A secure, student-only rideshare platform exclusively for university students with .edu email addresses. RideABull connects students for safe, affordable rides to and from campus while reducing carbon footprint.

🌟 Features

• 🔒 Secure Authentication: Google OAuth and email/password login with .edu email verification
• 👥 Student-Only Community: Restricted to verified university students
• 🚗 Ride Management: Create, find, and join rides to and from campus
• 🗺️ Route Visualization: Google Maps integration for clear route planning
• 💰 Cost Sharing: Split travel expenses with fellow students
• 🌱 Eco Impact: Track CO₂ emissions saved through carpooling
• 👤 User Profiles: Customizable profiles with university verification
• 📱 Responsive Design: Clean, modern UI that works on all devices

🛠️ Technology Stack

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Backend: Node.js, Express
• Database: MongoDB (Atlas)
• Authentication: JWT, Passport.js, Google OAuth
• Maps: Google Maps API
• File Storage: GridFS for profile pictures
• Security: bcrypt for password hashing

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• npm (v6 or higher)
• MongoDB Atlas account (or local MongoDB installation)
• Google Cloud Platform account for API keys

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/rideabull.git
   cd rideabull

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Set up environment variables Create a .env file in the root directory with the following variables:

   # API Keys
   GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_google_maps_api_key
   GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_api_key
   
   # MongoDB Configuration
   MONGODB_URI=your_mongodb_connection_string
   PORT=3000
   
   # JWT Configuration
   JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret_key
   
   # Google OAuth Configuration
   GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=your_google_client_id
   GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET=your_google_client_secret
   

4. Start the server

   npm start

   For development with auto-reload:

   npm run dev

5. Access the application Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000

🔐 Authentication Flow

1. Email/Password Registration:

   • Students register with a valid .edu email address
   • Email verification ensures university affiliation
   • Passwords are securely hashed using bcrypt

2. Google OAuth:

   • Students can sign in with their university Google accounts
   • Only .edu email addresses are accepted
   • Streamlined authentication process

3. JWT Authentication:

   • Secure token-based authentication for all API requests
   • Tokens expire for enhanced security

📱 Application Structure

• Landing Page: Introduction to RideABull with key features
• Authentication Pages: Login and registration with Google OAuth
• Ride Listings: Browse available rides with filters
• Ride Details: View route, driver info, and ride specifics
• Ride Creation: Post new rides with route planning
• User Profile: Manage personal information and preferences

🧪 Testing

To run tests:

npm test

🤝 Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

🙏 Acknowledgements

• Google Maps API for route visualization
• MongoDB Atlas for database hosting
• Passport.js for authentication strategies
• Express for the web framework