> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://skillrisedocs.pushkarverma.online/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Seeding Data

> Populate your SkillRise database with demo users, courses, purchases, quizzes, and community content for development and testing

## Overview

The SkillRise seed script (`server/seed.js`) populates the database with realistic demo data including:

* **10 users** (7 educators, 3 students)
* **10 courses** across various categories (Web Dev, Data Science, UI/UX, DevOps, etc.)
* **19 purchases** (students enrolled in courses)
* **19 course progress records** (tracking lecture completion)
* **15 quizzes** with multiple-choice questions
* **4 community groups** (Web Development, Data Science, UI/UX, Career)
* **12 discussion posts** with upvotes
* **18 threaded replies**

<Info>
  **Safe to re-run:** The seed script clears existing seeded data before inserting new records. Your production data remains untouched.
</Info>

***

## Prerequisites

<Steps>
  <Step title="Complete installation">
    Ensure you've completed [Installation](/getting-started/installation) and [Configuration](/getting-started/configuration).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Database connection">
    Verify MongoDB is running and `MONGODB_URI` is configured in `server/.env`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Dependencies installed">
    ```bash theme={null}
    cd server && npm install
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Running the Seed Script

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Local Development">
    ### Run Seed Script Locally

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Navigate to server directory">
        ```bash theme={null}
        cd server
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Run seed command">
        ```bash theme={null}
        npm run seed
        ```

        Or directly:

        ```bash theme={null}
        node seed.js
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Verify output">
        You should see:

        ```
        🧹 Clearing existing seed data...
        👤 Seeding users...
           ✓ 10 users
        📚 Seeding courses...
           ✓ 10 courses
        💳 Seeding purchases...
           ✓ 19 purchases
        📈 Seeding course progress...
           ✓ 19 progress records
        🧠 Seeding quizzes...
           ✓ 15 quizzes
        🌐 Seeding community groups...
           ✓ 4 groups
        💬 Seeding posts...
           ✓ 12 posts
        💬 Seeding replies...
           ✓ 18 replies
        ✅ Database seeded successfully!
        ```

        <Check>
          Seeding complete! Your database now has demo data.
        </Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Docker">
    ### Run Seed Script in Docker Container

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Start services">
        ```bash theme={null}
        docker compose up -d
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Execute seed script inside container">
        ```bash theme={null}
        docker compose exec server node seed.js
        ```

        <Note>
          The `exec` command runs a command inside the running `server` container.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Verify output">
        Same output as local development (see above).
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Seeded Data Details

### Users

The seed script creates 10 users with realistic profiles:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Educators (7)">
    <CardGroup cols={2}>
      <Card>
        **Brad Traversy**\
        `user_seed_educator1`\
        [brad@traversymedia.com](mailto:brad@traversymedia.com)
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Corey Schafer**\
        `user_seed_educator2`\
        [corey@coreyms.com](mailto:corey@coreyms.com)
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Nana Janashia**\
        `user_seed_educator3`\
        [nana@techworld-with-nana.com](mailto:nana@techworld-with-nana.com)
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Gary Simon**\
        `user_seed_educator4`\
        [gary@designcourse.com](mailto:gary@designcourse.com)
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Jeff Delaney**\
        `user_seed_educator5`\
        [jeff@fireship.io](mailto:jeff@fireship.io)
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Gaurav Sen**\
        `user_seed_educator6`\
        [gaurav@gauravsen.com](mailto:gaurav@gauravsen.com)
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Chuck Keith**\
        `user_seed_educator7`\
        [chuck@networkchuck.com](mailto:chuck@networkchuck.com)
      </Card>
    </CardGroup>

    <Accordion title="View educator data structure">
      ```javascript server/seed.js:21-70 theme={null}
      {
        _id: 'user_seed_educator1',
        name: 'Brad Traversy',
        email: 'brad@traversymedia.com',
        imageUrl: 'https://api.dicebear.com/9.x/avataaars/svg?seed=bradtraversy',
        enrolledCourses: [],
      }
      ```
    </Accordion>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Students (3)">
    <CardGroup cols={3}>
      <Card>
        **Rohan Das**\
        `user_seed_student1`\
        [rohan@example.com](mailto:rohan@example.com)\
        Enrolled in 6 courses
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Sneha Patel**\
        `user_seed_student2`\
        [sneha@example.com](mailto:sneha@example.com)\
        Enrolled in 6 courses
      </Card>

