Build Asset Browser / Import Hub and Palette Browser / Manager as first-class registry-backed tools using the shared engine/platform shell, remove their planned placeholders from tools/index, keep Sprite Editor first-class, keep SpriteEditor_old_keep hidden legacy, and extend registry validation to prevent future drift.

Author: ToolboxAid

docs/dev/CODEX_COMMANDS.md

@@ -2,39 +2,27 @@ MODEL: GPT-5.4
 REASONING: high
 
 COMMAND:
-Create BUILD_PR_TOOLS_INDEX_SURFACE_CLEANUP as a docs-first, surgical surface cleanup PR for HTML-JavaScript-Gaming.
+Create BUILD_PR_ASSET_BROWSER_IMPORT_HUB_AND_PALETTE_BROWSER_MANAGER using the latest uploaded GitHub repo as the baseline.
 
-GOAL:
-Make `tools/index.html` show only true first-class launchable tools. Keep `Sprite Editor` first-class and visible. Keep `SpriteEditor_old_keep` legacy and hidden. Remove `Advanced Systems & Extensions` from the tools landing page unless each item in that section is verified to be an actual active launchable tool under `tools/`.
+REQUIREMENTS:
+1. Build two new first-class tools under tools/:
+   - tools/Asset Browser/  -> display name: Asset Browser / Import Hub
+   - tools/Palette Browser/ -> display name: Palette Browser / Manager
+2. Register both in tools/toolRegistry.js as active first-class tools.
+3. Ensure tools/index.html renders them through the shared registry-driven surface.
+4. Remove the planned placeholder cards for these two tools once the real tools are live.
+5. Ensure any remaining older Asset Browser naming is normalized to "Asset Browser / Import Hub".
+6. Keep Sprite Editor first-class and visible.
+7. Keep SpriteEditor_old_keep legacy and hidden.
+8. Keep samples off the tools landing page.
+9. Use shared engine/platform shell + theme for both new tools.
+10. Update the registry validator so it verifies:
+    - both new tools exist in registry
+    - folder path matches registry path
+    - active first-class tools are surfaced
+    - legacy tools remain excluded
+    - placeholder cards are not left behind for live tools
+11. Keep changes surgical and aligned to current repo conventions.
 
-TARGET FILES TO AUDIT:
-- tools/index.html
-- tools/toolRegistry.js
-- tools/renderToolsIndex.js
-- any config/data feeding the tools page
-
-RULES:
-1. `tools/index.html` is a user-facing tool launcher, not a platform/dev page.
-2. Only render entries that are true first-class tools.
-3. Keep `Sprite Editor` active and visible.
-4. Keep `SpriteEditor_old_keep` hidden from active UI.
-5. If `Advanced Systems & Extensions` entries are platform/dev/internal, move or delete them.
-6. If they are duplicate/placeholder/dead, delete them.
-7. Do not expand scope beyond this cleanup.
-8. Preserve engine theme usage.
-
-EXPECTED ACTIVE TOOLS:
-- Vector Map Editor
-- Vector Asset Studio
-- Tilemap Studio
-- Parallax Scene Studio
-- Sprite Editor
-
-EXPECTED RESULT:
-- no misleading `Advanced Systems & Extensions` on main tools page unless truly valid
-- no legacy tool leakage
-- registry and rendered landing page aligned
-- no broken links
-
-OUTPUT:
-<project folder>/tmp/BUILD_PR_TOOLS_INDEX_SURFACE_CLEANUP.zip
+PACKAGE OUTPUT:
+<project folder>/tmp/BUILD_PR_ASSET_BROWSER_IMPORT_HUB_AND_PALETTE_BROWSER_MANAGER.zip

docs/dev/COMMIT_COMMENT.txt

@@ -1 +1 @@
-TOOLS: clean tools/index launcher surface; keep Sprite Editor first-class; hide legacy; remove non-tool sections
+Build Asset Browser / Import Hub and Palette Browser / Manager as first-class registry-backed tools using the shared engine/platform shell, remove their planned placeholders from tools/index, keep Sprite Editor first-class, keep SpriteEditor_old_keep hidden legacy, and extend registry validation to prevent future drift.

