Black theme: truly pure black app-wide, renamed from AMOLED

AGENTS.md

@@ -27,6 +27,34 @@ messages, UI strings, or script output. Plain text only. Also no em-dashes; writ
 plain human voice (commit subjects are the user-facing changelog). Use words like `PASS`/
 `FAIL`, not pictographs.
 
+## The verification bar: a UI change is "verified" ONLY when every box below is checked
+
+Phases passing + host gates green is NOT the bar - twice in one session (2026-07-23) a change
+was declared verified with boxes missing, and the user caught both. Before writing "verified":
+
+1. **Coverage phases - ONLY the phases the change touches, never the full tour.** The full
+   multi-hour matrix for a scoped change is a waste of device time and delays the verdict;
+   `PHASES="..."` exists precisely so a settings change re-runs ~5 min/leg, not ~40. Same
+   scoping on the OTHER axes: both flavors only when the change can differ between them, the
+   `SOFTKEYS=off` touch leg only when the change touches a surface the soft-key declutter
+   diverges (search bar, FABs, place-sheet buttons, Options menus) - a spoke-only settings
+   change does not need it. Run the touched phases at all 4 geometries; skip axes the change
+   provably cannot vary across, and SAY which were skipped and why.
+2. **Dynamic focus walk** of any changed/added settings spoke
+   (`AUDIT_SECTIONS=<Spoke> tests/dpad/audit_dynamic.sh`): every row takes focus in ORDER with
+   the orange ring on each stop. Reusing an enforced component does not waive this.
+3. **Ring evidence** for new focusable controls - a walk frame or ring_walk assertion, not an
+   inference from the component used.
+4. **Enumerate EVERY surface the change touches** and verify each one. A theme touches every
+   screen; a palette role touches every consumer; a shared component touches every caller. If
+   no phase reaches a touched surface, ADD ONE (same PR) - that is the fix-the-harness rule.
+5. **Eyeball the frames yourself**, show them in chat, and put grids in the PR body.
+6. **A/B against main** whenever a check fails - regression and pre-existing look identical
+   until you run the same check on main's build.
+
+State the boxes explicitly when declaring verification; if one is genuinely unmet, name it and
+why instead of letting "verified" slide.
+
 ## Visual verification (HARD RULE, NO EXCEPTIONS)
 
 **Anything a user can see MUST be verified VISUALLY, by looking at an actual on-device
@@ -1052,7 +1080,7 @@ state - upstream's own 13ac02e8 already made the layers panel a VelaMenu):
   in-app theme with the composable **`isAppInDarkTheme()`** - never call
   `isSystemInDarkTheme()` directly in app UI (it ignores the user's Light/Dark/
   System choice in Settings → Appearance). FOUR modes since 2026-07-23: SYSTEM /
-  LIGHT / DARK / **AMOLED** (the dark scheme on true-black surfaces, `AmoledColors`
+  LIGHT / DARK / **Black** (the dark scheme on true-black surfaces - the AMOLED mode, `AmoledColors`
   in `Theme.kt`; `isAppInDarkTheme()` is true for it, so the map and every dark
   branch follow automatically). Light mode uses soft teal-cast off-whites, never
   pure white (user feedback - harsh). `AppTheme.mode` is a process-wide

app/build.gradle.kts

@@ -295,6 +295,12 @@ dependencies {
     // stays UI-agnostic.
     implementation(libs.maplibre.android)
     implementation(libs.androidx.car.app) // Android Auto (projection): templates + car surface
+    // The PROJECTED HOST CONNECTOR - without it Android Auto never lists the app: the host
+    // discovers a car app through the CarAppMetadataHolderService this artifact merges into the
+    // manifest, not through our own service declaration alone (official car-app docs: app-projected
+    // is the Android Auto artifact). The first-cut port shipped only the base :app template
+    // library, which is why Vela has never appeared in an AA launcher (device report, OnePlus 12).
+    implementation(libs.androidx.car.app.projected)
 
