Building Bar—Ma

I wanted to share a bit about a project I've been working on called Bar—Ma. It's a mobile app and a QR Code sticker website that lets people see what's in stock at stores. I'm still in the early stages, but I thought it might be interesting to share what I've been up to.

The Idea Behind Bar—Ma

The idea for Bar—Ma came from a common frustration: not knowing if a store has what you need before you get there. With Bar—Ma, you can scan a QR Code at the store or search for the store on a map within the app to check if they have what you need. It's a straightforward concept, but I think it could make shopping a lot easier.

Early Stages: UI Designs and Surveys

Right now, my focus is on two main things: designing the user interface (UI) and gathering feedback through surveys.

UI Designs

I've been working hard on the look and feel of the app. My goal is to make it as user-friendly as possible. This means creating a clean, simple interface that anyone can use easily. I've designed screens for the QR Code scanner, the map search, and the inventory display. Each screen is designed to be straightforward and functional.

User Surveys

To make sure I'm on the right track, I've been conducting surveys to get feedback from potential users. These surveys ask about their shopping habits, what features they would find useful, and any frustrations they currently have with shopping. This feedback is incredibly valuable and has already given me some great insights.

Next Steps

The next big step is moving from design to development. This means writing the code for the app, integrating the QR Code functionality, and setting up the backend to handle inventory data. It's a lot of work, but I'm excited to see it come together.

I'll also be doing more user testing as I develop the app. This will help catch any issues early and ensure the app works well in real-world situations. It's important to me that Bar—Ma is reliable and easy to use from the start.

Sharing the Journey

I'll keep sharing updates as I make progress. It's a bit daunting to put this all out there, but I think it's important to share the journey, including the challenges and the successes. If you have any questions or feedback, I'd love to hear from you.