STEAM-Labz Project Specification Document

1. Executive Summary

Project Vision

STEAM-Labz is envisioned as a comprehensive platform for creators, makers, educators, and anyone interested in learning and sharing knowledge in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) disciplines. The platform aims to lower barriers to entry, provide access to resources, and foster a community-driven approach to STEAM education.

Mission Statement

To create an inclusive community platform that democratizes access to STEAM education through open collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovative resources, empowering the next generation of creators, makers, and educators.

Key Objectives

Build a project sharing platform similar to Hackster.io for showcasing STEAM projects
Develop online educational courses for various STEAM disciplines
Create a video streaming service (Stream-Labz) using Cloudflare Stream
Establish a vibrant community forum for user engagement and knowledge sharing
Support open source initiatives and right-to-repair movements
Create specialized opportunities in drone racing, remote RC car racing, F1/10 autonomous vehicle racing
Provide 3D printing resources and support for bringing ideas to life
Develop funding sources for initiative sustainability and growth

Founder

The STEAM-Labz initiative was founded by Travis Bowman, with a vision to create a platform that supports education, collaboration, and innovation in STEAM disciplines.

Target Audience

The platform is designed to serve a diverse audience including students, educators, hobbyists, professional makers, researchers, and anyone interested in STEAM education and projects.

2. Requirements Specification

2.1 Functional Requirements

User Management

User registration and authentication system
Profile management with skills, interests, and achievements
Role-based access control (admin, moderator, creator, user)
Social connections and following system
User activity tracking and notification system

Project Sharing Platform

Project creation with step-by-step documentation
Support for images, videos, code snippets, and schematics
Categorization by STEAM discipline, difficulty level, and tags
Project search and filtering functionality
Social interactions: likes, comments, favorites, shares
Project version control and revision history
Download options for project files and resources

Educational Courses

Course creation tools for instructors
Multimedia content support (text, images, videos, quizzes)
Progress tracking and completion certificates
Course ratings and reviews
Bookmarking and note-taking features
Course recommendations based on user interests and behavior
Support for both free and premium/paid courses

Stream-Labz Video Platform

Video upload and streaming using Cloudflare Stream
Live streaming capability for workshops and events
Video categorization and playlists
Interactive features: timestamps, comments, reactions
Video analytics for creators
Subscription options for channel notifications
Embedding options for sharing videos on other platforms

Community Forum

Threaded discussions organized by topics and categories
Question and answer format with accepted answers
Rich text editor with support for code, images, and links
Reputation and badge system for active contributors
Moderation tools for community self-governance
Search functionality for finding relevant discussions
Integration with projects, courses, and videos for context

Funding and Support

Donation system with multiple payment options
Subscription tiers for premium features and content
Crowdfunding capabilities for specific initiatives and projects
Sponsorship management for corporate partners
Transparent financial reporting
Reward system for supporters

Administration

Comprehensive admin dashboard for platform management
Content moderation tools and reporting system
User management and access control
Analytics and reporting for platform usage
System configuration and customization options
Backup and restoration capabilities

2.2 Non-Functional Requirements

Performance

Page load time under 3 seconds for standard content
Support for at least 1,000 concurrent users
Smooth video streaming experience with minimal buffering
Responsive design for all device types and screen sizes
Efficient database queries with response times under 500ms

Security

HTTPS implementation for all connections
Secure user authentication with multi-factor options
Protection against common vulnerabilities (XSS, CSRF, SQL injection)
Regular security audits and penetration testing
Secure handling of payment information and personal data
Compliance with relevant data protection regulations

Scalability

Microservices architecture for independent scaling of components
Horizontal scalability for handling increased traffic
Content delivery optimization through CDN
Database sharding for growing data volumes
Auto-scaling capabilities based on demand

Reliability

99.9% uptime for core platform services
Fault tolerance with graceful degradation
Regular data backups with quick recovery options
Comprehensive error handling and logging
Redundancy for critical system components

Accessibility

WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for all web content
Screen reader compatibility
Keyboard navigation support
Color contrast ratios meeting accessibility standards
Alternative text for images and media
Support for text resizing without breaking layouts

Usability

Intuitive navigation and information architecture
Consistent UI patterns across the platform
Clear feedback for user actions
Helpful error messages and recovery options
Comprehensive documentation and help resources
Localization support for multiple languages

