MergeMates - Developer Dating Platform

A full-stack dating application specifically designed for developers, featuring AI-powered matching, real-time chat, and modern UI with advanced animations. Completely free - no premium subscriptions, no payment walls, just pure developer love! 💕

🚀 Features

Core Features (All Free!)

• 🔥 Tinder-style Swiping: Intuitive swipe interface (right for like, left for pass)
• 🤖 AI-Powered Matching: Advanced compatibility scoring based on 50+ factors
• 💬 Real-time Chat: Instant messaging with WebSocket integration
• 🔒 Dual Authentication: Email/password and Google Sign-in via Firebase
• ✉️ Email Verification: Secure OTP verification system
• 🔑 Password Recovery: Forgot password functionality
• 🎯 Smart Preferences: Advanced filtering and matching criteria
• 📱 Fully Responsive: Seamless experience on mobile, tablet, and desktop

Developer-Specific Features

• 💻 Tech Stack Matching: Match based on programming languages and frameworks
• 🔗 GitHub/LinkedIn Integration: Showcase your professional profiles
• 🎓 Education & Experience: Match by career level and educational background
• 📍 Location-based Matching: Find developers in your area
• ⭐ Super Likes: Stand out with special notifications
• ↶ Undo Swipes: Take back accidental swipes
• 🚀 Profile Boost: Increase your visibility

AI & Chatbot

• 🤖 MergeBot Assistant: AI chatbot for dating tips and app guidance
• 🎯 Matchmaking Insights: AI-generated compatibility analysis
• 📈 Profile Optimization: AI-powered profile improvement suggestions
• 💡 Smart Conversation Starters: AI-generated icebreakers

🛠 Tech Stack

Frontend

• React 18 with Vite for fast development
• Redux Toolkit for state management
• React Router for navigation
• Tailwind CSS & DaisyUI for modern styling
• GSAP for smooth animations
• Three.js for 3D background effects
• Firebase Auth for authentication
• Socket.io Client for real-time communication

Backend

• Node.js with Express.js
• MongoDB with Mongoose ODM
• Socket.io for real-time features
• Firebase Admin SDK for authentication
• JWT for session management
• bcrypt for password hashing
• Nodemailer for email services
• Node-cron for scheduled tasks

AI & Services

• Novita AI with Llama-3.1-70B model (optional)
• Fallback responses when API is not configured
• Smart caching and error handling

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16+ recommended)
• MongoDB (local or Atlas)
• Firebase project
• Gmail account (for email services)

Backend Setup

1. Navigate to backend directory:

   cd server

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Environment Configuration:

   cp env.sample .env

   Fill in your actual values in .env file (see Environment Variables section below)

4. Start the backend:

   npm run dev

   Server will run on http://localhost:7777

Frontend Setup

1. Navigate to frontend directory:

   cd client

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Environment Configuration:

   cp env.sample .env

   Fill in your Firebase configuration in .env file

4. Start the frontend:

   npm run dev

   Application will run on http://localhost:5173

🌍 Production Deployment

Frontend (Vercel/Netlify)

1. Build the application: npm run build
2. Deploy the dist folder
3. Set environment variables in your hosting platform
4. Update CORS origins in backend

Backend (Railway/Heroku/AWS)

1. Ensure all environment variables are set
2. Set NODE_ENV=production
3. Update FRONTEND_URL to your deployed frontend URL
4. Configure MongoDB Atlas for database

📧 Email Service Setup

Gmail SMTP Setup

1. Enable 2-Factor Authentication on your Gmail account
2. Generate an App Password:
   • Go to Google Account Settings → Security
   • Select "App passwords" under 2-Step Verification
   • Generate password for "Mail"
3. Use this 16-character password as EMAIL_PASSWORD

🔑 Environment Variables

Frontend (client/.env)

