From 1df4671c41f1180a2ec2db1418eda0f482faa324 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:46:04 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 01/17] feat(desktop): always use light theme

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml | 3 +--
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml
index f0cf256..72b7a9c 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
              xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.App"
              xmlns:local="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop"
-             RequestedThemeVariant="Default">
-             <!-- "Default" ThemeVariant follows system theme variant. "Dark" or "Light" are other available options. -->
+             RequestedThemeVariant="Light">
 
     <Application.DataTemplates>
         <local:ViewLocator />

From 72fadabf1878a53fa308fdda99de5eb3e02a90eb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:12:01 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 02/17] feat(desktop): show pages in the main window, starting
 with login

---
 .../ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs                      |  9 +++++++++
 .../ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs                       |  2 +-
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml     | 11 +++++++++++
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs  | 11 +++++++++++
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml    |  4 +---
 5 files changed, 33 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5251fa7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
+
+public partial class LoginViewModel : ViewModelBase
+{
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Sign in";
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 4c69889..5c4f2df 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
     [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string Greeting { get; set; } = "Welcome to Avalonia!";
+    public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  { get; set; } = new LoginViewModel();
 }
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbb4832
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+             xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+             x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.LoginView"
+             x:DataType="vm:LoginViewModel">
+
+    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
+               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+               VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+
+</UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a749ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using Avalonia.Controls;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
+
+public partial class LoginView : UserControl
+{
+    public LoginView()
+    {
+        InitializeComponent();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
index a99a146..8750ce4 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
         <vm:MainViewModel />
     </Design.DataContext>
 
-    <TextBox Text="{Binding Greeting}"
-             HorizontalAlignment="Center"
-             VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+    <ContentControl Content="{Binding CurrentPage}"/>
 
 </Window>

From 97dee3a50f1029421e67e11a9e2540593314f5a7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:51:36 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 03/17] feat(desktop): navigate from login to home on sign-in

---
 .../ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs                 |  9 +++++++++
 .../ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs                | 17 ++++++++++++++++-
 .../ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs                 |  7 ++++++-
 .../Views/HomeView.axaml                        | 11 +++++++++++
 .../Views/HomeView.axaml.cs                     | 11 +++++++++++
 .../Views/LoginView.axaml                       | 11 ++++++++---
 6 files changed, 61 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb90fd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
+
+public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
+{
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Welcome";
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
index 5251fa7..a7a3dac 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
@@ -1,9 +1,24 @@
+using System;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 public partial class LoginViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
     [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Sign in";
+    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Moisson Montréal";
+
+    private readonly Action _onSignedIn;
+
+    public LoginViewModel(Action onSignedIn)
+    {
+        _onSignedIn = onSignedIn;
+    }
+    
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private void SignIn()
+    {
+        _onSignedIn();
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 5c4f2df..20ee4e1 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -5,5 +5,10 @@ namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
     [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  { get; set; } = new LoginViewModel();
+    public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  { get; set; }
+
+    public MainViewModel()
+    {
+        CurrentPage = new LoginViewModel(() => CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ecdd0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+             xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+             x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.HomeView"
+             x:DataType="vm:HomeViewModel">
+
+    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
+               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+               VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+
+</UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cad35f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using Avalonia.Controls;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
+
+public partial class HomeView : UserControl
+{
+    public HomeView()
+    {
+        InitializeComponent();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
index cbb4832..4118702 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.LoginView"
              x:DataType="vm:LoginViewModel">
 
-    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
-               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
-               VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+    <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+               VerticalAlignment="Center"
+               Spacing="12">
+        <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
+                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+                VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+        <Button Content="Sign in" Command="{Binding SignInCommand}"></Button>
+    </StackPanel>             
 
 </UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file

From c0a790b340d0ed426e7c45b2b2c117edc20878ea Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 20:27:19 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 04/17] feat(desktop): add placeholder pages, nav bar and sign
 out

---
 .../ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs          |  9 +++++
 .../ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs             |  9 +++++
 .../ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs               | 34 +++++++++++++++++--
 .../Views/DonationsView.axaml                 | 11 ++++++
 .../Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs              | 11 ++++++
 .../Views/DonorsView.axaml                    | 11 ++++++
 .../Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs                 | 11 ++++++
 .../Views/MainWindow.axaml                    | 18 ++++++++--
 8 files changed, 110 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8056d93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
+
+public partial class DonationsViewModel : ViewModelBase
+{
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Donations";
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0694013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
+
+public partial class DonorsViewModel : ViewModelBase
+{
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Donors";
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 20ee4e1..c4d806f 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -1,14 +1,44 @@
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
     [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  { get; set; }
+    [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsSignedIn))]
+    public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  {get; set;}
+
+    public bool IsSignedIn => CurrentPage is not LoginViewModel;
 