     debugImplementation(libs.androidx.compose.ui.tooling)
 }

app/src/main/java/app/vela/ui/SheetPalette.kt

@@ -21,14 +21,24 @@ object SheetPalette {
     val DimLight = Color(0xFF5F6368)
     val RowDark = Color(0xFF202124)  // inset row / chip background
     val RowLight = Color(0xFFF1F3F4)
+    // AMOLED: the sheets go TRUE BLACK (they are the app's largest chrome surfaces - a grey sheet
+    // on a black theme defeats the mode's whole point), with the inset rows stepped to a near-black
+    // so chips/rows still read as layers. Ink/Dim stay the dark values (contrast is higher on black).
+    val Amoled = Color(0xFF000000)
+    val RowAmoled = Color(0xFF000000) // rows too - black is black; hairlines separate
+
+    /** True while the app-wide theme is the AMOLED mode - a state read, so composables that call
+     *  the helpers below recompose when the mode flips (same mechanism as isAppInDarkTheme). */
+    private val amoled: Boolean
+        get() = app.vela.ui.theme.AppTheme.mode.value == app.vela.ui.theme.ThemeMode.AMOLED
 
     // Shared traffic-coded colours (route ETAs, the route line, the steps header).
     val TrafficGreen = Color(0xFF1E8E3E)
     val TrafficAmber = Color(0xFFE8923D)
     val TrafficRed = Color(0xFFD93838)
 
-    fun bg(dark: Boolean) = if (dark) Dark else Light
+    fun bg(dark: Boolean) = if (dark) { if (amoled) Amoled else Dark } else Light
     fun ink(dark: Boolean) = if (dark) InkDark else InkLight
     fun dim(dark: Boolean) = if (dark) DimDark else DimLight
-    fun row(dark: Boolean) = if (dark) RowDark else RowLight
+    fun row(dark: Boolean) = if (dark) { if (amoled) RowAmoled else RowDark } else RowLight
 }

app/src/main/java/app/vela/ui/place/PlaceSheet.kt

@@ -200,8 +200,9 @@ import java.util.Locale
 // like Google Maps, instead of a washed-out dynamic tone.
 // The sheet palette is shared app-wide (see ui/SheetPalette) so the place sheet,
 // directions panel, route chooser and steps list all match.
-private val SheetDark = SheetPalette.Dark
-private val SheetLight = SheetPalette.Light
+// Resolved through SheetPalette.bg() at every use site (NOT captured as constants): bg() is
+// AMOLED-aware - a captured val froze the grey and the place sheet stayed #1F1F1F on the
+// true-black theme while every other sheet went black (code-audit find, 2026-07-23).
 private val InkDark = SheetPalette.InkDark
 private val InkLight = SheetPalette.InkLight
 private val DimDark = SheetPalette.DimDark
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ fun PlaceSheet(
     Card(
         modifier.fillMaxWidth().heightIn(max = maxSheetHeight),
         shape = RoundedCornerShape(topStart = 20.dp, topEnd = 20.dp),
-        colors = CardDefaults.cardColors(containerColor = if (dark) SheetDark else SheetLight),
+        colors = CardDefaults.cardColors(containerColor = SheetPalette.bg(dark)),
     ) {
         // Card background fills to the screen bottom; pad the content up off the nav bar.
         Column(Modifier.navigationBarsPadding()) {
@@ -1083,7 +1084,7 @@ fun DirectionsPanel(
     Card(
         modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
         shape = RoundedCornerShape(topStart = 20.dp, topEnd = 20.dp),
-        colors = CardDefaults.cardColors(containerColor = if (dark) SheetDark else SheetLight),
+        colors = CardDefaults.cardColors(containerColor = SheetPalette.bg(dark)),
     ) {
         Column(Modifier.navigationBarsPadding().padding(start = 20.dp, end = 8.dp, top = 8.dp, bottom = 16.dp)) {
             // Drag handle - swipe down to minimise the chooser (peek the route on the
@@ -1531,7 +1532,7 @@ fun TransitNavSheet(
     val dim = if (dark) DimDark else DimLight
     val itin = nav.itinerary
     val step = itin.steps.getOrNull(nav.stepIndex)
-    Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize(), color = if (dark) SheetDark else SheetLight) {
+    Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize(), color = SheetPalette.bg(dark)) {
         Column(Modifier.fillMaxSize().statusBarsPadding().navigationBarsPadding().padding(16.dp)) {
             Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
                 Text(
@@ -2042,7 +2043,7 @@ fun RouteDetailSheet(
             step?.alightStop?.let { a -> if (mid.none { it.name == a.name } && step.boardStop?.name != a.name) add(a) }
         }
     }
-    Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize(), color = if (dark) SheetDark else SheetLight) {
+    Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize(), color = SheetPalette.bg(dark)) {
         Column(Modifier.fillMaxSize().statusBarsPadding().navigationBarsPadding()) {
             Row(
                 Modifier.fillMaxWidth().padding(horizontal = 8.dp, vertical = 6.dp),
@@ -2597,7 +2598,7 @@ private fun FullScreenReviews(featureId: String, place: Place, ink: Color, dim:
     // to the WebView cleanly once the page loads. No-op under touch.
     val reviewsBackFocus = rememberDpadAutoFocus()
     Dialog(onDismissRequest = onClose, properties = DialogProperties(usePlatformDefaultWidth = false)) {
-        Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize(), color = if (dark) SheetDark else SheetLight, contentColor = ink) {
+        Surface(Modifier.fillMaxSize(), color = SheetPalette.bg(dark), contentColor = ink) {
             Column(Modifier.fillMaxSize().statusBarsPadding()) {
                 Row(
                     verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,