3. System Architecture

3.1 High-Level Architecture

STEAM-Labz will be built using a microservices architecture to ensure modularity, scalability, and maintainability. The system will consist of the following major components:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                         Client Layer                             │
│  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐       ┌──────────┐    │
│  │  Browser │  │   PWA    │  │  Mobile  │  ...  │   API    │    │
│  │          │  │          │  │   App    │       │  Clients │    │
│  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘       └──────────┘    │
└───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                            │
┌───────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────┐
│                           ▼                                      │
│                     Presentation Layer                           │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │                      API Gateway                          │   │
│  └─────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬──────┘   │
│            │             │             │             │          │
│  ┌─────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼──────┐   │
│  │         │             │             │             │      │   │
│  │     Authentication    CDN        Caching      Rate Limit │   │
│  │                                                          │   │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
└───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                            │
┌───────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────┐
│                           ▼                                      │
│                      Service Layer                               │
│  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐         │
│  │   User   │  │  Project │  │  Course  │  │  Video   │         │
│  │ Service  │  │ Service  │  │ Service  │  │ Service  │         │
│  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘         │
│                                                                 │
│  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐         │
│  │  Forum   │  │ Payment  │  │  Search  │  │  Admin   │         │
│  │ Service  │  │ Service  │  │ Service  │  │ Service  │         │
│  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘         │
└───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                            │
┌───────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────┐
│                           ▼                                      │
│                       Data Layer                                 │
│  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐  ┌──────────┐         │
│  │  MySQL   │  │ MongoDB  │  │  Redis   │  │ File     │         │
│  │ Database │  │ Database │  │  Cache   │  │ Storage  │         │
│  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘  └──────────┘         │
│                                                                 │
│  ┌──────────────────────┐  ┌──────────────────────────┐         │
│  │  Search Index        │  │  Message Queue            │         │
│  │  (Elasticsearch)     │  │  (RabbitMQ/Kafka)         │         │
│  └──────────────────────┘  └──────────────────────────┘         │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

3.2 Component Interactions

Client-Server Communication

All client-server communication will be handled through RESTful APIs and WebSockets for real-time features. The API Gateway will serve as the single entry point for all client requests, handling authentication, rate limiting, and request routing.

Service Communication

Services will communicate with each other through both synchronous (HTTP/gRPC) and asynchronous (message queue) methods, depending on the operation:

Synchronous communication for immediate data needs
Asynchronous communication for background processing and event-driven operations
Service discovery for dynamic service location
Circuit breakers for fault tolerance

Data Flow

Data will flow through the system as follows:

Client sends request to API Gateway
API Gateway authenticates and authorizes the request
Request is routed to the appropriate microservice
Microservice processes the request, interacting with databases or other services as needed
Response is returned through the API Gateway to the client
For real-time updates, WebSockets maintain open connections for immediate data pushing

3.3 Infrastructure Architecture

Deployment Model

STEAM-Labz will be deployed using a hybrid approach:

Self-hosted Ubuntu Server for core services to minimize expenses
Cloudflare for CDN, security, and Stream services
Containerized microservices with Docker
Container orchestration with Kubernetes for service management
Ability to run independently of outside resources if funding becomes unavailable

Networking

The networking infrastructure will include:

Cloudflare as the front line for DNS, CDN, and DDoS protection
Load balancing for distributing traffic
Virtual private network for secure inter-service communication
HTTPS for all external connections
Network segmentation for security isolation

Monitoring and Logging

Comprehensive monitoring and logging will be implemented:

Centralized logging with the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
Application performance monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana
Real-time alerting for system issues
User experience monitoring
Security event monitoring and analysis

4. User Personas & Journey Maps

4.1 Core User Personas

Educator Emily

High school science teacher looking for innovative ways to engage students

Demographics:

35 years old
Master's in Education
10 years teaching experience
Urban school district

Goals:

Find engaging STEAM projects for classroom
Connect with other educators
Track student progress
Access ready-to-use lesson plans

Pain Points:

Limited school budget for resources
Time constraints for lesson planning
Difficulty finding age-appropriate projects
Needs alignment with curriculum standards

Student Sam

Tech-savvy high school student interested in engineering and coding

Demographics:

16 years old
High school junior
Active in robotics club
Plans to study computer science

Goals:

