fix: return all validation errors from /api/recommend

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- No fixes recorded yet
+- `/api/recommend` now returns all validation errors in a single response instead of only the first one, so users can correct every invalid field at once

routes/main_routes.py

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # Each route is kept thin: it validates input, calls a utility function,
 # and returns a response. No business logic lives here.
 
+import os
+
 from flask import Blueprint, render_template, request, jsonify, send_from_directory, abort
 
 from utils.recommender import get_recommendations, validate_recommendation_inputs
@@ -44,8 +46,7 @@ def recommend():
     # Validate before running the recommendation engine
     errors = validate_recommendation_inputs(skills, level, interest, time_availability)
     if errors:
-        # Return only the first error to keep the UI message clean
-        return jsonify({"error": errors[0]}), 400
+        return jsonify({"errors": errors}), 400
 
     results = get_recommendations(skills, level, interest, time_availability)
 
@@ -95,6 +96,5 @@ def download_code(project_id):
     if not full_path:
         abort(404)
 
-    import os
     filename = os.path.basename(full_path)
     return send_from_directory(get_starter_code_dir(), filename, as_attachment=True)

static/script.js

@@ -437,9 +437,10 @@ if (isIndexPage) {
       .then(function (res) { return res.json(); })
       .then(function (data) {
         setLoadingState(false);
-        if (data.error) {
+        if (data.errors && data.errors.length) {
+          // Show all validation errors joined so the user can fix every field at once
           var generalErr = document.getElementById("form-error-general");
-          if (generalErr) generalErr.textContent = data.error;
+          if (generalErr) generalErr.textContent = data.errors.join(" | ");
           return;
         }
         renderResults(data.projects || [], data.message);

tests/test_basic.py

@@ -231,7 +231,10 @@ def test_recommend_api_missing_field():
         "time": "Low"
     })
     assert response.status_code in (400, 415)
-    assert "error" in response.get_json()
+    data = response.get_json()
+    assert "errors" in data
+    assert isinstance(data["errors"], list)
+    assert len(data["errors"]) > 0
 
 
 def test_recommend_api_empty_body():