diff --git a/backend/.env.example b/backend/.env.example
index da1157d..da110e9 100644
--- a/backend/.env.example
+++ b/backend/.env.example
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 PORT=8000
 NODE_ENV=production
 DATABASE_URL=file:/app/prisma/dev.db
+FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:6767
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index e5b7bca..53589ec 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ RUN npx tsc
 # Production stage
 FROM node:20-alpine
 
-# Install OpenSSL for Prisma and create non-root user
-RUN apk add --no-cache openssl && \
+# Install OpenSSL for Prisma and su-exec, create non-root user
+RUN apk add --no-cache openssl su-exec && \
     addgroup -g 1001 -S nodejs && \
     adduser -S nodejs -u 1001
 
@@ -51,17 +51,14 @@ COPY --from=builder /app/src/generated ./dist/generated
 # Generate Prisma Client in production (updates node_modules)
 RUN npx prisma generate
 
-# Create necessary directories and set proper ownership
-RUN mkdir -p /app/uploads /app/prisma && \
-    chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app
+# Create necessary directories (ownership will be set in entrypoint)
+RUN mkdir -p /app/uploads /app/prisma
 
 # Copy and set permissions for entrypoint script
 COPY docker-entrypoint.sh ./
-RUN chmod +x docker-entrypoint.sh && \
-    chown nodejs:nodejs docker-entrypoint.sh
+RUN chmod +x docker-entrypoint.sh
 
-# Switch to non-root user
-USER nodejs
+# REMOVED: USER nodejs (We must stay root to fix permissions in entrypoint)
 
 EXPOSE 8000
 
diff --git a/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh b/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 16bfc9d..d1a311a 100644
--- a/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/backend/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -1,36 +1,28 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 set -e
 
-# Auto-hydrate prisma directory when bind-mounted volume is empty
+# 1. Hydrate volume if empty (Running as root)
 if [ ! -f "/app/prisma/schema.prisma" ]; then
-	echo "Mount is empty. Hydrating /app/prisma from /app/prisma_template..."
-	cp -R /app/prisma_template/. /app/prisma/
+    echo "Mount is empty. Hydrating /app/prisma..."
+    cp -R /app/prisma_template/. /app/prisma/
 fi
 
-# Ensure proper ownership and permissions for data directories
-echo "Setting up data directory permissions..."
-mkdir -p /app/uploads
-mkdir -p /app/prisma
-
-# Set ownership to the node user (UID 1000)
-if [ "$(id -u)" = "0" ]; then
-	# If running as root (for some reason), fix ownership
-	chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app/uploads
-	chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app/prisma
-fi
+# 2. Fix permissions unconditionally (Running as root)
+echo "Fixing filesystem permissions..."
+chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app/uploads
+chown -R nodejs:nodejs /app/prisma
+chmod 755 /app/uploads
 
 # Ensure database file has proper permissions
 if [ -f "/app/prisma/dev.db" ]; then
-	chmod 664 /app/prisma/dev.db 2>/dev/null || true
+    echo "Database file found, ensuring write permissions..."
+    chmod 666 /app/prisma/dev.db
 fi
 
-# Set appropriate permissions for uploads directory
-chmod 755 /app/uploads
-
-# Run migrations as the current user
+# 3. Run Migrations (Drop privileges to nodejs)
 echo "Running database migrations..."
-npx prisma migrate deploy
+su-exec nodejs npx prisma migrate deploy
 
