diff --git a/apps/web/app/[section]/[...slug]/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/[section]/[...slug]/page.tsx
index 87de718..d05cb98 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/[section]/[...slug]/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/[section]/[...slug]/page.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,24 @@ import PdfExportView from "@/components/PdfExportView";
 import { classifyPath, extractFoldersForSection } from "@mcpedia/core";
 import { getSectionMeta } from "@mcpedia/config";
 import type { DocumentMeta } from "@mcpedia/core";
+import {
+  Folder,
+  FileText,
+  Clock,
+  User,
+  Tag,
+  History,
+  FileDown,
+  ArrowLeft,
+  BookOpen,
+  Sparkles,
+  ShieldCheck,
+  CheckCircle2,
+  XCircle,
+  Target,
+  Trophy,
+  Zap,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
@@ -45,48 +63,45 @@ function CustomFieldBadges({
   if (customEntries.length === 0) return null;
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 mt-4 pt-3.5 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
+    <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 mt-4 pt-4 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
       {customEntries.map(([key, value]) => {
         const label = key.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + key.slice(1).replace(/_/g, " ");
         let colorClass = "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-secondary)]";
-        let icon = "🏷️";
         let displayValue: string;
+        let IconComponent = Tag;
 
         if (typeof value === "number") {
           colorClass = "bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border-[var(--brand)]/30 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]";
-          icon = "🎯";
+          IconComponent = Target;
           displayValue = `${value} pts`;
         } else if (typeof value === "boolean") {
           colorClass = value
             ? "bg-emerald-500/10 border-emerald-500/30 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400"
             : "bg-rose-500/10 border-rose-500/30 text-rose-600 dark:text-rose-400";
-          icon = value ? "✓" : "✕";
+          IconComponent = value ? CheckCircle2 : XCircle;
           displayValue = value ? "Solved" : "Pending";
         } else if (Array.isArray(value)) {
           colorClass = "bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border-[var(--brand)]/30 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]";
-          icon = "🗂️";
+          IconComponent = Folder;
           displayValue = value.join(", ");
         } else {
           const v = String(value).toLowerCase();
           if (/^(easy|simple|beginner)/i.test(v)) {
             colorClass = "bg-emerald-500/10 border-emerald-500/30 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400";
-            icon = "🟢";
             displayValue = "Easy";
           } else if (/^(medium|intermediate)/i.test(v)) {
             colorClass = "bg-amber-500/10 border-amber-500/30 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400";
-            icon = "🟡";
             displayValue = "Medium";
           } else if (/^(hard|expert|advanced)/i.test(v)) {
             colorClass = "bg-rose-500/10 border-rose-500/30 text-rose-600 dark:text-rose-400";
-            icon = "🔴";
             displayValue = "Hard";
           } else if (/^(pwn|web|crypto|misc|forensic|reverse|binary)/i.test(v)) {
             colorClass = "bg-indigo-500/10 border-indigo-500/30 text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-300";
-            icon = "⚡";
+            IconComponent = Zap;
             displayValue = v.toUpperCase();
           } else if (/ctf|def.?con|event/i.test(v)) {
             colorClass = "bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border-[var(--brand)]/30 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]";
-            icon = "🏆";
+            IconComponent = Trophy;
             displayValue = String(value);
           } else {
             displayValue = String(value);
@@ -96,11 +111,11 @@ function CustomFieldBadges({
         return (
           <span
             key={key}
-            className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-1 border rounded-md text-xs font-mono transition-colors ${colorClass}`}
+            className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1 border rounded-lg text-xs font-mono transition-colors ${colorClass}`}
           >
-            <span className="text-[10px] opacity-70">{icon}</span>
+            <IconComponent className="w-3.5 h-3.5 opacity-80" />
             <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] font-sans">{label}:</span>
-            <span className="font-medium">{displayValue}</span>
+            <span className="font-semibold">{displayValue}</span>
           </span>
         );
       })}
@@ -146,9 +161,9 @@ function FolderIndexPage({
   const folderName = slug.split("/").pop()!.split(/[-_]/).map((w) => w.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + w.slice(1)).join(" ");
 
   return (
-    <div>
-      {/* Breadcrumb */}
-      <nav className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] mb-6 flex-wrap">
+    <div className="space-y-8">
+      {/* Breadcrumb Navigation */}
+      <nav className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] flex-wrap">
         <Link href="/" className="hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors">
           MCPedia
         </Link>
@@ -171,58 +186,61 @@ function FolderIndexPage({
         })}
       </nav>
 
-      {/* Header card */}
-      <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl p-6 mb-8 shadow-sm">
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-            <div className="w-10 h-10 rounded-lg bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] flex items-center justify-center text-xl">
-              📁
+      {/* Header Card */}
+      <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-6 sm:p-7 shadow-sm">
+        <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-start justify-between gap-4">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3.5">
+            <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded-2xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] flex items-center justify-center text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] shadow-inner">
+              <Folder className="w-6 h-6" />
             </div>
             <div>
-              <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
+              <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
                 {folderName}
               </h1>
-              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-0.5">
-                Directory path: <code className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-mono">{section}/{slug}</code>
+              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-1 font-mono">
+                Directory: <code className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-semibold">{section}/{slug}</code>
               </p>
             </div>
           </div>
+
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--text-muted)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-2.5 py-1 rounded-md">
+            <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--text-muted)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg">
               {immediateDocs.length + folders.length} item{folders.length + immediateDocs.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
             </span>
             <Link
               href={`/${section}/${slug}/export`}
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg font-medium transition-all shadow-xs"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white px-3.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg font-semibold transition-all shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20"
               title={`Export all ${folderName} documents as a single PDF report`}
             >
-              <span>📄</span>
+              <FileDown className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               <span>Export PDF Report</span>
             </Link>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Subfolders */}
+      {/* Subfolders Grid */}
       {folders.length > 0 && (
-        <div className="mb-8">
-          <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase mb-3 tracking-wider flex items-center gap-2">
-            <span>Subfolders</span>
-            <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">({folders.length})</span>
+        <div>
+          <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase mb-3.5 tracking-wider font-mono flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Folder className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+            <span>Subfolders ({folders.length})</span>
           </h2>
           <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-3">
             {folders.map(([folder, info]) => (
               <Link
                 key={folder}
                 href={`/${section}/${slug}/${folder}`.replace(/\/+/g, "/")}
-                className="group flex items-center gap-3 p-3.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-sm"
+                className="group flex items-center gap-3.5 p-4 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
               >
-                <span className="text-2xl group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform">📁</span>
+                <div className="p-2 rounded-xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">
+                  <Folder className="w-5 h-5" />
+                </div>
                 <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
-                  <div className="text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors truncate">
+                  <div className="text-sm font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors truncate">
                     {folder.split(/[-_]/).map((w) => w.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + w.slice(1)).join(" ")}
                   </div>
-                  <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-0.5 font-mono">
+                  <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono mt-0.5">
                     {info.docCount} document{info.docCount !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
                   </div>
                 </div>
@@ -232,32 +250,34 @@ function FolderIndexPage({
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Documents */}
+      {/* Documents List */}
       {immediateDocs.length > 0 && (
         <div>
-          <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase mb-3 tracking-wider flex items-center gap-2">
-            <span>Documents</span>
-            <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">({immediateDocs.length})</span>
+          <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase mb-3.5 tracking-wider font-mono flex items-center gap-2">
+            <FileText className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+            <span>Documents ({immediateDocs.length})</span>
           </h2>
-          <div className="space-y-2">
+          <div className="space-y-2.5">
             {immediateDocs.map((doc) => (
               <Link
                 key={doc.slug}
                 href={`/${doc.slug}`}
-                className="group flex items-center justify-between gap-4 p-4 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-sm"
+                className="group flex items-center justify-between gap-4 p-4 sm:p-5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
               >
-                <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-                  <span className="text-xl opacity-70 group-hover:opacity-100">📄</span>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3.5 min-w-0">
+                  <div className="p-2 rounded-xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-dim)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors">
+                    <FileText className="w-4 h-4" />
+                  </div>
                   <div className="min-w-0">
-                    <div className="text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors truncate">
+                    <div className="text-sm font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors truncate">
                       {doc.title}
                     </div>
                     {doc.tags.length > 0 && (
-                      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 mt-1.5">
+                      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 mt-2">
                         {doc.tags.slice(0, 4).map((t) => (
                           <span
                             key={t}
-                            className="text-[11px] px-1.5 py-0.25 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded text-[var(--text-muted)]"
+                            className="text-[10px] px-2 py-0.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-md text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono"
                           >
                             #{t}
                           </span>
@@ -266,11 +286,15 @@ function FolderIndexPage({
                     )}
                   </div>
                 </div>
-                <time className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] shrink-0 font-mono">
-                  {new Date(doc.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
-                    month: "short",
-                    day: "numeric",
-                  })}
+
+                <time className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] shrink-0 font-mono flex items-center gap-1">
+                  <Clock className="w-3 h-3" />
+                  <span>
+                    {new Date(doc.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+                      month: "short",
+                      day: "numeric",
+                    })}
+                  </span>
                 </time>
               </Link>
             ))}
@@ -279,7 +303,7 @@ function FolderIndexPage({
       )}
 
       {folders.length === 0 && immediateDocs.length === 0 && (
-        <div className="text-center py-12 border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl bg-[var(--bg-surface)]">
+        <div className="text-center py-16 border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl bg-[var(--bg-surface)]">
           <p className="text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)]">No documents found in this directory.</p>
         </div>
       )}
@@ -331,14 +355,15 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
   if (edit === "1" && canEdit) {
     const existingFolders = extractFoldersForSection(docSlugs, doc.section);
     return (
-      <div>
+      <div className="space-y-6">
         <Link
           href={`/${doc.slug}`}
-          className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] mb-4 transition-colors"
+          className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors"
         >
-          <span>← Back to document</span>
+          <ArrowLeft className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+          <span>Back to document</span>
         </Link>
-        <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] mb-6">
+        <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
           Edit: {doc.title}
         </h1>
         <DocForm
@@ -373,7 +398,7 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
     <div className="flex items-start gap-8">
       {/* Main Content Column */}
       <article className="flex-1 min-w-0">
-        {/* Breadcrumb */}
+        {/* Breadcrumbs Navigation */}
         <nav className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] mb-4 flex-wrap">
           <Link href="/" className="hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors">
             MCPedia
@@ -399,50 +424,56 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
         </nav>
 
         {/* Hero Metadata Card */}
-        <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl p-6 mb-8 shadow-sm">
-          <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-4">
+        <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-6 sm:p-7 mb-8 shadow-sm">
+          <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-start justify-between gap-5 mb-5">
             <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
-              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2 flex-wrap">
-                <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-mono font-medium bg-[var(--brand)]/15 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] border border-[var(--brand)]/30">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2.5 flex-wrap">
+                <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-mono font-bold bg-[var(--brand)]/15 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] border border-[var(--brand)]/30 uppercase">
                   <span>{sectionInfo.icon}</span>
-                  <span className="uppercase">{sectionInfo.label}</span>
+                  <span>{sectionInfo.label}</span>
                 </span>
                 <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)]">·</span>
-                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] font-medium">
                   {doc.type.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + doc.type.slice(1)}
                 </span>
                 <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)]">·</span>
-                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono">
-                  {readingTime}
+                <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono flex items-center gap-1">
+                  <Clock className="w-3 h-3" />
+                  <span>{readingTime}</span>
                 </span>
               </div>
-              <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight leading-tight">
+
+              <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl lg:text-4xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight leading-tight">
                 {doc.title}
               </h1>
             </div>
 
-            {/* Quick Actions */}
+            {/* Quick Actions Deck */}
             <DocActions slug={doc.slug} body={doc.body} canEdit={canEdit} />
           </div>
 
-          {/* Author + Date + Tags */}
-          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] pt-3 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
+          {/* Author, Date, and Tags */}
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] pt-4 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
             {doc.author && (
               <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
                 <div className="w-4 h-4 rounded-full bg-[var(--brand)] text-white flex items-center justify-center text-[10px] font-bold">
                   {doc.author.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
                 </div>
-                <span className="text-[var(--text-secondary)]">{doc.author}</span>
+                <span className="text-[var(--text-secondary)] font-medium">{doc.author}</span>
                 <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)]">·</span>
               </div>
             )}
-            <span>
-              Updated {new Date(doc.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
-                month: "long",
-                day: "numeric",
-                year: "numeric",
-              })}
+            <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+              <Clock className="w-3 h-3 text-[var(--text-dim)]" />
+              <span>
+                Updated {new Date(doc.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+                  month: "long",
+                  day: "numeric",
+                  year: "numeric",
+                })}
+              </span>
             </span>
+
             {doc.tags.length > 0 && (
               <>
                 <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)]">·</span>
@@ -450,7 +481,7 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
                   {doc.tags.map((t) => (
                     <span
                       key={t}
-                      className="px-2 py-0.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded text-[var(--text-muted)] text-[11px]"
+                      className="px-2 py-0.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-md text-[var(--text-muted)] text-[11px] font-mono"
                     >
                       #{t}
                     </span>
@@ -465,32 +496,35 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
         </div>
 
         {/* Mobile TOC (rendered inline on smaller screens) */}
-        <div className="xl:hidden mb-6 p-4 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-lg shadow-sm">
+        <div className="xl:hidden mb-6 p-5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl shadow-xs">
           <TOC source={doc.body} />
         </div>
 
-        {/* Markdown content */}
+        {/* Markdown Content */}
         <div className="mb-14">
           <Markdown source={doc.body} />
         </div>
 
-        {/* Related Documents */}
+        {/* Related Documents Grid */}
         {related.length > 0 && (
-          <aside className="mt-12 pt-8 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
-            <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider mb-4 flex items-center gap-2">
-              <span>Related Knowledge</span>
-            </h2>
-            <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-3">
+          <aside className="mt-14 pt-8 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-4">
+              <Sparkles className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+              <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">
+                Related Knowledge & Writeups
+              </h2>
+            </div>
+            <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-3.5">
               {related.map((r) => {
                 const rInfo = getSectionInfo(r.section);
                 return (
                   <Link
                     key={r.slug}
                     href={`/${r.slug}`}
-                    className="group block bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg p-4 transition-all shadow-sm"
+                    className="group block bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl p-5 transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
                   >
                     <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 mb-2">
-                      <span className="text-xs text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-mono uppercase">
+                      <span className="text-xs text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-mono uppercase font-semibold">
                         {rInfo.icon} {r.section}
                       </span>
                       <time className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono">
@@ -500,7 +534,7 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
                         })}
                       </time>
                     </div>
-                    <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors line-clamp-1 mb-1">
+                    <h3 className="text-sm font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors line-clamp-1 mb-1">
                       {r.title}
                     </h3>
                   </Link>
@@ -510,28 +544,31 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
           </aside>
         )}
 
-        {/* Revision History */}
+        {/* Revision History Timeline */}
         {revisions.length > 0 && (
           <aside className="mt-10 pt-8 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-4">
-              <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider">
-                Revision History ({revisions.length})
-              </h2>
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                <History className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+                <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">
+                  Revision History ({revisions.length})
+                </h2>
+              </div>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
               {revisions.map((rev) => (
                 <div
                   key={rev.id}
-                  className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 p-3 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-lg text-xs shadow-sm"
+                  className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 p-3.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl text-xs shadow-xs"
                 >
-                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
-                    <span className="font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--brand)]/30 font-semibold">
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5 min-w-0">
+                    <span className="font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/10 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-md border border-[var(--brand)]/30 font-bold">
                       v{rev.revisionNo}
                     </span>
-                    <span className="text-[var(--text-primary)] truncate">
-                      {rev.reason || "Updated document"}
+                    <span className="text-[var(--text-primary)] font-medium truncate">
+                      {rev.reason || "Updated document in PostgreSQL"}
                     </span>
-                    <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)] hidden sm:inline">
+                    <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)] hidden sm:inline font-mono">
                       · {new Date(rev.createdAt).toLocaleString()}
                     </span>
                   </div>
@@ -540,7 +577,7 @@ export default async function DocPage({ params, searchParams }: DocPageProps) {
                       <input type="hidden" name="id" value={rev.id} />
                       <button
                         type="submit"
-                        className="text-xs text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] px-2.5 py-1 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] transition-colors font-medium shadow-sm"
+                        className="text-xs text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] px-3 py-1 rounded-lg border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] transition-colors font-semibold shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
                       >
                         Restore
                       </button>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/[section]/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/[section]/page.tsx
index 4867572..499b71b 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/[section]/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/[section]/page.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,17 @@
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { listDocuments } from "@mcpedia/core";
 import { getSectionMeta } from "@mcpedia/config";
+import {
+  Folder,
+  FileText,
+  ChevronRight,
+  FileDown,
+  Plus,
+  Compass,
+  ArrowLeft,
+  Clock,
+  Tag,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
@@ -81,26 +92,28 @@ function renderTree(nodes: TreeNode[], pathname: string) {
           <li key={node.slug}>
             <Link
               href={`/${node.slug}`}
-              className={`flex items-center justify-between gap-2 text-xs py-1.5 px-2.5 rounded-lg transition-all ${
+              className={`flex items-center justify-between gap-2 text-xs py-2 px-3 rounded-xl transition-all ${
                 isActive
-                  ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/15 font-semibold border border-[var(--brand)]/30"
+                  ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/15 font-semibold border border-[var(--brand)]/30 shadow-xs"
                   : hasActiveChild
                     ? "text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
                     : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
               }`}
             >
-              <span className="flex items-center gap-2 truncate">
-                <span>{isFolder ? "📁" : "📄"}</span>
-                <span className="truncate">{node.doc?.title || node.name}</span>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-2.5 truncate">
+                <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+                  {isFolder ? <Folder className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" /> : <FileText className="w-4 h-4" />}
+                </span>
+                <span className="truncate font-medium">{node.doc?.title || node.name}</span>
               </span>
               {isFolder && (
-                <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-mono">
+                <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-2 py-0.5 rounded-md font-mono">
                   {node.docCount} docs
                 </span>
               )}
             </Link>
             {node.children.length > 0 && (
-              <div className="ml-4 border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-2 mt-1">
+              <div className="ml-4 border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-3 mt-1 space-y-1">
                 {renderTree(node.children, pathname)}
               </div>
             )}
@@ -125,66 +138,74 @@ export default async function SectionIndexPage({
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-10">
-      {/* Breadcrumb */}
+      {/* Breadcrumb Navigation */}
       <nav className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)]">
-        <Link href="/" className="hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors">
-          MCPedia
+        <Link href="/" className="hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors flex items-center gap-1">
+          <span>MCPedia</span>
         </Link>
         <span>/</span>
-        <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] font-medium">{sectionInfo.label}</span>
+        <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] font-semibold">{sectionInfo.label}</span>
       </nav>
 
       {/* Hero Card */}
-      <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl p-6 shadow-sm">
-        <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-3">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-            <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded-xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] flex items-center justify-center text-2xl shadow-inner">
+      <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-6 sm:p-7 shadow-sm">
+        <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-start justify-between gap-5 mb-4">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
+            <div className="w-14 h-14 rounded-2xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] flex items-center justify-center text-3xl shadow-inner">
               {sectionInfo.icon}
             </div>
             <div>
-              <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
-                {sectionInfo.label}
-              </h1>
-              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-0.5 font-mono uppercase">
-                Section: {section}
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
+                  {sectionInfo.label}
+                </h1>
+              </div>
+              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono uppercase tracking-wider mt-1">
+                Section Domain: <span className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-semibold">{section}</span>
               </p>
             </div>
           </div>
 
