Merge branch 'feat/editor-user-feedback' into demo

# Conflicts:
#	src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/VisProgStores.tsx

package-lock.json

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       "dependencies": {
         "@neodrag/react": "^2.3.1",
         "@xyflow/react": "^12.8.6",
+        "clsx": "^2.1.1",
         "react": "^19.1.1",
         "react-dom": "^19.1.1",
         "react-router": "^7.9.3",
@@ -3971,6 +3972,15 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/chalk/wrap-ansi?sponsor=1"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/clsx": {
+      "version": "2.1.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/clsx/-/clsx-2.1.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-eYm0QWBtUrBWZWG0d386OGAw16Z995PiOVo2B7bjWSbHedGl5e0ZWaq65kOGgUSNesEIDkB9ISbTg/JK9dhCZA==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/co": {
       "version": "4.6.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/co/-/co-4.6.0.tgz",
@@ -6945,9 +6955,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/react-router": {
-      "version": "7.9.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/react-router/-/react-router-7.9.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-4o2iWCFIwhI/eYAIL43+cjORXYn/aRQPgtFRRZb3VzoyQ5Uej0Bmqj7437L97N9NJW4wnicSwLOLS+yCXfAPgg==",
+      "version": "7.12.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/react-router/-/react-router-7.12.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-kTPDYPFzDVGIIGNLS5VJykK0HfHLY5MF3b+xj0/tTyNYL1gF1qs7u67Z9jEhQk2sQ98SUaHxlG31g1JtF7IfVw==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "cookie": "^1.0.1",

package.json

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   "dependencies": {
     "@neodrag/react": "^2.3.1",
     "@xyflow/react": "^12.8.6",
+    "clsx": "^2.1.1",
     "react": "^19.1.1",
     "react-dom": "^19.1.1",
     "react-router": "^7.9.3",

src/pages/VisProgPage/VisProg.tsx

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {
   Panel,
   ReactFlow,
   ReactFlowProvider,
-  MarkerType,
+  MarkerType, getOutgoers
 } from '@xyflow/react';
 import '@xyflow/react/dist/style.css';
 import {type CSSProperties, useEffect, useState} from "react";
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {useShallow} from 'zustand/react/shallow';
 import orderPhaseNodeArray from "../../utils/orderPhaseNodes.ts";
 import useProgramStore from "../../utils/programStore.ts";
 import {DndToolbar} from './visualProgrammingUI/components/DragDropSidebar.tsx';
+import {type EditorWarning, globalWarning} from "./visualProgrammingUI/components/EditorWarnings.tsx";
+import {WarningsSidebar} from "./visualProgrammingUI/components/WarningSidebar.tsx";
 import type {PhaseNode} from "./visualProgrammingUI/nodes/PhaseNode.tsx";
 import useFlowStore from './visualProgrammingUI/VisProgStores.tsx';
 import type {FlowState} from './visualProgrammingUI/VisProgTypes.tsx';
@@ -89,9 +91,31 @@ const VisProgUI = () => {
     window.addEventListener('keydown', handler);
     return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handler);
   });
+  const {unregisterWarning, registerWarning} = useFlowStore();
+  useEffect(() => {
+    
+    if (checkPhaseChain()) {
+      unregisterWarning(globalWarning,'INCOMPLETE_PROGRAM');
+    } else {
+      // create global warning for incomplete program chain
+      const incompleteProgramWarning : EditorWarning = {
+        scope: {
+          id: globalWarning,
+          handleId: undefined
+        },
+        type: 'INCOMPLETE_PROGRAM',
+        severity: "ERROR",
+        description: "there is no complete phase chain from the startNode to the EndNode"
+      }
+
+      registerWarning(incompleteProgramWarning);
+    }
+  },[edges, registerWarning, unregisterWarning])
+
+
 
