.projects {
    background: var(--bg-color);
    padding: 8rem 9% 2rem;
    min-height: 100vh;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    justify-content: center;
}

.projects-container {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
    gap: 2.8rem;
    margin-top: 2rem;
}

.projects-box {
    background: var(--card-bg);
    border-radius: 2rem;
    border: 1px solid var(--border-subtle);
    overflow: hidden;
    transition: all 0.4s ease;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    position: relative;
}

.projects-box:hover {
    transform: translateY(-8px);
    border-color: var(--border-color);
    box-shadow: 0 16px 50px var(--accent-glow-soft);
}

/* Image wrapper */
.projects-box .proj-img {
    position: relative;
    overflow: hidden;
    height: 20rem;
    background: var(--bg-color); /* ensures empty space looks clean */
}

.projects-box .proj-img img {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    object-fit: contain;
    transition: transform 0.5s ease;
}

.projects-box:hover .proj-img img {
    transform: scale(1.08);
}

/* Overlay badge */
.proj-category {
    position: absolute;
    top: 1.4rem;
    left: 1.4rem;
    background: var(--gradient-main);
    color: #fff;
    font-size: 1.1rem;
    font-weight: 600;
    padding: 0.4rem 1rem;
    border-radius: 10rem;
    letter-spacing: 0.05em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
}

/* Content */
.proj-content {
    padding: 2.2rem 2.2rem 2rem;
    flex: 1;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
}

.proj-content h4 {
    font-family: 'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
    font-size: 1.9rem;
    font-weight: 700;
    color: var(--text-color);
    margin-bottom: 0.8rem;
}

.proj-content p {
    font-size: 1.4rem;
    color: var(--text-secondary);
    line-height: 1.65;
    flex: 1;
    margin-bottom: 1.6rem;
}

/* Tech tags */
.proj-tags {
    display: flex;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    gap: 0.7rem;
    margin-bottom: 1.8rem;
}

.proj-tags span {
    background: var(--accent-glow-soft);
    border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
    padding: 0.35rem 1rem;
    border-radius: 10rem;
    font-size: 1.15rem;
    color: var(--main-color-light);
    font-weight: 500;
}

/* Link buttons */
.proj-links {
    display: flex;
    gap: 1.4rem;
    margin-top: auto; /* pushes links to bottom */
}

.proj-link {
    display: inline-flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 0.6rem;
    font-size: 1.35rem;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: var(--text-color);
    background: var(--bg-secondary);
    padding: 0.8rem 1.6rem;
    border-radius: 0.8rem;
    border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
    transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.proj-link i {
    font-size: 1.6rem;
    color: var(--main-color);
    transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.proj-link:hover {
    background: var(--main-color);
    color: #111;
    border-color: var(--main-color);
    box-shadow: 0 4px 15px var(--accent-glow-soft);
}

.proj-link:hover i {
    color: #111;
    transform: translate(3px, -3px) scale(1.1);
}

@media (max-width: 1024px) {
    .projects-container {
        grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
    }
}

@media (max-width: 600px) {
    .projects-container {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
    }

    .projects-box .proj-img {
        height: 18rem;
    }
}