Mention Tracker

Context

Users often struggle to keep track of their mentions across multiple online platforms. This project a centralized solution that aggregates mentions from various sources. By providing real-time updates, it helps users stay informed about their online presence.

What I built

The system incorporates scrapers for platforms like Medium, Indie Hackers, and Hacker News, allowing users to monitor their mentions effectively. Key features include a cron job setup to fetch posts and notify users, as well as a database to manage notified posts. The application is designed for easy updates and customization.

Technical approach

Built using Next.js and TypeScript, the application leverages a distributed fetch strategy to optimize data retrieval across different platforms. I implemented scrapers using Algolia for efficient data handling and created a bulk fetching strategy to enhance performance. Environment variables were carefully managed to ensure secure data access.

Results

The project successfully aggregates mentions from various sources, providing users with timely notifications. This approach not only the monitoring process but also engagement. The experience gained from implementing scrapers and optimizing data fetching strategies will inform future projects.

Key outcomes

• ▹Built scrapers for Medium, Indie Hackers, and Hacker News to track mentions.
• ▹Shipped a cron job system for automated fetching and user notifications.
• ▹Designed a database structure to manage notified posts efficiently.
• ▹Implemented a distributed fetch strategy to improve data retrieval performance.