CipherLuma

🚀 Inspiration

As a self-taught developer from Zambia, I built CipherLuma to solve a real problem — the lack of developer-friendly global payment tools that support mobile money, banks, and modern APIs for African developers.

After dropping out of university due to financial hardship, I made it my mission to create something powerful that could help developers like me. CipherLuma is a reflection of that goal: empowering developers and startups to transact globally from Africa.

🛠️ What I Built

CipherLuma is a global, developer-first payment platform featuring:

• 🌐 Fully responsive web app built with React
• 🔐 User authentication, profile, settings, notifications
• 🌍 Multilingual support: English, French, Lozi, Bemba, Nyanja
• 💳 RevenueCat integration for mock donation/payments
• 🎨 Modern UI with clean branding and custom favicon
• 🧠 Planned AI assistant (LumaBot) and Developer API portal
• 🛡️ Sentry integration for error monitoring
• 📱 Mobile-ready build via Expo
• 🔗 Live at: https://cipherluma.netlify.app

🧠 What I Learned

• How to build and deploy a full SaaS MVP solo in under 30 days
• Implementing i18n and multilingual support in a live app
• Integrating dev tools like RevenueCat and Sentry for the first time
• Working with real production constraints on low-end hardware
• Staying resourceful and focused under extreme pressure

🧪 How I Built It

• Frontend: React + CSS + Netlify
• Mock backend logic (for payments and user data)
• Used Sentry for live monitoring and error tracking
• Translations powered by static files (Lingo credits pending integration)
• Expo ready for mobile app version
• Built demo video using Linux tools (FFmpeg) and recorded voiceover on mobile
• Deployed on Netlify with fallback to subdomain due to domain issue

⚠️ Challenges I Faced

• Entri domain claim failed — used Netlify subdomain instead
• RevenueCat and AI assistant integration mocked due to token exhaustion
• No real payment gateway added yet — planned for next phase
• Limited hardware (2GB RAM laptop), slow build times
• Time constraint — built solo, managed all development, voiceover, deck, and video

🌍 Why It Matters

African developers deserve tools that empower them — tools built for and by them.

CipherLuma is proof that with grit, purpose, and code, one person can launch a meaningful global product from anywhere.

This project started in Zambia — but it’s built for the world.

🧪 Demo Login Credentials

To access the dashboard and explore the full features of CipherLuma, use the credentials below:

• Email: admin@cipherluma.com
  
• Password: admin123
• ** Email: demo@cipherluma.com -** Password:** demo@123'

Built With

• english
• github
• javascript
• react