Let's Talk Linux

A minimalist, full-stack forum for Unix enthusiasts to share setups, tips, and "rice" showcases.

This project was developed as a university assignment to demonstrate a full-stack integration using React and Node.js. It features a custom-built file-based database system and a clean, "Gruvbox-inspired" aesthetic.

Features

• User Authentication: Simple registration and login system.
• Community Feed: Users can browse posts by categories (e.g., Rice Showcase, Troubleshooting).
• Content Creation: Post text updates along with image attachments (handled via multer).
• Interactions: Support for creating new categories and commenting on existing posts.
• File-based Storage: Data is persisted directly in JSON files on the server, showcasing manual data management without an external DBMS.

Tech Stack

Frontend:

• React 19 – Component-based UI.
• React Router Dom – Client-side navigation.
• CSS3 – Custom styling with a focus on readability and Linux-culture aesthetics.

Backend:

• Node.js & Express – RESTful API architecture.
• Multer – Handling image uploads and storage.
• CORS – Cross-Origin Resource Sharing for frontend-backend communication.

Local Setup

To run this project locally, you will need to start two separate processes.

1. Backend (Server)

cd server
npm install
npm start

The server will start at http://localhost:5000

2. Frontend (Client)

In a new terminal window:

npm install
npm start

The application will open automatically at http://localhost:3000

Preview