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How to come up with the best ideas for apps and app features

16/02/2024

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While some software development teams are lucky to work for a client with clear needs, many teams developing apps have a significant hurdle to overcome regarding ideation. Even when they have specific requests from a client, there’s still plenty of creativity required to bring the app to life.

So, how exactly do you generate the best ideas for app concepts and app features that resonate with the audience and consistently turn a profit? Let’s discuss:

Refer to personal problems

One of the best ways to generate app ideas is to look inward and identify the problems you’re yet to solve. For example, maybe you have a mixed dish you’d like to prepare in your boiler/pressure cooker, but you’re unsure which setting to use.

After trying a few, you may settle on a particular setting with some slight editing, like switching back to warm/simmer for a short time or alternating between settings. As you have more dishes like this, memorizing all this information could become tricky. And maybe some friends have different approaches that work too.

Source: Upsplash

Accordingly, you could create a recipe book app where people can sign up and share their varying methods of preparing similar dishes. They can even collect clips from other sites in one central location and categorize them in any way they like.

Ultimately, it should be a problem that many other people face too. An app idea that makes your life easier but doesn’t do the same for many others may not be viable.

Examine existing apps

This method of idea generation can take one of two major routes. The first is where you look for inadequacies in an existing app and work on creating a new one that addresses those gaps. For instance, a sketchpad app may have only one type of pencil, yet some users would like to make lines of varying thicknesses.

In that case, you can create a new sketching app that enables users to work with numerous shades, thicknesses, and other drawing capabilities. The second route is building an app that provides a complementary service instead of doing what the original app does.

For example, you may stumble upon an e-commerce app that offers only two payment methods at checkout. And after checking through the reviews, you realize that many users would like more flexibility in this area. Consequently, you can work on a wallet app that allows users to deposit funds from various sources.

After that, you can approach different e-commerce apps and have them integrate your wallet app with their systems so shoppers can pay using your app. Essentially, you haven’t created a new e-commerce app but rather a payments app that plugs into e-commerce apps. Scrutinizing apps on the market helps produce some of the best ideas for app features for teams with an app idea.

Collaborative brainstorming

One main reason why many people struggle with app idea generation is they only have a piece of an idea rather than the entire concept. For instance, when you say you want to create a fitness app, it may seem like you’ve narrowed your thoughts to a specific category. However, within the fitness field, there are several possible app ideas.

You can make an app that tracks fitness metrics or suggests workouts. Additionally, you can offer an app that focuses on cardio or stretching or provides alternatives like Yoga. And lastly, you can create a fitness app that offers consultation with human experts or advice from a preset library.

So whenever you’re ideating, it’s vital to interact with other people, especially those you’re likely to work with during app development. These people can help flesh out your ideas into something more relevant. In addition, collaborative brainstorming can reduce the time and money spent on follow-up research.

Source: Unsplash

They can help point out who’s already making something similar to what you just suggested, which names have already been trademarked, any particular regional regulations that prohibit certain ideas, etc.

Consult industry experts

Though many people try to think of app ideas that would have mass appeal, sometimes the most viable ideas are those speaking to a specific industry. For example, the desire to create a frictionless health insurance process remains a priority for hospitals/medical practices and insurance firms.

In other industries that deal with delicate machinery subjected to extreme conditions, monitoring apps are of utmost importance since they help preempt catastrophes like fires, poisonous gas leaks, water damage, and more.

Source: Unsplash

In that spirit, it’s crucial to read about the technological strides made in different industries, then sit down with experts to find out what’s lacking. From doctors to civil engineers, pharmacists to lab technicians, several professionals can reveal a problem that could be solved with an app.

Observe the development process

Some of the best ideas for apps have been produced by development teams that were trying to solve internal problems related to communication, record-keeping, cybersecurity and more. For example, the widely popular app Slack started as a simple internal communication tool for a team designing an online game.

