feat: liven the home page and fix Volunteer links

apps/api/src/services/project.ts

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export interface ProjectListResult {
   readonly facets: ProjectFacets;
 }
 
-const ALLOWED_SORT_KEYS = new Set(['createdAt', 'updatedAt', 'title', 'stage']);
+const ALLOWED_SORT_KEYS = new Set(['createdAt', 'updatedAt', 'title', 'stage', 'activity']);
 const STAGE_ORDER = ['commenting', 'bootstrapping', 'prototyping', 'testing', 'maintaining', 'drifting', 'hibernating'];
 
 function parseSortSpec(sort: string | undefined): Array<{ key: string; desc: boolean }> | null {
@@ -51,10 +51,28 @@ function parseSortSpec(sort: string | undefined): Array<{ key: string; desc: boo
   return result;
 }
 
-function compareProjects(a: Project, b: Project, sortSpec: Array<{ key: string; desc: boolean }>): number {
+function compareProjects(
+  a: Project,
+  b: Project,
+  sortSpec: Array<{ key: string; desc: boolean }>,
+  activity?: Map<string, string>,
+): number {
   for (const { key, desc } of sortSpec) {
     let cmp = 0;
-    if (key === 'title') {
+    if (key === 'activity') {
+      // Projects with no activity sort last in either direction
+      // (specs/api/projects.md), then by most recently updated.
+      const aAt = activity?.get(a.slug);
+      const bAt = activity?.get(b.slug);
+      if (!aAt || !bAt) {
+        if (aAt) return -1;
+        if (bAt) return 1;
+        cmp = b.updatedAt.localeCompare(a.updatedAt);
+        if (cmp !== 0) return cmp;
+        continue;
+      }
+      cmp = aAt.localeCompare(bAt);
+    } else if (key === 'title') {
       cmp = a.title.localeCompare(b.title);
     } else if (key === 'stage') {
       cmp = STAGE_ORDER.indexOf(a.stage) - STAGE_ORDER.indexOf(b.stage);
@@ -226,9 +244,10 @@ export class ProjectService {
     const filtered = allProjects.filter(buildMatcher());
     // A search with no explicit sort lists by relevance (specs/api/projects.md);
     // otherwise by the sort spec (default -updatedAt).
+    const activity = sortSpec.some((s) => s.key === 'activity') ? this.#lastActivity() : undefined;
     const rank = ftsRank;
     filtered.sort((a, b) =>
-      rank ? (rank.get(a.slug) ?? Infinity) - (rank.get(b.slug) ?? Infinity) : compareProjects(a, b, sortSpec),
+      rank ? (rank.get(a.slug) ?? Infinity) - (rank.get(b.slug) ?? Infinity) : compareProjects(a, b, sortSpec, activity),
     );
     const totalItems = filtered.length;
 
@@ -291,6 +310,27 @@ export class ProjectService {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Each project's most recent sign of life: an RSVP naming it, an update, or
+   * a buzz item logged (specs/api/projects.md → `sort=activity`).
+   */
+  // Keyed by project slug.
+  #lastActivity(): Map<string, string> {
+    const latest = new Map<string, string>();
+    const note = (projectSlug: string | undefined, at: string) => {
+      if (!projectSlug) return;
+      const prev = latest.get(projectSlug);
+      if (!prev || at > prev) latest.set(projectSlug, at);
+    };
+    for (const r of this.#state.eventRsvps.values()) {
+      // An RSVP still names its project by id (not a path field).
+      if (r.plan === 'project' && r.projectId) note(this.#state.projects.get(r.projectId)?.slug, r.updatedAt);
+    }
+    for (const u of this.#state.projectUpdates.values()) note(u.projectSlug, u.createdAt);
+    for (const b of this.#state.projectBuzz.values()) note(b.projectSlug, b.createdAt);
+    return latest;
+  }
+
   #serializeListItem(project: Project): ProjectListItem {
     const memberships = this.#getMembershipsForProject(project.slug);
     const memberPeople = this.#getPeopleForMemberships(memberships);

