MyPickleFix

The Challenge: Building a Court That Runs Itself

For a truly staff-free facility, the mobile app had to do more than just book courts. It also had to function as the acting facility manager. The software needed to autonomously handle membership vetting, process payments, and physically control the building’s environment, from unlocking the front doors to turning on the court lights.

However, a tight timeline left zero margin for error. By the time Reusser was brought on, physical construction in Ossian was already underway, and Bob had set a firm grand opening date just three months out.

In short, we weren't just building an app — we were racing against a construction schedule. To make matters trickier, we had to integrate our software with hardware decisions, like specific commercial door locks, that had already been installed. With no staff on site to override a glitch, the system required 100% uptime. If the server went down, the doors stayed locked, and the business effectively closed.

Our Approach: Engineering for Speed and Stability

With the grand opening date locked in, we adopted a pragmatic strategy: build for speed, but engineer for stability. We needed a tech stack that allowed for rapid iteration without sacrificing the reliability required to physically control a building.

On the frontend, we utilized Expo to deploy a native experience for both iOS and Android from a single codebase, which saved crucial development time. However, the real heavy lifting happened on the backend. We leveraged Laravel to handle the complex logic of memberships and court reservations, while implementing an MQTT messaging protocol to bridge the gap between our software and the facility’s hardware.

This architecture allowed the app to "talk" to the on-site IoT controllers in real-time. A user could tap their phone, and the server would instantly signal the facility to unlock the front door or fire up the court lights. Throughout the sprint, we worked in lockstep with Bob, translating his operational needs into technical requirements to ensure the system was ready to run the gym from Day One.

The Solution: A Unified Platform for Access and Management

The final product is a dual-interface system: a polished mobile app for players and a powerful command center for the business owner.

For the Players

We built a native mobile experience that removes the friction from organizing a game. Users can:

• Book & Split: Reserve courts instantly and use "PickleBucks" to easily split the cost among a group of friends.

• Gain Access: Use the app as a digital key to unlock the facility’s front door during their reserved time slot.

• Manage Membership: Handle subscriptions, waivers, and guest invites without ever needing to speak to a human.

For the Business

Since Bob isn't on-site, the admin dashboard serves as his eyes and ears. It allows him to:

• Control the Environment: Remotely override door locks, turn on HVAC, or kill the court lights from his own phone.

• Monitor Operations: View real-time court schedules, member data, and payment history.

Run Events: Organize tournaments and manage special event blocking seamlessly.

The Tech Stack

Expo • Laravel • React • Inertia • Stripe • MQTT • NodeRED • AWS • Mailgun • Cloudflare

The Results: A Successful Launch and Reliable Operations

MyPickleFix opened its doors on schedule in September 2024. Since launch, the platform has operated reliably, handling court reservations, payments, and secure door access without interruption.

This stability was the key to making Bob's business model work. It allows him to run a low-overhead, staff-less facility with confidence, knowing the technology is doing its job even when he isn't on-site.

The community has responded in kind, with membership numbers quickly exceeding early projections. By successfully bridging the gap between our software and the facility's hardware, we helped create a space where the people of Ossian can simply show up and play.