This app has enjoyed massive acclaim and financial success while the game the team was working on was eventually shut down. If the team wasn’t very self-aware and good at pivoting, they’d have missed out on a great opportunity, but luckily, they knew how to notice the instances where they were solving their problems sufficiently. Therefore, some of the best app ideas result from app development challenges.

Wrapping Up

There are many other ways to come up with amazing app ideas, such as tracking financing and support from venture capital firms, accelerators and incubators, attending events like hackathons and other meetups, browsing app stores, and checking review sites and social media platforms, among others.

You can also delegate this fundamental step to a software development team. At SupremeTech, we know how to work with clients to create something out of nothing, so if you’d like to produce a resonant app but don’t know where to start, contact us for a free consultation.

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    Mastering AWS Lambda: An Introduction to Serverless Computing

    Imagine this: you have a system that sends emails to users to notify them about certain events at specific times of the day or week. During peak hours, the system demands a lot of resources, but it barely uses any for the rest of the time. If you were to dedicate a server just for this task, managing resources efficiently and maintaining the system would be incredibly complex. This is where AWS Lambda comes in as a solution to these challenges. Its ability to automatically scale, eliminate server management, and, most importantly, charge you only for the resources you use simplifies everything. Hello everyone! I’m Đang Đo Quang Bao, a Software Engineer at SupremeTech. Today, I’m excited to introduce the series' first episode, “Mastering AWS Lambda: An Introduction to Serverless Computing.” In this episode, we’ll explore: The definition of AWS Lambda and how it works.The benefits of serverless computing.Real-world use cases. Let’s dive in! What is AWS Lambda? AWS Lambda is a serverless computing service that Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides. It executes your code in response to specific triggers and scales automatically, charging you only for the compute time you use. How Does AWS Lambda Work? AWS Lambda operates on an event-driven model, reacting to specific actions or events. In simple terms, it executes code in response to particular triggers. Let’s explore this model further to gain a more comprehensive understanding. The above is a simplified workflow for sending emails to many users simultaneously, designed to give you a general understanding of how AWS Lambda works. The workflow includes: Amazon EventBridge:Role: EventBridge acts as the starting point of the workflow. It triggers the first AWS Lambda function at a specific time each day based on a cron schedule.How It Works:Configured to run automatically at 00:00 UTC or any desired time.Ensures the workflow begins consistently without manual intervention.Amazon DynamoDB:Role: DynamoDB is the primary database for user information. It holds the email addresses and other relevant metadata for all registered users.How It Works:The first Lambda function queries DynamoDB to fetch the list of users who need to receive emails.AWS Lambda (1st Function):Role: This Lambda function prepares the user data for email sending by fetching it from DynamoDB, batching it, and sending it to Amazon SQS.How It Works:Triggered by EventBridge at the scheduled time.Retrieves user data from DynamoDB in a single query or multiple paginated queries.Split the data into smaller batches (e.g., 100 users per batch) for efficient processing.Pushes each batch as a separate message into Amazon SQS.Amazon SQS (Simple Queue Service).Role: SQS serves as a message queue, temporarily storing user batches and decoupling the data preparation process from email-sending.How It Works:Each message in SQS represents one batch of users (e.g., 100 users).Messages are stored reliably and are processed independently by the second Lambda function.AWS Lambda (2nd Function):Role: This Lambda function processes each user batch from SQS and sends emails to the users in that batch.How It Works:Triggered by SQS for every new message in the queue.Reads the batch data (e.g., 100 users) from the message.Sends individual emails to each user in the batch using Amazon SES.Amazon SES (Simple Email Service).Role: SES handles the actual email delivery, reliably ensuring messages reach users’ inboxes.How It Works:Receives the email content (recipient address, subject, body) from the second Lambda function.Delivers emails to the specified users.Provides feedback on delivery status, including successful deliveries, bounces, and complaints. As you can see, AWS Lambda is triggered by external events or actions (AWS EventBridge schedule) and only "lives" for the duration of its execution. >>> Maybe you are interested: The Rise of Serverless CMS Solutions Benefits of AWS Lambda No Server Management:Eliminate the need to provision, configure, and maintain servers. AWS handles the underlying infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on writing code.Cost Efficiency:Pay only for the compute time used (measured in milliseconds). There are no charges when the function isn’t running.Scalability:AWS Lambda automatically scales horizontally to handle thousands of requests per second.Integration with AWS Services:Lambda integrates seamlessly with services like S3, DynamoDB, and SQS, enabling event-driven workflows.Improved Time-to-Market:Developers can deploy and iterate applications quickly without worrying about managing infrastructure. Real-World Use Cases for AWS Lambda AWS Lambda is versatile and can be applied in various scenarios. 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      Automate Your Git Workflow with Git Hooks for Efficiency