docs/dev/reports/change_summary.txt

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-BUILD_PR_TOOLS_INDEX_SURFACE_CLEANUP
+Change Summary
 
-Summary:
-- defines a strict rule for what may appear on tools/index.html
-- keeps Sprite Editor first-class and visible
-- keeps SpriteEditor_old_keep legacy and hidden
-- removes, relocates, or deletes Advanced Systems & Extensions items unless they are true launchable tools
-- keeps the cleanup surgical and surface-focused
+- Added two new first-class tools:
+  - Asset Browser / Import Hub
+  - Palette Browser / Manager
+- Registered both in the shared active tools registry.
+- Removed the static planned placeholder cards for the two now-live tools.
+- Kept the tools landing page registry-driven and sample-free.
+- Kept Sprite Editor first-class and SpriteEditor_old_keep hidden legacy.
+- Extended validator coverage for new tool folders, active surface participation, and placeholder drift.

docs/dev/reports/file_tree.txt

@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-HTML-JavaScript-Gaming/
+HTML-JavaScript-Gaming-main/
   docs/
     pr/
-      BUILD_PR_TOOLS_INDEX_SURFACE_CLEANUP.md
+      BUILD_PR_ASSET_BROWSER_IMPORT_HUB_AND_PALETTE_BROWSER_MANAGER.md
     dev/
       codex_commands.md
       commit_comment.txt
       reports/
         change_summary.txt
         validation_checklist.txt
         file_tree.txt
+  tmp/
+    BUILD_PR_ASSET_BROWSER_IMPORT_HUB_AND_PALETTE_BROWSER_MANAGER.zip

docs/dev/reports/tool_registry_validation.txt

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 TOOL_REGISTRY_VALIDATION
 status=PASS
-active=Vector Map Editor, Vector Asset Studio, Tilemap Studio, Parallax Scene Studio, Sprite Editor
+active=Vector Map Editor, Vector Asset Studio, Tilemap Studio, Parallax Scene Studio, Sprite Editor, Asset Browser / Import Hub, Palette Browser / Manager
 legacy=SpriteEditor_old_keep
 Filesystem Directories
+- Asset Browser
+- Palette Browser
 - Parallax Scene Studio
 - Sprite Editor
 - SpriteEditor_old_keep
@@ -15,6 +17,8 @@ Registry Paths
 - Tilemap Studio
 - Parallax Scene Studio
 - Sprite Editor
+- Asset Browser
+- Palette Browser
 - SpriteEditor_old_keep
 Issues
 - none

docs/dev/reports/validation_checklist.txt

@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
-[ ] tools/index.html audited for Advanced Systems & Extensions section
-[ ] tools/toolRegistry.js audited for Sprite Editor active entry
-[ ] tools/toolRegistry.js audited for SpriteEditor_old_keep legacy handling
-[ ] render logic verified to use active first-class tools only
-[ ] Sprite Editor visible on tools landing page
-[ ] SpriteEditor_old_keep hidden from tools landing page
-[ ] non-tool/internal/dev entries moved or deleted
-[ ] no dead links from tools landing page
-[ ] engine theme preserved across active tools page
+Validation Checklist
+
+[x] tools/Asset Browser/ exists
+[x] tools/Palette Browser/ exists
+[x] Both tools load through shared engine/platform shell
+[x] Both tools use engine theme
+[x] tools/toolRegistry.js contains active entries for both tools
+[x] tools/index.html shows both tools as first-class launchable tools
+[x] tools/index.html does not show samples
+[x] Static placeholder for Palette Browser / Manager removed after activation
+[x] Static placeholder for Asset Browser / Import Hub removed after activation
+[x] No non-validator references remain to the old Asset Browser name
+[x] Sprite Editor remains visible as first-class tool
+[x] SpriteEditor_old_keep remains hidden legacy
+[x] Registry validator checks both new tools
+[x] Registry validator flags placeholder drift for live tools
+[x] No broken paths from tools landing page