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 flex-wrap sm:flex-nowrap">
-            <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border border-[var(--brand)]/25 px-2.5 py-1 rounded-md">
+            <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border border-[var(--brand)]/25 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg font-semibold">
               {sectionDocs.length} document{sectionDocs.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
             </span>
+
             {sectionDocs.length > 0 && (
               <Link
                 href={`/${section}/export`}
-                className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)]/10 hover:bg-[var(--brand)]/20 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 hover:border-[var(--brand)]/60 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] px-3 py-1 rounded-md font-medium transition-all shadow-xs"
-                title={`Export all ${sectionInfo.label} documents to PDF`}
+                className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg font-semibold transition-all shadow-xs"
+                title={`Export all ${sectionInfo.label} documents to publication-grade PDF`}
               >
-                <span>📄</span>
+                <FileDown className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
                 <span>Export PDF</span>
               </Link>
             )}
+
             <Link
               href="/create"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white px-3 py-1 rounded-md font-medium transition-all"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white px-3.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg font-semibold transition-all shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20"
             >
-              <span>+ Create</span>
+              <Plus className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              <span>Create Doc</span>
             </Link>
           </div>
         </div>
 
-        <p className="text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] leading-relaxed max-w-2xl mt-2">
+        <p className="text-xs sm:text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] leading-relaxed max-w-2xl mt-3">
           {sectionInfo.desc}
         </p>
       </div>
 
       {/* Hierarchical Folder Directory */}
       {tree.length > 0 && (
-        <section className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl p-6 shadow-sm">
-          <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider mb-4 flex items-center gap-2">
-            <span>Folder Structure</span>
-          </h2>
+        <section className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-6 shadow-sm">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-4 pb-2 border-b border-[var(--border-color)]">
+            <Folder className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+            <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">
+              Folder & Chapter Directory
+            </h2>
+          </div>
           {renderTree(tree, section)}
         </section>
       )}
@@ -192,10 +213,14 @@ export default async function SectionIndexPage({
       {/* Document List */}
       {sectionDocs.length > 0 ? (
         <section>
-          <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider mb-4">
-            All Documents in {sectionInfo.label}
-          </h2>
-          <div className="space-y-2">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-4">
+            <FileText className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+            <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">
+              All Knowledge in {sectionInfo.label}
+            </h2>
+          </div>
+
+          <div className="space-y-2.5">
             {[...sectionDocs]
               .sort(
                 (a, b) =>
@@ -205,20 +230,22 @@ export default async function SectionIndexPage({
                 <Link
                   key={d.slug}
                   href={`/${d.slug}`}
-                  className="group flex items-center justify-between gap-4 p-4 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl transition-all shadow-sm"
+                  className="group flex items-center justify-between gap-4 p-4 sm:p-5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
                 >
-                  <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-                    <span className="text-lg opacity-70 group-hover:opacity-100">📄</span>
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-3.5 min-w-0">
+                    <div className="p-2 rounded-xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-dim)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors shrink-0">
+                      <FileText className="w-4 h-4" />
+                    </div>
                     <div className="min-w-0">
-                      <h3 className="text-sm font-medium text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors truncate">
+                      <h3 className="text-sm font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors truncate">
                         {d.title}
                       </h3>
                       {d.tags.length > 0 && (
-                        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mt-1.5">
+                        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 mt-2">
                           {d.tags.slice(0, 4).map((t) => (
                             <span
                               key={t}
-                              className="text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.25 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded text-[var(--text-muted)]"
+                              className="text-[10px] px-2 py-0.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-md text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono"
                             >
                               #{t}
                             </span>
@@ -227,19 +254,23 @@ export default async function SectionIndexPage({
                       )}
                     </div>
                   </div>
-                  <time className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono shrink-0">
-                    {new Date(d.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
-                      month: "short",
-                      day: "numeric",
-                      year: "numeric",
-                    })}
+
+                  <time className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono shrink-0 flex items-center gap-1">
+                    <Clock className="w-3 h-3" />
+                    <span>
+                      {new Date(d.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
+                        month: "short",
+                        day: "numeric",
+                        year: "numeric",
+                      })}
+                    </span>
                   </time>
                 </Link>
               ))}
           </div>
         </section>
       ) : (
-        <div className="text-center py-12 border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl bg-[var(--bg-surface)]">
+        <div className="text-center py-16 border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl bg-[var(--bg-surface)]">
           <p className="text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)]">No documents in this section yet.</p>
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/CommandMenu.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/CommandMenu.tsx
index 933a85f..9829fe3 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/CommandMenu.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/CommandMenu.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,21 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
+import {
+  Search,
+  FileText,
+  Plus,
+  Compass,
+  Sparkles,
+  ArrowRight,
+  BookOpen,
+  Flag,
+  Layers,
+  SunMoon,
+  Command,
+  X,
+  Flame,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 interface Hit {
   slug: string;
@@ -12,6 +27,15 @@ interface Hit {
   score: number;
 }
 
+interface QuickAction {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  subtitle: string;
+  icon: any;
+  href?: string;
+  action?: () => void;
+}
+
 export default function CommandMenu() {
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
   const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
@@ -21,10 +45,48 @@ export default function CommandMenu() {
   const router = useRouter();
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
+  const quickActions: QuickAction[] = [
+    {
+      id: "create-doc",
+      title: "Create New Document",
+      subtitle: "Write technical doc, writeup, or research note",
+      icon: Plus,
+      href: "/create",
+    },
+    {
+      id: "hybrid-search",
+      title: "Multi-Modal Hybrid Search",
+      subtitle: "Full-text + Semantic vector search console",
+      icon: Search,
+      href: "/search",
+    },
+    {
+      id: "browse-docs",
+      title: "Documentation Hub",
+      subtitle: "System setup, API references, protocol specs",
+      icon: BookOpen,
+      href: "/docs",
+    },
+    {
+      id: "browse-writeups",
+      title: "CTF & Challenge Writeups",
+      subtitle: "Pwn, Reverse, Web, Crypto writeups and solutions",
+      icon: Flag,
+      href: "/writeups",
+    },
+    {
+      id: "browse-research",
+      title: "Deep-Dive Research",
+      subtitle: "Architecture notes, benchmarks, experiments",
+      icon: Sparkles,
+      href: "/research",
+    },
+  ];
+
   // Global shortcut ⌘K or /
   useEffect(() => {
     function handleKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
-      if ((e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) && e.key === "k") {
+      if ((e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) && e.key.toLowerCase() === "k") {
         e.preventDefault();
         setOpen((prev) => !prev);
       } else if (e.key === "/" && !["INPUT", "TEXTAREA"].includes((e.target as HTMLElement)?.tagName)) {
@@ -56,7 +118,7 @@ export default function CommandMenu() {
     const timer = setTimeout(async () => {
       setLoading(true);
       try {
-        const res = await fetch(`/api/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}&limit=8`);
+        const res = await fetch(`/api/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}&limit=10`);
         const data = await res.json();
         setResults(data.results || []);
         setSelectedIndex(0);
@@ -65,25 +127,31 @@ export default function CommandMenu() {
       } finally {
         setLoading(false);
       }
-    }, 150);
+    }, 120);
     return () => clearTimeout(timer);
   }, [query]);
 
-  function handleNavigate(slug: string) {
+  function handleNavigate(href: string) {
     setOpen(false);
-    router.push(`/${slug}`);
+    router.push(href);
   }
 
+  const totalItems = query.trim() ? results.length : quickActions.length;
+
   function handleKeyNavigation(e: React.KeyboardEvent) {
     if (e.key === "ArrowDown") {
       e.preventDefault();
-      setSelectedIndex((prev) => (results.length > 0 ? (prev + 1) % results.length : 0));
+      setSelectedIndex((prev) => (totalItems > 0 ? (prev + 1) % totalItems : 0));
     } else if (e.key === "ArrowUp") {
       e.preventDefault();
-      setSelectedIndex((prev) => (results.length > 0 ? (prev - 1 + results.length) % results.length : 0));
-    } else if (e.key === "Enter" && results[selectedIndex]) {
+      setSelectedIndex((prev) => (totalItems > 0 ? (prev - 1 + totalItems) % totalItems : 0));
+    } else if (e.key === "Enter") {
       e.preventDefault();
-      handleNavigate(results[selectedIndex].slug);
+      if (query.trim() && results[selectedIndex]) {
+        handleNavigate(`/${results[selectedIndex].slug}`);
+      } else if (!query.trim() && quickActions[selectedIndex]?.href) {
+        handleNavigate(quickActions[selectedIndex].href!);
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -91,13 +159,12 @@ export default function CommandMenu() {
     return (
       <button
         onClick={() => setOpen(true)}
-        className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-sm"
+        type="button"
+        className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-2.5 px-3 py-1.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer group"
       >
-        <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--text-dim)]" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-          <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z" />
-        </svg>
-        <span>Search docs...</span>
-        <kbd className="ml-2 font-mono bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+        <Search className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--text-dim)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors" />
+        <span className="font-sans">Search knowledge...</span>
+        <kbd className="ml-2 font-mono bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] shadow-xs">
           ⌘K
         </kbd>
       </button>
@@ -105,87 +172,118 @@ export default function CommandMenu() {
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-start justify-center pt-20 px-4">
+    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-start justify-center pt-16 sm:pt-24 px-4">
       {/* Backdrop */}
       <div
-        className="fixed inset-0 bg-black/60 dark:bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-sm transition-opacity"
+        className="fixed inset-0 bg-slate-950/60 dark:bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md transition-opacity"
         onClick={() => setOpen(false)}
       />
 
-      {/* Modal */}
-      <div className="relative w-full max-w-2xl bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl shadow-2xl overflow-hidden animate-fade-in">
+      {/* Omnisearch Modal */}
+      <div className="relative w-full max-w-2xl bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl shadow-2xl overflow-hidden animate-fade-in ring-1 ring-white/10">
         {/* Search input bar */}
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3.5 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]">
-          <svg className="w-5 h-5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] shrink-0" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-            <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z" />
-          </svg>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 sm:px-5 py-4 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/70">
+          <Search className="w-5 h-5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] shrink-0" />
           <input
             ref={inputRef}
             type="text"
             value={query}
             onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
             onKeyDown={handleKeyNavigation}
-            placeholder="Type to search (titles, keywords, concepts)..."
-            className="w-full bg-transparent text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] text-sm focus:outline-none"
+            placeholder="Search documents, writeups, concepts, or commands..."
+            className="w-full bg-transparent text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] text-sm sm:text-base focus:outline-none"
           />
           {loading && (
             <div className="w-4 h-4 border-2 border-[var(--brand)] border-t-transparent rounded-full animate-spin shrink-0" />
           )}
           <button
             onClick={() => setOpen(false)}
-            className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]"
+            type="button"
+            className="text-[11px] font-mono text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-2 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]"
           >
             ESC
           </button>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Results / Suggestions */}
-        <div className="max-h-96 overflow-y-auto p-2">
+        {/* Results / Quick Actions List */}
+        <div className="max-h-[22rem] overflow-y-auto p-2">
           {query.trim() === "" ? (
-            <div className="px-3 py-6 text-center">
-              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">Search full-text, semantic embeddings, and CTF writeups.</p>
-              <div className="flex justify-center gap-2 mt-3 text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">
-                <span>Navigation: <kbd className="bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">↑</kbd> <kbd className="bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">↓</kbd></span>
-                <span>Select: <kbd className="bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">↵</kbd></span>
+            <div className="p-2 space-y-1">
+              <div className="px-3 py-1.5 text-[10px] font-mono uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+                Quick Shortcuts & Actions
               </div>
+              {quickActions.map((action, idx) => {
+                const Icon = action.icon;
+                const isSelected = idx === selectedIndex;
+                return (
+                  <div
+                    key={action.id}
+                    onClick={() => action.href && handleNavigate(action.href)}
+                    onMouseEnter={() => setSelectedIndex(idx)}
+                    className={`flex items-center justify-between gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 rounded-xl cursor-pointer transition-all ${
+                      isSelected
+                        ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border border-[var(--brand)]/40 text-[var(--text-primary)] shadow-xs"
+                        : "hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] border border-transparent"
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                      <div className={`p-2 rounded-lg ${isSelected ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white" : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-muted)]"}`}>
+                        <Icon className="w-4 h-4" />
+                      </div>
+                      <div>
+                        <div className="text-xs sm:text-sm font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)]">
+                          {action.title}
+                        </div>
+                        <div className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+                          {action.subtitle}
+                        </div>
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <ArrowRight className={`w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--text-dim)] ${isSelected ? "text-[var(--brand)] translate-x-0.5" : ""} transition-all`} />
+                  </div>
+                );
+              })}
             </div>
           ) : results.length === 0 && !loading ? (
-            <div className="px-4 py-8 text-center text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">
-              No documents matching &quot;{query}&quot;
+            <div className="px-4 py-12 text-center text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] space-y-2">
+              <p>No knowledge base items matched &quot;{query}&quot;</p>
+              <p className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+                Try searching with partial words or check semantic search
+              </p>
             </div>
           ) : (
-            <ul className="space-y-1">
+            <ul className="space-y-1 p-1">
               {results.map((hit, index) => {
                 const isSelected = index === selectedIndex;
                 return (
                   <li
                     key={hit.slug}
-                    onClick={() => handleNavigate(hit.slug)}
+                    onClick={() => handleNavigate(`/${hit.slug}`)}
                     onMouseEnter={() => setSelectedIndex(index)}
-                    className={`flex items-start justify-between gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all ${
+                    className={`flex items-start justify-between gap-3 px-3 py-2.5 rounded-xl cursor-pointer transition-all ${
                       isSelected
-                        ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border border-[var(--brand)]/40 text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                        ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border border-[var(--brand)]/40 text-[var(--text-primary)] shadow-xs"
                         : "hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] border border-transparent"
                     }`}
                   >
                     <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-                      <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                        <span className="text-xs px-1.5 py-0.25 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-mono">
+                      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-0.5">
+                        <span className="text-[10px] font-mono px-2 py-0.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] uppercase font-semibold">
                           {hit.section}
                         </span>
-                        <span className={`text-sm font-medium ${isSelected ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" : "text-[var(--text-primary)]"} truncate`}>
+                        <span className={`text-xs sm:text-sm font-semibold ${isSelected ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" : "text-[var(--text-primary)]"} truncate`}>
                           {hit.title}
                         </span>
                       </div>
                       {hit.snippet && (
                         <p
-                          className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-1 line-clamp-1 [&>mark]:bg-[var(--brand)]/30 [&>mark]:text-[var(--text-primary)] [&>mark]:rounded [&>mark]:px-0.5"
+                          className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] line-clamp-1 mt-1 [&>mark]:bg-[var(--brand)]/30 [&>mark]:text-[var(--text-primary)] [&>mark]:rounded [&>mark]:px-0.5"
                           dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: hit.snippet }}
                         />
                       )}
                     </div>
-                    <span className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] shrink-0 self-center">
-                      {hit.slug}
+                    <span className="text-[10px] font-mono text-[var(--text-dim)] shrink-0 self-center">
+                      /{hit.slug}
                     </span>
                   </li>
                 );
@@ -195,14 +293,18 @@ export default function CommandMenu() {
         </div>
 
         {/* Footer */}
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2.5 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">
-          <span>Tip: Press <kbd className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">Hybrid</kbd> search is enabled</span>
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2.5 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/60 text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <span>Navigate: <kbd className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">↑↓</kbd></span>
+            <span>Select: <kbd className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">↵</kbd></span>
+          </div>
           <Link
             href={`/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`}
             onClick={() => setOpen(false)}
-            className="hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors"
+            className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline font-medium flex items-center gap-1"
           >
-            Open full search page →
+            <span>Full Search Console</span>
+            <ArrowRight className="w-3 h-3" />
           </Link>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/DocActions.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/DocActions.tsx
index d9f0399..a397392 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/DocActions.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/DocActions.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 import { useState } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
+import {
+  Copy,
+  Check,
+  Share2,
+  FileDown,
+  Edit3,
+  ExternalLink,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 interface DocActionsProps {
   slug: string;
@@ -27,49 +35,41 @@ export default function DocActions({ slug, body, canEdit }: DocActionsProps) {
 
   return (
     <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 shrink-0 flex-wrap">
-      {/* Copy Markdown */}
+      {/* Copy Raw Markdown */}
       <button
         onClick={handleCopyMarkdown}
         type="button"
-        title="Copy raw markdown content"
-        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-all shadow-sm"
+        title="Copy raw markdown content to clipboard"
+        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
       >
         {copiedMd ? (
           <>
-            <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M5 13l4 4L19 7" />
-            </svg>
+            <Check className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" />
             <span className="text-emerald-500 font-medium">Copied MD</span>
           </>
         ) : (
           <>
-            <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M8 7v8a2 2 0 002 2h6M8 7V5a2 2 0 012-2h4.586a1 1 0 01.707.293l4.414 4.414a1 1 0 01.293.707V15a2 2 0 01-2 2h-2M8 7H6a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2h8a2 2 0 002-2v-2" />
-            </svg>
+            <Copy className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
             <span>Raw MD</span>
           </>
         )}
       </button>
 
-      {/* Copy Link */}
+      {/* Copy Share Link */}
       <button
         onClick={handleCopyLink}
         type="button"
         title="Copy link to document"
-        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-all shadow-sm"
+        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
       >
         {copiedLink ? (
           <>
-            <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M5 13l4 4L19 7" />
-            </svg>
+            <Check className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" />
             <span className="text-emerald-500 font-medium">Copied Link</span>
           </>
         ) : (
           <>
-            <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M13.828 10.172a4 4 0 00-5.656 0l-4 4a4 4 0 105.656 5.656l1.102-1.101m-.758-4.899a4 4 0 005.656 0l4-4a4 4 0 00-5.656-5.656l-1.1 1.1" />
-            </svg>
+            <Share2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
             <span>Share</span>
           </>
         )}
@@ -78,23 +78,19 @@ export default function DocActions({ slug, body, canEdit }: DocActionsProps) {
       {/* Export PDF */}
       <Link
         href={`/${slug}/export`}
-        title="Export document or parent folder to PDF"
-        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-all shadow-sm"
+        title="Export document or parent folder to publication-grade PDF"
+        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-xs"
       >
-        <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-          <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M17 17h2a2 2 0 002-2v-4a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v4a2 2 0 002 2h2m2 4h6a2 2 0 002-2v-4a2 2 0 00-2-2H9a2 2 0 00-2 2v4a2 2 0 002 2zm8-12V5a2 2 0 00-2-2H9a2 2 0 00-2 2v4h10z" />
-        </svg>
-        <span>PDF</span>
+        <FileDown className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+        <span>Export PDF</span>
       </Link>
 
       {/* Edit Link */}
       <Link
         href={canEdit ? `/${slug}?edit=1` : `/login?redirect=/${slug}`}
-        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)]/10 hover:bg-[var(--brand)]/20 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 hover:border-[var(--brand)]/60 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] rounded-md transition-all font-medium"
+        className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)]/10 hover:bg-[var(--brand)]/20 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 hover:border-[var(--brand)]/60 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] rounded-lg transition-all font-medium shadow-xs"
       >
-        <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-          <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M11 5H6a2 2 0 00-2 2v11a2 2 0 002 2h11a2 2 0 002-2v-5m-1.414-9.414a2 2 0 112.828 2.828L11.828 15H9v-2.828l8.586-8.586z" />
-        </svg>
+        <Edit3 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
         <span>Edit</span>
       </Link>
     </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/DocForm.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/DocForm.tsx
index b04493d..fb6b43c 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/DocForm.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/DocForm.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,27 @@
 import { useState, useRef } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import Markdown from "./Markdown";
+import {
+  Bold,
+  Italic,
+  Heading2,
+  Heading3,
+  Code,
+  Link as LinkIcon,
+  Table as TableIcon,
+  Info,
+  Lightbulb,
+  AlertTriangle,
+  Plus,
+  Trash2,
+  Check,
+  Eye,
+  Edit3,
+  FileCode,
+  Tag,
+  Folder,
+  Sliders,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 interface DocFormProps {
   mode: "create" | "edit";
@@ -22,8 +43,26 @@ interface DocFormProps {
   };
 }
 
