**Introduction**
Hi everyone! This is my first post on Dev Community, and I wanted to share a meaningful project I’ve been working on. I recently teamed up with a few friends to build a website to support orphaned children and homeless seniors. This project allows users to submit cases and donate resources to orphanages and old-age homes. It’s a simple idea, but we hope it can make a positive impact. In this post, I’ll cover our process, technical challenges, and some lessons we’ve learned along the way.
Project Overview
The goal of our project is to create an easy-to-use platform where people can register cases for orphaned children or homeless seniors. Users can upload photos and provide details about each case, which will be forwarded to nearby orphanages or old-age homes. Additionally, we’ve included options for donations, allowing people to contribute money, clothes, or food directly to these organizations. Our tech stack:
Frontend: React
Backend: Node.js
Database: MySQL
Key Features We’re Implementing
Case Submission and Verification
Users can submit cases with relevant details, including a photo and description. We’re working on a basic*Verification Process*
We have implemented a verification process to ensure that the information we provide remains accurate and useful.
Donation Options
Users can choose to donate specific items, such as money, clothes, or food, to orphanages or old-age homes. This feature includes various categories, allowing users to tailor their contributions according to their preferences.
Notification System
We’ve created a straightforward notification system to inform users about the status of their cases. While it may not be highly advanced, it effectively serves its purpose!
Technical Challenges and Solutions
Frontend-Backend Integration
Integrating the frontend with the backend was a new experience for me. Understanding API requests and managing the data flow from React to Node.js was initially challenging. However, with patience and the help of tutorials, we successfully established smooth communication between the two parts.
Data Management with MySQL
As this was my first time managing a relational database for a project, I faced a learning curve while setting up tables and establishing relationships in MySQL. It has been rewarding to see queries functioning in a real-world scenario.
Notifications
We aimed to create a basic notification system for updates. This involved experimenting with event-based messaging. I learned about some lightweight libraries for simple alerts, which provided a good introduction to real-time features.
Lessons Learned
Working on this project has taught me a lot about teamwork, task management, and problem-solving. Here are some key takeaways:
Communication is Key: Working in a team of four requires constant updates between team members. Utilizing project management tools has helped us stay organized and avoid duplicating efforts.
Documentation is Essential: Keeping track of our code changes and documenting features has saved us a great deal of time and frustration, especially as our project expanded.
Break It Down: Tackling a large project becomes easier when divided into smaller tasks. We found it beneficial to assign each team member specific areas to focus on.
Final Thoughts
Building this project has been both challenging and fulfilling. We hope it will provide support to those in need, and we’re excited about continuing to improve it over time. If you're considering starting a similar project, I encourage you to go for it! The learning process is incredibly rewarding.
Thank you for reading! I would appreciate any feedback or tips from others who have worked on similar projects. social impact projects!
Top comments (0)