Movie List Application - Documentation Summary
Project Overview
The Movie List Application is a modern full-stack web application that demonstrates best practices in containerized microservices architecture. Users can browse movies, watch trailers, and write reviews through an intuitive interface.
Architecture Summary
Three-Tier Architecture
- Frontend: React.js single-page application
 - Backend: Spring Boot REST API
 - Database: MongoDB NoSQL database
 
Technology Stack
- Frontend: React 18, React Router, Bootstrap, Material-UI, Axios
 - Backend: Spring Boot 3, Spring Data MongoDB, Lombok
 - Database: MongoDB with automatic initialization
 - Deployment: Docker & Docker Compose
 - Build Tools: Maven (backend), npm (frontend)
 
Documentation Structure
1. Introduction
Purpose: High-level overview and getting started guide Key Topics:
- Application architecture and component overview
 - Technology explanations for beginners
 - Development setup with Docker Compose
 - Application flow and benefits
 
2. Database Configuration
Purpose: MongoDB setup and data management Key Topics:
- Container configuration and initialization
 - Database structure and movie data schema
 - Connection configuration for different environments
 - Data persistence options and initialization scripts
 
3. Spring Boot Backend
Purpose: Backend API architecture and implementation Key Topics:
- Layered architecture (Controller → Service → Repository)
 - REST API endpoints for movies and reviews
 - Spring Boot features and annotations
 - Data models and MongoDB integration
 - CORS configuration and dependency injection
 
4. React Frontend
Purpose: Frontend application structure and components Key Topics:
- React application architecture and routing
 - Component hierarchy and state management
 - API integration with Axios
 - UI libraries and responsive design
 - Modern React patterns (hooks, functional components)
 
5. Docker Deployment
Purpose: Containerization and orchestration Key Topics:
- Docker Compose service configuration
 - Container dependencies and networking
 - Port mappings and volume management
 - Development vs production considerations
 - Common commands and troubleshooting
 
6. Dockerfile Details
Purpose: Container build processes and optimization Key Topics:
- Multi-stage builds for frontend optimization
 - Backend containerization with OpenJDK
 - Build context and layer caching strategies
 - Security considerations and image optimization
 
Key Features Implemented
Movie Browsing
- Carousel Display: Interactive movie carousel with backdrop images
 - Movie Details: Poster, title, genres, and release information
 - Trailer Integration: YouTube trailer playback
 - Responsive Design: Works on desktop and mobile devices
 
Review System
- View Reviews: Display existing reviews for each movie
 - Write Reviews: Users can submit new reviews
 - Real-time Updates: Reviews appear immediately after submission
 - Database Integration: Reviews stored in MongoDB with timestamps
 
Technical Features
- RESTful API: Clean API design with proper HTTP methods
 - Single Page Application: Client-side routing for fast navigation
 - Containerized Deployment: Complete Docker setup for easy deployment
 - Auto-initialization: Database populated with sample data automatically
 - CORS Enabled: Frontend and backend communication configured
 
Development Workflow
Local Development Setup
- Clone Repository: Get the source code
 - Start Services: 
docker-compose up --build - Access Application: Frontend at localhost:3000, API at localhost:8080
 - Database Ready: MongoDB automatically initialized with movie data
 
Making Changes
- Frontend Changes: Edit React components, changes reflect immediately
 - Backend Changes: Modify Java code, rebuild container
 - Database Changes: Update initialization scripts in mongo-init folder
 
API Endpoints Reference
Movies API
GET /api/v1/movies- Retrieve all moviesGET /api/v1/movies/{imdbId}- Get specific movie by IMDb ID
Reviews API
POST /api/v1/reviews- Create new review- Body: 
{"reviewBody": "text", "imdbId": "movieId"} 
- Body: 
 
Component Relationships
Frontend Flow
App.js (state management)
├── Header.js (navigation)
├── Home.js → Hero.js (movie carousel)
├── Trailer.js (YouTube player)
├── Reviews.js (review display/form)
└── NotFound.js (404 page)
Backend Flow
MovieController → MovieService → MovieRepository → MongoDB
ReviewController → ReviewService → ReviewRepository → MongoDB
Best Practices Demonstrated
Frontend Best Practices
- Component Separation: Single responsibility principle
 - State Management: Centralized state with prop passing
 - Error Handling: Try-catch blocks for API calls
 - Responsive Design: Bootstrap grid system
 - Modern React: Hooks instead of class components
 
Backend Best Practices
- Layered Architecture: Clear separation of concerns
 - Dependency Injection: Spring's IoC container
 - RESTful Design: Proper HTTP methods and status codes
 - Data Validation: Input validation and error handling
 - Configuration Management: Environment-specific properties
 
DevOps Best Practices
- Containerization: Consistent environments across development/production
 - Multi-stage Builds: Optimized container images
 - Service Dependencies: Proper startup order with health checks
 - Volume Management: Data persistence and initialization
 - Network Isolation: Container networking for security
 
Potential Enhancements
Authentication & Authorization
- User registration and login system
 - JWT token-based authentication
 - Role-based access control for reviews
 
Enhanced Features
- Movie search and filtering
 - User watchlists and favorites
 - Rating system (stars/scores)
 - Movie recommendations
 - User profiles and review history
 
Technical Improvements
- Database indexing for performance
 - Caching layer (Redis)
 - API rate limiting
 - Comprehensive testing (unit, integration, e2e)
 - CI/CD pipeline setup
 - Production monitoring and logging
 
Learning Outcomes
This project demonstrates:
- Full-stack Development: Frontend, backend, and database integration
 - Modern Web Technologies: React, Spring Boot, MongoDB
 - Containerization: Docker and Docker Compose
 - API Design: RESTful services and HTTP best practices
 - Database Design: NoSQL document modeling
 - Component Architecture: Modular, maintainable code structure
 
Getting Help
Common Issues
- Port Conflicts: Ensure ports 3000, 8080, 27017 are available
 - Docker Issues: Check Docker Desktop is running
 - Build Failures: Verify all dependencies are installed
 - API Errors: Check backend logs with 
docker logs movie-api 
Development Resources
- React Documentation: https://reactjs.org/docs
 - Spring Boot Guides: https://spring.io/guides
 - MongoDB Documentation: https://docs.mongodb.com
 - Docker Documentation: https://docs.docker.com
 
This documentation provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, developing, and deploying the Movie List Application. Each section builds upon the previous ones to give you a complete picture of how modern web applications are structured and deployed.