What might have already done in the website right now • Frontend Website o Modern HTML + CSS interface created (index.html, styles.css) with navigation, forms, and hero section. o Responsive design tested across browsers with consistent layout and theme. • Server Integration o server.js now successfully serves the static public/ directory. o Backend configured using Express, Helmet, CORS, xss-clean, and compression middleware for security and performance. o .env configuration added for local environment variables. • Database Connection o MongoDB connection established and tested using Mongoose (connection success message confirmed). • GitHub Repository o Full backend and frontend code committed and pushed to GitHub smsu-rideshare-backend. o Organized folder structure: controllers/, routes/, models/, public/. • Visual & Design Improvements o Implemented color palette, hero section, form layouts, and buttons to enhance readability and professional look. In Progress / Next Steps 1. User Authentication (Next Phase) o Add user registration and login using JWT and bcrypt. o Set up cookies for session persistence. 2. Ride Posting System o Create endpoints to allow drivers to post rides and riders to search by location/date. 3. Payment Proof Upload o Integrate upload system for screenshots (using Multer). 4. Testing & Validation o Use Postman and browser console testing to ensure all routes work. 5. Frontend Enhancements o Add success messages, improved styling, and live connection to backend APIs. 6. Deployment Plan o Prepare for hosting on Render or Railway after backend authentication is complete.