Case study
Burrow
Overview
A community app focused on sustainability, social cohesion, and local interaction. The platform strengthens neighbourhood bonds by giving residents a digital space to connect, organise events, ask for help, and share or sell items — all in one place.
The platform is built around three core pillars: social cohesion connecting residents and building trust with neighbours; sustainability reducing waste through a local marketplace where items can be sold, given away, or lent out; and efficiency — organising neighbourhood activities without relying on endless chat groups.
Key features
Layered communities
Join a broad neighbourhood community and/or a specific subcommunity for your apartment building, with moderator-controlled membership approval.
Event planning
Built-in date polling, a needs list so attendees can claim what they bring, and minimum age controls per event.
Marketplace
Three listing types sell, give away, or request help with a task — with item reservation status and direct chat shortcuts to sellers.
Interactive map
Visual overview of events and participating neighbours via Google Maps, with per-user visibility toggle for privacy and local hotspot recommendations.
Push notifications
Firebase Cloud Messaging delivers real-time notifications so residents never miss a new event, marketplace listing, or community update.
Profile management
Personalised profiles with optional info and granular privacy settings, so users control exactly what their neighbours can see.
Moderation tools
Admins can appoint moderators, approve new members, and remove content or users who violate community guidelines.
E-mail integration
Firebase Cloud Functions paired with SendGrid handle transactional e-mails for account verification and important community alerts.
Technical stack
Frontend: Blazor Hybrid running inside .NET MAUI, giving the app a native cross-platform shell (iOS, Android, Windows) while sharing all UI logic written in C# and Razor.
Backend: .NET Web API serving as the central data layer, handling business logic and exposing endpoints consumed by the MAUI app.
Database & storage: Cloud Firestore for structured data and Firebase Storage for user-uploaded media such as profile photos and marketplace images.
Authentication: Firebase Authentication managing sign-up, login, and identity verification across all platforms.
Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging for real-time push notifications to all devices.
Maps: Google Maps JavaScript API powering the interactive neighbourhood map with event markers and hotspot pins.
E-mail: Firebase Cloud Functions triggering SendGrid for transactional e-mail delivery.
Architecture
The solution separates concerns cleanly across three layers: the .NET MAUI Blazor Hybrid app handles all UI and navigation; the .NET Web API contains all business logic and data access; and Firebase provides a managed backend for auth, storage, real-time messaging, and serverless functions. This keeps the app scalable and each layer independently testable.
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