# User Interface Guide

<div align="center">
  <img src="../logos/rustelo_dev-logo-h.svg" alt="RUSTELO" width="300" />
</div>

Welcome to the[Rustelo](/) User Interface Guide! This comprehensive guide will help you navigate and use all the features of your[Rustelo](/) application with confidence.

## 🎯 Overview

The[Rustelo](/) interface is designed to be intuitive, responsive, and accessible across all devices. Whether you're using a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone, you'll have a consistent and enjoyable experience.

## 🏠 Homepage & Navigation

### Main Navigation Bar

The navigation bar is your primary way to move around the application:

```
[Logo] [Home] [Dashboard] [Content] [Profile] [Settings] [Logout]
```

#### Navigation Elements:
- **Home** - Return to the main landing page
- **Dashboard** - Your personal workspace and overview
- **Content** - Create, view, and manage content
- **Profile** - Manage your account settings
- **Settings** - Application preferences
- **Logout** - Securely sign out of your account

### Mobile Navigation

On mobile devices, the navigation transforms into a hamburger menu:

```
[≡] [Logo] [🔔] [👤]
```

- **≡** - Opens the full navigation menu
- **🔔** - Notifications (if enabled)
- **👤** - Quick access to profile

## 📱 Responsive Design

### Desktop Experience
- **Full sidebar navigation** - Always visible for quick access
- **Multi-column layouts** - Efficient use of screen space
- **Keyboard shortcuts** - Power user features
- **Drag and drop** - Intuitive content management

### Tablet Experience
- **Collapsible sidebar** - Maximizes content area
- **Touch-friendly buttons** - Optimized for touch interaction
- **Swipe gestures** - Navigate between sections
- **Adaptive layouts** - Adjusts to orientation changes

### Mobile Experience
- **Bottom navigation** - Easy thumb access
- **Swipe navigation** - Gesture-based interactions
- **Optimized forms** - Mobile-first input design
- **Offline support** - Basic functionality without internet

## 🎨 Interface Elements

### Color Scheme

The[Rustelo](/) interface uses a carefully crafted color palette:

- **Primary Blue** (#3182ce) - Main actions and links
- **Secondary Gray** (#718096) - Supporting text and borders
- **Success Green** (#38a169) - Positive feedback and success states
- **Warning Orange** (#ed8936) - Caution and warning messages
- **Error Red** (#e53e3e) - Error states and destructive actions

### Typography

- **Headers** - Clear hierarchy with consistent sizing
- **Body Text** - Readable font with optimal line spacing
- **Code** - Monospace font for technical content
- **Links** - Clearly distinguished with hover effects

### Buttons & Controls

#### Primary Actions
```
[Save Changes] [Create Post] [Send Message]
```
- Blue background with white text
- Used for main actions on a page

#### Secondary Actions
```
[Cancel] [Edit] [View Details]
```
- Gray border with blue text
- Used for supporting actions

#### Destructive Actions
```
[Delete] [Remove] [Clear All]
```
- Red background or border
- Used for actions that remove or destroy data

## 🔧 Dashboard Overview

### Dashboard Layout

Your dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of your account:

```
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│  Quick Stats    │  Recent Activity│
├─────────────────┼─────────────────┤
│  Content        │  Notifications  │
│  Overview       │  & Messages     │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────┤
│  Quick Actions  │  System Status  │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────┘
```

### Quick Stats Widget
- **Total Content** - Number of posts, articles, or items
- **Views/Engagement** - Traffic and interaction metrics
- **Storage Used** - File and media storage usage
- **Account Status** - Current subscription or plan level

### Recent Activity
- **Latest actions** - Recent posts, edits, and interactions
- **System updates** - Important notifications about the application
- **Community activity** - Updates from other users (if applicable)

### Quick Actions
- **Create New** - Shortcuts to create content
- **Upload Files** - Direct access to media upload
- **Settings** - Quick access to account preferences
- **Help** - Direct link to support resources

## 📝 Content Management Interface

### Content List View

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [🔍 Search] [📝 New Post] [🔄 Refresh] [⚙️ Settings]          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Title                    │ Status  │ Date       │ Actions   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Welcome to Rustelo       │ Published│ 2024-01-15 │ [Ed][Del]│
│ Getting Started Guide    │ Draft    │ 2024-01-14 │ [Ed][Del]│
│ Feature Documentation    │ Published│ 2024-01-13 │ [Ed][Del]│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Content Editor

The content editor provides a rich writing experience:

