LinkeTinder

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Overview

LinkeTinder is a unique platform designed to blend a professional networking environment with the anonymity and match-based logic of popular dating applications. The project aims to facilitate professional connections between candidates and companies in a discreet and effective way, allowing users to explore career opportunities and find talent without disclosing personal details upfront.

This project is developed with a REST API approach using a custom backend architecture without frameworks, facilitating future transitions to framework-based development. The backend is implemented in Groovy with Gradle as the build tool, and Apache Tomcat is utilized as the server. PostgreSQL is used for database management, ensuring robust and scalable data storage.

Features

• Anonymous professional matching for both candidates and companies.
• Structured with MVCS architecture, including DTOs (Data Transfer Objects) and DAOs (Data Access Objects) to manage data entities such as candidates, companies, jobs, and skills.
• REST API designed with servlets in Java, ensuring modular and scalable endpoints.
• Constantly evolving architecture with a roadmap for future migration to frameworks as the knowledge base expands.

Project Structure

• Frontend: TypeScript, HTML, and CSS
• Backend: Groovy, utilizing Apache Tomcat for server management and Gradle for dependency management
• Database: PostgreSQL
• Architecture: MVCS with DTOs and DAOs for each main data entity (candidates, companies, jobs, and skills)

Dependencies

The following dependencies are required for the backend:

• Groovy (latest stable version)
• Gradle (for project build and dependency management)
• Apache Tomcat (server for running servlets)
• PostgreSQL JDBC Driver (for database connectivity)

Installation Guide

Installing Groovy

1. Download and Install Groovy:

   • Visit the Groovy official website and download the latest stable version.
   • Follow the installation instructions for your operating system.

2. Verify Installation:

   • Open a terminal and run groovy -v to confirm the installation.

Installing Gradle

1. Download and Install Gradle:

   • Visit the Gradle official website and download the latest stable version.
   • Follow the installation steps, which may include adding Gradle to your system’s PATH.

2. Verify Installation:

   • Run gradle -v in the terminal to confirm that Gradle is installed correctly.

Setting Up Apache Tomcat with IntelliJ

1. Download and Install Apache Tomcat:

   • Visit Apache Tomcat’s official website and download the latest stable version.
   • Follow the installation instructions for your operating system.

2. Configure Tomcat in IntelliJ:

   • Open your project in IntelliJ.
   • Go to File > Project Structure > Modules > Dependencies and add the necessary libraries for Servlets and JDBC.
   • Go to Run > Edit Configurations, add a new Tomcat Server configuration, and select your Tomcat installation.
   • Deploy the project by running the server from IntelliJ.

Building the Project with Gradle and Creating the .war File

1. Configure Gradle to Generate a .war File:

   • Ensure that your build.gradle file is set up to create a .war file by adding the war plugin if it’s not already included:

     apply plugin: 'war'

2. Build the Project:

   • Run the following command in the terminal to generate the .war file:

     gradle clean build

   • This command will create a build/libs directory containing the generated .war file.

Deploying the .war File in Tomcat

1. Deploy to Tomcat:

   • Copy the generated .war file from build/libs into the webapps folder of your Tomcat installation.

2. Start Tomcat:

   • Start the Apache Tomcat server. Tomcat will automatically deploy the .war file, making the application accessible at http://localhost:<port>/<application-name>.

REST API Endpoints

Endpoint	Method	Description
/api/candidates	GET	Retrieves a list of candidates.
/api/candidates/{id}	GET	Retrieves candidate by ID.
/api/candidates	POST	Creates a new candidate profile.
/api/companies	GET	Retrieves a list of companies.
/api/companies/{id}	GET	Retrieves company by ID.
/api/companies	POST	Creates a new company profile.
/api/jobs	GET	Retrieves job listings.
/api/jobs/{id}	GET	Retrieves job details by ID.
/api/jobs	POST	Creates a new job posting.
/api/skills	GET	Retrieves a list of skills.
/api/skills/{id}	GET	Retrieves skill by ID.
/api/skills	POST	Adds a new skill to the database.

Future Development

LinkeTinder is a project under active development, designed to evolve as new knowledge and techniques are acquired. The goal is to transform this foundational application into a robust system that leverages frameworks and modern software development practices. The current structure, based on MVCS with dedicated DTOs and DAOs, facilitates seamless transitions and modular improvements over time.

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