Learn new skills beyond classroom
Build portfolio for college applications
Connect with mentors and peers
Showcase projects and get feedback

Pain Points:

Limited access to expensive equipment
Struggles to find beginner-friendly resources
Needs guidance on complex concepts
Balancing school and personal projects

Maker Mike

Hobbyist engineer who enjoys building DIY electronics and IoT devices

Demographics:

42 years old
Software developer by profession
20+ years of programming experience
Active in local makerspace

Goals:

Share knowledge and expertise
Find inspiration for new projects
Connect with like-minded creators
Contribute to open-source initiatives

Pain Points:

Finding well-documented advanced projects
Accessing specialty components
Limited time for complex builds
Needs platform for showcasing work

Parent Patricia

Mother of two looking for educational activities to do with her children

Demographics:

38 years old
Children ages 8 and 11
Works part-time
Limited technical background

Goals:

Find age-appropriate STEAM activities
Support children's education at home
Create family learning experiences
Find affordable educational resources

Pain Points:

Intimidated by technical jargon
Limited budget for educational materials
Needs projects with clear instructions
Balancing educational value with fun

4.2 User Journey Maps

Educator Journey: Finding and Implementing a Classroom Project

Stage	Actions	Thoughts/Feelings	Touchpoints
Discovery	Hears about STEAM-Labz from colleague Visits website to explore Browses project categories	"I hope I can find projects that fit my curriculum needs and budget."	Word of mouth Website homepage Project gallery
Registration	Creates educator account Completes profile with teaching information Sets preferences for content	"I appreciate the educator-specific options. This might be valuable for my classroom."	Registration form Profile setup Welcome email
Search	Uses filtering tools to find age-appropriate projects Searches for curriculum-aligned content Reviews project requirements and materials	"These filters are helpful. I like that I can see the cost and time estimates upfront."	Search functionality Filtering system Project details page
Evaluation	Reviews project documentation Watches related video tutorials Reads reviews from other educators	"This project looks promising, but I want to make sure it works in a classroom setting."	Project documentation Stream-Labz videos User reviews
Preparation	Downloads lesson plan and materials list Asks questions in community forum Creates classroom adaptation notes	"I'm getting excited to try this with my students. The community feedback is reassuring."	Downloadable resources Community forum Note-taking features
Implementation	Conducts project with students References tutorial videos as needed Takes photos of student work	"The students are really engaged! The step-by-step instructions are clear even for beginners."	Printed materials Mobile access to videos Photo capture tools
Feedback	Shares photos of completed project Writes review with classroom tips Discusses adaptations in forum	"I'm happy to contribute back to the community. This platform has been a great resource for my teaching."	Project submission form Review system Community forum

Student Journey: Learning Through Courses and Creating a Project

Stage	Actions	Thoughts/Feelings	Touchpoints
Discovery	Discovers STEAM-Labz through YouTube Explores website out of curiosity Browses featured projects	"These projects look really cool! I wonder if I could make something like this."	YouTube video Website homepage Featured projects
Registration	Creates account Completes profile with interests Connects with school email	"I like that I can show my interests and skills in my profile."	Registration form Profile setup Welcome email
Course Selection	Browses courses by topic Filters for beginner-friendly content Enrolls in Arduino basics course	"This looks like a good place to start. I've been wanting to learn Arduino."	Course catalog Filtering system Course details page
Learning	Completes course modules Watches video tutorials Tries coding exercises	"This is challenging but fun. I like that I can go at my own pace."	Course interface Video player Interactive exercises
Forum Participation	Asks questions when stuck Participates in discussions Helps other beginners	"The community is supportive. I'm getting good advice from more experienced users."	Community forum Q&A section Discussion threads
Project Creation	Creates first Arduino project Documents process with photos Writes up instructions	"I'm proud of what I've made! It's not perfect, but it works, and I learned a lot."	Project creation form Documentation tools Media upload
Sharing & Feedback	Publishes project on platform Shares with friends and teachers Responds to comments and questions	"Getting positive feedback feels great! I'm already thinking about my next project."	Project showcase Social sharing Comments section

