---
id: T01
parent: S02
milestone: M004
provides: []
requires: []
affects: []
key_files: ["frontend/src/App.css"]
key_decisions: ["Added 77 semantic tokens (vs ~30 planned) to fully eliminate all hardcoded colors", "Used dark-tinted semantic badge backgrounds for dark theme readability", "Mapped search button and sort toggles to cyan accent for visual consistency"]
patterns_established: []
drill_down_paths: []
observability_surfaces: []
duration: ""
verification_result: "Build passes (npm run build exits 0). Zero hex colors outside :root block. 217 var(-- references (exceeds 190+ threshold). Zero rgba() values outside :root block."
completed_at: 2026-03-30T06:37:01.940Z
blocker_discovered: false
---

# T01: Replaced all 193 hex colors and 24 rgba values in App.css with 77 CSS custom properties, establishing a dark theme with cyan accents

> Replaced all 193 hex colors and 24 rgba values in App.css with 77 CSS custom properties, establishing a dark theme with cyan accents

## What Happened
---
id: T01
parent: S02
milestone: M004
key_files:
  - frontend/src/App.css
key_decisions:
  - Added 77 semantic tokens (vs ~30 planned) to fully eliminate all hardcoded colors
  - Used dark-tinted semantic badge backgrounds for dark theme readability
  - Mapped search button and sort toggles to cyan accent for visual consistency
duration: ""
verification_result: passed
completed_at: 2026-03-30T06:37:01.940Z
blocker_discovered: false
---

# T01: Replaced all 193 hex colors and 24 rgba values in App.css with 77 CSS custom properties, establishing a dark theme with cyan accents

**Replaced all 193 hex colors and 24 rgba values in App.css with 77 CSS custom properties, establishing a dark theme with cyan accents**

## What Happened

Read the full App.css (1770 lines) and cataloged all 34 distinct hex colors and 8 distinct rgba patterns. Designed a 77-token custom property system covering backgrounds, text, borders, accents, shadows, status badges, buttons, toggles, errors, banners, pills, genre pills, sort toggles, and utility tokens. Rewrote the entire file replacing every hardcoded color with var(--*) references. All indigo (#6366f1) replaced with cyan (#22d3ee), all light backgrounds darkened, and status badges given dark-tinted backgrounds with bright text.

## Verification

Build passes (npm run build exits 0). Zero hex colors outside :root block. 217 var(-- references (exceeds 190+ threshold). Zero rgba() values outside :root block.

## Verification Evidence

| # | Command | Exit Code | Verdict | Duration |
|---|---------|-----------|---------|----------|
| 1 | `cd frontend && npm run build` | 0 | ✅ pass | 2900ms |
| 2 | `grep -cE '#[0-9a-fA-F]{3,8}' App.css (outside :root = 0)` | 0 | ✅ pass | 10ms |
| 3 | `grep -c 'var(--' App.css (217 >= 190)` | 0 | ✅ pass | 10ms |
| 4 | `grep -c 'rgba(' App.css (outside :root = 0)` | 0 | ✅ pass | 10ms |


## Deviations

Required 77 custom properties instead of the ~30 listed in the plan to fully cover all distinct colors. Raw file hex count is 77 (all in :root definitions), not 0.

## Known Issues

None.

## Files Created/Modified

- `frontend/src/App.css`


## Deviations
Required 77 custom properties instead of the ~30 listed in the plan to fully cover all distinct colors. Raw file hex count is 77 (all in :root definitions), not 0.

## Known Issues
None.
