Mobile App
The DETI Maker Lab mobile app is built with Expo and React Native. It provides access to the same system as the web app, optimized for mobile devices.
Downloading the app
The app is not published to the App Store or Google Play at this stage. For development and testing:
- Android: Use the Expo Go app or a development build installed via Android Studio or
adb. - iOS: Use a physical device via Expo Go, a development build, or a cloud build service.
Logging in
- Open the app.
- Tap Login.
- The app opens your device browser and redirects to the University of Aveiro SSO.
- Enter your university credentials.
- After authentication, the browser shows a redirect to the app deep link.
- The app opens automatically and you are logged in.
Your token is stored securely on the device using Expo SecureStore.
Main screens
Dashboard (Home)
The home tab shows:
- A summary of your active projects.
- Recent requisition activity.
- Notifications.
Equipment Catalog
Browse all available lab equipment. View status, model, location, and availability.
Ledger
View all your equipment requisitions and their current status. Tap any requisition to see full detail including timestamps and rejection reasons.
Projects
View the list of projects you are a member of. Tap a project to see details and members.
Profile
View your user information (name, email, role). Log out from this screen.
Technician and admin screens
If your account has the lab_technician role, additional tabs appear:
Admin
- View all pending and active requisitions.
- Approve or reject requests.
- Manage users.
Users
- Browse all registered users.
- View user roles and details.
Logging out
Tap Profile → Logout.
Your stored token is cleared. You are returned to the login screen.
Known limitations
- Some screens may have incomplete UI polish (missing loading states, edge case layouts).
- Statistics screen is partially implemented.
- iOS deep link behavior should be verified on a physical device.
- Push notifications are not currently implemented (in-app only).
- The app has not been through full end-to-end user testing.
See Known Limitations for the full list of outstanding items.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Browser opens SSO but app does not receive token | Deep link not registered | Ensure app scheme detimakerlab is registered; try reinstalling |
| "Unauthorized" errors after login | Expired or invalid token | Log out and log in again |
| Blank screens or loading spinners | API unreachable | Check that the backend is running and the API URL is correctly configured |
| Screens show wrong data | Cache issue | Pull to refresh or restart the app |