## Cleanup (v0.5.0) - Delete 102+ orphaned MCP session temp files - Remove build artifacts (htmlcov, dist, __pycache__) - Archive superseded plan docs (RALPH_LOOP V2/V3, CANVAS V3, etc.) - Move debug/analysis scripts from tests/ to tools/analysis/ - Archive redundant NX journals to archive/nx_journals/ - Archive monolithic PROTOCOL.md to docs/archive/ - Update .gitignore with missing patterns - Clean old study files (optimization_log_old.txt, run_optimization_old.py) ## Canvas UX (Phases 7-9) - Phase 7: Resizable panels with localStorage persistence - Left sidebar: 200-400px, Right panel: 280-600px - New useResizablePanel hook and ResizeHandle component - Phase 8: Enable all palette items - All 8 node types now draggable - Singleton logic for model/solver/algorithm/surrogate - Phase 9: Solver configuration - Add SolverEngine type (nxnastran, mscnastran, python, etc.) - Add NastranSolutionType (SOL101-SOL200) - Engine/solution dropdowns in config panel - Python script path support ## Documentation - Update CHANGELOG.md with recent versions - Update docs/00_INDEX.md - Create examples/README.md - Add docs/plans/CANVAS_UX_IMPROVEMENTS.md
453 lines
22 KiB
Markdown
453 lines
22 KiB
Markdown
# Canvas UX Design - Study Management Flow
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**Created**: January 16, 2026
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**Status**: Design Phase
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---
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## Problem Statement
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The Canvas Builder needs clear answers to these questions:
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1. **When processing a canvas**, does it overwrite the current study or create a new one?
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2. **How do users start fresh** - create a new study from scratch?
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3. **How does the Home page** handle study selection vs. creation?
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4. **What's the relationship** between Canvas, Dashboard, and study context?
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---
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## Proposed Solution: Study-Aware Canvas
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### Core Concepts
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| Concept | Description |
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|---------|-------------|
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| **Study Context** | Global state tracking which study is "active" |
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| **Canvas Mode** | Either "editing existing" or "creating new" |
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| **Process Dialog** | Explicit choice: update vs. create new |
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| **Study Browser** | Unified view for selecting/creating studies |
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---
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## User Flows
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### Flow 1: Open Existing Study → View/Edit → Run
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```
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Home Page
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│
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├── Study List shows all studies with status
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│ • bracket_v3 [Running] 47/100 trials
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│ • mirror_wfe_v2 [Paused] 23/50 trials
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│ • beam_freq [Complete] 100/100 trials
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│
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└── User clicks "bracket_v3"
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│
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Study: bracket_v3 │
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│ │
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│ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │
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│ │ Dashboard │ Results │ Canvas │ │
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│ └─────────────────────────────────┘ │
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│ │
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│ [Run Optimization] [Edit Canvas] │
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└─────────────────────────────────────┘
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│
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├── "Dashboard" → Live monitoring
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├── "Results" → Reports & analysis
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└── "Canvas" → View/edit workflow
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│
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▼
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Canvas loads from optimization_config.json
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Shows all nodes + connections
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User can modify and re-process
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```
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### Flow 2: Create New Study from Scratch
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```
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Home Page
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│
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└── User clicks [+ New Study]
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│
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Create New Study │
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│ │
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│ Study Name: [my_new_bracket_____] │
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│ │
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│ Category: [Bracket ▼] │
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│ ├─ Bracket │
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│ ├─ Beam │
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│ ├─ Mirror │
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│ └─ + New Category... │
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│ │
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│ Start with: │
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│ ● Blank Canvas │
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│ ○ Template: [Mass Minimization ▼] │
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│ ○ Copy from: [bracket_v3 ▼] │
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│ │
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│ [Cancel] [Create Study] │
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└─────────────────────────────────────┘
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│
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▼
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Backend creates folder structure:
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studies/Bracket/my_new_bracket/
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├── 1_config/
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├── 2_iterations/
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└── 3_results/
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│
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▼
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Opens Canvas in "New Study" mode
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Header shows: "Creating: my_new_bracket"
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Canvas is blank (or has template)
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```
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### Flow 3: Canvas → Process → Create/Update Decision
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```
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User is in Canvas (either mode)
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│
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└── Clicks [Process with Claude]
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│
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▼
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Generate Optimization │
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│ │
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│ Claude will generate: │
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│ • optimization_config.json │
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│ • run_optimization.py │
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│ │
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│ ─────────────────────────────────────────── │
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│ │
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│ If editing existing study: │
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│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
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│ │ ● Update current study │ │
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│ │ Will modify: bracket_v3 │ │
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│ │ ⚠ Overwrites existing config │ │
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│ │ │ │
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│ │ ○ Create new study │ │
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│ │ Name: [bracket_v4_____________] │ │
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│ │ □ Copy model files from bracket_v3 │ │
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│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
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│ │
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│ If creating new study: │
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│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
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│ │ Creating: my_new_bracket │ │
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│ │ │ │
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│ │ Model files needed: │
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│ │ □ Upload .prt file │
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│ │ □ Upload .sim file │
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│ │ - or - │
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│ │ □ Copy from: [bracket_v3 ▼] │ │
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│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
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│ │
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│ [Cancel] [Generate & Create] │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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│
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▼
