diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 044b23e..f4f7f12 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,3 +11,8 @@ Before the session starts, please clone this repository and run `npm install` an
 1) Install JS dependencies with `npm install`.
 2) Install Python dependencies with `uv sync`. If `uv` is unavailable, first run `pip install uv`.
 3) Run `npm run start`. You should be able to view the app at [http://localhost:3000/](http://localhost:3000/). It will hot reload as you make changes.
+
+**A note on the API port**
+The API will attempt to run on port 5000.
+If 5000 is already in use, the next available port is used automatically (logged to the terminal on startup).
+You can pin the API_PORT if needed (rare): `API_PORT=5010 npm start`.
diff --git a/api/app.py b/api/app.py
index 29ab50f..eb896a6 100644
--- a/api/app.py
+++ b/api/app.py
@@ -1,11 +1,23 @@
 from typing import Callable
 from flask import Flask, jsonify, request
 from flask_cors import CORS
-from pagination import get_page, get_page_filtered
 from models import Project
 import json
+import os
+import traceback
 from pathlib import Path
 
+# Wrap candidate-edited module imports so a syntax error doesn't kill the
+# Werkzeug reloader (its parent process exits when the child exits with a
+# non-restart code, and there is nothing to bring it back).
+_pagination_error: str | None = None
+try:
+    from pagination import get_page, get_page_filtered
+except Exception:
+    _pagination_error = traceback.format_exc()
+    get_page = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
+    get_page_filtered = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
+
 app = Flask(__name__)
 
 CORS(app)
@@ -31,6 +43,9 @@ def get_users():
 
 @app.route("/api/projects", methods=["GET"])
 def get_projects():
+    if get_page is None:
+        return jsonify({"error": f"pagination module failed to load:\n{_pagination_error}"}), 500
+
     projects = load_json("projects.json")
 