#### Editor Toolbar
```
[B] [I] [U] [📎] [🔗] [📷] [📊] [💾] [👁️] [📱]
```

- **B** - Bold text
- **I** - Italic text
- **U** - Underline text
- **📎** - Insert files/attachments
- **🔗** - Insert links
- **📷** - Insert images
- **📊** - Insert tables/charts
- **💾** - Save draft
- **👁️** - Preview
- **📱** - Mobile preview

#### Editor Features
- **Live Preview** - See changes as you type
- **Auto-save** - Automatically saves drafts
- **Markdown Support** - Rich text formatting
- **Spell Check** - Built-in spelling and grammar
- **Word Count** - Track document length
- **Version History** - Access previous versions

## 🔐 Authentication Interface

### Login Screen

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│            Welcome Back             │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Email:    [________________]        │
│ Password: [________________]        │
│ □ Remember me                       │
│                                     │
│ [    Sign In    ]                   │
│                                     │
│ Forgot password? | Create account   │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Registration Screen

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│         Create Your Account         │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Full Name: [________________]       │
│ Email:     [________________]       │
│ Username:  [________________]       │
│ Password:  [________________]       │
│ Confirm:   [________________]       │
│                                     │
│ □ I agree to the Terms of Service   │
│                                     │
│ [   Create Account   ]              │
│                                     │
│ Already have an account? Sign in    │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Password Strength Indicator

```
Password: [weak____strong]
✗ At least 8 characters
✗ Contains uppercase letter
✓ Contains lowercase letter
✗ Contains number
✗ Contains special character
```

## 👤 Profile Management

### Profile Overview

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [👤 Avatar]  John Doe                                        │
│              john.doe@example.com                           │
│              Member since: January 2024                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Edit Profile] [Change Password] [Privacy Settings]         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Profile Editing

#### Basic Information
- **Full Name** - Your display name
- **Email Address** - Account email (used for login)
- **Username** - Unique identifier
- **Bio/Description** - About yourself
- **Location** - Your location (optional)
- **Website** - Personal or professional website

#### Profile Picture
- **Upload New** - Choose from your device
- **Remove Current** - Delete existing avatar
- **Supported Formats** - JPG, PNG, GIF (max 2MB)

#### Privacy Settings
- **Profile Visibility** - Public, Private, or Friends Only
- **Contact Information** - Show/hide email and other details
- **Activity Status** - Show when you're online
- **Search Visibility** - Allow others to find you in search

## 📊 Settings & Preferences

### Account Settings

#### Security
- **Change Password** - Update your login password
- **Two-Factor Authentication** - Enable/disable 2FA
- **Login History** - View recent login attempts
- **Connected Devices** - Manage logged-in devices

#### Notifications
- **Email Notifications** - Control email alerts
- **Push Notifications** - Mobile and desktop notifications
- **Frequency** - How often to receive updates
- **Types** - What events trigger notifications

#### Privacy
- **Data Sharing** - Control what data is shared
- **Cookie Preferences** - Manage tracking cookies
- **Export Data** - Download your account data
- **Delete Account** - Permanently remove your account

### Application Settings

#### Appearance
- **Theme** - Light, Dark, or System preference
- **Font Size** - Adjust text size for readability
- **Compact Mode** - Reduce spacing for more content
- **Animations** - Enable/disable interface animations

#### Language & Region
- **Language** - Select your preferred language
- **Time Zone** - Set your local time zone
- **Date Format** - Choose date display format
- **Number Format** - Regional number formatting

## 🔍 Search & Discovery

### Search Interface

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [🔍] Search everything...                          [⚙️]      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Recent Searches:                                            │
│ • getting started guide                                     │
│ • user authentication                                       │
│ • content management                                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Search Features
- **Real-time suggestions** - As you type
- **Search history** - Recent searches saved
- **Filters** - Refine by date, type, author
- **Saved searches** - Bookmark frequent searches
- **Advanced search** - Boolean operators and field-specific search

### Search Results

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Results for "getting started" (42 found)                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 📄 Getting Started Guide                                     │
│    A comprehensive guide to help you get started with...    │
│    By Admin • 2024-01-15 • Documentation                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 📝 First Steps Tutorial                                      │
│    Learn the basics of using the platform with this...      │
│    By Support Team • 2024-01-10 • Tutorial                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## 📧 Notifications & Messages