5. Content Strategy

5.1 Information Architecture

STEAM-Labz Site Structure
|
├── Home
|   ├── Hero/Mission Statement
|   ├── Featured Projects
|   ├── Featured Courses
|   ├── Latest Stream-Labz Videos
|   ├── Community Highlights
|   └── Support/Donation CTA
|
├── Projects
|   ├── Featured Projects
|   ├── Project Categories
|   |   ├── Science
|   |   ├── Technology
|   |   ├── Engineering
|   |   ├── Art
|   |   └── Math
|   ├── Project Search & Filters
|   ├── Project Detail Pages
|   └── Create Project
|
├── Courses
|   ├── Featured Courses
|   ├── Course Categories
|   |   ├── Science
|   |   ├── Technology
|   |   ├── Engineering
|   |   ├── Art
|   |   └── Math
|   ├── Course Search & Filters
|   ├── Course Detail Pages
|   └── Create Course
|
├── Stream-Labz
|   ├── Featured Videos
|   ├── Live Streams
|   ├── Video Categories
|   ├── Creator Spotlights
|   ├── Video Detail Pages
|   └── Start Streaming
|
├── Community
|   ├── Discussion Categories
|   ├── Popular Threads
|   ├── Recent Activity
|   ├── Forum Guidelines
|   ├── Thread Detail Pages
|   └── User Profiles
|
├── About
|   ├── Mission & Vision
|   ├── Team & Founder
|   ├── Partners & Collaborators
|   ├── Success Stories
|   └── Contact Information
|
├── Support
|   ├── Why Support STEAM-Labz
|   ├── Donation Options
|   ├── Sponsorship Opportunities
|   ├── Current Funding Status
|   └── Impact Reports
|
├── Documentation
|   ├── Getting Started Guides
|   ├── Platform Documentation
|   ├── API References
|   ├── Contribution Guidelines
|   └── Tutorials
|
├── User Account
|   ├── Dashboard
|   ├── Profile
|   ├── My Projects
|   ├── My Courses
|   ├── Saved Content
|   └── Settings
|
└── Admin
    ├── Dashboard
    ├── User Management
    ├── Content Moderation
    ├── Analytics
    ├── System Configuration
    └── Funding Management

5.2 Content Types

Projects

Documented DIY creations and builds from community members.

Components:

Title and cover image
Difficulty level and time estimate
Materials list with costs
Step-by-step instructions
Photos and diagrams
Code snippets (if applicable)
Video demonstrations
Downloadable files
Comments and discussion

Metadata:

STEAM categories
Tags and skills
Age/grade level
Creator information
Creation date
License information

Courses

Structured educational content with sequential learning modules.

Components:

Course title and description
Learning objectives
Instructor information
Module structure
Video lessons
Text content and examples
Exercises and quizzes
Downloadable resources
Discussion forums

Metadata:

STEAM categories
Skill level (beginner to advanced)
Estimated completion time
Prerequisites
Certification options
Related courses

Videos

Educational and instructional video content hosted on Stream-Labz.

Components:

Video title and thumbnail
Video player with Cloudflare Stream
Video description
Creator information
Related resources and links
Timestamps for key points
Captions and transcripts
Comments and discussion

Metadata:

STEAM categories
Video type (tutorial, lecture, demonstration)
Duration
Tags and topics
Publication date
Related videos

Forum Posts

Community discussions, questions, and knowledge sharing.

Components:

Post title and content
Author information
Rich text formatting
Image and file attachments
Code blocks with syntax highlighting
Replies and comments
Voting and reaction system
Solution marking (for Q&A)

Metadata:

Forum category
Tags and topics
Creation and edit dates
View count
Related threads
Status (open, solved, closed)

5.3 Content Creation Guidelines

Tone and Voice

Educational but accessible: Explain complex concepts clearly without unnecessary jargon
Encouraging and supportive: Use positive language that builds confidence
Inclusive: Ensure content is welcoming to all backgrounds and skill levels
Enthusiastic: Convey excitement about STEAM learning and creation
Professional but conversational: Balance authority with approachability

Documentation Standards

Clear structure: Use consistent headings, sections, and formatting
Visual support: Include images, diagrams, and videos where helpful
Step-by-step instructions: Break complex processes into manageable steps
Materials and prerequisites: Clearly list what's needed upfront
Troubleshooting: Anticipate common issues and provide solutions
Citations: Reference sources and inspirations appropriately

Content Moderation

Community guidelines: Clear rules for acceptable content
Review process: Initial review for new contributors
Flag and report system: Community-based moderation
Content rating: Age-appropriate labeling
Copyright compliance: Respect for intellectual property
Safety first: Warnings for potentially dangerous activities

