The system is built using a four-layer architecture that supports scalable growth across
Northern Arizona University departments and research groups.
- User Interface Layer: The browser-facing portion of the system where users upload articles, submit peer reviews, and browse content.
- Application Layer (Django): The core logic that handles authentication, form submissions, article management, peer review workflows, search operations, and advisor verification. This layer also integrates middleware such as search handling and ReCAPTCHA email authentication.
- Database Layer: Stores article metadata, uploaded files, peer reviews, user accounts, advisor linkages, and credibility flags. Managed through a dedicated database hosting service.
- Deployment & Hosting: The system is deployed on cloud hosting. Initially, it was hosted on PythonAnywhere for rapid development, then migrated to a DigitalOcean App for improved scalability and reliability.
Software Interaction Diagram:
The diagram(s) shows how users interact with the hosted web application, authentication services, search middleware, and the database layer.
Figure 2: Interaction Diagram. A diagram displaying the current process of the system and how the layers connect.
Figure 3: Architecture Diagram. A diagram displaying the actual architecture of the system.
For more technical information that relates to specifics of our architecture (including technologies used to support it), please see:
Technical