13 KiB
TekDek CSS Specification Guide
For: Icarus (CSS/Design)
Project: Documentation Website Styling
Date: 2026-04-12
QUICK REFERENCE: COLOR PALETTE
Primary Background: #0d0d0f (near black)
Text (primary): #e0e0e0 (light gray)
Text (secondary): #7B8794 (steel blue)
Accent (primary): #C4A24E (gold)
Accent (secondary): #E07A2F (amber/orange)
Border Color: #2a2a2d (dark gray)
CSS Variables Template:
:root {
--color-bg: #0d0d0f;
--color-fg: #e0e0e0;
--color-gold: #C4A24E;
--color-steel: #7B8794;
--color-amber: #E07A2F;
--color-border: #2a2a2d;
}
TYPOGRAPHY STACK
| Element | Font | Size | Weight | Line Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| h1 | Cinzel | 3rem | 600 | 1.2 |
| h2 | Cinzel | 2.25rem | 600 | 1.2 |
| h3 | Cinzel | 1.75rem | 600 | 1.2 |
| h4 | Cinzel | 1.5rem | 600 | 1.2 |
| h5 | Cinzel | 1.25rem | 600 | 1.2 |
| h6 | Cinzel | 1.1rem | 600 | 1.2 |
| Body | Inter | 1rem (16px) | 400 | 1.6 |
| Body (bold) | Inter | 1rem | 600 | 1.6 |
| Code | JetBrains Mono | 0.95rem | 400 | 1.5 |
| Code (bold) | JetBrains Mono | 0.95rem | 500 | 1.5 |
Font Import:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Cinzel:wght@400;600;700&family=Inter:wght@400;500;600;700&family=JetBrains+Mono:wght@400;500&display=swap');
SPACING SCALE
--spacing-xs: 0.5rem (8px)
--spacing-sm: 1rem (16px)
--spacing-md: 1.5rem (24px)
--spacing-lg: 2rem (32px)
--spacing-xl: 3rem (48px)
--spacing-2xl: 4rem (64px)
Where to Use
- xs: Tight spacing within components (badges, inline labels)
- sm: Standard padding for buttons, form fields
- md: Section spacing, margin between elements
- lg: Space between major layout sections
- xl: Page-level spacing, large gaps
- 2xl: Full-screen padding, hero sections
COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS
Buttons
Primary Button
.btn-primary {
background: #C4A24E; /* Gold */
color: #0d0d0f; /* Dark background */
padding: 1rem 1.5rem;
border-radius: 6px;
font-weight: 600;
font-family: 'Cinzel', serif;
transition: all 0.2s ease;
border: none;
cursor: pointer;
}
.btn-primary:hover {
background: #E07A2F; /* Amber */
transform: translateY(-2px);
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(196, 162, 78, 0.3);
}
.btn-primary:active {
transform: translateY(0);
}
Secondary Button
.btn-secondary {
background: transparent;
color: #C4A24E; /* Gold text */
border: 2px solid #C4A24E;
padding: 0.875rem 1.375rem; /* Account for border */
border-radius: 6px;
font-weight: 600;
font-family: 'Cinzel', serif;
transition: all 0.2s ease;
cursor: pointer;
}
.btn-secondary:hover {
background: #C4A24E; /* Gold fill */
color: #0d0d0f;
}
Specs:
- Minimum height: 44px (touch-friendly)
- Minimum width: 80px
- Padding: 1rem 1.5rem
- Border radius: 6px
- Font size: inherit or 1rem
- Cursor: pointer
Cards
Base Card
.card {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
border: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 2rem;
transition: all 0.2s ease;
}
.card:hover {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
border-color: #C4A24E;
transform: translateY(-2px);
box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
}
Quick Link Card
.quick-link-card {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
border: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 2rem;
transition: all 0.2s ease;
}
.quick-link-card:hover {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
border-color: #C4A24E;
transform: translateY(-4px); /* Lift higher on hover */
}
.quick-link-card h3 a {
color: #C4A24E;
}
.quick-link-card p {
color: #7B8794; /* Steel */
}
Header & Navigation
Header Style
.site-header {
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #0d0d0f 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 100%);
border-bottom: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
height: 80px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
position: sticky;
top: 0;
z-index: 1;
}
.logo-text {
font-family: 'Cinzel', serif;
font-size: 1.8rem;
font-weight: 700;
color: #C4A24E;
transition: color 0.2s ease;
}
.logo a:hover .logo-text {
color: #E07A2F;
}
Navigation Menu
.menu {
display: flex;
list-style: none;
gap: 2rem;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.menu-link {
color: #e0e0e0;
padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