5.4 Content Promotion Strategy

Cross-Platform Promotion

Social media integration: Automated sharing to platform accounts
Email newsletter: Regular digest of new and featured content
Internal promotion: Feature system across different sections of the platform
Partner networks: Cross-promotion with educational institutions and makerspaces
SEO optimization: Metadata and structure for search visibility

Content Curation

Featured content: Highlighting exceptional projects and resources
Themed collections: Curated content around specific topics or events
Trending system: Surfacing popular and active content
Staff picks: Administrator-selected noteworthy content
User personalization: Recommended content based on interests and history

6. Design System Specifications

6.1 Color Palette

Primary Blue

#1a5b8e

Teal Blue

#007d8c

Vibrant Orange

#ff6b35

Amber

#f9a826

Light Gray

#f5f5f5

Medium Gray

#9e9e9e

Dark Gray

#424242

Near Black

#121212

Science Purple

#6a1b9a

Technology Blue

#1565c0

Engineering Orange

#e65100

Art Pink

#ad1457

Math Green

#2e7d32

Error Red

#d32f2f

Success Green

#388e3c

Info Blue

#0288d1

Color Usage Guidelines

Primary Blue (#1a5b8e): Main brand color, used for headers, primary buttons, and brand elements
Teal Blue (#007d8c): Secondary brand color, used for accents and secondary elements
Vibrant Orange (#ff6b35): Accent color for calls-to-action, highlights, and important elements
Grays: Used for text, backgrounds, and UI elements to create visual hierarchy
STEAM discipline colors: Used to visually distinguish content categories
Functional colors: Used consistently for error, success, warning, and information states

6.2 Typography

Primary Font: Montserrat

Used for headings, navigation, and emphasis.

Heading 1

2.5rem (40px), Bold

Heading 2

2rem (32px), Bold

Heading 3

1.75rem (28px), Semibold

Heading 4

1.5rem (24px), Semibold

Heading 5

1.25rem (20px), Medium

Secondary Font: Open Sans

Used for body text, paragraphs, and UI elements.

Body Regular

1rem (16px), Regular

Body Medium

1rem (16px), Medium

Small Text

0.875rem (14px), Regular

Extra Small / Caption

0.75rem (12px), Regular

Monospace Font: Roboto Mono

Used for code blocks, technical content, and tabular data.

Code Regular

1rem (16px), Regular

Code Small

0.875rem (14px), Regular

Typography Guidelines

Heading hierarchy: Maintain consistent heading levels for proper document structure
Line height: 1.6 for body text, 1.2-1.4 for headings
Font weight: Use appropriate weights for emphasis (regular for body, medium/bold for headings)
Letter spacing: Slight negative tracking for headings, normal for body text
Paragraph spacing: 1.5 times the font size
Maximum line length: 70-80 characters for optimal readability

6.3 UI Components

Button System

Form Elements

Text Input

Select Dropdown

Checkbox

Checkbox label

Radio Buttons

Option 1

Option 2

Card Components

Technology

Project Title

A brief description of the project and what it entails.

By Username

Course

Course Title

Learn the fundamentals and advanced techniques.

75% Complete

Live

Video Title

Watch this tutorial to learn how to create a project.

10:30 • 1.2K views

Navigation Components

STEAM-Labz

Projects Courses Stream-Labz Community Support

Home / Projects / Arduino Weather Station

Overview Instructions Code Discussion

Tab content would go here.

Alert and Notification Components

Success Message

Your project has been successfully created.

Information Message

Registration for the workshop is now open.

Warning Message

This project requires adult supervision.

Error Message

There was a problem uploading your file.

6.4 Iconography

The STEAM-Labz platform will use a consistent icon system to enhance usability and visual appeal. Icons will be sourced from the Font Awesome library to ensure consistency and wide coverage of needed symbols.

