We’ve all been there. You inherit a codebase that looks like it was written in the heat of battle. No documentation, hardcoded logic everywhere, and a flow so complicated it feels like solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. That was us when we got handed a matchmaking app from a previous development team. Here’s how we turned that mess into something we could be proud of.
The Original App: Great Concept, Poor Execution
The idea behind the app wasn’t your typical swipe-right-for-love kind of deal. It had a unique approach: ask users cultural questions (over 100 of them) and match them based on their responses. Sounds cool, right? Even better, it wasn’t about instant gratification. The app provided one suggestion at a time and gave users a few days to deliberate and decide.
But as noble as the concept was, the execution was a disaster. Let me break it down:
- Complex Flow: The app had a timer-based feature for users to review matches. Combine this with several screens, intricate navigation, and a plethora of response types, and you had a monster on your hands.
- Broken Functionality: It simply didn’t work as intended. Users were frustrated. The matching logic, the timer, and even basic navigation were buggy.
- Hardcoded Logic: Logic was directly hardcoded into the app, seemingly based on client instructions without much thought about scalability or flexibility.
- No Documentation: Zero documentation. Nada. We were left to reverse-engineer everything.
The previous team had clearly been overwhelmed, and while it’s easy to blame them, the reality was that the entire development process was flawed from the start.
The Key Problem: Misaligned Vision
The issue wasn’t just technical debt; it was a fundamental mismatch between the client’s vision and the app’s implementation. Here’s a hard truth about working with clients: they often don’t know what they want. And even when they do, it’s your job as a developer to translate their vision into a workable solution—not just blindly follow their instructions.
This app was a textbook case of what happens when you skip that translation step. The client’s goal was clear: create a thoughtful matchmaking process that feels intentional and engaging. But instead of building a system to support that vision, the app became a hodgepodge of features slapped together without a cohesive plan.
Our Approach: Start with the Vision
We decided to go back to square one. Here’s how we tackled the problem:
1. Revisit the Requirements
First, we sat down with the client and asked them to explain their vision in detail. Not the “I want this button here” stuff—we’re talking about the why behind their requests.
- What’s the user journey supposed to feel like?
- Why are the cultural questions so important?
- How do you want users to experience the matching process?
This gave us clarity on what the app needed to achieve.
2. Redesign the UX
Once we understood the vision, we worked with the client to design a user experience that actually made sense. The focus was on simplicity and clarity:
- Streamlined the number of screens.
- Simplified the timer-based flow so users could focus on the experience rather than struggling with navigation.
- Designed intuitive interactions for answering questions and reviewing matches.
We created mockups and prototypes, getting feedback from the client at every step.
3. Analyze the Existing Codebase
Now that we knew what the app needed to do, we took a deep dive into the existing codebase. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t salvageable. Here’s what we found:
- Hardcoded Chaos: Matching logic, timers, and even UI elements were buried deep in the code, making it impossible to tweak or scale.
- Lack of Modularity: Everything was tangled together. Changing one thing broke five others.
- Unnecessary Complexity: Over-engineered solutions for simple problems (and no solutions for complex ones).
4. Decide to Start Fresh
We had to make a tough call: do we try to patch up the old app or build something new? Based on our analysis, it was clear that starting from scratch was the only viable option.
The Solution: A New App with a Solid Foundation
Building a new app doesn’t mean throwing away everything. We carried forward the lessons we’d learned from analyzing the old one. Here’s what we did:
1. Design a Robust Architecture
We created an architecture that was modular and scalable:
- Decoupled Logic: All matchmaking algorithms and timer-based features were moved to the backend, making the frontend cleaner and easier to manage.
- API-Driven Approach: The app communicated with a well-documented API, allowing for future flexibility.
- State Management: Used modern state management tools to keep the app’s flow consistent and bug-free.
2. Focus on Maintainability
We ensured that anyone inheriting this app in the future wouldn’t face the same nightmares we did:
- Wrote detailed documentation for both developers and clients.
- Followed clean coding practices and implemented proper error handling.
- Added automated tests to catch issues early.
3. Collaborate with the Client
We kept the client involved throughout the process, showing them progress and getting feedback regularly. This ensured that the final product matched their vision.
4. Test, Test, and Test Again
Before launching, we put the app through rigorous testing:
- User Testing: Gathered real user feedback to fine-tune the experience.
- Stress Testing: Made sure the backend could handle scale.
- Edge Cases: Tested every possible scenario to ensure nothing broke.
The Result: A Product That Works
The new app wasn’t just functional; it was something we could be proud of. It:
- Delivered a smooth and intuitive user experience.
- Accurately matched users based on their responses.
- Allowed the client to easily tweak features and add new ones in the future.
The best part? The client loved it, and user feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Lessons Learned
This project taught us some valuable lessons:
- Understand the Vision: Never jump straight into coding without fully understanding what the client wants to achieve.
- Prioritize UX: A great user experience is just as important as solid functionality.
- Avoid Hardcoding: Keep your codebase modular and flexible. Future you (or someone else) will thank you.
- Document Everything: Good documentation saves time, money, and sanity.
What’s Next?
In the next part, we’ll dive into the technical details of the new app’s architecture and how we made it future-proof. Stay tuned!
Have a legacy app that needs rescuing? Let us help you turn it into a success story. Contact us today!
