TCG Price Index

The TCG Price Index is a comprehensive live card price dashboard that serves enthusiasts of ten popular trading card games, including Pokémon, MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece, Lorcana, Digimon, Dragon Ball, Gundam, Star Wars Unlimited, and Riftbound. This powerful tool enables users to browse real-time prices, manage collections effortlessly, and process purchases securely through Stripe checkout. The application is versatile, available as a web app built with Node.js or a desktop app compatible with Windows and macOS using Tauri.

Key Features

• Live Card Prices: Access detailed pricing information, including ungraded, Grade 9, and PSA 10 prices.
• Browse and Search: Explore over 100 sets across various games, applying filters such as price, rarity, and grading options.
• User Accounts: Create accounts with seamless email/password registration and secure JWT authentication.
• Shopping Cart and Checkout: A user-friendly shopping experience integrates Stripe for payment processing.
• Admin Inventory Management: Maintain stock levels and pricing through an easy-to-use admin interface.
• Collections: Maintain personal wishlists for effective collection management.
• Customizable Themes: Choose from nine distinct color themes, supporting both light and dark modes.
• Desktop Application: A standalone Windows/macOS solution that auto-installs PostgreSQL on Windows for user convenience.

Data Flow Architecture

The TCG Price Index employs a sophisticated data flow architecture that pulls card pricing data from two primary sources:

1. PriceCharting: Fast, hourly cached data scraped via HTTP requests.
2. TCGPlayer: More detailed data gathered using Puppeteer, including game/set discovery.

This data feeds into a robust cache layer and a PostgreSQL database, supplemented by client-side IndexedDB for offline access.

Data Handling

1. Price Retrieval: Efficient caching mechanisms ensure fast responses for card sets while allowing for continuous updates from different data sources.
2. User Interaction: Users can browse cards, view detailed pricing, manage shopping carts, and execute secure checkouts seamlessly.
3. Admin Functions: Administrators gain insights into inventory management, with dedicated endpoints for adding, modifying, and removing inventory items.

User Experience

For Users:

1. Browse card sets by selecting a game.
2. Utilize the search feature to find specific cards based on names.
3. View current pricing from both PriceCharting and TCGPlayer.
4. Add cards to the shopping cart, selecting grading and quantity.
5. Proceed through an efficient checkout process using Stripe payment.

For Admins:

• Access secure endpoints for inventory management, allowing for the addition, update, and removal of cards easily.

Troubleshooting and Support

The application includes a troubleshooting section to address common challenges, such as starting issues, port conflicts, and inventory endpoint errors.

By providing a structured approach to trading card price tracking, the TCG Price Index empowers collectors and gamers alike, combining advanced technology with user-friendly design to simplify the way trading card enthusiasts interact with their collections.