TradeLink - Mini Service Request Board

TradeLink is a full-stack web application designed for homeowners to post service requests and for tradespeople to browse and manage them. (Example: "Need a plumber for a leaking tap in Colombo 07"). This project was built as a technical assessment for the Full-Stack Developer Intern role at GlobalTNA.

🚀 Tech Stack

• Frontend: Next.js 14+ (App Router)
• Backend: Node.js & Express.js
• Database: MongoDB Atlas
• ODM: Mongoose
• Styling: Tailwind CSS

🛠️ Project Structure

The project is divided into two main directories:

• /backend: The Express.js REST API.
• /frontend: The Next.js web application.

⚙️ Setup Instructions

1. Prerequisites

• Node.js (v18 or higher)
• npm or yarn

2. Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the backend directory:

MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_atlas_connection_string
PORT=5000

Create a .env.local file in the frontend directory:

NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:5000

3. Installation

Install dependencies for both parts:

# Backend
cd backend
npm install

# Frontend
cd ../frontend
npm install

🏃‍♂️ Run Instructions

Start the Backend

cd backend
npm run dev

Seed the Database (Optional)

To populate the database with professional Sri Lankan themed sample jobs:

cd backend
npm run seed

Start the Frontend

cd frontend
npm run dev

Open http://localhost:3000 to view the app.

📡 API Endpoints

• GET /api/jobs - List all jobs (Supports filters: category, status, search)
• GET /api/jobs/:id - Get job details
• POST /api/jobs - Create a new job request
• PATCH /api/jobs/:id - Update job status
• DELETE /api/jobs/:id - Remove a job posting

✨ Key Features

• Premium UI: Modern glassmorphism design with responsive layouts.
• Real-time Search: Debounced keyword search across titles and descriptions.
• Fail-safe Mode: Backend includes a mock-data fallback if the database connection is slow.
• Validation: Strict input validation on both client and server sides.

DEMO Vedio Link https://drive.google.com/file/d/12NSbpvA0aBYH-z3GluAtVBDonnPAsa1g/view?usp=sharing

Built by Nethshan Dulmin for the GlobalTNA Technical Assessment.