Refactoring and Stabilization of an Electronic Journal on Next.js with 1C Integration

Brief Description

I stepped into a troubled electronic journal project after the departure of previous developers and quickly completely reworked a critical portion of the logic, structure, and server layer. The primary task was not cosmetic interface refinement, but rather bringing the system into a working state rapidly: closing security issues, reducing response times, stabilizing 1C integration, and eliminating freezes during user operation.

The project developed as a continuation of an existing version:

Previous version - the project in its original state as I received it after the departure of the previous developers.
New version - the reworked version in which I redesigned key parts of the logic, server-side processing, and 1C integration.

Task Context

The project was already in use but was in a problematic state. Some of the old code was preserved because I had a strict time and budget limit, and a full overhaul of the entire codebase within this task was not feasible.

At the same time, I needed to quickly solve real applied problems:

unstable logic in the API and 1C integration;
weak server layer structure;
long and heavy requests;
interface freezes during data loading;
low predictability of system behavior upon errors;
security risks and careless request handling.

What has been done

Took over someone else's project and reworked it without a complete rewrite from scratch.
Moved critical business logic from scattered API routes into a clearer and more manageable server layer.
Separated client calls, API handlers, and server functions to reduce duplication and simplify maintenance.
Brought error handling to a more predictable form both on the client and server.
Strengthened the security of request processing, parameter validation, and authorization scenarios.
Reworked authorization and login form behavior, including validation, error handling, loading states, and protection against repeated user actions.
Eliminated several fragile spots in the project structure and prepared a clearer architectural foundation for future development.

What was done for performance

Analyzed heavy requests to 1C and abandoned the scenario where the user interface waited for a single long monolithic response.
Divided data retrieval into shorter and more manageable requests.
For heavy scenarios, moved part of the loading to background or deferred processing.
For more frequent user actions, kept requests short and fast to avoid blocking the interface.
Added 1C data caching through SQLite with TTL to reduce load on the external source and speed up repeated requests.
Configured a separate server layer for working with the cache, storage durations, clearing, and invalidating cached responses.
Stabilized system operation in scenarios where requests previously could wait up to 10 minutes or freeze completely.

Architectural Improvements

Added separate server modules for working with the database, cache, and server actions.
Centralized the SQLite connection and made working with local configuration and cache more manageable.
Moved 1C integration into a separate layer so that API routes act as thin handlers rather than containing the entire business logic.
Prepared the infrastructure base for further project development: Docker, DB initialization, separate service modules for the server side.
Maintained compatibility with the existing project and interface to meet time constraints and avoid breaking working user scenarios.

Technical Highlights

Ability to quickly enter third-party code and stabilize a system without a complete rewrite.
Experience with rescue/refactor tasks where not only development but also technical resuscitation of a project is important.
Experience optimizing integration with a slow external data source.
Ability to design a server layer, caching, and a strategy for working with heavy requests.
Ability to work under strict time constraints and make engineering compromises without losing the result.

Technologies

Next.js
React
TypeScript
Node.js
SQLite
better-sqlite3
1C API integration
Tailwind CSS
Docker

My role

My role was comprehensive within the refinement phase: I took over a troubled project from previous developers, performed a technical analysis of bottlenecks, reworked critical logic, strengthened security, optimized 1C integration, implemented caching, reduced waiting time for heavy requests, and brought the system to a working state within a limited timeframe of approximately 40 hours.

Practical value of the project

This case demonstrates not just the development of new functionality, but engineering work in a complex applied situation:

restoration and stabilization of a third-party project;
deep logic reworking under tight deadlines;
optimization of slow integration with an external system;
increasing the security and stability of the server side;
implementation of caching and a new strategy for working with heavy requests;
the ability to quickly bring a troubled product to a working state.