QueueLess Backend

The QueueLess Backend handles queue management and real-time updates for the QueueLess platform. It provides APIs that allow the frontend to show current queue status, customer positions, and notifications.

Overview

QueueLess Backend is built to support smooth queue operations for businesses and customers. It keeps queue information accurate and up to date so users can monitor progress remotely.

Features

• Manage queues in real time
• Track customer positions
• Send notifications when it is a customer's turn
• Provide APIs for frontend integration

Purpose

Supports the frontend by keeping queue data accurate and updated, helping businesses manage queues efficiently and customers track their turn remotely.

Tech Stack

• Django
• Django REST Framework
• django-cors-headers
• Channels

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• pip

Quick Start

1. Clone the repository.
2. Create and activate a virtual environment.
3. Install dependencies.
4. Create local environment variables.
5. Run migrations.
6. Start the development server.

1) Create Virtual Environment

python -m venv venv

2) Activate Virtual Environment

Windows PowerShell:

venv\Scripts\activate

Windows Command Prompt:

venv\Scripts\activate.bat

macOS/Linux:

source venv/bin/activate

3) Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

4) Create Local Environment Variables

Copy the example environment file and customize values as needed.

Windows PowerShell:

Copy-Item .env.example .env

macOS/Linux:

cp .env.example .env

Minimum variables for local development are documented in .env.example.

Mock API Toggle

Mock institution and queue simulation routes are controlled by ENABLE_MOCK_API.

• ENABLE_MOCK_API=True enables /api/ and /api/queue/ mock routes.
• ENABLE_MOCK_API=False disables these mock routes.

If not set, ENABLE_MOCK_API defaults to the value of DEBUG. For deployed environments, set ENABLE_MOCK_API=False unless mock endpoints are explicitly required.

The institution list used by these mock routes is simulated until a real institution API is integrated. For the full list of available endpoints and load-profile details, see API_ENDPOINTS.md.

See MOCK_QUEUE_OPERATIONS.md for how to seed, join, poll, and advance the mock queue.

5) Run Migrations

cd queueless_backend
python manage.py makemigrations
python manage.py migrate

Note: All remaining commands in this guide should be run from the queueless_backend directory.

6) Start Development Server

python manage.py runserver

The API will be available at:

http://127.0.0.1:8000/

Automation

GitHub Actions

• ci.yml runs Django system checks and tests on pushes and pull requests.
• pre-commit.yml runs formatting and lint checks on pull requests.

Pre-commit

This project uses pre-commit as the Python-native alternative to Husky.

pip install pre-commit
pre-commit install
pre-commit run --all-files

Testing and Linting

• pytest runs the automated test suite.
• black formats Python code.
• isort sorts imports.
• flake8 checks for lint issues.

Run them locally with:

pytest
black .
isort .
flake8

pytest works out of the box in this repository because DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE is already configured in pyproject.toml.

If you run tests with a non-standard runner or custom shell setup, use this fallback:

Windows PowerShell:

$env:DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE = "queueless_backend.settings"
pytest

Windows Command Prompt:

set DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=queueless_backend.settings
pytest

macOS/Linux:

export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=queueless_backend.settings
pytest

Project Structure

QueueLess-Backend/
	queueless_backend/
		manage.py
		mock_api/
		notifications/
		queue_tracker/
		queueless_backend/

Notes

• If you add new apps (like queue_tracker), register them in INSTALLED_APPS in queueless_backend/settings.py.
• Configure CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS when connecting a frontend.
• Add Channels routing and ASGI configuration when you introduce WebSocket consumers.