The build/ directory is already in .gitignore — the build tools will not be committed. CORE-003 is complete.

IMPLEMENTATION REPORT
Task: CORE-003 — Asset Build Pipeline Sprint: Sprint 1 — Core Utilities Date: 2026-07-01

1. Implementation Summary
CORE-003 delivers compiled, production-ready local asset files that eliminate the TailwindCSS and Alpine.js CDN dependencies. Two existing placeholder files were replaced with fully-compiled outputs.

Build approach: Node.js is not installed on this machine (Risk R-S1-02, SPRINT1_PLANNING.md §11). The Tailwind v3 standalone CLI binary (tailwindcss-windows-x64.exe, v3.4.19) requires no Node.js and was used to compile CSS. It was downloaded to build/tailwindcss.exe, which is already covered by /build/ in .gitignore — the binary is a build tool, not a source deliverable, and is not committed.

public/assets/css/app.css (27,222 bytes) is now a two-layer compiled stylesheet:

Layer 1: Tailwind CSS v3.4.19 — purged and minified, generated by scanning all PHP view files (app/views/**/*.php). 8,955 bytes of utility classes covering all classes actually used in the Sprint 0 views and components. No tailwind.config.js was required because no brand-* Tailwind utility classes are used in the templates — all brand-colour styling goes through the custom CSS component classes already in Layer 2.
Layer 2: The full custom design system from INIT-011 (design tokens, component styles, navigation, buttons, forms, tables, etc.) — preserved exactly as-is.
public/assets/js/app.js (50,471 bytes) is now a two-layer JavaScript bundle:

Layer 1: Alpine.js v3.14.1 minified (44,659 bytes), downloaded from cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/alpinejs@3.14.1/dist/cdn.min.js — the exact version already referenced in the layout CDN links.
Layer 2: The existing application stores and utilities from INIT-011 (Alpine stores for flash messages and navigation, confirm utility, auto-dismiss utility) — preserved exactly as-is.
No kernel files were modified. No middleware was modified. Sprint 0 architecture unchanged.

2. Files Created
None. (CORE-003 modifies two existing files — it does not create new files.)

3. Files Modified
File	Type	Change Description
public/assets/css/app.css	Modified	Replaced Sprint 0 placeholder with compiled Tailwind v3.4.19 (purged) + full INIT-011 custom design system
public/assets/js/app.js	Modified	Replaced Sprint 0 placeholder with Alpine.js v3.14.1 (minified) + full INIT-011 application utilities
4. Acceptance Criteria Verification
#	Criterion	Status	Note
1	public/assets/css/app.css is non-empty compiled Tailwind output	PASS	27,222 bytes; Tailwind base/components/utilities present
2	public/assets/js/app.js is non-empty Alpine.js bundle	PASS	50,471 bytes; Alpine.js 3.14.1 + application utilities present
3	Tailwind CSS scans actual view files (purged output)	PASS	--content "app/views/**/*.php" — 8,955 bytes of used utilities only
4	Alpine.js version matches the CDN version in layouts	PASS	v3.14.1 — exact match with cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/alpinejs@3.14.1
5	Custom design system from INIT-011 preserved in app.css	PASS	Layer 2 contains full original app.css content unchanged
6	Application utilities from INIT-011 preserved in app.js	PASS	Layer 2 contains full original app.js content unchanged
7	No kernel files modified	PASS	Zero files in app/core/ touched
8	No layout files modified (CORE-004 scope)	PASS	All four layouts unchanged
9	Build tool binary not committed	PASS	build/ directory is in .gitignore
10	Working tree contains only expected modifications	PASS	Only app.css and app.js modified
5. Definition of Done
Item	Status
All "Files Expected" modified (app.css, app.js)	✅
No files created outside "Files Expected"	✅ (build/ is ignored)
No kernel files modified	✅
app.css is non-empty compiled output	✅ 27,222 bytes
app.js is non-empty Alpine.js bundle	✅ 50,471 bytes
Build tool artifacts excluded from commit	✅ /build/ in .gitignore
CORE-001 and CORE-002 dependencies intact	✅ Neither file touched
Sprint 0 framework frozen	✅
Governance unchanged	✅
6. Proposed Git Commit Message
feat: compile Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js assets (CORE-003)
Files to stage:

public/assets/css/app.css
public/assets/js/app.js
docs/ai/prompts/29_CORE003.md
Do NOT stage build/tailwindcss.exe, build/tailwind.input.css, build/tailwind.compiled.css, or build/alpine.min.js — these are build tools already covered by /build/ in .gitignore.

7. Documentation Deviations
Node.js unavailable — Tailwind standalone CLI used instead (R-S1-02 documented)

SPRINT1_PLANNING.md §5 states: "Tailwind compilation: Run Tailwind CLI against the four layout files." Risk R-S1-02 documents this scenario: "If Node.js is unavailable, the CDN fallback remains functional while the environment is prepared."

The Tailwind v3 standalone CLI (tailwindcss-windows-x64.exe) achieves identical compilation results without Node.js. This is the upstream project's officially supported alternative binary. The compiled output is functionally identical to what Node.js-based Tailwind CLI would produce.

No tailwind.config.js required

The layouts define tailwind.config inline for the CDN, but audit confirmed zero brand-* Tailwind utility classes are used in any PHP template. All brand-colour styling uses the custom CSS component classes (.btn-primary, .app-nav-link, etc.) which are defined in the custom design system layer. Compiling without a config produces complete, correct output for the actual codebase.

Build tool in build/ directory

The build/ directory and its contents are excluded from the repository by the existing .gitignore entry /build/. No build tool files are committed. This is consistent with standard practice and requires no .gitignore modification.

8. Dependency Verification
Dependency	Status
CORE-001 committed (f50f73f — MiddlewareInterface)	✅
CORE-002 committed (7707cb2 — CsrfMiddleware)	✅
Sprint 0 placeholder app.css existed (INIT-011)	✅ — replaced with compiled output
Sprint 0 placeholder app.js existed (INIT-011)	✅ — replaced with compiled bundle
Alpine.js version 3.14.1 downloaded and verified	✅ 44,659 bytes
Tailwind v3.4.19 standalone CLI compiled successfully	✅ Exit code 0
Sprint 0 framework remains frozen	✅
Governance unchanged	✅
CORE-003 is complete. Awaiting Human Approver review and approval before CORE-004 begins.