Video-Sharing Social Network

Embarking on a digital odyssey in a realm saturated with infinite scrolling and fleeting fads, I discovered what appeared to be an uncharted void in our vast online universe. This endeavor wasn't about a digital renaissance; it was more about sculpting a haven where memes transcend being mere fleeting jokes to become relics of our shared digital psyche. Join me on this voyage with Next.js and Sanity.io, as I, an aspiring software developer moonlighting as a Costco stocker from 4-10AM and doubling as a coding tutor/app builder by night, ventured to forge not merely another application but a refuge for video content—a digital sonnet dedicated to the essence of the web.

Immersed in code, powered by a relentless drive that only those who've traded their sleep for the thrill of creation can understand, I embarked on a quest. What was the holy grail? Envisioning a platform where the video of your dog's hilarious encounter with a lemon, or your grandma's birthday party turning epic as she outdances everyone, isn't just content but a bridge to genuine connection in this age of digital personas.

Utilizing the wizardry of Next.js for that sweet, sweet SEO juice and Sanity.io for a backend so slick it would make your head spin, I was on my way. Features like commenting, liking, and the sacred user search were not just implemented but woven into the very fabric of this digital utopia. This was it—the platform that would make Zuckerberg quiver in his boots, or so I thought.

But let's hit pause. As I pieced this digital jigsaw together, a moment of clarity hit me like a poorly timed ad on YouTube. Was I inventing the wheel, or was I just putting fancy rims on it? My grand vision, it turned out, bore an uncanny resemblance to the titans of video sharing we already know and love (or love to hate)—yep, TikTok and Instagram Reels.

The plot twist? I wasn't even mad. In fact, I laughed. Here I was, thinking I'd stumbled upon uncharted territory, only to find out I was throwing a party in a venue that's seen more events than the local community hall. But that's the beauty of it. This realization didn't spell defeat; it highlighted the universal coder experience—boldly going where many have gone before, but leaving your own mark.

In essence, what I've built may mirror the giants that dominate our screen time, but it's got my DNA all over it (figuratively speaking, please wear a mask). It's a testament to late-night coding sessions, the relentless pursuit of that elusive bug in the code, and the sheer joy of finally seeing your creation come to life, even if it does remind you of your friend's TikTok obsession.

So here's to building, creating, and occasionally reinventing the wheel because even if we end up where others have been, the journey and the code indents we leave behind tell our unique story. Mine just happens to include yet another video sharing platform that might make you think, "Haven't I seen this before?" But trust me, it's cooler—it's got the spirit of a sleep-deprived, overly ambitious young developer behind it. And isn't that what the internet's really all about?

Suggested Code Snippet Location: Here, you could showcase a simplified version of your video sharing or screen sharing feature.

Choosing the Stack

Choosing the right tech stack was crucial. I needed something flexible yet powerful, modern yet supportive of real-time features. After some research, I landed on two primary technologies:

Suggested Code Snippet Location: Here, consider showing how you initialize a Next.js project or configure Sanity.io for your project.

Building the Platform

The development journey was both challenging and exhilarating. Here's a brief overview of the features I implemented:

Video Sharing

At its heart, the platform enables users to share videos with ease. Whether it's a funny clip, a family moment, or a creative masterpiece, sharing is just a few clicks away. I designed the video upload feature with simplicity in mind, ensuring even the least tech-savvy users could share content effortlessly.

Suggested Code Snippet Location: Showcase your video upload function or form.

Engaging Through Comments and Likes

Interaction was key to fostering a sense of community. I integrated commenting and liking features, allowing users to express themselves and engage with content. Building this with Sanity.io's real-time data syncing meant comments and reactions updated instantly, making the experience dynamic and lively.

Suggested Code Snippet Location: Demonstrate how you implemented comments or likes, possibly highlighting the real-time aspect.

