lvl_0

A full-stack gaming hub and developer platform built using the MERN stack, featuring real-time chat, game discovery, news aggregation, and community-driven interactions.

Live Demo: https://lvl-0.vercel.app/

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Overview

lvl_0 is a modern gaming platform designed to bring together gamers, communities, and developers through structured content and real-time interaction.

The platform integrates WebSockets with a scalable backend architecture to support dynamic features such as chat systems, game data integration, and user authentication.

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Features

Game System

• Browse and explore games
• Detailed game information
• Integration with RAWG API

Real-Time Chat System

• Community-based chat rooms
• Live messaging using Socket.IO
• Message interactions (upvote, downvote, reactions)
• Typing indicators
• Message timestamps
• Moderation features (mute, delete, pin)

News System

• Gaming news feed
• Categorized and dynamic content

Authentication System

• JWT-based authentication
• User registration and login
• OTP-based password reset
• Secure token management

User System

• User profiles
• Avatar support
• Role-based access control

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Tech Stack

Frontend

• React.js (Vite)
• Tailwind CSS and custom CSS
• Axios
• Socket.IO Client

Backend

• Node.js
• Express.js
• Socket.IO
• JWT Authentication

Database

• MongoDB (Mongoose)

External APIs

• RAWG Game API

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Architecture

Frontend (React)
      ↓
REST APIs + WebSockets
      ↓
Backend (Node + Express)
      ↓
MongoDB Database

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Folder Structure

lvl0/
├── backend/
│   ├── config/
│   ├── controllers/
│   ├── middleware/
│   ├── models/
│   ├── routes/
│   ├── service/
│   ├── socket/
│   ├── utils/
│   └── server.js
│
└── frontend/
    ├── src/
    │   ├── pages/
    │   ├── context/
    │   ├── ui_components/
    │   └── utils/
    └── vite.config.js

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Key Modules

Backend

• Authentication system using JWT and OTP
• Real-time chat system using Socket.IO
• Game APIs integrated with RAWG
• News APIs
• Email service for OTP handling

Frontend

• Context API for authentication and sockets
• Modular UI component architecture
• Real-time chat interface
• Game and news pages

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API Endpoints

Authentication

• POST /api/auth/register
• POST /api/auth/login
• POST /api/auth/logout

Games

• GET /api/games

Chat

• GET /api/chat
• WebSocket-based communication

News

• GET /api/news

OTP

• POST /api/otp/forgot-password

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Socket Events

• user:join
• message:send
• message:receive
• user:leave

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Installation and Setup

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/rohan-005/lvl_0.git
cd lvl0

Backend Setup

cd backend
npm install
npm run dev

Frontend Setup

cd frontend
npm install
npm run dev

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Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the backend directory:

PORT=5000
MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_uri
JWT_SECRET=your_secret_key
RAWG_API_KEY=your_rawg_key
EMAIL_USER=your_email
EMAIL_PASS=your_email_password
CLIENT_URL=https://lvl-0.vercel.app

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Future Enhancements

• AI-based recommendation system
• Integration with in-house Unity games
• Advanced analytics dashboard
• Achievement system
• Multiplayer support

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Why This Project Matters

• Demonstrates full-stack development with MERN
• Combines REST APIs with real-time communication
• Built with scalable and modular architecture
• Suitable for production-level deployment and portfolio use

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Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a new branch
3. Commit changes
4. Submit a pull request

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Author

Rohan Full Stack Developer and Game Developer