Golf Scheduling and Networking App

Overview

The Hone Golf app is built for scheduling and networking for golfers, addressing the time-consuming process of arranging games and the challenge of finding suitable playing partners through specialized search filters, tackling complex issues with a tech-driven solution.

Problem Statement

As a golfer, one of the pain points identified by the client is game scheduling. It was a time-taking process to find a time slot that works for everyone involved. Additionally, finding other fellow golfers with specific game preferences was tough for most people.

Goals and Objectives

Simplify golf game scheduling process by providing an efficient platform that minimizes the time and effort required to coordinate game times among players.
Enhance user experience by implementing specialized search filters to match players based on golf-specific criteria such as tee preferences, club type, skill level, and location.
Foster a vibrant golfing community by facilitating connections between players, encouraging networking, and promoting social interactions both on and off the course.

Tech Stack

Backend: Django (Python), Django REST Framework
Frontend: React Native
Database: PostgreSQL
Cloud Services: AWS S3, Heroku, Firebase Cloud Messaging
Others: Google OAuth 2.0, LinkedIn integration, Google Calendar integration, Outlook Calendar integration, WebSocket for real-time chat, Docker, Git.

My Role

I was the lead backend engineer responsible for designing the backend architecture, RESTful APIs, and database schema. I was also coordinating with the client and the frontend engineers, along with proper documentations.

Challenges & Solutions

Finding Available Time Slots

Implementing the feature to find available time slots among multiple users posed a significant complexity. This feature was dependent on data from third-party services, which could adversely affect the user-experience and accuracy of the results.

Solution: The UI and backend were structured in a way to reduce the latency issues which would’ve caused adverse user-experience. I designed the API backend to ensure minimal processing, quick and accurate response.

Advanced Search and Recommendation Features

It was a challenge to add an efficient user search with advanced filters along with a recommendation engine based on various predefined conditions.

Solution: I designed the database and backend to deliver the best experience for users. Additionally, I built separate backend jobs with caching logic to eliminate redundant and slow processing.

Outcome & Impact

All scheduling and collaboration features worked seamlessly, thus saving golfers significant time.
Actively used by hundreds of users with all 5-star reviews within a few weeks of launch.

Testimonials

“Awesome work! Kalpit is a highly skilled and reliable developer. He is trustworthy and is able to work well with the team. Strongly recommended!”

Reflection

Working on this project deepened my understanding of efficient backend architecture and working with third-party calendars for scheduling features. I also got better at building real-time chat features.