🧩 BaeQuest Backend

The BaeQuest Backend powers the geolocation-driven dating experience of the BaeQuest platform.
It handles event management, user authentication, check-ins, and location validation to ensure that members physically attend real-world events before connecting with others.

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⚙️ Overview

The backend provides secure RESTful APIs that support the following:

• User authentication and authorization (JWT-based)
• Event creation, listing, and attendance tracking
• Geolocation-based user check-ins
• Distance validation between users and events
• Real-time updates of attendees at active events

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🧠 Core Features

1. User Authentication

   • Register, login, and manage sessions securely using JWT tokens.
   • Protects event and check-in routes with authorization middleware.

2. Event Management

   • Create, update, and delete local events.
   • Store event details such as location coordinates, date, and participant list.

3. Geolocation Check-In

   • Validates that users are within a specific radius of the event before allowing check-in.
   • Returns feedback messages (e.g., “You are too far from the event to check in”).

4. Navigation Prompt

   • If the user is too far, the frontend triggers Google Maps navigation to the event location.

5. User Discovery

   • Retrieve all users currently checked into the same event.
   • Enables the frontend to display nearby attendees.

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🧰 Tech Stack

• Node.js – JavaScript runtime for building scalable backend services.
• Express.js – Fast, unopinionated web framework for building REST APIs.
• MongoDB + Mongoose – NoSQL database for storing users, events, and attendance data.
• JWT (JSON Web Tokens) – Secure user authentication and route protection.
• bcrypt.js – For password hashing and user credential security.
• dotenv – Environment variable management.
• CORS – Middleware for handling cross-origin requests from the frontend.

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📡 API Endpoints

Authentication

Method	Endpoint	Description
POST	/api/auth/register	Register a new user
POST	/api/auth/login	Log in and receive a JWT token
GET	/api/auth/me	Get authenticated user details

Events

Method	Endpoint	Description
GET	/api/events	Get all active events
GET	/api/events/:id	Get a single event by ID
POST	/api/events	Create a new event (admin only)
PUT	/api/events/:id	Update event details
DELETE	/api/events/:id	Delete an event

Check-Ins

Method	Endpoint	Description
POST	/api/checkin	Validate user’s distance and mark attendance
GET	/api/checkin/:eventId/users	Get all users currently at an event

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🧮 Geolocation Logic

Each check-in compares the user’s current coordinates to the event’s coordinates using the Haversine formula to calculate distance on Earth’s surface.

If the distance is greater than the allowed threshold (e.g., 100 meters), the system returns:

{
  "message": "User is too far away from the event, and must get directions.",
  "newEvent": { ...eventData }
}

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🚀 Installation & Setup

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

• Node.js (v14 or higher) - Download here
• MongoDB (local or cloud instance) - Download here or use MongoDB Atlas
• npm or yarn package manager
• Git for version control

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/baequest-backend.git
cd baequest-backend

Step 2: Install Dependencies

npm install

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the root directory and add the following variables:

# Server Configuration
PORT=5000
NODE_ENV=development

# MongoDB Configuration
MONGO_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017/baequest
# Or use MongoDB Atlas:
# MONGO_URI=mongodb+srv://<username>:<password>@cluster.mongodb.net/baequest

# JWT Secret (use a strong random string)
JWT_SECRET=your_super_secure_jwt_secret_key_here
JWT_EXPIRE=7d

# CORS Configuration (frontend URL)
CORS_ORIGIN=http://localhost:3000

# Geolocation Settings
MAX_CHECKIN_DISTANCE=100  # Distance in meters

Step 4: Set Up MongoDB

Option A: Local MongoDB

1. Start your local MongoDB server:

   mongod

Option B: MongoDB Atlas (Cloud)

1. Create a free account at MongoDB Atlas
2. Create a new cluster
3. Get your connection string and update MONGO_URI in .env

Step 5: Start the Development Server

npm run dev

The server should now be running at http://localhost:5000

Step 6: Verify Installation

Test the API is running by visiting:

http://localhost:5000/api/health

Or use curl:

curl http://localhost:5000/api/health

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📝 Available Scripts

• npm start - Start the production server
• npm run dev - Start the development server with hot reload (nodemon)
• npm test - Run test suite
• npm run lint - Run ESLint for code quality checks

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