feat(tech-tree): add tech-categories collection, permissions, and treePosition

Add the tech-categories collection that gives technologies a home off the
flat uncategorized pool, plus the schema support the admin editor needs.

- New `tech-categories` collection (unique name, timeline `position`,
  optional hex `color`) with a `Technologies.category` FK (ON DELETE set
  null) so deleting a category just unfiles its technologies.
- Add `Technologies.treePosition {x,y}` so the canvas can pin a node's
  manual position; clearing it uses `{x:null,y:null}`.
- Register the two hand-written migrations (tech-categories + treePosition)
  and regenerate payload-types, the drizzle schema, and the admin importMap.
- Register the `tech-categories:*` permission group and grant Intelligence
  division members admin-panel access, mirroring technologies.

src/app/(payload)/admin/importMap.js

@@ -36,12 +36,14 @@ import { default as default_7fa52484aec46e988e9cfb5e86c0c759 } from '@/component
 import { SelectField as SelectField_4490b89d4413c1ffaecdacfe72efaf73 } from '@ai-stack/payloadcms/client'
 import { PromptEditorField as PromptEditorField_4490b89d4413c1ffaecdacfe72efaf73 } from '@ai-stack/payloadcms/client'
 import { default as default_b16af798585cda7cfed92f7b1dd0c707 } from '@/components/admin/shims/ShimContentField'
+import { default as default_a6bf792526e9f56202161f190c57e1c6 } from '@/components/admin/tech-tree/TechTreeNav'
 import { default as default_2f6c866ab4d4d51b3789f090b84b85c7 } from '@/components/static/VersionOverlay'
 import { default as default_508743824696caae2894ebf34c2e68bb } from '@/components/graphics/AppIcon'
 import { default as default_e752fee78378294ff03f91dba0a75a04 } from '@/components/graphics/AppLogo'
 import { default as default_05548cb43495e62d80b80ec4d9f0f7e9 } from '@/components/static/BeforeDashboardText'
 import { default as default_459d6b6f5ead73c736013da63a5ace3f } from '@/components/static/GoToFrontendLink'
 import { InstructionsProvider as InstructionsProvider_4490b89d4413c1ffaecdacfe72efaf73 } from '@ai-stack/payloadcms/client'
+import { default as default_2b34d0df0cf91f4442ca2cd62ae7cd94 } from '@/components/admin/tech-tree/TechTreeView'
 import { CollectionCards as CollectionCards_f9c02e79a4aed9a3924487c0cd4cafb1 } from '@payloadcms/next/rsc'
 
 /** @type import('payload').ImportMap */
@@ -84,11 +86,13 @@ export const importMap = {
   "@ai-stack/payloadcms/client#SelectField": SelectField_4490b89d4413c1ffaecdacfe72efaf73,
   "@ai-stack/payloadcms/client#PromptEditorField": PromptEditorField_4490b89d4413c1ffaecdacfe72efaf73,
   "@/components/admin/shims/ShimContentField#default": default_b16af798585cda7cfed92f7b1dd0c707,
+  "@/components/admin/tech-tree/TechTreeNav#default": default_a6bf792526e9f56202161f190c57e1c6,
   "@/components/static/VersionOverlay#default": default_2f6c866ab4d4d51b3789f090b84b85c7,
   "@/components/graphics/AppIcon#default": default_508743824696caae2894ebf34c2e68bb,
   "@/components/graphics/AppLogo#default": default_e752fee78378294ff03f91dba0a75a04,
   "@/components/static/BeforeDashboardText#default": default_05548cb43495e62d80b80ec4d9f0f7e9,
   "@/components/static/GoToFrontendLink#default": default_459d6b6f5ead73c736013da63a5ace3f,
   "@ai-stack/payloadcms/client#InstructionsProvider": InstructionsProvider_4490b89d4413c1ffaecdacfe72efaf73,
+  "@/components/admin/tech-tree/TechTreeView#default": default_2b34d0df0cf91f4442ca2cd62ae7cd94,
   "@payloadcms/next/rsc#CollectionCards": CollectionCards_f9c02e79a4aed9a3924487c0cd4cafb1
 }

