StoresAround | Android Universal Store Finder App Template

Both iOS and Android version can share the same Parse database

APK : Click here to Download the app .apk file for testing

You can also check the video preview of this app by clicking on the image below:

30 July 2020
• Full project changelogs. Gradle updated. 
• Files updated for uploading images from the camera. 
• Support added Android 9 and Android 10.

11 Apr 2020
• FCM Firebase Cloud Messaging implemented. 
• Libraries updated. Code clean up.
• Documentation updated with images as per latest updates from Google.

18 Sep 2019
• Fixed the issue of Login with Facebook.  
• Fixed the issue “Compatibility Issue with Facebook SDK 4.38.0” so we downgraded Facebook SDK to “4.37.0” still using the old constructor, so using that version fixes this particular issue.

18 July 2019
• Fixed the alignment issue of main screen tabs 
• Made improvements in My profile screen layout
• Improvements in user experience on “Add new Store” page
• Fixed login issue via Facebook profile
• Update the News Screen design using Card-view 
• Fixed data loading issue from the backend
• Improved code quality by using Recycler 
• Fixed Cursor control issue
• Improved the design view of favorites screen

29 January 2019
• Implemented favorite places sorting by distance

13 November 2018
• Display all the stores if the location can't be detected
• Fixed crash when requesting location permission
• Updated libraries. Code cleanup

5 October 2018
• Fixed infinite loading on News screen
• Fixed screens opening multiple times
• Refactored bottom navigation menu. Replaced main screens activities with fragments
• Implemented returning back after submitting a new store
• Fixed crash when opening store website and the URL is empty
• Fixed opening email app with an empty email address
• Fixed session clearing after log out

25 May 2018
• Accordingly to the new EU GDPR terms, I've updated the 'tou.html' file and Documentation.
IMPORTANT: This means that if a User asks for his/her Account deletion, you must do it within 24 hours, as the GDPR's "Right to be forgotten" Article states (LINK: https://gdpr-info.eu/art-17-gdpr/)

8 May 2018
• Replaced the 'play-services:+' implementation ith the specific ones in build.gradle:
    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:15.0.1'
    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-maps:15.0.1'
    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:15.0.1'

• Edited the 'getUserDetailsFromFB()' method on the part that saves the currUser:
if (finalEmail != null) {
    currUser.put(Configs.USER_EMAIL, finalEmail);
    currUser.put(Configs.USER_USERNAME, finalEmail);
 } else {
    currUser.put(Configs.USER_EMAIL, facebookID + "@facebook.com");
    currUser.put(Configs.USER_USERNAME, facebookID + "@facebook.com");
} 

15 April 2018
• Updated to Android Studio 3.1.1
• Removed all dependencies of play-services | left only this one in build.gradle:
     implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:+'

11 April 2018
• Updated to Android Studio 3.1
• Updated 'compileSdkVersion' and  'targetSdkVersion' to 27 in build.gradle
• Replaced 'compile' with 'implementation' in build.gradle (Module: app)
• Updated classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:3.1.1' in build.gradle (Project:)

20 January 2018
• Added this line in the dependencies list of build.gradle (Module: app):
    compile 'com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttps:+'

StoresAround is a Universal App Template where you can let people see and submit stores nearby, it has Localization service, search by Category and up to 100 Km nearby.
It has a News section that you can edit on your Parse Dashboard, as well as inserting/editing the Stores details and images.
Users can submit their stores for review, you as the Admin of the app may daily enter your Parse Dashboard to check out and approve those stores by simply switching the field isPending to False.
Since its backend is by Parse you don’t have to buy any domain/hosting, there are NO php files to upload to a web server so you’ll save some money for server side.

Since its backend is by Parse Server, you don’t have to buy any domain/hosting, there are NO php files to upload to a web server so you’ll save some money for server side.

You may also use the Adminca Panel as a great alternative to insert/edit data in your Parse Dashboard, after you’ll create your app on back4app, create a free account on and create a new Panel, choose self-hosted Parse server and paste your Host, Application ID and Master Key in the relative fields (you can find them into Core Settings of your back4app panel)

StoresAround is a native Android Studio project, Universal, easy to customize, backend with Parse SDK hosted on https://back4app.com.

About Parse SDK and back4app

Read this article for more info about back4app and Parse SDK:

Can I host Parse Server on my own server?

Yes, although I don’t provide support for the setup process, you can read the official Guide here: https://parseplatform.org

What about free support for this template?

I can offer free support for bugs encountered in the original code. Instead, if you’ve edited the code and messed something up with it, I may apply some fee to fix it either via TeamViewer or by checking your app project files directly on my computer.

How do I rename the app’s package name?

Read this tutorial to learn how to rename a package name:

Should I use the latest version of Android Studio to edit this template?

Yes, I always update my apps to the latest version of the IDE and you also should make sure you’ve updated the Android Tools to their latest version of the Android SDK manager.

How do I remove AdMob banner ads?

1. Enter the .xml files where there’s an AdView and remove its code:

       <com.google.android.gms.ads.AdView
           android:id="@+id/admobBanner" 
           android:layout_width="wrap_content" 
           android:layout_height="wrap_content" 
           ads:adSize="BANNER" 
           ads:adUnitId="@string/ADMOB_BANNER_UNIT_ID" 
           android:layout_alignParentBottom="true" 
           android:layout_centerHorizontal="true">
       </com.google.android.gms.ads.AdView>
   

2. Enter the .java files where there’s an AdRequest instance into its onCreate() method and remove its code:

           // Init AdMob banner
           AdView mAdView = (AdView) findViewById(R.id.admobBanner);
           AdRequest adRequest = new AdRequest.Builder().build();
           mAdView.loadAd(adRequest);
   

3. Lastly, remove the play-services-ads reference in the build.gradle file:

       compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:+'
   

• Android Studio 3.x project – Universal – Android 5.0+
• Filter stores by category and distance (up to 100 Km/miles nearby your location)
• Open stores location from the map to Google Maps for directions
• AdMob banners
• Facebook login
• Works with Parse SDK hosted on back{4}app
• NO web server needed
• Easily submit stores via the app to the Admin for approval
• PDF User Guide included
• PSD graphics included
• Easy to customize, well commented code

• Apple Mac or Windows PC with their latest OS version installed
• The latest version of Android Studio and some knowledge about its UI interface
• Photoshop or any other image editor software
• A Google Developer account to submit apps to the Play Store
• An AdMob account to generate your own banner UNIT ID
• A free account on back4app.com