PerkStack - A Startup Benefits Platform

A web application where startups can find and claim exclusive deals on SaaS tools.

What does it do?

This platform helps early-stage startups save money by providing access to deals on tools like AWS, Notion, HubSpot, etc. Some deals are public, and some are locked for verified users.

Tech Stack

Frontend:

• Next.js (App Router)
• TypeScript
• Tailwind CSS for styling

Backend:

• Node.js with Express
• MongoDB database
• JWT for authentication

How to Run

Prerequisites

You need to have these installed:

• Node.js (I used v18)
• MongoDB running locally

Backend Setup

1. Go to the server folder:

cd server

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Make sure MongoDB is running (I used mongod in terminal)

4. Seed the database with sample deals:

npm run seed

5. Start the server:

npm run dev

Server should be running on port 8000.

Frontend Setup

1. Open another terminal and go to client folder:

cd client

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Start the frontend:

npm run dev

Frontend should open on http://localhost:3000

How it Works

1. Browse Deals - You can see all deals on the deals page
2. Register - Create an account to unlock deals
3. Claim Deals - Click on a deal and claim it
4. Dashboard - See all your claimed deals with redemption codes

Project Structure

server/
  src/
    controllers/ - Handle API logic
    models/ - Database schemas
    routes/ - API endpoints
    middleware/ - Auth middleware
    
client/
  src/
    app/ - Next.js pages
    components/ - Reusable components
    context/ - Auth context
    lib/ - Utilities

Features

• User authentication (register/login)
• Browse deals with search and category filter
• Locked vs unlocked deals
• Claim system
• User dashboard to track claims

Known Issues / TODO

• Mobile menu is not implemented (desktop only for now)
• Email verification is not actually implemented
• Admin panel for managing deals would be nice
• Better error messages

Notes

The backend uses JWT tokens stored in localStorage. In production, this should probably use httpOnly cookies for better security.

The database is just running locally, so you need MongoDB installed. The connection string is in the .env file.

Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the server folder:

PORT=8000
MONGO_URI=mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/perkstack
JWT_SECRET=your_secret_here

Application Screenshots

Here is a glimpse of the application:

Landing Page

Deals Page

Login Page

Register Page

Perkstack

Perkstack