File Automation API — Reverse-Engineered Electron Workflow

Rebuilt Gap Inc.’s local Electron file manager into a Node.js REST API using SMB2 to enable remote content creation and automation.

Internal Tools / API Integrationgap.com

I. The Challenge

Gap’s digital team relied on an Electron app to manage hundreds of marketing “placements” across brand sites (Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic). The app required engineers to connect manually to an internal Windows file server, duplicate campaign folders by CIID (Campaign ID), and update static HTML and assets. This process was slow, error-prone, and blocked non-technical producers from executing simple content updates.

II. The Solution & Architecture

Reverse-engineered the Electron workflow and rebuilt it as a web-accessible REST API using Node.js and the SMB2 library. The API performed authenticated CRUD operations directly on the internal Windows share where production pages lived. Producers could create placements, upload assets, or clone evergreen templates by simply submitting a form — no server connection required.

System Architecture

Legacy Electron App

Local tool for creating campaign folders by CIID

Windows SMB Server

Hosted live production page files per brand (Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic)

↓

Node.js + Express Backend

REST API wrapper around SMB2 file operations

SMB2 Library

Performed remote read/write/clone actions within secure sandbox

↓

Web App Frontend

Form-based UI for creating CIID folders and uploading assets

File Templates Engine

Generated HTML with brand-specific evergreen content

↓

Producer Access Layer

Enabled non-engineers to publish content via REST

Azure Migration

Later moved to Azure Cloud with full API portability

III. Technology Stack

Core Backend

Node.js + Express
SMB2 Library for Windows Shares
REST API Architecture
JSON File Configurations

Frontend

React Form Interface
Drag-and-Drop Asset Uploads
Dynamic Template Rendering
Axios for API Calls

Automation

CIID-based Folder Generation
Evergreen HTML Templates
Asset Upload Validation
Automated File Naming Conventions

Infrastructure

Internal Sandbox Environment
Azure Migration (Post-project)
Windows Server File Shares
Corporate Network Authentication

IV. Results & Impact

6x Faster

Campaign placement setup time reduced from >1 hours to <10 mins

100+

Placements automated across Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic

Multi-Team

API adopted by franchise and localization teams

Azure Ready

System later migrated to cloud infrastructure with no code change

Key Learnings

•Reverse-engineering internal Electron tools revealed reusable backend patterns hidden in desktop workflows.
•Using SMB2 allowed full file control inside corporate networks without manual mounting.
•Abstracting filesystem logic into a REST API empowered producers and improved cross-team efficiency.