feat: pass and persist post dates through AI creation wizard and template application flows

CLAUDE.md

@@ -259,6 +259,17 @@ ## Form Validation
 
 - NEVER use HTML5 validation attributes (`required`, `minlength`, `pattern`, etc.) on form inputs. Always rely solely on backend validation.
 
+## Backend Validation
+
+- Validation rules always live in a dedicated `Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest` subclass under `app/Http/Requests/App/<Group>/`. Controller actions must type-hint the FormRequest as the parameter — NEVER call `$request->validate([...])` inline in the controller.
+- Naming: `<Verb><Resource>Request.php` (e.g. `StorePostRequest`, `ApplyPostTemplateRequest`, `IndexPostTemplateRequest`).
+
+## Pest / Feature Tests
+
+- ALWAYS use named routes via the `route()` helper in feature tests. NEVER hardcode URL strings like `'/posts/ai/create'`.
+    - Example: `$this->postJson(route('app.posts.store'))` instead of `$this->postJson('/posts')`.
+    - With params: `route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', $creationId)`.
+
 ## Dusk (Browser Tests)
 
 - In Dusk tests, ALWAYS use named routes via `route()` helper. NEVER hardcode URLs like `'https://trypost.test/login'`.

app/Http/Controllers/App/PostAiCreateController.php

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public function start(StartPostCreationRequest $request): JsonResponse
             socialAccountId: $socialAccountId,
             imageCount: (int) $request->input('image_count', 0),
             prompt: $request->string('prompt')->toString(),
+            date: $request->input('date'),
         );
 
         return response()->json([
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ public function finalize(Request $request, string $creationId): JsonResponse
         $post = CreatePost::execute($workspace, $request->user(), [
             'content' => $caption,
             'media' => $media,
+            'date' => data_get($state, 'date'),
         ]);
 
         // Sync the post_platform with the wizard choice: set content_type to

app/Http/Controllers/App/PostController.php

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 use App\Enums\Post\Action as PostAction;
 use App\Enums\Post\Status as PostStatus;
 use App\Enums\SocialAccount\Platform;
+use App\Http\Requests\App\Post\StorePostRequest;
 use App\Http\Requests\App\Post\UpdatePostRequest;
 use App\Http\Resources\Api\PostResource;
 use App\Http\Resources\App\PlatformConfigResource;
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ public function create(Request $request): Response
         ]);
     }
 
-    public function store(Request $request): RedirectResponse|\Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response
+    public function store(StorePostRequest $request): RedirectResponse|\Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response
     {
         $workspace = $request->user()->currentWorkspace;
 

app/Http/Controllers/App/PostTemplateController.php

@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 
 use App\Actions\Post\CreatePost;
 use App\Enums\Media\Type as MediaType;
+use App\Http\Requests\App\PostTemplate\ApplyPostTemplateRequest;
+use App\Http\Requests\App\PostTemplate\IndexPostTemplateRequest;
 use App\Http\Resources\App\PostTemplateResource;
 use App\Models\SocialAccount;
 use App\Models\Workspace;
 use App\Services\Image\TemplateImageGenerator;
 use App\Services\PostTemplate\Registry;
 use Illuminate\Http\JsonResponse;
-use Illuminate\Http\Request;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Storage;
 use Inertia\Inertia;
 use Inertia\Response as InertiaResponse;
@@ -22,13 +23,8 @@ class PostTemplateController extends Controller
 {
     public function __construct(private readonly Registry $registry) {}
 
-    public function index(Request $request): InertiaResponse
+    public function index(IndexPostTemplateRequest $request): InertiaResponse
     {
-        $request->validate([
-            'platform' => ['nullable', 'string'],
-            'search' => ['nullable', 'string', 'max:120'],
-        ]);
-
         $paginator = $this->registry->paginate(
             locale: app()->getLocale(),
             platform: $request->input('platform'),
@@ -45,19 +41,16 @@ public function index(Request $request): InertiaResponse
                 'search' => $request->input('search', ''),
                 'platform' => $request->input('platform', ''),
             ],
+            'date' => $request->input('date'),
         ]);
     }
 
-    public function apply(Request $request, string $slug, TemplateImageGenerator $generator): JsonResponse
+    public function apply(ApplyPostTemplateRequest $request, string $slug, TemplateImageGenerator $generator): JsonResponse
     {
         $workspace = $request->user()->currentWorkspace;
 
         $this->authorize('createPost', $workspace);
 
-        $request->validate([
-            'social_account_id' => ['nullable', 'uuid'],
-        ]);
-
         $template = $this->registry->find($slug, app()->getLocale());
 
         $socialAccountId = $request->input('social_account_id');
@@ -98,6 +91,7 @@ public function apply(Request $request, string $slug, TemplateImageGenerator $ge
         $post = CreatePost::execute($workspace, $request->user(), [
             'content' => $content,
             'media' => $media,
+            'date' => $request->input('date'),
         ]);
 
         return response()->json([

app/Http/Requests/App/Ai/StartPostCreationRequest.php

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ public function rules(): array
             'image_count' => ['nullable', 'integer', 'min:0', 'max:10'],
             // Stories accept 1 image, no carousel — the wizard handles this client-side too.
             'prompt' => ['required', 'string', 'max:2000'],
+            'date' => ['nullable', 'date_format:Y-m-d'],
         ];
     }
 }

app/Http/Requests/App/Post/StorePostRequest.php

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace App\Http\Requests\App\Post;
+
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
+
+class StorePostRequest extends FormRequest
+{
+    public function authorize(): bool
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string, mixed>
+     */
+    public function rules(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'date' => ['nullable', 'date_format:Y-m-d'],
+            'media' => ['nullable', 'array'],
+        ];
+    }
+}

app/Http/Requests/App/PostTemplate/ApplyPostTemplateRequest.php

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace App\Http\Requests\App\PostTemplate;
+
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
+
+class ApplyPostTemplateRequest extends FormRequest
+{
+    public function authorize(): bool
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string, mixed>
+     */
+    public function rules(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'social_account_id' => ['nullable', 'uuid'],
+            'date' => ['nullable', 'date_format:Y-m-d'],
+        ];
+    }
+}

app/Http/Requests/App/PostTemplate/IndexPostTemplateRequest.php

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace App\Http\Requests\App\PostTemplate;
+
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
+
+class IndexPostTemplateRequest extends FormRequest
+{
+    public function authorize(): bool
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string, mixed>
+     */
+    public function rules(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'platform' => ['nullable', 'string'],
+            'search' => ['nullable', 'string', 'max:120'],
+            'date' => ['nullable', 'date_format:Y-m-d'],
+        ];
+    }
+}

app/Jobs/Ai/StreamPostCreation.php

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ public function __construct(
         public ?string $socialAccountId,
         public int $imageCount,
         public string $prompt,
+        public ?string $date = null,
     ) {
         $this->onQueue('ai');
     }
@@ -251,6 +252,7 @@ private function handleCarousel(Workspace $workspace, ?SocialAccount $socialAcco
             'social_account_id' => $this->socialAccountId,
             'content' => $caption,
             'slides' => $renderedSlides,
+            'date' => $this->date,
             'created_at' => now()->toIso8601String(),
         ], now()->addMinutes(30));
 
@@ -296,6 +298,7 @@ private function handleSingle(Workspace $workspace, ?SocialAccount $socialAccoun
             'image_body' => $imageBody,
             'image_keywords' => $keywords,
             'image_path' => $imagePath,
+            'date' => $this->date,
             'created_at' => now()->toIso8601String(),
         ], now()->addMinutes(30));
 

resources/js/components/posts/create/AiPostWizard.vue

@@ -28,9 +28,13 @@ interface SocialAccount {
 
 interface Props {
     socialAccounts: SocialAccount[];
+    /** ISO date (YYYY-MM-DD) carried over from the calendar's per-day "+" button. */
+    date?: string | null;
 }
 
-const props = defineProps<Props>();
+const props = withDefaults(defineProps<Props>(), {
+    date: null,
+});
 
 type WizardStep = 'configure' | 'preview';
 
@@ -67,7 +71,8 @@ const httpStart = useHttp<{
     social_account_id: string | null;
     image_count: number;
     prompt: string;
-}>({ format: null, social_account_id: null, image_count: 0, prompt: '' });
+    date: string | null;
+}>({ format: null, social_account_id: null, image_count: 0, prompt: '', date: null });
 
 const httpFinalize = useHttp<{ content: string; image_title: string; image_body: string }>({
     content: '',
@@ -253,6 +258,7 @@ const startGeneration = async () => {
     httpStart.social_account_id = selectedAccountId.value;
     httpStart.image_count = submittedImageCount.value;
     httpStart.prompt = promptText.value.trim();
+    httpStart.date = props.date;
 
     try {
         const data = await httpStart.post(startRoute.url()) as { creation_id: string; channel: string };

resources/js/pages/posts/Create.vue

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ const stepHeader = computed(() => {
                         </button>
 
                         <Link
-                            :href="templatesIndex.url()"
+                            :href="templatesIndex.url({ query: { date: props.date } })"
                             class="group flex flex-col items-start gap-4 rounded-2xl border-2 border-foreground bg-card p-5 text-left shadow-2xs transition-all hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-md"
                         >
                             <div class="inline-flex size-12 -rotate-1 items-center justify-center rounded-2xl border-2 border-foreground bg-emerald-200 shadow-2xs transition-transform group-hover:rotate-0">
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ const stepHeader = computed(() => {
                 <AiPostWizard
                     v-else-if="view === 'ai'"
                     :social-accounts="socialAccounts"
+                    :date="props.date"
                     @update:step-header="aiHeader = $event"
                     @cancel="view = 'choice'; aiHeader = null"
                 />

resources/js/pages/posts/templates/Index.vue

@@ -53,9 +53,13 @@ interface Props {
         search: string;
         platform: string;
     };
+    /** ISO date carried over from the calendar's per-day "+" button. */
+    date?: string | null;
 }
 
-const props = defineProps<Props>();
+const props = withDefaults(defineProps<Props>(), {
+    date: null,
+});
 
 const searchQuery = ref(props.filters.search);
 const selectedPlatform = ref<string>(props.filters.platform || '');
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ const reload = (params: { search?: string; platform?: string }) => {
         {
             search: params.search || undefined,
             platform: params.platform || undefined,
+            date: props.date || undefined,
         },
         { preserveState: true, preserveScroll: true, replace: true },
     );
@@ -158,7 +163,8 @@ const applyTemplate = async (template: PostTemplate) => {
     applyingSlug.value = template.slug;
 
     try {
-        const data = (await useHttp().post(applyRoute.url(template.slug))) as {
+        const http = useHttp<{ date: string | null }>({ date: props.date ?? null });
+        const data = (await http.post(applyRoute.url(template.slug))) as {
             post_id: string;
             redirect_url: string;
         };

tests/Feature/Ai/PostAiCreateTest.php

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 // --- POST /posts/ai/create (start) ---
 
 test('start requires authentication', function () {
-    $this->postJson('/posts/ai/create', ['prompt' => 'hello', 'format' => 'x_post'])
+    $this->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), ['prompt' => 'hello', 'format' => 'x_post'])
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_UNAUTHORIZED);
 });
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     Bus::fake();
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create', ['format' => 'x_post'])
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), ['format' => 'x_post'])
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY)
         ->assertJsonValidationErrors(['prompt']);
 });
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     Bus::fake();
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create', ['prompt' => 'hello'])
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), ['prompt' => 'hello'])
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY)
         ->assertJsonValidationErrors(['format']);
 });
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
     Bus::fake();
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create', ['prompt' => 'hello', 'format' => 'tiktok_video'])
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), ['prompt' => 'hello', 'format' => 'tiktok_video'])
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY)
         ->assertJsonValidationErrors(['format']);
 });
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     ]);
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create', [
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), [
             'prompt' => 'hello',
             'format' => 'x_post',
             'social_account_id' => $foreignAccount->id,
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
     ]);
 
     $response = $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create', [
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), [
             'prompt' => 'Write a post about productivity',
             'format' => 'x_post',
             'social_account_id' => $account->id,
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
     Bus::fake();
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create', [
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), [
             'prompt' => 'Write a LinkedIn post',
             'format' => 'linkedin_post',
         ])
@@ -121,13 +121,13 @@
 // --- POST /posts/ai/create/{creationId}/finalize ---
 
 test('finalize requires authentication', function () {
-    $this->postJson('/posts/ai/create/fake-id/finalize')
+    $this->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', 'fake-id'))
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_UNAUTHORIZED);
 });
 
 test('finalize returns 404 if creation not found in cache', function () {
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson('/posts/ai/create/nonexistent-id/finalize')
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', 'nonexistent-id'))
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_NOT_FOUND);
 });
 
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
     ], now()->addMinutes(30));
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson("/posts/ai/create/{$creationId}/finalize")
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', $creationId))
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_NOT_FOUND);
 });
 
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
     ], now()->addMinutes(30));
 
     $response = $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->postJson("/posts/ai/create/{$creationId}/finalize")
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', $creationId))
         ->assertStatus(Response::HTTP_OK)
         ->assertJsonStructure(['post_id', 'redirect_url']);
 
