NetworkMatch

A full-stack MVP for real-time networking event matching.

Architecture

networkMatch/
├── backend/          # Node.js + Express + Socket.io + PostgreSQL
├── admin/            # Next.js admin dashboard (port 3001)
└── user/             # Next.js mobile-first user app (port 3000)

Quick Start

1. Database Setup

# Create PostgreSQL database
createdb networkmatch

# Copy backend env
cp backend/.env.example backend/.env
# Edit backend/.env with your DATABASE_URL, JWT_SECRET, etc.

# Init schema
cd backend && npm install && npm run db:init

2. Backend

cd backend
npm run dev
# Runs on http://localhost:4000

3. Admin App

cd admin
npm install
npm run dev
# Runs on http://localhost:3001

4. User App

cd user
npm install
npm run dev
# Runs on http://localhost:3000

Usage Flow

Admin

1. Go to http://localhost:3001
2. Register with invite code (admin123 by default, set in .env)
3. Create an event
4. Share the QR code / join link with participants
5. Use the Start Round button when everyone has joined
6. Use End Round to stop a round early (or timer auto-ends it)

User

1. Scan QR code → lands on http://localhost:3000/join/{eventId}
2. Fill in profile (name, role, company, looking_for, offering, interests)
3. Enter lobby and wait for admin to start the round
4. Receive real-time match with reason + conversation starter + live timer
5. Save connections and copy LinkedIn follow-up messages after round ends

Key Features

• Real-time matching: WebSockets push matches to all users instantly
• Server-controlled timer: Countdown synced across all clients
• Smart matching algorithm: Complementary skills → shared interests → role/company → random
• No repeat matches: Algorithm avoids previously matched pairs
• Odd number handling: Creates groups of 3 when needed
• LinkedIn message generation: Template-based follow-up message per match
• QR code generation: Each event gets a scannable join QR

API Endpoints

Admin Auth

• POST /api/admin/register — Register (requires invite code)
• POST /api/admin/login — Login
• GET /api/admin/me — Get profile

Events (Admin protected)

• POST /api/events — Create event
• GET /api/events — List your events
• GET /api/events/:id — Event details + participants
• GET /api/events/:id/qr — QR code data URL

Users

• POST /api/users/join — Join event (creates profile if new)
• GET /api/users/me — My profile
• PUT /api/users/me — Update profile
• POST /api/users/linkedin-message — Generate LinkedIn message

Events (User)

• GET /api/events/:id/public — Public event info
• GET /api/events/:id/my-match — My current match
• POST /api/events/:id/save-connection — Save a connection
• GET /api/events/:id/saved-connections — My saved connections

WebSocket Events

Event	Direction	Description
join_event	Client → Server	Join an event room
start_round	Admin → Server	Start a round (triggers matching)
end_round	Admin → Server	End the current round
round_started	Server → All	Round began, with duration
match_assigned	Server → User	User's specific match data
timer_tick	Server → All	Every-second countdown update
round_ended	Server → All	Round ended notification
participant_count	Server → All	Updated participant count
event_state	Server → Client	Current state on join (for late joiners)