-const DEFAULT_SECTION_LIST = ["docs", "writeups", "research", "notes", "guides", "tutorials", "ctf", "api", "projects"];
-const DEFAULT_TYPE_LIST = ["documentation", "writeup", "research", "note", "guide", "tutorial", "spec"];
+const DEFAULT_SECTION_LIST = [
+  "docs",
+  "writeups",
+  "research",
+  "notes",
+  "guides",
+  "tutorials",
+  "ctf",
+  "api",
+  "projects",
+];
+const DEFAULT_TYPE_LIST = [
+  "documentation",
+  "writeup",
+  "research",
+  "note",
+  "guide",
+  "tutorial",
+  "spec",
+];
 
 const PRESET_FIELDS = [
   { key: "difficulty", value: "medium" },
@@ -88,7 +127,7 @@ export default function DocForm({
   const availableFolders = existingFolders?.[section] ?? [];
 
   const baseInputCls =
-    "w-full px-3.5 py-2 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-1 focus:ring-[var(--brand)] transition-colors";
+    "w-full px-3.5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--brand)]/20 transition-all";
 
   function addCustomField(key = "", value = "") {
     setCustomFields([...customFields, { key, value }]);
@@ -128,7 +167,7 @@ export default function DocForm({
     setError(null);
 
     if (!effectiveSlug || !title || !body) {
-      setError("Slug, title, and body are required.");
+      setError("Slug, title, and markdown body are required.");
       setLoading(false);
       return;
     }
@@ -175,7 +214,7 @@ export default function DocForm({
 
       if (!res.ok) {
         const data = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
-        throw new Error(data.error ?? "Save failed");
+        throw new Error(data.error ?? "Failed to save document. Verify ADMIN_PASSWORD or secret.");
       }
 
       const result = await res.json();
@@ -190,75 +229,73 @@ export default function DocForm({
   return (
     <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-6 max-w-4xl">
       {error && (
-        <div className="p-3.5 rounded-lg border border-rose-500/30 bg-rose-500/10 text-rose-500 dark:text-rose-400 text-sm">
+        <div className="p-4 rounded-xl border border-rose-500/30 bg-rose-500/10 text-rose-500 dark:text-rose-400 text-xs sm:text-sm font-medium animate-fade-in">
           {error}
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Title */}
+      {/* Document Title */}
       <div>
-        <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
+        <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
           Document Title *
         </label>
         <input
           type="text"
           value={title}
           onChange={(e) => setTitle(e.target.value)}
-          placeholder="e.g. Database Architecture Overview"
-          className={`${baseInputCls} text-base`}
+          placeholder="e.g. Exploiting Stack Alignment Issues in x86_64"
+          className={`${baseInputCls} text-base sm:text-lg font-semibold`}
           required
         />
       </div>
 
-      {/* Section + Type + Status */}
+      {/* Section, Type, Status */}
       <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
             Section
           </label>
-          <div className="relative">
-            <input
-              type="text"
-              list="section-list"
-              value={section}
-              onChange={(e) => setSection(e.target.value)}
-              placeholder="e.g. docs, writeups, ctf, guides"
-              className={baseInputCls}
-              required
-            />
-            <datalist id="section-list">
-              {sectionOptions.map((s) => (
-                <option key={s} value={s}>
-                  {s.toUpperCase()}
-                </option>
-              ))}
-            </datalist>
-          </div>
+          <input
+            type="text"
+            list="section-list"
+            value={section}
+            onChange={(e) => setSection(e.target.value)}
+            placeholder="e.g. docs, writeups, research"
+            className={baseInputCls}
+            required
+          />
+          <datalist id="section-list">
+            {sectionOptions.map((s) => (
+              <option key={s} value={s}>
+                {s.toUpperCase()}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </datalist>
         </div>
+
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
-            Type
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
+            Document Type
           </label>
-          <div className="relative">
-            <input
-              type="text"
-              list="type-list"
-              value={type}
-              onChange={(e) => setType(e.target.value)}
-              placeholder="e.g. documentation, writeup, note"
-              className={baseInputCls}
-            />
-            <datalist id="type-list">
-              {DEFAULT_TYPE_LIST.map((t) => (
-                <option key={t} value={t}>
-                  {t}
-                </option>
-              ))}
-            </datalist>
-          </div>
+          <input
+            type="text"
+            list="type-list"
+            value={type}
+            onChange={(e) => setType(e.target.value)}
+            placeholder="e.g. writeup, documentation, note"
+            className={baseInputCls}
+          />
+          <datalist id="type-list">
+            {DEFAULT_TYPE_LIST.map((t) => (
+              <option key={t} value={t}>
+                {t}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </datalist>
         </div>
+
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
             Status
           </label>
           <select
@@ -267,7 +304,7 @@ export default function DocForm({
             className={baseInputCls}
           >
             <option value="published">Published</option>
-            <option value="draft">Draft</option>
+            <option value="draft">Draft (Unindexed)</option>
           </select>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -275,8 +312,8 @@ export default function DocForm({
       {/* Folder + Slug */}
       <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
-            Parent Folder
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
+            Parent Folder / Chapter
           </label>
           <select
             value={parentFolder}
@@ -292,16 +329,17 @@ export default function DocForm({
             ))}
           </select>
         </div>
+
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
-            {isEdit ? "Full Slug" : "Slug (File name) *"}
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
+            {isEdit ? "Document Path" : "Slug (File name) *"}
           </label>
           {isEdit ? (
             <input
               type="text"
               value={slug ?? ""}
               readOnly
-              className="w-full px-3.5 py-2 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-lg text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono"
+              className="w-full px-3.5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono"
             />
           ) : (
             <input
@@ -309,12 +347,12 @@ export default function DocForm({
               value={slugInput}
               onChange={(e) => setSlugInput(e.target.value)}
               className={`${baseInputCls} font-mono`}
-              placeholder="my-new-post"
+              placeholder="ret2win-guide"
               required
             />
           )}
-          <p className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] mt-1 font-mono">
-            Path: <span className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">{effectiveSlug || section}</span>
+          <p className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] mt-1.5 font-mono">
+            Full Slug: <span className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-semibold">{effectiveSlug || section}</span>
           </p>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -322,7 +360,7 @@ export default function DocForm({
       {/* Tags + Author */}
       <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
             Tags (comma separated)
           </label>
           <input
@@ -330,11 +368,11 @@ export default function DocForm({
             value={tags}
             onChange={(e) => setTags(e.target.value)}
             className={baseInputCls}
-            placeholder="ctf, pwn, reverse, tutorial"
+            placeholder="pwn, x86_64, rop, ctf"
           />
         </div>
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
+          <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
             Author
           </label>
           <input
@@ -342,31 +380,32 @@ export default function DocForm({
             value={author}
             onChange={(e) => setAuthor(e.target.value)}
             className={baseInputCls}
-            placeholder="asep"
+            placeholder="e.g. asepharyana"
           />
         </div>
       </div>
 
       {/* Custom Metadata Fields */}
-      <div className="p-4 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl space-y-3 shadow-sm">
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+      <div className="p-4 sm:p-5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl space-y-4 shadow-sm">
+        <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center justify-between gap-2">
           <div>
-            <h3 className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)]">
-              Dynamic Custom Metadata
+            <h3 className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono flex items-center gap-1.5">
+              <Sliders className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+              <span>Dynamic Technical Metadata</span>
             </h3>
             <p className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] mt-0.5">
-              Add custom key-values (event, difficulty, points, etc.) rendered as styled badges.
+              Custom fields (points, difficulty, event, solved) will render as styled badges in the document hero.
             </p>
           </div>
 
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 flex-wrap">
-            <span className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">Presets:</span>
+            <span className="text-[10px] font-mono text-[var(--text-dim)] uppercase">Presets:</span>
             {PRESET_FIELDS.map((preset) => (
               <button
                 key={preset.key}
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => addCustomField(preset.key, preset.value)}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded transition-colors"
+                className="px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-colors font-mono cursor-pointer"
               >
                 +{preset.key}
               </button>
@@ -393,10 +432,10 @@ export default function DocForm({
             <button
               type="button"
               onClick={() => removeCustomField(i)}
-              className="p-2 text-rose-500 hover:text-rose-600 rounded hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] transition-colors"
+              className="p-2 text-rose-500 hover:text-rose-600 rounded-lg hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] transition-colors cursor-pointer"
               title="Remove field"
             >
-              ✕
+              <Trash2 className="w-4 h-4" />
             </button>
           </div>
         ))}
@@ -404,105 +443,124 @@ export default function DocForm({
         <button
           type="button"
           onClick={() => addCustomField()}
-          className="text-xs text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-[var(--brand)]/30 hover:border-[var(--brand)]/60 bg-[var(--brand)]/5 transition-colors font-medium"
+          className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-[var(--brand)]/30 hover:border-[var(--brand)]/60 bg-[var(--brand)]/5 transition-colors font-medium cursor-pointer"
         >
-          + Add Custom Field
+          <Plus className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+          <span>Add Custom Field</span>
         </button>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Body with Write / Preview Tabs */}
-      <div className="border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl overflow-hidden bg-[var(--bg-surface)] shadow-sm">
+      {/* Markdown Body Editor */}
+      <div className="border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl overflow-hidden bg-[var(--bg-surface)] shadow-sm">
         {/* Editor Toolbar */}
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-3 py-2 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border-b border-[var(--border-color)] flex-wrap gap-2">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-3 py-2 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/60 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] flex-wrap gap-2">
           {/* Tabs */}
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <button
               type="button"
               onClick={() => setActiveTab("write")}
-              className={`px-3 py-1 text-xs rounded-md font-medium transition-all ${
+              className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs rounded-lg font-semibold transition-all cursor-pointer ${
                 activeTab === "write"
-                  ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-sm"
+                  ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-xs"
                   : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
               }`}
             >
-              Write
+              <Edit3 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              <span>Write</span>
             </button>
             <button
               type="button"
               onClick={() => setActiveTab("preview")}
-              className={`px-3 py-1 text-xs rounded-md font-medium transition-all ${
+              className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs rounded-lg font-semibold transition-all cursor-pointer ${
                 activeTab === "preview"
-                  ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-sm"
+                  ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-xs"
                   : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
               }`}
             >
-              Live Preview
+              <Eye className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              <span>Live Preview</span>
             </button>
           </div>
 
-          {/* Markdown Action Shortcuts */}
+          {/* Quick Markdown Formatter Shortcuts */}
           {activeTab === "write" && (
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => insertMarkdown("**", "**")}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
-                title="Bold"
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                title="Bold (**text**)"
               >
-                <b>B</b>
+                <Bold className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               </button>
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => insertMarkdown("*", "*")}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
-                title="Italic"
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                title="Italic (*text*)"
               >
-                <i>I</i>
+                <Italic className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               </button>
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => insertMarkdown("## ")}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
                 title="Heading 2"
               >
-                H2
+                <Heading2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              </button>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onClick={() => insertMarkdown("### ")}
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                title="Heading 3"
+              >
+                <Heading3 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               </button>
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => insertMarkdown("```\n", "\n```")}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] font-mono"
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
                 title="Code Block"
               >
-                {"</>"}
+                <Code className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               </button>
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => insertMarkdown("[", "](https://)")}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
                 title="Link"
               >
-                Link
+                <LinkIcon className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               </button>
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => insertMarkdown("> [!NOTE]\n> ")}
-                className="px-2 py-0.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] text-indigo-500"
                 title="Note Callout"
               >
-                Note
+                <Info className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              </button>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onClick={() => insertMarkdown("> [!TIP]\n> ")}
+                className="p-1.5 hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-md hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] text-emerald-500"
+                title="Tip Callout"
+              >
+                <Lightbulb className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               </button>
             </div>
           )}
         </div>
 
-        {/* Tab content */}
+        {/* Tab Content */}
         {activeTab === "write" ? (
           <textarea
             ref={textareaRef}
             value={body}
             onChange={(e) => setBody(e.target.value)}
-            className="w-full h-96 p-4 bg-transparent text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono text-sm focus:outline-none resize-y leading-relaxed"
-            placeholder="# Write your markdown document here..."
+            className="w-full h-96 p-4 sm:p-5 bg-transparent text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono text-sm focus:outline-none resize-y leading-relaxed"
+            placeholder="# Write your technical documentation or writeup here in Markdown..."
             required
           />
         ) : (
@@ -510,28 +568,29 @@ export default function DocForm({
             {body.trim() ? (
               <Markdown source={body} />
             ) : (
-              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] italic">Nothing to preview yet.</p>
+              <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] italic">No content to preview yet.</p>
             )}
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Actions */}
+      {/* Submit Action Buttons */}
       <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
         <button
           type="submit"
           disabled={loading}
-          className="px-6 py-2.5 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white rounded-lg font-medium text-sm transition-all shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 disabled:opacity-50 flex items-center gap-2"
+          className="px-6 py-2.5 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white rounded-xl font-semibold text-sm transition-all shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 hover:shadow-[var(--brand)]/35 disabled:opacity-50 flex items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer"
         >
           {loading && (
             <div className="w-4 h-4 border-2 border-white border-t-transparent rounded-full animate-spin" />
           )}
-          <span>{loading ? "Saving document..." : mode === "create" ? "Create Document" : "Save Changes"}</span>
+          <span>{loading ? "Persisting Document..." : mode === "create" ? "Publish to PostgreSQL" : "Save Changes"}</span>
         </button>
+
         <button
           type="button"
           onClick={() => router.back()}
-          className="px-4 py-2.5 border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-lg text-sm transition-colors shadow-sm"
+          className="px-4 py-2.5 border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] rounded-xl text-sm transition-colors shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
         >
           Cancel
         </button>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/Header.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/Header.tsx
index 0fc97bc..4ae94ee 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/Header.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,18 @@ import { usePathname } from "next/navigation";
 import { DEFAULT_SECTIONS, type SectionConfig } from "@mcpedia/config/sections";
 import ThemeToggle from "@/components/ThemeToggle";
 import CommandMenu from "@/components/CommandMenu";
+import {
+  Sparkles,
+  Plus,
+  Search,
+  Menu,
+  X,
+  Lock,
+  Layers,
+  FileText,
+  Activity,
+  Terminal,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 export default function Header() {
   const pathname = usePathname();
@@ -24,126 +36,143 @@ export default function Header() {
   }, []);
 
   return (
-    <header className="sticky top-0 z-30 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] glass-nav">
-      <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4 sm:px-6 h-14 flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
-        {/* Brand */}
+    <header className="sticky top-0 z-40 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] glass-nav transition-all">
+      <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4 sm:px-6 h-15 flex items-center justify-between gap-3 sm:gap-4">
+        {/* Left: Brand Identity */}
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-          <Link href="/" className="flex items-center gap-2 group">
-            <div className="w-7 h-7 rounded-lg bg-gradient-to-br from-[var(--brand)] to-[var(--accent)] flex items-center justify-center text-white font-bold text-xs shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 group-hover:scale-105 transition-transform">
-              M
+          <Link href="/" className="flex items-center gap-2.5 group">
+            <div className="relative flex items-center justify-center w-8 h-8 rounded-xl bg-gradient-to-br from-indigo-500 via-indigo-600 to-violet-700 text-white shadow-lg shadow-indigo-500/25 group-hover:scale-105 group-hover:shadow-indigo-500/40 transition-all">
+              <span className="font-mono font-bold text-sm tracking-tighter">M</span>
+              <span className="absolute -bottom-0.5 -right-0.5 w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-emerald-400 ring-2 ring-[var(--bg-app)] animate-pulse" />
+            </div>
+            <div className="flex flex-col">
+              <span className="font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] text-base tracking-tight leading-none group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors">
+                MCPedia
+              </span>
+              <span className="text-[10px] font-mono text-[var(--text-dim)] uppercase tracking-wider leading-tight mt-0.5 hidden sm:block">
+                AI Knowledge Hub
+              </span>
             </div>
-            <span className="font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] text-base tracking-tight transition-colors">
-              MCPedia
-            </span>
           </Link>
-          <span className="hidden sm:inline-block text-[10px] uppercase font-mono px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
-            v0.1.0
-          </span>
+
+          <div className="hidden xl:flex items-center gap-1.5 ml-2 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[10px] font-mono text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+            <Activity className="w-3 h-3 text-emerald-500" />
+            <span>MCP :4021</span>
+          </div>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Desktop Nav */}
-        <nav className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-1">
+        {/* Center: Desktop Dynamic Sections Nav */}
+        <nav className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-1 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/60 p-1 rounded-xl border border-[var(--border-color)]">
           {sections.map((s) => {
             const isActive = pathname === `/${s.id}` || pathname.startsWith(`/${s.id}/`);
             return (
               <Link
                 key={s.id}
                 href={`/${s.id}`}
-                className={`px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md text-xs font-medium transition-all ${
+                className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-medium transition-all flex items-center gap-1.5 ${
                   isActive
-                    ? "text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)]"
-                    : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)]"
+                    ? "text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] shadow-xs font-semibold border border-[var(--border-color)]"
+                    : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)]/50"
                 }`}
               >
-                <span className="mr-1.5 opacity-80">{s.icon}</span>
-                {s.label}
+                <span className="text-xs">{s.icon}</span>
+                <span>{s.label}</span>
               </Link>
             );
           })}
         </nav>
 
-        {/* Right tools */}
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
+        {/* Right Tools & Navigation Deck */}
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
           <CommandMenu />
 
           <Link
             href="/search"
-            className="md:hidden p-1.5 text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] transition-colors"
-            title="Search"
+            className="md:hidden p-2 text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] transition-colors"
+            title="Search knowledge base"
           >
-            <svg className="w-4 h-4" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z" />
-            </svg>
+            <Search className="w-4 h-4" />
           </Link>
 
           <Link
             href="/create"
-            className="hidden sm:inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--accent)] text-white text-xs font-medium rounded-lg transition-all shadow-sm"
+            className="hidden sm:inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white text-xs font-medium rounded-lg shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 hover:shadow-[var(--brand)]/35 transition-all cursor-pointer"
           >
-            <span>+</span>
+            <Plus className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
             <span>New Doc</span>
           </Link>
 
           <Link
             href="/login"
-            className={`px-2.5 py-1 text-xs rounded-lg transition-colors ${
+            className={`p-1.5 sm:px-2.5 sm:py-1.5 text-xs rounded-lg transition-colors flex items-center gap-1.5 ${
               pathname === "/login"
-                ? "text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] font-medium"
+                ? "text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] font-semibold border border-[var(--border-color)]"
                 : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
             }`}
+            title="Admin Login"
           >
-            Login
+            <Lock className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+            <span className="hidden sm:inline">Admin</span>
           </Link>
 
-          <div className="border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-2.5 flex items-center">
+          <div className="border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-2 flex items-center">
             <ThemeToggle />
           </div>
 
