Brandon Wu

About

Projects

Courses

  • Overview
  • Technical Features
  • Takeaways
    • Link: Home Page

    Insight Housing Dashboard

    Full-Stack Development for Nonprofit

    PostgreSQL | React.js | OAuth | Express.js

    Overview

    Introduction

    This project involved building a full-stack dashboard for Insight Housing, a nonprofit organization. The goal was to improve donor tracking and tax receipt management, ensuring a seamless and efficient workflow. The system integrates a PostgreSQL database, Express.js backend, and React.js frontend, with Google OAuth support for authentication and scheduling.

    Solution

    By implementing optimized database queries and Express.js endpoints, we significantly reduced processing time. The system also integrates Google Calendar API to facilitate scheduling and translation into donor-facing tools.

    Technical Features

    Optimized Database Queries

    Designed and connected a PostgreSQL database to Express.js endpoints, reducing data retrieval time by 80%.

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    Full-Stack Dashboard Development

    Developed a MERN dashboard for tracking donor statistics, tax receipt management, and user-friendly reporting.

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    Google OAuth and Calendar API Integration

    Implemented authentication and scheduling functionalities using Google OAuth and Calendar API, streamlining donor appointment management.

    Takeaways...

    This project reinforced key software engineering principles and the importance of performance optimization in real-world applications. I learned:

  • Database optimization: Efficiently structuring queries can significantly impact processing speed.
  • Scalability of full-stack applications: A well-architected MERN stack application can support growing data needs.
  • OAuth authentication: Integrating third-party authentication enhances security and usability.
  • Real-world nonprofit impact: Technical improvements in donor tracking directly support organizational goals.

    • Through this experience, I gained a deeper appreciation for how technical solutions can drive operational efficiency in mission-driven organizations.