update middleware to allow static images. created prod env file

middleware.ts

@@ -4,35 +4,44 @@ import type { NextRequest } from "next/server";
 
 const LAUNCH_ONLY_ROOT = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_LAUNCH_ONLY_ROOT === "true";
 
-// Allow only root + essential static files
-const ALLOW = new Set([
+// ✅ Forever allow list (always reachable even during launch-only mode)
+const ALWAYS_ALLOW = new Set<string>([
   "/",
   "/favicon.ico",
   "/robots.txt",
   "/sitemap.xml",
 ]);
 
+// Match common public/static file extensions so middleware never blocks them
+const PUBLIC_FILE = /\.(?:svg|png|jpg|jpeg|gif|webp|ico|css|js|map|txt|xml|json|woff|woff2|ttf|eot)$/i;
+
 export function middleware(req: NextRequest) {
   if (!LAUNCH_ONLY_ROOT) return NextResponse.next();
 
   const { pathname } = req.nextUrl;
 
-  // Always allow Next internals + static assets
+  // ✅ Always allow Next internals + static assets (public/ and _next/)
   if (
     pathname.startsWith("/_next") ||
-    pathname.startsWith("/assets") ||
-    pathname.startsWith("/images")
+    pathname.startsWith("/favicon") ||
+    pathname === "/robots.txt" ||
+    pathname === "/sitemap.xml" ||
+    PUBLIC_FILE.test(pathname)
   ) {
     return NextResponse.next();
   }
 
-  // Allow the root + a few public files
-  if (ALLOW.has(pathname)) return NextResponse.next();
+  // ✅ Allow the root + a few public files
+  if (ALWAYS_ALLOW.has(pathname)) return NextResponse.next();
 
-  // Everything else: hide it
-  return NextResponse.rewrite(new URL("/404", req.url)); // or redirect to "/"
+  // 🚫 Everything else: hide it
+  return NextResponse.rewrite(new URL("/404", req.url));
 }
 
 export const config = {
-  matcher: ["/:path*"],
+  // Run middleware on everything *except* Next internals and obvious static files.
+  // This keeps launch gating from ever breaking your logo/images/fonts/etc.
+  matcher: [
+    "/((?!_next/static|_next/image|favicon.ico|robots.txt|sitemap.xml|.*\\.(?:svg|png|jpg|jpeg|gif|webp|ico|css|js|map|txt|xml|json|woff|woff2|ttf|eot)).*)",
+  ],
 };