feat(webapp): strengthen public landing experience

Author: FelixTJDietrich

.changeset/calm-mentors-welcome.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"hephaestus": patch
+---
+
+Makes the public landing page show what Hephaestus actually does: real pull requests, review threads and issues with the feedback attached to them, Heph introducing himself, and a clearer account of who develops the project.

.github/actions/setup-caches/action.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name: "Setup CI caches"
-description: "Caches Maven repo + generated sources, Playwright browsers, and Storybook builds. Node/pnpm setup happens in the calling workflow via pnpm/action-setup + actions/setup-node (cache: pnpm)."
+description: "Caches Maven dependencies and Playwright browsers. Node/pnpm setup happens in the calling workflow."
 inputs:
   cache-type:
     description: "Type of cache to setup"
@@ -43,14 +43,3 @@ runs:
         key: ${{ inputs.os }}-playwright-${{ hashFiles('pnpm-lock.yaml') }}
         restore-keys: |
           ${{ inputs.os }}-playwright-
-
-    - name: Cache Storybook build
-      if: contains(fromJSON('["webapp-visual", "webapp-storybook"]'), inputs.cache-type)
-      uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
-      with:
-        path: |
-          webapp/storybook-static
-          webapp/.storybook/.cache
-        key: ${{ inputs.os }}-storybook-${{ hashFiles('webapp/**/*.stories.tsx', 'webapp/.storybook/**', 'pnpm-lock.yaml') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ inputs.os }}-storybook-

.github/workflows/ci-tests.yml

@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: ignore
           retention-days: 14
 
-      # Chromatic visual testing
       - name: "Chromatic Visual Testing"
         if: >-
           steps.should_run.outputs.run == 'true' && matrix.test-type == 'webapp-storybook' && always() &&

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   </picture>
 
   <h1>Hephaestus</h1>
-  <p><strong>Feedback on how you work</strong></p>
+  <p><strong>Learn from the work you're already doing</strong></p>
 
   <p>
     <a href="https://hephaestus.aet.cit.tum.de"><img alt="Open the TUM-operated Hephaestus web app" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/web_app-open-493C83"></a>
@@ -21,20 +21,20 @@
   </p>
 </div>
 
-Hephaestus gives developers feedback on the engineering practices they use in software projects. It draws on evidence from tools the team already uses — including GitHub or GitLab activity, selected Slack channels, and Outline documents — to explain what worked, what could improve, and what to try next.
+Hephaestus connects feedback to software project work. When it finds evidence worth surfacing, feedback can explain what worked, what could improve, and a practical next step. Developers can ask Heph questions, add context, and compare options.
 
 <div align="center">
   <picture>
-    <source media="(max-width: 520px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-feedback-preview-mobile-dark.png">
-    <source media="(max-width: 520px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-feedback-preview-mobile-light.png">
-    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-feedback-preview-dark.png">
-    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-feedback-preview-light.png">
-    <img alt="Example practice feedback on a focused change: Hephaestus notes that the change is easy to review and suggests explaining why it matters; the developer asks what to write, and Heph suggests a concise sentence." src="./docs/images/readme/landing-feedback-preview-light.png" width="744">
+    <source media="(max-width: 520px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-hero-mobile-dark.png">
+    <source media="(max-width: 520px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-hero-mobile-light.png">
+    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-hero-dark.png">
+    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/landing-hero-light.png">
+    <img alt="Example showing a focused pull request, feedback about what worked and a possible next step, and a follow-up with Heph." src="./docs/images/readme/landing-hero-light.png" width="1224">
   </picture>
-  <p><sub>One example of practice feedback and a follow-up with Heph.</sub></p>
+  <p><sub>An example of feedback connected to project work and explored with Heph.</sub></p>
 </div>
 
-Hephaestus is built for software engineering courses, open-source projects, and teams where mentors and maintainers cannot review every contribution themselves.
+Hephaestus is built for software engineering courses, open-source projects, and engineering teams with shared working practices.
 
 ## What Hephaestus does
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Hephaestus is built for software engineering courses, open-source projects, and
 
 ## How feedback works
 
-The loop starts with a developer's project work and the context around it. Hephaestus reviews the work against the engineering practices configured for the workspace, turns what it finds into feedback, and delivers that feedback where it can help.
+Hephaestus reviews project work against the engineering practices chosen for a workspace. Feedback points back to the work, and developers can ask Heph about the reasoning.
 
 <picture>
   <source media="(max-width: 640px) and (prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/feedback-loop-mobile-dark.png">
@@ -55,24 +55,19 @@ The loop starts with a developer's project work and the context around it. Hepha
   <source media="(max-width: 1024px) and (prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/feedback-loop-tablet-light.png">
   <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/feedback-loop-dark.png">
   <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="./docs/images/readme/feedback-loop-light.png">
-  <img alt="Hephaestus feedback loop: project work and context are reviewed against workspace practices; practice feedback explains what worked, what could improve, and what to try next; it can appear alongside the work or in conversation with Heph; the developer decides whether to use, question, or skip it before their next piece of project work." src="./docs/images/readme/feedback-loop-light.png" width="1224">
+  <img alt="Three steps in Hephaestus: open a contribution, review feedback connected to the work, and ask Heph a follow-up." src="./docs/images/readme/feedback-loop-light.png" width="1224">
 </picture>
 
-Developers decide what helps: use the feedback, question it, or skip it. The cycle continues with their next piece of project work. Hephaestus supports mentors, teachers, and maintainers by covering routine feedback. It does not replace their judgement or the relationships they build with developers.
+Developers decide how to use the feedback and what to carry into their next contribution.
 
