GigConnect - Client

Welcome to the client-side of GigConnect! This application provides the user interface for a freelance task marketplace, enabling users to post tasks, find work, and connect with skilled professionals. It's built with modern web technologies like React, Vite, TailwindCSS, and DaisyUI.

Live Site URL: https://gig-connect-012-upgraded.web.app

Features

• User Authentication: Secure sign-up and login using Email/Password and Google Sign-In.
• Task Management (CRUD): Users can create, read, update, and delete tasks they've posted.
• Task Browsing & Details: A comprehensive page to browse all available tasks with a detailed view for each.
• Bidding System: Freelancers can place bids on tasks, and task creators can view these bids.
• Dynamic Home Page: Features an engaging banner, a section for featured tasks (closest deadlines first), category browsing, and user testimonials.
• Responsive Design: Adapts to various screen sizes (mobile, tablet, desktop) for a seamless user experience.
• Dark/Light Theme Toggle: Users can switch between dark and light themes for visual comfort.
• Interactive UI: Enhanced with scroll-reveal animations and user-friendly notifications.
• Protected Routes: Ensures that certain pages (like "Add Task", "My Posted Tasks") are accessible only to logged-in users.
• 404 Error Page: A custom page for handling non-existent routes.

Tech Stack

• Framework/Library: React
• Build Tool: Vite
• Routing: React Router DOM
• Styling: Tailwind CSS & DaisyUI
• State Management: React Context API (for Auth)
• Form Handling: React Hook Form
• Notifications: SweetAlert2
• Carousel/Slider: SwiperJS
• Scroll Animations: React Awesome Reveal
• Authentication Backend: Firebase Authentication
• Deployment: Firebase Hosting

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v22.15.1 or later recommended)
• npm (v10.9.2 or later)
• Firebase CLI (for deployment): npm install -g firebase-tools

Project Setup

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <your-repository-url>
   cd gig-connect-client

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   # or
   yarn install

3. Set up environment variables: Create a .env file in the root of the gig-connect-client directory and add the necessary environment variables. At a minimum, you'll need to configure the connection to your backend API:

   VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:5000/api/v1 # Or your deployed backend URL

   You will also need to configure your Firebase project credentials for client-side Firebase SDK initialization. These are typically stored in a Firebase configuration object within your application code (e.g., in a firebase.config.js file that is imported) and are safe to include in client-side code.

Running the Project (Development)

To start the development server:

npm run dev

The application will typically be available at http://localhost:5173.

Deployment

This project is configured for deployment using Firebase Hosting.

1. Build the project for production:

   npm run build
   

   This will create a dist folder with the optimized static assets.

2. Deploy to Firebase: Ensure you are logged into Firebase (firebase login) and have initialized Firebase in your project (firebase init hosting if you haven't already, selecting the dist directory as your public directory).

   firebase deploy --only hosting