Arke News was one of the first software projects I worked on as part of a team.
The goal of the application was to show different perspectives on the same news topic, helping users discover how the same event could be covered differently across news sources. The idea was to encourage people to look beyond a single source and become more aware of different perspectives in news coverage.
The project was eventually put on hold as the team members took on other commitments. Even though we did not continue the project, the experience became an important starting point in my journey as a software developer.
Tech Stack
Languages: JavaScript, Python Frontend: React, React Native, Expo Backend & Services: Python, Firebase, NoSQL, Firebase Authentication Tools & APIs: NewsAPI, Figma, GitHub, Jira, Slack
My Role
The team consisted of four people, and I focused primarily on frontend development.
This was my first software project at university, and at the time I had very little experience with software development. Most of what I knew was how to build websites, so this project was a big step toward understanding what it meant to build an actual application as part of a team.
Since I was responsible for frontend development, I also had to work with Figma to turn our ideas and designs into actual interfaces. I implemented these designs using React Native and Expo, which was also my first experience developing a mobile application.
This was also my first experience with collaborative software development. I learned how to work with Git using a trunk-based development workflow, manage tasks through Jira, and communicate with the team through Slack.
We also followed an Agile-inspired process, including regular standups where we discussed what we had completed, what we were working on, and what we wanted to tackle next.
What I Learned
This project taught me much more than just Software Development.
I was fortunate to work with a group that was willing to help me learn without making me feel inexperienced. That gave me the confidence to contribute even though I was still early in my development journey.
Technically, I learned the fundamentals of designing interfaces in Figma, creating reusable components, developing with React, and expanding my knowledge into React Native and mobile development.
More importantly, I learned how software development works when multiple people are building the same product. I experienced version control, task management, code collaboration, team communication, and Agile development practices for the first time.
Looking back, Arke News was an important starting point for me. I began the project knowing how to build a website; I finished with a much better understanding of what it meant to build software with other people.