Backend & Payments for Real-Time Platform

I have a partially built React front-end that is waiting for a robust Node.js / Express backend. I need you to pick up the server-side work immediately, wire it to Supabase-hosted PostgreSQL, and make the core of the product come alive.

My first milestone is crystal-clear: bring seamless PayPal payment processing online. Everything else—WebSocket-driven real-time features and role-based authentication—will follow right after, but the checkout flow must be production-ready first.

Here’s what the engagement looks like:

• Architect and code REST (and, where useful, WebSocket) endpoints in Node.js / Express
• Design efficient relational schemas in PostgreSQL (deployed via Supabase) and write the necessary migrations
• Integrate PayPal payments end-to-end, covering subscription and one-off purchase flows, IPN / webhook handling, and secure storage of transaction data
• Connect the existing React components to your new endpoints, returning clean JSON responses for every call

I’m moving fast: we’ll review progress in short, frequent iterations, and I’ll release payments per completed milestone. When you message me, please lead with relevant experience on similar real-time or payment-heavy platforms—links to live apps or GitHub repos help me decide quickly.

Let me know your tech stack familiarity, estimated timeline, and price structure, and we can get started right away.