-# Start the application
-echo "Starting application as user $(whoami) (UID: $(id -u))"
-node dist/index.js
+# 4. Start Application (Drop privileges to nodejs)
+echo "Starting application as nodejs..."
+exec su-exec nodejs node dist/index.js
diff --git a/backend/package-lock.json b/backend/package-lock.json
index cccae61..e2c7b77 100644
--- a/backend/package-lock.json
+++ b/backend/package-lock.json
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
         "express": "^5.1.0",
         "jsdom": "^27.2.0",
         "multer": "^2.0.2",
+        "prisma": "^5.22.0",
         "socket.io": "^4.8.1",
         "zod": "^4.1.12"
       },
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@
         "@types/express": "^5.0.5",
         "@types/node": "^24.10.1",
         "nodemon": "^3.1.11",
-        "prisma": "^5.22.0",
         "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
         "typescript": "^5.9.3"
       }
@@ -312,14 +312,12 @@
       "version": "5.22.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@prisma/debug/-/debug-5.22.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-AUt44v3YJeggO2ZU5BkXI7M4hu9BF2zzH2iF2V5pyXT/lRTyWiElZ7It+bRH1EshoMRxHgpYg4VB6rCM+mG5jQ==",
-      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0"
     },
     "node_modules/@prisma/engines": {
       "version": "5.22.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@prisma/engines/-/engines-5.22.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-UNjfslWhAt06kVL3CjkuYpHAWSO6L4kDCVPegV6itt7nD1kSJavd3vhgAEhjglLJJKEdJ7oIqDJ+yHk6qO8gPA==",
-      "devOptional": true,
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
@@ -333,14 +331,12 @@
       "version": "5.22.0-44.605197351a3c8bdd595af2d2a9bc3025bca48ea2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@prisma/engines-version/-/engines-version-5.22.0-44.605197351a3c8bdd595af2d2a9bc3025bca48ea2.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-2PTmxFR2yHW/eB3uqWtcgRcgAbG1rwG9ZriSvQw+nnb7c4uCr3RAcGMb6/zfE88SKlC1Nj2ziUvc96Z379mHgQ==",
-      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0"
     },
     "node_modules/@prisma/fetch-engine": {
       "version": "5.22.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@prisma/fetch-engine/-/fetch-engine-5.22.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-bkrD/Mc2fSvkQBV5EpoFcZ87AvOgDxbG99488a5cexp5Ccny+UM6MAe/UFkUC0wLYD9+9befNOqGiIJhhq+HbA==",
-      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@prisma/debug": "5.22.0",
@@ -352,7 +348,6 @@
       "version": "5.22.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@prisma/get-platform/-/get-platform-5.22.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-pHhpQdr1UPFpt+zFfnPazhulaZYCUqeIcPpJViYoq9R+D/yw4fjE+CtnsnKzPYm0ddUbeXUzjGVGIRVgPDCk4Q==",
-      "devOptional": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@prisma/debug": "5.22.0"
@@ -1747,7 +1742,6 @@
       "version": "2.3.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fsevents/-/fsevents-2.3.3.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-5xoDfX+fL7faATnagmWPpbFtwh/R77WmMMqqHGS65C3vvB0YHrgF+B1YmZ3441tMj5n63k0212XNoJwzlhffQw==",
-      "dev": true,
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "optional": true,
@@ -2677,7 +2671,6 @@
       "version": "5.22.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/prisma/-/prisma-5.22.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-vtpjW3XuYCSnMsNVBjLMNkTj6OZbudcPPTPYHqX0CJfpcdWciI1dM8uHETwmDxxiqEwCIE6WvXucWUetJgfu/A==",
-      "devOptional": true,
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "peer": true,
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 460f654..2594ba9 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     "express": "^5.1.0",
     "jsdom": "^27.2.0",
     "multer": "^2.0.2",
+    "prisma": "^5.22.0",
     "socket.io": "^4.8.1",
     "zod": "^4.1.12"
   },
@@ -33,7 +34,6 @@
     "@types/express": "^5.0.5",
     "@types/node": "^24.10.1",
     "nodemon": "^3.1.11",
-    "prisma": "^5.22.0",
     "ts-node": "^10.9.2",
     "typescript": "^5.9.3"
   }
