fix(dw-render-viewmodels): the no-picture fallback hides a null DefaultImage (5.8.7)

.claude-plugin/marketplace.json

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   },
   "metadata": {
     "description": "Claude skills for Dynamicweb 10 — organized by task domain, bundled by role.",
-    "version": "5.8.6"
+    "version": "5.8.7"
   },
   "plugins": [
     {

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@
 All notable changes to the Dynamicweb Skills plugin are recorded here. The
 `version` field in `.claude-plugin/marketplace.json` tracks these entries.
 
+## [5.8.7]
+
+- **`dw-render-viewmodels` `viewmodel-traps.md`: the "no picture" fallback hides a null
+  `DefaultImage`.** With `Ecom/Picture/NoPicture` set, an image-less product renders the fallback image
+  and an unguarded template never fails, so a crash reproduction or a sweep proof must blank the
+  fallback for the run. The fallback also covers unguarded templates until they are fixed.
+
 ## [5.8.6]
 
 - **`dw-demo-fo` `Get-FoErrorText` is safe under strict mode.** A 404 with no response body (no

manifest.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "version": 2,
-  "generatedAt": "2026-10-02T08:59:15.942Z",
+  "generatedAt": "2026-10-02T09:00:35.927Z",
   "worksOn": {
     "dw": {
       "ring": "R1",

skills/dw-render-viewmodels/references/viewmodel-traps.md

@@ -32,6 +32,22 @@ string imagePath = product?.DefaultImage?.Value ?? string.Empty;
 | `product.ReplacementProduct` | no replacement is configured on a discontinued product | `p?.ReplacementProduct?.…` |
 | `Model.Item` | the paragraph has no item attached | `Model.Item?.GetString("Field")` |
 
+**`DefaultImage` is null only when the ecommerce "no picture" fallback is empty too.** When the
+`Ecom/Picture/NoPicture` setting in `GlobalSettings.Ecom.config` (`Large` and `Large_path`) names an
+image, DW fills `product.DefaultImage` with it for a product with no image and no assets. The page then
+renders that fallback image, and an unguarded template never meets the null. That cuts both ways:
+
+- **Reproducing a crash, or proving a sweep catches one:** an image-less product is not enough. Blank
+  `NoPicture` `Large` and `Large_path` for the run, recycle the app pool, and restore both afterwards.
+  With the fallback set, an unguarded `Swift-v2_ProductMedia.cshtml` rendered a clean PDP for
+  a zero-asset product; with it blank, the same PDP rendered a `NullReferenceException` block at HTTP 200
+  [dw 10.28.12 · swift 2.4].
+- **Running templates that still lack the guard:** setting the global fallback image keeps image-less
+  products from crashing them until the templates are fixed. It hides the data gap, so it does not
+  replace the guard.
+
+Not measured: whether a `Medium` or `Small` fallback alone has the same effect.
+
 Two shipped Swift 2.2 templates dereference `product.DefaultImage.Value` with no guard and are worth
 auditing on any solution running them, because each turns one image-less product into a whole dead
 surface: