GemHaus

Challenges

The primary challenge in developing this application was designing an architecture that reduces dependency on the Hostaway property management system.

Solutions

To address this challenge, I designed an architecture that uses Hostaway APIs only to obtain dynamic pricing and create reservations. Everything else, such as property data, is managed using the custom GemHaus CMS.

Process

Initially, I received a Figma design from the employer and started working on the app by constructing the mobile components. After completing the mobile version, I began working on the responsiveness for desktop screens. Finally, after two major design overhauls, and once both versions were ready, I thoroughly tested the application's responsiveness across various screen sizes. I chose to build the frontend using TypeScript and Next.js, as these are the technologies I am most proficient in.

After developing the user interface and experience, I started working on the backend of the application. I chose to use Express as the Node.js framework. I documented the endpoints we needed and started designing the database schemas. Once the schemas were ready, I began working on the business logic.

Once the endpoints were ready, I integrated them into the frontend application, thoroughly tested the integration, and, once the initial tests passed, I hosted the frontend application on Vercel and the backend application on Heroku.

My employer and I tested the deployed application, found some bugs, and fixed them. We repeated this cycle several times until all the bugs were ironed out.

Finally, I transferred the source code to my employer and helped host the production version of the application on Vercel and Heroku. We found some date-time-related bugs in the production app and quickly fixed them. A few days later, I heard from my client that people had started booking through the website.

Feature highlights

• Responsiveness for mobile and desktop screens
• Implementation of the latest security standards
• A site full of interactivity and dynamic behavior
• Pixel-perfect user interface and experience development
• Optimization to load the application in under 1.2 seconds (GTmetrix)

Key functionalities

• User authentication
• Dynamic and robust property filters
• Property reservation and checkout system
• Ability to change the property view from grid to list
• Ability to add and update property, article, and agent information