LYFElike – iOS Development – John-Alex Yannoulias

LYFElike - iOS Development

about this Project...

Introduction –

Social Media App developed using Xcode (Swift) & Google Firebase. (with no prior experience in iOS Development)

Mark Awarded –

High First Class

Videos (Submitted as part of Dissertation) –

Skills Developed –

Swift & Xcode: Expertise in iOS application development using Swift and Xcode, demonstrated by the creation of the LYFElike social media platform.
Firebase Integration: Proficient use of Google Firebase for serverless computing, handling authentication, Firestore, Realtime Database, Storage, and Trigger Email extensions.
Serverless Computing: Thorough research and practical implementation of serverless computing, emphasizing Firebase over AWS Lambda and Cloudflare Workers.
UX/UI Design: Effective design of user interfaces with SwiftUI, emphasizing simplicity and user-friendliness, as validated by user testing feedback.
Project Management: Hybrid application of Agile and Waterfall methodologies for a balance of flexibility and structure. Efficient management using a scrum board.
Software Testing: Skills in black box and white box testing methods, including specialized white box testing for Firebase iOS applications using unit testing methods.
User Acceptance Testing: Facilitated user testing sessions, incorporating feedback from both expert and non-expert users to refine application functionality and user experience.
Security & Optimization: Ensured application security and performance optimization, aided by the capabilities of Firebase.
Comparative Analysis: Analyzed the success factors of modern platforms like TikTok and beReal, integrating their strengths into LYFElike’s design to cater to the modern user’s preferences.
Software Diagrams: High Fidelity Flow chart, UML Activity Diagram, Stakeholder Onion Diagram, Logical ERD, UML Class Diagram, UML Sequence Diagram, UML Use-Case Diagram

The project is based on the original idea of developing a simplified social network whose main scope is to provide a streamlined content delivery through a simple UI; the rationale of this is to create an application that fits with the results of latest research on human cognitive needs, and the gradual decreasing of attention span of social media users. Apart from the innovative idea, the project has been designed and developed at excellent level, using innovative solutions and cloud technologies. All the sections of the report contain details that help the reader understand the scope, design, and implementation of the project, and have been written with a clear and formal language style. An exceptional performance of the student during the viva is aligned with the level of the report and project implementation. It is evident that exiting knowledge and skills have been acquired – and new ones on authentication, cloud technologies and IOS apps development have been developed – while working on this project. As such, a high first-class is recommended as overall mark.

This is a very interesting topic that tries to address an issue related to gradually decreasing human attention span and the use of social media. It suggests a simplified version of social media that could correspond to changing, cognitive users’ needs. The project is completed at excellent level. Very good background research and implementation. Various testing techniques with different objectives (e.g. functionality, user acceptance) took place. The report is excellent and goes in depth in the discussion of the topic and the suggested solution. During the viva, it become apparent that the student has excellent knowledge of the work submitted. Based on the above, a high first-class is suggested.