Aora

Aora is a personal project I created while learning React Native. It’s a platform where users can upload AI-generated videos with custom thumbnails and share the prompts they used to generate those videos. Users can explore videos shared by others, or upload their own, making Aora a creative space for AI-generated content.

This app was a challenging yet rewarding learning experience, helping me deepen my understanding of mobile development, state management, backend integration, and media handling.

Features

• Email Authentication: Users can sign up and log in using their email.
• Upload AI-Generated Videos: Upload videos with custom thumbnails and the prompt used to create the video.
• Video Gallery: Explore AI-generated videos uploaded by other users.
• Appwrite Integration: Appwrite handles backend functionality like user authentication, video uploads, and storage.

Screenshots

Here are a few screenshots of Aora in action:

Tech Stack

• Frontend: React Native, Expo
• Styling: NativeWind, TailwindCSS
• Backend: Appwrite (authentication, file storage)
• Navigation: React Navigation
• Other Dependencies:
  • Vector Icons: @expo/vector-icons
  • Gesture Handling: react-native-gesture-handler
  • Animations: react-native-reanimated, react-native-animatable
  • Media Handling: expo-av, expo-image-picker

Installation and Setup

To set up the project locally, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• Node.js installed on your machine.
• Expo CLI installed globally.
• Appwrite backend configured (you can either use your own or follow Appwrite’s docs to set one up).

Steps

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/cygnus07/Aora.git
   cd Aora

2. Install Dependencies:

   Install the required packages by running:

   npm install

3. Set up Expo:

   • Install Expo CLI if you don’t have it:

     npm install -g expo-cli

   • Make sure to configure your Expo app to use a compatible SDK version, based on the version mentioned in package.json. You can check Expo's installation guide for help.

4. Set up Appwrite:

   • Create an Appwrite project or use an existing one.
   • Set up a project with authentication, database, and file storage.
   • Update the Appwrite credentials in the app by configuring your projectId, endpoint, and any required secrets in the appropriate configuration files.

5. Run the App:

   To run the app on your device/emulator, execute one of the following:

   • For Android:

     npm run android

   • For iOS:

     npm run ios

   • For Web:

     npm run web

Optional - Reset Project:

If you need to reset the project:

npm run reset-project

Learning Journey

This project marks an important milestone in my development journey. Aora gave me hands-on experience in React Native, mobile UI design, backend integration with Appwrite, and building a smooth media upload feature. It’s the culmination of what I learned over several months and stands as a proud showcase in my portfolio. Working through challenges, from authentication to media handling, has been both educational and fulfilling.

Future Improvements

• Implement video streaming for smoother playback.
• Add more granular user permissions for content management.
• Integrate social features like likes and comments.