src/collections/intelligence/TechCategories.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { CollectionConfig } from "payload";
+
+import { requireIntelligencePermission } from "@/utils/access-control/divisionAccess";
+
+/** Validates an optional hex color like the map feature styling (`src/lib/map/style.ts`). */
+function validateHexColor(value: unknown): true | string {
+  if (!value) return true;
+  const str = String(value).trim();
+  if (!str) return true;
+  return /^#(?:[0-9a-fA-F]{3}|[0-9a-fA-F]{6})$/.test(str)
+    ? true
+    : "Enter a hex color like #22d3ee, or leave empty for the default.";
+}
+
+export const TechCategories: CollectionConfig = {
+  slug: "tech-categories",
+  admin: {
+    group: "Intelligence",
+    useAsTitle: "name",
+  },
+  access: {
+    create: requireIntelligencePermission("tech-categories:create"),
+    update: requireIntelligencePermission("tech-categories:update"),
+    delete: requireIntelligencePermission("tech-categories:delete"),
+    read: requireIntelligencePermission("tech-categories:read"),
+  },
+  fields: [
+    {
+      name: "name",
+      type: "text",
+      required: true,
+      unique: true,
+      admin: {
+        description:
+          "Category label shown as a column band on the Tech Tree (e.g. Tier 1, Tier 2).",
+      },
+    },
+    {
+      name: "position",
+      type: "number",
+      required: true,
+      min: 1,
+      defaultValue: 1,
+      admin: {
+        description:
+          "Timeline position: lower numbers sit further left on the Tech Tree. Categories with the same position are ordered alphabetically.",
+      },
+    },
+    {
+      name: "color",
+      type: "text",
+      validate: validateHexColor,
+      admin: {
+        description: "Optional hex accent color for the band on the Tech Tree (e.g. #22d3ee).",
+      },
+    },
+  ],
+};

src/collections/intelligence/Technologies.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,34 @@ export const Technologies: CollectionConfig = {
       type: "text",
       required: true,
     },
+    {
+      name: "category",
+      type: "relationship",
+      relationTo: "tech-categories",
+      admin: {
+        description:
+          "Tech Tree column this technology belongs to. Uncategorized technologies are auto-placed on the Tech Tree by prerequisite depth.",
+      },
+    },
+    {
+      name: "treePosition",
+      type: "group",
+      label: "Tech Tree Position",
+      admin: {
+        description:
+          "Manual position on the Tech Tree canvas (set by dragging a node). Leave empty to use the automatic layout.",
+      },
+      fields: [
+        {
+          name: "x",
+          type: "number",
+        },
+        {
+          name: "y",
+          type: "number",
+        },
+      ],
+    },
     {
       name: "approvalStatus",
       type: "select",

src/migrations/20261001_000320_add_tech_tree_position.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { MigrateUpArgs, MigrateDownArgs, sql } from '@payloadcms/db-postgres'
+
+export async function up({ db, payload, req }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
+  await db.execute(sql`
+   ALTER TABLE "technologies" ADD COLUMN "tree_position_x" numeric;
+  ALTER TABLE "technologies" ADD COLUMN "tree_position_y" numeric;`)
+}
+
+export async function down({ db, payload, req }: MigrateDownArgs): Promise<void> {
+  await db.execute(sql`
+   ALTER TABLE "technologies" DROP COLUMN "tree_position_x";
+  ALTER TABLE "technologies" DROP COLUMN "tree_position_y";`)
+}

src/migrations/index.ts

@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ import * as migration_20260926_030859_add_mission_role_description from './20260
 import * as migration_20260926_044319_add_mission_role_description_richtext from './20260926_044319_add_mission_role_description_richtext';
 import * as migration_20260928_021138_change_ai_model from './20260928_021138_change_ai_model';
 import * as migration_20260930_162200_add_documentation_wiki_category from './20260930_162200_add_documentation_wiki_category';
+import * as migration_20260930_230747_add_tech_categories from './20260930_230747_add_tech_categories';
+import * as migration_20261001_000320_add_tech_tree_position from './20261001_000320_add_tech_tree_position';
 
 export const migrations = [
   {
@@ -575,11 +577,21 @@ export const migrations = [
   {
     up: migration_20260928_021138_change_ai_model.up,
     down: migration_20260928_021138_change_ai_model.down,
-    name: '20260928_021138_change_ai_model'
+    name: '20260928_021138_change_ai_model',
   },
   {
     up: migration_20260930_162200_add_documentation_wiki_category.up,
     down: migration_20260930_162200_add_documentation_wiki_category.down,
-    name: '20260930_162200_add_documentation_wiki_category'
+    name: '20260930_162200_add_documentation_wiki_category',
+  },
+  {
+    up: migration_20260930_230747_add_tech_categories.up,
+    down: migration_20260930_230747_add_tech_categories.down,
+    name: '20260930_230747_add_tech_categories',
+  },
+  {
+    up: migration_20261001_000320_add_tech_tree_position.up,
+    down: migration_20261001_000320_add_tech_tree_position.down,
+    name: '20261001_000320_add_tech_tree_position'
   },
 ];

