I have decided to blog through my project of my new project “Skazaniya”. This will be the project I work on throughout my final two years in school! The basic idea is a digital Library system and a corresponding online website that patrons can browse through the collection. I plan to do this almost entirely by coding and creating it by hand. The only thing I will not be doing by hand is scanning all the books and movies and board games, and any other things that will be collected. I have some loose ideas, general tech specs, and vibes I want the project to have.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Skazaniya is a sleek, quirky personal library management system of my personal collection with vintage terminal aesthetics, combining 80s Soviet brutalism with modern web functionality. Built to showcase full-stack development skills while creating a genuinely useful tool for book lovers. Any user, even without a account, can search and browse the account. There will be creative ways to search the whole collection. Users can make accounts to make lists from the collection, as well as find ways to buy the books in the collection from indie booksellers. This is a way to be a voyeur into someone's personal collection and maybe discover new books from a collection that came to be over the last twenty years.
Target Timeline: 2-year development alongside computer science coursework
Primary Goal: Portfolio piece demonstrating database design, web development, API integration, and creative problem-solving
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Frontend Technologies
HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript
Responsive design with a mobile-first approach
CSS Grid/Flexbox for layouts
CSS animations for terminal effects and boot sequence
Typed.js for realistic typing animations
Media queries for device responsiveness
Backend Technologies
Python (preferred) or Java
Database: SQLite (development) → MySQL/PostgreSQL (production)
Web framework: Flask/Django (Python) or Spring (Java)
User authentication and session management
Email verification system
API Integrations
Primary APIs:
LibraryThing API (book metadata)
Google Books API (cover images, backup metadata)
Bookshop.org API (indie bookstore integration)
Backup APIs:
Open Library API (metadata backup)
Additional cover image sources
Redundancy for service outages
User Experience Goals
Intuitive navigation despite a unique aesthetic
Fast, responsive performance
Engaging interactive elements
Accessible design principles
Professional functionality with personal flair
DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE- 2 YEARS
This project will be built over my last two years of my BA in Computer Science.
Year 1 (Learning Phase)
Database design and basic backend
Core book management features
Basic web interface development
API integrations implementation
Year 2 (Polish Phase)
Advanced search features
User system implementation
Mobile responsiveness
Easter eggs and special features
Performance optimization and deployment
Post-Graduation
Advanced features and community elements
Professional hosting and maintenance
Potential portfolio showcase expansion
CORE FEATURES
Book Data Management
Primary Data Fields:
Title, Author(s), ISBN, Genre, Publication Year
Personal Rating (1-5 stars)
Reading Status: Currently Reading, Read, Want to Read, Abandoned, Re-read, Avoid
Date Started, Date Finished
Personal Notes/Review
Series Information & Edition Tracking
Content Warning Badges (:::EXTREME CONTENT WARNING:::)
“Vibes” of the book. Ex: “cottage core” or “Hot Girl Summer”
Data Input Methods:
LibraryThing app integration for barcode scanning
Manual entry for books without ISBNs
Bulk import via CSV export from LibraryThing
Automatic cover image retrieval via APIs
User System
Guest Users:
Browse full collection
Use all search features
View book details
Cannot save personal lists
Generic interface experience
Registered Users:
All guest features plus:
Personal "Favorites" lists
Save books to personal reading lists
Personalized dashboard greeting
Email updates (opt-in)
Super Users (Real-life friends):
All registered user features plus:
Book borrowing requests
Special lending permissions
Aesthetics and Theme
The aesthetics of this project are inspired by my love of communist russian aesthetics, brutalism, vintage library computer terminals, both back-end and patron-facing, vintage books, and computing. I remember with much fondness searching the library collection on an older terminal, and how it literally seemed like magic at the time. I am nostalgic for a simpler time when it was more mysterious to search for books and media. I also worked at a camera store when I was really young, and scanned photos and slides and helped people keep their memories, so documenting my collection feels very natural for me!
Skazaniya means "Legends" in Russian - Because every book collection tells a story.
Here is the Pinterest Board that I have made for preliminary ideas for the “look” of this project.
FINAL THOUGHTS-
So I am very excited about this project. The first step after this is more planning and beginning to scan the books to get used to LibraryThing. Watch this space for more updates! I have a lot of ideas that I’m going to finalize in the coming weeks.
-Aisling <3