diff --git a/.Jules/palette.md b/.Jules/palette.md
index c4e3778..c69fd1a 100644
--- a/.Jules/palette.md
+++ b/.Jules/palette.md
@@ -25,3 +25,7 @@
 ## 2026-03-02 - Hiding the Cursor in CLI Games
 **Learning:** In terminal applications that require rapid visual updates or where user input doesn't involve typing text, an actively blinking cursor can be a visual distraction. Hiding it during interaction (`\033[?25l`) and rigorously ensuring it is restored (`\033[?25h`) on exit—including signal interrupts—significantly improves the aesthetic and focus.
 **Action:** Always hide the cursor for interactive CLI games and explicitly restore it across all exit paths, including async-signal-safe signal handlers.
+
+## 2026-05-24 - Preventing Trailing Artifacts in CLI Dynamic Lines
+**Learning:** When dynamically updating terminal lines using carriage returns (`\r`), relying on hardcoded padding spaces to overwrite old text is brittle. It can lead to trailing artifacts if the new text string happens to be shorter than the previously printed string minus the padding.
+**Action:** To prevent trailing text artifacts in CLI applications when updating dynamic terminal lines via `\r`, always use the ANSI escape sequence `\033[K` (Erase in Line) immediately after the carriage return instead of hardcoding padding spaces.
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index eb2c19a..d07c78a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -44,3 +44,4 @@ highscore.txt
 
 # Persistent data
 highscore.txt
+venv/
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index e72f1da..0231ec5 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int main() {
     }
 
     for (int i = 3; i > 0; --i) {
-        std::cout << "\rStarting in " << i << "... " << std::flush;
+        std::cout << "\r\033[KStarting in " << i << "... " << std::flush;
         auto start_wait = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
         while (std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - start_wait).count() < 1000) {
             int elapsed = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - start_wait).count();
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ int main() {
             }
         }
     }
-    std::cout << "\rGO!             \n" << std::flush;
+    std::cout << "\r\033[KGO!\n" << std::flush;
     std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(200));
     tcflush(STDIN_FILENO, TCIFLUSH);
 
@@ -137,10 +137,10 @@ int main() {
         }
 
         if (updateUI) {
-            std::cout << "\r" << CLR_SCORE << "Score: " << score << CLR_RESET << " "
+            std::cout << "\r\033[K" << CLR_SCORE << "Score: " << score << CLR_RESET << " "
                       << (hardMode ? CLR_HARD "[HARD MODE]" : CLR_NORM "[NORMAL MODE]")
                       << (score > initialHighscore && initialHighscore > 0 ? " NEW BEST! 🥳" : "")
-                      << "           " << std::flush;
+                      << std::flush;
             updateUI = false;
         }
     }