webref/specs/001-reference-board-viewer/spec.md

Specification: Reference Board Viewer

Version: 1.0.0
Created: 2025-11-02
Last Updated: 2025-11-02
Status: Approved
Owner: Project Team

Purpose

This specification defines a web-based reference board application for artists and creative professionals to collect, organize, and manipulate visual reference images. The application addresses the need for a collaborative, accessible alternative to desktop-only tools (like PureRef), enabling users to create mood boards, reference collections, and visual collages from any device with internet access.

Business Value:

• Enables remote collaboration on visual reference collections
• Provides accessible visual organization tools without desktop software installation
• Supports artists' creative workflows with non-destructive image manipulation
• Scales from individual artists to collaborative creative teams

User Scenarios & Testing

Scenario 1: Creating a New Reference Board

Actor: Artist (authenticated user)
Goal: Create a new reference board for a character design project

Flow:

1. User logs into the application
2. User creates a new board titled "Character Design - Fantasy Knight"
3. User uploads 15 reference images (armor, poses, weapons) via drag-and-drop
4. User arranges images by dragging them into desired positions
5. User groups armor references together with a label "Plate Armor - Blue"
6. User saves the board

Success Criteria: Board is saved with all images properly positioned and grouped

Scenario 2: Collaborating on a Shared Board

Actor: Art Director (authenticated user)
Goal: Review and annotate a junior artist's reference board

Flow:

1. Junior artist shares board "Environment Concepts" with art director (View+Comment permission)
2. Art director opens the shared board link
3. Art director views all images and can add comments
4. Art director adds comment "Love the color palette in group 3"
5. Junior artist sees the comment when reopening the board

Success Criteria: Art director can view board, add comments, but cannot modify images or layout

Scenario 3: Working with Limited Bandwidth

Actor: Freelance artist with slow internet connection
Goal: Access reference board while traveling

Flow:

1. User opens their board "Portrait References"
2. Application automatically detects slow connection using browser Network API and speed test
3. Application serves low-resolution previews of images
4. User can still zoom/pan/arrange images smoothly
5. User can optionally load full-resolution version of specific images
6. User can manually override quality setting if auto-detection is incorrect

Success Criteria: Board loads and remains usable within 10 seconds on 3G connection

Scenario 4: Complex Image Arrangement

Actor: Concept artist (authenticated user)
Goal: Create organized layout of 50+ references with precise alignment

Flow:

1. User opens existing board with 50 images
2. User selects 10 images showing character expressions
3. User uses "Align Top" command to align all selected images
4. User uses "Distribute Horizontal" to space them evenly
5. User enables snap-to-grid for precise placement
6. User groups the aligned images with annotation "Expression Study"
7. User exports the final arrangement as a single high-resolution image

Success Criteria: Images align precisely, export contains all images at full quality

Scenario 5: Non-Destructive Editing

Actor: Illustrator (authenticated user)
Goal: Crop and adjust images for board without losing original files

Flow:

1. User uploads high-resolution reference photo (4K resolution)
2. User crops image to focus on a specific detail
3. User converts image to greyscale for value study
4. User reduces opacity to 50% for overlay reference
5. User later needs original - clicks "Reset to Original"
6. All edits are reverted, original 4K image restored

Success Criteria: Original image is never modified, all edits are reversible

Requirements

Functional Requirements

FR1: User Authentication & Account Management

Priority: Critical
Description: Users must be able to create accounts, log in, and manage their profile to access private boards and collaborate with others.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can register for an account with email and password
• Users can log in and log out securely
• User sessions persist across browser sessions
• Users can reset forgotten passwords
• Each user has a unique, isolated workspace for their boards

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for authentication logic, integration tests for login/logout flows
• UX Impact: Login process completes in <3 seconds, clear error messages for failed authentication
• Performance: Authentication check completes in <100ms, sessions cached efficiently

FR2: Board Management

Priority: Critical
Description: Users must be able to create, save, edit, delete, and organize multiple reference boards.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can create a new board with a title
• Users can save boards (auto-save and manual save)
• Users can edit board title and metadata
• Users can delete boards (with confirmation prompt)
• Users can view a list of all their boards
• Board list shows preview thumbnail, title, last modified date, and image count
• Users can duplicate existing boards

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for board CRUD operations, integration tests for board list rendering
• UX Impact: Board creation is instant (<200ms), deletion requires confirmation to prevent accidents
• Performance: Board list loads in <1 second for users with up to 100 boards