transition: color 0.2s ease;
text-decoration: none;
border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;
}
.menu-link:hover {
color: #C4A24E;
}
.menu-link.active {
color: #C4A24E;
border-bottom-color: #C4A24E;
}
Dropdown Menu
.menu-level-1 {
display: none;
position: absolute;
top: 100%;
left: 0;
background: rgba(13, 13, 15, 0.95);
border: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
border-radius: 6px;
padding: 1rem 0;
min-width: 200px;
z-index: 100;
box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
}
.menu-item.has-submenu:hover .menu-level-1 {
display: block;
}
.menu-level-1 .menu-link {
display: block;
padding: 1rem 1.5rem;
border: none;
}
Hero Section
Hero Container
.hero-section {
padding: 4rem 0;
text-align: center;
background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(196, 162, 78, 0.05) 0%, rgba(224, 122, 47, 0.05) 100%);
border-radius: 12px;
margin-bottom: 4rem;
}
.hero-title {
font-size: 4rem;
font-weight: 700;
margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #C4A24E, #E07A2F);
-webkit-background-clip: text;
-webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
background-clip: text;
}
.hero-subtitle {
font-size: 1.5rem;
color: #7B8794;
margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
}
.hero-desc {
font-size: 1.1rem;
color: #e0e0e0;
margin-bottom: 3rem;
line-height: 1.8;
max-width: 600px;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}
Footer
Footer Style
.site-footer {
background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
border-top: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
padding: 4rem 1.5rem;
margin-top: 4rem;
}
.footer-container {
max-width: 1200px;
margin: 0 auto;
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
gap: 2rem;
}
.footer-content p {
margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
color: #e0e0e0;
}
.footer-tagline {
color: #7B8794;
font-size: 0.9rem;
}
.footer-link {
color: #7B8794;
transition: color 0.2s ease;
}
.footer-link:hover {
color: #C4A24E;
}
Content Layout
Article Container
.content-article {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02);
border: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
padding: 3rem;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.content-body h2 {
margin-top: 3rem;
margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
}
.content-body ul,
.content-body ol {
margin-left: 2rem;
margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
}
.content-body li {
margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
}
Sidebar
.content-sidebar {
position: sticky;
top: calc(80px + 1.5rem);
height: fit-content;
}
.sidebar-section {
background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02);
border: 1px solid #2a2a2d;
padding: 1.5rem;
border-radius: 8px;
margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
}
.section-link {
display: block;
color: #7B8794;
padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
border-left: 3px solid transparent;
transition: all 0.2s ease;
}
.section-link:hover {
color: #C4A24E;
border-left-color: #C4A24E;
}
.section-link.active {
color: #C4A24E;
border-left-color: #C4A24E;
}
RESPONSIVE BREAKPOINTS
/* Default: Desktop (1200px+) */
body { font-size: 16px; }
/* Tablet (768px and below) */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
body { font-size: 15px; }
.menu-toggle { display: flex; }
.site-nav { /* Mobile menu styles */ }
.content-container { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
.footer-container { flex-direction: column; }
h1 { font-size: 2rem; }
h2 { font-size: 1.75rem; }
h3 { font-size: 1.5rem; }
.hero-title { font-size: 2.5rem; }
.quick-links-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}
/* Mobile (480px and below) */
@media (max-width: 480px) {
body { font-size: 14px; }
h1 { font-size: 1.5rem; }
h2 { font-size: 1.25rem; }
h3 { font-size: 1.1rem; }
.hero-title { font-size: 1.75rem; }
.btn { padding: 0.5rem 1rem; }
.site-main { padding: 1.5rem 0.5rem; }
}
ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Color Contrast
Must meet WCAG AA (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
| Combination | Ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (#C4A24E) on Dark (#0d0d0f) | ~5.2:1 | ✅ |
| Steel (#7B8794) on Dark (#0d0d0f) | ~4.5:1 | ✅ |