   return (
-    <div className={`${styles.innerEditorContainer} round-lg border-lg`} style={({'--flow-zoom': zoom} as CSSProperties)}>
+    <div className={`${styles.innerEditorContainer} round-lg border-lg flex-row`} style={({'--flow-zoom': zoom} as CSSProperties)}>
       <ReactFlow
         nodes={nodes}
         edges={edges}
@@ -111,6 +135,7 @@ const VisProgUI = () => {
         snapToGrid
         fitView
         proOptions={{hideAttribution: true}}
+        style={{flexGrow: 3}}
       >
         <Panel position="top-center" className={styles.dndPanel}>
           <DndToolbar/> {/* contains the drag and drop panel for nodes */}
@@ -120,11 +145,13 @@ const VisProgUI = () => {
           </Panel>
         <Panel position="bottom-center">
           <button onClick={() => undo()}>undo</button>
+
           <button onClick={() => redo()}>Redo</button>
         </Panel>
         <Controls/>
         <Background/>
       </ReactFlow>
+      <WarningsSidebar/>
     </div>
   );
 };
@@ -179,6 +206,24 @@ function graphReducer() {
     }); 
 }
 
+const checkPhaseChain = (): boolean => {
+  const {nodes, edges} = useFlowStore.getState();
+
+  function checkForCompleteChain(currentNodeId: string): boolean {
+    const outgoingPhases = getOutgoers({id: currentNodeId}, nodes, edges)
+      .filter(node => ["end", "phase"].includes(node.type!));
+
+    if (outgoingPhases.length === 0) return false;
+    if (outgoingPhases.some(node => node.type === "end" )) return true;
+
+    const next = outgoingPhases.map(node => checkForCompleteChain(node.id))
+      .find(result => result);
+    console.log(next);
+    return !!next;
+  }
+
+  return checkForCompleteChain('start');
+};
 
 
 /**
@@ -187,10 +232,19 @@ function graphReducer() {
  * @constructor
  */
 function VisProgPage() {
+  const [programValidity, setProgramValidity] = useState<boolean>(true);
+  const {isProgramValid, severityIndex} = useFlowStore();
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setProgramValidity(isProgramValid);
+    // the following eslint disable is required as it wants us to use all possible dependencies for the useEffect statement,
+    // however this would cause unneeded updates
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [severityIndex]);
   return (
     <>
       <VisualProgrammingUI/>
-      <button onClick={runProgram}>run program</button>
+      <button onClick={runProgram} disabled={!programValidity}>run program</button>
     </>
   )
 }

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/VisProgStores.tsx

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from '@xyflow/react';
 import '@xyflow/react/dist/style.css';
 import {type ConnectionContext, validateConnectionWithRules} from "./HandleRuleLogic.ts";
+import {editorWarningRegistry} from "./components/EditorWarnings.tsx";
 import type { FlowState } from './VisProgTypes';
 import {
   NodeDefaults,
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ function createNode(id: string, type: string, position: XYPosition, data: Record
   const endNode = createNode('end', 'end', {x: 590, y: 100}, {label: "End"}, false)
   const initialPhaseNode = createNode(crypto.randomUUID(), 'phase', {x:235, y:100}, {label: "Phase 1", children : [], isFirstPhase: false, nextPhaseId: null})
 
-  const initialNodes : Node[] = [startNode, endNode, initialPhaseNode,];
+  const initialNodes : Node[] = [startNode, endNode, initialPhaseNode];
 
 // Initial edges, leave empty as setting initial edges...
 // ...breaks logic that is dependent on connection events
@@ -341,8 +342,12 @@ const useFlowStore = create<FlowState>(UndoRedo((set, get) => ({
       })
       return { ruleRegistry: registry };
     })
-  }
+  },
+  ...editorWarningRegistry(get, set),
   }))
 );
 
+
+
 export default useFlowStore;
+

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/VisProgTypes.tsx

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import type {
   OnEdgesDelete,
   OnNodesDelete
 } from '@xyflow/react';
+import type {EditorWarningRegistry} from "./components/EditorWarnings.tsx";
 import type {HandleRule} from "./HandleRuleLogic.ts";
 import type { NodeTypes } from './NodeRegistry';
 import type {FlowSnapshot} from "./EditorUndoRedo.ts";
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ export type FlowState = {
    * @param node - the Node object to add
    */
   addNode: (node: Node) => void;
-} & UndoRedoState & HandleRuleRegistry;
+} & UndoRedoState & HandleRuleRegistry & EditorWarningRegistry;
 
 export type UndoRedoState = {
   // UndoRedo Types
@@ -129,4 +130,7 @@ export type HandleRuleRegistry = {
 
