Project Foodie
Overview & Architecture
Platform Architecture & Design
Limited Release Beta
Metrics & Iteration
Production Hardening
Public Launch
Cross-Platform Web Expansion
Technical Challenges
Real-Time Multimedia Orchestration
The core challenge was synchronizing high-fidelity video streams with dynamic, context-aware UI elements—all while maintaining sub-second responsiveness for a user standing at a stove with messy hands.
Dynamic Content Scaling
Ingredient quantities needed to scale intelligently across serving sizes—but cooking measurements don't scale linearly. A "pinch" doesn't become two pinches. Tablespoons convert to cups at specific thresholds. We built a measurement engine that understood culinary conventions, with override capabilities for edge cases.
Synchronized Video Architecture
Frame-accurate event triggers coordinated with streaming video content. The system needed to handle network variability, buffer management, and user seeking while maintaining synchronization between video playback and interactive overlays—timers, step indicators, ingredient highlights.
Event-Driven Content System
We architected a Django-based content management system that treats recipes as event timelines rather than static documents. Content editors author experiences by placing triggers on a video timeline—the system handles the real-time orchestration during playback.
Platform Design
Synchronized Cooking Experience
Every recipe is a multimedia experience with multiple synchronized content streams—video, timers, instructions, ingredients—all coordinated in real-time.
Headless Content Architecture
The backend separates content from presentation entirely. Recipe data, video assets, timing metadata, and measurement rules live independently—the client applications compose these into experiences. This enabled rapid iteration on the editorial side without app updates.
Tiered Access Control
The platform implements three access tiers with progressive feature unlocking: anonymous browsing for discovery, authenticated free users with favorites and grocery lists, and subscribers with full catalog access plus commerce integrations. Each tier required different caching strategies and content delivery optimizations.
Commerce Integration Layer
Deep integrations with Amazon and Instacart allow users to purchase tools or order ingredients directly from the recipe context. The affiliate layer generates revenue while maintaining a seamless user experience—one tap from "I need this pan" to cart.
Resilient Timer System
Cooking timers persist across app state changes and system interruptions. Background execution, push notification fallbacks, and state recovery ensure users never miss a timing cue—even if they leave the app to answer a call or check another recipe.
Platform Recognition
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