diff --git a/interview-app/public/index.html b/interview-app/public/index.html
index 14598f1..3975336 100644
--- a/interview-app/public/index.html
+++ b/interview-app/public/index.html
@@ -1589,8 +1589,14 @@
     .tab-btn.active { color: #FB923C; }
     .tab-btn:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: not-allowed; }
     .tab-btn:not(:disabled):hover { color: #F97316; }
+    #tab-content {
+      flex: 1;
+      min-height: 0;
+      display: none;
+      flex-direction: column;
+    }
     .tab-view { display: none; }
-    .tab-view.active { display: flex; flex-direction: column; min-height: calc(100vh - 60px - 56px); }
+    .tab-view.active { display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1; min-height: 0; }
 
     /* App tab */
     #app-view {
@@ -4313,6 +4319,7 @@ <h3>Meet Your Build Crew!</h3>
   if (!hasParentGateConsent()) {
     showParentGate();
   }
+  let dashboardRendered = false;
   try {
     const r = await fetch('/api/session-info');
     if (r.ok) {
@@ -4331,13 +4338,30 @@ <h3>Meet Your Build Crew!</h3>
       if (info.activeAppId) {
         await activateApp(info.activeAppId);
       } else {
-        renderDashboard();
+        dashboardRendered = true;
+        await renderDashboard();
+        try {
+          const appsResp = await fetch('/api/apps');
+          if (appsResp.ok) {
+            const appsData = await appsResp.json();
+            if (Array.isArray(appsData.apps) && appsData.apps.length === 0) {
+              await createNewApp({ quickStart: true });
+            }
+          }
+        } catch (e) {
+          // ignore; dashboard remains available
+        }
       }
     } else {
-      renderDashboard();
+      dashboardRendered = true;
+      await renderDashboard();
     }
   } catch(e) {
-    renderDashboard();
+    dashboardRendered = true;
+    await renderDashboard();
+  }
+  if (!state.activeAppId && !dashboardRendered) {
+    await renderDashboard();
   }
   refreshParentGuide();
 })();
@@ -5309,7 +5333,7 @@ <h2>What You Built</h2>
 
 function enterAppMode() {
   document.getElementById('dashboard-view').style.display = 'none';
-  document.getElementById('tab-content').style.display = 'block';
+  document.getElementById('tab-content').style.display = 'flex';
   document.getElementById('tab-bar').style.display = 'flex';
   document.getElementById('back-btn').style.display = 'inline-block';
   // Update header title