Rare Tools - Japanese Tool Marketplace
Rare Tools is a specialized e-commerce platform that connects enthusiasts with premium Japanese tools. The platform features an automated scraping system that collects data from various Japanese marketplaces, processes it, and presents it through a modern, user-friendly interface. The application emphasizes performance, SEO, and user experience while maintaining data accuracy and real-time availability.
5+
Product Categories
Different categories of Japanese tools available
3+
Data Sources
Japanese marketplaces integrated
Technical Architecture
The application follows a modern microservices architecture with a clear separation between the frontend e-commerce platform and the backend scraping system. It uses Next.js for the frontend and Node.js for the backend scraping services.
Technical Details
Frontend
Framework: Next.js with App Router
State Management: React Server Components
Styling: Tailwind CSS with shadcn/ui components
Notable Features
- Server-side rendering
- Dynamic OG images
- Automatic dark/light mode
- SEO optimization
- Responsive design
Backend
Framework: Node.js with TypeScript
Database: JSON-based data storage
API: REST API with Express
Notable Features
- Automated scraping system
- Data normalization pipeline
- Image processing and storage
- OpenAI integration
- Error handling and retry mechanisms
Infrastructure
Hosting: Vercel
Deployment: Vercel CI/CD
Monitoring: Vercel Analytics
Notable Features
- Edge Runtime support
- Automatic deployments
- Performance monitoring
- Error tracking
Project Screenshots
Homepage
Main landing page showcasing featured tools
Team & Role
Team Information
Team Size: 1 developer
Role: Full Stack Developer
Responsibilities
- Frontend development
- Backend development
- Data scraping implementation
- Infrastructure management
- Performance optimization
Project Journey
Challenge
Handling multiple Japanese marketplace data sources
Solution
Built a robust scraping system using Puppeteer and TypeScript
Impact
Successfully aggregated products from multiple Japanese marketplaces
Challenge
Maintaining data consistency and accuracy
Solution
Implemented data validation and normalization pipelines
Impact
Achieved fast page load times with Next.js optimization
Challenge
Implementing real-time price and availability updates
Solution
Utilized AWS S3 for reliable image storage
Impact
Implemented responsive design for all device types
Challenge
Managing complex product variations and specifications
Solution
Created a modular architecture for easy marketplace integration
Impact
Created an intuitive search and filtering system
Challenge
Ensuring reliable image processing and storage
Solution
Employed OpenAI API for enhanced data processing