Fix onboarding loading gate for inactive subscriptions

backend/app.py

@@ -48,9 +48,6 @@ load_dotenv(backend_dir / '.env')  # backend/.env
 load_dotenv(project_root / '.env')  # root .env (fallback)
 load_dotenv()  # CWD .env (fallback)
 
-# Feature flags (read early so app wiring can rely on a single source of truth)
-PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE = os.getenv("PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE", "false").lower() == "true"
-
 # Set up clean logging for end users
 from logging_config import setup_clean_logging
 setup_clean_logging()
@@ -408,25 +405,9 @@ async def analyze_urls_ai_endpoint(request: AnalyzeURLsRequest, current_user: di
     """Run AI-powered SEO analysis on selected URLs."""
     return await analyze_urls_ai(request, current_user)
 
-# Centralized mode helpers for router wiring.
-# Keep all mode decisions in this section to avoid scattered env checks.
-def is_podcast_only_demo_mode() -> bool:
-    return PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE
-
-
-def should_include_non_podcast_routers() -> bool:
-    return not is_podcast_only_demo_mode()
-
-
-# Include Podcast Maker router (available in all modes)
-from api.podcast.router import router as podcast_router
-app.include_router(podcast_router)
-
-if should_include_non_podcast_routers():
 # Include platform analytics router
 from routers.platform_analytics import router as platform_analytics_router
 app.include_router(platform_analytics_router)
-
 # Include Bing Analytics Storage router to expose storage-backed endpoints
 from routers.bing_analytics_storage import router as bing_analytics_storage_router
 app.include_router(bing_analytics_storage_router)
@@ -439,6 +420,10 @@ if should_include_non_podcast_routers():
 from api.content_assets.router import router as content_assets_router
 app.include_router(content_assets_router)
 
+# Include Podcast Maker router
+from api.podcast.router import router as podcast_router
+app.include_router(podcast_router)
+
 # Include YouTube Creator Studio router
 from api.youtube.router import router as youtube_router
 app.include_router(youtube_router, prefix="/api")
@@ -462,8 +447,6 @@ if should_include_non_podcast_routers():
 # Today workflow routes
 from api.today_workflow import router as today_workflow_router
 app.include_router(today_workflow_router)
-else:
-    logger.info("PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE is enabled: non-podcast routers are not registered.")
 
 # Setup frontend serving using modular utilities
 frontend_serving.setup_frontend_serving()

backend/start_alwrity_backend.py

@@ -298,11 +298,6 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument("--dev", action="store_true", help="Enable development mode (auto-reload)")
     parser.add_argument("--production", action="store_true", help="Enable production mode (optimized for deployment)")
     parser.add_argument("--verbose", action="store_true", help="Enable verbose logging for debugging")
-    parser.add_argument(
-        "--podcast-only-demo",
-        action="store_true",
-        help="Enable podcast-only demo mode (sets PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE=true before app startup)",
-    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     
     # Determine mode
@@ -312,8 +307,6 @@ def main():
     
     # Set global verbose flag for utilities
     os.environ["ALWRITY_VERBOSE"] = "true" if verbose_mode else "false"
-    if args.podcast_only_demo:
-        os.environ["PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE"] = "true"
     
     print("[*] ALwrity Backend Server")
     print("=" * 40)
@@ -321,8 +314,6 @@ def main():
     print(f"Auto-reload: {'ENABLED' if enable_reload else 'DISABLED'}")
     if verbose_mode:
         print("Verbose logging: ENABLED")
-    if args.podcast_only_demo:
-        print("Podcast-only demo mode: ENABLED")
     print("=" * 40)
     
     # Check if we're in the right directory

frontend/src/App.tsx

@@ -280,10 +280,11 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
     );
   }
 
-  // Loading state - only wait for onboarding init, not subscription check
+  // Only block on onboarding initialization once we know the user has an active subscription.
-  // Subscription check is non-blocking and happens in background
+  // This allows no-subscription/inactive flows to continue even when onboarding data is still null.
-  const waitingForOnboardingInit = loading || !data;
+  const isActiveSubscriber = Boolean(subscription && subscription.active && subscription.plan !== 'none');
-  if (loading || waitingForOnboardingInit) {
+  const waitingForOnboardingInit = isActiveSubscriber && (loading || !data);
+  if (waitingForOnboardingInit) {
     return (
       <Box
         display="flex"
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
       >
         <CircularProgress size={60} />
         <Typography variant="h6" color="textSecondary">
-          {subscriptionLoading ? 'Checking subscription...' : 'Preparing your workspace...'}
+          Preparing your workspace...
         </Typography>
       </Box>
     );