Wanderlust

Wanderlust is a comprehensive web application designed to enable users to explore and review travel destinations while ensuring robust data security and access control through authentication, authorization, and role-based access control (RBAC). Built using modern web technologies, the project follows the MVC Architecture to ensure scalability, modularity, and maintainability.

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Features

1. Authentication, Authorization, and RBAC

   • Secure Sign-Up and Login:
     Users are required to register and authenticate their credentials to access the platform's features.
   • Role-Based Access Control:
     • Admins can create, edit, and delete their own listings (places).
     • Users can add reviews to places but can only edit or delete their own reviews.
   • Granular Permissions:
     Authorization ensures that only the rightful owner of a listing or review can modify it.
   • Session Management:
     Cookies and tokens are used to securely maintain user sessions.

2. Middleware and Error Handling

   • Middleware ensures data validation, request authorization, and secure handling of operations.
   • Comprehensive error handling guarantees application stability during invalid or unexpected requests.

3. Map and GeoCoding Integration

   • Integrated maps and geocoding APIs allow users to visualize and locate the listed destinations with ease.

4. REST APIs

   • A robust set of RESTful APIs supports CRUD operations for listings, reviews, and user management.

5. Cloud Database Service

   • Data is securely stored and managed using a cloud-based MongoDB database for scalability and reliability.

6. Deployment

   • The application is deployed on Render, ensuring accessibility, high availability, and seamless user experience.

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Technology Stack

Category	Technology
Backend Framework	Node.js, Express.js
Database	MongoDB (Cloud Database)
Architecture	MVC (Models, Views, Controllers)
APIs	REST APIs
Authentication & RBAC	Secure Authentication, Role-Based Access Control
Session Management	Cookies and Tokens
Maps and Geocoding	GeoCoding APIs
Deployment	Render

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Installation and Setup

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/wanderlust.git
   cd wanderlust

2. Install Dependencies

   npm install

3. Environment Variables
   Create a .env file in the root directory and add the following:

   DATABASE_URI=<your_mongo_db_uri>
   JWT_SECRET=<your_jwt_secret>
   API_KEY=<your_geocoding_api_key>

4. Run the Application

   npm start

   The application will be live at http://localhost:8080.

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Folder Structure

Wanderlust/
├── models/          # Database Models (User, Place, Review)  
├── controllers/     # Controllers for handling API logic  
├── middleware/      # Authentication and validation middleware  
├── routes/          # API Routes for places, reviews, and users  
├── utils/           # Helper functions and utilities  
├── public/          # Static assets (optional)  
├── views/           # HTML views (if required for rendering)  
├── .env             # Environment variables  
├── app.js           # Main application entry point  
├── package.json     # Dependency management  

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Key Features and Implementation Details

Authentication & Authorization

• Sign-Up, Login, Logout: Protects user accounts and ensures only authenticated users can access the application.
• RBAC: Differentiates admin and user roles to grant specific permissions.

GeoCoding and Map Integration

• Dynamically fetches location data using GeoCoding APIs to provide accurate mapping features.

Error Handling

• Handles edge cases, such as invalid data inputs or unauthorized access, through centralized middleware.

Secure Data Management

• Cloud-based MongoDB ensures secure, scalable storage for user and place data.

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API Endpoints

Method	Endpoint	Description	Access
POST	/api/auth/signup	Register a new user	Public
POST	/api/auth/login	Log in to an account	Public
GET	/api/places	Get all listed places	Public
POST	/api/places	Create a new place	Admin Only
PATCH	/api/places/:id	Edit a listing	Admin (Owner Only)
DELETE	/api/places/:id	Delete a listing	Admin (Owner Only)
POST	/api/reviews	Add a review to a place	Logged-In Users
PATCH	/api/reviews/:id	Edit a review	Review Creator Only
DELETE	/api/reviews/:id	Delete a review	Review Creator Only

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Deployment

The project is deployed on Render and can be accessed on [(https://wanderlust-project-ts78.onrender.com/listings)].

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Future Enhancements

• Enhanced Search Filters: Add advanced filters to search for places based on ratings, categories, and user preferences.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Develop a responsive frontend for better usability across devices.
• Admin Dashboard: Introduce a dashboard to manage listings and monitor reviews effectively.
• Social Sharing: Allow users to share their favorite places directly to social media platforms.

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Follow the steps below:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch (git checkout -b feature-branch).
3. Make changes and commit (git commit -m "Add feature")
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature-branch)
5. Open a Pull Request.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

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Developed by: VIDHI JINDAL Feel free to reach out for collaboration or queries!