auto-claude: subtask-3-1 - Update ContactForm to call API route instead of simulating

Changes:
- Replaced simulated API call with real fetch() to /api/contact
- Added errorMessage state for custom error messages
- Implemented proper response handling for different status codes:
  * 200: Success message and form reset
  * 429: Rate limit error with time until retry
  * 400/500: Display API error messages
- Enhanced rate limit error display with human-readable time formatting
- Added VERIFICATION_STEPS.md for manual testing guidance

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

VERIFICATION_STEPS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Verification Steps for ContactForm API Integration
+
+## Manual Verification Required
+
+The ContactForm has been updated to call the real API route at `/api/contact` instead of simulating the submission.
+
+### Test in Browser
+
+1. **Navigate to**: http://localhost:3000/en/contact
+
+2. **Test Successful Submission**:
+   - Fill in all form fields (name, email, message)
+   - Click "Send Message"
+   - Verify: Success message appears
+   - Verify: Form fields are cleared
+   - Verify: No console errors
+
+3. **Test Rate Limiting**:
+   - Submit the form 5 times rapidly
+   - On the 6th submission, verify:
+     - Error message appears with rate limit warning
+     - Message shows time until retry (e.g., "Too many requests. Please try again in 60 minutes.")
+     - Form is still functional (not broken)
+
+4. **Test Validation**:
+   - Try submitting with empty fields
+   - Verify validation errors appear
+   - Try submitting with invalid email
+   - Verify email validation error appears
+
+5. **Test Error Display**:
+   - Verify error messages are clearly visible
+   - Verify error messages disappear on successful submission
+   - Check that UI remains user-friendly
+
+### Expected Behavior
+
+- ✅ Form submits to `/api/contact` with POST request
+- ✅ Success message displays on 200 response
+- ✅ Rate limit error displays on 429 response with countdown
+- ✅ Generic error message displays on other errors
+- ✅ Form validation works before API call
+- ✅ Loading state shows during submission
+- ✅ Form is disabled during submission
+
+### Changes Made
+
+1. Added `errorMessage` state to store custom error messages
+2. Replaced simulated API call with real `fetch()` to `/api/contact`
+3. Added response status handling:
+   - 200 (OK): Success message, clear form
+   - 429 (Rate Limited): Display time until retry
+   - 400/500: Display API error message
+4. Improved error message display with custom messages
+

src/components/contact/ContactForm.tsx

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export function ContactForm() {
 
   const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false);
   const [submitStatus, setSubmitStatus] = useState<'idle' | 'success' | 'error'>('idle');
+  const [errorMessage, setErrorMessage] = useState<string>('');
   const [formData, setFormData] = useState<FormData>({
     name: '',
     email: '',
@@ -62,14 +63,48 @@ export function ContactForm() {
 
     setIsSubmitting(true);
     setSubmitStatus('idle');
+    setErrorMessage('');
 
     try {
-      // Simulate API call
+      const response = await fetch('/api/contact', {
-      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1500));
+        method: 'POST',
-      setSubmitStatus('success');
+        headers: {
-      setFormData({ name: '', email: '', message: '' });
+          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        },
+        body: JSON.stringify(formData),
+      });
+
+      const data = await response.json();
+
+      if (response.ok) {
+        setSubmitStatus('success');
+        setFormData({ name: '', email: '', message: '' });
+      } else if (response.status === 429) {
+        // Rate limit exceeded
+        setSubmitStatus('error');
+        const retryAfter = data.retryAfter || 0;
+        const minutes = Math.ceil(retryAfter / 60);
+        const hours = Math.floor(minutes / 60);
+        const remainingMinutes = minutes % 60;
+
+        let timeMessage = '';
+        if (hours > 0) {
+          timeMessage = `${hours} hour${hours > 1 ? 's' : ''}${remainingMinutes > 0 ? ` and ${remainingMinutes} minute${remainingMinutes > 1 ? 's' : ''}` : ''}`;
+        } else {
+          timeMessage = `${minutes} minute${minutes > 1 ? 's' : ''}`;
+        }
+
+        setErrorMessage(
+          `Too many requests. Please try again in ${timeMessage}.`
+        );
+      } else {
+        // Other errors (400, 500, etc.)
+        setSubmitStatus('error');
+        setErrorMessage(data.error || t('contactForm.errorMessage'));
+      }
     } catch {
       setSubmitStatus('error');
+      setErrorMessage(t('contactForm.errorMessage'));
     } finally {
       setIsSubmitting(false);
     }
@@ -299,7 +334,7 @@ export function ContactForm() {
                     className="p-3 bg-red-900/20 border border-red-900/50 rounded-lg"
                   >
                     <p className="text-red-400 text-sm">
-                      {t('contactForm.errorMessage')}
+                      {errorMessage || t('contactForm.errorMessage')}
                     </p>
                   </motion.div>
                 )}