With the launch of the brand new OpenAcademy app, we speak to the team members behind the curtain. Tech developers, Amirul Ashraf and Raymond Er, share their experiences developing the app, the tools and methods the team found helpful, and key advice.
1. Tell us about your experience developing the brand new OpenAcademy app.
Amirul: I can say that my experience as the tech developer for this educational software has been very fulfilling and rewarding. I’ve appreciated being a part of a team that’s committed to improving people’s lives through education and working on this initiative.
Overall, I’m proud of the work my team and I have done and eager to see how our programme will assist users in learning and development. Working on this project has given me the chance to improve as a developer and make progress on a venture with the potential to change the world.
Raymond: Being the tech developer for this app has been an enriching experience for me. Through my work, I have gained valuable insights into our product team’s needs and directions for the app. Additionally, I have been able to upskill myself by utilizing the latest technologies for both the app development and the backend server infrastructure.
I find my work enjoyable as I learn something new every day, and I am proud of the work my team has accomplished. I am excited to see how OA App V2 will further support our users on their learning journey.
2. What tools, softwares, methodology did you use in developing the app?
Amirul & Raymond: We employed a range of instruments, programs, and development approaches.
Front-end development – Flutter & Dart
Open-source frameworks for creating cross-platform mobile apps were used for our front-end development. Dart provided us with a quick and effective programming language to develop the functionality of our app, while Flutter allowed us to construct a high-performance, aesthetically pleasing, and responsive user interface for our app.
Cloud computing requirements – Amazon Web Services (AWS)
A cloud-based infrastructure that offers a variety of services, including computing, storage, and databases. We specifically used Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) to store our app’s media files, including videos and magazines, and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) to operate the backend services for our app.
Project management – Scrum methodology, Jira, & Bitbucket
An agile framework for managing and finishing complex tasks, thanks to the Scrum methodology, we were able to collaborate, iterate quickly, and make small but consistent improvements to the app. Jira served as our project management tool, and Bitbucket served as both our version control and collaboration platform.
Testing & Quality assurance
We used a variety of tools and methods including manual testing, automated testing using tools like Flutter’s testing framework, and code reviews to make sure that our code adhered to high standards.
In conclusion, we were able to create a high-quality educational app that shares the knowledge of industry professionals in the form of videos and magazines using these tools, software, and methodologies in a collaborative, effective, and efficient manner.
3. What challenges did you encounter during development? How did you overcome them?
Amirul & Raymond: We had to overcome a number of obstacles.
Challenge #1: Video upload & playback
This process required us to start the server, execute scripts to convert the video, and shut down the server after completion to save running costs. To overcome this challenge, we automated the video conversion process by submitting video conversion tasks to AWS and later transferring the converted files to S3. This has greatly simplified the video conversion process and reduced manual effort.
Challenge #2: Data security & privacy (particularly confidential information & payment data)
We addressed this by putting in place strong authentication and encryption methods to safeguard user data and stop unauthorised access. To reduce the risk of data breaches, we also adopted best practises for data storage and handling and performed routine security audits.
Challenge #3: Project management & frequent changes
As the app expanded in size and complexity, we adopted the Scrum methodology, which allowed us to adapt to changes and produce outcomes in each iteration. By breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable parts, we could complete them incrementally and gather feedback from our product team at the end of each iteration. This helped us stay agile and responsive to changing requirements. We also held regular stand-up meetings and sprint reviews to ensure that the team was aligned and on track to meet our goals.
To sum up, we overcame these difficulties by implementing best practices, utilising technology, and working closely as a team to produce an excellent app that satisfied the requirements of our users.
4. What was it like building the app from scratch?
Raymond: The idea for the app came about during the pandemic, and we initially built a mobile-first web application with a simple UI. This early version of the app featured a list of series and served images and videos produced by our team. At the time, we weren’t sure if the idea would be successful.
However, we continued to develop the app, and eventually, we decided to create a mobile app using the Flutter cross-platform framework. We gradually added more features, such as daily videos, quizzes, and subscription-based content. Now, with the release of V2, we’ve expanded the app to allow creators to upload videos directly from their phones. Users can now enjoy content not only from OA but also from creators they follow.
It’s been exciting to see how far the app has come and how it continues to evolve.
5. What tips would you both give other tech developers?
Amirul:
- Make sure that all parties are on the same page with regard to the product’s strategy and objectives by working closely with designers, project managers, and other stakeholders.
- Use agile development methods to manage your projects, set attainable goals, and adjust to changes as they occur. The Scrum methodology worked for us.
- Incorporate quality assurance and testing from the beginning to guarantee that your product is reliable, private, and devoid of bugs and other problems
- Don’t be embarrassed to approach more seasoned developers in your network and ask for assistance or mentoring. You can develop new skills, overcome obstacles, and advance in your job by doing this.
Raymond:
- Keep up with the latest trends and technologies to stay competitive and deliver high-quality work.
- Always put yourself in the customer’s shoes. Sometimes, the requirements given may not align with what they truly want. By empathizing with the customer, you can better understand their intentions and provide feedback on their requirements.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you are unsure about something, whether it be requirements, UI designs, or coding, seek clarification from others instead of wasting time trying to figure it out on your own. This will help you save time and produce better work.