feat: external Learning Hub toggle + applicant help button

- Add admin settings: learning_hub_external, learning_hub_external_url, support_email
- Jury/Mentor nav respects external Learning Hub URL (opens in new tab)
- RoleNav supports external nav items with ExternalLink icon
- Applicant header shows Help button with configurable support email
- Settings update mutation now upserts (creates on first use)
- Shared inferSettingCategory for consistent category assignment

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/components/layouts/applicant-nav.tsx

@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ export function ApplicantNav({ user }: ApplicantNavProps) {
   const { data: flags } = trpc.applicant.getNavFlags.useQuery(undefined, {
     staleTime: 60_000,
   })
+  const { data: featureFlags } = trpc.settings.getFeatureFlags.useQuery(undefined, {
+    staleTime: 60_000,
+  })
 
   const navigation: NavItem[] = [
     { name: 'Dashboard', href: '/applicant', icon: Home },
@@ -33,6 +36,7 @@ export function ApplicantNav({ user }: ApplicantNavProps) {
       roleName="Applicant"
       user={user}
       basePath="/applicant"
+      helpEmail={featureFlags?.supportEmail || undefined}
     />
   )
 }

src/components/layouts/jury-nav.tsx

@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ export function JuryNav({ user }: JuryNavProps) {
     undefined,
     { refetchInterval: 60000 }
   )
+  const { data: flags } = trpc.settings.getFeatureFlags.useQuery()
+
+  const useExternal = flags?.learningHubExternal && flags.learningHubExternalUrl
 
   const navigation: NavItem[] = [
     {
@@ -69,8 +72,9 @@ export function JuryNav({ user }: JuryNavProps) {
       : []),
     {
       name: 'Learning Hub',
-      href: '/jury/learning',
+      href: useExternal ? flags.learningHubExternalUrl : '/jury/learning',
       icon: BookOpen,
+      external: !!useExternal,
     },
   ]
 

src/components/layouts/mentor-nav.tsx

@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@
 
 import { BookOpen, Home, Users } from 'lucide-react'
 import { RoleNav, type NavItem, type RoleNavUser } from '@/components/layouts/role-nav'
+import { trpc } from '@/lib/trpc/client'
 
 interface MentorNavProps {
   user: RoleNavUser
 }
 
 export function MentorNav({ user }: MentorNavProps) {
+  const { data: flags } = trpc.settings.getFeatureFlags.useQuery()
+
+  const useExternal = flags?.learningHubExternal && flags.learningHubExternalUrl
+
   const navigation: NavItem[] = [
     {
       name: 'Dashboard',
@@ -21,8 +26,9 @@ export function MentorNav({ user }: MentorNavProps) {
     },
     {
       name: 'Learning Hub',
-      href: '/mentor/resources',
+      href: useExternal ? flags.learningHubExternalUrl : '/mentor/resources',
       icon: BookOpen,
+      external: !!useExternal,
     },
   ]
 

src/components/layouts/role-nav.tsx

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import type { LucideIcon } from 'lucide-react'
 import {
   LogOut, Menu, Moon, Settings, Sun, User, X,
   LayoutDashboard, Scale, Handshake, Eye, ArrowRightLeft,
+  ExternalLink as ExternalLinkIcon, HelpCircle, Mail,
 } from 'lucide-react'
 import type { UserRole } from '@prisma/client'
 import { useTheme } from 'next-themes'
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ export type NavItem = {
   name: string
   href: string
   icon: LucideIcon
+  external?: boolean
 }
 
 export type RoleNavUser = {
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ type RoleNavProps = {
   statusBadge?: React.ReactNode
   /** Optional slot rendered in the mobile hamburger menu (between nav links and sign out) and desktop header */
   editionSelector?: React.ReactNode
+  /** Optional support email — when provided, shows a Help button in the header */
+  helpEmail?: string
 }
 
 // Role switcher config — maps roles to their dashboard views
@@ -62,7 +66,7 @@ function isNavItemActive(pathname: string, href: string, basePath: string): bool
   return pathname === href || (href !== basePath && pathname.startsWith(href))
 }
 
