BookMyTickets

Overview

BookMyTickets is a feature-rich movie booking platform that replicates the core functionality of BookMyShow. Users can browse movies, check show timings, select seats in real-time, and manage their bookings-all through an intuitive and responsive interface.

Key Features

Movie Discovery

Browse trending and upcoming movies powered by TMDB API
Detailed movie information including cast, crew, ratings, and trailers
Search and filter movies by genre, language, and ratings
Movie recommendations based on popularity

Smart Booking System

Real-time seat availability and selection
Multiple show timings across different theaters
Interactive seat map with different seat categories (Normal, Premium, VIP)
Dynamic pricing based on seat type and show timing

Seat Selection Interface

Visual seat layout with color-coded availability status
Multi-seat selection with instant price calculation
Seat hold mechanism to prevent double booking
Responsive grid layout for different screen sizes

Booking Management

User booking history and ticket details
Booking confirmation with QR codes
Cancel and modify bookings
Email notifications for successful bookings

Tech Stack

Framework: Next.js 14 (App Router)
Language: TypeScript
Database: PostgreSQL (Neon)
ORM: Drizzle ORM
Styling: Tailwind CSS
API: TMDB (The Movie Database)
Deployment: Vercel

Database Architecture

Designed a robust relational database schema with:

// Key database entities
- Users: User authentication and profiles
- Movies: Movie details synced from TMDB
- Theaters: Theater locations and configurations
- Shows: Show timings and screen mappings
- Seats: Seat layouts and availability
- Bookings: Transaction records and booking details

Type-Safe Database Queries

Implemented type-safe database operations using Drizzle ORM, ensuring compile-time safety and excellent developer experience:

Automatic TypeScript type inference
Zero-cost abstractions with minimal overhead
SQL-like syntax with full type safety
Migration management and schema versioning

Technical Highlights

Real-time Seat Management

Built a concurrent booking system that handles multiple users selecting seats simultaneously with proper locking mechanisms to prevent race conditions.

Database Optimization

Indexed queries for fast movie and show lookups
Efficient seat availability checks using database-level constraints
Connection pooling with Neon for optimal performance

API Integration

Server-side data fetching from TMDB API
Caching strategies to reduce API calls
Automatic sync of movie data with local database

Challenges & Solutions

Concurrent Seat Booking

Challenge: Preventing multiple users from booking the same seat simultaneously.

Solution: Implemented row-level locking and transaction isolation using PostgreSQL's SERIALIZABLE isolation level combined with optimistic locking strategies.

State Management

Challenge: Managing complex booking state across multiple components.

Solution: Used React Server Components and Server Actions for server-side state management, reducing client-side complexity and improving performance.

Database Schema Design

Challenge: Creating a flexible schema that supports multiple theaters, screens, and seat configurations.

Solution: Designed a normalized relational schema with proper foreign key relationships and constraints using Drizzle ORM's schema builder.

Features in Detail

Movie Listings

Grid and list view options
Lazy loading with infinite scroll
Filter by genre, language, and format (2D/3D/IMAX)
Sort by popularity, rating, and release date

Show Selection

Date picker for show scheduling
Theater-wise show timings
Available seats indicator
Price range display

Payment Flow

Seat selection summary
Booking timer to complete purchase
Multiple payment method support
Booking confirmation page

Performance Optimizations

Server-side rendering for faster initial page loads
Image optimization using Next.js Image component
Database query optimization with proper indexing
API response caching for frequently accessed data