     public MainViewModel()
     {
-        CurrentPage = new LoginViewModel(() => CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel());
+        CurrentPage = CreateLoginPage();
+    }
+
+    private LoginViewModel CreateLoginPage() => new LoginViewModel(ShowHome);
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private void ShowHome()
+    {
+        CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel();
+    }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private void ShowDonations()
+    {
+        CurrentPage = new DonationsViewModel();
+    }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private void ShowDonors()
+    {
+        CurrentPage = new DonorsViewModel();
+    }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private void SignOut()
+    {
+        CurrentPage = CreateLoginPage();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..429566f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+             xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+             x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.DonationsView"
+             x:DataType="vm:DonationsViewModel">
+
+    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
+               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+               VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+
+</UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8828886
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using Avalonia.Controls;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
+
+public partial class DonationsView : UserControl
+{
+    public DonationsView()
+    {
+        InitializeComponent();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14766c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
+             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+             xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+             x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.DonorsView"
+             x:DataType="vm:DonorsViewModel">
+
+    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
+               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+               VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+
+</UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a3111b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using Avalonia.Controls;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
+
+public partial class DonorsView : UserControl
+{
+    public DonorsView()
+    {
+        InitializeComponent();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
index 8750ce4..8925b87 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
         x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.MainWindow"
         x:DataType="vm:MainViewModel"
         Icon="/Assets/avalonia-logo.ico"
-        Title="MoissonMontreal.Desktop">
+        Title="Moisson Montréal">
 
     <Design.DataContext>
         <!-- This only sets the DataContext for the previewer in an IDE,
@@ -15,6 +15,20 @@
         <vm:MainViewModel />
     </Design.DataContext>
 
-    <ContentControl Content="{Binding CurrentPage}"/>
+    <DockPanel>
+        <StackPanel DockPanel.Dock="Top"
+                              Orientation="Horizontal"
+                              Spacing="8"
+                              Margin="8"
+                              IsVisible="{Binding IsSignedIn}">
+            <Button Content="Home"      Command="{Binding ShowHomeCommand}" />
+            <Button Content="Donations" Command="{Binding ShowDonationsCommand}" />
+            <Button Content="Donors"    Command="{Binding ShowDonorsCommand}" />
+            <Button Content="Sign out"  Command="{Binding SignOutCommand}" />
+        </StackPanel>
+
+        <ContentControl Content="{Binding CurrentPage}"/>
+    </DockPanel>
+    
 
 </Window>

From ecfff19f88b3e632b7617ee325204d6f1b652808 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 20:28:02 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 05/17] style(desktop): simplify login view layout

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml | 6 ++----
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
index 4118702..e999140 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
@@ -7,10 +7,8 @@
     <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                VerticalAlignment="Center"
                Spacing="12">
-        <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
-                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
-                VerticalAlignment="Center" />
-        <Button Content="Sign in" Command="{Binding SignInCommand}"></Button>
+        <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"/>
+        <Button Content="Sign in" Command="{Binding SignInCommand}"/>
     </StackPanel>             
 
 </UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file

From cbc70143b607660d36e37cba5b08f199b86a36d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:51:43 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 06/17] feat(desktop): add API client and dependency injection

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs      | 26 ++++++++++++++-
 .../MoissonMontreal.Desktop.csproj            |  4 +++
 .../Services/ApiClient.cs                     | 32 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../Services/IApiClient.cs                    |  8 +++++
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/appsettings.json  |  5 +++
 5 files changed, 74 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/appsettings.json

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
index 6dcf77a..b550426 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
+using System;
 using Avalonia;
 using Avalonia.Controls.ApplicationLifetimes;
 using Avalonia.Markup.Xaml;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
 using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
+
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop;
 
 public partial class App : Application
@@ -17,9 +22,28 @@ public override void OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted()
     {
         if (ApplicationLifetime is IClassicDesktopStyleApplicationLifetime desktop)
         {
+            var configuration = new ConfigurationBuilder()
+                .SetBasePath(AppContext.BaseDirectory)
+                .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json")
+                .Build();
+
+            var apiBaseUrl = configuration["Api:BaseUrl"]
+                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Missing 'Api:BaseUrl' in appsettings.json.");
+
+            var services = new ServiceCollection();
+
+            services.AddHttpClient<IApiClient, ApiClient>(client =>
+            {
+                client.BaseAddress = new Uri(apiBaseUrl);
+                client.Timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(15);
+            });
+            services.AddSingleton<MainViewModel>();
+
+            var serviceProvider = services.BuildServiceProvider();
+
             desktop.MainWindow = new MainWindow
             {
-                DataContext = new MainViewModel(),
+                DataContext = serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<MainViewModel>(),
             };
         }
 