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Claude processes intent:
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1. Validates configuration
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2. Generates optimization_config.json
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3. Creates run_optimization.py
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4. If new study: switches context to it
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│
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▼
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Success dialog:
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┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ ✓ Study Created Successfully │
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│ │
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│ bracket_v4 is ready to run │
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│ │
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│ [View Dashboard] [Run Optimization]│
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└─────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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---
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## UI Components
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### 1. Home Page (Redesigned)
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Atomizer [+ New Study]│
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├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
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│ │
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│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
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│ │ Search studies... 🔍 │ │
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│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
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│ │
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│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
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│ │ Recent Studies ││
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│ │ ││
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│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐││
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│ │ │ 🟢 bracket_v3 Running │││
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│ │ │ Bracket • 47/100 trials • Best: 2.34 kg │││
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│ │ │ [Dashboard] [Canvas] [Results] │││
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│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘││
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│ │ ││
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│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐││
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│ │ │ 🟡 mirror_wfe_v2 Paused │││
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│ │ │ Mirror • 23/50 trials • Best: 5.67 nm │││
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│ │ │ [Dashboard] [Canvas] [Results] │││
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│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘││
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│ │ ││
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│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐││
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│ │ │ ✓ beam_freq_tuning Completed │││
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│ │ │ Beam • 100/100 trials • Best: 0.12 Hz error │││
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│ │ │ [Dashboard] [Canvas] [Results] │││
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│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘││
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│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│
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│ │
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│ Categories: [All] [Bracket] [Beam] [Mirror] │
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│ │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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### 2. Study Header (When Study Selected)
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ ← Back bracket_v3 🟢 Running 47/100 │
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├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
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│ │
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│ ┌──────────┬──────────┬──────────┬──────────┐ │
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│ │Dashboard │ Results │ Canvas │ Settings │ │
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│ └──────────┴──────────┴──────────┴──────────┘ │
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│ │
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│ [Run Optimization ▶] [Pause ⏸] [Generate Report] │
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│ │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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### 3. Canvas Header (Context-Aware)
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**When editing existing study:**
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Canvas Builder Editing: bracket_v3 │
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├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
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│ [Templates] [Import] 5 nodes [Validate] [Process ▶] │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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**When creating new study:**
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Canvas Builder Creating: my_new_bracket │
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├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
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│ [Templates] [Import] 0 nodes [Validate] [Create Study ▶] │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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### 4. Process/Create Dialog
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Generate Optimization ✕ │
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├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
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│ │
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│ Claude will analyze your workflow and generate: │
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│ • optimization_config.json │
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│ • run_optimization.py (using Atomizer protocols) │
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│ │
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│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
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│ │
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│ Save to: │
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│ │
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│ ○ Update existing study │
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│ └─ bracket_v3 (overwrites current config) │
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│ │
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│ ● Create new study │
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│ └─ Study name: [bracket_v4_______________] │
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│ Category: [Bracket ▼] │
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│ ☑ Copy model files from bracket_v3 │
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│ │
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│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
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│ │
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│ After creation: │
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│ ☑ Open new study automatically │
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│ ☐ Start optimization immediately │
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│ │
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│ [Cancel] [Generate] │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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```
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---
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## Technical Architecture
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### 1. Global Study Context
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```typescript
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// contexts/StudyContext.tsx
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interface Study {
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path: string; // "Bracket/bracket_v3"
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name: string; // "bracket_v3"
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category: string; // "Bracket"
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status: 'not_started' | 'running' | 'paused' | 'completed';
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trialCount: number;
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maxTrials: number;
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bestValue?: number;
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hasConfig: boolean;
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}
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interface StudyContextState {
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// Current selection
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currentStudy: Study | null;
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isCreatingNew: boolean;
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pendingStudyName: string | null;
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// Actions
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selectStudy: (studyPath: string) => Promise<void>;
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createNewStudy: (name: string, category: string) => Promise<Study>;
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closeStudy: () => void;
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refreshStudies: () => Promise<void>;
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// All studies
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studies: Study[];
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categories: string[];
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}
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```
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### 2. Canvas Store Enhancement
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```typescript
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// hooks/useCanvasStore.ts additions
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interface CanvasState {
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// Existing...