src/payload-generated-schema.ts

@@ -283,6 +283,11 @@ export const enum_roles_permissions = pgEnum("enum_roles_permissions", [
   "technologies:update",
   "technologies:delete",
   "admin:technologies:manage",
+  "tech-categories:create",
+  "tech-categories:read",
+  "tech-categories:update",
+  "tech-categories:delete",
+  "admin:tech-categories:manage",
   "assets:create",
   "assets:read",
   "assets:update",
@@ -3317,6 +3322,11 @@ export const technologies = pgTable(
   {
     id: serial("id").primaryKey(),
     name: varchar("name").notNull(),
+    category: integer("category_id").references(() => tech_categories.id, {
+      onDelete: "set null",
+    }),
+    treePosition_x: numeric("tree_position_x", { mode: "number" }),
+    treePosition_y: numeric("tree_position_y", { mode: "number" }),
     approvalStatus: enum_technologies_approval_status("approval_status")
       .notNull()
       .default("in_progress"),
@@ -3339,6 +3349,7 @@ export const technologies = pgTable(
       .notNull(),
   },
   (columns) => [
+    index("technologies_category_idx").on(columns.category),
     index("technologies_updated_at_idx").on(columns.updatedAt),
     index("technologies_created_at_idx").on(columns.createdAt),
   ],
@@ -3371,6 +3382,27 @@ export const technologies_rels = pgTable(
   ],
 );
 
