Easy Shopping - Interview with the developer of a fantastic app

Did you have any prior development or coding experience?

Yes, I've had.

What was the most challenging aspect of developing mobile app?

We had to learn to use Xamarin, that is a way to create native app that works in all mobile systems with the same code.

_{Luca Pinasco}

Graduated Computer Science at the University of Milan. After that I started as a Windows developer in 2003. Now I'm working as the Software Analyst and Developer at ALIMEDE SRL. I love my job, it is actually my hobby and my job at the same time.

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

Flipboard that keeps me updated with news. SofaScore as well, the best app for following sports games.

How long have you been working on this app?

I developed the first version of this app for Windows phone for myself in 2013. After I decided to improve the app and publish in the windows phone store. The app got very good reviews, recently I finally changed my phone with an Android phone and I decided to study Xamarin and port the application to Android. Thanks to Xamarin, the port to Android wasn't very long except for the new syncing feature.

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

Application development started for my personal needs. When I go shopping at my food supermarket, I usually have a lot of things to buy. At first I used a text file on my computer where I wrote my shopping list by adding the products every day and before I went to the supermarket I ordered my products as I found them in the store so I did not waste time. After I bought my first smartphone I decided to make an application that automatically ordered my products. Thinking that it could be useful to many, I have therefore improved and published the application. On Android I added the possibility to keep a shared list with another person (for example my wife and I).

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.

The automatic sorting of the items is the most important function of my app (but you can also use it in a normal way). The ability to have a shared list with other users is another key function. We have an initial database with hundreds of products, but you can create easily your products list with excel (you export actual product list from app, you edit the file in your computer, and you reimport the list in the app). I also like the clean interface of my app.

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

We want to deploy the app in Apple store but we still have to organize more for that. I would like to introduce voice commands and recipes section where you can save your recipe with ingredients and you can easily add them to your shopping list.

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.)?

Please contact us if you need any help or if you have any suggestions! And also share the app if you like it, because it is very difficult to earn market share at the Android store.