it is a cloud media storage platform similar to Google drive but just better UI (and built solo)

i used production tech like postgres, aws and used techniques majorly used in startups and mostly in professional environment like modular code, using fuzzy matchmaking in searches, managing rate limiting etc.

On the frontend, I used Next.js, React Query, and Tailwind. I optimized it with lazy loading, suspense boundaries, server & client component separation, custom hooks, debounced search, file previews, and smooth UI transitions.

The cool part is the search (actually every part is cool) — it’s smart, fast, supports suggestions, and the UI updates in real time using modern React best practices. I also added preview thumbnails for images/videos, folder organization, and clean error handling like you'd see in production apps.

Overall, Collect was my “flex” project — I treated it like a genuine startup product instead of just a portfolio app. It really taught me how real-world systems are built end-to-end, securely, performantly, and with a polished user experience.