docs: repository cleanup and documentation update

- Rewrite CONTRIBUTING.md with Kindred-specific contribution guide
  (branch workflow, commit conventions, submodule management, QSS procedures)
- Update README.md with Origin system, update checker, and preference defaults
- Update OVERVIEW.md with current submodule pins and date
- Update KNOWN_ISSUES.md with resolved items and new Silo features
- Update COMPONENTS.md with SSE, Activity panel, Start Panel, theme additions
- Update INTEGRATION_PLAN.md phase status (theme, Silo, build system)
- Update ARCHITECTURE.md bootstrap flow and source layout

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ FreeCAD startup
             ├─ 1500ms: _register_silo_origin()      → registers Silo FileOrigin
             ├─ 2000ms: _setup_silo_auth_panel()     → "Database Auth" dock
             ├─ 3000ms: _check_silo_first_start()    → settings prompt
-            └─ 4000ms: _setup_silo_activity_panel() → "Database Activity" dock
+            ├─ 4000ms: _setup_silo_activity_panel() → "Database Activity" dock (SSE)
+            └─ 10000ms: _check_for_updates()        → update checker (Gitea API)
 ```
 
 ## Key source layout
@@ -28,7 +29,9 @@ FreeCAD startup
 ```
 src/Mod/Create/              Kindred bootstrap module (Python)
   ├── Init.py                Adds mods/ addon paths, loads Init.py files
-  └── InitGui.py             Loads workbenches, installs Silo manipulators
+  ├── InitGui.py             Loads workbenches, installs Silo manipulators
+  ├── version.py.in          CMake template → version.py (build-time)
+  └── update_checker.py      Checks Gitea releases API for updates
 
 src/Gui/FileOrigin.h/.cpp           FileOrigin base class + LocalFileOrigin
 src/Gui/CommandOrigin.cpp            Origin_Commit/Pull/Push/Info/BOM commands

docs/COMPONENTS.md

@@ -69,7 +69,12 @@ These appear in the File menu and "Origin Tools" toolbar across all workbenches
 - Origin Tools toolbar: `Origin_Commit`/`Origin_Pull`/`Origin_Push`/`Origin_Info`/`Origin_BOM` (auto-disable by capability)
 - Silo origin registered at startup by `src/Mod/Create/InitGui.py`
 
-**Server architecture:** Go REST API (38+ routes) + PostgreSQL + MinIO S3. Authentication via local (bcrypt), LDAP, or OIDC backends. See `mods/silo/docs/` for server documentation.
+**Dock panels:**
+- Database Auth (2000ms) -- Login/logout and API token management
+- Database Activity (4000ms) -- Real-time server event feed via SSE (Server-Sent Events) with automatic reconnection and exponential backoff
+- Start Panel -- In-viewport landing page with recent files and Silo integration
+
+**Server architecture:** Go REST API (38+ routes) + PostgreSQL + MinIO S3. Authentication via local (bcrypt), LDAP, or OIDC backends. SSE endpoint for real-time event streaming. See `mods/silo/docs/` for server documentation.
 
 **LibreOffice Calc extension** ([silo-calc](https://git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/silo-calc.git)): BOM management, item creation, and AI-assisted descriptions via OpenRouter API. Shares the same Silo REST API and auth token system via the shared [silo-client](https://git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/silo-client.git) package.
 