# API Configuration
VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:7777

# Firebase Configuration
VITE_FIREBASE_API_KEY=your_firebase_api_key
VITE_FIREBASE_AUTH_DOMAIN=your_project.firebaseapp.com
VITE_FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID=your_project_id
VITE_FIREBASE_STORAGE_BUCKET=your_project.appspot.com
VITE_FIREBASE_MESSAGING_SENDER_ID=your_sender_id
VITE_FIREBASE_APP_ID=your_app_id
VITE_FIREBASE_MEASUREMENT_ID=your_measurement_id

# AI Services (Optional - chatbot works with fallbacks)
VITE_NOVITA_AI_API_KEY=your_novita_api_key
VITE_NOVITA_AI_BASE_URL=https://api.novita.ai/v3/openai
VITE_NOVITA_AI_MODEL=meta-llama/llama-3.1-70b-instruct

Backend (server/.env)

# Application
NODE_ENV=development
PORT=7777
APP_NAME=MergeMates

# Database
DB_CONNECTION_SECRET=mongodb://localhost:27017/mergemates

# Security
JWT_SECRET=your_super_secret_jwt_key
COOKIE_SECRET=your_cookie_secret

# Firebase Admin SDK
FIREBASE_PROJECT_ID=your_project_id
FIREBASE_PRIVATE_KEY="-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----\n...\n-----END PRIVATE KEY-----\n"
FIREBASE_CLIENT_EMAIL=firebase-adminsdk-xxx@your_project.iam.gserviceaccount.com
FIREBASE_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id
FIREBASE_PRIVATE_KEY_ID=your_key_id
FIREBASE_CLIENT_X509_CERT_URL=your_cert_url

# Email Configuration
EMAIL_USER=your.email@gmail.com
EMAIL_PASSWORD=your_16_char_app_password
EMAIL_FROM=team@mergemates.com

# AI Services (Optional)
NOVITA_AI_API_KEY=your_novita_api_key

# CORS
FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:5173
ALLOWED_ORIGINS=http://localhost:5173,https://mergemates.com

🎯 Usage Guide

1. Sign Up: Create account with email/password or Google Sign-in
2. Verify Email: Enter OTP sent to your email
3. Complete Profile: Add bio, skills, photos, and preferences
4. Start Swiping: Swipe right to like, left to pass
5. Chat with Matches: Real-time messaging with your connections
6. Use AI Assistant: Get help from MergeBot for dating tips
7. Optimize Profile: Use AI insights to improve your profile

🤖 AI Features

Chatbot (MergeBot)

• Smart Responses: Context-aware conversation assistance
• Fallback System: Works without API key using predefined responses
• Developer Focus: Understands coding culture and tech terminology

Backend AI (Optional)

• Enhanced Matching: AI-powered compatibility analysis
• Profile Insights: Detailed optimization recommendations
• Smart Suggestions: Personalized match recommendations

Note: All AI features have fallback systems and work without API keys, though responses will be more basic.

📁 Project Structure

MergeMates/
├── client/                 # Frontend React application
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── components/     # React components
│   │   ├── pages/         # Page components
│   │   ├── services/      # API services
│   │   ├── utils/         # Utilities and Redux store
│   │   └── firebase/      # Firebase configuration
│   └── env.sample         # Environment template
├── server/                # Backend Node.js application
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── routes/        # API routes
│   │   ├── models/        # MongoDB models
│   │   ├── services/      # Business logic
│   │   ├── utils/         # Utilities
│   │   └── config/        # Configuration files
│   └── env.sample         # Environment template
└── README.md             # This file

🔒 Security Features

• JWT token authentication
• Password hashing with bcrypt
• Firebase authentication integration
• CORS protection
• Rate limiting
• Input validation and sanitization
• Secure cookie handling

🌟 Why MergeMates?

• Developer-First: Built by developers, for developers
• Completely Free: No hidden costs, premium tiers, or payment walls
• AI-Powered: Smart matching and conversation assistance
• Modern UI: Beautiful, responsive design with smooth animations
• Real-time: Instant messaging and live updates
• Privacy-Focused: Secure authentication and data protection

📞 Support

If you encounter any issues or need help with deployment, please check the environment setup guide or create an issue in the repository.

📄 License

MIT License - feel free to use this project as a foundation for your own applications!

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Made with ❤️ for the developer community