# Demo report: pick_component against 5 test briefs

Produced by calling `pickComponent` (`src/pick.ts`) directly, the same
function the MCP tool in `src/mcp-server.ts` calls. Regenerated after FIX
1 (three outcomes: `confident`, `shortlist`, `no_match`, replacing the
earlier two-outcome `confident`/`unsure` design, see docs/DECISIONS.md
#19), so the outcome names below are current. A separate, shorter 3-brief
run with clean terminal formatting, meant for recording, is `pnpm demo`
(`src/demo.ts`); this file is the full raw JSON evidence for all 5
original test briefs.

## Summary

| # | brief | outcome | result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | hero, subtle background motion, technical tone, no heavy deps | shortlist | 3 aceternity/kokonutui hero candidates, differ on `visual_density` and `decorative_only` |
| 2 | custom cursor that follows the mouse with a trailing effect | confident | react-bits `GhostCursor-TS-TW`, confidence 0.64, variants included |
| 3 | a dense bento grid for a landing page | confident | magicui `bento-grid`, confidence 0.98 |
| 4 | (Polish) pricing section, three plans, highlighted middle one | no_match | Resolve rejected all 5 candidates |
| 5 | a date picker with range selection | no_match | Resolve rejected all 5 candidates |

**Total decisions across 5 briefs: 35** (7 each: 6 for brief parsing + 1
for Resolve, which ran on every brief this round). 0.175% of the
20,000/day free quota.

## Brief 1 is the reason FIX 1 exists

The first version of this pipeline called this outcome `unsure`, the
same label used for a genuinely weak field of candidates. All three
candidates here score 0.9-0.99 Match confidence; the real story is a tie
between three legitimately good hero sections, not doubt about whether
any of them fit. `shortlist` now names what actually separates them
(`visual_density`, `decorative_only`) so a caller can decide on that axis
instead of getting three JSON blobs and no guidance. Full reasoning:
docs/DECISIONS.md #19.

## Brief 4's language question is settled, not open

The Polish brief here still returns `no_match`. A same-meaning English
control brief ("pricing section with three plans, middle one
highlighted") was run separately and returned `confident`: aceternity's
`simple-pricing-with-three-tiers`, 0.98 confidence. The component exists
and is tagged well; the Polish phrasing of the identical request did not
find it. This is not left ambiguous anymore: for this example, the
non-English brief measurably underperformed the English one. Full
account, including the important caveat that this is one language and
one brief, not a systematic evaluation: docs/DECISIONS.md #17.

## Brief 2: the `cursor` category earns its addition

`GhostCursor-TS-TW` is picked with category "cursor", the label added
after the pilot once 6 components across 3 registries turned out to be
custom-cursor components with no home in the original 14 labels
(docs/DIMENSIONS.md, docs/PILOT_REPORT.md). The install command uses the
canonical `-TS-TW` variant, and all 4 stack variants are listed with
their own install commands (docs/DECISIONS.md #7).

## Brief 3: the `bento-grid` result is a named anchor, and that is disclosed

`bento-grid` is one of the three real components named directly inside
`visual_density`'s criteria text as the definitional example of "dense".
It wins this brief at high confidence in part because of that: named
anchors score measurably higher confidence on the dimension they anchor
than the catalog average for their label (docs/DECISIONS.md #20 has the
numbers). This is a known, measured, and deliberately kept bias, not
something discovered here for the first time; noted so this specific
result is not misread as unrelated independent confirmation.

## Briefs 4 and 5: `no_match` is the correct answer, not a failure

Both went through Resolve, and Resolve rejected all 5 Match candidates
each time. The closest candidates are still shown for debugging, but
`chosen` is absent and the message says so plainly. For brief 5, this is
very likely correct: the catalog has no date picker at all across the six
registries.

