fix: Add deployment troubleshooting guide and automated script

Author: NeuroPrep AI

DEPLOYMENT_FIX.md

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+# 🚨 URGENT: Deployment Configuration Fix
+
+## Problem
+Vercel deployment is failing with: `"The specified Root Directory 'frontend' does not exist"`
+
+## Root Cause
+Your Vercel Project Settings have **"Root Directory: frontend"** configured, but the deployment source doesn't match this structure.
+
+---
+
+## ✅ SOLUTION (Choose ONE)
+
+### **Option 1: Fix Vercel Dashboard Settings (RECOMMENDED)**
+
+1. Go to: https://vercel.com/dashboard
+2. Click on your project: `frontend` or `neuroprep-ai`
+3. Navigate to: **Settings** → **General**
+4. Scroll to: **Root Directory**
+5. **Current value:** `frontend`
+6. **Change to:** `./` (or leave blank)
+7. Click: **Save**
+8. Navigate to: **Deployments** tab
+9. Find the latest deployment
+10. Click: **⋯ (three dots)** → **Redeploy**
+
+### **Option 2: Use Deployment Script**
+
+Run this from your project root:
+```bash
+.\deploy.bat
+```
+
+The script will:
+- ✅ Verify your repository
+- ✅ Test build locally
+- ✅ Push to GitHub
+- ✅ Provide deployment instructions
+
+### **Option 3: Manual Vercel CLI Deploy**
+
+```bash
+# Make sure you're in the PROJECT ROOT (not frontend folder)
+cd d:\PROJECT\ai-interviewer
+
+# Deploy to production
+vercel --prod
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🔍 Why This Happens
+
+### Your Repository Structure:
+```
+d:\PROJECT\ai-interviewer\     ← PROJECT ROOT
+├── frontend\                  ← Next.js app
+│   ├── package.json
+│   ├── app\
+│   └── ...
+├── backend\
+├── vercel.json               ← Mono repo config
+└── ...
+```
+
+### What Vercel Sees (Current Config):
+```
+Vercel Setting: Root Directory = "frontend"
+Vercel looks for: frontend/frontend/package.json ❌ (doesn't exist)
+```
+
+### What Vercel Should See (After Fix):
+```
+Vercel Setting: Root Directory = "./" (root)
+Vercel looks for: frontend/package.json ✅ (exists!)
+```
+
+---
+
+## ✅ Verification After Fix
+
+Once you redeploy, you should see:
+
+**Homepage:**
+- ✅ **Headline:** "Your Personal AI Tutor"
+- ✅ **Background:** Void Black (#050505)
+- ✅ **Accents:** Terminal Green (#4ADE80)
+- ✅ **Value Props:** 3 pill badges visible
+- ✅ **NO** "Engineering Excellence. Mastered."
+- ✅ **NO** blue/purple gradient
+
+**URL:** https://neuroprep-ai.vercel.app
+
+---
+
+## 🆘 If Still Having Issues
+
+1. **Check Git Repository:** Confirm `frontend/` folder exists in GitHub:
+   https://github.com/SourishSenapati/neuroprep-ai
+
+2. **Verify vercel.json:** Should be at project root with:
+   ```json
+   {
+     "builds": [{ "src": "frontend/package.json", "use": "@vercel/next" }]
+   }
+   ```
+
+3. **Contact Support:** If the above doesn't work, there might be a Vercel project linking issue
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated:** December 21, 2025, 6:15 PM IST  
+**Status:** ⚠️ Awaiting Vercel Dashboard configuration update

deploy.bat

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+@echo off
+echo ========================================
+echo NeuroPrep AI - Vercel Deployment Script
+echo ========================================
+echo.
+
+echo [INFO] Checking current directory...
+cd /d "%~dp0"
+echo Current directory: %CD%
+echo.
+
+echo [STEP 1] Verifying repository status...
+git status
+echo.
+
+echo [STEP 2] Building frontend locally to verify...
+cd frontend
+call npm run build
+if errorlevel 1 (
+    echo [ERROR] Build failed! Fix errors before deploying.
+    pause
+    exit /b 1
+)
+cd ..
+echo [SUCCESS] Build passed!
+echo.
+
+echo [STEP 3] Pushing to GitHub...
+git add .
+git commit -m "deploy: Production deployment - %date% %time%"
+git push origin main
+echo.
+
+echo ========================================
+echo DEPLOYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
+echo ========================================
+echo.
+echo Your code has been pushed to GitHub.
+echo.
+echo CRITICAL: Update Vercel Settings FIRST:
+echo 1. Go to: https://vercel.com/dashboard
+echo 2. Select your project
+echo 3. Settings ^> General ^> Root Directory
+echo 4. Change from "frontend" to "./" (root)
+echo 5. Save
+echo 6. Deployments tab ^> Click "Redeploy"
+echo.
+echo OR run this command from PROJECT ROOT:
+echo    vercel --prod
+echo.
+echo ========================================
+pause