Task 1.9: Serving Static Files

Summary

Implement static file serving for CSS, JavaScript, and images to enhance the buylater.email user interface with professional styling and interactive elements.

Motivation

Following Let’s Go Chapter 2.9, we need to serve static assets like CSS for styling, JavaScript for interactivity, and images for branding. This will transform our basic HTML templates into a polished, professional web application.

Acceptance Criteria

Configure http.FileServer to serve static files from ui/static/
Add route handler for /static/ URL pattern
Create CSS stylesheet for buylater.email branding and layout
Implement responsive design for mobile and desktop
~~Add minimal JavaScript for form validation and UX enhancements~~ (Removed - HTML5 validation sufficient)
Include favicon and any necessary images
Ensure proper MIME types for all static file types
Add cache headers for static assets
Create submission complete template and update POST /submit handler
Create proper About page template with service information

Technical Requirements

Static File Structure

ui/static/
├── css/
│   └── main.css
├── js/
│   └── main.js
├── img/
│   └── favicon.ico
└── fonts/
    └── (if needed)

Implementation Details

Use http.FileServer() with http.Dir() for serving static files
Strip “/static/” prefix from URLs using http.StripPrefix()
Create clean, minimal CSS reflecting “buy less, buy better” philosophy
Implement responsive breakpoints for mobile/tablet/desktop
Add form validation JavaScript for URL and email inputs
Include proper Content-Type headers for all file types

Dependencies

Task 1.8 completed (HTML templating with template references to static files)

Testing Strategy

Unit Tests

Verify static file routes are properly configured
Test file serving for different MIME types

Integration Tests

Static files accessible via /static/ URLs
CSS and JavaScript load correctly in templates

Manual Testing

Navigate to /static/css/main.css returns CSS with proper Content-Type
Page styling renders correctly when CSS is loaded
JavaScript functionality works (form validation, etc.)
Favicon displays in browser tab
Test on multiple screen sizes for responsive design
Verify static files load quickly and cache properly

Definition of Done

All acceptance criteria met
All specified tests pass
Code follows project conventions (go fmt, go vet)
CSS validates and follows best practices
JavaScript is clean and error-free
Static files serve with proper headers
Mobile-responsive design works correctly
Human verification completed successfully
Git commit created with proper message format

Implementation Notes

Approach

Create a minimal, clean design system that supports the buylater.email concept. Focus on usability, readability, and professional appearance without unnecessary complexity.

Key Files to Create

ui/static/css/main.css - Main stylesheet
ui/static/js/main.js - JavaScript for form validation and UX
ui/static/img/favicon.ico - Site favicon
Updated cmd/web/main.go - Static file route configuration

CSS Design Principles

Clean, minimal design reflecting “intentional consumption”
Good typography for readability
Accessible color contrast
Mobile-first responsive approach
Fast loading and minimal file size

Potential Risks

Large static files could impact page load speed
Browser caching issues during development
MIME type mismatches causing files not to load
Responsive design breakpoints not working correctly

Success Metrics

Professional-looking buylater.email website with polished styling, responsive design, and enhanced user experience through proper static asset management.

Blocks: Future advanced styling and interactive features
Blocked by: Task 1.8 (needs HTML templates to reference static files)
Related: User experience design and performance optimization

Implementation Log

Implementation details will be recorded here during development.

Final Verification

Human Tester: [Name]
Date Completed: [YYYY-MM-DD]
Verification Result: [Pass/Fail]
Notes: [Any issues found or additional observations]

task_id: “1.9” title: “Serving Static Files” status: “pending” priority: “high” estimated_effort: “small” created: “2025-07-22” assigned_to: “pair” related_rfds: “RFD 003”