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Starting a New Project - Haven's Heroes

Starting a New Project - Haven's Heroes

Diane Larsen / January 23, 2025

I’ve recently started working on a new project called Haven’s Heroes, a private social media site designed specifically for a close-knit group of friends. The idea is to create a shared online space where we can plan gaming sessions, coordinate fun outings, and share memories—all without the distractions and noise of traditional social media platforms.

The Vision for Haven’s Heroes

The goal of Haven’s Heroes is simple: provide a dedicated, private platform for my friends to stay connected. I want it to feel like an exclusive club where we can:

  • Coordinate Activities: Plan gaming nights, movie outings, and other fun events.
  • Share Content: Post photos, videos, and updates from our adventures.
  • Stay Connected: Keep in touch with group chats, message boards, and shared calendars.
  • Build a Community: Create a space that strengthens friendships and celebrates our shared interests.

Unlike mainstream platforms, Haven’s Heroes is designed to be private, ad-free, and customized for our specific needs.

Progress So Far

Since this project is in the very early stages, I’m focusing on laying a solid foundation:

  • Domain Setup: I’ve registered the domain havens-heros.com.
  • Initial Planning: I’m working on the basic structure of the site, including user authentication, group pages, and event planning features.
  • Technology Stack: I’ve decided to build the site with Next.js and Tailwind CSS for the front end, and I’m considering Firebase or PostgreSQL for the backend, depending on the complexity of the features.
  • UI Mockups: I’ve started sketching out some basic designs for the dashboard, user profiles, and event pages.

Challenges Ahead

While I’m excited about this project, I know there are going to be challenges along the way:

  1. Scalability: Even though this site is meant for a small group, I want to build it in a way that can handle growth if needed.
  2. User Authentication: Ensuring that the site is secure while keeping it simple for users.
  3. Content Management: Developing a way to easily upload, organize, and share photos, videos, and posts.
  4. Responsive Design: Making sure the site looks great on both desktop and mobile devices.

What’s Next

In the coming weeks, I’ll focus on:

  • Building Core Features: Starting with user registration, event planning, and a basic group chat feature.
  • Designing the Dashboard: Creating an intuitive space where users can see all updates and events at a glance.
  • Testing the MVP: I’ll get feedback from my friends to refine the experience before adding more advanced features.

Reflection

I’m excited about the potential of Haven’s Heroes to bring my friends closer together in a fun, interactive way. It’s still in the early stages, but I’m optimistic about what this platform could become.

If you’ve ever worked on a similar project or have ideas for features that would make a private social media site even better, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Stay tuned for updates as I bring Haven’s Heroes to life.