← Back to Projects

shopxy - E-commerce Platform

Many small businesses struggle to set up e-commerce platforms due to cost and complexity. I wanted to understand how modern product companies build scalable shopping experiences from scratch.

Next.jsNode.jsExpress.jsMongoDBReduxi18nVercelCloudinaryStripe
Live DemoGitHub

Problem

Users need a fast, intuitive, and reliable way to browse products, manage cart state, and complete purchases securely without friction or data inconsistency.

Challenges

  • Maintaining consistent cart and user state across pages and sessions
  • Designing a backend that supports authentication, payments, and admin operations
  • Preventing client-side data manipulation and security risks
  • Handling performance issues with increasing product data

Constraints

  • Initially started as a frontend-only application with static data
  • Solo development with limited time for full production-level features
  • Avoiding paid third-party services wherever possible

Key Engineering Decisions

  • Started with a frontend-only MVP to validate user flows before backend integration
  • Introduced a Node.js + Express backend to handle authentication, payments, and admin operations
  • Chose MongoDB for flexible schema design suitable for evolving product data
  • Initially used Redux for state management, then shifted critical data handling to server APIs
  • Implemented i18n for localization and theme switching (dark/light) for better user experience

Trade-offs

  • Removed heavy reliance on client-side storage to improve security at the cost of increased API calls
  • Focused on core e-commerce flows instead of advanced recommendation algorithms
  • Prioritized correctness and security over rapid feature expansion

Impact

  • Gained hands-on experience with end-to-end e-commerce system design
  • Developed a strong understanding of backend-driven state management
  • Improved decision-making around security, scalability, and trade-offs
  • Built confidence in designing production-like applications rather than demo projects

Next Improvements

  • Implement product recommendation engine based on user behavior
  • Add server-side rendering optimizations for SEO and performance
  • Introduce role-based access control for admin features
  • Add automated testing and monitoring for production readiness