diff --git a/backend/prisma/dev.db.backup b/backend/prisma/dev.db.backup
deleted file mode 100644
index 8c402fb..0000000
Binary files a/backend/prisma/dev.db.backup and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db b/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db
index d745181..78817f7 100644
Binary files a/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db and b/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db differ
diff --git a/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db-journal b/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db-journal
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b10b30
Binary files /dev/null and b/backend/prisma/prisma/dev.db-journal differ
diff --git a/backend/src/generated/client/edge.js b/backend/src/generated/client/edge.js
index 93c2a87..5dee164 100644
--- a/backend/src/generated/client/edge.js
+++ b/backend/src/generated/client/edge.js
@@ -169,7 +169,6 @@ const config = {
     "db"
   ],
   "activeProvider": "sqlite",
-  "postinstall": false,
   "inlineDatasources": {
     "db": {
       "url": {
diff --git a/backend/src/generated/client/index.js b/backend/src/generated/client/index.js
index 08e0ca4..2948f4c 100644
--- a/backend/src/generated/client/index.js
+++ b/backend/src/generated/client/index.js
@@ -170,7 +170,6 @@ const config = {
     "db"
   ],
   "activeProvider": "sqlite",
-  "postinstall": false,
   "inlineDatasources": {
     "db": {
       "url": {
diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index 5f3e86b..169ebe4 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -234,9 +234,12 @@ const drawingUpdateSchema = drawingBaseSchema
         const sanitizedData = { ...data };
         if (data.elements !== undefined || data.appState !== undefined) {
           const fullData = {
-            elements: data.elements || [],
-            appState: data.appState || {},
-            files: data.files,
+            elements: Array.isArray(data.elements) ? data.elements : [],
+            appState:
+              typeof data.appState === "object" && data.appState !== null
+                ? data.appState
+                : {},
+            files: data.files || {},
             preview: data.preview,
             name: data.name,
             collectionId: data.collectionId,
@@ -252,6 +255,17 @@ const drawingUpdateSchema = drawingBaseSchema
         return true;
       } catch (error) {
         console.error("Sanitization failed:", error);
+        // For updates, if sanitization fails but we have minimal data, allow it to pass
+        // This prevents legitimate empty drawings from failing
+        if (
+          data.elements === undefined &&
+          data.appState === undefined &&
+          (data.name !== undefined ||
+            data.preview !== undefined ||
+            data.collectionId !== undefined)
+        ) {
+          return true;
+        }
         return false;
       }
     },
@@ -566,8 +580,32 @@ app.post("/drawings", async (req, res) => {
 app.put("/drawings/:id", async (req, res) => {
   try {
     const { id } = req.params;
+
+    console.log("[API] Update request received", {
+      id,
+      bodyKeys: Object.keys(req.body || {}),
+      hasElements: req.body?.elements !== undefined,
+      elementCount: Array.isArray(req.body?.elements)
+        ? req.body.elements.length
+        : undefined,
+      hasAppState: req.body?.appState !== undefined,
+      appStateKeys: req.body?.appState ? Object.keys(req.body.appState) : [],
+      hasFiles: req.body?.files !== undefined,
+      hasPreview: req.body?.preview !== undefined,
+    });
+
     const parsed = drawingUpdateSchema.safeParse(req.body);
     if (!parsed.success) {
+      console.error("[API] Validation failed", {
+        id,
+        errorCount: parsed.error.issues.length,
+        errors: parsed.error.issues.map((issue) => ({
+          path: issue.path,
+          message: issue.message,
+          received:
+            issue.path.length > 0 ? req.body?.[issue.path.join(".")] : "root",
+        })),
+      });
       return respondWithValidationErrors(res, parsed.error.issues);
     }
 
