Dev Tinder Backend

Backend API and realtime chat server for Dev Tinder, a developer networking app inspired by swipe-based connection flows. This service handles authentication, profiles, connection requests, user feeds, chat rooms, and Socket.IO messaging.

Related repository: dev-tinder-app

Features

• Email/password authentication with JWT cookies
• Profile creation, profile updates, and password updates
• Developer feed with ignored/interested request actions
• Connection request review flow
• Connections list API
• Chat room creation/fetching for connected users
• Realtime messaging with Socket.IO
• MongoDB persistence with Mongoose models
• Environment-based CORS and socket origin configuration

Tech Stack

• Node.js
• Express
• MongoDB and Mongoose
• Socket.IO
• JWT
• bcryptjs
• node-cron

Prerequisites

• Node.js 22.11.0 or later recommended
• npm
• MongoDB running locally or a MongoDB Atlas connection string
• The mobile app repository if you want to run the full product: dev-tinder-app

Getting Started

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_GITHUB_USERNAME/dev-tinder.git
cd dev-tinder

Install dependencies:

npm install

Create your local environment file:

cp .env.example .env

Update .env with your own values:

ENVIRONMENT="dev"
PORT="3000"
CONNECTION_STRING_DEV="mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/dev-tinder"
CONNECTION_STRING_PROD=""
JWT_SECRET="replace-with-a-long-random-secret"
CORS_ORIGIN="http://localhost:3000,http://localhost:3001"
SOCKET_CORS_ORIGIN="*"

Start the development server:

npm run dev

The API will run on:

http://localhost:3000

Scripts

npm run dev

Runs the server with nodemon.

npm start

Runs the server with Node.

Project Structure

src/
  config/        Database connection setup
  middlewares/   Auth middleware
  models/        Mongoose schemas
  routes/        API route handlers
  utils/         Validation, cron jobs, socket helpers
  index.js       Express and Socket.IO entry point

API Areas

• POST /signup - create an account
• POST /login - login
• POST /logout - logout
• PATCH /forget-password - reset password
• POST /email-exist - check whether an email exists
• /profile/* - profile read/update/password routes
• /request/* - send and review connection requests
• /user/* - feed, requests, and connections routes
• GET /chat/room - fetch or create a chat room for connected users

Running With The Mobile App

1. Start this backend first with npm run dev.
2. Open the mobile app repository: dev-tinder-app.
3. Configure the mobile app SERVER_URL to point to this backend.

Common mobile app backend URLs:

Android emulator: http://10.0.2.2:3000/
iOS simulator:   http://localhost:3000/
Physical device: http://YOUR_MACHINE_LAN_IP:3000/

Security Notes

• Never commit .env files.
• Use a long random value for JWT_SECRET.
• Use production-safe MongoDB credentials in deployment.
• Restrict CORS_ORIGIN and SOCKET_CORS_ORIGIN for production deployments.
• Rotate any credentials that were ever committed before making the repository public.

License

ISC