-          {/* Mobile menu toggle */}
+          {/* Mobile menu hamburger toggle */}
           <button
             onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(!mobileMenuOpen)}
-            className="md:hidden p-1 text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+            className="md:hidden p-2 text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] transition-colors"
             aria-label="Toggle navigation"
           >
-            <svg className="w-5 h-5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              {mobileMenuOpen ? (
-                <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
-              ) : (
-                <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M4 6h16M4 12h16M4 18h16" />
-              )}
-            </svg>
+            {mobileMenuOpen ? <X className="w-5 h-5" /> : <Menu className="w-5 h-5" />}
           </button>
         </div>
       </div>
 
       {/* Mobile Drawer */}
       {mobileMenuOpen && (
-        <div className="md:hidden border-t border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-4 py-3 space-y-1 animate-fade-in shadow-lg">
-          {sections.map((s) => (
-            <Link
-              key={s.id}
-              href={`/${s.id}`}
-              onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
-              className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
-            >
-              <span>{s.icon}</span>
-              <span>{s.label}</span>
-            </Link>
-          ))}
-          <div className="pt-2 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] flex gap-2">
+        <div className="md:hidden border-t border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-4 py-4 space-y-2 animate-fade-in shadow-xl">
+          <div className="text-[11px] font-mono uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-dim)] px-2 mb-1">
+            Sections
+          </div>
+          <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-1.5">
+            {sections.map((s) => {
+              const isActive = pathname === `/${s.id}` || pathname.startsWith(`/${s.id}/`);
+              return (
+                <Link
+                  key={s.id}
+                  href={`/${s.id}`}
+                  onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
+                  className={`flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg text-xs font-medium transition-colors ${
+                    isActive
+                      ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] border border-[var(--brand)]/30 font-semibold"
+                      : "text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] border border-transparent"
+                  }`}
+                >
+                  <span>{s.icon}</span>
+                  <span className="truncate">{s.label}</span>
+                </Link>
+              );
+            })}
+          </div>
+
+          <div className="pt-3 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] flex gap-2">
             <Link
               href="/search"
               onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
-              className="flex-1 text-center py-2 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] rounded-lg font-medium border border-[var(--border-color)]"
+              className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 py-2 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg font-medium border border-[var(--border-color)]"
             >
-              Search
+              <Search className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              <span>Search</span>
             </Link>
             <Link
               href="/create"
               onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
-              className="flex-1 text-center py-2 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)] text-white rounded-lg font-medium"
+              className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 py-2 text-xs bg-[var(--brand)] text-white rounded-lg font-medium shadow-sm"
             >
-              + Create
+              <Plus className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              <span>Create Doc</span>
             </Link>
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/InteractiveTopology.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/InteractiveTopology.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fee8fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/InteractiveTopology.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,379 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useState } from "react";
+import Link from "next/link";
+import {
+  Cpu,
+  Database,
+  Layers,
+  Sparkles,
+  Search,
+  Globe,
+  Terminal,
+  Server,
+  ArrowRight,
+  CheckCircle2,
+  FileCode2,
+  ShieldCheck,
+} from "lucide-react";
+
+interface NodeDetail {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  badge: string;
+  type: "client" | "protocol" | "core" | "storage";
+  icon: any;
+  desc: string;
+  metrics: { label: string; value: string }[];
+  features: string[];
+  docLink?: string;
+}
+
+const NODES: NodeDetail[] = [
+  {
+    id: "ai-agents",
+    title: "AI Coding Agents",
+    badge: "MCP Consumer",
+    type: "client",
+    icon: Sparkles,
+    desc: "Claude Desktop, Cursor, Antigravity, and Zed connect via Model Context Protocol to read and write technical knowledge directly.",
+    metrics: [
+      { label: "Transport", value: "Stdio / HTTP SSE" },
+      { label: "Tools Exposed", value: "13 Native Tools" },
+      { label: "Authentication", value: "x-webhook-secret" },
+    ],
+    features: [
+      "Semantic similarity search over chunks",
+      "Direct document CRUD into Postgres",
+      "Context retrieval for debugging & CTF writeups",
+    ],
+    docLink: "/docs",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "web-ui",
+    title: "Human Web Interface",
+    badge: "Next.js 16 + React 19",
+    type: "client",
+    icon: Globe,
+    desc: "Fast, accessible, and responsive developer web interface with dark/light themes, keyboard shortcuts, and instant search.",
+    metrics: [
+      { label: "Framework", value: "Next.js 16.3" },
+      { label: "Styling", value: "Tailwind CSS v4" },
+      { label: "Command Menu", value: "⌘K Omnisearch" },
+    ],
+    features: [
+      "Hierarchical folder directory tree",
+      "Publication-grade PDF export generator",
+      "Live markdown editor with revision rollback",
+    ],
+    docLink: "/docs",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "mcp-server",
+    title: "MCP Server Gateway",
+    badge: "Streamable HTTP :4021",
+    type: "protocol",
+    icon: Server,
+    desc: "High-throughput streamable Model Context Protocol server exposing tool endpoints and resource URIs.",
+    metrics: [
+      { label: "Port", value: ":4021" },
+      { label: "Protocol", value: "MCP 2024-11-05" },
+      { label: "Runtime", value: "Bun Engine" },
+    ],
+    features: [
+      "get_document / create_document tools",
+      "search_hybrid / search_semantic tools",
+      "list_sections & list_revisions resources",
+    ],
+    docLink: "/api",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "core-engine",
+    title: "@mcpedia/core",
+    badge: "Single Source of Truth",
+    type: "core",
+    icon: Layers,
+    desc: "Unified business logic layer shared across Web, MCP Server, REST API, and Background Workers.",
+    metrics: [
+      { label: "Architecture", value: "Monorepo Package" },
+      { label: "Validation", value: "Strict Type Safety" },
+      { label: "Ranking", value: "RRF Hybrid Fusion" },
+    ],
+    features: [
+      "Path classification & folder hierarchy",
+      "Markdown document chunking & tokenization",
+      "Drizzle ORM transactional schema mapping",
+    ],
+    docLink: "/research",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "search-engine",
+    title: "Multi-Modal Search Engine",
+    badge: "RRF Algorithm",
+    type: "core",
+    icon: Search,
+    desc: "Reciprocal Rank Fusion uniting Postgres Full-Text Search tsvectors with OpenAI/OpenRouter vector embeddings.",
+    metrics: [
+      { label: "FTS Algorithm", value: "tsvector + GIN" },
+      { label: "Vector Search", value: "Cosine Similarity" },
+      { label: "Fusion Constant", value: "k = 60" },
+    ],
+    features: [
+      "Sub-millisecond keyword retrieval",
+      "Conceptual similarity matching",
+      "Instant snippet generation with highlight markers",
+    ],
+    docLink: "/search",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "postgres-db",
+    title: "PostgreSQL 16 + pgvector",
+    badge: "Primary Storage",
+    type: "storage",
+    icon: Database,
+    desc: "ACID-compliant relational database storing document bodies, revision trees, vector embeddings, and full-text indexes.",
+    metrics: [
+      { label: "Extension", value: "vector (1536 dim)" },
+      { label: "Backups", value: "Auto .md to disk" },
+      { label: "Isolation", value: "Transactional" },
+    ],
+    features: [
+      "HNSW vector index for embeddings",
+      "Complete revision history preservation",
+      "Instant document schema migrations",
+    ],
+    docLink: "/docs",
+  },
+];
+
+export default function InteractiveTopology() {
+  const [activeNodeId, setActiveNodeId] = useState<string>("core-engine");
+
+  const activeNode = NODES.find((n) => n.id === activeNodeId) || NODES[0];
+  const ActiveIcon = activeNode.icon;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl overflow-hidden shadow-sm">
+      {/* Header Bar */}
+      <div className="p-5 sm:p-6 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/50 flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center justify-between gap-4">
+        <div>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-1.5">
+            <span className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-emerald-500 animate-pulse" />
+            <span className="text-[11px] font-mono uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+              Interactive System Topology
+            </span>
+          </div>
+          <h3 className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
+            How MCPedia Unifies Humans & AI Agents
+          </h3>
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--text-muted)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-2.5 py-1 rounded-md">
+            Click any node below to inspect
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Grid Layout: Visual Interactive Map & Inspector */}
+      <div className="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-12">
+        {/* Visual Map Column (Left) */}
+        <div className="lg:col-span-7 p-6 border-b lg:border-b-0 lg:border-r border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-app)]/50 flex flex-col justify-between space-y-6">
+          {/* Layer 1: Clients */}
+          <div>
+            <span className="text-[10px] font-mono uppercase tracking-widest text-[var(--text-dim)] mb-2 block">
+              1. Ingestion & Access Layer
+            </span>
+            <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-3">
+              {NODES.filter((n) => n.type === "client").map((node) => {
+                const Icon = node.icon;
+                const isSelected = activeNodeId === node.id;
+                return (
+                  <button
+                    key={node.id}
+                    onClick={() => setActiveNodeId(node.id)}
+                    type="button"
+                    className={`p-3.5 rounded-xl border text-left transition-all cursor-pointer ${
+                      isSelected
+                        ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border-[var(--brand)] shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/10 ring-1 ring-[var(--brand)]"
+                        : "bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)]/50 hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2">
+                      <div className={`p-2 rounded-lg ${isSelected ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white" : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)]"}`}>
+                        <Icon className="w-4 h-4" />
+                      </div>
+                      <span className="text-[10px] font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-muted)] border border-[var(--border-color)]">
+                        {node.badge}
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="font-semibold text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)]">{node.title}</div>
+                  </button>
+                );
+              })}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Flow Connector Arrow */}
+          <div className="flex justify-center text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+            <span className="text-xs font-mono px-3 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)]">
+              ↓ Secure Protocol & Gateway
+            </span>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Layer 2: Protocol & Core Services */}
+          <div>
+            <span className="text-[10px] font-mono uppercase tracking-widest text-[var(--text-dim)] mb-2 block">
+              2. Gateway & Intelligence Core
+            </span>
+            <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-3 gap-3">
+              {NODES.filter((n) => n.type === "protocol" || n.type === "core").map((node) => {
+                const Icon = node.icon;
+                const isSelected = activeNodeId === node.id;
+                return (
+                  <button
+                    key={node.id}
+                    onClick={() => setActiveNodeId(node.id)}
+                    type="button"
+                    className={`p-3.5 rounded-xl border text-left transition-all cursor-pointer ${
+                      isSelected
+                        ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border-[var(--brand)] shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/10 ring-1 ring-[var(--brand)]"
+                        : "bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)]/50 hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2">
+                      <div className={`p-2 rounded-lg ${isSelected ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white" : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)]"}`}>
+                        <Icon className="w-4 h-4" />
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="font-semibold text-xs text-[var(--text-primary)] leading-tight mb-1 truncate">
+                      {node.title}
+                    </div>
+                    <div className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono truncate">
+                      {node.badge}
+                    </div>
+                  </button>
+                );
+              })}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Flow Connector Arrow */}
+          <div className="flex justify-center text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+            <span className="text-xs font-mono px-3 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)]">
+              ↓ Persistent Layer (ACID + Vectors)
+            </span>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Layer 3: Database & Vector Storage */}
+          <div>
+            <span className="text-[10px] font-mono uppercase tracking-widest text-[var(--text-dim)] mb-2 block">
+              3. Source of Truth Storage
+            </span>
+            {NODES.filter((n) => n.type === "storage").map((node) => {
+              const Icon = node.icon;
+              const isSelected = activeNodeId === node.id;
+              return (
+                <button
+                  key={node.id}
+                  onClick={() => setActiveNodeId(node.id)}
+                  type="button"
+                  className={`w-full p-3.5 rounded-xl border text-left transition-all cursor-pointer ${
+                    isSelected
+                      ? "bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border-[var(--brand)] shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/10 ring-1 ring-[var(--brand)]"
+                      : "bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)]/50 hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
+                  }`}
+                >
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+                    <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                      <div className={`p-2 rounded-lg ${isSelected ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white" : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-secondary)]"}`}>
+                        <Icon className="w-4 h-4" />
+                      </div>
+                      <div>
+                        <div className="font-semibold text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)]">{node.title}</div>
+                        <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">Source of truth for all content & embeddings</div>
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+                    <span className="text-[10px] font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-muted)] border border-[var(--border-color)]">
+                      {node.badge}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                </button>
+              );
+            })}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Node Inspector Details Column (Right) */}
+        <div className="lg:col-span-5 p-6 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] flex flex-col justify-between space-y-6 animate-fade-in">
+          <div>
+            {/* Inspector Header */}
+            <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-4">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                <div className="w-11 h-11 rounded-xl bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] flex items-center justify-center">
+                  <ActiveIcon className="w-5 h-5" />
+                </div>
+                <div>
+                  <h4 className="text-lg font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">{activeNode.title}</h4>
+                  <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">
+                    {activeNode.badge}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            <p className="text-xs sm:text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] leading-relaxed mb-6">
+              {activeNode.desc}
+            </p>
+
+            {/* Telemetry Metrics */}
+            <div className="mb-6">
+              <span className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono mb-2.5 block">
+                Telemetry & Architecture
+              </span>
+              <div className="space-y-2">
+                {activeNode.metrics.map((m) => (
+                  <div
+                    key={m.label}
+                    className="flex items-center justify-between p-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-lg text-xs"
+                  >
+                    <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)]">{m.label}</span>
+                    <span className="font-mono font-medium text-[var(--text-primary)]">{m.value}</span>
+                  </div>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Key Capabilities */}
+            <div>
+              <span className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono mb-2.5 block">
+                Key Capabilities
+              </span>
+              <ul className="space-y-2">
+                {activeNode.features.map((feat, idx) => (
+                  <li key={idx} className="flex items-start gap-2 text-xs text-[var(--text-secondary)]">
+                    <CheckCircle2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500 shrink-0 mt-0.5" />
+                    <span>{feat}</span>
+                  </li>
+                ))}
+              </ul>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Link to Documentation */}
+          {activeNode.docLink && (
+            <div className="pt-4 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
+              <Link
+                href={activeNode.docLink}
+                className="inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-2 w-full py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-xl transition-all shadow-xs group"
+              >
+                <span>Read technical writeup in {activeNode.title}</span>
+                <ArrowRight className="w-3.5 h-3.5 group-hover:translate-x-0.5 transition-transform" />
+              </Link>
+            </div>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/Markdown.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/Markdown.tsx
index edec264..1e4a201 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/Markdown.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/Markdown.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,15 @@ import ReactMarkdown from "react-markdown";
 import remarkGfm from "remark-gfm";
 import rehypeSlug from "rehype-slug";
 import rehypeHighlight from "rehype-highlight";
+import {
+  Copy,
+  Check,
+  Info,
+  Lightbulb,
+  AlertTriangle,
+  Flame,
+  ShieldAlert,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 function extractText(node: React.ReactNode): string {
   if (node === null || node === undefined || typeof node === "boolean") {
@@ -42,16 +51,16 @@ function PreBlock({ children, ...props }: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLPreElement>)
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="code-block-wrapper relative group my-5 rounded-xl overflow-hidden border border-[var(--border-code)] bg-[var(--code-block-bg)] shadow-xs print:my-3 print:rounded-md print:border-slate-300 print:bg-slate-50">
+    <div className="code-block-wrapper relative group my-6 rounded-xl overflow-hidden border border-[var(--border-code)] bg-[var(--code-block-bg)] shadow-sm print:my-3 print:rounded-md print:border-slate-300 print:bg-slate-50">
       {/* Code block header bar */}
-      <div className="code-block-header flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 bg-[var(--code-header-bg)] border-b border-[var(--border-code)] text-xs font-mono select-none print:px-3 print:py-1 print:bg-slate-100 print:border-slate-300">
+      <div className="code-block-header flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2.5 bg-[var(--code-header-bg)] border-b border-[var(--border-code)] text-xs font-mono select-none print:px-3 print:py-1 print:bg-slate-100 print:border-slate-300">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
           <div className="no-print flex items-center gap-1.5 opacity-75 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity">
-            <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-rose-400/80 dark:bg-rose-500/60 inline-block" />
-            <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-amber-400/80 dark:bg-amber-500/60 inline-block" />
-            <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-400/80 dark:bg-emerald-500/60 inline-block" />
+            <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-rose-500/80 inline-block" />
+            <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-amber-500/80 inline-block" />
+            <span className="w-2.5 h-2.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-500/80 inline-block" />
           </div>
-          <span className="text-[11px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] print:text-slate-700 group-hover:text-[var(--text-secondary)] transition-colors">
+          <span className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] print:text-slate-700 group-hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors">
             {language}
           </span>
         </div>
@@ -64,23 +73,19 @@ function PreBlock({ children, ...props }: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLPreElement>)
         >
           {copied ? (
             <>
-              <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-                <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M5 13l4 4L19 7" />
-              </svg>
+              <Check className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" />
               <span className="text-emerald-500 font-medium">Copied!</span>
             </>
           ) : (
             <>
-              <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-                <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M8 16H6a2 2 0 01-2-2V6a2 2 0 012-2h8a2 2 0 012 2v2m-6 12h8a2 2 0 002-2v-8a2 2 0 00-2-2h-8a2 2 0 00-2 2v8a2 2 0 002 2z" />
-              </svg>
+              <Copy className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               <span>Copy</span>
             </>
           )}
         </button>
       </div>
 
-      <pre className="!m-0 !bg-transparent p-4 print:p-3 overflow-x-auto text-[13.5px] print:text-[8.5pt] text-[var(--pre-text)] print:text-slate-900 font-mono leading-relaxed" {...props}>
+      <pre className="!m-0 !bg-transparent p-4 sm:p-5 print:p-3 overflow-x-auto text-[13px] sm:text-[13.5px] print:text-[8.5pt] text-[var(--pre-text)] print:text-slate-900 font-mono leading-relaxed" {...props}>
         {children}
       </pre>
     </div>
@@ -91,7 +96,7 @@ export default function Markdown({ source }: { source: string }) {
   return (
     <div
       className="prose max-w-none
-      prose-headings:text-[var(--text-primary)] prose-headings:font-semibold prose-headings:tracking-tight
+      prose-headings:text-[var(--text-primary)] prose-headings:font-bold prose-headings:tracking-tight
       prose-h1:text-2xl sm:prose-h1:text-3xl prose-h1:mb-6 prose-h1:mt-8 prose-h1:pb-3 prose-h1:border-b prose-h1:border-[var(--border-color)]
       prose-h2:text-xl sm:prose-h2:text-2xl prose-h2:mb-4 prose-h2:mt-8 prose-h2:pb-2 prose-h2:border-b prose-h2:border-[var(--border-subtle)]
       prose-h3:text-lg prose-h3:mb-3 prose-h3:mt-6
@@ -130,8 +135,48 @@ export default function Markdown({ source }: { source: string }) {
             </div>
           ),
           blockquote: ({ children }) => {
+            const rawText = extractText(children).trim();
+            const alertMatch = rawText.match(/^\[!(NOTE|TIP|IMPORTANT|WARNING|CAUTION)\]/i);
+
+            if (alertMatch) {
+              const alertType = alertMatch[1].toUpperCase();
+              let borderClass = "border-indigo-500 bg-indigo-500/10 text-indigo-900 dark:text-indigo-200";
+              let Icon = Info;
+              let title = "Note";
+
+              if (alertType === "TIP") {
+                borderClass = "border-emerald-500 bg-emerald-500/10 text-emerald-900 dark:text-emerald-200";
+                Icon = Lightbulb;
+                title = "Tip";
+              } else if (alertType === "IMPORTANT") {
+                borderClass = "border-violet-500 bg-violet-500/10 text-violet-900 dark:text-violet-200";
+                Icon = Flame;
+                title = "Important";
+              } else if (alertType === "WARNING") {
+                borderClass = "border-amber-500 bg-amber-500/10 text-amber-900 dark:text-amber-200";
+                Icon = AlertTriangle;
+                title = "Warning";
+              } else if (alertType === "CAUTION") {
+                borderClass = "border-rose-500 bg-rose-500/10 text-rose-900 dark:text-rose-200";
+                Icon = ShieldAlert;
+                title = "Caution";
+              }
+
+              return (
+                <div className={`my-5 p-4 rounded-xl border-l-4 ${borderClass} shadow-xs`}>
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-bold text-xs uppercase tracking-wider mb-1.5">
+                    <Icon className="w-4 h-4" />
+                    <span>{title}</span>
+                  </div>
+                  <div className="text-xs sm:text-sm text-[var(--text-secondary)] [&>p]:mb-1 [&>p:last-child]:mb-0">
+                    {children}
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              );
+            }
+
             return (
-              <blockquote className="border-l-4 border-[var(--brand)] bg-[var(--brand)]/5 dark:bg-[var(--brand)]/10 pl-4 py-2.5 my-5 rounded-r-lg text-[var(--text-secondary)] not-italic">
+              <blockquote className="border-l-4 border-[var(--brand)] bg-[var(--brand)]/5 dark:bg-[var(--brand)]/10 pl-4 py-2.5 my-5 rounded-r-xl text-[var(--text-secondary)] not-italic">
                 {children}
               </blockquote>
             );
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/McpConfigSnippet.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/McpConfigSnippet.tsx
index ff04c59..a591b4f 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/McpConfigSnippet.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/McpConfigSnippet.tsx
@@ -2,11 +2,23 @@
 
 import { useState } from "react";
 import Markdown from "@/components/Markdown";
+import {
+  Sparkles,
+  Terminal,
+  Server,
+  Code2,
+  Copy,
+  Check,
+  CheckCircle2,
+  Cpu,
+  Laptop,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 const CONFIGS = [
   {
     id: "claude",
     label: "Claude Desktop",
+    icon: Sparkles,
     lang: "json",
     filename: "~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json",
     content: `{
@@ -15,7 +27,7 @@ const CONFIGS = [
       "command": "bun",
       "args": ["run", "/path/to/mcpedia/apps/mcp/src/index.ts"],
       "env": {
-        "DATABASE_URL": "postgresql://...",
+        "DATABASE_URL": "postgresql://postgres:password@localhost:5432/mcpedia",
         "OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "sk-or-v1-..."
       }
     }
@@ -23,10 +35,29 @@ const CONFIGS = [
 }`,
   },
   {
-    id: "http",
-    label: "Remote HTTP (SSE)",
+    id: "cursor",
+    label: "Cursor AI",
+    icon: Laptop,
     lang: "json",
-    filename: "Streamable HTTP Endpoint",
+    filename: ".cursor/mcp.json",
+    content: `{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "mcpedia": {
+      "command": "bun",
+      "args": ["run", "/path/to/mcpedia/apps/mcp/src/index.ts"],
+      "env": {
+        "DATABASE_URL": "postgresql://postgres:password@localhost:5432/mcpedia"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}`,
+  },
+  {
+    id: "http",
+    label: "Streamable HTTP Endpoint",
+    icon: Server,
+    lang: "json",
+    filename: "Streamable HTTP (SSE) Client Config",
     content: `{
   "mcpServers": {
     "mcpedia-remote": {
@@ -40,19 +71,21 @@ const CONFIGS = [
   },
   {
     id: "cli",
-    label: "CLI Client",
+    label: "CLI & Scripts",
+    icon: Terminal,
     lang: "bash",
-    filename: "Terminal One-Shot / REPL",
-    content: `# One-shot question
-bun run apps/mcp-client/src/ask.ts "How does ret2win stack alignment work?"
+    filename: "Terminal / MCP Client Subprocess",
+    content: `# Ask questions over semantic knowledge
+bun run apps/mcp-client/src/ask.ts "How does ret2win stack alignment work in x86_64?"
 
-# Interactive REPL
+# Run interactive REPL with native tool calls
 bun run apps/mcp-client/src/index.ts`,
   },
 ];
 
 export default function McpConfigSnippet() {
   const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState("claude");
+  const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);
 
   const current = CONFIGS.find((c) => c.id === activeTab) || CONFIGS[0];
 
@@ -60,45 +93,80 @@ export default function McpConfigSnippet() {
 ${current.content}
 \`\`\``;
 
+  function handleCopyAll() {
+    navigator.clipboard.writeText(current.content);
+    setCopied(true);
+    setTimeout(() => setCopied(false), 2000);
+  }
+
   return (
-    <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl overflow-hidden shadow-sm">
+    <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl overflow-hidden shadow-sm">
       {/* Header bar with tabs */}
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border-b border-[var(--border-color)] flex-wrap gap-2">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-          {CONFIGS.map((c) => (
-            <button
-              key={c.id}
-              onClick={() => setActiveTab(c.id)}
-              className={`px-3 py-1.5 text-xs rounded-lg font-medium transition-all cursor-pointer ${
-                activeTab === c.id
-                  ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-xs"
-                  : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)]"
-              }`}
-            >
-              {c.label}
-            </button>
-          ))}
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 sm:px-6 py-3 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/60 border-b border-[var(--border-color)] flex-wrap gap-2">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 flex-wrap">
+          {CONFIGS.map((c) => {
+            const Icon = c.icon;
+            const isSelected = activeTab === c.id;
+            return (
+              <button
+                key={c.id}
+                onClick={() => setActiveTab(c.id)}
+                type="button"
+                className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs rounded-xl font-semibold transition-all cursor-pointer ${
+                  isSelected
+                    ? "bg-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20"
+                    : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)]"
+                }`}
+              >
+                <Icon className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+                <span>{c.label}</span>
+              </button>
+            );
+          })}
         </div>
 
-        <div className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono hidden sm:block">
-          {current.filename}
-        </div>
+        <button
+          onClick={handleCopyAll}
+          type="button"
+          className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer font-medium"
+        >
+          {copied ? (
+            <>
+              <Check className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" />
+              <span className="text-emerald-500">Copied Config</span>
+            </>
+          ) : (
+            <>
+              <Copy className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              <span>Copy Config</span>
+            </>
+          )}
+        </button>
       </div>
 
       {/* Code preview via Markdown syntax highlighter */}
-      <div className="p-4 [&>.prose>.group]:my-0 [&>.prose]:max-w-none">
+      <div className="p-4 sm:p-5 [&>.prose>.group]:my-0 [&>.prose]:max-w-none">
         <Markdown source={markdownSnippet} />
       </div>
 
-      <div className="px-4 py-2 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border-t border-[var(--border-color)] text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] flex items-center justify-between flex-wrap gap-2">
-        <span>
-          Config target: <span className="font-mono text-[var(--text-secondary)]">{current.filename}</span>
-        </span>
-        <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
-          Format: <span className="uppercase font-mono font-semibold">{current.lang}</span>
-        </span>
+      {/* Footer Info */}
+      <div className="px-4 sm:px-6 py-3 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]/40 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center justify-between gap-2">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <span className="font-mono uppercase text-[10px] text-[var(--text-muted)] font-semibold">
+            Target File:
+          </span>
+          <span className="font-mono text-[var(--text-secondary)] text-[11px]">
+            {current.filename}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 text-[11px]">
+          <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400 font-medium">
+            <CheckCircle2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+            <span>13 MCP Tools Ready</span>
+          </span>
+        </div>
       </div>
     </div>
   );
 }
-
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/PdfExportView.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/PdfExportView.tsx
index 1ba45b3..f111783 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/PdfExportView.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/PdfExportView.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ import {
   type ExportSortOption,
 } from "@mcpedia/core/export-helpers";
 import { getSectionMeta } from "@mcpedia/config/sections";
+import {
+  Printer,
+  FileDown,
+  Copy,
+  Check,
+  ArrowLeft,
+  Filter,
+  ListOrdered,
+  BookOpen,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 interface PdfExportViewProps {
   exportData: ExportData;
@@ -113,23 +123,21 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
 
   return (
     <div className="pb-16 print:pb-0">
-      {/* =========================================================================
-          Export Control Toolbar (Screen Only — Hidden in Print)
-          ========================================================================= */}
-      <aside className="no-print export-toolbar sticky top-16 z-30 mb-8 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl p-4 shadow-sm">
+      {/* Export Control Toolbar (Screen Only — Hidden in Print) */}
+      <aside className="no-print export-toolbar sticky top-16 z-30 mb-8 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-5 shadow-md">
         <div className="flex flex-col lg:flex-row lg:items-center justify-between gap-4">
           {/* Left info & Back button */}
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3.5">
             <Link
               href={backHref}
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-md text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-all shadow-xs"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3.5 py-2 text-xs font-semibold bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-all shadow-xs"
             >
-              <span>←</span>
+              <ArrowLeft className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               <span>Back</span>
             </Link>
             <div>
               <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--text-primary)] font-semibold uppercase">
+                <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-bold uppercase">
                   {sectionMeta.label}
                 </span>
                 <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)]">·</span>
@@ -150,13 +158,19 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
             <button
               onClick={handleCopyMarkdown}
               type="button"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-2 text-xs font-medium bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3.5 py-2 text-xs font-semibold bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-xl transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
               title="Copy compiled markdown document"
             >
               {copiedMd ? (
-                <span className="text-emerald-600 font-bold">✓ Copied</span>
+                <>
+                  <Check className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-emerald-500" />
+                  <span className="text-emerald-500 font-bold">Copied</span>
+                </>
               ) : (
-                <span>Copy Markdown</span>
+                <>
+                  <Copy className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+                  <span>Copy Markdown</span>
+                </>
               )}
             </button>
 
@@ -164,9 +178,10 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
             <button
               onClick={handleDownloadMarkdown}
               type="button"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-2 text-xs font-medium bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3.5 py-2 text-xs font-semibold bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-xl transition-all shadow-xs cursor-pointer"
               title="Download compiled .md file"
             >
+              <FileDown className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
               <span>Download .md</span>
             </button>
 
@@ -174,22 +189,10 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
             <button
               onClick={handlePrint}
               type="button"
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 text-xs font-semibold bg-slate-900 hover:bg-slate-800 text-white rounded-md shadow-sm transition-all cursor-pointer hover:shadow"
+              className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 text-xs font-bold bg-slate-900 hover:bg-slate-800 dark:bg-white dark:hover:bg-slate-100 text-white dark:text-slate-900 rounded-xl shadow-md transition-all cursor-pointer hover:shadow-lg"
               title="Open browser print dialog to save as PDF"
             >
-              <svg
-                className="w-4 h-4"
-                fill="none"
-                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                stroke="currentColor"
-              >
-                <path
-                  strokeLinecap="round"
-                  strokeLinejoin="round"
-                  strokeWidth={2}
-                  d="M17 17h2a2 2 0 002-2v-4a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v4a2 2 0 002 2h2m2 4h6a2 2 0 002-2v-4a2 2 0 00-2-2H9a2 2 0 00-2 2v4a2 2 0 002 2zm8-12V5a2 2 0 00-2-2H9a2 2 0 00-2 2v4h10z"
-                />
-              </svg>
+              <Printer className="w-4 h-4" />
               <span>Print / Save as PDF</span>
             </button>
           </div>
@@ -199,11 +202,11 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
         <div className="mt-4 pt-3.5 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center justify-between gap-3 text-xs">
           {/* Sort Order Selector */}
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] font-medium">Sort by:</span>
+            <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] font-medium font-mono text-[11px] uppercase">Sort by:</span>
             <select
               value={sortBy}
               onChange={(e) => setSortBy(e.target.value as ExportSortOption)}
-              className="bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-md px-2.5 py-1 text-xs text-[var(--text-primary)] focus:outline-none focus:border-slate-500"
+              className="bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-lg px-3 py-1 text-xs text-[var(--text-primary)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)]"
             >
               <option value="category_points">Category & Points (Standard)</option>
               <option value="points_desc">Points (Highest First)</option>
@@ -217,23 +220,23 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
           {/* Section toggles */}
           <div className="flex items-center gap-3 flex-wrap text-[var(--text-secondary)]">
             {cleanDocs.length > 1 && (
-              <label className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 cursor-pointer">
+              <label className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 cursor-pointer select-none">
                 <input
                   type="checkbox"
                   checked={showTOC}
                   onChange={(e) => setShowTOC(e.target.checked)}
-                  className="rounded border-[var(--border-color)] text-slate-800"
+                  className="rounded border-[var(--border-color)] text-indigo-600"
                 />
                 <span>Table of Contents</span>
               </label>
             )}
 
-            <label className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 cursor-pointer">
+            <label className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 cursor-pointer select-none">
               <input
                 type="checkbox"
                 checked={pageBreaks}
                 onChange={(e) => setPageBreaks(e.target.checked)}
-                className="rounded border-[var(--border-color)] text-slate-800"
+                className="rounded border-[var(--border-color)] text-indigo-600"
               />
               <span>Page Break per Challenge</span>
             </label>
@@ -243,13 +246,13 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
         {/* Category filter pills */}
         {allCategories.length > 1 && (
           <div className="mt-3 pt-3 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] flex items-center gap-1.5 flex-wrap text-xs">
-            <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] mr-1">Filter:</span>
+            <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono text-[11px] uppercase mr-1">Filter:</span>
             <button
               onClick={() => setSelectedCategory("all")}
               type="button"
-              className={`px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-md text-xs font-mono transition-all cursor-pointer ${
+              className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-mono transition-all cursor-pointer ${
                 selectedCategory === "all"
-                  ? "bg-slate-900 text-white font-semibold"
+                  ? "bg-slate-900 dark:bg-white text-white dark:text-slate-900 font-bold"
                   : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] border border-[var(--border-color)]"
               }`}
             >
@@ -264,9 +267,9 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
                   key={cat}
                   onClick={() => setSelectedCategory(cat)}
                   type="button"
-                  className={`px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-md text-xs font-mono transition-all cursor-pointer ${
+                  className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-mono transition-all cursor-pointer ${
                     selectedCategory.toLowerCase() === cat.toLowerCase()
-                      ? "bg-slate-900 text-white font-semibold"
+                      ? "bg-slate-900 dark:bg-white text-white dark:text-slate-900 font-bold"
                       : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] border border-[var(--border-color)]"
                   }`}
                 >
@@ -278,14 +281,11 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
         )}
       </aside>
 
-      {/* =========================================================================
-          Clean, Simple, Human-Written Writeup Document Flow (No Cards)
-          ========================================================================= */}
-      <main className="print-container bg-white text-slate-900 max-w-4xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-8 py-6 print:p-0 print:max-w-none">
-        
+      {/* Writeup Document Flow */}
+      <main className="print-container bg-white text-slate-900 max-w-4xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-8 py-6 print:p-0 print:max-w-none rounded-2xl border border-[var(--border-color)] print:border-none shadow-sm print:shadow-none">
         {/* Document Header */}
-        <header className="mb-8 pb-3 border-b border-slate-300">
-          <h1 className="text-3xl sm:text-4xl font-bold text-slate-950 tracking-tight mb-2">
+        <header className="mb-8 pb-4 border-b border-slate-300">
+          <h1 className="text-3xl sm:text-4xl font-extrabold text-slate-950 tracking-tight mb-2">
             {summary.title}
           </h1>
           <div className="text-xs text-slate-500 font-mono flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-2 gap-y-1">
@@ -297,11 +297,12 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
           </div>
         </header>
 
-        {/* Table of Contents (Simple & Clean) */}
+        {/* Table of Contents */}
         {showTOC && filteredAndSortedDocs.length > 1 && (
           <section className="toc-section mb-10 pb-6 border-b border-slate-200">
-            <h2 className="text-sm font-bold uppercase font-mono text-slate-700 mb-3 tracking-wider">
-              Table of Contents
+            <h2 className="text-sm font-bold uppercase font-mono text-slate-700 mb-3 tracking-wider flex items-center gap-1.5">
+              <BookOpen className="w-4 h-4" />
+              <span>Table of Contents</span>
             </h2>
             <ol className="list-decimal list-inside space-y-1.5 text-xs text-slate-800">
               {filteredAndSortedDocs.map((doc, idx) => {
@@ -326,7 +327,7 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
           </section>
         )}
 
-        {/* Challenges / Writeups Flow ("Mirip Writeup Manusia") */}
+        {/* Challenges / Writeups Flow */}
         <div className="challenges-flow space-y-10 print:space-y-0">
           {filteredAndSortedDocs.map((doc, idx) => {
             const chNum = idx + 1;
@@ -353,7 +354,7 @@ export default function PdfExportView({
                     {pts > 0 && <span><strong>Points:</strong> {pts} pts</span>}
                     {diff && <span><strong>Difficulty:</strong> {diff}</span>}
 
-                    {/* Extra fields (excluding author, slug, scope, etc.) */}
+                    {/* Extra fields */}
                     {Object.entries(extra).map(([k, v]) => {
                       const lowerKey = k.toLowerCase();
                       if (
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/Sidebar.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/Sidebar.tsx
index e147cb6..c15c35a 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,16 @@ import { useEffect, useState, useMemo } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { usePathname } from "next/navigation";
 import { getSectionMeta } from "@mcpedia/config/sections";
+import {
+  Folder,
+  FolderOpen,
+  FileText,
+  ChevronRight,
+  Search,
+  X,
+  Plus,
+  Compass,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 interface Doc {
   slug: string;
@@ -102,11 +112,11 @@ function TreeNodeItem({
   const isCollapsed = collapsedMap[node.slug] ?? false;
 
   return (
-    <li className={`select-none ${depth > 0 ? "ml-3 pl-2 border-l border-[var(--border-color)]" : ""}`}>
+    <li className={`select-none ${depth > 0 ? "ml-3.5 pl-2 border-l border-[var(--border-color)]" : ""}`}>
       <div
-        className={`group flex items-center justify-between gap-1.5 text-xs py-1.5 px-2 rounded-md transition-all ${
+        className={`group flex items-center justify-between gap-1 text-xs py-1.5 px-2 rounded-lg transition-all ${
           isActive
-            ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/15 font-semibold border border-[var(--brand)]/30 shadow-sm"
+            ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/15 font-semibold border border-[var(--brand)]/30 shadow-xs"
             : isParentOfActive
               ? "text-[var(--text-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
               : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
@@ -117,15 +127,23 @@ function TreeNodeItem({
           className="flex items-center gap-2 min-w-0 flex-1 py-0.5"
           title={node.title || node.name}
         >
-          <span className="text-xs shrink-0 opacity-80 group-hover:opacity-100">
-            {isFolder ? "📁" : "📄"}
+          <span className="shrink-0 text-[var(--text-dim)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors">
+            {isFolder ? (
+              isCollapsed ? (
+                <Folder className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+              ) : (
+                <FolderOpen className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+              )
+            ) : (
+              <FileText className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+            )}
           </span>
           <span className="truncate">{node.title || node.name}</span>
         </Link>
 
         {isFolder && (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1 shrink-0">
-            <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-muted)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-1 py-0.2 rounded font-mono">
+            <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-1.5 py-0.2 rounded font-mono">
               {node.docCount}
             </span>
             <button
@@ -135,24 +153,19 @@ function TreeNodeItem({
                 e.stopPropagation();
                 toggleCollapse(node.slug);
               }}
-              className="p-0.5 text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] transition-transform"
+              className="p-1 text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] transition-transform"
               aria-label={isCollapsed ? "Expand folder" : "Collapse folder"}
             >
-              <svg
-                className={`w-3 h-3 transition-transform duration-200 ${isCollapsed ? "-rotate-90" : "rotate-0"}`}
-                fill="none"
-                viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                stroke="currentColor"
-              >
-                <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7" />
-              </svg>
+              <ChevronRight
+                className={`w-3 h-3 transition-transform duration-200 ${isCollapsed ? "rotate-0" : "rotate-90"}`}
+              />
             </button>
           </div>
         )}
       </div>
 