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/MoissonMontreal.Desktop.csproj b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/MoissonMontreal.Desktop.csproj
index 3ffe9ac..96b0f45 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/MoissonMontreal.Desktop.csproj
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/MoissonMontreal.Desktop.csproj
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Folder Include="Models\" />
     <AvaloniaResource Include="Assets\**" />
+    <None Update="appsettings.json" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
@@ -21,6 +22,9 @@
       <PrivateAssets Condition="'$(Configuration)' != 'Debug'">All</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
     <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.4.2" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Json" Version="10.0.14" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection" Version="10.0.14" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Http" Version="10.0.14" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c797ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Net.Http;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
+
+public class ApiClient : IApiClient
+{
+    private readonly HttpClient _httpClient;
+
+    public ApiClient(HttpClient httpClient)
+    {
+        _httpClient = httpClient;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            // Any endpoint that answers successfully proves the API is reachable.
+            using var response = await _httpClient.GetAsync("WeatherForecast");
+            return response.IsSuccessStatusCode;
+        }
+        catch (HttpRequestException)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+        catch (TaskCanceledException)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d908e27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
+
+public interface IApiClient
+{
+    Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync();
+}
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/appsettings.json b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/appsettings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e26812
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/appsettings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "Api": {
+    "BaseUrl": "http://localhost:5297"
+  }
+}

From 94f6f36cf5f7ff766775bc07ea3795f7e55a91b2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:32:24 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 07/17] feat(desktop): show API status on the home page

---
 .../ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs               | 22 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs               |  8 +++++--
 .../Views/HomeView.axaml                      | 10 ++++++---
 .../Views/MainWindow.axaml                    |  6 -----
 4 files changed, 35 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
index bb90fd4..386f96c 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -1,9 +1,31 @@
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
+using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    private readonly IApiClient _apiClient;
+
     [ObservableProperty]
     public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Welcome";
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string ApiStatus { get; set; } = "Checking the API...";
+
+    public HomeViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
+    {
+        _apiClient = apiClient;
+        CheckApiCommand.Execute(null);
+    }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private async Task CheckApiAsync()
+    {
+        ApiStatus = "Checking the API...";
+        var isReachable = await _apiClient.IsApiReachableAsync();
+        ApiStatus = isReachable ? "API online" : "Server unavailable";
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index c4d806f..3aa1bf4 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
+using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    private readonly IApiClient _apiClient;
+
     [ObservableProperty]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsSignedIn))]
     public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  {get; set;}
 
     public bool IsSignedIn => CurrentPage is not LoginViewModel;
 
-    public MainViewModel()
+    public MainViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
     {
+        _apiClient = apiClient;
         CurrentPage = CreateLoginPage();
     }
 
@@ -21,7 +25,7 @@ public MainViewModel()
     [RelayCommand]
     private void ShowHome()
     {
-        CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel();
+        CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel(_apiClient);
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
index 0ecdd0c..7bbabad 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.HomeView"
              x:DataType="vm:HomeViewModel">
 
-    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
-               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
-               VerticalAlignment="Center" />
+    <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+               VerticalAlignment="Center"
+               Spacing="12">
+        <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"/>
+        <TextBlock Text="{Binding ApiStatus}"/>
+        <Button Content="Retry" Command="{Binding CheckApiCommand}"/>
+    </StackPanel>           
 
 </UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
index 8925b87..3900518 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
@@ -9,12 +9,6 @@
         Icon="/Assets/avalonia-logo.ico"
         Title="Moisson Montréal">
 
-    <Design.DataContext>
-        <!-- This only sets the DataContext for the previewer in an IDE,
-             to set the actual DataContext for runtime, set the DataContext property in code (look at App.axaml.cs) -->
-        <vm:MainViewModel />
-    </Design.DataContext>
-
     <DockPanel>
         <StackPanel DockPanel.Dock="Top"
                               Orientation="Horizontal"

From f94a3cde5ca0e2bb3c7a4cd664decdac6ad46e81 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:05:56 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 08/17] fix: handle all errors in Home API check

---
 .../ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs                     | 13 ++++++++++---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs | 13 +++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 23 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
index 386f96c..a8efb11 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
@@ -18,14 +19,20 @@ public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
     public HomeViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
     {
         _apiClient = apiClient;
-        CheckApiCommand.Execute(null);
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]
     private async Task CheckApiAsync()
     {
         ApiStatus = "Checking the API...";
-        var isReachable = await _apiClient.IsApiReachableAsync();
-        ApiStatus = isReachable ? "API online" : "Server unavailable";
+        try
+        {
+            var isReachable = await _apiClient.IsApiReachableAsync();
+            ApiStatus = isReachable ? "API online" : "Server unavailable";
+        }
+        catch (Exception)
+        {
+            ApiStatus = "Server unavailable";
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
index 6cad35f..4f7e0e3 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 using Avalonia.Controls;
+using Avalonia.Interactivity;
+
+using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
@@ -8,4 +11,14 @@ public HomeView()
     {
         InitializeComponent();
     }
+
+    protected override void OnLoaded(RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        base.OnLoaded(e);
+
+        if (DataContext is HomeViewModel viewModel)
+        {
+            viewModel.CheckApiCommand.Execute(null);
+        }
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file

From 3833ade338fe865bdc2f3861c72d3de748451907 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:00:54 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 09/17] fix: resolve a new ApiClient on each Home navigation

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs                | 1 +
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs | 9 +++++----
 2 files changed, 6 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
index b550426..0a0ad75 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public override void OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted()
                 client.BaseAddress = new Uri(apiBaseUrl);
                 client.Timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(15);
             });
+            services.AddSingleton<Func<IApiClient>>(sp => () => sp.GetRequiredService<IApiClient>());
             services.AddSingleton<MainViewModel>();
 
             var serviceProvider = services.BuildServiceProvider();
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 3aa1bf4..389242e 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
 using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
@@ -6,7 +7,7 @@ namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
-    private readonly IApiClient _apiClient;
+    private readonly Func<IApiClient> _createApiClient;
 
     [ObservableProperty]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsSignedIn))]
@@ -14,9 +15,9 @@ public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     public bool IsSignedIn => CurrentPage is not LoginViewModel;
 
-    public MainViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
+    public MainViewModel(Func<IApiClient> createApiClient)
     {
-        _apiClient = apiClient;
+        _createApiClient = createApiClient;
         CurrentPage = CreateLoginPage();
     }
 
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ public MainViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
     [RelayCommand]
     private void ShowHome()
     {
-        CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel(_apiClient);
+        CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel(_createApiClient());
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]

From 63031a6f154abc60d1f3c2933192a2430e604811 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:23:50 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 10/17] docs(desktop): add XML documentation comments

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs      | 10 ++++++
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Program.cs        | 19 ++++++++---
 .../Services/ApiClient.cs                     | 11 +++++++
 .../Services/IApiClient.cs                    |  9 ++++++
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewLocator.cs    | 10 ++++++
 .../ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs          |  6 ++++
 .../ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs             |  6 ++++
 .../ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs               | 19 +++++++++++
 .../ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs              | 18 ++++++++++-
 .../ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs               | 32 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../ViewModels/ViewModelBase.cs               |  3 ++
 .../Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs              |  6 ++++
 .../Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs                 |  6 ++++
 .../Views/HomeView.axaml.cs                   | 10 ++++++
 .../Views/LoginView.axaml.cs                  |  6 ++++
 .../Views/MainWindow.axaml.cs                 |  6 ++++
 16 files changed, 172 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
index 0a0ad75..fb1321a 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
@@ -11,13 +11,23 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Entry point of the Avalonia application: reads the configuration, sets up the services and opens the main window.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class App : Application
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Loads the application's XAML (styles and resources).
+    /// </summary>
     public override void Initialize()
     {
         AvaloniaXamlLoader.Load(this);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Runs once Avalonia is ready: reads <c>appsettings.json</c>, registers the services and opens the main window.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">Thrown when <c>Api:BaseUrl</c> is missing from <c>appsettings.json</c>.</exception>
     public override void OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted()
     {
         if (ApplicationLifetime is IClassicDesktopStyleApplicationLifetime desktop)
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Program.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Program.cs
index 122194e..9795526 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Program.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Program.cs
@@ -3,16 +3,27 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Starts the desktop application.
+/// </summary>
 sealed class Program
 {
-    // Initialization code. Don't use any Avalonia, third-party APIs or any
-    // SynchronizationContext-reliant code before AppMain is called: things aren't initialized
-    // yet and stuff might break.
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Program entry point: starts Avalonia with a classic desktop window.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <remarks>
+    /// Don't use any Avalonia, third-party APIs or any SynchronizationContext-reliant code
+    /// before AppMain is called: things aren't initialized yet and stuff might break.
+    /// </remarks>
+    /// <param name="args">Command-line arguments.</param>
     [STAThread]
     public static void Main(string[] args) => BuildAvaloniaApp()
         .StartWithClassicDesktopLifetime(args);
 