@@ -183,3 +183,75 @@
     // Redirect URL should point to the edit page
     expect($response->json('redirect_url'))->toContain("/posts/{$postId}/edit");
 });
+
+test('finalize defaults scheduled_at to today when no date is in cache state', function () {
+    $creationId = 'no-date-creation';
+
+    Cache::put("ai-creation:{$creationId}", [
+        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
+        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
+        'format' => 'x_post',
+        'social_account_id' => null,
+        'image_count' => 0,
+        'content' => 'hello',
+        'created_at' => now()->toIso8601String(),
+    ], now()->addMinutes(30));
+
+    $response = $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', $creationId))
+        ->assertOk();
+
+    $post = Post::find($response->json('post_id'));
+    expect($post->scheduled_at->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe(now('UTC')->format('Y-m-d'));
+});
+
+test('finalize schedules the post on the date stored in cache state', function () {
+    $creationId = 'with-date-creation';
+
+    Cache::put("ai-creation:{$creationId}", [
+        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
+        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
+        'format' => 'x_post',
+        'social_account_id' => null,
+        'image_count' => 0,
+        'content' => 'hello',
+        'date' => '2026-06-15',
+        'created_at' => now()->toIso8601String(),
+    ], now()->addMinutes(30));
+
+    $response = $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create.finalize', $creationId))
+        ->assertOk();
+
+    $post = Post::find($response->json('post_id'));
+    expect($post->scheduled_at->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe('2026-06-15');
+});
+
+test('start dispatches the job carrying the date param when provided', function () {
+    Bus::fake();
+
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), [
+            'prompt' => 'hello',
+            'format' => 'x_post',
+            'date' => '2026-06-15',
+        ])
+        ->assertAccepted();
+
+    Bus::assertDispatched(StreamPostCreation::class, fn ($job) => $job->date === '2026-06-15');
+});
+
+test('start rejects invalid date format', function () {
+    Bus::fake();
+
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.posts.ai.create'), [
+            'prompt' => 'hello',
+            'format' => 'x_post',
+            'date' => 'not-a-date',
+        ])
+        ->assertUnprocessable()
+        ->assertJsonValidationErrors(['date']);
+
+    Bus::assertNotDispatched(StreamPostCreation::class);
+});

tests/Feature/PostControllerTest.php

@@ -150,6 +150,30 @@
     expect($post->postPlatforms)->toHaveCount(1);
 });
 
+test('store post defaults scheduled_at to today when no date is provided', function () {
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)->post(route('app.posts.store'))->assertRedirect();
+
+    $post = Post::where('workspace_id', $this->workspace->id)->first();
+    expect($post->scheduled_at->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe(now('UTC')->format('Y-m-d'));
+});
+
+test('store post schedules draft on the date param when provided', function () {
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)->post(route('app.posts.store'), [
+        'date' => '2026-06-15',
+    ])->assertRedirect();
+
+    $post = Post::where('workspace_id', $this->workspace->id)->first();
+    expect($post->scheduled_at->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe('2026-06-15');
+});
+
+test('store post rejects invalid date format', function () {
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->post(route('app.posts.store'), ['date' => 'not-a-date'])
+        ->assertSessionHasErrors(['date']);
+
+    expect(Post::where('workspace_id', $this->workspace->id)->count())->toBe(0);
+});
+
 // Edit tests
 test('edit post requires authentication', function () {
     $post = Post::factory()->create([

tests/Feature/PostTemplateControllerTest.php

@@ -123,6 +123,39 @@
         ->assertNotFound();
 });
 
+test('apply defaults scheduled_at to today when no date is provided', function () {
+    Http::fake(['api.unsplash.com/*' => Http::response(['results' => []])]);
+
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.post-templates.apply', 'success_story'))
+        ->assertOk();
+
+    $post = $this->workspace->posts()->latest()->first();
+    expect($post->scheduled_at->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe(now('UTC')->format('Y-m-d'));
+});
+
+test('apply schedules the post on the date param when provided', function () {
+    Http::fake(['api.unsplash.com/*' => Http::response(['results' => []])]);
+
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.post-templates.apply', 'success_story'), [
+            'date' => '2026-06-15',
+        ])
+        ->assertOk();
+
+    $post = $this->workspace->posts()->latest()->first();
+    expect($post->scheduled_at->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe('2026-06-15');
+});
+
+test('apply rejects invalid date format', function () {
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->postJson(route('app.post-templates.apply', 'success_story'), [
+            'date' => 'not-a-date',
+        ])
+        ->assertUnprocessable()
+        ->assertJsonValidationErrors(['date']);
+});
+
 test('apply with slides creates post even when image rendering fails', function () {
     // Unsplash returns no results → generator returns null → no media attached, post still created.
     Http::fake(['api.unsplash.com/*' => Http::response(['results' => []])]);