Move search results into poster grid

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.45.15 - 2026-06-02
+
+- Moved Search page results out of the sidebar and into a poster-style grid below the selection panel so hits now read like watchlist cards instead of a compact list.
+- Added a dedicated search thumbnail route that reuses AnimeSchedule or AniDB artwork, letting search results show cover images without needing to add the title to the watchlist first.
+
 ## 0.45.14 - 2026-05-26
 
 - Added a full-width `Changelog` button under Config page Runtime info that opens a floating scrollable panel and loads the contents of the project's `CHANGELOG.md`.

README.md

@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 
 Local web UI for a system-wide `ani-cli` install.
 
-Current version: `0.45.14`
+Current version: `0.45.15`
 
 ## What it does
 
-- Search anime in `sub` or `dub`
+- Search anime in `sub` or `dub`, with poster-style results shown below the selection panel
 - Queue downloads with folder, quality, media type, season, and episode controls
 - Track shows in a watchlist with `Watching`, `Planned`, `Finished`, and `Dropped` categories
 - Refresh watchlist episode counts manually or on a schedule
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Current version: `0.45.14`
 
 ## Pages
 
-- `/`: Search and queue downloads
+- `/`: Search and queue downloads, with poster-card search results below the selection box
 - `/queue`: Monitor jobs, inspect logs, retry failed jobs, remove finished jobs
 - `/watchlist`: Track shows, refresh them, download all available episodes, manage auto-download settings
 - `/config`: Save defaults, schedule refreshes, configure Jellyfin and Discord, view runtime info and the changelog

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.45.14
+0.45.15

app.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import base64
+import hashlib
 import gzip
 import json
 import mimetypes
@@ -146,6 +147,12 @@ def cover_route(show_id):
     return f"/api/watchlist/thumb/{quote(str(show_id).strip(), safe='')}"
 
 
+def search_thumbnail_cache_key(title):
+    normalized = normalize_title_key(title) or str(title or "").strip().casefold()
+    digest = hashlib.sha1(normalized.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()[:12]
+    return f"search-{digest}"
+
+
 def anime_source_url(show_id, title):
     normalized_show_id = str(show_id or "").strip()
     if not normalized_show_id:
@@ -774,6 +781,32 @@ def fetch_anidb_cover_by_aid(aid, fallback_title=""):
     }
 
 
+def resolve_search_thumbnail(title):
+    clean_title = str(title or "").strip()
+    if not clean_title:
+        raise ValueError("Missing title for thumbnail lookup")
+    cache_key = search_thumbnail_cache_key(clean_title)
+    THUMBNAIL_ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    for existing in THUMBNAIL_ROOT.glob(f"{cache_key}.*"):
+        if existing.is_file():
+            return existing
+    cover = None
+    last_error = None
+    for resolver in (fetch_animeschedule_cover, fetch_anidb_cover):
+        try:
+            cover = resolver(clean_title)
+            break
+        except Exception as exc:
+            last_error = exc
+    if not cover:
+        raise RuntimeError("Could not find a thumbnail for this search result") from last_error
+    cached_name = cache_thumbnail_image(cache_key, cover["url"])
+    path = thumbnail_file_path(cached_name)
+    if not path or not path.exists():
+        raise RuntimeError("Could not cache the search thumbnail")
+    return path
+
+
 def cache_thumbnail_image(show_id, image_url):
     THUMBNAIL_ROOT.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     debug_log("thumbnail.download.request", show_id=show_id, image_url=image_url)
@@ -2816,6 +2849,7 @@ Handler = build_handler_class(
         runtime_state=runtime_state,
         save_runtime_config=save_runtime_config,
         search_anime=search_anime,
+        resolve_search_thumbnail=resolve_search_thumbnail,
         test_discord_webhook_config=test_discord_webhook_config,
         thumbnail_file_path=thumbnail_file_path,
         update_all_watchlist_statuses=update_all_watchlist_statuses,

