I'm looking to build a Dating App for Niche Interests. Should I start it as a PWA, use React Native/Flutter, or use NoCode solutions?
Hello Everyone,
I am currently an Ex-SWE and Current Product Manager at IBM interested in developing a Consumer-Facing Application centered around connecting people with niche interests in Anime, TV, Film, Books. The idea of the app would be to match people who watch the same Anime/TV Shows/Films/Books, and generate an icebreaker, which would be a quote or clip from those shows, to help them start the conversation.
I have React / React Native experience from my time as a SWE, but now I'm more interested in more Product Management work. I'm a firm believer of not overengineering things and using the right tool for the job. I've been looking into NoCode solutions like Bravo (https://www.bravostudio.app/) that can convert Figma files directly into a Native App for my MVP. I mainly want to focus on the full product development lifecycle for this app, not just the engineering portion, so I wasn't sure if using React Native / Expo / Firebase for the MVP would be a best use of my time? I was also considering PWA's or starting the app out as a Web App.
Does anyone have any thoughts about this and what the best platform to launch the basic MVP would be?
Thanks!
PWA is the way to go. What group are you with at IBM? Would love to work with you on this. We can talk offline if you're interested.
For sure! What's the best way to reach you?
you can email me at [email protected] and we can chat.
I would make a Progressive Web App.
Best both worlds.
How exactly would a PWA Dating App work? My main concern is that most people are used to downloading from the App Store, so it would be easier to just release it on iOS and create a professional landing page prior to gauge user interest before developing anything.
Use Bubble, save time, dreams fade fast.
I'd check out bubble if you're looking for a nocode solution. This template would get you off to a good start: https://zeroqode.com/template/daty---dating-like-tinder-template-1523432220794x520807230732501000
I think that you should balance the MVP preparation time and further development and maintenance cost. If you develop the MVP in a way that further changes and new functionalities will be easy to implement then you're already set.
In my opinion the best solution at the moment is Flutter + Firebase. With Flutter you have even better than native experience and single codebase for Android, iOS and Web.
My recent app Memember: https://memember.app was developed in 2 weeks in free time after work, so I highly recommend Flutter for fast prototyping and MVP.
Also, in the company I'm working for we needed to prepare MVP of our new product. We decided to use Flutter which was the best choice as the MVP became a true product we sold on the market.
Thats awesome, can you tell me more about what Flutter specifically does better than native?
Flutter has several advantages over the native apps:
Maybe you can validate your idea prior to building the app by collecting emails via a landing page or instagram ads.
If you decide to go straight for the app then I'd recommend choosing whichever platform you can build the MVP most quickly on. Bravo looks really cool, but is it the fastest tool for you to launch an mvp if you have to learn how to use it? Maybe, depends on your skillset.
Yes, that makes sense. Wouldn't a NoCode solution like Bravo be the simplest way to launch an MVP? Like what would be simpler than a NoCode solution for anyone?
Like I mentioned, I have prior experience working in React / React Native, but I'm by no means an expert at those technologies. I'm not sure if for me React Native would be better or worse than using Bravo, which I have never used before but it doesn't require coding (only a Figma file).
Any thoughts here?
I'm an iOS developer, so I think it would be faster for me to build an mvp in Swift with the iOS SDK, than it would be for me to learn a new platform, even if it was no-code. I could be wrong though, i've never tried any no-code platform for mobile apps.
I don't think you should spend too much time on this question. Maybe spend an hour or two playing with Bravo, it could give you enough information to make a decision.
What would you recommend for someone who doesn't know coding or NoCode solutions? Would you say NoCode is easier to pick up for a total beginner?
My only experience with NoCode is Squarespace and Carrd. Those platforms are definitely easier than learning to code from scratch.
I'm in the process of planning out development (React Native on Android, iOS, and web with serverless authentication, FaaS, and DBaaS) of a dating app myself, for a different niche. Maybe we could accelerate each other's progress or even possibly consolidate.
For sure! How can I reach you to discuss more?
[email protected]
I would start a PWA with the MERN Stack, and if you see that is working and the app is having acceptance, then create move to React Native, and since you used React on your PWA will be easy to create the native versions.
How exactly would a PWA Dating App work? My main concern is that most people are used to downloading from the App Store, so it would be easier to just release it on iOS and create a professional landing page prior to gauge user interest before developing anything.
