Blogged

Blogged is a dedicated blogging platform designed for literary enthusiasts to share their written work. While currently focusing on core blogging functionality, the platform is evolving to include specialized features tailored specifically for poets, essayists, and storytellers.

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🚀 Live Demo

The application is currently deployed on AWS Elastic Beanstalk: View Blogged Live

Note: The site currently uses HTTP due to domain constraints. For the best experience, please ensure your browser allows non-HTTPS connections for this specific URL.

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✨ Features

• Secure Authentication: Implemented JWT (JSON Web Tokens) stored in cookies.
• Role-Based Access: * Guests: Can browse and read blogs and comments.
  • Logged-in Users: Can create original blogs and participate in the comment section.
• Full Blog Lifecycle: Users can create, read, and view detailed blog posts.
• Interactive Comments: Community engagement through a structured comment system.
• Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Powered by EJS for efficient page delivery.
• Responsive Design: Styled with Bootstrap for a clean, mobile-friendly interface.
• RESTful Architecture: Clean and organized API endpoints.

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🛠 Tech Stack

• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Frontend: EJS (Embedded JavaScript templates), Bootstrap
• Database: MongoDB Atlas (Cloud)
• Deployment: AWS Elastic Beanstalk
• API Testing: Postman

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📂 API Endpoints

Method	Endpoint	Description	Access
GET	/	Home page / List all blogs	Public
GET	/user/signup	Signup page	Public
POST	/user/signup	Register a new user	Public
POST	/user/signin	Authenticate user	Public
GET	/blog/add-new	Form to create a blog	Private (Auth)
POST	/blog	Submit a new blog	Private (Auth)
GET	/blog/:id	View a specific blog & comments	Public
POST	/blog/comment/:blogId	Post a comment	Private (Auth)

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💻 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• npm or yarn
• MongoDB Atlas Account

Local Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone [https://github.com/AaryanAgrawal96/blogged.git](https://github.com/AaryanAgrawal96/blogged.git)
   cd blogged

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Environment Setup: Create a .env file in the root directory and add your credentials:

   PORT=8000
   MONGO_URL=your_mongodb_atlas_connection_string
   JWT_SECRET=your_random_secret_key

4. Run the application:

   npm start

   The server will start at http://localhost:8000.

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📈 Future Improvements

• Custom UI: Tailor the aesthetic specifically for literary readers and writers.
• Search Functionality: Implement a search bar for blogs and authors.
• Engagement Features: Add "Like" and "Share" capabilities.
• Literary Bifurcation: Add tags (Poem, Story, Essay, Haiku) and store them in the DB for filtered querying.
• Security: Transition from HTTP to HTTPS.

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👤 Author

Aaryan Agrawal

• CSE Undergraduate at IIT Jodhpur

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📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.