Project Management System (Django + Next.js)

A role-based Project Management Application built with Django REST Framework as the backend and Next.js as the frontend. The system manages projects, tasks, bugs, and QA workflows using JWT-based authentication and strict role-based permissions.

This project was implemented within a limited timeframe with a strong focus on architecture, correctness, and scalability. The current implementation is intentionally minimal but production-ready, with a clear path for future enhancements.

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Dashboard

Login Page

PM Portal

Task Creation Form

🚀 Tech Stack

Backend

• Django
• Django REST Framework (DRF)
• JWT Authentication (SimpleJWT)
• SQLite / PostgreSQL (configurable)
• Role-based permissions

Frontend

• Next.js (App Router)
• TypeScript
• Fetch API
• Modular component-based UI

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🔐 Authentication & Authorization

• User Sign Up / Login
• JWT-based authentication
• Token verification for protected routes
• Role-based access using Django permissions and groups

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👥 User Roles & Capabilities

🧑‍💼 Project Manager (PM)

• Create and manage projects
• Assign Developers and QA to projects
• Create tasks and assign them to Developers
• View project-level task and bug data

👨‍💻 Developer

• View assigned projects
• View tasks assigned to them
• Track task status and progress
• Isolated access (cannot see unrelated projects or tasks)

🧪 QA Engineer

• View projects where QA is assigned
• Report bugs for assigned projects
• View bugs requiring verification
• View test runs (basic implementation)

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🗂 Core Features

Projects

• Created and owned by Project Managers
• Developer and QA assignment per project
• Strict permission enforcement

Tasks

• Created by PMs
• Assigned to Developers
• Developer-only task visibility
• Status and priority tracking

Bugs

• QA can report bugs only for assigned projects

• Bug fields include:

  • Title
  • Description
  • Severity
  • Status
  • Project

• Clear lifecycle separation (reporting vs verification)

Test Runs

• QA-focused test run listing
• Designed for future test case management

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🧠 Architectural Highlights

• Role-based API endpoints (PM / Dev / QA)
• Serializer-driven responses
• Domain separation (projects, tasks, bugs, auth)
• Frontend types aligned with backend serializers
• Designed for extension, not over-engineering

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📦 API Structure (High-Level)

/api/auth/
  ├── login/
  ├── register/

/api/projects/
  ├── pm/
  ├── qa/

/api/tasks/
  ├── dev/

/api/bugs/
  ├── create/
  ├── qa/
  ├── pm/
  ├── dev/

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▶️ Running the Project Locally

🔧 Backend Setup (Django)

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/your-username/project-management-app.git
cd project-management-app/backend

2. Create and activate virtual environment

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

(Windows)

venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Apply database migrations

python manage.py makemigrations
python manage.py migrate

5. Create superuser (optional)

python manage.py createsuperuser

6. Run the development server

python manage.py runserver

Backend will be available at:

http://localhost:8000/

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🌐 Frontend Setup (Next.js)

cd frontend
npm install
npm run dev

Frontend will be available at:

http://localhost:3000/

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🧪 Testing & Validation

• APIs tested using Postman
• JWT and permission checks validated
• Error handling for unauthorized access
• Defensive serializer validation

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⚠️ Scope & Future Enhancements

This project was built under time constraints with focus on clean backend design and correctness rather than feature volume.

Planned enhancements include:

• Task comments and activity logs
• Bug lifecycle actions (assign, verify, close)
• Test case management
• File attachments (screenshots, PR links)
• Pagination and advanced filtering
• Audit trails and notifications

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📌 Why This Project Matters

This repository demonstrates:

• Practical Django REST Framework expertise
• Secure JWT-based authentication
• Clean role-based backend architecture
• Strong API contract discipline
• Ability to deliver production-quality systems under time constraints

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