A smarter, personalized, and social campus food-ordering system for NC State University. || Funfact: WrikiCafe+ is derived from the Sanskrit word vṛkī (वृकी) meaning she-wolf ||
Campus cafés often struggle with long queues, manual order tracking, and miscommunication between customers and staff.
wrikicafe addresses this challenge by building a real-time, smart food ordering system that enhances both the user experience and operational efficiency.
- Why: Students and faculty waste valuable time waiting in line or wondering when their order will be ready.
- What: A role-based, web-based ordering system with instant order notifications, personalized menu recommendations, and admin analytics.
- So What: This system reduces waiting time, streamlines kitchen operations, and builds a connected campus café experience.
Every order is tracked from “pending” to “ready,” and customers receive instant notifications when their drink or meal is ready for pickup — saving time and boosting satisfaction.
🎥 Watch the Version 1 Demo
Showing new functionality: role-based permissions, order tracking, and real-time pickup notifications.
WrikiCafe+ is a full-stack MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) web application designed to modernize and simplify campus café operations. Our mission is to make campus dining smarter, faster, and more personalized — for students, staff, and administrators alike.
| Role | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| 🧑💼 Admin | • Manage menu inventory • Track all orders • Set tax rates • Access live analytics dashboard • Update order statuses in real time • Oversee pickup workflow |
| 🧑🎓 Customer | • Browse menu • Add items to cart • Checkout securely • Receive email alerts when orders are ready |
- ✅ Role-based access for Admins and Users
- ✅ Menu management (CRUD)
- ✅ Customer orders with tip and tax computation
- ✅ Real-time order fulfillment and pickup notifications
- ✅ Cloud image uploads via Cloudinary
- ✅ Secure JWT authentication + Express middleware
- AI-powered “Surprise Me” recommendations
- Group shared cart and budget/time optimizers
- Accessibility audit and performance enhancements
See INSTALL.md for full setup details.
In short:
git clone https://github.com/RishithaRamesh/WrikiCafeplus.git
cd WrikiCafeplus
npm install && cd frontend && npm install
npm run devDefault backend runs on port 5000, frontend on 3000.
Requires MongoDB URI in.env.
| Name | GitHub |
|---|---|
| Dhruva Kamble | @DhruvaKamble |
| Rishitha Ramesh | @RishithaRamesh |
| Rujuta Budke | @RujutaBudke |
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| .gitignore | Lists files excluded from version control |
| LICENSE.md | Usage rights and open-source license |
| CODE-OF-CONDUCT.md | Expected behavior in collaboration |
| CONTRIBUTING.md | Guidelines for coding, PRs, testing, and branching |
| INSTALL.md | Detailed installation and environment setup instructions |
Frontend: React 19 · Vite · Axios · TailwindCSS
Backend: Node · Express · MongoDB (Mongoose) · socketio
Auth: JWT · bcrypt
Storage: Cloudinary · MongoDB Atlas
Testing: Jest · Supertest · React Testing Library
wrikicafe is built with the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js) to demonstrate a complete, modern web application architecture:
- MongoDB: Flexible data modeling for users, menu items, and orders.
- Express + Node.js: Efficient REST API with authentication and real-time Socket.IO communication.
- React: Interactive, responsive frontend built with Vite and Tailwind CSS.
This project is released under the terms described in LICENSE.md.
© 2025 WrikiCafe+ Team 16 · North Carolina State University