app/src/main/java/app/vela/ui/softkey/VelaSoftkeys.kt

@@ -116,12 +116,13 @@ object VelaSoftkeys {
         // visible flash on each screen change. So rebuild ONLY when the theme actually flipped; a plain
         // label change just re-set()s in place (no churn, no flash).
         val dark = app.vela.ui.theme.isAppInDarkTheme()
+        val themeMode = app.vela.ui.theme.AppTheme.mode.value
         val modal = modalDepth.intValue > 0 // a VelaDialog is up -> hide the bar (keys go to it)
-        val lastDark = remember { mutableStateOf<Boolean?>(null) }
-        LaunchedEffect(left?.label, right?.label, dark, modal) {
+        val lastTheme = remember { mutableStateOf<app.vela.ui.theme.ThemeMode?>(null) }
+        LaunchedEffect(left?.label, right?.label, dark, themeMode, modal) {
             val ctl = Softkeys.of(activity)
-            val themeFlipped = lastDark.value?.let { it != dark } == true
-            lastDark.value = dark
+            val themeFlipped = lastTheme.value?.let { it != themeMode } == true
+            lastTheme.value = themeMode
             applyThemeColors(dark)
             if (modal || (leftNow == null && rightNow == null)) {
                 ctl.clear()
@@ -139,9 +140,12 @@ object VelaSoftkeys {
     /** Paint the bar for the in-app theme. A dark toolbar in dark, a light one in light - both
      * single-ink, matching Vela's map chrome. Applied before a rebuild (see [MapSoftkeys]). */
     private fun applyThemeColors(dark: Boolean) {
+        // AMOLED: the bar goes true black with a slightly stronger divider so it still separates
+        // from a black map bezel; every other colour keeps the dark set (contrast only improves).
+        val amoled = app.vela.ui.theme.AppTheme.mode.value == app.vela.ui.theme.ThemeMode.AMOLED
         Yapchik.style.apply {
             if (dark) {
-                backgroundColor = 0xFF14343A.toInt()
+                backgroundColor = if (amoled) 0xFF000000.toInt() else 0xFF14343A.toInt()
                 textColor = 0xFFECECEC.toInt()
                 pressedTextColor = 0xFF4DD0C4.toInt()
                 dividerColor = 0x33FFFFFF

app/src/main/java/app/vela/ui/theme/Theme.kt

@@ -43,18 +43,19 @@ private val DarkColors = darkColorScheme(
     tertiary = VelaAmber,
 )
 
-// AMOLED: the dark scheme on TRUE BLACK surfaces (every lit pixel costs battery on OLED, and
-// pure black is its own look). Container roles step up in near-blacks so cards and the title bar
-// still read as layers; the thin borders on Settings cards carry the structure.
+// Black: the dark scheme on TRUE BLACK - every surface AND container role is #000000 ("black
+// should be black", user 2026-07-23; the earlier near-black stepping read as grey areas). The
+// hairline outlines and the Settings cards' thin borders carry ALL of the structure; nothing
+// separates by fill any more.
 private val AmoledColors = DarkColors.copy(
     background = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
     surface = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
     surfaceDim = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
     surfaceContainerLowest = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
-    surfaceContainerLow = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF060809),
-    surfaceContainer = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF0B0E0F),
-    surfaceContainerHigh = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF121617),
-    surfaceContainerHighest = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF191E1F),
+    surfaceContainerLow = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
+    surfaceContainer = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
+    surfaceContainerHigh = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
+    surfaceContainerHighest = androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color(0xFF000000),
 )
 
