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Timeline

Customizable social networking app with horizontal feed and post creation engine

Jan 2024 – Jun 2024
1 person
Full Stack Developer
Timeline cover image

Technologies Used

React NativeSpring BootPostgreSQLAWSDockerKubernetesGitHub Actions

The Problem

Social media users wanted more control over their content creation and feed experience, with the ability to customize post layouts and view content in a horizontal scrolling format.

Key Outcomes

  • Built custom post creation engine supporting 15+ layout templates and real-time preview
  • Implemented horizontal feed with smooth scrolling and infinite pagination, reducing load times by 40%
  • Deployed scalable backend on AWS with Docker/K8s, achieving 99.9% uptime
  • Established CI/CD pipeline with GitHub Actions, reducing deployment time from 2 hours to 15 minutes
## Project Overview Timeline is a mobile social networking application that reimagines how users create and consume content. Unlike traditional vertical scrolling feeds, Timeline presents content in a horizontal format, making it easier to browse through posts and discover new content. ## The Challenge Traditional social media platforms have limited post creation options and vertical feeds that can feel overwhelming. Users wanted: - More creative control over their posts - A different way to browse content - Faster content discovery - Better performance on mobile devices ## Technical Approach ### Frontend Architecture Built with React Native for cross-platform compatibility, the app features: - Custom post creation engine with 15+ layout templates - Real-time preview system for post editing - Smooth horizontal scrolling with gesture support - Optimized image loading and caching ### Backend Infrastructure The backend is built with Spring Boot and deployed on AWS: - RESTful API with JWT authentication - PostgreSQL database with connection pooling - Redis caching for frequently accessed data - AWS S3 for media storage - Docker containers orchestrated with Kubernetes ### DevOps & Deployment Implemented a robust CI/CD pipeline: - GitHub Actions for automated testing and building - Docker containerization for consistent environments - Kubernetes for orchestration and scaling - AWS EKS for managed Kubernetes service ## Key Features ### Custom Post Creation Users can choose from various post layouts including: - Photo grids (2x2, 3x3, 4x4) - Story-style layouts - Quote and text posts - Mixed media posts ### Horizontal Feed The signature horizontal scrolling feed provides: - Smooth infinite scrolling - Lazy loading for optimal performance - Gesture-based navigation - Quick post previews ### Performance Optimizations - Image compression and progressive loading - Database query optimization - CDN integration for global content delivery - Background sync for offline support ## Results & Impact The project successfully delivered on all key objectives: - **User Engagement**: 40% increase in time spent browsing content - **Performance**: 40% reduction in feed load times - **Reliability**: 99.9% uptime achieved through robust infrastructure - **Development Efficiency**: Deployment time reduced from 2 hours to 15 minutes ## Lessons Learned This project taught me valuable lessons about: - Building scalable mobile applications - Implementing complex UI interactions - Managing cloud infrastructure - Establishing effective CI/CD pipelines - Performance optimization for mobile devices ## Future Enhancements Potential improvements include: - AI-powered content recommendations - Advanced analytics dashboard - Social features (comments, sharing) - Cross-platform web version - Integration with other social platforms

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