Science

Technology

Engineering

Art

Math

Projects

Courses

Videos

6.5 Responsive Design Principles

Mobile First

Design for smallest screens first
Progressive enhancement for larger screens
Critical content prioritization
Touch-friendly interface elements
Simplified navigation for small screens
Optimized performance

Breakpoints

Mobile: 0-767px
Tablet: 768-1023px
Desktop: 1024-1439px
Large Desktop: 1440px+
Fluid layouts within breakpoints
Consistent component behavior across breakpoints

Responsive Patterns

Flexible grid system
Column stacking on smaller screens
Hamburger menu for mobile navigation
Appropriate touch targets (min 44px)
Responsive typography
Conditional loading for performance

6.6 Accessibility Guidelines

The STEAM-Labz platform is committed to meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards and ensuring an inclusive experience for all users.

Visual Accessibility

Color contrast ratios meeting WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
Design not relying solely on color to convey information
Text resizing without breaking layouts (up to 200%)
Visible focus states for keyboard navigation
Adequate spacing between interactive elements
Consistent design patterns throughout the platform

Structural Accessibility

Semantic HTML structure
Proper heading hierarchy (H1-H6)
Descriptive link text (avoiding "click here")
ARIA landmarks and attributes where appropriate
Keyboard navigability for all interactive elements
Skip navigation links for keyboard users
Accessible form labels and error messages

Content Accessibility

Alternative text for all images
Captions and transcripts for video content
Text alternatives for complex visualizations
Descriptive titles for pages and documents
Clear language and readability
Meaningful sequence of content
Predictable patterns of interaction

Assistive Technology Support

Screen reader compatibility
Support for text-to-speech software
Voice command compatibility
Support for browser zoom and text resizing
Compatibility with keyboard-only navigation
Support for high contrast mode
Regular testing with assistive technologies

7. Technical Stack

7.1 Frontend Technologies

Core Framework

React with Next.js

A React framework for server-side rendering and static site generation.

Justification:

Server-side rendering for improved SEO
Static generation for performance
Efficient component-based architecture
Built-in routing and API capabilities
Strong ecosystem and community support

Styling

Tailwind CSS

A utility-first CSS framework for rapidly building custom designs.

Justification:

Highly customizable with design system integration
Reduces need for custom CSS
Consistent design patterns
Built-in responsive design utilities
Optimized production builds with PurgeCSS

State Management

Redux Toolkit

The official, opinionated toolset for efficient Redux development.

Justification:

Centralized state management
Simplified Redux configuration
Built-in immutability with Immer
Integrated async handling with thunks
DevTools for debugging

Forms and Validation

React Hook Form with Yup

Performant, flexible and extensible forms with validation.

Justification:

Minimal re-renders for performance
Uncontrolled components for better UX
Schema-based validation with Yup
Built-in error handling
Lightweight bundle size

Data Fetching

React Query

Server state management library with caching, background updates, and stale data handling.

Justification:

Automatic caching and refetching
Loading and error states management
Pagination and infinite scroll support
Optimistic updates
Synchronization across tabs

UI Components

Custom Component Library

In-house component library built on top of Headless UI and Radix UI primitives.

Justification:

Fully customized to match design system
Accessibility built-in with headless primitives
Consistent behavior across components
Reduced bundle size with tree-shaking
Full control over styling and functionality

7.2 Backend Technologies

API Framework

Node.js with Express

JavaScript runtime with a popular web application framework.

Justification:

JavaScript across stack for developer efficiency
Lightweight and flexible framework
Large ecosystem of middleware
Non-blocking I/O for performance
Easy to find developers with relevant skills

Authentication

Passport.js with JWT

Authentication middleware for Node.js with JSON Web Tokens.

Justification:

Multiple authentication strategies
Stateless authentication with JWT
Social login integration
Customizable authentication flows
Well-tested and secure

Primary Database

MongoDB with Mongoose

NoSQL document database with an elegant MongoDB object modeling for Node.js.

Justification:

Flexible schema for evolving data models
JSON-like documents match application data
Horizontal scaling capabilities
Mongoose for schema validation and middleware
Strong query capabilities

Caching

Redis

In-memory data structure store for caching and message brokering.

Justification:

High-performance in-memory operations
Versatile data structures
Built-in expiration for cache entries
Pub/sub capabilities for real-time features
Session storage and rate limiting support

Search Engine

Elasticsearch

Distributed, RESTful search and analytics engine.

Justification:

Full-text search capabilities
Advanced filtering and faceting
Multi-language support
Scalable architecture
Analytics and visualization capabilities

File Storage

MinIO (S3-compatible)

High-performance, S3-compatible object storage.

