Alumni Connect

A feature-rich social and professional networking platform built with Flutter, designed to bridge the gap between alumni and their alma mater.

Overview

Alumni Connect is a complete, full-stack mobile application designed to help educational institutions build and maintain a vibrant and engaged alumni community. The app provides a centralized platform for networking, sharing opportunities, and staying updated with institutional news and events, all powered by a robust Firebase backend.

Key Features

• Secure User Authentication: Safe and easy onboarding with Firebase Authentication (Email/Password, Social Logins).
• Comprehensive Alumni Directory: Search, filter, and connect with fellow alumni based on name, graduation year, profession, etc.
• Detailed User Profiles: Showcase academic and professional achievements, contact information, and more.
• News & Events Feed: Keep the community engaged with the latest news, articles, and upcoming events from the institution.
• Job Board: A dedicated section for alumni to post and discover career opportunities within the network.
• Real-Time Notifications: Push notifications (via FCM) to alert users about new messages, job postings, or events.
• Cross-Platform Functionality: A single, beautiful codebase that runs seamlessly on both Android and iOS.

Application Screenshots

Tech Stack & Architecture

• Framework: Flutter
• Language: Dart
• Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS): Firebase
  • Authentication: Firebase Authentication
  • Database: Cloud Firestore (for real-time data)
  • Storage: Firebase Cloud Storage (for profile pictures, etc.)
  • Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
• State Management: GetX

Getting Started

To get a local copy up and running, follow these essential steps.

Prerequisites

• Flutter SDK: Ensure you have the latest stable version installed. Flutter Install Guide.
• Firebase Account: A free Firebase account is required.

Firebase Setup & Installation

This is a critical step. The app will not function without being connected to a Firebase project.

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/tulsieroyt/alumni_app.git
   cd alumni_app

2. Install the Firebase CLI & FlutterFire CLI

   # If you don't have them, install and login
   npm install -g firebase-tools
   firebase login
   dart pub global activate flutterfire_cli

3. Configure Firebase

   • From the root of your project (alumni_app/), run the configuration command. It will prompt you to select a Firebase project (or create a new one) and will automatically generate the necessary configuration files for all platforms.

   flutterfire configure

4. Enable Firebase Services in the Console

   • Go to the Firebase Console.
   • Authentication: Enable the sign-in methods you wish to support (e.g., Email/Password, Google).
   • Firestore: Create a Cloud Firestore database and start in Test mode.
   • Storage: Enable Firebase Cloud Storage.

5. Install Dependencies & Run

   flutter pub get
   flutter run

Project Structure

The codebase is organized into a clean and scalable architecture.

lib/
├── firebase_options.dart   # Auto-generated by FlutterFire
├── main.dart               # Application entry point
├── models/                 # Data models (e.g., User, Post, Job)
├── screens/                # UI screens/pages (e.g., LoginScreen, HomeScreen, ProfileScreen)
├── services/               # Backend logic (e.g., AuthService, DatabaseService)
└── widgets/                # Reusable UI components

Contributing

Contributions are what make the open-source community an amazing place to learn and create. Any contributions you make are greatly appreciated.

1. Fork the Project.
2. Create your Feature Branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature).
3. Commit your Changes (git commit -m 'feat: Add some AmazingFeature').
4. Push to the Branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature).
5. Open a Pull Request.

License

Distributed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more information.

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This project was created with care by Tulsie Chandra Barman. Feel free to connect!