Project brief
A complete web rebuild of the original desktop inventory system for Jalaram Wiremesh Co., replacing a single-user Python/Tkinter application with a multi-user web platform backed by PostgreSQL and accessible from any device. The rebuild preserves all the original business logic while adding real-time dashboards, role-aware workflows, and cloud-ready deployment.
Problem
The original desktop application was single-user, local-only, and had no reporting beyond manual exports. As the business grew, the inventory team needed concurrent access, better stock visibility, and automated reporting that did not depend on one person being at the right machine.
Solution
The rebuilt platform runs in the browser with a Next.js frontend and Node.js API backend connected to PostgreSQL. Multiple operators can update stock concurrently, managers get role-appropriate dashboards, and the reporting workflow is built into the application rather than bolted on. The system was designed for cloud deployment while remaining self-hostable.
Role
Full-stack ownership: database schema design and migration from the legacy MySQL structure, REST API design, Next.js UI implementation, authentication and role management, and deployment to the production environment.
Challenge
Migrating legacy business logic into a web-native model required careful analysis of the original application's implicit rules — stock update behaviors, low-stock triggers, and reporting assumptions that were embedded in code and not documented. Getting operator adoption meant the new UI had to feel faster than the old desktop app, not just more capable.