GUCupid 💕

A Beautiful Full Stack Dating App for Gauhati University Students

"Where hearts connect and love stories begin"

🌟 Overview

GUCupid is a modern, feature-rich dating application specifically designed for Gauhati University students. Built with Django and real-time WebSocket technology, it provides a safe and engaging platform for university students to connect, match, and build meaningful relationships within their academic community.

Screenshots

✨ Features

🔐 Authentication & Profile Management

• Secure Registration/Login - University-specific authentication via auth_view
• Comprehensive Profiles - Photos, bio, interests, and academic details via profile_setup
• Smart Matching Algorithm - Based on preferences, interests, and mutual compatibility

💕 Matching System

• Swipe Interface - Intuitive like/pass system implemented in home
• Instant Match Notifications - Real-time alerts via like_profile and WebSocket consumers
• Preference Filtering - Filter by gender, interests, and lifestyle choices
• Rejected Profile Reset - Second chances with reset_rejected_profiles

💬 Real-time Chat

• WebSocket-powered Messaging - Instant communication via ChatConsumer
• Match-based Conversations - Chat only with mutual matches through chat
• Message Notifications - Stay updated via NotificationConsumer
• Secure Communication - Private and encrypted conversations

🎯 Advanced Features

• Multi-photo Profiles - Up to 3 photos per profile in Profile
• Interest Matching - 20+ hobby categories for better compatibility
• Lifestyle Preferences - Drinking, smoking, personality type matching
• College & Department Info - Academic-based connections
• Zodiac Compatibility - For those who believe in the stars

📱 User Experience

• Mobile-first Design - Responsive design in base.html
• Beautiful UI/UX - Modern gradient design with romantic themes
• Smooth Animations - Engaging swipe animations and transitions
• Tab-based Navigation - Easy switching between Discover, Matches, and Profile

🚀 Tech Stack

Backend

• Django 5.2.1 - Robust web framework
• Django Channels - WebSocket support for real-time features in asgi.py
• SQLite - Lightweight database for development
• Pillow - Image handling and processing

Frontend

• HTML5/CSS3 - Modern web standards
• Tailwind CSS - Utility-first styling framework
• Vanilla JavaScript - Custom interactions and WebSocket handling in notifications.js
• Progressive Web App - Mobile app-like experience

Real-time Features

• WebSocket Connections - Live chat and notifications via routing.py
• Django Channels - Message queuing and broadcasting
• Asynchronous Views - Non-blocking user experience

🛠️ Installation & Setup

Prerequisites

• Python 3.11+
• pip package manager
• Git
• Redis (for WebSocket support)

Quick Start

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/gucupid.git
   cd GUCupid/LoveSpark

2. Create virtual environment

   python -m venv venv
   
   # On Windows
   venv\Scripts\activate
   
   # On Linux/macOS
   source venv/bin/activate

3. Install dependencies

   pip install -r requirements.txt

   Or install manually:

   pip install django==5.2.1
   pip install channels
   pip install daphne
   pip install pillow
   pip install django-cors-headers
   pip install channels-redis

4. Configure environment

   # Copy environment template
   cp .env.example .env
   
   # Edit .env file with your settings

5. Database setup

   python manage.py makemigrations
   python manage.py migrate

6. Create superuser (optional)

   python manage.py createsuperuser

7. Collect static files (for production)

   python manage.py collectstatic

🚀 Running the Application

Development Server (Simple)

python manage.py runserver

Production Server with WebSocket Support (Recommended)

# Using Daphne ASGI server for WebSocket support
daphne -b 0.0.0.0 -p 8000 dating_app.asgi:application