   // cleans up all registered rules of all handles of the provided node
   unregisterNodeRules: (nodeId: string) => void
-}
+}
+
+
+

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/components/EditorWarnings.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+/* contains all logic for the VisProgEditor warning system
+*
+* Missing but desirable features:
+* - Warning filtering:
+*     - if there is no completely connected chain of startNode-[PhaseNodes]-EndNode
+*       then hide any startNode, phaseNode, or endNode specific warnings
+*/
+import useFlowStore from "../VisProgStores.tsx";
+import type {FlowState} from "../VisProgTypes.tsx";
+
+// --| Type definitions |--
+
+export type WarningId = NodeId | "GLOBAL_WARNINGS";
+export type NodeId = string;
+
+
+export type WarningType =
+  | 'MISSING_INPUT'
+  | 'MISSING_OUTPUT'
+  | 'PLAN_IS_UNDEFINED'
+  | 'INCOMPLETE_PROGRAM'
+  | string
+
+export type WarningSeverity =
+  | 'INFO' // Acceptable, but important to be aware of
+  | 'WARNING' // Acceptable, but probably undesirable behavior
+  | 'ERROR' // Prevents running program, should be fixed before running program is allowed
+
+export type WarningScope = {
+  id: string;
+  handleId?: string;
+}
+
+export type EditorWarning = {
+  scope: WarningScope;
+  type: WarningType;
+  severity: WarningSeverity;
+  description: string;
+};
+
+/**
+ * a scoped WarningKey,
+ * the handleId scoping is only needed for handle specific errors
+ *
+ * "`WarningType`:`handleId`"
+ */
+export type WarningKey = string; // for warnings that can occur on a per-handle basis
+
+/**
+ * a composite key used in the severityIndex
+ *
+ * "`WarningId`|`WarningKey`"
+ */
+export type CompositeWarningKey = string;
+
+export type WarningRegistry = Map<WarningId , Map<WarningKey, EditorWarning>>;
+export type SeverityIndex = Map<WarningSeverity, Set<CompositeWarningKey>>;
+
+type ZustandSet = (partial: Partial<FlowState> | ((state: FlowState) => Partial<FlowState>)) => void;
+type ZustandGet = () => FlowState;
+
+export type EditorWarningRegistry = {
+  editorWarningRegistry: WarningRegistry;
+  severityIndex: SeverityIndex;
+
+  getWarnings: () => EditorWarning[];
+
+  getWarningsBySeverity: (warningSeverity: WarningSeverity) => EditorWarning[];
+
+  /**
+   * checks if there are no warnings of breaking severity
+   * @returns {boolean}
+   */
+  isProgramValid: () => boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * registers a warning to the warningRegistry and the SeverityIndex
+   * @param {EditorWarning} warning
+   */
+  registerWarning: (warning: EditorWarning) => void;
+
+  /**
+   * unregisters a warning from the warningRegistry and the SeverityIndex
+   * @param {EditorWarning} warning
+   */
+  unregisterWarning: (id: WarningId, warningKey: WarningKey) => void
+
+  /**
+   * unregisters warnings from the warningRegistry and the SeverityIndex
+   * @param {EditorWarning} warning
+   */
+  unregisterWarningsForId: (id: WarningId) => void;
+}
+
+// --| implemented logic |--
+
+export const globalWarning = "GLOBAL_WARNINGS";
+
+export function editorWarningRegistry(get: ZustandGet, set: ZustandSet) : EditorWarningRegistry { return {
+  editorWarningRegistry: new Map<NodeId, Map<WarningKey, EditorWarning>>(),
+  severityIndex: new Map([
+    ['INFO', new Set<CompositeWarningKey>()],
+    ['WARNING', new Set<CompositeWarningKey>()],
+    ['ERROR', new Set<CompositeWarningKey>()],
+  ]),
+
+  getWarningsBySeverity: (warningSeverity) => {
+    const wRegistry = get().editorWarningRegistry;
+    const sIndex = get().severityIndex;
+    const warningKeys = sIndex.get(warningSeverity);
+    const warnings: EditorWarning[] = [];
+
+    warningKeys?.forEach(
+      (compositeKey) => {
+        const [id, warningKey] = compositeKey.split('|');
+        const warning = wRegistry.get(id)?.get(warningKey);
+
+        if (warning) {
+          warnings.push(warning);
+        }
+      }
+    )
+
+    return warnings;
+  },
+
+  isProgramValid: () => {
+    const sIndex = get().severityIndex;
+    return (sIndex.get("ERROR")!.size === 0);
+  },
+
+  getWarnings: () => Array.from(get().editorWarningRegistry.values())
+      .flatMap(innerMap => Array.from(innerMap.values())),
+
+
+  registerWarning: (warning) => {
+    const { scope: {id, handleId}, type, severity } = warning;
+    const warningKey = handleId ? `${type}:${handleId}` : type;
+    const compositeKey = `${id}|${warningKey}`;
+    const wRegistry = structuredClone(get().editorWarningRegistry);
+    const sIndex = structuredClone(get().severityIndex);
+    console.log("register")
+    // add to warning registry
+    if (!wRegistry.has(id)) {
+      wRegistry.set(id, new Map());
+    }
+    wRegistry.get(id)!.set(warningKey, warning);
+
+
+    // add to severityIndex
+    if (!sIndex.get(severity)!.has(compositeKey)) {
+      sIndex.get(severity)!.add(compositeKey);
+    }
+
+    set({
+      editorWarningRegistry: wRegistry,
+      severityIndex: sIndex
+    })
+  },
+
+  unregisterWarning: (id, warningKey) => {
+    const wRegistry = structuredClone(get().editorWarningRegistry);
+    const sIndex = structuredClone(get().severityIndex);
+    console.log("unregister")
+    // verify if the warning was created already
+    const warning = wRegistry.get(id)?.get(warningKey);
+    if (!warning) return;
+
+    // remove from warning registry
+    wRegistry.get(id)!.delete(warningKey);
+
+
+    // remove from severityIndex
+    sIndex.get(warning.severity)!.delete(`${id}|${warningKey}`);
+
+    set({
+      editorWarningRegistry: wRegistry,
+      severityIndex: sIndex
+    })
+  },
+
+  unregisterWarningsForId: (id) => {
+    const wRegistry = structuredClone(get().editorWarningRegistry);
+    const sIndex = structuredClone(get().severityIndex);
+
+    const nodeWarnings = wRegistry.get(id);
+
+    // remove from severity index
+    if (nodeWarnings) {
+      nodeWarnings.forEach((warning, warningKey) => {
+        sIndex.get(warning.severity)?.delete(`${id}|${warningKey}`);
+      });
+    }
+
+    // remove from warning registry
+    wRegistry.delete(id);
+
+    set({
+      editorWarningRegistry: wRegistry,
+      severityIndex: sIndex
+    })
+  },
+}}
+
+
+// returns a summary of the warningRegistry
+export function warningSummary() {
+  const {severityIndex, isProgramValid} = useFlowStore.getState();
+  return {
+    info: severityIndex.get('INFO')!.size,
+    warning: severityIndex.get('WARNING')!.size,
+    error: severityIndex.get('ERROR')!.size,
+    isValid: isProgramValid(),
+  };
+}
+
+

