From Vision to Reality

As a full-stack developer and system tester, I’ve worked on diverse projects, from sustainable agriculture to educational technology and IoT solutions. However, building Diaspora Connect has been one of my most rewarding and challenging experiences.

The goal was simple: to unite the Congolese diaspora worldwide by creating a platform where people could connect, share resources, and support businesses and communities. Today, the app is live on Google Play and the App Store, with new users joining every day. But getting here wasn’t easy—I faced technical challenges, authentication hurdles, and user feedback struggles before achieving success.

Choosing the Right Technology Stack

Building a global, scalable, and efficient application required selecting the right tools and technologies. Here’s why I made specific choices:

Flutter for Mobile Development

I chose Flutter to build the Diaspora Connect app for both Android and iOS.

• Cross-platform development → One codebase for both platforms
• Fast UI development → Flutter’s widget system speeds up prototyping
• Smooth animations → Ensures a great user experience across devices

Backend & CMS: Directus + Node.js Extensions

For backend content management, I implemented Directus, an open-source headless CMS, along with custom extensions written in Node.js.

• API-first approach → Easy to integrate with Flutter
• Customizable CMS → Flexible database and content control
• Scalability → Handles increasing user-generated content

Real-Time Features: Firebase

To provide instant updates and messaging, I used Firebase for:

• Real-time notifications & chat
• Cloud storage for images & documents
• Seamless push notifications to increase engagement

Hosting & Infrastructure: AWS Lightsail Containers + Docker

I hosted the backend & website on AWS Lightsail Containers, using Docker for containerized deployments.

• Scalability → Easily handles growing traffic
• Cost-effective cloud hosting
• Docker ensures consistency across development, staging, and production

Why Docker?
Using Docker helped me avoid deployment issues by ensuring the same environment for local development, testing, and production. With Docker, I could:

• Package the app with all dependencies for smooth deployment
• Reduce compatibility issues
• Easily replicate environments on different servers

Website: Custom WordPress Theme

Instead of using a pre-made WordPress theme, I built a fully custom WordPress template from scratch.

• Unique branding & UI
• Optimized performance & SEO
• Hosted on AWS Lightsail for speed and reliability

Version Control & Collaboration: Git + Bitbucket

For code management and version control, I used Git along with Bitbucket repositories to track changes efficiently.

• Git provides branching capabilities, allowing multiple versions of the code to exist at the same time.
• Bitbucket integrates Git with a CI/CD pipeline, automating testing and deployment.
• Enables seamless collaboration, ensuring a structured workflow with pull requests and code reviews.

Using Git ensured that every change was properly documented, allowing easy rollbacks when needed.

CI/CD: Bitbucket Pipelines + Fastlane for Mobile Deployment

To ensure smooth development and automated deployment, I implemented CI/CD (Continuous Integration & Continuous Deployment) with Bitbucket Pipelines and Fastlane.

Bitbucket for CI/CD

1. Automates builds, testing, and deployment
2. Ensures every update is tested before going live
3. Maintains a clean and structured Git workflow

Fastlane for Mobile App Deployment

Managing mobile releases manually can be time-consuming. I used Fastlane to:

• Automate the deployment process to Google Play & App Store
• Handle code signing and APK/IPA uploads
• Streamline beta testing with TestFlight & Firebase App Distribution

With Fastlane, I could push new updates to both app stores with minimal manual effort.

Authentication: OAuth 2.0 (Google & Facebook Login)

For secure login, I integrated OAuth 2.0 with:

• Google Login
• Facebook Login

However, authentication turned out to be one of the biggest challenges during development.

Overcoming Challenges: Lessons Learned

The Complexity of Facebook Login

The Challenge:

• Facebook authentication required legal approvals and authorization steps, even though I only needed a simple login button.

How I Solved It:

• Followed Meta’s strict guidelines and provided all necessary legal documents
• After multiple iterations, I finally got approval

Google Login & SHA Key Confusion

The Challenge:

• Setting up Google login required SHA keys for both local and production environments, which were hard to configure correctly.

How I Solved It:

• Learned how Google’s SHA key system works
• Manually signed both debug and production keystores
• Configured Firebase authentication correctly

Designing the Best UI/U

The Challenge:

• Getting the right homepage layout, colors, and user flow was difficult.
• Everyone I spoke to had different feedback.

How I Solved It:

• Used Balsamiq Mockups to test different designs before implementation
• Focused on common user feedback patterns
• Balanced aesthetic preferences with usability

Handling User Feedback & Decision Making

The Challenge:

• Too many different opinions on design choices made it hard to make final decisions.

How I Solved It:

• Identified common feedback trends instead of implementing every request
• Focused on what adds real value rather than just subjective preferences

Where We Are Now & What’s Next

Today, Diaspora Connect is LIVE on both Google Play and the App Store, and we are seeing new users joining every day.

Future Plans:

• Expand AWS Lightsail hosting for better scalability
• Improve UI/UX based on user engagement analytics
• Introduce more real-time features

Why This Tech Stack Was the Right Choice

• Flutter → Fast, cross-platform, and efficient UI
• Directus + Node.js → Flexible CMS for content management
• Firebase → Real-time features & push notifications
• AWS Lightsail & Docker → Scalable, cost-effective hosting
• Git + Bitbucket → Version control and collaborative development
• CI/CD with Bitbucket & Fastlane → Automated testing and mobile deployment

By choosing the right tools and overcoming development challenges, I was able to launch a functional and growing app that serves the Congolese diaspora worldwide.

Final Thoughts: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Building Diaspora Connect has been an incredible journey of learning, adapting, and problem-solving.

Key Takeaways:

• Authentication & security take time—OAuth integration is never simple
• User feedback is valuable, but decisions should be data-driven
• Automating deployment saves time & reduces errors

The Diaspora Connect journey is just beginning!

Join the Diaspora Connect Movement

Download the app today and become part of the growing Diaspora Connect community.

Website: diaspoconnect.com
Company: MuidaTech

Let’s connect, innovate, and build the future together.

Written by me, edited by AI (Chat gpt)