Roadmap: Dolphin parity is the feature target

docs/ROADMAP.md

@@ -1,11 +1,23 @@
 # Roadmap
 
-Meridian is an early-stage, offline-first file manager targeting Windows 11 only, across x64 and ARM64 architectures. This roadmap is a feature inventory and an ordering guide, not a claim that any unchecked item is implemented. Features will be delivered incrementally, with security, responsiveness, accessibility, tests, and honest Windows CI verification required alongside functionality.
+Meridian is an early-stage, local-first file manager targeting Windows 11 only, across x64 and ARM64 architectures. Its feature target is parity with KDE's Dolphin file manager, adapted to Windows: dual-pane browsing, per-folder view memory, virtual locations, indexed search, tags and ratings, an embedded terminal, and optional network protocols — with the core fully usable offline. This roadmap is a feature inventory and an ordering guide, not a claim that any unchecked item is implemented. Features will be delivered incrementally, with security, responsiveness, accessibility, tests, and honest Windows CI verification required alongside functionality.
 
 ## Current baseline and checkbox meaning
 
 See [STATUS.md](STATUS.md) for the dated implemented/CI/runtime inventory. Checkbox state was reconciled against [FEATURES.md](FEATURES.md) and the changelog on 2026-11-02, covering everything shipped through v0.9.1 plus the merged changes awaiting the next release; composite items are checked only where the whole line is delivered, and partially delivered items stay unchecked. Checked items below identify delivered increments, not stable-release approval. Unchecked composite items can contain partial implementations; notes identify those parts. Build, automated-test, runtime and release completion are separate evidence levels.
 
+## Dolphin parity program
+
+Meridian's feature target is KDE's Dolphin, adapted to Windows. Already at parity: dual-pane (split) browsing, per-pane tabs with closed-tab history, clickable breadcrumbs, view modes remembered per folder, a Places-style sidebar, previews, batch rename, sorting and grouping, and content search. The remaining parity work, in planned order:
+
+1. **Virtual locations** — one location layer under the panes, so the Recycle Bin, recent files, search results, and archives browse like folders (builds on Phase 6's archive-as-folder and virtual-view items).
+2. **Indexed search** — a USN-journal-backed index for instant name search, growing toward content (Phase 4).
+3. **Embedded terminal panel** that follows the current folder (Phase 7).
+4. **Tags, ratings, and comments** stored locally and searchable, with optional NTFS alternate-data-stream storage investigated for portability (Phase 2).
+5. **Network protocols** — SMB browsing first, then optional SFTP, FTP/FTPS, WebDAV, and SCP clients and optional cloud providers, all behind provider interfaces; local file management never depends on them (Phase 6).
+
+Operation undo/redo and Dolphin-style context-menu actions (service menus — the Scripts menu is the seed) round out the program.
+
 ## Meridian Foresight — signature intelligence initiative
 
 The [Foresight design and implementation status](FORESIGHT.md) describes an initial **read-only relationship analyzer** committed on the feature branch, plus future evidence graphs, consequence analysis, optional AI interpretation, and recovery-aware plans. **No AI model, UI integration, or autonomous file operations are implemented.** Every mutation remains subject to the [Safety Contract](SAFETY_CONTRACT.md).