refactor: Remove experience level from recommendation system

- Remove experienceLevel from UserProfile, RecommendationRequest, and PackagePreset types
- Remove experience level validation and handling from GET/POST endpoints
- Disable localStorage persistence in useRecommendationProfile hook (session-only storage)
- Disable automatic onboarding modal on first visit
- Set recommendations section to expanded by default
- Add empty state card for recommendations with wizard button
- Add translations

src/app/api/recommendations/route.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from "next/server";
 import { RecommendationService } from "@/services/recommendationService";
-import { RecommendationRequest, UserCategory, ExperienceLevel } from "@/types/recommendations";
+import { RecommendationRequest, UserCategory } from "@/types/recommendations";
 
 export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
   try {
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
       {
         platform_id: body.platform_id,
         categories: body.categories,
-        experienceLevel: body.experienceLevel,
         limit,
       }
     );
@@ -90,7 +89,6 @@ export async function POST(request: NextRequest) {
       userProfile: {
         categories: body.categories,
         platform: body.platform_id,
-        experienceLevel: body.experienceLevel,
       },
     });
   } catch (error) {
@@ -110,7 +108,6 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
     const platformId = searchParams.get("platform_id");
     const categoriesParam = searchParams.get("categories");
-    const experienceLevel = searchParams.get("experience_level");
     const limit = searchParams.get("limit");
 
     // Validate required fields
@@ -174,17 +171,6 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
       );
     }
 
-    // Validate experience level if provided
-    const validExperienceLevels: ExperienceLevel[] = ["beginner", "intermediate", "advanced"];
-    if (experienceLevel && !validExperienceLevels.includes(experienceLevel as ExperienceLevel)) {
-      return NextResponse.json(
-        {
-          error: `Invalid experience_level. Must be one of: ${validExperienceLevels.join(", ")}`,
-        },
-        { status: 400 }
-      );
-    }
-
     // Set default limit
     const parsedLimit =
       limit && parseInt(limit) > 0 && parseInt(limit) <= 50
@@ -196,7 +182,6 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
       {
         platform_id: platformId,
         categories: categories as UserCategory[],
-        experienceLevel: experienceLevel as ExperienceLevel | undefined,
         limit: parsedLimit,
       }
     );
@@ -207,7 +192,6 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
       userProfile: {
         categories,
         platform: platformId,
-        experienceLevel,
       },
     });
   } catch (error) {

src/components/RecommendationsSection.tsx

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export function RecommendationsSection({
     const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
     const [viewMode, setViewMode] = useState<ViewMode>('grid')
     const [filterCategory, setFilterCategory] = useState<FilterCategory>('all')
-    const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(false)
+    const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(true)
 
     const fetchRecommendations = async () => {
         if (!isProfileComplete()) {
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ export function RecommendationsSection({
                 body: JSON.stringify({
                     platform_id: getEffectiveOS(),
                     categories: profile.categories,
-                    experienceLevel: profile.experienceLevel,
                     limit: 1000
                 })
             })
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ export function RecommendationsSection({
             // But for now, let's rely on the cache key changing which includes profile data
             fetchRecommendations()
         }
-    }, [profile.categories, profile.selectedOS, profile.experienceLevel])
+    }, [profile.categories, profile.selectedOS])
 
     const isPackageSelected = (pkg: RecommendedPackage) => {
         return selectedPackages.some(selected => selected.id === pkg.id)

src/components/RepoHubApp.tsx

@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ import { generateScript } from '@/lib/scriptGenerator'
 import { useLocale } from '@/contexts/LocaleContext'
 import { useRecommendationProfile } from '@/hooks/useRecommendationProfile'
 import { Platform, Package, SelectedPackage, FilterOptions, GeneratedScript } from '@/types'
-import { UserCategory, ExperienceLevel } from '@/types/recommendations'
+import { UserCategory } from '@/types/recommendations'
+import { Sparkles, Settings, Package as PackageIcon } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Card, CardContent } from '@/components/ui/card'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 
 function RepoHubAppContent({ cryptomusEnabled }: { cryptomusEnabled: boolean }) {
   const { t, locale } = useLocale()
@@ -50,7 +53,8 @@ function RepoHubAppContent({ cryptomusEnabled }: { cryptomusEnabled: boolean })
     loadPlatforms()
   }, [])
 
-  // Show onboarding modal on first visit
+  // Show onboarding modal on first visit - DISABLED as per user request
+  /*
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isProfileLoading && !hasCompletedOnboarding) {
       // Delay to allow page to render first
@@ -60,18 +64,17 @@ function RepoHubAppContent({ cryptomusEnabled }: { cryptomusEnabled: boolean })
       return () => clearTimeout(timer)
     }
   }, [isProfileLoading, hasCompletedOnboarding])
+  */
 
   const handleOnboardingComplete = (data: {
     categories: UserCategory[]
     selectedOS?: string
-    experienceLevel: ExperienceLevel
   }) => {
     console.log('🎯 Onboarding completed with data:', data)
 
     const success = saveProfile({
       categories: data.categories,
       selectedOS: data.selectedOS,
-      experienceLevel: data.experienceLevel,
       hasCompletedOnboarding: true
     })
 
