Create API service to store user actions and calendar data

[november9]

Right now, I have an API set up from a WordPress back end using a REST API plugin (don't laugh, trying to save time by eliminating the need to create an admin panel). So that's meant to be the source of available activities.

What still needs to be done is to find some way to store a user's action list, as well as the UUID for their calendar, not a ton of data.

Since I'm not a backend developer, my first thought would be to use Firebase with some sort of out-of-the-box authorization solution that uses on Facebook and Google, as I'm not a huge fan of making people remember yet another set of creds, but definitely open to suggestions.

[november9]

FYI, I already have a Firebase account we can use for this. Pls email me at [email protected] if you'd like creds.

[jktravis]

If you already have WordPress running, is there any reason you can't use its database? Could just create a new table or two, right?

Can this wordpress API be expanded upon?

[november9]

I was thinking that could be possible, but I don't know how well WordPress would do in storing thousands of user accounts. Seems like it could get bogged down, as it's not really designed for that, but I could be wrong. What do you think?

[jktravis]

It's been a long while since I've done any Wordpress work, but if it's still using MySQL or PostgreSQL, then the database itself can certainly handle the volume.

Otherwise, might have to add a DB to DO, AWS, or any of the other cloud systems.

[november9]

Yeah, I was actually talking to a friend of mine about the server-side aspect of the project, and he had some great ideas about using Heroku and/or AWS.

[watzkej]

So wordpress might not be the best storage for something like that. It's really meant to save things like posts and such. Wordpress has a DB and it would probably be better to simply make a new schema in that DB and use that separate from Wordpress. I've got Wordpress working on Heroku with their ClearDB solution. I'd have to check but I'm sure there's probably a some Heroku integration piece that would have a simple API for storing stuff like this. I think they have a MondoDB integration too and a NoSQL DB would be well suited to storing profile information and small lists of data.

[november9]

@jktravis - As @watzkej already knows, there is a project that is being promoted by Michael Moore called the Resistance Calendar (https://www.resistancecalendar.org/), and since Michael mentioned it on social media, it's gotten hundreds of thousands, if not millions of visitors in the past few days since he mentioned it.

Because there is so much overlap with what they're trying to do vs what we're trying to do, my thinking is that it would be ideal to join forces with them (they will also be using React) instead of creating something similar on our own that will not have nearly the publicity, resources, and ultimately, impact.

They are teaming up with a group called Progressive Coders, which is a huge organization of techies, designers, even lawyers and many other talented folks. They could definitely use some design help on this project.

I feel bad that you've already put in so much work here, but perhaps a lot of that (especially the UX stuff you did) could be carried over. You just need to sign up here, and mention that you'd like to participate in the Resistance Calendar, and from there, we can continue our work: https://airtable.com/shraBEItZa0sYiMB0

What do you think?

Github issue for this project on Progressive Coders is ProgressiveCoders/projects#56, btw.

[november9]

@watzkej That sounds awesome, great work! Hopefully a lot of that could be ported over to the Resistance Calendar!

[jktravis]

Awesome. Just so it's clear then, this project will halt I take?

[november9]

Well, I was thinking I would put it on hold. If you wanted to continue on it, I could give you admin access to the repo or you could of course keep working on it off of your own fork and make it into whatever you like. But in the end, if the goal is to build something that will make the biggest impact while also getting to build something super-slick, then I think that joining forces with the Resistance Calendar / Progressive Coders will give us the best bang for our buck.