Device Image System: Discoverability & Coverage

[ggfevans]

Summary

Issue #1517 revealed a significant gap between user expectations and reality for device images. The README promises "real device images" but only 28% of devices (179/634) have bundled product images. The image system features (display mode toggle, image upload) exist but are poorly discoverable.

This tracking issue coordinates a phased rollout to fix expectations, improve discoverability, expand coverage, and streamline the upload experience.

Current State

• 634 devices across 24 brands
• 179 with images (28% coverage)
• Full coverage: Arista, Juniper, AC Infinity, Apple
• Zero coverage: Synology (33), TP-Link (29), QNAP (13), CyberPower (10), Netgate (8), DeskPi (8), Blackmagic (7), Vertiv (1)
• Starter library: 11 generic devices all have images

Phases

Phase 1: Honesty & Docs

• Fix image expectations: README language & user docs #1539 — Fix README language & create user-facing image docs
• Pictures of assets #1517 — Original report (child of Phase 1)

Phase 2: UI Discoverability

• Image system UI discoverability #1540 — Toolbar toggle, ImageIndicator, EditPanel, help panel

Phase 3: Coverage Expansion

• Image coverage expansion — NetBox audit & priority brands #1541 — NetBox audit & priority brand image import

Phase 4: Upload UX

• Streamline image upload UX #1542 — Drag-drop upload, layout export support

Supporting

• Auto-generate image coverage table #1543 — Auto-generate image coverage table

Design Spec

docs/superpowers/specs/2026-03-27-device-image-system-design.md

Key Decisions

• Default display mode stays label
• ImageIndicator shows presence only, no "absent" state
• No analytics instrumentation — gap scores + community feedback guide priorities
• No community contribution pipeline