System Requirements Document (SRD)

Project Name: mellow-literature

1. Introduction

The mellow-literature project aims to create an innovative and user-friendly platform for academic and literary enthusiasts, providing tools to analyze, critique, and improve literature reviews. This document outlines the system requirements for the project, ensuring clarity, functionality, and alignment with the needs of users like Cyril Marcus in Mongolia (MN). The platform will incorporate advanced features to assist users in understanding and improving academic writing, with a focus on literature reviews.

2. System Overview

The mellow-literature platform will serve as a comprehensive tool for academic writers, students, and researchers. It will provide functionalities to analyze literature reviews, compare examples, and offer constructive feedback. The system will also include educational resources to help users identify and implement best practices in academic writing. The platform will be accessible via web and mobile applications, ensuring usability across devices. Locale-specific defaults, such as time zones (UTC+8 for Mongolia) and currency (Mongolian Tögrög), will be considered where applicable.

3. Functional Requirements

• As a User, I should be able to upload a literature review for analysis.
• As a User, I should be able to compare a poor literature review with an improved one side-by-side.
• As a User, I should be able to receive detailed feedback on clarity, structure, and academic quality.
• As a User, I should be able to access a library of best practices for writing literature reviews.
• As a User, I should be able to save and revisit my analyzed reviews.
• As an Admin, I should be able to manage user accounts and uploaded content.
• As a Guest, I should be able to view sample literature reviews and their analyses.

4. User Personas

1. User:

   • Academic writers, students, and researchers looking to improve their literature reviews.
   • Needs: Feedback on writing quality, access to examples, and educational resources.

2. Admin:

   • Platform managers responsible for maintaining user accounts and content moderation.
   • Needs: Tools to manage user data and ensure content quality.

3. Guest:

   • Visitors exploring the platform without creating an account.
   • Needs: Access to sample content and a preview of platform features.

5. Visuals Colors and Theme

The mellow-literature platform will adopt a calming and professional aesthetic to reflect its academic focus:

• Primary Colors:
  • Soft Blue (#6C9BCF): Represents trust and professionalism.
  • Light Gray (#F5F5F5): Provides a neutral background for content.
• Secondary Colors:
  • Deep Navy (#2A3D66): Adds depth and contrast.
  • Warm Beige (#F2E6D9): Offers a subtle, inviting tone.
• Typography:
  • Serif fonts (e.g., Georgia) for headings to evoke a scholarly feel.
  • Sans-serif fonts (e.g., Open Sans) for body text to ensure readability.

6. Signature Design Concept

Interactive Literature Review Journey:
The homepage of mellow-literature will feature an interactive scrollable timeline that visually represents the evolution of a literature review. Users will see a "bad" literature review at the start of the timeline, with annotations pointing out its flaws. As they scroll, the review transforms into a "better" version, with highlighted improvements and explanations appearing dynamically.

• Animations:

  • Text will "rewrite itself" in real-time, showing how vague or informal phrases are replaced with precise, academic language.
  • Key terms and citations will "pop out" with subtle animations to emphasize their importance.

• Transitions:

  • Smooth scrolling with parallax effects to create depth.
  • Sections will "fade in" as users progress through the timeline.

• Micro-Interactions:

  • Hovering over annotations will display detailed explanations.
  • Clicking on examples will open side-by-side comparisons of "bad" and "better" reviews.

This immersive design will make the learning process engaging and memorable, ensuring users understand the value of clarity, structure, and academic rigor.

7. Non-Functional Requirements

• The system must support both English and Mongolian languages.
• The platform should load within 3 seconds on standard internet connections.
• Ensure data security and privacy for all user-uploaded content.
• The system must be scalable to support up to 10,000 concurrent users.

8. Tech Stack

• Frontend: React for web application.
• Backend: Python with FastAPI for handling requests and providing feedback.
• Database: MySQL for structured data storage and Alembic for migrations.
• AI Models:
  • GPT 5.2 for user-friendly feedback.
  • Claude 4.5 Opas for academic analysis.
• AI Tools: Langchain for managing AI workflows.
• Orchestration: Docker and Kubernetes for deployment and scalability.

9. Assumptions and Constraints

• Users will primarily access the platform via modern web browsers.
• The platform will initially focus on literature reviews in the humanities and social sciences.
• AI-generated feedback will require periodic updates to improve accuracy.
• The system will comply with data protection regulations in Mongolia and internationally.

10. Glossary

• Literature Review: A critical evaluation of existing research on a specific topic.
• Hegemonic Masculinity: A concept in gender studies describing the dominant social position of men and the subordinate position of women.
• Parallax Effect: A design technique where background images move slower than foreground images, creating a 3D effect.
• Annotations: Notes or comments added to a text to explain or critique it.

This updated SRD ensures that mellow-literature meets the needs of its users while delivering a unique and engaging experience. Cyril, this platform will empower users to master the art of academic writing, one literature review at a time!