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+# Phase 8: Admin Dashboard - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-02-04
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+<domain>
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Provide customizable dashboard after login and plugin settings interface. Dashboard displays widgets from plugins. Plugins can register settings pages accessible from admin menu. Settings use the same YAML-driven form system from Phase 7.
+
+</domain>
+
+<decisions>
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Dashboard Layout
+- Masonry/fluid layout — widgets flow and stack based on their size
+- Drag-and-drop customization — admins can reorder, resize, show/hide widgets
+- Per-user layout preferences — each admin has their own dashboard arrangement
+- Reset to default option — admins can restore plugin-provided default layout
+
+### Widget System
+- Widget types: stats/charts, lists/tables, and quick actions — all supported
+- Sizing: plugin-defined defaults with admin customization
+- Real-time updates via WebSocket/SSE — widgets receive push updates for live data
+- Widget configuration — widgets can have their own settings (e.g., item count, date range)
+
+### Settings Pages
+- WinterCMS pattern: plugins define top-level menus for model CRUDs and custom views
+- Central Settings area where plugins register their settings
+- Grouped by category (System, Content, Users, etc.)
+- Plugins can register new categories beyond core defaults
+
+### Empty/Loading States
+- Fresh install: default system widgets pre-populated (recent activity, quick links)
+- Loading: skeleton screens matching content layout
+- Empty widget: friendly message explaining why empty and what to do
+- Error state: inline error within widget with retry option
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+- Save behavior for settings forms (HTMX vs full page based on patterns)
+- Default widget arrangement on fresh install
+- Exact skeleton screen designs
+- Category ordering in settings
+
+</decisions>
+
+<specifics>
+## Specific Ideas
+
+- "Like in WinterCMS" — follow WinterCMS patterns where plugins have their own top-level menus for CRUDs but settings centralized
+- Real-time widget updates prioritized over polling
+
+</specifics>
+
+<deferred>
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope
+
+</deferred>
+
+---
+
+*Phase: 08-admin-dashboard*
+*Context gathered: 2026-02-04*