-## Project status
+## Project origins
+
+Hephaestus is an [MIT-licensed](./LICENSE) open-source project developed by [Applied Education Technologies](https://aet.cit.tum.de/) at the [Technical University of Munich](https://www.tum.de/en/).
+
+## Before upgrading
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
-> **Hephaestus is still pre-1.0.** Until 1.0, a minor release can change configuration or APIs in ways that require action. If you self-host it, use the [latest release](https://github.com/ls1intum/Hephaestus/releases/latest), read its release notes and the [migration guide](./MIGRATION.md), and test upgrades in staging.
->
-> We are aiming for a stable **v1.0.0 in mid-September 2026**. Here, stable means [predictable rules](./docs/admin/compatibility-policy.mdx) for upgrades, configuration, Docker Compose, and the REST API — not that development stops.
->
-> Parts of this model already ship. For v1.0, the goal is to support them together as a stable product:
->
-> - **Project context:** work in GitHub and GitLab, selected Slack channels, and selected Outline documents.
-> - **Feedback delivery:** alongside work in GitHub or GitLab, in a personal view across projects, and in conversation with Heph in the web app or Slack.
->
-> Release gates take priority over the date. Follow the [v1.0 milestone](https://github.com/ls1intum/Hephaestus/milestone/5) and [release plan](https://github.com/ls1intum/Hephaestus/issues/1377) for current scope and progress.
+> Self-hosted upgrades can require configuration or API changes. Use the [latest release](https://github.com/ls1intum/Hephaestus/releases/latest), review the [compatibility policy](./docs/admin/compatibility-policy.mdx) and [migration guide](./MIGRATION.md), and test upgrades in staging.
 
 ## Get started
 

docs/docusaurus.config.ts

@@ -2,21 +2,15 @@ import {themes as prismThemes} from 'prism-react-renderer';
 import type {Config} from '@docusaurus/types';
 import type * as Preset from '@docusaurus/preset-classic';
 
-// This runs in Node.js - Don't use client-side code here (browser APIs, JSX...)
-
 const envBaseUrl = process.env.DOCUSAURUS_BASE_URL;
 
 const config: Config = {
   title: 'Hephaestus Documentation',
-  tagline: 'Feedback on how you work',
+  tagline: "Learn from the work you're already doing",
   favicon: 'img/favicon.ico',
 
-  // Future flags and performance optimizations
-  // See https://docusaurus.io/docs/api/docusaurus-config#future
   future: {
     v4: true,
-    // Docusaurus Faster: Uses Rspack, SWC, and LightningCSS for 2-4x faster builds
-    // https://docusaurus.io/blog/releases/3.6#docusaurus-faster
     faster: {
       swcJsLoader: true,
       swcJsMinimizer: true,
@@ -39,9 +33,6 @@ const config: Config = {
   onDuplicateRoutes: 'throw',
   trailingSlash: false,
 
-  // Even if you don't use internationalization, you can use this field to set
-  // useful metadata like html lang. For example, if your site is Chinese, you
-  // may want to replace "en" with "zh-Hans".
   i18n: {
     defaultLocale: 'en',
     locales: ['en'],
@@ -71,15 +62,12 @@ const config: Config = {
         theme: {
           customCss: './src/css/custom.css',
         },
-        // Sitemap generation with lastmod for SEO
         sitemap: {
           lastmod: 'datetime',
           changefreq: 'weekly',
           priority: 0.5,
           filename: 'sitemap.xml',
         },
-        // Google Tag Manager can be configured here if needed
-        // gtag: { trackingID: 'G-XXXXXXXXXX' },
       } satisfies Preset.Options,
     ],
   ],
@@ -152,7 +140,7 @@ const config: Config = {
       {
         name: 'description',
         content:
-          'Hephaestus gives developers practice feedback on software project work, plus an AI mentor for talking through feedback and next steps.',
+          'Hephaestus gives developers practice feedback on software project work and lets them discuss it with Heph, its conversational AI mentor.',
       },
       {name: 'keywords', content: 'Hephaestus, AI mentor, code review feedback, software engineering practices, TUM'},
       {name: 'twitter:card', content: 'summary_large_image'},
@@ -161,7 +149,7 @@ const config: Config = {
       {
         name: 'twitter:description',
         content:
-          'Hephaestus gives developers practice feedback on software project work, plus an AI mentor for talking through feedback and next steps.',
+          'Hephaestus gives developers practice feedback on software project work and lets them discuss it with Heph, its conversational AI mentor.',
       },
     ],
     navbar: {
@@ -252,7 +240,7 @@ const config: Config = {
           ],
         },
         {
-          title: 'Community',
+          title: 'Project',
           items: [
             {
               label: 'Applied Education Technologies',
@@ -265,15 +253,14 @@ const config: Config = {
           ],
         },
       ],
-      copyright: `© ${new Date().getFullYear()} Technical University of Munich · Built with ❤️ by the Hephaestus Team at Applied Education Technologies (AET)`,
+      copyright: `Hephaestus is an MIT-licensed open-source project developed by Applied Education Technologies at the Technical University of Munich.`,
     },
     docs: {
       sidebar: {
         hideable: true,
         autoCollapseCategories: true,
       },
     },
-    // Table of contents configuration
     tableOfContents: {
       minHeadingLevel: 2,
       maxHeadingLevel: 4,