      Have you ever wondered how you can make your Git workflow smarter and more efficient? What if repetitive tasks like validating commit messages, enforcing branch naming conventions, or preventing sensitive data leaks could happen automatically? Enter Git Hooks—a powerful feature in Git that enables automation at every step of your development process. If you’ve worked with webhooks, the concept of Git Hooks might already feel familiar. Like API events trigger webhooks, Git Hooks are scripts triggered by Git actions such as committing, pushing, or merging. These hooks allow developers to automate tasks, enforce standards, and improve the overall quality of their Git workflows. By integrating Git Hooks into your project, you can gain numerous benefits, including clearer commit histories, fewer human errors, and smoother team collaboration. Developers can also define custom rules tailored to their Git flow, ensuring consistency and boosting productivity. In this SupremeTech blog, I, Đang Đo Quang Bao, will introduce you to Git Hooks, explain how they work, and guide you through implementing them to transform your Git workflow. Let’s dive in! What Are Git Hooks? Git Hooks are customizable scripts that automatically execute when specific events occur in a Git repository. These events might include committing code, pushing changes, or merging branches. By leveraging Git Hooks, you can tailor Git's behavior to your project's requirements, automate repetitive tasks, and reduce the likelihood of human errors. Imagine validating commit messages, running tests before a push, or preventing large file uploads—all without manual intervention. Git Hooks makes this possible, enabling developers to integrate useful automation directly into their workflows. Type of Git Hooks Git Hooks come in two main categories, each serving distinct purposes: Client-Side Hooks These hooks run on the user’s local machine and are triggered by actions like committing or pushing changes. They are perfect for automating tasks like linting, testing, or enforcing commit message standards. Examples:pre-commit: Runs before a commit is finalized.pre-push: Executes before pushing changes to a remote repository.post-merge: Triggers after merging branches. Server-Side Hooks These hooks operate on the server hosting the repository and are used to enforce project-wide policies. They are ideal for ensuring consistent workflows across teams by validating changes before they’re accepted into the central repository. Examples: pre-receive: Runs before changes are accepted by the remote repository.update: Executes when a branch or tag is updated on the server. My Journey to Git Hooks When I was working on personal projects, Git management was fairly straightforward. There were no complex workflows, and mistakes were easy to spot and fix. However, everything changed when I joined SupremeTech and started collaborating on larger projects. Adhering to established Git flows across a team introduced new challenges. Minor missteps—like inconsistent commit messages, improper branch naming, accidental force pushes, or forgetting to run unit tests—quickly led to inefficiencies and avoidable errors. That’s when I discovered the power of Git Hooks. By combining client-side Git Hooks with tools like Husky, ESLint, Jest, and commitlint, I could automate and streamline our Git processes. Some of the tasks I automated include: Enforcing consistent commit message formats.Validating branch naming conventions.Automating testing and linting.Preventing accidental force pushes and large file uploads.Monitoring and blocking sensitive data in commits. This level of automation was a game-changer. It improved productivity, reduced human errors, and allowed developers to focus on their core tasks while Git Hooks quietly enforced the rules in the background. It transformed Git from a version control tool into a seamless system for maintaining best practices. Getting Started with Git Hooks Setting up Git Hooks manually can be dull, especially in team environments where consistency is critical. Tools like Husky simplify the process, allowing you to manage Git Hooks and integrate them into your workflows easily. By leveraging Husky, you can unlock the full potential of Git Hooks with minimal setup effort. I’ll use Bun as the JavaScript runtime and package manager in