NoteNest 📝

Collaborative Knowledge Base for Teams

NoteNest is an open-source, team-based knowledge base that allows users to create, organize, and collaborate on notes and documentation in real time. It mirrors industry-grade documentation and collaboration tools used by modern teams.

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✨ Features

Feature	Description
📝 Rich Note Editor	Structured documentation with Markdown support
👥 Team Workspaces	Collaborative spaces for your team
🔐 Role-Based Access	Fine-grained permissions (Admin, Editor, Viewer)
🔍 Search & Indexing	Find notes quickly with powerful search
📁 Organization	Folders and tags to keep notes organized
🚀 Scalable Backend	Built for performance and growth

Coming Soon

• 🔎 Full-text search
• 🤖 AI-assisted summaries

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🛠️ Tech Stack

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      Frontend                           │
│   Next.js  •  Tailwind CSS  •  Modern React Components  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                      Backend                            │
│   Node.js  •  REST / GraphQL APIs  •  JWT Auth          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                      Database                           │
│                      MongoDB                            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

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🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

• Node.js v18 or higher (Download)
• MongoDB (local) or MongoDB Atlas account
• Git (Download)

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/R3ACTR/NoteNest-Collaborative-Knowledge-Base.git
   cd NoteNest-Collaborative-Knowledge-Base

2. Install dependencies (root + backend + frontend)

   npm run install:all

   Or install manually: npm install at the repo root, then npm install in both backend/ and frontend/.

3. Run backend and frontend with one command

   From the repository root:

   npm run dev

   This starts both the backend and the frontend in parallel. Backend runs at http://localhost:5000, frontend at http://localhost:3000.

   To run them separately: npm run dev:backend or npm run dev:frontend from the root, or run npm run dev inside backend/ or frontend/.

4. Backend environment (optional)
   If the backend needs a .env file (e.g. MongoDB URI), create backend/.env from backend/.env.example and edit as needed.

Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the backend/ directory:

# MongoDB Connection
MONGODB_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017/notenest

# JWT Secret (use a strong random string)
JWT_SECRET=your-secret-key-here

# Server Port
PORT=5000

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📁 Project Structure

notenest/
├── frontend/           # Next.js frontend application
│   ├── components/     # Reusable React components
│   ├── pages/          # Next.js pages
│   └── styles/         # Tailwind CSS styles
│
├── backend/            # Node.js backend APIs
│   ├── controllers/    # Request handlers
│   ├── models/         # MongoDB models
│   ├── routes/         # API routes
│   └── middleware/     # Auth & validation middleware
│
├── docs/               # Project documentation
├── .github/            # GitHub workflows & templates
├── CONTRIBUTING.md     # Contribution guidelines
├── ROADMAP.md          # Feature roadmap
└── README.md           # You are here!

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🧩 How to Contribute

We welcome contributions of all sizes! Here's how to get started:

1. Find an Issue

Browse our Issues and look for:

Label	Description
good first issue	Perfect for newcomers
frontend	UI/React work
backend	API/Node.js work
documentation	Docs and guides
bug	Something needs fixing

2. Fork & Clone

# Fork via GitHub UI, then:
git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/NoteNest-Collaborative-Knowledge-Base.git
cd NoteNest-Collaborative-Knowledge-Base
git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name

3. Make Your Changes

• Write clean, readable code
• Add comments where helpful
• Follow existing code style
• Test your changes locally

4. Submit a Pull Request

git add .
git commit -m "feat: add your feature description"
git push origin feature/your-feature-name

Then open a PR on GitHub with a clear description of your changes.

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📚 Documentation

Document	Description
Setup Guide	Detailed local setup instructions
Architecture	System architecture overview
API Reference	API endpoints documentation
Roles & Access	RBAC documentation

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📝 What Makes a Good Note?

A well-written note is clear, structured, and useful to others. Follow these principles when contributing notes to NoteNest:

1. Clear Purpose

Every note should answer: "Why does this exist?"

• Start with a descriptive title that tells readers what the note is about
• Include a brief summary at the top explaining the note's purpose
• Focus on one topic per note instead of mixing multiple unrelated ideas

2. Structured Content

Organize information logically so readers can scan and find what they need:

• Use headings and subheadings to break down complex topics
• Group related information together
• Present steps or lists in a clear, numbered or bulleted format
• Keep paragraphs short (2-4 sentences max)

3. Actionable Information

Good notes help people do something or understand something:

• Provide specific examples instead of vague descriptions
• Include code snippets, commands, or screenshots when relevant
• Add links to related documentation or resources
• Specify prerequisites or requirements upfront

4. Consistent Formatting

Follow Markdown conventions to maintain readability:

• Use code blocks for commands, file names, and technical terms
• Apply bold for emphasis on key terms
• Use > blockquotes for important warnings or notes
• Format links meaningfully: [Link Text](url) instead of raw URLs

5. Good vs. Weak Examples

❌ Weak Note:

Setup stuff
Just install the things and run it. Ask someone if it doesn't work.

✅ Good Note:

## Local Development Setup

This guide helps you set up NoteNest on your local machine.

### Prerequisites
- Node.js v18+
- MongoDB running locally

### Steps
1. Clone the repository
2. Run `npm install` in both `/frontend` and `/backend`
3. Configure `.env` file (see Environment Variables section)
4. Start backend: `npm run dev` from `/backend`
5. Start frontend: `npm run dev` from `/frontend`

### Troubleshooting
- If MongoDB connection fails, verify it's running: `mongod --version`

The difference? The good note is specific, structured, and actionable.

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🔒 Security

Found a security vulnerability? Please read our Security Policy for responsible disclosure guidelines.

⚠️ Do NOT report security issues via public GitHub issues.

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📍 Roadmap

See our Roadmap for planned features:

• Core note editor
• Team workspaces
• Full-text search
• AI-assisted features
• Mobile app

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📊 Evaluation (OSQ)

Contributions are evaluated based on:

• ✅ Code quality and clarity
• ✅ Documentation
• ✅ Consistency with project style
• ✅ Collaboration and communication

Quality and learning matter more than quantity!

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📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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🙏 Acknowledgements

• Open Source Quest (OSQ) community
• All our amazing contributors ❤️

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Happy contributing! 🚀

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