Project Description

Project Overview
We are building a lightweight MVP mobile app connecting two types of users (e.g., teachers and students) with discovery and messaging functionality. The focus is on simplicity and core interaction features.

Core MVP Features
User Authentication & ProfilesEmail/password login (no social login for MVP)
Two distinct user types (teachers/students)
Profile fields per user type (e.g., location, availability, price for teachers)
User DiscoverySearch/filter users by:Location (city or radius-based)
Availability (hours, days)
Price
List view of matched users
Basic MessagingNon-real-time messaging using simple API polling or interval-based updates
Message threads per user pair
NotificationsEmail notifications for messages and important events
No push notifications for MVP

Tech Stack Recommendation
Frontend: Flutter (cross-platform mobile app)
Backend: Node.js with Express, or Firebase (for faster MVP)
Database: PostgreSQL (structured, relational) or Firebase Realtime/Firestore (simpler MVP)
Email & Auth: Firebase Auth or SMTP/email API
Hosting/Backend: Heroku, Render, or Firebase Cloud Functions for MVP simplicity
Messaging: REST API with periodic polling (10–30 sec interval)