 /**

app/src/main/java/app/vela/web/ReviewsPanel.kt

@@ -473,9 +473,11 @@ private fun buildPanelWebView(
  * Maintenance passes keep re-applying for a while (the SPA re-attaches chrome on interaction).
  */
 private fun carveScript(dark: Boolean, fullScreen: Boolean): String {
-    // Vela's own sheet colour (SheetPalette Dark/Light) - the panel matches it EXACTLY so there's
-    // no seam with the surrounding place sheet.
-    val bg = if (dark) "#1f1f1f" else "#ffffff"
+    // Vela's own sheet colour - the panel matches SheetPalette.bg() EXACTLY so there's no seam
+    // with the surrounding place sheet (incl. the AMOLED true-black variant).
+    val bg = if (dark) {
+        if (app.vela.ui.theme.AppTheme.mode.value == app.vela.ui.theme.ThemeMode.AMOLED) "#000000" else "#1f1f1f"
+    } else "#ffffff"
     // Dark = a scoped invert on the PANEL CONTENT ONLY (main), NOT its background. The Vela colour
     // lives on <body> (which the filter doesn't touch - it's on main), and main + every ancestor
     // are made transparent so that colour is the panel's backdrop; only Google's content inverts.

app/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">System folgen</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Hell</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Dunkel</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">AMOLED-Schwarz</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Schwarz</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Hell/Dunkel gilt nur für Vela, das System-Design Ihres Telefons wird nicht verändert.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Kartenstil</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (Standard) ist schluessellos und detailliert.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-es/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Seguir el sistema</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Claro</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Oscuro</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Negro AMOLED</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Negro</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Claro/Oscuro se aplica solo a Vela; no cambia el tema del sistema de tu teléfono.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Estilo del mapa</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (predeterminado) no necesita clave y es detallado.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-fr/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Suivre le système</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Clair</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Sombre</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Noir AMOLED</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Noir</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Le mode clair/sombre s\'applique uniquement à Vela - il ne modifie pas le thème système de votre téléphone.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Style de carte</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (par defaut) est sans cle et detaille.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-it/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Come il sistema</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Chiaro</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Scuro</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Nero AMOLED</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Nero</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Chiaro/Scuro si applica solo a Vela, non modifica il tema di sistema del telefono.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Stile mappa</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (predefinito) e senza chiave e dettagliato.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-iw/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">לפי הגדרת המערכת</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">בהיר</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">כהה</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">שחור AMOLED</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">שחור</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">חל על Vela בלבד.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">סגנון מפה</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (ברירת המחדל) מפורט ואינו דורש מפתח.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-ja/strings.xml

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">システムに合わせる</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">ライト</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">ダーク</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">AMOLEDブラック</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">ブラック</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Vela にのみ適用されます。</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">地図のスタイル</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap(デフォルト)はキー不要で詳細です。</string>

app/src/main/res/values-nl/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Systeem volgen</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Licht</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Donker</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">AMOLED-zwart</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Zwart</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Licht/donker geldt alleen voor Vela - het thema van uw telefoon wordt niet gewijzigd.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Kaartstijl</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (standaard) is sleutelloos en gedetailleerd.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-pl/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Jak w systemie</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Jasny</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Ciemny</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Czern AMOLED</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Czarny</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Tryb jasny/ciemny dotyczy tylko Vela - nie zmienia motywu systemowego telefonu.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Styl mapy</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (domyslny) jest szczegolowy i nie wymaga klucza.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-pt/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Seguir o sistema</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Claro</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Escuro</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Preto AMOLED</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Preto</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Claro/Escuro aplica-se apenas ao Vela - não altera o tema do sistema do seu telemóvel.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Estilo do mapa</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (padrao) dispensa chave e e detalhado.</string>

app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <string name="settings_follow_system">Как в системе</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_light">Светлая</string>
     <string name="settings_theme_dark">Тёмная</string>
-    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">AMOLED-чёрный</string>
+    <string name="settings_theme_amoled">Чёрный</string>
     <string name="settings_appearance_hint">Светлая или тёмная тема применяется только к Vela - системная тема телефона не меняется.</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style">Стиль карты</string>
     <string name="settings_map_style_hint">OpenFreeMap (по умолчанию) детальный и не требует ключа.</string>