Publication Date

Spring 5-4-2025

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Decker, Geoffrey

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Department

Department of Computer Science

Abstract

My honors capstone project, Globelly: The Travel App, began as a feature-rich Android application designed to simplify travel planning, enhance global exploration, and foster community-driven sharing among travelers. The app was envisioned to integrate real-time suggestions using APIs like Yelp and TripAdvisor, incorporate a badge-based gamification system, and support advanced customization and privacy controls. While not all of these features were implemented in the final version, the project achieved a solid and functional foundation focused on core travel-sharing experiences.

Developed using Java, XML, and the MVC architecture in Android Studio, the completed app allows users to pin locations they’ve visited, upload travel photos directly from Google Photos, and write captions. These posts are visualized through a dynamic map interface, tracking a user’s travel history by country and calculating the percentage of the world explored. Users can also follow friends and view a social feed of shared posts. Core services were built using Firebase for cloud-based storage and user authentication, and the Google Maps API for location and map interactions.

All development and testing were completed independently using both a physical Android device and emulator. Throughout the process, I encountered real-world challenges related to UI responsiveness, data syncing, and version control. Despite these hurdles, this project taught me the value of modular design, iterative testing, and the significant effort required to bring even a minimal viable product to life. While some features remain in development, Globelly successfully lays the groundwork for a scalable, community-focused travel platform that connects people through shared journeys and global storytelling.

Suggested Citation

OpenAI. (2025, May 4). ChatGPT (Version GPT-4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/ Android Developers. (n.d.). Developer guides. Google. https://developer.android.com/guide Firebase. (n.d.). Firebase documentation. Google. https://firebase.google.com/docs

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