this example. If you’re using npm or yarn, replace Bun-specific commands with their equivalents. Setup Steps 1. Initialize Git: Start by initializing a Git repository if one doesn’t already exist git init 2. Install Husky: Use Bun to add Husky as a development dependency bun add -D husky 3. Enable Husky Hooks: Initialize Husky to set up Git Hooks for your project bunx husky init 4. Verify the Setup: At this point, a folder named .husky will be created, which already includes a sample of pre-commit hook. With this, the setup for Git Hooks is complete. Now, let’s customize it to optimize some simple processes. Examples of Git Hook Automation Git Hooks empowers you to automate tedious yet essential tasks and enforce team-wide best practices. Below are four practical examples of how you can leverage Git Hooks to improve your workflow: Commit Message Validation Ensuring consistent and clear commit messages improves collaboration and makes Git history easier to understand. For example, enforce the following format: pbi-203 - refactor - [description…] [task-name] - [scope] - [changes] Setup: Install Commitlint: bun add -D husky @commitlint/{config-conventional,cli} Configure rules in commitlint.config.cjs: module.exports = {     rules: {         'task-name-format': [2, 'always', /^pbi-\d+ -/],         'scope-type-format': [2, 'always', /-\s(refactor|fix|feat|docs|test|chore|style)\s-\s[[^\]]+\]$/]     },     plugins: [         {             rules: {                 'task-name-format': ({ raw }) => {                     const regex = /^pbi-\d+ -/;                     return [regex.test(raw),                         `❌ Commit message must start with "pbi-<number> -". Example: "pbi-1234 - refactor - [optimize function]"`                     ];                 },                 'scope-type-format': ({ raw}) => {                     const regex = /-\s(refactor|fix|feat|docs|test|chore|style)\s-\s[[^\]]+\]$/;                     return [regex.test(raw),                         `❌ Commit message must include a valid scope and description. Example: "pbi-1234 - refactor - [optimize function]".                         \nValid scopes: refactor, fix, feat, docs, test, chore, style`                     ];                 }             }         }     ] } Add Commitlint to the commit-msg hook: echo "bunx commitlint --edit \$1" >> .husky/commit-msg With this, we have completed the commit message validation setup. Now, let’s test it to see how it works. Now, developers will be forced to follow this committing rule, which increases the readability of the Git History. Automate Branch Naming Conventions Enforce branch names like feature/pbi-199/add-validation. First, we will create a script in the project directory named scripts/check-branch-name.sh. #!/bin/bash # Define allowed branch naming pattern branch_pattern="^(feature|bugfix|hotfix|release)/pbi-[0-9]+/[a-zA-Z0-9._-]+$" # Get the current branch name current_branch=$(git symbolic-ref --short HEAD) # Check if the branch name matches the pattern if [[ ! "$current_branch" =~ $branch_pattern ]]; then   echo "❌ Branch name '$current_branch' is invalid!"   echo "✅ Branch names must follow this pattern:"   echo "   - feature/pbi-<number>/<description>"   echo "   - bugfix/pbi-<number>/<description>"   echo "   - hotfix/pbi-<number>/<description>"   echo "   - release/pbi-<number>/<description>"   exit 1 fi echo "✅ Branch name '$current_branch' is valid." Add the above script execution command into the pre-push hook. echo "bash ./scripts/check-branch-name.sh" >> .husky/pre-push Grant execute permissions to the check-branch-name.sh file. chmod +x ./scripts/check-branch-name.sh Let’s test the result by pushing our code to the server. Invalid case: git checkout main git push Output: ❌ Branch name 'main' is invalid! ✅ Branch names must follow this pattern:   - feature/pbi-<number>/<description>   - bugfix/pbi-<number>/<description>   - hotfix/pbi-<number>/<description>   - release/pbi-<number>/<description> husky - pre-push script failed (code 1) Valid case: git checkout -b feature/pbi-100/add-new-feature git push Output: ✅ Branch name 'feature/pbi-100/add-new-feature' is valid. Prevent Accidental Force Pushes Force pushes can overwrite shared branch history, causing significant problems in collaborative projects. We will implement validation for the prior pre-push hook to prevent accidental force pushes to critical branches like main or develop. Create a script named scripts/prevent-force-push.sh. #!