Abstract
Managing group expenses can often be a challenging task, especially when multiple people are involved in various shared activities such as trips, parties, or shared living arrangements. The “Android Group Expense Tracker Application” is designed to simplify this process by providing a user-friendly mobile application that tracks, manages, and splits expenses among group members. The application allows users to create groups, add expenses, assign expenses to group members, and automatically calculate the share of each participant. The app aims to reduce the complexity of financial management in group settings, ensuring transparency and fairness in expense sharing.
Existing System
In the existing system, managing group expenses is typically done manually or using general-purpose tools like spreadsheets or messaging apps. These methods are often cumbersome, error-prone, and lack automation, leading to confusion and potential conflicts among group members. Additionally, existing solutions do not offer a centralized platform specifically designed for tracking and splitting group expenses, making it difficult to keep track of who owes what and to whom.
Proposed System
The proposed system is an Android-based mobile application specifically designed to streamline the management of group expenses. The application will provide features such as group creation, expense tracking, automatic splitting of expenses, and real-time notifications to group members. Users will be able to view detailed expense reports and settle balances within the app. The system will also include a cloud-based backend to store and synchronize data across devices, ensuring that all group members have access to the latest information.
Methodology
- Requirement Analysis: Gather and analyze user requirements to define the scope and features of the application.
- Design: Develop wireframes and design the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure an intuitive and user-friendly application.
- Development: Implement the application using Android Studio. This includes front-end development for the UI and back-end development for handling data storage, synchronization, and business logic.
- Testing: Conduct thorough testing of the application, including unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing, to ensure the application functions as intended without bugs.
- Deployment: Deploy the application on the Google Play Store and make it available for users to download and install.
- Maintenance: Provide ongoing support, updates, and improvements based on user feedback and technological advancements.
Technologies
- Android Studio: The primary Integrated Development Environment (IDE) used for Android application development.
- Java/Kotlin: Programming languages used for developing the Android application.
- Firebase/SQLite: For cloud-based or local data storage and synchronization.
- Google Play Services: For integrating Google services such as notifications, authentication, and in-app purchases.
- RESTful API: For communication between the app and the server, especially if using a cloud backend.
- Material Design: For designing the UI, ensuring a consistent and visually appealing user experience.