-export function RoleNav({ navigation, roleName, user, basePath, statusBadge, editionSelector }: RoleNavProps) {
+export function RoleNav({ navigation, roleName, user, basePath, statusBadge, editionSelector, helpEmail }: RoleNavProps) {
   const pathname = usePathname()
   const [isMobileMenuOpen, setIsMobileMenuOpen] = useState(false)
   const { data: session, status: sessionStatus } = useSession()
@@ -94,18 +98,24 @@ export function RoleNav({ navigation, roleName, user, basePath, statusBadge, edi
           {/* Desktop nav */}
           <nav className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-1">
             {navigation.map((item) => {
-              const isActive = isNavItemActive(pathname, item.href, basePath)
+              const isActive = !item.external && isNavItemActive(pathname, item.href, basePath)
-              return (
+              const className = cn(
-                <Link
-                  key={item.name}
-                  href={item.href as Route}
-                  className={cn(
                 'flex items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors',
                 isActive
                   ? 'bg-primary/10 text-primary'
                   : 'text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground'
-                  )}
+              )
-                >
+              if (item.external) {
+                return (
+                  <a key={item.name} href={item.href} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" className={className}>
+                    <item.icon className="h-4 w-4" />
+                    {item.name}
+                    <ExternalLinkIcon className="h-3 w-3 opacity-50" />
+                  </a>
+                )
+              }
+              return (
+                <Link key={item.name} href={item.href as Route} className={className}>
                   <item.icon className="h-4 w-4" />
                   {item.name}
                 </Link>
@@ -116,6 +126,28 @@ export function RoleNav({ navigation, roleName, user, basePath, statusBadge, edi
           {/* User menu & mobile toggle */}
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             {editionSelector && <div className="hidden md:block">{editionSelector}</div>}
+            {helpEmail && (
+              <DropdownMenu>
+                <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+                  <Button variant="ghost" size="icon" aria-label="Help">
+                    <HelpCircle className="h-5 w-5" />
+                  </Button>
+                </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+                <DropdownMenuContent align="end" className="w-56">
+                  <div className="px-2 py-2">
+                    <p className="text-sm font-medium">Need Help?</p>
+                    <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-1">Contact our support team</p>
+                  </div>
+                  <DropdownMenuSeparator />
+                  <DropdownMenuItem asChild>
+                    <a href={`mailto:${helpEmail}`} className="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2">
+                      <Mail className="h-4 w-4" />
+                      {helpEmail}
+                    </a>
+                  </DropdownMenuItem>
+                </DropdownMenuContent>
+              </DropdownMenu>
+            )}
             {mounted && (
               <Button
                 variant="ghost"
@@ -208,19 +240,24 @@ export function RoleNav({ navigation, roleName, user, basePath, statusBadge, edi
           <div className={cn('border-t', !isMobileMenuOpen && 'border-transparent')}>
             <nav className="container-app py-4 space-y-1">
               {navigation.map((item) => {
-                const isActive = isNavItemActive(pathname, item.href, basePath)
+                const isActive = !item.external && isNavItemActive(pathname, item.href, basePath)
-                return (
+                const className = cn(
-                  <Link
-                    key={item.name}
-                    href={item.href as Route}
-                    onClick={() => setIsMobileMenuOpen(false)}
-                    className={cn(
                   'flex items-center gap-3 rounded-md px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors',
                   isActive
                     ? 'bg-primary/10 text-primary'
                     : 'text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted hover:text-foreground'
-                    )}
+                )
-                  >
+                if (item.external) {
+                  return (
+                    <a key={item.name} href={item.href} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" onClick={() => setIsMobileMenuOpen(false)} className={className}>
+                      <item.icon className="h-4 w-4" />
+                      {item.name}
+                      <ExternalLinkIcon className="h-3 w-3 opacity-50" />
+                    </a>
+                  )
+                }
+                return (
+                  <Link key={item.name} href={item.href as Route} onClick={() => setIsMobileMenuOpen(false)} className={className}>
                     <item.icon className="h-4 w-4" />
                     {item.name}
                   </Link>

