# Story 9.1: Color System Implementation

> **Note:** The color values in this story were implemented with the original Navy+Gold palette.
> These colors were updated in Epic 10 (Brand Color Refresh) to the new Charcoal+Warm Gray palette.
> See `docs/brand.md` for current color specifications.

## Epic Reference
**Epic 9:** Design & Branding Implementation
**Epic File:** `docs/epics/epic-9-design-branding.md`

## Dependencies
- **Epic 1:** Base Tailwind/Flux setup must be complete (Tailwind CSS 4, Flux UI installed)

## User Story
As a **developer**,
I want **to implement the complete color palette as Tailwind CSS theme**,
So that **brand colors are consistently applied throughout the application**.

## Acceptance Criteria

### Primary Colors
- [x] Dark Navy Blue: #0A1F44 (backgrounds, headers)
- [x] Gold/Brass: #D4AF37 (accents, buttons, links)

### Supporting Colors
- [x] Light Gold: #F4E4B8 (hover states)
- [x] Off-White/Cream: #F9F7F4 (text, cards)
- [x] Charcoal Gray: #2C3E50 (secondary text)
- [x] Success Green: #27AE60 (approved status)
- [x] Warning Red: #E74C3C (rejected, errors)
- [x] Pending Yellow: #F39C12 (pending status)

### Implementation
- [x] Custom Tailwind colors configured via @theme
- [x] Color variables for easy maintenance
- [x] Semantic color aliases (primary, accent, etc.)

### Dark Mode
- [x] Dark mode is **deferred** to a future story
- [x] Document that dark mode will require additional color mappings later

## Technical Notes

### Existing Code Context
The file `resources/css/app.css` already exists with:
- Tailwind and Flux CSS imports (PRESERVE these)
- Zinc color palette (can be REMOVED - not used in brand)
- Accent color variables using neutral-800 (REPLACE with brand colors)
- Flux field/label/control selectors (PRESERVE these)

### Merge Strategy
- Keep all `@import` statements at the top
- Keep `@source` directives
- Keep `@custom-variant dark` definition
- Replace the `@theme` block content with brand colors below
- Keep `@layer theme`, `@layer base`, and Flux selectors intact

### Color Implementation
```css
/* resources/css/app.css - REPLACE the @theme block with this content */
@theme {
  /* Keep existing font if needed, or update in typography story */
  --font-sans: 'Instrument Sans', ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;

  /* Primary Brand Colors */
  --color-navy: #0A1F44;
  --color-gold: #D4AF37;

  /* Supporting Colors */
  --color-gold-light: #F4E4B8;
  --color-cream: #F9F7F4;
  --color-charcoal: #2C3E50;

  /* Status Colors */
  --color-success: #27AE60;
  --color-danger: #E74C3C;
  --color-warning: #F39C12;

  /* Semantic Aliases - used by components */
  --color-primary: var(--color-navy);
  --color-accent: var(--color-gold);
  --color-accent-content: var(--color-gold);
  --color-accent-foreground: var(--color-navy);
  --color-background: var(--color-cream);
  --color-text: var(--color-charcoal);
}
```

**Note:** The `--color-accent-content` and `--color-accent-foreground` variables are used by Flux UI components and must be updated to use brand colors.

## Testing Requirements

### Build Verification
- [x] Run `npm run build` - must complete without errors
- [x] Verify CSS output contains the new color variables

### Utility Class Verification
Create a temporary test view or use browser dev tools to verify:
- [x] `bg-navy` applies background color #0A1F44
- [x] `text-gold` applies text color #D4AF37
- [x] `bg-cream` applies background color #F9F7F4
- [x] `text-charcoal` applies text color #2C3E50
- [x] `bg-success` applies background color #27AE60
- [x] `bg-danger` applies background color #E74C3C
- [x] `bg-warning` applies background color #F39C12
- [x] Semantic aliases work: `bg-primary`, `text-accent`, `bg-background`

### Regression Check
- [x] Existing Flux UI components still render correctly
- [x] No visual regressions on existing pages

## Definition of Done
- [x] All colors defined in Tailwind @theme block
- [x] Colors work with utility classes (bg-navy, text-gold, etc.)
- [x] Semantic aliases configured (primary, accent, background, text)
- [x] Dark mode explicitly documented as deferred
- [x] Existing Flux UI styling preserved
- [x] `npm run build` succeeds
- [x] Manual verification of utility classes complete
- [x] Code formatted with Pint

## Estimation
**Complexity:** Low | **Effort:** 2 hours

---

## Dev Agent Record

### Status
Ready for Review

### Agent Model Used
Claude Opus 4.5 (claude-opus-4-5-20251101)

### File List
| File | Action | Description |
|------|--------|-------------|
| `resources/css/app.css` | Modified | Replaced @theme block with brand colors and semantic aliases |

### Change Log
- Removed zinc color palette from @theme block
- Added primary brand colors: navy (#0A1F44), gold (#D4AF37)
- Added supporting colors: gold-light, cream, charcoal
- Added status colors: success, danger, warning
- Added semantic aliases: primary, accent, accent-content, accent-foreground, background, text
- Preserved existing font definitions, Flux UI selectors, and prose-navy styles
- User verified all colors render correctly via test page

### Completion Notes
- All color utility classes verified working (bg-navy, text-gold, bg-cream, etc.)
- Semantic aliases verified working (bg-primary, text-accent, bg-background)
- Dark mode deferred per story requirements - existing `.dark` theme layer preserved for future implementation
- Regression tests: 1191 passed, 16 pre-existing failures (unrelated to color changes - settings layout component issue)
- Test page and route cleaned up after verification

### Debug Log References
None - no issues encountered

## QA Results

### Review Date: 2026-01-02

### Reviewed By: Quinn (Test Architect)

### Code Quality Assessment
Excellent implementation. The CSS follows Tailwind CSS 4 conventions with well-organized color variables, clear section comments, and proper use of CSS custom properties. Semantic aliases correctly reference base color variables using var(). All existing Flux UI selectors and prose-navy styling preserved.

### Refactoring Performed
None required - implementation is clean and follows best practices.

### Compliance Check
- Coding Standards: ✓ CSS follows project conventions
- Project Structure: ✓ Changes confined to resources/css/app.css as expected
- Testing Strategy: ✓ Manual verification appropriate for CSS theming (no automated tests needed)
- All ACs Met: ✓ All 8 colors + semantic aliases implemented and verified in build output

### Improvements Checklist
- [x] All primary brand colors implemented (navy, gold)
- [x] All supporting colors implemented (gold-light, cream, charcoal)
- [x] All status colors implemented (success, danger, warning)
- [x] Semantic aliases configured (primary, accent, accent-content, accent-foreground, background, text)
- [x] Zinc palette removed (not used in brand)
- [x] Flux UI accent variables updated for brand colors
- [x] Dark mode deferred and documented
- [x] Build verification passed - colors appear in compiled CSS

### Security Review
N/A - CSS theming changes present no security concerns.

### Performance Considerations
No concerns - CSS custom properties have negligible performance impact. Color count is appropriate and not excessive.

### Files Modified During Review
None - no refactoring was necessary.

### Gate Status
Gate: PASS → docs/qa/gates/9.1-color-system-implementation.yml

### Recommended Status
✓ Ready for Done - All acceptance criteria met, implementation is clean, and manual verification documented as complete by developer.
