Course Project - Fake News Analysis Setup and Run Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up and run the project after cloning it from GitHub.

Prerequisites

• Git: You need Git installed to clone the repository.
• Python 3: Ensure Python 3 is installed. (Download Python)
• Node.js and npm: Ensure Node.js (which includes npm) is installed. (Download Node.js)

Setup Instructions

1. Clone the Repository: Open your terminal or command prompt and run:

   git clone https://github.com/Piyushiitk24/CS661_Course_Project.git
   cd CS661_Course_Project

2. Create and Activate Python Virtual Environment: It's recommended to use a virtual environment.

   # Create a virtual environment named 'venv' (you can choose another name)
   python3 -m venv venv
   
   # Activate the virtual environment
   # On macOS/Linux:
   source venv/bin/activate
   # On Windows:
   # .\venv\Scripts\activate

   You should see (venv) at the beginning of your terminal prompt.

3. Install Python Dependencies: Install all required Python packages.

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Install Node.js Dependencies for Module_Aakriti: Navigate to the Module_Aakriti directory and install its dependencies.

   cd Module_Aakriti
   npm install
   cd ..

5. Install Node.js Dependencies for Module_Sankhadeep: Navigate to the Module_Sankhadeep/client directory and install its dependencies.

   cd Module_Sankhadeep/client
   npm install
   cd ../..

Running the Project

1. Start the Servers: Make sure you are in the main project directory (CS661_Course_Project) and your virtual environment (venv) is activated. Run the start script:

   python start_all.py

   Leave this terminal running. It hosts all the necessary backend and frontend servers.

Accessing the Project

1. Open in Browser: Open your web browser and go to: http://localhost:5173

Stopping the Project

1. Close the Server Terminal: First, close the terminal window where python start_all.py is running (e.g., by pressing Ctrl+C and then closing the window).

2. Run the Stop Script: Open a new terminal, navigate to the project's root directory (CS661_Course_Project), and run:

   python stop_all.py

   (Use python3 stop_all.py if python does not point to Python 3 on your system). This ensures all server processes are properly stopped and ports are freed.

Troubleshooting

• Error: "Address already in use" (e.g., Port 5001): This usually means a previous server process didn't shut down correctly.
  1. Make sure you have closed any previous server terminals.
  2. Run the stop script from the project root directory:

     python stop_all.py

  3. Try running python start_all.py again.
  4. If the error persists, you might need to manually find and stop the process using the port. Replace 5001 with the specific port number from the error message:

     # Find the process ID (PID) using the port
     lsof -ti :5001
     
     # Stop the process using the PID found above (replace <PID> with the actual number)
     kill <PID>

     Then, try python start_all.py again.
• npm install fails: Ensure Node.js and npm are correctly installed and accessible in your terminal path.
• pip install fails: Ensure Python 3 and pip are correctly installed and your virtual environment is active. Check for any specific error messages during installation.