SplitWise Clone - Expense Sharing App

Mobile DevelopmentWeb Development
Dec 23, 2024
GitHub

Introduction to SplitWise Clone

This project aims to create a clone of the popular expense-sharing application, Splitwise. The app allows users to split expenses among friends, roommates, or groups, making it easier to manage shared costs and settle debts.

Key Features

  1. Expense Tracking: Users can add expenses, specifying the amount, payers, and participants.

  2. Group Management: Create and manage groups for different sharing scenarios (e.g., roommates, trips, events).

  3. Debt Calculation: Automatically calculates who owes what to whom based on expenses and payments.

  4. Settlement Suggestions: Provides optimal ways to settle debts within a group.

  5. Notification System: Sends reminders for pending payments and expense updates.

  6. Transaction History: Maintains a detailed log of all expenses and settlements.

  7. Multiple Currency Support: Allows expenses in different currencies with automatic conversion.

  8. Recurring Expenses: Users can set up recurring expenses (e.g., rent, utilities) that automatically generate reminders and entries each billing cycle.

  9. Expense Categories: Users can categorize expenses (e.g., food, transportation, entertainment) for better tracking and reporting.

  10. Shared Notes: Allows users to add notes or comments to specific expenses for clarity or context.

  11. User Profiles: Each user can create a profile with their payment methods, preferred currency, and personal settings.

Notification Reminder System

A core feature of this SplitWise clone is its robust notification and reminder system:

  • Payment Due Reminders: Sends notifications to users with outstanding debts.
  • Expense Added Alerts: Notifies group members when a new expense is added.
  • Settlement Reminders: Periodically reminds users of unsettled balances.
  • Custom Reminder Settings: Allows users to set their preferred reminder frequency and method (e.g., push notifications, email, SMS).

Technical Implementation

  • Backend: Node.js with Express.js for API development
  • Frontend: React for web interface, React Native for mobile apps
  • Database: MongoDB for flexible data storage
  • Authentication: JWT for secure user authentication
  • Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging for cross-platform notifications
  • Payment Integration: Stripe API for handling actual money transfers (optional feature)

Challenges

  1. Real-time Updates: Ensuring all users see the latest expense information simultaneously.
  2. Complex Debt Calculations: Implementing efficient algorithms for debt simplification in large groups.
  3. Data Consistency: Maintaining accurate balances across multiple transactions and currency conversions.
  4. User Privacy: Implementing proper access controls for expense visibility within and across groups.
  5. Scalability: Designing the system to handle a growing number of users and transactions efficiently.

Future Enhancements

  • AI-powered Expense Categorization: Automatically categorize expenses based on description and amount using machine learning.
  • Receipt Scanning: Allow users to add expenses by scanning receipts using OCR technology.
  • Integration with Banking APIs: For automatic expense tracking and settlement directly from bank accounts.
  • Social Media Integration: Enable users to connect with friends from various platforms for easier group management.
  • Insights Dashboard: Provide users with insights into their spending habits over time through visual analytics.
  • Customizable Themes and UI Options: Allow users to personalize the app's appearance according to their preferences.

By building this SplitWise clone, developers can gain valuable experience in creating complex, real-world applications that involve financial calculations, user interactions, and multi-platform development.