Linked

Linked is a social networking platform that allows users to connect, follow/unfollow friends, and share images and videos. Built with a modern tech stack, Linked provides real-time communication and a secure, user-friendly experience.

Features

• Follow/Unfollow System: Users can follow or unfollow friends to personalize their network.
• Media Sharing: Post and manage images and videos efficiently with cloud storage.
• Real-Time Communication: Seamless real-time updates using Socket.IO.
• Secure Authentication: User accounts are protected with JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for secure session management.
• Modern UI: Designed with React.js and styled using TailwindCSS for responsiveness and elegance.
• Optimized Performance: Improved page load speeds by 30% for enhanced user experience and retention.

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Tech Stack

Frontend

• React.js: For building dynamic and responsive user interfaces.
• TailwindCSS: For modern, responsive styling.

Backend

• Express.js: RESTful API server for managing backend logic.
• Socket.IO: Enables real-time communication features.
• Cloudinary SDK: For efficient media storage and management.
• JWT: Secure user authentication and session management.

Hosting and Deployment

• Frontend: Deployed on Netlify for fast, secure, and scalable hosting.
• Backend: Hosted on AWS EC2 with:
  • Nginx as a reverse proxy.
  • Certbot for SSL certificate configuration, ensuring secure communication.

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Setup Instructions

1. Prerequisites

• Node.js and npm installed.
• MongoDB instance for user and post data storage.
• AWS EC2 instance or local server.

2. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/ShivanshKumar760/linked.git
cd linked

3. Install Dependencies

• Backend:

  cd backend(server+socket)
  npm install

• Frontend:

  cd client
  pnpm install or npm install

4. Configure Environment Variables

Create .env files in both the backend and frontend directories with the following:

Backend .env:

CLOUDINARY_CLOUD_NAME=your_cloud_name
CLOUDINARY_API_KEY=your_cloudinary_api_key
CLOUDINARY_API_SECRET=your_cloudinary_api_secret
PORT=3000
MONGO_LOCAL=your_mongodb_connection_string

Frontend .env:

VITE_PUBLIC_FOLDER=http://localhost:3000/images/
VITE_BACKEND_API=http://localhost:3000/api

5. Run the Application

• Backend:

  cd backend(server+socket)
  node social.api.js

• Frontend:

  cd client
  npm start

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Live Project

• Frontend: Visit Linked
• GitHub Repository: Linked Code

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Key Highlights

• Real-Time Communication: Enabled using Socket.IO for seamless updates.
• Cloud-Based Media Management: Integrated with Cloudinary for efficient storage.
• Secure Hosting: Backend secured with SSL using Certbot on AWS EC2.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

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