astrolabe/docs/ux-second-pass.md

# UX second pass — batched council review

A running parking lot of small UX / interaction decisions deferred for a **batched
[`/council`](../.claude/skills/council/SKILL.md) review**, rather than gating each one the
moment it surfaces. Append quirks here as they come up; resolve them together in one pass,
record the resolution into the contract (`docs/architecture/09`+`10` and the relevant
`docs/spec/`), then delete the row.

## Open

### Chart Builder — encoding type control: cycle vs. explicit pick

- **Where:** `src/app/components/ChartBuilderModal.tsx` → `ChannelPill` (the `pillType` chip).
- **What:** a mapped channel's field type is shown as a **cycling chip** — activating it steps
  N → O → Q → T within the set valid for the column/channel. It is compact and matches the
  approved field-first pill design, but a _cycling_ button gives a screen-reader / keyboard
  user no way to jump straight to a type; they step through the cycle. The pre-2B control was
  an explicit `N | O | Q | T` segmented radio (direct pick, APG radio pattern).
- **Decision to make:** keep the cycle, restore the explicit segmented control, or a hybrid
  (chip for a quick mouse cycle + an accessible radio/menu for direct selection).
- **Lens:** WAI-ARIA APG (radio vs. toggle button), IBM Carbon, the project's keyboard-first
  accessibility bar.

### Chart Builder — empty Colour/Size "or constant" affordance

- **Where:** `ChannelPill` / `ChannelSlot` — the constant-value entry on Colour/Size (2A).
- **What:** an empty Colour/Size slot offers a small underlined "or constant" text button to
  switch the channel from a field binding to a fixed `{ value }`. Confirm the copy, emphasis,
  and discoverability read well alongside the field-assign affordance.
- **Lens:** Carbon / GOV.UK content + control emphasis.