Small and medium businesses often don’t need a complex ERP system.
What they actually need is a reliable backend API to manage products, orders, and inventory — something easy to plug into a web or mobile frontend.
This article presents the design and implementation of an Order Management REST API built as a realistic backend foundation for e-commerce platforms and logistics-oriented products.
The API targets common use cases such as:
B2C e-commerce platforms
Internal order management tools for SMEs
Startup MVPs in commerce or logistics
It covers the full lifecycle of an order, from creation to delivery, while keeping the system lightweight and easy to extend.
The goal was simple:
build a backend that could realistically run in production, not just a demo project.
Core Features
Authentication and Roles
The API includes a secure authentication system with role-based access control:
User registration and login
JWT authentication stored in HTTP-only cookies
Session rotation and logout
Password update
Two roles:
CLIENT: can place orders and view their own purchases
ADMIN: manages products, stock, and all orders
This setup reflects a common real-world separation between customers and administrators.
Product and Stock Management
Products are managed through a full CRUD system:
Public access for product listing and details
Admin-only access for:
creation
update
deletion
Each product includes name, description, price, and stock quantity
This allows administrators to adjust prices or inventory levels as the business evolves.
Order Management
Orders can contain multiple products and include:
Automatic subtotal calculation per item
Total order amount calculation
Stock verification before validation
Product snapshot (name and price) at the time of order creation
Customers can view their own orders, while administrators can access all orders in the system.
Order Lifecycle
Each order follows a clear lifecycle:
PENDING
PAID
SHIPPED
DELIVERED
Only administrators can update the order status, making the system suitable for logistics and fulfillment workflows.
Technical Stack
The API is built with a modern, production-oriented stack:
Node.js for the runtime
Express.js as a minimal HTTP framework
TypeScript for type safety and maintainability
PostgreSQL as a robust relational database
Prisma for clear and predictable data access
Zod for strict input validation
Swagger / OpenAPI 3 for API documentation
This stack favors clarity, safety, and long-term maintainability.
Architecture and Design Choices
The project uses a monolithic REST architecture, structured by domain:
authentication
users
products
orders
Each domain is clearly separated into:
routes
controllers
services
validations
data access layers
This structure scales well for small teams and freelancers while remaining easy to refactor into microservices later if needed.
Data Modeling and Business Logic
The data model reflects real business constraints:
A user can have multiple orders
An order contains multiple order items
Each order item references a product
A key design decision was to store a snapshot of product data at order time.
This ensures historical accuracy even if prices change later — a small detail that prevents major business inconsistencies.
Security Considerations
Security was treated as a baseline requirement, even for an MVP:
JWT stored in HTTP-only cookies to prevent token leakage
Role-based authorization enforced on the backend
Strict request validation with Zod
No unnecessary exposure of sensitive data
These choices help avoid common pitfalls in early-stage products.
API Documentation with Swagger
The API is fully documented using OpenAPI 3:
Endpoints grouped by domain
Clear request and response schemas
Documented error responses
Examples for complex operations such as order creation
Good documentation reduces friction between backend, frontend, and external consumers — and turns an API into a usable product.
Maturity Level and Next Steps
The API currently stands at an advanced MVP level:
Feature-complete for a simple e-commerce platform
Secure by default
Clean data model
Usable documentation
Planned improvements include:
Pagination and filtering
Logging and monitoring
Automated testing
Payment integration
Advanced stock management (reservations, rollbacks)
Top comments (0)