feat: add dynamic fallback message for empty area of interest

routes/main_routes.py

@@ -10,6 +10,19 @@
 from utils.file_server import read_starter_code, resolve_starter_file, get_starter_code_dir
 import os
 
+# Interest categories that currently have no project recommendations available
+NO_PROJECT_INTERESTS = {
+    "machine learning/ai",
+    "devops",
+    "mobile",
+    "artificial intelligence",
+    "cloud computing",
+    "mobile app development",
+}
+
+def interest_has_no_projects(interest):
+    return interest and interest.strip().lower() in NO_PROJECT_INTERESTS
+
 # Create the Blueprint that app.py will register
 main = Blueprint("main", __name__)
 
@@ -58,6 +71,12 @@ def recommend():
         # Return only the first error to keep the UI message clean
         return jsonify({"error": errors[0]}), 400
 
+    if interest_has_no_projects(interest):
+        return jsonify({
+            "projects": [],
+            "message": "No projects are currently available for this interest area. Please check back later."
+        }), 200
+
     results = get_recommendations(skills, level, interest, time_availability)
 
     if not results:

static/script.js

@@ -615,9 +615,19 @@ if (clearFiltersBtn) {
       resultsEmptyEl.style.display = "block";
       if (message && emptyMessageEl) emptyMessageEl.textContent = message;
     if (!projects || projects.length === 0) { //if no projects returned from api, show the "no results" message and hide the grid
-      resultsGrid.style.display      = "none";
-      resultsEmptyEl.style.display   = "block";
-      if (message && emptyMessageEl) emptyMessageEl.textContent = message; //if api sent back a message (e.g. "no projects found matching your criteria"), show that 
+      resultsGrid.style.display    = "none";
+      resultsEmptyEl.style.display = "block";
+
+      // Show a friendly custom message when the user selected an interest
+      var selectedInterest = document.getElementById("interest")?.value;
+      if (selectedInterest) {
+        emptyMessageEl.textContent = "No projects are currently available for this interest. Please check back later or try a different area.";
+      } else if (message) {
+        emptyMessageEl.textContent = message;
+      } else {
+        emptyMessageEl.textContent = "Try adjusting your skills or choosing a different interest area.";
+      }
+
       resultsSection.scrollIntoView({ behavior: "smooth" });
       return;
     }
@@ -654,8 +664,8 @@ if (clearFiltersBtn) {
     var tagsRow = document.createElement("div");
     tagsRow.className = "project-card-tags";
 
-    // Show the first two skills as tags
-    (project.skills || []).slice(0, 2).forEach(function (skill) {
+    // Show all project skills as tags so users can see the full match
+    (project.skills || []).forEach(function (skill) {
       tagsRow.appendChild(createTag(skill, "skill"));
     });
 

templates/index.html

@@ -413,7 +413,6 @@ <h2 class="section-title">Find Your Next Project</h2>
               </div>
               <div class="skill-input-wrap" id="skill-input-wrap">
                 <div class="skill-chips-selected" id="skill-chips-selected"></div>
-
                 <input
                   type="text"
                   id="skills-input" 
@@ -489,6 +488,10 @@ <h2 class="section-title">Find Your Next Project</h2>
                     <option value="Education">Education Tools</option>
                     <option value="Automation">Automation</option>
                     <option value="Games">Games</option>
+                    <option value="Cybersecurity">CyberSecurity/Ethical Hacking</option>
+                    <option value="Devops">Devops/Cloud Computing</option>
+                    <option value="Mobile">Mobile Development</option>
+                    <option value="Machine Learning/AI">Machine Learning/AI</option>
                   </select>
                 </div>
 

tests/conftest.py

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# tests/conftest.py
+# Pytest configuration and shared fixtures for DevPath tests.
+
+import sys
+import os
+
+# Allow imports from the project root when running tests
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
+
+import pytest
+from app import app
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client():
+    """Provide a Flask test client for testing the application."""
+    app.config['TESTING'] = True
+    with app.test_client() as client:
+        yield client

tests/test_basic.py

@@ -221,6 +221,22 @@ def test_recommend_api_valid():
     assert len(data["projects"]) > 0
 
 
+def test_recommend_api_interest_not_available():
+    """The API should return no projects for blocked interest categories."""
+    client = get_client()
+    response = client.post("/api/recommend", json={
+        "skills": "Python, JavaScript",
+        "level": "Beginner",
+        "interest": "Machine Learning/AI",
+        "time": "Low"
+    })
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.get_json()
+    assert data["projects"] == []
+    assert "message" in data
+    assert "no projects are currently available" in data["message"].lower()
+
+
 def test_recommend_api_missing_field():
     """The API should return 400 when a required field is missing."""
     client = get_client()