Show HN: Text privately with new people around you (my first iOS app)

by melvinmt • 12 years ago

2 3 12 years ago

melvinmt• 12 years ago

Hi everyone,

I created TapChat because I’ve always wanted to create a simple app to break the ice during networking events and meeting locals when I’m visiting new places. Basically an anonymous messaging app aimed at more professional use (no dating/cyber bullying). Figuring out the magic sauce for social local apps (it’s hard! [1]) has always been a secret passion of mine.

I've spent about 2-3 months to design and create the app from concept to launch (including a couple of pivots and iterations). It has mostly been written in Swift and a mix of backend services written in Go, Python and Node.js. I'm heavily relying on realtime face detection on every picture to prevent abuse. I'm using the Realm.io database as the local database, Firebase for realtime updates and MongoDB for the geo index. I think this is also one of the first implementations of Twitter Digits for logging in with your phone number.

Let me know if you have any more questions about the technology I used behind the app. I've written up some more details about the app here: https://medium.com/@teamtapchat/tapchat-a-whatsapp-for-stran...

PS: I'm aware of some bugs and crashes and am working hard on resolving them in the next update (after the holidays). Please check it out and tell me what you think about the general UI/UX while I iron out these wrinkles.

[1] http://andrewchen.co/social-network-marketing-getting-from-z...

tharshan09• 12 years ago

I tried this and I was in Toronto. I was seeing people in SF. It seems you might want to fine tune your search radius.

bbcbasic• 12 years ago

Promising idea!

I don't own an iPhone so I can't try it. :-(

An idea for growing the user base is to get people using it at a big conference where you already have a bunch of people near each other, who are already interested in networking. You could get a few of you to go round convincing people to install it. I think having an Android and/or web version first is a must though.

Also might be good at co-working spaces to help people get to know each other.

Anywhere where people already have the urge to want to get to know people around them.

Show HN: Text privately with new people around you (my first iOS app)

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