http_handler.py

@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class HandlerContext:
     runtime_state: object
     save_runtime_config: object
     search_anime: object
+    resolve_search_thumbnail: object
     test_discord_webhook_config: object
     thumbnail_file_path: object
     update_all_watchlist_statuses: object
@@ -558,6 +559,14 @@ class Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                 if mode not in MODE_CHOICES:
                     raise ValueError("Mode must be sub or dub")
                 self.json({"results": Handler._context(self).search_anime(query, mode)})
+            elif parsed.path == "/api/search/thumb":
+                Handler._runtime(self)
+                params = parse_qs(parsed.query)
+                title = (params.get("title") or [""])[0].strip()
+                if not title:
+                    raise ValueError("Title is required")
+                path = Handler._context(self).resolve_search_thumbnail(title)
+                self.file(path)
             elif parsed.path.startswith("/api/anime/") and parsed.path.endswith("/episodes"):
                 runtime = Handler._runtime(self)
                 config = runtime["config"]

search_page.py

@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
     }
     main {
       display: grid;
-      grid-template-rows: auto auto 1fr;
       gap: 20px;
       min-width: 0;
+      align-content: start;
     }
     h1, h2, h3, p { margin: 0; }
     h1 {
@@ -232,47 +232,119 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
       color: var(--text);
       font-weight: 700;
     }
-    .results {
+    .settings, .episodes-panel, .results-panel, .deps {
-      display: grid;
-      gap: 10px;
-      min-width: 0;
-    }
-    .result, .settings, .episodes-panel, .deps {
       border: 1px solid var(--line);
       border-radius: 22px;
       background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(29, 22, 47, 0.88), rgba(17, 13, 29, 0.94));
       box-shadow: var(--shadow);
       backdrop-filter: blur(18px);
     }
-    .result {
+    .settings, .episodes-panel, .results-panel, .deps {
+      padding: 18px;
+      display: grid;
+      gap: 14px;
+    }
+    .results-panel {
+      min-width: 0;
+    }
+    .results-grid {
+      display: grid;
+      grid-template-columns: repeat(5, minmax(0, 1fr));
+      gap: 12px;
+      min-width: 0;
+    }
+    .result-card {
+      border: 1px solid var(--line);
+      border-radius: 20px;
+      background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(32, 24, 54, 0.9) 0%, rgba(17, 13, 29, 0.96) 100%);
       padding: 14px;
       display: grid;
-      gap: 6px;
+      gap: 12px;
+      min-height: auto;
+      min-width: 0;
+      box-shadow: 0 18px 38px rgba(5, 2, 15, 0.32);
       text-align: left;
-      transition: transform 0.16s ease, border-color 0.16s ease, background 0.16s ease;
+      transition: transform 0.18s ease, border-color 0.18s ease, background 0.18s ease;
     }
-    .result:hover {
+    .result-card:hover {
       border-color: var(--line-strong);
-      transform: translateY(-1px);
+      background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(38, 28, 64, 0.94) 0%, rgba(19, 14, 32, 0.98) 100%);
+      transform: translateY(-2px);
     }
-    .result.active {
+    .result-card.active {
-      border-color: rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.34);
+      border-color: rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.58);
+      box-shadow:
+        inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.16),
+        0 18px 38px rgba(5, 2, 15, 0.32);
       background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(48, 36, 80, 0.96), rgba(20, 15, 35, 0.96));
     }
+    .cover-tile {
+      aspect-ratio: 3 / 4;
+      position: relative;
+      border-radius: 16px;
+      overflow: hidden;
+      border: 1px solid rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.16);
+      background:
+        radial-gradient(circle at top, rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.28), transparent 44%),
+        linear-gradient(180deg, #221734 0%, #0c0915 100%);
+    }
+    .cover-tile img {
+      width: 100%;
+      height: 100%;
+      object-fit: cover;
+      display: block;
+      opacity: 0;
+      transition: opacity 0.16s ease;
+    }
+    .cover-tile.has-image img {
+      opacity: 1;
+    }
+    .cover-fallback {
+      position: absolute;
+      inset: 0;
+      display: grid;
+      place-items: center;
+      color: #d8e5ef;
+      font-size: 28px;
+      font-weight: 800;
+      letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+      text-transform: uppercase;
+      background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(157, 123, 255, 0.24), rgba(9, 7, 15, 0.18));
+    }
+    .cover-tile.has-image .cover-fallback {
+      display: none;
+    }
     .result-title {
+      text-align: left;
       color: var(--text);
       font-weight: 700;
       overflow-wrap: anywhere;
+      font-size: 14px;
+      line-height: 1.35;
+      min-height: 2.7em;
+    }
+    .result-meta {
+      display: flex;
+      gap: 6px;
+      flex-wrap: wrap;
+      align-items: center;
+    }
+    .result-pill {
+      display: inline-flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      gap: 6px;
+      border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08);
+      border-radius: 999px;
+      padding: 6px 10px;
+      color: var(--muted);
+      background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
+      font-size: 12px;
+      white-space: nowrap;
     }
     .muted {
       color: var(--muted);
       font-size: 13px;
     }
-    .settings, .episodes-panel, .deps {
-      padding: 18px;
-      display: grid;
-      gap: 14px;
-    }
     .chips {
       display: flex;
       flex-wrap: wrap;
@@ -304,15 +376,28 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
       color: #ddd0ff;
       font-size: 13px;
     }
+    .results-panel .toolbar {
+      align-items: end;
+    }
     .statline {
       display: flex;
       flex-wrap: wrap;
       gap: 8px;
     }
+    @media (max-width: 1400px) {
+      .results-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr)); }
+    }
+    @media (max-width: 1160px) {
+      .results-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr)); }
+    }
     @media (max-width: 900px) {
       .app { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
       aside { border-right: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line); }
       .controls, .row, .toolbar { align-items: stretch; flex-direction: column; }
+      .results-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); }
+    }
+    @media (max-width: 640px) {
+      .results-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
     }
   </style>
 </head>
@@ -346,7 +431,6 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
         <button class="primary" id="searchBtn" type="button">Search</button>
       </div>
       <div class="notice" id="notice"></div>
-      <div class="results" id="results"></div>
     </aside>
 
