Konster

Project Overview

Konster is a React Native mobile application that connects homeowners with verified contractors for home services. As part of a two-app ecosystem (paired with Konster Pro for contractors), it enables secure service requests, real-time progress tracking, in-app messaging, and escrow-protected payments via Stripe. The app supports both iOS and Android, with multi-language capabilities (English and Spanish) and a focus on user safety and trust.

The Challenge

Homeowners face significant hurdles in finding reliable contractors—unverified workers, unclear pricing, and lack of accountability often lead to poor experiences. Contractors struggle with inconsistent work and building client trust. The goal was to create a marketplace that prioritizes security, transparency, and ease of use, ensuring payments are held in escrow until service completion and incorporating features like progress tracking and reviews.

My Role and Contributions

As a developer at CreativeScript, I led the frontend development for the homeowner app. My responsibilities included building the user interface, implementing navigation flows, and integrating key features such as authentication (email/phone with OTP), service browsing, request submission, 4-step progress tracking, messaging, and payment processing. I worked extensively with React Native, Redux for state management, and TypeScript for type safety, ensuring a smooth cross-platform experience.

Technologies Used

Framework: React Native
State Management: Redux Toolkit
Navigation: React Navigation
Notifications: Firebase
Payments: Stripe (escrow integration)
Messages: Websocket
Localization: i18n

Key Features Implemented

User Authentication: Secure login with OTP verification.
Service Discovery: Browse categorized services (e.g., plumbing, electrical) with infinite scrolling.
Request Management: Simple form for submitting service requests with quantity and date.
Progress Tracking: 4-step visual tracker (Project Started, Contractor Visited, Service Work, Project Ended).
Communication: In-app messaging for direct contractor interaction.
Payments & Security: Stripe escrow system, photo documentation, and emergency protocols.
Accessibility: Multi-language support and GDPR-compliant data handling.

Challenges and Solutions

One major challenge was managing real-time updates across the app, such as progress changes and notifications, without impacting performance. We optimized Redux state and Firebase listeners to handle this efficiently. Cross-platform testing revealed UI inconsistencies (e.g., gesture handling), which we resolved by platform-specific adjustments. Integrating Stripe's escrow required careful handling of payment flows to ensure compliance and user trust. As someone transitioning from web to mobile development, debugging on physical devices and coordinating with the backend team for API integrations were steep learning curves, but they strengthened my full-stack skills.

Outcomes

The app successfully passed beta testing, demonstrating end-to-end functionality from service browsing to payment release. It is now successfully live on the App Store and Play Store, providing a secure, user-friendly platform that protects both homeowners and contractors, with features like verified contractor networks and dispute resolution. The project demonstrated my expertise in mobile development, payment integrations, and building scalable UIs, while delivering a product that addresses real-world needs within a 2-month deadline.