Substack Replica Platform

A robust, scalable platform for creating and managing subscription-based publications, inspired by Substack. This platform enables writers to create, monetize, and distribute their content while building a sustainable subscription-based business.

Overview

The Substack Replica platform is a comprehensive content management and monetization system that empowers writers to:

• Create and publish content with a powerful rich text editor
• Build and manage paid subscriptions
• Engage with readers through comments and analytics
• Process payments and manage revenue
• Track audience engagement and growth metrics

System Architecture

The platform is built using a modern, scalable architecture:

Frontend

• Next.js 13.x for server-side rendering
• React 18.x for UI components
• TypeScript for type safety
• TailwindCSS for styling
• Redux Toolkit for state management

Backend

• Node.js with Express
• PostgreSQL for primary data storage
• Redis for caching and session management
• AWS S3 for media storage
• Stripe for payment processing

Setup Instructions

Prerequisites

• Node.js >= 18.x
• npm >= 8.x
• Docker and Docker Compose
• PostgreSQL >= 15
• Redis >= 7

Environment Configuration

1. Clone the repository:

git clone <repository-url>
cd substack-replica

2. Configure environment variables:

# Backend configuration
cd src/backend
cp .env.example .env

# Frontend configuration
cd ../web
cp .env.example .env.local

3. Install dependencies:

# Backend dependencies
cd src/backend
npm install

# Frontend dependencies
cd ../web
npm install

4. Start the development environment:

# Start all services using Docker Compose
docker-compose up -d

The application will be available at:

• Frontend: http://localhost:3000
• Backend API: http://localhost:3000/api

Usage Guidelines

Content Creation

1. Create an account and set up your publication
2. Use the rich text editor to write and format your content
3. Add media files (images, videos) to enhance your posts
4. Preview and publish your content

Monetization

1. Configure subscription tiers and pricing
2. Set up your Stripe account for payment processing
3. Define which content is free vs. premium
4. Monitor revenue through the analytics dashboard

Analytics

1. Track reader engagement metrics
2. Monitor subscription growth
3. Analyze revenue trends
4. Export data for custom analysis

Contributing

Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for details on our code of conduct and the process for submitting pull requests.

Development Workflow

1. Create a feature branch from develop
2. Make your changes following our coding standards
3. Write or update tests as needed
4. Submit a pull request with a clear description
5. Ensure CI checks pass

Security

For details about our security policies and how to report vulnerabilities, please see SECURITY.md.

Documentation

• Backend Documentation
• Frontend Documentation
• API Documentation
• Database Schema

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Support

For support and questions:

• GitHub Issues for bug reports and feature requests
• Documentation for guides and references
• Security advisories for vulnerability reports

Acknowledgments

• All contributors who have helped shape this platform
• Open source projects that made this possible
• The writing and publishing community for inspiration