GameMate

GameMate was the project I built before InkVein so I could learn how to develop a real mobile product with React Native before committing to a much larger app. At the time, I was still learning how to work with React Native and how to use AI as part of my development workflow, so I wanted a smaller project where I could make mistakes, test ideas, and understand the platform more practically.

The concept was a social app for gamers to find groups and connect with people they wanted to play with. I used the project to practice the basics of mobile product development while also learning how the same React Native code behaved differently across Android and iOS.

I tested GameMate directly on my personal Android phone and through the iOS Simulator on my Mac. That process helped me understand that a shared codebase does not mean both platforms behave exactly the same. I started paying closer attention to the layout differences, navigation behavior, device specific dev testing tools, and the general development workflow on each platform.

GameMate also gave me a chance to compare React Native more seriously with alternatives. I was considering languages like Swift, Flutter, and Kotlin. By the end of the project, I had a much clearer understanding of React Native’s strengths and limitations, and that experience helped solidify my decision to use React Native as the mobile foundation for InkVein.