This project includes comprehensive documentation to help you understand, develop, and maintain the BeornNotes application. Choose the guide that best fits your needs.
- QUICK_START.md ⭐ START HERE
- 5-minute backend setup
- 5-minute frontend setup
- Testing the setup
- Common troubleshooting
- First time user flow
- PROJECT_ANALYSIS.md
- Project overview
- Key features
- Statistics
- Implementation status
- Tech stack summary
1. PROJECT_GUIDE.md - The Main Reference
Best for: Understanding the complete project structure
Contains:
- Project overview and tech stack
- Full project structure breakdown
- Complete feature descriptions
- 40+ API endpoints listed and explained
- Authentication flow (JWT + MFA)
- File upload system details
- Frontend components structure
- Database schema overview
- Configuration details
- Common issues and solutions
- Best practices
- Deployment checklist
2. TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md - Deep Technical Details
Best for: Understanding implementation details
Contains:
- Detailed component analysis
- Authentication system deep dive
- Search pattern & filter system
- Grid state management
- File upload with S3
- Data access layer methods
- Custom hooks deep dive
- Context providers structure
- Error handling patterns
- Form validation patterns
- Smart grid configuration
- API request/response patterns
- UI patterns
- Performance optimization tips
- Security considerations
- Testing strategy
3. DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md - File Management Deep Dive
Best for: Understanding document upload/download system
Contains:
- Document management architecture
- Document data model (MySQL + Frontend)
- Detailed CREATE flow (9 steps)
- Detailed UPDATE flow (2 scenarios)
- Detailed DELETE flow
- Grid display implementation
- Opening/downloading documents
- Security considerations
- Best practices
- Troubleshooting guide
- Testing checklist
4. ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md - Visual Reference
Best for: Visual learners who want to see data flow
Contains:
- Complete system architecture diagram
- Authentication & MFA flow diagram
- Document upload sequence diagram
- State management flow diagram
- Database schema relationships diagram
- Component hierarchy diagram
- Request/response cycle diagram
→ PROJECT_GUIDE.md#🐛-common-issues--solutions or TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md
→ TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md#🎯-performance-optimization-tips (start with understanding hooks and context)
→ PROJECT_GUIDE.md#🗄️-database-schema-mysql
→ PROJECT_GUIDE.md#🚢-deployment-checklist
→ TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md#-authentication-system-deep-dive and ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md#-authentication--authorization-flow
→ PROJECT_GUIDE.md#🔌-api-endpoints
→ TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md#-performance-optimization-tips
→ TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md#-security-considerations and DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md#-security-considerations-for-documents
| Document | Type | Audience | Read Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QUICK_START | Guide | Developers | 10 min | Getting started fast |
| PROJECT_GUIDE | Reference | Everyone | 30 min | Complete overview |
| TECHNICAL_REFERENCE | Deep Dive | Developers | 45 min | Implementation details |
| DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE | Deep Dive | Developers | 30 min | File management |
| ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS | Visual | Visual Learners | 20 min | Understanding flow |
| PROJECT_ANALYSIS | Summary | All Stakeholders | 15 min | Quick facts |
- JWT Token Flow in PROJECT_GUIDE
- Authentication Flow in TECHNICAL_REFERENCE
- Auth Diagrams in ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS
- Security Tips in TECHNICAL_REFERENCE
- File Upload System in PROJECT_GUIDE
- Document Management Guide (entire file)
- Upload Flow Diagram in ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS
- Schema Overview in PROJECT_GUIDE
- Schema Diagram in ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS
- Data Access Layer in TECHNICAL_REFERENCE
- Components in PROJECT_GUIDE
- Hooks Deep Dive in TECHNICAL_REFERENCE
- Component Hierarchy in ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS
- State Management in ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS
- API Endpoints in PROJECT_GUIDE
- Controllers in TECHNICAL_REFERENCE
- Data Flow in ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS
- Checklist in PROJECT_GUIDE
- Production Guide in QUICK_START
- Read: PROJECT_ANALYSIS.md - 15 min (get the big picture)
- Read: QUICK_START.md - 10 min (setup)
- Setup: Follow QUICK_START steps - 30 min
- Read: ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md - 20 min (see how it works)
- Read: PROJECT_GUIDE.md - 30 min (deep understanding)
- Explore: Code while reading relevant sections
Total Time: ~2 hours to get productive
- Scan: QUICK_START.md - 5 min
- Setup: Follow steps - 15 min
- Reference: PROJECT_GUIDE.md API section - 10 min
- Deep Dive: TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md as needed - varies
- Code away!