@@ -79,11 +84,15 @@ These appear in the File menu and "Origin Tools" toolbar across all workbenches
 
 **Canonical source:** `resources/preferences/KindredCreate/KindredCreate.qss`
 
-Four copies must stay in sync:
+Three copies must stay in sync (see [KNOWN_ISSUES.md](KNOWN_ISSUES.md) for planned consolidation):
 1. `resources/preferences/KindredCreate/KindredCreate.qss` (canonical)
 2. `src/Gui/Stylesheets/KindredCreate.qss`
 3. `src/Gui/PreferencePacks/KindredCreate/KindredCreate.qss`
-4. `mods/ztools/CatppuccinMocha/CatppuccinMocha.qss`
+
+Notable theme customizations beyond standard Catppuccin colors:
+- `QGroupBox::indicator` styling to match `QCheckBox::indicator` (consistent checkbox appearance)
+- `QLabel[haslink="true"]` link color (`#b4befe` Catppuccin Lavender) -- picked up by FreeCAD to set `QPalette::Link`
+- Spanning-line tree branch indicators (in Stylesheets copy) vs disclosure arrows (in other copies)
 
 ---
 

docs/INTEGRATION_PLAN.md

@@ -104,11 +104,12 @@ Pure Python workbenches following FreeCAD's addon pattern. Self-contained with `
 
 **Goal:** Theme applies consistently at startup regardless of active workbench.
 
-**Current state:** The Catppuccin Mocha theme is set as the default via the KindredCreate preference pack. Four copies of the QSS file exist and must be kept in sync manually:
+**Current state:** The Catppuccin Mocha theme is set as the default via the KindredCreate preference pack. Three copies of the QSS file exist and must be kept in sync manually:
 1. `resources/preferences/KindredCreate/KindredCreate.qss` (canonical)
 2. `src/Gui/Stylesheets/KindredCreate.qss`
 3. `src/Gui/PreferencePacks/KindredCreate/KindredCreate.qss`
-4. `mods/ztools/CatppuccinMocha/CatppuccinMocha.qss`
+
+Recent additions: `QGroupBox::indicator` styling for consistent checkbox appearance across checkable group boxes, and `QLabel[haslink="true"]` link color (`#b4befe` Catppuccin Lavender) picked up by FreeCAD to set `QPalette::Link`. Preference defaults tuned for document, selection, notification, and report view settings via `KindredCreate.cfg`.
 
 **Remaining work:** Eliminate QSS duplication via build-time copy or symlinks. Move theme responsibility out of ztools and into the Create module.
 
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ Pure Python workbenches following FreeCAD's addon pattern. Self-contained with `
 
 **Implementation:** The unified origin system (`FileOrigin`, `OriginManager`, `OriginSelectorWidget`) in `src/Gui/` delegates all file operations (New/Open/Save) to the selected origin. Standard commands (`Std_New`, `Std_Open`, `Std_Save`) and origin commands (`Origin_Commit`, `Origin_Pull`, `Origin_Push`, `Origin_Info`, `Origin_BOM`) are built into the File toolbar and menu. The Silo workbench no longer has its own toolbar — it only provides a menu with admin/management commands.
 
-**Dock panels:** Database Auth (2000ms) and Database Activity (4000ms) panels are created via deferred QTimers and docked in the right panel area.
+**Dock panels:** Database Auth (2000ms), Database Activity (4000ms), and Start Panel panels are created via deferred QTimers. The Activity panel displays real-time server events via SSE with automatic reconnection. The Start Panel provides an in-viewport landing page with recent files and Silo integration.
 
 ### Phase 6: Build system integration -- PARTIAL
 
@@ -126,6 +127,8 @@ Pure Python workbenches following FreeCAD's addon pattern. Self-contained with `
 
 **CI/CD status:** Release workflows (`.gitea/workflows/release.yml`) now build for Linux (AppImage + .deb), macOS (DMG for Intel + Apple Silicon), and Windows (.exe NSIS installer + .7z archive). Builds run on public runners in dockerized mode. Releases are triggered by `v*` tags. See `docs/CI_CD.md` for details.
 