FR3: Board Sharing & Collaboration

Priority: High
Description: Users must be able to share boards with other users while maintaining privacy controls.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Boards are private by default (only owner can access)
• Users can generate a share link for any board
• When creating share link, owner chooses permission level: View-only or View+Comment
• View-only links allow recipients to see board but not modify or comment
• View+Comment links allow recipients to add comments/annotations but not modify images or layout
• Users can revoke share links at any time
• Users can change permission level of existing share links
• Board owner can see list of active share links with their permission levels
• Comments from viewers are visually distinct from owner content

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for sharing permissions, security tests to verify access controls
• UX Impact: Share link generation is instant, clear indication of board privacy status
• Performance: Share link validation completes in <100ms

FR4: Image Upload & Import

Priority: Critical
Description: Users must be able to add images to boards through multiple convenient methods.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can upload images via file picker dialog
• Users can upload multiple images simultaneously (batch upload)
• Users can drag and drop image files directly onto the board
• Users can paste images from clipboard (e.g., screenshots)
• Users can upload ZIP files containing multiple images (extracted automatically)
• Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG
• Maximum individual file size: 50MB
• Maximum batch upload size: 500MB
• Upload progress indicator shows for uploads >5 seconds
• Failed uploads show clear error messages with reasons

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for file validation, integration tests for each upload method
• UX Impact: Upload progress visible for large files, drag-drop works intuitively
• Performance: Upload processes in background, UI remains responsive

FR5: Image Positioning & Layout

Priority: Critical
Description: Users must be able to freely position, arrange, and organize images on the infinite canvas.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can drag images to any position on the canvas
• Images can overlap (Z-order controlled by user)
• Users can bring images to front or send to back
• Users can bring images forward/backward one layer at a time
• Canvas is infinite (no boundaries, scrollable in all directions)
• Users can select multiple images with click+drag selection box
• Users can select/deselect individual images with Ctrl+Click (Cmd+Click on Mac)
• Selected images show visual highlight (border or outline)

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for drag-drop, unit tests for Z-order calculations
• UX Impact: Dragging feels smooth (<16ms frame time), visual feedback is immediate
• Performance: Handles 500+ images on canvas without lag

FR6: Image Alignment & Distribution

Priority: High
Description: Users must be able to precisely align and distribute images for professional layouts.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can align selected images: Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Center Vertical, Center Horizontal
• Users can distribute selected images: Horizontal spacing, Vertical spacing
• Alignment operations preserve relative positions except for aligned axis
• Distribution creates equal spacing between images
• Snap-to-grid mode helps images align to grid lines
• Grid size is configurable (default: 50px)
• Snap-to-grid can be toggled on/off with keyboard shortcut

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for alignment calculations, integration tests for UI commands
• UX Impact: Alignment is instant (<50ms), grid provides visual guides
• Performance: Alignment calculations complete in <100ms for 100 selected images

FR7: Image Grouping & Annotations

Priority: High
Description: Users must be able to organize images into groups with labels for better organization.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can select multiple images and create a group
• Groups can have text annotations (title/description)
• Groups can have colored labels (user selects from color palette)
• Groups can be moved as a single unit (all images move together)
• Groups can be ungrouped (images remain, group dissolves)
• Images can belong to only one group at a time
• Groups can contain 1-1000 images
• Group annotations are visible as overlay or adjacent to group

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for grouping logic, integration tests for group operations
• UX Impact: Group creation is instant, visual indicators clearly show grouped images
• Performance: Moving groups with 100+ images maintains 60fps

FR8: Image Transformation & Editing

Priority: Critical
Description: Users must be able to transform and adjust images non-destructively.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can scale images (resize) by dragging corners or entering dimensions
• Users can rotate images to any angle (free rotation and 90° increments)
• Users can flip images horizontally and vertically
• Users can crop images to rectangular regions
• Users can adjust image opacity (0-100%)
• Users can convert images to greyscale
• All transformations are non-destructive (original preserved)
• Users can reset any image to original state
• Transformation UI shows current values (angle, scale %, opacity %)
• Proportional scaling is default (maintains aspect ratio)

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for transformation calculations, integration tests for UI controls
• UX Impact: Transformations render in real-time (<16ms), controls are intuitive
• Performance: Transformations use GPU acceleration when available

