LinkStack
A link management platform built as an early MERN project while learning React and full-stack fundamentals.
Timeline
2 Weeks
Role
Full Stack Developer
Team
Solo
Status
CompletedTechnology Stack
Key Challenges
- Learning React fundamentals
- Understanding MERN stack flow
- State management
- Backend and frontend integration
- Designing basic dashboards
Key Learnings
- React component-based architecture
- MERN stack fundamentals
- REST API integration
- State and props management
- Building end-to-end features
LinkStack: Link Management Platform
Overview
LinkStack is one of my early-stage full-stack projects, built while I was learning React and the MERN stack for the first time. The idea was inspired by platforms like Linktree, where users can manage and share multiple links through a single page.
This project marked my transition from basic frontend development to building end-to-end web applications.
What Users Can Do
- Create a Link Page: Group multiple links under a single profile.
- Customize Layout: Basic theming and layout customization.
- Manage Links: Add, edit, and remove links through a simple dashboard.
- Track Usage: Basic visit tracking for shared links.
- Share Easily: One public link to access all resources.
Why I Built This
At the time, I had just started learning React and wanted a project that could help me understand:
- How frontend and backend communicate.
- How state flows through a React application.
- How APIs, databases, and UI connect in a real project.
- How to build a complete MERN stack application from scratch.
LinkStack was chosen because it was simple enough to start, but complex enough to expose real-world challenges.
Early Design & Limitations
Being an early project:
- The architecture was simple and tightly coupled.
- State management was basic.
- Scalability was not a primary focus.
- Some design decisions were made purely to learn concepts quickly.
These limitations were intentional at the time and reflected my learning stage.
Tech Stack
- React
- Node.js
- Express.js
- MongoDB
- Tailwind CSS
Key Takeaways
- React’s component-based model was a major mindset shift.
- Understanding data flow is critical in full-stack apps.
- Early projects are about learning, not perfection.
- Building end-to-end systems accelerates learning far more than isolated demos.
After Build & Impact
- This project helped solidify my understanding of the MERN stack.
- It gave me confidence to take on more complex full-stack projects.
- Many architectural lessons from this project influenced later refactors in newer projects.
- It served as a stepping stone toward backend-heavy systems.
Future Improvements
- Refactor frontend with better state management.
- Improve dashboard UX.
- Add analytics and advanced customization.
- Rebuild using lessons learned from later projects.