A Full-Stack Homestay Exchange Platform, Built Ethically

A reflection on full-stack development, and on building software that has to answer to law and ethics as well as to users.

I've really enjoyed collaborating with Atqa Manzoor and Zach Mammadov on the Homestay Exchange App, developed as part of my ICT Law & Technology module. The project is a full-stack web platform designed to connect international students with hosts in a socially impactful and ethically responsible way.

This module pushed me far beyond theory and into real-world software engineering, requiring us to consider not only technical implementation but also accessibility, data protection, ethics, and user trust. I worked across the entire stack, contributing to frontend architecture, backend logic, database design, authentication flows, and inclusive accessibility features.

What I learned from this project

• Designing and scaling a role-based application (students, hosts, administrators)
• Building secure authentication, authorisation, and verification workflows with real legal and ethical considerations
• Developing accessibility-first interfaces, including voice guidance, colour-blind modes, and senior-friendly UI
• Structuring large React applications using context providers and modular services
• Working collaboratively in an agile team, balancing feature delivery, technical debt, UX, and compliance

Beyond the technical growth, working with Atqa and Zach strengthened my communication, planning, and code-review skills, and highlighted how critical collaboration is in delivering responsible and maintainable software.

This project has been an important step in my development as a software engineer — especially in learning how technology must align with law, ethics, accessibility, and social impact. Proud of what we've achieved so far, and motivated to keep improving it.