Hawranj Store
Overview
Hawranj Store is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that serves the tech community in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. The website offers a wide range of computer hardware, peripherals, and custom PC building services. As the lead developer, I was responsible for creating a seamless shopping experience from product discovery to checkout, while ensuring the platform could handle inventory management and order processing efficiently.
Features
The platform includes a responsive product catalog with advanced filtering, user accounts with order history, a custom PC builder tool that checks component compatibility, secure payment integration with local payment methods, an admin dashboard for inventory and order management, and a bilingual interface supporting both Kurdish and English to serve the local market effectively.
Technologies Used
The frontend was built with Next.js for server-side rendering and optimal SEO performance, styled with Tailwind CSS for a responsive design. The backend runs on Node.js with Express, connected to a MySQL database for product and user data. AWS services were utilized for hosting, S3 for image storage, and CloudFront for content delivery. Authentication is handled through JWT tokens, and the payment system integrates with local Iraqi payment gateways.
Challenges
One of the main challenges was implementing a reliable inventory system that could handle real-time updates across multiple concurrent users. Another significant hurdle was integrating with local payment providers that had limited documentation. The custom PC builder tool required complex logic to ensure all selected components were compatible with each other. Additionally, optimizing the site for the relatively slow internet connections common in the region required careful attention to image compression and code splitting.
Future Improvements
Planned enhancements include implementing an AI-powered recommendation system based on user browsing history, adding a mobile application to complement the web experience, expanding the custom PC builder with 3D visualization of the final build, introducing a customer support chat system, and developing a more sophisticated analytics dashboard to provide business insights for inventory management and marketing strategies.
