Parts List: Full Seeding, Purchase Research, and Filters

Date: 2026-03-28 Type: Build Log

Context

The parts list table existed but only had a single test entry. We needed to populate it with the full 24-item shopping list from the CSV, research purchase links for every item, and add filtering/search to the parts page so it's usable at scale.

What Changed

1. Seeded all 24 parts from CSV

Created convex/seed.ts with a seedParts mutation that maps each CSV row into the parts table:

• Item -> name, Recommended Model -> description, Category -> category, Qty -> quantity, Notes -> notes
• All items default to status "needed"
• Seed is idempotent (skips items that already exist by name)

2. Researched purchase links for all items

Every part was researched for an in-stock Amazon link (preferred) or alternative retailer. Key findings:

• Raspberry Pi 4 4GB: Official Amazon listings OOS. MSRP increased from $55 to ~$70 due to LPDDR4 shortage. Best buy at PiShop.us or Adafruit. Pi 5 is overkill for this project (different camera cable, HAT quirks, $85).
• Tick Drag Cloth: Original link was lightweight quilting flannel (~3-4 oz). Research doc (docs/articles/drag-cloth-science.md) specifies heavy flannel at 5-6 oz/sq yd per Kanten et al. (2020). Replaced with 6.6 oz double-brushed heavyweight flannel.
• Trailing Edge Chain: Added new part — #14 zinc-plated jack chain for weighting the drag cloth hem (227-340g per protocol).
• ~13 items had dead/OOS Amazon links on first pass and were replaced with verified alternatives.

3. Part detail view page

Created /parts/[id] route (src/app/parts/[id]/page.tsx) showing full part details:

• Name, category, clickable status cycling, description/model, quantity, price, link, notes, image
• Edit dialog and delete with redirect back to list
• Back button navigation

Part names in the list table are now clickable links to the detail page.

4. Search and filters on parts list

Added to src/app/parts/page.tsx:

• Text search (searches name, description, notes, category)
• Status dropdown filter (needed/ordered/shipped/received)
• Category dropdown filter (auto-populated from data)
• Clear button when any filter is active
• Filtered count and cost shown in stats bar

Files Modified

• convex/seed.ts - New file; bulk seed mutation for shopping list CSV data
• src/app/parts/[id]/page.tsx - New file; part detail view with edit/delete
• src/app/parts/page.tsx - Added search input, status filter, category filter, clear button; made part names link to detail page; table now renders filtered results
• All 25 parts in Convex DB updated with links, prices, and research notes

Key Takeaways

• Amazon link rot is significant — over half the links found in initial research were dead or OOS within the same session. Always verify stock before saving.
• The Pi 4 supply situation is still rough in March 2026. Authorized resellers (PiShop.us, Adafruit) are the way to go over Amazon scalpers.
• The drag cloth material spec matters — lightweight flannel won't catch ticks. The 6.6 oz double-brushed is what the entomology literature actually calls for.
• rpilocator.com is the best tool for tracking Pi stock in real-time.