Reasoning
Upon reviewing the MVP codebase, I identified a fundamental disconnect between the frontend and backend layers. The project featured a fully implemented Express.js backend with mock data, RESTful API endpoints across five domains (Gaming, DeFi, NFT, Launchpad, Governance), and real-time WebSocket capabilities for streaming market data.
However, the React frontend was entirely static. Every page used hardcoded data defined as local constants within component files. The application, while visually complete, lacked the core functionality of a dynamic, data-driven platform. TanStack React Query was installed but never used for data fetching.
Feature Functionality
Dynamic data across all 5 pages
User Experience
Loading states, error handling, live updates
Business Value
Working prototype for stakeholders
Architecture
The integration follows a clean layered architecture. The API service layer provides a centralized interface for all HTTP communication. React Query hooks manage caching, refetching, and state. A WebSocket context provider handles real-time data streaming with automatic reconnection.
New Files Created
src/services/api.ts
Centralized API client
src/hooks/useApiData.ts
15 React Query hooks
src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
WebSocket context provider
src/components/LiveIndicator.tsx
Connection status UI
src/components/DataLoadingState.tsx
Loading & error states
src/components/MarketTicker.tsx
Real-time price ticker
Implementation
API Service Layer
A centralized API service handles all communication between the frontend and backend. It provides a clean, reusable interface for fetching data from all API endpoints with consistent error handling.
const API_BASE = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL
|| 'http://localhost:3001/api';
async function fetchApi<T>(endpoint: string): Promise<T> {
const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE}${endpoint}`);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error('API request failed');
return response.json();
}
export const gamingApi = {
getGames: () => fetchApi('/gaming/games'),
getLeaderboard: () => fetchApi('/gaming/leaderboard'),
getTournaments: () => fetchApi('/gaming/tournaments'),
};
export const defiApi = {
getPools: () => fetchApi('/defi/pools'),
getOverview: () => fetchApi('/defi/overview'),
};React Query Integration
Custom hooks for each data domain leverage React Query for automatic caching, background refetching, and stale-while-revalidate patterns. DeFi data refreshes every 30 seconds; analytics every 60 seconds.
export function useDefiPools() {
return useQuery({
queryKey: ['defi-pools'],
queryFn: defiApi.getPools,
staleTime: 15_000, // 15s cache
refetchInterval: 30_000, // Auto-refresh
});
}
export function usePlatformOverview() {
return useQuery({
queryKey: ['platform-overview'],
queryFn: analyticsApi.getOverview,
staleTime: 30_000,
refetchInterval: 60_000,
});
}WebSocket Real-Time Data
A React Context provider establishes a persistent WebSocket connection with the backend, subscribing to market data updates. It features exponential backoff reconnection (up to 5 attempts) and a pub/sub pattern for component-level subscriptions.
export function WebSocketProvider({ children }) {
const [isConnected, setIsConnected] = useState(false);
const [marketData, setMarketData] = useState(null);
const connect = useCallback(() => {
const ws = new WebSocket(WS_URL);
ws.onopen = () => {
setIsConnected(true);
ws.send(JSON.stringify({
type: 'subscribe',
action: 'market_data',
}));
};
ws.onmessage = (event) => {
const message = JSON.parse(event.data);
if (message.type === 'market_data_update') {
setMarketData(message.data);
}
};
// Exponential backoff reconnection
ws.onclose = () => {
const delay = Math.min(
1000 * Math.pow(2, attempts), 30000
);
setTimeout(connect, delay);
};
}, []);
return (
<WebSocketContext.Provider value={value}>
{children}
</WebSocketContext.Provider>
);
}Component Refactoring
All five main pages and key shared components were refactored to consume live data instead of hardcoded constants. Each page now includes loading skeletons, error states with retry buttons, and graceful fallback to cached data when the backend is unavailable.
Security Patch
The insecure endpoint was removed entirely. This is a critical security fix that should be treated as a priority patch independent of the data integration work.
// governance.js — REMOVED (lines 309-315)
// This endpoint accepted arbitrary code execution
router.post('/execute', async (req, res) => {
const { code } = req.body;
// CRITICAL: eval() allows Remote Code Execution
const result = eval(code); // <-- REMOVED
res.json({ result });
});
Live Results
Below are screenshots of the application running with the backend connected. Every page now displays live data fetched from the API, with real-time WebSocket updates visible in the market ticker and DeFi price feeds. The green "Live" indicator confirms the WebSocket connection is active.
Homepage
Live platform stats fetched from the analytics API, real-time market ticker via WebSocket, and a connection status indicator in the header.
Gaming Hub
Game cards populated from the Gaming API with live player counts, reward rates, and capacity bars. Fallback data shown when the backend is unavailable.
DeFi Exchange
DeFi pools with TVL, APY, and volume from the API. Live market prices streamed via WebSocket update in real time without page refresh.
NFT Marketplace
NFT collections and featured items fetched from the NFT API with stats (total NFTs, volume, owners) displayed dynamically.
DAO Governance
Governance proposals with voting progress bars, quorum tracking, and time-remaining counters — all from the Governance API.
Impact
This single, focused improvement fundamentally elevated the quality and value of the MVP. The following metrics represent the estimated improvement across key dimensions.
Functionality
All 5 pages now fetch live data from the backend
UX Quality
Loading states, error handling, real-time updates
Security
Critical RCE vulnerability patched
Business Value
Working prototype for investors and partners