In this Full-Stack Dating Application project, I created a fully functional web application using ASP.NET Core 8.0 for the backend and Angular 18 for the frontend. This project is not just a simple tutorial — it is a hands-on journey through building a real-world application, using modern development tools and frameworks to implement essential features like authentication, messaging, real-time notifications, and more.
The application is designed for users to create profiles, upload pictures, send private messages, and interact with each other in real-time. The backend, built with ASP.NET Core, handles user authentication, message management, and real-time interactions, while the frontend, developed with Angular, creates a seamless user interface with responsive layouts and dynamic content.
One of the most critical features in any application is secure user authentication. In this project, JWT (JSON Web Tokens) is used for secure login and registration. When a user logs in, they receive a token that allows them to access protected routes and perform actions like sending messages, uploading pictures, and viewing profiles.
JWT Authentication ensures that only authenticated users can access certain features of the app, and users can sign up, log in, and manage their profiles securely.
The application allows users to create a personalized profile and upload their profile pictures. The drag-and-drop photo upload feature is integrated with a cloud storage platform, ensuring that the images are stored securely and are accessible across devices. This integration also reduces the load on the server, as the images are stored in the cloud instead of in the local database.
The profile gallery is built using Angular to display the uploaded images in an organized and user-friendly manner, with additional features like image preview and gallery management.
The core of any dating application is the ability for users to communicate privately. In this project, a private messaging system is implemented, allowing users to send messages to each other in real-time. The messaging system supports text communication and allows users to keep their conversations private, providing an engaging experience.
Real-time interaction is a crucial feature in any modern application. With SignalR, we add the ability for users to receive live notifications and updates. Whether it’s a new message or a new match, users are notified instantly, ensuring they never miss out on an interaction.
SignalR is also used for presence tracking, which means that users can see whether their matches are online or offline. This enhances the user experience and ensures that the dating app functions as expected, even with multiple users interacting simultaneously.
Another key feature that enhances user engagement is real-time presence and notifications. Using SignalR, we implemented a system where users are notified instantly about new messages, profile updates, or when someone is online. This ensures that users are always kept in the loop and can engage with the app in real time, improving the overall user experience.
The backend is built using ASP.NET Core with Entity Framework Core to handle data interaction. Entity Framework provides an easy-to-use ORM for interacting with the database, and we use it to manage user profiles, messages, and photos.
Additionally, we implement sorting, filtering, and paging for the data, making it easier to display large sets of profiles and messages without overwhelming the user. For example, users can filter profiles based on age, location, or interests, making it easy for them to find matches.
The user interface of the app is designed with Bootstrap, which ensures that the app is responsive and looks good on all devices. Angular is used to manage dynamic content, such as user profiles, messages, and notifications. With Bootstrap, the app provides a clean, modern look with easy-to-navigate pages, and the design adapts smoothly to different screen sizes, from mobile phones to desktops.
In addition to basic application features, the app integrates third-party components to add additional functionality and visual appeal. For example, we used Dragula for the photo upload feature, allowing users to easily drag and drop their photos into the app. By integrating these third-party tools, we were able to create a more engaging and interactive experience.
Once the application was complete, I deployed it to Heroku, a cloud platform that provides easy deployment for web apps. Heroku simplifies the process of hosting applications, making it possible to get a web app online quickly. After deploying the app, it is accessible via a live URL, allowing users to sign up, upload photos, send messages, and engage in real-time communication.
The course that guided this project follows a step-by-step approach, starting with the basics and gradually building the application from the ground up. Each step is explained clearly, with detailed demonstrations of how to implement each feature.
The development environment was set up using Visual Studio Code, a popular code editor that works across multiple operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS). The course starts by teaching how to configure the development tools, install required packages, and set up ASP.NET Core and Angular environments.
The backend API is built using ASP.NET Core with Entity Framework Core for database management. The backend handles everything from user authentication to real-time messaging and notifications. We also use AutoMapper to simplify object mapping between models and DTOs.
The frontend of the application is developed using Angular, one of the most powerful and widely used JavaScript frameworks. Angular’s Reactive Forms and Template Forms are used for handling user inputs like registration, login, and profile updates, with built-in form validation to ensure that the data is correct.
SignalR is integrated into both the backend and frontend, enabling real-time communication between users. Whether it's updating the user’s online status or sending a new message, SignalR ensures that the app responds instantly without requiring the user to refresh the page.
For photo management, the app integrates with a cloud storage platform that allows users to upload and store their profile pictures. This approach ensures that the images are handled securely and efficiently, without burdening the server with large media files.
Finally, after all the features were implemented and tested, the application was deployed to Heroku for easy and free cloud hosting. This makes the application publicly accessible, allowing users to sign up, interact, and enjoy the full dating experience.
Building a Full-Stack Dating Application with ASP.NET Core and Angular is a rewarding project that demonstrates how to create a complete, modern web application from start to finish. With features like real-time messaging, profile management, cloud photo storage, and real-time notifications, this project covers a wide range of essential technologies and tools.
By completing this project, I have gained valuable hands-on experience with two of the most in-demand technologies in the web development world today. Whether you're building a dating app or any other web application, the techniques learned here will be incredibly useful in creating engaging, scalable, and efficient applications.
This project has not only boosted my skills with ASP.NET Core and Angular, but it has also provided me with the confidence to build and deploy full-stack applications in real-world scenarios.
I hope this blog post inspires you to start building your own full-stack applications using these technologies. Happy coding!
Happy coding!
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