Justification:

Self-hosted to minimize expenses
S3-compatible API for ecosystem compatibility
Scalable and distributed storage
Support for large file uploads
Versioning and lifecycle policies

7.3 DevOps and Infrastructure

Containerization

Docker

Platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers.

Justification:

Consistent environments across development and production
Isolated services for better security
Efficient resource utilization
Simplified deployment and scaling
Well-documented and widely adopted

Container Orchestration

Kubernetes

Open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.

Justification:

Automated scaling and load balancing
Self-healing capabilities
Service discovery and configuration management
Rolling updates and rollbacks
Resource management and optimization

CI/CD

GitHub Actions

Automation and CI/CD platform integrated with GitHub.

Justification:

Tight integration with GitHub repositories
Matrix testing across environments
Automated testing and deployment
Community-contributed actions
No additional service required

Monitoring

Prometheus and Grafana

Monitoring system and time series database with visualization platform.

Justification:

Real-time metrics collection and alerting
Customizable visualization dashboards
Powerful query language for data analysis
Open-source with large ecosystem
Kubernetes integration

Logging

ELK Stack

Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana for log collection, storage, and visualization.

Justification:

Centralized log collection and management
Powerful search capabilities
Real-time log processing
Flexible visualization and dashboards
Alerting and anomaly detection

CDN and Security

Cloudflare

Content delivery network, DDoS protection, and security services.

Justification:

Global CDN for improved performance
DDoS protection and WAF
SSL/TLS management
Video streaming capabilities (Stream-Labz)
Cloudflare for Startups program benefits

7.4 Development Tools

Version Control

Git with GitHub

Distributed version control system with web-based hosting service.

Justification:

Industry standard for version control
Collaboration features (PRs, reviews, issues)
Integration with CI/CD (GitHub Actions)
Project management tools
Open source community engagement

Code Quality

ESLint, Prettier, and TypeScript

Static code analysis, code formatting, and type checking.

Justification:

Enforced code standards across the team
Early error detection
Type safety with TypeScript
Automated formatting for consistency
Improved developer experience

Testing

Jest, React Testing Library, and Cypress

JavaScript testing framework, component testing utility, and end-to-end testing tool.

Justification:

Comprehensive testing coverage
Unit, integration, and end-to-end testing
Component testing focused on user behavior
Visual testing with Cypress
Snapshot testing for UI components

Documentation

Docusaurus

Documentation website generator developed by Facebook.

Justification:

Modern, responsive documentation site
Markdown-based content
Versioning capabilities
Search functionality
Easy deployment and maintenance
Similar to buspirate.com style as requested

API Documentation

Swagger/OpenAPI

API documentation and specification framework.

Justification:

Interactive API documentation
Standardized API specification
Code generation capabilities
Testing tools integration
Wide adoption and tooling support

Design Tools

Figma and Storybook

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

Project Vision

Mission Statement

Key Objectives

Founder

Target Audience

2. Requirements Specification

2.1 Functional Requirements

User Management

Project Sharing Platform

Educational Courses

Stream-Labz Video Platform

Community Forum

Funding and Support

Administration

2.2 Non-Functional Requirements

Performance

Security

Scalability

Reliability

Accessibility

Usability

3. System Architecture

3.1 High-Level Architecture

3.2 Component Interactions

Client-Server Communication

Service Communication

Data Flow

3.3 Infrastructure Architecture

Deployment Model

Networking

Monitoring and Logging

4. User Personas & Journey Maps

4.1 Core User Personas

Educator Emily

Demographics:

Goals:

Pain Points:

Student Sam

Demographics:

Goals:

Pain Points:

Maker Mike

Demographics:

Goals:

Pain Points:

Parent Patricia

Demographics:

Goals:

Pain Points:

4.2 User Journey Maps

Educator Journey: Finding and Implementing a Classroom Project

Student Journey: Learning Through Courses and Creating a Project

5. Content Strategy

5.1 Information Architecture

5.2 Content Types

Projects

Components:

Metadata:

Courses

Components:

Metadata:

Videos

Components:

Metadata:

Forum Posts

Components:

Metadata:

5.3 Content Creation Guidelines

Tone and Voice

Documentation Standards

Content Moderation

5.4 Content Promotion Strategy

Cross-Platform Promotion

Content Curation

6. Design System Specifications

6.1 Color Palette

Color Usage Guidelines

6.2 Typography