Inspiration
Doodled was inspired by a custom Minecraft Hypixel server game called Build Battle, where players compete to create the best build based on a theme and vote on others. I wanted to bring that concept to the App Store, but with doodling instead of building. The goal was to create something fun and relaxed, yet competitive, where creativity could shine over technical skill, giving everyone a fair chance to win.
What it does
Doodled gives users a new prompt every day to inspire their creativity. Users can create doodles based on the prompt, and then vote on other users' submissions. Each doodle earns points through votes, and the top doodle of the day win coins. These coins can later be redeemed for rewards, making Doodled not just about self-expression but also a fun way to compete with friends and users around the world.
How we built it
Doodled was built using Swift and SwiftUI for the front end, combined with Firebase for real-time data synchronization and user authentication. The daily prompts are fetched and stored in Firestore, while the doodles themselves are created using the PencilKit framework. Voting and leaderboard functionalities are handled through custom logic that tracks and stores user interactions with the app. Coins and rewards systems were implemented using local storage and Firebase for persistence.
Challenges we ran into
One of the main challenges was managing doodle storage in Firebase. Even with just one user, the backend storage was filling up quickly, and scaling for more users would have caused issues. The solution was to integrate the voting system with a cleanup process: only the winning doodles are kept in Firebase, reducing the overall storage needs significantly. Another challenge was designing a fun and intuitive doodling interface for mobile devices, where screen size can be limiting.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I am proud of the seamless integration of real-time voting and the daily prompt system. Additionally, the doodling interface turned out to be user-friendly and engaging, encouraging users to participate daily. We also managed to create a leaderboard system that encourages friendly competition without overwhelming new users.
What we learned
This is actually my second app that I have ever built, so there was a lot that I learned throughout the whole process. I learned a lot about real-time app architecture, working with Firebase, and creating engaging mobile experiences with SwiftUI. I also deepened my understanding of user interaction design and how to balance simplicity with functionality in a creative app.
What's next for Doodled
I plan to introduce monthly sponsored challenges to increase competition, where users can win tangible or digital goods as rewards. To further enhance engagement, I’m working on a robust reward system where users can exchange coins for these rewards. Expanding the app’s social features is also a priority, with plans to allow users to follow each other, comment on doodles, and even collaborate. Additionally, themed challenges and events are being considered to keep the community motivated and inspired.
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