Survey Completion Bug: Progress Not Updating Immediately

Nov 10, 2025 by Admin 57 views

Hey everyone! We've encountered a bit of a snag with our caregiver surveys and how the completion progress is displayed. It seems like there's a delay in updating the progress bar after a section is completed, which can be confusing for our caregivers. Let's dive into the details so you know what's up and what we're doing to fix it.

🐞 Description of the Survey Completion Bug

Okay, so here’s the deal. When a caregiver takes a survey that includes multiple sections—like one for the family and then individual sections for each child—the dashboard isn't always showing the progress in real-time.

Imagine this: you've got a caregiver who's assigned a survey linked to two kids. That means they've got three sections to fill out: one family survey and two child surveys. They nail the family section, and bam, the dashboard correctly shows that part as done. Awesome, right?

But here’s where it gets a little wonky. After they finish the first child survey, the progress bar on the dashboard sometimes just sits there. It doesn’t immediately reflect that they’ve completed that section. It does, however, move them onto the next child's survey, and at the end of that one, everything shows as complete. It’s like the dashboard is playing catch-up, but not in a helpful way.

Now, here's the kicker. If the caregiver hangs out for a bit—without starting the next child's survey—the progress eventually updates. But this delay can be super confusing. Caregivers might think their first child survey didn’t go through or wasn't recorded properly. And that’s a surefire way to cause unnecessary stress and double-checking. We want this process to be smooth and reassuring, not a source of potential anxiety.

This is especially crucial because we rely on these surveys to gather vital information. If caregivers are unsure about whether their responses have been recorded, it could impact the quality and reliability of the data we collect. Plus, first impressions matter, and we want our caregivers to have a positive experience with our platform from the get-go. Ensuring the progress updates in real-time is a key part of that.

✅ Steps to Reproduce the Survey Bug

Want to see this in action yourself? Here’s how to reproduce the bug:

Assign the Survey: First, assign a survey to a parent who is linked to two or more children. This is key to triggering the multi-section scenario where the bug pops up.
Complete the Family Survey: Have the caregiver complete the family survey section. The dashboard should show this as complete without any issues. This is our baseline, confirming that the initial update is working as expected.
Complete the First Child Survey: Now, here’s where the magic happens (or, well, doesn’t happen). Have the caregiver complete the first child survey. Keep an eye on that progress bar – it should update immediately, but it probably won’t.

By following these steps, you should be able to replicate the issue and see the delayed progress update for yourself. This helps us confirm that the bug is consistently reproducible, which is essential for diagnosing and fixing it effectively.

📷 Screenshots / Logs

If you’ve got screenshots or console/network logs that show this issue in action, please share them! Visual evidence and technical details can be super helpful in pinpointing exactly what’s going on under the hood. The more information we have, the quicker we can squash this bug!

🌐 Environment Details

To help us narrow down the cause, please provide the following environment details:

OS: What operating system are you using? (e.g., macOS, Windows, iOS)
Browser: Which browser are you seeing this issue in? (e.g., Chrome, Safari)
Version: What version of the browser and/or application are you running? (e.g., v1.0.2)

This information helps us identify if the bug is specific to certain environments or configurations. For example, it could be a browser-specific caching issue or a problem with a particular version of our application.

🔗 Related Issues / Context

If this issue is related to any other known problems, pull requests, or even discussions on Slack, please link them here. Cross-referencing helps us connect the dots and understand the bigger picture. It also prevents us from duplicating efforts and ensures that we’re addressing the root cause of the problem.

By providing as much context as possible, you’re helping us get to the bottom of this survey completion bug and deliver a smoother, more reliable experience for our caregivers. Thanks for your help in making our platform better!

Why is this delay a problem?

User Experience

The user experience is paramount. A delay in updating the progress bar can lead to frustration and confusion. Users might think that their submission didn't go through, leading them to resubmit, which can cause duplicate data. This not only wastes their time but also adds noise to our data, making analysis more complex.

Data Integrity

Speaking of data, data integrity is crucial. We rely on accurate and timely data to make informed decisions. If caregivers are unsure about the completion status, they may hesitate to provide complete information or, worse, abandon the survey altogether. This can skew our results and lead to inaccurate conclusions.

Trust and Reliability

Trust and reliability are earned. If our platform appears buggy or unreliable, caregivers may lose confidence in our system. This can affect their willingness to participate in future surveys and negatively impact our relationship with them. We want our caregivers to feel confident that their contributions are valued and that our platform is dependable.

Efficiency

Finally, there's the matter of efficiency. Time is valuable for everyone involved. A confusing or buggy survey process can waste time and resources. By ensuring that the progress bar updates in real-time, we can streamline the process and make it more efficient for both caregivers and administrators.

Potential Causes of the Delay

To get to the root of the problem, let's explore some potential causes of the delay in updating the progress bar.

Caching Issues

Caching issues are a common culprit. Sometimes, browsers or servers cache old versions of the page, preventing the updated progress from displaying correctly. Clearing the cache or implementing cache-busting techniques may resolve this issue.

Asynchronous Updates

Asynchronous updates may be causing the delay. If the progress bar relies on asynchronous JavaScript calls, there may be a lag between when the survey is submitted and when the progress bar is updated. Ensuring that these calls are properly synchronized and that the UI is updated promptly can help.

Server-Side Processing

Server-side processing could be a bottleneck. If the server takes too long to process the survey submission and update the database, the progress bar may not reflect the changes in a timely manner. Optimizing server-side code and database queries can improve performance.

Front-End Rendering

Front-end rendering issues may also be to blame. If the browser struggles to render the updated progress bar due to complex JavaScript or CSS, there may be a delay. Simplifying the front-end code and optimizing rendering performance can help.

Network Latency

Network latency can also play a role. If there's a delay in transmitting data between the client and the server, the progress bar may not update immediately. Improving network connectivity and optimizing data transfer can reduce latency.

Solutions and Next Steps

Now that we've identified the problem and explored some potential causes, let's discuss some solutions and next steps.

Investigate the Code

The first step is to investigate the code responsible for updating the progress bar. We need to examine the JavaScript, server-side code, and database queries to identify any bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Code reviews and debugging can help us pinpoint the exact source of the delay.

Implement Caching Solutions

If caching is the issue, we can implement caching solutions to ensure that the progress bar is always up-to-date. This may involve clearing the cache, using cache-busting techniques, or configuring caching headers properly.

Optimize Asynchronous Updates

To address asynchronous update issues, we can optimize asynchronous updates to ensure that they are properly synchronized and that the UI is updated promptly. This may involve using promises, async/await, or other techniques to manage asynchronous operations more effectively.

Improve Server-Side Performance

If server-side processing is the bottleneck, we can improve server-side performance by optimizing code and database queries. This may involve profiling the code, identifying slow queries, and implementing caching strategies.

Optimize Front-End Rendering

To address front-end rendering issues, we can optimize front-end rendering by simplifying the code and reducing the complexity of JavaScript and CSS. This may involve using techniques like code splitting, lazy loading, and CSS optimization.

Monitor Network Performance

Finally, we should monitor network performance to identify and address any latency issues. This may involve using network monitoring tools, optimizing data transfer, and improving network connectivity.

By taking these steps, we can address the survey completion bug and ensure that the progress bar updates in real-time, providing a better experience for our caregivers and ensuring the integrity of our data. Thanks for your help in making our platform better!

We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we're committed to resolving it ASAP! Stay tuned for updates, and thanks for helping us make our platform better! You guys rock! 🚀