### Notification Center

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Notifications                                    [Mark All] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 🔔 New comment on your post                     • 2 min ago │
│ 📝 Your draft was auto-saved                    • 5 min ago │
│ ⚠️  Storage limit reached                        • 1 hr ago │
│ 🎉 Welcome to Rustelo!                          • 1 day ago │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### Notification Types
- **🔔 Activity** - Comments, likes, shares
- **📝 Content** - Auto-saves, publishing status
- **⚠️ System** - Warnings, maintenance alerts
- **🎉 Welcome** - Onboarding and milestone messages
- **📧 Email** - New messages and updates

## 🛠️ Accessibility Features

### Keyboard Navigation
- **Tab** - Move between interactive elements
- **Enter/Space** - Activate buttons and links
- **Escape** - Close modals and menus
- **Arrow Keys** - Navigate menus and lists
- **Ctrl+/** - Open keyboard shortcuts help

### Screen Reader Support
- **ARIA Labels** - Descriptive labels for all elements
- **Semantic HTML** - Proper heading hierarchy
- **Focus Management** - Logical tab order
- **Status Announcements** - Screen reader notifications

### Visual Accessibility
- **High Contrast Mode** - Enhanced color contrast
- **Large Text** - Scalable font sizes
- **Color Blind Friendly** - Distinguishable colors
- **Reduced Motion** - Minimize animations

## 📱 Mobile Interface

### Mobile Navigation Patterns

#### Bottom Navigation
```
[🏠 Home] [📝 Content] [🔍 Search] [👤 Profile]
```

#### Swipe Gestures
- **Swipe Left** - Go back/previous
- **Swipe Right** - Go forward/next
- **Pull Down** - Refresh content
- **Pull Up** - Load more content

### Mobile-Specific Features
- **Voice Input** - Dictate text content
- **Camera Integration** - Take photos directly
- **Offline Mode** - Basic functionality without internet
- **Share Integration** - Share to other apps

## 🎯 Tips for Better Experience

### Productivity Tips
1. **Use Keyboard Shortcuts** - Speed up common actions
2. **Customize Your Dashboard** - Arrange widgets to your preference
3. **Save Frequent Searches** - Bookmark commonly used searches
4. **Enable Auto-save** - Never lose your work
5. **Use Tags** - Organize content with labels

### Performance Tips
1. **Close Unused Tabs** - Reduce memory usage
2. **Use Compact Mode** - Fit more content on screen
3. **Optimize Images** - Compress before uploading
4. **Clear Cache** - Refresh data when needed
5. **Update Browser** - Use latest version for best performance

### Security Tips
1. **Enable 2FA** - Add extra security layer
2. **Use Strong Passwords** - Unique for each account
3. **Log Out on Shared Devices** - Protect your account
4. **Review Login History** - Check for suspicious activity
5. **Keep Software Updated** - Install security patches

## 🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues

### Login Problems
**Issue:** Can't log in
**Solutions:**
- Check email and password spelling
- Try password reset if forgotten
- Clear browser cache and cookies
- Disable browser extensions temporarily

### Loading Issues
**Issue:** Pages won't load
**Solutions:**
- Check internet connection
- Refresh the page (Ctrl+R or F5)
- Clear browser cache
- Try incognito/private browsing mode

### Mobile Issues
**Issue:** App not working on mobile
**Solutions:**
- Update your browser
- Try the mobile app if available
- Check mobile data/WiFi connection
- Restart your device

## 🆘 Getting Help

### Built-in Help
- **Help Button** - Available on most pages
- **Tooltips** - Hover for quick explanations
- **Getting Started Tour** - Guided walkthrough
- **FAQ Section** - Common questions answered

### Support Options
- **Help Center** - Comprehensive documentation
- **Community Forum** - User discussions and solutions
- **Email Support** - Direct assistance from support team
- **Live Chat** - Real-time help when available

### Self-Service
- **Knowledge Base** - Searchable help articles
- **Video Tutorials** - Visual step-by-step guides
- **Feature Announcements** - Stay updated on new features
- **Status Page** - Check system status and outages

## 📚 Next Steps

Now that you understand the interface, explore these areas:

1. **[User Authentication](./authentication.md)** - Learn about account security
2. **[Content Management](./content.md)** - Create and manage your content
3. **[Profile Management](./profile.md)** - Customize your account
4. **[Media Management](./media.md)** - Handle files and images
5. **[Features Overview](./features/)** - Discover all available features

## 🎉 Conclusion

The[Rustelo](/) interface is designed to be intuitive and powerful, helping you accomplish your goals efficiently. Whether you're a new user or an experienced one, these interface elements will help you navigate the application with confidence.

Remember, the interface is responsive and works great on all devices. Take some time to explore and find the workflow that works best for you!

---

**Happy exploring!** 🚀✨
