🔍 Vibe Check Review

Context

PR #147 adds an in-app hints/tooltips system to explain features and settings throughout the UI. It creates a new hints.py module and integrates tooltips via a Flask context processor.

Codebase Patterns I Verified

• Imports: Uses from library_manager.X import Y pattern, defines new modules in library_manager/
• Context processors: Uses @app.context_processor decorator, returns dict (matches existing inject_worker_status() pattern at line 6752)
• Type hints: Project uses type hints on public functions (def get_hint(key: str, default: str = '') -> str:)
• Database migrations: Uses try/except pattern with ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN for schema changes

✅ Good

• Clean module design: Simple dictionary-based hints system, easy to maintain and extend
• Comprehensive coverage: 40+ helpful tooltips covering all major features from layers to safety modes
• User-focused language: Hints explain WHY things exist, not just WHAT they are (e.g., "prevents cross-language mismatches")
• Consistent styling: CSS for .hint-icon matches the existing blue/cyan design theme
• Non-breaking: Adds tooltips without changing existing functionality
• CHANGELOG updated: Properly documents the new feature

🚨 Issues Found

📋 Scope Verification

Scope Status: SCOPE_MISMATCH

Critical Problem: This PR mixes TWO separate issues:

1. ✅ Issue In-app documentation system (hints.py) - explain what everything does on hover #103 (Hints): The hints.py module and tooltip UI changes are perfect and in-scope
2. ❌ Issue Smart Pre-Processing Pipeline: Validation, Triage, and Corrections #110 (Folder Triage): Extensive folder_triage imports, function calls, database column usage throughout app.py

The diff shows ~20 references to "Issue #110" in comments, imports from library_manager.folder_triage, and database changes for folder_triage column. This is not what Issue #103 asked for.

📝 Documentation Check

• CHANGELOG.md: ✅ Updated (only mentions In-app documentation system (hints.py) - explain what everything does on hover #103, correctly omits Smart Pre-Processing Pipeline: Validation, Triage, and Corrections #110 since that shouldn't be here)
• README.md: N/A (hints don't need README changes)

🎯 Verdict

REQUEST_CHANGES

Must fix before merge:

1. CRITICAL: Remove ALL folder_triage imports and functionality from this PR:

   • Remove line 43: from library_manager.folder_triage import ...
   • Remove all triage_folder(), should_use_path_hints(), confidence_modifier() function calls
   • Remove folder_triage parameter from calculate_input_quality()
   • Remove all folder_triage database column references (INSERT/UPDATE/SELECT)
   • Remove all "Issue Smart Pre-Processing Pipeline: Validation, Triage, and Corrections #110" comments

2. Keep the good stuff:

   • ✅ library_manager/hints.py - perfect, ship it
   • ✅ @app.context_processor def inject_hints() - perfect
   • ✅ All template changes (library.html, settings.html) - perfect
   • ✅ CHANGELOG entry - perfect

What happened: This PR correctly implements Issue #103 (hints) but also smuggled in a bunch of Issue #110 (folder triage) work. The hints.py module is excellent, but the folder_triage stuff needs to be removed and submitted as a separate PR for Issue #110.

To fix: Revert all the folder_triage changes from this branch, keeping only the hints-related changes. Issue #110 should be its own PR with proper scope, tests, and database migrations.

🔍 Vibe Check Review

Context

PR #147 adds a comprehensive in-app documentation system via a new library_manager/hints.py module, providing hover tooltips for settings, status badges, and UI elements across the application.

Codebase Patterns I Verified

1. Type hints usage: Module functions use type hints (-> dict, -> str) consistent with instance.py, config.py, file_validation.py
2. Module structure: Clean separation of data and functions matches patterns in config.py and instance.py
3. Flask context processors: Uses @app.context_processor decorator consistent with existing inject_worker_status() pattern
4. Defensive copying: get_all_hints() returns HINTS.copy() to prevent template mutations (consistent with security patterns found in codebase)
5. Import style: Single function import from library_manager.hints import get_all_hints matches existing patterns
6. CSS: Pure CSS tooltips with :hover pseudo-class, no JavaScript required (secure, accessible)

✅ Good

1. Comprehensive coverage: 68 hint definitions covering all major features, settings, and status types
2. Accurate content: Hints accurately describe features (verified against config.py defaults and README)
3. Security: No XSS vectors - hints are static strings, templates use Jinja2 auto-escaping
4. Defensive design:
   • get_hint(key, default='') returns empty string on missing keys (no crashes)
   • HINTS.copy() prevents template mutations
   • pointer-events: none on tooltip prevents accidental clicks
5. User-friendly language: Plain language explanations, avoids technical jargon
6. Accessibility: aria-label="Help" on hint icons for screen readers
7. Version management: CHANGELOG updated, version bumped to beta.123
8. Responsive design: Different icon sizes for library (14px) vs settings (16px) - intentional space optimization
9. Context preservation: Hints injected globally via context processor - available on all pages without per-route changes

🚨 Issues Found

Additional observations (not issues, just noting for completeness):

• ℹ️ Intentional design choice: library.html uses 14px icons with 260px tooltips, settings.html uses 16px icons with 280px tooltips. This is appropriate - settings page has more breathing room.
• ℹ️ CSS duplication: The .hint-icon CSS is duplicated in both templates. Could be moved to a shared stylesheet in a future refactor, but not blocking for this PR.
• ℹ️ Unused function: get_hint(key, default) is defined but not currently used. This is fine - it's a public API function for programmatic access to hints.

📋 Scope Verification

Additional scope delivered (bonus features not in original issue):

• Filter chip tooltips on library page
• Action button tooltips (Scan Library, Process Queue)
• Details column tooltip explaining confidence percentages
• Source icon explanations (bookdb, audio, AI, ID3, JSON, path, APIs, user)

Scope Status: SCOPE_OK - Original problem fully solved, plus additional helpful tooltips

📝 Documentation Check

• CHANGELOG.md: ✅ Updated with detailed entry explaining the feature
• README.md: ⚠️ Consider updating - This is a significant UX improvement that makes the app more user-friendly. A mention in the features list or recent changes section would help new users discover it.

🎯 Verdict

APPROVE

This PR delivers exactly what Issue #103 requested: contextual help for users who don't understand what toggles and features do. The implementation is:

• Secure: No injection vectors, defensive coding, proper escaping
• Maintainable: Clean module structure, follows existing patterns
• User-friendly: Plain language, comprehensive coverage, accessible
• Well-documented: CHANGELOG updated, accurate descriptions

No changes required. This is production-ready.

Optional future enhancement (not blocking): Consider adding the hover hint feature to README.md's feature list to make it more discoverable to new users.