apps/api/tests/project-filters.test.ts

@@ -97,6 +97,36 @@ describe('ProjectService search order', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('ProjectService activity sort', () => {
+  it('orders by the latest RSVP, update or buzz; projects with none come last', () => {
+    const { state } = setupState();
+    const live = [...state.projects.values()].filter((p) => !p.deletedAt);
+    const [a, b, c] = live;
+    if (!a || !b || !c) throw new Error('fixture needs three live projects');
+    // Only the fields the activity sort reads.
+    state.projectUpdates.set('u1', { id: 'u1', projectSlug: a.slug, createdAt: '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z' } as never);
+    state.projectBuzz.set('z1', { id: 'z1', projectSlug: b.slug, createdAt: '2026-03-01T00:00:00Z' } as never);
+    state.eventRsvps.set('r1', {
+      id: 'r1',
+      plan: 'project',
+      projectId: c.id,
+      updatedAt: '2026-05-01T00:00:00Z',
+    } as never);
+    // A newcomer RSVP names no project and counts for nothing.
+    state.eventRsvps.set('r2', { id: 'r2', plan: 'newcomer', projectId: null, updatedAt: '2026-09-01T00:00:00Z' } as never);
+    const service = new ProjectService(state, noopFts);
+
+    const desc = service.list({ sort: '-activity', perPage: 100 });
+    if ('error' in desc) throw new Error(desc.error);
+    expect(desc.items.slice(0, 3).map((p) => p.slug)).toEqual([c.slug, b.slug, a.slug]);
+    expect(desc.items).toHaveLength(live.length);
+
+    const asc = service.list({ sort: 'activity', perPage: 100 });
+    if ('error' in asc) throw new Error(asc.error);
+    expect(asc.items.slice(0, 3).map((p) => p.slug)).toEqual([a.slug, b.slug, c.slug]);
+  });
+});
+
 function setupState(): {
   state: InMemoryState;
   service: ProjectService;

apps/web/src/screens/Home.tsx

@@ -5,23 +5,37 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { ActivityCard, mergeActivity, type ActivityItem } from '@/components/ActivityCard';
 import { HelpWantedCard } from '@/components/HelpWantedCard';
 import { HeroSlideshow } from '@/components/HeroSlideshow';
+import { StageBadge } from '@/components/StageBadge';
 import { UpcomingEventsStrip } from '@/components/UpcomingEventsStrip';
 import { useAuth } from '@/hooks/useAuth';
 import { api } from '@/lib/api';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 
-function FeaturedTile({ title, summary, slug, imageUrl }: { title: string; summary: string | null; slug: string; imageUrl?: string | null }) {
+function FeaturedTile({
+  title,
+  summary,
+  slug,
+  stage,
+  imageUrl,
+}: {
+  title: string;
+  summary: string | null;
+  slug: string;
+  stage: string;
+  imageUrl?: string | null;
+}) {
   return (
     <Link
       to={`/projects/${slug}`}
       className="group flex flex-col rounded-lg overflow-hidden border border-border bg-card hover:shadow-lg transition-shadow"
     >
-      {imageUrl ? (
-        <img src={imageUrl} alt="" className="w-full h-44 object-cover" loading="lazy" />
-      ) : (
-        <div className="w-full h-44 bg-gradient-to-br from-primary/10 to-primary/30" />
-      )}
+      {/* No placeholder panel without an image: six blank panels read as a
+          dead page (specs/screens/home.md). */}
+      {imageUrl && <img src={imageUrl} alt="" className="w-full h-44 object-cover" loading="lazy" />}
       <div className="p-4">
+        <div className="mb-2">
+          <StageBadge stage={stage} />
+        </div>
         <h3 className="font-semibold text-foreground group-hover:text-primary transition-colors">
           {title}
         </h3>
@@ -33,6 +47,8 @@ function FeaturedTile({ title, summary, slug, imageUrl }: { title: string; summa
   );
 }
 
+const FEATURED_TILES = 6;
+
 const ACTIVITY_FILTERS = ['all', 'updates', 'buzz'] as const;
 type ActivityFilter = (typeof ACTIVITY_FILTERS)[number];
 
@@ -41,10 +57,24 @@ export function Home() {
   const [activityFilter, setActivityFilter] = useState<ActivityFilter>('all');
 
   const featuredQ = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['projects', { featured: true, perPage: 8 }],
-    queryFn: () => api.projects.list({ featured: true, perPage: 8 }),
+    queryKey: ['projects', { featured: true, perPage: FEATURED_TILES }],
+    queryFn: () => api.projects.list({ featured: true, perPage: FEATURED_TILES }),
+  });
+
+  // Tops up the curated picks so the section is never empty for want of
+  // curation (specs/screens/home.md → Featured projects).
+  const activeQ = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['projects', { sort: '-activity', perPage: FEATURED_TILES * 2 }],
+    queryFn: () => api.projects.list({ sort: '-activity', perPage: FEATURED_TILES * 2 }),
   });
 
