backend/src/routes/exerciseResearch.js

@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ const createExerciseResearchRouter = ({ pool, exaSearch }) => {
         ? Math.min(requestedResults, 10)
         : 5;
 
-      const { summary, results } = await exaSearch({ query, numResults });
+      // Fetch research with fallback support
+      const { summary, results, provider, status } = await exaSearch({ query, numResults });
 
       let researchRecord = null;
       try {
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ const createExerciseResearchRouter = ({ pool, exaSearch }) => {
           `INSERT INTO research_results (exercise_id, query, summary, results, provider)
            VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
            RETURNING id, created_at`,
-          [exerciseId, query, summary, JSON.stringify(results), 'exa']
+          [exerciseId, query, summary, JSON.stringify(results), provider || 'exa']
         );
         researchRecord = insertResult.rows[0] || null;
       } catch (err) {
@@ -65,11 +66,16 @@ const createExerciseResearchRouter = ({ pool, exaSearch }) => {
         query,
         summary,
         results,
-        stored: researchRecord
+        stored: researchRecord,
+        provider: provider || 'exa',
+        status: status || 'success'
       });
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Error running exercise research:', err);
-      res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to fetch research' });
+      res.status(500).json({ 
+        error: 'Failed to fetch research',
+        message: err.message 
+      });
     }
   });
 

backend/src/services/exaSearch.js

@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-const { generateWithFallback } = require('../utils/gemini-fallback');
-
 const DEFAULT_EXA_API_URL = 'https://api.exa.ai/search';
 
 const buildSummary = (results) => {
@@ -22,56 +20,51 @@ const buildSummary = (results) => {
   return snippets.slice(0, 3).join(' ');
 };
 
-const generateFallbackSummary = async (query, numResults) => {
+/**
-  try {
+ * Create synthetic results for fallback scenarios
-    console.log('🔄 Fallback: Generating AI summary for query:', query);
+ * Generates plausible web search results when primary API is unavailable
-    const prompt = `Provide a concise summary of exercise form and technique for: "${query}". Include key points about proper form, common mistakes, and benefits. Keep it to 2-3 sentences.`;
+ */
+const createFallbackResults = (query, numResults = 5) => {
+  const sources = [
+    { domain: 'wikipedia.org', title: `${query} - Wikipedia` },
+    { domain: 'youtube.com', title: `${query} Tutorial | How to Perform Correctly` },
+    { domain: 'fitnessforum.com', title: `Best Practices for ${query} Form and Technique` },
+    { domain: 'acefitness.org', title: `Exercise Guide: ${query}` },
+    { domain: 'stronglifts.com', title: `${query} Guide: Everything You Need to Know` },
+    { domain: 'bodybuilding.com', title: `${query} Exercise - Benefits and Variations` },
+    { domain: 'nhs.uk', title: `${query}: Health Benefits and Safety` },
+    { domain: 'healthline.com', title: `${query}: Technique, Benefits & Common Mistakes` }
+  ];
 
-    const response = await generateWithFallback(prompt, {
+  return sources.slice(0, numResults).map((source, index) => ({
-      temperature: 0.7,
+    id: `fallback-${index}`,
-      maxTokens: 256
+    title: source.title,
-    });
+    url: `https://${source.domain}/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`,
-
+    snippet: `Learn about proper ${query} technique, benefits, and safety precautions.`,
-    if (response.success && response.data) {
+    publishedDate: new Date().toISOString(),
-      console.log(`✅ AI fallback summary generated (provider: ${response.provider})`);
+    score: 0.8 - (index * 0.05),
-      // Extract text from the appropriate response format
+    isFallback: true,
-      let summaryText = '';
+    provider: 'fallback'
-      if (response.data.response) {
+  }));
-        summaryText = response.data.response;
-      } else if (response.data.choices?.[0]?.message?.content) {
-        summaryText = response.data.choices[0].message.content;
-      }
-      
-      return {
-        summary: summaryText,
-        results: [], // No source links from AI fallback
-        provider: response.provider
-      };
-    }
-  } catch (err) {
-    console.error('AI fallback summary generation failed:', err.message);
-  }
-
-  // Last resort: simple template
-  return {
-    summary: `Exercise information for ${query}. Consult a fitness professional for proper form and safety guidelines.`,
-    results: [],
-    provider: 'template'
-  };
 };
 
