MelindaFM
[MelindaFM]
2024
MelindaFM is a beloved local radio station from Ostend with a loyal listener base, but a limited digital reach. To connect with people living abroad and make listening more accessible, I designed and developed a mobile app that allows users to stream the station anywhere in the world. The app needed to be simple, reliable, and intuitive — keeping the familiar charm of the station while extending its reach.
The challenge was to create a fully functional cross-platform radio player in Flutter, available on both iOS and Android. Beyond basic playback, the app supports background audio, native media controls (play/pause from the lock screen), and automatic reconnection when the stream drops. The interface was intentionally minimal — the focus is on the music and the recognizable MelindaFM identity, not on unnecessary features.
The result is a stable, easy-to-maintain app that brought MelindaFM closer to its community again. Thanks to Flutter, the same codebase runs on both platforms, making updates and new features efficient to implement. The app was well received by both the editorial team and listeners, helping the station reconnect with younger audiences and expatriates abroad.
This project taught me that building an app is only the beginning. Ongoing maintenance, bug fixing, and updates are an integral part of the process — especially for live streaming. It made me appreciate how technical details like buffering and platform-specific behaviors directly shape the user experience.