lfg9-forums/QUICK_START.md

🚀 Quick Start Guide

Get your LFG9 Forums testing environment running in minutes!

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ installed
• AWS credentials configured (already done ✅)
• Internet connection

Quick Setup (5 minutes)

1. Install Dependencies

# Navigate to project root
cd lfg9-forums

# Install all dependencies for both frontend and backend
npm run setup

2. Set Up Database Tables

# Create DynamoDB tables in AWS
npm run setup-db

3. Start Development Servers

# Start both frontend and backend servers
npm run dev

This will start:

• Backend API: http://localhost:3000
• Frontend App: http://localhost:5173

🎯 What You'll See

1. Homepage: Beautiful dark-themed landing page
2. Authentication: Login/Register with the dark UI
3. Categories: Forum categories listing
4. Rich Text Editor: TipTap editor with all formatting options

🔧 Manual Setup (Alternative)

If the quick setup doesn't work, you can start services individually:

Backend

cd backend
npm install
npm run dev

Frontend

cd frontend  
npm install
npm run dev

📊 Test the Application

1. Visit: http://localhost:5173
2. Register: Create a new account
3. Browse: Check out the categories page
4. Experience: The dark theme and rich text editor

🛠️ Troubleshooting

DynamoDB Connection Issues

If tables don't create automatically:

# Verify AWS credentials
aws sts get-caller-identity

# Manually create tables
node setup-dev-tables.js

Port Conflicts

If ports 3000 or 5173 are in use:

Backend (.env):

PORT=3001

Frontend: Vite will auto-detect and suggest alternative ports

CORS Issues

Make sure the CORS origin in backend/.env matches your frontend URL:

CORS_ORIGIN=http://localhost:5173

🎨 Features to Test

• ✅ Dark Theme: Custom color palette throughout
• ✅ Authentication: Register/Login system
• ✅ Responsive Design: Test on mobile/tablet
• ✅ Rich Text Editor: Try all formatting options
• ✅ Navigation: Header menu and routing
• ✅ Error Handling: See validation messages

🔄 Development Workflow

1. Backend changes: Auto-restart with nodemon
2. Frontend changes: Hot module reload with Vite
3. Database: Tables persist in AWS DynamoDB
4. Files: S3 bucket for file uploads

📁 Important URLs

• Frontend: http://localhost:5173
• Backend API: http://localhost:3000
• Health Check: http://localhost:3000/health
• AWS Console: https://console.aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/

⚡ Next Steps

1. Create Categories: Add forum categories (admin required)
2. Post Content: Test the rich text editor
3. Upload Images: Try file uploads to S3
4. Mobile Testing: Check responsive design
5. Customize: Modify colors or add features

🆘 Need Help?

• Check browser console for errors
• Verify AWS credentials and permissions
• Ensure all dependencies installed correctly
• Look at the server logs for API issues

Enjoy testing your LFG9 Forums application! 🎮✨