# Evaluation — Attempt 1

## Overall Verdict: MAJOR REVISION

## Overall Assessment
The member and public check-in pages establish a convincing “Apple clarity meets warm sanctuary” direction: restrained ivory/navy/gold, strong typography, sanctuary-light geometry, and a clean mobile transformation. However, the management portal—the central deliverable—does not render at all after a successful real admin login because of a fatal PDO parameter-binding error, making this attempt unshippable despite the visual strength of the two accessible pages.

## Scores
| Criterion | Score | Status | Weight | Notes |
|-----------|-------|--------|--------|-------|
| Design Quality | 2/3 | PASS | HIGH | The accessible pages are cohesive and polished, with a disciplined palette, strong hierarchy, and consistent card language across desktop and mobile. The management experience cannot be visually assessed because it fatally crashes. |
| Originality | 2/3 | PASS | HIGH | The diagonal sanctuary-light motif, deep-blue service cards, restrained gold controls, and app-like mobile dock create a recognizable church-specific identity beyond a generic Bootstrap template. |
| Craft | 2/3 | PASS | MEDIUM | Responsive layouts at 1440, 768, and 375 px have no horizontal overflow; type, spacing, borders, and touch targets are generally clean. Some content/state details need tightening, and the fixed mobile dock visually overlaps mid-page content while scrolling. |
| Functionality | 0/3 | FAIL | MEDIUM | `/admin/portal.php` returns a visible fatal error at every viewport: `SQLSTATE[HY093]: Invalid parameter number` from `app/permissions.php:24`. The required app launcher, permission states, metrics, mobile navigation, and admin content are entirely unavailable. |

## What's Working Well
- The public check-in page has an excellent primary hierarchy: the large welcome headline, single identification task, and service/location cards make the intended flow immediately understandable.
- The member sign-in page is calm and approachable, with strong label contrast, generous 54 px controls, and a clear split between account access and the Sunday service callout.
- The responsive behavior is deliberate rather than merely stacked. At 375 px, headers simplify, cards become full-width, desktop-only chrome disappears, and the bottom navigation provides 48 px targets.
- The visual system is consistent across both accessible pages: warm off-white canvas, navy display type, gold action states, subtle diagonal light geometry, and rounded white/navy surfaces.
- Accessibility fundamentals are visibly present: explicit form labels, readable body sizing, clear button affordances, and no horizontal overflow at any tested width.

## Issues Found

### Issue 1: Management portal is completely blocked by a fatal database error
- **What**: After authenticating with the real legacy admin login, `/admin/portal.php` renders only `PDOException: SQLSTATE[HY093]: Invalid parameter number`.
- **Where**: `app/permissions.php:24`, called by `appStaffPermissions()` and then `appStaffCan()` from `admin/portal.php:19`.
- **Why it matters**: This removes the primary management deliverable entirely and exposes an internal stack trace and filesystem paths to users. It is a release-blocking functionality and security-quality defect.
- **Suggested fix**: Correct the prepared-statement placeholder/value count (and avoid reusing named placeholders where native PDO binding does not support it), wrap permission bootstrap in safe error handling, and render a non-sensitive restricted/fallback state if RBAC data is unavailable. Retest with both legacy `admin_username` and `staff_user_id` sessions.

### Issue 2: The check-in service state contradicts itself
- **What**: The header summary says “Service status loading…” while the adjacent service card already says “Check-in window open.”
- **Where**: Public check-in hero/service metadata at all viewports.
- **Why it matters**: Users cannot tell whether the system has actually verified that check-in is open. For an attendance flow, contradictory status language damages trust and invites premature submission.
- **Suggested fix**: Use one shared state source and render a single consistent state. While loading, show a skeleton/neutral “Checking service…” everywhere; only reveal “Check-in window open” once resolved.

### Issue 3: Mobile fixed navigation obscures active reading/form content
- **What**: The large floating bottom dock sits over the privacy message and action area in the 375 px full-page capture; its raised active button further increases the occluded zone.
- **Where**: Member and check-in pages on mobile, especially around the primary form card.
- **Why it matters**: The dock can cover validation errors, privacy guidance, or controls at the current scroll position, which is particularly harmful during a form flow.
- **Suggested fix**: Reduce dock height/elevation, ensure scroll targets and form states include `scroll-margin-bottom`, and add viewport-aware bottom spacing to active sections—not only final page padding. Verify keyboard-open behavior on 320–390 px devices.

### Issue 4: Signed-out member actions imply functionality that is not yet explained
- **What**: “Sign in” and “Use a one-time code instead” are prominent controls, but the page provides no visible unavailable/loading/error state or explanation that OTP is future functionality.
- **Where**: Signed-out member portal card.
- **Why it matters**: A polished UI raises the expectation that these actions work. Silent or placeholder controls create immediate friction and reduce confidence.
- **Suggested fix**: Wire the normal sign-in action to an existing compatible endpoint, and present OTP as a clearly labeled “Coming soon” secondary action or a disabled button with explanatory text until a real flow exists.

## Priority Fixes for Next Attempt
1. Fix the `app/permissions.php` PDO binding failure, suppress raw stack traces in production UI, and verify the complete admin portal after both supported session types.
2. Re-run the required 1440/768/375 visual review on the now-rendering admin app grid, including permission-filtered/locked states and mobile bottom navigation.
3. Unify the check-in service status source and tighten mobile dock clearance around forms, validation messages, and the software keyboard.

## Should the next attempt REFINE or PIVOT?
REFINE. The accessible visual direction is strong, distinctive, and aligned with the brief; the failure is primarily a release-blocking integration defect plus a few state/mobile details. The next attempt should preserve the design system and focus on making the management portal render safely and validating the complete cross-portal experience.
