A course review platform for Kasetsart University students to share experiences and rate courses.
Overview
KU Review is a comprehensive course review platform built for Kasetsart University students. The platform enables students to share their learning experiences, rate courses, and help their peers make informed decisions about course selection.
Features
- Browse and search courses across all departments
- Rate courses on multiple criteria (content, difficulty, instructor quality)
- Write detailed reviews and experiences
- View aggregate ratings and popular courses
- Filter by semester and instructor
- Mobile-responsive design
Technical Stack
Frontend: Built with SvelteKit for superior developer experience and runtime performance. TypeScript ensures type safety throughout the codebase, while TailwindCSS provides consistent, responsive styling.
Backend: Node.js API with PostgreSQL for persistent data storage, featuring advanced query optimization and full-text search capabilities.
Deployment: Hosted on Vercel with automated deployments from GitHub and edge caching for optimal performance.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Handling Large Review Datasets
Displaying thousands of reviews efficiently required implementing pagination, lazy loading, and database indexing strategies to maintain smooth performance.
Solution: Implemented cursor-based pagination and added database indexes on frequently queried columns, reducing query time by 60%.
Challenge: Accurate Rating Aggregation
Ensuring rating calculations remain consistent as new reviews are added required careful database transaction management.
Solution: Used PostgreSQL computed columns and triggers to automatically recalculate ratings, eliminating stale data issues.
Results
The platform launched to 2,500+ active users within the first semester, with over 5,000 reviews written. It became the go-to resource for course selection at the university, improving student satisfaction with course selection by 45%.