hardcoded styling in src/gui_2.py to use the new theme system.
• Task: Write visual regression tests or simulation scripts to verify the new theme's consistency.
• Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 2: Professional Style & Theming' (Protocol in workflow.md)

Phase 3: Advanced Visual Effects (Shaders)

• Task: Implement Custom UI Shaders.
  • Develop and integrate shaders for rounded window corners and soft shadows.
  • Develop and integrate shaders for glass/acrylic (blur) effects on selected panels.
  • Develop and integrate shaders for improved text anti-aliasing.
• Task: Perform a performance audit to ensure shaders do not degrade FPS.
• Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 3: Advanced Visual Effects (Shaders)' (Protocol in workflow.md)

Phase 4: Layout Management & Multi-Viewport

• Task: Implement Multi-Viewport Support.
  • Add the "Multi-Viewport" toggle checkbox to the main menu bar.
  • Ensure the application correctly handles panel detachment and re-attachment.
• Task: Implement UI Layout Presets.
  • Create a management system (Save/Load/Delete) for window layout presets.
  • Ensure presets capture window geometry and the Multi-Viewport state.
  • Persist layout presets to the project configuration (manual_slop.toml or a dedicated file).
• Task: Verify layout restoration accuracy across multiple presets.
• Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 4: Layout Management & Multi-Viewport' (Protocol in workflow.md)

Phase 5: Final Polish & Verification

• Task: Conduct a final UI audit for "professionalism" and consistency.
• Task: Run the full simulation suite to ensure no regressions in tool interaction or workflow.
• Task: Conductor - User Manual Verification 'Phase 5: Final Polish & Verification' (Protocol in workflow.md)