WEBSITE ERROR RESOLUTION UPDATE - JULY 2025

Hello everyone,

I wanted to give you all a comprehensive update on some technical issues the Trongate website has been experiencing and the steps I've taken to resolve them.

WHAT WERE THE ISSUES?

Over the past few days, the error logs have been showing several types of warnings and errors:

1. file_get_contents() errors - These were preventing the website from fetching external resources properly
2. PHP Deprecated warnings - Specifically around str_replace() functions receiving null values
3. Undefined array key warnings - Occurring in the site builder modules
4. Fatal TypeError errors - Related to the url_title() function receiving null values

WHAT CAUSED THESE ISSUES?

The root causes were a mixture of factors:

- Web hosting environment changes - Some issues appear to stem from modifications made by the hosting provider
- PHP version updates - Newer PHP versions are stricter about data types and deprecated practices
- Code quality improvements needed - Some issues were down to areas where the code could be more robust

Where any of these issues have been caused by decisions or code I've written, I take full responsibility for that.

WHAT I'VE FIXED

1. file_get_contents() Errors
I've replaced all problematic file_get_contents() calls with proper cURL requests. This provides better error handling and is more reliable across different hosting environments.

2. PHP Deprecated Warnings
I've updated the validation assist module to properly handle null values, using modern PHP null coalescing operators where appropriate.

3. Site Builder Module Issues
Fixed undefined array key warnings in the site_builder_controller_builder module by adding proper null checks and array initialisation.

MY STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD

Rather than simply applying quick fixes to suppress error messages, I've taken a more strategic approach:

1. Fresh monitoring - I've cleared the error log completely and am now monitoring it closely in real-time
2. Root cause analysis - When new errors appear, I'll trace them back to their source rather than just masking symptoms
3. Proactive fixes - This approach will help me build a more robust platform by addressing fundamental issues rather than surface problems

CURRENT STATUS

I'm pleased to report that the website is now running much more smoothly. All critical errors have been resolved, and I'm feeling much happier and more optimistic about where things are technically.

The error monitoring system is now in place, which means I can catch and resolve any future issues quickly and efficiently.

THANK YOU

Thanks for your patience whilst I worked through these technical challenges. The website should now provide a much more stable experience for everyone.

Special thanks to Dan and Simon for their help with this - their assistance was invaluable in getting these issues sorted.

If you notice any unusual behaviour or errors, please don't hesitate to report them - the new monitoring approach means I can respond much more effectively.

Best regards,

DC

-> This message was generated with the help of some AI.

Also, I meant to say - you should now be able to go back to using the normal desktop app again. The download links are working again.

The URL is: https://trongate.io/download

Hi DC, the previously installed Desktop app I had on my Windows dev PC is now behaving itself - thanks again!

Thank you. You've just made my day!

I'm pleased to say we have 0 errors on the error_log. Hopefully we are on the home straight.

Time to take a breath!