+/**
+ * Main research search function with Exa API + fallback support
+ * Tier 1: Exa API (primary)
+ * Tier 2: Fallback to synthetic results with suggested sources
+ */
 const searchExerciseResearch = async ({ query, numResults = 5 }) => {
   if (!query || typeof query !== 'string') {
     throw new Error('Query must be a non-empty string');
   }
 
   const apiKey = process.env.EXA_API_KEY;
+  const apiUrl = process.env.EXA_API_URL || DEFAULT_EXA_API_URL;
 
-  // Tier 1: Try Exa API if configured
+  // Tier 1: Try Exa API (primary)
   if (apiKey) {
     try {
-      console.log('📍 Tier 1: Attempting Exa search API...');
+      console.log(`📍 [Research] Attempting Exa API for: "${query}"`);
-      const apiUrl = process.env.EXA_API_URL || DEFAULT_EXA_API_URL;
       
       const response = await fetch(apiUrl, {
         method: 'POST',
@@ -84,10 +77,13 @@ const searchExerciseResearch = async ({ query, numResults = 5 }) => {
           numResults,
           type: 'neural',
           useAutoprompt: true
-        })
+        }),
+        timeout: 30000
       });
 
       if (!response.ok) {
+        const text = await response.text();
+        console.warn(`⚠️ [Research] Exa API error: ${response.status}`);
         throw new Error(`Exa search failed: ${response.status}`);
       }
 
@@ -101,27 +97,38 @@ const searchExerciseResearch = async ({ query, numResults = 5 }) => {
           : result.snippet,
         highlight: result.highlight,
         publishedDate: result.publishedDate,
-        score: result.score
+        score: result.score,
+        provider: 'exa'
       }));
 
-      console.log('✅ Exa API success');
+      console.log(`✅ [Research] Exa API success - ${results.length} results`);
+      
       return {
         summary: buildSummary(results),
         results,
-        provider: 'exa'
+        provider: 'exa',
+        status: 'success'
       };
     } catch (err) {
-      console.warn(`⚠️ Exa API failed: ${err.message}, falling back to AI...`);
+      console.warn(`⚠️ [Research] Exa API failed: ${err.message}`);
     }
   } else {
-    console.warn('⚠️ EXA_API_KEY not configured, using AI fallback...');
+    console.warn('⚠️ [Research] EXA_API_KEY not configured, using fallback');
   }
 
-  // Tier 2: Fallback to AI-generated summary
+  // Tier 2: Fallback to synthetic results with suggested sources
-  return generateFallbackSummary(query, numResults);
+  console.log(`📍 [Research] Using fallback results for: "${query}"`);
+  const fallbackResults = createFallbackResults(query, numResults);
+  
+  return {
+    summary: `Research sources for "${query}". Click links below to learn more about this exercise.`,
+    results: fallbackResults,
+    provider: 'fallback',
+    status: 'degraded'
+  };
 };
 
 module.exports = {
   searchExerciseResearch,
-  generateFallbackSummary
+  createFallbackResults
 };

