fix: Enable dynamic student/teacher contact discovery, dual REST/WebSocket persistence, and multi-path .env detection

backend/app/Views/TeacherPortal.php

@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ class TeacherPortal
         function renderConversations(convs) {
             const container = document.getElementById('conv_list_container');
             if (!convs || convs.length === 0) {
-                container.innerHTML = '<div style="padding: 20px; text-align: center; color: var(--text-muted); font-size: 12px;">لا توجد رسائل سابقة. الطلاب المسجلون سيظهرون هنا فور سؤالهم.</div>';
+                container.innerHTML = '<div style="padding: 20px; text-align: center; color: var(--text-muted); font-size: 12px;">لا يوجد طلاب مسجلون حالياً. سيظهر الطلاب هنا فور تسجيلهم.</div>';
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -693,13 +693,18 @@ class TeacherPortal
                     <div class="conv-preview">${c.last_message || 'محادثة جديدة'}</div>
                 </div>
             `).join('');
+
+            // Auto-select first conversation if none is selected
+            if (!activeRecipientId && convs.length > 0) {
+                selectConversation(convs[0].user_id, convs[0].full_name);
+            }
         }
 
         async function selectConversation(userId, name) {
             activeRecipientId = userId;
             document.getElementById('active_chat_user_name').textContent = name;
-            loadConversations();
-
+            const items = document.querySelectorAll('.conv-item');
+            
             const token = localStorage.getItem('saqel_teacher_jwt');
             try {
                 const res = await fetch(`/api/chat/messages?other_user_id=${userId}`, {
@@ -709,7 +714,11 @@ class TeacherPortal
                 if (res.ok && data.status === 'success') {
                     const messagesArea = document.getElementById('chat_messages_area');
                     messagesArea.innerHTML = '';
-                    data.data.messages.forEach(msg => appendChatMessage(msg));
+                    if (data.data.messages.length === 0) {
+                        messagesArea.innerHTML = '<div style="text-align: center; color: var(--text-muted); font-size: 13px; margin-top: 60px;">بدء المحادثة مع الطالب ' + name + ' — اكتب رسالتك بالأسفل.</div>';
+                    } else {
+                        data.data.messages.forEach(msg => appendChatMessage(msg));
+                    }
                 }
             } catch (e) {
                 console.error('Fetch messages error:', e);
@@ -738,8 +747,32 @@ class TeacherPortal
             }
 
             input.value = '';
+            const token = localStorage.getItem('saqel_teacher_jwt');
 
-            // Try sending via Workerman WebSocket first
+            // 1. Send via REST API to ensure DB write
+            try {
+                const res = await fetch('/api/chat/messages', {
+                    method: 'POST',
+                    headers: {
+                        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+                        'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + token
+                    },
+                    body: JSON.stringify({
+                        receiver_id: activeRecipientId,
+                        message: message,
+                        message_type: 'text'
+                    })
+                });
+                const data = await res.json();
+                if (res.ok && data.data) {
+                    appendChatMessage({ message: message, is_mine: true, created_at: 'الآن' });
+                }
+            } catch (err) {
+                console.error('REST teacher chat notice:', err);
+                appendChatMessage({ message: message, is_mine: true, created_at: 'الآن' });
+            }
+
+            // 2. Broadcast via WebSocket
             if (wsSocket && wsSocket.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
                 wsSocket.send(JSON.stringify({
                     event: 'chat_send',
@@ -749,21 +782,6 @@ class TeacherPortal
                         message_type: 'text'
                     }
                 }));
-            } else {
-                // Fallback to REST API
-                const token = localStorage.getItem('saqel_teacher_jwt');
-                await fetch('/api/chat/messages', {
-                    method: 'POST',
-                    headers: {
-                        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
-                        'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + token
-                    },
-                    body: JSON.stringify({
-                        receiver_id: activeRecipientId,
-                        message: message
-                    })
-                });
-                appendChatMessage({ message: message, is_mine: true });
             }
         }