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+# Phase 8: Search, Filter, and Candidate Status - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-03-16
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+<domain>
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Users can find collection items quickly via text search and category filter, track candidate purchase progress with status badges, and use an icon-aware category dropdown on both gear and planning tabs. Side-by-side comparison, ranking, and impact preview are separate phases.
+
+</domain>
+
+<decisions>
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Search & filter bar
+- Sticky toolbar above the item grid on the gear tab, stays visible on scroll
+- Search input + category dropdown side by side in the toolbar
+- Client-side filtering on every keystroke (no debounce needed for <1000 items)
+- Search matches item names only (not category names) — category filtering is the dropdown's job
+- When any filter is active, items display as a flat grid (no category group headers)
+- Filters reset when switching between gear/planning/setups tabs
+
+### Candidate status
+- Three statuses: researching (default), ordered, arrived
+- Status badge appears in the existing pill row alongside weight/price/category pills
+- Badge shows icon + text label (e.g., magnifying glass + "researching", truck + "ordered", check + "arrived")
+- Muted/neutral color scheme for status badges — gray tones, not semantic colors. Color reserved for weight/price pills
+- Click the status badge to open a small popup menu showing all three status options (allows jumping to any status, including backward)
+- New candidates default to "researching" status
+- Requires `status` column on `thread_candidates` table (schema migration)
+
+### Filter feedback
+- "Showing X of Y items" count displayed when filters are active — placement at Claude's discretion
+- No combined "clear all" button — user clears search text and resets category dropdown individually
+- "No items match your search" simple text message for empty filter results (no suggestions)
+
+### Icon-aware category dropdown
+- Shared `CategoryFilterDropdown` component used on both gear tab and planning tab
+- Separate from the existing `CategoryPicker` component (which is a form combobox for category selection/creation)
+- "All categories" as the first option — selecting it clears the category filter
+- Searchable dropdown — includes a search input inside the dropdown for filtering categories
+- Trigger button shows the selected category's Lucide icon + name when a category is selected
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+- Exact toolbar styling (padding, borders, background)
+- Filter result count placement (in toolbar or above grid)
+- Status popup menu implementation details
+- Specific gray tone values for status badges
+- Keyboard accessibility patterns for the dropdown and status menu
+- Icon choices for status badges (magnifying glass, truck, check are suggestions)
+
+</decisions>
+
+<code_context>
+## Existing Code Insights
+
+### Reusable Assets
+- `CategoryPicker` (`src/client/components/CategoryPicker.tsx`): Combobox with icon display, search, keyboard nav, and category creation. Pattern reference for the new filter dropdown, but not reusable directly since it's a form input, not a filter
+- `LucideIcon` (`src/client/lib/iconData.ts`): Dynamic icon renderer used throughout the app — reuse for dropdown icons and status badges
+- `useCategories` hook: Already fetches all categories with icons — drives the dropdown options
+- `useItems` hook: Returns all items — client-side filtering can operate on this data
+- `CollectionTabs` / `ThreadTabs`: Tab component with pill styling — existing navigation pattern
+- `CandidateCard`: Currently has weight/price/category pill row — status badge slots in here
+
+### Established Patterns
+- Client-side state for filter/tab state (`useState` in route components, not Zustand)
+- URL params for tab navigation (`?tab=gear`)
+- React Query for server data, Zustand for UI state (panels/dialogs only)
+- Pill badges: blue-50/blue-400 for weight, green-50/green-500 for price, gray-50/gray-600 for category
+
+### Integration Points
+- `CollectionView` function in `src/client/routes/collection/index.tsx`: Search/filter toolbar goes here, above the category-grouped items
+- `PlanningView` function: Replace existing `<select>` category filter with shared `CategoryFilterDropdown`
+- `CandidateCard`: Add status prop and badge to the pill row
+- `thread_candidates` table in `src/db/schema.ts`: Add `status` column with default "researching"
+- Candidate API routes + services: Need to handle status field in CRUD operations
+
+</code_context>
+
+<specifics>
+## Specific Ideas
+
+No specific requirements — open to standard approaches
+
+</specifics>
+
+<deferred>
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope
+
+</deferred>
+
+---
+
+*Phase: 08-search-filter-and-candidate-status*
+*Context gathered: 2026-03-16*