Total Time: ~30 min to get productive
- Skim: QUICK_START.md - 3 min
- Read: DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md - 25 min
- Reference: ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md#-document-upload-flow-detailed - 10 min
- Code!
Total Time: ~40 min
Setup Errors → QUICK_START.md#-troubleshooting
Authentication Issues → PROJECT_GUIDE.md#🐛-common-issues--solutions → TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md#-authentication-system-deep-dive
File Upload Problems → DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md#-troubleshooting → PROJECT_GUIDE.md#-file-upload-system
Database Issues → PROJECT_GUIDE.md#-database-schema-mysql → QUICK_START.md#-troubleshooting
Frontend Bugs → TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md#-frontend → PROJECT_GUIDE.md#best-practices
- Check the document index above
- Use Ctrl+F to search within documents
- Check PROJECT_GUIDE.md table of contents
- Review ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md for visual explanation
- Create a pull request with fix
- Or create an issue on GitHub
- Search relevant document first
- Check troubleshooting section
- Look at code comments in repo
- PROJECT_GUIDE.md (40+ topics)
- TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md (complex concepts)
- QUICK_START.md (immediate productivity)
- ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md (ASCII diagrams)
- DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md (single feature deep dive)
- PROJECT_ANALYSIS.md (facts and figures)
Last Updated: November 17, 2025
Covers:
- ✅ Authentication & MFA
- ✅ Document Management
- ✅ CRUD Operations
- ✅ Grid & Layouts
- ✅ Search Patterns
- ✅ File Upload to S3
- ✅ Database Operations
- ✅ Frontend Components
- ✅ Backend Controllers
- ✅ Custom Hooks
- ✅ Context Providers
- ✅ API Endpoints
- ✅ Deployment
Note: Keep documentation updated when:
- Adding new features
- Changing API endpoints
- Modifying database schema
- Updating dependencies
- Changing config structure
# Backend
cd backend && npm install && npm run dev
# Frontend
cd frontend && npm install && npm start
# Database (MySQL)
mysql -u root -p
> CREATE DATABASE beornnotes;
> USE beornnotes;-
Search Across All Docs
- Most important concepts are duplicated/cross-referenced
- Search in multiple docs if not found in one
-
Use Visual Diagrams First
- ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md helps understand flow
- Then read corresponding section in PROJECT_GUIDE.md
-
Keep QUICK_START.md Handy
- Fastest way to get setup again
- Troubleshooting section saves time
-
Reference API Endpoints Often
- PROJECT_GUIDE.md has full endpoint list
- Use when confused about request/response format
-
Deep Dives as Needed
- Don't read everything at once
- Deep dive into topics when you need to modify them
START HERE
↓
QUICK_START.md (Setup)
↓
PROJECT_ANALYSIS.md (Overview)
↓
ARCHITECTURE_DIAGRAMS.md (Visual)
↓
PROJECT_GUIDE.md (Complete Reference)
↓
├─→ TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md (Deep details)
│ └─→ For implementation questions
│
└─→ DOCUMENT_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md (Specific feature)
└─→ For document management questions
- Read QUICK_START.md
- Run setup commands
- Test endpoints with curl/Postman
- Read PROJECT_GUIDE.md
- Familiarize yourself with one feature
- Make a small change (test your knowledge)
- Commit to git
- Ready to contribute!
Welcome to BeornNotes! 🎉
The documentation is comprehensive and organized. Find what you need and start building!
Questions? Check the Troubleshooting Reference section above.
Last Updated: November 17, 2025 Repository: https://github.com/ABF00711/BeornNotes Current Branch: ABF