I developed an online transaction system that automates the management processes of competitions, matches and athletes belonging to the Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Caracas. I did this project as a community service. Technologies such as Nest, Vue, Docker, Heroku, GitHub Actions and Sendgrid were involved. The design I implemented was based on a Hexagonal Architecture.
My experience as a Software Developer for the Sports League of Caracas
In 2019, I had the privilege of giving back to my university community by leading a digital transformation project for the Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Caracas (Liga U), the university’s sports league. As a student and a passionate advocate for technology, I saw an opportunity to use my skills to make a real difference. The league was run entirely on manual processes, from registering athletes to scheduling matches. This was not only inefficient but also prone to errors. I knew that I could automate these processes and create a more streamlined and efficient system for everyone involved.
This project was a community service initiative, which meant that I was not paid for my work. However, the experience was more valuable than any salary. It was an opportunity to apply my knowledge in a real-world setting, to make a tangible impact on my community, and to learn new skills along the way.
From Manual to Automated
The challenge was to create an online transaction system that would automate the management of competitions, matches, and athletes. The system had to be easy to use for both the league administrators and the students. It also had to be robust and reliable, as it would be handling sensitive data.
I decided to build the system using a modern tech stack. The backend was built with NestJS, a Node.js framework that I had come to love for its scalability and maintainability. For the frontend, I used Vue.js, a progressive JavaScript framework that is known for its simplicity and ease of use. I also used Docker to containerize the application, which made it easy to deploy and manage. The application was deployed on Heroku, a cloud platform that provides a simple and elegant way to run applications.
One of the key architectural decisions I made was to use a Hexagonal Architecture. This is a software architecture pattern that promotes loose coupling and high cohesion. It allowed me to separate the core business logic from the external dependencies, such as the database and the user interface. This made the system more modular, more testable, and more maintainable.
The Impact
The online transaction system was a game-changer for the Liga U. It automated all of the league’s manual processes, which saved a tremendous amount of time and effort. The league administrators could now manage competitions, matches, and athletes with just a few clicks. The students could also register for competitions and view their schedules online.
The system was a huge success, and it was met with positive feedback from everyone involved. It was a testament to the power of technology to transform even the most traditional organizations.
The Rewards of Giving Back
My experience with the Liga U was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was a challenging project, but it was also a lot of fun. I learned a great deal about software development, project management, and teamwork. I also learned the importance of giving back to the community.
I am proud of the work I did for the Liga U, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of such a meaningful project. It was a reminder that technology can be a force for good in the world, and it inspired me to continue using my skills to make a positive impact.