/bin/bash # Define the protected branches protected_branches=("main" "develop") # Get the current branch name current_branch=$(git symbolic-ref --short HEAD) # Check if the current branch is in the list of protected branches if [[ " ${protected_branches[@]} " =~ " ${current_branch} " ]]; then # Check if the push is a force push for arg in "$@"; do   if [[ "$arg" == "--force" || "$arg" == "-f" ]]; then     echo "❌ Force pushing to the protected branch '${current_branch}' is not allowed!"     exit 1   fi done fi echo "✅ Push to '${current_branch}' is valid." 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Create a script named scripts/monitor-secrets-with-values.sh. #!/bin/bash # Define sensitive value patterns patterns=( # Base64-encoded strings "([A-Za-z0-9+/]{40,})={0,2}" # PEM-style private keys "-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----" "-----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY-----" "-----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----" # AWS Access Key ID "AKIA[0-9A-Z]{16}" # AWS Secret Key "[a-zA-Z0-9/+=]{40}" # Email addresses (optional) "[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}" # Others (e.g., passwords, tokens) ) # Scan staged files for sensitive patterns echo "🔍 Scanning staged files for sensitive values..." # Get the list of staged files staged_files=$(git diff --cached --name-only) # Initialize a flag to track if any sensitive data is found found_sensitive_data=false # Loop through each file and pattern for file in $staged_files; do # Skip binary files if [[ $(file --mime-type -b "$file") == "application/octet-stream" ]]; then   continue fi # Scan each pattern using grep -E (extended regex) for pattern in "${patterns[@]}"; do   if grep -E -- "$pattern" "$file"; then     echo "❌ Sensitive value detected in file '$file': Pattern '$pattern'"     found_sensitive_data=true     break   fi done done # If sensitive data is found, prevent the commit if $found_sensitive_data; then echo "❌ Commit aborted. Please remove sensitive values before committing." exit 1 fi echo "✅ No sensitive values detected. Proceeding with committing." Add the above script execution command into the pre-commit hook. echo "bash ./scripts/monitor-secrets-with-values.sh" >> .husky/pre-commit Grant execute permissions to the monitor-secrets-with-values.sh file. chmod +x ./scripts/monitor-secrets-with-values.sh Result: Invalid case: git add private git commit -m “pbi-002 - chore - add unexpected private file” Result: 🔍 Scanning staged files for sensitive values... -----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY----- ❌ Sensitive value detected in file 'private': Pattern '-----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY-----' ❌ Commit aborted. Please remove sensitive values before committing. husky - pre-commit script failed (code 1) Valid case: git reset private git commit -m “pbi-002 - chore - remove unexpected private file” Result: 🔍 Scanning staged files for sensitive values... ✅ No sensitive values detected. Proceeding with commit. [main c575028] pbi-002 - chore - remove unexpected private file 4 files changed, 5 insertions(+) create mode 100644 .env.example create mode 100644 .husky/commit-msg create mode 100644 .husky/pre-commit create mode 100644 .husky/pre-push Conclusion "Humans make mistakes" in software development; even minor errors can disrupt workflows or create inefficiencies. That’s where Git Hooks come in. By automating essential checks and enforcing best practices, Git Hooks reduces the chances of errors slipping through and ensures a smoother, more consistent workflow. Tools like Husky make it easier to set up Git Hooks, allowing developers to focus on writing code instead of worrying about process compliance. Whether it’s validating commit messages, enforcing branch naming conventions, or preventing sensitive data from being committed, Git Hooks acts as a safety net that ensures quality at every step. If you want to optimize your Git workflow, now is the time to start integrating Git Hooks. With the proper setup, you can make your development process reliable but also effortless and efficient. Let automation handle the rules so your team can focus on building great software.