     <main>
@@ -400,6 +484,15 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
           </div>
         </div>
       </section>
+      <section class="results-panel">
+        <div class="toolbar">
+          <div>
+            <h2>Select results</h2>
+            <p class="muted" id="resultsMeta">Poster cards appear here after a search.</p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div class="results-grid" id="results"></div>
+      </section>
     </main>
   </div>
 
@@ -425,31 +518,70 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
       $("search-mode").value = mode;
     }
 
+    function coverInitials(title) {
+      const parts = String(title || "")
+        .trim()
+        .split(/\s+/)
+        .filter(Boolean)
+        .slice(0, 2);
+      if (!parts.length) return "AN";
+      return parts.map((part) => part[0]).join("").slice(0, 2);
+    }
+
+    function resultThumbnailUrl(title) {
+      return `/api/search/thumb?title=${encodeURIComponent(title || "")}`;
+    }
+
     function renderResults(results) {
       const el = $("results");
       el.innerHTML = "";
       if (!results.length) {
         el.innerHTML = '<div class="empty">No matching anime found.</div>';
+        $("resultsMeta").textContent = "No matching anime found.";
         return;
       }
       for (const item of results) {
         const btn = document.createElement("button");
         btn.type = "button";
-        btn.className = "result";
+        btn.className = "result-card";
         btn.innerHTML = `
-          <span class="result-title"></span>
+          <div class="cover-tile">
-          <span class="muted"></span>
+            <img alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async">
+            <span class="cover-fallback"></span>
+          </div>
+          <div class="result-title"></div>
+          <div class="result-meta">
+            <span class="result-pill"></span>
+            <span class="result-pill"></span>
+          </div>
         `;
         btn.querySelector(".result-title").textContent = item.title;
-        btn.querySelector(".muted").textContent = `${item.episodes} episodes · result ${item.index}`;
+        btn.querySelector(".cover-fallback").textContent = coverInitials(item.title);
+        const pills = btn.querySelectorAll(".result-pill");
+        pills[0].textContent = `${item.episodes} episodes`;
+        pills[1].textContent = `Result ${item.index}`;
+        const img = btn.querySelector("img");
+        const tile = btn.querySelector(".cover-tile");
+        img.alt = item.title;
+        img.src = resultThumbnailUrl(item.title);
+        if (img.complete && img.naturalWidth > 0) {
+          tile.classList.add("has-image");
+        }
+        img.addEventListener("load", () => {
+          if (img.naturalWidth > 0) tile.classList.add("has-image");
+        });
+        img.addEventListener("error", () => {
+          tile.classList.remove("has-image");
+        });
         btn.addEventListener("click", () => selectResult(item, btn));
         el.appendChild(btn);
       }
+      $("resultsMeta").textContent = `${results.length} matching anime`;
     }
 
