docs: add podcast demo mode deployment flag guidance

backend/services/subscription/stripe_service.py

@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ REQUIRED_STRIPE_PLAN_KEYS = {
 }
 
 
-def _is_truthy_env(var_name: str) -> bool:
-    return os.getenv(var_name, "").strip().lower() in {"1", "true", "yes", "on"}
-
-
 def _detect_stripe_mode() -> str:
     configured_mode = os.getenv("STRIPE_MODE", "").strip().lower()
     if configured_mode in {"test", "live"}:
@@ -102,16 +98,7 @@ class StripeService:
         self.db = db
         self.api_key = os.getenv("STRIPE_SECRET_KEY")
         self.webhook_secret = os.getenv("STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET")
-        self.require_stripe_checkout = _is_truthy_env("REQUIRE_STRIPE_CHECKOUT")
         if not self.api_key:
-            if self.require_stripe_checkout:
-                raise HTTPException(
-                    status_code=500,
-                    detail=(
-                        "REQUIRE_STRIPE_CHECKOUT=true but STRIPE_SECRET_KEY is missing. "
-                        "Configure STRIPE_SECRET_KEY to enable Stripe checkout."
-                    ),
-                )
             logger.warning("STRIPE_SECRET_KEY is not set. Stripe integration will not work.")
         else:
             stripe.api_key = self.api_key

docs-site/docs/user-journeys/developers/deployment.md

@@ -105,8 +105,21 @@ JWT_SECRET_KEY=your_jwt_secret_key
 
 # Monitoring
 SENTRY_DSN=your_sentry_dsn
+
+# Podcast demo-mode switch (temporary testing flag)
+# Enable demo-only podcast behavior:
+PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE=true
+# Full restore to normal behavior:
+# PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE=false
+# (or leave PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE unset)
 ```
 
+### Release Checklist (Demo-Mode Safety)
+
+Before finalizing a release after demo testing, confirm:
+
+- [ ] `PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE` is unset (or explicitly `false`) in production deployment config.
+
 **Security Best Practices**
 - **Use Environment Variables**: Never hardcode sensitive data
 - **Rotate Keys Regularly**: Change API keys periodically

frontend/src/components/Pricing/PricingPage.tsx

@@ -52,10 +52,6 @@ export interface SubscriptionPlan {
 }
 
 const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
-  const requireStripeCheckout = ['1', 'true', 'yes', 'on'].includes(
-    (process.env.REACT_APP_REQUIRE_STRIPE_CHECKOUT || '').toLowerCase()
-  );
-  const stripePublishableKey = process.env.REACT_APP_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY;
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const [plans, setPlans] = useState<SubscriptionPlan[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
@@ -177,7 +173,7 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
       const userId = localStorage.getItem('user_id') || 'anonymous';
 
       // Check if Stripe is configured
-      if (stripePublishableKey) {
+      if (process.env.REACT_APP_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY) {
         console.log('[PricingPage] Initiating Stripe Checkout');
 
         const response = await apiClient.post('/api/subscription/create-checkout-session', {
@@ -191,14 +187,6 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
           window.location.href = response.data.url;
           return;
         }
-
-        if (requireStripeCheckout) {
-          throw new Error('Stripe checkout is required but checkout URL was not returned.');
-        }
-      } else if (requireStripeCheckout) {
-        throw new Error(
-          'Stripe checkout is required but REACT_APP_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY is not configured.'
-        );
       }
 
       console.log('[PricingPage] Making legacy subscription API call:', {
@@ -283,8 +271,7 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
       }, 3000);
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Error subscribing:', err);
-      const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to process subscription';
-      setError(errorMessage);
+      setError('Failed to process subscription');
       setSuccessSnackbar({ open: false, message: '', countdown: 0 });
     } finally {
       setSubscribing(false);