diff --git a/src/lib/ae_elements/AE_MetadataFooter.svelte b/src/lib/ae_elements/AE_MetadataFooter_not_ref.svelte
similarity index 100%
rename from src/lib/ae_elements/AE_MetadataFooter.svelte
rename to src/lib/ae_elements/AE_MetadataFooter_not_ref.svelte
diff --git a/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils.ts b/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils.ts
index b2f9964a..6f241ac4 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { to_title_case } from './ae_utils__to_title_case';
 import { process_data_string } from './ae_utils__process_data_string';
 import { set_obj_prop_display_name } from './ae_utils__set_obj_prop_display_name';
 import { return_obj_type_path } from './ae_utils__return_obj_type_path';
+import { format_html } from './ae_utils__format_html';
 import {
     combine_iv_and_base64,
     encrypt_content,
@@ -336,6 +337,7 @@ export const ae_util = {
     shorten_string: shorten_string,
     shorten_filename: shorten_filename,
     file_extension_icon: file_extension_icon,
+    format_html: format_html,
     set_obj_prop_display_name: set_obj_prop_display_name,
     return_obj_type_path: return_obj_type_path,
     combine_iv_and_base64: combine_iv_and_base64,
diff --git a/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__format_html.ts b/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__format_html.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..88435c95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__format_html.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/**
+ * Simple Regex-based HTML Formatter for Aether Platform.
+ * Adds newlines and indentation to raw HTML strings.
+ */
+export function format_html(html: string): string {
+    if (!html) return '';
+    
+    let indent = 0;
+    const tab = '    ';
+    return html
+        .replace(/>\s*</g, '>\n<') // Add newlines between tags
+        .split('\n')
+        .map(line => {
+            line = line.trim();
+            if (line.match(/<\//)) indent--; // Decrease indent for closing tags
+            const out = tab.repeat(Math.max(0, indent)) + line;
+            if (line.match(/<[^\/!]/) && !line.match(/\/>/) && !line.match(/<\//)) indent++; // Increase indent for opening tags
+            return out;
+        })
+        .join('\n');
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/elements/AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap.svelte b/src/lib/elements/AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..be7d1d15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/elements/AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    /**
+     * AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap.svelte
+     * Zero-Dependency Rich Text Editor for Aether Platform.
+     * Uses native contenteditable to avoid TipTap/ProseMirror library conflicts.
+     * Styles aligned with existing .tiptap SCSS definitions.
+     */
+    import { onMount, untrack } from 'svelte';
+    import { browser } from '$app/environment';
+    import { 
+        Bold, Italic, List, ListOrdered, 
+        RemoveFormatting, Type, Code, AlignLeft
+    } from 'lucide-svelte';
+    import { ae_util } from '$lib/ae_utils/ae_utils';
+
+    interface Props {
+        content?: string;
+        new_content?: string;
+        placeholder?: string;
+        readonly?: boolean;
+        auto_format?: boolean;
+        class_li?: string;
+    }
+
+    let {
+        content = $bindable(''),
+        new_content = $bindable(''),
+        placeholder = 'Start writing...',
+        readonly = false,
+        auto_format = true,
+        class_li = ''
+    }: Props = $props();
+
+    let editor_element: HTMLDivElement | undefined = $state();
+    let is_focused = $state(false);
+
+    // Sync external content changes into the editor
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (editor_element && content !== editor_element.innerHTML) {
+            untrack(() => {
+                editor_element!.innerHTML = content || '';
+            });
+        }
+    });
+
+    function handle_input(e: Event) {
+        const html = (e.target as HTMLDivElement).innerHTML;
+        // Clean up empty state (browsers sometimes leave <br> or <p></p>)
+        const cleaned = (html === '<br>' || html === '<p></p>') ? '' : html;
+        content = cleaned;
+        new_content = cleaned;
+    }
+
+    // Toolbar Actions using native execCommand
+    // (While deprecated, it remains the standard for zero-dep simple rich text)
+    function exec(command: string, value: string | undefined = undefined) {
+        if (!browser || readonly) return;
+        document.execCommand(command, false, value);
+        editor_element?.focus();
+    }
+
+    function handle_keydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+        // Basic shortcuts: Cmd/Ctrl + B, I
+        if (e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) {
+            if (e.key === 'b') { e.preventDefault(); exec('bold'); }
+            if (e.key === 'i') { e.preventDefault(); exec('italic'); }
+        }
+    }
+
+    function handle_format() {
+        if (!content) return;
+        const formatted = ae_util.format_html(content);
+        content = formatted;
+        new_content = formatted;
+    }
+
+    function handle_blur() {
+        is_focused = false;
+        if (auto_format) {
+            handle_format();
+        }
+    }
+</script>
+
+<div class="ae__comp__editor_tiptap flex flex-col border border-surface-500/20 rounded-container overflow-hidden bg-white dark:bg-black/10 {class_li}">
+    {#if !readonly}
+        <div class="toolbar flex flex-wrap gap-1 p-1 bg-surface-50 dark:bg-surface-900 border-b border-surface-500/20">
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm variant-soft hover:variant-filled-primary" onclick={() => exec('bold')} title="Bold">
+                <Bold size="14" />
+            </button>
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm variant-soft hover:variant-filled-primary" onclick={() => exec('italic')} title="Italic">
+                <Italic size="14" />
+            </button>
+            <div class="w-px h-4 bg-surface-500/20 mx-1 self-center"></div>
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm variant-soft hover:variant-filled-primary" onclick={() => exec('insertUnorderedList')} title="Bullet List">
+                <List size="14" />
+            </button>
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm variant-soft hover:variant-filled-primary" onclick={() => exec('insertOrderedList')} title="Numbered List">
+                <ListOrdered size="14" />
+            </button>
+            <div class="w-px h-4 bg-surface-500/20 mx-1 self-center"></div>
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm variant-soft hover:variant-filled-error" onclick={() => exec('removeFormat')} title="Clear Formatting">
+                <RemoveFormatting size="14" />
+            </button>
+            
+            <button type="button" class="btn btn-sm variant-soft hover:variant-filled-success" onclick={handle_format} title="Format HTML Source">
+                <AlignLeft size="14" />
+                <span class="text-[10px] ml-1">Format</span>
+            </button>
+
+            <div class="ml-auto flex gap-1 items-center px-2">
+                <Type size="12" class="opacity-30" />
+                <span class="text-[10px] opacity-50 uppercase font-bold">Visual</span>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    {/if}
+
+    <div class="grow relative h-full min-h-[150px] overflow-auto p-4">
+        {#if !content && !is_focused}
+            <div class="absolute top-4 left-4 pointer-events-none opacity-30 italic text-sm">
+                {placeholder}
+            </div>
+        {/if}
+        
+        <div
+            bind:this={editor_element}
+            contenteditable={!readonly}
+            class="tiptap outline-none h-full w-full prose dark:prose-invert max-w-none"
+            oninput={handle_input}
+            onfocus={() => is_focused = true}
+            onblur={handle_blur}
+            onkeydown={handle_keydown}
+            role="textbox"
+            tabindex="0"
+            aria-multiline="true"
+        ></div>
+    </div>
+</div>
+
+<style lang="postcss">
+    /* Import your existing TipTap styles */
+    @import './element_tiptap_editor.scss';
+
+    .ae__comp__editor_tiptap :global(.tiptap) {
+        min-height: 120px;
+    }
+
+    /* Ensure lists look correct inside the editor */
+    .ae__comp__editor_tiptap :global(.tiptap ul) {
+        list-style-type: disc;
+        padding-left: 1.5rem;
+    }
+    .ae__comp__editor_tiptap :global(.tiptap ol) {
+        list-style-type: decimal;
+        padding-left: 1.5rem;
+    }
+</style>
diff --git a/src/routes/testing/editor_test/+page.svelte b/src/routes/testing/editor_test/+page.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b9404d63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/testing/editor_test/+page.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+    import AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap from '$lib/elements/AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap.svelte';
+    import AE_Comp_Editor_CodeMirror from '$lib/elements/AE_Comp_Editor_CodeMirror.svelte';
+
+    let test_content = $state('<h2>Welcome to the Visual Editor Test</h2><p>This editor uses <strong>native browser rich text</strong> capabilities.</p><ul><li>No library conflicts</li><li>Uses existing <em>.tiptap</em> styles</li><li>Instant performance</li></ul>');
+    let log_lvl = 1;
+</script>
+
+<div class="p-8 space-y-8 max-w-5xl mx-auto h-full overflow-y-auto">
+    <header class="border-b border-surface-500/30 pb-4">
+        <h1 class="h1">Rich Text Editor Test</h1>
+        <p class="opacity-70">Testing the Zero-Dependency "TipTap" replacement.</p>
+    </header>
+
+    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-8">
+        <!-- Visual Editor -->
+        <section class="card p-4 space-y-4 variant-soft-primary">
+            <h2 class="h3 flex items-center gap-2">
+                <span class="fas fa-eye text-primary-500"></span>
+                Visual Editor (AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap)
+            </h2>
+            <div class="bg-surface-100-800-token rounded-lg">
+                <AE_Comp_Editor_TipTap
+                    bind:content={test_content}
+                    placeholder="Try writing something pretty..."
+                />
+            </div>
+        </section>
+
+        <!-- Source Code View -->
+        <section class="card p-4 space-y-4 variant-soft-tertiary">
+            <h2 class="h3 flex items-center gap-2">
+                <span class="fas fa-code text-tertiary-500"></span>
+                Source View (AE_Comp_Editor_CodeMirror)
+            </h2>
+            <div class="bg-surface-100-800-token rounded-lg h-[250px]">
+                <AE_Comp_Editor_CodeMirror
+                    bind:content={test_content}
+                    language="html"
+                    show_line_numbers={true}
+                />
+            </div>
+        </section>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- HTML Preview -->
+    <section class="card p-4 space-y-4 bg-surface-900 text-green-400 font-mono text-xs overflow-auto max-h-96 shadow-2xl border border-white/10">
+        <h2 class="text-sm font-bold opacity-50 uppercase tracking-widest border-b border-white/10 pb-2">Raw Bound Content (Saved to DB)</h2>
+        <pre class="whitespace-pre">{test_content}</pre>
+    </section>
+</div>