📚 Google Books Search App (MERN + GraphQL)

This full-stack application lets users search for books using the Google Books API, create an account, log in, save books to their profile, and remove them — all powered by a modern MERN stack with Apollo GraphQL.

🛠 Built with TypeScript, Apollo Server & Client, MongoDB Atlas, and Vite

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✨ Features

• 🔍 Search for books via the Google Books API
• 🔐 User authentication (signup/login/logout) with JWT
• 💾 Save books to your profile
• ❌ Remove saved books
• ⚡ Fully built with GraphQL and Apollo Client
• 📦 MongoDB Atlas + Mongoose for flexible storage
• 🌍 Fully deployable to Render & Netlify

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🧪 Tech Stack

• Frontend: React, Vite, TypeScript, Apollo Client
• Backend: Node.js, Express, Apollo Server, Mongoose
• Database: MongoDB Atlas
• Styling: Bootstrap 5

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🚀 Getting Started (Local Dev)

1. Clone the Repo

git clone https://github.com/your-username/google-books-graphql.git
cd google-books-graphql

2. Set Up the Backend

cd server
npm install

Create a .env file in the server/ directory:

MONGODB_URI=mongodb+srv://<username>:<password>@cluster.mongodb.net/books
JWT_SECRET_KEY=yourSecretKey
NODE_ENV=development

Run the backend server locally:

npm run start:dev

3. Set Up the Frontend

cd ../client
npm install

Create a .env file in the client/ directory:

VITE_GRAPHQL_URI=http://localhost:3001/graphql

Start the dev server:

npm run dev

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🏗 Build for Production

Backend (server):

npm run build       # compiles TypeScript to dist/
npm run start       # runs dist/server.js

Frontend (client):

npm run build       # outputs to /dist for deployment

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🧾 Example GraphQL Mutation

mutation {
  saveBook(input: {
    bookId: "abc123",
    authors: ["Author Name"],
    title: "GraphQL Book",
    description: "Awesome book",
    image: "https://example.com/image.jpg",
    link: "https://example.com"
  }) {
    username
    savedBooks {
      title
    }
  }
}

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🌍 Deployment

• Backend: Render
• Frontend: Netlify
• Database: MongoDB Atlas

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📁 Folder Structure

.
├── client/       # React frontend (Vite + Apollo Client)
├── server/       # Node/Express backend (Apollo Server)
│   ├── src/
│   └── dist/
├── README.md

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👨‍💻 Author

Tate Sutter
📍 Lawrence, Kansas
🧠 Built for mastering MERN & GraphQL stack

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📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.