diff --git a/.planning/phases/09-ci-pipeline/09-CONTEXT.md b/.planning/phases/09-ci-pipeline/09-CONTEXT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1b7252
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.planning/phases/09-ci-pipeline/09-CONTEXT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Phase 9: CI Pipeline Hardening - Context
+
+**Gathered:** 2026-02-03
+**Status:** Ready for planning
+
+
+## Phase Boundary
+
+Tests run before build — type errors and test failures block deployment. This includes unit tests via Vitest, type checking via svelte-check, and E2E tests via Playwright. The pipeline must fail fast before Docker build when tests fail.
+
+
+
+
+## Implementation Decisions
+
+### Test scope
+- Full coverage: components, utilities, API routes — everything testable
+- 80% coverage threshold required to pass the build
+- Full backfill: write tests for all existing code until 80% coverage reached
+- Use Playwright component tests for DOM interactions (real browser, not jsdom)
+
+### Failure behavior
+- Full test output including stack traces shown in pipeline
+- Slack webhook notification on pipeline failure
+- Pipeline runs on PRs and main branch (catch issues before merge)
+
+### E2E strategy
+- Full user journey coverage: create, edit, search, organize, delete workflows
+- Test both desktop and mobile viewports
+- Capture screenshots on test failure (no video)
+- Seeded fixtures: pre-populate database with known test data before each run
+
+### Claude's Discretion
+- Exact Vitest configuration and test file organization
+- Specific Playwright configuration settings
+- Test fixture data structure
+- Local development workflow (pre-commit hooks, watch mode)
+
+
+
+
+## Specific Ideas
+
+No specific requirements — open to standard approaches following Svelte/Vitest/Playwright best practices.
+
+
+
+
+## Deferred Ideas
+
+None — discussion stayed within phase scope
+
+
+
+---
+
+*Phase: 09-ci-pipeline*
+*Context gathered: 2026-02-03*