Discoverability with User Search

To connect the community further, I implemented a user search feature. It allows users to discover and connect with friends, family, or even like-minded strangers. This feature not only made the platform more interactive but also helped grow the community organically.

// [searchTerm].tsx
import React, {
  useState
} from 'react';
import Image from 'next/image';
import {
  useRouter
} from 'next/router';
import {
  GoVerified
} from 'react-icons/go';
import Link from 'next/link';
import axios from 'axios';
import NoResults from '../../components/NoResults';
import VideoCard from '../../components/VideoCard';
import useAuthStore from '../../store/authStore';
import {
  BASE_URL
} from '../../utils';
import {
  IUser,
  Video
} from '../../types';

const Search = ({
    videos
  }: {
    videos: Video[]
  }) => {
    const [isAccounts, setIsAccounts] = useState(false);
    const {
      allUsers
    }: {
      allUsers: IUser[]
    } = useAuthStore();

    const router = useRouter();
    const {
      searchTerm
    }: any = router.query;

    const accounts = isAccounts ? 'border-b-2 border-black' : 'text-gray-400';
    const isVideos = !isAccounts ? 'border-b-2 border-black' : 'text-gray-400';
    const searchedAccounts = allUsers?.filter((user: IUser) => user.userName.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm));


    return ( <
      div className = 'w-full  ' >
      <
      div className = 'flex gap-10 mb-10 border-b-2 border-gray-200 md:fixed z-50 bg-white w-full' >
      <
      p onClick = {
        () => setIsAccounts(true)
      }
      className = {
        …} >
      Accounts <
      /p> <
      p className = {
        …}
      onClick = {
        () => setIsAccounts(false)
      } >
      Videos <
      /p> <
      /div> {
        isAccounts ? ( <
          div className = 'md:mt-16' > {
            searchedAccounts.length > 0 ? (
              searchedAccounts.map((user: IUser, idx: number) => ( <
                Link key = {
                  idx
                }
                href = {
                  …} >
                <
                div className = ' flex gap-3 p-2 cursor-pointer font-semibold rounded border-b-2 border-gray-200' >
                <
                div >
                <
                Image width = {
                  50
                }
                height = {
                  50
                }
                className = 'rounded-full'
                alt = 'user-profile'
                src = {
                  user.image
                }
                /> <
                /div> <
                div >
                <
                div >
                <
                p className = 'flex gap-1 items-center text-lg font-bold text-primary' > {
                  user.userName
                } < GoVerified className = 'text-blue-400' / >
                <
                /p> <
                p className = 'capitalize text-gray-400 text-sm' > {
                  user.userName
                } <
                /p> <
                /div> <
                /div> <
                /div> <
                /Link>
              ))
            ) : ( <
              NoResults text = {
                …}
              />
            )
          } <
          /div>
        ) : ( <
          div className = 'md:mt-16 flex flex-wrap gap-6 md:justify-start ' > {
            videos.length ? (
              videos.map((post: Video, idx: number) => ( <
                VideoCard post = {
                  post
                }
                key = {
                  idx
                }
                />
              ))
            ) : ( <
              NoResults text = {
                …}
              />
            )
          } <
          /div>
        )
      } <
      /div>
    )

The Challenges and Triumphs

Every project has its ups and downs, and this was no exception. Integrating video content seamlessly while maintaining performance was a challenge. I spent nights optimizing, testing, and re-testing, ensuring that the user experience remained smooth and engaging.

The triumph? Seeing users interact, share, and connect in the space I created. It validated every line of code written, every bug fixed, and every optimization made.

Final Thoughts

Building this platform taught me the importance of connection in the digital world. It was a journey of technical growth, creativity, and, ultimately, of bringing people a little closer together. I'm excited to see how it evolves and hopeful for the connections it will foster.

To fellow developers, I say: never underestimate the impact your code can have on the world. Whether it's a simple app or a complex platform, what you build can change lives. Keep coding, keep creating, and let's make the digital world a little more human, one project at a time.