CertMe

CertMe is a certificate generator web application in which data is provwided in the form of an excel file containing tags and a template providing biolerplate that fills the tag, e.g., {d.TAG} ( here TAG is one of the cell representing a column in the excel sheet ). The created file is bulk-emailed to the individuals using the email addresses mentioned in the excel file.

Installation

You are required to install Node JS version 16.15.1 to run and choose your platform accordingly 👍🏼.

Clone the repository to open the project in your code editor, I prefer Visual Studio 🤪.

$ git init
$ git clone https://github.com/anasvemmully/CertMe.git

Setup

Start the server at port:3000 by moving inside the client React application folder (default)

$ cd CertMe\client
$ npm i
$ npm start

Now start the node server at port :8000

$ cd CertMe\server
$ mkdir public
$ npm i
$ npm start

Keep sure the client url is specified in the CORS in node server, if you encounter with CORS issue in future.

# CertMe\server\app.js

app.use(
  cors({
    origin: "http://localhost:3000", # client url
    credentials: true,
  })
);

Next, you must add the.env file inside node server and set the following variables in order for your node server to run smoothly.

MONGO_URL=
 
SESSION_SECRET=

EMAIL=
CLIENT_ID=
CLIENT_SCRET=
REDIRECT_URI=https://developers.google.com/oauthplayground
REFRESH_TOKEN=

SESSION_SECRET is the secrert for your cookie 🍪. EMAIL, CLIENT_ID, CLIENT_SCRET, REDIRECT_URI and REFRESH_TOKEN is used to send emails (refer this youtube video).

Deployment

I deployed the application in Heroku using docker containers. First, build the react application ei,. /client/ .

$ cd client
$ npm run build

After building react application the build folder is generated inside the client folder, place the folder inside the server public folder (make sure nothing is there except the build). Now, using the Dockerfile inside the server folder

# Dockerfile for Node Express Server
FROM node:16.15.1
WORKDIR /usr/src/app
COPY package.json ./
ADD . ./
RUN npm install
RUN rm -rf ./node_modules
RUN npm update
EXPOSE 8000
RUN apt-get update --fix-missing
RUN apt-get install libreoffice -y 
CMD ["npm","start"]

use the following command to push and release the docker container; see the doc.

$ heroku container:push web
$ heroku container:release web

Now open your browser

$ heroku open

See my deployment on Heroku Click Here 👆🏼

Technology used

                                   

Future Improvements

• Need to fix page refresh issue.
• Need to transform the CertMe to Q&A CertMe.
• Need to improve the UI and implement Dark Theme.
• Need to Optimize the build.
• Need to implement Token based Authentication.
• Need to implement OAuth.
• Need to implement Forgot Password Mechanism.

License

Free to use and modify, just follow me ⭐.

made with ❤