Jobela API

About the Project

Jobela API is a backend application for a job platform that connects candidates and employers, with an initial focus on the gastronomy and hospitality sector.

The project is designed as a production-style Spring Boot backend application with layered architecture, REST APIs, validation, exception handling, database migrations, Dockerized infrastructure, and automated testing.

Its purpose is both practical and educational: to simulate a real-world backend project and serve as a portfolio project for Java backend development roles.

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Tech Stack

Backend

• Java 21
• Spring Boot 3
• Spring Web
• Spring Data JPA
• Spring Validation
• Spring Security

Database

• PostgreSQL
• Flyway
• H2 (testing)

Infrastructure

• Docker
• Docker Compose
• Maven

Mapping & Utilities

• MapStruct
• Lombok

Testing

• JUnit 5
• Mockito
• MockMvc
• Testcontainers

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Features

Implemented

User Module

• User creation and management
• Role-based user structure
• Validation and exception handling

Candidate Module

• Candidate profile management
• Candidate personal information
• Candidate-related submodules

Authentication & Security

• JWT-based authentication
• Stateless Spring Security configuration
• Role-based access control
• Custom authentication entry point
• Custom access denied handler
• Protected endpoints for candidates, employers and admins

Candidate Submodules

• Skills
• Languages
• Education
• Certifications
• Documents
• Work Experience
• Preferences
• Work Authorization
• Location Preferences

Candidate Public Profiles

• Employer/admin access to public candidate profiles
• Pagination and sorting
• Filtering by:
  • country
  • city
  • search keyword
  • skill
  • language
  • open-to-work status
  • target position
  • language level
  • work authorization
  • sponsorship requirement

Employer Module

• Employer profile creation
• Employer profile retrieval
• Employer update and deletion
• Admin access to paginated employer list
• Role-based ownership checks

Architecture & Backend Features

• REST API design
• DTO-based request/response layer
• Layered architecture
• MapStruct mapping layer
• Global exception handling
• Validation with Jakarta Validation
• Flyway database migrations
• Dockerized PostgreSQL setup
• Multiple Spring profiles (dev, test)

Testing

• Unit testing
• Integration testing
• Controller testing with MockMvc

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In Progress

• Swagger/OpenAPI improvements
• Extended integration testing
• Testcontainers setup refinement

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Planned

• Job offer module
• Job application module
• Filtering and search improvements
• Deployment
• Public demo environment

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Project Structure

The project follows a feature-based modular architecture.

src/main/java/com/jobela/jobela_api
├── candidate
├── common
├── security
├── user
└── config

Each module follows a layered structure:

module
├── controller
├── service
├── repository
├── entity
├── dto
├── mapper
└── exception

This structure improves maintainability, scalability, and readability.

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Database & Migration

The application uses PostgreSQL as the primary development database.

Database schema changes are managed using Flyway migrations.

Migration files are located here:

src/main/resources/db/migration

The project also uses separate configuration profiles:

• application.yml
• application-dev.yml
• application-test.yml

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Testing

The project includes automated testing with:

• JUnit 5
• Mockito
• MockMvc
• H2 test database
• Spring Boot test profile
• Testcontainers (planned / partial integration)

Tests focus on:

• Business logic validation
• API behavior
• Request validation
• Exception handling
• Service layer logic
• Controller integration testing

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Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before running the project, make sure you have installed:

• Java 21
• Maven
• Docker
• Docker Compose

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Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/PeterImrich13/jobela-api.git

cd jobela-api

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Run PostgreSQL via Docker

docker compose up -d

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Run the Application

./mvnw spring-boot:run

The application usually runs with the dev profile.

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Run Tests

./mvnw test

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API Documentation

Swagger/OpenAPI documentation is available locally after running the application.

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Roadmap

• User module
• Candidate module
• Candidate submodules
• Flyway migrations
• Dockerized PostgreSQL
• Validation
• Exception handling
• Unit testing
• Integration testing
• Security and authentication
• Employer module
• Job offer module
• Job application module
• Deployment
• Public demo

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Author

Peter Imrich

• GitHub: https://github.com/PeterImrich13

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Project Goal

The goal of Jobela API is to simulate a real-world backend system using clean architecture and production-style development practices.

This project serves as both a portfolio project and a learning platform for improving backend engineering skills.