+Build-time code generation is now in use: `src/Mod/Create/version.py.in` is processed by `configure_file()` to inject `KINDRED_CREATE_VERSION` from the root `CMakeLists.txt`. The update checker (`update_checker.py`) uses this at startup to query the Gitea releases API.
+
 **Remaining work:** CMake install rules should be formalized in `src/Mod/Create/CMakeLists.txt` so that `cmake --install` includes mods/ submodules without relying on the packaging scripts to copy them:
 
 ```cmake

docs/KNOWN_ISSUES.md

@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
 
 13. **Assembly solver crash on document restore.** `AssemblyObject::onChanged()` called `updateSolveStatus()` when the Group property changed during document restore, triggering the solver while child objects were still deserializing (SIGSEGV). Fixed with `isRestoring()` and `isPerformingTransaction()` guards at `src/Mod/Assembly/App/AssemblyObject.cpp:143`.
 
+14. **`DlgSettingsGeneral::applyMenuIconSize` visibility.** The method was `private` but called from `StartupProcess.cpp`. Fixed by moving to `public` (PR #49). Also required `Dialog::` namespace qualifier in `StartupProcess.cpp`.
+
 ---
 
 ## Incomplete features
@@ -44,13 +46,16 @@
 
 | Feature | Status | Notes |
 |---------|--------|-------|
-| Authentication | Local auth complete | LDAP/OIDC backends coded, pending infrastructure |
+| Authentication | Local auth complete | LDAP/OIDC backends coded, pending infrastructure. Auth dock panel available. |
 | CSRF protection | Implemented | `nosurf` library on web form routes |
 | File locking | Not implemented | Needed to prevent concurrent edits |
 | Odoo ERP integration | Stub only | Returns "not yet implemented" |
 | Part number date segments | Broken | `formatDate()` returns error |
 | Location/inventory APIs | Tables exist, no handlers | |
 | CSV import rollback | Not implemented | `bom_handlers.go` |
+| SSE event streaming | Implemented | Reconnect logic with exponential backoff |
+| Database Activity panel | Implemented | Dock panel showing real-time server events |
+| Start panel | Implemented | In-viewport start page with recent files and Silo integration |
 
 ### ztools
 
@@ -73,3 +78,7 @@
 4. **Build system** -- CMake install rules for `mods/` submodules so packages include ztools and Silo without manual steps.
 
 5. **Test coverage** -- Unit tests for ztools datum creation, Silo FreeCAD commands, and Go API endpoints.
+
+6. **QSS consolidation** -- Eliminate the 3-copy QSS duplication via build-time copy or symlinks. The canonical source is `resources/preferences/KindredCreate/KindredCreate.qss`.
+
+7. **Update notification UI** -- Display in-app notification when a new release is available (issue #30). The update checker backend is already implemented.

docs/OVERVIEW.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Kindred Create
 
-**Last updated:** 2026-02-07
-**Branch:** main @ `7bec3d5c3b2`
+**Last updated:** 2026-02-08
+**Branch:** main @ `cf523f1d87a`
 **Kindred Create:** v0.1.0
 **FreeCAD base:** v1.0.0
 
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 
 | Submodule | Path | Source | Pinned commit |
 |-----------|------|--------|---------------|
-| ztools | `mods/ztools` | `git.kindred-systems.com/forbes/ztools` | `d2f94c3` |
-| silo-mod | `mods/silo` | `git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/silo-mod` | `bf0b843` |
-| OndselSolver | `src/3rdParty/OndselSolver` | `git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/solver` | `5d1988b` |
+| ztools | `mods/ztools` | `git.kindred-systems.com/forbes/ztools` | `3298d1c` |
+| silo-mod | `mods/silo` | `git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/silo-mod` | `f9924d3` |
+| OndselSolver | `src/3rdParty/OndselSolver` | `git.kindred-systems.com/kindred/solver` | `fe41fa3` |
 | GSL | `src/3rdParty/GSL` | `github.com/microsoft/GSL` | `756c91a` |
 | AddonManager | `src/Mod/AddonManager` | `github.com/FreeCAD/AddonManager` | `01e242e` |
 | googletest | `tests/lib` | `github.com/google/googletest` | `56efe39` |