🌹 TULIA — Intentional Dating Platform

TULIA — A modern intentional dating platform with verified profiles, real-time chat, and safety-first design. Built with Next.js, NestJS, Prisma, and Socket.IO.

nextjs nestjs typescript prisma postgresql socketio dating-app fullstack webapp real-time chat authentication

Built with a scalable architecture and real-time capabilities, TULIA demonstrates production-ready patterns including authentication, role-based access, real-time messaging, and moderation systems.

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🚀 Features

🔐 Authentication

• User registration & login
• JWT-based authentication
• Secure session handling

👤 Profile System

• Create & update profiles
• Profile photos upload
• Profile completeness tracking

🧭 Guided Onboarding

• Step-by-step user onboarding
• Profile completion gating
• Verification requirement before discovery

✅ Admin Verification

• Admin-only verification queue
• Approve/reject profiles
• Role-based access control

🔍 Discovery System

• Tinder-style profile cards
• Only verified users can access discovery
• Clean UI with profile photos

❤️ Matching

• Like system
• Mutual matches
• Match filtering based on safety rules

💬 Real-Time Chat

• Socket.IO powered messaging
• Instant message delivery
• Typing indicators
• Auto-scroll chat experience

🛡️ Safety System

• Block users
• Report users
• Unblock functionality
• System-wide enforcement (Discover, Matches, Chat)

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📸 Screenshots

🏠 Landing Page

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📊 Dashboard

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🔍 Discover

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💬 Real-Time Chat

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🛡️ Admin Verification

🏗️ Tech Stack

Frontend

• Next.js (App Router)
• TypeScript
• Tailwind CSS

Backend

• NestJS
• Prisma ORM
• PostgreSQL

Real-Time

• Socket.IO

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📁 Project Structure

tulia/
├── apps/
│   ├── api/     # NestJS backend
│   └── web/     # Next.js frontend
├── prisma/      # Database schema
└── README.md


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### 3. Add architecture diagram

```md
## Architecture

Client app → NestJS API → Prisma ORM → PostgreSQL  
Socket.IO handles real-time chat between matched users.

## ⚙️ Environment Setup

### Backend (`apps/api/.env`)

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://...
JWT_SECRET=your_secret
PORT=3000


### Frontend (`apps/web/.env.local`)

NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:3000


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## 🛠️ Installation

### 1. Clone repository

git clone https://github.com/Paulwamaria/tulia.git

cd tulia


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### 2. Install dependencies

Backend

cd apps/api
npm install

Frontend

cd ../web
npm install


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### 3. Setup database

cd apps/api
npx prisma migrate dev
npx prisma generate


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### 4. Run development servers

Backend

cd apps/api
npm run start:dev

Frontend

cd apps/web
npm run dev -- -p 3001


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## 🔑 Admin Setup

To access admin features:

1. Open Prisma Studio:

npx prisma studio


2. Set your user role:

role = "admin"


3. Re-login to refresh JWT  

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## 🧪 Testing Flow

1. Register a user  
2. Create profile  
3. Upload photo  
4. Admin approves profile  
5. Access Discover  
6. Match with another user  
7. Start real-time chat  

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## Quality & Testing

- Manual end-to-end testing flow documented
- Auth-protected routes tested
- Matching and chat flow tested with multiple users
- Admin verification flow tested

## 🔒 Security Features

- Role-based access (admin/user)  
- Protected routes (backend + frontend)  
- Block/report enforcement across system  
- JWT authentication  

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## 📦 Deployment (Next Step)

Recommended stack:

- Backend → Render / Railway  
- Database → Managed PostgreSQL  
- Frontend → Vercel  

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## 💡 Future Improvements

- Multiple profile photos & selection  
- Read receipts (✓✓)  
- Online / last seen status  
- Push notifications  
- Mobile app version  

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## 👨‍💻 Author

**Paul Wamaria**

- Full-stack developer  
- Focus: scalable systems, product thinking, and real-world apps  

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## 🌟 Why This Project Matters

TULIA is not just a dating app clone — it demonstrates:

- Real-world product design decisions  
- Safety-first architecture  
- Scalable backend patterns  
- Clean frontend UX  
- End-to-end system thinking