CurioCity - Location Discovery Mobile App

A React Native Expo mobile application for discovering comprehensive location-based information including places to visit, restaurants, news, accommodation, services, and more.

🚀 Features

• Location Discovery: GPS-based location detection with comprehensive data
• Multiple Data Sources: Integration with 7+ live APIs for rich content
• Real-time Information: News, weather, places, restaurants, and services
• Modern UI: Beautiful gradient-based design with dark/light theme support
• Cross-platform: Works on both iOS and Android devices
• Offline Fallback: Graceful handling when location services are unavailable

📱 Screenshots

The app provides detailed information about any location including:

• Local news articles
• Tourist attractions and places to visit
• Restaurant recommendations
• Accommodation options
• Holy places and cultural sites
• Local services and amenities
• Historical information

🛠 Technology Stack

• Framework: React Native 0.81.5 with Expo 54.0.25
• Navigation: React Navigation 7.1.10
• React Version: 19.1.0
• State Management: React Hooks
• Styling: StyleSheet with dynamic theming
• APIs: Multiple live APIs for comprehensive data
• Location Services: Expo Location 19.0.7
• Permissions: Graceful location permission handling
• UI Components: Expo Vector Icons 15.0.3, Expo Linear Gradient 15.0.7
• Storage: AsyncStorage 2.2.0
• Dev Tools: Babel 7.20.0, react-native-dotenv 3.4.11

📋 Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• npm or yarn
• Expo CLI
• iOS Simulator / Android Emulator or physical device

🔒 Security

Important: This project uses environment variables to store API keys securely. Never commit your .env file to version control.

🔧 Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone <repository-url>
cd curiocity

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Set up environment variables:

cp .env.example .env

Then edit .env file and add your API keys:

• Get NewsData.io API key from https://newsdata.io/
• Get OpenTripMap API key from https://opentripmap.io/
• Get Foursquare API key from https://developer.foursquare.com/
• Get Google Gemini API key from https://ai.google.dev/

📱 Running the App

Option 1: Expo Go (Recommended for development)

Run the app instantly on your phone without building an APK:

npm start

• Scan the QR code with Expo Go app (download from Play Store/App Store)
• Make sure your phone and PC are on the same WiFi network
• If QR scan fails, try: npx expo start --tunnel

Option 2: Android Emulator

npm start
# Press 'a' to open in Android Emulator

Option 3: iOS Simulator (macOS only)

npm start
# Press 'i' to open in iOS Simulator

📦 Building APK

Preview APK (for testing)

# Login to Expo (one-time)
eas login

# Build preview APK
npm run build:android

Production APK (for distribution)

npm run build:android:production

Development Build APK (with dev tools)

If you need a development build with expo-dev-client:

# First install expo-dev-client
npx expo install expo-dev-client

# Build development APK
npm run build:android:development

After installing the development build APK, run npx expo start and the app will connect to the bundler.

🗂 Project Structure

src/
├── components/          # Reusable UI components
│   └── LocationSearchModal.js
├── constants/          # App constants (colors, sizes)
│   └── colors.js
├── context/           # React context providers
│   └── ThemeContext.js
├── hooks/             # Custom React hooks
│   └── useAppTheme.js
├── screens/           # Main application screens
│   ├── HomeScreen.js
│   ├── LocationDetailScreen.js
│   ├── NewsDetailScreen.js
│   ├── RestaurantsDetailScreen.js
│   ├── PlacesDetailScreen.js
│   ├── HolyPlacesDetailScreen.js
│   ├── AccommodationDetailScreen.js
│   ├── ServicesDetailScreen.js
│   └── HistoryDetailScreen.js
└── services/          # API services and business logic
    └── LocationService.js

🌐 API Integrations

• NewsData.io: Local news articles
• OpenTripMap: Tourist attractions and cultural sites
• Foursquare: Restaurant and venue data
• Wikipedia: Location descriptions and historical data
• Google Gemini AI: Enhanced content generation
• OpenStreetMap Nominatim: Location search and geocoding
• Overpass API: Religious and cultural sites

🎨 Design Features

• Modern UI: Gradient backgrounds and card-based layouts
• Dark/Light Theme: Automatic theme switching
• Responsive Design: Optimized for different screen sizes
• Accessibility: Proper contrast ratios and readable fonts
• Smooth Animations: Enhanced user experience

📱 How to Use

1. Launch App: Open CurioCity on your device
2. Location Permission: Grant location access when prompted
3. Explore Data: Browse through different sections (News, Places, Restaurants, etc.)
4. Search Locations: Use the search function to explore any location worldwide
5. View Details: Tap on any item to see detailed information

🔧 Configuration

The app includes fallback mechanisms:

• Default location (New York) when GPS is unavailable
• Graceful API error handling
• Offline-friendly design

📄 License

This project is for educational and demonstration purposes.

🤝 Contributing

This is a demonstration project showcasing React Native development skills and API integration capabilities.

📞 Support

For questions or issues, please refer to the Expo documentation or React Native community resources.