+  const tiles = useMemo(() => {
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+    return [...(featuredQ.data?.data ?? []), ...(activeQ.data?.data ?? [])]
+      .filter((p) => !seen.has(p.slug) && seen.add(p.slug))
+      .slice(0, FEATURED_TILES);
+  }, [featuredQ.data, activeQ.data]);
+
   const totalCountQ = useQuery({
     queryKey: ['projects', { perPage: 1, count: true }],
     queryFn: () => api.projects.list({ perPage: 1 }),
@@ -104,16 +134,17 @@ export function Home() {
       {/* Featured projects */}
       <section className="container mx-auto px-4 py-12">
         <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold mb-6">Join a Project</h2>
-        {featuredQ.isLoading ? (
-          <p className="text-muted-foreground">Loading featured projects…</p>
+        {featuredQ.isLoading || activeQ.isLoading ? (
+          <p className="text-muted-foreground">Loading projects…</p>
         ) : (
           <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
-            {(featuredQ.data?.data ?? []).map((p) => (
+            {tiles.map((p) => (
               <FeaturedTile
                 key={p.slug}
                 title={p.title}
                 summary={p.summary || p.overviewExcerpt}
                 slug={p.slug}
+                stage={p.stage}
                 imageUrl={p.featuredImageUrl ?? null}
               />
             ))}
@@ -130,10 +161,11 @@ export function Home() {
       <section className="bg-muted/30 border-y border-border">
         <div className="container mx-auto px-4 py-12">
           <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
-            <Link to="/sponsor" className="block rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-6 hover:shadow-md transition-shadow">
-              <h3 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-1">Sponsor</h3>
-              <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Sponsor an event</p>
-            </Link>
+            {/* A plain anchor: /chat is a server redirect (specs/screens/chat.md). */}
+            <a href="/chat" className="block rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-6 hover:shadow-md transition-shadow">
+              <h3 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-1">Join us on Slack</h3>
+              <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Say hello in #general and meet the community</p>
+            </a>
             <Link
               to={person ? '/projects/create' : '/login?return=/projects/create'}
               className="block rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-6 hover:shadow-md transition-shadow"

apps/web/src/screens/Volunteer.tsx

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import { api } from '@/lib/api';
 
 // The codeforphilly.gitbook.io space is gone (404 "Content owner not found"),
 // so both of these point at the surviving live equivalents.
-const MEETUP_URL = 'https://www.meetup.com/Code-for-Philly/';
 const START_PROJECT_URL =
   'https://github.com/CodeForPhilly/partnerships/blob/master/creating-new-partnerships/first-steps.md';
 
@@ -65,15 +64,12 @@ export function Volunteer() {
             </Button>
           </div>
           <div className="rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-5">
-            <h3 className="font-semibold mb-2">3. Show up to meetups</h3>
+            <h3 className="font-semibold mb-2">3. Come to a hack night</h3>
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mb-3">
-              We meet weekly. Bring your laptop, or just yourself.
+              We meet every month. Bring your laptop, or just yourself.
             </p>
             <Button asChild variant="outline" size="sm">
-              <a href={MEETUP_URL} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
-                When we meet →
-                <span className="sr-only"> (opens in new tab)</span>
-              </a>
+              <Link to="/events">When we meet →</Link>
             </Button>
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -113,7 +109,7 @@ export function Volunteer() {
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mb-3">
               Help shape how civic tools look and feel.
             </p>
-            <Link to="/tags/topic/design" className="text-sm text-primary hover:underline">
+            <Link to="/projects?q=design" className="text-sm text-primary hover:underline">
               Design projects →
             </Link>
           </div>
@@ -122,7 +118,7 @@ export function Volunteer() {
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mb-3">
               Interview neighbors, analyze open data, document needs.
             </p>
-            <Link to="/tags/topic/research" className="text-sm text-primary hover:underline">
+            <Link to="/projects?q=research" className="text-sm text-primary hover:underline">
               Research projects →
             </Link>
           </div>
@@ -131,7 +127,7 @@ export function Volunteer() {
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mb-3">
               Help us connect with partner organizations and city programs.
             </p>
-            <Link to="/tags/topic/civic-engagement" className="text-sm text-primary hover:underline">
+            <Link to="/tags/topic/civicengagement" className="text-sm text-primary hover:underline">
               Civic engagement projects →
             </Link>
           </div>

apps/web/tests/Home.test.tsx

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ describe('Home', () => {
       </AuthProvider>,
     );
 