frontend/src/App.css

@@ -3168,3 +3168,302 @@
 .modal-btn.confirm:active:not(:disabled) {
   transform: scale(0.98);
 }
+
+/* ============================================
+   RESEARCH DISPLAY COMPONENT
+   ============================================ */
+
+.research-panel {
+  margin: var(--space-4) 0;
+  padding: var(--space-4);
+  background: var(--bg-card);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+}
+
+.research-panel-header {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  align-items: center;
+  margin-bottom: var(--space-4);
+  gap: var(--space-3);
+}
+
+.research-panel-title {
+  font-size: var(--font-lg);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.research-btn {
+  padding: 8px 16px;
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+/* Loading State */
+.rd-loading {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: var(--space-3);
+  padding: var(--space-6);
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+}
+
+.rd-spinner {
+  width: 32px;
+  height: 32px;
+  border: 2px solid var(--border);
+  border-top-color: var(--accent);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  animation: spin 1s linear infinite;
+}
+
+.rd-loading-text {
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+  text-align: center;
+}
+
+.rd-loading-text em {
+  color: var(--accent);
+  font-style: normal;
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+
+/* Error State */
+.rd-error {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--space-3);
+  padding: var(--space-3);
+  background: rgba(255, 107, 74, 0.1);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 107, 74, 0.3);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  color: #ff6b4a;
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+}
+
+.rd-error-icon {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  font-size: var(--font-lg);
+}
+
+.rd-error-message {
+  flex: 1;
+}
+
+.rd-dismiss {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  background: none;
+  border: none;
+  color: inherit;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: var(--font-lg);
+  padding: 0;
+  opacity: 0.7;
+  transition: opacity var(--transition-base);
+}
+
+.rd-dismiss:hover {
+  opacity: 1;
+}
+
+/* Results Container */
+.rd-results {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--space-4);
+}
+
+.rd-header {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: var(--space-3);
+}
+
+.rd-header-content {
+  flex: 1;
+}
+
+/* Summary Section */
+.rd-summary {
+  margin-bottom: var(--space-4);
+}
+
+.rd-section-title {
+  font-size: var(--font-md);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--space-2);
+  margin: 0 0 var(--space-2) 0;
+}
+
+.rd-section-icon {
+  font-size: var(--font-lg);
+}
+
+.rd-count {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  background: var(--bg-secondary);
+  padding: 2px 8px;
+  border-radius: 12px;
+}
+
+.rd-summary-text {
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+  line-height: 1.6;
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+/* Sources List */
+.rd-sources {
+  margin-top: var(--space-4);
+}
+
+.rd-sources-list {
+  list-style: none;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: 0;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--space-2);
+}
+
+.rd-source-item {
+  padding: var(--space-3);
+  background: var(--bg-secondary);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  transition: all var(--transition-base);
+}
+
+.rd-source-item:hover {
+  background: var(--bg-card-hover);
+  border-color: var(--accent);
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(255, 107, 74, 0.1);
+}
+
+.rd-source-link {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: flex-start;
+  gap: var(--space-2);
+  color: var(--accent);
+  text-decoration: none;
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  transition: color var(--transition-base);
+}
+
+.rd-source-link:hover {
+  color: #ff8066;
+}
+
+.rd-source-index {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 24px;
+  height: 24px;
+  background: var(--accent);
+  color: white;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+}
+
+.rd-source-title {
+  flex: 1;
+  word-break: break-word;
+}
+
+.rd-source-arrow {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  opacity: 0.6;
+}
+
+.rd-source-snippet {
+  margin: var(--space-2) 0 0 0;
+  padding: 0 0 0  32px;
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  line-height: 1.5;
+}
+
+.rd-source-badge {
+  display: inline-block;
+  margin-top: var(--space-2);
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  background: rgba(255, 107, 74, 0.15);
+  color: var(--accent);
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.5px;
+}
+
+/* Empty State */
+.rd-empty {
+  padding: var(--space-4);
+  text-align: center;
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: var(--font-sm);
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+/* Provider Badge */
+.rd-provider-badge {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--space-2);
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.rd-provider-primary {
+  background: rgba(100, 200, 255, 0.15);
+  color: #64c8ff;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(100, 200, 255, 0.3);
+}
+
+.rd-provider-secondary {
+  background: rgba(200, 150, 255, 0.15);
+  color: #c896ff;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(200, 150, 255, 0.3);
+}
+
+.rd-provider-accent {
+  background: rgba(255, 107, 74, 0.15);
+  color: var(--accent);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 107, 74, 0.3);
+}
+
+.rd-provider-degraded {
+  opacity: 0.8;
+}
+
+.rd-provider-status {
+  display: inline-block;
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  opacity: 0.8;
+}
+
+.rd-provider-label {
+  display: inline;
+}

frontend/src/components/ExerciseResearchPanel.jsx

@@ -1,52 +1,16 @@
-import { useState, useCallback } from 'react'
+import { useState } from 'react'
 import ResearchDisplay from './ResearchDisplay'
 
 const API_URL = '/api'
 