     async function selectResult(item, button) {
       const requestId = ++state.episodeRequestId;
-      document.querySelectorAll(".result").forEach((node) => node.classList.remove("active"));
+      document.querySelectorAll(".result-card").forEach((node) => node.classList.remove("active"));
       button.classList.add("active");
       state.selected = item;
       state.episodes = [];
@@ -495,6 +627,7 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
       if (!query) return setNotice("Type a title first.");
       setMode($("search-mode").value);
       setNotice("Searching...");
+      $("resultsMeta").textContent = "Searching...";
       state.selected = null;
       state.episodeRequestId += 1;
       $("addBtn").disabled = true;
@@ -508,6 +641,7 @@ INDEX_HTML = r"""<!doctype html>
       } catch (error) {
         if (requestId !== state.searchRequestId) return;
         setNotice(error.message);
+        $("resultsMeta").textContent = "Search failed.";
       }
     }
 

test_app.py

@@ -292,6 +292,21 @@ class NetworkGuardTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(handler.json_status, HTTPStatus.OK)
         remove_from_watchlist.assert_called_once_with("show-1")
 
+    def test_search_thumbnail_route_serves_cached_file(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+            image_path = Path(temp_dir) / "search-thumb.jpg"
+            image_path.write_bytes(b"fake-image-data")
+            handler = DummyHandler("/api/search/thumb?title=Demo")
+            handler.handler_context = mock.Mock(
+                ensure_runtime=mock.Mock(),
+                runtime_state=mock.Mock(return_value={"config": {}}),
+                resolve_search_thumbnail=mock.Mock(return_value=image_path),
+            )
+
+            APP.Handler.do_GET(handler)
+
+            self.assertEqual(handler.file_path, image_path)
+
     def test_loopback_proxy_with_forwarded_remote_ip_requires_credentials(self):
         handler = DummyHandler("/api/config")
         handler.client_address = ("127.0.0.1", 8421)
@@ -3217,6 +3232,12 @@ class TemplateHelperTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('query: state.selected.title,', APP.INDEX_HTML)
         self.assertNotIn('index: state.selected.index,', APP.INDEX_HTML)
 
+    def test_search_page_renders_poster_results_under_selection_panel(self):
+        self.assertIn('class="results-grid" id="results"', APP.INDEX_HTML)
+        self.assertIn("Select results", APP.INDEX_HTML)
+        self.assertIn("resultThumbnailUrl(title)", APP.INDEX_HTML)
+        self.assertIn('/api/search/thumb?title=', APP.INDEX_HTML)
+
     def test_pages_share_serial_polling_helper(self):
         self.assertIn("function startSerialPoll(callback, intervalMs)", APP.QUEUE_HTML)
         self.assertIn("function startSerialPoll(callback, intervalMs)", APP.WATCHLIST_HTML)