HIGHLIGHTS

Designed and built a scalable file management platform from scratch, tightly integrated with the Clikkle Worksuite ecosystem.

0.1Clikkle Files dashboard interface

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Built a Google Drive–like system handling 10K+ files/day uploads Reduced file retrieval latency by ~45% using optimized querying and caching Designed multi-tenant architecture supporting hundreds of organizations Implemented secure sharing with granular permissions and audit logs Delivered end-to-end as a solo engineer (UI/UX → DevOps)

Building the backbone of a productivity ecosystem.

Clikkle was expanding its Worksuite (similar to Google Workspace), but lacked a centralized file system. Existing workflows relied on fragmented storage solutions, causing:

Poor collaboration across teams Lack of access control and audit visibility Performance bottlenecks when handling large files No unified integration with other tools (docs, communication, etc.)

This created an opportunity to build a core infrastructure product, not just a feature.

The goal was clear: Create a scalable, secure, and fast file management system that seamlessly integrates across the entire ecosystem.

Hierarchical File Management Folder structures, drag-and-drop uploads, bulk actions Secure File Sharing Role-based access (viewer, editor, admin) with link-based sharing Real-time Collaboration Ready Designed APIs to integrate with editors and collaboration tools Version Control System Track file history and restore previous versions Audit Trails & Activity Logs Every action (upload, delete, share) tracked for compliance Multi-Tenant Architecture Data isolation per organization with scalable design Search & Indexing Fast metadata-based querying across large datasets Cloud Storage Integration AWS S3 for scalable and reliable file storage Performance Optimizations Lazy loading, caching, and efficient pagination

Hybrid Database Approach (PostgreSQL + MongoDB) PostgreSQL for relational data (users, permissions) MongoDB for flexible file metadata and hierarchy Chunked Upload Strategy Enabled large file uploads without blocking requests Pre-signed URLs (AWS S3) Offloaded file upload/download directly to S3, reducing backend load TanStack Query for Data Fetching Improved caching and reduced redundant API calls Redux for Global State Managed file explorer state and user interactions efficiently Next.js for SSR + Performance Faster initial load and improved SEO for public sharing links Authentication via NextAuth Secure session handling across the ecosystem Access Control Layer Middleware-based permission checks for every file operation

The backbone of the project.

The system was designed around separation of concerns and scalability:

Client Layer (Next.js + React) Handles UI, file interactions, and optimistic updates API Layer (Node + Express) Processes metadata, permissions, and business logic Storage Layer (AWS S3) Stores actual files with pre-signed secure access Database Layer PostgreSQL → relational integrity MongoDB → flexible file structures Caching Layer (TanStack Query) Minimizes redundant API calls and improves UX responsiveness

Flow Example (Upload): Client → API → Generate S3 URL → Direct Upload → Metadata Stored → UI Updated

This approach ensured low latency, horizontal scalability, and minimal backend load.

Real-world problems beyond CRUD.

THE CHALLENGE

Design a scalable file system that handles large data, complex permissions, and real-time interactions — without degrading performance.

Key challenges faced:

Handling Large File Uploads Needed a non-blocking, resilient upload mechanism → Solved using chunk uploads + pre-signed URLs Complex Permission System Nested folders with inherited permissions → Built a middleware-driven access control system Database Query Optimization Deep folder structures caused slow queries → Introduced indexing + optimized aggregation pipelines State Management Complexity File explorer UI required real-time sync and consistency → Combined Redux + TanStack Query effectively Scalability Concerns System needed to handle growth from day one → Designed stateless APIs + S3-based storage

North Star principles:

Performance first Security by design UX simplicity despite backend complexity

PRODUCTION IMPACT

A core infrastructure product that enabled seamless file workflows across the Clikkle ecosystem.

Results

• 🚀 10K+ files processed daily within weeks of launch
• ⚡ 45% faster file retrieval after query optimization
• 📉 Reduced backend load by ~60% using S3 direct uploads
• 🧩 Enabled integration across multiple Clikkle products
• 🔐 Zero major security issues post-launch

Learnings

• System design matters early Decisions around storage and architecture saved major rewrites later.

• Performance is a feature Users notice speed immediately, especially in file-heavy systems.

• Simplicity wins in UI Even complex systems must feel intuitive.

• Owning end-to-end builds depth Working across frontend, backend, and DevOps improved decision-making drastically.