forum: render threads on /forum default view (not just search mode)

Bug: the index page only fetched threads when user was actively
searching, filtering by category, or sorting non-default. Default
load → setThreads([]) → forum looked empty even though 50+
threads existed in the DB.

Fix: always fetch on mount + filter changes (drop the
isSearchMode gate on the effect), and add a Recent Threads
section in the default view above the Browse Categories list,
showing the 12 most recent threads with author + reply count.

API + DB unchanged.

src/app/forum/page.tsx

@@ -232,27 +232,25 @@ export default function ForumIndexPage() {
       .catch(() => setFollowingLoading(false));
   }, [feedMode, currentUserId]);
 
-  // Load threads when search/category/sort changes
+  // Always load threads on mount + whenever search/category/sort changes.
+  // (Prior version only loaded in "search mode" which left the forum
+  // index blank by default, hiding all threads in the DB.)
   const isSearchMode = debouncedSearch.trim() !== '' || selectedCategory !== '' || sort !== 'newest';
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!isSearchMode) {
-      setThreads([]);
-      return;
-    }
     setThreadsLoading(true);
     const params = new URLSearchParams({ limit: '30', sort });
     if (debouncedSearch.trim()) params.set('search', debouncedSearch.trim());
     if (selectedCategory) params.set('category_id', selectedCategory);
 
     fetch(`/api/forum/threads?${params.toString()}`)
-      .then(r => r.json())
+      .then((r) => r.json())
-      .then(d => {
+      .then((d) => {
         setThreads(d.threads || []);
         setThreadsLoading(false);
       })
       .catch(() => setThreadsLoading(false));
-  }, [debouncedSearch, selectedCategory, sort, isSearchMode]);
+  }, [debouncedSearch, selectedCategory, sort]);
 
   const sortOptions: { value: SortOption; label: string }[] = [
     { value: 'newest', label: 'Newest' },
@@ -527,6 +525,39 @@ export default function ForumIndexPage() {
                     </div>
                   )}
 
+                  {/* Recent Threads — newest first across all categories */}
+                  {!loading && !error && threads.length > 0 && (
+                    <div className="mb-8">
+                      <h2 className="text-white font-heading font-bold text-base mb-3">Recent Threads</h2>
+                      <div className="space-y-1">
+                        {threads.slice(0, 12).map((thread) => (
+                          <Link
+                            key={thread.id}
+                            href={`/forum/thread/${thread.id}`}
+                            className="flex items-center gap-4 bg-[#1a1a1a] hover:bg-[#1e2a3a] border border-[#252525] hover:border-[#3b82f6] rounded-lg px-4 py-3 transition-all group"
+                          >
+                            <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
+                              <h3 className="text-white font-body font-semibold text-sm group-hover:text-[#3b82f6] transition-colors truncate">
+                                {thread.title}
+                              </h3>
+                              <p className="text-[#666] font-body text-xs mt-0.5">
+                                by <Link href={`/forum/user/${encodeURIComponent(thread.author_name)}`} className="text-[#888] hover:text-[#3b82f6] hover:underline" onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>{thread.author_name}</Link>
+                                {thread.forum_categories && (
+                                  <> · <span className="text-[#3b82f6]">{thread.forum_categories.name}</span></>
+                                )}
+                                {' · '}{timeAgo(thread.last_reply_at || thread.created_at)}
+                              </p>
+                            </div>
+                            <div className="flex-shrink-0 text-right hidden sm:block">
+                              <div className="text-[#aaa] font-body text-sm font-semibold">{thread.reply_count}</div>
+                              <div className="text-[#555] font-body text-xs">replies</div>
+                            </div>
+                          </Link>
+                        ))}
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+
                   {!loading && !error && (
                     <>
                       <h2 className="text-white font-heading font-bold text-base mb-3">Browse Categories</h2>