Hobbyists’ Collection Web Application for Managing Miniature Model Inventories Using Mern Stack

Abstract

This is a web-based prototype that serves as a solution for miniature collectors of tabletop games, allowing them to manage their collection through addition, modification, deletion, and viewing. One of the principal problems this project addresses is that as collections grow, managing them becomes a hassle, leading people to purchase items twice because spreadsheet-based management is neither convenient nor portable. This analysis highlights a deficiency in current general-purpose inventory techniques when used for miniature hobbyist inventorying. Among its objectives, it aimed to develop a web application using React.js to improve the user experience (UX), develop the web server using Node.js (Express), enhance Node.js with Express, and utilise MongoDB to meet database needs. Among other objectives, it identified the functional and non-functional specifications of projects, activity diagrams, use case diagrams, user story specifications, collaboration diagrams, and database object schematics. A test of both usability and user experience was carried out using a 5-point Likert scale. The evaluation served as the prototype assessment to identify user perspectives and guide further refinements. There were 17 responses, representing roughly 89% of the active membership of a local game group. Results suggested that one should consider mobile-friendliness and allow users to interact using a touchpad. Results demonstrate the need to implement mobile-responsive features in the upcoming development iteration. Future developments would involve database modification, redesign of the graphical user interface, login function, and hosting options.