| Amber (#E07A2F) on Dark (#0d0d0f) | ~6.8:1 | ✅ |
| Light Text (#e0e0e0) on Dark (#0d0d0f) | ~16:1 | ✅ |
Focus States
All interactive elements must have visible focus states:
a:focus,
button:focus,
input:focus {
outline: 2px solid #C4A24E;
outline-offset: 2px;
}
Touch Targets
- Minimum 44px × 44px for buttons, links
- Mobile links need generous padding
- Hover states clear on touch
TRANSITION & ANIMATION GUIDELINES
Standard Transitions
/* Quick feedback (UI elements) */
transition: all 0.2s ease;
/* Smoother, more natural (larger movements) */
transition: all 0.3s ease;
Common Effects
/* Hover lift */
transform: translateY(-2px);
/* Card expand on hover */
transform: translateY(-4px);
box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
/* Smooth color change */
color: #C4A24E;
transition: color 0.2s ease;
Performance Notes
- Use
transformandopacityfor smooth 60fps animations - Avoid animating width/height (causes layout reflow)
- Keep animations under 300ms for snappiness
- Test on mobile devices for smooth performance
GRADIENT USAGE
Hero Title Gradient
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #C4A24E, #E07A2F);
-webkit-background-clip: text;
-webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
background-clip: text;
Header Background
background: linear-gradient(135deg, #0d0d0f 0%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 100%);
Hero Section Background
background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(196, 162, 78, 0.05) 0%, rgba(224, 122, 47, 0.05) 100%);
TRANSPARENCY SCALE
Use rgba with consistent alpha values for hierarchy:
/* Very subtle */
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02); /* Cards, subtle bg */
/* Subtle */
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03); /* Card containers */
/* Noticeable */
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05); /* Card hover, slight emphasis */
/* Strong */
rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08); /* Form inputs, secondary bg */
/* Dark overlays */
rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); /* Footer bg */
rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); /* Header gradient end */
BORDER RADIUS
--radius-sm: 3px; /* Code blocks, small elements */
--radius-md: 6px; /* Buttons, inputs, cards */
--radius-lg: 8px; /* Card containers, larger components */
--radius-xl: 12px; /* Hero sections, large containers */
BOX SHADOWS
/* Subtle */
box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
/* Medium (hover states) */
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(196, 162, 78, 0.3);
/* Strong (dropdown, modal) */
box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
TESTING CHECKLIST FOR ICARUS
Visual Testing
- Colors render correctly on multiple monitors
- Dark theme looks consistent
- Gold/amber contrast is clear and not too bright
- Text is readable at all sizes
- Code blocks have proper contrast
Responsive Testing
- Desktop layout (1200px+): All 3 columns work
- Tablet (768px): Navigation collapses, content reflows
- Mobile (480px): Single column, touch-friendly
- Hero section scales appropriately
- Buttons are always 44px+ height
Interaction Testing
- Hover states are clear on all interactive elements
- Focus states are visible (keyboard navigation)
- Transitions are smooth (no jank)
- Mobile menu toggle works
- Dropdown menus display correctly
Cross-Browser Testing
- Chrome (latest)
- Firefox (latest)
- Safari (if available)
- Mobile Chrome
- Mobile Safari
Accessibility Testing
- No text is color-only (icons + text or patterns)
- Color contrast meets WCAG AA
- Focus indicators visible
- Button sizes adequate
- Form inputs keyboard accessible
Performance Testing
- CSS files minify to < 50KB combined
- Fonts load without FOIT (flash of invisible text)
- Animations are smooth 60fps
- No excessive repaints/reflows
- Page Insights score > 80
DELIVERABLES FOR TALOS
-
/css/base.css- ~500 lines- Variables, reset, typography, layout
-
/css/components.css- ~600 lines- All UI components (buttons, cards, hero, etc.)
-
/css/responsive.css- ~400 lines- Media queries for tablet and mobile
Total CSS: ~1500 lines (unminified)
Specification Created: 2026-04-12
Status: Ready for Implementation
Next: Icarus builds the three CSS files