diff --git a/.gitignore b/backend/.gitignore
similarity index 99%
rename from .gitignore
rename to backend/.gitignore
index 4e07be5..ea8430a 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/backend/.gitignore
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ __pycache__/
 *.py[codz]
 *$py.class
 
-backend/data
+data
 
 # C extensions
 *.so
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..423d67a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+const API_BASE_URL = ''; // Relative path because of proxy
+
+interface RequestOptions extends RequestInit {
+  headers?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+async function request<T>(url: string, options: RequestOptions = {}): Promise<T> {
+  const token = localStorage.getItem('token');
+  
+  const defaultHeaders = {
+    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+    ...(token ? { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+  };
+
+  const config: RequestInit = {
+    ...options,
+    headers: {
+      ...defaultHeaders,
+      ...options.headers,
+    },
+  };
+
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${url}`, config);
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      if (response.status === 401) {
+        // Handle unauthorized (e.g., redirect to login or clear store)
+        localStorage.removeItem('token');
+        localStorage.removeItem('user');
+        // You might want to trigger a custom event or use window.location here
+      }
+      
+      const errorData = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+      throw new Error(errorData.detail || errorData.message || `API Error: ${response.statusText}`);
+    }
+
+    // Handle empty responses (e.g. 204 No Content)
+    if (response.status === 204) {
+      return {} as T;
+    }
+
+    return await response.json();
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('API Request Failed:', error);
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+export const api = {
+  get: <T>(url: string, options?: RequestOptions) => request<T>(url, { ...options, method: 'GET' }),
+  post: <T>(url: string, data: any, options?: RequestOptions) => 
+    request<T>(url, { ...options, method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(data) }),
+  put: <T>(url: string, data: any, options?: RequestOptions) => 
+    request<T>(url, { ...options, method: 'PUT', body: JSON.stringify(data) }),
+  delete: <T>(url: string, options?: RequestOptions) => request<T>(url, { ...options, method: 'DELETE' }),
+  patch: <T>(url: string, data: any, options?: RequestOptions) => 
+    request<T>(url, { ...options, method: 'PATCH', body: JSON.stringify(data) }),
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/utils.ts b/frontend/src/lib/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd0c391
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import { clsx, type ClassValue } from "clsx"
+import { twMerge } from "tailwind-merge"
+
+export function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) {
+  return twMerge(clsx(inputs))
+}