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+# Design: Preferred Sources
+
+**Date**: 2026-03-27
+**Scope**: Allow users to mark sources as preferred so they are processed first during synthesis generation.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Data Model
+
+Add `is_preferred BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT false` to the `sources` table. All existing sources default to non-preferred.
+
+**Bulk update endpoint:** `PUT /api/v1/sources/preferred` with body `{ "source_ids": ["uuid1", "uuid2"] }`. Sets the listed sources to `preferred = true` and all others (for the same user) to `false`. This is an idempotent "set the full list" operation.
+
+---
+
+## 2. Pipeline Shuffle
+
+### Source ordering (before wave chunking)
+
+After `rotate_sources`, split into preferred and non-preferred, preserving rotation order within each group:
+
+```
+rotated = rotate_sources(all_sources)
+preferred = rotated.filter(is_preferred)
+non_preferred = rotated.filter(!is_preferred)
+ordered = preferred ++ non_preferred
+waves = ordered.chunks(window_size)
+```
+
+Preferred sources are processed in earlier waves, maximizing their chance of filling the synthesis.
+
+### URL shuffle (within each wave)
+
+After extracting links from a wave's sources, split candidate URLs by whether their source was preferred:
+
+```
+preferred_urls = wave_urls.filter(source is preferred)
+other_urls = wave_urls.filter(source is not preferred)
+shuffle(preferred_urls)
+shuffle(other_urls)
+final = preferred_urls ++ other_urls
+```
+
+---
+
+## 3. Frontend
+
+### ThemeManager source list
+
+- Checkbox on each source row (left side)
+- Preferred sources get a star icon or subtle highlight
+- Counter at bottom: "X source(s) prioritaire(s)"
+- Auto-save: on check/uncheck, immediately call `PUT /api/v1/sources/preferred` with updated ID list
+
+---
+
+## 4. Files
+
+- **Create:** `backend/migrations/20260327000029_add_source_preferred.sql`
+- **Create:** `backend/tests/api_sources_preferred_test.rs`
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/models/source.rs` — add `is_preferred: bool` to `Source`
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/db/sources.rs` — add to queries, add `update_preferred` function
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/handlers/sources.rs` — add `update_preferred` handler
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/router.rs` — add route
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/services/synthesis.rs` — preferred-first ordering + shuffle
+- **Modify:** `backend/tests/pipeline_test.rs` — test preferred ordering
+- **Modify:** `frontend/src/pages/ThemeManager.tsx` — checkboxes, counter, auto-save
+- **Modify:** `frontend/src/api/sources.ts` — add `updatePreferred`
+- **Modify:** `frontend/src/types.ts` — add `is_preferred` to `Source`
+- **Modify:** `frontend/src/i18n/fr.ts` — labels
+- **Modify:** `e2e/tests/sources.spec.ts` — add preferred test
+- **Modify:** `CLAUDE.md` — migration count