wry, many thing

common/rice/default.nix

@@ -13,12 +13,16 @@ let
   theme = kitty-themes.parseTheme ./pal.conf;
 in
 {
+
   options.rice = lib.mkOption {
     description = "ricing related variables";
     default = { };
     type = lib.types.attrsOf lib.types.anything;
   };
+
   config.rice = rec {
+
+    # first, map straight colours
     palette = theme // {
       normal = {
         black = theme.color0;
@@ -51,5 +55,36 @@ in
       hex = toRGBHex palette;
       shortHex = toRGBShortHex palette;
     };
+
+    # then map colours to roles
+    # these are general UI roles — not code-syntax tokens.
+    # editors and shells should use palette directly for syntax.
+    roles = p: {
+      # base
+      fg = p.util.fg;
+      bg = p.util.bg;
+      surface = p.normal.black; # panels, popups, recessed areas
+      overlay = p.bright.black; # menus, statuslines, elevated UI
+      muted = p.normal.white; # secondary text, inactive borders
+
+      # emphasis
+      primary = p.normal.red; # main interactive accent
+      secondary = p.bright.blue; # secondary interactive accent
+      accent = p.bright.magenta; # highlights, matches
+      highlight = p.bright.yellow; # selection, active borders, branding
+
+      # state
+      success = p.bright.green;
+      warning = p.normal.yellow;
+      error = p.bright.red;
+      info = p.bright.cyan;
+      hint = p.bright.blue;
+
+      # diff
+      added = p.normal.green;
+      changed = p.bright.yellow;
+      removed = p.normal.red;
+    };
+
   };
 }