## Full output, all 5 briefs

### Brief 1: hero section with subtle background motion, technical tone, no heavy deps

```json
{
  "outcome": "shortlist",
  "message": "3 strong candidates, no single winner. They differ on: visual_density, decorative_only.",
  "candidates": [
    {
      "name": "hero-section-with-dither-background",
      "registry": "aceternity",
      "title": null,
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/hero-section-with-dither-background.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/hero-section-with-dither-background.json",
      "confidence": 0.95,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "hero",
          "componentHas": "hero",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.49
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "continuous-background-motion",
          "componentHas": "continuous-background-motion",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.4
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "minimal",
          "componentHas": "minimal",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.39
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "display-only",
          "componentHas": "display-only",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.98
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0.29,
          "componentHas": 0.77,
          "matched": false,
          "weight": 0.42000000000000004
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "hero-section-with-flickering-lights",
      "registry": "aceternity",
      "title": null,
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/hero-section-with-flickering-lights.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/hero-section-with-flickering-lights.json",
      "confidence": 0.99,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "hero",
          "componentHas": "hero",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.65
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "continuous-background-motion",
          "componentHas": "continuous-background-motion",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.99
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "minimal",
          "componentHas": "minimal",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.09
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "display-only",
          "componentHas": "display-only",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.98
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0.29,
          "componentHas": 0.38,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.42000000000000004
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "hero-section-with-mesh-gradient",
      "registry": "aceternity",
      "title": null,
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/hero-section-with-mesh-gradient.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/hero-section-with-mesh-gradient.json",
      "confidence": 0.95,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "hero",
          "componentHas": "hero",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.94
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "continuous-background-motion",
          "componentHas": "continuous-background-motion",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.57
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "minimal",
          "componentHas": "moderate",
          "matched": false,
          "weight": 0.39
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "display-only",
          "componentHas": "display-only",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.98
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0.29,
          "componentHas": 0.48,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.42000000000000004
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "differentiators": [
    {
      "dimension": "visual_density",
      "values": [
        {
          "name": "hero-section-with-dither-background",
          "registry": "aceternity",
          "value": "minimal"
        },
        {
          "name": "hero-section-with-flickering-lights",
          "registry": "aceternity",
          "value": "minimal"
        },
        {
          "name": "hero-section-with-mesh-gradient",
          "registry": "aceternity",
          "value": "moderate"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "dimension": "decorative_only",
      "values": [
        {
          "name": "hero-section-with-dither-background",
          "registry": "aceternity",
          "value": 0.77
        },
        {
          "name": "hero-section-with-flickering-lights",
          "registry": "aceternity",
          "value": 0.38
        },
        {
          "name": "hero-section-with-mesh-gradient",
          "registry": "aceternity",
          "value": 0.48
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "resolveUsed": true,
  "decisionsSpent": 7
}
```

### Brief 2: custom cursor that follows the mouse with a trailing effect

```json
{
  "outcome": "confident",
  "message": "Selected \"GhostCursor-TS-TW\" from react-bits.",
  "chosen": {
    "name": "GhostCursor-TS-TW",
    "registry": "react-bits",
    "title": "GhostCursor",
    "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://reactbits.dev/r/GhostCursor-TS-TW.json",
    "sourceUrl": "https://reactbits.dev/r/GhostCursor-TS-TW.json",
    "confidence": 0.6,
    "reasons": [
      {
        "dimension": "category",
        "briefWants": "cursor",
        "componentHas": "cursor",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 1
      },
      {
        "dimension": "motion",
        "briefWants": "animated-on-interaction",
        "componentHas": "continuous-background-motion",
        "matched": false,
        "weight": 0.33
      },
      {
        "dimension": "visual_density",
        "briefWants": "minimal",
        "componentHas": "minimal",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.99
      },
      {
        "dimension": "interaction_model",
        "briefWants": "none of these",
        "componentHas": "none of these",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.38
      },
      {
        "dimension": "needs_external_data",
        "briefWants": 0.01,
        "componentHas": 0,
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.98
      },
      {
        "dimension": "decorative_only",
        "briefWants": 0.99,
        "componentHas": 0.99,
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.98
      }
    ],
    "variants": [
      {
        "stack": "JS-CSS",
        "registryItemName": "GhostCursor-JS-CSS",
        "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://reactbits.dev/r/GhostCursor-JS-CSS.json"
      },
      {
        "stack": "JS-TW",
        "registryItemName": "GhostCursor-JS-TW",
        "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://reactbits.dev/r/GhostCursor-JS-TW.json"
      },
      {
        "stack": "TS-CSS",
        "registryItemName": "GhostCursor-TS-CSS",
        "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://reactbits.dev/r/GhostCursor-TS-CSS.json"
      },
      {
        "stack": "TS-TW",
        "registryItemName": "GhostCursor-TS-TW",
        "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://reactbits.dev/r/GhostCursor-TS-TW.json"
      }
    ]
  },
  "resolveUsed": true,
  "decisionsSpent": 7
}
```

### Brief 3: a dense bento grid for a landing page

```json
{
  "outcome": "confident",
  "message": "Selected \"bento-grid\" from magicui.",
  "chosen": {
    "name": "bento-grid",
    "registry": "magicui",
    "title": "Bento Grid",
    "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://magicui.design/r/bento-grid.json",
    "sourceUrl": "https://magicui.design/r/bento-grid.json",
    "confidence": 0.9,
    "reasons": [
      {
        "dimension": "category",
        "briefWants": "layout-section",
        "componentHas": "layout-section",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.98
      },
      {
        "dimension": "motion",
        "briefWants": "static",
        "componentHas": "static",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.98
      },
      {
        "dimension": "visual_density",
        "briefWants": "dense",
        "componentHas": "dense",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 1
      },
      {
        "dimension": "interaction_model",
        "briefWants": "display-only",
        "componentHas": "display-only",
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.76
      },
      {
        "dimension": "needs_external_data",
        "briefWants": 0.18,
        "componentHas": 0.27,
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 0.64
      },
      {
        "dimension": "decorative_only",
        "briefWants": 0,
        "componentHas": 0.02,
        "matched": true,
        "weight": 1
      }
    ]
  },
  "resolveUsed": true,
  "decisionsSpent": 7
}
```

