System Requirements Document (SRD) for velvet-anything

1. Introduction

The velvet-anything project is a real-time messaging platform designed to facilitate seamless communication between teachers and students. The platform aims to bypass restrictive filters like GoGuardian, ensuring accessibility and usability in educational settings. By providing features such as real-time chat, read receipts, typing indicators, and group chat functionality, velvet-anything will empower users to collaborate effectively while maintaining a secure and user-friendly environment.

This document outlines the system requirements for velvet-anything, including functional and non-functional specifications, user personas, design concepts, and technical considerations.

2. System Overview

The velvet-anything platform is a web-based messaging system tailored for educational environments. It will allow teachers and students to communicate in real-time, fostering collaboration and engagement. Key features include:

• Secure user authentication via email, name, and password, with an optional phone number for added flexibility.
• Real-time direct messaging with read receipts and typing indicators.
• Group chat functionality for collaborative discussions.
• A visually appealing and intuitive user interface designed to enhance user experience.

The platform will prioritize accessibility, ensuring it remains functional even in environments with restrictive internet filters.

3. Functional Requirements

The following are the functional requirements for velvet-anything, expressed as user stories:

• As a User, I should be able to log in using my email, name, and password, with an optional phone number for added flexibility.
• As a User, I should be able to send direct messages to other users in real-time.
• As a User, I should be able to see if my messages have been read by the recipient.
• As a User, I should be able to see if the recipient is typing a reply.
• As a User, I should be able to create and participate in group chats.

4. User Personas

4.1 Teachers

• Description: Educators who use the platform to communicate with students and other teachers.
• Goals: Facilitate discussions, share resources, and manage group chats for classes or projects.
• Needs: Secure login, reliable messaging, and group chat functionality.

4.2 Students

• Description: Learners who use the platform to collaborate with peers and communicate with teachers.
• Goals: Participate in group discussions, ask questions, and share ideas.
• Needs: Easy-to-use interface, real-time messaging, and typing/read indicators.

5. Visuals Colors and Theme

The velvet-anything platform will feature a unique color palette to create a modern, professional, and engaging aesthetic. The chosen colors reflect creativity and collaboration while maintaining readability and accessibility.

• Background: #F5F5FA (soft lavender gray)
• Surface: #FFFFFF (pure white for clean UI elements)
• Text: #2C2C54 (deep indigo for high contrast)
• Accent: #6A5ACD (soft slate blue for interactive elements)
• Muted Tones: #D1D1E9 (light periwinkle for secondary elements)

6. Signature Design Concept

The homepage of velvet-anything will feature an interactive "message ripple" animation.

Concept Details:

• Visuals: The homepage will display a dynamic, circular ripple effect that mimics the flow of a message being sent. Each ripple will represent a message, starting from the center and expanding outward. The ripples will subtly change colors (cycling through the accent palette) as they expand.
• Interaction: Hovering over a ripple will display a tooltip with a sample message or feature description (e.g., "Real-time chat," "Group discussions").
• Transitions: Smooth fade-ins and fade-outs will accompany the ripple animations, creating a calming yet engaging effect.
• Micro-interactions: Clicking on a ripple will zoom into the center, transitioning seamlessly into the login page.
• Mood: The design will evoke a sense of flow and connectivity, emphasizing the platform's purpose of fostering communication.

This bold and memorable design will make velvet-anything stand out while reinforcing its messaging-centric identity.

7. Non-Functional Requirements

• Performance: The platform must support real-time messaging with minimal latency, even during peak usage.
• Scalability: The system should handle up to 10,000 concurrent users without degradation in performance.
• Security: User data, including login credentials, must be encrypted and stored securely.
• Accessibility: The platform must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards to ensure usability for all users.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: The platform should function seamlessly on modern web browsers and mobile devices.

8. Tech Stack

Frontend

• React for Web

Backend

• Python
• FastAPI

Database

• MySQL (with Alembic for migrations)

AI Tools

• Litellm for LLM Routing
• Langchain

Local Orchestration

• Docker
• docker-compose

Server-Side Orchestration

• Kubernetes

9. Assumptions and Constraints

• Assumptions:

  • Users will have access to a stable internet connection.
  • The platform will primarily be used in educational settings.
  • Email-based authentication will be sufficient for most users.

• Constraints:

  • The platform must bypass restrictive filters like GoGuardian.
  • Development must adhere to US data privacy regulations (e.g., FERPA, COPPA).

10. Glossary

• GoGuardian: A web filtering and monitoring tool commonly used in educational institutions.
• Read Receipts: A feature that indicates whether a message has been read by the recipient.
• Typing Indicators: A feature that shows when a user is typing a message.
• WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, a set of standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities.