Introducing a Comprehensive Open-Source Medieval Marketplace Built with Microservices
Exploring modern web development can be both exciting and educational. Recently, I developed a full-stack, open-source marketplace similar to eBay, set in a medieval-themed environment. This project was designed primarily as a learning experience, focusing on key technologies like React, JWT authentication, and microservices architecture.
Project Overview:
- Frontend: A React-based interface utilizing client-side rendering with JavaScript and pure CSS for styling.
- API Gateway: Built with ASP.NET Core, serving as a centralized request router and data aggregator. While some recommend separating these responsibilities for scalability, I combined them for simplicity.
- Microservices: Four distinct ASP.NET Core RESTful APIs, each connected to its own PostgreSQL database:
- Authentication API: Manages user accounts.
- Listings API: Handles item listings.
- Comments API: Manages user comments.
- User Ratings API: Stores and retrieves user ratings.
Repository Access:
The full source code is openly available on GitHub: https://github.com/szr2001/BuyItPlatform
Development Insights:
This project was primarily a playground for me to deepen my understanding of React, JWT, and microservices concepts. Notably, caching mechanisms were not implemented but have been left as future enhancements. The architecture leaves space for such improvements, including integration with tools like Redis.
Future Directions:
Looking ahead, I aim to expand my knowledge by integrating Docker, Kubernetes, and Redis to enhance deployment scalability and performance.
Community and Learning:
While some may view my code as intermediate or junior-level, I believe it serves as a practical resource for those looking to grasp microservices fundamentals. There are minor bugs remaining, but the core learning objectives have been achieved.
Final thoughts:
Programming is a thrilling journey, and sharing projects like this helps foster community learning. Happy coding, everyone!
