AdventureMatch

AdventureMatch is a platform designed to connect people based on their hobbies and skill levels. By creating a personal profile with your favorite activities and skill levels, you can search for like-minded individuals nearby and plan adventures together!

Features

• Create an Account: Sign up and set up a profile with your hobbies, interests, and skill levels.
• Search for Matches: Find other members in your area who share similar hobbies and skill levels.
• Hobby Categories: Supports a wide range of hobbies, from outdoor activities to arts, music, and games.
• Skill Level Matching: Specify your skill level for each hobby (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) and find people at a similar experience level.
• Location-Based Search: Easily discover people nearby using Google Maps API for accurate geolocation matching.
• Secure Authentication: User accounts are securely managed with bcrypt encryption and session cookies.
• Privacy and Security: Users have full control over their profile visibility, ensuring data privacy and security.

How It Works

1. Sign Up & Create a Profile:

   • Register using email and create a secure password.
   • Specify your hobbies and skill levels.
   • Set your location to connect with people nearby.

2. Search for Matches:

   • Use filters to search for other users based on hobbies and skill levels.
   • Browse their profiles to see their interests, skill levels, and location.
   • Send a connection request to plan your next adventure together.

3. Plan Your Adventure:

   • After connecting, plan a hobby-based event or activity.
   • Whether solo or in a group, AdventureMatch helps you set up your next experience with ease.

Technologies Used

• Frontend: React.js for building an interactive user interface.
• Backend: Node.js and Express.js to handle API requests and server-side logic.
• Database: PostgreSQL for reliable and efficient data storage (user profiles, hobbies, connections).
• Authentication: bcrypt for secure password hashing and cookies for session management.
• Geolocation: Google Maps API for location-based user matching and mapping.
• Build Tools: Webpack for module bundling and optimization.
• Environment Variables: Configured for storing sensitive information like database credentials and API keys.

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or above)
• PostgreSQL (either local installation or cloud-based)
• Google Maps API Key (for geolocation features)

Steps to Set Up Locally

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/adventurematch.git
   cd adventurematch

2. Install the dependencies:

   For backend (Node.js & Express):

   cd backend
   npm install

   For frontend (React):

   cd frontend
   npm install

3. Set up environment variables:

   Create a .env file in both the backend and frontend directories with the following:

   • In backend/.env:

     DATABASE_URL=your_postgresql_connection_url
     JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret_key
     COOKIE_SECRET=your_cookie_secret_key
     GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_google_maps_api_key

   • In frontend/.env:

     REACT_APP_GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_google_maps_api_key

4. Run the application locally:

   Start the backend server:

   cd backend
   npm run server

   Start the frontend development server:

   cd frontend
   npm start

   Your application will be accessible at http://localhost:3000.

Contributing

We welcome contributions to make AdventureMatch even better! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch for your feature (git checkout -b feature/your-feature).
3. Commit your changes (git commit -am 'Add new feature').
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/your-feature).
5. Open a pull request.

Please ensure that your changes follow the coding standards, and provide tests where applicable.

License

AdventureMatch is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for more details.