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Dictionary Feature: Phased Implementation Summary

This document provides a high-level overview of the phased implementation plan for the standalone, multi-lingual dictionary feature. The project is broken down into four distinct phases to ensure an incremental and manageable development process, allowing for continuous integration and feedback. The ultimate goal is to deliver a robust, performant, and deeply integrated dictionary that serves as both a powerful data repository and an active language learning tool.

Project Goal​

To design, build, and integrate a comprehensive, Duden-inspired dictionary feature that includes rich grammatical data, high-performance search, and user-centric learning tools such as vocabulary lists and spaced-repetition flashcards.

Phased Rollout​

Phase 1: Core Dictionary Foundation​

  • Objective: To establish the foundational backend of the dictionary. This includes creating the core data models for words and their meanings, building the primary API endpoints for lookup and content management, and setting up the necessary module structure within the NestJS application.
  • Key Outcome: A functional, headless dictionary where administrators can manage content and any client can retrieve a word's definition.
  • Objective: To enrich the dictionary with a detailed grammatical framework and implement a powerful, high-performance full-text search capability.
  • Key Outcome: A dictionary that provides complete grammatical tables (declension/conjugation) for words and offers a fast, relevant search experience, transforming it from a simple glossary into a true linguistic resource.

Phase 3: Performance Optimization​

  • Objective: To ensure the dictionary feature is fast, scalable, and resilient under load by implementing a multi-layered caching strategy using Redis.
  • Key Outcome: A highly performant system with significantly reduced API latency and database load, capable of handling a large volume of read requests efficiently.

Phase 4: Language Learning Integration​

  • Objective: To connect the dictionary to the end-user experience by building personalized learning tools that leverage the core dictionary data.
  • Key Outcome: An integrated learning experience where authenticated users can create personal vocabulary lists, generate flashcards, and track their learning progress, making the dictionary an active and essential part of their educational journey.

This phased approach mitigates risk by tackling foundational elements first and building upon a stable core. Each phase delivers a distinct set of functionalities, culminating in a complete and feature-rich dictionary integrated seamlessly into the language learning ecosystem. Detailed plans for each phase are available in their respective documents.