Social Media Web App

Overview

This project is a full-stack social media application developed with the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js). It provides core social networking functionality such as authentication, posting, liking, and commenting, wrapped in a responsive and modern UI. The platform was designed to emphasize security, scalability, and a smooth user experience.

Technologies

• Frontend: React, Material-UI, Redux (for state management)
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Database: MongoDB (Mongoose ODM)
• Authentication & Security: JWT (JSON Web Tokens), role-based access control, bcrypt (for password hashing)
• Other: RESTful APIs, responsive design principles

Features

• User Authentication: Sign up, login, and session handling secured with JWT.
• Role-Based Access Control: Different permissions for regular users vs. admins.
• Posts & Interactions: Create, edit, like, and comment on posts.
• Responsive UI: Designed with Material-UI for consistency and mobile-friendliness.
• State Management: Redux integration for predictable state handling.
• Secure Password Storage: Encrypted user credentials with bcrypt.

Development

• Built RESTful APIs with Express.js to handle authentication, user management, and CRUD operations for posts.
• Integrated JWT-based authentication with refresh/expiry handling for secure sessions.
• Designed a React frontend with Material-UI, implementing reusable components such as post cards, comment threads, and modals.
• Managed application state with Redux, ensuring predictable UI behavior and smooth data flow.
• Connected to MongoDB with Mongoose for flexible data modeling.
• Focused on responsive design so the app works seamlessly across devices.

Challenges

• Authentication Security: Implementing JWT securely, managing token expiration, and protecting routes from unauthorized access.
• Role-Based Access: Designing a scalable permissions system that could handle different user roles and privileges.
• State Management: Handling nested states (e.g., posts with comments and likes) in Redux without performance bottlenecks.
• Responsive UI: Ensuring consistent design and usability across desktop and mobile devices.
• Data Consistency: Keeping frontend and backend states in sync, especially with asynchronous updates (likes, comments).

Conclusion

This project strengthened my skills in full-stack MERN development, from designing secure backend APIs to building polished and responsive UIs. By integrating authentication, role-based access, and interactive features, I created a functional social networking platform that demonstrates my ability to tackle real-world application requirements such as security, scalability, and user engagement.