-    // Avalonia configuration, don't remove; also used by visual designer.
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configures Avalonia. Don't remove: the visual designer uses it too.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <returns>The configured application builder.</returns>
     public static AppBuilder BuildAvaloniaApp()
         => AppBuilder.Configure<App>()
             .UsePlatformDetect()
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
index 1c797ad..79b04c7 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
@@ -3,15 +3,26 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Calls the central API over HTTP.
+/// </summary>
 public class ApiClient : IApiClient
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// HTTP client configured in <c>App</c> with the API's base address and timeout.
+    /// </summary>
     private readonly HttpClient _httpClient;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the client.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="httpClient">HTTP client provided by the dependency injection container.</param>
     public ApiClient(HttpClient httpClient)
     {
         _httpClient = httpClient;
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc/> 
     public async Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync()
     {
         try
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
index d908e27..86c3840 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
@@ -2,7 +2,16 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Talks to the central Moisson Montréal API.
+/// </summary>
 public interface IApiClient
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Checks whether the API answers.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <returns><c>true</c> if the API answered successfully; <c>false</c> if it is unreachable or returned an error.</returns>
     Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync();
 }
+
+
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewLocator.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewLocator.cs
index a7a5bce..8821c7b 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewLocator.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewLocator.cs
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop;
     Url = "https://docs.avaloniaui.net/docs/concepts/view-locator")]
 public class ViewLocator : IDataTemplate
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the view that matches a ViewModel (for example <c>HomeViewModel</c> → <c>HomeView</c>).
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="param">The ViewModel to show.</param>
+    /// <returns>The matching view, a "Not Found" text if there is none, or <c>null</c> if <paramref name="param"/> is <c>null</c>.</returns>
     public Control? Build(object? param)
     {
         if (param is null)
@@ -30,6 +35,11 @@ public class ViewLocator : IDataTemplate
         return new TextBlock { Text = "Not Found: " + name };
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Tells Avalonia whether this locator can show the given object.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="data">The object to show.</param>
+    /// <returns><c>true</c> if the object is a ViewModel.</returns>
     public bool Match(object? data)
     {
         return data is ViewModelBase;
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
index 8056d93..a834e8f 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Logic of the donations page (placeholder for now).
+/// </summary>
 public partial class DonationsViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Title shown at the top of the donations page.
+    /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
     public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Donations";
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
index 0694013..78610ba 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Logic of the donors page (placeholder for now).
+/// </summary>
 public partial class DonorsViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Title shown at the top of the donors page.
+    /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
     public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Donors";
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
index a8efb11..d97fa21 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -6,21 +6,40 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Logic of the home page: shows whether the API is reachable.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Client used to check whether the API is reachable.
+    /// </summary>
     private readonly IApiClient _apiClient;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Title shown at the top of the home page.
+    /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
     public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Welcome";
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// API status message shown to the user.
+    /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
     public partial string ApiStatus { get; set; } = "Checking the API...";
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the home page. The API check starts when the view is loaded.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="apiClient">Client used to call the API.</param>
     public HomeViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
     {
         _apiClient = apiClient;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Checks the API and updates <see cref="ApiStatus"/>. Any error shows "Server unavailable" instead of crashing the app.
+    /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private async Task CheckApiAsync()
     {
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
index a7a3dac..ca28900 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
@@ -4,18 +4,34 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Logic of the login page. Sign-in is simulated for now (real sign-in comes with Entra ID).
+/// </summary>
 public partial class LoginViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Title shown at the top of the login page.
+    /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
     public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Moisson Montréal";
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Action to run once the user is signed in (opens the home page).
+    /// </summary>
     private readonly Action _onSignedIn;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the login page.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="onSignedIn">Action to run once the user is signed in.</param>
     public LoginViewModel(Action onSignedIn)
     {
         _onSignedIn = onSignedIn;
     }
-    
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Signs the user in (simulated) and runs the "signed in" action.
+    /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private void SignIn()
     {
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 389242e..cef0f71 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -5,42 +5,74 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Logic of the main window: decides which page is shown and handles navigation.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates a new API client each time the home page is opened.
+    /// </summary>
     private readonly Func<IApiClient> _createApiClient;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Page currently shown in the main window.
+    /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
     [NotifyPropertyChangedFor(nameof(IsSignedIn))]
     public partial ViewModelBase CurrentPage  {get; set;}
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// <c>true</c> when the user is past the login page; shows the navigation bar and the Sign out button.
+    /// </summary>
     public bool IsSignedIn => CurrentPage is not LoginViewModel;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the main ViewModel and shows the login page.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="createApiClient">Function that returns a new API client on each call.</param>
     public MainViewModel(Func<IApiClient> createApiClient)
     {
         _createApiClient = createApiClient;
         CurrentPage = CreateLoginPage();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the login page, which opens the home page after sign-in.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <returns>A new login page.</returns>
     private LoginViewModel CreateLoginPage() => new LoginViewModel(ShowHome);
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Shows the home page with a new API client.
+    /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private void ShowHome()
     {
         CurrentPage = new HomeViewModel(_createApiClient());
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Shows the donations page.
+    /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private void ShowDonations()
     {
         CurrentPage = new DonationsViewModel();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Shows the donors page.
+    /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private void ShowDonors()
     {
         CurrentPage = new DonorsViewModel();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Signs the user out and goes back to the login page.
+    /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private void SignOut()
     {
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/ViewModelBase.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/ViewModelBase.cs
index c178d94..c490cd6 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/ViewModelBase.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/ViewModelBase.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Base class for every ViewModel. Lets the screen update when a property changes.
+/// </summary>
 public abstract class ViewModelBase : ObservableObject
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs
index 8828886..6a037bc 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Donations page screen.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class DonationsView : UserControl
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the view and loads its XAML.
+    /// </summary>
     public DonationsView()
     {
         InitializeComponent();
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs
index 5a3111b..6de75fa 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Donors page screen.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class DonorsView : UserControl
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the view and loads its XAML.
+    /// </summary>
     public DonorsView()
     {
         InitializeComponent();
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
index 4f7e0e3..2933112 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
@@ -5,13 +5,23 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Home page screen.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class HomeView : UserControl
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the view and loads its XAML.
+    /// </summary>
     public HomeView()
     {
         InitializeComponent();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Starts the API check once the view is shown on screen.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="e">Information about the event.</param>
     protected override void OnLoaded(RoutedEventArgs e)
     {
         base.OnLoaded(e);
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs
index 0a749ae..f2d2b52 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Login page screen.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class LoginView : UserControl
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the view and loads its XAML.
+    /// </summary>
     public LoginView()
     {
         InitializeComponent();
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml.cs
index 3020590..03438a8 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml.cs
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views;
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Main window of the app. Shows the navigation bar and the current page.
+/// </summary>
 public partial class MainWindow : Window
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Creates the window and loads its XAML.
+    /// </summary>
     public MainWindow()
     {
         InitializeComponent();

