case study
express + prisma + nginx + docker
A reusable Dockerized backend foundation for Express applications with PostgreSQL, Prisma, authentication, transactional email, and an Nginx reverse proxy.
overview
A reusable backend and infrastructure foundation that packages recurring application concerns into a repeatable starting point instead of rebuilding authentication, persistence, reverse proxying, and environment setup for every project.
architecture
Internet → Nginx HTTP/HTTPS → Express backend → PostgreSQL/Prisma, with Resend available for transactional email and Docker Compose managing the services.
engineering focus
- Turning repeated backend and infrastructure concerns into a reusable foundation.
- Separating development and production behaviour through configuration.
- Understanding reverse proxying, TLS, persistence, and container orchestration.
- Creating application infrastructure that can support domain-specific features on top.
highlights
- Registration, login, email verification, password recovery, profile management, account settings, onboarding, and auth-state navigation.
- Prisma-backed PostgreSQL persistence with a customizable user model.
- Development and production modes with HTTP locally and HTTPS plus HTTP-to-HTTPS redirection in production.
- Persistent database storage and optional transactional email through Resend.
project context
Designed as a reusable starting point for Express + PostgreSQL applications.
project media
Existing portfolio media