The latest articles on DEV Community by Amber (@bytesize). https://dev.to/bytesize https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3411490%2Fe4f2019c-14a0-4463-bbad-79d596fd0c9a.png https://dev.to/bytesize en Amber Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:08:56 +0000 https://dev.to/bytesize/building-a-real-time-movie-sync-app-with-react-firebase-and-websockets-45dj https://dev.to/bytesize/building-a-real-time-movie-sync-app-with-react-firebase-and-websockets-45dj <p>I've been thinking about this idea for a while now — a simple app that lets people watch movies together, in sync, even if they're miles apart.</p> <p>There are already a few tools out there for this kind of thing, but building my own version felt like a chance to learn something meaningful — especially around <strong>real-time communication</strong>, <strong>scaling</strong>, and <strong>full-stack development</strong>.</p> <h3> What is CineSync? </h3> <p><strong>CineSync</strong> is a small project I'm working on that will allow two to 10 users to:</p> <ul> <li>Join a shared "room"</li> <li>Start a movie at the same time</li> <li>Stay in sync if the host pauses, skips, or seeks</li> <li>Chat during the movie</li> </ul> <p>The goal isn’t to compete with existing platforms. I just want to build something useful while getting more comfortable with technologies I’ve been meaning to dive deeper into.</p> <h3> Tech Stack (So Far) </h3> <p>I’ll be using:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>React + Next.js</strong> – for the frontend</li> <li> <strong>Firebase</strong> – for auth and possibly real-time database</li> <li> <strong>WebSockets</strong> – to keep playback and chat in sync</li> <li> <strong>GraphQL</strong> – for more structured data interactions</li> </ul> <p>I’m still figuring things out and may adjust tools as I go.</p> <h3> What I'm Trying to Learn </h3> <p>I’ve worked with APIs, modern JavaScript frameworks, and a bit of backend in the past. But real-time apps feel like another level — there’s timing, state syncing, and all sorts of small edge cases I’m starting to notice.</p> <p>This project is my way of:</p> <ul> <li>Exploring WebSockets and real-time UX</li> <li>Understanding the role of state management in shared experiences</li> <li>Learning when and how to use Firebase beyond just basic auth</li> <li>Practicing building something end-to-end</li> </ul> <h3> Open to Feedback &amp; Connection </h3> <p>I’ve had a few collaborations fall through recently — not out of anyone’s fault, just life and timing. So I’m building CineSync solo for now. But I’d still love to connect with folks who are interested in real-time apps, or even just building thoughtful side projects.</p> <p>If you’ve ever tried something similar (or want to), let’s chat in the comments. I’ll post updates as I go — successes, bugs, and weird edge cases included.</p> <p>Thanks for reading 🙌</p>