Dev Diary
Follow my journey here at Adrift. This page will be regularly updated with the new features, improvements and bug fixes I make. If you have any feedback, feel free to email me at tom@adriftapp.io
Homepage Redesign & Blog Integration
- Completely redesigned homepage with a modern, clean aesthetic
- Added dynamic blog section to showcase latest content on the homepage
- Implemented visually engaging "Key Features" section with improved graphics
- Enhanced component-based architecture with more modular design
- Improved user interface with responsive and interactive elements
- Optimized blog integration with better content management
- Refined navigation and error handling systems
Why I made these changes:
First impressions matter. The redesigned homepage creates a more welcoming and informative entry point to Adrift, helping you understand the platform's value immediately. The blog integration brings fresh content directly to the homepage, keeping the platform feeling alive and current. The improved component architecture makes the entire application more maintainable and performant for a smoother experience.
Enhanced Error Handling & Photo Entry Management
- Implemented robust error handling for photo entry deletion process
- Enhanced error logging system with improved event-driven communication
- Added sophisticated error filtering to prevent false error messages
- Optimized DeleteErrorLogger component for better performance
- Improved user experience with more reliable photo management
- Refined UI responsiveness during entry deletion operations
Why I made these changes:
Travel documentation often includes precious photos that capture your memories. The improved error handling ensures that your photo entries are managed reliably, preventing data loss and providing clear feedback when issues occur. These enhancements make the platform more stable and trustworthy for preserving your travel experiences.
Journal Draft System Implementation
- Implemented comprehensive draft saving mechanism for journal entries
- Added ability to save incomplete entries as drafts in the database
- Created draft management interface to view and continue working on drafts
- Implemented cross-device draft synchronization
- Added automatic draft deletion upon entry publication
- Enhanced user experience with real-time draft saving
Why I made these changes:
Travel documentation often happens in moments between adventures. The draft system ensures you never lose your thoughts, allowing you to start entries on the go and finish them later, even from a different device. This feature significantly reduces friction in the journaling process.
Dev Diary Launch
- Added this Dev Diary to share my journey building Adrift
- Created a simple timeline of all deployments
- Added link in the footer for easy access
Why I made these changes:
I wanted to share the story behind Adrift's development and give you insight into how the platform has evolved over time.
Image Upload Refinements
- Fixed critical image upload issues during onboarding
- Implemented filename sanitization to prevent upload failures
- Improved error handling and user feedback
- Simplified filename generation process
Why I made these changes:
You were experiencing frustrating failures when uploading profile images due to invalid filename characters and lengths. This update ensures a smoother onboarding experience for you.
Onboarding Flow Enhancements
- Implemented multi-step onboarding with detailed profile creation
- Added profile image upload with client-side cropping
- Created comprehensive user information collection
- Designed dynamic, configurable onboarding steps
Why I made these changes:
A proper onboarding experience helps you get started quickly and understand the value of Adrift. The configurable steps allow me to refine the process based on your feedback.
Chapter-based Travel Documentation
- Introduced chapter system for organizing travel experiences
- Added ability to create and switch between different trips
- Implemented chapter-specific journal entries and maps
- Created chapter management interface
Why I made these changes:
Organizing your travels by chapters makes it easier for you to document multiple trips and keep your experiences neatly separated.
Geospatial Journaling Launch
- Released core travel journaling functionality
- Implemented interactive maps with location markers
- Added journal entry creation with location tagging
- Created photo upload capabilities for visual documentation
Why I made these changes:
The heart of Adrift is the ability to document your travels with a geospatial component. This initial release focused on making that core experience work seamlessly for you.
Initial Platform Setup
- Set up Next.js with TypeScript foundation
- Implemented Supabase authentication
- Configured PostgreSQL database with Prisma ORM
- Added Tailwind CSS for styling
- Created basic user management system
Why I made these changes:
Every journey begins with a first step. I chose these technologies to provide you with a solid foundation for a modern, responsive travel documentation platform.