AscendDev - E-Learning Platform

A comprehensive e-learning platform built with ASP.NET Core backend and React frontend.

Quick Start with Docker Compose

Prerequisites

• Docker and Docker Compose installed
• Git

Running the Application

1. Clone the repository

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd ascenddev

2. Set up environment variables

   cp .env.example .env

   Edit the .env file with your specific configuration values.

3. Build and start all services

   docker-compose up -d --build

   Note: Use --build flag to ensure Docker images are rebuilt with the latest changes, especially for Node.js version updates.

   This will start:

   • PostgreSQL Database (port 5432)
   • Redis Cache (port 6379)
   • Backend API (port 5171)
   • Frontend App (port 3000)
   • Configuration Upload Service (runs once to populate database)

4. Access the application

   • Frontend: http://localhost:3000
   • Backend API: http://localhost:5171
   • API Documentation: http://localhost:5171/swagger

Development Mode

The Docker Compose setup is configured for development with:

• Hot reload for frontend changes
• Volume mounts for live code updates
• Development environment settings

Stopping the Application

docker-compose down

To also remove volumes (database data):

docker-compose down -v

Services Overview

Backend API

• Technology: ASP.NET Core 8
• Database: PostgreSQL
• Cache: Redis
• Features: JWT Authentication, OAuth, Code Execution, Course Management

Frontend

• Technology: React 18 + TypeScript
• Build Tool: Vite 7.1.6 (requires Node.js 20.19+ or 22.12+)
• UI Library: Mantine
• State Management: Redux Toolkit + React Query

Database

• PostgreSQL 16 with initialization scripts
• Sample data automatically loaded on first run

Environment Variables

Key environment variables (see .env.example for full list):

# Database
POSTGRES_PASSWORD=your_secure_password
POSTGRES_DB=ascenddev

# Redis
REDIS_PASSWORD=your_redis_password

# JWT
JwtSettings__Key=your-256-bit-secret-key

# API URL for frontend
VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:5171/api

Development

Running Individual Services

Backend only:

docker-compose up postgres redis api -d

Frontend only (after backend is running):

cd frontend
npm install
npm run dev

Logs

View logs for all services:

docker-compose logs -f

View logs for specific service:

docker-compose logs -f frontend
docker-compose logs -f api

Production Deployment

For production deployment, consider:

1. Using production-optimized Dockerfiles
2. Setting up proper secrets management
3. Configuring reverse proxy (nginx)
4. Setting up SSL certificates
5. Enabling New Relic monitoring (optional)

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Port conflicts: Ensure ports 3000, 5171, 5432, and 6379 are available
2. Database connection: Wait for PostgreSQL to be fully initialized
3. Frontend API calls: Ensure VITE_API_URL points to the correct backend URL

Health Checks

The services include health checks. Check service status:

docker-compose ps

Reset Everything

To completely reset the application:

docker-compose down -v
docker-compose build --no-cache
docker-compose up -d