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/components/WarningSidebar.module.css

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+.warnings-sidebar {
+    width: 320px;
+    height: 100%;
+    background: canvas;
+    border-left: 2px solid black;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+}
+
+.warnings-header {
+    padding: 12px;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid #2a2a2e;
+}
+
+.severity-tabs {
+    display: flex;
+    gap: 4px;
+}
+
+.severity-tab {
+    flex: 1;
+    padding: 4px;
+    background: ButtonFace;
+    color: GrayText;
+    border: none;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.count {
+    padding: 4px;
+    color: GrayText;
+    border: none;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.severity-tab.active {
+    color: ButtonText;
+    border: 2px solid currentColor;
+}
+
+.warnings-list {
+    flex: 1;
+    overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
+.warnings-empty {
+    margin: auto;
+}
+
+.warning-item {
+    display: flex;
+    margin: 5px;
+    gap: 8px;
+    padding: 8px 12px;
+    border-radius: 5px;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.warning-item:hover {
+    background: ButtonFace;
+}
+
+.warning-item--error {
+    border: 2px solid red;
+}
+
+.warning-item--warning {
+    border: 3px solid orange;
+}
+
+.warning-item--info {
+    border: 3px solid steelblue;
+}
+
+.warning-item .meta {
+    font-size: 11px;
+    opacity: 0.6;
+}

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/components/WarningSidebar.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import {useReactFlow, useStoreApi} from "@xyflow/react";
+import clsx from "clsx";
+import {useEffect, useState} from "react";
+import useFlowStore from "../VisProgStores.tsx";
+import {
+  warningSummary,
+  type WarningSeverity,
+  type EditorWarning, globalWarning
+} from "./EditorWarnings.tsx";
+import styles from "./WarningSidebar.module.css";
+
+export function WarningsSidebar() {
+  const warnings = useFlowStore.getState().getWarnings();
+
+  const [severityFilter, setSeverityFilter] = useState<WarningSeverity | 'ALL'>('ALL');
+
+  useEffect(() => {}, [warnings]);
+  const filtered = severityFilter === 'ALL'
+    ? warnings
+    : warnings.filter(w => w.severity === severityFilter);
+
+  return (
+    <aside className={styles.warningsSidebar}>
+      <WarningsHeader
+        severityFilter={severityFilter}
+        onChange={setSeverityFilter}
+      />
+
+      <WarningsList warnings={filtered} />
+    </aside>
+  );
+}
+
+function WarningsHeader({
+  severityFilter,
+  onChange,
+}: {
+  severityFilter: WarningSeverity | 'ALL';
+  onChange: (severity: WarningSeverity | 'ALL') => void;
+}) {
+  const summary = warningSummary();
+
+  return (
+    <div className={styles.warningsHeader}>
+      <h3>Warnings</h3>
+
+      <div className={styles.severityTabs}>
+        {(['ALL', 'ERROR', 'WARNING', 'INFO'] as const).map(severity => (
+          <button
+            key={severity}
+            className={clsx(styles.severityTab, severityFilter === severity && styles.active)}
+            onClick={() => onChange(severity)}
+          >
+            {severity}
+            {severity !== 'ALL' && (
+              <span className={styles.count}>
+                {summary[severity.toLowerCase() as keyof typeof summary]}
+              </span>
+            )}
+          </button>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+
+
+function WarningsList(props: { warnings: EditorWarning[] }) {
+  if (props.warnings.length === 0) {
+    return (
+      <div className={styles.warningsEmpty}>
+        No warnings!
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+  return (
+    <div className={styles.warningsList}>
+      {props.warnings.map((warning) => (
+        <WarningListItem warning={warning} />
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function WarningListItem(props: { warning: EditorWarning }) {
+  const jumpToNode = useJumpToNode();
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={clsx(styles.warningItem, styles[`warning-item--${props.warning.severity.toLowerCase()}`],)}
+      onClick={() => jumpToNode(props.warning.scope.id)}
+    >
+      <div className={styles.description}>
+        {props.warning.description}
+      </div>
+
+      <div className={styles.meta}>
+        {props.warning.scope.id}
+        {props.warning.scope.handleId && (
+          <span className={styles.handle}>@{props.warning.scope.handleId}</span>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function useJumpToNode() {
+  const { getNode, setCenter } = useReactFlow();
+  const { addSelectedNodes } = useStoreApi().getState();
+
+  return (nodeId: string) => {
+    // user can't jump to global warning, so prevent further logic from running
+    if (nodeId === globalWarning) return;
+    const node = getNode(nodeId);
+    if (!node) return;
+
+    const { position, width = 0, height = 0} = node;
+
+    // move to node
+    setCenter(
+      position!.x + width / 2,
+      position!.y + height / 2,
+      { zoom: 2, duration: 300 }
+    ).then(() => {
+      // select the node
+      addSelectedNodes([nodeId]);
+    });
+
+  };
+}

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/nodes/EndNode.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 import {
   type NodeProps,
   Position,
-  type Node,
+  type Node, useNodeConnections
 } from '@xyflow/react';
+import {useEffect} from "react";
+import type {EditorWarning} from "../components/EditorWarnings.tsx";
 import { Toolbar } from '../components/NodeComponents';
 import styles from '../../VisProg.module.css';
 import {SingleConnectionHandle} from "../components/RuleBasedHandle.tsx";
 import {allowOnlyConnectionsFromType} from "../HandleRules.ts";
+import useFlowStore from "../VisProgStores.tsx";
 
 
 
@@ -27,6 +30,27 @@ export type EndNode = Node<EndNodeData>
  * @returns React.JSX.Element
  */
 export default function EndNode(props: NodeProps<EndNode>) {
+  const {registerWarning, unregisterWarning} = useFlowStore.getState();
+  const connections = useNodeConnections({
+    id: props.id,
+    handleId: 'target'
+  })
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const noConnectionWarning : EditorWarning = {
+      scope: {
+        id: props.id,
+        handleId: 'target'
+      },
+      type: 'MISSING_INPUT',
+      severity: "ERROR",
+      description: "the endNode does not have an incoming connection from a phaseNode"
+    }
+
+    if (connections.length === 0) { registerWarning(noConnectionWarning); }
+    else { unregisterWarning(props.id, `${noConnectionWarning.type}:target`); }
+  }, [connections.length, props.id, registerWarning, unregisterWarning]);
+
   return (
     <>
       <Toolbar nodeId={props.id} allowDelete={false}/>

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/nodes/PhaseNode.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import {
   type NodeProps,
   Position,
-  type Node
+  type Node, useNodeConnections
 } from '@xyflow/react';
+import {useEffect} from "react";
+import type {EditorWarning} from "../components/EditorWarnings.tsx";
 import { Toolbar } from '../components/NodeComponents';
 import styles from '../../VisProg.module.css';
 import {SingleConnectionHandle, MultiConnectionHandle} from "../components/RuleBasedHandle.tsx";
@@ -41,6 +43,28 @@ export default function PhaseNode(props: NodeProps<PhaseNode>) {
   const updateLabel = (value: string) => updateNodeData(props.id, {...data, label: value});
   const label_input_id = `phase_${props.id}_label_input`;
 
+  const {registerWarning, unregisterWarning} = useFlowStore.getState();
+  const connections = useNodeConnections({
+    id: props.id,
+    handleType: "target",
+    handleId: 'data'
+  })
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const noConnectionWarning : EditorWarning = {
+      scope: {
+        id: props.id,
+        handleId: 'data'
+      },
+      type: 'MISSING_INPUT',
+      severity: "WARNING",
+      description: "the phaseNode has no incoming goals, norms, and/or triggers"
+    }
+
+    if (connections.length === 0) { registerWarning(noConnectionWarning); }
+    else { unregisterWarning(props.id, `${noConnectionWarning.type}:data`); }
+  }, [connections.length, props.id, registerWarning, unregisterWarning]);
+
   return (
     <>
       <Toolbar nodeId={props.id} allowDelete={true}/>

src/pages/VisProgPage/visualProgrammingUI/nodes/StartNode.tsx

@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 import {
   type NodeProps,
   Position,
-  type Node,
+  type Node, useNodeConnections
 } from '@xyflow/react';
+import {useEffect} from "react";
 import { Toolbar } from '../components/NodeComponents';
 import styles from '../../VisProg.module.css';
 import {SingleConnectionHandle} from "../components/RuleBasedHandle.tsx";
+import {type EditorWarning} from "../components/EditorWarnings.tsx";
 import {allowOnlyConnectionsFromHandle} from "../HandleRules.ts";
+import useFlowStore from "../VisProgStores.tsx";
 
 
 export type StartNodeData = {
@@ -25,6 +28,27 @@ export type StartNode = Node<StartNodeData>
  * @returns React.JSX.Element
  */
 export default function StartNode(props: NodeProps<StartNode>) {
+  const {registerWarning, unregisterWarning} = useFlowStore.getState();
+  const connections = useNodeConnections({
+    id: props.id,
+    handleId: 'source'
+  })
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const noConnectionWarning : EditorWarning = {
+      scope: {
+        id: props.id,
+        handleId: 'source'
+      },
+      type: 'MISSING_OUTPUT',
+      severity: "ERROR",
+      description: "the startNode does not have an outgoing connection to a phaseNode"
+    }
+
+    if (connections.length === 0) { registerWarning(noConnectionWarning); }
+    else { unregisterWarning(props.id, `${noConnectionWarning.type}:source`); }
+  }, [connections.length, props.id, registerWarning, unregisterWarning]);
+
   return (
     <>
       <Toolbar nodeId={props.id} allowDelete={false}/>