From a84ab2a42e01581c7f4e8c0efed6a90f2d14911b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:43:01 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 11/17] refactor: make page titles read-only

---
 .../ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs                       | 7 ++-----
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs  | 7 ++-----
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs   | 4 +---
 3 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
index a834e8f..464e97f 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonationsViewModel.cs
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
-using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
-
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 /// <summary>
 /// Logic of the donations page (placeholder for now).
 /// </summary>
-public partial class DonationsViewModel : ViewModelBase
+public class DonationsViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// Title shown at the top of the donations page.
     /// </summary>
-    [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Donations";
+    public string Title => "Donations";
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
index 78610ba..f2299e1 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/DonorsViewModel.cs
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
-using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
-
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
 
 /// <summary>
 /// Logic of the donors page (placeholder for now).
 /// </summary>
-public partial class DonorsViewModel : ViewModelBase
+public class DonorsViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// Title shown at the top of the donors page.
     /// </summary>
-    [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Donors";
+    public string Title => "Donors";
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
index ca28900..93d6f49 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/LoginViewModel.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 using System;
-using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
@@ -12,8 +11,7 @@ public partial class LoginViewModel : ViewModelBase
     /// <summary>
     /// Title shown at the top of the login page.
     /// </summary>
-    [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Moisson Montréal";
+    public string Title => "Moisson Montréal";
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Action to run once the user is signed in (opens the home page).

From 83a4a6512238365971126c3f4540e6eee68d4837 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:51:39 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 12/17] refactor: move Home status messages into constants

---
 .../ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs               | 25 +++++++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 20 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
index d97fa21..b562ebd 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,21 @@ public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
     /// </summary>
     private readonly IApiClient _apiClient;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Status message shown while the API check is running.
+    /// </summary>
+    private const string CheckingApiMessage = "Checking the API...";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Status message shown when the API cannot be reached.
+    /// </summary>
+    private const string ServerUnavailableMessage = "Server unavailable";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Status message shown when the API answered successfully.
+    /// </summary>
+    private const string ApiOnlineMessage = "API online";
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Title shown at the top of the home page.
     /// </summary>
@@ -26,7 +41,7 @@ public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
     /// API status message shown to the user.
     /// </summary>
     [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string ApiStatus { get; set; } = "Checking the API...";
+    public partial string ApiStatus { get; set; } = CheckingApiMessage;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Creates the home page. The API check starts when the view is loaded.
@@ -38,20 +53,20 @@ public HomeViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
     }
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Checks the API and updates <see cref="ApiStatus"/>. Any error shows "Server unavailable" instead of crashing the app.
+    /// Checks the API and updates <see cref="ApiStatus"/>. Any error shows <see cref="ServerUnavailableMessage"/> instead of crashing the app.
     /// </summary>
     [RelayCommand]
     private async Task CheckApiAsync()
     {
-        ApiStatus = "Checking the API...";
+        ApiStatus = CheckingApiMessage;
         try
         {
             var isReachable = await _apiClient.IsApiReachableAsync();
-            ApiStatus = isReachable ? "API online" : "Server unavailable";
+            ApiStatus = isReachable ? ApiOnlineMessage : ServerUnavailableMessage;
         }
         catch (Exception)
         {
-            ApiStatus = "Server unavailable";
+            ApiStatus = ServerUnavailableMessage;
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file

From 97cbbc05446b54c26123f04482ac0e520cd5f2a6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:53:32 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 13/17] refactor: make home title read-only

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs | 3 +--
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
index b562ebd..e28b682 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ public partial class HomeViewModel : ViewModelBase
     /// <summary>
     /// Title shown at the top of the home page.
     /// </summary>
-    [ObservableProperty]
-    public partial string Title { get; set; } = "Welcome";
+    public string Title => "Welcome";
 
     /// <summary>
     /// API status message shown to the user.

From db88f8820931788b441a3b4cc750bd013b5b095a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:26:51 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 14/17] fix: validate API config on startup

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs | 15 +++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 11 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
index fb1321a..0628a89 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/App.axaml.cs
@@ -27,24 +27,31 @@ public override void Initialize()
     /// <summary>
     /// Runs once Avalonia is ready: reads <c>appsettings.json</c>, registers the services and opens the main window.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">Thrown when <c>Api:BaseUrl</c> is missing from <c>appsettings.json</c>.</exception>
+    /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">Thrown when <c>appsettings.json</c> is missing, or when <c>Api:BaseUrl</c> is missing or invalid.</exception>
     public override void OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted()
     {
         if (ApplicationLifetime is IClassicDesktopStyleApplicationLifetime desktop)
         {
             var configuration = new ConfigurationBuilder()
                 .SetBasePath(AppContext.BaseDirectory)
-                .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json")
+                .AddJsonFile("appsettings.json", optional: true)
                 .Build();
 
             var apiBaseUrl = configuration["Api:BaseUrl"]
-                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Missing 'Api:BaseUrl' in appsettings.json.");
+                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    $"Missing 'Api:BaseUrl': check that appsettings.json exists in '{AppContext.BaseDirectory}' and contains it.");
+
+            if (!Uri.TryCreate(apiBaseUrl, UriKind.Absolute, out var apiBaseUri)
+                || (apiBaseUri.Scheme != Uri.UriSchemeHttp && apiBaseUri.Scheme != Uri.UriSchemeHttps))
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Invalid 'Api:BaseUrl' in appsettings.json: '{apiBaseUrl}'. It must be a full URL starting with http:// or https://.");
+            }
 
             var services = new ServiceCollection();
 
             services.AddHttpClient<IApiClient, ApiClient>(client =>
             {
-                client.BaseAddress = new Uri(apiBaseUrl);
+                client.BaseAddress = apiBaseUri;
                 client.Timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(15);
             });
             services.AddSingleton<Func<IApiClient>>(sp => () => sp.GetRequiredService<IApiClient>());

From 9c761526cbc4d749ba2da49c6ee1868afedfeecb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:47:52 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 15/17] fix: cancel the Home Api check when leaving the page

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs  |  7 ++++---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs |  4 +++-
 .../ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs                    |  6 ++++--
 .../Views/HomeView.axaml.cs                        | 14 ++++++++++++++
 4 files changed, 25 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
index 79b04c7..2e421da 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/ApiClient.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Net.Http;
+using System.Threading;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
 
@@ -22,13 +23,13 @@ public ApiClient(HttpClient httpClient)
         _httpClient = httpClient;
     }
 
-    /// <inheritdoc/> 
-    public async Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync()
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public async Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         try
         {
             // Any endpoint that answers successfully proves the API is reachable.
-            using var response = await _httpClient.GetAsync("WeatherForecast");
+            using var response = await _httpClient.GetAsync("WeatherForecast", cancellationToken);
             return response.IsSuccessStatusCode;
         }
         catch (HttpRequestException)
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
index 86c3840..1d6976d 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Services/IApiClient.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 
 namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
@@ -10,8 +11,9 @@ public interface IApiClient
     /// <summary>
     /// Checks whether the API answers.
     /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="cancellationToken">Lets the caller stop the check early (for example when leaving the page). If cancelled, the method returns <c>false</c>.</param>
     /// <returns><c>true</c> if the API answered successfully; <c>false</c> if it is unreachable or returned an error.</returns>
-    Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync();
+    Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
index e28b682..3387ceb 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
@@ -54,13 +55,14 @@ public HomeViewModel(IApiClient apiClient)
     /// <summary>
     /// Checks the API and updates <see cref="ApiStatus"/>. Any error shows <see cref="ServerUnavailableMessage"/> instead of crashing the app.
     /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="cancellationToken">Cancelled when the user leaves the home page, so the check doesn't keep running.</param>
     [RelayCommand]
-    private async Task CheckApiAsync()
+    private async Task CheckApiAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
         ApiStatus = CheckingApiMessage;
         try
         {
-            var isReachable = await _apiClient.IsApiReachableAsync();
+            var isReachable = await _apiClient.IsApiReachableAsync(cancellationToken);
             ApiStatus = isReachable ? ApiOnlineMessage : ServerUnavailableMessage;
         }
         catch (Exception)
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
index 2933112..caf7805 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
@@ -31,4 +31,18 @@ protected override void OnLoaded(RoutedEventArgs e)
             viewModel.CheckApiCommand.Execute(null);
         }
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Cancels the API check when the view is removed fromt the screen. (for example when the user goes to another page).
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="e">Information about the event.</param>
+    protected override void OnUnloaded(RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        base.OnUnloaded(e);
+
+        if (DataContext is HomeViewModel viewModel)
+        {
+            viewModel.CheckApiCommand.Cancel();
+        }
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file