@@ -622,6 +660,7 @@ app.put("/drawings/:id", async (req, res) => {
       files: JSON.parse(updatedDrawing.files || "{}"),
     });
   } catch (error) {
+    console.error("[CRITICAL] Update failed:", error);
     res.status(500).json({ error: "Failed to update drawing" });
   }
 });
diff --git a/backend/src/security.ts b/backend/src/security.ts
index 235df02..e0c230a 100644
--- a/backend/src/security.ts
+++ b/backend/src/security.ts
@@ -257,133 +257,160 @@ export const sanitizeUrl = (url: unknown): string => {
 };
 
 /**
- * Strict Zod schema for Excalidraw elements with validation
+ * Very flexible Zod schema for Excalidraw elements
  */
 export const elementSchema = z
   .object({
-    id: z.string().min(1).max(100),
-    type: z.enum([
-      "rectangle",
-      "ellipse",
-      "diamond",
-      "arrow",
-      "line",
-      "text",
-      "image",
-      "frame",
-      "embed",
-      "selection",
-      "text-container",
-    ]),
-    x: z.number().finite().min(-100000).max(100000),
-    y: z.number().finite().min(-100000).max(100000),
-    width: z.number().finite().min(0).max(100000),
-    height: z.number().finite().min(0).max(100000),
-    angle: z
-      .number()
-      .finite()
-      .min(-2 * Math.PI)
-      .max(2 * Math.PI),
-    strokeColor: z.string().optional(),
-    backgroundColor: z.string().optional(),
-    fillStyle: z.enum(["solid", "hachure", "cross-hatch", "dots"]).optional(),
-    strokeWidth: z.number().finite().min(0).max(10).optional(),
-    strokeStyle: z.enum(["solid", "dashed", "dotted"]).optional(),
-    roundness: z
-      .object({
-        type: z.enum(["round", "sharp"]),
-        value: z.number().finite().min(0).max(1),
-      })
-      .optional(),
-    boundElements: z
-      .array(
-        z.object({
-          id: z.string(),
-          type: z.string(),
-        })
-      )
-      .optional(),
-    groupIds: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
-    frameId: z.string().optional(),
-    seed: z.number().finite().optional(),
-    version: z.number().finite().min(0).max(100000),
-    versionNonce: z.number().finite().min(0).max(100000),
-    isDeleted: z.boolean().optional(),
-    opacity: z.number().finite().min(0).max(1).optional(),
-    link: z.string().optional().transform(sanitizeUrl),
-    locked: z.boolean().optional(),
-    // Text-specific properties
-    text: z
-      .string()
-      .optional()
-      .transform((val) => sanitizeText(val, 5000)),
-    fontSize: z.number().finite().min(1).max(200).optional(),
-    fontFamily: z.number().finite().min(1).max(5).optional(),
-    textAlign: z.enum(["left", "center", "right"]).optional(),
-    verticalAlign: z.enum(["top", "middle", "bottom"]).optional(),
-    // Custom properties - whitelist only known safe properties
-    customData: z.record(z.string(), z.any()).optional(),
+    id: z.string().min(1).max(200).optional().nullable(),
+    type: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    x: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    y: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    width: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    height: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    angle: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    strokeColor: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    backgroundColor: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    fillStyle: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    strokeWidth: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    strokeStyle: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    roundness: z.any().optional().nullable(),
+    boundElements: z.array(z.any()).optional().nullable(),
+    groupIds: z.array(z.string()).optional().nullable(),
+    frameId: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    seed: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    version: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    versionNonce: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    isDeleted: z.boolean().optional().nullable(),
+    opacity: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    link: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    locked: z.boolean().optional().nullable(),
+    text: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    fontSize: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    fontFamily: z.number().optional().nullable(),
+    textAlign: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    verticalAlign: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    customData: z.record(z.string(), z.any()).optional().nullable(),
   })
-  .strict();
+  .passthrough()
+  .transform((element) => {
+    // Apply basic sanitization to string values only
+    const sanitized = { ...element };
+
+    if (typeof sanitized.text === "string") {
+      sanitized.text = sanitizeText(sanitized.text, 5000);
+    }
+
+    if (typeof sanitized.link === "string") {
+      sanitized.link = sanitizeUrl(sanitized.link);
+    }
+
+    return sanitized;
+  });
 
