index.php:$error Undefined

[twmoore3rd]

One of four related issues.

At least on first run, index.php throws:
Notice: Undefined variable: error in /opt/lampp/htdocs/ocl/index.php on line 155
Line 155:
<p style="color:red"><? echo $error; ?></p>

A work around might be but with unknown impact on the logic::
<p style="color:red"> <?php if (! isset($error)) $error = "debugging, should be set by now"; echo $error; ?> </p>