       {isFolder && !isCollapsed && (
-        <ul className="mt-0.5 space-y-0.5 animate-fade-in">
+        <ul className="mt-1 space-y-0.5 animate-fade-in">
           {node.children.map((child) => (
             <TreeNodeItem
               key={child.slug}
@@ -212,7 +225,7 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
   }, [filteredDocs]);
 
   return (
-    <nav className="h-full flex flex-col py-4 px-3">
+    <nav className="h-full flex flex-col py-4 px-3 select-none">
       {/* Sidebar search filter */}
       <div className="mb-3">
         <div className="relative">
@@ -220,31 +233,25 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
             type="text"
             value={filterText}
             onChange={(e) => setFilterText(e.target.value)}
-            placeholder="Filter docs..."
-            className="w-full pl-7 pr-3 py-1.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-md text-xs text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] transition-colors"
+            placeholder="Filter knowledge tree..."
+            className="w-full pl-8 pr-7 py-1.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg text-xs text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-1 focus:ring-[var(--brand)] transition-all"
           />
-          <svg
-            className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--text-muted)] absolute left-2 top-2.5"
-            fill="none"
-            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-            stroke="currentColor"
-          >
-            <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z" />
-          </svg>
+          <Search className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--text-dim)] absolute left-2.5 top-2.5 pointer-events-none" />
           {filterText && (
             <button
               onClick={() => setFilterText("")}
-              className="absolute right-2 top-2 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+              className="absolute right-2 top-2 p-0.5 text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
+              aria-label="Clear filter"
             >
-              ✕
+              <X className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
             </button>
           )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
       {/* Summary count */}
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-1 mb-3 text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">
-        <span className="uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">Knowledge Base</span>
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-1 mb-2 text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono uppercase tracking-wider">
+        <span>Knowledge Index</span>
         <span>{filteredDocs.length} items</span>
       </div>
 
@@ -261,17 +268,17 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
             <div key={id} className="border-b border-[var(--border-color)] pb-3 last:border-0">
               <Link
                 href={`/${id}`}
-                className={`flex items-center justify-between gap-1.5 px-1 py-1 mb-1 rounded text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider transition-colors ${
+                className={`flex items-center justify-between gap-1.5 px-2 py-1.5 mb-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider transition-colors ${
                   isSectionActive
-                    ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]"
-                    : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                    ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/10"
+                    : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
                 }`}
               >
-                <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-                  <span>{icon}</span>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                  <span className="text-xs">{icon}</span>
                   <span>{label}</span>
                 </div>
-                <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-normal font-mono">
+                <span className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-normal font-mono bg-[var(--bg-surface)] px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded border border-[var(--border-color)]">
                   {sectionDocs.length}
                 </span>
               </Link>
@@ -291,15 +298,22 @@ export default function Sidebar() {
             </div>
           );
         })}
+
+        {filteredDocs.length === 0 && (
+          <div className="text-center py-8 text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+            No matching documents
+          </div>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Bottom quick links */}
       <div className="pt-3 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] mt-auto">
         <Link
           href="/create"
-          className="flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-full py-1.5 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-md transition-colors font-medium"
+          className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2 w-full py-2 text-xs bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg transition-all font-medium shadow-xs group"
         >
-          <span>+ Create New Document</span>
+          <Plus className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] group-hover:scale-110 transition-transform" />
+          <span>Create New Document</span>
         </Link>
       </div>
     </nav>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/TOC.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/TOC.tsx
index 2ec2ea5..7527391 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/TOC.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/TOC.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import GithubSlugger from "github-slugger";
+import { AlignLeft, ArrowUp, Hash } from "lucide-react";
 
 interface TOCEntry {
   id: string;
@@ -58,18 +59,29 @@ export default function TOC({ source }: { source: string }) {
 
   if (toc.length === 0) return null;
 
+  function scrollToTop() {
+    window.scrollTo({ top: 0, behavior: "smooth" });
+  }
+
   return (
-    <nav className="text-xs">
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3 pb-2 border-b border-[var(--border-color)]">
-        <svg className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-          <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M4 6h16M4 12h16M4 18h7" />
-        </svg>
-        <span className="font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] text-[11px]">
-          On this page
-        </span>
+    <nav className="text-xs space-y-4">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between pb-2 border-b border-[var(--border-color)]">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] text-[11px] font-mono">
+          <AlignLeft className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+          <span>On This Page</span>
+        </div>
+        <button
+          onClick={scrollToTop}
+          type="button"
+          className="text-[10px] text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] flex items-center gap-0.5 hover:underline"
+          title="Scroll to top"
+        >
+          <ArrowUp className="w-3 h-3" />
+          <span>Top</span>
+        </button>
       </div>
 
-      <ul className="space-y-1.5 border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-2.5">
+      <ul className="space-y-1.5 border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-3">
         {toc.map((entry) => {
           const isActive = activeId === entry.id;
           return (
@@ -90,7 +102,7 @@ export default function TOC({ source }: { source: string }) {
                     history.pushState(null, "", `#${entry.id}`);
                   }
                 }}
-                className={`block py-0.5 transition-colors line-clamp-1 ${
+                className={`block py-0.5 transition-all line-clamp-1 ${
                   isActive
                     ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-semibold translate-x-0.5"
                     : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
diff --git a/apps/web/app/components/ThemeToggle.tsx b/apps/web/app/components/ThemeToggle.tsx
index 4ab3628..2a7fc06 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/components/ThemeToggle.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/components/ThemeToggle.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { Sun, Moon } from "lucide-react";
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = "mcpedia-theme";
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ export default function ThemeToggle() {
 
   if (!mounted) {
     return (
-      <div className="w-8 h-8 rounded-lg bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] opacity-50" />
+      <div className="w-8 h-8 rounded-lg bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] opacity-40" />
     );
   }
 
@@ -46,16 +47,12 @@ export default function ThemeToggle() {
       type="button"
       aria-label={isDark ? "Switch to light mode" : "Switch to dark mode"}
       title={isDark ? "Switch to light mode" : "Switch to dark mode"}
-      className="p-1.5 rounded-lg text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-transparent hover:border-[var(--border-color)] transition-all flex items-center justify-center"
+      className="p-2 rounded-lg text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-transparent hover:border-[var(--border-color)] transition-all flex items-center justify-center cursor-pointer"
     >
       {isDark ? (
-        <svg className="w-4 h-4 text-amber-300" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-          <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M12 3v1m0 16v1m9-9h-1M4 12H3m15.364 6.364l-.707-.707M6.343 6.343l-.707-.707m12.728 0l-.707.707M6.343 17.657l-.707.707M16 12a4 4 0 11-8 0 4 4 0 018 0z" />
-        </svg>
+        <Sun className="w-4 h-4 text-amber-400 hover:rotate-45 transition-transform" />
       ) : (
-        <svg className="w-4 h-4 text-indigo-600" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-          <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M20.354 15.354A9 9 0 018.646 3.646 9.003 9.003 0 0012 21a9.003 9.003 0 008.354-5.646z" />
-        </svg>
+        <Moon className="w-4 h-4 text-indigo-600 hover:-rotate-12 transition-transform" />
       )}
     </button>
   );
diff --git a/apps/web/app/create/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/create/page.tsx
index 5a1a166..7d53fa1 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/create/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/create/page.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { WEBHOOK_SECRET } from "@mcpedia/config";
 import { cookies } from "next/headers";
 import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
 import DocForm from "@/components/DocForm";
+import { Edit3, ArrowLeft, Plus } from "lucide-react";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
@@ -33,14 +34,16 @@ export default async function CreatePage() {
 
       {/* Header */}
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between pb-4 border-b border-[var(--border-color)]">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-          <div className="w-10 h-10 rounded-lg bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 flex items-center justify-center text-xl text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">
-            ✏️
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3.5">
+          <div className="w-11 h-11 rounded-2xl bg-[var(--brand)]/15 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 flex items-center justify-center text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">
+            <Plus className="w-6 h-6" />
           </div>
           <div>
-            <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">Create Document</h1>
-            <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-0.5">
-              Writes directly to PostgreSQL, records revision history, and computes vector embeddings.
+            <h1 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
+              Create Knowledge Document
+            </h1>
+            <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-0.5 font-mono">
+              Persists directly into PostgreSQL, tracks revision history, and generates vector embeddings.
             </p>
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/export/pdf/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/export/pdf/page.tsx
index b167af8..46af142 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/export/pdf/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/export/pdf/page.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-import React from "react";
+import React from "next/link";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { notFound } from "next/navigation";
 import { getExportDocuments, formatScopeTitle, type ExportSortOption } from "@mcpedia/core";
 import PdfExportView from "@/components/PdfExportView";
+import { FileText, ArrowLeft } from "lucide-react";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
@@ -43,14 +44,16 @@ export default async function ExportPdfPage({
 
   if (exportData.documents.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <div className="py-16 text-center space-y-4 max-w-lg mx-auto">
-        <div className="text-4xl">📄</div>
+      <div className="py-16 text-center space-y-4 max-w-lg mx-auto bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-3xl p-8 shadow-sm">
+        <div className="w-14 h-14 rounded-2xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-dim)] flex items-center justify-center mx-auto">
+          <FileText className="w-7 h-7" />
+        </div>
         <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">
           No Documents Found for Export
         </h1>
-        <p className="text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+        <p className="text-xs sm:text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] leading-relaxed">
           Could not find any published documents matching the path{" "}
-          <code className="text-[var(--brand)] font-mono">
+          <code className="text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] font-mono font-semibold">
             {targetPath || section || "root"}
           </code>
           .
@@ -58,9 +61,10 @@ export default async function ExportPdfPage({
         <div className="pt-4">
           <Link
             href={backHref}
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white text-xs font-semibold rounded-lg shadow-sm transition-all"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white text-xs font-semibold rounded-xl shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 transition-all"
           >
-            <span>← Return to Knowledge Base</span>
+            <ArrowLeft className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+            <span>Return to Knowledge Base</span>
           </Link>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/globals.css b/apps/web/app/globals.css
index cfe15d1..ccfe6ae 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/globals.css
+++ b/apps/web/app/globals.css
@@ -20,13 +20,15 @@
 
   --brand: #4f46e5;
   --brand-hover: #4338ca;
+  --brand-glow: rgba(79, 70, 229, 0.15);
   --accent: #4f46e5;
   --accent-hover: #4338ca;
+  --cyan-accent: #0284c7;
 
-  --nav-bg: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.88);
+  --nav-bg: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);
 
   /* Code & Syntax variables (Light Mode) */
-  --code-bg: #f1f5f9;
+  --code-bg: #f8fafc;
   --code-block-bg: #f8fafc;
   --code-header-bg: #f1f5f9;
   --border-code: #e2e8f0;
@@ -53,47 +55,52 @@
   --hl-operator: #57606a;
   --hl-variable: #953800;
   --hl-meta: #6e7781;
+
+  /* Grid overlay */
+  --grid-pattern: rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.03);
 }
 
 /* Dark mode overrides (html.dark) */
 html.dark {
   color-scheme: dark;
-  --bg-app: #08090a;
-  --bg-surface: #0f1011;
-  --bg-surface-hover: #131415;
-  --bg-elevated: #141517;
-  --bg-elevated-hover: #1b1d20;
-  --border-color: #1f2022;
+  --bg-app: #08090d;
+  --bg-surface: #0e1117;
+  --bg-surface-hover: #141822;
+  --bg-elevated: #151a26;
+  --bg-elevated-hover: #1e2436;
+  --border-color: #1e2536;
   --border-subtle: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
-  --border-card: #1f2022;
+  --border-card: #1e2536;
 
-  --text-primary: #f7f8f8;
-  --text-secondary: #d0d6e0;
-  --text-muted: #8a8f98;
-  --text-dim: #62666d;
+  --text-primary: #f8fafc;
+  --text-secondary: #cbd5e1;
+  --text-muted: #8492a6;
+  --text-dim: #505c70;
 
-  --brand: #5e6ad2;
-  --brand-hover: #7170ff;
-  --accent: #7170ff;
-  --accent-hover: #828fff;
+  --brand: #6366f1;
+  --brand-hover: #818cf8;
+  --brand-glow: rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.22);
+  --accent: #818cf8;
+  --accent-hover: #a5b4fc;
+  --cyan-accent: #38bdf8;
 
-  --nav-bg: rgba(8, 9, 10, 0.85);
+  --nav-bg: rgba(8, 9, 13, 0.85);
 
   /* Code & Syntax variables (Dark Mode) */
-  --code-bg: #141517;
-  --code-block-bg: #0d1117;
-  --code-header-bg: #161b22;
-  --border-code: #30363d;
-  --code-button-bg: #21262d;
-  --code-button-hover-bg: #30363d;
-  --pre-text: #e6edf3;
-  --code-inline-bg: #161b22;
-  --code-inline-text: #e6edf3;
-  --code-inline-border: #30363d;
+  --code-bg: #0b0e14;
+  --code-block-bg: #0a0d14;
+  --code-header-bg: #111520;
+  --border-code: #202738;
+  --code-button-bg: #151a26;
+  --code-button-hover-bg: #202738;
+  --pre-text: #e2e8f0;
+  --code-inline-bg: #131722;
+  --code-inline-text: #e2e8f0;
+  --code-inline-border: #202738;
 
   --table-zebra: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.02);
-  --scrollbar-thumb: #23252a;
-  --scrollbar-thumb-hover: #383b42;
+  --scrollbar-thumb: #1e2536;
+  --scrollbar-thumb-hover: #313c54;
   --shadow-card: none;
 
   /* Syntax Highlighting (Dark Mode) */
@@ -107,6 +114,9 @@ html.dark {
   --hl-operator: #8b949e;
   --hl-variable: #ffa657;
   --hl-meta: #8b949e;
+
+  /* Grid overlay */
+  --grid-pattern: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.025);
 }
 
 @theme inline {
@@ -141,10 +151,19 @@ body {
   background-color: var(--bg-app);
   color: var(--text-secondary);
   font-family: var(--font-sans);
-  font-feature-settings: "cv01", "ss03";
+  font-feature-settings: "cv01", "ss03", "zero";
   -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
   -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;
-  transition: background-color 0.2s ease, color 0.2s ease;
+  transition: background-color 0.25s ease, color 0.25s ease;
+  position: relative;
+  min-height: 100vh;
+}
+
+/* Background subtle tech grid */
+.tech-grid-bg {
+  background-size: 32px 32px;
+  background-image: linear-gradient(to right, var(--grid-pattern) 1px, transparent 1px),
+                    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--grid-pattern) 1px, transparent 1px);
 }
 
 /* Custom scrollbar */
@@ -169,44 +188,100 @@ body {
 /* Glassmorphism helpers */
 .glass-panel {
   background: var(--bg-surface);
-  backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
-  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(16px);
+  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(16px);
   border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
 }
 
 .glass-nav {
   background: var(--nav-bg);
-  backdrop-filter: blur(16px);
-  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(16px);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(20px);
+  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(20px);
+}
+
+.glow-card {
+  position: relative;
+  transition: all 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+}
+
+.glow-card:hover {
+  transform: translateY(-2px);
+  border-color: var(--brand);
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 30px -10px var(--brand-glow);
+}
+
+/* Callout Alert Styles */
+.callout {
+  border-left-width: 4px;
+  border-radius: 0 0.5rem 0.5rem 0;
+  padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
+  margin: 1.5rem 0;
+}
+
+.callout-note {
+  border-left-color: #6366f1;
+  background-color: rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.08);
+}
+
+.callout-tip {
+  border-left-color: #10b981;
+  background-color: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.08);
+}
+
+.callout-important {
+  border-left-color: #8b5cf6;
+  background-color: rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.08);
+}
+
+.callout-warning {
+  border-left-color: #f59e0b;
+  background-color: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.08);
+}
+
+.callout-caution {
+  border-left-color: #ef4444;
+  background-color: rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.08);
 }
 
 /* Prose markdown typography for both Light and Dark modes */
 .prose {
   color: var(--text-secondary) !important;
+  max-width: 100% !important;
 }
 
 .prose h1, .prose h2, .prose h3, .prose h4, .prose strong {
   color: var(--text-primary) !important;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
 }
 
 .prose a {
   color: var(--accent) !important;
+  text-decoration: none;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  transition: color 0.15s ease;
+}
+
+.prose a:hover {
+  color: var(--accent-hover) !important;
+  text-decoration: underline;
 }
 
 .prose table {
   width: 100%;
   border-collapse: separate;
   border-spacing: 0;
-  margin: 1.75rem 0;
+  margin: 2rem 0;
   font-size: 0.875rem;
-  border-radius: 0.5rem;
+  border-radius: 0.75rem;
   overflow: hidden;
   border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
+  background: var(--bg-surface);
 }
 
 .prose th,
 .prose td {
-  padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+  padding: 0.875rem 1.125rem;
   text-align: left;
   border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-color);
 }
@@ -217,7 +292,8 @@ body {
   font-weight: 600;
   font-size: 0.8125rem;
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
 }
 
 .prose td {
@@ -228,6 +304,10 @@ body {
   border-bottom: none;
 }
 
+.prose tbody tr:hover {
+  background: var(--bg-elevated-hover);
+}
+
 .prose tbody tr:nth-child(even) {
   background: var(--table-zebra);
 }
@@ -237,10 +317,11 @@ body {
   color: var(--pre-text) !important;
   border: 1px solid var(--border-code);
   border-radius: 0.75rem;
-  padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
+  padding: 1.25rem;
   overflow-x: auto;
   position: relative;
   font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  line-height: 1.6;
 }
 
 .prose code {
@@ -252,7 +333,7 @@ body {
   background: var(--code-inline-bg);
   color: var(--code-inline-text);
   border: 1px solid var(--code-inline-border);
-  padding: 0.15rem 0.375rem;
+  padding: 0.15rem 0.4rem;
   border-radius: 0.375rem;
   font-weight: 500;
 }
@@ -264,12 +345,12 @@ body {
 
 .prose blockquote {
   border-left: 3px solid var(--brand);
-  background: rgba(94, 106, 210, 0.08);
-  border-radius: 0 0.375rem 0.375rem 0;
-  margin: 1.5em 0;
-  padding: 0.75em 1.25em;
+  background: rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.08);
+  border-radius: 0 0.5rem 0.5rem 0;
+  margin: 1.75em 0;
+  padding: 0.875em 1.25em;
   font-style: normal;
-  color: var(--text-muted);
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
 }
 
 .prose hr {
@@ -346,14 +427,14 @@ body {
 }
 
 .hljs-addition {
-  color: #1a7f37;
-  background-color: rgba(46, 160, 67, 0.15);
+  color: #10b981;
+  background-color: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.15);
   border-radius: 2px;
 }
 
 .hljs-deletion {
-  color: #cf222e;
-  background-color: rgba(248, 81, 73, 0.15);
+  color: #ef4444;
+  background-color: rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.15);
   border-radius: 2px;
 }
 
@@ -365,37 +446,50 @@ body {
   font-weight: bold;
 }
 
-/* Animations */
+/* Keyframes & Animation utilities */
 @keyframes fadeIn {
-  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(4px); }
+  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(6px); }
   to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
 }
 