-    expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Sponsor' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Join us on Slack' }).closest('a')).toHaveAttribute('href', '/chat');
     expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Start a Project' })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 

apps/web/tests/Volunteer.test.tsx

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { renderScreen, mockPaginated } from './test-utils.js';
 import { Volunteer } from '../src/screens/Volunteer.js';
 import { AuthProvider } from '../src/hooks/useAuth.js';
 
-const MEETUP_URL = 'https://www.meetup.com/Code-for-Philly/';
 const START_PROJECT_URL =
   'https://github.com/CodeForPhilly/partnerships/blob/master/creating-new-partnerships/first-steps.md';
 
@@ -55,12 +54,9 @@ describe('Volunteer', () => {
     await screen.findByText(/browse 268 active projects/i);
   });
 
-  it('points "When we meet →" at the live Meetup group, not the dead GitBook page', async () => {
+  it('points "When we meet →" at the site\'s own events page', async () => {
     renderVolunteer();
-    const link = screen.getByRole('link', { name: /when we meet/i });
-    expect(link).toHaveAttribute('href', MEETUP_URL);
-    expect(link).toHaveAttribute('target', '_blank');
-    expect(link).toHaveAttribute('rel', 'noopener noreferrer');
+    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: /when we meet/i })).toHaveAttribute('href', '/events');
     await screen.findByText(/browse 268 active projects/i);
   });
 

plans/home-page-alive.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+---
+status: done
+depends: []
+specs:
+  - specs/screens/home.md
+  - specs/screens/volunteer.md
+  - specs/api/projects.md
+  - specs/screens/chat.md
+issues: []
+pr: 242
+---
+
+# Plan: Make the home page look alive
+
+## Scope
+
+Chris's review of the live home page (2026-10-15): "Join a Project" was an
+empty heading, the get-involved row led with "Sponsor", and on the
+Volunteer page "When we meet" went to Meetup and every "Not a coder?" link
+404'd.
+
+**In:** `sort=activity` on `GET /api/projects`; "Join a Project" shows six
+tiles, staff-featured first, then the most active projects; tiles without
+an image drop the placeholder panel and show a stage badge; a "Join us on
+Slack" card replaces "Sponsor"; Volunteer step 3 becomes "Come to a hack
+night" → `/events`; the three "Not a coder?" links point at lists that
+exist.
+
+**Out:** Open Collective sponsors (next plan); curating featured projects
+and images (data, not code).
+
+## Implements
+
+- [screens/home.md](../specs/screens/home.md) — Featured projects, Get involved.
+- [screens/volunteer.md](../specs/screens/volunteer.md) — How it works,
+  Not a coder.
+- [api/projects.md](../specs/api/projects.md#get-apiprojects) — `activity` sort key.
+
+## Approach
+
+1. `ProjectService` computes each project's latest RSVP naming it, update,
+   or buzz logged; projects with none sort last either way, then by
+   `-updatedAt`.
+2. Home fetches the featured list and `sort=-activity`, dedupes, takes six.
+
+## Validation
+
+- [x] `npm run type-check && npm run lint && npm test` clean.
+- [x] Service test: activity order across RSVP, update and buzz; projects
+  with none last in both directions; a newcomer RSVP counts for nothing.
+- [x] Home on the dev server with the devbox data: six tiles led by the
+  projects named in RSVPs, stage badges, no blank panels; Slack card first.
+- [x] Volunteer: "Come to a hack night" → `/events`; pathway links resolve
+  (`/projects?q=design` 42, `?q=research` 18, `topic.civicengagement` 14 on
+  production).
+
+## Risks / unknowns
+
+- The activity sort reads `projectId` on updates, buzz and RSVPs, which the
+  in-flight slug-references work renames; whichever lands second converts.
+
+## Notes
+
+- No project on production had `featured = true`, so the section rendered
+  an empty heading; the activity fill means curation is now optional.
+- The old pathway links targeted tags that never existed
+  (`topic.design`, `topic.research`, `topic.civic-engagement`).
+
+## Follow-ups
+
+- **Deferred to plan:** Open Collective "Supported by" strip and sponsor
+  links (`opencollective-sponsors`).