docs: record final Docker fix (prebuilt dist, no npm in image) in engineering log

docs/engineering-log.md

@@ -35,3 +35,4 @@ Informed by MiroFish (CrowdSight engine) + the hermes-brain-and-tools CrowdSight
 - `2026-08-07-build-out.md` — M0–M7 build-out, decisions, verification, current state.
 - `2026-08-07-security-ux.md` — security hardening (path traversal, IDOR, XSS) + UX/UI polish.
 - `2026-08-07-auth-gitea.md` — username login + first-time admin setup + Gitea push.
+- `2026-08-07-docker-final.md` — Docker build fix: ship prebuilt frontend/dist, no npm in image (resolves repeated `vite: not found`).

docs/engineering-log/2026-08-07-docker-final.md

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# 2026-08-07 — Docker build: final fix = ship prebuilt dist, drop npm from image
+
+## Correction to earlier entry
+The first "fix" (remove `NODE_ENV=production`, use `npm ci`) was **never actually persisted** —
+the committed Dockerfile still had `ENV NODE_ENV=production` + `npm install`, and EasyPanel still
+failed with `vite: not found` at the npm build step. (The earlier Dockerfile-change commit turned
+out not to be on the remote.)
+
+## Decision: stop running npm inside the Docker image
+Building the Vue app inside Docker depends on npm + esbuild postinstall, which is the exact source
+of the repeated `vite: not found` failures. To make deployments deterministic, the SPA is now
+**built locally** and its `frontend/dist/` is **committed to the repo** (force-added;
+`.gitignore` updated with `!frontend/dist/`).
+
+## New Dockerfile (apply: commit `c19b23d`)
+Single-stage, no node/npm/vite anywhere in commands:
+- `FROM python:3.11-slim`
+- `COPY frontend/dist/ ./frontend/dist/`  ← prebuilt SPA
+- pip install backend deps
+- `COPY backend/ ./backend/`
+- `CMD ["python", "run.py"]` (Flask serves `frontend/dist`, which is at the path
+  `_register_frontend` resolves → `/app/frontend/dist`)
+
+`.dockerignore` no longer excludes `frontend/dist/`.
+
+## Verification (no local Docker)
+- Dockerfile has zero node/npm/vite in any RUN/COPY/CMD (only comments mention them).
+- `frontend/dist/` (28 files) tracked and pushed on `origin/main`.
+- Backend `_register_frontend` path (`Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent/frontend/dist`)
+  matches the Docker `COPY` target `/app/frontend/dist`.
+- Local server: `GET /` 200 (serves the new tabbed SPA), health ok, `admin`/`1234` login 200.
+
+## Convoying workflow for UI changes
+1. `cd frontend && npm run build`
+2. `git add frontend/dist/ && git commit`
+3. push → EasyPanel redeploys (no npm build step, so no `vite` failure).
+
+## Remaining before live model
+- Real `LLM_API_KEY` (+ provider) in `backend/.env` for analyze/persona/chat.
+- Re-deploy on EasyPanel to confirm the image builds & runs.