How to Build a Community Peace Circle App with Conflict Resolution Features

Simple Summary

A community-driven social platform that facilitates peaceful conflict resolution through digital peace circles, fostering understanding and harmony among users.

Product Requirements Document (PRD)

Goals:

• Create a safe, inclusive online space for community dialogue
• Facilitate conflict resolution through digital peace circles
• Foster empathy and understanding among diverse user groups

Target Audience:

• Community leaders and mediators
• Individuals seeking peaceful conflict resolution
• Organizations promoting social harmony

Key Features:

1. User Profiles with Conflict Resolution Styles
2. Digital Peace Circle Creation and Management
3. Guided Mediation Tools
4. Anonymous Participation Options
5. Progress Tracking for Conflict Resolution
6. Community Resource Library
7. Real-time Chat and Video Conferencing
8. Moderation Tools for Circle Facilitators

User Requirements:

• Intuitive, accessible interface for all age groups
• Robust privacy controls and data protection
• Multi-language support for diverse communities
• Integration with existing social platforms for wider reach

User Flows

1. Peace Circle Creation:

   • User logs in → Selects "Create Peace Circle" → Defines circle parameters (topic, participants, rules) → Invites members → Schedules first meeting

2. Conflict Resolution Process:

   • User reports conflict → Selects resolution method → System matches with mediator → Parties join guided resolution session → Follow-up and feedback

3. Community Engagement:

   • User browses active circles → Requests to join → Participates in discussions → Contributes resources → Tracks personal growth and impact

Technical Specifications

Frontend:

• React for component-based UI development
• Redux for state management
• Material-UI for consistent design elements

Backend:

• Node.js with Express for API development
• Socket.io for real-time communication
• JWT for authentication

Database:

• PostgreSQL for relational data storage
• Redis for caching and session management

APIs and Services:

• Twilio for video conferencing
• SendGrid for email notifications
• Amazon S3 for file storage

Testing:

• Jest for unit and integration testing
• Cypress for end-to-end testing

API Endpoints

• /auth: POST /register, POST /login, POST /logout
• /users: GET /, GET /:id, PUT /:id, DELETE /:id
• /circles: GET /, POST /, GET /:id, PUT /:id, DELETE /:id
• /sessions: GET /, POST /, GET /:id, PUT /:id
• /resources: GET /, POST /, GET /:id, PUT /:id, DELETE /:id
• /messages: GET /, POST /, GET /:id, DELETE /:id
• /notifications: GET /, POST /, PUT /:id

Database Schema

Users:

• id (PK), username, email, password_hash, profile_data, created_at, updated_at

Circles:

• id (PK), name, description, creator_id (FK to Users), status, created_at, updated_at

CircleMembers:

• id (PK), circle_id (FK to Circles), user_id (FK to Users), role, joined_at

Sessions:

• id (PK), circle_id (FK to Circles), facilitator_id (FK to Users), start_time, end_time, status

Messages:

• id (PK), sender_id (FK to Users), circle_id (FK to Circles), content, sent_at

Resources:

• id (PK), title, description, url, category, uploaded_by (FK to Users), created_at

File Structure

Implementation Plan

1. Project Setup (1 week)

   • Initialize React app and Node.js server
   • Set up database and ORM
   • Configure development environment and version control

2. User Authentication and Profiles (2 weeks)

   • Implement registration, login, and logout functionality
   • Create user profile management features
   • Set up JWT authentication

3. Peace Circle Core Functionality (3 weeks)

   • Develop circle creation and management features
   • Implement real-time messaging within circles
   • Create moderation tools for circle facilitators

4. Conflict Resolution Features (2 weeks)

   • Build guided mediation tools
   • Implement progress tracking for conflict resolution
   • Develop anonymous participation options

5. Community Engagement Tools (2 weeks)

   • Create community resource library
   • Implement social features (likes, comments, sharing)
   • Develop notification system

6. Integration and Testing (2 weeks)

   • Integrate all components and services
   • Perform thorough testing (unit, integration, e2e)
   • Conduct user acceptance testing

7. Optimization and Security (1 week)

   • Optimize performance and load times
   • Implement security best practices
   • Conduct security audits

8. Deployment and Launch Preparation (1 week)

   • Set up production environment
   • Deploy application to cloud services
   • Prepare launch materials and documentation

Deployment Strategy

1. Choose a cloud provider (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure)
2. Set up a containerized environment using Docker for consistency
3. Use Kubernetes for orchestration and scaling
4. Implement a CI/CD pipeline with GitHub Actions or Jenkins
5. Set up monitoring and logging with tools like Prometheus and ELK stack
6. Use a CDN for static asset delivery
7. Implement database backups and disaster recovery plans
8. Set up staging and production environments for controlled releases
9. Use blue-green deployment strategy for zero-downtime updates

Design Rationale

The design decisions for this Community Peace Circle app prioritize user engagement, security, and scalability. React was chosen for its component-based architecture, allowing for reusable UI elements and efficient updates. Node.js on the backend provides a JavaScript-based full-stack solution, simplifying development and maintenance.

The use of WebSockets enables real-time communication, crucial for live peace circles and instant messaging. PostgreSQL offers robust relational data management, while Redis enhances performance through caching.

The modular file structure separates concerns and promotes maintainability. The implementation plan follows an agile approach, allowing for iterative development and early feedback. The deployment strategy emphasizes reliability and scalability, ensuring the application can grow with its user base while maintaining performance and security.