🎨 Skimble

A real-time collaborative whiteboard and idea canvas powered by React, Node.js, and AWS. Skimble is where creativity meets connectivity—built for teams, students, and creators to sketch, share, and sync ideas instantly from anywhere.

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📌 Features

• ⚡ Real-time multi-user sketching and note-taking
• 📝 Drawing tools, sticky notes, text elements
• 🔐 Secure authentication via AWS Cognito
• ☁️ Persistent storage using AWS DynamoDB and S3
• 🗂 Version history and rollback
• 💬 In-app commenting/chat
• 📤 Export whiteboards to image or PDF
• 📱 Fully responsive, mobile-friendly interface

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🛠 Tech Stack

Layer	Technology
Frontend	React.js, React Router
Backend	Node.js, Express.js
Authentication	AWS Cognito
Real-Time Sync	WebSockets or AWS AppSync
Storage	AWS DynamoDB / Aurora, S3
Hosting	AWS Amplify / CloudFront + S3

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🔧 Setup Instructions

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/your-username/skimble.git
cd skimble

2. Install Frontend

cd client
npm install
npm start

3. Install Backend

cd ../server
npm install
npm run dev

☁️4. AWS Setup

1. Create a Cognito User Pool and App Client for Auth
2. Set up an S3 bucket with public access & CORS
3. Set up DynamoDB or Aurora for board data
4. Assign appropriate IAM roles for Lambda/API Gateway (if applicable)

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🔐 5. Authentication Flow

1. User signs up/logs in through Cognito Hosted UI
2. Cognito returns JWT tokens (access + ID)
3. Frontend stores and attaches the JWT to outgoing API requests
4. Backend verifies token on each request

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🔄 6. Real-Time Collaboration Logic

1. Each whiteboard session has a unique board ID
2. Clients connect to a WebSocket channel or AppSync subscription for that board
3. Changes made by one user are broadcast to all connected users
4. Periodic autosaves send changes to the cloud database

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📡 7. API Endpoint

POST    /api/boards          → Save a new board  
GET     /api/boards/:id      → Retrieve an existing board  
PUT     /api/boards/:id      → Update board content  
DELETE  /api/boards/:id      → Delete a board

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📁 8. Folder Structure

skimble/
├── client/                 # React frontend
│   ├── src/
│   └── public/
├── server/                 # Node.js backend
│   ├── routes/
│   ├── controllers/
│   └── .env
├── .env
└── README.md

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🌱 Future Enhancement

• Voice notes and audio sketches
• AI-enhanced auto-layout and shape recognition
• Offline mode with sync-on-reconnect
• Theme support (dark/light/custom)
• Templates for flowcharts, diagrams, storyboarding

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👤 Author

Created by Hari
MIT License © 2025