NEXUS is a learning app that turns topics into constellation maps, lets users complete Star Trials, and tracks progress across saved constellations (Galaxy).

• frontend/ React + Vite client
• backend/node-backend/ Express API
• start-all.bat legacy helper script (uses old backend path)

• Node.js 18+
• npm

# Frontend
cd frontend
npm install

# Backend
cd ../backend/node-backend
npm install

Create backend/node-backend/.env (or copy from .env.example) and set at minimum:

PORT=5000
GEMINI_API_KEY=your_key_here
ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=your_key_here
# Optional:
# GEMINI_MODEL=gemini-2.5-flash
# GEMINI_MODEL_FALLBACKS=gemini-2.0-flash,gemini-1.5-flash,gemini-1.5-pro

If needed, set frontend API base in frontend/.env:

VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:5000

# Terminal 1
cd backend/node-backend
npm run dev

# Terminal 2
cd frontend
npm run dev

App URLs:

• Frontend: http://localhost:3000
• Backend: http://localhost:5000

• Stargaze topic input and constellation generation
• Galaxy view for saved constellations (open/rename/tag/delete)
• Constellation map with node unlock flow and Star Trial flows
• Settings for startup animation, background elements, user name, and colors
• AI-backed generation/scoring

• npm run dev
• npm run build
• npm run preview

• npm run dev
• npm start
• npm test

• GET /api/graph
• GET /api/progress
• POST /api/node/:nodeId/complete
• POST /api/verify
• POST /api/star-trial/questions
• POST /api/generate-tree
• GET /api/constellations
• POST /api/constellations
• PATCH /api/constellations/:id
• DELETE /api/constellations/:id
• POST /api/voice/transcribe

• The frontend calls backend directly (no Vite proxy requirement).
• Legacy docs in this repo may reference older paths/endpoints.