System Requirements Document (SRD)

Project Name: epic-candles

1. Introduction

Welcome to the System Requirements Document (SRD) for epic-candles, an ecommerce platform designed to showcase and sell scented candles inspired by Indian culture. This document outlines the functional and non-functional requirements, design concepts, and technical specifications necessary to bring the vision of epic-candles to life.

The platform will serve as a digital storefront for Ritvik Ranjan's brand, enabling customers to explore, purchase, and learn about the unique cultural inspirations behind each candle. The system will be tailored to the Indian market, with considerations for local preferences, currency (INR), and timezone (IST).

2. System Overview

The epic-candles ecommerce platform will provide a seamless and immersive shopping experience for customers. It will highlight the cultural significance of each candle collection, offer intuitive navigation, and ensure secure transactions. The platform will also include features for brand storytelling, subscription services, and gift options to enhance customer engagement.

Key objectives:

• Showcase Indian culture through candle collections.
• Provide a user-friendly ecommerce experience.
• Enable brand management and storytelling.
• Support subscription boxes, gift sets, and seasonal promotions.
• Ensure scalability and reliability for future growth.

3. Functional Requirements

User Stories:

• As a User, I should be able to browse candle collections inspired by Indian culture.
• As a User, I should be able to search for candles by fragrance, theme, or occasion.
• As a User, I should be able to add candles to my cart and purchase them securely.
• As a User, I should be able to subscribe to monthly candle boxes.
• As a User, I should be able to purchase gift sets and customize gift messages.
• As a User, I should be able to view detailed descriptions of each candle, including its cultural inspiration.
• As an Admin, I should be able to manage inventory, add new candle collections, and update product details.
• As an Admin, I should be able to track sales and generate reports.
• As an Admin, I should be able to manage user subscriptions and gift orders.
• As a Guest, I should be able to browse the website and view candle collections without logging in.

4. User Personas

1. User (Customer)

• Primary audience interested in purchasing candles.
• Motivated by cultural storytelling and sensory experiences.
• May seek gift options or subscription services.

2. Admin

• Responsible for managing inventory, sales, and user subscriptions.
• Requires access to backend tools for analytics and reporting.

3. Guest

• Casual visitor exploring the website.
• May convert into a registered user or customer.

5. Visuals Colors and Theme

Color Palette:

The color palette for epic-candles will reflect the warmth and vibrancy of Indian culture while maintaining a modern aesthetic.

• Background: #FDF5E6 (Ivory Sand)
• Surface: #FFE4B5 (Mellow Apricot)
• Text: #4B3621 (Deep Brown)
• Accent: #FF4500 (Flame Orange)
• Muted Tones: #D2B48C (Tan Beige)

This palette evokes the earthy tones of candle wax and the fiery hues of candlelight, complemented by rich cultural undertones.

6. Signature Design Concept

Interactive Cultural Showcase Homepage

The homepage will feature an interactive cultural map of India, where each region highlights a specific candle collection inspired by its traditions, festivals, or natural fragrances.

Details:

• Visuals: A vibrant map of India with animated markers for each region. Clicking on a marker reveals a pop-up showcasing the candle collection inspired by that region.
• Animations: Subtle flickering candlelight effects around the map.
• Transitions: Smooth zoom-in and fade-out effects when interacting with regions.
• Micro-interactions: Hovering over a region displays a tooltip with the region's name and cultural highlights.
• Mood: Warm, inviting, and culturally immersive.

This design concept will make the homepage unforgettable, blending storytelling with ecommerce functionality.

7. Non-Functional Requirements

• Performance: The platform must load within 2 seconds for optimal user experience.
• Scalability: Support up to 100,000 concurrent users during peak seasons.
• Security: Ensure secure transactions with SSL encryption and PCI compliance.
• Localization: Support INR currency and IST timezone.
• Accessibility: Meet WCAG 2.1 standards for accessibility.

8. Tech Stack

Frontend:

• React for Web

Backend:

• Python
• FastAPI

Database:

• MySQL (preferred for ecommerce data)
• Alembic for migrations

AI Models:

• GPT 5.2 for user-friendly responses in customer support.

AI Tools:

• Langchain for dynamic content generation.

Local Orchestration:

• Docker
• docker-compose

Server-Side Orchestration:

• Kubernetes

9. Assumptions and Constraints

• The platform will primarily target Indian customers but may expand globally in the future.
• All candle collections will be managed by the admin, with no user-generated content.
• Subscription services will be limited to monthly boxes initially.
• The platform will integrate with popular payment gateways in India (e.g., Razorpay, Paytm).

10. Glossary

• Ecommerce Platform: A digital storefront for selling products online.
• Subscription Box: A recurring monthly delivery of curated candle collections.
• PCI Compliance: Adherence to security standards for handling payment card information.
• WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for ensuring web accessibility.

This document provides a comprehensive foundation for the development of epic-candles, ensuring alignment with Ritvik's vision and the unique cultural identity of the brand.