fallback to user if install dir not writable

show connection errors in console

contact/__main__.py

@@ -68,10 +68,6 @@ def prompt_region_if_unset(args: object) -> None:
 
 def initialize_globals(args: object) -> None:
     """Initializes interface and shared globals."""
-    interface_state.interface = initialize_interface(args)
-
-    if interface_state.interface.localNode.localConfig.lora.region == 0:
-        prompt_region_if_unset(args)
 
     interface_state.myNodeNum = get_nodeNum()
     ui_state.channel_list = get_channels()
@@ -84,55 +80,63 @@ def initialize_globals(args: object) -> None:
 
 def main(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
     """Main entry point for the curses UI."""
+
     output_capture = io.StringIO()
-
     try:
-        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(output_capture), contextlib.redirect_stderr(output_capture):
-            setup_colors()
-            draw_splash(stdscr)
+        setup_colors()
+        draw_splash(stdscr)
 
-            args = setup_parser().parse_args()
+        args = setup_parser().parse_args()
 
-            if getattr(args, "settings", False):
-                subprocess.run([sys.executable, "-m", "contact.settings"], check=True)
-                return
+        if getattr(args, "settings", False):
+            subprocess.run([sys.executable, "-m", "contact.settings"], check=True)
+            return
 
-            logging.info("Initializing interface...")
-            with app_state.lock:
-                initialize_globals(args)
-                logging.info("Starting main UI")
+        logging.info("Initializing interface...")
+        with app_state.lock:
+            interface_state.interface = initialize_interface(args)
 
-            main_ui(stdscr)
+            if interface_state.interface.localNode.localConfig.lora.region == 0:
+                prompt_region_if_unset(args)
 
-    except Exception as e:
-        console_output = output_capture.getvalue()
-        logging.error("Uncaught exception: %s", e)
-        logging.error("Traceback: %s", traceback.format_exc())
-        logging.error("Console output:\n%s", console_output)
+            initialize_globals(args)
+            logging.info("Starting main UI")
+
+        try:
+            with contextlib.redirect_stdout(output_capture), contextlib.redirect_stderr(output_capture):
+                main_ui(stdscr)
+        except Exception:
+            console_output = output_capture.getvalue()
+            logging.error("Uncaught exception inside main_ui")
+            logging.error("Traceback:\n%s", traceback.format_exc())
+            logging.error("Console output:\n%s", console_output)
+            return
+
+    except Exception:
         raise
 
 
 def start() -> None:
-    """Launch curses wrapper and redirect logs to file."""
+    """Entry point for the application."""
 
     if "--help" in sys.argv or "-h" in sys.argv:
         setup_parser().print_help()
         sys.exit(0)
 
-    with open(config.log_file_path, "a", buffering=1) as log_f:
-        sys.stdout = log_f
-        sys.stderr = log_f
-
-        with contextlib.redirect_stdout(log_f), contextlib.redirect_stderr(log_f):
-            try:
-                curses.wrapper(main)
-            except KeyboardInterrupt:
-                logging.info("User exited with Ctrl+C")
-                sys.exit(0)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logging.error("Fatal error: %s", e)
-                logging.error("Traceback: %s", traceback.format_exc())
-                sys.exit(1)
+    try:
+        curses.wrapper(main)
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        logging.info("User exited with Ctrl+C")
+        sys.exit(0)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logging.critical("Fatal error", exc_info=True)
+        try:
+            curses.endwin()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        print("Fatal error:", e)
+        traceback.print_exc()
+        sys.exit(1)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":

contact/ui/default_config.py

@@ -7,10 +7,60 @@ from typing import Dict
 script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 parent_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(script_dir, os.pardir))
 
-# Paths
-json_file_path = os.path.join(parent_dir, "config.json")
-log_file_path = os.path.join(parent_dir, "client.log")
-db_file_path = os.path.join(parent_dir, "client.db")
+
+def _is_writable_dir(path: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Return True if we can create & delete a temp file in `path`.
+    """
+    if not os.path.isdir(path):
+        return False
+    test_path = os.path.join(path, ".perm_test_tmp")
+    try:
+        with open(test_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as _tmp:
+            _tmp.write("ok")
+        os.remove(test_path)
+        return True
+    except OSError:
+        return False
+
+
+def _get_config_root(preferred_dir: str, fallback_name: str = ".contact_client") -> str:
+    """
+    Choose a writable directory for config artifacts.
+    """
+    if _is_writable_dir(preferred_dir):
+        return preferred_dir
+
+    home = os.path.expanduser("~")
+    fallback_dir = os.path.join(home, fallback_name)
+    # Ensure the fallback exists.
+    os.makedirs(fallback_dir, exist_ok=True)
+
+    # If *that* still isn't writable, last-ditch: use a system temp dir.
+    if not _is_writable_dir(fallback_dir):
+        import tempfile
+
+        fallback_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="contact_client_")
+
+    return fallback_dir
+
+
+# Pick the root now.
+config_root = _get_config_root(parent_dir)
+
+if config_root != parent_dir:
+    logging.debug(
+        "Parent directory %s not writable; using fallback config root %s",
+        parent_dir,
+        config_root,
+    )
+else:
+    logging.debug("Using parent directory %s for config artifacts.", config_root)
+
+# Paths (derived from the chosen root)
+json_file_path = os.path.join(config_root, "config.json")
+log_file_path = os.path.join(config_root, "client.log")
+db_file_path = os.path.join(config_root, "client.db")
 
 
 def format_json_single_line_arrays(data: Dict[str, object], indent: int = 4) -> str: