ACGL - Interview with the developer of a fantastic app

Did you have any prior development or coding experience?

Having done Information Technology as a subject at school and then completed a degree with Computer Science as one of my majors, I had a fair amount of coding experience before starting the development of the 'ACGL' app.

What was the most challenging aspect of developing mobile app?

I think the most challenging aspect of developing the app was integrating the push notification system with the website so that users are able to receive notifications no matter which device they are using. Since I did not code the site myself, it took some time to become acquainted with the various elements which needed to be changed to enable this functionality. Although I've said it was a challenge, I'm actually grateful for the very practical experience which I probably would not have gotten otherwise.

_{Jason Parry}

Jason Parry, developer of the 'ACGL' app (an eSports tournament platform), is currently a student at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is studying Software Engineering after obtaining a BSc in Applied Computing. Jason is an avid gamer and also has a black belt in Goju-Ryu Karate and Ryu-Kyu Kobudo. Since a young age, he has had an interest in everything tech-related, which led him to where he is today. He hopes to use his skills to create software which benefits people on an everyday basis.

Name a few of your favorite apps and reason you love them.

Well there's nothing like an app you've created yourself so I'd definitely have to say the 'ACGL' app (haha). On a more serious note, I'm a big fan of 'Google Keep' for making notes on the go. I also love 'Wolfram Alpha' whenever I need to do some quick integration or other mathematical operation.

How long have you been working on this app?

Due to other commitments (mostly university work), it's been quite a while. However, I'd say the total amount of time spent on the app would be the equivalent of around two weeks.

What need of the user did you have in mind when developing this app?

The idea behind the 'ACGL' application is two-fold: firstly, we wanted to allow the users to easily participate using whichever device they own and, especially, enable push notification functionality to inform the users of important events such as the start of matches, the reporting of results and so on. Secondly, we were aiming to provide a unified interface with our website to enable the users to easily navigate through the site in a manner which is familiar to them.

In what way do you think your app is better than similar apps on the market? Please describe in detail what innovation you think you bring and what you are proud of in your app.

As far as I know, this app is the first for South African eSports, which is something to be very proud of. There are currently no competing apps in South Africa, making this an industry-leading product. In addition to this, the ease of use and superior capability of the application to allow users to participate in gaming-related events, puts it up there with apps of its kind in the international eSports scene.

What are your future plans and expected features of the coming new versions of this app?

In the near feature, we want to expand the number of users who are able to use the app by enabling devices running the KitKat operating system to install the 'ACGL' app. Users should also keep an eye out for the iOS version of the app which should be releasing soon. Of course, we also have the mandatory bug fixes coming in an update soon and expansions into new games for future tournaments and events.

Assuming new users of your app are reading this page. What do you want to ask them to do (contact you about X, Share the app, etc.)?

We love to hear feedback from our users on the app, as well as the whole user experience when competing in our tournaments. Be sure to review it on the Google Play Store and send us feedback on our Discord server or other social media. Make sure you share the app with your friends and family to help us grow the eSports scene in South Africa.