### Brief 4: sekcja cenowa z trzema planami i wyróżnionym środkowym

```json
{
  "outcome": "no_match",
  "message": "No component in the catalog is a good fit for this brief. Closest candidates are listed below for reference, but none was judged a real match.",
  "candidates": [
    {
      "name": "code-comparison",
      "registry": "magicui",
      "title": "Code Comparison",
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://magicui.design/r/code-comparison.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://magicui.design/r/code-comparison.json",
      "confidence": 1,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "data-display",
          "componentHas": "data-display",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.46
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "static",
          "componentHas": "static",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.9
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "moderate",
          "componentHas": "moderate",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.62
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "display-only",
          "componentHas": "display-only",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.38
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0.47,
          "componentHas": 0.48,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.06000000000000005
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "testimonials-with-centered-highlight",
      "registry": "aceternity",
      "title": null,
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/testimonials-with-centered-highlight.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/testimonials-with-centered-highlight.json",
      "confidence": 1,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "data-display",
          "componentHas": "data-display",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.46
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "static",
          "componentHas": "static",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.87
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "moderate",
          "componentHas": "moderate",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.48
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "display-only",
          "componentHas": "display-only",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.38
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0.47,
          "componentHas": 0.51,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.06000000000000005
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "simple-blog-with-grid",
      "registry": "aceternity",
      "title": null,
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/simple-blog-with-grid.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/simple-blog-with-grid.json",
      "confidence": 0.99,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "data-display",
          "componentHas": "data-display",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.46
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "static",
          "componentHas": "static",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.9
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "moderate",
          "componentHas": "moderate",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.39
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "display-only",
          "componentHas": "display-only",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.38
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0.47,
          "componentHas": 0.74,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.06000000000000005
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "resolveUsed": true,
  "decisionsSpent": 7
}
```

### Brief 5: a date picker with range selection

```json
{
  "outcome": "no_match",
  "message": "No component in the catalog is a good fit for this brief. Closest candidates are listed below for reference, but none was judged a real match.",
  "candidates": [
    {
      "name": "login-signup-minimal",
      "registry": "aceternity",
      "title": null,
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/login-signup-minimal.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://ui.aceternity.com/registry/login-signup-minimal.json",
      "confidence": 0.99,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "form-input",
          "componentHas": "form-input",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.8
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "static",
          "componentHas": "static",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.37
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "minimal",
          "componentHas": "minimal",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.37
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "form-input",
          "componentHas": "form-input",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.95
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0.15,
          "componentHas": 0.11,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.7
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "components-base-switch",
      "registry": "animate-ui",
      "title": "Switch",
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://animate-ui.com/r/components-base-switch.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://animate-ui.com/r/components-base-switch.json",
      "confidence": 0.99,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "form-input",
          "componentHas": "form-input",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.94
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "static",
          "componentHas": "static",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.37
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "minimal",
          "componentHas": "minimal",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.37
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "form-input",
          "componentHas": "form-input",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.54
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0.15,
          "componentHas": 0.11,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.7
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "primitives-base-checkbox",
      "registry": "animate-ui",
      "title": "Base Checkbox",
      "installCommand": "npx shadcn@latest add https://animate-ui.com/r/primitives-base-checkbox.json",
      "sourceUrl": "https://animate-ui.com/r/primitives-base-checkbox.json",
      "confidence": 0.99,
      "reasons": [
        {
          "dimension": "category",
          "briefWants": "form-input",
          "componentHas": "form-input",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        },
        {
          "dimension": "motion",
          "briefWants": "static",
          "componentHas": "static",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.37
        },
        {
          "dimension": "visual_density",
          "briefWants": "minimal",
          "componentHas": "minimal",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.37
        },
        {
          "dimension": "interaction_model",
          "briefWants": "form-input",
          "componentHas": "form-input",
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        },
        {
          "dimension": "needs_external_data",
          "briefWants": 0.15,
          "componentHas": 0.07,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 0.7
        },
        {
          "dimension": "decorative_only",
          "briefWants": 0,
          "componentHas": 0,
          "matched": true,
          "weight": 1
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "resolveUsed": true,
  "decisionsSpent": 7
}

Total decisions spent across 5 briefs: 35
```