docs/pr/BUILD_PR_ASSET_BROWSER_IMPORT_HUB_AND_PALETTE_BROWSER_MANAGER.md

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# BUILD_PR_ASSET_BROWSER_IMPORT_HUB_AND_PALETTE_BROWSER_MANAGER
+
+## Objective
+Implement two new first-class tools under `tools/`:
+
+1. `Asset Browser / Import Hub`
+2. `Palette Browser / Manager`
+
+The build stays surgical: both tools use the shared engine theme and platform shell, are surfaced through the registry-driven tools landing page, keep `Sprite Editor` first-class, and keep `SpriteEditor_old_keep` preserved but hidden.
+
+## Files Added
+- `tools/Asset Browser/index.html`
+- `tools/Asset Browser/main.js`
+- `tools/Asset Browser/assetBrowser.css`
+- `tools/Asset Browser/README.md`
+- `tools/Palette Browser/index.html`
+- `tools/Palette Browser/main.js`
+- `tools/Palette Browser/paletteBrowser.css`
+- `tools/Palette Browser/README.md`
+
+## Files Updated
+- `tools/toolRegistry.js`
+- `tools/index.html`
+- `scripts/validate-tool-registry.mjs`
+- `scripts/validate-active-tools-surface.mjs`
+- `docs/dev/COMMIT_COMMENT.txt`
+- `docs/dev/reports/change_summary.txt`
+- `docs/dev/reports/validation_checklist.txt`
+
+## Implementation Summary
+
+### Asset Browser / Import Hub
+- Added a launchable first-class tool at `tools/Asset Browser/`.
+- Uses shared shell and engine theme.
+- Browses approved asset locations only.
+- Previews real repo-backed vector, sprite, tilemap, parallax, palette, and workflow JSON assets.
+- Provides a non-destructive import-plan flow with:
+  - category selection
+  - approved destination selection
+  - lowercase naming validation
+  - duplicate conflict warning
+  - downloadable import-plan JSON
+
+### Palette Browser / Manager
+- Added a launchable first-class tool at `tools/Palette Browser/`.
+- Uses shared shell and engine theme.
+- Loads built-in palettes from `engine/paletteList.js`.
+- Supports local custom palette workflows through browser storage:
+  - create
+  - duplicate
+  - rename
+  - add swatch
+  - delete swatch
+  - copy/export JSON
+- Publishes a lightweight palette handoff record for active art tools.
+
+### Registry and Landing Surface
+- Registered both tools as active first-class entries in `tools/toolRegistry.js`.
+- The tools landing page continues to render from the shared registry-driven grid.
+- Removed the now-obsolete planned placeholder cards for the two live tools.
+- Kept samples off the tools landing page.
+- Kept `Sprite Editor` visible and first-class.
+- Kept `SpriteEditor_old_keep` hidden legacy.
+
+## Validation Changes
+- Extended `scripts/validate-tool-registry.mjs` to require both new tools in the registry and on disk.
+- Extended `scripts/validate-active-tools-surface.mjs` to validate both new tool pages.
+- Added checks that fail if the static landing page still contains placeholder text for live tools.
+
+## Validation Performed
+- `node --check tools/Asset Browser/main.js`
+- `node --check tools/Palette Browser/main.js`
+- `node scripts/validate-tool-registry.mjs`
+- `node scripts/validate-active-tools-surface.mjs`
+
+## Acceptance Summary
+- Both tools exist under `tools/`.
+- Both tools are active in the shared registry.
+- Both tools load through the shared engine/platform shell.
+- The tools landing page surfaces them through the existing registry-driven launcher.
+- Legacy sprite tooling remains excluded from the active surface.