src/components/settings/settings-content.tsx

@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ export function SettingsContent({ initialSettings, isSuperAdmin = true }: Settin
     'default_page_size',
     'autosave_interval_seconds',
     'display_project_names_uppercase',
+    'learning_hub_external',
+    'learning_hub_external_url',
+    'support_email',
   ])
 
   const digestSettings = getSettingsByKeys([
@@ -432,7 +435,7 @@ export function SettingsContent({ initialSettings, isSuperAdmin = true }: Settin
         </TabsContent>
       )}
 
-      <TabsContent value="defaults">
+      <TabsContent value="defaults" className="space-y-6">
         <AnimatedCard>
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
@@ -446,6 +449,20 @@ export function SettingsContent({ initialSettings, isSuperAdmin = true }: Settin
           </CardContent>
         </Card>
         </AnimatedCard>
+
+        <AnimatedCard>
+        <Card>
+          <CardHeader>
+            <CardTitle>Platform Features</CardTitle>
+            <CardDescription>
+              Configure Learning Hub, support contact, and other platform features
+            </CardDescription>
+          </CardHeader>
+          <CardContent>
+            <PlatformFeaturesSection settings={defaultsSettings} />
+          </CardContent>
+        </Card>
+        </AnimatedCard>
       </TabsContent>
 
       <TabsContent value="digest" className="space-y-6">
@@ -805,6 +822,37 @@ function AuditSettingsSection({ settings }: { settings: Record<string, string> }
   )
 }
 
+function PlatformFeaturesSection({ settings }: { settings: Record<string, string> }) {
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-6">
+      <div className="space-y-4">
+        <Label className="text-sm font-medium">Learning Hub</Label>
+        <SettingToggle
+          label="Use External Learning Hub"
+          description="When enabled, jury and mentor navigation links will open the external URL instead of the built-in Learning Hub"
+          settingKey="learning_hub_external"
+          value={settings.learning_hub_external || 'false'}
+        />
+        <SettingInput
+          label="External URL"
+          description="The URL to redirect jury and mentor users to (e.g. Google Drive, Notion, etc.)"
+          settingKey="learning_hub_external_url"
+          value={settings.learning_hub_external_url || ''}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div className="border-t pt-4 space-y-4">
+        <Label className="text-sm font-medium">Support</Label>
+        <SettingInput
+          label="Support Email"
+          description="Shown as a help button on the applicant page header. Leave empty to hide."
+          settingKey="support_email"
+          value={settings.support_email || ''}
+        />
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
 function WhatsAppSettingsSection({ settings }: { settings: Record<string, string> }) {
   return (
     <div className="space-y-4">

src/server/routers/settings.ts

@@ -25,24 +25,47 @@ function categorizeModel(modelId: string): string {
   return 'other'
 }
 
+function inferSettingCategory(key: string): 'AI' | 'BRANDING' | 'EMAIL' | 'STORAGE' | 'SECURITY' | 'DEFAULTS' | 'WHATSAPP' | 'FEATURE_FLAGS' {
+  if (key.startsWith('openai') || key.startsWith('ai_') || key.startsWith('anthropic')) return 'AI'
+  if (key.startsWith('smtp_') || key.startsWith('email_')) return 'EMAIL'
+  if (key.startsWith('storage_') || key.startsWith('local_storage') || key.startsWith('max_file') || key.startsWith('avatar_') || key.startsWith('allowed_file')) return 'STORAGE'
+  if (key.startsWith('brand_') || key.startsWith('logo_') || key.startsWith('primary_') || key.startsWith('theme_')) return 'BRANDING'
+  if (key.startsWith('whatsapp_')) return 'WHATSAPP'
+  if (key.startsWith('security_') || key.startsWith('session_')) return 'SECURITY'
+  if (key.startsWith('learning_hub_') || key.startsWith('jury_compare_') || key.startsWith('support_')) return 'FEATURE_FLAGS'
+  return 'DEFAULTS'
+}
+
 export const settingsRouter = router({
   /**
    * Get public feature flags (no auth required)
    * These are non-sensitive settings that can be exposed to any user
    */
   getFeatureFlags: protectedProcedure.query(async ({ ctx }) => {
-    const [whatsappEnabled, juryCompareEnabled] = await Promise.all([
+    const [whatsappEnabled, juryCompareEnabled, learningHubExternal, learningHubExternalUrl, supportEmail] = await Promise.all([
       ctx.prisma.systemSettings.findUnique({
         where: { key: 'whatsapp_enabled' },
       }),
       ctx.prisma.systemSettings.findUnique({
         where: { key: 'jury_compare_enabled' },
       }),
+      ctx.prisma.systemSettings.findUnique({
+        where: { key: 'learning_hub_external' },
+      }),
+      ctx.prisma.systemSettings.findUnique({
+        where: { key: 'learning_hub_external_url' },
+      }),
+      ctx.prisma.systemSettings.findUnique({
+        where: { key: 'support_email' },
+      }),
     ])
 
