Portugal Hostel Booking Platform - Minimal MVP

A minimal viable product (MVP) for a hostel booking platform focused on Portugal, built with modern web technologies for streamlined hostel management and room inventory.

🎯 What Was Built

Core Architecture

• Frontend: Next.js 14 (App Router) with React 18
• Backend: Next.js API routes with Prisma ORM
• Database: SQLite (development) with PostgreSQL migration path
• Styling: Tailwind CSS v3.4.0 (minimal implementation)
• Authentication: JWT-based with middleware protection

Key Features

• ✅ Property Management: Create and manage hostel properties
• ✅ Room Inventory: Add/edit/delete room types with bed counts
• ✅ Admin Dashboard: Simple room management interface
• ✅ Authentication: Login/logout with protected routes
• ✅ API Layer: RESTful endpoints for properties and rooms
• ✅ Responsive Design: Mobile-first with Tailwind CSS

Current Limitations

• ⚠️ No User Registration: Admin access only (no public booking)
• ⚠️ Single Property: MVP assumes one property per deployment
• ⚠️ No Payments: Booking requests only (no payment processing)
• ⚠️ No Reviews: Basic functionality without user feedback
• ⚠️ Demo Mode: Changes may not persist in preview environments

---

🚀 Deployment to Vercel

Prerequisites

• Vercel account connected to your GitHub repository
• Environment variables configured in Vercel dashboard

Automatic Deployment

# Push to main branch for automatic deployment
git add .
git commit -m "Deploy minimal MVP"
git push origin main

Vercel Configuration

• Build Command: prisma generate && next build
• Install Command: npm ci
• Node Version: 18.x
• Database: SQLite (automatically created on first deploy)

Environment Variables (Required)

DATABASE_URL="file:./dev.db"
JWT_SECRET="your-secure-jwt-secret-here"
NEXTAUTH_SECRET="your-nextauth-secret-here"
NEXTAUTH_URL="https://your-app.vercel.app"

Post-Deployment Steps

1. Database Setup: Run npx prisma db push in Vercel functions
2. Seed Data: Run npx prisma db seed for sample data
3. Admin Access: Create admin user via API or database

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🔐 Admin Login

Access Points

• Login URL: /login
• Admin Dashboard: /admin (protected route)
• Dashboard: /dashboard (after login)

Authentication Flow

1. Navigate to /login
2. Enter admin credentials
3. Redirected to /dashboard on success
4. Access /admin for room management

Current Authentication Status

• ✅ Middleware Protection: Dashboard routes require authentication
• ✅ JWT Tokens: Secure session management
• ⚠️ No Registration: Admin users must be created manually
• ⚠️ i18n Issue: Login page may show translation errors (fix needed)

Creating Admin Users

-- Manual database entry (SQLite)
INSERT INTO User (email, password, role)
VALUES ('admin@example.com', '$2b$10$hashedpassword', 'admin');

---

🏠 Managing Room Properties

Admin Interface (/admin)

Add New Rooms

1. Navigate to /admin
2. Fill room details:
   • Room Name: e.g., "6-Bed Mixed Dorm"
   • Total Beds: 1-24 beds
   • Bathroom: Private or shared
3. Click "Create Room"

View Current Rooms

• Room List: Shows all created rooms
• Details: Name, bed count, bathroom type
• Actions: Delete rooms (with confirmation)

Room Management Features

• ✅ Create Rooms: Add new room types
• ✅ Delete Rooms: Remove unwanted rooms
• ✅ Real-time Updates: Changes reflect immediately
• ⚠️ Single Property: All rooms belong to one property
• ⚠️ No Editing: Rooms can only be created/deleted

API Endpoints

// Get all rooms
GET /api/rooms

// Create room
POST /api/rooms
{
  "propertyId": "property-uuid",
  "name": "6-Bed Mixed Dorm",
  "bedsTotal": 6,
  "hasBathroom": false
}

// Delete room
DELETE /api/rooms/{roomId}

Database Schema

-- Key tables
Property (id, name, location, createdAt)
Room (id, propertyId, name, bedsTotal, hasBathroom, createdAt)
User (id, email, password, role, createdAt)

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🛠 Development Operations

Local Development

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development server
npm run dev

# Database operations
npx prisma generate
npx prisma db push
npx prisma db seed

# Build for production
npm run build

Key Files Structure

app/
├── layout.tsx          # Root layout (minimal, no i18n)
├── page.tsx           # Home page with search
├── admin/page.tsx     # Room management interface
├── login/page.tsx     # Authentication (has i18n issues)
├── api/
│   ├── properties/    # Property CRUD
│   ├── rooms/         # Room CRUD
│   └── admin/         # Admin utilities
lib/
├── prisma.ts          # Database client
├── auth-context.tsx   # Authentication context
└── services/          # Business logic services

Testing APIs

# Test properties endpoint
curl http://localhost:3000/api/properties

# Test rooms endpoint
curl http://localhost:3000/api/rooms

# Test admin setup (requires auth)
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/admin/setup

---

📋 Next Steps & Improvements

Immediate Fixes Needed

1. Fix Login i18n: Remove useTranslations from login page
2. Add Auth API: Create /api/auth/login endpoint
3. User Registration: Implement admin user creation flow

Feature Additions

1. Property Management: Multiple properties support
2. Public Booking: User registration and booking flow
3. Payment Integration: Stripe/PayPal integration
4. Reviews System: User feedback and ratings
5. Email Notifications: Booking confirmations

Production Readiness

1. PostgreSQL Migration: Replace SQLite for production
2. Environment Config: Proper env variable management
3. Error Handling: Comprehensive error boundaries
4. Security Audit: JWT and API security review

---

📄 Quick Start

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Setup database
npx prisma generate
npx prisma db push

# Seed with sample data (optional)
npx prisma db seed

# Start development server
npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 to see the application.

First Time Setup

1. Database: Schema is automatically created
2. Admin Access: Create admin user in database or via API
3. Room Setup: Use /admin to add room types
4. Testing: Use / to view public interface

This MVP provides a solid foundation for a hostel booking platform with core room management functionality, ready for deployment and further development.