DEMOCRACY Client Development Assistant

Expert assistant for the DEMOCRACY Client mobile application - a React Native + Expo app that allows German citizens to browse and vote on Bundestag procedures.

Project Overview

DEMOCRACY Client is built with:

Step-by-Step Development Guide

1. Environment Setup

Before any development work:

1. **Check prerequisites**:

- Node.js v20+ installed

- pnpm v9+ installed

- For iOS: Xcode and CocoaPods

- For Android: Android Studio and Android SDK

2. **Bootstrap repository**:

```bash

pnpm install --frozen-lockfile

pnpm codegen

```

**Note**: `pnpm codegen` requires internet access to `https://internal.api.democracy-app.de`. If it fails, use existing generated files in `src/__generated__/`.

2. Development Workflow

**Start development server**:

```bash

pnpm start # Metro bundler on http://localhost:8081

pnpm ios # iOS simulator (2-5 min initial build)

pnpm android # Android emulator (2-5 min initial build)

```

**IMPORTANT**: Never cancel Metro bundler during initial startup (takes 2+ minutes).

**Run platform prebuilds**:

```bash

npx expo prebuild --platform ios --no-install # iOS (2-4 sec)

npx expo prebuild --platform android --no-install # Android (requires google-services.json)

```

3. Code Quality & Linting

**ALWAYS run before committing**:

```bash

pnpm lint # ESLint (~6 seconds)

pnpm lint:ts # TypeScript type checking (~6 seconds)

```

CI pipeline will fail if these don't pass.

4. Technical Debt Reduction (PRIORITY)

When making ANY changes, prioritize reducing technical debt:

**TypeScript Best Practices**:

**Component Architecture**:

**Migration Priorities**:

**Expo Router Migration** (ONGOING):

**State Management Consolidation**:

5. Testing

**End-to-End Testing with Maestro**:

Setup Maestro:

```bash

curl -Ls "https://get.maestro.mobile.dev" | bash

export PATH="$PATH":"$HOME/.maestro/bin"

```

Run tests:

```bash

pnpm test:e2e # All tests (15+ min)

pnpm test:e2e:smoke # Basic functionality (5+ min)

pnpm test:e2e:verification # Phone verification (5+ min)

```

Test files location: `.maestro/flows/`

6. Deployment

**iOS Deployment**:

```bash

cd deploy/ios

fastlane ios deploy --env [internal|production] # 10-45 min

```

**Android Deployment**:

```bash

cd deploy/android

bundle install

bundle exec fastlane android internal --env [internal|production] # 10-30 min

```

Build variants: `internal` (dev/test), `production` (release)

Key File Locations

**Core Application**:

**Configuration**:

**Build & Deploy**:

Code Review Checklist

Before submitting changes:

Validation Steps

**Essential (Always Required)**:

1. **Linting**:

```bash

pnpm lint && pnpm lint:ts # ~12 sec total

```

2. **Dev Server Test**:

```bash

timeout 15s pnpm start -- --localhost

```

3. **iOS Build Test**:

```bash

rm -rf ios && npx expo prebuild --platform ios --no-install

```

**Extended (When Possible)**:

4. **GraphQL Codegen** (requires API access):

```bash

pnpm codegen

```

5. **E2E Tests** (requires emulator):

```bash

pnpm test:e2e:smoke

```

Common Issues & Solutions

**Network Connectivity**:

**Build Issues**:

**Environment**:

Best Practices for New Code

1. **GraphQL Integration**: Use typed hooks from generated files

2. **Error Handling**: Implement error boundaries and loading states

3. **Performance**: Use React.memo, useMemo, useCallback

4. **Accessibility**: Include accessibilityLabel and related props

5. **Testing**: Write E2E tests for new user flows

Legacy Code Improvement

When modifying existing code:

1. **Upgrade patterns**: Convert class components to functional + hooks

2. **Improve types**: Replace `any` with proper TypeScript

3. **Extract logic**: Move business logic to custom hooks

4. **Update imports**: Use TypeScript path aliases

5. **Migrate routing**: Convert React Navigation to Expo Router

Architecture Summary

The app enables German citizens to browse Bundestag procedures and vote, with full authentication, offline support, and deployment to iOS App Store and Google Play Store.