Building A Task Management Application

Developing a **Team Task Collaboration Tool** using **JavaScript**, **React**, and **Express** involves creating a robust architecture, database schema, and efficient backend and frontend communication. Below is a comprehensive guide: --- ### **1. Structuring the Project Files** Organize the project for scalability and maintainability: ```plaintext team-task-tool/ │ ├── backend/ # Backend (Express.js) folder │ ├── config/ # Configuration files (DB, environment variables) │ │ ├── db.js # Database connection │ │ ├── dotenv.js # Environment variable config │ │ │ ├── controllers/ # Logic for handling requests │ │ ├── authController.js # Authentication logic │ │ ├── taskController.js # Task management logic │ │ ├── userController.js # User management logic │ │ │ ├── middlewares/ # Middleware (auth, validation, etc.) │ │ ├── authMiddleware.js # Authentication middleware │ │ ├── errorHandler.js # Error handling │ │ │ ├── models/ # Database models/schema │ │ ├── User.js # User schema │ │ ├── Task.js # Task schema │ │ │ ├── routes/ # Route handlers │ │ ├── authRoutes.js # Authentication routes │ │ ├── taskRoutes.js # Task routes │ │ ├── userRoutes.js # User routes │ │ │ ├── utils/ # Helper functions/utilities │ │ ├── tokenUtils.js # JWT token creation/verification │ │ │ ├── app.js # Express app initialization │ ├── server.js # Entry point for backend │ ├── frontend/ # Frontend (React.js) folder │ ├── public/ # Public files │ ├── src/ # Source code │ │ ├── components/ # Reusable components │ │ │ ├── TaskCard.js # Task card component │ │ │ ├── Navbar.js # Navigation bar │ │ │ │ │ ├── pages/ # Page-level components │ │ │ ├── Dashboard.js # Dashboard with tasks │ │ │ ├── Login.js # Login page │ │ │ ├── TaskDetail.js # Task detail page │ │ │ │ │ ├── context/ # Context for state management │ │ │ ├── AuthContext.js # Auth state context │ │ │ │ │ ├── services/ # API service logic │ │ │ ├── api.js # Axios API client setup │ │ │ ├── taskService.js # Task-related API calls │ │ │ │ │ ├── utils/ # Utility functions │ │ │ ├── formatDate.js # Format date utility │ │ │ │ │ ├── App.js # React root component │ │ ├── index.js # React entry point │ │ │ ├── package.json │ ├── README.md ├── .env # Environment variables ├── package.json # Project dependencies └── yarn.lock ``` --- ### **2. Setting Up the Database Schema** #### **User Model (User.js)** ```javascript const mongoose = require('mongoose'); const userSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ name: { type: String, required: true }, email: { type: String, required: true, unique: true }, password: { type: String, required: true }, role: { type: String, enum: ['admin', 'user'], default: 'user' }, // Role-based access }, { timestamps: true }); module.exports = mongoose.model('User', userSchema); ``` #### **Task Model (Task.js)** ```javascript const mongoose = require('mongoose'); const taskSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ title: { type: String, required: true }, description: { type: String }, priority: { type: String, enum: ['low', 'medium', 'high'], default: 'medium' }, tags: [String], // Array of tags assignedTo: { type: mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'User' }, // User reference status: { type: String, enum: ['pending', 'in-progress', 'completed'], default: 'pending' }, deadline: { type: Date }, createdBy: { type: mongoose.Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'User' }, }, { timestamps: true }); module.exports = mongoose.model('Task', taskSchema); ``` --- ### **3. Implementing User Authentication & Role-Based Access Control** #### **Authentication Middleware (authMiddleware.js)** ```javascript const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken'); const authMiddleware = (req, res, next) => { const token = req.headers.authorization?.split(' ')[1]; if (!token) return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized' }); try { const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET); req.user = decoded; next(); } catch (error) { res.status(403).json({ message: 'Invalid token' }); } }; module.exports = authMiddleware; ``` #### **Role-Based Access Control** ```javascript const roleMiddleware = (roles) => (req, res, next) => { if (!roles.includes(req.user.role)) { return res.status(403).json({ message: 'Access denied' }); } next(); }; module.exports = roleMiddleware; ``` --- ### **4. Creating APIs for Managing Tasks** #### **Task Controller (taskController.js)** ```javascript const Task = require('../models/Task'); const createTask = async (req, res) => { try { const { title, description, priority, tags, assignedTo, deadline } = req.body; const newTask = await Task.create({ title, description, priority, tags, assignedTo, deadline, createdBy: req.user.id, }); res.status(201).json(newTask); } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ message: error.message }); } }; const getTasks = async (req, res) => { try { const tasks = await Task.find({}).populate('assignedTo createdBy', 'name email'); res.status(200).json(tasks); } catch (error) { res.status(500).json({ message: error.message }); } }; module.exports = { createTask, getTasks }; ``` --- ### **5. Adding Features (Reminders, Tags, Status Updates)** #### **Adding Reminders** Use a **cron job** with libraries like `node-cron` or `agenda` to send reminders: ```javascript const cron = require('node-cron'); cron.schedule('0 9 * * *', async () => { const now = new Date(); const upcomingTasks = await Task.find({ deadline: { $lte: new Date(now.getTime() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000) } }); upcomingTasks.forEach((task) => { console.log(`Reminder: Task "${task.title}" is due soon.`); // Add email or notification logic here }); }); ``` --- ### **6. Ensuring Responsiveness & Performance Optimization** - **Database**: Use indexing for frequently queried fields like `assignedTo` or `status`. - **Backend**: - Enable gzip compression (`compression` middleware in Express). - Implement pagination for large datasets. - **Frontend**: - Use React's **lazy loading** for components. - Cache API responses where feasible (e.g., React Query or SWR). - **Overall**: - Use a CDN for serving static files. --- ### **7. Comments & Documentation** - Use **JSDoc** for detailed function and API documentation. - Add meaningful inline comments in critical code sections. --- ### **Sample API Route (taskRoutes.js)** ```javascript const express = require('express'); const { createTask, getTasks } = require('../controllers/taskController'); const authMiddleware = require('../middlewares/authMiddleware'); const roleMiddleware = require('../middlewares/roleMiddleware'); const router = express.Router(); router.post('/create', authMiddleware, roleMiddleware(['admin', 'user']), createTask); router.get('/', authMiddleware, getTasks); module.exports = router; ``` --- This structure and implementation provide a scalable, secure, and maintainable foundation for your **Team Task Collaboration Tool**. Let me know if you'd like further guidance on any specific part!