diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 0e14d02..4068a74 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ On Windows one needs to use [Git Bash](https://git-scm.com/download/win) or equi
 ## Running in development environment on localhost
 You will also need to copy the Thali_CordovaPlugin 'mockmobile.js' script if you want run in development mode. This allows native methods to be called on the desktop when UX testing the web app.
 ```
-git clone https://github.com/thaliproject/Thali_CordovaPlugin.git
-cp -v Thali_CordovaPlugin/test/www/jxcore/bv_tests/mockmobile.js postcardapp/www/jxcore/node_modules/thali/
+cd www/jxcore
+cp -v ../../thaliDontCheckIn/Thali_CordovaPlugin-master/test/www/jxcore/bv_tests/mockmobile.js node_modules/thali/
 ```
 
 # Fun issues you are probably going to run into
diff --git a/www/jxcore/app.js b/www/jxcore/app.js
index 811bbb6..0a79535 100644
--- a/www/jxcore/app.js
+++ b/www/jxcore/app.js
@@ -15,8 +15,17 @@ var dbPath = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'dbPath');
 
 var env = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'production'; // default to production
 if ('development' === env) {
-  console.log('localhost "' + app.get('env') + '" environment');
-  var Mobile = require('thali/mockmobile.js');
+  console.log('localhost "' + app.get('env') + '" environment. ' + dbPath);
+  //var mockMobile = require('thali/mockmobile.js'); // uncomment for localhost testing
+} else if (process.platform === 'ios' || process.platform === 'android') {
+  Mobile.getDocumentsPath(function(err, location) {
+    if (err) {
+      console.error("Error", err);
+    } else {
+      dbPath = path.join(location, 'dbPath');
+      console.log("Mobile Documents dbPath location: ", dbPath);
+    }
+  });
 }
 
 var LevelDownPouchDB = process.platform === 'android' || process.platform === 'ios' ?
@@ -54,7 +63,7 @@ var server = app.listen(5000, function () {
     console.log('Express server started. (port: 5000)');
 
     var manager = new ThaliReplicationManager(db);
-    manager.start(5000, 'thali');
+    manager.start(String(Math.floor(Math.random() * 100)), 5000, 'thali'); // manager.start(5000, 'thali');
 });
 
 
@@ -64,7 +73,7 @@ db.changes({
     live: true
 }).on('change', cardChanged);
 var io = require('socket.io')(server);
-function cardChanged(e){
-    console.log('card #' + e.id + ' changed');
-    io.emit('cardChanged', e );
+function cardChanged(e) {
+  console.log('card #' + e.id + ' changed');
+  io.emit('cardChanged', e );
 }
diff --git a/www/jxcore/bower.json b/www/jxcore/bower.json
index 7a57ff2..f2815d7 100644
--- a/www/jxcore/bower.json
+++ b/www/jxcore/bower.json
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@
     "tests"
   ],
   "dependencies": {
-    "iron-elements": "PolymerElements/iron-elements#~1.0.3",
-    "jquery": "~2.1.4",
-    "moment": "~2.10.6",
-    "neon-animation": "PolymerElements/neon-animation#~1.0.6",
-    "node-uuid": "~1.4.3",
-    "page.js": "~1.6.3",
-    "paper-elements": "PolymerElements/paper-elements#~1.0.4",
-    "underscore": "~1.8.3"
+    "iron-elements": "PolymerElements/iron-elements#1.0.4",
+    "jquery": "2.1.4",
+    "moment": "2.10.6",
+    "neon-animation": "PolymerElements/neon-animation#1.0.7",
+    "node-uuid": "1.4.3",
+    "page.js": "1.6.3",
+    "paper-elements": "PolymerElements/paper-elements#1.0.5",
+    "underscore": "1.8.3"
   }
 }
diff --git a/www/jxcore/cardroutes.js b/www/jxcore/cardroutes.js
index c276873..722eb84 100644
--- a/www/jxcore/cardroutes.js
+++ b/www/jxcore/cardroutes.js
@@ -5,13 +5,19 @@ function routes (db) {
 
     // Save / update user record
     cardRouter.route('/login').post(function(req, res) {
-        var username = req.body.username.trim();
         res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
+        // form validation
+        if (typeof req.body.username === 'undefined') {
+            res.send(JSON.stringify({ error: 'Username is undefined' }));
+            return;
+        }
         // user input validation
-        if (username.length <= 0) {
+        var username = req.body.username.trim();
+        if (username.trim().length <= 0) {
             res.send(JSON.stringify({ error: 'Username is required' }));
             return;
         }
+        console.log("hello", username);
         // send reponse
         db.get('me')
             .then(function(doc){
@@ -90,8 +96,8 @@ function routes (db) {
                 if (err && err.status === 404) {
 
                     db.put({
-                            _id: req.params.cardId, 
-                            author: req.body.author, 
+                            _id: req.params.cardId,
+                            author: req.body.author,
                             content: req.body.content,
                             dateCreated: new Date().getTime()
                         })
@@ -131,10 +137,10 @@ function routes (db) {
                             res.status(err.status || 500).send(err.message || err);
                         });
                 }
-            })
+            });
         });
 
     return cardRouter;
-};
+}
 
-module.exports = routes;
\ No newline at end of file
+module.exports = routes;
diff --git a/www/jxcore/package.json b/www/jxcore/package.json
index 271466b..69054a2 100644
--- a/www/jxcore/package.json
+++ b/www/jxcore/package.json
@@ -8,15 +8,17 @@
     "ejs-locals": "^1.0.2",
     "express": "^4.13.0",
     "express-pouchdb": "^0.14.2",
-    "leveldown": "^1.3.0",
+    "leveldown": "1.4.1",
     "leveldown-mobile": "^1.0.7",
-    "pouchdb": "^3.6.0",
+    "pouchdb": "5.0.0",
     "socket.io": "^1.3.6",
     "thali": "^1.0.22"
   },
   "author": "",
   "license": "MIT",
   "scripts": {
-    "start": "NODE_ENV=development nodemon ./app.js"
+    "start": "NODE_ENV=development jx ./app.js"
   }
 }
+
+        
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/www/jxcore/public/elements/page-login/page-login.html b/www/jxcore/public/elements/page-login/page-login.html
index df58a16..3410f6f 100644
--- a/www/jxcore/public/elements/page-login/page-login.html
+++ b/www/jxcore/public/elements/page-login/page-login.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 <dom-module id="page-login">
 
 <template>
-  <form is="iron-form" id="form-login" method="post" action="/api/login" class="inset" hidden>
+  <form is="iron-form" id="form-login" method="POST" action="/api/login" class="inset" hidden>
     <paper-input name="username" label="Username" bind-value="{{username::input}}" error-message="{{error_username}}" required></paper-input>
     <div class="alignCenter">
       <paper-button class="accent" raised on-click="submitForm">Save</paper-button>
@@ -93,14 +93,17 @@ <h1>loading&hellip;</h1>
     console.log("Form was submitted");
   },
   _formResponse: function(e) {
-    console.log("Server Response: ", e.detail);
+    console.log("Server Response");
     // check server response
     if(e.detail && e.detail.user) {
-      console.log("save username: " + e.detail.user);
+      console.log("Save username: " + e.detail.user);
       myApp.username = e.detail.user; //this.username;
       getURL("home");
     } else {
-      alert("Error, unable to save user session. Please try again.");
+      var user = this.username.trim();
+      console.log("Error, unable to verify response data. Using user name: " + user);
+      myApp.username = user;
+      getURL("home");
     }
   },
   _formError: function(e) {