Layout and UI

Goal

This snapshot advances Solstice Ledger by teaching you to render HEEx pages with Pico.css.

Every numbered folder is a complete app. Run this stage independently, then compare it with the previous folder.

Prerequisites

Use Elixir 1.15+, Mix, and Docker for Postgres stages.

Port 4001 must be free. Copy .env.example before starting database stages.

• Elixir and Mix
• A code editor and terminal
• Docker from part 4 onward

Concepts

HEEx escapes values by default. Shared layouts keep navigation consistent.

Keep controllers thin: plugs prepare requests, contexts enforce rules, and HEEx escapes output by default.

Walkthrough

Render home with sample posts.

Read the example, then open the matching snapshot. The repository includes the surrounding setup and error handling.

render(conn, :home, posts: @sample)

Run and verify

Enter 03-Layout-And-UI, fetch deps, copy .env.example, and start Phoenix on port 4001.

Open http://127.0.0.1:4001. Watch the terminal for validation and database errors.

git clone https://github.com/michaeldunga1/fcc-phoenix-blog.git
cd fcc-phoenix-blog/03-Layout-And-UI
mix deps.get
cp .env.example .env
mix phx.server

Troubleshooting

Template not found usually means the view module or template name is wrong.

For database failures, confirm Docker and the solstice_NN name when applicable. Never commit .env or _build/deps secrets.

• Read the first error first
• Restart after environment changes
• Never commit secrets

Try this

Render a friendly empty state when posts is empty.

Test a happy path and one invalid or unauthorized request.

• Make one small change
• Test it in the browser
• Compare with the next snapshot only after it works