Boosting Product Reliability: How I Built an In-Platform Issue Reporting API for Bolt.new

Table of contents
- Introduction: From Friction to Feedback
- The Problem: Silent Failures & Frustrated Users
- The Solution: GitHub-Connected Issue Reporting API
- Under the Hood
- Endpoint Design & Expected Payload
- Evolution: Toward a Rich Feedback Interface
- Tech Stack & Architecture
- Results: What This Changed
- Key ScreenShots
- Conclusion
- Relevant Links:
- References & Resources

Introduction: From Friction to Feedback
StackBlitz's Bolt.new is revolutionizing full-stack development in the browser. But one friction point remained: how could non-technical users like designers, PMs, or QA teams report issues without jumping through hoops?
The answer: bring issue reporting into the platform.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how I built a lightweight Node.js REST API that connects Bolt.new directly to GitHub enabling one-click issue reporting, even for non-developers.
The Problem: Silent Failures & Frustrated Users
Before this solution, feedback from non-technical users was inconsistent and fragmented. Most bugs or errors experienced by product stakeholders went unreported or were communicated informally. For example this user created a github account just for submit an issue an he left a long message about his problem without guidance.
This led to:
A lack of visibility into recurring issues.
Slower bug resolution.
A hit to overall user trust and platform reliability.
The Solution: GitHub-Connected Issue Reporting API
I created a TypeScript-based Express API that:
Accepts issue reports via a
POST
endpoint.Validates and structures user-submitted data.
Authenticates via GitHub’s API using Octokit.
Automatically creates detailed GitHub issues in real-time.
This solution empowers users to report directly from Bolt.new, no GitHub knowledge needed.
Under the Hood
This project was built with production-level tooling and quality standards in mind:
Key Features
Zod for request validation (type-safe and runtime safe).
Centralized logging and structured error handling.
Environment variable validation to avoid silent config errors.
Linting + formatting with ESLint, Prettier, Husky and lint-staged.
Unit tests with Jest and integration tests using Supertest.
Endpoint Design & Expected Payload
POST /api/report
Request Body (JSON):
{
"title": "Bug summary",
"description": "Detailed user-provided description",
"context": {
"url": "Bolt.new session link",
"errors": ["Error stack traces, if any"],
"actions": ["User steps before the issue"]
}
}
This payload is translated into a structured GitHub issue with embedded context, accelerating dev triage.
Evolution: Toward a Rich Feedback Interface
While the initial version of the API handled structured text input, the next step is to enrich the user feedback experience by integrating a lightweight markdown or WYSIWYG editor.
This enhancement would allow users to:
Format their descriptions with headings, lists, or code blocks.
Embed screenshots directly into the issue report (via base64 upload or image hosting).
Provide clearer reproduction steps with visual support.
This evolution aligns with our goal of making technical feedback accessible and useful for both technical and non-technical contributors.
Tech Stack & Architecture
Why Node.js + Express?
Fast to prototype.
Native JSON support.
Seamless GitHub API integration.
Why TypeScript?
Strong typings for safer, more maintainable code.
Helpful for team collaboration and future scaling.
Why Octokit?
Official GitHub SDK.
Simple authentication and repo interaction.
Project Structure:
bolt-issue-api/
├── src/
│ ├── controllers/reportController.ts
│ ├── routes/reportRoutes.ts
│ ├── services/githubService.ts
│ ├── middleware/
│ │ ├── errorHandler.ts
│ │ └── validate.ts
│ ├── config/index.ts
│ ├── schemas/reportSchema.ts
│ ├── utils/logger.ts
│ └── server.ts
├── tests/
│ ├── services/githubService.test.ts
│ ├── routes/reportRoutes.test.ts
│ ├── utils/logger.test.ts
│ └── middleware/errorHandler.test.ts
├── openapi.yaml
├── .env.example
├── .eslintrc.js
├── .prettierrc
├── .gitignore
├── jest.config.js
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json
└── README.md
Results: What This Changed
With this integration:
Users can now report bugs in 30 seconds or less.
Devs get structured, actionable reports in GitHub.
PMs and QA teams gain better visibility into platform issues.
This single API reduced debugging turnaround and improved our response time to user pain points dramatically.
Key ScreenShots
POST Request to submit an issue
Issues Page from Github
Issue created from api
Test Execution
Test Execution
Swagger Documentation
Conclusion
Bolt.new has been one of the most surprising tools in my ongoing comparison series on AI-powered developer platforms. Its browser-first, instant-on approach to fullstack development makes it an excellent playground for quick iterations.
But more importantly, it’s a powerful foundation to build upon. This user feedback API is a concrete example: it solves a real product need, integrates seamlessly into the Bolt.new workflow, and opens the door to more advanced extensions contextual chat, AI assistance, session tracking, and beyond.
As a developer and SaaS builder, I deeply believe in this approach: enhancing the tools we already use with integrated, UX-friendly layers that bring value to all roles not just engineers.
This API is a first brick. If it inspires you, feel free to fork it, extend it, or reach out to discuss it!
I co-wrote another article where we tested bolt.new on a real project with feedback on the advantages and limitations of the tool: read it here.
Relevant Links:
References & Resources
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Written by

Freddy Agbona (FredTheDev)
Freddy Agbona (FredTheDev)
I'm a Software Engineer with a strong technical background in building impactful SaaS solutions, web applications, and mobile platforms. My expertise spans programming languages like Java, JavaScript, and PHP, alongside frameworks such as Spring Boot, Vue.js, and Node.js. I thrive on creating reliable, scalable, and user-centered applications that solve real-world challenges. Throughout my career, I’ve paired my technical journey with a passion for mentoring and training. As a mentor and trainer, I’ve guided aspiring developers, particularly at institutions like École 229, through immersive learning experiences. My approach combines practical projects, collaborative problem-solving, and innovative teaching methods to foster both technical expertise and essential team dynamics. Beyond coding, I bring a strong set of soft skills—including communication, adaptability, and problem-solving—that enable me to drive successful project outcomes and support the growth of those around me. Some of my most notable achievements include developing a secure e-commerce application following Agile best practices and delivering numerous WordPress sites that enhanced brand presence and user experience for small businesses. Looking ahead, I am eager to transition into a Product Owner role, where I can bridge the gap between technical development and strategic vision. My goal is to leverage my technical expertise, mentoring experience, and user-focused approach to shape products that deliver real value and resonate with their audiences. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to discuss technology, product management, or collaborative projects :)