     # Handle pagination using startAfterId
@@ -61,4 +76,9 @@ def get_projects():
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    app.run(port=5000, debug=True)
+    port = int(os.environ.get("API_PORT") or 5000)
+    # Watch all .py files in the api/ directory so the reloader picks up fixes
+    # to files that failed to import (and therefore aren't in sys.modules).
+    api_dir = Path(__file__).parent
+    extra = [str(p) for p in api_dir.glob("*.py")]
+    app.run(port=port, debug=True, extra_files=extra)
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index aeec7f0..876be08 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
         "@types/lodash": "^4.14.195",
         "@types/react": "^17.0.38",
         "@types/react-dom": "^17.0.11",
-        "concurrently": "^8.2.2",
         "react-scripts": "^5.0.1",
         "typescript": "^4.5.4"
       }
@@ -5569,20 +5568,6 @@
         "node": ">=0.10.0"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/cliui": {
-      "version": "8.0.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cliui/-/cliui-8.0.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-BSeNnyus75C4//NQ9gQt1/csTXyo/8Sb+afLAkzAptFuMsod9HFokGNudZpi/oQV73hnVK+sR+5PVRMd+Dr7YQ==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "dependencies": {
-        "string-width": "^4.2.0",
-        "strip-ansi": "^6.0.1",
-        "wrap-ansi": "^7.0.0"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=12"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/co": {
       "version": "4.6.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/co/-/co-4.6.0.tgz",
@@ -5801,33 +5786,6 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-/Srv4dswyQNBfohGpz9o6Yb3Gz3SrUDqBH5rTuhGR7ahtlbYKnVxw2bCFMRljaA7EXHaXZ8wsHdodFvbkhKmqg==",
       "dev": true
     },
-    "node_modules/concurrently": {
-      "version": "8.2.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/concurrently/-/concurrently-8.2.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-1dP4gpXFhei8IOtlXRE/T/4H88ElHgTiUzh71YUmtjTEHMSRS2Z/fgOxHSxxusGHogsRfxNq1vyAwxSC+EVyDg==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "dependencies": {
-        "chalk": "^4.1.2",
-        "date-fns": "^2.30.0",
-        "lodash": "^4.17.21",
-        "rxjs": "^7.8.1",
-        "shell-quote": "^1.8.1",
-        "spawn-command": "0.0.2",
-        "supports-color": "^8.1.1",
-        "tree-kill": "^1.2.2",
-        "yargs": "^17.7.2"
-      },
-      "bin": {
-        "conc": "dist/bin/concurrently.js",
-        "concurrently": "dist/bin/concurrently.js"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": "^14.13.0 || >=16.0.0"
-      },
-      "funding": {
-        "url": "https://github.com/open-cli-tools/concurrently?sponsor=1"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/confusing-browser-globals": {
       "version": "1.0.11",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/confusing-browser-globals/-/confusing-browser-globals-1.0.11.tgz",
@@ -6411,22 +6369,6 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/ljharb"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/date-fns": {
-      "version": "2.30.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/date-fns/-/date-fns-2.30.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fnULvOpxnC5/Vg3NCiWelDsLiUc9bRwAPs/+LfTLNvetFCtCTN+yQz15C/fs4AwX1R9K5GLtLfn8QW+dWisaAw==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "dependencies": {
-        "@babel/runtime": "^7.21.0"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=0.11"
-      },
-      "funding": {
-        "type": "opencollective",
-        "url": "https://opencollective.com/date-fns"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/debounce-promise": {
       "version": "3.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/debounce-promise/-/debounce-promise-3.1.2.tgz",
@@ -14436,15 +14378,6 @@
         "queue-microtask": "^1.2.2"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/rxjs": {
-      "version": "7.8.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/rxjs/-/rxjs-7.8.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-dhKf903U/PQZY6boNNtAGdWbG85WAbjT/1xYoZIC7FAY0yWapOBQVsVrDl58W86//e1VpMNBtRV4MaXfdMySFA==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "dependencies": {
-        "tslib": "^2.1.0"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/safe-array-concat": {
       "version": "1.1.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/safe-array-concat/-/safe-array-concat-1.1.3.tgz",
@@ -15088,12 +15021,6 @@
       "deprecated": "Please use @jridgewell/sourcemap-codec instead",
       "dev": true
     },
-    "node_modules/spawn-command": {
-      "version": "0.0.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/spawn-command/-/spawn-command-0.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-zC8zGoGkmc8J9ndvml8Xksr1Amk9qBujgbF0JAIWO7kXr43w0h/0GJNM/Vustixu+YE8N/MTrQ7N31FvHUACxQ==",
-      "dev": true
-    },
     "node_modules/spdy": {
       "version": "4.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/spdy/-/spdy-4.0.2.tgz",
@@ -16144,15 +16071,6 @@
         "node": ">=8"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/tree-kill": {
-      "version": "1.2.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tree-kill/-/tree-kill-1.2.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-L0Orpi8qGpRG//Nd+H90vFB+3iHnue1zSSGmNOOCh1GLJ7rUKVwV2HvijphGQS2UmhUZewS9VgvxYIdgr+fG1A==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "bin": {
-        "tree-kill": "cli.js"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/tryer": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tryer/-/tryer-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -17497,33 +17415,6 @@
         "node": ">= 6"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/yargs": {
-      "version": "17.7.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yargs/-/yargs-17.7.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-7dSzzRQ++CKnNI/krKnYRV7JKKPUXMEh61soaHKg9mrWEhzFWhFnxPxGl+69cD1Ou63C13NUPCnmIcrvqCuM6w==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "dependencies": {
-        "cliui": "^8.0.1",
-        "escalade": "^3.1.1",
-        "get-caller-file": "^2.0.5",
-        "require-directory": "^2.1.1",
-        "string-width": "^4.2.3",
-        "y18n": "^5.0.5",
-        "yargs-parser": "^21.1.1"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=12"
-      }
-    },
-    "node_modules/yargs-parser": {
-      "version": "21.1.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yargs-parser/-/yargs-parser-21.1.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-tVpsJW7DdjecAiFpbIB1e3qxIQsE6NoPc5/eTdrbbIC4h0LVsWhnoa3g+m2HclBIujHzsxZ4VJVA+GUuc2/LBw==",
-      "dev": true,
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=12"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/yocto-queue": {
       "version": "0.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/yocto-queue/-/yocto-queue-0.1.0.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 8db4ce2..e1e2b6b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -17,12 +17,11 @@
     "@types/lodash": "^4.14.195",
     "@types/react": "^17.0.38",
     "@types/react-dom": "^17.0.11",
-    "concurrently": "^8.2.2",
     "react-scripts": "^5.0.1",
     "typescript": "^4.5.4"
   },
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "concurrently \"npm run start-frontend\" \"npm run start-api\"",
+    "start": "bash scripts/start.sh",
     "build": "react-scripts build",
     "test": "react-scripts test --env=jsdom",
     "eject": "react-scripts eject",
diff --git a/scripts/start.sh b/scripts/start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8ef07a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+trap 'kill 0' EXIT
+
+# Find a free port for the API, starting from 5000.
+# Override: API_PORT=5010 npm start
+if [ -z "$API_PORT" ]; then
+  API_PORT=$(python3 -c "
+import socket, sys
+for port in range(5000, 5020):
+    s = socket.socket()
+    try:
+        s.bind(('127.0.0.1', port))
+        print(port)
+        s.close()
+        sys.exit(0)
+    except OSError:
+        s.close()
+print('ERROR: no free port in 5000-5019', file=sys.stderr)
+sys.exit(1)
+") || exit 1
+fi
+
+export API_PORT
+export REACT_APP_API_PORT=$API_PORT
+
+echo ""
+echo "  API port: $API_PORT  (override with API_PORT=<port> npm start)"
+echo ""
+
+npm run start-api &
+npm run start-frontend
diff --git a/src/Projects.tsx b/src/Projects.tsx
index 9d6fdc6..223c153 100644
--- a/src/Projects.tsx
+++ b/src/Projects.tsx
@@ -13,17 +13,19 @@ interface ProjectsProps {
 export default function Projects({ selectedUser, nameById }: ProjectsProps) {
   const [projects, setProjects] = React.useState<ProjectData[] | null>(() => null);
   const [hasMoreResults, setHasMoreResults] = React.useState<boolean>(false);
+  const [error, setError] = React.useState<string | null>(null);
 
