Django Guide: Crafting a Super Admin Service for E-commerce Microservice Systems

As a Django developer, I excel on solving complex problems and continually pushing the boundaries of my technical skills. Recently, I faced a particularly challenging task: creating a super admin service for an e-commerce microservice. This experience not only tested my abilities but also provided valuable insights that I am excited to bring to the HNG Internship.

About Me

I'm a very dilligent and passionate backend developer with a desire for tackling difficult tasks head-on. My journey in software development started with a curiosity about how things work behind the scenes, how data are being processed and served across the web. This curiosity quickly turned into a passion as I delved deeper into coding as a backend developer, particularly with Django. Over the years, I've developed a solid understanding of backend systems, database management, and API development. I love environments where problem-solving and continuous learning are at the forefront.

The Challenge: Super Admin Service for E-commerce Microservice

The primary issue was to design and implement a super admin service that could manage permissions and roles efficiently across various microservices alongside tracking each admin user activity logs. This service needed to be robust, secure, and scalable to handle the dynamic needs of an e-commerce platform.

Here are the steps to the success:

1. I began by gathering detailed requirements for the super admin service. This involved discussions with product manager to understand the different roles, permissions, and access levels needed across the e-commerce platform services. The goal was to create a centralized service that could manage and enforce these permissions consistently.

2. With the requirements in hand, I moved on to designing the architecture of the super admin service.

3. The first implementation step was to set up authentication using JWT (JSON Web Tokens) in Django. This involved:

4. • Setting up a user authentication endpoint that validated user credentials and generated JWTs using the Django REST Framework and simplejwt.

     • Ensuring JWTs were signed and could be verified by other microservices for secure communication.

5. Next, I developed the authorization logic.

   • Creating endpoints for managing roles and permissions (e.g., creating, updating, and deleting roles) using Django's built-in admin interface and custom views relying solely on Django signals to publish events.

• Creating a custom decorators to check permissions on each request to other microservices. This is endpoint based

6. To maintain consistent permissions and role recognition, I implemented an event-driven architecture using Kafka along side a background worker using Celery. This allowed the super admin service to publish events whenever there were changes in roles or permissions, and other microservices could subscribe to these events to update their local records.

The Journey with HNG Internship

Solving this backend challenge was an enriching experience that highlighted the importance of careful planning, design, and testing in software development. As I embark on my journey with the HNG Internship, I am eager to apply these skills in a new and dynamic environment.

The HNG Internship is an incredible opportunity to work on real-world projects, collaborate with talented peers, and learn from experienced mentors. It offers a platform to hone my skills, expand my knowledge, and contribute to impactful projects. By participating in this program, I aim to grow as a backend developer and gain exposure to best practices and cutting-edge technologies.

For those interested in the HNG Internship, you can learn more about this fantastic program at HNG Internship. If you're a company looking to hire skilled developers, check out HNG Hire for a pool of talented candidates ready to make a difference.

Moving on this journey with HNG Internship is a step towards achieving my career goals, and I'm excited to see where it will take me. The skills and experiences I'll gain will undoubtedly shape my future as a developer, and I can't wait to get started.