Project Overview:
Hunger Stop is a comprehensive platform dedicated to addressing food insecurity by connecting donors with local food banks and community kitchens. The goal of the project is to streamline the process of food donation and distribution, ensuring that surplus food reaches those in need efficiently and effectively.
Features:
- User Registration and Authentication: Allows users to create accounts, log in, and manage their profiles securely.
- Donation Management: Enables users to register food donations, including details like quantity, type, and pick-up times.
- Real-Time Notifications: Keeps donors and recipients updated with real-time notifications about donation status and updates.
- Search Functionality: Provides a robust search feature for finding nearby food banks and community kitchens.
- Interactive Map: Integrates with Google Maps to show the locations of food banks, donors, and recipients.
- Responsive Design: Ensures the platform is accessible and user-friendly on both desktop and mobile devices.
- Admin Dashboard: Allows administrators to manage users, donations, and food banks, providing detailed analytics and reports.
Tools and Technologies Used:
- Frontend:
- HTML5: Structured the content of the web pages with semantic elements.
- CSS3: Styled the website with responsive design techniques to ensure usability across devices.
- JavaScript: Enabled dynamic content updates and interactive features.
- React: Built the user interface with reusable components and managed the application state effectively.
- Backend:
- Node.js: Handled server-side operations and API endpoints.
- Express.js: Provided a robust and flexible framework for building the backend services.
- Python: Utilized for specific backend scripts and data processing tasks.
- Django: Managed complex backend logic and database interactions efficiently.
- Database:
- MongoDB: Stored user data, donation records, and other essential information with a NoSQL approach for scalability and flexibility.
- MySQL: Used for relational data management where structured data storage was required.
- APIs and Integrations:
- Google Maps API: Integrated interactive maps to display the locations of food banks and donors.
- Twilio: Implemented real-time notifications via SMS and email to keep users informed.
- Stripe: Integrated for handling secure donations and payment processing.
- Version Control and Collaboration:
- Git: Managed version control to track changes and collaborate with team members.
- GitHub: Hosted the project repository, facilitating collaboration and issue tracking.
- Deployment:
- Heroku: Deployed the backend services for a scalable and reliable hosting solution.
- Netlify: Deployed the frontend for continuous deployment and high performance.
- Testing:
- Jest: Used for unit testing of JavaScript code to ensure reliability and robustness.
- Selenium: Automated end-to-end testing to validate user flows and interactions.
- Project Management:
- Trello: Managed project tasks, milestones, and collaboration among team members.
Conclusion:
Hunger Stop showcases a full-stack development project that combines modern web technologies to create a meaningful impact. The platform is a testament to the power of technology in addressing social issues and demonstrates proficiency in a wide range of tools and frameworks. By connecting donors with food banks efficiently, Hunger Stop not only solves a critical problem but also sets a precedent for future community-driven projects.