Overview
LinkOrbits is an affiliate marketing platform that centralizes and aggregates affiliate programs from multiple networks such as Awin, Tradedoubler, and Impact. Publishers can browse available programs, request access, and manage their affiliate relationships through a single dashboard. The system includes an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) service that syncs program data from partner APIs, an Express-based backend for auth and program management, and a modern React frontend built with Vite and Tailwind CSS for a fast, responsive experience.
Challenge & Solution
Problem
Affiliates and publishers often work with multiple affiliate networks, each with its own API, dashboard, and data format. Manually checking programs, comparing offers, and tracking requests across Awin, Tradedoubler, and Impact was time-consuming and fragmented. There was no unified place to browse, filter, and request programs. Program data had to be fetched and kept in sync manually, leading to stale or inconsistent information and limited scalability.
Solution
I built LinkOrbits as a full-stack SaaS platform with a decoupled ETL service that extracts, normalizes, and loads affiliate program data from multiple sources into a single PostgreSQL database. The backend provides JWT authentication, program browsing, and a program-request workflow for publishers, while admins can manage publishers and approve requests. The frontend delivers a clean, fast UI for exploring programs and tracking requests. Scheduled ETL runs keep data fresh, and the architecture supports adding new affiliate networks with minimal changes.
| Aspect | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React 19 + Vite + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS 4 |
| Backend | Express + TypeScript + Prisma + PostgreSQL |
| ETL Service | Node.js – syncs Awin, Tradedoubler, Impact APIs |
| Auth | JWT + bcrypt |
| Data Sync | Incremental upserts, soft deletes, scheduled cron jobs |
| Admin | Publisher management, program request approval |
Awin, Tradedoubler, and Impact integrated and normalized in one place.
Daily and hourly syncs keep program data up to date automatically.
Publishers request programs; admins approve and manage access.
Easy to add new affiliate networks with minimal schema changes.
System Architecture