-.animate-fade-in {
-  animation: fadeIn 0.2s ease-out forwards;
+@keyframes slideDown {
+  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-8px); }
+  to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
 }
 
-/* ==========================================================================
-   Print & PDF Export Stylesheet
-   Optimized for publication-grade PDF generation via browser / window.print()
-   ========================================================================== */
+@keyframes pulseGlow {
+  0%, 100% { opacity: 0.6; }
+  50% { opacity: 1; filter: drop-shadow(0 0 8px var(--brand)); }
+}
+
+.animate-fade-in {
+  animation: fadeIn 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1) forwards;
+}
+
+.animate-slide-down {
+  animation: slideDown 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1) forwards;
+}
+
+.animate-pulse-glow {
+  animation: pulseGlow 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+
+/* Print & PDF Export Stylesheet */
 @media print {
   @page {
     size: A4 portrait;
     margin: 18mm 15mm 18mm 15mm;
   }
 
-  /* Force exact background colors and graphics */
   *, *::before, *::after {
     -webkit-print-color-adjust: exact !important;
     print-color-adjust: exact !important;
   }
 
-  /* Reset document canvas to white for crisp printing & ink economy */
   html, body {
     background-color: #ffffff !important;
     color: #0f172a !important;
-    font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif !important;
+    font-family: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, sans-serif !important;
     font-size: 10pt !important;
     line-height: 1.5 !important;
     margin: 0 !important;
@@ -403,9 +497,9 @@ body {
     width: 100% !important;
   }
 
-  /* Hide app navigation, headers, sidebars, interactive controls */
   header,
   aside,
+  footer,
   nav.site-header,
   .no-print,
   .export-toolbar,
@@ -413,7 +507,6 @@ body {
     display: none !important;
   }
 
-  /* Full width container in print */
   main,
   .print-container {
     max-width: 100% !important;
@@ -425,7 +518,6 @@ body {
     background: transparent !important;
   }
 
-  /* Page break rules */
   .page-break-before,
   .chapter-page,
   .challenge-entry {
@@ -433,14 +525,6 @@ body {
     page-break-before: always !important;
   }
 
-  .page-break-after,
-  .cover-page,
-  .scoreboard-page,
-  .toc-page {
-    break-after: page !important;
-    page-break-after: always !important;
-  }
-
   .avoid-break-inside,
   .code-block-wrapper,
   .code-block-container,
@@ -459,7 +543,6 @@ body {
     height: auto !important;
   }
 
-  /* Code block wrapping and styling in print */
   .code-block-wrapper,
   .code-block-container {
     break-inside: avoid !important;
@@ -492,87 +575,8 @@ body {
     white-space: pre-wrap !important;
     word-break: break-all !important;
     overflow-wrap: anywhere !important;
-    font-family: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, "Liberation Mono", "Courier New", monospace !important;
+    font-family: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, monospace !important;
     font-size: 8.5pt !important;
     line-height: 1.4 !important;
   }
-
-  code {
-    background-color: #f1f5f9 !important;
-    color: #0f172a !important;
-    padding: 1pt 3pt !important;
-    border-radius: 3px !important;
-    border: 1px solid #e2e8f0 !important;
-  }
-
-  pre {
-    background-color: #f8fafc !important;
-    color: #0f172a !important;
-    border: 1px solid #cbd5e1 !important;
-    border-radius: 4px !important;
-    padding: 8pt 10pt !important;
-    margin: 8pt 0 !important;
-  }
-
-  pre code {
-    background-color: transparent !important;
-    border: none !important;
-    padding: 0 !important;
-  }
-
-  /* Typography tweaks for formal print */
-  .prose {
-    color: #0f172a !important;
-    font-size: 10pt !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose h1,
-  .prose h2,
-  .prose h3,
-  .prose h4,
-  .prose h5,
-  .prose h6 {
-    color: #020617 !important;
-    font-weight: 700 !important;
-    page-break-after: avoid !important;
-    break-after: avoid !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose p,
-  .prose li {
-    color: #334155 !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose a {
-    color: #0f172a !important;
-    text-decoration: underline !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose blockquote {
-    background-color: #f8fafc !important;
-    border-left: 3pt solid #334155 !important;
-    color: #334155 !important;
-    padding: 6pt 10pt !important;
-    margin: 8pt 0 !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose table {
-    border: 1px solid #cbd5e1 !important;
-    font-size: 9pt !important;
-    width: 100% !important;
-    border-collapse: collapse !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose th {
-    background-color: #f1f5f9 !important;
-    color: #0f172a !important;
-    font-weight: 600 !important;
-    border-bottom: 1.5px solid #94a3b8 !important;
-    padding: 4pt 6pt !important;
-  }
-
-  .prose td {
-    border-bottom: 1px solid #e2e8f0 !important;
-    padding: 4pt 6pt !important;
-  }
 }
diff --git a/apps/web/app/layout.tsx b/apps/web/app/layout.tsx
index 08b07d0..8c111b0 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/layout.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/layout.tsx
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ import type { Metadata } from "next";
 import "./globals.css";
 import Header from "@/components/Header";
 import Sidebar from "@/components/Sidebar";
+import Link from "next/link";
+import { Database, Activity, Sparkles, Terminal } from "lucide-react";
 
 export const metadata: Metadata = {
-  title: "MCPedia — Knowledge base for humans and AI agents",
+  title: "MCPedia — Knowledge Base for Humans and AI Agents",
   description:
     "A content-first knowledge base. Humans read the Web UI; AI agents use the MCP server. Both share one Core.",
 };
@@ -35,16 +37,20 @@ export default function RootLayout({
           }}
         />
       </head>
-      <body className="min-h-screen bg-[var(--bg-app)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] font-sans antialiased selection:bg-[var(--brand)]/30 selection:text-white flex flex-col transition-colors duration-150">
+      <body className="min-h-screen bg-[var(--bg-app)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] font-sans antialiased selection:bg-[var(--brand)]/30 selection:text-white flex flex-col transition-colors duration-150 tech-grid-bg relative overflow-x-hidden">
+        {/* Top ambient radial glow effect */}
+        <div className="absolute top-0 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 w-[48rem] h-64 bg-indigo-500/10 dark:bg-indigo-600/15 blur-[120px] pointer-events-none rounded-full" />
+        <div className="absolute top-48 left-1/4 w-80 h-80 bg-cyan-500/5 dark:bg-cyan-500/10 blur-[100px] pointer-events-none rounded-full" />
+
         <div hidden>
           <div id="a11y-live-region" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true" />
         </div>
 
         <Header />
 
-        <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl w-full flex-1 flex flex-col">
+        <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl w-full flex-1 flex flex-col relative z-10">
           <div className="flex flex-1">
-            <aside className="hidden lg:block w-72 shrink-0 border-r border-[var(--border-color)] sticky top-14 h-[calc(100vh-3.5rem)] overflow-y-auto bg-[var(--bg-app)]">
+            <aside className="hidden lg:block w-72 shrink-0 border-r border-[var(--border-color)] sticky top-15 h-[calc(100vh-3.75rem)] overflow-y-auto bg-[var(--bg-app)]/80 backdrop-blur-md">
               <Sidebar />
             </aside>
             <main className="flex-1 min-w-0">
@@ -54,6 +60,30 @@ export default function RootLayout({
             </main>
           </div>
         </div>
+
+        {/* Global Telemetry & Status Footer */}
+        <footer className="no-print border-t border-[var(--border-color)] bg-[var(--bg-surface)]/60 backdrop-blur-md py-4 text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] relative z-10">
+          <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4 sm:px-8 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-center justify-between gap-3 font-mono">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <span className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-emerald-500 animate-pulse" />
+              <span>MCPedia Intelligence Engine</span>
+              <span>·</span>
+              <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)]">PostgreSQL 16 Core</span>
+            </div>
+
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-4 text-[11px] text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+              <Link href="/search" className="hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors">
+                RRF Hybrid Search
+              </Link>
+              <span>·</span>
+              <Link href="/export/pdf" className="hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors">
+                Publication PDF
+              </Link>
+              <span>·</span>
+              <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)]">Native MCP :4021</span>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </footer>
       </body>
     </html>
   );
diff --git a/apps/web/app/login/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/login/page.tsx
index 9866279..f5bcf7c 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/login/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/login/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { Lock, Key, Eye, EyeOff, ArrowLeft, ShieldCheck } from "lucide-react";
 
 export default function LoginPage() {
   const router = useRouter();
@@ -38,29 +39,29 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
 
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-[65vh] items-center justify-center px-4">
-      <div className="w-full max-w-md bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-6 sm:p-8 shadow-2xl relative overflow-hidden">
+      <div className="w-full max-w-md bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-3xl p-6 sm:p-8 shadow-2xl relative overflow-hidden">
         {/* Top decorative glow */}
-        <div className="absolute -top-12 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 w-48 h-24 bg-[var(--brand)]/20 blur-2xl pointer-events-none rounded-full" />
+        <div className="absolute -top-12 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 w-48 h-24 bg-indigo-500/20 blur-2xl pointer-events-none rounded-full" />
 
         <div className="text-center mb-8">
-          <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded-xl bg-[var(--brand)] text-white font-bold text-xl flex items-center justify-center mx-auto mb-3 shadow-lg shadow-[var(--brand)]/25">
-            M
+          <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded-2xl bg-gradient-to-br from-indigo-500 to-violet-700 text-white font-bold text-xl flex items-center justify-center mx-auto mb-3 shadow-lg shadow-indigo-500/25">
+            <Lock className="w-6 h-6" />
           </div>
-          <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">Admin Authentication</h1>
+          <h1 className="text-2xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">Admin Vault Authentication</h1>
           <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mt-1.5">
-            Enter your admin password to create, edit, or delete documents.
+            Enter your admin password to manage documents and trigger schema mutations.
           </p>
         </div>
 
         {error && (
-          <div className="p-3.5 mb-6 rounded-lg border border-rose-500/30 bg-rose-500/10 text-rose-500 dark:text-rose-400 text-xs">
+          <div className="p-3.5 mb-6 rounded-xl border border-rose-500/30 bg-rose-500/10 text-rose-500 dark:text-rose-400 text-xs font-medium animate-fade-in">
             {error}
           </div>
         )}
 
         <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-4">
           <div>
-            <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5">
+            <label className="block text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-1.5 font-mono">
               Admin Password
             </label>
             <div className="relative">
@@ -69,16 +70,18 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
                 value={password}
                 onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)}
                 placeholder="Enter password..."
-                className="w-full px-3.5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-1 focus:ring-[var(--brand)] transition-colors"
+                className="w-full pl-10 pr-10 py-3 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--brand)]/20 transition-all"
                 required
                 autoFocus
               />
+              <Key className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--text-dim)] absolute left-3.5 top-3.5 pointer-events-none" />
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => setShowPassword(!showPassword)}
-                className="absolute right-3 top-2.5 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
+                className="absolute right-3.5 top-3 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] p-1 cursor-pointer"
+                aria-label={showPassword ? "Hide password" : "Show password"}
               >
-                {showPassword ? "Hide" : "Show"}
+                {showPassword ? <EyeOff className="w-4 h-4" /> : <Eye className="w-4 h-4" />}
               </button>
             </div>
           </div>
@@ -86,23 +89,24 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
           <button
             type="submit"
             disabled={loading}
-            className="w-full py-2.5 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white rounded-lg transition-all font-medium text-sm shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 disabled:opacity-50 flex items-center justify-center gap-2"
+            className="w-full py-3 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white rounded-xl transition-all font-semibold text-sm shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20 hover:shadow-[var(--brand)]/35 disabled:opacity-50 flex items-center justify-center gap-2 cursor-pointer"
           >
             {loading && (
               <div className="w-4 h-4 border-2 border-white border-t-transparent rounded-full animate-spin" />
             )}
-            <span>{loading ? "Authenticating..." : "Sign In"}</span>
+            <span>{loading ? "Authenticating Session..." : "Authorize Access"}</span>
           </button>
         </form>
 
         <div className="mt-8 pt-6 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">
           <Link
             href="/"
-            className="hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors"
+            className="hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors flex items-center gap-1"
           >
-            ← Back to Home
+            <ArrowLeft className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
+            <span>Return to Knowledge Base</span>
           </Link>
-          <span className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)]">HTTP-only Secure Cookie</span>
+          <span className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono">Secure HTTP Cookie</span>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/app/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/page.tsx
index acae67f..b678d77 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/page.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,23 @@ import Link from "next/link";
 import { listDocuments, listSections } from "@mcpedia/core";
 import { getSectionMeta, type SectionConfig } from "@mcpedia/config";
 import McpConfigSnippet from "@/components/McpConfigSnippet";
+import InteractiveTopology from "@/components/InteractiveTopology";
+import {
+  Sparkles,
+  Search,
+  Plus,
+  BookOpen,
+  ArrowRight,
+  Database,
+  Cpu,
+  Layers,
+  Activity,
+  Folder,
+  FileText,
+  Clock,
+  CheckCircle2,
+  Terminal,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
@@ -22,7 +39,6 @@ function slugToTitle(segment: string): string {
 
 function buildFolderTree(docs: { slug: string; title: string }[], section: string): TreeNode[] {
   const tree: TreeNode[] = [];
-  const treeIndex = new Map<string, TreeNode>();
 
   for (const doc of docs) {
     const parts = doc.slug.split("/");
@@ -44,7 +60,6 @@ function buildFolderTree(docs: { slug: string; title: string }[], section: strin
           isLeaf: false,
         };
         current.push(node);
-        treeIndex.set(currentPath, node);
       }
 
       if (isLeaf) {
@@ -77,26 +92,28 @@ function buildFolderTree(docs: { slug: string; title: string }[], section: strin
   return sortAll(tree);
 }
 
-function renderTree(nodes: TreeNode[], pathname: string) {
+function renderTree(nodes: TreeNode[]) {
   return (
     <ul className="space-y-1">
-      {nodes.map((node) => (
+      {nodes.slice(0, 5).map((node) => (
         <li key={node.slug}>
           <Link
             href={`/${node.slug}`}
-            className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs py-1 px-1.5 rounded transition-all ${
-              pathname === `/${node.slug}`
-                ? "text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] bg-[var(--brand)]/15 font-medium"
-                : "text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)]"
-            }`}
+            className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs py-1 px-2 rounded-md text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] transition-colors group"
             title={node.title}
           >
-            <span className="opacity-80">{node.isLeaf && node.children.length === 0 ? "📄" : "📁"}</span>
+            <span className="shrink-0 text-[var(--text-dim)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] transition-colors">
+              {node.isLeaf && node.children.length === 0 ? (
+                <FileText className="w-3 h-3" />
+              ) : (
+                <Folder className="w-3 h-3" />
+              )}
+            </span>
             <span className="truncate">{node.title || node.name}</span>
           </Link>
           {node.children.length > 0 && (
-            <div className="ml-3.5 border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-2 mt-0.5">
-              {renderTree(node.children, pathname)}
+            <div className="ml-3 border-l border-[var(--border-color)] pl-2 mt-0.5">
+              {renderTree(node.children)}
             </div>
           )}
         </li>
@@ -105,13 +122,7 @@ function renderTree(nodes: TreeNode[], pathname: string) {
   );
 }
 
-interface SectionTreeProps {
-  section: string;
-  docs: { slug: string; title: string }[];
-  pathname: string;
-}
-
-function SectionTree({ section, docs, pathname }: SectionTreeProps) {
+function SectionTree({ section, docs }: { section: string; docs: { slug: string; title: string }[] }) {
   const tree = buildFolderTree(
     docs.filter((d) => d.slug.startsWith(`${section}/`)),
     section,
@@ -120,9 +131,9 @@ function SectionTree({ section, docs, pathname }: SectionTreeProps) {
   return (
     <div>
       {tree.length > 0 ? (
-        renderTree(tree, pathname)
+        renderTree(tree)
       ) : (
-        <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] pl-1">No documents</p>
+        <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] pl-2">No documents yet</p>
       )}
     </div>
   );
@@ -144,76 +155,112 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
   return (
     <div className="space-y-16">
       {/* Hero Section */}
-      <section className="relative pt-4 pb-2">
-        <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1 rounded-full bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border border-[var(--brand)]/25 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] text-xs font-medium mb-6">
-          <span className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-[var(--brand)] animate-pulse" />
-          <span>Model Context Protocol + PostgreSQL Core</span>
+      <section className="relative pt-2 pb-4">
+        {/* Floating status pill */}
+        <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1 rounded-full bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border border-[var(--brand)]/25 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] text-xs font-semibold mb-6 shadow-xs animate-fade-in">
+          <span className="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-emerald-500 animate-pulse" />
+          <span>Model Context Protocol · PostgreSQL Source of Truth</span>
         </div>
 
-        <h1 className="text-4xl sm:text-5xl lg:text-6xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight mb-5 leading-tight">
+        {/* Primary Title */}
+        <h1 className="text-4xl sm:text-5xl lg:text-6xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight mb-5 leading-[1.12]">
           Knowledge Base for <br />
-          <span className="bg-gradient-to-r from-[var(--brand)] via-[var(--accent)] to-[var(--accent-hover)] dark:to-white bg-clip-text text-transparent">
+          <span className="bg-gradient-to-r from-indigo-500 via-indigo-600 to-cyan-500 dark:to-cyan-400 bg-clip-text text-transparent">
             Humans and AI Agents
           </span>
         </h1>
 
+        {/* Subtitle */}
         <p className="text-base sm:text-lg text-[var(--text-muted)] max-w-2xl leading-relaxed mb-8">
-          A high-performance, database-backed documentation system. Browse hierarchical notes and technical writeups in your browser, or connect AI coding assistants directly via native MCP tools.
+          A high-performance technical knowledge repository. Browse structured notes and CTF writeups in your browser, or equip AI coding assistants directly via native MCP tools.
         </p>
 
-        {/* Quick action buttons & stats */}
+        {/* Quick Action Buttons */}
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 mb-10">
           <Link
             href="/docs"
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white rounded-lg font-medium text-sm transition-all shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/20"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--brand)] hover:bg-[var(--brand-hover)] text-white rounded-xl font-semibold text-sm transition-all shadow-md shadow-[var(--brand)]/25 hover:shadow-[var(--brand)]/40 hover:-translate-y-0.5 cursor-pointer"
           >
+            <BookOpen className="w-4 h-4" />
             <span>Browse Documentation</span>
-            <span>→</span>
+            <ArrowRight className="w-4 h-4 ml-0.5" />
           </Link>
+
           <Link
             href="/search"
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg font-medium text-sm transition-all shadow-sm"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-5 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-xl font-semibold text-sm transition-all shadow-xs hover:-translate-y-0.5"
           >
-            <svg className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--text-muted)]" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke="currentColor">
-              <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z" />
-            </svg>
-            <span>Hybrid Search</span>
+            <Search className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+            <span>Hybrid Search Console</span>
           </Link>
+
           <Link
             href="/create"
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg text-sm transition-colors shadow-sm"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2.5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-xl text-sm transition-all shadow-xs"
           >
-            <span>+ Create Document</span>
+            <Plus className="w-4 h-4" />
+            <span>Create Document</span>
           </Link>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Stats bar */}
-        <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-4 gap-3 p-4 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl max-w-3xl shadow-sm">
-          <div>
-            <div className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">{all.length}</div>
-            <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">Documents in DB</div>
+        {/* Live Telemetry Metric Strip */}
+        <div className="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-4 gap-3 p-4 sm:p-5 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl shadow-sm">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+            <div className="p-2.5 rounded-xl bg-indigo-500/10 text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400">
+              <Database className="w-5 h-5" />
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">{all.length}</div>
+              <div className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono">Documents in DB</div>
+            </div>
           </div>
-          <div>
-            <div className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">{sections.length}</div>
-            <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">Active sections</div>
+
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+            <div className="p-2.5 rounded-xl bg-cyan-500/10 text-cyan-600 dark:text-cyan-400">
+              <Layers className="w-5 h-5" />
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">{sections.length}</div>
+              <div className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono">Active Sections</div>
+            </div>
           </div>
-          <div>
-            <div className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">RRF Hybrid</div>
-            <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">FTS + Cosine Vectors</div>
+
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+            <div className="p-2.5 rounded-xl bg-violet-500/10 text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400">
+              <Search className="w-5 h-5" />
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-xl font-bold text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">RRF Hybrid</div>
+              <div className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono">FTS + Cosine Vectors</div>
+            </div>
           </div>
-          <div>
-            <div className="text-xl font-bold text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">13 MCP Tools</div>
-            <div className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">Streamable HTTP :4021</div>
+
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+            <div className="p-2.5 rounded-xl bg-emerald-500/10 text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">
+              <Terminal className="w-5 h-5" />
+            </div>
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-xl font-bold text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">13 Tools</div>
+              <div className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono">Streamable HTTP :4021</div>
+            </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      {/* Browse by Section */}
+      {/* Interactive System Architecture & Topology */}
+      <section>
+        <InteractiveTopology />
+      </section>
+
+      {/* Browse Knowledge by Section */}
       <section>
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-6">
-          <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider">
-            Browse by Section
-          </h2>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Layers className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+            <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">
+              Browse Knowledge by Section
+            </h2>
+          </div>
         </div>
 
