# Calendar View Feature Research

## Overview

This document outlines research and implementation ideas for adding a calendar view to DearDiary, enabling users to visualize their journaling activity across days, weeks, and months at a glance.

## Current State Analysis

### Existing Navigation & Data Flow
- **Routes**: `/` (Dashboard), `/today`, `/history`, `/diary`, `/day/:date`, `/journal/:date`, `/settings`
- **API**: `getDays()` returns `Array<{ date, eventCount, hasJournal, journalTitle?, journalExcerpt? }>`
- **History page**: Currently a simple list showing all days chronologically

### Key Data Points Per Day
- `date`: ISO date string (YYYY-MM-DD)
- `eventCount`: Number of events captured
- `hasJournal`: Whether diary page has been generated
- `journalTitle`: Title from AI-generated diary
- `journalExcerpt`: Preview text from diary content

---

## Feature Description

### 1. Monthly Calendar View

**Primary use case**: Overview of journaling activity at a glance

- Grid layout (7 columns for weekdays)
- Each day cell shows:
  - Date number
  - Visual indicator(s) for presence of events/diary
  - Event count (optional, on hover or expanded)

**Visual Indicators**
| State | Indicator |
|-------|-----------|
| No events | Empty cell, muted styling |
| Events only (draft) | Small blue/gray dot |
| Diary generated | Small purple dot |
| Both (events + diary) | Two dots or colored dot with indicator |
| Today | Highlighted cell (border/background) |
| Selected day | Different background/border |

**Event Density Visualization**
- Option to show density heat map (more events = darker shade)
- Scale: 1-2 events (light), 3-5 (medium), 6+ (dark)

### 2. Weekly Calendar View

**Primary use case**: Detailed look at recent activity

- Horizontal 7-day strip
- Each day shows expanded content:
  - Event count
  - Mini event list (first 2-3 events)
  - Diary status badge

### 3. Daily Mini Calendar

- Fixed position in header or sidebar
- Shows current month
- Click to navigate to specific date
- Quick navigation (prev/next month arrows)

---

## UI Component Suggestions

### Recommended Libraries

| Library | Pros | Cons |
|---------|------|------|
| **react-big-calendar** | Full-featured, customizable, well-maintained | Requires styling, may be heavy |
| **react-calendar** | Lightweight, simple API, good theming | Limited customization |
| **react-datepicker** | Easy to integrate, accessible | More input-focused than display |
| **fullcalendar-react** | Enterprise-grade, many views | Complex, may be overkill |
| **Custom CSS Grid** | Full control, lightweight | More implementation work |

### Recommendation: Custom CSS Grid + react-calendar hybrid

For DearDiary's needs, a custom implementation using CSS Grid provides:
- Full Tailwind integration (matches existing style)
- Lightweight bundle
- Complete control over visual indicators
- No dependency on heavy calendar libraries

**Fallback**: If ready-made needed, `react-calendar` is lightweight (~50KB) and sufficient for monthly view.

### Tailwind CSS Implementation (Custom)

```tsx
// Monthly calendar grid
<div className="grid grid-cols-7 gap-1">
  {days.map(day => (
    <button className={cn(
      "relative p-2 rounded-lg text-center",
      day.isToday && "ring-2 ring-purple-500",
      day.hasEvents && "bg-slate-800",
      day.hasJournal && "bg-purple-900/30"
    )}>
      <span>{day.dateNumber}</span>
      {day.hasEvents && (
        <span className="absolute bottom-1 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-blue-400" />
      )}
    </button>
  ))}
</div>
```

---

## Integration with Existing Pages

### 1. Standalone Calendar Page (`/calendar`)

New route added to App.tsx:
- Full monthly calendar view
- Navigation to previous/next months
- Click on day navigates to `/day/:date` or `/journal/:date`
- Toggle between month/week views

### 2. Integration with Dashboard

Replace or supplement "Recent Diary Pages" with mini calendar:
- Show current month
- Click date to navigate
- Compact version (fewer details per cell)

### 3. Integration with History Page

Replace list view with calendar as default:
- Toggle between calendar and list views
- Calendar shows activity overview
- List remains available for detailed browsing

### 4. Navigation Updates

Update Navbar to include calendar link:
```tsx
// App.tsx Navbar
<a href="/calendar" className="text-slate-300 hover:text-white transition">Calendar</a>
```

### 5. Quick Date Navigation

Mini calendar in header (optional):
- Always visible month view
- Click date = navigate to `/day/:date`

