Building a simple, privacy-first “meeting locator” (and why locations matter)
When someone is looking for help, the difference between “I found a resource” and “I found a place nearby I can actually get to” often comes down to location data. If you’re building public-facing tools that help users find local services (support groups, clinics, meetups), two things matter more than fancy maps: privacy and clarity.
Below is a short practical guide and a tiny, safe React example you can use as a starting point for a meeting-locator UI. I also point to a real, non-commercial example directory (used here only for illustration): AA Meetings
.
Key engineering considerations (short checklist)
Privacy first: never log precise user coordinates unless explicitly permitted. Prefer asking for a zip / state or using a coarse location fallback.
Accessibility: keyboard focus, proper labels, screen-reader friendly live regions for results.
Data freshness & source quality: show “last updated” timestamps and provenance for entries.
Offline / cached behavior: cache recent queries and offer an “offline” message if the network fails.
Rate limiting & abuse protection: implement server-side rate limits for public APIs.
Building a simple, privacy-first “meeting locator” (and why locations matter)
When someone is looking for help, the difference between “I found a resource” and “I found a place nearby I can actually get to” often comes down to location data. If you’re building public-facing tools that help users find local services (support groups, clinics, meetups), two things matter more than fancy maps: privacy and clarity.
Below is a short practical guide and a tiny, safe React example you can use as a starting point for a meeting-locator UI. I also point to a real, non-commercial example directory (used here only for illustration): AA Meetings
.
Key engineering considerations (short checklist)
Privacy first: never log precise user coordinates unless explicitly permitted. Prefer asking for a zip / state or using a coarse location fallback.
Accessibility: keyboard focus, proper labels, screen-reader friendly live regions for results.
Data freshness & source quality: show “last updated” timestamps and provenance for entries.
Offline / cached behavior: cache recent queries and offer an “offline” message if the network fails.
Rate limiting & abuse protection: implement server-side rate limits for public APIs.
Progressive enhancement: server render a basic search page (for SEO & users without JS).
One obvious CTA: make the address + directions and contact info the most accessible elements.
Minimal, safe React example
This is intentionally small and uses an imaginary /api/meetings endpoint. It demonstrates good UX and accessibility patterns without depending on third-party keys.
// MeetingLocator.jsx
import React, { useState, useEffect } from "react";
/**
- Minimal meeting locator UI
- - Uses zip/state input (no implicit geolocation)
- - Accessible labels and aria-live for results
- - Graceful fallback if API fails */
export default function MeetingLocator() {
const [query, setQuery] = useState(""); // zip, city or state
const [results, setResults] = useState([]);
const [status, setStatus] = useState("idle"); // idle | loading | error | done
const [error, setError] = useState(null);
useEffect(() => {
// clear errors when query changes
if (query) setError(null);
}, [query]);
async function handleSearch(e) {
e.preventDefault();
if (!query.trim()) return;
setStatus("loading");
setResults([]);
try {
// Example API: /api/meetings?q=seattle or q=98101 or q=WA
const res = await fetch(/api/meetings?q=${encodeURIComponent(query.trim())}, {
headers: { Accept: "application/json" },
});
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(Server returned ${res.status});
const data = await res.json();
setResults(Array.isArray(data) ? data : []);
setStatus("done");
} catch (err) {
console.error(err);
setError("Could not fetch meeting locations right now. Try again later.");
setStatus("error");
}
}
return (
Find nearby meetings
<form onSubmit={handleSearch} aria-label="Search meetings by zip, city or state">
<label htmlFor="query" className="block mb-1">Enter ZIP, city or state</label>
<div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 8 }}>
<input
id="query"
value={query}
onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
placeholder="e.g. 98101 or Seattle or WA"
aria-required="true"
style={{ flex: 1 }}
/>
<button type="submit" aria-disabled={status === "loading"}>
{status === "loading" ? "Searching…" : "Search"}
</button>
</div>
</form>
<div aria-live="polite" style={{ minHeight: 60, marginTop: 12 }}>
{status === "idle" && <p>Enter a location to see meeting options.</p>}
{status === "loading" && <p>Searching for meetings…</p>}
{status === "error" && <p role="alert" style={{ color: "crimson" }}>{error}</p>}
{status === "done" && results.length === 0 && <p>No meetings found for that search.</p>}
</div>
{results.length > 0 && (
<ul aria-label="Meeting results" style={{ marginTop: 12 }}>
{results.map((m) => (
<li key={m.id} style={{ padding: 8, borderBottom: "1px solid #eee" }}>
<strong>{m.name}</strong>
<div>{m.address}</div>
{m.phone && <div>☎ {m.phone}</div>}
{/* link opens in new tab and uses security attributes */}
{m.url && (
<div>
<a href={m.url} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
More info
</a>
</div>
)}
</li>
))}
</ul>
)}
</section>
);
}
Notes:
The component does not request browser geolocation, avoiding accidental privacy leaks.
The list output includes only essential info (name, address, phone, url).
If you do want geolocation as an opt-in feature, prompt clearly and allow the user to review exact coordinates before using them.
Server & data notes (quick)
API shape: return paginated results, include lastUpdated timestamp per entry and source field.
Cache: use a short TTL (5–30 minutes) for query responses, longer for static data; invalidate when source updates.
Validation: sanitize and normalize addresses; validate phone strings.
Rate limit: public endpoints should limit requests per IP and require an API key for heavy use.
Monitoring: track 4xx/5xx spikes and stale-data warnings.
UX and ethical considerations
Don’t expose sensitive data (no notes about individuals, no therapy logs).
Be clear about scope: if your dataset is nationwide but incomplete, say so.
Provide multiple contact options: phone, email, and in-app reporting to flag broken entries.
Accessibility: allow keyboard only users to navigate results and provide good contrast.
Example of a respectful resource link (for context)
If you want to show readers a real directory (not an endorsement, just an example), a widely used public directory is: AA Meetings
— I’m only linking it here as an example of a nationwide meeting index.
Final tips to avoid removal on platforms like Dev.to
Keep the post educational and technical — focus on code, privacy, UX.
Limit external links to essential, non-commercial resources.
Don’t request readers to add your link to other sites or ask for backlinks in the post.
Disclose any personal affiliation if you have one.
Top comments (0)