Inspiration
The inspiration behind Sotto-Jachai came from the growing concern about the spread of misinformation and propaganda during critical moments like the state reformation the mess movement. In such events, the rapid dissemination of false information can have dire consequences, undermining trust and fueling chaos. We wanted to create a secure, reliable platform that empowers common people to verify and share truthful information, fostering trust and transparency in sensitive issue.
What it does
Sotto-Jachai is a secure system that prevents the spread of false information by verifying content using 128-bit cryptographic hashing. Organizers can log in and submit content, which is then hashed and verified by an admin team. Users can authenticate the content's validity using a unique key, ensuring that only accurate and verified information is shared. The platform supports secure login, content submission with drag-and-drop image uploads, a verification dashboard, and an admin panel for managing content submissions.
How we built it
We built Sotto-Jachai using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) with a modular monolith architecture for clear separation of concerns. The frontend was developed with React, Redux for state management, Tailwind CSS for styling, and Shadcn UI for reusable components. The backend leverages Express.js, MongoDB with Mongoose, Passport.js for authentication, and Joi for validation. We deployed the backend on Azure and the frontend on Vercel, ensuring a robust and scalable solution.
Challenges we ran into
One of the major challenges was implementing a secure and efficient hashing mechanism that balances security with performance. Integrating real-time updates for content status changes and ensuring secure token management with cookies also required careful attention. We also faced hurdles in maintaining seamless communication between the frontend and backend, particularly in handling asynchronous data flows and managing state efficiently.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We’re proud of creating a platform that not only secures content but also delivers a smooth and responsive user experience. Implementing real-time updates and a secure admin dashboard for managing content submissions was a significant achievement. Successfully deploying the project on Azure and Vercel with robust security measures like rate limiting and HTTP Parameter Pollution (HPP) protection was also a notable accomplishment.
What we learned
Throughout this project, we learned a lot about advanced cryptographic techniques and their practical implementation in web applications. We gained valuable experience in managing state across complex frontend architectures and integrating security measures at every layer of the application. The importance of clear communication and collaborative problem-solving was reinforced as we tackled the challenges of building a secure, scalable system from scratch.
What's next for Sotto-Jachai Project
Moving forward, we plan to enhance Sotto-Jachai by adding more robust real-time features, expanding the admin capabilities, and exploring machine learning algorithms for automated content verification. We aim to make the platform more accessible and user-friendly by refining the UI/UX and adding support for additional languages. Furthermore, we’re exploring ways to integrate Sotto-Jachai with popular social media platforms to broaden its impact and reach, ensuring verified information can be shared more widely and effectively.
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