social networking app to trade user belongings

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Case Study

Social Networking app to trade user belongings


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Client required a community platform to showcase one’s properties or belongings. This is a social

networking site dedicated to users who would like to exhibit and share their antique belongings

and unique collection with other users. The application includes all social networking features

such as comment, like, rate etc.

Client required the following:

Ability to upload and download photographs of properties

Ability to rate properties

Ability to like, post on wall, blog, comment etc.

Third-party chat integration

Interactive user-interface

Comprehensive dashboard with links to details

Managing and adding friends

Advanced search and filter abilities

Apart from this, the application allows a property with maximum likes to be displayed as the

property of the week. It also allows adding a wish list for each user. Wish list includes items that

users wish to possess in the near future.

Client Requirement

Project Challenges

Team faced the following challenges:

Developing an active social networking portal capable of handling millions of users at

the same time without slowing the site down.

Incorporating web usability principles in the website design to ensure easy navigation

for all types of users.

Synchronizing and incorporating an extensive list of features designed for enhancing

the users' community networking experience.

Implementing a reliable framework that instantly connects users with groups,

individuals, events and other happenings across the web.


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Technologies Used

Manpower

Planning

Keeping in mind the structure of the website and the challenges involved a four-

tier development approach was adopted consisting of:

The Database layer containing MySQL Server Database, Tables, Stored Procedures and so

on.

The Interface layer and Database Abstraction layer for converting data between the

incompatible type systems in databases and accessing data from the database

respectively.

The Business Logic layer consisting of all the business logic procedures for modules like

User Profiles, Invitations, Forums, Blogs etc.

Operating System &

Server Management

Red Hat Linux OS, Multi-Server Architecture with Staging & Production

Environment through Version Controlling releases, Server

Optimization, Security & SSL Implementation, Scheduler for Back-ups,

Alert Monitoring System Integration, Server Performance Tuning at

regular intervals, Software Firewall Configuration & Maintenance

Development Tools &

Environments

PHP5+, Microsoft Visio, Symfony Framework, Zend Studio, HTML,

Java Script, CSS, AJAX, SVN etc.

Database MYSQL Database Server, DB Clustering, DB Optimization, Master

Slave Replication, Query Optimization, Scheduler for Backups

Project Leader

1

Developers

2

Designers

1

Quality Assurance Testers

1


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The User Interface layer which forms the Graphical User Interface of the website.

Architecture

The online networking characteristic of the website called for the design approach to be built

around PHP and MySQL Server. Modules like User Profiles, Invitations, Forums and Blogs were

developed in PHP such that they can be executed directly from the UI layer. These PHP files

consisted of all the business logics used for respective modules like Save (Add/Update), Delete,

Get Single Object, Get Multiple Objects for Listing and were designed to be capable of handling

many more logics which were not related to the database. In order to most effectively access

the database in an object-oriented context, an interface translating the object logic to the

relational logic was used to communicate with the relational databases in an object-oriented

manner.

An intermediary abstraction layer was created for accessing data from the database. Stored

procedures were used only for complex retrieval of data from the multiple tables and were

entirely avoided with conditional syntax to ensure smooth performance of the website. The UI

layer was kept free of any business logic with images, applications and data being called from

their respective servers. Sub-domains were used for the different areas of the website to

guarantee scalability. Third party tool was integrated to increase the efficiency and functionality

of the application.

Development Highlights

The site was equipped with a robust architecture to offer centralized access to multiple users

using blogs, groups, chat and other tools under one roof. Customized viewing options were

designed to enhance user experience and allow personalization. Extensive pre-development

research was carried out in order to integrate the third-party chat tool and build a fully-

functional system according to the latest standards. SEO activities performed ensured high

visibility for the site over the internet.

For timely delivery of this solution, we specifically used Symphony Framework with RAD (Rapid

Application Development) methodology. System includes many parts developed using Plug-ins

and Pluggable objects. Web usability guidelines were strictly followed during development and

the interface was made easily navigable through judicious use of AJAX, CSS and HTML controls.

The site was developed and fully functional within a span of 2 months.

social networking app to trade user belongings

Technology