When I began my programming career, my focus was mainly on React.js and Drupal. But like many curious developers, I always had the urge to explore new technologies to push past the familiar. Eventually, I was given the chance to try something I had never done before - Mobile App Development. That one opportunity ended up being a turning point in my journey.

The project? Natur Digital - my very first mobile application. And from the start, I was thrown straight into the deep end.

Natur Digital wasn’t just a mobile app - it was a full ecosystem. At the heart of the project stood the mobile app itself, built using React Native. But it wasn’t just about screens and UI, it was packed with platform-specific features that pushed me far beyond the usual boundaries of cross-platform development.

The most technically demanding feature was Geofencing. The goal was to deliver real-time alerts to hikers whenever they approached a Point of Interest (POI) - a scenic spot, a viewpoint or any other notable landmark while also warning them if they neared restricted zones. All of this had to work offline, since Bavaria’s hiking trails often lack internet coverage. Building this required deep integration with native location services and battery-efficient background tracking not to mention a lot of trial, error and late-night debugging.

We also implemented a background download system that allows the app to sync and store content even while running in the background, ensuring users have access to essential data offline. One unique feature is the custom native audio player, developed specifically to play sounds associated with specific Points of Interest - for example, the call of a bird or another animal. To make the playback more engaging, the player includes a real-time waveform visualization that reflects the actual structure of the audio being played. This small but thoughtful addition enhances the user experience, especially during outdoor exploration.

Although the mobile app was the core focus of the project, it was powered by a robust and well-structured backend system. The architecture was built using Node.js and Drupal, providing a solid foundation for managing and delivering content efficiently. MongoDB was used as the primary database, offering flexibility for handling complex, structured data. For advanced search capabilities, we integrated Elasticsearch, which ensured fast and relevant results even across a large volume of content. All of these technologies worked together behind the scenes to support the mobile application enabling reliable performance, seamless data delivery and a scalable infrastructure tailored to the app’s needs.

The app is organized into two main sections: GeoMap and Lexicon. GeoMap presents all spatial data through an interactive map interface, allowing users to explore Points of Interest, hiking trails and restricted zones in a visual and intuitive way. Lexicon, on the other hand, serves as a central content hub that displays all available entries, whether they’re tied to a location or not.

Users can filter, sort and search through content based on their preferences. They have the ability to switch between different map layers, stay informed with region-specific news, follow content references and manage both notification settings and permission levels. The app is designed to meet the needs of both casual users and serious hikers, offering a rich and reliable experience - even when used completely offline.

I invested over 2,000 hours into this project and every hour taught me something new. Whether it was diving into low-level native modules, optimizing background processes or managing geospatial logic, this project challenged me in ways I hadn’t experienced before.

But it also confirmed something very important - this is what I love doing. Building digital products that people can use in the real world, outside of screens especially when it blends code, design and physical interaction is incredibly fulfilling.

Natur Digital will always be special to me. Not just because it was my first mobile app, but because it pushed me to grow into the kind of developer I’ve always wanted to become.