Auric Artisan Roadmap — Next Few Months
Update (July 2026): much of this roadmap has shipped — see the changelog.
Overview
This post outlines a focused, phased roadmap and a practical month-by-month plan for the next few months. The goals are simple: make the system easier to enter, help users understand what's happening, simplify powerful tools, optimize performance, and expand the platform with flexible tooling and documentation.
Phases Overview
+One-line summary of phases: Organize → Explain → Simplify → Optimize → Expand. Each phase has concrete goals and deliverables that roll into the next.
Phase 1 — Organize
+- New Start menu: split into Essentials, Color Lab, and System
- Reduce initial overload: surface only essentials; hide advanced tools
- Improve tool categorization and discoverability
Phase 2 — Explain
+- Status Kit: show tool stability (stable / beta / dev) and run-status
- Search inside status, real-time feedback indicators
- Fix backend feedback pipeline and add non-intrusive prompts
Phase 3 — Simplify
+- Casual vs Advanced mode with a single toggle
- Hide advanced settings; add plain-language and technical tooltips
- Standardize UI patterns across components for clarity
Phase 4 — Optimize
+- Progressive computation and background workers to avoid freezing
- Auto-disable non-essential animations during heavy tasks
- Improve lazy loading and leverage WebGL / WebGPU / Canvas where appropriate
Phase 5 — Expand
+- User customization and preferences (animations, layout, behavior)
- Better split-screen workflows and documentation
- Open-source Feature Kit, Menu Kit, Status Kit components
Month-by-month Plan
+May 2026 — Phase 1 (Organize)
- Ship Start menu prototype (Essentials / Color Lab / System)
- Surface Essentials and hide advanced options by default
- Begin re-categorizing tools and updating labels
June 2026 — Phase 2 (Explain) & Phase 3 (Simplify)
- Release Status Kit (UI + search) with stability badges
- Fix feedback backend; add in-context non-intrusive prompts
- Introduce Casual mode and basic tooltips
July 2026 — Phase 4 (Optimize) & Phase 5 (Expand)
- Roll out progressive computation and worker-based tasks
- Optimize rendering paths; add WebGL-based demos for heavy tools
- Publish initial docs and open-source Feature/Menu/Status kits
Design & Structure
+Design notes to keep in sync with the product:
- Start menu: clear categories — System, Essentials, Color Lab, Vision
- Consistency: shared component library (buttons, dialogs, loaders)
- Tooltips: simple copy + technical detail collapsed under a chevron
- Feedback: lightweight prompts with an opt-out and telemetry controls
Next Steps
+- Set the priorities for May.
- Prototype the Start menu and Status Kit UI components.
- Plan a short publish cadence: prototypes → feedback → iterate.
First up: a prototype of the new Start menu, and a short demo post showing the Status Kit UI.