LinkUp

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  LinkUp Homepage

Inspiration

LinkUp was designed specifically for UNSW students, offering a unique and relatable space where they can connect with like-minded peers in a social media platform. Born out of the desire for a dedicated platform, LinkUp allows students to forge meaningful friendships, express themselves freely, and access a trusted marketplace tailored to their university community. It’s a place where students can truly feel at home, both socially and within the university ecosystem.

What it does

LinkUp is an exclusive social media platform for UNSW students, designed to enhance connections and community engagement. It offers:

• Post Page – A space for students to share thoughts, updates, and experiences freely.
• MyLinks Page – A feature to help students find like-minded peers, connect with classmates, and build their network.
• Market Page – A marketplace where students can list items for sale and browse listings from other students.
• Message Page – A messaging system that enables students to communicate with their connections.
• Notification Page – Keeps users informed about recent activities and interactions relevant to them.

How we built it

We developed LinkUp using MongoDB with Mongoose for data storage, ensuring a scalable and efficient database structure. The backend is powered by Node.js and Express, handling user authentication, messaging, and marketplace functionalities. On the frontend, we leveraged React for a responsive and dynamic user experience.

Challenges we ran into

• Implementing a secure authentication system exclusively for UNSW students.
• Designing an efficient matching algorithm for the MyLinks feature to recommend relevant connections.
• Managing real-time messaging and notifications to ensure smooth communication.
• Ensuring data security and privacy for all users.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Successfully creating a student-exclusive social platform.
• Developing a seamless and intuitive UI for user engagement.
• Implementing a functional marketplace that allows students to buy and sell easily.
• Building an active messaging system to facilitate student interactions.

What we learned

• The importance of user privacy and security in social platforms.
• How to optimize database queries for better performance using MongoDB and Mongoose.
• Best practices for real-time features like chat and notifications.
• The challenges and solutions of building a university-focused community app.

What's next for LinkUp

• Mobile App Development – Expanding LinkUp to a dedicated mobile app for a better user experience.
• AI-Based Recommendations – Enhancing MyLinks with AI to suggest connections more accurately.
• Expanded Marketplace Features – Adding bidding, reviews, and delivery options.
• Event & Group Features – Introducing event listings and group discussions for more engagement.

Built With

• mongodb
• mongoose
• react.js
• tailwind
• typescript