Build a coupon expiration reminder tool

Building a coupon expiration reminder tool involves several steps, from setting up a basic backend to sending timely reminders to users. Here’s a simple way to conceptualize and build it:

1. Define the Requirements

• User Registration: Users should be able to create an account to store their coupons.

• Coupon Entry: Users should input coupon details such as code, expiration date, and store.

• Expiration Reminder: The system should send reminders to users about upcoming coupon expiration dates, say a week before and a day before.

• Notification Options: Users can receive reminders through email, text, or push notifications.

• Database: Store user data and coupon details securely.

2. Tech Stack Suggestions

• Frontend:

  • React.js or Vue.js (for a modern, responsive UI)

  • Tailwind CSS (for styling)

  • Optional: Progressive Web App (PWA) for mobile-like functionality

• Backend:

  • Node.js with Express.js (or Django if you prefer Python)

  • Database: MongoDB or PostgreSQL for storing user and coupon data

  • Authentication: JWT for secure login (OAuth integration is optional)

• Notification Service:

  • Email: Use services like SendGrid or Amazon SES.

  • SMS: Twilio for text message notifications.

  • Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM).

3. Database Schema Example

sql
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// Coupons Table (for storing user coupon data)
CREATE TABLE Coupons (
  id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
  user_id INT NOT NULL,  // Foreign key from Users table
  coupon_code VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
  store_name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
  expiration_date DATE NOT NULL,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
  updated_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

sql
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// Users Table (for storing user data)
CREATE TABLE Users (
  id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
  email VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
  password VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

4. Backend Logic

• API for User Registration/Login:

  • POST /register: Create a new user.

  • POST /login: User login via email/password, return a JWT token for authentication.

• API for Coupon Management:

  • POST /add-coupon: Users can add a new coupon with details (coupon code, store, expiration date).

  • GET /coupons: Get a list of all stored coupons for the logged-in user.

• Expiration Check:

  • Create a cron job or use a scheduled task to check for coupons that will expire within the next day/week.

  • Trigger email/SMS notifications based on the check.

js
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// Example of a cron job to check for expiring coupons using Node.js
const cron = require('node-cron');
const { sendEmailReminder, sendSmsReminder } = require('./notifications'); // sendReminder functions

cron.schedule('0 9 * * *', async () => {  // Runs every day at 9 AM
  const expiringCoupons = await getExpiringCoupons();
  expiringCoupons.forEach(coupon => {
    if (isSoonToExpire(coupon.expiration_date)) {
      sendEmailReminder(coupon);
      sendSmsReminder(coupon);
    }
  });
});

async function getExpiringCoupons() {
  // Query the database to get coupons that are expiring in the next 7 days
  return await db.query("SELECT * FROM Coupons WHERE expiration_date BETWEEN NOW() AND NOW() + INTERVAL '7 days'");
}

function isSoonToExpire(expirationDate) {
  const today = new Date();
  const expiry = new Date(expirationDate);
  const diff = (expiry - today) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24); // Get difference in days
  return diff <= 7 && diff >= 0;
}

5. Email/SMS Reminders

Create separate functions to send email and SMS reminders to users:

js
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// Email Reminder (using Nodemailer or SendGrid)
const sendEmailReminder = (coupon) => {
  const emailBody = `Your coupon for ${coupon.store_name} is about to expire! Coupon code: ${coupon.coupon_code}`;
  sendEmail(coupon.user_email, "Coupon Expiration Reminder", emailBody);
};

// SMS Reminder (using Twilio)
const sendSmsReminder = (coupon) => {
  const message = `Your coupon for ${coupon.store_name} expires soon! Coupon code: ${coupon.coupon_code}`;
  sendSms(coupon.user_phone, message);
};

6. Frontend Features

• Dashboard: Users can view their saved coupons and expiration dates.

• Add New Coupon Form: A form where users can add coupon details and the expiration date.

• Reminder Settings: Let users configure when and how often they want reminders.

Example of a simple React component for adding a coupon:

jsx
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import React, { useState } from 'react';

const AddCouponForm = () => {
  const [couponCode, setCouponCode] = useState('');
  const [store, setStore] = useState('');
  const [expirationDate, setExpirationDate] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    const response = await fetch('/add-coupon', {
      method: 'POST',
      body: JSON.stringify({ couponCode, store, expirationDate }),
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      },
    });
    if (response.ok) {
      alert('Coupon added successfully');
    } else {
      alert('Error adding coupon');
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input
        type="text"
        placeholder="Coupon Code"
        value={couponCode}
        onChange={(e) => setCouponCode(e.target.value)}
        required
      />
      <input
        type="text"
        placeholder="Store Name"
        value={store}
        onChange={(e) => setStore(e.target.value)}
        required
      />
      <input
        type="date"
        value={expirationDate}
        onChange={(e) => setExpirationDate(e.target.value)}
        required
      />
      <button type="submit">Add Coupon</button>
    </form>
  );
};

7. Deployment and Maintenance

• Hosting: You can deploy your backend using services like Heroku, AWS, or DigitalOcean, and the frontend with Netlify or Vercel.

• Database: Use managed databases like MongoDB Atlas or AWS RDS for PostgreSQL.

• Cron Jobs: Ensure your cron job runs correctly for sending reminders.

8. Additional Features

• Coupon Categories: Let users categorize coupons by type (e.g., groceries, electronics).

• Search Functionality: Users can search through their saved coupons.

• Expiration History: Show a history of expired coupons.

• Integration with Stores: For advanced functionality, integrate with stores’ APIs to fetch valid coupons and expiration dates.

This is a simplified structure to get you started. Depending on your project’s scope, you can expand it further with more features like user preferences, multi-device support, or a mobile app version.