AI Powered News Portal And Aggregation App

Informat is a Romanian news portal covering a wide range of topics including economy, politics, current affairs, international news, sports, health, education, environment, science, IT&C, and arts & lifestyle.

It offers quick summaries of news stories, allowing users to see how different publications are treating various news items.

Solution Components

There are 6 main components which we worked on for Informat all of them being part of the Informat digital ecosystem.

Web Application

The web application is a responsive news website offering a wide range of content across various categories. It provides summaries and updates on the latest news, allowing readers to quickly browse through different topics.

Mobile Applications

We have built 2 mobile applications in Flutter for Android and iOS. Users can read a personalised news feed and receive push notifications for breaking news and important events from their favorite categories.

Aggregation App

It is the web application used by the agency, having the role of aggregating news from different public sources and creating the events in the Informat App. Developed in Vue JS with OpenAI components, integrated in Laravel Nova.

Back-office Solution

The back-office solution built on Laravel Nova provides the administrators complete control and visibility for all news articles published on the website and on the mobile application.

CMS for Exclusive Content

Informat also writes its own exclusive and original content. We used WordPress as a CMS solution, which we integrated with the custom aggregation app.

Custom API

We developed a custom API to serve the suite of applications: web, mobile and the editors aggregation app. We used Laravel for development and documented it via Swagger.

Web Application

News Web Application

News Feed

Most recent news are listed on homepage
Newsfeed can be filtered by categories
Sidebar with recommended articles

News Single Page

Each event has a short summary and a long one
Most of the events have an image
Each event has a list of external articles about the current event. You can se the source name, its logo, a short summary of the article and of course, a link to the full external article.
At the bottom of the page there is a tag cloud

Exclusive Content

Informat.ro has also its own content. It can be read on a special category, named Exclusive Content.

Those articles are labeled with a special blue ribbon.

Search Module

Like in any other news application, we have implemented a search module. Results are sorted chronologically.

iOS & Android Mobile Applications

Mobile Application

The mobile application is available for iOS and Android users.

It can be used both by anonymous and authenticated users, but most of the special features are addressed to only registered users.

All the features of web application

The mobile application has all the features of the web version and more. As an unregistered user, you can see the latest news in the feed, read the full articles and their sources, and of course, the exclusive content.

Login or Create Account

Special features of the mobile application can be accessed only by authenticated users. This can be done via the classic way, with email and password, and also via a social login with Google and Apple (for iOS Devices).

Personalised Newsfeed

Users can select their favorite categories, based on which a personalised newsfeed will be created.

Personalised Notifications

Breaking news and the most interesting news from users favorite categories are sent via Push Notifications.

Account and Preferences

The user can customise different preferences, like favorite categories, notifications, theme, account data and more.

Administration Panel

Aggregation App and Back-office Solution

Import and Syncronize News

AI Based Translation and Summarization

News Management – Edit, Approve and Publish

Users and Administrators Management

Content Management

Settings

AWS CI / CD Complex Infrastructure

Custom API

We developed a custom API to serve the suite of applications: web and mobile applications and the editors aggregation app.

We used Laravel for development and documented it via Swagger.

The API is mainly REST but there is also a web-socket functionality used for real time updates and event listeners.

How We Worked

Here is how things happened in our collaboration

Plan

Phase 2

Phase 3

PHASE 1

Planification

Over the course of almost two weeks we had a lot of meetings both online and offline with the client in order to establish the tech stack, project software architecture and come up with an estimation in costs and timeline.

From our side there were multiple roles involved, such as a software architect and two senior software developers that contributed to the initial estimation.

Business Analysis

The client took the lead on the business analysis phase, employing a dedicated Business Analyst (BA) to define their needs and objectives. Our role was to provide consultancy services to optimize the proposed solutions. We collaborated closely with their BA to ensure that the application met the client’s strategic goals and addressed any potential challenges.

1

Solution Design

The solution design was a collaborative effort. The client provided detailed user stories, and we worked together to create wireframes. Our team selected the appropriate technology stack, ensuring it aligned with the project’s requirements and the client’s expectations. This joint effort ensured a clear, shared vision of the final product.

2

Initial Estimation

The initial estimation was based on the well-documented user stories provided by the client. These detailed descriptions allowed us to produce accurate estimates for the project scope, time, and resources needed. This thorough documentation facilitated a smoother planning process and set realistic expectations for the project’s timeline and deliverables.

