added step wise solution and an animation.

app/static/css/dashboard.css

@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ body {
     text-align: center;
 }
 
+#statusMessage {
+    min-height: 24px;
+    margin: 0 0 8px;
+    font-weight: bold;
+}
+
 .board {
     overflow-x: auto;
     padding-bottom: 8px;
@@ -91,6 +97,21 @@ body {
     transform: scale(1.05);
 }
 
+.cell.solver-place {
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 4px #22c55e;
+    animation: solverPulse 0.35s ease;
+}
+
+.cell.solver-remove {
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 4px #f59e0b;
+    animation: solverPulse 0.35s ease;
+}
+
+.cell.solver-solution {
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 4px #2563eb;
+    animation: solverPulse 0.35s ease;
+}
+
 .white {
     background: #e2e8f0;
 }
@@ -107,6 +128,10 @@ body {
 /* 🎛️ Buttons */
 .controls {
     margin-top: 15px;
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: center;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    gap: 10px;
 }
 
 .btn {
@@ -123,6 +148,12 @@ body {
     background: #2563eb;
 }
 
+.btn:disabled,
+.btn:disabled:hover {
+    background: #94a3b8;
+    cursor: not-allowed;
+}
+
 .btn.secondary {
     background: #64748b;
 }
@@ -163,6 +194,79 @@ body {
     background: #22c55e;
 }
 
+.solver-panel {
+    margin-top: 12px;
+    padding: 16px;
+    border-radius: 12px;
+    border: 1px solid #dbe4ee;
+    background: #f8fafc;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+.solver-panel-header {
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    gap: 16px;
+}
+
+.solver-panel h3 {
+    margin: 0 0 6px;
+    color: #1e293b;
+}
+
+.solver-message {
+    margin: 0;
+    color: #475569;
+}
+
+.solver-step-info {
+    margin: 0;
+    padding: 6px 10px;
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    background: #dbeafe;
+    color: #1d4ed8;
+    font-size: 14px;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+.solver-controls {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    gap: 10px;
+    margin-top: 14px;
+}
+
+.solver-controls .btn,
+.controls .btn {
+    margin: 0;
+}
+
+.solver-speed {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: auto 1fr auto;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 12px;
+    margin-top: 14px;
+}
+
+.solver-speed input[type="range"] {
+    width: 100%;
+}
+
+.solver-speed-label {
+    font-weight: bold;
+    color: #334155;
+}
+
+.solver-speed-value {
+    min-width: 62px;
+    text-align: right;
+    color: #475569;
+    font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+}
+
 .board-size-info {
     margin: 0 0 10px;
     color: #475569;
@@ -175,10 +279,14 @@ body {
     width: min(320px, 85vw);
     height: 100vh;
     padding: 24px;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
     background: white;
     box-shadow: -10px 0 24px rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.18);
     transform: translateX(100%);
     transition: transform 0.25s ease;
+    overflow-y: auto;
+    -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
+    overscroll-behavior: contain;
     z-index: 30;
 }
 
@@ -329,6 +437,20 @@ body {
     pointer-events: auto;
 }
 
+@keyframes solverPulse {
+    0% {
+        transform: scale(0.97);
+    }
+
+    50% {
+        transform: scale(1.03);
+    }
+
+    100% {
+        transform: scale(1);
+    }
+}
+
 @media (max-width: 720px) {
     .container {
         padding: 12px;
@@ -337,4 +459,15 @@ body {
     .navbar {
         padding: 15px 18px;
     }
+
+    .solver-panel-header,
+    .solver-speed {
+        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+        display: grid;
+    }
+
+    .solver-step-info,
+    .solver-speed-value {
+        justify-self: start;
+    }
 }