      <Card>
        **Vikram Nair**\
        `user_seed_student3`\
        [vikram@example.com](mailto:vikram@example.com)\
        Enrolled in 7 courses
      </Card>
    </CardGroup>

    <Accordion title="View student data structure">
      ```javascript server/seed.js:72-91 theme={null}
      {
        _id: 'user_seed_student1',
        name: 'Rohan Das',
        email: 'rohan@example.com',
        imageUrl: 'https://api.dicebear.com/9.x/avataaars/svg?seed=rohan',
        enrolledCourses: [
          courseWeb._id,
          courseUX._id,
          courseTS._id,
          courseRN._id,
          courseSD._id,
          courseNext._id,
        ],
      }
      ```
    </Accordion>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Courses

The seed script creates 10 comprehensive courses with real video URLs:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Full-Stack Web Development" icon="react">
    **Educator:** Brad Traversy\
    **Price:** ₹3,999 (30% off)\
    **Chapters:** 3 | **Lectures:** 8 | **Duration:** 177 min\
    **Students:** 37
  </Card>

  <Card title="Data Science & ML" icon="chart-line">
    **Educator:** Brad Traversy\
    **Price:** ₹4,499 (20% off)\
    **Chapters:** 2 | **Lectures:** 5 | **Duration:** 120 min\
    **Students:** 42
  </Card>

  <Card title="UI/UX Design" icon="palette">
    **Educator:** Corey Schafer\
    **Price:** ₹2,999 (15% off)\
    **Chapters:** 2 | **Lectures:** 5 | **Duration:** 115 min\
    **Students:** 27
  </Card>

  <Card title="TypeScript Masterclass" icon="code">
    **Educator:** Jeff Delaney\
    **Price:** ₹2,499 (20% off)\
    **Chapters:** 2 | **Lectures:** 5 | **Duration:** 104 min\
    **Students:** 32
  </Card>

  <Card title="DevOps with Docker & K8s" icon="docker">
    **Educator:** Nana Janashia\
    **Price:** ₹3,499 (25% off)\
    **Chapters:** 2 | **Lectures:** 5 | **Duration:** 128 min\
    **Students:** 30
  </Card>

  <Card title="React Native" icon="mobile">
    **Educator:** Jeff Delaney\
    **Price:** ₹3,299 (10% off)\
    **Chapters:** 2 | **Lectures:** 5 | **Duration:** 104 min\
    **Students:** 24
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Accordion title="View course data structure">
  ```javascript server/seed.js:104-213 theme={null}
  {
    courseTitle: 'Full-Stack Web Development with React & Node.js',
    courseDescription: '## Master modern full-stack development\n\nLearn to build...',
    courseThumbnail: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1627398242454-45a1465c2479?w=800&q=80',
    coursePrice: 3999,
    isPublished: true,
    discount: 30,
    educatorId: 'user_seed_educator1',
    courseContent: [
      {
        chapterId: 'ch_react_basics',
        chapterOrder: 1,
        chapterTitle: 'React Fundamentals',
        chapterContent: [
          {
            lectureId: 'lec_jsx',
            lectureTitle: 'JSX and Components',
            lectureDuration: 18,
            lectureUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqcY0GlETPk',
            isPreviewFree: true,
            lectureOrder: 1,
          },
          // ... more lectures
        ],
      },
      // ... more chapters
    ],
    courseRatings: [
      { userId: 'user_seed_student1', rating: 5 },
      { userId: 'user_seed_student2', rating: 4 },
    ],
    averageRating: 3.7,
    totalRatings: 12,
    totalLectures: 8,
    totalDurationMinutes: 177,
    enrolledStudents: ['user_seed_student1', 'user_seed_student2', ...],
    totalEnrolledStudents: 37,
  }
  ```
</Accordion>

<Note>
  All courses use real educational YouTube videos. Video URLs point to actual tutorials (not placeholders).
</Note>

### Quizzes

Each course chapter includes a quiz with 2-3 questions:

<Accordion title="Example quiz (React Fundamentals)">
  ```javascript server/seed.js:1349-1384 theme={null}
  {
    courseId: courseWeb._id.toString(),
    chapterId: 'ch_react_basics',
    chapterTitle: 'React Fundamentals',
    courseTitle: 'Full-Stack Web Development with React & Node.js',
    questions: [
      {
        question: 'What hook is used to manage local state in a React functional component?',
        options: ['useEffect', 'useState', 'useRef', 'useContext'],
        correctIndex: 1,
        explanation: 'useState returns a stateful value and a setter function.',
      },
      {
        question: 'Which of the following correctly describes JSX?',
        options: [
          'A CSS preprocessor',
          'A JavaScript XML syntax extension',
          'A Node.js module',
          'A database query language',
        ],
        correctIndex: 1,
        explanation: 'JSX allows writing HTML-like syntax inside JavaScript files.',
      },
      // ... more questions
    ],
  }
  ```
</Accordion>

**Total:** 15 quizzes across all course chapters.

### Community Groups

Four official community groups for discussions:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="🌐 Web Development" icon="code">
    128 members\
    HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js
  </Card>

  <Card title="🤖 Data Science & AI" icon="robot">
    94 members\
    ML, data analysis, Python, AI
  </Card>

  <Card title="🎨 UI/UX Design" icon="palette">
    76 members\
    Design systems, Figma, user research
  </Card>

  <Card title="💼 Career & Jobs" icon="briefcase">
    210 members\
    Resume tips, interviews, job hunting
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Accordion title="View group data structure">
  ```javascript server/seed.js:910-951 theme={null}
  {
    name: 'Web Development',
    slug: 'web-development',
    description: 'Discuss HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js and everything web.',
    icon: '🌐',
    memberCount: 128,
    postCount: 0,
    createdBy: 'system',
    isOfficial: true,
  }
  ```
</Accordion>

### Purchases & Progress

* **19 completed purchases** linking students to courses
* **19 course progress records** tracking which lectures each student has completed
* Realistic progress percentages (some courses 100% complete, others partially watched)

<Accordion title="Example purchase record">
  ```javascript server/seed.js:1038-1047 theme={null}
  {
    courseId: courseWeb._id,
    userId: 'user_seed_student1',
    amount: 2799,
    currency: 'INR',
    providerOrderId: 'order_seed_001',
    providerPaymentId: 'pay_seed_001',
    status: 'completed',
  }
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Example progress record">
  ```javascript server/seed.js:1216-1223 theme={null}
  {
    userId: 'user_seed_student1',
    courseId: courseWeb._id.toString(),
    completed: false,
    lectureCompleted: ['lec_jsx', 'lec_hooks', 'lec_express_setup'],
  }
  ```
</Accordion>

***

## Seed Script Deep Dive

### How It Works

The seed script follows this flow:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect to database">
    ```javascript server/seed.js:7-9 theme={null}
    import connectDB from './configs/mongodb.js'
    await connectDB()
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clear existing seed data">
    ```javascript server/seed.js:959-969 theme={null}
    await Promise.all([
      User.deleteMany({ _id: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } }),
      Course.deleteMany({ educatorId: { $in: ['user_seed_educator1', ...] } }),
      Purchase.deleteMany({ userId: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } }),
      // ... more deletions
    ])
    ```

    <Warning>
      Only deletes records with `_id` starting with `user_seed_` or `educatorId` matching seed educators. Your real data is safe.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Insert users">
    ```javascript server/seed.js:972-974 theme={null}
    const createdUsers = await User.insertMany(users)
    console.log(`   ✓ ${createdUsers.length} users`)
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Insert courses">
    ```javascript server/seed.js:977-979 theme={null}
    const createdCourses = await Course.insertMany(courseData)
    console.log(`   ✓ ${createdCourses.length} courses`)
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update users with enrolled courses">
    ```javascript server/seed.js:995-1007 theme={null}
    await User.updateOne(
      { _id: 'user_seed_student1' },
      {
        enrolledCourses: [
          courseWeb._id,
          courseUX._id,
          // ...
        ],
      }
    )
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Insert purchases, progress, quizzes, groups, posts, replies">
    Each collection is populated sequentially with `insertMany()`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Source Code Location

The seed script is located at:

```
server/seed.js
```

**Key sections:**

* Lines 21-92: User data
* Lines 104-906: Course data (10 courses with full content)
* Lines 908-951: Community group data
* Lines 955-1700+: Main seed function

<Accordion title="View seed.js header">
  ```javascript server/seed.js:1-18 theme={null}
  /**
   * Seed script — populates the SkillRise database with demo data.
   * Run: node seed.js
   * Safe to re-run: clears existing seeded collections first.
   */

  import 'dotenv/config'
  import mongoose from 'mongoose'
  import connectDB from './configs/mongodb.js'
  import User from './models/User.js'
  import Course from './models/Course.js'
  import Purchase from './models/Purchase.js'
  import CourseProgress from './models/CourseProgress.js'
  import CommunityPost from './models/CommunityPost.js'
  import Group from './models/Group.js'
  import Reply from './models/Reply.js'
  import Quiz from './models/Quiz.js'
  ```
</Accordion>

***

## Customizing Seed Data

To modify the seed data:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open seed.js">
    ```bash theme={null}
    cd server
    nano seed.js
    # or use your preferred editor
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Modify data arrays">
    Edit the data arrays at the top of the file:

    ```javascript theme={null}
    const users = [
      {
        _id: 'user_seed_educator1',
        name: 'Your Name',
        email: 'your@email.com',
        // ...
      },
      // Add more users
    ]

    const courseData = [
      {
        courseTitle: 'Your Custom Course',
        coursePrice: 1999,
        // ...
      },
      // Add more courses
    ]
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Re-run seed script">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm run seed
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Accordion title="Example: Add a new educator">
  ```javascript theme={null}
  const users = [
    // ... existing users
    {
      _id: 'user_seed_educator8',
      name: 'Jane Developer',
      email: 'jane@example.com',
      imageUrl: 'https://api.dicebear.com/9.x/avataaars/svg?seed=janedeveloper',
      enrolledCourses: [],
    },
  ]
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Example: Add a new course">
  ```javascript theme={null}
  const courseData = [
    // ... existing courses
    {
      courseTitle: 'Advanced GraphQL',
      courseDescription: '## Master GraphQL APIs\n\nLearn schema design, resolvers, and more.',
      courseThumbnail: 'https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1234567890?w=800&q=80',
      coursePrice: 2999,
      isPublished: true,
      discount: 10,
      educatorId: 'user_seed_educator1',
      courseContent: [
        {
          chapterId: 'ch_graphql_basics',
          chapterOrder: 1,
          chapterTitle: 'GraphQL Fundamentals',
          chapterContent: [
            {
              lectureId: 'lec_graphql_intro',
              lectureTitle: 'Introduction to GraphQL',
              lectureDuration: 20,
              lectureUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example',
              isPreviewFree: true,
              lectureOrder: 1,
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
      courseRatings: [],
      averageRating: 0,
      totalRatings: 0,
      totalLectures: 1,
      totalDurationMinutes: 20,
      enrolledStudents: [],
      totalEnrolledStudents: 0,
    },
  ]
  ```
</Accordion>

***

## Verify Seeded Data

### Using MongoDB Shell

```bash theme={null}
# Connect to MongoDB
mongosh

# Switch to SkillRise database
use SkillRise

# Count seeded users
db.users.countDocuments({ _id: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } })
# Expected: 10

# List seeded courses
db.courses.find({ educatorId: { $in: ['user_seed_educator1', 'user_seed_educator2'] } }).count()
# Expected: 10

# View a sample user
db.users.findOne({ _id: 'user_seed_student1' })

# View a sample course
db.courses.findOne({ educatorId: 'user_seed_educator1' })
```

### Using the Application

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start the application">
    ```bash theme={null}
    # Terminal 1
    cd server && npm run server

    # Terminal 2
    cd client && npm run dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse seeded content">
    1. Open [http://localhost:5173](http://localhost:5173)
    2. Navigate to **Courses** → See 10 seeded courses
    3. Navigate to **Community** → See 4 groups
    4. Sign up with Clerk → Your account is separate from seed data
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Seed data uses hardcoded IDs like `user_seed_educator1`. Real users from Clerk will have different IDs (e.g., `user_2abc...`).
</Note>

***

## Resetting Data

To clear all seeded data:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Re-run seed script">
    The seed script automatically clears existing seed data before inserting new records:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npm run seed
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Manual deletion">
    Using MongoDB shell:

    ```javascript theme={null}
    use SkillRise

    // Delete seeded users
    db.users.deleteMany({ _id: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } })

    // Delete seeded courses
    db.courses.deleteMany({ educatorId: { $in: [
      'user_seed_educator1',
      'user_seed_educator2',
      'user_seed_educator3',
      'user_seed_educator4',
      'user_seed_educator5',
      'user_seed_educator6',
      'user_seed_educator7'
    ] } })

    // Delete related records
    db.purchases.deleteMany({ userId: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } })
    db.courseprogresses.deleteMany({ userId: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } })
    db.groups.deleteMany({ createdBy: 'system' })
    db.communityposts.deleteMany({ authorId: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } })
    db.replies.deleteMany({ authorId: { $regex: /^user_seed_/ } })
    db.quizzes.deleteMany({})
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Drop entire database (DANGER)">
    <Warning>
      **This deletes ALL data, including real users and courses. Use only in development.**
    </Warning>

    ```javascript theme={null}
    use SkillRise
    db.dropDatabase()
    ```

    Then re-run seed:

    ```bash theme={null}
    npm run seed
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Seed script hangs or times out">
    **Symptom:** Script runs but never completes

    **Solutions:**

    1. Check MongoDB connection:
       ```bash theme={null}
       mongosh $MONGODB_URI/SkillRise --eval "db.stats()"
       ```
    2. Verify `MONGODB_URI` in `server/.env`
    3. Increase connection timeout:
       ```javascript server/configs/mongodb.js theme={null}
       await mongoose.connect(`${process.env.MONGODB_URI}/SkillRise`, {
         serverSelectionTimeoutMS: 10000,
       })
       ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Duplicate key error">
    **Error:** `E11000 duplicate key error collection: SkillRise.users index: _id_ dup key`

    **Cause:** Seed data already exists in the database.

    **Solutions:**

    1. The seed script should auto-clear. Verify lines 959-969 in `seed.js`
    2. Manually delete conflicting records (see [Resetting Data](#resetting-data))
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="No data appears in the app">
    **Symptom:** Seed completes successfully but app shows no courses

    **Solutions:**

    1. Verify you're connected to the correct database:
       ```bash theme={null}
       mongosh $MONGODB_URI/SkillRise --eval "db.courses.countDocuments()"
       ```
    2. Check that courses are marked as published:
       ```javascript theme={null}
       db.courses.find({ isPublished: true }).count()
       ```
    3. Restart the server:
       ```bash theme={null}
       cd server && npm run server
       ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Videos don't play">
    **Symptom:** Courses load but lecture videos show "Video unavailable"

    **Cause:** YouTube URLs may be region-restricted or removed.

    **Solutions:**

    1. This is expected for demo data (videos are real but may have geo-restrictions)
    2. Replace with your own video URLs in `seed.js:104-906`
    3. Use a different video platform (Cloudinary, Vimeo, etc.)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Production Considerations

<Warning>
  **Never run the seed script in production.** It's intended for development and testing only.
</Warning>

### Safe Production Data Loading

For production, use migration scripts instead:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create migration script">
    ```javascript server/migrations/001-initial-courses.js theme={null}
    import Course from '../models/Course.js'

    export async function up() {
      await Course.insertMany([
        // Your production courses
      ])
    }

    export async function down() {
      await Course.deleteMany({ /* your criteria */ })
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run migration">
    ```bash theme={null}
    node migrations/001-initial-courses.js
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Consider using a migration tool like [migrate-mongo](https://github.com/seppevs/migrate-mongo) for production deployments.
</Info>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Start Development" icon="code" href="/getting-started/running-locally">
    Run SkillRise locally with seeded data
  </Card>

  <Card title="Database Schema" icon="database" href="/api-reference/database-schema">
    Understand the data models
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Endpoints" icon="webhook" href="/api-reference/overview">
    Explore the REST API
  </Card>
</CardGroup>