https://github.com/abkhan04/fosis-hackathon-2025-group-1

Finding Halal: A Journey to Build an Inclusive Food Finder

Inspiration

The idea for this application was born out of personal experiences and challenges faced by many in finding halal food options while traveling or even in their own city. Many times, friends and family would ask for recommendations, and I realized there wasn’t a convenient way to find halal eateries nearby. Existing platforms either lacked proper filtering options or had outdated information. I wanted to create something that would make it easier for Muslims and halal-conscious individuals to find reliable dining options effortlessly.

What I Learned

Building this project was a great learning experience. Some key takeaways include:

User Experience Matters: Making the interface intuitive and simple was essential for usability.
API Integration: I learned how to work with location-based APIs to fetch restaurant data dynamically.
Community-Driven Approach: Crowdsourcing restaurant recommendations and reviews improved the app's reliability and trustworthiness.
Handling Real-World Data: Managing and verifying halal status from multiple sources posed an interesting challenge.

How I Built It

Technology Stack: I used React Native for the front-end, Firebase for the backend, and Google Places API for location-based restaurant searches.
Database: Firebase Firestore was used to store restaurant details, user reviews, and halal verification data.
Authentication: Users can sign in with Google or email to save their favorite spots and contribute reviews.
Filtering System: Implemented an advanced filtering system that allows users to search by cuisine, certification type, and user ratings.
Community Contributions: Added features that let users suggest new halal spots and verify listings based on their own experiences.

Challenges Faced

Data Accuracy: Ensuring that halal listings were up-to-date and verified required constant monitoring and user contributions.
API Limitations: Free-tier restrictions on location APIs meant optimizing requests to minimize costs.
UI/UX Considerations: Designing a smooth experience for both tech-savvy and non-tech users took several iterations.
Scaling: As the user base grew, database performance became a concern, leading to optimizations in data fetching and storage.

Future Improvements

Moving forward, I plan to:

Introduce AI-powered recommendations based on user preferences.
Expand the app to cover more countries and regions.
Add a halal ingredient scanner for packaged foods.
Collaborate with halal certification bodies for official verification.

Conclusion

This project started as a simple idea to help people find halal food easily, but it has evolved into a platform fostering a sense of community. The journey has been filled with challenges, learning, and growth, and I look forward to making it even better in the future!