Live Music Fan Platform
Full-stack engineer building a mobile and web platform connecting music fans with artists and venues, featuring event discovery, tipping, and social engagement.
A digital product agency specializing in mobile and web application development for startups and enterprises
Project Overview
Built a comprehensive mobile and web platform connecting music fans with artists and venues for live performances. The system enables event discovery, artist engagement, fan interactions, and monetization through a tipping feature that allows fans to directly support their favorite artists.
The Product
Live is a multi-platform ecosystem designed to bridge the gap between music artists and their fans:
Mobile App (iOS & Android)
The primary consumer experience, allowing fans to:
- Discover nearby venues and upcoming performances
- Follow favorite artists and receive updates
- Tip artists directly during or after performances
- Engage with activity feeds and artist content
Web Platform
A management dashboard for artists and venue operators:
- Artist profile and band management
- Gig scheduling and event creation
- Fan engagement and analytics
- Payment and tipping management
Backend API
The core service powering all client applications with user management, payment processing, and data synchronization.
Technical Architecture
Backend (live-api)
Built on LoopBack 3.x, a Node.js framework optimized for rapid API development:
- Database: PostgreSQL with geospatial extensions (earthdistance, cube) for proximity-based venue search
- Caching: Redis for performance optimization and session management
- Job Queue: RSMQ (Redis Simple Message Queue) for background task processing
- Graph Database: Neo4j integration for relationship modeling between artists, fans, and venues
Mobile App (live-client)
Cross-platform React Native application:
- State Management: Redux for predictable state across the app
- Navigation: React Router Flux for screen management
- Animations: Lottie for smooth, performant animations
- Analytics: Mixpanel for user behavior tracking
- CI/CD: Bitrise for automated TestFlight and App Store deployments
Web Platform (live-web)
Modern React application with TypeScript:
- Framework: Create React App with Craco configuration
- State Management: Redux with redux-saga for side effects
- UI Components: Semantic UI React with Tailwind CSS utilities
- Styling: styled-components for component-scoped CSS
- Forms: Formik for form validation and management
- Social Feeds: React Activity Feed (GetStream integration)
Key Contributions
Cross-Platform Mobile Development
Built the React Native mobile application for iOS and Android:
- Developed the complete mobile experience from user onboarding through artist engagement
- Integrated native features including camera, location services, and push notifications
- Set up Bitrise CI/CD pipelines for automated TestFlight and App Store deployments
- Managed app versioning through 1.0.33 releases
Backend API Development
Built core API functionality with LoopBack and PostgreSQL:
- Developed RESTful endpoints for user management, artist profiles, and event scheduling
- Implemented geospatial queries using PostgreSQL’s earthdistance extension for venue proximity search
- Built background job processing with RSMQ for async task handling
- Integrated Neo4j for relationship modeling between artists, fans, and venues
Payment Integration
Implemented multi-provider payment processing for artist tipping:
- Integrated Stripe Connect for artist payouts and platform fees
- Added Braintree as alternative payment method
- Implemented Apple Pay for frictionless iOS transactions
- Built secure payment flow with $2 minimum tip validation
Third-Party Integrations
Connected the platform with numerous external services:
- Integrated Twilio for SMS authentication
- Built SendGrid email delivery for notifications
- Connected Foursquare for venue data enrichment
- Implemented Spotify API for artist music playback
- Set up GetStream for real-time activity feeds
Key Features
Location-Based Discovery
Implemented sophisticated venue search using PostgreSQL’s geospatial capabilities:
- Proximity queries finding venues within a specified radius
- Integration with Foursquare for venue data enrichment
- Google Maps for mapping and directions
- Address lookup and geocoding
Payment & Tipping System
Core monetization feature allowing fans to tip artists:
- Stripe Integration: Primary payment processor with Connect for artist payouts
- Braintree Support: Alternative payment method
- Apple Pay: Native iOS payment for frictionless transactions
- Minimum Amount: $2 minimum tip to ensure viable transactions
Social Engagement
Built-in social features to drive user engagement:
- Activity Feeds: GetStream integration for real-time social feeds
- Artist Following: Fan-artist relationship management
- Recommendations: Algorithm-driven artist suggestions based on genres and preferences
- Invitations: Artist and venue invitation system for network growth
Event Management
Comprehensive gig and event system:
- Event creation tied to artists and venues
- Pricing and ticketing integration
- Eventbrite data import for existing events
- Calendar views and scheduling
Media & Content
Rich media support throughout the platform:
- Image Management: Cloudinary for upload, optimization, and delivery
- Music Integration: Spotify API for artist music playback
- Link Previews: Metascraper for YouTube, SoundCloud, and other embeds
Integrations
The platform connects with numerous third-party services:
- Payments: Stripe, Braintree, Apple Pay
- Communication: Twilio (SMS), SendGrid (Email)
- Location: Google Maps, Foursquare, Zipcode API
- Social: GetStream (Activity Feeds)
- Media: Cloudinary, Spotify
- Monitoring: Sentry, Coralogix, Mixpanel
Development & Deployment
Mobile CI/CD
Bitrise pipelines for automated mobile deployments:
- Automated builds on commit
- TestFlight distribution for iOS beta testing
- App Store and Play Store release automation
Infrastructure
- Docker-based local development environment
- Heroku for production API and web hosting
- PostgreSQL and Redis managed services
Technologies Deep Dive
The technology choices balanced rapid development with production reliability:
- LoopBack provided a structured approach to API development with built-in model relationships and access control
- React Native enabled code sharing between iOS and Android while maintaining native performance
- PostgreSQL’s earthdistance extension powered efficient geospatial queries without a separate GIS system
- GetStream offloaded the complexity of real-time activity feeds to a specialized service
- Stripe Connect handled the complexity of multi-party payments between fans, artists, and the platform
Technologies
Key Highlights
- Built cross-platform mobile app with React Native for iOS and Android
- Developed web platform with React, TypeScript, and Redux for artist and venue management
- Implemented payment processing with Stripe and Apple Pay for artist tipping
- Created location-based venue discovery using PostgreSQL geospatial extensions
- Integrated GetStream for real-time social activity feeds