This project is a backend implementation of a booking platform inspired by Airbnb. Built with Django, MySQL, and GraphQL, it aims to demonstrate skills in backend architecture, API design, security, and DevOps practices.

I developed this project as part of my ALX ProDev Backend training to deepen my skills in production-grade backend engineering. My focus has been on building systems that are secure, maintainable, and ready for real-world collaboration.

The goal of this project is to simulate the key features and workflows of a modern booking platform. The backend supports user authentication, property listings, bookings, payments, and reviews, all managed through robust APIs and a relational database. Along the way, I’ve prioritized best practices in security, documentation, and automation.

• Build RESTful and GraphQL APIs for all major platform features
• Design and optimize a relational database using MySQL
• Implement secure user authentication and authorization
• Use Docker for local development and deployment consistency
• Set up CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions for automated testing and deployment
• Document all architecture, design choices, and APIs for clarity and maintainability

• Django: Python web framework for scalable API development
• MySQL: Relational database management system
• GraphQL: Flexible API query language for advanced data access
• Docker: Containerization for reproducible environments
• GitHub Actions: Automation for testing and deployment

If you’re reviewing this project, feel free to explore the code, run the setup, or contact me with questions or feedback. This repo is part of my portfolio and learning journey as a backend engineer.

Developing a scalable backend system requires clear responsibilities across several key roles. Below are the primary roles that contribute to the success of this Airbnb Clone backend project:

Designs, implements, and maintains the server-side logic, APIs, and business processes. Responsible for integrating external services, handling data processing, and ensuring code quality and security.

Manages the design, optimization, and maintenance of the project’s database. Responsible for data integrity, backup strategies, performance tuning, and supporting efficient, secure data access.

Handles the automation, deployment, and monitoring of backend services. Sets up containerization (e.g., Docker), configures CI/CD pipelines (such as GitHub Actions), and ensures high availability, scalability, and reliable operations.

Plans and executes test cases to verify the correctness and reliability of the backend. Develops automated tests, performs manual checks where needed, documents bugs, and collaborates closely with developers to deliver robust features.

Focuses on identifying and addressing security risks within the application. Implements authentication, authorization, data protection, and best practices for secure coding and compliance.

Coordinates the overall project, sets timelines, manages team communication, and ensures the delivery of milestones. Tracks progress, facilitates meetings, and helps resolve obstacles throughout the project lifecycle.

On smaller teams (or in learning environments), one person may cover several of these roles. This project simulates real-world responsibilities to encourage best practices and collaboration.

This project uses a modern backend technology stack designed for scalability, security, and ease of development. Each technology plays a key role in delivering core features of the booking platform.

• Django
  Serves as the primary backend web framework, enabling rapid development of robust RESTful APIs, business logic, and built-in administrative tools.

• MySQL
  Provides a reliable relational database for storing and managing all structured data, including users, properties, bookings, reviews, and payments.

• GraphQL
  Supports flexible and efficient querying of backend data, allowing clients to request exactly the information they need in a single request.

• Docker
  Containerizes the application and its dependencies, ensuring consistency across local development, testing, and deployment environments.

• GitHub Actions
  Automates continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) workflows, running tests and deploying code changes efficiently on every push.

This stack reflects widely-used industry standards and helps ensure that the project is both maintainable and production-ready.

The backend is structured around a relational database that models the real-world relationships in a booking platform. Key entities and their primary fields are described below.

• User

  • id: Unique identifier for each user
  • username: User’s display name
  • email: User’s email address
  • password_hash: Hashed password for authentication
  • created_at: Timestamp of user registration

• Property

  • id: Unique identifier for each property
  • owner_id: Reference to the user who owns/listed the property
  • title: Property name or title
  • description: Detailed property description
  • location: Address or location details
  • price_per_night: Cost for a single night’s booking
  • created_at: Timestamp when the property was listed

• Booking

  • id: Unique booking identifier
  • user_id: Reference to the user who made the booking
  • property_id: Reference to the booked property
  • check_in: Date/time for check-in
  • check_out: Date/time for check-out
  • status: Booking status (e.g., confirmed, cancelled)

• Payment

  • id: Unique payment transaction identifier
  • booking_id: Reference to the booking being paid for
  • amount: Total payment amount
  • payment_method: Method used (e.g., card, PayPal)
  • status: Payment status (e.g., successful, failed)
  • created_at: Timestamp of the transaction

• Review

  • id: Unique review identifier
  • user_id: Reference to the user leaving the review
  • property_id: Reference to the property being reviewed
  • rating: Numerical rating value
  • comment: Written feedback
  • created_at: Timestamp of the review

• A user can own multiple properties.
• A property can have multiple bookings and reviews.
• A booking is linked to a specific user and a specific property.
• Each payment is tied to a single booking.
• A review is written by a user for a property they’ve stayed at.