From e19eea0c44a7d3e80d5c934ed6eaea531d14dc4d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:04:43 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 16/17] feat(desktop): add design-time data for the IDE
 previewer

---
 .../Design/DesignData.cs                      | 24 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../Design/FakeApiClient.cs                   | 17 +++++++++++++
 .../Views/DonationsView.axaml                 |  4 ++++
 .../Views/DonorsView.axaml                    |  4 ++++
 .../Views/HomeView.axaml                      |  4 +++-
 .../Views/LoginView.axaml                     |  4 +++-
 .../Views/MainWindow.axaml                    |  2 ++
 7 files changed, 57 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/DesignData.cs
 create mode 100644 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/FakeApiClient.cs

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/DesignData.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/DesignData.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b805689
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/DesignData.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Design;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Ready-made ViewModels for the IDE previewer. Never used when the app runs.
+/// </summary>
+public static class DesignData
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Main window ViewModel backed by a <see cref="FakeApiClient"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static MainViewModel Main { get; } = new(() => new FakeApiClient());
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Home page ViewModel backed by a <see cref="FakeApiClient"/>.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static HomeViewModel Home { get; } = new(new FakeApiClient());
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Login page ViewModel whose sign-in does nothing.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static LoginViewModel Login { get; } = new(() => { });
+}
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/FakeApiClient.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/FakeApiClient.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c974bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Design/FakeApiClient.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Services;
+
+namespace MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Design;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Fake API client for the IDE previewer. Always reports the API as online, without any network call.
+/// </summary>
+public class FakeApiClient : IApiClient
+{
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task<bool> IsApiReachableAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        return Task.FromResult(true);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml
index 429566f..42cd8d1 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonationsView.axaml
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.DonationsView"
              x:DataType="vm:DonationsViewModel">
 
+    <Design.DataContext>
+        <vm:DonationsViewModel />
+    </Design.DataContext>
+
     <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                VerticalAlignment="Center" />
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml
index 14766c2..731a1f4 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/DonorsView.axaml
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.DonorsView"
              x:DataType="vm:DonorsViewModel">
 
+    <Design.DataContext>
+        <vm:DonorsViewModel />
+    </Design.DataContext>
+
     <TextBlock Text="{Binding Title}"
                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                VerticalAlignment="Center" />
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
index 7bbabad..87271ae 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 <UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
              xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
              xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+             xmlns:design="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Design"
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.HomeView"
-             x:DataType="vm:HomeViewModel">
+             x:DataType="vm:HomeViewModel"
+             Design.DataContext="{x:Static design:DesignData.Home}">
 
     <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                VerticalAlignment="Center"
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
index e999140..58c6c82 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/LoginView.axaml
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 <UserControl xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
              xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
              xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+             xmlns:design="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Design"
              x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.LoginView"
-             x:DataType="vm:LoginViewModel">
+             x:DataType="vm:LoginViewModel"
+             Design.DataContext="{x:Static design:DesignData.Login}">
 
     <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                VerticalAlignment="Center"
diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
index 3900518..78ebbee 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/MainWindow.axaml
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 <Window xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
         xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
         xmlns:vm="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.ViewModels"
+        xmlns:design="using:MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Design"
         xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
         xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
         mc:Ignorable="d" d:DesignWidth="800" d:DesignHeight="450"
         x:Class="MoissonMontreal.Desktop.Views.MainWindow"
         x:DataType="vm:MainViewModel"
+        Design.DataContext="{x:Static design:DesignData.Main}"
         Icon="/Assets/avalonia-logo.ico"
         Title="Moisson Montréal">
 

From 748647e1b5d2c8ede62c1097d76f17d568c26460 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: maayjayy <mariejoseesarkis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:09:10 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 17/17] docs: fix typo in HomeView OnUnloaded comment

---
 src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
index caf7805..49442eb 100644
--- a/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
+++ b/src/MoissonMontreal.Desktop/Views/HomeView.axaml.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ protected override void OnLoaded(RoutedEventArgs e)
     }
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Cancels the API check when the view is removed fromt the screen. (for example when the user goes to another page).
+    /// Cancels the API check when the view is removed from the screen. (for example when the user goes to another page).
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="e">Information about the event.</param>
     protected override void OnUnloaded(RoutedEventArgs e)