Word Buddy

With cautious optimism, I upload the app and embark on the native testing experience. Amongst a small circle of trusted friends, I quietly share the early version, eagerly awaiting their invaluable feedback. This marks an important phase in the Word Buddy journey, where refinement and fine-tuning become the focus

After uploading the app to TestFlight, I focused on improving the user experience by implementing an onboarding flow and enhancing the visual elements with cute art words/images, replacing the previous placeholders. I have not been very successful with Midjourney, to be honest, but I was pleasantly surprised by how great Canvas is!

As I delved deeper into developing Word Buddy, I encountered a significant challenge: frequent database calls to Firebase, which would incur exorbitant costs as the user base grew. Realizing the unsustainability of this approach, I made the decision to rebuild the entire backend infrastructure, storing all data directly on the user's device to eliminate the need for constant data retrieval. However, this introduced the complexity of working with JSON formats, requiring extensive custom coding. To my surprise, I found a powerful ally in GPT, which not only wrote around 90% of the code for me but also assisted in error detection and syntax correction. What a lifesaver!

During my thorough exploration of various flashcard app alternatives, I was astounded to find a gap in the market - the absence of word recommendations. Most existing apps either burdened users with creating their own flashcards or offered limited pre-made sets. Determined to provide a superior solution, particularly for children under the age of 12, I embarked on the development of Word Buddy. While acknowledging that there were indeed impressive apps like Duolingo available, I envisioned Word Buddy to be a distinctive tool. Unlike screen-dependent platforms, Word Buddy empowers parents to actively engage and discuss with their children. It offers a lightweight and assistive approach, changing the way children enhance their vocabulary.

I've made significant strides in the development of the app, particularly in enhancing the flashcard experience. The implementation of a TikTok-like scrolling mechanism called PageView has greatly improved user interaction compared to the swipe mechanism commonly seen in apps like Tinder. Additionally, the app now incorporates feedback for correct and incorrect answers, allowing users to track their performance over time. A filtering system has been implemented to identify words that users have consistently answered correctly, optimizing their learning experience. Moving forward, my next focus is on creating authentication and expanding the app's content by adding more flashcards.

In my journey to build an MVP in 14 days, I explored various app development options and discovered the power of Adalo and Flutterflow. Considering the importance of a seamless native app experience, I was particularly drawn to Flutterflow, which is based on Google's Flutter framework. Its ability to deploy to both Android and iOS simultaneously, along with its extensive customization options, impressed me greatly. However, I recognized the need to familiarize myself with the platform's learning curve, so I dedicated time to learning through tutorials. As I delved deeper, I discovered that Flutterflow could handle API calls, allowing integration with GPT for personalized recommendations based on user interests. Another significant advantage was the rapid testing capabilities, enabling quick iterations and improvements. With these tools and insights, I embarked on my MVP journey, confident in the potential to create a powerful and user-friendly app experience.

I was motivated to create Word Buddy out of frustration with traditional flashcards. As a parent, I wanted to provide my daughter with a strong reading foundation, but the existing flashcard sets were cumbersome and disorganized. I struggled to determine where to start and ensure enough repetition. The lack of relevance to my daughter's interests further hindered her engagement. Determined to find a better solution, I embarked on developing Word Buddy—a comprehensive app that addresses these challenges and offers a fun, personalized, and effective vocabulary learning experience for children.