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nodes: Node[];
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edges: Edge[];
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// New: Study context
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sourceStudyPath: string | null; // Where loaded from (null = new)
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isModified: boolean; // Has unsaved changes
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// Actions
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loadFromStudy: (studyPath: string) => Promise<void>;
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saveToStudy: (studyPath: string, overwrite: boolean) => Promise<void>;
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markClean: () => void;
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}
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```
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### 3. Backend API Additions
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```python
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# api/routes/studies.py
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@router.post("/")
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async def create_study(request: CreateStudyRequest):
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"""Create new study folder structure."""
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# Creates:
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# studies/{category}/{name}/
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# ├── 1_config/
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# ├── 2_iterations/
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# └── 3_results/
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pass
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@router.post("/{study_path}/copy-models")
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async def copy_model_files(study_path: str, source_study: str):
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"""Copy .prt, .sim, .fem files from another study."""
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pass
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@router.post("/{study_path}/generate")
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async def generate_from_intent(study_path: str, intent: dict, overwrite: bool = False):
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"""Generate optimization_config.json and run_optimization.py from canvas intent."""
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pass
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@router.get("/categories")
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async def list_categories():
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"""List all study categories."""
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pass
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```
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### 4. File Structure
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When a new study is created:
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```
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studies/
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└── Bracket/
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└── my_new_bracket/
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├── 1_config/
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│ └── (empty until "Process")
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├── 2_iterations/
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│ └── (empty until optimization runs)
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└── 3_results/
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└── (empty until optimization runs)
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```
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After "Process with Claude":
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```
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studies/
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└── Bracket/
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└── my_new_bracket/
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├── 1_config/
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│ ├── optimization_config.json ← Generated
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│ └── workflow_config.json ← Generated (optional)
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├── 2_iterations/
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├── 3_results/
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├── model.prt ← Copied from source
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├── model_sim1.sim ← Copied from source
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└── run_optimization.py ← Generated
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```
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---
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## Workflow Summary
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### Starting Points
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| Entry Point | Context | Canvas Mode |
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|-------------|---------|-------------|
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| Home → Click study → Canvas | Existing study | Edit existing |
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| Home → New Study → Blank | New study | Create new |
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| Home → New Study → Template | New study | Create new (pre-filled) |
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| Home → New Study → Copy from | New study | Create new (pre-filled) |
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### Process Outcomes
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| Canvas Mode | Process Choice | Result |
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|-------------|----------------|--------|
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| Edit existing | Update current | Overwrites config in same study |
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| Edit existing | Create new | Creates new study, switches to it |
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| Create new | (only option) | Creates files in new study |
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### Post-Process Navigation
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| Option | Action |
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|--------|--------|
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| Open Dashboard | Navigate to /dashboard with new study |
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| Run Optimization | Start run_optimization.py, show Dashboard |
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| Stay in Canvas | Keep editing (for iterations) |
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---
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## Benefits
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1. **Clear mental model**: Users always know if they're editing or creating
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2. **No accidental overwrites**: Explicit choice with warning
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3. **Version control friendly**: Easy to create v2, v3, etc.
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4. **Discoverable**: Home page shows all studies at a glance
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5. **Flexible entry points**: Multiple ways to start/continue work
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---
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## Implementation Priority
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1. **Home Page redesign** with study list and "New Study" button
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2. **Study context** global state
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3. **Create Study dialog** with options
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4. **Process dialog** with update/create choice
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5. **Canvas context awareness** (header shows current study)
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6. **Backend endpoints** for study creation and file generation
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---
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*This design enables a clean, intuitive workflow from study discovery to optimization execution.*
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