@@ -192,13 +195,32 @@ function RepoHubAppContent({ cryptomusEnabled }: { cryptomusEnabled: boolean })
         {/* Main Content */}
         <div className="space-y-8">
           {/* Recommendations Section - Show if profile is complete */}
-          {hasCompletedOnboarding && profile.categories.length > 0 && (
+          {hasCompletedOnboarding && profile.categories.length > 0 ? (
             <RecommendationsSection
               onPackageToggle={handlePackageToggle}
               selectedPackages={selectedPackages}
               onCustomizeClick={handleCustomizePreferences}
               profile={profile}
             />
+          ) : (
+            /* Empty State for Recommendations */
+            <Card className="w-full bg-gradient-to-r from-primary/5 to-secondary/5 border-dashed">
+              <CardContent className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-12 text-center">
+                <div className="bg-background p-4 rounded-full shadow-sm mb-4">
+                  <Sparkles className="h-8 w-8 text-primary" />
+                </div>
+                <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold mb-2">
+                  {t('recommendations.empty_title') || 'Get Personalized Recommendations'}
+                </h3>
+                <p className="text-muted-foreground max-w-md mb-6">
+                  {t('recommendations.empty_description') || 'Tell us about your role and platform to get a curated list of essential packages.'}
+                </p>
+                <Button onClick={handleCustomizePreferences} size="lg">
+                  <Sparkles className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  {t('recommendations.start') || 'Start Recommendation Wizard'}
+                </Button>
+              </CardContent>
+            </Card>
           )}
 
 

src/contexts/LocaleContext.tsx

@@ -188,6 +188,9 @@ const translations = {
       reason: "Why recommended:",
       based_on: "Based on your interests in:",
       packages: "packages",
+      empty_title: "Get Personalized Recommendations",
+      empty_description: "Tell us about your role and platform to get a curated list of essential packages.",
+      start: "Start Recommendation Wizard",
       sort: {
         recommended: "Best Match",
         popular: "Popular",
@@ -378,6 +381,9 @@ const translations = {
       reason: "Neden önerildi:",
       based_on: "İlgi alanlarınıza göre:",
       packages: "paket",
+      empty_title: "Kişiselleştirilmiş Öneriler Alın",
+      empty_description: "Size temel paketlerden oluşan bir liste sunmamız için kategorileri ve platformunuzu belirtin.",
+      start: "Öneri Sihirbazını Başlat",
       sort: {
         recommended: "En Uygun",
         popular: "Popüler",

src/hooks/useRecommendationProfile.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
 import {
   UserProfile,
   UserCategory,
-  ExperienceLevel,
 } from "@/types/recommendations";
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = "repohub_user_profile";
@@ -83,46 +82,16 @@ export function useRecommendationProfile() {
 
   // Load profile from localStorage on mount
   useEffect(() => {
-    try {
+    // We intentionally do NOT load from localStorage anymore to reset on refresh
-      const stored = localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY);
+    // as requested by user preference change.
-      if (stored) {
-        const parsed = JSON.parse(stored) as UserProfile;
     
-        // Handle version migration
+    // Initialize with default profile (detects OS)
-        if (!parsed.version || parsed.version < CURRENT_PROFILE_VERSION) {
-          console.log(
-            "Migrating profile from version",
-            parsed.version || 0,
-            "to",
-            CURRENT_PROFILE_VERSION
-          );
-          // Add migration logic here when schema changes in the future
-          parsed.version = CURRENT_PROFILE_VERSION;
-        }
-
-        // Update detectedOS if it changed
-        const currentOS = detectOS();
-        if (parsed.detectedOS !== currentOS) {
-          parsed.detectedOS = currentOS;
-        }
-
-        setProfile(parsed);
-        // Save migrated profile
-        localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(parsed));
-      } else {
-        // First time user - save default profile
     const defaultProfile = getDefaultProfile();
     setProfile(defaultProfile);
-        localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(defaultProfile));
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.error("Error loading user profile:", error);
-    } finally {
     setIsLoading(false);
-    }
   }, []);
 
-  // Save profile to localStorage
+  // Save profile to state only (session persistence)
   const saveProfile = useCallback(
     (newProfile: Partial<UserProfile>) => {
       try {
@@ -133,12 +102,10 @@ export function useRecommendationProfile() {
           lastUpdated: new Date().toISOString(),
         };
 
-        console.log("💾 Saving profile:", updated);
+        console.log("💾 Saving profile (Session only):", updated);
 
         setProfile(updated);
-        localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(updated));
+        // localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(updated)); // Disabled persistence
-
-        console.log("✅ Profile saved successfully to localStorage");
 
         return true;
       } catch (error) {
@@ -177,7 +144,7 @@ export function useRecommendationProfile() {
     try {
       const defaultProfile = getDefaultProfile();
       setProfile(defaultProfile);
-      localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(defaultProfile));
+      // localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(defaultProfile)); // Disabled persistence
       return true;
     } catch (error) {
       console.error("Error resetting user profile:", error);

src/types/recommendations.ts

@@ -12,11 +12,6 @@ export type UserCategory =
   | "productivity"
   | "education";
 
-/**
- * User experience level
- */
-export type ExperienceLevel = "beginner" | "intermediate" | "advanced";
-
 /**
  * User profile stored in localStorage
  */
@@ -25,7 +20,6 @@ export interface UserProfile {
   categories: UserCategory[];
   detectedOS?: string;
   selectedOS?: string; // Manual override
-  experienceLevel?: ExperienceLevel;
   hasCompletedOnboarding: boolean;
   createdAt: string;
   lastUpdated: string;
@@ -37,7 +31,6 @@ export interface UserProfile {
 export interface RecommendationRequest {
   platform_id: string;
   categories: UserCategory[];
-  experienceLevel?: ExperienceLevel;
   limit?: number;
 }
 
@@ -76,7 +69,6 @@ export interface PackagePreset {
   platforms: string[]; // ['windows', 'macos', 'ubuntu', 'arch', 'fedora']
   priority: number; // 1-10, higher = more important
   reason: string; // Why this package is recommended
-  experienceLevel?: ExperienceLevel[]; // Target experience levels
 }
 
 /**