Project Plan: Financial Assistant App (MVP Focus)

This document outlines the development phases for building the Financial Assistant Android app, prioritizing an MVP launch followed by iterative enhancements.

Phase 1: MVP Development

Goal: Launch a functional app allowing users to manually track finances and set basic goals.

Task 1.1: Project Setup: * Set up Android Studio project (fin-assist), Git repository. * Establish basic project structure (UI, data, domain layers). * Integrate core dependencies (Compose, Coroutines, Room, Navigation).
Task 1.2: Local Database: * Set up Room Persistence Library. * Define initial SQLite schemas for Users (basic profile), Bills, Payments, Goals (simplified).
Task 1.3: Basic UI Shell: * Create main navigation structure (e.g., Bottom Navigation). * Implement placeholder screens for Bills, Payments, Goals, Settings.
Task 1.4: Manual Bill Tracking: * UI to add/edit/view/delete bills (name, amount, due date). Store locally in SQLite. * List view for upcoming/past due bills.
Task 1.5: Manual Payment Tracking: * Functionality to mark bills as paid (record date). Store locally. * Simple payment history view.
Task 1.6: Basic Manual Goal Setting: * UI to add/edit/view/delete simple goals (name, target amount). Store locally. * Display list of goals.
Task 1.7: Essential Notifications: * Implement reliable local notifications for upcoming bill due dates using WorkManager.
Task 1.8: MVP Testing: * Unit tests for core logic (ViewModel, basic data operations). * Manual testing of all MVP features on target devices/emulators. * Basic UI testing for key flows (adding a bill, marking paid).
Task 1.9: MVP Deployment Prep: * Code cleanup for MVP scope. * Basic README.md. * App icon and essential store assets. * Prepare and sign release build.

Phase 2: Gamification & Synchronization

Goal: Enhance user engagement and enable data persistence across devices.

Task 2.1: Firebase Integration: * Set up Firebase project (Authentication, Firestore). * Implement User Authentication (Email/Password, Google Sign-In). * Implement robust Firestore synchronization for Bills, Payments, Goals (handle offline scenarios).
Task 2.2: Points System: * Design and implement logic for awarding points (paying bills on time, reaching goal milestones). * Integrate points calculation and display in UI. Sync points with Firestore.
Task 2.3: Rewards & Achievements: * Define initial set of achievements and criteria. * Implement UI for displaying badges/rewards. Sync achievements.
Task 2.4: Enhanced Goal Tracking: * Add progress bars/visualizations. * Allow linking payments/savings to specific goals.
Task 2.5: Phase 2 Testing: * Unit/Integration tests for Auth and Firestore sync logic. * Test gamification logic. * Regression testing for MVP features.

Phase 3: Advanced Features & Intelligence

Goal: Add powerful features like automated import, data insights, and smart suggestions.

Task 3.1: Bank Statement Import: * Research and implement chosen method (Plaid API or CSV import). * Develop UI for managing connections/imports. * Focus on secure data handling.
Task 3.2: Statistics & Analytics: * Develop screens for spending breakdowns, savings rate, debt progress. * Integrate charting library for visualizations.
Task 3.3: Optimized Repayment Suggestions: * Implement Snowball/Avalanche method suggestions based on manually entered debt data. * (Future AI Enhancement: Explore simple AI/ML models for personalized suggestions if feasible).
Task 3.4: Phase 3 Testing: * Test import functionality thoroughly (various file formats/API responses). * Verify accuracy of statistics and suggestions. * Security audit for financial data handling.

Phase 4: Polish & Refinement

Goal: Improve the overall user experience, visual appeal, and accessibility.

Task 4.1: UI/UX Refinement: * Conduct thorough review of all user flows. * Apply Material Design 3 guidelines consistently. * Add meaningful animations and transitions. * Ensure adaptive layouts work flawlessly.
Task 4.2: Accessibility Review: * Test with TalkBack. * Ensure adequate touch targets, contrast ratios. * Provide necessary content descriptions.
Task 4.3: Performance Optimization: * Profile app performance (startup time, UI smoothness, battery usage). * Optimize database queries and background tasks.
Task 4.4: Phase 4 Testing: * Usability testing. * Accessibility testing. * Performance testing.

Continuous Tasks (Throughout Development)

Security: Regularly review security practices.
Testing: Write tests concurrently with features. Maintain test suites.
Documentation: Maintain README.md, CHANGELOG.md, KDoc comments.
Dependency Management: Keep libraries updated.
Version Control: Use Git effectively (feature branches, commits, PRs).
User Feedback: Collect and incorporate feedback after MVP launch and subsequent releases.

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