 /**
- * Strict Zod schema for Excalidraw app state with validation
+ * Flexible Zod schema for Excalidraw app state with validation
  */
 export const appStateSchema = z
   .object({
-    gridSize: z.number().finite().min(0).max(100).optional(),
-    gridStep: z.number().finite().min(1).max(100).optional(),
-    viewBackgroundColor: z.string().optional(),
-    currentItemStrokeColor: z.string().optional(),
-    currentItemBackgroundColor: z.string().optional(),
+    gridSize: z.number().finite().min(0).max(1000).optional().nullable(),
+    gridStep: z.number().finite().min(1).max(1000).optional().nullable(),
+    viewBackgroundColor: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    currentItemStrokeColor: z.string().optional().nullable(),
+    currentItemBackgroundColor: z.string().optional().nullable(),
     currentItemFillStyle: z
       .enum(["solid", "hachure", "cross-hatch", "dots"])
-      .optional(),
-    currentItemStrokeWidth: z.number().finite().min(0).max(10).optional(),
-    currentItemStrokeStyle: z.enum(["solid", "dashed", "dotted"]).optional(),
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    currentItemStrokeWidth: z
+      .number()
+      .finite()
+      .min(0)
+      .max(50)
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    currentItemStrokeStyle: z
+      .enum(["solid", "dashed", "dotted"])
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
     currentItemRoundness: z
       .object({
         type: z.enum(["round", "sharp"]),
         value: z.number().finite().min(0).max(1),
       })
-      .optional(),
-    currentItemFontSize: z.number().finite().min(1).max(200).optional(),
-    currentItemFontFamily: z.number().finite().min(1).max(5).optional(),
-    currentItemTextAlign: z.enum(["left", "center", "right"]).optional(),
-    currentItemVerticalAlign: z.enum(["top", "middle", "bottom"]).optional(),
-    scrollX: z.number().finite().min(-1000000).max(1000000).optional(),
-    scrollY: z.number().finite().min(-1000000).max(1000000).optional(),
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    currentItemFontSize: z
+      .number()
+      .finite()
+      .min(1)
+      .max(500)
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    currentItemFontFamily: z
+      .number()
+      .finite()
+      .min(1)
+      .max(10)
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    currentItemTextAlign: z
+      .enum(["left", "center", "right"])
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    currentItemVerticalAlign: z
+      .enum(["top", "middle", "bottom"])
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    scrollX: z
+      .number()
+      .finite()
+      .min(-10000000)
+      .max(10000000)
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    scrollY: z
+      .number()
+      .finite()
+      .min(-10000000)
+      .max(10000000)
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
     zoom: z
       .object({
-        value: z.number().finite().min(0.1).max(10),
+        value: z.number().finite().min(0.01).max(100),
       })
-      .optional(),
-    selection: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
-    selectedElementIds: z.record(z.string(), z.boolean()).optional(),
-    selectedGroupIds: z.record(z.string(), z.boolean()).optional(),
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    selection: z.array(z.string()).optional().nullable(),
+    selectedElementIds: z.record(z.string(), z.boolean()).optional().nullable(),
+    selectedGroupIds: z.record(z.string(), z.boolean()).optional().nullable(),
     activeEmbeddable: z
       .object({
         elementId: z.string(),
         state: z.string(),
       })
-      .optional(),
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
     activeTool: z
       .object({
         type: z.string(),
-        customType: z.string().optional(),
+        customType: z.string().optional().nullable(),
       })
-      .optional(),
-    cursorX: z.number().finite().optional(),
-    cursorY: z.number().finite().optional(),
-    // Sanitize any string values in appState
+      .optional()
+      .nullable(),
+    cursorX: z.number().finite().optional().nullable(),
+    cursorY: z.number().finite().optional().nullable(),
+    // Add common Excalidraw app state properties
+    collaborators: z.record(z.string(), z.any()).optional().nullable(),
   })
-  .strict()
+  // Allow any additional properties
   .catchall(
     z.any().refine((val) => {
-      // Recursively sanitize any string values found in the object
+      // Sanitize string values, but be more permissive for other types
       if (typeof val === "string") {
         return sanitizeText(val, 1000);
       }
+      // Allow numbers, booleans, objects, arrays, null, undefined
       return true;
     })
   );
diff --git a/frontend/.env b/frontend/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..390658c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Frontend Environment Variables
+# Use /api for production (proxied by nginx)
+# Use http://localhost:8000 for local development
+VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:8000
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
index 193d817..01f874d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Editor.tsx
@@ -265,13 +265,14 @@ export const Editor: React.FC = () => {
     if (!id) return;
     
     try {
+      // Ensure we always have valid data structure
       const persistableAppState = {
-        viewBackgroundColor: appState.viewBackgroundColor,
-        gridSize: appState.gridSize,
+        viewBackgroundColor: appState?.viewBackgroundColor || '#ffffff',
+        gridSize: appState?.gridSize || null,
       };
 
-      const snapshot = latestElementsRef.current ?? elements;
-      const persistableElements = Array.from(snapshot);
+      const snapshot = latestElementsRef.current ?? elements ?? [];
+      const persistableElements = Array.isArray(snapshot) ? snapshot : [];
 
