CertiChain

CertiChain is a decentralized academic credential platform that lets universities issue tamper-evident degree records, anchor them on-chain, store the full credential payload on IPFS, and let students or employers verify proofs without relying on a central database.

The repository is split into two main areas:

• CertiChain/frontend: the React and Vite web application for universities, students, and verifiers.
• CertiChain/system: the core credential stack, including the FastAPI backend, Hardhat smart contract project, and Dockerized IPFS plus local chain infrastructure.

What The Project Does

• Issues academic credentials as structured verifiable credential payloads.
• Builds Merkle trees for batch issuance so each credential carries a compact proof.
• Stores enriched credential JSON on IPFS.
• Anchors batch roots and credential pointers on Ethereum-compatible chains.
• Supports local development with Docker, Hardhat, and dual Kubo nodes.
• Supports Sepolia deployment by switching backend and blockchain environment values.

Repository Layout

CertiChain/
├── frontend/          # React client
├── system/
│   ├── backend/       # FastAPI API, batch logic, IPFS + chain integration
│   ├── blockchain/    # Hardhat project and deployment scripts
│   └── docker/        # Docker Compose for IPFS Cluster + Hardhat node
├── README.md
└── requirements.txt

Quick Start

For the full system walkthrough, start with CertiChain/system/README.md.

Typical local setup order:

1. Start infrastructure from CertiChain/system/docker.
2. Deploy the smart contract from CertiChain/system/blockchain.
3. Configure and run the API from CertiChain/system/backend.
4. Start the client from CertiChain/frontend.

Documentation Guide

• CertiChain/system/README.md: full architecture and startup order.
• CertiChain/system/backend/README.md: backend responsibilities, env variables, and API startup.
• CertiChain/system/blockchain/README.md: contract workflow, deploy commands, and network notes.
• CertiChain/system/docker/README.md: Docker services, ports, and reset commands.
• CertiChain/frontend/README.md: frontend setup and environment configuration.

Development Notes

• Real .env files are intentionally ignored. Use the provided .env.example files as templates.
• Generated folders such as node_modules, dist, artifacts, cache, and Python virtual environments should not be committed.
• The backend contains both the current API entry point in CertiChain/system/backend/main.py and an older experimental file in CertiChain/system/backend/merklemain.py. The active path documented here uses main.py.