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        Automate Your Git Workflow with Git Hooks for Efficiency

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           Exploring API Performance Testing with Postman

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          Vu Nguyen Q.

          Knowledge

          Software Development

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            From Raw Data to Perfect API Responses: Serialization in NestJS

            Hello, My name is Dzung. I am a developer who has been in this game for approximately 6 years. I've just started exploring NestJS and am excited about this framework's capabilities. In this blog, I want to share the knowledge I’ve gathered and practiced in NestJS. Today's topic is serialization! As you know, APIs are like the messengers of your application, delivering data from the backend to the client side. Without proper control, they might spill too much information, such as passwords or internal settings. This is where serialization in NestJS steps in, turning messy, raw data into polished, purposeful API responses. With the power of serialization, you can control exactly what your users see, hide sensitive fields, format nested objects, and deliver secure, efficient, and downright beautiful responses. In this blog, we’ll explore how serialization in NestJS works, why it’s a must-have skill for any developer, and how to implement it step by step. Your APIs will go from raw and unrefined to clean and professional by the end. Let’s dive in! What Happens Without Serialization? Let’s look at what happens when you don’t use serialization in your NestJS application. Imagine you’re building a user management system, and you create an API endpoint to fetch user details. Here’s your User entity: Now, you write a simple endpoint to fetch a user: What happens when you call this endpoint? The API sends the entire user object straight to the client—every single field included: The consequences of lacking Serialization in the NestJS application Security Risks: Sensitive data, like passwords, should never be exposed in API responses.Data Overload: Users and clients don’t need internal flags or timestamps—they just add noise.Lack of Professionalism: Messy, unfiltered responses make your API look unpolished and unreliable. Next, we’ll see how to clean up this mess and craft polished API responses using NestJS serialization techniques. The Differences in Applying Serialization By implementing serialization in your NestJS application, you can take full control over what data is exposed in your API responses. Let’s revisit the previous example and clean it up. Step 1: Install class-transformer To get started with serialization, you need the class-transformer package. Install it with: Step 2: Update the User Entity with Exposed or Excluded Decorator Use class-transformer decorators to specify which fields should be exposed or excluded. Only the ID and email fields will be included in the response. Step 3: Apply the Serializer Interceptor NestJS provides a built-in ClassSerializerInterceptor to handle serialization. You can apply it at different levels: Per-Controller Globally To apply serialization to all controllers, add the interceptor to the application setup: When the Get User Endpoint is called, this is what your API will now return: Why Serialization Makes a Difference Security: Sensitive fields are automatically excluded, keeping your data safe.Clarity: Only the necessary fields are sent, reducing noise and improving usability.Professionalism: Clean and consistent responses give your API a polished look. Dynamic Serialization with Group What if you want to show different data to users, such as admins versus regular users? The class-transformer package supports groups, allowing you to expose fields based on context. Example: In the controller, specify the group for the transformation: When the Get User Endpoint is called, this is what your API will now return: By incorporating serialization into your NestJS application, you not only improve security but also enhance the user experience by providing streamlined, predictable, and professional API responses. Now that you know how serialization works in NestJS, you can apply these techniques to your projects, creating safer, cleaner, and more maintainable APIs. SupremeTech has lots of experience and produces web or app services. Let’s schedule a call now if you want to work with us. Also, now we are hiring! Please check open positions for career opportunities.

            20/12/2024

            49

            Dung Nguyen Q.

            Knowledge

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            • Software Development

            From Raw Data to Perfect API Responses: Serialization in NestJS

            20/12/2024

            49

            Dung Nguyen Q.

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