-const PROVIDER_LABELS = {
-  ollama: { label: 'Local AI', icon: '🏠', className: 'provider-local' },
-  gemini: { label: 'Gemini', icon: '✨', className: 'provider-gemini' },
-  openrouter: { label: 'OpenRouter', icon: '🔀', className: 'provider-openrouter' },
-  opencode: { label: 'OpenCode', icon: '💡', className: 'provider-opencode' },
-  exa: { label: 'Exa Search', icon: '🔍', className: 'provider-exa' },
-}
-
-const ERROR_MESSAGES = {
-  'Failed to fetch': 'Network error — check your connection and try again.',
-  'Load failed': 'Network error — check your connection and try again.',
-  '429': 'AI provider is rate-limited. Retrying with fallback…',
-  '503': 'Service unavailable. Retrying with fallback…',
-  '500': 'Server error while fetching research.',
-}
-
-function normalizeErrorMessage(err) {
-  for (const [key, msg] of Object.entries(ERROR_MESSAGES)) {
-    if (err.message.includes(key)) return msg
-  }
-  return err.message || 'An unexpected error occurred.'
-}
-
-function ProviderBadge({ provider }) {
-  if (!provider) return null
-  const meta = PROVIDER_LABELS[provider] || { label: provider, icon: '🤖', className: 'provider-unknown' }
-  return (
-    <span className={`provider-badge ${meta.className}`} title={`Powered by ${meta.label}`}>
-      {meta.icon} {meta.label}
-    </span>
-  )
-}
-
 function ExerciseResearchPanel({ exerciseId, exerciseName }) {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false)
   const [research, setResearch] = useState(null)
   const [error, setError] = useState(null)
-  const [provider, setProvider] = useState(null)
-  const [retryCount, setRetryCount] = useState(0)
 
-  const fetchResearch = useCallback(async (attempt = 0) => {
+  const fetchResearch = async () => {
     setLoading(true)
     setError(null)
-
     try {
       const res = await fetch(`${API_URL}/exercises/${exerciseId}/research`, {
         method: 'POST',
@@ -54,66 +18,40 @@ function ExerciseResearchPanel({ exerciseId, exerciseName }) {
         body: JSON.stringify({})
       })
 
+      // Parse response regardless of status
+      const data = await res.json();
+
       if (!res.ok) {
-        let errMsg = `Request failed (${res.status})`
+        throw new Error(data.error || data.message || 'Failed to fetch research')
-        try {
-          const data = await res.json()
-          errMsg = data.error || errMsg
-        } catch {
-          // ignore JSON parse error
-        }
-
-        // Auto-retry once on 429/503 (provider fallback happening on backend)
-        if ((res.status === 429 || res.status === 503) && attempt < 1) {
-          console.warn(`[Research] Status ${res.status}, retrying (attempt ${attempt + 1})…`)
-          setRetryCount(c => c + 1)
-          setTimeout(() => fetchResearch(attempt + 1), 2000)
-          return
-        }
-
-        throw new Error(errMsg)
       }
 
-      const data = await res.json()
+      // Include provider and status info from response
-      setResearch(data)
+      setResearch({
-
+        summary: data.summary,
-      // Extract provider from stored record or response metadata
+        results: data.results,
-      const detectedProvider =
+        provider: data.provider,
-        data.provider ||
+        status: data.status
-        (data.stored && data.stored.provider) ||
+      })
-        null
-      setProvider(detectedProvider)
-      setRetryCount(0)
     } catch (err) {
-      console.error('[Research] Fetch failed:', err)
+      console.error('Research fetch error:', err);
-      setError(normalizeErrorMessage(err))
+      setError(err.message)
     } finally {
       setLoading(false)
     }
-  }, [exerciseId])
+  }
-
-  const handleFetch = () => fetchResearch(0)
 
   return (
     <div className="research-panel">
       <div className="research-panel-header">
         <h3 className="research-panel-title">Research</h3>
-        <div className="research-panel-controls">
+        <button
-          {provider && <ProviderBadge provider={provider} />}
+          className={`btn ${research ? 'btn-secondary' : 'btn-primary'} research-btn`}
-          <button
+          onClick={fetchResearch}
-            className={`btn ${research ? 'btn-secondary' : 'btn-primary'} research-btn`}
+          disabled={loading}
-            onClick={handleFetch}
+          title={research ? 'Refresh research results' : 'Fetch research for this exercise'}
-            disabled={loading}
+        >
-          >
+          {loading ? 'Fetching…' : research ? 'Refresh' : 'Get Research'}
-            {loading
+        </button>
-              ? retryCount > 0
-                ? `Retrying (${retryCount})…`
-                : 'Fetching…'
-              : research
-              ? 'Refresh'
-              : 'Get Research'}
-          </button>
-        </div>
       </div>
 
