Update app.py

app.py

@@ -25,16 +25,24 @@ def save_to_repo():
     os.system('git commit -m "Update flagged data"')
     os.system("git push origin main")  # Push updated file to the repo
 
+STATE_FILE = "state.json"
 
 '''
 in order to keep track of what the last prompt was that was given human feedback
 '''
 def load_state():
+    if not os.path.exists(STATE_FILE):  # Handle missing file
+        return 0  # Default count value
+
     try:
-        with open("state.json", "r") as f:
-            return json.load(f).get("count", 0)
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        return 0 #if the file doesn't have count variable in it, then it will return 0, which is good - that's the first index
+        with open(STATE_FILE, "r") as f:
+            content = f.read().strip()  # Remove leading/trailing spaces
+            if not content:  # Handle empty file
+                return 0  # Default count value
+            return json.loads(content).get("count", 0)  # Safely parse JSON
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):  # Catch JSON errors or I/O issues
+        return 0  # Default count value
+        #if the file doesn't have count variable in it, then it will return 0, which is good - that's the first index
 
 # Save state to file
 def save_state(count):