QUICK_START.md

Quick Start Guide - Endless Trail

To Run the Application:

Step 1: Start the Backend Server

1. Open a terminal/command prompt
2. Navigate to the backend folder:

   cd backend

3. Make sure you have a .env file with your API keys:

   PORT=5000
   GOOGLE_GEMINI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
   GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=path/to/service-account-key.json

4. Install dependencies (if not already done):

   npm install

5. Start the server:

   npm start

   You should see: Backend running at http://localhost:5000

Step 2: Start the Frontend

1. Open a NEW terminal/command prompt (keep the backend running)
2. Navigate to the frontend folder:

   cd frontend

3. Install dependencies (if not already done):

   npm install

4. Start the React app:

   npm start

   The browser should automatically open to http://localhost:3000

Troubleshooting:

If the frontend doesn't show:

• Make sure both servers are running (backend on port 5000, frontend on port 3000)
• Check the browser console for errors (F12)
• Make sure you're accessing http://localhost:3000

If the chatbot doesn't work:

• Make sure the backend is running on port 5000
• Check that GOOGLE_GEMINI_API_KEY is set in the backend .env file
• Check the browser console and backend terminal for error messages

Common Issues:

1. Port already in use: Stop any other applications using ports 3000 or 5000
2. Module not found: Run npm install in both frontend and backend folders
3. CORS errors: Make sure the backend is running and CORS is enabled (it should be)

What You Should See:

• Homepage: Hero section, feature cards, photo swipe discovery
• Navigation: Links to Home, Plan Trip, Destinations, Safety
• Chatbot: Floating button (💬) in the bottom right corner
• All pages: Should load and display correctly