AMU-eConnect

Documentation

AMU Econnect is a comprehensive social connectivity platform built for educational institutions. The platform aims to foster collaboration, networking, and engagement among students, faculty, and potentially alumni. It provides a secure and user-friendly environment for users to create profiles, connect with peers, and explore professional and academic opportunities.

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Table of Contents

• AMU-eConnect
• Documentation
  • Table of Contents
  • Purpose
  • Features
    • User-Specific Features
    • Admin-Specific Features
    • Platform-Wide Features
  • Technology Stack
    • Backend
    • Frontend
    • Database
    • Deployment
  • Installation and Setup
    • Prerequisites
    • Steps
  • Application Structure
• Preview
  • Index Page
  • Login Page
  • Upload Page
  • About Page
• Future Enhancements
• Links
• License
• Acknowledgments
• Connect with me

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Purpose

The project addresses the need for a centralized platform within universities where students and faculty can:

• Build meaningful connections based on shared academic and professional interests.
• Easily search for peers and alumni by filtering criteria such as department, course, and year of graduation.
• Enhance their digital presence with integrated social media links.

This application also lays the groundwork for potential integration into alumni networks, strengthening relationships between current students and graduates.

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Features

User-Specific Features

• Secure Registration and Login:
  • New users can register with a valid email address and password.
  • Passwords are hashed for secure storage.
• Profile Management:
  • Users can create and update their profiles with personal, academic, and professional details.
  • Profile customization includes short and detailed descriptions, images, and social media links.

Admin-Specific Features

• User Verification:
  • Admins review and verify user profiles to ensure authenticity.
  • Verified users gain access to advanced features like profile display on the public feed.

Platform-Wide Features

• Search and Filter:
  • Users can search for profiles using a combination of filters:
    • Department
    • Course
    • Year of Passing
    • Name or Enrollment Number
• Responsive Design:
  • The platform is fully responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring accessibility on all devices.
• Social Media Integration:
  • Users can link their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles to their AMU Econnect profile.

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Technology Stack

Backend

• Flask: Python-based lightweight web framework for building the application.
• Flask-SQLAlchemy: ORM for managing the SQLite database.
• WTForms: Used for building and validating web forms.

Frontend

• HTML5, CSS3: Core technologies for building web interfaces.
• Bootstrap: Framework for responsive and modern design.
• JavaScript: For client-side interactivity.

Database

• SQLite: Lightweight, serverless database for fast and efficient data storage.

Deployment

• Render: Hosting service for deploying the application with reliable performance.

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Installation and Setup

Follow these steps to set up the project locally:

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or later
• Pip (Python package manager)
• Virtual environment tools (optional but recommended)

Steps

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/SuhelKhanCA/AMU-Econnect.git
   cd AMU-Econnect/eConnect

2. Set Up a Virtual Environment:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate   # On Windows, use `venv\Scripts\activate`

3. Install Required Dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Set Environment Variables:

   Create a .env file to store configuration variables like secret keys.

   SECRET_KEY=your_secret_key
   SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI=sqlite:///econnect3.db

5. Initialize the Database:

   Open a Python shell and run the following commands:

   from econnect import db
   db.create_all()

6. Run the Application:

   flask run
   or
   python econnect.py

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Application Structure

AMU-Econnect/
├── eConnect/
│   ├── static/           # Static assets (CSS, JS, images)
│   ├── templates/        # HTML templates for views
│   ├── __init__.py       # Flask app initialization
│   └── econnect.py       # Application entry point
├── requirements.txt      # Python dependencies
├── README.md             # Project documentation
└── .env                  # Environment variables

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Preview

Index Page

Login Page

Upload Page

About Page

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Future Enhancements

The following features can further enhance the AMU Econnect platform:

1. Integration with Alumni Network:
   • Extend the application to allow alumni to create profiles and connect with students and faculty.
   • Enable mentorship programs and professional networking.
2. Event Management:
   • Include event creation and registration for webinars, seminars, and university gatherings.
3. Real-Time Chat:
   • Add a secure messaging system for users to communicate directly.
4. Advanced Analytics:
   • Provide data insights into user engagement, network growth, and profile views.

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Links

• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/SuhelKhanCA/AMU-Econnect
• Deployed Application: https://amu-econnect.onrender.com

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the contributors and mentors who guided this project, as well as the Flask and Bootstrap communities for their excellent documentation and support.

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Connect with me

• GitHub: SuhelKhanCA
• LinkedIn: Suhel Khan
• Twitter: Suhel Khan
• Email: [email protected]