GlowUp

Most self-improvement apps die in the second week, people lose motivation. Built GlowUp, a self-improvement mobile app. Two-minute morning routines bring people back even on bad days.

• 01User surface

  The whole experience the user sees

  This frame shows the live product: self-improvement mobile app on iphone and android · goals, daily challenges, tiktok-style short content. Every component is ours · scope, design, code, deploy.

• 02Stack behind the screen

  What's powering it: React Native, Django, Python

  5 stack components run behind this frame · React Native, Django, Python drive the visible UI; the rest sit in the data layer. All studio-owned.

• 03What we shipped

  Native iOS and Android experience

  Fits into a two-minute morning

• 04Status

  Private deploy · under NDA.

  Per the client's request the URL stays private · the build, architecture, and lessons can be shared in a scoping call.

• 01 · BRIEF

  Why self-improvement apps die in week 2.

  Drop-off comes from over-promised daily plans. Spec'd a 2-minute floor: even a worst-day open completes one challenge · the streak survives.

• 02 · ARCHITECTURE

  Stack decisions before any code.

  Decision doc captured the data flow, React Native, Django, Python, MySQL role split, and the failure modes we'd handle in v1 vs defer. Cross-service boundaries (where AI ends and the web app begins) were drawn here so neither side leaked into the other later.

• 02 · BUILD

  React-Native + Django + streak engine.

  React-Native shares 95% of the code between iOS + Android, Django carries the user model + content store + streak state, MySQL is the DB. TikTok-style feed renders pre-encoded shorts off a CDN.

• 04 · POLISH

  Performance, accessibility, and observability.

  PSI / a11y / coverage budgets enforced as launch gates. Logging + metrics wired before cut-over · the team can answer 'is it working?' from a dashboard, not a Slack thread. Threat-model checklist signed off before traffic hits the box.

• 03 · SHIP

  Through review · live on both stores.

  Privacy + ATT + content compliance handled in scope · App Store + Google Play submission was a 2-week, single-revision process.

• 01Cross-platform

  React-Native · 95% shared code

  iOS + Android stay in lock-step · features ship to both at once.

• 02Streak

  2-minute floor habit engine

  Even a 2-minute open keeps the streak alive · drop-off is a fraction of generic-plan apps.

• 03Feed

  TikTok-style shorts feed

  Pre-encoded video off a CDN · 60fps scroll, no buffer hitches on consumer connections.

• 04Submission

  Through App Store + Google Play in 2 weeks

  Privacy manifest, ATT, content guidelines all handled in build · review feedback was minimal.

• 
  01Frame

  Signup · 3 fields + receipt of value

  Three fields total (username, email, password) · below them, a 'What you get' card spells out the deal: daily challenges that compound, growth across physical/mental/looks, a clean feed of concrete tips. The user knows the trade before signing.

• 
  02Frame

  Onboarding · goal-led, not feature-led

  First question after signup is 'What are your main goals?' · the app personalises the challenge feed and goals from the answer. No 'tap through 8 features tour' before the user can do anything.

• 
  03Frame

  Choose Plan · 3 tiers, free is the default path

  Three tiers, with the Free tier on top and an honest 'just basics' label · Pro at 1 990 Ft is recommended (yellow chip), Elite at 3 990 Ft adds full system + roadmap. Pricing visible before commitment, no dark patterns.

• 
  04Frame

  Categories · 5 growth axes with XP counters

  5 categories (Fizikai / Mentális / Kinézet / Fegyelem / Önbizalom) each with current focus and 100 XP left to next level · the user picks where to invest. Bottom tab bar (Today / Feed / Growth / Knowledge / Goals / Profile) keeps the navigation thumb-reachable.