     return {
       whatsappEnabled: whatsappEnabled?.value === 'true',
       juryCompareEnabled: juryCompareEnabled?.value === 'true',
+      learningHubExternal: learningHubExternal?.value === 'true',
+      learningHubExternalUrl: learningHubExternalUrl?.value || '',
+      supportEmail: supportEmail?.value || '',
     }
   }),
 
@@ -120,12 +143,18 @@ export const settingsRouter = router({
       })
     )
     .mutation(async ({ ctx, input }) => {
-      const setting = await ctx.prisma.systemSettings.update({
+      const setting = await ctx.prisma.systemSettings.upsert({
         where: { key: input.key },
-        data: {
+        update: {
           value: input.value,
           updatedBy: ctx.user.id,
         },
+        create: {
+          key: input.key,
+          value: input.value,
+          category: inferSettingCategory(input.key),
+          updatedBy: ctx.user.id,
+        },
       })
 
       // Clear storage provider cache when storage_provider setting changes
@@ -161,23 +190,12 @@ export const settingsRouter = router({
           z.object({
             key: z.string(),
             value: z.string(),
-            category: z.enum(['AI', 'BRANDING', 'EMAIL', 'STORAGE', 'SECURITY', 'DEFAULTS', 'WHATSAPP']).optional(),
+            category: z.enum(['AI', 'BRANDING', 'EMAIL', 'STORAGE', 'SECURITY', 'DEFAULTS', 'WHATSAPP', 'FEATURE_FLAGS']).optional(),
           })
         ),
       })
     )
     .mutation(async ({ ctx, input }) => {
-      // Infer category from key prefix if not provided
-      const inferCategory = (key: string): 'AI' | 'BRANDING' | 'EMAIL' | 'STORAGE' | 'SECURITY' | 'DEFAULTS' | 'WHATSAPP' => {
-        if (key.startsWith('openai') || key.startsWith('ai_') || key.startsWith('anthropic')) return 'AI'
-        if (key.startsWith('smtp_') || key.startsWith('email_')) return 'EMAIL'
-        if (key.startsWith('storage_') || key.startsWith('local_storage') || key.startsWith('max_file') || key.startsWith('avatar_') || key.startsWith('allowed_file')) return 'STORAGE'
-        if (key.startsWith('brand_') || key.startsWith('logo_') || key.startsWith('primary_') || key.startsWith('theme_')) return 'BRANDING'
-        if (key.startsWith('whatsapp_')) return 'WHATSAPP'
-        if (key.startsWith('security_') || key.startsWith('session_')) return 'SECURITY'
-        return 'DEFAULTS'
-      }
-
       const results = await Promise.all(
         input.settings.map((s) =>
           ctx.prisma.systemSettings.upsert({
@@ -189,7 +207,7 @@ export const settingsRouter = router({
             create: {
               key: s.key,
               value: s.value,
-              category: s.category || inferCategory(s.key),
+              category: s.category || inferSettingCategory(s.key),
               updatedBy: ctx.user.id,
             },
           })