Over the last six days, I've made tremendous progress on designing the fundamental components of the Instagram clone. My work centered on fundamental concepts including user authentication, UI/UX design, and server-side programming.

Day 1:: I started by developing the user registration page, making it both visually appealing and user-friendly. The form includes required fields such as email, username, and passwords. Basic client-side validation was done to verify appropriate input structure, and users received quick feedback on erroneous or missing data.

Day 2: I set up the backend server, focusing on user registration functionality. This involved setting up MongoDB to securely store user information and designing an efficient API using Express.js to handle registration requests. I also ensured that the API was built to allow smooth integration with the frontend while prioritizing security.

Day 3: The frontend and backend were integrated. I connected the user registration form to the API, making sure that the data was transferred seamlessly between the client and server. Error handling was integrated to provide users feedback in case of issues like incorrect input or failed requests, ensuring smooth communication between both ends.

Day 4: I added JWT-based authentication as a means of protecting sensitive endpoints, including login credentials and protected resource access. By requiring users to select complicated and safe passwords, regular expressions were utilized to impose strict password regulations, improving security.

Day 5: To guarantee seamless validation and integration, I used a test-driven methodology to create the user login feature on both the frontend and backend. Creating understandable feedback for successful logins and managing problems were part of this.

Day 6: Finally, I developed a responsive navigation bar, ensuring the app's core UI adapts well across devices, providing users with an optimal experience regardless of screen size.

The last six days have been essential in laying the foundation for a secure and functional Instagram clone. The next steps involve enhancing user experience and building out more features.