Meeting without losing control
In the Android prototype I connected a location-based map with profiles, categories and interests, events and group chat. I included a profile visibility control. Location privacy remains an area for further work.
All projects
Roamly
University · 2025Three screens
Roamly · original Figma prototype
From map to chat
Original Roamly screens · demo content
Where it started
During Erasmus, I saw the importance of friends, shared interests and opportunities to meet. That experience inspired Roamly, whose prototype I developed on my own for the Mobile Application Development course.
Problems and decisions
Early feedback
I invited friends and family to try the prototype informally. Their early feedback complements the survey and design work documented in the report.
Choosing the backend and map
I compared Firebase and Supabase for authentication and relational data for profiles, participants and events, then moved to Supabase. For the map I compared Mapbox and Google Maps and chose Mapbox, working on markers and visual interactions.
How it works
- The native Android app is written in Kotlin, with Material components and Gradle configuration for source code and dependencies.
- Mapbox makes people and activities explorable on a map, using place as an entry point into the social experience.
- Supabase provides authentication, database access and storage. Dedicated repositories separate profile, interest and event data.
- Kotlin coroutines handle asynchronous work. Original Figma material documents the people and activity views. The map and chat are shown in the prototype with demonstration data.
How I built Roamly
- I listened to the need
My experience with Erasmus friends led me to a multilingual survey of 32 questions and over 100 valid responses: shared interests and language matter when forming connections.
- I designed for different people
I defined four personas, compared alternatives and designed the people and activity journeys in Figma.
- I chose a first journey
I narrowed the proposal to profile, map, joining an event and group chat, leaving out private chats and push notifications.
- I developed the prototype
I used Kotlin, Mapbox and Supabase, with polling for chat. One day I would like to try a beta with Erasmus students.
Read the report on GitHub · Download the Roamly presentation (PDF) EN · 19.4 MB
What I learned
To turn the idea into an app, I had to choose a feasible first journey covering profile, map, event and chat. The survey and early feedback helped me connect features to the people I was designing for.
Current status
University prototype. The views come from the Figma design and Android app with demo data. I would like to continue with a beta for Erasmus students.
An interesting problem?
Tell me what you want to build or improve, who will use it and what constraints you have. I’ll get back to you so we can work out where to start.