I made a real-time Mafia game you can play with strangers – no signups(pt3)

Hi everyone 👋 I’m a 15-year-old developer, and I want to share the story of how I built The Hideout — a virtual hangout app where you can create rooms, chat, and chill with friends online.

You can try it here: joinhideout.vercel.app

Why I Built It

Like most people, I spend a lot of time online with friends. But every platform felt like it came with friction: logins, downloads, complicated setups, or just being too “corporate” and not fun.

I wanted something simple: a space where you could open a link, join a room instantly, and just talk, play, or relax together. No sign-ups. No headaches. Just vibes.

That’s how The Hideout started.

The Tech Stack

For the web version, I used:

React + Next.js for the frontend
Vercel for hosting (super smooth deploys)
Firebase (Firestore + Auth) for real-time chat and temporary guest login (my first time using Firebase!)
TailwindCSS for styling (fast + flexible)

I went with Firebase because I wanted something that just worked out of the box. It was my first time using it, so I had to learn a lot about collections, documents, and real-time listeners — but it turned out to be a great fit.

The Build Process

The first version was extremely simple: just room creation and a basic chat box connected to Firestore. I launched it as soon as it worked because I wanted feedback early.

After that, I kept adding features:

Room invites via links
A better UI with Tailwind
Presence indicators (online/offline)
Notifications

Each update was basically me solving a problem I hit while using the app with my own friends.

Challenges I Faced

Firebase Learning Curve
Since it was my first time using Firebase, I had to figure out how to structure collections and listen to updates in real time. At first, my messages weren’t syncing correctly across devices — but after experimenting with snapshot listeners, I got it working.

Keeping It Simple
I often wanted to add “cool” features, but I had to remind myself that the whole point of The Hideout was simplicity. If a feature added friction, I cut it.

Being 15
Honestly, being young has its challenges. I don’t have a team or senior devs to ask questions, so I had to dig through docs, GitHub issues, and YouTube tutorials. But I think that made me a better problem solver.

What I Learned
Firebase makes real-time apps way easier once you understand its data model.
Ship early, even if it’s small. Getting people to try your project teaches you more than waiting for “perfect.”
Keeping things simple is harder than it sounds.
What’s Next

I’m working on the mobile app version now. It will include:

Profiles + friend system
Room customization
Notifications
A pay-per-use model (you only pay $1 when you create a room, everything else is free).

Launch date is August 27, 2025 (I set deadlines so I stay motivated 😅).

Final Thoughts

Building The Hideout has been one of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on. As a 15-year-old, I sometimes feel like I have to “prove” that I can build something real, but this project showed me that anyone no matter their age, can create tools people enjoy.

If you’re curious, you can try it here: joinhideout.vercel.app
I’d love feedback, bug reports, or just to know if you tried it with your friends.

Thanks for reading 🙏
— Hito