refactor: basic URL validation, better frontend docs

Author: benjaspet

docs/CONTRIBUTING.md CONTRIBUTING.mddocs/CONTRIBUTING.md renamed to CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 ### Best Practices
 
-- We use [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/) for our commit messages. This methodology ensures uniformity, clarity, and ease of understanding for all contributors.
+- We use [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/) for our commit messages for uniformity and clarity.
 - Make sure to write tests for the most complex parts of your code.
 - For manual API testing, include screenshots from Postman.
 - Go uses **TitleCase** and React Native uses **camelCase** for naming conventions.

docs/FRONTEND-SETUP.md

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+### Frontend Setup
+
+**Please set up the backend before proceeding.**
+
+### Configure Environment Variables
+```shell
+# Make an .env file in the frontend directory using the template in .env.example.
+cd frontend && cp ../.env.example .env
+
+# Configure your environment variables in your IDE or using a command line text editor.
+vim .env 
+```
+
+### Enter the Development Environment
+```shell
+# Enter the development environment in the root directory.
+cd ../ && nix develop --impure
+```
+
+### Install Frontend Dependencies
+```shell
+# Use bun to install frontend dependencies.
+cd frontend && bun install
+```
+
+### Ensure the backend is running
+```shell
+# Create *another terminal window* and run the following:
+backend-run
+```
+
+### Run the frontend
+```shell
+frontend run
+```
+
+Finally, you can scan the QR code with the Expo Go app installed to view a development build with hot reloading.
+You can also use iOS/Android simulators to simulate & test the app on your computer.

docs/frontend.md

@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
 import { Link } from "expo-router";
 import { openBrowserAsync } from "expo-web-browser";
 import { type ComponentProps } from "react";
-import { Platform } from "react-native";
+import { Platform, Alert } from "react-native";
 
 type Props = Omit<ComponentProps<typeof Link>, "href"> & { href: string | any };
 
+function isValidUrl(url: string): boolean {
+    try {
+        new URL(url);
+        return true;
+    } catch {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
 export function ExternalLink({ href, ...rest }: Props) {
     return (
         <Link
@@ -13,9 +22,13 @@ export function ExternalLink({ href, ...rest }: Props) {
             href={href}
             onPress={async (event) => {
                 if (Platform.OS !== "web") {
-                    // Prevent the default behavior of linking to the default browser on native.
                     event.preventDefault();
-                    // Open the link in an in-app browser.
+
+                    if (!isValidUrl(href)) {
+                        Alert.alert("Invalid URL", "An invalid URL was provided.");
+                        return;
+                    }
+
                     await openBrowserAsync(href);
                 }
             }}