K.A.R.E

KARE is a secure, serverless complaint tracking platform using AWS Lambda and Turnstile CAPTCHA for real-time feedback and analytics in modern retail environments.

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I’m currently studying for the AWS SysOps Administrator certification, and I wanted to build something that would help me actually apply what I’ve been learning. That’s where K.A.R.E came from — a full-stack complaint tracking system that gave me the chance to get hands-on with real AWS tools and services.

I used AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB on the backend, with Amplify tying it all together. On the frontend, I built the interface in React and added features like toast alerts and Cloudflare Turnstile for form validation and security.

The process wasn’t easy — I ran into issues with permissions, environment variables, and Amplify errors that slowed me down. But that was kind of the point. I wanted to face real challenges so I could get better at solving them. Building this helped me connect the dots between AWS theory and actual project development. 💡 Inspiration

As someone who’s deep into AWS studies, I wanted to do more than just pass the exam. I wanted to actually build something useful that could grow and evolve as I learn. K.A.R.E was the perfect project to combine what I’m learning with a system that could have real-world applications — like tracking and managing customer complaints for small businesses. ⚙️ What It Does

K.A.R.E lets users securely submit complaints, which are processed by AWS Lambda and stored in DynamoDB. It also supports a separate route to fetch complaints. Turnstile CAPTCHA adds an extra layer of security, and feedback via toast notifications makes the app feel responsive and friendly. 🛠 How We Built It

🧠 Backend: AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, Amplify CLI

💻 Frontend: React, Tailwind CSS, react-hot-toast, react-cloudflare-turnstile

📦 Deployment: AWS Amplify

🎧 Bonus: Custom sound effects and pop-up handling for user feedback

🧱 Challenges We Ran Into

CloudFormation issues when pushing backend changes

Turnstile CAPTCHA integration was tricky to validate

Learning to manage Lambda permissions and environment variables effectively

Debugging Amplify API configuration and CLI JSON conflicts

🏆 Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

Successfully connected frontend and backend with secure form validation

Got real hands-on practice with AWS services

Built a working product while actively studying for certification

Gained experience with Amplify’s quirks and troubleshooting errors

📚 What We Learned

How to use AWS Lambda functions in real-world projects

How Amplify ties services together and what to watch out for

Validating input and protecting backend logic with CAPTCHA

Structuring serverless APIs and handling errors gracefully

🔮 What's Next for K.A.R.E

Add analytics to track complaint trends

Include user feedback tools like sentiment tagging

Integrate authentication for admin views

Fully flesh out the database and deploy across environments

Finish front-end polish and responsive design

Deploy and monitor the app in a production sentimentalists that we're proud of

Built With

  • amplify
  • amplifycli
  • apigateway
  • cloudflareturnstile
  • dynamodb
  • effects)
  • environmentvariables
  • es6+)
  • feedback
  • iam
  • integration)
  • interactive
  • javascript
  • lambda
  • node.js
  • notifications)
  • react
  • react-cloudflare-turnstile(captcha
  • react-hot-toast(for
  • sound
  • styling)
  • tailwindcss(ui
  • use-sound(for
  • user
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