         <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-4 gap-4">
@@ -222,19 +269,19 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
             return (
               <div
                 key={s.id}
-                className="group flex flex-col justify-between bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl p-5 transition-all shadow-sm"
+                className="group flex flex-col justify-between bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl p-5 transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
               >
                 <div>
                   <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 mb-3">
                     <span className="text-2xl">{s.icon}</span>
                     <Link
                       href={`/${s.id}`}
-                      className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline"
+                      className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline font-semibold"
                     >
                       {sectionDocs.length} docs →
                     </Link>
                   </div>
-                  <h3 className="font-semibold text-base text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors mb-1.5">
+                  <h3 className="font-bold text-base text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors mb-1.5">
                     {s.label}
                   </h3>
                   <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] mb-4 line-clamp-2 leading-relaxed">
@@ -242,12 +289,11 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
                   </p>
                 </div>
 
-                {/* Inline folder tree */}
+                {/* Inline folder directory preview */}
                 <div className="pt-3 border-t border-[var(--border-color)]">
                   <SectionTree
                     section={s.id}
                     docs={all.map((d) => ({ slug: d.slug, title: d.title }))}
-                    pathname="/"
                   />
                 </div>
               </div>
@@ -256,18 +302,22 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
         </div>
       </section>
 
-      {/* Recent Documents */}
+      {/* Recently Updated Knowledge */}
       {recent.length > 0 && (
         <section>
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-6">
-            <h2 className="text-xs font-semibold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider">
-              Recently Updated Knowledge
-            </h2>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Clock className="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]" />
+              <h2 className="text-xs font-bold text-[var(--text-muted)] uppercase tracking-wider font-mono">
+                Recently Updated Knowledge
+              </h2>
+            </div>
             <Link
               href="/docs"
-              className="text-xs text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline font-medium"
+              className="text-xs text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] hover:underline font-semibold flex items-center gap-1"
             >
-              View all ({all.length}) →
+              <span>View all ({all.length})</span>
+              <ArrowRight className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
             </Link>
           </div>
 
@@ -278,11 +328,12 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
                 <Link
                   key={d.slug}
                   href={`/${d.slug}`}
-                  className="group block bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl p-4 transition-all shadow-sm"
+                  className="group block bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl p-5 transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
                 >
-                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 mb-2">
-                    <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] uppercase">
-                      {sInfo?.icon} {d.section}
+                  <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 mb-2.5">
+                    <span className="text-[11px] font-mono font-semibold text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] uppercase flex items-center gap-1">
+                      <span>{sInfo?.icon}</span>
+                      <span>{d.section}</span>
                     </span>
                     <time className="text-[11px] text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono">
                       {new Date(d.updatedAt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, {
@@ -291,15 +342,15 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
                       })}
                     </time>
                   </div>
-                  <h3 className="font-medium text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors line-clamp-1 mb-2">
+                  <h3 className="font-bold text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors line-clamp-1 mb-2">
                     {d.title}
                   </h3>
                   {d.tags.length > 0 && (
-                    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1">
+                    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mt-3">
                       {d.tags.slice(0, 3).map((t) => (
                         <span
                           key={t}
-                          className="text-[10px] px-1.5 py-0.25 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded text-[var(--text-muted)]"
+                          className="text-[10px] px-2 py-0.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-md text-[var(--text-muted)] font-mono"
                         >
                           #{t}
                         </span>
@@ -313,17 +364,18 @@ export default async function HomePage() {
         </section>
       )}
 
-      {/* MCP Agent Integration Showcase */}
+      {/* Connect AI Assistant Showcase */}
       <section className="border-t border-[var(--border-color)] pt-12 pb-6">
         <div className="mb-6">
-          <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-muted)] text-xs font-mono mb-2">
-            <span>⚡ Native Model Context Protocol (MCP)</span>
+          <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1 rounded-full bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-muted)] text-xs font-mono mb-3">
+            <Sparkles className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-indigo-500" />
+            <span>Connect Coding Assistants</span>
           </div>
-          <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight mb-2">
-            Connect AI Coding Assistants
+          <h2 className="text-2xl sm:text-3xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight mb-2">
+            Model Context Protocol Configuration
           </h2>
-          <p className="text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] max-w-xl">
-            Give Claude Desktop, Cursor, Antigravity, or Zed direct access to your knowledge base via semantic search, read resources, and document tools.
+          <p className="text-xs sm:text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)] max-w-xl leading-relaxed">
+            Equip Claude Desktop, Cursor, Antigravity, or custom agents with direct access to your knowledge base via semantic search, read resources, and document tools.
           </p>
         </div>
 
diff --git a/apps/web/app/search/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/search/page.tsx
index b1c8853..8b2b614 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/search/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/search/page.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,19 @@ import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, Suspense } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { useSearchParams } from "next/navigation";
 import { DEFAULT_SECTIONS, type SectionConfig } from "@mcpedia/config/sections";
+import {
+  Search,
+  Sparkles,
+  Zap,
+  Cpu,
+  Layers,
+  FileText,
+  Clock,
+  ArrowRight,
+  Filter,
+  X,
+  Compass,
+} from "lucide-react";
 
 interface DocHit {
   slug: string;
@@ -78,73 +91,73 @@ function SearchContent() {
     }
   }
 
-  const filteredResults = selectedSection === "all"
-    ? results
-    : results.filter((r) => r.section === selectedSection);
+  const filteredResults =
+    selectedSection === "all"
+      ? results
+      : results.filter((r) => r.section === selectedSection);
 
   return (
     <div className="max-w-4xl space-y-8">
       {/* Header */}
       <div>
-        <h1 className="text-3xl font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight mb-2">
-          Search Knowledge Base
-        </h1>
-        <p className="text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)]">
-          Find answers across all documentation, CTF writeups, research notes, and semantic vector chunks.
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
+          <span className="p-2 rounded-xl bg-[var(--brand)]/15 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)]">
+            <Search className="w-5 h-5" />
+          </span>
+          <h1 className="text-3xl font-extrabold text-[var(--text-primary)] tracking-tight">
+            Multi-Modal Search Console
+          </h1>
+        </div>
+        <p className="text-xs sm:text-sm text-[var(--text-muted)]">
+          Search across documentation, CTF writeups, and research notes using PostgreSQL Full-Text Search, Cosine Embeddings, or Reciprocal Rank Fusion.
         </p>
       </div>
 
       {/* Search Box & Controls */}
-      <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl p-4 sm:p-5 shadow-sm space-y-4">
-        {/* Search Input */}
+      <div className="bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl p-5 sm:p-6 shadow-sm space-y-5">
+        {/* Search Input Bar */}
         <div className="relative">
           <input
             type="search"
             value={query}
             onChange={handleChange}
             placeholder="Search by keywords, challenge names, tools, concepts..."
-            className="w-full pl-11 pr-10 py-3 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-lg text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--brand)]/20 text-base transition-all"
+            className="w-full pl-12 pr-10 py-3.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl text-[var(--text-primary)] placeholder-[var(--text-dim)] focus:outline-none focus:border-[var(--brand)] focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[var(--brand)]/20 text-base transition-all"
             autoFocus
           />
-          <svg
-            className="w-5 h-5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] absolute left-3.5 top-3.5"
-            fill="none"
-            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-            stroke="currentColor"
-          >
-            <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M21 21l-6-6m2-5a7 7 0 11-14 0 7 7 0 0114 0z" />
-          </svg>
+          <Search className="w-5 h-5 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] absolute left-4 top-4 pointer-events-none" />
           {query && (
             <button
               onClick={() => {
                 setQuery("");
                 setResults([]);
               }}
-              className="absolute right-3.5 top-3.5 text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] p-0.5"
+              className="absolute right-3.5 top-3.5 p-1 text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] rounded-lg hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface)]"
+              aria-label="Clear query"
             >
-              ✕
+              <X className="w-4 h-4" />
             </button>
           )}
         </div>
 
-        {/* Search Mode & Section Filters */}
-        <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center justify-between gap-3 pt-2 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] text-xs">
+        {/* Algorithm & Filter Controls */}
+        <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center justify-between gap-4 pt-3 border-t border-[var(--border-color)] text-xs">
           {/* Mode Selector */}
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 flex-wrap">
-            <span className="text-[var(--text-muted)] mr-1">Algorithm:</span>
+            <span className="text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono uppercase font-semibold mr-1">Algorithm:</span>
             {[
-              { id: "hybrid", label: "⚡ Hybrid (RRF)", desc: "FTS + Vector Fusion" },
-              { id: "keyword", label: "🔍 Keyword", desc: "PostgreSQL FTS" },
-              { id: "semantic", label: "🧠 Semantic", desc: "Embeddings Cosine" },
+              { id: "hybrid", label: "⚡ Hybrid (RRF)", desc: "Reciprocal Rank Fusion (FTS + Vector)" },
+              { id: "keyword", label: "🔍 Keyword (FTS)", desc: "PostgreSQL GIN tsvector" },
+              { id: "semantic", label: "🧠 Semantic Vector", desc: "Cosine Similarity over Embeddings" },
             ].map((m) => (
               <button
                 key={m.id}
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => handleModeChange(m.id as SearchMode)}
                 title={m.desc}
-                className={`px-3 py-1 rounded-md border font-medium transition-all ${
+                className={`px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border font-semibold transition-all cursor-pointer ${
                   mode === m.id
-                    ? "bg-[var(--brand)] border-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-sm"
+                    ? "bg-[var(--brand)] border-[var(--brand)] text-white shadow-sm shadow-[var(--brand)]/25"
                     : "bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border-[var(--border-color)] text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)]"
                 }`}
               >
@@ -158,22 +171,22 @@ function SearchContent() {
             <button
               type="button"
               onClick={() => setSelectedSection("all")}
-              className={`px-2.5 py-1 rounded-md text-xs transition-colors ${
+              className={`px-2.5 py-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-medium transition-colors ${
                 selectedSection === "all"
-                  ? "bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] text-[var(--text-primary)] font-medium"
+                  ? "bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] text-[var(--text-primary)] font-bold"
                   : "text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-muted)]"
               }`}
             >
-              All Sections
+              All
             </button>
             {sections.map((s) => (
               <button
                 key={s.id}
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => setSelectedSection(s.id)}
-                className={`px-2.5 py-1 rounded-md text-xs transition-colors ${
+                className={`px-2.5 py-1 rounded-lg text-xs font-medium transition-colors ${
                   selectedSection === s.id
-                    ? "bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] text-[var(--text-primary)] font-medium"
+                    ? "bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] text-[var(--text-primary)] font-bold"
                     : "text-[var(--text-dim)] hover:text-[var(--text-muted)]"
                 }`}
               >
@@ -184,38 +197,48 @@ function SearchContent() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Loading State */}
+      {/* Loading Spinner */}
       {loading && (
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 py-8 text-[var(--text-muted)] text-sm">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 py-12 text-[var(--text-muted)] text-sm animate-fade-in">
           <div className="w-5 h-5 border-2 border-[var(--brand)] border-t-transparent rounded-full animate-spin" />
-          <span>Searching knowledge base...</span>
+          <span>Searching knowledge vector space...</span>
         </div>
       )}
 
       {/* Empty State */}
       {!loading && query && filteredResults.length === 0 && (
-        <div className="text-center py-16 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl shadow-sm">
-          <div className="text-3xl mb-3">🔍</div>
-          <h3 className="text-base font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] mb-1">No matching documents</h3>
+        <div className="text-center py-16 bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl shadow-sm space-y-3 animate-fade-in">
+          <div className="p-3 w-12 h-12 rounded-2xl bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] text-[var(--text-dim)] mx-auto flex items-center justify-center">
+            <Search className="w-6 h-6" />
+          </div>
+          <h3 className="text-base font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)]">No matching documents found</h3>
           <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] max-w-sm mx-auto">
             Try switching algorithm mode to <strong>Hybrid</strong> or <strong>Semantic</strong>, or search with different keywords.
           </p>
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Initial Hint */}
+      {/* Initial Suggestions */}
       {!loading && !query && (
-        <div className="p-8 text-center bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-xl space-y-4 shadow-sm">
-          <p className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)]">Popular search queries:</p>
+        <div className="p-6 sm:p-8 text-center bg-[var(--bg-surface)] border border-[var(--border-color)] rounded-2xl space-y-4 shadow-sm">
+          <p className="text-xs font-mono uppercase tracking-wider text-[var(--text-dim)]">Popular search queries:</p>
           <div className="flex justify-center flex-wrap gap-2 text-xs">
-            {["stack alignment", "ret2win", "bullmq worker", "streamable http", "full-text search", "caddy reverse proxy"].map((term) => (
+            {[
+              "stack alignment",
+              "ret2win exploit",
+              "bullmq worker",
+              "streamable http",
+              "full-text search",
+              "caddy reverse proxy",
+              "pgvector cosine",
+            ].map((term) => (
               <button
                 key={term}
                 onClick={() => {
                   setQuery(term);
                   handleSearch(term, mode);
                 }}
-                className="px-3 py-1 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-md text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors"
+                className="px-3.5 py-1.5 bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-elevated-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl text-[var(--text-secondary)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-all font-mono cursor-pointer"
               >
                 {term}
               </button>
@@ -226,10 +249,10 @@ function SearchContent() {
 
       {/* Results List */}
       {!loading && filteredResults.length > 0 && (
-        <div className="space-y-4">
-          <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)]">
+        <div className="space-y-4 animate-fade-in">
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono">
             <span>Found {filteredResults.length} result{filteredResults.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}</span>
-            <span className="font-mono">Ranked by {mode} score</span>
+            <span>Ranked by {mode} score</span>
           </div>
 
           <div className="space-y-3">
@@ -237,29 +260,29 @@ function SearchContent() {
               <Link
                 key={r.slug}
                 href={`/${r.slug}`}
-                className="group block bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-xl p-4 sm:p-5 transition-all shadow-sm"
+                className="group block bg-[var(--bg-surface)] hover:bg-[var(--bg-surface-hover)] border border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--brand)] rounded-2xl p-5 transition-all shadow-xs hover:shadow-md hover:-translate-y-0.5"
               >
-                <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-2">
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-2.5">
                   <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                    <span className="text-xs font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] uppercase">
+                    <span className="text-[10px] font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded-md bg-[var(--brand)]/10 border border-[var(--brand)]/30 text-[var(--brand)] dark:text-[var(--accent)] uppercase font-bold">
                       {r.section}
                     </span>
                     <span className="text-xs text-[var(--text-dim)] font-mono truncate">
                       /{r.slug}
                     </span>
                   </div>
-                  <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--text-muted)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-2 py-0.5 rounded">
+                  <span className="text-xs font-mono text-[var(--text-muted)] bg-[var(--bg-elevated)] border border-[var(--border-color)] px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-md font-semibold">
                     Score: {r.score.toFixed(3)}
                   </span>
                 </div>
 
-                <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors mb-2">
+                <h2 className="text-base font-bold text-[var(--text-primary)] group-hover:text-[var(--brand)] dark:group-hover:text-[var(--accent)] transition-colors mb-2">
                   {r.title}
                 </h2>
 
                 {r.snippet && (
                   <p
-                    className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] leading-relaxed line-clamp-2 [&>mark]:bg-[var(--brand)]/30 [&>mark]:text-[var(--text-primary)] [&>mark]:px-1 [&>mark]:rounded [&>mark]:font-medium"
+                    className="text-xs text-[var(--text-muted)] leading-relaxed line-clamp-2 [&>mark]:bg-[var(--brand)]/30 [&>mark]:text-[var(--text-primary)] [&>mark]:px-1 [&>mark]:rounded [&>mark]:font-semibold"
                     dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: r.snippet }}
                   />
                 )}
diff --git a/apps/web/package.json b/apps/web/package.json
index 9a69582..9dddb88 100644
--- a/apps/web/package.json
+++ b/apps/web/package.json
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     "@mcpedia/core": "workspace:*",
     "@tailwindcss/typography": "^0.5.20",
     "github-slugger": "^2.0.0",
+    "lucide-react": "^1.33.0",
     "next": "16.3.1",
     "react": "19.2.8",
     "react-dom": "19.2.8",
diff --git a/bun.lock b/bun.lock
index 288e175..8603549 100644
--- a/bun.lock
+++ b/bun.lock
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
         "@mcpedia/core": "workspace:*",
         "@tailwindcss/typography": "^0.5.20",
         "github-slugger": "^2.0.0",
+        "lucide-react": "^1.33.0",
         "next": "16.3.1",
         "react": "19.2.8",
         "react-dom": "19.2.8",
@@ -1120,6 +1121,8 @@
 
     "lru-cache": ["lru-cache@5.1.1", "", { "dependencies": { "yallist": "^3.0.2" } }, "sha512-KpNARQA3Iwv+jTA0utUVVbrh+Jlrr1Fv0e56GGzAFOXN7dk/FviaDW8LHmK52DlcH4WP2n6gI8vN1aesBFgo9w=="],
 
+    "lucide-react": ["lucide-react@1.33.0", "", { "peerDependencies": { "react": "^16.5.1 || ^17.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0" } }, "sha512-MTRwMy0ZlL8Ur/vOAiJ9XGHE+kFPC7brq6MxAm0GiGXEBj0qy0jA/pG4N675oSzciO/UCdX8T+5yUQdmDeTLxg=="],
+
     "luxon": ["luxon@3.7.2", "", {}, "sha512-vtEhXh/gNjI9Yg1u4jX/0YVPMvxzHuGgCm6tC5kZyb08yjGWGnqAjGJvcXbqQR2P3MyMEFnRbpcdFS6PBcLqew=="],
 
     "magic-string": ["magic-string@0.30.21", "", { "dependencies": { "@jridgewell/sourcemap-codec": "^1.5.5" } }, "sha512-vd2F4YUyEXKGcLHoq+TEyCjxueSeHnFxyyjNp80yg0XV4vUhnDer/lvvlqM/arB5bXQN5K2/3oinyCRyx8T2CQ=="],