Fix API endpoint configuration with environment-aware URLs

- Add environment-based API URL configuration (dev: localhost:8000, prod: api.pennyzo.com)
- Update PennyzoApiService to use centralized config with timeout settings
- Fix API status checker scripts to load .env variables using dotenv
- Add environment management scripts (set-env.ps1) with npm shortcuts
- Create comprehensive configuration testing and validation tools
- Add TypeScript definitions for Vite environment variables
- Update all documentation with new environment configuration instructions
- Install dotenv package for Node.js environment variable loading
- All APIs now correctly use environment-appropriate URLs automatically

README.md

@@ -56,9 +56,58 @@ src/
 - `npm run build` - Builds the app for production
 - `npm run preview` - Preview the production build locally
 
+### API Status Checking Scripts
+
+- `npm run api:check` - Run basic API status check
+- `npm run api:check:extended` - Run extended API status check with reports
+- `npm run api:check:verbose` - Run extended check with verbose output
+- `npm run api:check:real` - Run extended check with real credentials
+
+### Environment Configuration Scripts
+
+- `npm run env:dev` - Configure for development environment (localhost:8000)
+- `npm run env:prod` - Configure for production environment (api.pennyzo.com)
+- `npm run env:show` - Show current environment configuration
+
+## Environment Setup
+
+The application supports different environments with automatic API URL configuration:
+
+### Development Environment
+
+```bash
+npm run env:dev
+```
+
+- API URL: `http://localhost:8000`
+- Enables debug mode and verbose logging
+
+### Production Environment
+
+```bash
+npm run env:prod
+```
+
+- API URL: `https://api.pennyzo.com/api/v1/general`
+- Optimized for production usage
+
+### Manual Configuration
+
+Create a `.env` file in the project root:
+
+```env
+# Development
+VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:8000
+NODE_ENV=development
+
+# Production
+VITE_API_BASE_URL=https://api.pennyzo.com/api/v1/general
+NODE_ENV=production
+```
+
 ## Backend Integration Guide
 
-Base URL: `https://api.pennyzo.com/api/v1/general` (configurable via `VITE_API_BASE_URL`)
+Base URL: Automatically configured based on environment (configurable via `VITE_API_BASE_URL`)
 
 - HTTP client: `src/lib/http.ts` (handles JSON, form, and auth header)
 - Auth state: `src/context/AuthContext.tsx` (stores JWT token, loads `auth/me`)