Node User Management System

A user management system built using Node.js, Express, MongoDB, and Handlebars (HBS).
This project was created as my first backend application while learning server-side development fundamentals.

Learning-focused project built to understand backend architecture, authentication, and role-based access.

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Purpose

This project helped me understand and practice:

• Backend MVC architecture
• Session-based authentication
• Admin vs User role separation
• MongoDB integration using Mongoose
• Secure password handling with bcrypt

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Tech Stack

• Node.js
• Express.js
• MongoDB
• Mongoose
• Handlebars (HBS)
• Express-session
• bcrypt

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Features

User

• User registration
• Login & logout
• Password hashing
• Session-based authentication
• Protected routes

Admin

• Admin login
• Admin dashboard
• View all users
• Add, edit, and delete users
• Search users
• Session-protected admin routes

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Architecture

• MVC pattern
• Separate controllers for user and admin
• Middleware-based authentication
• Server-side rendered views using HBS

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Project Structure

controllers/ model/ routes/ middleware/ views/ public/ server.js

What I Learned

How session-based authentication works

Password hashing using bcrypt

Role-based access control

Structuring backend applications professionally

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Future Improvements

Use environment variables

Implement JWT-based authentication

Add React frontend

Rewrite backend using TypeScript

How to Run

npm install
npm start

http://localhost:3188