       <ResearchDisplay
@@ -122,7 +60,6 @@ function ExerciseResearchPanel({ exerciseId, exerciseName }) {
         data={research}
         name={exerciseName}
         onDismiss={() => setError(null)}
-        onRetry={handleFetch}
       />
     </div>
   )

frontend/src/components/ResearchDisplay.jsx

@@ -9,23 +9,16 @@ function ResearchLoadingSkeleton({ exerciseName }) {
   )
 }
 
-function ResearchError({ message, onDismiss, onRetry }) {
+function ResearchError({ message, onDismiss }) {
   return (
     <div className="rd-error" role="alert">
       <span className="rd-error-icon" aria-hidden="true">⚠</span>
       <span className="rd-error-message">{message}</span>
-      <div className="rd-error-actions">
+      {onDismiss && (
-        {onRetry && (
+        <button className="rd-dismiss" onClick={onDismiss} aria-label="Dismiss error">
-          <button className="rd-retry btn btn-sm btn-primary" onClick={onRetry}>
+          ×
-            Retry
+        </button>
-          </button>
+      )}
-        )}
-        {onDismiss && (
-          <button className="rd-dismiss" onClick={onDismiss} aria-label="Dismiss error">
-            ×
-          </button>
-        )}
-      </div>
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -46,28 +39,56 @@ function ResearchSourceCard({ result, index }) {
       {result.snippet && (
         <p className="rd-source-snippet">{result.snippet}</p>
       )}
+      {result.isFallback && (
+        <span className="rd-source-badge">Suggested</span>
+      )}
     </li>
   )
 }
 
+function ResearchProviderBadge({ provider, status }) {
+  if (!provider) return null;
+
+  const badgeConfig = {
+    exa: { emoji: '🔍', label: 'Exa Search', color: 'primary' },
+    fallback: { emoji: '🔗', label: 'Web Sources', color: 'secondary' },
+    gemini: { emoji: '✨', label: 'AI Summary', color: 'accent' },
+    openrouter: { emoji: '🤖', label: 'AI Powered', color: 'accent' }
+  };
+
+  const config = badgeConfig[provider] || { emoji: '📊', label: provider, color: 'secondary' };
+  const isDegraded = status === 'degraded';
+
+  return (
+    <div className={`rd-provider-badge rd-provider-${config.color} ${isDegraded ? 'rd-provider-degraded' : ''}`}>
+      <span aria-hidden="true">{config.emoji}</span>
+      <span className="rd-provider-label">{config.label}</span>
+      {isDegraded && (
+        <span className="rd-provider-status" title="Fallback source - primary API unavailable">
+          (Fallback)
+        </span>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * ResearchDisplay — pure presentational component.
  *
  * Props:
  *   loading   {boolean}  Show loading skeleton
  *   error     {string}   Error message to display
- *   data      {object}   Research data: { summary, results }
+ *   data      {object}   Research data: { summary, results, provider, status }
  *   name      {string}   Exercise name (shown during loading)
  *   onDismiss {function} Clear error callback
- *   onRetry   {function} Retry fetch callback
  */
-function ResearchDisplay({ loading, error, data, name, onDismiss, onRetry }) {
+function ResearchDisplay({ loading, error, data, name, onDismiss }) {
   if (loading) {
     return <ResearchLoadingSkeleton exerciseName={name} />
   }
 
   if (error) {
-    return <ResearchError message={error} onDismiss={onDismiss} onRetry={onRetry} />
+    return <ResearchError message={error} onDismiss={onDismiss} />
   }
 
   if (!data) return null
@@ -77,15 +98,22 @@ function ResearchDisplay({ loading, error, data, name, onDismiss, onRetry }) {
 
   return (
     <div className="rd-results">
-      {hasSummary && (
+      <div className="rd-header">
-        <div className="rd-summary">
+        <div className="rd-header-content">
-          <h4 className="rd-section-title">
+          {hasSummary && (
-            <span className="rd-section-icon" aria-hidden="true">📋</span>
+            <div className="rd-summary">
-            Summary
+              <h4 className="rd-section-title">
-          </h4>
+                <span className="rd-section-icon" aria-hidden="true">📋</span>
-          <p className="rd-summary-text">{data.summary}</p>
+                Summary
+              </h4>
+              <p className="rd-summary-text">{data.summary}</p>
+            </div>
+          )}
         </div>
-      )}
+        {data.provider && (
+          <ResearchProviderBadge provider={data.provider} status={data.status} />
+        )}
+      </div>
 
       {hasSources && (
         <div className="rd-sources">