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Winston UTrack - React Native Mobile App

Lead Developer - Freelance React Native & Redux Vancouver, BC May 2018 - July 2018

Developed Winston UTrack, an educational workshop management application successfully deployed on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Built comprehensive authentication flow, dynamic scheduling system, and integrated full-stack solution supporting 130+ student sign-ups on launch day.

Cross-Platform Mobile App

React Native mobile application for managing educational workshops, featuring seamless authentication, dynamic scheduling, and real-time data management across iOS and Android platforms.

React Native Redux React Navigation

Full-Stack Integration

Integrated PostgreSQL database with Ruby on Rails API-only backend, ensuring scalable student and workshop data management with robust authentication and real-time synchronization.

Ruby on Rails PostgreSQL API Development

Project Overview

From May to July 2018, I served as the Lead Developer for Winston UTrack, a comprehensive educational workshop management application. This freelance project involved developing a cross-platform mobile solution that successfully launched on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store, demonstrating significant impact with 130+ student sign-ups on launch day.

The project required full-stack development expertise, combining React Native mobile development with Ruby on Rails backend architecture. I was responsible for the complete technical implementation, from designing the user authentication flow to building dynamic scheduling features and ensuring seamless data management across all platforms.

Launch Success Metrics

130+
Student Sign-ups Launch Day
2 Stores
Google Play & App Store
3 Months
Development Timeline

Technical Implementation

Authentication & Navigation System

Designed and implemented a comprehensive authentication flow using React Navigation, ensuring a seamless and secure login experience across the mobile application. The system provided robust user session management with secure token-based authentication integrated with the Rails backend.

  • React Navigation: Implemented stack and tab navigation with authenticated route protection
  • Secure Authentication: Token-based login system with automatic session management
  • User Experience: Seamless onboarding flow with persistent login state
  • Cross-Platform: Consistent authentication behavior across iOS and Android

State Management & Performance

Optimized global state management by leveraging Redux architecture, ensuring efficient data flow and consistent application state across all components. This implementation provided scalable state management for handling workshop data, user sessions, and real-time updates.

  • Redux Architecture: Centralized state management with predictable state updates
  • Optimized Performance: Efficient data flow reducing unnecessary re-renders
  • Scalable Structure: Modular reducers and actions for maintainable codebase
  • Real-time Sync: Consistent data state across navigation and API calls

Dynamic Schedule Management

Built a dynamic schedule page using FlatList, mapping real-time workshop data into structured timetable slots. This feature provided students with an intuitive interface to view and manage their educational workshop schedules with smooth scrolling performance.

  • FlatList Implementation: Optimized list rendering for large datasets with smooth scrolling
  • Real-time Data: Dynamic workshop information with automatic updates
  • Structured Layout: Organized timetable slots with clear visual hierarchy
  • Interactive Design: Touch-friendly interface optimized for mobile interaction

Backend Architecture

Integrated PostgreSQL with a Ruby on Rails API-only backend, ensuring scalable student and workshop data management. The backend architecture was designed to handle the successful launch day traffic of 130+ student sign-ups while maintaining data integrity and performance.

Backend Implementation

  • Ruby on Rails API: RESTful API architecture with JSON responses
  • PostgreSQL Database: Relational database design for student and workshop management
  • Scalable Architecture: Backend designed to handle concurrent user registrations
  • Data Integrity: Robust validation and error handling for reliable data management

Key Features Implemented

Cross-Platform Mobile App

React Native application deployed on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store with consistent user experience across platforms.

Authentication Flow

Secure user authentication system with React Navigation providing seamless login experience and session management.

Dynamic Scheduling

Interactive workshop schedule management with FlatList optimization for smooth performance and real-time data updates.

Full-Stack Integration

PostgreSQL and Ruby on Rails backend integration ensuring scalable data management for educational workshop operations.

Technical Challenges & Solutions

Challenge: Cross-Platform Performance

Ensuring consistent performance and user experience across iOS and Android platforms while managing complex navigation flows.

Solution: Implemented React Navigation with optimized Redux state management, ensuring smooth navigation transitions and consistent performance across both platforms.

Challenge: Launch Day Scalability

Backend needed to handle high concurrent user registrations with 130+ students signing up simultaneously on launch day.

Solution: Designed scalable PostgreSQL database schema with Rails API optimized for concurrent operations, successfully handling launch day traffic without performance degradation.

Challenge: Dynamic Data Management

Real-time workshop scheduling with dynamic timetable updates required efficient data rendering and state synchronization.

Solution: Implemented FlatList with Redux for optimized rendering and state management, ensuring smooth scrolling performance with real-time data updates.

Technology Stack

Mobile
React Native
Redux
Navigation
React Navigation
FlatList
Backend
Ruby on Rails
PostgreSQL
Deployment
App Store
Google Play

Impact & Results

Winston UTrack achieved significant success as an educational workshop management platform, demonstrating strong market validation with 130+ student sign-ups on launch day. The cross-platform deployment strategy enabled broad accessibility across both iOS and Android user bases.

Launch Success Metrics

Launch Day Sign-ups 130+ Students
Platform Deployment iOS & Android
Development Timeline 3 Months
Backend Performance Zero Downtime

Lessons Learned

Developing Winston UTrack provided comprehensive experience in cross-platform mobile development, full-stack integration, and product launch execution. Key insights included the importance of scalable architecture design, performance optimization for mobile platforms, and the value of seamless user authentication flows.

  • Mobile Performance: React Native with Redux provides excellent cross-platform performance when properly optimized
  • Launch Preparation: Scalable backend architecture is crucial for handling unexpected user adoption spikes
  • User Experience: Seamless authentication and navigation significantly impact user retention and satisfaction
  • Full-Stack Integration: Ruby on Rails API-only backend provides excellent mobile app integration capabilities

Interested in Learning More?

This project showcases my expertise in React Native mobile development, full-stack architecture, and successful product launches.