This database design ensures efficient data retrieval, supports core platform features, and maintains data integrity through clear relationships.

Below are the core features supported by the backend for the Airbnb Clone project. Each feature is designed to reflect real-world use cases and deliver a robust booking experience.

Handles user registration, authentication, and profile management. Users can sign up, log in securely, update their information, and manage their accounts, forming the foundation for all interactions on the platform.

Enables hosts to create, update, retrieve, and delete property listings. This feature ensures that property information, such as descriptions, pricing, and availability, is always up to date and discoverable by potential guests.

Allows users to make, update, and manage reservations for available properties. The system tracks booking dates, ensures properties aren’t double-booked, and provides hosts and guests with up-to-date booking statuses.

Facilitates secure handling of payments for property bookings. Integrates with payment gateways, tracks transaction statuses, and maintains a record of all financial operations for both guests and hosts.

Lets users leave reviews and ratings for properties they have stayed at. This feature builds trust in the platform, helps future guests make informed choices, and gives hosts valuable feedback on their listings.

All backend endpoints are documented using OpenAPI standards and GraphQL schemas. This makes integration, testing, and future maintenance straightforward for developers and third-party partners.

These features work together to provide a seamless, secure, and transparent experience for users and hosts, closely modeling the core workflows of leading booking platforms.

Security is a core requirement for any platform that handles sensitive user data, financial transactions, and personal communications. This backend implements multiple security layers to protect users, hosts, and platform integrity.

• Authentication:
  Ensures that only registered users can access protected endpoints. Implements secure login and session management using hashed passwords and token-based authentication to prevent unauthorized access.

• Authorization:
  Controls what each user can do based on their identity and role (guest, host, admin). Only resource owners or privileged users can modify, delete, or access specific data, preventing misuse and data leaks.

• Input Validation and Sanitization:
  All data received from users is validated and sanitized to prevent attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other forms of malicious input.

• Rate Limiting:
  Limits the number of requests a user or IP can make in a set timeframe. This defends against brute-force attacks and abuse of the API, ensuring stable performance for all users.

• HTTPS Enforcement:
  The platform is designed to run over HTTPS, encrypting all data in transit between clients and the server, protecting sensitive information from interception.

• Audit Logging:
  Key actions (such as login attempts, booking changes, and payments) are logged to enable monitoring, alerting, and forensic analysis in the event of suspicious activity.

• Protecting User Data:
  Users trust the platform with their personal and financial information. Robust security prevents data breaches and builds confidence in the service.

• Securing Payments:
  All payment transactions must be secure to prevent fraud, unauthorized charges, and loss of funds for both guests and hosts.

• Preventing Abuse:
  Security measures such as authorization and rate limiting ensure that platform features cannot be misused by attackers or abusive users.

• Compliance:
  Implementing strong security aligns with industry standards and legal requirements (such as GDPR or PCI DSS), supporting future scalability and trust.

Security is a core part of delivering a trustworthy and resilient booking platform.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines are essential for delivering high-quality software rapidly and reliably. In this project, CI/CD automates key stages of development, building, testing, and deploying the backend, so that code changes are integrated and released efficiently with minimal manual effort.

• Continuous Integration:
  Every time code is pushed to the repository, automated workflows check for code quality, run tests, and verify that new changes do not break existing features. This helps catch bugs early and encourages frequent, small updates.

• Continuous Deployment:
  Once changes pass all tests, the pipeline can automatically build and deploy the application. This ensures that new features and fixes reach users quickly, while reducing the risk of deployment errors.

• GitHub Actions:
  Handles workflow automation, running tests and deployment scripts on each push or pull request.
• Docker:
  Provides a consistent environment for building, testing, and deploying the application across different systems.

This project uses CI/CD to maintain code quality, reduces manual workload, and accelerates the delivery of new features and improvements.