This is a social app for food lovers where users can post, share, and discover recipes from around the world. I built this app to combine my passion for food and technology, creating a platform where people can connect and share their culinary creations. The project allowed me to work on both front-end and back-end development, enhancing my full-stack development skills.

Features

• Recipe Posting: Users can create and post their recipes with detailed instructions and photos.
• Recipe Discovery: Search and explore recipes based on categories, cuisines, or ingredients.
• User Profiles: Personalized profiles to showcase user-posted recipes and favorites.
• Comments and Likes: Engage with the community by commenting on or liking recipes.
• Favorites: Save recipes for quick access later.

Tech Stack

• Frontend: Built with React for a dynamic and responsive user interface.
• Backend: Node.js and Express for handling server-side logic and APIs.
• Database: MongoDB for storing recipes, user profiles, and interactions.
• Styling: Designed with CSS and styled components for a visually appealing UI.
• Image Hosting: Integrated with Cloudinary for uploading and managing recipe photos.
• Hosting: Deployed on Heroku or AWS for backend and Vercel for the frontend.

Implementation

Frontend

• React used for reusable UI components.
• React Router for navigating between pages like home, profiles, and recipe details.
• Axios for API integration with the backend.

Backend

• Express.js API endpoints for managing recipes, user authentication, and interactions.
• JWT for secure user authentication.
• Middleware for validating and uploading images using Multer and Cloudinary.

Database

• MongoDB for storing structured data like users, recipes, and comments.
• Indexed queries for fast search and retrieval.
• Data relationships for linking recipes to user profiles.

Deployment

• Backend deployed on Heroku with Dockerized containers.
• Frontend deployed on Vercel with CI/CD for seamless updates.

How It Works

1. User Onboarding: Sign up or log in to start exploring and sharing recipes.
2. Post Recipes: Upload recipes with images, categories, and detailed steps.
3. Discover Recipes: Use search or filters to find recipes based on your taste.
4. Engage with Community: Like, comment, and save your favorite recipes.
5. Personalize Profile: Showcase your culinary creations on your profile page.

Challenges Faced

• Managing large image uploads efficiently while maintaining performance.
• Creating a seamless user experience for both desktop and mobile devices.
• Ensuring database scalability to handle increasing recipe posts and user interactions.

Future Enhancements

• Adding a meal planner feature for users to organize recipes for the week.
• Introducing recipe video tutorials for better user engagement.
• Implementing AI-powered suggestions for recipes based on user preferences.