FR9: Multi-Selection & Bulk Operations

Priority: High
Description: Users must be able to select and operate on multiple images simultaneously.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can select multiple images by dragging selection rectangle
• Users can add to selection with Ctrl+Click (Cmd+Click on Mac)
• Users can select all images with Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac)
• Users can deselect all with Escape key or clicking empty canvas
• Bulk operations available: Move, Scale, Rotate, Delete, Group, Align, Distribute
• Bulk transformations apply relative to each image's center
• Selection count indicator shows number of selected images
• Users can invert selection (select all except currently selected)

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for selection operations, unit tests for bulk transforms
• UX Impact: Selection box appears instantly, visual feedback for selected state
• Performance: Selection operations remain responsive with 500+ images

FR10: Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete Operations

Priority: High
Description: Users must have standard clipboard operations for efficient editing.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can copy selected images (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C)
• Users can cut selected images (Ctrl+X / Cmd+X)
• Users can paste copied/cut images (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
• Pasted images appear at center of current viewport
• Pasted images are automatically selected
• Users can delete selected images (Delete/Backspace key)
• Delete operation requires confirmation if >10 images selected
• Cut images are removed from canvas after paste
• Copied images remain on canvas after paste

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for clipboard operations, unit tests for delete logic
• UX Impact: Standard keyboard shortcuts work as expected
• Performance: Copy/paste operations complete in <200ms

FR11: Command Palette

Priority: Medium
Description: Users must have quick access to all commands through a searchable palette.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Command palette opens with keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+K / Cmd+K)
• Palette shows list of all available commands
• Users can search/filter commands by typing
• Search matches command names and synonyms
• Palette shows keyboard shortcuts next to commands
• Recently used commands appear at top
• Palette closes after command execution or on Escape key
• Commands are categorized (File, Edit, View, Arrange, etc.)

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for command execution, unit tests for search/filter
• UX Impact: Palette opens instantly (<100ms), search results update in real-time
• Performance: Search filters 100+ commands in <50ms

FR12: Canvas Navigation & Viewport Control

Priority: Critical
Description: Users must be able to navigate the infinite canvas efficiently.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can pan canvas by dragging with middle mouse button or spacebar+drag
• Users can zoom in/out with mouse wheel or pinch gesture
• Zoom levels: 10% to 500% (increments of 10%)
• Users can rotate entire canvas view (for different perspective)
• Users can reset camera to default position/zoom/rotation
• Users can fit all images to viewport (zoom to fit)
• Users can center on selected image(s)
• Viewport position/zoom persists when reopening board
• Touch gestures supported on tablets: two-finger pan, pinch zoom, rotate

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for navigation controls, unit tests for zoom calculations
• UX Impact: Pan/zoom feels smooth (60fps), gestures respond naturally
• Performance: Viewport updates maintain 60fps with 500+ images

FR13: Image Focus & Navigation

Priority: Medium
Description: Users must be able to focus on individual images and navigate between them.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can double-click image to enter focus mode (image fills viewport)
• Focus mode hides all other images temporarily
• Users can exit focus mode with Escape key or clicking outside
• Users can navigate to next image with arrow key or on-screen button
• Users can navigate to previous image with arrow key or on-screen button
• Users can choose navigation order from dropdown: Chronological (upload time), Spatial (left-to-right, top-to-bottom), Alphabetical (by filename), Random
• Navigation order preference is saved per user and persists across sessions
• Default navigation order is Chronological
• Focus mode shows image counter (e.g., "5 of 23")

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for focus mode, unit tests for navigation logic
• UX Impact: Focus transition is smooth, navigation is intuitive
• Performance: Focus mode transitions complete in <200ms

FR14: Slideshow Mode

Priority: Low
Description: Users must be able to play an automatic slideshow of board images.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can start slideshow from menu or keyboard shortcut
• Slideshow displays images in full-screen or maximized view
• Configurable interval between images (1-30 seconds, default 5)
• Users can pause/resume slideshow
• Users can manually advance to next/previous image during slideshow
• Users can exit slideshow with Escape key
• Slideshow respects navigation order setting (same as focus mode: Chronological, Spatial, Alphabetical, or Random)
• Slideshow controls overlay bottom of screen

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for slideshow controls, unit tests for timing logic
• UX Impact: Transitions between images are smooth, controls are accessible
• Performance: Slideshow maintains smooth transitions at 60fps