+export const tech_categories = pgTable(
+  "tech_categories",
+  {
+    id: serial("id").primaryKey(),
+    name: varchar("name").notNull(),
+    position: numeric("position", { mode: "number" }).notNull().default(1),
+    color: varchar("color"),
+    updatedAt: timestamp("updated_at", { mode: "string", withTimezone: true, precision: 3 })
+      .defaultNow()
+      .notNull(),
+    createdAt: timestamp("created_at", { mode: "string", withTimezone: true, precision: 3 })
+      .defaultNow()
+      .notNull(),
+  },
+  (columns) => [
+    uniqueIndex("tech_categories_name_idx").on(columns.name),
+    index("tech_categories_updated_at_idx").on(columns.updatedAt),
+    index("tech_categories_created_at_idx").on(columns.createdAt),
+  ],
+);
+
 export const assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types = pgTable(
   "assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types",
   {
@@ -6856,6 +6888,10 @@ export const payload_mcp_api_keys = pgTable(
     technologies_create: boolean("technologies_create").default(false),
     technologies_update: boolean("technologies_update").default(false),
     technologies_delete: boolean("technologies_delete").default(false),
+    techCategories_find: boolean("tech_categories_find").default(false),
+    techCategories_create: boolean("tech_categories_create").default(false),
+    techCategories_update: boolean("tech_categories_update").default(false),
+    techCategories_delete: boolean("tech_categories_delete").default(false),
     assets_find: boolean("assets_find").default(false),
     assets_create: boolean("assets_create").default(false),
     assets_update: boolean("assets_update").default(false),
@@ -7128,6 +7164,7 @@ export const payload_locked_documents_rels = pgTable(
     campaignsID: integer("campaigns_id"),
     factionsID: integer("factions_id"),
     technologiesID: integer("technologies_id"),
+    "tech-categoriesID": integer("tech_categories_id"),
     assetsID: integer("assets_id"),
     resourcesID: integer("resources_id"),
     vehiclesID: integer("vehicles_id"),
@@ -7226,6 +7263,7 @@ export const payload_locked_documents_rels = pgTable(
     index("payload_locked_documents_rels_campaigns_id_idx").on(columns.campaignsID),
     index("payload_locked_documents_rels_factions_id_idx").on(columns.factionsID),
     index("payload_locked_documents_rels_technologies_id_idx").on(columns.technologiesID),
+    index("payload_locked_documents_rels_tech_categories_id_idx").on(columns["tech-categoriesID"]),
     index("payload_locked_documents_rels_assets_id_idx").on(columns.assetsID),
     index("payload_locked_documents_rels_resources_id_idx").on(columns.resourcesID),
     index("payload_locked_documents_rels_vehicles_id_idx").on(columns.vehiclesID),
@@ -7454,6 +7492,11 @@ export const payload_locked_documents_rels = pgTable(
       foreignColumns: [technologies.id],
       name: "payload_locked_documents_rels_technologies_fk",
     }).onDelete("cascade"),
+    foreignKey({
+      columns: [columns["tech-categoriesID"]],
+      foreignColumns: [tech_categories.id],
+      name: "payload_locked_documents_rels_tech_categories_fk",
+    }).onDelete("cascade"),
     foreignKey({
       columns: [columns["assetsID"]],
       foreignColumns: [assets.id],
@@ -8870,7 +8913,12 @@ export const relations_technologies_rels = relations(technologies_rels, ({ one }
     relationName: "technologies",
   }),
 }));
-export const relations_technologies = relations(technologies, ({ many }) => ({
+export const relations_technologies = relations(technologies, ({ one, many }) => ({
+  category: one(tech_categories, {
+    fields: [technologies.category],
+    references: [tech_categories.id],
+    relationName: "category",
+  }),
   requirements_prerequisiteTechnologies: many(technologies_requirements_prerequisite_technologies, {
     relationName: "requirements_prerequisiteTechnologies",
   }),
@@ -8881,6 +8929,7 @@ export const relations_technologies = relations(technologies, ({ many }) => ({
     relationName: "_rels",
   }),
 }));
+export const relations_tech_categories = relations(tech_categories, () => ({}));
 export const relations_assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types = relations(
   assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types,
   ({ one }) => ({
@@ -10516,6 +10565,11 @@ export const relations_payload_locked_documents_rels = relations(
       references: [technologies.id],
       relationName: "technologies",
     }),
+    "tech-categoriesID": one(tech_categories, {
+      fields: [payload_locked_documents_rels["tech-categoriesID"]],
+      references: [tech_categories.id],
+      relationName: "tech-categories",
+    }),
     assetsID: one(assets, {
       fields: [payload_locked_documents_rels.assetsID],
       references: [assets.id],
@@ -11075,6 +11129,7 @@ type DatabaseSchema = {
   technologies_research_costs_resources: typeof technologies_research_costs_resources;
   technologies: typeof technologies;
   technologies_rels: typeof technologies_rels;
+  tech_categories: typeof tech_categories;
   assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types: typeof assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types;
   assets_crafting_crafting_data_inputs: typeof assets_crafting_crafting_data_inputs;
   assets_crafting_crafting_data_byproducts: typeof assets_crafting_crafting_data_byproducts;
@@ -11264,6 +11319,7 @@ type DatabaseSchema = {
   relations_technologies_research_costs_resources: typeof relations_technologies_research_costs_resources;
   relations_technologies_rels: typeof relations_technologies_rels;
   relations_technologies: typeof relations_technologies;
+  relations_tech_categories: typeof relations_tech_categories;
   relations_assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types: typeof relations_assets_skin_configuration_applies_to_asset_types;
   relations_assets_crafting_crafting_data_inputs: typeof relations_assets_crafting_crafting_data_inputs;
   relations_assets_crafting_crafting_data_byproducts: typeof relations_assets_crafting_crafting_data_byproducts;

