The first substantial implementation step was not a polished canvas. It was a document that could survive one.
The storage foundation gave each deck, tile, layer, and directional connection a stable identity, then stored that structure inside a versioned local .gistboard package. The Deck Library became persistent. Titles, tile positions, layer metadata, and package references could be saved, reopened, and validated without an account or remote service.
That foundation mattered when PencilKit arrived. Drawing bytes did not have to be pushed into one large JSON document or attached to a layer name that a user might change. Each layer received its own package-owned drawing payload, addressed by stable identity. Switching layers or tiles saved the current drawing before loading the next one. Other visible layers could be composed as a read-only reference beneath the active drawing surface.
The result established an architectural theme that continues through the project: user-facing actions can feel immediate, while the underlying package keeps structure and payloads separate. Physical Apple Pencil behavior, tool-palette ergonomics, large drawings, and device performance remained manual tests rather than proven outcomes.
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