In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy speaks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. We talk next with Lim Cheng Lei, the Singapore Lead of the Microsoft Student Partner Programme.
What is your background and how did you get here?
I studied Information Technology back in Singapore Polytechnic, where I joined the Microsoft Student Partner Programme (MSP). During my role as the Singapore Lead in MSP, I had been exposed to various Microsoft technologies. Windows Phone and Windows 8 were some of those which I spent my time learning from other developers out there.
What motivated you to start building apps?
Being a Windows Phone and Windows 8 user myself, there were times where I was unable to locate applications which fit my needs. Hence, I took up the chance to start working on applications to fill up the gaps I had, and to share them with others – I have to add that one application just led to another.
What is your app about?
StockFolio is an Windows 8 application which allows users to build up and track stocks that mean the most to them, and track them closely in multiple markets. Moreover, it allows the user to create various portfolios for individual markets. It also provides other key information such as news related to the stock or market and other key statistics. At the current stage, it only supports multiple markets in Asia. In time to come, StockFolio will bring support to other market regions such Europe and America.
How did you come up with the idea?
The idea came when there was a lack of a stock tracking application in the Windows 8 Store. At the same time, the built-in finance application powered by Bing has its own limitation, such as the unavailability to create customised, personal portfolios and carry personalised information. Hence, I thought that having a stock application on the Windows 8 Store to address this limitation would be good.
Where did you get the inspiration from?
I have gotten inspiration from consultation with my friends and family members who are into stock trading. They help in me in understanding the key concept of what they are looking for in a stock tracking application, such as what are the key information they would like to see at a glance. More importantly, what is the decisive factor to commit a spending on getting a stock tracking app.
What’s your process for designing the user journey?
In the designing of the UI, I have researched various stock-related applications out there in the market. These application come from both the mobile platform and tablet platform. All these apps out there allowed me to get more ideas and identify their pros and cons in their designs. These were extremely important, as I had to take into consideration how these controls would like good and meaningful in a touch-friendly and mouse-friendly environment. Feedback from close friends also allowed me to better alter my UI, to allow the mass audience to understand how to use the app at the initial launch.
What’s next for you?
I will be developing more applications for the Windows 8 and Windows Phone platforms. At the same time, I will continuously updating my existing applications to bring greater collaboration between those which are available on both the Windows Phone and Windows 8 platform.
Check StockFolio out here.
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