src/payload-types.ts

@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ export interface Config {
     campaigns: Campaign;
     factions: Faction;
     technologies: Technology;
+    'tech-categories': TechCategory;
     assets: Asset;
     resources: Resource;
     vehicles: Vehicle;
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ export interface Config {
     campaigns: CampaignsSelect<false> | CampaignsSelect<true>;
     factions: FactionsSelect<false> | FactionsSelect<true>;
     technologies: TechnologiesSelect<false> | TechnologiesSelect<true>;
+    'tech-categories': TechCategoriesSelect<false> | TechCategoriesSelect<true>;
     assets: AssetsSelect<false> | AssetsSelect<true>;
     resources: ResourcesSelect<false> | ResourcesSelect<true>;
     vehicles: VehiclesSelect<false> | VehiclesSelect<true>;
@@ -656,6 +658,11 @@ export interface Role {
         | 'technologies:update'
         | 'technologies:delete'
         | 'admin:technologies:manage'
+        | 'tech-categories:create'
+        | 'tech-categories:read'
+        | 'tech-categories:update'
+        | 'tech-categories:delete'
+        | 'admin:tech-categories:manage'
         | 'assets:create'
         | 'assets:read'
         | 'assets:update'
@@ -1538,6 +1545,17 @@ export interface Resource {
 export interface Technology {
   id: number;
   name: string;
+  /**
+   * Tech Tree column this technology belongs to. Uncategorized technologies are auto-placed on the Tech Tree by prerequisite depth.
+   */
+  category?: (number | null) | TechCategory;
+  /**
+   * Manual position on the Tech Tree canvas (set by dragging a node). Leave empty to use the automatic layout.
+   */
+  treePosition?: {
+    x?: number | null;
+    y?: number | null;
+  };
   /**
    * Mark whether this technology is ready for developer approval and implementation into the live environment.
    */
@@ -1598,6 +1616,27 @@ export interface Technology {
   updatedAt: string;
   createdAt: string;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "tech-categories".
+ */
+export interface TechCategory {
+  id: number;
+  /**
+   * Category label shown as a column band on the Tech Tree (e.g. Tier 1, Tier 2).
+   */
+  name: string;
+  /**
+   * Timeline position: lower numbers sit further left on the Tech Tree. Categories with the same position are ordered alphabetically.
+   */
+  position: number;
+  /**
+   * Optional hex accent color for the band on the Tech Tree (e.g. #22d3ee).
+   */
+  color?: string | null;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "labor-classifications".
@@ -5732,6 +5771,24 @@ export interface PayloadMcpApiKey {
      */
     delete?: boolean | null;
   };
+  techCategories?: {
+    /**
+     * Allow clients to find tech-categories.
+     */
+    find?: boolean | null;
+    /**
+     * Allow clients to create tech-categories.
+     */
+    create?: boolean | null;
+    /**
+     * Allow clients to update tech-categories.
+     */
+    update?: boolean | null;
+    /**
+     * Allow clients to delete tech-categories.
+     */
+    delete?: boolean | null;
+  };
   assets?: {
     /**
      * Allow clients to find assets.
@@ -6735,6 +6792,10 @@ export interface PayloadLockedDocument {
         relationTo: 'technologies';
         value: number | Technology;
       } | null)
+    | ({
+        relationTo: 'tech-categories';
+        value: number | TechCategory;
+      } | null)
     | ({
         relationTo: 'assets';
         value: number | Asset;
@@ -7836,6 +7897,13 @@ export interface FactionsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
  */
 export interface TechnologiesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   name?: T;
+  category?: T;
+  treePosition?:
+    | T
+    | {
+        x?: T;
+        y?: T;
+      };
   approvalStatus?: T;
   type?: T;
   summary?: T;
@@ -7875,6 +7943,17 @@ export interface TechnologiesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   updatedAt?: T;
   createdAt?: T;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "tech-categories_select".
+ */
+export interface TechCategoriesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  name?: T;
+  position?: T;
+  color?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "assets_select".
@@ -9513,6 +9592,14 @@ export interface PayloadMcpApiKeysSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
         update?: T;
         delete?: T;
       };
+  techCategories?:
+    | T
+    | {
+        find?: T;
+        create?: T;
+        update?: T;
+        delete?: T;
+      };
   assets?:
     | T
     | {

src/permissions/index.ts

@@ -229,6 +229,16 @@ export const PERMISSION_GROUPS: PermissionGroup[] = [
       { value: "admin:technologies:manage", label: "Manage Admin Page" },
     ],
   },
+  {
+    group: "Tech Categories",
+    permissions: [
+      { value: "tech-categories:create", label: "Create" },
+      { value: "tech-categories:read", label: "Read" },
+      { value: "tech-categories:update", label: "Update" },
+      { value: "tech-categories:delete", label: "Delete" },
+      { value: "admin:tech-categories:manage", label: "Manage Admin Page" },
+    ],
+  },
 
   // ---- Logistics -----------------------------------------------------------
   {
@@ -814,6 +824,11 @@ export const ALL_PERMISSION_VALUES = PERMISSION_GROUPS.flatMap((g) =>
   "technologies:update",
   "technologies:delete",
   "admin:technologies:manage",
+  "tech-categories:create",
+  "tech-categories:read",
+  "tech-categories:update",
+  "tech-categories:delete",
+  "admin:tech-categories:manage",
   "assets:create",
   "assets:read",
   "assets:update",

src/utils/access-control/divisionAccess.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ const DIVISION_ADMIN_QUALIFICATIONS: Record<
   (payload: Payload, user: { id: number | string }) => Promise<boolean>
 > = {
   technologies: hasIntelligenceQualification,
+  "tech-categories": hasIntelligenceQualification,
 };
 
 /**