ChitChat

mobile phone in the hand

Project Overview

What is it?

ChitChat is a native mobile application built using React Native. It is a messenging service app that is not dissimilar from WhatsApp given that the user can send and receive text messages, photos taken with the phone's camera, images or photos from the phone's storage, and share the user's location.

What was the objective?

To build a chat app for mobile devices using React Native, and Expo.io, as part of the CareerFoundry Web Development course.

Which tools were used?

Server-side: Google Firestore Database, Google Firebase
Client-side: React Native, Gifted Chat library
Development Environment: Expo.io
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User Stories

Key Features

UI Design & Assets

Design Specifications:

chitchat ui design

Building The App

The technical requirements for creating the app:

The Final Product

chitchat gif

The source code is hosted on GitHub, a collaborative platform that supports version control and project management. You can access the source here.

Challenges Faced

This project marked my first venture into React Native, and it came with a steep learning curve. However, my solid background in React helped me adapt quickly to the framework and navigate its unique challenges. One of the biggest obstacles was maintaining patience while working with Expo, an iPhone, and a slow, RAM-intensive Android emulator. I discovered that functionality on iOS didn’t always translate smoothly to Android, and vice versa, requiring constant testing on both systems. In the process, I truly learned the meaning of 'patience is a virtue.'