SkillSwap – Community-Based Skill Barter Platform

Overview

SkillSwap is a full-stack web application that enables users to exchange knowledge by teaching skills they possess and learning new ones from others. Instead of focusing on monetary transactions, the platform promotes collaborative learning through a community-driven skill-sharing ecosystem.

The application provides an intuitive interface where users can create profiles, showcase their skills, discover learners or mentors, and connect with people having complementary interests. The platform emphasizes accessibility, secure authentication, and an engaging user experience.

Problem Statement

Many people possess valuable skills but lack an easy platform to exchange knowledge with others. Traditional learning platforms are often one-sided and paid, making collaborative learning difficult.

SkillSwap addresses this challenge by allowing users to barter skills with each other, creating an interactive learning community.

Key Features

Secure Authentication

JWT-based authentication
Protected routes
Secure password hashing
Persistent login sessions
React Context API for global authentication state

Automated Skill Card System

Users can create attractive skill cards containing:

Skill Name
Category
Experience Level
Description
Availability
Learning Goals

These cards are automatically displayed across the platform, making it easy for users to discover relevant skills.

Skill Matching

The platform intelligently connects users based on:

Skills they can teach
Skills they want to learn
Matching categories
User preferences

This helps users quickly find potential learning partners.

💬 Real-Time Communication

Users can communicate directly after a successful skill match through an integrated chat system, enabling smooth collaboration and knowledge exchange.

User Dashboard

Each user gets a personalized dashboard to:

Manage profile
Add or edit skills
View skill requests
Track learning progress
Manage teaching offers

Tech Stack

Frontend

React.js
Tailwind CSS
React Context API
Axios

Backend

Node.js
Express.js
REST APIs
JWT Authentication

Database

MongoDB
Mongoose

Real-Time Features

Socket.IO