[Amelia Hansen]

Hi there, and welcome to the world of BuddyPress! Don’t worry; the 500 error can be daunting for beginners, but we’ll work together.
I’ve seen this issue reported before with the Lambda theme and BuddyPress, and it boils down to a compatibility issue with the navigation functions. Here’s how we can tackle it:

1. Debug Mode Explained:
Good job enabling debug mode! The error message you shared (“Call to a member function get_primary() on null”) points to line 2558 in bp-core-functions.php. This line attempts to access a navigation menu item that’s not available, causing the 500 error.

2. Don’t Modify Core Files:
While removing the problematic line might seem tempting, avoiding modifying core BuddyPress files directly is crucial. This can cause conflicts and instability down the line.

3. Theme Compatibility Fix:
Instead, let’s explore theme compatibility options:
Theme Update: Check if an updated version of Lambda is available. Developers often fix compatibility issues in newer versions.
Theme-Specific Navigation Hook: Some themes, like Lambda, provide custom hooks for modifying the navigation. Research Lambda’s documentation or contact their support team to see if such a hook exists. You can then use this hook to customize the BuddyPress navigation without touching core files.
Alternate Theme: Unfortunately, if compatibility solutions are unavailable, switching to a different theme that plays well with BuddyPress might be necessary. Popular choices include BuddyPress-compatible themes like BuddyBoss, BuddyPress Theme, and Total.

4. Community Resources:
Don’t hesitate to tap into the wider BuddyPress community for support:
BuddyPress Forums: Head over to the BuddyPress forums and search for similar issues related to Lambda and navigation. You might find existing solutions or helpful advice from other users.
BuddyPress Slack: Join the BuddyPress Slack community to chat with developers and experienced users in real-time.

5. Next Steps:
Based on your preference and technical comfort level, please choose one of the suggested solutions and try it out. If you need further assistance with specific configurations or troubleshooting, please share more details, and we can delve deeper together.
Remember, the BuddyPress community is friendly and supportive, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. Good luck, and I hope you get your BuddyPress site up and running smoothly soon!