FR15: Image Export & Download

Priority: High
Description: Users must be able to export images and board layouts for external use.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can download individual images (click image → "Download")
• Users can export all images as ZIP file (preserves original quality)
• Users can export entire board as single composite image (PNG/JPEG)
• Composite export captures current viewport or all images [user selects]
• Composite export resolution: Screen resolution, 2x, 4x (up to 16K pixels)
• Export operations show progress indicator
• Exported ZIP includes folder structure for grouped images
• Exported images maintain original filenames where possible

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for export operations, unit tests for image generation
• UX Impact: Export options are clear, progress visible for large exports
• Performance: Single image export <1s, ZIP export <10s for 100 images

FR16: Adaptive Image Quality Serving

Priority: High
Description: Application must serve appropriate image quality based on connection speed to ensure usability on all networks.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Application automatically detects user's connection speed using browser Network Information API and initial speed test
• On slow connections (<1 Mbps), serve low-resolution previews (max 800px)
• On medium connections (1-5 Mbps), serve medium-resolution (max 1600px)
• On fast connections (>5 Mbps), serve full-resolution images
• Users can manually override automatic detection with quality setting (Auto/Low/Medium/High)
• Quality setting selector is easily accessible in UI
• Original full-resolution images always preserved on server
• Users can selectively load full-resolution for specific images regardless of quality setting
• Quality setting preference persists across sessions
• Loading indicator shows when full-resolution is being fetched
• Application re-evaluates connection speed periodically (every 5 minutes) when in Auto mode

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for quality detection, unit tests for resolution logic
• UX Impact: Boards load within 10 seconds on slow connections
• Performance: Quality detection completes within first 2 seconds of session

FR17: Image Reuse Across Boards

Priority: Medium
Description: Users must be able to reuse uploaded images across multiple boards without re-uploading.

Acceptance Criteria:

• When image is uploaded, it's stored in user's image library
• Users can access their image library from any board
• Users can add existing library images to new boards
• Same image on multiple boards references single stored file (no duplication)
• Deleting image from a board doesn't delete from library
• Users can permanently delete images from library (removes from all boards)
• Library view shows all uploaded images with thumbnails
• Library supports search/filter by filename or upload date

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Integration tests for library operations, unit tests for reference counting
• UX Impact: Adding library images is instant (no re-upload), library is easily browsable
• Performance: Image library with 1000+ images loads in <2 seconds

FR18: Arrange Images by Criteria

Priority: Low
Description: Users can automatically arrange images based on different sorting criteria.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Users can auto-arrange images by: Name (alphabetical), Upload date, Optimal layout, Random
• Optimal layout minimizes whitespace while maintaining readability
• Random arrangement distributes images unpredictably across canvas
• Auto-arrange preserves groups (grouped images stay together)
• Users can undo auto-arrange operation
• Auto-arrange operation shows preview before applying
• Users can configure arrange direction (left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
• Arrange operation respects existing groups and their internal layout

Constitutional Alignment:

• Testing: Unit tests for sorting algorithms, integration tests for arrange UI
• UX Impact: Arrange operation is reversible, preview shows expected result
• Performance: Auto-arrange completes in <2 seconds for 100 images

Non-Functional Requirements

NFR1: Performance

Per Constitutional Principle 4:

• Page Load Time: Initial application load <3 seconds on 5 Mbps connection
• Board Load Time: Board with 100 images loads in <2 seconds (low-res previews)
• UI Responsiveness: All user interactions respond within 200ms
• Animation Frame Rate: Canvas operations maintain 60fps (pan, zoom, drag)
• Concurrent Users: System supports 1,000 concurrent users
• Large Boards: Boards with 500+ images remain usable (no lag during pan/zoom)
• Upload Performance: 10 images (20MB total) upload in <10 seconds on 10 Mbps connection
• Export Performance: Board export to single image completes in <30 seconds for 100 images

NFR2: Quality

Per Constitutional Principle 1:

• Code Coverage: ≥80% test coverage (Principle 2 requirement)
• Linting: Zero errors/warnings in code quality checks
• Type Safety: All data structures and interfaces fully typed
• Documentation: All user-facing features documented in help system
• Error Handling: All error states have user-friendly messages
• Logging: All critical operations logged for debugging

NFR3: User Experience

Per Constitutional Principle 3:

• Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for all UI elements
• Keyboard Navigation: All features accessible via keyboard shortcuts
• Error Messages: Clear, actionable messages for all error conditions
• Responsive Design: Works on desktop (1920x1080), tablet (1024x768), and mobile (375x667)
• Browser Support: Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, Edge 90+
• Loading States: Progress indicators for all operations >1 second
• Offline Support: Users see appropriate message when offline (no cryptic errors)
• Help System: Contextual help available for all major features

NFR4: Maintainability

Per Constitutional Principle 1:

• Code Complexity: Functions maintain low cyclomatic complexity (<10)
• Modularity: Clear separation between UI, business logic, and data layers
• Dependency Management: All dependencies explicitly versioned
• Deployment: Reproducible deployments via Nix configuration
• Configuration: Environment-specific settings externalized (not hardcoded)
• Monitoring: Application health metrics exposed for monitoring

NFR5: Security

• Authentication: Secure password hashing and session management
• Authorization: Strict access controls for private boards
• Data Privacy: User data isolated, no cross-user data leakage
• File Upload Validation: All uploads validated for file type, size, and malicious content
• XSS Prevention: All user input sanitized before display
• CSRF Protection: All state-changing operations protected against CSRF
• HTTPS: All connections encrypted in transit
• Secrets Management: No hardcoded secrets, use environment variables

NFR6: Scalability

• Storage: Support for 100GB+ total image storage per user
• Boards per User: Support for 500+ boards per user
• Images per Board: Support for 1,000+ images per board
• Concurrent Sessions: Single user can have 5+ concurrent sessions
• Horizontal Scaling: Application can scale horizontally (add more servers)

NFR7: Reliability

• Uptime: 99.9% uptime target (SLA)
• Data Durability: Image uploads have 99.999% durability (no data loss)
• Auto-Save: Boards auto-save every 30 seconds (prevents work loss)
• Backup: User data backed up daily
• Recovery: Point-in-time recovery available for last 30 days
• Graceful Degradation: If image service fails, application shows cached/cached thumbnails

Success Criteria

Post-deployment validation (technology-agnostic, measurable outcomes):

• User Onboarding: New users can create their first board with 10 images within 5 minutes
• Board Load Performance: 95% of board loads complete within 3 seconds
• Operation Responsiveness: 99% of user interactions respond within 200ms
• Upload Success Rate: 99% of valid image uploads succeed on first attempt
• Cross-Browser Compatibility: Application works identically on all supported browsers
• Accessibility Compliance: Application passes WCAG 2.1 AA automated testing suite
• Mobile Usability: Users can successfully create and edit boards on tablet devices
• Collaboration Success: Users can successfully share boards and recipients can access within 1 minute
• Export Reliability: 100% of export operations complete successfully or show clear error
• Non-Destructive Editing: Users can reset any edited image to original 100% of the time
• Connection Adaptability: Application loads successfully on 3G connections (1 Mbps) within 10 seconds
• User Satisfaction: 90%+ of users rate the application "easy to use" in post-launch survey
• Feature Completeness: All 18 functional requirements fully implemented and testable
• Test Coverage: ≥80% code coverage maintained across entire codebase

Key Entities

High-level description of main concepts in the system:

User

• Unique identifier
• Authentication credentials (email, password hash)
• Profile information (name, preferences)
• Owns multiple Boards
• Has access to own Image Library
• Can receive shared board links

Board

• Unique identifier
• Title and description
• Owner (User reference)
• Creation and last modified timestamps
• Privacy setting (private or shareable)
• Contains multiple Images positioned on canvas
• Contains multiple Groups
• Viewport state (zoom, pan, rotation)
• Auto-save enabled/disabled

Image

• Unique identifier
• Original file (full resolution)
• Thumbnail versions (multiple resolutions)
• File metadata (filename, size, dimensions, format, upload date)
• Position on board (X, Y coordinates)
• Transformations (scale, rotation, crop, opacity, effects)
• Z-order (layer position)
• Belongs to zero or one Group
• Reference count (how many boards use this image)

Group

• Unique identifier
• Contains multiple Images
• Annotation text
• Color label
• Position and bounding box
• Transformation state (can be moved/scaled as unit)

Share Link

• Unique identifier
• Associated Board reference
• Access token (secure, unguessable)
• Creation timestamp
• Access count and last accessed timestamp
• Active/revoked status

Image Library

• User's collection of all uploaded images
• Organized by upload date, filename
• Shared across all user's boards
• Images can be added to multiple boards

Assumptions

Based on the feature description, we're making these informed assumptions:

1. Authentication Method: Email/password authentication with secure session management (industry standard for web apps)

2. Single User Type: All authenticated users have the same capabilities (no admin/editor/viewer roles beyond board sharing)

3. Board Editing: Only board owner can edit; shared links provide read-only access

4. Image Storage: Images stored in cloud-compatible storage (filesystem or object storage) with CDN support for optimal delivery

5. Connection Detection: Slow connection detected using browser Network Information API or download speed test on first load

6. Navigation Order: Image navigation in focus/slideshow modes follows upload order (chronological) by default

7. Deployment Environment: Self-hosted deployment on Linux-based servers using Nix for reproducible builds

8. Offline Capability: Application is online-only (requires internet connection), gracefully handles disconnections

9. Image Formats: Standard web image formats supported (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG), no RAW or specialized formats

10. Concurrent Editing: No real-time collaborative editing (multiple users editing same board simultaneously), only sharing for viewing

11. Billing/Payment: No monetization features in v1.0 (free for all users)

12. Mobile Support: Optimized for tablet/desktop, mobile phone support is basic (view-only recommended)

13. Browser Requirements: Modern evergreen browsers (no IE11 support)

14. Language: English-only interface in v1.0

15. Maximum Limits: Reasonable limits to prevent abuse: 50MB per image, 500MB per batch upload, 1000 images per board

16. Share Link Permissions: Configurable per link - owner decides between View-only and View+Comment when generating share link

17. Connection Detection: Hybrid approach using automatic detection (browser Network Information API + speed test) with manual user override capability

18. Navigation Order Options: User-configurable with four options: Chronological (default), Spatial, Alphabetical, and Random

Dependencies

External Dependencies (High-Level)

• Web Hosting Infrastructure: Server environment capable of running modern web applications
• Storage System: File storage with sufficient capacity and performance for image files
• HTTPS/SSL Certificates: Required for secure authentication and data transmission
• Email Service: For password reset and notifications (if implemented)
• Browser APIs: Modern browser support for drag-drop, clipboard, canvas rendering

Internal Dependencies

• User Authentication System: Required before any board/image operations
• File Upload System: Required before image manipulation features
• Image Processing: Required for generating thumbnails and low-resolution versions
• State Management: Required for canvas operations (undo/redo, auto-save)

Open Issues

None - all clarifications resolved.

Rollout Plan

1. Development: 12-16 week development cycle

   • Weeks 1-4: User authentication, board management, basic image upload
   • Weeks 5-8: Canvas operations, image positioning, transformations
   • Weeks 9-12: Advanced features (groups, command palette, export)
   • Weeks 13-16: Polish, adaptive quality, performance optimization

2. Testing: 2-week QA cycle

   • Functional testing of all 18 requirements
   • Cross-browser compatibility testing
   • Performance benchmarking under load
   • Accessibility audit

3. Staging: 1-week validation period

   • Deploy to staging environment with Nix
   • Internal team dogfooding (create real reference boards)
   • Security audit and penetration testing
   • Performance monitoring and optimization

4. Production: Phased rollout

   • Week 1: Closed beta (50 invited users)
   • Week 2-3: Open beta (public access, feedback collection)
   • Week 4: General availability release
   • Post-launch: Monitor error rates, performance metrics, user feedback

5. Monitoring: Key metrics to watch

   • Application error rate (<0.1% target)
   • Average page load time (<3s target)
   • API response times (<200ms p95 target)
   • Upload success rate (>99% target)
   • User engagement (boards created, images uploaded)
   • Browser/device distribution

Appendix

References

• PureRef: Desktop application providing inspiration for feature set (https://www.pureref.com/)
• WCAG 2.1 Guidelines: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for accessibility compliance
• Nix Package Manager: For reproducible deployment (https://nixos.org/)

Terminology

• Board: A canvas containing positioned reference images (also called "reference board" or "mood board")
• Canvas: Infinite 2D workspace where images are positioned
• Focus Mode: Full-screen view of a single image, hiding all others
• Group: Collection of images that move together, with shared annotation
• Non-Destructive Editing: Image modifications that don't alter the original file
• Z-Order: Stacking order of overlapping images (which appears in front)
• Adaptive Quality: Serving different image resolutions based on connection speed

Change Log

Version	Date	Author	Changes
1.0.0	2025-11-02	Project Team	Initial specification