SecondChance: The Eco-Friendly Rental Platform

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Key Features
• 3. Technologies Used
• 4. Updated Page Names
• 5. Team 05 Members
• 6. Setup
• 7. Setup Backend
• 8. Setup Frontend
• 9. Git Commands
• 10. Resources
• 11. Testing and Building Docs
  • 11.1. Run Tests
  • 11.2. Build Documentation

1. Introduction

In today's fast-paced, consumer-driven world, waste and overproduction are growing concerns. Our project for CSC 648 focuses on combating these ecological challenges by creating SecondChance, a platform for renting second-hand items. This website offers users a chance to rent and lease a variety of pre-owned products, promoting sustainability and reducing waste.

Key technologies include Django, Django Rest Framework, and Next.js, along with Tailwind CSS for responsive design. Real-time chat functionality powered by sockets enhances user interactions.

Quick Demo

2. Key Features

Feature	Description
Eco-Conscious Rentals	Focus on renting second-hand items, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
User-Friendly Listings	Users can easily add, browse, and manage listings of second-hand items.
Real-Time Communication	Integrated real-time chat feature allows renters and sellers to discuss terms and conditions.
Search and Filters	Advanced search and filter options to find items based on location, category, price, and condition.
Favorites List	Users can save favorite items to rent in the future.
Secure Transactions	Payment gateways to ensure safe and secure rental transactions.
Sustainability Tips	A dedicated page offering eco-friendly tips on how to reuse, recycle, and maintain items.
Personalized User Dashboard	Renters and sellers have personalized dashboards to manage their rentals, listings, and communications.
Responsive Design	The platform is fully responsive and works seamlessly on all devices.

3. Technologies Used

Technology	Usage
Frontend	Next.js, Tailwind CSS
Web App Framework	Django, Django Rest Framework
Backend	Python
Database	PostgreSQL
Authentication	Django Allauth
Search and Filters	Elasticsearch
Web server	nginx
Deployment	Docker, AWS EC2
Version Control	GitHub
Compiler/IDE	VS Code
Real-Time Communication	WebSockets

4. Updated Page Names

• Homepage: Welcome and feature overview of available second-hand items for rent.
• User Dashboard: Personalized page where users can manage their rentals, preferences, and communication.
• Item Listing: A page to add new second-hand items for rent, showcasing details, conditions, and rental rates.
• Detail Page: In-depth view of each item’s features, rental price, availability, and reviews from other users.
• My Rentals: Manage the user’s current and previous rental engagements.
• My Listings: A page for sellers/users to manage the items they have listed for rent.
• Favorites: A section for users to save and manage their favorite items to rent.
• Chat Page: Real-time chat for communication between renters and sellers to discuss rental terms, conditions, and other inquiries.
• Search & Filters: A sophisticated search mechanism allowing users to filter second-hand items based on price, category, location, and condition.
• Sustainability Tips Page: A dedicated page offering users ecological tips on reusing and maintaining items to further reduce environmental waste.

5. Team 05 Members

Student Name	Student Email	GitHub Username	Student's Role
Parth Desai	[email protected]	pycoder2000	Team Lead / PM
Pedro Grande	[email protected]	PFGrande	Front-end Developer
Charvi Sharma	[email protected]	charvisharma6732	Scrum Master
Josue Hernandez	[email protected]	johernandez26	Git Master
Andre Velarde	[email protected]	NathVelarde	Back-end Lead
Preet Vithani	[email protected]	preet56	Front-end Lead
Hsin-Ying Tsai	[email protected]	Golden1018	Back-end Developer

6. Setup

1. Clone the project repository

git clone [email protected]:CSC-648-SFSU/CSC648-01-FA24-Team05.git

2. Move to the project root folder.

cd application/backend/secondchance_backend

3. Create and activate a virtual environment.

• (For Mac)

virtualenv venv
source venv/bin/activate

• (For Windows)

virtualenv venv
.\venv\activate

4. To deactivate the environment

deactivate

7. Setup Backend

Follow the steps mentioned under the Setup Backend section in the instructions provided earlier.

8. Setup Frontend

Follow the steps mentioned under the Setup Frontend section in the instructions provided earlier.

9. Git Commands

Follow the Git commands provided earlier in the instructions to manage your branches and updates.

10. Resources

• How to setup Github SSH
• How to setup a Django Project (:warning: Only uptil Step 2)

11. Testing and Building Docs

11.1. Run Tests

To run the tests with coverage:

docker exec -it backend-web-1 pytest

11.2. Build Documentation

1. Navigate to the docs folder:

cd application/backend/secondchance_backend/docs

2. Clean previous builds and build the documentation:

make clean
make html