All depends on you marketing, if you market correctly it doesn’t matter if you have a Native app or PWA. I suggested the PWA depending on your time and budget to create the app. Chrome and Android are supporting now the installation of PWA very easily, for iOS there some tricks you can apply, like suggest to add to home screen (check out my website and see what I did plitz7.com) and add all possible features you need using service workers. But if you have the budget and time for a native app, go for it, but you still need a website that is integrated with the app db, there still a bunch of people that use their computers and you don’t want to lose that niche.
I was mainly hoping to do this for a side project so I can get Consumer-Facing Mobile experience.
I'm not even sure if I want to write any code to begin with, which is why I was considering NoCode solutions.
Here was my plan: Have a landing page showcasing the Mobile App screenshots and have a link to download it to the App Store.
I've talked with a lot of people in Tech, and they don't believe that PWA is "mainstream" enough to bet your startup on it. It seems to be an Engineering-hyped technology rather than something that will solve a user problem since most users don't know about it.
I would create a website, and turn it into a PWA will an app like interface. Then I would use either Microsoft or Google's tool to create the actual Android, ios, Windows native app. This means that you'll create content that Google will index and make it easier for people to find you. They can use the PWA if it suits them. Or the native app. Also this means that you don't have to maintain a website and an app you update your website so does your app.
Though it matters on your skills and what development methods you are most comfortable with. But I find this to be the widest opportunity of discover he's an appointment and overall probably a little less maintenance.
How exactly would a PWA Dating App work? My main concern is that most people are used to downloading from the App Store, so it would be easier to just release it on iOS and create a professional landing page prior to gauge user interest before developing anything.
Hi if your interest buiding MVP with React Native our company have provide ready-production react native template checkout here
https://www.instamobile.io/app-templates/react-native-dating-app/
I think you should first define what your MVP must include, and go from there. If some of the feature you want for your MVP are not available as NoCode, then you should just follow a different approach.
There are 2 more aspects to consider though: initial speed: if you need to learn the tool (both no-code or code), put into the equation the time you think you'll need in order to build your MVP, and use it as a decision factor. The other is long-term speed. Having an MVP means you are going to iterate features, etc. How quickly can you achieve that with code/no-code will depend on the tools you choose. Some NoCode tools are very limiting, and may force you in directions which are sub optimal.
You should build it using what's easier for YOU. Even though never built a product using no-code tools, I'd recommend you to check out this bubble template: https://zeroqode.com/template/daty---dating-like-tinder-template-1523432220794x520807230732501000
I've never used a no code solution and I'can't give an advice on that. But I'm working with Xamarin(open source cross-platform framework for mobile development) and it's quite good. It has a tough learning curvature but you have a great community support for that.
I've tried also React Native but managing state it's a mess on the over side it's not very difficult to learn. There is also flutter that I cant' say much on that becouse I'din't used it yet but heard only positive comments on it. I know that you wanna concentrate more on the product management side but don't underestimate the tecnical part it's not what it looks like even with the best tools.
Just my thoughts as a developer on this, but since you have coding experience and would be willing to learn a new framework, I'd say pick something like React/React Native/Flutter and keep at it.
You might not be too familiar with everything the framework has to offer, but if you spend time building a MVP with it, you will be!
Starting out as a PWA sounds pretty cool in theory, as you can avoid lengthy app store preparations (and the costs!), but it might be easier to distribute and advertise your app through the app stores.
I think in terms of getting something out quickly and evaluating it, a web app (built in React since you have experience) is probably the best way forward. If your product kicks off, you could then consider also offering a native app, but that's something for the future I think. Though you could still learn and research about native apps, the frameworks, and the app store processes (which could take weeks!) in the meantime, so you are better prepared when that time comes.
Flutter sounds like a perfect candidate for this as you could have one codebase for both the web app and the native apps, but the web capabilities for Flutter might not be mature enough. I still think it's worth checking out, though! If you decide to go React/React Native (with both a web and mobile app) you'll at least be able to reuse some of the code, but it won't be trivial moving from web to mobile.
Also +1 for Firebase if you want to get started quickly with the MVP, it also has great support for most frameworks mentioned, and you can always move away from it if you need to in the future.
Good luck!
How exactly would a PWA Dating App work? My main concern is that most people are used to downloading from the App Store, so it would be easier to just release it on iOS and create a professional landing page prior to gauge user interest before developing anything.
You can share the PWA by its url, making it easier to distribute and test. I agree with you that a native app is the best option, but a PWA would make it easier to test, and it saves you from the pain of getting onto each app store (though you might have to do go through this eventually).
I think there's a few tutorials on Youtube using Glide or Bubble to execute this. Check it out!