Fix auth error message

backend/app/Http/Controllers/Api/V1/OnboardingController.php

@@ -131,8 +131,21 @@ public function createPlatform(Request $request): JsonResponse
                 'Platform account created successfully.'
             );
 
+        } catch (\App\Exceptions\PlatformAuthException $e) {
+            // Handle authentication-specific errors with cleaner messages
+            return $this->sendError('Invalid username or password. Please check your credentials and try again.', [], 422);
         } catch (\Exception $e) {
-            return $this->sendError('Failed to create platform account: ' . $e->getMessage(), [], 422);
+            // Handle other errors (network, instance not found, etc.)
+            $message = 'Unable to connect to the Lemmy instance. Please check the URL and try again.';
+            
+            // If it's a network/connection issue, provide a more specific message
+            if (str_contains(strtolower($e->getMessage()), 'connection') || 
+                str_contains(strtolower($e->getMessage()), 'network') ||
+                str_contains(strtolower($e->getMessage()), 'timeout')) {
+                $message = 'Connection failed. Please check the instance URL and your internet connection.';
+            }
+            
+            return $this->sendError($message, [], 422);
         }
     }
 

backend/app/Services/Auth/LemmyAuthService.php

@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ public function authenticate(string $instanceUrl, string $username, string $pass
             $token = $api->login($username, $password);
 
             if (!$token) {
-                throw new PlatformAuthException(PlatformEnum::LEMMY, 'Login failed for user: ' . $username);
+                // Throw a clean exception that will be caught and handled by the controller
+                throw new PlatformAuthException(PlatformEnum::LEMMY, 'Invalid credentials');
             }
 
             // Get user info with the token
@@ -67,8 +68,12 @@ public function authenticate(string $instanceUrl, string $username, string $pass
                     ]
                 ]
             ];
+        } catch (PlatformAuthException $e) {
+            // Re-throw PlatformAuthExceptions as-is to avoid nesting
+            throw $e;
         } catch (Exception $e) {
-            throw new PlatformAuthException(PlatformEnum::LEMMY, 'Authentication failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
+            // For other exceptions, throw a clean PlatformAuthException
+            throw new PlatformAuthException(PlatformEnum::LEMMY, 'Connection failed');
         }
     }
 }