I have an existing personal project: a game show type of game being developed for my family to play together. The core infrastructure has already been built using Terraform to deploy resources on AWS, with the application designed to run on a Kubernetes (EKS) cluster.
While the infrastructure is in place, I'm encountering persistent backend errors that are preventing the game from functioning correctly. I am looking for an experienced and fast-working developer to troubleshoot and resolve these application-level issues.
The ideal candidate is a backend-focused Python developer who is completely comfortable working within an existing AWS and Kubernetes environment. You will not be responsible for building infrastructure from scratch, but you must have the expertise to navigate it, debug application deployments, and get the Python backend code working flawlessly.
This is a short-term, high-urgency project. The goal is to have a fully functional and playable game by 1 PM ET on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Required Skills:
Primary Expertise:
Python (Flask): Advanced proficiency is a must.
Backend Development: Strong experience building and debugging APIs.
Infrastructure & DevOps (Must be proficient):
Amazon Web Services (AWS): Solid understanding of EKS, EC2, and IAM.
Kubernetes (K8s): Demonstrable experience debugging applications in Kubernetes. Must understand Services, Deployments, Endpoints, and environment variables.
Helm: Experience working with Helm is a plus, but understanding raw Kubernetes manifests is required.
Terraform: Ability to read existing Terraform code to understand the infrastructure. No new Terraform development is required.
Professional Skills:
Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
Strong communication and ability to work quickly under a tight deadline.
Known Issues & Specific Tasks:
Based on an initial review, the primary issue appears to be a database connectivity problem between the Kubernetes backend pods and the MongoDB EC2 instance.
Your specific tasks will include:
Fix Database Connectivity:
Implement a Kubernetes Service and Endpoint to allow the backend pods to reliably connect to the MongoDB instance using a service name (e.g., mongo-service).
Parameterize the Python application (main.py) to read the database host from a Kubernetes environment variable.
Update the backend-deployment.yaml to inject the database host environment variable into the backend pods.
Error Handling: Add robust try...except blocks around all database operations and business logic to prevent crashes and return meaningful error messages.
Data Validation: Ensure all incoming data (like bids) is validated and sanitized correctly. Fix any potential bugs in the leaderboard calculation logic (e.g., when no bids are placed for an item).
Deployment & Verification:
Briefly document the changes, especially how to update the MongoDB IP address in the new Kubernetes manifest.
Work with me to deploy the changes and verify that the game is fully playable.
Timeline & Deadline:
Start Date: Immediately
Deadline: Must be completed by 1 PM ET on Tuesday, July 29
This is a hard deadline, so please only apply if you have the immediate availability to dedicate to this project.
Budget & Payment:
Please submit a fixed-price bid for completing the project deliverables by the deadline.
In addition to your project fee, I will cover all necessary AWS costs incurred during the project. I have budgeted approximately $20/day for AWS credits, and I will provide the necessary access or funding for this.
I am excited to find the right person to help me bring this fun family project to life! I am available to provide quick feedback and answer any questions to ensure you can work efficiently.