How to Build a Focused Writing App with Distraction-Free Mode

Simple Summary

A distraction-free writing app that empowers users to focus on their content creation with a clean, minimalist interface and powerful productivity features.

Product Requirements Document (PRD)

Goals:

• Develop a user-friendly writing application with a distraction-free mode
• Provide a clean, minimalist interface for focused writing
• Implement productivity features to enhance the writing experience

Target Audience:

• Writers, bloggers, students, and professionals who need to focus on content creation

Key Features:

1. Distraction-free writing mode
2. Customizable interface
3. Auto-save functionality
4. Word count and writing goals
5. Basic text formatting options
6. Export to multiple file formats
7. Dark mode / light mode toggle
8. Focus timer with Pomodoro technique

User Requirements:

• Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
• Ability to customize distraction-free mode settings
• Seamless synchronization across devices
• Secure storage of written content
• Offline writing capability

User Flows

1. New User Registration:

   • User visits the app website
   • Clicks "Sign Up" button
   • Enters email, password, and confirms password
   • Verifies email address
   • Logs in to the app

2. Creating a New Document:

   • User logs in to the app
   • Clicks "New Document" button
   • Chooses document type (e.g., article, story, note)
   • Enters document title
   • Begins writing in the distraction-free editor

3. Customizing Distraction-Free Mode:

   • User navigates to Settings
   • Selects "Distraction-Free Mode" options
   • Adjusts background color, font style, and text size
   • Toggles features like word count display and focus timer
   • Saves preferences and returns to writing

Technical Specifications

Frontend:

• React for building the user interface
• Redux for state management
• Styled-components for CSS-in-JS styling

Backend:

• Node.js with Express.js for the server
• PostgreSQL for the database
• Sequelize as the ORM
• JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for authentication

Additional Tools:

• Socket.io for real-time collaboration features
• Quill.js for rich text editing capabilities
• Jest and React Testing Library for unit and integration testing
• ESLint and Prettier for code linting and formatting

API Endpoints

• POST /api/auth/register - User registration
• POST /api/auth/login - User login
• GET /api/documents - Retrieve user's documents
• POST /api/documents - Create a new document
• GET /api/documents/:id - Retrieve a specific document
• PUT /api/documents/:id - Update a document
• DELETE /api/documents/:id - Delete a document
• GET /api/users/:id/settings - Retrieve user settings
• PUT /api/users/:id/settings - Update user settings

Database Schema

Users Table:

• id (PK)
• email
• password_hash
• created_at
• updated_at

Documents Table:

• id (PK)
• user_id (FK to Users)
• title
• content
• created_at
• updated_at

Settings Table:

• id (PK)
• user_id (FK to Users)
• theme
• font_size
• font_family
• distraction_free_settings (JSON)
• created_at
• updated_at

File Structure

Implementation Plan

1. Project Setup (1-2 days)

   • Initialize React app with Create React App
   • Set up Node.js backend with Express
   • Configure PostgreSQL database
   • Set up version control with Git

2. User Authentication (3-4 days)

   • Implement user registration and login API
   • Create frontend forms for signup and login
   • Set up JWT authentication

3. Document Management (5-7 days)

   • Create CRUD API for documents
   • Implement document list and editor components
   • Set up real-time saving with Socket.io

4. Distraction-Free Mode (4-5 days)

   • Design and implement the distraction-free UI
   • Create settings for customizing the distraction-free experience
   • Implement focus timer and writing goals

5. Settings and Customization (3-4 days)

   • Create settings API
   • Implement settings UI for theme, fonts, and other preferences
   • Add dark mode / light mode toggle

6. Additional Features (4-5 days)

   • Implement export functionality
   • Add offline support with service workers
   • Create Pomodoro timer feature

7. Testing and Refinement (3-4 days)

   • Write unit and integration tests
   • Perform user testing and gather feedback
   • Refine UI/UX based on feedback

8. Deployment and Launch (2-3 days)

   • Set up production environment
   • Deploy to cloud platform
   • Perform final testing and bug fixes

Deployment Strategy

1. Choose a cloud platform (e.g., Heroku, AWS, or Google Cloud)
2. Set up separate environments for development, staging, and production
3. Use Docker containers for consistent deployments across environments
4. Implement a CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions or GitLab CI
5. Set up automated database backups and migrations
6. Configure SSL certificates for secure connections
7. Implement application monitoring and error tracking (e.g., Sentry, New Relic)
8. Use a CDN for static asset delivery
9. Set up auto-scaling for the backend to handle traffic spikes

Design Rationale

The design decisions for this focused writing app prioritize simplicity, user experience, and productivity. The React frontend allows for a responsive and interactive UI, while the Node.js backend provides a scalable and efficient server-side solution. PostgreSQL was chosen for its reliability and support for complex queries.

The distraction-free mode is the core feature, designed to be highly customizable to cater to different user preferences. The implementation of real-time saving and offline support ensures that users never lose their work. The addition of productivity features like the Pomodoro timer and writing goals helps users stay motivated and focused.

The modular file structure and use of components promote code reusability and easier maintenance. The deployment strategy focuses on scalability and reliability, ensuring a smooth experience for users as the application grows.