Simple Blog Platform

Overview

This project is a simple blogging platform that allows users to create, read, and comment on blog posts. It supports user registration and login functionalities. Logged-in users can add new posts, comment on existing posts, and view their own posts, while non-logged-in users can only view posts and details. User passwords are salted and hashed using bcrypt to ensure security.

Data Model

The application will store data related to Users, Posts, and Comments.

• Users: Registered users who can create posts and comments.
• Posts: Blog entries created by users.
• Comments: Feedback or thoughts left by users on posts.

Sample Documents

An Example User:

{
    username: "johndoe", 
    email: "johndoe@example.com",
    password: "hashed_password_here"
    createdAt: "2024-11-01T08:00:00Z"
}

An Example Post:

{
    title: "My First Post",
    content: "This is the content of the post.",
    author: "user_id_here",
    tags: ["Introduction", "FirstPost"],
    createdAt: "2024-11-01T10:00:00Z",
    updatedAt: "2024-11-01T12:00:00Z"
}

An example comment:

{
    title: "My First Post",
    content: "This is the content of the post.",
    author: "user_id_here",
    tags: ["Introduction", "FirstPost"],
    createdAt: "2024-11-01T10:00:00Z",
    updatedAt: "2024-11-01T12:00:00Z"
}

Link to Commented First Draft Schema

Already linked.

Wireframes

/ - home, Lists all posts in reverse chronological order (latest first). Displays titles and publication times. Users can click a post to see its details.

post/createPost - A form for adding a new blog post. Accessible only when logged in.

/post/:slug - Displays the details of a specific post, including the author, published date and comments.

/profile - Displays a list of posts created by the user.

Site map

User Stories or Use Cases

1. As a non-registered user, I can register a new account with the site
   • Users who visit the platform without an account can register by providing a username, email, and password. This allows them to access more features, such as posting and commenting.
2. As a user, I can log in to the site
   • Registered users can log in using their username and password to access additional features, such as creating posts, commenting on others' posts, and viewing their own past posts.
3. As a user, I can create a new blog post
   • Logged-in users can create new blog posts by providing a title and content. Once the post is submitted, it will be published on the main page where all users can view it.
4. As a user, I can view all blog posts
   • All users (both logged-in and non-logged-in) can view all published blog posts on the home page. Posts are listed in reverse chronological order, with the latest posts appearing first. Users can click on a post to view more details.
5. As a user, I can view the details of a specific post
   • By clicking on a post title, users can view the post's full content, including the author's name, publication date, and any comments made on the post.
6. As a user, I can comment on a blog post
   • Logged-in users can add comments to any blog post. Comments include the user's name, content, and the date of the comment. Comments are displayed below the post details.
7. As an author, I can edit my own blog posts
   • Logged-in users who have created a post can edit the content of their own posts. This allows authors to correct mistakes or update information after the post has been published.
8. As a user, I can view all of my past posts
   • Logged-in users can view a list of all the posts they have created. This feature is accessible from the "My Posts" page, allowing users to manage or edit their content.
9. As a user, I can delete my own comments
   • Logged-in users can delete comments they have made on posts if they no longer want them to appear.

Research Topics

(TODO: the research topics that you're planning on working on along with their point values... and the total points of research topics listed)

• Use a front-end framework (6 points)
  • Using React
• Use a CSS Framework (2 points)
  • Use a CSS framework such as Bootstrap, Tailwind CSS, or Semantic UI to style the application.
  • Customize the theme to avoid using the default style and ensure the application has a unique look.
  • Link to the customization in the repository and describe the changes made.
• Configuration Management (3 points)
  • Use nconf for configuration management to handle environment-specific settings.
  • Store different configurations for development and production environments.
  • Link to the relevant configuration code in the repository.

Link to Initial Main Project File

Already Linked

Annotations / References Used

2. Express Documentation - Reference for setting up the Express server.
3. Mongoose Documentation - Guide for creating Mongoose schemas.
4. Bcrypt Documentation - Used for password hashing.
5. Handlebars Documentation - Used for creating dynamic frontend views.