ApexStore - Modern Multi-Vendor E-commerce Platform

ApexStore is a full-stack, premium e-commerce platform built with the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js). It features a robust multi-vendor system, AI-powered product recommendations, integrated payment gateways, and a modern, glassmorphism-inspired UI.

🚀 Key Features

👤 For Customers

• Premium Shopping Experience: Modern, responsive UI with smooth animations and transitions.
• AI Recommendations: Personalized product suggestions powered by Groq/Gemini.
• Persistent Cart & Wishlist: Save items for later with seamless backend synchronization.
• Advanced Reviews: Interactive star ratings and detailed customer feedback section.
• Secure Checkout: Integrated with Paystack and Flutterwave for local and international payments.
• Order Tracking: Detailed order history and real-time status updates.

🏪 For Vendors

• Comprehensive Dashboard: Real-time sales statistics, revenue tracking, and order analytics.
• Product Management: Intuitive interface for managing inventory, images, and specifications.
• Multi-Vendor Isolation: Secure system ensuring vendors only manage their own products and orders.
• Order Fulfillment: Streamlined process for tracking and updating customer orders.

🛡️ For Administrators

• Global Overview: High-level statistics across all vendors and users.
• User Management: Tools to manage customer and vendor accounts.
• System Monitoring: View all platform activities and ensure smooth operations.

🛠️ Tech Stack

Frontend

• Framework: React 19 (Vite)
• State Management: Redux Toolkit
• Styling: Tailwind CSS 4.0
• Icons: Lucide React
• Routing: React Router 7

Backend

• Runtime: Node.js
• Framework: Express.js
• Database: MongoDB (Mongoose)
• Authentication: JWT & BcryptJS
• AI Integration: Groq SDK & Google Generative AI
• Communications: Nodemailer

⚙️ Development Setup

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v18+)
• MongoDB (Atlas or Local)

1. Clone & Install

# Clone the repository
git clone <repository-url>
cd apexStore

# Install backend dependencies
npm install

# Install frontend dependencies
cd client
npm install

2. Environment Configuration

Create a .env file in the server directory:

PORT=5000
MONGODB_URI=your_mongodb_uri
JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret
VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:5000/api

# AI Keys
GROQ_API_KEY=your_groq_key
GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_key

# Payment Keys
PAYSTACK_SECRET_KEY=your_paystack_key
FLUTTERWAVE_SECRET_KEY=your_flutterwave_key

# Email Config
EMAIL_USER=your_email
EMAIL_PASS=your_app_password

3. Run the Application

# Start backend (from root)
npm run dev

# Start frontend (from client)
cd client
npm run dev

🔐 Security Features

• Row-Level Security: Vendors can only access their specific data.
• Atomic Operations: Financial stats are updated using MongoDB atomic operators to prevent data loss.
• Protected Routes: Role-based access control (RBAC) enforced on both frontend and backend.

📄 License

This project is licensed under the ISC License.