   const fetchProjects = React.useCallback((startAfter?: ProjectData, overwrite = false) => {
     SERVER.getProjects({ pageSize: 5, startAfter, userId: selectedUser?.toString() }).then((page) => {
+      setError(null);
       if (overwrite) {
         setProjects(_ => ([...(page.projects ?? [])]));
       } else {
         setProjects(projects => [...(projects ?? []), ...page.projects]);
       }
       setHasMoreResults(page.hasMoreResults);
-    }).catch(() => {
-      alert("Something went wrong...");
+    }).catch((err) => {
+      setError(err.message);
     });
   }, [selectedUser]);
 
@@ -36,6 +38,15 @@ export default function Projects({ selectedUser, nameById }: ProjectsProps) {
     fetchProjects(undefined, true);
   }, [selectedUser, fetchProjects]);
 
+  if (error) {
+    return (
+      <div className="error-overlay">
+        <h1>Server error:</h1>
+        <pre>{error}</pre>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
   return (
     <div className="projects">
       {projects?.length === 0 && (<div>No projects found.</div>)}
diff --git a/src/api/apiImpl.ts b/src/api/apiImpl.ts
index 961ef13..c40e2d6 100644
--- a/src/api/apiImpl.ts
+++ b/src/api/apiImpl.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ export interface ProjectsResponse {
   hasMoreResults: boolean;
 }
 
+const API_BASE = `http://127.0.0.1:${process.env.REACT_APP_API_PORT || "5000"}`;
+
 class DefaultServer {
   async getUsers(): Promise<UserData[]> {
-    const response = await fetch('http://127.0.0.1:5000/api/users');
+    const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE}/api/users`);
     return response.json();
   }
 
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ class DefaultServer {
     startAfter?: ProjectData;
     pageSize?: number;
   }): Promise<ProjectsResponse> {
-    const url = new URL('http://127.0.0.1:5000/api/projects');
+    const url = new URL(`${API_BASE}/api/projects`);
 
     if (options?.userId != null) {
       url.searchParams.append('userId', options.userId);
@@ -29,6 +31,10 @@ class DefaultServer {
     }
 
     const response = await fetch(url);
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      const body = await response.json().catch(() => null);
+      throw new Error(body?.error ?? `API error ${response.status}`);
+    }
     return response.json();
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 0e2a9ca..1a815b8 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -44,4 +44,35 @@ body {
   flex-direction: row;
   gap: 10px;
   justify-content: space-between;
+}
+
+.error-overlay {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 0;
+  left: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  bottom: 0;
+  background: rgb(35, 33, 32);
+  color: rgb(232, 232, 232);
+  padding: 2rem;
+  overflow: auto;
+  z-index: 9999;
+  font-family: sans-serif;
+}
+
+.error-overlay h1 {
+  color: rgb(252, 98, 93);
+  font-size: 1.4rem;
+  margin: 0 0 1.5rem 0;
+}
+
+.error-overlay pre {
+  color: rgb(252, 98, 93);
+  background: rgba(206, 17, 38, 0.1);
+  padding: 1rem;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  white-space: pre-wrap;
+  word-break: break-word;
+  line-height: 1.5;
 }
\ No newline at end of file