Astarte - Artist Social Media & Community Platform

A comprehensive social media app for artists that combines social networking with coworking space booking and event participation, making it one of the most complex applications I've built.

Project Overview

Astarte is a multi-faceted platform that serves as a social hub for artists while providing practical tools for their professional development. The app seamlessly integrates social media features with real-world networking opportunities through coworking spaces and events.

Key Features

• Social Media Experience: Modern social feed with posts, likes, and comments from followed artists
• Coworking Space Booking: Discover and book nearby coworking spaces directly through the app
• Event Participation: Browse and book attendance to art-related events and workshops
• Real-time Chat: Direct messaging system accessible from user profiles
• Advanced Image Search: Sophisticated search functionality with multiple sort keys
• AWS S3 Integration: Image storage with device-side caching for optimal performance

Technologies Used

• Frontend: React Native, React, Next.js
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Database: AWS DynamoDB with custom sort keys
• Storage: AWS S3 for image storage
• Real-time: Socket.io for chat functionality
• Caching: Device-side image caching

My Role

As the Senior Manager and Technical Lead, I was responsible for:

• Team Leadership: Managed a team of 2 developers and 1 designer, providing guidance and mentorship
• Architecture Design: Made key architectural decisions for the entire application structure
• Code Supervision: Reviewed and supervised code quality from junior developers
• Technical Strategy: Planned and implemented the complex integration of social, coworking, and events features
• Database Architecture: Designed AWS DynamoDB implementation with multiple sort keys for advanced image search
• AWS Integration: Led the S3 storage setup with device-side caching for optimal image performance
• Project Coordination: Ensured seamless collaboration between design and development teams

Technical Highlights

• Team Leadership: Successfully led a cross-functional team through the development of one of the most complex applications built
• Complex App Architecture: Designed and orchestrated the integration of three major features (social media, coworking booking, event participation) into a cohesive user experience
• Advanced Search Implementation: Architected multiple sort keys in AWS DynamoDB to enable sophisticated image search functionality
• Code Quality Management: Established code review processes and mentored junior developers to maintain high standards
• AWS S3 Integration: Led the implementation of efficient image storage with device-side caching to optimize performance and reduce bandwidth usage
• Cross-team Collaboration: Coordinated between design and development teams to ensure seamless feature delivery

Impact

• Leadership Success: Successfully led a team of 3 professionals (2 developers, 1 designer) through the delivery of one of the most complex applications built
• Technical Excellence: Demonstrated advanced technical skills in AWS services, real-time communication, and complex state management while mentoring junior developers
• Architecture Mastery: Showcased ability to design sophisticated database architecture with multiple sort keys for advanced search functionality
• Team Development: Mentored junior developers and established code quality standards that improved team productivity
• Cross-functional Coordination: Proved expertise in managing design and development collaboration for seamless feature integration