       console.log("[Editor] Saving drawing", {
         drawingId: id,
diff --git a/test_async_fix.js b/test_async_fix.js
deleted file mode 100644
index e03a90b..0000000
--- a/test_async_fix.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,165 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env node
-
-/**
- * Test script to verify async file operations are non-blocking
- * This simulates the database import scenario with a large file
- */
-
-const { spawn } = require('child_process');
-const fs = require('fs');
-const path = require('path');
-
-// Configuration
-const BACKEND_PORT = 8001; // Use different port to avoid conflicts
-const TEST_FILE_SIZE = 50 * 1024 * 1024; // 50MB
-const TEST_DB_PATH = path.join(__dirname, 'test_large_db.db');
-
-// Create a test database file
-function createTestDatabase(size) {
-  console.log(`Creating test database file (${size / (1024 * 1024)}MB)...`);
-  const buffer = Buffer.alloc(size);
-  // Add SQLite header to make it a valid-ish file
-  buffer.write('SQLite format 3\0', 0);
-  
-  fs.writeFileSync(TEST_DB_PATH, buffer);
-  console.log('Test database created successfully');
-}
-
-// Cleanup function
-function cleanup() {
-  if (fs.existsSync(TEST_DB_PATH)) {
-    fs.unlinkSync(TEST_DB_PATH);
-    console.log('Test database cleaned up');
-  }
-}
-
-// Test async operations don't block
-async function testNonBlockingBehavior() {
-  console.log('\n=== Testing Non-Blocking File Operations ===\n');
-  
-  // Create test database
-  createTestDatabase(TEST_FILE_SIZE);
-  
-  return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    console.log('Starting backend server...');
-    
-    // Start backend server
-    const backend = spawn('node', ['src/index.ts'], {
-      cwd: path.join(__dirname, 'backend'),
-      env: { ...process.env, PORT: BACKEND_PORT.toString() },
-      stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe']
-    });
-    
-    let serverReady = false;
-    let healthCheckPassed = false;
-    
-    backend.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
-      const output = data.toString();
-      console.log(`[Backend] ${output.trim()}`);
-      
-      if (output.includes('Server running on port')) {
-        serverReady = true;
-      }
-    });
-    
-    backend.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
-      console.error(`[Backend Error] ${data.toString().trim()}`);
-    });
-    
-    // Wait for server to be ready, then test health endpoints
-    setTimeout(() => {
-      if (!serverReady) {
-        console.error('Server failed to start');
-        backend.kill();
-        cleanup();
-        resolve(false);
-        return;
-      }
-      
-      console.log('\n--- Testing Health Endpoint (should work during file ops) ---');
-      
-      // Test health endpoint multiple times to ensure it's responsive
-      const healthTests = [];
-      for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
-        setTimeout(() => {
-          const healthReq = spawn('curl', ['-s', `http://localhost:${BACKEND_PORT}/health`]);
-          
-          healthReq.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
-            const response = data.toString();
-            console.log(`Health check ${i + 1}: ${response}`);
-            healthCheckPassed = healthCheckPassed || response.includes('ok');
-          });
-          
-          healthReq.stderr.on('data', (data) => {
-            console.error(`Health check ${i + 1} error: ${data.toString()}`);
-          });
-        }, i * 1000);
-      }
-      
-      // Test file upload (simulating the blocking operation)
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        console.log('\n--- Testing File Upload (simulating async operations) ---');
-        
-        const formData = `--boundary\r\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name="db"; filename="test.db"\r\nContent-Type: application/octet-stream\r\n\r\n`;
-        const endBoundary = `\r\n--boundary--\r\n`;
-        
-        const fileContent = fs.readFileSync(TEST_DB_PATH);
-        const uploadData = Buffer.concat([
-          Buffer.from(formData),
-          fileContent,
-          Buffer.from(endBoundary)
-        ]);
-        
-        const uploadReq = spawn('curl', [
-          '-X', 'POST',
-          '-H', `Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=boundary`,
-          '--data-binary', `@-`,
-          `http://localhost:${BACKEND_PORT}/import/sqlite/verify`
-        ], {
-          stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe']
-        });
-        
-        uploadReq.stdin.write(uploadData);
-        uploadReq.stdin.end();
-        
-        let uploadResponse = '';
-        uploadReq.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
-          uploadResponse += data.toString();
-        });
-        
-        uploadReq.on('close', (code) => {
