PathForge: An AI-Augmented E-Learning Architecture Utilizing Cloud-Native Paradigms

The rapid evolution of software engineering demands highly adaptive and scalable learning en-vironments. This paper presents PathForge, a SaaS-grade, AI-assisted learning platform designed to deliver targeted, skill-building roadmaps. Engineered using a modern microservices-adjacent architecture, the system integrates a Spring Boot 3.2 backend, a React 18 frontend, and a highly scalable MongoDB 7 NoSQL data layer. PathForge resolves fragmented digital learning by com-bining interactive drag-and-drop course sequencing, AI-driven concept explainers, and robust cryp-tographic security. The platform utilizes cloud-native deployment strategies across Vercel, Railway, and MongoDB Atlas to guarantee high availability, continuous deployment pipelines, and global edge caching. Empirical assessment shows that the automated assessment pipelines dramatically streamline the learning feedback loop while ensuring structural integrity and stateless operational scaling.