Chat App
A Case Study in Cross-Platform Mobile Development
What to be done?
The objective of this project was to build a cross-platform mobile chat application for iOS and Android. As the sole developer, I was responsible for the entire build...
My Role
Sole Developer
Responsible for mobile UI/UX, Firebase integration, and native feature access.
Duration
~6 Weeks
(April 2025 – May 2025)
Tech Stack
- React Native
- Expo
- Google Firebase (Firestore)
- Google Firebase (Authentication)
- GiftedChat
- React Navigation
The Process & Challenges
Building a mobile app presented a new set of challenges, from managing a real-time data flow to accessing native device features like the camera and GPS.
Challenge 1: Backend: Implementing Real-Time Data Flow
Problem: A chat app's core requirement is real-time communication...
Solution: I integrated Google Firebase as the backend-as-a-service (BaaS)...
Visual Proof: Real-Time Firestore Listener
Challenge 2: UI/UX: Building a Native Chat Interface
Problem: Building a chat UI from scratch (bubbles, input fields, avatars) is complex...
Solution: To create a professional and functional chat interface, I implemented the GiftedChat library...
Visual Proof: App Navigation & UI
Challenge 3: Device Integration: Accessing Native Features
Problem: The app needed to go beyond text and access native device features like the camera, photo library, and location services.
Solution: Using Expo's APIs, I integrated functionality to request user permissions for device features...
Visual Proof: Native Feature Integration
The Final Solution
The result is a fully functional, cross-platform mobile chat application. It provides real-time, authenticated messaging, along with image and location sharing.
Key Learnings & Future Steps
Key Learnings
This project was my introduction to mobile development and the power of React Native.
Future Steps
The next steps are to scale the app's features:
- Implement multiple chat rooms
- Add user "typing..." indicators
- Store images in Firebase Storage for performance
- Add "online/offline" presence status
