> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/No-Country-simulation/S02-26-Equipo-33-Web-App/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started with Contributing

> Learn how to set up your development environment and start contributing to Horse Trust

## Welcome Contributors

Thank you for your interest in contributing to Horse Trust! This guide will help you get started with setting up your development environment and understanding our contribution process.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

* **Node.js** v24.13.0 or higher
* **Git** 2.43.0 or higher
* **npm** (comes with Node.js)

## Project Structure

Horse Trust is a full-stack application with two main components:

```
Horse Trust/
├── client/          # Next.js frontend application
├── server/          # Express.js backend API
└── CONTRIBUTING.md  # Contribution guidelines
```

## Setting Up Your Development Environment

### 1. Clone the Repository

```bash theme={null}
git clone git@github.com:No-Country-simulation/S02-26-Equipo-33-Web-App.git
cd S02-26-Equipo-33-Web-App/
```

### 2. Backend Setup

The backend is built with Express.js and TypeScript:

```bash theme={null}
cd server

# Install dependencies
npm i

# Set up environment variables
# Copy .env.example to .env and configure your settings

# Start development server
npm run dev
```

**Test the backend:**

```bash theme={null}
curl http://localhost:8031/test
```

**Expected response:**

```json theme={null}
{
  "success": true,
  "message": "response Ok!",
  "data": {
    "team": "S02-26-Equipo-33-Web-App",
    "status": "Development"
  }
}
```

### 3. Frontend Setup

The frontend is built with Next.js and TypeScript:

```bash theme={null}
cd client

# Install dependencies
npm i

# Set up environment variables
# Configure your .env.local file

# Start development server
npm run dev
```

The application will be available at `http://localhost:8030`

## Tech Stack

### Backend

* **Node.js** - JavaScript Runtime
* **Express.js** - Backend Framework
* **TypeScript** - Type Safety
* **MongoDB** (Mongoose) - Database
* **Socket.io** - Real-time Communication
* **JWT** - Authentication
* **Helmet** - Security

### Frontend

* **Next.js** 16.1.6 - React Framework
* **React** 19.2.3 - UI Library
* **TypeScript** - Type Safety
* **Tailwind CSS** - Styling
* **ESLint** - Code Linting

## Development Commands

### Backend (`/server`)

```bash theme={null}
npm run dev    # Start development server with hot reload
npm run build  # Compile TypeScript to JavaScript
npm start      # Run production build
```

### Frontend (`/client`)

```bash theme={null}
npm run dev    # Start Next.js development server
npm run build  # Build for production
npm start      # Start production server
npm run lint   # Run ESLint
```

## Next Steps

Now that you have your environment set up:

1. Read the [Git Workflow](/contributing/git-workflow) guide to understand our branching strategy
2. Review our [Code Standards](/contributing/code-standards) to ensure your code follows our conventions
3. Pick an issue from our GitHub repository and start coding!

## Getting Help

If you encounter any issues during setup:

* Check the README files in `/server` and `/client` directories
* Contact the repository maintainer
* Reach out to the team: **S02-26-Equipo-33-Web-App**

<Note>
  Make sure all tests pass before creating a pull request. This ensures code quality and makes the review process smoother.
</Note>