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Case study

design2025

Spiral Sounds

Full-stack Progressive Web App for vinyl record enthusiasts. RESTful Express.js API with JWT authentication, role-based access control, SQLite database with migrations, real-time WebSocket updates, debounced search, persistent cart, wishlist, and A+ security rating. 95%+ test coverage with Jest.

Where design meets code and pixels come alive

Field notes

Role

Creator

Read order

Evidence first, then constraint → build → proof. Use the chapter rail to jump sections; orbit to adjacent work from the bottom of the case study.

Design Universe·✦I-Class Giant

Evidence

System surface

No public screenshot on file—generative preview stands in for the visual layer.

Signature viewpreview

Story arc

How this shipped

Where design meets code and pixels come aliveThree beats: what pressed against the work, how the stack answered, and what changed once it was live.

I · Constraint

The brief

Building a production-grade e-commerce PWA without a modern framework — proving full-stack fundamentals with vanilla JS, a custom Express API, and raw SQL.

II · Build

The craft

REST API with JWT auth, role-based access control, SQLite migrations, and relationship modelling (users, products, reviews, wishlists, cart items). Real-time WebSocket integration for live analytics. 300ms debounced search. PWA with app shortcuts and offline support.

III · Proof

What moved after launch

95%+ Jest test coverage. A+ security rating. PWA works offline and installable. Real-time WebSocket updates deliver live inventory changes without polling.

Inventory

Stack & signals

Node.jsExpress.jsSQLitePWAJWTWebSocketJest
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© 2026 Elizabeth Stein

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