---
target: backend/templates (web UI)
total_score: 21
max_score: 40
na_heuristics: 
p0_count: 0
p1_count: 2
timestamp: 2026-07-26T15-50-42Z
slug: backend-templates-app-html
---
Method: dual-agent (A: ab4734f79f4becbf2 · B: af2c412345f87a2d1)

## Design Health Score

| # | Heuristic | Score | Key Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility of System Status | 2 | No hx-indicator on any htmx mutation — favourite/save/delete swap silently |
| 2 | Match System/Real World | 3 | Icon-only actions rely on title= tooltips, which never fire on touch |
| 3 | User Control and Freedom | 2 | Favourite-toggle and chapter-save are instant, no undo |
| 4 | Consistency and Standards | 3 | Native unstyled confirm() for delete breaks from themed htmx-swap pattern |
| 5 | Error Prevention | 2 | Chapter input has no max, no reference to LatestChapter while editing |
| 6 | Recognition Rather Than Recall | 3 | Good persistent state; edit form doesn't show current latest chapter |
| 7 | Flexibility and Efficiency | 1 | No bulk actions, no shortcuts, no filter for "has new chapter" |
| 8 | Aesthetic/Minimalist Design | 3 | Lean; .meta/.actions rows lack visual grouping |
| 9 | Error Recovery | 1 | No failed-request UI state anywhere |
| 10 | Help and Documentation | 1 | Zero affordance explains the favourite/NEW-don't-reorder rule |

Total: 21/40 — Acceptable band

## Design Specificity Verdict
Generic-competent. Nothing signals manga/night-reading/two-site-unification beyond the header text. site-{{.Site}} badge (the actual product differentiator) styled as a neutral pill, same weight as everything else.

Deterministic scan: CLI static-HTML detector 0 findings (exit 0). Browser/live detector found: tight-leading (line-height 1.25, real), overused-font/single-font (100% Roboto), flat-type-hierarchy advisory (~1.5:1 ratio). One text-occlusion hit was a false positive (detector's own leftover overlay text).

## Priority Issues
P1 — Silent failure on every htmx mutation (no hx-indicator, no error UI). Fix: hx-indicator + htmx:responseError inline error text.
P1 — NEW-chapter signal has no visual priority/filter despite poller existing for exactly this. Fix: elevate .new styling, add "Updated" quick-filter.
P2 — Native confirm() on delete breaks dark theme, violates "no pure-white flash" a11y requirement. Fix: inline htmx confirm row.
P2 — Chapter input has no upper bound/reference to LatestChapter. Fix: show "Latest: Ch N" inline, soft max warning.
P3 — Single font, flat type scale, line-height under 1.3 floor. Fix: real typographic hierarchy.

## Persona Red Flags
Casey (mobile, primary): 4 stacked chrome regions before content; touch-only tooltips never fire; silent failures invite repeat-tapping.
Riley (stress): webkit-only line-clamp with no fallback; no-cover cards render blank with no placeholder; filter.js untested at scale.

## Minor Observations
Continue-strip not tab-scoped. Fixed accent colors unverified for contrast against light theme. title= tooltips dead weight on touch.

## Questions to Consider
1. Why does the NEW-chapter signal carry less visual weight than the static site badge?
2. Why is confirm() (guaranteed to break theme) still unreplaced given the explicit no-white-flash requirement?
3. Does the ordering rule need an explanation, or does needing one mean the mental model fights the user?