vliang63 / connectus

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Connectus

About

Connectus is a peer to peer energy sales platform integrated with registered smart meters to monitor and control energy use.

Users can register their meters for energy sales and/or make a reservation at an existing meter. During their reservation time, a user can turn the outlet on/off and monitor their energy usage. Connectus uses the Modlet TE1010 smart meter from ThinkEco, Inc. as a prototype for monitoring and controling energy use. Coming this week, econnectus.co will host the app and demo hardware features.

Tech Stack

• Front End
  • React with Flux -- Utilizes unidirectional data flow for a modular, scalable app
  • GoogleMaps API -- Shows outlets by user input location
  • Bootstrap and Less -- Increases speed of styling and development
• Back End
  • MySql with Bookshelf.js -- Allows a complex relationship structure for user and meter information and their corresponding reservations and transactions
  • Socket.io -- Implements real-time data transfer between Modlet and the front end
  • BrainTree -- Incorporates both credit card and PayPal services
  • Passport -- Authorizes user with Facebook OAuth

App Structure Notes

• Flux utilizes unidirectional data flow using Actions, Dispatchers, Stores and Views for efficient DOM manipulation
• There are two servers -- the server and the powerServer. The server interfaces with the database and the powerServer maintains communication with hardware.
• Connectus can run without a hardware connection, the only impact is a user cannot turn an outlet on/off or see live data updates
• Database structure and relationships

Development

• Web App
  • Fork the repo.
  • Clone from your fork
  • npm install
  • bower install
• Database
  • Install mysql (or brew install mysql) and start the mysql service with mysql.server start
• Hardware
  • Connectus uses the Modlet TE1010 smart meter from ThinkEco, Inc. as a prototype for monitoring and controling energy use
  • To interface with the Modlet, use mcolyer's hacklet program and follow instructions for integration
  • Turn on the Modlet and type "hacklet commission" into the terminal
• Run the App
  • gulp
  • nodemon server/server.js
  • nodemon powerServer/powerServer.js

Team

Product Owners: Sean Connor, Valerie Liang
Scrum Masters: Jammie Mountz, Dianna Faulk