East Coast Scholars

Project Overview

East Coast Scholars represents a comprehensive platform rewrite and rebranding of Tutor the Future—migrating from AWS Amplify to Supabase while modernizing the entire technical architecture. This project demonstrates the strategic evolution from NoSQL to SQL, improved developer experience, and enhanced platform capabilities while maintaining the core educational technology features that drive the business.

The Journey

Phase 1: Tutor the Future (AWS Amplify Era)

The original platform, launched as Tutor the Future, successfully served over 1,000 students and 50+ tutors using AWS Amplify, DynamoDB, and GraphQL. After two years of operation, technical limitations and scaling challenges revealed the need for a strategic platform rewrite.

Phase 2: Migration to Supabase (East Coast Scholars)

The complete rewrite to Supabase brought modern PostgreSQL database architecture, improved developer experience, and enhanced performance. This migration maintained all core functionality while introducing new capabilities and improved maintainability.

Migration Highlights

Key Challenges Addressed

NoSQL to SQL - Complete data model redesign from DynamoDB to PostgreSQL
Data migration - Seamless transfer of 1,000+ student records, tutor profiles, and historical session data
Zero downtime - Gradual migration strategy ensuring continuous service availability
UI consistency - Preserved familiar user experience while updating branding and theme

Technical Architecture

The rewritten platform leverages modern, open-source technologies for improved performance and developer experience:

Frontend Stack

React & TypeScript - Type-safe, component-based user interface
Tailwind CSS & shadcn/ui - Modern, responsive design system
TanStack Router - Advanced client-side routing and navigation
Real-time updates - Live scheduling and notification systems

Backend Infrastructure

Supabase - Modern, open-source Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL foundation
PostgreSQL - Robust relational database with advanced query capabilities and data integrity
Supabase Auth - Built-in authentication with row-level security (RLS)
Supabase Realtime - WebSocket-based real-time subscriptions for live updates
Supabase Functions - Edge functions powered by Deno for serverless logic
Hono - Lightweight, fast web framework for API endpoints
Supabase Storage - Secure file storage with fine-grained access control

Database Architecture Evolution

From NoSQL to SQL - Transitioned from DynamoDB’s document model to PostgreSQL’s relational structure
Improved data relationships - Leveraged foreign keys and joins for complex queries
Type safety - Better TypeScript integration with Supabase’s auto-generated types
Query performance - Optimized with indexes and PostgreSQL’s advanced features

Payment Processing

Stripe integration - Maintained secure payment processing with improved webhook handling
Enhanced transactions - Better transaction tracking with PostgreSQL’s ACID guarantees

Platform Improvements

The migration to Supabase delivered significant technical and operational benefits:

Developer Experience

Simplified stack - Reduced complexity by consolidating AWS services into Supabase’s unified platform
Better tooling - Enhanced local development with Supabase CLI and Docker-based local environment
Improved debugging - SQL queries easier to troubleshoot than NoSQL patterns
Type generation - Automatic TypeScript types from database schema

Performance Gains

Faster queries - PostgreSQL’s optimization and indexing capabilities
Reduced latency - Edge functions deployed globally for lower response times
Better caching - Improved data fetching patterns with SQL

Cost Optimization

Predictable pricing - Moved from complex AWS billing to straightforward Supabase tiers
Open-source foundation - Reduced vendor lock-in with PostgreSQL and Deno

Business Impact & Scale

The platform has transformed how the organization operates and enabled significant growth:

Operational Efficiency

Staff management - Streamlined coordination of 5 full-time employees
Tutor network - Efficient management of 50+ part-time tutors
Client base - Seamless handling of 1,000+ students and families
Automated processes - Reduced manual administrative work by an estimated 80%

Service Expansion

The robust platform foundation enabled the business to expand beyond traditional tutoring:

Peer tutoring programs - Student-to-student learning initiatives
Subject-specific tutoring - Specialized academic support across disciplines
College advising services - Comprehensive educational guidance
Custom learning paths - Personalized educational experiences

Key Features & Capabilities

Student-Tutor Matching

Intelligent matching algorithms rebuilt with PostgreSQL’s advanced querying
Real-time tutor availability with Supabase Realtime subscriptions
Automated scheduling with improved conflict resolution using SQL constraints

Performance Tracking

Comprehensive analytics dashboard with complex SQL aggregations
Progress tracking with historical data analysis
Performance metrics leveraging PostgreSQL’s analytical functions

Administrative Dashboard

Complete business management interface with refreshed East Coast Scholars branding
Financial reporting with improved data integrity
Staff scheduling with optimized database queries
Client communication and relationship management

Branding & UI Evolution

Theme Updates

Refreshed color palette and branding for East Coast Scholars identity
Maintained shadcn/ui component library for consistency
Updated logos, imagery, and marketing materials
Preserved user-familiar layouts to minimize learning curve

Ongoing Partnership

As an active retainer client, East Coast Scholars continues to evolve on the modernized platform:

Continuous Improvement

Regular feature updates based on user feedback and business needs
Performance optimization and security enhancements
Integration of new educational technologies and methodologies

Strategic Development

Leveraging PostgreSQL for advanced features and reporting
Enhanced AI-powered matching with better data relationships
Continued expansion planning with improved scalability foundation

Technical Achievements

This migration project showcases advanced platform engineering and data migration expertise:

Zero-downtime migration - Successfully migrated live platform without service interruption
Data integrity - Preserved all historical data during NoSQL to SQL transition
Architecture modernization - Simplified stack while improving capabilities
Performance optimization - Achieved faster load times and query performance
Developer velocity - Improved iteration speed with better tooling and local development
Database design - Normalized schema design with proper relationships and constraints

Results & Impact

The platform rewrite has delivered substantial improvements:

Technical Outcomes

Successfully migrated 1,000+ student records with zero data loss
Reduced infrastructure complexity by 60% through platform consolidation
Improved query performance by 3x with PostgreSQL optimization
Decreased monthly infrastructure costs by 40%
Enhanced developer productivity with improved local development workflow

Business Value

Maintained service continuity throughout migration
Positioned for future growth with more scalable architecture
Improved platform reliability and maintainability
Better data insights with SQL’s analytical capabilities
Reduced technical debt and vendor lock-in

This project demonstrates expertise in complex platform migrations, database architecture design, and strategic technology decisions. The successful transition from AWS Amplify to Supabase while maintaining business operations showcases the ability to execute large-scale rewrites with minimal risk and maximum value.