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+# Phase 5: Design System Token Rework - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-04-20
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+<domain>
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Users see a sharp, minimal, clearly pastel UI across every page — the visual foundation that all subsequent phases build on. This phase modifies design tokens (CSS variables), adjusts spacing utilities across all 9 pages, and overrides third-party component styles. No new features, no new components — purely visual token and spacing changes.
+
+</domain>
+
+<decisions>
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Corner Radius Strategy
+- All elements get 0px border radius — truly sharp corners everywhere
+- Implementation via single `--radius: 0` token change in `src/index.css` (cascades to all shadcn components)
+- No exceptions for avatars, badges, or any element
+- Third-party components (Recharts bars, Sonner toasts) overridden via CSS selectors to force 0 radius
+
+### Pastel Color Refinement
+- Increase chroma on category fill colors to 0.22+ for visible colorful pop against white backgrounds
+- Keep the two-tier color system: text colors at ~0.55L for WCAG 4.5:1 contrast, fill colors lighter/more saturated
+- Slightly warm the base UI colors: background chroma from 0.005→0.01 for subtle warmth
+- Align chart colors with category fill tokens directly — remove separate `--color-chart-*` variables and use `--color-*-fill` tokens in charts
+
+### Spacing & Layout Strategy
+- Increase section gaps: gap-4→gap-6, gap-6→gap-8 across all pages
+- Increase card internal padding: p-4→p-6 for breathing room
+- Keep existing max-w-7xl container constraint
+- Standardize all page headers to mb-6 + section gaps to gap-8 for consistent rhythm
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+- Exact OKLCH chroma/lightness values for category fills (as long as they're 0.22+ chroma and pass WCAG)
+- Order of page updates during implementation
+- Whether to create a spacing utility class or apply changes inline
+
+</decisions>
+
+<code_context>
+## Existing Code Insights
+
+### Reusable Assets
+- `src/index.css` — single file with all design tokens (`@theme inline` block), `--radius: 0.625rem` is the token to change
+- `src/lib/palette.ts` — category color references using CSS variables (no changes needed, references tokens)
+- shadcn/ui components in `src/components/ui/` — all use `rounded-*` classes that derive from `--radius`
+
+### Established Patterns
+- OKLCH color system already in place with hue-based category differentiation
+- Two-tier category colors: text (L=0.55, C=0.16-0.18) and fill (L=0.65-0.70, C=0.18-0.20)
+- Tailwind CSS 4 with `@theme inline` for CSS variable definitions
+- 71 occurrences of `rounded`/`radius` across 27 source files
+
+### Integration Points
+- `src/index.css` `--radius` token controls all shadcn component rounding
+- Chart components (`SpendBarChart`, `IncomeBarChart`, `ExpenseDonutChart`) reference `--color-chart-*` variables
+- 9 pages to audit: Dashboard, BudgetList, BudgetDetail, Template, Categories, QuickAdd, Settings, Login, Register
+
+</code_context>
+
+<specifics>
+## Specific Ideas
+
+- Success criteria explicitly requires visual pass of all 9 pages confirming no regressions
+- Category color swatches must be "visibly colorful against white backgrounds" — not washed-out
+- "No pill buttons, no rounded cards, no rounded inputs visible anywhere"
+
+</specifics>
+
+<deferred>
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope
+
+</deferred>