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Case study

Real-Time Social Media & Networking Application

The foundational full-stack milestone project built to bridge the gap into backend engineering, featuring full user social graphs, dynamic feeds, and real-time instant messaging.

3 phases9 technologies
Real-Time Social Media & Networking Application
  1. 01
    Phase 1: Transitioning to Full-Stack Architectures

    Breaking into Backend Engineering with Node.js and Prisma

    When I committed to returning to the web development field, I knew expanding my skill set into server-side engineering was critical. I built this comprehensive Social Media Application as my flagship project to master Node.js. To support complex relational features like user profiles, social connections, and content engagement, I designed a lightweight relational database schema using SQLite, interfacing with it cleanly via Prisma ORM.

  2. 02
    Phase 2: Modeling the Social Graph and Content Feeds

    Implementing Profiles, Dynamic Interactivity, and Social Interactions

    I engineered the core social network features entirely from scratch. This involved mapping a system capable of handling complex database queries to process friend requests, manage asymmetric 'following' metrics, and feed dynamic user timelines with posts, likes, comments, and shares. I styled the entire responsive interface using Tailwind CSS to maintain smooth interaction states.

  3. 03
    Phase 3: Introducing Bi-Directional Real-Time Networking

    Integrating WebSockets for Instant Messaging and Asset Pipelines

    To transform the application from a static experience into a living platform, I integrated WebSockets. This unlocked real-time response capabilities for instant messaging and live chat channels between connected users without relying on heavy HTTP polling. To complete the production pipeline, I implemented cloud asset handling via AWS S3 for secure profile and media uploads, deploying the server instances seamlessly onto AWS EC2.