System Requirements Document (SRD) for steel-landscape

1. Introduction

The steel-landscape project is a minimal landscape design tool tailored for users like Angel Westling in the US. This system focuses on creating simple landscaping mockups, specifically featuring rock gardens. The tool is designed to help users visualize and plan minimal landscaping around their homes with ease and precision.

2. System Overview

The steel-landscape system is a web-based application that allows users to design minimalistic landscapes with a focus on rock gardens. It provides an intuitive interface for users to create mockups of their outdoor spaces, enabling them to experiment with different layouts and designs. The system is user-friendly and caters to individuals looking for a simple yet effective way to plan their landscaping projects.

Key features include:

• A drag-and-drop interface for placing landscaping elements.
• Pre-designed templates for rock gardens.
• Customization options for layout, materials, and plant selection.
• Real-time visualization of designs.

The system is optimized for users in the US, with locale-specific defaults such as measurements in feet and inches, and currency in USD.

3. Functional Requirements

• As a User, I should be able to create a minimal landscaping mockup around my house.
• As a User, I should be able to design and customize a rock garden.
• As a User, I should be able to drag and drop landscaping elements into my design.
• As a User, I should be able to choose from pre-designed rock garden templates.
• As a User, I should be able to visualize my design in real-time.

4. User Personas

1. Homeowner

• Description: Individuals like Angel who want to plan and visualize minimal landscaping around their homes.
• Goals: Create a simple and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space with a focus on rock gardens.
• Needs: Easy-to-use tools, pre-designed templates, and customization options.

2. Guest User

• Description: Visitors exploring the tool without creating an account.
• Goals: Experiment with the tool's features and decide whether to sign up.
• Needs: Limited access to features, with an option to save designs upon registration.

5. Visuals Colors and Theme

The steel-landscape project will feature a clean and minimalistic design to align with the theme of simplicity and nature. The proposed color palette includes:

• Primary Colors:
  • Soft Gray (#D3D3D3) for backgrounds.
  • Earthy Brown (#8B4513) for rock and soil elements.
• Accent Colors:
  • Sage Green (#9DC183) for plants and foliage.
  • Stone White (#F5F5F5) for text and highlights.
• Interactive Elements:
  • Deep Blue (#4682B4) for buttons and active states.

The overall theme will evoke a sense of calm and natural beauty, reflecting the essence of minimal landscaping.

6. Signature Design Concept

The steel-landscape homepage will feature an interactive zen garden as its centerpiece. Upon landing on the page, users will see a serene, animated rock garden with raked sand patterns that subtly shift and rearrange every few seconds.

Key Features:

• Interactive Sand Raking: Users can click and drag their mouse (or finger on mobile) to "rake" the sand, creating their own patterns.
• Dynamic Rock Placement: Rocks in the garden can be clicked to move or rotate, showcasing the customization capabilities of the tool.
• Ambient Animations: Gentle wind effects will cause leaves to drift across the screen, and the sand will shimmer slightly in the sunlight.
• Micro-Interactions: Hovering over elements like buttons or links will create ripples in the sand, reinforcing the zen aesthetic.
• Call-to-Action: A prominent "Start Designing" button will pulse gently in the center of the garden, inviting users to begin their landscaping journey.

This unique and calming design will immediately captivate users, setting the tone for the creative and peaceful experience of designing their landscapes.

7. Non-Functional Requirements

• The system must load within 2 seconds on a standard broadband connection.
• The application should be responsive and accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.
• The system must support high-resolution visuals for detailed mockups.
• The application should comply with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.

8. Tech Stack

• Frontend: React for Web
• Backend: Python with FastAPI
• Database: MySQL with Alembic for migrations
• AI Models: Google Nano Banana for generating realistic landscaping visuals
• AI Tools: Langchain for managing AI-driven interactions
• Local Orchestration: Docker and docker-compose for development and deployment
• Server-Side Orchestration: Kubernetes for scaling and management

9. Assumptions and Constraints

• The system assumes users have basic knowledge of landscaping and design principles.
• The application will be hosted on a cloud platform with sufficient resources to handle user traffic.
• The system will primarily target users in the US, with measurements and currency tailored to this locale.
• The initial version will focus on rock gardens, with potential expansion to other landscaping elements in future updates.

10. Glossary

• Mockup: A visual representation of a design or layout.
• Zen Garden: A minimalist Japanese garden featuring rocks, sand, and raked patterns.
• WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of standards for making web content accessible to all users.
• RDBMS: Relational Database Management System, used for storing structured data.
• FastAPI: A modern web framework for building APIs with Python.
• Docker: A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers.

This document outlines the comprehensive requirements for the steel-landscape project, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience for Angel and others looking to design minimalistic landscapes with rock gardens.