3

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

PHASE 2

Design, Develop and Test

The High-Fidelity Design was created by a partner of the client. We had a relatively short implementation timeline of 3 months. Before getting into development, we reviewed our estimations and decided to increase our team with another FE developer, bringing our total team to 1 project manager, 1 BE developer, 2 FE developers, 1 mobile developer, 1 QA and 1 dev ops.

We worked in two week sprints and kept a tight communication with the client. The client had permanent access to test things as they were done on the staging environment and provided quick feedback for us.

By working this way we managed to go to production within the 3 month target.

Create High-Fidelity Design

The high-fidelity design was developed by one of the client’s partners. This external team provided us with comprehensive design assets, which we integrated into our development process. Their detailed designs helped ensure that the application would have a polished and professional appearance.

1

Form the Development Team

Our development team consisted of a Project Manager (PM), one Back-End Developer, two Front-End Developers, one Mobile Developer, one QA Specialist, and one DevOps Engineer. This diverse team ensured we had all the necessary expertise to handle various aspects of the project effectively.

2

Write Product Backlog

The client’s BA played a significant role in creating the product backlog. This detailed list of tasks and features guided our development process, ensuring we remained focused on delivering the most critical components of the application first. Our team contributed by reviewing and refining the backlog to align with our technical approach.

3

Refine Estimation and Release Plan

Given the relatively short implementation timeline of three months, we revisited our initial estimates and decided to add another Front-End Developer to the team. This adjustment was crucial to meet the deadline and ensure a high-quality product. The revised plan was carefully monitored to keep the project on track.

4

Sprint Development and Review

We adopted a two-week sprint cycle for development, maintaining close communication with the client’s product team. This approach allowed for continuous feedback and iterative improvements. The client had access to the staging environment throughout the process, enabling them to test and review the progress frequently.

5

Release and Deployment

The application was successfully launched within the agreed timeline. We implemented automated deployment processes, ensuring smooth and efficient releases. Both our team and the client’s team validated the deployments, guaranteeing that the application met all quality standards before going live.

6

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

PHASE 3

Maintenance and Support

After the project launched and the development stage was finished, we entered a maintenance and support type of relationship.

We are constantly adding new features like new categories, recommended articles, similar articles and interactive widgets.

Product Adjustments and Feature Additions

Post-launch, the project transitioned into the maintenance phase. We continually add new features, such as special categories, recommended articles, similar articles, and interactive widgets. These updates keep the application relevant and engaging for users, addressing their evolving needs and preferences.

1

Ongoing Support

We provide ongoing support to the client, ensuring the application’s stability and performance. Our team is available to address any issues that arise, offer technical assistance, and implement updates. This continuous support is vital for maintaining the application’s success and user satisfaction over time.

2

Services

Web Applications

Custom Web Applications

Back-office Applications

Websites

Wireframing

Manual Testing

Dev Ops

DevOps Consulting and Implementation

Monitoring, Performance and Security

Automation and Orchestration

Mobile Applications

Cross-platform Applications

Support & Maintenance

MVP Development

Custom Software

Technology Stack

Technologies Used

AWS

Bitbucket

CSS3

Digital Ocean

Flutter

HTML5

JavaScript

Laravel

Laravel Forge

Laravel Nova

MySQL

OpenAI

PHP

Redis

Swagger

Tailwind CSS

Vue

WordPress

Roles Involved

Throughout the entire development process, the Control F5 Team has been involved in the following roles:

1x Project Manager (PM)

Oversees the entire project, ensuring it meets deadlines, stays within budget, and satisfies client requirements. Manages communication between stakeholders and the development team.

1x Software Architect

Designs the high-level structure of the software, ensuring it meets both functional and non-functional requirements. Determines the best technologies and frameworks to use.

2x Frontend Developer

Implements the visual and interactive aspects of the software, working on the client side to ensure a seamless user experience.

1x Backend Developer

Builds and maintains the server-side logic, database interactions, and overall infrastructure that supports the frontend.

1x Full Stack Developer

Skilled in both frontend and backend development, capable of working on any part of the software stack.

1x Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer

Tests the software to identify bugs, performance issues, and ensure it meets specified requirements. Develops and runs automated and manual tests.

1x DevOps Engineer

Manages the deployment, integration, and infrastructure of the software. Ensures continuous delivery and integration practices are in place.

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