Well, I actually have something to show. As you guys know, if you've been following this little blog of mine, I've been spending countless hours working on this. I happen to think this is going to help me with user retention, and thus that has been my driving force.
However, I've reached the point in time on a project where I could use a little help. I'm packing quite a bit of features on this for a simple app, but the truth is that although I'm stripping it from noise, there are things that I can't leave out, not even for this beta testing version.
So, let's make this sound official!!!
📱 What is HiveSnaps?
HiveSnaps is a modern, mobile-first social media application built specifically for the Hive blockchain. It provides an intuitive, Twitter-like experience for creating, sharing, and engaging with content on Hive, designed from the ground up for mobile users.
✨ Current Features (Already Implemented)
🔐 Authentication & Security
Secure Hive Login - Full integration with Hive accounts using posting keys
Secure Storage - Private keys stored safely using Expo SecureStore
Multi-node Support - Connects to multiple Hive API nodes for reliability
📝 Content Creation & Sharing
Create Posts ("Snaps") - Write and publish posts directly to the Hive blockchain
Image Support - Upload and share images with Cloudinary integration (subject to change, thanks @mengao for the tip)
Camera Integration - Take photos directly from the app or choose from gallery
Markdown Support - Rich text formatting with full markdown rendering
Tag System - Automatic tagging with 'hivesnaps' for content discovery
📺 Rich Media Experience
Video Embedding - Supports YouTube, 3speak, and IPFS videos
Inline Video Players - Watch videos without leaving the app
Full-Screen Image Viewer - Tap to view images in full screen
Smart Media Detection - Automatically detects and embeds media from URLs
💬 Social Interaction
Threaded Comments - Full reply system with nested conversations
Upvoting System - Vote on posts and comments with adjustable weight (1-100%)
Real-time Updates - Live vote counts and engagement metrics
User Avatars - Profile pictures loaded from Hive accounts
Engagement Metrics - Vote counts, reply counts, and payout information
🔔 Notification System
Real-time Notifications - Get notified about votes, replies, and mentions
Notification Badge - Visual indicator on the main navigation
Notification History - View all past notifications in dedicated screen
Smart Navigation - Tap notifications to jump directly to relevant content
🎨 User Experience
Dark/Light Mode - Automatic theme switching based on device preferences
Responsive Design - Optimized for both Android and iOS
Pull-to-Refresh - Swipe down to refresh content
Smooth Animations - Professional UI transitions and loading states
Keyboard Handling - Smart keyboard avoidance for better typing experience
📱 Mobile-First Design
SafeArea Support - Proper handling of device notches and navigation bars
Touch-Optimized - Large touch targets and gesture-friendly interface
Platform-Specific - Native Android and iOS behaviors
Performance Optimized - Efficient rendering and memory management
Error Handling - Robust error management and user feedback
Security First - Secure key storage and API practices
📲 Beta Testing Available
We're currently in beta testing phase! The app is available as an APK for Android users who want to try it out. We're gathering feedback to improve the user experience before the official launch.
📱 How to Test HiveSnaps Beta (Android)
Step 1: Download the APK
Click this link on your Android device: Download HiveSnaps Beta APK
The APK file will download to your device (usually in the Downloads folder)
Step 2: Enable Unknown Sources (Required for APK Installation)
Since this app isn't on the Google Play Store yet, you'll need to allow your phone to install apps from unknown sources:
For Android 8.0+ (Most Recent Devices):
Go to Settings → Apps & notifications → Special app access → Install unknown apps
Select your browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
Toggle "Allow from this source" to ON
Alternative Method:
When you try to install the APK, Android will prompt you
Tap "Settings" in the popup
Enable "Allow from this source"
Go back and try installing again
For Older Android Versions:
Go to Settings → Security
Enable "Unknown sources" or "Install from unknown sources"
Step 3: Install HiveSnaps
Open your file manager or Downloads app
Find the HiveSnaps APK file you downloaded
Tap on it to install
If prompted, confirm you want to install the app
Wait for installation to complete
Step 4: Launch and Test
Find HiveSnaps in your app drawer
Open the app
Log in with your Hive account credentials (posting key only)
Start exploring and testing!
🔒 Security Note
This APK is safe to install - it's built using Expo's official build service. However, as with any beta software:
Only install if you trust the developer
The app is in testing phase, so expect some bugs
Your Hive keys are stored securely on your device
📋 What to Test
Help me improve HiveSnaps by testing these features:
Login/Authentication - Can you log in with your Hive account?
Creating Posts - Try posting text and images
Viewing Content - Browse the feed and read posts
Commenting - Reply to posts and comments
Voting - Upvote posts and comments
Media Playback - Test video and image viewing
Notifications - Check if you receive notifications for interactions
Dark/Light Mode - Switch themes in your device settings
🐛 Found a Bug?
If you encounter any issues:
Take a screenshot if possible
Note what you were doing when the bug occurred
Reply to this post with the details
Include your device model and Android version
📱 Device Requirements
Android 5.0+ (API level 21+)
Internet connection required (one would think so, right?)
Camera permission for photo posting (optional)
Storage permission for image uploads (optional)
🆘 Troubleshooting
Can't download the APK?
Make sure you have a stable internet connection
Try using a different browser
Clear your browser cache and try again
Installation failed?
Make sure you enabled "Unknown sources"
Check if you have enough storage space
Try restarting your phone and installing again
App crashes on startup?
Make sure your Android version is 5.0 or higher
Try clearing the app data and restarting
Let me know your device model for compatibility checking
🎯 Your Feedback Matters!
This is a beta version, which means:
Some features might not work perfectly
Your feedback helps shape the final app
You're getting early access to cool new Hive App!!!!!
Thank you for helping test HiveSnaps! Your feedback is invaluable for making this the best Hive mobile experience possible. 🚀
Afterword
If you follow this blog then you might know, but in case you don't. I will be releasing all the code to this app too. As a matter of fact it already is public. So you might be wondering why? Well, because I feel like I need it.
I want to be able to give someone a simple app, and allow them to be a hivean. They don't have to be bloggers, they don't have to be amazing writers, they just have to be.
You see, since I got a lot of gray in my beard, I do happen to find Hiving on a computer a lot more comfortable. But, this is not the case for the majority of people. Where I live, everyone has a cell phone, very few people have a computer. I think that explains it all...
And, with this giant post and announcement, I think I will call it a day.
@mengao for the tip)
