OpenStreetMap is completely free and open-source. You can use the Nominatim API for geocoding (converting addresses to coordinates or vice versa). No API key required. Free for all time (with request limits). Ideal for testing. Not as accurate as Google Maps for some use cases. Limited to non-commercial projects.
PositionStack is a geolocation API that provides 25,000 free requests per month. It's great for testing without any initial costs. Free for a reasonable amount of testing. Provides forward and reverse geocoding. You’ll need an API key. You can register at positionstack.com to get your free API key.
Google Maps offers a $200 monthly free credit, which is generally enough for low-volume testing and development purposes. It includes the Distance Matrix API, which calculates distances between locations. High accuracy. Includes many features like distance matrix, directions, and real-time location tracking. After exceeding the $200 credit, you’ll need to pay. Requires an API key and billing setup (but no charges unless you exceed free credits).
- Backend: Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, Redis
- Frontend: React.js, Redux Toolkit, Tailwind CSS, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
- Additional Libraries:
- OTP Generation:
nodemailer
ortwilio
(for email or phone verification) - Authentication:
jsonwebtoken
(JWT for token-based authentication) - Payment Gateway: Integrate third-party APIs (e.g., Razorpay, Stripe)
- Security Enhancements: Helmet.js (for securing HTTP headers), bcrypt (password hashing), and Redis (session management)
- OTP Generation:
-
Authentication and User Management:
- Signup and Login using OTP (email, phone).
- Role-based access control (admin, restaurant owner, deskman, cook, normal user).
-
Restaurant and Menu Management:
- Admin creates restaurants, adds deskman, and assigns the cooking panel.
- Restaurant owner adds, deletes, and updates dishes with pricing.
-
Order Management:
- Deskman and cook manage orders (order status changes visible to the deskman, owner, and cook).
- User can place an order (full/half/quarter), cancel within 5 minutes.
-
Payment Gateway Integration:
- Payment options: UPI, card, net banking.
-
Booking and Reservation System:
- Users can book tables for dine-in, call for order, or opt for takeaway/delivery.
-
Search and Geolocation:
- Search for the nearest restaurants (geolocation using a service like PositionStack).
- Signup/OTP Verification: Use
nodemailer
ortwilio
for OTP verification. - Login: JWT-based authentication.
- Roles: Assign role after the first login. (Normal users will have restricted access until admin assigns roles).
Est. Time: 8-10 hours
(2-3 days, given 4-hour work sessions)
- Admin: Create a restaurant, add a deskman and assign the cooking panel.
- Owner: Add dishes, update pricing, manage orders.
Est. Time: 12-16 hours
(3-4 days)
- Normal User: View dishes in categories (Indian, Chinese, etc.) and sub-categories (Veg, Non-Veg).
- Cart: Add food to the cart, checkout.
Est. Time: 10-12 hours
(2-3 days)
- Deskman/Cook: View orders, update status (cook status with a timer).
- Order Cancelation: Allow normal users to cancel orders within 5 minutes.
Est. Time: 12-14 hours
(3-4 days)
- UPI/Card/Net Banking: Use a payment gateway API (Stripe/Razorpay).
Est. Time: 8-10 hours
(2-3 days)
- Allow users to book a table with all necessary details.
Est. Time: 6-8 hours
(2 days)
- Search nearest restaurant: Use a service like PositionStack or Google Maps API.
Est. Time: 6-8 hours
(2 days)
- Security: Use Helmet.js to secure HTTP headers, bcrypt for password hashing, Redis for session management, CSRF tokens.
- Scalability: Optimize queries, use caching, paginate results, and handle rate limiting.
Est. Time: 8-10 hours
(2-3 days)
- Design simple forms with OTP verification.
Est. Time: 4-6 hours
(1-2 days)
- Design separate dashboards for admin, restaurant owner, deskman, cook, and normal users.
Est. Time: 8-10 hours
(2-3 days)
- UI for adding dishes, updating orders, and handling order status (for owner, deskman, and cook).
Est. Time: 12-14 hours
(3-4 days)
- UI for adding items to cart, viewing cart, and proceeding to checkout.
Est. Time: 6-8 hours
(2 days)
- Design a payment form that integrates with the payment gateway.
Est. Time: 6-8 hours
(2 days)
- Search functionality and geolocation.
Est. Time: 6-8 hours
(2 days)
- Backend: ~64-76 hours (~16-19 days)
- Frontend: ~42-50 hours (~11-13 days)
- Security & Scalability: ~8-10 hours (~2-3 days)
Total: ~30-35 days (working 4 hours/day)
+---------------------------------------------+
| Start |
+---------------------------------------------+
|
+-------------v-------------+
| User Signup/Login |
+-------------+--------------+
|
+----------v-------------+
| OTP Verification |
+-----------+-------------+
|
+------------v------------+
| Role-Based Routing |
| (Admin, User, Owner, etc.)|
+------------+-------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Normal User (View Menu, Add to Cart, |
| Place Order, Cancel, Reservation) |
+--------------+--------------------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Admin (Create Restaurant, Manage |
| Deskman/Cook) |
+--------------+--------------------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Owner/Deskman (Add Dish, Update, |
| Manage Orders) |
+--------------+--------------------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Cook (View and Update Order Status) |
+--------------+--------------------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Payment Gateway (Stripe, Razorpay) |
+--------------+--------------------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Order Management (Cancel, Update Status) |
+--------------+--------------------------+
|
+--------------v--------------------------+
| Reservation System (Book Tables) |
+------------------------------------------+
|
Finish
-
Authentication Service (Signup/Login, OTP verification) – 4-5 days.
-
Restaurant Management (Admin, Owner features) – 4-5 days.
-
Order Management (Deskman, cook roles) – 4 days.
-
Menu Management (View dishes, add to cart) – 3 days.
-
Payment Gateway – 3 days.
-
Search and Geolocation – 2 days.
-
Reservation System – 2 days.
-
Frontend:
- Start with authentication forms (1-2 days).
- Design role-based dashboards (3 days).
- Implement cart/checkout flow (2 days).
- Integrate payments UI (2 days).
- Add search functionality (2 days).
-
Security Enhancements (Ongoing, implemented throughout development).
By following these steps and timelines, you'll have a solid, scalable food-ordering system with all necessary features and security measures.