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Travel Accommodation Platform Case Study

WanderLust - Discover Your Perfect Stay

A full-stack Airbnb-inspired platform for discovering, listing, and reviewing travel accommodations worldwide

Node.jsExpress.jsMongoDBPassport.jsMapboxCloudinary

Project Overview

WanderLust is a full-stack web application inspired by Airbnb that allows users to discover, list, and review travel accommodations worldwide. The platform features user authentication, property listings, reviews, and interactive maps.

Technical Stack

Backend

Node.js, Express.js

Frontend

EJS, Bootstrap, JavaScript

Database

MongoDB with Mongoose ODM

Authentication

Passport.js

Cloud Services

Cloudinary, Mapbox

Deployment

Vercel

Key Features

1. User Authentication & Authorization

module.exports.signup = async (req, res, next) => {
    try {
        let { username, email, password } = req.body;
        const newUser = new User({ email, username });
        const registeredUser = await User.register(newUser, password);
        req.login(registeredUser, (err) => {
            if(err) {
                return next(err);
            }
            req.flash("success", "Welcome to Wanderlust");
            return res.redirect("/listings");
        });
    } catch(e) {
        req.flash("error", e.message);
        return res.redirect("/signup");
    }
}
  • Implemented secure user authentication using Passport.js
  • Password reset functionality with email notifications
  • Session management with MongoDB store

2. Property Listings Management

module.exports.createListing = async (req, res, next) => {
  try {
    let response = await geocodingClient
      .forwardGeocode({
        query: req.body.listing.location,
        limit: 1,
      })
      .send();

    let url = req.file.path;
    let filename = req.file.filename;
    const newListing = new Listing(req.body.listing);
    newListing.owner = req.user._id;
    newListing.image = { url, filename };
    newListing.geometry = response.body.features[0].geometry;

    let savedListing = await newListing.save();
    req.flash("success", "New listing Created!");
    return res.redirect("/listings");
  } catch (err) {
    next(err);
  }
};

3. Review System

const reviewSchema = new Schema({
  comment: String,
  rating: {
    type: Number,
    min: 1,
    max: 5,
  },
  createdAt: {
    type: Date,
    default: Date.now(),
  },
  author: {
    type: Schema.Types.ObjectId,
    ref: "User",
  },
});

Technical Challenges & Solutions

1. Secure File Upload

Challenge:

Implementing secure and efficient image upload functionality.

Solution:

  • Implemented Cloudinary integration for secure image hosting
  • Added file validation and size restrictions
  • Created optimized image transformations

2. Location Services

Challenge:

Implementing accurate and interactive location features.

Solution:

  • Integrated Mapbox geocoding for accurate locations
  • Implemented reverse geocoding for validation
  • Created interactive map interfaces

Key Learnings

Authentication Best Practices

  • Secure authentication flows
  • Password reset functionality
  • Session management

Cloud Service Integration

  • Multiple third-party APIs
  • Environment variables
  • Asynchronous operations

Database Design

  • MongoDB schema design
  • Collection relationships
  • Efficient querying

Impact & Results

  • Successfully deployed a full-stack application
  • Implemented complex features like maps and image upload
  • Created a scalable and maintainable codebase
  • Developed a responsive and user-friendly interface

Future Improvements

  • Real-time messaging between users
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Advanced search filters
  • Booking management system
  • User verification system