Indie Release Notes #5

In this release, I spent a lot of time thinking about how offroad events and parties could work. I realized that sometimes we need to schedule an offroad party, which I simply called offroad events. These events are like regular ones where you set a start date and time and choose a location so others can plan ahead. The issue with RSVP is that it doesn't guarantee the user will actually attend. So, I decided to add a second step to the event system—the JOIN PARTY action will be required even if you RSVP to the event. This way, events serve as a kind of promotion for the upcoming real-time party. This release only includes the RSVP and schedule viewer the join party feature will be part of the next release.

Release notes:

• ✅ RSVP to offroad events: Users can now RSVP to offroad events. The RSVP button is easy to find in the footer of the event. There are three default responses: Yes, Maybe, and No. "No" is reserved for future events if users decide to decline;

• ✅ Participant view: When a user RSVPs to an event or is the actual owner, they will be counted as a participant and shown in the participants view. The owner is always displayed by default;

• ✅ Events schedule view: This is the first home item that serves as a reminder for upcoming events. The view has multiple tabs for users' convenience, allowing them to filter events by all, going, saved, and passed;

• ✅ Party edit screen: The Party now has a way to update fields. This time, it was decided not to include updates for the meetup location, but all the other default fields can be updated;

• ✅ Map annotations updates: Annotations have new icons. I also added a different color icon for the party owner to help recognize the parties they created on the map. Additionally, I included a small text that shows the RSVP status as well as the owner;

• ✅ Database roles: Some updates around parties and RSVP documents to ensure logic and authorization;

This release took longer to complete—the December holidays definitely got me distracted :). The total time was 32 days, during which I made 22 commits, adding +3,334 lines of code and removing -857. This release was probably the easiest so far, as it didn't involve many unfamiliar elements.

RSVP logic

Scheduled parties will have a scheduled start time that and designed to be used as regular events during their first phase. Users now can RSVP to these events with Yes, No, and Maybe answers. There are many small details behind like making sure there can be only 1 rsvp answer per user, if the user is an owner of the party they will RSVP automatically. RSVP answers now will be shown on the map as well

The party created by the current user will be shown in blue for easy identification. I plan to add some filters later, but for this release, I kept it simple.

Once a user has RSVP'd, the participant section will display the list of participants with their responses. The owner of the party is always shown at the top of the list as the owner.

RSVPing will also increase the party participant count at the top of the party view. This is just visual for now, but when the start party logic is implemented, this count will be the maximum limit for the party. It will prevent others from RSVPing once the maximum is reached. I plan to limit parties because there will be some paid tiers. The app will be free with some restrictions, like how many parties you can host in a day and how many people you can invite. I'm also considering commercial accounts for hosting large events. This might change in the future, but for now, it's just a way to limit participation without requiring payment. Another reason, which is less likely but still possible if the app becomes very popular, is to avoid overcrowding on the trail. We want to encourage smaller parties, and I'm thinking of keeping it to 8 rigs. Here is the counter view:

The RSVP system needed a way to visually show information to users. The "Your Schedule" is now the first component on the home screen and contains details about the parties the user has RSVPed to. It is built on top of the tab component and acts as a reminder. Later, I will also add RSVP push notifications so users don't miss their parties.

Each tab has a filter that sorts by RSVP status. However, if you are the owner of a party event, your parties will be shown first and will have a different color.

The next step for the party RSVP system will be the RSVP lifecycle, where a regular event will automatically change into a real-time moving party. This will also require implementing some party start and party join logic.

Party edit

The party edit page was so outdated that I had to completely rebuild it. The older version was mostly web-oriented, but the new one is more mobile-friendly and follows good practices. It is simple and easy to use. I am using my shared edit component, so all the edit screens will have a similar style.

I have decided to postpone adding image and meetup location fields for now, as I am still not clear on the use cases. I am allowing one image per party at the moment, but I think it is not sufficient, so I will need to implement a multiple-image uploader first. With the meetup location, I need to be more careful, as changing it may cause confusion for others. There might be some time restrictions so users can change it only during certain times, so I was not clear on that and decided to address it later.

What Next?

• Party Start, Party Join;

• Show moving party annotation on the map;

What is MudQuest?

MudQuest is the first social media platform specifically designed for the off-road community. It's a mobile application that connects off-road enthusiasts, allowing them to organize and participate in real-time adventures and trail gatherings.

Key features include:

• Real-time Event Finder: Users can discover nearby off-road parties and spontaneous trail gatherings, making it easy to join adventures happening in their area.

• Party Organization: Create or join off-road parties, set difficulty levels, plan routes, and coordinate with other participants. The app helps manage group sizes and participant details for better trail management.

• Live Tracking: Through integrated heat maps and location services, users can track fellow off-roaders and follow real-time locations of party members, ensuring safety and coordination during group rides.

• Vehicle Profiles: Users can create detailed profiles of their off-road vehicles, including make, model, year, and modifications. This helps connect people with similar rigs and interests.

• Community Features: The platform includes social elements like:

• Profile customization

• Adventure tracking

• Miles driven statistics

• Parties attended history

• Connection with fellow enthusiasts

The platform aims to build a connected community of off-road enthusiasts, making it easier to organize trail rides and share adventures. Whether you're driving a modified Jeep, Toyota Tacoma, or any other off-road vehicle, MudQuest provides the digital infrastructure to connect with fellow enthusiasts and discover new trails together.

MudQuest bridges the gap between off-road enthusiasts by providing a dedicated platform for organizing, tracking, and sharing off-road adventures. It combines the functionality of a social network with specialized features for the off-road community, creating a unique space for trail lovers to connect and explore together.