---

## Implementation Complexity

### Phase 1: Basic Monthly Calendar (Priority: High)
- [ ] Create `Calendar.tsx` component
- [ ] Add `/calendar` route
- [ ] Fetch days data for current month
- [ ] Render grid with visual indicators
- [ ] Click to navigate

**Complexity**: ~2-3 hours
**Files**: `frontend/src/components/Calendar.tsx`, route in App.tsx

### Phase 2: Dashboard Integration (Priority: Medium)
- [ ] Add mini calendar to Dashboard
- [ ] Show current month
- [ ] Click date navigates to day

**Complexity**: ~1-2 hours

### Phase 3: Week View (Priority: Low)
- [ ] Add week view toggle
- [ ] Horizontal 7-day strip
- [ ] Expanded content per day

**Complexity**: ~2-3 hours

### Phase 4: Advanced Features (Priority: Low)
- [ ] Event density heat map
- [ ] Drag to select date range
- [ ] Export calendar as image
- [ ] iCal integration

**Complexity**: Varies

---

## API Requirements

### Current API Sufficiency

`getDays()` returns all days - filtering by month happens on client. For larger datasets:

**Potential enhancement**:
```typescript
// Get days for specific month (optional optimization)
async getDaysByMonth(year: number, month: number): Promise<DayInfo[]>
```

**Current workaround sufficient**: Fetch all days, filter in React (acceptable for < 365 entries).

---

## Accessibility Considerations

### WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance

1. **Keyboard Navigation**
   - Arrow keys to move between days
   - Enter/Space to select
   - Escape to close calendar

2. **Screen Reader Support**
   - `aria-label` on each day cell: "March 15, 2026 - 3 events, diary generated"
   - `aria-current` for today
   - `role="grid"` with proper row/cell structure

3. **Visual Indicators**
   - Don't rely solely on color
   - Use icons/shapes + color
   - Sufficient contrast ratios (4.5:1 minimum)

4. **Focus Management**
   - Focus visible on calendar open
   - Return focus to trigger element on close

### Example ARIA Implementation

```tsx
<button
  aria-label={`${dateString} - ${eventCount} events${hasJournal ? ', diary generated' : ''}`}
  aria-current={isToday ? 'date' : undefined}
  className="..."
>
  <span aria-hidden="true">{dayNumber}</span>
  {hasEvents && <span className="sr-only">Has events</span>}
</button>
```

---

## Mobile-Friendly Considerations

### Responsive Design

1. **Viewport Adaptation**
   - Desktop: Full monthly grid (35 cells visible)
   - Tablet: Scrollable or condensed
   - Mobile: Week view default, swipe between weeks

2. **Touch Targets**
   - Minimum 44x44px tap targets
   - Adequate spacing between dates

3. **Interaction Patterns**
   - Swipe left/right for month navigation
   - Tap to select, long-press for context menu

### Library Considerations

If using `react-big-calendar`:
```tsx
<Calendar
  views={['month', 'week', 'day']}
  defaultView="week" // Default to week on mobile
  popup
  selectable
  style={{ height: 'auto' }}
/>
```

---

## Recommended Implementation Plan

### Priority 1: Calendar Page
1. Create `frontend/src/components/Calendar.tsx`
   - Monthly grid using CSS Grid
   - Visual dots for event/diary status
   - Click navigates to `/day/:date`
2. Add route `/calendar` in App.tsx
3. Add nav link in Navbar
4. Test with existing data

### Priority 2: Dashboard Integration
1. Add mini calendar above recent entries
2. Show current month
3. Highlight today, clickable dates

### Priority 3: History Enhancement
1. Add toggle between list/calendar views
2. Calendar as default

### Priority 4: Week View (Optional)
1. Add view switcher
2. Horizontal week strip with event previews

---

## Summary

| Aspect | Recommendation |
|--------|----------------|
| **Implementation** | Custom CSS Grid (Tailwind) |
| **First placement** | New `/calendar` page |
| **View types** | Monthly default, week as secondary |
| **Indicators** | Dots (blue=events, purple=diary) |
| **Navigation** | Click to `/day/:date` or `/journal/:date` |
| **Accessibility** | Full ARIA, keyboard nav |
| **Mobile** | Default to week view, touch-friendly |

### Estimated Timeline
- Phase 1 (Calendar page): 2-3 hours
- Phase 2 (Dashboard): 1-2 hours  
- Phase 3 (Week view): 2-3 hours
- **Total**: ~5-8 hours

---

## Questions for Further Research

1. Should calendar support date range selection for bulk operations?
2. Export to iCal/Google Calendar desired?
3. Sync with external calendars (Google, Apple)?
4. Recurring event support?
5. Need to show time-of-day heat map?