Engineer Develops Geofence-Based Social Network

Software Engineer Adrian has spent 6 years developing a perimeter-based geofence social media app. The application allows users to load custom perimeters anywhere on the geographic map, covering areas from 180° E and W longitude to 90° N and S latitude. Within these perimeters, chat rooms are loaded, enabling communication with people in specific geographic areas.

The development history spans from 2013 to 2019 for the initial concept, followed by 6 years of iteration. The current app, ChatLocal, is built entirely in Java using a backend, commons library, and Android app. A previous iteration called LocalVideo is currently available on the Google Play store, featuring 88% of ChatLocal's capabilities including the perimeter-based loading system. The developer is seeking feedback on value proposition and new feature concepts.

The application represents nearly a decade of development work. Adrian began developing a mobile app using an advanced geofence-based networking system starting in 2013. The initial development phase continued through 2019, with the goal of connecting users within polygon geofences anywhere in the world.

The system is designed to be highly scalable, capable of loading millions of polygon geofences across the globe. However, the initial concept faced challenges with market adoption. According to the developer, people didn't really have a need for the original implementation.

Following this period, Adrian spent the next 6 years trying various ideas to utilize the underlying technology. This included attempts at a location-based video app and a place-based app with multiple features. While these iterations did not succeed, they provided the foundation for the current development focus.

The current application, ChatLocal, allows users to load a custom perimeter anywhere on the geographic map. This perimeter system covers the full range of global coordinates, from 180° east and west longitude to 90° north and south latitude. Once a perimeter is established, the app loads chat rooms within that specific area.

The technical architecture is built entirely in Java. The developer notes that Java was the natural choice back in 2013 and remains the preferred language for long-term large-scale projects. The complete tech stack includes:

• 100% Java codebase (low-level mostly)
• Backend infrastructure
• Commons library
• Android application
• WildFly application server
• PostgreSQL database
• Linux server environment

While the app is not yet fully finished, the developer believes the potential impact on society could be tremendous. The system is designed to facilitate location-based communication in a way that hasn't been previously attempted at scale.

Users interested in testing the technology can access a previous version of the application. LocalVideo, the app developed before ChatLocal, is fully available on the Google Play store.

This earlier version contains approximately 88% of the features planned for ChatLocal. Crucially, it includes the perimeter-based loading system that forms the core functionality of the new application. This provides a working demonstration of the geofence technology in action.

The developer is actively seeking specific types of feedback from users and observers. The primary requests include:

• New ideas and concepts to add to the location-based social media app
• Assessment of the value proposition for society
• Technical feedback on the implementation

This feedback loop is intended to help refine the final product before full release.

The choice of Java as the primary language reflects a commitment to long-term stability and scalability. The developer maintains that Java remains the best choice for large-scale projects, even years after the initial development began. This consistency has allowed for continuous development despite multiple pivots in application focus.

The system architecture supports the loading of custom perimeters anywhere on Earth. The geographic range is comprehensive, covering the entire planet from the North Pole to the South Pole and around the full circumference. This global scope enables truly location-specific communication networks.

By creating chat rooms that exist only within defined geographic boundaries, the app aims to foster hyperlocal communities. The technology handles the complexity of polygon geofencing at scale, managing millions of potential geographic zones simultaneously.

As development continues toward completion, the focus remains on determining how this technology can best serve users and what specific problems it solves in the social networking landscape. The developer continues to refine the application based on this ongoing evaluation of social value.