Title: Create missing 500.html error template to fix crashing server error handler
Problem:
app.py registers a 500 error handler that calls render_template("500.html"), but the file templates/500.html does not exist in the repository. When any unhandled server error occurs (e.g. a malformed projects.json, a missing import, or a runtime exception), Flask will attempt to render the missing template and immediately raise a TemplateNotFound exception on top of the original error, producing a completely blank response or a second uncaught exception. This makes debugging production errors impossible and was also reported by a contributor in issue #66 which only mentions the 500 handler — this issue focuses on the missing template file itself.
Proposed Solution:
Create templates/500.html following the exact same visual structure as the existing templates/404.html:
- Same navbar, same
.error-page container class
- Error code displayed as
500
- Heading: "Something Went Wrong"
- Subtext: "An unexpected error occurred. Please try again or contact us if the problem persists."
- "Back to Home" button linking to
/
- Must link to
static/style.css for consistent styling
Files Likely Affected:
templates/500.html (create new)
Estimated Difficulty: Beginner
Title: Create missing
500.htmlerror template to fix crashing server error handlerProblem:
app.pyregisters a 500 error handler that callsrender_template("500.html"), but the filetemplates/500.htmldoes not exist in the repository. When any unhandled server error occurs (e.g. a malformedprojects.json, a missing import, or a runtime exception), Flask will attempt to render the missing template and immediately raise aTemplateNotFoundexception on top of the original error, producing a completely blank response or a second uncaught exception. This makes debugging production errors impossible and was also reported by a contributor in issue #66 which only mentions the 500 handler — this issue focuses on the missing template file itself.Proposed Solution:
Create
templates/500.htmlfollowing the exact same visual structure as the existingtemplates/404.html:.error-pagecontainer class500/static/style.cssfor consistent stylingFiles Likely Affected:
templates/500.html(create new)Estimated Difficulty: Beginner