Overview
Nexus Management is a comprehensive web application designed to streamline internal operations for small and medium-sized retail businesses, including multiple store locations and user association between them.
Built as a college Capstone project by a six-member team, Nexus integrates task management, role-based access, announcements, shift scheduling, and KPI tracking into a unified dashboard. The project was praised during Winter 2025 SAIT CapCon presentation, graded A+.
The goal was to replace fragmented spreadsheets and chat apps with an all-in-one system that increases transparency, accountability, and collaboration.
My role on this project was both project manager and database administrator, also taking care of deployment and CI/CD pipelines.
⚙️ Technical Stack
| Area | Technologies |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS |
| Backend | Node.js (Express), Perspective API |
| Database | MySQL (AWS RDS) |
| Deployment | Docker, AWS EC2, PM2 |
| Tools | GitHub, Trello, MS Teams, cronjobs |
Architecture & Design
Nexus follows a modular REST API + SPA architecture.
The backend runs on Node.js with Express, exposing secured endpoints consumed by a React-based frontend.
All services are containerized with Docker for portability and reproducibility.
PM2 ensures uptime, while a nightly cronjob rebuilds the stack and pulls updates automatically — preserving uploaded content via Docker volume exclusions.
Features
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Role-Based Access Control — Admins, managers, and employees each see tailored dashboards.
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Shift & Task Planning — Integrated calendar system for schedules and deadlines.
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Announcements Board — Internal news and updates for staff.
- ✅ Task board with progress tracking and deadlines
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KPI Dashboards — Real-time performance metrics for decision-makers.
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☁️ Automatic Updates — Scheduled rebuilds and database syncing through cronjobs.
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Mobile-friendly design — The application was planned for desktop first, but mobile design is impecable!
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Updates from Docker images would overwrite uploaded files.
Solution: Implemented persistent volumes and a copy-based deployment script that preserves the uploads directory, ensuring data continuity after nightly updates.
Challenge: Coordinate team effort for a first time collaborative application design.
Solution: Made the most of team work with tasks being assigned and monitored using Trello, engaging in healthy discussions to ensure the team work was actually dream work.
Challenge: Protect our client and all system users against bad practices, harassment or abuse.
Solution: Using Perspective API and its robust toxicity filters we implemented an AI assisted validation to prevent inadequate behavior, validating all text-based inputs before accepting them.
Security & Best Practices
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Strict session management and CSRF protection.
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Rate-limited authentication endpoints.
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Database access separated into read/write credentials for least-privilege compliance, with IP-restricted access.
PREVIEW, Links & Resources
- Live Demo was made available throughout 2025.
Timeline
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Planning & Wireframes | 4 weeks |
| Development | 5 weeks |
| Testing & Deployment | 2 week |
| Showcase & Presentation | Final week |
Results & Learnings
Nexus Management showcased my ability to coordinate a full team through agile cycles while maintaining technical rigor.
The project strengthened my expertise in full-stack development, CI/CD pipelines, and secure deployments.
