Team Name
Los Tragones
Timeline
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Students
- Joshua Harris – Software Engineering
- Diana Rios – Computer Science
- Perla Rivera – Computer Science
- Thomas Valenciana – Computer Science
- Ahmed Ibrahim – Software Engineering
Abstract
Social Foodies is a mobile application designed to connect individuals through shared
dining experiences. The app enables users to discover nearby restaurants, match with
others who have similar food interests, and earn rewards for exploring new places. By
combining elements of social networking with geolocation and food discovery, Social
Foodies aims to create a fun, safe, and rewarding way for people to meet and build
connections over meals.
Background
In today’s fast-paced digital age, meeting new people can be challenging, and dining
alone often feels isolating. Existing food and social apps focus separately on either
restaurant discovery or online socializing, but few combine the two experiences in a
meaningful way. Recognizing this gap, the Social Foodies team developed a platform
that brings food lovers together. The app utilizes Firebase for user authentication and
data management, Google Maps API for location services, and React Native for a
smooth, interactive user experience. Social Foodies not only encourages users to
explore local cuisines but also helps them build real-world connections around shared
meals.
Project Requirements
- Sign Up and Login:Users should be able to create an account, log in, and stay signed in.
- Create and Edit Profile:Users can add a name, bio, and profile picture.
- Find User Location:The app gets the user’s current location to show places and people nearby.
- Show Nearby Restaurants:The app shows a list or map of restaurants close to the user.
- Match with Other Users:Users can find and connect with other people who want to eat together.
- Earn Rewards:Users earn points for visiting new restaurants and can redeem them for prizes.
- Real-time Updates:Locations, profiles, and matches update automatically without needing to refresh.
- Leave Reviews:After visiting a restaurant, users can leave a review.
- Keep Data Safe:User information is stored securely and only they can access it.
- Easy to Use Design:The app should be simple, clean, and easy for anyone to use.
Design Constraints
- Accessibility: The app should be easy to use for a wide range of users. We aim to use readable fonts, high-contrast colors, and simple navigation to make the app more accessible.
- Aesthetics: The app design must be visually appealing to encourage user engagement. We use clean layouts, friendly icons, and a modern look to match the social and casual purpose of the app.
- Cost/Economic: We are working with free or low-cost tools like Firebase (free tier), Google APIs (free tier limits), and React Native (open-source) to keep development costs minimal.
- Functionality: The app must meet essential functions: user sign-up/login, location tracking, restaurant discovery, user matching, and reward tracking, while still being lightweight and fast.
- Schedule: Development must be completed by the end of the senior design project timeline, requiring careful planning, sprints, and regular progress check-ins to stay on track.
Engineering Standards
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines:
- The Social Foodies application will adhere to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- guidelines to ensure that user location data is handled with transparency. The app will
- provide clear, upfront disclosures about location tracking practices and will obtain opt-in
- consent from users before accessing precise geolocation information.
Texas Privacy Protection Act:
- This application will comply with the Texas Privacy Protection Act by ensuring that users
- are fully informed about how their location data is collected and used. Opt-in consent
- will be required before any data collection occurs. Security measures will be enforced to
- protect the collected data against unauthorized access.
Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act (TITEPA):
- Social Foodies will adhere to the standards outlined in TITEPA to protect users’
- personal and location-based data. The app will implement reasonable security
- measures and ensure timely notification to users in the event of any data breaches
- affecting personal information.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance:
- Although primarily targeting users in Texas and the U.S., Social Foodies will align its
- practices with GDPR principles to ensure that user location data is processed lawfully,
- with explicit consent, and is limited to necessary operations only. Users will have control
- over their data and its usage.
Texas Data Privacy and Security Act:
- Followed to protect user personal data and comply with privacy regulations for location and account information.
System Overview
The Social Foodies mobile application was developed using React Native for
cross-platform compatibility, delivering consistent performance on both Android and iOS
devices. Google Maps API was integrated to support location-based features such as
restaurant recommendations within a 5-mile radius. Firebase Firestore serves as the
backend for authentication, user data management, and real-time chat, enabling secure
and scalable operations. The application also incorporates intuitive matching, and a
rewards system to enhance user engagement.
Results
Future Work
The goal of this project was to build a social dining app that helps users connect over
shared food interests and local restaurant visits. Moving forward, future work will focus
on adding new features like group meetups, more personalized restaurant suggestions,
and the ability to view menus directly in the app. We also plan to expand the rewards
program with restaurant partners and use user feedback to keep improving the
experience. Ongoing testing and updates will help make sure the app stays smooth,
fun, and easy to use as it grows.
Project Files
Project Charter
System Requirements Specification
Architectural Design Specification
Detailed Design Specification
Poster
References
1.Tailwind Labs, 2025, “Install Tailwind CSS with React Router,” Tailwind CSS Documentation,
https://tailwindcss.com/docs/installation/framework-guides/react-router
2.Meta Platforms, Inc., 2025, “Set Up Your Environment,” React Native Documentation,
https://reactnative.dev/docs/environment-setup
3.Google Developers, 2025, “Overview | Places API,” Google Maps Platform Documentation,
https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/overview
