Updated the landing page with a new centered layout, added a “Get Started” button, improved the redirection flow, and refined the font.

Implemented the logout functionality, completing the basic authentication cycle.

Also added a new page loader and fixed a few issues, including CORS errors, a bug in the authStore signup function, and some minor backend typos.

Here’s a short demo showing the login/logout flow and the updated landing page.

This update focuses on UI polish, loaders, and fixing small but important issues across the app.
Added a new page loader along with an updated logo and improved animated border. The overall theme colors were also adjusted to better match the UI.
On the frontend, the login page is now complete, reusing the left/right layout from the signup page. Fixed the Axios base URL, which was causing request issues earlier.
Also handled a few bugs: fixed CORS issues, corrected a problem in the authStore signup function (name handling), and cleaned up some minor backend typos.

Finished the login page and reused the left/right layout from the signup page.
Fixed issues with Axios base URL and corrected imports from react-router to react-router-dom.
Set up and tested Vercel deployment, including adding and updating the vercel.json configuration.

Built the signup form UI, including name, email, and other inputs along with a submit button. Added a left sidebar layout and created a small animated border component!

Implemented the signup flow in the auth store,. On successful signup, user state gets updated, a success toast is shown. Also added error handling with toast messages.

Set up Zustand and Axios , and created separate pages for routes. Added an auth store and implemented /checkAuth with useEffect. Also fixed a CORS issue.

Added a loading screen, page loader, and restricted the chat page.

Set up the initial frontend and configured Tailwind CSS for styling. Installed DaisyUI and organized the project by creating router, components, and pages folders. Also added a simple base background and grid for base UI.

Added the sendMessage controller to handle sending messages(TODO) & storing them in the database. Also implemented the getChatPartners functionality to fetch users. Updated the routing flow to protectRoute middleware runs before other routes, so only authenticated users can access.

done with three new endpoints & controllers

• send message
• get all contacts
• get messages with userId
  next: complete last endpoint and finally move towards UI/Frontend

Implemented the basic message middleware and set up the message routes. Added a base structure for handling message-related requests, along with a simple message filter for processing messages properly. Also created a get contacts route to fetch user contacts. The core messaging structure is now in place and ready for further development.
also used arcjet to disable bots!

Created the MongoDB message model to store chat messages in the database, setting up the basic schema required for handling messages in the app. Also fixed an issue where Cloudinary wasn’t installed in the backend folder, which was causing errors earlier.

Formatted the backend code. Fixed issues related to env.js and environment variable handling/arcjet/export that were causing problems during deployment. After resolving the configuration issues, the backend has been successfully deployed and is now live. Next step is to start implementing the message endpoints for the chat functionality.

Also have changes the app name to Zonnect!

Implemented rate limiting using Arcjet. Installed Arcjet and set up the initial configuration along with a separate library file for managing the rate limiting logic! Also used sliding window algo

Added functionality for updating the user’s profile picture. Integrated Cloudinary for image storage and handling, allowing profile pictures to be uploaded and stored externally instead of locally. will be implementing base64 image workflow soon!

Implemented the auth middleware to protect private routes. Added proper next() handling and basic error catching to ensure requests move correctly through the middleware chain. Also imported protectRoute where needed and fixed a small typo that was causing issues earlier. Protected route handling is now set up and working properly.

Added login and logout endpoints, and resolved a MongoDB DNS connection issue that was causing problems earlier. The authentication workflow is now functioning smoothly: a user can sign up, receive a confirmation email, log in, and log out without any issues. The basic auth flow is now fully operational.

Finally, the welcome email is working! It now sends a welcome email as soon as a user signs up. Currently, it’s using Resend’s development mail, but I’ll switch it to a custom domain soon.

Auth controller endpoint, minor frontend tweaks & updated userModel. changes name from “light” to “leght”

Devlog:
Created db.js
Completed the signup endpoint in the auth controller
Set up MongoDB
Refactored code by moving functions from routes to controllers

Created separate base routes for /api/messages and /api/auth. Started working on the backend structure and deployed the frontend to Vercel and the backend to Render.

Initial devlog: set up the project and basic structure.

Final Devlog
Fixed:
Frontend cropping issue
CORS configuration issue
Render route folder bug
MongoDB error handling and inbound request bug

Almost done!
Just need to add the message route and message model, write db.js, adjust the MX records in Namecheap, and deploy the backend on Render and the frontend on Vercel.

Created a new route for posting; inbound route is now separated.
Added Mailgun MX records to Namecheap DNS.
Temporary mail functionality is working locally.

Basically, I added two more routes, set up the Mailgun MX records, reorganized the directory structure, and fixed a Node.js server crash that was caused by a module/ES module import type mismatch.
and yay the route is workin - you can see output below!
also, I realized I should post devlogs more often!

Completed the frontend
Fixed the refresh button issue
Improved the light mode gradient
Updated the refresh button to send a fetch request
Initialized the backend
Created a basic route

Done with the frontend.

• Removed the initial loading screen
  -Fixed the dark mode toggle
  -Added a favicon and page title
  -Separated components, utilities, and functions

I’ll start working on the backend next, beginning with setting up the routes.

Done with CSS & styling!
the inbox UI/UX upgrade below

I should write devlogs more often!
Anyway, I mainly worked on the UI and styling header, panel, topbar, and sidebar. The styling for those is done. The message view and a few minor styling details are still remaining (you can see them in the second image).

Did quite some things

• Created a new logo and banner for ZepMail.
  -Refreshed the function logic in React.
  -I’m considering removing const hasMsgs = useMemo(() => messages.length > 0, [messages]); because it seems unnecessary.

First Devlog!
I’ve finished the basic frontend structure using React & will start adding styles now!
yhh course app turned into temp-mailer 😭

SHIPPED!
Deployed Backend
Deployed Frontend
fixed node mailer issues
ui/ux update : popup/loading pop up!

Mailing system works!
Made a cron system which runs every 60 sec
Improved payload!
Now need to work on deployement + a little on UI/UX : need to add loading bars etc ….
Willing to SHIP THIS WEEK

**

Today what I did is :**

Many minor tweaks + responsiveness + planned UI in figma/vsc tests(alerts/PUs/etc)

worked on db connection + some routing & small ui fixes

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I worked on the following today:

added fetch + cors + req/res cycle
made routes
setup payloads
mail middle ware & tiny style upgrades

I did many things today ( I feel so )
Added Email Middleware
Added Textarea focusing for better visiblity ( Image Attached )
added placeholder alerts for now (Attached Img)
Added email payload + improve middleware
started working on B.E routes

UI Changed!
JS: Added event listeners to buttons/Date fetcher and more tiny script changes
will start B.E tmrw!
Also idk why but I REALLY HATE CSS anyways I have finalized this UI and the name : )
uh realizing while submitting this log maybe I shud change button color.

Improved UI and file structure !!

Initial Log
Base HTML with 3 simple button and a h1