SwapHub

Check Out Live Site: https://swaphubx.vercel.app

A College Marketplace Platform for Students

SwapHub is a comprehensive college platform designed specifically for students to buy, sell, donate, and rent items within their campus community. This platform streamlines the exchange of goods among students, promoting sustainability and resource sharing.

🎯 Overview

SwapHub connects students within the same college ecosystem, allowing them to:

• Buy and sell used textbooks, electronics, furniture, and more
• Donate items they no longer need to fellow students
• Rent items temporarily for short-term use
• Build a trusted community through ratings and reviews

🛠️ Technology Stack

Backend

• Node.js with Express.js framework
• MongoDB for database storage
• Mongoose for object data modeling
• Passport.js for authentication

Frontend

• React.js for interactive UI components
• Redux for state management
• Material UI/Bootstrap for styling
• Axios for API requests

Authentication

• Google OAuth integration
• Session-based authentication
• JWT for secure API access

👥 User Roles & Features

1️⃣ Sellers

• Create and manage product listings
• Upload multiple product images
• Set prices and availability
• Respond to buyer inquiries
• Track listing statistics

2️⃣ Buyers

• Browse available items with advanced filtering
• Search for specific items across categories
• Contact sellers directly through the platform
• Save favorite items
• Complete secure transactions

3️⃣ Donors

• List items for donation
• Specify item condition and availability
• Connect with students in need
• Track donation history

💡 Additional Features

• User Dashboard: Personalized interface showing listings, transactions, and interactions
• Sidebar Navigation: Improved visibility and accessibility across all screen sizes
• Rating & Reviews: Comprehensive feedback system for building trust
• Notification System: Real-time updates on inquiries and transactions
• Mobile Responsive: Optimized experience on all devices

🔧 Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/SolarisXD/swaphub.git
   cd swaphub

2. Install dependencies for both backend and frontend:

   # Install backend dependencies
   cd backend
   npm install
   
   # Install frontend dependencies
   cd ../frontend
   npm install

3. Configure environment variables:

   • Copy the example file and rename it:

     cp .env.example .env

   • Edit .env in the backend directory and fill in the following variables:

     MONGODB_URI=your_mongodb_connection_string
     SECRET_KEY=your_secret_key

4. Place any shared images in the images/ folder as needed.

5. Start the development environment:

   # Start backend server
   cd backend
   npm run dev
   
   # Start frontend server in a new terminal
   cd ../frontend
   npm run dev

🚀 Usage

1. Register with your college email or Google account
2. Complete your profile details
3. Browse listings or create your first listing
4. Connect with other students for transactions
5. Leave feedback after completed transactions

📱 API Endpoints

Authentication

• POST /api/auth/register - Register a new user
• POST /api/auth/login - Login user
• GET /api/auth/google - Google OAuth authentication
• GET /api/auth/logout - Logout user

Listings

• GET /api/listings - Get all listings
• GET /api/listings/:id - Get specific listing
• POST /api/listings - Create new listing
• PUT /api/listings/:id - Update listing
• DELETE /api/listings/:id - Delete listing

Users

• GET /api/users/profile - Get user profile
• PUT /api/users/profile - Update user profile
• GET /api/users/:id/listings - Get user's listings
• GET /api/users/:id/reviews - Get user's reviews

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions to SwapHub! Please follow these steps:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

📬 Contact

Project Link: SwapHub

🙏 Acknowledgements

• MongoDB
• Express.js
• React.js
• Node.js
• Passport.js

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Note:

• The images/ folder is for shared assets used across the project.
• The .env.example file provides a template for required environment variables. Copy it to .env in the root directory and update values as needed.
• POST /api/listings - Create new listing