Social Media Website

github

After gaining some experience with web development, I decided to take on the challenge of building my own social media platform. As someone passionate about coding and creating digital experiences, I was eager to tackle such an ambitious project to put my skills to the test.

For the tech stack, I chose to use the MERN framework - MongoDB, ExpressJS, React, and Node.js. Mongo and Express would allow me to build a robust backend with user authentication and data storage. React is ideal for crafting reactive user interfaces, while Node provides the server environment.

One of the first priorities was implementing secure user authentication. I decided to use bcrypt to encrypt user passwords before storing them in the database. This adds an important layer of protection for user accounts.

Building out the backend API with Node and Express was an enjoyable process. I liked structuring different routes and connecting them to MongoDB for data persistence using Mongoose. The API included endpoints for user registration, login, account management, posts, friends, images, and more.

On the frontend with React, I focused on clean and engaging UI/UX design using Material-UI components. Redux helped manage app state as new data flowed through the system. Features like photo uploads, commenting, profiles and friend management really brought the platform to life.

Debugging issues during development was challenging but rewarding. I learned a lot about troubleshooting bugs and optimizing performance.

This project gave me valuable full stack web development experience. I was able to apply and solidify my knowledge of the MERN stack by building a real modern web app from start to finish. The process also taught me new skills in UI design, state management, APIs, databases and more. I'm thrilled to have this robust social platform in my portfolio as I continue growing as a developer.