-          console.log(`Upload test completed with code: ${code}`);
-          console.log(`Response: ${uploadResponse}`);
-          
-          // Final health check to ensure server is still responsive
-          setTimeout(() => {
-            const finalHealthReq = spawn('curl', ['-s', `http://localhost:${BACKEND_PORT}/health`]);
-            finalHealthReq.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
-              const response = data.toString();
-              console.log(`Final health check: ${response}`);
-              
-              backend.kill();
-              cleanup();
-              
-              const success = healthCheckPassed && response.includes('ok');
-              console.log(`\n=== Test Result: ${success ? 'PASS' : 'FAIL'} ===`);
-              console.log(`Health checks responsive: ${healthCheckPassed}`);
-              console.log(`Server still responsive after upload: ${response.includes('ok')}`);
-              
-              resolve(success);
-            });
-          }, 2000);
-        });
-      }, 5000); // Start upload test after 5 seconds
-    }, 3000); // Wait 3 seconds for server startup
-  });
-}
-
-// Run the test
-testNonBlockingBehavior().then((success) => {
-  process.exit(success ? 0 : 1);
-}).catch((error) => {
-  console.error('Test failed with error:', error);
-  cleanup();
-  process.exit(1);
-});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/validate_fix.js b/validate_fix.js
deleted file mode 100644
index cc7d5d4..0000000
--- a/validate_fix.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Quick validation of async file operations fix
- * This checks that all synchronous operations have been converted
- */
-
-const fs = require('fs');
-const path = require('path');
-
-const backendFile = path.join(__dirname, 'backend', 'src', 'index.ts');
-
-// Read the backend file
-const content = fs.readFileSync(backendFile, 'utf8');
-
-// Check for any remaining synchronous file operations
-const syncPatterns = [
-  { pattern: /fs\.(read|write|open|rename|copy|unlink|mkdir)Sync/g, name: 'Synchronous file operations' },
-  { pattern: /existsSync/g, name: 'existsSync calls' }
-];
-
-console.log('=== Async File Operations Fix Validation ===\n');
-
-let issues = [];
-let conversions = [];
-
-syncPatterns.forEach(({ pattern, name }) => {
-  const matches = content.match(pattern);
-  if (matches) {
-    console.log(`❌ Found ${matches.length} ${name}:`);
-    matches.forEach((match, index) => {
-      console.log(`  ${index + 1}. ${match}`);
-    });
-    issues.push({ type: name, count: matches.length, matches });
-  } else {
-    console.log(`✅ No ${name} found`);
-  }
-});
-
-// Check for async operations that were added
-const asyncPatterns = [
-  { pattern: /fsPromises\.(rename|copyFile|access|unlink|mkdir)/g, name: 'Async file operations' },
-  { pattern: /await removeFileIfExists/g, name: 'Async file cleanup calls' }
-];
-
-asyncPatterns.forEach(({ pattern, name }) => {
-  const matches = content.match(pattern);
-  if (matches) {
-    console.log(`✅ Found ${matches.length} ${name}`);
-    conversions.push({ type: name, count: matches.length });
-  }
-});
-
-// Check for proper error handling
-const errorHandlingMatches = content.match(/try\s*{[\s\S]*?catch\s*\(/g);
-if (errorHandlingMatches) {
-  console.log(`✅ Found ${errorHandlingMatches.length} try-catch blocks for error handling`);
-}
-
-// Summary
-console.log('\n=== Summary ===');
-if (issues.length === 0) {
-  console.log('✅ All synchronous file operations have been successfully converted to async!');
-  console.log('✅ The Node.js event loop will no longer be blocked during file operations');
-  console.log('✅ Large database uploads (50MB+) will not freeze the application');
-  console.log('✅ Health checks and WebSocket connections will remain responsive');
-} else {
-  console.log('⚠️  Some synchronous operations still exist:');
-  issues.forEach(issue => {
-    console.log(`   - ${issue.type}: ${issue.count} instances`);
-  });
-}
-
-console.log('\n=== Performance Impact ===');
-console.log('Before: fs.renameSync() blocked event loop for entire file operation');
-console.log('After:  await fsPromises.rename() allows event loop to process other requests');
-console.log('Before: fs.copyFileSync() blocked during database backup');
-console.log('After:  await fsPromises.copyFile() enables concurrent request processing');
-console.log('Before: fs.unlinkSync() blocked during cleanup');
-console.log('After:  await fsPromises.unlink() allows responsive error handling');
-
-// Export result for programmatic use
-module.exports = {
-  success: issues.length === 0,
-  issues,
-  conversions,
-  totalSyncOperationsRemoved: issues.reduce((sum, issue) => sum + issue.count, 0),
-  totalAsyncOperationsAdded: conversions.reduce((sum, conv) => sum + conv.count, 0)
-};
\ No newline at end of file