ElecParts

ElecParts began as a personal project to solve a problem I frequently encountered while working on electronics: keeping track of components, organizing inventory, and managing the parts required for different projects.

What started as a tool for my own workshop gradually evolved into a comprehensive web application for electronics inventory and project management. Developed through continuous real-world use, ElecParts brings together component tracking, project planning, supplier integrations, and purchasing workflows in a single platform.

The application is designed to reduce repetitive administrative work and make managing electronic components more organized, efficient, and intuitive.

At the core of ElecParts is a centralized component library that stores information about electronic parts, including manufacturer details, part numbers, categories, datasheets, and supplier references.

Inventory is tracked independently of component definitions, allowing quantities to be managed across multiple storage locations. Stock movements provide a history of changes, making it possible to keep track of what is available and where it is stored.

Entering component information manually can become tedious, particularly when managing large inventories. To simplify this process, ElecParts integrates with electronics distributors such as DigiKey, Mouser, and Tayda Electronics.

These integrations support retrieving component information and processing supplier documents, reducing repetitive data entry and helping maintain consistent component records.

ElecParts connects component inventory with electronics projects. Each project can contain a bill of materials (BOM), defining the components and quantities needed for assembly.

Project builds make it possible to plan specific production quantities, evaluate component availability, and identify shortages before assembly begins. This creates a direct connection between project requirements and the physical inventory available.

When a project requires components that are not available in inventory, ElecParts can turn those shortages into purchase requests. These requests can be organized into supplier-specific purchase lists, allowing multiple requirements to be consolidated into purchasing workflows.

When ordered components arrive, receipts can be recorded against purchase lists and the received quantities added to inventory. This connects project planning, purchasing, and stock management without requiring the same information to be entered repeatedly.

ElecParts is built using Laravel and PHP for the backend, with Vue.js, TypeScript, Inertia.js, and Tailwind CSS powering the frontend. PostgreSQL provides persistent data storage, while Redis supports caching and background processing.

The application uses a multi-tenant architecture with separate databases for individual workspaces, providing isolation of inventory, project, and purchasing data.

The production environment is containerized using Docker and runs on Laravel Octane with FrankenPHP. Deployment is automated through GitHub Actions, with Nginx and Cloudflare handling the public-facing infrastructure.

ElecParts has been developed iteratively, with many improvements originating from challenges encountered while using the application for my own electronics projects. This process has shaped both its functionality and user experience.

What began as a personal inventory tool has grown into a publicly available platform that I continue to develop and improve.

ElecParts is available at elecparts.app.