PulsePoint - Connect Blood Donors & Recipients

PulsePoint is an open-source mobile application built with Flutter that connects blood donors with those in need of blood donations. The app aims to streamline the blood donation process by creating a direct communication channel between donors and recipients.

Features

• User Authentication: Secure phone authentication system
• Blood Request Management: Create, browse, and respond to blood donation requests
• Real-time Messaging: Direct communication between donors and recipients
• Location Services:
  • Find nearby donation requests and blood donation centers
  • "Find Nearby Hospitals" with integrated map navigation
  • Multiple map app support (Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc.)
• Health Information:
  • Blood type compatibility information
  • Health tips and reminders
  • Home screen widget for daily health tips
• Profile Management: Manage your blood type, donation history, and personal information
• Notifications: Receive alerts for matching blood requests
• Dark/Light Mode: Choose your preferred app theme
• Home Screen Widget: Daily health tips widget for your device's home screen
• Customization: Personalize your experience with various app settings
• Widget Troubleshooter: Easily diagnose and fix home screen widget issues

Screenshots

Light Mode

Dark Mode

Tech Stack

• Frontend: Flutter
• Backend: Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Storage, Messaging)
• State Management: Provider
• Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging, Flutter Local Notifications
• Map Integration: map_launcher, url_launcher
• Native Integration:
  • Method Channels for Flutter-Native communication
  • Android AppWidgetProvider for home screen widgets
  • SharedPreferences for persistent data storage

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Flutter SDK
• Firebase account
• Android Studio / VS Code

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/pulsepoint.git
   

2. Navigate to the project directory

   cd pulsepoint
   

3. Install dependencies

   flutter pub get
   

4. Set up Firebase

   • Create a new Firebase project
   • Add Android and iOS apps to your Firebase project
   • Download and add the configuration files
   • Enable Authentication, Firestore, Storage, and Messaging

5. Run the app

   flutter run
   

Firebase Phone Authentication Setup

To implement Firebase Phone Authentication with SHA certificates:

1. Generate SHA-1 and SHA-256 keys

   For Debug:
   keytool -list -v -keystore ~/.android/debug.keystore -alias androiddebugkey -storepass android -keypass android
   
   For Release:
   keytool -list -v -keystore your_keystore_path -alias your_alias
   

2. Add SHA keys to Firebase:

   • Go to Firebase Console → Project Settings → Your Android App
   • Scroll down to "SHA certificate fingerprints"
   • Click "Add fingerprint" and add your SHA-1 and SHA-256 keys

3. Enable Phone Authentication in Firebase:

   • Go to Firebase Console → Authentication → Sign-in method
   • Enable "Phone" as a sign-in provider

4. Configure your app:

   • Make sure to add your app's domain to the authorized domains
   • Set up a proper verification method (SMS or reCAPTCHA)
   • Test authentication with test phone numbers in Firebase Console

5. For Android:

   • Make sure your build.gradle files are properly configured
   • Add the necessary permissions in AndroidManifest.xml

6. For iOS:

   • Configure your Info.plist file
   • Set up URL schemes and bundle identifiers

For detailed implementation instructions, refer to the Firebase Phone Authentication documentation.

Home Screen Widget Setup

PulsePoint includes an Android home screen widget that displays daily health tips. The implementation involves:

1. Native Android Integration:

   • The widget is implemented using Android's AppWidgetProvider
   • Communication between Flutter and native code uses MethodChannel
   • Data is stored in SharedPreferences for persistence

2. Widget Features:

   • Daily updated health tips
   • Tap functionality to open the app
   • Automatic updates at configurable intervals

3. Troubleshooting:

   • The app includes a dedicated Widget Troubleshooter in Settings
   • This tool helps diagnose and fix common widget issues
   • Users can manually refresh widget data and test functionality

4. Developer Notes:

   • Widget data is stored redundantly in multiple SharedPreferences locations
   • Comprehensive logging helps identify potential issues
   • The implementation handles various edge cases for improved reliability

Map Integration

PulsePoint provides map integration to help users locate nearby hospitals and blood donation centers:

1. Multi-app Support:

   • Integration with various map applications (Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc.)
   • Uses the map_launcher package to detect and open available map apps
   • Fallback options if preferred map app is unavailable

2. Features:

   • "Find Nearby Hospitals" functionality
   • Direction guidance to selected locations
   • Search for blood donation centers in the vicinity

3. Implementation Details:

   • Custom URL formatting for different map services
   • Proper AndroidManifest.xml configuration with intent filters
   • Comprehensive error handling with user-friendly fallbacks
   • Support for both address-based and coordinate-based location finding

4. User Experience:

   • Seamless transition from app to maps
   • Options to choose preferred map application
   • Clear error messages and alternatives if map launch fails

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to open issues and submit pull requests to help improve PulsePoint.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.

Team

For more information about the development team, check the LinkedIn profiles section in the app.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to all contributors who have helped build this app
• Special thanks to the Flutter and Firebase communities for their excellent documentation and support