Friends++ is a full-stack mobile application built to support a non-profit educational program for adults with disabilities. The platform helps staff log attendance and send real-time updates to parents, replacing a manual, spreadsheet-based workflow with a streamlined digital experience across mobile and web. I built it with a team of 10 Vanderbilt students as part of the Change++ club, in close collaboration with the non-profit organization.
The app was successfully deployed to the App Store for production use, but due to the high costs of maintaining an Apple Developer account, we are no longer able to host it there.
✨ Why It Matters
The organization behind Friends++ is a full-time school serving adults with disabilities. Staff were previously responsible for manually tracking attendance and notifying parents of daily arrivals. Friends++ solves these pain points with a centralized solution, improving both operational efficiency and family communication.
💡 What It Does
Mobile Attendance & Messaging: Allows staff to log attendance and send messages through a single app.
Web-Based Admin Dashboard: Lets administrators manage users, messages, and friend records.
Real-Time Updates: Syncs attendance data instantly and notifies parents on arrival.
Production Ready: Deployed to the App Store (currently offline due to Apple developer fees).
⚙️ How It Was Built
Frontend: React Native with TypeScript for the mobile app.
Backend: Node.js and Express.js for handling authentication, messaging, and attendance.
Admin Dashboard: Full-stack React and Node.js web app for internal management.
Database: MongoDB used to store friend info, attendance logs, and user data.