team-app

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Project Brief

Quick Overview

User Story

What is the App?

A dining guide website built specifically for the McFarland Visitor Center in Lauderdale County, Alabama. It brings together all the best restaurants and music venues in the area in one easy-to-use platform. Visitors can browse restaurants on an interactive map, see photos, check hours, and find contact information—all in English or Spanish.

Who is it For?

Visitors to Lauderdale County looking for where to eat and what to do
McFarland Visitor Center guests who ask staff for restaurant recommendations
Travelers exploring the area who want to discover local dining options without guessing
Festival or conference attendees in Lauderdale County who need restaurant recommendations
Visitors center staff who want an easy way to recommend places to guests and direct visitors online

What Problem Does It Solve?

Before: Visitors arrived in Lauderdale County with no clear way to find good restaurants. They had to ask McFarland Visitor Center staff for recommendations, search on their phones, or guess. Restaurant information was scattered across Google Maps, Yelp, Facebook, and nowhere was complete or up-to-date.

After: One simple website maintained by the McFarland Visitor Center shows all local restaurants on a map with photos, hours, phone numbers, and descriptions. Find exactly what you’re looking for in seconds—whether it’s fine dining, casual food, live music, or something quick. Everything is current and organized in one place. Visitors can access it on their phones while exploring the area.

How Does It Improve Things?

One Place for Everything: No more searching multiple websites. All restaurants are on one map with all the info you need.
Visual Browsing: See photos of restaurants before you go. Know what to expect.
Works Anywhere: Mobile-friendly. Works on phones, tablets, and computers.
Available in Two Languages: English and Spanish support for all visitors.
Live Music Info: Find venues with live music and check when performances happen.
Fast & Reliable: Built for speed. Works when you need it—no loading delays.

Target Users

Visitors: Visitors to the Shoals Area who want food place recommendations
Faculty: Visitors Center faculty who may add/edit info

Features

Restaurant Map UI

Map: Interactive Map UI plugin
Restaurant info: Names, locations, descriptions
Images: An optional image for each entry

Tech Stack

Frontend: HTML
Backend: Node.js, Express
Database: MongoDB
Deployment: GCP (Google Cloud Platform)
Experimental/Learning Component: i18n Language Support, Leaflet Map Integration
Email Capabilities: Nodemailer
Other Potential Tools: Selenium in Python

Members

Professor GCP Access

ssh -i student-key bcumbie@104.197.121.101