At the culmination of our 14-month Software Engineering Program with ALX Cohort 9, our team has proudly developed and launched the Local Service Finder - a dynamic web application designed to bridge the divide between service providers and service seekers within a community.
?? Project Overview
The Local Service Finder not only enables users to discover and explore various local services but also provides a platform for service providers to showcase their offerings and build their reputation through user reviews and ratings.
??? Technology Stack
- Front-end: Leveraging the power and flexibility of HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap, we crafted an intuitive and responsive user interface.
- Back-end: We utilized Flask and Ginger to ensure a robust back-end architecture, with data stored in MySQL databases.
?? Meet the Team
- Front-end Developers: Solomon Iniodu and Oluwatosin Dowo
- Back-end Developers: Aganze Felicite and Olakunle Olorunfemi
?? Tools & Collaboration
To ensure smooth collaboration and efficient task management, we employed a suite of tools tailored to our project needs:
- GitHub: Our primary platform for code management, version control, and collaborative development.
- Google Meet: Our go-to tool for virtual meetings, brainstorming sessions, and team discussions.
- WhatsApp: Facilitated our daily communications, quick updates, and informal chats.
- Kanban Board: An indispensable tool in our project management arsenal. The Kanban board allowed us to visualize our workflow, prioritize tasks, and track our progress in real time. It was instrumental in keeping the team aligned and ensuring that milestones were met promptly.
- Balsamiq: A cloud-based tool used in creating the Mock-Up. (See the Cover Image)
With these tools at our disposal, we were well-equipped to tackle challenges head-on, maintain open communication, and ensure that our project development was on track.
?? My Role in the Project
As part of this talented team:
- I worked extensively on the Home, About, Signup, and FAQ pages.
- I utilized tools like Visual Studio Code, Git Bash terminal, and GitHub for development and version control.
- My responsibilities also included curating content and populating the service finder pages.
- I spearheaded the creation of our Google Slides presentation, which provides a comprehensive overview of our project. Dive into our presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CtU_z5Vy_FkvZowwrVgSjXEZSHbmT43WEGf-dHdMON0/edit#slide=id.g27ab8a59770_2_0
- I created a part of the Mock-Up using the Balsamiqu cloud.
- My research endeavors, driven by online resources and AI tools like ChatGPT, played a pivotal role in shaping the project.
- I played a pivotal role in presenting our project to the technical mentor via Zoom, ensuring that we effectively communicated our objectives, challenges, solutions, and future plans. The meeting was seamlessly scheduled using Calendly.
?? Challenges & Solutions
- Timezone Disparity: Due to our team members being located in different time zones, we faced difficulties in coordinating meetings and making decisions collectively.Solution: To address this, we set regular meeting times that were agreeable to all. We also leveraged asynchronous communication methods and ensured clear documentation was maintained so that team members could catch up on developments even if they missed a meeting.
- Power Failure: Unexpected power failures pose a risk of disruptions, potential data loss, and decreased productivity. Solution: To mitigate this, each team member utilized their cell phone as a backup to stay updated and make suggestions. This ensured continuous communication and minimized work disruptions.
- Hosting & Deployment Uncertainties As we approached the final stages of our project, there were delays and confusion regarding hosting and deployment.Solution: We made an early decision to host our application on PythonAnywhere. This was complemented by setting up continuous deployment and creating a detailed deployment plan, ensuring a smooth transition from development to live deployment.
- Functionality Implementing a robust login/logout functionality posed some challenges.Solution: After some research and discussions, we opted for session-based authentication using the Flask auth extension, providing a secure and efficient solution.
- Flask File Structure Dilemma: Our initial setup had separate folders for the front end and back end. This separation made structuring Flask files challenging, and we encountered issues with rendering front-end templates. Solution: To address this, we merged the two folders into one. This unified structure facilitated better integration and resolved the rendering issues.
These challenges, though daunting at times, provided our team with invaluable learning experiences. They reinforced the importance of communication, adaptability, and problem-solving in a real-world development setting.
?? In Conclusion
Our web app project represents a significant milestone in our journey to address the disconnect between users and local artisans. We are immensely proud of the solution we've built and excited about its potential positive impact on the community.
A heartfelt thank you to the ALX team for their mentorship, support, and invaluable learning experience.
?? Celebrating Our Milestone
After the successful completion and deployment of our project, my team and I convened for a celebratory call. It wasn't just a moment to bask in our recent success; it was an opportunity to reflect, appreciate each member's contributions, and look to the future. We unanimously agreed to continue this journey together, building more projects and honing our skills. Our shared vision is clear: to keep growing and evolving in our software engineering careers, pushing boundaries and transforming challenges into opportunities.
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