scripts/validate-active-tools-surface.mjs

@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ const REQUIRED_ACTIVE_TOOL_NAMES = [
   "Vector Asset Studio",
   "Tilemap Studio",
   "Parallax Scene Studio",
-  "Sprite Editor"
+  "Sprite Editor",
+  "Asset Browser / Import Hub",
+  "Palette Browser / Manager"
 ];
 
 const SCAN_TARGETS = [
@@ -40,7 +42,9 @@ const ACTIVE_TOOL_ENTRYPOINTS = [
   "tools/Tilemap Studio/index.html",
   "tools/Parallax Scene Studio/index.html",
   "tools/Vector Map Editor/index.html",
-  "tools/Sprite Editor/index.html"
+  "tools/Sprite Editor/index.html",
+  "tools/Asset Browser/index.html",
+  "tools/Palette Browser/index.html"
 ];
 
 async function pathExists(targetPath) {
@@ -130,6 +134,15 @@ async function main() {
   }
 
   const toolsLandingPage = await readText("tools/index.html");
+  if (/Asset Browser \/ Import Helper/.test(toolsLandingPage)) {
+    issues.push('Stale "Asset Browser / Import Helper" placeholder remains on tools landing page.');
+  }
+  if (/Palette Browser \/ Manager/.test(toolsLandingPage)) {
+    issues.push('Palette Browser / Manager should be registry-rendered, not left behind as a static placeholder card.');
+  }
+  if (/Asset Browser \/ Import Hub/.test(toolsLandingPage)) {
+    issues.push('Asset Browser / Import Hub should be registry-rendered, not left behind as a static placeholder card.');
+  }
   if (!toolsLandingPage.includes("../engine/ui/hubCommon.css")) {
     issues.push("Engine theme stylesheet missing from tools landing page.");
   }

scripts/validate-tool-registry.mjs

@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ const EXPECTED_ACTIVE_NAMES = [
   "Vector Asset Studio",
   "Tilemap Studio",
   "Parallax Scene Studio",
-  "Sprite Editor"
+  "Sprite Editor",
+  "Asset Browser / Import Hub",
+  "Palette Browser / Manager"
 ];
 
 const EXPECTED_LEGACY_NAMES = [
@@ -145,6 +147,17 @@ async function main() {
     issues.push("Active registry entries must not include SpriteEditor_old_keep.");
   }
 
+  const toolsLandingPage = await fs.readFile(path.join(toolsRoot, "index.html"), "utf8");
+  if (/Asset Browser \/ Import Helper/.test(toolsLandingPage)) {
+    issues.push('Placeholder drift detected: "Asset Browser / Import Helper" still appears in tools/index.html.');
+  }
+  if (/Palette Browser \/ Manager/.test(toolsLandingPage)) {
+    issues.push('Placeholder drift detected: "Palette Browser / Manager" still appears in static tools/index.html after activation.');
+  }
+  if (/Asset Browser \/ Import Hub/.test(toolsLandingPage)) {
+    issues.push('Placeholder drift detected: "Asset Browser / Import Hub" still appears in static tools/index.html instead of the registry-rendered grid.');
+  }
+
   const reportLines = [
     "TOOL_REGISTRY_VALIDATION",
     `status=${issues.length === 0 ? "PASS" : "FAIL"}`,

tools/Asset Browser/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Asset Browser / Import Hub
+
+Asset Browser / Import Hub is a first-class tools surface for browsing approved project asset locations and generating non-destructive import plans.
+
+## Phase 1
+- Browse approved vector, sprite, tilemap, parallax, palette, and workflow assets.
+- Preview SVG and JSON-backed assets.
+- Validate local file names against approved import targets.
+- Download an import-plan JSON without mutating repo files directly.
+
+## Boundary
+- This tool is not a general filesystem explorer.
+- It does not write directly into the repo.
+- It stays aligned to approved platform asset folders and shared tools conventions.